George Holding

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, a nuclear-armed Iran is simply unacceptable and would pose a grave national security threat to our Nation and our allies. Sanctions against the Iranian regime are having an effect on their nation's economy and remain a key tool for U.S. policymakers. Unfortunately, the Obama administration is asking to delay new sanctions following all the talk about historic, high-level meetings, and phone calls. Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to be fooled by the rhetoric coming out of Tehran, especially as they push harder every day to develop a nuclear bomb. Before we even begin to discuss any deal with Tehran, we need to increase the pressure that has been working. It's time for the Senate to pass the House's new round of sanctions, which recently passed on this very floor with 400 votes. Each day the Iranian regime is able to further drag out the promise of talks is another day that centrifuges will keep spinning. Once they're done spinning, they won't have any need to talk again.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to pay tribute to my friend Marvin Coghill, a great North Carolinian who passed away on August 18. Marvin was an international leader in the tobacco industry, but much more than this, he loved the Old North State, and his many acts of kindness and generosity exemplify the good and humble man that he was. Marvin was born and raised in a farming community in Vance County. Always the diplomat, Marvin studied at NC State University for a year, then went up the road to rival UNC-Chapel Hill. His college days were cut short in 1952, though, when he joined the U.S. Navy and honorably served our country in the Korean War. The end of Marvin's military service marked the beginning of his career with Standard Commercial Tobacco Company in London in 1957. He traveled thousands of miles from eastern North Carolina on behalf of Standard Commercial, eventually settling in Thailand in 1963, where he married his first wife, Tomoe. Rising through the ranks, Marvin was named president and CEO of Standard Commercial in 1980. A year later, his adventure came full circle when he returned to North Carolina. For the rest of his life, he called Wilson his home. A man of great talents, he continued to lead Standard Commercial until his retirement in 2000. In his later years, Marvin would be honored with countless local awards and recognitions, and many organizations, including Wilson Medical Center Foundation, the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, and the Tobacco Farm Life Museum benefited from Marvin's generosity. Marvin also became deeply involved as a cofounder of Wilson Youth United, an organization dedicated to improving the prospects of at-risk youths. But that was just like Marvin. He had personally helped pay for many young folks to attend college, and after retirement, he redirected his considerable talents towards improving his community. It was also in retirement that he married fellow Henderson native, Anne Coghill. One of Marvin's great contributions to the world was his love of people. With his impeccable manners and gift of storytelling, any conversation with Marvin was a real delight. He saw what men and women were capable of, and throughout his life, he always brought out the best in people. Always outwardly focused, Marvin looked for ways to enrich the lives of people around him. Through the years, you'd often find Marvin enjoying breakfast at the Country Restaurant in Wilson. He was very modest, and you would never expect, when you first met him, that you were talking to one of the true titans of the tobacco industry worldwide. But you were always touched by his big heart and bigger personality, and each and every one of us is a better person for having met and known my friend Marvin Coghill. He will be greatly missed by me and many others throughout the world.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, my office continues to be flooded with calls from North Carolinians who are frustrated with the government shutdown. The House and Senate clearly disagree on how to proceed, but one thing we can all agree on is supporting our men and women in the military. Last Monday, Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the Pay Our Military Act. This bill ensures that our servicemen and -women and their civilian counterparts are paid during the shutdown. Unfortunately, the administration delayed using this authority to pay all members of the military and DOD civilians, meaning many civilian workers who should be working were furloughed. Our servicemen and -women deserve our deepest respect and gratitude. These men and women bravely serve their country and their paychecks should not be jeopardized. After pressure from the House, the administration quit delaying the implementation of this law. Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to also adopt the other commonsense funding bills passed by the House last week. Americans want to get back to work and don't want to see the government play politics with their paycheck.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, just hours after the President and Senate Democrats refused to compromise, causing our government to shut down, ObamaCare exchanges opened for business. Folks across the aisle said yesterday was a day to celebrate, but it is clear that is simply not the case. The President likened the ObamaCare rollout to a new Apple product. But the difference is that the American people are not forced to buy iPods, and this is not just about buying a new technological gadget, but something extremely important and personal--your health care. As soon as the ObamaCare exchanges became available online, there were immediate problems and glitches. The administration had to know millions of Americans would be trying to get on the site yesterday, and yet they still didn't account for the traffic. Mr. Speaker, not only has the administration forced an individual mandate on the American people--they haven't even adequately prepared for it. The arrogance of this law is becoming more and more apparent. The administration is more concerned about getting ObamaCare off the ground than whether or not it actually works.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, we are just a day away from the opening of ObamaCare's exchanges, and it seems like every day there is more bad news that comes out about the health care law. What the American people will be seeing once ObamaCare begins is a far cry from what they were promised. The American people were promised that ObamaCare would make health care more affordable; they were promised that there would be more choices; they were promised more coverage. For many Americans, it is already proving to be the opposite. Mr. Speaker, in my home State of North Carolina, it is expected that individual market rates will triple for young women and quadruple for young men. Recently, my office received a call from a man whose provider told him that his family's premiums were being raised to over $800 a month. The administration is not ready for this. Small businesses are not ready for this. Doctors and health care professionals are not ready for this. Mr. Speaker, the American people are not ready for this, and they do not want this.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, in just 6 days, ObamaCare's insurance exchanges are scheduled to open. But what consumers will find in terms of health plans and cost will be a far cry from what they were promised by this administration. The American people are tired of ObamaCare's broken promises. President Obama said that, ``if you like your plan, you can keep your plan.'' But that just isn't the case. The authors touted this law as a ``job creator,'' but, instead, it has caused employees to lose hours and made small businesses drop coverage for employees and question whether they can continue to hire. Mr. Speaker, with the mentality of ``we have to pass it to find out what's in it,'' this administration forced a 2,000-page bill into law. This doesn't even account for the already tens of thousands of pages of regulations folks are going to have to navigate through. It's clear, from reports detailing increased costs and taxes to the polls showing that the majority of Americans do not want this, that ObamaCare must be repealed, reformed, or delayed.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, the President has repeatedly boasted that last month the unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 percent, the lowest it has been in nearly 5 years. Mr. Speaker, although the rate has fallen, for many it is not because they've found jobs but, rather, because they've stopped looking for one and left the job market altogether. While the President has concentrated on this figure, other numbers simply cannot be ignored. There are still too many areas of the country where unemployment is far higher. For example, in four of the nine counties which I represent in North Carolina, the unemployment rate is in double digits, and so is the national unemployment rate for folks 13 to 24 years old. Mr. Speaker, we should be doing what we can do to get people back to work and lighten their economic burden. Through increased taxes and regulations and overreaching health care law, this administration has done exactly the opposite and has continued to play politics rather than promote pro-growth policies.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic efforts of United States Army Colonel Walter Joseph Marm, Jr., of Fremont, North Carolina. Colonel Marm demonstrated indomitable courage and was awarded the Medal of Honor during a combat operation in Vietnam. As his company was moving to relieve a surrounded friendly unit, he realized that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machine gun. He deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. Colonel Marm charged 30 meters across open ground and hurled grenades into the enemy position. Although severely wounded, Colonel Marm continued the momentum of his assault on the position, and he killed the remainder of the enemy, breaking the enemy assault. It is for his gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary bravery at the risk of his life that I am proud to honor and remember the actions of Colonel Walter Joseph Marm, Jr.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Professional truck drivers in America deliver goods safely and on time to our hospitals, schools, and local grocers each day and are vital to both our local and our national economy. Mr. Speaker, last week, I recently sat down with a number of my North Carolina truck drivers and learned that their industry, like so many others in America, is facing a host of new rules and regulations by the Federal Government that is impacting their ability to retain current drivers and hire new ones. In North Carolina right now, Mr. Speaker, there is a shortage of up to 15,000 truck drivers. These are good-paying jobs that can average a salary of $50,000 and include benefits. In these difficult economic times, the Federal Government must be promoting policies that encourage companies to go out and hire that additional worker. Trucking is a great example of such an industry. Mr. Speaker, professional truck drivers have a vested interest in keeping our roads safe not only for their businesses but for everyone else that shares the highway. Let's commit, Mr. Speaker, to finding sensible solutions that reduce burdensome regulations and keep our roads safe.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. HOLDING. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Madam Speaker, before I returned to Washington last week, I was skeptical of the President's proposal for military action in Syria. After classified briefings and hearing directly from Secretaries Kerry and Hagel, I am more skeptical than ever. This administration has done nothing to convince me and the American people that they have a focused, effective plan for military action in Syria, or really any true plan at all. These strikes, like the administration's Middle East policy of the last 4\1/ 2\ years, lack coherence and fail to support a long-term strategy. Additionally, they have not adequately considered the risk of retaliation from Assad's allies, Russia and Hezbollah. Madam Speaker, the test of a successful foreign policy is that our friends trust us and our enemies fear us. President Obama has failed in this regard, and a military strike will fail to benefit the United States' broader strategy or international interests.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Madam Speaker, in North Carolina, small businesses are a primary driver of the economy. These businesses, like many across the country, are harmed by excessive regulation. Over the past 4 years, our Nation's cumulative regulatory cost burden has increased by $520 billion. What's worse is this administration has failed to disclose, as required by law, the effects of new regulations in a timely manner. The administration is required to submit a regulatory agenda twice a year, but they have consistently failed to do so. Madam Speaker, small businesses are not given enough notice of how new regulations will affect their tough decisions, whether to cut a worker's hours or wages or adjust their business plan otherwise. That is why I introduced, Madam Speaker, the ALERT Act, H.R. 2804, the All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act, to ensure that the administration publishes its regulatory agenda in a timely manner. Madam Speaker, the least this administration can do for small businesses is follow the law and provide notice as to what regulations are coming down the pipeline.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, at a time when just under 60 percent of working-age Americans are employed, wherever there is potential for job growth we should seize the opportunity, and, clearly, small businesses provide opportunity. Although our economy has fluctuated and wavered over the last 15 years, in that time, small businesses have created 64 percent of net new jobs. Mr. Speaker, just 8 percent of the President's Cabinet members worked in the private business sector prior to their appointments. This Cabinet has less business experience than the previous 19 Cabinets. It is no wonder this administration did not clearly recognize the harmful effects that ObamaCare would have on small business. We should be helping small businesses by reforming our burdensome Tax Code and by curbing back excessive regulation. That is why, yesterday, the House passed the delay of the employer and individual mandates, but we must permanently repeal ObamaCare. The future of small businesses and families depends on it.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, last week, our Nation celebrated 237 years of independence. It is the dedication and sacrifice of the members of our armed services that allows us to celebrate this each year. Yet it is troubling that our servicemembers are struggling to utilize the job retraining and placement programs that they deserve. After returning home, a veteran seeking health and education benefits runs into over 600 forms that he or she must fill out from over 18 Federal agencies. This is not only burdensome for them, but it has created an enormous backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs. As of March, the agency had roughly 70 percent of its claims pending over 125 days. House Republicans have passed several bills this year to improve veterans' work programs and to decrease the VA backlog through funding for technological improvements like digital scanning and paperless claims processing. This is a start, but we need to do more. Our troops put their lives on the line for our country. We must do whatever we can to help veterans obtain the benefits they have so honorably earned.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Madam Speaker, after over 4 years with unemployment at or above 7.5 percent, it is no wonder that the American people do not have faith in this administration's ability to lead. Of the nine counties I represent in North Carolina, seven have unemployment rates above the national average. And in several of those counties, the unemployment rate is above 10 percent. Madam Speaker, North Carolinians, like all Americans, deserve better. We need to seize opportunities for economic growth and job creation, and one of those focus areas should be energy independence. More domestic production would not only increase our country's competitiveness in the energy field, but would create jobs, Madam Speaker. It would also lower prices at the pump for American families who should not have to worry about busting their budgets to fill their gas tanks. Unfortunately, the President's energy plan will only make American energy more expensive and hinder job growth. Madam Speaker, the American people are focused on jobs and the economy, and this administration needs to do the same.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for the opportunity to discuss this administration's excessive regulation. We know the harmful effect that overregulation has had on the economy. And since taking office, President Obama and his administration have continuously burdened the American people with an exceptional number of regulations, harming businesses and the economy. Mr. Speaker, small businesses in this country are essential to our economic stability. Small businesses encourage innovation and hard work. It's the American Dream to have a unique idea and build something from scratch--and that, Mr. Speaker, is exactly what small businesses do. Mr. Speaker, small businesses have created 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years and employed just over half of all private sector employees. In this stalled economy, small businesses are already struggling to be successful, and we need to take some of the current regulatory weight off their shoulders. Recently, back home, I spent the week going around to different chambers of commerce in my district. I went to Wake Forest. I went to Fuquay-Varina. I went to Apex. I went to Nashville and Rocky Mount and met with several hundred small business owners and folks who work in small businesses. Of course, I have the constant complaint of overregulation. I started asking the question. I said, Has the government done anything that you know of in the last 5 years which would make your life as a small business person better? I got no positive responses, Mr. Speaker. That's stunning. New regulations are complicated, and compliance is time consuming and expensive; and sometimes, job creators aren't informed of new regulations in a timely manner, giving them little time to prepare to comply with them. Business owners and their employees are now facing a time of uncertainty due to regulations. They're not confident in government policy coming out of Washington, and they have no trust in the ability of Washington to do things that are in their better interest. This sense of uncertainty, Mr. Speaker, may prevent an employer from hiring more people or force them to let go of current employees. As Mr. Yoho said earlier in his comments, he has small businesses in his district that are having to shoot lower rather than shoot higher. Small businesses may have to reevaluate how and when they do business, and that is unfortunate. Small businesses have no confidence in their government to give them pro-growth policy. Excessive regulation harms not only individual small businesses but our country's growth as a whole. The Small Business Office of Advocacy has reported that Federal rulemaking has imposed a cumulative burden of $1.75 trillion on our economy. Earlier this year in the Judiciary Committee, on which I serve, we heard testimony that, in the past 4 years alone, the cumulative cost burden has increased by $520 billion. Mr. Speaker, I'm not only concerned about the negative effect of regulations on our overall economy, but also the administration's abuse of power. President Obama has been encouraged by regulatory advocates to circumvent regular order and impose his climate change agenda through regulations, and he made it clear in his State of the Union speech earlier this year his intent to do so. I'm also concerned with the fact that the administration has repeatedly missed its required deadline for releasing a Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions twice a year. This agenda lays out each governmental agency's proposed regulation and annual regulatory plan, and businesses need to know this information so they can anticipate how forthcoming regulations will affect them. And this administration needs to have more accountability and more transparency about the harmful effects of these abundant--may I say, excessive--regulations. Mr. Speaker, in my district in North Carolina, many of the towns rely on small businesses. That's all that's there is small businesses. And whether it's a local restaurant owned by the same family for generations or an accounting firm or a clothing store or the town doctor, regulations are a major concern for them. We should be doing what we can do to encourage small businesses, not to deter them with strenuous and excessive regulations.

Mr. HOLDING. As my friend from Georgia knows, numbers don't lie; and when we're spending $1.75 trillion a year complying with regulations, that's a lot of money.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, in a time when many Americans are out of work and struggling to make ends meet, the last thing that they want to see is tens of millions of their taxpayer dollars being spent to send the President on a trip to Africa. Mr. Speaker, while every President deserves appropriate protective detail, the security provisions for President Obama's upcoming trip are excessive. Hundreds of Secret Service agents, over 50 vehicles, fighter jets, and a Navy aircraft carrier with a fully staffed medical trauma center will cost the government tens of millions of dollars. Mr. Speaker, our country is over $16 trillion in debt, and the government agencies have made cutbacks as a result of the sequester. It is no secret that we need to rein in government spending, and the Obama administration has regularly and repeatedly shown a lack of judgment for when and where to make cuts. For example, why should pilots' hours, Air Force pilots' hours, be cut back at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base so that the President can now have his most expensive trip since taking office? Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the President's upcoming trip to Africa is going to be for less than 1 week, and that trip costs 1,350 times more than a week of White House tours. So for the cost of this trip to Africa, you could have 1,350 weeks of White House tours, which the White House has canceled indefinitely due to budget restraints. Mr. Speaker, the numbers don't lie. So either the administration is bad at math, or they simply don't see a problem with their excessive spending. The American people have had enough of the frivolous and careless spending; and they deserve real, appropriate cuts from this excessive administration. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, we are all familiar with the recent IRS scandal involving the agency targeting conservative groups. As if this institutional arrogance wasn't troubling enough, the IRS will soon become the primary enforcer of ObamaCare. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support legislation introduced by my friend from Tennessee, Congresswoman Diane Black. H.R. 2022, the Stopping Government Abuse of Taxpayer Information Act, would stop the implementation and enforcement of ObamaCare and force government agencies associated with Federal Data Services to certify that the American people's private information is not being exploited for targeting based on political beliefs. Oversight, Mr. Speaker, is an important function of Congress, and we should ensure that the American people's right to privacy and political freedom are protected. I thank the gentlewoman from Tennessee for introducing this important bill. It's time we demand accountability from the IRS and prevent them from further intruding on the rights of American taxpayers.