For us to deal with the threats that we face today, to deal with the damage that we have done in the reckless misguided war in Iraq, to be able to deal meaningfully with the Guard and Ready Reserve that should be upgraded and healed from…

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy, and I strongly identify with the persistence and the eloquence from Chairman Johnson and my friend, Mr. Doggett, to deal with this problem of identity theft. The hearing was a little unnerving. I…

The reality behind the fiscal cliff is that, if we really get down to work, talking with one another, digging into the details, it really is not that hard. The nuclear arsenal is a prime example and something that doesn't get nearly the…

The jarring violence of last week seared into our consciousness. It started in Portland, Oregon, with a mall shooting that might have been worse, and ended in Newton, Connecticut, where it's impossible to imagine that it could have been…

Yesterday afternoon, in my district at the Clackamas Town Center, a masked gunman with a stolen semi-automatic rifle discharged some 60 shots. He killed two people, wounded a 15- year-old girl, and then took his own life. This terrible…

It's difficult to focus on the task at hand in the aftermath of a shooting rampage in my district yesterday. With at least 10,000 people in a shopping mall, a young man allegedly, say some eyewitnesses, in body armor, and armed with a…

There is a great deal of hyperactive rhetoric about the fiscal cliff and the trouble ahead. The fact is that people should just take a deep breath and focus on where we are and where we need to go. First of all, it's not a fiscal cliff but…

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy for yielding me this time, and I identify with a number of the reservations that he mentioned about this legislation. A costly, inhumane, and broken immigration system is a shadow over the American…

Mitt Romney weathered a storm of criticism late in the campaign after Hurricane Sandy for his earlier comments about privatizing FEMA and turning responsibility back to State and local governments. But during an era of fiscal restraint and…

America needs to unite families, to protect and give justice to young people, strengthen business from high tech to agriculture and help us live up to our ideals as a Nation of immigrants. A costly, inhumane, and broken immigration system…

Perhaps one of the best parts of serving in Congress is the access to our Library, the Library of Congress, the dedicated staff at CRS, and the magnificent Members Reading Room. The Library of Congress is truly a national treasure; and…

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. You have heard and you will continue to hear how important it is to pass this legislation to level the playing field for the United States and our businesses that seek to do business with Russia, one…

For years, I have traveled the country preaching ``bike-partisanship,'' using bicycle and pedestrian facilities to help people burn calories, not fossil fuel, improve their health, have fun, and enrich the community. Red State, blue State…

There have been two struggles to make American democracy work. First was who would be eligible to vote. Originally, only those who were white, male, property owners over 21, voted, perhaps a quarter of the population. More than…

Wind power is an American success story. It is one of our fastest growing manufacturing sectors, with over 500 American-based facilities. It provides us with clean, renewable energy that both consumers and the environment demand. But…

I thank Ranking Member Conyers for his courtesy. For over a decade, I have deeply been concerned about the potential overreach of wiretapping legislation and efforts at the NSA. I have voted repeatedly in the past against unreasonable…

In meeting with hundreds of constituents and dozens of small business this summer, one theme emerges repeatedly: The price that American families and small business continue to pay for the near collapse of our economy. Earlier this year…

We return to Capitol Hill, ending the summer recess with strong conflicting emotions. Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11, the horrific attacks that rocked the Nation and were especially poignant for us on Capitol Hill. As…

I oppose H.R. 6169, a partisan bill that would put in place a contrived and expedited procedure for tax reform, a challenging issue that would benefit from a full and robust debate. Tax reform is a very complicated, very difficult…

It is an interesting question: Which lane are we going to choose? The study that has been offered by our friends on the other side of the aisle is bogus, and I invite people to actually look at it and look at the critiques that have been…

I appreciate the gentlelady's courtesy. She had it exactly right. We've gone down this path. We had an opportunity for us to see how effective the Bush tax cuts were in creating employment in America versus those high rates in the Clinton…

That's what is at stake here. I would suggest that we take what we ought to be able to agree on, the 98 percent of this tax reduction, agree on that, not punt, give some real certainty, and then have an honest debate about their proposal…

The House of Representatives is a unique and special place. There are many political offices in America where one can get into office via accident or appointment, but every man and woman on this floor had to be elected by friends and…

Our colleague, Jim McDermott, sent each of us a letter with a Time magazine cover article by Joe Klein entitled ``How to Die.'' This article is jarring to many because it's an issue that most would rather not confront. As a result, there's…

I voted for H.R. 6168, President Obama's Proposed 2012-2017 Offshore Drilling Lease Sale Plan Act. I emphasize that this is a qualified support. The President's plan maintains important protections for the Pacific Coast, the Atlantic…