[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H5751-H5766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BUDGET CONTROL ACT OF 2011
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I
call up House Resolution 383 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 383
Resolved, That during further consideration of the bill (S.
627) to establish the Commission on Freedom of Information
Act Processing Delays, as amended, pursuant to House
Resolution 375, the further amendment printed in the report
of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall
be considered as adopted.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California is recognized
for 1 hour.
{time} 1600
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield
the customary 30 minutes to my very good friend, the gentlewoman from
Rochester, New York (Ms. Slaughter), the distinguished ranking minority
member of the Committee on Rules, pending which I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DREIER. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded
is for the purpose of debate only.
General Leave
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
on the measure before us.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, as I began yesterday, when we launched the
debate, it was exactly 3 p.m. It's 4:01 on Friday, July 29. And as we
stand, as I do, or sit here, as any many of our colleagues do, we're
exactly 4 days away from that August 2 date at which time the
Department of Treasury has calculated that the Federal Government will
run out of money. At that point, we, as a country, will face impossible
choices about what obligations to default on first.
As I said, with this August 2 date rapidly approaching, we know that
we are faced with the potential of running out of money. We also know
that under that kind of scenario, there are no winners, and there are
no losers. We have a profound responsibility to resolve the crisis at
hand and avert the economic catastrophe that will come if we do not
join together and find a way to raise the debt ceiling.
But this looming crisis is not the fundamental problem. We're facing
this crisis because of a much larger, much longer-term problem. The
Federal Government spends more than it has. If you think about it,
Madam Speaker, we don't have a debt ceiling problem; what we have is a
debt problem. The former cannot be resolved without addressing the
latter. You can't address the debt ceiling issue unless you address the
debt issue that is before us. That's precisely what today's process and
the amendment that we are putting to the measure that we debated all
day yesterday is all about. And the rule before us is moving us toward
addressing the root cause of the problem.
We're adding another layer of accountability, something that
Democrats and Republicans alike regularly talk about. Accountability is
being added to the plan that Speaker Boehner is moving forward. With
the amendment that we're going to consider that this rule will make in
order, the House will proceed with the critical business at hand. We
will pass a bold and credible plan to rein in our debt and responsibly
avert the crisis that looms just a few days from now.
It's extremely unfortunate that this process has become so lengthy
and partisan. I think everyone feels very saddened at the fact that
it's become such a lengthy and very, very partisan process. But Madam
Speaker, time is running out. Today we have the opportunity to do our
work, and with passage of this measure, we will be moving the process
forward to help avert the crisis that we potentially face on August 2.
When we pass this out, we will send a measure to the Senate, and as
we all know, this is the only proposal that, when we pass it today,
that will have passed either House of Congress. We need to have the
support to do that. I hope very much that while many of my colleagues
who are on the other side of the aisle may not be supportive of all the
provisions in the Boehner plan, I hope very much to move the process
forward so that we can ensure that our constituents get their Social
Security
[[Page H5752]]
checks on August 3, since we all know the President, in his July 12
speech, said that if we don't increase the debt ceiling by August 2, he
couldn't guarantee that Social Security checks would go out.
So to keep the process moving, to ensure that we get those checks out
and address the other very, very important priorities that we need to
have funding for, we can pass this in a bipartisan way so that we can
get to the Senate, work out our differences as expeditiously as
possible, and come back with what clearly has to be a bipartisan
compromise to ensure that we are able to decrease spending, getting to
the root cause of the problem, and at the same time, do what we all
know has to be done and that is increase the debt ceiling.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. I thank my good friend, the gentleman from California,
the chair of the Rules Committee, for yielding me the customary 30
minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, today we face a self-inflicted crisis,
and the majority's proposed solution is no solution at all. The debt
ceiling was created, ironically, to avoid forcing Congress to approve
every new issue of debt. The debt ceiling was originally introduced to
pay for World War I and was designed to be a formality that would help
our country and economy operate smoothly and without interruption. All
these years later, it having done that, the debt ceiling now appears to
have outlived its usefulness. In fact, I believe we should abolish the
debt limit altogether and never face a crisis like this again of
whether we will be a responsible country that pays our bills. Only one
other country has the debt limit, and that is Denmark. I think we
really need to look at this as an anachronism from 1917.
Regardless, throughout the life of the debt ceiling, raising the
ceiling has never been questioned. Since 1960, the ceiling has been
raised 78 times. Throughout this time, there's been no quid pro quo
demanded to raise the debt ceiling, no ransom demanded in exchange for
raising our debt ceiling and preventing default. That is, until today.
Bringing our Nation to the brink of collapse has been a conscious
decision of the majority party. Placing ideology before country, they
are demanding controversial and unacceptable cuts or else they are
willing to let our Nation default.
We have been warned by the United States Senate and the President of
the United States that the proposed legislation will not be passed into
law. They have said it repeatedly. They have said it clearly. Yet the
majority continues to believe this bill can actually avert the danger
of default. They're playing a dangerous game of chicken, asking the
Nation to give into their demands if we want the American economy to
live to see another day. I simply cannot agree to the extreme demands
being put forth by the majority today.
{time} 1610
After pulling yesterday's legislation from the floor, the majority
has introduced a piece of legislation that demands the impossible.
Today's bill doesn't just require a vote on a constitutional amendment;
it demands that a constitutional amendment be approved by both Chambers
of Congress this fall. If the amendment doesn't pass, then we not only
face the prospect of default again 6 months from now, but we have even
fewer options to avoid default.
If previous proposals are any guide, the constitutional amendment
would place the burden of debt reduction squarely upon the middle
class, threatening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and Members
of Congress would be given a Sophie's choice: Do we vote against this
amendment and protect Medicare or do we vote for the amendment to avoid
economic default? This is totally unnecessary.
In effect, this legislation releases one hostage and takes another.
Six months from now, we would be forced to choose between a
constitutional amendment and putting the Nation back on the brink of
default. I refuse to trade hostages with the majority and prolong this
crisis for another 6 months.
I urge my colleagues to put the country before any ideology and come
together to solve an urgent and serious crisis that we are facing
today. It's our duty to put the welfare of the country before all else.
That is why we were elected by the people who expect us to do just
that, and that is what we swear to do. It is time we answered the call.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on today's bill and urgently,
urgently, get back to serving the American people. And we spent far too
much time on the useless bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds.
I would say to my good friend that I would like to totally associate
myself with her remarks at the end in which she said it is absolutely
essential for us to work together in a bipartisan way to resolve this
issue. But I know this will come as a surprise. When she began her
remarks and said that we on our side are working overtime making a
conscious decision to bring our Nation to the verge of collapse, that
is a slight mischaracterization of exactly where we are.
Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend from Spring Hill,
a hardworking and not-too-well-rested member of the Rules Committee,
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Nugent).
Mr. NUGENT. I thank the distinguished chair of the Rules Committee,
Mr. Dreier, for allowing me to speak.
I will be perfectly honest with you. There is a lot about this rule
that I don't love but, quite frankly, we don't have much time left. We
need to get something done and we need to get something done now. This
rule provides us with the tools and the mechanisms that we need to get
our jobs done and bring our economy and our country back from the brink
of default.
Default is not an option. The underlying legislation, the Budget
Control Act of 2011, saves us from default. Most of all, I support the
Budget Control Act of 2011 because it means both Chambers of Congress
must pass a balanced budget amendment before the President can raise
the debt ceiling once again.
Do I like everything in the bill? No, I don't.
Does it do what the American people and the American economy need and
deserve? Yes, it does. And that's why I support both the rule and the
underlying legislation.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the ranking
member on Ways and Means, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).
(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. LEVIN. The gentleman from California has been talking about
moving the process forward. It does not move the process forward to
pass a bill that's dead before arrival in the Senate. It doesn't move
the process forward to pass a bill that is even more partisan than the
one yesterday.
You know, the country has to be wondering, we are 1 day closer to
default and, indeed, one step backwards. The Republicans are trying to
squeeze out a majority here, and what they are doing is inserting a
provision that requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate and the House,
and that's completely a nonstarter.
The American public is looking for a solution, not a stalemate, and
the House Republicans have become the party of gridlock. Passing this
only increases it. It's a move backwards, maybe to protect your flank,
but not to protect America.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 10 seconds to say to my
good friend that there's a bit of a disconnect from my perspective. So
failure to act is not gridlock; passing legislation out of the House of
Representatives is, in fact, gridlock.
I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Cincinnati, Ohio (Mr. Chabot).
Mr. CHABOT. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Our national debt stands at a staggering $14.3 trillion and we
currently borrow more than 40 cents on every dollar we spend, and our
President and Democrats in the other body say that a balanced budget
amendment is ``dead on arrival.''
Fifteen years ago, the balanced budget amendment passed the House
with a bipartisan vote only to lose by one vote, one vote in the
Senate. A constitutional amendment is the only way
[[Page H5753]]
to ensure that future Congresses live within their means and end the
spending binge.
Our colleague, Congressman McClintock, might have summed it up best
in a Washington Times op-ed earlier this week. He said: Imagine a
family that earns $50,000 a year but is spending more than $88,000 a
year and has a credit card balance of $330,000 a year.
That's us. We're bankrupt, and Washington is broken.
Why are Senate Democrats and the President so afraid of making a
commitment to balance our budget?
Stop the spending. No more empty promises. No more excuses.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to a member of the
Committee on Ways and Means, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).
Mr. DOGGETT. You know, yesterday when the Speaker failed to secure
the votes for his misbegotten deal, I thought all these Republicans
would need to get under way today was a professional physical therapist
to help heal the twisted arms, the sprains, perhaps even a dislocation
as all that pressure was applied by the Speaker to get those final
votes; you know, a therapist to kind of fit the slings and apply the
splints.
But, no, the professional obstructionists among the Republicans have
yielded for far less than a deep muscle massage. All they need is a
meaningless vote on an amendment that is designed to fail, that they
know will never rewrite the United States Constitution the way they
would like to rewrite it to enshrine a little Republican dogma into the
supreme law of the land.
I will admit that, through the years, the balanced budget amendment
has gained more interest on my part. It became much more appealing as I
saw years of Republicans entering wars without paying for them,
insisting upon the mythology--no, indeed, it's really a political
theology of Republicans--that you can cut taxes, raise spending, and
everything will work out okay.
Their approach, even though their experts told them these tax cuts
would drive us into deficit, they insisted on the political alchemy
that they could take tax cuts and turn them into surpluses, just as if
they could turn hay into gold. If there were one vote I could take to
do something about the George W. Bush administration dripping in red
ink, I would certainly want to take it, but a constitutional amendment
is not a solution. It's an excuse for not having a solution, for not
grappling with the financial problems we have. And the only reason it's
being brought up this weekend is just to delay this crisis nearer and
nearer to the precipice to which this Republican irresponsibility has
taken us.
The credit worthiness and the full faith and the credit of the United
States is endangered by the refusal to adopt a balanced approach that
would close some tax loopholes and reduce spending all at once. That's
what we need. Instead of putting all the burden on the many, demand a
little from the few at the top.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to one of our very
capable and thoughtful new Members of the 112th Congress, the gentleman
from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan).
{time} 1620
Mr. MEEHAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to speak.
As we've been talking so much, I hear so much about a balanced
approach. What we really need is a balanced budget.
The concern right now, as I talk to the many phone callers who are
calling in, is that America has taken the time to tighten their belts
at home; and when you talk to business people, they've made the tough
decisions, and they're looking to us now to make the tough decisions as
well.
And that's what I think this legislation has done, legislation which
we can look at right now and we can put away the arguments from each
side, the Republican side and the Democratic side. This is about
America right now. The people who are calling in, who are watching,
they are watching right now and greatly concerned because of the fact
that they feel their economic security is at risk because we can't deal
with the long-term implications of this budget and this debt.
There is a plan, and the Republicans in this House have put together
a plan. And I'm not going to get into the partisan rhetoric. Let us go
around this plan. If we've got differences, let us resolve those
differences effectively for the American people. Let us get to work in
this House, get it to the Senate, pass it today so we can get the good
work done that will allow America to get back to work with a sense of
confidence in the future of our economy, get people back to work
creating jobs.
Mr. DREIER. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. MEEHAN. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. DREIER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I would like to compliment him on his very thoughtful remarks, Madam
Speaker, and say that as I listen to this newly elected Member of the
House, it is very difficult to imagine that he would consciously engage
in an effort to bring our Nation to the verge of collapse, because we
want to solve this problem and ensure that we can have a strong and
vibrant United States of America, creating jobs and getting our economy
growing.
I thank my friend for his thoughtful comments.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), a constitutional scholar.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, this rule provides for debate
of legislation that was slapped together behind closed doors, providing
for trillions of dollars in unspecified cuts. The final version was
sprung on the House after being made public just this morning, and now
we're expected to vote the whole thing up or down, without amendment,
in spite of the fact that 53 Senators are already on record saying that
they will oppose it.
This legislation is in response to a manufactured so-called
``crisis.'' We can avoid default on our obligations the same way we
have done it almost once a year over the last half century, just
increase the debt ceiling. And now this final version calls for default
on our obligations unless we pass a constitutional amendment mislabeled
a ``balanced budget amendment.''
The so-called ``balanced budget amendment'' reported from the
Judiciary Committee does not require a balanced budget. In fact, it
will make it more difficult to balance the budget, and it will
certainly jeopardize Social Security and Medicare. It will also include
a provision that requires a three-fifths vote to increase the debt
ceiling, as if this week's drama isn't enough of a spectacle.
Madam Speaker, we should end this manufactured crisis, increase the
debt ceiling to avoid default, and then seriously focus on legislation
that will create jobs and restore fiscal responsibility.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).
(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, the inevitable consequence of this bill
is that when the United States wants to extend the debt ceiling to pay
our bills, we will have to reduce Medicare and Social Security. That is
the inevitable consequence of these balanced budget amendments.
Therefore, inevitably, this bill will not see the light of day in the
United States Senate.
What we ought to do is get to our inevitable obligation, which is to
come to an agreement that extends our debt ceiling and makes a
responsible down payment on our deficit. The President of the United
States this morning outlined a way to do that, and that's what we ought
to be working on. He talked about commonality between the two Houses
and the two parties on cuts in annual programs in the area of 5, 6, 7
percent--painful, but necessary.
He talked about a fair process where a body that would act between
the House and the Senate would consider all the options with respect to
entitlement programs. Protecting Medicare and Social Security benefits,
and looking at a contribution from the wealthiest Americans, the former
revenue, would be considered and voted on. And certainly that approach
would get us
[[Page H5754]]
out of this period of uncertainty by extending the debt ceiling for the
country as was done 17 times without condition for President Reagan,
seven times without condition for President George W. Bush.
This is an inevitable waste of time, this bill. It's a bad idea.
Let's get on to the better idea of approaching this problem and fixing
the problem for this country. Vote ``no'' on this underlying bill and
this rule.
Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to yet
another constitutional scholar, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Watt), a member of the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. WATT. Madam Speaker, I think this may be the absolute worst
resolution I have seen before this House in the 19 years I've been
here. It brings to continuing debate a bill that has already been
debated yesterday with an amendment, but there is only 1 minute left in
the debate.
And the change that is being made requires the passage of an
amendment to the Constitution of the United States in order to ever
raise the debt limit again. The effect of that is that we have 1
minute--we don't even have it, the majority has the 1 minute that's
left in the debate. We have no time left in the debate on our side to
debate whether we will pass an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States that literally holds a gun to the head of the economy of
the United States of America. We ought to be ashamed of ourselves
legislating in this way. This is a terrible way to legislate to provide
for a constitutional amendment. If we're going to do it, we ought to at
least debate it in good faith.
Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Moran).
Mr. MORAN. Madam Speaker, this is a Republican-contrived bankruptcy.
A decade ago, the majority party inherited surpluses as far as the
eye could see, and then they promptly took away the revenue that
enabled us to balance our budget. They crippled this country with deep
tax cuts. In fact, we have the lowest revenue that we've had at any
time since before Medicare and basically at any time since before the
Great Depression.
What this is going to do and the reason we oppose this is that if
this were on the books, we never would have had the ability to rescue
the world from the Great Depression in the 1930s; we never would have
had the ability to win the war for democracy in the 1940s; we never
would have created a permanent American middle class with the GI Bill
that provided the working class with homes and higher education, we
never would have won the race to space for the free world in the
sixties; we never would have been able to establish Medicare and civil
rights legislation in the mid-sixties.
And certainly, had we been stuck in this fiscal straightjacket,
President Clinton never could have raised the needed revenue to balance
the budget so we never would have been able to create 20 million new
jobs as we did in the 1990s, and reduce poverty, and expand the middle
class, and create all those trillions of dollars of projected surpluses
that the majority inherited and promptly squandered.
This bill will make us a weaker, poorer and smaller country, and
that's why it should be defeated.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, at this time I am very privileged to yield
2 minutes to my very good friend from Glendale, Arizona (Mr. Franks).
Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. I certainly thank the gentleman.
Madam Speaker, Mr. Obama and the Democrats have constantly and
consistently said we need to take a balanced approach to the debt
crisis facing America, but they steadfastly refuse to even consider the
one truly balanced approach to this program, that being a balanced
budget amendment to the United States Constitution.
This effort today will be the second time that the House of
Representatives will have passed legislation requiring a balanced
budget amendment, which would actually create a permanent solution to
this crisis and make sure that economic freedom can be available for
Americans today and for future generations.
{time} 1630
Yet Mr. Reid says he will kill this bill as soon as it comes to the
Senate, or at least strip out the balanced budget amendment that's in
it.
Madam Speaker, if we can get Mr. Reid here and the President himself,
and I guess we would have to put out an APB on the President because we
can't find him. He is AWOL in this debate. But if we could, I would ask
him two questions: First, what is your plan to deal with this issue?
Secondly, what on earth is so radical about having a balanced budget
amendment to create a permanent solution to this problem?
Now, I doubt we would get an answer, Madam Speaker. So today, we will
have to do as we have done before, and we will try to proceed without
them and try to do something truly historic that will save this Nation
and its people from economic ruin.
Madam Speaker, long ago, right after the Constitution was finished,
Thomas Jefferson said: ``I wish it were possible to obtain a single
amendment to the Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that
alone for the reduction of the administration of our government to the
genuine principles of its Constitution; I mean, an additional article,
taking from the Federal Government the power of borrowing.''
Madam Speaker, Thomas Jefferson was right. And how I wish his
contemporaries had listened to him about the balanced budget amendment,
but they didn't. Now we have a crisis of $14 trillion facing us as a
result of not having this amendment, and it could crush us in a way
that no military power has ever done. And in this moment in history in
America, we may get a second chance. I hope my colleagues will join us
in this historic effort.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1\1/2\ minutes
to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), the ranking Democrat
on the Financial Services Committee.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, we have a sad spectacle
today of a substantive mess brought to us by a procedural bigger mess.
But I can't entirely blame Speaker Boehner. We have seen him all week
forced to retreat continually from an effort to be conservative but
somewhat responsible to a position where today we have a bill that no
one thinks will solve the problem because it makes as a prerequisite to
raising the debt a constitutional amendment that no one thinks will
pass.
I remember Speaker O'Neill when I got here, and there's one thing he
and Speaker Boehner seem to have in common, and that's a theme song.
Speaker O'Neill's theme song was ``I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom
Time.'' By now, Speaker Boehner is entitled to take as his theme song
``It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To'' because his party has
forced him to retreat, first of all, from the position he tried to take
to get this thing done; and, secondly, from a set of promises he made
procedurally. As a result of where we are today, with martial law rules
and amendments being sprung and amendments not being vetted, there is
no procedural promise that the Republicans made that they have left
unbroken.
So we have a flawed bill, brought to us by a weakened Speaker, under
an unfortunate and undemocratic process. Once it's out of the way, once
whatever impulses have driven members of his own party so to undercut
him are satisfied, maybe then in an adult way we can sit down and work
this out.
Now, I expect to vote for something I don't like because we have to
compromise, but this bill doesn't even begin to meet any kind of
serious test.
Mr. DREIER. I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards).
Ms. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, I'm shocked. We spent 4 hours on the
floor of the House of Representatives in January reading the
Constitution, and now we get to spend a minute debating it. It's pretty
amazing how much the folks on the other side value the Constitution of
the United States.
I'm opposed to the rule, the bill, everything that's connected with
it. We approach this August 2 deadline. The markets have closed down
yet one
[[Page H5755]]
more time before this weekend begins. And President Obama has been
crystal clear. He said that any agreement to increase the debt ceiling
has to extend it to 2013. And yet here we are considering something
that the President has said is a nonstarter, the Senate has said is a
nonstarter, the American people have said is a nonstarter, and here we
are again debating something that will never go anywhere.
The Republican majority really should be embarrassed for the American
people. They are putting everything in jeopardy and leaving nothing up
to the President to decide come August 2 when this debt ceiling
deadline approaches. And placing at risk our retirement security,
placing at risk our ability to get credit, our ability to get a home
mortgage, all of that because of this recklessness.
The bill that Speaker Boehner brought to the floor yesterday and this
constitutional amendment that was hurriedly drafted today just to
please the far right elements of the Tea Party, I can't even believe we
are here today trying to satisfy the far right when we're not busy
satisfying the needs of the American public and the markets around the
world. Why are we voting on this plan and not one that has a fighting
chance of avoiding default?
I want to say, Madam Speaker, it's time for America to get busy here,
understanding that the Republican majority is ready to jeopardize our
entire future and put at risk our entire future for this garbage.
Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, the bill proposed last night
by the House Republicans set us up to fail and risk a catastrophic
default. Today's gimmick is more of the same. But to win over the crowd
calling for default, House Republican leadership would now make the
disaster even more likely by including a constitutional amendment
likely requiring a three-fifths vote to avoid any future default.
As our Republican colleagues sadly demonstrated yesterday, that
threshold will be impossible to meet today and in the future. Their
blind adherence to the demands of the default caucus stands in sharp
contrast to the desire of most Americans who, according to every poll,
are demanding a balanced compromise.
This bill is a blatant, cynical exercise in raw political muscle and
nothing more. To the House Republicans bent on turning our Founding
Fathers into deadbeat dads, I would respond using Speaker Boehner's own
words from last year: Hell no, you can't.
Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen), the ranking member on the
Budget Committee.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. I thank my colleague.
Madam Speaker, there is a little pattern emerging here. First we had
our Republican colleagues walk out of the Biden talks. And then twice
they walked out of talks with the President. And then they totally
rejected a proposal put forward by the Republican leader in the Senate,
Mitch McConnell. And last night they said ``no'' to the proposal put
forward by their own Speaker. And that brings us to where we are today.
In order to accommodate the more extreme elements of the Republican
Caucus, they had to change the bill once again. Now what they are
proposing is that ultimately we turn budget authority over not to the
elected Representatives but to a Federal judge who would ultimately
decide how we're going to deal with our budget. You talk about passing
the buck, you talk about not taking responsibility, now is the time to
come together to come up with a reasonable compromise, not to move the
parties far apart.
The last point I want to make with regards to the deficit: We want to
make sure that we have a plan, a balanced plan, to reduce the deficit.
I'm just waiting for my colleagues on the other side to say that
they're willing to get one penny from eliminating taxpayer subsidies to
the oil companies or closing corporate loopholes for jets--just one
penny--for the purpose of deficit reduction. Then we'll know that
they're serious about that.
The President has said let's do $3 in spending cuts and $1 in
revenue. But apparently asking $1 in revenue by eliminating a subsidy
for the oil companies, that's too far. Oh, yes, we owe China. We need
to do something about our debt to China, but asking the oil companies
to take less taxpayer dollars, Federal taxpayer subsidy dollars, no, we
can't do that.
Let's be serious about balancing the budget and getting the deficit
under control, but let's do it in a balanced way. This proposal takes
us further in the wrong direction and doesn't bring us together to
solve a problem for the American people. Now is the time to get
serious.
Mr. DREIER. At this time I am happy to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson), a very hardworking member on the
Appropriations Committee.
Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, I think it is very revealing in the
debate today that the American people can see that the opposition to
the proposal before the House is that we are attempting to even suggest
that there be a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, not any
specific amendment.
{time} 1640
We want, as a constitutional conservative majority, to see a vote in
the House and the Senate on a balanced budget amendment to the
Constitution, something I've coauthored since 2001. Yet the majority is
strenuously objecting to that. The minority objects to our effort to
control the debt and the deficit without raising taxes. They object to
strong spending caps in the future, which by the way, exempts anyone
over the age of 55 and under Medicare, Medicaid. They're exempt under
the Paul Ryan budget; they're exempt on the proposal that Speaker
Boehner has brought to us today.
The Speaker has attempted to find the largest possible cuts with the
strongest possible enforceable budget caps that could pass a Democrat
Senate in order to get it on the desk of the President before the
August 3 deadline. The Speaker and this new constitutional conservative
majority are doing everything in our power to avoid a default while
honoring the trust that the Nation put in us in this landslide election
which just occurred in November. The Nation spoke decisively in
electing this new majority to the House. We were sent here to control
spending, to control the size of the government, to get the government
out of our lives, out of our pocket, and back within the bounds of the
Constitution as designed by the Founders. And we've attempted to do
that.
I applaud Speaker Boehner for working so diligently to find the
largest possible cut that could possibly pass a temporarily liberal-
controlled Senate in the very short span of time that we've got here.
We would all like to get more. But if you can get 60, 70 percent of
where you need to go to get the Nation back on track to a balanced
budget and avoid the brick wall that lies ahead of us on August 3, we
need to do so to avoid a default.
I applaud the Speaker for bringing this package to the floor and urge
all the Members to support it.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to a member of
the Judiciary Committee, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank the gentlelady very much.
Last night, the Democrats were here waiting while the Republicans
could not get their own conference together. If any of you were
watching the national news, it was not because we were not ready to
vote and to move forward on a compromise. It was because those who
believe they had a landslide victory are still talking about elections
instead of talking about the American people.
This is the worst bill that any American could ever imagine in the
history of this Nation. I tell you that because this bill will in fact
default the American Government in 6 months, and it will not adhere to
the Constitution, which says the Declaration is the promise and the
Constitution is the fulfillment.
We actually have the authority, Mr. President, under the 14th
Amendment
[[Page H5756]]
to raise the debt ceiling by way of acknowledging that the public debt
should always be recognized. But in this particular legislation, in 6
months if we do not cut by $1.6 trillion and pass a balanced budget
amendment, the Nation will default.
And the balanced budget amendment is not by a majority. It is 60
percent of this Congress will stop the American people from receiving
their just due. We will not have Social Security. We will not have
Medicaid. We will not have Medicare. In actuality, the mandate will
cause us to support the Republican Study budget, which is $9 trillion
in cuts, 70 percent of discretionary funding. That means all of your
Medicare, all of your Medicaid, all of your Social Security.
Madam Speaker, I ask the American people to call in and say, stop the
madness and compromise. Do what is right. Mr. President, if not, raise
the debt ceiling under the Constitution. You have the authority.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the ``Budget Control Act
of 2011,'' which, like the previous debt-ceiling bills introduced by my
colleagues on the other side of the aisle, attempts to resolve our
budget ceiling crisis by demanding sharp cuts to domestic programs that
ask average Americans to make life-changing sacrifices while not asking
America's wealthiest individuals and most profitable corporations to
contribute their fair share.
In my lifetime, I have never seen such a concerted effort to ransom
the American economy in order to extort the American public. While I
support bipartisan efforts to increase the debt limit and to resolve
our differences over budgetary revenue and spending issues, I cannot
support a bill that unduly robs average Americans of their economic
security and ability to provide for their families while constraining
the ability of Congress to deal effectively with America's economic,
fiscal, and job creation troubles.
The Budget Control Act of 2011 cuts $22 billion from the Federal
Budget for FY2012. Robert McIntyre, of Citizens for Tax Justice
testified before the Senate Budget Committee that tax loopholes for
corporations, big business owners and business investors cost the
Treasury Department $365 billion in FY2011.
We need to change the tone here in Congress. Federal Reserve Chairman
Ben Bernanke said it best when he stated in a recently before the House
Committee on Financial Services. ``We really don't want to just cut,
cut, cut,'' Chairman Bernanke further stated ``You need to be a little
bit cautious about sharp cuts in the very near term because of the
potential impact on the recovery. That doesn't at all preclude--in
fact, I believe it's entirely consistent with--a longer-term program
that will bring our budget into a sustainable position.''
The Boehner plan does just that it will cut, cut, cut without taking
into full consideration the serious cuts to Social Security, Medicare,
and Medicaid. This bill is essentially a rehashed version of the same
bill that President Obama promised to veto and the Senate vowed to
reject. It asks for $917 billion in cuts from domestic spending for a
$900 billion increase in the debt ceiling, while demanding nothing in
revenue from the nation's wealthiest. This is nothing more than a
ransom note, irresponsibly raising the debt ceiling for only a few
months so that in just a short period of time, the American public will
be hit again for $1.6 trillion in cuts from Social Security, Medicare,
Medicaid, and veterans benefits. Anyone who believes that this plan
will not result in a serious cut to Social Security should consider
this . . . Social Security represents 20 percent of all federal
spending, making it unrealistic to think such large cuts in mandatory
spending will not affect Social Security benefits.
I state here today that the Boehner proposal is ill-conceived and
fails to offer a balanced approach to decreasing the deficit. Instead
of requiring shared sacrifice, the Boehner plan places the entire
burden on the backs of seniors, the middle class and our nation's most
vulnerable citizens, while doing nothing to close corporate tax
giveaways and increase taxes on those most able to afford them.
The Boehner plan calls for large cuts in discretionary programs of
$1.2 trillion over the next 10 years through strict new spending caps.
Most experts predict that the first round of cuts would target
discretionary programs, including education, infrastructure, job
training and law enforcement. The Boehner plan would then require an
additional $1.8 trillion in savings to be identified by the end of the
year as a condition for raising the debt ceiling again at that time.
Given the magnitude of these additional required savings, it would
result in deep draconian cuts in federal entitlement programs such as
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. A repeal of health reform's
coverage expansions. And a dramatic reduction in safety net programs
for vulnerable Americans, such as food stamps and unemployment and
disability insurance. This is unacceptable, and each is avoidable if
corporations and the wealthy are required to shoulder a fair share of
this burden.
The Speaker's plan requires a vote on an ill-advised constitutional
balanced budget amendment in both chambers of Congress by the end of
this year. The details surrounding exactly which proposed
constitutional balanced budget amendment will be voted on are unclear.
However, earlier proposals that have appeared in the House of
Representatives, including H.J. Res. 1, would have a devastating impact
on discretionary spending and on our modest economic recovery.
Passing an amendment to the Constitution is one of the most serious
processes the United States Congress can undertake, requiring a two
thirds supermajority of support in both the House and Senate and
ratification by three fourths (\3/4\) of the States. The Founders
purposely made the amendment process a long and arduous one. Do my
Republican colleagues really expect Congress to capriciously pass an
amendment altering our nation's founding document on such short notice;
an amendment that will fundamentally change our country without
reasonable time for debate; without the opportunity for a hearing or
questioning of witnesses; without any reports as to what impact it may
have?
By tying the fate of whether the United States pays its debt
obligations to the historically prolonged Constitutional amendment
process, the Republicans who support this bill have demonstrated, at
this critical juncture in American history, that they are profoundly
irresponsible when it comes to the integrity of our economy and utterly
bereft of sensible solutions for fixing it.
The Speaker's plan will result in for $2.7 trillion in deficit
reduction and a $2.5 trillion increase in the debt limit in two stages,
with the two debt ceiling increases being conditioned upon enactment of
an initial set of spending, cuts and a later, second deficit reduction
measure.
I do not believe that Congress should yield its authority to what
amounts to a Commission. Boehner's plan creates a 12-member joint
congressional committee to develop a plan for an additional $1.8
trillion in deficit reduction that Congress would vote on in December.
In addition the Speaker's plan authorizes the president ito submit a
$900 billion increase in the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling immediately
after enactment of this bill, and a $1.6 trillion increase if the $1.8
trillion deficit reduction measure is enacted. Both debt limit
increases would take effect automatically unless Congress enacted
resolutions of disapproval. The Speaker's plan also requires the House
and Senate to vote by the end of the year on a balanced budget
amendment to the Constitution. As I have stated before this will tie
the hands of Congress.
Finally, as noted above, the Boehner proposal provides only a short-
term extension of the federal debt ceiling. This means that the
gridlock that now prevails in our government will continue for the
remainder of the 112th Congress. According to the Center on Budget and
Policy, recent reports have suggested that rating agencies will
downgrade the U.S. credit rating if the Boehner proposal is enacted.
This would result not only in higher interest costs to the federal
government but also would raise the interest rate paid by individuals
and families on car loans, credit cards and mortgages throughout the
United States. Taken together, all of these factors would undermine the
nation's fragile recovery.
There has been a theme this Congress of focusing on cutting programs
that benefit the public good and for the most at need, while ignoring
the need to focus on job creation and economic recovery. This bill is
wasting a tremendous amount of time when we should be focused on paying
our nation's bills and resolving our differences!
In my district, the Texas 18th, more than 190,000 people live below
the poverty line. We must not, we cannot, at a time when the Census
Bureau places the number of American living in poverty at the highest
rate in over 50 years, cut vital social services. Not in the wake of
the 2008 financial crisis and persistent unemployment, when so many
rely on federal benefits to survive, like the Supplemental Nutrition
Access Program (SNAP) that fed 3.9 million residents of Texas in April
2011 or the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Program that provides
nutritious food to more than 990,000 mothers and children in my home
state.
In 2009, there were 43.6 million Americans living in poverty
nationwide. According to the 2010 Federal poverty threshold, determined
by the U.S. Census, a family of four is considered impoverished if they
are living on less than $22,314 per year.
Children represent a disproportionate amount of the United States'
poor population.
[[Page H5757]]
In 2008, there were 15.45 million impoverished children in the nation,
20.7% of America's youth. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that
there are currently 5.6 million Texans living in poverty, 2.2 million
of them children, and that 17.4% of households in the state struggle
with food insecurity.
There is no doubt that we must reduce the national debt, but my
Republican colleague's desire for instant gratification through deep
spending cuts to benefits, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security is
reckless and threatens the financial security of millions of Americans.
Instead of closing corporate tax loopholes to reduce the deficit, the
Budget Control Act cuts discretionary spending, and requires Congress
to draft proposals to cut at least $1.8 trillion from Medicare and
Social Security. This is an outrage, and an insult to the American
dream.
Forcing Congress to draft plans to cut 1.8 trillion from Medicare and
Social Security forces Members to disregard the best interests of their
constituents. Medicare guarantees a healthy and secure retirement for
Americans who have paid into it for their entire working lives.
Protecting Medicare represents the basic values of fairness and respect
for our seniors, including the 2.9 million Texans who received Medicare
in 2010.
Any cuts to Medicaid would be just as damaging. Harris County has one
of the highest Medicaid enrollment records in Texas. Limits and cuts to
Medicaid funds would significantly hurt the citizens of Texas's 18th
District. Harris County averages between 500,000 and 600,000 Medicaid
recipients monthly, thousands of people who may not have access to
healthcare should Congress sacrifice Medicaid to cut spending.
Yes, we must take steps to balance the budget and reduce the national
debt, but not at the expense of vital social programs. It is
unconscionable that in our nation of vast resources, my Republican
colleagues would pass a budget that cuts funding for essential social
programs. Poverty impacts far too many Americans and social safety nets
provide these individuals with vital assistance.
Perhaps my friends on the other side of the aisle are content to
conclude that life simply is not fair, equality is not accessible to
everyone, and the less advantaged among us are condemned to remain as
they are, but I do not accept that. That kind of complacency is not
fitting for America.
As we continue to discuss the necessity of increasing our debt
ceiling, I have heard the concerns of many of my constituents and the
American people regarding the size of our national debt and the care
with which taxpayer money is spent. I, too, am concerned about these
issues; for to burden future generations of Americans with tremendous
amounts of debt should not be a way to avoid our fiscal
responsibilities to the American people. However, the task of resolving
our debt ceiling crisis must take precedence over other concerns,
including political ideology. The game is up, and the American people
understand that increasing the debt ceiling has nothing to do with any
new spending and everything to do with paying off the obligations that
we have already agreed to and promised to pay.
Prior to the existence of the debt ceiling, Congress had to approve
borrowing each time the federal government wished to borrow money in
order to carry out its functions. With the onset of World War I, more
flexibility was needed to expand the government's capability to borrow
money expeditiously in order to meet the rapidly changing requirements
of funding a major war in the modern era.
To address this need, the first debt ceiling was established in 1917,
allowing the federal government to borrow money to meet its obligations
without prior Congressional approval, so long as in the aggregate, the
amount borrowed did not eclipse a specified limit.
Since the debt limit was first put in place, Congress has increased
it over 100 times; in fact, it was raised 10 times within the past
decade. Congress last came together and raised the debt ceiling in
February 2010. Today, the debt ceiling currently stands at $14.3
trillion dollars. In reality, that limit has already been eclipsed, but
due to accounting procedures by Treasury Secretary Geithner, the debt
limit can be artificially avoided until August 2nd.
Congress must act now in order to avert a crisis. Never in the
history of America has the United States defaulted on its debt
obligations.
We must be clear on what this issue means for our country. America
has earned a reputation as the world's most trusted borrower. United
States Treasury bonds have traditionally been one of the safest
investments another country or investor could make. For investors
around the world, purchasing a U.S. Treasury bond meant that they held
something virtually as safe as cash, backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States government.
In turn, with the proceeds from the bonds, the federal government of
the world's largest economy is able to finance its operations. If the
United States defaults on its debt obligations, the financial crisis
that began in 2008 would pale in comparison, according to economic
experts. The ensuing economic catastrophe would not only place the U.S.
economy in a tailspin, but the world economy as well.
The fact that Congress, a body that typically has its fair share of
political battles, has never played political chicken when it came to
raising the debt ceiling should give us all pause, and is a testament
to the seriousness with which we must approach this issue. However,
this lime around, my Republican colleagues have created an impasse
based upon an ideological commitment to spending cuts. While I
understand and share the concern of my Republican colleagues with
respect to deficit spending, and will continue to work with them in
order to find reductions, now is not the time to put ideology over
pragmatism. The reality is that, on August 3rd, the United States will
begin to default on its debt obligations if the debt ceiling is not
raised.
This unnecessarily places the American public and the economy between
a rock and a hard place. Either Congress sides completely with the
radical agenda of the Tea Party, which in the irresponsibly pulls the
chair out from under the average American while polishing the throne of
the wealthiest.
This detour into a spending debate is as unnecessary as it is
perilous, as increasing the debt ceiling does not obligate the
undertaking of any new spending by the federal government. Rather,
raising the debt limit simply allows the government to pay existing
legal obligations promised to debt holders that were already agreed to
by Presidents and Congresses, both past and present.
Moreover, the impending crisis would have already occurred were it
not for the extraordinary measures taken by Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner, including the suspension of the investment in securities to
finance the Civil Service retirement and Disability Fund, as well as
the redemption of a portion of those securities already held by that
fund.
If the United States defaults on its obligations on August 3rd, the
stock market will react violently to the news that for the first time
in history, America is unable to keep its promises to pay. Not once in
American history has the country's full faith and credit been called
into question.
Once America defaults, investors who purchase U.S. bonds and finance
our government will be less likely to lend to America in the future.
Just as a person who defaults on a loan will find it harder to convince
banks to lend them money in the future, a country that defaults on its
debt obligations will find it harder to convince investors to lend
money to a government that did not pay.
Showing the world that the United States does not pay its debts makes
the purchasing of that debt less desirable because it requires the
assumption of more risk on the part of the investors. The proponents of
this bill are putting the country at serious risk of losing its status
as the world's economic superpower. Our allies will lose faith in our
ability to manage global economic affairs. Our status in the world will
be diminished, which will undermine our leverage on the world stage
that allows us to command the respect and compliance of other nations
when it comes to decision-making. This bill will reduce America's
ability to compete with a surging China.
Furthermore, any investors that do continue to purchase U.S. Treasury
bonds will demand much higher interest rates in order to cover the
increased risk. Once a default occurs, investors figure that the chance
of the United States defaulting again is much greater, and will require
the government to pay higher rates of interest in order to make the
loan worth the risk for investors to take on.
Imagine the impact on our stock market if we do not pay our debts. As
we have seen throughout the recent financial crisis, a bad stock market
hurts not only big businesses and large investors on Wall Street, but
small businesses and small investors as well. Families with investments
tied to the stock market, such as 401(k)s, pension plans, and savings,
will once again see the value of their investments drop. The American
people are tired of the uncertainty of the value of their retirement
accounts. We must not allow another wild fluctuation to occur due to
default and add to the uncertainty still lingering in the minds of
citizens.
The Speaker's plan is a short term fix for a long term issue. It is a
patch rather than a proper repair. Boehner's plan requires that
Congress address debt ceiling once again in a short span of time, which
will once again lead to market uncertainty in a time when we are trying
to rebuild our nation. This plan is not good for Wall Street and it is
not good for the American people. The Speaker's bill is a short-term
debt limit increase that will only ensure that Congress will go through
this exact same standoff again in the next few months. Short-term
proposals risk further uncertainty and the potentially damaging
downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. The markets have made it clear
that a short-term extension is not sufficient and could result in very
serious consequences. While Democrats support deficit
[[Page H5758]]
reduction, we support doing it in a balanced way that provides
certainty to the economy.
As if another stock market crisis were not enough, the housing market
would take another hit if America defaulted. Higher mortgage rates in a
housing market already weakened by default and foreclosures would cause
a further depression of home values, destroying whatever equity
families might have left in their homes after the housing crisis.
Moreover, the long-term effects would reduce spending and investment in
the housing market.
Increasing the debt ceiling is the responsible thing to do. Congress
has already debated and approved the debt that an increased ceiling
makes room for. However, my Republican colleagues have chosen to use
this as an opportunity to hold the American people hostage to their
extreme agenda.
Even prominent Republicans like Senator John McCain and Christine
Todd Whitman have criticized the radical elements of their party who
insist upon holding up the entire political process in order to flaunt
their extreme, irrational, and unrealistic ideology. Senator McCain has
called the Tea Party's stance and the way they have conducted
themselves during this manufactured crisis ``bizarre,'' and I am
inclined to agree. Their agenda for this country is even too radical
for Speaker Boehner, with the Tea Party vowing to reject their leader's
own bill.
They live in a world that is not the world that the American people
live in. In their world, they believe that taxes are always too high,
even on people making over a billion a year in a struggling economy;
that any increase in revenue is fundamentally wrong, even if it comes
from large corporations who use tax loopholes at the expense of our
job-creating small businesses; that investing anything in our economic
future above tax revenues is impermissible, even in the midst of an
economic downturn; and that tax cuts for the wealthy are always the
nation's top priority, even at the expense of people that depend on
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits to survive.
These beliefs place them on the fringe of American society, and yet
due to the nature of our political process, they have held up the
entire government and placed our economy on the precipice of a
turbulent second recession.
If Congress cannot find a resolution then Congress will open the
possibility that the President may invoke the Fourteenth Amendment to
the United States Constitution, Section four, which states ``the
validity of the public debt of the United States . . . shall not be
questioned.'' The argument can be made that if Congress will not
resolve our nation's pending default then the President, to protect the
interest of our nation, must act. The President would then have to
consider his powers under the Fourteenth Amendment which may grant him
the authority to raise the debt ceiling, on his own, through executive
order if Congress fails to raise the debt limit by the August 2, 2011
deadline. As a body we should not place the President or our country in
this position.
For those reasons, I urge my colleagues to consider the constituents
in their home districts who would be hurt by this bill. I urge my
colleagues to return to the world in which the vast majority of
Americans live; a world in which our shared destiny is determined by
reasonable minds and good faith efforts to compromise. Federal Reserve
Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that defaulting could ``throw the
financial system into chaos,'' and ``destroy the trust and confidence
that global investors have in Treasury securities as being the safest
liquid assets in the world.''
Instead of injecting ideological spending cuts and Constitutional
amendments into the traditionally non-political business of raising the
debt ceiling, we must work quickly to pass a bill that makes good on
our debt obligations and restores confidence in American credit.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks
to the Chair.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, at this time I am very pleased to yield 1
minute to one of our thoughtful, hardworking new Members of this
Congress, the gentleman from Manchester, New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta).
Mr. GUINTA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.
What I want to say to the American people is: Let's stop the
spending. Let's not call the President or the Congress to say stop this
madness. Call this body and say: Stop the spending. Because we have a
$14.3 trillion debt. We have a $1.6 trillion deficit. Most Americans
know and appreciate that that is not sustainable.
We today, through the will of the House and the work over the course
of this week and past several weeks, have a piece of legislation that
is responsible in that it cuts spending, caps future spending, requires
a balanced budget amendment, so the country can finally have a voice--
have a voice in how people in this body spend taxpayer dollars.
It's time for us to tell the American people the truth about how
their money is being wasted. It is time to stop that spending. It is
time to get responsible and serious. And we are here to do that. Not
just my freshman class, but this Congress is here to do that. And I ask
my friends from the other side to join us in that fight to protect
taxpayers and vote for this bill.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
Ms. KAPTUR. I thank the ranking member, Ms. Slaughter, for her
generosity.
I advise my colleagues, budgets will balance when people go back to
work. I rise against this amendment, the rule, and the underlying bill
as ``inartful'' dodges from necessity. When a patient is weak, do you
pull out their intravenous feeding tubes, or do you help them recover?
Do you do everything possible to build their strength, or do you keep
shutting off their oxygen machine?
America's economy is struggling to grow after the deep Bush recession
triggered by his bailout of Wall Street abuse, two wars, and trillions
in tax cuts to the super-rich who, by the way, didn't create any jobs
with it. Revenues to our Federal Government have fallen over $400
billion a year due to unemployment. That's $4 trillion over a decade.
So what does the majority do to the patient? They pull out the tubes,
and they now shove them down the elevator chute.
Never before has any political party chosen to hurt America when she
was recovering by edging her toward default. Their dangerous behavior
has already caused hundreds of billions of dollars of losses in the
stock market, pension funds and annuities. Social Security and Medicare
checks are threatened, and economic growth and jobs are stalled due to
all this uncertainty in the markets.
Madam Speaker, America needs a Congress and President that focus on
economic recovery and job creation. Budgets will balance when people go
back to work. To delude oneself the cause is otherwise is to take
America down the proverbial black hole. Jobs are the answer--not more
dodges, not pushing the patient down the shaft, and not proposing
amendments that truly dodge the real question, which is full economic
recovery for the people of this country.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, may I inquire of my good friend from
Rochester how many speakers she has remaining.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. I believe I have two.
Mr. DREIER. In light of that, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my colleague
from New York (Mrs. Maloney).
Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentlelady for her leadership.
I rise in opposition to the Republican rule.
We have all been getting numerous phone calls from our constituents
who are rightly worried that the interest rates will be going up on
their homes, on their cars, on their student loans, because they see
that this Congress is in chaos. Already since last Friday, shareholders
in U.S. markets have lost over $400 billion in value just due to the
uncertainty and the lack of action. Our constituents' retirement funds
have been taking a hit--and will continue to until this issue is
decided. We have less than 4 days.
We must stop this ``Republican roulette'' and get to work on a plan
that is realistic, that can pass both Houses. This is a dangerous game,
putting forward a partisan bill that, each time it comes back, is more
partisan, appealing to a narrower sliver of America.
Madam Speaker, we need to revisit a clean vote on the debt ceiling--
as we have done 78 times since 1960. If we don't, the President should
do his constitutional duty and raise the debt ceiling on his own under
the authority of the 14th Amendment. The Republican leadership has
walked out on President Obama, on Vice President Biden, on McConnell,
and even their own leader, Boehner. Then they want us to revisit
[[Page H5759]]
this in 6 months and put the economy in uncertainty. This is the wrong
direction.
I urge a ``no'' vote.
{time} 1650
Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman).
Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. I oppose the Republican default bill
because it will lead to drastic cuts to Medicare and Social Security.
Also, I oppose the Republican default bill because it protects tax
breaks and loopholes for those Americans who make millions and billions
of dollars in income per year. I oppose the Republican default bill
because it calls for another default summit, another default crisis, in
6 months, thereby undermining the certainty that American businesses,
investors, and families need to create jobs and move our country
forward.
With only a short-term increase under the Republican default bill,
the full faith and credit of the United States will once again be held
hostage to the differences in Washington. The Republicans' short-term
plan that creates uncertainty will result in billions of dollars in
increased interest rates that will hurt every single American and will
hurt our country.
I urge my Republican colleagues to join with the Democrats, to join
with President Obama in creating a balanced plan with shared sacrifice
that solves our debt crisis and eliminates this cloud hanging over our
economy.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, at this time I am happy to yield 1 minute
to the former mayor of one of the 10 most livable cities in the United
States of America, the gentleman from Rogers, Arkansas (Mr. Womack).
Mr. WOMACK. I thank the gentleman for yielding some time.
On my way over to the Capitol this afternoon, I was accompanied by
some young people from back in my district, Payson and McKenna from
Mena, Arkansas, and Adam and Grace Anne from Fayetteville, Arkansas;
and we were having a conversation about the debate that's going on
right now in Washington, the debate about the debt ceiling. I explained
to these young people that the current debt of the United States of
America, their share of that current debt, is well into the mid-$40,000
range, $46,000-or-so of debt.
It is for this very reason that we are proposing what we are
proposing, because the only way to keep this debt on these innocent
young people from soaring to greater and greater levels, to an area
that they can no longer afford, is to restrain, constrain government;
and the only sure way to do that, the only guaranteed enforcement
mechanism that I know that can accomplish that very thing is a balanced
budget amendment.
So on behalf of these young people and on behalf of young people
across America, let's quit piling more and more debt on our children
and grandchildren. Let's pass the rule. Let's pass this bill.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).
Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. In my 1 minute, I want to make a special
appeal that we pay close attention to what I consider the most
devastating, damaging part of this bill, and that is what we are doing
and what the Republicans are doing to Social Security, to Medicare, and
to Medicaid.
In this bill, it requires that we set up a joint select committee.
There are no protections in here. And it says in order for us to give
the raise to the debt ceiling, we must concur and cut $1.6 trillion
from the budget from discretionary funding. The Center for Policy and
Budget Priorities has said that since 80 percent of the discretionary
areas come from Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, it doesn't take
a genius to know that we're talking about drastic cuts in this area,
and they will come out to a tune of about a thousand dollars for each
recipient.
Now, I don't know about you all, but we have some people in this
country who are hanging on by their fingernails. We have widows, we
have seniors, we have youngsters who are depending upon Social
Security, depending upon Medicare; and to say that in this measure that
we will make these drastic cuts in Social Security and Medicare is
totally irresponsible, and for that reason let us vote this measure
down.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Costa).
Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, this rule and the bill will further drive a
wedge between the two parties rather than bringing us closer to an
agreement, which we must have. It's been a week since the bipartisan
discussions over the $4 trillion ``grand deal'' broke down, and we've
seen little progress toward a solution since then.
Missing in today's debate is a bipartisan approach toward our
Nation's fiscal health. We must have a bipartisan approach. We can cut
through the partisan rhetoric with a balanced package. For me, that
means implementing the Simpson-Bowles recommendations to reduce
spending by $4 trillion over the next 10 years, lowering tax rates,
ensuring solvency of Medicare and Social Security, and stabilizing our
debt.
The House should also consider a clean balanced budget amendment,
H.J. Res. 2, which says the country can't spend more than it takes in.
This amendment and the Simpson-Bowles recommendations must be coupled
with a debt limit increase to get us through the next 18 months.
It's time for cooler heads to prevail. With the clock ticking down,
our Nation's first-ever default is at hand. We cannot afford to wait a
minute longer. Default is not an option.
Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Massachusetts, ranking Democrat on the Energy and
Commerce Committee, Mr. Markey.
Mr. MARKEY. I thank the gentlelady.
The Republican Party deficit plan is very simple:
Number one, send the financial markets into a nose dive.
Number two, drive up costs for home mortgages, student loans, and
credit cards.
Number three, spook businesses to stall job growth, bringing the
Nation to the brink of economic collapse.
Number four, repeat it all again and again until election day 2012.
The Republicans don't want compromise; they want capitulation. The
Republicans have brought to the floor a constitutional amendment to
balance the budget that's going nowhere. It is phony. But there's
another sinister constitutional amendment being debated here, it's very
real; and it will cause our country to default on its obligations.
Amendment 14, section 4, of the Constitution says: ``The validity of
the public debt shall not be questioned.'' But this bill would change
the Constitution forever--forever.
Under this Republican bill, our country would be pushed into
defaulting on our obligations. The Republican Party would turn the 14th
Amendment from a guarantee into a question mark. Now, under the
Republican bill: ``The validity of the public debt shall be
questioned.'' That is what they are doing this weekend.
This is unacceptable and would have a disastrous effect upon our
economy and the middle class. The only way to end this historic
nightmare is to resolve another massive deficit, the leadership deficit
in the Republican Party. We must vote down this constitutional
amendment, which will have us not honoring the full faith and credit of
the United States which was built into the 14th Amendment of our United
States Constitution. They are amending that Constitution here this
evening. They are leading us to a default which will be a violation of
that Constitution.
Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to
the gentlewoman from California, the Democrat leader, Ms. Pelosi.
Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentlelady for yielding and commend her and
her colleagues on the Rules Committee for their important work in
bringing legislation to the floor.
Madam Speaker, the clock is ticking. The clock is ticking on the need
for us to raise the debt ceiling so that we do not default on our past
obligations, that we uphold the full faith and credit of the United
States of America.
[[Page H5760]]
{time} 1700
As we continue this debate today, one thing is very clear to me. If
our goal were to find deficit reduction in a balanced, bipartisan way,
we could certainly do that. We've had models by Simpson-Bowles. We've
had the Gang of Six. We've had the President's conversations with
Speaker Boehner. We could find a path to very serious deficit
reduction, but I think it has become very clear that that is not the
goal of the Republicans in the House of Representatives.
They keep moving the goalpost, making it very evident that their goal
is to reduce the public role in the lives of the American people.
That's why, in other legislation on the floor, like the Interior bill
that has been debated, you see the abandoning of clean air standards,
clean water, food safety. I've said before I come to this Congress as a
mother and a grandmother. We all want to do the best for our children
personally, but we need a public role in their education and, again, in
clean air, clean water, food safety. We can't do that for ourselves,
but part of the Republican plan is to unravel 50 years--five decades at
least--of bipartisan progress on behalf of America's middle class
families.
Flatout, this bill and the other bills accompanying it will end
Medicare, will end Medicare, will say to seniors, You will pay more for
your health care costs to get less so that we can give tax subsidies to
Big Oil. We will say to those families, We're going to cut Medicaid.
What that means to seniors in nursing homes is that we will give tax
breaks to corporations sending jobs overseas. We will say to the young
people, You're going to pay more for your college loans so that we can
give tax cuts to the people at the highest end.
We all know that we have to participate in reducing the deficit.
Everybody has to ante up. Why is it that the Republicans insist on
having the middle class pay the price so that the high end is off the
hook?
If we are concerned about addressing the problems of the American
people, we would end this debate. This bill is going nowhere. It is a
total waste of time. Every day that we spend on these wastes of time
that are not going anywhere is another day we are not talking about the
highest priority of the American people, which is job creation, job
creation, job creation. That is their priority. We have an obligation
to reduce the deficit and get on with it so we can create jobs.
If we are concerned about the economic security of the American
people and their families, we must recognize that, since the
Republicans' most recent walking away from the table--they've done it
on more than one occasion, but last Friday the Speaker and the
Republicans walked away from the table--the stock market has dropped
483 points, and the American people have lost over $400 billion in
their personal assets, $400 billion. Every day that goes by and if the
market goes down any more, it comes right out of what the American
people have in their 401(k)s, in their pensions and other pensions, and
in their savings for their children's educations.
I remember when we had the debate on TARP. We cooperated with
President Bush at that time to bring legislation to the floor. It was
very unpopular. It was probably the most unpopular vote any of us will
have to take, but we were on the brink of a financial crisis, and we
had to act; but the Republicans did not step up to the plate, and the
market went down 777 points the next day.
Is that what they're waiting for, for the market to go down not 485
points in the last few days but hundreds of points more, diminishing
the personal assets and wealth of the American people? I certainly hope
not.
When the Speaker walked away and he made his statement, Speaker
Boehner, our Speaker, said that we couldn't reach agreement, words to
that effect, that we couldn't connect because we have different visions
of America. I believe the Speaker when he speaks, but I don't believe
we have different visions of America.
President Obama's vision of America is one where we are committed to
the education of our children so they can reach their personal
fulfillment and so our country through innovation can continue to be
number one--committed to creating jobs, good-paying jobs, for America's
workers. I think that vision is the vision of the American people, the
high ground of where we share values: in the education of our children,
jobs for our workers, in the dignified retirement and health security
for our seniors, and in the personal safety and national security of
our people--all done in a fiscally sound way.
I think that that's common ground on the high ground of values. If
you believe that, if you agree with those values, as I think Speaker
Boehner must agree with President Obama on that vision of America, you
couldn't possibly vote for any of the legislation that the Republicans
are bringing to the floor in these few days--you couldn't possibly--
because they do undermine the education of our children, the financial
and health security of our seniors. The deep cuts early on hurt the
economic recovery and the creation of jobs. This isn't done in a
fiscally sound way as we've taken revenue off the table. Fifty-seven
percent of the American people at least think we should have a
balanced, bipartisan agreement to end this default and to do so in a
way that doesn't take us down this path again.
So let's be clear. What is on the floor today is a balanced budget.
Balanced in what way? Balanced in whose favor? It looks like a seesaw
to me in favor of the ``haves'' at the expense of a great middle class
in our country. It must be rejected.
For every day that we waste on another Republican ideological ploy or
scheme is another day that we are not creating jobs. Since the
Republicans took office, which is over 200 days ago--last Saturday it
was 200 days, going on 207--the only bills that they have brought to
the floor which they claim to be jobs bills are not job creators; they
are job losers. H.R. 1 loses about 700,000 jobs--H.R. 2, a similar
number; H.R. 34, a similar number with nearly 2 million jobs lost.
Almost 10,000 jobs a day they're losing. Their infrastructure bill that
they have brought in to committee--they haven't voted on it yet, thank
God--is estimated to lose another 700,000 jobs when it's supposed to be
the big job creator. Even the Chamber of Commerce has rejected it as
something that will not only not create jobs but will lose current
jobs.
So let's get on with the business of job creation. Let's really be
honest about what we're here to do in terms of deficit reduction and
not use it as an engine for the destruction of the public role that is
so important in the defense of our country, in the health of our
children, in the security of our seniors and their retirements, and in
the vitality and innovation of our economy--and again, do it in a way
that is fiscally sound. I don't want to go into how we got here in the
first place. Whatever it is, we have to go forward, and we must go
forward in the way the American people want us to do: bipartisan,
balanced, and with an eye to job creation.
Reject what is on the floor now and support the American people. We
owe it to honor the sacrifices of our Founders, the vision of our
Founders, the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, the
aspirations of our children and our families. This budget should be a
statement of values that honors all of that, and if we are to honor
that, we must reject what is being proposed here today.
Mr. DREIER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I think the consequences of this bill are
so dire and the circumstances of this constitutional amendment are so
far-reaching and damaging that I implore everybody in the House of
Representatives, in the name of the Founding Fathers, in the name of
our soldiers fighting for our Nation, for people who kept the economy
the envy of the world, for the sake of our children and generations yet
unborn, to vote against this rule. I have never felt this way before.
The process and everything about this is wrong. They are making it
absolutely impossible the next time for us to meet our obligations, and
we really should not besmirch the reputations that we have as
thoughtful legislators by voting for this.
I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule and the underlying bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1710
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the Chair how much time I
have remaining?
[[Page H5761]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass of New Hampshire). The gentleman
from California has 15 minutes remaining.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, we began this debate at 4:01. It's now 5:11.
I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying
legislation so that as August 2 approaches, we will be able to say that
we have reduced the size and scope and reach of government and we have
not allowed our country to go into default.
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in complete opposition to this rule
and the underlying legislation.
I have never witnessed such a legislative and political travesty. The
Republican majority is threatening to take the entire economy hostage
unless we write their draconian budget--which would end Medicare and
Medicaid--into the Constitution.
Throughout this week, the Republican leadership and Republican caucus
have been operating in a world of unreality. The Speaker and his team
have persisted in passing legislation that everyone in the real world
knows is dead on arrival in the Senate.
Today, we have moved from unreality to fantasy.
We are being told that if we do not pass a constitutional amendment
to end Medicare and Medicaid, then the debt limit will not be raised--
the United States of America will default--and the American people will
suffer grievously.
I want to remind the House why the underlying Boehner legislation is
so unacceptable. At its heart, this bill is a mortal threat to
Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and the protections of the
Affordable Care Act.
The Boehner legislation will end Medicare as we know it by turning it
into a voucher program and raising premium costs to beneficiaries by
thousands of dollars per year.
Medicaid will be eviscerated, throwing women and children and seniors
in nursing homes into great distress.
Social Security will be on the chopping block. The retirement age
will be raised and benefits will be cut.
And under a balanced budget amendment, Congress will be placed in a
straightjacket and the government will not be able to respond to
compelling humanitarian and public health needs in times of economic
downturns.
This is not the moment to engage in fantasy. This House must take its
responsibilities seriously and do its proper duty for the nation.
The bill before us, with the poison pill of a balanced budget
amendment, is a vicious assault on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security,
along with public health, scientific research and environmental
protection.
I urge the defeat of this rule and the terrible consequences that
will flow from it.
Mr. DREIER. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the
previous question on the resolution.
The previous question was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ``ayes'' appeared to have it.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 239,
nays 187, not voting 6, as follows:
[Roll No. 675]
YEAS--239
Adams
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Amash
Austria
Bachmann
Bachus
Barletta
Bartlett
Barton (TX)
Bass (NH)
Benishek
Berg
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brooks
Broun (GA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Buerkle
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canseco
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Chabot
Chaffetz
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cole
Conaway
Cravaack
Crawford
Crenshaw
Culberson
Davis (KY)
Denham
Dent
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dold
Dreier
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers
Emerson
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Flake
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guinta
Guthrie
Hall
Hanna
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Heck
Hensarling
Herger
Herrera Beutler
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (IL)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan
Kelly
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Labrador
Lamborn
Lance
Landry
Lankford
Latham
LaTourette
Latta
Lewis (CA)
LoBiondo
Long
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
Marino
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McCotter
McHenry
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
Meehan
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Mulvaney
Murphy (PA)
Myrick
Neugebauer
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
Olson
Palazzo
Paul
Paulsen
Pearce
Pence
Petri
Pitts
Platts
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Quayle
Reed
Rehberg
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rigell
Rivera
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross (FL)
Royce
Runyan
Ryan (WI)
Scalise
Schilling
Schmidt
Schock
Schweikert
Scott (SC)
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Southerland
Stearns
Stivers
Stutzman
Sullivan
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Turner
Upton
Walberg
Walden
Walsh (IL)
Webster
West
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NAYS--187
Ackerman
Altmire
Andrews
Baldwin
Barrow
Bass (CA)
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boren
Boswell
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown (FL)
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chandler
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke (MI)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Critz
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
Deutch
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Garamendi
Gonzalez
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hanabusa
Hastings (FL)
Heinrich
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hochul
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kaptur
Keating
Kildee
Kind
Kissell
Kucinich
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lujan
Lynch
Maloney
Markey
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McNerney
Meeks
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Moore
Moran
Murphy (CT)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Olver
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters
Peterson
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Richmond
Ross (AR)
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell
Sherman
Shuler
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Stark
Sutton
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Tonko
Towns
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz (MN)
Wasserman Schultz
Watt
Waxman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Woolsey
Wu
Yarmuth
NOT VOTING--6
Baca
Giffords
Hinchey
Pingree (ME)
Speier
Waters
{time} 1735
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California changed his vote from ``yea'' to
``nay.''
Messrs. NEUGEBAUER and FLEMING changed their vote from ``nay'' to
``yea.''
So the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX,
proceedings will now resume on the bill (S. 627) to establish the
Commission on Freedom of Information Act Processing Delays.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. When proceedings were postponed on Thursday,
July 28, 2011, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan) had 1 minute of
debate remaining on the bill.
Pursuant to House Resolution 383, the further amendment printed in
House Report 112-187 is adopted.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
In section 301, in the matter proposed to be inserted as
section 3101A(a)(2)(A) of title 31, United States Code,
strike ``is greater than
[[Page H5762]]
$1,600,000,000,000'' and insert ``is greater than
$1,600,000,000,000 and the Archivist of the United States has
submitted to the States for their ratification a proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the United States pursuant
to a joint resolution entitled `Joint resolution proposing a
balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United
States' ''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to
the Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).
Mr. BOEHNER. My colleagues, I would like to cut through all the fog
here rather quickly.
Today's GDP figures remind us that our economy is still not creating
enough jobs. Americans are worried about finding work. They are worried
about our economy, and they are worried about the mountain of debt that
is facing them and their children.
Today, we have a chance to end this debt limit crisis. With this
bill, I think we are keeping our promise to the American people that we
will cut spending by more than the amount of the increase in the debt
limit. The Congressional Budget Office has certified this commonsense
standard, and it has been backed by more than 150 distinguished
economists from across the country.
We are also imposing caps to restrain future spending to stop the
expansion of government while giving our economy a chance to grow and
create jobs, and we are advancing the great cause of a balanced budget
amendment to the Constitution.
What this bill now says is that before the President can request an
additional increase in the debt limit, two things have to happen: A
joint committee of the Congress must produce spending cuts larger than
the increase in the debt limit, and both Houses of the Congress must
send to the States a balanced budget amendment.
Listen, the balanced budget amendment, it's time for this to happen.
It enjoys support in both Houses of this Congress, and it enjoys
bipartisan and widespread support across our country.
The bill also ends this crisis without raising taxes, which would
cripple our economy, and there are no gimmicks. There are no
smokescreens here that represent the old and comfortable way of doing
things.
Now, the bill before us still isn't perfect. No Member would argue
that it is. It's imperfect because it reflects an honest and sincere
effort to end this crisis by sending a bill over to the Senate that at
one time was agreed to by the bipartisan leadership of the United
States Senate.
And to my colleagues in the Senate, if they were here, I would say
this, if this bill passes, this House has sent you not one, but two
different bills to cut spending by trillions of dollars over the next
decade while providing an immediate increase in the debt limit. And to
the American people, I would say, we have tried our level best. We have
done everything we can to find a commonsense solution that could pass
both Houses of Congress and end this crisis.
{time} 1740
We have tried to do the right thing by our country, but some people
continue to say ``no.''
My colleagues, I have worked since the first week of this session
when we were sworn in in January to avoid being where we are right this
moment, but 2 days after we were sworn in, the Treasury Secretary sent
us a letter asking us to increase the debt ceiling. I immediately
responded by saying we would not increase the debt ceiling without
serious cuts in spending and serious reforms to the way we spend the
people's money.
We passed a budget. The other body spent over 800 days and still no
budget, no plan. This will be the second bill we send over to the
Senate, and yet not one piece of legislation out of the Senate has
passed that deals with this crisis.
And my colleagues, I can tell you that I have worked with the
President and the administration since the beginning of this year to
avoid being in this spot. I have offered ideas. I have negotiated. Not
one time, not one time did the administration ever put any plan on the
table. All they would do was criticize what I put out there. I stuck my
neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the President of the
United States. I put revenues on the table in order to try to come to
an agreement to avert us being where we are, but a lot of people in
this town can never say ``yes.'' A lot of people can never say ``yes.''
This House has acted, and it is time for the administration and time
for our colleagues across the aisle to put something on the table. Tell
us where you are.
Yes, people can be critical of what we've done, but where are the
other ideas? At this point in time, the House is going to act and we're
going to act again, but it is time for our colleagues across the aisle
to tell us what they're for, tell us how we can end this crisis.
Ronald Reagan has been quoted throughout this debate over the last
few weeks, and Ronald Reagan would probably be flattered, I'm sure, if
he were here. But Ronald Reagan, on his desk, had a little placard, and
that placard was real simple. It said: ``It can be done.'' I have a
replica of that placard on my desk, and let me tell you, Members of
this House, it can be done, it must be done, and it will be done if we
have the courage to do the right thing.
So for the sake of our economy, for the sake of our future, I'm going
to ask each of you, as representatives of the people of the United
States, to support this bill, to support this process and end this
crisis now.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, we have reached a critical point in our
months-long debate over the best approach to addressing our country's
deficit and debt and raising the statutory debt limit. It is important
to be clear, that the decision to raise the debt limit is about paying
the bills we have already accumulated. The debt limit has been raised
over 70 times since 1960 by Republicans and Democrats, in fact, more
times under a Republican president. In 11 years, we have gone from a
$5.6 trillion surplus to a $1.4 trillion deficit. We can argue about
how we got here--and I would argue the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003
and the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, all of which I voted against, are
the primary reasons--but there is enough blame to go around, and the
critical point now is to avoid the first default in the history of the
United States of America.
The good news tonight is that we can see the outlines of a final
agreement. Both the Boehner plan and the Reid plan seek to enact at
least $2.4 trillion in budget cuts with a similar increase in our debt
limit. Both would set up a lawmaker committee to decide which programs
to cut with a vote on the package without amendment by both the House
and Senate. The key differences are the time-frame for raising the debt
limit and the requirement that a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the
Constitution is passed in Congress and sent to the states. The Boehner
plan calls for an immediate debt limit increase of $900 billion which
lasts only through the end of this year. The Reid plan would raise the
debt limit through the end of 2012. Moreover, while I have voted for a
BBA in the past, it is very unlikely it will receive the two-thirds
vote necessary in both Houses to be sent to the states, guaranteeing a
future default. I believe the Reid plan is the better approach and will
vote against the Boehner plan for this reason.
We have heard a great deal in recent weeks about the potential, dire
consequences of a default, notably a lowering of our country's credit
rating that would cause a rise in interest rates--raising costs for
people at every income level--and a likely drop in the stock market,
affecting pensions and crippling our economic recovery. One thing that
should be clear is that we don't want to go through this again just a
few months from now. Financial markets want certainty so businesses can
invest and create jobs, and I believe we will be better served to raise
the debt limit through the end of next year.
Mr. Speaker, this has been a very tough process. While I will not
vote for the Boehner proposal today, I believe we are closer to
reaching a final product that represents a workable compromise. And at
the end of the day, that is what the American people expect us to do.
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, it has been one week since bipartisan
discussions over the $4 trillion ``grand deal'' broke down yet we have
seen little progress toward a smaller package of spending cuts that
would allow us to raise the debt limit and begin getting our fiscal
house in order.
It's easy to point fingers and cast blame--and there's certainly
plenty to go around--but fundamentally I believe the reason we have
seen so little progress is that the American people aren't looking for
a short-term solution or a small gesture. They want a ``grand deal''
that will put us on a fiscally responsible path today and for the
future.
[[Page H5763]]
We all have our own ideas about our nation's fiscal priorities, but
what is missing in today's discussion is a bipartisan, centrist
approach to addressing our nation's fiscal health, such as the
recommendations by the Simpson-Bowles National Commission on Fiscal
Responsibility and Reform.
No one party has all the answers, and no one party can do this alone.
It's time to put our economy back on the path to fiscal sustainability,
and this House should consider the Simpson-Bowles recommendations that
aim to accomplish that goal by reducing spending by $4 trillion over 10
years, lowering tax rates, ensuring the solvency of entitlements such
as Medicare and Social Security and stabilizing the debt.
To compliment the $4 trillion Simpson-Bowles plan the House should
also consider a clean balanced budget amendment. H.J. Res. 2, is
identical to legislation that passed the House in 1995 with 300 votes
and I plan to support it if the House take it up. It is a commonsense
approach to ensuring long-term fiscal responsibility by operating the
federal government's finances in the same way every American family and
even all 50 states must do.
This clean balanced budget amendment, coupled with the Simpson-Bowles
recommendations and a debt limit increase to get us through the next 18
months, is a package I believe would find broad bipartisan support in
both Chambers of Congress.
Yesterday the House debated Speaker Boehner's debt limit proposal,
which was yet another example of the partisanship that has paralyzed
Washington and disgusted the American people. Leading credit rating
agency Standard & Poor's has said the Speaker's two-step approach to
the debt limit could still result in a downgrade of our nation's credit
rating because of the uncertainty it would create. I simply cannot
bring myself to vote for legislation that would yet again call into
question the full faith and credit of the United States.
With the possibility of a credit downgrade by national and
international bond rating agencies looming over our head, kicking this
can further down the road could mean a greater burden on the American
people and American businesses in the form of higher interest rates,
higher mortgage payments, negative impacts on retirements savings and
higher student loans. This is unacceptable and--more importantly--
completely avoidable.
It's time for cooler heads to prevail in order to resolve this
economic crisis. A balanced approach that includes the Simpson-Bowles
deficit reduction recommendations, a clean balanced budget amendment
and a one-step, 18-month increase of our nation's debt limit could be
the bipartisan solution that has been elusive through all of the
partisan rhetoric. With the clock ticking down to our nation's first
ever default we cannot afford to wait a minute longer.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, as the clock ticks down toward default,
we are debating a bill that will not solve the debt problem. It will
make life worse for 98 percent of Americans--to protect the wealthiest
2 percent of our society. Meanwhile nearly $1.6 trillion would be cut
from programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Yet, despite these cuts, under this bill, we would face the exact
same crisis just six months from now. We often hear about the need for
``certainty'' in the business community. With financial markets ready
to tumble and our credit on the brink of a downgrade, how does kicking
the can down the road for six months provide certainty?
Failing to resolve this crisis will be disastrous for our economic
recovery. Capital that is already hard to come by for entrepreneurs
will be even further out of reach for our nation's small businesses.
That's some jobs plan.
Working families will pay $250 more in credit card interest. Mortgage
payments will rise by $1,000. Older workers could lose thousands of
dollars in retirement investment.
Mr. Speaker, the American people expect us to act swiftly and
responsibly. The bill before us fails on both counts. Let's reject this
measure and develop a real solution.
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation.
The Republican majority has pushed our economy to the brink of
default through its refusal to work with Democrats on a balanced plan
to end the default crisis. Despite the fact that this legislation
cannot pass the Senate and would be vetoed by President Obama, the
Republican majority chose to continue their political gamesmanship
rather than bring to the floor a legitimate plan to prevent default.
By presenting a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution, the
majority's plan puts our economy at greater risk of a credit downgrade
and higher interest rates. American families and businesses cannot
afford a higher cost of borrowing, which will raise the price of
mortgages, loans, and credit card debt.
Defaulting on the federal debt is not an option. Congress should
deliver a balanced plan that ends the default crisis; reduces spending
responsibly; and prioritizes the health and security of hard-working
middle-class families, senior citizens, and vulnerable Americans.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to
speak in opposition to the bill being considered S. 627, The Budget
Control Act. This bill should be called the Boehner Default Act because
it is just another attempt for Congressional Republicans to hold the
American economy and jobs hostage while they relentlessly pursue an
extreme partisan agenda that seeks to balance the budget on the backs
of seniors and the middle class. This approach has been met with
widespread rejection by the public and it should be rejected by the
House now.
This bill is not a serious attempt to deal with the national debt
limit and it is not responsible legislation. House Republicans need to
go back to the drawing board and show real leadership by crafting a
plan that does not threaten the United States with a credit downgrade
and higher interest rates while providing only a short-term debt limit
increase.
It is inexcusable for Congress to have set up yet another partisan
standoff on this issue just a few months down the road. It is
unacceptable to slash Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security from our
nation's seniors while asking nothing in return from the nation's most
wealthy corporations and individuals.
It is time for Republicans to stop trying to score points with their
political base and start legislating on behalf of the American people.
As the majority party in the House of Representatives, the American
people are owed better.
Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following:
On July 27, Carol Augias from Mahopac, New York wrote to me:
``Representative Hayworth, I have never written to a Congressperson
before, however, I am deeply troubled by the debt ceiling stalemate.
While I firmly believe that the massive debt we carry in this country
needs to be reduced (I personally curtail my spending when my debt
exceeds my comfort level), I am very concerned about what may happen if
we default on our loans. Please find a way to get this issue resolved
prior to the August deadline. Some compromises must take place. Once we
have taken care of the immediate issue we, as a Nation, must evaluate
our financial position so that our country will continue to flourish
and children will also be able to purchase a home, afford a college
education.''
Mr. Speaker, Carol is right. We need to resolve the debt limit crisis
for the sake of future generations. Just as the American people--like
Carol--pay their bills, the federal government must do the same, so we
are obligated to raise the Treasury's debt ceiling. But we must do so
responsibly because our nation has another critical and painful problem
that is related to our enormous debt: 14 million Americans need jobs.
We can make our economy grow, and create jobs, by assuring that the
dollars Americans work so hard for are theirs to spend and save and
invest. To do this, the federal spending juggernaut has to stop.
And, as Carol pointed out, there is a need for cooperation. We can
reform our tax code and close loopholes, as the President has urged,
and we can do so without raising net taxes. We cannot, in good
conscience, increase the burdens on Americans who need a vigorous
economy.
Our nation didn't reach the point of fiscal crisis overnight, and we
aren't going to get out of it overnight either--but we can make
progress in the right direction now, and continue doing our utmost
together to bring this federal government to the right size, and
empower our citizens to enjoy the freedom and dignity that is their
birthright as Americans.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, many concerned Americans are fed up with a
Washington system that doesn't solve the underlying problems facing the
nation, including the ongoing debt crisis.
This ongoing debt debate represents not just a crisis, but a
crossroads.
In the past few decades, Congress raised the national debt limit more
than 70 times, usually with little or no debate. Each time very few
people batted an eye and this history has been used by liberal
extremists as a reason to continue with the status quo, Now things have
changed.
Over the last five years our national debt has increased by more than
50 percent. In just the past three years the debt increased by more
than $4 trillion dollars. Even worse, the debt has increased by $9.2
trillion since a Balanced Budget Amendment failed by one vote in the
Senate 15 years ago. As a result, the total national debt is now nearly
equal to our entire economic output.
The independent Congressional Budget Office warns that the federal
government's current path of borrowing is unsustainable and could lead
to slower economic growth as debt
[[Page H5764]]
payments consume more and more of our economic output. Add to this that
the private-sector agencies like S&P that grade government debt have
stated that if Congress doesn't do something to halt the rapid growth
of debt they will downgrade the U.S. debt rating, likely driving up
interest rates,
The bottom line is simple: the government can pile up only so much
debt before it becomes impossible to make the payments without
destroying its ability to fund priorities like national defense or
Social Security, As the national debt accumulates at a record clip we
are quickly approaching that point.
If we don't cut spending now, America will face a painful national
reckoning in the coming years. This reckoning will make today's high
stakes debate look quaint. That's why this debate is so critical. The
longer Congress puts off making tough decisions, the more pain the
nation will experience when the music stops.
So when people ask me if I favor increasing the debt limit my
response is, ``it depends.'' Any status quo increase in the debt limit
is absolutely out of the question.
However, we have to consider what happens if Congress doesn't
increase the debt limit. Someone will not get paid.
We cannot ignore that the government is currently borrowing more than
40 cents of every dollar that it spends. As a result, if Congress does
not raise the debt ceiling the federal government would have to slash
spending immediately by more than 40 percent. That would endanger
America's ability to keep its promises to those who have paid into
programs like Social Security for years.
Consider these facts.
If Congress completely eliminated foreign aid the budget would be
reduced by only 2%.
If Congress funded only Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as
well as the national defense budget there would be no money left to pay
for anything else--not even the interest payments on the national debt.
If Congress prioritized spending that is on auto-pilot, such as
unemployment benefits, Social Security, interest payments and the like,
there would be nothing left for the defense budget, or any other
spending, including education and transportation.
That's why I'm in favor only of drastic spending cuts accompanied by
a smaller increase in the debt limit, And for the first time ever,
Speaker Boehner's bill does just that, by proposing deficit reductions
of $2.7 trillion--including $22 billion next year. Large reductions
like this that protect Social Security and Medicare for current
retirees will stop the reckless accumulation of debt and help us avoid
the sort of catastrophic debt crisis we will face if Washington
continues with business as usual.
It's not news that no one wants to raise the debt limit. The real
news is the old way of raising the debt limit is over. Raising the debt
limit, as Congress has done in the past, without accompanying spending
cuts would be a disaster with severe economic consequences. Washington
is in debt because it has a spending problem. It's past time we
addressed that and today's bill does just that.
Due to chronic overspending, Washington is at a crossroads. I'm
confident that Congress can find a way to tackle this issue
responsibly. It will not be without difficult or unpopular decisions.
But refusing to make tough decisions today will result in even tougher
ones tomorrow. For the sake of future generations of Americans we need
to make the right call today and put dramatic, permanent spending cuts
in place and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment before raising the debt
limit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 375, the previous question is ordered on
the bill, as amended.
The question is on the third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be read a third time, and was read the third
time.
Motion to Recommit
Ms. HOCHUL. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentlewoman opposed to the bill?
Ms. HOCHUL. Yes, I am opposed to this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to
recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:
Ms. Hochul moves to recommit the bill (S. 627) to the
Committee on Rules, with instructions to report the bill back
to the House forthwith, with the following amendment:
Amend section 401(b)(3)(B) by adding at the end the
following new clause:
(vi) Prioritize deficit reduction from corporate subsidies
before cutting education.--The joint committee shall first
consider the elimination of--
(I) oil and gas subsidies for the major integrated oil
companies, and
(II) subsidies for corporate use of aircraft,
before cutting essential education programs that are
necessary for the creation of jobs, economic recovery, and
investment in America's future.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. A point of order is reserved.
Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Hochul) is
recognized for 5 minutes in support of her motion.
Ms. HOCHUL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, here we are. The eyes of the world are upon us. The eyes of the
American people are upon us, but, most importantly, the eyes of the
people who put their faith in us in sending us to this institution are
certainly upon us.
As we engage in this debate, I will say there is one thing that is
clear to me: that everyone in this room loves this great country.
America has stood the test of time and risen above disasters as one
people.
In the last decade alone, we've been rattled by wars, unprecedented
natural disasters, and the longest recession since World War II. As we
approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, we are reminded of what we can
do when we pull together. We are a resilient people. But, Mr. Speaker,
never, never in our history has there been an intentional disaster
perpetrated by the very people who are sent here to be the caretakers
of this country. That is exactly what will happen if we refuse to take
action to prevent default and pay our Nation's bills now, not 6 months
down the road.
I understand a spirited debate in defense of one's viewpoints
certainly, but when I look down at the copy of the Constitution that I
keep on my desk, I thank God that our Founding Fathers found it in
their hearts to give and take--and, yes, compromise for what is in the
best interests of this country.
I can't go back to the Hillview restaurant on Transit Road in
Lancaster and look into the eyes of my early-bird seniors and tell them
that we didn't get this job done, that we decided to continue this game
of political chicken, to dangle default cruelly over the heads of our
citizens and our businesses and our economy and hold it hostage while
we, as you've heard so many times, kick this can down the road again.
Mr. Speaker, am I really supposed to tell the Greatest Generation
that when they passed us the torch, we dropped it because we couldn't
compromise? That is why my amendment is a simple statement of America's
priorities. It says, before we cut our education for our children, we
first must cut subsidies to Big Oil and corporate jets.
This amendment is one of our last chances to reaffirm the values that
bind us as a Nation. I know one of these shared values is our sense of
obligation to create a better world for our young people to inherit,
that we give these young people a better chance at achieving their
dreams than even we had. The next generation will be more prosperous
and more secure, but only if we invest in it now, in the human capital
whose creativity, innovation, and work ethic can ensure this country
remains the world's leader and the beacon of hope to others.
But, Mr. Speaker, I feel this is all at risk. Speaker Boehner's plan
results in consequences I can't imagine anyone in this room really
wants.
On top of the unconscionable uncertainty and instability we leave our
economy in with this temporary fix, we're putting at risk the
investments in education that are so critical for our young people to
compete with China, India, and Europe on the global stage.
My amendment is about priorities, the priorities of the people we
represent. Slashing programs for seniors, young people, and the middle
class all because we're afraid of the influence of Big Oil, that is
wrong on so many levels.
I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My mom started a small
business. My father helped grow a business of four people to 3,200. I
get it. I know what it takes, and I have tremendous respect for
companies that have grown to be that size. And if they have a chance to
have a corporate jet, I don't begrudge them; that's great. But in this
time when we all agree that our deficit must be reduced, tell me why we
can't ask them--Big Oil and people who have corporate jets--to give us
a hand
[[Page H5765]]
and help this great country that made them what they are today.
{time} 1750
You know, little Seaman's Hardware Store in Genesee County run by
generations of the Seaman family, how is it that they pay more in taxes
than the big companies that are shipping jobs overseas? I can't explain
this to the Seaman family. I don't know about you, but I cannot do
that.
And you know what, my constituents are hurting in upstate New York.
Some of them, at a time of huge corporate profits, can barely afford to
fill the gas tank to get to their minimum wage jobs at the dollar
store.
There is one value we share, and that's fairness. This bill is
fundamentally unfair.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation, and I rise in
opposition to the motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California is recognized
for 5 minutes.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, this doesn't prioritize Social Security. It
doesn't prioritize Medicare. It doesn't prioritize veterans. It doesn't
propose one item that would cut spending. All it does is engage in
class warfare and increase taxes. Vote against the motion to recommit.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is
ordered on the motion to recommit.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the noes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Ms. HOCHUL. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 183,
noes 244, not voting 5, as follows:
[Roll No. 676]
AYES--183
Ackerman
Altmire
Andrews
Baldwin
Bass (CA)
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boswell
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown (FL)
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chandler
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke (MI)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costello
Courtney
Critz
Crowley
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
Deutch
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Garamendi
Gonzalez
Green, Al
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hanabusa
Hastings (FL)
Heinrich
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hochul
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kaptur
Keating
Kildee
Kind
Kissell
Kucinich
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lujan
Lynch
Maloney
Markey
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McNerney
Meeks
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Moore
Moran
Murphy (CT)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Olver
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters
Peterson
Pingree (ME)
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Richmond
Ross (AR)
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell
Sherman
Shuler
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Stark
Sutton
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Tonko
Towns
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz (MN)
Wasserman Schultz
Watt
Waxman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Woolsey
Wu
Yarmuth
NOES--244
Adams
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Amash
Austria
Bachmann
Bachus
Barletta
Barrow
Bartlett
Barton (TX)
Bass (NH)
Benishek
Berg
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boren
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brooks
Broun (GA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Buerkle
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canseco
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Chabot
Chaffetz
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cole
Conaway
Costa
Cravaack
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Culberson
Davis (KY)
Denham
Dent
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dold
Dreier
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers
Emerson
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Flake
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Green, Gene
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guinta
Guthrie
Hall
Hanna
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Heck
Hensarling
Herger
Herrera Beutler
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (IL)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jordan
Kelly
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Labrador
Lamborn
Lance
Landry
Lankford
Latham
LaTourette
Latta
Lewis (CA)
LoBiondo
Long
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
Marino
Matheson
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McCotter
McHenry
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
Meehan
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Mulvaney
Murphy (PA)
Myrick
Neugebauer
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
Olson
Palazzo
Paul
Paulsen
Pearce
Pence
Petri
Pitts
Platts
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Quayle
Reed
Rehberg
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rigell
Rivera
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross (FL)
Royce
Runyan
Ryan (WI)
Scalise
Schilling
Schmidt
Schock
Schweikert
Scott (SC)
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Southerland
Stearns
Stivers
Stutzman
Sullivan
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Turner
Upton
Walberg
Walden
Walsh (IL)
Webster
West
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NOT VOTING--5
Baca
Giffords
Hinchey
Speier
Waters
{time} 1809
Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
So the motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on passage of the bill will be followed by 5-minute votes
on motions to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2213 and H.R. 789, if
ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 218,
noes 210, not voting 5, as follows:
[Roll No. 677]
AYES--218
Adams
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Austria
Bachus
Barletta
Bartlett
Barton (TX)
Bass (NH)
Benishek
Berg
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Boehner
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brooks
Buchanan
Bucshon
Buerkle
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canseco
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Chabot
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cole
Conaway
Crawford
Crenshaw
Culberson
Davis (KY)
Denham
Dent
Diaz-Balart
Dold
Dreier
Duffy
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers
Emerson
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Flake
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Granger
Graves (MO)
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guinta
Guthrie
Hall
Hanna
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Heck
Hensarling
Herger
Herrera Beutler
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Kelly
King (NY)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Labrador
Lamborn
Lance
Landry
Lankford
LaTourette
Latta
Lewis (CA)
[[Page H5766]]
LoBiondo
Long
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Lungren, Daniel E.
Manzullo
Marchant
Marino
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McCotter
McHenry
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
Meehan
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Murphy (PA)
Myrick
Neugebauer
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
Olson
Palazzo
Paulsen
Pearce
Pence
Petri
Pitts
Platts
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Quayle
Reed
Rehberg
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rigell
Rivera
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross (FL)
Royce
Runyan
Ryan (WI)
Scalise
Schilling
Schmidt
Schock
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Stearns
Stivers
Stutzman
Sullivan
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Turner
Upton
Walberg
Walden
Webster
West
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NOES--210
Ackerman
Altmire
Amash
Andrews
Bachmann
Baldwin
Barrow
Bass (CA)
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boren
Boswell
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Broun (GA)
Brown (FL)
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chaffetz
Chandler
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke (MI)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Cravaack
Critz
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DesJarlais
Deutch
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Duncan (SC)
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Garamendi
Gonzalez
Gowdy
Graves (GA)
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hanabusa
Hastings (FL)
Heinrich
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hochul
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Huelskamp
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Jordan
Kaptur
Keating
Kildee
Kind
King (IA)
Kissell
Kucinich
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lujan
Lynch
Mack
Maloney
Markey
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McClintock
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McNerney
Meeks
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Moore
Moran
Mulvaney
Murphy (CT)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Olver
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Paul
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters
Peterson
Pingree (ME)
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Richmond
Ross (AR)
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (SC)
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell
Sherman
Shuler
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Southerland
Stark
Sutton
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Tonko
Towns
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walsh (IL)
Walz (MN)
Wasserman Schultz
Watt
Waxman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Woolsey
Wu
Yarmuth
NOT VOTING--5
Baca
Giffords
Hinchey
Speier
Waters
{time} 1825
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated against:
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, had I been able to attend today's floor
proceedings, I would have voted ``no'' on S. 627--Speaker Boehner's
Short Term Default Act.
____________________