Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to take the opportunity to thank my colleague from Colorado for the work that he has done on charter schools, for understanding the very important nature of charter schools and for bringing his expertise to this issue. I also want to thank him for acknowledging the bipartisan effort that has gone into bringing this legislation to the floor and for the very good way that we have gone through regular order to bring this bill to the floor. I appreciate that little history that he has given us. I now would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert), my classmate and colleague.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Yesterday, our Democratic colleagues in the Rules Committee properly notice that had the R&D bill would have inadvertently triggered automatic cuts to other programs to offset the bill. We appreciate the spirit of comity that existed and that brought that to our attention. H. Res. 576 ensures that the bill operates the way it was intended to operate. It was an inadvertent error. Excluding this bill from the PAYGO scorecard will ensure that other programs are not affected, which is consistent with the treatment of other tax bills. I would like to point out to our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that the PAYGO amendment made by H. Res. 576 is substantially identical to section 401 of Senator Wyden's extenders bill, S. 2260, the EXPIRE Act. However, they have failed to point that out. Statutory PAYGO was created by the Democrats when they controlled Congress. Statutory PAYGO maintains a running tally of the cumulative deficit impact for bills signed into law. If the threshold is exceeded, a sequester is triggered to offset the excess. When Republicans took control of the House, we adopted a new rule known as CUTGO, which requires that any new direct spending be offset by cuts to other direct spending programs. We should reduce spending and reform our entitlement programs, Mr. Speaker. House Republicans have shown we are willing to do so, and we earnestly desire a partner in the Senate and the White House to do just that. But we should also grow our economy. This bill will help us do just that, and we hope we will find partners on the other side of the aisle. Again, I want to say that the PAYGO amendment made by H. Res. 576 is substantially identical to section 401 of Senator Wyden's extenders bill, S. 2260, the EXPIRE Act. My guess is my colleagues will be supporting that. I now would like to turn our attention back to the subject at hand, charter schools, and I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Holding).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 576 provides for a structured rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 10, the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act. My colleagues on the House Education and the Workforce Committee and I have been working to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; and to that end, the House passed H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, last July. Our efforts in reauthorization have centered on four principles: reducing the Federal footprint in education, empowering parents, supporting effective teachers, and restoring local control. H.R. 10, the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act, takes a small bipartisan step in the reauthorization process and ensures that local communities have the flexibility needed to meet the needs of their students. While H.R. 5 is languishing in the Senate, the House remains committed to continuing its work and has broken out the charter school programs as an area of agreement between House Republicans and Democrats. Despite good intentions, there is widespread agreement that the current law is no longer effectively serving students. My hope is that, after the House passes H.R. 10 this week, our Senate colleagues will follow our lead and will provide the same opportunity to their Members to work together in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion and pass this legislation. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit a remarkable public school in Kernersville, North Carolina. In addition to preparing students academically for college, the North Carolina Leadership Academy, a charter school, is publicly committed to giving students ``the opportunity to develop true leadership qualities and become creative thinkers and problem-solvers while retaining a sense of responsibility for their families, their community, and their country.'' It was a privilege to spend time with the remarkable students and faculty of this public charter school. I was truly impressed by their commitment to scholarship, by the leadership skills of the students and by the remarkable academic progress that was on display. All NCLA students in grades 7-12 participate in Civil Air Patrol, a program established by Congress in 1946 that uses military-style uniforms, customs, courtesies, ceremonies, and drill in order to improve students' leadership skills, fitness, and character. This program is working. NCLA places a strong emphasis on family involvement, and the level of commitment demonstrated by parents, families, and the Piedmont community at large was impressive. H.R. 10 will empower States and local communities to replicate the success of high-quality charter schools like NCLA and encourage choice, innovation, and excellence in education. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As my colleague from North Carolina points out, support for school choice is growing. A 2013 public opinion survey found that 73 percent of Americans supported school choice, whereas 67 percent of Americans supported school choice in 2010. Forty-two States and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to support the funding of public charter schools. They are becoming more popular. In the 2012-2013 academic year, more than 500 new charter schools opened across the country, which means there are now 6,200 charter schools in America and 2 million charter school students. If recent growth continues, they will double in number by 2025 and will educate 4.6 million children. That amounts to 10 percent of all public school students. Another sign of their popularity is that charter schools have over 1 million students on their wait lists. H.R. 10 modernizes and streamlines the current Charter Schools Program authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to ensure that States can support the replication and expansion of high- quality charter schools. These schools empower parents to play a more active role in their child's education, open doors for teachers to pioneer fresh teaching methods, encourage State and local innovation, and help students escape underperforming schools. H.R. 10 is a commonsense approach to updating the Charter Schools Program by streamlining multiple charter school programs, improving quality, and promoting the growth of the charter school sector at the State level. This bill benefits children, their parents, and--ultimately--our economy. By increasing the number of high-quality charter schools, more children will acquire the skills they need to succeed in a competitive global economy. We owe it to our children to provide them with the best education possible, and that is what this bill was designed to do. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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 576 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Hound Ears Club, a community-minded club nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the towns of Blowing Rock, Boone and Banner Elk; and the Robbins Family, who had the vision to found the club. Chartered in 1964, the Club has provided fifty years of community service and economic benefits to the people of Watauga County, North Carolina. Over the years, Hound Ears Club members have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit many Watauga County charities. Members and residents have served, and continue to serve, on the boards and among the ranks of these charities. Over the past fifty years, the Hound Ears Club has made valuable contributions to the economic needs of the citizens of Watauga County through capital investment projects, local business patronage, college scholarships, real estate development and perhaps most importantly, by providing jobs in the community. Hound Ears members and the Robbins Family have contributed tremendously to the success of Watauga County's tourism industry. I commend the Hound Ears Club for its fifty years of serving Watauga County, and wish the members all the best as they embark on fifty more.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, Buddha once said there are three things that cannot be hidden long: the Sun, the Moon, and the truth. It has been 18 months since the attack in Benghazi, and this piece of proverbial wisdom has again proved prescient. Evidence is mounting that the Obama administration manipulated the truth of what happened on September 11, 2012, when our Ambassador and three other Americans were killed in what early reports indicated was a planned attack on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi. Sadly, repeated attempts by this House to ascertain the truth of what happened have been dismissed by the administration as ``politicizing'' the tragedy. The deep irony is that it was the White House's political maneuvering which led to the truth being buried in the first place. The emails released last week shed more light on the White House's response to the attacks. More will be learned as the investigation continues. Coverups, like clouds, are temporary. They can't hold back the light forever. Americans want answers, and they will get them.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, last week was the 44th Earth Day. Since the initial Earth Day in 1970, tremendous progress has been made on cleaning our water, cleaning our air, reducing pollution, and preserving the natural beauty of this great Nation. It is my privilege to represent one of the most beautiful places on the planet. North Carolina's High Country and the Blue Ridge Mountains are majestic. In the highlands you will find the nearly 6,000-foot high Grandfather Mountain, one of the tallest peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway passes by the south side of Grandfather Mountain. I feel it is my duty to help protect these treasures, and I consider myself a conservationist. It is unfortunate, though, that the tremendous success of the environmental movement has led some self-appointed environmentalists to resort to ever more extreme goals and behavior. Maintaining a safe, clean, and beautiful natural world for ourselves, our children, and grandchildren to enjoy is a goal we should all share.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Thank you, Congressman Gohmert, my classmate and friend. I appreciate very much you yielding time. Mr. Speaker, last week, I had the opportunity to visit a remarkable public school in Kernersville, North Carolina. In addition to preparing students academically for college, the North Carolina Leadership Academy is publicly committed to giving their 400 students ``the opportunity to develop true leadership qualities and become creative thinkers and problem-solvers while retaining a sense of responsibility for their families, their community, and their country.'' NCLA has an ambitious mission, and they are executing it so well that last year this charter school had over 700 applicants for 95 openings. The wait list has over 600 names, and is growing. It was a privilege to spend time with the remarkable students and faculty of NCLA. I was truly impressed by their commitment to scholarship, by the leadership skills of the students, and by the remarkable academic progress that was on display. All NCLA students in grades 7-12 participate in Civil Air Patrol, a program established by Congress in 1946 that uses military-style uniforms, customs, courtesies, ceremonies, and drill in order to improve student leadership skills, fitness, and character. This program is working. NCLA places a strong emphasis on family involvement; and the level of commitment demonstrated by parents, families, and the Piedmont community at large was impressive. Community engagement is a key to success of any school, and the community's support for NCLA is a good reminder that decisions about the education of our youth should remain local. I have been a strong supporter of charter schools for my entire legislative career. In the North Carolina State Senate, I supported charters as one of the best hopes to genuinely reform our school system. In Congress, those of us who support charter schools should express that support by ensuring that Federal policy encourages States to adopt expansive charter laws. Further, we need to ensure that Washington does not put up bureaucratic roadblocks that would keep State, city, and county governments from experimenting with new ideas and establishing effective charter school programs. Mr. Speaker, I cannot say enough about how impressed I was to spend time with the educators of the North Carolina Leadership Academy, individuals who seek daily to impress upon the students the values encapsulated in the school motto of ``Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship.'' I expect many good things from the remarkable young scholar leaders currently being educated by this wonderful school. The community will reap the benefits of having this school in its midst for years to come.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, again, to support equal pay for equal work. Republicans and Democrats share the conviction that no one should lose wages on account of one's sex. As is so often the case in this politically polarized city, though, the broad agreement on the goal does not extend to the methods we should use to get there. Under the guise of equal pay, our Democrat colleagues would have us pass more rules, institute more red tape, and create more grounds for lawyers to drag businessowners into court. Perhaps there is a certain logic to this ``regulate everything'' approach. After all, as The New York Times reported today, the President hasn't even been able to equalize pay between men and women in his own White House. However, this President's ongoing regulatory blitzkrieg has helped to equalize the wages of 6.7 percent of the population--the unemployed.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. I also thank Chairman Ryan and his staff for their hard work in producing this budget. We owe them a debt of gratitude. Madam Speaker, budget puts a numerical value on the priorities we claim to value, and as such, it is a moral document. This budget will protect and strengthen Medicare, preserve our commitment to veterans, and keep faith with future generations by getting spending under control and fostering economic growth. This budget controls spending by ending sweetheart deals for favored corporations and returning government to its proper limits. Years of overreach and cronyism have weakened confidence in the Federal Government and damaged our economy. As Chairman Ryan mentioned in his Rules Committee testimony last night, the CBO has warned that, if we fail to address our lackluster economic growth and rising debt, our children and grandchildren are guaranteed a lower standard of living than what we currently enjoy. For the first time in American history, we may bequeath to our children and grandchildren a less prosperous country with limited opportunities to pursue their American Dream. As a mother and grandmother, I will do all I can to keep that from happening. Over the next decade, the U.S. Government will spend $5.8 trillion servicing debt--$5 trillion, Madam Speaker--simply to make interest payments to our creditors. Those dollars could be put to work at home strengthening our military, caring for our veterans, and improving the lives of all Americans; but instead, nearly half of it will go to pay for the inability of those who came before to manage the Nation's Treasury responsibly. We need to stop spending money we don't have. Unlike the President's budget, this budget actually balances within the budget window. A balanced budget will foster a healthier economy and help create jobs. By reducing the capital the government takes out of the private sector, this budget will foster opportunity. This budget would keep our children and grandchildren from inheriting an insurmountable debt. If we take action now, we can pass on an America that is free, prosperous, and filled with opportunity. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today's debate over the Save American Workers Act, which will attempt to fix another unintended consequence of ObamaCare, reminded me of the recent CBO report which estimated that regulatory changes created by ObamaCare would remove the equivalent of 2.3 million Americans from the full-time workforce. Putting aside the tremendous human costs of this loss, let's simply consider the economic damage done to our Nation. Journalist Kevin Williamson compared removing 2.3 million from the full-time workforce to ``burning down 1,000 factories'' and further noted that ``that 2.3 million workers exceeds the current workforces of McDonald's, IBM, UPS, Target, Hewlett-Packard, and General Electric, combined.'' The Save American Workers Act will likely proceed to the Senate today, where it will join a cue of 30-plus other House-passed bills that would help the economy and create jobs. Americans want to work. Why won't the Senate do its job and consider those bills?

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the Hobby Lobby case. This business is simply asking that owners' rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act are respected. In an ironic bit of timing, the administration just effectively waived the March 31 deadline for signing up for an ObamaCare plan. Despite President Obama's continuous extra-legal rewriting of his health care law, he remains unwilling to accommodate religious businessowners who are providing health care coverage for employees. Yesterday also brought a news report from North Carolina of 200 substitute teachers having their hours cut in order to comply with ObamaCare mandates. The teachers' plight is not unique. As Republicans noted during the original debate over this law, putting the government in charge of 1/7th of the economy is a recipe for disaster. We need to repeal ObamaCare and enact health reform that empowers patients, not bureaucrats.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Watauga County Deputy Sheriff William R. Mast, Jr. Deputy Mast was shot and killed while responding to a 911 call in Deep Gap, North Carolina, in 2012. Deputy Mast was only 23 years old when he was killed 20 months ago, and his first child was born shortly thereafter. Today, at a ceremony at the Perkinsville Baptist Church in Boone, the bridge spanning the south fork of the New River on U.S. Highway 421 will be named for Deputy Mast. This is a small token of gratitude from the community which Deputy Mast served so ably and honorably. Our thoughts and prayers today are with Deputy Mast's widow, young son, and all those who continue to mourn his passing.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, tonight the Statesville Chamber of Commerce will host its annual dinner and recognize the individuals, businesses, and nonprofits that help make Statesville, North Carolina, thrive. Unfortunately, our work here will keep me from joining them. As we recognize the great work local organizations like the Statesville Chamber do to help local businesses compete, we should remain focused on the task of keeping Washington out of their way. We have passed numerous bills in the House to cut through bureaucracy and get the government out of the way of job creators. In the last week of February, the House passed one such bill: the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act. UMITA would require new Federal rules and regulations to undergo more complete and accurate cost analyses. With regulations estimated to impose over 87 million hours of paperwork on American businesses, I hope this bill passes the Senate with the same bipartisan support it received in the House.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, last week it was my pleasure to attend a job fair at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, North Carolina. The job fair was cohosted by the Statesville Chamber of Commerce; and both Mitchell Community College president Dr. Tim Brewer and Chamber president David Bradley and their staffs are to be commended for making this important event happen and making these job opportunities available to jobseekers in the local community. As a former community college president, I am aware of the important role these institutions play in providing workers with the opportunity to improve their skills in order to meet the demands of employers. Mitchell Community College and the Statesville Chamber of Commerce both played large roles in ensuring that Statesville remains a dynamic economic center within the Fifth District of North Carolina. More than 40 companies were represented at last week's job fair. About 500 jobs were available, spanning a broad range of skills, abilities, and compensation levels. The organizers offered a resume workshop to help applicants make a first good impression. I would like to take a few minutes to recognize just a few of those who helped make this event a success and who spend every day making the economy and community of Statesville run. Gina Shumaker is a graduate of the Mitchell Community College Back to Work program, and now she is giving back to her work with Workforce Carolina. Gina spends every day matching jobseekers with opportunities. She was at the job fair looking to fill 197 positions, and I commend her efforts to help individuals get back on their feet. Goodyear; I also had the opportunity to talk with Joe Wegmiller, who is the plant manager for the Goodyear manufacturing plant in Statesville. This facility has been manufacturing tire molds in Statesville since 1995. I have had the opportunity to tour the facility, and it is a key employer in the Fifth District. Doosan; Doosan Portable Power specializes in making generators, air compressors, and other light construction equipment. This company is headquartered in Statesville and brings more than 100 years of manufacturing experience to bear on the task of providing quality equipment for construction and other industrial uses. We are proud that they call Statesville home and grateful for the opportunities they provide to members of our community. ASMO in North Carolina employs more than 350 people in Statesville. This company produces blower motors, power seat motors, power window motors, electric power steering motors, and other assemblies for auto manufacturers. Mr. Speaker, at last week's job fair, a common refrain among employers is that they have had a hard time finding individuals with the skills needed to fill available positions. This reminded me of H.R. 803, the SKILLS Act. This bill would reform and reorganize our broken Federal workforce development system. There is bipartisan agreement that the current Federal workforce development programs are not meeting the needs of America's jobseekers, many of whom were in attendance at the Statesville job fair last week. In his 2012 State of the Union address, the President asked that these programs be reformed, and Republicans in the House went to work and passed the SKILLS Act, which would streamline 35 ineffective and duplicative programs, including 26 identified as being ineffective in a 2011 GAO report. The SKILLS Act empowers job creators, such as Goodyear, Doosan, ASMO, and many others that were looking to hire in Statesville last week. The SKILLS Act would allow local businesses to help steer workforce development resources toward fields that are in demand right now. This bill passed the House over a year ago. I call on our colleagues over in the Senate to act on this vital piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, this House will maintain its focus on creating an environment conducive to economic growth and job creation. We have passed more than 30 pieces of legislation designed to decrease the bureaucracy, increase opportunity, and restore vitality to our economy. Unfortunately, the majority of this legislation is languishing in the Senate. The employers, jobseekers, and community members I spoke with last week in Statesville want to move forward with their businesses and lives. There are House-passed bills that will help solve some of the problems they are facing. The Senate and the President need to act to turn these bills into law.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this Saturday will mark the 1-year anniversary of House passage of H.R. 803, the SKILLS Act. This bill, which I sponsored, would bring much-needed reform and reorganization to our broken Federal workforce development system. There is bipartisan agreement that the current mishmash of Federal workforce programs is not meeting the needs of America's job seekers. The President called for reforms in his 2012 State of the Union Address. Republicans in the House responded to that call with the SKILLS Act. This bill would streamline 35 ineffective and duplicative programs, including 26 identified as being ineffective in a 2011 GAO report. The SKILLS Act empowers job creators, promotes accountability, and gives workers access to the resources they need to fill jobs that are available now. I call on our colleagues in the Senate to act on this vital piece of legislation. America needs a workforce development system that works for job seekers, not bureaucrats.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, as the House takes up the topic of executive overreach this week, we should take a minute to note that this issue is institutional, not partisan. In a recent LA Times column, Jonathan Turley, after acknowledging that he agreed with many of the policies of the current administration, went on to say: In our system, it is often more important how we do something than what we do. Priorities and policies and Presidents change. Democrats will rue the day of their acquiescence to this shift of power when a future President negates an environmental law, or an antidiscrimination law, or tax laws. The separation of political power among three equal branches was designed to guard against too much power accumulating in the hands of any one person or branch. This system is one of the main reasons our government has endured for nearly a quarter of a millennium. We should not cast it aside lightly.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today the Federal Register is four times larger than it was in 1970. This weekend, columnist Peggy Noonan captured the feeling among everyday Americans: Voters and taxpayers feel bullied, burdened and jerked around which, again, is not new, but feels more intense every day. Rules, regulations, many of them stupid, from all the agencies, local, State, Federal, on the building of a house or the starting of a business. You can only employ so many before the new insurance rules kick in, so don't employ too many. Don't take a chance, which means don't grow. Mr. Speaker, there is growing inequality in this country, between regulators and the regulated, between large businesses wielding government influence and smaller competitors attempting to grow, between established corporations with compliance departments and upstarts with energy and ideas. This status inequality demands our attention. Last week's bipartisan passage of the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act is a good start, but much more must be done.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding and for shepherding this bill through the committee. I am especially grateful to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) for his tireless efforts on behalf of this legislation; not only I, but the people of this country owe him a great debt of gratitude. I also want to commend him for employing such a wonderful staff. They have been a real pleasure to work with and have been devoted to getting this legislation passed. I want to recognize the efforts of Chairman Issa and his staff at the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, including his eloquent comments today. They have provided my office with five-star service. Finally, I want to recognize my esteemed Democrat colleagues, Loretta Sanchez, Mike McIntyre, and Collin Peterson. I am very grateful for their support and wise counsel. They realize that this legislation does not stop the Federal Government from adopting regulations. And I am, frankly, shocked at the allegations by some of our colleagues on the other side who say this is going to stop the Federal Government from regulating and putting in commonsense rules and regulations. If you look up the definition of ``straw dog'' in the dictionary, the arguments against this legislation this morning would fit the bill. Every year, Mr. Chairman, Washington imposes thousands of pages of rules and regulations on America's small businesses and local governments. Hidden in those pages are costly mandates that make it harder for companies to hire and for cash-strapped States, counties, and cities to keep streets safe and parks clean. Republicans and Democrats alike agree that each regulation the Federal Government hands down should be deliberative and economically defensible. This bill, H.R. 899, will ensure public and bureaucratic awareness about the cost in dollars and in jobs that Federal dictates pose to the economy and local governments. There is precedent for bipartisanship on this issue. In 1995, Members from both parties supported and President Clinton signed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, UMRA, which sought to expose Washington's abuse of unfunded Federal mandates. The 1995 bill was designed to force the Federal Government to estimate how much its mandates would cost local governments and employers, not to prevent it from regulating, but to make sure its regulations were fair and efficient. For the most part, the 1995 law has worked very well; but over the years, weaknesses in that law have been revealed--weaknesses that some government agencies and independent regulatory bodies have exploited. My bill, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, will correct these oversights and put some weight behind UMRA to ensure no government body purposefully or accidentally skirts public scrutiny when jobs and scarce resources are at stake. H.R. 899, Mr. Chairman, has bipartisan DNA. It codifies administrative fixes championed by Presidents Clinton and Obama and promotes good government, accountability, and transparency, something we all believe in. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bipartisan bill.

Ms. FOXX

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

Ms. FOXX. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, according to a report issued by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the number of economically significant rules in the pipeline, which are those that could cost $100 million or more annually, has increased by more than 137 percent over the past decade. Section 12 of my bill responds to such concerns by requiring Federal agencies to conduct a retrospective analysis of an existing Federal regulation at the request of a committee chairman or ranking minority member. The retrospective analysis submitted to the requesting member and to Congress is to include: One, a copy of the Federal regulation; Two, the continued need for the Federal regulation; Three, the nature of comments or complaints received concerning the Federal regulation; Four, the extent to which the mandate may duplicate another Federal regulation; Five, the degree to which technology or economic conditions have changed in the area affecting the Federal regulation; Six, an analysis of the retrospective costs and benefits of the Federal regulation that considers studies done outside the government; and Seven, the history of legal challenges to the Federal regulation. Since the duty to promote public accountability and transparency in Federal regulatory policy is endless, this provision builds on the strengths of UMRA by helping ensure ongoing compliance with legislative intent. This kind of ongoing monitoring, identified as a priority by section 5 of Executive Order 12866, issued by President Clinton, and by section 6 of Executive Order 13563, issued by President Obama, is critical for adapting to changing circumstances that shaped initial UMRA cost estimates. This helps ensure a fresh look at regulations to make certain they remain consistent with their initial purpose and have not become overly burdensome, outdated, or unnecessary. This is just one of many bipartisan initiatives contained in my bill that further underscores the need for my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, section 3 of my bill has received praise from State and local government advocacy groups as it would allow a committee chairman or ranking member to request that the Congressional Budget Office perform an assessment comparing the authorized level of funding in a bill or resolution to the prospective costs of carrying out any changes to a condition of Federal assistance being imposed on any respective participating State, local or tribal government. The purpose of this provision is to highlight costs the Federal Government is passing along to State and local governments that would otherwise remain hidden but borne by taxpayers regardless of which governmental entity is taxing them. CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin's statement before the Committee on Government Reform on March 8, 2005, speaks further to this issue, saying: According to UMRA, the conditions attached to most forms of Federal aid, including most grant programs, are not mandates. Yet complying with such conditions can sometimes be burdensome. In particular, States consider new conditions on existing grant programs to be duties not unlike mandates. Two often-cited examples of such conditions are the requirements for receiving Federal funding under the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Those laws require school districts to undertake many activities, including, respectively, designing and implementing Statewide achievement tests and preparing individualized education plans for disabled children, but only if they wish to receive certain Federal education grant funds. In other words, these mandates escape UMRA's scrutiny because current law doesn't define this type of cost shifting as a ``mandate.'' My bill closes this loophole. The landmark Supreme Court decision, the National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, hinged, in part, on this very issue. Although the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion was not technically considered a ``mandate'' under UMRA, it required States to dramatically expand the program or risk losing all funding. For this reason, the Supreme Court ultimately deemed this provision unconstitutional. Justice Roberts wrote that this portion of the Affordable Care Act violated the Constitution because: Congress has no authority to order the States to regulate according to its instructions. Congress may offer the States grants and require the States to comply with accompanying conditions, but the States must have a genuine choice whether to accept the offer. The States were given no such choice in this case. They must either accept a basic change in the nature of Medicaid or risk losing all Medicaid funding. In this way, the Affordable Care Act provides a contemporary, salient case study in how important it is for legislators and the public to have access to critical information concerning the costs of Federal decrees. My bill will put this important information in the hands of Congress and the American people. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. With that, I would be prepared to close if the gentleman from Florida is prepared, and I reserve the balance of my time.