Pete Sessions

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a rule and the underlying bills that make it easier for hard-working families to purchase a home. I would like to be perfectly clear from the outset. These bills are about increasing access to affordable housing. They are about helping middle class men and women in our country gain a little bit better footing to help them along their American Dream, and that is why we are here today. What we are trying to do is get the government out of the way so that more Americans can purchase the homes of their choice. These bills are about achieving the American Dream of owning your own home. That brings us closer to why we are here today. We are here to help families who want to own their own home and to live the American Dream. The administration's Big Government regulations have made it harder for American families to own a home, so we are here to empower them, instead of rules and regulations by Washington bureaucrats. The ball of red tape coming out of Washington grows daily, and day by day, it spreads beyond the housing market. It ties the hands of families who want to own their own home, as well as the hands of business that want to hire new employees and investors that want to fund the next new big idea to make America stronger and better and to build jobs. Modest, reasonable regulation does have its place; overregulation does not. Overregulation stifles economic growth. It gets in the way and makes it harder for families to pull themselves not only out of poverty, but it keeps them from gaining the footing to get into the middle class. Ultimately, unreasonable regulation destroys a shot that people have at the American Dream. The problem with overregulation is that it is everywhere. This administration enjoys and relishes the opportunity to inflict themselves on every part of the American economy because they believe Washington knows best. Well, we just can't live this way and have people have their say and whack at the American Dream, also. Unfortunately, overregulation is like the weeds in the backyard; they have to be removed. One by one, that is how you gain accomplishment. That is what happened yesterday when the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, Chairman Jeb Hensarling from Dallas, Texas, brought some reasonable opportunities to the Rules Committee for us to consider. What are we doing here today? We are removing just a few of the regulatory weeds that were promulgated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB. These mortgages that we are talking about have rules that make it harder for low- and moderate-income Americans to qualify for a mortgage--harder. They negatively impact consumers and community banks who offer the majority of these loans to middle class Americans, and it makes them outside of the ability that people have to get them because of the high cost of regulation. These costs are passed on to consumers who, once again, are victims to an overzealous regulatory regime who stated that they were there to help the consumer in the first place. Mr. Speaker, we are here today because we have a bipartisan piece of legislation that has gained over the last few years more people who understand the issues--not only those in the Financial Services Committee, but across Congress--and we are here today because of what is a good bill to remove a few weeds from the garden one at a time. Chairman Hensarling has given us that chance today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is going to have just his opportunity today because I am sure we are going to vote on this. I would like to advise the gentleman that I have no speakers. We spent a couple of hours yesterday in the Rules Committee fully debating this, understanding this bipartisan bill, and so I want to advise the gentleman that I will allow him to use the time. I would like to ask if he has any speakers.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I hope the gentlewoman recognizes she needs to be talking to the White House probably most of all. During the last few years, every time this issue comes up, we refer to White House pay and equity among women who work at the White House, compared to their colleagues, and so this might just be one of those bills that the White House would veto because they could follow what they choose but maybe they wouldn't want this to be the law, or maybe they would want this to be the law so they could correct what they do at the White House for equal pay for equal work, women among their colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts. He had to sit through the long hearing yesterday, and it was a most interesting one. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to point out that the Rules Committee asked Members and their offices to submit any ideas and amendments regarding this bill, and none were submitted. That is why we have a closed rule. That is why H.R. 685, the Mortgage Choice Act, and H.R. 650, Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act, are both under a closed rule because we tried to make it available to as many Members as chose, and no one took us up on it. Mr. Speaker, we are here because we have two Members who have worked hard in committee, they have worked hard over the last few years as new, young members of this Republican majority, Bill Huizenga from Michigan and Stephen Fincher from Tennessee, who worked very diligently inside the Financial Services Committee over the years and have brought these bills back to us. This is not their first appearance. We now have a Senate, however, that we believe will take up these bills. Republicans are committed to reducing the regulatory burden that makes it harder for families to get homes. In this case, it may be manufactured housing, it may be directly aimed at the middle class. It may help people a lot. The answer is, yes, it does. And that is why we are doing this. We are taking our time today because the middle class of this country deserves a right for us to pay attention to them. And community banks, small banks back home that people walk into, see the same people, day after day, year after year, who live in these communities, community bankers are there to help grow not only the middle class but also rural America and the areas that oftentimes are in agriculture areas, perhaps in the areas where there is a lot of energy exploration. People choose to have their own roof over their own head and need a chance to get a loan, need a chance to take care of their families. So, look, we are willing to keep working out and reaching out to Democrats. This is a bipartisan bill, and we are willing to do whatever it takes so that individuals and families can help realize this American Dream.

Mr. SESSIONS. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the gentleman was able to have these two additional bright speakers, including the gentleman from the Rules Committee, Mr. Polis. So things worked out very well. I want to thank my dear friend from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) who asked for this, and I believe that I have responded in-kind. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, once again, the relationship that the gentleman and I share is very good. We spend hours a week with each other, and we know that occasionally we have different speakers come, and I am delighted that I was able to give him that opportunity. Mr. Speaker, as I began closing a minute ago, let's take a step in the right direction right now, right here today. Let's take these two bills that came directly from the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fincher) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) at the urging of the Financial Services Committee. I believe this is the right thing to do on, I believe, an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis of that committee. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable individual for her dedication to the State of Texas. I would like to congratulate and thank Mrs. Chris Kyker for her hard work and her passion for service. She has spent the last 90 years simply giving back to the world around us. I was recently informed that she was honored by the Texas Legislature in naming the Texas Silver Haired Legislature Foundation. This achievement served as an indication of the hard work, determination, joy, and kindness that she has continued to embody. Chris is a leading volunteer for the state of Texas. She has served as the Founding Director of the West Central Texas Area Agency on Aging (1974-1979), she has served as the Founding Executive Director of the Texas Department on Aging (1979-1984), she assisted with the transition of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (2003-2005), and she served as the Founding President and CEO of Disabilities Resources Inc. of Abilene, Texas. She has served in more than 32 volunteer offices, and in 2014 the Chris Kyker Endowment for Seniors Fund was established. From serving the state to serving her fellow man, Chris' accomplishments have been appreciated. Her passion and drive are commendable. In our rapidly shifting world and fast-paced lifestyles it is always impressive to find someone like Chris that give so generously of their time and effort to positively impact the lives of people of Texas. While we take the time to reflect on all of Chris' achievements, it is important to acknowledge that her belief in giving to those around her comes from the genuine kindness of a remarkable woman. I want to express my heartiest congratulations and thanks to Chris Kyker on her outstanding accomplishments and for her immense contribution to the State of Texas.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, known as the TRA, and to express the gratitude of the American people for the contributions of the Republic of China (ROC) in World War II. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was signed into law on April 10, 1979. For 36 years, it has served as the backbone of the extraordinary friendship between the ROC and the United States of America. The TRA was Congress' way of codifying a pledge from the American people to the people of Taiwan that ``we will stand with you, always.'' The TRA has provided stability to Taiwan, permitting it to thrive and become the economic powerhouse it is today, and to deepen its transition to democracy. Furthermore, as we near the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II it is just and appropriate that we should remember the great contributions of the ROC to the allied victory. In closing, I would like to point out one of the many heroic contributions of the ROC to the allied victory in World War II: In April 1942, General Sun Li-jen led a mission to successfully rescue 7000 British soldiers and many other civilians, including Americans, who were encircled by the Japanese Army, in the Burma campaign at Yenangyaung. We should never forget the contributions of the Republic of China to the allied victory in World War II. Likewise, we should never forget the importance of the Taiwan Relations Act for the peace and stability, not only of Taiwan, but also for the entire East Asia region.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia, who represents not only the Rules Committee but conservatives from across our Conference on the Budget Committee. I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall) for bringing this bill to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we had an opportunity to have Chairman Tom Price come and speak with us about the budget and what costs what and what decisions we wanted to make and what direction we were going to go. It was really pretty simple. He said he is presenting a budget that is going to balance. He is presenting a budget that is going to fund our military properly. And he has got a budget which is one we cannot only understand but believe in. One of the questions I asked him yesterday was: Mr. Price, how much does the Affordable Care Act, known as ObamaCare, cost the taxpayer and the budget? He said: You know, I don't know, but I'll get back to you. Well, by the end of the hearing, he said--what he could figure--it is $108 billion. Now, I have not checked this out. In fairness to Tom Price, he is allowed to go and doublecheck everything. That was a cursory view. Mr. Speaker, if that is true, and if I accept the figures that the gentlewoman, the ranking member of the committee, said of the number of people who are on ObamaCare, the Affordable Care Act--about 12 million--if you just do simple multiplication, 12 million into $108 billion, we are talking literally every single recipient would be costing this government more than $5 million per person for their insurance. It is staggering. It is staggering that our friends, the Democrats, passed--it took us all day--a bill that they told us at least 24 million people who were uninsured would be on it, and a whole bunch of other people, and now here we are some 4 years later, a whopping total of 12.5 million at a cost of $100 billion or more. And yet they come to the floor and look at us like we are some self-righteous group of people because we want to balance the budget and change the direction. Mr. Speaker, this budget is not about doing away with the Affordable Care Act. It is about properly looking at the money that comes in to the Federal Government and us properly allocating it back out. And $108 billion for 12 million people is immoral. It is unconscionable. And yet that was the testimony yesterday. Once again, I am going to have to look at it again, and I know Chairman Price is going to as well. Mr. Speaker, this is why we do budgets. We do budgets so that we do ask the tough questions, so that we can put a pencil to the millions, billions, and trillions that the American taxpayer sent us here to do. For us to be on the defensive by our friends, the Democrats, about wanting to balance the budget, about us wanting to do the things that will balance out and not only netting them out to where we don't spend more than what we take in, but being on the defensive because we are doing the right thing to sustain America's greatest days ahead of us, I think is a real mistake for the people who make the argument against us, when they are the people that passed--without one Republican vote-- what we were told is $108 billion for 12.5 million people. Mr. Speaker, we have got to get away from this yelling and screaming and go to the numbers. And that is what Tom Price did. That is what Mr. Woodall is doing. They are looking at how we are spending our money and what we are getting as a result of it. And if it really is true that for everybody who is on this Affordable Care Act, the true cost to the taxpayers is over $5 million for each person, then shame on us for not knowing, asking, and understanding. And that is what we are doing today, Mr. Speaker. Tom Price, our young chairman from Georgia, actually has taken time to go and look at the budget. He is also doing a lot of other things that the gentleman from Texas, Mike Burgess, gave him credit for yesterday, where he is looking at some $800 billion--almost a trillion dollars--that is sitting in agencies, not spent yet, that has previously been given to them. The taxpayer paid for it, and they are just sitting there waiting to spend the money. Mr. Speaker, it is Republicans, it is Tom Price, it is Rob Woodall, it is the members of the committee who have taken the tough votes and have done their homework. And that is what we are presenting here today. We are presenting the hard work from a committee called the Budget Committee to come and look at, once a year, how much are we spending, what are we getting, and how can we do it better? So I will reject the arguments from those who say that the Republicans aren't doing the right thing. We are doing the heavy lifting. It is Republicans who are trying to look at the billions that are being spent. Not just the thousands, but the hundreds of millions and the thousand billions. Because a thousand billion is a trillion. And this is a big budget, and we need people to do what we are doing. So, Mr. Speaker, I stand up for not just my party, the Republican Party, but I stand up for the honest and legitimate work that Tom Price and the Budget Committee have done. And I intend to follow up with this committee and to make sure we know more about the real cost of government because it is the real cost of government that turns the direction of our country, where we pass by that effort of where we create good behavior and we help people to, one, where we create people who are leaning on the government for their life, for their lifestyle, and for their future. And that is a mistake. That is a mistake--and one that the Republican Party will try and stand up to. I understand the difference between a person who is able-bodied and not. I have a son with Down Syndrome, and I understand that we do need to do the right things for people who can't take care of themselves-- those with an intellectual or physical disability. I get it that we should be there for poor people. But it is unconscionable if we are paying $5 million for an insurance plan, per person, under the Affordable Care Act. That is beyond the wild ideas of boondoggle. It is immoral. So, the Republican Party is going to ask the tough questions. And when we go to the voter or taxpayer and we say: Here is what we want you to understand about your money, we can do it with the authority and the responsibility that we have done the homework. We sharpened our pencils and we made a real difference by understanding not just dollars and cents, but the future of this great Nation.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a resolution (H. Res. 155) electing a Member to a certain standing committee of the House of Representatives, and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of THE SONS OF THE FLAG organization, which was founded in Dallas, Texas by Ryan ``Birdman'' Parrot in 2012. Parrot, a Navy SEAL who served 8 years as a member of SEAL Team 7 completed 3 tours in Iraq before being assigned to advanced Training Command. While riding in a Humvee, he and his team were hit by an IED with most of his crew sustaining life threatening burn injuries. Upon retirement he moved to Dallas, Texas, and was inspired by Ret. Capt Sam Brown's strength and courage despite all his debilitating scarring. Not happy with the advancements in treatment for burns compared to the advancement of prosthetics he founded this organization to help: military, first responders, and civilian burn survivors. SOTF is bringing together community leaders, renowned burn surgeons, experienced military, dedicated first responders, and purposeful citizens to complete our mission. We partnered with Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. I submit this poem penned in their honor by Albert Carey Caswell. So Proudly We Wave (By Albert Carey Caswell) This is war There's another battle to be waged There are so many magnificent heroes who need our help this day And just like them, the words no surrender we all say As so proudly to them we wave On this very day So high up above All in their love For all of those and what they gave Whether, on battlefields of honor bright Or First Responders and Fire Fighters who into infernos go this night And all of those citizens so left to fight The scars of a Burn Survivor's plight For beauty is but skin deep As it's all in our souls where we so keep All of our faith and courage, that we all so need to find the will to dig in deep Is that but not the beauty we all seek? To so fight for their cause The eyes of Texas are upon us, and we shall not pause Carried all in our hearts, for this Old Red, White, and Blue so very deep Taking the charge For advancements, for all of those heroes who lives now loom so very large Who upon battlefields of honor bright Or rushing into burning buildings with hearts of courage full to bring their light Who are in the business of saving lives Whether for our brothers and sisters to their left, to their right Or in burning buildings oh what heroic sights To somehow repay them for all of their sacrifice For we will help champion your battle for your victory, over this fight And help you one and all, to get on with your most magnificent of all lives Where you go We go We've got your six, for this is all that you need to know Just like the American flag, you too should be treated with such honor so They Gave, now its time for us To Give Just like The American flag, you too so proudly wave in all you did And remember no matter how dark the night, The Sons of Flag have got your six, for all you heroes whose hearts burn bright

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friends, Keagan Lenihan and her husband Brian, on the birth of their twin daughters Collins Madden and Emma Rhoades Lenihan. Collins was born at 11:21 p.m. and Emma at 11:22 p.m. on Monday, January 19, 2015, in Washington, DC. Collins and Emma are five pounds of pride and joy to their loving grandparents, Barclay and Lorita Resler of McLean, Virginia and Michael and Marilyn Lenihan of Fredericksburg, Virginia. I am so excited for this new blessing to the Lenihan family and wish them all the best on their future endeavors.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. I would, pending receiving those, which is just about to happen, say to the gentleman that his ideas that he brought to the Rules Committee, in fact, were received well, the ideas about shipping in American ships, building of American ships, the opportunity for American ships to employ people as they transported American products around the world. We will be ready here in half a second, so anybody who is watching gets high drama.

Mr. SESSIONS. I thank the gentleman very much, my fellow Eagle Scout from California. In fact, I did walk on the floor here, and I noticed that Ms. Kaptur is here, Mr. Tonko is here, and you are having a vigorous discussion which is important with the American people. I am about to be in receipt of a bill that will come down that will be presented to the floor here in just a minute, so if I keep talking here for just a minute.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise on the floor today really for two reasons, perhaps three. First of all, to support and defend the Committee on Rules last night where we overwhelmingly are in favor of making sure that every Member of this body has an opportunity to vote up or down on this terrible piece of legislation that is the law that is known as the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare. This last election the people of this country openly asked the question in many districts across this country: Are you for or against this terrible law that was put through this Congress without one Republican vote? So it is only obvious that every single new Member of this body would want to have an opportunity to vote up or down. Secondly, I want to defend the gentleman, Dr. Burgess, a member of our committee, who was attacked last night. I unfortunately had taken 2 or 3 minutes away from the chair to attend to some other matters of the committee and was not available to be in the chair. Thirdly, I want to stand up for my State of Texas. In defense of the State of Texas, there has been a lot of talk about Texas lately, not just last night, but lately. So I want to make sure that people have a better understanding to know why Texans are being attacked, and that is because we reject big, liberal government that is embodied in the laws that are known as ObamaCare, or the Affordable Care Act. In defense of our great State of Texas, we represent people of the State of Texas, and I strongly stand with my fellow Texan and fellow committee member, the gentleman from Lewisville, Texas, Dr. Michael Burgess. Dr. Burgess is not just a proud member of our delegation and a proud Member who represents Texas, just as I do, born in Waco, Texas, but I stand today for why Texas is a great State. Evidently we have got to defend our honor. It was done last night in the Committee on Rules; it is being done today on the floor of the House of Representatives. I stand in defense of Texas; although Texas I don't think really needs much defense. Texans are proud people, and we have been a proud people since the days of the Alamo and San Jacinto. That is when we used to be our own nation. Texans are fiercely independent, and we, I think, lead to the very best not only for ourselves, but we are trying to do that also for America. Texas is thriving, and the reason why we are thriving is because of economic growth, robust job creation, and overall quality of life. American families and businesses all across this country, I think, look to Texas as the leader in freedom and economic opportunity. That is what the Lone Star State is. In our system of federalism, people can also vote with their feet. In the last 5 years, the Texas population grew by 1.8 million people. People from all over the United States, all 50 States, found a brighter future for themselves in Texas. Over 1.6 million veterans call Texas home. These are men and women who fought for the freedoms that we enjoy and have today. Because of our communities, they support our veterans, and people know when they look to Texas, those people in Texas care about veterans and protecting our country. Our churches, our schools, our hospitals, and our charities all lead the way in providing our citizens with things so that the government does not have to.

Mr. SESSIONS. Yesterday, in the Rules Committee, Dr. Burgess was merely reflecting the views of our home State and the people who live there. Our Nation does better when we allow individuals to succeed, rather than look to government. We need to have a limited government, and people will then have more freedom. While some people may think that limited government and empowering families is ``crazy,'' I disagree. I think the numbers prove it. Texas has been called the great American job machine because we are the State that leads the Nation and the world. In fact, if Texas were its own country, it would have the 13th highest GDP in the world.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida, Judge Hastings, my friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. general leave

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. SESSIONS. Today, Mr. Speaker, I bring to the floor on behalf of the Rules Committee and the Republican Conference a rule and the underlying legislation which helps address a problem that has been created by the Obama administration. The administration has decided to slow the export of liquefied natural gas to countries with which we do not have a free trade agreement. This means that American companies have plenty of liquefied natural gas to sell to our allies across the globe but that delays by the administration are preventing them from selling it. This decision, I think, comes at a terrible price for the millions of Americans who cannot find work. This decision comes at a terrible price for those in need of a good-paying job--perhaps even of a long career--that will help support their families, their communities, and, most of all, that will help make America stronger. The administration's inaction also comes at a terrible price for our friends in Europe who are being bullied by thugs, namely the Russian Government. Currently, many of our allies in Europe are forced to buy natural gas from Russia instead of from the United States of America. We have seen how they use this leverage to push around our allies. Our other friends around the globe, such as India, Japan, and Haiti, also need energy, and this administration's inaction is also costing these allies dearly. Let me see if I can paint a picture of how the administration's decision has been executed. The administration's Department of Energy has slow walked. It has taken an antiquated approval process for applications to export liquefied natural gas, which is known as LNG. Since 2010, the Department of Energy has only issued final decisions on five of the 37 applications to export LNG to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement. These delays have nothing to do with the environment. In fact, natural gas is one of the cleanest sources of energy in the world. Yes, I think we know what the problem is. The problem is they simply do not want to participate in this marketplace for Americans to have jobs. As a result of these delays, all of us in America are squandering the boon in liquefied natural gas, which has made the United States the world's largest provider of natural gas in oil beginning, really, in 2013. Here we are now, 2 years later, and it is time for America to come to action. That is, again, why the United States Congress--the Republican Congress--is coming to the American people with a bill to help do something about this. The administration's broken application process is delaying good- paying jobs at a time when the labor participation rate in our marketplace is at historic lows. That hurts real people. That hurts real people who want and need opportunities to have jobs today, not to look up and find out that Washington is broken and is keeping them from good-paying jobs. I have much to say about this, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This issue about liquefied natural gas and natural gas perhaps comes naturally to Texans. I am from Dallas. I have been around the natural gas industry. I have seen the attributes of energy policy and how important it is. Let me tell you what: the Republicans have taken a keen interest in this. This is why the marketplace is producing gasoline at $1.72 a gallon. That is why gasoline prices have fallen, that is why natural gas is plentifully available at a great price--but, Mr. Speaker, it is also jobs behind this. I will tell you one other thing. It is also a bipartisan idea. Yesterday, this gentleman that I am going to introduce, the sponsor of the bill, Bill Johnson, a 26-year veteran of the United States Air Force, came up to the Rules Committee and had one of the most delightful conversations on a bipartisan basis with other Democrats and Republicans and talked about the attributes of jobs and this natural resource. Thank God we live in America and have these opportunities to where we can help other countries. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), the original sponsor of this bill.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We really do want to address both of your questions. I think they are both legitimate questions. First of all, according to Hungary's Ambassador at Large for Energy Security, lifting restrictions on import ``would send an extremely important message of strategic reassurance to the region which currently feels more threatened than any time since the cold war.'' I will yield in a second to the author of the bill because he understands that piece of the pie. We talk about thuggery from Russia. The Ukrainians had to renegotiate the amount of money that they were paying just to get their natural gas and stay warm because the Russians raised that price on them. We think that is gouging and taking advantage of people. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson) to discuss this point that you asked about.