Pete Sessions

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, my point to the Democratic Party and the leadership of that party is, wait no longer. The Republican Party is now in charge in this House, and our agenda is about jobs. It is about reducing spending, and it is about reducing the size of government. And today, after 9\1/2\ hours of debate, we start with rules and regulations that not only stifle innovativeness, that stifle inventions, and jobs, and job creation, but it is harming the way of life of the free enterprise system and sapping the energy from that system. By reviewing existing, pending, and proposed regulations from agencies of the Federal Government, Congress can begin to assist small and large businesses to focus on job creation, economic growth, and innovation. We first need to understand the too true impact that is being placed upon the free enterprise system. We know with the current rules that are in place, $1.75 trillion dollars is the cost annually to the U.S. economic free enterprise system. It's time for Congress to reevaluate these rules and regulations. Regulatory burdens are hindering job growth. They're hindering investment, and innovation is eroding from the most basic elements of freedom in America. Congress and this administration must work together. It made me proud to hear the minority leader, Steny Hoyer, say today that he would be a part of and vote for this bill. However, our opportunity today must direct our committees and the entire focus of Congress to take the first step in reining in Big Government, reducing our deficit, and encouraging job growth and economic prosperity. This bill will shine the light on that process and will provide the necessary transparency and accountability for Congress to be looking at Federal agencies and rules and regulations. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues and I remain committed to putting America back to work. And this legislation is a step in the right direction. I encourage my colleagues and all of the Members of the Congress who are here today to say that we want to bring jobs back to America, but we're going to look at the rules and regulations that inhibit that. I say we should all vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 72.

Mr. SESSIONS. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), 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. House Resolution 73 provides for a closed rule for consideration of H. Res. 72. It provides 9\1/2\ hours of debate, divided by the committees outlined in H. Res. 72, and provides the minority a motion to recommit with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill. This legislation is simple, direct, and easy to understand. The text of the three-page bill was posted last week on the Rules Committee Web site. This legislation is an attempt and an effort to provide more transparency and accountability in the government regulatory process, something that my colleagues and I have called for numerous times over the last two Congresses. The legislation before us today calls for 10 House committees to review existing, pending, and proposed regulations and orders from agencies of the Federal Government, particularly with respect to their effects on destroying jobs and economic growth. With the current high unemployment rate, it is essential we do everything reasonably possible that we can to look at and to reduce government rules and regulations that impede job creation and economic growth, that discourage innovation, hurt or harm global competitiveness, limit credit, create economic uncertainty, impose unnecessary paperwork and cost on small businesses, and that result in large-scale and often unnecessary unfunded mandates on employers. That is exactly what this legislation would do, and we are on the floor today to talk about this as an important component of allowing America to get back to work and to highlight these rules and regulations that stifle not only investment but also job creation. Every single Member of Congress understands and believes that regulations are needed to provide the rules, safety, and structures for this society to function properly. While regulations are important, they can also cross that fine line and can become too burdensome. It is essential to strike a balance to ensure that the imposed rules and regulations do not lead to higher costs and less productive societies. The Federal Government creates an average of 4,000 final regulations each year with about 500 to 700 that are reviewed by the White House. According to a recent report from the Small Business Administration, the total cost of Federal regulations has increased to $1.75 trillion a year from the U.S. economy; $1.75 trillion is what this burden is on the free enterprise system. Additionally, the study shows that regulatory and paperwork costs were found to be more onerous for smaller firms than their larger counterparts. More specifically, the costs of regulations per employee for firms with fewer than 20 employees is now $10,585, a 36 percent difference between the costs incurred per employee by a larger firm. This is absolutely outrageous. This is outrageous because small business is the backbone and the engine of our economy. It represents 99.7 percent of all employers. Small businesses, according to the Small Business Administration, have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years while employing over half of all private sector employees. One of the fastest ways to put Americans back to work, Republicans believe, is to limit the regulatory expenses that these small firms have to comply with simply to satisfy Federal Government regulations. Regulatory burdens are hindering job growth. Regulatory burdens are hindering investment and innovation while eroding some of the most basic and fundamental freedoms in America. Congress and this administration must work together to do more than prevent harmful new regulations. They must also review, study, and eliminate unnecessary rules that are already on the books. On January 18 of last month, President Obama signed an Executive order to provide a government-wide review of the rules already on the books to remove outdated regulations. In an op-ed placed in the Wall Street Journal last month by the President, he clearly states that ``sometimes, those rules have gotten out of balance, placing unreasonable burdens on business, burdens that have stifled innovation and have had a chilling effect upon growth and jobs.'' Mr. Speaker, I applaud and I appreciate the President for recognizing this, and I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to understand what we are attempting to do today, and that is to support as best as we can not only the ideals that the President talked about but also a focus on these rules and regulations that stifle innovativeness, create costs, and ruin jobs in America. Mr. Speaker, while the President is now taking a step in the right direction when it comes to regulation, in the last fiscal year alone the Obama administration unleashed 43 major new regulations that will cost America more than, new, $28 billion annually. These costs will affect Americans in many ways, from raising the price of cars, where we buy food, where we eat, and every single one of these stands in the way of making the free enterprise more efficient and somehow does not help in creation of jobs. The President will have to take a step back from some of the major bills that he signed last year, and I believe he can do that by employing the ideas that he had in this op-ed. He can do something about it, and that is join Republicans who today are attempting to work with the President. If the President is serious about reducing regulatory burdens impacting every American, we can do this job together. Fifteen of the 42 regulations proposed last year were from the Frank-Dodd financial regulatory bill. Another five stemmed from the ObamaCare bill, and 10 others come from the Environmental Protection Agency, or what is known as the EPA, including the first mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. The annual compliance costs constitute only a part of the economic burden of regulations on business. Many of these new rules curtail the purchase of new equipment, conversions of industrial practices, and are about revising data collection and reporting procedures. One example is the new restriction on short sales from the Frank-Dodd bill that requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to make modifications to computer systems and surveillance mechanisms for gathering and managing this information that will cost over $1 billion. Mr. Speaker, that defies balance and I think ultimate accountability of what the regulations should be about. Mr. Speaker, we have an opportunity today to direct our committees to take the first step in reining in Big Government, reducing our deficit, and encouraging job growth and economic prosperity. This simple bill is three pages long, and it shines the light on the regulatory process and provides the necessary transparency and accountability on Federal agencies that has been lacking for years. My Republican colleagues and I remain committed to putting America back to work through creation of new jobs. This legislation is a way to be a part of that good start. I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the words of my friend the gentleman from Florida. I would like to state that the bills we have done in the Rules Committee during these 12 bills have been about original jurisdiction by the Rules Committee, which is what this bill is. This bill is a jurisdictional issue where the Rules Committee, through the legislation that my name sits on as the chief sponsor, is directing other committees to have hearings, to be part of an open process, to do the things that will be necessary not only for minority participation but any Member who chooses in these committees to come and have their voices heard, for hearings to be held, for thoughtful people across this country to come and provide us information about the way they see the regulatory burdens that are being placed upon them. If someone thinks that what we are doing today is all about trying to stifle regular order, it's completely the opposite. Nine-and-a-half hours of debate, which is unheard of for a three-page bill, is all about regular order and is exactly what I've been arguing for for years. That's what the Republicans are delivering today on the floor of the House of Representatives. Notwithstanding that the gentleman brought up some good ideas about job creation, I would like to just put it into some bit of context. Today what we are trying to do is to gather steam behind rules and regulations that stifle the ability for the free enterprise system to employ people. But in the larger scheme of things, our friends on the other side are upset because what we as Republicans are going to do is to find a way to live up to our campaign promises to cut spending during the year by $100 billion. Now some people say, oh, that's not enough amount, or it's too big of an amount because it will mean all these draconian cuts across the government. Well, I would remind this House that $100 billion is a small part of the $3,000 billion spending plan that the Congress has already given to government--$3,000 billion--and what we are talking about not just today and not just over the past few weeks but taking $100 billion and trying to take that as a burden off the American people. The reason why is because 30 percent of all government spending today or more ends up as debt, meaning that we have to borrow it from somebody else. ``But this is so important, we've got to make sure we do it.'' Well, Republicans disagree. We think not only a review of regulatory process but a review of spending is important in Washington. Mr. Speaker, I refer to what might be a sheet of paper that was in print described as Obama Announces Review of Government Regulations. Within this paper, there is a paragraph, a short paragraph that I would like to read which perhaps embodies exactly why we are here today: ``Business leaders say government regulations, including those being written for health care overall and financial reform, have hurt job creation at a time of high unemployment.'' In fact, the Department of Treasury describes where we are as chronic unemployment for today and our immediate past for as far as the eye can see. Last year at some point even the longest projection by this government showed no net new job creation. That is what Republicans have inherited. We intend to be serious about what we're doing, and we intend to make sure that the American people see this for what it is, and that is an opportunity by Congress to work on the issues that they're demanding. [From FoxBusiness.com, Jan. 18, 2011] Obama Announces Review of Government Regulations President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he would order a government-wide review of regulations with the goal of eliminating those that hurt job creation and make the U.S. economy less competitive. In an op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal, Obama said some government regulations have placed ``unreasonable burdens on business--burdens that have stifled innovation and have had a chilling effect on growth and jobs.'' He said he would require that in the future government agencies ``ensure that regulations protect our safety, health and environment while promoting economic growth.'' The president has recently ratcheted up efforts to soothe relations with the business community, after alienating corporate America through rhetorical attacks against Wall Street and an agenda heavy on regulation. Business leaders say government regulations, including those being written for the healthcare overall and financial reform, have hurt job creation at a time of high unemployment. ``It's a review that will help bring order to regulations that have become a patchwork of overlapping rules, the result of tinkering by administrations and legislators of both parties and the influence of special interests in Washington over decades,'' Obama wrote. Noting that small businesses create most new jobs in the economy, he said he would direct the government to make a greater effort to reduce the burden regulations place on them. While vowing to eliminate rules that are ``not worth the cost, or that are just plain dumb,'' the president said his administration wouldn't shy away from writing new rules to address obvious gaps in government oversight. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 73 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I am joined by the chairman of the Rules Committee, and I will tell you that he is so pleased that we have not only this bill that has been brought to the floor, but he is so pleased that we are taking the time to speak about the facts of the case. And one fact is that the first bill that we took up was the bill to repeal ObamaCare. It had nothing to do with the Clean Air Act. It had everything to do with a bill which has caused an amazing number of regulations. And I would like to quote, if I can, a fact that, since the passage in March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which is known as ObamaCare, has added 6,123 pages of regulations, and the Federal Register has printed those just over the last 9 months. Secondly, according to a September 2010 report from the Small Business Administration, total regulatory costs amount to $1.75 trillion annually, which is nearly twice as much as all individual income taxes collected last year. That means that the ability for a person to have to fill out all of their paperwork, the cost of that is twice what we even collected in taxes. There is a balance here that's been overrun. House Republicans: Identifying and Removing Onerous Job-Destroying Regulations This week, House Republicans are bringing a resolution to the floor directing the committees to inventory and review federal agency rules and regulations that may unfairly harm the ability to create jobs and grow the economy. While the nation suffers from 21 straight months of unemployment at 9 percent or higher, President Obama and congressional Democrats have doubled down on their strategy to burden job creators with more government red tape. With the U.S. economy struggling and American families hard pressed to pay their bills and put food on the table, the costs of federal regulations have never been more significant. The fact is that federal regulations increase the cost of doing business and destroy jobs. Undue and archaic government red tape takes money out of the hands of families and businesses. Agencies should not be authorized to heap billions in new added costs on the economy without reducing another burden elsewhere. Job-Crushing Regulations--By the Numbers During the Democrats' leadership of Congress, unemployment skyrocketed from 4.6 percent to 9 percent as the economy has lost more than 6.8 million jobs. With 243 expected rulemakings from the Democrats' permanent bailout of Wall Street law, and the inestimable number of regulations to come from ObamaCare's government takeover of healthcare, the President's newfound concern for the regulatory burdens facing employers does not match his actions over the past two years. The Obama administration has not shied away from flexing its regulatory muscle since taking office. A recent study by the Heritage Foundation found that an unprecedented 43 major regulations were imposed in fiscal year 2010 with a total economic cost of $26.5 billion, the highest total since at least 1981. Since passage in March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) has added 6.123 pages of regulations and Federal Register notices in just its first nine months. According to a September 2010 report from the Small Business Administration, total regulatory costs amount to $1.75 trillion annually, nearly twice as much as all individual income taxes collected last year. Who Is Paying for this Reeulatory Burden? America's Small Businesses and American Workers The cost of regulations is felt even harder by America's small business owners, the engine of our nation's economy. According to the Small Business Administration, the average small business with less than 20 employees faces a cost of $10,585 in federal regulations each year per worker they employ. Businesses with fewer than 20 employees spend on average 36 percent more per employee than larger firms to comply with federal regulations. These small employers represent 99.7 percent of all businesses and have created 64 percent of all new jobs over the past 15 years. The cost of federal regulations to small businesses must either be passed on to the consumer or workers, either in the form of lower wages or a shortage of jobs that would have been otherwise paid for with money spent complying with federal regulations. Imagine if small businesses could put the $10,000 they spend on federal regulations directly back into new jobs. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews) coming down to the floor. I would like to let him know that we are doing 9\1/2\ hours of debate, and at the end there will be an opportunity for a motion to recommit with or without instructions that has been lacking for the previous 4 years by my colleagues on the other side, that they extended to us. So you will have every single opportunity, if you want, just to use your brainpower and put together that great jobs bill that you want to talk about. But I would say to the gentleman, we have chosen to talk about the things which stifle jobs, and we believe that as we talk about these that a lot of the American people will get it. For instance, if you lived out in the country--I will just bring up one example. The EPA has issued a draft policy doubling the stringency of the standard by which dust is regulated--dust. Now, the Speaker would understand dust because he is from a rural State. I understand dust from some perspective, being from Texas. But the EPA regulates dust, and they are going to issue a draft policy--or already did--that doubles the stringency of the standard. Many farming activities kick up dust: tilling the field, operating a feed lot, driving farm vehicles, even dusty roads.

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

Mr. SESSIONS. Well, that's a good point. I don't think the gentleman was up in the Rules Committee yesterday to hear this, but the Rules Committee has original jurisdiction on this bill. We are sending this bill, when passed on the floor, to 10 committees, asking them to look at specifics, and dust will be one of those issues. It will be in front of a committee, probably the Agriculture Committee. Perhaps it could be in front of the Resources Committee, where they will look at what this proposed ruling is.

Mr. SESSIONS. I continue to yield to the gentleman.

Mr. SESSIONS. Reclaiming my time, the answer is because this floor is the wrong place to do it, and we need to do it in reverse order. We need to go--and I know this is a new concept to a lot of people on your side. We are going to send it to the committees. We are going to let there be hearings about it. We are going to let the Democrats and the Republicans have an opportunity--for instance, the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Collin Peterson, as the former chairman of the Ag Committee, will have an opportunity in working with Mr. Lucas, the chairman of the Ag Committee now, on who those witnesses will be who are experts. I don't think we have enough intellectual content because we don't spend time on farms, I don't, to where I can make an accurate decision. But if I review the transcript and listen to what happens in the committee of jurisdiction, regular order, like the 10 other committees, then it gives us a chance to realistically understand, study, talk about, and receive feedback.

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

Mr. SESSIONS. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, and I do appreciate the gentleman. This House of Representatives, after 9/11, debated to the fullest extent not only the issues of the Patriot Act, but we have had continuing hearings and dialogue on that. There's a requirement that these be looked at, and we intend to make sure that there's a full debate on this. Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the gentleman engaging me. I would also make my point that the economic impact of the regulation of dust that it will have on farmers, that it will have on people who live in rural areas, is enormous. And this is part of that overall cost. It's not a hidden cost; it's a real cost that makes us unproductive and costs consumers a lot of money. And this is the kind of discussion we're going to have. 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 yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, thanks for the opportunity to be here today on this important bill. What I want to say to you is continually we need to make the point that this bill is all about referring to committees the opportunity for them to look at onerous rules and regulations. I would like to bring up just one more burdensome regulation. Milk contains animal fat, and the EPA has suggested that milk storage could be regulated under the Clean Water Act as large oil tanks. It is estimated that it would cost U.S. dairy farmers thousands of dollars to come into compliance with such a regulation that would be exactly the same as large oil tanks. The EPA, only after congressional pressure, has signaled that it would finalize an exemption for milk. However, it has yet to do so and continues to drag its feet. Meanwhile, farmers are having to face what is a burdensome regulation. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the chairman of the Rules Committee. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, Big Government is still alive and well on the floor today. Big Government is going to spend people's money from back home. Spending, spending, spending--all about the government. Well, that's why the Republican Party is the majority party on the floor of the House of Representatives now, because the American people saw the effects of huge government, bigger government, and rules and regulations. Mr. Speaker, you heard me earlier say that my Republican colleagues and I are committed to putting Americans back to work. We believe that what happens in Washington can aid and help the free enterprise system by telling the story, putting the spotlight, showing the light of day on the rules and regulations that are costing business $1.7 trillion a year, which takes resources away from the activities that they would have of job creation and keeping our job growth, innovation, and our economy stable. While small businesses are getting hit harder than any other firms in the United States, now is the time to provide that relief to these businesses so that they can reinvest in themselves, create jobs, and level out the economy. This Republican Congress remains committed to scaling back some of the 43 major regulations imposed in the last year by the Obama administration that would add $28 billion annually. Mr. Speaker, it's obvious to me that we must do better. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Florida is as follows: An Amendment to H. Res. 73 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Florida At the end of the resolution, add the following new sections: Sec. 2. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution the Speaker shall, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 11) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the Build America Bonds program. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and Minority Leader or their respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five- minute rule. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions. If the Committee of the Whole rises and reports that it has come to no resolution on the bill, then on the next legislative day the House shall, immediately after the third daily order of business under clause 1 of rule XIV, resolve into the Committee of the Whole for further consideration of the bill. Sec. 3. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of the bill specified in section 2--of this resolution. (The information contained herein was provided by the Republican Minority on multiple occasions throughout the 110th and 111th Congresses.)

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, pursuant to House Resolution 73, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 72) directing certain standing committees to inventory and review existing, pending, and proposed regulations and orders from agencies of the Federal Government, particularly with respect to their effect on jobs and economic growth, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 9 and the promise of providing health care solutions that bring American's access to quality affordable health care of their choice. This resolution shows that my Republican colleagues and I are committed to the future of health care in this Nation. Allowing the appropriate committees to provide solutions for our Nation's health care problems is the first step to that commitment. I look forward to exploring and expanding high risk pools to create universal access to those with pre-existing conditions; real and meaningful tort reform so doctors do not have to practice defensive medicine; the creation of small business health plans that generate larger insurance pools and drive down health care costs. We should be rewarding innovation and allowing States more flexibility to create efficient and successful ways in dealing with their uninsured populations; allowing for greater portability for individuals to purchase health care across State lines; encouraging the Nation as a whole to live healthier lives. Lastly, it is absolutely essential to give every American the same tax advantage that Unions and corporations enjoy in the purchase of health insurance. There is no shortage of great ideas on how to reform our health care delivery system, and most of them steer clear of creating new entitlement programs that will bankrupt our country. In the wake of record debt and deficits now is the time to work together for common sense solutions that provide individuals the access to quality health care without threatening the doctor patient relationship. I am a proud cosponsor of the Resolution we are discussing on the floor today and I look forward to voting for it later today.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. I want to thank the majority leader, the gentleman, Mr. Cantor. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Democrats' health care law will do for health care what the stimulus did for jobs. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle promised the American people greater access to quality affordable health care. Well, the only problem is that the law does not increase quality and does not save Americans one dime on their health care cost. In fact, what is known as ObamaCare will end up costing every single American more in health care premiums and in taxes to pay for the $1.2 trillion gross expansion of the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, the Democrats' health care law is about taxes, it's about mandates, it's cuts to Medicare, job losses, deficit spending, and new Federal bureaucracies. The reality is that we cannot pay for the health care entitlements we have, much less a new government takeover of health care that adds trillions of dollars to our existing liabilities, driving up costs even further and puts the Federal Government in charge of health care decision-making. The path to greater choice for patients and lower costs all must be a part of an answer that is about repealing this costly health care bill. I support the repeal today and will vote tomorrow for the resolution to replace it with the promise of real solutions.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sarah Brachman, the National Down Syndrome Society's 2011 Advocate of the Year. Sarah Brachman has interned countless hours for my office as well as our colleague Congressman Ben Chandler. Some of her duties have included, but not limited, to the expansion of membership for the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus while garnering support for legislation important to the caucus' initiatives. Sarah single-handedly recruited over 30 Members of Congress to join the caucus. Sarah courageously speaks with individuals and groups about her daily life as an individual who lives with Down syndrome. As a direct result of Sarah's dedication and leadership, countless individuals have been educated on the concerns of the individuals with Down syndrome. Mr. Speaker, I ask my esteemed colleagues to join me in congratulating Sarah Brachman for her devoted service as an advocate for Down syndrome.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues today with respect to the delegation from Arizona who suffers and yet today comes to the floor of the House of Representatives to do their duty. To the colleagues of Ms. Giffords who today join in support, not only in prayerful support but as we stand together we speak clearly to say that the support for Congresswoman Giffords and all the victims of this tragic shooting and their families need to be remembered, and we offer full support. I was deeply shocked and saddened by these heartbreaking events and I join my colleagues and I know all of America looked on TV on Saturday as we all condemned not only in our own hearts but also as our families spoke around the tables about what had happened. We condemn this senseless act of violence. Congresswoman Giffords is a dedicated public servant and has served the people of Arizona for over 10 years. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006. She is known as a steadfast leader in Congress for her constituents. I would see her often on the airplane as we would travel back every weekend. She is known by each of us as a kind and wonderful person who serves with honor and who is a very deeply genuine and a warm person with friends on both sides of the aisle. All Members of this body understand the high honor it is to serve our constituents every single day and I would like to join my colleagues in standing together today to guarantee that the inhumane acts of this last Saturday will not deter us from our duty. This heartbreaking event has left Americans astonished and speechless. Those participating as Members of Congress today should stand up and say that we will stand behind Gabrielle and look forward to her safe return to be with her colleagues. We offer a prayer for her support.