Pete Sessions

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to endorse the resumption of Trade Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) negotiations between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan). After five years of inaction, I was pleased to see these important talks get underway once again. I believe that much progress was made during the previous rounds of TIFA talks and that improvements were made in intellectual property protection in particular. Furthermore, I am aware that many other challenges, including the need for even stronger intellectual property protection safeguards and market access for many American products, need to be resolved. I have had the pleasure of meeting with many officials of the Taiwanese government, and I am pleased to hear of their willingness to come forward and resume talks to improve our mutual trading relationship. Many of these trading differences can be best resolved through the resumption of active bilateral negotiations. Taiwan currently serves as our 10th largest goods trading partner, and has been a long-standing political ally and partner to the United States. Bilateral goods and services trade totaled $85 billion in 2011. Increased economic relations between the United States and Taiwan will provide significant economic advantages to both countries. I am proud to express my strong support for strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and Taiwan. Taiwan is an important ally and trading partner, and we must continue to further our relationship.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. I appreciate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) for leading the discussion tonight in honor of the great Member of Congress from the Third Congressional District, Sam Johnson. I want to take a few minutes tonight to not just acknowledge how great Sam Johnson is to the Texas delegation but really to highlight what he means to this body. Sam Johnson has been a Member of this body since 1991. He came in a special election as a result of a hard-fought race in Dallas, Texas, when Congressman Steve Bartlett stepped down. And Sam Johnson came to the United States Congress not just with a background of 29 years of serving in the United States Air Force as being a top gun pilot and a man who had served this country in war and at the Hanoi Hilton, but he came here with thoughts and ideas about his home of Texas, representing Collin County and Dallas County, Texas. It's not just a high honor for us to have Sam as our Member of Congress at that time and currently, but Sam came to this body with ideas that he felt like would make our country stronger and better. More than just respect for the flag and respect for the men and women that serve in our military, but really for respect for human life and individuals, he believes that individuals make our country stronger and better; and he has devoted his life, the times we fly back and forth, Sam talks about how important people are and people's dreams, people back home. He remembers not just the stories about individuals, but I think he idolizes hard work and people who commit themselves to the sacrifice for others. Sam is known in this body for several years now as the most admired Member of Congress. And he's not the most admired Member of Congress because of just being a nice man--and that he is--but really for standing up and talking about the values of this country, the values of this country, what we stand for and how he wants it to be even better. He and Shirley have, for years, stood up across Texas and across this country and talked about how important we are if we sacrifice to make others' lives better, if we leave our country better than the way we found it. And so tonight on behalf of the people of the 32nd Congressional District, which is Dallas, which is right next to Congressman Sam Johnson, I stand up and applaud the life of Sam Johnson, his service to our country, not just the United States Air Force and the American people, but also the man that calls home Plano, Texas, and the Third Congressional District, our great friend and colleague, Congressman Sam Johnson. So, Sam, congratulations. Congratulations for not just a job well done but for the 40 years that you have been back home and what you have done to your life as a result of the service for what you believe was the right thing to do. I thank the gentleman from Texas, Judge Poe, for the time.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform yielding me this time this morning. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot being said about this deal that we're now engaged in, sequestration. But I believe, looking back, and I believed it at the time, that the people who engaged in the idea did this because they never really wanted to live up to it. They put forth an idea, the President of the United States, the White House, and our friends on the other side of the building, and some, I'm sure, on this side. They cut a deal to avoid the reality that the President of the United States was engaged in with us trying to resolve differences that we had about excessive spending. The facts of the case are a deal was cut. This came directly out of the White House, and it was to avoid having to make a tough decision at the time. And I don't know this--I wasn't in the meetings--but I'm sure it was something that they thought would never happen. That's not serious. When the President of the United States offers a compromise that was his idea and it's signed into law, that's law, and that's what we're counting on and that's what the American people count on. We in this body, Republicans, stood by a deal that was cut. Now, I don't like the deal, but this House twice, the House of Representatives has twice passed a plan that says we think there's a better way to do it. There's been nothing that's been countered by the White House or by the Senate. We've not been engaged. The President of the United States is engaged in spinning, by traveling on Air Force One around the country, the ideas that don't help us solve the problem but that make matters worse.

Mr. SESSIONS. I think what we did then was a tough decision, and I'm sorry to hear now that we're being blamed for accepting a compromise out of the White House. I know what's happening, and so do you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today in honor and in memory of former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Chris was senselessly killed on Saturday, February 2, 2013, along with a fellow veteran at a gun range 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth, Texas. Chris was a true patriot who served our country with distinction and honor. Born in Odessa, Texas, Chris joined the United States Navy in 1999, after being initially rejected due to an arm injury sustained during his time as a professional bronco rodeo rider. Following his initial training, Kyle was assigned to the illustrious SEAL Team 3, where he participated in every major battle of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For his bravery, he was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation. Additionally, Kyle is credited with sniping more than 160 insurgents throughout his four deployments, making him one of the most lethal snipers in the history of the United States military. After completing his combat duty in 2009, Chris continued to serve not only his country but also the unit he loved so much--the Navy SEALs--as well as fellow veterans of all branches struggling to cope with the effects of serving their country in wartime. Chris authored the Naval Special Warfare Sniper Doctrine--the first Navy SEAL sniper manual--and became chief instructor training Naval Special Warfare Sniper and Counter-Sniper teams. In 2011, Chris paired with FITCO Fitness to establish the FITCO Cares Foundation Heroes Project to help disabled or struggling veterans improve their lives. Chris knew that his experiences as a SEAL and the challenges he faced upon returning home could best be channeled into helping fellow veterans and their families who have given so much to ensure our safety and our freedom. Sadly, Chris, along with his friend and fellow veteran, Chad Littlefield, died senselessly Saturday while trying to help another fellow veteran. While we may never be able to make sense of this terrible tragedy, today, we remember the sacrifice of these two brave men, who were not only heroic in their defense of this nation, but were also heroic here at home as they attempted to better the lives of their returning comrades. Chris Kyle was deeply committed to serving both his country and his fellow veterans and will always be remembered as one who placed honor and duty above his own personal interest and safety. I am humbled by his service and dedication to not just the SEALs, but to his country, his fellow veterans, his community, his friends and his family. His sacrifice exemplifies that set forth in John 15:13, ``Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.'' May the peace of God be with those they loved and those who loved them and sustain them through this time of sorrow.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Baker and O'Brien, Inc. as they celebrate twenty years of outstanding business. Founded in 1993, Baker and O'Brien, Inc. started with merely six employees. With their commitment and vision, the company has since flourished to three offices and forty dedicated staffers that have served over 700 different clients. They uphold themselves to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, which is reflected in the quality of their services and outstanding reputation. I commend Baker and O'Brien, Inc. for holding steadfast to their guiding principles of service, commitment, integrity, and confidentiality in their approach to business. Their success story exemplifies the American Dream; that in this land of great opportunity, hard work and dedication can turn a dream into reality. Mr. Speaker, I ask my esteemed colleagues to join me in expressing our heartiest congratulations to Baker and O'Brien, Inc. as they celebrate twenty years of success.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I submit the attached copy of the rules of the Committee on Rules for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 113th Congress:

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Today's debate is about one very simple but profoundly important goal, Mr. Speaker, and that is restoring our vibrant economy by reducing the crippling weight of the growing debt caused by our Federal Government. In the coming months, we face a string of deadlines that will force Congress and the administration to address the fundamental challenge of our trillion-dollar deficit and its mounting effect on our economy and jobs in America. We've already exceeded $16 trillion in debt, and Republicans find this debt level absolutely unacceptable and that is why we are here today. By contrast, President Obama seems to be perfectly comfortable with the idea of reaching $23 trillion, which is where we'll be at the end of his second term if we continue his policies in that direction. While $16 trillion in debt is stifling our economy, $23 trillion would crush it. It would crush the dreams and hopes and aspirations of our great Nation and the people who will certainly follow us, our children and our grandchildren. That's why, today, we're considering this rule and the underlying bill in order to reverse this course. Our great Speaker, John Boehner, and our majority leader, Eric Cantor, are pleased that this bill is on the floor today to discuss not just this important activity with our Members of Congress, but to let the American people know we are serious about what needs to be done to save this country from this crippling debt. We will use the upcoming weeks and the looming deadlines before us as a means to enacting a more meaningful and lasting reform so that we can begin to grapple with this skyrocketing debt. At the same time, today's rule and the underlying bill will allow us to turn up pressure on the Senate to join the House in offering real solutions. Together, these actions will help to reignite our engines to grow our economy and to restore discipline and accountability to our Federal budget. The first of the looming deadlines we face is the debt ceiling limit. The underlying bill would temporarily suspend this limit so that we have the opportunity to craft comprehensive reforms without risking default on the debt that our Nation has incurred. Risking default would be counterproductive to our Republican agenda of restoring economic growth, getting our fiscal house in order, and ensuring that we do not burden future generations with intolerable debt. We will not risk the full faith and credit of the United States, but neither will we compromise a long-term extension of this debt ceiling without slashing wasteful Federal spending, enacting meaningful entitlement reform, and ending the era of trillion-dollar deficits. By taking this temporary action, we are keeping the focus where it needs to be: resolving the coming debates on sequestration, the expiring continuing resolution, and the fiscal year 2014 budget through fiscal discipline and entitlement reform. Suspending the debt ceiling until May 19 provides the House and the Senate with much-needed time to pass a budget and then consider how best to deal with the sequester. The underlying bill also takes action to ensure that the Senate becomes an active partner, which we want and need and the American people, I think, expect, in our efforts to reform Federal spending. For nearly 4 years, the Senate has failed to meet its most basic obligation: passing a budget. During this time, the Senate has collected its own paychecks despite being derelict in its most important duty. In the private sector, there are consequences for failing to do one's job. This resolution will impose the same accountability on Members of Congress that private sector workers face. Oh, yes, and we're putting that same obligation on the House as we would want them to accept in the Senate. That is, if you don't get your work done, you don't get paid. The power of the purse is the most fundamental duty the Constitution places upon Congress. For far too long, this power has not been wielded with the discipline and accountability necessary to do so responsibly and sustainably. There are a host of challenges that must be addressed, but the entire process begins with a joint budget resolution. As long as the Senate is unwilling or unable to do its job, our efforts in the House to deliver real solutions to the American people will continue to be impeded. Some have questioned whether the action we are taking is constitutional. The 27th Amendment of the Constitution prohibits legislation that varies the salary of Members of the current Congress. This provision was intended to prevent Members of the House and the Senate from giving themselves a pay raise without first standing before the voters. This bill upholds both the letter and the spirit of the 27th Amendment. It would not change a Member's rate of compensation in any way; they just don't get to collect it until they do their jobs. And until they get their work done, we simply cannot adopt a permanent extension to that debt ceiling. This body will work to ensure that the Senate performs the most basic of tasks to pass a budget, and we'll do our job also. We will continue to work for meaningful entitlement and spending reforms to take us beyond our current cycle of crisis and deadlines in favor of long-term solutions. As we do all of this in order to invigorate our economy and put our Nation back to prosperity for ourselves and for future generations, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I will insert into the Record an article from The Washington Post dated January 22, 2013. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to now discuss, if I can, this Washington Post article which is out today, which says the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid praised House leaders for moving ahead with a bill that would give the government borrowing authority into the future. He further said that he not only is very glad that we're going to send a clean debt ceiling bill, but that he felt like it would be good for the Senate to be able to take up this action. Well, Mr. Speaker, what we're trying to do is to empower those things that we know this institution, the House and the Senate--where we work closer together, where we both do our work. And yesterday, the gentleman representing the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Ryan, who's also Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, in testimony said that he intended to make sure that he would produce a bill exactly supporting what we are trying to do here today, and would bring that to the floor, and would be faithful in doing that. Look, maybe people are upset that we're putting their pay at risk. Maybe people are upset because it wasn't their idea. But the bottom line is that Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, the Rules Committee, yesterday said we think it's a good bill, and we were joined by Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader. When the Senate Majority Leader can agree with Republicans about a great direction to go that will empower the Senate and join with them in trying to make sure that we get our job done, I think that's a rare day. I think that's a good day when we can work together, when we can bring legislation that the Senate openly welcomes and, might I add, the President of the United States, President Obama, would sign this legislation. And he said so in the Statement of Administration Policy. I reserve the balance of my time. [From the Washington Post, Jan. 22, 2013] Reid Say's He's Pleased With House GOP's `Clean Debt Ceiling Bill' (By Rosalind S. Helderman) Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) praised House leaders Tuesday for moving ahead with a bill that would give the government borrowing authority into May, without demanding deep spending cuts in return. He said Democrats will discuss in coming days how to deal with a House provision, attached to the bill, that would require the Senate to adopt a budget for the first time in four years or see their pay docked. He said he would be meeting with the Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to discuss the Republicans' ``no budget, no pay provision.'' ``I'm very glad that they're going to send us a clean debt ceiling bill,'' Reid told reporters. ``The other stuff on it, we'll approach that when we need to. But I'm glad we're not facing crisis here in the matter of a few days.'' The government hit the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling in December. The Treasury Department has been using extraordinary measures to extend the limit but has said that if Congress doesn't act to raise the limit by the end of February, the United States will be unable to meet its spending obligations and will default. Republicans had been threatening to refuse to raise the limit unless Democrats offered deep entitlement cuts in return. They announced a new strategy Monday: Suspend the debt ceiling until May 19, while pressuring the Senate to adopt a budget. The House will vote on the temporary lifting of the debt ceiling on Wednesday. Reid stopped short of saying the Senate would adopt the measure without changes if it passes the House on Wednesday. But by characterizing the House bill as a ``clean'' increase in the nation's borrowing limit--a longtime demand of the White House and Democrats--he suggested its passage in the Senate will not be difficult. ``I'm happy they sent us a debt ceiling not tied to entitlement cuts and dollar-for-dollar [cuts],'' Reid said. ``That's a big step in the right direction. The other stuff on it, Sen. Murray is going to be the spokesperson on that for the next 24 hours or so. We'll see how she wants to proceed.'' The result of the House action, he said, was to buy time: ``We have many months to work through this,'' he said. Reid's review was far more positive than that of House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who blasted the GOP measure as a diversion tactic to reporters Tuesday. If House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) has support from fellow Republicans, however, he can pass the bill Wednesday without the votes of House Democrats.

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

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 39 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from Worcester, Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. All time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 39.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman, the ranking member of the committee, who was very faithful and sat through not only the hearing yesterday, but offered her feedback to our speakers who came to the Rules Committee representing the House Administration Committee and representing the Ways and Means Committee. I thought that her questions and her tone were very appropriate. I think that yesterday the two Republican lead Representatives--the gentlewoman from Michigan, Candice Miller, representing the House Administration Committee; and the gentleman from the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Ryan--adequately not only spoke about, Mr. Speaker, a five-page bill--five pages that we could not only understand, but offer the idea, regardless of who came up with the idea, that represents what I hope will be and believe will be more than 218 votes and I think will be bipartisan. These ideas don't just belong to somebody and we can't share them--they belong to the American people--about a way to move forward, avoiding conflict, working together, coming up with ideas that you can express with great confidence that we believe will work. Yesterday, during the hearing, we also had some thoughtful conversation. I'd like to yield 5 minutes to the Rules Committee designee to Chairman Ryan and the Budget Committee, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, as always, this floor is open to people who have ideas. I'd like to say to the American people and to my colleagues that are listening that the Republican leadership has decided to bring this bill to the floor today. We have no clue exactly what date the United States actually needs to make sure that we pass this bill to avoid not paying our bills. The Secretary of the Treasury is in active notification with our leadership and the leadership of the Senate and perhaps all Members because of his openness to speak about this in the press. We don't know when that day is, and because we don't know when that day is, that's a good reason to begin working on ideas to see whether we can even pass this bill. I think we're going to. I think it's going to be a bipartisan bill. I don't think everybody necessarily has the same concerns that the gentleman from California spoke of, but what we're trying to do is work together. Conservative Republicans in our party do support this bill. I support this bill as a conservative Republican. Our Speaker, as a conservative Republican, supports this bill. What it's about is avoiding the problems of chaos, avoiding the problems of doing things at the last minute, avoiding the problems of not addressing the issue, and avoiding the problems where the marketplace loses confidence in what we're doing. Chairman Paul Ryan, chairman of our Budget Committee, a bright young leader for our country, forthrightly brought this idea to our conference and has sold it. It's the right thing to do. We are trying to do here today the right thing, talking with the American people, letting people see that we're moving forward to avoid conflict and avoid problems. So it was accomplished with this 5-page bill, a 5-page bill which we will then have two committee chairmen, Paul Ryan representing the Ways and Means committee, perhaps Dave Camp, the chairman of the committee, and Candice Miller of House Administration, work through meticulous, thoughtful ideas that really are not difficult to get because it's a 5- page bill. We think we're doing the right thing, we think we've got the votes, and we think it's going to provide this country and the Senate and this administration, us all working together, the right thing. So if you want to oppose it, I get that. I can understand the positions held. But passing the bill will be a positive thing. It will offer working- together relationships with the Senate. It is supported and not opposed by the President, and I think that gives us an opportunity to put a good foot forward in this new Congress rather than one where we're fighting, disagreeing, and can't get our act together. The American people demand that we get things done. The American people are asking, hey, when possible, can you guys work together? Yes, we can. Today is the day where we can say, Mr. Speaker, people from Nebraska, people from Texas, people from Ohio, people from all over this country, can you work together? We're trying to find a way, and I'm proud of that. And with great respect to anybody who would disagree with that, we're going to stand behind our product today with a money- back guarantee--a money-back guarantee: if we don't get our job done, we're not going to take the pay. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentlewoman from Houston, Texas, is absolutely correct. We do need long-term growth of our economy. We need jobs. We need job creation. We need to be able to reduce the debt of this country. The President is well aware, we're well aware here in Congress that each of the years that the President has been our President he increased spending. He wants a massive tax increase, and we have a deficit. We have a deficit of $1.3 trillion each of these years. We're trying to work together. We're trying to, as the President said as he addressed a luncheon just an hour after he was sworn in, that he wants to learn from some of the things that he's done and he wants to do better. Some of doing that better is a chance to perhaps reassess: Did I do the right thing the first time? Did I do the right thing when I continue to raise taxes and demand that we do that? Higher taxes diminish jobs and opportunity and growth in this country, and that's why we are trying to suggest openly, Mr. President, let's grow some jobs. Let's do the things I think that are more in line with what President George W. Bush did, who is referred to as No. 43 in Dallas, Texas. No. 43 had 60 straight months of economic growth, with the underpinning of reducing taxes so that Americans would go and work harder and see the incentive for creating jobs and would want to buy into the philosophy that the harder that we work, our country benefits. The underpinnings of Social Security, of Medicare, of Medicaid, systems that are very important to our country; reducing the number of people who have to receive government assistance is what happens when you have job growth; protecting the long-term interests of this country and growing the American Dream. The gentlewoman from Houston is absolutely correct. And the methodology towards getting there is not higher taxes, and it is not higher spending. It is giving more freedom and opportunity. It is having a reduced size of government, not a bigger government. It is giving people an opportunity to have fewer rules and regulations, not more rules and regulations. So the process that the Republican Party believes in deeply is the rights of individuals, freedom and opportunity, and reducing the size of government, which gives more people opportunities to empower their freedom and opportunity for their American Dream. It's part of what we're doing here today. I think we believe and I think it works. Look at Texas and you will see where we have job growth, job creation, a healthier economy than other places in the country, and an opportunity to say we want more of it for all of America. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, as I have no additional speakers.

Mr. SESSIONS. I yield myself the balance of my time. I appreciate my colleagues--the gentleman, Mr. McGovern; the ranking member of the committee, Ms. Slaughter; and those Democrat Members who came down to express themselves. I also appreciate the Republicans who came down to talk about this important issue. Mr. Speaker, what we're doing is debating a bill, H.R. 325, that ensures that the obligations of the United States are taken care of. We're not trying to stand in the way. Even the United States Senate majority leader said, Great job, House. Thank you very much. We can work with this bill. We can work with you. Members of my party have said we think this is a responsible way to begin the process to avoid having to make difficult decisions at the very end. We've laid out a process. Yesterday, the gentleman from Wisconsin, our young leader, Paul Ryan, who is the chairman of the House Budget Committee, was asked in testimony, Will you produce your end of the bargain that is in here? Will you take care of your part with the knowledge that we're counting on that? The Senate has said, as to their part of the bargain, whether they pass this bill or not, they can step up to the responsibility. Those leaders have said, Yes, we think we can. It's not perfect. By golly, I'm not sure what ``perfect'' is anymore because ``perfect'' may not get passed in this House, but the fair and proper way to handle things is so the American people have confidence in what we're doing, so the markets have confidence in what we're doing, and so the budget is handled. All of these things are placed in a systematic order so that our Members, the Members of this body, can go home and communicate with people as to here is what we think is going to happen next. Avoiding problems is what Speaker Boehner and our great majority leader, Eric Cantor, are trying to do. They are bringing legislation to this floor that adequately begins the process before we get in trouble. It's a 5-page bill. It's ordered up exactly as the doctor would have wanted--in English, where you can understand it, where it doesn't take a legal degree or for you to have to be in the House for 30 years to figure out what we're trying to say. What we're trying to say is right here, and that is for the House and the Senate to work together. We do a budget. We lay out to the American people what we're trying to do. We work with the President, and we tell this administration and the government what we're doing. The American people can have confidence in this. I support this. In fact, as chairman of the Rules Committee, I am asking for our Members and all Members of this body to please see this as a responsible way to deal with the problems that are immediately in front of us but before it becomes a crisis, before it becomes something that we cannot deal with as effectively, and bringing the American people along. I also want to thank the President of the United States, President Obama, because President Obama said he could live with this. I want to congratulate Senator Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader. Yes, I'll say that here on the floor because he says it's the right thing to do, and thank you for passing us a clean bill that will give them the authority and the responsibility to do what they really want to do--not playing hardball, not throwing rocks. As a matter of fact, Senator Harry Reid said, A clean bill--a good thing. Now it's up to them. It's up to them to take up their activities that are for us, and it's up to this House of Representatives. So, as we finish this, Paul Ryan, the young leader of the Ways and Means Committee, Dave Camp, and others will be here debating these ideas. Immediately after that, you will see that Candice Miller, the House Administration chairwoman, will come and talk with this House and the American people about the responsibility that she has to ensure that what we do is correct and proper. Then this body will have a chance to vote ``yes'' or ``no,'' and that will be an authority and a responsibility once again for Paul Ryan, as the chairman of our Budget Committee, and for those members of the committee, Republicans and Democrats, to do their work, get it done and to produce a bill. We will then comply, but if we don't: no work, no pay. That's something the American people can understand. It's simple. It goes back to 1607: no work, no food. Members of Congress need to understand we've got to get our job done, so I'm proud of what we're doing here today. I can stand behind this product and proudly say that I think this will pass the smell test of the American people and that it's something they can understand and something they will look forward to. Watch us as we do our job. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. I appreciate the gentleman from Oklahoma leading, not just this exercise on behalf of the Rules Committee, but actually on behalf of the Appropriations Committee. The Rules Committee, I know that the gentlewoman, Louise Slaughter, and I have great confidence, not only in Tom's leadership, but really his insight into what needs to be done. And, Tom, I want to thank you for your strong leadership in this endeavor on behalf of the Appropriations Committee, as well as the Rules Committee. Mr. Speaker, today what I'd like to do is take just a minute, if I can, and kind of reset where we are. We've had lots of debate today about what we're doing and why we're doing this. But the bottom line is that our Speaker, John Boehner; our majority leader, Eric Cantor; and the minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, understand that we must approach a national disaster such as a superstorm together. And as a body, whether it was Nita Lowey, whether it was Jon Runyan, Rodney Frelinghuysen, Chris Smith, Michael Grimm, Frank LoBiondo, we, as a body, understood we had a job to do. The gentlewoman from New York, the ranking member of this committee, Louise Slaughter, and I understand the responsibility because we had people back home like Mayor William Akers of Seaside Heights, New Jersey, who talked to Jon Runyan, or perhaps Sylvia Petillo for Hopatcong, New Jersey, talked to her Congressman, Rodney Frelinghuysen, about the needs of the communities, one Nation under God, the United States coming together at a time of extreme difficulty. And that's what we have done. We have worked well together. We have worked with the Governors, Governor Corbett from Pennsylvania, Governor Cuomo from New York, certainly Governor Christie of New Jersey, Mayor Bloomberg of New York, people who got together and worked. We did wait for the President's declaration of a national emergency; and we did, after 40 days and some few hours after that, receive the bill. But I think this House of Representatives, on a bipartisan basis, Members working together, Louise Slaughter, Michael Grimm, Tom Cole, others coming together; and we are now getting behind a bill. One of the amendments is called the Rodney Frelinghuysen amendment, and it is an amendment that meets the needs of these States and these people. So for those who would say we've taken our time, I'd like to say, I think we're trying to do it right. For those who would say, well, we're not sure exactly how much should be in here or not, this body will determine it by the votes. Every Member of this body, I believe, will have a fair and open opportunity, not just as a result of the rule, but us working together. And I'm very proud of that process, very proud of Hal Rogers, our Appropriations chair, who came to the Rules Committee yesterday and said that he placed before this body what he felt like was an equal opportunity for us to help people, this time in the Northeast--perhaps it will be people in other places--but he wants to make sure that fairness is done. The Speaker of the House, John Boehner, cares deeply about the people of the Northeast and all the people of this country. I think this rule today, and I think this bill, is an adequate opportunity for Members to speak clearly and that is, we care about our country, and we care about the people of this country. Mr. Cole, thank you for yielding me time. I want you to know that we, the Rules Committee, appreciate the time that you have spent on this; and the results, I think, will come to bear for all of us.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. I rise today in support of this rule, which will provide this body the ability to consider legislation under suspension of the rules for the remainder of this Congress. However, I would prefer not really to be here today talking about this resolution. I was speaking with the gentlewoman, Ms. Slaughter, a few minutes ago, and we concluded that it sounds a lot like Christmas, and that's why we're all here. It must be Christmastime, and so we're going to work all the way through. But I'd like to be home with my constituents, I'd like to be home with the family, I'd like to be doing things. But the reality is that Congress will have to remain in session for the holiday season because we're the ones that said we would help solve the problems of this country, that we would step up to the plate on behalf of the American people and make sure we did what we said we'd do, and that is to make life better for people. We set the dates, we set the timing, and that's why we're here. So while families all across the country are with their loved ones, we will be here working. We said we would, and what we're going to wait for is our two sides, our leaders, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, Speaker John Boehner, certainly Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, to lead those efforts to find a legislative deal that is designed to avoid America and this country, including our government, from going off the fiscal cliff. We have heard a lot about that. We are speaking about it. We've had discussions on the floor today about it. That's why we're here. And we're trying to make sure that we, as Members of Congress from both parties, are here trying to help resolve that so we can still do work in between that period of time. So, 2 weeks ago, House Republicans proposed this solution of trying to make sure that we would have an answer. The President has come back with a solution, and we now know where to point where. Our friends, the Democrats, are insisting upon a tax increase to move forward, and Republicans are saying, hold on, hold on; we need new revenue, but we don't need new taxes, especially taxes on small business owners that are the creators of jobs in our economy. And so Republicans are saying, we're not going to fall victim for being for the President's ideas and the Democrats' ideas that destroy 700,000 American jobs. So, here we are. We're here. We're going to stay here in town. Republicans have resolved to stay here. We said we'd sit at the table, we said we would do the American workers' and the American people's bidding at the table to make sure that we have a bipartisan answer, and that's what we are going to do. So we all remember that following the election in November that our Speaker, John Boehner, committed that this body would continue working with the President to reach a compromise that averts the fiscal cliff. Avoiding the fiscal cliff is what we should continue to do, and we should work very diligently. So for my friends that wonder why we're here, perhaps, Mr. Speaker, our families, we're here. We're going to keep working. We're going to work day in and day out, and we're going to hope that our leadership, including the President, is able to make counteroffers until we reach that exact point where a deal can be done. This is not just about negotiating. It is about finding an answer for the American people. By the way, for people that think this is all about politics and the things that are going on, perhaps it is, but it's going to take both sides--two sides, two willing partners--to want to come to an agreement. That's why we're still in town. To date, I know we've not seen a lot of progress, and I know we are worried about it. But I would remind us, and I believe this is true, that the President said he is going to stay at the table, he is going to work with Republicans, he is going to get a deal that's good for the American people, and the President said this during the election, and so I think we're here to make sure that is what happens. Mr. Speaker, in less than 20 days, in addition to the beginning of the New Year, we're going to find out that we also have a new set of taxes that have already been agreed to by the Congress. Ms. Pelosi, when she was Speaker, and the President ran through something that the President likes to call ObamaCare. But there are massive taxes already ahead in law for the American people, many of which we're just now becoming aware of. I guess that's what happens when you don't read the bill before you pass it. But every single American will see their personal taxes already go up, and that's before we get to whatever happens with the fiscal cliff. This is an arbitrary across-the-board tax increase, the combination of which will mean that if we are unable to resolve the fiscal cliff without raising taxes, we'll already see a lot of new taxes as a result of the health care law on financial transactions, on insurance programs, on every single working American. That's why we have Speaker John Boehner trying to present President Obama with an alternative that says rather than raising taxes, which is already going to happen on January 1 from this massive new tax increase that was in the health care bill, why don't we find a way to understand and have the economy take that in hand first. I know the President stood here at the State of the Union address and said we're not going to spend one dime of taxpayer money. I know the President stood here and said every single American can keep their own insurance plan. I know the President has made these promises to the American people, and these are the things that we're going to have to understand about January 1 of next year. I believe that's why we need to have John Boehner be successful, and the President, to make sure we avoid further tax increases because we already have a massive tax increase that's going to take place. This would, in essence, be a double whammy on not just a fragile economy, but an economy that is in far worse shape with a country that is far more in debt and much more at risk today. So you and I understand, the CBO has estimated some 2 million American jobs would be at risk because of the ObamaCare implementation and its massive impact on the free-enterprise system and taxation, combined with what would be this new--if the President gets his way-- tax increase on working Americans and, in particular, small business. While much has been made about the debates surrounding tax rates, there is, I think, a larger picture that we need to consider. We should focus on employment and jobs. Instead of trying to necessarily aim for fairness just by using this weapon against small business, we should focus, I think, on job creation. We understand that if the President's bill passes, we will lose 700,000 jobs. That means 700,000 Americans and their families would then qualify, I presume, for unemployment, and it would mean that we begin the new year once again on a negative pathway. That's why we are here today talking and trying to have our leaders of this great Nation make sure that we avoid this. This country is in desperate need of an economic kick-start. Lower taxes, we believe, through stimulating job creation and job investment and by stimulating the economy, will allow all Americans not only to keep their jobs but also to keep more of their own hard-earned pay. In fact, President John F. Kennedy, I think, agreed with us when he said: It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high and tax revenues are too low, and the soundest way to increase revenues in the long run is to cut rates now. That's exactly where we are. Republicans are arguing not to increase taxes at a time when the American economy is struggling, when families are struggling. Let's not ask them to go into their pockets and pay more to a government that simply wants to spend more of this money. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues and I remain committed to staying in Washington, D.C., to try and get this done. Between now and then, what this rule is all about is saying that we're going to put us to work on solving some of the ideas and issues that remain in the workplace where there are answers with suspension votes. So that's why we're here today pending conference reports and decisions that need to be made. I encourage my colleagues to support this rule with a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.