One banking ceo said that the reviews were going to take well into 2014. Checks were sent out. Regulators were trying to find some middle ground to get help to home owners quarter. Jon prior. That does it for todays washington journal. Now, live coverage of the house. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication. The clerk the speakers room, washington, d. C. , february 26, 2013. I hereby appoint the honorable kevin yoder to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, john a. Boehner, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore the chair will receive a message from the senate. The secretary mr. Speaker, a message from the senate. I have been directed by the senate to inform the house that the senate has passed s. 298, an act to prevent Nuclear Proliferation in north korea, and for other purposes, in which the concurrence of the house is requested. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the order of the house of january 3, 2013, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to five minutes each, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Schiff, for five minutes. Mr. Schiff late last year the Supreme Court overturned a century old montana law that prohibited corporate spending in the states elections. In the montana case, the Supreme Court had the chance to revisit its deeply flawed 2010 decision in Citizens United. Despite urging of the court itself and a shell shock by corporate expenditures, the court shows instead to double down and reaffirm the conclusion of Citizens United, that corporations are people, at least as far as the First Amendment is concerned. As a legal decision, the Citizens United opinion was remarkable in many ways, in its willingness to overturn a century of injuries prudence, its as possible as narrow the case as the constitution required and the views in prior decisions rather than the prevailing decisions in prior cases. As Justice Stevens said in a striking descent, so much for story desigh cis. But what stood out was not the courts legal reasoning but as the court confidently declared, quote, we now conclude that independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption. Unfortunately, the five justices who joined this opinion must be the last five americans to feel that way. Certainly none of the evidence before the court in Citizens United or the montana case compelled a conclusion so at odds with reality. To be fair to the present court, they did not have direct contributions which can be regulated and independent expenditures which may not. That flawed distinction goes back more than 35 years to buckley vs. Valeo, when the court attempted to place limits on both forms of Campaign Spending. In buckley, the court felt there was a compelling state interest in regulating contributions to candidates, but there was not yet sufficient evidence of a similarly compelling need to regulate independent expenditures. But the court acknowledged the need to revisit that conclusion in the future if events should prove otherwise. Events have most certainly proved otherwise following Citizens United. Since that decision, corporate expenditures have reached in the billions of dollars, and the independence of those expenditures, the theoretical separation of the Office Holders it is intended to influence, does not buy any more. Superpacs and on house, senate and president ial politics is beyond dispute by all except those five americans who happen to sit on the court. But if the montana case makes anything clear, it is this, the court has dug in. No amount of unrestrained spending, no appearance of impropriety, no actual corruption of the system is likely to dislodge this newly entrenched precedent from the threat it poses to our democracy. Regrettably, a constitutional amendment is required for that. Unfortunately fauflt, one of the nations constitutional scholars, harvard law professor, laurence tribe, has drafted one which i drafted as h. Res. 31. It provides simply nothing in this constitution shall be construed to forbid the congress or the states from imposing contentneutral limitations on private Campaign Contributions or independent election expenditures. The amount also allows but does not require Public Financing of campaigns when states schooze to enact such laws choose to enact such laws nor shall the constitution prevent the congress or states of Public Campaign financing, including those designed by offsetting Campaign Spending or expenditures with increased public funding. The expenditures creates an unmistakable appearance of impropriety but in time it cant help but corrupt. The court, having failed to bear witness since buckley, the people have the power to act. Independent expenditures, like direct contributions, should be subject to reasonable limitations and should be transparent and corporations are not people. For if they were, as Justice Stevens points out, how could we deprive them the right to vote . I thank the speaker and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Jones, for five minutes. Mr. Jones mr. Speaker, thank you very much. Like most of my colleagues last week, we were home. I took as many opportunities as possible to speak at civic clubs, meet with groups of people, talk about a range of issues. But i also always brought up the fact that we continue to fund a failed policy in afghanistan. I was pleased and also humbled by the response from these groups as they agree with me totally. And many of these groups, mr. Speaker, were actually veterans. I represent the Third District of North Carolina, the home of camp lejeune, cherry point. And those in the military, who are now retired, said youre absolutely right. Why doesnt congress wake up . Theres nothing we are going to change in afghanistan. Stop wasting lives and spending money. And mr. Speaker, that brings me to this. On monday, in an a. P. Article, the afghan president karzai on sunday ordered all u. S. Special forces to leave within two weeks and requested their operations are ceased immediately which neighbors in kabul is viewed as a gateway to the capital, is used as counterinsurgency efforts in recent years. Why do we fund a man that doesnt like us . I dont understand that at all. How in the world account congress in its wisdom not speak out and say, listen, youre talking about a 10year agreement after 2014 . How can a country thats financially broke commit to 10 more years after 2014 . I do not understand that. In fact, i have introduced with rosa delauro h. R. 125, the congressional oversight of afghanistan Agreement Act of 2013, which is a bipartisan bill introduced by us and we are reaching out to our other colleagues to say, congress, lets get on the floor, lets debate whether we should stay there 10 years after 2014 or not. Mr. Speaker, i sincerely believe that the American People would back this legislation because the American People have seen the total chaos right here this week, last week and the next couple weeks to come talking about sequestration. But i dont think the leader of afghanistan is worried about sequestration because were going to send him all the money that he wants while we tell the American People were going to cut your jobs, were going to cut your programs. That to me is absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the American People to say to congress, lets start rebuilding america and stop rebuilding the rest of the world. Mr. Speaker, beside me is a poster of young army officer who lost both legs and an arm. We fail to realize as here in congress, maybe not all of us but some of us, that were still at war. Young men and women are still getting their legs blown off. They ever losing their life many times. Not as often as past. But lets wake up, congress. Lets start debating what were going to do to start rebuilding our country and stop trying to rebuild the rest of the world. In closing, mr. Speaker, i will ask god to please not let the American People and not let Congress Forget that we have young men and women in afghanistan, and i will close by asking god to please bless the United States of america and let us never, never forget the sacrifice of war. And i yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from maryland, mr. Hoyer, for five minutes. Mr. Hoyer i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Hoyer thank you very much, mr. Speaker. Today, mr. Speaker, we continue an unfortunate and unnecessary countdown to the irrational and reckless automatic cuts the republican policies will impose. The countdown stands at three days. Unless Congress Acts by friday, the cuts will take effect with dangerous results across the country and in the Fifth District of maryland, my district. Approximately 46,000 civilian defense personnel will be at risk of being furloughed at installations in maryland, including webster field, indian head and joint base andrews. This will undermine their ability to serve our nation and keep americans safe. Federal defense contracts could be canceled or reduced, which will translate into lost jobs and economic hurt for the communities they affect. There will be cuts to the f. D. A. , which is a center of marylands Fifth District. F. D. A. Cuts could result in fewer food safety inspectors and children will be kicked out of head start. There will be longer wait times for those seeking to access job training and placement services. Our First Responders will lose muchneeded personnel. This year alone in maryland, the sequester could mean up to 500 fewer victims of Domestic Violence receiving critical services, and around 2,050 children unable to receive vaccines for Communicable Diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough and the flu. This is not a rational way forward. Law enforcement could lose about 317,000 dollars in my own state for this year in grants that support Crime Prevention and drug treatment and enforcement. Mr. Speaker, the people of my district are hardworking folks who just want the chance to pursue the American Dream. Many of them are federal employee who have already been forced to cut back on as a result of some of the actions weve taken. Others are defense contractors who support our men and women in uniform. Who rely on these defense contractors to keep them well equipped and well trained. And they cannot afford the arbitrary, irrational cuts that are set to take effect in just four days. Even if some here believe congress does not have a responsibility to create opportunities, at least i think we can agree that congress has a responsibility not to prevent them. And i believe congress has an Important Role in playing in making sure our businesses could compete for committees communities can thrive and our people can make it in america. Thats whats at stake in the policies were confronting today. They remain extremely disappointed that some in this chamber are actively supporting the sequesters painful and indiscriminant cuts as a viable path forward. In fact, many members on the republican side have said, bring it on. This is what we want to do. To do so, in my opinion, is grateful irresponsible. Marylanders and all americans deserve a congress that takes our challenges seriously and none of our commals are more serious or more immediate this week than the dangers of allowing the cuts to take effect. Thats why ive cosponsored a bill with mr. Van hollen and many others on the democratic side of the aisle to replace the cuts for the remainder of the year with a balanced approach to reduction. A balanced approach which will bring down our deficit, bring down our debt but will do so in a responsible way. Mr. Speaker and mr. Majority leader, you have the power to bring that bill to the floor today, and if you dont agree with it, dont vote for it, but allow the American People to see their representatives have the opportunity to vote for a rational policy so that we do not pursue an irrational policy that will undermine jobs in america and the growth of our economy. Only a balanced solution can achieve the savings we need and still afford our investments in attracting middle class jobs. As we count down to friday, what are we doing on this house floor . Yesterday we did a suspension bill. Today we will do a suspension bill. I dare say, mr. Speaker, nobody outside of the particular interested groups, will know what those suspension bills are. And then well consider a bill on wednesday and thursday, an important bill, should have passed it in the last congress. But we ought to be dealing with these cuts that are confronting our country starting on friday and saturday. As we count down to friday, i will continue to work torts an agreement towards an agreement that will avert these arbitrary and hurtful cuts and protect maryland families and businesses from congressional partisanship gone awry. I am encouraging those who live in my district and anyone else to visit my page on facebook and share how the proposed cuts will impact you, your loved ones, and your community. For the sake of our families, mr. Speaker, our Small Businesses, our children, our teachers, our defense contractors, our public servants, our First Responders, and others. I urge my republican colleagues to embrace the spirit of compromise that has been so absent of late in this chamber. I call on them to work with democrats to find a balanced, sensible, smart, rational, and responsible solution to our deficits. Mr. Speaker, we have three days left to go. Lets bring something to the floor thats a solution. Lets do it now. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maryland yields back. The gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Murphy, is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Murphy today we honor the memory of private first class wayne alederson of cannonsburg, pennsylvania. A world war ii hero, awarded the combat n fantry badge, silver star, bronze star, and purple heart for his courageous actions during the Rhineland Campaign of 1945. He died on february 22, 2013. At 86, wayne was a member of our greatest generation and a Great American. This son of southwestern pennsylvania lived a life of purpose and sacrifice and remains an inspiration to those who knew him. Born on june 7, 1926, wayne entered the United States army as an 18yearold on august 31, 1944. His service would help bring nazism to its knees and p. F. C. Alederson would become the First American soldier to advance into germ across the significant freed line on march 14, 1945. In the course of this assault, serving as a scout for b Company Seventh infantry regiment, would singlehandedly destroy machine gun placements, and fight house to house at night for capturing and taking three german prisoners. Its considerable personal risk he led the prisoners back to headquarters where Vital Information was obtained by the allies about the line defenses. On march 18, the 18yearold private would lead a new assault against enemy forces. His company pierced the german line but cut off by enemy soldiers. Fearing the germans were about to launch a counterattack that would wipe out his men, he volunteered to lead a surprise assault and disappeared down a long zigzag spider trench behind a dense warn fortification t would ult natalie help melt german defenses and leaf him permanently scarred. The patrol engaged a larger german force in combat at pointblank range. The p. F. C. Fully exposed and vastly outnumbered charged with his men, inflicting 12 casualties on the advancing enemy. With the germans in retreat, he was injured when a grenade exploded at his feet. He crashed face first into the mud from the blow and one of his fellow soldiers attempted to flip him over to he prevent him from suffocating to death, a cybertook that soldiers life. A sniper took that soldiers life. Suffering from a head wound he crawled back to the trenches to brief his Company Commander on the events that transpired. The Company Commander later surveyed the battle scene and determined the three men had killed at least 35 german soldiers. Wayne was discharged from the service on october 6, 1945, with the rank of private first class. His leadership continued after the war. He helped to resolve a conflict between labor and management, and retold in the book stronger than steel a dispute that threatened the company be shuttered instead saved jobs. Fittingly after this episode wayne went on to found a Consulting Firm called v