Daniel Webster

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. WEBSTER. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 717 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my good friend from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. WEBSTER. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind everyone again, as I said in my opening remarks, this bill has no earmarks. Yes, we know how they did it in the past, with 6,000, 7,000, 8,000 earmarks, and certainly there would be a lot of support among individual Members if that were the case. This bill has no earmarks. It's good policy. The Federal Government says: We know all. We know everything that's needed in every single community, and we can stamp out one of our famed cookie-cutter approaches to funding transportation, as we used to do, so that every single dollar has a little teeny category and every State is brought into spending within those little teeny categories. Yes, we could have done that, but that's the old way of doing it. We did it a different way. We actually had a conference, no earmarks, and we gave States flexibility. We sent to the States the opportunity to decide. Did we take out any of those things that were mentioned? Absolutely not. They're all options. So every single dollar we send to the State, the State has an opportunity to say, Maybe we don't want to do a sound barrier, whatever it is that's there. No, we can take the flexibility that's given to us, we can use it. We can use it to our benefit far better to build transportation from the ground up rather than to build it from the top down, Washington, D.C. cookie-cutter style. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, and if I could ask the gentleman how many more speakers he has.

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, as I have said during previous debates on short-term transportation extensions, our national infrastructure is aging, stable construction jobs are lacking, unemployment lingers about 8 percent nationally and a little over 9 percent in Florida. Regrettably, that remains the case today, many short-term extensions later. However, unlike the past, the House and Senate have come together to offer a glimmer of certainty to try to address these problems. A long-term, multiyear highway reauthorization is critical to rebuilding our Nation's infrastructure, reforming antiquated and inefficient transportation programs, strengthening our economy, and creating jobs. A long-term authorization also provides for certainty and stability necessary for the transportation industry to contain costs through long-term planning. This agreement, while not perfect, is long overdue. It will begin to chip away at the bloated bureaucracy which defines our Federal transportation system. It will create jobs and it will promote economic activity in our local communities, all without adding to the deficit. For these reasons, I ask my colleagues to join me in favor of this rule. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

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

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time to close.

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bills. House Resolution 717 provides for a standard conference report rule for the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4348, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II, also known simply as the ``highway bill.'' The conference report for the highway bill represents a bipartisan and bicameral effort to address our aging national infrastructure and chronic unemployment with a 2-year authorization. This long-term transportation bill, agreed to by both Houses and by both parties in this conference report, provides much-needed certainty. It provides certainty not only to States and to State governments but also to the transportation and construction industries and to those Americans whose livelihoods depend on them. Rather than another short- term extension measuring mere weeks or months, this bill authorizes transportation funding for 2 full years and allows businesses to plan ahead, hire workers, and grow. The conference report ensures taxpayer dollars are spent on high- priority infrastructure projects that support jobs and economic activity. The conference report also contains significant reforms: it streamlines the lengthy bureaucratic approval process with reforms aimed at cutting the permitting process in half; it consolidates and eliminates duplicative Federal programs; and it embraces increased private sector involvement by leveraging Federal, State, and local dollars with private sector funding. As importantly, it does all of this without any earmarks and without any spending increases. The conference report also extends the current student loan rate of 3.4 percent for student loans for another year. This ensures that young Americans have certainty when it comes to the terms of their student loans for the coming year; and because it is paid for, the conference report ensures that no further debt will be heaped upon the American taxpayer. Finally, the conference report reforms and reauthorizes for 5 additional years the Federal Flood Insurance Program. This program is depended upon by so many in times of natural disaster. House Resolution 717 also provides for an open rule both for the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2013 and the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2013. The Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2013 includes funding for critical national security needs, and it provides the resources needed to continue the Nation's military efforts abroad. In addition, the bill provides essential funding for health and quality-of-life programs for the brave men and women of our Armed Forces and their families. The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2013 has jurisdiction over agencies responsible for regulating the financial and telecommunications industries; collecting taxes and providing taxpayer assistance; supporting the operations of the White House, the Federal judiciary, and the District of Columbia; managing Federal buildings; and overseeing Federal workers. The activities of these agencies impact nearly every American and are an integral part of the operations of our government. So, once again, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the underlying bills. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my good friend and colleague, 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. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to lay the resolution on the table.

Mr. WEBSTER

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

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the 5th Marine Regiment and Regimental Combat Team 5. The 5th Marine Regiment was activated in 1917 during World War I as the United States made preparations for deployment to France, where the Regiment won the moniker the ``Fighting Fifth.'' The Regiment has served in every major U.S. military engagement since World War I, most recently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 5th Marine Regiment, deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 as Regimental Combat Team 5, has spent the last seven months in southern Helmand province serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Based out of Camp Dwyer, the Marines of Regimental Combat Team 5 are conducting operations and training Afghan forces in the Marjah, Garmsir, and Nawa districts. As a nation, we are proud of their courageous service and selfless dedication to defending the ideas that framed our Constitution and continue to sustain our democratic republic. There is no greater debt than that owed by people of this country to those who place their lives on the line for our nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with Regimental Combat Team 5 as they complete their deployment, and with their families as they eagerly await the safe return of the brave Marines and sailors.

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. My amendment is simple. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to follow existing law and to insist on having an experienced Director of Construction and Facilities Management. All it requires is that the holder of this position have a degree in architecture or engineering and have professional experience in construction project management. Not many people have heard of this position, but it carries enormous responsibility, not only for the stewardship of our tax dollars, but also for ensuring that our veterans have the facilities necessary for the health care and medical treatment we promised them and they earned. The VA manages over 5,000 buildings nationwide. According to the GAO, it has nearly 70 ongoing major construction projects around the country, 33 of which are major medical facilities. Of these 33, many have experienced considerable cost overruns and schedule delays. Four of the largest projects under construction are full service hospitals designed to provide health care to the hundreds of thousands of American veterans. The VA will spend an estimated $3 billion on these four facilities. One of these sites is in Orlando. The construction of the Orlando VAMC has been a classic example of government waste and inefficiency. The VA broke ground on the site in 2008 with a scheduled completion date of 2010. The estimated completion date now has been pushed back well into 2013. Several GAO reports and House Veterans Affairs' Committee hearings have sought to determine the root cause of these problems. However, it is increasingly clear that the lack of expertise on the part of the Department of Construction and Facilities Management within the VA bears responsibility. The VA has violated public law by ignoring the required qualifications to occupy a position that oversees these projects. The result is a cost to the taxpayers of an additional $1.1 billion on the four largest projects alone and multiple-year delays in health care services to our veterans. The qualifications are shockingly simple for a position that oversees the construction of veterans' health care facilities that cost billions of dollars. An individual who holds the position of Director of Construction and Facilities Management, under current law, must meet two qualifications: (1) hold an undergraduate or a master's degree in architectural design or engineering; (2) have professional experience in the area of construction and project management. My amendment simply requires that the funds used to hire this person meet that criteria. The Director of Construction and Facilities Management will potentially oversee as much as $15 billion in construction and repairs over the next 5 years. We owe it to our Nation's heroes to have qualified, experienced people behind these critical projects. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this Webster amendment to ensure that not only valuable taxpayer dollars are appropriately managed but that our veterans have access to the high-quality health care facilities that they deserve. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of a friend and an ardent advocate for Central Florida. Gary Sain passed away May 6, 2012, just hours after delivering opening remarks at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida's ``Celebrate the Future'' fundraiser, an event for which Gary served as chairman, and which typified Gary's dedication to the people and community of Central Florida. I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to Pam Sain and the Sain family. Gary was a talented and enthusiastic proponent of Central Florida's future and development. Gary was personable, humble and energetic. He was refreshing to be around and optimistic for the future. He envisioned great things for Central Florida, and he worked hard to make them happen. As CEO of Visit Orlando, Gary was instrumental in making Orlando America's number one tourist destination. With his work, Orlando became the first travel destination to host more than 50 million visitors in a calendar year, with 51.5 million people visiting Orlando in 2010. Gary's vision for Orlando, and the legacy he leaves, will serve the Central Florida area well for years to come. His work will be carried on, but he will be sorely missed. May his example of dedication, hard work and altruistic enthusiasm lead many to follow in his steps.

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Madam Chair, the amendment offered here by myself and Mr. Langford is simple. It prohibits taxpayer funds from being used to conduct the intrusive, unconstitutional American Community Survey. In addition to the constitutionally mandated census, the Department of Commerce Census Bureau conducts a number of other surveys. One of these is the American Community Survey which costs $2.4 billion to administer. Some of the questions which have already been gone over that the American Community Survey contains have been routinely criticized as invasions of privacy. As a citizen who has normal expectations of what is private and what is not private, I share that criticism. For example, the survey requires respondents to detail their emotional condition. The survey wants to know what time respondents left for work and how long it took them to get home. The survey demands to know if respondents have difficulty dressing, or they have need to go shopping. Or have difficulty, as has been said before, concentrating or remembering or making decisions. Failure to comply with this survey and turn over this personal information is punishable by up to a $5,000 fine. Given the intrusive nature of some of these questions, which are mandatory for Americans to answer under penalty of law, it would seem that these questions hardly fit the scope of what was intended or required by the Constitution. What does the Constitution require? Article 1, section 2 calls for enumeration every 10 years. The actual enumeration shall be made within 3 years after the first meeting of Congress of the United States and subsequent terms of 10 years. As you can see, at no point does the Constitution require me to tell the Census Bureau whether I have difficulty concentrating or whether or not I can climb stairs. Given the Nation's current fiscal situation, it is entirely appropriate to eliminate the survey as a taxpayer-funded activity of the U.S. Government. The American taxpayers agree. I sponsored the majority leader's YouCut program this past week, and eliminating the American Community Survey was overwhelmingly the winner when the citizens were polled what Federal spending they would cut. We need to ask ourselves whether this survey is worth $2.4 billion. Will continuation of this survey bankrupt the Nation itself? No, not hardly. But as has been said before, the old saying is a billion here and a billion there, all of a sudden we're talking about a lot of money. Why would we even pass a cybersecurity bill when we are using 5,779 hired government agents to collect sensitive information from our citizens at taxpayer expense? This American Community Survey is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars. It is the very picture of what's wrong in D.C. I have here the questionnaire. At least it would be the questionnaire if Daniel Webster and Sandra and David and Brent and Jordan and Elizabeth and John and Victoria were all questioned. This is the size of that questionnaire. This is what we would have to fill out. This is what would be punishable by law if we did not fill it out. What would you think about some of these others that you read about in the newspaper, the Duggar family, who have 20 children. What would they do? It would be three to four times this size, and they would be required by law to fill it out. This survey is inappropriate for taxpayer dollars. It is a definition of a breach of personal privacy. It is a picture of what's wrong in Washington, D.C. It's unconstitutional. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Webster-Langford amendment and prohibit funds from being used to conduct this American Community Survey. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBSTER. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Orange County Public School Superintendent Ronald Blocker and congratulate him on 12 years at the helm of Central Florida's largest public school system. We are grateful for his service to our students, our teachers and our community. Assuming the charge of Superintendent for Orange County in July 2000, Mr. Blocker's committed leadership has led to the highest graduation rate and the lowest dropout rate in the history of the county's education system. Mr. Blocker has shepherded an education system that prepares high school students for their transition into undergraduate programs through dual enrollment or for their vocational development through technical programs that partner with local companies. He has worked to provide each student with many opportunities to succeed, from Honors and Advanced Placement classes to magnet and technical programs with customized curriculum. The vision cast by Mr. Blocker is one of purpose and opportunity. During his service as OCPS Superintendent, Mr. Blocker has been recognized many times for his outstanding leadership. Among his awards and recognitions, Mr. Blocker was selected as Florida's Superintendent of the Year in 2011, named 2010 Reading Leader of the Year by Just Read, Florida!, received the Chairman's Award in 2009 from the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, and recognized by the Florida Art Education Association as Superintendent of the Year in 2008. I am grateful to Mr. Blocker for his leadership and guidance as Superintendent and wish him and his family the best as he continues to serve his state and his community. I am confident that he will continue to inspire others to give back to their community and to serve one another.

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the 25th anniversary of Lake Tire and Auto, Inc. of Tavares, Florida. For a quarter of a century, the good people of Lake Tire and Auto have provided quality tire and auto service to residents across central Florida. Owned and operated by the father and son team of Ralph and Matt Smith, Lake Tire and Auto is the oldest family-owned business in the Golden Triangle area of Lake County. The Smiths' dedication to their customers and community is evident not only in their commitment to superior vehicle service, but through their involvement in community organizations and activities, such as Kiwanis and the Tavares Chamber of Commerce. Local small and family-owned businesses like this are the backbone of our economy, and I am pleased to congratulate Ralph and Matt Smith for their hard work and tireless efforts in serving their customers and their community. May their actions inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, again, I will go back over this list because we must have forgotten it since I presented it a few minutes ago. The Democrats, when they were in control, passed a 1-month extension back on October 1, 2009; 1 month, no amendments; 1.5 months a little bit later, no amendments; 2.5 months, no amendments; 1 month, no amendments; 9 months, no amendments; 2 months, no amendments. I'm not sure what they're talking about, Mr. Speaker. Pass the extension.

Mr. WEBSTER

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Dr. John Hitt on his tremendous record of accomplishment as President of the University of Central Florida (UCF). This month marks Dr. Hitt's 20th year of service to UCF, and it gives me great pleasure to recognize Dr. Hitt's contributions to UCF and the Central Florida community. Under Dr. Hitt's leadership, UCF has planned and won approval for a new college of medicine, doubled enrollment while enhancing the quality of academic offerings, exponentially increased the number of doctoral degrees awarded each year, and expanded research funding from $6.2 million to more than $121 million per year. Before coming to UCF, Dr. Hitt held numerous posts as both faculty and executive leadership at academic institutions, including Assistant Professor of Psychology at Tulane University, Vice President of Texas Christian University Research Foundation, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bradley University. Dr. Hitt's passion for education led him to UCF, where he arrived in March 1992. Since that time, he has been honored with many awards and recognitions, including Junior Achievement's Spirit of Achievement Award in 2008, Orlando Business Journal's inaugural Legacy Award in 2006, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission James B. Greene award in 2002, and the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce's John Young Award in 2008. It was a personal honor to work with Dr. Hitt while serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for UCF. Dr. Hitt's attitude of servant leadership and his dedication to quality education for UCF's students has been a testimony to his personal modesty and humility. Dr. Hitt is not only a great president for UCF, but he is a model for the University's students. On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I congratulate and applaud Dr. Hitt on his 20th year of service as the president of the University of Central Florida. May his character, life, and efforts inspire others to follow in his footsteps.