Lynn Westmoreland

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 556, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Chairman, during the vote on amendments and final passage for H.R. 2829, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act, I was away from the Capitol on business in my home State of Georgia. On the Chabot amendment to H.R. 2829 (Vote #34), I would have voted ``yes.'' On the Hooley amendment to H.R. 2829 (Vote #35), I would have voted ``yes.'' On the Paul amendment to H.R. 2829 (Vote #36), I would have voted ``yes.'' On the Rehberg amendment to H.R. 2829 (Vote #37), I would have voted ``yes.'' On final passage, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 2829, to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy Act (Vote #38).

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Thank you, Mr. Price. And I want to thank you, my friend from Georgia, for hosting this hour to highlight some of the truth. I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that you know that the truth sometimes hurts. And so when you are exposing the truth, it might be even seen by some as being hurtful, but I believe Mr. Haley Barbour quoted, Mr. Speaker, that ``The truth is a lot of things to a lot of people. But in the end, the truth is the truth.'' I want to talk a little bit tonight about the success of the Republican economic policies and to expose the half-truths of our opponents who want to raise taxes on the American families. Mr. Speaker, the evidence speaks for itself. Republican principles and action lead to economic growth, more jobs, higher standards of living and increased revenue to the Federal Treasury. Since 2003, the U.S. economy has created hundreds of thousands of new jobs while the unemployment rate has dropped down below 5 percent, which is an extremely low number by historical standards. The increases in employment and wages seen last year are also expected to continue, which will help consumer spending. Household net worth has risen for 12 consecutive quarters under the Republican administration and leadership of this House. Wealth has not risen just because of housing. Checking accounts, savings accounts, and so on are at a record high and are a larger share of after-tax income than any other time since 1993. Economic activity had considerable momentum last year, and that will carry into 2006, 2007 and on. The Congressional Budget Office forecasted the real GDP will grow by 3.6 percent this year and by 3.4 percent in 2007. With these numbers it is obvious that the tax cuts, passed and renewed since 2001, have bolstered the American economy even after the incredible cost of September 11, 2001, the terrible destruction caused on the gulf coast by the series of hurricanes that hit there, and the high price tag of the war on terror. Despite many challenges, the state of our economy is strong. As our economy grows, as we create new jobs and as wages grow, more money comes into the Federal Treasury. That is right. Despite all of the belly-aching from the other side about the cost of the tax cuts, the Federal Treasury is taking in plenty of money. Last year the Federal Government took in $2.15 trillion, the highest dollar amount that has ever been received. I would like to ask my friend from Georgia if he has got a chart there that shows the revenues that came in last year. I think it will show that we do not have a revenue problem. What we have here is a spending problem. And the chart will show you that the revenues will go up as the tax cuts go into full swing to a record high. So we do not have a revenue problem.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Because, Mr. Speaker and my friend from Georgia, people are reinvesting their money. They have more money to spend. That is a direct result of the tax cuts. In fact, we need to make these tax cuts permanent; and I think the people of this country would like to see that also. Despite this growth in revenue, we have seen an even greater growth in spending, and this has got to stop. The fact is we can and have cut back on discretionary spending in this Congress, but in order to really return our budget to fiscal sanity, we have no choice but to tackle serious entitlement reform. On this floor, our colleagues from the Democratic Caucus, the other side of the aisle, complain about the deficit. Yet when this Republican Congress and our Republican leadership took a stand to modestly reform entitlements and modestly curb the rate of growth and spending in the Deficit Reduction Act, no Democrats voted for that bill. Where were the so-called deficit hawks and the Blue Dog Democrats? Where were the Democrats in the 30-Something Group who say they would do a better job of taming the deficit? When it came time to make the tough choices, their votes did not match their rhetoric on the deficit. In fact, when it comes to offering solutions, attacks and hollow rhetoric are all we hear from the other side. What we do not hear from the other side is a plan of action. What we don't hear from the other side is a set of principles. What we do not hear from the other side is a strategy for securing our Nation while expanding our economy. These are truths, and sometimes the truth does hurt. Republicans, in contrast, have a plan for leading this Nation. The Republican Study Committee today released its proposal for balancing our budget, a recommitment to the contract on America. That budget recognizes that we must take serious steps to tame our budget deficit. If the Democrats had a plan, which they do not, their plan would include hefty tax hikes on American families and American job creators, and that is the only truth that can come out of that. You cannot be unwilling to cut spending and expect the deficit to go away. Our budget recognizes that we do not need more revenue. We have never had more revenue. But we still have to make tough choices. In a world of tough choices we can raise the price of the buffet or we can curb our appetites. With our waistlines bulging, the choice is clear. We must go on a spending diet until our pants fit again. We have a plan for trimming down the budget. We have a plan for continuing our economic growth. We have a plan for strengthening the economic security of American families. And I think that plan should include making these tax cuts permanent so people can afford to plan their future and to know what is ahead of them.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. To my friend from Georgia, my mother always told me that actions speak louder than words. And anybody can go anywhere and say anything, but when you are given an opportunity to take those words that you spoke and put them into action, and for the American people to be able to see that you are sincere in what you are saying, your votes should match what your words are. As we know, as all of us have been in politics, and I see the gentlewoman from Tennessee has joined us here, but in politics you can tell your constituents anything in the world, but they will know honestly how you feel when you vote. And that is what they should do and we should all be held accountable for our votes. And hopefully we will. Hopefully the truth will come out. I just appreciate so much you taking the time to do this and all the efforts that you have put forward to get the good Republican principled message out: that we are about American families. We are about them having more money in their pockets that they can use on discretionary spending for their families and to be able to plan for their future. Thank you very much.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Do you think that after so long this money starts looking like play money and you start talking about billions of dollars and trillions of dollars and that is unrealistic to most people? I think when you start to think of a billion dollars is ten hundred million, and most of us will never know what a million dollars is. It is not just play money. It is money that has come out of the taxpayers' pockets and we have got to be accountable for it.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with my colleagues a startling statistic--the 50 percent unemployment rate of people with disabilities in this country. For those with severe disabilities, the number is even graver at 70 percent. It is easy to focus on the disability of a person, not the ability. But people with disabilities want to work, and can work. We must recognize the potential of all Americans, and provide the opportunities needed to allow people with disabilities to become self-sufficient, independent, tax-paying citizens. To that end, I am proud to support employment opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly through the Javits-Wagner-O'Day, JWOD, Program. The JWOD Program uses the purchasing power of the Federal Government to buy products and services from participating, community-based nonprofit agencies dedicated to training and employing individuals with disabilities. The people who are blind or who have other severe disabilities who work under the JWOD Program are given the opportunity to acquire job skills and training, receive good wages and benefits and gain greater independence and quality of life. This program allows people with disabilities enjoy full participation in their community and can market their JWOD-learned skills into other public and private sector jobs. In the United States, the program serves 40,000 people with disabilities and generated approximately $280 million in wages earned and nearly $1.5 billion in products sold. In Georgia alone, approximately 1,000 people with disabilities earned nearly $3 million in wages last year as a result of JWOD. It is with great pleasure that I recognize the great contributions of American workers with disabilities and I encourage others to do so on February 23, which is National Disability Day. More importantly, let us all remember everyday that every person has ability. Everyone has something to share for the greater good. America truly works best when all Americans work. I commend the JWOD Program, its supporters, and its participants for making a difference where it is needed most.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is a shame that the gentleman did not read the amendment. It caps the penalties at $40,000. The maximum penalty that was on there was $20,000, and this just caps the penalties at $40,000, regardless of the occurrence. In some cases that could be up to 10 different occurrences. What this does is it gives safe harbor for somebody who has made a good-faith effort in getting into the system. We are going to have an overburdensome system when this thing begins. This is an opportunity that if they made one error in filling out any of the paperwork or the procedure they go through, they have a safe harbor. And as far as the contractor and the subcontractor goes, this is already existing law. This just restates that law, and puts it into this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to title VII of the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act. Our Nation is facing a serious crisis with illegal immigration. Our Nation's national security along with our Nation's job security are on the line as we debate this bill. I have spent my entire life prior to coming to Congress in the building business. I have worked with many people over the years that work hard to employ, to build infrastructure, to help their communities, and to provide for their families. They are usually small business people; but the way this legislation was originally drafted, it had the potential to turn many of the people I have worked with my entire life into Federal felons. When I read title VII of the legislation, I was surprised. The criminal penalties were high, and in some cases the fines went up by 800 percent. Businesses are overregulated as it is, and government agencies tend to pile on penalties and fines for even the smallest infractions. I did not want this House sending a flawed bill to the Senate, and I think this amendment makes very important changes that are necessary to clarify some of the issues in title VII. First, the amendment places caps on the monetary penalties laid out in section 7. Instead of just laying out high mandatory minimum fines, the amendment places upper limits on the fines so businesses will not be subject to unlimited liability. Second, it provides for the relief from the civil penalties for a first offense under the bill if a business violates a particular rule regarding the employment checks as long as the employer acted in good faith. This will protect companies that are doing their best to follow this complicated new system, but miss some part of it one time. Finally, the amendment provides a safe harbor for contractors who have a subcontractor that hires an illegal alien. This ensures that general contractors will not be held liable for the actions of a subcontractor when they are not aware that the sub is hiring illegals. Mr. Chairman, the government requires that schools teach students whether they are legal or not. Hospitals are required to treat patients whether they are legal or not. Let us not make business the police of illegal immigration. Right now we have laws and serious penalties on the books that prohibit people from entering our country, and that prevents businesses from hiring those here illegally. We need to be careful about requiring businesses to help us do our enforcement work. Enforcement of existing laws is absolutely necessary, but we need to make sure the government is doing its part. Many times partnering with business to help address the problem may be a better approach than imposing severe fines and ever-increasing penalties on business. We have a problem with illegal immigration that has been decades in the making. Although this legislation is not perfect, we must begin addressing these problems before they grow even worse. True leadership sometimes involves doing things that may be unpopular, but they are right. Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Mr. Sensenbrenner, for his hard work on this and the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Mr. King. They have shown great leadership in us taking a first step towards this procedure. This is the first step down a long road of getting a handle on the Nation's immigration problems; and I am grateful for their leadership. Mr. Chairman, I urge all Members to support the Westmoreland amendment to H.R. 4437. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin. (Mr. SENSENBRENNER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3770 authored by the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Chocola). Mr. Speaker, this bill would designate this post office in Knox, Indiana, as the Grant W. Green Post Office Building. As the longest serving postman in Knox history, Grant Green served the people of Knox from 1920 to 1970. For more than half a century, he refused to let anything, ``neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor dark of night,'' keep him from his appointed routes. For 23 years, he delivered mail to all houses located north of the Nickel Plate Railroad tracks, which ran through the center of town. He spent the remaining 27 years of his career delivering mail on rural routes at a time when most homes were located on dirt or gravel roads. Grant Green moved to Knox as a young man to raise a family, but he quickly became the quintessential public servant: hardworking, passionate about his job, and dedicated to the people in the country in which he served. He was also extremely active in the community as a 70- year member of the local Masonic Lodge. Mr. Green passed away on December 29, 1990, but will be forever remembered as one of the most dedicated citizens of the community of Knox, Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to come together to recognize the vast dedication of Grant W. Green to public service in Knox, Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3770, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3770) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 205 West Washington Street in Knox, Indiana, as the ``Grant W. Green Post Office Building''.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3825) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Trumbull Drive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the ``Clayton J. Smith Memorial Post Office Building''.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3825 authored by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy). This bill would designate this post office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the Clayton J. Smith Memorial Post Office Building. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy).

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.