[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18431]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              FISCAL CLIFF

  (Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, the start of a new year is 
supposed to be a joyous occasion. It is time to reflect on the past 
year, to take pride in our accomplishments and learn from our stumbles. 
There's a novel thought.
  Similarly, the start of a new Congress offers us an opportunity to 
look forward with hope and aspiration for the opportunity to work 
together--again, a novel thought--to deliver on behalf of those who 
have put their trust in us.
  Let's not pull the rug out from underneath both of those things 
before they've even had a chance to begin. The start of the new year 
and the new Congress do not have to be colored by the partisanship 
that's characterized the past year. There is a last-minute absolution 
to be had if we can seize the spirit of the season and do that which we 
have done all too little of this past year: compromise, come together.
  Let's ring in the new year with a fix, albeit a modest one, of the 
fiscal cliff and start off our new year and new Congress with a proper 
welcome for our constituents and our colleagues.

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