[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H7352-H7354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1845
ISSUES OF DEBT AND DEFENSE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 9, 2023, the Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms.
Kaptur) for 30 minutes.
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, we learned late this afternoon that the
Republican leadership of this House has derailed the important
appropriation bills to fund the Government of the United States for the
fiscal year that actually began October 1.
It has been delayed for months and months, and now, today, with
legislation ready to move, again, the Republican leadership has failed
the people of the United States.
Why did they do this? The incoming administration, which has not been
sworn in yet, called and asked them to shelve the funding of the
Government of the United States for the fiscal year of 2025, which, as
I said, began on October 1.
Why did they do that? All the Members were here on both sides of the
aisle. We were ready to vote. We had done the work.
I serve on the Appropriations Committee. We have worked for well over
a year to put 12 bills together that should have been presented to the
Chamber one at a time starting back last June.
They say they want to talk. They want to talk with Congress about the
debt ceiling. Surely, this is a joke.
Here are the facts, and here is a great chart. Numbers don't lie.
President-elect Trump in his last term had tax cuts passed to
millionaires and billionaires that have already added $2 trillion to
the over $30-trillion U.S. debt. We are going to add up numbers
tonight, simple numbers. So, $2 trillion from the first term, and that
adds up even more every year.
There is more to come, Mr. Speaker.
The tax cuts provided by a predecessor of his, George Bush the
second, have already added $8 trillion to the U.S. debt. Those benefits
went to, again, billionaires and millionaires, not to the middle class
or working people, and there is more debt to come because those tax
cuts haven't expired.
So, just with the past Trump administration and the two Bush tax
cuts, we are talking about almost one-third of the accumulated debt of
the country, and that number is right up here. It is $36 trillion in
U.S. debt.
It is interesting where it is coming from. Bush two's wars added
another $8 trillion as part of that $36 trillion in military spending
to the debt, but it wasn't paid for.
Just these three Republican gouges of the Federal purse total $18
trillion of the $30 trillion.
That is accumulated debt on the current generation and future
generations, but it is not over. Republicans again cuddled up to Wall
Street, causing the horrid recession of 2008. That cost a minimum of $3
trillion more of the $36 trillion to bail out America where it could be
bailed out. That recession was a total disaster.
The average African-American citizen of our country who owned a home
lost one-half of their accumulated wealth because so many families lost
their dwelling. About 30 percent of Hispanic Americans lost their
homes. The rest of the country lost about 20 percent of their
accumulated wealth. That was a horrible, horrible, horrible meltdown of
the economy. Again, it added $3 trillion to the accumulated debt.
Now, we hear one of the people on the phone to the leadership of this
House, Elon Musk, who is the richest man in the world, is trying to
strangle the U.S. Government, in other words, to not pass the
appropriation bills to grow his monopoly power. He already has
contracts with the Department of Defense and from NASA.
What is he interested in doing? Gaining even more control over the
production of three things: electric vehicles, space-based
communication, and commercial and military rockets.
How much is he going to add to the accumulated debt?
Mr. Speaker, this is not a pretty picture. The middle class and
working people of this country have to stand up to these billionaires
and millionaires strangling the U.S. Treasury and causing raids in the
future on the accumulated wealth of the American people, particularly
in our Social Security and Medicare accounts and the food and
agricultural programs, which are being held up because this body is
being held back by people who haven't been sworn in yet from doing its
job.
Environmental cleanup? Forget about that. There is not going to be
money for that and so many programs critical to the working people of
the United States.
Numbers don't lie. Forget politics, Mr. Speaker. Just look at the raw
figures.
We have a lot of accounting to do in this Chamber to the American
people for the chaos attending those who hold the gavel, and they had
better bring that bill to the floor tomorrow. The American people have
been waiting for far too long. Frankly, they shouldn't be paid. If you
can't bring the bill to the floor, then you shouldn't be paid.
I want to turn to another subject, and this regards the Army-Navy
Football Game that was broadcast about 1 week ago.
For spectators watching the Army-Navy Football Game, the moments can
be exhilarating. From either their seats in the stands or couches at
home, spectators can enjoy the thrill of the game.
Meanwhile, the teams on the field put their grit and mettle to the
test. The trials of the gridiron are often compared to the rigors
demanded of our young soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians
in uniform.
There may be similarities in teamwork, but believe me, ultimately,
playing football does not compare to the sacrifices demanded of our
servicemembers in combat, including, for some, the last measure of full
devotion.
Our Nation is protected by our military's patriots, whose motto is:
We Are Your Defense.
The veterans in our family have fought for our Nation for over a
century and a quarter. Most of them did not play football. All were
hard workers dedicated to service and deep patriots of the United
States of America.
Our Uncle Tony, who served in the Office of Strategic Services under
Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, remarked that service in his
lifetime meant kill or be killed in the lethal China, Burma, and India
theater as U.S. soldiers parachuted into those killing fields and
ultimately built what is called the Burma Road.
Our father's oldest brother, Szepan, deployed into combat under
Woodrow Wilson as a marine against the Bolsheviks' civil war after
World War I. He was sent to northern Russia in the Arctic, where
frigid, 40-degree-below-zero temperatures and remote conditions took
their toll as marines deployed to Arkhangelsk and Vladivostok to fight
the Bolsheviks. That ultimately resulted in a civil war.
The Red army was victorious, sadly, and almost all those who served
in our family on both sides, both our mother's and our father's sides,
had been combat veterans for this country going back a century and a
quarter.
For my part, as a senior in high school, I dreamed of attending the
United States Air Force Academy to serve my country, but in those days,
my application was rejected because I was a woman. Thank goodness that
has changed.
Despite this rejection, I maintain my interest in our national
security by now serving as a senior member of the House Appropriations
Defense Subcommittee, and that is another reason that the leadership of
this House should not hold up the appropriation bills. The Defense
funding for 2025 is in that bill. The work of Defense ensures our men
and women in uniform are supplied with the resources required to
protect American interests at home and abroad.
As I watched the publicity around the Army-Navy Game, I realized I
could not recall any veterans in President Donald Trump's family. Could
I possibly be correct? I began to consider how someone with no or few
veterans in their family would think about selecting advisers on such
weighty questions as defense, war, and peace.
We must hope that these appointees being considered will be
outstanding intellects and experienced leaders. This is America's
tradition as the greatest fighting force on Earth. Top leaders must
have exemplified lives of integrity, a serious commitment to military
service, a deep knowledge of history, command of contemporary world
events, and a record of managing a very large, complex organization.
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The Defense Department's mission is to provide the military forces
needed to deter war and ensure our Nation's security. Accomplishing
this mission is anything but simple. It requires the dedicated work and
leadership of around 2.3 million troops and civilian employees, with an
annual operating budget at the Department of Defense of nearly $900
billion.
The individual appointed to lead this Department must be highly
capable mentally, physically, and emotionally to lead these brave men
and women while managing the vast means to move the levers of military
might and national security. Historically, our Nation has appointed
individuals with the background and aptitude commensurate with the
demands of this office. Those who rise to the role of Secretary of
Defense are cut from a special cloth.
For example, at a turning point in history, Americans such as General
George Marshall--one of my heroes, without question--served President
Truman in shaping the new post-World War II alliance with our Allies.
Marshall's selfless patriotism--oh, my, he was one of a kind--and
superior military and diplomatic experience built the foundational
alliances that still guard liberty today here at home and abroad.
Truman, who integrated the U.S. military, called Marshall the
architect of victory in World War II. Marshall spent most of his life,
49 years, devoted to America's defense.
Another example of a great defense leader was James Forrestal, the
first Secretary of Defense under the Truman administration who served
from 1947 to 1949. He played a defining role in reorganizing our
military to meet the requirements of a post-World War II landscape
under the National Security Act of 1947.
That is when the U.N. was just being founded. There was a lot of
imagination and intellect that went into creating the institutions for
liberty following that most costly of our wars after the Civil War.
Forrestal previously worked for the Secretary of the Navy handling
extensive contracts and legal affairs and built his office into an
efficient organization. He had served as the Secretary of the Navy in
1944, guiding our Navy through World War II and the difficult years of
demobilization following the surrender of Imperial Japan and its
rebuilding. His service set a very high standard for leading our brave
men and women in uniform to maintain the security of our Nation.
During the Eisenhower administration, Charles E. Wilson led a major
internal reorganization and implemented the ``New Look'' defense
concept that elevated strategic air power and modernized the Reserve
forces.
Wilson brought to the Defense Department his experience as president
of General Motors, one of our greatest industrial companies, and his
direction of the country's defense production effort during World War
II.
Remember, Mr. Speaker, we entered that war without sufficient
weaponry and armaments.
President Franklin Roosevelt recognized his personal commitment and
expertise by awarding him the U.S. Medal of Merit for his efforts to
create and manage the arsenal of democracy.
After selling his stock in General Motors to avoid a conflict of
interest, he used his experience to ensure that the Department of
Defense managed its budget in a manner that aligned national security
and economic prosperity.
A more recent example, Robert M. Gates is the only Secretary of
Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly
elected President. He served Presidents of both political parties.
Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Defense, Gates served in the
Central Intelligence Agency for 27 years and was the only career-level
officer to rise from entry-level employee to Director.
Imagine that, Mr. Speaker. During 9 of those years, he served on the
National Security Council for four Presidents. That is seasoning.
Gates also served as president of what was at the time our country's
seventh largest university, Texas A&M.
George Herbert Walker Bush appointed Gates as his Secretary of
Defense in 2006, and President Obama requested that he remain in that
position. His background gave him expertise in special intelligence,
the management of large organizational budgets, and foresight. He
devoted 31 years of his life in service to our Nation.
During my own service, I have had the privilege of serving in
Congress with many individuals who rose to the position of Secretary of
Defense. These include Leslie Aspen of Wisconsin, Leon Panetta of
California, and Dick Cheney of Wyoming. Though their views differed
widely, they were respected as stable, broadly competent, and
knowledgeable in defense and international affairs.
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In contrast to these individuals, Caspar Weinberger serves as a
cautionary tale of the importance of maintaining a strong moral compass
in one of our Nation's most critical positions.
He served as Secretary of Defense during the Reagan administration.
During his tenure, he worked with Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and
Robert McFarlane to make a secret agreement to send antitank missiles
and other military equipment to Iran in hopes of securing the release
of U.S. hostages.
Despite raising concerns on the legality of this agreement, his
actions were nonetheless critical to enabling the sales to occur. This
debacle, the Iran-Contra affair, would become synonymous with political
hubris, government incompetence, and dishonesty.
The Secretary of Defense is a position of great power. With great
power comes great responsibility. The American people have a right to
expect that their Secretary of Defense will have the experience,
aptitude, and integrity of character to take the helm of the world's
strongest military with a steady hand.
This is even more important now as our Nation faces a growing
spiderweb of tyranny: Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea causing
instability in the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula, and in European
nations that require working in concert with our allies to protect the
foundations of democracy itself.
The President-elect must ask the hard question: Is Mr. Pete Hegseth,
the current nominee for Secretary of Defense, the most experienced and
capable choice to lead our Department of Defense during this
contemporary era, a most complex period?
His experience appears to consist of running two small veterans
organizations, both of which reportedly fell into significant debt, and
working in public relations as a weekend cohost of a morning cable news
program.
Yes, he served in the military as a junior to midgrade officer, for
which America and I thank him. However, I cannot help but note the
disparity between leading a platoon of 50 soldiers or an organization
of less than 60 individuals compared to leading a department of over 2
million men and women.
He has also said publicly that women should not serve in combat. This
is 2024, not 1964. Nearly 20 percent of the U.S. military is comprised
of women. On July 12, 1948, President Harry Truman signed the bill into
law that permitted women to enlist from ages 18 to 35.
The American people rightly expect that our men and women in uniform
will conduct themselves according to the highest standards of ethics
and integrity.
I have heard that Mr. Hegseth wishes to reclaim the title of the
``War Department'' for our Department of Defense, changing the title. I
do not agree with him. Why?
After World War II, which set the stage for modern international
relations, it is my understanding that the term ``War Department'' was
dropped because the U.S. did not want to be seen as the enforcer of
global security.
Rather, the term ``defense'' was used in recognition of the fact that
other nations had been invited into a fraternity of democratic
countries that would form NATO, the mutual self-defense pact of trusted
allies that forms a powerful defensive shield among free nations.
In addition, respected alliances were negotiated with the Virgin
Islands, the Philippines, the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, until
it became a State, Guam, and American Samoa.
Proposals to change the name of the U.S. Department of Defense would
be subject to very serious congressional review and debate. Current
threats to
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the United States and liberty-loving people require military alliances
that can counter and defeat willful aggression by rogue states.
The Secretary of Defense is in a critical position that requires a
sacred trust, especially the trust of our brave servicemembers, that
they will be led capably; the trust of our Nation, that we will
maintain the security of the American people; and the trust of our
allies and partners, that America will continue to stand strong as a
shield of freedom and liberty for all.
The consequences of betraying that sacred trust are both dire and
lasting. We must choose wisely.
American Energy Independence
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I have one final topic this evening on the
question of American energy independence, which is so vital to our
domestic security and our international security.
We well know, when the United States became dependent on imported
oil, we fell into deep recession during the 1970s, and we spent the
last half century trying to catch up to become energy independent here
at home in perpetuity. It is a major objective for the safety and
security of our people, and we are making great progress.
With the radiant lights above us here in the Chamber tonight, I am
here to speak about that force that illuminates every facet of our
daily lives: energy. Not just any energy, but American energy. Energy
infuses life into our Nation, energy powers our homes, energy fuels our
industries, and energy safeguards our independence.
My message is clear: Our Nation must aim forcefully toward American
energy independence in perpetuity.
In northwest Ohio, you don't have to look far to see the embodiment
of an all-encompassing energy strategy. From the majestic wind turbines
that dot our western agricultural basin landscape, especially in the
agricultural regions, to our premier domestic solar manufacturing
companies, to the advanced nuclear and hydrogen future we imagine, our
region is a living testament to the strength and potential of our
skilled technicians and industrious innovators.
America can't and shouldn't play the piano with just one key. We need
every key on the energy board: oil and gas, wind, solar, hydrogen,
thermal recovery, biofuels, advanced nuclear, and systems yet to come.
Energy is essential and innovative. It creates high-paying jobs in
multiple energy sectors, ensuring that the lights stay on for energy
and power systems and allowing our holiday trees to sparkle a little
brighter. Energy allows families to gather in warm homes, bake holiday
treats, and make good memories.
Over the last 4 years, our Nation has made enormous strides toward
energy independence. We are increasing energy production across all
sectors. In 2023, the United States set all-time records for both crude
oil production and natural gas exports.
As time goes on, those resources will diminish, and we simply must
invent our way forward to be energy independent forever. This is not
easy, but it is the struggle we are in.
At the same time, renewable energy production continues to grow with
the shocking statistic of wind and solar power now contributing close
to 15 percent of our electricity. That is just in modern history, and
we have a long way to go. These technologies are revolutionizing our
accomplishment of energy independence at the start of this 21st
century's new energy age.
Yet, as we make strides in energy diversity and security, we face new
political whims that mustn't threaten to derail the progress that we
have made. Politics should never jeopardize the security of the
American people or play games with energy independence. We must keep
our pedal on the metal, pushing forward, not backward.
To the new administration in Washington, I say: Embrace an all-of-
the-above energy policy. Leave no sector behind. ``Clean energy'' is
not a dirty word. We must maintain a balanced portfolio to ensure
American energy independence going far into the future.
The farm bill that has been held back by the leadership of this
House, that we could pass this week, has a special section that is
built into it, and that includes the continuing resolution that it is a
part of an E15 inclusion for our country in perpetuity. It is just
magnificent as we try to use every key on the piano to help our country
produce new, good jobs in the energy sector and one that uses all of
our talents.
Come to northwest Ohio. See firsthand how a comprehensive energy
strategy operates. See the innovation and dedication that fuels our
community and our country. We are inventing the future.
Just this week, the village of Pioneer in Williams County, Ohio, has
shown remarkable vision and determination to harness the power of clean
energy with new funding announced for a solar field through a $10.5
million Federal loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pioneer
will deliver tangible benefits for northwest Ohio residents, including
lowering energy costs, strengthening infrastructure, and promoting
energy independence for decades to come.
I commend the Pioneer community leadership in pursuing this
opportunity to power its future with better and lower costs through
renewable energy. Northwest Ohio is the solar capital of America, and I
encourage other communities across our region to follow the pioneering
lead of Pioneer, Ohio, in building solar fields that can harness the
renewable energy of the Sun that shines bright over our region.
Let's not throttle down on American progress in any sector. Instead,
let's do what America does best: invent the future and adapt to
changing conditions. Let's accelerate energy innovation. Let's champion
it. Let's support it and propel it into the future. We have a duty to
safeguard our energy independence to ensure security so that every
American family, community, and business can continue to thrive.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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