Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. If we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule to make sure that we bring up the bill by Mr. Tierney of Massachusetts in order to prevent a doubling of student loan interest rates, which would be fully paid for by repealing tax giveaways for big oil companies. To discuss our amendment to the rule, I am very pleased at this time to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California, the ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Mr. Miller.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, my good friend, Mr. Courtney.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my very good friend, Mr. Tierney from Massachusetts.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I would inform my colleague that I am the last speaker. I don't know whether he is, but I am prepared to close.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record along with extraneous material immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the majority tried once 2 weeks ago to go back on what they agreed to. It did not work. So now here we are again, trying to ``re-deem'' ourselves. But this is no way to run an economy, no way to run a budget process, and no way to stick up for the millions of struggling Americans who need us to focus on improving the economy. We can ``pretend'' that the Ryan budget has passed when, in fact, it has not. We can deem it or come here to re-deem it. But while we are living in legislative fantasyland, millions of other Americans will still be struggling to find jobs, to pay off their student loans, to access affordable health care and decent housing, and, really, in the final analysis, just to survive in an economy that--not just this year or last, not just in the last decade or the decade before--but in an economy that favors those who have the most, rather than look out for those who have the least. In the celebrated cartoon that carries Wile E. Coyote, he used to pretend that there was going to be some kind of rubberized floor mat when he landed off a cliff, only to find that soon after that, he was in a very long and painful fall to the bottom. I've said before and I will repeat: we are better people than what's happening here. I agree with my friend from Georgia (Mr. Woodall) that we see things differently. And in our heart of hearts, both of us and many of the Members of this body are in agreement and want things to be better. As long as Republicans insist on replacing substantive debate with partisan gimmicks, broken promises, and misplaced priorities, the fall to the bottom is going to seem very long and is likely to be very painful for millions of Americans. I would urge my colleagues to oppose this rule for the reason that it is deeming something that is being pretended to be passed. I'd ask them to oppose this rule for the reason that it includes in it martial law that disallows the open discussion that my colleague rightly points to in an open rule. But this particular provision disallows that as it pertains to the reconciliation. And that is just no way for us to go about trying to come to terms with the enormous consequences and circumstances that we face by not having faced them many, many, many years ago. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Israel Independence Day. Sixty-four years ago, after 2,000 years in exile, the Jewish people declared their independence and established a nation in their ancient and sacred homeland. Since then, the Israeli people have developed a vibrant democracy, a vigorous economy, a dynamic cultural life, and an admirable commitment to the environment. In the Jewish tradition, even joyous occasions are mixed with sorrow, to honor past history and to acknowledge the debt owed to those who came before us. I have always admired the confluence of Israel Independence Day with Remembrance Day, when the day before the celebration of independence Israelis stop to remember their fallen soldiers, and those who gave their lives in service to the nation. It is a reminder of the heavy price of freedom, and of the burden on future generations to uphold the ideals for which Israel's sons and daughters gave their lives. Beyond the conflicts that seem to dominate the news, Israel has made extraordinary achievements in every field imaginable. From agriculture and medicine to environmental sustainability and literature, Israelis offer a steady stream of improvements to global challenges. One of my most memorable visits to Israel was to a desalinization plant in Ashkelon, where I saw firsthand how Israel deals with some of the same water challenges that confront South Florida. This is just one example of how the close relationship between our two countries benefits both Israelis and Americans. Israel Independence Day is a celebration of renewal, and this year Israelis have much to be proud of in the remarkable nation they built from the desert. For 64 years Israel has stood as a symbol of hope for millions of people around the world. For 64 years Israel has modeled a society where determination and passion, and an emphasis on social progress and education, can build a productive nation. Mr. Speaker, I have been to Israel 14 times as a Member of Congress, and every time I go I encounter ordinary citizens and government officials alike who are genuinely dedicated to living up to the ideals of Israel's independence. I am always impressed by the Israelis' intense desire to persevere. Israel deserves to be secure and prosperous, to live in peace with its neighbors, and to live free from fear and violence.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Mrs. Janie Bell Wilson Stewart, who passed away recently at the age of 76. As an educator, loving mother and wife, and faithful member of her church, Mrs. Stewart was an exemplary member of her community. I would like to take this time to express my deepest condolences to everyone who knew Mrs. Stewart, especially her family and friends. Mrs. Stewart was born on April 15, 1935 in Wayneshoro, Georgia. Six years later, she moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, attending Walker Elementary School of Broward County Public Schools. A vivacious student, Mrs. Stewart was the first to receive a scholarship from the Zheta Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. This scholarship paved the way for her to attend Florida Memorial University, then called Florida Normal College, where she graduated in 1958 with a degree in Education and later became a teacher. While in college, Mrs. Stewart gave back to her community through her work with the Zeta Rho Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and continued her alliance with her sorority well after she graduated, becoming a golden soror for her service of over 50 years to the organization. This dedication to her sorority and alma mater earned her the Fountain of Excellence Award from Florida Memorial College (University) decades after she graduated. It was also during college that Janie met her future husband, Milton Stewart, to whom she was married for 48 years. Together, they raised a son and one of their nieces, whom they treated as their own daughter. As a teacher, Mrs. Stewart helped countless children. Her devotion for both her students and career was evident in her long workdays, recognitions for her exceptional teaching, and friendships with other educators. Always passionate about knowledge, Mrs. Stewart received her Master's in Administration and Supervision from Nova Southeastern University while holding a job as a teacher. With her graduate degree, Mrs. Stewart went on to become a principal. She served dutifully in this role at three different Broward County elementary schools. Mrs. Stewart continued to serve as a mentor for other teachers and maintained a presence in her former students' lives even after her retirement. Her thirty three-year career as a teacher and principal touched the lives of innumerable children and colleagues in South Florida. Aside from her family, career, and sorority, Mrs. Stewart was also devoted to her faith. She was a member of First Baptist Church Piney Grove for 69 years, having joined in 1943. There, she served as the Director of the Red Circle of the Society of Missions. Even with her numerous activities, Mrs. Stewart still found time for fun. She enjoyed golfing and received the Palmview Women's Golfing award in 1979. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to pay tribute to Mrs. Janie Bell Wilson Stewart whose commitment to education, her students, family, and the community will be truly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Stewart's family during this most difficult time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Armisha Roberts of Boynton Beach, Florida, for being named one of the first four winners of the 2012 Buick Achievers Scholarship Program. The Buick Scholarship is bestowed upon students nationwide who have continually demonstrated an ability to excel in the classroom as well as have an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM, education; along with a willingness to serve the community. Armisha has displayed an extraordinary commitment to community activism, volunteering for a variety of important projects such as Toys for Tots, Relay for Life, and Education Rocks. Furthermore, through her community involvement Armisha has participated in efforts to clean debris from a local inlet in addition to planting a community vegetable garden. Due to her dedication to community service, Armisha was appointed to the Education and Youth Advisory Board for Boynton Beach as a student voting member. Armisha will be attending Howard University where she plans to major in mathematics and then seek a career in electrical engineering. In this field, Armisha hopes to be involved in the development of electric vehicles. I am proud that Armisha and other students recognize the value and importance of STEM education as well as the importance of giving back to the community. Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to represent such a driven student and young leader who lives in my Congressional district. I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors, where I know she will go on to do great things. Armisha Roberts is the definition of a role model, and she is truly deserving of this most prestigious award.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank my friend for yielding the time. I would begin a little bit unusually by asking a few questions of my friend and then yielding to him for any response that he may have. A gentleman named Bruce Bartlett was the former Department economist for President Ronald Reagan. He makes this comment: The serious point here is that the term ``small business'' casts a very wide net. Indeed, since the only test for being a small business under the legislation, as my good friend proposes, is the number of employees, the ultimate beneficiaries of the Republican bill will be some large and profitable businesses that just happen to have few employees. What is my friend's response to that?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Reclaiming my time, we can point back. I'm talking about what you're trying to do today. What you're trying to do today is blowing a $46 billion hole in the deficit, which will destroy opportunity. I thank my friend, and let me move on, now that I've had the opportunity to talk with you. I rise in strong opposition to this rule and its opportunity- destroying under the underlying bill. When it comes to small businesses, Congress should work to create chances for smart, savvy, small business owners to thrive so that hardworking Americans can get a fair shot at a good paying job for an honest day's work and thereby ensure that our economic recovery continues. Instead, the Republican bill creates only one opportunity, and that is the opportunity for those that are better off, including those of us in the United States Congress, to pay less than we could and can as our fair share in taxes. Make no mistake: H.R. 9, despite its name, is not going to level the playing field so that American businesses can create the kinds of opportunities that the average American needs. That's because House Republicans have made the benefits of this bill available to a wide range of enterprises owned by wealthy people, including lawyers. I'm one of the lawyers, not one of the wealthy. But when I was a lawyer and had three secretaries as a single practitioner, if you had given me a 20 percent tax cut, I may have shared some of that with those three employees. I assure you I would not have hired anybody. Had you, when I was a lawyer, given me a 20 percent tax cut and required me to hire somebody, then I would have hired somebody, and it may have done some good. But other wealthy people--lobbyists, hedge funds, private equity fund managers, as well as many professional sports teams, without a single requirement to expand employment or invest in the United States. In fact, under this bill, a business owner could fire, as I asked my friend, U.S. workers, hire full-time workers in foreign countries and still be eligible for the full deduction. According to an analysis of the Tax Policy Center, approximately 49 percent of the benefits of H.R. 9 would go to 0.3 percent of people with incomes exceeding $1 million in 2012--each receiving an average tax cut of more than $44,000. That's not creating an opportunity environment in which small businesses can create jobs. As I've said before and will say again, I have no quarrel with millionaires and billionaires and the wealthiest of us in America. And like my friend from Texas, I want everybody to be able to have significant wealth if that were to be possible. I do, however, have a problem with legislation designed to tip the scales in favor of the best among us in this country masquerading as tax cuts for small businesses. Furthermore, Madam Speaker, the Republican justifications for this kind of ``trickle down'' tax policy are inaccurate and debunked by history. In actuality, tax rates have little bearing on economic productivity. Some of the fastest economic growth of the post-war period came in the 1950s, when the top tax rate was above 80 percent. The slowest growth came in the 2000s, when the top tax rate was 35 percent--which I pay, and which some of you do not because you are in better circumstances than mine, but all of us in the House of Representatives are better off than the people we want to really help, other than those that are better off like us. Furthermore, Madam Speaker, the Republican justifications allow that this occurrence, that the change from the 1950s to the 2000s, is easy to explain. Businesses do not make decisions based on tax rates. They make decisions based on factors specific to their business, like their number of competitors and larger macro- and microeconomic factors. Bills such as the one before us today ignore this reality in favor of pushing Republican pet policies that ignore the actual difficulties facing hardworking small business owners. In the Rules Committee, I cited Betty's Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where I eat breakfast and sometimes lunch or dinner. Betty's doesn't have more than nine employees. If we were to target our relief to 20 percent, Betty would be in better shape. But if Larry Flynt at ``Hustler'' is going to be in better shape because he has less than 500 employees, I'm taking Betty. I get my clothes cleaned at Spring Cleaners. They've been in business for over 25 years. The owner of that business, after he retired, left it with his daughter. They don't have more than 10 employees in 2 of their cleaning plants. This kind of measure, if targeted to her, would help her. But a law firm here in Washington or a lobbying firm with 49 lawyers that's making $500 million a year will qualify for this tax cut, and I'm taking Spring Cleaners over those lawyers and lobbyists here in this town. Simply put, what we have before us is the exact opposite of a jobs bill. It's a boon for the rich, the very antithesis of smart tax reform, and does nothing to create opportunities for middle class, let alone, poor Americans. Instead of this misguided legislation before us today, Madam Speaker, we should pass policy initiatives that stimulate economic growth and job creation such as public-private partnerships. When compared to measures such as infrastructure spending, today's bill would have a relatively small effect on strengthening our economy and helping businesses create even more jobs. In comparison, for every $1 billion invested in infrastructure construction projects, 18,000 jobs--and nobody controverts that, and if you do, say 15,000 jobs--are supported nationwide. And my Governor turned down a billion-plus dollars for a rail project that had been appropriated and that Republicans and Democrats had sought, and it would have created 18,000 jobs. And yet we find ourselves in Florida, just like other places in this country, suffering job diminution. This wasn't money that did not go to Illinois, California, and the Northeast Corridor for rail; it just did not come to Florida. There are other circumstances. We yesterday passed a measure here to extend the transportation measure for 3 months. Cut me some slack. Jim Oberstar had been begging us before he left Congress to do a $400 billion infrastructure bill that probably would have put us in the position of not having to have done the stimulus had we done it when he asked for it, and we need to do a better bill than the 3-month extension. This was the 10th extension of the transportation measure that we have done. We are better than that, and we could have done what the Senate offered, MAP 21, and we would kick-start this economy rather than kicking this can down the road. Let me tell you something about the can. It's getting ready to run up against a wall or a cliff, and there ain't going to be nowhere else to kick it. Some day, Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, are going to have to stand up and face the fact that we must address this in a significant way, and we can't have this gridlock, and we can't have this continuing standoff. This is supposed to be the ``land of opportunity,'' Madam Speaker. Let's make sure that it's the land of opportunity for rich people. Let's make sure that it's the land of opportunity for middle class and poor people. Let's make sure that it's the land of opportunity for small and large businesses. In short, opportunity for all Americans. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Then I ask my friend first to just listen, and then I will ask yet another question. Mr. Bartlett also said this: The Republican tax plan will do nothing whatsoever to increase employment. It is nothing more than an election-year giveaway to favored Republican constituencies and should not be taken seriously. But I ask my friend, after hearing what Mr. Bartlett said, and listening to you, as well, saying that it's suggested that there will be jobs, is there a requirement in the legislation as is proposed that requires the creation of jobs?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Can you give me a ``yes'' or ``no''?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Let me offer to my friend a complaint: the fact that this matter didn't go through regular order, did not have hearings. It did have one question period during the Ways and Means Committee markup, and the person that was being questioned on the Committee on Taxation was the chief of staff, Thomas Barthold. And when he was asked about the effects of H.R. 9--and the question was put to him by our colleague, Mr. Becerra: Is there a requirement that you create jobs? Mr. Barthold says: There's no requirement on the result of the tax relief. I go back to you and ask you again: Is there a requirement that jobs be created in the measure as offered?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. My friend says that no one would do anything that would not necessarily work. Well, why are we spending the time on this when my friend and I know that this measure is not going to become law for the reason, whether we like it or not, that the United States Senate is not going to pass it? Last week, contrary to what you said, in the United States Senate the President's plan and the Democrats' plan was offered where there would be an alternative minimum tax for people that pay a million dollars or more in taxes. It's been referred to as the Buffett rule. You said that it didn't pass. It had a majority. But it didn't come up because Republicans didn't allow for it to have a majority. Whereas, had it come up, it likely would have passed because some Republicans would have caused it to pass, also. You don't create jobs with your 20 percent. And now you need to answer for me: What if somebody, after they get the 20 percent, rather than hiring somebody, fires somebody; do they still get the tax cut?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. All of what my friend says is most regrettable. One of the things that I'm sure Members in your Conference are concerned about is the fact that this is a 1-year measure. Am I correct about that?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Tell me then, how many times have we passed anything 1 year that's a tax something or another that cuts taxes? Let's take the Bush tax cuts that lasted 10 years that are soon to expire. How is it then that you expect that this is not going to go beyond 1 year? One year already is going to cost $46 billion. Now my friend is a deficit and a debt hawk, and I like to think that I'm conservative enough to feel that the deficit and the debt are matters that we should address in order to give Americans opportunity. Toward that end, what is a $46 billion measure going to do, other than blow a hole in the deficit, since it's not paid for? I yield to my friend.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to ensure that the House votes on the Buffett rule, which Representative Baldwin has introduced--and I'm a cosponsor of--as H.R. 3903, the Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012. This bill would ensure that people making over $1 million a year do not pay a lower tax rate than middle class Americans. To discuss our amendment to this rule, I'm very pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), my good friend.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.