Mark Meadows

Mr. MEADOWS

Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lenoir Fire Chief Ken Briscoe as his term of president of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs comes to an end this August. It is a well-earned rest after serving 7 years and traveling across the State of North Carolina and the United States in representing more than 1,500 fire chiefs and 45,000 firefighters in North Carolina. Chief Briscoe has been the fire chief for the city of Lenoir since 2004 and has worked in the fire service for over 35 years. During that time, his main focus has been improving the training and education of firefighters in North Carolina. Chief Briscoe will continue to serve on the board of directors as the past president of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs. Today, we honor his years of service and express our appreciation for his continued commitment to North Carolina firefighters. We are grateful to Chief Briscoe and to his fellow firefighters across North Carolina for their bravery and selfless dedication to protecting our communities in the face of danger.

Mr. MEADOWS

Mr. MEADOWS. Madam Speaker, this administration seems bound and determined to wield their sequester--automatic, across-the-board cuts-- like a club in order to drive their political agenda. Their latest move? These politically motivated flight delays being felt by travelers at airports all across America. The Federal Aviation Administration apparently believes that the only way to implement these cuts is to furlough thousands of traffic controllers, tying up the skyways all across this country. It would appear that they've missed the $2.7 billion in potential savings that they've chosen to ignore. Did they really need to spend $325 million in travel costs, especially when their operation budget has already grown by 109 percent since 1996? These unnecessary flight delays are just the latest proof that this administration is clearly more interested in making a political point than coming up with serious solutions to the problems that our Nation faces. We need to cut wasteful spending for more efficient, effective government that would foster a healthier economy and create jobs now.

Mr. MEADOWS

Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 months, Federal official after Federal official has talked about the need to furlough employees due to sequestration, yet the government continues to hand out millions of dollars in bonuses to Federal employees. Seventy-five percent of senior executive service employees received bonuses, at an average of $13,081. Regular, oftentimes blue-collar Federal workers are facing furloughs while senior employees are cashing in. The FAA has been talking about 90-minute waits for passengers, but yet in fiscal year 2011, they handed out $40,000 bonuses to more than 86 different employees. This is unacceptable, and the recent OMB guidelines don't go far enough. The Common Sense in Compensation Act bill that I am introducing today would prohibit those bonuses for the rest of fiscal year 2013 and cap them at a maximum of 5 percent of the salary going forward. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor my bill.

Mr. MEADOWS

Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the centennial of Hayesville, a city nestled between the mountains and valleys of Clay County in western North Carolina. Located along an old trading route at the site of the former Cherokee town of Quanasee, Hayesville became a resting place for many settlers in the early 1800s during their westward expansion. As the population in the area grew, the need for local governance increased, and in 1861, State representative George Hayes introduced legislation establishing Clay County, and Hayesville was named to recognize his efforts. As the county and community continued to grow, a county courthouse and village square were established in the town, and in March of 1913, Hayesville was officially recognized as an incorporated town and the county seat of Clay County. Throughout the 1900s, Hayesville's importance to western North Carolina only grew as it became a center of commerce point between Franklin to the east, Murphy to the west, and communities in Georgia to the south. Hayesville continues to be an important representative of the small- town family values and our mountain culture so important to all of us in the western part of the State. I'm proud to represent such a strong community, and it is with great honor I recognize the centennial of Hayesville, North Carolina.

Mr. MEADOWS

Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, the recent school massacres at Newtown, Connecticut, sent shock waves across our country. And as a father, I grieved with the families that lost loved ones on that day, but as a legislator, I vowed that I would take action to prevent future tragedies. According to a recent Gallup poll, 53 percent of Americans believe that increasing police presence at schools would be very effective in preventing future tragedies. After speaking with local law enforcement, superintendents, and principals in my district, I believe it is the best path forward. That is why I will be introducing the Protect America's Schools Act today. This legislation would revitalize the Cops in Schools grant program, which has not been funded since fiscal year 2005, and fund it at $30 million annually. The CIS program is specifically designed to assist local law enforcement agencies in the hiring of new officers. And with a $16.4 trillion debt, we must take action, but we must be fiscally responsible. The $30 million to pay for this critical grant program would be offset by taking the unspent funds from the operations budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Protect America's Schools Act is not the only answer, but it is a critical step forward to protect our Nation's children. Keeping our children safe is not only an area where both political parties can find common ground, but as lawmakers, we have a moral obligation to make sure that we do just that.

Mr. MEADOWS

Mr. MEADOWS. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding as I rise in support of H.R. 444, the Require a PLAN Act. As a small business owner, I understand the importance of a balanced budget. Ensuring that you spend within your means is vital to your employees and the success of that business. Spending beyond your means could result in layoffs, mothers and fathers not being able to put food on the table, and it ultimately could mean the demise of that company. I get it. Families from my district in western North Carolina get it. Just last week, Eric from Asheville wrote to my office saying: To me it is just basic math. This is how most people that have a budget work. If you are in debt, you either need to spend less and cut back, or make more money. So I spend less, and I cut back on some of the things that are not essential. Why can't our government figure it out? I agree with Eric from Asheville, North Carolina, and that's why I'm a proud cosponsor of Representative Tom Price's Require a PLAN Act, which will force President Obama to explain how he intends to balance our budget. It's time for the Federal Government to do what hardworking, tax- paying Americans and some businessowners from across the country have to do: balance a budget and live within our means. The time is now.

Mr. MEADOWS

Mr. MEADOWS. Amendment VI: ``In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.''