Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, those who say that conservative opposition to the Obama administration's rules on forcing religious groups to provide birth control coverage in their insurance plans is an assault on women are wrong and shortsighted. That rule is an assault on all Americans and on the First Amendment of the Constitution. It reminds me of a famous quote attributed to Pastor Martin Niemoller: First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak out because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me. Madam Speaker, we have to speak out on this issue. It is an assault on the First Amendment. It's an assault on the rights of all Americans.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam 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 36 months, gas prices have doubled, 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 reached $15 trillion, greater than our entire economy, and just last week, the CBO projected that 2012 will bring us our fourth trillion dollar 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 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, the American people are rightfully fed up. The Obama Presidency has meant only more power for Washington and more debt for our children and grandchildren, while the Obama economy produces only less confidence for job creators and too few jobs for Americans. When it comes to fostering job growth, the difference between House Republicans and Senate Democrats for more than a year now has been the difference between action and inaction. Following the House Republican Plan for America's Job Creators, the House has already passed more than 30 bipartisan jobs bills to restore the freedom and confidence of our Nation's job creators to do their job. Unfortunately, 27 of these bipartisan jobs bills are still being ignored or blocked in the do- nothing Democrat Senate. It's time for Washington Democrats to join our fight to put Americans back to work and get to work enacting those jobs bills.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Duffy for introducing this bill. As a consistent opponent of automatic pay increases for Members of Congress, I am pleased to support the bill before us today which would extend the pay freeze for Federal employees and Members of Congress for another year through December 31, 2013. With the record-shattering budget deficits racked up under the Obama administration, immediate action is needed to restrain runaway government increases and do no more harm to hardworking American taxpayers. President Obama's liberal Democrat enablers in Congress attempt to ignore the true solution by suggesting endless tax increases, which never have and never will represent the long-term solution to our budget problem. Excessive pay is part and parcel of a Federal Government that's too large and over budget. While the Federal Government will never be subject to market forces the way the private sector is, fundamental reform of the Federal compensation system is needed. The simple truth also is that Federal employees are more highly unionized than their counterparts in the private sector. According to a CBO report issued last month: ``The Federal Government and the private sector also differ in the extent to which their workers are represented by unions, which can influence employees' compensation. About 21 percent of Federal workers are members of unions, compared to only 8 percent of private sector workers.'' As a result, the Federal Government pays comparatively higher compensation and provides more generous benefits and job security than private employers. It's offensive to those unemployed Americans struggling to find a job to see unionized Federal employees continue to enjoy comparatively high compensation which is used to pay dues to government unions which spend heavily to elect politicians who promise them concessions. According to the Heritage Foundation: ``Government unions were the top political spenders outside the two major parties in the 2010 election cycle.'' That's why I'm pleased Mr. Duffy is offering H.R. 3835, which is a modest bill estimated to save taxpayers $26.2 billion. This bill also freezes the pay of Members of Congress, which so many taxpayers believe is important in demonstrating our shared commitment to reining in the spiraling Federal ledger. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, my constituents are outraged by the lack of leadership coming from this administration and Senate Democrats. Last night, the President came here and talked about working with any projects that would put Americans to work. Well, Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have passed 27 bipartisan bills that help job creation, and the Senate Democrats refuse to take action on them. We also gave the President a bill that creates over 20,000 jobs associated with the Keystone XL pipeline--a project that not only creates jobs but reduces energy costs and leads us to independence from Middle Eastern oil. But President Obama has once again put politics first and has halted the Keystone project. Even one of the President's strongest allies, the unions, have said that the President is wrong on this issue. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that, in an effort to save his job, the President is willing to sacrifice the jobs and energy security for Americans that Keystone will create. The President keeps asking for blank checks so he can do more failed stimulus projects or play venture capitalist with companies like Solyndra. House Republicans will continue our progress in crafting and passing bipartisan legislation like the 27 jobs bills that await action in the Senate. Republicans will continue to create an environment in which businesses can grow and create jobs, and we will continue to work to reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, unemployment is still at an all-time high; and the high cost of energy is having a significant negative impact on my district's economy as well as on the economy of the entire country. But when President Obama had the opportunity to help job creation and lower energy costs, he turned his back on hardworking American taxpayers. And as my colleague from Mississippi has just spelled out, we have just seen the highest energy costs ever in this country last year, and the cost of gasoline itself has more than doubled under this President. President Obama has done all he can to stand in the way of businesses that can help get Americans back to work. The Keystone XL pipeline is a $7 billion private sector infrastructure project that will create 20,000 jobs with its construction and an estimated 100,000 indirect jobs during the life of its operation. For the 3 years that President Obama has been in office, he's delayed this project for political benefit in order to placate his liberal base. Liberals who oppose this project say that these jobs are ``temporary'' and somehow of less value. This is not just misguided, but insulting. All construction jobs, by their essence, are temporary. No construction project is permanent. It's a dangerous precedent these groups are setting by denigrating hardworking Americans for the type of work they perform. The President is in full campaign mode. He's more interested in protecting his job than allowing the private sector to create jobs. Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue to import energy from Middle Eastern countries. North American energy will lead to energy security, lower energy costs, and more jobs for Americans.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, fostering job growth for the American people continues to be the number one job for House Republicans. We certainly don't know what the number one job is for President Obama, but it doesn't seem to be creating jobs. He talks a good game, but when it comes to delivering, he does nothing. He has refused to approve the Keystone pipeline, which would immediately create 20,000 jobs, bring down the price of gasoline for hardworking Americans, and ultimately create hundreds of thousands of jobs. You would think with unemployment above 8 percent for the past 35 months and the Obama economy continuing to produce the Nation's worst jobless record since the Great Depression that we would see different actions out of the President. Last year, following the House Republican plan for America's job creators, the House passed more than 30 bipartisan bills on behalf of the American people. We outline them on this card. Each bill is aimed at unleashing the power of our private sector to freely and confidently build, invest, innovate, and expand again and put millions of Americans back to work. The Keystone pipeline is one of those projects that should be done. Unfortunately, 27 of these bipartisan House-passed jobs bills are being ignored or blocked in the Democrat-controlled Senate. The American people are tired of waiting. It's time for the Democrats in the Senate and the White House to put politics aside and pass these jobs bills.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the headlines regularly remind us about the country's trying economic times, but back in the Fifth District of North Carolina there are stories of people coming together to help one another through difficult situations--without the help of government. In Kernersville, North Carolina, for example, two local businesses have played a crucial role in ensuring that the community's less fortunate are fed. Over the holidays, the interior design company Designer's Attic and the construction firm Friddle and Company, Inc. paired up to bring thousands of meals to the needy. Designer's Attic decorated Friddle and Company's ``Holiday House,'' which was open to the public for tours. Instead of a tour fee, the businesses requested that visitors pay in canned goods. Out of the shared endeavor, the businesses were able to donate enough food to the Second Harvest Food Bank for 17,000 meals. In a time of difficult economic news and consistent government overreach, it's a thrill to highlight this kind of success story. Congratulations to the good people at Designer's Attic and Friddle and Company, Inc. for giving back to the community in such a creative and effective manner.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I thank my colleague from South Carolina for handling the rule and for yielding 2 minutes. I want to say, first off, that we should all vote for this rule, and we should vote for the resolution that's going to come up later. I want to point out to my colleagues, again, that you are entitled to your opinion, but you're not entitled to rewrite history. The House passed a bill last week, a bipartisan bill. There's been so much touting of the Senate bipartisan bill, but not one mention by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle of the fact that we passed a bipartisan bill last week which did exactly what the President, Ms. Pelosi, and Mr. Hoyer--all those in charge of the Democrat Party--said they wanted, a 1-year extension of the policy that was passed last year. It also stopped raises for Congress and Federal employees and cut spending. What our colleagues on the other side of the aisle cannot do, and what the President seems incapable of doing, is cutting Federal spending, which is desperately what we need in this country. And I want to point out to my colleague from New York who says that we're doing nothing here today--we're not doing anything I believe is her comment. I want to point out that the Constitution, in Article I, section 1, divides the Congress of the United States, and in section 2 it talks about the House of Representatives. Well, if the Founders thought that the House is irrelevant--and obviously my colleague thinks that the House is irrelevant--then maybe some people should go home. I don't think the House is irrelevant. Mr. Reid has said the House of Representatives must pass their bill. Well, nobody made Mr. Reid the king, and I don't think that we have to do what Mr. Reid says. He has a very high opinion of himself. I think we do what the Constitution tells us to do. When there's a difference of opinion, then we go to conference. A ``no'' vote to our colleagues means they don't want to follow regular order and want to continue the uncertainty. What has the Senate done this year? The Senate has passed approximately 10 substantive bills. It's my opinion that the Senate is out of touch. A 2-month bill is not appropriate. Instead of being in ``Alice in Wonderland,'' like my colleague said last night, we are in ``1984.'' Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from California, the chairman of the Rules Committee, to whom we all look for wisdom, especially at times like this. I think he has been extraordinarily generous in his comments this morning in talking about the bipartisan approach. We all praised the chairman and the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee early this morning when the Rules Committee was meeting. It is important that we celebrate the bipartisan nature of this bill. As everybody will say I'm sure today, it's not a perfect bill that's coming up. It's not pleasing everybody. It's pleasing very few people. But it is sausage-making and rulemaking at its finest. And I appreciate the fact that it is the Christmas season and we want to be a little friendly to each during this time, as we are when we're in our home districts. We are here in Congress, too; and, so, I'm mindful of the season and I'm mindful of the fact that we have reached a bipartisan agreement. But I do want to say to my colleagues across the aisle, there's an old saying that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Again, as my colleague from California said, we're not happy that we have a rather large bill and a somewhat short perspective in time to deal with it. But this bill was out there on Monday, as he pointed out. And were it not for the dilatory tactics of the Senate, we could have had this bill on the floor earlier this week, and it has certainly been out there for everybody to read. I want to say to my colleague from across the aisle from New York who said there was a lot of wasted time on lightbulbs. Mr. Speaker, lightbulbs are a symptom of the problem with this executive administration and our friends across the aisle. Talk about wanting to micromanage--they want to control what kind of lightbulbs we have. It was a debate between the Senate Democrats and the President of the United States on whether we're going to continue to control the kind of lightbulbs we have that delayed this process yesterday for many, many hours. But we need to talk about some positive things that the Republicans in this House have done this year. We've stopped spending money we don't have. We've cut discretionary spending for the second year in a row for the first time since World War II. Thanks to the changes in the way this Congress works, that Republicans brought here under the leadership of our Speaker, instead of shoveling ever-larger piles of money into the Federal government black hole, this bill represents another step towards reducing the size, scope, and cost of the Federal government. We've been working hard to cut spending, grow the economy, and create jobs. We've protected hardworking taxpayers from Washington's waste by eliminating 42 government programs. And thanks to Republicans' efforts to stop wasteful pork-barrel spending, while the Democrats included 18,000 earmarks in their final 2 years of spending----

Ms. FOXX. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. House Republicans fulfilled our pledge to Americans by including no earmarks--no earmarks--in the 2011 and 2012 spending bills. This is a huge success. After years of status quo pork-barrel spending, Republicans have changed the culture of spending in America. There's much work to do, but this bill takes us in the right direction. That's why I'm urging my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following poem. On the Wings of Luke All in . . . All in those most darkest hours of war . . . When, most precious life so lies before . . . All in that balance that which so insures . . . When, who lives or dies . . . `Oh but to so see another sunrise . . . When, a loved one's caress will so shower . . . Such faith and strength, in all of its great power . . . As their loved ones encouragement will so flower . . . Such strength and faith all in these hours . . . All in these precious moments which above all else so towers . . . With loved ones at their sides, as against all odds they so reach for the skies . . . Where, the beginning of hope and healing so lies! But, comes the very will to live or die! While, in the coming months and days . . . As into the year as do they . . . As upon bended knees so pray . . . As upon The Wings of Luke their loved ones arrive this day . . . From all across our Country Tis of Thee, come their loved ones all in tears to provide such relief . . . I open arms hope we now see! To provide the strength that they all need! For all of these great American families our hearts so bleed . . . Because, the one thing that which but means the most! I but when loved ones lie all in arms length so very close! Because hearts of love can lift such souls higher! To help win all of those battles, all in these times so dire . . . That in the end but mean the most . . . So On These Wings of Luke . . . We give these great America's families what they need most . . . All in this battle, when recovery and death lies close . . . For a family's love but means most! From on The Wings of Luke comes hope . . .

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this week I learned of a recent audit of North Carolina's Medicaid billing system. Normally, I don't bring up State issues like this before the House, but it turns out that this isn't just a State issue. North Carolina is currently upgrading its Medicaid billing system and agreed to pay a contractor $265 million to make the upgrades. But surprise, surprise, the upgrade will end up costing $495 million-- nearly twice as much. Who cares? That's a problem for North Carolina taxpayers; right? Not so fast. It turns out that the Federal Government is expected to pick up 90 percent of the tab for this new system. That means all taxpayers, including North Carolina taxpayers, will be shelling out an extra $200 million to cover for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' incompetence and inability to keep a lid on costs. Making matters worse, this department went so far as to give itself an ``A'' grade for managing the upgrade program. Mr. Speaker, I doubt taxpayers will give the folks at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services an ``A'' for flushing $200 million of their money down the toilet. This is a classic example of how government bureaucracies view Federal taxpayer dollars--as manna from heaven. This money is not manna from heaven. It is taken directly out of the pockets of hardworking taxpayers from across the Nation. When taxpayers hear stories like this, they wonder why they even pay taxes in the first place. It's no wonder they give Big Government a failing grade.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I'm thinking about why Congress is raising the issue of Christian properties in Turkey at a time when that country has already addressed these concerns. It is very unfortunate that at a time when our country is facing so many challenges, that we are focusing on an issue that should be settled internally by a foreign country. I strongly support religious freedom but this is not an appropriate issue for the United States Congress to be involved in. Last August, while Congress was in recess, the Turkish Government took the decision to return to non-Muslim community foundations the immovable properties registered in the name of Turkish public institutions, or compensate (at market rates) those foundations if such properties are held by third parties. Secretary Clinton publicly praised and ``applauded'' Turkey and Prime Minister Erdogan for this ``serious step to improve the climate for religious tolerance'' during a briefing on the release of State Department International Religious Freedom Report. The Report itself emphasizes Turkey's ``steps to improve religious freedom.'' Furthermore, during the American Turkish Council 2011 Annual Conference, Secretary Clinton said: ``I was particularly impressed by Prime Minister Erdogan's statement during Ramadan that property would be returned to religious minority groups, and we also hope to see other positive steps, such as reopening of the Halki Seminary.'' The simple truth is that we shouldn't single out one country when we know there are similar issues throughout the world. If we're going to be involved with calling attention to the faults of one country, we are setting a dangerous precedent where the House of Representatives can be distracted by focusing on the problems existing anywhere else in the world. We need to be promoting religious freedom and tolerance all over the world and this resolution does not accomplish that goal. A better use of our time and energy would be for all of us to foster stronger bilateral relations with all of our allies.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Those who serve in our military deserve our constant thanks. Those who become injured while serving deserve all that we can do for them. Mr. Speaker, I recently learned about a wonderful American organization that is serving wounded servicemembers and their families around the country. The organization is called Luke's Wings, and it has a simple mission: to bring wounded warriors and their families together. For many families of those wounded in combat, traveling to where their wounded spouse or parent or sibling is can be difficult and cost prohibitive. Luke's Wings was established to help families of these servicemembers travel to be with their loved one during his or her hospitalization or rehabilitation. Luke's Wings aids families of wounded servicemembers by purchasing airline tickets so that they can help support and care for their family member while they are receiving treatment. Not only does the assistance that Luke's Wings provides to families of wounded warriors bring these families together, it also helps boost the spirits of and provide additional motivation to recovering servicemembers while their families are at their sides. Especially during this holiday season as we approach Christmas, the work that Luke's Wings is doing is priceless. Not only does it help families visit recovering troops, but they're also helping these same wounded warriors get home for Christmas. For just the price of a plane ticket, Luke's Wings is able to make this holiday season one that many combat-wounded servicemembers will not soon forget. It's always inspiring to see the different ways that Americans from so many walks of life find to support our men and women in uniform. Luke's Wings is a volunteer organization that is taking its place in the ranks of compassionate and patriotic groups that are dedicated to giving our troops the best. During this season of joy and thankfulness when many brave men and women are deployed and apart from their families, Luke's Wings reminds us that we must not forget those who serve, and particularly those who have been injured in that service. Luke's Wings reminds us that even something such as bringing family and servicemembers together will make a tremendous impact for them. May God continue to bless those who serve and especially those who have suffered physically and mentally, and may God bless the efforts of Luke's Wings, particularly in this season.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak of the remarkable life of my friend Gene Rossitch of Winston-Salem. Gene died last week at age 77 after a tenacious fight with cancer. One of the remarkable things about Gene is that he grew up in Cuba and fled to the U.S. with his family in 1962 in search of freedom. Despite being uprooted and transplanted into a new culture and Nation, he thrived in Winston- Salem, forging a successful 30-year career at Wachovia Bank. But Gene was more than just a successful businessman. He was passionate about investing in the community, which he went about with gusto during the nearly 50 years he made his mark on the community of Winston-Salem. He leaves behind a shining example of helping others, from serving as a volunteer translator for the police and court system to serving with the Red Cross to volunteering on the board of a local Catholic high school. Gene also lived a vibrant life of faith, serving in numerous ways in his local church, Our Lady of Mercy, for decades. His life demonstrated to those who knew him that he was a man of conviction, steadfast faith, and unrivaled dedication to his community and those in need. He will be greatly missed, and his passing is a terrible loss to his family and loved ones, as well as the entire Winston-Salem community. Mr. Speaker, my prayers are with his family and many friends who are mourning the loss of a man of kindness and remarkable character.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the so-called supercommittee announced last week that it was unable to come up with a plan to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the course of 10 years. That is a sad commentary on Washington, DC's addiction to overspending. After all, $1.2 trillion is less than 1 year's worth of overspending at the going rate. It's time to get serious. Just consider the mess in Europe. The eurozone's bailout fund is struggling to keep debtor nations like Greece, Ireland, and Portugal afloat, while Italy also teeters on the brink of insolvency. Europe's sovereign debt crisis is not an abstract economics lesson; it is the painful reckoning after years of the debt- financed government profligacy. What should unnerve us is that some of these nations being battered by the consequences of high debt level have debt-to-GDP ratios that are close to our own. If Congress doesn't get serious about reducing spending and ending the Federal debt addiction, we're going to find ourselves in the same boat as our friends in the eurozone.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, when the liberal Democrat extremists took control of the Congress in 2007, the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, and when Republicans took back control of the House in January of 2011, the unemployment rate had jumped to 9 percent. Under liberal Democrat control, 6.9 million Americans became unemployed. So now we have 13.9 million unemployed Americans who have been ignored by the liberals in Washington. 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. GDP growth in the first quarter of 2011 fell to 1.8 percent; in the second quarter it was 1.3 percent. 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 mortgage. Instead of expanding the size of government, Republicans in Washington are committed to a pro-growth economic agenda that will put America back to work. And I urge people to go to America's job creators, jobs.gop.gov, to see the plan Republicans have to create jobs. We've passed over 20 bills that have gone to the Senate, and no action is being taken on them.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I now would like to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee, Dr. Roe, a southern gentleman who understands the rules.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, regular order.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 470 provides for a structured rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3094, the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act. With that, 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, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 470 and ask for its immediate consideration.

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