Lynn Jenkins

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, the first priority of this Congress must be getting the American people back in the work place. I rise to support one program that is doing just that. Today in Lawrence, Kansas the men and women at Cottonwood Inc., are manufacturing tie-down straps that our military uses to secure cargo in trucks, humvees, planes, ships and any other means of transportation. But what makes Cottonwood particularly noteworthy, isn't just that they have been awarded the gold medal for excellence from the Defense Logistics Agency for 9 consecutive years, but that through the AbilityOne program many of the men and women assembling and packaging the tiedown straps have developmental disabilities. The AbilityOne program provides employment opportunities to those who have severe disabilities by directing the Federal Government to purchase products and services from participating community-based nonprofit agencies that are dedicated to training and employing individuals with disabilities. The Kansans employed through this program are making significant contributions as citizens to our armed services and are productive members of the Lawrence community. I proudly support Cottonwood, the AbilityOne Program and its workers in Kansas for making a difference in unemployment among people with disabilities both in Kansas and throughout the country.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. According to the President's health care law, starting next year any business that purchases more than $600 worth of goods or services from another business is required to submit a 1099 tax form to the Internal Revenue Service. I'm a strong supporter of job creation. However, I do not think building more bureaucratic barriers for small business and creating additional positions at the IRS is the kind of job growth this country needs. As Alan Meyers, an electrician in my district, stated in a letter to my office: ``This is absurd. The small business men of this country have more paperwork than they can get done now.'' While we have disagreed about the full repeal of the health overhaul law, the administration and many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have recently decided they strongly agree with Republican Members in Congress that the 1099 reporting provisions should be repealed. However, a few weeks ago, we received the President's budget which would only repeal the 1099 requirement for goods but keep it for services--a glaring contradiction to the President's stated strong support for the full repeal of this harmful provision. So I'm pleased that the House has chosen to move forward with the full repeal of this unprecedented burden on small business. Furthermore, if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are truly serious about reducing waste, fraud, and abuse in our health care system, then they, too, can support this measure with full voice, since it is paid for by reducing overpayments of exchange subsidies. In this economic environment, Congress needs to be working to remove the barriers to job creation and finding ways to rein in the cost of health care, not imposing new government mandates to squeeze every dollar out of small businesses. While we await action from the Senate on H.R. 2, the full repeal of this health care overhaul, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 4 today to fix one of the many flaws in the President's health care law.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. In 2009, after an exhaustive 3-year review, the Department of Homeland Security chose Manhattan, Kansas, as the site for the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. NBAF will be a cutting-edge research facility, and it will accelerate our Nation's ability to protect ourselves, our food supply, and our economy from biological threats. It will become the world's premiere animal health research facility and further solidify our Nation's place as the international leader in animal health research. NBAF has the support of both the Bush and Obama administrations. In fact, this week, President Obama included $150 million in his budget to begin its construction. This inclusion shows a commitment from the President and Secretary Napolitano to see that this cutting-edge facility moves forward as planned so we can safely conduct critical research to develop vaccines and countermeasures in order to protect the public and our livestock from the threats of devastating disease. Simply put, this debate should be about our national security, not parochial politics. In this age of uncertainty and global threats, conducting vital research to protect our Nation could not be more crucial, and the truth of the matter is we are dangerously underprotected from the threat of a biological attack against our people and food. In fact, the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism recently issued a report card that gave the Federal Government a failing grade for efforts to prevent a biological attack. We need to protect our food and our families from danger. We need to stay on the cutting edge of this research field. Our security is at risk, and delaying this project further because the gentleman from New York would prefer to preserve a stunningly outdated lab that just happens to be in his district is not an option. We need to move forward and we need NBAF. I urge my colleagues to vote against this destructive amendment.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, the American economy and the American people are still struggling to get back on their feet. Unemployment has remained between 9 and 10 percent for over two years and there is no immediate relief in sight. Each week I return to Kansas and meet with local businesses, and each week, whether I am meeting with infrastructure providers like WATCO in Pittsburg, manufacturers like MGP Ingredients in Atchison or Alexander Manufacturing in Parsons farmers and ranchers in Brown County or CPA's in Baxter Springs, I hear the same sad story time and again. Overbearing regulation from the Federal Government, whether it be from the EPA, the USDA, HUD, the Department of Transportation, the SEC, or the IRS Regulators, at every turn are making job creation, investment, expansion, or growth too complex and too costly. For too long Washington has sent mixed messages to the nations job creators and small businesses. It appears we have one foot on the gas pedal and one foot on the brake. The rhetoric has urged our employers to step on the gas and invest and begin hiring again but this administration has slammed their foot on the breaks issuing hundreds of burdensome regulations that make job creation private investment and innovation nearly impossible. It's time for the rhetoric in this town to be met with corresponding action. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution to reduce burdensome regulation and create a measure of certainty for our nation's job creators.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding to me. ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.'' With those words, President Reagan felled not only a wall dividing a city but an ideology that divided the world. I carry a piece of that wall with me today, and though 20 years have passed, I am struck by the enormity of what this used to represent and the courage, conviction, and character of the man who stared down the Soviet empire and won. President Reagan was not just ``a,'' he was ``the'' Great Communicator, but it wasn't his style that made the difference. It was his content and corresponding action. Too often rhetoric is turned around in this town with little thought and even less action. As we celebrate this 100th birthday of President Reagan, I desire that we can remember that not only did President Reagan inspire us with hope for a new morning in America, that he took real action that led a country waiting in gas lines, on the brink of nuclear war, and reminded us all that we truly are a shining city on the hill.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Last March I voted against ObamaCare. Rather than bringing down health care costs for all Americans, helping small businesses provide health care for their employees, and preserving Medicare for our Nation's seniors, this law will result in higher premiums for families, costly unfunded mandates, including an absurd 1099 requirement, additional job-killing taxes, and more than half a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare. It was irresponsible to pass this massive job-killing plan by means of arm twisting and gimmicks, and it is even more irresponsible to allow implementation to begin given our national debt is over $14 trillion, unemployment rates are still over 9 percent, and many States remain on the verge of bankruptcy. Not only is the bill unaffordable, but it is such an overreach of the Federal Government's power, a U.S. district judge has already deemed it unconstitutional. Americans want reforms to our health care system, but they have spoken clearly: This bill is not the change they wanted. I will be voting in support of H.R. 2, voting to repeal this government takeover of our health care system, just as I promised my constituents I would. Let's repeal this bill so we can go to work replacing it with reforms the American people want and support. I encourage all of my colleagues in the House to listen to their constituents and join me in voting ``yes.''

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding. When I ran for Congress, I made a pledge to the people of Kansas that I would not vote to raise their taxes. Today I will honor that pledge and vote for the tax bill before us because a ``no'' vote on this measure is a vote to raise taxes on every American taxpayer, every working parent, every small businessperson, every retiree, everyone. While the economy struggles to get back on its feet and unemployment remains at nearly 10 percent, allowing liberals to achieve their goal of raising taxes on American families and small businesses by nearly $4 trillion is extremely bad economics. There are several aspects of this provision that I am adamantly against, including the massive deficit spending required to extend unemployment benefits for 13 months that are not paid for and the onerous 35 percent death tax which will create hardship for many family farms across the entire Midwest. But failure to pass this legislation will be the equivalent of reaching into the bank account of every middle class family and pulling out an additional $5,000 next year. The families I represent in Kansas have had to tighten their belts and can't figure out why Washington continues to raid their bank accounts and refuses to tighten the belt of the Federal Government. It is truly sad that we have reached this point. The current majority could have addressed this issue at any time over the last 2 years, but they were so busy throwing money at solutions in need of problems that they didn't take time to build a budget, appropriate money, or address the issue of taxes, and now our backs are against the wall. While this is far from the ideal permanent extension we desire, a 2-year extension of all the current tax rates provided in this bill gives business some short-term certainty so they can go out and invest and hire new workers to grow the economy, and it provides Congress with a window to truly reform the tax code correctly without a mad scramble next year to undo the damage. When we reconvene in January, it is imperative that the next Congress, led by a new majority, reform our tax code and the death tax, rein in spending, and balance our budget. Placing punitive and oppressive taxes on hardworking Americans until Washington can agree on how best to accomplish all that is not the right way to go about this. Kansans expect more of their representatives in Washington. I urge my colleagues to cast a vote against tax increases and vote in favor of this bill.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, folks back home in Kansas have been forced to tighten their belts and rein in family budgets to weather tough times, and we don't understand why Washington isn't willing to do the same. The Federal Government should have only a few foundational duties. Among those are protecting our citizens, maintaining a strong infrastructure, and upholding our rights as outlined in the Constitution. Notably missing from this list is the funding of political radio shows, particularly those that operate with a litmus test. The Federal Government is leaking money left and right, and it's time to plug some holes. Today's YouCut proposal will save the American taxpayers over $100 million and will be proof that Congress is ready to shrink the size and scope of the Federal Government. I urge your support. Please oppose the previous question.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, just last week the Haldex brake plant in Iola, Kansas, announced it was shutting down and taking 160 good jobs from American workers and sending those jobs to Mexico, where they won't have to deal with a government intent on hitting them with stifling tax increases and job-killing regulations. This administration is discouraging private-sector job growth and driving jobs out of my district and out of the United States. But as for the 160 workers losing their jobs, they won't give up. In fact, Iola's mayor, Bill Mannes, is an employee at Haldex. Even though he is losing his job, he and the Iola City Commission and the Iola Chamber are initiating a plan to recruit a new manufacturer to town. So if any business is out there looking to grow who needs a strong and ready workforce in a great Midwest community, Iola, Kansas, could be the place for you.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. For the past 18 months, the leadership in the House has ignored the impending fiscal crisis, acting like they know best and that the economy would recover if we simply spent more money. They're wrong. And today, I'd like to remind them of one number that should get their attention: $166 billion. A few years ago, that was more than the annual budget deficit. Now, that's how much the debt increased on June 30 alone. The President's fiscal commission said this debt is a cancer ``that will destroy the country from within.'' As a daughter of two cancer survivors, those words are strong. But as a CPA that knows how debilitating debt can be, I couldn't agree more. It's time for the majority to stop ignoring reality. It's time to stop the reckless spending and get the $13.2 trillion debt under control.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, over the past 6 weeks, more than 1 million Americans have demanded action, and House Republicans have listened. Unfortunately, the majority in the House has not. While there are many issues that these people in this body disagree on, there are some issues that we should all agree on. We should agree that skyrocketing debt is a priority. We should agree that we cannot continue spending money that we don't have. We should agree that it is wrong for taxpayers to pay for the salaries of employees who answer to unions instead of to the American people, and we should agree on this very simple bill that says union activities should be funded by unions. I urge my colleagues to stand with the American people, to vote to save $1.2 billion and to end the abuse of taxpayer money.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt Iran is working right now to acquire nuclear weapons. We must stop them. The underlying bill if passed and strongly enforced by our President would impose smart crippling sanctions on Iran's nuclear program and would make it drastically more difficult for Iran to continue its illegal nuclear dealings. Make no mistake Iran's development of nuclear weapons threatens not only our friend Israel and the Middle East it threatens the entire world. I urge my colleagues to support the underlying bill to impose sanctions and to stand for the safety and security of freedom loving nations around the world.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. has lived beyond its means for too long, and it will take commonsense ideas to restore responsible spending in Washington. But we can start by identifying what we need to fulfill the duties of the Federal Government and eliminate everything else. The Federal Government is the largest property owner in the U.S. According to the OMB, we have $18 billion in assets that we do not need. Rather than selling unnecessary assets, like the American people do to live within their means, the Federal Government gives property free of charge to other government entities and nonprofits, including a building in Las Vegas to use as a mob museum. The American people have spoken. We cannot continue ignoring our debt. I urge my colleagues to stand with the folks at home to use common sense and vote to sell excess Federal property and take a necessary step toward a sustainable future.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. As a CPA, I've counseled folks who are in debt. The first step is to acknowledge the problem. The second step is to develop a budget that maps out the path to solvency. Our children, who stand to inherit a national debt level that is unsustainable, should require Congress to adopt a similar approach. Apparently, the majority is afraid to admit that Washington has a spending and borrowing problem, and they plan to avoid even discussing a budget. In 2008, then-candidate Obama told Joe the Plumber, ``We need to share the wealth.'' I was concerned then, but now I am appalled, because who are we sharing the wealth with? The Chinese. Sending nearly a trillion dollars to foreign nations to pay debt service on reckless spending is not what our kids deserve. Our kids deserve a Congress that will do their job and make the tough decisions to get our fiscal House in order, which starts by developing a responsible budget.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Short line railroads located in my district, including those in Chanute, Pittsburg and Humboldt, serve a critical role in transporting grain, cement products, steel and other industrial-based products to the national freight rail network. The short line tracks in Kansas and across the Nation have benefited from the section 45(g) short line railroad tax credit which expired at the end of 2009. Without this credit, short line railroads would lose critical resources used to upgrade infrastructure or create jobs, and rural businesses would not have the rail services they need to compete. That's why we must find a responsible way to extend the tax credit, like H.R. 1132, that would extend it until 2012. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation to ensure short line railroads continue to thrive and provide valuable services on Main Streets across America.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen), my friend and colleague.

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 2546, the Blue Star/ Gold Star Flag Act. This bill ensures the rights of an individual to display the Service flag on a residential property without limitation. The Service flag, also referred to as either the Blue Star or Gold Star flag, is an official banner authorized by the Defense Department for display by families of members serving in the Armed Forces during a period of war. Since World War II, the Blue Star and Gold Star Service flag has been a way for families and the communities they live in to show their pride and concern for our troops in the field. Each blue star on the flag represents a servicemember on Active Duty, while a gold star signifies a servicemember who was killed in action or who died in service. The Service flag may also be displayed by an organization to honor the members of that organization serving during a period of war or hostilities. We must do everything we can to show our support for our troops. For the men and women serving in our military and their families, the Service flag has significant meaning. This flag is a symbol of the sacrifices that our military men and women make as they put their lives on the line to protect our country. Their family members should be allowed to fly the flag in honor of those sacrifices, no matter where they live, and H.R. 2546 ensures the rights of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property without limitation. The bill we are considering today is similar to the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, which passed the House by a voice vote and was later signed into law. Madam Speaker, I too want to thank my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Boccieri) for championing this important legislation. H.R. 2546 ensures that our America's military families are able to honor their loved ones' service to our country by displaying the Service flag no matter where they live. This bill deserves our support, and I urge the adoption of H.R. 2546, the Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lee), my friend and colleague.

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time and yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1177, the 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act, and I commend the gentleman from Kansas, Representative Moore, for introducing this legislation. The Command and General Staff College was founded at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1881. It is an educational center for excellence, and one of the most prominent leaders in military education and training. The school is the intellectual center of the Army. And in addition to training U.S. military officers, allied nations from around the world send their military officers to train at the staff college. In fact, over the past 129 years, more than 90,000 U.S. military officers and 7,000 foreign military officers from 153 countries have graduated from the staff college, including Generals Colin Powell and David Petraeus. And upon graduation from the staff college, the majority of the international students attain the rank of general within their respective countries. This legislation will direct the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition of the five men who have achieved the rank of General of the Army, including Generals George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Henry ``Hap'' Arnold, and Omar Bradley. These five generals led our forces to victory in World War II, but they also taught or studied at the staff college. The proceeds from the 5-star generals commemorative coin will help fund the Command and General Staff College Foundation to ensure military officers will be able to train there for years to come. The staff college is critical in the education and training of our military officers during times of war and peace. At a time when our Nation is working to extend the hand of friendship to nations abroad, there is no better place to fulfill that mission than at the staff college because of the first rate intercultural exchange that the students experience. Fort Leavenworth is in my congressional district, and I have spent a great deal of time learning about the successes of the staff college over the past 16 months. So today I would like to thank the chief executive officer of the Command and General Staff College Foundation, Col. Bob Ulin, who has championed this legislation from day one, and who hopefully is watching this debate and hopeful passage of the 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act. I would also like to thank chairman of the Command and General Staff College Foundation, Lt. Gen. Bob Arter. The commitment of Col. Ulin and Gen. Arter to educating and training the best and the brightest military officers who attend the staff college, and their support and tireless efforts to move this legislation forward, is deeply appreciated. It is for these reasons that I urge all of my colleagues in the House to support this legislation to honor our Nation's military officers. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JENKINS. I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas, Representative Tiahrt. (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. JENKINS. I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas, Representative Moran.

Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time and yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit is concerning to me, and I encourage a ``yes'' vote. I would just like to highlight one provision because there has been a great deal of press lately about the misuse of government computers and the waste of time and taxpayer dollars by Federal employees at the Securities and Exchange Commission who are spending as much as 8 hours a day viewing pornography on government computers. However, this problem is not limited just to the SEC. The Inspector General at the National Science Foundation, which is authorized by this Act, found similar problems there. So what happened to these employees? According to the Inspector General, and I quote, NSF issued a formal proposal followed by a decision suspending them for 10 calendar days without pay. Ten days' suspension, unacceptable. Taxpayers deserve better. This motion to recommit is simple. If you're a government employee, and you are disciplined for viewing, downloading, or e-mailing pornography, including child pornography, on government computers or during work hours, you will no longer be paid. You will be fired. If you think a couple of days of suspension, a reprimand, a transfer is the right response when someone uses government computers to spread pornography, then vote against this motion. But if you think spreading pornography with a government computer is an act that should lead to dismissal, then vote for this motion. I urge a vote for this motion.

Ms. JENKINS

Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month, and I commend the gentleman from Texas and the gentlelady from Illinois for introducing this resolution and for their commitment to financial literacy. During my service as Kansas State Treasurer, I was proud to partner with financial institutions across our great State to increase financial literacy for Kansans of all ages. As a certified public accountant, I'm committed to this cause and believe it is critical to equip our students with good financial habits at a very young age. The lesson that must be learned as our Nation emerges from this financial crisis is that additional regulation is meaningless if personal responsibility is not our primary objective. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution and to support increased financial literacy--not just this month, but always.