Andy Barr

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the topic of my Special Order.

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, this Nation was founded on a simple, but majestic, idea; and that idea is that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Think about these words from Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence for just a minute: the pursuit of happiness--the idea that every human being has a fundamental, natural right to follow his or her dreams, to reach for the stars, to work hard to achieve their God-given potential, all without undue interference from the government. What is the key to happiness? I believe it to be hard work--a relentless and unyielding desire on the part of the individual to apply effort and improve their lot in life. Hard work, after all, has been an American tradition from our very founding. Benjamin Franklin once said: It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man. And so this story is the story of America. The work ethic defines who we are as a nation. It is in our DNA; unconstrained by excessive government, the industry and creativity of the American people have fueled the most prosperous and productive nation in the history of the world. So what gives Americans--or anyone else for that matter--the character to pursue happiness? What animates our capacity to do work? In a word: energy. Quite literally, the classic, scientific definition of energy is the ability to do work. And Americans' ability to perform work, to work hard and to pursue happiness over the years has been supported by an abundant and affordable supply of domestic American-produced energy. Energy has been the indispensable ingredient in Americans' ability to pursue happiness. Think about it: the story of this country has been the story of American energy--coal, oil, natural gas. Abundant, reliable, affordable energy has always been essential to a growing national economy. It built the railroads and conquered the West. It spawned the industrial revolution and won two world wars. It revolutionized communications and fostered innovation from Henry Ford to the Wright brothers, Apollo and Neil Armstrong. It propelled us into the Information Age and the knowledge-based economy. Energy always has been and always will be the key to Americans' ability to work hard and pursue happiness. It is no surprise then that the countries with the best human health and the most material wealth on this planet are the countries with the highest levels of energy consumption. The most salient difference between nations in the developed world and nations in the lesser- developed world is that nations in the developed world produce and consume the most energy, whereas nations in the lesser-developed parts of the world produce and consume the least. And so before us we have a choice, and it's a choice between two futures. The first is a future of energy freedom and independence in which we continue to embrace the ideals of our Founding Fathers, of Jefferson and Franklin, where men follow their dreams, can work hard and pursue happiness unconstrained by central planners in Washington, D.C., where we can pursue an open energy system and a diversity of energy sources to create jobs and opportunity and power a future of unlimited growth and potential. The second is a future of energy scarcity, a future of energy dependency in which we abandon the traditions of the Founding Fathers, reject the American work ethic, and deprive Americans of their ability to pursue their dreams, by limiting the diversity of their energy choices to only those that Washington politicians and not the American people decide are worthwhile and sustainable. In short, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, we can be the happy man. We can pursue happiness, or we can be the idle man. The choice is ours, and here's why this is relevant today. We are on the path toward a future of energy scarcity rather than energy freedom. We are on a path that replaces Americans' right to work hard and pursue happiness with a government-directed society in which politicians and bureaucrats restrict Americans' freedom and limit their choices. And the best example of this is the Obama administration's war on coal. What is the impact of this great, abundant natural resource? In 2012, coal was responsible for 37 percent of electricity generated in the United States, more than any other source of electricity. Given current consumption rates, the United States has more than 230 years remaining in coal reserves. Coal is mined in 25 U.S. States and is responsible for over 760,000 U.S. jobs. My home State, Kentucky, has produced energy for centuries. And most importantly, we have produced coal. And our coal industry that has been built by the hard work of my fellow Kentuckians powers America. Kentucky was the third largest coal producer in the United States during 2011, and coal mining was by far the greatest source of energy production in the Commonwealth. In 2011, coal mines employed more than 19,000 individuals through the year, and mining directly contributed approximately $4 billion to the Commonwealth's economy. What has the war on coal brought to our country and to Kentucky? Domestic coal decreased by 4.6 percent just last year. In 2012, U.S. coal consumption for electric power declined by 11.5 percent. Within the past year, 226 coal electricity-generating units have been shut down. In 2012, Kentucky's overall coal production decreased by 16.3 percent, reaching its lowest level of production since 1965. And this has an impact on real people. U.S. coal-mining jobs dropped by 7,700 in 2012, and new and pending EPA regulations will cost 1.65 million jobs. With 205 coal-fired generators shutting down in the coming year due to stricter environmental regulations, the United States is expected to lose up to 17,000 jobs. In my home State of Kentucky, this war on coal has been devastating to my fellow Kentuckians. In 2012, direct employment in Kentucky's coal industry decreased by over 4,000 workers. Mr. Speaker, this has a real impact on real lives. It's easy to sit in Washington and issue regulations when you don't have to confront the human cost. I want to yield time to some of my fellow colleagues in the House; but before I do, I want to tell a brief story that I think tells the story of the war on coal and why it matters to people all around this country. It's a story of a young coal miner that I met in my home State of Kentucky. His name is Chris Woods, and Chris commutes over an hour each way, both ways, to work and back home every day. He took me in the coal mine, and he wanted to show me his work. And it's heroic work what these coal miners do. And he took me underground and he showed me what he did. As we were coming out of the mine, and as I recognized that what he was doing was providing low-cost, reliable electricity to the American people, he looked at me and he said: You know, Andy, I don't really know much about politics. And, frankly, I don't care much about politics; but if you can save my job, I'm for you. And the thing about Chris Woods was he wasn't thinking about himself. His one paycheck takes care of his wife, two children, and both sets of parents. This matters to people. And for every one coal mining job lost, there are 3\1/2\ additional jobs that are dependent on the coal industry. And so, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to having a discussion tonight about the future of coal in America, about the choices we have as a country to pursue our happiness, to work hard, to fulfill and embrace the Founding Fathers' vision that we should shoot for the stars, that we should have energy diversity and energy freedom, and we should reject the path we're on, a path of energy scarcity and dependence. With that, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to yield to the gentlelady from Missouri, Ann Wagner.

Mr. BARR. I thank the gentlelady, and appreciate her comments on the fact that certainly affordable electricity is part of this discussion. And it's particularly important to recognize that the war on coal affects everybody, not just coal miners, not just people in the power industry, but seniors on fixed income. Over half of American households devote more than 20 percent of their family budget to energy costs, more than double 10 years ago, and so this matters to every middle class family in America. At this time I'd like to yield to my colleague, the gentleman from Kentucky, the chair of the Energy Subcommittee.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of what would be the 236th birthday of Henry Clay, who once represented the same district which I am honored to serve today. As one of Kentucky's most celebrated statesmen, Henry Clay proved that an unwavering dedication to principle and a practical commitment to compromise are not incompatible values. As the ``Great Compromiser'' himself demonstrated, they are instead the tools of statesmanship. Henry Clay was focused on saving the country, and he resolved to enact substantial solutions, not short-term fixes that merely pushed the problems onto the backs of future generations. As we consider how to deal with the almost $17 trillion national debt and as a proud graduate of Henry Clay High School, I call on my colleagues in Congress to remember Henry Clay's resolve because now is a time to come together in the spirit of statesmanship in order to cut spending and balance our budget for the sake of future generations.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, nearly five years ago Army Corporal William L. McMillan III gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and was only 22 years of age when he gave his life for this country. There is nothing as noble as the character of a man who so willingly dedicates his life for others. The American warriors serving our military, and their families, understand that better than anybody. They embody what it means to be an American. William McMillan gave his life on June 8, 2008 in Baghdad when his patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device. CPL McMillan is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his parents, Marge and Lloyd McMillan; his brother Brad, sister Laura Buchanan and husband Rob, niece Paige, and nephew Chance. William grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and was always going to be a military man like his father, who graduated from West Point and served in Vietnam. He was a star athlete at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, where he was captain of the football, wrestling, and lacrosse teams. He attended Virginia Military Institute for one year before enlisting in the Army. William was serving his first tour of duty in Iraq, and his awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Weapons Qualifications Badge of Expert. We grieve the loss of this American warrior, but we celebrate and honor his life and his service. William stood for the best of the American ideals and values exemplified in our fighting infantrymen. He served this Nation as the fine soldier he always wanted to be. He fought for liberty for a people he did not know in a land where he had never been. As a U.S. Congressman, I am forever grateful for William McMillan's service to our country and am both humbled and honored by the sacrifice he made for the price of our freedom. Because of his bravery and that of his fellow men and women in uniform, our American freedoms are protected for future generations. Truly, he is a hero to us all.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Chair, for far too long, Washington has failed to take its spending problem and its budgetary responsibilities seriously. That ends now. With our nation's debt exceeding $16.7 trillion and billions more added to the debt every day, I am proud to finally help put our nation on a significantly different, more-prosperous path with my support of this year's House Budget from Chairman Paul Ryan. This is a responsible budget that will promote a healthier economy, encourage growth and opportunity for all Americans, help create jobs, and avert a debt crisis. This budget will enable us to avoid austerity measures and painful cuts that are inevitable if we fail to reform the status quo. This budget balances our nation's finances in ten years, because it's wrong to keep spending money we do not have. This budget cuts wasteful spending and repeals Obamacare. This budget forces the government to live within its means, because it's unfair to leave young people and the next generation with a future of debt and decline. This budget moves us closer to pro-growth tax reform without raising taxes--because families and small businesses should be able to keep more of their hard-earned income instead of having it wasted by Washington bureaucrats. Importantly, this budget protects and strengthens Medicare for current and future generations of retirees. Last year, I made a promise that I would not support changes to Medicare for people age 55 and older--those born before 1959. Today, I made good on that promise with my support of Paul Ryan's budget. However, let me be clear: Congress, the President, and the American people cannot again afford to ignore fixing our broken entitlement system this year. The problem with Medicare's looming insolvency gets dramatically worse and more costly each year we delay fixing it, and the current solutions will no longer be sustainable or available if we fail to act this year. If we want to avoid forcing Medicare changes and dramatic cuts for individuals nearing retirement, we need both sides of the aisle to get serious immediately. This House plan presents a clear vision of what we need to do to balance the budget and foster a healthier economy for today and the future. In fact, according to an analysis conducted by two Stanford economists, the House Budget ``would boost the economy immediately,'' and ``raise gross domestic product by one percentage point in 2014, equivalent to about a $1,500 increase in annual income for each U.S. household.'' Additionally, these economists estimate that ten years from now, ``the entire plan would raise GDP by three percentage points, or more than $4,000 for each U.S. household.'' By contrast, the budgets proposed by Democrat leaders in Congress are full of budget tricks, accounting gimmicks and empty promises. Their budgets ignore the entitlement crisis--the most significant driver of our debt--increase taxes and stimulus spending by trillions of dollars, and never balance--ever. I ran for Congress because we have a solemn responsibility to pass on a better future to our children, just like our parents did for us. Today, I am pleased that we took a vital step to turn things around and finally put us on a more responsible, prosperous path for the future. But our work and responsibilities continue. The United States can and will remain the greatest country on Earth for generations to come, but it will require a fresh approach to Washington's old ways of doing business.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I was recently visiting with my constituents in Nicholas County, Kentucky, when I learned about the latest casualty in the Obama administration's war on coal. Joy Global, a manufacturer of underground mining equipment, operates a plant in neighboring Bourbon County. The news had just broken that Joy Global plans to cease all operations and manufacturing at that plant. The story of Joy Global is timely in light of President Obama's nomination of Gina McCarthy to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. I wish those who are responsible for the war on coal could have been with me that Friday morning. It's easy to sit in Washington and issue regulations when you don't have to confront the human cost. The Obama administration's war on coal cost more than 3,000 well- paying coal miner jobs in Kentucky last year. Thousands of families potentially went from healthy incomes to food stamps. But this administration doesn't appear to care. The coal industry supports 19,000 full-time jobs in Kentucky while providing our State with the Nation's fourth lowest utility rates. Mr. Speaker, it's time the administration put people ahead of its radical agenda.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor three precious lives lost in the tornado which devastated Menifee County, Kentucky, one year ago this Saturday. Beverly Bowman was a magnet to children, according to newspaper accounts. Friends called her the backbone of the Tarr Ridge Union Church. Anita Smith adored animals. Reports said she owned at least four horses, along with goats, dogs, and a mule. And Vershal Brown was a remarkable man, recalls Menifee County Sheriff Rodney Coffee: ``Day or night, if you called him, he could help you. He would be there.'' Mr. Speaker, the people of Menifee County have shown amazing faith and determination in rebuilding their lives and their community. This weekend, we will celebrate together how far they have come, and we will join hands and remember.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to put this week's debate about scheduled budget cuts into some much-needed context. The Federal Government spent $3.5 trillion last year. And yet, even with the $85 billion in cuts scheduled to occur over the next 7 months, the CBO still projects that Federal spending will be $15 billion higher this year than last year. Only in Washington can billions in cuts be made, total spending still increase, and some claim that the problem is that taxes still aren't high enough. The President got his tax increase 7 weeks ago. But the government spent every dime of this year's revenue from that tax increase in just 7 days. Mr. Speaker, raising taxes is a lousy deficit reduction strategy because in Washington, tax revenue is never dedicated to deficit reduction. Instead, new taxes are always used to finance more government and more spending. Rather than demand more tax increases as the solution, I encourage everyone to work together to replace the indiscriminate spending cuts with a smarter plan that sets priorities--but which still enacts an equal amount of much-needed spending restraint.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I rise today to recognize my friends and members of the Kentucky Right to Life Association, who in 2013 will celebrate 40 years of nobly and steadfastly defending the rights of all human life, born and unborn, young and old, regardless of ability or disability. The Kentucky Right to Life Association came together 40 years ago in response to the 1973 Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision which disregarded the ethical traditions of countless Americans by superseding the traditional prerogative of states and local communities to protect life. Today, the Kentucky Right to Life Association is comprised of thousands of individuals working together to restore the law to protect the lives of the unborn and the most vulnerable among us, and to uphold the belief that every human being has a right to live--a belief that I strongly share. Right to Life is comprised of individuals of different faiths, political beliefs, and backgrounds, all united in one purpose. Their special union sets a strong example of organizational leadership for other movements and causes of moral consequence. Today, I congratulate my friends with the Kentucky Right to Life Association for their 40 years of leadership on this, the most consequential moral issue of our time. I also would like to personally welcome those members joining me in Washington, DC this Friday, January 25, 2013, to participate in the annual March for Life on the National Mall. I hold each and every one of you in the highest regard and firmly stand behind you in this great endeavor.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, when I graduated from Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky, just over 20 years ago, I had little notion that I would stand before you today occupying the seat which the Great Compromiser himself once held. Henry Clay was first elected to this House in 1811 becoming the only person elected as Speaker the same day he took office. During his remarkable four decades on the national stage, he steered America through a daunting array of crises, each of which might have shattered the Union absent his remarkable leadership. Indeed, Henry Clay demonstrated that an unwavering dedication to principle and a practical commitment to compromise are not incompatible values. They are, instead, the tools of statesmanship, the implements of progress, and the guardians of freedom. He was Abraham Lincoln's ``beau ideal of a great man.'' Eulogizing Clay in 1852, Lincoln called him ``the man for a crisis,'' declaring that Clay ``desired the prosperity of his countrymen partly because they were his countrymen, but chiefly to show the world that freemen could be prosperous. Henry Clay understood the indispensable link between liberty, prosperity, and basic human dignity. His struggle to harness our system of checks and balances to serve these goals echoes across the generations. The process was messy, and the path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty; but the Great Compromiser governed in the national interest without comprising himself or forgetting who sent him there. Mr. Speaker, I am honored, indeed I am awed, by the legacy of Henry Clay and the exceptional men who followed him; but I did not come here as the self-styled heir to that legacy. Instead, I came here as a father concerned about his children's future. I came here as a Kentuckian determined to fight for my State's signature industries. And I came here as an American committed to restoring the American Dream. My district, in central and eastern Kentucky, offers a panoramic view of the values, dreams, and passions that have animated our Nation since its beginnings. Historically anchored in Kentucky's bluegrass region, the Sixth District now extends to the Appalachian foothills, bordering the coalfields of the Cumberland Plateau. We are perhaps most recognized as the horse capital of the world. Indeed, the world came to Kentucky just over 2 years ago when Lexington hosted the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Yet that event offers just the latest example of our State's deep integration with the global economy. Georgetown, Kentucky, is home to the largest Toyota manufacturing facility outside of Japan, a facility which provides 7,000 well-paying jobs that produces the Camry, the most popular American-made car in the United States. These jobs in turn rely upon some of the lowest electricity costs in the Nation, which Kentucky's coal industry makes possible. Having endured the astonishing assault of the war on coal during the last 4 years, Kentucky's coal industry continues to offer the reality of affordable energy today and the promise of an affordable, reliable, and clean source of American energy for centuries to come. Kentuckians are also capitalizing upon our State's enormous potential for tourism through creative initiatives like the Bourbon Trail, which now draws an estimated 400,000 visitors every year. We are introducing the world to our special distilling heritage. The Sixth District offers a number of historic treasures, such as Daniel Boone's settlement, Fort Boonesborough, and in Frankfort, even our new State capitol and executive mansion are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Plus, tourists and residents alike can enjoy natural attractions of stunning majesty, such as Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge, and Cave Run, which provide almost limitless opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Sixth District also remains home to a diverse and thriving agricultural economy. We are best known for tobacco, but many people may not know that Kentucky possesses more head of cattle than any State east of the Mississippi. These industries are supported with colleges and universities filled with outstanding teaching and research professionals. Institutions like the University of Kentucky--my alma mater--Eastern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, Kentucky State University, Georgetown College, Midway College, and the members of our community and technical college system. The University of Kentucky is well-known for its proud tradition of college basketball, having won eight national championships, most recently in 2012. Underlying all of these success stories is the unique pride and attachment to place that distinguishes Kentuckians wherever you find us. Our State's pioneer heritage survives as the well-spring of our determination to survive and excel against overwhelming odds. No matter the challenge, we will persevere. We will lead. And with God's help, we will prosper together. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled beyond measure to represent a people who embody the spirit, the generosity, and the creativity that define America's greatness. I pray that my service proves equal to their trust. Through the lens of time, Henry Clay appears larger than life, yet our Republic has a habit of producing the right men and women at the right time. Together, let's strive after Henry Clay's model of leadership. Given the gravity of our challenge, each of us must. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Chair, I strongly support the provision of immediate federal relief to the victims of Hurricane Sandy and other disasters. We absolutely have a responsibility to provide targeted resources to help communities meet their true emergency needs following a natural disaster. But I remain convinced that we can, and should, put in the tough work to do this in a fiscally responsible manner. This means finding a way to pay for what we spend. Our national debt currently exceeds $16.4 trillion--and grows by billions of dollars each day. This is a symptom of Washington's inability to live within its means, and unless we reform the way Washington has traditionally gone about its business, this debt is going to dramatically limit the potential of our children and grandchildren. We must do better. As I have traveled throughout Kentucky's Sixth District, people have asked me repeatedly to stand firm for common sense and fiscal responsibility. This is what families and small businesses in my district do every day, and this is the mentality that we need to start bringing to Washington. The Federal Government spent a massive $3.6 trillion in fiscal year 2012, so there are clearly savings that we can find. I am willing to do that work, and I encourage my colleagues to do so as well. Congress should not use the urgency of disaster relief as its excuse for continuing to run up our $16.4 trillion national debt.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Amendment IV: ``The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'' Amendment V: ``No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.''