Mr. Speaker, democracy works best when the American electorate is engaged and informed. Melissa Bean More Quotes by Melissa Bean More Quotes From Melissa Bean If we want to truly regain the public's trust, we can provide greater accountability and transparency with a simple step. Let's start by communicating to our constituents about the votes we take. Melissa Bean accountability simple want Married couples who work together to build and maintain a business assume broad responsibilities. Not only is their work important to our local and national economies, but their success is central to the well-being of their families. Melissa Bean marriage couple love When I came to Congress, I came to bring what I thought was a real-world business perspective to government because, in the business world, I spent over 20 years in the high-tech industry, but it certainly was not unique. Melissa Bean technology unique real But in Congress, accountability is just a catch phrase, usually directed elsewhere. Demands to personal responsibility or corporate accountability abound, but rarely congressional accountability or fiscal responsibility. Melissa Bean accountability phrases responsibility The American people expect more from Congress. They expect fiscal responsibility and common sense. They expect us to return to the pay-as-you-go budget rules that we had enacted in the past that helped us establish a surplus, however briefly. Melissa Bean responsibility people past I am excited to rise today to support National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. This celebration honors the husband and wife business owner teams whose work helps drive the economy and fuel job growth. Melissa Bean husband mom jobs The budget enforcement rules of the 1990s were an important part of getting the budget back into balance. It was done on a bipartisan basis. Those pay-as-you-go rules were tested and they worked. We are now in a one-party system, and we have thrown them out. Melissa Bean balance party important Social security, bank account, and credit card numbers aren't just data. In the wrong hands they can wipe out someone's life savings, wreck their credit and cause financial ruin. Melissa Bean data numbers hands Many seventh graders I know in Illinois, as well as around the Nation, are studying the Constitution. I was pretty impressed with the quality of education our children are receiving because they had not expected me to ask them about it. Melissa Bean illinois quality children In fact, 80 percent of our domestic job growth comes from the small- and medium-sized business community. Melissa Bean growth community jobs Many of our constituents have one option for cable TV and one price. Our constituents desire choice. Melissa Bean cable-tv choices desire Reports also suggest that Ernst and Young and other large tax preparation firms are sending tax returns overseas for processing. But the IRS has no control over tax information once it's been sent to India or another country. Melissa Bean india preparation country Small businesses are the economic drivers of our country, providing the stimulus our communities need. Melissa Bean community country needs During a trip to Iraq last fall, I visited our theater hospital at Balad Air Force Base and witnessed these skilled medical professionals in action and met the brave soldiers whose lives they saved. Melissa Bean air travel fall Oftentimes, small business owners are unable to obtain reasonably priced financing and instead turn to higher priced forms of capital, such as credit cards. Melissa Bean small-business credit cards Under the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Program, homes are independently verified to be measurably more energy efficient than average houses. Melissa Bean agency stars home As part of my efforts to fight identity theft, I worked with my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee to strengthen consumer protection with a reasonable notification requirement. Melissa Bean effort fighting identity By overhauling current rules and speeding the entry of competitors in the market, we encourage competition and provide our constituents with new choices and cheaper bills. Melissa Bean competition bills choices Even the best data security systems can't protect private taxpayer information from entrepreneurial foreign businesses than can make huge profits selling U.S. taxpayer information. Melissa Bean security-systems data information Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation - especially in the suburbs. Melissa Bean growing crime identity
