Randy Neugebauer

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of the United States Air Force in their tremendous efforts as leaders in the Federal Government's participation in Energy Awareness Month this past October. America depends on the Air Force to continually provide an umbrella of security, deter our Nation's enemies, and provide safe, efficient, and effective transportation of essential personnel and supplies to carry out their mission. As the largest single user of energy in the Federal Government, the Air Force faces the daily challenge of improving their energy efficiency while continuing to provide our Nation and her allies with the most reliable Air Force in the world. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also take this opportunity to congratulate Dyess Air Force Base, located in my district. Dyess Air Force Base was recently recognized by receiving the Department of Energy's Federal Energy and Waste Management Award. The Federal Energy and Waste Management Award recognizes individuals, groups, and agencies for their outstanding contributions in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of advanced and renewable energy technologies at their Federal facilities. Having earned this award in the past, Dyess Air Force Base continues to be a model for smart energy use. As we recognize October as Energy Awareness Month throughout the Federal Government, Dyess Air Force Base has made outstanding contributions in areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of advanced and renewable energy technologies. Some of the energy-saving initiatives included a system that employs a pond and an ice plant through which water is circulated and used to cool the installation during the hot summer months, and reducing the energy used by the B-1 bomb simulator over 30 percent, saving almost $239,000. They also developed a way to use previously unusable water through an abandoned pipeline for use by the installation's golf course, thereby saving almost 160 million gallons of fresh water each year. All told, in 2008, Dyess Air Force Base reduced its total energy consumption 16.5 percent and saved the American taxpayers over $1 million. I am proud of this achievement and the honor that this award brings to the Air Force, the people of the 19th Congressional District, and to the State of Texas. As we step toward developing sustainable and alternative energy sources, we must continue to work to increase our energy efficiency. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally congratulate and insert into the Record the following names: Tom Denslow, Danny Dobbs, Ron Miller, and Daniel Thatcher of Dyess Air Force Base; and Steve Dumont of Air Combat Command for their efforts to reduce energy use and to make that base a model of energy use. It is because of their hard work and dedication that America's dollars are better utilized and airmen are best served.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cancer survivor. August 1 of this year, I was diagnosed with the early stages of prostrate cancer. And thank goodness I live in America and I was able to sit down with my doctor and work out a treatment plan that would help me be cancer free and stand before you today. Thank goodness that I live in a country where I could go and see my doctor and make choices. And thank goodness I live in America where I didn't have to get on a list to determine when I was going to be able to have the surgery so that I could get rid of this cancer. Thank goodness I'm not living in Canada or Europe, the very system that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are trying to model America's health care system on. I thought about during August a young lady named Candy Menville that was crying in her wheelchair and begging me to make sure that we didn't turn our health care system in America into the same system that's in Canada and Europe. She said, Congressman, with tears running down her eyes, don't take away my options. Mr. Speaker, don't take away Cindy's option and don't take away my options and others like me. Vote down this terrible bill. Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this job-killing bill that cuts Medicare, piles debt on our children, raises health care costs, and raises taxes on the American people. Last week, Speaker Pelosi introduced the long-awaited final draft of her health care reform bill. H.R. 3962, combined with the 42-page manager's amendment, comes in at over 2,000 pages. A preliminary analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the true cost of the bill is $1.3 trillion. Buried within this bill are details that would add massive Federal involvement in the health care of every American, including the following: creation of a government-run insurance program that could cause as many as 114 million Americans to lose their current coverage; elimination of the private market for individual health insurance; taxes on all Americans who purchase insurance, individuals who don't purchase insurance, and millions of small businesses; and cuts to Medicare Advantage plans that will result in higher premiums. Yet with all these taxes, mandates and cuts, the majority party still maintain somehow this bill will lower the cost of health care to Americans. For months, Americans have been telling Congress they want real solutions for the health care crisis in America but they are also telling us there is a big difference between the right and wrong way to reform health care. Republicans listened to the American people and have produced a commonsense, fiscally responsible health reform proposal--not Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 2,000+ page government takeover of one-sixth of our Nation's economy. Republicans' alternative solution focuses on lowering health care premiums for families and small businesses, increasing access to affordable, high-quality care, and promoting healthier lifestyles-- without adding to the crushing debt Washington has placed on our children and grandchildren. Even the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, CBO, confirmed that the Republican health care plan would lower health care premiums by up to 10 percent and reduce the deficit by $68 billion over 10 years without imposing tax increases on families and small businesses. The Republican alternative contains no tax increases, no cuts to Medicare, no health care rationing, no deficit spending, and no huge intrusion of government into your personal health care choices. Instead, our plan recognizes that health care reform must be based on competition, preserving the relationship between doctors and patients, and reducing health care costs for American families without a massive government intrusion. Health care solutions are badly needed in this country, but we need to get it done right. Republicans have listened to the American people and put forth commonsense health care legislation that reduces the deficit, lowers premiums, and improves coverage options for those with preexisting conditions.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the American people from across the country came to the people's House to oppose a government takeover of their health care. They said, Washington, no politician or bureaucrat should interfere with our choice. And I agree. My colleagues and I have an answer for their calls by putting forward a commonsense reform, legislation that reduces the deficit, lowers the insurance premiums and improves coverage for those with preexisting conditions. As a result of the House Republican bill, the CBO now confirms that families will see their health care premium reduced by 10 percent. Hardworking taxpayers can expect deficits to decrease by $68 billion in the next decade. The American people deserve choice. One size fits all does not work for them. Speaker Pelosi, the American people have said one thing yesterday. I hope you were listening. They said, Kill this bill.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, there is a difference between the right way and the wrong way on health care reform, and the American people know it. Results from a survey on my Web site just came back the last few days. We asked the question what the people in the 19th Congressional District thought about their current health care system versus the one being proposed by Speaker Pelosi. Eighty-eight percent of the people who took my survey believe that their current health care system is better than the one in this bill. Speaker Pelosi, this is the worst bill ever. H.R. 3962 will cost $1.2 trillion over the first decade, and that's after using some smoke and mirrors with the numbers, not the $894 billion that the Speaker claims; or, simply put, this is bending the cost curve in the wrong direction. This bill permits Federal programs to be spent on abortion services. It includes a government-run plan that will force tens of millions of Americans off their current coverage. In navigating the new health care system, the bill creates 111 new programs and bureaucracies. These are not the positive solutions the American people are looking for. Mr. Speaker, let's start over.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, the people of my district are frustrated and they are scared. They feel like their Federal Government is out of control. Now Speaker Pelosi is playing a game of hide-and-seek with a health care system that comprises one-fifth of our GDP. The American people would like to know what you are hiding as they seek to find out what is in this bill, this massive, government-run health care bill. Perhaps you are hiding the fact that this will lead to government bureaucrats taking over control of seniors' health care. Maybe you are hiding the fact that this bill is designed to include $163 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage. These cuts will have an exceptionally harmful impact on seniors in rural areas, forcing many seniors into a one-size-fits-all government-run health care plan. I would like to know, but I haven't seen the details of the bill because I don't know where they are hiding today. If you claim that it is true that the American people want government to take over health care, why is this process so closed and secretive, Madam Speaker? The American people and our seniors deserve to know better. Madam Speaker, where are you?

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, I proudly congratulate the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf on the occasion of their 30th anniversary celebration. This special milestone will be celebrated on November 6, 2009 with the dedication of the new Technical Training Center in addition to other celebratory events around the campus. In the late 1970s, Dr. Douglas J.N. Burke, along with several members of the community, took action to meet the need for a postsecondary program to provide higher education and career training for the deaf in West Texas. On November 6, 1979, SWCID was established by the Board of Trustees of the Howard Junior College District. The campus of SWCID would be an entity of Howard College and located at the former Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, TX. In September 1980, SWICD first opened its doors to students, and was established as a state-supported institution on May 14, 1981. Over the past 30 years, SWICD has strived to offer vocational and technical training, state of the art learning environments and technologies for deaf students, as well as courses for hearing individuals who have an interest in working with the deaf community. I applaud Dr. Burke for his vision of creating this program for deaf students along with the countless groups and individuals who continue to support his dream and the unique education being provided by this institution. A facility of this nature is of incredible benefit to deaf individuals so that they may learn the necessary technical skills to successfully enter into the job market. It is a great honor to recognize the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf on 30 years of service to the deaf community of Texas and our Nation.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to congratulate the City of Floydada, TX, on the occasion of its centennial celebration. This 100 year milestone was commemorated by the dedication of the ``Centennial Plaza'' on October 2, 2009. Floydada was officially incorporated in October 1909 with a population of approximately 500. In 1910, the Santa Fe Railroad arrived in town, sparking the growth and development of this community. Floydada has seen great changes over the past years from the building of new public facilities and fire stations to meeting the challenges of hard times in the 1930s. Throughout its 100-year history, farming and ranching, as well as a sense of community and fellowship, have sustained Floydada. Today, the Floydada community remains a stronghold for agriculture and authentic country living and has earned the title of ``Pumpkin Capital of the U.S.'' I am proud to recognize Floydada, the P.R.I.D.E. Committee, the Centennial Committee and over 4,000 residents of the city on the 100th anniversary of their wonderful community.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, I was absent from votes on September 29 and 30, October 1 and October 6-8 for medical reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated for each rollcall listed. I ask that my statement be included in the Congressional Record. Rollcall vote 740: ``nay''; rollcall vote 741: ``yea''; rollcall vote 742: ``yea''; rollcall vote 743: ``nay''; rollcall vote 744: ``nay''; rollcall vote 745: ``yea''; rollcall vote 746: ``yea''; rollcall vote 747: ``yea''; rollcall vote 748: ``yea''; and rollcall vote 749: ``nay''. Rollcall vote 750: ``yea''; rollcall vote 751: ``yea''; rollcall vote 752: ``nay''; rollcall vote 753: ``yea''; rollcall vote 754: ``yea''; rollcall vote 755: ``yea''; rollcall vote 756: ``nay''; rollcall vote 757: ``nay''; rollcall vote 758: ``nay''; and rollcall vote 759: ``nay''. Rollcall vote 760: ``nay''; rollcall vote 761: ``nay''; rollcall vote 762: ``nay''; rollcall vote 763: ``yea''; rollcall vote 764: ``nay''; rollcall vote 765: ``nay''; rollcall vote 766: ``yea''; rollcall vote 767: ``yea''; and rollcall vote 768: ``yea''.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the taxpayers of the 19th Congressional District and all across America. They are angry, Madam Speaker, about the spending and the borrowing that's going on in Washington. At a time when they are cutting back to make ends meet, paying down their credit cards, saving more, working hard to provide for their families, they don't understand why their government isn't doing the same thing. They don't understand why the government is not only spending all of their tax dollars, but also borrowing almost 50 cents for every dollar that they spend. This bill before us increases spending for the legislative branch by 5.7 percent. I don't know about other Members in the House, but I think it's pretty hard to explain to the taxpayers why we are increasing our budget by 5.7 percent and the American people are cutting their budgets. The only explanation I can think of is that Congress doesn't get it. Well, the American people get it. Like them, I don't understand why we are increasing the legislative branch budget when the deficit is going to hit $1.6 trillion this year, projected to be $1.3 trillion next year. This bill includes provisions to continue funding for programs as we complete the remaining annual spending bills, but I would advocate that Congress go ahead and finish the job that it started. The problem is that these annual spending bills are set forth to increase our spending by 8.9 percent this year. This spending increase would come on top of an 8.6 percent increase last year, a nearly $1 trillion economic stimulus package, and a $700 billion financial bailout. Instead of passing bills to increase spending at a time when we have added $1 trillion to our national debt this year, Congress should, at a minimum, freeze spending at this level. Had we gone through normal order, I offered an amendment that would have frozen spending for the coming year and saved the American taxpayers $43 billion. It's a start, Madam Speaker. I urge members to vote against this bill.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of the 100 years of work and dedication of scientists at the AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock. In 1909, The Lubbock Agriculture Experiment Station #8, now known as Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock, was established by the Texas Legislature in response to the passage of the Hatch Act by Congress in 1887 to create agriculture experiment stations. Since its inception, researchers and staff at the Center have worked to address the High Plain's most pressing agricultural issues of the day including improvement of crops with emphasis on seed development, crop pest and disease management, cropping and efficient water systems, and harvest methods. During its 100 years of service, the Center has provided the region's producers and economy with significant contributions that include the following: the first hybrid grain sorghum in cooperation with the Chillicothe Station, greenbug resistant grain sorghum, improved cotton cultivars, improved cotton harvest equipment, improved boll weevil control techniques, methods and equipment for increasing irrigation efficiency, drought tolerant variety development, conservation tillage strategies, farming systems, precision agriculture methodology and risk management strategies. The Lubbock Extension Center is one of the largest off-campus centers in the Texas A&M University System. It serves as headquarters for agents in the 20-county South Plains Extension District 2 and includes offices for 22 Research Scientists. The Center is composed of a research farm at the Lubbock site, two research farms in the northern part of the South Plains near Halfway, Texas; one substation at Pecos, Texas; a cotton research farm in Dawson County in cooperation with Lamesa Cotton Growers and a peanut research farm in Terry County in cooperation with Texas Peanut Board. The research is used by Extension Specialists and the Extension Agents to educate producers on the methodologies of the most recent and innovative production techniques. The benefits of this program can be seen across the spectrum for agriculture on the South Plains ranging from reduced industry impact on the environment to the profitability producers enjoy from their trade. This model of cooperative research and development is one of the major reasons American agriculture has been so productive. Agricultural producers of the Texas South Plains contribute substantially to the agricultural economy of Texas and the nation. The success is supported by a strong foundation of knowledge and technology generated by the research and technology transfer of scientists, specialists and agents in cooperation with USDA-ARS, Texas Tech University and agribusinesses and commodity organization collaborators. This cooperative effort to address the many complex issues facing the South Plains agricultural industry will no doubt continue to benefit producers and enhance the region's agriculture-based economy for the next 100 years.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, like many Members in the House, I spent a good part of August visiting with people in the 19th Congressional District that sent me here. I had several coffees all across my district. One of the things that they spoke loud and clear of is that they are very concerned about the direction of their country. And as I listened to the President's speech and I listened to some of his advisers, they think these people are not Main Street America, that they are somehow disillusioned. Well, they are disillusioned. They are disillusioned with our government. They see their government bailing out banks. They see their government bailing out car companies. They see their government taking over every aspect of their lives and now wants to take over our health care. I want to read you some of the comments from the people of the 19th Congressional District. Janie from Lubbock, Texas: ``I am self-employed and pay my taxes. I firmly believe we currently have way too much government in our business and daily lives.'' Jennifer from Wolfforth, Texas: ``Keep the government out of our health care. Remind them of our broken systems, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. We don't need another one.'' Bobby from Lubbock: ``I do not want the government to run my health care. America does not need any more debt.'' Rick from Lubbock asked this question: ``Why can't government cut back on its spending like the rest of us have to?'' Nelma from Lubbock: ``My husband and I were born into very poor families. We were able to realize the American Dream. I want this opportunity for the upcoming generations.'' Michael from Lubbock: ``Reform is definitely necessary, but not the kind that has been proposed.'' James from Lubbock: ``Read, understand and apply the Constitution.'' A novel idea, James. Mandy from Lubbock: ``We want to keep our great insurance that we pay premiums for. We don't want to have our tax dollars fund another fiasco and become another Canada.'' Holly from Wolfforth: ``Stop the spending. When I was deeply in debt, I stopped buying, worked hard and paid for things slowly but surely. I am out of debt now. I did not ask anyone to print money for me or pay for me.'' John from Lubbock: ``Promise us that you will sign yourself, your family on the same plan that you force us into.'' Grace from Lubbock: ``I hope you have listened to the many people here in Lubbock who do not have health insurance and who cannot afford it.'' James from Lubbock: ``The U.S. Congress and the executive branch of the Federal Government, in particular, should limit their reach to what is allowed by our Founding Fathers' documents.'' Robert from Lubbock: ``We must stop this crazy deficit spending and borrowing.'' Marilyn from Lubbock: ``I hope that you will find a way to use the programs already available to cover all Americans.'' Rosalie from Lubbock: ``Government is spending too much money. Back off.'' Larry from Lubbock: ``In the bill there is language limiting the growth of physician-owned hospitals. These hospitals are able to supply health care services more efficiently than other community-based larger hospitals. I am against this bill.'' Sandra from Lubbock: ``We need to slow things down and people need to read all of the bill before doing any voting. Kayla from Lubbock, who attended with her grandmother: ``I am 9 years old, and I am wondering why the heck you're spending my future. Thank you for listening.'' Ron from Lubbock: ``When my kids were in college, my friends called me the ATM. I don't know the President. I don't want to be his ATM.'' George from Lubbock: ``As Big Government continues to expand, there is a commensurate loss of individual freedom, accompanied by excessive spending and an amassing of a ridiculous deficit.'' Michelle from Lubbock: ``I am a RN in a local emergency room. I am personally against the health care bill. How do we fix overcrowding of ERs? ER nurses are working twice as hard and seeing twice as many patients compared to the past.'' Jack from Lubbock, ``Say `no' to the government health care and protect our borders.'' Joel from Lubbock: ``Please say `no' to all excessive spending. Some of it does not fit with our Constitution.'' Susan from Lubbock: ``I have been an RN for 34 years. I am tired of seeing patients turned away due to lack of insurance. This takes such a toll on families and health care providers.'' Mary from Lubbock: ``Please do all that you can to keep health care in our hands, not the government.'' Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, these are not people that are off on some tangent. These are people that are concerned about their country. They are concerned that the government is taking over every aspect of their lives. They're concerned that we are mortgaging the future of their children and their grandchildren. They're concerned that their personal liberties and freedoms are at risk. Mr. President and Madam Speaker, it's time to listen to the American people and quit giving speeches.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, like many Members in the House, I spent a good part of August visiting with those who sent me here to Washington to represent them. I held seven ``Coffee with the Congressman'' meetings in all parts of the 19th Congressional District, and I was amazed at the tremendous amount of turnout. Those who came to these meetings were upset about the direction that the government is taking their country. They want their voices to be heard in Washington. I told them I would bring their messages back to Congress with me, and hundreds of those attending our meetings filled out these message forms. As I said, I would like to read these comments on the House floor so that everyone in Congress will know how they feel. The people of the 19th Congressional District, and I think people all across America, share these same thoughts. So, for the next 5 minutes, you're going to hear from the people who came to the August 24 townhall meeting in Abilene, Texas, in their own words. David from Abilene, Texas wrote these comments: ``My message to Washington is fix Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and welfare first. When they have a good working system in place, then we can talk about taking on health care.'' Claude from Tuscola, Texas had these comments: ``In my business, I have 19 employees, and I have reasonable health care coverage for all my employees, and I furnish this at no cost to my employees. Two of my employees cover their families at their expense. It is a very good policy.'' Jerry from Abilene said, ``I'm a 75-year old male, married 52 years with 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. This is all about the enormous debt I will be leaving for them. Please quit the spending, and look for ways to cut costs and improve our current system.'' Charles from Abilene said, ``You can't borrow your way out of debt. When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Whatever happened to common sense? Stop the cap-and-trade bill. It will raise taxes on all and not affect the global climate. Drill for oil in Alaska and our coastal waters, where there are proven reserves. If the health care bill is good enough for the taxpayers, it should be used by the President, Congress and the unions.'' Charleye from Abilene said, ``I do not want the government to control our health care. Please do not pass the proposed health care reform. Government spending is out of control. Please put a cap on spending in all areas. Not more bailouts--for anybody. Please listen, and stop spending our money now.'' Bill from Abilene asked this question: ``Should this health care bill get passed, will all of the national politicians have to get on it too, or will you still keep your individual health insurance you have now?'' Trudy from Abilene said, ``Please stand against all bills that are not read and debated. `No' to government health care.'' Tom from Abilene said, ``You must do everything possible to prevent publicly funded abortions in the health care bill.'' Maria from Merkel, Texas said, ``People fail to see I am paying for this. Somebody has to. I'm tired of paying taxes toward things that people don't want to work for.'' Lucile from Abilene says, ``I do not want government control of my health care. This excess spending is ruining the U.S. Please be serious about your country and its citizens.'' Grace from Abilene said, ``No new taxes. We need insurance reform, not health care reform. The government bankrupted Medicare, not the recipients. No more bailouts. When did we start bailing out people that lived beyond their means in their high-priced homes?'' Mike from Abilene: ``I am a 27-year retired Air Force veteran. I am concerned about TRICARE for life and the loss of benefits under the new health care bill.'' Amy from Abilene: ``Please save citizens of the U.S. from paying for abortions or any encouraging of such, from any funding directly or indirectly of euthanasia.'' Caryn from Abilene: ``Leave our health care alone and cut our taxes.'' Ruth from Cisco: ``Please continue to stand for truth and freedom in Washington. The health care bill is not about more health care, but less--rationing.'' Hal from Abilene: ``I am not against sensible reform. I am against government control of our economy and health care. In short, stay within the confines of the Constitution and out of our lives.'' Marion and Mary from Abilene: ``Stop the runaway spending like cap- and-trade. Fix our present health care system. Support our vets, old and new.'' Emily from Abilene: ``I don't think most Congressmen realize or understand the true feelings of the American people. We used to have real regard for our leaders.'' Jerry and Camille from Ranger, Texas: ``Stop the bailouts. Stop the outrageous spending and get back to following the Constitution. Read all the bills before signing. I was in the front row and I had never been to a town hall meeting before.'' Kay from Abilene: ``I oppose cap-and-trade which will dramatically reduce our standard of living and is absolutely unnecessary.'' J.M. from Abilene: ``Government has to stop spending and pay our way out of debt.'' This is just a small fraction, Mr. Speaker, of how the American people feel. Libby from Abilene: ``While we have Medicaid for people, it is impossible to find a doctor who will take new Medicaid patients in Abilene.'' Mike from Abilene: ``Do not pass health care reform that reduces Medicare benefits or makes access to doctors more difficult.'' Betty from Abilene: ``Read the bills before you sign them.'' Robert and Essie Mae from Abilene: ``Stop the spending!'' Debra from Abilene: ``What are the pros and cons to mandatory health care as with auto insurance, seat belt laws and smoking bans?'' Edna from Jayton: ``First, we should reduce government.'' Maetta from Abilene: ``How about our representatives and senators sharing in the same health plan that they provide for the rest of us?''

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Garrett substitute. This is a reasonable and thoughtful substitute. Republicans on the Financial Services Committee are here to bring good ideas to the table to try to work with the majority to ensure that our markets operate with transparency and integrity. Our substitute includes a non-binding shareholder vote on executive legislation. Rather than vote every year, though, our substitute aligns the vote with standard time frames of compensation packages and ensures that institutional investors who represent the shareholders in casting their votes will be able to have proper time to do the due diligence necessary to make meaningful votes. The substitute allows shareholders who don't want to be involved in these votes to opt out. Makes sense to me. If I don't want to particularly be involved in that, give me the opportunity. Finally, the substitute ensures that the Federal Government cannot decide to pay for employees or financial institutions. Determining pay practices is not the role of government. As we work together to reform the financial regulatory structure, debating compensation practices may make some feel better, but it doesn't fix the cause of our financial crises. While we and the public may not like to hear about some of the large salaries and bonuses others have earned, we have to ask ourselves how much did these compensation practices really contribute to the problem. The most important tool available to regulators is the ability to set capital standards for financial institutions, not the ability to tell financial institutions how they can pay or how much they should pay their employees. We need regulators to ensure capital and leverage ratios at financial institutions match the risk that those entities are taking on. That's what regulators should focus on, not deciding whether or not a certain incentive practice is appropriate or not. Ohio State University finance professor Rene Stulz recently released a finished study comparing bank performance last year and CEO incentives leading up to the crisis. Professor Stulz is quoted in today's New York Times: ``It's hard to believe that regulators will be better at devising compensation plans with proper incentives,'' he says. ``Properly designed capital requirements are a much more efficient approach to regulate the risk of financial institutions than fiddling with compensation.'' When we allow Federal regulators to decide how much employees of financial institutions get paid, the government is overreaching. Congress should be working to encourage well-managed, well-run, and well-capitalized financial institutions. This bill does the opposite. Support the commonsense Garrett substitute.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the rededication of a Texas Historical Landmark, Camp Hereford Italian Prisoner of War Camp memorial chapel. This World War II monument has survived more than 64 years as a symbol of the shared history that binds Texas, the United States, and Italy together. During World War II, the Hereford POW camp stretched across 800 acres in Castro and Deaf Smith counties in West Texas. It was the second largest United States POW camp built during World War II. An estimated 5,000 Italian POWs were held at the site between February 1943 and June 1946, when the last of the POWs were repatriated. In 1945, the Italian POWs received permission from the U.S. military to pay for and build a chapel within the camp to serve as a marker for the burial site of their fallen soldiers. In honor of their five comrades who died while interned, skilled artisan Italian prisoners constructed the thirteen-foot-square chapel. After the war, the deceased were exhumed and returned to Italy, leaving the chapel abandoned and vulnerable to deterioration. n 1988, former POWs donated money, original sketches, and photographs for the first major restoration of the chapel. The project was completed in time for a reunion held in Hereford in June, 1989. In 1992, the Texas Historical Commission declared the chapel a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark. In spite of its historical significance, the chapel was severely vandalized in 2008. Thanks to financial support from the Committee for Italians Living Abroad and the volunteer effort of Castro and Deaf Smith county residents, the chapel has once again been restored to its original beauty. The Castro County Historical Commission and Committee for Italians Living Abroad will co-host a rededication ceremony Saturday, August 8, 2009. The restoration of this monument stands to preserve the history of the mutual regard that developed between the prisoners and their captors in rural Texas, and I congratulate the community for preserving this piece of history.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this time to recognize distinguished writer, speaker, and entertainer, Bob Lewis, better known as Tumbleweed Smith. Tumbleweed Smith is both creator and producer of the renowned radio program The Sound of Texas. August 1, 2009 will mark the celebration of 40 prosperous years on the air, making The Sound of Texas the longest running syndicated radio program in Texas. In his 40 years of interviews, Tumbleweed Smith has accumulated the largest private collection of oral history in the United States. His one-man shows have been performed all over Texas, as well as six other states, and three other countries. In addition to being an influential entertainer, Tumbleweed Smith has won international recognition for his advertising and production work. His honors include two CLIO advertising awards, the Governor's Award for Tourism, the West Texas Chamber of Commerce Cultural Achievement award and two Freedom Foundation awards. The Texas House of Representatives has recognized Tumbleweed ``for creating a priceless resource of Texas folk tales, lore and wisdom.'' He was honored by the Texas House of Representatives in 1999 for his outstanding communication skills and radio service to West Texas. In 2008 he was recognized by the Texas State Senate for celebrating his 10,000th program of The Sound of Texas. Mr. Lewis resides in Big Spring, TX with his wife Susan and they have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandsons. He writes a syndicated weekly news column and teaches radio production in the Permian Basin. Tumbleweed Smith is a true gem to West Texas. I am proud to honor his achievements and look forward to more of his unique and entertaining work in the future.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on member requests, I am submitting the following information regarding a congressionally directed appropriation project I sponsored as part of H.R. 3326, FY 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. Agency/Account: Department of the Army--RDT&E Amount: $1,500,000 Requesting Entity: Texas Tech University, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79409 The funding for the Zumwalt National Program for Countermeasures to Biological and Chemical Threats is requested to further the understanding and ability of operational military forces to identify, prevent, and mitigate any threats war fighters may face from biological and chemical weapon agents in any environment at any time.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I originally came down here to talk about the fact that when my two grandsons, Nathan and Noah, need to know whether they need their tonsils out, we're going to let the doctor make that decision, not the President of the United States or the Speaker of the House. But then the gentleman from Massachusetts got up and was quoting a comment that Chairman Bernanke made the other day about the stimulus package. What he didn't talk about was the rest of the comment that Mr. Bernanke made when we said, The fact that we're borrowing 50 cents of every dollar that we spend, do you think that that would change your predictions down the road if we keep spending at this level? This is to quote the Chairman: ``Down the road, it might. As I talked about in my testimony, I do think it's very important that we look at a medium-term fiscal sustainability, that we have a plan for getting back to reasonably low deficits and a sustainable debt-to-GDP ratio. Otherwise, we might see interest rates rise, which would be a negative for the economy.'' I said, Do you think we can keep spending and having these trillion dollar deficits and not put our country--is that sustainable? Chairman Bernanke said, ``No, sir. It's not.''

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on member requests, I am submitting the following information regarding congressionally directed projects in H.R. 3292, The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2010. Agency/Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-- Health Facilities and Services Amount: $480,000 Requesting Entity: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79409 The people of West Texas and the contiguous regions of Eastern New Mexico and Oklahoma represent an underserved population in terms of local access to cancer therapeutics. This funding would support the Cancer Center for the South Plains Region which seeks to reduce suffering from cancer in the region through education, prevention, and early access to state-of-the art cancer therapeutics. The Cancer Center will serve the region, state, and nation by decreasing the substantial costs associated with the morbidity and mortality from cancer. Agency/Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-- Health Facilities and Services Amount: $250,000 Requesting Entity: Texas Tech University, 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79409 The Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery (CSAR) is a federal and state supported program dedicated to expanding recovery support and relapse prevention available for students and to serve as a demonstration program that can easily be replicated by other institutions of higher education. A number of other colleges and universities around the country have created college recovery communities based on curriculum developed by CSAR.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on member requests, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding congressionally directed appropriation projects I sponsored as part of H.R. 3288, FY 2010 Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies Appropriations Act. Agency/Account: Federal Transit Administration/Buses and Bus Facilities Amount: $200,000 Requesting Entity: City of Abilene, P.O. Box 60, Abilene, TX 79601 The City of Abilene operates a bus system that provides the community with 12 fixed bus routes, ADA paratransit service, and demand-response evening service. The overall system had 583,000 passengers in FY 2008. Given the importance of the bus system to the community, Abilene has developed a comprehensive plan to improve the facilities, including Transfer Facility Rehabilitation, Bus Stop Improvements, Maintenance Facility Improvements, Bus Facility Security, and Bus Stop Signage. Agency/Account: Federal Transit Administration/Buses and Bus Facilities Amount: $750,000 Requesting Entity: City of Lubbock/Citibus, P.O. Box 2000, Lubbock, TX 79457 Citibus currently has six low floor hybrid electric buses on order and expects delivery of the buses in November 2009. Citibus still has a need to replace thirty buses that are twelve years old and in need of replacement to better serve the Lubbock community. Citibus would like to purchase eight buses per year until all of the buses that have exceeded their useful life have been replaced. By purchasing hybrid electric buses, Citibus will be more environmentally friendly, and be less dependent on oil products. The funding will be used for a Section 5309 request to cover bus purchases that would replace the existing bus fleet with hybrid busses. Agency/Account: Housing and Urban Development/Economic Development Initiatives Amount: $300,000 Requesting Entity: City of Abilene, P.O. Box 60, Abilene, TX 79601 This funding will assist the Development Corporation of Abilene, the economic development arm of the City of Abilene, which is building a Life Sciences Accelerator, a biotech facility that will contain laboratories, research equipment, and office space to be ``time shared'' by biotech company tenants. This Accelerator is part of a much larger biotech initiative designed to diversify the regional economy by attracting high-paying jobs. The building is under construction with completion targeted by December 2009. The Accelerator needs the specialized equipment to make it a world class facility and to bring additional jobs to the region.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. I dare to disagree with the gentleman. What we're stopping from happening here is what we call in Texas ``double dipping,'' because we gave them $21 billion from some of these same programs less than 6 months ago. They've only spent 11 percent of it, so I don't think we're cutting anything. What we're saying is we're going to cut out the monkey business here. We're not going to allow them to double dip, and we're going to give that money back to the American people, Mr. Chairman. They're not even going to spend this $21 billion probably in the next fiscal year. They've spent only 11 percent since the inception of this bill. So we're not cutting anything. We're just saying, Hey, you're having trouble spending the first $21 billion. We'd like this $21 billion back. If you want to bring it back in another appropriations bill, we'll allow you to do that, but the problem is that we are accumulating this huge debt. Our national debt is at $11.7 trillion. That's $37,000 for every American in this country. In just a few months, I'm going to have my third grandchild. Do you know what? I'm going to give that child a present or, I guess, the government is going to give that child a present. I'm going to write a letter and say, Your granddaddy was here to inform you that, on your birthday, you owe $37,000 right out of the chute. The American people are fed up with it. They want their money back. We cannot allow these government agencies to double dip. They're not spending the American taxpayers' money wisely. They're not creating jobs, and they're sick and tired of it. They're fed up. If you really want to make a mark in this Congress, vote for this amendment, and give the American people their money back. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today on a simple mission: to help get some of the taxpayers' money back. We passed an historic spending bill back in February, saddling our children and our grandchildren with mountains of debt. We were told that these funds would go towards projects that were targeted, temporary and, most importantly, timely--referred to as ``shovel- ready.'' Well, guess what, Mr. Chairman? According to the White House's own Web site, recovery.gov, just 11 projects have been awarded by the Department of Transportation so far. Just 11 projects. So we rushed out to spend $20-plus billion. We were told we can't wait until we get through the normal appropriations process. We've got to go spend this money right now so we can get it out and so we can create the jobs. Let me tell you how reliable this recovery.gov is. Just this week, a military installation in my district was featured on the Drudge Report for what appeared to be excessive amounts of stimulus spending. It turns out that an error was, in fact, made by-- you guessed it, Mr. Chairman--the operators of recovery.gov. They couldn't even enter a contract award correctly onto the Web site, which is supposed to be the model of government transparency. This is just one more example of how flawed this recovery process has been. One of the things that astounds me is that we said we had to go out and spend all of this money and that it was going to create jobs. Well, the question is: Where are the jobs, Mr. Chairman? What we've seen since we passed this recovery package is that people have lost their jobs. Today, 14 million people are out of work; 9.5 percent of Americans don't have jobs. Do you know what we're helping them do now? We're saying, You know what? We know you don't have a job, and we know you're having a hard time getting by. Do you know what we're going to do? We're going to pile up mounds and mounds and mounds of debt so that your children and grandchildren will have to work 25 hours a day just to pay the debt. Mr. Chairman, what this simple amendment does is say, You know what? We were wrong. We thought we could spend this $21 billion. We needed to get it out immediately. We found out we can't, so we're going to give part of that money back. We're going to give $13 billion of it back. Let me tell you the logic of what this bill does today. We said we had to rush to get this $21 billion spent. What we're saying and what we know is that now 13 projects and less than $1 billion of contracts have been awarded. Do you know what we're going to reward the government to do? We're going to say, Y'all did such a bad job of not spending the $21 billion we gave you back in the spring that we're going to reward you. We're going to give you another $21 billion of the taxpayers' money. By the way, Mr. Chairman, it's $21 billion we don't have. It's $21 billion we don't have. So what we're going to have to do is not only give them another $21 billion, but we're going to have to borrow $21 billion from China or from Japan or from some other country. It just doesn't make sense to keep going down this path. Mr. Chairman, we have to stop that. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NEUGEBAUER

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Madam Speaker, I'm very disappointed because the Democrats and the administration don't think the American people are either smart enough or they don't trust them to make their own decisions. The Democrats and the administration have introduced a reform for financial markets that is going to start telling the American people, Hey, you're not smart enough or we don't trust you to determine what kind of credit card you should have. We don't trust you, we don't think you're smart enough to determine what kind of mortgage you should take out. We don't trust you, we don't think you're smart enough to determine what kind of car loan you should have. We don't trust you and we don't think you're smart enough to determine what kind of checking account that you should have. Now we're going to tell the American people we don't think you're smart enough or don't trust you to pick your own health care. You know, the American people are getting kind of tired of the Democrats telling them that they don't trust them or they don't think they're smart enough. Madam Speaker, the Republicans have introduced a financial reform that says to the American people: we think you're smart enough when have you the right information.