Robert Pittenger

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, greetings to all those gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the NASCAR Technical Institute. For over sixty years, NASCAR has captured the hearts and minds of millions of Americans. Skilled mechanics and technicians are the lifeblood of the industry. The individuals graduating from the NASCAR Technical Institute each year are a crucial part of the teams that ensure the sport's safety and continued success. Additionally, the Institute is an important part of the Mooresville community and the entire region. NASCAR Tech consistently boasts exceptionally high graduation rates as well as high rates of employment upon graduation. You provide your students with many opportunities to learn and excel, such as partnerships with some of the world's best known manufacturers and access to state-of-the-industry technology. All of this enables graduates from this Institute to transition easily from the classroom to the workforce. Race City, USA, and NASCAR would not be the same without the influence of the NASCAR Technical Institute and its alumni. The Institute's growth and accomplishments in just ten years are amazing, and I look forward to watching your continued success in the next ten years and beyond. Suzanne and I send our best wishes on this special occasion.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 381, I inadvertently missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mr. Blumenauer

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the Senate to join the House of Representatives in taking immediate action to delay the employer and individual health care mandates. President Obama has conceded that Americans are not ready for ObamaCare with its unworkable mandates and negative effects on the economy, so now President Obama does not have the authority to pick and choose which parts of the law to enforce or to ignore. His constitutional duty is to execute law as it is since the original ObamaCare legislation was passed by both Houses of a Democrat- controlled Congress. If the Senate fails to approve these delays, they will be allowing President Obama to sidestep the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow President Obama to continue ignoring the Constitution. Congress is required to act. Law cannot be changed by a monarch via a blog post. We need to help the American people by delaying these unworkable mandates. In June, a report showed that we had lost 240,000 full-time jobs in this country. In North Carolina, they reported that health care premiums will go up 284 percent. The American people deserve better.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, last week, America celebrated its 237th birthday. As I spoke with constituents at parades and other events, the number one concern I heard was about the need for better jobs. Twelve million Americans are out of work, Mr. Speaker, and 4.3 million have been out of work for 6 months or more. We're more than 4 years into President Obama's recovery; yet his misguided policies have produced almost 4 million fewer jobs than the average recovery. The American people deserve better. Our 237-year legacy proves that we can do better. Americans deserve a government that lets our economy grow and doesn't kill jobs with overreaching regulations and mindless bureaucratic kingdom-building. Just last week, President Obama conceded that ObamaCare's employer mandate will hurt job growth. By delaying implementation of the mandate, he recognizes this policy is a failure. Now is the time for President Obama to show true leadership, put aside his failed policies, and work with Republicans on real commonsense solutions.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, year after year, decade after decade, the American people have been held captive to the Middle East for what we pay for the price of gas. Even today, war-torn Syria, with its own civil war, has impacted the price of gas that each of us pays. In my own city of Charlotte, we pay 14 cents a gallon more this year than we did last year. While families are going on vacation over the 4th of July, throughout the summer, or what they pay at the grocery store is all impacted because America is not energy independent. Mr. Speaker, that's why I rise in support of H.R. 1613, to make America energy independent. We can develop oil and natural gas off our maritime border in Mexico, while creating new jobs and improving our economy. Mr. Speaker, it's time for America to be independent and to stand alone and to bring and restore a solid economic period of time for this country. Let's vote today to support gas prices that will be lower for America, with energy independence from America.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 272, McClintock Amendment No. 92, I inadvertently voted ``no'' and intended to vote ``yes.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Amendment No. 44 Offered by Mr. Gibson

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great honor to pay respect to Bill Harding and his family, who have served for the last 60 years as missionaries in Ethiopia. In our increasingly self-serving society, their sacrifice on behalf of others is truly remarkable. Bill Harding left Charlotte in 1954 with his pregnant wife and three boys under the age of 3 and moved to Ethiopia, where he trained pastors and worked with local churches. He loved the people of Ethiopia sacrificially, even enduring house arrest during the Communist revolution. Since that time, one son, Bill IV, has managed 500 projects, bringing clean water to over 300 villages. Son David runs a separate nonprofit, also providing clean water to thirsty villagers. Son Joe works with American churches to provide desperately needed resources to a major youth development program in Ethiopia. Bill's grandson and granddaughter live in Africa, working for nonprofits and continuing the legacy. Mr. Speaker, their ministry has impacted millions of people as they have honored the Lord with their lives. Thanks, Bill and your wonderful family, for all that you've done. God bless you.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall votes Nos. 103-105, I am not recorded because I was absent from the U.S House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner. On rollcall No. 194, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 195, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 196, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 197, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 198, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 199, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 200, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 201, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 202, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 203, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 204, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 205, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 206, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 207, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 208, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 209, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 210, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 211, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay honor and tribute to three wonderful North Carolina heroes, Army Staff Sergeant Bobby Bridget, and his neighbors back home, Steve and Pat Massa. Sergeant Bridget served us in Afghanistan with three tours. During that time, his job was to go find IEDs and then take those IEDs and dismantle them to protect his fellow soldiers. Meanwhile, his neighbors back home, Pat and Steve Massa, they would take care of his lawn, they would do the errands around the house to make sure that their neighbor could go and serve his country and defend our freedoms. Well, the rest of the story is, Mr. Speaker, that the Massas, during this time, were going through their own challenges. They had cancer surgeries; they had cancer treatments. It was a very difficult, emotional time; yet they did what it took to take care of their neighbor. We're grateful for the service of Sergeant Bridget and particularly grateful for the wonderful neighbors that he had in the Massas. May God richly bless these people.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. I rise today in support of H.R. 1062, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act. Mr. Chairman, we are coming out of and are still in the worst recession recovery since the 1930s. Our economic growth is at an anemic 2\1/2\ percent. We can't continue like this. It's all because we have got a very burdensome regulatory environment. What we need is a regular recovery, one in which they lift the burdensome and unnecessary regulations and allow businesses to grow and to create jobs. Why, in 1 month alone, over a million jobs were created. That's why I support the Regulatory Accountability Act. It's very simple. It just requires a cost analysis of new legislation and new requirements for businesses before they're implemented and then post- adoptive analysis after they've been put into effect. Mr. Chairman, we have 59 economists at the SEC today and 175 attorneys, all trying to justify their careers with new regulations that they are writing all the time. This has got to change. We need a positive business climate that will bring us out of the bondage of Washington micromanagement and that will allow hardworking Americans to create better jobs and find better jobs to support their families and provide for them.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join a chorus of people who recognize the ineffectiveness of the Affordable Care Act which, frankly, Mr. Speaker, is not even affordable. The CBO also said that there's $1.8 trillion now added to the cost of ObamaCare. We've seen the impact on physicians. Physicians, particularly those with specialties, don't want to continue in their practice. People in medical school, they don't want to continue. People in undergraduate, they don't want to go to med school. There's a dearth, Mr. Speaker, of availability in the future of physicians. We've seen premiums skyrocket. In North Carolina alone, premiums have increased 284 percent. We've seen the impact of 7 million people now who cannot take their own personal health insurance that they were promised. We've seen a risk pool that no longer has funding available. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve better, and we're going to work hard to ensure that we have a competitive health care program that will deliver true health provisions for the American people.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, justice was served in Philadelphia when a monster by the name of Dr. Kermit Gosnell was convicted of the murder of three small babies in his abortion clinic. Each and every life is precious, Mr. Speaker, and murdering an innocent baby for the sake of convenience or greed is terribly, terribly wrong. In the last 40 years, Mr. Speaker, the lives of over 50 million young babies have been taken. How do we know that God did not place in the lives of these individuals a cure for cancer, a cure for Alzheimer's, a cure for Parkinson's? We won't know that until eternity. We grieve over those losses. May I quote Thomas Jefferson, Mr. Speaker, for the sake of our Nation: God, who gave us life, gives us liberty. Can liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are a gift of God? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join a chorus of individuals who are calling for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Speaker, it's not even affordable. The CBO says it will cost $1.8 trillion just to employ. Blue Cross/Blue Shield in North Carolina says the premiums are going to go up 284 percent. We can't afford this. Seven million people won't be able to keep their own policies. There's no risk pool now, no funding for it, no provision. Even Democrat Senator Max Baucus, Finance Committee chairman, says this is a train wreck getting ready to happen. Mr. Speaker, last January, I sponsored a seminar in my district that brought together 400 business leaders. The purpose of this seminar was to explain ObamaCare. We had the Cato Institute and the AARP there. Mr. Speaker, what they heard was a resounding, What in the world have we done? They were so concerned about what ObamaCare was going to do to their own businesses, they were afraid to hire people, and they thought they would let people go. Do you know what they saw, Mr. Speaker? This chart right here. This chart--what a quagmire to process through to try to get real health care. It can't be done. We can do better. That's why with Congressman Hudson I've introduced a bill called Auto Enroll. This is a little provision put in the health care law, one of those provisions that I believe Speaker Pelosi said we are going to read it after we vote on it, we are going to learn about it then. Well, we've learned about it. What did we learn? That the companies have to automatically put people on their health care plan. And this bill says, no, you can opt out, you don't have to comply. Students who are already on their parents' health care, they shouldn't have to do this. You have temporary people who are working during seasonal work time in major retail or in restaurants. They shouldn't have to be on this, yet they're required to. This bill will allow some flexibility for employers. The American people were told, We are going to provide you a champion thoroughbred horse who is going to go win the Kentucky Derby. Do you know what they got, Mr. Speaker? They got a maimed, blind, deaf, crippled horse that can't even make its way around the track. That's what we have with ObamaCare. We are going to do better. We are going to provide for the American people at the right time, and we can do this in competitive markets. They can cross State lines, hundreds of companies competing, drawing down the cost of health care. This needs to be done now. We can get rid of the frivolous lawsuits that are driving the cost of health care up. The American workers, responsible people, hardworking taxpayer Americans, they deserve better, and we are going to do it. Thank you, and God bless you.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, as a father and a grandfather, I am fully aware of the responsibilities and challenge of balancing a vocation and job responsibilities with taking care of the needs of my family. Mr. Speaker, that challenge is even greater today for American hardworking families who have to address the needs of their young children or perhaps aging parents who live nearby. For almost 30 years, we have allowed this flexibility and option for those who work for the government to have the choice between taking comp pay or taking additional pay for additional work that they have to perform. Wouldn't it be great if we would do the same thing for those who are in the private sector? For some reason, we haven't allowed that. Today, Mr. Speaker, I'm supporting the Working Families Flexibility Act. We need to pass this today in the United States Congress to give the same privileges, rights, and options to those in the private sector as we allow in the public sector.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act. Just a year ago, a 3-year-old girl was rammed against a wall head first, suffering irreparable brain damage and being paralyzed for the rest of her life. When the DA went to prosecute, he found in North Carolina that the sentencing was limited to 4 to 7 years, a very minimum sentence for such an egregious act. Upon further review, we found that other States also have such minimum sentencing, some with no minimum whatsoever. Mr. Speaker, our act would provide that there would be a minimum sentence of 10 years to receive Federal grants for child abuse. We commend this legislation to this respected body and ask for their support.

Mr. PITTENGER

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

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay respect to those faithful Americans who filed their tax returns this week, only with a stark reminder of the enormous burden we have placed upon them with our complicated Tax Code. You know, it's been like a snowball going down a hill. It just gets bigger and more bloated and more cumbersome with each passing year. It's become an avalanche on the back of the American taxpayer. Mr. Speaker, this needs to stop. We've added 4,400 changes to the Tax Code just in the last 10 years. We can make it better. House Republicans have a plan. We have a plan to reform the Tax Code, to make it simpler, to make it fairer, to make it responsible to the American people, to put more money in their paychecks and to give more money to them to take care of their families. Mr. Speaker, American taxpayers deserve better, and we're going to do it.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay respect and grief for those who suffered loss of life and harm in Boston. I had two of my own constituents who suffered grievous loss and one of them the loss of a leg. It reminds us once again that those who seek our destruction are fully committed to that objective. While the terrorists and others work in a very open way, seeking public notoriety, they have also learned to work in a very quiet and sophisticated and tactical way in cyber warfare. Mr. Speaker, we have a very important bill before us today, H.R. 624. We need to really look at it, and we need to pass it. We need to show the world that we are fully committed to defending our homeland. 300,000 cyber attacks occur on major industry every single day--on each industry. We must stop this. They are bent on our destruction. We can do what it takes today to show the world that we are fully committed to defending our homeland.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 103-105, I am not recorded because I was absent from the U.S House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner. On rollcall No. 103. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 104. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 105. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, there is much that could be said about the President's proposed budget, but I think ordinary taxpayers need to know its impact on jobs and the economy. Economists and national accounting firms have stated that the tax increases that President Obama pushed through in January have slowed the economy and contributed to a loss of 24,000 retail jobs in March, part of a very dismal jobs report. When consumers have less money in their pockets, the inevitable results in fewer jobs. Apparently, President Obama has not learned from his mistake. His budget contains almost $600 billion in even more new taxes. At a time when millions of Americans are giving up hope of finding jobs and are exiting the workforce, President Obama's budget will only inflict more pain on ordinary families. House Republicans have passed a responsible budget that leads to balance while also preserving Social Security and Medicare. Let's work together for fiscally accountable government that will help restore jobs to American families.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the men and women of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, better known as The Old Guard, who, for 65 years, have faithfully guarded the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Saturday, April 6, was the 65th anniversary of this Honor Guard, which continuously watches over the Tomb of the Unknowns 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, through all kinds of weather. Many don't know that the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment pulls double duty, also maintaining tactical readiness, prepared to defend Washington in the event of war or other crisis. The Tomb, of course, holds the remains of select unknown soldiers from World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. While only God knows their names, they represent men and women who died defending our freedoms. We should all be proud to live in a country that continues to honor their sacrifice, a country that doesn't forget that freedom isn't free. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in thanking the soldiers of The Old Guard for their vigilance and dedication.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, we teach the importance of a balanced budget to our schoolchildren, such as those we had today, but apparently this basic financial principle is not good enough for our President, who says he won't even chase a balanced budget for the sake of balance. Mr. Speaker, to help the President find a better reason, I would suggest we examine the economic damage caused by runaway public debt. In 2011, Greece, Italy, and Portugal each amassed public debt greater than 90 percent of their economic output. For Greece, the debt was a stunning 165 percent of their gross domestic product. All three countries are now undergoing wrenching austerity and suffering through prolonged recessions and unemployment. What would this scenario look like for hardworking American families? The burden of unsustainable public debt and increased taxes would lead to higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and other credit. Ignoring this problem would bring on higher inflation, reducing the purchasing power of American families and inflicting the most pain on the poor and middle class. Mr. Speaker, we must support our families. We must support a balanced budget.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Last week, the Associated Press reported that unemployment in Greece rose to a record 26 percent. The news for younger workers is even worse: almost 60 percent of those under the age of 25 are unemployed. As we all know, the root cause of Greece's financial and economic collapse is the runaway government spending and unsustainable debt. Eventually, the house of cards collapsed, and the results have been devastating for their citizens. President Obama has said he will not ``chase a balanced budget for the sake of balance.'' Well, Mr. President, what about chasing a balanced budget for the sake of our economy, for the sake of creating jobs, for the sake of preserving Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid, and for the sake of preventing financial calamity? The present course of trillion-dollar annual deficits and a bloated $17 trillion debt is irresponsible. What's taking place right now in Greece could easily be our future if we don't act. Mr. President, it's time for you to realize that the best way to help hardworking, tax-paying American families is to balance the budget and free our economy from the burden of our debt.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Madam Speaker, for too many years our leaders have irresponsibly put off the tough decisions necessary to place our country on sound financial footing. President Obama seems to not be focused on the problem, as he never even mentioned our nearly $17 trillion debt during his inaugural address and State of the Union speech. Yet Peter Orszag, former Budget Director for President Obama, recently told a bipartisan group of freshman Representatives: Unless you deal with the debt, you're playing games with our economic future. Unless you find savings with entitlements, you're playing games with the debt. You better go fix it. American taxpayers deserve and expect an accountable government, not a bloated bureaucracy in need of credit counseling. Each passing year makes the decision more difficult and the changes more painful. Medicare will be insolvent by 2024, which means we are rapidly squandering any chance to fix the problem. Our $17 trillion debt, which currently results in $220 billion in annual interest payments, is a drag on our economy, deterring our ability to create jobs for American families. Reforming entitlements must be done to help our economy grow today and provide for the future. Any plan to reform entitlements must preserve the current benefits promised to this generation while providing guaranteed options for future generations; however, we must be strong and take action. We must enact a responsible plan to preserve these important safety nets for future generations; for if we do nothing, we will watch as American families suffer even more after Medicare and Social Security collapse while our Nation faces economic collapse.