Full Faith and Credit Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Pay China First Act. This is a very dangerous debate that we are conducting today because I think it has ramifications beyond simple debate. It calls into question whether or not America will pay its bills. You could also call this bill the Put America Last Act because that's exactly what this bill does. It's a bill that will actually make the Tea Party policies a reality, turning us into a deadbeat nation, a nation that does not pay its bills.

This Republican bill will codify into law a new low for America. It will ensure U.S. taxpayers always pay China and other regimes and foreign banks before our veterans, before our seniors on Medicare, and even before our enlisted troops bravely serving overseas. That's right. We'll pay these folks before we pay these folks. We pay these folks under this bill if it were to become law before we pay these folks. That simply is wrong and unacceptable to the American people.

Even the sponsors of this bill admit that in addition to putting China first and America last, their bill will also increase the deficit. Let me say that again. This bill will also increase the deficit and will pay China first. What the Republican majority is doing with this bill is announcing to the world--everyone from small businesses who sell services to the government to grandmothers buying savings bonds for their grandchildren--that this Congress is not serious about paying our Nation's bill.

My colleagues, please, put Americans first, put our troops first and China last. Do not pass the Pay China First Act.

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Mr. CROWLEY. I have reservations about the constitutionality of this amendment. What I will say is I would gladly give my pay if it meant that these guys don't get paid. I will give my salaries to the defenders of this country, the men and women who are the front line, if their pay was in question. If all the money in the Congress in our pay could do that, I would gladly do that.

But I say we should definitely pay these guys before we pay these guys. That's what your bill does. The overriding bill would have these guys get paid before these guys. Forget about us guys.

This amendment is a farce. It's to divert attention from the fact that you want to pay these guys before you pay these guys. At the end of the day, that's what the overriding bill is about--putting China first, paying China first, putting our troops last, putting the American people last. It's about putting them first and us last.

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