Mike Coffman

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the 236th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, I would like to take the opportunity to honor a marine whom I served with during the first Gulf War. Chief Warrant Officer W5 John Currie, United States Marine Corps Reserve (Retired), served our Nation with distinction from his first enlistment in 1966 until his retirement in 1999. I met Chief Warrant Officer Currie late in the fall of 1990 when I volunteered to serve with a light armored infantry company that was mobilized for the first gulf war. From the start, I was deeply impressed by his leadership, the respect his subordinate marines had for him, and by his tactical skill and the courage he demonstrated on the battlefield. His citation for the Navy Commendation Medal reads: ``Late in the afternoon of 21 February 1991, Chief Warrant Officer W3 Currie decisively led his platoon through enemy indirect fires to occupy a key defensive position opposite significant portions of an Iraqi infantry brigade. Over the next 2 days and nights of combat, his clear reasoning, calm issuance of orders, and effective employment of supporting arms against enemy forces motivated his platoon and the entire company in their efforts to hold the center of the battalion's defenses. Early on the morning of 24 February 1991, he led his platoon to a new position on the division's extreme left flank and initiated a series of aggressive actions against enemy positions which inflicted numerous casualties. Chief Warrant Officer W3 Currie's coolness, poise, and decisive actions inspired and steadied all who observed him, as he successfully gained and maintained control over a very fluid and chaotic situation caused by the surrender of more than 800 Iraqi soldiers.'' I will never forget Chief Warrant Officer W5 John Currie and all he did not only to lead his men so effectively against the enemy, but in setting such a high standard for all of the officers in the command, to include myself. Chief Warrant Officer John Currie is a credit to the United States Marine Corps, and it's an honor to reflect on his service to our Nation and to the Marine Corps as we approach the 236th birthday of the Corps.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,971,1831,021,178.32. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,333,405,274,884.52 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,993,709,044,140.78. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,355,283,297,846.98 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the career of Master Gunnery Sergeant Stephen A. Gould as he retires from the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Master Gunnery Sergeant Gould retires from the United States Marine Corps Reserves on 1 November 2011, with over 30 years of service. He has served as a Rifleman, a Reconnaissance Man, an Infantry Unit Leader and an Intelligence Analyst. During his career he has served in multiple countries in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Master Gunnery Sergeant Gould enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 21 Oct 1981 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. After completing Infantry Training School at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, and Amphibious Reconnaissance Course at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, CA, Private First Class Gould was assigned to Det. Fourth Force Reconnaissance Company, Reno, NV. In 1989 Sergeant Gould reported for duty as an Assistant Project Non- Commissioned Officer, for unmanned aerial vehicles at the Naval Air Systems Command, where he assisted in the coordination for the initial delivery, testing and fielding of the Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle. In 1991 Sergeant Gould was assigned as Assistant Project Non- Commissioned Officer for Combat Diving, at the Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, VA. During this assignment he assisted in the procurement of combat diving equipment and raiding craft, and the authoring of the Marine Corps' technical instruction covering the operations of Marine Corps Diving Facilities. In 1993 Sergeant Gould was assigned to 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Infantry Regiment as the Intelligence Chief. In 1997 Staff Sergeant Gould received orders to the Defense Intelligence Agency as a student in the Joint Military Intelligence College's Post Graduate Intelligence Program-Reserve. In August 1999 Gunnery Sergeant Gould became the first Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Officer to complete the Post Graduate Intelligence Program-Reserve. Upon graduation Gunnery Sergeant Gould was assigned to the National Military Joint Intelligence Center, J2, Joint Staff, as an Asia Pacific Desk Officer. During this assignment he provided notable support to the recovery plan of a U.S. Navy EP-3 reconnaissance airplane after a collision with a Chinese fighter and forced emergency landing at the Chinese island of Hainan. On September 12, 2001, Gunnery Sergeant Gould reported for duty to support the J2, Joint Staff following the September 11th attacks. He was then ordered back to the Pentagon to serve on the Central Asia Crisis Team (subsequently Noble Eagle Task Force). In October 2003 Gunnery Sergeant Gould was detached from the J2, Joint Staff and ordered to Iraq to serve with the Iraq Survey Group in the billets of Tactical Human Intelligence Officer, Human Intelligence Operations Officer and Collection Manager. During this tour he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Upon his return from Iraq in late-2004, Gunnery Sergeant Gould was assigned to the Naval and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Virginia Beach, VA, where he taught in both the Counter Intelligence/ Human Intelligence and mid-career Marine Officer's Intelligence Course. In March of 2006, Master Sergeant Gould was transferred to Intelligence Department, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. During this assignment he performed duties of a senior Pacific Command and European Command analyst. He contributed to numerous analytical products on regional issues for senior Marine Corps and Navy leadership. In March of 2010, Master Gunnery Sergeant Gould was assigned to the faculty of the National Intelligence University, Defense Intelligence Agency, teaching in the Masters of Science in Strategic Intelligence-- Reserve program. His assignment at the National Intelligence University ends upon his retirement.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,943,613,298,774.71. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,305,187,552,480.91 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,940,671,706,465.75. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,302,245,960,171.95 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,939,232,547,985.08. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,300,806,801,691.28 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,868,218,296,426.05. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,229,792,550,132.25 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,868,218,296,426.05. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,229,792,550,132.25 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,863,312,407,851.35. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,224,886,661,557.55 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice and laid down his life for our freedom: United States Army Private First Class David A. Drake. Private First Class Drake enlisted in the United States Army in January 2011. In the Army, he served as a combat engineer, leading from the front with his unit, the 515th Engineer Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On September 28, 2011, he gave his life in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, conducting operations against the enemy. David is remembered not only for his heroics on the battlefield, but for the tremendous impact he had on his family, friends, and his community. His brother recalls David's absolute devotion to others in describing why he joined the Army. ``For him, it was pride in serving our country, serving the people, keeping our freedom.'' His character and patriotism are an example for us all. Private First Class David Andrew Drake personifies the honor and selflessness of service in the United States Army. His bravery and dedication to duty will not be forgotten. As a Marine Corps combat veteran, my deepest sympathies go out to his family, his fellow soldiers, and to all who knew him.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,860,324,039,615.03. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,221,898,293,321.23 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, perhaps the most important element of our democracy is the reverence our people and government have for the rule of law. I stand here today because I am dismayed at the State Department's inaction in response to a Federal court ruling stating the DoS was incorrect in placing the MEK on the terrorist watch list. This inaction damages the credibility of our executive branch as well its ability to faithfully execute the laws of this land. More than 10 years ago, the State Department put Iran's most organized opposition on the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, FTO, in order to get the Iranian mullahs to cooperate with us. Not only has this policy failed to temper Iran's aggressive behavior, it has actually emboldened them. More importantly, the terror listing of the Iranian opposition has robbed people of Iran of the political space needed to effectively oppose the regime within Iran and in the global arena. Our allies in the UK and EU have removed the MEK from their banned organizations list. The DC Circuit Federal Appeals Court has also ordered our government to reexamine its evidence on the MEK and undertake a fresh review of their case. The 10th Circuit stated that the State Department had not shown that the MEK had been engaged or had the intent to engage in terrorist activities which is a requirement to being designated as an FTO. Ninety-five Members of Congress and I have agreed with the court decision and co-sponsored H. Res. 60 to urge the Secretary of State to remove the MEK as an FTO and lift all restrictions. As such, I would therefore like to ask the folks in State Department a simple question: Why has the department, after more than 500 days of deliberation failed to faithfully comply with the Federal court order?

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to end all U.S. economic aid to Pakistan and to suspend all U.S. military aid until the Obama administration can certify to Congress that the Government of Pakistan is effectively using the aid against the Taliban and other al Qaeda affiliates that are planning and executing attacks on U.S. targets. My legislation will send a clear signal to the Government of Pakistan that they can't have it both ways. They can't be stridently anti- American and expect U.S. economic aid to continue and they can't be complicit in supporting some of the same radical Islamists groups that target Americans and expect to receive more U.S. military aid. There is a growing pattern of incidents whereby elements within the Pakistani government are blocking cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan and are providing covert support to some of the same organizations that are targeting U.S. troops and their coalition allies fighting in Afghanistan. Recently, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, testified to Congress and accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of providing strategic support for the Haqqani network, which the U.S. blames for the recent attack on the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. In his testimony, Admiral Mullen said, ``The support of terrorism is part of their national strategy. . . . And that's got to fundamentally shift.'' My legislation would immediately suspend all military aid to Pakistan until the Obama administration can certify that the Government of Pakistan is fully cooperating with the U.S. and is effectively using U.S. military aid in conducting operations against the Taliban, al Qaeda, and the other radical Islamic organizations engaged in terrorist operations. I don't think that other legislation in this area goes far enough. I believe that the U.S. economic aid Pakistan receives is a complete waste of U.S. tax dollars because it hasn't done anything to improve the U.S./Pakistani relationship, as intended. Instead, the relationship has actually deteriorated despite the fact that the U.S. has increased assistance to the Government of Pakistan--which has received over $2 billion in economic aid over the last two years. By cutting off all economic aid and suspending all military aid we will be sending a clear message to the Pakistani government that they are not to take our support for granted. So long as we have troops fighting in Afghanistan, who need the supply lines that run through Pakistan, it would be irresponsible to immediately eliminate all military aid to Pakistan. I do believe that the Pakistani military is capable of effectively using the aid to help defeat some of the same radical Islamic forces that U.S. troops are fighting, who cross from Pakistan to the Afghan side of the border.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,856,859,498,405.73. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $ 4,218,433,752,111.93 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,837,099,271,196.71. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,198,673,524,902.91 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,790,340,328,557.15. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,151,914,582,263.35 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, as we today approve a continuing resolution at a non-emergency spending level equivalent to $1.043 trillion, and additional War Funding at an annualized rate of $119 billion, our national debt is $14,707,406,820,591.87 trillion. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10.63 trillion. This means the national debt has increased by $4.07 trillion since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,726,790,407,953.74. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,088,364,661,659.94 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Madam Speaker, if our Nation's debt crisis has taught us anything, it's that we need a permanent fiscal solution to keep America the permanent land of the free for our children and grandchildren. There is only one way to bind Congress to such a commitment, and that is a constitutional amendment requiring us to balance the budget. Ordinary spending cuts and pledges to slash the deficit are no longer sufficient. Washington went on a record-breaking spending binge and left Americans in an economic hangover. New taxes, as some propose, would only punish the victim and reward the spenders with more money to waste. We need to stop spending money we don't have and begin living within our means. The future of our Nation depends on it. A Washington promise is always temporary. A constitutional amendment is permanent. For the sake of tomorrow's generations, let's get it done today.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,705,188,086,992.02. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,066,762,340,698.22 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice and laid down his life for our freedom, United States Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 David R. Carter. Chief Warrant Officer Carter dedicated himself to over 24 years of military service. As a member of the Colorado Army National Guard, he deployed to Afghanistan last summer. On August 6, 2011, he was piloting a CH-47 helicopter on a mission to reinforce a unit under attack in Wardak Province. On that tragic day, he was one of 30 Americans lost when their helicopter was brought down by enemy fire. Dave Carter was regarded as one of the most highly trained aviators in Colorado, with multiple combat deployments and over 4,000 flight hours. He is also remembered for the tremendous impact he had on his family, friends, and community. Friends recall that he was never too busy to help out with a problem. Chief Warrant Officer David Carter personifies the honor and selflessness of service as a citizen soldier. His bravery and dedication to duty will not be forgotten. As a Marine Corps combat veteran, my deepest sympathies go out to his family, his fellow soldiers, and all who knew him.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,711,870,126,618.47. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,073,444,380,324.67 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,729,488,947,751.89. On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,091,063,201,458.09 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today our national debt is $14,683,910,471,705.99. On January 6, 2009 the start of the 111th Congress, the national debt was $10,638,425,746,293.80. This means the national debt has increased by $4,045,484,725,412.19 since then. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our children and all future Americans.