Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. National taxpayer advocate Nina E. Olson lists ``complexity in the Tax Code'' as ``the number one most serious problem facing taxpayers.'' At about 4 million words in length, it's not hard to see why. Our Tax Code is four times wordier than the Bible, minus the grace and mercy. It's so complex and intimidating that 60 percent of Americans pay good money just to have someone else tell them how much the government is going to take from them. Families spend more on taxes today than on food, clothing, and housing combined. We should be working to lighten that burden. A simpler, fairer Tax Code will help families save more and empower employers to pay their workers more and create new jobs. A Tax Code that doesn't require taxpayers to own a secret decoder ring or hire a legal team is the kind of reform we're working on in the House of Representatives. A commonsense Tax Code will make the difference in the lives of taxpayers, and that's what this Congress should strive toward.

Ms. FOXX

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

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to respond again to my colleague from Colorado in his saying that we have to pass a bill on pay equity to get the President to do the right thing. That just seems incomprehensible to me. I think the President should be our leader in this country and should practice what he preaches, and so should our colleagues across the aisle. I think that the White House could show itself as a model for the rest of the country by paying the women in the White House the same as the men are being paid. I find it interesting that our colleagues have simply ignored what is happening in the White House and call for a bill to be passed to make the President do what is the right thing. In the past, our country and the people in our country have looked to our President to be a role model for us. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, and I would ask the gentleman if he is ready to close.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to reiterate again--and my colleague from Connecticut has left--that there is absolutely nothing that would prevent the White House from giving equal pay to people in jobs there. We don't need new legislation to do that. It's certainly possible for the White House to do it now. And that is one of the most egregious situations of differential pay that exists in the country right now. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are committed to upholding the Constitution and providing certainty for employers, employees, and unions. The rule before us today provides for the consideration of a bill that ensures that certainty by pressing ``pause'' on the National Labor Relations Board's activities until the legal uncertainty is resolved. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote for this rule and the underlying bill.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is a typical liberal habit: do as I say, not as I do. I think, Mr. Speaker, that our colleague from Connecticut should direct her comments to the White House. There is absolutely nothing to stop the White House from correcting the egregious pay differentials that exist there among the most liberal group in the country. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, we need jobs in this country. There are nearly 12 million Americans unemployed and anxious to find work. President Obama and the Senate Democrats' policies of higher taxes, record spending, and bigger government have failed to create jobs or boost economic growth. Put simply, this economy is growing too slowly to replace the millions of jobs lost. The failure of the President's runaway spending, deficits, and debt is being felt by every family struggling to put food on the table and pay their mortgages. The March 2013 labor force participation rate is the lowest since 1979, and the 1-month increase in March 2013 of 663,000 new people not in the labor force is the largest increase ever recorded for the month of March since this data started being collected in 1975. If these individuals ``not in the workforce'' were counted in the official unemployment rate, that rate would increase to 11.2 percent. Additionally, there are 47.3 million Americans receiving food stamps, which is equivalent to 15 percent of the population and represents, by far, the largest number in history. This number stands in stark contrast to when President Obama took office and there were only 31.9 million Americans using food stamps. Today, nearly one in seven Americans is on food stamps. What a sad commentary about our country. All these statistics ultimately say the same thing: everyday Americans will keep struggling until our economy turns around. Fortunately for the American people, House Republicans have a plan for helping to restore economic growth and create jobs throughout the country. The liberal elite simply cannot understand that more spending does not mean more jobs. Reckless deficit spending, mounting debt, growing red tape, higher taxes, a confusing Tax Code, higher energy prices, and rampant uncertainty all have job creators playing defense. Campaigning for another failed stimulus and more job-destroying taxes, President Obama has repeatedly and falsely asserted that ``Congress isn't willing to move'' legislation to facilitate job growth. While the President plays politics, House Republicans have been working and approving legislation to promote economic growth and job creation. The Republican plan for growth tears down barriers to job creation because jobs are priority number one. As part of this plan, we are working diligently to cut job-killing red tape that costs small businesses $10,585 per employee each year; reduce gas prices; create jobs by producing more American energy, which is important since every penny increased per gallon of gas costs consumers $4 million per day; simplify the job-killing Tax Code that cost Americans $168 billion in 2010 just to comply with it; prevent job-killing tax hikes on small businesses; reduce uncertainty by tackling the debt crisis with responsible spending cuts; and the Republican plan will get Washington out of the way and put American job creators back on the offense. Growing jobs and eliminating the deficit go hand in hand. To balance the budget, we need both spending cuts and real economic growth. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 146 provides for a closed rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1120, the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act. Although the Rules Committee solicited amendments last week, we received only two amendments, one Democrat and one Republican, neither of which was germane to the bill. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the House Education and Workforce Committee and I have been hard at work conducting oversight and challenging the National Labor Relations Board on its anti-jobs agenda. In January 2012, President Obama made three so-called ``recess appointments'' to the National Labor Relations Board while Congress was not in recess, in violation of the Constitution. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently ruled these appointments were unconstitutional. This decision calls into question every action the Board has taken since these so-called recess appointments were made. The bill before us today, H.R. 1120, would provide greater certainty for employers and unions by requiring the Board to cease all activity that requires a three-member quorum and prohibits the Board from enforcing any decision made since the appointments in question were made in January 2012. It is important to note also what this bill does not do. It does not prohibit the National Labor Relations Board's regional offices from accepting and processing charges of unfair labor practices. The bill also allows the Board to resume activities if one of the three following conditions is met: The U.S. Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of recess appointments; A quorum of the Board is confirmed by the Senate; The expiration of the recess appointees' terms at the end of this year. Finally, H.R. 1120 ensures any action approved by the so-called ``recess appointees'' is reviewed and approved by a future Board that has been constitutionally appointed. As my colleagues across the aisle are sure to point out, the President has recently nominated three individuals for Senate confirmation, in addition to the two he nominated in February. The bill before us remains necessary as a commonsense pause button on the Board's activities while the legal uncertainty is resolved. It would give employers and unions the certainty they need to operate in the interim. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this rule and the underlying bill, and 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 gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), 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, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 146 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I assume the gentleman is ready to close, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, saving Medicare and Social Security for future generations is something Republicans and Democrats can and should agree on. The House Republican budget preserves Social Security and Medicare for current seniors and future generations by beginning the work of making incremental cost-saving reforms. President Obama, however, sees the threat to Medicare and Social Security solvency as a chance to get more of what he wants. While Medicare and Social Security are going bankrupt, the President is refusing to consider reforms to save our senior safety nets unless he's allowed to raise taxes in exchange. When it comes to tax increases, how quickly the President forgets. The President just got done raising taxes on the American people on January 1. The American people send enough of their hard-earned money to Washington each year, and more should not be taken from them to enable further travails in misguided ``stimulus.'' Reforms to save Medicare and Social Security are critically important to future generations of Americans. They should be treated as more than bargaining chips by the President.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the President finally decided to join the budget discussion today. Good. It's high time he got off the sidelines. The contrast between the President's budget and the balanced House Republican budget is stark. The President relies on stimulus and taxes; House Republicans rely on government-spending restraint and reform to achieve economic growth. If recent history is any indication, we chose the better path. Examine this President's track record of growing the economy: government spending is up, workforce participation is down; national debt is up, family take-home pay is down. If President Obama's trillion-dollar stimulus didn't work, how is a shallow imitation going to help us now? The President's budget will never balance and will yield an endless string of deficits. The Republican Path to Prosperity requires Washington to make due with a little less and keeps money in the private sector where it can be invested in job creation, expansion, and real economic growth. The American people waited 65 days for the President's budget. They deserve more than stimulus and taxes.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Marine Corps veteran Lance Corporal Mason Vanderwork of Hickory, North Carolina. After multiple tours of duty defending liberty abroad, this 21-year- old hero gave his last full measure of devotion this week in service to our country. We can never adequately thank him or his loved ones for all they have given, nor can most fully grasp the weight of freedom's burden on young servicemembers and their families. But in spite of our incomprehension, our hearts go out to Lance Corporal Vanderwork's wife, Taylor; his mother, Melissa; and his sister, Katelyn. What I have learned of Mason is striking. Before graduating from Hickory's St. Stephen's High School, where he was regarded for his work ethic on the field and off, he knew he wanted to join the ranks of America's Marine Corps. Days after graduating, that's exactly what he did. Friends and neighbors recall his kindness and the high caliber of his friendship. They know him as a good man with a drive to become an even better man. How sad we are for this great loss. In this time of tragedy, the country is sobered by the breadth of Mason Vanderwork's sacrifice and mourns alongside the people of Hickory. May we remember his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers and commit them to the care of Almighty God.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, April 10th will mark the 34th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, legislation designed to ``help maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific'' and promote the ``continuation of commercial, cultural, and other relations'' between the American and Taiwanese people. Since this legislation's passage, Taiwan has become an economic powerhouse and a beacon of democracy in Southeast Asia. Taiwan is also a major consumer of American products--importing over $267 million in goods from my home state of North Carolina in 2011. In addition to being our 9th largest trading partner, Taiwan is the largest per capita importer of U.S. farm products in the world. I am therefore pleased that trade talks between the United States and Taiwan, as part of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, began recently after a six-year hiatus. My hope is that these discussions will bear fruit and help strengthen our vibrant commercial partnership with Taiwan. For these reasons, and many others, it seems appropriate to mark this occasion and highlight my sincere hope that the American and Taiwanese people will continue to work together in friendship to promote shared prosperity and further our mutual interests.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Every American family and small business knows that budgets have to be balanced to be sustainable. For years, though, Washington hasn't been balancing its budget. The Senate hasn't even be passing them. House Republicans have had enough of this ``Washington exceptionalism.'' We've introduced a budget for the Federal Government that will balance in just 10 years. Budgets reveal priorities, and House Republicans have revealed ours. We want to build a stronger, more prosperous future for this generation and the next. We want to protect the promise of Medicare, guarantee accountability for the use of taxpayer dollars, preserve personal freedoms, and pursue commonsense governance. The American people deserve this, and so we've offered a balanced budget that encourages growth and opportunity for all while paving the way for the country to get out of debt. Will the President follow our lead and submit a budget that balances?

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the American people have a right to demand a balanced budget from their government, and by ``balanced,'' we mean a plan that will actually get spending in line with income. If we want a prosperous future for our children and grandchildren, we cannot, after all, continue to spend money we don't have. House Republicans understand the simple math and have introduced a budget that balances in just 10 years. Senate Democrats are taking a different tack. Their budget demands higher taxes, authorizes higher spending, and never balances--ever. How do we explain that to hardworking families who live with the reality of having to balance their household budgets every month? Washington should not see itself as the exception to the rule. Washington should balance its budget, and House Republicans have a plan to do just that.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the Education Committee for his leadership, and I want to give special thanks to the staff for their hard work on this bill. They've done phenomenal work. Mr. Chair, I am also opposed to this substitute amendment. This amendment blatantly ignores the President's call to ``cut through the confusing maze of training programs'' by creating a number of new redundant programs. In addition to the 50-plus programs already in existence, the amendment reauthorizes programs that President Obama eliminated in his FY '13 budget proposal and funds programs that have not been funded in years. Unfortunately, this substitute amendment gives priorities to bureaucrats instead of un- and under-employed Americans who are hurting. More than 20 million Americans are struggling to find work and turn to their government for answers and assistance. This amendment adds to the confusion of the dizzying maze of existing programs. We should be streamlining our Nation's workforce development system, not making it more complicated for workers and job seekers. This week, several of the North Carolina workforce administrators were in town and shared with me their frustration in filling local workforce boards with members Washington mandates, rather than the partners they know who understand the needs of their local communities and workforce. This proposal does nothing to address these Federal mandates, and instead adds to the burden by mandating that 20 percent of board members be Big Labor. This is unacceptable. State and local leadership should be deciding who is best equipped to meet the needs of their communities. Finally, the amendment dramatically increases the amount of hard- earned taxpayer dollars spent on administrative costs rather than direct services. Our Nation's debt will reach $17 trillion very soon, and taking more money from hardworking taxpayers to spend on bureaucrats is unconscionable. The Democrat proposal asks us to double down on the status quo that is failing our country in this time of high unemployment and record debt. Mr. Chair, the numbers tell the story: 12 million unemployed; 8 million working part-time who want to work full time; 3.6 million jobs unfilled. Obviously, the current system is broken. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and support the SKILLS Act.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Chairman, I appreciate my colleague reading the letter that he read. But as he well knows, that letter was written before the manager's amendment came out, and the manager's amendment actually corrects what the letter was talking about. We are making the system better. Current law allows the Governor of the State to designate local areas in consultation, and our colleagues are advocating to keep the status quo. My amendment makes it a better situation, and I appreciate his acknowledging that the manager's amendment does do that. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. I rise in support of the manager's amendment for H.R. 803, the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. The issue before us can no longer be ignored. Last week, we received encouraging news as the Nation's unemployment rate dropped to 7.7 percent; but the reality remains that millions of Americans are still searching for work, and too often they cannot access the support they need to compete for in-demand jobs. Each year, hardworking taxpayers spend $18 billion to fund more than 50 Federal workforce development programs administered by nine different agencies. Many of the programs overlap or are duplicative and few have ever been evaluated for efficacy. Our Nation's economy is only as strong as its workforce. Right now, the need to reform our broken workforce development system could not be more critical. As Friday's job report illustrated, 12 million Americans are still searching for full-time work; yet employers reported another month with more than 3 million unfilled job openings, in part because there aren't enough qualified workers to fill them. We know the jumbled state of today's workforce development system is unimaginable, as well as the ineffective maze of programs each of today's workers has to navigate in order to receive assistance or education to help in their job hunt. I have a chart that shows this. Americans deserve a system that is more efficient, more accountable, and more responsive than that. What we propose today will take care of that, and this is the chart that shows where we will go with this system. Today, many of my colleagues have discussed how the SKILLS Act would foster an employer-driven system that prepares job seekers for a successful career in the 21st-century economy. I would like to highlight a few technical changes included in the manager's amendment that will enhance efforts to eliminate waste, safeguard taxpayer dollars, and provide education and support to American workers. First, the manager's amendment will improve accountability and ensure officials aren't wasting taxpayer dollars by requiring the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the administrative savings that will occur at the Federal and State levels due to the streamlining of workforce development programs. Second, we recognize that local leaders are much better informed and equipped to serve the needs of local job seekers than we are in Washington. That is why our approach relies on a bottom-up approach when designating local workforce investment areas. Local leaders will submit applications for designation and establish the processes needed to align their areas with other service delivery and labor market areas in their region. In doing so, the designation process will be more effective and transparent, and will naturally serve the priorities of local communities. Finally, the manager's amendment requires State and local workforce development leaders, when serving individuals with disabilities, to detail how they will focus on employment opportunities that foster independence and integration. These commonsense changes help build a more dynamic and inclusive system that will provide maximum support for workers and employers. In his 2012 State of the Union address, President Obama urged Congress to cut ``through the maze of confusing training programs.'' Today we have the opportunity to do just that. We cannot encourage economic growth or put Americans back to work without reforming an antiquated system that fails to meet the fundamental needs of today's job creators and workers. We cannot continue to defend the outdated policies of the past. It is time we reform these programs to create an efficient and effective system that supports the true backbone of our economy: the American people. Madam Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to support the SKILLS Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Chair, a failed process is when you're in control of the House, the Senate, and the Presidency and you do nothing to fix the situation. We offered our colleagues on the other side of the aisle for the opportunity to offer amendments; they walked out of the meeting. Their substitute does not fix the situation in the way that they say they want it fixed. Madam Chairman, we have allowed them to offer amendments; they walked away. We've given them extra time today to discuss their substitute. Even their substitute does not take care of the problem. I yield back the balance of my time.