Sam Johnson

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2009-2010 Congressional Youth Advisory Council. This year 45 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 9 through 12 made their voices heard and made a difference in their communities, their country and their Congress. These students volunteered their time, effort, and talent to inform me about the important issues facing their generation. As young leaders within their communities and their schools, these students boldly represent the promise and the hope we all have for their very bright future. President Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.'' To ensure that the blessing of freedom is passed from one generation to the next, the members of the CYAC spent time interviewing a veteran and documenting the experience for the ``Preserving History Project.'' Today I'm proud to submit the brief summaries provided so the patriotic service of our dedicated veterans and the thoughtful work of the CYAC may be preserved for antiquity in the Congressional Record. A copy of each submitted student summary follows. To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you for making this year and this group a success. It is not a coincidence that this congressional tribute celebrates two generations of service. Each of you is trusted with the precious gift of freedom. You are the voices of the future and I salute you. God bless you and God bless America. The summary follows: I had known a little about what my dad did while he was deployed, but I had never pressed him for details. I think that is was partially because I assumed that anything that would make a good story would be classified for the next eighty years, but I also think that I was a little bit afraid of what I might hear. However, the stories that he shared were not as horrifying as I expected. I was stunned when he told me that he had never had a casualty in any of his units. Our interview session was about as casual as it could be. I went outside to interview him while he was working in the yard. During our interview I learned more about some of the places he had visited in peace, including the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates) and what was included in that country. At first I was surprised that this was one of his favorite places he has visited, but after he explained what was there it made perfect sense. I was honored that I could speak with my father about his experiences. It inspired me to do my utmost to make sure that I will preserve our military history.--Kai Fujisaka

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2009-2010 Congressional Youth Advisory Council. This year 45 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 9 through 12 made their voices heard and made a difference in their communities, their country and their Congress. These students volunteered their time, effort, and talent to inform me about the important issues facing their generation. As young leaders within their communities and their schools, these students boldly represent the promise and the hope we all have for their very bright future. President Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.'' To ensure that the blessing of freedom is passed from one generation to the next, the members of the CYAC spent time interviewing a veteran and documenting the experience for the ``Preserving History Project.'' Today I'm proud to submit the brief summaries provided so the patriotic service of our dedicated veterans and the thoughtful work of the CYAC may be preserved for antiquity in the Congressional Record. A copy of each submitted student summary follows. To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you for making this year and this group a success. It is not a coincidence that this congressional tribute celebrates two generations of service. Each of you is trusted with the precious gift of freedom. You are the voices of the future and I salute you. God bless you and God bless America. The summary follows: As a 1st rank navel veteran, Mr. Harvey F. Spears has had many awe-inspiring experiences. In particular he was involved in law enforcement and weapons control in his military career, which lasted 20 years. In the Navy, he was the Command Master in Arms (CMAA) and was involved in the Navy Security Guard. He comes from a history of family serving their country through various aspects of the military. He helped found the Veterans Association just before graduating from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas; currently, Mr. Spears is the president of the Veterans Association at UNT, which helps veterans gaining an education at the University of North Texas to fully access all the resources available to them. I absolutely enjoyed talking to him and realized that he had been through much that even I could learn from. I was also amazed at how many places he has been to, seeing as I have never been outside the country. Ultimately, I admire his leadership ability to create an organization for veterans as an alumnus of the university and still play a prominent role in his community, even after his retirement from service.-- Anita Chandrahas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2009-2010 Congressional Youth Advisory Council. This year 45 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 9 through 12 made their voices heard and made a difference in their communities, their country and their Congress. These students volunteered their time, effort, and talent to inform me about the important issues facing their generation. As young leaders within their communities and their schools, these students boldly represent the promise and the hope we all have for their very bright future. President Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.'' To ensure that the blessing of freedom is passed from one generation to the next, the members of the CYAC spent time interviewing a veteran and documenting the experience for the ``Preserving History Project.'' Today I'm proud to submit the brief summaries provided so the patriotic service of our dedicated veterans and the thoughtful work of the CYAC may be preserved for antiquity in the Congressional Record. A copy of each submitted student summary follows. To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you for making this year and this group a success. It is not a coincidence that this congressional tribute celebrates two generations of service. Each of you is trusted with the precious gift of freedom. You are the voices of the future and I salute you. God bless you and God bless America. The summary follows: Horace Easton Bradford is a Texas veteran who fought in World War Two. He joined the military right out of high school in 1941 because he believed it was the right and patriotic choice. During his military career, Mr. Bradford obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant and fought in Northern Africa and Europe in WWII. His job was to maintain and oversee airplane maintenance and service. Planes had to be in the best condition before they could fly out and perform missions and assignments. Although it was hard work, Staff Sergeant Bradford was able to explore a totally different area of the world while serving the country he loved. Discovering Horace Bradford's experiences in combat in a major world war was truly a life changing experience for me. Reading history in textbooks is nothing compared to an individual's personal encounter with history. I was able to use my background knowledge in U.S. history to understand his experiences in WWII. I could feel his compassion and his dedication to the Army. His service in wartime helped reinforce my appreciation to all servicemen who have fought in world conflicts.--Richard Hung

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2009-2010 Congressional Youth Advisory Council. This year 45 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 9 through 12 made their voices heard and made a difference in their communities, their country and their Congress. These students volunteered their time, effort, and talent to inform me about the important issues facing their generation. As young leaders within their communities and their schools, these students boldly represent the promise and the hope we all have for their very bright future. President Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.'' To ensure that the blessing of freedom is passed from one generation to the next, the members of the CYAC spent time interviewing a veteran and documenting the experience for the ``Preserving History Project.'' Today I'm proud to submit the brief summaries provided so the patriotic service of our dedicated veterans and the thoughtful work of the CYAC may be preserved for antiquity in the Congressional Record. A copy of each submitted student summary follows. To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you for making this year and this group a success. It is not a coincidence that this congressional tribute celebrates two generations of service. Each of you is trusted with the precious gift of freedom. You are the voices of the future and I salute you. God bless you and God bless America. The summary follows: Robert James is a veteran of World War II. He entered the war in the Medical Corps and returned from war as a private first class in the Air Force. After graduating from U.T., Mr. James stayed in the Air Force Reserve for 30 years and retired as a Major. He still regularly visits a nearby base in Colorado, where he buys his groceries, works out, and shops for other needs. Robert James received multiple awards after returning home, including an Air Medal and a Distinguished Flying Cross. Mr. James' story should be preserved throughout history in addition to the thousands of other veterans that risked their lives for the safety of the United States. This interview with my grandfather was very moving and I gained a lot more insight and detail than I ever had before. I am happy to have been able to discuss such a pivotal time in my grandfather's life and I hope my essay helps to somehow preserve some of his unique experiences so that they can last throughout generations of Americans. The conservation of the stories of our many veterans is very crucial and should be a goal of every American that has been kept alive by these honorable, selfless men and women.-- Rebecca James

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2009-2010 Congressional Youth Advisory Council. This year 45 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 9 through 12 made their voices heard and made a difference in their communities, their country and their Congress. These students volunteered their time, effort, and talent to inform me about the important issues facing their generation. As young leaders within their communities and their schools, these students boldly represent the promise and the hope we all have for their very bright future. President Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.'' To ensure that the blessing of freedom is passed from one generation to the next, the members of the CYAC spent time interviewing a veteran and documenting the experience for the ``Preserving History Project.'' Today I'm proud to submit the brief summaries provided so the patriotic service of our dedicated veterans and the thoughtful work of the CYAC may be preserved for antiquity in the Congressional Record. A copy of each submitted student summary follows. To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you for making this year and this group a success. It is not a coincidence that this congressional tribute celebrates two generations of service. Each of you is trusted with the precious gift of freedom. You are the voices of the future and I salute you. God bless you and God bless America. The summary follows: I had the privilege of interviewing Congressman Sam Johnson. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Congressman Johnson was a prisoner of war for nearly seven years in the Hanoi Hilton. Shortly after the Vietnam War, he retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. When he departed from the military, he was a highly decorated officer having received two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Silver Stars, one Bronze Star with Valor, four Air Medals, two Purple Hearts, and three Outstanding Unit Awards. Since 1991, Congressman Johnson has served the Third District of Texas as our representative to the United States Congress. He serves as the Ranking Member of the Social Security Subcommittee. Congressman Johnson currently sits on the prestigious Ways and Means Committee. Mr. Johnson has personally inspired me as a young man. Through his unshakable faith, he has shown me that nothing is impossible with a mighty God. ``I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.'' (Philippians 4:13). Congressman Johnson is my Hero.-- Gabriel Devoto.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would like to thank the Ways and Means chairman for making my commonsense cell phone fix the cornerstone of the Taxpayer Assistance Act of 2010. Members may recognize this provision as a bipartisan bill, H.R. 690, the Mobile Cell Phone Act, which I have introduced with Mr. Pomeroy. As we all know, in today's 24/7 economy, cell phones and BlackBerrys have become the modern version of landline office phones. And yet, unlike landline phones, workers and their employees are supposed to keep detailed call logs or else they will face the wrath of the IRS. This means a business can lose its deduction while a worker can face taxes for making personal calls. This is just wrong. We don't want to nickel and dime workers for making the occasional personal call from a desk, and we shouldn't for cell phones either. Times have changed since Congress passed this rule in 1989 when people carried phones in a suitcase. I used to carry one myself when I was in the Air Force, and I could hardly carry it because it was so heavy. They were used by the likes of high-flying corporate executives and cost a small fortune. Even the IRS gets it that times have changed. In fact, last June, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in his statement, ``The passage of time, advances in technology, and the nature of communication in the modern workplace have rendered this law obsolete.'' There you have it; even the IRS Commissioner believes that this law needs to be changed. This provision will especially help our Nation's small businesses. According to an NFIB poll, nearly four out of five small businesses use a cell phone for work. Now more than ever we need to stop penalizing our job-creating entrepreneurs with this ridiculous tax rule. Startup small businesses and their employees have better things to do with their time than track each and every call they make, and they shouldn't have to spend time worrying that the IRS will hit them with taxes for personal calls. Even the administration agrees, as they included this proposal in their budget. So how about let's do away with this outdated, obsolete tax rule once and for all.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, tax day is a dreaded deadline for millions of Americans. But according to the Associated Press, for nearly half of the U.S. households it is simply somebody else's problem. This April, 47 percent of Americans will pay no Federal income tax at all. According to a new report, the top 10 percent of earners will pay roughly 73 percent of the income taxes collected by the Federal Government. That is just not fair. Being an American is a privilege, not a right. Out of fairness, everyone should have to pay some tax, even if it is just a buck a month, to help pay to live in this great democracy. By pushing more and more people off the tax rolls and having just a few foot the bill for the many, we are punishing hard work, thrift, and sacrifice. This is America, where prosperity and helping your fellow man should mean more than just paying your neighbors' taxes. It's about fairness and freedom.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, you know, Texas is one of 14 States filing a lawsuit challenging the Federal requirement to purchase health insurance as part of the new health law. This is America. We don't force people to hand over hard-earned money to a private company against their will. That's the ultimate overreach of Federal power, and it's unconstitutional. I'm also upset by the fact that this health care law creates one more government handout. By pushing more and more people into a government- controlled health care plan, we're going to reach a point where more Americans depend on the government for help than those who get along by themselves. That's not right. Americans want, need, and deserve prosperity and success achieved by sacrifice, hard work, self-reliance, and personal responsibility, not government control. It's called the American Dream.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, today's vote defines what kind of America we want to live in. I for one know exactly what that is; it is the America I fought and sacrificed for, and all the freedoms we hold dear. Freedom from a $2.6 trillion Washington takeover of health care; freedom from skyrocketing taxes; freedom from bureaucrats coming between you and your doctor; freedom from Medicare cuts to seniors; freedom from exploding debt; freedom from the government forcing you to buy health insurance. I ask my colleagues, what kind of legacy do you want to leave for your children and grandchildren? Will you cave to the demands of Speaker Pelosi, or will you listen to the pleas of the hardworking American people who elected you. Join me in this fight for freedom, vote ``no.''

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. You know, even while the President tours the country saying it's time for an up-or-down vote on health care, the Speaker is attempting to bypass a vote altogether. As Newt Gingrich said, This Congress has gone from voting on bills without reading them to passing bills without voting on them. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. It's time for an open and honest vote on health care. Let's vote on how the bill cuts Medicare, let's vote on how the bill actually hikes health costs. Let's vote on how the bill uses taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. But the Speaker can't do that. She's faced with the unfortunate inconvenience that some of her Members actually want to listen to their constituents and vote ``no.'' So now she intends to muscle through health care reform without an actual vote. That is just wrong. I will say it again: Congress has gone from voting on bills without reading them to passing bills without voting on them. America deserves better.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Wake up, America. The Speaker is trying to pass the health care bill without letting America see it first. In fact, she said, ``I have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it.'' She is also shooting for a voteless passage, and that is unconstitutional. Well, I can tell my Democrat colleagues what is in it. The health care bill is littered full of sweetheart deals, one after another, from the Louisiana purchase to the Cornhusker kickback. What is another term for hustling votes? Buying them. The American people are fed up with secret backroom deals in smoke- filled rooms. It is no wonder all Americans are clear in their opposition to what they have seen, read, and heard on health care. Bring the real Senate bill to the floor for an honest up-or-down vote. These sneaky shenanigans defy common sense, and the American people want, need, and deserve better.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. You know, I think after yet another health care speech by the President, the American people are sick and tired of the Democrats' ``I know what's best for you'' attitude. Congress needs to wake up and realize that Americans know more about their health care needs than the government bureaucrats. They know exactly what a Washington takeover of health care means, and they're shouting from the rooftops: No, no, no. It's time for the President and Speaker Pelosi to realize that this policy debate isn't between Democrats and Republicans; it's between the Democrats and the American people. And the American people are saying, Enough is enough. They don't want a health care bill that raise taxes, stifles small business, increases insurance premiums, and cuts Medicare. If the Democrats insist on ramming this bill through against the will of the American people, then they'd better be prepared to suffer the consequences in November.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the ranking member for allowing me to speak. On behalf of the American taxpayer, I am deeply disappointed that the Democrat majority is not allowing me to offer a commonsense amendment to protect the American taxpayer. The amendment was simple: It would require businesses seeking to use a hiring tax incentive in the bill before us to check the legal status of potential new hires through the E-Verify program--you have seen that in the papers lately, it hasn't been used properly--a voluntary employment verification system. While not perfect by any means, E- Verify is certainly far better than the current paper-based verification method. If the majority insists on moving forward with this flawed bill that in the end I believe will do little to create new jobs, we must ensure that this hiring tax break isn't used to hire those here illegally. The American taxpayer and the unemployed American worker deserve nothing less. This is the right thing to do. Now more than ever in these tough economic times we need to ensure that the American worker, and not illegals, is our first priority.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Act. The purpose of this bill is simple: to prevent those who are here illegally from claiming the refundable first-time homebuyer tax credit, which is worth up to $8,000. According to a January 25, 2010 Dallas Morning News article by Steve McGonigle entitled ``Feds find dubious home tax credit claims from Texas,'' close to 1,000 claims from Texas have come from individuals ``employing a special taxpayer identification number primarily used by illegal immigrants, who are not entitled to the credit.'' This is just plain wrong. Currently, the IRS does not require an individual to provide a Social Security number in order to claim the first-time homebuyer tax credit. Rather, if the individual does not have a Social Security number, the individual can still apply for the credit so long as they are able to get an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS. The problem here is that illegal immigrants are getting these numbers from the IRS. According to the previously mentioned article, ``the IRS has acknowledged that more than half of ITINs are filed by illegal immigrants.'' In an effort to prevent illegal immigrants from claiming the credit, my bill proposes that a taxpayer must provide a Social Security number rather than an ITIN. Doing so will help to prevent fraud and in turn protect the American taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, instead of inviting Republicans to a conference table with a blank sheet of paper, the President's decided to introduce the same trillion-dollar Washington takeover of health care the public has already rejected. In Texas, we call that paying for the same real estate twice, and the American people aren't buying it. They have been trying to tell the President in every way possible to stop the backroom decisions and secret deals. This week's so-called ``bipartisan'' summit is just more of the same. Instead of pressing the reset button, the President's hosting a photo op. Using the illusion of bipartisanship as a political tool is wrong. It's not fooling anyone. If the President and Democrat leadership are serious about coming together on health care reform, then let's get out the of corral and start from scratch.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, you know, small businesses want, need, and deserve policies that will encourage, not punish economic growth. And yet, due to the Democrats' tax-and-spend agenda, job creators in my district are either cutting their payrolls or holding back on hiring. That's why we have a record 16 million Americans unemployed. There's a better way forward, and that way forward is with pro- growth, small business tax cuts that will help get this economy moving again. Mr. Speaker, small business owners know how to run their company better than a Washington bureaucrat. It's time for the government to get out of the business of running small business.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Garrett Metal Detectors, a global leader in the security industry for over forty-five years, which calls my own Third Congressional District of Texas home. Founded by Charles and Eleanor Garrett in 1964, the Garland, Texas- based company specializes in the production of walk-through, hand-held and ground search metal detection products and training for security and law enforcement applications. The company's three main divisions, Hobby, Security and Countermine/ Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), define its outreach. While Garrett hobby detectors are the treasure-hunter's tool of choice, the company also produces advanced models specifically designed to pinpoint the danger of buried landmines. In addition, the company's expertise has been called on to provide security checkpoint screening at countless events worldwide including eleven Olympic Games and numerous political conventions, concerts, and awards shows. In fact, Charles and Eleanor Garrett, Bob Podhrasky and Vaughan Garrett recently had a turn at carrying the Olympic torch as it makes its way to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. All products produced by Garrett are proudly designed, assembled and tested for quality control here in the USA. Due to its extraordinary success and global impact, the company has even been profiled by John Ratzenberger for his hit TV series, Made in America, which airs on the Travel Channel. I am pleased to recognize Garrett Metal Detectors for its invaluable contribution to the safety and security of people worldwide. It is an honor and a privilege to represent this fine American business.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the President's $3.8 trillion budget proposal sets a lot of new records--record spending, record deficits, record debt. We can't tax, spend, borrow, and bail out our way to recovery. If we could, we wouldn't have 10 percent unemployment after passing a multibillion-dollar stimulus package and raising the debt limit to $14.3 trillion. That's $47,000 for each American. Americans are sick and tired of the Democrats' tax-and-spend agenda. Unfortunately, this President's budget only proposes more of the same. It's time for a new approach to fixing our economy. Let's focus on balancing the budget and lowering taxes for small businesses. That's the way to grow the economy and finally create jobs. Congress should never vote for anything less.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Filing for disability benefits isn't easy. There are deadlines to meet, complicated questions to answer, confusing forms to fill out, and doctor reports that need to be sent to Social Security. It's no wonder that close to two-thirds of all those who appear before an administrative law judge need a representative to help them navigate the complex process. If benefits are paid, most representatives receive a fee of 25 percent of past due benefits, capped at $6,000. Since 1967, through a process known as ``fee withholding,'' Social Security has withheld these fees from past due Social Security disability benefits and paid attorney representatives directly. However, non-attorney representatives and attorneys representing those applying for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, benefits had to collect their fees from their clients. This changed in 2004 when Congress passed the Social Security Protection Act. This legislation created a 5-year demonstration program that expanded fee withholding to SSI benefits and also allowed qualified non-attorneys to participate in fee withholding from Social Security and SSI benefits. The program expires March 1 of this year. Both the Social Security Administration and the Government Accountability Office have studied these programs and found that they are working. Well qualified non-attorneys are participating in fee withholding, and those applying for SSI benefits have greater access to representation. Now that the demonstration program is about to expire, advocates for those with disabilities and associations representing attorneys and non-attorneys alike support making these provisions permanent. I agree. So I was pleased to join with Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John Tanner, one of the great Democrats over there, along with Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott and Ranking Member John Linder, to introduce H.R. 4532, the Social Security Disability Applicants' Access to Professional Representation Act of 2010. Not only does this bill help those filing for disability benefits; it also saves the taxpayers $55 million over 10 years, as representatives pay the government a user fee for processing their payments. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I also hope our subcommittees will do more to make filing for disability benefits easier. The more progress we can make, the more our constituents will avoid losing their hard-earned benefits to representatives in the first place. I thank Mr. Tanner for helping us with this, and I appreciate your time this morning as well.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce along with my colleague from Florida, Representative Ginny Brown-Waite, the Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act, a bill to prevent those who are here illegally from claiming the refundable child tax credit due to a loophole in our tax code. According to the March 31, 2009 report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration entitled ``Actions Are Needed to Ensure Proper Use of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers and to Verify or Limit Refundable Credit Claims,'' this tax credit ``appears to provide an additional incentive for aliens to enter, reside, and work in the U.S. without authorization, which contradicts Federal law and policy to remove such incentives.'' Because this credit is refundable, parents who owe no taxes can receive cash back for their children through the tax code. In other words illegal immigrants may not only be receiving this public benefit through the tax code but may also be tempted to come to the U.S. because of it. This is just plain wrong. Unfortunately, this refundable tax credit can be provided to an illegal immigrant so long as the immigrant is able to obtain from the IRS an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). It is because of this very situation that I am introducing the Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act, a simple, commonsense bill to require tax filers to provide their Social Security numbers in order to claim the credit. This simple change can go a long way toward protecting taxpayers by helping to ensure that the refundable child tax credit is going to those who are here legally. This is the fair and right thing to do. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues in the House are ignoring the American people. Our constituents are holding rallies, posting blogs, talking with their neighbors, writing to their Congressmen, and are doing everything in their power to get them to listen. The American people are telling us loud and clear: they don't want a government takeover of health care. Listen to them. Massachusetts did. Americans want, need, and deserve better than a budget-busting, trillion-dollar health care bill when 10 percent of Americans are still unemployed. They are tired of sweetheart deals, secret meetings and dirty politics. There is still time to do what's right, to do what the people are asking us to do. Vote against the Pelosi takeover of health care.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding athletes of the fifth annual Winter Games of Texas. This multi-sport youth athletic event is patterned after the international Olympic Games and presented by The Texas Amateur Athletic Federation, a nonprofit organization established in 1925 to promote, organize and conduct amateur athletics in Texas. The sports festival serves as an excellent showcase of the talented young athletes of Texas. More than 4,500 young people will participate in this year's competition. An exciting Celebration of Athletes program will be held, featuring games, live entertainment, professional athletes, and past Olympic heroes. Fourteen different sporting events are included in the contest this year: soccer, basketball, table tennis, wrestling, cheerleading, swimming, flag football, ice hockey, figure skating, volleyball, fencing, bowling, rock climbing, karate, and gymnastics. I commend each of the athletes who will be competing in these sports. Their hard work, dedication and passion will serve them well in all aspects of life. I would also like to thank the City of Frisco, including their fine leader, Mayor Maher Maso, the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation, and all the volunteers throughout this city and state who have expended their time and energy to prepare for this great event. I wish all participants and volunteers an enjoyable and successful tournament. Let the games begin!

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, you know the American people deserve some answers. Where are the jobs? Ten months after passing a $787 billion stimulus package, unemployment has reached 10 percent and thousands of workers have stayed unemployed for 6 months or more. Unfortunately, the Democrats still think throwing money at the struggling economy will fix it. Albert Einstein once said, ``The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.'' The first stimulus didn't work. The new stimulus would only increase the already massive deficit and provide a temporary fix. Higher taxes and higher spending is not the formula for economic growth. What America really needs is to encourage entrepreneurial activity, help small businesses, and get the government out of our pockets.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the point of this bill is simple. Social Security and supplemental security income benefits should not be paid to prisoners, probation, or parole violators or fugitive felons. That is why I joined the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee with John Tanner, who is great about looking into these things, and we cosponsored this bill. And I ask all of my colleagues to support it. This stopgap measure addresses a glitch in the current law discovered when Social Security began to implement a nationwide class-action settlement agreement reached in September in the case of Martinez v. Astrue. That agreement reduced the number and type of felony arrest warrants used to prohibit benefit payments, resulting in retroactive payments to certain recipients. In the first phase of settlement implementation, notices will be issued beginning this week to 28,000 individuals. Of these, Social Security recently identified 150 as prisoners. Current law already prohibits prisoners, fugitive felons, and probation/parole violators from receiving benefits. The same law should apply to retroactive benefits as well but right now it doesn't. That is why we need to pass this bill. If we don't, prisoners eligible for payments from before they were in jail may soon receive a lump sum retroactive check, some covering back benefits over 3 or 4 years. Thanks in large part to the work of my Ways and Means colleague, Wally Herger, those with outstanding felony arrest warrants, known as fugitive felons, have not been able to receive supplemental security income, Social Security, or Social Security disability benefits. According to the Office of the Inspector General, their data-sharing efforts with local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies contributed to over 83,000 arrests since the program's inception in 1996. While well-intentioned, the Martinez settlement nevertheless requires Social Security to pay benefits that had been suspended. And as a result, taxpayers are now on the hook for millions of dollars. We can and we must do better. I look forward to working with Chairman Tanner to right this wrong and draft legislation to suspend payments for those fugitives wanted for the most heinous crimes while permitting lenience in cases where good cause exemptions make sense. I reserve the balance of my time.