On the recordSeptember 19, 2012
I appreciate that Chairman Denham has brought this FEMA reauthorization bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, this bill has now gone over a couple of Congresses. The Democrats didn't get it done, and the Republicans didn't get it done. It's really too important. I hope that in the 113th Congress, this bill can be brought forward early because a lot of very good work has been done on the bill. Mr. Speaker, I regret that as we sit and think about the 112th Congress, it will be impossible to think of a single major bill passed during these 2 years. In order to pass bills, both Houses have to get together and compromise. That seems to have been impossible, at least for this House. We are about to leave town in September with a couple of months still to go without the middle class tax cuts just when the recovery needs a boost; in the midst of a drought, without the farm bill; and without the Violence Against Women Act, which passed with an overwhelming bipartisan vote in the Senate. What will it take to get something done? I hope the 113th Congress proves more productive. This has been called a do-nothing Congress. I would say this Congress has done real harm. To call it a do-nothing Congress is to give it more credit than it deserves. This is a Congress, at least in the House, that will be remembered for having voted to end Medicare as we know it and increase the cost of healthcare for seniors by $6,400.…
