Tim Griffin

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I first would like to say I supported the America Invents Act, supported it in committee, and I've got great news for you and great news for me, and that is I don't see any evidence that the rules to which you referred would total $100 million in impact and meet that threshold. I just don't believe that's the case. So this amendment is unnecessary. Even if they do meet that threshold, there are several ways that they could be brought to Congress for approval. The amendment, like so many others offered here tonight, seeks to carve out one set of regulations while leaving all the other regulations under the bill. Surely folks have their favorite regulations that they want to save and defend, and like a number of other carve-out amendments, this one is just not necessary. Titles I and II of the bill, for example, already exempt regulations, as I indicated, that will not impose $100 million in cost on the economy. Surely the regulations this amendment seeks to protect, those that will streamline patent application processes, will save the economy money, not impose more cost. There is, thus, no need to worry that they will be affected by these titles of the bill. Meanwhile, title III of the bill imposes balanced improvements in transparency, public participation, and judicial review for regulatory consent decrees and settlements. It will not prevent the Patent and Trademark Office from settling regulatory suits by consent decree or settlement. For these reasons, I oppose the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. While I appreciate the passion of the gentleman from North Carolina, it doesn't change the fact that it's very unlikely that the impact on the economy would be $100 million or more. That has nothing to do with the sales of the company. It has to do with the impact of the regulation on the economy. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Madam Chair, this amendment would exempt regulations to implement ObamaCare, the President's health care law, from the regulatory freeze. Fear and uncertainty among job creators of the coming regulatory tidal wave to implement ObamaCare is certainly holding back our economic recovery. The Congressional Budget Office projects that ObamaCare will cost over $1.1 trillion. For American small businesses that are already struggling to stay afloat, this is a staggering burden. If you want to know what small businesses think about the bill that is before us, I will tell you that, in Arkansas, they support it, but they certainly do not support ObamaCare. I would also point out, Madam Chair, that the NFIB, the premier small business organization in America, supports the bill. It is estimated that ObamaCare will require nearly 160 new boards, bureaus, bureaucracies, and commissions. Overall, the Federal Government will issue, roughly, 10,000 pages of new regulations to implement the so- called ``health care reform.'' Yet this amendment would exempt these regulations from title I of the Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act. At a time when we should be working to repeal ObamaCare and to replace it with patient-centered health care reform, this amendment simply makes no sense. I would also point out, Madam Chair, that if there are regulations that the Obama administration wants to see proceed through the process, they can certainly send them to Congress and see if we will approve them. We can take a look at them, see if they make sense, see if they do what they intend, and see if it's right for the country. For these reasons, I oppose this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. As I have said with regard to the other amendments that we have discussed here tonight, Madam Chair, there are several exemptions in the bill, and there is also the waiver, as the gentleman from Virginia has discussed. Now, before I get to the waiver, I would like to point out that, unless I'm missing something, I think that the safety of peanut butter that I and my 2-year-old and my 4-year-old eat--I like crunchy; they like creamy--I think it's already regulated. And if it's not, we certainly make provision for that to happen. I, like the gentleman from Virginia, want to make sure people are protected. I happen to also be a veteran, and I certainly want to see veterans taken care of. I want to make it clear that our bill does not go back and repeal regulations that are finalized and in place. What it does is it says, let's take a deep breath; let's have a time-out; and let's allow the many small businesses and other job creators in this country an opportunity to catch up. We've heard a lot about small businesses tonight. And I will point out once again that the premier small business organization in this country is the NFIB, and they support the bill. Now, with regard to the gentleman from Virginia's amendment, the Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act will put a moratorium on unnecessary regulations that will cost the economy $100 million or more until the economy recovers. But even the administration admits that regulations can kill jobs and hinder economic growth, although this doesn't seem to have prevented them from issuing more and more of these most costly regulations. Title I of the bill is carefully drafted to allow the President to issue certain necessary regulations during the moratorium period, such as regulations that implement trade agreements, for national security, for criminal and civil rights laws, the enforcement of those laws, and for an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency. For any necessary regulation not covered by one of these exceptions, we have the congressional waiver that the gentleman from Virginia referred to. Under it, the President can ask permission for Congress to make the regulation, to approve it. This is entirely appropriate, since the Constitution vests in Congress ``all legislative powers.'' But this amendment could totally undermine the moratorium by allowing the President to swamp Congress with waiver requests. If Congress doesn't act on each request within 7 days--and the amendment doesn't specify whether this is calendar, session, or legislative days--then the waiver is deemed granted. With its track record of dramatically increasing the regulatory burden on the economy, this administration has shown that it cannot be trusted not to abuse the process this amendment would create. For these reasons, I oppose the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. I would just point out, Madam Chair, that the part of the bill that the gentleman from Maryland calls ``a farce,'' the Founding Fathers might refer to it as ``balance of powers.'' And that's what we're trying to do here, allow Congress to share in the process since we are the source of all legislative power. That is just another reason that I oppose this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. If an agency improperly makes a regulation during the moratorium period, as written, the Freeze Act would allow a small business that successfully challenges the action to collect attorney's fees. The gentleman from Florida's amendment would strengthen this provision by ensuring that any attorney's fees awarded under title I come out of the agency's budget and not from the general Federal Treasury through, for example, the judgment fund. If an office or agency defies the law and tries to make a regulation that should be subject to the Freeze Act, then that particular office or agency should bear the consequences of forcing a small business to go to court to vindicate its rights. For these reasons, I support the amendment.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3870, to designate the U.S. Post Office located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the Nicky ``Nick'' Daniel Bacon Post Office. Nick Bacon is one of Arkansas' finest sons, and he dedicated his life to serving our country. Mr. Bacon was born in Caraway, Arkansas, on November 25, 1945. In 1963, at the age of 17, he forged his mother's signature so he could enlist in the Army. He went on to serve two tours in Vietnam. On August 26, 1968, while serving as a squad leader with the First Platoon, Company B, in an operation west of Tam Ky, Mr. Bacon and his unit came under fire. He destroyed an enemy position with hand grenades, but his platoon leader was wounded in open ground. Without hesitating, he assumed command and led the platoon in destroying still more enemy emplacements. When the third platoon leader was wounded, Mr. Bacon took command of that platoon as well, leading both platoons against the remaining enemy positions. During evacuation of the wounded, he climbed up on the deck of a nearby tank, and from that vantage point, he directed fire into enemy positions, all while exposed to enemy fire himself. He personally is credited with destroying an anti-tank weapon and moving the platoons forward so they could eliminate the enemy positions and rescue soldiers trapped at the front. For his actions on that day, Mr. Bacon received the Medal of Honor, which was presented to him by President Richard Nixon during a ceremony at the White House in 1969. Mr. Bacon also earned multiple awards for his accomplishments, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. After retiring from active duty, he continued his service to America. He served as the director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs from 1993 until his retirement in 2005. During that time, Mr. Bacon was essential to the development of the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, and the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery Beautification Foundation. He also helped establish the Arkansas Veterans' Coalition. Additionally, in 2004, Mr. Bacon was appointed by then-Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert, to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, an independent, 13-member panel responsible for studying the military system of compensating veterans for their injuries. The commission was charged with ensuring that the compensation system was equitable and fair. Mr. Bacon passed away on July 17, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. He was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from the State of Arkansas, and he is survived by his wife, Tamera, and children and grandchildren. Mr. Bacon spent his final years as a resident of Rose Bud, Arkansas, and we can honor his heroism, bravery, and service by installing a permanent marker of his contribution to Arkansas and America. His example is one all Americans and Arkansans can admire, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to honor his legacy.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1959) to require a report on the designation of the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on S. 1959, as amended, currently under consideration.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I my consume. I thank my Senate colleague, Mr. Burr of North Carolina, and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, for their work on this issue. This bill directs the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress detailing whether the Haqqani Network meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization according to current Federal law. If the Secretary determines that the Haqqani Network does not meet the criteria, the Secretary shall provide a detailed justification as to which criteria have not been met. The bill also provides a sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should designate the network as a foreign terrorist organization. The Haqqani Network is an insurgent group fighting against U.S.-led NATO forces and the Government of Afghanistan. Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son lead the network, which is now based in Pakistan but operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. For about 2 years, the Pakistani Government has sought to facilitate a compromise between the Haqqani Network and the Government of Afghanistan. However, the network has close links with al Qaeda and is believed to provide al Qaeda operatives with safe haven in Haqqani- controlled areas. The Pakistani Government is believed to be the only entity with the influence to bring the Haqqani Network to the negotiating table. The Obama administration has been considering formally designating the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization under U.S. law, but has yet to act. Seven Haqqani leaders have been under U.S. sanctions since 2008; and in 2011, Secretary Clinton designated operational commander Badruddin Haqqani under Executive Order 13224, thereby blocking movement of his assets, but not those of the umbrella Haqqani Network. Since 2008, several attacks have been linked or attributed to the Haqqani Network. In addition to kidnappings of journalists and bombings of hotels and embassies, the Haqqani Network is blamed for the attacks on the U.S. Embassy and nearby NATO bases in Kabul in September 2011. U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker blamed the Haqqani Network for the 19-hour Kabul attack which killed four police officers, three coalition soldiers, and four civilians. Two dozen more soldiers and civilians were injured. The Obama administration insists on negotiating with the Haqqani Network despite unsuccessful attempts in the past. Secretary Clinton has indicated that these negotiations may be necessary again in order to establish sustainable peace in Afghanistan. However, the Haqqani Network has been permitted to evade designation as a foreign terrorist organization. Congress' frustration with the Obama administration's overdue review of the Haqqani Network is clearly evidenced by this legislation. According to U.S. military commanders, the Haqqani Network is highly resilient and is one of the biggest threats to the U.S.-led NATO forces and the Afghan Government in the current war in Afghanistan. This straightforward legislation simply directs the Secretary of State to analyze whether the Haqqani Network meets the standards for designation as a foreign terrorist organization under Federal law and report those findings back to Congress. It also expresses the sense of Congress that the Haqqani Network should be designated as a foreign terrorist network. The bill does not, however, require that the President designate the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization. This is a carefully limited bill, and, as I noted earlier, similar legislation was passed by the Senate without opposition. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, July 16, 2012. Hon. Lamar Smith, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning S. 1959, the ``Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2012,'' which is scheduled to be considered by the House this week. As you know, pursuant to House Rule X, the Committee on Foreign Affairs maintains jurisdiction over matters concerning foreign relations, the U.S. diplomatic service, and the protection of Americans abroad. The Office of the Parliamentarian has indicated that S. 1959, which concerns the Secretary of State's designation of the Pakistan-based Haqqani Network as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under U.S. law, implicates Foreign Affairs jurisdiction. In order to expedite Floor consideration of this bill, the Foreign Affairs Committee will forego consideration of this measure. This is being done with the understanding that it does not in any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees, or its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar legislation in the future. I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming this understanding with respect to S. 1959, and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration of the bill. Sincerely, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Chairman.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Mr. Jeffrey Meek of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, for his dedication to preserving the stories of Arkansas's World War II veterans. Jeff's interest in the stories and lives of World War II veterans began when his own son enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. At that time, Jeff started researching the experiences of his father and his wife's father during World War II. Then, after joining the Akansa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Jeff's wife, Jeanne, recommended that Jeff get involved in the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project (VHP), which is preserving oral histories of our veterans. Each oral history is recorded on a DVD and, along with VHP documentation, is sent to the Library of Congress to be preserved and made accessible to researchers, educators, and the general public. Jeff conducted his first oral history for the VHP in 2007 and started reporting some of the stories in his local newspaper, the Hot Springs Village Voice. He later published 75 accounts in his book They Answered the Call: World War II Veterans Share Their Stories. Jeff has spent over one thousand hours collecting the moving stories of hundreds of our World War II veterans, and he has brought them to life during three sold out programs honoring them. Jeff's dedication to World War II veterans extends beyond recording their oral histories. He accompanied a group of veterans as they participated in the ``Honor Flight'' program. This program flies World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., free of charge, so they may visit the World War II memorial and some of the other memorials in Washington, D.C. For his devotion to our veterans, Jeff has been recognized by a number of organizations, including the Akansa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and each of Hot Springs Village's five military organizations. In addition, he received a letter of commendation from the Veterans History Project itself for his attention to detail in preserving the treasured chronicles of our nation's heroes. Because of volunteers like Jeff, our veterans will be forever honored through the preservation of their memories. I commend Jeff for his outstanding service to Arkansas's veterans, and I would encourage other Americans to become involved with the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project by recording the stories of veterans in their own communities. I thank Jeff for giving these veterans the opportunity to tell their stories and for allowing these stories to become priceless pieces of American history.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Thank you. I appreciate it very much. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot about repeal and replace, and I have a lot of constituents asking about the replace part of that. And what I tell them is we have a lot of ideas that have been introduced here in the House. In fact, by last count, there are over 200. I think it's something like 219 bills introduced in the House that relate to health care reform. So we are not short of ideas in terms of implementing real health care reform. But before we get to that, we first must repeal this monstrosity, this almost 3,000-page monstrosity of taxes, new boards, and new agencies that makes it more difficult for businesses to hire new people. So that's why we're here focusing on repeal today. We have, Mr. Speaker, lots of ideas. For example, many of us here support medical liability reform. Gallup polls and other experts have testified that much of the cost of what we pay in health care is attributable to the practice of defensive medicine. By some counts, one-quarter of all health care costs are attributable to the practice of defensive medicine. We have a great medical liability reform bill. In fact, if I remember correctly, a couple years ago in the State of the Union, the President said he was in favor of medical liability reform. I haven't heard much from him on that. I wish he would talk more about it. It certainly wasn't part of his health care law. But that's a great idea that will reduce the practice of defensive medicine and reduce the cost of health care and, in turn, make health insurance more affordable, which, in turn, addresses the access question. We also have great legislation introduced by my friend, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. She has got a great bill. What it does is it allows for competition between insurance companies across State lines. So if you live in Arkansas and you see a health care plan that you want to buy over in Tennessee, our neighboring State, well, you can buy that plan. And then if you move to Arizona--I don't know why you would leave Arkansas, but if you did, you could take that with you across State lines. Competition, choice, and patient-centered options, that's the kind of health care reform we need. And that's the kind of health care reform that I favor, that many folks here in the House favor, and that is reflected in the over 200 bills that have been introduced here. And we want to get to that. But before we can get to that, before we can focus on the replace, we have to repeal. And that's why we're here again asking the Senate to do its part. I'll tell you, I've had some folks on Twitter and Facebook and other places say, You're just wasting your time. Why are you just wasting your time? I think I was asked that on television earlier today. And my response was, when I made a pledge in my campaign to repeal ObamaCare, the President's health care law, whatever you want to call it, my pledge was not I'm going to fight to repeal it if the Senate agrees to pass it. That wasn't my pledge. My pledge was I'm going to fight to repeal it. I'm going to control what I can control. I can't control the Senate. In fact, I told somebody on Twitter about 15 minutes ago, before I came down here to the floor, I said, well, if we in the House only took action on issues that we know the Senate will vote on, we would all be sleeping. Mr. Speaker, you'd be sleeping in the chair and we'd be sleeping, because the Senate doesn't take action on much of anything. Sometimes I feel like I've got to walk down there and wake them up. So my job in fulfilling my promises, my pledges, and my commitment to my constituents is not dependent upon whether the Senate is going to do the right thing or not. I hope they do. I'm praying for them, and I wish them well. But we're going to do our job here regardless of what they do down there. I'll say one more thing. Anybody who has been paying attention over the last 2 years knew before I ever got elected what my intention was. And I think a lot of us talked about this before we ever got here, and what we are doing is following through on our promise. I yield back, and I appreciate the time.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Little Rock Air orce Base (LRAFB) and the LRFB Community Council, both of which are located in central Arkansas, which I represent. This week, the Community Council was presented with the Abilene Trophy, which recognizes the community that provides the ``finest support'' to an Air Mobility Command unit. This is the second time the LRAFB Community Council has received this award, and it's truly a testament to their dedication to military families, to their community, and to their nation. LRAFB has always enjoyed the support of the surrounding community. In fact, LRAFB was founded in 1952 when community leaders raised $1 million to buy property from more than 150 private landowners and donated the property to the U.S. Air Force to create LRAFB. In 2011, when LRAFB was hit by a tornado, the community responded by adopting affected families. Two weeks later, LRAFB was similarly responsive, assisting local families affected by flooding. This supportive and cooperative relationship goes beyond just ``neighbors helping neighbors.'' Last year, LRAFB's Joint Education Center became a first-of-its-kind partnership between the City of Jacksonville and LRAFB, and, to fund this project, the residents of Jacksonville voted to tax themselves to raise $5 million to put toward the overall project. The relationship between LRAFB and the community is unique, and, together, they are one team and responsive to the needs of each other. They serve as examples of excellence. This is how LRAFB and the Community Council differentiate themselves from other communities with air bases and what led to the creation of ``The Little Rock Difference.'' ``The Little Rock Difference'' initiative was unveiled this week by the Community Council. It establishes the characteristics of the relationship between LRAFB and the local community, and it is based on the LRAFB mantra ``Rock & Role.'' ``Rock'' is for ``The Rock,'' which is the nickname of LRAFB and how the community affectionately refers to LRAFB. ``Role'' is for the guiding principles of ``ROLE''--``Responsive,'' ``One Team,'' ``Leading,'' and ``Excellence''--which the LRAFB community and the local community embody. I congratulate the LRAFB leadership and the members of the Community Council for their dedication in creating and implementing ``The Little Rock Difference'' and for their ongoing efforts fostering strong and positive relations between the people of Arkansas and the men and women who protect our country. I am proud to be a part of such a fine group of men and women dedicated to their nation and to their community, and I congratulate them on their success.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I was ill with food poisoning and missed rollcall vote No. 379 and rollcall vote No. 380 on Monday, June 18, 2012, as well as rollcall vote No. 381 and rollcall vote No. 382 on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. If I had been present, I would have voted ``aye'' for each of the following: rollcall vote No. 379 (S. 684), rollcall vote No. 380 (S. 404), rollcall vote No. 381 (On Ordering the Previous Question), and rollcall vote No. 382 (H. Res. 688.)

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to Pulaski Technical College president, Dr. Dan F. Bakke, on the occasion of his retirement and to recognize his contribution to my home state of Arkansas. In his twelve years at the helm of the college, Dan focused on improving the quality and accessibility of education at Pulaski Tech. When he became president in 2000, Pulaski Tech's enrollment was only 4,300 students, and, today, as he leaves, the college has an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students. Not only did he help triple the size of the college's enrollment, he oversaw its expansion from four locations in Pulaski County to seven locations in Pulaski and Saline Counties. Through this expansion, Pulaski Tech was able to provide a quality education to thousands who otherwise might not have had the chance to attend college. This is a remarkable accomplishment and one that has had a positive impact on job opportunities across Arkansas. Additionally, Pulaski Tech is home to the Business and Industry Center, which provides customized training for more than 200 companies in central Arkansas. At this center, students obtain training in cutting-edge industries to become qualified for job opportunities coming online each day. Pulaski Tech continues to graduate well-prepared and well-educated adults equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in today's job market. Dan leaves behind a legacy of accomplishment, achievement, and success at Pulaski Technical College along with a record of having improved the lives of thousands of students. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dan on his retirement and wishing him and his wife, Jane, well on their new journey.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4480, the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act, a package of seven bills that, taken together, will create jobs and make America more energy independent. There are a number of provisions, but among them the bill reforms and streamlines the energy permitting process by setting firm timelines for legal challenges and limiting the duration of injunctions. This provision is critical because it addresses all the red tape, the Washington red tape, and the constant wave of lawsuits by radical environmentalists that have prevented many American energy projects from ever getting off the ground. Some of them have been stalled for decades. Too often, activist Washington lawyers come between the American people and abundant affordable energy. With this bill, we are fighting back. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Project No Project report, energy permitting reform could unleash investment to the tune of $3.4 trillion in economic benefits and over 2.6 million jobs created. All you've got to do is look at the State of North Dakota for the benefits of producing American energy. Oil and gas production is booming, the State has a 3 percent unemployment rate--wouldn't we like to have that nationally? Good grief. And workers are sleeping in their cars, many of them, because the housing supply can't keep up with the demand. In my home State of Arkansas, we've got our own success story. Production in the Fayetteville shale and the Brown Dense Formation has and will continue to create jobs and American energy, but we can't afford to let up. We have talked way too long about job creation and energy independence. We need less talk and more action. I urge all my colleagues to support this important bill to create jobs and increase American energy independence.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I was detained and missed rollcall vote No. 362 on Thursday, June 7, 2012. If I had been present, I would have voted ``aye'' for King Amendment No. 1 to H.R. 5855, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Cancer Research Month. In 2012, an estimated 570,000 Americans will lose their life to cancer, including more than 6,500 Arkansans. Sadly, in my home state of Arkansas more than 16,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year, and Arkansas has the fifth highest cancer death rate in the nation. That's why cancer research is so critical and why scientists and doctors work tirelessly not only to treat cancer, but to prevent it. Arkansas's Second Congressional District is home to the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, a first class treatment and research facility at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, UAMS, in Little Rock. I am proud to represent the Cancer Institute, which provides care to cancer patients from every Arkansas county and many others from around the country and the world. UAMS researchers are on the cutting edge of treatments for breast cancer, radiological and nuclear emergency situations as well as identifying ways to stop the spread of tumors. The effects of cancer research reach us all, regardless of whether or not we are the ones directly affected by this devastating illness. I commend the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and UAMS on their dedication to vital research and improving the lives of Arkansans and Americans.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Rotary Club of Little Rock and their members who have served in our nation's Armed Forces. The Little Rock Rotary Club was organized in 1913 and chartered as the 99th club in 1914. As well as being Arkansas's oldest civic organization, with its more than 450 members, it is also the largest. The main objective of Rotarians is serving their community, and the Little Rock Rotary Club carries this out through their numerous community projects. For example, they support youth and educational opportunities through international student exchange programs, and, each year, they award eight different scholarships to Arkansas's college students. Along with serving our community, many members of the Little Rock Rotary Club have bravely served in our nation's Armed Forces. They will be recognized next week in Little Rock, and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their bravery and their service to our nation and preserving our freedoms. The Rotary Club of Little Rock Veterans Dan G. Beranek, Tom Bonner, Harvey F. Brown III, Sam L. Chaffin, James B. Conner, Samuel D. Cummings Jr., Eugene G. Eberle Jr., Victor A. Fleming, Irving B. Goldberg, Wayne A. Gruber, Thomas Harding Jr., James T. Harvey, Richard B. Homard Ph.D., Gerald K. Johnson D.D.S., J. Floyd Kyser, Aaron Lubin, Maxwell J. Lyons II, Jack R. McCray, George E. McLeod, Carleton McMullin, Patrick D. Miller, Marc Oudin, Prosper F. Paul, Eugene M. Pfeifer III, Ashley S. Ross Jr., Ted L. Snider, William Boyd Ward, E. Grainger Williams, George G. Worthen, Calvin D. Biggers, Ralph G. Brodie, Robert A. Callans, Joseph Thomas Clements III, Reggie A. Corbitt, Steve Michael Daugherty, John A. Festa, James F. Gadberry, William C. Goolsby, Lynn Ray Hamilton, James E. Harris, Richard F. Hatfield, Barry D. Hyde, Greg M. Joslin, Beverly J. Lambert III, Robert M. Lyford, William Aubert Martin, Bob G. McKuin, Roger McMennamy, David F. Miller Ph.D., Walter W. Nixon III, James J. Pappas M.D., Arthur J. Pfeifer, Carl S. Rosenbaum, Elwood W. Smith, Arthur E. Squire Jr., Alfred L. Williams and Jerry C. Wilson.

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. I stand in support of Mr. Rooney's amendment, which requires all detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay to be tried by military commissions in the courtroom facility there. It is a strong amendment. I visited Gitmo. It was the first trip that I took when I got to Congress. They had the facilities and the expertise there. I am also currently serving as a JAG officer in the Army--I'm in my 16th year-- and I believe that it is the appropriate place to try them. Article III courts are not equipped to try foreign terrorists. The constitutional and legal standards for evidence-gathering and prosecution in a civilian case are simply not adequate for the trial of an enemy combatant. These cases often rely on classified evidence, informants, and intelligence operatives. Military commissions, on the other hand, are set up to protect critical intelligence, officials, and evidence while still providing fair and due process for the accused. I would also note that bringing terrorists up to New York City is a very expensive proposition. My constituents have made it clear to me that they want the terrorists kept where they are--at Gitmo--where our state-of-the-art facility houses them. We've spent millions of dollars there, including on a large courtroom in which to try detainees. It makes no sense to spend millions more to bring them here for trial when we have the facility and the process to try them at Gitmo. I am confident that trying enemy combatants in military tribunals at Gitmo is the best way to hold terrorists accountable, to keep them out of the United States, and to prevent them from rejoining the fight.