I thank the gentlelady from Tennessee for leading this session and our chairman of the RSC. Indeed, it's true: as of January 1, 2013, in fact, Congresswoman, there will be five new burdens, new tax burdens, on the American people related…

Our work in Congress during these final weeks of 2012 is focused on the fiscal cliff. We're worried--and rightly so--about what it means to our economy, to our future, to the daily lives right now of hardworking Americans who are, in all…

During our recess this past month, we held a small business roundtable in our Hudson Valley. Actually, everybody sat, transfixed--all the participants--for an hour and a half while talking about what our small businesses need to do and…

Precisely. So we need to be able to provide for the people who are most in need. That is a reasonable role for government in a great Nation. But what we don't want to do, what we want to avoid is creating economic hardship that will push…

I thank our colleague, Dr. Cassidy, and I understand that your time may be slightly limited this evening, Doctor, so Dr. Harris and I will be more than happy to lead this discussion as we go along, and I thank you for all the work you do…

I'm going to imagine, Dr. Cassidy, that this chart does not take into account--because it could be, indeed, very difficult to do so, but it has to enter the public mind when we think about these things. The enormous cost on the American…

I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from New York. Our bill, H.R. 3593, to designate the post office on State Route 17M in Monroe, New York, as the National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David…

As a frequent rider and former commuter on New York's mass transit system, I know how important public transportation is. Alone, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or MTA, transports more than 8.5 million commuters across…

I rise this morning to honor the life and service of Army Major Paul C. Voelke. Major Voelke died on June 22, 2012, in Balkh province, Afghanistan, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan, and…

I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 25, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1) (increased by $1)''. The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from New York…

The purpose of this amendment is to equally increase and decease funding by $1 to address an issue for many of our guardsmen, reservists, and their families. A number of these men and women, these guardsmen and reservists, who dutifully…

A little over a year ago, I attended the funeral of Detective John Falcone, who was killed in the line of duty on February 18, 2011, while responding to a case of domestic violence. Detective Falcone was a respected and beloved member of…

I had the privilege of receiving a letter from a constituent, a 14-year-old young man of Star Boy Scouts who is seeking to become a an Eagle Scout, and he is concerned about the Federal debt and deficit. Christopher Woloshyn wrote to me: I…

I thank our distinguished colleague from Missouri. Of course, I reciprocate the sentiments that Congressman Meeks has expressed. We share a State, and we share a common vision that elevates all of us as individuals and as a Nation and…

I received a letter from a young constituent who is a vigorous Boy Scout and a great citizen, Matthew Barbuti from Yorktown Heights, New York. He's only in sixth grade, but he's very concerned about our economy. And he wrote to me, ``If…

I thank the chairman. Madam Speaker, this conference report that we bring to our colleagues for a vote today represents a remarkable good-faith effort by the members of a committee who combined--who worked together, Democrats and…

I thank the gentleman so much for holding this Special Order session, which is so important. One thing, the comments by my distinguished colleagues have been perceptive and enlightening and moving. There is one aspect I might be able to…

This past week, I had the pleasure to visit Fryer Machine Systems in Patterson, New York, in our beautiful Hudson Valley, Congressional District 19. They have spent 30 years in the Hudson Valley making the big machines that make components…

I am proud to go red today and to honor our Girl Scouts. We have a wonderful woman in our beautiful Hudson Valley, Martha, who is from Wappingers Falls and who is a former computer programmer and a current substitute teacher. She wrote to…

Last November I hosted a jobs fair in New York's Hudson Valley. A thousand local residents came to meet with nearly 40 local employers, all seeking work, of course, all offering work. At Christmas I was very happy to receive a card from…

On December 10 Pamela from Greenwood Lake, New York, in our beautiful 19th District, sent the following letter to me: ``Stop any more Federal spending. Less is better. Europe is a lesson for us. We live in the greatest Nation on Earth.''…

Thank you, Dr. Fleming, and I add my thanks to our distinguished colleague from Georgia in gratitude for your hosting and managing this session tonight. We just had a Medicare telephone town hall today with our constituents in the…

Last week a constituent from Washingtonville, New York, wrote this to me: ``I balance my family budget, so please explain to me why we don't have the will to balance the Federal budget? Pass a balanced budget amendment and future…

Thank you, mister whip. Last week, I had the privilege of coming to the floor and sharing a letter from one of our constituents in the 19th Congressional District of New York, Mr. Paul Manahan from Mahopac, New York. This is what he wrote…