Joseph Pitts

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, we have talked a lot about how this bill is distracting us from the issue that the American people want us to focus on, and that is jobs. But this bill isn't just merely a distraction. It will have a profoundly negative impact on the job market. You cannot raise taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars on individuals and businesses and expect that it has no impact on employers and employees. Raising taxes per employee by $2,000 would not encourage businesses to hire more workers, and workers receiving health care subsidies would see their new Federal entitlement evaporate when their wages increase by too much. Under this bill, more pay could mean less health care, effectively trapping workers in lower-wage jobs. So not only would this discourage job growth, it would discourage wage growth also. The bottom line is this bill will destroy jobs at a time when we can least afford it.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today we will hear again from the President about health care reform. However, moving forward on another version of these massive health care bills is not progress. Raising hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes is not progress. Cutting half a trillion dollars from Medicare is not progress. Putting the government in charge of health care in this country is not progress. We all know how flawed the Senate health care bill is, how it is full of backroom deals like the Cornhusker Kickback and the Louisiana Purchase and many others. Some say the American people will appreciate this bill after it becomes law. Let's not pretend that the American people just don't know enough about this bill to make an informed decision. They are informed, and they reject it. Let's scrap this massive bill and start over, just like the American people would like us to.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last week marked 1 year since the passage of the $862 billion so-called stimulus bill, a bill that was supposed to keep unemployment below 8 percent, a bill that was supposed to boost the economy and private sector job creation, a bill completely paid for with borrowed money in a time of ballooning deficits. We have not seen the broad benefits promised by the stimulus bill, but we will soon have to pay the price for this borrowing and spending. I would encourage all of my colleagues to turn to page A19 in today's Wall Street Journal and read about the true economic cost of the stimulus bill. According to Harvard economist Robert Barro, over 5 years the stimulus package creates an extra $600 billion in public spending, but at the cost of $900 billion in private expenditures. We spent money that we didn't have, and for each dollar spent, we will have to pay back $1.50 in higher taxes. Mr. Barro sums it up by saying, ``The 2009 stimulus bill was a mistake.'' We need to focus on private sector job growth, not borrowing for more government spending.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I first got to know Jack as a freshman legislator in the Pennsylvania House of 1973-1974, where he and I served together until he was elected to Congress in 1974. We were both Vietnam veterans--the only two in the State house, so we had something in common with that that we chatted about. Jack served his community in western Pennsylvania as both the State and Federal Representative for nearly four decades, and he will be missed by his hometown of Johnstown and residents of the 12th Congressional District. He served his country as a Marine drill instructor. As an officer, he remained in the Reserves after leaving full-time service in 1955. He volunteered to return to full-time service in 1967, and he served honorably in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star with Valor and two Purple Hearts. Even after being elected to the House in Congress, Representative Murtha continued his service in the Reserves, finally retiring as a colonel in 1990. Just a few weeks ago, he became the longest-serving Pennsylvania Member of the House of Representatives. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 55 years and his children and grandchildren that he leaves behind. I join with my colleagues in the Pennsylvania delegation to extend our condolences to his family and friends. Tonight, we honor his service.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the President's budget released on Monday is a blueprint for failure. It projects a $1.6 trillion budget deficit for this year alone; and in its entire 10-year window, the annual deficit never falls below $700 billion. The much vaunted spending freeze only covers some 13 percent of the budget and only accomplishes this goal by moving certain programs from discretionary to mandatory spending. Once the freeze is picked at by the free-spending leadership of the House and Senate, it will be reduced to a lukewarm puddle of even more deficit spending. To make the tough decisions about balancing our budget, the administration looks to create a nonbinding commission. The President doesn't need a toothless commission when he already has the power to direct his Office of Management and Budget to create a blueprint for solvency. We need leadership. We need the buck to stop with the President, not with the commission of unelected economists, academics or bureaucrats.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, this week I will be proud to attend a dinner honoring an outstanding member of our community in the 16th District of Pennsylvania, Ralph ``Buzz'' Coho. Born on the Fourth of July, Ralph likes to be known as a genuine Yankee Doodle Dandy who loves his community and his country. He served his country with honorable service in the United States military and served his community as an honest businessman. Ralph is known as ``Mr. Rotary'' around Lancaster County and has been an outstanding ambassador for the organization since 1934 when he first joined the Lancaster club at the age of nineteen. Twenty years later he formed the Lancaster Northeast Rotary Club. In his time with Rotary International, he has championed the formation of 11 clubs in District 7390. In 2004, he was awarded the District 7390 Lifetime Achievement Award. In both his business and his personal affairs he has faithfully honored the Rotary Four-way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? And, will it be beneficial to all concerned? He is still very active with Rotary International and three clubs in his district are honoring him with an honorary flagpole in front of the new Manheim Township library. A flag flown over the United States Capitol will wave in honor of Ralph ``Buzz'' Coho. I am pleased to honor this upstanding and outstanding member of our community and thank him for his decades of exemplifying the Rotary motto, ``service above self.''

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, we know that the best way to prevent an attack on U.S. soil is to ensure that terrorists are stopped before they reach our shores. Unfortunately, we failed to do so on Christmas Day and al Qaeda came close to significant victory. While the terrorist Abdulmutallab was noted in a terrorist identity database, he was not placed on a separate screening database and his U.S. visa was not revoked. Clearly, we did not connect the dots to notice that a man on a U.S. watch list also held a current U.S. visa. This has not been the first time terrorists have obtained U.S. visas. Several of the 9/11 hijackers did so as well. We need to strengthen the visa application process. We need to streamline the intelligence gathering and sharing process. We need to end the visa lottery. We need to ensure that terrorists are turned around before they get to the airport before they even attempt to go through security. Were it not for the quick action of passengers on that flight, 288 innocent lives would have been lost. Passengers should not have to rely on last-minute heroics in order to travel safely. This administration must get serious about addressing this problem.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. I thank the gentleman. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama, Parker Griffith, another pro-life supporter.

Mr. PITTS. I thank the gentleman for that statement and his leadership on this issue. Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey, Chris Smith, our Pro-Life Caucus Chair, a wonderful eloquent voice for life.

Mr. PITTS. I rise today on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the infamous court decision Roe v. Wade. I rise on the occasion of the annual March for Life that will occur tomorrow with tens of thousands of citizens who will come to Washington to publicly speak out on this issue of life and the sanctity of life. I just want to say to those who are coming, I want to thank them, the people from all across the country who come, for their dedication to a cause that matters so much, the cause of life. Every year on this day, people across the country pause to remember the millions of lives that have been lost since Roe v. Wade was decided on that fateful day in 1973. In just 37 years, nearly 52 million unborn children have been lost to abortion. Sadly, we can never know what those lives may have been--doctors, teachers, athletes, perhaps even Congressmen and Congresswomen. We mourn the loss of those unborn children. But I also want to take a moment to rejoice in the millions of lives that have been saved because women have chosen life. Because of the caring people like those who will come and march this week in Washington, because of the pregnancy care centers, so many women have opted not to have abortions but instead carry their babies to term. Many of us may have heard that this year's Super Bowl will feature a commercial that tells a story of a well-known quarterback, Tim Tebow. Tim's story is a powerful one. His mother, Pam, became pregnant while she was working with her husband in the Philippines as a missionary. While pregnant, Pam contracted amoebic dysentery through contaminated drinking water. She was told that the medications required to treat her illness would cause irreparable damage to her unborn child, and so Pam was encouraged to have an abortion. Thankfully, she refused, and her son, Tim, went on to play starting quarterback for the Florida Gators and in 2007 was awarded the Heisman Trophy. Let me share one other brief story. As a baby, Patrick Henry Hughes was born with diseases that caused him to be both blind and crippled from birth. By some accounts, his life may have been considered less valuable. But Patrick has a unique gift. He has become an amazing multi-instrumental musician who inspires people across the country with his music. In 2006, he was recruited to join the marching band at the University of Louisville. He joined the band, playing the trumpet while his father pushed his wheelchair through the marching routines. Patrick is an inspiration to so many around him. And when asked about the challenges they have faced, Patrick's father said he now asks: What did we do to deserve a special young man who's brought us so, so much? For both of these stories, there are hundreds of others that remain untold; hundreds of lives that may never have been were it not for those who continue to stand on behalf of the unborn. First, I want to thank those who are coming tomorrow to visit and march for life. Now, at this time, I would like to yield to my colleague from Ohio, Jean Schmidt, who's chairperson of the Pro-Life Women's Caucus.

Mr. PITTS. I want to thank the gentlelady for her eloquent words. At this time, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana, Joseph Cao.

Mr. PITTS. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for that very informative and important statement. He is a great leader here in Congress. At this time I want to turn to another leader in Congress. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Jim Jordan.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, an American citizen is being held illegally and unjustly by the Burmese Government today, and we should do all we can to return him to the United States and to his family. Nyi Nyi Aung has been imprisoned in Burma since September 3, and has been held under a revolving array of charges--all bogus. Aung has been deprived of food and sleep, has been beaten, then has had medical treatment withheld, and he remains in prison while his trial is pending. The Burmese Government has ignored its obligations under international treaty, and it violates the standards of human rights and basic decency. Aung has a heart for the oppressed people of his native country, a heart to bring true democracy to Burma, and his offense is promoting freedom in a country that is like a vast prison camp. I urge Secretary Clinton to publicly call for Aung's release and to use all possible diplomatic means to return him to the United States where he can receive medical care. His life hangs in the balance, and we cannot afford to wait.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, what is the proper function of the United Nations? Is it a forum for countries to come together to promote peace, security, and human rights? Or is it an independent entity that determines and establishes the law and regulations to govern member states? General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has made it clear in recent comments that the U.N. Climate Summit in Copenhagen will not be successful unless a firm deadline for a legally binding agreement is in place. In Copenhagen, the U.N. is advocating for U.N. bureaucrats with the legal power to regulate the actions of member states. We should not let the health of our economy rest on the collective decisions of a group containing antagonistic and autocratic governments who do not have the American people's interests at heart, let alone the interests of their own citizens. Do we really want Burma, Iran, and North Korea and other despotic governments setting the rules that govern how American businesses operate? I certainly do not.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, President Obama is shifting our strategy to fight terrorists from a military model to a legal crime enforcement model. Case in point, this week, three Navy SEALs were arraigned on charges related to punching terrorist leader Ahmed Abed after he killed and mutilated four Americans in Iraq. A punch to the gut has led to the prosecution of three of our most highly dedicated and highly trained servicemen. Al Qaeda has many weapons and tactics to harm our troops, among them the weapon of our judicial system and the tactic of claiming abuse by our soldiers. The SEALs risked their lives to capture Abed alive, when it may have been easier to kill him with a hellfire missile fired from a drone. They did not question the necessity of bringing Abed in alive so that he could be interrogated and so that valuable intelligence could be gathered. Why would our soldiers undertake future operations when they too could be prosecuted based on the word of a terrorist? The Obama administration is taking us down a slippery slope where our legal system impedes our ability to fight an enemy that shows no regard for innocent lives.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, all too often we come to this floor to talk about problems in the country. Today, however, I want to mention some good news about the future of America and the next generation of patriotic men and women. In my district this year, applications to the military service academies increased by 30 percent. Today's youth, more than ever, are looking to serve this country. And our academies are among the finest universities in the world. While it may seem counterintuitive that a nation at war would see increased interest in military service, I think that we have remarkable young people who value the sacrifices made by previous generations. They know the value of freedom and liberty and are willing to defend these precious gifts. They're willing to serve a cause greater than themselves. We just celebrated Thanksgiving, and I believe we need to be thankful for men and women who are eager to wear the uniform and become leaders in our military services.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I represent the 16th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. I'm not quite sure who represents the 23rd District or the 65th District, since these districts don't actually exist. They only exist in the fictional world created by recovery.gov, the administration's Web site that shows how many jobs were ``saved or created'' by the billions of dollars in so-called stimulus money. For $18 million, the Treasury Department has produced a Web site that creates new congressional districts and then places saved jobs in those fictional districts. In one case, the purchase of a single riding lawnmower supposedly saved 50 jobs. Some companies have claimed that they have saved and created more jobs than the number of employees that they actually have. Now the leaders are talking about yet another stimulus package. We are about to spend our way into a fiscal tsunami, not economic recovery.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor Private First Class Brandon M. Styer of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. On October 15 of this year, Brandon lost his life from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Brandon exhibited a willingness and enthusiasm to serve and defend his country by joining the United States Army. He understood what it means to live a life with purpose. He served a cause greater than himself. He served the cause of liberty. He gave his life so that we might be safer. Brandon told his father that he loved the camaraderie and excitement of serving in the Army. He enlisted just last year, his senior year at Conestoga Valley High School. Upon graduation, Brandon completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Benning, Georgia. He then was transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado, for additional training. In March of 2009, Brandon deployed to Iraq for 7 weeks before being transferred to Afghanistan. Assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, Fourth Engineer Battalion as a combat engineer, Brandon worked to dismantle, remove, and destroy improvised explosive devices. The 569th MAC Company has a storied history of participating in campaigns in World War II and Vietnam and, more recently, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It is entirely fitting that Brandon joined their ranks. As an exceptional young man, Brandon was determined to serve our country and keep his fellow soldiers safe from roadside bombs. It is tragic that one of these bombs claimed his life. Brandon was also a noble and selfless friend and family man, a compassionate son, brother, and uncle. He leaves behind a family proud of all that he accomplished throughout his distinguished life and career in the military. His valor and service cost him his life, but his sacrifice will live on forever among the many dedicated heroes this Nation has sent abroad to defend freedom. Brandon earned a number of awards throughout his brief career in the Army, which demonstrates his professionalism and his outstanding ability as a soldier. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and Bar, and the Weapons Qualification Badge. Posthumously, Brandon received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Action Badge. May God grant to Brandon's family the peace that surpasses all understanding. Our prayers and most heartfelt gratitude go out to them, and I offer them my deepest condolences. I am humbled by the dedicated service and sacrifice of their loved one. Brandon joins the revered ranks of the many thousands of men and women throughout American history who have gone before him in battle to secure the freedom of the people of United States of America and people around the world. He is an inspiration to us all.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, just a week after the House passed Speaker Pelosi's health care reform bill, we've received a report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services showing what this bill will do to health care in America. If this bill were to become law, health care costs would increase by $289 billion over the next 10 years. Rising costs are devastating families and businesses, but this trillion-dollar health care bill does nothing to stem the flood. The same CMS report shows that proposed cuts to Medicare would reduce benefits for seniors. The $571 billion in cuts could cause many doctors and hospitals to stop taking Medicare patients, leading to lines for service and degraded care. Further cuts to the program mean a greater burden on private insurance, a higher rate for businesses and individuals, higher costs, more government control, more taxes, and less competition. Here we have more evidence that Speaker Pelosi's bill is the wrong kind of health care reform.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 30 seconds to the ranking member of the Budget Committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin, Paul Ryan.

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Nebraska, Jeff Fortenberry.

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Indiana, Chairman Mike Pence.

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) for a unanimous consent request. (Mr. GOHMERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, there has been some recent confusion surrounding the inclusion of abortion coverage in H.R. 3962, but the issue is actually quite clear. The Capps amendment in the bill, which some have argued is neutral on abortion, explicitly authorizes the Federal Government to directly fund elective abortions using Federal funds drawn from a Federal Treasury account. The provision has been billed as a so-called compromise amendment. But this bill will radically expand current and longstanding Federal policy with respect to abortion. Currently, there is not a single government health care program that provides coverage for elective abortion; not SCHIP, not Medicaid, not DOD, Indian Health or the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program, all because of congressional action to explicitly prohibit coverage of abortion under each of these programs. But such an explicit exclusion is missing from this bill. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support, when it comes up later, the Stupak-Pitts-Chris Smith-Ellsworth-Dahlkemper-Kaptur amendment that would prevent Federal funding of abortion in this bill.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform the Members of the status of the pro-life amendment on the bill today. Last night, there were lots of negotiations. There were a couple of compromises discussed. I went with my colleagues, Bart Stupak, Chris Smith, Marcy Kaptur, and Kathy Dahlkemper, before the Rules Committee after midnight. The final outcome is this: There will be only one pro- life amendment offered on the floor today. It will be the Stupak- Ellsworth-Pitts-Smith-Kaptur-Dahlkemper amendment that will prevent Federal funds from funding abortions in both the public plan or with affordability credits. It just codifies the Hyde Amendment for the two new programs. This actually preserves the status quo of our law today. No Federal Government funding for abortions, just like SCHIP, Medicaid, DOD, FEHBP, Indian Health. This is a bipartisan amendment. The pro-life groups National Right to Life, Catholic Bishops, and family groups all support this. I urge the Members to support this amendment when it comes to the floor today.