Randy Weber

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Smith. Texas has produced half of all new jobs in America in recent years. Even Time magazine noted how things are good in Texas. They call it maybe the future of America. The creation of many of these jobs in Texas would not be possible without hydraulic fracturing. Fracking is reaching previously untapped shale natural gas deposits, thereby increasing our Nation's natural gas supply and lowering the cost of energy for all Americans. Seemingly unaware of all of the economic benefits of America's energy renaissance, the Obama administration has moved to regulate fracking on Federal lands and to spend millions of dollars in studies at the EPA, despite its safe usage in Texas for over 60 years. The EPA is zero for three when it comes to hydraulic fracturing alarmism. Their allegations of groundwater contamination in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming all struck out after proper review and analysis. That is why I support H.R. 2728, because it will leave the regulation of fracking up to the States. We care about our States more than any bureaucrat up in Washington, D.C., and one size doesn't fit all. Texas was environmentally friendly before being green was cool. This legislation also holds the EPA accountable to taxpayers by requiring that their multimillion-dollar study of hydraulic fracturing follow basic and widely agreed upon scientific processes. We have it right in Texas. They ought to leave us alone, and we will help create jobs and get this economy moving again.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas. As we all know, in May of 2013, it was unearthed--that is probably a pretty good word, because they had it deeply buried in the government bureaucracy--that the IRS was unjustly targeting conservative 501(c)(4) groups and using aggressive intimidation tactics. Today, I rise with my colleagues to share the story of organizations that were unlawfully targeted by the IRS or Infernal Revenue Service, as I like to refer to them. In southeast Texas, in my district, Texas District 14--they are on the gulf coast--the Clear Lake Tea Party was just such a group, one of many that fell victim to the IRS' illegal--and I want to underscore that--illegal maneuvers. On November 23, 2009, the Clear Lake Tea Party filed their 501(c)(4) tax exempt status. After having received no word from the IRS for almost 8 months, the founder of the Clear Lake Tea Party made an inquiry regarding the status of their application. What they got back from the IRS should shock and appall every American. Here is what Mary Huls, president of the Clear Lake Tea Party, sent our office, what they got back on July 12, 2010: The Clear Lake Tea Party received an additional information request from Elizabeth Hofacre in the Cincinnati, Ohio, office of the IRS demanding 19 more nontax-related items to complete our application. The Clear Lake Tea Party board was duly alarmed by the broad and personal nature of the information required, which we would have to deliver and declare under penalties of perjury. We judged the questions to be far outside the normal purview of a nominal request for a tax exempt designation. For example, number one: they were requested to provide a list of speakers and their qualifications for events that the Clear Lake Tea Party have had in the prior year. They were asked to provide copies of information that was easily found on Facebook and Twitter. And then, believe it or not, the Clear Lake Tea Party there in Galveston, Texas, Clear Lake, League City, Galveston County area, was asked to explain their relationship with the King Street Patriots, another Tea Party. Now, Mr. Speaker, I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. What in the world does that have to do with their application for their own tax exempt (c)(4) status? Number 4, they were asked to--and let me just hasten to add, they were not asked to explain their relationship with ACORN or moveon.org or Organizing For America. Number 4, they were asked to explain the Operation Pink Slip Program and to provide literature concerning this program. How did you decide who would be fired? Of course, the Clear Lake Tea Party, their immediate reaction upon receiving this information was confusion. You see, they had already been investigated by an IRS agent. Well, after the IRS' beyond intrusive and illegal, I might add, investigation of the Clear Lake Tea Party, the Clear Lake Tea Party's board met and made the executive decision to withdraw their 501(c)(4) application and to file with the State of Texas as a Texas nonprofit corporation that pays taxes in order to practice and protect their First Amendment freedom of speech. We got a subsequent email from Ms. Huls, president of the Clear Lake Tea Party, and she stated in that email that they would not be intimidated by this Federal agency or any other, and they would go down a different path. And so they chose to file as a Texas nonprofit. Mr. Speaker, it is an absolute shame, and I will say a travesty, that the head of the IRS, the former head, could come up to testify in front of our committees, stick her finger in the face of the American taxpayer, in the eye, I would say, and say, I am going to claim the Fifth Amendment. I don't have to answer your questions. I don't have to be accountable to you. I don't have to be accountable to the American taxpayer. And what I said to my district was, try that one on for size when the IRS wants to audit you. Get in front of their agents, their Gestapo, their henchmen and say, I plead the Fifth Amendment. I don't have to answer your questions, and see how that works. It is unbelievable, Mr. Speaker, that in the United States of America, we are scrutinized for the applications we file and words are chosen like conservatives, King Street Patriots, and we are so deeply scrutinized as to drive the Clear Lake Tea Party to withdraw their (c)(4) tax exempt status. Not in America should this ever happen. I am urging my colleagues in the House to join me and my fellow patriots all across this land to continue that cry that the justified scrutiny of the IRS to make sure two things, that those who did this are held accountable, and that it never, ever can happen again in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Mr. Speaker, I am Randy Weber, and I love my country. It is the government I fear.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, nearly one-third of our economy depends on international trade, and 99 percent of that trade passes through our Nation's ports. Since transportation accounts for as much as 10 percent of the cost of the products we buy, it is so very critically important that our ports and waterways run efficiently and are properly maintained. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, which is a part of the critical role laid out to Congress by our Founding Fathers in regulating interstate commerce. With this bill we can reform the Army Corps of Engineers' management of important infrastructure projects and reduce their project backlog in order to create the conditions for a much stronger American economy. Mr. Speaker, this bill does that, and that is why I am proud to support it.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it is good to be here. Mr. Speaker, since 1978, the debt ceiling has been raised 53 times, and 27 of these increases have been used as a negotiating tool both by Congress and the President. So why not now, Mr. President? Can we not negotiate now? And to borrow a somewhat trite phrase from days gone by, yes, we can. Sadly, today we have a President who does not want to make any concessions with House Republicans. You know, Thomas Jefferson once said, ``Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.'' Has pride gotten in the way, clouding the judgment of our President, do you think, Mr. Speaker? Has this President chosen party politics and his unworkable health care law over working with House Republicans toward fair solutions that would help hardworking Americans keep more money in their pockets? Mr. Speaker, think with me here for a second. During the debt ceiling debate in March 2006, then-Senator Obama said: The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ``the buck stops here.'' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. Yet, here we are, 7 years later, and we are debating the exact same thing. Why is that okay, now, I would ask him, Mr. Speaker. Why is that okay, now, Mr. President? Do we have a failure of leadership? Can we admit that? Yes, we can. It is a failure of leadership also for spewing such venomous rhetoric when the governing process doesn't go your way, calling Republicans names. It is a failure of not listening to the American people. Can we call this a failure of leadership? Yes, we can. The American people want the government reopened. They want to make their own health care decisions. The shutdown the American people want is the out-of-control government spending, the $17 trillion debt that has been amassed that the President in his own words said ``is a failure of leadership,'' and then in another instance, ``unpatriotic.'' Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have put forth proposal after proposal to fund this government, to keep it open, to protect the American people from the President's hostile takeover of the health care system. Sadly, we still have a President and a Senate majority leader acting like petulant children, refusing to come to the table to negotiate, prolonging that failure of leadership. Each day that passes, with the Affordable Care Act going into effect, our Nation's fiscal health gets worse--a failure of leadership. I love America too much to let it fall under these circumstances. I will not stand by and watch as our country crumbles because of a President who is not willing to work with us and come to the table and to carry out this prolonged failure of leadership. I am Randy Weber, and America is worth fighting for. I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri for fighting alongside me and continuing this valiant effort.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans continue to call on Senate Democrats and the President to come to the table and negotiate. Here's one way to start: let's tone down the rhetoric. Is it proper to refer to someone you don't agree with as a ``hostage taker'' or as a ``legislative arsonist''? I don't think so. We may disagree on policy, but this kind of rancor will not solve anything. Let's work together. It can be done. The House just passed a bill which was not just bipartisan but unanimous that guaranteed back pay for Federal workers, and the bill has the support of the Senate and the President. That's encouraging. Now the Senate should take up the other bipartisan funding bills we passed here in the House to fund things like medical research and veterans benefits. Let's negotiate. The American people deserve for us to get this government reopened. I'm Randy Weber and I am proud to be an American.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. I thank the gentleman. You know, it's interesting. We see that in 2010, the other side of the aisle--the Ds--had no problem passing this humongous takeover of health care. Funny, they had no problem that the Republicans were against it; they had no problem that the majority of Americans were against it; and, Mr. Speaker, they had no problem that the majority of the business community was against it. They had no problem that there wasn't any bipartisanship involved, and now they have no problem blaming others, as a result of this government shutdown, of this failed legislation, this not-ready-for-prime-time hostile takeover of almost a sixth of the economy. In short, the other side has no problem. I guess that's right. Now the Affordable Care Act is the American people's problem, and yet they continue to blame us. They continue to demagogue and say it's all about us. We have a President who will not negotiate. He will negotiate with terrorists; he will get his foreign policy from the Russian President, Putin; but he will not come to the House of Representatives and negotiate. The majority leader in the Senate and the Executive in the White House want this House of Representatives, the Republicans, to unconditionally surrender and roll over and forget that it is the American public that has the problem--this huge entitlement that the gentleman from Texas was just alluding to. This is our method of getting negotiations going about fixing that problem. Interestingly enough, today we heard in speeches on the floor of the House the analogy of the Republicans' attempt to go ahead and fund those crucial parts of the government while they play their games. They bring up a game analogy called Whac-A-Mole. They say that our policy is akin to Whac-A-Mole. Well, Mr. Speaker, this is the first time I recall in recorded history that someone has actually made a molehill out of a mountain--a Whac-A-Mole analogy. I would submit that the ``Unaffordable Care Act,'' as I like to call it, is a lot larger than the 900-pound gorilla in the room. Our colleagues on the other side are ignoring the 900-pound gorilla and paying attention to moles, that proverbial molehill. That's so interesting. In some of their comments today they have been decrying the fact that hunters in their own States may not get to hunt. Well, that seems really peculiar to me. The party who is in favor of gun control, who seems to be anti-Second Amendment rights in my opinion, all of a sudden are interested in hunters' rights. As Mr. Rogers from the old TV show used to say: Can you spell hypocrisy? Sure you can. It's very interesting to me, Mr. Speaker, at this juncture in the game, that all of a sudden they're interested in those rights that heretofore they had no interest in and somehow it's the Republicans' fault. I will remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, as well as the American people, that of the last 17 shutdowns in the last 30 years, 15 of those shutdowns occurred when a Democratic majority was in control of this House of Representatives. You never heard the terms ``terrorists,'' ``holding a gun to the head,'' ``refusing to negotiate.'' You never heard that back then. But because of this Affordable Care Act, as the gentleman from Texas has already eloquently stated is a huge mandate, because this seems to be their signature legislation--to make Americans have health insurance--now we're hearing that all of a sudden they're in favor of these other things. Well, Mr. Speaker, since March 23, 2010, when President Obama signed that hostile takeover of health care into law, we have seen key promise after key promise made to the American people broken. The President said, ``The Affordable Care Act is designed to make it easier for younger Americans to obtain and maintain health insurance.'' Well, I'm from Texas. We believe in being truthful with people. In Texas, you get in trouble for making those kinds of false statements. We still believe in truth, justice, and the American way even though we're from Texas. In reality, if ObamaCare is implemented in Texas, health insurance premiums on the individual market will see an increase of 53 percent for young males and an increase of 11 percent for young females. That doesn't sound like such an affordable deal. To top that off, those who live in Texas could see premiums increase up to 43 percent in the individual market and 23 percent in the small group market. Promise number two, broken, the President said, ``If you like your current health care plan, you'll be able to keep it.'' Promise number two, broken. The fact is, ObamaCare incentivizes, as the gentleman from Texas stated, employers to drop coverage to avert taxes and fees that would be imposed on those small businesses and large businesses if they were to continue to provide their employees coverage. Home Depot, UPS, to name a few, have dropped tens of thousands of covered employees from their plans just at the outset of this. According to the CBO, 7 million people will lose their employer-sponsored coverage, nearly double the previous estimate of 4 million. In 2012, the Texas State Comptroller, Susan Combs, and her office surveyed Texas members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses and received replies from over 900 Texas businesses, large and small. In that report, only 3.4 percent of those business owners believe that the President's health care would be good for their business. In fact, fines and penalties paid by those same Texas businesses with more than 50 employees for fiscal year 2010 through 2019, those fines were estimated at $9.3 billion. Not only have there been broken promises, there have been major delays of the law. It is simply not ready for prime time; and the truth of the matter is, folks, it will probably never be. As more and more Americans get that, they understand how imperative it is that we make changes in that law. In fact, since the law has been in place, there have been 22 actions to defund, revise, or repeal parts of that overburdensome law. To the other side, I would say this. Let's use the President's words: Knock it off and move on. Fifty-nine percent of the American people want this law defunded. Why does the President and the majority leader keep ignoring the American taxpayers? In my district, I have constituents sharing their heart-wrenching stories about the negative impact ObamaCare has already had on their family. There's been hundreds of responses. Take Susan Gay from Beaumont. She said: My husband and his coworkers lost their overtime 2 years ago from the vote for ObamaCare. We are now still frightened he may lose his job, as he works for a small business man locally in Beaumont. Susan, I hear you. The Republicans hear you. We're fighting for you, fighting for your husband and his coworkers and millions of others that have already been negatively impacted by the President's hostile takeover of the health care system. Folks, your House Republicans are making every effort to get rid of this law. We have introduced replacement bills that will empower the individual and make affordable health care more accessible for everyone. Folks, there is a better way. It is high time that the President and the Senate get on board with us in the House if they truly want to help and listen to the American people. I'm Randy Weber, and I'm proud to be a Texan.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in 1836, a dictator showed up at the Alamo in Texas and demanded a complete, full surrender without negotiation. William Travis responded with a cannon shot: There will be no surrender. Now comes the President and the Senate Majority Leader demanding that this House of Representatives surrender. We will not surrender. We are fighting for the American people. Tea partiers knew in the Colonies that King George's dictatorial methods wouldn't be tolerated. We won't tolerate them here. Like it or not, Mr. President and the Senate Majority Leader, this House is a part of this process. We understand that we are fighting for the American people. We will not surrender. We are going to fight to make sure that we keep our liberty. Americans expect nothing less and deserve nothing less. I am Randy Weber and damn proud to be an American.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, fact one: ObamaCare passed the House with 219 Democrats. Thirty-four Democrats joined the Republicans in opposition. Let us see how many of those will join us in this upcoming vote. Fact two: Republicans have been and are poised to fund everything in government at the current levels--and are eager to do so. Fact three: polls show that Americans are overwhelmingly in favor of defunding ObamaCare. Fact four: the House, like it or not, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, is the keeper of the purse under the Constitution, and we are well within our authority to defund an ill-conceived and unpopular program in the law. They say that the Republicans are going to shut down the government, but I will submit this, Mr. Speaker: the Democrats began to shut down the government in 2010, when they passed ObamaCare without bipartisan support. They not only began to shut down the government but the recovery of the American economy. And for them to come now and say that this is a Republican shutdown is unbelievable. We stand ready, willing, and able to fund the Government. There's only really one question that remains, Mr. Speaker. Four facts, one simple question. Will those same Democrats that voted in opposition to ObamaCare and the Senate listen to the American public, will they listen to their constituents, and will they vote with us this time so that our government can be funded, no shutdown will be necessary, and the American economy can continue to thrive?

Mr. WEBER

Mr. WEBER. I thank the gentlelady. Mr. Speaker, four facts, one question. Fact 1: ObamaCare passed the House by the House Democrats, 219 of them. Now, 34 Ds joined Republicans in opposition. Let us see how many join on funding the government with the upcoming CR. Fact 2: Republicans are poised to fund everything in the government at the current levels, and are eager to do so. Fact 3: Polls show that Americans overwhelmingly do not want ObamaCare. Fact 4: This House of Representatives is the keeper of the purse, as designed in the Constitution, and it's well within our authority to defund the ill-conceived and very unpopular government takeover of health care. Only one question, Mr. Speaker: Will those same Democrats that voted for ObamaCare vote with the American people this time, and will the Senate vote with the American people this time? I'm Randy Weber, and that's the way I see it.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic efforts of Specialist Fifth Class Clarence Eugene Sasser of the United States Army. A native Texan, from Rosharon, Specialist Fifth Class Clarence Sasser was with the 9th Infantry Division and received his Medal of Honor for actions of immense gallantry on January 10, 1968, in Vietnam. While his company was making an air assault, they were surrounded at the landing zone and suffered 30 casualties in the first few minutes. In order to assist the wounded, Specialist Fifth Class Sasser ran through open fire several times. He ignored his own need for medical attention in order to provide care to his fellow men. When both of his legs were immobilized, Sergeant First Class Sasser dragged himself into a position to assist others and then encouraged soldiers to crawl to safety where he tended to their wounds until evacuation. It is for his upholding of the highest military values that I am proud to honor the actions of Specialist Fifth Class Clarence Eugene Sasser. I'm Randy Weber, and that's the way it is in America.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last week, Texas and America's energy industry lost a friend. George Mitchell, who many knew as the ``father of fracking,'' passed away last week at his home in Galveston, Texas. While his death is a sad occasion, his legacy will live on as the energy industry continues to grow and prosper. Texas now stands ranked as No. 14 in the world in oil and gas production, largely due to Mr. Mitchell's innovation. Not only was George an energy innovator, he was a community builder. He was a visionary. He developed the Woodlands Master Community when many just saw it as useless swampland. Mr. Mitchell also played an integral role in reviving what I consider a precious gem in my district: the island of Galveston. George and his wife put countless hours and resources into restoring the strand which helped keep the island a popular tourist destination and number one in Texas, for that matter. It's important that we remember George Mitchell not only for his contribution to Texas business, but also for his zeal and tenacity to give back to the communities where he lived and worked. I'm Randy Weber, and that's the way I see it from where I sit here in America.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Firings and jail time are in order. On Friday, May 10, the IRS admitted to the targeted scrutiny of conservative groups in their applications for tax-exempt status. Hundreds of groups have been targeted, and it went beyond those with just ``Tea Party'' or ``patriot'' in their names. Since then, there has been a resounding opposition on both sides of the aisle against the IRS' abhorrent actions. The President called this incident ``outrageous.'' Frankly, Mr. Speaker, it's beyond outrageous. It is completely unethical. For those involved in this mess, I expect them to be held accountable for their audacious abuse of power. Did I mention that firings and jail time are in order? Thomas Paine said it this way: Government is at its best a necessary evil and at its worst an intolerable one. I am Randy Weber, and that's the way I see it here in America.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Well, I appreciate the gentleman from California's comments. It's interesting that we are going to belie the State Department's assessment when it's not advantageous to the argument, but we're going to try to rely on it when it's advantageous. It's admirable that he's concerned about the cost per barrel of bitumen. I own a small business and, by golly, the oil companies that produce jobs and wealth for this company will decide on whether it's too costly. The previous gentleman from New Jersey said there was no proof that even the oil would stay here in this country. Well, I submit this to you, Mr. Chairman, and esteemed Members. To what company do we say, We don't want you exporting your products? Do you tell Nike that? Do you tell Ford that? Who do you tell that? And then to his statement that it's going to increase greenhouse gases, the experts have done the math, and they've come up with, if at all, it raises 1/100,000th of a degree Fahrenheit in global warming. And finally, we heard testimony from the experts in our hearing, saves 400 to 500 trucks a day off the highway. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, thank you for recognizing me to speak in favor of my amendment on this very important legislation. I want to thank Mr. Terry for leading on an issue that is crucial to our economic recovery and our energy future. Rather than wait around for further delays--1,700 days and counting--and excuses from the President, Mr. Terry has taken action to deliver the jobs and energy security that this administration so frequently promises to the American people. Last week marked 1,700 days, that's 4.65 years, since the first permit application was filed for Keystone. Let me put that in perspective. I have a granddaughter who will be 2 years old in July. Had she been born when this permit was filed, she would be entering kindergarten this coming fall. Her name is Kate Liberty, by the way. She's the cutest thing this side of the Atlantic. During that time, the State Department has produced, as the whip said, over 15,000 pages of environmental impact assessment, which have been endlessly discussed, debated, and deconstructed. Hundreds of thousands of public comments were made on these documents, and public meetings were held across the country in multiple States. However, in 2012, President Obama rejected the first permit application for the Keystone XL pipeline, claiming that the deadline which required him to make a decision prevented a ``full assessment'' of the pipeline's impact. I would conclude, and I'm sure most of you would agree, that the State Department study of Keystone XL has gone far above and beyond the threshold required of a ``full assessment.'' In fact, this unprecedented degree of scrutiny has led many to conclude that the Keystone XL is the most studied pipeline in our Nation's history. Despite this exhaustive environmental review, the administration has yet to make a decision on a project that will create American jobs, stimulate the economy, and enhance our energy security. In the meantime, opponents of the project continue to rely on false assumptions and misconceptions to urge its rejection. My amendment simply sets the record straight on these accounts by adding findings from our own State Department that attest to the safety and environmental soundness of this project. There are those who oppose the project who say it hasn't been studied enough--that's laughable. That we are proceeding hastily--4\1/2\ years and 15,000 pages prove otherwise. Others allege that the pipeline is a safety risk. The State Department findings prove these allegations unfounded. In fact, the State Department concluded that it has 57 extra safety features, and with that, the Keystone XL would have a degree of safety over any other domestic pipeline. There are those who try to argue that the pipeline would threaten water resources, wildlife, and the communities along the route. However, the State Department disagrees, concluding there would be ``no significant impacts'' to resources along the proposed route. Some insist that the pipeline will lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and that halting the project will somehow combat global warming or reduce carbon emissions. However, the State Department's estimates of incremental emissions associated with the project are marginal, and they would have negligible impact on climate change, if any. Moreover, the State Department concluded that Canadian oil sands production will continue regardless of whether or not we build the Keystone. A global oil market and the statements of Canadian officials reinforce this reality. The science supports approval of Keystone XL, and I agree. Given the facts, I see no reason the administration should make the American people wait any longer for a project whose construction will support up to 40,000 jobs and generate $2 billion in earnings. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, how much time is remaining?

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Today, I have the distinct honor of wishing a belated ``happy birthday'' to an organization that I am a proud member of back home in Texas 14. I want to take a moment to say thank you to the Exchange Club of Pearland of which I have been a member for a number of years. They've done a lot of good work in the community, and I look forward to the expansion of their club and the work they will continue to do to better that community. I would also like to welcome the newest chapter in Friendswood, Texas, where I currently reside. I look forward to working with them in promoting American exceptionalism and in helping to serve our community. For those of you who might not know, the National Exchange Club is a service organization with over 700 clubs and 21,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. On March 27, 2013, they celebrated their 102nd birthday. From a handful of members in Detroit, Michigan, at the turn of the 20th century, Exchange has developed into an outstanding national service organization comprised of tens of thousands of men and women who serve their local communities and advance their motto of ``Unity for Service.'' Exchange-sponsored activities are designed to benefit, award, and develop our Nation's youth, promote crime prevention, serve senior citizens, and recognize military and public safety service providers. Exchange also promotes Americanism, and its national project is the Prevention of Child Abuse program. In addition to these programs, the National Exchange Club has been at the forefront of significant developments throughout American history, including the early days of aviation progress. The spirit of patriotism, along with a desire to heighten the awareness of our rich religious heritage, placed Exchange in a position of leadership with other organizations that led to the addition of the words ``under God'' to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. As Reagan said, ``If we ever forget we are `one Nation under God,' we will be a Nation gone under.'' The Exchange Club is America's service club, an organization that promotes American exceptionalism. I am a believer in our country's exceptionalism, and I will never apologize for it. Think about this for a second, folks. Whether it's a hurricane, whether it's a tsunami, whether it's an earthquake, whatever it is, when the world has a catastrophe and dials 911, who is it that answers? It's America, isn't it? It's the red, white, and blue. It's the land of the free, the home of the brave. For a safe world, we need a strong America. For a strong America, we need a safe America. The Exchange Club works ever so hard to keep America strong and safe. So, to them, I wish a very happy birthday, especially to the Pearland club and the Friendswood club. I say thank you for all of your hard work. I am Randy Weber, and that's the way I see it from where I sit here in America.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. I rise to implore Congress to listen to the American public and to pass H.R. 45. If you think the Unaffordable Care Act is a good deal, then as an American you have to ask yourself: Do you believe the IRS acts in your best interests? My conservative guess is: not on the best days. Ask yourself: Were all of the events swirling around Benghazi shrouded in mystery or bathed in sunlight and transparency? Not on your life. Ask yourself: Were the phone records of the AP reporters and the privacy that should have been afforded to them protected? Not on the best days. Ask yourself: Is the government here to help? No. The government that is in the process of bankrupting Social Security, of bankrupting the post office and that is on the verge of killing Medicare and Medicaid now wants to come tell us, Trust us. We're from the government. We're here to help. Madam Speaker, I don't think the American public can afford that kind of trust or help. The answers are not here in Washington, D.C. They're back with Americans. Listen to the American public. I am Randy Weber. Let's pass H.R. 45. That's the way I see it from where I sit.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Tomorrow, the President of the United States will be traveling to the great State of Texas to talk jobs. I am proud that the President recognizes Texas as a leading job-producing State and that he understands what it is to create jobs and retain a robust economy. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, The Wall Street Journal had an interesting article--it's on my chart up here--about the energy boom in Texas. It stated that Texas produces as much oil as the next four oil-producing States combined. The Lone Star State now pumps nearly 2 million barrels a day. Now, the President's tour only has one stop in Texas, south of Austin, which is unfortunate. I would like to invite the President to come to my energy-rich district along the Texas gulf coast and see what job creation really looks like. If the President wants to create jobs, there is a project--the Keystone pipeline to be exact--that has been waiting 1,692 days to do just that. I encourage and welcome President Obama to come to my district so he can talk with local business leaders who want the Keystone pipeline. That's the way it is from where I sit. I'm Randy Weber.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. It has been 1,677 days, Mr. Speaker, that have passed since we first started discussing the Keystone pipeline, a project that would create--depending on whose numbers you use--2,000 to 20,000 jobs; $2.05 billion in worker salaries; and $65 million in local tax revenue. On Friday, I sent a letter to the State Department demanding action on the Keystone pipeline. The project is in the best interest of all Americans. Up to 83,000 barrels of oil per day could be delivered to gulf coast refineries, which is equal to roughly half of the amount of oil we import from the Middle East. My question for the President and Secretary Kerry is this: What is the holdup? Seventy percent of Americans want this project because they understand that it is a step closer for this country to energy independence and security. I hope the President and Secretary Kerry are listening because it is time to build this country. I'm Randy Weber, and I love living in America.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it doesn't seem like good leadership practice for the President to be going around the country reminding Americans that he failed to prevent his own sequestration, but to each his own. Unfortunately, the President's sequestration is affecting us all. Why should he have shackled us all with the sequestration? The truth is, the President's inability to lead has shackled us. The truth is, the President has not only a spending problem but a denial problem. Well, make no mistake, Mr. Speaker. Sequestration is here. I implore the President to come back, work with Congress, and quit campaigning in the media.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 34 I missed the vote because I was meeting with a constituent in my office. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' personal explanation