Chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour ebate. 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 each, to five minutes but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Schiff, for five minutes. Mr. Schiff mr. Speaker, for nearly three years, the arab middle east, an enormous arc stretching from the atlantic to the indian ocean, has been in turmoil, millions frustrated by a lack of Economic Opportunity, repressive politics and a social structure often at odds with the modernity, have taken to the streets demanding change. Their future hangs in the balance with the former regimes on one side and the religious rule on the other. Faced with these daunting realities, the Obama Administration maybe in the midst of a strategic reevaluation of our role in the region, one that is far more modest in ambition, more temp rate in expectation and use of the diplomatic, not military resources. This stands in stark contrast of the george w. Bush administration to deliver a freedom agenda sometimes through the barrel of a gun that would bring democracy to a region that has known mostly misrule. That doctrine or its application proved entirely unworkable as the societys freed of their authoritarian shackles had nothing on which to build. We may be relearning this in libya as well. These setbacks and the realization that democracy building is a generational undertaking must not lead us to disengage from the region. The forces freed by the arab spring will not be contained, and i still believe they can lead hundreds of millions of people to more representative forms of government, more Economic Opportunity and we must hope more tranquility and peace within their borders. The United States needs to help build institutions capable of supporting a transition in the arab world and three dimensions, political, economic and civil society. Unmet Economic Needs are the most pressing. At its heart, the arab spring is the expression of discontent of millions of arabs that sees the Economic Opportunity that the outside world offers but its own economic is plagued by stagnation, mismanagement and cronyism. The cure is not outright assistance, which will do little to unleash or occupy longterm the energies of the arab youth. It is investment that will allow this generation of arabs to have antiquated economies into the 21st century. Ince the ouster of ben ali and mubarak, we will allow to direct resources at specific sectors that can help drive Economic Growth as well as improve the quality of life for ordinary people. In coming years, these economies will need to boost sustained workers and families and provide economic situations for sustainibility. But that cant be an excuse to put off political reform now, because capital flows will not resume until investors have some confidence that their money is safe. And periences both egypt tunisia, both countries emerged from their respective revolutions with energized islamist movements that in large measure because the old government left political islamist governments as the only viable alternative. And in both countries, this experiment failed as a result of overreaching and a misreading of the peoples wishes, a development that should ease the fears of those who see a green wave sweeping across the middle east. The dysfunction in both cairo and tunis and the egyptian militarys deposing of president meemed morsi in a oupe ensures that a democratic outcome is not assumed or the United States must stand to assist arab nations with longterm Institution Building that are necessary preconditions for democracy. In tunisia, which is small, relatively prosperous and not nearly as divided as somer neighbors, transfer of power from the current government that would oversee elections are not entirely well. But while a framework for the installation of a caretaker government remains, squabbling between the islamists and the secular opposition has slowed the progress and reintroduced uncertainty into tunisias fragile politics. Political Institution Building and creating a culture of Good Governance will require targeted assistance, Training Programs and a lot of patience. Egypt and tunisia may be a mess now, but 10 years from now will not be the same as they are today, and we can play a role in helping to shape that future. Think of some of the other countries that have democratized in recent years in eastern europe, asia and latin america. The transitions have not been quick or smooth, and many of them are still ongoing. Amid the euphoria of the collapse of the communist block in europe, we thought we were at a end of history the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from north carolina, mr. Jones, for five minutes. Mr. Jones mr. Speaker, thank you very much. At this point in our nations history, i believe both parties will acknowledge that we have Major Economic issues facing our country. As Congress Just recently came to a temporary resolution which raised the debt ceiling by 230 billion, it is incredible to me that we still found 30 billion in aid to send to afghanistan and 1. 6 billion in aid to send to pakistan. Mr. Speaker, at a time when americas drowning in debt, this is completely unacceptable, and even more important than the money are the american lives that have been lost. Since the time the government six since the time the government shut down and one the weekend after. As we work to fix our problems, we must follow the lead of the nations, gland and russia, only two examples, and stop wasting lives, money on a country that will never change. History tells us that it is time to bring our troops home. Want to thank abs for their abc news each sunday morning to tell the names of those that have died. They have added seven names to this list over the last three weeks. Mr. Speaker, on the poster beside me are the faces of two little girls, stephanie and eden, whose father, Sergeant Kevin balanceder, from camp jeune balder, from Camp Lejeune Marine base, another, also in my district, were trying to train the afghans to be policemen. One of the trainees turned their pistol and killed both of them so these little girls are standing at arlington with their mama holding hands. Perhaps more disheartening is two of the most recent deaths in afghanistan also were examples of afghans killed that we were trying to train killing americans who were trying to help him. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago i spoke on the floor about an article i read titled the forgotten war by ann jones. Id like to submit for the article an article written by an iraq war veteran who now attends the university of Southern California which he entitled afghan war must end immediately. I ask unanimous consent that i might submit this for the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Jones thank you. Mr. Speaker, both of these articles hold the same conclusion. The war in afghanistan is a misuse of american youth, american money and American Military power. It is time for the congress of the United States to face the fact that we have our own problems here in america. To send money, over 600 billion to afghanistan, to build roads, schools, utility plants so the taliban can blow them up makes no sense. It is time for little girls, like these two, to have their dadies at home and not have their daddies at home and not have their daddies in a coffin. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. Thank you for this opportunity. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california, ms. Matsui, for five minutes. Ms. Matsui thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the oneyear anniversary of superstorm sandy. Today, we remember those who lost their lives during this catastrophe and salute those who continue the rebuilding efforts. One year ago, sandy ravaged the east coast, producing devastating floods and widespread power outages, disrupting cellular phone networks and transit networks. As a whole, the renal suffered over 65 billion in economic losses. Families lost their homes, their precious momentos and reminders of their daily lives. Communities lost their businesses and tragically, some individuals lost their lives. While the east coast was a primary victim of sandy, extreme weather knows no boundaries. Other communities around our country are not immune from suffering the same fate. Floods, hurricanes, wildfires and droughts are becoming all too common, all too intense and all too costly. These events will continue to wreak economic havoc and uproot families unless we take meaningful action to address Climate Change. In california, Climate Change is increasing the frequency of extreme heat and prolonged drought, placing millions of californians at greater risk of Public Health threats such as heatrelated sickness, forest fires and water scarcity. At home, my constituents live under the constant threat of flooding, which is why i work relentlessly to strengthen our levees and upgrade our infrastructure. If extreme weather cause a levee to be breached in sacramento, the damage will be similar to that experience in new orleans. Mr. Speaker, events like sandy can happen anywhere. They dont just threaten the coast, but all communities and all states. Events like sandy can happen at anytime and are happening with alarming frequency. This was not an isolated event that happens every decade. We cannot continue to sit back and wait for the next disaster to happen pfer we take action. The before we take action. The time to act is not a year from now, not a month from now, not even a day from now. The time to act is today. We must implement preventative measures to make our communities more resilient and be proactive in addressing Climate Change, the root cause of extreme weather events. Only then will will we be able to will we be able to ensure that the legacy of sandy is one f action and not despair and procrastination. I yield back. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclintock, for five minutes. Mr. Speaker, over the past few weeks, its become obvious that we are watching nothing less than the collapse of the American Health care system. Millions of americans are losing their health mans and set adrift plans and set adrift where they cant find comparable, affordable policies. Few are signing up on the obamacare exchanges. How few, we dont know, because the numbers are so embarrassing the administration refuses to report them. There are published reports that some 80 of the signups are pushed into the medicaid system which is itself nearing functional collapse as doctors simply opt out. Those that are able to keep their health plans are seeing their premiums skyrocket to unaffordable extremes. Those who find affordable policies, often discover they are losing their trrs. Many employers are dropping their their doctors. Many employers are dropping their policies, laying off workers trying to cope with increased costs. A constituent of mine reports her employer cut her salary 23 as he tries to cope with obamacare costs. The obamacare website is a monument to governmental incompetence. This is a website designed to sell a single product thats been under development for more than three years at a taxpayer cost of more than 600 million, more than was spent to develop facebook or twitter, and it does not work. But thats not the big problem. Thats not the big problem. Todays problem is there are a lot fewer people with Health Insurance than when the Program Began less than one month ago. This is the disaster the republicans tried to prevent or at least to delay. But that disaster is now unfolding before our eyes with dire consequences for millions of americans. With all its flaws, the American Health care system was the finest in the world. It was the most innovative, the most advanced, the most adaptable, and the most responsive to the individual needs of patients. And now we are losing it. The one question i keep hearing is, what do the republicans propose . In fact, republicans have had a comprehensive alternative for years, spearheaded by dr. Tom price of georgia, and dr. Phil roe of tennessee, and sponsored by the republican study committee, this package would bring within the reach of every american a health plan that they could choose according to their own individual needs of their own families. That they could own and that they could control. But this package has never passed the house and its high time that it did. It extends the same tax breaks we currently give to companies to employees so they can afford to buy their own health care again, according to their own needs. It expands Health Savings accounts so people can meet their needs with pretax income. It restores to people the freedom to shop across state lines to find the best policies to suit their needs. It restores flexibility so that health plans can accommodate people with preexisting conditions, while expanding risk pools to provide for those conditions. It attacks cost drivers like medical Liability Law that are making health care unaffordable. It restores pricing flexibility to plans so a healthy young person can again purchase catastrophic insurance for next to nothing. It takes the best of the American Health care system, preserves it, and corrects its flaws. I realize the senates likely to bury this reform as it has so many, but its important that the house pass it so that the American People can see that there is still hope to save what was once the finest Health Care System in the world and can be again as soon as this favored dream of obamacare finally breaks. We have just been through a Government Shutdown because democrats refused even to consider delaying the obamacare train wreck. They got their way, and that train wreck is now upon us. I believe in the coming months the American People will recognize the urgent warnings that the republicans tried so desperately to convey. And theyll be looking for a way out. We need to blaze that trail now. For that reason i rise to ask the house leadership to bring the Republican Health care reforms to the floor, get them to the senate, and then let the American People decide. Mr. Speaker, freedom works. Its time we put it back to work. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer, for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. I started my day with my friend and colleague, dr. Phil roe, republican congressman from tennessee, we met with representatives from the American Academy of hospice and palliative medicine. These dedicated professionals deal with helping patients and their families contend with some of the most difficult circumstances any of us will ever face. Loved ones in pain, with difficult medical conditions at the end of life. We were discussing legislation that dr. Roe and i have cosponsored, the personalize your Health Care Act of 2013, h. R. 1173. Despite widespread agreement in principle that individuals should be fully involved with decisions related to their health care, too often this is not the reality. Most adults have not completed an advanced directive. If documents are completed, they are not regularly revisitted and can be difficult to locate when needed. Because these issues are difficult to discuss, often surrogates feel ill prepared to interpret their loved ones written wishes. These shortcomings leave families and Health Care Proxies faced with the burden of determining their loved ones wishes in the midst of crisis, adding greater stress and anxiety. One of the great misconceptions about advanced Care Planning is that its a onetime event. Attempting to plan for all the possibilities in a single document within a single conversation is both overwhelming and impossible. For advanced Care Planning to be successful, it must become less about legal documentation and more about facilitating ongoing communication about the future care wishes among individuals, their health care providers, and their family. This approach recognizes that documents like advanced directives and physician orders for Life Sustaining treatment are not the end but the means, the tools for documenting care preferences based on informed decisions that incorporate an individuals values, personal goals, and current circumstance. This process not only provides Higher Quality care, but personalized care. This is the right time to embrace this simple, commonsense reform. I stepped out of a hearing going on in ways and means about the Affordable Care act which has basically become a contest, ongoing soap opera, not an effort to fix the expensive Health Care System that too often delivers mediocre results but instead use it as a political tug of war. The personalize your Health Care Act