John Culberson

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my remarks.

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, it is important, however, that this House of Representatives represent the people and do so in a way that does not demonstrate contempt for the opinion of the people. A 1,294-page bill, Mr. Speaker, has been dropped on the floor without regard for committee hearings, without regard for transparency, without regard to the promise that this leadership made to be the most transparent, open, and accountable Congress in the history of the United States, spending $10 billion that our children do not have. That is a complete violation of all the promises made by this leadership to the people. And look at the bill that they're passing. This piece of legislation will make a criminal out of every tourist traveling to the western United States who makes the mistake of picking up a rock and throwing it in their trunk. Grandma and Grandpa are going to be thrown in jail. And read from the bill if you don't believe me. If you don't have a permit, if you're not a qualified paleontologist, and you pick up a rock and throw it in the car, if you alter a rock on federally owned land in most of the western States and throw it in the car, it is 5 years in prison, Page 526 of the bill, 5 years in prison for putting a rock in your trunk. You will have the vehicle confiscated. Turn to Page 531: ``All vehicles and equipment shall be subject to civil forfeiture.'' So ladies and gentlemen of the Congress, if you vote for this bill, you're voting to subject your constituents to be thrown in jail. Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids traveling in the western States, if they pick up a rock and throw it in the car, 5 years in jail, thousands of dollars in fines, and the Winnebago is going to be confiscated. This is dead wrong.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. At a time when Americans are more concerned than ever before about the security of their job, about their next paycheck, about the strength of the American economy, at a time when everyone in Congress should be focused on protecting the American economy from sliding deeper into recession, the new majority in Congress is focused on spending more money and less time than any Congress in U.S. history. These first 32 days that the new majority has been in control have been focused on, in many ways I'm reminded of what used to happen when a conquered city fell to a conquering army. The army was given 3 days to pillage. This is like an unrestrained, absolutely unrestrained spending spree that we've never seen before in our history. We have, in these 32 days, the new majority in Congress has spent about $1.6 trillion, $800 billion in the stimulus package, $400 billion with this omnibus here in front of us, $350 billion with the additional TARP funds, at least $65 billion in the new SCHIP children's health insurance bill. We are spending money we do not have. We're borrowing money to pay off borrowed money. It is as though the new majority were paying off America's mortgage with a credit card. And everyone in America understands that this defies common sense. It defies all reason. No one in their private life would engage in conduct like this. And we, at a time of economic peril for the Nation, should not engage in it in Congress. We, in the minority, the fiscal conservatives, have not only fought as politely as thoughtfully and carefully as we can this spending, but today we're offering a clear choice to the Congress and the country. We fiscal conservatives are offering an alternative to freeze Federal spending for the remainder of the fiscal year with a continuing resolution. It's called freeze current spending. That's common sense. It's something everyone in America can understand, that at home, in our businesses, and certainly when it comes to protecting the Treasury of the United States of America, we must not spend more than we bring in.

Mr. CULBERSON. We cannot spend more as a Nation than we bring in in revenue. We're already on a national credit card. And no matter who I talk to, in an E-town hall meeting last night, people back home who have never been involved in politics before are paying attention closely to this debate. And today we fiscal conservatives in the minority are offering a very simple, clear choice. Our alternative today, the motion to recommit, the vote that will be taken today, America, on the motion to recommit, a ``yes'' vote to recommit is a vote to keep spending flat for the rest of the fiscal year and exercise fiscal restraint. A ``no'' vote is to continue this unrestrained spending spree which will bankrupt our children.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chair, we fiscal conservatives are in the minority, unfortunately, and have been working hard to lay out alternatives to stimulate the economy with immediate tax cuts, with spending cuts. The new majority in Congress, with this new President, has spent more money in less time than any Congress in history. In fact, that's all borrowed money. About $1.3 trillion in borrowed money has already been spent by this Congress. I would like to ask the Congresswoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), who ran on a record of being fiscally responsible, Ms. Titus, how is it fiscally responsible that you voted for $1.2 trillion in new spending, borrowed money, which is going to be paid for by our children and grandchildren? How is that fiscally responsible?

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, the American people need to know that this Congress in less time has spent more money than any Congress in history. At a time in American history when we are at war worldwide with terrorists, at a time when we face financial crisis of unprecedented proportion, we, as Members of Congress, have a very special duty to protect the Treasury of the United States, to be careful, thoughtful and deliberative and an open process. And I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio. She's exactly right. We need to follow the committee process, absolute transparency, an opportunity to offer amendments, an opportunity for public hearings. Let the public see what bills we are considering. The stimulus, $800 billion, was only filed on the Internet 13 hours before the vote. And this Congress, in 21 days, has increased the annual budget of the United States by 110 percent, counting the President's budget today. Congressman Frank Wolf is going to speak for 5 minutes in just a minute. We must address the approaching financial hurricane. Congressman Wolf's commission deserves the attention of this Congress in a careful, thoughtful and deliberative way. Let the sun shine in, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, as a Member of the Appropriations Committee, my highest priority is cutting wasteful government spending and balancing the budget. That is why I rejected over $338 million in project requests that were brought to my office. My answer for spending requests is always ``no'' unless the project is cost effective and serves a legitimate government purpose. I wholly support medical and scientific research, reducing congestion and travel time, and critical flood control projects. Those priorities are reflected in the projects that I support. Each Member should be held accountable for the project requests they submit. Since becoming a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I have held myself accountable by posting my project request letters on my congressional website at www.culberson.house.gov. Additionally, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding projects I secured as part of H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill: Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Justice; Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition Address of Requesting Entity: 4141 Pinnacle Street #213, El Paso, Texas Description of Request: Provides $4,500,000 to the Texas Border Sheriff Coalition to pay for overtime, hire additional deputies, and purchase equipment. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Justice, Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program account. This project supports Operation Linebacker, an initiative by the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition to stop drug and human trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Justice; Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Memorial Hermann Healthcare System Address of Requesting Entity: 9401 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $300,000 to the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System to purchase interoperable communications equipment for the Life Flight Operations Center, the premier air ambulance service in the country serving a 150 mile radius around Houston, TX. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Justice, Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program account. This projects will enable state-of-the art dispatching, flight and weather monitoring, and data collection to enhance patient care and save lives. Memorial Hermann has already allocated $39.25 million in nonfederal money for this project. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Justice; Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Texas Medical Center Address of Requesting Entity: 2450 Holcombe Boulevard Suite 1, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $400,000 to purchase emergency communications equipment for the Emergency Communications and Mobility Center which serves as a coordinator for police and security information, emergency preparedness, emergency communications, emergency logistical support, and traffic mobility for the 46 member institutions of the Texas Medical Center. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Justice, Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program account. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Justice; COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Houston Address of Requesting Entity: 900 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $1,000,000 for the Houston interoperability initiative, to purchase communications equipment so the City's first responders, bomb squad, and SWAT team can communicate with other regional law enforcement agencies. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement Technology account. This project has received funding from the COPS account in the past and the State of Texas has also contributed funding for this program. The City of Houston will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Transportation; Airport Improvement Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: West Houston Airport Address of Requesting Entity: 18000 Groeschke Road, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $142,500 to the West Houston Airport to purchase an Automatic Weather Observation Station to provide critical weather information to aircraft. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Transportation, Airport Improvement Program account. This improvement project fits in line with the FAA's mission to enhance airport safety. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Transportation; Buses and Bus Facilities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Houston METRO Address of Requesting Entity: 1900 Main Street, PO Box 61429, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $475,000 for Houston METRO to purchase hybrid buses to replace the aging fleet and to continue expansion of the Park and Ride commuter bus system. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Transportation, Buses and Bus Facilities account. Houston METRO will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Transportation, Capital Investment Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Houston METRO Address of Requesting Entity: 1900 Main Street, PO Box 61429, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $15,000,000 for the Advanced Transit Program/METRO Solutions Phase 2 for light rail projects along the North and Southeast corridors only and to study commuter rail lines along the US 90A, US 290 and Westpark corridors. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Transportation, Capital Investment Grants account. Houston METRO will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Transportation, Buses and Bus Facilities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Houston Galveston Area Council Address of Requesting Entity: 3555 Timmons, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $950,000 for the Houston Galveston Area Council to purchase buses to improve mobility in the Texas Medical Center. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Transportation, Buses and Bus Facilities account. This funding will purchase two buses and a limited number of vans for an internal transportation system to cut down on congestion and pollution in the Texas Medical Center. The Houston Galveston Area Council will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Harris County Hospital District Address of Requesting Entity: 2525 Holly Hall, Houston, Texas, 77054 Description of Request: Provides $143,000 for new video endoscopic equipment, which is needed to provide diagnostic and treatment services to its indigent patient base and to handle the needs of a level one Trauma Center at Ben Taub Hospital. This funding will ensure continued access to the latest technology and treatment techniques for patients of this level one Trauma Hospital. It will also contribute to the health of the community, state and nation by contributing to the training of the next generation of health professionals. The Harris County Hospital District will contribute $2,000,000 to this project. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Address of Requesting Entity: 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 422, Houston, TX, 77030 Description of Request: Provides $533,000 to support research involving the clinical study of new forms of cancer treatment. The study will bring together the research activities of all clinical divisions, departments, care centers, clinical trial programs and translational research centers at the requesting institution. M.D Anderson Cancer Center will provide additional project funding. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Houston Address of Requesting Entity: 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX, 77004 Description of Request: Provides $143,000 for research to develop new methods to control proliferating catastrophic diseases like cancer, stroke, and diabetes, as well as non-proliferating circumstances such as trauma. Funding will be used specifically for outfitting labs in the newly constructed University of Houston Science and Engineering Research Building; gene sequencing equipment; additional wet and dry clean room fabrication facilities; cell culture facilities and purification equipment; genetic synthesis equipment; tissue culture facilities; and high performance computing and data storage facilities for computational biology. An additional $5.4 million worth of grants will be provided: $900,000 from the Cullen Foundation; $500,000 from the M.D. Anderson Foundation; $2,000,000 from the Keck Foundation; and $2,000,000 from the Greater Houston Partnership. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Houston Baptist University Address of Requesting Entity: 7502 Fondren Road, Houston, TX, 77074 Description of Request: Provides $95,000 to renovate Houston Baptist University's Skilled Nursing Lab to increase the number of students trained in nursing each year. Funds will be used to purchase equipment to provide ``real life patient care scenarios'' for students while several computer workstations with interactive CD programs will help students gain skills with clinical situations they will face in actual health care settings. Houston Baptist University will contribute $105,648 to this project. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Texas Children's Hospital Address of Requesting Entity: 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030 Description of Request: Provides $190,000 for the Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) Neurological Research Institute for the purpose of treating diseases in very definitive ways so that the children can live normal lives. Scheduled for completion in 2010, the Neurological Research Institute will be a new model of excellence as the first dedicated facility in the United States to use a multidisciplinary research approach to understand the unique issues of a child's brain structure, development patterns and related diseases. The 370,000 square foot building will be home to more than 170 researchers who will bring new promise to those afflicted with neurological diseases as they look for new treatments for common pediatric neurological disorders like autism, epilepsy, Rhett syndrome, cerebral palsy and learning disorders. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Address of Requesting Entity: 7000 Fannin, Suite 600, Houston, TX, 77030 Description of Request: Provides $238,000 for equipment and faculty recruitment, which will advance breakthroughs in the understanding, prevention and treatment of developmental and neurodegenerative diseases including autism, Alzheimer's and brain injury; accelerated exploration and clinical testing of new pharmacological agents and new neurological and behavioral interventions with a reduced need for animal and human testing; and investment opportunities as technologies are developed and tested. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Harris County Flood Control District Address of Requesting Entity: 9900 Northwest Freeway, Suite 220, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $5,011,000 to continue critical detention excavation and channel construction along Brays Bayou, Houston, Texas. Harris County Flood Control District will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Harris County Flood Control District Address of Requesting Entity: 9900 Northwest Freeway, Suite 220, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides an earmark of $96,000 to continue the feasibility study for flood mitigation of Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, White Oak Bayou, Texas. Harris County Flood Control District will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Harris County Flood Control District Address of Requesting Entity: 9900 Northwest Freeway, Suite 220, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $96,000 to continue a general reevaluation study to obtain an endorsement from the Army Corps of a recommended project for flood control along Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Main Stem. Harris County Flood Control District will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Port Authority of Houston Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 2562, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $20,766,000 for construction of the Houston portion of the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels, near Beltway 8. The dredged material produced by the project is being used to create 4,250 acres of marshland over the 50-year economic life of the project and to rebuild historical islands that have been eroded over the years by storms and subsidence. The blended local cost share is 26%. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Port Authority of Houston Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 2562, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $478,000 for construction of the Houston portion of the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels, near Beltway 8. These funds were needed following Hurricane Ike damage to the port. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Operations and Maintenance Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Port Authority of Houston Address of Requesting Entity: Port Authority of Houston, PO Box 2562, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $13,788,000 for operations and maintenance of the following areas in the Houston Ship Channel: Bayport Channel: Greens Bayou Channel; Houston Ship Channel from Sims Bayou to the Turning Basin; Houston Ship Channel from Morgan's Point to Exxon; Houston Ship Channel from Carpenter's Bayou; East/West Clinton Placement Area Levee Work and work in the Barbours Cut Channel. The Port of Houston Authority, as the local sponsor will contribute the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Account: Agriculture Research Service, Salaries and Expenses Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Baylor College of Medicine Address of Requesting Entity: 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas Description of Request: Provides $254,000 for the design and implementation of a human study to identify the facilitators and barriers that affect adherence of children to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a research question that was specifically highlighted by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The local and state agency will provide a match of $250,000. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I think it's important to remember that Americans have always taken pride in the fact that we, current generations, have always sacrificed today so that our children would live a better life. It is important, I think, for the Congress, for this liberal majority and for this new President to take my good friend Mr. Hinojosa's and Mrs. Biggert's resolution to heart. Let us quit spending money we don't have. Let this Congress quit living beyond its means, and let it truly secure the financial safety and security of future generations by cutting spending and cutting taxes to get this economy back on track. Walk away from these massive new expansions of entitlements. We've already spent $1.3 trillion in the first 20 days. We've almost doubled the annual budget of the United States in one stroke. Mr. Hinojosa, Mrs. Biggert, thank you for bringing this resolution to Congress. Let us make sure that Congress saves.

Mr. CULBERSON. I thank my colleague. I have enjoyed working with my good friend, Congressman Hinojosa. We in the Texas delegation, I know, Mr. Hinojosa knows, we work more closely together, I think, than almost any delegation in the country and take a great deal of pride in being Texans. I thank my colleague for his earnest and sincere resolution which he presents to the Congress today in an effort to encourage individual Americans to increase their savings. My good friend Judy Biggert has coauthored this, and it is a noble and worthwhile resolution. However, as we, the Congress, adopt this resolution that designates this week as America Saves Week, I think it's important to point out, Mr. Speaker, the incredible and dramatic contrast between the goal we are setting here today for individual Americans and the complete opposite direction that the leadership of this Congress and the President pointed out last night. I am reminded that Will Rogers often said he didn't tell jokes; he just reported on what Congress did. Today, Congress is asking the American people to save money; yet this new liberal majority in Congress has spent more money in less time than has any Congress in history. Today is the 20th legislative day we've been in session, and counting the $400 billion appropriations bill on the floor today, we have already spent about $1.3 trillion--all of it debt. The United States Congress is paying our mortgage with a credit card; yet we're passing a resolution to encourage America to save money. This is absurd. We have today the new governing majority in Congress, the new President. This new direction he has taken us in is off a financial cliff. Yet we're telling Americans to save more money? Every nickel we spend today this Congress is putting on our children's credit card. We are literally, Mr. Speaker, paying America's mortgage with a credit card. It is unaffordable and unsustainable. Last night, the President laid out all of the new spending programs piled on top of this. It really does remind me of what Will Rogers said, that he didn't tell jokes; he just reported on what Congress did. This is a wonderful goal for not only individual Americans but for the United States Congress. How about let us really have the United States Congress follow some of the guidelines in this resolution. Let us make sure that we in Congress are not spending more than we bring in, as we tell individual Americans to do. Let us make sure that we in Congress have enough of a cushion, as the resolution tells individual Americans, so that we can be ready and that we want individual Americans to be ready ``for an incident such as an unexpected crisis.'' Are we ready for an earthquake in California, America? Are we ready for another hurricane? What about a terrorist attack? What financial cushion does America have to pay for the cost of another 9/11 when this Congress has driven America deeper into debt than any Congress in the history of the United States? Never before have so few spent so much money in so little time with so little regard for the financial security of future generations.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, take a great deal of pride in our work. I know that at this time of financial crisis, the Nation needs to have confidence that the United States Congress is doing its job thoughtfully and deliberatively in a way that is transparent and open and responsive to the American taxpayers. But to have that confidence in our work, we have simply got to be open and transparent. And I know that Chairman Obey is a believer in the committee process. I know Chairman Obey in his heart wants to do all that he can to open up this process and make sure that taxpayers see and hear and participate in the drafting of this important legislation. But yet this bill before us, this $400 billion spending package, is in so many ways representative of the process followed by the leadership of the Congress. The $800 billion stimulus bill, which was posted on the Internet only 13 hours before the vote, the public cannot have any confidence in our work if they can't see and hear and know what we're doing. And transparency today in the age of social media is so important. I cannot support this bill because we, as a public, have not been given a right to see it, to participate in its drafting, the committee process was not followed as it should have been, and it is spending money we do not have. Never before in history have so few spent so much money in so little time; over $1.3 trillion has been spent by this new Congress in 26 legislative days. We have, in one stroke, in this very short span of time, more than doubled the annual spending levels of the United States Government with virtually no transparency, no input from the public. The American people have been shut out from the committee process. The deepest, darkest hole in America is the House floor under this new leadership, and it's just wrong. It's not right. Let's let the sun shine in. Let the public in. Let the taxpayers see how their money is being spent. That will give the public more confidence in the process and give us, as the minority, a greater ability to support where we can.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, never I think in history has so much money been spent by so few people in such a short period of time, mortgaging future generations to an extent we have never seen in American history. It's important that the American public pay attention to this spendulous bill and look carefully at what's in it. Go to the Internet, make sure you read it and see it and, remember, the fiscal conservatives in the House have laid out a thoughtful alternative based on tax cuts where you keep your money immediately to invest, spend, save as you wish. That is the best way to stimulate this economy quickly and in a way that will preserve the core principles of this Nation, which are based on freedom, individual liberty, and the government getting out of the way and letting free people make their own decisions about their own money. That is the best way to stimulate this economy. It's, I think, vitally important, Mr. Speaker, and I am grateful we have a rule now where people can see this bill on the Internet for up to 48 hours. Take the time, folks, to review it and look at it, because we have certainly not had enough public hearings to do so.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Under current law, if I enter the United States legally, I must have a sponsor who signs an oath ``I confirm and I will pay for this new, this person entering the United States legally. I will make sure they don't become a burden on taxpayers.'' That requirement is repealed. When you look at the cost of this legislation to future generations, it's a staggering bill to pass on to our kids. It's an unaffordable burden to add to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren's obligation. For the sake of a sound-bite, for the sake of a cheap election slogan, you're passing on an unaffordable burden to our kids when we as fiduciaries, as trustees of the public Treasury, of the public dollar at a time of all these bailouts, the repeated bailouts of Wall Street, of rewarding bad behavior, something that the fiscal conservatives in the Congress have fought, you're now adding to the problem by repealing the citizenship verification requirement. You're repealing the 5-year waiting period. You're allowing States to provide health care coverage to people up to 400 percent of poverty. It's unaffordable. It's unacceptable. It's a dangerous trend. And I hope all of us vote against it. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. CULBERSON. I thank the gentleman from Georgia. Each one of us as representatives of our districts have a fiduciary duty, the highest obligation of the law, to protect the Treasury of the United States to ensure that our children and grandchildren are not inheriting an unaffordable debt burden. Today the national debt exceeds $10 trillion. Today the national deficit, for the first time in history, exceeds $1 trillion. It is approaching $1.5 trillion. Today the unfunded liabilities of the United States exceed $60 trillion. And in that set of circumstances, it is essential that this Congress, on every bill, on every issue, on every vote and in every debate think first and foremost about that debt burden that we are passing on to our children and analyze every bill before us from that perspective. Is it physically responsible? Is it financially prudent to pass the legislation before us? Obviously the Federal Government has a longstanding existing obligation to provide health insurance for the very poorest of our citizens. But the key is, we fiscal conservatives want to see poor American children provided health insurance first and foremost. We fiscal conservatives want to limit the provision of health insurance coverage to those poor American children in circumstances where they can show that they are truly citizens, they are here legally--in our current law, they have to wait 5 years--and that they are truly poor. Yet with the legislation this unleashed liberal leadership of the new Congress has put before us, you are hiding behind campaign slogans. Step back and let's forget the next election. Think about the next generation. Let's legislate for the next generation, not the next election. And when you look at the next generation, the legislation that this unleashed liberal leadership of Congress asked us to support would allow Arnold Schwarzenegger in California to implement his plan of providing health insurance, quoting from the Washington Post, Schwarzenegger's health insurance plan would require everyone living in California, even illegal immigrants, to have health insurance at an estimated cost of $12 billion. You're changing existing law which requires the applicant to confirm, to verify and to prove that I am a citizen of the United States, you're repealing the requirement that if you are here legally you wait 5 years to apply for public assistance. You're repealing the requirement that if you come here legally that you're not going to become a burden on American taxpayers. Today it is required that you have a sponsor. If you come into the United States legally, I have got to have a sponsor who will sign an oath confirming that I as the sponsor will make sure this person I am sponsoring does not become a burden on American taxpayers.

Mr. CULBERSON. I thank the gentleman from Georgia. To summarize very quickly, 4 minutes goes so quickly, Madam Speaker, I want to make sure that every opportunity I have to speak on this floor and that we as fiscal conservatives remind the American people that this new liberal leadership in Congress has been spending money at the rate of $100 million per minute. Let me let that sink in, $100 million per minute. We've only been here the first 17 days of this Congress, and this new leadership managed to spend about $1.3 trillion more than the entire annual budget of the United States. And our primary concern about this legislation is that we want to see health insurance for poor American kids first. And the bill you have dropped in front of us is going to open the door for fraud, for illegal aliens to apply, and for people who are here legally to walk in and get coverage. The minute they enter the United States, they become a burden on American taxpayers. This legislation is going to allow people up to age 21 who earn $80,000 a year to apply for health insurance as if they were poor. It's fiscally irresponsible, particularly at a time of record debt and record deficit. Let us remember the next generation. Let's legislate for the next generation and not the next election.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, it has been my privilege to serve alongside the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) who I admire. The man is a legend and a great leader in the civil rights movement. He is a thoughtful man with a good heart and sincere principles. These are sincere, earnest differences of principle here, Mr. Lewis. We have deep concern for the future course of the Nation, the financial solvency of the country. And it is a source of real concern to us. Teen violence is a source of concern, but I have to tell you, the reason we are speaking out here today is we have had so little opportunity to speak out in committee. There has been so little debate in committee and on this floor of this massive spending bill, not enough time to educate the American public about the details of the bill because it was dropped on us with so little notice, written largely in secret, dropped into the Appropriations Committee and the Ways and Means Committee without much notice to the public, without an opportunity for them to scrutinize it. We are spending $1.3 trillion in 17 legislative days when the annual discretionary budget of the United States is about $900 billion, prepared very thoughtfully and carefully over many months by the Appropriations Committee with hundreds of hearings and witnesses and thoughtful deliberation. All of us want to see this economy get back on track and get us out of the ditch, but it is just self-evident that in 17 legislative days, with a few hours of committee hearing, a few hours of floor debate, for this liberal majority in Congress to spend $1.3 trillion, and then the very best we have heard is you guys hope it is going to work, it is not enough. As the gentleman from Utah said quite eloquently, we are living on a national credit card. This is like we are paying the mortgage with a MasterCard. I think it was Winston Churchill who said for a nation to attempt to tax and spend its way into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket attempting to lift himself up. This is not the way for this Nation to get the economy moving again. We as a fiscally conservative minority have come together to stand behind a package of tax cuts that would immediately allow people to spend and invest their own money, to save or to spend it, to create jobs as they wish. We as a fiscally conservative minority have few opportunities in the House to speak directly to the American people, so this opportunity we have here today to talk about teen violence and to think about the safety and security of future generations is one of the few opportunities we have, Mr. Lewis, to lay out in all sincerity a very earnest and heartfelt, principle-based difference of opinion with the liberal majority, that we want to see this Nation succeed and be prosperous. And we know in our hearts, common sense tells us, that the way to prosperity is not through more spending based on debt. The way back to prosperity is by cutting profligate spending and cutting taxes so the American people have more of their own money to invest and save and to create jobs for the future.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. The National Endowment of the Arts funding, the prevention and wellness programs, $3 billion. How will spending $3 billion on prevention and wellness programs stimulate the economy in Pennsylvania?

Mr. CULBERSON. Thank you, Mr. Carney. I wanted to ask if you could please, sir, I would like to know how spending $50 million for the National Endowment of the Arts and $3 billion on sexually transmitted diseases is going to stimulate the economy in Pennsylvania or anywhere else. How will spending money on the NEA and sexually transmitted diseases stimulate the economy in Pennsylvania?

Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentleman from Pennsylvania yield for a brief question?

Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, I am glad that we are considering this legislation today, which will be helpful to local law enforcement agencies who are such a vital part of our homeland security. We have, in Congress, I think, for too many years not done enough to bring local law enforcement into the homeland security network that's essential to protecting this Nation against attack from terrorists, people who would enter this country to hurt us, crossing our borders. I am although strenuously opposed to the scale of this spending bill that the liberal majority has pushed through this House with so little public input, so little public notice, so few public hearings. The scale of the bill is one that we in the long term, I think, will find a crushing burden on our kids and grandchildren. At least the legislation includes some small fraction of money for ports of entry. I understand the legislation includes funding to help strengthen airport security. However, the Democrat, the liberal stimulus bill does not include funding for expanding and building more rapidly the border fence, as it should. This so-called stimulus bill of almost $1.3 trillion spending spree that we have seen in the first 17 days of this new majority in Congress, the money that is spent in this stimulus bill only focuses on the little piece that focuses on homeland security, focuses on land ports of entry and airports. I would certainly encourage the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee to work with our subcommittee on appropriations. I serve on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. We would like to work with you in finding ways to send more funding to our local border sheriffs, to our local law enforcement agencies that are working along the border to secure this country against narcoterrorists and extremist Islamic terrorists coming across our border, southern and northern. We need to do far more to work in cooperation with these local law enforcement agencies. And the precious dollars that we spend in this Congress, the hard-earned tax dollars of our constituents, when we do need to spend them, should be focused on things like national security, like protecting the security of this Nation when it comes to the border. It's just inexcusable that this profligate stimulus bill that the majority has put together, has things utterly unrelated to job growth, such as neighborhood stabilization activities, $4.19 billion for groups like ACORN. How desperately that money is needed to strengthening our southern border, to helping reimburse local law enforcement agencies for housing foreign nationals in county jails, the SCAP program, the State and County Alien Assistance Program, to help the local taxpayers pay for the cost of housing foreign nationals who are in this country illegally and arrested by local sheriffs and housed in county jails at massive expense. Why aren't we helping these local taxpayers and local jailers who are doing their part for Homeland Security instead of spending money on ACORN neighborhood stabilization activities? $3 billion for prevention and wellness programs utterly unrelated to job growth. If we were spending some of this money for local jails to house criminal foreign nationals, they would be hiring more local, more law enforcement officials in that local jail, that would at least be some job growth and help make the streets of our communities safer when it comes to homeland security. $400 million for climate change research? What's that got to do with the short-term recovery of the economy of the United States? Our highest priority today, as we stand here today, at the beginning of February 2009, is to reassure the American public that we are being responsible with their tax dollars and doing everything in our power to strengthen the economy and be sure that people are going to have a paycheck and a job next month.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, Judge Poe is exactly right. Our most fundamental right as Americans is the right to be left alone. It is important legislation and appreciate the judge bringing it to us. We're going to hear from our good friend Congressman Royce in a minute who has been working on this legislation for many years. We will hear from him in just a moment. I want to make sure, however, we as a Congress are focused on the financial hurricane stalking America just over the horizon. The financial, really if we're not careful, the urgency of this financial hurricane is something we cannot afford to ignore any longer. We, as a Congress, have as our highest priority again the preservation of the security and financial safety of future generations. We're guardians of the Treasury. We're responsible for ensuring that we're not spending money we don't have; yet this so- called stimulus bill has added to the urgency of this financial hurricane stalk in America. This $1.3 trillion spending spree that the new liberal majority has engaged has, in fact, created at least 32 new Federal programs at a cost of about $137 billion. This spending spree of $1.3 trillion over these 17 legislative days has a lot more to do with expanding the power base of the liberal majority and growing the Federal Government's power than it does with stimulating the economy. In my opinion, this legislation will do, in fact, far more to turn America into France ultimately than it will to restore the strength and vibrancy of America's free market economy, and that's the best way to stave off this financial hurricane stalking America today. We, I think, as fiscal conservatives may be outnumbered today, Madam Speaker, but we have an obligation to stand up and speak out at every opportunity. We are entrusted by our constituents with the responsibility to lay out thoughtful, fiscally responsible alternatives to the profligate spending we see coming from the other side. At a time of real national emergency, when we're seeing disturbing trends in job losses, when average Americans want to make sure that we as a Congress are being only good stewards of their money, well, what are we doing to ensure the security of their next paycheck? What are we doing to reassure Americans that we're doing everything in our power to protect the security of their job, to make sure that they don't have fear stalking their household that they are going to lose their job or lose the security of that health care coverage that they've always had? This liberal majority, instead, has been focused on creating brand new programs to pay for public school construction. That's an area that the Federal Government has traditionally steered away from because of the massive cost. This stimulus bill that, again, is going to do far more to grow the government than grow the economy, this stimulus bill promoted by the new liberal majority in Congress, has set aside about $14 billion for school modernization and repair; $6 billion for higher education modernization and repair. That means for the first time that Federal taxpayers are assuming the responsibility for rebuilding and repairing local public school buildings, all these traditionally the responsibility of local taxpayers, locally issued bonds by school districts and universities across the country. I know the Houston Independent School District tells me just to complete, off-the-cuff figure, they estimate they've got in the Houston Independent School District alone about $4 to $5 billion worth of need to rebuild, repair existing school buildings. Imagine the size of that obligation that this new liberal majority has now created for future generations to pay for. We are in this, as fiscal conservatives, doing everything in our power to enlighten the American people, to let the public know, Madam Speaker, that there's a thoughtful, fiscally conservative alternative out there, America. We want to cut your taxes and cut spending to get this economy moving. We vigorously oppose this effort to grow the government and saddle future generations with more debt.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. And instead of, for example, this legislation that we've got on the floor today, Madam Speaker, to protect and report on the safety of prisoners in the prison system, one of the many responsibilities of Congress, this utterly irresponsible profligate spending that the new liberal majority has engaged in to stimulate the economy, 800 million for Amtrak, 4 million for climate change. What is this? We're going to have $200 million for AmeriCorps, $3 billion for prevention and wellness programs, including sexually transmitted diseases, $4.2 billion for neighborhood stabilization activities. What is that? What does that have to do with protecting the financial safety and security of the American people? We're spending money. I am a fiscal conservative. And by the way, Mr. Scott, I voted against most of those big spending programs that were pushed over the last 8 years. I have done my best, as a fiscal conservative, to vote against Medicare prescription drug, voted against the farm bills, voted against No Child Left Behind, voted against as much of these new big authorization spending programs as I can because I'm trying to think about what obligation I'm passing on to my daughter and future generations. Madam Speaker, the best way to protect the safety of prisoners in prisons and the safety of the American people is for this Congress to cut spending and cut taxes and quit spending money we don't have.

Mr. CULBERSON. I thank my colleague for yielding. Madam Speaker, we are considering today a piece of legislation to report on the deaths of prisoners in Federal custody. As part of the responsibility of this Congress, we have to make sure those prisons are paid for. We've got to have the money to make sure we can pay for the operation of those prisons and keep those prisoners safe. In order to have that money, we've got to exercise fiscal responsibility here as guardians of the Treasury. Our highest priority as the elected representatives of the people who pay the taxes that pay for these lights, that pay for this House Chamber, we've got an obligation to protect their financial safety and security for the future. Not only the safety and securities of these prisoners, but more importantly, the safety and security of the American people. In order to make sure we've got that money available, we need to be very, very thoughtful and careful and remember that we face a deficit of over $1 trillion, a national debt of over $10 trillion, unfunded liabilities of $60 trillion-plus. The Comptroller tells us if you were to sell off every asset in America that proceeds might generate $62 trillion. So we've reached a point as a Nation, Madam Speaker, where our national assets--all of the private property owned by every one of us; sell the real estate, sell all your possessions--might generate $62 trillion. That's how much unfunded liability we've got out there that our kids and grandchildren are going to have to pay for Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid. And now all of this new spending that the majority--the new liberal majority has engaged in the biggest, most unrestrained profligate spending spree in the history of America in a short 17-day period--the change that the new majority has given America is it's spent $1.3 trillion in a short 17 days. Not sure how we're even going to be able to assure the safety of prisoners in Federal custody much less the safety and security of Americans across the Nation when in 17 days we spent 50 percent, almost 50 percent more money than the entire annual budget of the United States. My colleague, Chairman Scott, a man of good faith and sincerity, says he hopes that this financial stimulus package works. That's not enough. That's a scary hope. Where are the legions of economists? Where are the witnesses? Why wasn't there any testimony? We had an appropriations hearing of about 6 hours to spend about $800 billion, our piece of this bill. Ways and Means had a hearing of maybe about 6 hours. Normally, the entire annual budget of the United States, about $900 billion, requires a year's worth of hearings, hundreds of witnesses, hundreds of hours of committee hearings and thoughtful deliberations by the committees of the Congress to generate the annual budget for the United States of about $900 billion. Yet this new liberal majority, this utterly unrestrained liberal majority in Congress has managed to spend in a short 17-day period $1.3 trillion of borrowed money. Again, it's like me paying off my mortgage with my Master Card. It makes no sense.

Mr. CULBERSON

Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, I believe this is an unprecedented spending spree. When you analyze the history of the Congress of the United States, I would challenge anyone to find another time in our history when the Congress has ever spent at the rate of $100 million a minute. I don't think that has ever happened before. $100 million a minute. $1.3 trillion in 9 days. Now, the entire annual budget of the United States is about $900 trillion. I have the privilege of serving on the Appropriations Committee, by the way, where my starting answer on all spending requests is ``no.'' ``Yes'' is very hard to earn. I am very careful about the few things that I ask support for in the sciences and in medical scientific research. We have this new liberal majority in Congress. The change that this new majority and the new President promised has led to a spending spree of $100 million a minute. That has given this country a $1.3 trillion so-called stimulus spending bill in 9 legislative days, exceeding the annual budget of the United States, which is about $900 billion. This is unprecedented. It is dangerous. It imperils the financial safety of future generations, Madam Speaker, and I hope Congress throws this spending bill out in favor of tax cuts.

Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, as we go through this debate today and look to protect the physical and financial safety of future generations, it is important for this Congress to remember that every dollar we spend today is truly borrowed money. It is money that is going to have to be paid for by future generations, and we have an obligation--all of us as guardians of the Treasury--to remember the financial safety and security of our children and grandchildren. In every spending decision we make, why aren't we approaching this from the perspective of we have got the biggest debt in the history of the Nation? We have got the biggest deficit in the history of the Nation. Therefore, the answer is ``no'' to new spending. We need to not only cut taxes but to cut spending at the same time. We need to all of us stay focused on what is truly in the best interests of these young people. How do we best protect their physical and financial security? By protecting the financial solvency of the United States of America. Our most sacred obligation, it seems to me as Representatives of the people, is to protect the financial safety and security of the Nation.

Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, there certainly is no higher priority for all of us than the safety of our sons and daughters, and that safety involves not only their physical safety but their financial safety. The financial safety of our young men and women across this country is held in the palms of the hands of this Congress. In fact, this new liberal majority in Congress has been spending money so fast, and we have only been in session for 17 legislative days. Madam Speaker, in thinking about the financial safety of these young people, if you look at just the time that Congress has been zeroed in on this so-called stimulus bill, Congress has spent $1.3 trillion in 9 legislative days. Let me repeat that. We have this new liberal majority. The country voted for change, but I am not sure this is the change that people wanted or expected. The change we got was spending money at an ever faster rate. $1.3 trillion has been spent by this liberal majority in 9 legislative days. That means that this new majority in Congress is spending money at a rate of $100 million a minute. Now that needs to sink in for a minute. For the change that we got, this new Congress is spending money at the rate of $100 million a minute. That is not unlike if I were to try to pay my mortgage with my MasterCard. Now, everyone knows you cannot do that. I cannot pay my mortgage with my MasterCard, but I would get a lot of frequent flyer miles out of that. It is as dangerous, I should say, to pay your mortgage with your MasterCard as it is for this Congress to imperil the financial safety of future generations by spending borrowed money we do not have. This is an unprecedented spending spree that has much more to do with rewarding the constituency of the liberal majority--the trial lawyers and the labor unions--rather than stimulating the economy and protecting the financial safety of future generations. We fiscal conservatives understand instinctively that the best way to protect the financial safety of future generations is to simply let Americans keep more of their own money by cutting their taxes, by giving them a tax-free holiday. How about that? That would be a straightforward, simple, immediate way to inject money into the economy, which is for people to spend and to invest as they wish rather than for the Federal Government to make the united policy decision that it is necessary to engage in deficit spending in order to stimulate the economy. Rather than pumping the money out to labor unions and to trial lawyers and to new government programs and expanding the bureaucracy, why don't we simply inject that money into giving Americans X number of tax-free days where you keep 100 percent of your money, where you can invest it, save it, and spend it as you wish? In my opinion, there is no better way. I think that is something that every American can understand. There is no simpler, quicker or better way to stimulate job growth and to strengthen the economy than to simply let Americans keep more of their hard-earned money. That is the way to protect the financial stability of future generations.