Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. my good friends have come to the floor of the House. My good friend just came and offered some solutions. and I would say that its important for Members to have ideas and to be able to engage on behalf of the American people. Every time we stand in this well. we should be rising to make the lives of the American people. those who have entrusted us to be the holders of the values of this great country. we should be moving on on their behalf. So this morning. Im asking that we get on with it. Its important to be discussing tax reform. But as many of us know. that is a long. protracted process of giveandtake. And many Americans will understand what the payroll tax is all about when they look in the faces of their seniors and themselves and they know that part of that is Social Security. We know for a fact that Social Security has been a lifeline for millions of Americans. and it is solvent. and its important to know that America is not broke. But the good work of the Ways and Means Committee and the good work of the Judiciary Committee. which is meeting right nowand Ill be heading on to that committee to talk about preventing corruption in business and making sure the American people get their fair share. It is important that we move on. And how do we move on? We do something that Americans have said by and large that they want us to do together. and that is to get past this debt ceiling. do something that has been done time after time after time. Yes. we have grown as a Nation. and the reason is because in World War II we were not 300 millionplus people. We didnt have all the assets and responsibilities. In fact. the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan were longer than World War II. and all of those moneys were spent under the last administration. Tax cuts that for individuals who. by and large. have said. No. thank you. because they want to invest in America. So Im prepared to join with my many friends to work on moving this country forward. but lets move on. Lets move on beyond the impossible proposal given by Speaker BOEHNER that focuses on a two vote process for the debt ceiling increase and vote once then come back and fight it out again in 6 months. That is not the consistency and the evenness that is necessary for all of those who are seeking employment or all of those businesses or all of those in the arena of money making. They need an even pathway. they need consistency for the markets. We need to get on with the ordinary business so that we can begin to talk about the growth of this country. education for the young people. making sure the doors of businesses stay open. talk about how do we fix a tax system where we all can benefit. But as long as we are wallowing in the ordinary work. the work that should just go on. we will never reach the point of sanity. which is to sit down at the table of reconciliation and compromise. I know we have it in us. We like each other. But it appears to the American people that we may not like them. So I will just ask. were nearing the resolution of the debt ceiling. again. to pay the bills that were built up between 2000 and 2008. billions of dollars spent in Afghanistan. billions lost in untoward contracts. We dont even know where the moneys have goneIraq. moneys lost. a war that was. in essence. a detour. And let me just say. every time I say that. I always thank our soldiers and their families because they are not a detour. They accepted the call to duty. and we owe them a great deal of appreciation. But the policymakers sent them into wars that are going on and on and on. and it caused this country to pay for these wars. At the same time. there are drastic draconian cuts in the revenue coming into the United States bank account. So here we are. President Clinton having left in 2000 with $500 billion of surplus. we came out of 2008 in enormous debt. So what are we doing today? The debt ceiling is simply saying pay Americas bills. And its also saying to the many countries around the worldwhich we appreciate buying our Treasury notes. That is of value to the United States. The dollar has been stronger than any other currency. except the manipulation that goes on in China. But its stronger than the euro. So. Mr. Speaker. it is important to pass the debt ceiling. get past this frivolity of doing it twice. It is time to pass and move forward the Reid proposal which can bring all of us together. And thats what we should do. begin to do. and look at it on behalf of the American people. America should pay its bills.