Heath Shuler

Mr. SHULER

Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, as water bills continue to rise larger, in the rural communities throughout the country home water bills have increased faster than the rate of inflation. Over 50,000 community water systems serve populations under 10,000. In North Carolina, 95 percent of our community water systems service populations of less than 10,000. Currently, rural populations across America are being forced to comply with costly regulations. At this time, many rural areas have a greater percentage of the poverty and lower mean household income. This is imposing a major burden on the rural families of America. In the same rural communities, some citizens are now paying 770 percent more for the water services than that of urban populations. The Conaway-Shuler amendment does not call for more money or strike existing language. This is a fiscally responsible approach which points us in the right direction to take some of the strain off of the rural communities as they struggle to provide safety. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. SHULER. I most certainly would. In rural America, they struggle so often. Although it is not binding, it doesn't cost any more; I would certainly like to see this in the amendment.

Mr. SHULER

Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Specialist Kenneth D. Hess; Sergeant Kevin D. Akins; Specialist Prince K. Teewia; Specialist Robert T. Johnson; Lance Corporal David S. Parr; Specialist David N. Timmons, Jr.; Sergeant Anton J. Hiett; Sergeant Jessie Davila; Air Force Civilian Daniel J. Kuhlmeier; Staff Sergeant Jay T. Collado; Second Lieutenant Almar L. Fitzgerald; Sergeant Rickey E. Jones; Staff Sergeant Gregson G. Gourley; Private First Class Christopher L. Marion; Private First Class Allan A. Morr; Staff Sergeant Curtis T. Howard II; Sergeant Gordon F. Misner II; Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth; Private Joshua Francis Powers; Sergeant Dimitri Muscat; Staff Sergeant Gregory A. Wagner; Specialist Aaron P. Latimer; Sergeant Alessandro Carbonaro; Private First Class Eric D. Clark; Specialist Armer N. Burkart; First Lieutenant Ryan T. Sanders; Sergeant Carlos E. Pernell; Corporal Andy D. Anderson; Staff Sergeant Richard A. Blakley; Sergeant Mark T. Smykowski; First Lieutenant Scott M. Love; Private First Class Davod N. Crombie; and Second Lieutenant John Shaw Vaughan.

Mr. SHULER

Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as an entrepreneur myself, I am proud to stand strong in support of our Nation's small business owners. Western North Carolina is blessed with thousands of small manufacturers, technology entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, and restaurant owners. Small businesses are the backbone of our Nation's economy. Today's legislation will cut taxes and increase opportunities for our small business communities. This is what happens when Democrats and Republicans work together. I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means for their efforts on this bill. I look forward to working with them in further addressing the needs of small businesses and increasing opportunities for all Americans.

Mr. SHULER

Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of this resolution because for 4 years this administration has driven us down the wrong road in Iraq. The administration's newest proposal does nothing more than accelerate our pace further and further away from our obligation of stabilizing Iraq and getting our troops home. Our men and women in uniform have performed bravely and done everything asked of them. Yet, 4 years into this conflict, we have our troops driving unarmored humvees in enemy territory. Meanwhile, our government cannot account for roughly $12 billion allocated for the war in Iraq. With that $12 billion, we could have made the following purchases for our men and women in harm's way: 80,000 armor kits for humvees; 16,000 armored security vehicles; 20 million bulletproof vests; 40 million helmets. That money is gone. It disappeared in a cloud of waste, fraud and incompetence that has engulfed this war from the beginning. In the words of Three Star General Greg Newbold, ``Members of Congress, from both parties, defaulted in fulfilling their constitutional responsibility for oversight.'' Now, this administration wants Congress to rubber stamp an escalation and continuation of those same failed policies. Well, that time is over. My fellow Blue Dogs and I have made a public commitment to root out war profiteering. We demand oversight. We demand accountability. We demand transparency. The Blue Dogs and I will do everything in our power to make sure when we say we are funding our troops, the money actually gets to our troops. Mr. Speaker, our military defeated a terrible dictator. This is what they were asked to do, but for 4 years now, we have asked those same troops to rebuild a Nation, and we have asked them to do this without a plan. Now, this administration has asked us to send over 20,000 more military troops to continue trying to rebuild Iraq, still with no plan. Mr. Speaker, that is wrong. I believe it is the patriotic responsibility of every Member of Congress to ask those tough questions. I promised the people of Western North Carolina that I would ask those questions. I have been to the White House, I have been to the Pentagon, and I have been to the hearings, and I am not satisfied with the answers I am getting. Mr. Speaker, this resolution we are debating is not a binding resolution, but the grief felt by families who have lost loved ones is binding. The physical and mental struggles of our returning troops are binding. The devastation caused to innocent people by the violence in Iraq is binding. It is a moral outrage to continue sending troops into harm's way without a plan for success. This administration must realize that military might alone is not enough to secure Iraq and end the civil war. Victory in Iraq requires more than bullets and bombs. It requires the cooperation of the Iraqi government, increased regional diplomacy, and competent leadership at home. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. SHULER

Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the memory of Police Officer Shawn Joshua Dean Williams. Officer Williams died while responding to a fellow officer's call for assistance last Thursday night in Old Fort, North Carolina. He was only 23 years old. I offer my condolences to his wife, Shannon Kirby Williams; his young daughter, Rye-Lee Alexis; his parents, Max Suttles and mother Holly Williams; and all of his family and friends. I also want to extend my thoughts and prayers to his fellow Old Fort police officers and the entire law enforcement community in McDowell County. Mr. Speaker, Officer Williams' life was an example of service for all of us to follow. I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing remorse at all the passings and the dedication of all law enforcement officers and gratitude to all those who protect and serve our communities every day.

Mr. SHULER

Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California. Mr. Speaker, it has been 10 long years since Congress has raised the minimum wage. This is the longest period between raises in the minimum wage since it was enacted in 1938. The American people have spoken very clearly. It is time to raise the wages of our lowest-paid workers. Our families have been squeezed: an increase at the gas pump, an increase at the grocery store, an increase in health care and an increase in childcare. It is time that we give back. As a part of Congress, we should be an example. We shouldn't always be following our States, as my great State of North Carolina has increased the minimum wage. We should be leading by example. That is why it gives me great privilege to support this bill. It is our moral commitment to the families of this country, and that is why I strongly support this measure.

Mr. SHULER

Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, the times of reckless and unchecked spending in Congress are over. With my fellow Blue Dogs, we are cutting our Nation's credit card. It is time to have a commonsense budget, just like our families, and just as we do in business, have a commonsense approach of budgeting. Congress followed these rules in the 1990s. George H.W. Bush signed on, and in 2 years we saw a record budget surplus. Unfortunately, Congress has abandoned these rules and started financing spending increases with borrowing money from China. China's share of the U.S. debt has grown faster than any other nation, from $61.5 billion in 2001 to $165 billion in 2004. We cannot borrow ourselves out of debt. This is an important first step of implementation of a statutory PAYGO. Congress should be able to justify every line item of every spending bill to the American people. This should be supported by all Members for the future of our children and grandchildren. This rules package also prevents inserting earmarks into bills in conference, and requires that all Members be given time to examine all bills before voting on them.