Congressional Record

Congressional Record

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111 th CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

United States

of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE





Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 No. 136





House of Representatives

The House met at 10 a.m. and was Mrs. DAHLKEMPER led the Pledge VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT

called to order by the Speaker. of Allegiance as follows: (Mr. KLEIN of Florida asked and was

f I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the given permission to address the House

United States of America, and to the Repub- for 1 minute and to revise and extend

PRAYER lic for which it stands, one nation under God,

his remarks.)

The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speak-

Coughlin, offered the following prayer: er, last week, we marked the 15th anni-

f

In praying, ‘‘Deliver us from evil, versary of a critical piece of legisla-

Lord,’’ it often seems we are moved by tion, the Violence Against Women Act.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

a fear that evil is around us or beyond This bill was a landmark achieve-

us, so we call out to You as the One A message from the Senate by Ms.

Curtis, one of its clerks, announced ment, and it has led to major strides in

who can distance this strange feeling— keeping American women more secure

this stranger, alien, foreign enemy— that the Senate has agreed to without

amendment a concurrent resolution of and in ensuring that victims of vio-

even further away from us. lence receive the services they need.

Yet You see what we are unable to the House of the following title:

By cracking down on crimes like stalk-

see. You understand and continue to H. Con. Res. 59. Concurrent resolution sup-

ing, sexual assault and domestic abuse,

love what we are yet unable to accept porting the goals and ideals of senior

caregiving and affordability. with tougher sentences for perpetra-

and so fear. tors and with more support for victims,

Rather than take flight from the The message also announced that the

the Violence Against Women Act has

ground upon which we stand, Lord, Senate has passed an amendment in

made our country a safer place to live.

Your Spirit alone enables us to go in- which the concurrence of the House is

As a husband and the father of a won-

ward. There, without fear, we can requested, a bill of the House of the fol-

derful daughter, I am committed to

admit that evil is so subtle, yet so real, lowing title:

continuing the programs established by

that it hides itself under the cloak of H.R. 1035. An act to amend the Morris K. this critical legislation—for my family

our own self-righteousness. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in Na-

and for all of the families in south

You alone, Lord, can deliver us from tional Environmental and Native American

Public Policy Act of 1992 to honor the legacy Florida.

this evil because only true forgiveness Much has been accomplished in the

of Stewart L. Udall, and for other purposes.

can free us from the past. Only after we last 15 years, but violent crimes

find forgiveness in ourselves can we The message also announced that the

Senate has agreed to a concurrent reso- against women are still far too com-

look around us and see others like our- mon. On this anniversary, we must all

selves who can join in the work of rec- lution of the following title in which

the concurrence of the House is re- rededicate ourselves to better pro-

onciliation, creating new ground and tecting America’s women from vio-

inspiring others to place all their trust quested:

lence and to supporting survivors of

in You, now and forever. S. Con. Res. 41. Concurrent resolution pro-

these crimes.

Amen. viding for the acceptance of a statue of Helen

Keller, presented by the people of Alabama. f

f

The message also announced that COMMUNICATION FROM THE HON-

THE JOURNAL pursuant to the provisions of Public ORABLE J. GRESHAM BARRETT,

The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- Law 99–93, as amended by Public Law MEMBER OF CONGRESS

ined the Journal of the last day’s pro- 99–151, the Chair, on behalf of the Re-

ceedings and announces to the House publican Leader, appoints the Senator The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. PAS-

her approval thereof. from Idaho (Mr. RISCH) as a member of TOR of Arizona) laid before the House

Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- the United States Senate Caucus on the following communication from the

nal stands approved. International Narcotics Control. Honorable J. GRESHAM BARRETT, Mem-

ber of Congress:

f

f WASHINGTON, DC,

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE September 22, 2009.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Hon. NANCY PELOSI,

The SPEAKER. Will the gentle- Speaker, House of Representatives, H–232, The

woman from Pennsylvania (Mrs. The SPEAKER. The Chair will enter- Capitol, Washington, DC.

DAHLKEMPER) come forward and lead tain up to 10 requests for 1-minute Dear Madam Speaker: Effective Thursday,

the House in the Pledge of Allegiance. speeches on each side of the aisle. September 24, 2009, I will be resigning from

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b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.



H9901





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H9902 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

my position on the Committee on Standards Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, a major Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. Mr. Speaker, in

of Official Conduct. Please contact me if you obstacle to our economic recovery is this health care debate, we have called

have any additional questions or concerns. the continued decline of our manufac- on health insurance companies, health

Sincerely,

turing base. We need a genuine recov- care providers and the Federal Govern-

J. GRESHAM BARRETT,

Member of Congress. ery that can generate growth without ment to make major improvements to

government bailouts or stimulus pro- how they provide health care. Yet we

f

grams. The current crisis of over- have not asked the benefactors of these

ELECTING A MINORITY MEMBER spending and the overconsumption of changes to make a contribution to re-

TO A STANDING COMMITTEE foreign goods was born out of the ne- form. We have not asked anything of

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, by direc- glect of our manufacturing sector. the American people.

tion of the House Republican Con- As recently evidenced by the Chinese Successful health care reform must

ference, I send to the desk a privileged tire decision, I am pleased that the ad- include a robust public policy to en-

resolution, and ask for its immediate ministration seems to be serious about courage personal responsibility and

consideration. enforcing trade laws. This is a positive healthy living. Insurance discounts are

The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- step. Yet, as the President welcomes a straightforward means to encourage

lows: the world leaders at the G–20 Summit, healthy living.

H. RES. 770 I ask him and Members of this body to Most automobile insurers offer safe

Resolved, That the following member be, recommit ourselves to a robust manu- driver discounts for responsibility be-

and is hereby, elected to the following stand- facturing sector. hind the wheel. A healthy living dis-

ing committee: We can do this by supporting pro- count can reward healthy behavior and

COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CON- grams that will help domestic manu- encourage personal responsibility.

DUCT—Mr. McCaul. facturing get back on its feet. We also I urge my colleagues to adopt H.R.

Mr. PENCE (during the reading). Mr. need a new approach on trade to stop 3472, a bill to create health insurance

Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the predatory foreign practice dead in premium discounts of up to 20 percent

the resolution be considered as read. their tracks. We must make sure that for healthy behavior and improvements

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there our factories and jobs stay here at toward healthy behavior.

objection to the request of the gen- home. Doing so will help us create real It’s good public policy to help Ameri-

tleman from Indiana? wealth, good jobs, tax revenues, and an cans live well. My bill creates a tan-

There was no objection. opportunity for hardworking American gible incentive to live well and live

The resolution was agreed to. families. healthy.

A motion to reconsider was laid on

f f

the table.

f b 1015 MISSILE DEFENSE

$400,000 IN TAXPAYER MONEY PRO- TWO CLOWNS (Mr. PITTS asked and was given per-

POSED FOR QADDAFI’S CHIL- (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was mission to address the House for 1

DREN given permission to address the House minute and to revise and extend his re-

(Mr. KIRK asked and was given per- for 1 minute.) marks.)

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the recent

mission to address the House for 1

circus parade hit the United Nations shift in missile defense strategy weak-

minute and to revise and extend his re-

yesterday. Libya’s Omar Qaddafi treat- ens both our allies in Eastern Europe

marks.)

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, ed everyone to a 100-minute rambling and our position with Russia and Iran.

Libyan dictator Qaddafi spoke to the rant. It seems he thinks President Ken- The announcement that we would

U.N. for almost 2 hours. nedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, abandon the ballistic missile defense

Here on the Hill on the same day, we was a spy and working for Israel. He infrastructure in Poland and the Czech

received a State Department notifica- says capitalism is the cause of all the Republic could not have come on a

tion proposing $400,000 in U.S. taxpayer world’s problems and the U.N. was worse date, the 70th anniversary of the

money for the foundations of Qaddafi’s founded by terrorist nations like the Soviet invasion of Poland.

son and daughter. United States. A Polish spokesman called the deci-

You heard that right. The little fella from the desert of sion ‘‘catastrophic for Poland.’’ Only

After the murders of 189 Americans Iran, Ahmadinejad, gave a speech that Russia has expressed satisfaction with

aboard Pan Am flight 103 and after cleared the room. The United States the announcement.

watching the bomber being welcomed and other diplomats walked out. The This shift in strategy comes as Rus-

home from Scotland, the administra- tiny tyrant accused Israel of genocide sia has been increasingly willing to

tion is proposing donating $200,000 to and denies the Holocaust. The dictator project its power in the region either

Saif Qaddafi’s Qaddafi Development praised his own glorious election this through military force or by with-

Foundation. Recall that Qaddafi’s son, summer. You know, that’s the one holding natural gas. This decision un-

Saif, organized the ‘‘welcome home’’ when his government murdered Iranian dermines every pro-Western politician

ceremony for the Pan Am bomber. protestors. in Poland and the Czech Republic, our

The administration also is proposing These twin tyrants rant about death, allies. Their careers are ruined.

donating $200,000 in taxpayer funds to destruction and doom to America and People are saying you can’t trust

the Waettasmeno/UNDP foundation, Israel. They preach hate and murder in U.S. commitments. We pleased the

which is run by Qaddafi’s daughter, the name of religion. These two twin Russians with nothing to show in re-

Ayesha. She is also conveniently the threats to world peace cannot be turn. Now is not the time to appease.

head of Libya’s UNDP. brushed aside as laughable clowns. Our actions are seen as weakness and

This is part of a $2.5 million grant The United States must take their dangerous. It undermines our national

proposed for Libya by the Obama ad- hate speech and intimidation seriously. security.

ministration—U.S. funding for an oil- Our Nation must be prepared to defend f

rich OPEC nation which is responsible America from their arrogant, aggres- OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE NEEDS

for U.S. national security problems sive threats. HEALTH INSURANCE

across Africa. And that’s just the way it is.

´

(Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of Cali-

f f

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fornia asked and was given permission

RECOMMIT TO HAVING A ROBUST MAKE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO to address the House for 1 minute.)

AMERICAN MANUFACTURING PROVIDE HEALTH CARE ´

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of Cali-

SECTOR (Mrs. DAHLKEMPER asked and was fornia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my

(Mr. MICHAUD asked and was given given permission to address the House colleagues to pass comprehensive

permission to address the House for 1 for 1 minute and to revise and extend health reform, not this decade, not

minute.) her remarks.) next year but this year.







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9903

Our constituents need help now. My coverage, we must remember that in- the lifeline to be able to support their

constituents have told me that health surance coverage alone means little if own families.

care costs are beyond their reach. patients do not have access to health However, with the way that this was

Some can’t afford insurance at all and care providers or health care services. done, it was looking at unemployment

others have been denied coverage or Primary care providers are on the levels State by State. That meant that

dropped the minute they got sick. front line of the health care system, even areas of tremendous economic dis-

These problems plague our entire popu- treating acute and chronic conditions tress in certain States did not benefit

lation, but disproportionately affect and keeping costly conditions from from this program.

Hispanics. worsening. Despite this essential role, There are parts in my district in

Hispanics have an unbelievable unin- it is primary care where we face the southern Virginia with over 20 percent

sured rate of 31 percent. Our health most acute shortages. Since 1998 the unemployment, but this act as written

system must provide essential services percentage of internal medicine resi- will not apply to them. Rural counties

to all Americans, including those of dents choosing primary care has with 12 to 18 percent unemployment

Hispanic descent. dropped from 50 percent to 20 percent. are not covered.

Hispanic Americans are the fastest- By 2025, America will have a shortage While this was an important act of

growing demographic group in this of 46,000 primary care providers. bipartisanship to help those who are

country. They are our future work- I have championed efforts to bolster struggling in this economy, we must do

force. our primary care workforce, including better. We must find a way to make

Without health care coverage for all new loan-repayment programs and in- sure that unemployment benefit exten-

Americans, our country’s economic fu- creasing payments for primary care sions and other relief efforts are tar-

ture is at risk. Health care reform providers, as well as elimination of co- geted at the areas of greatest economic

means having the peace of mind that if payments for preventive services for distress, even if those exist in States

something unexpected should happen, seniors and strengthening their ongo- that are doing relatively well.

I hope that the areas around the

an accident or an unexpected illness, ing relationship with their doctor.

country that are like southern Vir-

people won’t fall into economic ruin. I am proud that the health care re-

ginia, small manufacturing towns and

Health care coverage for all Americans form bill includes this essential re-

farming communities, are not left out

means a healthier, more productive form. I look forward to action on

of these future efforts. I will continue

America. health care reform that addresses pri-

to fight to make sure all those that are

The time for health care reform is mary care.

struggling get relief.

now. f

f

f

PLIGHT OF FARMERS AND FARM

OFFSHORE ENERGY

UNITED NATIONS WORKERS IN CENTRAL CALI-

FORNIA (Mr. BROWN of South Carolina asked

(Mr. PENCE asked and was given per-

and was given permission to address

mission to address the House for 1 (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given the House for 1 minute.)

minute and to revise and extend his re- permission to address the House for 1 Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr.

marks.) minute and to revise and extend his re- Speaker, last year Congress and Presi-

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, following marks.) dent Bush announced an end to the

the defeat of tyranny throughout Eu- Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, over the decade-long ban on offshore drilling.

rope in 1945, and in the ashes of the last few days, thanks to Sean Hannity, But the Obama administration stopped

Holocaust, the United Nations was millions of people have seen or heard progress on meeting our Nation’s en-

born. It was formed to create a forum about the plight of farmers and farm ergy needs by instituting an extended

to confront dictators before they rose workers in central California. In some 6-month public comment period.

to global power. areas, over 40 percent are unemployed That period ended Monday, but ac-

President John F. Kennedy in his in- and many thousands are having to cording to the Secretary of the Inte-

augural address warned some four dec- stand in food lines so their families can rior, Ken Salazar, expanded offshore

ades ago that the United Nations must have something to eat. drilling may not happen until 2012,

not become a forum for invective Farms have dried up because the Fed- turning a 6-month delay into a 3-year

against the West. But as we saw yester- eral Government has cut off their ban. With the unemployment rate well

day, with the leader of Libya decrying water to save a 2-inch minnow else- over 9 percent nationwide and close to

Israel in terms of ‘‘the Israeli demon,’’ where. This will drive up food costs 12 percent in South Carolina, it is irre-

as we saw the leader of the discredited elsewhere. sponsible for the administration to ig-

regime in Tehran denounce the ‘‘bar- What many do not know is that the nore the economic benefits that will

baric’’ attacks of the Zionist regime House voted on this issue twice, on come with America’s energy produc-

and continue to deny the Holocaust in June 18 and again on July 23. On the tion.

public forums, we have seen the United first vote, 171 Republicans voted for the According to recent reports, drilling

Nations become not only a forum for farmers, 215 Democrats voted for the in the Outer Continental Shelf could

invective against the West but espe- minnow. On the second vote, 176 Re- generate $8 trillion in gross domestic

cially a forum for invective against our publicans, all but one, voted for the products over the next 30 years, 1.2 mil-

most cherished ally, Israel. farmers. All but three Democrats voted lion American jobs and $70 billion in

Today the American people provide for the fish. wages annually. In South Carolina

20 percent of the financial support for Unfortunately, neither vote was alone, offshore exploration could gen-

the United Nations. Today the Amer- close. Wealthy environmentalists won. erate up to $250 million in revenue an-

ican people are asking why. The farmers and farm workers lost. nually, and would create over 2,000 jobs

f f in the Palmetto State.

HEALTH CARE REFORM AND EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT TO ALL Mr. Speaker, we need to be sure that

PRIMARY CARE REGIONS we are able to continue to develop our

resources.

(Ms. SCHWARTZ asked and was (Mr. PERRIELLO asked and was

f

given permission to address the House given permission to address the House

for 1 minute and to revise and extend for 1 minute.) NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY WEEK

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her remarks.) Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, the

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise House acted in a bipartisan way this (Mr. SMITH of Washington asked and

to address the importance of primary week to address the issue of extending was given permission to address the

care in comprehensive health care re- unemployment benefits. It was an im- House for 1 minute and to revise and

form. As we find a uniquely American portant act in this very difficult eco- extend his remarks.)

solution for all Americans to have ac- nomic time to reach out to those who Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr.

cess to affordable, meaningful health through no fault of their own have lost Speaker, I rise today to recognize the







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H9904 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

fourth annual National Health Infor- In my State of North Carolina, 49 American Recovery and Reinvestment

mation Technology Week. Health in- Chrysler and General Motors dealer- Act was signed into law, 30,000 projects

formation technology is a critical piece ships have closed, along with all of the have been approved, including commu-

of health care reform. Pontiac dealers. Thirty Cadillac deal- nity health center upgrades and trans-

The cost of our health care system is ers are slated to close and, unfortu- portation improvements; the rate of

the main burden. As we look for ways nately, the closures are continuing. job loss has declined; the jobs of thou-

to expand coverage to the millions of One of the dealerships is J.C. Harris sands of police officers, nurses, and

Americans who don’t have it, getting Pontiac and Cadillac. This dealership teachers have been saved; and 95 per-

costs under control is absolutely crit- is in my hometown of Wilson, North cent of working Americans received a

ical. Carolina. They have been serving the tax cut in their paychecks.

Health care information technology community for more than 40 years. De- Moreover, employers are hiring

is one way to do that. If we can im- spite the fact that they lead Cadillac again, consumer confidence is rising,

prove the quality of our IT systems and dealerships statewide in sales, service consumer spending is increasing, and

our health care system, we can im- and customer satisfaction, J.C. Harris the housing market is turning around.

prove the quality of health care for is being forced to close its doors. Cus- While we’re beginning to see the end

millions of Americans by getting bet- tomers from the region will be forced of the recession, there’s still more

ter information to both doctors and pa- to drive 120 miles round trip for sales work to be done. We must continue to

tients more quickly. and service. build on the progress we have made in

Right now the system is woefully be- With American taxpayers becoming the Recovery Act to further jump-start

hind most other businesses in devel- investors in GM, they should expect our economy and build a new founda-

oping and improving IT. This House better. tion for a lasting recovery.

took an important step in the stimulus f

f

package passed last January by put- NAS ATLANTA

ting $19 billion towards improving b 1030

(Mr. GINGREY of Georgia asked and

health care information technology. OFFSHORE DRILLING was given permission to address the

It’s critical that that money is well

(Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked House for 1 minute and to revise and

spent. It is critical that we improve

and was given permission to address extend his remarks.)

our health IT systems if we are going Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speak-

to improve the quality of our health the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. er, I rise today to honor Naval Air Sta-

care system for all Americans. tion Atlanta. Since April of 1959, NAS

Speaker, last week, Interior Secretary

f Atlanta, located close to my home in

Salazar stated that the Obama admin-

NEW YORK TIMES GIVES MILES istration would ‘‘move expeditiously’’ Marietta, Georgia, has played a critical

OF COVERAGE TO OBAMA on finalizing a new offshore drilling role in providing for our Nation’s de-

plan. While I hope this to be true, un- fense.

(Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was

fortunately, this administration has Over the past 50 years, NAS Atlanta

given permission to address the House

proposed one delay after another to has seen its mission change from train-

for 1 minute and to revise and extend

block new energy production and new ing, to fleet logistics, to housing Navy

his remarks.)

jobs. Attack Squadrons and Carrier Early

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker,

In February, the administration Airborne Warning Squadrons. In the

President Obama and his agenda are in

stalled new offshore drilling with an 1990s, the Marines joined NAS Atlanta

the news so much that media research

extended 6-month comment period. with MAG–42 and Marine Fighter At-

groups are finding new ways to meas-

Now we’ve learned they may wait until tack Squadron 142.

ure the coverage. Units from NAS Atlanta have been

According to the Center For Media 2012 before implementing a new off-

shore drilling plan. This means the off- instrumental to our causes in the war

and Public Affairs, The New York on drugs and global war on terror, as

Times has featured 405 stories about shore drilling ban that was lifted last

year by the President and by the Con- well as to the relief efforts following

the Obama administration on its front Hurricane Katrina. NAS Atlanta and

page in the last 8 months. These stories gress would effectively remain in place

for 3 more years. With 10 percent un- those who have served there have prov-

total 120,000 column entries. That en an invaluable asset to the United

equals almost 2 miles of coverage de- employment, Mr. Speaker, Americans

can’t wait 3 more years to begin pro- States.

voted to President Obama and his This Saturday, NAS Atlanta’s distin-

agenda. ducing more energy and millions more

guished history will come to a close as

Not surprisingly, the New York jobs.

the base will officially become the

Times featured more positive coverage It’s time to lift the de facto ban on

home of the Georgia National Guard,

of the President than any other news new offshore drilling. It’s time to act

as mandated by the BRAC round.

outlet, according to the Center For on the Republicans’ all-of-the-above To all the personnel who are and

Media and Public Affairs. The national energy plan that will create green jobs, have been stationed at NAS Atlanta:

media should devote more time and a drilling jobs, wind and solar jobs, and thank you for a job well done and for

few more inches to covering the other nuclear jobs. your service to our community. You

side of the story. Let’s get America to work producing will be missed.

f more energy.

f

f

AUTOMOBILE DEALERS WHO WERE THE STUDENT LOAN BILL AND

FORCED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS THE PROGRESS OF THE ECONOMY THE ECONOMY

(Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was (Mr. SIRES asked and was given per- (Mr. ARCURI asked and was given

given permission to address the House mission to address the House for 1 permission to address the House for 1

for 1 minute.) minute.) minute and to revise and extend his re-

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, today I rise marks.)

rise today to voice concern over the to highlight the progress that our Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I want to

thousands of automobile dealers who economy has made. When President make sure that I take time to promote

have been forced to close their doors as Obama took office, he faced the great- a bill that I think has been lost in the

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the industry is now reshaping. While est economic crisis in a generation: constant and necessary debate regard-

the national conversation has shifted home foreclosures were at a record ing health care reform over the past

from the auto industry to health care, level, banks were in crisis, and we had several months.

we must remember that car dealerships just lost 700,000 jobs in January 2009 While reforming our Nation’s health

continue to be shuttered and thousands alone. care system is absolutely critical, last

of hardworking Americans continue to Congress took action, and it is start- week in Congress we passed a bipar-

lose their jobs. ing to work. In just 200 days since the tisan piece of legislation that will







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9905

greatly benefit prospective college stu- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- part of this vision. I urge my col-

dents of all ages from across the coun- tlewoman from California is recognized leagues to support today’s rule and the

try. for 1 hour. underlying bill so that beneficiaries

The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsi- Ms. MATSUI. For the purpose of de- can continue to see their doctors; so

bility Act will transform the way stu- bate only, I yield the customary 30 that they can continue to afford their

dent loan programs operate by boost- minutes to the gentleman from Florida prescriptions, especially medications;

ing Federal loan rates across the board, (Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART). All time so that they can continue to have

including a $40 billion increase in Pell yielded during the consideration of the money to spend and cycle back through

Grant scholarship programs. It will rule is for debate only. our recovering economy.

keep interest rates low and make loan GENERAL LEAVE By acting quickly and decisively on

application forms simpler to under- Ms. MATSUI. I ask unanimous con- today’s bill, we underscore our com-

stand and complete, doing away with sent that all Members have 5 legisla- mitment to preserve Medicare for mil-

the cumbersome paperwork that now tive days within which to revise and lions of people who have earned the se-

makes applying for aid a daunting extend their remarks and to insert ex- curity it represents and who count on

task. traneous materials into the RECORD. the stability and the dignity it pro-

I have 14 colleges and universities in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there vides. In doing so, we will keep our col-

my district. In many cases, these insti- objection to the request of the gentle- lective promise to stand with Amer-

tutions are the main economic engine woman from California? ica’s seniors as they age and to ensure

for the towns and cities in which they There was no objection. they have the health care they need to

are located. This piece of legislation Ms. MATSUI. I yield myself such live long and fruitful lives.

will benefit all of them as more stu- time as I may consume. We must never forget that Medicare

dents can go to college and come to Mr. Speaker, this rule provides for is an essential part of our country’s so-

these great towns that provide an eco- consideration of H.R. 3631, the Medi- cial contract. It guarantees that Amer-

nomic boost for the surrounding re- care Premium Fairness Act, under sus- ica’s seniors will not be forced to fend

gions. pension of the rules. It allows this body for themselves when the economy mo-

This legislation will also have a posi- to consider time-sensitive legislation mentarily turns sour or when they get

tive impact on our economy’s sustain- under an expedited process to shield sick or as they age. This is the living

ability, as it will save taxpayers $87 millions of Medicare beneficiaries from legacy of the Medicare program, and it

billion over 10 years by switching to harmful premium increases for the is a legacy we build upon today.

the cheaper Direct Loan Program. coming year. But we do not have much time to act,

I think this piece of legislation is a Due to the struggles facing our econ- Mr. Speaker. We must pass this legisla-

win-win. omy today, many seniors will not re- tion before October 1. This is so that

ceive Social Security COLAs this year, the Social Security Administration

f

even though the Medicare part B pre- can program updated premiums into a

OCCUPIED TERRITORY system in time to ensure that Medicare

miums will still rise. The Medicare

(Mr. GOHMERT asked and was given Premium Fairness Act addresses this premium increases do not hit seniors in

permission to address the House for 1 problem by protecting Medicare bene- their pocketbooks and in their doctors’

minute.) ficiaries from bearing the burden of in- offices. Speed and bipartisan coopera-

Mr. GOHMERT. President Obama has creased premiums because of an eco- tion are of essence if we are to avoid

indicated before that, basically, Israel nomic downturn largely outside of this problem.

needs to not be occupying land that The suspension authority this rule

their control. And it does so without

was acquired during war. Yesterday, to provides will allow the House to move

adding to the deficit.

the U.N. he said that a big part of the quickly and decisively to move this fix

Without today’s bill, seniors who are

goal is this: a viable, independent Pal- over to the Senate. The sooner we have

new to the Medicare program will see

estinian state with contiguous terri- this bill on the President’s desk, the

their monthly premiums jump dra-

tory that ends the occupation that better off millions of Medicare bene-

matically. Other part B recipients will

began in 1967 and realizes the potential ficiaries will be. I urge my colleagues

shoulder an unfairly large share of cost to recognize that passing this bill

of the Palestinian people. Well, he has increases because of the way current

also indicated this Nation, the United quickly is in the best interest of our

law requires part B to be funded. Cash- constituents, of the Medicare program,

States, will not be hypocritical any strapped States will be forced to bear

longer around the world. and of our country.

the burden of higher Medicare costs for I reserve the balance of my time.

Terrible news this is for California— dual-eligible beneficiaries. Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of

all of California, Arizona, Utah, Ne- For these reasons, I believe my col- Florida. I’d like to thank my friend,

vada, most of New Mexico, Colorado, leagues will agree with me that inac- the gentlewoman from California (Ms.

and Wyoming, because it means you’re tion is not an option here today. As our MATSUI) for the time, and I yield my-

about to be given back to Mexico, ter- country begins to climb back out of self such time as I may consume.

ritory that we acquired in 1848 as a re- one of the largest recessions in recent House Resolution 766 provides that it

sult of a war. memory, now is the worst possible mo- will be in order at any time on the leg-

f ment to saddle our seniors with in- islative day of today to consider H.R.

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION creased premiums. 3631, the Medicare Premium Fairness

OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE Many respected outside groups agree Act. That underlying legislation would

RULES with this statement and have endorsed freeze the Medicare part B premium for

the Medicare Premium Fairness Act. 2010 at the 2009 rate for beneficiaries

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, by direc- AARP, the National Committee to Pre- who, under current law, will see a pre-

tion of the Committee on Rules, I call serve Social Security and Medicare, mium increase, along with an expected

up House Resolution 766 and ask for its the Center for Medicare Advocacy, and freeze in the Social Security cost-of-

immediate consideration. the Alliance for Retired Americans living adjustment, COLA, for 2010 and

The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- have all endorsed H.R. 3631. 2011. Both of those combined would

lows: These groups understand that we’re leave seniors with less income next

H. RES. 766 living through a time when rising costs year if Congress does not act. So I sup-

Resolved, That it shall be in order at any have threatened the health care people port underlying legislation.

time through the legislative day of Sep-

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in this country have and deserve. This Although I support the underlying

tember 24, 2009, for the Speaker to entertain is true for Medicare beneficiaries and legislation that is being brought to the

motions that the house suspend the rules re-

non-beneficiaries alike. floor under this rule, I have reserva-

lating to the bill (H.R. 3631) to amend title

XVIII to provide for the application of a con- For this reason, making health care tions with the process the majority is

sistent Medicare part B premium for all more affordable for all Americans is proposing today. And I’m not the only

Medicare beneficiaries in a budget neutral our top priority. And protecting and one who has reservations with that

manner for 2010. strengthening Medicare is an essential process.







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H9906 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

In the past, a senior member of the I urge my colleagues to pass this rule Gonzalez Maloney Roybal-Allard

Gordon (TN) Markey (CO) Ruppersberger

current majority on the Rules Com- and pass the Medicare Premium Fair- Grayson Markey (MA) Rush

mittee referred to this process as ‘‘out- ness Act. Green, Al Marshall Ryan (OH)

side the normal parameters of the way Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Green, Gene Massa Salazar

the House should conduct its business. Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further Griffith Matheson ´

Sanchez, Linda

Grijalva Matsui T.

It effectively curtails our rights and re- speakers, and I yield back the balance Gutierrez McCarthy (NY) Sanchez, Loretta

sponsibilities as serious legislators.’’ of my time. Hall (NY) McCollum Sarbanes

The reason members of the majority Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield Halvorson McDermott Schakowsky

previously opposed rules such as this is Hare McGovern Schauer

myself the balance of my time. Harman McIntyre

because they block Members from of- The rule before us today allows the Hastings (FL) McMahon

Schiff

fering amendments and the minority Schrader

House to consider a very important and Heinrich McNerney

Schwartz

from offering a motion to recommit. time-sensitive piece of legislation Herseth Sandlin Meek (FL)

Scott (GA)

That, as you know, Mr. Speaker, is a Higgins Meeks (NY)

under suspension of the rules. It will Himes Melancon

Scott (VA)

very important procedural vehicle. Yet help this body expedite a bill that most Hinchey Michaud Serrano

today, the majority considers this Hinojosa Miller (NC) Sestak

of us recognize needs to be passed as Shea-Porter

process to be completely legitimate. quickly as possible. Because there will

Hirono Miller, George

Sherman

So it’s interesting how they thought Hodes Minnick

be no Social Security COLA this year, Holden Mitchell Sires

it was wrong when they were in the mi- millions of seniors will see their part B Holt Mollohan Skelton

nority, but once in the majority, it’s a premiums rise with no offsetting bump Honda Moore (WI) Slaughter

fine process. Hoyer Moran (VA) Snyder

in Social Security benefits. Inslee Murphy (CT) Space

I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 Now is not the time to turn our back Jackson (IL) Murphy, Patrick Spratt

on people who depend on Medicare for Jackson-Lee Murtha Stark

minutes to the gentleman from Florida (TX) Nadler (NY) Stupak

(Mr. KLEIN). essential health care services. This is Johnson, E. B. Napolitano Sutton

Mr. KLEIN of Florida. I thank the particularly true as we continue our Kagen Neal (MA) Tanner

gentlelady and also my colleague from drive to make health insurance, includ- Kanjorski Nye Teague

Kaptur Oberstar Thompson (CA)

Florida. I rise to support this rule and ing Medicare, more stable, secure, and Kennedy Obey Thompson (MS)

the underlying bill. The seniors in my affordable for everyone in this country. Kildee Olver Tierney

district in south Florida are grateful to I urge my colleagues to consider the Kilpatrick (MI) Ortiz Titus

needs of the Medicare-dependent con- Kilroy Pallone

my friend, Congresswoman TITUS; the Kind Pascrell

Tonko

chairman of the Ways and Means Com- stituents. Vote for the previous ques- Kirkpatrick (AZ) Pastor (AZ)

Tsongas

tion and for the rule, and approve the Van Hollen

mittee, Mr. RANGEL; and the Health Kissell Payne ´

Velazquez

Subcommittee chairman, Mr. STARK, underlying legislation. Klein (FL) Perlmutter

Visclosky

Kosmas Perriello

for acting swiftly to address one of the I yield back the balance of my time, Kratovil Peters Walz

biggest issues facing our seniors as we and I move the previous question on Kucinich Peterson Wasserman

the resolution. Langevin Pingree (ME) Schultz

speak. Waters

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without Larsen (WA) Polis (CO)

b 1045 Larson (CT) Pomeroy Watson

objection, the previous question is or- Lee (CA) Price (NC) Watt

Mr. Speaker, for the first time in 35 dered. Levin Quigley Waxman

years, our seniors face a year without There was no objection. Lipinski Rahall Weiner

the traditional cost-of-living adjust- Loebsack Rangel Welch

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Lofgren, Zoe Reyes Wexler

ment, or COLA, as we call it, in their question is on the resolution. Wilson (OH)

Lowey Richardson

Social Security payments because in- The question was taken; and the ´

Lujan Rodriguez Woolsey

flation has not increased. Of course, if Speaker pro tempore announced that Lynch Ross Wu

you try telling our seniors that infla- Maffei Rothman (NJ) Yarmuth

the ayes appeared to have it.

tion isn’t a concern, the first thing Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, on that I NAYS—182

they are going to do is show you their demand the yeas and nays. Aderholt Childers Issa

medical bills and prove you wrong, be- The yeas and nays were ordered. Akin Coble Jenkins

cause a fact that our seniors know is Alexander Coffman (CO) Johnson (IL)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-

fundamentally they have different ex- Austria Cole Johnson, Sam

ant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15- Bachmann Conaway Jones

penses than a typical family of four be-

minute vote on adoption of House Res- Bachus Crenshaw Jordan (OH)

cause of their medical expenses.

olution 766 will be followed by a 5- Baird Culberson King (IA)

Currently, the cost for seniors who Bartlett Davis (KY) King (NY)

minute vote on motion to suspend the

utilize Medicare part B, services like Barton (TX) Deal (GA) Kingston

rules on H. Con. Res. 163. Biggert Dent Kirk

doctor visits or home oxygen equip-

ment, is around $96 a month. If we do The vote was taken by electronic de- Bilbray Diaz-Balart, L. Kline (MN)

vice, and there were—yeas 235, nays Bilirakis Diaz-Balart, M. Lamborn

nothing, if we fail to act today, then Bishop (UT) Dreier Lance

premiums could skyrocket to almost 132, not voting 15, as follows: Blackburn Duncan Latham

[Roll No. 735] Blunt Ehlers LaTourette

$120 a month for the same services. Boehner Emerson Latta

During these tough economic times, YEAS—235 Bonner Flake Lee (NY)

we cannot ask seniors who face stag- Abercrombie Brown, Corrine Davis (IL) Bono Mack Fleming Lewis (CA)

gering losses in the value of their Ackerman Butterfield Davis (TN) Boozman Forbes Linder

Adler (NJ) Capps DeFazio Boustany Fortenberry LoBiondo

homes and retirement plans and in- Altmire Capuano DeGette Brady (TX) Foxx Lucas

creased medical costs to make addi- Andrews Cardoza DeLauro Bright Franks (AZ) Luetkemeyer

tional sacrifices. That is why the Medi- Arcuri Carnahan Dicks Broun (GA) Frelinghuysen Lummis

care Premium Fairness Act is so im- Baca Carney Dingell Brown (SC) Gallegly Lungren, Daniel

Baldwin Carson (IN) Doggett Brown-Waite, Garrett (NJ) E.

portant. This bill will ensure that next Barrow Castor (FL) Donnelly (IN) Ginny Gerlach Mack

year’s premiums for all Medicare part Bean Chu Driehaus Buchanan Gingrey (GA) Manzullo

B beneficiaries will not increase by a Becerra Cleaver Edwards (MD) Burgess Gohmert Marchant

Berkley Clyburn Edwards (TX) Burton (IN) Goodlatte McCarthy (CA)

dime. Berman Cohen Ellison Buyer Granger McCaul

Earlier this week, this body acted to Berry Connolly (VA) Ellsworth Calvert Guthrie McClintock

extend unemployment benefits. Florida Bishop (GA) Cooper Engel Camp Hall (TX) McCotter

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will be one of the beneficiaries of that. Bishop (NY) Costa Eshoo Campbell Harper McHenry

Blumenauer Costello Etheridge Cantor Hastings (WA) McKeon

Giving Americans a hand up during Boccieri Courtney Farr Cao Heller McMorris

these tough economic times was the Boren Crowley Fattah Capito Hensarling Rodgers

right thing to do then, and giving a Boswell Cuellar Filner Carter Herger Mica

hand up to our Greatest Generation is Boucher Cummings Foster Cassidy Hill Miller (FL)

Boyd Dahlkemper Frank (MA) Castle Hoekstra Miller (MI)

without question the right thing to do Brady (PA) Davis (AL) Fudge Chaffetz Hunter Miller, Gary

now. Braley (IA) Davis (CA) Giffords Chandler Inglis Moore (KS)









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9907

Moran (KS) Rogers (KY) Souder Butterfield Halvorson McHenry Scott (GA) Stark Walden

Murphy (NY) Rogers (MI) Stearns Buyer Hare McIntyre Scott (VA) Stearns Walz

Murphy, Tim Rohrabacher Sullivan Calvert Harman McKeon Sensenbrenner Stupak Wamp

Myrick Ros-Lehtinen Taylor Camp Harper McMahon Serrano Sullivan Wasserman

Neugebauer Roskam Terry Campbell Hastings (FL) McMorris Sessions Sutton Schultz

Nunes Royce Thompson (PA) Cantor Hastings (WA) Rodgers Sestak Tanner Waters

Olson Ryan (WI) Thornberry Cao Heinrich McNerney Shadegg Taylor Watson

Paul Scalise Tiahrt Capito Heller Meek (FL) Shea-Porter Teague Watt

Paulsen Schmidt Capps Hensarling Meeks (NY) Sherman Terry Waxman

Tiberi

Pence Schock Capuano Herger Melancon Shimkus Thompson (CA)

Turner Weiner

Petri Sensenbrenner Cardoza Herseth Sandlin Mica Shuler Thompson (MS)

Upton Welch

Pitts Sessions Carnahan Higgins Michaud Shuster Thompson (PA)

Walden Westmoreland

Poe (TX) Shadegg Carney Hill Miller (FL) Simpson Thornberry

Posey Shimkus Wamp Sires Tiahrt Wexler

Carson (IN) Himes Miller (MI)

Price (GA) Shuler Westmoreland Skelton Tiberi Whitfield

Carter Hinchey Miller (NC)

Putnam Shuster Whitfield Slaughter Tierney Wilson (OH)

Cassidy Hinojosa Miller, Gary

Radanovich Simpson Wilson (SC) Smith (NE) Titus Wilson (SC)

Castle Hirono Miller, George

Rehberg Smith (NE) Wittman Smith (NJ) Tonko Wittman

Castor (FL) Hodes Minnick

Reichert Smith (NJ) Wolf Smith (TX) Tsongas Wolf

Chaffetz Hoekstra Mitchell

Roe (TN) Smith (TX) Young (AK) Mollohan Smith (WA) Turner Woolsey

Chandler Holden

Rogers (AL) Smith (WA) Young (FL) Childers Holt Moore (KS) Snyder Upton Wu

Chu Honda Moore (WI) Souder Van Hollen Yarmuth

NOT VOTING—15 Space ´

Velazquez Young (AK)

Clarke Hoyer Moran (KS)

Barrett (SC) Doyle Lewis (GA) Clay Hunter Moran (VA) Spratt Visclosky Young (FL)

Clarke Fallin Platts Cleaver Inglis Murphy (CT)

Clay Graves Rooney

NOES—4

Clyburn Inslee Murphy (NY)

Conyers Israel Speier Coble Issa Murphy, Patrick Blackburn Deal (GA)

Delahunt Johnson (GA) Towns Coffman (CO) Jackson (IL) Murphy, Tim Broun (GA) Flake

Cohen Jackson-Lee Murtha

NOT VOTING—15

b 1115 Cole (TX) Myrick

Conaway Jenkins Nadler (NY) Barrett (SC) Fallin Lewis (GA)

Messrs. PETRI, PENCE, CULBER- Connolly (VA) Johnson (GA) Napolitano Bishop (UT) Gohmert Rooney

SON and MOORE of Kansas changed Cooper Johnson (IL) Neal (MA) Conyers Graves Schrader

their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ Costa Johnson, E. B. Neugebauer Delahunt Israel Speier

Costello Johnson, Sam Nunes Doyle Larson (CT) Towns

So the resolution was agreed to. Courtney Jones Nye

The result of the vote was announced ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

Crenshaw Jordan (OH) Oberstar

as above recorded. Crowley Kagen Obey The SPEAKER pro tempore (during

A motion to reconsider was laid on Cuellar Kanjorski Olson the vote). There is 1 minute remaining

Culberson Kaptur Olver

the table. Kennedy Ortiz

in this vote.

Cummings

f Dahlkemper Kildee

Kilpatrick (MI)

Pallone

Pascrell

b 1123

Davis (AL)

NATIONAL JOB CORPS DAY

Davis (CA) Kilroy Pastor (AZ) Mr. ROYCE changed his vote from

Davis (IL) Kind Paul ‘‘no’’ to ‘‘aye.’’

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Davis (KY) King (IA) Paulsen

Davis (TN) King (NY) Payne So (two-thirds being in the affirma-

finished business is the question on DeFazio Kingston Pence tive) the rules were suspended and the

suspending the rules and agreeing to DeGette Kirk Perlmutter concurrent resolution, as amended, was

the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. DeLauro Kirkpatrick (AZ) Perriello

agreed to.

Dent Kissell Peters

163. The result of the vote was announced

Diaz-Balart, L. Klein (FL) Peterson

The Clerk read the title of the con- Diaz-Balart, M. Kline (MN) Petri as above recorded.

current resolution. Dicks Kosmas Pingree (ME) A motion to reconsider was laid on

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Dingell Kratovil Pitts

Doggett Kucinich Platts the table.

question is on the motion offered by Donnelly (IN) Lamborn Poe (TX) Stated for:

the gentleman from Massachusetts Dreier Lance Polis (CO) Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker,

(Mr. LYNCH) that the House suspend Driehaus Langevin Pomeroy

on rollcall No. 736, had I been present, I

the rules and agree to the concurrent Duncan Larsen (WA) Posey

Edwards (MD) Latham Price (GA) would have voted ‘‘yea.’’

resolution, H. Con. Res. 163. Edwards (TX) LaTourette Price (NC)

f

The question was taken. Ehlers Latta Putnam

The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the Ellison Lee (CA) Quigley

Ellsworth Lee (NY) Radanovich

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being Emerson Levin Rahall Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, on September

in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Engel Lewis (CA) Rangel

Eshoo Linder Rehberg

24, 2009, I was called away on personal busi-

RECORDED VOTE

Etheridge Lipinski Reichert ness. I regret that I was not present for the fol-

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Farr LoBiondo Reyes lowing votes:

Speaker, I demand a recorded vote. Fattah Loebsack Richardson On the passage of H. Res. 766, had I been

A recorded vote was ordered. Filner Lofgren, Zoe Rodriguez

Fleming Lowey Roe (TN) present, I would have voted ‘‘yea.’’

The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a Forbes Lucas Rogers (AL) On the passage of H. Con. Res. 163, had

5-minute vote. Fortenberry Luetkemeyer Rogers (KY) I been present, I would have voted ‘‘yea.’’

The vote was taken by electronic de- Foster ´

Lujan Rogers (MI)

vice, and there were—ayes 413, noes 4, Foxx Lummis Rohrabacher f

Frank (MA) Lungren, Daniel Ros-Lehtinen

not voting 15, as follows: Franks (AZ) E. Roskam PERSONAL EXPLANATION

[Roll No. 736] Frelinghuysen Lynch Ross

Fudge Mack Rothman (NJ) Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoid-

AYES—413 Gallegly Maffei Roybal-Allard ably detained due to sickness.

Abercrombie Barton (TX) Boozman Garrett (NJ) Maloney Royce Had I been present, I would have voted

Ackerman Bean Boren Gerlach Manzullo Ruppersberger

Aderholt Becerra Boswell Giffords Marchant Rush

‘‘yea’’ on rollcall No. 736, and ‘‘nay’’ on rollcall

Adler (NJ) Berkley Boucher Gingrey (GA) Markey (CO) Ryan (OH) No. 735.

Akin Berman Boustany Gonzalez Markey (MA) Ryan (WI)

Alexander Berry Boyd Goodlatte Marshall Salazar

f

Altmire Biggert Brady (PA) Gordon (TN) Massa ´

Sanchez, Linda

Andrews Bilbray Brady (TX) Granger Matheson T.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER

PRO TEMPORE

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Arcuri Bilirakis Braley (IA) Grayson Matsui Sanchez, Loretta

Austria Bishop (GA) Bright Green, Al McCarthy (CA) Sarbanes

Baca Bishop (NY) Brown (SC) Green, Gene McCarthy (NY) Scalise

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-

Bachmann Blumenauer Brown, Corrine Griffith McCaul Schakowsky ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair

Bachus Blunt Brown-Waite, Grijalva McClintock Schauer will postpone further proceedings

Baird Boccieri Ginny Guthrie McCollum Schiff today on the motion to suspend the

Baldwin Boehner Buchanan Gutierrez McCotter Schmidt

Barrow Bonner Burgess Hall (NY) McDermott Schock rules on which a recorded vote or the

Bartlett Bono Mack Burton (IN) Hall (TX) McGovern Schwartz yeas and nays are ordered, or on which







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H9908 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

the vote incurs objection under clause There was no objection. we were going to have a same-day rule

6 of rule XX. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield and have an emergency bill put on the

Any record vote on the postponed myself such time as I may consume. floor today to hold harmless our senior

question will be taken later. I urge my colleagues on both sides of citizens who choose Medicare part B

f the aisle to support H.R. 3631, the and who are having their premiums go

Medicare Premium Fairness Act of up. I asked the distinguished sub-

MEDICARE PREMIUM FAIRNESS

2009, of which I am an original cospon- committee chairman, Mr. PALLONE, if

ACT

sor. he knew anything about it, and to his

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move Unless Congress acts quickly, mil- credit, he said he was aware of it, but

to suspend the rules and pass the bill lions of America’s seniors will find he had just become aware of it. I said,

(H.R. 3631) to amend title XVIII to pro- themselves with a smaller Social Secu- Well, why didn’t we have a hearing on

vide for the application of a consistent rity check at a time when they are al- this? Why didn’t we have a markup?

Medicare part B premium for all Medi- ready stretching every dollar they Why didn’t we find out what the policy

care beneficiaries in a budget neutral have. If we don’t act today, 27 percent is? Why didn’t we do all kinds of

manner for 2010. of Medicare beneficiaries will see their

The Clerk read the title of the bill. things? To his credit, his answer was

part B premium increase from $96 to that it was just something that had to

The text of the bill is as follows:

$110 or $120. That’s potentially a 25 per- be done.

H.R. 3631

cent increase in their Medicare part B Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m tired of the

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-

resentatives of the United States of America in premiums when they’re getting no in- Democratic leadership waiting until

Congress assembled, crease in their Social Security COLA. the last moment. And to give them the

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. It won’t just be Medicare bene- benefit of the doubt, they don’t know

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare ficiaries who are harmed either. Cash- what’s happening in these programs, so

Premium Fairness Act’’. strapped States will also feel a pinch if they have to scramble. Or they do

SEC. 2. MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM FOR 2010. we don’t act. Most of those impacted know, and they don’t give a darn about

(a) PREMIUM COMPUTATION.—Section 1839 of by the possible premium increases are what the process is and what the policy

the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r) is dual-eligibles, or those beneficiaries

amended— is.

who qualify for both Medicare and

(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end b 1130

the following new paragraph: Medicaid because they may have low

‘‘(5) The monthly premium under this sub- incomes. Their premium increases will I think it’s inexcusable that we are

section for 2010 shall be the monthly pre- have to be paid for by States as part of here on the House floor today on a bill

mium under this subsection for 2009.’’; and their Medicaid programs. As we all that there’s not any serious opposition

(2) in subsection (i)(3)(A), by adding after know, States across the Nation are fac- that we need to do something but I

and below clause (ii) the following: think there is a real policy debate

ing large budget deficits and are being

‘‘In applying clause (ii) for 2010, the monthly forced to slash critical services and in- about how to prevent this from hap-

actuarial rate described in such clause shall pening in the future.

be such monthly actuarial rate for 2009.’’.

crease taxes. This simply is not the

(b) OFFSET FROM MEDICARE IMPROVEMENT time that the Federal Government For my friends who don’t really

FUND.—Section 1898(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. should be shifting more costs to States know a lot about Medicare part B,

1395iii(b)) is amended— who are simply unable to absorb it. Medicare part B is voluntary. It is the

(1) in paragraph (1)— Mr. Speaker, even though this is an part of Medicare that handles physi-

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking the emergency situation, we have found a cian payments and outpatient reim-

semicolon at the end and inserting the fol- way to make sure that the bill is com- bursement. Now, most Medicare recipi-

lowing: ‘‘, reduced by the sum of— ents choose part B. About 98 percent

‘‘(i) the amount transferred under para-

pletely paid for and does not add one

graph (5); and dime to the deficit. It is imperative choose part B.

‘‘(ii) $567,000,000;’’; that Congress act today in order to Within part B there are three classes

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as make sure that every Medicare bene- of Medicare beneficiaries. There are

subparagraph (C); and ficiary is financially protected and is Medicare beneficiaries that have a high

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the able to afford the Medicare services he income. There are Medicare bene-

following new subparagraph: or she deserves. ficiaries that have average incomes,

‘‘(B) fiscal year 2015, the amount specified I once again urge my colleagues on and there are Medicare beneficiaries

in subparagraph (A)(ii); and’’; and that have low income.

(2) by adding at the end the following new

both sides of the aisle to support this

bill. Please vote ‘‘yes.’’ Vote to protect Under current law if you have been

paragraph:

‘‘(5) TRANSFER AND OFFSET.—There are America’s seniors. covered in Medicare in a prior year and

hereby transferred from amounts in the gen- I reserve the balance of my time. you don’t have a high income, you

eral fund of the Treasury to the Federal Sup- Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, don’t have a low income, you are held

plementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund I yield myself such time as I may con- harmless by the current law. But if

an amount equivalent, as estimated by the sume. you’re a new Medicare beneficiary, in

Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & We are here today because the Demo- other words, you weren’t on the pro-

Medicaid Services, to the aggregate reduc- crat leadership apparently doesn’t gram last year, if you’re a high-income

tion in premiums payable under part B that

know what our senior citizens have Medicare beneficiary, or if you’re a

result from the application of paragraph (5)

of section 1839(a) and the last sentence of known for the last 6 months. I held a low-income Medicare beneficiary, then

section 1839(i)(3)(A).’’. town meeting in Wortham, Texas, in you’re not held harmless.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- August. The population of Wortham, And those groups, about 25 percent of

ant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas, is approximately 1,100 people the total Medicare population, are the

New Jersey (Mr. PALLONE) and the gen- perhaps. A constituent, a senior cit- people that were going to have their

tleman from Texas (Mr. BARTON) each izen, stood up at my town hall meeting Medicare premium increased. The cur-

will control 20 minutes. and asked me if it was true that their rent premium this year is about $96,

The Chair recognizes the gentleman Medicare part B premiums were going and under current law if you weren’t

from New Jersey. to go up while their Social Security protected, it would go up to about $104.

GENERAL LEAVE COLA did not increase. I said that I did So that’s about an $8 increase or a lit-

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask not know, but I would check it out. I tle over maybe 7 or 8 percent.

unanimous consent that all Members had my staff check it out, and sure So under years when the average in-

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may have 5 legislative days in which to enough, they were telling the truth. flationary and the consumer price

revise and extend their remarks and in- Well, yesterday, right before the En- index goes up, there’s a Social Security

sert extraneous material in the ergy and Commerce Committee mark- COLA increase. So if Medicare ex-

RECORD. up was scheduled to conclude, I got a penses go up, which they did last year,

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there note from my staff that there was the Medicare part B premium goes up

objection to the request of the gen- going to be a special meeting of the but the Social Security benefit goes up,

tleman from New Jersey? Rules Committee last evening and that and since Medicare part B premiums







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9909

are deducted from Social Security, our seniors that are not protected by them. I would have liked to have a

then that is kind of offset. ‘‘hold harmless’’ that we do something COLA for all Social Security bene-

But this year we didn’t have infla- to help them. But we are very upset ficiaries, but at least don’t let them see

tion. The consumer price index, be- that it has been done so cavalierly on a reduction in Social Security to pay

cause of the recession, didn’t go up; so such short notice with absolutely no for an increase in Medicare premiums.

our seniors didn’t get their Social Se- process at all. Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker,

curity increase. But Medicare spending Democracy cannot work, Mr. Speak- I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman

went up last year because we haven’t er, if we don’t let the people know why from Kentucky (Mr. WHITFIELD), a

reformed the program. So the Medicare we are making decisions, what the pol- member of the committee.

part B premium, which is optional, icy implications are, not to just our Mr. WHITFIELD. I thank the gen-

went up; and if you weren’t protected, senior citizens but to all our citizens. tleman for yielding the time.

your premium went up. I am not going to ask for a ‘‘no’’ vote I’m not going to get into a discussion

Now, Mr. Speaker, there are lots of because we do need to do something. of process today, but I would like to

policy questions there. Maybe we need But I am going to ask that my friends commend the chairman and the rank-

to change the current law. Maybe we in the majority really think about ing member and the chairman of the

need to protect all Medicare part B holding a hearing on this, even though subcommittee for bringing this bill to

beneficiaries. Maybe we need to look at it will be after the fact, so we can get the floor to correct this inequity for

these high-income seniors? Did we have the facts on the table and that we try our senior citizens.

that hearing? Did we have that policy to set up a process so that we don’t But I would like to discuss another

debate? No. have to next year and the next year matter relating to the national health

The Democrat majority is simply and the next year come out here with care debate that is of great concern to

putting this bill on the floor saying absolutely no advance warning and no me.

let’s take $2.7 billion and let’s hold ev- real understanding of what the long- Last week the Congressional Budget

erybody harmless. Well, now that’s term implications of this are. Office, in examining the bill proposed

good politics. I am not negating the Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of by Senator BAUCUS, said that that bill

politics of it. But is that good policy? my time. would reduce by $123 billion the Medi-

My good friend Mr. PALLONE from Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 care Advantage program. This is a pro-

New Jersey said not one dime is going minutes to the distinguished chairman gram that provides private health in-

to be added to the deficit. Well, he of the Energy and Commerce Com- surance for our Medicare beneficiaries.

didn’t tell you where the money’s com- mittee, Mr. WAXMAN. And I might say there are many of

ing from. Here’s where the money is Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker and my them in rural areas and over 10,000 in

coming from, and I have read the bill. colleagues, this is a simple bill. It cor- my district.

Luckily, it’s only two pages; so it’s not rects a minor formulaic problem with One of the companies that provides

that hard to read. But here’s where the the calculation of Medicare premiums this private option is Humana Corpora-

money is coming from: It is coming for some beneficiaries, not all but just tion, headquartered in Louisville, Ken-

from something called the Medicare some. And we are faced with a very tucky. They sent out a notice to their

Improvement Fund; $567 million is short time in which to act. The admin- Medicare beneficiaries explaining that

coming from the Medicare Improve- istration has told us that the Social the Baucus plan would reduce by $123

ment Fund. That’s a fund that our ma- Security agency needs to know what billion the amount of money available

jority has set up in a bill last year, and premium to program into their system for Medicare.

I think, and I could be wrong and Mr. by or about October 1. When Senator BAUCUS heard about

PALLONE could tell me, he probably This legislation deals with the situa- that, he ordered Medicare regulators to

knows, that there’s about $20 billion in tion where, under current law, some investigate and, if necessary, punish

that fund. And the rest of it is a trans- seniors will face unusually steep pre- Humana for trying to educate its own

fer that is coming from the Treasury of mium increases next year. Bene- enrollees about how they would be

the Federal Supplementary Medical In- ficiaries who pay $96 today could face damaged by the Senate bill. Now, I

surance Trust Fund, and they’re going premiums of $110 or even $120 per might add that the acting director of

to take $567 million from this what I month next year if we don’t act today. CMS, Jonathan Blum, used to work for

call a temporary fund, and then they The reason for that is that there’s no Senator BAUCUS.

are going to take the rest of it from increase in the cost of living under But the thing that is really troubling

the General Federal Supplementary their Social Security. But for these few about this is that while they are

Medical Insurance Trust Fund. Medicare beneficiaries, there would be issuing an order against Humana, the

So they’re taking money that has an increase in their part B premium Association for the Advancement of

been paid in by our Medicare taxes and passed on to them. Retired Persons, AARP, which claims

they’re just saying we’re going to use About three-quarters of beneficiaries to represent senior citizens on Medi-

some of that money. That trust fund’s face this steep premium increase. The care, they also have an advantage pro-

going broke. It’s in the red and going legislation would protect the other gram through United Health Care that

broke every year. We’re just going to one-quarter, over 11 million bene- they offer 1.7 million enrollees, and yet

take some of that money and use it ficiaries. It will help new Medicare en- they’ve been sending out information

this year. Plus we’re going to take rollees, older civil service retirees, and and on their Web site saying that Medi-

some of the money from the special others who don’t receive Social Secu- care funds would not be reduced, and

fund that we set up last year. Now, rity benefits and State government yet CMS is not taking any action

there are all sorts of policy questions benefits. It would not add to the def- against them.

there. icit. It would be financed by reductions The SPEAKER pro tempore. The

So our friends on the majority are in other Medicare spending. time of the gentleman has expired.

right to say for this year, for this $2.7 It’s an important bill. It’s not the Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield

billion, there’s no added borrowing; but most important bill that we’re going to 11⁄2 minutes to the gentleman from

they are wrong to say, in my opinion, face in the health care area. That’s Maryland (Mr. SARBANES).

that it’s not adding to the deficit be- coming up very soon. But for those of Mr. SARBANES. I thank the gen-

cause they are taking money out of the us who have always supported the tleman for yielding.

general Medicare fund that we’re going Medicare program and have been con- Mr. Speaker, this is a very, very im-

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to need in future years and they’re tak- cerned about the Medicare bene- portant bill, and it’s one that we need

ing money from this special fund which ficiaries, we see that we’ve been suc- to pass today.

I may be wrong in but I think was set cessful from most of them not having In August, as was referenced, many

up with borrowed money from the gen- to face this problem. But we need to of us heard from our constituents that

eral fund. correct this problem that will be faced they were going to be in this crunch

Again, the minority is not objecting by a good number of people and to where, on the one hand, the cost-of-liv-

to the fact that for that 25 percent of make sure that it does not happen to ing adjustment for Social Security was







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H9910 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

not going up based on the formula that also owes an explanation to its mem- who receive Social Security benefits in

looks at inflation cost but, on the bers for misleading them about the the State of Vermont, and 41 percent,

other hand, they were facing an in- Medicare cuts contained in H.R. 3200. Mr. Speaker—about 52,000 people—rely

crease in their Medicare part B pre- According to the CBO Director, 2.7 on Social Security for fully 90 percent

mium. I pledged actually on the spot million seniors will lose their current of their income. They’re going to get a

that I knew we would come back and Medicare Advantage plans under the zero increase in their cost of living, but

we would be trying to take a look at policies of the House health care bill. on the other hand, they’re going to get

this and explore various options that When I said the President was flat an increase in premiums which could

could help 10 million Medicare bene- wrong about cuts to Medicare benefits, be $110, $120 a month. That is a hammer

ficiaries across the country, including this is exactly what I meant. to their finances for the month.

thousands in Maryland. I am, however, pleased that this bill We have a bipartisan commitment to

There are a number of ways to ad- does work to protect some of our sen- Social Security. The situation our sen-

dress this issue. I think what happened iors from future financial hardships, iors face is as a result of the recession,

was the idea of looking at the Medicare but the correct approach would be to something over which they have no

part B premium and making an adjust- scrap H.R. 3200, to fix Medicare first control but are very much affected by.

ment there instead of holding it down and to pursue a real bipartisan ap- This modest legislation is going to be a

is one that came into focus recently. proach that delivers honest reform lifeline of support for seniors in

We might have been able to go do hear- that the American people actually Vermont, and my hope is that we will

ings based on that, but we realized want. pass it on a strong bipartisan basis.

we’ve got to move quickly because the Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, may I Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I con-

Medicare program needs to implement inquire as to how much time we have tinue to reserve the balance of my

this right away if it’s going to be put in remaining on our side? time.

force. So that’s why we’re moving The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2

quickly. tleman has 141⁄2 minutes. minutes to the gentlewoman from Ne-

The bottom line here is people spoke Mr. PALLONE. I yield 11⁄2 minutes to vada (Ms. TITUS), who is the sponsor of

to us and we listened, and that should the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. this legislation.

be an assurance to all those seniors out SCHAKOWSKY). Ms. TITUS. Thank you, Chairmen

there who are expressing some anxiety Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the gen- RANGEL, STARK, WAXMAN, DINGELL, and

about where we are going generally tleman for yielding. PALLONE, for your leadership on this

with our health reform efforts. We are Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. important issue.

hearing those concerns. They’re part of 3631, the Medicare Premium Fairness Mr. Speaker, my State of Nevada has

what we’re trying to do here to keep Act, and hope that we have good bipar- been particularly hard hit by the eco-

the Medicare program strong and to tisan support for this sensible legisla- nomic downturn. In addition to record

look out for the best interests of our tion. unemployment and high foreclosure

seniors, and that’s why we ought to We know that everyone, and particu- rates, Nevadans have watched as their

support this legislation today. larly seniors who are on fixed incomes, retirement savings have plummeted in

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, have been hard hit by the worst reces- value. This has been especially hard on

I yield the balance of my time to the sion in 70 years. The Labor Department our senior population, which has been

gentleman from California (Mr. data shows that, for people over 65, the fastest growing in the country for

HERGER) and ask unanimous consent 447,000 filed for unemployment in Au- the last decade.

that he control that time. gust, which is a 127 percent increase To make matters worse for our eco-

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without over December of 2007. Over the past nomically strapped seniors, some of

objection, the gentleman from Cali- year, the number of unemployed work- whom have had to choose between buy-

fornia will control the balance of the ers 75 and older has increased by 33 per- ing food and buying medicine, it is now

time. cent. Why are they even going to work? projected that Social Security recipi-

There was no objection. Because seniors are hurting. They need ents will not receive a cost-of-living in-

Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 the money. Now they learn there will crease in their benefits next year for

minutes to the gentlewoman from be no cost-of-living increase in their the first time in 35 years. Simulta-

Florida (Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE). Social Security checks. neously, Medicare part B premiums

At a time when health care costs are will continue to rise. So, unless Con-

b 1145 already claiming a big chunk of their gress acts quickly and decisively, this

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor- Social Security checks and at a time could mean a reduction in Social Secu-

ida. I thank the gentleman for yield- when out-of-pocket costs are rising and rity benefits at a time when many Ne-

ing. they’re forgoing much of their needed vada seniors count on every dollar to

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in reluctant care, we can’t allow their part B pre- get by.

support of this bill because I do believe miums to increase. They need help As the gentleman from Texas pointed

it is a promise that we must keep to right now. out, not all seniors will see a decrease

our seniors. It is not fair for our sen- I strongly support the Medicare Pre- in their Social Security checks caused

iors to shoulder the burden of this Con- mium Fairness Act, and I urge my col- by part B premium increases, thanks

gress because of the policies passed by leagues to support the senior citizens to a hold harmless policy. About 27 per-

the Democrat majority. and persons with disabilities by passing cent of enrollees, some 11 million peo-

However, wouldn’t it have been a H.R. 3631. ple, however, nationally and thousands

whole lot better to pay for it from the Mr. HERGER. I would like to inquire in Nevada are excluded from that hold

unused stimulus money? as to how much time we have remain- harmless policy. As a result, they will

This savings to seniors will be espe- ing on our side, Mr. Speaker. see their Social Security checks shrink

cially and critically important to The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- if we don’t pass this bill.

Medicare recipients. CBO Director El- tleman has 7 minutes remaining. The Medicare Premium Fairness Act

mendorf just announced yesterday that Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve before you today will eliminate this in-

seniors can expect to see a reduction in the balance of my time. equity, and it will protect all Medicare

their Medicare benefits if H.R. 3200 is Mr. PALLONE. I yield 11⁄2 minutes to enrollees so that no senior will see his

passed. That will mean that some of the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. or her premium increase or will experi-

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our poorest citizens will be asked to WELCH). ence a Social Security check decrease.

pay even more for their out-of-pocket Mr. WELCH. I thank the gentleman Because this bill is fully paid for by

medical costs. This is not change that from New Jersey. using existing funds, including the

they can afford. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important Medicare Improvement Fund, and be-

The President and the majority in bill that is going to make a real dif- cause it meets the PAYGO require-

this House and in the Senate owe our ference in Vermont to about 130,000 ments, it’s a responsible way to stand

seniors an honest explanation. AARP seniors. That’s the number of people up and provide for our seniors during







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9911

these tough economic times. So I urge I want to thank the various chairmen ments are made by Medicaid. There-

my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have decided to move decisively on fore, if we didn’t pass this, some of the

to support this crucial legislation. this measure this week. I would only States who are already having severe

Mr. HERGER. I yield myself such hope that our Republican friends would problems with their Medicaid would

time as I may consume. work with us on this one. Let’s not use have an extra burden for that small

Mr. Speaker, we need to keep in mind this issue as a weapon in the health group.

the broader challenges facing Medi- care reform debate. This is a separate

care. Medicare’s trustees have ex- issue. Not only does it affect my dis- The bill is paid for out of a Medicare

pressed concerns about spending in trict, but it affects all of our districts. fund which we set up some years ago

part B, warning that legislation to In my State of North Carolina, 1.392 for just this kind of a program. It’s a

avert cuts in physician payments, to- million North Carolinians have Medi- fund where we set aside money each

gether with restrictions on premium care, and they need this legislation year in the event we needed dollars to

increases, could ‘‘jeopardize part B sol- this week. solve a problem. This is a problem that

vency and require unusual measures to I ask my colleagues to join with me we foresaw coming up for a diverse

avoid asset depletion.’’ I am concerned in voting for the Medicare Premium group of our beneficiaries, and it

that we are doing exactly what the Fairness Act. seemed to be a fair way to not disrupt

trustees warned us against—placing Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve their financial planning and to provide

the Medicare part B program at risk of the balance of my time. a level playing field so that all the

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield beneficiaries receive the same treat-

bankruptcy.

the remaining time to the gentleman ment and some were not subsidizing

Furthermore, the nonpartisan Con-

from California (Mr. STARK), and I ask others. It’s a bill that I hope will have

gressional Budget Office found that

unanimous consent that he control

H.R. 3200, the House Democrats’ health broad bipartisan support, and I think it

that time.

care bill, would increase Medicare part The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. will serve our Social Security bene-

B premiums by $25 billion. I find it HOLDEN). Is there objection to the re- ficiaries well.

ironic that the bill before us reduces quest of the gentleman from New Jer- JUDGE DAVID L. BAZELON,

premiums by about one-tenth the sey? CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH LAW,

amount that H.R. 3200 would increase There was no objection. Washington, DC, September 24, 2009.

seniors’ Medicare premiums. Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- Hon. CHARLES B. RANGEL,

I am also especially concerned that Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,

self such time as I may consume. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

the majority Democrats are attempt- Today, we have a bill before us that Hon. HENRY A. WAXMAN,

ing to shut down the debate on how will basically protect the Social Secu- Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,

their health care bill would affect sen- rity checks from dropping in 2010 as a House of Representatives, Washington DC.

iors enrolled in the Medicare Advan- result of what could be called a

DEAR CHAIRMAN RANGEL AND CHAIRMAN

tage program. The CBO has confirmed ‘‘quirk’’ in the relationship between WAXMAN: The Bazelon Center for Mental

that the $156 billion in Medicare Ad- our Medicare part B premiums and the Health Law supports H.R. 3631, the ‘‘Medi-

vantage cuts contained in H.R. 3200 Social Security checks. Some seniors care Premium Fairness Act.’’ This bill will

could, indeed, force plans to limit bene- will still be feeling the effects of the protect the Social Security benefits of per-

fits, including premium relief. Yet recession in 2010, and this bill at least sons with disabilities by ensuring that their

CMS has issued a gag order prohibiting ensures that they will receive stable monthly payments are not reduced due to an

Medicare Advantage plans from in- Social Security checks. increase in Medicare Part B premiums.

forming their customers of this fact. If we fail to act, about 4 million sen- It is expected that there will be no cost of

At the same time, CMS has appar- iors and people with disabilities will living adjustment (COLA) in Social Security

ently taken no action against the spon- see an increase in their part B pre- benefits paid in 2010, which will cause a hard-

sor of the largest Medicare Advantage miums, which would result in a de- ship for individuals with disabilities and oth-

plan, AARP, whose Web site urges sen- crease in their Social Security checks. ers who receive Social Security payments.

iors to contact their Members of Con- I am quite sure that all of us under- However, Medicare Part B premiums are ex-

stand that, even among the higher in- pected to increase. Fortunately, under cur-

gress in support of the Democrats’ rent law, most of these beneficiaries will be

health care bill, which would slash come beneficiaries under Social Secu-

rity, a Social Security check becomes ‘‘held harmless’’ and will not see an actual

Medicare by more than $500 billion. reduction in their monthly Social Security

Mr. Speaker, why the double stand- part of the financial fabric of most of

benefits. However, about 27% of beneficiaries

ard? It appears that people are free to our beneficiaries. They budget it. They are not covered by the ‘‘hold harmless’’ pro-

express their opinions on health care as know they’re going to spend it on rent vision, including low-income individuals who

long as those opinions are in line with or on groceries or on presents for their are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid,

the majority party’s. grandkids. It will be difficult for all of new Medicare enrollees, and new enrollees

So, while the House Democrats claim us to explain why there was a $5, a $10 whose Medicare premiums are not deducted

to be helping seniors, the reality is or even a $15 cut in their checks. from their Social Security checks. Their

Some people have suggested we send monthly Social Security benefits, which are

that they’re trying to cobble together the sole source of income for many, could be

checks at the end of the year as, I

218 votes to pass a $25 billion part B reduced by more than $20 per month to pay

guess, we did last year. I don’t think

premium increase through the House, for the premium increase.

they’d make that connection. I don’t

and the Obama administration is abus-

think they’d figure out why those A substantial number of people with men-

ing its regulatory powers to keep that tal illness are dually eligible for SSDI and

checks came and from whom they

fact from seniors. Mr. Speaker, that is Medicare benefits. However, as major mental

came.

wrong. This levels the playing field so that a illness typically has an age of onset in a per-

I reserve the balance of my time. small percentage of beneficiaries will son’s early twenties, their work history is

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 not be paying to hold the other 75 per- very short and their benefits are very low

minute to the gentleman from North (benefit level depends upon quarters you

cent harmless. There is a very small have paid in as well as earnings) making in-

Carolina (Mr. BUTTERFIELD). number of upper-income seniors who

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I want to thank creased Medicare costs even more difficult to

will basically receive a cut in their bear. H.R. 3631 would extend the current

Chairman PALLONE for yielding me this part B benefits. These seniors, this ‘‘hold harmless’’ policy to all Medicare bene-

time, and I really thank him for his group, already has a higher premium ficiaries. As a result, no individual with dis-

leadership on our committee. because it’s income related, and they abilities who is a Social Security beneficiary

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Mr. Speaker, this is an important pay taxes on their Social Security ben- will see a decrease in his or her monthly So-

bill. Holding down the cost of Medicare efits, which some of the lower-income cial Security benefits due to Medicare Part

premiums means so much to millions beneficiaries do not. B premiums. And former beneficiaries who

of Americans. We cannot ever lose buy-in to Medicare will be protected.

sight of the plight of our senior citi- b 1200

We support your effort to pass H.R. 3631.

zens, who are struggling to make ends Also, we hold harmless some very Sincerely,

meet. low-income beneficiaries whose pay- CHRIS KOYANAGI.









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H9912 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

CONSORTIUM FOR applauding the introduction of the ‘‘Medi- receive any cost of living adjustment

CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES, care Premium Fairness Act’’ (H.R. 3631): (COLA).

Washington, DC, September 24, 2009. ‘‘As health care costs continue to soar de- Under current federal law, about 75 percent

Hon. CHARLES B. RANGEL, spite lower inflation throughout the econ- of Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, omy, older Americans are hit particularly for the increase in Part B premiums in any

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. hard. Retirees have seen their savings wiped year when they receive no Social Security

Hon. HENRY A. WAXMAN, away by market losses while their health COLA. However, there are four groups of

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, care bills continue to climb. People in Medi- older Americans who are not protected by

House of Representatives, Washington DC. care today spend nearly a third of their in- the ‘hold harmless’ provision, including over

DEAR CHAIRMAN RANGEL AND CHAIRMAN come on health care. The lack of a cost-of- a million federal, state and local government

WAXMAN: The undersigned Co-Chairs of the living update in Social Security means that retirees who are not eligible to receive So-

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities millions more in Medicare could see their cial Security benefits. Absent a change in

(CCD) Task Forces on Health, Long-Term health care costs rise further out of reach. law, they would not only have to pay the

Services and Supports, and Social Security, ‘‘AARP applauds Chairman Rangel, Chair- higher Part B premiums without a COLA,

we support H.R. 3631, the ‘‘Medicare Pre- man Stark, Rep. Titus, Chairman Henry but also absorb the costs of other Medicare

mium Fairness Act.’’ This bill will protect Waxman, Chairman Emeritus Dingell and beneficiaries currently ‘held harmless.’

the Social Security benefits of persons with Chairman Pallone for introducing this im- We support your bill because it shields all

disabilities by ensuring that their monthly portant legislation. By holding Medicare pre- older Americans from the Part B premium

payments are not reduced due to an increase miums steady for all beneficiaries for the increase in 2010, including government retir-

in Medicare Part B premiums. next year—premiums that have doubled ees who are not eligible for Social Security.

It is expected that there will be no cost of since 2000—their bill would help ensure that That means no one will pay the Part B in-

living adjustment (COLA) in Social Security health care is more affordable for people in crease next year. We appreciate that the leg-

benefits paid in 2010, which will cause a hard- Medicare—without burdening taxpayers or islation is fully financed through the Medi-

ship for individuals with disabilities and oth- future generations with new spending. care Improvement Fund.

ers who receive Social Security payments. ‘‘We urge every House member who worries NARFE applauds you and Reps. Waxman,

However, Medicare Part B premiums are ex- about the health and economic security of Stark, Pallone, Van Hollen and Titus for

pected to increase. Fortunately, under cur- their constituents in Medicare to support protecting all retirees—public and private—

rent law, most of these beneficiaries will be this legislation when it reaches the floor to- from premium increases in Medicare in a

‘‘held harmless’’ and will not see an actual morrow.’’ year when they are unlikely to receive the

reduction in their monthly Social Security

inflation protection needed to shoulder the

benefits. However, about 27% of beneficiaries ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS,

are not covered by the ‘‘hold harmless’’ pro- rate hike. For that reason, we urge your col-

Washington, DC, September 23, 2009.

vision, including low-income individuals who leagues to vote for this important legislation

Representative CHARLES RANGEL,

are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, when it is considered by the House.

Chair, Committee on Ways and Means, House of

new Medicare enrollees, and new enrollees Sincerely,

Representatives, Washington, DC.

whose Medicare premiums are not deducted MARGARET L. BAPTISTE,

Representative HENRY WAXMAN,

from their Social Security checks. Their President.

Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce,

monthly Social Security benefits, which are House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

the sole source of income for many, could be DEAR CHAIRMEN RANGEL AND WAXMAN: The NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE

reduced by more than $20 per month to pay Alliance for Retired Americans, on behalf of SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE,

for the premium increase. Another unpro- its more than three million members Washington, DC, September 23, 2009.

tected group is former beneficiaries of Social throughout the nation, supports your legis- Hon. CHARLES B. RANGEL,

Security disability benefits who are now lation, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, Chairman Committee on Ways and Means,

working and who ‘‘buy-in’’ to Medicare H.R. 3631, and we urge its prompt passage by House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

under the Ticket to Work and Work Incen- the House of Representatives. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: On behalf of the mil-

tives Improvement Act. Your legislation will protect members of lions of members and supporters of the Na-

H.R. 3631 would extend the current ‘‘hold the Alliance and all older Americans from tional Committee to Preserve Social Secu-

harmless’’ policy to all Medicare bene- unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part rity and Medicare, I am writing to express

ficiaries. As a result, no individual with dis- B premiums. Without enactment of this leg- our support for your legislation, H.R. 3631,

abilities who is a Social Security beneficiary islation, more than 10 million Medicare Part the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, which

will see a decrease in his or her monthly So- B beneficiaries will see their premiums in- will protect certain Medicare beneficiaries

cial Security benefits due to Medicare Part crease even though they will not receive a from an increase in their Part B premiums in

B premiums. In addition, former bene- Social Security cost of living increase in 2010.

ficiaries who buy-in to Medicare will be pro- 2010. Many of those affected by this change As you know, Social Security’s Trustees

tected. are low income beneficiaries who would be are currently projecting that, for the first

We support your effort to pass H.R. 3631. particularly hard hit without this legisla- time in thirty-five years, seniors will not see

Sincerely, tion. In addition, Alliance members who are a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2010,

MARTY FORD, new enrollees to Medicare would also be ad- despite experiencing increases in their out-

The Arc of the United versely affected as well. of-pocket health care costs. In this cir-

States and United Passage of the Medicare Premium Fairness cumstance, current law contains a ‘‘hold

Cerebral Palsy. Act is necessary to protect older Americans harmless’’ provision that prevents reduc-

ANDREW MORRIS, from unfair Medicare Part B premiums. If we tions in Social Security checks for about

United Spinal Associa- can be of assistance, please contact Richard three-quarters of beneficiaries by prohibiting

tion and National Fiesta, Director of Government and Political an increase in their Part B premiums. We

Spinal Cord Injury Affairs, at the Alliance. The Alliance for Re- share your concern that this ‘‘hold harm-

Association. tired Americans is committed to enacting less’’ provision does not protect new enroll-

SUSAN PROKOP, legislation that improves the quality of life ees, higher-income enrollees, enrollees whose

Paralyzed Veterans of for retirees and all Americans. premiums are not deducted from their Social

America. Sincerely yours, Security checks, and low-income dual-eligi-

LIZ SAVAGE, EDWARD F. COYLE, ble beneficiaries whose premiums are paid

The Arc of the United Executive Director. for through state Medicaid programs.

States and United It is my understanding that your legisla-

Cerebral Palsy. NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED tion would extend the current ‘‘hold harm-

PAUL SEIFERT, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, less’’ policy to these remaining categories of

Council of State Ad- Alexandria, VA, September 23, 2009. Medicare enrollees so that their 2010 Part B

ministrators of Voca- Hon. CHARLES B. RANGEL, monthly premiums will also remain at the

tional Rehabilita- Rayburn House Office Building, current $96.40. This is an important first step

tion. Washington, DC. toward protecting America’s millions of sen-

ETHEL ZELENSKE, DEAR CHAIRMAN RANGEL: On behalf of the iors who are burdened with high health care

National Organization National Active and Retired Federal Em- costs even with Medicare and we thank you

of Social Security ployees Association (NARFE), I am writing for your leadership on this important issue.

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Claimants’ Rep- to endorse H.R. 3631, the ‘‘Medicare Premium We look forward to working with you on leg-

resentatives. Fairness Act,’’ which you and Reps. Henry A. islation to further protect our nation’s sen-

Waxman, Fortney ‘‘Pete’’ Stark, Frank iors by restoring the 2010 Social Security

AARP APPLAUDS NEW BILL TO HELP SENIORS Pallone, Chris Van Hollen and Dina Titus COLA.

STRUGGLING IN TOUGH ECONOMY have introduced to protect all Medicare Cordially,

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice Presi- beneficiaries from an increase in their Part BARBARA B. KENNELLY,

dent Nancy LeaMond issued this statement B premium in 2010 when they are unlikely to President and CEO.









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9913

CENTER FOR MEDICARE ADVOCACY, INC., could negatively impact Medicare ben- quality, affordable health care for

Washington, DC, September 23, 2009. efits and increase seniors’ costs. But American seniors.

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE when health care plans try to share Mr. HERGER. I yield back the re-

ON WAYS AND MEANS: The Center for Medi-

that information with their enrollees, mainder of my time.

care Advocacy, Inc. is pleased to support

H.R. 3631, the ‘‘Medicare Premium Fairness the administration slaps a gag order on Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am de-

Act,’’ sponsored by Representative Titus. them. It is an abuse of power, plain and lighted to yield 1 minute to the gentle-

This bill would extend the current hold simple. lady from Nevada (Ms. BERKLEY).

harmless policy to all Medicare enrollees, So while the government is intimi- Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gen-

meaning that 2010 Part B premiums will re- dating Medicare health care plans, tleman from California for yielding.

main at $96.40 and no Social Security recipi- shockingly, no such pressure has been Mr. Speaker, I want to single out and

ents will see a decrease in their Social Secu- applied to those supportive of the say how much I appreciate the work of

rity checks. President’s Medicare cuts. AARP, Congresswoman DINA TITUS from the

Although Social Security benefits will not which boasts the largest Medicare Ad- State of Nevada, as well as Chairman

increase in 2010, many of the fixed expenses

vantage plan, for example, has directly RANGEL and Chairman WAXMAN and

faced by Medicare beneficiaries will go up.

For example, premiums for Medicare Part D communicated with its members via e- Subcommittee Chairman STARK on this

drug plans are expected to increase in 2010, mail, a Web site and letters. However, very important issue.

as are the costs for prescription drugs and their pro-Medicare cut stance has ap- The economic downturn has hit

the cost for other medical expenses. Adults parently received no scrutiny from the many parts of this country very dra-

living on fixed incomes, particularly those administration. CMS’ selective use of matically, but none more dramatically

with limited resources, are unlikely to meet its regulatory authority threatens the than in the State of Nevada, and cer-

their increased costs. All Social Security re- integrity of the agency and our democ- tainly in the southern part of the State

cipients should be protected against in- racy.

creased Part B premiums in these cir-

that I represent. I have 100,000 Social

In fact, CMS’ unprecedented action is Security recipients in my congres-

cumstances. Beneficiaries should be pro-

tected again.

in direct conflict with its own guidance sional district, many of whom will be

We thank you for your efforts on behalf of issued during the Clinton administra- impacted by the increase in the Medi-

Medicare beneficiaries. We look forward to tion. The then-director of what was care part B premiums next year.

working with you on this issue. called HCFA at that time, Center for Since this increase is not going to be

Sincerely, Health Plans and Providers, instructed offset by the normal cost-of-living in-

VICKI GOTTLICH, health plans in 1997 that ‘‘Prohibiting crease in their Social Security checks,

Senior Policy Attorney. such information would violate basic I think this is a very important way

I reserve the balance my time. freedom of speech and other constitu- and a very necessary way of helping to

Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield tional rights of the Medicare bene- keep my seniors, who rely on Social

the gentleman from Michigan, the ficiary as a citizen. As long as member Security and who will be harmed with

ranking member of the Ways and materials that discuss the rights and this additional payment, keep them

Means Committee, Mr. CAMP, the re- responsibilities of the member and the whole.

maining time. HMO with regard to HMO membership So I want to thank my colleague

Mr. CAMP. I thank the gentleman for are not misrepresented in the context again and join with her in protecting

yielding. of this article, we see no reason for pro- the seniors in the State of Nevada and

The majority wants you to think we hibiting the distribution of informa- throughout the country.

are here today to help seniors. This bill tion.’’ Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1

will help some seniors, and I intend to This policy reversal by CMS is also minute to the distinguished gentleman

vote for it. at odds with Supreme Court decisions from Maryland, the majority leader of

But seniors shouldn’t sleep well to- in the area. We need to get to the bot- the House, Mr. HOYER.

night, for they are facing massive cuts tom of this, and we need to make sure Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman

in Medicare benefits in pending health all Americans, and especially seniors, for yielding.

legislation proposed by the Democrats know the facts about what the Presi- First of all, I want to congratulate

and the President. That’s what I want dent and the congressional Democrats Congresswoman TITUS for her leader-

to talk about today. health care bill will mean for them. ship on this issue. She is an extraor-

The reality is the majority’s health Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am

dinary Member of this House, very

care bill will slash Medicare Advantage pleased to yield 1 minute to the gen-

able, and, as Congresswoman BERKLEY,

benefits for millions of seniors, and the tleman from New York (Mr. HIGGINS).

Mr. HIGGINS. I thank the gentleman her colleague from Nevada just indi-

administration is abusing its regu- cated, this will be directed at helping a

for yielding.

latory powers to keep that fact from Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support lot of seniors.

seniors. This week we learned that the of H.R. 3631, the Medicare Premium I rise in opposition to this suspension

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Fairness Act. For nearly four decades, bill.

Services has initiated an investigation Medicare has improved the quality of I have, for a number of years, spoken

into at least one provider of Medicare life for our Nation’s seniors. Because of about how difficult it will be for us to

Advantage health care plans for accu- Medicare, Americans no longer live in get a handle on entitlements. If we

rately informing its enrollees that fear of not having health care when don’t get a handle on entitlements, my

Medicare cuts proposed in pending they retire. friends, we will be spending nothing

health care legislation could alter Yet keeping Medicare affordable for more in another 50 years than money

their benefits. seniors is consistently a challenge. on entitlements and payment on the

CMS has since banned all Medicare Under the Medicare formula, most sen- national debt, and our children will not

Advantage health plans from providing iors will see no increase in their pre- be happy. They will not congratulate

similar information to beneficiaries, miums. However, unless we act, some us.

and let me just read to you the phrase will. Now, there is no speaker who will

that was communicated: If the pro- Our economy is beginning to turn speak today who will not speak on be-

posed funding-cut levels become law, around but is not yet fully recovered. half of those seniors who, as my col-

millions of seniors and disabled indi- We must ensure that next year seniors league SHELLEY BERKLEY just ref-

viduals could lose many of the impor- living on a fixed income are not forced erenced, rely on Social Security to sup-

tant benefits and services that make to pay more for the Medicare that they port themselves. We anticipated that

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Medicare Advantage health plans so depend on. concern when we adopted the legisla-

valuable. H.R. 3631 will ensure that premiums tion relating to this subject. And as a

Frankly, this is government intimi- will not increase for necessary medical result of anticipating that, we said if

dation, pure and simple. Seniors know services like doctor’s visits and imag- there is not a cost-of-living increase,

the President’s Medicare cuts will im- ing scans. we will exempt approximately three-

pact their benefits. The Congressional I urge my colleagues to support this quarters, actually 73 percent, of seniors

Budget Office has confirmed these cuts legislation and keep the promise of from any premium increase.







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H9914 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

Why? Because we rightfully con- say STENY HOYER was against them? I the weight here in times of real stress

cluded, as many speakers on this floor am not happy about that. for them.

have observed, that those seniors But I have felt it my responsibility These are unusual circumstances for

would be put under stress because of no to come to this floor, as someone who the States and for those who are re-

cost-of-living increase but having an speaks about entitlement reform, as ceiving the benefits, and I think we

increase in their premium. someone who believes we have got to have no choice now but to vote for this

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I don’t exercise fiscal discipline, as someone bill and tackle the issues of reform of

know how many of you go to sleep at who believes we ought to take care of our entitlements in the future.

night worried about whether Ross the less well-off in our country, which So I urge support of this legislation.

Perot can pay his premium, but this are taken care of by the present law, 73 Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in

will freeze Ross Perot’s basic premium percent, under $85,000. We take care of strong support of the Medicare Premium Fair-

from going up. This will affect every that. That’s an individual; $170,000 for a ness Act, which will protect millions of seniors

premium payer, including those who couple. and people with disabilities from unfair in-

make individually $85,000 or more, and, At some point in time, my friends, creases in their 2010 Medicare Part B pre-

as a couple, $170,000 or more. we have to buck up our courage and miums.

Now, the problem with doing that is our judgment and say, if we take care Because of very low inflation, it is expected

not that we don’t have some empathy that there will not be a cost-of-living-adjust-

of everybody, we won’t be able to take

for those folks—by the way, every one ment (COLA) in Social Security benefits next

care of those who need us most. That’s

of us who votes on that bill falls in year. The current law has built-in protections

my concern. If we take care of every-

that category. Now, we may not be 65 for approximately seventy-five percent of

body, irrespective of their ability to

Medicare Part B enrollees in which they will

or above, as I am, but we are in that pay for themselves, the Ross Perots of

not see an increase in their Part B premiums

category. America, frankly, the Steny Hoyers of

Now, the issue is, at a time of stress, as a result of not receiving a COLA on their

America, then we will not be able to

of fiscal challenge, do we say to Ross Social Security checks. However, the remain-

take care of those most in need in

ing twenty-five percent of Medicare Part B en-

Perot, we feel your pain and so we are America.

rollees will not be held harmless from an in-

going to exempt you from an increase?

b 1215 crease in their Part B premiums and will in-

Hear me, we have exempted all of those

Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 stead be responsible for shouldering the entire

$85,000 and below under present law.

minute to the distinguished gentleman burden of next year’s Part B program cost in-

My friends, I think that as well

from Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER). crease.

meaning as this legislation is, it is not

Mr. BLUMENAUER. I appreciate the This bill, quite simply, would extend the cur-

about poor seniors. It’s not about those rent hold harmless policy to all Medicare en-

who are less well off who are having gentleman’s courtesy. I reflect on what

the distinguished majority leader just rollees. By taking this action, it will ensure that

greater stress, because they are taken no senior will face Medicare Part B premium

care of. said. I agree with much of what he ad-

vanced. But my concern, I guess, is increases next year—including federal and

There are four categories of people state government retirees who do not pay their

who aren’t taken care of under present that what we have done is symbolic of

how we have sort of jerry-rigged a sys- Part B premiums out of a Social Security

law. check and so would have been disproportion-

First of all, there are some 2.1 mil- tem.

We have the entire burden fall upon ately burdened without this change.

lion who are the $85,000 and above The legislation is fully paid for and meets

crowd. 27 percent of the population, some of

PAY-GO requirements. I strongly urge my col-

There are a lesser number, 1.3 mil- whom perhaps can afford it, others who

leagues to support this very important bill that

lion, who are Medicare newly eligible may not; and we are at a time when

will help seniors and people with disabilities.

folks, and they have never paid a pre- there is great stress on a number of Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker,

mium, so their premium won’t go up; these 27 percent. They will bear the en- I rise today as a proud original cosponsor of

their premium will be what it is. tire burden. H.R. 3631, the Medicare Premium Fairness

There are 7.3 million who are dual- I would hope that this would be the Act.

eligibles, and the dual-eligibles, of last time that we are dealing with a fix Many of us heard from our senior citizens

course, will not pay anything more be- of this nature that is surgical, trying over the August recess that they would not be

cause that will be the responsibility of to deal with the inherent complexity receiving a Social Security cost of living in-

the States. Is this an additional burden that we have. crease because of the economic downturn.

on the States? It is. We will either bor- One of the reasons I am supporting This will cause a problem for many seniors

row the money or the States will pay comprehensive health care reform and because Medicare Part B premiums will still

it. Our children will pay off our debt. Medicare modernization is so that we increase as they do yearly to cover the cost of

But our law anticipated that if this can tease out these anomalies; that we the program. A ‘‘hold harmless’’ policy in exist-

was the case, that for the 7.3 million can provide an underpinning for all— ing law ensures that most seniors will not

dual-eligibles, the States would pick up not just our seniors citizens—but for have a decrease in their Social Security

the difference. People say, well, what if all our citizens. checks if the Part B premium increase is pro-

the States don’t pick up the difference? I agree this is suboptimal, but from jected to be greater than the Social Security

The States have an option. I under- my vantage point, this is the best that cost of living adjustment.

stand that. We don’t control that. We we can do in an unpleasant situation. The hold harmless policy will protect most

could change the law and say they Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 seniors from an increase in their 2010 Medi-

don’t have an option, but we haven’t minute to the distinguished gentleman care premium, but the 27 percent of our sen-

done that. from Michigan (Mr. LEVIN). iors will not be protected by these hold harm-

Then there are some 850,000 who did Mr. LEVIN. I think this debate has less provisions and because of the way the

not participate in Social Security. framed the issues very well. I very law is written, premiums for these enrollees

There are the four categories. much share the concern of our major- will be disproportionally increased to $110-

Because they didn’t participate in ity leader about entitlement reform. I $120 a month.

Social Security, they are not covered think part of that will have to be con- The Medicare Premium Fairness Act will ex-

here and they get a State pension. sideration of this issue. tend the current hold harmless policy to all

Now, I tried to get the average of the But let’s look at what the impact of Medicare enrollees. Ensuring that no Medicare

State pension or the board of education a failure to act will mean. For the beneficiary will see a decrease in their social

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pension or whatever, and I don’t have States, they will carry a large bulk of security check due to the 2010 Part B pre-

that. I haven’t been able to get that in- this because of the dual-eligibles. So, mium increase and they will not see decrease

formation. This bill was considered by essentially, by doing nothing, we would in their Social Security checks.

the committee yesterday, reported out say to the States, When you’re in un- Our seniors live on a fixed income and any

today. usual circumstances, we’re doing noth- decrease in their monthly social security check

Do I stand here happy that some sen- ing. And for the many new-eligibles, puts them in jeopardy of not being able to af-

iors around the country are going to they would, regardless of income, bear ford food and medicine. We need to ensure







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9915

that even when we cannot increase the cost of Kagen Miller, Gary Schiff Colorado changed their vote from

Kanjorski Miller, George Schmidt

living for Social Security we protect our sen- Kaptur Minnick Schock

‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’

iors from a reduction in their monthly check. Kennedy Mitchell Schrader So (two-thirds being in the affirma-

I urge my colleagues to support his legisla- Kildee Mollohan Schwartz tive) the rules were suspended and the

Kilpatrick (MI) Moore (KS) Scott (GA) bill was passed.

tion which is fully offset and has the support Kilroy Moore (WI) Scott (VA) The result of the vote was announced

of the AARP, the National Committee to Pre- Kind Moran (KS) Sensenbrenner

serve Social Security and Medicare, the Cen- King (IA) Murphy (CT) as above recorded.

Serrano

ter for Medicare Advocacy, the Alliance for King (NY) Murphy (NY) Sessions

A motion to reconsider was laid on

Kingston Murphy, Patrick Sestak the table.

Retired Americans, the Medicare Rights Cen- Kirk Murphy, Tim

ter, and the National Active and Retired Fed- Kirkpatrick (AZ) Murtha

Shea-Porter f

Sherman

eral Employees Association. Kissell Myrick Shimkus b 1245

Klein (FL) Nadler (NY)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time Kline (MN) Napolitano

Shuler

SPECIAL ORDERS

Shuster

has expired. The question is on the mo- Kosmas Neal (MA)

Simpson The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr.

tion offered by the gentleman from Kratovil Neugebauer

Sires

New Jersey (Mr. PALLONE) that the Kucinich Nunes

Skelton

SCHRADER). Under the Speaker’s an-

Lance Nye nounced policy of January 6, 2009, and

House suspend the rules and pass the Langevin Oberstar

Slaughter

bill, H.R. 3631. Larsen (WA) Obey Smith (NE) under a previous order of the House,

Larson (CT) Olson Smith (NJ) the following Members will be recog-

The question was taken. Smith (TX)

Latham Olver nized for 5 minutes each.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the LaTourette Ortiz Snyder

Souder f

opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being Latta Pallone

in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Lee (CA) Pascrell Space The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

Lee (NY) Pastor (AZ) Spratt previous order of the House, the gentle-

Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, on that I Levin Paul Stark

woman from California (Ms. WOOLSEY)

demand the yeas and nays. Lewis (CA) Paulsen Stearns

Lewis (GA) Payne Stupak is recognized for 5 minutes.

The yeas and nays were ordered. Sullivan (Ms. WOOLSEY addressed the House.

Linder Perlmutter

The vote was taken by electronic de- Lipinski Perriello Sutton Her remarks will appear hereafter in

vice, and there were—yeas 406, nays 18, LoBiondo Peters Tanner the Extensions of Remarks.)

not voting 8, as follows: Loebsack Peterson Taylor

Lofgren, Zoe Petri Teague f

[Roll No. 737] Lowey Pingree (ME) Terry

Lucas Pitts Thompson (CA)

AFGHANISTAN

YEAS—406

Abercrombie Carney Filner

Luetkemeyer Platts Thompson (MS) The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

´

Lujan Poe (TX) Thompson (PA)

Ackerman Carson (IN) Fleming Lummis Polis (CO)

previous order of the House, the gen-

Thornberry

Aderholt Carter Forbes Lungren, Daniel Pomeroy Tiahrt tleman from Illinois (Mr. QUIGLEY) is

Adler (NJ) Cassidy Fortenberry E. Posey recognized for 5 minutes.

Tiberi

Alexander Castle Foster

Altmire Castor (FL) Foxx

Lynch Price (NC) Tierney Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, the

Mack Putnam Titus

Andrews Chandler Frank (MA) Maffei Quigley

American people should have serious

Tonko

Arcuri Childers Franks (AZ) Maloney Radanovich questions when it comes to the war in

Austria Chu Frelinghuysen Towns

Manzullo Rahall Tsongas Afghanistan, and I believe we need an-

Baca Clarke Fudge Marchant Rangel

Bachmann Clay Gallegly Turner swers before we ever talk about send-

Markey (CO) Rehberg

Bachus Cleaver Gerlach Markey (MA) Reichert

Upton ing additional young men and women

Baldwin Clyburn Giffords Van Hollen into that conflict.

Marshall Reyes ´

Barrow Coble Gingrey (GA) Velazquez

Massa Richardson

Visclosky

General Stanley McChrystal told us

Bartlett Coffman (CO) Gohmert Matheson Rodriguez

Barton (TX) Cohen Gonzalez Walden this week that he needs more troops in

Matsui Roe (TN)

Becerra Cole Goodlatte McCarthy (CA) Rogers (AL)

Walz Afghanistan or else our mission there

Berkley Conaway Gordon (TN) Wamp will likely result in failure, but there

McCarthy (NY) Rogers (KY)

Berman Connolly (VA) Granger Wasserman

McCaul Rogers (MI)

Schultz

seems to be some confusion over what

Berry Conyers Grayson McCollum Rohrabacher

Biggert Cooper Green, Al Waters that mission is.

McCotter Rooney

Bilbray Costa Green, Gene McDermott Ros-Lehtinen Watson Question one: Are we building na-

Bilirakis Costello Griffith McGovern Roskam Watt tions or hunting terrorists? The admin-

Bishop (GA) Courtney Grijalva McHenry Ross Waxman istration has stated that its primary

Bishop (NY) Crenshaw Guthrie McIntyre Rothman (NJ) Weiner

Bishop (UT) Crowley Gutierrez Welch

goal is preventing al Qaeda from oper-

McKeon Roybal-Allard

Blackburn Cuellar Hall (NY) McMahon Royce Westmoreland ating, but General McChrystal has

Blumenauer Culberson Hall (TX) McMorris Ruppersberger Wexler stated that his mission is to protect

Blunt Cummings Halvorson Rodgers Rush Whitfield the Afghan civilians and establish good

Boccieri Dahlkemper Hare McNerney Ryan (OH) Wilson (OH)

Boehner Davis (AL) Harman Wilson (SC)

governance. These objects are related,

Meek (FL) Salazar

Bonner Davis (CA) Harper Meeks (NY) ´

Sanchez, Linda Wittman but they are not the same. As the

Bono Mack Davis (IL) Hastings (FL) Melancon T. Wolf President has stated, we must first de-

Boozman Davis (KY) Hastings (WA) Mica Sanchez, Loretta Woolsey

Boren Davis (TN) Heinrich

fine our strategy, and then we will de-

Michaud Sarbanes Wu

Boswell Deal (GA) Heller Miller (FL) Scalise Yarmuth

termine how to resource it.

Boucher DeFazio Herger Miller (MI) Schakowsky Young (AK) Question two: How many troops will

Boustany DeGette Herseth Sandlin Miller (NC) Schauer Young (FL) we need? The figure being discussed is

Boyd DeLauro Higgins

Brady (PA) Dent Himes NAYS—18

an additional 40,000 to 45,000 more

Brady (TX) Diaz-Balart, L. Hinchey troops on top of the 68,000 already in

Akin Garrett (NJ) McClintock

Braley (IA) Diaz-Balart, M. Hinojosa Baird Hensarling Pence Afghanistan. But experts such as Gen-

Bright Dicks Hirono Bean Hill Price (GA) eral Charles Krulak put the figure for a

Brown (SC) Dingell Hodes

Brown, Corrine Doggett Hoekstra

Broun (GA) Hoyer Ryan (WI) successful counterinsurgency at sev-

Chaffetz Jordan (OH) Shadegg eral hundred thousand. The greater our

Brown-Waite, Donnelly (IN) Holden Flake Lamborn Smith (WA)

Ginny Dreier Holt footprint over there, the more it looks

Buchanan Driehaus Honda NOT VOTING—8 like an occupation to a people who

Burgess Duncan Hunter

Burton (IN) Edwards (MD) Inglis

Barrett (SC) Doyle Moran (VA) have violently resisted occupations for

Buyer Graves Speier centuries.

Butterfield Edwards (TX) Inslee

Delahunt Israel

Calvert Ehlers Issa Question three: Are we stretching

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Camp Ellison Jackson (IL) our Army to its breaking point? Many

Campbell Ellsworth Jackson-Lee b 1245 of our troops are on their third or

Cantor Emerson (TX)

Cao Engel Jenkins Messrs. HILL and JORDAN of Ohio fourth tour. That has an impact on

Capito Eshoo Johnson (GA) changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to families and communities. Many of our

Capps Etheridge Johnson (IL) ‘‘nay.’’

Capuano Fallin Johnson, E. B.

National Guard units have left equip-

Cardoza Farr Johnson, Sam Messrs. FRANK of Massachusetts, ment over there and faced recruitment

Carnahan Fattah Jones FRANKS of Arizona, and COFFMAN of problems over here.







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H9916 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

Question four: How long will these tleman from North Carolina (Mr. passed a commemoration supporting

troops be there? It’s not enough to de- JONES) is recognized for 5 minutes. Poland’s struggle for liberty and its re-

cide we can manage it for another year Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, this year, I cent democratic advances. You would

or two with greater deployment. With- introduced H.R. 268, a bill to make sure think that our Nation, a nation that

out a specific end date, a decision to in- that our military chaplains of all owes so much to Poland for inspiring

crease deployment today means more faiths and religions are able to close a our own struggle for freedom at our

troops next year and the year after prayer in any way they see fit. Nation’s founding, and to its great gen-

that. America was built on religious free- erals, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, chief engi-

Question five: Where will we get dom, and that is why I am truly dis- neer of our Continental Army, and

enough troops with the experience turbed by a letter that was sent to Sec- Casimir Pulaski, who saved the life of

needed in Afghanistan? The military retary Gates from the Freedom from General George Washington, that we

needs more IED experts to diffuse road- Religion Foundation. This organization would have risen to praise the 10th an-

side bombs; however, it takes 11 has taken exception to the fact that niversary of Poland’s succession to

months to train a bomb specialist, and while speaking on the anniversary of NATO and its support of our current

these specialists are already in short D-day in France, U.S. Military Chap- military engagements in the war on

supply. lain Thomas MacGregor closed a pray- terror.

We also need translators, medical of- er in the name of Jesus Christ. This is

b 1300

ficers, and other specialists that could just another example of how this coun-

require a great deal of training, yet we try’s Judeo-Christian values have been This year Poland will mark one dec-

continue to kick out such specialists under assault. ade as a signatory of NATO, the North

because of the immoral and extraor- As I think my colleagues know, I am Atlantic Treaty Organization, an in-

dinarily shortsighted ‘‘don’t ask, don’t a man that respects all faiths, whether trinsic part of the United States’ stra-

tell’’ policy. it be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and I tegic foreign policy. September 17

Question six: How many NATO forces would be just as upset if a chaplain should have been a reverent commemo-

can we count on, and how will we from a non-Christian religion came ration of an extraordinary effort that

maintain an effective command struc- under the same attack. I respect the cost so many lives but seeded and be-

ture? We are told that this cannot be a rights of nonbelievers just as I respect queathed a powerful sense of freedom

go-it-alone mission, but resources in the rights of believers. and democracy inside the Nation of Po-

other NATO countries are limited, and It is a sad day in America when a land that ultimately yielded solidarity

incidents such as the German airstrike military chaplain is criticized for clos- and strikes that began in 1956 until the

show the dangers of coalition warfare. ing his prayer in a way that is true to final solidarity victory in 1989 and the

Question seven: Can we count on the his faith. collapse of the Berlin Wall. September

Government of Pakistan to remain In closing, with our young men and 17 should be a day that commends the

with us in this fight? Pakistan has a women fighting for religious freedom valiant people of Poland for their his-

great deal of trouble controlling the for people overseas, it is our duty to toric struggle against fascism and com-

tribal areas, and our continued pres- protect our own military chaplains and munism and commemorates the sac-

ence is causing more unrest in the cit- respect the faith of each of them. rifices made by the Polish people, in-

ies. Mr. Speaker, before I close, I do this cluding those who have since become

Question eight: Is it worth American frequently on the floor of the House be- American citizens.

lives to prop up the Government of Af- cause my heart aches for those over in On that day, our President should

ghanistan? The Government faces seri- Afghanistan and Iraq. I ask God to have called for strength and partner-

ous charges of election fraud and cor- please bless our men and women in uni- ship in the NATO organization, North

ruption, and it appears to be losing form. I ask God to please bless the fam- Atlantic Treaty Organization, Euro-

control over much of the country as ilies of our men and women in uniform. pean Union alliances, and continued

the Taliban moves in. I ask God, in His loving arms, to hold friendship with our Polish allies in the

Question nine: Is this a winnable the families who have given a child furtherance of freedom’s cause. We

war? In General McChrystal’s recent dying for freedom in Afghanistan and should have honored the historic ties

report he states that although the situ- Iraq. And I ask God to please bless the that our two great nations have fash-

ation is serious, success is still achiev- President of the United States with ioned over two centuries.

able, but we still don’t have a defini- wisdom, strength and courage to do Instead, on September 17, on the very

tion of success. what is right for America. And I close anniversary date of the heinous Com-

Final question: Is the war in Afghani- three times, God please, God please, munist invasion of Poland, our govern-

stan really the best approach to pro- God please continue to bless America. ment and the Obama administration

tect the American people from ter- f chose to withdraw support of the pro-

rorism? Our focus needs to be on pro- posed antiballistic missile shield in Po-

TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF land and the Czech Republic. Whatever

tecting the people of the United States POLAND’S SUCCESSION TO NATO

and stopping the international spread one’s views of the merits or demerits of

of terrorism. If this war is not the best The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a that defensive system, the choice of

way to do that, we need to leave. We previous order of the House, the gentle- that date to announce this historic

cannot send more troops to fight for an woman from Ohio (Ms. KAPTUR) is rec- withdrawal is truly an insult to the Na-

undefined amount of time in an unde- ognized for 5 minutes. tion of Poland and to the people of Po-

fined mission and for an undefined suc- Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, Sep- land. Our Nation not only owes Poland

cess. tember 1, 2009, and September 17, 2009, an apology, we owe her affirmative

mark the 70th anniversary of Poland’s support.

f invasion on the west by Nazi Germany The United States has had diplo-

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a and on the east 3 weeks later by the matic relations with this region since

previous order of the House, the gen- Soviet Red Army. It triggered the start they were first established in April

tleman from Texas (Mr. POE) is recog- of World War II. World War II began 1919—after having been wiped off the

nized for 5 minutes. with the invasion of Poland. maps of Europe for over a century—

(Mr. POE of Texas addressed the Poland suffered the loss of more citi- with the then-newly formed Polish Re-

House. His remarks will appear here- zens, percentage-wise, during that public, while the two nations have en-

after in the Extensions of Remarks.)

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war—over 20 percent of its people— joyed consistently warm bilateral rela-

f under domination by the Nazis and tions since 1989. The Polish Govern-

Communists than any other nation. ment has been a strong supporter of

RESPECTING FAITH OF MILITARY You would think that to mark these continued American military and eco-

CHAPLAINS historically important and solemn oc- nomic presence in Europe. We have a

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a casions on this 70th anniversary our shared love of freedom and democracy.

previous order of the House, the gen- Congress and our President would have They have supported our global war on







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9917

terror, Operation Enduring Freedom in county. The areas of dark green indi- essary support. The Veterinary Serv-

Afghanistan, and our coalition efforts cate counties with 35 or more food ani- ices Investment Act will go a long way

in Iraq. mal veterinarians by county, certainly in this direction.

Why did the administration do this? quite a difference. f

Poland cooperates closely with Amer- Finally, let’s take a look at a map

ican diplomacy on such issues as de- showing food animal concentration per SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS

mocratization, nuclear proliferation, veterinarian. I want to draw your at- NEED A COST OF LIVING AD-

human rights, regional cooperation in tention to the red flags that dot the JUSTMENT NEXT YEAR

Central and Eastern Europe, and U.N. map. We all know that red flags mean The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

reform. Now is definitely the moment danger or a hazard ahead. The red flags previous order of the House, the gen-

for this Congress and the administra- on this map indicate counties without tleman from Oregon (Mr. DEFAZIO) is

tion to restore a level of credible rela- one single food animal veterinarian but recognized for 5 minutes.

tionship with Poland in order to con- which have more than 25,000 food ani- Mr. DEFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, earlier

tinue an abiding friendship that should mals, several counties across the coun- today the House passed a bill that will

not be smeared by this really tactless try. give relief to about a quarter of the Na-

decision to announce this consequen- According to the most recent data tion’s seniors on Social Security by not

tial defense decision on September 17, a from the USDA, Cherry County, one having them experience a Medicare

date which hearkens back to some of county in my district, has 145,000 food premium increase this year. That’s all

the worst memories that Poland has as animals per veterinarian. Fillmore well and good and meritorious. Times

part of her history. County, also in Nebraska, has 112,000 are tough. But it doesn’t go to the

I besiege this Congress and the ad- food animals but not one food animal other three-quarters of the Nation’s

ministration to correct a great mis- veterinarian. It’s absolutely necessary Social Security recipients, and it

take. for the farmers, ranchers, hobbyists— doesn’t get to the bottom line that

f not lobbyists but hobbyists—and even there is, for the first time since we had

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a animal lovers to have access to quali- a regularly adjusted Social Security

previous order of the House, the gen- fied local veterinary clinics. COLA—it used to be into the fifties and

tleman from Indiana (Mr. BURTON) is To this end, Mr. Speaker, I have in- early sixties before we put in place a

recognized for 5 minutes. troduced H.R. 3519, the Veterinarian regular COLA, a cost of living adjust-

(Mr. BURTON of Indiana addressed Services Investment Act. The legisla- ment for seniors on Social Security.

the House. His remarks will appear tion authorizes the Secretary of Agri- They would get one in election years,

hereafter in the Extensions of Re- culture to award competitive grants to strangely enough. The Congress would

marks.) help develop, implement and sustain wake up, notice that seniors were out

f veterinary services, especially in un- there and give them some sort of an in-

derserved areas. These grants may be crease.

MORE VETERINARIANS ARE used to support a wide array of activi- We fixed that problem many years

NEEDED IN RURAL AMERICA ties based on the needs of an area, such ago by saying, Well, Social Security

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a as veterinarian and veterinary techni- benefits would be automatically ad-

previous order of the House, the gen- cian recruitment; expanding and estab- justed. But the measure that is used is

tleman from Nebraska (Mr. SMITH) is lishing practices in high-need areas; incredibly flawed, and it was not only

recognized for 5 minutes. surveillance of food animal disease and flawed to begin with. The cost of living

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speak- the utilization of veterinary services; index is calculated on a lot of things

er, I rise today to discuss an issue not establishing mobile/portable clinics that seniors don’t buy, things that

at the forefront of debate here in Wash- and tele-vet services; and accredited have gotten cheaper in this bad econ-

ington but which will impact many veterinary education programs, includ- omy, actually, like giant flat screen

areas of our country and many aspects ing continuing education, distance edu- televisions, computers and cell phones

of our lives. I am referring to the need cation and faculty recruitment. and other things that are not con-

for skilled veterinarians in many com- Under my bill, eligible applicants sumed to any great extent by our Na-

munities across America. This may not must carry out programs or activities tion’s seniors.

be a topic which makes its way to the which will substantially relieve the But if anybody has checked the price

House floor very often, but I assure veterinary shortages throughout our of pharmaceuticals or medical care or

you, it is an issue for many areas of our country, as indicated on a geographical basic utilities or many other must-

country. basis. These include entities such as have expenses, they haven’t gone down.

Our food animal veterinary work- veterinary clinics located in under- In fact, they’ve gone up. But seniors,

force is on the front lines of food safe- served or rural areas; veterinary prac- some of whom are living only on a So-

ty, public health and animal health. tices which meet food animal protec- cial Security check, many who are

This vital profession, however, is fac- tion needs; State, national, allied or re- principally dependent upon a Social

ing a critical shortage in the public, gional veterinary organizations and Security check, are not going to get a

private, industrial and academic sec- specialty boards; colleges or schools of cost of living adjustment this year be-

tors. To make matters worse, the prob- veterinary medicine; and State, local cause the formula that is used is

lem is on the rise. Large animal veteri- or tribal veterinary agencies. faulty. It’s not only faulty; it was actu-

narians, in particular, are integral to I am proud to say that more than 30 ally tampered with by the Republicans

small rural communities. But in many of my colleagues, Democrat and Repub- and Alan Greenspan, that great guru,

of these communities, communities lican, have joined me as cosponsors of the guy who helped almost destroy the

with few people but large numbers of H.R. 3519. It has been endorsed by, world’s economy recently through his

animals, we are seeing a very dis- among others, the American Veteri- deregulationist philosophy which be-

tressing trend. nary Medical Association, the South came so embedded that Wall Street ran

Let me show you. This map is a geo- Dakota Veterinary Medical Associa- wild.

graphic display of total food animals tion, the Iowa Veterinary Medical As- Alan Greenspan has always hated So-

by county in the United States. The sociation, Nebraska and Minnesota as cial Security since he was on a com-

dark gold areas have particularly high well, the Farm Bureau, the Animal mission many years ago and tried to

concentrations of animals per county, Health Institute, the National Associa- find ways to go after it. A number of

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more than 250,000. As you can see, tion of Federal Veterinarians and the years ago he convinced a Republican

States such as Iowa, Nebraska, Colo- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Congress that the cost of living index

rado, Texas and California all have ex- Veterinarians make a difference actually overestimated inflation and

tremely high concentrations of coun- every day. They understand animals that you should take away one point

ties with 250,000 or more food animals. and are integral parts of our rural com- before you give a COLA to seniors on

Now let’s take a look at a map show- munities. Unfortunately, too many Social Security. The Republican Con-

ing total food animal veterinarians by rural communities don’t have this nec- gress did that.







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H9918 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

Now here we are today. We have a lion for rare dogs and cats in foreign dering. Can we trust these people when

Democratic Congress. We’re being told countries, the $25 million for rare they say they’re going to help us? This

that there is no inflation; seniors won’t cranes, 80 percent of which are in other is our Nation’s credibility at risk. That

get a COLA. The Obama administra- countries. Those are the things that affects everything.

tion says probably for 2 years they would need to stop. There were pledges made to Israel

won’t get a cost of living adjustment. When it comes to the issue of our Na- during the campaign by the people in-

That’s not right. The things they are tion’s credibility, you can go back his- habiting this administration, and now

buying are going up in price, dramati- torically to 1812. There were banks and we’re telling them you’re going to have

cally, and they’re having tremendous merchants in England that had loaned to go back to the lines the way they

difficulties making ends meet, living the United States money. When we existed before 1967 because you cannot

on that fixed income. went to war with England in 1812 as a occupy land that you achieved during

I have had a bill for many years that nation, we made the commitment that warfare. My goodness, we’re going to

would put in place a new cost of living we will still stand good for our word have to give back California. We’re

index for seniors called a CPIE—elder- because even though we’ll be at war, going to have to give back Utah, Ne-

ly—to look at the things they really our word, our credibility, is too impor- vada, Colorado, Wyoming.

buy and have to buy to live and get by. tant to do otherwise. This is ridiculous. We are hurting our

That hasn’t gone anywhere, but I’m b 1315 credibility nationally. Regardless of

still pushing that idea. whether you agree or disagree with the

But while we’re working on devel- That opened the door for the United prior administration, please do no

oping a true index that would really States to become an economic power- more damage to this Nation’s credi-

look at the costs for seniors, we should house because people around the world bility.

pass a 1-year cost of living adjustment. said this is a Nation that can be trust-

ed; their word is good. f

And we can do that without borrowing

the money, with no impact to the So- With the way Vietnam ended under REVISIONS TO THE 302(a) ALLOCA-

cial Security trust fund, very simply. President Nixon and the Carter years, TIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE

We would just say that those who earn our credibility around the world was CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS ON

between $250,000 a year and $359,000, devastated, as we went back on com- THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEARS

they would pay the same rate of Social mitments we had made. And it took 2010 THROUGH 2014

Security tax as every normal wage- the years of President Reagan, former

President Bush, former President Clin- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

earning American who earns less than

ton, former President George W. Bush previous order of the House, the gen-

$106,000 a year. If you earn less than

to build our credibility back among the tleman from South Carolina (Mr.

$106,000 a year, you pay Social Security

other nations, that you may not like SPRATT) is recognized for 5 minutes.

tax on every penny of your income. If

our position, but when we give our Mr. SPRATT. Madam Speaker, under sec-

you earn $250,000, well, no, you just pay

word, we’re going to stand good for it. tion 321 of S. Con. Res. 13, the concurrent

on the first $106,000. You don’t pay

Now in 9 months’ time that is all in resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010,

after that. Your tax rate is lower.

jeopardy again. We heard during the I hereby submit a revision to the budget allo-

Let’s have a little bit of equity here.

campaign the noble promises that we cations and aggregates for certain House

So we would simply have people earn-

will not go it alone on anything. We committees for fiscal year 2010 and the period

ing between $250,000 and $359,000 pay

will not be that arrogant. We will con- of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. This adjust-

the same rate of Social Security tax as

sult with the other nations. And we ment responds to House consideration of the

every other American that would pay

had an agreement with Eastern Europe bill H.R. 3631, ‘‘To amend title XVIII to provide

for a one-time COLA for seniors to help

with regard to missiles and a missile for the application of a consistent Medicare

them make ends meet. We must act

defense shield, and there are leaders in part B premium for all Medicare beneficiaries

and act soon to get this done before

Eastern Europe that took great polit- in a budget neutral manner.’’ A corresponding

this injustice happens next year.

ical risk, and it cost them politically table is attached.

f

in mighty ways to work an agreement This revision represents an adjustment for

AMERICA NEEDS TO STAND BY with the United States. But they did it the purposes of sections 302 and 311 of the

HER WORD because they believed they could trust Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amend-

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a the United States at its word. ed. For the purposes of the Congressional

previous order of the House, the gen- Whether you believe in the propriety Budget Act of 1974, as amended, this revised

tleman from Texas (Mr. GOHMERT) is of the missile defense shield in Eastern allocation is to be considered as an allocation

recognized for 5 minutes. Europe, that’s one thing, but to unilat- included in the budget resolution, pursuant to

Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I wish erally go against the word that was section 427(b) of S. Con. Res. 13.

to address the issue of credibility that provided that we will not do that, that

BUDGET AGGREGATES

is so critical. And I want to follow up we keep our agreements, and unilater-

[On-budget amounts, in millions of dollars]

on what my friend was just discussing ally announce we’re going back on our

with regard to Social Security. These word on the missile defense shield shat- Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Fiscal Years

seniors would be flush with cost of liv- ters credibility even to those who 2009 2010 2010–2014

ing increases; the money would be didn’t care about the missile defense Current Aggregates: 1

there if we did one thing, the one thing shield but who are thinking about Budget Authority 3,668,601 2,882,149 n.a.

Outlays ................ 3,357,164 3,002,606 n.a.

that has not been done in the entire reaching agreements with us. Revenues ............. 1,532,579 1,653,728 10,500,149

history of Social Security and, that is, After the U.N. speech yesterday, all Change in the Medicare

Premium Fairness

put the tax that provides for Social Se- of the promises that have been made by Act (H.R. 3631):

curity into the Social Security Trust this administration, both before and Budget Authority 0 2,065 n.a.

Outlays ................ 0 2,065 n.a.

Fund. It has never been done. It has al- after its election, that that was the Revenues ............. 0 0 0

ways had IOUs go in. As the money critical war we could not afford to lose, Revised Aggregates:

Budget Authority 3,668,601 2,884,214 n.a.

comes in, it goes out the other door. we’re going to stand with them, now Outlays ................ 3,357,164 3,004,671 n.a.

That ought to stop. after the speech yesterday people are Revenues ............. 1,532,579 1,653,728 10,500,149

And what it would create is the need wondering, wow, are they going to 1 Current aggregates do not include the disaster allowance assumed in



to control the outrageous spending back out and go against this Nation’s the budget resolution, which if needed will be excluded from current level

with an emergency designation (section 423(b)).

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that’s been going on, the $770 million word yet again already in this 9-month n.a. = Not applicable because annual appropriations Acts for fiscal years

we passed for wild horses, the $25 mil- period? It’s not just the Afghans won- 2011 through 2014 will not be considered until future sessions of Congress.









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9919

DIRECT SPENDING LEGISLATION—AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 302(a) ALLOCATIONS FOR RESOLUTION CHANGES

[Fiscal years, in millions of dollars]



2009 2010 2010–2014 Total

House Committee

BA Outlays BA Outlays BA Outlays



Current allocation:

Ways and Means .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 0 0 6,840 6,840 37,000 37,000

Change in the Medicare Premium Fairness Act (H.R. 3631):

Ways and Means .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 0 0 2,065 2,065 0 0

Revised allocation:

Ways and Means .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 0 0 8,905 8,905 37,000 37,000







The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Now, surprisingly, that message ap- opportunity to have an input from the

previous order of the House, the gen- parently has not been heard on the Representatives, who are the elected

tleman from Kansas (Mr. MORAN) is floor of this House. representatives of the people of this

recognized for 5 minutes. Yesterday in the committee of pri- great country?

(Mr. MORAN of Kansas addressed the mary jurisdiction that has H.R. 3200, Those are the questions that still re-

House. His remarks will appear here- the bill was, in effect, reopened for fur- main. They are still unanswered.

after in the Extensions of Remarks.) ther amendments. Now, you would I would conclude, again, if there is

f think that if the bill is going to be re- something that we have gained from

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a visited that we would have heard not what we have heard from the President

previous order of the House, the gen- only from the American people but we and, more particularly, what we have

tleman from Utah (Mr. BISHOP) is rec- would have heard from the President of heard from the American public during

ognized for 5 minutes. the United States, who on September 9 the August recess, where is the bill

(Mr. BISHOP of Utah addressed the spoke right here on the floor of the that puts it in writing? We have yet to

House. His remarks will appear here- House. At the time he enunciated see it.

after in the Extensions of Remarks.) issues that he was in favor of. Repub- f

licans agreed with many of those

f THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OF

things. But the question we had at the

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a time was, where is the bill that em- WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE

previous order of the House, the gen- bodies the things that you say you’re GOING

tleman from Arizona (Mr. FRANKS) is in favor of? We did not see a bill then, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

recognized for 5 minutes. and, unfortunately, we have not seen previous order of the House, the gen-

(Mr. FRANKS of Arizona addressed one since that time. tleman from Virginia (Mr. FORBES) is

the House. His remarks will appear So yesterday in the committee of pri- recognized for 5 minutes.

hereafter in the Extensions of Re- mary jurisdiction, you would think Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, across

marks.) that we would have seen a bill that em- this country there are many people

f braced the principles that the Presi- today who are worried, and they’re

WHERE IS THE HEALTH CARE dent said he was in favor of even concerned and are even fearful about a

REFORM BILL? though they were not embraced in the number of things, but two of those

bill that was the only bill before this things consistently work their way to

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a House when the President was actually the top.

previous order of the House, the gen- speaking. You would think it would The first one is the enormous amount

tleman from Georgia (Mr. DEAL) is rec- have embraced many of the issues that of debt that this country is incurring

ognized for 5 minutes. the American public said they were and this administration is imposing

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, concerned about. upon our children and our grand-

Congress recessed on July 31 for the be- Republicans attempted to offer a bill children and, secondly, the lack of

ginning of the August recess. On that that would have embraced those issues transparency of where our dollars are

day, H.R. 3200 passed out of the com- where there should be bipartisan sup- going.

mittees that had jurisdiction. That is port, but we were not allowed to have If you look at the millions of dollars

the health care reform bill. It passed a vote. that have gone to ACORN, no one in

out of the Energy and Commerce Com- There are many issues that are en- this administration can tell you where

mittee, on which I serve, late on that compassed in this debate. One that I they went and account for them. We

Friday evening, the last day in July. have supported for a very long time is have got millions of dollars going to

And everybody in this House went that if we are going to use taxpayer banks that no one can account for; bil-

home for the August recess. money, we should verify the citizenship lions of dollars in the stimulus package

During that period of time, I held of individuals who are going to receive that no one can account for; billions of

town hall meetings, as did many of my the benefits of that taxpayer money be- dollars in welfare benefits that no one

colleagues. There were TEA parties. cause unless that is verified, there is can trace and account for. And we have

There were freedom rallies. The Amer- no validity to simply saying that we czars popping up all over the place with

ican public spoke out as they have not are not going to spend taxpayers’ no accountability.

done in a very long time and much of money for people who have violated So we look at these people across the

their frustration centered around the our law and are coming into our coun- country who are fearful and concerned,

bill H.R. 3200 that at that point in time try inappropriately. and sometimes we say why are they as-

had passed all of the committees of the So the question remains, Where are sembling themselves together and why

House and was ready for action on the we on health care reform? The rumors are they using some of the language

floor. now abound that Speaker PELOSI is that they are using? But what are their

But the American public sent a mes- about to introduce a bill that purports options?

sage, a message that they don’t like to address the issues she’s concerned And let’s look at just one agency, the

the runaway spending that Congress with. We haven’t seen the bill. I would Department of Defense. Many of us

has been engaged in. They don’t like ask the question, Is that bill going to have been concerned that these huge

many of the programs that they think come before the committees of juris- expenditures are for the first time put-

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are jeopardizing the future of their diction? Is there going to be a hearing ting us in a position where our budget

children and grandchildren in terms of on it? Are committees going to have is driving our defense posture as op-

the repayment responsibilities. But the opportunity to amend it? Or is it posed to our defense posture driving

more than anything else, they sent the going to go, as so many other things our budget.

message that they do not want their have gone in this body during these This year when the Defense budget

health care tampered with and taken last few months, straight to the floor came to the Armed Services Com-

over by the United States Government. of this House with very little, if any, mittee, the Secretary of Defense was







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H9920 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

required by this Congress, by law, to Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, a na- This battle on national missile de-

submit two things with that budget: tional missile defense: I am aghast at fense is the first victory for Russia in,

first of all, a plan about the number of its being dropped by this administra- again, attacking the credibility of the

ships that we have, a shipbuilding plan, tion. leadership of our country and in caus-

so that we could look at that plan and First of all, we have a missile defense ing us to back down to commitments

see how it matches up to threats that program, and that protects the west we made, not only to our citizens on

we have around the world. And the sec- coast against a launch by a rogue na- the eastern coast but also to our allies

ond thing was an aviation plan. It just tion, namely, North Korea. The na- and friends in Europe as a whole, and

makes sense that you have a plan and tional missile defense site proposed particularly to the Eastern European

know how many planes you’re building plan for Europe was designed primarily countries.

and where they’re going to be so that to defend our eastern coast against a For years, the Eastern European

we can see that we can defend this rogue attack by Iran, so that’s why I countries have been called the ‘‘captive

country. As the ranking member of the reject the arguments of this adminis- nations’’ because these were the coun-

Readiness Subcommittee it is impor- tration. This administration is citing tries which were under the totalitarian

tant, I felt, for us to know those risk concerns into Europe. regime, under the old Soviet Socialist

factors. The benefit of the national missile Republic system. They were deprived of

The law says specifically in 10 U.S. defense site was that we got a twofer their freedoms for decades. Of course,

Code, section 231 that the Secretary from this. Not only did we get a sys- that is the desire of this new emergent

has to submit a shipbuilding plan and tem, again, that’s already in applica- Russia—to bring them back into that

then certify that this budget will meet tion on the western coast—we have a sphere. It is disappointing that this ad-

it. The law also says he has to submit system in place to protect our eastern ministration didn’t stand strong in

an aviation plan and certify that this seaboard from a launch of an inter- support of freedom and democracy and

budget will meet it. This year he sim- continental ballistic missile, armed by keep the movement on the national

ply refused to do it. a nuclear warhead by Iran against our missile defense reaching forward.

And, Mr. Speaker, when we then said eastern coast—but it also gives cov- We look forward to continuing this

what are our options, we thought, first erage to our allies and friends in the debate. I just want to send a message

of all, let’s just be polite. So we wrote vast majority of Europe. to our friends in Europe that you will

a letter, I wrote it, as ranking member Our allies, the Poles and the Czechs, not be forgotten.

of the Readiness Subcommittee of the worked hard to educate their public to f

Armed Services Committee, asking bring together consensus and to sup-

port the two sites—one being a radar THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS

him to submit those plans. Do you MESSAGE HOUR

know what we got? This is what we site in the Czech Republic and another

got: absolutely nothing. being an interceptor site in Poland. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under

So then we decided let’s work in a bi- What did they do based upon the ne- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan-

partisan manner to see if we could cor- gotiations with us? What is our re- uary 6, 2009, the gentleman from Min-

rect that. So the Armed Services Com- sponse to them? Our response to them nesota (Mr. ELLISON) is recognized for

mittee issued a congressional inquiry is to now reject and to turn away from 60 minutes as the designee of the ma-

demanding that the Secretary of De- this site. jority leader.

Now, the launch sites in Poland are a Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I am

fense comply with the law and simply

few interceptors, not the hundreds of KEITH ELLISON, here to claim the time.

give us the plan for shipbuilding and The Progressive Caucus message

offensive missiles that are placed in

aviation and certify that this budget hour, which comes to the House floor

Russia. The interceptors were never a

would meet it. And, Mr. Speaker, this threat to Russia. However, this admin- every week, week after week, with a

is exactly what we got: nothing. istration now bows to the totalitarian Progressive message will be short to-

Every member of the Armed Services

regime in Russia at the rejection of our night. We want to let our Republican

Committee unanimously agreed that colleagues know that. Tonight, though

friends and allies in the democratic

that information should be submitted short, it will be a very potent and ef-

countries in Eastern Europe—our

by September 15 and issued that in the fective message because it is a Progres-

friends the Poles and the Czechs—who

congressional inquiry. And, to date, sive message.

have worked hard, who have solid

the Secretary of Defense has refused to Obviously, everything these days is

democratic institutions, who support

turn over those dollars, those figures, the war on terror, and who are our al- health care. Health care is a crucial

that certification, and those plans. lies in the battle of freedom. So we side issue, but it’s important to understand

Mr. Speaker, I just ask you this: How that, from a Progressive standpoint,

with the Russians in opposition to our

can the Secretary of Defense look at health care reform is part of an overall

Eastern European friends and neigh-

our men and women in uniform and say package of reform for middle and work-

bors.

we expect you to follow the law, to fol- You know, Russia may have been ing class people in America.

low the statutes that Congress has successful in causing this administra- How are you doing with your family

passed and the President has signed, tion to back away from its commit- budget when you see, over the last 10

but they apply to you and not me? ment, but I want them to understand years, that health care premiums have

I don’t know what options we have; there are still many, many Members in increased, that deductibles are increas-

but I know this, Mr. Speaker, that I’m this Chamber who will not kowtow to ing and that copays are increasing?

going to continue to come on this floor you or bow to the threats imposed by a How is it going when you see your

day after day after day until the Sec- reemergent Russia. Russia has meddled neighbors are foreclosed upon and when

retary complies with the law and gives in the affairs of the Eastern European the houses in your neighborhood are

the Armed Services Committee what countries for long enough, most re- seeing a reduction in value? That’s real

he’s supposed to give us, a shipbuilding cently in the invasion of Georgia, med- wealth you’re losing with this fore-

plan and an aviation plan and the cer- dling in the Ukraine and trying to de- closure crisis.

tifications that our budget will meet stabilize their neighbors on the bor- In a Progressive vision of this world,

those so that we are defending the ders. we see middle class people and working

United States of America. We will continue to fight for those class people—people who are making

f freedom-loving, democratic institu- only a little bit, who are making only

b 1330 tions in Eastern Europe, especially for minimum wage—who are actually see-

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the countries I mentioned before—the ing their wages rise, who are seeing

OUR FRIENDS IN EUROPE: YOU Ukraine and Georgia—and for the peo- their health care costs level off and go

WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN ple who want democracy in Belarus. We down, who are seeing their home values

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a will not allow a reemergent Russia to go up, and who are seeing the doors to

previous order of the House, the gen- try to build a new sphere of influence the universities remain open so that

tleman from Illinois (Mr. SHIMKUS) is that will deprive these people of free- young people can have real opportuni-

recognized for 5 minutes. dom. ties in this America.







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9921

We have a vision where everybody poor, is part of government; we know ing to find out when they’re going to

counts, where everybody matters, Social Security is part of government. get reimbursed, spending months and

where we’re not constantly looking for We don’t look at the government as the months and months waiting for insur-

the next person to throw under the bus. enemy in a country that is by, for and ance companies to give them money

With the Progressive vision, we know of the people. The government is us. So for services they’ve already provided.

that it doesn’t really matter what your what are people talking about when So when doctors look at this debate,

economic station is in life. You still they rail on government-run health they say, You know what? Having some

have an opportunity to do well in care as if it’s some horrible thing? level of competition is helpful to them

America. You still should have that op- The fact is that we’re here to stand as well. Just so we understand the con-

portunity. You should still have an op- up and to stand out for real health care text of this, we swing wildly between

portunity to have your civil and your reform as a part of an overall package people who say the public option in

human rights respected. As we move to make middle and working class peo- this health care debate is going to

forward in this health care debate, we ple better off, with a higher quality of transform the world and people who

must remember from a Progressive life and with more opportunities for say it’s not really going to do any-

message standpoint that it is a part of themselves and for their families. thing. Somewhere in between is prob-

a network of things that American So, as we discuss this issue and as we ably right.

middle class and working class people keep it in context, it’s important to When this health care plan goes into

need—people of all colors, people of all also bear in mind that a key element of effect under the President’s proposal

cultures and people of all faiths. reform—an essential element of re- we have here in the House, for most

The Progressive message: We don’t form—is the public option. The public Americans, they’re not even going to

believe that it makes sense to rail option is an essential element of re- have the ability to go sign up for the

against and to demonize people who form, and I want to talk to you about public option because they get health

come from other countries. We wel- it tonight for just a few minutes be- insurance at their work. If they decide

come new Americans. We think it’s a cause we’re not going to be here long. to leave their employers, they’re going

good idea. Immigration has been good We’re going to be here for a while. to leave whatever the employers are

for the United States. Most doctors support the public option. putting into the kitty, so they’re prob-

We have a Progressive message which We have this chart here—and I hope ably not going to do that. They effec-

says that we believe that everybody’s I can get a nice, wide camera angle—of tively are not going to go into the pub-

health care in the United States ought both the public and private options. lic option. If you’re on Medicare, Med-

to be covered and that your health Sixty-three percent of all doctors— icaid, the VA, or the Department of De-

should not be a commodity which is they call it ‘‘doctors/providers’’ now- fense, you’re not going to be even eligi-

bought and sold on Wall Street, which adays, but they’re really doctors. ble to go into the public option.

So the people who are going to ben-

is bought and sold on commodity mar- Sixty-three percent of doctors support

efit are a small group of people, an im-

kets, where people basically look at both a public and a private option.

portant group of people who are under-

you and your health as an economic Sixty-three percent. That’s a lot. Now,

insured, meaning their employers don’t

entity to make themselves richer and you have another 10 percent of doctors

provide even the basic health insurance

wealthier. who say, You know what? Get profit-

So it is with that opening remark we believe they should, or those who

based health care out of our American

that I talk about our short presen- have no coverage at all. They’re going

system. We want public-only options.

tation tonight: the Progressive mes- to be able to shop. Even for those peo-

If you put all of the doctors who be-

ple, it is going to take a while for this

sage about health care. It is in this lieve in both public and private options

public option to get up and running.

context that we talk about health care, and doctors who believe in public-only The reason it’s so important—and

not so much about the technicalities of options, that’s 73 percent of doctors. you’ve made this point continually

health care at this point, but really fo- Doctors say they know the public op- during the debate—is that we should

cusing on health care reform—patients tion is better. You might have some have at least some experiment with

before profits. We believe in this. folks who are accountable to industry how it might work. We should have

Thirty-six other nations in this world interests in the insurance industry who some way to look through the lens and

provide some form of national health don’t want a public option, but you say, You know what? Here’s a private

care. Our country does not. We are the don’t have doctors saying it. Doctors insurance company that’s paying for

richest country in the world. We have a are for the public option—63 percent- advertisements and that’s paying bo-

GDP bigger than any other country in plus more. nuses. The CEO of the public option

the world by double, and still we say I am very pleased to be joined right will probably make—I don’t know—

we don’t have enough to go around to now by my dear friend from the great $190,000 a year, whatever it is, versus

cover the 49 million who are left unin- State of New York, ANTHONY WEINER. an institution, a public option, which

sured or to make sure that we hold Anthony, how are you doing tonight? might say, You know what? Maybe we

prices down and have quality care for Mr. WEINER. I thank you very much. can do it for less because we don’t have

the 250 million who do have employer- I am an honorary member of the Pro- to look out for shareholders. That sliv-

based health care and government gressive Caucus. I am not a member of er of competition has the insurance

health care but who are seeing their the caucus, but I am very interested in companies mortified.

premiums rise. the work that you’ve done on this The question is why. Why are they so

Tonight, though our friends on the issue. I just want to pick up on a point afraid?

other side of the aisle constantly bang that you just made. Because, I say to my colleague from

on government and talk about govern- Part of the reason doctors under- Minnesota, at the end of the day, it

ment-sponsored health care, we are stand the need for the public option is could just be that these insurance com-

here to say that the government is a that they deal every day with insur- panies say, You know what? If I’m

good thing. There is nothing wrong ance companies. You and I, when we going to compete, maybe I’ll have to

with government. From a Progressive get sick—and God willing, that’s not turn a little bit less over to profits, a

standpoint, we say that, yes, govern- often—and when our constituents get little bit less over to advertising and

ment must be efficient, that, yes, gov- sick, they have to deal with their in- over to bonuses. Now, for them, that

ernment must be effective and that, surance companies. They deal with might not be so good, but for the rest

yes, government must not be too intru- them every day. They’ve got six or of us and for the country as a whole,

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sive. Yet, just to make blanket state- seven different in-boxes on their desks. that is actually, probably, a pretty

ments about how government is bad, About 20 percent of their overhead is good thing.

this is not part of the Progressive mis- dealing with insurance companies, and Mr. ELLISON. If the gentleman

sion, because we know the GI Bill is I don’t mean dealing with them as in, would yield briefly—and I’ll hand it

part of government; we know that ‘‘Hey, how are you doing? Let’s have a right back to the gentleman from New

Medicare is part of government; we doughnut and coffee together.’’ I mean York—I just want to throw this out

know that Medicaid, which covers the sitting on hold, getting approval, try- there:







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H9922 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

I propose that the people who support doesn’t exist. Now we are introducing a well, tonight, we are short here to-

the public option and the people who little bit here, but at the end of the night, we are going to be handing it

oppose the public option do so for the day, this is not a commodity, like a over in a little while.

same reasons. suit of clothes that you can say I am But I just want to explore this issue

b 1345 going to buy or I am going to not. It’s of competition with the gentleman

also true when people say, Why should from New York one more time. Now

One is that the public option will be I have to get insurance, I am not sick. you pointed out how we have real prob-

competitive. Because we don’t have to Well, you might not be sick today, lems with competition. We have real

funnel monies into these things that but if, God forbid, you get hit by a car issues with flexibility within the mar-

don’t really go to care, we will be able and you have $170,000 worth of insur- ket because, when you need the oper-

to provide cost-competitive products ance, of health care costs, and $100 in ation, you need it. There is not much

for people to be able to purchase. your pocket, you know who is paying?

Mr. WEINER. Well, let me make one opportunity for shopping around.

You and I are. But what about the number of health

other point. First, that’s funny, you But what happened to the idea of let-

made that observation, great minds care insurance companies that are in

ting us all make free choices? The markets as they exist today? As you

think alike or average minds think right of your choice stops where it

alike. look around the cities of our country,

starts impacting me. As my father

I had written an op-ed a month ago, are we seeing health insurance compa-

would frequently say to me when he

made the same exact point that actu- nies proliferating throughout these cit-

was explaining to me the law, the right

ally the two sides agree on this. But ies where you have multiple companies

of my fist stops at your nose. You can’t

what’s interesting about some of my to choose from or are you looking at

have this kind of conversation that—

Republicans friends who have fought so large markets being dominated by one

but if you really believe in the market-

vehemently against it is, at the end of to five actors?

place, introduce more players.

the day, we are introducing another That’s what Mr. ELLISON has talked I believe 75 percent of all the major

market player. That is, you always about, and that’s what the Progressive markets are dominated by no more

want more market players because Caucus talked about. That’s what, than five actors. Even if you could go

that’s where competition comes from. frankly, overwhelming numbers of shop around for that policy, do you

We are introducing another one. Now Americans and overwhelming numbers have a lot to choose from?

we have tied its hands behind its back of doctors are talking about. Mr. WEINER. It’s an interesting

a bit more than I would have liked, but If you are interested in making sure point. One of the most common things

we are introducing another market that we have a marketplace that is not we hear from people who oppose this

player. It’s fascinating because the ar- just dominated by the idea if you can comprehensive health plan is they pick

gument seems to be, wait a minute, if afford to pay, you do, and let me make a reed of information and say, Why

you give my constituents choice, they this final—I know I keep saying final don’t we do this? Why don’t we let all

might take it. Now, it’s fine that—we point. There is one other thing. You insurance companies around the coun-

apparently believe that our constitu- know, I have made the point that in- try compete in every market?

ents are smart enough to choose us to surance companies for health care at Well, I am open to the idea, but I

be their representatives, but, oh, no, the end of the day are not like insur- have got to tell you they don’t seem to

we can’t trust them to be smart enough ance companies in any other walk of want to. We have 50 States that have 50

to choose the health insurance plan. life. State insurance commissions, and you

By the way, I already see the TV Your car insurance company, since can knock on the door of any one of

commercials. Don’t go with them, you we all have automobile insurance cov- them and say, I am an insurance com-

don’t want government-funded health erage, they are apportioning risk. They pany, I want to apply to provide insur-

care. Yes, the private insurance compa- are trying to figure out how you spread ance here in Minnesota or New York.

nies are going to do everything possible risk around. Health insurance compa- Now you know we have a grand total

to compete in that way. But at the end nies don’t do that. They are not cov- of zero applications from insurance

of the day, we are trying to introduce ering anyone over 65. They are not cov- companies in New York who want to

market forces where they don’t exist ering anyone that has a preexisting operate in Maine. I tell you why, for an

today. condition. People like my father who obvious reason. If you are a health in-

Let me just make this one final tried to get health insurance before he surance company in New York, you

point. We hear all the time from the was 65 were charged so much he effec- don’t know any of the doctors in

other side. Let the marketplace work. tively couldn’t get it. So they are not Maine. What your patients and your

There is no marketplace for health doing that either. customers are going to want is my doc-

care as a commodity the way we know So the question becomes what are

tor in your network.

it. the insurance companies doing? They

If I have an appendix burst right now So they have to go organize all these

are taking our money and giving it to

standing here, I am not going to say, doctors, create a whole new network.

doctors, giving it to hospitals, giving it

You know what, I am not going to get It’s hard to do. I honor health insur-

to clinics. But they are putting 20 per-

an appendix, I am going to shop for a cent in their pocket. ance companies for trying to do it.

liver instead. Or I am not going to say, So why don’t we, if we are trying to They make a lot of money. Maybe it’s

You know, I am going to wait. I under- figure out savings, not that I have any- because they were able to do that. But

stand appendix goes on sale in Decem- thing—I mean insurance companies you want to know, there is one insur-

ber, I am going to wait. Or I don’t have aren’t venal people; they are doing ance entity that has been able to do it

the ability to say, I am going to go buy what we frankly have allowed them to for the entire country. It’s called Medi-

some books and learn how to sew up do and they have risen up for natural care. Not only have they have been

my own appendix. That doesn’t happen. reasons. Let’s start with that 20 per- able to do it, but they have been able

If I am like 80 percent of all people cent. Let’s start with that 350 or so bil- to do it at 3.5 percent overhead com-

that get their insurance from an em- lion dollars out of a $2.5 trillion pot. pared to a 30 percent overhead.

ployer, I have one option. My employer You know what, let’s put that back Mr. ELLISON. Wait a minute, isn’t

walks in and says, Congratulations, ev- into health care, let’s put that back this a government-administered pro-

eryone here at the supermarket. We into tax cuts. Let’s put that back into gram?

have Blue Cross or we have Oxford, and other service. Mr. WEINER. Well, not long ago on

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here is the coverage. Frankly, that’s the argument behind this floor, my colleagues on the Repub-

I don’t get to say, Hey, boss, uh-uh, the public option, and it’s 4 percent lican side of the aisle, who thump their

give me my money, I am going to go overhead, compared to the health in- chest and beat the rostrum about being

shop around a little bit more. That surance plan that I have, which has against government-funded single

doesn’t happen. about a 25 percent overhead. payer health care plans, all voted for

So the idea that we have some kind Mr. ELLISON. If the gentleman it. I mean, maybe not all of them; most

of a free market guaranteed choice would just hang with me for a minute— of them voted for it.







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9923

They are the defenders of Medicare? link it to Medicare plus 5 percent, we model that you know works. If you

Well, that’s a single-payer, govern- will save another $100 billion. If you don’t think it works, ask our Repub-

ment-funded, government-controlled are a fiscal hawk, you want the public lican friends how come they keep vot-

health care. Now it is not one thing, option. If you want choice, you want ing for it over and over and over.

though—that really needs to be clari- the public option. I offered an amendment in the En-

fied. It’s not socialism, and I will tell If you are a doctor, you want a public ergy and Commerce Committee. I see

you why. Socialism means that govern- option. If you are uninsured, you want my colleague from the Judiciary Com-

ment controls the means of production. a public option. If you have insurance, mittee, but the Energy and Commerce

Government doesn’t run the doctors you may not know it, but you want a Committee—I said, You don’t like sin-

or the hospitals any more than Oxford, public option too. gle-payer health plan, put your money

Blue Cross or Aetna does. Now it’s a I thank the gentleman for just about where your mouth is. I offered an

common thing to say—and never or every day talking about these impor- amendment on the day of the 44th an-

hardly ever do my colleagues on the tant issues. niversary of Medicare to eliminate the

other side of the aisle actually try to Mr. ELLISON. I want to thank the program. They say they don’t like gov-

figure out the literal sense of what gentleman for being as eloquent as he ernment-run health care. Eliminate

they are saying. It’s not that. has been. We turn on the TV screen and the program.

It is, in a way, trying to figure out a the gentleman has been on national Not a single one of those people—and

way that we as a society figure out how news talking about these critical issues I am prohibited on the floor from call-

to deal with the society problem, but from the standpoint of the numbers, ing them phonies—not a single one of

the problem that we have here is the the logic, but also from the standpoint those people voted ‘‘no’’—or voted

private insurance companies pick and of the person who really, really needs ‘‘yes’’ to eliminate Medicare. Oh, no,

choose markets the same way they the change. no, no, we love Medicare. You like

pick and choose customers. I have got Congressman, you have done a great Medicare if you are 65 but not if you

to tell you something. We can pass a service. I have told you on the floor are 64?

law tomorrow saying that everyone one-on-one how proud I am of the work b 1400

can compete, all over the 50 States. that you have done. I think that you Not if you’re 60, not if you’re 45.

You won’t have people applying to go are going to keep doing it. You can Why? What’s the intellectually honest

into Idaho and set up a—or probably count on me to support the Weiner explanation of that? If you believe the

going into Minnesota. amendment, which is a single-payer program that you’re going to fight and

We have in New York a pretty rich— payment. defend—you should have it when you’re

because we have a lot of customers, a Mr. WEINER. Let me say very briefly 65—what’s magical about that?

lot of senior citizens. But we also have what the single payer—consider it When my dad retired at 60, he wasn’t

some of the toughest regulatory re- Medicare fraud. Ask your neighbor, if eligible to get Medicare, and he went

gimes because of many of the abuses you are not old enough to have Medi- to the private insurance market. They

that we have seen. care, ask them how their service is. said, Fine. For $15,000 a year, a retired

Look, I want to tell you something. Every year they do a survey of all guy, why not give that guy Medicare?

It is my view we should have some- Medicare beneficiaries; 96 percent say And then maybe in a couple of years we

thing like Medicare for all Americans. they are satisfied with it, which any give younger guys Medicare. And we

We should treat health care like we program or any business would be glad get down to the twenties, where you

treat the fire department. Hopefully we to have that. They also ask the pro- are, we give you Medicare.

don’t need it very often. We all pay viders, the hospitals, the doctors: Rate The point is, we know what works.

taxes so that when there is a fire they it on a score of 1 to 6. Last year the av- You want simple? We got simple. Medi-

will come and put out the fire. It’s erage score was 4.5. That is pretty care for all Americans. You want inex-

good for our economy that our neigh- good. That is essentially an A minus. pensive, you want low overhead? We

borhood shoe store should worry about What it does is say, Look, we are not got that. Medicare for all Americans.

selling shoes, not health care. going have high overhead. We will not You want something that every doctor

Under a vote that I am going to be pay you the bust-out top of the mar- accepts? Medicare for all Americans.

offering, and I think it will have your ket. For every single person you are You want complete, 100 percent choice

support—— going to get prompt payment. Every- of what doctor you go to? Medicare for

Mr. ELLISON. Absolutely. one is going to be covered. You are all Americans.

Mr. WEINER. We are going to take going to have customers all around the Now, one thing it doesn’t do. It

the shoe store guy and say, You focus neighborhood, and we will try to do doesn’t skim off 20 percent for profits.

on that. We, the government, have an some smart things to contain cost. You won’t see TV commercials with

infrastructure that we know that Now make no mistake about it. The people sitting in rocking chairs saying,

works for health care. It has a financ- canard that’s raised—wait a minute. Boy, I’m glad I got Medicare. No,

ing problem like all health care does. Medicare is a successful program. We they’re going to put that money into

Actually the curve for health care is don’t like it, but there are costs to it. health care.

not as severe as it is for private insur- It’s true. We have more older people. Does it need some fixing? Yeah. We

ance. That’s the way we should do it. To some degree Medicare’s success is do some dumb things. We’ll put $900 for

We should make it less expensive, not why it’s having trouble financially. someone to be in a hospital bed. We

more expensive for citizens, because we We are living 10 years longer today won’t pay $50 to put up a handrail when

shouldn’t say, Your State taxes are than we were when Medicare was one-third of all seniors get into a hos-

going to go up, your local taxes are passed. By the way, it’s not 10 years in pital emergency room because of slips

going to go up, your hospitals are our teenage years, we get 10 years at and falls. We do some dumb things, and

going to close. We are going to run it the end of life when we have more we need to fix it.

the way we run Medicare, which is effi- health care costs. But I’ve got to tell you something.

ciently, and we will provide it as a But if we want to solve a problem in As a Member of Congress representing

service. Medicare, you call your Congressman. 650,00, 660,000 people in Brooklyn and

But putting that aside for a moment, You get on the phone. The taxpayers Queens in New York City, in God’s

at the very least, if we’re going to have employ those people. If you want to fix country, I would much rather fight

insurance companies be the primary your private insurance, if they shut with CMS, fight with the Federal bu-

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place we get it, how about a tiny reed, you down, they kick you out, you get reaucracy which, by the way, I get far

a tiny sliver of competition. If you on an 800 number or you buy shares in fewer complaints about them than I do

don’t do it because you think you their company. Those are the two ways about private insurance companies,

should have choice, do it because you you influence it. than having to hope that I get a good

think we should save money. What we are saying is, let’s have a response from my insurance company.

The Congressional Budget Office says more efficient model, let’s have a So that’s basically the philosophy be-

that if we take a public option and we model that’s lower cost, let’s have a hind the single-payer thing. I have to







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H9924 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

take exception to one thing the Presi- amendment of the Senate to the bill (H. R. OFFICES OF THE SECRETARIES OF THE CON-

dent said in his speech. He said, Some 2918), making appropriations for the Legisla- FERENCE OF THE MAJORITY AND THE CON-

people in this Chamber want a single- tive Branch for the fiscal year ending Sep- FERENCE OF THE MINORITY

tember 30, 2010, and for other purposes, hav- For Offices of the Secretaries of the Con-

payer system like they have in Canada.

ing met, after full and free conference, have ference of the Majority and the Conference of

No. I want a single-payer system like agreed to recommend and do recommend to the Minority, $850,000.

we have in the United States of Amer- their respective Houses as follows: POLICY COMMITTEES

ica. I want a single-payer plan that my That the House recede from its disagree-

For salaries of the Majority Policy Committee

father has. I want a single-payer plan ment to the amendment of the Senate and

and the Minority Policy Committee, $1,763,000

that my mother has. agree to the same with an amendment as fol-

for each such committee; in all, $3,526,000.

I want a single-payer plan that took lows:

OFFICE OF THE CHAPLAIN

my grandparents, whose generation In lieu of the matter proposed to be in-

serted by the Senate amendment, insert the For Office of the Chaplain, $415,000.

had a 30 percent poverty rate before

following: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Medicare, and is now at 8 percent.

That’s the American single-payer. REFERENCES For Office of the Secretary, $25,790,000.

So don’t let people distract you by, SEC. 1. Except as expressly provided other- OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND

wise, any reference to ‘‘this Act’’ or ‘‘this joint DOORKEEPER

Oh, it’s Europe; it’s socialism; it’s Can-

ada. It’s the United States of America. resolution’’ contained in any division of this Act For Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Door-

shall be treated as referring only to the provi- keeper, $70,000,000.

We know how to do health care in the

sions of that division. OFFICES OF THE SECRETARIES FOR THE MAJORITY

United States, and it’s called Medicare.

DIVISION A—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND MINORITY

The Democrats created it. The Repub-

APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010 For Offices of the Secretary for the Majority

licans now embrace it. It’s got bipar-

That the following sums are appropriated, out and the Secretary for the Minority, $1,836,000.

tisan support. Let’s expand it.

I appreciate it. Let me just yield on of any money in the Treasury not otherwise ap- AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS AND RELATED EXPENSES

propriated, for the Legislative Branch for the For agency contributions for employee bene-

this point. First of all, I appreciate it. fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for fits, as authorized by law, and related expenses,

I’m not a member of the Progressive other purposes, namely: $45,500,000.

Caucus. The final stage of the applica-

TITLE I OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL OF THE

tion, as you know, is the talent com- SENATE

petition, and I was never able to make LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

SENATE For salaries and expenses of the Office of the

it through that last threshold. Legislative Counsel of the Senate, $7,154,000.

But the fact that you, in hour-long PAYMENT TO WIDOWS AND HEIRS OF DECEASED

OFFICE OF SENATE LEGAL COUNSEL

blocks, have real thoughtful conversa- MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

For salaries and expenses of the Office of Sen-

tion—this present company excluded— For a payment to Victoria Reggie Kennedy, ate Legal Counsel, $1,544,000.

but real thoughtful conversations widow of Edward M. Kennedy, late a Senator

from Massachussetts, $174,000. EXPENSE ALLOWANCES OF THE SECRETARY OF

about this issue that explore the actual THE SENATE, SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOOR-

facts and the underpinning is exactly EXPENSE ALLOWANCES KEEPER OF THE SENATE, AND SECRETARIES FOR

why this has been, I believe, a proud For expense allowances of the Vice President, THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY OF THE SENATE

moment in our American civic life. $20,000; the President Pro Tempore of the Sen- For expense allowances of the Secretary of the

You put aside the people yelling, call ate, $40,000; Majority Leader of the Senate, Senate, $7,500; Sergeant at Arms and Door-

people names, put that aside for a mo- $40,000; Minority Leader of the Senate, $40,000; keeper of the Senate, $7,500; Secretary for the

ment. This is something all Americans Majority Whip of the Senate, $10,000; Minority Majority of the Senate, $7,500; Secretary for the

Whip of the Senate, $10,000; Chairmen of the Minority of the Senate, $7,500; in all, $30,000.

see through the lens of their own expe-

Majority and Minority Conference Committees, CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF THE SENATE

rience. They feel very compassionate $5,000 for each Chairman; and Chairmen of the

about it. Majority and Minority Policy Committees, $5,000 INQUIRIES AND INVESTIGATIONS

So I ask all of the people watching for each Chairman; in all, $180,000. For expenses of inquiries and investigations

today and all of the people here observ- ordered by the Senate, or conducted under para-

REPRESENTATION ALLOWANCES FOR THE

ing this debate, ask someone about graph 1 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of

MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS

their experience with Medicare and the Senate, section 112 of the Supplemental Ap-

For representation allowances of the Majority propriations and Rescission Act, 1980 (Public

you’ll see it’s a pretty good ambas- and Minority Leaders of the Senate, $15,000 for Law 96–304), and Senate Resolution 281, 96th

sador for a government program that each such Leader; in all, $30,000. Congress, agreed to March 11, 1980, $140,500,000.

works pretty well that we should try to SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES EXPENSES OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE CAUCUS

expand to more Americans. ON INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL

For compensation of officers, employees, and

I thank you for your kindness. others as authorized by law, including agency For expenses of the United States Senate Cau-

Mr. ELLISON. I do thank the gen- contributions, $178,982,000, which shall be paid cus on International Narcotics Control, $520,000.

tleman. This will be the conclusion of from this appropriation without regard to the SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

our Progressive message tonight. The following limitations: For expenses of the Office of the Secretary of

Progressive Caucus, appearing with OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT the Senate, $2,000,000.

ANTHONY WEINER, who did such a fine For the Office of the Vice President, SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER OF THE

job, we will be back next week, every- $2,517,000. SENATE

body. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE For expenses of the Office of the Sergeant at

This has been KEITH ELLISON with Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate,

the Progressive message, and we yield For the Office of the President Pro Tempore,

$752,000. $153,601,000, which shall remain available until

back. September 30, 2014.

OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY

f MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

LEADERS

CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2918, For miscellaneous items, $19,145,000, of which

For Offices of the Majority and Minority up to $500,000 shall be made available for a pilot

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPRO- Leaders, $5,212,000. program for mailings of postal patron postcards

PRIATIONS ACT, 2010 OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY WHIPS by Senators for the purpose of providing notice

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (during For Offices of the Majority and Minority of a town meeting by a Senator in a county (or

the Special Order of Mr. ELLISON) sub- Whips, $3,288,000. equivalent unit of local government) at which

mitted the following conference report the Senator will personally attend: Provided,

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

That any amount allocated to a Senator for

and statement on the bill (H.R. 2918) For salaries of the Committee on Appropria- such mailing shall not exceed 50 percent of the

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making appropriations for the Legisla- tions, $15,844,000. cost of the mailing and the remaining cost shall

tive Branch for the fiscal year ending CONFERENCE COMMITTEES be paid by the Senator from other funds avail-

September 30, 2010, and for other pur- able to the Senator.

For the Conference of the Majority and the

poses: Conference of the Minority, at rates of com- SENATORS’ OFFICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICE

CONFERENCE REPORT (H. REPT. 111–265) pensation to be fixed by the Chairman of each EXPENSE ACCOUNT

The committee of conference on the dis- such committee, $1,726,000 for each such com- For Senators’ Official Personnel and Office

agreeing votes of the two Houses on the mittee; in all, $3,452,000. Expense Account, $422,000,000.









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9925

OFFICIAL MAIL COSTS temporary personal services for such committee, ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

For expenses necessary for official mail costs to be expended in accordance with section 202(b) SEC. 101. (a) REQUIRING AMOUNTS REMAINING

of the Senate, $300,000. of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 IN MEMBERS’ REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES

and to be available for reimbursement to agen- TO BE USED FOR DEFICIT REDUCTION OR TO RE-

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

cies for services performed: Provided, That such DUCE THE FEDERAL DEBT.—Notwithstanding

GROSS RATE OF COMPENSATION IN OFFICES OF amount shall remain available for such salaries any other provision of law, any amounts appro-

SENATORS and expenses until December 31, 2010. priated under this Act for ‘‘House of Represent-

SEC. 1. Effective on and after October 1, 2009, SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES atives—Salaries and Expenses—Members’ Rep-

each of the dollar amounts contained in the resentational Allowances’’ shall be available

table under section 105(d)(1)(A) of the Legisla- For compensation and expenses of officers and

only for fiscal year 2010. Any amount remaining

tive Branch Appropriations Act, 1968 (2 U.S.C. employees, as authorized by law, $198,301,000,

after all payments are made under such allow-

61–1(d)(1)(A)) shall be deemed to be the dollar including: for salaries and expenses of the Of-

ances for fiscal year 2010 shall be deposited in

amounts in that table, as adjusted by law and fice of the Clerk, including not more than

the Treasury and used for deficit reduction (or,

in effect on September 30, 2009, increased by an $23,000, of which not more than $20,000 is for the

if there is no Federal budget deficit after all

additional $50,000 each. Family Room, for official representation and re-

such payments have been made, for reducing the

REPORTING REQUIREMENT ception expenses, $30,089,000 of which $2,600,000

Federal debt, in such manner as the Secretary of

SEC. 2. Section 105(a) of the Legislative shall remain available until expended; for sala-

the Treasury considers appropriate).

Branch Appropriations Act 1965 (Public Law 88– ries and expenses of the Office of the Sergeant (b) REGULATIONS.—The Committee on House

454; 2 U.S.C. 104a) is amended— at Arms, including the position of Super- Administration of the House of Representatives

(1) in the last sentence of paragraph (1), by intendent of Garages, and including not more shall have authority to prescribe regulations to

striking ‘‘shall’’ and inserting ‘‘may’’; and than $3,000 for official representation and recep- carry out this section.

(2) by adding at the end the following: tion expenses, $9,509,000; for salaries and ex- (c) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the

‘‘(6) Beginning with the report covering the penses of the Office of the Chief Administrative term ‘‘Member of the House of Representatives’’

first full semiannual period of the 112th Con- Officer including not more than $3,000 for offi- means a Representative in, or a Delegate or

gress, the Secretary of the Senate— cial representation and reception expenses, Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.

‘‘(1) shall publicly post on-line on the website $130,782,000, of which $3,937,000 shall remain SEC. 102. Effective with respect to fiscal year

of the Senate each report in a searchable, available until expended; for salaries and ex- 2010 and each succeeding fiscal year, the aggre-

itemized format as required under this section; penses of the Office of the Inspector General, gate amount otherwise authorized to be appro-

‘‘(2) shall issue each report required under $5,045,000; for salaries and expenses of the Of- priated for a fiscal year for the lump-sum allow-

this section in electronic form; and fice of Emergency Planning, Preparedness and ance for each of the following offices is in-

‘‘(3) may issue each report required under this Operations, $4,445,000, to remain available until creased as follows:

section in other forms at the discretion of the expended; for salaries and expenses of the Office (1) The allowance for the office of the Major-

Secretary of the Senate.’’. of General Counsel, $1,415,000; for the Office of ity Whip is increased by $96,000.

the Chaplain, $179,000; for salaries and expenses (2) The allowance for the office of the Minor-

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of the Office of the Parliamentarian, including ity Whip is increased by $96,000.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES the Parliamentarian, $2,000 for preparing the

HOUSE FITNESS CENTER

For salaries and expenses of the House of Digest of Rules, and not more than $1,000 for of-

Representatives, $1,369,025,000, as follows: ficial representation and reception expenses, SEC. 103. Any active duty member of the

$2,060,000; for salaries and expenses of the Of- Armed Forces who is assigned to a congressional

HOUSE LEADERSHIP OFFICES

fice of the Law Revision Counsel of the House, liaison office of the Armed Forces at the House

For salaries and expenses, as authorized by of Representatives may obtain membership in

$3,258,000; for salaries and expenses of the Of-

law, $25,881,000, including: Office of the Speak- the exercise facility established for employees of

fice of the Legislative Counsel of the House,

er, $5,077,000, including $25,000 for official ex- the House of Representatives (as described in

$8,814,000; for salaries and expenses of the Of-

penses of the Speaker; Office of the Majority section 103(a) of the Legislative Branch Appro-

fice of Interparliamentary Affairs, $859,000; for

Floor Leader, $2,530,000, including $10,000 for priations Act, 2005) in the same manner as an

other authorized employees, $1,249,000; and for

official expenses of the Majority Leader; Office employee of the House of Representatives, in ac-

salaries and expenses of the Office of the Histo-

of the Minority Floor Leader, $4,565,000, includ- cordance with such regulations as the Com-

rian, including the cost of the House Fellows

ing $10,000 for official expenses of the Minority mittee on House Administration may promul-

Program (including lodging and related ex-

Leader; Office of the Majority Whip, including gate.

penses for visiting Program participants),

the Chief Deputy Majority Whip, $2,194,000, in- SEC. 104. (a) Section 101(d) of the Legislative

$597,000.

cluding $5,000 for official expenses of the Major- Branch Appropriations Act, 1993 (2 U.S.C.

ity Whip; Office of the Minority Whip, includ- ALLOWANCES AND EXPENSES 95b(d)), as added by section 103(a) of the Legis-

ing the Chief Deputy Minority Whip, $1,690,000, For allowances and expenses as authorized by lative Branch Appropriations Act, 2009, is

including $5,000 for official expenses of the Mi- House resolution or law, $313,665,000, including: amended by striking ‘‘and made available’’ and

nority Whip; Speaker’s Office for Legislative supplies, materials, administrative costs and inserting ‘‘and merged with and made avail-

Floor Activities, $517,000; Republican Steering Federal tort claims, $3,948,000; official mail for able’’.

Committee, $981,000; Republican Conference, committees, leadership offices, and administra- (b) The amendment made by subsection (a)

$1,748,000; Republican Policy Committee, tive offices of the House, $201,000; Government shall apply to funds appropriated for fiscal year

$362,000; Democratic Steering and Policy Com- contributions for health, retirement, Social Se- 2010 and succeeding fiscal years.

mittee, $1,366,000; Democratic Caucus, curity, and other applicable employee benefits, JOINT ITEMS

$1,725,000; nine minority employees, $1,552,000; $276,703,000, including employee tuition assist-

training and program development—majority, For Joint Committees, as follows:

ance benefit payments, $3,500,000, if authorized,

$290,000; training and program development— and employee child care benefit payments, JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

minority, $290,000; Cloakroom Personnel—major- $1,000,000, if authorized; Business Continuity For salaries and expenses of the Joint Eco-

ity, $497,000; and Cloakroom Personnel—minor- and Disaster Recovery, $25,098,000, of which nomic Committee, $4,814,000, to be disbursed by

ity, $497,000. $5,425,000 shall remain available until expended; the Secretary of the Senate.

MEMBERS’ REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES transition activities for new members and staff, JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION

INCLUDING MEMBERS’ CLERK HIRE, OFFICIAL $2,907,000; Wounded Warrior Program, For salaries and expenses of the Joint Com-

EXPENSES OF MEMBERS, AND OFFICIAL MAIL $2,500,000, to be derived from funding provided mittee on Taxation, $11,327,000, to be disbursed

for this purpose in Division G of Public Law by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House

For Members’ representational allowances, in-

111–8; Office of Congressional Ethics, $1,548,000; of Representatives. For other joint items, as fol-

cluding Members’ clerk hire, official expenses,

Energy Demonstration Projects, $2,500,000, if lows:

and official mail, $660,000,000.

authorized, to remain available until expended;

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEES OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN

and miscellaneous items including purchase, ex-

STANDING COMMITTEES, SPECIAL AND SELECT change, maintenance, repair and operation of For medical supplies, equipment, and contin-

House motor vehicles, interparliamentary recep- gent expenses of the emergency rooms, and for

For salaries and expenses of standing commit-

tions, and gratuities to heirs of deceased em- the Attending Physician and his assistants, in-

tees, special and select, authorized by House res-

ployees of the House, $760,000. cluding: (1) an allowance of $2,175 per month to

olutions, $139,878,000: Provided, That such

the Attending Physician; (2) an allowance of

amount shall remain available for such salaries CHILD CARE CENTER $1,300 per month to the Senior Medical Officer;

and expenses until December 31, 2010, except

For salaries and expenses of the House of (3) an allowance of $725 per month each to three

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that $1,000,000 of such amount shall remain

Representatives Child Care Center, such medical officers while on duty in the Office of

available until expended for committee room up-

amounts as are deposited in the account estab- the Attending Physician; (4) an allowance of

grading.

lished by section 312(d)(1) of the Legislative $725 per month to two assistants and $580 per

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Branch Appropriations Act, 1992 (2 U.S.C. 2062), month each not to exceed 11 assistants on the

For salaries and expenses of the Committee on subject to the level specified in the budget of the basis heretofore provided for such assistants;

Appropriations, $31,300,000, including studies Center, as submitted to the Committee on Appro- and (5) $2,366,000 for reimbursement to the De-

and examinations of executive agencies and priations of the House of Representatives. partment of the Navy for expenses incurred for









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H9926 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

staff and equipment assigned to the Office of et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 305 Plant; lighting, heating, power (including the

the Attending Physician, which shall be ad- the following: purchase of electrical energy) and water and

vanced and credited to the applicable appro- ‘‘Sec. 306. Disposition of surplus or obsolete sewer services for the Capitol, Senate and House

priation or appropriations from which such sal- personal property.’’. office buildings, Library of Congress buildings,

aries, allowances, and other expenses are pay- (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made and the grounds about the same, Botanic Gar-

able and shall be available for all the purposes by this section shall apply with respect to fiscal den, Senate garage, and air conditioning refrig-

thereof, $3,805,000, to be disbursed by the Chief year 2010, and each fiscal year thereafter. eration not supplied from plants in any of such

Administrative Officer of the House of Rep- CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE buildings; heating the Government Printing Of-

resentatives. fice and Washington City Post Office, and heat-

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCESSIBILITY ing and chilled water for air conditioning for

For salaries and expenses necessary for oper- the Supreme Court Building, the Union Station

SERVICES

ation of the Congressional Budget Office, in- complex, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judici-

SALARIES AND EXPENSES cluding not more than $6,000 to be expended on ary Building and the Folger Shakespeare Li-

For salaries and expenses of the Office of the certification of the Director of the Congres- brary, expenses for which shall be advanced or

Congressional Accessibility Services, $1,377,000, sional Budget Office in connection with official reimbursed upon request of the Architect of the

to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate. representation and reception expenses, Capitol and amounts so received shall be depos-

CAPITOL POLICE $45,165,000. ited into the Treasury to the credit of this ap-

SALARIES ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION propriation, $119,133,000, of which $25,610,000

For salaries of employees of the Capitol Po-

EXECUTIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR THE shall remain available until September 30, 2014:

lice, including overtime, hazardous duty pay

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE Provided, That not more than $8,000,000 of the

differential, and Government contributions for SEC. 1201. Section 1201 of the Legislative funds credited or to be reimbursed to this appro-

health, retirement, social security, professional Branch Appropriations Act, 2008 (2 U.S.C. 611 priation as herein provided shall be available

liability insurance, and other applicable em- note; Public law 110–161; 121 Stat. 2238) is for obligation during fiscal year 2010.

ployee benefits, $265,188,000, to be disbursed by amended— LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

(1) in subsection (b)— For all necessary expenses for the mechanical

the Chief of the Capitol Police or his designee. (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘3’’ and in-

GENERAL EXPENSES and structural maintenance, care and operation

serting ‘‘5’’; and

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘3’’ and in- of the Library buildings and grounds,

For necessary expenses of the Capitol Police,

serting ‘‘5’’; $45,795,000, of which $19,560,000 shall remain

including motor vehicles, communications and

(2) by striking subsection (d), and redesig- available until September 30, 2014.

other equipment, security equipment and instal-

lation, uniforms, weapons, supplies, materials, nating subsection (e) as subsection (d); and CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS AND

training, medical services, forensic services, (3) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by this SECURITY

stenographic services, personal and professional section), by striking ‘‘Subject to subsection (d), For all necessary expenses for the mainte-

services, the employee assistance program, the this’’ and inserting ‘‘This’’. nance, care and operation of buildings, grounds

awards program, postage, communication serv- ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL and security enhancements of the United States

ices, travel advances, relocation of instructor GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Capitol Police, wherever located, the Alternate

and liaison personnel for the Federal Law En- For salaries for the Architect of the Capitol, Computer Facility, and AOC security oper-

forcement Training Center, and not more than and other personal services, at rates of pay pro- ations, $27,012,000, of which $8,150,000 shall re-

$5,000 to be expended on the certification of the vided by law; for surveys and studies in connec- main available until September 30, 2014.

Chief of the Capitol Police in connection with tion with activities under the care of the Archi- BOTANIC GARDEN

official representation and reception expenses, tect of the Capitol; for all necessary expenses for For all necessary expenses for the mainte-

$63,130,000, to be disbursed by the Chief of the the general and administrative support of the nance, care and operation of the Botanic Gar-

Capitol Police or his designee: Provided, That, operations under the Architect of the Capitol in- den and the nurseries, buildings, grounds, and

notwithstanding any other provision of law, the cluding the Botanic Garden; electrical sub- collections; and purchase and exchange, main-

cost of basic training for the Capitol Police at stations of the Capitol, Senate and House office tenance, repair, and operation of a passenger

the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center buildings, and other facilities under the juris- motor vehicle; all under the direction of the

for fiscal year 2010 shall be paid by the Sec- diction of the Architect of the Capitol; including Joint Committee on the Library, $11,390,000, of

retary of Homeland Security from funds avail- furnishings and office equipment; including not which $900,000 shall remain available until Sep-

able to the Department of Homeland Security. more than $5,000 for official reception and rep- tember 30, 2014: Provided, That of the amount

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION resentation expenses, to be expended as the Ar- made available under this heading, the Archi-

chitect of the Capitol may approve; for purchase tect may obligate and expend such sums as may

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

or exchange, maintenance, and operation of a be necessary for the maintenance, care and op-

SEC. 1001. Amounts appropriated for fiscal passenger motor vehicle, $106,783,000, of which eration of the National Garden established

year 2010 for the Capitol Police may be trans- $5,400,000 shall remain available until September under section 307E of the Legislative Branch

ferred between the headings ‘‘Salaries’’ and 30, 2014. Appropriations Act, 1989 (2 U.S.C. 2146), upon

‘‘General expenses’’ upon the approval of the CAPITOL BUILDING vouchers approved by the Architect or a duly

Committees on Appropriations of the House of

For all necessary expenses for the mainte- authorized designee.

Representatives and the Senate.

nance, care and operation of the Capitol, CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE $33,182,000, of which $6,499,000 shall remain For all necessary expenses for the operation of

SALARIES AND EXPENSES available until September 30, 2014. the Capitol Visitor Center, $22,459,000.

For salaries and expenses of the Office of CAPITOL GROUNDS ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Compliance, as authorized by section 305 of the For all necessary expenses for care and im- DISPOSITION OF SURPLUS OR OBSOLETE PERSONAL

Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 provement of grounds surrounding the Capitol, PROPERTY

U.S.C. 1385), $4,377,000, of which $884,000 shall the Senate and House office buildings, and the

remain available until September 30, 2011: Pro- SEC. 1301. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Architect of

Capitol Power Plant, $10,974,000, of which

vided, That not more than $500 may be ex- the Capitol shall have the authority, within the

$1,410,000 shall remain available until September

pended on the certification of the Executive Di- limits of available appropriations, to dispose of

30, 2014.

rector of the Office of Compliance in connection surplus or obsolete personal property by inter-

SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS agency transfer, donation, sale, trade-in, or dis-

with official representation and reception ex- For all necessary expenses for the mainte-

penses. carding. Amounts received for the sale or trade-

nance, care and operation of Senate office in of personal property shall be credited to

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION buildings; and furniture and furnishings to be funds available for the operations of the Archi-

DISPOSITION OF SURPLUS OR OBSOLETE PERSONAL expended under the control and supervision of tect of the Capitol and be available for the costs

PROPERTY the Architect of the Capitol, $74,392,000, of of acquiring the same or similar property. Such

SEC. 1101. (a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the which $15,390,000 shall remain available until funds shall be available for such purposes dur-

Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 September 30, 2014. ing the fiscal year received and the following

U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) is amended by inserting after HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS fiscal year.

section 305 the following: For necessary expenses for the maintenance, (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply

‘‘SEC. 306. DISPOSITION OF SURPLUS OR OBSO- care and operation of the House office build- with respect to fiscal year 2010, and each fiscal

LETE PERSONAL PROPERTY. ings, $100,466,000, of which $53,360,000 shall re- year thereafter.

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‘‘The Executive Director may, within the lim- main available until September 30, 2014. FLEXIBLE AND COMPRESSED WORK SCHEDULES

its of available appropriations, dispose of sur- In addition, for a payment to the House His- SEC. 1302. Chapter 61 of title 5, United States

plus or obsolete personal property by inter- toric Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund, Code, is amended—

agency transfer, donation, or discarding.’’. $50,000,000, to remain available until expended. (1) in section 6121(1) by striking ‘‘and the Li-

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND- CAPITOL POWER PLANT brary of Congress’’ and inserting ‘‘the Library

MENT.—The table of contents for the Congres- For all necessary expenses for the mainte- of Congress, the Architect of the Capitol, and

sional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 nance, care and operation of the Capitol Power the Botanic Garden’’; and









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9927

(2) in section 6133(c) by adding at the end the of motion pictures in the custody of the Library; vided further, That notwithstanding any provi-

following: operation and maintenance of the American sion of chapter 8 of title 17, United States Code,

‘‘(3) With respect to employees of the Architect Folklife Center in the Library; activities under any amounts made available under this heading

of the Capitol and the Botanic Garden, the au- the Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009; which are attributable to royalty fees and pay-

thority granted to the Office of Personnel Man- preparation and distribution of catalog records ments received by the Copyright Office pursuant

agement under this subchapter shall be exer- and other publications of the Library; hire or to sections 111, 119, and chapter 10 of such title

cised by the Architect of the Capitol.’’. purchase of one passenger motor vehicle; and may be used for the costs incurred in the admin-

ACCEPTANCE OF VOLUNTARY STUDENT SERVICES expenses of the Library of Congress Trust Fund istration of the Copyright Royalty Judges pro-

Board not properly chargeable to the income of gram, with the exception of the costs of salaries

SEC. 1303. (a) Section 3111 of title 5, United

any trust fund held by the Board, $446,151,000, and benefits for the Copyright Royalty Judges

States Code, is amended by adding at the end

of which not more than $6,000,000 shall be de- and staff under section 802(e).

the following:

rived from collections credited to this appropria- CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

‘‘(e) For purposes of this section the term

tion during fiscal year 2010, and shall remain

‘agency’ shall include the Architect of the Cap- SALARIES AND EXPENSES

available until expended, under the Act of June

itol. With respect to the Architect of the Capitol, For necessary expenses to carry out the provi-

28, 1902 (chapter 1301; 32 Stat. 480; 2 U.S.C. 150)

the authority granted to the Office of Personnel sions of section 203 of the Legislative Reorga-

and not more than $350,000 shall be derived from

Management under this section shall be exer- nization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 166) and to revise

collections during fiscal year 2010 and shall re-

cised by the Architect of the Capitol.’’. and extend the Annotated Constitution of the

main available until expended for the develop-

HOUSE HISTORIC BUILDINGS REVITALIZATION ment and maintenance of an international legal United States of America, $112,490,000: Provided,

TRUST FUND information database and activities related That no part of such amount may be used to

SEC. 1304. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is here- thereto: Provided, That the Library of Congress pay any salary or expense in connection with

by established in the Treasury of the United may not obligate or expend any funds derived any publication, or preparation of material

States, as an account for the Architect of the from collections under the Act of June 28, 1902, therefor (except the Digest of Public General

Capitol, the House Historic Buildings Revital- in excess of the amount authorized for obliga- Bills), to be issued by the Library of Congress

ization Trust Fund (hereafter in this section re- tion or expenditure in appropriations Acts: Pro- unless such publication has obtained prior ap-

ferred to as the ‘‘Fund’’). vided further, That the total amount available proval of either the Committee on House Admin-

(b) USE OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts in the Fund for obligation shall be reduced by the amount by istration of the House of Representatives or the

shall be used by the Architect of the Capitol for which collections are less than $6,350,000: Pro- Committee on Rules and Administration of the

the revitalization of the major historical build- vided further, That of the total amount appro- Senate.

ings and assets of the House of Representatives priated, not more than $12,000 may be expended, BOOKS FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY

which the Architect is responsible for maintain- on the certification of the Librarian of Congress, HANDICAPPED

ing and preserving, except that the Architect in connection with official representation and SALARIES AND EXPENSES

may not obligate any amounts in the Fund reception expenses for the Overseas Field Of- For salaries and expenses to carry out the Act

without the approval of the Committee on Ap- fices: Provided further, That of the total amount of March 3, 1931 (chapter 400; 46 Stat. 1487; 2

propriations of the House of Representatives. appropriated, $7,315,000 shall remain available U.S.C. 135a), $70,182,000, of which $30,577,000

(c) CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.— until expended for the digital collections and shall remain available until expended: Provided,

Any amounts transferred to and merged with, or educational curricula program: Provided fur- That of the total amount appropriated, $650,000

otherwise deposited into, the Fund shall remain ther, That of the total amount appropriated, shall be available to contract to provide news-

available until expended. $750,000 shall be transferred to the Abraham papers to blind and physically handicapped

(d) PERMITTING TRANSFERS FROM AMOUNTS Lincoln Bicentennial Commission for carrying residents at no cost to the individual.

APPROPRIATED FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- out the purposes of Public Law 106–173, of

TIVES.—Section 101 of the Legislative Branch ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

which $10,000 may be used for official represen-

Appropriations Act, 1993 (2 U.S.C. 95b), as tation and reception expenses of the Abraham REIMBURSABLE AND REVOLVING FUND ACTIVITIES

amended by section 103(a) of the Legislative Lincoln Bicentennial Commission: Provided fur- SEC. 1401. (a) IN GENERAL.—For fiscal year

Branch Appropriations Act, 2009, is amended by ther, That of the total amount appropriated, 2010, the obligational authority of the Library of

adding at the end the following new subsection: $250,000 shall be used to carry out activities Congress for the activities described in sub-

‘‘(e) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year under the Civil Rights History Project Act of section (b) may not exceed $123,328,000.

for the House of Representatives under any 2009: Provided further, That of the total amount (b) ACTIVITIES.—The activities referred to in

heading other than the heading ‘Members’ Rep- appropriated, $200,000 shall be used for the pur- subsection (a) are reimbursable and revolving

resentational Allowances’ may be transferred to pose of preserving, digitizing and making avail- fund activities that are funded from sources

the Architect of the Capitol and merged with able historically and culturally significant ma- other than appropriations to the Library in ap-

and made available under the heading ‘House terials related to the development of Nebraska propriations Acts for the legislative branch.

Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund’, and the American West, which amount shall be (c) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—During fiscal year

subject to the approval of the Committee on Ap- transferred to the Durham Museum in Omaha, 2010, the Librarian of Congress may temporarily

propriations of the House of Representatives.’’. Nebraska. transfer funds appropriated in this Act, under

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the COPYRIGHT OFFICE the heading ‘‘Library of Congress’’, under the

amendment made by this section shall apply subheading ‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’, to the re-

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

with respect to fiscal year 2010 and each suc- volving fund for the FEDLINK Program and the

ceeding fiscal year. For necessary expenses of the Copyright Of- Federal Research Program established under

SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE DURING

fice, $55,476,000, of which not more than section 103 of the Library of Congress Fiscal Op-

EMERGENCIES

$28,751,000, to remain available until expended, erations Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law

shall be derived from collections credited to this 106–481; 2 U.S.C. 182c): Provided, That the total

SEC. 1305. (a) During an emergency involving

appropriation during fiscal year 2010 under sec- amount of such transfers may not exceed

the safety of human life or the protection of

tion 708(d) of title 17, United States Code: Pro- $1,900,000: Provided further, That the appro-

property, as determined or declared by the Cap-

vided, That the Copyright Office may not obli- priate revolving fund account shall reimburse

itol Police Board, the Architect of the Capitol—

(1) may accept contributions of comfort and gate or expend any funds derived from collec- the Library for any amounts transferred to it

other incidental items and services to support tions under such section, in excess of the before the period of availability of the Library

employees of the Office of the Architect of the amount authorized for obligation or expenditure appropriation expires.

Capitol while such employees are on duty in re- in appropriations Acts: Provided further, That

TRANSFER AUTHORITY

sponse to the emergency; and not more than $5,861,000 shall be derived from

collections during fiscal year 2010 under sections SEC. 1402. (a) IN GENERAL.—Amounts appro-

(2) may incur obligations and make expendi- priated for fiscal year 2010 for the Library of

tures out of available appropriations for meals, 111(d)(2), 119(b)(2), 803(e), 1005, and 1316 of such

title: Provided further, That the total amount Congress may be transferred during fiscal year

refreshments, and other support and mainte- 2010 between any of the headings under the

nance for the Office of the Architect of the Cap- available for obligation shall be reduced by the

amount by which collections are less than heading ‘‘Library of Congress’’ upon the ap-

itol if, in the judgment of the Architect, such ob- proval of the Committees on Appropriations of

ligations and expenditures are necessary to re- $34,612,000: Provided further, That not more

than $100,000 of the amount appropriated is the Senate and the House of Representatives.

spond to the emergency. (b) LIMITATION.—Not more than 10 percent of

(b) This section shall apply with respect to fis- available for the maintenance of an ‘‘Inter-

national Copyright Institute’’ in the Copyright the total amount of funds appropriated to the

cal year 2010 and each succeeding fiscal year. account under any heading under the heading

Office of the Library of Congress for the purpose

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS of training nationals of developing countries in ‘‘Library of Congress’’ for fiscal year 2010 may

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SALARIES AND EXPENSES intellectual property laws and policies: Provided be transferred from that account by all transfers

For necessary expenses of the Library of Con- further, That not more than $4,250 may be ex- made under subsection (a).

gress not otherwise provided for, including de- pended, on the certification of the Librarian of CLASSIFICATION OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

velopment and maintenance of the Library’s Congress, in connection with official representa- POSITIONS ABOVE GS–15

catalogs; custody and custodial care of the Li- tion and reception expenses for activities of the SEC. 1403. Section 5108 of title 5, United States

brary buildings; special clothing; cleaning, International Copyright Institute and for copy- Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-

laundering and repair of uniforms; preservation right delegations, visitors, and seminars: Pro- lowing:









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H9928 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

‘‘(c) The Librarian of Congress may classify unobligated or unexpended balances in this ac- Audit Forum shall be available to finance an

positions in the Library of Congress above GS– count or accounts for similar purposes for pre- appropriate share of either Forum’s costs as de-

15 pursuant to standards established by the Of- ceding fiscal years may be transferred to the termined by the respective Forum, including

fice in subsection (a)(2).’’. Government Printing Office revolving fund for necessary travel expenses of non-Federal par-

LEAVE CARRYOVER FOR CERTAIN LIBRARY OF carrying out the purposes of this heading, sub- ticipants: Provided further, That payments

CONGRESS EXECUTIVE POSITIONS ject to the approval of the Committees on Appro- hereunder to the Forum may be credited as re-

priations of the House of Representatives and imbursements to any appropriation from which

SEC. 1404. Section 6304(f)(1) of title 5, United

Senate. costs involved are initially financed.

States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘or’’ at GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE REVOLVING ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

the end; FUND REPEAL OF CERTAIN AUDITS, STUDIES, AND RE-

(2) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period For payment to the Government Printing Of- VIEWS OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

and inserting ‘‘; or’’ and fice Revolving Fund, $12,782,000 for information OFFICE

(3) by adding after subparagraph (G) the fol- technology development and facilities repair: SEC. 1501. (a) USE OF FUNDS IN PROJECTS CON-

lowing: Provided, That the Government Printing Office STRUCTED UNDER PROJECTED COST.—Section 211

‘‘(H) a position in the Library of Congress the is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, of the Public Works and Economic Development

compensation for which is set at a rate equal to within the limits of funds available and in ac- Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3151) is amended by strik-

the annual rate of basic pay payable for posi- cordance with law, and to make such contracts ing subsection (d).

tions at level III of the Executive Schedule and commitments without regard to fiscal year (b) AUDITS OF SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION

under section 5314.’’. limitations as provided by section 9104 of title IN CONSTRUCTION OF THE ALASKA NATURAL GAS

(4) The amendments made by subsection (a) 31, United States Code, as may be necessary in PIPELINE.—Section 112 of the Alaska Natural

shall apply with respect to annual leave accrued carrying out the programs and purposes set Gas Pipeline Act (15 U.S.C. 720j) is amended by

during pay periods beginning after the date of forth in the budget for the current fiscal year striking subsection (c).

the enactment of this Act. for the Government Printing Office revolving (c) AUDITS OF ASSISTANCE UNDER COMPACTS

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE fund: Provided further, That not more than OF FREE ASSOCIATION.—Section 104(h) of the

CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING AND BINDING $7,500 may be expended on the certification of Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of

the Public Printer in connection with official 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921c(h)) is amended by striking

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

representation and reception expenses: Provided paragraph (3).

For authorized printing and binding for the further, That the revolving fund shall be avail-

Congress and the distribution of Congressional (d) SEMIANNUAL AUDITS OF INDEPENDENT

able for the hire or purchase of not more than

information in any format; printing and binding COUNSEL EXPENDITURES.—The matter under the

12 passenger motor vehicles: Provided further,

for the Architect of the Capitol; expenses nec- heading ‘‘Salaries and Expenses, General Legal

That expenditures in connection with travel ex-

essary for preparing the semimonthly and ses- Activities’’ under the heading ‘‘Legal Activities’’

penses of the advisory councils to the Public

sion index to the Congressional Record, as au- under title II of the Department of Justice Ap-

Printer shall be deemed necessary to carry out

thorized by law (section 902 of title 44, United propriation Act of 1988, (28 U.S.C. 591 note;

the provisions of title 44, United States Code:

States Code); printing and binding of Govern- Public Law 100–202; 101 Stat. 1329, 1329–9) is

Provided further, That the revolving fund shall

ment publications authorized by law to be dis- amended by striking ‘‘Provided further, That

be available for temporary or intermittent serv-

tributed to Members of Congress; and printing, the Comptroller General shall perform semi-

ices under section 3109(b) of title 5, United

binding, and distribution of Government publi- annual financial reviews of expenditures from

States Code, but at rates for individuals not

cations authorized by law to be distributed the Independent Counsel permanent indefinite

more than the daily equivalent of the annual

without charge to the recipient, $93,768,000: Pro- appropriation, and report their findings to the

rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive

vided, That this appropriation shall not be Committees on Appropriations of the House and

Schedule under section 5316 of such title: Pro-

available for paper copies of the permanent edi- Senate:’’.

vided further, That activities financed through

tion of the Congressional Record for individual (e) REPORTS ON AMBULANCE SERVICE COSTS.—

the revolving fund may provide information in

Representatives, Resident Commissioners or Del- Section 414 of the Medicare Prescription Drug,

any format: Provided further, That the revolv-

egates authorized under section 906 of title 44, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

ing fund and the funds provided under the

United States Code: Provided further, That this (Public Law 108–173) is amended—

headings ‘‘Office of Superintendent of Docu-

appropriation shall be available for the payment (1) by striking subsection (f); and

ments’’ and ‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’ may not

of obligations incurred under the appropriations be used for contracted security services at GPO’s (2) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub-

for similar purposes for preceding fiscal years: passport facility in the District of Columbia. section (f).

Provided further, That notwithstanding the 2- OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

year limitation under section 718 of title 44, FUND

United States Code, none of the funds appro- SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For a payment to the Open World Leadership

priated or made available under this Act or any For necessary expenses of the Government Ac- Center Trust Fund for financing activities of the

other Act for printing and binding and related countability Office, including not more than Open World Leadership Center under section

services provided to Congress under chapter 7 of $12,500 to be expended on the certification of the 313 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations

title 44, United States Code, may be expended to Comptroller General of the United States in con- Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 1151), $12,000,000.

print a document, report, or publication after nection with official representation and recep-

the 27-month period beginning on the date that tion expenses; temporary or intermittent services ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

such document, report, or publication is author- under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER

ized by Congress to be printed, unless Congress Code, but at rates for individuals not more than SEC. 1601. (a) BOARD MEMBERSHIP.—Section

reauthorizes such printing in accordance with the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic 313(a)(2) of the Legislative Branch Appropria-

section 718 of title 44, United States Code: Pro- pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule under tions Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 1151(a)(2)) is amended—

vided further, That any unobligated or unex- section 5315 of such title; hire of one passenger (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘mem-

pended balances in this account or accounts for motor vehicle; advance payments in foreign bers’’ and inserting ‘‘Members of the House of

similar purposes for preceding fiscal years may countries in accordance with section 3324 of title Representatives’’; and

be transferred to the Government Printing Of- 31, United States Code; benefits comparable to (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘mem-

fice revolving fund for carrying out the purposes those payable under sections 901(5), (6), and (8) bers’’ and inserting ‘‘Senators’’.

of this heading, subject to the approval of the of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. (b) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—Section 313(d) of

Committees on Appropriations of the House of 4081(5), (6), and (8)); and under regulations pre- the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001

Representatives and Senate. scribed by the Comptroller General of the United (2 U.S.C. 1151(d)) is amended in the first sen-

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS States, rental of living quarters in foreign coun- tence by striking ‘‘The Board shall appoint’’

tries, $556,849,000: Provided, That not more than and inserting ‘‘On behalf of the Board, the Li-

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

$5,449,000 of payments received under section brarian of Congress shall appoint’’.

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 782 of title 31, United States Code, shall be (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made

For expenses of the Office of Superintendent available for use in fiscal year 2010: Provided by this subsection shall apply with respect to—

of Documents necessary to provide for the cata- further, That not more than $2,350,000 of reim- (1) appointments made on and after the date

loging and indexing of Government publications bursements received under section 9105 of title of enactment of this Act; and

and their distribution to the public, Members of 31, United States Code, shall be available for use

(2) the remainder of the fiscal year in which

Congress, other Government agencies, and des- in fiscal year 2010: Provided further, That not

enacted, and each fiscal year thereafter.

ignated depository and international exchange more than $7,423,000 of reimbursements received

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libraries as authorized by law, $40,911,000: Pro- under section 3521 of title 31, United States JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC

vided, That amounts of not more than $2,000,000 Code, shall be available for use in fiscal year SERVICE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

from current year appropriations are authorized 2010: Provided further, That this appropriation For payment to the John C. Stennis Center for

for producing and disseminating Congressional and appropriations for administrative expenses Public Service Development Trust Fund estab-

serial sets and other related publications for fis- of any other department or agency which is a lished under section 116 of the John C. Stennis

cal years 2008 and 2009 to depository and other member of the National Intergovernmental Center for Public Service Training and Develop-

designated libraries: Provided further, That any Audit Forum or a Regional Intergovernmental ment Act (2 U.S.C. 1105), $430,000.









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9929

TITLE II eliminate or restrict guided tours of the United able or authority granted pursuant to section

GENERAL PROVISIONS States Capitol which are led by employees and 101 shall be used to initiate or resume any

MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF PRIVATE VEHICLES

interns of offices of Members of Congress and project or activity for which appropriations,

other offices of the House of Representatives funds, or other authority were not available

SEC. 201. No part of the funds appropriated in and Senate. during fiscal year 2009.

this Act shall be used for the maintenance or (b) At the direction of the Capitol Police SEC. 105. Appropriations made and authority

care of private vehicles, except for emergency Board, or at the direction of the Architect of the granted pursuant to this joint resolution shall

assistance and cleaning as may be provided Capitol with the approval of the Capitol Police cover all obligations or expenditures incurred

under regulations relating to parking facilities Board, guided tours of the United States Capitol for any project or activity during the period for

for the House of Representatives issued by the which are led by employees and interns de- which funds or authority for such project or ac-

Committee on House Administration and for the scribed in subsection (a) may be suspended tem- tivity are available under this joint resolution.

Senate issued by the Committee on Rules and porarily or otherwise subject to restriction for SEC. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this

Administration. security or related reasons to the same extent as joint resolution or in the applicable appropria-

FISCAL YEAR LIMITATION guided tours of the United States Capitol which tions Act for fiscal year 2010, appropriations

SEC. 202. No part of the funds appropriated in are led by the Architect of the Capitol. and funds made available and authority grant-

this Act shall remain available for obligation be- This Division may be cited as the ‘‘Legislative ed pursuant to this joint resolution shall be

yond fiscal year 2010 unless expressly so pro- Branch Appropriations Act, 2010’’. available until whichever of the following first

vided in this Act. DIVISION B—CONTINUING occurs: (1) the enactment into law of an appro-

APPROPRIATIONS RESOLUTION, 2010 priation for any project or activity provided for

RATES OF COMPENSATION AND DESIGNATION

That the following sums are hereby appro- in this joint resolution; (2) the enactment into

SEC. 203. Whenever in this Act any office or law of the applicable appropriations Act for fis-

position not specifically established by the Leg- priated, out of any money in the Treasury not

otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable cal year 2010 without any provision for such

islative Pay Act of 1929 (46 Stat. 32 et seq.) is project or activity; or (3) October 31, 2009.

appropriated for or the rate of compensation or corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds,

for the several departments, agencies, corpora- SEC. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this

designation of any office or position appro- joint resolution shall be charged to the applica-

priated for is different from that specifically es- tions, and other organizational units of Govern-

ment for fiscal year 2010, and for other pur- ble appropriation, fund, or authorization when-

tablished by such Act, the rate of compensation ever a bill in which such applicable appropria-

and the designation in this Act shall be the per- poses, namely:

SEC. 101. Such amounts as may be necessary, tion, fund, or authorization is contained is en-

manent law with respect thereto: Provided, That acted into law.

at a rate for operations as provided in the appli-

the provisions in this Act for the various items SEC. 108. Appropriations made and funds

cable appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2009

of official expenses of Members, officers, and made available by or authority granted pursu-

and under the authority and conditions pro-

committees of the Senate and House of Rep- ant to this joint resolution may be used without

vided in such Acts, for continuing projects or

resentatives, and clerk hire for Senators and regard to the time limitations for submission and

activities (including the costs of direct loans and

Members of the House of Representatives shall approval of apportionments set forth in section

loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifi-

be the permanent law with respect thereto. 1513 of title 31, United States Code, but nothing

cally provided for in this joint resolution, that

CONSULTING SERVICES were conducted in fiscal year 2009, and for in this joint resolution may be construed to

SEC. 204. The expenditure of any appropria- which appropriations, funds, or other authority waive any other provision of law governing the

tion under this Act for any consulting service were made available in the following appropria- apportionment of funds.

through procurement contract, under section tions Acts: SEC. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision

3109 of title 5, United States Code, shall be lim- (1) Chapter 2 of title IX of the Supplemental of this joint resolution, except section 106, for

ited to those contracts where such expenditures Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–252). those programs that would otherwise have high

are a matter of public record and available for (2) Section 155 of division A of the Consoli- initial rates of operation or complete distribu-

public inspection, except where otherwise pro- dated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Con- tion of appropriations at the beginning of fiscal

vided under existing law, or under existing Ex- tinuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law year 2010 because of distributions of funding to

ecutive order issued under existing law. 110–329), except that subsections (c), (d), and (e) States, foreign countries, grantees, or others,

of such section shall not apply to funds made such high initial rates of operation or complete

AWARDS AND SETTLEMENTS

available under this joint resolution. distribution shall not be made, and no grants

SEC. 205. Such sums as may be necessary are (3) Divisions C through E of the Consolidated shall be awarded for such programs funded by

appropriated to the account described in sub- Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing this joint resolution that would impinge on final

section (a) of section 415 of the Congressional Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 110–329). funding prerogatives.

Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1415(a)) to (4) Divisions A through I of the Omnibus Ap- SEC. 110. This joint resolution shall be imple-

pay awards and settlements as authorized under propriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111–8), as mented so that only the most limited funding ac-

such subsection. amended by section 2 of Public Law 111–46. tion of that permitted in the joint resolution

COSTS OF LBFMC (5) Titles III and VI (under the heading shall be taken in order to provide for continu-

SEC. 206. Amounts available for administrative ‘‘Coast Guard’’) of the Supplemental Appropria- ation of projects and activities.

expenses of any legislative branch entity which tions Act, 2009 (Public Law 111–32). SEC. 111. (a) For entitlements and other man-

participates in the Legislative Branch Financial SEC. 102. (a) No appropriation or funds made datory payments whose budget authority was

Managers Council (LBFMC) established by available or authority granted pursuant to sec- provided in appropriations Acts for fiscal year

charter on March 26, 1996, shall be available to tion 101 for the Department of Defense shall be 2009, and for activities under the Food and Nu-

finance an appropriate share of LBFMC costs used for (1) the new production of items not trition Act of 2008, activities shall be continued

as determined by the LBFMC, except that the funded for production in fiscal year 2009 or at the rate to maintain program levels under

total LBFMC costs to be shared among all par- prior years; (2) the increase in production rates current law, under the authority and conditions

ticipating legislative branch entities (in such al- above those sustained with fiscal year 2009 provided in the applicable appropriations Act

locations among the entities as the entities may funds; or (3) the initiation, resumption, or con- for fiscal year 2009, to be continued through the

determine) may not exceed $2,000. tinuation of any project, activity, operation, or date specified in section 106(3).

organization (defined as any project, subproject, (b) Notwithstanding section 106, obligations

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE for mandatory payments due on or about the

activity, budget activity, program element, and

SEC. 207. The Architect of the Capitol, in con- subprogram within a program element, and for first day of any month that begins after October

sultation with the District of Columbia, is au- any investment items defined as a P–1 line item 2009 but not later than 30 days after the date

thorized to maintain and improve the landscape in a budget activity within an appropriation ac- specified in section 106(3) may continue to be

features, excluding streets, in the irregular count and an R–1 line item that includes a pro- made, and funds shall be available for such

shaped grassy areas bounded by Washington gram element and subprogram element within payments.

Avenue, SW, on the northeast, Second Street, an appropriation account) for which appropria- SEC. 112. Amounts made available under sec-

SW, on the west, Square 582 on the south, and tions, funds, or other authority were not avail- tion 101 for civilian personnel compensation and

the beginning of the I–395 tunnel on the south- able during fiscal year 2009. benefits in each department and agency may be

east. (b) No appropriation or funds made available apportioned up to the rate for operations nec-

LIMITATION ON TRANSFERS or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for essary to avoid furloughs within such depart-

the Department of Defense shall be used to ini- ment or agency, consistent with the applicable

SEC. 208. None of the funds made available in

tiate multi-year procurements utilizing advance appropriations Act for fiscal year 2009, except

this Act may be transferred to any department,

procurement funding for economic order quan- that such authority provided under this section

agency, or instrumentality of the United States

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tity procurement unless specifically appro- shall not be used until after the department or

Government, except pursuant to a transfer made

priated later. agency has taken all necessary actions to re-

by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act or

SEC. 103. Appropriations made by section 101 duce or defer non-personnel-related administra-

any other appropriation Act.

shall be available to the extent and in the man- tive expenses.

GUIDED TOURS OF THE CAPITOL ner that would be provided by the pertinent ap- SEC. 113. Funds appropriated by this joint res-

SEC. 209. (a) Except as provided in subsection propriations Act. olution may be obligated and expended notwith-

(b), none of the funds made available to the Ar- SEC. 104. Except as otherwise provided in sec- standing section 10 of Public Law 91–672 (22

chitect of the Capitol in this Act may be used to tion 102, no appropriation or funds made avail- U.S.C. 2412), section 15 of the State Department









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H9930 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2680), actment of the National Defense Authorization SEC. 139. Notwithstanding any other provision

section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authoriza- Act for Fiscal Year 2010 or the date specified in of law, including section 703 of Public Law 109–

tion Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (22 U.S.C. section 106(3) of this joint resolution. 415, the authorities provided in title XXVI of

6212), and section 504(a)(1) of the National Se- SEC. 126. Notwithstanding any other provision the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300ff et

curity Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414(a)(1)). of this joint resolution, except section 106, the seq.) shall continue in effect as they were in ef-

SEC. 114. Amounts made available by this joint District of Columbia may expend local funds for fect during fiscal year 2009, and apply through

resolution related to amounts provided in chap- programs and activities under the heading ‘‘Dis- the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint

ter 2 of title IX of the Supplemental Appropria- trict of Columbia Funds’’ for such programs and resolution.

tions Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–252), and titles activities under title IV of S. 1432 (111th Con- SEC. 140. Section 105(f)(1)(B)(ix) of the Com-

III and VI of the Supplemental Appropriations gress), as reported by the Committee on Appro- pact of Free Association Amendments Act of

Act, 2009 (Public Law 111–32), are designated as priations of the Senate, at the rate set forth 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921d(f)(1)(B)(ix)) shall be ap-

being for overseas deployments and other activi- under ‘‘District of Columbia Funds’’ as included plied by substituting the date specified in sec-

ties pursuant to sections 401(c)(4) and 423(a)(1) in the Second Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request tion 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘the end

of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concur- Act (D.C. Act 18–188). of fiscal year 2009’’.

rent resolution on the budget for fiscal year SEC. 127. The authority provided by section SEC. 141. Notwithstanding section 101,

2010, except that amounts so designated under 5739 of title 5, United States Code, shall con- amounts are provided for ‘‘Veterans Health Ad-

this section shall not exceed $129,989,000,000. tinue in effect through the date specified in sec- ministration—Medical Services’’, ‘‘Veterans

SEC. 115. The provisions of section 14103 of tion 106(3) of this joint resolution, notwith- Health Administration—Medical Support and

Public Law 111–32 shall continue in effect standing subsection (e) of such section 5739. Compliance’’, and ‘‘Veterans Health Adminis-

through the date specified in section 106(3) of SEC. 128. Section 401(b) of the Illegal Immigra- tration—Medical Facilities’’ of the Department

this joint resolution, and such provisions shall tion Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of Veterans Affairs at rates for operations not

also apply to funds made available in this joint of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) shall be applied by exceeding the lower of the amount in the Presi-

resolution. substituting the date specified in section 106(3) dent’s fiscal year 2010 Budget Request (H. Doc.

SEC. 116. Section 9(f)(5) of the Richard B. of this joint resolution for ‘‘the 11-year period 111–3), the amount in H.R. 3082, as passed by

Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. beginning on the first day the pilot program is the House of Representatives on July 10, 2009, or

1758(f)(5)) shall be applied by substituting the in effect’’. the amount in S. 1407, as reported by the Com-

date specified in section 106(3) of this joint reso- SEC. 129. Sections 1309(a) and 1319 of the Na- mittee on Appropriations of the Senate on July

lution for ‘‘September 30, 2009’’. tional Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 7, 2009.

SEC. 117. The authority provided by para- 4016a and 4026) shall each be applied by sub- SEC. 142. Notwithstanding section 7042(b) of

graphs (3) and (4) of section 9(h) of the Richard stituting the date specified in section 106(3) of division H of Public Law 111–8, amounts pro-

B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30, 2009’’. vided by section 101 of this joint resolution for

1758(h)(3); 1758(h)(4)) shall continue in effect SEC. 130. The requirement set forth in section Iraq shall be obligated under the terms and con-

through the date specified in section 106(3) of 610(b) of the Department of Commerce, Justice, ditions of section 1106(b) of Public Law 111–32.

this joint resolution. and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies SEC. 143. Notwithstanding section 7040(f) of

SEC. 118. The authority provided by section Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) division H of Public Law 111–8, amounts pro-

18(h)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National shall continue through the date specified in sec- vided by section 101 of this joint resolution for

School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(h)(5)) shall tion 106(3) of this joint resolution. the Palestinian Authority shall be obligated

continue in effect through the date specified in SEC. 131. Section 550(b) of Public Law 109–295

under the terms and conditions of section 1107

section 106(3) of this joint resolution. shall be applied by substituting the date speci-

of Public Law 111–32.

SEC. 119. Section 21(g)(1)(A)(ii) of the Richard fied in section 106(3) of this joint resolution for

SEC. 144. Notwithstanding sections 7042(a)

B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. ‘‘three years after the date of enactment of this

and 7070(e) of division H of Public Law 111–8,

1769b–1(g)(1)(A)(ii)) shall be applied by sub- Act’’.

amounts provided by section 101 of this joint

stituting ‘‘October 1, 2008, and October 1, 2009’’ SEC. 132. Section 203(m) of the Robert T. Staf-

ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance resolution for assistance for Iraq and Zimbabwe

for ‘‘October 1, 2008’’ and shall continue in ef-

Act (42 U.S.C. 5133(m)) shall be applied by sub- shall be obligated under the terms and condi-

fect through the date specified in section 106(3)

stituting the date specified in section 106(3) of tions of section 1108 of Public Law 111–32.

of this joint resolution.

SEC. 120. The authority provided by section this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30, 2009’’. SEC. 145. The authority provided by section

26(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School SEC. 133. Subclauses (II) and (III) of section 1113 of Public Law 111–32 shall continue in ef-

Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769g(d)) shall continue in 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and Nation- fect through the date specified in section 106(3)

effect through the date specified in section ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)) shall each of this joint resolution.

106(3) of this joint resolution. be applied by substituting the date specified in SEC. 146. The authority provided by section

SEC. 121. Notwithstanding section 101, section 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘Sep- 309(f) of the United States International Broad-

amounts are provided for ‘‘Department of Com- tember 30, 2009’’. casting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6208(f)) shall re-

merce—Bureau of the Census—Periodic Cen- SEC. 134. Section 220(c) of the Immigration main in effect through the date specified in sec-

suses and Programs’’ at a rate for operations of and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of tion 106(3) of this joint resolution.

$7,065,707,000. 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note) shall be applied by sub- SEC. 147. The authority provided by section

SEC. 122. The authority provided by section stituting the date specified in section 106(3) of 1334 of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restruc-

8116 of division C of Public Law 110–329 and sec- this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30, 2009’’. turing Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6553) shall remain

tion 310 of title III of Public Law 111–32 shall SEC. 135. Section 331 of the Department of the in effect through the date specified in section

continue in effect through the date specified in Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations 106(3) of this joint resolution.

section 106(3) of this joint resolution. Act, 2001 (Public Law 106–291), as amended by SEC. 148. The authority provided by section

SEC. 123. The authority provided by section section 336 of the Consolidated Appropriations 301(a)(3) of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security

1202 of the National Defense Authorization Act Act, 2005 (Public Law 108–447), shall be applied and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4831

for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163), as by substituting the date specified in section (a)(3)) shall remain in effect through the date

amended by section 1214 of the Duncan Hunter 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30, specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolu-

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2009’’. tion.

Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417), shall continue SEC. 136. Section 339(h) of the Department of SEC. 149. Notwithstanding any other provision

in effect through the earlier of the date of en- the Interior and Related Agencies Appropria- of this joint resolution, other than section 106,

actment of the National Defense Authorization tions Act, 2000 (as enacted into law by Public the Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop-

Act for Fiscal Year 2010 or the date specified in Law 106–113), as amended by section 335(6) of ment shall obligate funds provided by section

section 106(3) of this joint resolution. Public Law 108–108, shall be applied by sub- 101 at a rate the Secretary determines is nec-

SEC. 124. The authority provided by section stituting the date specified in section 106(3) of essary to renew or amend, in a timely manner,

1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30, 2009’’. all section 8 project-based, section 202, and sec-

for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136), as SEC. 137. The authority provided by section tion 811, rental assistance contracts. In renew-

amended by section 1022 of the Duncan Hunter 325 of the Department of the Interior and Re- ing or amending such contracts, the Secretary

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal lated Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public may provide for payments to be made beyond

Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417), shall continue Law 108–108), as amended by section 426 of divi- the period covered by this joint resolution.

in effect through the earlier of the date of en- sion E of Public Law 111–8, shall continue to SEC. 150. Commitments to guarantee loans, as

actment of the National Defense Authorization apply through the date specified in section authorized by the National Housing Act and in-

Act for Fiscal Year 2010 or the date specified in 106(3) of this joint resolution. sured under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance

SEC. 138. The authority provided by the 19th Fund, shall not exceed a loan principal of

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section 106(3) of this joint resolution.

SEC. 125. The authority provided by section unnumbered paragraph under heading ‘‘Admin- $1,500,000,000 multiplied by the number of days

1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act istrative Provisions, Forest Service’’ in title III covered by this joint resolution.

for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105–85), as of the Department of the Interior, Environment, SEC. 151. Commitments to guarantee loans, as

amended by section 1024 of the Duncan Hunter and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, authorized by section 306 of the National Hous-

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Public Law 109–54, shall continue in effect ing Act, shall not exceed a loan principal of

Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417), shall continue through the date specified in section 106(3) of $2,500,000,000 multiplied by the number of days

in effect through the earlier of the date of en- this joint resolution. covered by this joint resolution.









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9931

SEC. 152. Notwithstanding the limitation in available for obligation under this joint resolu- (c) CALCULATION.—The amounts made avail-

the first sentence of section 255(g) of the Na- tion and expended under the authority of this able under this joint resolution to be expended

tional Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–20(g)), the section shall be distributed, administered, lim- under the authority of this section shall be cal-

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development ited, and made available for obligation in the culated by taking into account any rescission or

may, through the date specified in section 106(3) same manner and at the same rate as funds au- cancellation of funds or contract authority for

of this joint resolution, insure, and enter into thorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2009 fiscal year 2009 under the Safe, Accountable,

commitments to insure mortgages under section to carry out programs, projects, activities, eligi- Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A

255 of such Act. During the period covered by bilities, and requirements under the Safe, Ac- Legacy for Users or any other law.

this joint resolution, for new loans guaranteed countable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation SEC. 159. (a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR

pursuant to section 255 of the National Housing Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1144), EXPENDITURES FROM HIGHWAY TRUST FUND.—

Act (12. U.S.C. 1715z–20), the Secretary shall ad- the SAFETEA–LU Technical Corrections Act of (1) Paragraph (1) of section 9503(c) of the In-

just the factors used to calculate the principal 2008 (122 Stat. 1572), titles I through VI of the ternal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied—

limit (as such term is defined in HUD Handbook Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency (A) by substituting the date specified in sec-

4235.1) that were assumed in the President’s Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 1914), titles I through V of tion 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘Sep-

Budget Request for 2010 for such loans, as nec- the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Cen- tember 30, 2009’’; and

essary to ensure that the program operates at a tury (112 Stat. 107), title 23, United States Code, (B) by substituting the date that is 1 day after

net zero subsidy rate. chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, in- the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint

SEC. 153. Section 24(o) of the United States cluding section 5338(f)(1) of title 49, United resolution for ‘‘October 1, 2009’’.

Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v(o)) shall be States Code, chapter 303 of part A of subtitle VI (2) Paragraph (1) of section 9503(c) of such

applied by substituting the date specified in sec- of title 49, United States Code, and part B of Code is amended by striking ‘‘under’’ and all

tion 106(3) of this joint resolution for the date subtitle VI of title 49, United States Code. that follows and inserting ‘‘under the first Con-

specified in such section 24(o). (c) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS UNDER TITLES III tinuing Appropriations Resolution for Fiscal

SEC. 154. Funds made available under section AND V OF SAFETEA–LU.—Funds made avail- Year 2010 enacted into law or any other provi-

101 for the National Transportation Safety able for programs authorized under titles III sion of law which was referred to in this para-

Board shall include amounts necessary to make and V of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Effi- graph before the date of the enactment of such

lease payments due in fiscal year 2010 only, on cient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Continuing Appropriations Resolution (as such

an obligation incurred in 2001 under a capital Users (119 Stat. 1544 and 1779) and continued Resolution and provisions of law are in effect on

lease. under this joint resolution shall be distributed to the date of the enactment of such Resolution).’’.

SEC. 155. (a) Section 48103(6) of title 49, United major program areas under those programs in (b) MASS TRANSIT ACCOUNT.—

States Code, shall be applied: (1) by substituting the same proportion as funds were allocated for (1) Paragraph (3) of section 9503(e) of such

the amount specified in such section with an those program areas for fiscal year 2009, except Code shall be applied by substituting the date

amount that equals $3,820,000,000 multiplied by that any designations for specific activities in that is 1 day after the date specified in section

the ratio of the number of days covered by this sections 3044 and 3046 under title III and in title 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘October 1,

joint resolution to 365; and (2) by substituting V of such Act shall not be required to be contin- 2009’’.

the fiscal year specified in such section with the ued for the duration of this joint resolution. (2) Paragraph (3) of section 9503(e) of such

period beginning October 1, 2009, through the (d) EXTENSION AND FLEXIBILITY FOR CERTAIN Code is amended by striking ‘‘in accordance

date specified in section 106(3) of this joint reso- ALLOCATED PROGRAMS.—Notwithstanding any with’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘in ac-

lution. This subsection shall be in effect through other provision of law, the portion of the share cordance with the first Continuing Appropria-

the earlier of the date of enactment of an Act of funds of a State under subsection (b) deter- tions Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010 enacted

amending section 48103 of title 49, United States mined by the amount that the State received for into law or any other provision of law which

Code, or the date specified in section 106(3) of fiscal year 2009 to carry out sections 1301(m), was referred to in this paragraph before the

this joint resolution. 1302(e), 1307, 1702, and 1934 of the Safe, Ac- date of the enactment of such Continuing Ap-

(b) Section 47104(c) of title 49, United States countable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation propriations Resolution (as such Resolution and

Code, shall be applied by substituting ‘‘2010’’ for Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1202, provisions of law are in effect on the date of the

‘‘2009’’. 1205, 1217, 1256, and 1485), and section 144(f)(1) enactment of such Resolution).’’.

(c) Nothing in this section shall affect the of title 23, United States Code, shall be— (c) EXCEPTION TO LIMITATIONS ON TRANS-

availability of any balances of contract author- (1) made available to the State for purposes FERS.—Subparagraph (B) of section 9503(b)(6) of

ity provided under section 48103 of title 49, described in section 133(b) of title 23, United such Code shall be applied—

United States Code, for fiscal year 2009 and any States Code; and (1) by substituting the date specified in section

prior fiscal year. (2) administered in the same manner and with 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘September 30,

SEC. 156. (a) Sections 4081(d)(2)(B), the same period of availability as such funding 2009’’; and

4261(j)(1)(A)(ii), and 4271(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the In- is administered under section 133 of title 23, (2) by substituting the date that is 1 day after

ternal Revenue Code of 1986 shall each be ap- United States Code, except that subsections the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint

plied by substituting the date specified in sec- (d)(2) and (d)(3) of such section shall not apply resolution for ‘‘October 1, 2009’’.

tion 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘Sep- to amounts administered pursuant to this sec- SEC. 160. Section 4 of the Dingell-Johnson

tember 30, 2009’’. tion. Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777c) is

(b) Subsections (d)(1) and (e)(2) of section 9502 SEC. 158. (a) APPROPRIATION OF FUNDING FOR amended—

of such Code shall each be applied by sub- CERTAIN HIGHWAY TRUST FUND PROGRAMS.— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘and the pe-

stituting the date that is 1 day after the date For the period from October 1, 2009, through the riod from October 1, 2009, through the date spec-

specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution date specified in section 106(3) of this joint reso- ified in section 106(3) of the first Continuing Ap-

for ‘‘October 1, 2009’’. lution, an amount shall be available from the propriations Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010 en-

(c) Subparagraph (A) of section 9502(d)(1) of Highway Trust Fund (including from the Mass acted into law,’’ after ‘‘2009,’’; and

such Code is amended by inserting ‘‘or any joint Transit Account) to carry out each program, (2) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting ‘‘and

resolution making continuing appropriations for project, and activity continued under section the period from October 1, 2009, through the

the fiscal year 2010’’ before the semicolon at the 158 of this joint resolution that was funded from date specified in section 106(3) of the first Con-

end. the Highway Trust Fund (including from the tinuing Appropriations Resolution for Fiscal

SEC. 157. (a) EXTENSION OF SURFACE TRANS- Mass Transit Account) during fiscal year 2009 Year 2010 enacted into law,’’ after ‘‘2009’’.

PORTATION PROGRAMS.—Except as otherwise in a sum equal to and from the same account SEC. 161. (a) Paragraph (2) of section 9504(b)

provided in this section, requirements, authori- as— of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amend-

ties, conditions, eligibilities, limitations, and (1) the total amount available for such pro- ed—

other provisions authorized under titles I gram, project, and activity for fiscal year 2009 (1) by striking ‘‘(as in effect’’ in subparagraph

through VI of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, under titles I through VI of the Safe, Account- (A) and all that follows in such subparagraph

Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy able, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity and inserting ‘‘(as in effect on the date of the

for Users (119 Stat. 1144), the SAFETEA–LU Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1144) and the enactment of the first Continuing Appropria-

Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (122 Stat. SAFETEA–LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008 tions Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010),’’;

1572), titles I through VI of the Intermodal Sur- (122 Stat. 1572), divided by 365; and multiplied (2) by striking ‘‘(as in effect’’ in subparagraph

face Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 by (B) and all that follows in such subparagraph

Stat. 1914), titles I through V of the Transpor- (2) the number of days between September 30, and inserting ‘‘(as in effect on the date of the

tation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 2009, and the date specified in section 106(3) of enactment of the first Continuing Appropria-

107), title 23, United States Code, and chapter 53 this joint resolution. tions Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010), and’’;

(b) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—Funds made

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of title 49, United States Code, which would oth- and

erwise expire on or cease to apply after Sep- available under this joint resolution to be ex- (3) by striking ‘‘(as in effect’’ in subparagraph

tember 30, 2009, are incorporated by reference pended under the authority of section 158 of this (C) and all that follows in such subparagraph

and shall continue in effect through the date joint resolution shall be available for obligation and inserting ‘‘(as in effect on the date of the

specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolu- in the same manner as if such funds were ap- enactment of the first Continuing Appropria-

tion. portioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United tions Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010).’’.

(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Except as otherwise ex- States Code, or section 5338(f)(1) of title 49, (b) Paragraph (2) of section 9504(d) of such

pressly provided in this section, funds made United States Code, whichever appropriate. Code shall be applied by substituting the date









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H9932 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

that is one day after the date specified in sec- DIVISION A September of this year in preparation for

tion 106(3) of this joint resolution for ‘‘October TITLE I conference discussions, the conferees are

1, 2009’’. SENATE concerned that, despite progress over the

SEC. 162. Unless otherwise provided for in this last year, chronic problems related to budget

joint resolution or in the applicable appropria- The conferees agree to appropriate preparation and execution continue. Esti-

tions Act, appropriations and funds made avail- $926,160,000 for Senate operations. Inasmuch mates of end of year staffing levels for 2009

able and authority granted pursuant to sections as these items relate solely to the Senate, fluctuated significantly, not only from the

158 through 162 of this joint resolution shall be and in accord with long practice under which original estimates submitted in February,

available until (1) enactment into law of an Act each body determines its own housekeeping but also from revisions submitted as late as

to extend or reauthorize surface transportation requirements and the other concurs without July of this year. Basic estimates of the cost

programs, or (2) the date specified in section intervention, the managers on the part of of benefits for transferred employees were

106(3) of this joint resolution, whichever first oc- the House, at the request of the managers on erroneously calculated in the original budg-

curs, and shall be charged to the applicable ap- the part of the Senate, have receded to the et. Based on these concerns, the Committees

propriation, fund, or authorization whenever a amendment of the Senate as amended. request that the GAO expand its work with

bill in which such applicable appropriation, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the USCP to include a review and validation

fund, or authorization is contained is enacted The conferees agree to appropriate of the accuracy of its fiscal year 2011 budget

into law. $1,369,025,000 for House operations. Inasmuch request. A report of this validation review

SEC. 163. None of the funds made available by as these items relate solely to the House, should be submitted not later than 30 days

this joint resolution or any prior Act may be and in accord with long practice under which after the USCP budget is transmitted to

provided to the Association of Community Orga- each body determines its own housekeeping Congress.

nizations for Reform Now (ACORN), or any of The House and Senate Committees on Ap-

requirements and the other concurs without

propriations expect the report on new posts

its affiliates, subsidiaries, or allied organiza- intervention, the managers on the part of requested in S. Rpt. 111–29 to be submitted

tions. the Senate, at the request of the managers

SEC. 164. (a) Clause (iii) of section within 60 days of the date of this conference

on the part of the House, have receded to the report and that the USCP fully comply with

8909a(d)(3)(A) of title 5, United States Code, is amendment of the House as amended. The the notification requirements related to new

amended to read as follows: agreement includes two new administrative

‘‘(iii) $1,400,000,000, not later than September posts stated in that report.

provisions not included in the House passed

30, 2009;’’. GENERAL EXPENSES

bill. These amendments (1) establish eligi-

(b) The amendment made by subsection (a) bility at the House Fitness Center for mili- The conference agreement includes

shall take effect as if included in the enactment tary liaison officers; and (2) make a tech- $63,130,000 for general expenses of the Capitol

of section 803(a)(1)(B) of the Postal Account- nical change in transfer language enacted in Police instead of $61,914,000 as proposed by

ability and Enhancement Act (Public Law 109– the House and $64,354,000 as proposed by the

Public Law 111–8.

435; 120 Stat. 3251). Senate. This amount includes funding for

This division may be cited as the ‘‘Continuing JOINT ITEMS improved egress/evacuation systems for

Appropriations Resolution, 2010’’. JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE House Office Buildings including the full

And the Senate agree to the same. The conference agreement includes cost for installation of two cameras in the

DAVID R. OBEY, $4,814,000 as proposed by the House and the stairwell areas used as egress routes during

DEBBIE WASSERMAN Senate. emergencies. The installation of the new

SCHULTZ, JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION cameras will be accomplished over a two

MICHAEL HONDA, year period. Funds have also been included

The conference agreement includes to support the replacement of older equip-

BETTY MCCOLLUM, $11,327,000 as proposed by the Senate instead

TIM RYAN, ment as part of the life-cycle replacement

of $11,451,000 as proposed by the House. program.

C.A. RUPPERSBERGER,

CIRO RODRIGUEZ, OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN GSA vehicle lease proposal.—The conferees

Managers on the Part of the House. The conference agreement includes are fully supportive of the proposal trans-

$3,805,000 as proposed by the House and the mitted to the Appropriations Committees on

BEN NELSON, Senate. June 29, 2009 to manage the primary vehicle

DANIEL K. INOUYE, fleet of the USCP through the General Serv-

OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCESSIBILITY

MARK PRYOR, ices Administration and urges implementa-

SERVICES

JON TESTER, tion on an expedited basis.

LISA MURKOWSKI, The conference agreement includes ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

THAD COCHRAN, $1,377,000 as proposed by the Senate instead

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Managers on the Part of the Senate. of $1,314,000 as proposed by the House.

The conferees have included a routine ad-

JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE CAPITOL POLICE

ministrative provision, section 1001, which

COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE SALARIES continues authorization for transfers be-

The managers on the part of the House and The conference agreement includes tween accounts upon the approval of the

the Senate at the conference on the dis- $265,188,000 for salaries of officers, members, Committees on Appropriations of the House

agreeing votes of the two Houses on the and employees of the Capitol Police instead and Senate.

amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. of $263,198,000 as proposed by the House and OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE

2918) making appropriations for the Legisla- $267,203,000 as proposed by the Senate. This SALARIES AND EXPENSES

tive Branch for the fiscal year ending Sep- level will support a staffing level of 1,799

The conference agreement includes

tember 30, 2010, and for other purposes, sub- sworn officers and 444 civilian personnel in-

$4,377,000 for salaries and expenses of the Of-

mit the following joint statement to the cluding staff transferred as a result of the fice of Compliance, instead of $4,335,000 as

House and Senate in explanation of the ef- merger with the Library of Congress police proposed by the House and $4,418,000 as pro-

fect of the action agreed upon by the man- force. The staffing level provided by the con- posed by the Senate. The agreement includes

agers and recommended in the accom- ference agreement includes five civilian a general provision providing authority for

panying conference report. FTEs for radio technicians to facilitate the the Office of Compliance to dispose of sur-

The Senate amended the House bill with a acquisition, installation and operation of the plus property. This language was included in

single amendment which deleted the full new radio system which was approved earlier both the House and Senate bills in slightly

text of the House passed bill and inserted a this year. The conference agreement sets a different form.

complete substitute. The conference agree- limit of $25,500,000 for overtime for the Cap- The conferees are concerned that the Con-

ment includes a revised substitute for the itol Police force as proposed by the Senate gressional Accountability Act of 1995 may

Senate amendment which addresses all the instead of $24,000,000 as proposed by the enable the Office of Compliance (OOC) to

differences contained in the two versions of House. This cap on overtime may only be ex- apply a higher enforcement standard for cer-

the bill. ceeded if the Capitol Police Board notifies tain health and safety standards than those

Many items in both the House and Senate the Committees on Appropriations that this applied to the Executive Branch and private

Legislative Branch Appropriations bills are cap needs to be exceeded due to unantici- sector. Strict statutory deadlines for rem-

identical and are included in the conference pated safety or security concerns. The con- edying citations exacerbate this situation,

agreement without change. The conferees ferees note that both House and Senate re- and have led AOC to give highest priority to

have endorsed statements of policy con- ports request that the Government Account- projects for which OOC has issued citations

tained in the House and Senate reports ac-

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ability Office work with the Chief and the regardless of whether they represent the

companying the appropriations bills, unless Capitol Police Board on improving workforce highest risk to health and safety.

amended herein. With respect to those items management systems, including overtime. The conferees believe that the standards

in the conference agreement that differ be- The GAO is to report to the Committees on applied to the legislative branch should be

tween the House and the Senate bills, the their progress in this area on a quarterly consistent with their application to the pri-

conferees have agreed to the following with basis beginning in January 2010. vate sector and the executive branch. There-

the appropriate section numbers, punctua- Based on the detailed review of the Capitol fore, the conferees expect the Office of Com-

tion, and other technical corrections: Police 2010 budget conducted in August and pliance General Counsel (OOCGC) to work









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9933

with legislative branch agency heads to im- available until September 30, 2014, for the to address additional Capitol complex needs.

plement corrective actions in a realistic and care and improvement of the grounds sur- The Senate bill did not include a similar pro-

reasonable time frame, taking into consider- rounding the Capitol, House and Senate of- vision.

ation the risks the deficiencies pose, the fice buildings, and the Capitol Power Plant, Inasmuch as these funds relate solely to

costs involved in remedying the deficiencies, as proposed by the Senate, instead of the House, and in accord with long practice

as well as mitigating factors which have $10,920,000 as proposed by the House. under which each body determines its own

been implemented (sprinklers, alarms, and With respect to operations and projects the housekeeping requirements and the other

other building improvements) to reduce risk. House and Senate conferees have agreed to concurs without intervention, the managers

The conferees expect the OOCGC to amend the following: on the part of the Senate, at the request of

its regulations to establish criteria that use the managers on the part of the House, have

Operating Budget .............. $9,564,000

a comprehensive risk-based approach, in- receded to the House.

Project Budget:

cluding the cost of remedial actions as well CAPITOL POWER PLANT

1. Independence Avenue

as building renovations planned for the fu- In addition to the $8,000,000 made available

Repaving ..................... 910,000

ture, in working with agencies to address from receipts credited as reimbursements to

2. Capitol Grounds Study 500,000

needed corrections. this appropriation, the conference agreement

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE Total, Capitol Grounds ...... $10,974,000 includes $119,133,000 for maintenance, care

SALARIES AND EXPENSES SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS and operation of the Capitol Power Plant, in-

The conference agreement includes stead of $125,083,000 as proposed by the House

The conference agreement includes and $118,597,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of

$45,165,000 for salaries and expenses of the $74,392,000 for Senate Office Buildings, of

Congressional Budget Office as proposed by this amount, $25,610,000 would remain avail-

which $15,390,000 would remain available able until September 30, 2014, instead of

both the House and Senate. until September 30, 2014, for the mainte- $31,560,000 to remain available until Sep-

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION nance, care and operation of the Senate of- tember 30, 2014 as proposed by the House and

The conferees have agreed to Section 1201, fice buildings. Inasmuch as this item relates $25,074,000 to remain available until Sep-

as proposed by the House and the Senate, to solely to the Senate, and in accord with long tember 30, 2014 as proposed by the Senate.

extend the Congressional Budget Office’s Ex- practice under which each body determines The conference agreement includes

ecutive Exchange Program and increase the its own housekeeping requirements and the $84,262,000, as requested, for utility costs for

number of potential participants from three other concurs without intervention, the the Capitol Complex, including an increase

to five. managers on the part of the House, at the re- of $4,340,000 to purchase 100 percent natural

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL quest of the managers on the part of the Sen- gas for use at the power plant. The agree-

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION ate, have receded to the Senate. ment does not include the funding requested

The conference agreement includes Operating Budget .............. $59,002,000 in the budget for conversion of the large coal

$106,783,000 for General Administration of Project Budget: burning boiler to natural gas. The conferees

which $5,400,000 shall remain available until 1. Senate Underground understand that the conversion of this boiler

September 30, 2014, instead of $109,392,000 of Garage Expansion is not necessary to achieve 100 percent nat-

which $8,950,000 would remain available until (Study) ........................ 1,000,000 ural gas use at the power plant and that con-

September 30, 2014 as proposed by the House, 2. Air Handling Unit Re- servation of the boiler will allow for the po-

and $106,587,000 of which $5,400,000 would re- placement, DSOB ........ 1,100,000 tential future use of other environmentally

main available until September 30, 2014, as 3. Replace Modular Fur- safe, renewable solid fuels.

proposed by the Senate. niture, HSOB ............... 3,500,000 With respect to operations and project dif-

The utility metering project, funded by the 4. Fire Protection Sys- ferences the House and Senate conferees

House at $3,550,000 in this account, is instead tem Upgrade Subway have agreed to the following:

funded in the Architect of the Capitol Power Tunnels ........................ 2,260,000 Operating Budget (net) ...... $93,523,000

Plant account. 5. Skylight Replacement 2,480,000 Project Budget:

With respect to operations and projects the 6. HSOB Truck Tunnel 1. Tunnel Program .......... 16,850,000

House and Senate conferees have agreed to Roadway/Ramp Re- 2. Replacement of Exist-

the following: placement .................... 1,050,000 ing WRP Switchgear

7. Minor Construction .... 4,000,000 (Design) ....................... 740,000

Operating Budget .............. $101,383,000

3. Mechanical System

Project Budget:

Total, Senate Office Build- Survey & CPP Retro-

1. Capitol Complex Ter-

ings ................................. $74,392,000 Commissioning (Study) 250,000

tiary Pumping Options

HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS 4. Structural Fire-

(Study) ........................ 150,000

proofing & Integrity

2. ESPC Management Base funding, House Office Buildings.—The (Study) ........................ 220,000

Program ...................... 2,000,000 conference agreement includes $100,466,000 5. Utility Metering, En-

3. Energy Reduction Pro- for the basic and recurring needs of the ergy Program .............. 3,550,000

gram ............................ 3,250,000 House within the House Office Buildings ac- 6. Minor Construction .... 4,000,000

count, of which $53,360,000 would remain

Total, General Administra- available until September 30, 2014. These Total, Capitol Power Plant $119,133,000

tion ................................. $106,783,000 funds support the regular maintenance, care LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

CAPITOL BUILDING and operation of the House office buildings The conference agreement includes

The conference agreement includes by the Architect of the Capitol. $45,795,000 for Library of Congress buildings

$33,182,000, of which $6,499,000 shall remain and grounds, instead of $41,937,000 as pro-

Operating Budget .............. $47,106,000

available until September 30, 2014, for main- posed by the House and $40,754,000 as pro-

Project Budget:

tenance, care and operation of the Capitol, posed by the Senate. Of this amount,

1. CAO Project Support .. 4,390,000

instead of $32,800,000 of which $6,241,000 would $19,560,000 would remain available until Sep-

2. Interior Rehabilitation

remain available until September 30, 2014 as tember 30, 2014, instead of $15,750,000 to re-

of the East House Un-

proposed by the House, and $33,305,000 of main available until September 30, 2014 as

derground Garage ........ 37,640,000

which $6,499,000 would remain available until proposed by the House and $14,470,000 to re-

3. Rayburn Roof Replace-

September 30, 2014, as proposed by the Sen- main available until September 30, 2014 as

ment ............................ 6,330,000

ate. proposed by the Senate.

4. Minor Construction .... 5,000,000

With respect to operations and projects the With respect to operations and projects the

House and Senate conferees have agreed to House and Senate conferees have agreed to

Total, House Office Build-

the following: the following:

ings (base program) ........ $100,466,000

Operating Budget .............. $26,683,000 House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Operating Budget .............. $26,235,000

Project Budget: Fund.—In addition to funding for core facil- Project Budget:

1. Dome Rehabilitation, ity needs, the conference agreement includes 1. Sprinkler System,

Phase 1B (Interim $50,000,000 for a newly created House Historic West Main Pavilion 1st

Painting) ..................... 2,500,000 Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund, to re- Floor, TJB (Design) ..... 500,000

2. Conservation of Fine main available until expended, instead of

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2. Book Conveyor System

and Architectural Art 499,000 $60,000,000 as originally proposed by the Modifications (Design) 1,170,000

3. Minor Construction .... 3,500,000 House. These funds are included to begin to 3. Monumental Exterior

address known major building requirements Exit Doors, JAB .......... 1,600,000

Total, Capitol Building ..... $33,182,000 to repair and upgrade the historic icon build- 4. Fire Door Improve-

CAPITOL GROUNDS ings and facilities of the U.S. House of Rep- ments (Design) ............ 730,000

The conference agreement includes resentatives. The House bill included these 5. ADA Bathroom Ren-

$10,974,000, of which $1,410,000 is to remain funds in a separate appropriations account ovations, JAB .............. 3,100,000









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H9934 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

6. Elevator Moderniza- provides that AOC utilize flexible work Copyright Office as proposed by both the

tion, MA–1 to MA–4, schedules. Section 1303 provides AOC the au- House and the Senate. An additional

JMMB .......................... 3,590,000 thority to accept voluntary student services. $34,612,000 is made available from receipts for

7. ABA Space Reorga- Section 1304 establishes the House Historic salaries and expenses.

nization, JMMB ........... 2,000,000 Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund. Section CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

8. Rain Leader Replace- 1305 provides the AOC certain authorities to SALARIES AND EXPENSES

ment, JAB ................... 4,870,000 operate during emergencies. The conference

9. Minor Construction .... 2,000,000 agreement does not include Senate provision The conference agreement includes

1202 related to the CVC as this language has $112,490,000 for salaries and expenses, Con-

Total, Library Buildings already been enacted into law. The con- gressional Research Service (CRS), as pro-

and Grounds ................... $45,795,000 ference agreement deletes Senate provision posed by the House instead of $112,836,000 as

1303 related to noncompetitive appointments proposed by the Senate. The conferees are

CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS AND

without prejudice as this is an authorizing fully supportive of a program of telework at

SECURITY

issue. the CRS and urge its implementation not

The conference agreement includes later than January 2010. The conference

$27,012,000 for Capitol Police Buildings, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS agreement also includes funding for the CRS

Grounds and Security instead of $26,364,000 as SALARIES AND EXPENSES evaluation study directed by the House in H.

proposed by the House and $26,160,000 as pro- The conference agreement includes Rpt. 111–160.

posed by the Senate. Of this amount, $439,801,000 in direct appropriations for sala- BOOKS FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY

$8,150,000 would remain available until Sep- ries and expenses, Library of Congress in- HANDICAPPED

tember 30, 2014, instead of $7,750,000 as pro- stead of $443,861,000 as proposed by the House

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

posed by the House and $7,050,000 as proposed and $434,683,000 as proposed by the Senate. In

by the Senate. Included within the total is addition to this amount $6,350,000 is avail- The conference agreement includes

$1,500,000, to install emergency call boxes able from receipts collected by the Library $70,182,000 as proposed by both the House and

and camera equipment in congressional of Congress and is to remain available until Senate. This amount includes $650,000 for

building stairwells, as proposed by the expended. The conference agreement pro- costs to provide recorded newspaper services

House. vides the following specific allocations of for the blind and physically handicapped.

With respect to operations and projects the funds: ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

conferees have agreed to the following: The conferees have agreed to include ad-

$3,554,000 for start-up costs at the new Ft.

Operating Budget .............. $18,862,000 ministrative provisions carried in both bills

Meade storage facilities;

Project Budget: related to reimbursable and revolving fund

$7,677,000 for the National Digital Informa-

1. Security Upgrades, activities, transfer authorities, classifica-

tion Infrastructure and Preservation Pro-

Power Plant and Coal tions of Library positions, and leave carry-

gram;

Yards ........................... 2,000,000 over policies. The conference agreement does

$5,317,000 for Department of State capital

2. Hazardous Device Unit not include section 1301 of the House bill re-

security cost-sharing;

Facility Purchase ........ 3,000,000 lated to incentive awards. The agreement

$700,000 for the Global Legal Information

3. Power Switchgear Re- modifies section 1306 as proposed by the

Network;

placement (Design) ...... 250,000 House to create a fellowship program at the

$2,000,000 for support of the new custodial

4. Energy Audit Projects 400,000 American Folklife Center (see description

services contract;

5. Minor Construction under the ‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’ appro-

$7,315,000 for the digital collections and

(including security priations account).

educational curricula program;

camera installation) .... 2,500,000 $750,000 for the Abraham Lincoln Bicenten- GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

nial Commission; CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING AND BINDING

Total, Capitol Police $15,000,000 for the technology infrastruc- (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Buildings, Grounds and ture improvements initiative;

Security ......................... $27,012,000 The conference agreement includes

$250,000 to implement the new Civil Rights $93,768,000, an increase of $472,000 above the

BOTANIC GARDEN History Project Act; amount proposed by both the House and Sen-

The conference agreement includes $2,213,000 for the Veterans Oral History ate. These funds will support costs not an-

$11,390,000 for salaries and expenses, Botanic program; ticipated when the fiscal year 2010 budget

Garden, instead of $11,263,000 as proposed by $200,000 for the Durham Museum was transmitted to the Congress.

the House and $11,898,000 as proposed by the digitization program; and

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS

Senate. Of this amount, $900,000 shall remain $150,000 for the American Folklife Center

Fellowship program. SALARIES AND EXPENSES

available until September 30, 2014 as pro-

posed by the House, instead of $1,280,000 as Archie Green fellowship program.—The con- (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

proposed by the Senate. ference agreement deletes without prejudice The conference agreement includes

With respect to operations and projects the House bill language related to the honoring $40,911,000 as proposed by both the House and

conferees have agreed to the following: of Dr. Archie Green, one of the Founders of Senate.

the American Folklife Center (AFC) at the GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE REVOLVING

Operating Budget .............. $10,490,000 Library of Congress. In lieu of naming the

Project Budget: FUND

Center after Dr. Green, as proposed in the

1. Administration Build- The conference agreement includes

House bill, the conference agreement estab-

ing ............................... 900,000 $12,782,000 as proposed by the Senate instead

lishes a new fellowship program at the Li-

of $12,000,000 as proposed by the House.

brary as a living memorial to his work. The

Total, Botanic Garden ....... $11,390,000 GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

AFC was established in 1976 to ‘‘preserve and

CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER present American folklife’’ by conducting SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The conference agreement includes original field research, archiving cultural The conference agreement includes

$22,459,000 for the Capitol Visitor Center heritage collections, presenting public pro- $556,849,000 in direct appropriations for sala-

(CVC), instead of $23,166,000 as proposed by grams, providing reference services and pub- ries and expenses, Government Account-

the House and $22,756,000 as proposed by the lishing research findings. The AFC owes its ability Office instead of $558,849,000, as pro-

Senate. existence in large part to the efforts and vi- posed by the House and $553,658,000 as pro-

Funding is included for improvements to sion of Dr. Green, who passed away earlier posed by the Senate. In addition, $15,222,000

the existing online reservation system, this year. As recognition of his contribu- is available from offsetting collections. A

training programs, and way-finding signage tions, the Librarian of Congress is directed total of 3,220 FTEs will be supported with

at the CVC. In addition, funding is provided to establish the ‘‘Archie Green Fellowship these funds. The agreement modifies an ad-

to support the hiring of 5 full-time equiva- Program at the American Folklife Center’’ ministrative provision proposed by the Sen-

lents (FTE) to support critical operations of for which the Librarian may enter into con- ate repealing a number of recurring statu-

the CVC, including financial management tracts with individuals and groups to pro- tory reports which are no longer required.

and information technology. Funding is not mote the initiation, encouragement, support, OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER

provided for the additional 20 requested organization, and promotion of research, TRUST FUND

FTEs. scholarship, and training in American

The conference agreement includes

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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS folklife in accordance with the provisions of

$12,000,000 for payment to the Open World

the American Folklife Preservation Act

The conference agreement includes several Leadership Center Trust Fund, instead of

(Pub. L. 94–201, 20 U.S.C. 2101–2107).

administrative provisions related to the op- $9,000,000 as proposed by the House and

erations of the Architect of the Capitol COPYRIGHT OFFICE $14,456,000 as proposed by the Senate. The

(AOC). Section 1301 provides the AOC author- SALARIES AND EXPENSES conferees are fully supportive of expanded ef-

ity to retain proceeds from the sale of used The conference agreement includes forts of the Open World Center to raise pri-

or surplus personal property. Section 1302 $20,864,000 in direct appropriations to the vate funding and expect this effort to reduce









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9935

the requirements for funding from the Legis- icy. Each reprogramming request should be marks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff

lative Branch appropriations bill in future transmitted through a formal letter which benefits that were not (1) committed to the

years. The Committees look forward to a re- should be signed by the Agency head. It conference committee by either House or (2)

port of progress being made by the Center’s should include a specific justification for in a report of a committee of either House on

fundraising program prior to hearings on its each increase as well as for each offsetting this bill or on a companion measure.

fiscal year 2011 budget request. The con- reduction being proposed. The Committees

ference agreement also includes language have set annual spending levels in the re- LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

proposed by the Senate making technical ports accompanying this bill, including in [Congressionally Directed Spending Items]

corrections in the Center’s authorization this conference agreement, and do not expect

language related to Board appointments. the reprogramming process to be used as a Account Project Amount Requester(s)

JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC mechanism for making routine changes to

Library of Congress Durham Museum $200,000 Senator Ben Nel-

SERVICE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT the directions in this report. It should be Photo Archive son

used only in the case of unanticipated needs Project.

The conference agreement includes $430,000

or significant and unexpected changes in pro-

as proposed by both the House and Senate.

gram requirements. Operating Plans are not CONFERENCE TOTAL—WITH

TITLE II—GENERAL PROVISIONS required for Fiscal Year 2010. COMPARISONS

The conference agreement continues in DISCLOSURE OF EARMARKS AND CON-

sections 201 to 208 eight routine provisions The total new budget (obligational) au-

GRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING thority for the fiscal year 2010 recommended

carried in prior years. The conference agree- ITEMS

ment does not include language proposed by by the Committee of Conference, with com-

Following is a list of congressional ear- parisons to the fiscal year 2009 amount, the

the Senate but not included by the House

marks and congressionally directed spending 2010 budget estimates, and the House and

amending the Congressional Accountability

items (as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of Senate bills for 2010 follows:

Act. The agreement includes Sec. 209 related

the Rules of the House of Representatives

to employee-led tours of the U.S. Capitol as and rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the [In thousands of dollars]

proposed by the House instead of the lan- Senate, respectively) included in the con- Budget estimates of new

guage proposed by the Senate. ference report or the accompanying joint (obligational) authority, fiscal

REPROGRAMMING GUIDELINES FOR statement of managers, along with the name year 2010 .................................... $5,041,787

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AGENCIES of each Senator, House Member, Delegate, or House bill, fiscal year 2010 ........... $3,674,500

For Fiscal Year 2010, the House and Senate Resident Commissioner who submitted a re- Senate bill, fiscal year 2010 .......... $4,611,666

Appropriations Committees have jointly quest to the Committee of jurisdiction for

Conference agreement, fiscal year

agreed that, unless otherwise stated in this each item so identified. Neither the con-

2010 ............................................ $4,656,031

report, a formal reprogramming letter will ference report nor the joint statement of

be required if an agency proposes to reallo- managers contains any limited tax benefits Conference agreement compared

with

cate amounts which exceed a threshold of or limited tariff benefits as defined in the ap-

$500,000 or 10 percent for any program, plicable House or Senate rules. Pursuant to Budget estimates of new

project or activity funded in this Act. Re- clause 9(b) of rule XXI of the rules of the (obligational) authority, fis-

programming requests are also required for House of Representatives, neither the con- cal year 2010 ........................... ¥$385,756

reallocations of funds below these thresholds ference report nor the joint satement of House bill, fiscal year 2010 ........ +$981,531

if they represent significant changes in pol- managers contains any congressional ear- Senate bill, fiscal year 2010 ....... +$44,365

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H9946 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

DIVISION B—CONTINUING for the Joint Committee on Internal humane international social order

APPROPRIATIONS RESOLUTION, 2010 Revenue Taxation for two terms. based both on democratic planning and

Division B provides continuing appropria- He retired from Congress in 1952, and market mechanisms to achieve equi-

tions for all agencies and activities that died about 2 years later at the age of table distribution of resources, mean-

would be covered by the regular fiscal year 90, on October 1, 1954, in his hometown ingful work, and a healthy environ-

2010 appropriations bills, until enactment of ment, sustainable growth, gender and

of Laurel Springs.

the applicable regular appropriations bill, or

until October 31, 2009, whichever occurs first.

He had a remarkable congressional racial equality and non-oppressive re-

career, chairing the Ways and Means lationships, like having to work ‘‘for

DAVID R. OBEY, Committee for 18 years through some the man.’’

DEBBIE WASSERMAN of the must tumultuous years of the These socialists have a difference. On

SCHULTZ, the Web site dsausa.org, there is a link

MICHAEL HONDA,

20th century. In his final year in Con-

gress he became the longest serving that opens up and it says—first, it

BETTY MCCOLLUM,

TIM RYAN, Member of the House, preceding Con- leads with, We are not Communists.

C.A. RUPPERSBERGER, gressman Sam Rayburn as what is Now I have always been very suspicious

CIRO RODRIGUEZ, known as the dean of the House, in of any group that would start out with:

JERRY LEWIS, 1952. I’m not a Communist. But the Demo-

ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, As we mark the 75th anniversary of cratic Socialists of America, that’s

Managers on the Part of the House. the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is the how they start it.

BEN NELSON, most visited park of the National Park They say, We’re not Communists.

DANIEL K. INOUYE, System, it is very appropriate today to Communists want to control every-

MARK PRYOR, stop and remember this influential thing. They want to nationalize every-

JON TESTER, North Carolina lawmaker whose vision thing. They want to nationalize not

LISA MURKOWSKI, only the major corporations, the indus-

helped create this beautiful scenic

THAD COCHRAN, try refining industry, the automobile

Managers on the Part of the Senate. highway.

manufacturers, the banks, the insur-

f

f ance companies, the lending compa-

SOCIALIST VERSUS PROGRESSIVE nies. The Communists want to do all

THE REMARKABLE CAREER OF that and they want to nationalize

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under

CONGRESSMAN BOB DOUGHTON small business: the butcher, the baker,

the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan-

OF ALLEGHANY COUNTY and the candlestick maker, to keep it

uary 6, 2009, the gentleman from Iowa

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a (Mr. KING) is recognized for 60 minutes simple, Mr. Speaker. That’s communist

previous order of the House, the gentle- as the designee of the minority leader. by the definition of the socialists on

woman from North Carolina (Ms. FOXX) Mr. KING of Iowa. I very much appre- dsausa.org Web site for the Democratic

is recognized for 5 minutes. ciate you recognizing me to address the Socialists of America.

Ms. FOXX. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House of Representatives and you They also contend on those Web site

Next month, Alleghany County, a today. As we near the close of this links that they are a political party

beautiful rural mountain county in week and I listened to the emphatic and they do support candidates, but

northwest North Carolina, which I rep- presentation of the gentleman from they just don’t actively ask them to

resent, will celebrate Bob Doughton New York and the more low-key, but I carry around with them the socialist

Day and mark the beginning of the think equal conviction, presentation of label. You’ll find at the Web site

celebration of the 75th anniversary of the gentleman from Minnesota, it dsausa.org that the people who are

the creation of the Blue Ridge Park- caught my ear that the gentleman their candidates are labeled themselves

way. from New York gave us a definition of and by the socialist Web site as pro-

Congressman Bob Doughton was an socialism. He said, Socialism is when gressives. That would be the blue post-

Alleghany County native from the the government controls the means of ers we saw within the last hour. The

town of Laurel Springs, who is fondly Progressive Caucus. And we wonder

production. I’m going to tell you that I

remembered for the instrumental role what progressives are.

believe that is a closer definition to

he played in the passage of Social Se- Well, they are socialists. They have a

communism than it is socialism. far bigger influence on this Congress

curity and the creation of the Blue Yet, I think the people who are the

Ridge Parkway. than the public is aware. There are 75

self-professed socialists in this country

members of the Progressive Caucus

Congressman Doughton, who was know who they are, and I think we that are listed on their Web site.

sometimes known as ‘‘Farmer Bob,’’ should know who they are. They are Now, there was a time that you could

served in the House of Representatives the members of the Democratic Social- have gone to the socialist Web site and

for 42 consecutive years, from 1911–1953. ists of America. The Web site opened up the link and read down

According to his congressional biog- dsausa.org is the central source, the through the list of the members of the

raphy, Congressman Doughton was most important and influential source Progressive Caucus who are, every one

educated in the public schools of Lau- of socialist thinking in America. of them a Democrat in this Congress,

rel Springs and Sparta in Alleghany They write in there—and I have a and every one is claimed by the social-

County. He began his career as a very whole series of documents since the ists as being the legislative party and

successful Alleghany County farmer gentleman made the statement about arm of their political activism.

known for raising excellent cattle. He what socialists are. I have spent a lit- You cannot disconnect progressive

also worked as a banker and was the tle time probing around in this Web and socialist. You can’t give them a

owner and president of the Deposit site location. And I find out some different definition. And if you wonder

Savings and Loan Bank of North things in there that I think the public about the heritage and the genesis of

Wilkesboro until 1936. should know, Mr. Speaker. progressives, their Web site was hosted

He launched his political career as a It tells about the organization. It by the socialists up until a few years

member of the State Board of Agri- says that, We are socialists because we ago. And when it became known pub-

culture from 1903 to 1909. He was later reject an international economic order licly that the socialist Web site was ac-

elected to the North Carolina State sustained by private profit. Socialists tually managing the progressives’ Web

Senate in 1908 and in 1909, and was fi- reject private profit. Now that didn’t site—and you can go down the list:

nally elected as a Democrat to the 62nd seem to be what I heard the gentleman Marxist, Leninist, Trotskyite, Maoist,

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Congress in 1910. from New York say. Stalinist, Communist, Socialist, Pro-

For 6 years he chaired the Committee They also reject alienated labor, race gressive. You see where I’ve gone. It’s

on Expenditures in the Department of and gender discrimination, which cer- less egregious to be a progressive than

Agriculture and then later he rose tainly I also reject, environmental de- a socialist. So they took another step

through the ranks to chair the power- struction and brutality and violence in away.

ful Ways and Means Committee for defense of the status quo. We are so- Socialists took a step away from

nine terms. He also served as chairman cialists because we share a vision of a communism because communism had a







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9947

bad name. And they stepped away from resentatives and one Member in the have watched this saga unfold from

it and they defined themselves dif- United States Senate, a self-professed across the country.

ferently and put it on their Web site. socialist, Senator BERNIE SANDERS, The films on ACORN have emerged in

They said, Well, we’re not communists who are part of a movement to nation- Baltimore; here in Washington, D.C.;

because we don’t want to do all these alize major corporations in America. Brooklyn, New York; San Bernardino,

things. But they also say progressives And now we’ve elected the most liberal California; and then San Diego, Cali-

are socialists. They’re our people. And President in the history of the United fornia. The pattern that we have seen,

they used to host their Web site. Now States. And what has he done? people posing as a prostitute and as

the Progressive Caucus does their own He has in the term that he has had so pimp walking into ACORN’s head-

Web site. But they advocate directly far, and this is only September, he has quarters in each of those five cities and

from the legislative agenda of the so- nationalized three large investment proposing that ACORN help them set

cial Web site. Facts easy to find at banks: AIG, the largest insurance com- up a house of ill repute so they could

dsausa.org. pany in America; Fannie Mae; Freddie funnel teenage girls, young girls into

Now what does a socialist do that’s Mac; General Motors and Chrysler. child prostitution. And what did the

different than a communist? That’s the Eight huge entities nationalized and ACORN people do in each of those five

question. Communists want to nation- now under the control of the White cities? They helped facilitate this.

alize everything. They want to control House. They helped facilitate child prostitu-

the means of all production. They want b 1415 tion, setting up a house of ill repute. It

to nationalize the corporations because was a promotion of prostitution of chil-

the corporations aren’t running con- And how did he do that, and how was dren.

sistent with their belief. And they it brought about, the economic crisis, The first film I saw that was in Balti-

want to also nationalize the butcher, the crisis that Rahm Emanuel said we more, there were two women that were

the baker, and the candlestick maker. should never let go to waste? The telling the young girl who was posing

Small business. That’s communists. President and others utilized the crisis as a prostitute and the fella who was

Socialists, right on their Web site, to nationalize the largest entities they posing as a pimp how they could best

speaking presumably for the progres- could get their hands on. circumvent the law in order to get it

sives as well, that they’re I recall looking at a picture of Presi- done, how they could best circumvent

anticorporate. They don’t want to go dent Obama standing next to Hugo the tax laws, and how they could game

nationalized to small business because Chavez, and they asked what I thought. the taxpayers, all under this process,

they believe that small business can I said, well, my reflection is that there telling them how they could qualify for

actually function okay without being are two huge nationalizers here. Hugo the earned income tax credit. If you

repressive of the worker and can Chavez has been nationalizing right make $96,000 a year, just report $9,600 a

produce hair cuts and set up beer upon and left in Venezuela, but in the pre- year, then you will get the earned in-

the bar and maybe hand you a sand- vious 30 days, he had only nationalized come tax credit, which is a check from

wich out through the deli without a Cargill rice plant, a Minnesota proud, the Federal Government out of the

them having to be involved as govern- privately held company, and national- pocket of the working people in Amer-

ment in any means except to oppres- ized that rice plant down in Venezuela. ica into the pockets of somebody run-

sively tax the profits that come. And He simply said, I don’t like the way ning a prostitution ring advocated by

then if you set up a sandwich store and you are running your rice plant; I will ACORN.

it turns out to be a sandwich chain and run it. And they will decide what the And they told them, If you are going

it gets big enough, then they’re going production is and what the people get to have 13 prostitutes, you really

to want to nationalize it. paid that work there, and what they should just claim three of them as de-

That’s what socialists do. They want are going to pay for the product, and pendents. And if you do that, then you

to nationalize corporations, large cor- they will take their margin out that can qualify for the child tax credit,

porations. And it’s all in the Web site. goes in to run the Government of Ven- which is a thousand dollars a year.

It’s not a mystery. We have to do our ezuela. So that counseling at ACORN that

reading. Dsausa.org. That’s the social- Well, what is going on with General came about spontaneously after they

ist Web site. Motors and Chrysler and Fannie Mae rummaged around through their

When the gentleman from New York and Freddie Mac and AIG and the three records to come up with the right kind

says, There’s a difference; they’re not large investment banks, what is dif- of label for these young girl prostitutes

socialists because they’re not calling ferent about that? You are paying back and to call them performing artists,

for controlling the means of produc- TARP funding. That is one thing. But and that would fit, and you could game

tion, well, I have to say, gentlemen, you have the President of the United the Federal Government, circumvent,

your names are on the list. I read it in States involved in, or at least his di- defy the law, break the law, and not

the Web site. It’s there. It exists. It’s a rect appointees, involved in the day-to- only turn your house of prostitution

matter of fact. day management, for example, of Gen- into a profit center, but also be able to

When you’re anti-free enterprise, eral Motors. The President fired the draw down funds from the Federal Gov-

that puts you in the camp of the people CEO of General Motors, don’t forget. ernment.

who are on the hard core left. It’s a He hired his CEO of General Motors. He These are some very effective people

philosophy that’s been rejected by put in place all but two of the board at taking our tax dollars, Mr. Speaker,

Americans. members of General Motors. And then when it comes from them as a matter

By the way, you can also go to this he appointed a car czar who didn’t hold of instinct how you game the system,

Web site and read in here, dsausa.org, up to the standard, apparently, because how you avoid taxes and cheat the gov-

the people who advocate and support he never made a car or sold a car. I sus- ernment, and how you reach into the

the progressives in this Congress and pect he had driven and ridden in them. Federal coffers, the people’s money,

have not been repudiated by any pro- But the car czar didn’t quite meet the and draw that down for your own.

gressive that I know of. You can also standard and so he appointed a new car What a corrupt demonstration was

go to that Web site and you can see the czar. taking place in Baltimore and in the

agenda they have about nationalizing And the CEO of General Motors ad- other cities. But in Baltimore, the

the major corporations in America. mitted he was on the phone with the women who were working in there, the

The nationalization of the Fortune 500 car czar sometimes multiple times a two women that were working at

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companies, for example, is written day. That is not what you would call ACORN that were telling the young

about on the Web site. They say, disinterested. I wish the President took girl posing as a prostitute how to bring

though, that they don’t have to do it as much interest in ACORN as he did in in young girls, 14-year-old girls plus or

all at once, not in one fell swoop, that General Motors. If that would happen, minus a year, how to bring them in,

it can happen incrementally. maybe we could get the President to how to get this done and how to game

So you have an active political party the position where he would have a the system, these women, I don’t know

with 75 Members in the House of Rep- public comment on ACORN, after we if they were mothers, the ones working







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H9948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

for ACORN, but I could hear children have, for election cycle after election vote and the election process would be

playing in the background in the tape cycle, been complicit in false or fraud- who can herd the most people through

as if they were right behind the wall. ulent voter registrations. They bragged the most polls the most times, and

The door was open behind them into that they had produced 1.3 million that is kind of the logical progression

presumably another office, and you voter registrations in the last cycle. of it.

could hear children playing in there. That is on a document that they are Who can imagine that with over

Could it be in the middle of raising using to raise money to go down and 400,000 fraudulent registrations that we

children we have people who are advo- protest Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa didn’t have a fraudulent vote take

cating for child prostitution? Could it County. place in America? ACORN would tell

be that the children who were making The document that they are using as you that. Well, we may have gotten a

the noise that we could overhear on the a fund-raiser says we registered 1.3 mil- little overzealous in our voter registra-

tape, could they have been the actual lion voters, and we need you to write tions, but we didn’t have any fraudu-

children of the women who were advo- us a check so we can continue to go in lent votes.

cating child prostitution as representa- here and try to intimidate people who Please. With 400,000, why did you

tives of ACORN? I suspect that is the are standing up for the rule of law. spend millions of dollars to register

most likely scenario, although I That is how I would interpret it. They voters if there was no advantage, if you

haven’t confirmed it. didn’t produce 1.3 million registrations. didn’t think that you could game the

That is the part that bothers me per- On closer analysis, the number comes system?

haps as much as anything else, that a down to be less than half a million. But I will submit they benefit from con-

worker for ACORN that could be a they did produce, by their own admis- fusion, especially in close elections,

mother that had children within ear- sion, over 400,000 fraudulent voter reg- and I believe they benefit also from

shot could be advocating for child pros- istration forms, false or fraudulent. To fraudulent votes. And when you have a

titution. And what would be the dif- be more precise, voter registrations fluid registration system, then you can

ference between bringing a girl in from turned in. have people on buses that go back and

El Salvador, bringing in a baker’s Now imagine, the integrity of our forth across State lines, jurisdictional

dozen of girls from El Salvador ille- vote. The franchise that every voter lines, county lines, and vote multiple

gally, put them up in a house of ill re- has is predicated upon the integrity of times. Once the ballot is cast, there

pute with money borrowed by the advo- the voter registration rolls. That’s why isn’t a means by which you can go back

cacy and the brokership of ACORN we register voters. If we didn’t care and prove it unless you have a video

housing, we presume, to help fund and how many times people voted, we camera sitting in the polling place and

set up the capital base and loan that wouldn’t register them. We would just you can show the full act of someone

would be a business enterprise? And say, Go ahead and go vote. If you think walking into the polling place and ac-

what happens when those kids that we you are an adult, walk in there and do knowledging their name and address,

could hear playing, what happens when so as many times as you like. But we going in and voting, and seeing the

they get to 13 or maybe 12 or 14? Do the do care. One person, one vote, and that same thing take place with the same

ACORN workers just turn around and is all that can be allowed, and we can’t face in another place. This is almost a

funnel them right into that house and allow the process to be corrupted and perfect crime. In the means of trying

put them to work? we can’t allow people to vote in mul- to actually catch them, you really need

The lack of outrage on the part of my tiple jurisdictions. One person, one confessions.

colleagues on the other side of the vote per election. That’s why you have As we went through the election

aisle, the people who have for years to declare your residence. That is why process in the year 2000 when there

railed against child labor and have you have to register, and that is why were all kinds of allegations that were

pushed so hard for child labor laws, 75 we have to go through the voter reg- made, Mr. Speaker, I sat for 37 days

of them voted to continue funding to istration rolls and verify that they are and drilled down into this and chased

ACORN. Seventy-five Members of the legitimate registrations. every rabbit trail I could find on the

House of Representatives voted to con- By the way, if you don’t care about Internet. I was on the phone and I had

tinue funding for ACORN even though that, if you don’t care about the integ- a network of communications on my e-

the tapes in five cities confirm abso- rity of the election process, you might mail, and I found example after exam-

lutely that there is a culture of that be, Mr. Speaker, among those kind of ple of stealing elections. That happens

type of corruption, child prostitution, people that would advocate for things to be the title of John Fund’s book,

within the doors of ACORN. like motor voter registration. Or if you who will be speaking in this Capitol

Who could imagine that out of 120 go in and get a driver license’s, they shortly.

cities where ACORN has a presence, will say to you, Do you want to reg- I found example after example,

that they were able to do the sting op- ister to vote? That person might an- 400,000 fraudulent voter registrations

eration on all of them that were help- swer, No comprende. It happens thou- turned in by ACORN, and still we can’t

ing to facilitate child prostitution or sands of times in America. People get a pass a law that requires the person

susceptible to doing that. I can’t imag- driver’s license, whether or not that is that hands those registrations over to

ine that they went to 115 other loca- legitimate, and they sign here, now the voter registrar, and in my State it

tions and the people at ACORN said, you are registered to vote. That hap- will be the county auditor, we can’t re-

Get out. I don’t want to have anything pens thousands of times in America. quire them to identify themselves so

to do with illegal behavior; and, by the All they have to do is assent to that. that at least when it turns out to be

way, I am going to call the police. We Yes, there is a check box that asks if fraudulent you can go back and say,

don’t have any evidence that happened you are citizen. But if they can’t un- Well, that was Sally Smith or Joe

anywhere except Bertha Lewis told us derstand the language, how could they Jones that did that, and here’s their

that, who has consistently given us possibly know that they are checking address and here’s their identification

misinformation over the media air- the right box and that they are guilty document when they turned this in.

waves. Mr. Speaker, I think America of perjury if they put down the wrong

needs to know that she is the CEO, in information? We know this happens

effect, of ACORN, known formally as b 1430

tens of thousands of times in America.

ACORN’s chief organizer. I suspect the number is a lot larger. And it’s because there has been a

We have a great big problem in this Why would an organization promote concerted effort to undermine the in-

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country, and the biggest part of this fraudulent voter registrations—I’m tegrity of the ballot box. And it isn’t

problem, in my view, that undermines talking about ACORN—and why would every Democrat, but that’s where the

our country the most is not the child they brag about it? chorus comes from, that’s where the

prostitution component. That is the I can only come to this conclusion: If arguments come from, that’s where the

most repulsive, but the biggest prob- you can corrupt the voter registration push comes from.

lem is ACORN’s involvement in cor- rolls so badly that they didn’t have any Now, that’s not just Motor Voter

rupting our election process. They value any more, then anybody could that took place under Bill Clinton back







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9949

in the nineties; we’ve got same-day Declaration and the Constitution and that will be posted on the 990 form as

registration taking place all across the rule of law and all the pillars of grants from government; $53 million

America in many, many States, includ- American exceptionalism. since 1994. I suspect the number is a lot

ing mine, same-day registration. This great Nation that went through larger. But if anybody would like to

My Governor, Governor Culver, was manifest destiny from the Atlantic to come down and defend ACORN, I would

Secretary of State; and in the middle the Pacific Oceans, settled a continent welcome you to come down and do

of an election when he was Secretary of in the blink of a historical eye. And we that. If anybody thinks anything I’ve

State, he advised people, If you don’t did it founded upon the values that are said here is even marginally factual,

know what precinct you live in, if you in our Declaration and our Constitu- let’s fine-tune it just a little bit. But

didn’t get around to voting or changing tion and our values of faith and our I’m standing on the solid ground of

your registration if you moved, or if work ethic, with these unlimited nat- fact. And the facts are this; 501(c)(3) or-

you just moved in, don’t worry about ural resources, low or no taxation, no ganization, self-professed—it’s in the

that, go to a polling place wherever regulation when Americans settled this press release, it has to do with the IRS

you can, find one and go in there and continent. now talking about investigating simi-

vote. And we’ll just call it a provi- We built a culture and a civilization lar organizations, not specifically

sional ballot if anybody calls you on it, built on—I’ll use the Superman term, ACORN.

and we’ll sort those ballots out later. ‘‘Truth, justice and the American But if you’re not for profit, it also

Can you imagine? We have 3 million way,’’ and now I am watching it cor- means you’re a nonpartisan, and you

Iowans, and I don’t know the total of rupted in the electoral process by an are barred by law from participating in

votes, perhaps 1.5 million, thousands of organization like ACORN. Four hun- partisan activities. Partisan activities

them went anywhere that was conven- dred thousand fraudulent voter reg- would be, Mr. Speaker, advocating for

ient and asked for a provisional ballot istrations turned in, and still they a particular candidate or political

and cast it. And the ability to sort that count them when they brag about how party. So, working on a campaign, put-

all out and argue over the integrity of many they registered, they count the ting up yard signs, door hangers, run-

them, it overloaded our system. fraudulent ones too. It’s like saying I ning ads that advocate for candidates—

Now, I come from a State that is the made $2 million last year, but not especially by name—would all con-

first-in-the-nation caucus. We have the bothering to mention that you stole $1 stitute violations of the not-for-profit

great privilege to have the first bite of million from the bank. That’s the status and make their income taxable.

equivalent of their brag. Well, Mr. Speaker, I have here an in-

the apple to make a recommendation

Now, we saw what ACORN did in five teresting little picture. And the good

to the rest of America on whom we part of this picture is that I don’t have

would like to see nominated for each cities when confronted with child pros-

titution rings and illegal immigration. to wonder about the source; this is a

political party, Democrats and Repub- picture that I took. This picture was

They promoted it, and they said, Game

licans, first-in-the-nation caucus. It’s a taken in early July, before the Fourth

the system and you can get a check

high responsibility to maintain a high of July. This is a picture of ACORN’s

from Uncle Sam in the process. We’ve

level of integrity. We were first-in-the- national headquarters. They’re at 2609

seen what they’ve done to corrupt the

nation caucus, last in the Nation to Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. I

voter registration process and the elec-

certify the vote because our then-Sec- walked up to the door. The door looks

tion process. We’ve seen them get in-

retary of State, now Governor, gave in- like a jail cell. It’s got a glass business

volved politically as a partisan organi-

formation to the voters all across the door entry behind it, but it’s black bars

zation over and over again. Nobody in

State that they could just go any- this country believes that ACORN is and welded steel with an outdoor lock

where, further corrupting and con- out here to get out the vote for Repub- on the outside. This is the most for-

fusing the system. licans. They are a partisan organiza- tified building in the neighborhood.

Now, add this up; Motor Voter reg-

tion that gets out the vote for Demo- This is the second or third story where

isters anybody that will agree when

crats. They are the machine. They are you see the bars here yet in the second

they’re asked, Do you want to be reg-

the foundational machine across the or third story.

istered to vote. Who’s going to say no? Mr. Speaker, right behind the glass

country that gets out the vote for

Especially if you think you’re in the Democrats. We all know that, but it at the national headquarters of ACORN

country illegally, you don’t want to can’t really be challenged. is a poster here and it says, ‘‘Obama

say no—you might think it’s a respon- And so as I look at their activities, ’08,’’ a campaign poster for President

sibility to assent to registration. and I understand that they say—well, I Obama proudly displayed in the front

So we’ve got Motor Voter registra- guess they changed their definition a window of ACORN’s national head-

tion, we’ve got same-day registration little bit, 501(c)(3), that’s what it says quarters. I don’t know how you could

where somebody can just drive across on a press release I just picked up, Mr. get any more definitive evidence that

the board into, name your State—Iowa, Speaker. There is apparently some in- it’s a violation of the 501(c)(3) not-for-

Minnesota, Wisconsin all come to tention that the IRS is going to take a profit, no partisan activity if you’re

mind—drive across the border, walk in, look into ACORN. The first thing the going to hang a partisan campaign sign

register to vote and vote on the spot. IRS needs to do, Mr. Speaker, is take a in your window and leave it there, let’s

You don’t have to prove residence to look at ACORN’s corporate filings and see—6, 7, 8 months after the election,

speak of. You maybe have to have verify that they are a 501(c)(3). 501(c)(3) it’s still there. Does anybody imagine

somebody attest to who you are. is a not-for-profit status, and if you that it wasn’t there before the elec-

There’s a limit to the number of people violate that not-for-profit status, then tion? And by the way, if anybody won-

that the bus driver can bring in and at- your income becomes taxable. ders if this is real, they can see over on

test for, but it corrupts the process, And so I’m suggesting—no, I’m stat- the right-hand side, this hangs outside

Mr. Speaker. ing flat out—ACORN is a partisan or- the glass, this is the ACORN banner,

And so I’m watching this country, ganization, a get-out-the-vote organi- the ACORN logo, it’s their logo on

this country that I love, this country zation for Democrats. They take mil- there. They fly that flag like we fly Old

that I was raised from the standpoint lions of dollars and use them for par- Glory.

of, Eat your cold mashed potatoes, tisan purposes. They were hired—an af- So here’s the flag, the glory of

there are people starving in China. filiate was hired by President Obama ACORN, the ignominy of it all, and

You’ve been born in the greatest Na- to get out the vote for him at the cost here’s the Obama poster. There are

tion in the world and you hit the jack- of—if I remember the number exactly, other posters behind there; I can’t

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pot because God chose to have you it was close to $832,000. There is strong verify that they are Obama posters; it

born here in the United States—and I’ll evidence that the President’s fund- doesn’t matter. This one is in the win-

say especially in Iowa, from my per- raising list, once people maxed out to dow. They’re advertising for a political

spective—a Nation that had never lost him, it was handed over to ACORN so candidate. It’s clearly a violation of

a war, that stood proud, that stood for they could use it to raise money. the law. And it’s blatant and it’s

freedom, that had the blessing and the We know that they’ve drawn down at open—and curiously, it’s unnecessary.

gift of the Founding Fathers and the least $53 million in Federal tax money How sloppy can they be?







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H9950 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

And so I think I’ve tied together the a check to ACORN, and we’ll go away. order to solve the bookkeeping prob-

corrupt election process, the corrupt Sometimes they would go into the lem, they took money from donors and

promotion of child prostitution rings, lender’s office, push his desk over to money from pension plans and

and also illegal immigration, which, the wall, surround that lender and in- backfilled the hole in the accounting

out of the San Diego office especially, timidate him, yell at him, shout at him which was created by the embezzle-

when the ACORN worker said, you’ve and make demands, and eventually the ment of the brother of the CEO who

got to trust us; we have to work with intimidation tactics worked because helped cover up this crime. Then it

Mexicans, I can bring people in through banks wanted them to go away. So erupted and finally blew up to the

Tijuana, we’ll help set this up for you. sometimes they wrote the check and point where Wade Rathke was pushed

Child prostitution, violations, and then sometimes they went away. Oftentimes out of ACORN—or I should say, off to

clear violations of voter laws. they came back after a passage of time the side of ACORN. They’re still play-

In fact, there have been as many as and began the process all over again. ers today. He and his brother are both

70 convictions for voter registration Now, one demand was the shakedown engaged in, let me say, community or-

violations of ACORN employees. that compelled—well, gave a strong in- ganizing. Activist community orga-

ACORN, as an entity, is under indict- centive for—lenders to write the check nizers, people who read the book by

ment in the State of Nevada. In the to ACORN. That helped fund ACORN. Saul Alinsky, people who read

last couple of weeks they have put out, You’ve also heard of this taking place Cloward-Piven and now people who are

in the State of Florida, 11 warrants for from other organizations—Rainbow/ writing their own book, the Rathke

arrests to pick up ACORN employees PUSH comes to mind. They wrote the brothers.

for voter registration violations. They check to get ACORN off their back and Mr. Speaker, we need to clean up this

did pick up 6 of the 11; the last I saw then ACORN went away. And then they mess that is ACORN. This Congress has

the news there were five still on the came back. And they did that over and a responsibility. We know it now. I of-

loose. And that was before the pros- over again. At a certain point, ACORN fered an amendment to unfund ACORN

titution emerged from the film that then demanded that the banks loan back in 2007. It did not have a lot of

was taken by the two intrepid report- money into the neighborhoods that support at the time. Today we have

ers—whom I’m quite pleased and proud ACORN specified. They did their own seen this Congress vote to unfund

that they have done what they’ve done. red lining. They drew their red line ACORN, and we’ve seen 75 Members—

And that’s not all, Mr. Speaker. If we around and said, You loan money into every one a Democrat—vote against

continue on with ACORN, I would say these neighborhoods or we’ll come back unfunding ACORN. We know what our

here’s another major concern of and we’ll protest so your customers duty is. Our duty is oversight. It’s our

ACORN’s involvement, and that is the can’t get through the door. And so constitutional responsibility, Mr.

practice of shaking down lenders, espe- banks began loaning money into those Speaker. And we need to use all of the

cially within the inner cities. Back in neighborhoods and showing their tools in this Congress to drill into

the seventies—it was either ’77 or ’78— records to the ACORN representatives, ACORN, to get to the bottom of it, to

Congress passed an act called the Com- and now they’re influencing a business bring the truth and the facts out. That

munity Reinvestment Act. It was an practice. That’s stage two. will require, with all of these resources

act that recognized a practice that I re- Stage three is the lenders. In order to we have, in the House alone—and I call

ject. It was the practice of red lining, get ACORN off their back after they upon the Senate as well to engage in

as they called it—taking an ink pen came back over and over again and es- this. But in the House alone, we must

and drawing a red line around a neigh- calated this, demanded money, de- have a full committee investigation

borhood in a city or several neighbor- manded that loans be made into and hearings by the Judiciary Com-

hoods in the city. Banks that were ACORN’s red line district, then the mittee, taking a look at the voter reg-

loaning money for real estate, home next one was to grant ACORN a block istration fraud that we know exists and

mortgages, and commercial property of funds to be brokered into the com- look at it on a national scale. And from

identified that property that had its munities of their choice, giving them this, we need to drill into ACORN and

value going down, and they defined it. more and more power. pull out all of the rotten apples that

And it happened to also be inner city are in there and shut down everything

property. b 1445 that is questionable. If there is any-

Often one could index race with that This kind of shakedown undermines thing left that has any integrity, I

declining value of property and the red the free enterprise system, and it gives don’t know what to do in that situa-

lining. If it turned out it was a racial power to people through intimidation tion because I don’t know how there

conclusion, it was utterly wrong. If it rather than market principles or moral would be any entity within ACORN

was a business conclusion purely, then principles. In fact, it is utterly cor- that is not stained by this. But the Ju-

it could be justified. But Congress rupting in a society, and I can’t draw a diciary Committee has an obligation to

passed the Community Reinvestment moral distinction between an ACORN investigate where there are violations

Act that set the stage so that banks shakedown, a Mafia shakedown, or a of the law and where there are viola-

were then given an incentive to make shakedown that might come from Hugo tions of voter registration and election

loans into those communities where Chavez or some strongman in some fraud. That’s our responsibility in the

they had previously not been making other country. ‘‘You will pay the pro- Judiciary Committee.

loans. That was a direction of Congress tection or you will not be in business.’’ Government Reform—and this has

to try to fix an ill that I believe at I wonder if Cargill refused to pay pro- been headed up very well in Govern-

least was, in significant part, a wrong tection in Venezuela and that was why ment Reform by Congressman ISSA of

that needed to be corrected. Hugo Chavez nationalized the rice com- California—needs to look into this

But ACORN exploited this. They pany down there, the rice plant in Ven- from the standpoint of: how is govern-

were founded in 1977 or ’78, as I said, ezuela earlier this spring, in about ment tied into this; what does it do to

and they began seeing the opportuni- April. corrupt our government; what about

ties with the Community Reinvest- So this is some of the pattern of all the tentacles of ACORN that would

ment Act. And I don’t know their in- ACORN’s activity, Mr. Speaker, and it reach into government; how many

volvement in getting the legislation isn’t, by any means, all of it. In fact, places are they working in cooperation

passed. I suspect they were there at the Wade Rathke, who was the founder of with government? And let’s sever all of

table when it happened, but I don’t ACORN and was their CEO up until those relationships. That’s the Govern-

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know that. But I do know that they about a year ago, has a brother named ment Reform component of this. To the

went in and shook down lenders and Dale Rathke. Dale Rathke embezzled extent that we can overlap and cooper-

demonstrated outside the banks and in- $948,000 and change from ACORN. It is ate, we should do so committee by

timidated the banks into giving money a matter of public record. They found committee.

to ACORN. Not just in the first round out about it within ACORN and cov- We need to go into the Financial

of this. This wasn’t, Give loans to the ered it up for 8 years. They covered up Services Committee. Chairman FRANK

people in the inner city, it was, Write a crime, a felony, for 8 years. And in needs to come all the way around to







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9951

cleaning up ACORN. He was not here sure up and direct the IRS to do a com- their hands of ACORN, but I don’t see

for the vote that would have unfunded plete audit of ACORN and all of their them moving towards a complete in-

ACORN. He had a couple of different affiliates. The only way to get a clean vestigation at the Department of Jus-

announcements. But the most recent bill of health is to put them all tice, which we must have, Mr. Speaker.

announcement of his intentions was through, let me say, the fiscal phys- The scrubbing that’s taking place on

that he would have voted to shut off ical, that is, a complete analysis of all the Census and now the U.S. Treasury.

funding to ACORN. Well, we can specu- of the funds that come into ACORN The Treasury has said that they no

late if we like. But, Mr. Speaker, to and all of their affiliates. Chairman longer want to work with ACORN.

verify the position of the chairman of RANGEL can bring that about, and cer- ACORN was helping out with tax

the Financial Services Committee, tainly he needs to work in cooperation forms. So maybe they’re going to rely

we’ll have to see what he does with with the ranking member on the Ways on TurboTax instead. But they no

ACORN. Will Chairman FRANK inves- and Means Committee. I’m pushing longer want to have the relationship

tigate? Will he use the powers of the very hard that we get this done. with ACORN because they’re too hot a

gavel and the staff that he has in Fi- I have named three committees. We political potato.

nancial Services? Will he work with have Judiciary, Ways and Means, Gov- These aren’t things that these de-

the ranking member of the Republicans ernment Reform, all of them need to partments didn’t know before. I have

to drill into ACORN and go back and commence their investigations. We known this for months and, much of it,

pull out those pieces that he put in need the House Admin, who works in years. Yet we couldn’t penetrate the

himself over the years in this Congress cooperation with the voter election minds of the Census Bureau until we

that set up the scenario by which laws. They’re the ones that brought beat on them through the media. We

ACORN still today—let me say it this about the HAVA act, the Help America couldn’t penetrate into the Depart-

way: still today, ACORN is looking at Vote Act. They need to be involved in ment of the U.S. Treasury until the

categories of as many as $8.5 billion this working in cooperation with the prostitution films came out. And the

that they could tap into of Federal tax Judiciary Committee. We need to bring Department of Justice only wants to

dollars. Our tax dollars, Mr. Speaker. the Appropriations Committee into examine far enough to determine if

Altogether, $8.5 billion in categories. this. We need to examine every dollar they have written checks to ACORN

That is money that’s within the Com- that’s been appropriated that may have and then what those checks were for, if

munity Development Block Grant, a gone into the coffers of ACORN and they were legitimate or not.

low-income housing grant, and the their affiliates. How did that money It doesn’t look to me, Mr. Speaker,

stimulus package. Those three add up get used? Was it matching funds? And like this administration is determined

to $8.5 billion. ACORN, as far as any- how does it go down into the States? to do this forensic analysis. In fact, if

thing that has been signed into law All of this needs to happen out of this you would draw a line down through

today, would still qualify to go into Congress, Mr. Speaker, and we need the the middle of the piece of paper—you

those funds. IRS doing a complete forensic audit of could draw it figuratively right down

The chairman of Financial Services, ACORN and all of their affiliates. And this aisle, Democrats on this side, Re-

Mr. FRANK, has been involved in set- we need the Department of Justice publicans on this side—Democrats, as a

ting up the language, setting the stage. doing more than just an Inspector Gen- party, beneficiaries of ACORN; Repub-

And it’s not a practice of just this eral’s investigation to determine if licans on this side, a lot of them who

year. It’s a practice of each year that I Justice has written checks to ACORN are not here, are victims of ACORN’s

have been aware since I have been in or their affiliates and whether there’s partisan activities. They’ve already

this United States Congress, Mr. justice in Justice paying ACORN and lost their elections. They aren’t here

Speaker. So let’s see if the chairman of their affiliates. If the limit of Justice’s now, and many of them are not coming

the Financial Services Committee uses scope of justice is, did they actually back. But that same line can be this:

his gavel to investigate and provide pay somebody that was violating the who has consistently called for the

proper oversight, with all the resources not-for-profit laws, and did they use it cleanup of the corrupt ACORN, the

that he has at his disposal, working in for partisan purposes, that’s pretty criminal enterprise ACORN and all of

full cooperation with Republicans on narrow. their affiliates? It’s been people on the

our side of the aisle and staffs working ACORN wants to examine themselves Republican side of the aisle who have

together. Let’s see if that happens. and audit themselves. That’s laughable done that, the survivors. Who has fi-

The Judiciary Committee needs to do that we should accept the idea that nally made some little mouse noises

a full investigation and hearings. Fi- ACORN has appointed someone to about cleanup of ACORN? Well, it’s

nancial Services needs to do a full in- audit themselves. It’s a joke. But we do been Democrats. And it’s been people

vestigation of ACORN and hearings. By have the Justice Department who has who have redirected—it would be

the way, when I say ACORN, that’s a said, We want to audit ourselves too Chairmen Frank and Conyers who have

general term for ACORN and all of with respect to what money we might called for the Congressional Research

their affiliates, 361 of which have been have sent to ACORN, so that they find Service (CRS) to take a look at ACORN

identified by the Government Reform it before someone else finds it. Then and write a report. Well, CRS doesn’t

Committee in the report that was put they can make their press release and have the authority to go in and actu-

out July 23 by the Government Reform say they’ve cleaned it up and sworn off ally do a criminal investigation or a

Committee and Ranking Member DAR- and washed their hands of ACORN— tax audit. They don’t have the author-

RELL ISSA. The Judiciary Committee like the Census Bureau finally did? For ity that these chairmen have them-

and the Government Reform Com- the second time, by the way. They put selves. If they want to get to the bot-

mittee need to investigate ACORN and out a press release 3 months ago. After tom of it, they don’t have to ask any-

all of their 361 affiliates. we turned up the pressure, they said, body. They call for hearings and an in-

We also need to ask the Ways and Well, we won’t be hiring ACORN to do vestigation, and they levy their sub-

Means Committee and Chairman RAN- our Census. We turned up some more poena power, and they do that. But in-

GEL—who I recognize has his own prob- pressure, and when they saw the pros- stead, they would like to redirect the

lems in this Congress, but this is an op- titution film, they put out another re- American people into believing that

portunity for Mr. RANGEL to redeem lease that said, We have now finally— calling for a CRS report is somehow a

himself as chairman. The chairman of for the second and perhaps final time— substitute of a congressional investiga-

the Ways and Means Committee needs severed our relationship with ACORN. tion. It’s not. The Justice Department

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to commence a full, all-out, full-court Well, if you have to do something should be doing a complete, thorough

investigation of ACORN and all of their twice, who would believe you did it the criminal investigation, working hand

affiliates and use the tools at his dis- first time? And then if you do some- in glove with the IRS. Instead, it sim-

posal, the power of the gavel and the thing once, who is going to believe that ply announces that they’re going to

subpoena ability that that committee that actually got done the first time? take a look to see if they’ve written

has to bring in ACORN and examine They will do it over and over again. checks to ACORN and then react ac-

their taxes and also to turn the pres- Justice wants to look at it and wash cordingly. The U.S. Treasury finally







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H9952 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

takes a position that they don’t want that the Census be pulled out of the survey is that today, at the highest

to have ACORN cooperating with them Department of Commerce and put into level ever in the history of our coun-

in helping out with taxes. the White House. This is a man that try, more people believe that govern-

These are all of the weak things on hired ACORN to help hire individuals ment is wasting money than at any

this side. These are redirections. These to work for the Census. And he’s not other time in modern times. Today the

are straw men. They are red herrings. paying attention? Do we think Rahm American people believe that the gov-

They don’t have substance to accom- Emanuel is running this country or ernment wastes about 50 cents of every

plish what we need to get accom- President Obama, or is it just Chicago dollar. And as if these activities were

plished, which is clean up ACORN. On politics? I think it’s all of those things, bad enough that the gentleman from

this side, we’ve called for substance for actually, Mr. Speaker. But the Presi- Iowa was speaking about, the stunning

a long time, and we haven’t cracked dent cannot deny knowledge of what’s STEVE KING of Iowa, I think, Mr.

through because the people on this side going on. Speaker, one thing we recognize is that

hold the gavel, and they were deter- The United States Senate voted 83–7 the American taxpayer should not be

mined to protect and defend ACORN to shut off funding to ACORN housing, paying for these activities.

until the political heat got so hot that Senator JOHANNS from Nebraska’s Now, this is stunning. This truly is a

all but 75 of them voted to stop Federal amendment. That sent a resounding stunning feature, that you have an or-

funds from coming into ACORN. message. It shook through all the ganization that’s been the recipient of

That’s what’s taken place, Mr. media. I’ll bet you even Charlie Gibson about $53 million since 1994. And you

Speaker. Those are the facts. They can- knows about that one. And shortly have a photo, I noticed, a poster, of the

not be denied. By the way, we need to after that, the House acted; and we had President with an ACORN emblem on

ask some questions about why the a motion to recommit that, if it func- his shirt. Since President Obama, who

chief organizer of America has not had tions the way we’d like to have it func- formerly was the attorney for Project

a statement to say about ACORN, ex- tion, would shut off funding to ACORN. Vote, yet one of the many affiliates of

cept for his statement on the Sunday 345 Members of the House of Represent- ACORN, since that time, he has made

talk show circuit; when asked about atives voted to shut off funding to available to his patron, to ACORN, he

this, he said, Well, it’s really not on ACORN; 75 voted to defend ACORN, but has made available to them $8.5 billion.

my radar screen. It’s not the most im- there were a couple of them that want- And if a bill that went through this

portant thing before America. So I’m ed to change their intentions after the House actually passes, that would be

not really paying attention to ACORN. fact. $10 billion that is available to this or-

Really, Mr. President? This is the Chairman FRANK wanted to change ganization, who we have seen has been

star of ACORN. He is the lead chief or- it. He wasn’t here. He had a good ex- furthering the trafficking of illegal

ganizer. He is the person who told the cuse. He got to redefine his vote after aliens, minor girls into childhood pros-

people at ACORN, I will invite you in,

he saw the politics of it. No allega- titution and child abuse. This is uncon-

and we will be setting the agenda for

tions. Those are just the facts. Chair- scionable. And this same organization

America, even before he is inaugurated

man CONYERS said even though, let’s has been educating individuals that

as President of the United States. This

see, whatever side he was on when he they should take their money and bury

is the man who worked for ACORN. He

voted, he meant to vote the other way. it in a tin can in the backyard rather

is the man who was an attorney for

I don’t remember very many Members than paying taxes.

ACORN. He is the man who trained

having to explain any votes in that And we’re giving this organization

ACORN’s workers. Remember what he

fashion. I don’t get to use that excuse. $10 billion in tax money? How could

said before the election to his people:

Maybe once in a career, not multiple this be? No wonder that the American

‘‘Get in their face. Get out, and get in

times on a single issue by multiple people are saying, at the highest time

their face.’’ Does that sound like what

Members of Congress. ever, that they believe 50 cents of every

was happening around the lenders’

But this man, Mr. Speaker, has a dollar is wasted.

desks when they were capitulating to

deep abiding involvement in ACORN. We need an investigation, I believe,

ACORN’s intimidation of the shake-

His history goes back to it. At the gen- Mr. Speaker, into that fact. Do we

down? ACORN’s activists got in the

esis of President Obama’s political life, know how much of our tax money is

lenders’ faces. The President said, Get

there he stands with ACORN, and he being wasted? The American people

in their face.

walks with them all the way through. think it’s 50 percent of every dollar.

b 1500 It isn’t my supposition; it’s his own as- Perhaps it is if you have $10 billion

He worked for ACORN, trained sertion, that ACORN was with him going to an organization like this.

ACORN’s workers, headed up Project from the beginning. He’s been with Mr. KING of Iowa. Reclaiming my

Vote. And Project Vote is integral to ACORN all of the way through, and one time, I thank the gentlewoman from

ACORN. You can’t separate the two, of the affiliates that he headed up was Minnesota. And I’m looking forward to

and there are people who are labeled Project Vote. some future comments with regard to

Project Vote and ACORN who concur There still are 360 other affiliates out this as well.

with that. there. We need to audit Project Vote. The waste that’s there is a signifi-

Then on top of that, the President of We need to audit the other 360 affili- cant part of all of this. But another one

the United States, as a candidate, hired ates. We need all of the tools of the IRS is just the lack of conscience and using

ACORN to get out the vote. And then and the Department of Justice. We Federal funds to do something of a par-

the evidence exists that his donor list don’t need a lame little announcement tisan nature and do so with impunity

was transferred over to ACORN. Once that Justice is going to go look and see in a completely cynical approach that

it was maxed out and they couldn’t if they maybe wrote a check to some we’ve known for years were designed to

write another check in the Presidential bad people and they’ll correct that. We produce this result.

campaign, the list went over so ACORN need to have them drilling into every- Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your indul-

could raise money on that. thing. And we also need every com- gence. I will introduce the DSAUSA

This man’s not interested in ACORN? mittee that has jurisdiction in the documents into the RECORD.

He’s ambivalent about it? That’s what House of Representatives doing the ex- THE ORGANIZATION

he told us just last Sunday. Curious. He amination of ACORN. The Democratic Socialists of America

could inject himself into police oper- I yield to the gentlewoman from Min- (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in

ations of a professor of Harvard, Officer nesota. the United States, and the principal U.S. af-

tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with HOUSE









Crowley and Professor Gates. He can Mrs. BACHMANN. I’m so grateful for filiate of the Socialist International. DSA’s

inject himself into that and have a beer the gentleman from Iowa and the com- members are building progressive move-

ments for social change while establishing

summit, but he can’t pay attention to ments that he’s been making regarding

an openly socialist presence in American

what’s going on when things are melt- ACORN and the situation that they communities and politics.

ing down around him? find themselves in. At the root of our socialism is a profound

This man stands at the top of One thing that we have seen from the commitment to democracy, as means and

ACORN. He’s the man that directed American people in a recent Gallup end. We are activists committed not only to









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9953

extending political democracy but to de- cluded—workers, minorities, and women. REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO-

manding democratic empowerment in the The wealthy almost never join in unless VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF

economy, in gender relations, and in culture. their own economic freedom appears at CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R.

Democracy is not simply one of our political stake. The equation of capitalism with de-

2918, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AP-

values but our means of restructuring soci- mocracy cannot survive scrutiny in a world

ety. Our vision is of a society in which peo- where untrammeled capitalism means unre- PROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

ple have a real voice in the choices and rela- lenting poverty, disease, and unemployment. Mr. ARCURI, from the Committee on

tionships that affect the entirety of our Today powerful corporate and political Rules, submitted a privileged report

lives. We call this vision democratic social- elites tell us that environmental standards (Rept. No. 111–266) on the resolution (H.

ism—a vision of a more free, democratic and are too high, unemployment is too low, and Res. 772) providing for consideration of

humane society. workers earn too much for America to pros-

In this web site you can find out about the conference report to accompany

per in the next century. Their vision is too

DSA, its politics, structure and program. close for comfort: inequality of wealth and the bill (H.R. 2918) making appropria-

DSA’s political perspective is called Where income has grown worse in the last 15 years: tions for the Legislative Branch for the

We Stand. It says, in part: one percent of America now owns 60 percent Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2010,

We are socialists because we reject an of our wealth, up from 50 percent before Ron- and for other purposes, which was re-

international economic order sustained by ald Reagan became president. Nearly three ferred to the House Calendar and or-

private profit, alienated labor, race and gen- decades after the ‘‘War on Poverty’’ was de- dered to be printed.

der discrimination, environmental destruc- clared and then quickly abandoned, one-fifth

tion, and brutality and violence in defense of of our society subsists in poverty, living in f

the status quo. substandard housing, attending underfunded,

We are socialists because we share a vision HEALTH CARE

overcrowded schools, and receiving inad-

of a humane international social order based equate health care. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr.

both on democratic planning and market DRIEHAUS). Under the Speaker’s an-

mechanisms to achieve equitable distribu-

TOWARDS FREEDOM: DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST nounced policy of January 6, 2009, the

tion of resources, meaningful work, a

healthy environment, sustainable growth, THEORY AND PRACTICE gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs.

gender and racial equality, and non-oppres- [By Joseph Schwartz and Jason Schulman ] BACHMANN) is recognized for 60 min-

sive relationships. utes.

THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST VISION

DSA has a youth section, Young Demo- Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, the

cratic Socialists (YDS). Made up of students Democratic socialists believe that the indi- focus of my remarks over the next hour

from colleges and high schools and young viduality of each human being can only be will be on the issue of health care. This

people in the work force, the Youth Section developed in a society embodying the values

is the issue that has really captured

works on economic justice and democracy of liberty, equality, and solidarity. These be-

liefs do not entail a crude conception of the attention of the American people

and prison justice projects. It is a member of

the International Union of Socialist Youth, equality that conceives of human beings as over these summer months, and well it

an affiliate of the Socialist International. equal in all respects. Rather, if human should. This for many States is one of

The Youth Section meets several times dur- beings are to develop their distinct capac- the top spending priorities in their

ing the year. More information is available ities they must be accorded equal respect States and here for the Federal Gov-

from YDS staff. and opportunities denied them by the in- ernment as well.

This web site also includes an extensive set equalities of capitalist society, in which the We have learned, as we’ve looked

of resources, including bibliographies, pam- life opportunities of a child born in the inner

through the budget this year, since

phlets and links to information on socialism city are starkly less than that of a child

born in an affluent suburb. A democratic President Obama has assumed the

and U.S. politics in general.

Please join DSA as we work to help build community committed to the equal moral Presidency, under his leadership we

a better and more just world for all. worth of each citizen will socially provide have seen the Federal budget increase

the cultural and economic necessities—food, 22 percent at a time when the Amer-

WHERE WE STAND: THE POLITICAL PERSPEC- housing, quality education, healthcare, ican economy is contracting. In one

TIVE OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF childcare—for the development of human in- quarter alone we saw a 5 percent con-

AMERICA dividuality. traction rate. The private sector is

PREAMBLE Achieving this diversity and opportunity contracting in this current economy,

At the beginning of the 20th century, a necessitates a fundamental restructuring of and yet what’s government’s response?

young and vibrant socialist movement an- our socio-economic order. While the free-

doms that exist under democratic capitalism

Government is on a party. It is grow-

ticipated decades of great advances on the ing. Growing to the tune of 22 percent.

road to a world free from capitalist exploi- are gains of popular struggle to be cherished,

democratic socialists argue that the values That’s almost a one-fourth level of in-

tation—a socialist society built on the en-

during principles of equality, justice and sol- of liberal democracy can only be fulfilled crease.

idarity among peoples. when the economy as well as the government Imagine if any of us, Mr. Speaker, in

At the end of the 20th century, such hope is democratically controlled. our own lives, in our own businesses, in

and vision seem all but lost. The unbridled We cannot accept capitalism’s conception our family situation would increase

power of transnational corporations, under- of economic relations as ‘‘free and private,’’ our spending 22 percent when our in-

written by the major capitalist nations, has because contracts are not made among eco- come had fallen 6 percent. None of us

created a world economy where the wealth nomic equals and because they give rise to

social structures which undemocratically

would ever consider treating our own

and power of a few is coupled with insecurity

confer power upon some over others. Such finances in that way. No business could

and downward mobility for the vast majority

of working people in both the Northern and relationships are undemocratic in that the consider treating its own finances in

Southern hemispheres. Traditional left pre- citizens involved have not freely deliberated that way. It’s only a government that

scriptions have failed on both sides of the upon the structure of those institutions and looks to our pockets and to our re-

Communist/socialist divide. Global economic how social roles should be distributed within sources to finance its party, only a

integration has rendered obsolete both the them (e.g., the relationship between capital government that’s out of control, that

social democratic solution of independent and labor in the workplace or men and has capitulated to practically fiscal he-

national economies sustaining a strong so- women in child rearing). We do not imagine

that all institutional relations would wither

donism, fiscal hedonism, to run up bills

cial welfare state and the Communist solu-

away under socialism, but we do believe that that are unconscionable for the next

tion of state-owned national economies fos-

tering social development. the basic contours of society must be demo- generation.

The globalization of capital requires a re- cratically constructed by the free delibera- I think we are looking at a time, Mr.

newed vision and tactics. But the essence of tion of its members. Speaker, unlike any other in the his-

the socialist vision—that people can freely The democratic socialist vision does not tory of the United States. That’s why

and democratically control their community rest upon one sole tradition; it draws upon this health care debate plays into the

and society—remains central to the move- Marxism, religious and ethical socialism,

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center of where our economy is at.

ment for radical democracy. Those who the feminism, and other theories that critique Mr. Speaker, I’m a former Federal

collapse of communist regimes, for which human domination. Nor does it contend that

tax litigation attorney, and I had done

the rhetoric of socialism became a cover for any laws of history preordain the achieve-

authoritarian rule, as proof that capitalism ment of socialism. The choice for socialism a study when I was in my post-doc-

is the foundation of democracy, commit is both moral and political, and the fullness torate program at William and Mary

fraud on history. The struggle for mass de- of its vision will never be permanently se- Law School down in Williamsburg, Vir-

mocracy has always been led by the ex- cured. ginia, back in the late 1980s. And at







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H9954 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

that time, the study came out that But, Mr. Speaker, that doesn’t in- rowing from countries like China,

said the kids who are today about 22 clude property tax. Mr. Speaker, that countries which are a lot more reluc-

years of age, when they get to be in does not include sales tax. So property tant to purchase our debt. When we

their prime earning years, knowing tax, sales tax, gas tax, every-time-you- were a producing country—when we

what we know about the current demo- turn-around tax. There won’t be were making washing machines and

graphics, the number of people who enough money, Mr. Speaker, in the irons and cars—other countries were

will be 65 or older, eligible for Medi- next generation of young people that only too happy to purchase our debt;

care, those who will be 62 and older, el- are only now just beginning to earn but now that our new industry is pro-

igible for Social Security, we know ap- their first W–2 wage withholding. ducing more welfare, countries like

proximately how many Americans we Those young people are looking at a China aren’t quite so interested be-

have to support who will be age 62 burden no other generation has ever cause they know we aren’t actually

when today’s current 22 years olds will yet contemplated. producing a good. We’re providing gov-

be in their peak earning years. In the middle of this financial crisis ernment welfare benefits. Now China is

And what this study showed, Mr. that we are looking at, Mr. Speaker, not quite so interested in purchasing

Speaker, is those now-22-year-old chil- now comes forward the health debate. our debt.

dren, those born back in about the year And what is the solution put forward So we can raise taxes on the Amer-

1987, will look at an unprecedented by President Obama and by the major- ican people—that’s not going to work

debt load out of their paycheck. And ity that controls the House of Rep- in a down economy—or we can issue

here it is: resentatives, the Democrat majority? more debt. That’s not working. China

Those kids will be looking at spend- We have one-party rule in Washington, is calling for throwing over the Amer-

ing approximately 25 percent of their D.C. One party controls every level of ican dollar as the international cur-

earnings just for Social Security. So power. And what is the solution? Well, rency and means of exchange. Now

imagine 25 percent of your earnings let’s just have government take over China, now the U.N., now Russia, now

goes just to pay for Social Security. the rest of health care. As if we already Brazil, now South America, now coun-

What else do we know? We know that haven’t obligated ourselves on health try after country is calling for a new

Medicare is also an obligation that the care, now the proposal being advanced international, one-world currency. This

Federal Government has made, a prom- is that the government would take is a new event, Mr. Speaker. This is a

ise, if you will, that we have made to over the rest of health care. new happening. Why? Because this is

America’s senior citizens. Medicare b 1515 the greatest country that has ever been

costs exceed those of Social Security. in the history of man. In 5,000 years of

What would that mean?

So if, then, America’s young people, Well, we know at minimum, accord- recorded human history, there has

now 22 years of age, in their peak earn- ing to the Congressional Budget Office, never been a country greater or freer

ing years have 25 percent of their in- it would be an additional, perhaps, $990 or more powerful than the United

come taken to support Social Security billion in expenses. That’s according to States of America. That is our richness

and if we know that Medicare is more President Obama’s figures. Yet what and that is our legacy. Now, for the

than Social Security, those two compo- were the initial figures we were given first time, we’re hearing a call for the

nents alone would consume 50 percent when we were told of and were talked replacement of the U.S. dollar as the

of the average person’s paycheck in to about this government takeover of international means of exchange, to be

just a few years hence, 50 percent of health care? Mr. Speaker, it was $2 tril- replaced with a new international, one-

the paycheck just going for Social Se- lion, upwards of $2 trillion, according world currency, probably regulated by

curity and Medicare. to the Congressional Budget Office. a world regulator, perhaps under the

That doesn’t even contemplate Medi- Why do we think that this isn’t International Monetary Fund.

care part D, which is the pharma- stretching things, $2 trillion? What would that mean for the dollar?

ceutical portion, a relatively new enti- Well, because we know, when Presi- What would that mean for the stability

tlement that has been put before the dent Johnson implemented the modern of our country economically? What

American people. So let’s be very con- welfare state in 1965, President John- would that mean for America’s senior

servative and say 5 percent of that son and those here in Washington, D.C., citizens who are dependent upon the

young person’s paycheck. That would estimated that the cost of Medicare to Federal Government now for their

be 25 percent for Social Security. Gov- Americans would be about $9 billion, health care through Medicare and for

ernment would take another 25 percent adjusting for inflation by 1990. What their Social Security/retirement? What

for Medicare. Now we’re up to 50. Let’s was the actual cost? The actual cost does that mean for our senior citizens?

say another 5 percent for Medicaid part was $67 billion. The Federal Govern- Well, here is the third option that’s

D, and that’s very conservative. Now ment only undershot its estimate by a available to the government when it

we’re at 55 percent. factor of 7, but it wasn’t just on Medi- comes to dealing with finances. Again,

Well, what about the Federal income care. It was on hospitalization insur- the government can tax our people.

tax? That doesn’t even contemplate ance. You can go down the list. One Ouch. That really hurt. The govern-

what an individual would pay in Fed- new revision of Medicare after another ment is already whacking us a lot with

eral income tax. Federal income tax undershot the true cost to the Amer- our taxes.

could easily be another 30 percent of ican people of what Medicare would Then we talked about the area of bor-

that young person’s income. Now we’re cost them down the road, sometimes by rowing. Well, other countries aren’t

up to 85 percent. For an American born as much as 17 to 1. The Federal Govern- too keen on that right now.

in 1987, we are up to 85 percent of their ment was off by that much. What’s the third option, Mr. Speak-

income check going to the Federal Well, what has that done to our budg- er? It’s this: As a last resort, govern-

Government just to pay for entitle- ets? ments can do what the Weimar Repub-

ment programs. That has caused us to go into a def- lic did in the 1920s. They can print

Well, Mr. Speaker, that doesn’t in- icit mode so severe that now the Chi- money. They can print money that’s

clude the State income tax program. In nese are lecturing Americans. Chinese basically worthless. In some sense, the

Minnesota, the State that I’m from, Communists are lecturing American paper is worth more than what’s print-

that could well be an additional 8 per- free marketers on our out-of-control ed on it. What that is and what that

cent, which would add up to 93 percent spending and on our debt. Why? Be- represents is the good faith, the hard

of an American’s paycheck. An Amer- cause China owns so much of our debt. work, the years, and the toil of the

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ican born in 1987, when they get in Mr. Speaker, what are the options, if American people.

their peak earning years, could be you will, that the Federal Government Just this afternoon, I made a call to

looking at a minimum of 93 percent of has in front of itself when it comes to some constituents back in my district.

their paycheck going to pay just Social paying for these government programs? One man named Richard told me that

Security, Medicare, Medicare part D, Well, there are three: he was thinking about moving to

Federal income tax, and State income The Federal Government can either Singapore. Richard said the reason he

tax. increase taxes or it can increase bor- is moving to Singapore, Mr. Speaker, is







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9955

that he spent his whole life working. the government takes over their health illegal aliens, of people who are in our

He worked so hard. He took his Amer- care. country against our law. We have no

ican dollars, and he put them in the That’s exactly what I’m hearing from obligation to pay for that health care.

bank, and now he sees what our govern- my constituents as well and from sen- We also have a large segment of our

ment has done. Our government has ior citizens who don’t care if it’s a Re- population, Mr. Speaker, which makes

flooded the money supply with money publican plan or a Democrat plan. over $75,000 a year. They could pur-

that they’ve printed. They don’t care. They’re very smart, chase their own health care. They sim-

From one of our leading financial pa- Mr. Speaker. America’s senior citizens ply choose not to. They choose to

pers, one gentleman told me that we are very smart. They’re watching this spend their money on other items. It’s

had about $1 trillion in currency in cir- debate carefully. They’re watching. not their priority. We have a huge seg-

culation. We had about 1 trillion U.S. They’re paying attention. They’re lis- ment of our population which makes

dollars in circulation here in the tening to what the conversations are over $50,000 a year, which also chooses

United States. Last year, the Federal because they know they have the most not to purchase health care. Many peo-

Reserve pumped an additional $1 tril- to lose in this system. ple in that category are between the

lion into the currency. Why? ages of 18 and 35. They are, perhaps,

Well, what does that mean? President Obama was here, speaking without health care maybe for 4

If you had a dollar in the bank when to the 535 Members of Congress in a months, so they roll the dice and think

your government flooded the money speech to the joint session of Congress. maybe they’ll be healthy for the next 4

supply with an additional $1 trillion on He spoke to all of America when he months and won’t need it.

top of the $1 trillion we had with no said he will be cutting the Medicare Mr. Speaker, I’ve been in that situa-

more goods and services backing that Advantage program. That’s about $149 tion. My husband and I were in that

money up, that meant that an Ameri- billion out of Medicare. He also said situation when we had children. We

can’s dollar was only worth 50 cents. that he will have about $500 billion in had a few months where we didn’t have

Well, that’s why Richard was upset. savings from Medicare. Well, what does health care coverage, and we simply

He said to me, Congresswoman, I don’t that mean? It means $500 billion that could not afford the very high rate that

want to hold onto American dollars if America’s seniors will no longer be we would have had to have purchased

my government is going to inflate its able to count on. by ourselves to have been able to cover

way out of this current problem. If That’s not what we want to do to ourselves and our children, so we rolled

they do that to pay their bills—to pay America’s senior citizens. We can do so the dice. A lot of Americans do that.

their Medicare bills, to pay their So- much better than this. We have a great Yet there is a segment of our popu-

cial Security bills—then we’re all poor- option, great plans that do not put the lation which truly can’t afford health

er. We’re not richer. We’re poorer. government in charge. That is one care, and we have safety net after safe-

That brings us to the context, Mr. thing, Mr. Speaker, that I would say to ty net after safety net that this body

Speaker, of our debate in health care, America’s young people, to America’s has put into place for people who truly,

and that’s why I believe we are seeing middle-aged and to our senior citizens. through no fault of their own, can’t af-

the American people soundly rejecting In the middle of the debate on health ford to purchase health care. There cer-

the Federal Government’s taking over care, Americans really need to ask one tainly are people in that category. We

of health care—yet one more area question, and it is this: will always have that safety net. What

where it seems that it’s wasting Once this health care bill goes can we do? We have a positive alter-

money. through and is passed, will it give more native. It’s very simple. This is what

Again, a Gallup Poll was just re- power to the government and more we can do:

leased that showed, for the first time, control to the government over my Every American can purchase and

the American people believe that this health care or will it give me more own their own health care. Today, it’s

government wastes 50 percent of every control over my own health care? Will not that way, but we could be that

dollar it gets, which is why we should I have more options or will I have way. Today, we have American employ-

have an investigation. Truly, what fewer? ers owning most people’s health care.

amount of money does Congress waste? With every plan put forward so far by So it’s either our employer who owns

What actually goes to a true and a ben- the Democrat majorities that run our health care or it’s the Federal Gov-

eficial purpose? What are the alter- Washington, D.C.—whether it’s our ernment or it’s the State government—

natives for us as we look at health Democrat President or the Democrats one of the two. It’s either the govern-

care? who control the House or the Demo- ment or an employer who owns our

Today, 85 percent of Americans have crats who control the Senate—they’ve health care. Very few Americans actu-

health insurance. They like it. They all run to the left, to the liberal option. ally own their own health care, but

enjoy it. One of our Democrat col- They’ve all said there is only one way they would like to. It’s the same way

leagues was on the floor here earlier to handle this health care problem: Me. they own their car insurance. It’s the

this afternoon, and he said that the You need me. You need more govern- same way they own their homeowners’

majority of doctors in our country sup- ment. That’s what the liberals are say- insurance. It’s the same way when they

port the government takeover of ing in Congress, that government needs go out and purchase any other item.

health care. Only he didn’t call it the to be the one to take this over. They would like to be able to purchase

‘‘government takeover of health care,’’ Well, I don’t think so, Mr. Speaker. their own health insurance. We can

Mr. Speaker. He called it the ‘‘public The American people don’t think so. make that possible for them. So this is

option,’’ which is the government take- They think this Congress wastes 50 where we start:

over of health care. cents of every dollar. They may be We start by letting every American

Well, that isn’t true. That isn’t what right. The American people are some of purchase and own their own health in-

doctors in this country believe. Sur- the sharpest people in the world, and surance coverage. How do we do that?

veys were sent out. There was a survey they know when they’ve been had. We We allow Americans to band together

sent out by Investors Business Daily don’t have to go down that road. There with anyone they want to. Maybe it

that has been reported for the last 7 is a positive alternative which we can will be with people who live in their

days. They received surveys back from embrace and which can immediately communities. Maybe it’s all teachers.

28,000 physicians in the United States. bring down costs. Maybe it’s farmers. Maybe it’s Real-

They sent the surveys out to all physi- Again, 85 percent of the American tors. You can band together. Maybe it’s

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cians, and physicians responded back— people already enjoy health care, and other senior citizens. You can band to-

28,000 physicians. Of those physicians, they enjoy the health care that they gether so you can have a large pur-

two-thirds of them said that they be- have. For those who don’t have health chasing power. It’s like a credit union

lieve that the government takeover of care today, a large percentage are ille- would act. It’s with people in the geo-

health care will lead to diminished gal aliens. We have no business as graphical area. Maybe you live in a

care in the United States. They believe American citizens being forced to sub- rural area, Mr. Speaker. People could

that senior citizens will be worse off if sidize and to pay for the health care of band together, and they could purchase







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H9956 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

health insurance as a pool. They own spend on premiums for that policy, this We have a positive alternative. Rath-

it. They purchase it as a pool, together is nonsense. er than the government taking it over,

in a big, large group so that they can The thing is, Mr. Speaker, the Amer- rather than the government ramping

have better purchasing power. It’s just ican people are too smart. They are up expenses, rather than taking away

like if you go to Sam’s Club or if you seeing through the rhetoric from the choice from America’s most vulnerable

go to Costco. They’re able to offer President and from the majorities that citizens, we could instead embrace a

cheaper prices because they buy such a dominate this Congress. That’s why, positive alternative where Americans

large volume of the product. Well, let’s Mr. Speaker, the American people are own their own health care, ban to-

let American citizens do that. embracing our plan, which has rested gether with more people so they have

If it’s good enough for Sam’s Club, if on the groundwork of freedom, which is purchasing power, purchasing any level

it’s good enough for Costco, why can’t about the American people owning of care they want from anyone they

it be good enough for the average their own insurance policy, banding to- want in any State they want, putting

American person? gether with whomever they want to, to aside tax-free money, deducting on

b 1530 purchase whatever level of coverage their income tax return, their ortho-

they want from any State in the coun- dontia, their hearing aids, their eye-

You have banded together with who- try. glasses, truly owning their health in-

ever you want, buy your own insur- I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, you will surance. Then they finally get rid of

ance. Then, Mr. Speaker, we let people see States all across this great country these evil lawsuits that are eating up

buy whatever level of coverage they change the number of mandates that so much of America’s substance.

want. Maybe they want to buy a policy they require on insurance policies. This is a positive alternative. It

that is expensive that has all the bells Their State can be the go-to State for won’t break the bank. When our coun-

and whistles on it. Or maybe, Mr. issuing insurance policies, and from try is functionally bankrupt now, this

Speaker they only want a small there, as a former tax lawyer, I would won’t break the bank. It will cause our

amount of coverage. recommend this: I would recommend country to turn itself right-side up so

Maybe they only want hospitaliza- that every American be allowed to set we can get back on track, get people

tion. So in case something happens to aside, tax free, in an account, money back to work. We want to be able to

them, they have to go to the hospital that every American believes that they see this positive alternative.

for a heart attack or for cancer treat- want to set aside to pay for their own

ments or they get laid up somehow and Right now, Mr. Speaker, I am joined

health care. It’s completely tax free.

they have to go to the hospital. They by two great physicians here in our

No taxes paid on it.

only want catastrophic coverage, truly body. One is Dr. JOHN FLEMING, and he

If they have a catastrophic event,

catastrophic. That would be a very in- is a new Member of Congress with

where their expenses out-pace their

expensive plan. great ideas.

tax-free money, they can fully deduct

Why don’t we allow people to do the cost of their premiums, of their Another Member in our Congress is

that? In my home State of Minnesota, copays, of their medicines, of their Dr. PHIL GINGREY, who we are just so

Mr. Speaker, we are the most, if not medical devices, of their surgeries, of proud of for his courage. He offered an

the most, we are one of the most heav- their hearing aides, of their chiro- amendment in his committee that

ily mandated States in the country. In practic care, of their acupuncture care. would keep illegal aliens from having

other words, our State legislature, Whatever it is, they would be allowed access to taxpayer-subsidized health

where I used to be a State senator, we to fully deduct that on their income care. President Obama told America

have about 70 different mandates. In tax returns. In other words, truly own that illegal aliens will not receive tax-

other words, 70 different requirements and take responsibility for your own payer-subsidized health care.

before any insurance company can sell health care. That was after the Democrats in this

an insurance policy. Then from there, finally, true lawsuit body rejected Dr. GINGREY’s amend-

An insurance company might decide I reform. Everybody knows this. You ask ment that would have denied taxpayer

would like to sell this low-cost, low- a doctor what do we need to do? Law- subsidized coverage to illegal aliens.

frills insurance plan. I think that suit reform, without a doubt. Eighty- We have a lot we can talk about.

maybe I could sell it for, oh, $60 a three percent of all doctors sued in this I want to now turn over to my col-

month. country today are found not liable for league, Dr. JOHN FLEMING.

Well, in my State, an insurance com- the alleged problem. What’s hap- Mr. FLEMING. I thank my colleague,

pany can’t do that. Why? They are pro- pening? Gentlewoman BACHMANN, for providing

hibited by law. Because my State man- We are seeing now today people filing leadership in this hour and particularly

dates that an insurance company has lawsuit after lawsuit. And rather than on the subject of health care.

to have 70 different requirements be- go through the hassle and worry about You know, Mr. Speaker, there is real-

fore they can sell the policy. a jury award, doctors are settling, Mr. ly a fundamental economic, that I

In other words, they have to sell a Speaker, when they don’t want to set- think we always have to go back to. I

Cadillac policy rather than a Kia. No tle, when they know they are innocent, practiced family medicine for over 30

offense to Kia owners, no offense to when they know they didn’t do any- years, still practice from time to time.

Cadillac owners. thing wrong.

But the point is simply this. We This isn’t helping anyone, not any- There is something very important

should allow insurance companies to one, not even the trial lawyers. Be- that we all need to learn. That is that,

sell truly a wide variety of products. cause, why? It’s bringing down this yes, Medicare and Medicaid is govern-

Isn’t that what President Obama said great country. We truly do have the ment-run health care. If you ask the

when he was here in this Chamber? He finest health care that has ever been average person who has Medicare, they

said he wants choice. He wants com- offered to people ever in the history of will say they are happy with it.

petition. the world. From my State of Min- But there is a very important reason

Well, his words don’t line up with his nesota, we are a leader in medical ally why they say this. Medicare currently

actions. There is a little problem here and medical devices. We have pays a fraction of the actual cost and

with what the President has said. How Medtronic. We have Boston Scientific. delivery of Medicare care.

is it choice and competition if govern- We have Guidance. We have great com- So who pays the rest? The rest is paid

ment is the choice, if, after 5 years panies in Minnesota that have contrib- for by private insurance. Private insur-

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time, as the House bill has said, all in- uted mightily to medical advances and ance today subsidizes Medicare and

surance plans have to look exactly like breakthroughs. Medicaid. If you ask the average physi-

the government plan? And now what? Now the government cian in practice, he or she will tell you

You could have 45,000 different insur- wants to impose a 10 percent tax on that they can only have a certain num-

ance plans but so what? If they all look these medical devices? Why would we ber of Medicare and Medicaid patients

exactly the same, and if the Federal do this? Who gains? Who gains from all in their office. Otherwise, they become

Government controls what you would of this? insolvent.







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9957

So when the President says, Well, we able for that targeted 10 million Ameri- b 1545

need to have this government-run op- cans who want insurance but can’t buy Mrs. BACHMANN. I want to thank

tion to pull the cost of private insur- it. the gentleman so much for his remarks

ance down, that really defies rea- Instead, Mr. Speaker, what our col- and for his comments. It is tremendous

soning. It’s really upside down from leagues on the other side of the aisle credibility to be able to come here on

what economically is going on. want us to do is totally dismantle the the floor and speak as a physician.

What is happening is, when you make best health care system in the world You’ve had years of service treating

your private insurance payment to the and put in place a UK- or Canadian- and healing patients all across the

tune of about $1,800 per family per style medicine, form of medicine, form United States. You look into the eyes

year, what you are really finding is of health care, which provides uni- of your patients and know the fear that

that that is the subsidy that goes for versal coverage but not universal care. they feel, knowing that they may lose

Medicare. What do I mean by that? Certainly, I

some of the finest health care ever.

So, if you enlarge Medicare or gov- think we can all agree that care de-

And we don’t want to see our physi-

ernment-run health care in general, layed is care denied.

In America today, those who are un- cians have their hands bound.

and you artificially depress the price, As a matter of fact, I just want to

which is what the President and H.R. insured still can go to the emergency

refer to, again, Investors Business

3200, our colleagues on the other side of room and, by law, be treated for what-

Daily, which did a seven-part series,

the aisle call for, what will in fact hap- ever ails them, even if they don’t have

and they have said that 45 percent of

pen is you will cause the cost of health the ability to pay for it. In fact, we are

American doctors may leave the pro-

care, private insurance premiums, to not even allowed to ask them, as pro-

fession if government takes over health

actually accelerate. viders, whether they can afford that.

If someone has needed surgery, per- care. As a matter of fact, doctors, more

Under this plan, the employers are than anyone, detest the current status

given the option: They can either pay 8 haps, or they need to be admitted to

the hospital for lifesaving treatment, quo and the role played by insurance

percent as a fine, if you will, or a tax, companies.

and dump their employees into this it’s going to be done. Now, you take

the UK, you take Canada and much of They want to see us change health

plan, this government-run option, or care, which we agree. But this is not

they can try to continue to keep up Europe, yes, they have coverage. But

what good is coverage if it takes 4 the route to go. And physicians are

with the growing cost of private insur- telling us that. As a matter of fact,

years to get the treatment?

ance. Over time and through competi- two-thirds of practicing physicians said

The average waiting time in Canada

tion, employers will be forced to dump that senior citizen care will suffer

today is a year to get an MRI scan.

their employees into enlarging, if you Then after the scan is done, you get in under the government’s plan. Three of

will, a black hole, a public option or line for the needed surgery. Talking in five doctors think that drug develop-

government-run medicine. my district, a lot of folks in my dis- ment of new drugs will also be thwart-

What we end up with at the very end ed. Also, they see that fewer doctors

trict have relatives back in Canada.

of the day is a very small flange, if you will be entering the new profession of

One lady said, Well, my brother tore

will, of private insurance, that which his rotator cuff, but it took a year to medicine.

we all know and appreciate today. And get an MRI. When he finally saw the Before I hand this over to my col-

everyone else, of course, is in this large doctor, it was too late to repair it. The league, Dr. GINGREY of Georgia, I would

government-run system. definition of elective surgery in Canada like to just add something that we saw

Who will be left in the private insur- is surgery that’s not lifesaving. For us, happen. There was an article in The

ance market? Well, it will be the very elective surgery is surgery that you Wall Street Journal. This just hap-

healthy, it will be the elite and, of elect to have. You don’t necessarily pened. Now we have a directive last

course, Members of Congress. need to have it. week from one of our Senators, Mr.

I proposed House Resolution 615, and Mr. Speaker, I really think that we BAUCUS. He has ordered Medicare regu-

I have many of my colleagues, now, on this side of the aisle have won the lators to investigate and likely punish

who have signed on to it and over a debate on this issue. The American Humana for trying to educate their en-

million Americans who have signed in people agree with us today, 56 versus 32 rollees in their Advantage plan about

support of it, that simply says that if a percent, that the current health care the fact of the Medicare Advantage.

Congressman votes for the public op- we have today is better than this This is very concerning. We’re seeing

tion, he or she should be willing to sign Obama care or this government-run op- a United States Senator calling for an

up for it themselves. So far I have not tion. investigation of a company that is

had one person on the other side of the The problem is, we still have Mem- communicating with its enrollees in its

aisle who has also signed up for that. bers of Congress, we have Members of companies. So a company with its cus-

In closing, let me say that we also the Senate and even a President, who tomers is simply communicating mate-

need to focus on who the insured group insist on going down that road and tak- rial and now a company is given a gag

is. You have heard this number: 46 mil- ing one-sixth of our entire economy order by the government?

lion Americans who are uninsured. and reforming it into a socialist gov- Well, this didn’t occur with the

Well, who is that group? ernment-run system. I think if we look AARP. The government isn’t telling

About 10 million of them actually are back on what the government is doing the AARP, which also offers Medicare

not Americans at all. They are illegal today and what it has done in the past, Advantage plans. They aren’t putting a

immigrants. Ten to perhaps 17 million whether you are talking about the post gag order on them.

of them are young healthy adults, what office, which has a $9 billion deficit, This is really concerning, Mr. Speak-

we call the invincibles, who have opted whether you are talking about Medi- er, because we can’t have the Federal

out of the insurance, who have decided care itself, which will run out of money Government engaging in censorship.

it’s not worth the money because they completely within 8 years, and all the That’s what this is, pure and simple.

are healthy anyway. fraud, waste and abuse that exists The Obama administration and Dem-

We also have a number who are eligi- there, and the $350 billion that our ocrat Senators are calling for censor-

ble for Medicaid but simply don’t sign President says he is going to save out ship. They want to stop insurance com-

up for it. Really what we have is 10 of that, when after 40 years not one sin- panies from communicating with their

million Americans who qualify for gle politician has been able to find the customers about what government

health insurance as Americans, but solution to that problem. I think it’s takeover of health care might mean for

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they can’t afford it because of a pre- really the wrong decision to make, to them. This is unconscionable. Who

existing illness or a current illness; the have more government control of our would have ever thought we would live

expense is too high. Perhaps they own health care. in a time when government would be

a small business or they are employees With that, I appreciate so much my calling for censoring a company be-

of a small business. Because the risk good friend, MICHELE BACHMANN, for in- cause the company is not commu-

pool is so small, they simply can’t find viting me and allowing me to partici- nicating the message that government

affordable insurance. All of that is fix- pate in this discussion today. wants it to communicate.







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H9958 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

Well, with that, I want to hand the Members and their constituents an $170 billion for Medicare Advantage.

next few minutes over to my colleague idea of where this test is going and That is a 17 percent cut per year over

from Georgia, the great Dr. PHIL what the likely grade would be. the next 10 years, each and every year,

GINGREY, who courageously has offered The President said, ‘‘The reforms I’m cutting that program by 17 percent.

amendment after amendment after proposing would not apply to those It’s estimated now by the Congres-

amendment in committee to try and who are here illegally.’’ Well, quite sional Budget Office that at least 3 mil-

make it clear that no bureaucrat honestly, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3200, that lion people—that’s 30 percent of those

should ever come between you and bill that has passed three committees who are on Medicare Advantage—will

your doctor, and also that no illegal of this body, including the committee lose that coverage because of the plan

alien should ever receive taxpayer-sub- that I serve on, Energy and Commerce, to pay for this massive new govern-

sidized health care. well, H.R. 3200 fails in regard to the ment takeover of our health care sys-

These issues were all brought up by President’s pledge that the reforms tem.

the President in his joint session would not apply to those who are here Again, going back to the test, noth-

speech. Dr. GINGREY put Members of illegally because in this bill, while it ing in the plan requires you to change

Congress on record. And that’s why the says no one in this country illegally what you have. That is just absolutely,

American people are concerned—and will be eligible for any government Mr. Speaker, not true. H.R. 3200 fails

rightly so. subsidies in this health reform plan to on that account.

Dr. GINGREY. help them purchase health insurance, I’m going to skip down to the last

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speak- it takes out the provision that cur- question on my little mini-test in the

er, I certainly appreciate the gentle- rently exists in law that says if you are interest of time. The President says, I

lady from Minnesota for carrying this going to be a beneficiary of a safety net will not sign a plan that adds one dime

hour of important information in re- program such as Medicaid in the 50 to our deficit. I will not sign a plan

gard to the health care reform pro- States, or the CHIP program, the Chil- that adds one dime to our deficit.

posal, H.R. 3200, and also my good dren’s Health Insurance Program—a Well, again, Mr. Speaker, let’s go

friend and colleague, physician col- great program, but it’s heavily feder- back to what the nonpartisan Congres-

league from the great State of Lou- ally funded with taxpayer dollars—in sional Budget Office says—and the di-

isiana, Dr. JOHN FLEMING. those programs you have to show veri- rector, Mr. Elmendorf, is chosen by the

As the gentlelady has said, before fication: a Social Security card, a Speaker of the House and by the Demo-

coming to Congress from the State of verifiable number; in some cases in cratic leadership. And he says this bill

Georgia, I spent something like 32 some States, a photo identification. All is not fully paid for. In fact, $260 billion

years practicing medicine; 26 as an OB/ of that is taken out in H.R. 3200. are not paid for. That’s a little bit

GYN physician. The physician Mem- So, quite honestly, that first state- more, Mr. Speaker, than one thin dime,

bers in this body—and there are about ment the President makes, H.R. 3200 isn’t it, $260 billion?

17 of us; 5 on the Democratic side, 12 on fails on that pledge. So I could go on and on and on. But

the Republican side—probably have The second quote I would like to the Obama health care test, quite hon-

over 400 years of clinical experience have my colleagues be aware of, the estly—my colleagues may have trouble

combined in regard to health care. President said—and this, again, is in seeing this—but we have a grade in the

We bring to this issue, I think, a fund his speech 2 week ago: ‘‘Nothing in the left-hand corner, and it’s a big old fat

of knowledge that needs to be listened plan requires you to change what you F.

to—and listened very carefully to. Not have.’’ The American people understand

that we’re necessarily the experts on H.R. 3200 fails miserably in regard to that, and the American people are not

the last word, but I think we are a very the President’s pledge of: if you like happy with it. They’re not happy with

important word. what you have, you can keep it. That this idea also of a public option that

As Representative BACHMANN was certainly is not true for those 10 mil- they know and that we on this side of

saying, the President right here, Mr. lion of our Medicare recipients—that’s the aisle know is going to lead to a

Speaker, 2 weeks ago, as he spoke to 25 percent, by the way, of everybody government takeover.

the Nation about the need for health that’s on Medicare that gets their cov- I’m going to close out, Mr. Speaker,

care reform and he had a joint session erage through Medicare Advantage. so I can yield the time back to the gen-

here—the Senate, the House of Rep- And they pick Medicare Advantage be- tlelady from Minnesota so she can

resentatives, his Cabinet, the Supreme cause it covers so much more. And I yield to other speakers. But I want to

Court Justices—the President was think Dr. FLEMING spoke about that. close out with this: in our committee

talking about promises that he had Under traditional fee-for-service yesterday, as we continued to mark up

made to the Nation in regard to health Medicare, you can’t even, Mr. Speaker, some amendments to H.R. 3200, one of

care reform. go to the doctor for a routine annual the most powerful members of that

You remember, Mr. Speaker, that physical and have it paid for, other committee on the Democratic majority

was when one of the Members on our than that first entry level when you side made this statement: ‘‘When there

side of the aisle in a moment of ex- turn 65. But under Medicare Advan- is a marked failure in this country, the

treme passion and emotion suggested tage, certainly you do; and you can on government must step in.’’

that the President was guilty of serial an annual basis. You don’t have to be Now let me repeat that, Mr. Speaker.

disingenuity. sick to be seen. One of the most powerful members of

But as we look at the speech and we You can get coverage for things like the most powerful committees drafting

look at the things that the President hearing aids, and you have the oppor- and writing this health care legislation

said about health care reform and you tunity when you get your prescriptions made this statement: ‘‘When there is a

go through it almost line by line, cer- filled that a nurse will call and make marked failure, the government must

tainly there are some statements that sure that you’re taking those medica- step in.’’ I guess just like they did with

need to be questioned. And we will con- tions. Government Motors, just like they did

tinue to question, and I think the So wellness and prevention, two as- with AIG, just like they want to do

American people will continue to ques- pects of improving health care in this now with health care.

tion, Mr. Speaker. And they deserve country that the President, the Demo- That’s not the American way. And I

answers. They deserve straightforward cratic majority has continued to don’t think the American people want

and accurate answers. stress. That is a huge part of Medicare that. We should have the freedom

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I have a little chart, Mr. Speaker, Advantage. That’s why we created under our Constitution to succeed or

that I want my colleagues on both Medicare Advantage and that’s why 25 fail and not have the government come

sides of the aisle this afternoon to pay percent of our seniors choose that as in and take over. That sounds like

close attention to. It’s called the the delivery system that they get. some other country that, thank God, I

Obama Health Care Test. This is just In this bill, to help pay for it, $500 was not born and raised in.

sort of an abstract, really, of a much billion, Mr. Speaker, $500 billion, is Mr. KING of Iowa. Will the gen-

larger test. But I think it gives the ripped out of the Medicare system, and tleman yield?







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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9959

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I yield Nothing in the plan requires you to can eat a chocolate cake and it has no

back to the gentlelady from Minnesota change what you have. No, probably calories. This doesn’t add up. That’s

for a question from the gentleman from not specifically requiring you to why there is no credibility on the gov-

Iowa. change what you have, but there are ernment takeover of health care, which

Mrs. BACHMANN. Thank you to the certainly many threats as to the via- is why our colleague, Dr. GINGREY, of-

gentleman from Georgia. bility of the health insurance compa- fered his very simple amendments, put

I yield to the gentleman from Iowa. nies and the existence of the policies up or shut up.

Mr. KING of Iowa. I thank the gen- after the new health choices adminis- Will illegal aliens be covered or not?

tlelady from Minnesota and the gen- tration czar gets done writing new Oops, Democrats apparently think they

tleman from Georgia. rules. will.

Dr. GINGREY, I wanted to just step in So this is ambiguous language de- Will abortion be covered by tax-

and reinforce your statement in look- signed to cause people to believe what payers? Our colleague, JOE PITTS, put

ing at your poster. As ranking member they want to hear. But upon analysis, I that in. Oops, I guess that it will be-

of the Immigration Subcommittee, I rise to support your analysis, Dr. cause they didn’t take it out.

want to reinforce the analysis that GINGREY. What about bureaucrats? Will bu-

you’ve laid out, especially on that first Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank the gen- reaucrats be able to substitute their

point. The President said, The reforms tleman from Iowa. I think that is decisions for you and those of your doc-

I’m proposing would not apply to those something that we wanted to consider tor? Will a bureaucrat get between you

who are here illegally. when the President was here was and your doctor? That was offered by

H.R. 3200, not only has it been the speaking to the joint session of Con- Dr. GINGREY. Oops, I guess it is up to a

vote in your committee, a vote of 29–28 gress. He made it clear there were some bureaucrat now, not a doctor.

large details that had yet to be worked There is a reason why the American

that voted down the Deal amendment,

out. Essentially what that is is the people are panicking on this issue, and

which would have required proof of

President saying to the American peo- we are right there with them. Because

citizenship, which has been a con-

ple, Trust me. Trust me. Not only the we think you deserve better than that.

sistent standard in Federal law under

American people, but to the Senators Because, Mr. Speaker, this is the

Medicaid, that pattern is played out

and the Members of Congress that were American people’s money; and because,

here. Democrats want to fund illegals

here serving as representatives of the Mr. Speaker, this is about life and

in this program and many others.

death. That’s why we have such a great

There is also a vote in the Ways and people in this Chamber. Trust me. Be-

alternative. That’s why we say to the

Means Committee that is consistent. cause the details aren’t worked out.

American people, you own your own in-

That was a straight party-line vote on There are so many vagaries. We don’t

surance policy. You ban together with

a very similar amendment that would know, for instance, how the bill will be

whoever you want to buy that policy.

have required proof of citizenship. paid for. Trust me, the President says.

Then the President talks about var- You buy it from anyone you want to

And the third piece of proof that you buy it from. You buy it in any amount

were right and your critics are wrong ious commissions that will be set up.

We know another health care czar will you want to buy it, and you buy it any-

and my critics are wrong would be the where in the United States. And that’s

Congressional Budget Office’s estimate be set up in the bill. A czar? The Amer-

why we say buy it with your own tax

of the cost of funding illegals in this. ican people are already saying govern-

free money and deduct the rest on your

Their estimate leaves as many as 5.6 ment is wasting too much money. The

income tax return. And then let’s truly

million that would qualify under the American people’s opinion is that 50

have lawsuit reform. That is 95 percent

language of H.R. 3200—5.6 million percent of every dollar we spend is

of the problems; done just like that.

illegals. wasted, and now we are supposed to

What does it cost the Treasury? I guar-

The fourth reinforcement of your give authority to a health care czar to

antee it doesn’t bankrupt it, not the

statement would be Congressional Re- basically write the bill over a 4-year

way that this $2 trillion monstrosity

search Services, who reached a similar period because as the current bill, H.R.

will do.

conclusion, although from a different 3200, is written, it is very interesting, That is why we are here this after-

approach and a little bit different lan- who is the enforcer of this bill? Well, noon, because we have a positive alter-

guage. none other than the Internal Revenue native to the government takeover of

So there’s four ways that says that Service, the IRS. That’s the enforcer of health care. We can do far better.

this bill will fund illegals. The Presi- this bill. Loads of new taxes larded I yield to the gentleman from Geor-

dent has denied that, and now he wants onto the backs of the American tax- gia.

to simply legalize the illegals in order payer. Loads of new taxes enforced by Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I thank

to be able to maintain his statement the IRS. My goodness, Mr. Speaker, the gentlelady for yielding.

that he’s not proposing anything that could we add insult to injury to the I just want to refer back to the other

will fund illegals. That’s a pretty deft American people? It is amazing. night and the President’s speech and

maneuver, if you can get by with it. And the taxes would be scheduled to the issue of whether or not illegal im-

But this is a modern world, and we see go in place January 1. In just a few migrants were covered. That was the

it happening. months, the taxes will go into effect on point at which my good friend, Mr.

Then I drop down to the statement insurance companies, on individuals, WILSON, JOE WILSON from South Caro-

that the President said, which is, I will on businesses. The taxes will go into lina, made his comment, and it kind of

not sign a plan that adds one dime to place January 1, 2010. Well, what about upset the applecart a little bit, if you

our deficits. the care? What about all of the new will.

care that people are going to get? Oh, But, Mr. Speaker, after the speech

b 1600 that doesn’t go into effect for another was over with and the President was

All I need to say about that is the 3, 4 years down the road. What? back at the White House, I don’t know,

President said he will not sign a bill So we are paying for this with larded possibly talking with Rahm Emanuel

that has earmarks. We know he has new taxes to the Federal Government or David Axelrod and they went

signed bills that had thousands of ear- for 3 or 4 years, and then the care through the speech, went through H.R.

marks in them, so I don’t make that comes down? And we are supposed to 3200 and said, Mr. President, the gen-

statement at face value. And I don’t trust this administration? We are sup- tleman from South Carolina was a lit-

make allegations about labels of the posed to trust this Democrat majority tle bit on the rude side, but by golly,

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President. that they will figure it all out and maybe he was a little bit on the right

No Federal tax dollars will be used to somehow it won’t cost any money and side as well and we need to do some-

fund abortions. We know historically if we won’t have to worry about it. We thing about this verification, because if

there is not a specific prohibition, Fed- are going to bring another 47 million we don’t, then illegal immigrants are

eral funds will be used to fund abor- people into the system, not add any going to be able to take advantage of

tions, 300,000 of them in the first couple new doctors, and we are going to actu- our hardworking taxpayers across this

years alone after Roe v. Wade. ally cut costs? That is like saying you country.







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H9960 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

And so the President in subsequent EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, Code section 47-117(d); to the Committee on

speeches, and on Sunday morning he ETC. Oversight and Government Reform.

3782. A letter from the Acting Director, Of-

was on a number of shows and he is Under clause 2 of Rule XXIV, execu- fice of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, Depart-

continuing to give speeches, he made tive communications were taken from ment of Commerce, transmitting the Depart-

the comment, you know, we absolutely the Speaker’s table and referred as fol- ment’s final rule — Fisheries of the Exclu-

do need a verification system very lows: sive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pelagic

similar to what we currently have with 3772. A communication from the President Shelf Rockfish by Vessels Subject to Amend-

our safety net programs that I ref- of the United States, transmitting FY 2010 ment 80 Sideboard Limits in the Western

erenced earlier, Medicaid and the Budget Amendments for the Department of Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

SCHIP program. Energy; (H. Doc. No. 111—65); to the Com- [Docket No.: 0910091344-9056-02] (RIN: 0648-

XQ52) received August 25, 2009, pursuant to 5

So I think the President is certainly mittee on Appropriations and ordered to be

printed. U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Nat-

paying attention and is maybe getting ural Resources.

a little more careful about under- 3773. A communication from the President

3783. A letter from the Deputy Assistant

standing and reading those—how many of the United States, transmitting FY 2010

Administrator for Operations, NMFS, De-

Budget Amendments for the Department of

pages are in the bill, 1,200? Defense; (H. Doc. No. 111—66); to the Com-

partment of Commerce, transmitting the De-

Mrs. BACHMANN. There are 1,018. partment’s final rule — Fisheries of the Ex-

mittee on Appropriations and ordered to be

I thank the gentleman from Lou- clusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering

printed.

isiana, the gentleman from Georgia Sea/Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization

3774. A letter from the Chief Counsel, De-

Program; Amendment 28 [Docket No.:

and the gentleman from Iowa. Clearly, partment of Homeland Security, transmit-

080630808-91192-03] (RIN: 0648-AW97) received

the American people know we can do ting the Department’s final rule — National

September 8, 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.

better. That is what we will do. Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); Assistance

801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Natural

to Private Sector Property Insurers, Write-

Resources.

f Your-Own Arrangement [Docket ID FEMA- 3784. A letter from the Acting Director, Of-

2008-0001] (RIN: 1660-AA58) received Sep- fice of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, Depart-

SPECIAL ORDERS GRANTED tember 3, 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. ment of Commerce, transmitting the Depart-

801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Financial

By unanimous consent, permission to ment’s final rule — Fisheries of the Exclu-

Services. sive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mack-

address the House, following the legis- 3775. A letter from the Office of Chief Coun-

lative program and any special orders erel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543 [Docket No.

sel, Department of Homeland Security/ 0810141351-9087-02] (RIN: 0648-XQ93) received

heretofore entered, was granted to: FEMA, transmitting the Department’s final September 8, 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.

(The following Members (at the re- rule — Suspension of Community Eligibility 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Natural

quest of Mr. QUIGLEY) to revise and ex- [Docket ID FEMA-2008-0020; Internal Agency Resources.

tend their remarks and include extra- Docket No. FEMA-8083] received August 25, 3785. A letter from the Acting Director, Of-

neous material:) 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the fice of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, Depart-

Committee on Financial Services. ment of Commerce, transmitting the Depart-

Ms. WOOLSEY, for 5 minutes, today.

3776. A letter from the Regulatory Spe- ment’s final rule — Fisheries of the North-

Ms. KAPTUR, for 5 minutes, today. cialist, LRAD, Department of the Treasury,

Mr. DEFAZIO, for 5 minutes, today. eastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel,

transmitting the Department’s final rule — Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Total Allow-

Mr. SPRATT, for 5 minutes, today. Risk-Based Capital Guidelines; Capital Ade- able Catch (TAC) Harvested for Loligo Squid

Mr. QUIGLEY, for 5 minutes, today. quacy Guidelines; Capital Maintenance; Cap- Trimester II [Docket No.: 0808041043-9036-02]

(The following Members (at the re- ital-Residential Mortgage Loans Modified (RIN: 0648-XQ73) received September 8, 2009,

quest of Mr. KING of Iowa) to revise and Pursuant to the Making Home Affordable pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Com-

extend their remarks and include ex- Program [Docket ID: OCC-2009-0007] (RIN: mittee on Natural Resources.

1557-AD25) received August 25, 2009, pursuant 3786. A letter from the Deputy Assistant

traneous material:)

to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Administrator for Operations, NMFS, De-

Mr. POE of Texas, for 5 minutes, Oc- Financial Services. partment of Commerce, transmitting the De-

tober 1. 3777. A letter from the Deputy Secretary, partment’s final rule — Fisheries of the Ex-

Mr. JONES, for 5 minutes, October 1. Securities and Exchange Commission, trans- clusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering

Mr. BURTON of Indiana, for 5 minutes, mitting the Commission’s final rule — Com- Sea and Aleutian Islands (Amendment 92)

September 28, 29, 30 and October 1. mission Guidance Regarding the Financial and Gulf of Alaska License (Amendment 82)

Mr. DEAL of Georgia, for 5 minutes, Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Limitation Program [Docket No.: 0808011016-

today. Standards Codification received August 25, 91210-04] (RIN: 0648-AX14) received September

2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the 8, 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to

Mr. FORBES, for 5 minutes, today and Committee on Financial Services.

September 25. the Committee on Natural Resources.

3778. A letter from the District of Columbia 3787. A letter from the Acting Director, Of-

Ms. FOXX, for 5 minutes, today. Auditor, Office of the District of Columbia fice of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, Depart-

(The following Member (at his re- Auditor, transmitting copy of the report en- ment of Commerce, transmitting the Depart-

quest) to revise and extend his remarks titled ‘‘Examination of the 2008 Summer ment’s final rule — Fisheries of the Exclu-

and include extraneous material:) Youth Employment Program Contracts’’, sive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern

Mr. SHIMKUS, for 5 minutes, today. pursuant to D.C. Code section 47-117(d); to Rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska [Docket No.:

the Committee on Oversight and Govern- 09100091344-9056-02] (RIN: 0648-XQ26) received

f ment Reform. August 25, 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.

3779. A letter from the District of Columbia 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Natural

SENATE CONCURRENT Auditor, Office of the District of Columbia Resources.

RESOLUTION REFERRED Auditor, transmitting copy of the letter re- 3788. A letter from the Acting Director, Of-

port entitled ‘‘Audit of Advisory Neighbor- fice of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, Depart-

A concurrent resolution of the Sen- hood Commission 1D for Fiscal Years 2006 ment of Commerce, transmitting the Depart-

ate of the following title was taken Through 2009, as of March 31, 2009’’, pursuant ment’s final rule — Fisheries Off West Coast

from the Speaker’s table and, under to D.C. Code section 47-117(d); to the Com- States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries;

the rule, referred as follows: mittee on Oversight and Government Re- Closure [Docket No. 0812171612-9134-02] (RIN:

S. Con. Res. 41. Concurrent resolution pro- form. 0648-XQ35) received August 25, 2009, pursuant

viding for the acceptance of a statue of Helen 3780. A letter from the District of Columbia to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on

Keller, presented by the people of Alabama, Auditor, Office of the District of Columbia Natural Resources.

to the Committee on House Administration. Auditor, transmitting copy of the report en- 3789. A letter from the Acting Assistant

titled ‘‘Audit of the Department of Employ- Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, Depart-

f ment Service’s 2008 Summer Youth Pro- ment of Commerce, transmitting the Depart-

gram’’, pursuant to D.C. Code section 47- ment’s final rule — Fisheries of the North-

ADJOURNMENT 117(d); to the Committee on Oversight and

tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with HOUSE









eastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I Government Reform. Fishery; State Waters Exemption [Docket

3781. A letter from the District of Columbia No.: 090224231-91118-02] (RIN: 0648-AX54) re-

move that the House do now adjourn.

Auditor, Office of the District of Columbia ceived August 25, 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.

The motion was agreed to; accord- Auditor, transmitting copy of the report en- 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Natural

ingly (at 4 o’clock and 8 minutes p.m.), titled ‘‘Audit of Advisory Neighborhood Resources.

the House adjourned until tomorrow, Commission 3E for Fiscal Years 2007 Through 3790. A letter from the Deputy Assistant

Friday, September 25, 2009, at 9 a.m. 2009, as of March 31, 2009’’, pursuant to D.C. Administrator For Regulatory Programs,









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September 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9961

NMFS, Department of Commerce, transmit- pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Com- housing allowance exclusion for purposes of

ting the Department’s final rule — Inter- mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- determining area gross income in deter-

national Fisheries; Western and Central Pa- ture. mining whether a residential rental property

cific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; 3799. A letter from the Chief, Publications is a qualified residential rental property for

Fishing Restrictions and Observer Require- and Regulations, Internal Revenue Service, purposes of the exempt facility bond rules; to

ments in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2009-2011 transmitting the Service’s final rule — Ex- the Committee on Ways and Means.

amd Turtle Mitigation Requirements in amination of returns and claims for refund, By Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Mr.

Purse Seine Fisheries [Docket No.:090130104- credit, or abatement; determination of tax KIRK, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. ROYCE, Ms.

9910-01](RIN: 0648-AX60) received August 25, liability (Rev. Proc. 2009-34) received August JACKSON-LEE of Texas, and Mr.

2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the 25, 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to WEXLER):

Committee on Natural Resources. the Committee on Ways and Means. H.R. 3642. A bill to authorize appropria-

3791. A letter from the Deputy Assistant 3800. A letter from the Chief, Publications tions for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to pro-

Administrator For Regulatory Programs, and Regulations Branch, Internal Revenue mote an enhanced strategic partnership with

NMFS, Department of Commerce, transmit- Service, transmitting the Service’s final rule Pakistan and its people, and for other pur-

ting the Department’s final rule — Fisheries — Rollovers from Employer Plans to Roth poses; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; IRAs [Notice 2009-75] received September 9, By Mr. ALEXANDER:

Revision of Single Geographic Location Re- 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the H.R. 3643. A bill to make technical correc-

quirement in the Bering Sea Subarea; Committee on Ways and Means. tions to section 3013(b) of the Water Re-

Amendments 62/62 [Docket No.: 071102641- 3801. A letter from the Chief, Publications sources Development Act of 2007; to the Com-

91087-04] (RIN: 0648-AR06) received August 25, and Regulations Branch, Internal Revenue mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc-

2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Service, transmitting the Service’s final rule ture.

Committee on Natural Resources. — Paid Time Off Contributions at Termi- By Mrs. CAPPS (for herself, Mr.

3792. A letter from the Deputy Assistant nation of Employment (Rev. Rul. 2009-32) re- EHLERS, and Mr. FARR):

Administrator For Regulatory Programs, ceived September 9, 2009, pursuant to 5 H.R. 3644. A bill to direct the National Oce-

NMFS, Department of Commerce, transmit- U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on anic and Atmospheric Administration to es-

ting the Department’s final rule — Inter- Ways and Means. tablish education and watershed programs

3802. A letter from the Regulation Coordi- which advance environmental literacy, in-

national Fisheries; Western and Central Pa-

nator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid cluding preparedness and adaptability for

cific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species;

Services, transmitting the Service’s final the likely impacts of climate change in

Fishing Restrictions and Observer Require-

‘‘Major’’ rule — Medicare Program; Limita- coastal watershed regions; to the Committee

ments in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2009-2011

tion on Recoupment of Provider and Supplier on Natural Resources.

and Turle Mitigation Requirements in Purse

Overpayments [CMS-6025-F] (RIN: 0938-AN42) By Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona (for

Seine Fisheries [Docket No.: 090130104-91027-

received September 15, 2009, pursuant to 5 herself, Mr. MATHESON, and Mr.

02] (RIN: 0648-AX60) received September 3, ´

U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); jointly to the Committees LUJAN):

2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the on Ways and Means and Energy and Com- H.R. 3645. A bill to amend the Transpor-

Committee on Natural Resources. merce. tation Equity Act for the 21st Century to re-

3793. A letter from the Assistant Secretary

f authorize a provision relating to additional

for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department

contract authority for States with Indian

of the Interior, transmitting the Depart- REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON reservations; to the Committee on Transpor-

ment’s final rule — 2009-2010 Hunting and

PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS tation and Infrastructure.

Sport Fishing Regulations for the Upper Mis-

Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of By Ms. MATSUI:

sissippi River National Wildlife and Fish H.R. 3646. A bill to amend the Communica-

Refuge [Docket No.: FWS-R3-NSR-2009-0007] committees were delivered to the Clerk tions Act of 1934 to establish a Lifeline As-

(RIN: 1018-AW48) received August 25, 2009, for printing and reference to the proper sistance Program for universal broadband

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Com- calendar, as follows: adoption, and for other purposes; to the

mittee on Natural Resources. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Committee Committee on Energy and Commerce.

3794. A letter from the Chief Justice, Su-

of Conference. Conference report on H.R. By Mr. SABLAN:

preme Court of the United States, transmit- H.R. 3647. A bill to delay the implementa-

2918. A bill making appropriations for the

ting notification that the Supreme Court Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending tion of the provisions of the Consolidated

will open the October 2009 Term on Monday, September 30, 2010, and for other purposes Natural Resources Act of 2008 applying Fed-

October 5, 2009 at 10:00 am and will continue (Rept. 111–265). Ordered to be printed. eral immigration laws to the Commonwealth

until all matters before the Court ready for Mr. MCGOVERN: Committee on Rules. of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for

argument have been disposed of or decided; House Resolution 772. Resolution providing other purposes; to the Committee on Natural

to the Committee on the Judiciary. for consideration of the conference report to Resources, and in addition to the Committee

3795. A letter from the Attorney-Advisor, accompany the bill (H.R. 2918) making appro- on the Judiciary, for a period to be subse-

Department of Homeland Security, transmit- priations for the Legislative Branch for the quently determined by the Speaker, in each

ting the Department’s final rule — Special fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for case for consideration of such provisions as

Local Regulations for Marine Events; Port the other purposes (Rept. 111–266). Referred fall within the jurisdiction of the committee

Huron to Mackinac Island Sail Race [Docket to the House Calendar. concerned.

No.: USCG-2009-0659] (RIN: 1625-AA08) re- By Mr. SALAZAR (for himself and Ms.

ceived August 25, 2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. f

MARKEY of Colorado):

801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Transpor- PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS H.R. 3648. A bill to amend title VII of the

tation and Infrastructure. Public Health Service Act to increase the

3796. A letter from the Attorney, Depart- Under clause 2 of rule XII, public

number of physicians who practice in under-

ment of Homeland Security, transmitting bills and resolutions of the following served rural communities; to the Committee

the Department’s final rule — Safety Zone; titles were introduced and severally re- on Energy and Commerce.

Naval Training August and September, San ferred, as follows: By Mr. PENCE:

Clemente Island, CA [Docket No.: USCG-2009- By Mrs. MALONEY (for herself, Mr. H. Res. 770. A resolution electing a minor-

0456] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received August 25, FRANK of Massachusetts, Ms. ity member to a standing committee; consid-

2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. ered and agreed to.

Committee on Transportation and Infra- CAPUANO, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. TIERNEY, By Ms. MCCOLLUM (for herself, Mrs.

structure. and Mr. LEVIN): CAPPS, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. COHEN, Mr.

3797. A letter from the Attorney, Depart- H.R. 3639. A bill to amend the Credit Card OBERSTAR, Mr. LANCE, Mr. GRIJALVA,

ment of Homeland Security, transmitting Accountability Responsibility and Disclo- Ms. BORDALLO, and Mr. GENE GREEN

the Department’s final rule — Safety Zone; sure Act of 2009 to establish an earlier effec- of Texas):

AVI September Fireworks Display, Colorado tive date for various consumer protections, H. Res. 771. A resolution supporting the

River, Laughlin, NV [Docket No.: USCG-2008- and for other purposes; to the Committee on goals and ideals of a National Mesothelioma

1262] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received August 25, Financial Services. Awareness Day; to the Committee on Over-

2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the By Mr. CHILDERS (for himself and Mr. sight and Government Reform.

Committee on Transportation and Infra- KRATOVIL): By Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr.

structure. H.R. 3640. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- SESTAK):

3798. A letter from the Program Analyst,

tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with HOUSE









enue Code of 1986 to extend and expand the H. Res. 773. A resolution expressing the

Department of Transportation, transmitting first-time homebuyers credit and to provide sense of the House of Representatives with

the Department’s final rule — Airworthiness a loss deduction on the sale of a principal respect to the United States Submarine

Directives; Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, residence; to the Committee on Ways and Force; to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-

-800, and -900 Series Airplanes [Docket No.: Means. fairs.

FAA-2008-1143; Directorate Identifier 2008- By Mr. NYE: By Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for him-

NM-136-AD; Amendment 39-15990; AD 2009-16- H.R. 3641. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- self, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr.

07] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received August 21, 2009, enue Code of 1986 to expand the military DELAHUNT, and Mr. WEXLER):









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H9962 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 24, 2009

H. Res. 774. A resolution expressing appre- H.R. 1203: Mr. TERRY. H.R. 3455: Mr. AUSTRIA.

ciation to Bermuda for accepting 4 individ- H.R. 1207: Mr. CUELLAR. H.R. 3519: Mr. HARPER, Mr. PIERLUISI, and

uals released from the detention facility at H.R. 1250: Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. GOODLATTE.

Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; to H.R. 1283: Mr. RYAN of Ohio. H.R. 3535: Mr. GRAYSON.

the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H.R. 1351: Mr. NUNES. H.R. 3545: Mr. GUTIERREZ and Ms. HIRONO.

By Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for him- H.R. 1410: Mr. DOYLE. H.R. 3551: Ms. BALDWIN.

self, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. H.R. 1469: Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey and H.R. 3554: Ms. BALDWIN.

WEXLER, and Mr. DELAHUNT): Mr. GRAYSON. H.R. 3567: Ms. CHU, Mr. HALL of New York,

H. Res. 775. A resolution expressing appre- H.R. 1505: Mrs. CAPITO and Mr. LOBIONDO. and Mr. CLAY.

ciation to Portugal for accepting two detain- H.R. 1521: Mr. FLEMING, Mr. GRAYSON, and H.R. 3569: Mr. WILSON of South Carolina.

Mr. WU. H.R. 3572: Mr. BARTLETT.

ees released from Guantanamo Bay prison;

H.R. 1558: Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of Cali- H.R. 3578: Mr. FILNER.

to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H.R. 3592: Mr. HASTINGS of Florida.

By Mr. HODES (for himself and Mr. fornia.

H.R. 3604: Mr. HONDA.

CAPUANO): H.R. 1560: Mr. WESTMORELAND. H.R. 3612: Mr. KLINE of Minnesota.

H. Res. 776. A resolution congratulating ´

H.R. 1585: Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of Cali- H.R. 3631: Mr. COHEN, Mr. TIBERI, Mr.

the Dartmouth Outing Club of Hanover, New fornia. PIERLUISI, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mrs.

Hampshire, for 100 years of service to the H.R. 1695: Mr. LYNCH, Mr. SHULER, Mr. RA- LOWEY, Mr. KLEIN of Florida, Mr. MAFFEI,

United States and its wilderness; to the HALL, Mrs. LOWEY, and Mr. LIPINSKI.

Mr. MASSA, and Mr. FRANKS of Arizona.

Committee on Education and Labor. H.R. 1751: Mr. MORAN of Virginia. H.R. 3636: Ms. WOOLSEY.

By Mr. MCDERMOTT (for himself, Ms. H.R. 1829: Mr. ANDREWS. H.J. Res. 26: Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin.

BALDWIN, Mr. FRANK of Massachu- H.R. 1855: Ms. PINGREE of Maine. H. Con. Res. 51: Mr. CARSON of Indiana.

setts, and Mr. POLIS): H.R. 1961: Ms. TSONGAS. H. Con. Res. 129: Mr. JONES, Mr. NYE, Mrs.

H. Res. 777. A resolution honoring all those H.R. 1989: Mr. LATTA. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. FLEMING, Mr.

participating in a production of ‘‘The Lar- H.R. 1993: Mr. HOLT. MASSA, Mr. REICHERT, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. ROO-

amie Project: 10 Years Later’’ in remem- H.R. 2017: Mr. GOODLATTE. NEY, and Mr. HASTINGS of Washington.

brance of Matthew Shepard; to the Com- H.R. 2035: Mr. RADANOVICH. H. Con. Res. 149: Mr. ROE of Tennessee.

mittee on the Judiciary. H.R. 2138: Mr. MCNERNEY and Mr. WALZ. H. Con. Res. 168: Mr. COURTNEY and Mr.

By Mr. MORAN of Kansas: H.R. 2139: Mr. SHADEGG. NYE.

H. Res. 778. A resolution expressing the H.R. 2266: Mr. PERRIELLO, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. H. Con. Res. 170: Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky,

sense of the House of Representatives that ACKERMAN, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. CAMPBELL, and Mr. MASSA.

the White House’s increasing use of ‘‘czars’’ and Mr. GUTIERREZ. H. Res. 16: Mr. LANCE, Mr. FRANK of Massa-

leads to inadequate vetting standards and H.R. 2277: Mr. LEE of New York. chusetts, Mr. BRADY of Texas, and Mr.

unacceptable growth in the size and scope of H.R. 2378: Mr. DINGELL. PAULSEN.

the Federal Government; to the Committee H.R. 2421: Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. STEARNS, Ms. H. Res. 200: Ms. WATERS.

on Oversight and Government Reform. EDWARDS of Maryland, Mr. GRIFFITH, Mr. H. Res. 216: Mr. LAMBORN.

JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. PINGREE of Maine, H. Res. 225: Mr. BROWN of South Carolina

f and Ms. RICHARDSON. and Mr. GRAVES.

PRIVATE BILLS AND H.R. 2427: Mr. PASCRELL. H. Res. 416: Mr. OLVER.

RESOLUTIONS H.R. 2456: Mr. SARBANES. H. Res. 524: Mr. MCNERNEY.

H.R. 2480: Mrs. SCHMIDT and Mr. LOBIONDO. H. Res. 554: Mr. BARROW, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr.

Under clause 3 of rule XII, H.R. 2492: Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. UPTON, Mr. WOLF, and Mr. SIMPSON.

Ms. PELOSI introduced a bill (H.R. 3649) H.R. 2499: Mr. TIERNEY. H. Res. 638: Mr. MILLER of North Carolina

for the relief of Maria Carmen Castro Rami- H.R. 2517: Mr. DOYLE. and Mr. SKELTON.

rez and J. Refugio Carreno Rojas; which was H.R. 2607: Mr. PUTNAM. H. Res. 672: Mr. HONDA.

referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 2616: Mr. COHEN. H. Res. 700: Mr. MANZULLO.

H.R. 2708: Mr. COLE. H. Res. 715: Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. CONNOLLY

f of Virginia, and Mr. CHAFFETZ.

H.R. 2906: Mr. CASTLE.

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS H.R. 2927: Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. H. Res. 727: Mr. WU, Mr. YOUNG of Florida,

H.R. 2941: Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. THOMPSON of California, and Mr.

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors H.R. 2946: Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. BERK- LOBIONDO.

were added to public bills and resolu- ´

LEY, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. LUJAN, Mr. SIRES, Mr. H. Res. 740: Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. LATTA, Mr.

tions as follows: SALAZAR, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mrs. MASSA, and Mr. GRAYSON.

H.R. 32: Mr. JONES, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. NAPOLITANO, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. GUTIERREZ, H. Res. 742: Mr. BOREN, Mr. BOCCIERI, Mr.

YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. SNYDER, Ms. Mr. COSTA, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. SERRANO. DONNELLY of Indiana, Mr. COOPER, Ms.

SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. SKELTON, H.R. 2949: Mrs. BONO MACK. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut, Mr.

Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. H.R. 2954: Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr.

SPRATT, Mr. MCCARTHY of California, Mr. H.R. 2999: Mr. SESTAK. YARMUTH, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. HERSETH

GRIFFITH, Mr. MELANCON, Mr. DAVIS of Ten- H.R. 3001: Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. SANDLIN, Mr. NYE, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. HODES,

nessee, Ms. FALLIN, Mr. SHIMKUS, and Mr. H.R. 3007: Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Ms. ZOE

SCOTT of Georgia. H.R. 3011: Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. LOFGREN of California, Mr. PETERSON, Mr.

H.R. 211: Ms. PINGREE of Maine. ROGERS of Michigan, Mr. MILLER of Florida, WALZ, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Mr. BONNER,

H.R. 333: Mr. DAVIS of Alabama. Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. CAMP, Mr. HARPER, Ms. Mr. CASSIDY, Ms. FOXX, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr.

H.R. 365: Mr. SNYDER. FOXX, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, LUCAS, Mr. COLE, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan,

H.R. 484: Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California Ms. GRANGER, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. Mrs. CAPITO, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr.

and Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS. HENSARLING, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mrs.

H.R. 622: Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. POE of BIGGERT, Mrs. MYRICK, Mrs. BONO Mack, Ms.

H.R. 690: Mr. NUNES, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. Texas, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. WATSON, Ms. WA-

MANZULLO, and Mr. MCCAUL. CONAWAY, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. GOHMERT, TERS, Ms. CLARKE, Ms. TITUS, Mrs. DAVIS of

H.R. 716: Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. GOOD- California, Ms. MARKEY of Colorado, Ms.

H.R. 775: Mr. INGLIS, Mrs. DAHLKEMPER, Mr. LATTE, Mr. LATTA, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. WOOLSEY, Mrs. LOWEY, Ms. DEGETTE, Ms.

MATHESON, Ms. TITUS, Mr. LEE of New York, WALDEN, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. NUNES, Mr. GIFFORDS, and Mr. SNYDER.

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado, Mr. WALDEN, and SOUDER, Mr. COLE, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mrs. H. Res. 743: Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. FOSTER,

Ms. DEGETTE. LUMMIS, Mr. REICHERT, Mr. MACK, and Mr. Mr. PETERS, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. WEINER, Mr.

H.R. 836: Mr. KRATOVIL and Mr. TOWNS. HOEKSTRA. BAIRD, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Ms. CLARKE,

H.R. 868: Mr. LOEBSACK, Ms. PINGREE of H.R. 3044: Mr. INGLIS, Mr. BACA, Mr. BRADY Ms. TITUS, Mr. MCDERMOTT, and Mr. DON-

Maine, Mr. CHANDLER, and Mr. LANGEVIN. of Texas, Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana, Mr. NELLY of Indiana.

H.R. 916: Mr. SARBANES. WESTMORELAND, Mr. MACK, Mr. SAM JOHNSON H. Res. 747: Mr. TOWNS, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr.

H.R. 932: Mr. COHEN and Mr. CARNAHAN. of Texas, and Mr. SHERMAN. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida,

H.R. 1022: Mr. FORBES and Mr. CARDOZA. H.R. 3076: Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. LATTA, and

H.R. 1074: Mr. BACHUS. H.R. 3217: Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. MCNERNEY.

H.R. 1103: Mr. CARNEY, Mr. ALTMIRE, and H. Res. 752: Mr. BOUCHER and Ms. WOOLSEY.

tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with HOUSE









H.R. 3284: Mr. GRAYSON.

Mr. ROONEY. H.R. 3329: Mr. STARK and Mr. ELLISON. H. Res. 759: Mr. ROGERS of Michigan, Mrs.

H.R. 1132: Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. CARTER, Mr. H.R. 3371: Ms. RICHARDSON. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. EHLERS, Mr.

MCCOTTER, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr.

THORNBERRY, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mrs. H.R. 3380: Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. BRALEY of SMITH of New Jersey, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. DON-

CAPPS, Mr. WATT, Mr. LARSON of Con- Iowa, and Mr. SCHRADER. NELLY of Indiana, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr.

necticut, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. H.R. 3401: Mr. COSTA and Mr. VAN HOLLEN. PENCE, Mr. LAMBORN, and Mr. HOEKSTRA.

HARPER, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. TEAGUE, H.R. 3438: Mr. BILBRAY and Mr. PITTS. H. Res. 768: Ms. DELAURO and Ms. WOOL-

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, and Mr. MATHESON. H.R. 3439: Ms. MATSUI. SEY.









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