Dave Camp

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This House--the people's House--has a simple choice today: raise taxes on families and small businesses or prevent a massive job-killing tax increase from going into effect a mere 16 days from now. If you think our economy can handle higher taxes, if you think middle class families should lose roughly $100 per week out of their paychecks, then vote ``no'' today. Make no mistake about it, a ``no'' vote today is a vote for higher taxes, taxes that would devastate families and send shock waves throughout our economy. If you believe we should stop this massive tax increase in its tracks, especially when unemployment is stuck at nearly 10 percent, then vote ``yes.'' If you want to be sure we don't extend the failed Making Work Pay policy from the failed stimulus law that has the IRS writing checks to people who pay no income or payroll taxes, then vote ``yes.'' If you are opposed to the Federal Government taking more than half of a family farm or business due to a death, then vote ``yes.'' And if you are interested in fundamental tax reform--getting rid of exemptions, deductions, and loopholes that complicate our Tax Code-- then vote ``yes'' because this bill gives us the time that we need to rewrite the Tax Code, cut spending next year, and get our economy back on track. I know some of my friends want to wait until January when Republicans are back in the majority because they think that we can get a better deal. That is as misguided as it is politically callous. And let me be blunt. It's irresponsible to play a game of chicken with the Senate and the White House next year when middle class Americans are literally forced to pay $100 more a week in taxes and are forced to suffer even greater job losses. If this bill fails today, that's what will happen. Paychecks and jobs will burn while Washington fiddles. If that's your stance, then I ask, What better deal could we get? People talk about making tax rates permanent. That's something I support. That's something every Republican in this House supports. But how does waiting until January, February, March, April, or May make that a reality? The Senate voted yesterday on the DeMint amendment which would have made the rates permanent, and it failed 37-63. Last time I looked, we didn't pick up 23 seats in the United States Senate. And the President has flatly refused to sign such legislation into law. So again, tell me, how do we get a better deal by waiting? It makes no sense to gamble with the American people's jobs and the very paychecks they rely on to put food on the table and keep the house warm this winter. Americans are suffering through the deepest and longest recession since the Great Depression. This is not a time for political speeches or electoral posturing. This is a time to act responsibly, to do what is right, and to vote ``yes.'' Employers are begging us to pass this legislation. Small businesses and the National Federation of Independent Business are supporting the bill because they know they cannot afford a tax hike. The Business Roundtable which represents the largest employers in the country with over 12 million employees is supporting this bill because they know the economy cannot afford a tax hike. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is supporting this legislation because they know we cannot afford a tax hike. The National Association of Manufacturers is supporting this legislation. Economists across the spectrum, from the far left to the far right, are supporting this legislation, and so should the Members of this House. By no means is this bill perfect. For example, I think we should have paid for the extension of unemployment insurance and, frankly, we will. I'm committed to producing legislation next year to revamp, reform, and pay for the Federal unemployment benefits our Nation provides. We should not have to choose between adding to the deficit and providing this important help, but we cannot allow that single concern to hold this bill up. Time has run out. This is our only chance, and the harm to our economy and the hit families would suffer is far too great a risk. And let's be clear, this bill is about taxes, longstanding tax policy, for that matter, and preventing a tax hike. It isn't about spending. Nearly 90 percent of this bill is tax policy, and that policy is aimed at preventing a tax hike for families and employers or providing direct tax relief to the American worker. It also protects family farms, ranches and businesses from being hit by the destructive death tax. That will go as high as 55 percent next year if we do not act. Instead, this bill reduces that rate to 35 percent, while increasing the exemption amount from $1 million to $5 million. Now, I know $1 million sounds like a lot of money, and it is. But think about the family farmers in your districts. Think about the costs of the big machinery it takes to operate and manage their land. Some of the combines I see every day in my district cost a quarter of a million each. That isn't cash in the bank. That's equipment in the field, and the Federal Government has no right to take half of it when mom or dad passes on. While I support a total repeal of the death tax, at least this bill makes significant improvements to the estate and gift taxes, and it deserves our support. Members should also know, and the American people should know, that this bill does not contain new policy. New provisions were not snuck in late in the night or behind closed doors. We took a firm stand against new policy. We took a firm stand against policy that had not been renewed repeatedly and, as a result, more than 70 provisions, some of them my own, were excluded from the bill, well over $100 billion worth. The most notable provisions of these we terminated were from the failed stimulus bill, like the refundable Making Work Pay credit, the Build America Bonds program, which simply subsidized State and local governments going deeper into debt, and grants in lieu of the low- income housing credit. None of that is in here, nor are there the usual Washington Christmas tree ornaments. This bill is narrowly focused on tax and unemployment policy. Unlike the omnibus Democrats are preparing, there are no earmarks like the $2 million for an Ice Age National Scenic trail in Wisconsin. There isn't a $3.5 million study on subterranean termites in New Orleans, and there certainly isn't an extra $1 billion for the new job- killing health care law. My friends, the election's over. Let's not start the next campaign here today. Let's make the right choice. Let's stop this tax hike from going into effect in 2 weeks. Let's put our constituents' jobs before our own. Let's show the American people we can govern and we can take yes for an answer. So let's pass this bill with broad bipartisan support, as the Senate did yesterday by a vote of 81-19. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert).

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

Mr. CAMP. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP. I yield 5 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi).

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

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and then I will yield the balance of my time to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), the ranking member of the Trade Subcommittee. Madam Speaker, the national unemployment rate is 9.8 percent. The unemployment rate in my home State of Michigan is 12.8 percent. America is desperately in need of jobs, and American workers need Congress to focus on legislation that will help create jobs. This legislation is a solid step in that direction. I have often said that government can't create jobs; it is the private sector that creates jobs, and Congress can help the private sector by removing barriers to job creation. This legislation lowers taxes and makes American manufacturers more competitive so they can invest and create the jobs that American workers need now. Therefore, it fits squarely within the core principles of the Republican Party. Republicans support lowering taxes, making American workers more competitive, liberalizing trade, and letting the private sector thrive and create jobs. At the outset, this legislation extends our trade preference programs, especially the Andean Trade Preferences Act. I would rather see Congress vote on our trade agreement with Colombia, but for over 3 years, the Speaker has refused to permit a simple up-or-down vote on that agreement. The Speaker has refused to bring that agreement to the floor even though it would level the playing field for American workers and generate new exports and support American jobs. Despite the lack of progress on that agreement, I strongly support the continuation of the ATPA program. This program is crucial to this country and to Colombia, and we cannot subject such a strong ally to the injury of letting the program expire on top of the insult of our inability to act on that trade agreement. Furthermore, this legislation extends the bipartisan, bicameral 2009 Trade Adjustment Assistance law that is helping trade-affected workers, farmers, firms, and communities retool and compete in the 21st century. The 2009 law provided a more flexible, cost-effective and accountable regime focusing on retraining. It also recognized the important role of services in the U.S. economy by bringing service workers into the program. These improvements to the TAA program help workers by getting them more quickly off government support and back into good paying, private sector jobs. Importantly, this legislation delays for a year and a half a controversial U.S. Labor Department final rule mandating that the States use exclusively State employment service employees to administer TAA-funded benefits and services. Unless this delay is enacted now, 27 States will no longer be allowed to use a mix of staff. Similarly, without this delay, even the other States that elect to use only State ES staff would be adversely affected because they could not make different staffing choices in the future. In today's economy, it makes no sense to require States to make costly changes to successful programs that are helping workers find new jobs. This delay is also important because it would help restore the 2009 bipartisan, bicameral compromise on this issue. In addition, this legislation removes barriers by lowering taxes on imported inputs that enable value-added, American manufacturing and supports U.S. jobs, inputs that aren't otherwise available in the United States. These provisions have been fully vetted through a bipartisan and transparent process. Finally, this legislation is fully paid for, which is crucial in this time of rapidly rising fiscal deficits. Madam Speaker, I am pleased that this legislation accomplishes all these goals and is a truly bipartisan product. I want to thank my colleague from Michigan, Chairman Levin, for his close cooperation in preparing this legislation and bringing it to the floor today for a vote. Madam Speaker, I hope the other body takes up this legislation quickly and passes it. Several of these important programs expire at the end of the year, and there is no time to waste. Further delay would be harmful to American workers. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would just say and comment on my friend's remarks that this is not about giving anybody a tax cut. This is about preventing a tax increase in a time of great unemployment that has gone on, as I said in my remarks, for more than 15 months at 9\1/2\ percent. I now yield 3 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam).

Mr. CAMP. At this time I reserve.

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston).

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. And I would just say I listened very carefully to the majority leader's well-reasoned arguments. And if, in fact, this bill were going somewhere, they would have made a great deal of sense. But we know now that the Senate will not take up this bill. Forty-two Senators have signed a letter that they will not take up any legislation unless it is dealing with the potential tax increases on all Americans. I also have a letter that was sent to the House of Representatives dated today from the National Association of Manufacturers. And there has probably been no State hit harder than Michigan, no sector hit harder in Michigan than manufacturing. And I want to quote from this letter that says, ``Manufacturers strongly support extending the 2001 and 2003 tax relief for all taxpayers. Over 70 percent of American manufacturers file as S corporations or some other pass-through entity and will be significantly impacted by these higher rates. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, fully extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts would add between 600,000 and 1.4 million jobs between now and 2011 and between 900,000 and 2.7 million jobs in 2012.'' National Association of Manufacturers, December 2, 2010. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representatives: The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the largest manufacturing association in the United States, urges you to oppose H.R. 4853, the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010. Tax relief enacted in 2001 and 2003, which repealed the estate tax and lowered both individual tax rates and tax rates on investment income, helped spur economic growth. Now, however, absent immediate congressional action, these lower rates will expire, resulting in a top income tax rate of nearly 40 percent, a 164 percent increase in the dividend tax and the return of a 55 percent estate tax on family-held companies. Manufacturers strongly support extending the 2001 and 2003 tax relief for all taxpayers. Over 70 percent of American manufacturers file as S-corporations or some other pass- thru entity and will be significantly impacted by these higher rates. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, fully extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts would add between 600,000 and 1.4 million jobs in 2011 and between 900,000 and 2.7 million jobs in 2012. We urge Congress to reject this legislation and move toward extending all of the current tax rates. The NAM's Key Vote Advisory Committee has indicated that votes on H.R. 4853, including potential procedural motions, merit consideration for designation as Key Manufacturing Votes in the 111th Congress. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jay Timmons, Executive Vice President.

Mr. CAMP. I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves).

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I yield 2 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. CAMP. I yield the gentleman 30 additional seconds.

Mr. CAMP. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. CAMP. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this important bill, which includes a wide mix of policies recently sent to us by the Senate. Portions of this bill make sense, including extending welfare programs and reducing erroneous unemployment insurance (UI) overpayments. Enacting policies to better prevent and recover unemployment benefit overpayments is good government, and save about $3 billion over 10 years. However, instead of using this money to strengthen UI programs or even paying for an extension of unemployment benefits, the majority instead uses this funding to offset unrelated spending. Similarly, I am disappointed that the bill uses $2 billion of the funds in the Customs user fee account (about half of available funds) to offset some of the spending provisions in the bill. As a result, such funding would no longer be available for key job-creating trade initiatives, such as the pending free trade agreements or extending existing preference programs. I strongly believe that this offset should be reserved for trade priorities and should not be raided for non-trade provisions. And that's really at the heart of the debate: instead of using the savings in this bill to reduce our Nation's staggering deficit or pay for extending UI benefits or promoting job-creating trade, the authors of this bill would use those savings for new, unrelated spending. This spending does nothing to help the unemployed, promote job creation, and only makes balancing the budget next year even harder. The bottom line is that, while this legislation includes some good provisions, it also includes new spending we simply can't afford. To divert savings from UI and trade programs, especially while too many Americans are unemployed and more trade-related jobs are needed, is not the right answer. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The unemployment rate in October, the latest data available, was 9.6 percent. That marked 15 consecutive months we are at or above 9.5 percent unemployment in this country, the longest period since the Great Depression. All told, 48 out of 50 States have lost jobs since the so-called $1 trillion stimulus bill and nearly 15 million Americans remain unemployed. What's a Democrat's answer to the Great Recession? Increased taxes, but not just any taxes. Democrats in the bill before us today are targeting half of all small business income in the country. Democrats are targeting the very employers we need, hiring more workers, and buying more equipment, not paying more taxes. Let's face it, this bill is as misguided as it is futile. This is the wrong policy at the wrong time and the majority is wrong to bring it to the floor today. In fact, many of their own Members agree with me. I have here in my hand a letter signed by over 30 Democrat Members of the House and let me read what they wrote: ``In recent weeks we have heard from a diverse spectrum of economists, small business owners and families who have voiced their concerns that raising any taxes right now could negatively impact economic growth. Given the continued fragility of our economy and slow pace of our recovery, we share their concerns.'' I want to repeat that: raising any taxes right now could negatively impact economic growth. Set aside for a minute the economists and the political rhetoric, and let's look at what small businesses say the impact of this tax-hiking legislation will be. According to the National Federation of Independent Small Businesses, the businesses most likely to face a tax increase by raising the top two rates are businesses employing between 20 and 250 employees. According to the U.S. Census data, businesses with between 20 and 299 workers employ more than 25 percent of the total workforce. Those who are most likely to be hit by these tax increases employ one out of every four workers in this Nation. This Democrat tax hike is putting a target on the back of every worker in every small business in America. As for the futility of this exercise, it would be comical if it weren't so irresponsible. Democrats can barely muster the votes for this bill in the House. I'm told they had to whip the bill and hold a special caucus this morning just to move forward. Their position is so precarious, they won't even allow Republicans to offer amendments or any alternative. Why? Because Democrats know the Republican bill to extend the current rates for all taxpayers would pass with broad bipartisan support. So, once again, House Democrats have closed down the amendment process in order to pass a bill that will never see the light of day in the Senate. Just yesterday, 42 Senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Reid and stated in no uncertain terms that they ``will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers.'' Clearly, this bill is going nowhere. Democrats are wasting time while Americans are looking for work. Democrats are playing games while Americans struggle to make ends meet. The American people did not send us here to posture. They sent us here to provide solutions. I had hoped that after the election, we would get down to working together to solve the serious problems Americans are facing. That's why I was encouraged the President agreed to have Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate Members, sit down with his administration to hammer out a deal on these expiring tax rates. I thought maybe we had turned a corner. Instead of letting that process work itself out, instead of working with Republicans to prevent job-killing tax increases, House Democrats are back at it again, putting politics ahead of everything else. This is a time for serious negotiations and solutions, not political stunts. Far too much is at stake. Far too many families are out of work, and far too many families will soon see real and sizeable amounts of money taken out of their paychecks if the Democrats continue with these games. I urge my colleagues to reject this Democratic tax hike, this job- killing tax hike. U.S. Senate, Washington, DC, November 29, 2010. Hon. Harry Reid, Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Leader Reid: The Nation's unemployment level, stuck near 10 percent, is unacceptable to Americans. Senate Republicans have been urging Congress to make private-sector job creation a priority all year. President Obama in his first speech after the November election said ``we owe'' it to the American people to ``focus on those issues that affect their jobs.'' He went on to say that Americans ``want jobs to come back faster.'' Our constituents have repeatedly asked us to focus on creating an environment for private-sector job growth; it is time that our constituents' priorities become the Senate's priorities. For that reason, we write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike. Given our struggling economy, preventing the tax increase and providing economic certainty should be our top priority. Without Congressional action by December 31, all American taxpayers will be hit by an increase in their individual income tax rates and investment income through the capital gains and dividend rates. If Congress were to adopt the President's tax proposal to prevent the tax increase for only some Americans, small businesses would be targeted with a job-killing tax increase at the worst possible time. Specifically, more than 750,000 small businesses will see a tax increase, which will affect 50 percent of small business income and nearly 25 percent of the entire workforce. The death tax rate will also climb from zero percent to 55 percent, which makes it the top concern for America's small businesses. Republicans and Democrats agree that small businesses create most new jobs, so we ought to be able to agree that raising taxes on small businesses is the wrong remedy in this economy. Finally, Congress still needs to act on the ``tax extenders'' and the alternative minimum tax ``patch,'' all of which expired on December 31, 2009. We look forward to continuing to work with you in a constructive manner to keep the government operating and provide the nation's small businesses with economic certainty that the job-killing tax hike will be prevented. Sincerely, Mitch McConnell, Mitch McConnell, Republican Leader. Jon Kyl, Republican Whip. [40 additional signatures omitted] I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP. I yield the gentleman from Nevada an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heller).

Mr. CAMP. I thank the majority leader. And reclaiming my time, I think we would have a much better chance if the vehicle that was sent over to the Senate was actually one that dealt with the potential tax increases on all Americans. But I know my time is very short, and I just wanted to say I also have a petition, a coalition letter sent to us by over 1,300 businesses, trades, and local Chambers of Commerce urging that we extend the current tax policy for all Americans and prevent a tax increase from going into effect. Let me just say I think much of what has happened today is a charade, and I am glad it's coming to a close. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill. December 1, 2010. To The Members of The United States Congress: We, the undersigned companies, chambers, and trade associations strongly urge Congress to end the tax uncertainty plaguing the business community by extending the expiring 2001 and 2003 marginal tax rates, as well as dividend and capital gains tax rates, and the business tax provisions that expired at the end of 2009. A permanent extension of all current tax rates would, in one bold stroke, boost investor, business, and consumer confidence by taking the uncertainty of tax policy off the table. It would leave hard-earned income in the hands of the individuals and businesses that earned it and allow them to spur investment, boost consumption, promote economic growth, and create jobs. Further, without expeditious Congressional action to extend current marginal tax rates, millions of Americans will face greater withholding for taxes from their hard-earned paychecks in six weeks. Another major obstacle to recovery lurks. Thousands of U.S. businesses and individual taxpayers currently face major tax increases because tax provisions--such as the R&D credit, active financing exception, and CFC look-thru rule--have expired. An extension of these vital provisions would bring more certainty in U.S. tax law, foster more effective business decisions, and encourage investment. Moreover, the Administration asked Congress to extend the tax provisions as part of the President's 2010 budget request. While we support the extension of all these provisions, we believe that the extensions of current tax policy should not be offset with permanent tax increases. No one should have their taxes raised during a time of economic weakness--not individuals, not small businesses, not large businesses. Job creators are especially sensitive to tax rates and any tax increase right now would only hinder the already too weak recovery. We urge Congress to act expeditiously to remove uncertainty and address these looming tax increases with a long term extension of all the expired and expiring tax provisions by year end, and look forward to working with Congress to keep the economy on the road to recovery. Sincerely, [1318 Organizations Omitted] I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, on November 18, 2010, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said the fact that the U.S. unemployment rate was 9.6 percent in October 2010 (as opposed to 10.1 percent in October 2009) ``tells you . . . we are on the right path.'' The facts show that the U.S. unemployment rate has been 9.5 percent or above for 15 consecutive months--the longest period since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The unemployment rate hasn't fallen since spring--when hundreds of thousands of temporary Census jobs were ``created.'' And Democrats promised us if their 2009 stimulus law passed, the unemployment rate would be 7 percent by now, which as the chart below reflects didn't happen. All of which suggests unemployment at 9.6 percent is not the right path for American workers, regardless of what Secretary Solis believes. This bill reflects a cynical political maneuver by the Democratic leadership. They know the Senate has no plans to pass this unpaid-for bill. So all the claims that today's legislation will save Thanksgiving are just more empty rhetoric. The fact is, this is exactly what happened this summer, when Democrats brought a similar unpaid-for extension bill up under suspensions. That failed, because enough Republicans and Democrats opposed simply adding to the deficit. You would think our Democrat colleagues would have learned that lesson, and either brought this up for an up or down vote, or actually paid for it. Instead, we get more of the same ``our way or the highway'' approach. It will not pass, and the other side knows it. We should reject this bill and work together to quickly pass a bill to extend federal unemployment benefits while responsibly paying for it.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of H. Res. 1648, a resolution that recognizes the importance of federal efforts to encourage adoption, and honors National Adoption Day and Month. As an avid adoption supporter, I believe that Congress must continue to promote the adoption of children into safe and loving homes. Through our work in 1997 as part of the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and more recently through the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Congress made significant advances in providing more options for children in need. Yet, far too many children, about 114,000, are waiting in foster care programs throughout our country for families to adopt them. These children should be given every opportunity to lead successful lives, and one way to make that happen is to increase the adoption of these children into safe, permanent, loving homes. That is why National Adoption Day and Month are so important. This year, National Adoption Day will take place on November 20, 2010, and is designed for communities around the country to highlight adoptions. Over the last decade, these events have grown more and more successful. Last year there were events in all 50 states during which the adoptions of 4,800 children were finalized. Since its inception, more than 30,000 adoptions have been finalized on National Adoption Day. I have been honored to participate in National Adoption Day over the past several years. To be part of such a special occasion reinforces the need for further efforts to move kids into adoptive homes. I would also like to highlight the efforts of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) to promote adoption through its annual Angels in Adoption Awards Ceremony, held in October. This event also highlights those that have opened their hearts and their homes. These initiatives are critically important to not only recognizing those who have promoted adoption, but also to highlight the need for greater action on this important topic. Before I close, I would like to recognize the efforts of Representative Jim Oberstar, the sponsor of this resolution, for his work on behalf of adoption and children in foster care. Jim and I worked closely together on these important issues as co-chairs of Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. As an adoptive parent himself, he knows firsthand how life-changing adoption is, and with his experiences he has been an effective and tireless leader for children who need loving homes. His expertise will be missed, but his contributions in support of adoption will be lasting. I would also like to congratulate and publicly thank Representative Ginny Brown-Waite for her role in promoting adoption and the wellbeing of all children. As a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, she has been an active supporter of efforts to promote adoption and child wellbeing, continuing her prior work as a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Ginny is retiring at the end of this Congress, and her deep compassion for and active efforts on behalf of children who have been or are awaiting adoption will continue to inspire those of us she leaves behind. I wish both Jim and Ginny all the best in the years ahead and thank both of them for their distinguished service to our families and country.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor retired U.S. Colonel Gerald P. Ziemba for his long and admirable service to the United States. Colonel Ziemba started active duty in the Army in 1959 as a Second Lieutenant. In 1972, he became Commander of the U.S. Army Reserve's 578th Research & Development Unit in Midland, Michigan. Later, in 1983, the Senate approved his elevation to the rank of Colonel. After this last promotion, the Army appointed Colonel Ziemba to Deputy Commander of Sharpe Army Depot, where he eventually became chairman of a group tasked with developing a next-generation, supply-chain facility. Under his skillful leadership, a $200 million state-of-the-art warehouse was built, for which the U.S. Army awarded him the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding noncombat achievement. Colonel Ziemba continued his service in 1994 when the Department of Commerce asked him to manage a newly formed Treaty Inspections Division of the Business, Industry, and Security Agency, BIS. BIS tasked him with implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention within the chemical industry. In this position, he drafted recommendations for implementing legislation and regulations. In addition, he represented the U.S. Government at numerous international forums. Currently, Colonel Ziemba is involved in licensing activities for dual-use chemicals and equipment with the Department of Commerce. He is also the Commerce Department's representative in a multi-agency committee for improving chemical defense in the United States. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Michigan, I am honored today to recognize Colonel Gerald P. Ziemba's service and dedication to his country. I hope the years to come will bring him health, happiness, and special times with family and friends.