Kevin McCarthy

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My friend on the other side makes a good point in that a lot of people may not know about spaceflight or commercial spaceflight, and they may not know about this bill. That is why this is a great opportunity to explain, and that is why the majority on this side gave the bill to the minority last October. Unfortunately, it was 5 months before anything came back. There is one point that was brought up--indemnification. That has been extended 9 times in the last 25 years, and it has never been used. The one thing that needs to be noted is that we are in competition with the rest of the world. We are more stringent in this than is any other country with their space. If we plan on being the leader, we need to have the legislation move forward. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey).

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas).

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I have one question for everyone here: Do you believe America is exceptional? Fifty-four years ago, President Kennedy spoke to a joint session of Congress in this very Chamber, and he set forth an astounding goal: to put an American on the Moon before the end of the decade. Many doubted our ability to do that. But like America has done throughout our history, we proved them wrong. So on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong took one small step and changed the course of history. You see, President Kennedy's vision is part of America's fundamental character. We are pioneers. We always move forward. We never back down from a challenge, and beating the odds is in our DNA. This was the case for our very founding. We brought forth a new nation in pursuit of a more perfect union. With the winds of freedom at our back, we headed west to unchartered lands, relying on the same spirit of adventure that endures in the Central Valley of California to this day. We watched as two bicycle repairmen flew above the sand and waves on a beach in North Carolina, not because of government grants or Washington connections, but because they had the audacity to make a dream a reality. Today, dorm room startups and tech entrepreneurs are connecting our entire world, paving the way to tomorrow. The world looks to America because we give them a reason to look to us. We show them a vision of the future, and we deliver. But we can't take our global leadership and innovation for granted. Today we pay Russia $70 million for one seat on their rocket. Right now there is a new generation of pioneers. They want to embark on the next stage of space exploration, and we should not hold them back. The truth is Washington never comes up with the next big idea, but we can support those innovators who do and create the best environment possible for them to succeed. Steve Jobs, one of America's great innovators, once said ``innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.'' That is true for people and for a country. Those words carry special meaning for everyone who ever dared to venture off the beaten path. It means something to the small-business owners working at their kitchen tables and the inventors tinkering in the dorm rooms and garages. It means something to every kid who ever dreamed of space and who still dreams of leading us in a journey to the stars. So for all American pioneers, those who will lead our Nation through the 21st century, I again ask: Do you believe America is exceptional? Because I do. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Before I yield, I do want it noted, 1969, what all America felt when they watched America make a step on the Moon, on an American rocket and American ingenuity. Unfortunately, today, we pay Russia for an astronaut from America to ride on their rockets. Some may be content with that, but, Mr. Chairman, I am not. That is why this bill today allows us to have some change and growth to make that happen. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren).

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to take a moment to thank the gentleman from Texas for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I have listened to a lot of speakers on this floor. What is the cost not to invest in the future? There are 4 out of 10 graduates out of college today who can't find a job. How do you pay for that? You look towards the future. I will tell you many in this country have followed the innovators in our history. Mr. Speaker, one happened to be Steven Jobs. Steven Jobs said that innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. That is true with people, and it is also true with countries. America leads because we take the principles of our past, and we apply them to a changing future. We are the pioneers who always look to the next frontier, ready to challenge what others believe is impossible. Innovation is key to our leadership and is essential to our economic prosperity in an increasingly competitive 21st century. What Washington needs to understand is that the greatest innovations don't come from Washington--they come from the people. It reminds me of what was going on in the early 1900s in this country. Washington wanted to figure out the invention of flight, so the wisdom of government said, ``Let's just pay Samuel Langley to discover how to fly,'' but we all knew what came true. We watched two brothers who owned a bicycle store take to the skies from a small field in Kitty Hawk, transforming what we know of today. The R&D tax credit harnesses that American spirit. It makes space for the American people to lead us into the future. When Ronald Reagan first signed the R&D tax credit into law, he knew it would grow our economy and make America strong because it put our faith in the country's greatest assets--its people and the future. Mr. Speaker, today, we are voting to make this tax credit permanent. I think that is very good policy. I also think it shows what our values are. It shows that it is everyday heroes who can lead us into the future of tomorrow. So I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill, and I urge my colleagues to give the American people the tools to move America forward.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Members are advised that we will continue debating amendments to the NDAA after this vote series and will complete consideration of the bill tomorrow. Members are further advised that they should be prepared to vote as early as 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. Amendment No. 17 Offered by Mr. McCaul

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the chairman for his work on this issue. Mr. Chairman, there is a simple truth that exists at all times and in every place: the bigger the government, the smaller the citizen. That is especially true when it comes to regulations. When the bureaucracy makes more rules, those rules limit the freedom and opportunities of real people--people who are just trying to work hard, make a living, and support themselves and their families. Frankly, the EPA has crossed the line with this proposed water rule. It has crossed the line constitutionally, and it has crossed a line by hurting people and threatening their livelihoods and private property. Let me tell you a story about a place back in my district called Sandy Creek. It is named Sandy Creek for a reason; it has been dry for over 30 years. With the drought in California, there is no time soon that water is coming. Now, long before this proposed rule that would expand the EPA's power even more, the EPA tried to regulate Sandy Creek. That would have added more costs to the people who owned the land. It would have meant more paperwork, Federal permits, compliance, and Federal regulators snooping around. It took me years to finally get the EPA to stop. Do you know how I got them to stop? I had to have an individual come to Taft, California, get in my car, drive out, and walk in Sandy Creek, throughout the sand, before he believed there was no water to regulate. Mr. Chairman, can you imagine what the EPA would try and do if they even had more authority to regulate things outside their jurisdiction? These are the actions of an administration that is unaccountable and that doesn't care about the freedom and prosperity of its citizens. This is an administration that cares more about regulation than reform, that cares more about power than it does about people. The House is going to pass a bill to stop this rule, this abuse of power. We are going to stop this regulation for all of the hard-working Americans who are tired of this Agency's power grabs just for the sake of power. We are going to try to do it for all who wish they could have control over their own lives. The EPA doesn't need any more power, Mr. Chairman, the people do.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to take a moment and thank the chairman. He has done a tremendous job. Again, he has brought another budget to the floor that balances, but he has done something no one has done in 6 years. He has brought a bicameral budget. That is something that we shouldn't just take for granted, something that the House and Senate couldn't do for quite sometime. Your leadership has been tremendous. To my friend on the other side, you make a lot of debates, and I look forward to hearing them. I am thankful this time you have more Democrats on the floor helping you than you did a couple weeks ago, and that is helpful. That is helpful for a debate. This is the place we should have it. Two weeks ago, I was on this floor to talk about a budget. I said that a budget is a vision for the future; it sets out your priorities, but it also shows your values. Well, for the first time in 6 years, the House and Senate have gotten together, worked out our differences, and drafted a bicameral budget. This budget shows America exactly where we stand. With this budget, we have a choice before us. Do we keep going down our current path? Or do we change course? Our current path adds to the debt; it is stuck in the past. In fact, the budget the Democrats offered would never balance. I say to my friend, the ranking member: we have a family close in age; we have children about the same age. My question to the other side is simply this: How will our kids invest in the future when they are busy paying for our past? The budget is a different course. It says that we will balance the budget and then actually start paying down the debt. It says that it is a more dangerous world, so we will increase spending for defense. It says we will repeal ObamaCare, and it says no new taxes. It says that it is time to grow America's economy, not Washington. Mr. Speaker, the future is not about Washington; it is not about government trying and failing to solve our problems while adding more and more debt that our children and grandchildren have to pay. America's future, our 21st century, will be built by American people. That is what this budget would do. It is the foundation for a strong American future and a future even brighter than our past. I look forward to taking the first steps to that future. I look forward to not leaving our children our debt, but leaving them a brighter future where they have greater opportunities.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. No decisions have been made at this point. This could be a prime example, just like our work on SGR. As a personal note, I would like to solve these problems in the long term. There is no reason to come back to it. If we have to get in a situation that is short-term, hopefully, that that would be short to fix a long-term, much like the issue that we had with SGR. I am hopeful that we can get that done in a very long-term manner.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The gentleman is correct, the authority for the Export-Import Bank does expire at the end of June. I know the respect the gentleman has, as I do, for regular order and working through committees. The committee of jurisdiction has had a few hearings, and I know they have some hearings scheduled in the future continuing. Nothing is scheduled at this point, but, if anything comes forward, I will notify.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The gentleman is correct about the highway funding. We look forward to making sure we get that done on time in a bipartisan manner. We will be continuing to work with you as we move forward.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I appreciate his comments, and we will continue to work together to get our appropriations process finished.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The answer to your question is ``yes.'' The gentleman does know, having been a part for many years of the appropriation process, that this is actually the earliest in the history of Congress we have ever started appropriations. It is our goal--I know it is your goal as well--to get all bills done through the House in regular order. It is something that we strive towards, and I thank the gentleman for his help.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, no votes are expected in the House. On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m. Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow. In addition, the House will begin the annual appropriation process. The House will consider the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill sponsored by Representative Charlie Dent. This important bill provides funding to house and train our military and ensures that we can meet the growing health care needs of our Nation's veterans. The House will also consider the Energy and Water appropriations bill sponsored by Representative Mike Simpson. This bill ensures that we safely maintain our nuclear weapons stockpile and provide for critical infrastructure projects through the Army Corps of Engineers. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the House is expected to consider the budget conference report. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I do want to correct one part of history here. You referred to our chairman. Our chairman did move a TRIA bill through his committee. We did move it off this floor. The chairman you speak of, Chairman Hensarling, managed the bill, got it through the House. We got it over to the Senate, and unfortunately, the Senate didn't take it up in the last hours, and then we got it done and signed into law this year. I believe our chairman works very hard on these issues and did an excellent job in the TRIA.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 8 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2015.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2015.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I appreciate his comments. But as the gentleman knows, most every American has had to, in the last few years, cut back based upon the economy. I do not believe it is too difficult to find $9 million out of a $600-million- per-year budget, and I would think the consumers would expect that of the organization as well. We can all tighten our belts to make sure that the taxpayer is protected, and I look forward to continuing to work with you. I do believe, knowing you think things should be paid for as well, that there is an opportunity here that we can find 9 out of 600.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. As the gentleman knows, the only change in this bill is to make sure that the taxpayers are protected and not increase the debt. It is just a simple pay-for as we move forward. It has got bipartisan support coming out of the committee, and we hope that we could be able to move forward on the floor.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for his comments, and I thank him for his comments regarding Abraham Lincoln as well. Yesterday was the 150th anniversary of his passing. It was also a significant day yesterday, as well, of the Jackie Robinson anniversary of breaking the color barrier in baseball. As the gentleman knows, as we have walked across that bridge many times with our good friend John Lewis, the difference that it has made in those last years from when he first was beaten across that bridge and how far this country has come, and this country can go much further. The bill is before the committee. It is not scheduled for the floor next week. We will watch as the committee continues to work. The gentleman and I can continue to work on the issue to make sure we get this done.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, no votes are expected in the House. On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m. On Friday, no votes are expected in the House. Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by the close of business tomorrow. In addition, the House will consider H.R. 1195, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Boards Act, authored by Representative Robert Pittenger. This bipartisan bill, which enjoys significant support from the Financial Services Committee, including the ranking member, will ensure that there is appropriate input given on actions being taken by the CFPB. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the House will consider two critical cybersecurity measures: H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act, authored by Chairman Devin Nunes, and H.R. 1731, the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act, authored by Chairman Mike McCaul. These bipartisan bills will improve cyber threat information sharing between the private sector and the government and ensure that America can meet cyber challenges now and into the future.

Mr. McCARTHY. As the gentleman knows, I do not like to get ahead of the conferees. I will let them work forward and see what comes back. As soon as their work is done, we will notify everyone and have it back on to the floor.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. As the gentleman knows, since my side of the aisle has taken the majority, we have done a budget every single year. We have passed the budget on this floor. We have voted this week to go to conference, we have appointed conferees, and we were actually excited about the change in the Senate and their moving a budget, so we are very hopeful that we will get this done very quickly. I do not want to get ahead of the conferees working, but I am hopeful that they will get back soon. Seeing how far they go, I am hopeful that they will be able to give as much flexibility as possible when it comes to reconciliation.