Dave Camp

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of a unanimous consent request, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall). (Mr. HALL of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of a unanimous consent request, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx). (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. CAMP. For the purpose of a unanimous consent request, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. King). (Mr. KING of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the Republican whip.

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

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, at this time I will yield to the gentleman from California for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. We've heard a lot of discussion tonight about this bill and how it's been characterized. Let me just read a few quotes from my friends on the Democratic side who've characterized this bill. A Democrat from North Carolina says: There is no question that our current health care system is broken and that we need to make significant reforms to improve it in an equitable, fiscally responsible, and sustainable manner. In my opinion, the bill as written does not meet those criteria. A Democrat from Tennessee says: After thorough and careful review of the legislation, I am unconvinced that the long-term trend of rising health care costs is adequately addressed and am, therefore, unable to support the legislation. A Democrat from New Mexico said: I do not believe that the bill does enough to contain costs. A Democrat from North Carolina says: Health care reform is needed, but the bill before us is too expensive, does not adequately address rising medical costs and skyrocketing insurance premiums, and tries to do too much too soon. We simply cannot afford to create a new Federal bureaucracy that costs nearly $1 trillion when our national debt is $12 trillion and there is no plan in place to address it. I will not vote for it. Another Democrat from Virginia says: I have spoken with countless small business owners, families, medical professionals, and average citizens across Virginia, and it becomes very clear that this bill is not the right solution for Virginia's health care challenges. On and on and on again. This is not the right bill for America. This costs $1 trillion, raises a half a trillion in taxes, and cuts Medicare by half a trillion dollars. Vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to the distinguished minority leader, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

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

Mr. CAMP. In its current form.

Mr. CAMP. As the previous vote shows, there is bipartisan opposition to the health care bill the Senate sent to this House. It is with good reason. The American people, Republicans and a few brave Democrats--34, to be exact--34 brave Democrats have rejected it precisely because of the legislation's deep flaws. The motion to recommit offers us a chance to fix the most egregious defect, allowing taxpayer funds to subsidize abortions. Mr. Speaker, the very strict rules of the House waive the reading of all of these rules and motions, but this motion ensures the Hyde language remains the law of the land. The latest in a long string of deals--the one made today with the President--does not protect the life of unborn children. As the gentleman from Mississippi, a Democrat, warned earlier today, anything the President does by Executive order, he can undo by Executive order. There is no bargaining or dealmaking when it comes to the life of the unborn. A life is a life. And it is the responsibility of this House to defend these children. When this measure was last before the House, it passed overwhelmingly, 240-194. It should do so again. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) to further discuss this motion to recommit.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

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

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Americans do not want a government takeover of health care. They do not want a 2,000-page bill that puts Federal bureaucrats in charge of their personal health care decisions. They do not want a half-a-trillion-dollar cut to Medicare to fund a new entitlement program. And they do not want a half-a-trillion-dollar increase in taxes, or $1 trillion in new Federal spending. They do not want the back room deals that were cut to buy off special interests. And they certainly do not want a health care bill that will increase the cost of their health insurance. But that is exactly what the Democrat bill does. And that is exactly what the Democrats are trying to cram through Congress this week. If the majority wants to pass this bill, they ought to have the guts to hold an up-or-down vote and not try to hide from the American people what is really being voted on. Madam Speaker, Americans do not want and can't afford this bill. Let's scrap it and start over.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ryan Bedford and Travis Jayner on their performances in the 2010 Winter Olympics. These are two outstanding athletes from my district. Ryan and Travis are great athletes, who can truly be called ``Olympians,'' and who we can be proud of as representatives of America in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Ryan Bedford of Midland, Michigan, is an outstanding skater and represented the U.S. in the Olympics in the 10,000 meter speed skating event. In fact, Ryan is the reigning U.S. champion in that event. Ryan has a history of impressive skating accomplishments and in a one-week span last spring he won two world championship medals in two different events. Last year, Ryan was a member of the world champion short track relay team, and one week later, as part of the long track speed skating pursuit team, he earned a bronze medal at the 2009 Single Distance Worlds. He started skating at the age of 5, beginning his career at the Midland Speed Skating Club in Michigan. I also congratulate Travis Jayner on winning the bronze medal in the 5000 meter relay for short track speed skating. Travis trains in Midland, Michigan. On Friday, February 26, Travis won his first Olympic medal when the American speed skating team crossed the finish line in 6:44.498. The 2010 Olympics were his first, but Travis has a long record of speed skating accomplishments: he was the 500 meter National Champion in 2008-09, he won bronze at the 2007 and 2009 World Team Championships, and won two gold medals in the relay at World Cup 5. Travis has become a versatile athlete competing in 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m relay teams. He got his start on the ice at the age of 5, after the encouragement and support of his father, who was also a speed skater. Today I wish to congratulate Ryan Bedford and Travis Jayner for their participation in the 2010 Winter Olympics as true Olympians and athletes my district and our country can be proud to cheer for.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate my colleague, the distinguished gentleman from Michigan, Congressman Dale Kildee, on casting 20,000 votes in the United States House of Representatives--the people's House. Twenty thousand votes is quite an achievement, and to some, it may seem like a miraculous number. But the true measure of Dale's accomplishment is a much smaller number--he has only missed 27 votes in his entire career. That's right, Dale cast 20,000 votes out of 20,027-- a batting average of .999 over a 33-year career. That certainly qualifies the man from Flint for the Congressional Hall of Fame. But it isn't the statistic that counts, it is what that statistic represents: Dale's work ethic and his dedication to the state of Michigan, his district, which neighbors mine, and the people he serves. Dale has been a leader on the Congressional Auto Caucus he helped to form. This caucus has been a valuable asset for the American auto industry and has helped serve as a platform to protect Michigan auto jobs. We have worked together on many local economic development projects, most recently, the development of the new MBS International Airport, which is a valuable asset for our region's economy. Today, I join my colleagues in congratulating and commending Congressman Dale Kildee for not only reaching 20,000 votes, but for his career of service to the families of mid-Michigan.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. At this time, Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) for purposes of a unanimous consent request. (Mr. COBLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CAMP. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the Ways and Means Committee from Kentucky (Mr. Davis).

Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. If this so-called PAYGO legislation fails, there is no increase in the debt limit and you cannot separate the two concepts. If this legislation passes, the debt limit increases by an astounding $1.9 trillion, the largest one-time increase in the debt limit ever. Since the majority came into control of Congress 3 years ago, the debt limit has been increased by over $5.3 trillion, or by nearly 60 percent. Despite this massive heap of debt thrust on the American people, Democrats plan to pile on even more debt next year. According to the President's newest budget proposal, the amount of debt subject to the limit will increase by nearly $1.4 trillion from fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2011. A number that large is hard to put into perspective, but let me offer a few points of reference. The President intends to increase the debt in just 1 year by an amount equal to the entire GDP of Canada. This 1-year increase in the debt is larger than the GDP of India, Mexico, Australia, or South Korea. It is larger than the GDP of Ireland, Poland, and Belgium combined. We've heard a lot of talk recently from the President about the need to get America's fiscal house in order. However, according to the President's own budget, Congress will have to raise the debt limit again before 2011 is over. Even more disturbing is the fact that under the President's proposed budget, debts subject to this limit will exceed the size of the entire U.S. economy by 2013 and remain more than U.S. GDP through the next decade and presumably for years to come. Experts on both sides of the political spectrum agree that this kind of runaway debt threatens the very foundation of America's economy. Yesterday, the market provided a stark warning as credit rating agency Moody's stated the U.S. AAA bond rating is threatened by deficits driving up this debt. I hear a lot from the President, from my colleagues in the majority, about inherited deficits and debt, but let's be clear. According to the President's own budget, the largest deficit in U.S. history will be under a Democratic administration and a Democratic majority in Congress. A Democratic President and a Democratic Congress plan a 1- year increase in the debt larger than the size of major economies around the world. This isn't about what anyone inherited. It is about what this President and the Democrats in Congress planned for America: too much spending, too much taxing, and too much debt. My friends on the other side are fond of the analogy that raising the debt limit is necessary in the same way that someone who has eaten in a restaurant must now pay the bill. That analogy is misleading. It is more accurate to say that having sat down at a restaurant with enough money for a decent meal, Democrats decided to go on an eating binge. It's simply irresponsible for Democrats to spend the American people's money in this fashion. Rather than letting this massive debt increase pass, I urge Congress to examine its out-of-control spending habit this year rather than after the election, as the President suggests with his so-called deficit commission. I urge this House to restore responsible spending. Vote ``no'' on the largest one-time increase in the debt limit ever. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to Mr. Ryan to control.

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

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

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).