Tom Graves

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, my intention would be to withdraw the amendment. But let me just close with this and say that, as we debate the various policies within this bill, it is very important to note that there are areas such as this in which I hear the other side talk about the importance of food being provided for our citizens all across the country. I don't disagree with them at all. I think that's very important. So, therefore, why would we, as a House, stand to incentivize those who are producing nearly half of the corn that could be going to the food supply of our great Nation, but incentivize half the corn, almost, in our Nation rather for fuel instead of food? I look forward to continuing this debate, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time and withdraw my amendment.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to say it is time to pull ObamaCare out root by root. We all know that it increases premiums and squeezes the family budget. We know that it does not let you keep the plan that you have today. We all know that ObamaCare is crushing jobs and forcing many parents who have full-time jobs today into tomorrow's part-time jobs. And now we have some new information as we prepare to vote. The chief enforcers of this law, the IRS, have been outed as partisan political operatives. They've harassed, bullied, and suppressed the political opponents of the Obama administration. And now they want to be in charge of our health care? Give me a break. I don't think so. Members, this is your chance. This is your chance to weigh in on the IRS scandal. A vote to repeal is a vote to stop the IRS, but voting to keep ObamaCare is a vote to empower the IRS as the health care police of the United States. The choice is easy. Vote to take power away from the IRS, not to give them more.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the IRS for targeting Americans because of their political beliefs. What is clear is that the IRS has violated the public trust in a serious and disturbing way. It's sickening to learn that the IRS not only targeted Tea Party conservative groups but also groups that criticized the government or even taught the United States Constitution. The United States is a beacon of hope and freedom for the oppressed all across the world, but the coordinated suppression of President Obama's political opponents undermines who we are and what we stand for. Mr. Speaker, who gave the orders to target Americans who disagree with this administration? Who gave the orders? The American people deserve to know, and our Republic depends on us finding out that answer. I represent a lot of Georgians who are sick and tired of the IRS targeting them. It is time for this House, the people's House, to instead now target the IRS. We must find the full truth and we cannot stop until we have full accountability.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a great American, a dedicated small business owner in the North Georgia town of Ellijay. Who is often spotted with a yellow suit, an American flag tie, and tophat. He is a true advocate for low taxes and less government, and is always sure to voice his opinions about candidates for political office. Col. Poole and his lovely wife Edna founded Poole's Bar-B-Q . . . known in some circles as the ``TAJ-MA-HOG''. . . which rests in the shadow of the ``Pig-Hill-of-Fame'' adorned with plywood cutout hogs with patron's names painted on them. In order to qualify for a pig on the hill, he has stated that all you need is, ``an honest face, good intentions, and five dollars.'' Next Monday, April 29, this fine patriot will turn 83 years old--so today I wanted to take a minute to say--``Oscar, from all the way in Washington, DC--I want to wish you a very happy birthday!''

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, we're here today to head off at the pass President Obama's and the administration's attempt to gut the welfare reform work requirements. Americans don't want something for nothing. Americans want to work. Why? Because it's the American way. But this issue is bigger than welfare. It's a skirmish in a war over America's future, the direction we're going in. Now, under this President's watch just here in the last, what, 3\1/2\ years, the number of able-bodied adults receiving food stamps has doubled. The Federal debt is up by $5 trillion, spending on welfare up 41 percent. More debt and greater dependency. It's the wrong vision for America. Now, what's happened here in the last several years--I guess the last 3 years--is opportunity has diminished. There's a clear choice right now, Mr. Speaker. It's a choice between two futures. We can continue down this path of debt and dependency, or we can choose a different path, and that's one of opportunity and prosperity. So I thank the gentleman for bringing this bill forward because the choice before America is very clear, and we choose opportunity and prosperity for every American.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 539, on the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 3803), I am not recorded. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a group of colleagues of mine to speak in contrast to what we just heard. It is shocking to me, not only the news of today and the continuation of the overreach of the Federal Government, but to hear colleagues on the other side of the aisle who are advocating for the Progressive Caucus, the progressive movement in this Nation celebrating, truly celebrating the Supreme Court ruling of today which allows the Federal Government to continue reaching into the homes of American families all across this country in a way that has never been done before, and granted so much more taxing power that has never been granted before, and yet they celebrate. And they used a lot of different terms, like ``charting the new course.'' That was a phrase that was used by the Progressive Caucus here just a moment ago--charting the new course. One has to wonder: What is this new course? It has been a course that the progressive movement has been on now for nearly a century; and today they are celebrating that course continuing to be charted, and that is a course of more government and less liberty. And that is what this decision was all about today. It was about empowering government and not empowering the American people. It is about creating more government and less liberty. That's what the decision reflected today. I am joined today by many good friends here in the House of Representatives who are on the side of liberty. They're on the side of the American taxpayers, and they're on the side of the private sector. They believe in free markets and capitalism and profits and success and dreaming, and they don't think that the Federal Government has to get in the way of any of that. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) to get his insights on today's decisions.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for your inspirational remarks reflecting back on the history of this country and the great leaders and the Founders and the principles which this Nation was based upon. While the erosion continues--and we've seen more of it even today with the ruling--the resolve is even stronger. So to those that may be listening or watching, you can know that there is a group of Members in the House of Representatives that are not going to let up, that are going to be fully resolved to repealing ObamaCare in its entirety, pulling it out, each and every root of this legislation, and empowering the people and not empowering government. Because, why? Because this is not a government of the Court, by the Court, or for the Court. This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and I am convinced that the people will have their voice heard in the next few months. So as we heard from the progressives earlier in their continued march down this new chartered course of more government and less liberty, we are thankfully joined tonight by a great friend of liberty and a great advocate of liberty, and that is Louis Gohmert from Texas. I'd like to yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Texas for walking us through the opinion. I hope all those who are viewing this understand that this is about a tax now. This is a new taxing authority, in essence, a broadening of the taxing authority. As Mr. Gohmert brought up, this is unheard of. We will now have a Federal Government that can do whatever it wants to do through taxation. In just thinking about the difference between ``tax'' and ``penalty,'' I guess one way to find out is, who do you send the check to, right? I mean, where is the bill coming from? I imagine it's going to be from the Internal Revenue Service. I remember being on the Appropriations Committee and having the IRS before us. It was wanting hundreds of millions of more dollars to hire more people for the implementation of ObamaCare, and now we all know why, and we know what that agency or that department collects. So here is the crux of the decision today: While the Court might have said, well, the Federal Government can't tell you what to do, they can sure as heck punish you through taxes if you don't do what they want you to do, which is to be followed up here by my friend from Kansas (Mr. Huelskamp) who has got some great insight. Thank you for joining us.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Kansas for your words. Regarding unintended consequences, I can tell you there are going to be an amazing amount of unintended consequences with the Affordable Care Act, which I'm not sure that we can call it that anymore. I think it's more like the Limited Care Act. It's the Very Expensive Care Act. For the Progressives that were here earlier--and I know many folks listened to them--they were celebrating. They were excited. They were happy, gleeful; whereas, we're lamenting but resolved to do away with this once and for all. Why would they be gleeful? Because it's their movement. That's what they've been trying to do now for almost 100 years, and that is increase the size of government, get it into the lives of the American people, dictate their behavior, and limit freedom. I read recently that part of their agenda is to divorce the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. But to use one and to prop up on that one so they can almost sort of claim that they are for the founding of this Nation--and we heard earlier when they used the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They were celebrating that this was the right bill to be in law because of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If you can claim that with this legislation, there are no bounds in which you can go with this Federal Government, there are no limits. As the gentleman from Kansas just raised, this is clearly not about health care. This is about freedom, and this is about liberty and preserving it for future generations. I would like to yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Landry).

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana. You brought up one major component of all this legislation. I remember in one of the State of the Unions, the President said, We need tax reform. Tax reform. I think he got tax reform in this law. What did you say? Twenty-one new taxes are being implemented because of ObamaCare? There are 21 new taxes, and yet the Progressives earlier said, No, this is great for America. Free health care. Affordable health care. No one has to pay. They'll actually get credits back. Somebody's got to pay. That's the way this place works. Whenever they're promising you something, they're taking from someone else. And you just laid out 21 different areas that impact every American that the President promised he wouldn't raise taxes on. So I appreciate you doing that. And next, the other component of it is, what's left? What really was in this health care law, this Big Government expansion, this overreach into the homes of American families? A tremendous amount is left. I know Dr. Price from Georgia has been leading the fight not only against this measure, but for positive patient-centered and patient- driven measures as well. And I want to thank you for joining us and sharing with us.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Georgia. Not only are you a physician--you are not here speaking on behalf of physicians. You are here speaking on behalf of patients all across this country and defending them. And I appreciate the great fight that you are putting on and the resolve that you have for each of us, as you are leading us here as Republicans here in the House. As we go into the last 5 minutes here with the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop), he brought up the government right now taxes us on what we do or consume, but this is a first in which the government can now tax you on what you don't do. That's an amazing concept. I hadn't really thought of it that way until Mr. Price brought it up. So now the Federal Government has moved into a realm which has never been here before, saying, Hey, because you're not doing something, I'm going to tax you. So I'm going to determine what it is that you should be doing that you are not doing so, therefore, I can collect a little revenue. And here we are today with something such as this. As we are just wrapping up this spirited discussion here, earlier, Mr. Bishop, you heard the Progressives celebrating this decision today. What were they celebrating? The Federal Government can tax you if you do something. But today's celebration was the fact that the Federal Government can tax you when you don't do something. I appreciate you joining us tonight and giving your thoughts from the great State of Utah.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Thank you for your comments tonight and your great insight and reflecting back on early documents and early words that have been shared. Mr. Speaker, as we conclude tonight, I want the American people to know that we are resolved to restore the liberty that was lost today through the full repeal of ObamaCare. That will be our focus as Republicans in the House. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Speaker, in 2009, the Obama administration said that unemployment would never reach 8 percent if the stimulus was approved. Well, it was. And 3 years later and $1.2 trillion in spending, unemployment has remained above 8 percent for 40 consecutive months, the longest span since the Great Depression. Even more alarming is that the 8 percent doesn't illustrate how grim the situation really is. More than 500,000 more Americans are out of work today than they were when President Obama took office in 2009, and the percentage of Americans working is at a 30-year low. Unemployment would be even higher if it were not for the grit and the resolve of the American people themselves. With these numbers, it's clear that President Obama's agenda has failed, and it's making the economy worse. House Republicans have a plan. They have a plan for America's job creators to help turn this economy around. It's time for the President and it's time for the Senate Democrats to stop blocking jobs for Americans and to join us in helping get Americans back to work.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jacob William Ward. Jacob is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 412, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Jacob has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jacob has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Jacob has earned distinction of becoming a Fire Builder in the Tribe of Mic-O- Say. He is a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow and has served his troop as Senior Patrol Leader, Junior Assistant Scout Master and Troop Guide. Jacob has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Jacob constructed, built and placed benches along the walking trails at Smithville Lake so that his community can enjoy Smithville Lake and the surrounding wildlife. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jacob William Ward for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, tonight we're going to have a conversation that I think impacts Americans all across this country, and it's about small businesses, and what has this Congress been doing, what has the President been doing or promoting, and how is it impacting small businesses. I am going to be joined tonight by some great, great colleagues and champions of small business to talk about what are some of the solutions, what can we be doing here in Washington, not creating more government, not spending more money, but what can we be doing to create an environment that is conducive for business development and for our small business owners. When I think about the greatness of America, we can list so many items and characteristics of this great Nation, and one of those would have to be small businesses--taking a simple idea in a free market system and taking it to the consumer and growing a business. And we hear a lot from the administration. They say, businesses are too big. Yet, they need to be smaller. For small businesses, you guys are going too fast, too far. You need to slow down. When, in fact, it should be just the opposite. We should be encouraging small businesses to do more, to grow faster, to invest in their employees. There is no big business in this Nation that did not first start out as a small business. And I would contend that tonight, Mr. Speaker, that there are small business owners all across this Nation, here even in the eastern time zone, that have yet to have gone home because they're still working. They get up each and every day, putting on their boots, chasing that dream, that idea that they have, and turning it into a business or a concept and chasing that American Dream, to realize that American Dream. So, to all those small business owners across this great Nation, I want to say thank you. I want to say thank you for your hard work, for pushing against the burdens that come from the Federal Government, the high gas prices, the regulatory environment, this crazy Tax Code that we have, and say don't give up. We are here with you tonight, and we're going to be speaking on your behalf tonight. I have been joined by some Members from all across this country who are going to talk about small business and concepts that we can be promoting here in Washington to help the small business owner to promote an environment in which small businesses can flourish, not creating more government. Before I do that, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to read a letter. I think it's important to share correspondence from our constituents. This comes from Mark, who is in Cumming, Georgia. He says: Congressman Graves, I just wanted to let you know that I am a business owner in Cumming, and I'm tired of all my hard work going to pay taxes which the Federal Government squanders--Federal income tax, State income tax, property tax, sales tax. We are all taxed to death, and apparently, the tax system we have in place now is not working or we wouldn't be so far in debt. So I am strongly in favor of passing the Fair Tax. I believe this system is not only much more equitable, but it eliminates loopholes. It is a much simpler and fairer way to raise revenue. That won't solve the mismanagement of our taxes by government, but at least it will allow us to keep more of the money that we earn. Please vote for it. Thank you. Mark, I'm happy to tell you, not only will I vote for it, but I'm a cosponsor of it. Next up to speak on the Fair Tax is the sponsor of the Fair Tax himself, and that's Congressman Woodall from the great State of Georgia. Congressman Woodall, share with us a little bit about the Fair Tax, about how it impacts small businesses and how it would help them.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank you for your leadership on that. I see we've been joined here by the chairman of Rules, the gentleman from California. Mr. Chairman, thank you for joining us.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for sharing that with us. You're right, you talk about small business owners. They're going to work extremely hard. They get up early every day. They work late every night. They're going to pay their fair share. They just want to know it's being handled properly and that it's being fairly collected. Mr. Woodall, I hear criticisms every now and then about the Fair Tax. I'm a cosponsor of it. I hear criticisms here and there. They say, Well, this will impact one group more than another. How can something called the ``Fair Tax'' not be fair to everyone? How do you refute that when they come up with the criticisms to the Fair Tax? Actually, I guess, when they're criticizing the Fair Tax, they're defending the current Tax Code and the 60,000 pages of mess that we currently have and the loopholes and the corporate welfare. They must be defending that. So how do you respond to the criticisms that you hear?

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Thank you, Chairman Jordan. You're absolutely right about small business owners. They don't want equal outcomes; they just want equal opportunity. That's what it's all about. That is the American Dream. That's American exceptionalism. Just give me a chance and I will beat the next guy, the next Nation. We are more competitive. And when we have that more competitive advantage and it's a level playing field, we will win every time. That is the spirit of the small business owner. Speaking of spirit and small business owner, we have joining us also tonight, Jeff Landry from Louisiana. I thank you for joining us, and I look forward to hearing your insight.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Thank you. I hope you'll stick around. In a minute, I'm going to yield to the gentleman from Ohio. Just to make clear, I mean, the Fair Tax is not an additional tax; it's not something that is added on, a layer. It's actually eliminating income tax, eliminating corporate income tax, eliminating capital gains tax, dividend tax, death tax. It's eliminating all of that. It's throwing it all out. I guess it's eliminating the Internal Revenue Service for some part and in a great way, and I think there would be a lot of Americans across the country applauding on that day if that were to ever occur. Also with us tonight is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, Congressman Jim Jordan from Ohio, a great leader on conservative principles, a great mind when it comes to policy, and I know a great advocate for tax reform. Regardless of fair or flat or whatever it is, it's about empowering the taxpayer and not empowering the government.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for sharing his insight tonight, and you're absolutely right. You brought us some great points about small business owners. They do all the things they do that the government never does: They get up every day early; they work hard and long; they know how to balance budgets; they pay paychecks; they pay their taxes. They have to every day be held accountable by the consumer with their goods. Is it meeting the demands of the consumer? Is the customer service there? Every day they're held accountable, and every day they get up with that desire and that drive to produce a better product, a better good and provide a better service. What a great tribute to the small business owners across America. With that, I'd like to shift over to Mr. Hanna from New York, who is going to share with us about small businesses in his region. I want to thank you for joining us and appreciate your leadership on this issue.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from New York. I appreciate your plea there. Let's get government out of the way. Let's let small business owners do what they do best, and that is dream big and work hard. Next to share with us is Mr. Bartlett from Maryland. Thank you.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Thank you. I appreciate your words there. As I wrap up this segment that we have here this evening, I just want to say thank you to the small business owners across America. You have heard great reports from Members of Congress who are with you, who are fighting with you and fighting for you. We just want to thank you, because every day you're getting up and you're going against some of the greatest pressures and the greatest burdens that a government could ever place on you, but you don't give up. You get up each day. You put the boots on. You go out and you work hard. You take that dream, that idea, that concept, and you build it into reality, and you are building jobs and you are providing for other families. We want to thank you for that. While the optimism index is getting lower, the misery index is getting higher. I'm here to tell you Americans have not given up. Small business owners have not given up. In fact, statistics show that if just one out of two businesses across this Nation hire one person in the next 12 months, unemployment would be near zero. That's how close we are, because small business owners haven't given up. I want to thank you for that. I want to applaud you for that. Keep up the great fight. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Chair, these are serious times. We're hearing a lot of rhetoric here today. We've got some revisionist history. There's a lack of recollection that in 2006 and 2007 this body was in control by the Democrats, the Senate was controlled by the Democrats, and then the President inherited a mess from the Democrats that were in control of these bodies, of which he was a part. A little bit of revisionist history going on here today. But the fact that the Members on the other side can stand here and look into these cameras, into the faces of the children all across this Nation and not provide them a solution is appalling. Every time it is: let's push it off, let's push it off further. We have no plan to balance the budget, we have no plan to pay off the debt, but we have a balanced approach to continue down the same path. Now, a balanced approach, that's like straddling the fence: it gets you nowhere, and at some point you're going to fall off this fence, and it's going to hurt. Today, we have the opportunity to reverse this trend of trillion- dollar deficits and balance the budget in 5 years. Today, we will decide whether to stop borrowing from the future to pay for the present. This budget presents a path to the balanced budget without raising taxes. It eliminates the death tax; it unlocks America's energy sources. This budget unleashes the power and ingenuity of America's job creators and addresses the entitlement elephant that is this impending path of insolvency that lays before us. In 6 years, Madam Chair, we will begin paying down the debt with this budget that's before us. So we should no longer accept the Democrats' and President Obama's decision to take us down this road to ruin, because we have a choice. It's a choice between two destinies: it's a destiny of debt and dependency--the wrong path--or it's the choice of a different path. Maybe it's one of opportunity and prosperity, Madam Chair. I say we choose the path of opportunity and prosperity. This budget--the budget I refer to not as the RSC budget, but as America's budget--will put us on that path to prosperity and opportunity. Madam Chair, I encourage every Member of this body, regardless of party, to support this budget because it is the children who are looking out on us today, looking for that solution, looking for a positive answer, and looking for us to work together. This is that opportunity.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the Budget Committee. He's done a fantastic job. And to the gentleman from Maryland, I know it's been difficult this week, you've stood in a difficult position, and now you're presenting your budget, and you've been in opposition to many of the budgets put forward, including the President's last night, and I know it's tough. What we're addressing here right now, Mr. Chairman, I think, is a lot of numbers, a lot of charts and a lot of rhetoric. We hear that. But what we know is that Washington has not been forthright with the American people. For far too long, the top has been getting the bailout, the bottom has been getting a handout, and now who's going to get stuck with the bill? It's our kids. That's who's going to get stuck with the bill. So why can't we, for once, instead of looking at the charts and numbers and throwing it all out there, just look through the lens of how will this budget impact our children and their future, their opportunity and their prosperity? Is this a budget that presents equal outcomes? Or is it going to be one that presents equal opportunities? Can we not look through that lens, for once, Mr. Chairman? I would say that the budget that the gentleman has put forward is one more about equal outcomes. It's more taxes, it's more government, and it's more government solutions. Do you know what? Why don't we provide more opportunities and more prosperity for the children of the next generation? That's the lens that I believe we should be looking through. And this is why: because whether we believe it or not, whether we're willing to recognize it, we are scribes of time right now. History is being written based on the discussions, the outcome and the debate that we have. We are the ones who are determining what history will reflect back on and say we did at this time and what the future exists like later. What will we choose? What will we write? Will this be the chapter that concludes with the words ``the end,'' or will we write a chapter that we can turn the page and hand the pens off to the next generation? Mr. Chairman, it is my hope that we take our pen and that we pass it to the next generation, that we can turn the page, that we can move forward, and that we can provide a new chapter and a new beginning, one that is a beginning that leads to another future of opportunity and prosperity. I believe that only happens if we pass the Republican budget that we have before us today.