Daniel Lungren

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. On the most recent clarification by the gentleman from Colorado, the intent of our legislation is to stop this program. Not only would the funds be returned that are already in there, but the program would not go forward. So, therefore, the administrative costs to the IRS would be eliminated. The gentleman, by continuing the program, increases the net cost because you will continue having the administrative costs that otherwise would be no longer in effect as a result of the underlying bill; and therefore, the point of order would still be appropriate.

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor my friend, Chief Sam L. Spiegel, for the years of service he has spent as chief of police and director of Emergency Services for the city of Folsom, California. Altogether, Chief Spiegel has a 39 year tenure in law enforcement in California. Chief Spiegel holds a Master Degree in Management, a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice, his State teaching credential, and is a graduate of the P.O.S.T. Command College and the FBI National Academy. Sam began his law enforcement career as a police cadet with the Corona Police Department in November of 1971. He was trained as a schools cadet and dispatcher before becoming a reserve police officer in June of 1974. He was hired as a deputy sheriff with the Riverside County Sheriffs Department in December of 1974 and assigned to Lake Elsinore Station Patrol. In January of 1976, he returned to Corona Police Department as a reserve officer and was hired as a full time police officer in December 1976. During his tenure with Corona PD he was assigned as a traffic officer, commercial enforcement officer, detective, and was promoted to sergeant in 1983 and lieutenant in 1985. In both of these ranks, he held assignments in patrol, traffic, investigations, and administration. In April 1996 he was promoted to captain--holding that rank until March of 2001. In April of 2001 he was hired as Folsom's 15th chief of police. He held the position of chief with Folsom until his retirement on October 26, 2010. Sam has also served in various other capacities, including as the chairman of the Law and Legislative Committee for the California Police Chiefs Association, past-president of the California Peace Officers Association, and former member of the California Homeland Security Public Safety Advisory Council. He continues to serve as a governor appointee to the State 9-1-1 Advisory Committee, the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication Advisory Committee and served 6 years as a member of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Advisory Committee. It has been my pleasure to know Sam Spiegel and more importantly, to call him my friend. I am pleased to congratulate him upon his retirement.

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, in the scope of the American constitutional system of governance, the Congress is the body whose power is defined within the context of enumerated powers, and this is more than a matter of structural mechanics because it goes to the heart of the issue of governmental power, or if one prefers the flip side of the coin, personal freedom and responsibility. If government has the power to require that you buy item A, it means that you are less able to buy item B, C, D or anything else. Now, economists would call this the opportunity cost of foregone goods or services, but the fundamental question is the question of freedom to choose how we as individuals will spend the fruits of our labor. Certainly the commerce clause lacks the elasticity that would accommodate a requirement that every American buy health insurance which conforms to the dictates of the Federal Government, as the Federal Government would change it on a yearly basis. Such an interpretation would render the notion articulated by James Madison and Federalist 45, that is, one of limited government, a nullity. Now, I know we have smart people here. I know we have those in the administration who believe that this is totally constitutional; but, frankly, Mr. Speaker, my bet goes with James Madison. He did say that the powers delegated by the proposed Constitution of the Federal Government are few and defined. He did say that the Federal Government will be exercising their responsibilities principally on external objects as war, peace, negotiations, and foreign commerce and the States would do much else. Then, of course, we have the 10th Amendment, later adopted, which said, again, that this is a government of limited enumerated powers. Now, either the 10th Amendment means something, or it means nothing; and either James Madison knew what he was talking about, or he does not.

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Fleming.

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mack).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gibson).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, so we may be able to equalize the remaining time, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, last week Gabby Giffords did speak the words of the First Amendment here on the floor. They talk about the right of citizens of the United States to come and plead their case to their Members of Congress and to seek the redress of their grievances. I think our Founding Fathers anticipated that we would be involved in robust and vigorous debate, but they also hoped that we would utilize some sense of civility as we did so. I would like to read an e-mail that I received in my office from a constituent that I think would bring a smile to the lips of Gabby Giffords, and it responds in some way to what the gentleman from Michigan has just said. These are those words: ``Dear Representative Lungren: I write to share with you my feelings upon hearing the news of the terrible shooting in Tucson, Arizona. I find I am overwhelmed by emotions. In the past, and I suspect in the future, I have disagreed with you on many of the political things that you have said and done. I have voted against you. I have even felt and expressed frustration and anger about you. I wish now to state that if unlikely circumstances arose and I were in a position to protect you from physical attack, I would do whatever I possibly could to preserve your safety and your person at whatever risk to myself. ``Our democracy and freedom cannot survive if elected officials feel threatened and find themselves having to consider their physical safety as they make the decisions and fill the responsibilities of office. Please continue to do your job as a Member of Congress as best you can. I will continue to disagree with you when and as needed. I am just one man, but all of us citizens can only do what we can do. ``I, for one, will never threaten, encourage or resort to any violence whatsoever while debating, disputing, and arguing politics. For whatever tiny weight I count for in the great sea of Americans, I want you to feel safe from any harm. ``Make your decisions, and vote your votes in Congress--please try and not be such an idiot Republican about it--and know that you are safe in the Third District for all of your life if I shall have any say in the matter. ``Thanks for all the work that you do. Most sincerely . . . '' That's a message that I know Gabby would want us to embrace and one that would not only give her resolve but would, hopefully, attract her sense of humor as well. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. I reserve the balance of my time.