Michele Bachmann

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I must reluctantly rise in opposition to H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. While I applaud the House for taking under consideration a bill to address the impending cut to Medicare physician reimbursement payments, H.R. 6331 contains provisions that would rob America's seniors of crucial health care access in the form of funding cuts to Medicare Advantage. Indeed, H.R. 6331 contains a provision that would reverse the scheduled 10.6 percent payment cut set to take effect on July 1, 2008, a provision I have supported in the past. That being said, the bill also contains deep cuts to Medicare Advantage plans, which millions of seniors depend on to serve their broad health care needs. These cuts, totaling nearly $50 billion, would place the burden of leadership's failed Medicare reform policies directly on the backs of America's seniors.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to offer a motion which will ensure that parents of children in residential treatment facilities have control over any medication being prescribed to their child. While the bill, as currently written, would require a parent or legal guardian to disclose to the facility any prescription drugs their child is currently taking, the facility would not be required to receive parental consent for the child to be issued a prescription for any new medication. This issue is very real for me. As a mother and a foster mother who has cared for children in similar situations, I strongly believe in the importance of the role of the parent or legal guardian in a child's life. This is especially true when it comes to matters as serious as the health and well-being of that child. Prescription drugs, such as medication to treat psychiatric conditions can have a major impact on the mind and body of an adult, let alone the young mind and body of a child. Our professionals deal with this on a regular basis in mental health facilities all across the nation. Especially tragic is the statistically high number of children of color who are placed on prescription psychotropic drugs, often with severe misgivings from parents or guardians. Such a critical decision should only be made by a qualified medical doctor and only after the expressed consent of a parent or legal guardian is given. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today would allow staff in residential treatment facilities to impose their will on children, without affording those children the protection and guidance of their closest family. Whether the parent, whose intimate relationship and familiarity with their child is critical in choosing a treatment path, feels it is in their child's best interest or not, any medication could be prescribed. That is a historic leap in loss of parental rights over their children. Parents remain legally and financially liable for their children's mental and physical welfare yet this bill has government stripping parents of their right to consent to medical treatment via prescription drugs for their children. This bill says parents are good enough to pay the bill, but they can't be trusted to make decisions regarding their child's health. That is insulting, demeaning, and wrong. The purpose of this amendment is to protect children who are in a very vulnerable situation away from their families in a residential treatment facility where they are supposed to be receiving help for very difficult problems. The parents and guardians that have raised and cared for these children, who know and understand their children and their medical histories best, should know about any new or changed medications to exercise their role as primary medical decision makers for their offspring. The right of consent should be explicitly stated in this legislation meant to protect these vulnerable youth. That being said, this motion does not infringe on the role of the medical faculty at a treatment facility. The expertise of the staff and physicians would still be fully utilized in the diagnosis, and upon parental consent, the dispensing of prescription medication. Moreover, this motion would not require parental notification for non- prescription medication. A child in a residential treatment facility would not be hindered in obtaining any over-the-counter (OTC) medication such as aspirin. Only prescription drugs, which can have such far-reaching effects on the patient, would be applicable to the terms of this motion. The prescription drugs often used in these facilities, especially the mental health drugs, have extremely serious, and sometimes fatal side effects. These include suicide, homicide, psychosis, heart problems, tics and movement disorders, diabetes and obesity. Mr. Speaker, Members understand, a parent is one of the most powerful influences in a child's life. In the case of a child in a residential treatment facility, it is imperative that his or her parent or legal guardian be given proper authority over the course of treatment recommended by the treatment facility. I believe this is an important addition to this bill and I urge my colleages to support the addition of this language.

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to offer a motion which will ensure that parents of children in residential treatment facilities have control over any medication being prescribed to their child. While the bill as currently written would require a parent or a legal guardian to disclose to the facility any prescription drugs that their child is currently taking, the facility would not be required to receive parental consent for the child to be issued a prescription for any new medications. As a mother and also as a foster mother, I strongly believe in the importance of the role of the parent or the legal guardian in a child's life. This is especially true, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to matters as serious as the health and well-being of a child. Prescription drugs, such as medication to treat psychiatric conditions, can have a major impact on the mind and the body of an adult, let alone on the young mind and the young body of a child. Such a critical decision should only be made by a qualified medical doctor with the expressed consent of a parent or legal guardian. This is only common sense, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today would allow residential treatment facilities to impose their will on children without affording those children the protection and guidance of their closest family. Whether the parent, whose intimate relationship and familiarity with their child is critical in choosing a treatment path, feels that it is in their child's best interest or not, any medication could be prescribed. For example, in its present form, this bill would allow a treatment facility to prescribe contraception to a child, who when properly informed and guided by a parent may have chosen to carry the baby to term, either raising it as their own or contacting an adoption agency, not terminating its life. The purpose of this amendment is to protect children who are in a very vulnerable situation away from their families in a residential treatment facility where they are supposed to be receiving help for a very difficult problem. The parents and the guardians who have raised and cared for these children, who know and understand their children and their medical histories best, should know about any new or changed medications to exercise their role as primary medical decision makers for their children. The right of consent should be explicitly stated in this legislation meant to protect these vulnerable youth. Mr. Speaker, one thing that I saw firsthand as a foster mother, there were too many children of color, minority children, who were overly prescribed for prescription drugs at a younger and younger age. This is a very disturbing issue and expressly underscores why parents or their guardians should have a say to actually give consent whether these children are given prescription drugs. That being said, my motion, Mr. Speaker, does not infringe in any way on the role of the medical facility at a treatment facility. The expertise of the staff and the physicians would still be fully utilized in the diagnosis and, upon parental consent, the dispensing of prescription medication. Moreover, my motion would not require parental notification for nonprescription drugs. A child in a residential treatment facility would not be hindered in obtaining any over-the-counter medication, such as aspirin. Only prescription drugs, which can have such far- reaching effects on a patient, would be applicable to the terms of this motion. The prescription drugs often used in these facilities, especially the mental health drugs, have very serious, and sometimes fatal side effects. This is no laughing matter, Mr. Speaker. These side effects for children, for children, Mr. Speaker, include suicide, homicide, psychosis, heart problems, tics, movement disorders, diabetes, even obesity. Mr. Speaker, a parent is one of the most powerful influences in a child's life. I think this body agrees on that. In the case of a child in a residential treatment facility, with a very small voice and no ability to protect himself or herself, it is imperative that a parent or a legal guardian be given proper authority over the course of the treatment recommended by the treatment facility.

Mrs. BACHMANN. I am, Mr. Speaker, in its present form.

Ms. BACHMANN

Ms. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 6307, the Fostering Connections to Success Act. This vital piece of bipartisan legislation was designed to make much needed improvements to the child welfare system, focused on some of the most vulnerable among us--foster children. There are more than 500,000 children in foster care nationwide today, many of whom come from troubled homes and have been moved from family to family several times. My husband and I have cared for 23 foster children, and I understand full well the struggles these children face on a daily basis. This bill goes a long way in alleviating some of the roadblocks standing in their way. The main focus of this bill is to improve the accessibility foster youth have to essential services, their family, health care, and education. However, this legislation makes considerations for those not only actually in foster care, but for those who ``age out'' of the system--a group of young men and women who are often overlooked. A key component of this bill is the extension of federal foster care payments up to the age of 21. We are considered adults at the age of 18 in this society, but reaching 18 does not automatically mean that an individual is financially independent. As these young men and women pursue a degree of higher learning, or whether they choose to start working, this bill will give them the financial help they desperately need. Too often their troubled past and unstable family background have not provided them the foundation of support to do it on their own. Along with providing--for the first time--federal financial support for relatives who assume legal guardianship of foster children, this bill also expands coverage of federal funds for the training of child welfare workers to include private agency and non-profit workers who provide foster care and adoption services on behalf of the state. When combined, all of the components of this bill offer the overhaul our foster care system so sorely needs. Today, I stand proud knowing that Congress is on the cusp of passing such a crucial piece of bipartisan legislation for America's youth. As a foster mother myself, I thank Congress for giving this matter the serious time and consideration it deserves.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of an amazing company from Oakdale, Minnesota. Higher Dimension Materials has perfected a groundbreaking new material--called SuperFabric--which may literally revolutionize the world of material science and which has lifesaving applications for our service men and women. Under the bold and pioneering leadership of Dr. Young-Hwa-Kim, HDM has developed a line of SuperFabric materials, which possess an astonishing strength, flexibility and resistance and are open to an equally astonishing array of uses. After 10 years of painstaking research, HDM has successfully overcome the challenge of developing a polymer that possesses both great density and great flexibility. SuperFabrics incorporate hard solids with flexible fabrics to create new composite fabrics that maintain their original flexibility and yet are resistant to fire, abrasions, cuts and punctures. In fact, NASA, law enforcement agencies and the United States military have all expressed great interest in taking advantage of Higher Dimensions' breakthroughs. For instance, the military is applying Super Fabrics technology in the making of boots for the special-ops community and also potentially lifesaving vests for Coast Guard divers. NASA is even testing SuperFabrics for new space gloves. So revolutionary are these technologies that the University of Minnesota is putting them on display in their new Museum of Design. And the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Textiles and Apparel has selected HDM to participate in their European Outdoor Show--one of the world's major international trade shows, focusing on performance textiles. These are but a few of the honors HDM as received for its ingenious technological advances. Thanks to the devotion and brilliance of people like Dr. Kim and the scientists at HDM, America continues to lead the world in the development of new technologies. Higher Dimension Materials is a true credit to the state of Minnesota and I am honored to recognize their achievements today.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Thank you, Congressman Latta. I want to address a point that was brought up by Congressman Broun and really the absurdity of the remark regarding the oil leases that oil companies have taken up. These lands are owned by the American people and they are leased out to oil companies or natural gas companies. These oil and gas companies have to pay for these leases. They aren't just given to them free of charge. They have to pay for the right to search for the oil. They take all the risk, and they find the natural resource and they access that natural resource. It doesn't make any sense economically for a company to lease something and waste money on leases that they aren't going to use. It's already in law that if the companies that lease this land, if they are not productive, it's already a law they have to turn the leases back. They can't just lease them forever, get them for free, not pay for that right to lease the land. They have to already turn them back if they aren't productive, because the companies know if there's oil on the land, or if there's gas on the land, they already know if it's there. Just because they have leased land doesn't mean that there's oil on it or that there's gas on it. It just doesn't make sense someone is going to waste money if they are in a private company. That takes away from profit, and you need to have profits to be able to go forward. Again, this is the 75th anniversary of the New Deal, and it reminds me of Solomon, who said in Ecclesiastes, ``There is nothing new under the sun.'' And there is nothing new under the sun with a lot of these suggestions we have seen. As a matter of fact, the plan we have seen so far from the Democrats has been this, and it's pretty simple, it is: Drive less, pay more. That is pretty much the plan that we have seen. Oh, yeah, also, let's increase taxes on the domestic production of American energy. That doesn't take too much for the American people to figure out. If Congress would decide we are going to start taxing food, do you think food would cost more? Of course it would. What about if Congress decided, Let's add taxes to health care, as if that wasn't expensive enough. Would that cost more? Of course it would. This is not the way the American people want us to go. They don't want us to jack up taxes on American production of oil. They don't want to drive less, they don't want to pay more. They don't want to have America socializing and taking over oil refineries. What the American people want, pure and simple, is freedom. They want freedom, they want the free market, and they want to see energy prices get back down to $2 a gallon or less. I know it's possible, I know it can happen, and that is why I am so thankful for your brilliant leadership tonight, Congressman Latta, and also for Congressman Paul Brown, and also for Congressman Wittman, who was here earlier this evening speaking, because here's an answer. Here's an answer. It's here, it's ours, it's for the taking. We can be environmentally sensitive. We can explore here in America now, and we can have Americans pay less. I yield back.

Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank Representative Latta. I appreciate your leadership on the issue of energy, and although you are a brand new Member of Congress--you haven't been here for a long time--you've shown just extraordinary leadership on the issue that's probably facing more Americans today than any other, and that's the dramatic increase in the price of energy, and I know how passionate you've been on this issue. You've worked tirelessly in your district, and the people of your district in Ohio are fortunate to have you as their representative. Thank you so much for working so hard on this issue. It's one, Mr. Speaker, that I believe probably every Member of this body is hearing from their constituents over and over and over again. I know that I have as well. I had conducted a meeting with several members of my community who own gas stations, independent owners of gas stations. And one thing that they told me that broke my heart, they told me that they are seeing 30 percent fewer sales at the pump, and they're also seeing 30 percent fewer sales inside their store, and they're hurting. One gentleman told me that normally he would spend $10,000 to purchase the gasoline that would go into the ground in the holding tanks, $10,000, and that's money that's out of his pocket, sitting there in inventory until it can be sold. And he said, now, I pay $40,000 to have that inventory in the ground, and now sales are 30 percent less. And so he has more money in the ground, not producing for him, at a higher and higher price level, and he said this is eating up my entire profit margin. There are people going out of business. And so what he told me is we've got to do something to get gasoline back down from its $4 a gallon, and that's what we're about here tonight to say there's very good news on the horizon. It's doom and gloom when you wake up in the morning and you see and you hear on the radio and you see when you drive to the gas station what the price at the pump is. But the good news is, there is an answer, and America can go back to $2 a gallon gasoline or less. It's entirely possible. Why? Because we have the answer right here in our country. We are standing on our own solution. We have energy that's available to us, 86 billion barrels, that's according to our own United States department, 86 billion barrels of energy right now that's available to us in the form of oil in the Outer Continental Shelf area. We have over 10 billion barrels of oil that's fully recoverable up in the arctic energy slope. This is an area of land that Congress originally set aside specifically for the purpose of accessing that energy through drilling to bring back down to the United States. I had the privilege back in the mid-1970s of working two summers up on the Aleutian Chain in Alaska. That's when the Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, trans- Alaska oil pipeline was built. That oil pipeline is currently up. It's running, but it is only half full. With very little effort, we could actually tap into that oil pipeline, the 10 billion barrels that we know are already in Alaska, and we could fill that pipeline. Rather than having it half empty, we could fill it and bring down another million barrels of oil a day. And Mr. Speaker, 1 million barrels of oil a day translates into 27 million gallons of gasoline, and that would mean a 50 percent increase in American reserves than we're already tapping today. That's just those 10 billion barrels. That doesn't include the 85 billion barrels that are also available in the Outer Continental Shelf in the deep sea energy reserves that America only has. But Mr. Speaker, I think most Americans aren't even aware that America is the only country in the world that has voluntarily made it illegal to access its own energy. That's right, Mr. Speaker, we are the only country in the world that's made it illegal to access our own energy. Congress caused this problem. The problem is not OPEC and the problem is not speculators. The problem is the United States Congress. I believe part of the reason why we are seeing Congress's approval ratings at an astoundingly low 12 percent is because Congress has chosen to make it illegal to access the answer that we need, and that's our own energy resources. Here's another great fact. In the gulf coast region, we have what is probably the world's largest reserve of natural gas. We have 420 trillion, 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas that's available to us right now off the shore in the Gulf of Mexico. We can access this, and we can bring natural gas into our country, use it to fire up our electrical grid, and also, we could even change our cars and buses, run them on natural gas as well. America also is home to 25 percent of the Earth's supply of coal right here in the United States, almost an unlimited supply. We have clean coal technology today that's available to us that can process coal and transmit that almost unlimited supply of energy all across the United States. And as well, nuclear energy. I have a nuclear energy facility in my home district in the Sixth Congressional District of Minnesota, Mr. Speaker. And I'm so grateful we have that because nuclear power supplies almost 20, 25 percent of Minnesota's energy needs. It's a clean, safe, reliable form of energy, and it has zero emissions. I am so excited about this wonderful technology, but unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, again, Congress has made it illegal for us to be able to tap into this wonderful source of energy. Whether it's nuclear, whether it's coal, whether it's natural gas, whether it's the oil reserves that we have, America has the answer. In fact, this is the industry that we can tap into right now. We don't need to find a magic bullet or a magic alternative. This is energy that we have available to us today that we could tap into today so we can see the American people very soon get back to paying $2 a gallon. One thing that happened not too long ago was this body, the United States Congress, sent out stimulus checks to Americans all across the country. Why, Mr. Speaker? Because people in the United States Congress were worried about the economy, so we went to the United States Treasury and we wrote checks that are still being sent out to Americans all across this country. Why? We wanted to encourage Americans to spend money to stimulate the economy. Do you know what I believe the greatest stimulus would be to Americans? It would be to get gasoline back to $2 a gallon. And it's so possible. It was just about 18 months ago that the Democrat majority took over in this body. And when they took over, gasoline, on average, at the national level was $2.33 a gallon. Mr. Speaker, that average today is about $4.07 a gallon. That's a dramatic increase in the price of gasoline, unheard of increase in the price of gasoline. It took us 25 years in the United States for gasoline to go from $1 a gallon to $2 a gallon. And just in the time that the Democrats have held the gavel they have taken this country from $2.33 to $4.08 a gallon. I was listening to the previous discussion that occurred, and I heard some suggestions about why the price of gasoline has gone up so dramatically. And I find it interesting, because if you look at the votes from 1994 until today, this Congress has already voted on whether or not we should explore in ANWR. We voted on it. In fact, the Congress, back in 1995, sent a bill to President Bill Clinton to say that we should be drilling in ANWR. The House passed that bill, the Senate passed that bill. Unfortunately, it was President Bill Clinton that vetoed that bill; otherwise, we would have already been drilling in ANWR. We wouldn't be in the pickle that we're in today. But this is the vote and these are the facts. I'm not trying to be partisan because we need to come together, as Democrats and Republicans, and solve this problem now because Americans are feeling real pain and the economy is reeling over energy prices. But here's the facts, Mr. Speaker. This is a fact. Any American can go and find out what the voting has been on ANWR exploration, of bringing energy down from Alaska. Ninety-one percent of Republicans have voted to explore in ANWR and drill for oil in ANWR, 91 percent; 86 percent of Democrats have opposed drilling. And that hasn't changed today because we already know what the Democrat plan is for energy, they've made it abundantly clear. It is very simple. Their plan has been, let's have the United States Government--that created this problem--take over the oil industry and nationalize oil refineries. That's what they said last week at a press conference, let's nationalize oil refineries. Well, that's not a new idea, but it's not an American idea. And that's not an idea that the American public wants us to embrace. They don't want us to embrace socialism. But that's what we heard Democrats say last week. Here's the other part of their plan: It is, drive less and pay more. Drive less and pay more. That's not what the American people want. But Senator Obama, the nominee of the Democrat party, just recently said it isn't the high price of gasoline that has him worried, it's how quickly that price went up. Well, I'll tell you one thing, Congressman Bob Latta, Congressman Paul Broun and also Congressman Rob Wittman, who was on the floor tonight, it's the high price of gasoline that's bothering us. Republicans don't want to see gas at $4.08 a gallon, or $5 or $6--or whatever that price could be by the end of summer. We don't want it that price because we know for a fact we can get gasoline back down to $2 a gallon or less very simply if all we do is explore what we already know we have. We've got the resources, we've got the technology. We can do this thing, we're Americans. We're Americans, and we can do this, just like Congressman Wittman said, like we did with the Apollo 13. We can do this, and it's exciting. We don't have to go with the Democrat agenda, which is, nationalize the oil industry, take over the oil refineries. We think the United States Government--who didn't do such a great job at Walter Reed Hospital--is going to be brilliant and bring down the price of gas by taking over oil refineries? I don't think so. I don't think that's who I want to trust, not with the American people saying that we have a 12 percent approval rating; I don't think they would trust us either. And I don't think the American people want us to drive less and pay more. I think what the American people want is what the Republicans are offering. And that's why I'm so grateful to Congressman Latta tonight for sponsoring this important hour on energy. Because what Congressman Latta is trying to let the American people know is that we can get back down to $2 a gallon of gas or less if we open up the key to our own answer, which is, open up America's supplies and do it in a clean, safe, environmentally sensitive way, which we've already done. How do I know that to be true? Because the United States was one of the only countries in the world last year that actually reduced its emissions. That's right, Mr. Speaker, the United States is one of the only countries in the world that reduced its emissions. All these other countries that signed onto the Kyoto Treaty, the EU, that signed onto this elaborate, bureaucratic-driven cap and trade system, their emissions all went up, ours went down. What's the difference? We, in this country, believe in freedom. We believe in freedom and we believe in free markets to solve our problems. And they do, free markets solve the problems. It's not socializing our oil industry like the Democrats have suggested. It's not sitting home, putting a sweater on, turning our thermostat down, that's not going to solve the problem. It's not going to be paying more at the pump; that's not going to solve the problem. It is unleashing American ingenuity and finding these new sources of supply, which we already have, with technology that we already have, and bring the supplies in so we can make it happen. I am so excited about what Congressman Latta is doing. And I just want to end now with these other statistics, and they're very simple. House Republicans voted 97 percent of the time to have coal-to-liquid technology, to give us more oil at cheaper prices. Democrats opposed it 78 percent of the time. Oil shale exploration. The United States is the Saudi Arabia of oil. We have more oil just in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming than all of Saudi Arabia, over 1.3 trillion barrels of oil. Republicans said yes, let's explore that oil 90 percent of the time. Democrats opposed exploring that oil 86 percent of the time. Outer Continental Shelf, where we have 86 billion barrels of oil. House Republicans voted 81 percent of the time, let's explore, let's access that energy. Democrats, almost the flip, 83 percent opposed exploration. On refinery increase. Because, you know, we had over 300 refineries not too long ago in this country, we're now down to somewhere near 150 refineries. The Republicans voted 97 percent to increase the number of refineries, Democrats opposed it 96 percent. I don't take any glory in reading those numbers, but if you average them all together, over 90 percent of the time, Mr. Speaker, Republicans have voted to explore American energy, explore it now so that Americans can pay less. That's our answer. We're not new to this dance. This has been the answer that Republicans have been giving since 1994. That's the answer we want to have. Democrats, since 1994, almost 90 percent have said no, let's not access American resources; in fact, let's make it illegal to access these resources. Well, that's not what the American people say. Mr. Speaker, over 70 percent of the American people have had it up to here. They're seeing their lives change; they're seeing jobs lost, jobs sent overseas. They want us to explore here, explore now, so they can pay less. And, Mr. Speaker, we agree with the American people. And Congressman Latta is leading the charge tonight to let the American people know that we're with them, we're in their corner. We don't think they are the problem. We think the American people are way out in front on this solution. So I yield back, Congressman Latta. I yield back because I can't wait to hear what more you have to say on this issue. And thank you for that opportunity.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Thank you to the representative from Michigan, Tim Walberg. I appreciate that. We are a great country. I believe that we are the greatest country that the world has ever seen. And in this country, in the fields of Pennsylvania, over 100 years ago was discovered a resource called oil; and that resource literally changed the world, changed this Nation, and allowed us to grow and to prosper in a way that our forefathers never dreamed would even be a possibility. We have that future yet in front of us again, Mr. Speaker. That future lies before us. It isn't time to throw in the towel for the American people. I know I'm not willing to have my generation be the last generation that sees growth. I don't want my children to live in the shadow of history in a declining Nation. I don't think most American people want that. We want a future. We want a hope, and that's something that we can have, and we have to have energy in order to make that happen. Now, remember, there's two choices that we talked about tonight. We can have one that is pay more, drive less, put on your sweater, lower your thermostat and sit at home. That's one philosophy. And as Representative Walberg said, there were people on the opposite side of the aisle, Democrats yesterday who said, and I quote, we, the government, should own the refineries. Then we can control how much gets out into the market. I stipulate, Mr. Speaker, that's exactly the wrong message for us. We, instead of having the Federal Government nationalizing industries, want to explore here, explore now, pay less. And I yield back.

Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey. Thank you for those important words. And again, I appreciate the expertise that you bring to bear on this wonderful debate tonight. Remember, there's two ways that we can go about approaching this problem. We can go with the philosophy that says pay more, drive less, put on your sweater, lower your thermostat and sit home, give in to defeat, just think it's over, suck your thumb. Mr. Speaker, that's one philosophy that the American people could embrace, but I don't think that's the American way. I don't think that's the ``can do'' spirit. I don't think that's what the founders of this Nation bled and died for. I think if they were here right now, they'd be telling us, wake up, take a look at reality. We have got the answer right here in America. We haven't talked an awful lot about nuclear power tonight. That's something that we can look at as well. We've talked about exploring the Arctic energy slope, Representative Steve King spoke about that and what the landscape looks like and the fact that we can do this in a wonderfully clean, environmentally sensitive way. It's entirely possible. We can explore our deep sea reserves which contain over 86 billion barrels of oil, perhaps even more. We can access those. Also, our natural gas that's available to us in the Gulf of Mexico area, and also the shale energy reserves where we are the Saudi Arabia of oil in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. Nuclear power, we know that France derives 80 percent of its energy from nuclear power. I'm grateful that there's a nuclear power plant in my district in Monticello, Minnesota. It's such a wonderfully reliable source of energy, clean, and has zero emissions. And also tax incentives for alternative energy. Can you believe that we would let these incentives expire, Mr. Speaker, these incentives for alternative energies, whether it's wind, solar or biofuels? We shouldn't let these expire, we should extend these. Because what we are saying on the Republican side of the aisle, Mr. Speaker, is let's get a big table, like a big table like we have here in the well this evening, and let's take every answer that America has, put it on the table, let's develop that resource. Let's have dominion over that resource. Let's open it up, cultivate it, use it in a wise way. You know, Mr. Speaker, the United States is one of the only countries in the world that actually saw a reduction in its emissions over this last year. We didn't sign the Kyoto Treaty, yet nations all across the world that signed the Kyoto Treaty, they saw their emissions go up. Europe, the EU countries have signed a cap and trade system, or what we call the tax and spend system because that describes it more accurately. Europe has actually seen an increase in its emissions. Think of that. I think it's good for us, I'm glad that Europe decided to go that route before the United States made the mistake of going down that road. It's important, Mr. Speaker, that we know what we're getting into before we take that plunge. I just wanted to give a couple of statistics before I hand the next few moments over to my distinguished colleague from the great State of Michigan, Representative Tim Walberg, and it's this: It's the facts. All we have to do is look at the facts. This isn't junk science. These are facts, Mr. Speaker. And if you look at the facts of voting patterns over the last 15 years, I'm not talking about the last 15 days, the last 15 months, but if you look at the voting patterns of this Congress over the last 15 years, Mr. Speaker, this is what you'll find out. Over 90 percent of the time, House Republicans voted to increase production of American-made oil and gas. You heard me right. Over 91 percent of the time Republicans voted to explore in America, to explore now for American oil and gas. The Republicans have not been the obstacles. The Republicans haven't been perfect by a long shot. There's a lot of missed opportunities the Republicans have made. But over 91 percent of the time you've been able to count, Mr. Speaker, the American people have been able to count on the Republicans to vote to explore for American oil and American gas now. Let's take a look at the other statistic. Almost 90 percent of the time, 86 percent of the time, to be exact, that's the percentage of time that the House Democrats, over the last 15 years, have voted against increasing the production of American-made oil and gas. Those numbers are almost flipped. And I have no joy in giving those numbers, because my preference, and my heart is to see Republicans and Democrats come together. Now we're in a crisis. We can't be partisan right now. We have to be about America right now because now is about solutions and answers so we can get to our goal, $2 a gallon gasoline. And it's real, and it's possible, and we can get there sooner if we start now. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to hand over the next few moments to my distinguished colleague from the great State of Michigan, Representative Tim Walberg, who has tremendous passion, and who also has stood on this floor and managed an hour on energy so that he can also get his passion to the American people for the answers that he knows are available to make all of our lives better, Mr. Speaker, so we can get back to $2 a gallon gasoline. Representative Tim Walberg of Michigan.

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the privilege of being able to address the House for this special order of 60 minutes. And the topic tonight will be on the topic that's on the minds of Americans all across this country. It's the high price of energy and the impact that that is having on the middle class, on families, on individuals, on farmers and on businessmen. There is nothing that is shocking us more now, Mr. Speaker, than the high cost of energy and the impact that that is having directly on people all across the country. When I came into Washington, D.C. this week from my home in Minnesota, I had the privilege of representing the great people in the Sixth Congressional District in Minnesota. And I was reading the newspaper. And I was reading a few things. And I just wanted to bring a couple of headlines to the attention of the American people. Here is one of the headlines that I read this week when I came in. It was on Tuesday of this week. This headline in USA Today said ``will gas prices plateau after hitting another record?'' It seems like every morning when we wake up and the clock radio goes off next to our bed, we hear about a new increase in the price in gasoline. And we're shocked. And it's like our day already starts out on the wrong foot because we hear about yet one more shocking increase. And we wonder what will we have to give up next? What will we have to give up? What will we have to yield out of our lives? It's a lot of bad news that has been coming this way with the American people. Let me read this. It says ``$4 plus cost cuts demand even as supply is rising.'' It began, The price of gasoline set another record Monday where the average is going up now again. And this is something that the people are worried about. This is something that the people are worried about, the record prices that are going up. As a matter of fact, the price of gasoline today is $4.07 and we will talk a little bit more about that as we go on during the course of the hour that we have together to talk about this very important issue. Here is another headline that was in USA Today, and this is Tuesday's paper again, and it says, ``Prepare to pay if you don't gas up your car rental.'' If you can believe this, rental car companies are having to charge $8 a gallon when someone who is renting a car returns it to an airport with a less than full tank. Usually we try to guess as well as we can and fill that tank up before we return it to the car rental place because we know the price at the pump for the car rental will be higher. Well, guess what, that price is now a whooping $8 to $10 a gallon that car rental companies are forced to charge their customers now when cars are returned to the car rental company with a less-than-full tank. These are numbers, I believe, Mr. Speaker, that none of us ever thought in our wildest dreams that we would ever imagine that we could be paying. This is a lot of bad news that the American people are having to take, along with the flooding, the terrible, terrible conditions that people in Iowa are facing right now, in Arkansas and Missouri, with all of the impact of the weather. We hear yet more negative reports about how our crops will be impacted. In Iowa, nearly all of the counties are devastated. I was born in the State of Iowa in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, where the Cedar River came up over its banks and flooded that downtown area, displacing hundreds and thousands of people from their homes, and people from their businesses. And Iowa, as I know from my experience, is a leading corn producer and soybean producer, and so now we see that the price of corn will also probably be going up. Well, I didn't ask for this hour, to manage this hour just to talk about gloom and doom and the negative. The reason why I started out with these comments, Mr. Speaker, is to identify with all of the American people at home right now who are experiencing this pain, who are experiencing this suffering that they never imagined they would be experiencing with the high cost of energy. But I am here tonight because I want to talk about the great news, and the great news is this: we are privileged to stand right now on the answer to the problem that is plaguing us, the high cost of energy. And the great news is that we have a key. We have an answer. The American people, the American middle class don't need to suffer any longer. It is unnecessary because we have a key that can be the answer to our problem. And here it is. We can get back to our goal which is $2 a gallon gasoline. This isn't fantasy, this is reality. We can once again see America paying $2 a gallon gasoline. Are you kidding? How is that going to happen, you ask. Well, easy. This is how we can do it. We need to start to explore here in America. Because the truth be told, America does not have a famine of energy, absolutely not. Just the opposite. We are sitting on the cusp of one of the greatest industries that can be developed in this century and on into the future, one that will deliver millions of high-paying jobs for Americans all across this country. In fact, in every State in this country America could become the leading exporter of energy. You heard me right. America could be the world's leading exporter of energy and create some of the highest-paying jobs known in the world because right here in America we are standing on a veritable treasure trove of energy. So we need to start here, start in America, to access these wonderful resources and we need to do it now in order to get back to $2 a gallon gasoline. In order to be able to get off of foreign dependence on energy, we need to explore here and we need to explore now because then the American people can start to pay less, and that paying less would get us back to $2 a gallon gasoline. You say how is that possible? How is it possible that once again we could be paying $2 a gallon gasoline? Well, just think, it took us 25 years in this country to go from $1 a gallon gasoline to $2 a gallon gasoline; 25 years to go from $1 to $2. How long did it take us to go from $2 a gallon gasoline to $4 a gallon gasoline and even more a gallon gasoline? It took us less than 2 years to go from $2 to $4. Well, what changed? There are a few things that came into the mix. One is the American dollar came into a weakened position. And when the American dollar became weakened, the United States unfortunately found itself very dependent on foreign sources of energy that we were dependent on. Do you know that from 2007 to 2008 the United States has become 7 percent more dependent on the OPEC nations for our energy, going exactly in the wrong direction. I don't know of anyone right now, Mr. Speaker, who believes that America should become more dependent on foreign oil. In fact, what I hear from my constituents is can't we get less dependent. Absolutely. We can be less dependent on foreign oil. In fact, we can become independent of foreign oil and we can become a leading exporter of energy to the world and we can become the head, and not the tail. Right now America is busy becoming part of the tail when it comes to energy. But we can turn this around. We can become the leading producer and exporter. Well, you ask, how is that possible? I will tell you how it is possible. Take a look at the situation we are in right now. Here is the key to our answer, and now it is up to Congress to unlock that key, unleash this energy and bring the price of gasoline back down to $2 a gallon. It is Congress that has been the bad guy in this scenario. And it is Congress that can be the hero in this scenario. Congress. Right now Congress has made it illegal, virtually illegal to be able to access this gift of energy. How did we do that? Congress has made it illegal to access the energy that is in the Arctic energy slope up in Alaska. Do you realize that we already have the Alaskan transatlantic pipeline that was built in the mid-1970s from Prudhoe Bay and has been piping oil from Alaska down into the lower 48. That pipeline is already up in existence, and it is only half of capacity flowing. With a very little effort, we could tap into the Arctic energy slope and begin accessing that over 10 billion barrels of oil that are available to us in the Arctic energy slope. Do you realize that if we accessed this wonderful source of energy, we will increase American energy production by 50 percent, access to American resources by 50 percent. Also, we have the Outer Continental Shelf that is available to us for deep sea energy reserves. Now get this, if you thought 10 billion barrels was a lot, just listen, this is 86 billion barrels of oil. You heard me, 86 billion barrels that are available to us to access of deep sea energy reserves that we could tap, get up online, and we could have access to and supply the American people and American industry so that energy would become one of the cheapest costs of doing business rather than one of the most expensive. Let me give you one little story that I heard yesterday. Northwest Airlines is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are proud to have this airline in our State. As you know, airlines have come under hard times. I was told yesterday that Northwest Airlines had paid about a billion and a half dollars for fuel last year. Do you know what they had to budget this year, an additional $2 billion to pay for the price of energy. So Northwest Airlines, instead of spending about a billion and a half on energy, will have to spend this year $3.5 billion on energy. Can you imagine, if that's your industry and that cost, you have to somehow absorb, you just can't absorb it without passing that cost on to your consumer, to your customer, who will be purchasing your product. And those are people who fly on airplanes. That is why we see the price of airline tickets have gone through the roof and why airlines have had to park planes and reduce the number of seats and reduce capacity. Don't fool yourself, America is changing, and we are changing because we don't have energy. Not only that, we have a gift of natural gas. In the gulf coast region in the Gulf of Mexico, we have what may be the largest reserves of natural gas, 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas exists right here in the gulf coast region. Do you know that natural gas can be used to fire up electric power plants. With modifications to cars and buses, we could run cars and buses on natural gas. Almost the world's largest supply right here in our backyard, illegal, off-limits. And 85 percent of our Outer Continental Shelf, illegal, off-limits. The Arctic energy slope, illegal, off-limits. And also shale. Do you realize that the Saudi Arabia of oil in the United States is this wonderful ring of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, containing 1.3 trillion, yes, you heard me right, 1.3 trillion barrels of shale oil. This is one of the most exciting finds. We have one of the world's largest supplies of shale oil right here in our backyard. But guess what, it is off-limits. We are handcuffed. We can't access it. Who made all of this off-limits? Do you realize the United States of America is one of the only countries in the world that has made it illegal to access the answer to our problem; made it illegal to access our own energy. We have this great gift waiting for us, great job producer waiting for us. And it is the United States Congress, your representatives, which have said no, no way, we are not going to access it. When I talk to the American people about this back home, when I talk to average Minnesotans, they look at me and they say, Michele, what in the world is Congress thinking? Why in the world wouldn't they allow us? Don't they want us to have $2 a gallon gas? I wonder sometimes, too. We have the key right here, and I have other Members who are with me right now who would also like to weigh in, who are leaders on this issue, passionate about this issue, people who are speaking out and advocating for you, the American people, who want you to be able to again get up in the morning with a happy, light heart realizing you can afford to go to the gas station because you can be paying $2 a gallon gas again. You can see your grocery bills go down. You can see your consumables go down. You can see the price that you are going to be paying for air conditioning this summer and your electric bill go down. This fall in Minnesota when all the furnaces kick back in again, to be able to see your heat bill go back down, this is all to be, all possible. We have a great story to tell tonight, so I hope that you will listen for the next few minutes, and I would like to yield to the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King). There is not a day that goes by that Representative Steve King is not here on the floor advocating for the good of the American people, to get back to paying $2 a gallon gasoline. With that, I yield to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

Mrs. BACHMANN. Thank you, Congressman King. I would ask the Speaker how much time remains.

Mrs. BACHMANN. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that. I'm sure everyone tonight, Mr. Speaker, can hear the passion in the voices of the people who are speaking in this Special Order hour. It's because we understand from our constituents back home how real this is for them. This is an issue where the American people are way ahead of people in Congress. They get it, how difficult this is, and that's why we have been repeatedly asking our constituents back home in our districts ``Why don't you go ahead and show us how painful this is, how difficult this is, how real this is. Take your receipts from your car when you go and fill up your tank or, if you are a trucker, when you fill up your truck. Take those receipts. Fill them up. Send them to us. Send them to your Member of Congress. We want to be able to have them here so we can demonstrate what tremendous agony this is for Americans.'' I believe that we should have bushel baskets full of receipts from people when they fill up their gas tanks so we can show people how real this is, the pain at the pump, because that represents money that every person is paying today, money that would be needless, that we don't have to pay because we know we can get back to $2 a gallon. How do we know that? We know that rather than paying $4.07, which is today's national average for gasoline--it still shocks me when I see that number up on a billboard. We know we've got our answer. This is our answer: Our natural gift from God that he has given to the United States. God has given us these natural resources, and it is our obligation to be good stewards of what we have and to take dominion over this, to take dominion and to cultivate what we have in a safe, sound and environmentally sensitive way so we can take care of the needs of our people and yet also be good stewards of the land. We have two very different philosophies that we're looking at. For those of us who are speaking now in the Special Order, we're saying explore America; do it now so that Americans can pay less. There is a completely different philosophy that has also been talked about in recent weeks, and that plan is to pay more and to drive less. That's really what it comes down to. Pay more and drive less. But is that what we want for Americans? Is that what we want for this generation and for the next generation? I don't, because this is what I'm concerned about: Whoever controls fuel will control our freedom. Think about that. Whoever controls our energy will control our freedom and will control the future. Congressman Steve King of Iowa was talking a little bit about climate control legislation, and it's also called a cap-and-trade system. Now, I don't call it ``cap and trade.'' I call it ``tax and spend'' because that's really what it is, in a nutshell, if you want to know what ``cap and trade'' is. Before I hand this off to Representative Phil Gingrey from Georgia, who has some comments he would like to make, I just want to say a little bit about cap and trade, or what I call ``tax and spend.'' This proposal that has been coming from people who want you to pay more and drive less, that's their answer regarding this energy crisis. You pay more and you drive less. As a matter of fact, we heard from the nominee of one of the major political parties that his concern was not the high price that Americans are paying for gasoline but how quickly that price is rising. Well, I think, for those of us who are speaking tonight in this special hour, our real concern is that high price of gasoline because we see not only is it impacting people personally in their pocketbooks, not only is it having a devastating impact on the economy, but it's also impacting our national security because, as we are more dependent on foreign oil and as we're paying ever-increasing prices and sending billions--and now it will soon be $1 trillion--off to other countries that don't like us very much, we are seeing that negative impact here at home. Let me just say a few words about cap and trade, or tax and spend. Tax and spend works like this: If you think you're already paying a high price for energy, now what your Federal Government wants to do is to force you to pay for the right to buy that energy. As if it isn't punishing enough to just buy the energy in the first place, you're going to have to pay for the right to buy energy. Now, think of that madness. You're going to have to buy a permit if you're a business. If you're an individual, you're going to be paying indirectly for that permit. By the way, the Federal Government created the problem. Congress created these high prices. Now, if they haven't mucked it up already, Congress wants to charge you for the right to purchase overly inflated prices of energy. Think of that. By the year 2025, Congress in one bill wants to tax you $6.7 trillion. They want you to pay $6.7 trillion in this tax for the right to purchase very expensive energy. Think of what that is going to do to our economy. If you do that and if we comply with what all of these grandiose schemes are, guess what the bottom line result will be out of this cap- and-trade or, what I call, tax-and-spend legislation? By the way, the brain trusts who have come up with this scheme have already spent this $6.7 trillion. They have already decided how they're going to spend this money. But guess what the final result will be. If everything goes perfectly, according to plan, they will only reduce the Earth's temperature, according to their models, by seven one hundredths of a percent. Just think. Are we really willing to devastate the United States' economy? For what? To cool the Earth? Maybe. At seven one hundredths of a percent? We need to think about this really carefully and have a debate right here, a genuine debate, where you see a few more Members of Congress in the room who are debating this very serious issue. This is serious enough that we are here tonight because we want the American people to know that there are answers, and we don't have to go along with all of this folderol, the tax and spend and all of the nonsense that goes on. Let me tell you one of the first bills that we voted on this week. We voted to make it illegal to transport monkeys across State lines. I'm not making this up. This is absolutely the truth. We all got on planes that emit a lot of carbon. We came from all corners of the United States so that we could have the right--you heard me--to vote to make it illegal to transport monkeys across State lines. That was the most pressing thing that this body had to do this week while you were busy getting out of bed in the morning, paying $4.07 a gallon, thinking, ``Now what am I going to do? Now what am I going to have to give up so I can pay $4.07 a gallon?'' But don't worry. In the United States Congress, we made it illegal to transport monkeys across State lines. If you don't think that's bad enough, do you know what we did a couple of weeks ago? It is absolutely true, and it happened right here on this floor. We voted to send your money--I did not vote for it, but enough people in this body voted for it. We voted to send $25 million of your money to foreign countries in foreign aid to pay for foreign cats and foreign dogs, not even American cats and dogs in foreign countries. We spent your money, $25 million, and sent it to foreign countries to pay for foreign cats and foreign dogs. As if that were not bad enough, the next day, we sent more millions to foreign countries to pay for foreign birds. Well, at least we didn't do that for foreign monkeys. All we did is make it illegal to transport monkeys across State lines. This is what your United States Congress has been doing while you've been busy spending $4.07 a gallon. That's a travesty. That's why we're here tonight to tell you don't give up hope yet. We're saying let's explore America. Let's explore now so that you can pay less because, otherwise, we'll have to go with their answer. Remember what their answer is: Pay more. Drive less. I don't think that's what we want to do. That's why I want you to hear from my distinguished colleague from Georgia's 11th District. His name is Dr. Phil Gingrey. I'd like you to give him some attention so that he can talk to you about what he knows to be true about energy.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, tonight, Dan Meyer, a high school teacher from Mt. Hermon, California, will be honored with an annual Cable's Leader in Learning Award at a ceremony in the Library of Congress. Dan Meyer, who teaches at San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, is one of just ten educators in the country receiving this prestigious award--and the only teacher to receive the award in his category, ``Pushing the Envelope.'' Awardees in this category are recognized for the inventive and creative incorporation of video media to achieve greater learning and growth in the classroom. As an algebra teacher, Meyer began producing short videos to demonstrate algebra equations to his students. The result of his pioneering technique was profound--Meyer reports students began picking up the algebra with shocking speed. When Meyer posted his instructional videos online, thousands of teachers began downloading the videos to take advantage of Meyer's innovative approach. Education is one of the world's noblest professions. And Meyer reminds us all that education is not an act but a process--a process that thrives on the passion and innovation of those trusted with this great responsibility. And so I am thrilled today to recognize Dan Meyer for his important achievement. As America continues its march into the 21st century I know that our future is secure so long as we have people like those being honored tonight to help educate our next generation of leaders.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, today, I was proud to support, H. Res. 1127, a bill which condemns the endemic restrictions on freedom of the press and media and public expression in the Middle East and the concurrent and widespread presence of anti-Semitic material, Holocaust denial, and incitement to violence in the Arab media and press. The people of Israel have been victims of violence and hatred for far too long. Not only are these peace-loving individuals targets of rocket attacks and terrorist actions, they are also victims of government- censored, hateful press. It is far too common for Arab media markets to condemn Israel and promote actions which foster violence and hinder the peace process in the region. Israeli reporters and journalists have been harassed and intimidated by Middle East government officials who have placed harsh legal restrictions on what news can and cannot be reported. I strongly believe that the universal right of all persons to peacefully express themselves in a nonviolent way should be upheld in the Middle East. It is the responsibility of the United States and the global community to condemn this lack of freedom and work to promote an environment which fosters the license of nonviolent speech and press and peace.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly special Minnesotan. Sixth grade student Monica Nelson from Ham Lake, Minnesota has been chosen to represent Minnesota at the National History Day competition taking place at the University of Maryland this week. Monica was selected from the nearly 30,000 students from Minnesota who take part in History Day every year. The theme for this year's competition is ``Conflict and Compromise in History.'' At this competition, participants get an opportunity to finally present their findings after an exhaustive and critical analysis of facts and figures relating to their chosen topic. Monica presented her research on a famous St. Cloud, Minnesota resident, early abolitionist and women's rights advocate, Jane Grey Swisshelm. Presenting her research through an acted performance, Monica gave an account of Jane Swisshelm's life and contributions from the perspective of her daughter. Thank you, Monica, for your hard work and passion for our Nation's history. You have paid a great honor to our American heritage, and your very own contributions have ensured that this early patriot's contributions to our Nation will never be forgotten. Minnesota thanks you and wishes you the best during the competition. We are all proud of you, Monica, and we look forward to seeing all that you do with your God-given talents in years to come.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 20 heroes who served the people of our Nation valiantly in Operation Iraqi Freedom and who this past weekend were honored at the Fallen Heroes Memorial in Bloomington, Minnesota. SPC Benjamin J. Slaven, SGT Brent W. Koch, SPC Kyle R. Miller, Staff SGT Jeffrey J. Hansen, Staff SGT Joshua R. Hanson, SGT Germaine L. Debro, SPC Kampha B. Sourivong, SGT 1st Class Scott E. Nisely, SGT Bryan T. McDonough, and SGT Corey J. Rystad. SGT Nicholas D. Turcotte, Staff SGT Thomas W. Clemons, Staff SGT James M. Wosika, Jr., SPC Carla J. Stewart, SGT MAJ Michael C. Mettille, SGT 1st Class David R. Berry, Staff SGT Greg N. Riewer, SGT Joshua A. Schmit, SGT Brandon L. Wallace, and Staff SGT Robert J. Basham. Each made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and each deserves a special place in America's history and America's heart. I join with their friends, family, and comrades who were in attendance this weekend in honoring their memories.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia. Our President John Quincy Adams said, ``The virtue which had been infused into the Constitution of the United States . . . was no other than . . . those abstract principles which had been first proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence--namely, the self-evident truths of the natural and unalienable rights of man . . . This was the platform upon which the Constitution of the United States had been erected.'' Abraham Lincoln similarly made reference to the importance of these foundational principles when he said, ``I have never had a thought politically which did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.'' The Declaration contains 12 such sentiments which follow: The Pillar number 1 is National Sovereignty. The Declaration of Independence could just as well be called the ``Declaration of National Sovereignty.'' Pillar number 2: Natural law. Natural law is the universal moral code that governs all people. Pillar number 3: Self-evident Truth. We hold these truths to be self- evident, evidence for all to see. Pillar number 4: Equality. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. Pillar number 5: Inalienable Rights. Inalienable rights are not granted by government. They are granted to us by God. The role of government, then, is to protect our God-given rights. Pillar number 6: The Inalienable Right to Life. Pillar number 7: The Inalienable Right to Liberty. Pillar number 8: The Inalienable Right to Private Property. Pillar number 9: The primary purpose of government is to protect the inalienable rights. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men. Pillar number 10: Popular Sovereignty. To secure these rights, governments derived their just powers from the consent of the governed. Pillar number 7: Federalism and State rights. The Declaration affirms not only the sovereignty of the Federal United States, but also the sovereignty of the separate states. And finally, Pillar number 12: Divine Providence. The Declaration of Independence ends with this sentence: And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. The Colonists stated their conviction that there is a God in the Heavens who ultimately governs in the affairs of men. There is no Natural law without a Law giver. The unalienable rights they said were God-given. Equality, they said, was the state in which we were created by God. May God bless to this present generation the memory of the Declaration of Independence and the 12 principles contained therein. Mr. Speaker, it is vital that we recognize the rich spiritual and religious history of our Nation's founding and subsequent history, and I rise today to express support for the designation of the first week in May as ``American Religious History Week'' to raise the appreciation of and to promote education on America's history of religious faith. In doing so, we recommit ourselves to our nation's common religious faith, also called ``the American Creed.'' We reconnect our people with our most basic principles--our fundamental statement of faith--as stated in our foundational Document, the Declaration of Independence. This document is a Declaration that we are first and foremost a religious country. It clarifies that our breaking of the bond with Great Britain was justified by the spiritual principle of Natural Law-- the universal and God-given understanding of morality and human rights that applies to all people and all nations throughout the world. This American Creed stated in the Declaration clarifies that all people are entitled to be free, to have their lives protected and to own property. Why? Because our Creator--God made us that way. Our forefathers understood that God made us to be largely like him. That is, they understood that just as God is free, he made us with a right to be free. Just as God lives, he made us with a right to live; and just as God owns everything, he made us with a right to own some things. The founders understood that religion is the foundation of a just society. Here it is in their own words. ``All our basic rights and freedoms are recognized by the American Creed as belonging to us and inherent in us because of religious principles. If we fail to recognize our nation's religious foundation, these same rights and freedoms become increasingly vulnerable.'' The Declaration ends by appealing to ``Divine Providence''. That is, our Declaration says that the success of this new republic depends on God looking favorably upon it and protecting it. Today, we recommit ourselves and our country to these all-important religious foundational principles. Today, we recommit ourselves to being free.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, since its founding in 1992 with the financial assistance of a local VFW post, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, MAC-V, has been serving Minnesota's veterans with pride and honor. Back then, it started by providing 4 homeless veterans with shelter and support. Today, it serves hundreds all across the state. Too often, our brave heroes return from service to find the life they had left behind has left them behind in their absence. MAC-V helps our veterans pick up the pieces of their shattered lives in so many ways. In addition to providing shelter to veterans who return from service and find themselves in need of this basic need, MAC-V also helps veterans struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, provides important job training skills, and more. Their annual Stand Down event, at which returning veterans have an opportunity to meet with veterans organizations that provide the full range of services, has become one of the most anticipated events in the veterans community. MAC-V not only provides for the physical and mental needs of our veterans, but also forms a welcoming circle of support, friendship and camaraderie that these brave men and women need most of all. Partnering with local companies, organizations, and an army of volunteers, MAC-V has become an important part of the Minnesota veterans community and I thank them for their service to those who have served us so well.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor one of my constituents, a true community servant, Ms. Louise Botzek. Ms. Botzek has volunteered at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center for over 30 years, totaling more than 5,000 hours of service. As a wife and sister of men who served in our Nation's armed forces, Ms. Botzek has made it a priority to give her time to those who have fought to protect our Nation's freedom. While at the VA Medical Center, Ms. Botzek plays card games with the patients and transports them to medical appointments and chapel services. Her dedication to service has made a difference in the lives of many treated at the Center. A simple task like taking someone outside to enjoy the weather makes a world of difference to these veterans. Our Nation's heroes sacrificed their comforts and safety so that Americans can enjoy their continued freedoms. For their great efforts, veterans deserve much from the American people. It's efforts like those of Ms. Botzek that truly show our appreciation for these heroes. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize and congratulate Ms. Louise Botzek for her exemplary service to our Nation's heroes. The time that she has sacrificed to serve the military men and women of our great state of Minnesota will not be forgotten.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 336. There is no greater American hero than the military veteran, and I am proud to join my fellow colleagues today in honoring the sacrifices and contributions of our disabled American veterans. The American soldier is the embodiment of hard work, patriotism, and service, and the soldier who has sacrificed his body for the freedom and liberty of others around the world deserves our utmost respect. The blood spilled on our own soil and abroad is a lasting reminder of the commitment that our soldiers have sacrificed for us all, and every citizen owes a deep and lasting gratitude to these brave warriors. Madam Speaker, our departed soldiers must never be forgotten, and those injured veterans from wars past and those just returning from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan should receive our Nation's and this Congress's unwavering support and reverence. It is an honor to rise today and praise the bravest of all Americans--the disabled military veteran. America will never forget your valor during our most trying times, and we are forever grateful for your dedicated service and selfless sacrifice to our Nation.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. David Hale, Chief of Staff and ER Medical Director at Woodwinds Health Campus, for being named a 2008 Health Care Hero by the Twin Cities Business Magazine. A modem day hero not only in his community, but as far away as Iraq, Dr. Hale's selfless service and dedication to his work have earned him the respect and admiration of his patients and colleagues spread throughout the world. Dr. David Hale has earned the reputation as a giant in his field. In fact, one distinguished colleague has even said, ``The world is a better place because of Dr. Hale.'' After hearing his long record of accomplishment, you will surely agree. As an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Hale is known for his caring and compassionate demeanor towards patients and for his leadership in hospital patient services. Some suggest he is the reason Woodwinds receives some of the highest patient satisfaction scores not only in Minnesota, but across the country. If that was not enough, Dr. Hale is a Major in the Minnesota National Guard and has completed two tours of duty in Iraq. Among his military honors, Dr. Hale earned a Bronze Medal Star in March 2007, an Army Commendation Medal in March 2005, an Army Achievement Medal in August 2003, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal and many other awards for his outstanding military service. Even more amazing are the contributions he has made on the humanitarian front during his time in Iraq. During his first tour of duty, Dr. Hale stm1ed an international humanitarian effort to teach basic 'tnedical care to Iraqis, a program that still exists today. During his second tour in Iraq, he expanded his efforts to provide 400 first aid kits and midwife kits to Iraqi women and children, a gesture well received by Iraqi villagers and soldiers alike. Now back in Minnesota, Dr, Hale is focused on helping veterans returning home from war, many of whom suffered traumatic injuries on the battlefield. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to celebrate Dr. David Hale's extraordinary and selfless career of service. His contributions to his community, the state of Minnesota, and the country of Iraq make him a distinguished patriot, and make us all proud to be Americans. I stand today and join his family, friends, and colleagues in wishing him a long and successful career.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of Hugo, Minnesota. It was just several weeks ago that the people of Hugo encountered a terrible tragedy; it occurred at 5 o'clock on a quiet Sunday afternoon. A tornado touched down in Hugo, and within 30 seconds over 50 to 60 homes were completely flattened, between 150 and 200 homes were uninhabitable. But the wonderful spirit, Madam Speaker, among the people of Hugo, the fire department, the police department, the State Patrol, almost instantaneously had a wonderful textbook outpouring of rebuilding. Within one week, the community of Hugo had so many volunteers they had to turn them away. They completely removed all the debris from the city within one week, and now they're on the road to rebuilding. I congratulate Mayor Fran Miron. I congratulate City Administrator Mike Ericsson. And I congratulate all the people of Hugo who have exuded the spirit of Minnesota, the loving experience of loving a neighbor. And that's what people in Hugo do best, they love each other. So congratulations to the people of Hugo. You will rebuild. You will be back. And I'm so honored to represent you here in this great House.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly special American patriot. This particular American hasn't served overseas defending our freedom and liberty, nor has she dedicated her life to serving her fellow man through charity. However, I'm certain that later in life she'll be able to reflect on her accomplishments and truly realize the impact she has made on so many lives. Madam Speaker, this patriot's name is E'leese Madgett Manrique, and she is a 12-year-old girl from Buffalo, Minnesota. I call attention to her today because on June 7, she will embark on a mission in honor of our military veterans. To show her support for our military personnel and their families, she will be leaving the Buffalo Rodeo Grounds on her horse ``Chip'' at noon this Saturday, and will ride her horse for the next 86 days throughout Minnesota to raise money for a ranch to support our military veterans. Her vision is to create a place where any soldier in need of a place to heal can go for free. To paint a clearer picture of what ``The Ranch'' will look like, I'll let E'leese tell you in her own words: The Ranch will not be fancy, in fact it will be humble. Just like the men and women that serve their country. Here in Minnesota we have a very good life. People in Minnesota have a long tradition of service and volunteering. Neighbor helping neighbor. The Ranch will be a number of cabins surrounding a lodge and dining room. Soldiers can spend the day lounging around. Taking a walk, going for a swim, or taking a horse out for a ride. Do ranch chores or relax, read a book, or have a good conversation, be our guest. For those who do so much for others, we thank you. E'leese, we thank you. At the tender of age 12, you are displaying more respect, love, and caring than many folks do in a lifetime. As you start your trip this Saturday, know that you have the prayers and support of Minnesota and Americans across the country. We are all proud of you E'leese, and your selflessness is an inspiration to us all. May God bless you on your journey, and we look forward to your safe return.