Lynn Westmoreland

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, it is with honor and great sorrow that I rise on this occasion tonight to pay tribute and to tell everyone about Private First Class Chad Coleman, who heeded his Nation's call of duty by joining the Army in October of 2008 after attending Newnan High School in my home State of Georgia. On August 27, 2010, he made the ultimate sacrifice, proudly serving his country in Afghanistan as a member of the 101st Airborne Division. Growing up in Wisconsin, Chad moved to Newnan, Georgia, with his parents, Brian and Shanon Coleman, when he was 16. After high school, Chad entered basic training at Fort Knox and completed advanced training at Fort Campbell, becoming a cavalry scout. He was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 33rd Cavalry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. For anyone who knew Chad as a young boy, it came as no surprise to them that he would grow up into a fine soldier. As a boy, he was compassionate and caring and showed an interest in serving his country at an early age. His grandmother, Mary Ann Coleman, recalls him building large forts out of Lincoln Logs and how he would maneuver the plastic Army soldiers that he bought at the Dollar Store in and out of the forts that he had built. As a teenager, Chad spent time at the local VFW hall. He would play cards with the veterans and listen to their stories. But most of all, he was a friend to the distinguished men and women who had served their country so bravely before him. The only thing that came close to Chad's love for his country was his love for his family and friends. He never failed to say, ``I love you,'' his grandmother said. Hugs and kisses were his trademark. While his family will continue to miss him every day, they know he was fulfilling a lifelong dream. Private First Class Coleman was always known to say that he loved the uniform and that he was so proud to be serving his country. A few weeks ago, this country lost a true hero. I know that his fellow soldiers, his country, and especially his family will miss him greatly. I am proud to pay tribute to such a fine grandson, son, patriot, and soldier.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the gentlelady from New York, the chairlady's request to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 5849, a bill to provide a 2-month extension of the Small Business Administration's core programs through September 30, 2010. The previous extension that passed last April will expire at the end of this week. In this tough economy, small businesses need all the help they can get. However, as the economic downturn has continued, entrepreneurs have lost the support they need from Congress and the administration to help them do what they do best--create jobs and opportunities. Instead of listening to the needs of the small business community, Congress has continued along with the destructive course of tax increases, government expansion, massive deficits, and job-killing regulations. Mr. Speaker, as we move toward extending these SBA programs, yet again a temporary effort to shore up our economy and small businesses, we must remember that uncertainty is the enemy of growth. Certain legislative and regulatory proposals that have been considered in Congress lately have injected a tremendous amount of certainty into our markets, uncertainty into our markets. This ambiguity creates unique difficulties for entrepreneurs. It makes them less willing to take risk, to expand operations, or hire new workers. Entrepreneurs have created nearly 70 percent of all new jobs in the U.S. in recent years. We can all agree that their contributions to our economy and job force will be what will lead us to our recovery. It's time to show our small business owners that we recognize and support this central role they play in our economy. We can do so by approving this temporary extension of SBA programs, and then we must continue our work by crafting and implementing a more thoughtful and complete reauthorization of these critical programs. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the gentlelady from New York for her leadership in the small business committee. Her determination to work for the betterment of America's small businesses has allowed us to produce numerous pieces of bipartisan legislation that have reauthorized and modernized the SBA in these programs. Although we have not yet been able to successfully negotiate a compromise between our bills in what have previously passed the House and those that the Senate has passed, I remain confident that we will reach an agreement soon and look forward to working with the chairwoman to that end. Again, I thank the chairwoman for her leadership and support her request to pass H.R. 5849, and I urge all Members to vote for the measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay respect to Fayetteville, Georgia's Milton Clowers, who passed away a few weeks ago. Milton was a good friend of mine and a good friend to many. He leaves behind his wife, Randi; his loving children, Eric and Cameron; and Eric's wife, Amy. His extended family included several brothers and sisters who preceded him in death and four brothers and sisters who have survived. Probably most special to him were his five grandchildren. And as a grandfather, Milton and I would often talk about our grandchildren and what a blessing they were to us. Milton was a good friend to me. I knew him both personally and professionally. He was born in Tennessee and attended Tennessee State University. Milton enjoyed a career in the electrical industry, which I come from a construction background, and Milton and I had many discussions about the condition of our construction industry today. He came to Atlanta, where he was accepted into an apprenticeship program with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 613. Milton worked hard and had a successful career. He started at Grove Park Electric and went on to Dixie Electric Company. But the highlight of Milton's career was UpTime Electric. He made it into a very successful electrical contracting firm. He did a lot of work for Delta Airlines in the Atlanta Airport. I took a trip and visited that site with him probably a couple months before his death. Milton also served on several industry boards. He served as the secretary, treasurer, president and chairman for the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association. Career and community work are important. However, a man is only as good as the family and friends who support him. Fortunately, Milton was blessed with a lot of both. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother and friend. He was a strong, talented, and compassionate man who gave so much to so many folks. I am proud to speak about him today on this floor to honor his life and his work. And Milton, I will miss you, my friend.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay respect to Fayetteville, Georgia's Milton Clowers, who passed away last week. A good friend to many, he leaves behind his wife Randi and loving children: son Eric and his wife Amy and a daughter, Cameron. His extended family included several brothers and sisters who preceded him in death and four brothers and two sisters who survive. Probably most special to him were his five grandchildren--Gracelyn, Reginald, Khalil, Tyler and Gabrielle. Milton was a good friend to me, having known him both personally and professionally. He was born in Tennessee and attended Tennessee State University. Milton pursued a career in the electrical industry, which brought him to Atlanta where he was accepted into the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 613/National Electrical Contractors Apprenticeship program. Milton worked hard and diligently to excel in the electrical industry. From the early days at Grove Park Electric to Dixie Electric Company--where he helped bring on Yukon Electric as a joint venture partner for projects for Delta Air Lines--Milton enjoyed a successful career. The highlight of his career was making UpTime Electric the successful electrical contracting firm it is today. Milton also served on several industry boards including the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association where he was a President, Governor and Chairman. Career and community work are important, but a man is only as good as the family and friends who support him. Fortunately, Milton was blessed with an abundance of both. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother and friend. He was a strong, multitalented and compassionate man who gave so much to so many. I am proud to speak about him today and honor his life and contribution.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Chairman, let me say that there has been some competition in the engine for the F-35, and that competition is when the bids were due. That bid was perfectly legal and honest and upfront, and the bid was awarded. Now we have got somebody that actually has a contract for 14 of the 28 military aircraft engines, sole source, complaining about competition. They lost the competition. Mr. Chairman, if they lost the competition in an open and honest bid, having the sole source of 14 of the 28 military aircraft engines, what can be the argument?

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Janet Davis, president and CEO of the TIC Federal Credit Union, who is the recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates. As one news report put it, it takes five pages to list what Janet Davis has done for the Columbus area and her profession. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that she's the youngest recipient in the history of the award. Janet has served as president and CEO for 18 years. Her leadership has brought tremendous growth and success to the credit union-- including an increase of $152 million in assets during her tenure. In fact, TIC is currently the ninth largest credit union in the state. This is a real testament to her dedication and ability. Janet's own words perfectly sum up what she believes is her greatest accomplishment--giving back to her community. Janet said she ``takes joy in helping to create a workforce that is in tune with the community and its needs.'' Fortunately, giving back to the community doesn't stop at the end of her work day. For Janet, her talents touch many organizations and individuals. She has provided leadership for the Rotary Club, Better Business Bureau, Columbus Literacy Alliance, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Partners in Education, Columbus Hospice and Columbus State University, her alma mater. This award isn't presented annually because it's reserved for an individual whose career and leadership stands as the ultimate example for others. In that case, there is no better person to receive such an award than Janet Davis. Because Janet embodies everything that's great about America and serves as an example of the kind of folks we need to keep our communities strong, I ask the House to join me in congratulating her on a distinguished career and sending best wishes for many more years of valuable contribution to the Columbus area.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2927.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, last week the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed what we already knew--that health care spending will increase. It violates the pledge made by the President last year, and it leaves the hardworking American taxpayers to pick up the bill. The report estimates a $311 billion increase in total health care spending. And while this may be chump change for this administration, it's a lot of money for the American taxpayer. There is one area of interest for me, and that is the high-risk pools for the uninsured. Back home in Georgia, we have been talking about the Democrats' approach to the high-risk pools. It is clear that their approach is not the best, and this report confirmed that. The Democrats want to set aside $5 billion for high-risk pools, but this report says that is not enough and that it will run out within 1 to 2 years. Plus, their plan only covers 375,000 Americans. What happens when the funds run out? Premiums will go up, services will be cut, there will be waiting lines formed, or States like Georgia will be forced to pick up the cost. This is unacceptable for all Americans, and taxpayers especially.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and a humble spirit that I come today to this People's House, to this floor of the People's House to honor an American hero. Mr. Speaker, First Lieutenant Robert Collins answered his Nation's call to duty after graduating from West Point Military Academy in 2008. And earlier this month he made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his fellow countrymen. Lieutenant Collins was deployed to Iraq only last fall, and was based with his unit in the northern part of the country. Lieutenant Collins recently wrote that he was working to improve security conditions and the quality of life for the Iraqi people. In this year's national elections in Iraq, his platoon helped provide security for a free and fair election process, and I know that he took great pride in that. He was a man willing and ready to serve his country. As a dedicated soldier, he wanted to help spread far and wide the same freedom we love and cherish here in the United States. Lieutenant Collins' willingness to help others came as no surprise to anyone who knew him. A native of Tyrone, Georgia, and a graduate of Sandy Creek High School, he was well respected among his peers. In fact, one former classmate wrote that Collins ``was compassionate and at the same time had a great sense of humor that could not be matched. Robert would always be there for people when they needed help.'' His parents, Deacon and Sharon, are both retired lieutenant colonels. They proudly served our Nation, and they proudly supported their son's decision to serve our country. While we honor Lieutenant Collins, we should also think of Deacon and Sharon. Lieutenant Collins was also blessed to have Nicole, his fiancee, and childhood sweetheart. Last week Lieutenant Collins came home to Georgia for the last time, and his community came out to honor him. From local veterans to ordinary citizens, the procession route was lined with people waving American flags and paying their great respect to this hero. One gentleman summed it up best when he said, ``I am a patriot. Anyone who gives up their life for my freedom, well, this is the least I can do.'' Today I stand here to honor First Lieutenant Robert Collins because it was the least I could do. He stood for me and all Americans by serving and sacrificing to our Nation, and he is an American hero. I want to thank him from me and my family and the generations to come. And I also want to thank his loving parents for the sacrifice that they have given to this great Nation.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Keno Micro-Fund for its role in promoting financial literacy. IN the State of Georgia 69,980 businesses and non-businesses filed bankruptcy from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. This makes Georgia's bankruptcy rate one of the highest in the country. The number of 18- to 24-year-olds declaring bankruptcy continues to grow at an alarming rate. The average debt level for 2008 graduates from Georgia colleges was over $17,000. As the Nation recovers from one of the most devastating financial downturns in more than half a century, it is critical that we make a determined effort to promote financial literacy among America's youth. To that end, I offer my formal acknowledgement and deepest appreciation for organizations in the State of Georgia like the Keno Micro-Fund, which are dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of financial principles and money management among young people.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health bill. Mr. Speaker, there's no such thing as a free lunch and there's no such thing as free health care. Yet, the Democrats ramming this legislation through the House against the will of the American people would have you believe that we're going to extend coverage to 32 million and subsidize millions of others, and it's not going to cost average Americans a thing. Somehow, they say, this will all be covered by big businesses and high-income earners, and it won't have any effect whatsoever on average Americans. It's the mysterious ``them'' who will pick up the tab, not ``us.'' The truth is that we're all going to pay, and we will pay big. This legislation will raise taxes by $569 billion, it will raise the insurance premiums of all Americans, it will place a huge new tax on jobs and it will put expensive mandates on individuals and employers. There will be $52 billion in new taxes on employers who can't afford to provide health insurance. So what's going to happen when you drastically hike up the cost of jobs? We'll have fewer jobs. This Congress is recklessly destroying jobs at time when unemployment is at nearly 10 percent. At a moment when unemployed Americans are looking for work to provide for their families, at a time when many more are underemployed or working part time, at a time when businesses are unable to get the loans they need to expand, the Democratic Congress is taking us backwards. We will make a bad situation worse. For the next 4 years, in fact, we'll implement the taxes but not the coverage. We keep hearing Democrats say that 45,000 Americans die each year because they don't have health insurance. According to the Democrats' own rhetoric--as faulty as it may be--they're ignoring 180,000 needless deaths over the next 4 years. Mr. Speaker, there is no free lunch. It is our duty, first and foremost, to render tough decisions. We have to prioritize. Our priority in today's climate should be creating and saving jobs, and therefore, helping more Americans gain employer-provided coverage. Then, we can focus our attention on bringing down the cost of health care and expanding access without adding on a new entitlement that we can't afford. You know, Mr. Speaker, it's remarkable to me that for a President who campaigned on reaching across the aisle and bridging the partisan divide, the only bipartisanship on his signature issue is in opposition. Democrats and Republicans are joined together in opposing this government takeover of health care. There are 25,000 Americans protesting this legislation outside these walls. There are 39 state legislatures threatening to fight this law in court. Large majorities of American citizens are begging their Member of Congress to vote ``no''.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend for the time, and I want to also thank Mr. Braley for bringing this resolution and what it means to the men and women who served in our military and especially those who fought so bravely at Iwo Jima. As I was walking across today to the Longworth Office Building, Madam Speaker, I ran into several veterans out in the crowd. They were asking me about the health care vote that we are going to have tomorrow and about other situations that are going on in our government, and a lot of them asked me, said, You know, I served my country and I didn't expect to have this type of treatment or to have this forced on me or my children or my grandchildren. One of the interesting facts is that the Senate bill, the Senate bill that is going to be passed in this House tomorrow, that passed in the Senate, evidently had some things in it that maybe people didn't understand. Chairman Skelton brought a bill to the floor today to make sure that TRICARE is looked at as an acceptable insurance program. TRICARE, the thing that we give our veterans that serve so faithfully in our military, TRICARE was not even going to be looked at as one of the acceptable insurance programs. We were fixing to strip them of that. And those veterans on the street just could not understand that concept, how that could have gotten by 60 people in the Senate, that evidently didn't know it was in there or didn't care about those veterans that had served our country so bravely. And, you know, earlier today we had a bill on the floor, a motion to recommit that bill, and I believe there were 178 people that voted ``no'' originally, and then the votes started changing. And I think it ended up with 39 ``no'' votes, Madam Speaker, after all of the changes from 170-something down to 39, and it was only a 3-page bill. Now our side certainly--and I am sure the gentlewoman from Wyoming wasn't trying to trick anybody--it was a 3-page bill, very plainly written; but, evidently, nobody had read it and so everybody voted against it. And all of a sudden it started getting around what was in it, about sexual predators being allowed to be in this volunteer group to look after our forest land. So the next thing you know, 140 people are down here changing their vote on a 3-page bill. Can you imagine what is in a 2,700-page bill that Members of this House have not read? We are going to suffer some unintended consequences. And probably those that are going to feel the greatest loss of those unintended consequences are the brave men and women who have served so faithfully and defended this country and fought for our rights and for our freedoms. And we are fixing to pass legislation that I would venture to say that nobody in this House has read and completely understands.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. I want to thank my fellow Georgian for taking this hour so we can come straighten out some of the things that have been said in the previous hour. And I listened to them with great interest. And I believe that they believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. I was going along with them pretty well until they got down to the ``free'' part, free wellness screening, free preventative and free test. I want to ask the people, Mr. Speaker, of America, have you ever gotten anything free from the government? The American people pay for everything that this government does with their taxes or with penalties or interest. What every American pays is what pays for everything this government does. There are no free lunches here. And for our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to get up and say that these things were free, they've got to believe in the Tooth Fairy. They've got to believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny to believe that. The gentleman, our colleague from Ohio, is talking about the things that he will campaign for in November, and what we will be campaigning for and what he will be campaigning for. I welcome, I welcome those campaigns because even though they haven't heard the people on this third Saturday in March, they will hear from the people on the first Tuesday of November. There are some facts that I would like to just get straight while we are talking about ``free'' things, free what the government is going to do. This bill is not free. And as the gentleman, my colleague from Georgia, explained, the costs that come with it. Let me tell you some things that are going to be on the campaign and is going to be ahead of this Congress for the next 7 months. Let's talk about the $1.2 trillion, the total cost of the bill between 2010 and 2020. Though the real cost, as the gentleman stated, doesn't go until 2014. This includes $940 billion in coverage subsidies. Those aren't going to be free. That's what your tax dollars are going to be paying for in coverage subsidies. Those are not free, $144.2 billion in additional mandatory spending. That's going to come out of your tax dollars, $70 billion in discretionary spending in the Senate bill and $41.6 billion in unrelated education spending. Yeah, they included education in this health care reform because they could not, under any other way, get it passed through the Senate, $208 billion, and both my colleagues here tonight are doctors. This is the cost of a 10-year patch for the SGR, the sustainable growth rate, to prevent reduction in Medicare physicians payments, which is 21 percent right now. This cost is hidden because it was included in the earlier Democratic bill, but was dropped to better provide a cost estimate. This is your tax dollars. This is not free, $569.2 billion tax increases in the legislation, including $48.9 billion in new taxes in the reconciliation bill alone. That's not free. That's coming from your tax dollars, $52 billion, the amount of new taxes on employers, $52 billion of new taxes on employers who can't afford to give their employees health care. And that's going to be imposed when unemployment right now is at 9.7 percent. Twelve is the number of new taxes in the bill that violate President Obama's pledge that under my plan no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase; 46 percent is the percentage of families making less than $66,150 who will be forced to pay the individual mandate tax, which, by the way, I believe is unconstitutional; 16,500 is the estimated number of IRS auditors, agents, and other employees that will be needed to collect the hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxes levied on the American people. There is nothing free in this bill. There's nothing free. You've got to believe in the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus all rolled into one to think that you're going to get something free out of this. Twenty billion dollars is the estimated amount of money that the IRS and the HHS will need for the cost of additional regulations, bureaucracy, and redtape over the next 10 years. This spending is not included in the CBO's cost estimate. Fifty-three billion dollars is the amount of revenue this bill raids from Social Security to make it appear as if it actually reduces the deficit; $202.3 billion the amount of money cut from Medicare Advantage program for seniors to help offset the cost of a new entitlement. Now we have heard over and over that if you have the insurance you like, you can keep it. Have we not heard that? You can keep the insurance that you have. These seniors on Medicare Advantage are not going to be able to keep the insurance that they have. Where does that come from? $436 billion dollars is the amount of Federal subsidies in the bill that will go directly to insurance companies to provide health care in the exchange, $436 billion to pay to these evil insurance companies. No wonder they don't mind getting cut out of a little bit of money on Medicare Advantage by providing additional coverage these seniors pay for when they're going to get another $436 billion. One out of 22, the number of times the Senate has not somehow amended a reconciliation bill passed by the House and thus required further action. Like I said, these people have been convinced that there is a Santa Claus, a Tooth Fairy, and an Easter Bunny to believe that the Senate is going to take this reconciliation bill that they are sending over. Sixty-three percent is the percentage of physicians surveyed who feel that health reform is needed but are opposed to this sweeping overhaul legislation. Nine billion dollars is the amount that the Ways and Means Committee estimated Medicare would spend annually after 25 years when it was passed in 1965. To my two colleagues here, in reality, Medicare spent $67 billion, or seven times the initial cost estimate. If you believe that this is a deficit reduction bill, then you certainly believe in these people I have mentioned prior. $1.55 trillion the projected fiscal year 2010 deficit--11 times the 10-year savings that the Democrats claim that this bill will provide by spending more than $1 trillion for this government health care takeover. If you think the government is going to be giving things for free, you are kidding yourself. If you think this thing is going to cost what they say it is going to cost, you are kidding yourself. If you think this is going to reduce our deficit, you are kidding yourself. The American people are smarter than this, and I think our colleagues on the other side of the aisle need to realize this. If they don't realize it now, they will realize it in a very short time to come. This is not going to be behind them. It is going to be in front of them. I welcome the opportunity to campaign on this issue, alone, which will provide that they have failed to promise and keep the promises that we have made to the American people in this last election. So I want to thank my colleague from Georgia for doing this. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to come and share this. And, hopefully, tomorrow we will be able to make our case to the American people and to change some hearts and minds of some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. With that, I yield back.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. And I want to thank my fellow Georgian for yielding. And we, the people, are the ones that are going to be paying for these free preventive care wellness screenings. It is the ``we, the people.'' It is those tea baggers, as they were called by the gentleman from Ohio, that are going to be paying for these free government things, much like some of the stuff that we pay for now, some of the entitlements that are robbing our children and our grandchildren because of their escalation. But the gentleman from Texas mentioned something about not knowing what was in the 2,700-page bill. And we had the gentleman today talk about that we had this bill for 72 hours now to look at, and that we should know what is in it. I believe it was the gentleman from New York. Well, you know, we had a three-page motion to recommit today on the floor that the gentlelady from Wyoming offered on a forest or maintaining the forest lands and kind of allows the AmeriCorps, the volunteers to be able to do this, a three-page motion to recommit that the Reading Clerk read. And it talked about that if you were a sexual predator that you would not be able to do this volunteer work; that you would be screened and that you couldn't do it. And I believe the count on the board was 178 Members voted against that. And then, all of a sudden there was 175, and then 170. And then it went on for about 30 minutes, and it got down to where there were only 39 people who voted against that. Now, that was a three-page bill that was read by the Reading Clerk, and many people had not heard it or not understood it but just knew to vote the party line. If that is true with a three-page motion to recommit that was read by the Reading Clerk, think what the unintended consequences are in that 2,700-page bill, plus I believe it is a 700-page reconciliation bill, and we haven't even seen the manager's amendment yet. So that's something that we don't even have. I'm telling you that there's a story about a gentleman--and my colleague from Georgia knows this, that we do a lot of hunting at night down there, and we use dogs. We hunt raccoons. It's a very good sport. A very big sport down there. There was a gentleman that served in World War II that had lost the bottom part of his leg. He had a peg leg, a wooden peg leg put in. And so he was there with some of the guys and they were laying around the campfire. It was kind of cool. And his leg was a little too close, and it burned about 8 inches off of that wooden peg leg. But all of a sudden the dogs started howling, so everybody got up to run to go follow the dogs. The old Navy veteran got up first and he ran. And he ran about 20 yards and he turned around and said, Watch out, boys. There's a hole every other step. Well, I'm telling my colleague from Georgia, there's some holes in this bill, and I believe they're about every other step. And so we need to be very cautious of that and understand that I'm telling you there are more unintended consequences than we can ever believe in this bill. So I want to warn my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Watch out, boys, because there's a hole about every other step. With that, I yield back my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. I would like to thank my friend for taking this hour and for calling and asking me to come help with this hour because I, like the gentleman, have been out today talking to some of the people who have come up. One thing, Mr. Speaker, that the majority have said to me, Please help us. We don't want this. I had one lady who came to my office today that has a son that has a condition, and they don't have health insurance. It is her and her husband and her son. They get one unemployment check a month. Their son has $800,000 worth of insurance bills today, and she said, I do not want this bill. My son has never been denied health care, good care. Now there was some people, and the night is late, I had some people who drove for 12, 14, 16 hours. And I had one lady who said that they didn't decide to come up until about 2 o'clock yesterday from Georgia. They left their home at 4 and got here at 4:30 in the morning. It is for them that I think myself and my other colleagues are here tonight, to argue for them, because we are not going to change anybody's mind on the other side of the aisle because we don't have the power to change their mind. I think what has been demonstrated is that if you have the control, if you have the gavel you can offer the deals, as my colleague from Georgia pointed out about the Cornhusker kickback, the Gator aid, the Louisiana purchase. But we have some Members here in the House that haven't been that expensive of a buy. I mean, we've had people fly on Air Force One that all of a sudden got this idea that they needed to switch their vote. I think they would have made a better decision driving around in Scott Brown's pickup truck, personally, than riding on Air Force One. We've got people that are changing from a ``no'' to a ``yes'' that may have a job at NASA. I mean, we don't know of all the deals and all the other things. But we do know that evidently that our Members are cheaper than what the Senators were. We do know that. But we don't understand. And you were talking, my friend from Texas was mentioning why are the insurance companies for this? He mentioned several reasons. Let me give my friend another one. Four hundred thirty-six billion dollars that the Federal Government is going to be paying these insurance companies in subsidies. That's the reason they're for this bill. I don't know if the gentleman heard our colleagues from the other side of the aisle that had an hour or so tonight talking about all the free things that this bill is going to give, and not realizing I guess that nothing the government ever does is free. And we need to get that straight. I mean, there's not anything free. I was noticing downstairs they were talking about the tax credit for homes. They said, come in and apply with us and you get a free calculator. I promise you that calculator was costing somebody something. In the free screenings, in the free preventive screenings, in the free medical supplies, those things aren't free. Those people that we were talking to today out on this lawn and out on the Mall and out on the steps are the ones that's going to be paying for this. The average American and his tax dollars is going to be paying for it. I've got a list here that I've already read once, and am willing to read it again, about all of the costs that's coming with this bill. Now, if you had listened to our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, you would think that they believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. And that if they pass this bill all the world's problems are going to be solved, that every problem in the world is going to be solved, and our whole problem is going to be solved. But if you talk to the medical professionals in this country, they'll tell you it's not going to be solved. They'll tell you that our problems are just beginning. They're going to tell you that they're going to leave their practice. I've got doctors that have told me if this thing passes and goes into effect, I will quit my practice. I want to thank my friend from Texas for taking this opportunity. This is the last special order there will be before we have the vote, the historic vote, on the government takeover of health care. So I think it is important that we understand that we're talking on behalf of the American people, we're talking on behalf of those individuals that took their time and their energy and spent their hard-earned money for transportation up here. We're up here fighting for them. Hopefully, hopefully, they will continue to fight with us. Because there's only 178 Republicans. And the only thing bipartisan about this 2,700-page bill that's going to pass is the opposition to it. That's going to be Republican and Democratic opposition. That's going to be the only thing bipartisan about this bill. Everything else is a ram-through by the majority that is going to be paid for by the American taxpayers not just in additional taxes, but by all the sweeteners that we don't even know what has gone on to buy these votes that is going to come about tomorrow night. I hope that people will continue not to give up on us, not to give up on their self, because we don't need to quit. The vote hasn't been taken yet. And to my friend from Texas, and I know you believe in this, but we need to make sure that everybody is in prayer tonight about the decisions that this body is going to make tomorrow. With that, I will yield back.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I traveled home for the birth of my grandchild. As a result, I missed a number of votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following: ``Aye'' on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 45300 Portola Avenue in Palm Desert, California, as the ``Roy Wilson Post Office.'' (Rollcall No. 128) ``Nay'' on Ordering the Previous Question providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules. (Rollcall No. 129) ``Nay'' on Agreeing to the Resolution providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules. (Rollcall No. 130) ``Aye'' on Motion to Refer the Resolution raising a question of the privileges of the House. (Rollcall No. 131) ``Nay'' on Motion to Table raising a question of the privileges of the House. (Rollcall No. 132) ``Aye'' on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended State Admission Day Recognition Act of 2009. (Rollcall No. 133) ``Nay'' on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the Agricultural Credit Act of 2009. (Rollcall No. 134) ``Aye'' on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Vermont Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States, and congratulating the Green Mountain Club for its century of dedication in developing and maintaining the trail. (Rollcall No. 135)

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to New Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia, which is celebrating its 138th year of serving the Lord in our community. In Georgia's 3rd Congressional District, few churches have witnessed the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, but New Mount Calvary Baptist has attained that distinction. New Mount Calvary has witnessed many seminal events in our nation's history, and it has carried on from the Reconstruction Era to election of our nation's first African-American president. A church that has kept its doors open for 138 years has blessed its families for generation after generation. The Lord calls on us to gather together as believers in his church to worship Him. The church is where we receive His Word, His blessings and His guidance. We go forth from the church to serve in our respective communities. The members of New Mount Calvary Baptist Church are rightfully proud of how long they have actively served in their community. I asked the House to join me in congratulating this church on its long, proud record of work in Newnan and in sending best wishes for many more important milestones in the years to come.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, looks like we may have a mystery worthy of an investigation by Scooby Doo and his gang here. This week, the House may pass a bill to overhaul one-sixth of our economy. But here we are Tuesday, and Scooby and Shaggy are scratching their heads trying to figure out, one, what's in the bill; two, what special backroom deals have been cut, and three, how can Democrats impose on the American people a bill they don't even have the courage to vote on. Here are our clues. Speaker Pelosi says we're not allowed to see what's in the bill until it passes, and she says ``no one'' wants to vote for the bill that she's forcing through. We know there are special payoffs for States like Nebraska. We know there are political payoffs. We know there are tax hikes and Medicare cuts, and it's not a mystery why the Democrats are going to try to invent a ghostly scheme to pass this terrible bill. And when the Scooby gang unmasks the ghost, we'll hear the Speaker say, I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for those meddling Americans. Ruh-roh.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I would like the Record to reflect my desire to be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009. Due to H.R. 2499's placement on the Union Calendar, I am unable to officially remove myself from this legislation according to the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Well, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for taking this Special Order to come talk about the health care bill that, regardless of what anybody says, is actually being rammed through the process. And the reason it's being rammed through, as I think my friend from Texas mentioned, the American people are not in favor of this health care bill. It also, I believe, is unconstitutional that we're going to require our citizens to buy health care. That should be a choice that every individual makes on whether they buy health care or don't buy health care. They may be in an economic situation to where they don't need it, or they may be young and they may be doing health savings accounts. We need to be promoting the health savings accounts and other ways that young people can do things to provide health care for themselves without their government forcing them to buy a health insurance program. The other thing that I think is interesting is the unions get a special break out of this. You know, I thought that everything that we did in this body was supposed to be fair to everybody, but what they're doing is they're making a difference in this health care proposal that if you have neighbors living beside one another and one is a union employee and the other is a nonunion employee and they're making the same amount of money, their health benefits are going to be taxed differently. Now, why should that be? I mean, I think that's one of the disservices that has come about through this bill is there is so much inequity between individuals. It all depends on how much money you make, where you live. There is also going to be a czar that we don't know who that's going to be and we don't really know what his or her full capability is going to be and what they're going to regulate. But I would say to my friend from Texas that they may tell you that the current health care plan that you have that you're happy with does not meet the Federal requirements. This plan also establishes about 111 new commissions, boards, and agencies that we have no idea what their responsibility or what their rules or what their regulations are going to be and what other type of impact they're going to have on our freedom and our privacy. The interesting thing is that the leadership continues to talk about how many jobs this is going to create. If it creates any jobs, they will be government jobs. We need to create private sector jobs. We need to be concentrating on the economy. All the political capital that has been spent on health care--and not only on health care, this most open, honest, ethical Congress that we were promised by then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, now Speaker Pelosi, is the fact that they've been tied up with ethics investigations of Congressman Rangel. We've had the tickle wrestling controversy that just came up lately about young people being allowed to be subject to sexual harassment. Now, we need to be concentrating on jobs. Most of my constituents are calling me saying, look, where are the jobs? You passed a $787 billion stimulus package that was supposed to keep unemployment from going from 8 percent any higher, well, it's at 9.7. The only jobs that have been created have been government jobs. We created about 5,000 jobs with Cash for Clunkers. We have created over 120,000 government jobs since this President has been in office. We need to be concentrating on our economy and on creating jobs from the private sector. We need to be freeing up credit. We need to be making it so small business has an initiative to hire people. The jobs bill that we passed through here was really a joke. And my friend from Texas, I'm sure you talk to many of your small business people who said, Congressman, do they really think that I'm going to go out and hire somebody for $30,000 or $35,000 a year to get a $1,000 tax credit? Do they not understand that you can't survive in small business doing something that silly? I said, well, the problem is only about 7 percent of the people in the President's administration have ever even had a private sector job, and I don't know how many or what percentage of that ever created any jobs or actually was responsible for job creation. What we have got to do is remove the uncertainty that's out there to the small business world, to that employer that is ready to create, to expand, to put infrastructure in our communities. We've got to make sure that he has some certainty. The small business people I talk to go, look, I'm not going to do anything until I have some certainty, and the one thing that the 111th Congress has brought to the American people and to the people that create jobs in this country is uncertainty. They don't know what their energy cost is going to be; they have no idea. Is cap-and-trade going to pass that would raise, just on individuals, energy costs of about $3,200 a year? Is that going to pass? I don't know. Are we going to raise taxes on the small business people? Are we going to raise taxes on the people who make over $250,000 or over $200,000 or over $150,000? Most of these subchapter S corps that create the jobs are under those individual guidelines. They ask, Am I going to end up paying more taxes? I don't know. I can't answer that for you. What are our health care costs going to be? Are you going to mandate these health care prescriptions on us? I don't know. I can't answer that. We don't know about any free trade agreements. This administration has refused to act on free trade agreements. We need to remove the uncertainty for business in this country. We need to crank up our economic engine without starving it for the fuel that it needs to stand and to create those jobs that we so desperately need. So this health care plan is going to be rammed through regardless of what you say. The rules are going to be adjusted to fit what they need to do. But I've got something to tell the majority: The American people are not that stupid. They understand smoke and mirrors and hocus-pocus when they see it. I promise you they're not just going to hold the majority accountable; they're going to hold every Member of this body and every Member of the body across this Capitol accountable for taking this country in a direction that the majority of people does not want to see it go. With that, I yield back my time to the gentleman, my friend from Texas.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Well, I don't have anything to add on the constitutionality of the legislation, because I have already expressed I think it is unconstitutional, but I did want to make one comment before I had to go to my friend from Texas. I believe you said the President had put out an 11-page summary and then had put out a 19-page summary of the 11-page summary, so I wanted to quote from the 19-page summary of the 11-page summary. And anybody within the sound of my voice, Madam Speaker, if they believe this, then they need some help and some counseling. This is the new affordable choices where the 19-page explanation of the 11-page explanation says, ``paper reduction and simplified forms will begin to reduce costs.'' Anybody that has ever dealt with the government knows they do nothing to reduce paperwork. ``A new Web site to help consumers compare different insurance coverage options, along with State-by-State consumer health care assistance and assistance for any of their health insurance questions.'' To my friend from Texas, you can't call a government agency now and even talk to a real human being, and now they are going to answer questions for 300 million people? Here is the final one. ``Clear and easy-to-understand insurance documents to help Americans make decisions when shopping for health insurance.'' The government has never had any documents that were clear and simple to understand. The majority of Americans today cannot even fill out their own 1040 personal income tax. This is a sham, and I hope that the American people will wake up and understand that what is fixing to happen to them is not only unconstitutional, but will be something that will not be easily undone.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I attended the grand opening events of the Kia Motors manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia. As a result, I missed a number of votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following: ``Nay'' on Agreeing to the Resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2701) to authorize appropriations for FY 2010 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the U.S. Government, the Community Management Account, and the CIA Retirement and Disability System, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII. (rollcall No. 66); ``aye'' on Motion to Concur in Senate Amendments to Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act. (rollcall No. 67); and ``aye'' on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Urban Crimes Awareness Week (rollcall No. 68).

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I attended the grand opening events of the Kia Motors manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia. As a result, I missed a number of votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following: Nay on Reyes of Texas Amendment, as Modified on Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 2701 (rollcall No. 69) Aye on Hastings of Florida Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 2701 (rollcall No. 70) Aye on Schauer of Michigan Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 2701 (rollcall No. 71) Aye on Motion to Recommit with Instructions, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (rollcall No. 72) Nay on Passage, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (rollcall No. 73) Aye on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to Recognizing the difficult challenges Black veterans faced when returning home after serving in the Armed Forces, their heroic military sacrifices, and their patriotism in fighting for equal rights and for the dignity of a people and a Nation (rollcall No. 74)

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate McCall Butler, a student at Troup County Comprehensive High School, on his selection as a member of the State Student Advisory Council for the 2009-2010 school year. McCall was one of 53 students selected by state schools superintendant Kathy Cox. As a council member he will have the honor of discussing state policies with fellow members as well as with superintendent Cox several times during the school year. He will also have the honor of serving as an ambassador for the superintendent within his school. The relationship between students and educators that this council facilitates is invaluable for improving and monitoring state policy. ``It gives me a tremendous insight into how state policies and procedures are working in the classroom and it allows me to communicate directly with students in schools throughout Georgia,'' superintendent Cox has said. McCall is an outstanding Georgia scholar. He is dedicated to giving a voice to the concerns of his school and its vital programs. Upon receiving the honor he commented, ``A big reason for me to apply was because the Career Technical Agriculture Education programs at our school are very important to me, and I want to make sure they have continued funding going toward local, regional and state activities.'' McCall will undoubtedly serve the interests of the students of Georgia and especially his school very well. We appreciate the service provided by McCall and his fellow members on the State Student Advisory Council. I congratulate McCall on behalf of the people of Georgia's 3rd District and wish him continued success in his academic endeavors.