Mike Ross

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize my dear friend, Rev. Dr. and State Senator Hank Wilkins IV, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, who just delivered our opening prayer and is our guest chaplain of the day. Rev. Dr. Wilkins' deep faith and dedication to his community and State is an inspiration to all of us who know him. Throughout his 31 years in the ministry, Rev. Dr. Wilkins has emphasized the need for faith in our daily lives. I'm proud to have had the distinct honor to serve with Hank in the Arkansas State legislature. As both senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church and as an Arkansas State Senator, Reverend Wilkins puts the people he represents first and is a true ambassador for Arkansas. It's been a blessing for me to know Hank and his wife, Phyllis, and their family, and I hope that this message of compassion, this prayer of compassion and respect for others will be one that we all strive to achieve. As we go about doing the work of the people, let us remember the prayer Rev. Dr. State Senator Hank Wilkins delivered on the floor of the United States House of Representatives on this day.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my dear friend and former colleague in the Arkansas State Senate, Jack Gibson of Boydell, Arkansas, who passed away April 24, 2008. I will forever remember Jack Gibson as a good friend, a devoted public servant and someone who cared deeply about improving the quality of life in southeast Arkansas. As a natural born leader, he excelled at every task he took on and was an inspiration to all of us who knew him. Jack Gibson served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a decorated naval pilot, and has been recognized for shooting down the last enemy aircraft of the war. After the war, he returned home to southeast Arkansas to pursue his true passion of agriculture. His advocacy for the industry began while working with his father at their family-owned farm, cotton gin and agricultural spraying service, where he learned the importance of farming to our economy. As a member of the Farm Bureau for over 50 years, as well as his affiliation with numerous other agricultural organizations, he relentlessly promoted the value and resources the agriculture community contributes to the fabric of our State and Nation. Jack Gibson was also a distinguished State senator representing Arkansas State Senate District 35 for 12 years. He was a thoughtful and diligent senator who admirably represented all those he was elected to serve. I was honored to serve with him in the Arkansas Senate where I experienced his tireless and dedicated work on agriculture and economic development issues facing Arkansas. His leadership in the Senate, whether as a Chairman or Member of a committee or council, was guided by his dedication to the State of Arkansas and to all of those who work and reside in our beloved State. The opportunity to get to know and work with Jack Gibson will forever be etched fondly into my memory. Jack Gibson will always be known for his outstanding service to our country and his community. Above all, he will sorely be missed as a friend. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Elizabeth Haniken Gibson; his son, Stephen Anderson Gibson of Boydell, Arkansas; his daughter Marcie Elizabeth Gibson of Little Rock, Arkansas; his sister, Mary Jane Bowman of Dermott, Arkansas; and to his nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. Jack Gibson will be greatly missed in southeast Arkansas and throughout the State, and I am truly saddened by this loss.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my dear friend Dorothy Moore of Arkansas City, Arkansas, who passed away April 9, 2008, at the age of 97. Dorothy Moore, affectionately known as ``Miss Dorothy'' to all that knew her and throughout the state of Arkansas, was a tremendous woman and an inspiration to everyone who called her a friend. Raised on her family's farm in Southeast Arkansas during the Depression and the Great Flood of 1927, she learned the importance of small town values such as hard work, honesty, compassion for others, and reverence for all which she exemplified throughout her life and were evident in all she did. Faithful to her community, Miss Dorothy returned home to Arkansas City after college to begin her lifelong career in public service. For over two decades Miss Dorothy served as the Deputy Collector in the Desha County Sheriff's Office while her husband, Robert S. Moore, held the post of Sheriff. During this time she was the backbone of her wonderful family as well as a trusted political advisor to her husband. After her husband's life was tragically cut short, it was Miss Dorothy who stepped in and completed the remainder of his term as Desha County Sheriff--a role that was only fitting for a person dedicated to her community and committed to public service. After Miss Dorothy completed her time as Sheriff, her political journey in Arkansas continued as she was selected by then-Governor Bill Clinton to serve on his staff. Her friendly style and warm smile became so contagious around the office that she was asked to continue working for Arkansas's next two governors. Her numerous years spent working in the Governor's office established her as a legendary figure in Arkansas history. Miss Dorothy was a great ambassador for Desha County and Southeast Arkansas as she worked tirelessly to create a strong sense of community in everything she did. I was truly honored and humbled to be able to speak at Miss Dorothy's funeral, and I will always cherish the fond memories I have of her. It is with great admiration and heartfelt respect that I will remember a lady who was a mother figure to an entire state, and whose class and dignity will always represent what Southern Hospitality should be. I send my deepest condolences to her daughter Dorothy Lee Moore Paige and her husband David of Davis, California; her son State Representative Robert S. Moore Jr. and his wife Beverly of Arkansas City; and to her four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and numerous friends across the state. Miss Dorothy will be greatly missed in Desha County and throughout the state of Arkansas, and I will continue to keep her family in my thoughts and prayers.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my dear friend, Chicot County Judge Fred Zieman of Lake Village, Arkansas, who passed away March 18, 2008, at the age of 69. I will forever remember Judge Zieman as a devoted family man and someone who cared deeply about improving the quality of life in southeast Arkansas. This dedication to make his community and Chicot County a better place to live was evident throughout his tenure as Chicot County Judge. As a native son of Arkansas's Delta region, farming was in Judge Zieman's blood. He began his career as an agriculture pilot in Lake Village before becoming a commercial airline pilot in Texas. Upon retirement in 1980, he returned home to Lake Village and pursued his true passion in agriculture. Judge Zieman was later successfully elected to serve three terms as Chicot County Judge when he decided to try retirement for a second time. However, his devotion to southeast Arkansas quickly led him back to public service, and 4 years later later he was again elected to serve as County Judge--a position he honorably held until his passing. Aside from his stalwart leadership and devotion to Chicot County, Judge Zieman actively contributed his time and hard work to numerous other endeavors to benefit the Delta region. The Delta was immensely important to Judge Zieman, and this was apparent in his service as a state vice-president of the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association, as a member of the Delta Grassroots Caucus, and in the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District Inc., where he contributed fresh ideas and developed new initiatives to make our beloved State a better place to live. Judge Fred Zieman will forever be remembered for his steadfast devotion to the people of southeast Arkansas. Above all, he will sorely be missed as a friend. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Patricia Zieman; his two sons, Mike Zieman of Monticello, Arkansas, and Sam Zieman of Spring, Texas; his daughter, Charlotte Yandell of Spring, Texas; his sister, Jan Hellmers of Lake Village, Arkansas; and to his seven grandchildren and countless friends. Fred Zieman will be greatly missed in Lake Village, Chicot County, and throughout southeast Arkansas, and I am truly saddened by this loss.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Chairman, earlier today my Blue Dog colleagues and I stood together to offer our official endorsement of Chairman Spratt's budget because it is clear that we share the common goal of eliminating wasteful government spending, adhering to strict PAYGO principles, and finally addressing the long-term fiscal challenges facing this country. Not only does this budget resolution begin to address our long-term fiscal challenges, it also includes measures that crack down on wasteful government spending so that no tax dollar is wasted. This budget continues to take steps to reverse the reckless fiscal policies of the past 7 years of Republican rule by incorporating strict PAYGO rules. It does this in two ways: First, it provides for fiscally responsible tax relief for 23 million middle-income Americans by including a fully offset fix to the alternative minimum tax; second, Chairman Spratt's budget resolution includes a commitment to the extension of the same statutory PAYGO requirements which proved instrumental in turning the large deficits of the early 1990s under a Republican into record-budget surpluses under a Democrat for the first time in over 40 years. The Blue Dogs are committed to addressing the serious long-term fiscal challenges facing the United States, and we should confront these challenges earlier rather than later so that we do not pass the burden of unmanageable debt on to our children and grandchildren. This administration, this Republican administration, has borrowed more money from foreigners in the past 7 years than the previous 42 Presidents combined. It is time to restore common sense and fiscal discipline and accountability to our government. That's what this budget resolution does, and I'm pleased to stand and speak in support of it.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my dear friend Eunice Pettigrew of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, who passed away February 8, 2008, at the age of 92. Eunice Pettigrew was a beacon of light and an inspiration to all of those who knew her and were blessed to call her friend. As someone who was determined to make the most out of life, Eunice chose to make her focus one of selfless service, and throughout her life she never stopped giving back to her family and her community. She was well known in Jefferson County for teaching cosmetology at what is now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and for owning her beauty shop which led her to become only the second African-American inspector of cosmetology in the State of Arkansas. While her motherly spirit and knack for teaching was apparent in Eunice's daily work, it was also representative of her selfless nature in life. She took great joy in helping others and worked tirelessly to create a strong sense of community in Pine Bluff. She took great pride in serving as PTA president of her children's schools for over 10 years, working tirelessly to ensure the best education for every student. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and was named to Who's Who in the Southwest by the nationally recognized Who's Who in America publication. Eunice was passionate about studying her family's genealogy, which she successfully traced back for centuries. It is because of her research and work in this field that I have my most cherished memory of Eunice, dating back 6 years ago. Due to Eunice's work, I had the distinct privilege to read a manuscript into the Congressional Record of the House of Representatives based on her grandfather, Isaac Johnson, and his service to our country as a Buffalo Soldier, and I will forever be grateful for that opportunity to commemorate in history her proud family heritage. I send my deepest condolences to her children, Carol Thomas of Chicago, Illinois; Alonzo Pettigrew, Jr., of Pine Bluff; Paula Patterson of Little Rock; George Pettigrew of Kansas City, Missouri; Robert Pettigrew of Kansas City, Missouri; and her 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren as well as three generations of nieces and nephews. Eunice Pettigrew will be greatly missed in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, and throughout the State of Arkansas. I will continue to keep her family in my thoughts and prayers, and I am honored to speak to her wonderful life as a dear friend.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of George Earl McNeely of McGehee, Arkansas, who passed away February 8, 2008, at the age of 80. I will forever remember George McNeely as a good friend, a devoted family man and someone who cared deeply about improving the quality of life in his community. As a natural born leader, he was an inspiration to all who knew him. After attending high school in McGehee and Tillar, he continued his education at the University of Arkansas. Mr. McNeely then honorably served his country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. After the war, George McNeely returned home to southeast Arkansas to pursue his true passion of agriculture. As one of the original founders of catfish farming in Arkansas, he was a true business pioneer and his contributions to aquaculture helped revolutionize the industry. In his spare time, he dearly loved the outdoors and the opportunity to share all of the recreational opportunities it offered with his friends and family. In addition to catfish farming, he devoted his time and energy to numerous other passions that included land clearing, demolition and ag-aviation. Along with his tremendous leadership in the field of agriculture, George McNeely was active in numerous other worthwhile endeavors throughout his community. He was a longstanding member of the Freemasonry and the Shriner's of North America. Perhaps none of his work or involvement as a Shriner was more important than all the time he contributed helping disabled and burned children at the Shriner's Hospital for Children. George McNeely will always be known for his outstanding service to our country and his community. Above all, he will sorely be missed as a friend. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Mary Ann McNeely; his sons, David Earl McNeely of McGehee, Arkansas and James Allen McNeely of Magnolia, Arkansas; and to his numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. George McNeely will be greatly missed in McGehee, Desha County, and throughout the state of Arkansas, and I am truly saddened by this loss.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, I was not present for votes due to a delayed United Airlines flight. Had I been present for rollcall 29, Commending the Houston Dynamo soccer team for winning the 2007 Major League Soccer Cup, I would have voted ``aye.'' Had I been present for rollcall 30, Recognizing the significance of Black History Month, I would have voted ``aye.'' Had I been present for rollcall 31, Remembering the space shuttle Challenger disaster and honoring its crew members, who lost their lives on January 28, 1986, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, I was not present for votes as my flight from Arkansas to Washington, D.C. was delayed. Had I been present for rollcall No. 19, H.R. 4211, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 725 Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, as the Judge Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for rollcall No. 20, H. Res. 866, a bill honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose tireless work, dedication, and commitment to protecting the United States have led to the Coast Guard seizing over 350,000 pounds of cocaine at sea during 2007, far surpassing all of our previous records, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of William ``Sykes'' Harris of Warren, AR, who passed away January 15, 2008, at the age of 89. Sykes Harris was a true pioneer in the wood flooring business in south Arkansas. After nobly serving his country in World War II, he returned to his childhood home of Warren, where he began a lifetime in business making a positive impact on countless Arkansans through Wilson Oak Flooring, which he would successfully own and operate for nearly 25 years. Although Sykes Harris had a career in business, his calling and real passion was in community development. The City of Warren and its residents were extremely fortunate to gain from his selfless gifts of time and energy to make his community a better place to live. He took a keen interest in seeing businesses flourish throughout Warren and Bradley County, and this was evident through his service in the Warren Rotary Club, the Warren Country Club and the Warren Bank and Trust Company. In addition, Sykes Harris was deeply honored to be appointed by then- Governor Bill Clinton to serve on the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas in 1983. Upon completing his 10-year term, the City of Fayetteville recognized his invaluable contributions and efforts by naming him an honorary citizen and presenting him with a key to the city. When Sykes was not working in business or giving back to the community, he could be found relaxing and sitting on his floating duck blind in Arkansas City with any number of family and friends. I send my deepest condolences to his daughter, Sally Harris Barnett, of Casscoe, AR; his sister, Frances Harris Hedrick of Warren, AR; and to his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sykes Harris will be missed by his family, his community and all those who knew him and called him a friend. His focus on the community and his spirit of selfless service to others will never be forgotten. I will continue to keep his family in my deepest thoughts and prayers.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Henry Pryor of Camden, Arkansas, who passed away December 9, 2007, at the age of 50. Henry Pryor was a consummate professional who made a positive impact on the people and businesses he worked with throughout his life, which was abruptly and sadly cut short due to a tragic car accident. His career in banking took him across the United States and he eventually landed in Camden, Arkansas, where he served as Executive Vice President of Heartland Community Bank of Camden, and Senior Vice President of Farmers Bank and Trust of Camden. Although Henry Pryor had a career in business, his calling and real passion was in community development. The City of Camden and its residents were extremely fortunate to gain from his selfless gifts of time and energy to make his community a better place to live. As a member of the Ouachita County Historical Society, he was instrumental in preserving historic properties in Camden such as the Clifton- Greening Street Historic District. He took a keen interest in seeing businesses flourish throughout Camden and Ouachita County through his service as president of the Camden Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he was a graduate of the Leadership Camden area program and he served on numerous area boards and commissions. As a local community leader, he also recognized the vast importance of regional festivals and the impact they had on residents and businesses, through his proud service as chairman of the Annual Camden Daffodil Festival. I send my deepest condolences to his wife of 21 years, Angela Woodward Pryor of Camden, Arkansas, and to his numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Henry Pryor will be missed by his family, his church, his community and all those who knew him and called him a friend. His focus on the community and his spirit of service to others and to his community will never be forgotten. I will continue to keep his family in my deepest thoughts and prayers.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, as he prepares for retirement at the end of this year, it is impossible to think about Razorback athletics and imagine what it would be like without Coach Frank Broyles. His achievements on the field are numerous and distinctive. However, it is his battle off the field that inspires me even more. In 1999, Coach Broyles' wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and, needless to say, this battle changed his family forever. Studying defenses on the football field for decades prepared Coach Broyles as he looked for a way to attack perhaps his greatest challenge yet. After years of caring for his wife and receiving calls and letters from supporters, he sat down and compiled his most impressive playbook ever: ``The Coach Broyles' Playbook for Alzheimer's Caregivers: A Practical Tip Guide.'' His playbook has helped countless families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's, letting them know that their fight with this disease is not something they must face alone. In 2004, Coach Broyles' wife, Barbara Broyles, succumbed to the disease, which still has no cure. His accomplishments in college football will never be forgotten, but the hope and faith he has given to families across this Nation coping with Alzheimer's will leave a lasting impact on our society for generations to come.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, this Democratic House has voted twice in a fiscally responsible manner to provide this tax relief which I voted for. Unfortunately, Senate and House Republicans have sadly chosen to side with protecting tax cheats and their offshore accounts instead of siding with 23 million working families and providing them with the tax relief they deserve. Abandoning our commitment to the fiscal responsibility and passing an AMT bill that is not paid for leaves our children to foot the bill to the tune of some $80 billion. It is morally wrong to continue to borrow money from China and to rob the Social Security trust fund to fund our domestic needs here at home. This vote today will do just that, a vote forced on us by Senate Republicans. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this Republican tax increase on our children, grandchildren and future generations. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, this evening, as most Tuesday evenings, I'm joined by members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition as we come to the floor of the United States House of Representatives to talk about the debt and the deficit and what that means for the future of this country and how so many of today's priorities continue to go unmet because of this. Today's national debt is $9,169,206,830,867 and some change. For every man, woman and child in America, their share of the national debt, $30,205. As you walk the halls of Congress, Madam Speaker, as you walk the halls of the Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn House Office Buildings, you will easily know when you're walking by the door of a fellow Blue Dog member because you will see this poster that reminds us of the national debt, as well as your share. This evening we want to talk about PAYGO. It's an acronym for pay-as- you-go, and basically there was a lot made to do about the first 100 legislative hours in this new Democratic majority. Well, the 47 of us in the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition were proud of what we were able to accomplish in this first legislative hour under this new Democratic majority, and that was reinstating the PAYGO rules, which means pay-as-you-go. If you have got a new program you want to fund, you've got to show us how you're going to pay for it. If you want to cut a tax, you've got to show us how you're going to pay for it. The business of borrowing money from China to fund programs and tax cuts in this country are over, and we want to thank the new Democratic leadership for their commitment, their commitment not to bring a bill to this floor that's not paid for. At this time to talk more about this issue and a lot of talk about AMT, the alternative minimum tax is going to touch a lot more people this year. We want to protect those people. We want to make sure they're not taxed, but we also want to make sure that that bill that comes to this floor is paid for. It doesn't make sense to protect people from taxes if we're simply borrowing the money from China and then asking our children and grandchildren to foot the bill. That's why I was very disappointed last week when the Senate voted 88-5 to fix the AMT. They took the easy way out. It wasn't paid for. The Senate's plan borrows $50 billion just for this year, $50 billion from China to pay for a fix to the alternative minimum tax. We have a plan in the House not only to fix it but to pay for it, and we voted for that a couple of weeks ago on the House floor and we're going to vote on it again this week. And to talk more about this and what it all means for this country and for future generations is one of the founders of the Blue Dog Coalition, my friend, John Tanner from Tennessee.

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Tennessee, a founder of the Blue Dog Coalition, John Tanner, for joining us this evening for this Special Order. Madam Speaker, there's 47 of us in the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition. The Blue Dog Coalition is just another name for fiscally conservative Democrats, and one of our newest members who has joined us for the 110th session of Congress, and we're just delighted to have her, is our friend Kirsten Gillibrand from New York's 20th district.

Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York. For those just joining us, to set the stage, Madam Speaker, the Senate, we sent the Senate an AMT fix, alternative minimum tax fix, to ensure people didn't get hit with this unfair tax, and we paid for it. They sent it back to us without being paid for. Instead, they want to borrow $50 billion from China, and that's what got 47 members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition worked up, and for a good reason. I'm pleased to be joined by a fellow Blue Dog member from California's 20th Congressional District, my friend Jim Costa.

Mr. ROSS. I thank the gentleman from California for joining us. And, Madam Speaker, this is a Special Order hosted by the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition. And at this time, as we discuss this PAYGO and AMT issue deeper and further and put it in context, I'd like to call on a former co-Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, Baron Hill from Indiana.

Mr. ROSS. I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill) for his insight on this issue. Madam Speaker, let me make it clear that the Blue Dog Coalition wants to ensure that no additional taxpayers are liable for the AMT tax this year. Let me also make it clear that, unlike the Senate, we want a bill that's paid for. We don't want to simply borrow the money from China to fund a tax cut or to provide tax relief in this country. And that's what makes us different in this new Democratic majority from what we had in the previous Congresses under the Republican control. They have given us the largest debt ever, the largest deficit ever; and the time has come to put an end to that. And someone that understands that better than anyone is the Blue Dog co-Chair for policy, my friend Dennis Moore from Kansas.

Mr. ROSS. I want to thank the gentleman from Kansas for joining us. Madam Speaker, in the next 35 minutes, we've got a number of Blue Dogs, fiscally conservative Democrats, that have taken to the floor of the House tonight to join me in talking about the importance of PAYGO, pay-as-you-go, the kind of principle that was in place in this Chamber when President Clinton gave us the first balanced budget of any Democrat or Republican in about 40 years. At this time I would like to call on a former co-Chair of the Blue Dogs from the State of Tennessee, someone that has helped lead this effort and who brings a lot of insight to this issue, the former co- Chair for policy of the Blue Dogs, and that's my friend Jim Cooper from Tennessee.

Mr. ROSS. I want to thank the gentleman from Tennessee, former co- Chair of the Blue Dogs, for joining us and in being a part of standing firm on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of PAYGO. Some people may say, what's this business all about? Well, the House passed a bill to provide tax relief for millions of people, and it was paid for. We sent it to the Senate and they didn't like it; so they sent it back unpaid for. Their idea was to borrow $50 billion from someplace like China to pay for it. Well, we're going to send it back again, probably tomorrow, Madam Speaker, with another pay-for. And some people are maybe saying, ``Huh? So how are you going to pay for it?'' Well, it's not glamorous, but it makes sense to me. We're going to pay for it by closing loopholes allowing hedge fund managers to defer compensation in offshore accounts. There's no reason why the Senate shouldn't be able to join us in supporting that. It pays for it instead of borrowing the money from China and provides the tax relief that we need for middle-class working families all across this country. I would like to call on a former cochair for communications of the Blue Dogs, my friend from California, a member of the Rules Committee, very involved in this whole issue, and that's Dennis Cardoza.

Mr. ROSS. I thank the gentleman from California, who has contributed greatly as the former cochair of the Blue Dogs and now a member of the Rules Committee. The reason all of this is so important is because of this: Today, the U.S. national debt, $9,169,206,830,867, you divide that by every man, woman and child in America, and your share, Madam Speaker, is $30,205. Since President Bush took office, the gross national debt has increased by nearly $3.5 trillion, $3.427 trillion. That's $41.54 billion per month. That's $9.57 billion per week. That's $1.37 billion per day. That's $56.93 million per hour. That's $948,907 per minute. And that's $15,815 per second. Any way you divide it out, Madam Speaker, for a country boy from south Arkansas, that's a whole lot of money. And this group, the Blue Dogs, fiscally conservative Democrats, are trying to restore common sense, accountability, and fiscal discipline to our national government. And right in the middle of it all is my friend from Louisiana, a fellow Blue Dog member, Charlie Melancon.

Mr. ROSS. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana. And as our friend John Tanner from Tennessee has said so eloquently, this administration, this President has borrowed more money from foreigners than the previous 42 Presidents combined. Since President Bush took office, our Nation has borrowed $1.23 trillion from foreign sources. That's a big number. Let's break it down. That's $15.45 billion per month. That's $3.54 billion per week. That's $505.6 million per day. That's $21.07 million per hour. That's $351,113 per minute. And that's $5,852 per second. So, Madam Speaker, that's why we're here. We want to restore common sense and fiscal discipline to our national government. We want to put an end to this reckless spending and this debt and this deficit, and to help us do that is my friend from Ohio, new member of the Blue Dogs, serving his first term in the 110th session of Congress, Zack Space from Ohio's 18th congressional district.

Mr. ROSS. I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his insight. Madam Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield to the gentleman from Indiana, Brad Ellsworth, from Indiana's Eighth Congressional District. A new member of the Blue Dogs in the 110th session of Congress, Brad Ellsworth.

Mr. ROSS. I thank the gentleman from Indiana. Madam Speaker, if you have any questions, comments or concerns you can e-mail us, Madam Speaker, at bluedog@mail.house.gov. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Space) was saying that he didn't have his calculator with him, but he knew it was a lot of interest that had been paid. This year we have paid $239 billion in interest on the national debt. That is close to $1 billion a day, without a calculator. But with a calculator, and to put it in perspective, the same amount we would pay for any of the following, stocking every family in America's refrigerator for 7 months, filling every U.S. gas tank, and that is not easy to do this these days, for 10 months, filling every American's gas tank for 10 months at today's gas prices, providing 4 years of in-state public tuition for 10.2 million students. I have a daughter in college now. I can appreciate that one. Paying 1 year of salary for 8 million new teachers. We could do any one of those things, Madam Speaker, with the amount of interest we have paid on the national debt this year. The whole point here, Madam Speaker, is we will continue, this demonstrates it right here, the reds, the amounts we are spending on interest, the light blue, or the turquoise as we would say back home, is the amount we are spending on education. The dark green is how much we are spending on veterans. And the purple is how much we are spending on homeland security. America's priorities, Madam Speaker, are out of whack. And they are going to remain out of whack until we get our fiscal house in order. And no one understands this better than the leader of the Blue Dogs, the administrative co-Chair for the Blue Dogs who spends a lot of time on these issues, and I can't thank him enough for being here and waiting patiently all night and letting all our fellow Blue Dog members go, we have had a dozen tonight, that is a lot, to come to the floor of the House tonight to talk about these issues. We have about 10 minutes left. The gentleman from Florida, Allen Boyd, can have as much of it as he wants.

Mr. ROSS. I thank the gentleman from Florida, the administrative cochair of the Blue Dogs, Mr. Allen Boyd from Florida's Second Congressional District, for being a part of this Special Order this evening, as he is so many Tuesday evenings. What we are talking about here, Madam Speaker, is the Republican Congress, the Republican administration, after having a balanced budget under President Clinton for the first time in 40 years, gave us the largest debt ever in our Nation's history, largest deficit ever in our Nation's history, and there has been a lot of talk about all this. Mr. Tanner was talking earlier about how this administration has borrowed more money from foreigners than the previous 42 Presidents combined. That has to be paid back with interest. And to put it in perspective, the Federal Government has sent $709 billion abroad in the form of interest payments since President Bush took office, and $155 billion in 2007 alone. The same amount would fund any of the following: The amount of money this administration has sent to foreigners to pay interest on the debt that we have borrowed from them to fund tax cuts in this country for folks earning over $400,000 a year. With the interest paid on this debt, this foreign debt, the amount of your tax money, Madam Speaker, that we have sent overseas, with that amount of money, we could have built 12,000 new elementary schools, 7,000 new veterans clinics, and I might remind you, Madam Speaker, we have a new generation of veterans coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq. And get this: We could have funded all road and bridge construction and improvements for 10 years. It's about priorities, and it's time this Nation got its priorities in order. It's time we got our fiscal house in order. Make no mistake about it, Madam Speaker, for the second time this week we are going to send to the Senate an AMT fix that ensures that no, not one, additional taxpayer is liable for the AMT tax. Not one. Madam Speaker, we are paying for it, and as conservative Democrats we are reaching across the aisle and we are begging, we are begging Republicans to join us in doing the right thing and fixing this the right way.