mr. kucinich. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman, i think since we're at the beginning of this process, it's important not just for this committee, but for this congress, to be able to have clarity about the process under which this committee will exercise the power that it's given by the congress. and frankly, with all due respect, i don't believe that up to this point that the chairman's explanations have added clarity to this debate over the cummings amendment which says that with the concurrence of the ranking minority member subpoenas would be issued. now the word "concurrence" is an important word here. because if you look at the letter that comes from march 6th, 1996, written by a republican chairman of the committee on government -- >> would the gentleman suspend. >> no, i want to -- >> if the gentleman would suspend -- >> no, i want to make my point. >> i want you to make your point but i want you to be aware -- the gentleman will suspend -- were you speaking on an amendment. as long as you speak on amendment, that

mr. kucinich. mr. kucinich: please join the members of congress as we recite the pledge. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? >> madam speaker, i rise to offer a privileged resolution and did for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the resolution. the clerk: house resolution 33. resolved that the following named members be and are hereby elected -- mr. hensarling: i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered as read and printed in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. >> we'd like to have the resolution read if possible. the speaker pro tempore: the objection is heard. the clerk will report the resolution. without objection, the gentleman withdraws the objection on the resolution -- and the res

mr. kucinich. mr. kucinich with -- mr. kucinich: with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers, he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the united states. mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentleman from ohio, mr. chabot. mr. chabot: the president, vice president and all civil officers of the united states, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. the judicial power of the united states shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may from time to time ordain and establish. the judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. mr. goof goodlatte: i yield to the

mr. kucinich. mr. kucinich with -- mr. kucinich: with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers, he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the united states. mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentleman from ohio, mr. chabot. mr. chabot: the president, vice president and all civil officers of the united states, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. the judicial power of the united states shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may from time to time ordain and establish. the judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. mr. goof goodlatte: i yield to the

mr. kucinich, mr. ryan, mr. turner. mr. jordan. ms. fudge. mr. shabat. mr. gibbs. mr. johnson. mr.stuyvants. the committee will retire from the chamber to escort the speaker-elect to the chair. the 112 congress as the u.s. house select john boehner as the 61st speaker of the house. >> or speaker-elect, john boehner, a representative from ohio. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [cheers and applause] [applause] [cheers and applause] >> it is a high honor to welcome all members of congress and their families to the house of representatives. to the members -- new members and their families, it is a special welcome and congratulations. we all wish you great success. [applause] congratulations to you. we all come here to represent our constituents. our respect for each other is founded in our respect for the people that we represent. this month, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of john f. kennedy as president of the united states. as a student, i was there in the freezing cold. for some of you, you have read about it in the history books. to

mr. kucinich. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from ohio is recognized. mr. one as we pay tribute to congresswoman giffords and all the other victims of violence in tucson. our gathering reflects the truth of america's first motto which is above this chamber, epluribus unum, out of many we are one. it is vital that we acknowledge our oneness. not just as a congress, but as a nation and as a world. in that appreciation for oneness we find human sympathy, compassion, and love. it is an awareness of the imperative of hueman unity which can bring us to the threshold of understanding, our power to bring an end to the violence which is consuming our loved ones. it is an awareness of the imperative of human unity which can help us to create a new america. where the presence of violence is understood as a challenge to be met not as an unyielding truth of the human condition to be accepted. our hearts are open now as we recognize the victims. so let us be open to a new direction where we and this nation can take an organized approach to deal with the causes of violenc

mr. kucinich. mr. kucinich with -- mr. kucinich: with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers, he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the united states. mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentleman from ohio, mr. chabot. mr. chabot: the president, vice president and all civil officers of the united states, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. the judicial power of the united states shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may from time to time ordain and establish. the judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. mr. goof goodlatte: i yield to the

mr. kucinich, for five minutes. mr. kucinich: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. kucinich: thank you. thank you, madam speaker. as we begin this great debate over what our priorities are, it's worth reflecting on an article written nearly three years ago in the sunday times of london by nobel prize winning economist joseph stigleich and his associate. here's what they write. the bush administration was wrong about the benefits of the war, talking about the iraq war. and was wrong about the costs of the war. the president and his advisors expected a quick and expensive conflict. instead we have a war that is costing more than anyone could have imagined. the cost of direct u.s. military operations not even including long-term costs such as taking care of wounded veterans already exceeds the cost of the 12-year war in vietnam and more than double the cost of the korean war and the best case scenario these costs are projected to be 10 times the cost of the first gulf war. almost 1/3 more than the cost of the vietnam war.

mr. kucinich. mr. kucinich with -- mr. kucinich: with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he all think proper, he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers, he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the united states. mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentlemafrom ohio, mr. chabot. mr. chabot: the president, vice president and all civil officers of the united states, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. the judicial power of the united states shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may from time to time ordain and establish. the judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. mr. goof goodlatte: i yield to the gen

mr. kucinich. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from ohio is recognized. mr. flects the truth of america's first motto which is above this chamber, epluribus unum, out of many we are one. it is vital that we acknowledge our oneness. not just as a congress, but as a nation and as a world. in that appreciation for oneness we find human sympathy, compassion, and love. it is an awareness of the imperative of hueman unity which can bring us to the threshold of understanding, our power to bring an end to the violence which is consuming our loved ones. it is an awareness of the imperative of human unity which can help us to create a new america. where the presence of violence is understood as a challenge to be met not as an unyielding truth of the human condition to be accepted. our hearts are open now as we recognize the victims. so let us be open to a new direction where we and this nation can take an organized approach to deal with the causes of violence not just the effects. we are one with our sister, congresswoman giffords, and all the other victims. let us cont

mr. kucinich, mr. ryan, mr. turner. mr. jordan. ms. fudge. mr. shabat. mr. gibbs. mr. johnson. mr.stuyvants. the committee will retire from the chamber to escort the speaker-elect to the chair. >> lots of ceremony and procedure on this first day of the 112 congress as the u.s. house select john boehner as the 61st speaker of the house. >> or speaker-elect, john boehner, a representative from ohio. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [cheers and applause] [applause] [cheers and applause] >> it is a high honor to welcome all members of congress and their families to the house of representatives. to the members -- new members and their families, it is a special welcome and congratulations. we all wish you great success. [applause] congratulations to you. we all come here to represent our constituents. our respect for each other is founded in our respect for the people that we represent. this month, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of john f. kennedy as president of the united states. as a student, i was there in the freezing cold. for some

mr. kucinich. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from ohio is recognized. mr. kucinich: we are one as we pay tribute to congresswoman giffords and all the other victims of violence in tucson. our gathering reflects the truth of america's first motto which is above this chamber, epluribus unum, out of many we are one. it is vital that we acknowledge our oneness. not just as a congress, but as a nation and as a world. in that appreciation for oneness we find human sympathy, compassion, and love. it is an awareness of the imperative of hueman unity which can bring us to the threshold of understanding, our power to bring an end to the violence which is consuming our loved ones. it is an awareness of the imperative of human unity which can help us to create a new america. where the presence of violence is understood as a challenge to be met not as an unyielding truth of the human condition to be accepted. our hearts are open now as we recognize the victims. so let us be open to a new direction where we and this nation can take an organized approach to deal with the c

mr. kucinich. >> isn't it true that hamp's performance is dependent upon the voluntary willingness of mortgagecers to give loan modifications? >> yes. >> isn't it true that private mortgage servicers have found creative ways to frustrate attempts by distressed borrowers to save their homes? >> there certainly have been problems. >> is that a yes or no? >> i don't know if it's created but it's happened. >> since it's apparent that consumers don't get a fair shake, i can't understand why we don't have a representative from the servicing industry to explain that industry today. the minority requested that j.p. morgan chase, a major servicer appear today but the chairman refused. i don't know how we can have effective oversight for congress or the american public, how can they can really understand the federal response to the foreclosure crisis, which depends on the private sector without asking the private industry to explain their actions that are impeding this program. >> would the gentleman yield? >> if the chair will let me have my time afterwards. >> of course. the chair made a decision that

mr. kucinich. >> isn't it true that hamp's performance is dependent upon the voluntary willingness of mortgage servicers to give loan modifications? >> yes. >> isn't it true that private mortgage servicers have found creative ways to frustrate attempts by distressed borrowers to save their homes? >> there certainly have been problems. >> is that a yes or no? >> i don't know if it's created but it's happened. >> since it's apparent that consumers don't get a fair shake, i can't understand why we don't have representative from the servicing industry to explain that industry today. the minority requested that j.p. morgan chase, a major servicer appear today but the chairman refused. i don't know how we can have effective oversight for congress or the american public, how can they can really understand the federal response to the foreclosure crisis, which depends on the private sector without asking the private industry to explain their actions that are impeding this program. >> would the gtleman yield? >> if the chair will let me have my time afterwards. >> of course. the chair made a decision th

mr. kucinich: the for-profit health care is the problem. every year, $4 billion is spent on advertising, marketing and the cost of paperwork. nearly one of every $3 goes for things not related to health care. if we took that money and spent it on people, we'd have money to cover all needs including dental care, vision care and long-term care. we would not have a situation where 50 million americans don't have health insurance. americans wouldn't have to worry about losing everything they worked a lifetime for because they were sick. medicare for all, quality health care, for all americans. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from california, for what purpose do you seek recognition? >> to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is rebling niced for one minute. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, one of the brightest lights of a great generation, that's how president obama described sargent shriver. he died yesterday. he was a a member of

mr. kucinich. >> isn't it true that hamp's performance is dependent upon the voluntary willingness of mortgage servicers to give loan modifications? >> yes. >> isn't it true that private mortgage servicers have found creative ways to frustrate attempts by distressed borrowers to save their homes? >> there certainly have been problems. >> is that a yes or no? >> i don't know if it's created but it's happened. >> since it's apparent that consumers don't get a fair shake, i can't understand why we don't have a representative from the servicing industry to explain that industry today. the minority requested that j.p. morgan chase, a major servicer appear today but the chairman refused. i don't know how we can have effective oversight for congress or the american public, how can they can really understand the federal response to the foreclosure crisis, which depends on the private sector without asking the private industry to explain their actions that are impeding this program. >> would the gentleman yield? >> if the chair will let me have my time afterwards. >> of course. the chair made a decisio

mr. kucinich: everyone knows that insurance companies make money not providing health care. after all, they are in the insurance business. they are not charities. but as many as 129 million americans suffering from pre-existing conditions, insurance companies want congress to repeal health care reform. the provisions which require covering people with pre-existing conditions would eventually cut into insurance company profit. repeal means americans will continue to pay more for insurance but get less, that is if they can afford health i shurens in the first place. the very idea of health care reform solely within the context of a for-profit system has been more than problematic. today 50 million americans have no health insurance. what are we going to do for them? rather than waste time on debating how much reform i shurens companies will permit, if any, it's time to change the debate. it's time to end the for-profit health care model. it's time for a not-for-profit health care single payer, universal medicare for all with an emphasis on wellness and personal responsibility.

mr. speaker, i join dennis kucinich as well as members of both parties in the hopes that president obama will keep his promise to start withdrawing our troops in july of this year. in closing, i would like to urge the american people to get engaged in this cause and to let the members of congress know how they feel. they must encourage the members of congress to vote to bring our troops home. the pain must end and we can easily declare a victory and bring our brave men and women home. mr. speaker, as i do all the time on the floor of the house when i speak, i ask god to please bless our men and women in uniform, to bless the families of our men and women in uniform, to ask god in his loving arms to hold their families giving a child for freedom in afghanistan and iraq. i ask god to please bless the house and senate that we will do what is right for the american people. i ask god to give strength, wisdom and courage to president obama to do what is right for the american people and three times i will ask god, please, god, please continue to bless america. i yield back. the speaker pro tem