Steven Palazzo

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago this Friday, the Deepwater Horizon explosion took the lives of 11 Americans, including four Mississippians, and caused an oil spill of epic proportions. For 86 days, millions of barrels of oil gushed into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, washed up on gulf coast beaches, and threatened the ecosystems and the economic stability of an entire region of the country. The images of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, wildlife coated in crude, and tar balls washing up on beaches have long vanished from the national media spotlight, but the spill left lasting effects on the lives of gulf coast residents and businesses. I ask my colleagues to take a moment this week to pause to remember the lives lost and the millions affected by this tragedy. I urge them to show their support once more to all those affected by the single largest manmade disaster in our history by voting ``yes'' for today's bill. Restoring and replenishing the gulf coast is more than just a responsible decision; it's the right thing to do.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Thank you, Chairman Ryan. The American people have been asking for real and long-term solutions to the very real problems we face as a Nation. For the second year in a row, House Republicans, under the leadership of Chairman Ryan, are doing just that. I come before you today to echo what many of my colleagues have said time and again: that the budgets that have been presented before Congress and before the American people represent a tale of two futures. I'm referring to the President's budget, which leads us down a path to despair, and I'm referring to the House Budget Committee's own Path to Prosperity. One keeps us on an out-of-control spending spree, ignores the real challenges facing Medicare, and actually takes money away from seniors and allows sequestration to strip away vital defense spending. The other makes responsible choices that address the drivers of our disastrous debt and deficits, enables us to make good on our promises to seniors, and lives up to our greatest obligation under the U.S. Constitution: providing for the common defense. I stand before you today as a marine veteran, the only NCO in Congress also actively serving in the National Guard, and as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. To borrow from a recent article in The Weekly Standard, I say to you today that the Ryan plan is more than just a path to prosperity; it is truly a path to security. It is the only plan to come before this body that even begins to address the very real and scary cuts looming over our Nation's military. I also agreed with the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen, when he said that our national debt is our biggest national security threat. That's why I'm standing before you today in support of a plan, the only plan that makes both responsible cuts to our debt and that takes the necessary steps to protect our economic and national security. I urge my colleagues to support the Ryan budget.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I have visited the State of Israel. I have walked the streets of Jerusalem, and I have seen firsthand the beauty of its people, its culture, and its incredible history and heritage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reminded us of that heritage last night as he addressed a crowd of thousands, and I know he is on Capitol Hill again today sending the same message: serious threats have been made towards Israel, and Israel must take threats seriously, especially when dealing with a madman working toward a nuclear weapon. No one wants a war in an area where world peace rests on such a delicate balance. No one wants to have to initiate unnecessary aggression. I have supported sanctions. I have supported resolutions of disapproval. I want to believe that Iran's offer today to allow U.N. weapons inspectors in means that they have nothing to hide. If our friends in Israel decide to act, I know it will not be a decision made lightly nor without good reason. I urge my colleagues to join me in affirming our support of Israel, not just to stand behind her but to stand beside her.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1433, the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2012. This bill represents a return of basic property rights to the American people, rights we are guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. In 2005, these rights came under attack when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a corporation taking individual homes in the name of economic development. As a result, people lost their homes to false promises of jobs and tax revenue. Now, instead of a booming business, there is only a city dump where the homes once stood. I agree with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas when he wrote in his dissenting opinion: Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's interpretation of the Constitution. Though citizens are safe from the government in their homes, the homes themselves are not safe. That is also why I supported an eminent domain amendment to the Mississippi Constitution, Mississippi Initiative 31, which 73 percent of Mississippi voters approved last November. I urge my colleagues to support property rights to the Constitution in H.R. 1433.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. I thank my colleague from Louisiana for yielding. Mr. Chairman, nearly 2 years ago, the Deepwater Horizon explosion took the lives of 11 Americans--and four of those were Mississippians-- and caused an oil spill of epic proportions. For 86 days, millions of barrels of oil gushed into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, washed up on our beaches, and threatened the ecosystems and the economic stability of an entire region of the country. The road to recovery for the gulf coast has been a long one, and it's not over. With this amendment, we take a huge step forward in making things right for those most devastated by this spill. These fines are not taxpayer funds. The Federal Government, as my colleague from Alabama said, should not profit from the gulf coast's pain and suffering. At a time when Congress agrees on so little, this effort has broad bipartisan support in both Houses of Congress, and external, too-- conservation and sportsmen. Many agree that restoring and replenishing the gulf coast is more than a responsible decision; it is the right thing to do.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 55, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Markey

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. I thank the chairman for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report to H.R. 658, reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration through fiscal year 2015. Early last year, the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on FAA's research and development programs. On March 9, 2011, Science Committee Chairman Ralph Hall introduced H.R. 970, the Federal Aviation Research and Development Act of 2011. A month later, it was reported out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The bill was ultimately incorporated into H.R. 658, which is now before us. FAA's Research, Engineering, and Development account funds a number of programs and projects that are essential to the agency's ongoing safety, capacity, and air traffic modernization efforts. To give a few examples of its safety-related activities, FAA conducts research on the flammability of materials used in airplane cabins and on methods to improve fire suppression systems; research on mitigation of aircraft icing, on early detection of cracks and failure modes related to aging aircraft; and improving our understanding of human factors. In the environmental arena, examples include research on fuel additives to replace lead in aviation gasoline that powers piston- engine aircraft and better characterizing aviation's impact on local air quality. With regard to air traffic control, FAA is investing a considerable portion of its R&D funding on the NextGen modernization program to increase the capacity of air space, improve safety, and provide for more efficient routings. Most of FAA's R&D is managed out of its technical center located at the Atlantic City, New Jersey, airport; but as many Members are aware, FAA also engages a large number of leading research universities using competitively selected cooperative research grants. Mr. Speaker, this is a fiscally responsible R&D provision funding FHA's Research, Engineering, and Development account at its current spending level of $168 million a year for each year through 2015. This is well below amounts proposed by the Senate during conference negotiations. I support this conference report and urge Members to support it as well, and I thank Mr. Mica for all his hard work.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, last week our country lost a true American hero, my uncle, Captain Eugene P. Lund. Captain Lund died on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at the age of 78. My uncle was a graduate of Notre Dame and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School with degrees in engineering, and from The George Washington University with a masters degree in management. While in the Navy, he was a carrier fighter pilot and commanding officer of a fighter squadron serving with distinction in over 250 missions during Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, 19 additional Air Medals and numerous other awards for his service to our Nation. He also headed the Navy team that designed and developed the F/A-18 aircraft. Before retirement, he served as the Director of the Naval Weapons Engineering Support Activity providing engineering assistance and consultation on many naval aviation and weapons programs. He retired after 25 years of service to our country in the Navy. My heart goes out to the rest of our family, especially my Aunt Virgie. The men and women who serve our country in uniform are the bravest and most selfless in the world. I ask that all of my colleagues strive to remember that every day. Uncle Geno, may your journey to Christ be of ``Fair winds and following seas and long may your big jib draw.''

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, today we pause to mark the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade. No other Supreme Court case has so directly affected the lives of millions of American people, both those who have been touched by abortion and the millions of unborn children whose lives have been taken since 1973. I and many of my colleagues will continue to speak out on behalf of these unborn children by supporting legislation such as the Life at Conception Act. I am thankful we have hundreds of thousands of friends in the fight that have gathered in the streets of Washington this week in memory of so many lives lost. I am especially grateful to the 150 youths with the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi who have made the trip all the way from my district in south Mississippi. Today I ask my colleagues to join with me and our friends with the March of Life in marking this sad day and resolving to put an end to this murderous practice of taking unborn life. I pray, as Christ did in Luke 23:34, ``Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.''

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. I thank the gentleman for my time. It's a new year, and we have a new chance to tackle some real problems in this session of the 112th Congress, but real problems need real solutions. We saw what was possible when the House came together last year to pass conservative, job-creating bills and a plan to cut $6.2 trillion in government spending and reduce deficits by $4.2 trillion over the next decade. We also saw how little got done when Democrats in the Senate and the Obama administration consistently ignored the wishes of the American people. This administration has said it will continue to wage its 2012 campaign against this Congress. So instead of working with us and encouraging the Senate to consider the numerous jobs bills we have passed in the House, the President has chosen once again to try to divide us and the American people. Make no mistake, the issue of spending will be as important in this second session of Congress as it was in the first. It remains so because our economy has not stabilized. Government is still too large and too many people are still looking for work. Yes, the President inherited a bad economy, but his destructive policies have made it much worse. I support this resolution of disapproval of the President's debt limit increase because shouldering future generations with trillions of dollars in debt is not leading, it is following. So I say to the President and leaders in the Senate, if you're ready to work together on some very real solutions to real problems in 2012, so are we. We've been ready. America deserves and demands better than the short-term, drive-the- car-off-the-cliff mentality and policies our President has given us over this past year. And we in the House will continue to bring forth real leadership and real solutions to the real problems facing us for this generation and for those to come. Before I yield, one of our colleagues mentioned something about the Path to Prosperity, the Republican budget. He said, yes, it does include running deficits and increasing the debt. But what he failed to mention was it would also repeal job-killing regulations, simplify the Tax Code, repeal the government takeover of health care, and address the number one driver of our deficit, and that's Medicare. We call that plan the Path to Prosperity. The President and Democrats' only alternative has been a path to despair.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to recognize an educational keystone in Mississippi's Fourth Congressional District. Jones County Junior College is celebrating 100 years of educational leadership and excellence since 1911. Located in Ellisville, Jones is the largest single-campus 2-year college in our State. And it's among the top-ranking community and junior colleges in the Nation for enrollment. JCJC boasts diverse and competitive programs, including nine academic divisions, four career and technical divisions, and awarding-winning athletic teams. How does Jones County live up to its motto of ``Inspiring Greatness''? During the past 100 years, Jones' outstanding faculty and five presidents, including the current president, Dr. Jesse Smith, have brought commitment and consistency to this campus. It is not unusual to see Dr. Smith visiting casually with students around campus, leading by example and investing in student success. I salute Dr. Smith, the staff, faculty, alumni, and students of Jones County Junior College on more than 100 years of excellence. Congratulations on a job well done. Go Bobcats.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. The city of Picayune might be small, but its legacy is one of strength and power. In the early 1900s, trains out of New Orleans stopped in Picayune to pick up steam engines to power them northwards and uphill. This vision of a powerful locomotive steaming ahead is a good metaphor for this year's Picayune High School Maroon Tide football team. According to Head Coach Dodd Lee, people who really like what they do usually do it pretty well, and if that's the case, Coach Lee's players must really like playing great football. In a 38-21 win over Starkville, the Maroon Tide clenched the 5A win, bringing Picayune its first State title since 1986. Aside from the obvious desire to win on both sides of the ball, Picayune has some secret weapons on their team, namely: quarterback, Ben Hickman; leading rusher, Deronte Magee; receiver, Justin Mark; kicker, Dalton O'Meara; and a small but mighty pair of linebackers, Troy Egana and Cody Smith. Congratulations to the city of Picayune and to Picayune High School on their State championship.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to wish a very happy birthday to our National Guard. As the only active noncommissioned officer in Congress, this anniversary is a landmark that I am personally very proud of. Three hundred seventy-five years ago today, on December 13, 1636, the Massachusetts General Court in Salem declared that all able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 were required to join the militia. These men were called upon when needed, and we proudly continue this tradition of citizen service. Today our National Guard soldiers are called upon to serve both here in our communities and around the world in support of our current overseas operations. Our Nation's citizen soldiers dedicate themselves to the defense of our Nation both here and abroad. I personally would like to thank all of my fellow Guardsmen for the job they are doing, and thank you to all of our men and women in uniform, and especially their families. Thank you, happy birthday, and God bless.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, this weekend the 10-2 University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles are going to be traveling to Houston, Texas, to win the Conference U.S. Championship Game. As a fourth generation Golden Eagle, I would like to place a friendly wager with my colleague from Houston, Texas--a gallon of Mary Mahoney's famous seafood gumbo--that we will walk away victorious.

Mr. PALAZZO. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. PALAZZO. Well, our Golden Eagles' talons are going to be out. They're going to be ready. They're going to be sharp, and we're going to rip you all to shreds. I accept your wager.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, every month Americans sit down at kitchen tables or computers to balance their checkbooks and bank accounts to ensure their spending doesn't overwhelm their way of living. I've been at that kitchen table for those discussions. Now the United States Congress is finally coming to the table to have a similar discussion with the American people. By passing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, we tell the American people we are serious about putting our financial house in order. No longer will we overpromise and overspend at the expense of trillions of dollars and our children's future. This week I will stand with my colleagues to support a notion that seems foreign within the beltway, that we cannot spend more than we take in. The fact that this is a radical concept in Washington, D.C., demonstrates just how out of touch this town has become and how far we have to go. But getting to where we need to be won't occur without the critical step we take this week to pass a balanced budget amendment. This action puts us in line towards economic recovery, sustainability, and, above all else, with the needs and priorities of the American people. I urge my colleagues to support the balanced budget amendment.

Mr. PALAZZO

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

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My amendment would strike section 303 of the bill, which places harmful restrictions on the future contracting and construction of the United States Coast Guard national security cutter. The national security cutter is a much needed and extremely cost- effective ship for the Coast Guard, and it has actively proven its value through highly successful counterdrug and other missions while replacing an aging Coast Guard fleet. This is a ship the Coast Guard desperately needs and replaces the 378-foot endurance cutters, most of which are 40 to 50 years old. Just recently, the commandant of the Coast Guard told the press, we can't the get rest of those out soon enough. On average, the Coast Guard's legacy high-endurance cutters are able to achieve approximately 140 of their programmed 185 days under way a year. Maintenance costs continue to escalate, and further delay of the transition to national security cutters will only exacerbate challenges we are already facing meeting fleet readiness and mission requirements. This ship represents the centerpiece of the Coast Guard fleet. The first two national security cutters are enabling the Coast Guard to meet a wide range of missions now. During initial deployment, the national security cutters have netted hundreds of millions of dollars in drug busts. In fact, the street value of cocaine seized in the NSC's first two deployments alone exceeds the total cost of building a national security cutter. It is easy to see that this ship is an exceptional investment in our national security. As it currently stands, H.R. 2838 would prohibit the Coast Guard from moving forward on NSC 6 and NSC 7. The $77 million pending in FY12 will enable the Coast Guard to contract for long lead time materials and transition to a planned construction contract in fiscal year '13. This is the most cost-effective method of procuring and building any ship, whether it's for the Coast Guard, Navy or the Marine Corps. As you delay shipbuilding contracts, labor costs and material costs go up as a result of standard inflation. As these costs go up, the costs to the taxpayers go up, called escalation. Simply put, by continuing steady production of this ship, we are saving the taxpayer money and creating a better product for the Coast Guard. This ship is extremely important to our Nation's industrial base which already faces a serious challenge in a time of tight budgets. National security cutters are responsible for 1,300 jobs in over 40 States throughout the industrial base. In a time of deep cuts, this means real American jobs. We can't afford for America to lose more in terms of economic and national security. The continued, uninterrupted production could potentially save the taxpayers millions of dollars per ship and approximately 1,300 jobs across America. One of my greatest concerns remains the purchase of long lead time materials to ensure that we do not delay production in the future. I have spoken with Mr. LoBiondo today, and I believe that we can find a solution to this issue before or during the conference process. With the cooperation of the Coast Guard and my friends on the committee, I feel confident we can continue to deliver the best product to the Coast Guard at the best possible price to the taxpayer. I am willing to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. PALAZZO. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, there is a saying that the path to space goes through Hancock County, Mississippi. That statement has been true for five decades due to the unequaled excellence and dedication of the men and women of the John C. Stennis Space Center, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of its founding this week. The work done at Stennis is varied, but it is known worldwide as the home of rocket engine testing. Before we have sent men and women into space, the engines they ascended on were tested on the ground at Stennis. Every mission to the Moon and every flight of the space shuttle roared with Stennis-tested engines. The Space Center is the beacon of innovation for private industry, educational institutions, and students of all ages. I am honored to serve as chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. In my role, I hope to see all my colleagues visit the Stennis Space Center, especially to see an engine test. You will be awed by the technological ingenuity and complexity of the operation and of the passion and skill of the workforce. It is so easy to herald the past achievements of NASA and the Stennis Space Center, but it is the future that should drive us toward even greater ones, for the path back to the Moon, to Mars and beyond goes through Hancock County, Mississippi.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, tonight, back home in south Mississippi, the Coast Chamber is hosting the 33rd annual Salute to the Military. I deeply regret not being able to attend tonight to recognize our Nation's finest. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, a marine veteran, and the only Member of Congress who still actively serves as a noncommissioned officer in the Mississippi Army National Guard, I know firsthand how vital their work is to our Nation's defense. As I serve, I am always mindful of their service and sacrifice, as well as their families'. Nowhere are so few asked to sacrifice so much for so many. So I ask this Congress and the American people to share in their sacrifice and say ``no'' to any more defense spending cuts. To date, more than half of the cuts in spending have come from defense. It is morally irresponsible to continue trying to balance the budget on the backs of our men and women in uniform. As a nation, our economic and personal security depends on a strong, capable, well- equipped, and well-trained military. So I want to salute all those who have served and are currently serving. Thank you for making America safe and exceptional.