Gerald Weller

You've been waiting 8 weeks because of election-year politics. This legislation could have been brought to the floor immediately, we could have had a bipartisan bill that had become law, but no. Our friends in the majority played…

It's interesting as we debate this legislation that some have criticized targeted help for those who we would like to provide extended unemployment benefits for, and of course, the bill before us actually targets the final 13 weeks of a…

I would note the previous speaker referred to 6 percent as being ruthless. That's actually the formula in the majority Democrats' bill. So it was interesting that he criticized his own bill. I would also note to my good friend from…

I would note that most House Republicans and the administration have stated that we all support an extension of unemployment benefits. In fact, the letter we just placed in the Record says the administration would sign into law a 13-week…

I want to rise in support of H.R. 6081, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008. I particularly want to point out that this product that is before us today is bipartisan. It is clear that both Republicans and Democrats…

And of course these tariffs would be eliminated immediately upon implementation of the U.S-Colombia Trade Agreement. I yield back the time, but it is so important to point out, Illinois is a big winner, manufacturers as well as farmers.

There would be. And their growth has come as a result of export. But the point that really needs to be made is there is tremendous economic growth going on in the Andean region, which Colombia is leading, and a lot of that is in the energy…

But I would just like to comment on one point that you made. You said Illinois is headquarters to Caterpillar, and people think of the yellow construction equipment. There is more to it than you think, and that's why this trade agreement…

Who are working and suffer the marriage tax penalty benefit under this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, before recognizing our next distinguished speaker here, I would note that the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) consistently voted no on eliminating the marriage tax penalty and what he considers a cost to Uncle Sam, to…

That is what is frustrating, and one of the reasons I know I came to Congress in 1994 and one of the causes we in the House Republican majority have been working towards, is finding ways to help working families have some extra spending…

Mr. Speaker, briefly responding to the dialogue of my colleague and member of the Committee on Ways and Means, I would note again that he is absolutely right. Today's debate is about eliminating the marriage tax penalty, simplifying the…

The bottom line is today we want to eliminate the marriage tax penalty, and today we want to help those who are on welfare go to work.

I urge and ask my colleagues in this House to join together in recognition of these workers in the New York Customs Service office and that they give them the recognition they deserve as well as the expression of gratitude of our Nation.

Three million families with children no longer pay Federal income taxes because of the Bush tax cut.

Let me ask the gentleman this question. Are you telling me that prior to the Bush tax cut, that self-employed people, entrepreneurs, small businesspeople actually paid at a higher tax rate than IBM or any other major corporations?

Say that the Bush tax cut were to expire and the House and the Senate were to fail to pass legislation to make permanent the Bush tax cut, eliminating the marriage penalty, wiping out the death tax, across-the-board tax reductions, helping…

Let me read the language of the bill, and I urge everyone to take time to read the language of the bill. Page 79, line 12: ``Prior to January 1, 2003, the committee may spend such funds to retire outstanding debts or obligations incurred…

I will make my question quick. A few years ago my friends on the other side of the aisle said when we wanted to slow the rate of growth and increase some funding for Medicare, that was called a cut. So the same definition would apply. If…

I said, ``You know, young man, you have a very good question, and that is, will America appreciate what complacency has cost us?'' Clearly what we were reminded on September 11 was the consequences, number one, of thinking it will never…

I rise in strong support of eliminating the marriage tax penalty. ... It is wrong that under our Tax Code one pays higher taxes just because they are married.

I extend an invitation to the gentleman from Texas to join us in a bipartisan effort and to join the 48 Democrats who already voted for this legislation.

I would also say to the previous speaker that if he votes against this legislation to eliminate the marriage tax penalty, he votes to deny 132,000 married taxpayers in the third district of Maryland relief from the marriage tax penalty…

Mr. Speaker, I say to the previous speaker, elimination of the marriage tax penalty is not only an issue of tax fairness, it is an issue of tax simplification, and that if he chooses to vote against this legislation, he will vote to deny…