Date: 2011-05-12
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the gentleman from California. If it were allowed on the floor. I would say. "Yippee." but I will try to adhere to protocol or take a lariat and circle it around out of excitement. Thank you very much for the years of tenure and leadership that you brought from the legislature in the State of California. You brought it here with a sense of action. and we thank you. I am delighted that our Democratic whip has been at the forefront of this issue. And the gentleman from Rhode IslandI know others may be comingis a mayor. a former mayor who understands the importance of jobs. Let me just say. to add to your comment. both President Clinton and President Reagan have quotes that suggest that if you build infrastructure. it is an investment that will continue to give and give and give. Since 9/ 11. my good friend. I have been on the Homeland Security Committee. and the attention of the United States. rightly so. has been on securing the homeland and national security. And just one moment so I can transfer into this discussion. 70 percent of the American people now with the capture and demise of Osama bin Laden still are concerned about our security but. in actuality. believe that our troops can come home completely. I hope that we can move in that direction. This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. Seventy percent of the American people frankly believe our troops have done an enormous tribute to themselves and to the American people. What does that mean? It means bright young men and women are going to be coming home. And let it be known that they will not just come home in need of health services. They will come home eager to participate in the American Dream. And. frankly. I want to make sure they can do that. and I want to make sure we end the war in Afghanistan. But I believe we have. as you have mentioned. the tools of the trade. I see this word "trade." and some of us get a little nervous about that. But let me tell you how I explain trade. I want every item that can be sold overseas to someone else from the United States to be sold. I have taken to inventorying the manufacturers in the 18th Congressional District in Texas. And if I might. if you are listening. call (713) 6550050 and let our office know you exist. that you make something in the 18th Congressional District in Texas. And I would venture to say that my colleagues will tell you call them or get on their Web site. because we want you to be able to sell it overseas. Make It in America is to recognize the validity of the product you have made. We want to make sure that there are taxes that are fair to manufacturers. I am in the Manufacturing Caucus. We want to generate it. Energy means all kinds of energy. and I will dwell on that very lightly. But I am a person who is an equal opportunity welcomer of solar and biofuels and a number of other energy types to join in energy. Labor. I have already said to you. I am trying to bring our soldiers home. But there are young people graduating from college in 2011. They were at my town hall meeting. to my distinguished friend. and they asked me about work. And I said to them that we in this Congress are working to provide jobs for the talented young people that will walk across those various stadiums and auditoriums getting their diplomas. doing what we asked them to do. Can we put them to work? And then. of course. if you reinvest in America. I will tell the State of TexasI dont want to get into anyone elses businessthat we dont have to close schools. We dont have to lay off teachers. We can educate the workforce. And some of the workforce can be those with their hands. vocational trades. learning to manufacture. building the highspeed rails that I am so excited about that I am trying to find some land in the 18th Congressional District or somewhere in Texas and say. Come one. come all. By the way. I serve on the Intellectual Property Committee on Judiciary. and every time I have a hearing in that committee. I say that this is the work of the 21st century. protecting the genius of America. and its a lot of them. Its unbelievable the inventors who are here. I want them to know that there is some value of first to file to protect their product. And lastly. what you have been talking about. the idea of redoing our infrastructure. A good friend of ours who served as the chairman of the Transportation Committee was such a leader. a distinguished gentleman from Minnesota. He. in the course of his service in the last couple of years. had a bridge collapse in that State. He kept saying over and over again. Build infrastructure and youll put America to work. I wanted to capture these words as a mandate. as an instructive vision that the Democrats have captured. And the only thing we need are partners. The President has already shown his proudness and his ability to put dollars to make jobs and to build infrastructure. I have seen public housing go up. I have seen roads being improved. dams. bridges. and of course. light rail and highspeed rail. So weve got the right thinking. And I dont want to stop without just adding this point: Theres not one of us that does not have the consciousness and the sense to recognize that we must have responsible spending and responsible reduction. I take great offense to anyone who suggests that I am opening the treasure chest and throwing money to the wind. I believe that education is valuable. Infrastructure is valuable. But there are ways that we can reasonably. down the road. as Mark Zandi has said. begin our belt tightening. But we have to recognize that the debt ceiling is not for the State of Texas or Californiait is to help this Nationbut we do it sensibly. I hope we can do a clean one. by the way. But the point is that Make It in America is an engine of job creation. And I just want to thank the gentlemen for constantly bringing us to the floor. giving us the opportunity. of course. to do as the Boy Scouts may have done and to recite these words: Trade. taxes. energy. labor. education. intellectual property. and infrastructure. and go around to our constituents in telling them we are not going to forget you. And I believe that were going to create some jobs and watch America continue to have its economy not only make baby steps. but its going to be spinning. Its going to be humming. and people are going to be back to work. I am grateful for this philosophy and this mission.