Speeches

First, I want to thank Senator Feinstein for restoring the bi-partisan nature of this annual Tahoe Summit. Lincoln once reminded us “that we can succeed only by concert.” We demonstrated that maxim with the enactment of the Tahoe provisions in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act last December. That wouldn’t have been possible without Republicans and Democrats coming together in Washington.

Thank you for organizing this discussion on tax reform. I believe the most important mandate given to this administration and this Congress is to revive our economy. Our success or failure will largely be determined on achieving this objective and will be judged by the answer every American gives to Ronald Reagan’s question in both 1980 and 1984: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?

H.R. 873, the Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act, authored by Congressman Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, would authorize the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation to begin the lengthy Commemorative Works Act process to establish a Global War on Terror Memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia. The memorial will recognize and honor the men and women that have served on active duty in the United States armed forces since the attack on our country on September 11, 2001.

This administration was elected to drain the swamp, and one of its muckiest parts is the Export-Import Bank, that makes taxpayer-guaranteed loans to foreign companies that buy American products – often to use in competition with American companies that get no such advantage.

Mr. Speaker: I want to begin by saluting the more than 5,000 firefighters from 40 cooperating agencies that assembled under the coordination of CALFIRE to battle the Detwiler fire that threatened Yosemite Valley and its gateway communities

Since 1964, we have tried to end poverty the Democrats’ way. According to the Heritage Foundation, we have spent $22 trillion fighting the war on poverty as a result. Adjusted for inflation, this is three times more than all the military wars we have ever fought – combined. Put another way, that is $176,000 taken from the lifetime earnings of every family in America over those 50 years.

On our current trajectory, the CBO warns that just four fiscal years from now – in 2022 – our annual deficits will surpass a trillion dollars. That’s where economists warn we run the risk of damage or even loss of our access to credit – a sovereign debt crisis.

Our current defense spending is about where it was at the peak of the Reagan defense buildup after adjusting for inflation. It is about the same as the next eight most powerful military forces on the planet COMBINED – and six of those eight are already our allies. The President has proposed adding $54 billion to this. That’s the equivalent of adding more than the entire military establishment of Great Britain.