Phil Gingrey

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Again, we are getting back to that issue, Mr. Speaker, of not even having an intention to pass a budget. And I thank the gentleman from Missouri for bringing that point out, that this is the first time at least since 1974. The Congressional Research Service is very accurate in the information they present the Members of Congress. I was thinking about--it's been in the news so much, Mr. Speaker--the Euro zone. Those countries of the European Union, 27 of them--I guess maybe 23 or 24 are members of the Euro zone. They have that common currency. And the crisis that's going on there in regard to, the acronym is PIIGS, but it stands for the countries of Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain. I'm forgetting one ``I.'' But in any regard, Greece got this massive bailout of something like $140 billion, and the Euro zone from the International Monetary Fund with them pledged, I think, another $750 billion worth of bailout because these countries that constitute that acronym PIIGS, their debt ratio to their gross domestic product is so high. Well, look in your own eye. Don't curse the speck in somebody else's eye when you have a plank in your own, as the Bible says. But that's essentially what we are doing, the United States of America. That's what we are doing. Our debt to GDP is what, my colleagues? You can tell me. But it's close to 90 percent, and by 2020, it will be well over 100 percent, if not 150 percent. I will yield back to let you all discuss that.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. If the gentleman will yield, this slide, Mr. Speaker, the one that's currently on the easel, is labeled--for our colleagues if you can't see that--``Close Job Killers,'' and it has the different bullet points. I think, Mr. Speaker, that the third bullet point, ``Economic Uncertainty,'' may be one of the most important reasons the situation is so bad in our country right now. The gentleman from Missouri referenced kids in New Jersey, in my State of Georgia, and in his State of Missouri who are creating lemonade stands, who are making lemonade. Certainly, the ingenuity of the American people is such that, over the 230-year history of this country, we have made a lot of lemonade-- despite being hit with a lot of lemons. Yet that, too, has its limits. When you have excessive taxation, when you have insufficient liquidity, when you have, yes, economic uncertainty, like we have never had in probably 25 years, and when you have red tape and government mandates, you can just make so much lemonade. That's the problem, and it goes back to the slide earlier of the bull in the china shop approach. Now here, this weekend, all of a sudden, after the President, Mr. Speaker, meets with our Republican leader, Leader Boehner, and with Leader Hoyer, they're talking about what we can do to cut down on the excessive spending and on all these deficits, the debt. Lo and behold, on Saturday night, out of the blue, having not discussed that on Thursday in the presence of the leaders of this body, President Obama now says we want $50 billion more, a mini-stimulus if you will, from this Congress in order to shovel it to the States on a temporary basis so we can keep teachers and public defenders and firefighters and all these folks on the job. Yet for how much longer? Then when you pull away and when you spend all of that $50 billion, who is it on the backs of? Once again, it's on the backs of the States that have to balance their budgets. It is fiscally totally irresponsible.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Calhoun Yellow Jackets for defeating Cook County High by a score of 8-2 in the deciding game to win the 2010 AA Georgia State baseball tournament. The Yellow Jackets clinched the series in game three with excellent pitching and three home runs. I would especially like to recognize Manager Chip Henderson and the Calhoun coaching staff for leading the Yellow Jackets to a remarkable 35-1 record this season. Calhoun, Georgia, truly had a remarkable season, Mr. Speaker, dominating their opponents by scoring, believe this, 376 runs in just 33 games this season. That's an average of over 10 runs per game, Mr. Speaker. I am extremely proud to represent Gordon County and Calhoun, Georgia, in the 11th Congressional District, and I couldn't be prouder of the Calhoun Yellow Jackets for capturing their fourth State championship title. Congratulations, Calhoun. Best of luck to all of the seniors who are graduating this year.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, after 49 years of dedicated service to the Marietta community, Coach Kenneth Carter is retiring from his position with the Physical Education and Health Department and as a tennis coach for Marietta High School. Coach Carter has been a dedicated educator and a role model for sports teams in the Marietta school district for as long as I can remember. He has coached football, basketball, track, and, most memorably, tennis, where he had a record of 16 consecutive wins, one State championship, and nine region championships. He received the Georgia Tennis Coach of the Year award and also was inducted with the 1985 tennis team into the Marietta High School Hall of Fame. Prior to his career with Marietta City Schools, Ken Carter worked for the Atlanta YMCA, teaching and training children. He drove a bus back and forth from the Y, making sure that underprivileged kids had access to the facility. Coach Carter has always said that behavior is the number-one problem with youths, and the training he gave at the YMCA taught kids how to be both good athletes and good people. It was here that Coach Carter met the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. King went to the YMCA often to swim, and Carter would listen to his stories about civil rights issues. Coach Carter says working with King was a source of personal inspiration and many life lessons. Coach Carter has also been very active with his church and served as the superintendent of Sunday School for 22 years. His dedication and selfless attitude are well-known, as Coach Carter has been recognized as the Outstanding Man of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and has also received an Outstanding Service Award. Congratulations, Coach Carter, on your retirement, and thank you for everything you have given to Marietta's school system.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Aquinas High School baseball team for reaching their first-ever Class A State Championship series. I am a proud graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas in Augusta, Georgia, and I played on the baseball team under Coach Denny Leonard, so I was particularly thrilled to hear of the success that they enjoyed this season. Coach Mike Laney did a terrific job getting his team to the championship. Aquinas surpassed all expectations. They were not forecasted to make it past the second round of the tournament, so I know Coach Laney must be especially proud with the team's march to the State finals. The Fighting Irish took down Walker in a competitive three-game semifinal series and then advanced to the championship to face Wesleyan, the defending State champions. They gave it all they had, but unfortunately, they came up a little short. Nevertheless, Aquinas has a very young team, so there is not a doubt in my mind that they will be back next year--even stronger and more competitive. Congratulations on your hard work, accomplishments, and great season. Go, Irish.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I'd like to take a minute to remember all of our heroic soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who have given their lives while fighting for our Nation's freedom. Their patriotism and bravery are the foundation of our Nation's history and I am honored to pay tribute to them in front of the United States Congress for Memorial Day. I'd especially like to call attention to the women who have stepped forward and put their lives on the line for our country throughout the decades. Women began taking part in our armed forces nearly 220 years ago, and they have been serving courageously, selflessly, and with perseverance ever since. Their service went unrecognized for far too long, but in 1997, a Women's Veterans Memorial was established in Washington to honor these great American heroes. Likewise, I honor the impact our women veterans have had on our Nation and our freedom through their dedication and sacrifice. My District, the 11th to District of Georgia, is home to many Servicewomen of the United States Armed Forces--both active duty and retired. I am extraordinarily proud of and grateful for these brave American women on this Memorial Day--and every other day.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Polis/Langevin/Cohen amendment that has been included in the En Bloc amendment No. 4. Unfortunately--despite what proponents of this amendment are saying--I do not believe that this amendment does anything to alleviate the draconian problems of section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Even if this amendment passes, Americans will still not be able to increase the supply of fuels from alternative sources derived from resources available in the United States. Oil shale will remain trapped in rock, and we will not be able to use clean carbon captured coal-to- liquid for fuel. The amendment intends to create an exception under section 526 for generally available fuel not predominately produced from a nonconventional petroleum source, and all federal agencies--including DoD--will still be able to purchase Canadian fuels with traces of oil sands that may create more of a carbon footprint than completely conventional fuel. However, I am concerned that ``predominantly from a nonconventional source'' is not defined in this amendment. This stipulation could expose gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel produced from crude oil--with significant components of oil sands--to the prohibition in section 526. Mr. Chairman, even under the provisions of this amendment, DoD--as well as every other federal agency--won't be able to utilize any of the sources of fuel that may be totally derived from clean domestic alternatives we have readily available. This is precisely why I offered an amendment to the Rules committee on this bill; to provide a waiver to the Secretary of Defense to be freed from the handcuffs of section 526. I support a full repeal of section 526 because the cost of refined product for DoD has increased by over 500 percent in the last ten years when volume only increased by 30 percent. I offered my amendment--that was rejected by House Democrats--as a middle ground to not stifle domestic energy innovation and to save taxpayer dollars. Mr. Chairman, I fear that this amendment does nothing to rectify the underlying problem with section 526 that prevents the Federal Government from utilizing domestic resources to reduce fuel costs, so I must oppose this amendment and ask all my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this rule. Yesterday I testified in front of the Rules Committee on five amendments I offered to this National Defense Authorization Act. Unfortunately, House Democrats refused to allow any of my commonsense amendments to be debated today on the floor. And I am sure they were germane, Mr. Speaker--things such as regarding the transfer of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, the use of alternative sources of fuel at DOD, excessive union activity on official time at the Department of Defense, and gun rights for the 40,000 active and reserve members of our military who reside in Washington, D.C. However, the Rules Committee did make in order an amendment with which I have strong reservations. Today should be about what is best for the defense of our Nation and what is best for our brave men and women in uniform. However, it is clear that today, Mr. Speaker, many in this body intend to use our military as a means to placate a liberal political constituency, rather than taking the time to weigh the input of 2.5 million men and women and their families who wear the uniform, including the family of Lieutenant Tyler Brown, who gave his life for his country in Iraq almost 6 years ago. Today would be his 32nd birthday. Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense have asked Congress to delay voting on Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal until the completion of a study on the impact of the repeal and the best ways to implement it. Simply put, we must know what impact repeal of the law will have on unit cohesion, readiness, recruiting, and retention. But, unfortunately, rather than wait for the results, Mr. Speaker, our Democratic colleagues want to prejudge its conclusions and substitute their judgment for the collective findings of our military. This is without question the wrong way to legislate, but it is what the American people have come to expect from this Democratic majority. It wasn't long ago that Speaker Pelosi told the American people that they would learn what was in the health care bill once it was passed. Now liberals in Congress are once again selling the American people this same bill of goods, Congress must act without fully knowing what the impact of acting will be. The stakes are indeed high, Mr. Speaker. By ignoring the opinion of the military and their families, the majority will alienate the very institution that is fighting on the front lines of this global war on terror. General George Casey, the Army Chief of Staff, has ``serious concerns about the impact of the repeal of the law on a force that is fully engaged in two wars and has been at war for 8\1/2\ years.'' Similar concerns have been noted by every other service chief, by the American Legion, by over 1,500 retired general flag and general staff officers, and countless others. Clearly the Democrats believe they know better. The American people want to trust their government, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. The American people want to trust their government, Mr. Speaker, but the repeated bait-and-switch tactics of congressional liberals is making that virtually impossible. So I urge my colleagues, vote against this rush to judgment.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Washington just isn't listening to what the American people want. Take a look at our state of affairs. Our national unemployment rate is close to 10 percent. We have almost $13 trillion in debt, and our budget deficit for this fiscal year 2010 is projected to be $1.8 trillion. And Americans keep on asking, where are the jobs? Indeed, where are the jobs? Mr. Speaker, Republicans stand ready to get spending under control and to pass legislation that does create jobs. Yet the Democratic majority refuses to move forward with even the first order of business in getting our fiscal House in order, and that business is passing a budget. Foregoing a budget resolution this year would be a failure of one of our most basic responsibilities and the first time that that's happened since the current budget rules were put in place back in 1974. Mr. Speaker, we need to rein in Federal spending this year, and the first step in that process is passing a fiscally responsible budget, and I urge my Democratic colleagues to do just that.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I would now like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), the ranking member.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, may I ask how much time I have remaining.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, ultimately, I believe this amendment will help promote education through collaborative research partnerships among universities, and it will provide training tools for undergraduate and graduate students in green chemistry technology. I want to thank my colleague from the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Welch, for his support and leadership on the issue, and I would also like to thank the American Chemical Society for its endorsement of this amendment. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to commend both Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon and Ranking Member Hall on their leadership on green chemistry and their willingness to work with us on this particular amendment. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and green chemistry promises a ton of pollution prevention. Again, Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to support this important amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Chairman, the amendment that I am offering today stems from legislation, the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act, that has passed out of the House in each of the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses. Unfortunately, despite the strong bipartisan support that this legislation has garnered under suspension of the rules, this legislation has been stalled by our colleagues in the Senate. Therefore, in order to move this initiative forward, I am offering it as an amendment with my colleague from Vermont (Mr. Welch) to the National Science Foundation title of H.R. 5116. This amendment would establish a Green Chemistry Basic Research program to encourage universities and academic institutions around the country to train future workers in green chemistry technology. Mr. Chairman, as a graduate of Georgia Tech with a bachelor of science in chemistry, I know that chemists can design chemicals to be safe, just as they can design them to have other properties, like color and texture. As chemists design products and the processes by which these products are manufactured, they can and they should factor in the possible creation of any hazardous byproducts. This technique of considering not only the process in which chemicals are produced but also the environment in which they are created is the basic definition of what we call green chemistry. It is the method of designing chemical products and processes that at the very least reduce, and at the very best, eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Mr. Chairman, the basic idea is this. Preventing pollution and hazardous waste from the start of a design process is far preferable to cleaning up that pollution and waste at a later date. Green chemistry does not just help protect our environment, it also helps protect our workers. The conditions under which chemicals are created and used can present many risks to those who work on their production. I would urge all my colleagues to support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order by the rule.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I thank my friend from Utah for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud supporter of House Resolution 1295, celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day. Mothers are the foundation of the family, and their care and love of children have and continue to nurture the future leaders of this great Nation. Each day I am overwhelmed by the wonderful mothers in my own life, in my family, all the way from my mom to my wife to my daughters, which represents three generations of commitment to strong families and successful youth. These women, and so many like them, are the backbone of America. Madam Speaker, today I thank my mother for instilling in my brothers and me the hard work, good education, personal responsibility, respect for the diversity of others, love of family and country, but, most importantly, love of God. I must also take a moment to honor my wife for her undying love and devotion to our four children and now, as of Monday, 10 grandchildren. My wife, Billie, has and forever will be an example for all mothers on how to raise a strong and beautiful family. I'm proud of all mothers in the 11th District of Georgia who are dedicated to family values and compassion for their children. While passing on the ideals and strength that they have instilled into each child they rear, America's mothers are responsible for raising the next generation of mature adults. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, as I know they will, honoring all blessed mothers for their commitment to protecting our Nation's greatest treasure--the American family.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor one of the greatest managers in the history of major league baseball, Bobby Cox, the manager of my hometown team, the Atlanta Braves. He is an icon in the managing profession, and after giving selflessly to the Braves for over 25 years, I want to congratulate him on his retirement at the end of this season. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that he is my constituent in the 11th Congressional District of northwest Georgia. A lifetime man of the game, Bobby played in both the minor and major leagues for 12 years. At the age of 30, he retired as a player and launched a coaching career which will go down in history as one of the best in the game. Bobby's first coaching job allowed him to manage the Braves, but he left Atlanta in 1982 to work with the Toronto Blue Jays. Bobby realized success quickly in Toronto as he led the Blue Jays to the American League East Crown in 1985. For these efforts, he was named Major League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America, the Associated Press and the Sporting News. After his winning seasons in Toronto, Bobby returned to Georgia to work with the Braves again in 1985, this time as general manager. It was then that he began creating a baseball empire, by restructuring the team from the farm system up through the major leagues. In the 1990s, he was back in the dugout as manager of the Braves, and he led them to five National League pennants, one World Series Championship, and 14 consecutive division titles. He was named Manager of the Year once again, and to this day he is still the only coach to win Manager of the Year in both the American and the National Leagues. Bobby has won over 2,000 games and is the all-time winningest coach in Braves history. Bobby has made a name for himself amongst his players by being a true ``players'' coach and always going to bat for his team and his players. That passion and love for the game have earned him another distinction, Mr. Speaker: The all-time record for the most ejections from the game. Mr. Speaker, Bobby's skills, dedication, and attitude will be missed in both the Braves dugout and also in the stadiums wherever the Braves have played. He will continue to assist the organization by advising the minor league teams in the Atlanta area. Bobby's imprint on the Atlanta Braves organization will undoubtedly be remembered and revered for years to come.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1213, a resolution supporting the ideals of National Lab Day. I would also like to commend the two principal sponsors of this legislation, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), for their continued leadership on the promotion of STEM education. And I want to join my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), and I too am a former member of the Science Committee, and I agree completely with her remarks on this issue. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, better known as STEM, education is instrumental to our ability to stay on the cutting edge of the global economy. Yet the United States is indeed falling behind the rest of the world in the number of students that are graduating from STEM fields. Mr. Speaker, according to a 2006 Association of American Universities study that is noted in the findings of H. Res. 1213, 33.3 percent of students in China receive their undergraduate degrees in engineering; in Singapore, that number is 39.1 percent; and 25.4 percent of South Korea's graduates fall into these fields. Unfortunately, the United States is lagging so far behind with a staggering 4.5 percent of graduates in engineering. In order for us to remain competitive in a global marketplace, it is imperative that we find ways to increase the number of students coming out of college with a degree in a STEM- related field. That means that we need to build the interest level within STEM education for students at all levels. Mr. Speaker, as a graduate of Georgia Tech with a degree in chemistry, STEM education is an issue that is near and dear to me, and I am very happy to see that this body consider in a bipartisan way a resolution that supports National Lab Day. This is a nationwide initiative that provides a forum for scientists to work directly with students in a hands-on learning experience. By allowing students the opportunity to collaborate with scientists in this way, National Lab Day can provide them with the tools to keep them engaged in STEM fields, with the hope that those students will pursue higher education opportunities and careers in these cutting-edge fields. During the 110th Congress, I believe our Nation took a very crucial step, due in large part to the leadership of Chairman Bart Gordon and Ranking Member Ralph Hall of the Science Committee, to address this issue in the America COMPETES Act, and that was passed in a bipartisan way in 2007 and signed into law by former President Bush. As the former ranking member of the Science Committee's Technology and Innovation Subcommittee, I was so proud to support that important legislation, which will make STEM education a priority both now and in the future.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. As we likely consider the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act next week, I hope this body will approach this legislation in the same manner. I urge all of my colleagues to support this great resolution, H. Res. 1213.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and of course I will yield the time back so the gentleman from Pennsylvania can continue to make his point. He is right on target in regard to what is happening in the States and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the great State of Georgia, we have one more day, tomorrow. We have a 40-day session, and tomorrow is the last day. They passed a budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins on July 1 in the State of Georgia, and it had to cut almost $1 billion. Now, that has been extremely painful, and I'm sure it's painful in the State of Pennsylvania. Though, I want to commend the Governor of the State of Georgia and my colleagues in the general assembly--a Republican majority in the House and Senate. Madam Speaker, they have made these tough cuts, and most States--I think 47 States in the Union--have this balanced budget requirement as part of their constitutions. If they can do it, why in the world are we sitting here with--what is it?--$12.8 trillion worth of debt and with a $700 billion deficit already in this current fiscal year? I hope my colleagues and anybody who might happen to be listening to us here tonight get what I'm trying to say. This is serious business, and we're not doing our job up here, quite honestly, and it embarrasses me. I yield back.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Will the gentleman yield for just a second?

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I think the truth is finally coming out. I guess it's kind of like what Speaker Pelosi said maybe a week or just a matter of days before the vote on ObamaCare. They finally did get that passed, as we all know, by deem-and-scheme and reconciliation and everything that you can think of. It barely passed. But her famous quote was, Well, we need to hurry up and do this so that the American people can find out what's in it. And, boy, was she prophetic. Nothing could be further from the truth--finally. And I think the gentleman from Missouri is absolutely right: now all of a sudden the true numbers coming out from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, are showing quite clearly that this pledge that the President, then-Senator Obama, made I guess back in as late as October of 2008 that if you like what you have you can keep it. Certainly, nothing could be further from the truth for those 11 million, I think, Medicare recipients who get their Medicare coverage under the Advantage Plan. That's cut 18 percent a year over the next 10 years, something like $150 billion. That plan is going to go away, certainly.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. That is the exact quote, and I thank him for having that. It is exactly what we all predicted on our side of the aisle, and that's why no Republicans could vote for this massive takeover of the health care system--a sixth of our economy. It's part of a grand scheme, of course, and that's why you see people all across this country who are upset, certainly not just Republicans, but Independents and the grass root activists, be they Tea Party patriots or the 9-12 Group or Freedom First or the Doctors for Patient Care. All of these folks have been coming to the people's House, to the Nation's Capitol, over the last year. They are the same folks who were turning out for the town hall meetings last August to whom the Democratic majority, Madam Speaker, just absolutely turned a deaf ear. They came back, and then all they did was change the name and the number of the bill. So I thank the gentleman for giving me an opportunity to weigh in as a physician Member. There are 10 M.D.'s on our side of the aisle. There have been 31 years of experience for me and many, many years of experience for my colleagues who practice medicine.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for asking. The answer is nada, a big zero. That is also true for the two Republican Senators, the only M.D.'s, in fact, in the Senate--Dr. Coburn and Dr. Barrasso. There is expertise that we had. In the House organization of the Doctors Caucus, of the GOP's Doctors Caucus, there are, in fact, 15 of us--10 are M.D.'s, and there are others who were health care providers in their professional lives. The unfortunate thing is that none of us got an opportunity to try to help. Even though we were knocking on that door, it was never opened. I yield back.