Steve Womack

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I would be happy to.

Mr. WOMACK. I thank the gentleman. Reclaiming my time, I just want to say, before I go to my next chart, that this isn't an option for us, to allow this to continue on this path without the interaction of this Congress and solutions offered by this Congress, many of which are going to be big deals because when you get this far along into a problem, the solutions to the problem get much larger. They are going to require a lot more political courage. But we have to address it because if we don't, in just a few years beyond the 2018 timeframe that this chart shows, there will be no money left for the items that you see in green and blue. And let me hasten to remind you that the items in blue are national defense.

Mr. WOMACK. I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina.

Mr. WOMACK. I appreciate the gentleman's perspective. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to show you this one. I was fortunate to get elected in 2010 by a significant majority of the people in the Third District of Arkansas. I consider that area of our State to be the most dynamic in all of our State. It has got a lot going for it. It has got great jobs, great health care, wonderful educational institutions, effective governments, the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. I mean, there are a lot of great things you can say about the area that I represent. And it is different than a lot of places around our country, I will submit to that. While I made a promise to the people that elected me, the biggest promise that I made, the one that I hold closest to my heart and the promise that drives all of the decisions that I make, particularly to my friends that have joined me here in the Chamber today regarding budgets, deficits, debt, long-term spending, and those kinds of things, are the promises I made to these two young men right here. This is Liam. He is 8. And that is Kaden. Kaden is not even 2 yet. They are cousins. These are my grandkids. When I look into the eyes of these two precious little boys, I see the innocence of youth, but I also see something that they can't see. I see a tremendous burden that is growing every day, every week, every year that these two kids have had nothing to do in creating, and that is a mountain of debt and interest payments for borrowed money that go as far as the eye can see.

Mr. WOMACK. I will.

Mr. WOMACK. I want to give you some perspective before I close, Mr. Speaker. The only budget that we have laying out there right now is the President's budget. It arrived on time. It never balances--never--and continues to add a lot of taxes and a lot of debt and a lot of interest burdens on the generations of these two kids right here. But here is what is inescapable: the net interest on the debt that we will pay this year--and I might need some help on this, Mr. Rokita--I think it is around $250 billion?

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a terrific leader and public servant in northwest Arkansas, Rogers Police Chief James Allen, who passed away last Thursday after a long battle with cancer. Chief Allen began his law enforcement career in 1977 as a patrolman and EMT for the Jacksonville, Arkansas, Police Department, and then served with the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement Division and the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office before moving to Bentonville in 1989, where he enjoyed 22 years of faithful and dedicated service as that city's chief. In 2011, Chief Allen left Bentonville to serve my hometown of Rogers, where his leadership and professionalism were admired by all. He leaves behind a law enforcement community shaped impeccably by a firm but fair leadership standard. Our two communities, Mr. Speaker, mourn with his family and friends, and it is with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to this respected law enforcement professional. Rest in peace, Chief Allen. Our State and Nation are forever grateful for your service.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for bringing this collection of bills to the House floor. I would also like to express my gratitude to Representatives Himes, Delaney, and Wagner for working with me on one of the underlying bills, the bipartisan H.R. 801, in the last Congress. Mr. Speaker, in this new Congress, adding jobs to our economy is a top priority. And passing the Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act is an opportunity for us to create a better environment for private sector growth and job creation. Title III, also known as H.R. 801, is no exception, and I am proud to rise in support of its passage. A year ago this month, I came to this floor to speak on the underlying bill which passed overwhelmingly in this Chamber 417-4. While it is unfortunate the bill was never considered by the Senate, it is clear today that in the 114th Congress, its prospects are better. Small financial institutions are essential to the communities they serve. They have a deep and abiding love for the towns they serve because these towns are their towns, and our constituents--small business owners, farmers, hardworking Americans--rely on these institutions to meet payroll, to purchase equipment, or to buy a car or home. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, these financial institutions have come under fire from Washington because of its regulatory overreach, forcing them to spend increasing shares of their resources to comply with onerous regulations--requirements intended for larger banks--instead of having the flexibility they need to serve their communities. Let's be clear: small community banks and savings and loan holding companies were not the cause of the financial crisis, and I don't believe they should be treated as though they were the cause. I am not alone. In the 112th Congress, the House and Senate acted to eliminate some of these unnecessary burdens by passing the JOBS Act. Among other things, the bill raised the registration threshold for bank holding companies from 500 to 2,000 shareholders and increased the deregistration threshold from 300 to 1,200 shareholders, better positioning these banks to increase small business lending and, in turn, promote economic growth in our communities; but due to an oversight in the JOBS Act, it did not explicitly extend these new thresholds to savings and loan holding companies as well. As a cosponsor of the JOBS Act, I can say with absolute certainty that wasn't our intent, and I subsequently supported report language in the approps bill of Financial Services to clarify and ensure that savings and loan holding companies should be treated in the same manner as bank and bank holding companies. Additionally, Representative Himes and I have written to the FCC and asked that they use their authority to carry out our original intent. In spite of these actions and the House passage of H.R. 801 last Congress, we are still without successful resolution to the problem. Today's vote can change that, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill and the overall legislation.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the retirement of Marion Ramsey of Rogers, Arkansas, and the closing of her business, Marion's Donuts, that became part of my daily routine 35 years ago. The ``doughnut shop,'' as I affectionately called it, was my favorite place to catch up on the latest city news--oftentimes, just plain ole gossip--and hear about the aches and pains and the latest trials and tribulations of those who frequented the establishment over time. I have taken my boys there since birth, and it was nostalgic for all three of them to join me last Sunday, her last day of business, for old times' sake. The Bible tells us there is a season for everything. I am sad that the ``season'' has come and gone for Marion's Donuts because, while I will find another place for my morning coffee, I am not sure how I will fill the void on the friendships forged down through the years. Enjoy your retirement, Marion. Your customers are grateful for our time together.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer special birthday wishes to someone very important to me, my father, Kermit Womack. Dad turns 80 years old tomorrow, and it is a special honor to recognize him for his many outstanding accomplishments. He is a 35-year veteran of the National Guard in Missouri and Arkansas. As an accomplished broadcaster, owning and operating five broadcast stations in Arkansas, his ``old school'' philosophy of community-involvement radio is legendary. He is also a dedicated cattleman. Mr. Speaker, Dad is also a great family man. He raised seven children and taught them the important and valuable lessons of life, and he should know because, as a child in humble circumstances, Dad won a three-State FFA public speaking contest and a scholarship to pay his way through college. Dad, on the eve of your 80th birthday, I want America to know the importance you have meant to your family, the communities you serve, the Nation, and this grateful Congressman. Happy birthday.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, since the U.S. Marshals Service was founded on September 24 of 1789, U.S. marshals have served this country with dedication and distinction, upholding its creed of ``Justice, Integrity, Service.'' I rise today to commemorate the service's 225th anniversary. The U.S. Marshals Service will celebrate its birthday next week in my district by breaking ground on the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The museum will be funded in part by the sale of coins commemorating the 225th anniversary of the Marshals Service. The museum's 20,000 square feet will highlight pivotal moments in our oldest Federal law enforcement agency's history and pay proper tribute to the heroism the marshals have shown over the past 225 years. I speak for all of my constituents in the Third District of Arkansas and my fellow Arkansans when I say we are humbled to have the U.S. Marshals Museum make Fort Smith its home and honored to play a prominent role in the next 225 years of the U.S. marshals history. Happy birthday, U.S. marshals.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. My thanks to my friend from Texas for giving me the time. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of Chairman McKeon's amendment, though I have grave concerns about the President's current plan to train and equip Syrian opposition forces in the fight against ISIL. In my opinion, Madam Speaker, the plan does not fit the threat. ISIL has made the Middle East into a war zone and an advanced training ground for terrorists who, by their own admission, seek to do Americans great harm. Its stated objectives of redrawing the boundaries of and imposing its will on sovereign nations makes the importance of confronting this organization, in the most profound way possible, critical. Instead of responding proportionately, President Obama has proposed we outsource the problem to other people, and as a military officer, I am concerned that he actually believes this limited use of military power can achieve the ultimate objective of destroying ISIL--a force that is 30,000 strong and growing by the day. Madam Speaker, I fear--in fact, I firmly believe--that the problem will not be solved by the actions taken by this Congress today. However, we cannot afford to stand idly by for another day, because a step in the right direction is better than no step at all. So I join my colleagues in support of the amendment. I believe, in short order, we will be asked to do more.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Chairman, thanks to my chairman of this very important subcommittee for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf and even a friendly gesture to my friend from New York down there, who reminds me, from time to time, about the Yankee dominance in baseball. It is great to have his association on this committee. Mr. Chairman, our subcommittee is aware of our Nation's fiscal situation, and we closely evaluated the budget requests for the diverse group of agencies funded in this bill. We held numerous hearings. We listened to the agencies about their priorities and needs. We challenged them with tough questions that reflect the realities of the choices we, as appropriators, have to make on a daily basis. Using this information, Mr. Chairman, the subcommittee produced a bill that provides a little over $21 billion in total funding and sees to it that every agency funded under the bill can carry out its core functions. Take, for example, our Federal courts which, because of this bill, will have the resources they need to ensure that our courtrooms are safe and justice is served; or the Small Business Administration, which will be able to make entrepreneurs' dreams become a reality, leading to new business, more jobs, thriving communities, and a 21st century economy with the funds that the agency receives through this legislation. Mr. Chairman, as Members of Congress, and especially as appropriators, we have an obligation to carefully steward each and every taxpayer dollar, and in this bill, transparency and accountability rule the day. In this bill, the CFPB, an agency that has operated in the shadows with unfettered power and no accountability, is brought under the appropriations process. Agencies, Mr. Chairman, that have violated the public's trust and misused taxpayer dollars, such as the GSA and the IRS, they are held accountable. As an example, the IRS budget is returned to below fiscal 2008 levels, ensuring the agency does not have extra funding to target Americans based on their political beliefs without hampering the IRS' ability to enforce our Nation's tax laws. In closing, Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentleman from Florida, Chairman Crenshaw, and the subcommittee staff for producing a bill that is worthy of this Chamber's support. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee and the ranking member, Mr. Frelinghuysen and Mr. Visclosky, for their terrific leadership and the great work, tough work that has taken place in crafting this Defense Appropriations bill. I also would like to thank the overall chairman and the ranking member, Mr. Rogers and Mrs. Lowey, for their leadership as well. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation on which our men and women in uniform, our intelligence community, and our futures depend. America is at war, and we face continued uncertainty and new threats daily. Now is not the time to weaken our military. This bill equips the Department of Defense with the funding necessary to keep our Nation safe while making the tough decisions necessary to ensure we stay within our spending limits. With $491 billion provided in discretionary spending, and another $80 billion as a placeholder in overseas contingency, the DOD will be able to maintain readiness at levels that protect our military's standing, support our ongoing war efforts abroad, and, most importantly, ensure that the health and well-being of our men and women in uniform and their ability to support their families is protected. Our subcommittee, and our committee as a whole, is keenly aware of our Nation's deficits and debt. We are committed to thoroughly evaluating our spending to ensure our defense officials, both military and civilian, are accountable for smart policy objectives that responsibly steward taxpayer dollars. We have had months of hearings, classified briefings, and bipartisan cooperation, and I believe we have successfully accomplished a bill, a good bipartisan bill, that is worthy of support. Mr. Chairman, as I was thinking about my remarks today, I thought about that famous verse in ``America the Beautiful'' that says: ``Oh beautiful, for heroes proved, in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life.'' Mr. Chairman, we have an enormous obligation, a constitutional obligation, to protect the homeland. But we have an obligation to ensure that we protect those heroes referenced in that great patriotic song. So the least we can do today is put our partisan differences aside and join collectively to send our collective appreciation to those who serve us in uniform by passing this very important piece of legislation.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, it is a personal honor this morning to welcome to the House Chamber the Reverend Dr. Ronnie Floyd, elected this week president of the Southern Baptist Convention in Baltimore. Dr. Floyd is the senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, a multicampus ministry in one of America's fastest growing regions. His commitment to evangelism, discipleship, and the advancement of the Gospel to America and the world is remarkable. He has authored a number of books, founded and hosts a businessperson's luncheon called The Summit, and has been a strategic leader in the Southern Baptist Convention for decades. His lovely wife, Jeana, joins us in the gallery today, as does his son, Nick, himself an associate pastor at Cross Church, and his beautiful wife, Meredith. His other son, Josh, is a championship football coach who just took the head coaching position with Hewitt- Trussville High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a dynamic leader, a dynamic visionary, and minister. I am proud to call him president of the Southern Baptist Convention. But more than anything, Madam Speaker, I am proud to call him my pastor and friend.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a member of the Greatest Generation--Colonel Joe Hart of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, who passed away on May 23 at the age of 93. Colonel Joe was known for many things. He was a decorated World War II hero, a B-17 pilot, a POW, a participant in January 1945's infamous Death March, a Purple Heart recipient, a test pilot for Boeing, a patent holder, and the author of a book, ``The Hart Dietary Procedure.'' He was a father and grandfather, a local radio commentator, and a frequent caller to my office. Colonel Joe was not shy about his strong opinions, and his many visits to my Rogers office to share them were always welcomed by my staff. We--and the undoubtedly many others Colonel Joe touched throughout his long life--will certainly miss his presence. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends. Rest in peace, Colonel Joe. We will miss you.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, every year in June, America celebrates outdoor recreation during National Great Outdoors Month. Arkansas has proclaimed June to be Great Outdoors Month every year since 2008. This year is no exception, and I am pleased that the Third District played a leading role in the celebrations by hosting the 2014 kickoff campout at Pea Ridge National Military Park on the 16th and 17th of May. Arkansas, known as the Natural State, is the perfect place to have kicked-off National Great Outdoors Month; we boast more than three million acres of federal lands--and many more of state and local lands--open for public enjoyment. This network of state parks and federal lands is great for swimming and fishing, hiking and biking, climbing and hunting, paddling and boating, and more. As summer draws near, so do the sounds of outdoor recreation. As the weather grows warmer and the days grow longer, more than 730,000 citizens of northwest and north central Arkansas will take to our fields and forests, skies and waterways to enjoy clean, healthy outdoor fun. It began at the Pea Ridge National Military Park campout--which engaged our youngest generation in the preservation of our outdoors for the enjoyment and recreation of our citizens--and will end with the entire national following in the footsteps of Arkansas's Third District and supporting America's Great Outdoors.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the Gentry Arkansas Fire Department's 100th birthday. Gentry, Arkansas, is home to over 3,000 of my constituents; and for the past 100 years, the Gentry Fire Department has been steadfastly committed to their safety and well-being, as well as the safety of thousands more who reside in the surrounding areas of Benton County. From its humble beginnings in 1914 to the purchase of its first firetruck in the 1940s, the Gentry Fire Department and firefighters have worked tirelessly for its citizens, placing themselves in great danger to protect the lives and property of others. We rest easy knowing the department will continue to do so for the next century, and I join the residents of Gentry to express my profound gratitude. Thank you to the Gentry firefighters, past and present, for 100 years of selfless service to the Pioneer community. I wish you a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to offer my congratulations to the chairman, to his ranking member, and to my colleague from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford), one of the committee members, for their diligent work and for coming up with this committee report. This was not easy, to say the least. That said, Mr. Speaker, because of the Senate's ``my way or the highway'' attitude, we are considering a conference report that does nothing to address an out-of-control agency, GIPSA, from imposing on American companies regulations that go well beyond congressional intent. Because of the Senate's all-or-nothing approach, we are considering a conference report that will subject American industries and companies to retaliatory tariffs. For me, it would be easy to vote against this conference report. But unlike my Senate counterparts, I recognize that, in a divided government, each side must work to find common ground. Ultimately, this report, like many of the other bipartisan agreements that have been signed into law, moves the ball forward by making much-needed reforms to Federal programs and reducing spending. That is why, in the end, I will support it. I am hopeful, however, Mr. Speaker, that the House Appropriations Committee will do everything in its power to fix some of these mistakes. I, as a member of that committee, will fight to rein in GIPSA, and I will work to fix the Country of Origin Labeling requirements.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, my thanks to the subcommittee chairman and to Chairman Hensarling for shepherding this bill through committee and bringing it to the House floor. I, too, would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, particularly Representative Himes, with whom I worked in the previous Congress on similar legislation that has already been articulated, and Representative Delaney and Mrs. Wagner for working with me on this bipartisan measure. As you know, Madam Speaker, we have been talking about jobs. The House has passed bill after bill to create a better environment for private sector growth and job creation. These conservative solutions would help create new jobs today, would make life for families better across the country, and would expand opportunity for everyone without expanding government. That is exactly what this bill, H.R. 801, does as well, and I am proud to rise and urge support for its passage. Small financial institutions are essential to the communities they serve. Their boards are made up of community leaders. Their employees are our neighbors. They sponsor Little League teams and softball leagues and support the United Way. On Friday nights, you see their logos on the scoreboards at high school football games. These institutions have a deep and abiding love for the towns that they serve, and our constituents--small business owners, farmers, and hardworking Americans--rely on them to meet payroll, to purchase equipment, or to buy a car or a home. Unfortunately, these institutions are coming under increased pressure from Washington, forcing them to spend more and more of their resources not to put capital into the community but to comply with onerous new regulations and requirements--requirements intended for larger banks-- instead of serving the needs of their communities. Our small community banks and savings and loan holding companies were not the cause of the financial crisis, and they should not be treated as though they were. That is why in the last Congress the House and Senate acted to eliminate some of these unnecessary burdens by passing the JOBS Act. Among other things, the bill raised the registration threshold for bank holdings companies from 500 to 2,000 shareholders and increased the deregistration threshold from 300 to 1,200 shareholders, better positioning banks to increase their business lending and, in turn, promote economic growth in our communities. Due to an oversight, the JOBS Act did not explicitly extend these new thresholds to savings and loan holding companies. As a sponsor of the original legislation, this wasn't our intent, and I supported report language in the House FY 2013 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill clarifying that savings and loan holding companies should be treated in the same manner as bank and bank holding companies. Additionally, Representative Himes and I wrote to SEC Chairman Schapiro to ask that the SEC use its authority to carry out our original intent. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, we are still without a successful resolution to the problem. At a time when our economy is struggling, Congress must address the issue and ease the burdens on these institutions to allow them to deploy more of their capital throughout the communities they serve. H.R. 801 does this by correcting this oversight and ensuring that savings and loan holding companies are treated in the same manner as bank and bank holding companies. I urge my colleagues to support this job-creating legislation.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Ryan for his great leadership in forging this particular agreement and putting us in a position to end on a positive note here as we approach the Christmas and holiday season. Mr. Speaker, I am going to bring a couple of different perspectives to the floor as I analyze this budget deal. The first perspective I have is that of being a former mayor for 12 years in a great city in northwest Arkansas where there was an enormous amount of economic development and we did a lot of great things. I sat at the table many times talking about issues and trying to balance the needs of our community against what the wants of our community were. I have to tell you that I never ended any of those negotiations getting everything that I wanted, but I always looked for an opportunity to find the common ground and to advance the economic development issues of our city where we could find that type of consensus. Mr. Speaker, I also bring the perspective of an appropriator. As somebody who came to Congress in 2011, I was immediately assigned to the Appropriations Committee. And, quite frankly, I have been frustrated through this entire process, living from CR to CR and never having the opportunity to do what appropriators are purposed in doing. This agreement, while not perfect, as has already been mentioned by most every speaker, gives us an opportunity to take government shutdowns off the table and to restore some much-needed funding to something very important to all of us, our national defense. As an appropriator, it gives us an opportunity to actually do our jobs and quit ceding the authority for the power of the purse to the administration down the street. From that perspective, Mr. Speaker, I think this is the right deal at the right time. It gives us an opportunity to give some certainty to the American public who is looking to this Congress to be able to work together to try to find the solutions that move America forward. I urge support.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the realities of ObamaCare in my district, the Third District of Arkansas. Health insurance enrollment through www.healthcare .gov can be described as dismal, at best. Only an embarrassing 250 Arkansans have managed to enroll. Shawn Kispert, one of my constituents from Fort Smith, and her husband are self-employed and have spent over 64 hours on www.healthcare.gov attempting to sign up for the insurance ObamaCare requires them to purchase. She then tried to sign up via telephone. That was also fruitless. The very few Arkansans that have successfully logged on have found, in over 60 percent of the State, only one or two provider options offering plans that increase their premiums by as much as 600 percent. Rod Rogers of Sulphur Springs will see his family's insurance premiums go from $248 to $876 a month. Jeff Asher of Russellville is facing budget-busting monthly premiums of over $900. In October, my fellow Arkansas Republicans and I wrote to Secretary Sebelius to ask for more information on ObamaCare's effect on Arkansans. Much like the pleas from hardworking taxpayers asking for relief from the law's suffocating regulations and overbearing mandates, our request was ignored. But we don't need a response from the administration to tell us what I am hearing from my constituents: ObamaCare is raising the cost of health care, creating uncertainty in Arkansas, and hurting Americans. We need to replace it with real reforms and focus on the patient, not the government.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I thank Chairman Miller for this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the chorus of people remembering our friend from Florida, Bill Young, the chairman of the Defense Subcommittee of Appropriations. Chairman Young, as you know, spent five decades of his life in this Chamber fighting for a better America for both his constituents and our country. As the dean of the Republican Conference, he was a leader and of counsel to colleagues young or old, Republican or Democrat. Mr. Speaker, I am the newest member of the Defense Subcommittee of Appropriations. I was fortunate to receive his mentorship. I learned from his fearless, unparalleled support of our troops and our veterans, and I admired his outspoken and unwavering commitment to what was in their best interest. Mr. Speaker, as a veteran myself of over 30 years, I was also a beneficiary of his incredible support of those who wear the uniform. While his presence will be forever missed, the Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center will serve as a small and fitting reminder that this institution, our men and women in uniform, and America are undoubtedly better off because of Bill Young. I am proud to support it.