Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 5116, America Competes Reauthorization Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Colorado.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. I commend Chairman Gordon on his hard work and his leadership on this important legislation. This bill is the product of our Nation's understanding that economic prosperity and international competitiveness is the result of American innovation and forward thinking. I'd also like to address the comments made by my colleague from California, as well. As the gentleman from California is aware, there is in fact widespread violation of Federal laws that are out of touch with reality with regard to immigration. We don't know who is here, what they're doing, where they are going. The America COMPETES Act, of course, is not the proper legislative vehicle for addressing that, but I do encourage my colleague from California to join me and many others in sponsoring comprehensive immigration reform, which will ensure, going forward, no one works in this country illegally and that we have a way of tracking who is here and enforcing the rule of law across this Nation.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Muftiah McCartin of our Rules Committee. She is our Rules Committee staff director--the only Rules Committee staff director that I have known in my time in Congress who, as you know, is leaving us. On many occasions, Muftiah has trekked to the fifth floor of Cannon, where my office is, and advised my staff and me on important issues and parliamentary procedures and asked us our questions and concerns and addressed them promptly. Of course, when I found out today in these remarks that she had been here 34 years, I began to think it was a different Muftiah than the one I know that is retiring. I find it hard to believe that our Muftiah McCartin has worked in this wonderful building for 34 years. Perhaps that time is calculated because she frequently works until midnight, or even until 3 in the morning. I have borne witness to that. Perhaps for every year she works, it's counted as 2 years time in, because that's the only logical explanation that I was able to figure out for how she could have possibly worked in this body for 34 years and is moving on to other opportunities.

Her dedication to this body, this institution, this committee, both in her current job and previous jobs, is something that I hope we all strive to emulate with our accomplishments on committee and the House floor, which are really a great testimony to her commitment of many years. As a freshman member of the Rules Committee, she's repeatedly assisted me and our colleagues on the sometimes Byzantine legislative processes and has worked tirelessly to ensure that our Members and districts have been able on walk away with success.

Thank you, Muftiah, for your service. You will be sorely missed.

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