The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk the speakers room, washington, d. C. , march 5, 2013. I hereby appoint the honorable ron desantis to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, john a. Boehner, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. 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 oregon, mr. Blumenauer. For five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. As we wait for the congress and administration to deal with how to do business differently for defense, for health care, for the tax code, we can take a break today as we welcome over 750 men and women from every state in the union who are here for the 14th annual bicycle summit. They represent, as you might expect, people from cycling clubs, Mountain Bike industry. Theyre dedicated recreational cyclists, those in bike purism, which has become very good business, by the way. And they are part of bicycle manufacturing and those who sell bicycle apparel. Bicycles mean business. Over 150 million of Economic Activity in a year employing over 1,000 people. As the bike summit attendees visit capitol hill later this week, well have an opportunity to hear from people of all ages, all walks of life, communities large and small. The federal government should be a stronger partner in capitalizing on the most efficient form of urban transportation ever designed. Bicycles burn calories, not fossil fuel, and take up. 1 of a car. More importantly, for those who drive, every bicycle in a bicycle next to you is not a car in front of you or competing for a scarce parking space. The goal here is to give americans more choices about how they move, making it safe for children to walk or bike to school. It helps those children. It relieves stress on the family, and can cut 30 of the rush hour congestion while helping kids stay active at a time when were obsessing about lack of physical activity for our children and that level is already too low and declining. Bicycling is a natural remedy. Cities of all size are participating in the bicycle revolution. It would not be nearly as advanced as it is, but for 9. 8 billion of federal investment since the ice tea reauthorization. Its icetea reauthorization. It has increased Transportation Capacity for everybody and done so more costeffectively than any other expenditure. By the way, 1 million invested in bicycle facilities creates more family wage jobs than simply constructing more miles of highway. Its also easier and faster to accomplish. At a time when america has an infrastructure debt that is in the trillions of dollars, when that infrastructure is falling apart and unreliable, our coalition for policies and resources to rebuild and renew america will be stronger if it includes the millions of americans who travel by bike. I strongly urge my colleagues and their staff to take the time to visit with these advocates this week. Hear the stories about transforming communities of all sizes, rural, urban, suburban. Most important, learn how they are giving families safe transportation choices that they never had before. Visit with the cycling leaders, more important, at home when you are back, get on a back, walk a trail, join the volunteers, witness an event with your family and talk to the bike businesses and communities partners. All of these stakeholders can help us visualize what the federal partnership could mean in making communities across america more livable and families safer, more economically secure. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, ross, for five minutes. Mr. Ross i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Rothfus i rise in memory of a woman who died at the age of 47 following a brief and courageous bout with cancer, mrs. Wilson. She could be anyones wife, mother, coworker, employer or fellow church member. She was extraordinary because she excelled in each of these roles. She was a woman for all seasons. Ann wilson was born in 1965 in the bronx of irish stock. The daughter of thomas and frances gilcorse. She graduated from st. John the Baptist High School and earned a degree in political science. She worked in new york city before moving to johnstown, the hometown of her husband bill. In the mountains of western pennsylvania, this daughter of the bronx became an adopted daughter of johnstown and she thrived there. She brought in the world three beautiful children, katie, billy and clara, whom she and bill loved dearly. And while she was raising her family, ann pursued her professional calling with excellence and determination as the marketing director of the gleason agency. Her energy was incomparable. The energy of her professional work could also be seen in her commitment to public service. In 2005, ann made her first attempt of Public Office and won a fouryear term on the johnstown city council. She took the oath of office in january of 2006 and was the first republican woman elected to the council. Notably, ann was the top vote getter on the ticket, beating out seven incumbents. In a city where democrats she was reelected in 2009 and appointed deputy mayor of johnstown in january of 2010. She also served as executive director and later chairman of the republican committee. In 2012, governor tom corbett appointed her to the Pennsylvania Commission for women and was elected to the delegate to the 2012 Republican National convention. While her energy and professional accomplishments were remarkable, the two things that mattered most to her were her family and her church. Mrs. Wilson lived for her husband and children and she rarely missed a sporting or school event that involved the kids. She loved family time and Family Vacations and she was deeply committed to her catholic faith. She was a strong advocate for the right to life and compassion for all. In a world and time given the cynicism and doubt, ann wilson stands out in stark contrast. Shes a role model for excellence and family life, professional work and community engagement. Indeed, she was full of passion for the things of life that really mattered. It is a privilege to stand here today to remember mrs. Ann wilson of johnstown, pennsylvania. Per family and johnstowns loss is heavens gain. May she rest in peace and may her family be comforted in her loss. She will be missed not only by her husband and children but by her community. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Poe, for five minutes. Mr. Poe mr. Speaker, the talk around town is the paranoid gun control crowd, want more gun restrictions and more gun control. More government control over guns. If they had their way, some of them would actually outlaw the Second Amendment. And the result, the people would have no guns. The only ones that would have guns would be the government and of course criminals who ignore gun laws. I call it the mexico model. Guns are outlawed in mexico. The citizens cannot possess guns. There is no Second Amendment. So the government has guns and criminals have guns. Some of those criminals have guns thanks in part to the United States government sending 2,000 assault weapons to them in fast and furious. But thats another story. U. S. Cities are moving toward the mexico model. Chicago and washington, d. C. , have laws that make it very difficult for a citizen to exercise the Second Amendment. These cities make it difficult to even own a firearm, but all three places mexico, chicago, washington, d. C. All have a reputation of violent, unsafe places. Why . Because they are. In d. C. , if d. C. Was so safe, why are government guards everywhere in the city . Even here in this Capitol Building there are armed guards on the roof, at the doors, at the back doors, at the doors over to the east and to the west. Its hypocritical of the gun control crowd in this chamber to say more guns for me but not for thee. If these cities were safe, gun control laws would work, but they dont work. There is a federal law at the city of richmond, virginia, took advantage of, and it goes back to 1997. Richmond, virginia, was one of the top five u. S. Cities with the highest per capita murder rate in the United States. So the city used a federal law to help them control the crime problem. Project exile is the name. The local and State Government voluntarily cooperated with the United StatesAttorneys Office and gun prosecutions. Heres how it works. If a local, state Law Enforcement official arrested some criminal for a felony offense but the person also had a gun, the state official could voluntarily transfer the case to federal court because in federal court the person could be prosecuted by the u. S. Attorneys office and get an additional five years in the federal penitentiary because the criminal, the drug dealer, had a firearm in their possession. Its a simple plan that worked quite well. It worked so well that in the first year richmond, virginias homicide rate was down 33 . And by 1999, homicides in virginia, richmond, virginia, were down 97 . All because the criminal was prosecuted for unlawfully possessing a firearm and the government put their resources where they should. Prosecuting criminals that use guns in the commission of their offense. The law held the criminal accountable and exiled him out of the community. Thats where the phrase project exile comes were. He was exiled from the community to the federal penitentiary where other criminals were. Locked the gun toting crooks up and sent them away, what a novel idea, a law thats already on the books. Maybe violent cities like chicago, washington, d. C. , should look at project exile and hold criminals accountable for the violence that they commit and not be misguided by some who continue to assault the Second Amendment and not punish criminals. Maybe our system should focus on the person who commits the crime with a weapon as opposed to trying to punish really good folks that own firearms and exercise their right under the Second Amendment to bear arms. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. Pursuant to clause 12 alpha of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until 12 00 noon [no audio] as mentioned, the rules Committee Later today will take up that package. We will have live coverage over on cspan3. The house is coming back at noon for their legislative work. Were going to take you to the testimony this morning of the military leaders of Central Command testifying before the Senate Armed Services can committee. Is your vision that you will have forces with them or will it be institutional trainers . . Were going to have to watch how they mature. I anticipate there will be some unbending. At the current rate and maturation, they are becoming quite impressive in their ability to operate against this enemy. We have 1. 5 years to go as we get them up on the step for when we will draw down to the enduring force. We will figure out what level of and betting level will be there. You still retain the capability of striking anywhere in that region if there is a highvalue target as you go forward in terms of whether or not there is access to certain bases in afghanistan. You can do that from aerial platforms, a sea bass platforms, or lans platform. Let me turn to the issue of syria. Many assume the assad regime is deteriorating rapidly. Lets assume its sales. What planning is going on for any type of Stability Operations internationally to prevent a dissent that would disrupt the whole region . We have some quiet planning going on with regional and other partners to see what level of ambition and what regional leadership could take on this mission. It would be clearly best accomplished with a regional leader, organization, after the russians are regrettable veto in the united nations. If the russians regrettable veto in the United States. They may be able to take this on. We are doing some planning with the Regional Military and get to a framework for what this would look like. What do you think the reactions to the iranians would be to a collapse of the Assad Government . It would be the biggest suretyship setback for iran in 25 years. Biggest setback for a run in 25 years. They would redouble their efforts yemen, bahrain, and elsewhere. That is what we would see. Part of our reaction would be to plan for that contingency explicitly . And we are. Thank you. We appreciate your service. Good luck in your retirement. I notice the map be passed around about the area of responsibility for the commander. It ranges from cause exxon to the north paszek stan in the north to yemen in the south. Half the population is in egypt. Is that correct . It is well over 1 3. A good portion. We just had an amendment a few weeks ago offered to a store relief bill on the floor of the cigarette that would have prohibited our sale of f16 aircraft from the United States to the Egyptian Military. Do you follow that issue . I did. Senator mccain took the point on that on the senate floor and made an impassioned plea for us not to abandon the chance of improved relationships with the Egyptian Military. What senator mccain correct . I voted with him on that to not abandon our sale of f16s to egypt. What advice would you give us Going Forward . We may have to take further votes on that. What with the determination be on our relationship and chances of having a meaningful relationship with the Egyptian Military . I strongly endorsed the administrations and senator mccains position. I was in cairo. Our ambassador also endorsed it. The bottom line is the Egyptian Military to a very difficult period has a build trust with the egyptian people. They have made clear their expectation that egypt will maintain the international treaties, including peace with israel. They are the people who provide extra security when my ships go through the suez canal. The gauze area has not been this quiet in 10 years. Regionally gaza the gaza area has not been this quiet in 10 years. Anything we do that would undercut the trust between the u. S. , a u. S. Military and Egyptian Military would be extremely unhelpful. What do you think the advice of the Israeli Government would be to policymakers such as with regard to that sale . I have gotten a lot of mail and emails from a people in mississippi who are supportive of israel. They say how could you agreed to the sale of these to egypt when that could be so harmful to israel . What would your answer be to that . I will not speak for what is really thinks about this. I cannot do that. What is real things about this. I cannot do that. That issue did not come up. As far as how to respond to your constituents, the Egyptian Military right now is the bulwark against the threats, against israel, and against egypt. They committed along side as part of their government. It has been very outspoken about maintaining the peace treaty. It should not be seen as an enemy. It should be seen as a stabilizing force in the region. Unlike the military in libya that fought alongside gaddafi, unlike the military in syria. We have a military that did not act that way when egypt went through its transition. That is very helpful. Let me switch to something. I had to step out of the room to meet with a distinguished group of retired admirals and generals representing the u. S. Global leadership coalition. Are you familiar with this coalition . Only very little. They are a group of more than 120 retired three and fourstar generals and admirals. They are coming on the hill today to meet with congress and not about the military budget but about the International Affairs budget. What we call foreign aid. Their message to me was that we need to be very careful about cut in foreign aid. They view it as working hand in glove with our Security Operations they you are involved in. I just wondered if you comment on that. If you observed that the International Development budget is helpful to us in providing National Defence to our country. I would start with the department of state budget. Frankly, they need to be as fully funded as congress believes appropriate. If you do not fund the state department, i need to buy more ammunition ultimately. I think it is a costbenefit ratio. The more we put into the state departments diplomacy the less we have to put into a military budget. I see. To both of you, i had to step out. The question was asked with regard to sequestration and the device that you have for us. We need to go ahead with the full appropriation bill for the entire fiscal year. Let me make sure i get this answer. Would flexibility help you in getting through the sequestration issue of . If Congress Gave you not arbitrary cuts that the ability to pick and choose, would you be better group in better off in forming your missions . The full appropriations bill would gi