H5688 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 2, 2012 

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, it is a 

shame that the Democrat controlled 

Senate voted today to adjourn for over 

a month, and they haven’t even voted 

on a budget for 1,191 days. 

Mr. Speaker, this is a $3.5 trillion enterprise, and the Democrat-controlled 

Senate, led by Majority Leader REID, 

voted to adjourn for over a month so 

that when they come back it will be 

1,240 days since they haven’t voted on a 

budget. 

Mr. Speaker, the House did what it 

had to do. It voted on a budget. It 

voted to extend the current tax rates 

to all citizens, and we are here ready to 

work. We ask the Senate to reconsider 

the decision, Mr. Speaker. That’s what 

we ought to do. We ask them to come 

back in and work with us to finally 

pass a budget. 

f 

A CALL FOR BIPARTISANSHIP 

(Mr. PALLONE asked and was given 

permission to address the House for 1 

minute.) 

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I listened to my Republican colleague in 

disbelief because the fact of the matter 

is that the Republican House has now 

adjourned, or at least is trying to adjourn, and go home for 5 weeks, as far 

as I can tell. 

The fact of the matter is that when 

you go home and you talk to your constituents, they talk about jobs, they 

talk about the economy. When the gentleman says, Oh, we already passed a 

bill and why doesn’t the Senate take it 

up, he knows very well that in order to 

accomplish anything here in terms of 

tax cuts and extending tax cuts for the 

middle class, that we have to get together on a bipartisan basis with the 

Democrats. That’s simply not happening here. 

The Senate has passed bills that seek 

to create jobs, larger infrastructure 

bills, bills that would actually send 

money back to the States so that we 

can rehire some of our public employees, our police, our firemen, and our 

teachers. 

The fact of the matter is that the 

House Republicans really do not want 

to do anything to create jobs, whether 

it’s in the public sector or it’s in the 

private sector. We see no action here 

on the House side under the Republican 

leadership that would do anything to 

stimulate the economy or create jobs. 

f 

ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS 

JULIAN L. COLVIN 

(Ms. SEWELL asked and was given 

permission to address the House for 1 

minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) 

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to honor and pay tribute to the 

life and service of Alabama’s own fallen soldier, Army Private First Class 

Julian L. Colvin, a courageous soldier, 

loving son, an American hero. 

PFC Colvin was a dedicated soldier 

assigned to the 508th Special Troops 

Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 

82nd Airborne Division from Fort 

Bragg, North Carolina. PFC Colvin lost 

his life at the age of 21 on July 22 while 

supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan. 

PFC Colvin, a Birmingham native, 

proudly joined the United States Army 

on March 9, 2011 as a combat engineer. 

As a remarkable paratrooper and outstanding engineer, he was considered a 

shining example of excellence in our 

military service. 

Born on March 2, 1991 in Birmingham, Alabama, PFC Colvin was 

the loving son of Carla and Alfred 

Colvin. As a young man, PFC Colvin 

dutifully answered the highest call to 

duty for this country. PFC Colvin was 

a selfless servant leader who bravely 

sacrificed for the love of his country. 

During his brief military career, PFC 

Colvin earned numerous honors, including the distinguished Bronze Star 

Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Army 

Commendation Medal. 

The Seventh Congressional District 

in the State of Alabama and this Nation have suffered a tremendous loss. 

Our Nation is eternally grateful for 

PFC Julius Colvin and his dedicated 

service and patriotism. I ask those 

present today to join me in honoring 

the life and legacy of this heroic soldier, PFC Colvin. 

GENERAL LEAVE

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask 

unanimous consent that all Members 

may have 5 legislative days within 

which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material 

on the subject of my 1-minute speech. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 

objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Alabama? 

There was no objection. 

Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing the U.S. House to honor Army Private 

First Class Julian Colvin of Birmingham, who 

lost his life in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan 

on July 22, 2012, in the defense of his country. 

Pfc. Colvin was a dedicated paratrooper and 

combat engineer assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

Although just 21 years of age and on his 

first deployment, Pfc. Colvin was highly decorated for his service, with awards including the 

Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the 

Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism 

Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the 

Overseas Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, 

and the Basic Parachutist Badge. 

But perhaps the highest honors have come 

from the innumerable testimonials to his high 

character. 

Pfc. Colvin was, according to Lt. Col. Peter 

Levola, commander of the 508th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, ‘‘a shining example of 

the inspiration and promise of our young, remarkable Paratroopers—a selfless hero who 

willingly took on one of the most difficult jobs 

in the Brigade by leading patrols with a mine 

detector.’’ 

Services for Pfc. Colvin will be held at the 

6th Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham on 

Saturday, August 4. Our thoughts and prayers 

are with his family and loved ones during this 

difficult time. 

We will always remember Pfc. Colvin as a 

young patriot and hero to us all and it is appropriate for our nation to remember his service today. 

As the senior member of the Alabama delegation, we join with Congresswoman Terri Sewell in her tribute to our Alabama hero, Army 

Private First Class Julian Colvin. 

f 

HONORING THE LIFE OF JON 

TIBBETTS 

(Mr. LUJA ́ N asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. LUJA ́ N. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to honor the life of Jon Tibbetts, 

who died last week in a car accident. 

This tragic accident cut short the life 

of a man who had devoted his career to 

helping others as a first responder. 

Jon Tibbetts served as fire chief of 

the Sandoval County Fire Department 

for the past 8 years. Earlier in his career, he was a paramedic in San Juan 

County. I had the pleasure of working 

with Chief Tibbetts during my time on 

the Public Regulatory Commission, 

and I saw first hand his commitment to 

the firefighters he commanded, as well 

as to the people of New Mexico that he 

helped protect. 

Thanks to his hard work and determination, Chief Tibbetts improved the 

way that emergency medical services 

and firefighters responded to better 

serve the community. Because of his 

dedication, there is no doubt that more 

people in New Mexico are safer. 

My thoughts and prayers are with 

the Tibbetts’ family during this difficult time, especially his wife Connie 

and his daughters Natasha and Amy. 

We’ll miss you Chief Tibbetts. 

f 

END THE POLITICAL 

GAMESMANSHIP 

(Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given 

permission to address the House for 1 

minute.) 

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, the 

American people expect Congress to 

work to get our economy back on 

track, to promote economic growth, 

and to provide families and small businesses with some certainty when it 

comes to their taxes. 

The Senate passed legislation to ensure that middle class families do not 

see a tax increase at the end of the 

year. Yesterday, House Democrats offered the identical bill, one that the 

President would sign, yet our Republican friends passed a plan that will 

raise taxes on 25 million middle class 

families by preserving tax breaks for 

the wealthiest among us. 

We need to end this kind of political 

gamesmanship that has held our economy back. Against this backdrop, my 

colleagues on the other side of the aisle 


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