Statements For the Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Food and Drug Administration Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 5651), which will strengthen Minnesota’s health care system and economy.

Mister Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 205, the HEARTH Act.

Ms. McCollum. Mister Speaker, I rise today to speak in opposition to this bill. The Violence Against Women Act has never been a divisive piece of legislation until this Tea Party Majority came into power. Instead of bringing the bipartisan bill already passed by the Senate to this floor for a vote, House Republicans are attempting to pass a partisan and discriminatory bill that eliminates protections for violent crime victims.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 4045. This bill will ensure that all service members returning from overseas—including the Minnesota National Guard’s ‘Red Bulls’— receive the full benefits they were promised.

Mr. Speaker, once again the U.S. House is acting on legislation, this time H.R. 4133, to restate what has been stated frequently in Congress, by President Obama, and by virtually every candidate running for federal office in the United States: that the U.S. and the State of Israel have a special bilateral and a very important strategic relationship. Congress strongly supports the State of Israel and we demonstrate our support annually by providing many billions of dollars in direct taxpayer funded assistance to ensure Israel’s security.

I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 9, the so-called Small Business Tax Cut Act. This bill is an incredible waste of taxpayer money that will do nothing to grow America's economy or create jobs.