Steve Womack

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, last night in this very Chamber, I heard the President talk of an ``all-of-the-above'' energy strategy for our Nation. I couldn't agree more. But this is the same President who a few days ago rejected the Keystone XL pipeline project, a $7 billion trifecta shovel-ready for America: jobs, energy security, and urgent logistical relief necessary to move oil to the gulf coast region. Count me as one of the disappointed. At a time when we should be doing everything we can to be giving American workers a lift, instead we take to the bully pulpit and preach envy and division, simply a smokescreen for political convenience and expedience. Mr. President, if you truly believe in an all-of-the-above strategy, if you're genuinely concerned about 8\1/2\ percent unemployment, and if you're looking for a bipartisan way to reverse this economic course we are on, say ``yes'' to Keystone XL. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

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 demand a recorded vote.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, in 2005 16 cities competed for the right to become the home of the U.S. Marshals Museum. The city in my district, Fort Smith, was one of the two finalists and was ultimately chosen for many reasons, one of which was its strong historical connection to the U.S. Marshals Service. Fort Smith was, for many years, the seat of justice, not only for the western district of Arkansas but Indian territory as well. More marshals and deputies have been killed in the line of duty out of the western district of Arkansas than any other district in the country. Most were killed riding out under famed Judge Isaac C. Parker, immortalized by the novel, ``True Grit,'' and the movies by the same name. A few months ago, Mr. Speaker, I introduced legislation to mint a coin to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service. Today I'm pleased to be standing here with the opportunity to urge my fellow Members, many of whom are cosponsors of this bill, to join me in honoring a truly deserving institution. The proceeds from the sale of these coins will assist in the preservation and maintenance of artifacts and documents which will be displayed in the U.S. Marshals Museum. Additional proceeds will go to the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Law Enforcement Museum, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The museum, which will overlook the beautiful Arkansas River, will consist of 20,000 square feet of exhibit space to highlight pivotal moments in the history of the U.S. Marshals Service, such as the ``Going Snake Massacre'' of April 15, 1872, which left one deputy and seven posse men dead in the bloodiest day in Marshals history. This event will be the central exhibit of this museum. A Hall of Honor for fallen marshals will also be part of the more than $50 million facility, paying tribute to those killed in the line of duty, from Robert Forsythe in 1794 to Deputy Marshals Derek Hotsinpiller and John Perry in 2011. In addition to serving as a symbol and constant reminder of the character and tradition of one of America's greatest institutions, this commemorative coin will allow the U.S. Marshals Museum to honor past marshals like Bass Reeves, who, in 1875, was commissioned as one of the first African American deputy marshals west of the Mississippi River. Reeves was a skilled gunslinger, who, on one occasion, brought in 19 horse thieves to the Federal jail in Fort Smith, all by himself. But as the Nation's oldest law enforcement agency, Bass Reeves is only one of many characters etched into the storied history of the U.S. Marshals Service, including the famous Three Guardsmen of the Oklahoma Territory, Wild Bill Hickok, the Earp brothers, Virgil, Morgan, and, briefly, Wyatt, along with Doc Holliday during the shootout at the OK Corral. Today that same grit and courage defines the Marshals Service. U.S. marshals were in Oxford, Mississippi, to protect James Meredith when he became the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi. U.S. marshals were in the State of Washington when convicted Soviet spy Christopher Boyce was captured when he escaped from prison. And U.S. marshals were in Oklahoma and New York to administer justice following the terrorist attacks that took the lives of innocent Americans. Since 1789 the U.S. Marshals Service has served this country with dedication and distinction, upholding its creed of justice, integrity, and service. And today, U.S. marshals continue to play an integral role in the security of our country. They assist when tragedy strikes. They ensure the safety and well-being of Federal officials, and they track down and apprehend some of the most dangerous fugitives, murderers, sex offenders, and gang members, with little regard for their own safety. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Marshals Service has meant so much to so many. Over the course of history, more than 250 marshals have given that ultimate sacrifice. They have selflessly given their own lives to protect our way of life. This coin will serve as a token of our appreciation and a symbol of their sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of people to thank, including the 300- plus cosponsors of this legislation who, with their cosponsorship, made considering of this bill possible. I want to thank Chairman Bachus for his support in moving this bill forward through committee. I want to thank my friend Mike Ross of the Fourth District of Arkansas for his personal involvement in seeking cosponsors for this legislation and his unfailing support for the construction of this museum. I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona, Ed Pastor. Ed took this legislation to the Hispanic Caucus and got widespread support there. Thanks also to the late Ray Baker, the mayor of Fort Smith, who was in the early beginnings of the development of this museum project, and current mayor, Sandy Sanders. I want to thank the CEO of the Marshals Museum Organization, Jim Dunn and Jim Johnson, and very soon they will be conducting nationwide campaigns to see that the funding is possible to construct this museum. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to have sponsored this legislation. I also want to thank my friend, John Boozman, my predecessor who began this process in a previous Congress and I know will work very hard in the Senate to champion this legislation through the other body. I'm proud to have been the sponsor, but more than anything, I'm proud of what the U.S. Marshals Service means to our country. And I am anxiously looking forward to the construction of this museum so that we can showcase the museum, the institution of the Marshals Service, and the great city of Fort Smith and the Third District of Arkansas to all who will come and see.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, today it is my privilege to introduce Reverend Roger Schoolcraft of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Reverend Schoolcraft retired from the ministry in 2008 after nearly 40 years in the ministry, serving congregations in Iowa, Nebraska and, most recently, in northwest Arkansas, where he led St. John's Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Reverend Schoolcraft was called to the ministry in 1953 after accepting an invitation from a friend to attend a Sunday school class at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rochester, Michigan. Mr. Speaker, Reverend Schoolcraft's service extends well beyond the walls of the church. He served as campus pastor of the Lutheran Student Center at the University of Arkansas. He was a circuit counselor for 11 years and was assistant dean and dean for two national campus missionary institutes. Locally, he was president of Cooperative Emergency Outreach, secretary-treasurer of the Fayetteville Ministerial Alliance, and treasurer for the Council of Religious Organizations. Reverend Schoolcraft is married to Deborah Steen Schoolcraft; and they have two children, Andrea and Aaron. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I want to thank Reverend Schoolcraft for his longstanding devotion to the ministry, the churches he has served, and his fellow man.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Today is payday. It's Friday. For a lot of people, it's payday. They're going to get a check from their employer, if they're lucky enough to have a job. And I'm for sure for most of them, before ever cashing that check, they know exactly where it's going. These people have likely already come to the realization that there are a lot more needs, a lot more things they would like to have or do, but there's just so much money. I find it incredible that my friends on the other side of the aisle believe this Federal Government should not have to go through the same process of discerning between what they want and what they need and what they can afford, like the rest of America. In the 10-plus months I have been here, I consider this vote the most important vote I will have cast because it's the vote that has the most impact on the future of my grandson. It is sad that Congress does not have the discipline to live within its means, and I strongly believe the only way to constrain an undisciplined Congress is to enshrine its obligation in the Constitution. An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that the balanced budget amendment, as proposed today, is the right way forward for America. I thank my friend from Virginia for his leadership on the issue, and I urge its passage.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor McKee Foods, a company in my district best known for its Little Debbie snack cakes. McKee Foods is a role model for companies across the country. It is a company committed to excellence--excellence in customer service, excellence in the treatment of its employees, and excellence in finding a better way, which, by the way, is McKee's motto. In 1982, the company built a plant in Gentry, Arkansas. Today, the plant is the lifeblood of the community. It employs more than 1,500 people who take pride in their work, who are loyal to their company, and who believe in service to their community. McKee has been best known for developing innovative processes to improve its operations and become a better corporate citizen. That's why the company's recent announcement that its Gentry plant produces zero landfill waste comes as no surprise. Two years ago, McKee's plant management team and employees came together and challenged themselves to be better stewards of the environment by producing zero landfill waste. True to form, the plant teamed up with local recycling companies and put in place new processes to achieve this goal. Madam Speaker, I congratulate McKee Foods for its accomplishment. It is a tribute to the dedication of the company's leadership and its employees.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I thank the distinguished chairman for the time this afternoon, and I'd also like to offer my thanks and appreciation to my friend from Connecticut for his leadership on the issue. I am indeed an original cosponsor. The unemployment rate in our Nation is still in excess of 9 percent. Millions of Americans are out of work. I just recently came back from my district where we had a job fair, and of the 300 or 400 jobs that were allegedly available on that particular day, there were several times more than that looking. It is a painful reminder to me that job creation is still critical to our country. I'm also reminded as to how important it is that this job creation is linked to access to capital by businesses large and small. The slow pace of the recovery, the burdens of archaic and oftentimes unnecessary regulation have fallen disproportionately on small businesses, and particularly community banks. As was commented on just a moment ago by the distinguished minority whip, the community banks are the lifeblood of our communities. They help a family purchase a home. They allow that mechanic the necessary capital to open his first shop. They help a chef open her first restaurant. Small businesses rely on these banks to give them a chance, a chance to take advantage of the American Dream. Today, this Chamber has the opportunity to make it easier for community banks and small businesses to operate by removing a barrier to raising capital. So today we have the opportunity to pass H.R. 1965, and I strongly encourage my colleagues to support it. Your support will result in the fact that community banks will have the flexibility they need to raise capital without having to comply with onerous SEC regulations intended for larger banks. They will use this money in my district, the Third District of Arkansas, to create jobs, and that will be good for my district, it will be good for our State, and it will be good for America. Again, my thanks for the time given to me by leadership and to my friend from Connecticut, and I strongly encourage support of H.R. 1965.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the service of Arkansas native and Navy Captain Harry Harrison Basore, Jr., of Leawood, Kansas, who died August 2, 2011, at the age of 95, and who will be buried tomorrow in Arlington National Cemetery. A distinguished naval aviator, Captain Basore commanded Fighter Squadron 74 off the ``jeep'' carrier USS Kasaan Bay, in support of Allied forces during their fight against Germany in southern France in August 1944. He was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism during low-level reconnaissance missions over enemy concentrations. Like most of America's Greatest Generation, Captain Basore returned home following the war, became president of a prominent sheet metal firm, was an active volunteer of the Leawood Fire Department, and chairman of the board of trustees of his alma mater, College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri. Preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, to whom he was married 70 years, Captain Basore will always be remembered by his family and friends for his courage, leadership, and selfless service to his country--and his fellow man.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Arkansas' ``fifth Congressman,'' Colonel (Retired) Raymond T. Reid, who passed away last weekend at the age of 90. Ray Reid had an amazing love for his country. At the outbreak of World War II, he left school to join the Army and over the ensuing 31 years, faithfully served his Nation in uniform. His record of service placed him among our Nation's most unique: a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. And, Madam Speaker, as if his distinguished military service was not enough, Ray Reid came to Capitol Hill and served a quarter-century on the staffs of John Paul Hammerschmidt, Tim Hutchinson, and Asa Hutchinson, where, upon his retirement, he earned the nickname of Arkansas' ``fifth Congressman.'' Ray Reid was an institution. He enjoyed a long and adventurous life. Married to his sweetheart, Jean, for 51 years, he was the father of four, grandfather of six, and great-grandfather of two. I am honored to acknowledge the dedicated service of this great American hero.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor today to send birthday greetings to a member of America's Greatest Generation, Dr. R.C. Goodman, Sr., of Fort Smith, Arkansas. This American patriot mobilized with the Arkansas National Guard at the beginning of World War II, earning two Purple Hearts and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. And his life was forever changed by the events of May 8, 1945. You see, Dr. Goodman was in charge of a train car full of Belgian POWs just rescued from a German camp. The train wrecked, and Dr. Goodman was one of the few survivors. He later shared with his children the terrific sense of helplessness watching so many die that day, and he made a commitment to becoming a physician so that he would always be able to help in the presence of human suffering. Dr. Goodman, thank you for your service to your country and to your fellow man. And on the occasion of your 91st birthday, America sends its best wishes.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee for the time. I know the hour is late. It's been a long time. Soon we will complete action on this temporary spending measure for 2012. Obviously, it is work that has to be done. As my friend, the distinguished Rules Committee chairman appropriately quoted earlier this evening: the process has been ugly. It has been messy; but it works. The good news is that most of America has gone to bed and not witness to the bickering and rancor evidenced in this Chamber. I can only hope that when they wake up tomorrow, we will have done the people's work, funding government beyond October 1, giving necessary funding to the victims of natural disasters, and doing it such a way that promotes the kind of fiscal responsibility long demanded by the people of America. It will be sad, indeed tragic, if when the sun comes up tomorrow, this Congress, instead of bringing certainty and relief to those struggling, as this CR does, we impose yet another threat of a government shutdown and more uncertainty into an already skeptical populace. This legislation up until yesterday, Mr. Speaker, had bipartisan support. And only because my friends on the other side of the aisle recognized that many on our side preferred much deeper cuts and might be predisposed to opposing the CR, they pounced on it. And quickly, in an instant, that bipartisan support disappeared into the bowels of the business as usual. In other words, Mr. Speaker, it was politics ahead of the people. Let's remember that this CR we'll vote on in the next few minutes was crafted based on the numbers outlined in the BCA approved in this Chamber just a few weeks ago, complete with desperately need disaster funding, reasonably and responsibly offset. I urge my colleagues to support the CR.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I thank the gentleman, the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee for yielding and appreciate this time. If I heard it once when I was back in my district, I heard it dozens of times, and that was the frustration of my constituents concerning our inability to get our business done, to get it done on time without the panic and anxiety associated with threatened shutdowns of government. This vote today is an opportunity for us to do just that--fund government consistently with the amounts agreed to in the Budget Control Act, giving the necessary time to complete 2012 appropriations and save America from the threat of another government shutdown. Now, as was articulated by the distinguished chairman a moment ago, I'm a freshman, and I realize I'm still learning the ropes of this Chamber and how things get done, but let's just go back in context. This funds government at levels consistent with the Budget Control Act passed in this very room a few weeks ago. It addresses disaster funding and does so in a very responsible way. It is not unprecedented nor is it unique to find offsets. And this offset is exactly what this House passed in the Homeland Security appropriations bill. So what has changed? I suggest to you, Madam Speaker, that the political strategies have changed, and the emotions and the hardships of the people affected by these disasters are really nothing more than a political prop in this entire discussion designed to make us look hard-hearted or insensitive. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just a moment ago, the distinguished Democratic whip from Maryland talked about the water heater going out in the middle of the night. You just simply go charge one. What happens when you go to charge it and your credit is denied? You've maxed out on your credit card. As my friend Mike Simpson said a moment ago, we're broke. We're a trillion and a half dollars in deficit. Our plan, this CR, provides the necessary funding, does it responsibly and consistently with already agreed-upon numbers. I urge its passage.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. It is that basis on which I think this Congress should rally behind the plan that we have offered today that is going to cap spending, that is going to cut spending, and is going to require a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution so that future Congresses can't put us in a similar situation that we are in today. So I would urge a ``yes'' vote. I support it wholeheartedly, and I would ask the American people to join us by promoting fiscal sanity by approving this piece of legislation.

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman not only for yielding some time but also for his glowing remarks about a great community and one of the 10 most livable cities in all of America that I had the privilege of presiding over for about 12 years as mayor, a city that continues to enjoy tremendous economic development and influence in the State of Arkansas. And let me just say this, using that as a context for my remarks, that I think the model that the community that I had the privilege of presiding over for 12 years is the model that Washington needs. It's a model that balances its budget. When I inherited that city in 1999 as its mayor, it did not have a balanced budget. The government was in the way. The discriminate developer did not want to develop in that community because there were too many regulations, too many reasons why they could go elsewhere and have better margins. Well, we changed all that, and now the city is flourishing in a remarkable sort of way. And I want to steal something from a colleague of mine from Mississippi that was said yesterday out on the Triangle in a media event. He said: All across America we're sitting down with legal pads, and we're drawing that line down the middle and we're discussing the amount of income that we have. This is what's happening to families around the country, what kind of income we have and what kind of expenses we have. Where the expenses exceed the income, we are having to make some very difficult choices as to what do we do without. Well, quite frankly, I think that that's exactly what's happening in this Congress right now. We have to take the legal pad out. We have to decide those things that we can do that we need and those things that we can do without based on the amount of income that we have coming in. The sad thing is in order to be able to create that kind of fiscal discipline, it's going to take something like a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution in order to guarantee an enforcement mechanism that this Congress or future Congresses cannot undo. So it's that context that I bring to the table today.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I thank the gentleman for yielding some time. On my way over to the Capitol this afternoon, I was accompanied by some young people from back in my district, Payson and McKenna from Mena, Arkansas, and Adam and Grace Anne from Fayetteville, Arkansas; and we were having a conversation about the debate that's going on right now in Washington, the debate about the debt ceiling. I explained to these young people that the current debt of the United States of America, their share of that current debt, is well into the mid-$40,000 range, $46,000-or-so of debt. It is for this very reason that we are proposing what we are proposing, because the only way to keep this debt on these innocent young people from soaring to greater and greater levels, to an area that they can no longer afford, is to restrain, constrain government; and the only sure way to do that, the only guaranteed enforcement mechanism that I know that can accomplish that very thing is a balanced budget amendment. So on behalf of these young people and on behalf of young people across America, let's quit piling more and more debt on our children and grandchildren. Let's pass the rule. Let's pass this bill.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I've had the privilege of serving Arkansas' Third District now for a little more than 6 months in this Congress. And I can still hear the voices of those people who sent me here. Their voices said, Steve, you've got to go to Washington and you've got to cut spending. You've got to empower the private sector. You've got to reduce the size of government. You've got to get to Washington and help put us back to work. Those same conversations at home at the kitchen table, people discussing their personal budgets, saying to me that, I have to live within my means, why doesn't Washington? Mr. Speaker, to each of these comments I say, we have an answer. It's a trifecta, if you will. It's called Cut, Cap, and Balance. Mr. Speaker, I realize I've only been here a short time, but I know full well how Washington works. And I know that this concept is foreign to the many people who have been here down through the years. But if you look around and take an objective view, you will know that the only way to bring legitimate control to the irresponsible fiscal behavior of Washington, D.C., the only way to restore the integrity of this Chamber, to restore the confidence in the people we serve, is to make it constitutional, a balanced budget amendment. No gimmicks, Mr. Speaker. No hollow promises. Simple language that rank-and-file Americans can wrap their heads around: a constitutional requirement for this country to balance its books.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Chairwoman, I think we are going to have to extend the space shuttle for an extra day to retrieve the thought process, it got so far out there in orbit. Let me just be very clear, to kind of bring this back to the subject matter at hand. We're talking about taking funds that have been designated for a project in the future, near term or long term, but in the future, to satisfy an emerging issue that is in the present. Future versus present. In my district of Arkansas, the cresting of the Illinois River has ripped apart roads, washed out bridges. Floods have taken the lives of constituents of mine, young people who will grow up without a mother or father. We have people living in tents. We have an urgent issue that is facing us today. The flooding has done damage across our entire State, leaving hundreds of Arkansans without homes, and crop losses estimated at over $500 million. It has even been asserted by the other side that it is ``just farmland.'' Just farmland. Well, let me say to the people who make that argument, don't make that argument with your mouth full. It has also caused about $100 million in damage to dams, parks, roads, and waterways under the control of the Army Corps of Engineers, and if left unrepaired, will only result in additional devastation in the next season. But it isn't just about what happened in Arkansas; the entire Mississippi River and its tributary system has been imperiled by these tragedies. They are the lifeblood of our Nation's commerce, and bordering farmlands are rich with fertile soil able to provide food for so many of the American people. Allowing these lands to be so vulnerable to future flooding will only imperil our Nation's food supply. Offset or not to offset; it is an emerging issue. And on offsets, as you have already heard from my colleague from Louisiana, my colleague from Missouri, that supplemental appropriations, if fully offset over the last three decades, would have reduced by at least $1.3 trillion the debt and reduced the public interest payments on this debt of $57 billion a year. Now, my friends, $57 billion in interest payments would build a lot of high-speed rail. I congratulate the chairman for his work on this Energy and Water bill. I support it. It is prudent. It is wise. It is necessary. And I commend it to the leadership and to this entire House to pass it and restore the fiscal integrity of our country and give relief to the people who need it so desperately. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Daisy Outdoor Products, a Rogers, Arkansas, company celebrating its 125th anniversary. Daisy moved to Rogers from Plymouth, Michigan, in 1958. Since that move, Daisy's impact on the northwest Arkansas economy has been substantial--not only in providing jobs, but the incredible recognition this famous brand brings to our region. As the world's oldest and largest BB gun manufacturer, Daisy has a storied history. Its contributions to the shooting sports, the United States military, and the character of young men and women nationwide is noteworthy. And who can forget Ralphie in the famous movie ``A Christmas Story'' and his coveted Red Ryder, the most famous BB gun ever produced? Mr. Speaker, 125 years in business is a significant milestone by any measurement. It is a tribute to the vision, commitment, and hard work of the company leadership and the employees of Daisy. Congratulations, Daisy. I'm proud of you, and our Nation is proud of you.

Mr. WOMACK

Mr. WOMACK. I encourage my colleagues to support the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOMACK. I appreciate the leadership of our subcommittee chair, whom I will recognize and yield some time to in just a moment. Obviously, we are spending more than we make. I don't know how many times we have to articulate the financial condition of our country: that we are borrowing over 40 cents on the dollar for everything we spend. The country is in a financial crisis, and you've got Members on this side of the aisle who are doing everything they can to bring fiscal sanity back to the table and to put America on a different path. I am amused at how many times we continue to be portrayed as being insensitive to women, infants and children, to older folks, and how so many half-truths are being spoken about the things that this conference is trying to do in order to right America's financial ship. Suffice it to say that we have much work to do, and it is our intent to do it in a way that is rational and feasible and brings this country back to fiscal order and can take away that cloud of uncertainty that continues to hover over the job creators in this country, the threat of higher taxes, the tremendous deficit and debt, the overregulation that is keeping those entrepreneurs parked on the sideline for fear of higher costs to job expansion and higher energy prices. On and on and on, the challenges facing this country are many and we have much work to do. At this time, I would like to yield to the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. WOMACK. I move to strike the last word.