I am happy to be here representing the Progressive Caucus and talking about our fiscal situation now that I think a lot of people out there are worrying about, confused about, don't know how it's really going to affect them, wondering what…

When we have a situation in this country where the top 1 percent of Americans, 1 percent, control as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent, that's not a healthy situation. I don't want to moralize about it. It's just not a healthy situation.

I have to tell you, I introduced legislation that actually would increase the taxes on people starting at a million going up, ratcheting up, different tax brackets up to a billion dollars. {time} 1410 And I've got a lot of very rich people…

Let's talk about that for a minute. It seems that there are those on the Republican side of the aisle who are willing to go to the mat to protect tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans, people who make $250,000 and more. Of course, our…

I think it's something like $850 billion that would come out of the Medicaid fund. I know.

I rise in strong support of this motion to instruct. I join my colleagues first in congratulating Congresswoman Davis for the enormous work that she has done to protect the women of Afghanistan, and I thank my Republican colleagues, too…

Let me just say that right now we're paying very low interest because people do have confidence in our American economy and in those Treasury notes and it is a good, safe, and solid investment. And I yield to the gentleman.

Let me just say one area in which I disagree a bit with you. Most Americans support these programs. I'm talking about huge percentages of Americans--Republicans, Democrats, Independents--who say, no, we don't think that Medicare, Social…

Along rail lines, along highways, of course, that's the engine of commerce that keeps not only our wheels turning, but the stores--everything going, all of the infrastructure.

You were talking about a difference in philosophy and even economic philosophy. There are those who call that top 2 percent the job creators. Well, if that's true, then where are the jobs? Because most of the growth, almost all of the…

Part of the solution. Can I just ask, Mr. Speaker, how much time we have remaining. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Denham). The gentlewoman from Illinois has 5 minutes remaining.

Think about the potential in the energy industry if we just help to promote some of these clean, renewable energy technologies. One of the things on this cliff is the end of the wind energy production tax, which has been so incredibly…