[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3238-3239]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          REMINGTON TO ALABAMA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, last week the Tennessee Valley of 
north Alabama enjoyed a great economic victory when Remington Outdoor 
Company announced 2,000 new jobs and a new firearms manufacturing plant 
in the valley.
  Last month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared that hardworking 
Americans who believe in the Second Amendment's right to bear arms 
``have no place in the State of New York because that's not who New 
Yorkers are.''
  No question, Alabama and the Tennessee Valley owe a debt of gratitude 
to New York and its Governor Cuomo for helping to inspire Remington to 
expand in Alabama, but to be fair, New York's hostility to the Second 
Amendment is only one factor supporting Remington's Alabama expansion. 
The most important factor is that Alabama is simply a better place to 
do business.
  New York's income tax rates are roughly 60 percent higher than 
Alabama's, which means Alabama's hardworking citizens keep more of the 
money they earn.
  New York's per capita property tax rates are roughly four times 
higher than those in Alabama, which means Huntsville metro citizens are 
twice as likely to own a home as New Yorkers.
  New York's business tax burden is the 50th worst in America, while 
Alabama's is a respectable 21st.
  New York residents are 25 percent more likely to live in poverty than 
Huntsville metro citizens. Out of 50 States, Alabama's long-term 
solvency is 5th best in America, and its overall fiscal condition is 
10th best. New York's financial condition is near the bottom, ranking 
45th in each category.
  Alabama's financial future is bright. New York increasingly risks 
being unable to pay for basic services.
  New York workers average commuting 78 minutes a day to and from

[[Page 3239]]

work versus 36 minutes a day for Huntsville metro citizens. Tennessee 
Valley citizens have more time to spend with their families and the 
enjoyment of life.
  In Alabama, the cost of living is 11 percent below the national 
average. In New York, the cost of living is 25 percent above the 
national average. A paycheck in Alabama buys 40 percent more than the 
same paycheck in New York.
  Alabama's right-to-work law means that Alabamians cannot be forced to 
join a union against their will. Whether it be our right-to-work law or 
the Second Amendment right to bear arms, Alabama's motto says it all: 
``We dare defend our rights.''
  Beating out New York was only half the battle for Remington's plant. 
Alabama faced stiff competition from 24 other States; yet, in the 
judgment of Remington, the Tennessee Valley was the best place to live, 
work, and grow their business.
  Why? The Tennessee Valley is highly educated. For example, Huntsville 
metro has the highest per capita concentration of engineers in America. 
Huntsville and Madison County are ranked number seven in America by CNN 
Money as ``a great place to live and find a job,'' number four in 
America by the Progressive Policy Institute on the list of America's 
high-tech hot spots, in the top 10 in America by USA Today as a great 
place to be inspired by innovation, number three in America by business 
facilities for aerospace and defense manufacturing, and in the top 10 
in America by Family Circle magazine for being a great place to raise a 
family.
  The Tennessee Valley is blessed with a clean environment and four 
major lakes with world-renowned fishing and water sports, lakes that 
stretch the entire length of the Tennessee Valley.
  Unlike New York and other blue States, in Alabama, envy, greed, and 
class warfare are not political weapons that justify attacking, taxing, 
and destroying success. To the contrary, in Alabama, we applaud those 
who, through hard work, find prosperity and the American Dream.
  In Alabama, we are blessed with a great Governor in Robert Bentley. 
We are blessed with political leaders in Jackson, Marshall, Madison, 
Limestone, Morgan, Lawrence, Colbert, and Lauderdale Counties who 
support free enterprise and are cooperative and willing to help each 
other achieve success, attributes that were critical to Remington's 
concluding that the Tennessee Valley was the best place in America for 
Remington to grow and prosper.
  Thanks to Remington, Americans will soon be able to exercise their 
Second Amendment rights by buying and owning firearms made in the great 
State of Alabama.
  Thank you, Remington.
  As for all you other businesses in blue States who are tired of being 
attacked and regulated and taxed into submission and financial loss, 
come on down. There is a reason why Remington chose Alabama and a 
reason why we are called ``Alabama, the Beautiful.''
  Try Alabama. I promise you will like it and wonder why you didn't 
come sooner.

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