On the recordJuly 30, 2011
Mr. Speaker, this morning we join together to express our commitment to one Nation. Unfortunately, we are in a collapse and a crisis because we are, as my good friend from Michigan said, drawn and strangled by those in the Tea Party who believe that America belongs to only one group. Well, I stand here today to say that we must not take the Tea Party's words that say ``do not surrender.'' That is a selfish position. You do not play surrender games when you work on behalf of the American people. You wonder why the economy is slow? Because it is strangled by inertia and lack of action in raising the debt ceiling. Let's join together in a bipartisan way to lift the debt ceiling. If not, the President has constitutional authority to lift the debt ceiling and get Members to move forward and on helping this country protect the 401(k)s, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid of the American people. Mr. Speaker, we are one Nation, not the Tea Party nation. We should represent the people of the United States in creating jobs, we can move the economy, and we can show the world that America is run by adults and we stand for the American people. I believe I stand for one Nation and to represent all of the people. ____________________
