On rollcall Nos. 633, 634, and 635, I was inadvertently delayed and was not present. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three votes. personal explanation

On rollcall Nos. 614, 615, and 616, I missed the votes due to stopping to assist at an automobile accident scene. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 614, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 615, and ``nay'' on rollcall No…

If the gentlelady will yield, I would add it's been a great privilege to serve with you here and to travel. You'll enjoy a story from that trip when we were visiting the Special Forces in the Philippine Islands. This past September, I was…

And public education, and one of our colleagues who we both had the privilege to serve under when he was chair of our committee as well.

I thank the gentlelady. Before commenting on my own retirement, I want to echo the gentlemen from Colorado and Maryland, Mr. Perlmutter and Mr. Hoyer, and their right-on-point remarks, Judy, about you and your service. We have sat together…

It's one of the blessings, Judy, that I've been allowed, because of my district, about 100 miles each way, in my 12 years serving here, while I've been honored to work here, I've been blessed to live at home all but 12 nights, or maybe 13…

On rollcall No. 589 I was inadvertently delayed in an official meeting and arrived on the House floor after the vote had been closed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Stated against:

A key to our success was having an educated citizenry if we were to be an effective democracy.

Today's vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the health care law will ensure continued scrutiny of a complex law that was wrongly rushed through the legislative process and largely remains a mystery to a vast majority of the…

If we have extra money let's keep our word first to the public schools.

I do not support vouchers that take money out of the public school system, first of all because we promised 40 percent of special ed, 1975, and we are funding less than 20 percent of that commitment.

I am the lead Republican with Mr. Donnelly on the America Works Act, which is to then promote the--what has been discussed here to some degree already--the nationally recognized, very portable skill credentials.

We have to provide much greater transparency so young people and their families can make good choices.

My concern is that the president's budget proposal is trying to reinvent the wheel at the expense of proven and critically needed Perkins programs.

access to affordable, quality education--basic education and higher education--is key to us remaining that land of opportunity

Congress, we are not going to let Medicare provider reimbursements drop 25 percent or more now, or I would contend, ever, because of what it would mean to seniors getting access.

I was opposed to the bill in total, I don't want to dismiss or contend that there are not aspects of it that I think are wise and good policy going forward.

I believe in choice within the public school system, but we are the land of opportunity because of access to a quality education for every child.

I think our commitment needs to be to public education.

On rollcall Nos. 47 and 48, I missed both votes due to an automobile accident. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' in both cases. ____________________

I am honored to host our guest chaplain, Rabbi Jeffrey Astrachan, to give today's opening prayer. Rabbi Astrachan is here today to help honor the sacrifice of the four chaplains who gave their lives during the sinking of the troop ship…

Well, maybe we need to shame these States into doing a better job of protecting the American people's money.

I think the American taxpayers have a right to know which States are doing it well and which States are not.

It just is, to me, incredible that someone who knowingly, intentionally a company defrauded the American people to the tune of tens of millions and if not more.