I don't know how anyone in a capacity of 120 days can be an overseer to a level that they can manage to, one, even if they want to, and I don't want to say some of them don't want to.

I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding. Mr. Speaker, American workers can compete when everyone is on the same playing field and has the same rules. While opening new markets in the U.S., products are important. We must have…

As you may know, the reason I stand in opposition is the Small Business Administration sets these standards. As of 2012, this standard was set in place. Though I am more than willing to work with the gentleman in the future on what might…

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise today in support of H.R. 2393, the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act. In my home State of Illinois, we are a rich agricultural State, and we have a rich agricultural heritage. Illinois…

Thank you, Chairman and Ranking Member, thank you both for being involved with this hearing today and allowing me to introduce the next participant.

I have in my district right now a situation with a boot manufacturer that has been a small business and always been rated as small business.

Would you say that having the opportunity to compete on that level instead of everybody trying to go against the big dogs without any opportunity like this, beneficial for the taxpayer?

I don't like big government a lot. I really don't. I think we kind of overstep many things.

I want to protect the employee. I understand that. But do you have an answer on how the language can be put together, other than saying, 'Okay, we think this goes too far'? Because my final job, I feel like, is to protect our veterans.

we end up putting undue strain or a heavy collar and a heavy burden on our producers when we are trying to compete in a worldwide market.

I thank the chairman for yielding and this opportunity to offer my amendment. Mr. Chair, when the Small Business Administration sets a size standard for a small business, it is determining whether that company can qualify for loans…

Sometimes, a tragedy has to happen for us to recognize unsung heroes. On Monday, I received word that Lowell Ensel had passed away. Lowell was an intern here in our D.C. office for the past 3 months. His passing was sudden; it was…

the lifeblood, economically, of our communities where we have National Forests is in good timber harvesting.

I was around when the lake was-- I was around driving with my grandfather in a truck when the dam was built for that.

why is VA qualified to build a lemonade stand, let alone a multi-million dollar facility?

the Corps has successfully built a $648 million hospital at Fort Bliss.

the VA proudly announces some reform or initiative that will allegedly fix the problems.

I strongly urge the committee to authorize the Navy's request for an additional 12 F/A-18 aircraft for the coming fiscal year.

Our Nation's heroes are being sold the idea that all they need to do is get a degree from anywhere and jobs will be presented to them on a silver platter.

I want to take a moment to commend my colleagues who introduced and supported the Transparency Act.

I also want to highlight a piece of legislation I recently joined Congresswoman Lois Frankel and Congressman Gus Bilirakis in introducing the Veteran Education Empowerment Act.

the construction of a VA hospital is in my district. It is hundreds of millions of dollars over budget, years behind schedule.

I thank my friend from Illinois for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment, and I urge its adoption. The amendment simply states that nothing in the bill shall interfere with State and local collective bargaining laws…

I am pleased that Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was able to pass a clean one-year extension through the Senate...

No soldier should ever have to fight abroad and return home, only to find that it is no longer there.