Nan Hayworth

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brennan P. Mahoney of Carmel, New York for service to his nation as an engineer in the United States Army Reserve and for dedication to his role as a Veterans Service Officer for the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs. Mr. Mahoney, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture and a Master of Science degree in Education and Training, joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1982. The record of Mr. Mahoney's 29 years of service describes a distinguished career that begins with an assignment to West Germany as a Bridge Specialist in 1982, followed by mobilization for a 15 month tour in Iraq beginning in 2006. In addition, he distinguished himself as a New York State Veterans Service Officer earning him the respect and gratitude of those he assisted. Mr. Mahoney has received numerous awards and honors for dedication. Lieutenant Colonel Mahoney is currently holding orders for his third active-duty deployment. He is expected to leave his home and family later this month to serve in harm's way once again, this time in Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Brennan P. Mahoney. We are fortunate to have benefited from his dedication and service.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to go red today and to honor our Girl Scouts. We have a wonderful woman in our beautiful Hudson Valley, Martha, who is from Wappingers Falls and who is a former computer programmer and a current substitute teacher. She wrote to me: It broke my heart to hear that Kodak filed for bankruptcy. What is being done to keep the companies that are producing made in the U.S.A. products here in the United States? Martha, that's a great question. And here's what we can do and what we're doing in the House of Representatives. We're working to make our Tax Code flatter and fairer. We're working to remove burdensome and unnecessary regulations. And we're working to take less from hardworking Americans like you so that we can spend and save and invest right here in our communities and in our country. We've sent 30 bills to the Senate, 27 of which still sit unanswered. So this week in the House of Representatives, we're working further to shrink the Federal Government and to make our budget process have common sense the way you do in your own homes. I urge the Senate to join us to work together to revive our economy and make America open for business again.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, last November I hosted a jobs fair in New York's Hudson Valley. A thousand local residents came to meet with nearly 40 local employers, all seeking work, of course, all offering work. At Christmas I was very happy to receive a card from one of our residents. She had found a job at our jobs fair. So the question I have as we approach the President's State of the Union tonight is: How can we multiply this story by 14 million? And I think we can do it if we work together, House and Senate and President, to free American enterprise to create jobs. Washington cannot regulate or tax us into growth, but we can work together to lift burdens and bring the Federal Government to the right size to serve, and not to suffocate, a strong and healthy economy. I stand ready to work with our colleagues to pursue this. It is simple common sense.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, on December 10 Pamela from Greenwood Lake, New York, in our beautiful 19th District, sent the following letter to me: ``Stop any more Federal spending. Less is better. Europe is a lesson for us. We live in the greatest Nation on Earth.'' And, Pamela, you're absolutely right. If we are going to spread the blessings of the greatest opportunity society in history, then as we enter this holiday season, we need the promise of growth. Your House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats alike, have as of today passed 27 bills, job-growing, growth-promoting bills that protect American workers and job creators from tax increases, roll back burdensome regulations, and end the Federal spending that suffocates the economic engine of enterprise. And we keep them listed on a card so everybody knows. I urge the Senate to act now to put those bills to work and put our people back to work and give every American good reason to look forward to a happy new year in this land of liberty.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Thank you, Dr. Fleming, and I add my thanks to our distinguished colleague from Georgia in gratitude for your hosting and managing this session tonight. We just had a Medicare telephone town hall today with our constituents in the beautiful Hudson Valley. We had a Medicare administrator with us because it's open enrollment season for Medicare throughout the country, I believe, up through December 7. So we were very grateful to have a Medicare administrator with us who helped answer some of the questions about some of the complexities of Medicare because there are a number of them, as you might imagine. But we did get one question that was conspicuous because the gentleman asked me, and it's one that we've all been asked, as Dr. DesJarlais was saying not long ago, ``Nan, why are you against Medicare?'' I explained to my constituent that gosh, sir, it's exactly the opposite. I want to preserve and protect Medicare. I want to make it secure and sound. This is very important to all of us, to me as a doctor. I had the privilege of practicing for 16 years. I'm an opthamologist. So many of my patients were seniors. I'm the daughter of two elderly parents, both of whom rely on their Medicare benefits. So the last thing that I would want to do, the last thing that any of us want to do is to harm Medicare. We know how important it is. More specifically, this nice gentleman was asking about our vote on the budget this past spring. And as all of us here know and as our listeners may not be fully aware, we did pass a budget in the House of Representatives this past April. They may not have heard quite as much about it as they otherwise should have, if you will, because the Senate did not pass a budget. They did give ours 47 more votes than the one proposed by the President. Nonetheless, that was not enough to pass a budget so we've been waiting now, the American public, for at least 2\1/2\ years for the Senate to pass a budget. But in our budget, and Dr. Gingrey and Dr. Fleming have just been referring to the $575 billion that was removed from Medicare by the massive 2010 health care overhaul. In our budget, we restore those funds to Medicare. That is a very, very important fact. We all voted here as doctors, as caring legislators, as representatives of our districts to restore funding to Medicare, to strengthen Medicare, not to weaken it. That's the last thing we want to do and the last thing we can afford to do. So I think it's very important for the American people to understand that as things stand now, the Medicare benefits that people are counting on are threatened in ways that they don't have to be. So that's something that people should think about, people who cherish Medicare, who receive Medicare and who have loved ones who depend on Medicare; that Medicare is, unfortunately, as our colleagues have discussed, running out of funds. When we think about payroll taxes, and we hear a lot about payroll taxes in the news these days, payroll taxes go to pay for Social Security and for Medicare. And the way these programs were set up, as we all know but just so that everybody understands, they were supposed to be, people would contribute from their paychecks, and the money would be kept by the Federal Government and then returned to them in their benefits in their senior years, when they would need them. That could be a very helpful thing; but as Dr. DesJarlais has pointed out, thank the good Lord, people are living much, much longer than they were when Medicare was first made law. So we are facing a challenge because, for several decades, contributions to Medicare from the payroll taxes were built up. People weren't taking out as much in their Medicare benefits as they were paying in. The baby boomers were not part of the Medicare-eligible senior group yet, and now they are. Now our seniors are living many years longer, thank the good Lord--and I wouldn't trade a day with my parents nor with any of our seniors--and our health care is wonderful in the United States, but it is costly for a number of reasons. The Medicare funds that were built up have now started to be depleted, and they're going to run out, it's projected, anywhere from 2024 to now 2021. What we all know is that the estimates are probably off the mark. So, to take an extra $575 billion out of Medicare is the last thing we want to do. It's very important for everybody to understand that because, although there are workers in this country who are contributing their payroll taxes now--and those are going to help fund Medicare--when those folks become retirees, Medicare is going to be very different in terms of the funds it has. That Medicare trust fund is going broke. So folks have been thinking about--Dr. DesJarlais in particular mentioned it, I think--and may have heard three letters, SGR, about the doc fix. What is that? What does that mean? When patients go to visit their doctors and when they receive Medicare, as Dr. Fleming was saying, our Medicare patients have a certain fee schedule that we are obligated to follow. In a lot of cases, depending on their insurance and other factors, that fee schedule is far less than the fee schedule that is set up for our other patients. So Medicare pays doctors and other providers, and it generally pays less than other programs do. We accept that when we participate in the Medicare program, but to provide Medicare in the United States is very expensive. We have staff that we have to pay. We have overhead. Everybody who has a business--and I had my own practice, a small business--has rent and supplies and staff and insurance to pay. One of the unique aspects of America in terms of our medical care is that we do have what's called a ``liability system,'' which is very costly, to cover lawsuits for malpractice. We should, indeed, do everything we can to prevent malpractice, but lawsuits in this country are very expensive.

Ms. HAYWORTH. Absolutely.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ruth Argo Mazzei of Southeast, New York for her service as Town Clerk for the past 20 years. Mrs. Mazzei was first elected to serve the people of Southeast as Town Clerk in November of 1991. Certified as both an International Municipal Clerk and New York State Registered Municipal Clerk, Mrs. Mazzei has served the residents of Southeast with honor and integrity. She is known for her love of her community and her loyalty to friends and family. Mrs. Mazzei and her husband of 44 years, Joseph Mazzei, have four sons: T.J., Christopher, Michael, and Robert. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize the Honorable Ruth Argo Mazzei. As the face of Southeast Town Government and Town Hall for over two decades, the residents of Southeast and New York's Nineteenth Congressional District are fortunate to have benefited from her service.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, last week a constituent from Washingtonville, New York, wrote this to me: ``I balance my family budget, so please explain to me why we don't have the will to balance the Federal budget? Pass a balanced budget amendment and future generations will be far better off. If not, we will have left them our errors.'' Another one of my constituents--his first name is Joseph--and Joseph, I want to assure you that I agree with you completely. These are my sons. This is my family. These are Will and Jack. Together, as our distinguished colleague from Texas just told us, they owe nearly $100,000 to the national debt as of today. They had no part at all in creating it. Every dollar that the Federal Government spends has 40 cents in debt. That is unconscionable intergenerational theft. It must stop, and we must stop it this week. I urge all of our colleagues across the aisle to pass the balanced budget amendment. Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Paul J. Eldridge for his service as County Executive for Putnam County. Mr. Eldridge was appointed by the Putnam County Legislature in November 2010 to serve until a special election could be held to fill the position. Mr. Eldridge confirmed the wisdom of his selection, serving with honor and distinction during a difficult period. His service as County Executive was the culmination of 33 years as a public servant for Putnam County, during which Mr. Eldridge has received numerous awards and honors for his work. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize the Honorable Paul J. Eldridge. New York's Nineteenth Congressional District, and the entire Hudson Valley, is fortunate to have benefited from his service.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, in response to the President's jobs plan, Linda Shevchuk from Carmel, New York, in my own 19th district, sent the following letter to me: ``The government's first priority should be to make sure that existing programs and agencies are operating efficiently and effectively. I can't fathom how the President can ask for more revenue when there is so much waste in our government. Government needs to act more like a business. In order to succeed, a business has to operate efficiently and effectively, be innovative, set a reasonable budget, and operate within that budget.'' Ms. Shevchuk, you're absolutely right. In fact, on our list of the forgotten 15 bills that we need the Senate to act on right away, there is the budget for fiscal year 2012. It has now been 918 days since the American people received a budget for the Federal Government because our Senate has not yet acted. Please call your Senators across the country--and, Ms. Shevchuk, call our Senators from New York--and ask them to act on the forgotten 15, including the budget for fiscal year 2012, so that we can free our economy, free our hardworking American taxpayers, and get us all back to work.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Thank you, mister whip. Last week, I had the privilege of coming to the floor and sharing a letter from one of our constituents in the 19th Congressional District of New York, Mr. Paul Manahan from Mahopac, New York. This is what he wrote: ``We don't need or want more government spending. Cut regulations; cut taxes; repeal the 2010 health care law and let business do what it does best--create jobs based upon demand, not government dictates, spending, and attempts at market manipulation.'' Today, in this bill, the Access to Capital for Job Creators Act, H.R. 2940, we are taking yet another step toward implementing this kind of advice from a commonsense American. Small businesses, as many of us have already mentioned, they really are the job creators and the key to a healthy and strong economy. Our number one priority in this Congress is to ensure that the regulatory environment for small businesses supports capital formation, investment, and job creation. This bill does exactly that, furthering job creation by eliminating unnecessary regulations. The Access to Capital for Job Creators Act creates jobs by eliminating a prohibition on solicitation that is a barrier to capital formation and job creation. And regulations that are unnecessary in this case are being eliminated because investors under regulation D have to be sophisticated and accredited. So there is the common sense. This is a win all the way around. I'm very proud to cosponsor this important piece of legislation, and I am so glad to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle supporting this bill. I want to make mention of the fact that this bill now joins 15 other bills that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. They are listed on a card that we're carrying with us and that you've probably seen quite a bit. I want the Senate to know that this support from both sides indicates how strongly we are committed to creating jobs; and our Nation cannot wait for the Senate to hold yet this one hostage as well, so I urge its swift passage.

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to add to my colleague's comments by noting that shareholders in major public corporations, major issuers of public stock have said over and over again that they do not find that the amount of capital that would have to be devoted, the amount of resources that would have to be devoted to unusual disclosures about executive compensation beyond what the SEC rules already require prior to Dodd-Frank actually make any difference to their decisions about investing at all. So you can certainly expect that accredited investors who are sophisticated will not need this kind of additional burden to be placed on companies that clearly they want to see thrive and grow with the precious capital that they have.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, last month Paul Manahan from Mahopac, New York, sent the following letter to me: ``We don't need or want more government spending. Cut regulation, cut taxes, repeal the 2010 health care law, and let business do what it does best: Create jobs based upon demand, not government dictates, spending, and attempts at market manipulation.'' Well, Mr. Manahan, you're absolutely right and, in fact, our House majority has passed at least 15 bills that now lie dormant in our Senate because the Senate refuses to take action on what would actually create American jobs, lift regulations, create new environments and new opportunities. We are working nonstop in the House majority for all of our American citizens and you, Mr. Manahan, to make sure that you have the opportunity that you deserve and the prosperity that you need. Please urge your Senator and all senators across the country to free those 15 bills and get this economy going.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Madam Speaker, on September 14, 2011, this year, Mark Prosachik from Hopewell Junction, New York, sent the following letter to me, and I quote: ``Dear Congresswoman Hayworth, I have been unemployed for over 18 months and my unemployment insurance ran out, reducing my eligibility for extended benefits. You would think I would be fuming mad . . . and demanding the government make companies hire me. But, no. Instead I'm against President Obama's jobs bill. It is guaranteed to add to the country's bloated debt. It will require taxes to be raised. It will waste money training people when there are many with the skills who are unemployed.'' Mr. Prosachik, I think you're absolutely right. Spending more of your hard-earned dollars or anybody's else's on projects like Solyndra or other efforts that unfortunately have not grown our economy will not work. I commend the Senate for rejecting a jobs bill that was a job- killing bill. We in the House majority have passed bills throughout this year, joined often by our Democratic colleagues, that will grow jobs, that will revive our economy. I urge all of our colleagues in the Senate to pass that agenda immediately.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, October 10 marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of China, which is now on Taiwan. Just as the United States is considered a cultural melting pot, the Republic of China represents a society that has found success in embracing openness and respect for all citizens. As closely related and longstanding trade partners, the United States and Taiwan have a rich history of cooperating to create economic growth. Since passage of the Taiwan Relations Act if 1979, the United States has been very supportive of the Republic of China, and, in turn, Taiwan has remained a friendly and faithful ally to the United States. America's support for the freedom, security, and stability of Taiwan stems from our shared foundation in individual liberty and from our mutual interest in defending peace and prosperity in the Pacific Rim region and throughout the world. As a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I am committed to enhancing and strengthening U.S.-Taiwan relations, and ensuring that the Republic of China continues to thrive as a free and democratic country. I am working with my colleagues to ensure that Taiwan has the capacity to defend itself from potentially hostile nations, and to perpetuate the democratic ideals that inspired its creation. I urge all my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Republic of China on completing its first century as a nation, and in renewing America's commitment to our common defense.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: On July 27, Carol Augias from Mahopac, New York wrote to me: ``Representative Hayworth, I have never written to a Congressperson before, however, I am deeply troubled by the debt ceiling stalemate. While I firmly believe that the massive debt we carry in this country needs to be reduced (I personally curtail my spending when my debt exceeds my comfort level), I am very concerned about what may happen if we default on our loans. Please find a way to get this issue resolved prior to the August deadline. Some compromises must take place. Once we have taken care of the immediate issue we, as a Nation, must evaluate our financial position so that our country will continue to flourish and children will also be able to purchase a home, afford a college education.'' Mr. Speaker, Carol is right. We need to resolve the debt limit crisis for the sake of future generations. Just as the American people--like Carol--pay their bills, the federal government must do the same, so we are obligated to raise the Treasury's debt ceiling. But we must do so responsibly because our nation has another critical and painful problem that is related to our enormous debt: 14 million Americans need jobs. We can make our economy grow, and create jobs, by assuring that the dollars Americans work so hard for are theirs to spend and save and invest. To do this, the federal spending juggernaut has to stop. And, as Carol pointed out, there is a need for cooperation. We can reform our tax code and close loopholes, as the President has urged, and we can do so without raising net taxes. We cannot, in good conscience, increase the burdens on Americans who need a vigorous economy. Our nation didn't reach the point of fiscal crisis overnight, and we aren't going to get out of it overnight either--but we can make progress in the right direction now, and continue doing our utmost together to bring this federal government to the right size, and empower our citizens to enjoy the freedom and dignity that is their birthright as Americans.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I could not agree more with the gentleman from California that the Botanic Garden is a treasure. I, too, have visited it, with great delight. But I would suggest that we perhaps could get together and seek voluntary contributions to fund this additional budgetary amount so that we can respect the urgent needs of the United States budget and of the United States taxpayers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes. My amendment proposes that we cut the $632,780 proposed increase in funding to the Botanic Garden and transfer that amount to the spending reduction account. While the Botanic Garden in the FY12 budget receives an increase, almost every other account in the Legislative Branch appropriations bill has been decreased, including for the Congressional Research Service, the Congressional Budget Office, JEC, JCT, and the Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security account. The Botanic Garden provides education and outreach programs, and they are definitely of value. They have been commended in the committee report for their accomplishments. But it is a time of austerity and the Botanic Garden should take the necessary steps to continue to pursue those programs with the same funding as they received in fiscal year '11. Throughout the rest of the legislative branch in the Federal Government we're cutting costs, we're eliminating employee spots, and we're taking other reductive measures. Each of our offices and committees will be operating with additional cuts. The Botanic Garden can itself continue to provide successful services and maintain its venue with the same level of funding as in FY 2011. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I certainly respect the point that the gentleman from California has made; but in a time when we are running a deficit of $14 trillion, at least, we have to seek to pursue sensible measures to reduce budgets wherever we can. And we are, unfortunately, faced with a time in our history in which what is nice to have or good to have must yield to what we absolutely must have. Therefore, I will defend the proposed reduction in the account that we have made in this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Assistant Chief Brian Lena and Captain William Bahr of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department; for their heroic actions and longstanding commitment to their fire department and community. In October of 2010 these two men, along with their fellow firefighters, responded to an evolved structure fire which blocked the only exit the occupants had. At the scene, Assistant Chief Lena and Captain Bahr bravely rescued the occupants through a second story bedroom window. During this time, the hose crew also attacked an advancing fire in the kitchen and hallway. In response to these heroic actions, Assistant Chief Lena and Captain Bahr have both been awarded the distinct honor of Firefighter of the Year. They have received this award with several agencies, including the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County Volunteer Firemen's Association, Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association, and the Firemen's Association of the State of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Assistant Chief Lena, Captain Bahr, and all of the other first responders who came out that day. We are fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers protecting us in the Hudson Valley.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the largest employer in New York's 19th Congressional District, IBM, on the 100th anniversary of their founding. IBM employees, retirees, partners, and clients within the Lower Hudson Valley and around the world are hosting an IBM Centennial Day of Service to donate their time, skills, and expertise to support our communities. Since 2003, IBM employees have donated more than 13 million hours of service around the world in over 120 countries. Within the last six months alone, IBM volunteers have contributed over 2.5 million hours to service in behalf of worthy causes, including teaching math and science to middle school students; mentoring young Uruguayans from impoverished neighborhoods; and coaching hundreds of small business entrepreneurs in Nigeria. $12 million in service grants are also being distributed as part of the IBM Centennial Day of Service, and I commend both IBM and its thousands of dedicated and talented employees for their generosity.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. I thank my colleague from Tennessee, Dr. Roe, for yielding me this time. In New York's District 19, I have been sharing a headline with our seniors and with all of our citizens, which is that the Affordable Care Act ends Medicare as we know it. It ends Medicare as our seniors know it. And you, sir, have stated the reason exactly. The Independent Payment Advisory Board, which was written into law and passed by the 111th Congress, signed into law by President Obama, the Independent Payment Advisory Board, will assure that our seniors, starting in 2015, when they have to make a 0.5 percent cut in Medicare's budget, our seniors will stop having the access to care that they are accustomed to. And they will not be happy about it. And then in every successive year, in 2016 it will be 1 percent; 2017, 1.25 percent; 2018, 1.5 percent, if I have done that math right, Dr. Roe. Our seniors will find that their access to the doctors they know, the doctors they prefer, will not be the same. So when we talk about what we need to do as a Nation, we in the House majority have pledged to our seniors that we will keep the promises that America has made to them, to make sure that Medicare benefits remain secure and safe for as long as they need them, which is why in the budget that we passed in April, the Path to Prosperity Budget, we guaranteed that seniors 65 and above, and in fact our citizens age 55 and above, will not see changes to Medicare as they know it. That gives Americans 10 years at least to prepare for a more secure future for Medicare for exactly the reason that you have talked about, Dr. Roe, which is we do have many blessings in this extraordinary country, and one of them is that we do continue to make wonderful advances in medical science. They do come at a certain cost. So we have a challenge that we need to face together. There are certainly ways in which we can, together as a Nation, figure out how we make our health care more cost effective, and there are lots of opportunities. It is true, there is waste, fraud, and abuse in the system. That needs to be addressed. There are also ways we can protect our health better in our youth that Americans haven't necessarily had to think about nearly as much in the past couple of decades, but that they are starting to think about. So we need to make sure that we are making those advances together and that our seniors and all Americans who need advanced care will be able to get it, that the sickest among us will not be deprived of care because of the arbitrary decisions of a board that has to cut budgets. Again, that is the headline. The Affordable Care Act ends Medicare as you know it, but what the budget that the House Republican majority passed in April does is to restore Medicare as our seniors know it and allow all Americans time to prepare for a better future for Medicare.

Ms. HAYWORTH

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, as you know, this Monday is Memorial Day, and Memorial Day reminds us that the most fundamental right of Americans, the one we cherish most, is to be free. But that freedom is purchased at a dear price. I rise in gratitude to the millions of Americans who have made the sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice, and to their family members. I remember in particular Private David R. Fahey of Yorktown Heights, New York, from our own District 19, who made the ultimate sacrifice this year. Thanks to all of our veterans and all of our families who do so much to assure that we enjoy the freedoms that we cherish every day.