Jeff Duncan

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor life and the work of a ministry that is literally saving lives in the State of South Carolina. But before I begin, let us pause to recognize our friends in Japan and the tragic loss of life there. The Piedmont Women's Center is a Christian ministry in the Upstate, providing love and compassion to literally thousands of young women each year who face unplanned pregnancies. By offering free pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, and confidential counseling, they have protected the most innocent among us, the unborn. The doors of this life-affirming ministry opened 20 years ago this day next door to the largest abortion clinic in South Carolina. In 1991, a group of Christians came together and decided to collectively start a ministry funded by individuals, churches, and businesses to offer real alternatives to those in crisis. The staff and volunteers of the Piedmont Women's Center can hold newborn babies who have been given the gift of life because of their ministry. They have countless stories of real people, like Liza and her boyfriend, Peter, who came into their center early one Saturday morning with the intent of ending their pregnancy at the abortion clinic next door, a story that I would like to submit and share with you today. Minutes before this young couple came through the door, the four volunteers at the center joined hands and prayed that God would do a work of redemption in someone's life that morning. Their ``Amen'' had barely been voiced when the door opened and Liza and Peter, mistaking the center for an abortion clinic, entered and announced they were there for their appointment. In 10 minutes, the life of their 12-week- old unborn child was scheduled to end. Realizing that they were not at the abortion clinic, they started to leave. The director boldly stepped up and asked them to use the 10 minutes before their appointment to talk about their decision. They agreed. Alone, Liza went into the counseling room with the director while a volunteer talked with Peter about their unborn child. Later, Peter was invited to join Liza, who had made the decision to trust our director and have an ultrasound. This decision would change their lives forever. Our volunteer nurse sonographer silently prayed, and with her highly skilled touch, the cold steel of the ultrasound machine came alive with activity. Liza and Peter were mesmerized as they observed the antics of the little life they had conceived. They both melted at the sight of their precious child and completely changed their minds about their abortion. They wept as they tried to contain their excitement. Not only had a baby been saved, but before their eyes the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords had penetrated their hardened hearts and allowed them to see past their fears and enabled them to accept their child as God's creation. Liza shared that she was an adopted child, and Peter said his family had offered to help financially so they could continue their college education. They walked out of the center teary-eyed and full of joy, their shining countenance giving evidence to the change that had taken place in their hearts. Lenna Fox Neill, the CEO for the past 20 years at the Piedmont Women's Center, said she is continually encouraged as she sees more and more in her community who are giving of their time, energy, and resources to see that all life is protected and respected. Piedmont Women's Center helped establish the South Carolina Association of Pregnancy Care Centers 10 years ago for the purpose of providing a network across the State of compassionate ministries to care for women in need. The abortion rate through collaborative efforts of ministries and legislation has reduced the rate of abortions in my home State of South Carolina almost 50 percent in the last 20 years. While Congress is fighting to defund Planned Parenthood and protect life at conception, the staff and volunteers at the Piedmont Women's Center are on the front lines every day literally saving lives. I would like to congratulate the Piedmont Women's Center and their CEO, Lenna Neill, on reaching their 20th anniversary. I thank them for their commitment to protecting the most innocent among us and wish them God's blessing as they continue to spread their ministry across the Palmetto State. May God bless you, the unborn, and may God continue to bless America.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. I rise today to speak on behalf of the people of the Third Congressional District of South Carolina to express our condolences to the people of Japan in the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck off the northeast coast of Japan this past Friday and the devastating tsunami that claimed the lives of thousands of people. I have visited Japan twice, once back in 2007 and again in 2009 when I took my oldest son. It's a beautiful country; and I know the people of Japan to be a resilient, generous, and hardworking people. In this time of inexpressible suffering and need, please know that the people of South Carolina and the people of America stand with the citizens of Japan. May God bless them, and may God continue to bless America.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. As a new Congressman back in January, I was never prouder than when I took this floor to take part in reading the United States Constitution. That day, I brought with me to the podium a copy of the Constitution that I carry in my pocket every day. Ronald Reagan, in his farewell address to the American people in January 1989, said: Ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the course of government, and with three little words, ``We the people.'' We tell the government what to do, President Reagan stated, it does not tell us. A simple phrase, ``We the people . . . '' put down by our Founding Fathers who defined self-government. Self-government. Those words ring true. I think daily about that government that they formed--a limited government, one with powers for each branch that are clearly spelled out in this document, clearly defined. And, you know, we are a long ways from the limited government and enumerated powers that they strived to corral. I am concerned that we don't read and study the United States Constitution enough in our public schools like we used to when I grew up. I am worried that we the people don't know or remember why our Founding Fathers divided power into three separate branches of government, why they defined the powers of each, and why they were inclined to spell out our liberties in a Bill of Rights. They formed this government that has lasted well over 200 years. But after they formed that government, they decided that they better spell out the liberties. In fact, they had to do that in order to have the States ratify this great document. Everywhere I travel around my beloved Palmetto State and around this country, I ask folks: What are your First Amendment rights? And almost to a person, they mostly answer: Freedom of speech. But, you know, let me remind you here today that the first thing our Founding Fathers addressed was your freedom of religion. In fact, the first sentence in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution says Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. They do that before they address your freedom of speech, before they address your freedom of the press, before they address your right to peacefully assemble or your right to petition this government for redress of grievances. Folks, I remind you that our freedoms are slowly being eroded in this country, and I believe that we as Americans need to get back to doing what we did in that first week in this United States Congress, and that is take this document out, read it, understand what our Founding Fathers were trying to do when they said we the people will govern ourselves.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. Chair, with the federal budget deficit soaring past $1.5 trillion dollars, our national debt is no longer simply a pressing economic problem. It is a looming catastrophe. If we do not reduce government spending immediately and by massive amounts America will never recover. The annual deficit alone equates to nearly $5,000 for every man woman and child. That means we are spending $5,000 per person more than we take in each year. The amount of total debt our government has accumulated is much too great for our citizens to even fathom at $14 trillion. I agree with the nonpartisan Eagle Forum citizen advocacy group which recently stated that if we do not drastically reduce spending now, the problem won't simply be that our children and grandchildren will be saddled with debt. Our currency will become worthless, economic growth will become nearly impossible and our nation will be plunged into a modern equivalent of the dark ages. Our only choice is to drastically reduce the size and cost of our government. It is not possible to raise taxes high enough to pay for all the spending the President wants. Despite the tremendous work ethic and resourcefulness of the American people, it is no longer even possible for the United States to grow our way out of this mess. Freezing spending is not enough. Merely trimming spending is not enough. We need to cut and cut deeply. Representatives Jim Jordan and Scott Garrett and Senator Jim DeMint have proposed $173 billion of discretionary spending cuts over the next two years, $16.1 billion in cuts to Medicaid, ending the ``stimulus'' program which will save $45 billion, and ending government ownership of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, saving another $30 billion. This proposal is an excellent start. It is necessary. And it may be America's only hope if we wish to avoid an economic calamity.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of this amendment. Folks, it's time to stop the spending insanity in this country. The American people know the government's too large, it spends too much money, and indebts future generations. We are $14 trillion in debt and we are $1.5 trillion in the red this year. I am part of an 87-Member freshman class that said go back to the drawing board, get us a hundred billion; but don't stop there. Do not stop there. We have got hard decisions to make in this body. Everyone's got to row this boat if we are going to survive as an American government. We have got to stop. I support this amendment, and ask you to do so as well.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I won't take the full time here. This amendment deals with the Legal Services Corporation, which is a relic from the Great Society, originally known in the 1960s as the Office of Economic Opportunity Legal Services, and later renamed. Folks, let me remind you that we have a trillion-and-a-half-dollar deficit spending and we have $14 trillion in debt. We can't afford to keep paying for liberal trial lawyer bailouts like the LSC. This is low hanging fruit if we are serious about cutting spending in this body. This is exactly the kind of program that we would be cutting if we had a Byrd-style committee in place. That's why we need to pass House Resolution 82. This amendment effectively zeros out the LSC, allowing only a small amount for agency audits to continue. This cut is in the DeMint-Jordan Spending Reduction Act, which would eliminate the program entirely. A number of groups have advocated for the abolition of the LSC. Human Events describes the LSC as one of the top 10 ``most outrageous government programs.'' Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls LSC ``a slush fund for special interests.'' And the Americans for Limited Government's Bill Wilson says: ``This corporation just serves as the legal arm for left-wing causes and should be abolished.'' In noting the LSC's penchant for taking cases it has been legislatively barred from being involved in, the Heritage Foundation declares: ``Obviously, if LSC would stop wasting funds representing people it isn't supposed to, it would have more money to spend representing needy people.'' Americans for Tax Reform calls LSC ``ineffective'' and notes that their ``services are duplicated by State and private agencies.'' And just recently, the Cato Institute notes that the LSC ``too often uses tax dollars for lobbying and other political advocacy activities'' and adds that the LSC ``should be abolished.'' I go back to the amount of debt that we have in this Nation and the deficit spending that we have in this fiscal year. Again, this is low hanging fruit and if we are serious about cutting spending, this is an easy one for us to deal with. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Only in Washington can we have the debate over how desperately New York and the U.N. needs $100 million, while simultaneously arguing that not giving that money to the U.N. would not result in any savings for the U.S. taxpayer. If money is vital in one account, how can it be worthless in another? The truth is that CBO is restrained in its analysis; and because of those rules it is forced to observe, it reached the conclusion that having the U.N. repay the U.S. $179 million would have no impact on our balance book. How can getting $179 million from the U.N. not be counted as savings? Does any person who has ever balanced a checkbook believe this to be true? Of course not.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from California for hosting us out there recently at the Reagan library. What an inspiration it was to be at the Reagan library and to understand what President Reagan did and the man, Ronald Reagan, did for liberty, not just in the United States but also around the world. Today, I join my colleagues in honoring one of my true heroes, Ronald Reagan. It's fitting that we pay tribute to Reagan during a time when conservatives are once again waging battle against dangerous and out- of-control Federal spending. President Reagan understood the dangers of government expansion all too well. In his famous ``A Time for Choosing'' speech, he called America to action because, ``If we lose freedom here, there's no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth.'' This was our ``rendezvous with destiny.'' As we in the Congress who uphold Reagan's values continue toward that rendezvous with destiny, we should keep Reagan's thoughts about government at the forefronts of our minds. As I walk the Halls of Congress, his words reverberate in my ears every day that ``man is not free unless government is limited.'' You have to wonder what Reagan would say to out-of-control government growth as we see in this administration. I learned a lot about politics from President Reagan, and one particular quote has resonated with me about how we should live our lives. He said that ``We should not carry a banner of pale pastels but of bold colors which makes it unmistakably clear where we stand on the issues.'' I've always tried to live my life that way, so let me be bold today and say, in honor of President Reagan, I believe in God; I believe in the United States Constitution; I believe that government spends too much money, borrows too much money, and indebts the American people; and I believe that by protecting liberty in this country that our Nation once again will be a shining city on the hill. When President Reagan spoke of that shining city, it inspired Americans to greatness. It inspired them to strive for something that is beyond comprehension at times. He spoke about a new day in America. I think that honoring President Reagan and remembering what he did inspires me as a Congressman and others to help us, once again, be a shining city for America, a shining city for liberty, a shining city for those who believe in freedom. Let us once again strive for a new day in America. Thank you, Mr. Reagan.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a grassroots movement that is currently taking place all across our great Nation, the celebration of National School Choice Week. In many States across the country, events are being held to promote school choice as a commonsense idea that gives every parent the power and freedom to choose what's best for their children's education. Here in Washington, D.C. we've seen the positive impact of injecting free-market principles into the educational system. While the previous Congress chose to decide against innovation, I sincerely hope this new Congress will see fit to remember that every child is important and that every child learns differently. Across this Nation, we are seeing proposals for school choice expansion in places like Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Indiana and others. In my home State of South Carolina, I'm pleased to see that legislators in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle have introduced a bill that would give opportunity to all children in South Carolina to attend the school of their choice. It is imperative that we empower parents with the ability to choose the best educational experience for their child, whether it is public, charter, private, or home school. May God bless our children, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. The first time I stood on the floor to speak, I spoke to read the United States Constitution. Now I rise to defend this great document that I carry with me every day by advocating for the repeal of the unconstitutional health care bill, ObamaCare. Let me convey the thoughts and feelings of the people from my home State, South Carolina. To the last Congress I ask: Where in this document, the United States Constitution, or in the writings of our Founding Fathers leads you to believe that we as free Americans should not be able to choose and pick our own doctors? What leads you to believe that the government takeover of health care is even constitutional? And why didn't you listen to the millions of Americans who yelled at the top of their lungs that we don't need or want the government to be in control of our health care decisions? I think it's time we return this House to the people, and we can start by repealing the job-killing, socialistic, and out-of-touch health care bill.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, let me preface my remarks by saying I barely know Gabby. As a freshman Member of the House, I was sworn in last week with a lot of colleagues I hope to get to know over the coming days. But I rise today in concert with my friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to express the sadness and grief that all in our country feel over the loss of life in Tucson this past weekend. The citizens of South Carolina mourn with our Nation, and we lift up in prayer the family and friends of the victims in Arizona. Much of the coverage and attention has been centered around our wounded colleague, Gabby. My family and I join in praying for her healing, and for the others who have been wounded. I also want to celebrate the lives of the six who were lost: 9-year- old Christina Taylor Green, an inspiration to us all; Judge John Roll; congressional staffer Gabriel Zimmerman; Pastor Dorwan Stoddard; Dorothy Morris; and Phyllis Schneck. While we mourn their loss, we also remember what they meant to their families, their friends, and to their communities. I join with all of my fellow Americans in honoring their lives and in praying that God's comfort may rest upon their families. May God bless them and may He continue to bless America.

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. ``To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; to raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years.''