Jeb Hensarling

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick).

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 15 seconds. If the gentleman is concerned about spending, this budget actually does cut spending. I would encourage him to sponsor it. Additionally, 99 percent of our deficit problem is on the spending side. So I do not understand why 99 percent of the rhetoric is on the tax side, on the other side. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey).

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 15 seconds. Medicaid spending is up 89 percent since 1995, and if the other side is concerned about the affordability of health care, perhaps they would join us in doing something about tort reform, medical liability reform and excess government regulation. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg).

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, first I want to congratulate the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) on his great work to produce a truly fiscally responsible budget. It takes a big step in the right direction. But the Republican Study Committee budget takes even more steps in the right direction. Budgets are so much more than green eyeshade exercises for accountants. They are so much more than esoteric econometric modeling. Beyond the numbers, they are really about values and priorities. The values and priorities of the budget I offer today are simple, less government and more freedom. Of all the budgets introduced in Congress today, none, and I repeat none, contain less government or more freedom than the Republican Study Committee alternative which I have the honor to introduce today. Permit me to summarize what this budget does. First, for only the second time in a decade, we would actually reduce the size of government. In the aggregate, we reduce nondefense discretionary spending by 1 percent and reduce the rate of growth in mandatory spending by 1 percent. Why is this important? Because it is a fact. It is an eternal truth that as governments expand, liberty contracts. That means fewer opportunities for Americans to choose the best health care for their families, to choose the best educational opportunities for their children, or to find the best job in a competitive market economy. Secondly, this budget fully funds the Commander in Chief's defense and homeland defense request. This is a Nation at war. For many years this Nation ran a defense deficit with deteriorating infrastructure, outdated equipment, and lagging military pay. We must continue to close this defense deficit because there can be only one outcome to this war, victory for freedom and defeat for terrorism. Next, Mr. Chairman, this budget cuts the deficit in half in 3 years. As the father of a 2-year-old daughter and a 6-month-old son, I take a back seat to no one regarding my concern about the deficit. But we must all realize that the deficit is a symptom. Spending is the disease. And by any measure, spending is out of control. For only the fourth time in the history of our Nation, the Federal Government is now spending over $20,000 per household. This figure is up from just 5 years ago of $16,000 per household, representing the largest expansion of government in 50 years. Last year, what we call mandatory spending reached 11 percent of our economy for the first time ever. Nondefense discretionary spending is now almost 4 percent of the economy for the first time in 20 years, and almost every major Department of the government has grown precipitously way beyond the rate of inflation. Besides being out of control, much of this Federal spending, unfortunately, is just pure waste, fraud, and abuse. Until recently, Medicare had routinely paid as much as five times for a wheelchair as the VA had, simply because one bid competitively and the other did not. In the last year of the Clinton administration, HUD wasted over 10 percent of their budget making improper payments, $3 billion lost. We spent almost $800,000 for a toilet in one national park and the toilet did not even flush. And we are just scratching the surface here. Example after example shows that many Federal programs routinely waste 5, 10, 15, 20 percent of their taxpayer-funded budgets and have for decades. Mr. Chairman, this has got to stop. Government is inherently wasteful. It does almost nothing as well as we the people, and it must be limited. And until we do limit it, we will never prioritize, much less root out the waste, the fraud, the abuse that permeates every corner of our Federal budget. Again, this Republican Study Committee alternative is the only budget that actually reduces government and thus begins the vital process of protecting the family budget from the Federal budget. Next, Mr. Chairman, the RSC budget promotes economic growth by providing tax relief, $183 billion over 5 years. This will ensure that we do not imperil our economic recovery by raising taxes as all the Democrat alternatives propose to do. This figure accommodates the President's request and will help ensure that tax relief such as the child tax credit and the marriage penalty tax relief will not be canceled. Now, my friends on the other side of the aisle have said that tax relief represents a huge government expenditure that creates huge deficits. They are wrong. First, it is not the government's money; it is the people's money. Secondly, when it comes to the deficit, the tax relief is miniscule compared to the spending, roughly $180 billion over 5 years compared to over $13 trillion of spending over the same time period. In other words, if you do the math, tax relief is only 1 percent of total spending. One percent. If the Democrats truly care about budget deficits, they should focus their attention on the spending side of deficit, which represents 99 percent of the problem. Finally, tax relief has proven to be part of the deficit solution, not part of the deficit problem. Tax relief has helped ignite our historic economic recovery, created jobs, and brought our unemployment rate down. And most importantly with respect to the deficit, Treasury reports show that after cutting tax rates, we increase tax revenues. That is right. Tax revenues are up. The final thing that the Republican Study Committee budget does is to ensure we live up to our commitments to the American people. In other words, when we pass a budget, we enforce that budget. Too often through advance appropriations, so-called emergency spending and other devices, Congress has ignored its own budget. This too must stop. Through closing loopholes and creating Family Budget Protection Accounts, the Republican Study Committee budget takes a giant step towards ensuring that Congress indeed means what it says when it passes the budget. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, budgets are truly about priorities and values as much as they are about numbers. Our budget prioritizes the family budget over the Federal budget. It values less government and more freedom. For the sake of our own children and the future of the Nation, the Republican Study Committee substitute should be adopted by the House. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Chairman, I paid very special attention to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) when he spoke about the budget deficits. I too am very concerned about budget deficits. I have a 2-year-old daughter and 6-month-old son. I do not want to leave them a legacy of debt. I want to leave them a legacy of freedom and opportunity. Mr. Chairman, the American people are not undertaxed. We have a spending problem, not a taxing problem. If Members pay very careful attention to the budget, what they will see in the Republican budget is over 5 years almost $13 trillion of spending contrasted to $150 billion of tax relief. In doing the math, you figure out the tax relief is roughly 1 percent of the spending; so I do not understand why, if 99 percent of the deficit problem is on the spending side, 99 percent of the Democrats' rhetoric is on the taxing side. It does not add up. We have a spending problem. Spending is out of control. For only the fourth time in the history of the United States, the Federal Government is now spending over $20,000 per American household. This is the highest figure since World War II. This figure is up from approximately $16,000 per household just 5 years ago, representing the largest expansion of government in 50 years. Last year, what we termed mandatory spending is now 11 percent of our economy for the first time ever. Nondefense discretionary spending is now almost 4 percent of our economy for the first time in 20 years. Almost every major Department of the government has grown precipitously, way beyond inflation. In the past 6 years, spending has grown 71.6 percent for Labor, HHS and Education appropriations. In the past 6 years, spending has grown 42.1 percent for Interior appropriations. The Commerce, State and Justice appropriations has grown by 24.3 percent over the same time period, and the list goes on and on and on. The Republican budget controls government spending. The Democrat budget expands government spending. But besides spending being out of control, much of this Federal spending, unfortunately, is pure waste, fraud, abuse, and duplication. Until recently, Medicare routinely paid as much as five times as much for a wheelchair as the VA did simply because one would competitively bid and the other would not. In the last year of the Clinton administration, HUD wasted over 10 percent of their budget, making improper payments to people who do not qualify. It was almost $3 billion lost. Now let us talk about duplication. The Federal Government has 75 different programs funding international education, 90 different programs aimed at early childhood development, 342 different economic development programs. Now let us return to waste. Twenty-three percent of the students who have had their student loans forgiven for disability actually hold full-time jobs. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent of taxpayer money to study the sexual habits of older men and the nature of two-spirited individuals. I do not know what we are supposed to do with the results of these studies, and I do not even know what a two- spirited individual is. We spent almost $800,000 for a toilet in a national park, and the toilet does not even flush. For decades, for decades, for decades, example after example shows that many Federal programs routinely waste 5, 10, 20, even 25 percent of their taxpayer-funded budgets. Yet every Democrat budget offered raises taxes and raises government spending, which ends up paying for even more duplication, more waste, more fraud, and more abuse. This has to stop. Government is inherently wasteful. It does almost nothing as well as we the people, and government must be limited. Until we do limit it, we will never prioritize, much less root out the waste, the fraud, the duplication that permeates our Federal budget. The Republican budget actually limits government and thus begins the process of protecting the family budget from the Federal budget. Our effort to limit government and expand freedom is being criticized by many on the other side of the aisle. Last year, our Budget Committee passed out a budget asking for authorizing committees to find just 1 percent of waste, fraud and abuse, just 1 percent. Yet Democrat leaders ridiculed and reviled our efforts. One termed it a ``senseless and irresponsible exercise.'' But they were wrong last year, and they are wrong today. Some may say you control government now, wave your magic wand and make it all disappear. Permit me to make an observation from my past which I think applies today. My first job as an adolescent was to clean out chicken houses on my father's poultry farm. What I learned there was that one does not clean up overnight what took many years to accumulate. What has accumulated in government over many decades is now 10,000 different Federal programs spread out over almost 600 agencies with little oversight, little accountability or even little knowledge of what these programs do, if they achieve their goals or even if they are still relevant today. The question is, who wants to help clean up this mess and who wants to leave it alone? Only a Republican budget actually limits government. The Democrat budget expands government; and as government grows, freedom contracts. Let us expand freedom and protect the family budget from the Federal budget. Let us pass the Republican budget resolution.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with several of my colleagues from the Washington Waste Watchers, a Republican working group dedicated to rooting out the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in the Federal Government. Over the last 3 weeks, my colleagues on the Committee on the Budget have been discussing the Federal budget and debating the growth of government spending. With a historically large deficit and with Federal spending now exceeding $20,000 per American household for only the fourth time in American history and for the first time since World War II, many Democrats say, it is time to raise taxes yet again on the American people. Democrats are demanding that we roll back the tax relief that is responsible for the unparalleled growth that we have had in our economy, the tax relief that is bringing down our unemployment, the tax relief that amounts to only 1 percent, 1 percent of the $13.1 trillion 5-year spending plan the Committee on the Budget approved today. In other words, 99 percent of our budget woes lay on the spending side. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, we have a spending problem, not a taxing problem in this town. And I, for one, say it is time to take the trash out of Washington. It is time to go after the costly waste, fraud, and abuse that permeate every nook and cranny in our Federal Government. Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Well, Mr. Speaker, each and every year, we pour more money into the Federal Government with scant accountability; and we continue to throw billions of dollars of American taxpayers' money away in waste, fraud, and abuse. Let me discuss just a few examples. The Office of National Drug Control Policy awarded one advertising agency a $150 million grant to craft ads keeping American youth away from drugs, even though this company had a history of overbilling the Federal Government. In 2002 the firm had to repay the government $1.8 million for overstating its labor costs, and some representatives of the company are currently under indictment for filing false claims. Now, the ads are part of a 5- year, $1 billion campaign whose effectiveness has been greatly scrutinized. A private research firm concluded that teenagers viewing the ads were no less likely to use drugs than if they had not viewed them and that some were even more likely to use drugs. False claims and ineffective ads, yet Democrats want to raise our taxes to pay for more of this. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, is currently undertaking a major crackdown on phoney claims for power wheelchairs and has recovered $52.5 million thus far. One 89-year-old from Florida said that she and her husband were approached by a salesperson who pressured them into an unnecessary order. Medicare was then billed $15,500 for two scooters, a hospital bed, and a pressure mattress, none of which was needed. Another senior citizen testified in court that a claim had been submitted without her approval. She then demonstrated her lack of a need for a wheelchair by walking before the jurors. Mr. Speaker, $52 million in fraud, yet Democrats want to raise our taxes to pay for even more of this. The Drug Enforcement Agency contracts with the private sector to get translators and transcribers in many of its field divisions. However, the Inspector General's Office found such loose controls were in place that $2.8 million of the $9.4 million paid was going to unauthorized and unallowable expenses. Yet Democrats want to raise taxes to pay for more of this. In the year 2000, an investigation discovered that the Department of Energy spent more than $38 million developing information systems that it already had. They already had the systems in place. Yet Democrats want to raise taxes to pay for more of this. Mr. Speaker, these are just a few examples of the rampant waste in our Federal Government. After we begin to look closely, we see that so many Federal programs routinely lose 10, 20, even 30 percent of their taxpayer-funded budgets to waste, fraud, and abuse and have for years. There are so many different ways that we can save money in Washington without cutting any needed services or without raising taxes as our Democrat colleagues seek to do. Because when it comes to Federal programs, it is not how much money we spend that counts, it is how Washington spends the money that counts.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, TX, on the occasion of their 40th anniversary. Education is one of the most important issues facing the future of our great Nation. If America is to continue to be the leader of the modern world, we must offer a solid educational foundation for our citizens. To succeed in school and life, every student needs a basic set of skills. They need to listen attentively, speak persuasively, read with understanding, and write with command. Over the past 40 years, Lake Highlands High School has maintained a commitment to academic, athletic and artistic excellence and community service. Lake Highlands High School has produced 17 National Merit Finalists in the last 2 years alone, along with district championships in nearly every athletic competition offered. Since I was elected to Congress, I have visited Lake Highlands High School many times. Clearly, Lake Highlands High School is an institution dedicated to offering students a well-rounded education and an opportunity to become genuine leaders. As the Congressman for the Fifth Congressional District of Texas, I am very proud to represent Lake Highlands High School, it's teachers and it's students. I would like to offer my congratulations to their administrators, alumni, coaches, students, and parents on this momentous occasion and best wishes for their continued success.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as cofounder of the Washington Waste Watchers, a Republican working group dedicated to bringing the disinfectant of sunshine into the shadowy corners of the wasteful Washington bureaucracy. As we speak, Congress is engaged in a debate over spending and the Federal budget. With a historically large deficit, Democrats are advocating that our answer is to raise taxes on American families. Democrats demand that we roll back tax relief, the tax relief that is responsible for the strong growth in our economy, the tax relief that is bringing down unemployment, the tax relief that amounts to only 1 percent, 1 percent, of the $28.3 trillion, 10-year spending plan that we passed last year. In other words, Mr. Speaker, 99 percent of the challenge in dealing with our Federal deficit is on the spending side. Clearly we have a spending problem, not a taxing problem in America; and I, for one, say when it comes to Federal spending, it is time to take out the trash. It is time to go after the costly waste, fraud and abuse that permeates every nook and cranny of the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, this body will soon take up the issue of transportation funding. Transportation is important. It is important to our economy; it is important to jobs. But before we sign a huge check drawn on the bank account of American families, should we not do everything that we can to ensure that every dime of transportation funding goes to roads, and not rip-offs? Let me give you just a few examples. The Department of Transportation has historically squandered the hard-earned money of American families. Roughly two-thirds of Boston's ``Big Dig'' central artery is funded by Federal tax dollars. This has been called the greatest public works scandal of modern times. This federally funded project has repeatedly exceeded cost estimates and lagged behind schedule. Is that not a surprise? But in the year 2000, the project was already five times more expensive than planned, $11 billion over budget. An investigation revealed that project managers consistently were dishonest in their reporting of the project. $11 billion of bloated budgets and mismanagement, and yet Democrats want to raise our taxes to pay for more of this? Today the Federal Government is picking up 80 percent of the cost for a $1.4 million project to upgrade just three bus shelters in upstate New York. For more than $1 million of American taxpayers' hard-earned money, these bus shelters are going to be equipped with ``radiant heating systems'' and a layout ``designed to appeal to passengers' sense of security.'' Even some of the beneficiaries of these new mansion-like bus shelters had concerns with its cost. One of the residents said, It just seems like a whole lot of money to me. Maybe they could just put some glass doors up. American families are lucky if they can afford $150,000 for a home, and the Federal Government is going to use their money to pay over $370,000 apiece for bus shelters? And yet Democrats want to raise our taxes to pay for more of this? Another investigation revealed that 29 Federal contracts worth roughly $62 million were paid without any knowledge of whether they were even legally authorized. $62 million that was not legally authorized, and yet Democrats want to raise our taxes to pay for more of this? Mr. Speaker, these are just a few examples of the rampant waste, fraud and abuse and duplication in just one Federal agency. After you begin to look closely, you will discover that in many Federal programs, routinely they will squander 10, 20, even 30 percent of their taxpayer- funded budgets, and have for years. There are many ways that we can save money in Washington without cutting any needed services and without raising taxes on our hard- working families, as Democrats seek to do. Because when it comes to spending, Mr. Speaker, and Federal programs, it is not how much money you spend that counts; it is how Washington spends the money.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, in the month of January, across the country, the State of Texas and in the Fifth Congressional District, we celebrate School Board Recognition Month to acknowledge the hard work of school board members and thank them for their valuable service in the education of our children. During School Board Recognition Month, we honor the administrators, staff, and volunteers of the Richardson Independent School District who work to promote academic excellence and provide a safe learning environment for our students. School board members are responsible for fulfilling one of the most important roles in our society: helping develop young men and women into the future leaders of our Nation's economy, government, community, and houses of worship. I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to all Richardson school board members for their continued dedication and hard work. Their contribution to the education of our children is truly helping to shape the future of our communities and our Nation.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, in the month of January, across the country, the State of Texas and in the Fifth Congressional District, we celebrate School Board Recognition Month to acknowledge the hard work of school board members and thank them for their valuable service in the education of our children. During School Board Recognition Month, we honor the administrators, staff, and volunteers of the Dallas Independent School District who work to promote academic excellence and provide a safe learning environment for our students. School board members are responsible for fulfilling one of the most important roles in our society: helping develop young men and women into the future leaders of our Nation's economy, government, community, and houses of worship. I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to all Dallas school board members for their continued dedication and hard work. Their contribution to the education of our children is truly helping to shape the future of our communities and our Nation.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, in the month of January, across the country, the State of Texas and in the Fifth Congressional District, we celebrate School Board Recognition Month to acknowledge the hard work of school board members and thank them for their valuable service in the education of our children. During School Board Recognition Month, we honor the administrators, staff, and volunteers of the Garland Independent School District who work to promote academic excellence and provide a safe learning environment for our students. School board members are responsible for fulfilling one of the most important roles in our society: helping develop young men and women into the future leaders of our Nation's economy, government, community, and houses of worship. I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to all Garland school board members for their continued dedication and hard work. Their contribution to the education of our children is truly helping to shape the future of our communities and our Nation.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I recently had the privilege of honoring the 2003 Eagle Scout recipients from the Fifth Congressional District of Texas. As a Congressman and an Eagle Scout myself, I would like to recognize the tremendous achievement of these young men and commend them for their hard work and dedication. Of the millions of young men who join the Boy Scouts, only four percent achieve the highest rank of Eagle Scout. This rigorous program demands excellence in many areas and tests the Scout's commitment and strength of character. Eagles Scouts personify the qualities of trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift, bravery, cleanliness and reverence. By earning the rank of Eagle Scout, these young men join a distinguished group of outstanding Americans including former U.S. Presidents, astronauts, and Pulitzer Prize winners. America's youth are the leaders of tomorrow. I commend these Boy Scouts for providing excellent examples of leadership, citizenship, and service to their communities and their peers. I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to the following recipients of the Eagle Scout Award. Their valuable contributions to society will no doubt continue as they continue their journey through life. Andrew Ryan Holman-Troop 103 Cory Lynn Smith-Troop 391 Christopher William Jennings Bryan-Troop 890 Spencer Douglas Adams-Troop 890 Jonathan Dylan Shields-Troop 138 William Lawrence Love-Troop 64 Joshua Douglas Hughes-Troop 125 Cameron Blevins O'Bannon-Troop 861 Zachary Stephen Taylor-Troop 856 Michael Edward Flusche, Jr.-Troop 865 Randall Charles Roysdon, Jr.-Troop 339 Jonathan Kerry Van Zant-Troop 535 Wesley James Mullins-Troop 435 Graham Andrew Orr-Troop 435 Jordan Whitney Ashford-Troop 852 Jonathan Daniel Martin-Troop 856 Marshall Glyn Holland, Jr.-Troop 792 Sunray Roper Spinks-Troop 107 Eric P. Mendershausen-Troop 636 Caleb Peter Holzapfel-Troop 437 Joel Andrew Fletcher-Troop 890 Christopher Robert Darling-Troop 138 Brandon Kent Parsons-Troop 856 Curtis J. Aanerud-Troop 792 Jared Asher Forbus-Troop 730 Daniel Joseph Hale-Troop 865 Reagan Lewis Loggins-Troop 744 Matthew Glenn Higgins-Troop 744 Christopher G. Plummer-Troop 744 Alexander P. Jarrard-Troop 890 Mitchell Jacob George-Troop 890 Andrew M. Diaz-Troop 709 Jared Nathaniel Wilson-Troop 852 Eric Randall Johnson-Troop 890 Phillip Rowe Vorkoper-Troop 709 Troy Aleo Thompson-Troop 333 Chad Jacob Krischke-Troop 707 Brandon Casey Hall-Troop 707 Andrew Jedidiah Floyd-Troop 138 Eric Bruce Swanfeldt-Troop 647 Ryan Lemuel Johnson-Troop 890 Kyle Pierpont Johnson-Troop 890 Michael Collin Zreet-Troop 890 Travis Eugene Hughes-Troop 647 Jonathan Collins Lloyd-Troop 343 Darren Leland Butler-Troop 798 Robert Alexander Harrell-Troop 890 Thomas Nicodemus Wilder-Troop 719 Wilson Rowden Steely-Troop 473 Jason Howard Hensley-Troop 543 Michael Curtis O'Rear-Troop 856 Rory August Gerken-Troop 70 Jeffred David Nicholson-Troop 779 Michael Jones-Troop 33 Justin Minor Bosque-Troop 744 Ryan Keith Barley-Troop 707 Grant Richard Reddy-Troop 707 Scott Evans Holtzman, Jr.-Troop 890 Ryan James Koch-Troop 890 Lane Christopher Avery-Troop 852 Richard Baker Batten-Troop 707

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, as a former businessman, I can attest that one of the most important issues facing business today is how to remain profitable, productive, and efficient--while at the same time protecting the environment. Many people would have us believe this is an ``either-or'' proposition. But I disagree. I believe strongly that many companies, large and small, are committed to preserving our natural resources. And recently, I had the opportunity to visit one, and see first-hand how it is successfully pursuing a strategy of operational and environmental excellence. The Nucor Steel Bar Mill plant, located within my District in Jewett, Texas, is undertaking a modernization program that, when completed next year, will make it perhaps the most sophisticated facility in the industry. This three-phase, $250 million initiative began in 1999, and includes new equipment, new technologies, and a new melt shop. It will improve the facility's operations at every level, and solidify Nucor's status as a world-class company. In the end, it will have a total annual economic impact on Texas of more than $460 million. But what is especially interesting about this modernization is that it will enable the plant to produce more steel and be more profitable, yet still provide even greater environmental protection. Specifically, Nucor-Jewett will increase its capacity from the current 750,000 tons of recycled steel per year to 1 million, and it will achieve that growth through the installation of pollution control equipment that actually supports rather than hinders the mill's prosperity. This new equipment is more than simply state-of-the-art. It is state- of-the-future. The new melt shop will be tightly closed, and enable the plant to capture 100 percent of all air emissions. Advanced technologies will minimize the release of carbon monoxide and eliminate dust. All water-cooled furnace parts will have temperature sensors and flow meters to detect leaks. In other words, Mr. Speaker, this is not an expansion for its own sake. It is an expansion for the sake of safety, the environment and the team of dedicated employees who work at Nucor-Jewett. I also want to point out that a centerpiece of this modernization is a new 90-ton electric are furnace, or EAF. This too, stands as testimony of Nucor's commitment to performing in the most responsible possible manner. The EAF process is one of the most efficient, effective technologies in manufacturing today. It is less expensive and capital intensive than traditional steel making, which has helped Nucor become one of the lowest-cost producers in the world. But just as important, it requires fewer raw materials and less energy. The facts are staggering. For every ton of steel produced, the EAF process saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone. Annually, it saves enough energy to electrically power the city of Los Angeles for eight years. On top of that, it also reduces air and water emissions, and greenhouse gases that are associated with conventional steelmaking. This kind of environmental responsibility is nothing new to Nucor. The company, which operates 30 facilities in 14 states--including four in Texas--is the largest producer of recycled steel in the world. It takes scrap metal that would otherwise be clogging landfills or tossed in fields or along roadsides and turns it into something of value that can be used in automobiles, farm machinery, metal buildings, furniture and recreational equipment. But this modernization takes that commitment to a whole new level. As I said at the outset of my remarks, it demonstrates that economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, profit and prosperity can and should co-exist with efforts to preserve our natural resources. In Texas, we have the good sense to understand this. Nucor's ability to undertake such a significant modernization program was in part due to voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 1993 that provides tax exemptions on property used for pollution control. The amendment enabled companies to invest in environmental technologies without fear of seeing their property taxes increase. So we were able to protect the environment, strengthen our business climate and hold the line on taxes. The success of Nucor-Jewett shows quite clearly that the wisdom Texans exhibited in 1993 continues to pay off today. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Nucor Steel Bar Mill Group, its employees and management for helping to make Texas a land of greater environmental and economic opportunity.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, in the month of January, across the country, the State of Texas and in the Fifth Congressional District, we celebrate School Board Recognition Month, to acknowledge the hard work of school board members and thank them for their valuable service in the education of our children. During School Board Recognition Month we honor the administrators, staff, and volunteers who work to promote academic excellence and provide a safe learning environment for our students. School board members are responsible for fulfilling one of the most important roles in our society--helping develop young men and women into the future leaders of our nation's economy, government, community, and houses of worship. I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to all school board members in the Fifth Congressional District of Texas for their continued dedication and hard work. Their contribution to the education of our children is truly helping to shape the future or our communities and our Nation.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of being one of fourteen students in Mrs. Zelma Witt's first kindergarten class in Omaha, Texas. Today, I honor Mrs. Zelma Witt for her love of learning and thank her for the wonderful gifts she bestowed on all of the students who were blessed to be in her classroom. Mrs. Witt left an indelible mark on the lives of countless students during their earliest and most formative years of schooling. Mrs. Witt taught her young pupils the most fundamental building blocks of education, setting her students on a path toward higher education and brighter futures. I feel honored to have been a part of Mrs. Witt's first kindergarten class and part of the commitment to learning that she ingrained in her young students. May God bless you, Mrs. Witt. Thank you for all the gifts you have given us.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize Mr. Don Wilson for his outstanding service to the community and businesses in North East Dallas. After faithfully serving as President of Dallas North East Chamber of Commerce for the last three years, Don recently announced his retirement to serve as Vice President of the Dallas National Bank for the Breckenridge Corner Branch. Since September 25, 2000, Don Wilson has provided energetic leadership in promoting the commercial, civic, cultural, educational, and industrial interests of the Northeast Dallas area. Don's dedication to the prosperity and health of area businesses, neighborhoods, and residents is well known and admired by his fellow Chamber members. Under Don's leadership, membership in the Dallas North East Chamber of Commerce increased by 38 percent while membership retention rose to 62 percent, well above the national average. As an active President, Don Wilson oversaw many new successful activities including the Power-In-An-Hour monthly networking meeting, a new high-tech interactive Web site, the Women's Network, the Focus on Health Committee and the Healthier Northeast Dallas Initiative, a program modeled after President Bush's Healthier U.S. Initiative. Don Wilson's leadership and dedication will be greatly missed by the community and businesses he served. I thank him for his outstanding service and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today, Texans mourn the loss of a fine law enforcement officer. Just 3 weeks after being diagnosed with leukemia, at 43 years of age, Athens Assistant Police Chief Tom Underhill passed away at Baylor Hospital in Dallas from complications related to his disease. Underhill served Athens Police Department for 21 years. He started as a patrolman in May 1982. He was promoted to sergeant in 1987 and to patrol lieutenant in 1993. Tom Underhill took over the position of assistant chief in March. Previous to his time at Athens Police Department, he worked as a deputy sheriff at Gregg County and Henderson County. His coworkers remember him as having a quiet spirit, a strong sense of professionalism and a good sense of humor. He loved golf, gun shows and helping others. During his years of service, Tom Underhill was recognized numerous times for his achievements. He was named officer of the year several times and headed up the department's special response unit. He was a training officer, a firearms instructor and a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He was also always willing to make speeches at schools and help at community events. Today, we honor the memory of Assistant Chief Tom Underhill who served his community with distinction. Our most heartfelt prayers go out to his family, friends and fellow police officers, especially to his wife, Stacey and his parents, Bill and Linda Underhill.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, this November, we recognize National Diabetes Month and renew our commitment to preventing and eradicating diabetes. Just last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that the number of Americans with diabetes rose to an all- time high. According to their report, an estimated 18.2 million Americans now have diabetes, more than 6 percent of the population. Even more alarming is the fact that many Americans are unaware that they may be at risk or already have diabetes. Recent research suggests that more than five million people have the disease but have not been diagnosed. Another major cause of concern is the number of serious diabetes related illnesses. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults between 20 and 74 years of age. People with diabetes are also at higher risk for heart disease, kidney failure, extremity amputations, and other chronic conditions. To ensure the future health of our Nation, we can safeguard our children and our families from diabetes by encouraging good health and regular exercise. Following the guidelines for good nutrition, getting physical exercise, and maintaining proper weight can help prevent diabetes and reduce the chance of severe complications. As the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, finding a cure for diabetes is a top priority for medical researches. As a member of Congress, this year I supported legislation that included funding for important diabetes research and clinical testing. This year the House voted to provide $1.6 billion for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which is $47.2 million above fiscal year 2003. In addition, $150 million in mandatory funds will be made available for juvenile diabetes research. Through increased prevention and research we will overcome this disease and free millions of Americans from the threat of diabetes and related illnesses.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 and to commend the Congress and the President for outlawing the gruesome procedure known as partial- birth abortion. I do not refer to it as ``so-called'' partial-birth abortion like some do, because the term is perfectly accurate. An infant is partially delivered--often with the entire body outside of the womb except the head--then a pair of long, sharp scissors is forced through the back of the infant's skull and the doctor sucks the child's brains out before completing delivery of the now dead infant. The child is just moments away from birth--just a few inches from being delivered, from being completely out of the womb and breathing fresh air. It is one the most horrific, gruesome procedures I can imagine, one performed without anesthetic on an otherwise healthy infant that is alive during the process. In America today, in our infinite wisdom, we have decided that it is ``cruel and unusual punishment'' to sentence a prisoner convicted of murder to death by electrocution, but we freely allow abortion doctors to jam a pair of scissors through the skull of a healthy baby who is a tug away from birth, often 20 to 32 weeks in gestation and sometimes at fullterm! I have often said that in order to reduce the number of abortions in this country each year we must change the hearts and minds of the people, not just the laws. Sad and unfortunate as every abortion is, I am particularly grieved by each child that dies from a partial-birth abortion. Should we not ban a procedure so violent and so repulsive that even many abortion doctors shun, that over 70% of Americans are against, and at least 27 States have already outlawed? Mr. Speaker, this is a procedure that countless doctors and medical professionals have deemed unnecessary to preserve the health or life of the mother. Partial birth abortion is never medically necessary, yet we have been trying since 1995 to pass a ban on this procedure that a president with courage and wisdom will sign. As the bill's language states and medical authorities have attested to, partial-birth abortion poses serious risks to the health of a woman undergoing the procedure and there is no credible medical evidence that partial-birth abortions are safe or safer than other abortion procedures. Hippocrates, the father of medicine and originator of the Hippocratic Oath, charged to fellow physicians of his day: First of all, do no harm. Certainly all sane and rational people can agree that this procedure is anything but harmless, and I would venture to say quite ruthless to both the mother and child. While there are various versions of the Hippocratic Oath in use today, all speak of the physician's obligation to improve the health of all patients regardless of station. At a moment in time like this when that solemn Oath is not being honored, it is up to Congress and the American people to step in and enforce it with decent and reasonable laws. That is what the partial-birth abortion ban is: a decent and reasonable law in response to an indecent act. I am pro-life. I believe in the sanctity of life and in my heart and mind believe that life begins at conception. I do not believe that protecting the lives of the unborn and the rights of women are mutually exclusive ideas. But that is not what this legislation is about. This is not--and should not be--a debate of pro-life verses pro-choice. This is a prudent and reasonable bill that we should all be able to agree is necessary and important. While this legislation is now law, the fact remains that abortion is still legal in the United States. What this legislation does is ban the single most violent and gruesome abortion procedure: partial-birth abortion. Because it is unnecessary, because it is harmful to all parties involved, and because it is immoral. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this vital legislation, and I am thankful to have witnessed the day--after so many years of trying--when this Congress, our President and the American people had the decency and resolve to see partial-birth abortion outlawed in this great Nation.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. I obviously do share those frustrations, and I think they are basic tenets of economics that people on the other sides on the aisle forget. It has been a number of years, but I actually have a degree in economics from Texas A&M University. I can state that, number one, government is not in the business of creating wealth. Government is in the business of redistributing wealth. People, hardworking American people who go out and save and risk and take chances and work hard and build businesses, those are the people who create wealth in our society. Those are the people who create jobs in our society. Once again, it has been a few years since I have been in college, but I actually took a course in world economic history and in American economic history. I am unaware of any society that has ever taxed itself into prosperity. So apparently folks from the other side of the aisle must be reading different economic history text than I am. You cannot tax yourself into prosperity. And I might add for the benefit of those on the other side of the aisle, you cannot sue your way into prosperity either. That is their plan for America. It is a failed plan. It does not work.