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The clerk will report the bill by title for the second time.

Today's opening prayer will be offered by the Reverend Dr. Costa G. Christo, senior pastor of the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA.

Mr. President, there is a bill at the desk due for a second reading. It is S. 2111.

I object to any further proceedings with respect to this bill at this time.

Following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour. The majority will control the first half, the Republicans the second half. Following morning ...

Vol. 158WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012No. 26

The clerk will please read a communication to the Senate from the President pro tempore (Mr. Inouye).

I ask the Chair to announce the business of the day.

Under the previous order, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. President, we were honored to have Senator Shaheen join us. I know there are others who would like to be here today.

The Senator from Wyoming is recognized.

That is correct. And, again, I thank the Senator for his leadership and I thank him for his comments.

Around the world, governments are also taking up this important call. The European Parliament, Canada, and The Netherlands are considering similar pieces of legislation. This summer, the U.S. State Department ...

Mr. President, I expect to be joined in a moment by my colleague and good friend, Senator Cardin, and he and I and perhaps others will be talking about the ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be 30 minutes available for a colloquy controlled by Senator Wicker and myself.

I will be glad to yield.

We are going to yield the floor. Let me agree with my colleague, Senator Shaheen. She is absolutely right. It is going to be easier for them to speak out ...

I thank the Chair, and I thank Senator Wicker for starting us off on the discussion of what is happening in Russia today.

This is the kind of obstruction that is hard to explain to the American people. This Republican filibuster, like that of Judge Jordan, is very hard to understand. Jesse Furman ...

The Senate was forced to spend the better part of this week ending a filibuster against the nomination of Judge Adalberto Jordan of Florida to fill a judicial emergency vacancy ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 10 minutes as in morning business.

Morning business is closed.

Is there objection?

Madam President, I come to the floor, along with my colleague Senator Udall, to honor Ben Lujan, who is the longtime speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives. After ...

Mr. President, I came to the floor previously to speak about President Obama's unconstitutional appointments of Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and of three new ...

The Senate is on the bill.

The Senator from Kentucky.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for 10 minutes and that I be followed by the Senator from Texas, Mr. Alexander.

Madam President, I was presiding earlier today before the Senator from North Carolina. I listened to Senator Boxer talk about the importance of this Transportation bill, this highway bill, which ...

Mr. President, I wish to take the time now to talk about the conference report that has been filed in regard to the extension of the payroll tax holiday, the ...

I thank the Chair.

I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized as in morning business.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

Pending:

Madam President, I thank my friend and colleague, the distinguished chair of the committee, for her work in managing this bill. This is a huge bill. It has many titles. ...

Mr. President, are we in morning business or do I have to ask consent to speak as in morning business?

Mr. President, I come to the floor to state my vehement opposition to the agreement to extend the payroll tax cut and to slash the Public Health and Prevention Fund ...

So who do we listen to, Mr. President? Do we listen to public health officials--the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, people all across America saying don't do this?

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I also rise today to join New Mexico's senior Senator, who has served New Mexico so well. It is a real honor to join Senator Bingaman in paying ...

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: January 25, 2012.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

As I recall, Senator Grassley actually was the one who wrote this to begin with. We have also recently filed an amendment, a bipartisan, fully paid for, 1-year extension of ...

I thank the Senator, and we are working on that too.

What did I say? From Tennessee. Whatever I said, I apologize. I said Texas. I apologize.

Mr. President, I am here to talk about another subject, marketplace fairness. But before I do, I want to acknowledge the importance of what the Senator from Arizona has had ...

Madam President, reserving the right to object, I want to be very clear here that Members on both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats, have very strong feelings that ...

The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

If a Republican like this Senator says that the President's 2013 budget doesn't pass the smell test, I would probably have half the country questioning my judgment. But I would ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The Senator from Oregon.

The Senator from North Dakota.

The Senator from New Mexico.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed for just 2 additional minutes. I see our friend from Iowa is in the Chamber.

Mr. President, I need to speak for a few minutes this morning about two important news events of this week: the budget that was submitted by the President and the ...

Mr. President, I thank my esteemed colleague from the great State of Oregon, Senator Wyden, for his leadership on this important issue, for his work on the highway bill, and ...

Madam President, I have the sad and solemn task today to speak of one brave and honorable Kentuckian who was lost in the performance of his duties while wearing his ...

The clerk will call the roll.

Mr. President, we have on the floor of the Senate the Transportation bill. You might wonder why a bill that is the No. 1 jobs bill that we can do ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we go to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an educational institution that has been determined to create job opportunities and more easily accessible pathways to attaining professional degrees for ...

Mr. President, I want to welcome Pakistan's new Ambassador to the United States, Sherry Rehman. Ambassador Rehman has rightly been described as representing ``the traditional values of Jinnah's Pakistan.'' As ...

Mr. President, on Saturday, February 11, 2012, New Jersey lost one of its proudest daughters and our country lost one of its brightest stars when Whitney Houston died at the ...

Mr. President, today I would like to commend the extraordinary career of Buckner International CEO Dr. Kenneth Hall, who will soon be retiring from the Dallas-based organization after 19 years ...

Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing John E. Frampton on the occasion of his retirement as director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, ...

Mr. President, my colleague Senator Debbie Stabenow and I would like to pay tribute to Brian Donnelly. The measure of a man is seen from many vantage points, from the ...

Mr. President, for over 50 years, Doyle W. Rogers has been a proud resident of the city of Batesville, AR. Next month, Batesville will honor him by designating March 6, ...

Mr. President, I wish to remember Mr. James Lucien ``Jimmy'' Hinton, who passed away on December 3, 2011, in Tuscaloosa, AL, at the age of 88. He was one of ...

At 10:03 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which ...

As in executive session the Presiding Officer laid before the Senate messages from the President of the United States submitting sundry nominations which were referred to the appropriate committees. (The ...

The following bill was read the second time, and placed on the calendar: S. 2111. A bill to enhance punishment for identity theft and other violations of data privacy and ...

The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC 5027. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory ...

The following bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: By Mr. RUBIO: S. 2115. A bill to limit ...

The following executive reports of nominations were submitted: By Mr. LEAHY for the Committee on the Judiciary. Kristine Gerhard Baker, of Arkansas, to be United States District Judge for the ...

Mr. President, I look forward to the opportunity to debate this resolution on the floor, and I thank the Senators who have joined me as original cosponsors.

Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Adult Education and Economic Growth Act of 2012. This bill will address the critical needs in our workforce by investing in adult education, ...

S. 2117. A bill to increase access to adult education to provide for economic growth; to the Committee on Finance.

By Mr. INHOFE:

Mr. President, I want to announce that I introduced a resolution of disapproval just a few minutes ago under the Congressional Review Act.

The assistant editor of the Daily Digest proceeded to call the roll.

SENATE RESOLUTION 379--CONDEMNING VIOLENCE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA AGAINST THE SYRIAN PEOPLE Mr. KERRY submitted the following resolution; from the Committee on Foreign Relations; which was placed on the ...

SA 1663. Mr. BLUNT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1813, to reauthorize Federal- aid highway and highway safety construction programs, and for ...

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 11:30 a.m., to ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, in order to conduct a ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 9:30 ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 10 a.m., to ...

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. President, there could be up to four votes. If things don't work out, we will have to have some of the votes later in the week, so we hope ...

Mr. President, I apologize to the staff and for everyone having to wait, but we have things we have been working on and we have made a lot of headway, ...

Mr. President, I now ask for a second reading and, in order to place the bill on the calendar, object to my own request.

The legislative clerk read as follows:

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk due for its first reading.

Executive nominations received by the Senate: THE JUDICIARY JILL A. PRYOR, OF GEORGIA, TO BE UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT, VICE STANLEY F. BIRCH, JR., RETIRED. PAUL ...

The House met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Webster).

Vol. 158WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012No. 26

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) for 5 minutes.

This week, we watched the settlement unfold between the Department of Justice, the State attorneys general, and the major banks. Twenty-six billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, but ...

Mr. Speaker, I've come down here to talk about the budget. I am a freshman on the Budget Committee. The President's budget arrived on Monday of this week. Here in ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a piece of legislation that I'm introducing later on in the afternoon, the Automatic Individual Retirement Account Act of 2012.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as cochair of the bipartisan House Career and Technical Education Caucus in order to recognize February as National Career and Technical Education Month.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of Great Britain and was considered to be a political liberal, and perhaps his actions didn't always match his words, but I ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I come back to the floor again this week to continue to talk about high-level nuclear waste and its location around the country.

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I'm here today to commemorate the life of a truly wonderful man, Mr. Danny Thomas, who represents so much that is wonderful about our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of the senior citizens in Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional District who rely on a Medicare system which makes predictable and stable payments ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, first let me just thank my colleagues, Congressman Jones, Congressman McDermott, Congressman Ellison and others, for speaking out this morning clearly, saying that it's past time to bring ...

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to American men and women in uniform, but specifically to an era in the Vietnam conflict that I think did not get ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) for 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, I proposed a simple challenge to my constituents back home in St. Louis. I said: Tell me your ideas for creating more jobs and ...

Mr. Speaker, religious liberty is under attack by the administration.

The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: Eternal God, through whom we see what we could be and what we can become, thank You for giving ...

(Mr. CLARKE of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, for 3 years, Americans have watched the President as he has tried to borrow and spend his way out of an economic recession. His failed policies have failed ...

(Mr. BUCHANAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Mr. SCHILLING asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. Speaker, the catchword is ``innovation.'' President Obama has made it clear that on the road to economic recovery we must also make long-term investments in American innovation.

Mr. Speaker, why do we say that the President's health care law is a government takeover? Because, under the law, the government can force religious organizations to violate their conscience. ...

(Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week the President sent his fiscal year 2013 budget request to Congress. It's been roundly panned as being ``not serious,'' ``inadequate,'' and ``political.''

(Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Mr. BONNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

(Mr. PIERLUISI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the House in relationship to the transportation bill that we are currently debating in the House this week.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I met with the executive director of the not-for-profit organization Helmets to Hardhats. Since 2003, Helmets to Hardhats has partnered with the Department of Defense, ...

(Ms. HANABUSA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

(Mrs. DAVIS of California asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. Speaker, small businesses, from used furniture stores to restaurants to barbershops, drive our economy, but they've had to take a haircut recently since they've been more subject to the ...

(Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

The recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington) at 3 o'clock and 16 minutes p.m.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, America is at its best when we're not hypocritical and when we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. This Markey amendment does both.

Reclaiming my time, I believe that we should open all areas where there are potential resources. I would just remind my good friend from California that you could make the ...

Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to see so much bipartisan support for legislation to devote 80 percent of the fines and penalties under the Clean Water Act from the ...

Mr. Chairman, for far too long, the Federal Government has imposed regulatory burdens that have impeded economic growth and limited our access to domestic energy. This legislation, which passed out ...

I'd like to thank the gentleman from Louisiana for yielding. I also would like to commend him on his leadership regarding the work that we have performed on this bipartisan ...

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition.

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for the time and for all he has done to bring this forward. I also want to thank all my colleagues from the gulf ...

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. Chairman, at this time I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to our colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond).

Mr. Chairman, this amendment has been defeated so many times on the House floor, it's like one of those bad ``American Idol'' tryouts. And there is good reason for it. ...

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time remains.

I am very pleased, Mr. Chairman, to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Farenthold).

Mr. Chairman, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

I thank my friend and neighbor for yielding.

Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Denham) having assumed the chair, Mr. Woodall, Acting Chair of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of ...

I also rise in opposition to this amendment. As the chairman has pointed out, there is no market in Alaska, and we know how the other side feels about building ...

I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

I yield myself the balance of the time, Mr. Chairman.

At this time, I am very pleased to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

At this point, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I suppose it's time to just finish up this debate, so I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment of the committee chairman.

The text of the amendment is as follows:

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I rise to claim time in opposition to this amendment.

I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. Chairman, I just want to reiterate the point we've been making. The goal of this amendment is not simply to break America's contract, it's really to stop American companies ...

I thank my colleague from Louisiana for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is very simple. It prohibits the export of the natural gas produced from the leases that are going to be given to oil and gas companies ...

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

I thank the gentlewoman from Florida.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I am prepared to close, Mr. Chairman, so I would reserve and allow the gentlelady from Florida to close.

Thank you.

There was no objection.

Mr. Chairman, I advise my friend from Massachusetts that I have requests from two other Members, so there are three including me.

Do you believe that we should be drilling off the coast of northern California in an area that's one of four major upwellings in the world's oceans, in an area ...

I yield myself the balance of my time.

Can I inquire the balance of the time, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

So the motion to recommit was rejected.

There is 1 minute remaining.

The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 183, noes 238, not voting 12, as follows:

So the amendment was rejected.

The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.

[Roll No. 70] AYES--176 Ackerman Altmire Andrews Baca Baldwin Bass (CA) Becerra Berkley Berman Bishop (GA) Bishop (NY) Blumenauer Bonamici Brady (PA) Braley (IA) Brown (FL) Capps Capuano Cardoza Carnahan ...

The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the noes appeared to have it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 244, noes 177, not voting 12, as follows:

Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?

The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 167, noes 253, not voting 13, as follows:

[Roll No. 67] AYES--168 Ackerman Altmire Andrews Baca Baldwin Barrow Bass (CA) Becerra Berkley Berman Bishop (GA) Bishop (NY) Bonamici Boswell Brady (PA) Braley (IA) Brown (FL) Capps Capuano Carnahan ...

[Roll No. 71] AYES--237 Aderholt Akin Alexander Altmire Amash Amodei Bachmann Bachus Barletta Barrow Bartlett Barton (TX) Benishek Berg Biggert Bishop (GA) Bishop (UT) Black Blackburn Boehner Bonner Boren Boswell ...

This will be a 5-minute vote.

Pursuant to clause 8 and clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-minute vote on the motion to recommit will be followed by 5-minute votes on passage of the bill, if ...

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

[Roll No. 69] AYES--244 Adams Aderholt Akin Alexander Amodei Bachmann Bachus Barletta Barrow Bartlett Barton (TX) Bass (NH) Benishek Berg Biggert Bilbray Bilirakis Bishop (GA) Bishop (UT) Black Blackburn Bonner ...

[Roll No. 68] AYES--183 Ackerman Andrews Baca Baldwin Bartlett Bass (CA) Becerra Berkley Berman Bishop (GA) Bishop (NY) Blumenauer Bonamici Boswell Brady (PA) Braley (IA) Brown (FL) Buchanan Butterfield Capps ...

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 64, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, this is one more example where the other side is playing politics with American energy and American job creation.

The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.

[Roll No. 65] AYES--189 Ackerman Altmire Andrews Baca Baldwin Barrow Bass (CA) Becerra Berkley Berman Bishop (GA) Bishop (NY) Blumenauer Bonamici Boswell Brady (PA) Braley (IA) Brown (FL) Butterfield Capps ...

Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, the Republican love letter to Big Oil could be the kiss of death for small businesses, hotels, motels, shrimpers, fishermen, and families that rely on tourism, and that's ...

The unfinished business is the question on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal, which the Chair will put de novo.

There was no objection.

The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

(Mr. FLEMING asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. Speaker, President Obama's mandate on abortion-inducing drugs and contraceptive services has not gone away--I repeat--has not gone away. It has not been settled. There is no compromise. The administration's ...

There was no objection.

Thank you. And I do want to applaud Representative Fortenberry of Lincoln, Nebraska, for this courageous move that he has taken, for being a leader on this important issue of ...

It's a privilege to be here to stand on the House floor with my colleagues this evening and discuss an issue that is facing Americans today that really we should ...

I thank my colleague for putting together this hour that is so meaningful and so important not just for Democrats or Republicans but for every American, not just for people ...

I thank my friend, the gentleman from Colorado, for yielding and for taking the lead on this hour dedicated to standing up for religious freedom.

I thank the gentleman from Maryland for his insight into this issue and his comments.

I appreciate the opportunity from the gentleman from California to stand with my colleagues tonight to speak on an important issue.

Thank you, Congressman. It's a pleasure to stand with you today. It is a pleasure to be here. But it is a real shock to see what is happening today.

Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.

Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) is recognized for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the ...

That is an excellent idea I guess we would expect from the administration, but, fundamentally, that is favoritism. That is picking who gets to believe what. And as previous colleagues ...

Thank you very much.

If I could ask the gentleman, is there any chance that Kathleen Sebelius will issue waivers to religious organizations, not just the labor unions who up until now have been ...

Well, I appreciate it. I hope that we continue to hold more conversations about this because America needs to know. America is already speaking. And that is evident in the ...

I want to thank the chairman, the gentleman from California, for your leadership in this area.

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina (during the Special Order of Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California), from the Committee on Rules, submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 112 400) on ...

I think there has been a real demonization of all public sector workers lately, and that is why I'm so glad tonight we're able to put a face on these ...

That is saying a lot. As I said before, and as Ray LaHood was alluding to, as many differences that may have existed across the aisle, recognizing the importance of ...

Everyone needs to hear that again. Would cut?

Continuing to quote Mr. LaHood:

One of the themes that the President has underscored over and over again is that everybody should get a fair shot and everybody pay their fair share and everybody play ...

Cut.

If I may just ask the gentlelady a question.

It's estimated, actually, that those individuals could probably make as much as 26 percent more working in the private sector, but they want to contribute to the common good and ...

No. It's a job and a paycheck, and you take it to the grocery store. And it resonates throughout the economy. But I'll tell you, it's a pinch. When that ...

Absolutely. The gentlelady should note, I had this one chart up, and I would like to let folks know, because what the question was--Washington Post-ABC asked the following statement: President ...

What I hear them say is, oh, well, the Federal workers earn more money than the people who pay their salaries in the form of taxes. They say this divisively ...

If the gentlelady will yield.

That he is.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the time.

For 2 years. That's about $30 billion a year in cuts. So they've already given up, really, about $60 billion from a normal increase in wages just to pay for ...

Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) is recognized for 30 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 34 minutes p.m.), the House adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, February 17, 2012, at 9 a.m.

Under clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions of the following titles were introduced and severally referred, as follows: By Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio: H.R. 4048. A bill ...

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions as follows: H.R. 23: Ms. Berkley. H.R. 121: Mr. Yoder. H.R. 125: Mr. Upton. H.R. 205: ...

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this bill.

HON. JERRY McNERNEY of california in the house of representativesThursday, February 16, 2012

Mr. Speaker, due to a commitment in my district, I had to miss votes on H.R. 3408. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on Amendment 12, ``aye'' ...

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 61, the Bishop Amendment to H.R. 3408, I inadvertently voted ``aye,'' when in fact I intended to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the New York Giants--the champions of Super Bowl XLVI. I ask that this poem, penned in their honor by Mr. Albert Caswell, be ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark the 94th anniversary of Lithuanian independence.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the surface transportation bill before the House of Representatives this week and the partisan and contorted process the Republican Leadership is using to ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Dave Wood for being inducted in to the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame. Dave has been a pioneer and true leader for ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of the original pioneers of rural and adolescent health care in the state of Mississippi, Dr. Aaron Shirley. Dr. Shirley has always worked ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the Turlock Irrigation District as it gets ready to celebrate its 125th anniversary this year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud the swearing in of my hometown's newest Los Angeles City Councilmember--Joe Buscaino.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Randella Lindsay as the 2013 Walton County, Florida School Teacher of the Year. For more than 38 years, Mrs. Lindsay has served ...

Mr. Speaker, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a world watched as a lone American sat inside a small capsule on top of an Atlas rocket ...

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to honor the achievement of the boys basketball team from my high school and hometown, my Collinsville Kahoks. On January 21st of this year, ...

Mr. Speaker, on January 26, 1995, when the last attempt at a balanced budget amendment passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 300 132, the national debt was

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Northeastern Iowa Community College (NICC) in my district. NICC was recently named one of the top ten community colleges in the country by ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great public servant, author and dear friend. Philip Gibbs Grose lost his three year battle with leukemia on February 3, ...

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Marycrest Manor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, upon its 50th anniversary. Marycrest Manor stands in my hometown of Livonia, Michigan and ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a longtime Mississippi resident, Vietnam veteran, civil rights activist, dedicated health care professional, and an overall outstanding public servant, Dr. Harry A. Bartee, ...