Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, even Kermit Gosnell's own defense attorney, having gone through all the evidence at trial, said: I've come out of this case realizing that 24 weeks is a bad determiner. It should be more like 16, 17 weeks. That would be a far better thing, and I think the law should be changed to that. I think pro-choice would have still the right to choose, but they've got to choose quicker. We are talking here, Madam Speaker, about the beginning of the 6th month of pregnancy. Nothing in this bill has any impact on abortion during the first 20 weeks. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I now yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, this bill is not borne of ignorance but of extremely deep-felt concern for unborn children who suffer pain as they are being murdered. Madam Speaker, I fear for the conscience of our Nation because the termination of unborn children for any reason is tolerated in some parts of our country throughout pregnancy, even though scientific conclusions show infants feel pain by at least 20 weeks' gestation. That means literally that a baby at the halfway point of a pregnancy will experience pain during the violence of a dismemberment abortion, the most common second-trimester abortion wherein a steel tool severs limbs from the infant and its skull is crushed. Madam Speaker, it's even difficult for me to describe this procedure without getting emotional. These procedures are horrific, and in terms of pain, like torture to their infant subjects. As a country, we should leave this practice behind. That's why I'm a cosponsor of the underlying legislation to prohibit elective abortions in the United States past 20 weeks. Since 1973, approximately 52 million--52 million, Madam Speaker--children's lives have been tragically aborted in the United States. It is unconscionable that in America, where we fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we tolerate the systemic extermination of an entire generation of the most vulnerable among us. H.R. 1797 rejects that hypocrisy and provides commonsense protections for unborn children who feel pain, just as you and I do. My colleague and friend from Arizona, Representative Trent Franks, is a champion for the unborn, and I commend him for authoring this legislation, which prohibits an abortion of an unborn child that has surpassed 20 weeks after fertilization. In light of the recent conviction of Philadelphia-based, late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was found guilty of first-degree murder in the case of three babies born alive in his clinic and then killed through a procedure he called ``snipping,'' which involved Gosnell inserting a pair of scissors into the baby's neck and cutting its spinal cord, a procedure that was reportedly routine in his clinic, we cannot stand idly by. Madam Speaker, some would have us think that Gosnell is an anomaly or an outlier. However, after his conviction, more individuals have stepped forward to expose similar practices in other States. Americans should be asking how different are these snipping procedures from abortions performed throughout clinics in the country. Unfortunately, there is little difference between these procedures. The practice of murdering viable, unborn children who can feel pain must end. I urge my colleagues to join me in speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves and vote in favor of this rule and the underlying bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, there's a lot of talk about rights here today and very little talk about the right to life for the babies that are being aborted. Madam Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, contrary to what our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are accusing us of, we're talking about the beginning of the 6th month of pregnancy. Nothing in this bill has any impact on abortion during the first 20 weeks. With that, Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from Montana (Mr. Daines).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Bridenstine).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I suspect that my colleague from New York knows this, but I will make sure it gets into the Record. In the 2007 case of Gonzales v Carhart, the Supreme Court made clear that there is a ``legitimate interest of the government in protecting the life of the fetus that may become a child.'' The Supreme Court has also made clear that ``the government may use its voice and its regulatory authority to show its profound respect for the life within the woman,'' and that Congress may show such respect for the unborn through ``specific regulation because it implicates additional ethical and moral concerns that justify a special prohibition.'' Mr. Speaker, I am really troubled by the fact that so many of my colleagues simply refuse to acknowledge that we're dealing with human life in this situation, in the situation of abortion. My heart goes out to any woman who is facing a situation where they're considering abortion. I think every member of our conference feels that way--men and women. Nobody takes the issue of abortion lightly. Unfortunately, not enough attention is being paid to the unborn child. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield, now, 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Louisiana, Dr.--Congressman--Fleming.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 266 provides for a closed rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and general debate for H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act. Mr. Speaker, the rule before us today provides for general debate of H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, also known as the FARRM Bill. This legislation provides for a 5-year authorization of Federal agriculture and nutrition policy. H.R. 1947 makes necessary reforms and updates to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps, as well as Federal agriculture policy. It is important to make commonsense changes to these programs to ensure their viability and that they remain targeted to those most in need of assistance. This year's version of the farm bill has gone through regular order, including numerous hearings at the Agriculture Committee, a full committee markup and amendment process. Additionally, the Rules Committee has received hundreds of amendments from Members seeking to further improve the bill during floor consideration. House Republicans remain committed to an open, transparent process; and I am pleased to say we're continuing that commitment with the consideration and process for the FARRM Bill. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlelady from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, in order to allow the House to continue its scheduled business for the day, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on the question of consideration of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. I thank the gentlewoman for asking the question. What I think most Americans would wonder, Mr. Speaker, is where is the due process for the millions of babies who are murdered every year in this country by these unconscionable tactics of abortion.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what I said before. This is a dilatory tactic, and we should be moving on to the resolution.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the question before the House is: Should the House now consider H. Res. 266? While the resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill, the Committee on Rules is not aware of any violation of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. This is a dilatory tactic. In order to allow the House to continue its scheduled business for the day, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on the question of consideration of the resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise to claim time in opposition to the point of order and in favor of consideration of the resolution.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this is a dilatory tactic and has nothing to do with our bill.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 266 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from New York bringing up the issue of student loan rates. As he very well knows, the House has passed a bill to do this, and our problem is with the Senate and the President. ``Don't double my rate.'' Every day, students are tweeting those exact words to their Representatives. Like these students, House Republicans see that July 1 is coming, and with it the automatic doubling of some Federal student loan interest rates. House Republicans don't believe that that rate should double or that politicians should be in charge of setting them. Weeks ago, Republicans and a few Democrats in the House passed the Smarter Solutions for Students Act, which will not only keep student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1 but will also remove politics from the equation, as well. But the House can't do it alone. The Senate must act, and the President must lead. Right now, both are failing. In fact, it appears President Obama has completely backed down from defending his original proposal which, like our House bill, offered a permanent solution to the problem. The President is letting the opportunity to build on common ground slip by. Concerned students should ask him why.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have a plan to create jobs, grow our economy, and secure our future for all Americans. And we're going to do it by expanding opportunity, not expanding government. We're going to hold government accountable to the hardworking taxpayers of this country. We're going to rein in runaway Washington spending that's driving up our national debt. We're going to reform our Tax Code to make it fair and simpler for all Americans. We're going to promote an all-of-the-above, all-American energy strategy that will create jobs, lower energy costs, and strengthen our national security. These are the commonsense solutions that the American people deserve. It's not fair that Washington Democrats keep offering up only more spending and political games. Real solutions to real problems, that's the House Republican commitment.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this issue. NASCAR is a vital part of the National Guard's outreach to young Americans. NASCAR fans between the age of 18 and 34 are twice as likely as their peers to consider the military. Their fellow fans are more likely to support their friends and family members choosing the military as a career option. Advertising through NASCAR gives the military a cost-effective way to reach 75 million patriotic fans. That's why it is has reported a 3-to-1 return on the program's investment. NASCAR support of the military goes beyond mere sponsorship opportunities. NASCAR holds swearing in ceremonies for hundreds of new recruits each year, giving the fans a real-life example of the patriotism they support. NASCAR is a real part of hundreds of American communities. The National Guard has chosen to use its limited recruiting budget through the means it feels are most effective. We should not force it to turn its back on a proven means of leveraging that budget and introducing millions of potential heros to their opportunity to serve. I urge my fellow Americans to oppose this amendment and thank the chairman for the opportunity to speak.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, it is disappointing that President Obama and Senate Democrats cannot agree with Republicans in the House on a simple issue like preventing student loan rates from doubling. Although a bipartisan vote in the House passed the Smarter Solutions for Students Act, the President and Senate have panned this common-ground approach. The Smarter Solutions for Students Act is a simple plan, ready-made for bipartisan compromise, as it was patterned after President Obama's own budget proposal. Politicizing the coming student loan interest rate hike is not an option if we are serious about a July 1 solution. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to build off of the Smarter Solutions for Students Act proposal and commit to a long-term solution for students that eliminates the Washington guessing game from the rate-setting equation. Ignoring the common ground Republicans already share with President Obama puts politics ahead of students.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, by direction of the House Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, on July 1 of this year, student loan interest rates are set to double. This doesn't have to happen, though, and it won't if President Obama and Senate Democrats choose to work with House Republicans on a bipartisan solution. Unlike the Senate, the House of Representatives successfully acted to stop the unnecessary rate double. The President and Senate should follow our bipartisan example and build off the Smarter Solutions for Students Act. Despite the White House whiplash on this issue, our legislation is very similar to President Obama's own budget proposal. It will prevent rates from doubling, allowing students to benefit from low rates and protect low- and middle-income students. The House acted in a way that satisfies the President's original criteria for a long-term, market-based plan. We welcome the Senate to get on board. Preserving this problem just to be able to campaign on the issue year after year would be a true disservice to every student and taxpayer.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, broken Washington policies are making it harder for families in this country to find good work and plan for the future. Outdated laws and regulations, the Federal overhaul of personal health care through ObamaCare, and energy policies that tie the hands of small businesses stand directly opposed to job creation, affordable living, and economic growth. We hear of these sad effects every day, and we've been warned, by the unlikeliest sources, of a coming Washington train wreck. Thus, we have a responsibility to remove these Washington barriers. The House of Representatives has acted to expand energy production through the Keystone pipeline and generate new American jobs. We have acted to keep student loan interest rates from doubling. We have voted to stop ObamaCare from increasing family health insurance premium costs. But our actions on behalf of jobs and family savings have been met by Senate inaction. Ignoring broken policies is not an option, not when jobs are at stake.