[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 188]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         AMERICA'S NEW CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Abraham). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 6, 2015, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. 
Foxx) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority 
leader.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, since I was first elected to Congress in 2004, 
I have heard from thousands of constituents across North Carolina's 
Fifth District. In recent years, there has been an understandable note 
of frustration in their voices over the direction that our country is 
headed.
  These folks know all too well the struggle to find a job and pay the 
bills. They are angry that it takes an average 111 days just to make 
enough money to pay the government before starting to keep what they 
earn for the year. They have watched an oppressive government intrusion 
into health care make it far too difficult and expensive for many to do 
business. They are discouraged by an uncertain regulatory environment 
that is wreaking havoc on both employers and employees. They are 
outraged at the President's unprecedented attempt to grant amnesty to 
millions of illegal aliens when there are so many individuals who have 
waited years for the opportunity to come to this country the right way.
  Over the last 4 years, the U.S. House of Representatives has done 
everything in our power to put this Nation on a better path. We have 
passed numerous pieces of legislation to encourage job growth and 
strengthen America's standing in the global economy. We have also 
passed bills that would decrease energy costs, allow workers to have 
more flexibility to spend time with their families, and increase 
transparency in how tax dollars are spent. However, we were stymied 
again and again by Democrats in the Senate.
  Despite the short time we have had, the obstacles we have faced and 
the enormity of our task, House Republicans have still managed a number 
of conservative victories. For example, this summer legislation I 
authored was signed into law to streamline the Federal workforce 
development system, including the elimination of 15 duplicative 
programs. Last month we passed legislation that has since been signed 
into law to allow families of a severely disabled child to save for 
their child's long-term disability expenses in the same way that many 
families currently save for college through popular 529 investment 
plans, encouraging personal responsibility instead of increasing 
dependency on the government.
  We all wish we could have done more, much more; however, we will have 
greater opportunities over the next 2 years with a Republican-led House 
and Senate. The 114th Congress offers new chances to pass legislation 
that will take the country down a road of economic recovery that 
results in lower unemployment, a fair Tax Code, and opportunity for 
all. We will work to reduce the size and scope of the Federal 
Government, protect against executive overreach, reform Federal 
spending, and keep America strong.
  My priorities for this year include continuing efforts to increase 
transparency and accountability in government. That is why H.R. 50, the 
Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, which we call 
UMITA, is the first bill I introduced in the 114th Congress. This 
legislation would improve transparency and public disclosure of the 
true cost--in dollars and in jobs--that Federal dictates pose to the 
economy. I have offered this legislation in the past four Congresses, 
and it has successfully passed the House with bipartisan support on 
three separate occasions, only to be ignored by the Senate. My hope is 
that this year will be different.
  Congress will also face off against the White House this year over 
President Obama's attempts to short-circuit the American immigration 
process. By extending funding for the Department of Homeland Security 
only through February 2015, the House and Senate are prepared to 
confront the President's unparalleled power grab without the threat of 
a looming government-wide shutdown, and we will do everything we can to 
stop his destructive actions.
  Congress will be addressing the American people's greatest priorities 
in the 114th Congress, and we will work hard to build a better future 
for American families.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

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