Last week, I heard from my constituents about the impact rising gas prices are having on their families and on their small businesses. Congress must act to protect our constituents from even higher gas prices by expanding our Nation's…

I absolutely believe this is a devastating departure from what we have done historically, our commitment again to discovery.

A recent report from a respected Illinois think tank found that within 5 years the State of Illinois will have amassed an incredible $34.8 billion in unpaid bills. This, of course, comes only 1 year after an allegedly temporary tax hike…

Henry Hyde was a personal friend and mentor of mine. He first helped restrict abortion funding just 3 years after Roe v. Wade. Today, Planned Parenthood receives over 363 million tax dollars a year. We're giving 1 million tax dollars a day…

Today I rise to honor the life of Specialist Christopher Patterson. Christopher, a 2009 graduate of West Aurora High School in Illinois, came from a military family. He joined the National Guard while studying music education at Valparaiso…

Today I rise in support of this important resolution of disapproval. I oppose raising the debt ceiling and will continue to oppose raising the debt ceiling without a real structural reform to how Washington works. A balanced budget…

Some in this Chamber believe that the answer to our Nation's problems is more government, that we need more unchecked spending, more unelected bureaucrats, and more rules and regulation in our everyday lives. Yet, in a Gallup Poll just…

Last week the Illinois Farm Bureau Federation polled its members about the long-term challenges confronting them. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the number one thing that they named is government regulation. After all, Washington…

On rollcall No. 904, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' ____________________

$1.75 trillion annually--America's job creators are buried under the regulatory burden of about $1.75 trillion annually. The cost of the regulatory burden from new regulations just this year is $67.4 billion, which is larger than the…

Recently a constituent of mine wrote to me and asked: What is going on in Washington? It's a good question. She said that her husband, a small business owner, is taxed so hard that money is tight and, as a result, they cannot grow their…

This Thanksgiving many of us had the opportunity to spend time with our families and loved ones, so I think it's fitting that November is National Adoption Month. I also think it's appropriate to take time during this holiday season to…

The time is now. This week we watched as our Nation's debt reached an unprecedented level--$15 trillion. This debt crisis was caused by past administrations and past Congresses who refused to say no more spending. Washington spends too…

I was pleased to see that last week the Senate finally followed the House and passed one of our pro-growth bills; but while repealing the 3 percent withholding tax is a step in the right direction, it's not enough. We've sent them more…

Last week I saw the results of a survey of the businesses from the National Federation of Independent Business. I want you to hear some of the concerns of the small businesses of the 14th Congressional District of Illinois. Eighty-eight…

Last week I was astounded to read a new Gallup Poll on small business owners' concerns; and as you can imagine, in an economy like this, they have many concerns. But the issue that they said was the most important concern for small…

I want to thank my good friend and colleague for the amazing work that you've done over the years fighting for structural change in how Washington does its business. Thank you, Congressman Goodlatte, I really appreciate it. I appreciate…

Seven months ago this body passed H.R. 872, a commonsense bill to protect farmers, ranchers, and job creators from redundant and needless regulation. We passed it overwhelmingly with bipartisan support, with more than 50 Democrats voting…

I am absolutely convinced that a big part of getting this turned around again is getting innovation and entrepreneurship growing again.

I want to thank my colleague from South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of both the bills under this rule and, in particular, H.R. 674, repealing the 3 percent withholding tax on government contracts. It may have seemed like…

Yesterday we learned that by the end of this year another ratings agency may downgrade our Nation's sovereign debt. Why? Because they don't believe there's a plan to return our Nation to fiscal health. Well, they're not entirely right. In…

I recently asked my constituents to take a quick email survey regarding regulations and the impact that it has on jobs and our economy. The response from the 14th Congressional District of Illinois was overwhelming: 68 percent said that…

it would be an incredible regulatory overreach for the CFTC to apply the definition of 'swap dealer' to rural electric cooperatives

I have been hearing from many of the co-ops in my district, heard from River Valley Cooperative in Geneseo and Patriot Renewable Fuels in Annawan, who are holding back with their business plans because of uncertainty while at the same time…

If our colleagues at the opposite end of this Capitol, the Senate, are serious about getting our economy moving and America back to work, I urge them to do two things immediately. To start with, for the first time in 888 days, they should…