Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

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

Ms. FOXX. I need to remind my colleague across the aisle we're not debating an adjournment resolution here today. I also need to remind my colleague across the aisle that it was the Democrats that set this student loan problem up. They made promises in 2006 to the American people they couldn't keep; and so they set up a time bomb, actually, so that the interest rates on the student loans would go back up because, again, they made promises they couldn't keep about lowering the rate of interest. It affects a very small number of students, and it only affects them when they graduate from college, Mr. Speaker. If the Obama economy weren't so lousy and only 50 percent of the students graduating were getting jobs, it really wouldn't be that big an issue because it's a very small amount of money to the students. And if they had jobs, they wouldn't be quite so concerned about it. They only have to pay those loans back after they graduate because we're subsidizing interest while they are in school. So I think our colleagues don't really want to go in that direction and talk about blaming Republicans for this mess with student loans, since they created it. And if the students were getting jobs, most of them wouldn't be as concerned about it as they are now. Also, on the transportation bill that our colleagues tout so well, again, it fits right into their philosophy of borrow, borrow, borrow; spend, spend, spend. It is not a responsible bill because the Republican bill would stay within the limits of the revenue that we get from the highway trust fund. But they just want to borrow from the general fund and make our situation worse. Mr. Speaker, it seems clear to everyone except the liberal leadership that job creators are bogged down by overly burdensome Federal regulations that prevent job creation and hinder economic growth. These regulations are particularly damaging for the real job creators in the country: small business owners. The Federal Government may create jobs, but they are not sustainable jobs, and they are a drag on the economy. However, House Republicans recognize the need to remove onerous, redundant Federal regulations that are so harmful to small businesses and impede private sector investment and job creation. In order to ease the regulatory burden on the economy and to promote job creation, House Republicans have worked to advance legislation to rein in the unaccountable Federal regulatory apparatus and continue to pursue innovative initiatives such as my bill, H.R. 373, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, which would help improve transparency and accountability by disclosing costs to Federal mandates that would otherwise remain hidden from public scrutiny. House Republicans appreciate that America's Tax Code has grown overly complicated and cumbersome, filled with loopholes and giveaways and is fundamentally unfair. That's why the House Republican plan for America's job creators recognizes the need to eliminate the special interest tax breaks that litter the Tax Code and reduce our overall tax rate to no more than 25 percent for business and individuals, including small business owners. This would make the Tax Code flatter, fairer, and simpler. Commonsense changes to the Tax Code would ensure that everyone pays his or her fair share, lessens the burden on families, generates economic expansion, and creates jobs by making Americans more competitive. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues are talking about the fact that we are going to have a district work period next week. The district work period is because next week we are celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, one of the most important holidays in this country. Our colleagues across the aisle want to create more dependence in this country. They are as far away from the Founders of this country as you can be in terms of what makes this country unique and what makes it so great. We don't need more dependence in this country, Mr. Speaker. We need to celebrate what makes this country great, what makes us unique. It's the independence of this country and the independence of citizens and their ability to take care of themselves and to personally take care of each other and not continue to look to the nanny state that our friends would create and have tried to create over the years. These are very difficult times, Mr. Speaker. We all know that. But it's important that the American people understand that House Republicans have repeatedly worked to find common ground with the President and Senate Democrats and have passed several bipartisan bills that would improve this economy which has been so damaged by the policies of the left and this President. Several proposals supported even by the President have passed the House and have been signed into law, including trade pacts, a bipartisan veterans hiring bill, and a repeal of the IRS withholding tax on job creators. But the President's own job council has embraced many of the job proposals advocated by Republicans but ignored by the President himself. The simple truth is that President Obama's attempt supported by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and by them only, to stimulate the economy by growing government has failed. But you don't have to take my word for it, Mr. Speaker. Just look at the facts: The recent jobs report showed that the U.S. gained only 69,000 jobs in the month of May. May marked the 40th consecutive month that the unemployment rate has remained above 8 percent, repudiating the administration's pledge that unemployment would remain below 8 percent if the Democrat 2009 stimulus plan became law. Lest we forget, it was the Obama administration which claimed unemployment would be below 6 percent today if the $1.178 trillion Democrat ``stimulus'' was signed into law. At the current rate of job growth, if the United States continues to struggle under the failed policies that have produced the ``Obama economy'' and adds only 69,000 jobs each month in the future, it would take a total of 10 years and 5 months--until June 2018--to regain all the jobs lost during the latest recession, which is longer than the 8 years it took to regain the jobs lost during the Great Depression. But even these figures, Mr. Speaker, hide the fact that the rate of underemployment, or real unemployment, which counts those who want to work but have stopped searching in this economy and those who are forced to work part-time because they cannot find full employment, is 14.5 percent or higher. Also troubling is the realization that since 2008, which is the year President Obama was elected, median family income has declined by $1,154, falling to its lowest level since 1996. As a March 2012, the number of Americans receiving food stamps was 46.4 million, which is the third most in any month in history and up 80,000 from February. Today, 15 percent of Americans receive food stamps, representing an increase of 45 percent since President Obama took office. Mr. Speaker, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to continue the failed policies they began in 2007 and instituted for 4 years and worked with President Obama for 2 years on. Fortunately, Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are working to improve the dismal conditions imposed by the liberal regime that dominated Washington, D.C., for far too long. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the other bill that will benefit from consideration under this open rule is H.R. 5972, which provides funding aimed at supporting a vibrant and safe transportation infrastructure while making the difficult decisions needed to balance the budget. The bill includes $17.6 billion in discretionary appropriations for the Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2013. This is $69 million below last year's level. The bill designates $39.1 billion from the highway trust fund for the Federal highway program, which is the same level provided last year. However, the committee recognizes that since the highway program still requires reauthorization and the funding level provided in the bill may change upon the enactment of a highway authorization bill for the next fiscal year, the Appropriations Committee is prepared to support a differing highway trust fund spending level should a new multiyear authorization bill be enacted. Included in the legislation is $12.6 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration, which is $91 million above last year's level. The bill provides nearly $1 billion for the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System, otherwise known as NextGen, allowing the FAA to move forward with the next step in modernizing the Nation's air control and airport system. The bill also supports operations and staffing, which will help ease congestion and reduce delays for travelers in U.S. airspace while rejecting the administration's proposals for new aviation fees. The legislation contains funding for the various transportation safety programs and agencies within the Department of Transportation. This includes $776 million in both mandatory and discretionary funding for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, representing a reduction of $23.8 million below last year; $551 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, representing a reduction of $2.6 million below last year; and $177 million for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which is $4 million above last year's level. The legislation includes a total of $33.6 billion to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is $3.8 billion below last year's level. The bill wastes no funding on any new, unauthorized ``sustainable,'' ``livable,'' or ``green'' community development programs. $26.3 billion is included in the bill for public and Indian housing, representing an increase of $759 million above last year's level. Within this total, the bill provides funding to renew benefits for every single individual and family currently receiving assistance and ensures that no critical benefits are eliminated or canceled. The bill also fully funds the President's request for veterans' housing at $75 million and Native American block grants at $650 million. Housing programs within the bill are funded at $9.3 billion, representing a reduction of $361 million below last year's level and $49 million below the request. Within this total, the bill provides sufficient funding for the most vulnerable populations, including $165 million for housing for the disabled, an increase of $15 million over last year, and $425 million for housing for the elderly, again, an increase of $50 million above last year. These are just some of the priorities outlined in the underlying legislation. Again, I look forward to hearing from committee leaders who will provide further discussion of the various elements of the legislation. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, one of the bills that will seek consideration under this open rule is H.R. 5973, which primarily funds agriculture and nutrition programs. The legislation contains discretionary funding, as well as required mandatory funding for food and nutrition programs within the Department of Agriculture. This includes funding for the special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, the food stamp, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, and the child nutrition programs. The bill provides $6.9 billion in discretionary funding for WIC, which, contrary to what liberals suggest, is $303.5 million above last year's level. This program provides supplemental nutritional foods needed by pregnant and nursing mothers, babies, and young children. Language is included for oversight and monitoring requirements to ensure the proper use of taxpayer dollars, as well as food price tracking to ensure necessary resources continue serving those eligible for program benefits. The bill provides for $19.7 billion in required mandatory funding outside of the discretionary funding jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committee for child nutrition programs, which is $1.5 billion above last year's level. The bill provides for $80 billion in required mandatory spending, which is, again, outside of the discretionary funding jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committee, for SNAP, the food stamp program. This is $408 million below last year's level. Since food stamps or SNAP spending is driven by program participation, the spending is called mandatory. This legislation also includes new stringent reporting requirements to help weed out and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the program, such as a requirement for States to include the fraud hotline number on all EBT cards, a directive that the Secretary of Agriculture ban fraudulent vendors, and a requirement for States to share data with enforcement agencies. The legislation includes $996 million for food safety and inspection programs, which is equal to the President's budget request, and a decrease of $9 million below last year's level. These mandatory inspection activities, which play a significant role in maintaining the safety and productivity of the country's $832 billion meat and poultry industry, help maintain critical meat, poultry, and egg product inspection and testing activities and support the implementation of a poultry inspection program to improve safety and inspection efficiency. This voluntary inspection program is expected to reduce government costs by $85 million to $95 million over 3 years and reduce costs to private businesses by a total of $250 million. The FDA receives a total of almost $2.5 billion in discretionary funding in the bill, representing a 0.7 percent or $16.3 million reduction below last year's level. Total funding for the FDA, including user fees, is $3.8 billion. These are just some of the priorities outlined in the underlying legislation. I look forward to hearing from committee leaders, who will provide further discussion of various elements of the legislation at the time the bill is debated. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham).

Ms. FOXX. House Resolution 697 provides for an open rule providing for consideration of two bills, H.R. 5973, which is a bill making appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and related agencies, and H.R. 5972, the fiscal year 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are offering yet another open rule, something that our liberal Democrat colleagues gleefully denied this House when they held the gavel. Once again, House Republicans continue our commitment to an open appropriations process in which all Members from both parties have an opportunity to influence the final legislative product. In fact, this rule represents the eleventh open rule the Rules Committee has reported to the House thus far in the 112th Congress, which is in stark contrast to the 111th, in which the House considered a grand total of zero open rules. I want to thank my colleagues from the Appropriations Committee for their leadership and hard work in producing the two bills referenced in this rule. H.R. 5973 includes $19.4 billion in discretionary funding, which represents a cut of $365 million below last year's level. H.R. 5972 provides a total of $51.6 billion in discretionary spending for the departments and agencies funded in the bill for fiscal 2013, which is a level representing $3.9 billion below last year's level. While my liberal colleagues would undoubtedly prefer to borrow and spend more and continue to ignore the dire fiscal realities of our country, House Republicans remain committed to reining in wasteful spending, even if it involves making difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions in order to save our country from fiscal ruin. The simple truth is we cannot afford to fund every program at the bloated levels that, for many years, kept political promises but, in the end, hurt the fiscal stability of our country. It would be unconscionable to continue indebting future generations to creditors like China without working to reduce Federal spending, which is the real driver of our deficit. These are important bills, Mr. Speaker, and I'm proud that House Republicans, led by our esteemed Rules Committee Chairman Dreier, have embraced an open process to consider this legislation. We welcome the support of our Democrat colleagues on final passage of the underlying legislation. At this time, 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 gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), 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 697 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the facts don't lie. President Obama's policies have failed the American people and are making the economy worse. Since the President took office, unemployment has been above 8 percent for 40 months, gas prices have doubled, and the number of Americans having to rely on food stamps has climbed to an all-time high while the number of new business startups has dropped to a 17-year low. Our national debt has surpassed $15 trillion, greater than our entire economy, and the CBO has projected that 2012 will bring the fourth $1 trillion deficit in a row. Because the President cannot run on his record, he has, regrettably, turned to the politics of envy and division. House Republicans, though, have a plan for America's job creators to help turn this economy around. It's time for the President and Senate Democrats to stop blocking our jobs bills and help us put Americans back to work.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, summer is upon us. Traditionally, this is the season when Americans pack the family car to head out for a well- deserved vacation. Unfortunately, this year, many will not be able to do this because gas prices are too high due to the failed economic and energy policies of this administration and lack of action from the Senate. House Republicans have crafted and passed many bipartisan bills to address this issue, but Senate intransigence has prevented them from moving forward to provide relief to the people we represent. Today, House Republicans will offer another solution, H.R. 4480, the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act. This legislation promotes job creation and addresses the high energy costs which are burdening so many families and small businesses across America. Madam Speaker, the May jobs report and the high cost of energy demand immediate action. House Republicans are answering the calls from Americans with this act. I urge my colleagues to support this very important legislation.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a well-deserved happy 100th birthday to a pillar of Watauga County, Mr. Robert Gray Shipley, Sr. Mr. Shipley was born in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, on June 23, 1912. Growing up on his parents' farm, Mr. Shipley's aptitude for agriculture and ranching was evident from a young age. He put that skill to use, working his way through college, milking cows, judging livestock competitions, and maintaining records in Virginia Polytechnic Institute's dairy department. Mr. Shipley began teaching upon his graduation from Virginia Tech in 1933, and aside from the time he spent in the United States Air Force as a gunnery instructor on B 24 bombers; teaching agriculture in an innovative and hands-on manner is what he did for most of his professional life. In fact, Mr. Shipley counts among his many students my husband, Tom. Today, if you take a trip down to Watauga County, evidence of Mr. Shipley's involvement in the community is everywhere. He helped organize the Watauga County Hereford Association, he taught sheep sheering at 4 H clubs, and he ran the Cove Creek Horse Show for two decades. He's a member of the North Carolina State Fair Hall of Fame, the Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Livestock Hall of Fame. He's a charter member of the Boone Rotary Club and is a mainstay in the Cove Creek Ruritan Club, working faithfully at every monthly fish fry. Throughout his busy life, Mr. Shipley has had a wonderful partner, his wife of nearly 70 years, Agnes. Together, they are the proud parents of three children, grandparents to six, and great-grandparents to nine. This weekend, friends and former students of the Shipleys will be gathering at the historic Cove Creek High School in Sugar Grove to celebrate Mr. Shipley's 100th birthday and Mrs. Shipley's 95th birthday. I speak for the community when I express gratitude for the lives of the Shipleys and for their being the wonderful role models that they are.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize a significant milestone in the lives of two of my constituents. On June 24th, C.H. ``Buddy'' and Jeanette Bellamy, celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Buddy and Jeanette were both born in rural South Carolina; Buddy just outside of Loris and Jeanette in Dillon. He was the only son and she the youngest daughter of families who were familiar with hardship and difficult circumstances. In fact, it was one of those difficult circumstances that brought their lives together. Buddy was hospitalized after suffering a severe injury in his work as an auto mechanic. In the hospital, he was treated carefully and brought back to health by a young nurse named Jeanette. During the time that she cared for him, a friendship began that would soon lead to love. Soon after, Buddy began working for Trailways as a driver, and was able to see every one of these great United States in the process. Jeanette continued nursing and has continued to focus her life on the caretaking of those in need. Buddy and Jeanette were married in Dillon, South Carolina in 1961. They started a family with the birth of daughter Sharon and then sons, Scott and Dean, soon after. Eventually the Bellamy family settled in Clemmons, North Carolina in the Fifth Congressional District, where they still reside today. They are proud grandparents and have been blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, Buddy and Jeanette Bellamy are proud Americans who are role models for us all. They enjoy the simple things in life that living in a country like ours offers them, including shagging to Carolina beach music. They love their family and, most importantly, they love each other. It is my distinct pleasure to represent them in Congress and to recognize them today for this wonderful milestone in their lives.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, in 2009, the Obama administration said unemployment would never reach 8 percent if the stimulus was approved. Three years and $1.2 trillion in spending later, unemployment has remained above 8 percent for 39 consecutive months, the longest span since the Great Depression. Even more alarming is that 8 percent doesn't illustrate how grim the situation really is. More than half a million more Americans are out of work since President Obama took office, and currently the percentage of working Americans is at a 30-year low. Unemployment would be 40 percent higher if more Americans hadn't given up looking for jobs. With these numbers, it is clear that President Obama's policies have failed and are making the economy worse. House Republicans have a plan for America's job creators to help turn this economy around. It's time for the President and Senate Democrats to stop blocking our jobs bill and help us put Americans back to work.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in tribute to the 94th Anniversary of the Republic Day of Azerbaijan this week. Republic Day celebrates Azerbaijan's declaration of its independence from the Russian Empire in 1918, becoming the region's first Muslim democratic secular republic in Central Asia. While that independence was short lived, from 1918 1920, the young Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan made tremendous strides, granting women the right to vote and laying the foundation for architecture and formal education for future Azeris. But the new Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was soon occupied by the Soviet Union, losing the hard-won independence, and forced to become a republic in the U.S.S.R. In 1990, as the U.S.S.R. crumbled, Azerbaijan regained its independence from the Soviets, ending a 70 year nightmare, but the journey to freedom was a bloody one. In January 1990, referred to as ``Black January'' by Azeris, the Soviet army crushed peaceful demonstrations in the streets of the capital Baku. On August 30, 1991, Azerbaijan's Parliament restored its country's independence for the second time in a century and weeks later adopted their Constitution. A valuable international ally, Azerbaijan was among the first nations offering unconditional support to the United States in the war against al Qaeda, providing a safe transit route to resupply our troops in Afghanistan. Azerbaijan leads the Central Asian area in regional economic cooperation and is a key player in European energy security matters. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in thanking the people of Azerbaijan for their friendship and in congratulating Azerbaijanis around the world on the anniversary of Republic Day.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives, it is important to recognize the very important occasion of the second Inauguration of President Ma Ying-Jeou as the leader of our friend and ally the Republic of China (Taiwan). The upcoming inauguration on May 20, 2012 is the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by President Ma who is deserving of praise for his years of public service. President Ma began his career as an assistant to the President of Taiwan before he became the youngest Cabinet Minister in the history of Taiwan. He confronted the difficult challenges of the Justice Ministry where he investigated and prosecuted corrupt public officials before being elected as the Mayor of Taipei where he successfully helped Taiwan's largest city grow economically. First elected in 2008 President Ma is now beginning another four year term following his recent reelection. Last year, the United States and Taiwan celebrated the 100 year anniversary of our friendship and alliance. I look forward to continuing a robust friendship with this steadfast ally for many years to come and send my best wishes to President Ma as he undertakes the challenges of a second term in office.

Ms. FOXX

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

Ms. FOXX. I yield myself the balance of my time. I agree with my colleague from Colorado. Abuse is abuse, no matter against which person it is, and nothing in this Violence Against Women reauthorization bill prohibits grant recipients from serving all victims of domestic violence, and I am glad to hear my colleague say that. Madam Speaker, House Republicans want to help women, particularly those who have been victims of violence and abuse, while also being good stewards of limited taxpayer resources. The 2012 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act accomplishes these goals. In addition, the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act ensures that the men and women in our military have the resources they need while protecting taxpayer investments. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of improved congressional oversight and against special interests by voting in favor of this rule and the underlying bills.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, we are prepared to close.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I'd like to yield now 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

Ms. FOXX. Yes, Madam Speaker, we have one more.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama, Congresswoman Roby.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I now would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the State of Washington, a member of our leadership, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. Madam Speaker, as the gentleman from Ohio says, the second bill that's made in order under this rule is H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act, otherwise known as the NDAA. As we debate this very important bill, let's keep in mind the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families, and in particular those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of American freedom, which includes this deliberative process of freely debating our laws and ideas about the role of government. We could not be here today without the sacrifices of those who've served in the military and helped protect us as a free people. As James Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers: The operations of the Federal Government will be most extensive and important in terms of war and danger. Our Founding Fathers had a clear view that the primary and central job of the Federal Government was ``to provide for the common defense,'' which is a constitutional mandate. It is not an issue that should divide us or devolve into partisan rancor but unite us as a country that supports our military and provides them with the resources necessary to complete their critically important mission. Madam Speaker, in a few days, we will be in our districts participating in Memorial Day events. I approach Memorial Day with mixed emotions, as a part of me celebrates the joy and pride of living in this great country where we're all free to participate in a robust public policy debate. I am proud that I live in a meritocracy, where anyone can choose which path to follow and succeed. But Memorial Day also elicits somber thoughts of those who have given their lives in defense of the greatest country in the history of humankind. While many of our fellow Americans will be celebrating with cookouts and family, I ask that we all pause and think about those families who will have an empty place at their dinner table, those families who still mourn the loss of a loved one and, rather than cooking out, will be visiting our fallen heroes in hallowed grounds across these United States. That's the true purpose of Memorial Day--to pause, remember, and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to preserve all that is great in our country. So as we return home to our districts, I ask all of my colleagues to keep in mind the spouses, children, and families of the fallen. As President Lincoln stated in his second inaugural address: With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the Nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.