Congressional Record UNUM

E PLURIBUS

United States

of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 112th

 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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H5633 

Vol. 158 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012 No. 117 

House of Representatives 

The House met at 9 a.m. and was 

called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. WOMACK

f 

). 

DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER 

PRO TEMPORE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker: 

WASHINGTON, DC, 

August 2, 2012. 

I hereby appoint the Honorable STEVE

WOMACK to act as Speaker pro tempore on 

this day. 

JOHN A. BOEHNER, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

f 

PRAYER 

Imam Nayyar Imam, Suffolk County 

Police Department, Yaphank, New 

York, offered the following prayer: 

We beseech God Almighty, calling 

upon Him by the most noble of His 

characteristics. We bear witness in testimony that He is the sovereign, the 

omnipotent, the exalted, the all knowing. 

God Almighty, we ask that You bestow upon all of our elected officials 

guidance and patience required to 

carry out the solemn task of legislation before them. Grant them commitment to serve before being served, a 

sense of fraternity before partisanship, 

and dedication to the interests of our 

country before the interests of even 

their own selves. 

The final prophet of God, Muhammad, peace be upon him, stated: 

The leaders of a people are a representation of their deeds. 

We ask God Almighty that He make 

our elected officials true representatives of honesty, equality, and the values that represent the uniqueness of 

our Nation. 

We ask You, Almighty God, that You 

look to us with glance of mercy, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, 

or political party. Amen. 

THE JOURNAL 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair has examined the Journal of the 

last day’s proceedings and announces 

to the House his approval thereof. 

Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. 

f 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the 

gentleman from Virginia (Mr. WITTMAN) come forward and lead the House 

in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Mr. WITTMAN led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 

f 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER 

PRO TEMPORE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair will entertain up to five requests 

for 1-minute speeches on each side of 

the aisle. 

f 

PROCRASTINATION IN 

WASHINGTON 

(Mr. WITTMAN asked and was given 

permission to address the House for 1 

minute.) 

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, after 

today, Congress completes its business 

until September without finishing critical items, leaving many sectors across 

this country uncertain about their fiscal future. Looming defense cuts, or sequestration, still hang over the Congress as unfinished business. 

I’m extremely disappointed that Congress is leaving town without addressing such pressing issues and with so little time scheduled in the rest of this 

legislative year. Many Americans in 

America’s First District are frustrated 

with Washington’s lack of action and 

accomplishments as this country 

struggles to rebound from these tough 

economic times. Virginians, and all 

Americans, have the right to be upset 

with such irresponsible procrastination. 

Sequestration threatens our country’s national security and sends the 

wrong message to the American people 

and to the world about our commitment to defend this great Nation in the 

future. Congress should stay in Washington to finish the business of the people. I am prepared to stay in Washington as long as it takes. These issues 

are too important to wait. 

f 

THE INNOVATION PROMOTION ACT 

(Ms. SCHWARTZ asked and was 

given permission to address the House 

for 1 minute.) 

Ms. SCHWARTZ. To strengthen our 

economic competitiveness in a global 

economy, we must create the right environment for private sector growth in 

cutting-edge industries. As we work to 

reform our corporate Tax Code, it’s 

critical that we consider policies that 

reflect our 21st century economy, an 

innovation economy, and promote new 

domestic manufacturing based on the 

best ideas developed right here in 

America. 

Today, I will introduce a plan to 

incentivize manufacturing, innovation, 

and research and development right 

here in the United States. The Innovation Promotion Act keeps American 

businesses competitive by reducing 

their tax rate on patented products by 

more than half to 10 percent. 

This lower tax rate is a major incentive to keep production here in the 

United States and will better ensure 

American companies that choose to 

stay in the U.S. can compete with foreign competitors, expand to new markets, and hire new workers. 


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