Doc Hastings: “My Republican friends argue that these bills will encourage growth and investment in our Nation's energy markets, local…”

“My Republican friends argue that these bills will encourage growth and investment in our Nation's energy markets, local communities, and economy and are, therefore, important measures that we must address even as we face a highway trust fund that will become insolvent in a matter of weeks as well as another looming government shutdown in December. All the while, those same individuals refuse to authorize the Export- Import Bank's charter, an entity that has created and sustained 1.5 million American jobs since 2007 at no cost to the taxpayer. Passing a responsible budget, delivering on a long-term transportation bill, and reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank will encourage the growth and investment that my friends speak of. The time to deliver on our promises to the American people is long overdue. I call on House Republicans to stop wasting our time with legislation that rolls back long-held environmental protections--and stand almost certain veto threats--and take up the important measures that I mentioned. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to return to this notion of the previous question with reference to gun violence. I believe in the Second Amendment. I own a gun. When I was a child, at age 7, I had a Red Ryder BB gun. When I was 12, I had a single-shot .22 rifle. I believe in every citizen's right to own a gun, and I believe my colleagues here on this side believe the same thing.…”