Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. I move to strike the last word.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this bill which guts longstanding environmental policy. Unfortunately, this is not the only thing that's wrong with America today.

Once again, Speaker Boehner and the GOP are putting the needs of a few right-wing Members of Congress ahead of ordinary, hardworking, everyday Americans, many of whom lit up the phone lines yesterday in record numbers to express their disgust with Republican intransigence that's holding our Nation and international markets hostage. Not only did they call in record numbers, but 50 to 60 people came to my district office yesterday to show their support for a balanced approach to solving this debt ceiling issue. I also received a petition with over 1,500 names begging that we protect Social Security.

But still, against the urgent pleas of international financial institutions, Wall Street executives, and millions of Americans who can ill-afford any reduction in their ability to borrow or an increase in interest rates for a car, home, or student loan, Republicans continue to show contempt for the American people by saying ``no'' to increasing the debt ceiling.

Do you realize out there how many of us have adjustable rate mortgages on our primary residence? Can you imagine what will happen if this Nation defaults on its obligations to pay its debt and, as a result, interest rates go up? That means your adjustable rate mortgage, my adjustable rate mortgage rate goes up. Could I stand to pay $1,000 extra or $2,000 extra per month on my mortgage because interest rates went up because we didn't do what we should have done here, which is to increase the debt ceiling, something we've done 21 times, I believe, over the last several--we did 18 times with Ronald Reagan as President?

But we can't afford not to deal with this debt ceiling issue.

Mr. Chairman, The Washington Post reports that House Republicans watched a movie together about bank robbers to motivate members of their caucus to stand firm in their solidarity against raising the debt ceiling. What kind of example does this set for the American people? What would they say if they knew that there is a concerted effort by Republicans not only to prevent an increase in the debt ceiling, but to impede economic progress, slow or stop job creation, cause the loss of 700,000 jobs, with the passage of cut, cap, and kill?

What about our seniors, our veterans, our students? What about our credit rating in this country?

Mr. Chairman, just like bank robbers, it appears that Republicans seek to threaten society as a whole, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Republicans have now taken hostage of the U.S. economy, threatening the livelihoods and well-being of Americans, young and old, rich and poor. They can see the hands of the clock ticking, precious seconds, minutes, and hours wasted.

Speaker Boehner and his cohorts say ``no'' to the President's request for reasonable compromise, ``no'' to the desperate pleas of businesses begging for a sense of certainty about the debt ceiling, and ``no'' to the American people who have shouted at the top of their lungs for shared sacrifice in these budget negotiations.

Well, Mr. Speaker, if Republicans are looking for some additional inspiration in the debt ceiling negotiations, I'd recommend that they watch ``Saving Private Ryan.'' It's about a man who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of his fellow Americans. He was not a survival-of-the-fittest-type guy, you're on your own.

We're all in this together.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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