Those of us who understand history remember that Social Security is a retirement system that has really been a bedrock. It is really that foundation that a lot of the other retirement systems were built on. Whether a person has no other…

Mr.. Speaker, I rise today to speak about H.R. 3005, the Trade Promotion Authority Act. The vote on this bill has been a very difficult decision for me. My home county and my hometown have been hit hard in recent months by layoffs and…

Mr. Speaker, we talk about a lot of things here in this people's House, but today the American people face a war on terrorism, not only here at home and around the world, but we also face an economic recession here at home, as my good…

But in that package, quietly hidden, when you repeal some of the pieces they wanted to repeal in it, my State gets hit with something like $170 million or $180 million the first year, almost $200 million dollars, when the General Assembly…

The Federal Government, or any government entity for that matter, but by and large the Federal Government because they can go into the equity market and get any amount of money they need to get by just driving the rates up, and of course…

The gentleman's point is well taken, because the equity markets are based on the stock market. They understand these things. There is a reason why the long-term rates, and I really believe this, and the people who follow it will say this…

He is a lot like a lot of our farmers. They are staying in business, but they are living off their equity. He has his limousine service and his equipment is depreciating. But if he does not make a profit, pretty soon he will not be able to…

I remember what former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin had to say about the stimulus package that passed, and what one of the alternatives we had in ours was that was so important, because in the previous package, they were left out. That…

As I look at the gentleman's chart and think of the choices, if we look at the vaccines and antibiotics we know we are going to need to face the challenges we face on bioterrorism, this is not a long-term commitment, this is a one-time…

I will not say a lot about the package that passed today. I think it stands for itself. Maybe it does not stand, it just sort of crawls up and falls over for what it was. But I do want to say before I start talking about homeland security…

Yesterday the Nation bid farewell to a true American hero as General Hugh Shelton retired as Commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The General wore our nation's uniform for 38 years, and America owes him a special debt of gratitude for…

I rise this evening to direct the attention of my colleagues to a task that I think is paramount in our Nation and our ability to be able to compete in the 21st century, and that is the task of improving the public schools in this country…

I was very disappointed as I went through that document last week, the energy plan the President put forward. It was light on efficiency and conservation and heavy on drilling. We all know we are going to need more capacity. There is no…

I want to talk a little bit for a few minutes about the ever-increasing cost of energy, because certainly we need a long-term policy. Certainly we need to do all those things. But energy is a lot like eating. One can talk about it in the…

I rise today as they do to celebrate the life and career of a very unique and outstanding human being who was a former Member of this body and really a great North Carolinian. L. Richardson Preyer was a very special individual. His death…

Tonight I want to talk about our children and their educational opportunities. I had the privilege of serving for 8 years as the State superintendent of schools for North Carolina and work with some wonderful people who deeply care about…

It is an investment in our future, and an investment in the future of this country because the dollar investment today will return rich dividends in years to come. One of the challenges we face not only of having the dollars to develop the…

The truth is, in schools or other agencies, we have a responsibility to help fund. The last thing they need is to be block granted or have grants they have to deal with. You cannot hire teachers on block grants and grant funding. The truth…

First of all, not only do we need the training, we need mentors for those teachers because today, in the first 3 to 5 years, we lose over 25 to 30 percent of those teachers; they leave, because the job is so daunting and overwhelming. I…

When we think of that, there are a lot of ways we can help, the Federal Government, the Congress. Too many times I hear people say, well, that is not Congress' responsibility. The fact is that Congress has a heavy responsibility, and we…

Just a little over a week ago, our national conscience was shocked at the loss of a person who can only fittingly be described as a true legend and a great North Carolina son. Our shock and dismay were increased by the untimely death of a…

it is interesting, as I listen to the debate today, this is the same debate that I heard over 4 years ago when I decided to run for this body, because I was so disgusted as a State superintendent at a Republican leadership that was going…

I rise today to continue my call for this Congress to pass real school construction legislation without further delay. We have missed opportunity after missed opportunity, and it is time to stop playing partisan games and pass a meaningful…

Harnett County and the town of Coats lost one of its most indefatigable education, civic, and business leaders with the death on May 16, 2000, of Murry Ormand Phillips. His lifetime resume of accomplishments could well do credit to 10 men…

I was seated there as the dialogue was going on and could not help but think, when I was the State superintendent of schools in North Carolina back in 1996 contemplating running for Congress, I could not help but think it is amazing what a…