[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9497-9504]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        A QUARTERLY REPORT CARD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania). 
Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 18, 2007, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McCarthy) is recognized for 60 minutes as the 
designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, tonight we are going to open 
something new. If you are like in my house, every 3 months if you have 
kids in school, in my house it is Connor and Megan, they just got their 
report card, and that is what tonight is about, a quarterly report, 
what has gone on in this 110th Congress.
  Well, tonight we are going to hear from the freshman class of 
Republicans, and our goal here is to put the people before politics.
  Much like what we have seen, we want to find solutions. We want to 
move America in the right direction. We want to tell you first and 
foremost what has gone on here for the last 100 days, give us a report 
card, tell us where we are going, and the most important thing, we want 
to bring accountability back to America.
  So tonight we are going to start off, and we have got an interesting 
freshman class. We have got people from all walks of life. This is a 
microcosm of society, just much like America is. So our first speaker 
is going to be the president of the Republican class. He comes from 
Idaho. He served in the legislature. From Boise, Idaho, we have Mr. 
Bill Sali.
  Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman McCarthy. I appreciate the 
opportunity to give this report on this first quarter. I think it is 
very apt for us to let the folks back home know exactly what is going 
on from a Republican perspective.
  In the first quarter of the new Congress, the new Democrat majority 
has made its priorities clear by acting to impose higher taxes, more 
government spending and by attacking key aspects of the Idaho way of 
life.
  In the last 3 months, the majority has acted to impose the largest 
tax increase in more than a decade. In fact, within the first month of 
Congress this new majority passed H.R. 6, a bill to increase by $7.7 
billion over a 10-year period, an increase that will effectively affect 
the price of gas at the pump and further our addiction on foreign oil.
  Instead of higher taxes and continued increasing reliance on foreign 
oil, my constituents need lower fuel prices, but in the first three 
months in Congress, this new majority has done nothing to lower fuel 
prices but to the contrary has acted to actually increase the price of 
gas.
  In the same 3 months, the new majority has passed a budget that 
includes almost $400 billion in increased Federal spending, a budget 
that failed to address the explosive growth in entitlement spending, 
spending that will consume over 60 percent of the Federal budget in 15 
years.
  The Democratic majority has focused in the Natural Resources 
Committee on what they call the evolving West. Those of us who are 
actually from the West are calling it the war on the West. The majority 
has had countless hearings primarily to paint an inaccurate picture of 
the West and its issues.
  The reform of Federal forest land management policies should be their 
focus in these hearings. We have forests that are overgrown and are 
fire hazards to our communities. We lack access to our lands, and we 
are under constant attack from radical environmentalists. We need 
better forest management, and the Federal Government needs to be a 
better landlord instead of an absentee one.
  This should be the focus of their agenda in the Natural Resources 
Committee if they really want to help us in the West.
  The priorities of this new majority were further illustrated when 
they mandated the Commander in Chief, withdraw troops on an 
unprecedented and arbitrary timeline without any consideration of what 
is actually happening on the ground. The same new majority conditioned 
financial support

[[Page 9498]]

for our troops on funding of unrelated and various pork barrel 
projects, including $5 million to study tropical fish and $74 million 
for peanut storage.
  In a time of runaway deficit spending, something needs to change 
dramatically. The change the new majority proposed in the first three 
months, however, is to proceed in the wrong direction, the direction of 
debt, deficit and defeat.

                              {time}  2215

  We need to balance the budget. To do so, we must cut Federal 
spending. Congress' ongoing spending habits continue at the expense of 
our children, and we owe it to Americans and we owe it to our children 
and our grandchildren to cut spending.
  That is why I stood with my Republican colleagues and supported an 
alternative budget plan to balance this Federal budget by 2012 in just 
5 years. Together with a balanced budget, I also joined my colleagues 
cosponsoring legislation to make permanent numerous tax cuts, numerous 
tax credits that affect average American families. The American 
taxpayer will work through April 30 this year just to pay their share 
of taxes.
  Well, change, indeed, must occur. My priorities for change are these: 
spending must be reduced, tax burden on American families and small 
businesses must be reduced, our natural resources in the West must be 
responsibly managed, the constitutional authority of the President must 
be respected. Unfortunately, the priorities of the new majority, as 
evidenced over the last 3 months, are not my priorities, and they are 
not the priorities that the people of Idaho hold.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Thank you, Congressman Sali, for that 
update because that is what the American people want to hear. They want 
to hear about accountability.
  As we know, we have been here 4 months; we have cast more than 200 
votes. We have something to show where we are going, and pretty much 
what it is going to be is a report card, a quarterly report for across 
America.
  The next speaker we have tonight, for those that live in Nevada, they 
know this person well. He has already made a very big name for himself. 
He was the secretary of State for three terms. He was able to work in a 
bipartisan manner, bring Republicans and Democrats together. He is 
still doing it here. He is putting partnership, not partisanship, 
forth.
  The one thing I have seen from this Congressman, Congressman Dean 
Heller, he represents the largest part of Nevada. There are only three 
Members of Congress who are serving from there. He represents about 
two-thirds of the State, even more.
  He serves on Natural Resources, he serves on Small Business, 
something he knows well, creating small businesses, and he also got put 
on Education and Labor, caring about the education in America.
  Let's hear from you a quarterly report on what you have seen in the 
first 100 days and what you think reflects on your district, 
Congressman Dean Heller.
  Mr. HELLER of Nevada. I want to thank you for the time and the 
opportunity to serve with you here in this Congress. I certainly 
appreciate our freshman class, the work they are putting in it, the 
voices they have and the changes they are bringing into this Congress. 
It really is an honor to be part of this freshman class serving on my 
side of the aisle.
  I would like to change direction. You talked a little bit about 
Nevada and the State of Nevada. My district is more than 1,000 square 
miles. To give you an idea of every time I go home, I travel about 
1,000 miles just in visiting neighborhoods, going to Elko or going to 
White Pine County and visiting Ely or Tonopah. It is a lot of travel; 
but it is very critical, as we take these messages back and talk to the 
people here, what's going on in Washington, D.C., as reflects what is 
going on in our districts.
  I tell you, it is a pleasure and an honor to serve here in this 
Congress. It is maybe 20 after 10:00 here in Washington D.C., but it is 
prime time in Nevada right now. My friend from California, it is prime 
time in your district too, so it is a pleasure to be speaking to your 
constituents and mine as well.
  I tell you, I want to go in a little bit different direction here. It 
is an issue that is very, very pertinent, very important for the State 
of Nevada. This is an issue that was discussed this morning in an 
Appropriations subcommittee on the Department of the Interior, and that 
is the issue of wildfires. Living and serving in a district as rural as 
my particular district, which I think is the largest non-at-large 
district in the Congress, wildfires are a critical issue.
  But before I get there, I want to give a little bit of background. 
First I want to begin with an explanation to those who are viewing this 
that 85 percent of Nevada is controlled by the Federal Government. A 
lot of people don't quite understand that, but 85 percent of the land 
in Nevada is owned by the Federal Government.
  As some of you may know, this does present many unique challenges to 
the communities that I represent. Opportunities, for example, economic 
growth, development, are stifled by the lack of private lands.
  Additionally, local governments are prevented from collecting taxes 
on the Federal lands in their communities, thereby inhibiting their a 
ability to provide funds for important services, such as education, 
emergency care, fire and rescue, transportation, obviously including 
roads, streets and roads.
  I would challenge any State to take 85 percent of their private lands 
and make it public lands. Take 85 percent of your private lands and put 
it in the hands of the Federal Government and take the revenues with 
it. Imagine your inability to have the money necessary for your 
educational system, the money that is necessary for your infrastructure 
for roads, money necessary for emergency care, and fire and rescue. 
That is what we are dealing with in the State of Nevada.
  For generations, my constituents have relied upon the land for their 
livelihood. For the most part, they have been very good stewards. In 
areas where good stewardship was not exercised, Nevada has done the 
very best it can to restore those lands back to health.
  Nevadans have an acute awareness of the importance of our Nation's 
Federal lands. For generations, my constituents have been the stewards 
that have kept important areas in Nevada accessible to the rest of the 
Nation.
  I am greatly concerned by several aspects of the administration's 
proposed funding levels for fiscal year 2008. Not only did the 
administration request a substantial decrease in PILT funding, which is 
Payment in Lieu of Taxes, but funding for other functions is 
unfortunately low, including zeroing out the Range Improvement fund, 
which is an important program. It gets dollars to the ground to improve 
range land health.
  One area where I wish to draw particular attention, and I mentioned 
earlier, is the funding relating to wildfires, particularly in range 
land areas.
  Last year, in Nevada, Nevada alone, over 1.2 million acres, or over 
1,500 square miles, were destroyed, causing devastating impacts on the 
wildlife, livestock and Nevada families. Let me put that in perspective 
for a minute, 1,500 square miles, clearly much bigger than the 
District, almost the size of Delaware. In fact, I think it is larger 
than the size of Delaware, burned in the State of Nevada; the size of 
Rhode Island, burned in the State of Nevada. You take those States, 
that is how much land is burning in Nevada each year.
  Most of the damage to private individuals is caused by fires that 
spread from Federal lands onto private property. In a State where a 
mere 15 percent of the land is available for private ownership, we 
simply cannot afford this kind of loss. Additionally, it is 
unconscionable that unlike other disasters, those who are victims of 
Federally fueled devastation received little or no assistance from the 
Federal Government.
  This is a glaring problem, and I certainly do hope to work with my 
colleagues, especially the freshman class here, in the future to right 
this particular wrong. In order to mitigate the

[[Page 9499]]

disastrous wildfires we have seen in the past, we need to have a 
healthy range land, which means dedicating funds to range land 
restoration and management.
  A healthy range land will support wildlife, wild horses, livestock, 
recreation and a variety of other multi-uses. We do not have to choose 
between those functions if we work to restore our range lands.
  To achieve a healthy range, we need to advance commonsense solutions 
that will protect communities, people in our natural resources. This 
includes the responsible management of wild horses and burro 
populations.
  It is vital that we use active management to remove excess hazardous 
fuels, such as pinon juniper, cheatgrass and other invasive species. 
They fuel wildfires like we saw in Elko County and other parts of 
Nevada last year.
  Since coming to Congress, I have had the opportunity to meet several 
times with my constituents who have traveled from rural Nevada to 
Washington D.C., to discuss the devastating impacts of wildfires and 
what we can do to mitigate and prevent them. To a person, they all 
expressed the dire need to restore range land health.
  As I finish, I want you to know that I agree with my constituents. It 
is my hope that my colleagues will recognize the importance of 
adequately funding management of our public lands for the purpose of 
environmental health and multiple use.
  I appreciate the time you have given me to discuss this issue that is 
critically important for the State of Nevada. I am certain for the 
President of our freshman class coming from Idaho, it is a pertinent 
issue for his district also.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Thank you, Congressman Heller. One thing, 
as constituents know, this is an individual that believes in solutions, 
trying to find commonsense solutions for problems out there, and just 
what you talked about today.
  I know you tell me many times we serve here Monday through Friday and 
you fly back home, you will travel 1,000 miles in that car that weekend 
just because your district is so large. Last night I saw you were late 
past 10:00 to do a tele-town hall just trying to listen to your 
constituents. That is what this is really all about, finding 
accountability and listening to constituents. I appreciate your 
service.
  Now we are going to go across the country and hear from Florida. If 
you happen to be down in Clearwater or Palm Harbor, you know who this 
individual is. He is already making a very big name for himself here in 
the 110th. If you happen to be a veteran in America today, you know him 
because of his service. He serves on Veterans' Affairs, and he serves 
on Homeland Security. He has been doing a tremendous job.
  We now want to hear from the 9th District of Florida, Gus Bilirakis. 
Mr. Bilirakis, could you give us an update of the 110th Congress.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Like all of us, I came to this body seeking to make a 
difference for my constituents and all Americans alike. We have chosen 
a life in public service and promised to fight for what we believe in. 
That is what we are doing. We promised to fight to give future 
generations the opportunity we have. We promised to fight to continue 
the prosperity of this great Nation.
  Unfortunately, as I reflect back on the first quarter of the 110th 
Congress, I do believe that the Democrat leadership has broken their 
promise to the American people. Supporting our courageous men and women 
in the military and addressing the gulf States homeowners' insurance 
crisis are two of the most important issues my constituents raised to 
me.
  Despite many Members' requests to address these vital matters in a 
timely, bipartisan manner, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. It is 
with great disappointment that I go back to my district with the 
expectations of the American people so far unfulfilled.
  Regardless of the individual opinions regarding the war in Iraq, 
every American supports our brave men and women who serve this country 
with great honor and distinction.
  Just as we are forever indebted to yesterday's servicemembers who 
wore this country's uniform, we will never be able to fully repay 
today's gallant heroes. I am so very proud to serve on the veterans 
committee.
  We task the members of our Armed Forces with extraordinary 
responsibilities. The very least we can do is provide them with the 
necessary tools and resources to accomplish their mission. Nearly a 
month has gone by since the House approved its version of the Iraq 
emergency supplemental appropriations bill, a bill so bad that USA 
Today editorialized against it and said: ``It is hard to say which is 
worse, leaders offering peanuts for a vote of this magnitude, or 
Members allowing their votes to be bought for peanuts.''
  It is bad enough that the bill contained pork projects intended to 
secure Members' votes. It is equally as troubling that we have been 
delayed in going to conference with the Senate to work out a bipartisan 
compromise worthy of our men and women in uniform. The American Legion 
and the VFW have urged this Congress to pass a clean supplemental 
funding bill, which will get our troops the resources they need as 
quickly as possible. I am so proud of the American Legion and VFW for 
stepping up. They continue to be our heroes. Every day we fail to act 
is another day we dishonor our troops' sacrifices and valor.
  The other vital issue to many Americans, particularly in my district 
and in the State of Florida, the Gulf Coast States, is the skyrocketing 
cost of homeowners' insurance. Many of our States are plagued by 
natural disasters that cost millions, if not billions, of dollars in 
damage. It is a terrible situation.

                              {time}  2230

  As a result, homeowners' insurance rates have simply become 
unaffordable in many areas of our country. In my State, in far too many 
instances these rates have tripled forcing many to leave the areas they 
call home. For others in the gulf coast region, this has become the 
most financially crippling problem we have faced in years.
  My constituents have entrusted me to bring this issue into the 
national debate and come up with a solution. Yet as we approach the 
beginning of another hurricane season, this body has failed to act.
  Earlier this month, it was predicted we would have a very active 
hurricane season. Many of us who represent coastal States have tried to 
bring this issue to the forefront, both Democrats and Republicans, but 
our attempts seem to have been in vain so far. As the result of an 
apathetic Democratic leadership, my constituents have been abandoned by 
the very people they have entrusted to protect them, and what a shame 
that is.
  Along with the numerous bills introduced in the House which would 
help alleviate this crisis, I introduced H.R. 913, the Hurricane and 
Tornado Mitigation Investment Act. My bill would provide tax incentives 
for individuals to better protect their property against these deadly 
storms. As a result of strengthening their homes and businesses to 
better withstand these disasters, homeowners' insurance would drop and 
many constituents would continue raising their families in the place 
they call home.
  I can't tell you how many times I have talked to my constituents, 
people who have lived in Florida for over 20-25 years and wanted to 
raise their kids in Florida or retire in the State of Florida, and they 
are forced to leave the State. And I know there are other States in 
that position as well. I implore this Congress to consider my and other 
insurance-related bills to help these Americans in their time of need.
  When the Democrat leadership took the House gavel and control of 
Congress in January, they accepted it in partnership not partisanship. 
It is my sincere hope that we soon will debate serious topics that 
address the needs of this country in a bipartisan manner rather than 
political posturing.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to continue the prosperity of this great Nation.
  May God bless our troops. We owe them so much, and may He continue to

[[Page 9500]]

watch over the United States of America.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Thank you, Mr. Bilirakis.
  Promises made and promises kept. You promised to do something about 
the insurance problem in Florida, and you have introduced legislation 
to do that.
  You brought up a good point about what has happened in the first 100 
days. The President asked for a security supplemental, one for our men 
and women in uniform, to make sure that they are protected. But what 
happened when he asked for $100 billion? He got $121 billion. Where did 
the $21 billion come from? They gave money to peanuts and shrimp. That 
is pork. That is not what the American people want. They want 
accountability.
  When it comes to accountability and a hardworking freshman Member, 
you don't have to look beyond Michigan 7 with Congressman Tim Walberg. 
You serve on the Agriculture Committee and Education and Labor, and you 
are doing a great job. Can you give us an update on the first 100 days?
  Mr. WALBERG. Thank you, Congressman McCarthy. I certainly appreciate 
the opportunity to bring not only an update on Michigan, but to talk to 
the American public about concerns that I have about the budget and 
what goes on in these great halls.
  Indeed, it has been a wonderful privilege to serve here. As I 
listened to colleagues on the other side of the aisle in the hour 
preceding, I would agree that it is a privilege to serve with men and 
women of sincerity, of character and commitment and of passion. And 
although we have disagreements, we serve in a body that has tremendous 
impact and tremendous history.
  Yet even as I say that, I recognize that we are simply temporary 
custodians of the seats we hold in Congress, representing districts of 
people, taxpayers, citizens with great concerns. But even more 
importantly, as I have heard discussed maybe a bit too often about the 
extent of abilities that reside here in the Halls of Congress in each 
of our Members and the background and the training and the expertise 
that we share, yet I think that misses the point because indeed the 
greatness, the ideas, the generation of the economy and impact upon 
this world does not necessarily come from us, although we are part of 
it, but it flows from the people we represent.
  That's the greatness of this country that allowed great men who 
journeyed from afar like de Tocqueville, to say America is great 
because America is good. But when America ceases to be good, it will 
cease to be great. I think de Tocqueville understood that goodness was 
not simply in the high morals of a country that he noticed here, it 
wasn't simply in the great work ethic of the people he saw on these 
shores. And as he walked across Michigan and came away, and it is 
reported that he called our State the Wolverine State because he 
indicated that any citizen who could put up with the swamps and the 
mosquitoes of Michigan at that time had to be a wolverine in tenacity. 
Hence, the Wolverine State.
  Yet our great country of citizens have to be tenacious as well when 
we have a government that has grown too large, too grand, and too 
costly for them to keep up. The greatness of this country is not big, 
expansive, expensive government, but rather, the greatness of this 
country is its people.
  And so this week we came to Tuesday, April 17, and it was imperative 
to us, and it was significant in its gravity that it was tax day again, 
a day that strikes fear and even anger in the hearts and minds of many, 
if not most, of our taxpayers. We sat here in Congress in these 
hallowed halls of constitutional responsibility having just come 
through passing the largest tax increase in the history of our country, 
$400 billion over the next 5 years. And we let our taxpayers go through 
another tax day paying more for big government.
  Right now, taxpayers in south central Michigan, the district I am 
privileged to represent as the temporary custodian of its seat in 
Congress, people who are hardworking, people who have committed 
themselves to the task of being good stewards of the wonderful 
resources we have in the Great Lakes State, of being the former arsenal 
of democracy, of being a major manufacturing State and agricultural 
State and State of higher education, and yet a State that is struggling 
right now, I am sad to say, because of an administration that continues 
to push higher taxes and more excessive government regulation. We are 
saddled again with looking at what Congress has potentially done to us 
by passing this massive spending package called a budget with a $400 
billion tax increase over the next 5 years.
  Taxpayers in my district of south central Michigan are making tough 
choices every day to ensure their family budgets are balanced. They do 
so by cutting spending and having fiscal discipline, a concept we would 
do well to emulate.
  It is time we make these same commonsense choices on a Federal level. 
The budget proposal introduced by my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle and, in fact, passed by them imposes the largest tax 
increases, as I said, in American history: $400 billion over the next 5 
years, $400 billion that the taxpayers of this country will pay, that 
the businesses will have impact upon them and their ability to give 
jobs and security to the taxpayers and their workers.
  Like the Democrats', as I would call it, ``insecurity supplemental'' 
that telegraphed their plan for defeat to our enemies, this budget 
telegraphs their plan for economic failure if we continue down that 
path for this great country. Their plan institutes a $3,000 tax 
increase for the typical Michigander in my district and embraces a 
spend now-reform later mentality.
  You just have to go to some of the basic concepts of their proposal. 
The Democrat budget would hit 115 million taxpayers with an almost 
$1,800 tax increase in 2011. In addition, 26 million small business 
owners would see their tax bill rise by almost $4,000 that year. 
Marriage penalty relief would be eliminated for 23 million taxpayers, 
who would see their taxes increase on average by $466 by 2011. Raising 
taxes on families with children, it would hurt 31 million taxpayers who 
would see their taxes increase on average by $859 by 2011.
  Those are just highlight scenarios of what is going on with that tax 
increase.
  Congress needs to pass a balanced budget bill without raising taxes. 
We need to make tax relief permanent for hardworking American families 
and implement a commonsense policy for the future. That is why I was 
proud to support the Republican alternative budget proposal.
  The benefits of our proposal, just a few highlights, 113 million 
taxpayers will see, if this were passed, their taxes decline by an 
average of $2,200. A family of four earning $40,000 will receive tax 
relief of over $2,000. More than 5 million individuals and families 
will see their income liabilities completely eliminated. Forty-five 
million families with children will receive an average tax cut of 
almost $3,000. Fifteen million elderly individuals will receive average 
tax relief of almost $3,000. Twenty-seven million small business 
owners, the breadbasket of the economy in my district, will save on 
average $4,700. A total of 7.6 million new jobs would be created under 
this proposal. An average of 168,000 new jobs a month could be created 
as well.
  I think the message is clear, Mr. Speaker. This is the direction we 
need to go for this great country that has taken on challenges not only 
within our borders, but to continue doing what we are accustomed to 
doing as the greatest and most benevolent nation on this Earth because 
of what we have done to encourage wealth and prosperity and 
responsibility and accountability and benefits from all of that. That 
blessing that goes beyond our shores and makes an impact upon people 
that I had the privilege of seeing, whose beneficiaries came from 
sources that I talked with in Walter Reed Hospital today, the young men 
and women who served valiantly for us, who sacrificed for us to 
continue the progress and continue the benevolence of this great 
people.

[[Page 9501]]

  Mr. Speaker, the American people long for a Congress that puts our 
fiscal house in order on a Federal level, but they want it done without 
expanding the size and scope of Federal Government.
  They are asking for the greatness to continue within the people of 
this great country which would include this great government if we 
would indeed recognize where that greatness comes from.
  So what a privilege again to be a temporary custodian of this seat in 
Congress, but what a huge responsibility to stand firmly for principles 
that will, if enacted, as we have seen historically 100 percent of the 
time, expand the economy, expand the opportunity, and offer freedom, 
opportunity and prosperity for our citizens and others all around this 
Earth.
  Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, and the gentleman from 
California, Congressman McCarthy, thank you for putting this Special 
Order together this evening.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. I thank you, Mr. Walberg. You raised a 
good point. It has only been 100 days, and in less than 100 days, the 
largest tax increase in America has taken place.
  During the campaign, you heard from both parties, you heard what 
people said they would do. In less than 100 days, they were broken.
  If you happen to be sitting at home and you are married, you have 
some children, you are going to pay more. If you are elderly, you are 
going to pay more. If you happen to maybe seek the opportunity of 
America, worked hard, made a business, saved, bought some land and went 
forward, you happened to pass away, this majority party, the Democrats, 
want to take 55 percent of that. That is the difference.
  I appreciate your principled view, let people keep their hard-earned 
money, and make sure that you bring accountability back.
  Now we want to go to another place in middle America because that is 
where solutions are. We want to get an update from Ohio. In Ohio, you 
can find a lot of individuals, but you can't find someone who works 
harder. Congressman Jim Jordan, along with his wife, Polly; I think 
they hold the American dream.

                              {time}  2245

  They are doing a fantastic job of raising their own children. They 
reach out into this community. They help others and make sure they are 
able to have a place to stay, a place a work and place for education. 
But Jim, Congressman Jordan is the only Republican freshman to get 
placed on Judiciary. Why? Because of his work, not only as an attorney, 
but his work in the Senate in Ohio, that stood out across this Nation. 
And I want you to give us an update. Talk a little further more about 
taxes and what this 100 days have meant to America and how much this 
Democratic Party is going to reach into your pocket.
  Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. Well, I thank the gentleman for yielding some 
time and for his work in putting this together and his passion and 
intensity and energy that he brings to the Congress and what he has 
done in our freshman class. I appreciate the remarks of the previous 
speaker. He talked about Tax Day, and he is right on target when you 
think about the amount of money government takes.
  And I just want to start with a question. And there is probably a few 
people watching, probably mostly in the gentleman from California's 
district. Most people in Ohio are smart enough to get in bed at this 
hour. But there are a few people watching out there. And I just want to 
ask those Americans who are watching, do you think government has 
enough of your money already, or do you think they need more? And my 
guess is the vast majority of people in California who are watching, or 
in Ohio who are sleeping, understand that the government, the billions 
and billions and the trillions and trillions that the government takes 
in already is probably enough.
  And the gentleman from Michigan was great in outlining what is at 
stake and what the Democrats want to do, because the Democrats 
obviously think different. The American people think, you know what, 
the government probably takes enough of my money. But based on what 
took place 2 weeks ago with the budget that was passed by the majority 
party, over the next 3 years the spending they want to do is going to 
take more and more money out of the private sector, where good things 
happen in our economy, where jobs are created, where prosperity takes 
place, more and more money out of the private sector and more money 
from the families across this great country, in Ohio, in the Fourth 
District, and across the Nation as whole.
  So I just want to provide some perspective and context and framework 
for why that is a bad thing. And I think we just start with this basic 
premise: the stakes are high today. It is important that the elected 
officials, the politicians here in Congress, get it right for a change. 
There was a point in the past where, in spite of bad policies that the 
politicians may have enacted, America, because we were so uniquely 
positioned coming out of World War II, we were the economic superpower. 
We were the economy that was growing. It didn't really matter if bad 
public policy was put in place. We were going to excel. We were going 
to prosper in this world market in spite of the things that the 
politicians might have done.
  But today the stakes are high and the competition is stiffer. And I 
just want to give some facts and figures and I will yield back to the 
gentleman from California. But recognize the framework we are in. 
Today, China has 1.4 billion people. India has close to 800 million 
people. Those two countries, over two billion people. United States of 
America, we just hit 300 million population last summer. Those two 
economies, China and India, over two billion people combined in those 
two countries, China's economy is growing at approximately 10 percent 
annual growth rate. India is growing at about 7, 7\1/2\ percent annual 
growth rate, quickly moving towards middle class. The competition is 
stiffer. And it is important today when you think about those numbers, 
those facts, those figures, that we in elective office do the policies 
right.
  Raising taxes on business owners, raising taxes on families, $400 
billion, as the gentleman from California pointed out, doing those 
things makes it tougher for our families, our small business owners, 
our economy to compete in that world market. And that is why it is 
important we not go along with these tax increases. That is why it is 
important we try to keep those tax cuts that are in place, so that 
family and businesses can prosper. It is that fundamental. The 
gentleman from Michigan was exactly right. And he ticked off, he read 
off the tax increases that will happen under the Democrats budget plan. 
And it is important we not go there.
  I always come back to, you know, the very first thing we did in this 
Congress, the majority party, the Democratic Party enacted some PAYGO 
rules, which sound great. But what those PAYGO rules did was make it 
easier to raise taxes.
  The last thing this Congress did before we went home for Easter break 
to see our constituents and visit our districts, the last thing we did 
before we went home for the Easter break was raise taxes. So they 
started off the Congress by making it easier to raise taxes. The last 
thing we did before we went home for break was raise taxes. And so that 
should tell you what is at stake here and why it is important that we 
fight for the American families, like the gentleman from California has 
been doing, and it has been a pleasure to serve along with him in that 
regard. And I will yield back some time and we can discuss some of this 
maybe as we move along.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania). The 
Chair must remind Members that remarks in debate should be addressed to 
the Chair and not to a viewing audience or fellow Members.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, one thing we know on this 
floor, and you brought up a very good point, Mr. Speaker, as we talk, 
we listen to other Members here, the largest

[[Page 9502]]

tax increase in American history happened within the last 100 days. 
And, Mr. Speaker, when we think about is America taxed enough, I 
simply, and I think about the average American, they wake up in the 
morning and they take a shower, they pay a tax on that water. They 
maybe stop off at Starbucks or someone else, and get a cup of coffee. 
They pay a tax on that coffee. They stop off, fill their car up so they 
can make it to work, drop their children off at school, they pay a 
gasoline tax. They go to work, for the first 3 hours they are paying 
the Federal and State tax. They go home, they turn on the TV, maybe to 
watch a little C-SPAN, Mr. Speaker, if anybody at home is watching 
this, they are paying a cable tax.
  Maybe their business says they have got to get up and try to find 
more opportunity because the world is being very competitive, so they 
have got to get on a plane. They pay an airplane tax. They rent a car. 
They pay a rental tax. They stay at a hotel, they pay an occupancy tax. 
Lo and behold, God forbid they get very successful and they save some 
money, and they put it away and they want to give their children, their 
grandchildren some opportunity for the future. This majority party 
wants to take 55 percent of that.
  Now, I don't know, Mr. Speaker, if this majority party was on that 
plane, was working hard to make sure those people earn that money, but 
I don't think they need to pay them. I think America is taxed enough.
  And I will tell you, we need to go firsthand in that Budget Committee 
to see where the fight was, to see what was said and what went on. And 
the only freshmen Republican to get appointed to that was my good 
friend from Nebraska, Adrian Smith. Adrian, can you give us an update 
on the Budget Committee and where it is going.
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be a part of this 
discussion here this evening, and certainly I consider it a great 
privilege to serve on the Budget Committee.
  As witness after witness after witness told the Budget Committee that 
we should address the entitlement challenges we face and reform 
entitlements so that we can have a safety net, so that we can have an 
economy to preserve that safety net, we need to adopt some changes. And 
yet the budget that has been presented and is moving through the Halls 
of Congress does not address entitlement reform. That is my concern. 
That was the major thrust of the Budget Committee hearings, certainly, 
as I said, witness after witness addressing that.
  But I stand here before you this evening concerned about the future. 
When I get asked why I would want to serve in Congress, I say it is 
because I care about the future. I care about the direction in which 
our country is heading. I believe that we need to encourage prosperity, 
not penalize it. And yet our tax policies are bound to penalize 
prosperity with the current budget.
  We heard in the Budget Committee that we need to increase spending. 
More of the same. And, certainly, the supplemental, as so many folks 
know, this emergency supplemental spending bill contains items that are 
far from emergency in nature. I am afraid that there were too many 
politics being played in terms of funding the very necessary functions 
of our military so bravely serving overseas.
  I am concerned about our future, and that is why I went to Iraq. I 
learned in Iraq that there are some bright spots. Certainly we have a 
lot of work to do. But it comes back to the economy. I am encouraged 
when I learn that there are more than twice as many merchant vessels 
traveling the one single waterway into Iraq from the gulf. I am 
encouraged when I see a developing police force perhaps in Ramadi. That 
is what contributes to the fundamentals of a sound economy with the 
rule of law.
  But as we balance our policies overseas with our domestic policies 
here at home, we have to be mindful again of the future, the future 
that I believe can be bright with the sound, solid economy.
  My friends so very eloquently pointed out the estate tax, commonly 
called the death tax. I can't help but think back to when I was 
visiting a business in my district, actually the Nation's largest 
producers of natural wool yarn. I didn't prompt this discussion 
whatsoever. But the second generation owner, or manager in this case, 
of this company said, Adrian, one thing you can do in serving in 
Congress is to reform or repeal the death tax. It will devastate us. 
``Devastate'' was her word.
  Now, one might think that the Nation's largest producer of natural 
wool yarn would be big business, big corporations, all these big 
companies that people want to beat up on who provide jobs. No, this is 
a family-run operation with about 45 employees that just reinvested 
many dollars so they could double their output, so that they could take 
new customers because before they invested in some expansion, they 
couldn't take new customers. And yet our tax policies will penalize 
them.
  And, quite honestly, I don't care how large an estate one might have, 
I think it is wrong, fundamentally wrong, and actually unconscionable 
that the government would lay claim to 55 percent of an estate. Some 
people say, well, these wealthy folks can plan around it. Some can. 
Boy, you had better plan your debt too, as so many folks cannot.
  But it all comes back to the economy. And I believe in Republican 
budget principles that are sound, through promoting enhanced 
prosperity, by balancing the budget and continuing the tax relief, 
through making needed reforms to entitlement programs, as our Budget 
Committee witnesses pointed out, increasing accountability through 
budget and appropriation reforms to help end Washington waste, fraud 
and abuse.
  When we look, Mr. Speaker, at what is before us with the budget, it 
is the largest tax increase in American history: $400 billion, that is 
with a B, $400 billion tax increase. And my friends and I, Mr. Speaker, 
believe that that will be damaging to our economy. And I say that 
because of the facts. The facts point out that when tax relief was 
brought about in 2003, the unemployment rate went down. GDP went up. 
Jobs were created. And I find that exciting.
  When I entered politics a few years back, I never thought that I 
would become so enthused about economic principles about good, sound 
tax policy, but I have seen what tax policy can do over these last few 
years, that tax relief can create jobs. Tax relief can leverage a 
family's dollars, hard earned dollars in our economy so that we can 
have good, thriving businesses in all of our districts, large and 
small, rural and urban. We need a good sustainable farm bill that 
builds on the future, that uses our experiences from the past, Mr. 
Speaker, in realizing that we need to build our markets with our 
trading partners. And we can expect good, sound trade policy, not 
giving away everything, and so that we can help our energy markets, we 
can help our agriculture markets.
  And especially I find it so exciting about the future when we see 
agriculture and energy coming together. I think we need to be careful 
when we talk about energy. As I was reading an article the other day, 
Time magazine, I had an article that said eating a T-bone steak is as 
egregious in our environment as driving a Hummer vehicle. I found that 
to be quite surprising, honestly. I certainly represent an area that 
probably contains more cattle than any other district in the United 
States. And I don't bring up this issue because of that, but I think 
that as we address our energy needs and looking to the feature, we need 
good commonsense policies.

                              {time}  2300

  And that is what I want to work on because I do care about the 
future. I care about entitlement reform. I care about a balanced budget 
so that we can encourage our coming generations to focus on the future, 
so that they can see even more opportunity and that their prosperity is 
not punished through bad tax policy.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Congressman Smith, I appreciate that. And 
you point out a very good point. During the Republican majority, we 
lowered taxes, and what happened? We heard from the Democrats that the

[[Page 9503]]

world was going to collapse because we were going to let people keep 
the money they earned.
  Revenues to the Treasury went up. Why? Because they invest it. More 
small business, more ownership. The stock market at an all-time high? 
Why? Because people got the independence. They actually invest and 
create jobs.
  And that is what this House should be about, the power of the idea, 
the power of opportunity. Not to take. But in these first 100 days, the 
largest tax increase in history.
  And I will tell you, as I walk these halls and I see these marble 
stairways, and you see as you walk that they are molded out by other 
feet that have walked before you, you think of how long a history that 
is. But just in the last 100 days history was broken. Why? Because this 
new Democrat majority went back to their old ways.
  But they didn't just go back. They went further. They broke every 
record of every Democrat majority in the past. They raised taxes $400 
billion. That is not a sound bite. That is exactly what happened on 
this floor, and that is what this is all about. That is what a 
quarterly report is about. Just like when I open the report card for 
Connor and Megan in my house, I want to know how my children are doing.
  And as we end up here tonight and we close, Mr. Speaker, I would just 
like to hear the time report from the Members that are still with us. 
If we could just go around and they could give final statements just to 
sum up the first 100 days, this first quarter in this House of 
Congress.
  I will yield to Congressman Jordan.
  Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  And you talked about a $400 billion tax increase. I just come to the 
question, how many Americans think that government can spend money 
better than the private sector? How many Americans think that the 
government can spend money better than the small business owners in our 
communities? How many Americans think that government can spend that 
money better than the families that live in our districts and make this 
country great? That is the fundamental question.
  And the gentleman from Nebraska was right on target when he talked 
about families. So often we get so focused on the numbers, the budgets, 
capital gains, dividends, tax rates, tax brackets, all this fancy 
political speak, and we forget in the end it is about people. It is 
about moms and dads having more money in their pockets to spend on 
piano lessons for Sally, soccer lessons for Johnny.
  Saving for college is a huge thing. And I have got one in college, 
and I am paying them right now, writing those checks. That is what it 
is about. In the end, it is about families.
  Jefferson had a great line. When you think about the size and scope 
of government, how big this government is going to grow under this 
proposal, Jefferson said, ``When the people fear the government, there 
is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.''
  Just ask yourself this question, as government begins to grow: If 
tomorrow you are at home and you get a knock at your door and you 
answer the door and the gentleman identifies himself and says, ``I am 
from the IRS,'' is your first response, ``Oh, joy, one of my public 
servants is here to help me today''? Of course it is not.
  We have to understand that. If we want families to have the liberty 
and freedom they need to do what is best for their kids and their 
grandkids, we need to let them keep more of their money. And that is 
what our struggle is when we go forward, to try to make sure we can 
allow families to keep more of their money.
  I know that is why I came to Congress and I know that is why the 
gentleman from California came to Congress and the gentleman from 
Michigan and the gentleman from Nebraska as well. So that is what we 
need to do, and that is what we are going to continue to do as we move 
forward.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. I thank you for your service. We will 
just hear the last bit from the Congressman from Michigan, Congressman 
Walberg.
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding and for putting this together.
  And I would agree with my colleague from Ohio. And it is tough for a 
Michigander to agree with anyone from the Buckeye State. We have 
wonderful rivalries that go on. But he is absolutely correct. We are 
talking about the future. We are talking about our kids.
  I have a grandson, Micah, that I want to invest for by leaving a 
country that he indeed can have invested in for himself from his 
parents and the opportunity for them to use their resources to provide 
for him and provide for others in the process.
  I have become greatly concerned with the concept that we have heard 
from the other side of the aisle too often about investing in our great 
economy. And ``investing'' in their vernacular means tax increases, 
spending more of government dollars which, in fact, are taxpayers' 
dollars.
  We need to get away from that and allow our taxpayers, the generator 
of the economy, of a small business, of the manufacturer, the 
entrepreneur to be able to invest in themselves to make this great 
country stand not on its government but stand on its independence, its 
freedom. Because, Mr. Speaker, I am sure you and I would agree on this, 
that our responsibility here, as Members of Congress, is to fight for 
and defend and continue the freedom of this great country. And that 
comes with the ability for people to invest, to save, to spend, to 
enjoy their property, to be responsible and experience the virtues of 
hard work, of loyalty, of faithfulness.
  I believe Jonathan Witherspoon said, ``A republic must either 
preserve its virtue or lose its liberty.''
  It is a virtue for this country to reward its citizens for being 
responsible. It is a virtue for this country to applaud people who work 
hard, who save, invest, who create the economy. And it is a virtue for 
that same group of people, our citizens, to say to a government, we 
respect you for leaving that responsibility to us. That is freedom.
  And, Mr. Speaker, I am deeply, deeply indebted to the people of my 
district for giving me the privilege to fight for that very thing along 
with colleagues like you have heard tonight on this floor.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Thank you, Congressman. We appreciate 
your principled belief to represent your constituents, those 
hardworking individuals from Michigan that are trying to create 
opportunity, trying to put their children through college, trying to 
have that home ownership, and at the same time taking care of their 
parents as they are getting older.
  But this Congress says ``no.'' They want to take money out of their 
pocket and pass the highest tax increase.
  Congressman Smith, if you could just sum up tonight on what you see 
the future holding.
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, although we are coming to an end 
to this time of discussion, I think that we all hope that promoting 
prosperity that has taken place over the last few years will not come 
to an end. And I want to very quickly point out that this is what is 
about to come to an end, even though it has been working, even though 
we have been creating jobs, even though the deficit has been cut in 
half actually. Despite many of these spending measures, the deficit has 
been cut in half over the last couple of years. But we are about to see 
an end to tax relief for the average family of four earning $40,000 a 
year of $2,052 in taxes. Taxes are going to go up.
  The Republican budget focuses on promoting prosperity through the tax 
relief of $4,712 in average taxes paid by 27 million small businesses. 
These are small businesses. These aren't necessarily the wealthiest of 
the wealthy. These are common, everyday Americans working hard and 
growing our economy.
  I hope that we can come back to a budget that promotes prosperity by 
keeping the death tax at zero through 2012, perhaps even beyond, 
because I believe that the government should not have the right to take 
55 percent of an estate. That would be 55 percent of a

[[Page 9504]]

ranch or a farm in my district, where we are encouraging young farmers 
and ranchers to engage in the business, to engage in the economy. And 
yet they would have to come up with cash to inherit the farm or ranch? 
Unconscionable.
  I believe that we can do better. That is why I like to focus on the 
future and I like to focus on the future through building our economy 
with sound tax policy, availing capital to our entrepreneurs so that 
our entrepreneurs can be creative, can pursue innovation and grow jobs, 
becoming prosperous. And they will pay taxes. They will pay a fair 
amount of taxes all along the way. But let's not take too much of it 
and punish them.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Well, Congressman Smith, we appreciate 
your comments. And we come to a close tonight of the first quarterly 
report from the freshman Republicans. We will continue, Mr. Speaker, to 
bring this. We want to put people before politics. We want the people 
to know, Mr. Speaker, what happens on this floor. When they sit at 
home, we want them to know about the largest tax increase in history, 
$400 billion. We want them to know, as generation to generation, that 
someone who happens to be in my district who maybe wants to continue 
the ranch and someone passes away, that they have to sell half the 
ranch to just try to keep business the way it was, because government 
and this majority party wants to take 55 percent of it.
  Mr. Speaker, we feel that is wrong, and that is why we want to tell 
it directly to the people.
  We appreciate the time we have had, Mr. Speaker.

                          ____________________