First Words

Introducing an irregular feature, the first words spoken on the floor of Congress from our newly-elected Representatives and Senator. So far, Pat Murphy and Joe Sestak have put their immortal words into the permanent record of the United States Government (Casey hasn't even gotten his website working yet and, shockingly, hasn't said a word on the record):

Pat Murphy, PA-8, January 9, speaking in favor of PAYGO:

Mr. PATRICK MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as an original cosponsor of this vital measure.

Mr. Speaker, this vote is about one of the most important issues facing America today, fiscal responsibility.

PAYGO is straightforward. If Congress is going to buy something, we need to figure out how we are going to pay for it. That is what the small business owners, farmers, and families in the Eighth Congressional District of Pennsylvania do every single day.

If the Mignonis in Bristol want to expand their store, they have to roll up their sleeves and figure out how they are going to pay for it. When the Russos of Fairless Hills started saving for their daughters' college tuition, they had to figure out how they were going to pay for that.

Mr. Speaker, this is exactly what we are voting on here today. If you or I have a good idea, we are going to have to roll up our sleeves, just like the Mignonis and the Russos, and figure out how we are going to pay for it first.

As most of you know, I have a 6-week-old daughter, Maggie. Maggie and every other newborn born in America are saddled with $28,000 in debt. That is immoral. Voting ``yes'' to implementing PAYGO is the first step toward getting our fiscal house in order.

Joe Sestak, PA-7, January 9, in favor of HR 1 -- implementing 9/11 Commission recommendations:

Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill, H.R. 1.

If 9/11 taught us anything, it is that the leadership we most need in this Nation today is not a leadership to lead us out of a crisis, but rather a leadership that prevents such crises from ever happening.

Today is about offering such leadership. As a Nation, we have been fortunate to have wars away from our shore, ``over there.'' But after 9/11, we saw that we now face a war here at home. And 2 1/2 years ago a bipartisan commission provided 41 recommendations to prevent another attack on U.S. home soil.

Few argue that the commission's recommendations are wrong. But so far their implementation generally rates Fs, Ds and incompletes. And so this legislation ensures that we will win at home by having a homeland defense that says to our adversaries, Today is not your day.

I had the honor while serving in the military of leading our youth in harm's way overseas. But 5 days ago, I became responsible for a new set of citizens, the constituents of my district. When I think about how to serve them best, and to turn their hopes into accomplishment, our foremost duty is to provide for their security this time here at home.

Our Nation needs the tools to be secure: training that can prevent a crisis and first responders with seamless communications among Federal, State, and local levels.

Today as we debate, we are reminded of what John F. Kennedy once said: ``The hour is late, but the agenda is long,'' which is why we must act now to implement these long overdue recommendations.

So as we look at ourselves in the national mirror and say we are better than this, we can and we must change for a more secure America. We then can look our constituents in the eyes, Mr. Speaker, knowing that we did turn their hope into accomplishment here at home. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.