David Dreier

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to simply say to my colleagues that we're here for a very important reason. The reason is that we want to make sure that we don't face a government shutdown. We want to make sure that we do everything we possibly can so that the people in this country who have suffered from disasters over the past several weeks and months are able to have the resources that they need to do that, and we want to make sure, Mr. Speaker, that we do it in a fiscally responsible way so that we can do what every American and every Democrat and Republican in this House says needs to be done so that we can get our economy growing and put into place pro-growth, job creation proposals. I believe that we can do that. I think we can do it responsibly. I will say that this is the identical package that we had last night, with one modification; and that one modification is to ensure, with all due respect to my friend, the distinguished dean of this House, that we don't have another Solyndra. Regardless of what some have said was the cause of their demise, when we have employees of that company coming forward and making the case that they were spending money left and right, that they were using it on some of the most outrageous things imaginable, and that the employees could not understand why they built a factory when they had all of these resources in reserve, this cannot be allowed. It's not a responsible expenditure of U.S. taxpayer dollars, Mr. Speaker, and that's the reason we believe this $100 million can be used for the people who are truly in need.

Mr. DREIER. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. I thank my friend for yielding and congratulate him on his stellar management of this very important rule. Mr. Speaker, I've been listening to the remarks of my very good friend and distinguished colleague, the ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules, the gentlewoman from Rochester, New York (Ms. Slaughter) and I have to say that as I listen to the remarks, I'm going to keep my hands to my side. I'm not going to point the finger of blame at anybody. I'm simply going to state a few facts that I think are important for all the Members of this House to look at. It's true, the last 9 months under this Republican majority have been very difficult, very painful, and very challenging for us as we've been tackling the challenge of job creation and economic growth. There's a reason that we have had such a difficult time in the last 9 months here in this Congress. And the reason is very simple: Last year, for the first time in nearly three decades since the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Act was established, we didn't even have a budget proposed from the then-majority. And the fact that there was no budget proposed in the last Congress to deal with the very important spending priorities that we, as a Nation, needed to address, and the fact that we had not one single appropriations bill, not one single appropriations bill, completed in the last Congress--we inherited at the beginning of this year, and Democrats and Republicans alike will acknowledge it, we inherited a hell of a mess. It was a big mess that we inherited. And guess what? We decided that we were going to tackle that mess in a bipartisan way. My friend who has just talked about the need for bipartisanship, we began in dealing with the appropriations process with, as Members will recall, being here for hours and hours and hours because Democrats and Republicans alike were able to put their mark--their mark--on this spending bill which we, because of the lack of action in the last Congress, inherited in this 9 months. And so my friend is absolutely right. The last 9 months have not been easy. They've not been easy at all. And I appreciate the fact that she has worked in a bipartisan way in a number of areas, because as she knows very well, the bill that we're going to be considering this week, the regulatory relief bill, we make every amendment that complied with the rules of the House in order. So many more Democratic amendments have been made in order than Republican amendments on a number of pieces of legislation, and that's so that we can do exactly what my friend has said hasn't happened, and that is work in a bipartisan way. Now I think that probably the single largest bipartisan achievement that we've had in this past 9 months has been the agreement that we came to at the end of July, and that was an agreement that Democrats and Republicans alike recognized had to be addressed, we needed to increase the debt ceiling. We didn't like the fact that there had been so much spending that had taken place, but we recognized that it had to be done. So Democrats and Republicans came together to make that happen. We have further opportunities for bipartisan agreement coming right down the pike. Democrats and Republicans, alike, have said we need to open up new markets around the world for us to create union and nonunion jobs so that we can export more manufactured products from the United States of America into these markets. And we have three pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea that will go a long way towards doing what it is Democrats and Republicans, alike, want to do. I'm not going to accuse a single Democrat of not wanting to create jobs in this country. Everybody wants to make sure that their constituents aren't hurting, that their constituents aren't losing their homes, their jobs, their businesses. I know that everybody, Democrat and Republican, alike, wants to make that happen. We will have an opportunity, in a bipartisan way, to do just that, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to these market-opening agreements in these very, very, very important countries that will help us again create union and nonunion jobs. And I think when it comes to the issue of job creation and income growth, we need to look at the unfortunate mischaracterization that has been made time and time again of things like the tax cuts that have enjoyed bipartisan support, what I call the Bush-Obama tax cuts. First, the '01 tax cuts, I will acknowledge, were not real growth creators, but the '03 tax cuts generated economic growth that actually enhanced the flow of revenues to the Federal Treasury. And that's not my speculation. All one needs to do is simply look at the raw numbers. In 2003, Mr. Speaker, the Federal Treasury had $1.782 trillion in revenues from all sources. That was in '03. At the time we saw those tax cuts put into place, $1.782 trillion in revenues. Up until the economic downturn in 2007, we saw an increase of 44 percent in the flow of revenues that came into the Federal Treasury to $2.567 trillion. Now, that's an increase, Mr. Speaker, of $785 billion that came in.

Mr. DREIER. I thank my friend for yielding. That, Mr. Speaker, was a 44 percent increase, increasing by $785 billion the flow in revenues from the '03 revenue flow of $1.782 trillion to the '07 revenue flow of $2.567 trillion. The reason I use these numbers is that we all are focused on job creation and economic growth. We all know that increased gross domestic product will go a long way towards dealing with our deficit challenges and the difficulties that we face. And, Mr. Speaker, what I want us to do is recognize that, as my friend from Lawrenceville very generously said, I presided over more open rules than we had in the Republican Congress in the past and certainly than we had in the 4 years that preceded this. And I'm proud of that. I'm very proud of the fact that we've been able to make so many amendments in order that my Democratic colleagues have offered. We have a Hastings amendment that we made in order on the bill that we're going to be considering later. I'm happy that we've done that. We will have a chance to debate these issues and I hope come to a bipartisan agreement. Mr. Speaker, I will just say in closing that we have had a difficult 9 months. My friend from Rochester is absolutely right. It's been a challenging 9 months. And as long as Americans are hurting, it's going to always be difficult for us here. But being able to establish priorities, to come together in a bipartisan way, is important. This measure that we're considering today is being done at the request of the bipartisan leadership of our colleagues in the other body who want to be able to move this continuing resolution through as expeditiously as possible to, as my friend from Lawrenceville said, recognize that between now and November 18 we simply want to ensure that the resources are there. I see my friend from Vermont, and I will say to my friend that I read and looked at the photographs of the flooding that has taken place in Vermont. It has been devastating. I've looked at the disasters that have taken place across this country. My State of California suffers from earthquakes, fires, flooding, lots of disasters. An earthquake was felt in this Capitol during the month of August. We know that disasters occur. We must do everything we can to address those. But calling for an $8 billion increase in spending beyond the $1.43 trillion that this continuing resolution calls for is not the answer. We need to prioritize to ensure that those who are really suffering can, in fact, have their needs addressed, and I believe that this House, in a bipartisan way, can and should and, I hope, will do that.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, it was with great sadness that we received the news this past weekend of the passing of one of my long-time family friends and one of the most dedicated public servants I've ever had the privilege of knowing or serving with. I'm referring, of course, to Senator Charles Percy, who passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 91. Senator Percy was someone whom I first met when I was a kid at summer camp in Colorado. Tragically, his daughter Valerie had been murdered. And, of course, her twin is Sharon Percy Rockefeller, who serves with great distinction as the head of the WETA board and who has many other civic duties here in Washington, DC. I met Senator Percy when we were at Valerie Lodge, which was named for his daughter, the camp in California; and at that moment, Mr. Speaker, I saw someone who was clearly very dedicated and extraordinarily principled. His entire life was dedicated to public service and to doing everything he possibly could to ensure that life was better for all around him. I came to Congress a little more than a decade after I'd met him when I was at summer camp. He immediately took me under his wing, and he made the pilgrimage from the Senate here to the House of Representatives, and visited me in my office several times. I took my first trip with him to Mexico, and it was the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Conference. I remember very vividly nearly three decades ago--well, actually, three decades ago--what it is that he said, Mr. Speaker. He talked about the challenge and the relationship between the United States and Mexico, and he characterized his remarks as it related to his twin daughters, Sharon and Valerie. In that speech, he said, So many people talk about twins and the similarities. He said, For me, the greatness is to look at the differences between the two. He carried that personal message as he referred to the challenging relationship between the United States of America and Mexico, and I was struck by that. He was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and I was privileged to serve two terms here in the House while he served in the Senate. So I want to say to his wonderful wife, Loraine, and to all of the other children and relatives and friends of Senator Charles Percy that he lived an amazing life. It was one that was an inspiration to me, and I will greatly miss him.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Edison International on its 125th year of business. Edison was founded on July 4, 1886 in Visalia, California and from then on, Edison has worked to find new and more efficient ways to serve its customers safely and reliably. For example, in 1898, Orville Ensign, an Edison engineer, designed the first insulator made from porcelain instead of glass which enabled the company to increase voltage on transmission lines. In the early 1900s, Edison engineer James Lighthipe designed the longest and highest voltage transmission line. It was also the first to be supported entirely by steel towers. Today, Edison employs over 14,000 individuals in Southern California alone and its utility subsidiary, Southern California Edison, has over 12,000 miles of transmission lines. Edison is also currently building the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, the largest wind transmission venture in the United States. Edison is also involved with developing wind energy. Edison Mission Energy, one of the largest developers of wind energy, has 30 projects in operation or under construction in 11 states. Edison continues looking towards the future and is leading an initiative to prepare the electric grid for the widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles. Finally, Edison is currently working to upgrade its electric system infrastructure so that they will be prepared for the next 125 years. It is important to note the dedication of Edison International to the communities it serves. With many families struggling in the current economy, Edison is working with residents and businesses to help them save money by utilizing energy efficiency techniques. In addition, in 2010, employees contributed $4.3 million to schools and non-profits. This year, to celebrate its 125th anniversary, Edison employees are taking part in 125 community service events, including assisting City of Hope and other valuable organizations. Congratulations to Edison and its employees for 125 years of innovation, reliable service and commitment to the community.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, this weekend, we as a Nation commemorated the 10th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Like all Americans, I spent a great deal of time thinking about where I was on that sunny Tuesday ten years ago. I was sitting in my office at the Rules Committee on the third floor of the Capitol when the first plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center. I remained there until 10:30 a.m., when a full evacuation of the Capitol was imposed. During that time prior to the evacuation, I watched the news coverage of the planes that hit the south tower of the WTC and the Pentagon. I later heard the news of Flight 93, which crashed in a field near Shanksville, PA. Knowing what we know now of the hijackers' intentions, this treasured building and the lives of all of us who were here that morning were preserved because of the heroics of the passengers of Flight 93. I had the privilege of spending last Saturday in Shanksville with the families of those brave men and women. It was their loved ones' sacrifice that saved the lives of so many here in the Capitol that day. They also saved what has become the world's most recognizable symbol of democracy. I cannot think about that tragic day without thinking of the words inscribed on walls of the Capitol, just above the door to the Sergeant at Arms' office: ``We have built no temple but the Capitol; we consult no common oracle but the Constitution.'' It was my belief that this hallowed structure was as untouchable as the democracy it represents that led me to remain here, even as planes crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that day. Last week, a reporter questioned me, somewhat incredulously, as to how I could have been so naive as to remain in my office that morning. I replied that we were all naive that day. We learned in the most painful and tragic way possible that we were not untouchable; but we also learned, and have been continually reminded ever since, that as long as brave men and women are willing to fight for this country, we will continue to endure. With this truth in mind, I submit for the Record the following poem written by Albert Caswell, who was also here in this building that morning ten years ago. Lives in the Distance--in Memory and in Honor to the Heroes of Flight 93 on This the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Lives In The Distance . . . Lives . . . In The Distance . . . While, traveling the miles . . . From down here on earth, rising up through the clouds . . . reaching Heaven in style! As a non stop flight, with its destination in sight . . . as up towards Heaven, arrives . . . with such fine heroes the while . . . For no one so here, upon this our Mother Earth . . . Throughout all of the miles, has no day so promised, until death . . . from conception to birth! As each new day, is but a fine gift . . . as one to be ever so lived . . . while, taking stock in its true worth . . . For no man or woman, nor even a child . . . may so know of this, his or hers one last final moments here upon Earth! As on a bright beautiful fall morn . . . As all of those magnificent heroes, of flight 93 were so to our nation to be born! As now stands alone, with the greatest of all American heroes they own . . . As their titles now worn . . . For their great gift of life, for their most gravest of all sacrifice . . . while, Saving Lives In The Distance . . . forever lives on! For as long as Mankind . . . For as since the very beginning of time, as one so surely finds . . . As a struggle which spans, of Good vs Evil . . . as our Lord's chosen people, who have so fought the darkest of all evils . . . Just like Angels on earth . . . while, all showing their worth . . . as these most hallowed of heroes, were all so to find the courage! While, up on a plane . . . in the face of the darkest of all evils, our Lord's chosen people upon flight 93 together so came . . . For when it was time, and innocent life so lay on the line . . . these most brilliant heroes so cried, ``let's roll'' . . . as the light so remained! All in a few defining moments of truth, these brave hearts gave to all such the proof . . . as why now we so ever honor their names! For once they heard the news, To Save Precious Lives In The Distance . . . was but their most sacred of all gifts they so to choose! As one heroic band of sisters and brothers were so to stand, as like none others . . . together enjoined, as they were not to lose! As our Lord had stepped in, slowing the plane . . . as his Angels on earth, could buy that most precious time that they so needed to use! As they said their final hellos, and those most poignant last tearful goodbyes! While, talking to their loved ones on their phones . . . as upon their most magnificent faces, their tear drops now lie! While, summing up all of their courage . . . as their finest of souls were not so to be discouraged, as all so stood ready to die! For there is no greater gift, nor a more so sacred offering as all of this . . . than one's life! Moving forth, with our Lord at their sides! Now, as I look up at our nation's dome on each new coming day . . . As there in that moment, as out upon my way . . . as I stop to reflect, as I find the time to pray . . . For it was me who so stood on that rotunda floor, when on that fateful morning . . . sure death but lay, only miles away! All because of them, my sweet daughter Jennifer still has her best friend . . . What greater gift, but than my life they so saved? In life, heroes come in all shapes and sizes . . . But, it's what lies deep down within one's heart as where their great courage rises! Armed with but just their undaunted courage and faith, as these brave hearts were so not to be denied! As I ask you now, how can any woman or man . . . in the midst of such evil so stand? Could we, such the courage realize? In this our most precious land of the free! These brave heroes on this morning so shone so brilliantly, as forever etched in their great legacies! As these selfless souls, so sacrificed . . . doing what was so right! For Lives In The Distance, their own fine lives did so concede! And still on this day, their fine lessons of life . . . I shall never forget! Remembering them, on my knees as I pray. And to all of those brokenhearted families, on this your saddest of days . . . To the husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers and father's alive . . . who now must so live without and so cry! To the ones, who now live with such holes in their hearts . . . as your anguish and pain, so forevermore so mounts! As we pray on this day, asking our Lord to bring peace on your way . . . knowing what your loved ones were so all about! Not to witness another sunrise . . . not to watch your child grow up to be old and wise, or wake in the morn to see the joys of life comprised! Or grow old with your loved ones at your side, as throughout the years arriving at the true meaning of where life so lies . . . As all of this is gone, as your heartache lives on . . . while, into a future your faith shall be repaid in our Lord's eyes . . . And when your child so asks you why? With your arms all around them, wiping their tears from their eyes . . . Tell them all about their most magnificent Moms and Dads . . . Aunts, Uncles, Brothers and Sisters who will never die! Tell them all about their most incredible faith, and about their greatest of all gifts . . . Saving Lives In The Distance, so others may rise! In Washington . . . . because of them, The greatest symbol of democracy still shines . . . even brighter in the midday sun which now lies! All because of their most sacred sacrifice . . . as flight 93, brought us our first victory in this tragic war against terrorism to be won! Now, high atop our Capitol this very day, The Statue of Freedom sheds a tear . . . for all of those who did what must so be done! A Life Saved In The Distance . . . What a most precious gift this is! As in the coming years, maybe we shall all so witness! Perhaps a Rembrandt, or a Dr. King . . . or even perhaps a woman who might so save the world from all of this is! Only time can tell, for only our Lord knows so very well . . . for our futures do not occur by circumstance! Never forget this! As out in the distance we find . . . are all of those most precious moments in time, as before us defined! As Good so faced Evil, as the most selfless of all people . . . as our Lord's Angels on earth, were so to shine! While, Saving Lives In The Distance . . . as upon our Lord's face his tears drops so lie . . . watching his new Angels in Heaven arrive!

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it shall be in order at any time without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 2887) to provide an extension of surface and air transportation programs, and for other purposes; the bill shall be considered as read; the bill shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating my friend on his very strong and passionate commitment and let him know that I share our desire to ensure that human rights are recognized in Colombia and anyplace in the world. I worked with him in the past when he was a staff member working for Mr. Moakley on this issue in El Salvador. It is imperative that we resolve it and ensure that our tax dollars are not being used for any kind of nefarious purposes. Mr. Speaker, having said that, I want to rise in strong support of this rule. I do it because it's been a long time since we've had the occurrence that we did yesterday in the House Rules Committee. We just came back, as we all know, from this 5-week district work period of August, and we had the first meeting in the Rules Committee. In that meeting, we began with the chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, Mr. Kline, and the ranking member of that committee, Mr. Miller; the chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr. Rogers, and the ranking member, Mr. Ruppersberger, coming before the Rules Committee and offering bipartisan proposals on both charter schools for the Education Committee, obviously, and the authorization bill from the Intelligence Committee. In fact, I quipped at one point during the Rules Committee that maybe we should have a 5- week break between each Rules Committee meeting so that we can, in fact, come together in a bipartisan way and deal with these critically important issues. I have to say, Mr. Speaker, it is a great day, especially as we prepare, in just a little less than 7 hours, to hear from the President of the United States on an issue that Democrats and Republicans alike say needs to be addressed. We all know, from having been in our States over the past 5 weeks, that job creation and economic growth are the top priorities for the American people. We all represent constituents who are hurting. I have friends who have lost their homes, their businesses, their jobs, and we want to make sure that we get our economy back on track. It's my hope that the example that we're going to have today as we begin consideration of the charter schools bill and then tomorrow as we deal with the intelligence bill--and obviously the bill that we're going to be considering today, because of the President's speech tonight, will have to carry on into next week, so we will obviously have this continued bipartisan spirit on the issue of charter schools next week. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that we're in a position where we can use these two as a model to address this issue of job creation and economic growth. Now, there is recognition that there are a wide range of views on the issue of job creation and economic growth, and we were reminded by the Senate minority leader just today of the proverbial Einstein directive that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting a different outcome. I think that many of us--most all Republicans and some Democrats-- have come to the conclusion that this notion of dramatically increasing spending, which is what we went through with the stimulus bill and several other issues, is not, in fact, the panacea that we have. And, frankly, I don't believe that there is an absolute silver bullet, there is not an absolute panacea, but I do believe that we need to try to put into place an effort that will reduce the regulatory burden imposed on those who are seeking to create jobs in this country. That's one of the proposals that we have. And again, I hope that we can work with the President on that issue. There has also been recognition that, since the Japanese have reduced their top rate on job creators, we in the United States of America have the highest tax rate on job creators--it's the corporate tax rate--of any country in the world. Now, I realize that obviously we know there are corporations that, through the tax structure that we have today, don't pay that 35 percent rate, but I think that we need to make sure that we close loopholes and reduce that top rate. And I'm not the only one who has spoken in support of that. Former President Bill Clinton has spoken in support of that idea. President Barack Obama has spoken in support of that idea. And I know that, as I look at my friends on the other side of the aisle--at this moment I'm looking at one who shares my view. I'm not going to name names, Mr. Speaker, but I'm looking at one who does share my view and another who might share my view as well on this issue. So there is a bipartisan consensus that if we can reduce that top rate on job creators, we have the potential to create jobs and also--and I know my friends on both sides of the aisle share this notion--generate an increase in the flow of revenues to the Federal Treasury, thereby dealing with this tremendous fiscal problem that we have. We have our joint select committee that is going to be dealing with the issue of deficit reduction. And we know that economic growth would be the single best way to generate the revenues that we need to pay down the debt and deal with the overall fiscal challenges we have and have the resources necessary for the priorities that are out there. Another issue, building on what was said by my friend from Worcester earlier, he mentioned the issue of Colombia. I happen to believe that if we look at the pending trade agreements that have been, unfortunately, languishing for 4 years, we need to make sure that we bring those forward. I am very encouraged by the fact that the President of the United States has indicated his willingness to do that. I also want to congratulate Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor for the letter that they sent to the President saying we want to find these areas of agreement, and the trade issue is one of them. I don't speak for every single Republican, but I speak for most all Republicans who believe very, very strongly that the notion of opening up new markets around the world for job creation and economic growth here in the United States, creating union and nonunion jobs is something that would take place if we were to pass the Korea, Colombia, and Panama agreements. Mr. Speaker, there are many people who believe that somehow passing these agreements will open up a flood of foreign products coming into the United States, undermining the ability to create jobs here in the United States, when, in fact, the opposite will be the case because Korea, Colombia, and Panama today have, by and large, free access to the U.S. consumer market. That's a good thing. It's a good thing because it allows that single mother who is trying to make ends meet, going to Wal-Mart or Kmart or Target or wherever, to buy products that are affordable. That's a positive thing. That's a good thing for our economy. What we need to do is we need to recognize that now we need to open up those markets so that while things come in from Korea, and Colombia especially, we need to do what we can to get into their markets. There are 40 million consumers in Colombia. Manufacturing jobs will be created here. Caterpillar, John Deere, Whirlpool, other great manufacturing companies here in the United States would have access to those markets. And on the Korea deal, Mr. Speaker, it will be the single largest bilateral free trade agreement in the history of the world, allowing us to have the ability to sell our automobiles and other products into the Korean market. So this is an area where I believe that, again, recognizing that union and nonunion jobs will be created here in the United States, that this can be an area of bipartisan agreement, and I know that the President will clearly talk about the imperative of these in the address he's going to be giving right behind me early this evening. What we're dealing with today, Mr. Speaker, is a very positive thing on the issue of charter schools, and I laud my friend from Colorado, who has done such a great job in starting charter schools and improving charter schools. I also want to comment on the statement that was made in the Rules Committee yesterday by the former chairman and now the ranking member of the Education Committee, Mr. Miller, who said that for many years he was a strong opponent of charter schools and now, for many years, he has been a strong proponent of charter schools, recognizing that we can go through a learning process here. And I quipped that one of our former colleagues said that ours is one business where you can never admit to having learned anything because, obviously, if you admit to having learned anything, you've flip-flopped. The fact is we all are learning and we should be proud of the fact that we've learned. I congratulate--I probably will hurt my friend Mr. Miller by praising him here, but I will say that the process that he has gone through on this issue of charter schools is something that I believe is a very, very good and positive thing. It's something that we all need to learn from, that experience that he had on the issue of charter schools, to be willing to listen to our colleagues on both sides of the aisle on a wide range of issues. That is why I think that this rule, enjoying bipartisan support--we have allowed many more Democratic amendments than Republican amendment in the rule itself. We're going to have a free-flowing debate on this issue, and then of course the very important intelligence authorization bill. Then tonight, I hope we can have again these areas of agreement so that we can get our fellow Americans who have been losing their homes, their businesses, and their jobs back on track.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 384 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I will say to my friend, and I would like to have a discussion with him, if I might. I would yield an additional 30 seconds and ask him to yield to me, especially if he wants to continue.

Mr. DREIER. I yielded time to my friend and then asked him to yield to me.

Mr. DREIER. I would like to thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my friend for his very thoughtful statement.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my very good friend, the gentlewoman from Rochester, New York (Ms. Slaughter), the ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DREIER. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. DREIER. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this resolution.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, after months and months of debate, we have arrived at the ultimate goal to which we are all committed: a bipartisan agreement to avert the debt ceiling crisis looming right before us. Even more importantly, we have crafted a plan that addresses the real underlying challenge of our ballooning national debt. The bipartisan agreement before us today is an historic achievement. Mr. Speaker, this is the 76th time that we have raised the debt ceiling since 1962. Seventy-five times it has been raised. This is the 76th time. Yet, Mr. Speaker, it is the very first time that we have done so while making corresponding cuts in spending that exceed the ceiling increase. To most of us, this is just good common sense. It's the only responsible thing to do. Yet 75 times before, no connection was made between the debt ceiling and efforts to tackle our debt. With today's underlying legislation, we are fundamentally changing the way business is done here in Washington. We are setting a new precedent for fiscal discipline and accountability. This is a tremendous achievement that will have a profound and lasting impact on our budget and our economy in both the short, medium and long term. This is an especially critical point to focus on. Today's legislation has dramatic implications for both the budget and our economy. Mr. Speaker, as you know very well, the two are inextricably linked. This is why our fiscal situation is so important. We don't need a balanced budget for the sake of a balanced budget, we need to balance our budget because job creation and economic growth depend on it. There is a reason why the major credit agencies have said that our AAA credit rating is in jeopardy if we don't dramatically cut spending. Multitrillion-dollar deficits and a national debt that approaches 100 percent of GDP are not sustainable. Democrats and Republicans alike recognize that. If we want to inspire confidence in the U.S. economy, create jobs, and restore our position as the world's most vital and dynamic economy, we absolutely must chart a new fiscal course. The bipartisan agreement that we will consider today does just that. It makes meaningful, immediate spending cuts. It sets up a process that guarantees votes in both Chambers by Thanksgiving on an even bigger package. This will give us the time necessary to go beyond cuts to significant new reforms. That includes reforming entitlement programs to keep them solvent and ensure that they don't force us back onto a path of spiraling deficits and debt. Mr. Speaker, by setting up this process, we can responsibly make the hard but essential choices that will restore our economy and unleash its power to create new opportunities for Americans. The underlying legislation will also impose additional automatic cuts, should Congress fail to continue on a path to real reform. Mr. Speaker, we are all in this together, Democrat and Republican alike. We all stand to suffer tremendously if we fail to either raise the debt ceiling or take this opportunity to fundamentally change course. We will all suffer if we fail to continue the process of meaningful reform. But by coming together and enacting real reform, by remaining committed to this joint effort into the future, we can all share in the benefits of a surging economy and job market. We can't approach a challenge of this magnitude as Republicans and Democrats first, but as fellow Americans who share a commitment to our prosperity as a Nation now and into the future. Mr. Speaker, today we have the opportunity. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to say that this is a very unique moment for us. We have the ability to come together at a time when we are faced with a deadline. That deadline, as we all know, is midnight tomorrow. The commitment that has been made to Social Security, Medicare, our veterans, and other programs is one which we, as Republicans, clearly stand by. And I've got to say that we know that since those programs have been put into place, when it comes to Social Security and Medicare, every working American has been forced to pay into the Medicare and Social Security funds through their FICA tax. By virtue of that contract that we have, we stand here strongly committed--contrary to what many people may say--to ensuring the solvency and the strength of Social Security for today's retirees and future generations as well. And I believe that this package that we have here today, that will enjoy bipartisan support, reaffirms that exact commitment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DREIER. May I yield my friend an additional 30 seconds, Mr. Speaker, and I ask him to yield to me.

Mr. DREIER. I will yield an additional 30 seconds, and I would hope that he would continue what he was saying in the first half of his presentation about me rather than the last half. Let me just say, Mr. Speaker, that it is very clear that what we have before us is in fact a bipartisan agreement to do exactly what my friend at the end of his statement was saying. We want very much to ensure that people are able to keep their homes. We want to ensure that people are able to see their businesses thrive. We want job opportunities to be created for every American. I know my friend agrees that getting our fiscal house in order, it is going to be critically important to do that.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, at this moment we are beginning debate on a measure which I believe will finally send a signal to job creators in this country and in the global marketplace that we are finally, finally getting serious about getting our fiscal house in order. We know that we are dealing with a very sad 9.2 percent unemployment rate in this country. We know that there are people hurting. We all have constituents who have lost their homes, people who have lost their jobs, people who have lost their businesses, people are hurting. It is absolutely imperative that we do everything that we can to get our economy back on track. We have just gotten the report, this downward report of the GDP growth rate down to 1.3 percent. We need to get back to robust, dynamic, strong, gross domestic product growth. We need to get to 4, 5, 6 percent GDP growth. And, Mr. Speaker, one of the main reasons that we have not done that is we have seen this dramatic increase in spending. And over the past half century, on 75 different occasions, 75 different occasions, we have seen our debt ceiling increased without any effort whatsoever to get at the root cause of why it is that we have had to increase the debt ceiling. I argue, Mr. Speaker, that we don't have a debt ceiling problem; we have a debt problem. That's why we're here today, and that's why I believe that after months and months and months of partisan bickering, finger-pointing, we have at this moment begun a debate that will allow us in a bipartisan way to increase the debt ceiling, which we all know needs to be done. It simply is meeting the obligation of paying for past spending. Many of us have been opponents of much of that spending, but we recognize that the bill has to be paid. Speaker Boehner, when just days after we took the oath of office in the 112th Congress, received the request from the President of the United States, through his Treasury Secretary, Mr. Geithner, that we increase the debt ceiling. The Speaker said then that he would agree that it's essential for us to increase the debt ceiling but we were not going to proceed with business as usual. We are not going to continue increasing the debt without getting to the root cause of the problem. Mr. Speaker, I have got to tell you that through all of the debate that's taken place, we have gotten to the point where we have a measure. It's a bipartisan compromise. It's a bipartisan agreement that I believe will, as I have said, send a signal to those who are seeking to create jobs for our fellow Americans that we now are going to have the kind of fiscal restraint and responsibility from Washington, D.C., the likes of which we haven't seen in a long, long period of time. Mr. Speaker, I will tell you that I strongly support this measure. As everyone has said, it's far from perfect, but I strongly support it, and I urge my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans alike, to join together in support of it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation to my colleague for her great spirit of bipartisanship. With that, I would like to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my good friend from Staten Island, New York (Mr. Grimm).