| 00:00:01 | none | FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING AT 7:00 A.M. EASTERN. . [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.] |
| 00:03:33 | THE SPEAKER | THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY THE GUEST CHAPLAIN, REVEREND JOHN CROSBY, CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. |
| 00:03:45 | THE CHAPLAIN | LET'S PRAY. MAKER OF THE HEAVENS AND EARTH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER IN THIS PLACE THIS MORNING, IN FREEDOM OF BODY AND MIND AND SPIRIT. JUST AS WE'VE CELEBRATED THE BIRTH OF OUR FREEDOM, WE ASK YOU TO HELP US OFFER THAT SAME FREEDOM TO OTHERS. YOU SAID THAT IF ANY OF US LACKS WISDOM WE SHOULD ASK AND YOU'LL BE GENEROUS. SO WE ASK, NOT JUST DISCERN THE RIGHT BUT FOR THE WILL TO ACT ON WHAT WE DISCERN. I ASK YOU TO GIVE GRACE TO THE ONES WHO LEAD US, WHETHER THEY ARE SECURITY GUARDS OR SENATORS , CAFETERIA WORKERS DOWNSTAIRS OR THE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE FLOOR, WHETHER IT'S THE LADIES WHO CLEAN THE TOILETS AT NIGHT OR THE STAFF WHO WORK SO HARD BEHIND THE SCENES. I PRAY THAT THEY MIGHT BE BECOMING WOMEN AND MEN OF HUMILITY AND COURAGE, PRINCIPAL AND GENEROSITY, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRIALS. WE KEEP BEFORE US THE WELFARE MOM WHO LOOKS FOR ANY KIND OF HELP, THE TEACHER WHO CAN'T AFFORD $4 FOR GAS, THE BANKER WHO HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW NOT TO FORECLOSE ON A FRIEND, THE FARMER WHO LOOKS OUT AT HIS FIELDS AND WONDERS WHERE HELP WILL COME FROM. WE PRAY THAT THIS WILL BE A PLACE FOR THAT HELP. I THANK YOU FOR THE ONES WHO SERVED HERE FAITHFULLY ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, IN THE FIRES OF THE FOREST OR IN THESE HALLS AND IN A SPECIAL WAY, I ASK YOU TO GIVE SPECIAL PEACE TO THE ONES WHO HAVE SERVED AND NOW RETURN HOME, LIKE OUR BROTHER, JIM RAMSTAD. MAY HE RETURN WITH THE THANKS AND BLESSING OF GRATEFUL PEOPLE , AND MAY YOU HEAR HIS VOICE SAYING, WELL DONE, WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. FOR ALL WHO GATHER HERE TODAY, WE ASK YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR BLESSING. AMEN. |
| 00:05:59 | THE SPEAKER | THE CHAIR HAS EXAMINED THE JOURNAL OF THE LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HER APPROVAL THEREOF. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1, THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR. KIRK. |
| 00:06:16 | Kirk, Mark Steven | JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. |
| 00:06:32 | THE SPEAKER | WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, MR. RAMSTAD, IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:06:37 | Ramstad, James | MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. |
| 00:06:43 | THE SPEAKER | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:06:45 | Ramstad, James | MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S MY SPECIAL PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME TODAY'S GUEST CHAPLAIN, SENIOR PASTOR JOHN CROSBY OF CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR YOUR MOVING AND TIMELY PRAYER AND FOR SERVING AS GUEST CHAPLAIN TODAY. MADAM SPEAKER, THE REVEREND JOHN CROSBY IS A TRUE SERVANT LEADER WHO PERSONIFIES FAITH, COMPASSION AND SERVICE TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. HE'S A TRUE MAN OF GOD. PASTOR CROSBY HAS BEEN AT CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC AND VIBRANT FAITH COMMUNITIES IN THE TWIN CITIES SINCE 1989. JOHN AND HIS WIFE, LAURA, CAME TO MINNESOTA FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE THEY MINISTERED AT THE NATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. THEY HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, MAGGIE, WHO IS A JUNIOR AT DENVER UNIVERSITY, AND KATIE, WHO WORKED AS A CONGRESSIONAL INTERN IN MY WASHINGTON OFFICE AND IS NOW WORKING HERE IN WASHINGTON FOR BREAD FOR THE WORLD. KNOWING KATIE AS I DO, I CAN PERSONALLY TESTIFY TO THE WONDERFUL JOB THAT JOHN AND LAURA HAVE DONE IN RAISING THEIR OUTSTANDING DAUGHTERS, AND I'M PLEASED THAT LAURA AND KATIE ARE HERE TODAY IN THE SPEAKER'S GALLERY TO SEE THEIR HUSBAND AND FATHER DELIVER THE OPENING PRAYER. MADAM SPEAKER, PASTOR CROSBY IS A THOUGHTFUL AND CARING PERSON WHO APPLIES HIS FAITH TO DAILY LIFE AND THE MAJOR ISSUES OF THE DAY. HE'S VERY INTERESTED AND INVOLVED IN POLICY MATTERS, AND HE'S BEEN A TRUSTED ADVISOR THROUGHOUT MY 18 YEARS HERE IN CONGRESS. JOHN CROSBY ALSO HAS EXPERIENCED WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE FOR FORMER CHAPLAIN RICHARD HAVLEVSON. OUR TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY IS TRULY BLESSED BY PASTOR CROSBY'S STRONG AND PRINCIPALED LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS HIS INSPIRING COMMITMENT TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED. UNDER REVEREND CROSBY'S TENURE, THE YOUTH PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY AND HAS BEEN A GREAT ASSET, A GREAT RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE. I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN THAT YOUTH GROUP LOST ONE OF ITS OWN, A I DON'T THINK WOMAN, -- A YOUNG WOMAN, A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN AND 1,000 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THAT CHURCH GATHERED SPONTANEOUSLY SUNDAY NIGHT AT THAT CHURCH AND JOHN LED THEM IN PRAYER. PASTOR CROSBY IS A MAN OF GOD WHO LIVES OUT THE BIP I WILLCAL COMMAND TO LOVE -- BIBLICAL COMMAND TO LOVE GOD AND THOSE AMONGST US. I'M PROUD AND GRATEFUL TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND. THANK YOU, AGAIN, JOHN, FOR SERVING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TODAY AND FOR DOING THE LORD'S WORK HERE ON EARTH EACH AND EVERY DAY. |
| 00:09:43 | THE SPEAKER | THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO 15 ONE-MINUTE REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE -- ON EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE? |
| 00:09:54 | >> | TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. |
| 00:09:58 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:10:01 | Israel, Steve | THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. MADAM SPEAKER, MR. SPEAKER'S TODAY'S ENERGY FACTS VERSUS FICTION VOLUME 2. ACCORDING TO AN INSTITUTE, AT $137 PER BARREL OF OIL, OPEC COULD OWE PENSIONLY BUY THE BANK OF AMERICA WITHIN FIVE WEEKS OF PRODUCTION REVENUES. APPLE COMPUTERS WITHIN 12 DAYS. GENERAL MOTORS WITHIN FIVE DAYS. AND IT WOULD TAKE 2 1/2 YEARS FOR OPEC TO BUY A 20% BLOCKING VOTE IN EVERY S & P 500 COMPANY. FACT. THE ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET SLASHES $467 MILLION FROM ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY ACCOUNTS. THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ADDED $1.2 BILLION. IT IS A MUCH BETTER INVESTMENT, MADAM SPEAKER, TO ADD $1.2 MILLION THAN TO GIVE AWAY THE BANK OF AMERICA, APPLE COMPUTER AND GENERAL MOTORS TO THE SAUDIS. WE NEED AN ENERGY POLICY THAT INVESTS IN AMERICAN INGENUITY, NOT SAUDI ARABIA OIL PROFITS. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 00:11:01 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS RISE? |
| 00:11:07 | >> | I RISE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND. |
| 00:11:11 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:11:14 | Kirk, Mark Steven | MR. SPEAKER, HOURS AGO, IRAN FIRED NINE LONG-RANGE MISSILES, INCLUDING THE IMPROVED THREE THAT COULD HIT THE STATE OF ISRAEL. IT'S TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES TO OFFER FULL BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSES FOR ISRAEL. DEMOCRACIES ARE BEST WHEN THEY STICK TOGETHER, AND WE JOIN 10 YEARS AGO WITH THE U.S. ARMY AND ISRAELI MILITARY TO BUILD A MEDIUM ARROW MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM. BUT WHAT GOOD IT OFFERS ISRAEL ONLY A DEFENSE IN THE LAST MINUTE. THREE YEARS AGO, WE GAVE ISRAEL EYES IN THE SKY, EARLY WARNING DATA THAT GAVE HER WARNING TIME AN INCREASE FROM ONE MINUTE TO 11. NOW, IN THE FACE OF THE RAPIDLY GROWING IRANIAN THREAT, THE G.H. TO THINK ABOUT SANCTIONS, LIKE A GASOLINE QUARANTINE BECAUSE THEY'RE DEPENDENT ON HALF ITS GAS FROM FOREIGN TANKERS, MOST OF WHICH ARE INSURED BY THE LORDS OF LONDON. AND WE CAN WORK WITH THE BRITISH ON THAT. WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF 70 DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE KIRK-HARMAN LETTER TO OFFER FULL BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSES FOR ISRAEL. OUR DEFENSES HAVE FIVE TIMES THE RANGE OF ISRAEL'S AND CAN DO THE MOST TO LOWER THE RISING TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. |
| 00:12:18 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA RISE? |
| 00:12:23 | >> | TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:12:26 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:12:28 | Ellison, Keith | MR. SPEAKER, MIDDLE-INCOME AMERICANS ARE PAYING A HIGH PRICE FOR THE BUSH ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT HAS TAKEN US DEEP INTO DEBT AND ECONOMIC RECESSION. WHILE THE PRICE OF GROCERIES, GAS, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE HAVE ALL GONE UP, THE PURCHASING POWER OF MIDDLE-INCOME SALARY HAS ACTUALLY FALLEN OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY, REPUBLICANS AND PRESIDENT BUSH CONTINUE TO DEFEND THE STATUS QUO, REFUSING, REFUSING TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO HELP MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES FEELING THE ECONOMIC SQUEEZE. HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE WORKING ON NEW SOLUTIONS FOR IMMEDIATE -- TO DEAL WITH THIS IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND FOR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC RECOVERY. WE LOOK TO HELP INSURANCE BENEFITS SO WORKERS CAN RECEIVE IMPORTANT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHILE THEY LOOK FOR JOBS IN THESE TRYING ECONOMIC TEAMS. WE HAVE ALSO PASSED LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE NATION'S HOUSING CRISIS SO THAT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL NOT BE FORCED INTO FORECLOSURE THIS COMING YEAR. MR. SPEAKER, HOUSE DEMOCRATS ALSO SUPPORT A SECOND ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN, AND WE HOPE WE CAN GET SOME REPUBLICANS SUPPORT. |
| 00:13:39 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA RISE |
| 00:13:43 | >> | TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND. |
| 00:13:47 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:13:50 | Hayes, Robin | MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT GAS PRICES AND ENERGY. SPECIFICALLY A LACK OF DOING ANYTHING IN CONGRESS. THE REALITY IS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING BUT WE'RE NOT. MR. SPEAKER, ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS, THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO STOP A VOTE ON OPENING MORE OF THE OIL AND GAS RESERVES AVAILABLE IN THIS NATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENTIRE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS MIGHT BE STOPPED RATHER THAN HAVING A VOTE ON USING OUR RESOURCES SO WE AREN'T SO DEPENDENT ON OPEC. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MAYBE IT'S BEING CAPTIVE TO THE EXTREME ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBY OR MAYBE IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY TO BRING GAS PRICES DOWN. WHAT I DO KNOW, MR. SPEAKER, IS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS HOUSE IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO STOP A VIABLE SOLUTION. THAT'S WRONG. I IMPLORE THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP TO LET REAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS TO COME UP FOR A VOTE AND GET GAS PRICES DOWN. THANK YOU. . DOWN. |
| 00:14:53 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE RISE? |
| 00:15:00 | Shea-Porter, Carol | ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:15:03 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:15:06 | Shea-Porter, Carol | GAS PRICES ARE AROUND $4 AND AMERICANS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING MONEY TO GO TO THE STORE. THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS HELPED ONLY ONE GROUP, BIG OIL. THEY'RE DOING JUST FINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE MOVING AMERICA IN A NEW DIRECTION TOWARDS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE. WE RAISED THE MILES PER GALLON REQUIREMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS AND PUTTING MONEY INTO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, REQUIRING ENERGY EFFICIENCY APPLIANCES AND CREATING GREEN JOBS. WE ARE DEMANDING OIL COMPANIES DRILL NOW. THERE ARE 68 MILLION ACRES OF LAND THAT THEY COULD DRILL ON AND HAVE THE PERMITS AND NEED TO GET TO WORK NOW. LAST MONTH, HOUSE REPUBLICANS COULD HAVE JOINED US IN SENDING A STRONGES MESSAGE TO OIL COMPANIES TO START DRILLING, BUT INSTEAD HOUSE REPUBLICANS ONCE AGAIN SIDED WITH BIG OIL AND PRESIDENT BUSH. MR. SPEAKER, THE OIL COMPANIES NEED TO USE THOSE PERMITS OR LOSE THOSE PERMITS. AMERICANS WANT OIL COMPANIES TO GET TO WORK NOW AND STOP PLAYING POLITICS. |
| 00:16:08 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS RISE? |
| 00:16:14 | >> | ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:16:18 | Granger, Kay | HOUSE REPUBLICANS SET FORTH AN ENERGY AGENDA FACING THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN, HIGH PRICE OF GASOLINE. IT IS COSTING HARD WORKING FAMILIES AN AVERAGE OF $4.11, THAT'S A $1.70 MORE THAN IT WAS IN JANUARY OF TWEMP, WITH NO RELIEF IN SIGHT. SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES HAVE TAKEN A TOLL ON ALMOST EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. FAMILIES ARE HAVING TO ADJUST BY TIGHTENING BUDGETS AND TRIMMING FAMILY VACATIONS AND SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE THE ONE IN MY DISTRICT ARE WATCHING THEIR PROFIT SHRINK WHILE MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS WHILE EXPANDING THEIR COMPANIES BEING ABLE TO MAKE THEIR PAYROLL. HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE A PLAN THAT WILL INCREASE AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE WAY. OUR PLAN WILL PROMOTE, NEW, CLEAN AND RELIABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY WHILE CUTTING RED TAPE AND INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF AMERICAN-MADE FUEL AND ENERGY. OUR PLAN INCREASES ENERGY EFFICIENCY BY OFFERING CONSERVATION TAX INCENTIVES TO AMERICANS WHO MAKE THEIR HOME, CARS AND BUSINESSES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. HOUSE REPUBLICANS STAND WILLING TO HELP AMERICAN FAMILIES COMBAT THE HIGH COST OF ENERGY. I ENJOY MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO JOIN US. |
| 00:17:36 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM RISE? |
| 00:17:40 | >> | ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. |
| 00:17:45 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:17:47 | MS. SANCHEZ | I URGE THE PRESIDENT TO RECONSIDER HIS VETO OF H.R. 6331, THE BROADLY SUPPORTED MEDICARE IMPROVEMENTS LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED BY THIS HOUSE ON JUNE 24. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE OTHER BODY TAKES QUICK ACTION TO PASS THIS RESPONSIBLE LEGISLATION. THE MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES AND VETERANS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN TRICARE ARE DEPENDING ON THIS PHYSICIAN-PAYMENT FIX BECOMING LAW. IF THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT PASSED INTO LAW, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO VISIT THEIR PHYSICIANS AND RECEIVE THE REGULAR QUALITY CARE THAT THEY RELY ON. I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PAY-FOR IN THIS LEGISLATION. HOWEVER, THIS CONGRESS AND THIS GOVERNMENT CANNOT CONTINUE TO PASS THE BUCK ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WHENEVER WE ARE FACED WITH DIFFICULT CHOICES. I BELIEVE WE HAVE FOUND A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO PAY FOR THE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT FIX THAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES. AGAIN, I URGE THE PRESIDENT TO RESCIND HIS VETO. |
| 00:18:53 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA RISE? |
| 00:19:02 | MR. WILSON | PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE AND REVISE AND EXTEND. |
| 00:19:07 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:19:09 | Wilson, Joe | AMERICA HAS 175 TRILLION CUBIC FEET OF NATURAL GAS AND 1.1 TRILLION BARRELS OF OIL THAT IS OFF LIMITS TO EXPLORATION. IN ANWR ALONE, THERE IS AN ESTIMATED 10.4 BILLION BARRELS OF OIL. CURRENTLY, 85% OF THE LOWER 48 OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ENERGY RESOURCES REMAIN UNDER THE LOCK AND KEY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ONLY 6% OF THE 700 MILLION ACRES OF FEDERALLY-OWNED SUBSURFACE MINERAL ESTATE HAS BEEN LEASED FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION. THE ESTIMATED FEDERAL REVENUE THAT WOULD BE GENERATED BY OPENING UP THESE LANDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OFF LIMITS TO LEASING IS UPWARDS OF $60 TRILLION. AMERICAN SUPPORT EXPLORING FOR THESE RESOURCES AND BREAKING AMERICA'S DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL. HOUSE REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR AN ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY PLAN THAT WILL PRODUCE MORE AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY WHILE INVESTING IN AN ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND PROMOTING CONSERVATION. IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET SEPTEMBER 11. |
| 00:20:17 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA RISE? |
| 00:20:23 | >> | PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:20:26 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION.. |
| 00:20:28 | Baca, Joe | CONGRESS CAME BACK THIS WEEK CELEBRATING OUR NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY. THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME TO REFLECT ON AMERICA'S HISTORY CONTRIBUTIONS TO WHAT IT STANDS FOR. SINCE AMERICA STRIVED ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANT LABOR FORCES. THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANT LABOR FORCES TO OUR SOCIETY ARE UNNOTICED. HARD WORKING FAMILIES CONTRIBUTE DAILY AND PAY THEIR SHARE AND MOTHERS WORK THREE JOBS, TAKE OVERTIME, NIGHT SHIFT TO FEED AND CLOTH THEIR CHILDREN. HARD-WORKING FATHERS WAKE UP AT 4:00 A.M. TO GO TO WORK, EARN MINIMUM WAGES AND MANAGE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE IN TAXES FROM THEIR PAYCHECKS THROUGH SHOPPING IN A VARIETY OF STORES, RESTAURANTS AND GAS STATIONS. BETWEEN 1996 AND 2003, IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTED $50 BILLION IN FEDERAL TAXES. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO IGNORE THE FIGURES AND IGNORE THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRATIONS TO AMERICA. WE NEED POSITIVE COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION. |
| 00:21:33 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE? |
| 00:21:38 | Keller, Ric | ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. I ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES. WE MUST REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL. OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE STRAIGHT TALK AND HERE IT IS. THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AT THE PUMP IS CRUDE OIL. CRUDE OIL IS A COMMODITY GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND. THEREFORE, WE MUST REDUCE OUR DEMAND AND INCREASE OUR SUPPLY. WE SHOULD REDUCE OUR DEMAND BY HAVING TAX INCENTIVES FOR HYBRIDS, RAISING FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND INVESTING IN ALTERNATIVE RENEWABLE SOURCES, WIND, SOLAR, BIOMASS AND NUCLEAR. WE MUST INCREASE OUR DOMESTIC SUPPLY OF OIL. WE CAN DO THAT BY DRILLING IN ALASKA, DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND BUILDING MORE REFINERIES. THE STRAIGHT TALK IS WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH OF MORE DRILLING AND CONSERVATION TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM ENERGY INDEPENDENCE. I YIELD BACK. |
| 00:22:34 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE? |
| 00:22:38 | >> | ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR FIVE MINUTES. |
| 00:22:41 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:22:43 | Payne, Donald | MR. SPEAKER, EVERY MONTH THIS YEAR, THE BUSH ECONOMY HAS LOST MORE JOBS THAN IT HAS CREATED. IN JUNE, 62,000 JOBS FOR LST, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF 428,000 JOBS LOST. YET PRESIDENT BUSH AND SOME IN WASHINGTON REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO CONTEND THAT OUR ECONOMY IS NOT IN A RECESSION. THESE JOB NUMBERS WERE PARTICULARLY DEVASTATING TO THE 3.8 MILLION WORKERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO FIND NEW WORK. IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A JOB WHEN THE ECONOMY IS SIMPLY NOT PRODUCING THEM. THAT'S WHY THE DEMOCRATS FOUGHT HARD TO PASS LEGISLATION TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 13 WEEKS TO MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN HURT BY PRESIDENT BUSH'S ECONOMIC POLICIES. THIS MONEY WILL ALLOW WORKERS IN MY HOME STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR A JOB. EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW DEMOCRATS ARE CHANGING THE WAY BUSINESS IS DONE IN WASHINGTON. |
| 00:23:50 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | JARKS FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE? |
| 00:23:55 | >> | UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR MONEY MINUTE. |
| 00:24:00 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:24:03 | Miller, Candice | THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BEGGING THIS CONGRESS TO ACT ON THE ENERGY CRISIS AND ALL WE'VE HEARD FROM THE MAJORITY ARE EXCUSES FOR WHY WE CANNOT ACCESS OUR OWN DOMESTIC SUPPLIES OF ENERGY. THEY SAY WE CANNOT DRILL IN THE AND L ANWR, THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT CARIBOU HAVE FLOURISHED SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PIPELINE. THEY SAY WE CANNOT DRILL OFFSHORE BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS. THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT PLATFORMS IN DEMRUSM HAVE SURVIVED HURRICANES WITH NO ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. THE MAJORITY CONTINUES TO OFFER EXCUSE AFTER EXCUSE BUT OFFERS NOTHING TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMERS WHO WANT SOME RELIEF AT THE PUMP. WITH GAS PRICES GOING TO $4 A GALLON AND RISING, THE TIME FOR EXCUSES IS OVER. IT IS TIME FOR ACTION. MANY OF US SAW THIS COMING AND TRIED TO EXPAND AT HOME. IT IS TIME FOR THE MAJORITY TO RECOGNIZE THIS FACT AND SHOW MORE CONCERN FOR THE AMERICAN CONSUMERS THAN THEY HAVE FOR THE CARIBOU. I YIELD BACK. |
| 00:25:04 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT RISE? |
| 00:25:09 | Courtney, Joseph "Joe" D. | ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:25:12 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:25:14 | Courtney, Joseph "Joe" D. | YESTERDAY, BILL FROM GROTON CALLED IN ON A RADIO SHOW AND INFORMED US TO LOCK IN FOR NEXT WINTER IN CONNECTICUT COSTS NOW $5.80 A GALLON. WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE HARDSHIP OF HIGH GAS PRICES. IF HOME HEATING OIL STAYS AT THOSE LEVELS, THERE WILL BE A CATASTROPHE IN TERMS OF KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD THOSE PRICES. ALL OF THE PROPOSALS WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE OTHER SIDE WILL TAKE 20 YEARS. PEOPLE NEED RELIEF NOW. IF PRESIDENT BUSH, WITH ONE STROKE OF THE PEN RELEASE OIL FROM THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVES, WE WOULD HAVE MORE OIL INTO THE MARKET IN 13 DAYS. THAT'S THE SHORT-TERM RELIEF THAT CONSUMERS PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY NEED IF THEY ARE GOING TO SURVIVE THIS WINTER. WE DOUBLED THE ASSISTANCE. THE BUSH PLAN WOULD HAVE CUT ENERGY ASSISTANCE INCREDIBLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT THESE PRICES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF. WE NEED DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM RELIEF AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR THE AMERICAN FUTURE. |
| 00:26:22 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES GENTLEWOMAN RISE? |
| 00:26:29 | Drake, Thelma D. | MY CONSTITUENTS FEELS THE CURRENT ENERGY CRISIS. I HAVE HEARD THEY CAN'T FILL THEIR TANKS AND NOT DOING ANY EXTRAS, NOT GOING OUT TO EAT OR THE MOVIES OR ON VACATION. LAST WEEK, A YOUNG WOMAN SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN ASKED ME TO MAKE SURE THAT GAS IS NOT $5 A GALLON WHEN SHE RETURNS HOME. REPEATEDLY, PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME TO DRILL NOW. AND YET, WITH ALL THIS FRUSTRATION AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP OF THIS CONGRESS REFUSES TO BRING LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR THAT ADDRESSES THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. INCREASING DOMESTIC SUPPLY NOW, DROPPING GAS PRICES NOW, WHILE WE MOVE TO THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES OF THE FUTURE. THIS WEEK, CONGRESS WILL CONSIDER DOZENS OF SUSPENSIONS, A BILL CONCERNING THE PRESERVATION OF WHITE HOUSE E-MAILS, A BILL CREATING A NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL IN NEW YORK AND A BILL CREATING A NEW SECTION OF NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS IN MASSACHUSETTS, NOTHING TO LOWER GAS PRICES. THANK YOU. |
| 00:27:36 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA RISE? |
| 00:27:43 | Altmire, Jason | PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:27:47 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:27:49 | Altmire, Jason | CONGRESS CONTINUES TO TAKE ACTION IN EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REDUCE THE PRICE OF GAS AT THE PUMP. BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION THIS CONGRESS PASSED LAST WEEK -- AS OF LAST WEEK, THERE ARE OVER 70,000 MORE BARRELS OF OIL PER DAY EVERY DAY THAT ARE GOING INTO THE MARKET INSTEAD OF THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE. AND DURING THE LAST WEEK, THE PRICE OF OIL PER BARREL WENT DOWN. WE ALSO APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT GIVES U.S. AUTHORITIES THE ABILITY TO PROSECUTE ANTICOMPETITIVE CONDUCT COMMITTED BY INTERNATIONAL CARTELS LIKE OPEC THAT MANIPULATE THE PRICE OF OIL. WE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT INVESTS IN BIOFUELS, RATHER THAN CORPORATE WELFARE FOR BIG OIL. ENERGY EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT BIOFUEL BLENDS ARE KEEPING THE PRICE OF GAS APPROXIMATELY 15% LOWER THAN IT WOULD OTHER WISE BE RIGHT NOW. THIS CONGRESS HAS TAKEN ACTION TO ADDRESS THE SKYROCKETING PRICE OF GAS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND REAL SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN POINTING FINGERS AND CASTING BLAME. |
| 00:28:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE? |
| 00:28:50 | Poe, Ted | PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:28:53 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:28:56 | Poe, Ted | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, CIVILIANS KEITH, STEVE AND MARK HAVE BEEN HELD HOSTAGE IN CHAINS IN COLOMBIA. THEIR CAPTAINORS WERE FARC. THE THREE CAPTAINTIVES LIVED IN FEAR AND SQUALLOR ALONG WITH OTHER HOSTAGES. THEY WERE HELD LONGER THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN CITIZENS CURRENTLY BEING HELD CAPTIVE IN THE WORLD AND HAD FIVE YEARS OF THEIR LIVES STOLEN FROM THEM. DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THEY WERE UNAWARE OF MOST WORLD EVENTS, THE INVASION OF IRAQ, HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA, RED SOX WINNING THE WORLD SERIES, GAS PRICES TRIPLING AND THE ROSE BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP. FARC IS AN INSURGENT TERRORIST GROUP THAT FUNDS ITS ACTIVITIES BY WORKING WITH THE DRUG CARTELS AND KIDNAPPING PEOPLE AND HOLDING THEM FOR RAN SOME. THANKS FOR THE PEOPLE OF COLOMBIA, THREE AMERICANS AND OTHERS WERE RESCUED IN A COVERT OPERATION. WE ARE GLAD THE AMERICANS ARE HOME AND OUR GRATITUDE GOES TO THE PEOPLE OF COLOMBIA. AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. |
| 00:30:03 | Klein, Ron | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE? . MR. KLEIN AREA TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. THE STANDDOWN HOUSE AND ITS DEDICATED STAFF PROVIDES SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, COUNSELING AND JOB TRAINING. THESE HONORABLE SERVICEMEN HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES AND NEED A PLACE TO STAY AND TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK. MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE OVER 200,000 HOMELESS VETERANS IN AMERICA TODAY AND UP TO 2,000 IN PALM BEACH COUNTY ALONE WHERE I LIVE. WE MUST NOT TURN OUR BACKS ON ANY ONE OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS. I COMMEND THE STANDDOWN HOUSE. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 00:30:55 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA RISE? |
| 00:31:03 | >> | PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND. |
| 00:31:06 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:31:09 | Pitts, Joseph | IN A STORY YESTERDAY, A DEMOCRAT STAFFER IS QUOTED AS SAYING, "HOUSE DEMOCRATS STRATEGY ON THE ISSUE OF SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES IS TO, QUOTE, DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND, END QUOTE. WHAT A TERRIBLY INSULTING IDEA TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO SUFFER AS THE PRICE OF GAS SOARS OVER $4 A GALLON. THE TRUTH IS I KNOW THERE ARE PLENTY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO WOULD SUPPORT REASONABLE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO INCREASE AMERICAN PRODUCTION OF OIL HERE AT HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP CONTROLS THE FLOOR AGENDA, AND THE SAME ARTICLE NOTES THAT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IS TERRIFIED THEIR MEMBERS MIGHT ACTUALLY SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD OPEN UP EXPLORATION IN THE DEEP WATERS OFF OUR COAST OR IN ANWR. IT'S TIME FOR THE SPEAKER TO LET THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY DO THEIR JOB AND REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENTS' DESIRES AND DRILL FOR AMERICAN OIL. WHEN WILL THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE HEAR THE CRIES FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC? I YIELD BACK. |
| 00:32:13 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE? |
| 00:32:18 | Castor, Katherine "Kathy" Anne | TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:32:21 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:32:24 | Castor, Katherine "Kathy" Anne | MR. SPEAKER, WE'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO IMPROVE MEDICARE FOR AMERICA'S SENIORS. IN FACT, ON JUNE 24, THE DEMOCRATIC LED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED BY A LARGE BIPARTISAN MARGIN, 355-59, CRITICAL MEDICARE LEGISLATION. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BEING BLOCKED BY THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE CAPITOL. I URGE THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICANS IN THE OTHER BODY TO STOP SIDING WITH PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES AND INSTEAD JOIN US IN STANDING UP FOR FAMILIES WHO RELY ON MEDICARE. OUR MEDICARE BILL IS CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF OUR NEIGHBORS. IT HELPS ENSURE THAT SENIORS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND THE DOCTOR OF THEIR CHOICE. HEALTH CARE FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES AND RETIREES IS ALSO LINKED TO OUR MEDICARE BILL. AND THE MILITARY OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION IS CALLING ON THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICANS TO END THEIR OPPOSITION. OUR LEGISLATION CUTS OVERPAYMENTS AND WASTEFUL SUBSIDIES TO PRIVATE MANAGED CARE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND REDIRECTS THESE RESOURCES WHERE THEY BELONG, THE HEALTH OF OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. |
| 00:33:31 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA RISE? |
| 00:33:37 | Foxx, Virginia | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:33:42 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:33:45 | Foxx, Virginia | THANK YOU. MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO, THEN MINORITY LEADER NANCY PELOSI PROMISED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT DEMOCRATS HAD A, "COMMONSENSE PLAN TO LOWER GAS PRICES." WELL, WE ARE NOW OVER $4 A GALLON, UP MORE THAN 76% SINCE DEMOCRATS TOOK CONGRESS. IT'S CLEAR THAT PLAN NEVER MATERIALIZED. AMERICAN FAMILIES, TRUCK DRIVERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS DESERVE ACTION FROM WASHINGTON, NOT MORE BROKEN DEMOCRAT PROMISES. THEY DESERVE REAL SOLUTIONS, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE TO OFFER. INITIATIVES THAT WILL MAKE US LESS DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN NATIONS FOR ENERGY WILL CREATE JOBS HERE AT HOME AND WILL GROW THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. IN ORDER TO PUT US ON A PATH TOWARDS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, WE MUST INCREASE THE PRODUCTION OF OUR VAST AMOUNT OF RESOURCES IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANNER WHILE ENCOURAGING CONSERVATION. WE MUST CONTINUE TO INVEST IN RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES. WE MUST ALSO INCREASE OUR NUCLEAR CAPACITY TOO. IT'S TIME FOR REAL SOLUTIONS, MR. SPEAKER, NOT MORE BROKEN PROMISES FROM THE DEMOCRATS. I YIELD BACK. |
| 00:34:44 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS RISE? |
| 00:34:51 | McGovern, James | I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:34:54 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:34:57 | McGovern, James | MR. SPEAKER, THIS FALL THE RISING COST OF FOOD WILL BE FELT BY SCHOOLS FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO HAWAII. AN IMPACT THAT WILL SEVERELY STRAIN THE BUDGETS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THIS GREAT LAND. TODAY, CHAIRMAN GEORGE MILLER AND THE EDUCATION LABOR COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A HEARING ON THE RISING COST OF FOOD AND THE IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS. SADLY, HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES MAY BE SCRAPPED FOR CHEAPER, LESS NUTRITIOUS FOOD. AFTER-SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS MAY BE SCALED BACK OR LIMITED. OUR KIDS WILL PAY THE PRICE. THERE'S NO EASY ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE CANNOT LET THIS FOOD PRICE CRISIS RESULT IN OUR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN GOING WITHOUT FOOD SIMPLY BECAUSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS STRUGGLE WITH THESE RISING GAS PRICES. I COMMEND CHAIRMAN MILLER FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORK WITH HIM ON THIS ISSUE. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 00:35:43 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM TENNESSEE RISE? |
| 00:35:51 | Blackburn, Marsha | TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. |
| 00:35:55 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:35:58 | Blackburn, Marsha | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK AND I HAD A WONDERFUL WEEK IN MY SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN TENNESSEE, GREAT DISTRICT THAT HAS RURAL AREAS, SUBURBAN AND METROPOLITAN AREAS. AND EVERYWHERE I WENT PEOPLE WERE SAYING, WHAT IS CONGRESS GO TO DO RIGHT NOW TO GET THE PRICE DOWN AT THE PUMP? WELL, MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW THIS AFFECTS EVERY FAMILY EVERY DAY, THE PRICE AT THE PUMP, THEY ALSO KNOW IT'S AN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE ISSUE AND, YES, INDEED, THEY DO KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE OF NATIONAL SECURITY. YET, THE DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP OF THIS HOUSE DOESN'T WANT TO DO ONE THING ON DEBATING THIS ISSUE. WELL, WE HAVE SOME BILLS THAT ARE IN THERE. HOW ABOUT, MR. SPEAKER, IF WE DEBATE H.R. 3089, A BILL TO PROMOTE DOMESTIC OIL, NATURAL GAS AND NUCLEAR ENERGY PRODUCTION? OR THERE'S H.R. 5984, TO OFFER INCENTIVES FOR CLEAN ENERGY PRODUCTION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY. THE DEMOCRATS' SOLUTION SEEMS TO BE ILL-ADVISED, JUST TAKE A BUS, DRIVE A BIKE OR WALK IF YOU CAN. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR TENNESSEANS IN MY SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. THEY WANT REAL SOLUTIONS NOW. I YIELD BACK. |
| 00:37:03 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE? |
| 00:37:09 | MS. WATERS | TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:37:12 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:37:14 | Watson, Diane | AMERICANS CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE PAIN AT THE GAS PUMP DUE TO OUTDATED POLICIES. PRESIDENT BUSH'S ENERGY STRATEGY WAS LITERALLY WRITTEN OFF -- WAS WRITTEN BY THE OIL COMPANIES. GIVE MORE PUBLIC RESOURCES TO THE SAME OIL COMPANIES THAT ARE RAKING IN RECORD PROFITS WHILE AMERICANS ARE REELING FROM RECORD PRICES. EVERY DAY WE HEAR HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEMANDING THE NEED FOR MORE DOMESTIC DRILLING IN ORDER TO REDUCE GAS PRICES. WHAT WE DON'T HEAR IS ANYONE ON THAT SIDE OF THE AISLE DEMANDING THAT BIG OIL DRILL ON THE 68 MILLION ACRES OF LAND THEY ARE SITTING ON REFUSING TO DEVELOP. LEGISLATION ON THE FLOOR TODAY WILL FORCE THOSE OIL COMPANIES TO PRODUCE OIL AND GAS OR DILIGENTLY DEVELOP THE 68 MILLION ACRES OF PUBLIC LANDS THEY ALREADY HAVE. OTHERWISE THEY WILL LOSE THE LEASES. EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT THESE RESERVES COULD HAVE 8.5 MILLION GALLONS OF OIL. |
| 00:38:25 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE? |
| 00:38:30 | Wolf, Frank R. | TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:38:32 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:38:35 | Wolf, Frank R. | THE GERMAN PASTOR THAT STOOD UP TO THE NAZIS SAID -- THIS CONGRESS IS FAILING TO SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND FAILING TO SERVE OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE MORE THAN 53 TRILLION IN UNFUNDED LIABILITY AND $9 TRILLION A DAY. CHINA, WHO VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, HOLDS OUR DEBT. THE SAUDIS, WHO FUND RADICAL WITH A HABBYISM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, HOLDS OUR DEBT. STANDARD & POORS PREDICTS THE LOSS OF TRIPLE-A BOND RATING AS EARLY AS 2012. IT'S A BLEAK SCENARIO WHAT THE 110TH CONGRESS WANTS TO LEAVE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. IF THE ELEMENT TEST OF A MORAL SOCIETY IS THE KIND OF WORLD THAT LEAVES TO ITS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, THIS CONGRESS IS FAILING MISERABLELY. CONGRESSMAN COOPER AND I HAVE, THE SAFE COMMISSION THAT HAS 105 CO-SPONSORS, THAT WOULD PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE, ENTITLEMENTS AND TAX POLICIES IN ORDER TO REIN IN FEDERAL SPENDING. IF WE COULD COME TOGETHER, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, WE COULD ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE DAY WHEN CHINA AND SAUDI ARABIA -- |
| 00:39:41 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON RISE? |
| 00:39:47 | Blumenauer, Earl | TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:39:49 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:39:52 | Blumenauer, Earl | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S AMAZE -- IT'S AMUSING TO LISTEN TO MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO TALK ABOUT HIGH ENERGY PRICES. THE FACT IS OUR FRIENDS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE CONTROLLED EVERYTHING, BY AND LARGE, FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. THEY PASSED AN ENERGY BILL IN 2005, WHICH WAS A PERFECT ENERGY BILL FOR THE 1950'S. NOTHING THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING IN TERMS OF DRAINING AMERICA BY OPENING UP MORE DRILLING WILL NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR EIGHT TO 12 MORE YEARS, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS. WE HAVE 68 MILLION ACRES NOW THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE. IT'S INTERESTING THAT AFTER THEY BLOCKED, EVEN A STUDY OF IMPROVED OIL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR OUR VEHICLES, WE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, IMPROVED THOSE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. WE'RE STOPPING COMPETITION WITH THE OIL COMPANIES BY TAKING OIL IN THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM PRESERVE -- RESERVE. WE HAD TO PASS LEGISLATION TO DO THAT. NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT SQUEEZING SPECULATORS A LITTLE BIT. THERE ARE RANGERS OF CHOICES TO HELP COMMUTERS COMPETE NOW. IT'S TIME FOR US TO TALK HONESTLY ABOUT THE OPTIONS AND WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. |
| 00:41:02 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA RISE? |
| 00:41:08 | >> | REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:41:12 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:41:14 | Inglis, Bob | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF ECONOMIC BAD NEWS AROUND. TROUBLES HERE AND THERE, AND WE'VE HAD OUR SHARE OF THOSE IN THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. BUT THERE ARE SOME BRIGHT SPOTS AND THOSE ARE VERY MUCH WORTH CELEBRATING. FLURA CORPORATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA HAS GONE FROM 2,500 IN 2003 TO 5,400 TODAY. AN ADDITIONAL 3,200 PROJECT-BASED WORKERS HELP IN PROJECTS AROUND GREENVILLE. FLORA IS LOOKING FOR 200 TO 300 ENGINEERS TO COME HELP WITH SIGNIFICANT NEW PROJECTS THAT THEY'VE WON ALL AROUND THE WORLD. IN FACT, THEIR GROWTH HAS BEEN SO SIGNIFICANT, THEY'VE BEEN A MAJOR CAUSE IN THE DROP OF VACANCY RATE IN CLASS A OFFICE SPACE IN DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, GOING FROM 11% TO 9%. THAT'S IMPRESSIVE, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S WORTH CELEBRATING. AND ESPECIALLY WORTH CELEBRATING IS THE FACT THAT FLORA WILL NOW BE TAKING OVER THE CONTRACT AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE WHERE FOR OVER 50 YEARS WE'VE BEEN STORING HYDROGEN THAT WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO STORE HYDROGEN AND BREAK THROUGH THE HYDROGEN ECONOMY. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. |
| 00:42:28 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MINNESOTA RISE? |
| 00:42:33 | Bachmann, Michele M. | I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE WITH PERMISSION TO REVISE AND EXTEND. |
| 00:42:38 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:42:40 | Bachmann, Michele M. | I THINK WE ARE AT A REFRESHING POINT IN CLARITY IN ENERGY DEBATE BECAUSE THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE LEARNED IS THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND LOWER ENERGY PRICES AT THE PUMP IS THE DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED CONGRESS. THEY'VE MADE THEIR POSITION VERY CLEAR. IT IS DRIVE LESS AND PAY MORE OR, AS WE HEARD YESTERDAY, DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND. OR THE OTHER SUGGESTION WE'VE HEARD IS THE CONGRESS HAS DONE SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB RUNNING A RAILROAD. NOW LET'S HAVE CONGRESS TAKE OVER THE ENERGY INDUSTRY, AND WE CAN RUN THAT TOO. IT'S ONLY BEEN IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS THAT WE HAVE SEEN ENERGY PRICES INCREASE A DRAMATIC 76%. AT 9% APPROVAL RATING, I DON'T THINK WE'RE HEARING A CLAMORING FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR CONGRESS TO TAKE OVER AND RUN ANYTHING. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOW HAS BECOME THE PARTY OF THE LITTLE GUY. WE WANT TO OPEN UP ENERGY EXPLORATION, PERMIT EXPEDITING SO WE CAN GET THIS ONLINE. WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT 20 YEARS. THAT'S CONGRESS THAT CAUSED THOSE BARRIERS. CONGRESS CAN UNLOCK THOSE BARRIERS AND BRING CLARITY BACK TO THE ISSUE. I YIELD BACK. |
| 00:43:51 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS RISE? |
| 00:43:56 | >> | I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. |
| 00:44:00 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. . |
| 00:44:25 | Shimkus, John M. | SORRY, MR. SPEAKER. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. HERE'S THE PROBLEM. WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH TOOK OVER AS PRESIDENT, THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF CRUDE OIL WAS $23. WHEN THE DEMOCRATS CAME IN THE MAJORITY, PRICE OF A BARREL WAS $58. TODAY, IT'S HOVERING AROUND $140. ALL WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS BRING FORTH SOME SOLUTIONS. WE ARE DOING THAT TODAY WITH A DISCHARGE PETITION ON ONE SUCH TECHNOLOGY, COAL-TO-LIQUID TECHNOLOGY. IT'S NOT MY BILL, BUT MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUE'S RICK BOUCHER'S BILL. UNITED STATES HAS THE LARGEST COAL RESERVES IN THE WORLD, 250 BILLION TONS OF RECOVERABLE TONS. CHINA HAS INVESTED IN COAL-TO-LIQUID TECHNOLOGIES. WE IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE INVESTED ZERO. THE LARGEST RESERVES, ZERO INVESTMENTS. THIS IS HOW IT WORKS. WE OPERATE A U.S. COAL MINES, U.S. JOBS, BUILD A REFINERY, U.S. JOBS. WE HAVE LIQUID FUEL TO COMPETE WITH CRUDE OIL FUEL, WE PIPE IT IN A PIPELINE, U.S. JOBS. WE GO TO OUR AVIATION INDUSTRY WITH JET FUEL, ALL THESE BUDGET AIRLINES ARE GOING BROKE BECAUSE OF HIGH FUEL COSTS. THIS IS A SOLUTION, NOT ONE, BUT ONE OF MANY. I YIELD BACK. |
| 00:45:49 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT RISE? |
| 00:45:58 | Welch, Peter | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I CALL UP RESOLUTION 1318 AND ASK FOR ITS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. |
| 00:46:06 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE RESOLUTION. |
| 00:46:10 | THE CLERK | HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 246, HOUSE RESOLUTION 1318, RESOLVE THAT UPON DID HE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER H.R. 5811 TO AMEND TITLE 44, UNITED STATES CODE, TO REQUIRE PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN ELECTRONIC RECORDS BY FEDERAL AGENCIES TO REQUIRE A CERTIFICATION AND REPORTS RELATING TO PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE WAIVED EXCEPT THOSE ARISING UNDER CLAUSE 9 OR 10 OF RULE 21. THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM NOW PRINTED IN THE BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED. THE BILL AS AMENDED SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS READ. ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST PROVISIONS IN THE BILL ARE WAIVED. THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE BILL AS AMENDED TO FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT, ONE, ONE HOUR OF DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND REFORM, ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT WITH OR WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS. SECTION TWO, DURING CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5811 PURSUANT TO THIS RESOLUTION, NOTWITHSTANDING THE OPERATION OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, THE CHAIR MAY POSTPONEFURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL TO SUCH TIME AS MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE SPEAKER. |
| 00:47:36 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR. |
| 00:47:39 | Welch, Peter | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY I YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. DIAZ-BALART. ALL TIME YIELDED DURING CONSIDERATION OF THE RULE IS FOR DEBATE ONLY. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO REVISE AND STEPPED THEIR REMARKS AND INSERT EX TRAIN YOUSE MATERIAL INTO THE RECORD. |
| 00:48:01 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:48:04 | Welch, Peter | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 00:48:07 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 00:48:09 | Welch, Peter | H.R. 1318 PROVIDES FOR A CLOSED RULE OF CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5811. THE RESOLUTION, AS YOU KNOW, PROVIDES ONE HOUR DEBATE CONTROLLED BY THE COMMITTEE OF OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM AND THE NOL AMENDMENTS WERE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION. H.R. 5811 IS AN IMPORTANT BILL INTRODUCED BY CHAIRMAN WAXMAN THAT MODERNIZES THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS ACT AND FEDERAL RECORDS ACT TO ENSURE THAT VITAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS ARE PRESERVED FOR HISTORICAL POSTERITY. THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE PRESERVATION ACT WILL MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE RETAIN IMPORTANT PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS BY DIRECTING THE ARCHIVISTS TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR THE CAPTURE, MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF WHITE HOUSE AND FEDERAL AGENCY E-MAILS. THE ARCHIVIST OF THE U.S. WILL SET NEW STANDARDS FOR TRACKING FEDERAL E-MAIL RECORDS AND WILL CERTIFY WHETHER THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT CONTROLS PUT IN PLACE BY THE PRESIDENT MEET THOSE STANDARDS AND COMPLY WITH THE ACT. THE BILL WILL PROTECT AMERICAN HISTORY SO THAT WE WILL NOT LOSE IMPORTANT RECORDS IN AN OLD RECORDS SYSTEM THAT EXISTS NOW, BUT WILL ALSO GUIDE GOVERNMENT RETENTION POLICIES WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. THE BILL IS VERY NECESSARY. THROUGH ITS INVESTIGATIONS, THE OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE DISCOVERED THAT IN ONE INSTANCE, THE CURRENT WHITE HOUSE HAD LOST HUNDREDS OF DAYS OF E-MAILS. IN OTHER INSTANCES, ALLOWED NUMEROUS WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS, INCLUDING SENIOR ADVISOR KARL ROVE TO USE COMMITTEE E-MAIL ACCOUNTS FOR GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, IMPROPER, OBVIOUSLY. E-MAILS SENT BY WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS OVER THESE R.N.C. ACCOUNTS RELATED TO OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT BUSINESS AND POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE E-MAILS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. IN ADDITION, THE WHITE HOUSE DID GROSSLY MISMANAGE ITS OWN E-MAIL RECORDS AND IGNORED CONCERNS RAISED BY CONGRESS AND THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES ABOUT THE WAY IT WAS STORING E-MAILS. FURTHER, THE CURRENT PRINT IN FILE RECORD RETENTION SYSTEMS ARE BOTH UNRELIABLE AND NOT IN STEP WITH MODERN ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH CAME INTO OFFICE, THE WHITE HOUSE HAD AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR ARCHIVING E-MAILS. BUT IN 2002, THE WHITE HOUSE DECIDED TO AND BAN DONE THE SYSTEM AND REPLACE IT WITH A MANUAL SYSTEM, DOING SO IN AN ELECTRONIC AGE. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS WERE WARNED BY THE TECHNICAL STAFF OF THEIR OWN WHITE HOUSE STAFF AND BY NATIONAL ARCHIVES THAT THIS AD HOC MANUAL SYSTEM FOR MANAGING E-MAILS PRESENTED AN OBVIOUSLY THREAT AND LOSING RECORDS. AND THE WHITE HOUSE OWN EXPERTS SAID THE SYSTEM WAS, TO USE THE WORD OF THAT EXPERT, PRIMITIVE AND CARRIED A HIGH RISK, THAT QUOTE, DATA WOULD BE LOST. YET, DESPITE THESE WARNINGS, THE WHITE HOUSE STILL HAS IF NOT PUT INTO PLACE A RELIABLE, UP TO DATE SYSTEM FOR PRESERVING E-MAILS. THIS BILL WILL CHANGE THAT. IT WILL REQUIRE THE ARCHIVISTS TO ESTABLISH SPECIFIC STARNS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC MESSAGES, INCLUDING THE CAPABILITY TO RETRIEVE MESSAGES THROUGH ELECTRONIC SEARCHES. THESE STANDARDS WILL HELP PREVENT A SITUATION LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. H.R. 5811 DIRECTS E-MAIL RECORDS TO BE STORED ELECTRONICALLY, REMOVES A.M. BIGITY IN THE CURRENT LAW THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BEFORE WE EVEN HAD E-MAIL. THE BILL IN THE MANAGER'S AMENDMENT WERE APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE IN THE COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT IS TIMELY AND NECESSARY. I URGE THE PASSAGE AND A YES VOTE ON THE RULE. AND I RESEVERE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 00:52:07 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 00:52:11 | Diaz-Balart, L. | I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. WELCH FOR THE TIME AND I YIELD SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 00:52:17 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 00:52:19 | Diaz-Balart, L. | DURING AN INTERVIEW LAST WEEK, MR. HOYER SAID THAT HE IS OPPOSED TO A LAME DUCK SESSION AND THAT HE IS COMMITTED TO ADJOURNMENT SINE BY THE PREVIOUSLY AGREED DATE SEPTEMBER 26. IF THE CONGRESS ADJOURNS ON SEPTEMBER 26, CONGRESS HAS ONLY SEVEN WEEKS LEFT TO COMPLETE ITS WORK FOR THE YEAR. AS CONGRESS BEGINS ITS LAST SEVEN WEEKS OF WORK BEFORE RECESSING, WHAT IMPORTANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION AT THE TOP OF THE MAJORITY'S PRIORITY LIST? WELL, MAYBE IT'S PASSING THE 12 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR OR MAYBE ENERGY LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH THE RECORD GASOLINE PRICES CONSUMERS ARE PAYING EACH DAY OR, NO, MR. SPEAKER, THEY'VE DECIDED THAT THOSE PROBLEMS CAN WAIT FOR ANOTHER DAY, FOR ANOTHER CONGRESS. INSTEAD, THEIR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES ARE TO DESIGNATE THE 600-MILE HISTORIC TRAIL AND TO REQUIRE PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS. I SPENT MOST OF LAST WEEK MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM. AND MR. SPEAKER, NO ONE MENTIONED ANYTHING CLOSELY RELATED TO THESE TWO BILLS. THESE BILLS MAY BE IMPORTANT IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE MUCH MORE PRESSING, ISSUES THAT WE SHOULD BE DEBATING AND DEALING WITH. WHEN AMERICANS ARE PAYING OVER $4 PER GALLON FOR GASOLINE, WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON LEGISLATION TO LOWER THE COST OF GASOLINE, INCREASING DOMESTIC ENERGY EXPLORATION, REDUCING OUR RELIANCE ON UNSTABLE FOREIGN ENERGY. FRANCE PRODUCES APPROXIMATELY 80% OF ITS ELECTRICITY FROM NUCLEAR POWER. AND YET, THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT BUILT A NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN ABOUT 30 YEARS. WHY DOES THE MAJORITY REFUSE TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH OUR ENERGY AND OTHER SERIOUS PROBLEMS? ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER "THE HILL" ON TUESDAY, THE MAJORITY, AND I QUOTE, HAS SCRUBBED THE FLOOR SCHEDULE OF THE ENERGY LEGISLATION THAT IT VOWED TO TACKLE AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY RECESS, UNQUOTE. WHY DOESN'T THE MAJORITY SCHEDULE ENERGY LEGISLATION FOR DEBATE? MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A REAL PLAN. IF YOU READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE YOU FIND OUT WHAT A DEMOCRATIC AIDE CALLED AND I QUOTE, THE MAJORITY'S PLAN, RIGHT NOW OUR STRATEGY ON GAS PRICES IS TO DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND. THAT'S MOST UNFORTUNATE. THAT NONPLAN IGNORES THE URGENT CALL OF AMERICANS FOR CONGRESS TO PASS SERIOUS, SERIOUS ENERGY LEGISLATION. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INSERT "THE HILL" ARTICLE ENTITLED ENERGY BILL OUT OF GAS INTO THE RECORD. WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE MAJORITY WILL CLAIM THEY EXPECT TO TAKE UP ENERGY LEGISLATION SOON AND THE COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION ARE CONSIDERING POSSIBLE LEGISLATION, BUT THEY ALREADY PULLED LEGISLATION THEY EXPECTED TO CONSIDER AFTER THE JULY 4 RECESS AND WE STILL HAVE TO CONSIDER 12 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, HOUSING LEGISLATION, MEDICARE PAYMENT FIX FOR PHYSICIANS, ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX FIX AND NUMEROUS CONFERENCE REPORTS. THAT DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH TIME FOR ENERGY LEGISLATION. MAYBE IF THE MAJORITY HAD DIFFERENT PRIORITIES, WE WOULD BE CONSIDERING ENERGY LEGISLATION TODAY INSTEAD OF LEGISLATION DESIGNATING A 600-MILE HISTORIC TRAIL AND LEGISLATION REQUIRING PROMULGATION OF LEGISLATION TO PRESERVE ELECTRONIC RECORDS. I WISH TO TAKE THIS OCCASION TO CONGRATULATE THE MAJORITY ON BREAKING THEIR OWN RECORD OF MOST CLOSED RULES. THE PROPOSED RULE WE ARE CONSIDERING NOW MARKS THE 59TH CLOSED RULE OF THIS CONGRESS. THE MOST OF ANY CONGRESS IN THE HISTORY OF THE NATION. IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. BEFORE THE NEW MAJORITY TOOK OVER CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, THEY LAID OUT THEIR PROMISES FOR A MORE CIVIL, MORE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT HOUSE IN A DOCUMENT ENTITLED "THE NEW DIRECTION FOR AMERICA." THE DOCUMENT PROVIDES CLEAR GUIDELINES FOR HOW LEGISLATION SHOULD MOVE THROUGH THE HOUSE. ONE OF THE PROMISES MADE IN THE DOCUMENT IS THAT QUOTE, BILLS SHOULD COME TO THE FLOOR UNDER A PROCEDURE THAT ALLOWS OPEN, FULL AND FAIR DEBATE CONSISTING OF AN AMENDMENT PROCESS THAT GRANTS THE MINORITY TO OFFER ITS ALTERNATIVE, INCLUDING A SUBSTITUTE, END QUOTE. AND HERE WE ARE WITH A CLOSED PROCESS THAT DOESN'T ALLOW MEMBERS FROM EITHER PARTY THE ABILITY TO OFFER AMENDMENTS. THE MAJORITY CONTINUES TO BREAK THEIR PROMISE IN ALLOWING AN OPEN, FULL AND FAIR DEBATE AND THEIR PROMISE TO CONSIDER ENERGY LEGISLATION AFTER THE JULY 4 RECESS. SO MUCH FOR THEIR PROMISES. RESERVE. |
| 00:57:41 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT. |
| 00:57:44 | Welch, Peter | I RESERVE. |
| 00:57:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 00:57:51 | Diaz-Balart, L. | I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE DISTINGUISHED THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. GOHMERT. |
| 00:57:57 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. |
| 00:58:00 | Gohmert, Louie | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT E-MAILS AND THE RULE ON E-MAILS FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES, FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. THE E-MAILS THAT KEEP COMING IN ARE DESPERATE. WHAT WE SAW IN THE LAST WEEK WERE PEOPLE RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN GREATER NUMBERS THAN EVER BEFORE. YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE ONCE PROUD PARTY ALWAYS TALKED IN TERMS OF HELPING THE LITTLE GUY. THE LITTLE GUYS ARE SUFFERING. THE LITTLE GUYS ARE HURTING. WE'RE LOSING UNION JOBS BECAUSE OUR ENERGY HAS GOTTEN SO EXPENSIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE'RE OVERTAXING SOME OF THE PEOPLE PROVIDING THE JOBS. GAS HAS GONE FROM $4 TO $5, AND THIS CONGRESS COULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT E-MAILS. THE E-MAILS SAY WE NEED HELP. DO SOMETHING. AND WE CAN. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME COURAGEOUS DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE THAT WANT TO DO SOMETHING AND COULD DO SOMETHING, BRU THE -- BUT THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP SEEMS VESTED IN THIS IDEA, BUT $20 A GALLON FOR GAS WOULD BE A GOOD THING, BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD QUICK DRIVING AND THAT WOULD SAVE THE PLANET, NOT REALIZING THAT WHEN YOU TANK AN ECONOMY, PEOPLE QUIT CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AS THEY SHOULD BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING FOOD, SHELTER, TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILY AND WE COULD HELP THEM IF WE BRING THE RIGHT BILLS TO DRILL NOW, TO MINE WHAT WE HAVE. YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN GOD HAVE GOT TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SITTING THERE, GOING, LOOK AT WHAT I GAVE YOU IN THE WAY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE LAST BILL TO COME OUT OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE THIS LAST MONTH WAS TO PUT OUR LAST BEST SOURCE OF URANIUM OFF LIMITS FOR SOME MADE UP CONTRIVED EMERGENCY THAT DOESN'T EXIST. I THINK THE BILL WILL END UP BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL BUT STILL SHOWS WE ARE PUTTING OUR RESOURCES OFF LIMITS. IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT KILLING CARIBOU, WE HAVE SEEN PUTTING A WARM PIPELINE OUT IN THE ALASKAN PIPELINE AREA, THEY ARE UP THERE. WE ARE UP THE NUMBER OF CARIBOU. IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT KILLING FISH OFF THE COAST BY DRILLING, WE HAVE SEEN IN TEXAS, IT CREATES ARTIFICIAL REEFS AND PEOPLE GO FISHING THERE NOW. WE CAN HELP THE PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT IF WE USE WHAT WE GOT, BECAUSE IN THE YEARS TO COME, THE ARCHIVISTS ARE GOING TO PULL E-MAILS AND SEE THAT THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNTRY WAS ENERGY AND ALL WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WAS E-MAILS AND SCENIC TRAILS, WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE GASOLINE TO DRIVE TO THOSE TRAILS. LET'S HELP AMERICANS AND DO THE RIGHT THING. LET'S WORK ON ENERGY AND PRODUCING WHAT WE'VE GOT. THANK YOU. YIELD BACK. |
| 01:01:01 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT. |
| 01:01:04 | Welch, Peter | I CONTINUE TO RESERVE. |
| 01:01:07 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 01:01:10 | Diaz-Balart, L. | I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR. SHIMKUS. |
| 01:01:18 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 01:01:26 | Shimkus, John M. | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS. SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EMAILS, AND IN ESSENCE I CONCUR WITH HIM. THE NUMBER ONE MESSAGE WE'RE GETTING BACK FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS IS HIGH ENERGY PRICES. AND WHEN THE HISTORIANS GO BACK TO RECLAIM OUR FILES, TO WRITE SOME ANALYSIS ON WHAT THIS CONGRESS DID AT ITS HOUR OF NEED, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PULL OUR EMAILS, THEY'RE GOING TO FIND US INUNDATED WITH ENERGY PRICES ARE TOO HIGH. AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE RECORD AND SAY, HOW DID CONGRESS RESPOND? AND FOR THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF THIS CONGRESS, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT A HALF A YEAR LEFT, WE HAVE DONE NOTHING. THIS IS THE PROBLEM. $23 A BARREL WHEN BUSH CAME INTO OFFICE. $58 A BARREL WHEN THE DEMOCRATS ASSUMED THE MAJORITY. I DIDN'T CHECK THE MARKET TODAY YET. AS OF YESTERDAY, IT WAS $140 A BARREL. THE TREND LINE -- WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS THAT THE TREND LINE IS BAD. AND WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT THE TREND LINE IS NOT SUSTAIN ABLE. IF WE -- SUSTAINABLE. IF WE WANT A MIDDLE CLASS IN THIS COUNTRY. IF WE WANT PEOPLE IN RURAL AMERICA TO LIVE IN RURAL AMERICA. IN RURAL AMERICA, I REPRESENT PARTS OF 30 COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. WE HAVE TO DRIVE MANY MILES TO GET TO HEALTH CARE. WE HAVE TO DRIVE MANY MILES TO GET TO OUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS, OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE TO DRIVE BIG TRUCKS BECAUSE WE'RE HAULING SEED, WE'RE HAULING FEED, WE'RE HAULING LIVESTOCK. THEY'RE WORKING TRUCKS. THEY CAN'T OPERATE ON ELECTRIC ENGINE, A PLUG-IN TYPE OF VEHICLE. NOW, THAT MAY BE GOOD FOR SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR RURAL, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. AND SO HERE WE ARE ON THE FLOOR JUST BACK FROM A WEEK AT HOME, FOURTH OF JULY BREAK, THINKING THAT IT'S TIME TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND WORK TO HELP ADDRESS THE CONCERNS. BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO FIX. IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN SNAP OUR FINGER. A LOT OF TIMES WE GET ASKED, WHAT CAN WE DO IMMEDIATELY? WHAT CAN WE DO IMMEDIATELY? SOME OF THE ANSWERS IS, LOWER THE FEDERAL GAS TAX. THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY. WHAT'S ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY? WELL, THE PUBLIC HAS TO CONSERVE. THE INDIVIDUAL HAS TO DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY. AND WE'RE DOING IT. WE'RE DRIVING LESS MILES A DAY BUT WE'RE PAYING MORE. DOESN'T THAT MAKE SENSE? DRIVE LESS, PAY MORE. THAT'S AS BAD AS THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, WAIT FOR THE WIND, DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND. THE OTHER POLICY IS, DRIVE LESS, PAY MORE. THAT'S NOT A GOOD ENERGY POLICY. SO WE'RE READY TO COME BACK, WE'RE READY TO BE OPEN, WE'RE READY TO BE ACCESSIBLE, COMPROMISE ON THIS FLOOR, BRING SOME SUPPLY TO THE DEBATE, BRING SOME EFFICIENCY, BRING SOME RENEWABLES. LET'S STRIKE AN AGREEMENT AND LET'S -- LET'S POINT THIS COUNTRY INTO A DIRECTION OF -- |
| 01:04:46 | Diaz-Balart, L. | I YIELD THE GENTLEMAN ONE MINUTE. |
| 01:04:49 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 01:04:52 | Shimkus, John M. | THERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT. MY FRIEND, PETER ROSS CAM -- ROSS COME FROM CHICAGO, USES THE FEDERAL MONEY AND THEN PLOWS IT INTO RENEWABLES. SOLAR, WIND, ELECTRIC. BECAUSE IT'S ALL GOING TO COST MONEY. SO HERE'S THE PROBLEM. HERE'S THE SOLUTION. OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, COAL TO LIQUID, SOLAR, WIND, RENEWABLE FUELS, ALL OF THE BOSTON -- ALL OF THE ABOVE. TRANSLATES INTO AMERICAN JOBS, WHICH LOWERS PRICES FOR EVERYONE. AND THE POINT SHOULD BE MADE. IT'S THE MIDDLE CLASS, THE LOWER MIDDLE CLASS WHO ARE EXPONENTIALLY HARMED BY HIGHER ENERGY PRICES. THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE NEW TECHNOLOGY. THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE NEW CARS. THEY HAVE TO BUY THE USED CAR OFF THE LOT THAT HAS POOR GAS MILEAGE BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. WE'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS ISSUE. |
| 01:05:58 | Diaz-Balart, L. | ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE. |
| 01:06:00 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 01:06:04 | Shimkus, John M. | AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUE. TODAY, ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I MENTIONED IT IN A ONE MINUTE. THE UNITED STATES HAS THE LARGEST RESERVES OF RECOVERABLE COAL IN THE WORLD. EASILY THE SAUDI ARABIA COAL. WHY NOT TAKE THAT COAL, CREATE UNITED MINE WORKER JOBS, RECOVERING THE COAL, BUILD A COAL-TO-LIQUID REFINERY, TURN THAT INTO JET FUEL, GASOLINE, DIESEL FUEL, BUILD IT IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THE COAL FIELDS ARE SO IT'S NOT DISRUPTIVE BY THE STORMS IN THE GULF COAST, PUMP IT TO OUR AIRPORTS SO THAT THEY HAVE A COMPETITIVE PRODUCT VERSUS CRUDE OIL JET FUEL SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE OUR BUDGET -- FOUR BUDGET AIRLINES HAVE GONE BANKRUPT. FOUR BUDGET AIRLINES. THAT MEANS TICKET TAKERS, STEWARDESSES, PILOTS, BAGGAGE HANDLERS NOW WITHOUT A JOB. WHY? HIGH ENERGY COST. AND WE COME TO THE FLOOR WITH A NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL AND PROTECTING EMAILS. AND 15 SUSPENSION BILLS. |
| 01:07:13 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT. |
| 01:07:17 | Welch, Peter | I'M THE LAST SPEAKER ON THIS SIDE, SO I WILL CONTINUE TO RESERVE MY TIME. |
| 01:07:24 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 01:07:27 | Diaz-Balart, L. | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AGAIN, I THANK MY FRIEND FROM VERMONT FOR HIS COURTESY FOR YIELDING THE TIME. AMERICANS ARE NOW PAYING OVER $4 A GALLON FOR GASOLINE. YET, THE MAJORITY FAILS TO BRING LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR TO LOWER GAS PRICES OR DECREASE OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN SOURCES OF ENERGY. IT IS TIME FOR THE HOUSE TO DEBATE IDEAS FOR LOWERING PRICES AT THE PUMP AND ADDRESSING THE SKYROCKETING COST OF GASOLINE. SO TODAY I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE WITH ME TO DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SO THIS HOUSE CAN FINALLY CONSIDER REAL SOLUTIONS TO RISING ENERGY COSTS. IF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS DEFEATED, I WILL MOVE TO AMEND THE RULE TO ALLOW FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2208, THE COAL-TO-LIQUID FUEL ACT. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD ENCOURAGE THE USE OF CLEAN COAL-TO-LIQUID TECHNOLOGY, AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY TO ANSWER INTO -- ENTER INTO LOAN AGREEMENTS FOR COAL-TO-LIQUID PROJECTS. MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INSERT THE TEXT OF THE AMENDMENTS AND EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. |
| 01:08:39 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 01:08:42 | Diaz-Balart, L. | BY VOTING NO, THEY CAN TAKE A STAND. I ENCOURAGE A NO VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AND YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 01:08:49 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT. |
| 01:09:00 | Welch, Peter | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF THE BALANCE OF THE TIME -- MY TIME AND I AM GOING TO APPROACH THE PODIUM TO USE SOME CHARTS. |
| 01:09:09 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 01:09:27 | Welch, Peter | MR. SPEAKER, THIS BILL IS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS. THE DEBATE HAS TURNED INTO A DISCUSSION OF OUR ENERGY POLICY. AND THERE'S TWO REASONS WHY WE WOULD BE DISCUSSING ENERGY INSTEAD OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ACTUAL BILL. ONE IS THAT OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS. TWO IS THEY WANT TO USE THE OPPORTUNITY OF FLOOR TIME TO MAKE A CASE, THEIR CASE ABOUT ENERGY. I INTEND TO RESPOND TO BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT THIS LEGISLATION IS ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF THE RECORDS OF THE ADMINISTRATION SO THAT IN THE FUTURE WHEN ANY CONGRESS WANTS TO HOLD ANY PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE, THERE WILL BE DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THAT ADMINISTRATION. IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT THAT THIS CONGRESS RESTORE ITS CONSTITUTIONAL FUNCTION OF INSISTING ON ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE HAVE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT. AND ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN ASLEEP FOR THE SIX YEARS GOING IN TO THE YEAR 2006. AND THAT WAS THE CONGRESSIONAL -- THAT WAS CONGRESS, THE LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WHO DEMAND AND ARE ENTITLED TO ACCOUNTABILITY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE PRESERVATION OF THE RECORDS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT, THESE ARE NOT RECORDS BELONGING TO THE PRESIDENT. THEY'RE NOT RECORDS THAT BELONG TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. IT'S NOT FOR THEM TO DECIDE YES OR NO WE WILL PRESERVE THESE RECORDS. THIS IS A RIGHT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IT'S THEIR PROPERTY. AND WHAT THIS ELECTRONIC RECORDS PRESERVATION DOES IS SAY THAT YOU CANNOT USE THE PAPER SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T WORK IN AN ELECTRONIC AGE IN EFFECT TO CONCEAL FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHAT YOU DID. IT IS OVERDUE. AND TO TAKE THIS DEBATE AND INJECT INTO IT ANOTHER TOPIC AS IMPORTANT AS ENERGY IS TO TRIVIALIZE THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY THAT THIS CONGRESS HAS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO RESTORE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS CONGRESS HAS MADE ENORMOUS MISTAKES AND JUSTIFIED THEM BY CONSEALING INFORMATION FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO NO MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PATHWAY TO THE WAR IN IRAQ? IF THE TRUTH HAD BEEN OUT THERE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND FOR MANY IN THIS BODY TO KNOW WHAT THE PRESIDENT KNEW AND WHEN THE PRESIDENT KNEW IT, WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION KNEW AND WHEN THEY KNEW IT, WE WOULD NOT BE IN THIS CATASTROPHE IN IRAQ. SO THIS LEGISLATION THAT SAYS THAT EMAIL RECORDS ARE GOING TO BE RESTORED AND RETAINED ELECTRONICALLY IS OF PROFOUND CONSTITUTIONAL IMPORTANCE TO THE CONTINUATION OF CONGRESS IN ITS ROLE AS THE OVERSEER AND PROTECTOR OF THE AMERICAN RECORD AND THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER. SO ON ITS MERITS THIS LEGISLATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS OF ABSOLUTE VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. AND WE'VE HEARD NO OBJECTIONS AND INDEED THIS LEGISLATION WAS PASSED BY VOICE VOTE. NOW, SINCE THE ISSUE WAS RAISED -- SINCE THE DEBATE ON THIS PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT QUESTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL OVERSIGHT HAS BEEN HIJACKED TO TURN IT INTO AN ENERGY DEBATE WHERE IT REALLY DOESN'T BELONG, I'M NEVERTHELESS GOING TO RESPOND TO THE ARGUMENTS. I'M GOING TO START BY THIS PROPOSITION. IMPOLICITY IN MANY OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE MADE WAS THAT THOSE OF US ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE SOMEHOW DON'T UNDERSTAND A THE PAIN THAT THE AMERICAN CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING WITH THESE RECORD HIGH GAS PRICES. WHAT I HEAR ABOUT FROM VERMONTERS IS FEAR. I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS. AND GAS PRICES ARE TOUGH. THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE AND PAY FOR IT. THEY HAVE CARS THAT DON'T GET GREAT MILEAGE. THEY'RE DOUBLING UP. THE THING THEY'RE TERRIFIED ABOUT AND THEY HAVE REAL ANXIETY IS HOW ARE THEY GOING TO HEAT THEIR HOMES NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE TO HEAT -- WE HAVE TO HEAT OUR HOMES THERE. AND, FOLKS, WHEN THEY SEE THAT GAS DELIVERY TRUCK SHOW UP AND LAST YEAR IT WAS LIKE $2.50 A GALLON, IT'S GOING TO BE $5 NEXT YEAR. AND THESE FAMILIES DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY $1,000, $1,500, $200 TO FILL UP THE TANK, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE ARE GOING TO SEE GENERATIONS LIVING TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THAT BILL. SO BELIEVE ME, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT WHO DOESN'T PROFOUNDLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS HAVING ON EVERYDAY PEOPLE, ON OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, ON OUR ECONOMY. SO WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THE ACCUSATIONS AND WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THE SLOGANS OR WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THE OBVIOUS. AND THE OBVIOUS IS WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN IN THE SHORT TERM TO TRY TO BRING RELIEF AT THE PUMP, TO TRY TO BRING PRESSURE OFF THE SMALL BUSINESS AND THE CONSUMER, ANYTHING SHORT TERM THAT WE CAN DO WE SHOULD DO AND WE SHOULD DO IT TOGETHER. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MOVE TO A LONG-TERM ENERGY POLICY THAT NO LONGER ALLOWS OIL TO HAVE AN IRON GRIP ON OUR FUTURE. . THAT'S WHAT AMERICANS KNOW. SHORT-TERM, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO? WE'VE DONE THEM. WE'VE STOPPED FILLING UP THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE AND REDUCE 70 MILLION BARRELS A DAY. WE ARE CONSIDERING LEGISLATION FOR THE OIL COMPANIES TO USE THE LEASES THEY HAVE OR LOSE THEM. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS DEBATE ABOUT BRINGING PRODUCTION ON-LINE. OBVIOUSLY, SUPPLY IS AN ISSUE HERE. IN THE WORLD, WE PUMPED ABOUT 86 BILLION BARRELS A DAY. WE CONSUME ABOUT 87 BILLION BARRELS A DAY. BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE SLOGANS THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT JUST OPENING UP OTHER OFFSHORE AREAS IN ANWR TOTALLY IGNORES THE CURRENT REALITY AND THAT IS THAT THE OIL COMPANIES, THAT ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, HAVE EXISTING LEASES THAT THEY PAID GOOD MONEY ON, ON 68 MILLION ACRES OF LAND. THAT LAND, THEIR LEASES -- THEIR LEASES EXCEED BY 2.5 TIMES THE AREA OF THE STATE OF OHIO. MINORITY LEADER'S DISTRICT, TWO TIMES THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, 2.5 TIMES THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. THOSE ARE LEASES ON FEDERAL LANDS, ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE. AND WHAT ARE THE OIL COMPANIES DOGE? NOT MUCH. THEY ARE -- NOT MUCH. THEY ARE PRODUCING OIL ON A FRACTION -- |
| 01:17:15 | >> | WILL THE GENTLEMAN YIELD? |
| 01:17:16 | Welch, Peter | NO, I WON'T. AND IN THE REALITY, IF THERE WAS FULL PRODUCTION ON ALL THE AREAS UNDER LEASE, IT COULD PRODUCE 4.8 MILLION BARRELS A DAY. |
| 01:17:30 | Shimkus, John M. | WOULD THE GENTLEMAN YIELD ON DEBATE ON THESE OIL LEASES? |
| 01:17:34 | Welch, Peter | NO, I DON'T. I'M GOING TO TAKE MY TIME. |
| 01:17:38 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT CONTROLS THE TIME. |
| 01:17:42 | Welch, Peter | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THAT COULD PRODUCE 4.8 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL A DAY, YET THE OIL COMPANIES ARE NOT DRILLING WHERE THEY HAVE LEASES TO DO SO. AND INSTEAD, WE ARE TURNING THIS ARGUMENT INTO THE PROSPECT THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO DRILL IN PLACES WHERE THERE AREN'T LEASES, WAIVING AWAY THE LONG-TERM PROBLEM TO TRY TO MAKE IT COME ONLINE AND PROBABLY SAVE ABOUT A PENNY-AND-A-HALF A GALLON IN 10, 20 YEARS. THAT IS NOT DIRECT HONESTY IN THE DEBATE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN, BUT I INTEND TO FINISH. |
| 01:18:22 | >> | YOU DON'T WANT TO DEBATE THIS ISSUE? |
| 01:18:25 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT CONTROLS THE TIME. |
| 01:18:28 | Welch, Peter | WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE OIL COMPANIES ARE NOT DRILLING WHERE THEY CAN. AND WE ARE SAYING TO THEM, DRILL WHERE YOU CAN. WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE OIL COMPANIES, THE LONGER THEY WAIT, THE MORE THEY MAKE. IF YOU'RE SITTING ON LEASES AND OIL IN THE GROUND UNDER THE SEA WITH 35 A BARREL WHEN YOU BID THAT LEASE AND IT WENT TO $75 AND $100, $140, YOU ARE MAKING MONEY YOU JUST HAVING THAT IN THE BANK. 9 LONGER THEY WAIT, THE MORE THEY MAKE. OVER $125 -- WILL THE GENTLEMAN DEBATE ME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS NOT RECOGNIZED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT CONTROLS THE TIME. RECORD PROFITS AGAIN THIS YEAR. HOW ARE THEY SPENDING THAT MONEY? ARE THEY INVESTING IN REFINERIES OR RENEWABLE ENERGY OR DRILLING RIGS OR OFFSHORE FACILITIES TO DRILL IN THOSE AREAS? NO. THEY'RE BUYING BACK THEIR STOCK. YOU KNOW, THE OIL COMPANIES, ENERGY PRODUCERS, SHOULD BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. AND THEY SHOULD BE USING THE TECHNICAL ABILITY THAT THEY HAVE, THE EXTRAORDINARY SKILLS THAT THEY HAVE AND THE EXTRAORDINARY PROFITS THAT THEY HAVE TO HELP US FIND A WAY TO AN ENERGY INDEPENDENT FUTURE AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING. AND WE KNOW THE BOTTOM LINE, EVERYTHING WE CAN DO SHORT-TERM, WE CAN DO. BUT THE IDEA THAT WE CAN DO INSTANTLY SOMETHING IS A STRETCH. BUT WHAT WE CAN DO, WE SHOULD DO. ON SPECULATION, WHERE WE ARE CONSIDERING LEGISLATION NOW AND AS WE SPEAK, THE CHAIR OF THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE, MR. PETERSON, IS CONDUCTING THREE DAYS OF HEARING TO TRY TO SQUEEZE THE SPECULATOR INSTEAD OF HAVING THE SPECULATORS SQUEEZE UP, ON NOT FILLING UP THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE AND TIPPING IT OFF, I'M DEMANDING OF THE OIL COMPANIES THAT THEY START PRODUCING OIL IN THOSE 68 MILLION ACRES WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE LEASES IN THE RIGHT TO BE PRODUCING THAT OIL. THEY COULD PRODUCE 4.8 MILLION BARRELS A DAY. YOU KNOW WHAT WE PRODUCE DOMESTICALLY A DAY? FIVE MILLION. IT COULD LEAD TO A DOUBLING OF THE PRODUCTION. THE FACT IS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE THAT WE ARE PROMOTING THAT THEY BE DONE AGGRESSIVELY. WE ARE INSISTING THAT THE OIL COMPANIES BE ACCOUNTABLE TO USE AND PRODUCE ON THE LEASES THAT THEY HAVE, YET THEY REFUSE TO DO IT. AND WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY AND AGGRESSIVELY MOVING FOR A NEW ENERGY POLICY THAT IS GOING TO CREATE GREEN JOBS THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US MUCH GREATER INDEPENDENCE IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND IS GOING TO HELP US CLEAN UP OUR ENVIRONMENT. YOU KNOW, A CONFIDENT NATION IS ONE THAT FACES DIRECTLY THE PROBLEMS THAT IT HAS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUESTION OF ENERGY, WHAT SYMBOLIZED FOR ME THE ENERGY POLICY THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS HAD WAS A FRONT PAGE PICTURE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAND IN HAND WITH KING ABDULLAH OF SAUDI ARABIA AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO GO INTO A MEETING. THEY WALKED INTO HOLDING HANDS. THE PURPOSE OF THAT MEETING WAS FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO IMPLORE THE KING TO INCREASE PRODUCTION OF OIL. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? A CONFIDENT NATION, A NATION THAT TAKES ON THE CHALLENGE OF SOLVING ITS OWN PROBLEMS DOES NOT GO HAND IN HAND TO OTHERS AND ASK THEM, WHO ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS, INCIDENTALLY, TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. WE TAKE THAT CHALLENGE ON OURSELVES. WE TAKE IT ON BECAUSE IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WE ALSO TAKE IT ON BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IN THE DOING OF IT, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE JOBS, CLEAN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND GIVE US MUCH MORE LATITUDE IN FOREIGN POLICY. SO THIS DEBATE ON ENERGY MISPLACED AS IT IS IN THIS MATTER OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS IN RESTORING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONGRESS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT AND TO PRESERVE A HISTORICAL RECORD, IMPORTANT AS THIS -- AS THAT IS, THE ARGUMENT ON ENERGY, THE QUESTION OF ENERGY IS THE PROFOUND QUESTION THAT THIS COUNTRY FACES ECONOMICALLY FOR A NEXT GENERATION. AND THE CHALLENGE WILL BE WHETHER WE ARE WILLING TO FACE THAT SQUARELY AND TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM OR BE DEPENDENT ON OIL COMPANIES THAT HAVE NOT PLAYED ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ON FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS, VENEZUELA, MIDDLE EAST STATES, RUSSIA, WE HAVE TO TAKE ON THIS CHALLENGE OURSELVES. MR. SPEAKER, I WILL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING, GOING BACK TO THIS BILL, THAT IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT BILL, NOT JUST SO WE CAN PRESERVE RECORDS, BUT THAT WE IN CONGRESS CAN RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE ARE OUR COP ON THE BEAT. THIS BILL MAKES SIGNIFICANT AND LONG OVERDUE CHANGES TO DOCUMENT RETENTION SYSTEMS THAT WERE OUTDATED AND INEFFICIENT. THE VAST AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS THAT IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTED OVER E-MAILS REQUIRES THAT WE UPDATE THE LAW REGARDING RECORD RETENTION. GOVERNMENT E-MAILS SHOULD NOT BE DELETED OR DESTROYED AS THEY ARE IMPORTANT IN REVEALING TO THE PUBLIC AND HISTORIANS AS PAPER DOCUMENTS AND WE ALL KNOW THAT. I URGE A YES VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AND ON THE RULE. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. AND I MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE RESOLUTION. |
| 01:24:29 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE NOES HAVE IT. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT. |
| 01:24:43 | Welch, Peter | I ASK FOR A RECORDED VOTE. |
| 01:24:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20, THE CHAIR WILL POSTPONEFURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES ON WHICH A RECORDED VOTE OR THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED OR ON WHICH THE VOTE IS OBJECTED TO UNDER CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 20. RECORD VOTES ON POSTPONED QUESTIONS WILL BE TAKEN LATER. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA RISE? |
| 01:25:34 | Pomeroy, Earl | I RISE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 6382 TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS RELATED TO THE PENSION PROTECTION ACT OF 2006. |
| 01:25:43 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. |
| 01:25:46 | THE CLERK | H.R. 6382 A BILL TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS RELATED TO THE PENSION PROTECTION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2008 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. |
| 01:25:56 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA, MR. POMEROY AND MR. RAMSTAD EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM FROM NORTH DAKOTA. |
| 01:26:08 | Pomeroy, Earl | I ASK THAT 10 MINUTES OF MY TIME BE CONTROLLED BY MR. ANDREWS. MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 01:26:16 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 01:26:19 | Pomeroy, Earl | I RISE IN FAVOR OF MOVING THIS BILL H.R. 6382 PENSION PROTECTION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT FORWARD IN AN EXPEDITED MANNER. THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT TO WORKERS SO THEIR RETIREMENT YEARS WILL BE MORE SECURE AND TO EMPLOYERS SO THAT THE COST OF THE PENSION WHICH THEY ARE COMMITTED TO OFFERING EMPLOYEES WILL BE MORE PREDICTABLE. THE TAX CODE AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT KNOWN AS ERISA ARE COMPLEX AND BROAD-REACHING LAWS. WHEN CONGRESS ENACTS LAWS TO CHANGE THEM, SUCH AS THE PENSION PROTECTION ACT, THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE ROAD AND ERISA ARE DIFFICULT AND NEED TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO DRAFTING ERRORS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE LAW THAT COME TO LIGHT AFTER THE BILL IS PASSED. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. THE PENSION PROTECTION ACT BECAME EFFECTIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AGO,ISM POSING SWEEPING REFORMS THAT AFFECT OUR EMPLOYERS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES IN PENSIONS. IN ADDITION, THE BILL INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT REFORMS TO MULTIEMPLOYERS' PENSION PLANS TO COVER UNION WORKERS. THREE MONTHS AGO, THIS HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A BILL THAT INCLUDED MANY OF THE PROVISIONS, BUT THAT BILL DID NOT ADDRESS SEVERAL KEY ISSUES OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO CONTINUE TO WEATHER THE STORM AND ARE PERSISTENTLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A SECURE AND LIFETIME PENSION BENEFIT TO WORKERS. AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT CONGRESS NEEDED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO COMPLETE OUR WORK, BECAUSE AMERICAN WORKERS ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT THEIR RETIREMENT SECURITY. IN APRIL, THE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT RESEARCH INSTITUTE REPORTED THAT WORKER CONFIDENCE IN THEIR FINANCIAL PROSPECTS FOR RETIREMENT HAVE REACHED A SEVEN-YEAR LOW. 2008 CONFIDENCE SURVEY FOUND ONLY 18% OF WORKERS WILL HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE COMFORTABLY THROUGH THEIR RETIREMENT YEARS, THIS IS DOWN FROM 27%, A DROP OF NEARLY A THIRD. I COMMEND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING A BILL TO THE FLOOR THAT GIVES BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR-DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS THE ADDED PARITY THEY FLEED TO COMPLY AND EXTEND THANKS TO THE STAFF OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE SENATE. THEIR HARD WORK BRINGS US TO THIS POINT WITH A BILL THAT PROVIDES THE NEEDED CLARIFICATIONS OF CONGRESSIONAL INTENT THAT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT AND INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THE PENSION PROTECTION ACT. TODAY, WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS A BILL THAT WILL HELP THE BENEFICIARY OF A 401K PLAN THAT WOULD LIKE TO KEEP MONEY FOR RETIREMENT SAVINGS SINCE THE BILL BEFORE US CLARIFIES THE APPLICATION OF A NONSPOUSAL ROLLOVER PROVISION IN THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER WHOSE PENSION MAY EXPERIENCE UNDERFUNDING SINCE THIS BILL ALSO CLARIFIES HOW THE NOTICE HE OR SHE WILL GET ALERTS HIM OR HERE TO ANY BENEFIT REDUCTIONS. . I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ASSET SMOOTHING PART OF THIS BILL, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT. IMPORTANTLY, H.R. 6382 DOES NOT LEAVE THE GAPS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE BILL, IN THIS BODY WHEN IT PASSED A FEW MONTHS AGO. BECAUSE THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY GIVES RELIEF TO PLANNED SPONSORS FROM VOLATILITY IN PLANNED COSTS FACED BY EMPLOYERS WHO DEFINE THE BENEFIT PENSIONS. IT ALLOWS THEM TO USE A TOOL CALLED ASSET SMOOTHING, TO BALANCE OUT THE UPS AND DOWNS THAT OCCUR WITH INVESTMENTS. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE CALLED ON THIS BODY TO PASS IT QUICKLY. TODAY WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. AS WE HAVE SEEN A SHARP MARKET DOWNTURN OCCUR IN THE STOCK MARKET, THIS TOOL BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO HELP EMPLOYERS PLAN FOR PENSION EXPENSES. WITH THIS CLARIFICATION OF CONGRESSIONAL INTENT, EMPLOYERS WILL NOT BE FORCED TO BASE PENSION PLAN CONTRIBUTION ON SHIFTING MARKET-TO-MARKET VALUES. FOR SOME LARGE EMPLOYERS, THIS CAN MEAN A DIFFERENCE OF SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS. NOW, OUR ECONOMY HAS GONE THROUGH A PATCH WHERE OVER 400,000 JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS ALONE. WE DO NOT WANT TO PUT EMPLOYERS IN THIS PINCH BETWEEN PROVIDING PENSIONS OR KEEPING EMPLOYEES ON THEIR JOBS. SOME MIGHT THINK THAT THE EMPLOYER HAS TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THE PENSION IS REALLY A GREAT THING FOR WORKERS. BUT THERE'S AN IMPORTANT HITCH TO THIS CONSIDERATION. OUR NATION'S PENSION PLAN IS A VOLUNTARY SYSTEM, AND EMPLOYERS CAN DECIDE THAT OFFERING IS PENSION SIMPLY NO LONGER MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE. WE HAVE BUSINESSES STRUGGLING IN THIS RECESSION. MANY PLANS HAVE BEEN FROZEN, AS EMPLOYERS ASK, CAN WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PENSION PLAN COVERAGE? 3.3 MILLION WORKERS HAVE SEEN THEIR BENEFIT PLAN FROZEN IN SOME WAY. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANALYZED THE PENSION PROTECT ACT, THEY CONDUCTED NO RESEARCH ON WHETHER THE NEW STRINGENT FUNDING REQUIREMENTS WOULD ACCELERATE THE FREEZING OF PENSION PLANS. I BELIEVE THERE'S NO QUESTION THE PENSION PROTECT ACT HAS ACCELERATED THE FREEZING OF PENSION PLANS. AND IF WE DO NOT PASS THIS TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL, MORE PLANS WILL BE FROZEN. ANOTHER IMPORTANT FIX INCLUDED IN THIS BILL IS THE DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OFFER THEIR EMPLOYEES. THESE PUBLIC PLANS WERE CAUGHT IN THE PROVISIONS OF THE PENSION PROTECTION ACT DESIGNED TO HAVE CASH BALANCE CONVERSIONS. IT WAS NOT PLANNED TO BE UNDER THE PENSION PROTECTION PLAN. THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT HAS SAID THAT THE CREDITED INTEREST PROVISION OF PUBLIC PENSION PLANS IS LIMITED TO A RATE NO GREATER THAN A MARKET RATE OF RETURN. UNDER LONG EXISTING LAW THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES, THE PUBLIC PLANS THEMSELVES AND THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS ARE STATES THAT -- OR STATES THAT SPONSOR THOSE PLANS DETERMINE WHAT THE CREDITED INTEREST RATE WOULD BE. AS A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE A CREDITED RATE OF INTEREST ON THE PENSION ACCRUAL THAT I HAD, A -- A VESTED PENSION BENEFIT I HAVE OF 7.5%. THAT WAS DETERMINED BY THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA. IT OUGHT TO BE RECOGNIZED, AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, BUT UNDER THE TREASURY PROVISION, NO GREATER THAN MARKET RATE OF RETURN WOULD BE ALLOWED. WELL, PUBLIC PLANS, NOT SUBJECT TO ARIESA, BUT WITH THEIR UNIQUE PROTECTIONS AND PLAN DESIGNS SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS CLARIFICATION TO ENSURE RATES OF INTEREST PROVIDED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WHO ARE WE IN CONGRESS TO SAY THAT WHAT THE CREDITED RATE OF INTEREST SHOULD BE? WE GOT TO TRUST STATE AND LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDWISSES WITH THIS CALL -- SUBDIVISIONS WITH THIS CALL. AMERICAN WORKERS ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT THEIR RETIREMENT SECURITY. TODAY, CONGRESS CAN ACT TO ADDRESS AND REDUCE THIS UNEASYNESS. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT -- UNEASINESS. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT TECHNICAL CORRECTION. I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 01:34:15 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA. |
| 01:34:17 | Ramstad, James | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 01:34:22 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 01:34:24 | Ramstad, James | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 6382, THE PENSION PROTECTION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT. PENSION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS, MR. SPEAKER, ARE HARDLY CONSIDERED GLAMOROUS BILLS. THE TAX CODE WHICH GOVERN PENSION PLANS ARE COMPLICATED, TO SAY THE LEAST. AND THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TWO SETS OF LAWS IS VERY COMPLEX. SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT A PENSION PROTECTION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL IS, AS NAMED, HILEY TECHNICAL. IT SHOULD NOT DETRACT FROM THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BILL. BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS AREA OF LAW, A NUMBER OF GLITCHES HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED THAT PREVENT PENSION LOSS FROM OPERATING THE WAY CONGRESS HAS INTENDED. THIS BILL WILL FIX THOSE GLITCHES, WILL CORRECT THOSE ERRORS, WHETHER THEY ARE DRAFTING OR OTHER ERRORS. THIS WILL GIVE MUCH-NEEDED CERTAINTY TO PLAN ADMINISTRATORS, GOVERNMENT REGULATORS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON PENSIONS FOR THEIR FINANCIAL SECURITY IN RETIREMENT. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. THIS IS ALL ABOUT MAKING THESE CORRECTIONS SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON PENSIONS FOR THEIR FINANCIAL SECURITY AND RETIREMENT WILL HAVE CERTAINTY AND SECURITY. MR. SPEAKER, SOME PEOPLE, I REALIZE, DO NOT FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT A DIFFICULT AND PAIN-STAKING PROCESS THAT'S INVOLVED IN TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. IN FACT, UNTIL I GOT INVOLVED DIRECTLY, I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW COMPLEX A PROCESS IS. INVOLVING BOTH CAUCUSES, FIVE COMMITTEES IN BOTH BODIES OF CONGRESS AND THREE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES. IN THE CASE OF THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY, THE PROCESS IS LED BY THE STAFF OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION, WHICH DID A BEHALF LUSS JOB, AND INCLUDES COLLABORATION FROM THE BIPARTISAN STAFF OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS OUR COUNTERPARTS FROM THE SENATE FINANCE AND SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEES. AND ALL OF THOSE STAFFERS SHOULD BE COMMENDED, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE ON THIS LEGISLATION. ALSO INVOLVED WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TREASURY AND LABOR DEPARTMENTS AND THE PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTEE CORMINGS. SOMETIMES, MR. SPEAKER, -- CORPORATION. SOMETIMES, MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TECHNICAL. EACH PARTICIPANT IN THE PROCESS HAS A VETO. THUS, ONLY ITEMS THAT WERE UNANIMOUSLY INVOLVED AS CORRECTING A DRAFTING MISTAKE ARE INCLUDED IN THE TECHNICAL TITLE OF THE MEASURE BEFORE US. GETTING ALL THESE PLAYERS TO AGREE THAT THE SKY IS BLUE IS CERTAINLY NOT AN EASE A -- EASY TASK. SO I CAN'T OVERSTATE HOW MONUMENTAL IT IS TO HAVE A BILL THAT SURVIVED THAT RIGOROUS PROCESS. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER TITLE IN THE BILL CONTAINING A FEW OTHER PENSION-RELATED ITEMS THAT ARE NOT PURELY TECHNICAL. I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN RANGEL AND HIS STAFF, AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS HERE BEFORE US TODAY, THE OUTSTANDING MEMBERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE FROM THE COMMITTEE, MR. POMEROY, AND ALSO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY FOR HIS COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION ON THE BILL. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FROM CHAIRMAN RANGEL. MANY, MANY FIRST RESPONDERS, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS, AS WELL AS TEACHERS ARE INCLUDED. I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO RANKING MEMBER MCCRERY AND HIS EXCELLENT STAFF FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE. MR. SPEAKER, LET ME CONCLUDE BY SAYING IT'S TIME TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED CERTAINTY TO OUR NATION'S PENSION PLANS AND THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THEM. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS BILL AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 01:38:16 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. |
| 01:38:21 | Pomeroy, Earl | -- |
| 01:38:24 | >> | MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO CLAIM THE 10 MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR. |
| 01:38:27 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 01:38:30 | Andrews, Robert | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE LEGS. I'D LIKE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY FRIEND FROM MINNESOTA IN THANKING THE EFFORTS OF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT MADE THIS BILL POSSIBLE. BEGINNING WITH CHAIRMAN RANGEL, MR. MCCRERY, CHAIRMAN MILLER OF THE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE, RANKING MEMBER MCKEON, SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR. POMEROY, MR. RAMSTAD AND OTHERS. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COOPERATIVE AND GOOD EFFORT. HEALTHY PENSIONS ARE HEALTHY FOR THE ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES. WHEN THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COVERED BY PENSION FUNDS FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE SECURITY OF THEIR MONEY AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT IT WILL CONTINUE ON TO THE FUTURE, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE CONSUMERS AND INVESTORS AND ENGINES OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REST OF US IN THE ECONOMY. THIS ACT MAKES A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT CORRECTIONS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN AND, THEREFORE, MAKE MORE HEALTHY THE PENSION FUNDS OF OUR COUNTRY. I EMBRACE AND SUPPORT EACH OF THOSE CHANGES. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THREE OF THEM THAT I BELIEVE ARE OF SANGED IMPORTANT RELEVANCE. THE FIRST HAS TO DO WITH THE SO-CALLED SMOOTHING PROVISIONS, WHICH WILL PARTICULARLY BENEFIT THE LARGER EMPLOYERS. WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT AND RIGID NEW STANDARDS UNDER THE 2006 ACT, WHICH REQUIRE UNDERFUNDED PLANS TO CATCH UP SO THAT THEY ARE FULLY FUNDED AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THOSE RIGID STANDARDS DO NOT CHOKE OFF THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF THE PLANNED SPONSOR. AND WHEN THEY'RE TOO RIGID, THEY RUN THAT RISK. SO THESE SMOOTHING PROVISIONS GIVE THE PLANNED SPONSOR, THE EMPLOYER, THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE A RATIONAL JUDGMENT ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IS NEEDED TO BE PUT INTO THE FUND TO CATCH IT UP HOW SOON. IN MY VIEW, THIS REFORM IS A WIN FOR THE TAXPAYERS. IT IS A WIN FOR THE PENSIONERS AND EMPLOYEES AND A WIN FOR THE EMPLOYER. IT IS A WIN FOR THE TAXPAYERS IN THAT A PLAN THAT IS CAUGHT UP IN A RATIONAL WAY BY A SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYER IS QUALITATIVELY LESS LIKELY TO GO INTO DEFAULT, TO GO INTO INSOLVENCY AND TO CALL FOR A BAILOUT BY THE PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTEE CORPORATION. ULTIMATELY, THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTRY STAND BEHIND THE PBGC. THE FEWER CLAIMS OF INSOL VENS THE LESS RISK TO THE -- INSOLVENCE THE LESS RISK TO THE TAXPAYERS. THESE PROVISIONS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE PENSION FUND WILL BE STABLE, PERMANENT AND A SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE PERSON FOR THE REST OF HIS OR HER LIFE. AND FINALLY, THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY AN ADVANTAGE FOR ALL THOSE WHO BENEFIT FROM THE PENSION SYSTEM. SO I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT CHANGE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR SMALL BUSINESS AS WELL. ONE PARTICULAR CHANGE THAT LETS SMALL BUSINESSES RELY UPON A FIXED 5.5% RATE OF INTEREST IN THEIR PENSION CALCULATIONS MEANS THAT THE PERSON RUNNING A DENTAL PRACTICE OR A SMALL MANUFACTURING PLANT DOES NOT HAVE TO INCUR UNNECESSARY LEGAL OR ACCOUNTING OR ACTUARIAL FEES SO CALCULATE AND RECALCULATE CHANGING ASSUMPTIONS. THE MATTER OF A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THAT PLANNED SPONSOR IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT LEADS THE RESULT THAT MORE EMPLOYERS WILL KEEP THOSE PLANS, AS MY FRIEND, MR. POMEROY, EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT EARLIER ON. FINALLY, I WOULD JOIN WITH THE COMMENTS MADE BY MR. POMEROY, MR. RAMSTAD ABOUT THE VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSION FUND PROVISIONS IN THIS BILL. THE HISTORY OF PENSION FUNDS IN THIS COUNTRY IS A VERY STABLE AND POSITIVE ONE. WITH A FEW RARE EXCEPTIONS, FUND TRUSTEES AROUND THIS COUNTRY HAVE MADE PROPER FIDUCIARY CHOICES WITH THE INVESTMENT DECISIONS. AND ONE OF THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE IS THE CREDIT INTEREST RATE THAT OUGHT TO BE USED IN CALCULATING CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS TO RETIRE TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. THERE'S A SAYING THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO PENSION LAW BUT UNIQUE TO COMMON SENSE, WHICH IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, TRUSTEES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MANAGING THEIR FUNDS BY AND LARGE. THIS BILL HAS A PROVISION IN IT THAT ASSURES THAT THOSE TRUSTEES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT THAT CREDIT FROM RATE OUGHT TO BE AND THAT THAT DETERMINATION SHOULD NOT BE SUPPLANTED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. BUT WHAT BEING THE EXPOSURE OF THE FEDERAL TAXPAYER? AREN'T WE SUBJECTING THEM TO RISK IF THE STATE AND LOCAL TRUSTEES MAKE THE WRONG DECISION? MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE MOST EMPHATICALLY NOT BECAUSE THE PLANS ABOUT WHICH I SPEAK ARE NOT BACKED BY THE PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTEED CORPORATION. SO THE IDEA OF FEDERAL REGULATION IMPOSING ITSELF UPON THE DECISIONS OF THESE TRUSTEES IS WITHOUT ANY MERIT OR JUSTIFICATION. THIS WILL MEAN THAT POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND TEACHERS AND OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WILL GET THE FAIR PENSION FOR WHICH THEY BARRING IND AND TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE MINORITY AND MAJORITY STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS BILL. I THINK IT WELL SERVES THE COUNTRY. I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO SUPPORT IT. AND BEFORE I YIELD OUR TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR FULL COMMITTEE, CONGRESSMAN GEORGE MILLER, BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD. |
| 01:44:30 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 01:44:32 | Andrews, Robert | WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF OUR COMMITTEE'S TIME. |
| 01:44:37 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA. |
| 01:44:39 | Pomeroy, Earl | I YIELD SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MY COLLEAGUE ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. LEWIS. |
| 01:44:45 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 01:44:49 | Lewis, John | MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO THANK MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. POMEROY, FOR YIELDING. . PEOPLE ARE BARELY GETTING BY. SOME PEOPLE USE THEIR RETIREMENT SAVINGS TODAY TO PAY THEIR CREDIT CARD BILLS OR AVOID FORECLOSURE ON THEIR HOMES. THIS IS A CHOICE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MAKE. TODAY, WE OFFER JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. MR. SPEAKER, AFTER A LIFETIME OF HARD WORK, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN RETIRE AND THEIR PENSIONS WILL BE THERE FOR THEM. THIS BILL WILL HELP EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN MY DISTRICT, AIRLINE WORKERS, THE PAYMENT THEY ARE RECEIVING ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE UP FOR THAT LOSS. THIS BILL WILL ALLOW THESE WORKERS TO TAKE THEIR BANKRUPTCY PAYMENT AND PUT THEIR MONEY INTO A RETIREMENT ACCOUNT. PILOTS AND AIRLINE WORKERS ARE ASKING FOR THIS HELP SO THEY CAN PUT THEIR MONEY BACK WHERE IT BE LONGS, GROWING INTO A NEST EGG FOR RETIREMENT. MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN RANGEL AND THE GREAT STAFF OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND MY OWN STAFF WHO WORKED WITH ME TO HELP THE PILOTS AND AIRLINE WORKERS IN THIS BILL TODAY. WE MUST DO MORE TO HELP PEOPLE TO SAVE MONEY SO THEY CAN LIVE WELL WHEN THEY RETIRE. WE MUST PROTECT THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS OF THE AMERICAN WORKERS. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 01:46:42 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA. |
| 01:46:49 | Ramstad, James | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. WE HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS. DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DWACT? |
| 01:46:59 | Pomeroy, Earl | I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS. |
| 01:47:03 | Ramstad, James | JUST BRIEFLY, I RISE SUPPORT IN OF TECHNICAL PROTECTION AND CORRECTIONS ACT. IT IS A VITAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA. I WANT TO AGAIN THANK CHAIRMAN RANGEL, CHAIRMAN MILLER, RANKING MEMBER MEMBER MCCRERY AND MR. POMEROY FOR THEIR COOPERATION ON THIS LEGISLATION AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE UNSUNG HEROES WHO WORK TOGETHER, ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES. I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, MR. SPEAKER. AND I YIELD BACK. |
| 01:47:42 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY. |
| 01:47:47 | Andrews, Robert | WE URGE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL. AND I YIELD BACK. |
| 01:47:50 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA HAS 30 SECONDS REMAINING. |
| 01:47:57 | Pomeroy, Earl | MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO THANK MR. RAMSTAD, COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO MET SO MUCH TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. LEWIS WITH HIS WORK WITH THE DELTA PILOTS, AS WELL AS MR. ANDREWS, THE PENSION AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS EXPERT. AS WE GET THIS FINISHED TODAY, IT SETS THE STAGE FOR JOINT COLLABORATION, FURTHER, AS WE WORK ON PENSION AND ADVANCING RETIREMENT SECURITY. AND I YIELD BACK. |
| 01:48:26 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 6382. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED. AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON |
| 01:48:53 | Pomeroy, Earl | MR. SPEAKER. I ASK THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON ON H.R. 6382. |
| 01:49:04 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE? |
| 01:49:22 | Lampson, Nicholas | I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 375 TO HONOR THE GOAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. |
| 01:49:33 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION. |
| 01:49:39 | THE CLERK | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE GOAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. |
| 01:49:43 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. LAMPSON AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. FEENEY, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 01:49:54 | Lampson, Nicholas | I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON HOUSE RESOLUTION 3P 75, THE RESOLUTION UNDER CONSIDERATION. |
| 01:50:10 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 01:50:12 | Lampson, Nicholas | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 01:50:15 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 01:50:17 | Lampson, Nicholas | I RISE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 375. ASTRONOMY SEEMS TO CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF THE PUBLIC. CHILDREN EVERYWHERE GAZE WITH WONDER AND AMAZEMENT AT THE NIGHT SKY. IMAGES FROM THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE GRACE THE SCREEN VIEWERS AND SCREEN WALL PAPER OF OUR COMPUTERS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE VISIT, INCLUDING THE ADLER PLAN TARIUM IN CHICAGO. IT IS USED TO TRAIN SPACE SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS. THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE ASTRONOMY COMMITTEE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PUBLIC'S ENTHUSIASM BY ENGAGING ORDINARY CITIZENS IN REAL SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS SUCH AS TRACKING STARS AND ECLIPSES FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THREE OF THE MAJOR GOALS OF THE I.Y.A. 2009R ONE, INCREASE SCIENTIFIC AWARENESS, TWO, PROMOTE WIDESPREAD ACCESS TO NEW KNOWLEDGE AND OAK EXPERIENCES AND THREE, SUPPORT AND IMPROVE FORMAL AND INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION. WELL, THESE ARE ALSO PRIORITY FOR THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE, AS REFLECTED IN LAST YEAR'S LANDMARK COMPETES ACT. I APPLAUD THE ASTRONOMY COMMUNITY FOR MAKING THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY NOT JUST A CELEBRATION OF SCIENCE BY SCIENTISTS, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE WONDERS AND RELEVANCE OF SCIENCE WITH ALL CITIZENS ACROSS THE GLOBE. AS A TEXAN, I'M PROUD OF THE ROLE THAT NASA, INCLUDING JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, WILL HAVE IN CELEBRATING THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY AND PROMOTING ASTRONOMY AND SPACE EXPLORATION. I THANK MS. GIFFORDS FOR OFFERING THIS RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT EFFORTS AND HONOR THE GOALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY. MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS TIME, I WILL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 01:52:21 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 01:52:25 | Feeney, Tom | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 375 TO HONOR THE GOAL OF INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY ALONG WITH THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. IN 1609, GALILEO TURNED A TELESCOPE TO THE NIGHT SKY AND FOUND AN ARRAY OF ASTRONOMY CALL WONDERS AND THERE ARE SEE CREATES OF THE UNIVERSE AND UNDERSTANDING EARTH BEYOND EXTRAORDINARY SCIENTIFIC LEAPS. IN HONOR OF THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY, UNITED NATIONS HAS DESIGNATED THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY. THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY IS TO HELP CITIZENS OF THE WORLD DISCOVER THE IMPACT THAT ASTRONOMY HAS HAD ON THEIR DAILY LIVES AND CREATE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. IT WILL BE A WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION AIMING TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN SCIENCE, PARTICULARLY IN YOUNGER GENERATIONS AROUND THE CENTRAL THEME, THE UNIVERSE, YOURS TO DISCOVER, END OF QUOTES. THERE ARE EIGHT MAJOR GOALS. THEY INCLUDE, INCREASING SCIENTIFIC AWARENESS THROUGH THE COMMUNICATION OF SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHRUSE. WIDESPREAD ACCESS TO FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE THROUGH ASTRONOMY AND SKY-OBSERVING EXPERIENCES. COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ENGAGING IN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION, SUPPORTING AND IMPROVING FORMAL AND INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND SCIENCE CENTERS, PROVIDING A MODERN IMAGE OF SCIENCE TO REINFORCE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SCIENCE EDUCATION AND SCIENCE CAREERS, FACILITATING NEW AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING NETWORKS BY CONNECTING AS TRON MERES AND SCIENTISTS ON A LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL. PROMOTE GREATER INVOLVEMENT BY UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES IN SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING CAREERS AND FINALLY, FACILITATING THE PRESERVATION OF THE WORLD'S DARK SKIES IN PLACES SUCH AS NATIONAL PARKS AND SITES. THE U.S. HAS TAKEN A LEAD ROLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY BY HEADING UP FOUR PROJECTS OUTLINED IN THE INTERNATIONAL UNION. THEY INCLUDE THE INITIATIVE WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH AN INEXPENSIVE TELESCOPE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR OWN DISCOVER REESE. AND DARK SKIES AWARENESS, A WIDE RANGING EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE WORLD'S HERITAGE OF DARK NIGHT SKIES IN SITES. U.S. IS TAKING PART IN FROM THE EARTH TO THE UNIVERSE, AN EXHIBIT OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM GROUND AND SPACE-BASED SITES TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. THESE PROJECTS ARE HELPED TO DESIGN ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT I WENT THROUGH BEFORE. THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY IS AN EFFORT IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES IS PLEASED TO TAKE A LEADING ROLE AND I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL UNION. THEREFORE, I'M PLEASED TO JOIN TODAY WITH THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. AND MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 375. WITH THAT, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 01:55:41 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 01:55:46 | Lampson, Nicholas | I WOULD YIELD SUCH TIME AS THE GENTLELADY FROM ARIZONA, MS. GIFFORDS, WOULD CONSUME. |
| 01:55:51 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM ARIZONA IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 01:55:55 | Giffords, Gabrielle | NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE 400TH ANSWER SI FIRST POINTED THE TELESCOPE INTO THE NIGHT SKY. HE DID NOT INVENT THE TELESCOPE BUT FIRST ONE TO USE IT FOR ASTRONOMY. THE OBSERVATIONS HE MADE ULTIMATELY REVOLUTIONIZED HUMANITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND UNIVERSE. THOUGH THE TELESCOPE WAS CRUDE, HE WAS ABLE TO SEE CRATERS AND SHADOWS AND MOUNTAINS ON THE MOON. HE SAW THE PLANET VENUS GO THROUGH PHASES AND HE SAW MOONS ORBITTING THE PLANET JUPITER. HE SAW THIS AT A TIME WHEN CONVENTIONAL WISDOM HELD THAT ALL OBJECTS ORBITTED OUR PLANET. THESE DISCOVERIES EARMARKED THE BEGINNING OF MODERN ASTRONOMY. COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE CHOSEN TO RECOGNIZE THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR 2009 AS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY. THIS DELL SITUATION OF DISCOVERIES IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE EDUCATION. A WIDE VARIETY OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS AT PARKS AND MUSEUMS AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES WILL PROMOTE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF ASTRONOMY AND SCIENCE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. IT IS ONLY BEFITTING THAT THE UNITED STATES IS TAKING A LEAD ROLE IN THIS INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION, BECAUSE TODAY, THE UNITED STATES IS AT A FOREFRONT OF RESEARCH. WE HAVE BUILT TELESCOPES THAT WOULD ASTOUND GALILEO. WE HAVE TELESCOPES ON EARTH WITH NEAR 400 INCHES ACROSS AND HAVE TELESCOPES THAT ORBIT OUR PLANET FAR ABOVE THE EARTH'S SURFACE. NASA SPACE-BASED TELESCOPES, INCLUDING HUBBLE AND MANY OTHERS PRODUCE IMAGES THAT AMAZE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND SHOW THE FORMATION OF STARS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM TO THE FATE OF OUR UNIVERSE ITSELF. I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE IN MATH AND SCIENCE GENERALLY AND PARTICULARLY. I'M PLEASED THAT THE 1 ON -- 110 TH CONGRESS HAS PASSED THE AMERICA COMPETES ACT LAST YEAR. WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE. AND NOTHING CAPTURES AND ENGAGES THE MIND OF STUDENTS, STUDENTS YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE, THAN THE DISCOVERY. THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL ESSENCE OF ASTRONOMY AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY WILL INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO EMBRACE THEM IN THE WORLD TO STUDY ILLINOIS MATH AND SCIENCE. ASTRONOMY HAS A STRONG HISTORY IN MY DISTRICT AND ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST STARS IS DR. ROBERT ANGEL, A PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY. AND DR. ANGEL'S OWN WORDS, FROM THE STUDY OF ASTRONOMY, STUDENTS TODAY CAN LEARN ABOUT ENERGY THAN ALL ITS FORMS AND GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE UNIVERSE. THEY LEARN PRACTICAL TOOLS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE ENERGY AND CLIMATE CRISIS. ASTRONOMY KNOW-HOW HAS PRACTICAL VALUE. I'M USING IT TO FIGURE OUT GOOD WAYS TO HARNESS THE SUN'S ENERGY ON EARTH WITH BIG TELESCOPE-LIKE MIRRORS. STUDENTS TODAY CAN BUILD A FOUNDATION IN EXACTLY THE KIND OF SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING AND TECHNOLOGICAL SKILL THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE SOME OF SOCIETY'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS, CLIMATE CHANGE, GLOBAL WARMING AND OUR ENERGY NEEDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INTO THE FUTURE. IN THE UNITED STATES, KEY ORGANIZATIONS SPONSORING AND PROMOTING AND ORGANIZING EVENTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY INCLUDE THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMY CALL SOCIETY OF PACIFIC AND THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS, NASA AND THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. . IT APPEALS TO OUR SENSE OF WONDER AND CURIOSITY ABOUT OUR PLACE IN THE VAST COSMOS. THE GERMANS A STRON MEASURE KEPPLER WHOSE LAWS OF PLANETARY MOTION ARE STILL USED TODAY SAID IN HIS WORDS, THE TREASURES HIDDEN IN THE HEAVENS ARE SO RICH THAT THE HUMAN MIND SHALL NEVER BE LACKING IN FRESH NOURISHMENT. IT'S THOSE TREASURES OF THE HEAVENS THAT THE MEN AND THE WOMEN WHO STUDY THEM, WE WILL CELEBRATE AND HONOR AND DISCOVER IN 2009 WITH THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY. SO, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND WITH THAT AT THAT I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:00:47 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 02:00:49 | >> | MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AND WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME BUT BE PREPARED IT TO CLOSE WHEN THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS FINISHED. |
| 02:00:57 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:01:01 | >> | MR. SPEAKER, I ALSO HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AND IF THE GENTLEMAN IS READY TO YIELD BACK, I WILL BE HAPPY TO YIELD THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:01:08 | Feeney, Tom | I WANT TO THANK AGAIN THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. YOU KNOW, ALL HUMANITY HAS A COMMON INTEREST IN THE UNDERSTANDINGS THAT ASTRONOMICS CAN PROVIDE TO US AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS BILL I HAVE. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF ON BOTH SIDES FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS BILL, INCLUDING A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED SUSAN WHO, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS SHE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK ON. SO WITH THAT I WOULD URGE UNANIMOUS ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION AND I WOULD YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:01:39 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:01:43 | >> | I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKSERS AND I CONCUR WITH MR. FEENEY AND WOULD ASK THAT THIS BILL PASS. |
| 02:01:51 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | ALL TIME HAS BEEN YIELDED BACK. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND AGREE TO HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 375. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE? |
| 02:02:20 | Lampson, Nicholas | I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS HOUSE RESOLUTION 1313, CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE, DR. SALLY K. RIDE AND HONORING HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPACE PROGRAM AND TO SCIENCE EDUCATION. |
| 02:02:35 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION. |
| 02:02:39 | Lampson, Nicholas | HOUSE RESOLUTION 1313. RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE, DR. SALLY K. RIDE, AND HONORING HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPACE PROGRAM AND TO SCIENCE |
| 02:02:52 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. LAMPSON, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. FEENEY, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. LAMPSON. |
| 02:03:03 | Lampson, Nicholas | MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON H.RES. 1313, THE RESOLUTION NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION. |
| 02:03:16 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 02:03:18 | Lampson, Nicholas | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 02:03:23 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:03:25 | Lampson, Nicholas | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I INTRODUCED H.R. 1313 WHICH CELEBRATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE, DR. SALLY K. RIDE. I WAS PLEASED THAT MRS. DAVIS OF CALIFORNIA, MR. FEENEY OF FLORIDA AND CHAIRMAN UDALL OF COLORADO JOINED ME IN -- AS ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL WOMAN WHO HAS DONE SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND OUR PROJECT THAT HAS TOUCHED THIS WORLD. ON JUNE 18 OF 1983, DR. SALLY RIDE MADE HISTORY WITH HER GROUND-BREAKING SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT. HOWEVER, IT WAS BY NO MEANS -- IT HAS BEEN NO MEANS HER ONLY ACCOMPLISHMENT. DR. RIDE HAS HAD A DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF SERVICE TO AMERICA AS A VETERAN NASA ASTRONAUT AND AS AN UNWAVERING ADVOCATE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN IN SPACE, MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING. SHE FIRST FLEW AS A MEMBER OF S.T.S. 7, THAT CREW, WHICH ACHIEVED SEVERAL FIRSTS FOR THE UNITED STATES SPACE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE FIRST RELEASE AND CAPTURE OF A SATELLITE USING THE ASHER TO'S ROBOTIC ARM AND THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION OF A SHUTTLE FLYING IN FORMATION WITH A FREE-FLYING SATELLITE AND SHE THEN FLEW AGAIN IN 1984. SHE SERVED THE SPACE PROGRAM IN OTHER WAYS AS WELL. IN 1987 SHE WROTE THE THOUGHTFUL REPORT ON FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF THE U.S. SPACE PROGRAM. ENTITLED LEADERSHIP AND AMERICA'S FUTURE IN SPACE. AND WHEN TRAGEDY STRUCK, THE HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAM SHE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION ON BOTH THE CHALLENGER AND COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARDS. IN ADDITION, DR. RIDE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG WOMEN TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING THROUGH HER SCIENCE FESTIVALS AND CAMPS. SHE ALSO HAS SOUGHT TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH OTHER CREATIVE APPROACHES SUCH AS THE EARTH CAM PROGRAM SHE ESTABLISHED TO ALLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE DIRECTLY IN THE EXCITEMENT OF SPACE EXPLORATION. THAT'S ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE SEEN DWINDLE AND WE HOPE WILL HAVE A REKINDLING OF SUPPORT BECAUSE IT'S A MAGNIFICENT ONE TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAY INVOLVED AND BECOME INVOLVED IN MATH AND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING COURSES. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THE NEED TO GET OUR KIDS INTERESTED IN MATH AND SCIENCE AND I THINK THE NATION OWES DR. RIDE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR HER EFFORTS IN THAT REGARD. SO TO SUM UP, DR. SALLY RIDE HAS DONE MUCH TO SERVE OUR NATION SINCE SHE RODE THE SHUTTLE INTO SPACE 25 YEARS AGO. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN SALUTING HER ON THIS ANNIVERSARY OF HER FIRST PLIGHT FLIGHT AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:06:15 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 02:06:20 | Feeney, Tom | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 02:06:22 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:06:24 | Feeney, Tom | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M PLEASED TO JOIN MR. LAMPSON IN CO-SPONSORING HIS LEGISLATION WHICH HONORS THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF AN AMAZING WOMAN, ASTRONAUT DR. SALLY K. RIDE. SALLY RIDE WAS BORN IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ON MAY 26, 1951. IT IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN AS THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE. SHE WAS SELECTED FOR NASA'S ASTRONAUT PROGRAM IN JANUARY, 1978, AND BECAME EMISSION SPECIALIST IN THE SEVENTH SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION WHICH LAUNCHED FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA. THIS WAS THE SECOND FLIGHT OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER AND THE FIRST MISSION WITH A FIVE-PERSON CREW. DURING THE MISSION, DR. RIDE OPERATED THE SCHULTZLE -- SHUTTLE'S REMOTE MANIPULATER ARM FROM THE SHUTTLE'S CARGO BAY. THESE EARLY DEMONSTRATIONS PAVED THE WAY FOR ROUTINE YET VITALLY IMPORTANT OPERATIONS NECESSARY TO BUILD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. PRIOR TO HER SERVICE WITH NASA, SALLY RIDE RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND PHYSICS AND A BACHELOR OF ARTS AND FLISH, THEN WENT ON TO RECEIVE A MASTER IN SCIENCE. WHAT IS PERHAPS LESS WELL KNOWN ABOUT SALLY RIDE IS THE WORK SHE HAS DONE TO MOTIVATE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMAN TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, MATH AND IN TECHNOLOGY. DR. RIDE HAS WRITTEN FIVE SCIENCE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND INITIATED AND DIRECTED EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE A FASCINATION WITH SCIENCE AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. DR. RIDE ALSO SERVED THE NATION IN OTHER CAPACITIES, INCLUDING AS A MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION INVESTIGATING THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER ACCIDENT AND LATER THE COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD. SHE'S BEEN A MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON ADVISORS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL SPACE STUDY BOARD, AS WELL AS SERVING ON THE BOARDS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT. INDEED, OUR COUNTRY DOES OWE A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THIS AMAZING WOMAN, DR. SALLY RIDE. WITH THAT I WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:08:19 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:08:24 | Lampson, Nicholas | AT THIS POINT I WOULD RECOGNIZE THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MRS. DAVIS, AND GRANT HER AS MUCH TIME AS SHE MAY CONSUME. |
| 02:08:32 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:08:36 | Davis, Susan | THANK YOU. I RISE TODAY TO HONOR THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF DR. SALLY K. RIDE'S HISTORIC JOURNEY AS THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE. DR. RIDE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HER. 25 YEARS AGO DR. RIDE AND THE S.T.S. 7 CREW OF THE SPACE CHALLENGER WERE PROPELLED INTO SPACE. IT HAD BEEN OVER TWO DECADES SINCE NEIL ARMSTRONG TOOK ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND. BUT ON JUNE 18, 1983, SALLY K. RIDE TOOK A LARGE STRIDE FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE BY BECOMING THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE. A GIFTED ATHLETE, DR. RIDE HAD OPTED OUT OF A PROMISING TENNIS CAREER TO PURSUE COLLEGE DEGREES IN PHYSICS AND ENGLISH AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY. IN 1977 DR. RIDE'S INTEREST WAS PICKED BY A NASA ANNOUNCEMENT -- PEEKED BY A NASA ANNOUNCEMENT -- PIQUED BY A NASA ANNOUNCEMENT. HERS WOULD BE THE FIRST NASA CLASS EVER TO ACCEPT WOMEN. OUT OF THOUSANDS OF APPLICATIONS, NASA SELECTED DR. RIDE TO BE ONE OF SIX WOMEN OUT OF 35 NEW ASTRONAUTS. AND THE CLASS BECAME KNOWN AS THE 35 NEW GUYS. TO BE SURE, MR. SPEAKER, ON HER HISTORIC SPACE MISSION, DR. RIDE WASN'T SIMPLY ALONG FOR THE RIDE. SHE WAS THE MISSION'S FLIGHT ENGINEER, TESTED A ROBOTIC ARM WHICH DEPLOYED AND RETRIEVED SATELLITES AND ASSISTED THE COMMANDER AND PILOT DURING FLIGHT. SIX YEARS LATER DR. RIDE FLEW INTO SPACE AGAIN. HER EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS EARNED HER THE RESPECT OF OUR NATION AND HER COLLEAGUES. IN 1986 SHE WAS ASKED TO SERVE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION INVESTIGATING THE TRAGIC CHALLENGER EXPLOSION. DR. RIDE LEFT HER POSITION AT NASA IN 1987, BUT HAS NEVER SPOPPED -- STOPPED INSPIRING AND ENCOURAGING THE NEXT GENERATION TO EXPLORE THE WORLD OF SCIENCE AND SPACE. HER IMPACT ON YOUNG WOMEN HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY PROFOUND. SHE'S A PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO AND DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA'S CALIFORNIA SPACE INSTITUTE. AND SHE HAS ALSO FOUNDED HER OWN COMPANY, SALLY RIDE SCIENCE, WHICH ENCOURAGES STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO LEARN ABOUT AND ENJOY THE FIELD OF SCIENCE. AND I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THE SCIENCE AND MATH FAIRS, SHE IS THE HIT. SHE IS THE HIGHLIGHT AND ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE REALLY LINE UP TO TALK WITH HER. CAPTURING THE HE ISNESS OF DR. RIDE'S LIFE -- ESSENCE OF DR. RIDE'S LIFE IS HER COMPANY'S MOTTO, ALL SCIENCE ALL THE TIME. IT IS THIS UNDYING DEDICATION TO HER FIELD AND TO INFORMING AND INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE HAS BEEN SO CHARACTERISTIC OF DR. RIDE SINCE HER BARRIER-BREAKING SPACE MISSION A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO. WITH WOMEN LIKE HER LEADING THE WAY, IT IS NO WONDER THAT THE NUMBER OF FEMALES TO OBTAIN DEGREES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. TO ENSURING THAT WOMEN ARE EQUITABLY REPRESENTED IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FIELDS WILL MEAN A NEW LEVEL OF GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS FOR OUR COUNTRY. THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED. WE NEED AS WE CONTINUE TO FALL BEHIND, AS A NATION IN MATH AND THE SCIENCES. WHILE DR. RIDE'S MISSION LANDED SAFELY 25 YEARS AGO, THE TASK OF ACHIEVING GENDER PARITY IN HER FIELD IS FAR FROM OVER. AS DR. RIDE'S CONGRESSWOMAN AND AS THE GRANDMOTHER TO A YOUNG AND CURIOUS GRANDDAUGHTER, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:12:38 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 02:12:40 | Feeney, Tom | MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME AND BE PREPARED TO CLOSE. |
| 02:12:45 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:12:49 | Lampson, Nicholas | I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AND I RESERVE MY TIME. |
| 02:12:52 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 02:12:55 | Feeney, Tom | I'M PLEASED TO BE AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR OF MR. LAMPSON'S RESOLUTION HONORING A GREAT AMERICAN AND WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD URGE ITS ADOPTION BY THE HOUSE AND YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:13:04 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:13:09 | Lampson, Nicholas | IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED SO VERY MUCH IN HELPING CHANGE YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY OF OURS. MR. FEENEY, MRS. DAVIS AND MR. UDALL ALL SAW THE IMPACT THAT DR. SALLY RIDE HAD ON SO MANY YOUNG MINDS ACROSS THIS NATION, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STUDY MATH AND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING-RELATED CLASSES. I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER PIONEER WHO HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR WORKING WITH US ON THE RESOLUTION AND I ASK SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:13:48 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | ALL TIME HAS BEEN YIELDED BACK. THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND AGREE THOUSAND RESOLUTION 1313 -- TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 1313. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE -- THE RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO -- THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:14:08 | Lampson, Nicholas | MR. SPEAKER, I REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS. |
| 02:14:10 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL COUNTED. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20 AND THE CHAIR'S PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENT, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS MOTION WILL BE POSTPONED. . |
| 02:14:35 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE? |
| 02:14:38 | Lampson, Nicholas | I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS HOUSE RESOLUTION 1312, COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPACE FOUNDATION. |
| 02:14:48 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE THE CLERK WILL REPORT. |
| 02:14:51 | THE CLERK | RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPACE FOUNDATION. |
| 02:14:56 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. LAMPSON, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. FEENEY, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. LAMPSON. |
| 02:15:08 | Lampson, Nicholas | I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE RESOLUTION NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION. |
| 02:15:20 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 02:15:22 | Lampson, Nicholas | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 02:15:25 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:15:27 | Lampson, Nicholas | I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 1312, WHICH COMMEMORATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPACE FOUNDATION. THE SPACE FOUNDATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1983 IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, WITH THE PURPOSE OF HELPING TO ADVOCATE THE NATION'S SPACE-RELATED ENDEAVORS. AND OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, IT HAS CARRIED OUT THAT MISSION IN AN IMPRESSIVE FASHION. IT HAS GROWN WHERE IT TAKES SPACE EDUCATION INITIATIVES IN ALL 50 STATES. AS SOMEONE WHO FEELS PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED AND EDUCATED IN MATH AND SCIENCE, I WANT TO CALL PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE FOUNDATION'S EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE SPACE FOUNDATION HAS RECOGNIZED THAT SPACE EXPLORATION IS SOMETHING THAT CAN REALLY INSPIRE KIDS AND PROPEL THEM TO STUDY HARD SO THEY CAN BE PART OF OUR NATION'S ENDEAVORS IN SPACE. THE FOUNDATION IS DOING WORK, IMPORTANT WORK, IN PROMOTING SCIENCE EDUCATION AND I SALUTE THEM. THE SPACE FOUNDATION HAS SEEKED THE BEST PATH FORWARD IN NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE ISSUES AND CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES A RESPECTED FORUM FOR POLICY DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES. IN SHORT, THE SPACE FOUNDATION IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SPACE FOR ALL HUMANKIND. I JOIN MR. LAMBORN AND OTHER MEMBERS IN CONGRATULATING THE SPACE FOUNDATION FOR 25 YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WISHING THE FOUNDATION ALL THE BEST FOR ANOTHER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE. MR. SPEAKER, I RESEVERE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:17:04 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 02:17:10 | Feeney, Tom | MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 02:17:13 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:17:16 | Feeney, Tom | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 1312, WHICH COMMEMORATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPACE FOUNDATION. I WANT TO THANK ITS SPONSOR, MR. LAMBORN, AND MR. LAMPSON FROM TEXAS FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION HONORING THE SPACE FOUNDATION. SPACE FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN COLORADO SPRINGS IN 1983 TO PROVIDE A NONPARTISAN SOURCE OF CREDIBLE INFORMATION TO A WIDE VARIETY IN THE SPACE COMMUNITY, FROM PROFESSIONALS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, THE SPACE FOUNDATION'S MISSION HAS BEEN TO ADVANCE SPACE-RELATED ENDEAVORS TO INSPIRE, ENABLE AND PROPEL HUMANITY. THE SPACE FOUNDATION HAS DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE THE SPACE COMMUNITY BY FOSTERING AND PROMOTING A GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF THE PRACTICAL USES OF SPACE FOR THE BENEFIT OF CIVILIZATION IN ALL ASPECTS OF SPACE, COMMERCIAL, CIVIL AND NATIONAL SECURITY. PERHAPS MOST NOTABLE HAS BEEN THE SPACE FOUNDATION'S COMMITMENT TO SPACE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, SPACE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN A LEADING CHAMPION FOR BRINGING SPACE SCIENCE INTO THE CLASSROOM. THE SPACE FOUNDATION'S SUMMER INSTITUTE PROVIDES A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TEACHERS CAN CONTINUE THEIR SPACE STUDIES AND HELP ENHANCE THEIR STUDENTS' CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE. IN ADDITION TO THE SUMMER INSTITUTE, THE SPACE FOUNDATION HOSTS THE NATIONAL SPACE EMPOSSESSIUM AND STRATEGIC SPACE IN DEFENSE, TWO OF THE TOP THREE CONFERENCES FOR SPACE PROFESSIONALS WORLDWIDE. I MIGHT SAY I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING A RECENT CONFERENCE IN COLORADO SPRINGS. SPACE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN USEFUL IN EFFORTS TO BRING TOGETHER ALL ASPECTS OF THE SPACE INDUSTRY AND HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A CRUCIAL MEMBER OF THE SPACE COMMUNITY. I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION HONORING A SIGNIFICANT ORGANIZATION. AND MR. SPEAKER, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO SUPPORT HOUSE RESOLUTION 1312. WITH THAT, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:19:25 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:19:31 | Lampson, Nicholas | I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS. I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:19:36 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 02:19:39 | Feeney, Tom | I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION, MR. LAMBORN. |
| 02:19:44 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN SAY FOUR MINUTES? |
| 02:19:47 | Lamborn, Doug | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM FLORIDA. I RISE TODAY, MR. SPEAKER, IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION, H.R. 1312, COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES SPACE FOUNDATION. FOUNDED IN MARCH OF 1983 BY A SMALL GROUP OF PIONEERING INDIVIDUALS IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, THE SPACE FOUNDATION SERVES TO ADVANCE AMERICA'S SPACE-RELATED ENDEAVORS TO INSPIRE, ENABLE AND PROPEL HUMANITY. THIS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS A LEADER IN ADVANCING SPACE EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SPACE AND SPACE EDUCATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL HUMANKIND AND EMBRACES ALL ASPECTS OF SPACE, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL, CIVILIAN AND NATIONAL SECURITY COMPONENTS. THE SPACE FOUNDATION'S LEADERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL SPACE ADVOCACY HAS LED TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION TO THE UNITED STATES COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE SPACE FOUNDATION AND COMMEMORATE THEIR 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN SUPPORT OF THIS NATION. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND I YIELD THE BALANCE OF MY TIME TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM FLORIDA. |
| 02:21:06 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. |
| 02:21:10 | Feeney, Tom | I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AND I'M PREPARED TO CLOSE. WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK MR. LAMBORN AND URGE THE RESOLUTION'S ADOPTION BY THE FULL HOUSE. AND I WOULD YIELD BACK. |
| 02:21:20 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:21:25 | Lampson, Nicholas | I CONGRATULATE MR. LAMBORN FOR HIS RECOGNITION OF THIS LEGISLATION AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I SAW AS A PHYSICAL SCIENCE TEACHER IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS, PARTICULARLY DURING THE YEARS OF THE APOLLO MISSIONS TO AND FROM THE MOON, WAS THE EXCITEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS ABOUT AND WHAT THE SPACE ADVOCACY HAS BEEN ABOUT. I URGE SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 1312. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:21:59 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | ALL TIME HAS ENDED. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND AGREE TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 1312. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO. AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE? |
| 02:22:36 | Lampson, Nicholas | I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS HOUSE RESOLUTION 1315, COMMEMORATING THE 50 ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION. |
| 02:22:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT. |
| 02:22:49 | THE CLERK | HOUSE RESOLUTION 1315, RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION. |
| 02:22:56 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. LAMPSON AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. MCCAUL, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. LAMPSON. |
| 02:23:09 | Lampson, Nicholas | MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND TO INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON H.R. 1315, THE RESOLUTION NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION. |
| 02:23:20 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. SO ORDERED. |
| 02:23:22 | Lampson, Nicholas | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 02:23:25 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:23:27 | Lampson, Nicholas | I RISE TODAY TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, NASA, WHOSE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE PROVIDED IMMEASURABLE BENEFITS FOR THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD. 50 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH, SPECIFICALLY JULY 29 THAT PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SIGNED THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACT OF 1958 THAT ESTABLISHED NASA. AT THAT TIME, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WAS STILL REELING FROM THE IMPACTS OF THE SOVIET UNION'S SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF SPUTNIK I IN LATE 1957, WHICH LED TO THE SPACE RACE WITH THE SOVIETS. THAT RACE CAME TO AN END LESS THAN 12 YEARS LATER WHEN AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS SUCCESSFULLY LANDED ON THE MOON AND RETURNED SAFELY TO EARTH. NASA WAS THE AGENCY THAT LED THE EFFORT. TO CREATE A HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAM FROM SCRATCH AND MAKE AMERICA PREEMINENT IN SPACE. YET AS REMARKABLE AS NASA'S ACHIEVEMENTS WERE AS WELL AS BUILDING THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, NASA HAS EX SELLED IN OTHER AREAS. ITS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES HAVE LED TO SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES IN THE CAPABILITIES OF BOTH CIVIL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT. NASA'S AERONAUTICS PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO HELPED TO MAKE AMERICA'S AVIATION SYSTEM A WORLD LEADER IN SAFETY AND HAS IMPROVED OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN NUMEROUS WAYS. IN ADDITION TO HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT AND AERONAUTICS, NASA HAS CREATED EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SECOND TO NONE IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE OF OUR PLANET AND UNIVERSE. ONE ONLY HAS TO LOOK AT THE WAYS IN WHICH THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS REWRITTEN THE ASTRONOMY TEXTBOOK SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 1990, TO KNOW THAT NASA'S SPACE-BASED SCIENCE PROGRAMS ARE THE ENDEAVORS. IN ADDITION, NASA'S TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS HAVE RIPPLED THROUGH OUR ECONOMY IN COUNTLESS WAYS, DELIVERING NEW MATERIALS, NEW PROCESSES AND NEW SYSTEMS THAT HAVE HAD MAJOR IMPACT ON THINGS AS DIVERSE AS HEALTH CARE AND WEATHER FORECASTING. AND FINALLY, NASA CONTINUES TO BE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND A SYMBOL TO THE WORLD OF AMERICA'S TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC PREEMINENCE. THESE ARE IMPORTANT REIALITIES WE SHOULD NOT OVERLOOK WHEN FUNDING NASA. INVESTING IN NASA HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE. I'M PROUD TO BE AN ORANGE CO-SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION ALONG WITH MR. MCCAUL. I URGE ALL OUR MEMBERS TO SUPPORT IT. AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:26:23 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:26:28 | McCaul, Michael | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. I WANT TO THANK MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM THE HOUSTON AREA FOR HIS SUPPORT. AND I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1315 TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, OTHER WISE KNOWN AS NASA. NASA WAS FOUNDED ON JULY 29, 1958. ON MAY 5, 1961, THE FIRST AMERICAN WAS LAUNCHED INTO SPACE ON FREEDOM 7. AND THAT WAS ALAN SHEPARD. ON JULY 20, 1962, PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S DREAM WAS FULFILLED WHEN APOLLO 11 LANDED ON THE MOON. KNIL ARMSTRONG BECAME THE FIRST MAN TO WALK ON THE MOON. NASA HAS INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IN YOUNG PEOPLE. I REMEMBER TAKING ONE OF THE ASTRONAUTS THROUGH MY SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM HOUSTON TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND JUST THE HOPE AND THE DREAMS THAT SHE AND NASA'S PROGRAMS INSPIRES IN YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELDS OF MATH AND SCIENCE IS TRULY AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL OF US AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. NASA'S WORK HAS LED TO NECK TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES, INCLUDING SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS. WE USE CELL PHONES AND BLACKBERRIES. WE HAVE A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN BODY BECAUSE OF THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED DURING MAN'S SPACE FLIGHT. THIS PROGRAM BASED AT THE SPACE CENTER IN MR. LAMPSON'S DISTRICT AND NOT TOO FAR FROM MINE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HOUSTON ECONOMY. MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER. AND NASA'S WORK IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE. IT'S VITAL THAT CONGRESS ACT TO MINIMIZE THE GAP BETWEEN THE RETIREMENT OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND THE STAR OF THE NEW PROGRAM TO MAINTAIN OUR LEADERSHIP IN SPACE EXPLORATION. AND THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, NASA CURRENTLY SERVES AS A MODEL OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. NASA'S WORK HAS EXPANDED OUR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR UNIVERSE. THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE, AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM HOUSTON TALKED ABOUT, LAUNCHED IN 1990, IS PROVIDING US WITH USEFUL DATA AND BRINGING TO SCHOOL CHILDREN THE WONDERS OF SPACE. NASA HAS SENT PROBES TO EIGHT DIFFERENT PLANETS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM. AND WE CAN'T THINK ABOUT THE SPACE PROGRAM WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT WHO LAUNCHED IT, PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND WHEN HE EXPLAINED WHY SPACE EXPLORATION IS SO IMPORTANT AND SO NECESSARY. HE SAID, THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE WILL GO AHEAD, WHETHER WE JOIN IT OR NOT. AND IT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ADVENTURES OF ALL TIME. AND NO NATION WHICH EXPECTS TO BE THE LEADER OF OTHER NATIONS CAN EXPECT TO STAY BEHIND IN THIS RACE FOR SPACE. WE SAIL BECAUSE THERE IS NEW KNOWLEDGE TO BE GAINED AND NEW RIGHTS TO BE WON AND THEY MUST BE WON AND USED FOR ALL PEOPLE. WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I WILL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:29:51 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:29:55 | Lampson, Nicholas | I YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. RICHARDSON. |
| 02:29:59 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. . |
| 02:30:12 | Richardson, Laura | I RISE WITH THE OF HOW PROUD WE ARE OF ALL THE NEW YORK THAT NASA HAS DONE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, NASA HAS BEEN THE LEADING AGENCY FOR AMERICAN AND GLOBAL INNOVATION. INDEED, THE CREATION OF NASA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND MATHEMATICIANS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. LIKEWISE, AS WE CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF NASA, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADHERE TO THE CONTINUING COMMITMENT WE SHOULD MAKE AS A NATION TO EMBRACE THE INNOVATION AND REACH THE UNACHIEVELE. BUT WE AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WE MUST BACK THAT UP WITH FUNDING. AS A MEMBER OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE, I WAS FORTUNATE TO VIEW IN PERSON THE LAUNCH OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ON MARCH 10, 2008, WHERE I WITNESSED -- WITNESSED AT NIGHT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST ORCHESTRATED THROUGH ITS OPERATIONS AND THROUGH ITS MAKING HISTORY. FROM MAKING COMMERCIAL AVIATION SAFER TO STUDYING CLIMATE CHANGE AND STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED AT THIS TIME, THE SCIENTISTS AT NASA CONTINUE TO DO ADVANCED RESEARCH ON THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR DAILY LIVES. I WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD MY COLLEAGUE OF THE SCIENCE AND TENGNOLING COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE MCCAUL, FOR BRINGING THIS THOUGHTFUL RESOLUTION TO THE FLOOR AND ALSO TO MR. LAMPSON FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO THIS ISSUE. I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT H.R. 1315, COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND WE HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE MANY TO COME. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:31:52 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:31:55 | Lampson, Nicholas | THANK YOU IT -- |
| 02:31:56 | McCaul, Michael | THANK YOU. MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, DR. GINGREY, FOR FOUR MINUTES. |
| 02:32:03 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. |
| 02:32:07 | Gingrey, Phil | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION, 1315, HONORING NASA ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY. AS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MR. LAMPSON, THE RANKING MEMBER, MR. MCCAUL OF TEXAS, FOR COMMEMORATING NASA ON THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR OUR COUNTRY. MR. SPEAKER, OVER THE YEARS, NASA HAS NOT ONLY BEEN THE LEADER IN HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION BUT HAS SUCCESSFULLY USED TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES LIKE AS MENTIONED BY MY COLLEAGUES, THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE, G.P.S. SYSTEM AND I ANTICIPATE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF NASA, THEY WILL CONTINUE BEING THE TRUE LEADERS AND INNOVATORS IN THE YEARS TO COME. MR. SPEAKER, AS WE SPEAK TODAY, NASA IS UNDERGOING AGGRESSIVE RESEARCH TO CONVERT DOMESTIC ENERGY SOURCES, COAL, NATURAL GAS, BIOMASS, OIL SHALE INTO CLEANER AND MORE ECONOMICAL ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL JET FUEL. NOW WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? IT'S IMPORTANT, MR. SPEAKER, BECAUSE IN THE YEAR 2003 THE NASA AGENCY SPENT $4.5 MILLION ON THEIR JET FUEL. $4.6 -- 4.6 MILLION GALLONS. IN 2007, FOUR YEARS LATER, THEY SPENT $18.3 MILLION. SO THEY'RE DOING THIS RESEARCH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO TRY TO FIND ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUEL TO LOWER THE COST TO THE GOVERNMENT. AND EVERYBODY IN THIS CHAMBER, EVERYBODY IN THIS NATION KNOWS THAT WE ARE SUFFERING TREMENDOUSLY FROM A LACK OF SUPPLY AND A TREMENDOUS DEMAND AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PAYING $4.11 A GALLON FOR REGULAR GASOLINE. WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE'S ONE LITTLE GLITCH. AND THAT'S THE DEMOCRAT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT OF 2007 WHICH ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITS NASA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FROM UTILIZING ANY PETROLEUM SOURCE OTHER THAN CONVENTIONAL PETROLEUM IF IT'S NOT AS CLEAN. WELL, IN TIMES LIKE THESE WHEN THE COUNTRY IS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY, I THINK THE FIRST PRIORITY, MR. SPEAKER, SHOULD BE TO LOWER THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AND LET NASA CONTINUE THE RESEARCH SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE CONVERSION OF SHALE WHICH HAS SOMETHING LIKE 1.3 TRILLION BARRELS OF PETROLEUM EMBEDDED IN THAT ROCK AND THAT WE CONVERT COAL TO LIQUID TO PETROLEUM. WE HAVE 1.5 TRILLION TONS OF COAL IN THIS COUNTRY. AND WE ONLY USE ABOUT A BILLION TONS A YEAR. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS EXCESS AMOUNT OF COAL RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY AND YET THIS ENERGY BILL THE DEMOCRATS PASSED LAST YEAR PROHIBITS US FROM GOING AFTER THIS SOURCE, INCREASING THE SUPPLY, SO THAT THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AT THE PUMP GOES DOWN AND I WOULD EMPLOY MY -- IMPLORE MY COLLEAGUES TO BRING THESE BILLS TO THE FLOOR. THEY'RE OVER THERE. THERE'S A DISCHARGE PETITION. REPUBLICANS HAVE SIGNED THEM. JUST A HANDFUL OF DEMOCRATS. WE NEED TO BRING THESE ISSUES TO THE FLOOR, HAVE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE. AT LEAST GIVE NASA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE A WAIVER OF SECTION 526 SO THAT WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND WE'RE NOT SO DEPENDENT ON THESE FOREIGN NATIONS THAT HATE OUR GUTS, COUNTRIES SUCH AS VENEZUELA AND COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. IT'S TIME TO ACT. I COMMEND THE COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION. IT'S A GREAT RESOLUTION HONORING NASA ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY. I SUPPORT IT FULLY BUT I ALSO SUPPORT A BALANCED APPROACH TO SOLVING OUR ENERGY NEEDS AND I YIELD BACK. |
| 02:36:17 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:36:24 | Lampson, Nicholas | MR. SPEAKER, I WILL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME FOR RIGHT NOW. |
| 02:36:29 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:36:32 | >> | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. FEENEY. |
| 02:36:36 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. |
| 02:36:40 | Feeney, Tom | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS AND I'M THRILLED TO BE PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF NASA'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH HOUSE RESOLUTION 1315. NASA WAS CREATED 50 YEARS AGO IN THE WAKE OF SOVIET UNION'S LAUNCH OF SPUTNIK. SPUTNIK PROVIDED THE PERCEPTION OF SOVIET SUPERIORITY IN MILITARY POWER AND SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT. TO COUNTERTHAT -- COUNTER THAT CHALLENGE, NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION WAS CONDUCTED. NASA ACTUALLY SUCCEEDED THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AFT NOMICS, A SPLENDID ORGANIZATION IN 1915. NOW THE TASK WAS TO EXTEND AMERICA'S REACH FROM AIR TO SPACE. NASA DID SO. SATELLITES WERE LAUNCHED TO MONITOR THE WEATHER, RELAY COMMUNICATIONS AND EXPLORE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM. AMERICA'S HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT FRESHMAN, -- PROGRAM, PROJECT MERCURY, BEGAN. ASTRONAUTS WERE SELECTED IN 1959 AND IN 1960 NASA BEGAN PLANNING A MANNED LUNAR LANDING. THE REST BECAME AN INTEGRAL PART OF AMERICAN IDENTITY. NOT JUST FOR US, FOR HOW THE REST OF THE WORLD VIEWS THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. OUR JOURNEYS TO THE MOON, THE SPACE SHUTTLE, THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, APOLLO 13'S HARROWING JOURNEY. THE TRAGEDIES OF APOLLO 1. THE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER. AND THE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA. THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE, THE MONITORING OF OUR DYNAMIC EARTH AND, OF COURSE, THE WONDER OF FLIGHT ITSELF. ALL DONE IN THE FULL VIEW OF THE WORLD. TODAY AMERICA IS THE WORLD'S PREMIER SPACE FARING NATION. FOR 50 YEARS THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE NASA FAMILY HAVE BROUGHT GREAT HONOR AND PRESTIGE TO THIS COUNTRY. TODAY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HONORS THOSE PEOPLE PAST AND PRESENT. WE WILL CONTINUE THAT LEGACY. LAST MONTH THIS HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED A NASA REAUTHORIZATION BILL THAT LAYS OUT A COMPREHENSIVE BLUE PRINT FOR SUSTAINING A HEALTHY AND VIGOROUS NASA. CONSIDERABLE CARE HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO ALL ELEMENTS OF NASA'S PORTFOLIO, EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES AND AERONAUTICS. WE MUST NEVER RELINQUISH OUR LEAD IN SPACE AND YET MY FRIENDS, TODAY IN "THE WASHINGTON POST," "THE WASHINGTON POST" POINTS OUT THAT JUST LIKE COMPETITION ON EARTH, SPACE IS NOW A GLOBAL COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT. AND I QUOTE "THE WASHINGTON POST" FROM TODAY'S EDITION, SPACE LIKE EARTH BELOW IS GLOBALIZING. AND AS IT DOES, AMERICA'S LONG HELD SUPERIORITY IN EXPLOITING AND COMMERCIALIZING THE FINAL FRONTIER IS SLIPPING AWAY MANY EXPERTS BELIEVE. I AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT. SLOWLY BUT STEADILY WE ARE ALLOWING OUR HISTORIC LEAD IN SPACE TO SLIP AWAY AND THIS HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO STEP TO THE FOREFRONT. WE'RE EXPERIENCING INCREASING COMPETITION FROM CHINA, FROM INDIA, FROM JAPAN, FROM RUSSIA, FROM THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY AND INCREASINGLY MANY OTHERS. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA ACCIDENT, AMERICA REDEDICATED ITSELF TO HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT. WE VOWED TO RESUME FLYING THE SHUTTLE, COMPLETE THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND THEN BUILD AND FLY A NEW GENERATION OF SPACECRAFT THAT WILL TAKE AMERICA BEYOND OR BY THING THE EARTH. THE -- ORBITING THE EARTH. THE MOON WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY DESTINATIONS. WHEN THIS VISION WAS ANNOUNCED, ONE OF THE FIRST RESPONSES CAME IN AN EDITORIAL IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH. SOMETIMES LIVING ACROSS THE POND IS THE BEST WAY TO OBSERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HERE'S WHAT THE EDITORIAL SAID. AMERICANS THANK HEAVEN ARE A RESTLESS, INQUISITIVE, PIONEERING PEOPLE. THE CONCEPT OF EXPLORATION AND EVER-EXPANDING FRONTIER IS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR IDENTITY IN A WAY THAT SOME EUROPEANS FIND HARD TO UNDERSTAND. AS THE WORLD WATCHES, NASA DISPLAYS THIS FUNDAMENTAL PART OF OUR AMERICAN CHARACTER. AND THAT IS APPROPRIATE. FOR WE EXPLORE SPACE NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES. WE DO SO FOR ALL OF HUMAN KIND. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:40:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. |
| 02:40:51 | Lampson, Nicholas | I LISTENED WITH INTEREST TO CONGRESSMAN GINGREY'S COMMENTS A FEW MINUTES AGO ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT NASA HAS MADE WITH REGARD TO ITS ENERGY USAGE. IT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. ON LAST TUESDAY I HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER WATCHING THE OPERATION OF THE NEW LUNAR ROVER. IT IS A SIX-WHEELED, ACTUALLY DOUBLE WHEELS, VEHICLE THAT RUNS ENTIRELY ON BATTERY POWER AND HAS A MAGNIFICENT AMOUNT OF STRENGTH AND LONGEVITY. IT'S THE RESEARCH THAT NASA HAS DONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BETTER BATTERIES, LONGER LIFE FOR OUR BATTERIES. AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP SOLAR POWER TO THE EXTENT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS ENTIRELY POWERED WITH SOLAR COLLECTORS THAT ARE ON THAT STATION AND THE RESEARCH THAT THEY ARE DOING TO INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GATHER SOLAR POWER IN SPACE AND BEAM IT DOWN TO EARTH FOR OUR USE, THAT CONTINUES TO SHOW THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND CAPABILITIES OF OUR NASA -- OF OUR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION. THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUEL CELLS AND HYDROGEN, ALL OF THESE MAGNIFICENT TECHNOLOGIES HAVE COME BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO LOOK AT NEW AND DIFFERENT AND BETTER WAYS OF DOING THINGS AND THANK GOODNESS THEY HAVE LOOKED AT IT IN EXACTLY THE WAY DR. GINGREY WAS SAYING, BALANCED. WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL SOURCES OF ENERGY AND NASA IS SHOWING EXACTLY HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK. I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:42:29 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:42:34 | McCaul, Michael | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. LET ME SAY AGAIN HOW PROUD I AM TO HAVE INTRODUCED THIS RESOLUTION. I SUPPORT THE SUPPORT OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, AND THE SUPPORT OF THE COLLEAGUES ON MY SIDE OF THE AISLE AS WELL. THE NASA SPACE PROGRAM HAS PROVEN TO BE -- PROVIDE A GREAT RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS AND I WOULD URGE THIS CONGRESS TO CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT. A RECENT ARTICLE IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" TODAY OUTLINED THAT THE U.S. FINDS IT'S GETTING CROWDED OUT IN TERMS OF DOMINANCE IN SPACE AS OUR NATIONS STEP UP THEIR EFFORTS. CHINA PLANS TO CONDUCT ITS FIRST SPACE WALK IN OCTOBER. THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY IS BUILDING A ROVING ROBOT TO LAND ON MARS AND INDIA RECENTLY LAUNCHED A RECORD 10 SATELLITES INTO SPACE ON A SINGLE ROCKET. WE CANNOT FALL BEHIND. THAT IS NOT THE INTENT, THE PURPOSE, THE VISION OF NASA. SPACE LIKE EARTH BELOW IS GLOBALIZING AND AS IT DOES, AMERICA'S LONG-HELD SUPERIORITY IN EXPLORING, EXPLOITING AND COMMERCIALIZING THE FINAL FRONTIER IS SLIPPING AWAY ACCORDING TO THIS ARTICLE, MAYBE EXPERTS BELIEVE -- MANY EXPERTS BELIEVE. AND THOUGH THE UNITED STATES REMAINS DOMINANT IN MOST SPACE-RELATED FIELDS AND OWNS HALF THE MILITARY SATELLITES ORBITING EARTH, EXPERTS SAY THE NATION'S SUPERIORITY IS DIMINISHING AND MANY OTHER NATIONS ARE EXPANDING THEIR CIVILIAN AND COMMERCIAL SPACE CAPABILITIES THAT -- AT A FAR FASTER PACE. MICHAEL GRIFFIN SAID WE SPENT TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS DURING THE APOLLO ERA TO PURCHASE A COMMANDING LEAD IN SPACE OVER ALL NATIONS ON EARTH. HOWEVER, THIS AGENCY'S BUDGET IS DOWN 20% SINCE 1998. ACCORDING TO MR. GRIFFIN WE'VE BEEN LIVING OUT THE FRUIT OF THAT PURCHASE FOR 40 YEARS AND HAVE NOT CHOSEN TO INVEST AT A LEVEL THAT WOULD PRESERVE THAT COMMANDING LEAD. WE HAVE AUTHORIZED FUNDING FOR NASA. I WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT THAT. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES NOT ONLY GREAT SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERINGS TO THIS COUNTRY, BUT ALLOWS US TO BE COMPETITIVE GLOBALLY IN ALL AREAS INCLUDING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, BUT ALSO IN THE WONDERS OF SPACE. . |
| 02:44:59 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 02:45:07 | Lampson, Nicholas | I'M PREPARED TO CLOSE. |
| 02:45:10 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN HAS YIELDED BACK HIS TIME. |
| 02:45:14 | Lampson, Nicholas | I THANK MR. MCCAUL FOR HIS WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION AND BRING ATTENTION TO THE WONDERFUL WORK OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RUN OUR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION. HE -- MR. MCCAUL MADE REFERENCE EARLIER OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS GOING AND VISITING THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN HOUSTON AND I REMEMBER TAKING CLASSES MYSELF BACK AROUND 1970 AND ACTUALLY BEFORE WE STEPPED FOOT ON THE MOON IN 1969. AND THE EXCITEMENT, ALL OF THE PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO DO WITH NASA, INSTILL IN YOUNG PEOPLE TO STUDY MATH, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. WHAT A GREAT THING TO DO AND GREAT DAY TO STAND AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON SERVICE AND OPERATION AND ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR THE WORLD. THIS IS FITTING THAT WE SUPPORT HOUSE RESOLUTION 1315 AS WE ASK THIS COMMEMORATION FOR NASA AND ITS 50 YEARS OF OPERATION. I ASK OUR COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE BILL AND YIELD BACK. |
| 02:46:17 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | ALL TIME HAS BEEN YIELDED BACK. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND AGREE TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 1315. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO. AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. |
| 02:46:39 | >> | MR. SPEAKER, I REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS. |
| 02:46:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL COUNTED. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20 AND THE CHAIR'S PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENT, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS MOTION WILL BE POSTPONED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE? |
| 02:47:19 | >> | I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 4174, THE FEDERAL OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH AND MONITORING ACT OF 2007. |
| 02:47:29 | Baird, Brian | A BILL TO ESTABLISH AN INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP AN OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH AND MONITORING PLAN TO ESTABLISH AN OCEAN ACIDIFICATION PLAN WITHIN THE NATIONAL ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. |
| 02:47:45 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, MR. BAIRD, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. FEENEY, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR. BAIRD. |
| 02:47:58 | Hill, Baron | I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON H.R. 4174. |
| 02:48:07 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. SO ORDERED. |
| 02:48:10 | Baird, Brian | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 02:48:12 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:48:15 | Baird, Brian | I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY COMPLIMENTING MR. ALLEN, MR. GILCHREST AND MR. INGLIS WHO WORKED WITH ME ON THE MANAGER'S AMENDMENT TO THIS BILL. WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM FACING THIS WORLD AND IT IS OFTEN NEGLECTED THFMENT BILL ADDRESSES THAT. ON MONDAY, I WAS AT THE NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM. BASED ON REPORTS THERE AND RECENT STUDIES PUBLISHED IN SCIENCE AND OTHER LEADING JOURNALS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE OCEAN ACIDIFICATION IS NOT OFTEN TALKED ABOUT AND MAY BE A CHALLENGE PERHAPS EVEN GREATER AS CLIMATE CHANGE. APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF THE STOCKS RELEASED BY BURNING FOSS I WILL FUELS HAS BEEN ABSORBED BY THE OCEANS. THIS HAS DELAYED THE GLOBAL IMPACT. THE ABSORPTION OF ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE WILL CAUSE CHANGES IN OCEAN CHEMISTRY. THE DISRUPTION CAUSES THE P.H. TO DECREASE AND RESULTS IN OCEAN ACIDIFICATION. ACCORDING TO NOAA, A MEASURE OF ASID ITY HAS INCREASED 30%. STUDIES HAVE PROJECTED AT THE END OF THE CENTURY, EMISSIONS COULD RESULT IN THE LOWEST LEVEL OF OCEAN P.H. IN 20 MILLION YEARS. THE POTENTIAL IMPATHS ARE DIVERSE AND FAR-REACHING. THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE ADVERSE IMPACTS FOOD FOR FISH AND MARINE MAMMALS AND THE ECONOMIST OF COASTAL STATES THAT RELY ON FISHING AND TOURISM. INCREASING CHANGES ARE PROBLEMS FOR FOOD SOURCES AND IMPORTANT FISH SPECIES SUCH AS SALMON, COD AND OTHERS. SOME SPECIES HAVE SUGGESTED THAT -- STUDIES HAVE SUGGESTED THAT OCEAN ACIDIFICATION COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO CLAMS, OYSTERS AND LOBSTERS. THE RATES WILL DECREASE AND CARBON SOLUTION RATES WILL INCREASE FOR THESE SPECIES UNABLE FOR THEM TO COMPETE AND PERHAPS THREATENING THEM TO THE POINT OF EXTINCTION. CORAL FACE SIMILAR THREATS. CORAL COMPRISE SOME OF THE RICHEST HABITATS ON EARTH. ABOUT 4,000 SPECIES OF FISH INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY HALF DEPEND ON CORAL REEFS AND THEIR HABITAT FOR THEIR LIFE CYCLES. JUVENILE FISH MAY FACE CHALLENGES, INCLUDING RESPIRATORY STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED ACIDIFICATION. DEEPSEA CORALS AND OTHER ANIMALS ARE THREATENED AND MAY PARTS OF THE OCEAN UNINHABITABLE BY THE END OF THE CENTURY. WE MUST DO MORE TO ASSESS THIS GRAVE PROBLEM. THERE IS UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE RATE AND MAGNITUDE, BUT NATIONAL INVESTMENT IN A PROGRAM OF RESEARCH AND MONITORING COULD IMPROVE THE ECOSYSTEM RESPONSES, ASSESS IMPACTS DUE TO INCREASED ACIDIFICATION AND PROVIDE RESEARCH MANAGERS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND PROTECT THESE SPECIES. I HAVE JOINED REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN AND OTHERS INTRODUCING THIS BILL. THIS ESTABLISHES A PROGRAM THROUGH THE JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE TO DEVELOP AND COORDINATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF ACIDIFICATION TO PROVIDE FOR ASSESSMENT OF ECOSYSTEM AND SOCIO IMPACTS OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND PROVIDE FOR RESEARCH AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CONSERVE MARINE RESOURCES. IT DIRECTS NOAH, THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND NASA TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES ON OCEAN ACIDIFICATION CONSISTENT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE. I THANK THE RESEARCHERS WHO HAVE LED THE WAY. ALSO MY FELLOW SPONSORS FOR THEIR IMPORTANT WORK. AND PARTICULARLY CHAIRMAN GORDON AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE FOR MOVING THIS BILL AND GETTING IT TO THE FLOOR. I WANT TO THANK THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE STAFF INCLUDING JEAN AND MY OWN STAFF MEMBER HILLARY KANE. I RESERVE. |
| 02:52:49 | Feeney, Tom | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 02:52:52 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:52:55 | Feeney, Tom | SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, THE OCEANS HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST SINK OF INCREASED CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE. THIS WAS A VALUABLE NATURAL FUNCTION. WHEN IT LOWERED THE P.H. OF THE WATER. THE INCREASED ACID OF THE OCEANS HAS NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANT, BUT MANY ARE CONCERN ABOUT THE RATE OF CHANGE THEY HAVE WITNESSED. HOUSE RESOLUTION 3174 ORGANIZES FEDERAL ACTIVITIES ON RESEARCH. IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A BLUEPRINT FOR RESEARCH AND MONITORING EFFORTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND ENCOURAGE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR A GLOBAL PROBLEM. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OURSELVES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR OCEANS. BUT AT THIS POINT, WE DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THE OCEAN S' CHEMISTRY IS GOING TO CHANGE, HOW FAST OR WHAT THE IMPACTS WILL BE ON MARINE LIFE OR THE HEALTH OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT MANKIND'S RELIANCE ON THE OCEAN FOR FOOD, FOR INDUSTRY AND FOR ENERGY RESOURCES. HOW CAN WE ENGAGE IN SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MITIGATION AND ADOPTION STRATEGIES IF WE DO NOT KNOW THINKS IMPORTANT THINGS? THE RESEARCH AND MONITORING ACT IS THE FIRST STEP WE NEED TO TAKE TO COLLECT THIS VITAL INFORMATION. THE LEGISLATION DIRECTS THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO COORDINATE ALL FEDERAL RESEARCH AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES. THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS CO-CHAIRED BY THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, NOAA, THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THESE ARE THE THREE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH. THIS BILL REQUIRES TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN WITH AN EYE TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE USABLE PRODUCTS FOR THE FISHING INDUSTRY, THE ENERGY INDUSTRY, POLICY MAKERS AND OTHER SHAREHOLDERS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. THIS STRATEGIC PLAN IS NOT MEANT TO RE-INVENT THE WHEEL AND SHOULD BE BASED ON THE SEVERAL RESEARCH ROAD MAPS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THE LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES NOAA TO CONTINUE ITSRY SEARCH AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN AND AUTHORIZES FUNDING FOR N.S.F. TO PROVIDE GRANTS AND DIRECTS NOAH TO DIRECT RESOURCES ON MONITORING IN FUTURE EARTH OBSERVATION MISSIONS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOUSE RESOLUTION 4174 REQUIRES COORDINATION OF RESEARCH AND MONITORING EFFORTS WITH THOSE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. MANY COUNTRIES ARE CURRENTLY IN THE SAME PLACE AS WE ARE. ORGANIZING THEIR RESEARCH EFFORTS AND LAYING OUT ROAD MAPS TO THE FUTURE. JUST LAST MONTH, THE EUROPEAN UNION LAUNCHED THE UREN UNION PROJECT, A MISSION TO STUDY THE CONSEQUENCES. THE U.S. SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEAR THE SOLE BURDEN FOR GLOBAL PROBLEMS. COOPERATION ENSURES THAT RESOURCES ARE ZRIBBED AMONG MANY NATIONS SO ALL MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INCREASED UNDERSTANDING. I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT HOUSE RESOLUTION 4174. AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:56:21 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON. |
| 02:56:25 | Baird, Brian | I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE CHAIR OF THE RESOURCES COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN RAHALL, FOR HIS COLLABORATION ON THIS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INTRODUCE INTO THE RECORD LETTERS EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE RESOURCE COMMITTEE AND THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE. |
| 02:56:39 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 02:56:41 | Baird, Brian | I YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION AND A TIRELESS AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FOR ALL THINGS RELATED TO THE OCEAN'S HEALTH, REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN FROM MAINE. |
| 02:56:50 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. |
| 02:56:55 | MR. ALLEN | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND FOR HIS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. I RISE TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE PASSAGE OF MY BILL H.R. 4174 THE FEDERAL OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH AND MONITORING ACT. I WANT TO COMMEND CHAIRMAN GORDON AND CHAIRMAN LAMPSON OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION TO GIVE US THE TOOLS WE NEED TO MANAGE AND PROTECT OUR MARINE RESOURCES AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. HALL AND MR. INGLIS FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION AND ALSO ONCE AGAIN, I THANK MR. INSLEE AND MR. BAIRD FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. FINALLY, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ELLEN ON MY STAFF WHO HAS WORKED SO HARD ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL. MY LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES A COMPREHENSIVE INTERAGENCY PROGRAM TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON THE PROCESSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION DUE TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PROFOUNDLY CHANGE OUR OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS AND MAY SERIOUSLY AND NEGATIVELY AFFECT COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHERIES, TOURISM, AQUA CULTURE AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL CHANGE IS NO MORE APPARENT THAN IN OUR OCEANS. ICE CAPS ARE MELTING AND CORAL REEFS ARE DYING. APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE RELEASED BY FOSSIL FUELS ENDS UP IN THE OCEANS, ALTERING CHEMIST TRIES. IT CAN IMPEDE SHELL FORMATION AND IMPORTANT MARINE SHELLFISH SPECIES AND ARE HARMFUL TO MANY ORGAN NISMS FROM CORAL TO SHELLFISH THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE FOOD CHAIN FOR FISH AND MAMMALS. RESEARCH BY SCIENTISTS AT ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE IN MAINE HAS REVEALED THAT OCEAN ACIDIFICATION DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE MAY SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE MORTALITY OF YOUNG CLAMS, THREATENING A $60 MILLION INDUSTRY AND THE LIVELIHOODS OF COMMERCIAL CLAM DIGGERS IN MAINE ALONE. THREE DECADES AGO AS IT THREATENED MAINE'S LAKES, WE DOCUMENTED THE HARM AND DID MONITORING AND RESEARCH. MY LEGISLATION WILL PROVIDE SIMILAR TOOLS TO RESPOND TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATION. TO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT OCEAN ACIDIFICATION COULD HAVE OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN MITIGATE AND ADAPT TO THOSE CONSEQUENCES. THE FEDERAL ACIDIFICATION MONITORING ACT WILL DIRECT AND FUND KEY RESEARCH TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING ON OUR OCEANS AND OUR FISHERIES. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS MEASURE. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 02:59:58 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. . |
| 03:00:04 | Feeney, Tom | I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE MY FRIEND, MR. ENGLISH, FOR FIVE MINUTES. |
| 03:00:08 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. |
| 03:00:11 | Inglis, Bob | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND I'M NOT A SCIENTIST BUT I PLAY ONE OCCASIONALLY AT THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE GOT SOME SCIENTISTS AT THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE. GREAT STAFF MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS LIKE DR. BAR ET, WHO IS ONE OF MY FOUGHT TOERS ON THIS ISSUE OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION. RECENTLY IN A TRIP TO THE GLOP GUS WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM DR. JULIAN SAX WHO ALONG WITH DR. BAIRD'S FOUGHT TOLAGE WAS ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME FINALLY WHY IT IS THAT -- FOUGHT TOLAGE WAS ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IT IS IS THAT IT'S GOING TO CREATE A PROBLEM FOR LIFE IN THE OCEANS AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THAT SCIENCE EXPERIENCE WE DID IN THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH PUTTING THE EGG IN THE VINEGAR AND A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER YOU COME BACK AND THERE'S NO SHELL ON THE EGG. WELL, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. AS CARBON IS ABSORBED INTO THE OCEAN BY HIGHER CO-2 LEVELS IN THE ATMOSPHERE ENTERING THEN THE OCEAN, DRIVING DOWN THE P.H., MAKING THE OCEAN MORE ACIDIC, YOU END UP WITH THAT SCENARIO WHERE THE CALCIUM-BASED SHELLS OF THE ORGANISMS BEGIN TO DISSOLVE. THE BIG CHALLENGE IS THE PLANK TIN PART OF THE FOOD CHAIN. THAT DISSOLVES. IT'S A TERRIBLE THING TO OPEN UP A HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN. NOT SO BAD IF YOU'RE THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN. BUT IF YOU'RE THE BODY AM OF THE -- BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN IT'S HORRIBLE TO OPEN A HOLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN A BILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DEPEND ON THE OCEAN FOR SUSTENANCE. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND SOMETHING WORTH US SPENDING TIME AND EFFORT AND MONEY ON TO RESEARCH. AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT AN ASPECT OF THE BILL THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL SPEAKERS ALREADY. THAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION THAT'S CALLED FOR IN THE BILL. ON ANOTHER TRIP WITH DR. BAIRD TO ANTARCTICA AND THEN AUSTRALIA, WE SAW A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS. WITH THE NOAA'S CORAL REEF PROJECT WHERE WE HAVE NOAAA -- NOAA EMPLOYEES TWO AUSTRALIANS WHO ARE DOING WORK FOR NOAA IN AUSTRALIA, COORDINATING WITH THE GREAT BARRIER REEF FOLKS AND THE RESULT IS AMERICA IS THERE LENDING A HAND AND COOPERATING, IMPROVING NOT ONLY THE SCIENCE THAT WE GENERATE BUT ALSO MY OTHER COMMITTEE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BETTER FOREIGN POLICY OUTCOMES. WE'RE SHOWING OURSELVES TO BE A FRIEND TO THE AUSTRALIANS. TRYING TO PRESERVE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF AUSTRALIA. SO, THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF THIS ARE MAYBE REASON ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE BILL, BUT FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE REASONS, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE BILL AND URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT IT AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE THIS COOPERATION, FIND SOME BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE SCIENCE AND THEN FIGURE OUT WAYS TO APPLY THOSE SOLUTIONS TO BEGIN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:03:32 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON. |
| 03:03:35 | Baird, Brian | I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA FOR HIS INPUT AND INVOLVEMENT AND HIS GENUINE INTEREST IN THIS. IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO TRAVEL WITH HIM AND WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S LEADING SCIENTISTS ON THIS AND I KNOW MR. ENGLISH HAS MAINTAINED THAT DIALOGUE EVER SINCE THOSE JOURNEYS AND THOSE SCIENTISTS SEND THEIR REGARDS. I MET WITH THEM JUST TWO DAYS AGO, IN FACT. I WANT TO NOW ACKNOWLEDGE A DEAR FRIEND FROM WASHINGTON STATE WHO HAS BEEN LEADER IN NOT ONLY THE CONGRESS BUT IN THE WORLD ON THE ISSUE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS ISSUE OF AED IS -- ACIDIFICATION TOOK PARTICULAR RELEVANCE OFF OF OUR OWN PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST WHEN NOAA PUBLISHED STUDIES SAYING THAT THE RATE OF ACIDIFICATION IS MORE RAPID AND CLOSER TO OUR SHORES THAN THEY HAD EVER ANTICIPATED AND IT IS DEEPLY CONCERNING. JAY INSLEE HAS BEEN A CHAMPION ON THESE POLICIES. I YIELD TO MR. INSLEE. |
| 03:04:27 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. |
| 03:04:31 | Inslee, Jay | PERMISSION TO REVISE AND EXTEND. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION IS BOTH THE MOST DISTURBING AND POTENTIALLY MOST UNIFYING ISSUE INVOLVING CARBON DIOXIDE IDENTIFY AND CLIMATE CHANGE. IT IS THE MOST DISTURBING BECAUSE NOTHING THAT I'VE HEARD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ABOUT THIS PHENOMENA APPROVES THE POINT OF THAT OLD SAYING FROM THE 1960'S, IT WAS AN OLD COMMERCIAL, IT'S NOT NICE TO FOOL WITH MOTHER NATURE. AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN WE PUT 1/3 OF ALL THE CARBON DIOXIDE IDENTIFY COMING OUT OF OUR TAIL PIPES AND COAL PLANTS THAT THAT HAS MADE THE OCEANS JUST SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 30% MORE ACIDIC. AND ALL THE TIME THE WORLD'S BEEN AROUND, IT IS 30% MORE ACIDIC JUST DURING THE TIME WE'VE BEEN BURNING COAL AND OIL. THE RESULTS OF THAT ARE NOT HYPOTHETICAL. WE HAVE TESTIMONY IN SEATTLE FROM BIOOLOGISTS AND OCEANING TO ARE A FERRES THE OTHER DAY THAT SAID THEY ACTUALLY PUT A SHELL INTO WATER THAT WAS AS ACIDIC AS IT COULD BE IN THE NEXT CENTURY AND A HALF AND YOU COULD SEE IT LITERALLY MELT. YOU'RE LOOKING AT LITERALLY MELTING OF ANY LIVING STUFF IN THE OCEANS THAT FORM A CALCIUM MATERIAL, INCLUDING THE PLANKTIN THAT IS 40% OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN IF WE DON'T CHANGE COURSE. THAT'S WHY IT'S DISTURBING. BUT HERE'S WHY ITS UN-- IT'S UNIFYING. IT'S UNIFYING BECAUSE WHILE WE'VE HAD SOME DEBATES ABOUT THE CLIMATIC AFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND CO-2, THERE IS NO DEBATE ABOUT OCEAN ACIDIFICATION. WE CAN SPEND THE NEXT CENTURY ARGUING ABOUT THE PRECISE CLIMATIC AFFECTS OF CO-2, BUT THERE'S NO DEBATE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE OCEANS UNFIT FOR LIFE THAT GOD HIMSELF OR HERSELF DESIGNED ON THE PLANET EARTH. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT CAN BE A UNIFYING IDEA IN THIS CONGRESS SO THAT WE CAN START TO DEVELOP A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD THAT CAN PRESERVE THE OCEANS FOR LIVING SPECIES THAT WE DEPEND ON AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE WORLD. SO IT IS DISTURBING NOW. HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE UNIFYING WHEN WE GET TOGETHER AND DO A NEW ENERGY PRODUCT AND SAVE THE OCEANS FOR WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNED, WHICH IS LIFE ON THIS PLANET. THANK YOU. |
| 03:06:59 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. |
| 03:07:02 | Feeney, Tom | MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AND WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:07:06 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON. |
| 03:07:09 | Baird, Brian | I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AND I'M PREPARED TO CLOSE IF THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. |
| 03:07:15 | Feeney, Tom | I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON AND THE OTHERS WHO WORKED ON THIS BILL. THE OCEANS ARE THE PROPERTY OF ALL HUMANITY AND WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO UNDERSTAND THEM AND PRESERVE THEM AND WITH THAT I WOULD URGE THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL AND YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:07:29 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON. |
| 03:07:33 | Baird, Brian | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA FOR HIS SUPPORT AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. LAMPSON FROM TEXAS AND MR. HALL ON THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS AS WELL. LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS. IT TAKES OFF SOMETHING THAT MR. INSLEE SAID A MOMENT AGO. WE CAN DEBATE THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES, I THINK THE EVIDENCE IS COMPELLING FROM THE IPCC REPORT. BUT OCEAN ACIDIFICATION IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE IN A LAB. YOU CAN INTRODUCE CO-2 INTO THE AIR ABOVE WATER, THE WATER WILL TAKE UP THE CO-2, THAT WILL MAKE THE WATT MORER ACIDIC. THE MORE ACIDIC WATER WILL REDUCE THE AVAILABILITY OF THE CALCIUM CASH NATE AND OTHER MATERIALS AND THEN AS MR. INSLEE DESCRIBED AND AS LABORATORY SCIENTISTS ARE DOING THRURTE THE WORLD IN AUSTRALIA AND ISRAEL AND JORDAN AND OFF OUR OWN FLORIDA COAST, YOU CAN TAKE THESE ORGANISMS, PUT THEM IN THIS MORE ACIDIC WATER AND YOU WILL SEE THEIR GROWTH BE RETARTED -- RETARDED, YOU WILL SEE THEIR MORTALITY RATES INCREASE AND WHEN YOU COMBINE HIGHER ACIDIFICATION LEVELS WITH INCREASED TEMPERATURE, THE MORTALITY GROWS DRAMATICALLY UP. WE ARE EFFECTIVELY KILLING THE OCEANS AND POSSIBLY KILLING OURSELVES. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF TWO LITTLE BOYS, MY OWN SONS, WHO SOME OF YOU KNOW. THEY STOP BY HERE FROM TIME TO TIME. THEY'RE 3 1/2. I'D LIKE THEM TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE OCEANS THE WAY WE HAVE. I'D LIKE THEM TO SEE THE MAGNIFICENT SPECIES THAT WE NOW ENJOY. I DO NOT WANT TO BEQUEATH TO THOSE YOUNG BOYS OR TO ANYONE'S CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN A WORLD BEREST OF CORAL REEFS AND THE MANY SPECIES THEY DEPEND ON. WITH THAT I WOULD URGE PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION AND URGE THAT WE VIGOROUSLY ENDEAVOR REDUCE THE FACTORS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. AND URGE A YES VOTE. |
| 03:09:07 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 4174 AS AMENDED. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. |
| 03:10:01 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS RISE? |
| 03:10:04 | >> | MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 4461. |
| 03:10:09 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. |
| 03:10:13 | Moore, Dennis | H.R. 44 OF 1, A BILL TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE OPERATION OF LOCAL BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY ESTABLISHING A COMPETITIVE FEDERAL MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. |
| 03:10:26 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | DOES THE GENTLEMAN MOVE TO PASS THE BILL AS AMENDED? |
| 03:10:30 | Moore, Dennis | I DO. |
| 03:10:31 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS, MR. MOORE, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA, MRS. CAPITO, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS. |
| 03:10:41 | Frank, Barney | MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE FIVE DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON THIS LEGISLATION AND TO INCERTIFICATE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL. -- INSERT EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL. |
| 03:10:53 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 03:10:56 | Moore, Dennis | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIMED A I MAY CONSUME. TODAY I ASK FOR THE HOUSE SUPPORT IN PASSING H.R. 4461, THE COMMUNITY BUILDING CODES ADMINISTRATION GRANT ACT. THIS LEGISLATION WHICH WAS APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE AND ENJOYS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE WILL PROVIDE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL BUILDING CODES. RESPONSIBLE BUILDING IS ESSENTIAL TO REDUCE VULNERABILITY TO FUTURE HAZARDS. ACCORDING TO A STUDY CONDUCTED IN 2005 BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES, FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON MITIGATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER SAVES APPROXIMATELY $4 IN DISASTER ASSISTANCE. STATE AND LOCAL BUILDING CODES ASSURE THAT NEW HOMES COMPLY WITH SAFETY STANDARDS. ACQUIRING THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO BECOME A CODE INSPECTOR IS A TIME CONSUMING PROCESS, THOUGH. AND PAYING FOR PERSONNEL TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCE CODES AROUND THE BOOKS CONSUMES SCARCE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. WHILE THERE ARE NO DEDICATED FEDERAL FUNDS FOR BUILDING CODE ADMINISTRATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED FOR THIS PURPOSE IN THE PAST ALONG WITH ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCES FROM FEMA'S THREE MITIGATION PROGRAMS, HAZARD MITIGATION, PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION AND FLOOD MITIGATION. BUT COMPETITION FOR THESE FUNDS IS INTENSE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TYPICALLY RECEIVE PREFERENCE OVER BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT. FOR THESE REASONS, MR. SPEAKER, STATES MUST FUND THESE ACTIVITIES WITHOUT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, RELYING OFTEN ON BUILDING PERMIT FEES AND SOMETIMES GENERAL FUNDING TO OPERATE OFFICES THAT ARE UNDERSTAFFED. THIS MEANS CODES ON THE BOOKS CANNOT ENFORCED, LEADING COMMUNITIES MORE VULNERABLE AND DRIVING UP INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN THOSE AREAS. TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, H.R. 4461 ESTABLISHES A COMPETITIVE NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES AWARDS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR BUILDING CODE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT. THE COMMUNITY BUILDING CODE ADMINISTRATION GRANT PROGRAM WILL NOT INFRINGE UPON LOCAL AND STATE AUTHORITY TO ENACT AND ENFORCE BUILDING CODES. IT SIMPLY PROVIDES SOUTHERLY NEEDED FUNDING FOR THEM TO DO SO. SPECIFICALLY THE BILL INCLUDES A FIVE-YEAR SUNSET ON THE PROGRAM, AUTHORIZES $100 MILLION OVER THAT PERIOD TO EXECUTE IT, CAPS AWARDS AT $1 MILLION PER RECIPIENT, REQUIRES RECIPIENTS TO MATCH A PORTION OF FUNDS RECEIVED AND OUTLINED ELIGIBLE USES OF FUNDS AND SELECTION CRITERIA WITH PREFERENCES OFFERED TO GOVERNMENTS IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS. ADDITIONALLY, EACH GRANT PROPOSAL MUST CONTAIN A PLAN FOR GOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN LOCAL CODE ENFORCEMENT, ADMINISTRATION FUNCTIONS WITHOUT CONTINUING FEDERAL SUPPORT AT A LEVEL AT LEAST EQUIVALENT TO THAT PROPOSED IN THE GRANT APPLICATION. THIS LEGISLATION WILL HELP ENSURE THE SAFETY OF BUILDINGINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ULTIMATELY WILL REDUCE THE COST OF THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS AFTER DISASTER. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION. I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME AND I WANT TO THANK ALL MY -- ALSO MY COLLEAGUE FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 03:13:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE CHAIR WISHES TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE BAD NAME PRONUNCIATION. MRS. CAPITO FROM WEST VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 03:13:58 | Capito, Shelley Moore | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 446 1, THE COMMUNITY BUILDING CODE AMEND GRANT ACT OFFERED BY MR. MOORE. THERE ARE NO DEDICATED FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THIS. HAZARD MITIGATION FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS RECEIVE PRO -- USED IN THE PAST. INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS RECEIVED GRANTS. THE LEGISLATION OFFERED BY MR. MOORE REQUIRES THE SECRETARY OF H.U.D. TO AWARD GRANTS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS AND WITH FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS TO QUALIFY LOCAL BUILDING CODES. IT CAN BE USED TO INCREASE STAFFING, PROVIDE STAFF TRAINING, INCREASE STAFF COMPETENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS, SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL CERTIFICATION OR DEPARTMENTAL ACCREDITATION. BOTH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTERING LAWS AND REGULATION ADDRESSING BUILDING SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING CODE ADMINISTRATION GRANTS. THE BILL AUTHORIZES $100 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. ANY GRANTS AWARDED UNDER THIS BILL WOULD BE CAPPED AT $1 MILLION. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT H.U.D. HAS EXPRESSED SOME RESERVATIONS REGARDING THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE CURRENTLY CDBG FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR THIS EXACT SAME PURPOSE. THE DEPARTMENT HAS CONCERNS WHETHER OR NOT IT IS NECESSARY TO DEDICATE ANOTHER $100 MILLION FOR THIS PURPOSE WHEN IT IS ALREADY AN ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY UNDER CDBG. I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. MOORE FOR THIS LEGISLATION AND I WANT TO RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:15:45 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES. |
| 03:15:47 | Moore, Dennis | WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS HERE. |
| 03:15:49 | Capito, Shelley Moore | I HAVE NO FURTHER REQUESTS FOR TIME. I'M PREPARED TO YIELD BACK. |
| 03:15:53 | Moore, Dennis | I THANK THE GENTLELADY AND I YIELD BACK. |
| 03:15:57 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | SO ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 4461, AS AMENDED. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION A MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. |
| 03:17:00 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS RISE? |
| 03:17:06 | Frank, Barney | I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE PASS H.R. 6216, AS AMENDED. |
| 03:17:11 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. |
| 03:17:15 | THE CLERK | H.R. 6216, TO IMPROVE THE OPERATING FUND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. |
| 03:17:22 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, MR. FRANK, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA, MRS. CAPITO, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. |
| 03:17:34 | Frank, Barney | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THIS IS A BILL THAT CAME TO THE HOUSE EARLIER UNDER A RULE AND HAD PROCEEDED WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT CONTRARIES, EITHER TO THE POINT OF A RECOMMITAL MOTION. THE RECOMMITAL MOTION WAS OFFERED -- IT DEALS WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SMALLER PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND H.U.D. AND TRIES TO GIVE THEM MORE FLEXIBILITY AND IS WIDELY SUPPORTED AND REQUESTED OF MANY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES THAT ARE IN OUR DISTRICTS. THE RECOMMITAL MOTION INVOLVED THE RIGHT TO OWN WEAPONS AND SAID THAT NO AUTHORITY COULD RESTRICT THE RIGHT TO OWN WEAPONS BEYOND WHAT STATE OR CITY APPLICABLE LAW PROVIDED. THAT WAS SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL. IT LED TO A DECISION TO WITHDRAW THE BILL. IT WAS THEN BACK IN COMMITTEE. AND IN COMMITTEE WE ADOPTED THE SUBSTANCE -- WE ADOPTED THE RECOMMITAL MOTION. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF REFINEMENTS THAT WERE BROADLY AGREED TO, MAKING IT CLEAR THAT NOTHING WOULD PROTECT ANYBODY WHO ILLEGALLY USED A WEAPON. AND THAT WAS BROADLY SUPPORTED. WE ALSO MADE A COUPLE OF OTHER SMALL CHANGES. OUR COLLEAGUE FROM FLORIDA, MR. MEEK, NOTED THAT HE HAS A HOUSING AUTHORITY IN HIS DISTRICT THAT IS IN SEAVERSHIP. HE WANTED TO MAKE IT EXPLICIT THAT THE RIGHTS THE TENANTS HAVE IN GENERAL DO NOT GET LOST IN SEAVERSHIP. THAT WHEN UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO. AND WE ALSO ADOPTED LANGUAGE THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE WELL OF THE HOUSE, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BENEFIT UNDER THIS PROGRAM. WITH THAT WE ARE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE ORIGINALLY. THE BILL HAD NOT BEEN CONTROVERSIAL. ALTHOUGH IT HAD BEEN WORKED OUT IN COMMITTEE. AND I APPRECIATE THE COOPERATION OF MY COLLEAGUE FROM WEST VIRGINIA, GENTLEWOMAN, WHO IS THE RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME -- THE GENTLEWOMAN, WHO IS THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE. WE BELIEVE THIS BILL REPRESENTS THE WELL OF THE HOUSE. THERE WERE MEMBERS ON OUR SIDE WHO WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE RECOMMITAL MOTION. WE DID NOT FEEL WE WANTED TO INTERFERE WITH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. IT IS WIDELY SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL -- AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED US TO DO THIS IS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS, THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES DIRECTORS' ASSOCIATION. THIS ALSO, BY THE WAY, ALLOWS CAPITAL FUNDS TO BE USED FOR OPERATING EXPENSES, WHICH WE TOOK FROM THE -- PREVIOUSLY DONE IN THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL. SO IT INCORPORATES THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED. AND I HOPE IT IS ADOPTED. AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:20:17 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 03:20:22 | Capito, Shelley Moore | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 6216, THE ASSET MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT ACT, AUTHORED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY. THERE'S GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. THE QUALITY HOUSING AND WORK RESPONSIBILITY ACT, WHICH WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 1998, INCLUDED A REQUIREMENT FOR A NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING TO DEVELOP A NEW PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND FORMULA. RULEMAKING CONCLUDED IN 2004 AFTER A THREE-YEAR, $4 MILLION OPERATING COST STUDY WAS CONDUCTED. IN 2005, H.U.D. ISSUED THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND FINAL RULE. H.U.D. HAS AGREED TO DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE THEM TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE NEGOTIATED RULE. THIS WOULD MAKE FURTHER CHANGES TO THAT RULE. IT IS MY HOPE THAT ALL PARTIES CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS. THE BASE TEXT OF THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES H.U.D. AND PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES TO NEGOTIATE UNTIL APRIL 1, 2009, REASONABLE PROPERTY AND ASSET MANAGEMENT FEES WITH INTERESTED STAKE HOLDERS. THE FEES WOULD THEN BE IMPLEMENTED JANUARY 1, 2011. THE LEGISLATION INCREASES THE NUMBER, AS THE CHAIRMAN SAID, THE NUMBER OF UNITS, PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES CAN MANAGE TO 500, FROM 250, BEFORE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MANAGE THEIR HOUSING PORTFOLIOS BY THE NEWS ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM -- THE NEW ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THOSE RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING ASSET MANAGEMENT DO NOT AFFECT IN ANY WAY CURRENT LAW REGARDING TENANT PARTICIPATION AND TENANT OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING. AS THE CHAIRMAN NOTED, WE HAVE BEEN -- WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE CONSIDERING SIMILAR LEGISLATION. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT LEGISLATION WAS PULLED FROM CONSIDERATION DURING THE MOTION TO RECOMMIT THAT WOULD HAVE PRESERVED THE RIGHT OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS IN PUBLIC HOUSING OWNING A FIREARM. I'M PLEASED THAT NEW AUTHORS OF THIS LEGISLATION INCLUDED THIS IMPORTANT PROVISION. THEY'VE INCLUDED THE TEXT OF THE MANAGER'S AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS THE MEEK AMENDMENT A IN THIS NEW DRAFT. THE MANAGER'S AMENDMENT INCLUDED LANGUAGE BLOCKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM ELIGIBILITY AND ENSURING THAT CERTAIN AGENCIES THAT APPLY TO H.U.D. FOR STOP LOSS DO NOT HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS REJECTED ON THE BASIS THAT THE MANAGEMENT AND RELATED FEES THEY ESTABLISH, PURSUANT TO THE BILL'S PROVISIONS, ARE NOT REASONABLE AS DEFINED BY H.U.D. THE MEEK AMENDMENT PROVIDES THAT THE TENANT ORGANIZATION PROTECTIONS SET FORTH IN H.U.D.'S REGULATIONS APPLY TO PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES THAT ARE PLACED IN RECEIVERSHIP BY H.U.D. I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. SIRES FOR OFFERING THIS LEGISLATION, AND I WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:22:52 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. |
| 03:22:57 | Frank, Barney | MR. SPEAKER, THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL, AS THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS NOTED, IS OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. SIRES, FROM NEW JERSEY, WHO REPRESENTS A DISTRICT IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY WHERE PUBLIC HOUSING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE MAKEUP OF THE AREA. HE WAS AT THE TIME OF THIS A MEMBER OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE AND A VALUABLE MEMBER AND HIS INTEREST IN HOUSING CONTINUES. SO WE WERE VERY GLAD TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD IN ADVANCING THIS. I NOW YIELD TO HIM FIVE MINUTES. |
| 03:23:23 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. |
| 03:23:27 | Sires, Albio | THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY DISCUSSING MY BILL TO HELP PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE NAYS. LET ME START BY THANKING CHAIRMAN BARNEY FRANK FOR HIS SUPPORT ON THIS BILL AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE. WITHOUT HIS DEDICATION TO THIS ISSUE, WE WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERING THIS BILL TODAY. LET ME START BY EXPLAINING WHY I INTRODUCED THIS BILL. SHORTLY AFTER I WAS SWORN IN, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE JERSEY CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY IN MY DISTRICT. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD LAID -- THEY HAD TO LAY OFF 34 EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF ASSET MANAGEMENT. WHEN I LOOKED INTO THIS, I LEARNED THAT JERSEY CITY WAS NOT UNIQUE. OVER 800 PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES HAD THEIR OPERATING BUDGETS CUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY ASSET MANAGEMENT WAS IMPLEMENTED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. AT THE SAME TIME THE DEPARTMENT LIMITED THE AMOUNT THE FLEXIBILITY GIVEN TO PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I KNEW SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE. WITH THE SUPPORT OF CHAIRMAN FRANK, CONGRESSMAN MEEK AND OTHERS, I INTRODUCED H.R. 6216, THE ASSET MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008. YOU WILL NOTE THAT THE TITLE INDICATES THAT THE BUILDING IMPROVES ASSET MANAGEMENT -- BILL IMPROVES ASSET MANAGEMENT. IT DOES NOT PUT AN END TO ASSET MANAGEMENT. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE GOALS OF ASSET MANAGEMENT IS WORTHWHILE. ASSET MANAGEMENT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL THOSE WHO LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING IN THIS COUNTRY. MY BILL SIMPLY MAKES FOUR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ASSET MANAGEMENT RULE, AND IT ULTIMATERS THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC HOUSING IN OTHER ASPECTS. FIRST, IT REQUIRES NEW NEGOTIATIONS TO ESTABLISH A REASONABLE MANAGEMENT FEE AND ALLOWS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO REVERT BACK TO THE ALL FUNDING MECHANISM UNTIL THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ASSET MANAGEMENT ON JANUARY 1, 2011. CONGRESS HAS PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED THIS BUT H.U.D. FAILED TO ACT. THIS BILL SETS H.U.D. STRAIGHT. SECOND, THE BILL REAFFIRMS CURRENT LAW BY ALLOWSING -- ALLOWING PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO TRANSFER FUNDS BETWEEN THEIR FUND TO CAPITAL FUND. THIS PROVISION PREVENTS THE AGENCY TO PROHIBIT SUCH TRANSFERS. THIS FLEXIBILITY IS VITAL TO AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE HOUSING PROGRAM IS UNDERFUNDED. HOUSING AUTHORITIES KNOW BEST WHERE THEY NEED FUNDING, NOT WASHINGTON. THERE IS WIDE AGREEMENT ON THIS PROVISION. IN FACT, THIS PROVISION WAS INCLUDED IN THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF FISCAL YEAR 2008. THAT PROVISION, HOWEVER, IS ONLY VALID FOR ONE YEAR. MY BILL WILL MAKE THIS CHANGE PERMANENT. THIRD, MY BILL INCREASES THE EXCEPTION THRESHOLD FROM SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES. THAT THE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES THAT SMALL AUTHORITIES WITH FEWER THAN 250 UNITS OF HOUSING WOULD NOT BENEFIT FROM THE BENEFITS OF ASSET MANAGEMENT. AND SO THEY'RE ACCEPTED. MY BILL SIMPLY RAISES THIS THRESHOLD TO 500 UNITS. AGAIN, THERE'S LITTLE DISAGREEMENT ON RAISING THE THRESHOLD BECAUSE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 RAISED THE EXCEPTION THRESHOLD TO 400. MY BILL GOES A LITTLE FURTHER TO 500 UNITS. THE IMPACT OF THIS CHANGE WOULD ONLY AFFECT 110 PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES, SOME OF WHOM MAY NOT OPT OUT OF HOUSING MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THEY THINK IT MAKES GOOD SENSE. OVER 2/3 OF ALL PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS WOULD STILL BE COVERED UNDER THE ASSET MANAGEMENT RULES. THIRD, MY BILL REINSTATES CURRENT LAW. IT SIMPLY SAYS TENANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION AFFECTING THEIR HOMES. IT PROHIBITS THE DEPARTMENT FROM ALTERING TENANTS' PARTICIPATION RIGHTS AND ENCOURAGES PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO INCLUDE TENANTS IN DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ASSET MANAGEMENT -- ABOUT ASSET MANAGEMENT THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THEIR HOME. THE BILL ALTERS PUBLIC HOUSING MANAGEMENT IN A FEW OTHER WAYS. FIRST, IT REINSTATES CURRENT LAW THAT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ASSISTANCE. IT INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT CONGRESSWOMAN BACHMANN BROUGHT ATTENTION FOR GUN RULES. PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES CANNOT REQUIRE GUN REGISTRATION OR PROHIBIT GUN OWNERSHIP IF LOCAL LAWS DO NOT RESTRICT OWNERSHIP. PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, AS A WHOLE, FEELS THIS IS A REASONABLE REQUIREMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS BILL ALLOWS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO EVICT TENANTS WHO USES AN ILLEGAL WEAPON WHILE ON A PUBLIC HOUSING PROPERTY. THIS TEXT WAS ADDED BY REPRESENTATIVE MALONEY AND BOREN RECOGNIZING THAT TENANTS DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO USE ILLEGAL WEAPONS IN PUBLIC HOUSING. TOGETHER, THIS CHANGES THE BILL. IT WILL IMPROVE THE BILL. MY OFFICE IS TAKING CALLS FROM PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE NATION. SMALL, LARGE, URBAN AND RURAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES. |
| 03:28:33 | Frank, Barney | I YIELD THE GENTLEMAN AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE. |
| 03:28:36 | Sires, Albio | LET ME END WITH THIS. MY OFFICE IS TAKING CALLS FROM PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT. I HOPE THAT MEMBERS WILL SUPPORT THIS BILL. PLEASE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS AND PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES BY EASING THE REGULATORY BURDEN. VOTE YES ON H.R. 6216. THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. |
| 03:28:58 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 03:29:04 | Capito, Shelley Moore | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY AND CERTAINLY SUPPORT HIS BILL. BUT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE IN TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO STRETCH OUR PUBLIC HOUSING DOLLARS AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SAFETY AND COVER AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO MANY FAMILIES. I THINK IT BRINGS TO LIGHT WHAT MANY FAMILIES ARE THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS THE HIGH PRICE OF GASOLINE. HOW ARE THEY GETTING TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO TO GET TO A JOB, TO PICK UP THEIR CHILDREN AT SCHOOL, TO GO TO CHURCH, TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, ALL THE THINGS OF DAILY LIVING? MANY OF OUR PUBLIC HOUSING SITUATIONS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BUS ROUTES OR ANY KIND OF MASS TRANSPORTATION. AND SO I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THIS CONGRESS TO ADDRESS THIS VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE AND I'VE PUT FORWARD AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS. WHETHER IT'S MORE DRILLING, WHETHER IT'S COAL TO LIQUID, WHETHER IT'S MORE RENEWABLES. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT STANDING STILL. AND AS WE TRY TO MOVE OUR DOLLARS INTO THE PUBLIC HOUSING ARENA TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND HOMES FOR MANY, MANY AMERICANS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE FIGURING OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THEIR RENT, THEY'RE REALIZING HOW ARE THEY GOING TO PAY FOR THEIR GAS AND FOOD. SO I WOULD EDGE COURAGE WHILE WE LOOK AT HOUSING ISSUES TODAY WE ALSO LOOK AT THE IMPORTANT ISSUE OF ENERGY IN OUR HOMES AND WITH OUR FAMILIES WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:30:29 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 03:30:40 | Capito, Shelley Moore | I HAVE NO MORE SPEAKERS. I'M PREPARED TO YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:30:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. |
| 03:30:52 | Frank, Barney | MR. SPEAKER, I DID WANT TO REASSURE MY COLLEAGUE FROM WEST VIRGINIA AND I APPRECIATE THAT SHE IS DOING HER PART BY MAKING CLEAR THAT GASOLINE SHOULD BE CHEAPER. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FINANCING PUBLIC HOUSING. I WANT TO REASSURE HER THAT NOTHING IN THIS BILL PROHIBITS DRILLING FOR OIL ON PUBLIC HOUSING PROPERTY. AND I KNOW HE THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE ABOUT THAT. SO THEY SHOULD REST ASSURED THAT THEY'RE OK. WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON THIS LEGISLATION AND TO INSERT EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL THEREON FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA WHO HAS ALREADY INSERTED. |
| 03:31:37 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | DOES THE GENTLEMAN YIELD BACK? WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 6216 AS AMENDED. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE TITLE IS AMENDED. |
| 03:32:21 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CHAIR'S PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENT IN REGARDS TO THE TITLE IS VACATED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE? |
| 03:32:45 | >> | I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE BILL H.R. 3329 AS AMENDED. |
| 03:32:49 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. |
| 03:32:53 | THE CLERK | H.R. 3329, A BILL TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR VERY LOW INCOME VETERANS. |
| 03:32:58 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. GREEN, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA, MRS. CAPITO, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. GREEN. |
| 03:33:12 | Frank, Barney | MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON THIS LEGISLATION AND TO INSERT EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL THEREON. |
| 03:33:26 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 03:33:28 | Green, Al | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 03:33:32 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 03:33:35 | Green, Al | MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3329, THE HOMES FOR HEROES ACT AND AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP FOR ALLOWING THIS LEGISLATION TO COME BEFORE THE HOUSE EXPEDITIONLY. I ALSO THANK CHAIRMAN FRANK, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN HELPING WITH US THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS, WHO CHAIRS THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOUSING IS TO BE GIVEN A DEBT OF GRATITUDE AS WELL BECAUSE WITHOUT HER HELP WE COULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT THE BILL TO FRUITION. THE STAFF HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING. THE RANKING MEMBER CAPITO ON THE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN OF GREAT BENEFIT TO US. AS WELL AS CONGRESSMAN BACHUS WHO IS A RANKING MEMBER ON THE FULL COMMITTEE. MR. SPEAKER, OF THE MANY SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS, I'D LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US AND THEY HAVE ASSISTED US THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE CO-SPONSOR AND CO-LEAD, CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL MICHAUD, DESERVES A SPECIAL EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION. HE IS THE CHAIR OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE. FINALLY, WE THANK THE 53 CO-SPONSORS AND WE APPRECIATE GREATLY THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAT THIS LEGISLATION ENJOYS. MR. SPEAKER, WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST AND RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WE LITERALLY HAVE HOUSING FOR OUR ASTRONAUTS WHO ARE IN SPACE. WE HAVE HOUSING FOR OUR FARM ANIMALS CALLED BARNS. WE HAVE HOUSING FOR OUR CARS CALLED GARAGES. ONE OF EVERY 110 PERSONS IS A MILLIONAIRE. HOWEVER, I AM SORRY TO REPORT, MR. SPEAKER, THAT AS MANY ARE SLEEPING IN THE SUITS OF LIFE, TOO MANY ARE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS OF LIFE. MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE 800,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY. 1/4 OR 200,000 OF THEM ARE VETERANS. APPROXIMATELY 16,000 VETERANS ARE HOMELESS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. 2,400 IN MY CITY OF HOUSTON. VETERANS MAKE UP 11% OF THE POPULATION, YET ARE 25% OF THE HOMELESS. 1.5 MILLION VETERANS HAVE INCOMES BELOW POVERTY. AND THAT WOULD BE $10,787 PER YEAR FOR A SINGLE PERSON WHO HAPPENS TO BE A VETERAN. 643,000 VETERANS HAVE INCOMES BELOW 50% OF POVERTY. THAT WOULD BE $5,394 PER YEAR FOR A SINGLE VETERAN. OF THE HOMELESS VETERANS, NEARLY ONE HALF ARE VIETNAM VETS. ONE HALF HAVE MENTAL ILLNESSES. 2/3 SUFFER FROM ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 56% ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR LATINO. THE PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION WILL HELP TO END HOMELESSNESS AMONG OUR VETERANS. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THIS LEGISLATION WOULD ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WITHIN H.U.D. THIS SPECIAL ASSISTANCE WITHIN H.U.D. WOULD COORDINATE THE SERVICES OF HOMELESS VETERANS, SERVE AS A LIAISON TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, TO THE STATES AND TO LOCAL OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THIS BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A $200 MILLION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SERVICES TO LOW INCOME VETERANS. LOW INCOME VETERANS ARE THOSE WHO ARE AT 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THIS BILL WOULD EXPAND THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL H.U.D. VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE H.U.D.-VASH PROGRAM. THIS BILL AUTHORIZES 20,000 SUCH VOUCHERS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE BILL AUTHORIZES $1 MILLION IN H.U.D. GRANTS TO ASSIST HOUSING AND SERVICE PROVIDERS WITH THE EXECUTION OF THEIR PROJECTS. OF THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE H.U.D. TO SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ANNUALLY ON THE NEEDS OF VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS AND GIVEN INDICATION AS TO WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN UNDER THIS PROGRAM TO ELIMINATE HOMELESSNESS AMONG OUR VETERAN POPULATION. MR. SPEAKER, SOME MAY SAY THAT THIS IS TOO LITTLE, OTHERS MAY SAY THAT IT IS TOO MUCH. IT IS OUR POSITION THAT WE DO THIS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR MANY OF OUR VETERANS. MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS TIME I WILL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:38:10 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 03:38:15 | Capito, Shelley Moore | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RIDSE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3329, THE HOMES FOR HEROES ACT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. GREEN. IN THE WEEK AFTER OUR NATION CELEBRATED ITS 232 PT BIRTHDAY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE TIME TO PROPERLY RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES OF OUR NATION'S VETERANS. AND THOSE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY DEFENDING OUR FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES IN THEATERS ACROSS THE WORLD. LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES I'VE BEEN TO WALTER REED TO VISIT OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED IN BATTLE AND I'M ALWAYS TOUCHED BY THEIR SPIRIT AND COURAGE. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT OUR NATION AND GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE THESE VETERANS WITH THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED ONCE THEY LEAVE THE MILITARY AND THE BENEFITS THEY DESERVE FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY'VE MADE IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM. THIS LEGISLATION IMPROVES ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT FOR OUR VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM LONG-TERM PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES. THAT IS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION IS THE ONLY FEDERAL AGENCY THAT PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL HANDS-ON ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. HOMELESS VETERANS. ALTHOUGH LIMITED TO VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENCE, THE V.A.'S MAJOR HOMELESS SPECIFIC PROGRAMS CONSTITUTE THE LARGEST INTEGRATED NET, WITH -- NETWORK OF HOMES TREATMENT AND SERVICES IN THIS COUNTRY. THE DEPARTMENT'S HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAMS WERE FIRST AUTHORIZED IN 1987 AND HAVE GROWN AND DEVELOPED DURING THAT TIME. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A NUMBER OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDE OUTREACH TO VETERANS LIVING ON STREETS AND WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT SEEK ASSISTANCE, LONG-TERM SHELTERED TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTIVE PERMANENT HOUSING. ACCORDING TO THE V.A., ABOUT 1/3 OF THE ADULT HOMELESS POPULATION ARE VETERANS. THAT'S STAGGERING, I BELIEVE. WITH CURRENT POPULATION ESTIMATES SUGGESTING ABOUT 154,000 VETERANS ARE HOMELESS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT. MANY OTHER VETERANS ARE CONSIDERED NEAR HOMELESS OR AT RISK BECAUSE OF THEIR POVERTY, LACK OF SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND DISMAL LIVING CONDITIONS IN CHEAP HOTELS OR OVERCROWDED AND SUBSTANDARD HOUSING. THIS LEGISLATION REQUIRES H.U.D. TO CREATE A POSITION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO SERVE AS A LIAISON TO VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WOULD ENSURE VETERANS RECEIVE PROPER AC ACCESS TO H.U.D.'S HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, COORDINATE ALL H.U.D. PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO VETERANS AND ACT AS A LIAISON IN BETWEEN H.U.D. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. MR. GREEN'S LEGISLATION ALSO REQUIRES, AS HE NOTED, THAT H.U.D. PROVIDE 20,000 RENTAL VOUCHERS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. IT AUTHORIZES MONEY IN 2008 AND SUCH SUMS AS MAYBE NECESSARY FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR. IT ALSO REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE CONSTANT FUNDING. THE MEASURE ALLOWS FAMILY MEMBERS OF A VETERAN RECEIVING A HOUSING VOUCHER TO MAINTAIN THE VOUCHER AND THE HOME AFTER THE VETERANS' DEATH. THE BILL AUTHORIZES THE GRANTS TO NONPROFITS THAT SPONSOR HOUSING PROJECTS FOR VETERANS, MAKING LESS THAN 50% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME OF AN AREA. ASSIST VETERANS IN OBTAINING HOUSING OR HOMELESS ASSISTANCE AND ASSIST VETERANS WITH THE PLANNING AND APPLICATION PROCESS FOR H.U.D. ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. IT ALSO INCLUDES LANGUAGES TO ENSURE THAT ANY VOUCHER PROGRAM WOULD NOT INHIBIT LOW TAX INCOME CREDITS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. GREEN FOR OFFERING THIS IT LEDGE -- THIS LEGISLATION. AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:41:43 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 03:41:47 | Green, Al | MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE AT THIS MOMENT. WILL YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS? IF NOT, I'LL CLOSE. |
| 03:41:53 | Capito, Shelley Moore | I DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SPEAKER. I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD THREE MINUTES OR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM CONNECTICUT, MR. SHAYS. |
| 03:42:01 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. |
| 03:42:05 | Shays, Christopher | I THANK THE GENTLELADY FOR YIELDING TO ME AND THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3329, THE HOMES FOR HEROES ACT BECAUSE IT IS PAST TIME TO ADDRESS RAPID GROWTH OF OUR NATION'S HOMELESS VETERANS POPULATION AND ENHANCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNING VETERANS. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING REMAINS THE NUMBER-ONE UNMET NEED OF VETERANS. THE NATIONAL TO END HOMELESSNESS FOUND HALF A MILLION OF OUR NATION'S VETERANS ARE SEVERELY RENT BURDENED AND DEVOTE MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR INCOME TO RENT. THE BILL WILL STRENGTHEN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RETURNING VETERANS BY CREATING A SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, H.U.D., AND AUTHORIZES $200 MILLION FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OF LOW INCOME AND HOMELESS VETERAN HOUSING. AND 20,000 NEW VOUCHERS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, TRUE AMERICAN HEROES, WHEN THEY RETURN HOME. VETERANS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS COMPARED TO OTHER AMERICANS. ADDITIONAL OBSTACLES INCLUDE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH-RELATED PRO-PROBLEMS, WEAKENED SOCIAL NETWORKS, HIGH STRESSFUL OCCUPATIONAL DEMANDS AND NONTRANSFERABILITY OF SKILLS TO CIVILIAN JOBS CREATE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THIS POPULATION. IN FACT, THE ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS CONCLUDED VETERANS MAKE UP A DISPROPORTION SHARE OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION. WHILE VETERANS ONLY REPRESENT 11% OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION, AGE 18 AND OVER, THEY ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY 26% OF OUR NATION'S HOMELESS POPULATION. THIS IS CLEARLY UNACCEPTABLE. THE DISPARITIES, AS OUR -- WHILE THE V.A. HAS CURRENTLY OVER 19,000 TRANSITIONLE HOUSING BEDS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND HAS INVESTED IN NEW INITIATIVES SPECIFICALLY TARGETING AT-RISK POPULATIONS, VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE, G.A.O., AND VARIOUS STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE V.A. STILL LACKS THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE TIMELY ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR VETERANS. I BELIEVE THIS BILL WILL ENHANCE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS. AND I URGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. AGAIN, I THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR PERSON, RANKING MEMBER, FOR YIELDING ME TIME. |
| 03:44:44 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 03:44:49 | Green, Al | I WILL CONTINUE TO RESERVE UNLESS THE LADY HAS ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. |
| 03:44:53 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 03:44:55 | Capito, Shelley Moore | I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:45:00 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. |
| 03:45:03 | Green, Al | MR. SPEAKER, I WILL YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME WITH NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. |
| 03:45:09 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 3329, AS AMENDED. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 -- |
| 03:45:20 | Frank, Barney | I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS. |
| 03:45:23 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. |
| 03:45:32 | Frank, Barney | I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS. |
| 03:45:34 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL COUNTED. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20 AND THE CHAIR'S PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENT, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS MOTION WILL BE POSTPONED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE? |
| 03:46:07 | Maloney, Carolyn | MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE BILL H.R. 6184. |
| 03:46:12 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. |
| 03:46:16 | Maloney, Carolyn | H.R. 6184, A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR A PROGRAM FOR CIRCULATING QUARTER DOLLAR COINS THAT ARE EMBLEMATIC OF A NATIONAL PARK OR OTHER NATIONAL SITE IN EACH STATE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND EACH TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. |
| 03:46:32 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK, MRS. MALONEY, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE, MR. CASTLE, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK, MRS. MALONEY. |
| 03:46:47 | Maloney, Carolyn | MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON THIS LEGISLATION AND INSERT ANY EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL AS THEY SO WISH. |
| 03:47:01 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 03:47:04 | Maloney, Carolyn | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 03:47:07 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 03:47:10 | Maloney, Carolyn | MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 6184, AMERICA'S BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL PARKS QUARTER DOLLAR COIN ACT, INTRODUCED BY MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM DELAWARE, CONGRESSMAN CASTLE. I HAVE HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE TO WORK WITH MR. CASTLE OF SEVERAL COIN BILLS OF THIS NATURE IN THE PAST, THE VERY SUCCESSFUL STATE QUARTERS AND MOST RECENTLY THE PRESIDENTIAL DOLLARS. I AM PROUD TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC LEAD SPONSOR OF THIS BILL, AND I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IT HAS STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AS SHOWN BY THE FACT THAT IT PASSED OUT OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE ON A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN SUPPORT. I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN -- CONGRESSMAN CASTLE FOR ALL OF HIS HARD WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION, AS WELL AS CHAIRMAN FRANK FOR HIS SUPPORT, AND THE SUPPORT OF THE STAFF OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, AND THE STAFF, OUR INDIVIDUAL STAFFS FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS BILL. OF COURSE, ALL OF US LOVE OUR NATIONAL PARKS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR HOME STATE, WHICH WILL BE HONORED ON EACH OF THESE COINS. BEGINNING IN 2010, NEW QUARTERS WILL BEAR A DESIGN REPRESENTING A NATIONAL PARK OR SITE IN EACH STATE AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AT THE RATE OF FIVE NEW DESIGNS A YEAR. THE SITES WILL BE SELECTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS BY THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATES. AND THE COINS WILL BE MINTED IN THE ORDER WHICH THE SITES SELECTED WERE ESTABLISHED AS NATIONAL SITES, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY CLEVER TOUCH. AS A FORMER TEACHER AND EDUCATOR, I AM ALWAYS EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW DESIGNS ON EVERYDAY COINS BECAUSE THEY ENCOURAGE MORE AMERICANS OF ALL AGES TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE COIN IN THEIR POCKETS AND LEARN A FEW FACTS ABOUT WHAT IS DEPICTED. I CAN SAY IN THE VERY SUCCESSFUL STATE QUARTER PROGRAM IT BECAME A VERY POPULAR TEACHING TOOL. MANY TEACHERS DEVISED LESSON PLANS AROUND THE QUARTERS, AND MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS COLLECTED THESE COINS. MY OWN DAUGHTER HAD A BOOK WITH EACH OF THE QUARTERS IN IT. AND MANY PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME, WHEN IS THE NEXT QUARTER COMING OUT? AND BECAUSE IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL, THE 50-STATE QUARTER PROGRAM RAISED $6.2 BILLION OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS OF ITS LIFE SPAN, WHICH IS JUST ENDING THIS YEAR. AND WE CAN HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE SIMILAR RESULTS FROM THIS SERIES OF COINS. MR. SPEAKER, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION. IT'S AN EDUCATION TOOL. IT ALSO WILL GENERATE NEEDED REVENUES FOR OUR TREASURY. AND I YIELD -- I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:50:02 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE. |
| 03:50:06 | Castle, Michael | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 03:50:11 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 03:50:13 | Castle, Michael | THANK YOU, SIR. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 61 4, THE AMERICA'S BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL PARKS QUARTER DOLLAR COIN ACT OF 2008. WHICH I AM PLEASED TO SUPPORT WITH MY FRIEND, THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK, MRS. MALONEY. I APPRECIATE HER KIND COMMENTS ON THE FLOOR. AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM CHICAGO, MR. GUTIERREZ. THIS IS AN EASY BILL TO UNDERSTAND AND I HOPE AN EASY BILL TO LIKE. IT WAS POPULAR ENOUGH, AS THE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM NEW YORK POINTED OUT. IN COMMITTEE IT PASSED BY 58-0 VOTE TWO WEEKS AGO. BUT WE ALL KNOW THE POPULAR 50-STATE QUARTER PROGRAM WHICH HONORED EVERY STATE IN THE UNION WITH A DESIGN OF ITS CHOOSING ON THE BACK OF THE QUARTER. THERE ARE JUST TWO MORE STATES, ALASKA AND HAWAII, TO BE HONORED. NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE QUARTERS HONORING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, AND THE TERRITORIES AND THE PROGRAM WILL BE DONE. MR. SPEAKER, THE 50-STATE QUARTERS PROGRAM MET OR EXCEEDED EVERY GOAL. IT HONORED EVERY STATE IN SUCH A WAY THAT EDUCATED THE REST OF THE COUNTRY ABOUT THINGS THAT MADE THAT PARTICULAR STATE SO SPECIAL. THE NATIONAL PARKS QUARTERS PROGRAM IS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE STATE QUARTERS, AND I BELIEVE NOTHING CAN BE MORE LOGICAL THAN RECOGNIZING THE SITES ALL AMERICA HOLD MOST DEAR. PLACES LIKE YOSEMITE, YELLOWSTONE OR GLAZIER NATIONAL PARK. IT WILL FOCUS ON THE GREAT NATURAL BEAUTY OF OUR COUNTRY OR IMPORTANT TO HISTORY OR SEA SHORES, WILDLIFE REFUGES. SUCH AS HONORING THE STATES IN WHICH THEY ARE ADMITTED TO THE UNION, THIS LEGISLATION HONORS SITES IN THE ORDER THEY ARE RECOGNIZED. I NOTE TO SOME CHAGRIN BUT IN FAIRNESS, THIS WILL HONOR THE WESTERN STATES THAT JOINED THE UNION LATER BEFORE THE ORIGINAL 13 STATES AND IT ENSURES MY OWN STATE OF DWYER WILL NOT AGAIN BE FIRST. WE DO NOT HAVE A NATIONAL PARK. WE WILL BE LAST IN THIS PARTICULAR SEQUENCE. THE BILL CREATES A NEW GRADE COIN THAT WILL BE THREE INCHES IN DIE AMOUNT -- DIAMETER AND WILL BE DESIGNED WHICH THE EQUIVALENT COIN IS MADE. THIS LEGISLATION ALLOWS THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE TO BUY THESE BOUILLON COINS IN BULK SO THEY CAN SOLD TO VISITORS. THE COIN PROGRAM WILL BE STARTED IN 20 10, AFTER THE TERRITORIES AND D.C. QUARTERS. THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO SEND IT NOT SENATE AND PRESIDENT QUICKLY. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE -- THAT THERE IS TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES MINT AND THE STATES TO CHOOSE EACH DESIGN. THE MINT HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB WITH THE STATE QUARTERS, AND I HAVE GREAT FAITH THAT THE ARTISTS AND ENGRAVERS AND THE EXCELLENT STAFF THERE WILL DO A GREAT JOB WITH THIS PROJECT AS WELL. MR. SPEAKER, I'M PROUD TO WORK ON THIS EFFORT WITH MRS. MALONEY, WHO JOINED WITH ME AS A TIRELESS SUPPORTER FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL COIN ACT. THEIR INPUT AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MINT HAVE CERTAINLY IMPROVED IT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN FRANK FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO MOVE THIS BILL ALONG. WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I URGE IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL, URGE THE OTHER BODY TO MOVE IT ON AS SWIFTLY AS WELL AND RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 03:53:33 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK. |
| 03:53:37 | Maloney, Carolyn | THERE ARE NO OTHER REQUESTS FOR TIME ON MY SIDE OF THE AISLE. I ASK THE GENTLEMAN, ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FOR TIME ON YOUR SIDE OF THE AISLE? |
| 03:53:44 | Castle, Michael | WE HAVE NO FURTHER REQUESTS FOR TIME. I WOULD POINT OUT TO THE SPEAKER, WHO IS INTERESTED IN THIS, THAT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO IS INCLUDED IN THIS LEGISLATION, WHICH THEY WERE NOT ORIGINALLY, AS WE KNOW IN THE 50-STATE QUARTER PROGRAM. I'M SORRY. WE DO HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER. I YIELD TO MR. PRICE SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. |
| 03:54:09 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. |
| 03:54:14 | Price, Tom | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE, THE NATIONAL PARK QUARTER BILL. WE HAVE IN MY DISTRICT CHAT HUCHEY RIVER -- CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER PARK. SO I'M PLEASED TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. THE CONCERN I HAVE, HOWEVER, ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARKS, MR. SPEAKER, MORE AND MORE AMERICANS ARE NOT ABLE TO GET TO THEM. AND THEY AREN'T ABLE TO GET TO THEM BECAUSE OF THE PRICE OF GASOLINE. AND SO WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING HERE AS A HOUSE, AS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN ADDITION TO RECOGNIZING THE WONDERFUL WORK OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE OF AMERICANS ACROSS THIS NATION IS ADDRESSED. THAT ISSUE IS ENERGY POLICY AND GAS PRICES. AND SO I COME TO THE WELL TODAY TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY AS IT RELATES TO ENERGY POLICY. WE HAVE MR. SPEAKER, AS YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT AREN'T BEING BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE THE SPEAKER DOESN'T WANT IT TO COME TO THE FLOOR, IS NOT INTERESTED IN INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF OIL FOR AMERICANS, AMERICAN ENERGY FOR AMERICANS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DISCHARGE PETITION WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY THAT -- WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM THAT ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. ONE IS THE NO MORE EXCUSES ENERGY ACT THAT WOULD INCREASE THE ABILITY OF NEW REFINERIES TO BE BROUGHT ONLINE IN THE UNITED STATES. MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVEN'T HAD A NEW REFINERY BUILT IN THIS NATION IN OVER 30 YEARS. AND THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT WE CAN'T GET PRO CONDUCT TO THE RETAIL MARKET. WE CANNOT INCREASE THE SUPPLY IF YOU DON'T HAVE INCREASING REFINERIES. THAT'S H.R. 3089. MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, H.R. 2279, WHICH WOULD EXPAND THE REFINING CAPACITY ON CLOSED MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, IT ALLOWS FOR INCREASING REFINING CAPACITY ON LAND THAT'S CURRENTLY NOT EVEN BEING USED, FEDERAL LAND THAT'S NOT BEING USED. AND IN IS IMPORTANT AS IT RELATES TO NATIONAL PARKS BECAUSE, AGAIN, MR. SPEAKER, MY CONSTITUENTS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING TO THE NATIONAL PARKS BECAUSE OF THE PRICE OF GASOLINE. AND THIS HOUSE IS NOT ACTING BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP, THE SPEAKER AND HER LEADERSHIP ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BRINGING FORWARD BILLS THAT INCREASE SUPPLY. ANOTHER ONE IS H.R. 5656, WOULD REPEAL THE BAN ON ACQUIRING ALTERNATIVE FUELS. MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE -- WE WERE HOME LAST WEEK AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, AS I KNOW FOLKS HEARD ALL ACROSS THIS NATION IS, YOU GOT TO SOLVE THE ENERGY PROBLEMS, YOU GOT TO SOLVE THE GAS PRICE PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS CONSERVE. YES, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. AND THE OTHER IS INCREASED SUPPLY. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. ANOTHER ONE IN THE LONG RUN IS WE HAVE THE KIND OF TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL. THIS IS A BILL, H.R. 5656 THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY TO MECHANISMS TO BRING ALTERNATIVE FUELS ONLINE. DIVERSE SOURCES OF FUEL LIKE OIL SHALE AND TAR SANDS AND COAL-TO-LIQUID TECHNOLOGY. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN, MR. SPEAKER, AS I KNOW YOU WERE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST RESOURCES OF OIL SHALE IN THE WORLD, IN THE WORLD. SO MUCH SO THAT THE ESTIMATE IS THAT WE CAN GET OVER TWO TRILLION BARRELS OF OIL OUT OF THE OIL SHALE, OIL SANDS THAT IS AMERICAN RESOURCE, AMERICAN RESOURCE. NOW, TWO TRILLION IS A BIG NUMBER. GOT A LOT OF ZOURS AFTER IT. WHAT DOES -- ZEROS AFTER IT. WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN, TWO TRILLION BARRELS OF OIL? WELL, TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, MR. SPEAKER, THE WORLD HAS USED ONE TRILLION BARRELS OF OIL SINCE 1875. MR. SPEAKER, THE WORLD HAS USED ONE TRILLION BARRELS OF OIL SINCE 1875. WE, AMERICANS, POSSESS OUR NATURAL RESOURCES THE ABILITY TO GAIN TWO TRILLION BARRELS OF OIL WITHOUT ANY INFLUENCE FROM A FOREIGN SOURCE. WITHOUT UTILIZING ANY FOREIGN SOURCE OR ANY FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY. WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW IF WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS HOUSE AND SENATE ACT. SO THIS IS REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE INFORMATION. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE KNOW THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE AMERICANS KNOW THIS. BECAUSE WE HAVE WITHIN OUR CAPACITY THE ABILITY TO RELY ON AMERICAN ENERGY FOR AMERICANS. IT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR WHEN WE GO HOME. SO WHY, WHY, MR. SPEAKER, WHY WILL THIS HOUSE NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON H.R. 5656 OR H.R. 2279, OR H.R. 3089, OR THE ONE THAT'S BROUGHT A DISCHARGE PETITION THIS WEEK, H.R. 2208, WHICH IS THE COAL-TO-LIQUID FUEL ACT WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE PRICE OF GASOLINE BY ENCOURAGING THE USE OF CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY? MR. SPEAKER, AS YOU ALSO KNOW, WE IN THE UNITED STATES POSSESS THE WORLD'S LARGEST RESERVES OF COAL AND TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED SO DRASTICALLY OVER THE PAST 20 TO 30 YEARS THAT NOW IT IS POSSIBLE AND IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND SOUND WAY AND RESPONSIBLE WAY TO GAIN NATURAL GAS, TO GAIN GASOLINE FROM LIQUID COAL, FROM COAL, COAL-TO-LIQUID TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY FOR AMERICANS, AMERICAN ENERGY FOR AMERICANS. . WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY POLICY? NOTHING. NOTHING. I HEARD WHAT ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES DID, AND THAT IS THAT THE HOUSE HAS GOT TO ACT. THE HOUSE HAS GOT TO ACT. THE FRUSTRATION LEVEL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS HUGE, AND IT OUGHT TO BE. THEIR ANGER IS HUGE, AND IT OUGHT TO BE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO COMMUNICATE TO THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE, TO LET THE SPEAKER KNOW THAT WE WANT TO VOTE ON THESE BILLS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE VOTE WILL TURN OUT, BUT I DO KNOW THE CONSTITUENTS OF MY DISTRICT AND DISTRICTS ACROSS THIS NATION WANT TO KNOW HOW THEIR MEMBERS ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THESE BILLS. IT IS IMPERATIVE, AMERICA ENERGY FOR AMERICANS. I THANK MY GOOD FRIEND FROM DELAWARE FOR PROVIDING ME THIS TIME AND KIND OF GETTING TO THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL PARKS AND A LITTLE SIDE WAY, MANNER, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS OUR CONSTITUENTS, I KNOW, WANT US TO SOLVE THE ISSUE OF ENERGY SO THEY CAN VISIT THE NATIONAL PARKS, THE BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL PARKS ALL ACROSS THIS NATION. I THANK MY FRIEND AND I YIELD BACK. |
| 04:01:15 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. WAR PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN RISE? |
| 04:01:27 | >> | I'M PREPARED TO YIELD BACK. |
| 04:01:28 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK. |
| 04:01:30 | Maloney, Carolyn | MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO MY DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO HAS ATTACKED THE SPEAKER OF THIS HOUSE REALLY UNFAIRLY AND WITH FALSE STATEMENTS. THE POINT IS, AND THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE HAVE TWO OIL MEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. AND THEIR POLICIES ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BENEFITED BIG OIL AND HURT THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. NOW, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEMOCRATIC SPEAKER AND THE NEW DIRECTIONS CONGRESS, WE HAVE BEEN PASSING SOLUTIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME TO HELP AMERICAN CONSUMERS AND TO HELP THIS COUNTRY MOVE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY WITH POLICIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR CONSERVING ENERGY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES, REDUCING ENERGY WILL THE GENTLELADY YIELD? NO, I WILL NOT YIELD. YOU HAD YOUR TIME. THE FIRST THING THAT CONGRESS IS THE FIRST NEW FUEL VEHICLE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS IN 32 YEARS. AND THIS HISTORIC COMMITMENT -- WE ALSO PASSED A HISTORIC COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE AMERICAN GROWN BIOFUELS. IF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WAS INTERESTED IN MOVING US IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND CONSERVING ENERGY, WHY DIDN'T THEY PASS NEW VEHICLE FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS? WE PASSED IT. THIS CONGRESS PASSED IT. THE DEMOCRATS PASSED IT. AND FORCING THE CAR BUILDERS AND OTHERS TO MOVE IN WITH FUEL EFFICIENT STANDARDS. WE ALSO TOOK ACTION TO LOWER GAS PRICES BY SUSPENDING OIL PURCHASING FOR THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVES. THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVES. THE GENTLEMAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, MY VERY GOOD FRIEND, TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO BUILD NEW REFINERIES. WELL, EXXONMOBIL, CHEVRON, CONOCOPHILLIPS, BP AND SHELL HAVE PUBLICLY STATED THAT THEY HAD NO PLANS TO BUILD NEW REFINERIES AND INSTEAD, THEY PREFER TO EXPAND EXISTING FACILITIES. THESE ARE THEIR STATEMENTS. SHELL AND BP ALL TESTIFIED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS PREVENTING THEM FROM BUILDING NEW REFINERIES OR EXPANDING NEW ONES. THEY CAN DO THAT NOW. INTERNAL MEMOS FROM OIL COMPANIES MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT OIL COMPANIES DECIDED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REDUCE REFINERY CAPACITY TO DRIVE UP THEIR PROFITS. AND THE NEW DIRECTION CONGRESS IS CONTINUING TO BRINGING REAL RELIEF TO THOSE FEELING THE PINCH OF THE HIGH GAS AND DIESEL PRICES AND ENSURING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES ARE PUT BEFORE THE INTERESTS OF BIG OIL COMPANIES. NOW, MY DEAR FRIEND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TALKS ABOUT DRILLING, DRILLING, DRILLING, DRILLING. AS IF WE COULD DRILL OURSELVES OUT OF THE CHALLENGESES WE FACE. THE FACT IS THAT THERE ARE OVER 68 MILLION ACRES ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THAT ARE CURRENTLY LEASED BY OIL COMPANIES AND THEY ARE OPEN TO DRILLING AND ACTUALLY UNDER A LEASE TO DO SO, BUT ARE NOT DEVELOPED. NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEASES ON 68 MILLION ACRES OF LAND THAT IS OWNED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. NOW, WHAT CHAIRMAN RAHALL SAYS IS USE IT OR LOSE IT. AND I THINK HE'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. AND I SUPPORT HIS BILL TO SAY THAT YOU EITHER DRILL ON THOSE 68 MILLION ACRES OR YOU GIVE UP YOUR LEASE AND LET SOMEONE ELSE DRILL THERE. THAT'S WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAND OUT MORE LEASES TO THE OIL COMPANIES ON PUBLIC LAND THAT IS OWNED BY THE PUBLIC AND IS LAND AND RESERVES OF THIS COUNTRY. WE'RE SAYING TO THEM, IF YOU HAVE A LEASE, YOU USE THAT LEASE. DRILL. IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DRILL, LET'S PUT IT OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BID AND LET SOMEONE ELSE COME FORWARD AND DRILL ON THAT LAND. THE FACT IS THAT 80% OF THE OIL AVAILABLE ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF IS IN REGIONS THAT ARE ALREADY OPEN TO LEASING. BUT THE OIL COMPANIES HAVEN'T DECIDED IF IT'S WORTH THEIR TIME TO DRILL THERE. THE FACT IS THAT DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC WILDLIFE REFUGE WOULDN'T YIELD ANY OIL FOR 10 YEARS AND WOULD ONLY SAVE THE CONSUMER 1.8 CENTS PER GALLON IN 2025. THE FACT IS THAT AMERICA USES A QUARTER OF THE WORLD'S CONSUMPTION EVERY DAY, BUT ONLY 1.6% OF THE WORLD'S SUPPLY. SO THERE IS NO WAY TO DRILL OUR WAY TO A SOLUTION. AND I REPEAT, WHILE MY COLLEAGUES WERE RUNNING THIS BODY, WHERE WERE THEIR SOLUTIONS? I DIDN'T SEE ANY. I DIDN'T SEE THEM RAISING THE AMOUNT OF MILEAGE PER GAS. I DIDN'T SEE THEM CONSERVING OR INVESTING OR BIOFUELS OR MOVING FORWARD WITH ENERGY SOLUTIONS AS THIS NEW DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN DOING. THEY HAVE JUST HELD ONTO THE FAILED POLICIES OF THE PAST, WHICH HAVE GOTTEN US TO WHERE WE ARE. AND AS I REPEAT, WE HAVE HAD TWO OIL MEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT HAVE BEEN BEHIND THESE POLICIES. SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP HAS DONE A GREAT DEAL TO HELP THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. THEY ARE FACING MANY CHALLENGES. THEIR WAGES ARE STAGNANT, THE PRICE OF OIL IS NOW AT OVER $4 A GALLON. THE PRICE OF MILK IS OVER $4 A GALLON. SO THEY ARE FACING INFLATION AND MANY, MANY CHALLENGES. AND THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP HAS COME FORWARD WITH A STIMULUS PACKAGE TO HELP THE AMERICAN CITIZENS. WE HAVE COME FORWARD WITH A FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARD. WE HAVE COME FORWARD WITH MANY HEARINGS TODAY ON THE POSSIBLE MANIPULATION OF OIL IN THE FUTURES MARKET SO TO CURB THOSE ABUSES THAT ARE DOCUMENTED. AND WE ARE FOR DRILLING ON THE 68 MILLION ACRES THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT AND SHOULD BE DRILLED ON. SO THIS CONGRESS, I CONGRATULATE THE LEADERSHIP OF SPEAKER PELOSI AND THE DEMOCRATS AND THE RELEVANT COMMITTEES. WE HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION, THE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND JOB CREATION ACT. WE HAVE PASSED THE GAS PRICE RELIEF FOR CONSUMERS ACT. WE HAVE PASSED THE ENERGY PRICE GOUGING PREVENTION ACT. AND THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE CONSUMER RELIEF BY GIVING THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE AND PUNISH THOSE WHO ARTIFICIALLY INFLATE ENERGY PRICES. AND PRESIDENT BUSH HAS THREATENED A VETO OF THIS VERY COMMONSENSE CONSUMER PROTECTION MEASURE. SO I SAY WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY WONDERFUL COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, WHERE WERE YOUR IDEAS WHEN YOU COULD PASS THEM? WHERE ARE YOUR IDEAS NOW, THE ONES THAT HELP THE CONSUMER, THAT MOVES US INTO THE 21ST CENTURY AND MAKES A PROFITABLE USE OF LAND OWNED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF GIVING MORE AND IN MANY CASES IN A NO-BID PROCESS TO OIL COMPANIES WHO ARE SITTING ON IT AND NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. YOU BROUGHT IT UP, SO I'M RESPONDING TO SOME OF YOUR ALLEGATIONS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE FROM THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK, CONGRESSMAN SERRANO ON H.R. 6184. AND I THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT BILL. |
| 04:09:51 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | ALL MEMBERS ARE REMIND TODD ADDRESS THEIR REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. |
| 04:09:57 | MR. SERRANO | I THANK THE GENTLEWOMAN. I'M GOING TO DISCUSS THE BILL BEFORE US AND NOT THIS OTHER DISCUSSION WE HAD ON DRILLING. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. WE WERE DISCUSSING A BILL FOR THOSE AMERICANS WHO ARE WATCHING WHO MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN BY NOW, PUTTING NATIONAL PARKS ON THE BACK OF QUARTERS. AND I CONGRALT LATE MR. CASTLE, MRS. MALONEY FOR INCLUDING THE TERRITORIES. THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE MENTIONED THE FACT THAT I HAVE GREAT CONCERN OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE TERRITORIES AND THE RECOGNITION. WHEN THE ORIGINAL QUARTERS PROGRAM CAME ABOUT, I WAS DISMAYED THAT THE TERRITORIES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WERE NOT INCLUDED. LAST YEAR WE INCLUDED AND EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE D.C. AND THE TERRITORIES. WHAT YOU'VE DONE TODAY IS THAT YOU HAVE PICKED UP ON THAT AND NOW HAVE STARTED A NEW ERA, I BELIEVE, WHERE THE TERRITORIES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WILL BECOME PART OF EVERY DISCUSSION WE HAVE HERE FROM POSTAGE STAMPS, TO COINS AND MANY OTHER AREAS, FAIRNESS ACROSS THE BOARD. WHEN THAT FIRST QUARTER COMES OUT, BOTH THE ONE FOR THE NATIONAL PARKS AND THE ONE FOR THE REGULAR QUARTERS PROGRAM WITH PUERTO RICO ON IT, SINCE PUERTO RICO IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME, HAVING BEEN BORN THERE BEFORE MOVING TO NEW YORK, MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WILL ASK WHY IS PUERTO RICO ON THE BACK OF A QUARTER? AND THAT WILL START A PROPER DISCUSSION AS TO THE FACT THAT WE NOT ONLY INCLUDE IN THE AMERICAN FAMILY THE 50 STATES, BUT WE INCLUDE THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE TERRITORIES. THE TERRITORIES ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS, AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO SERVED THIS COUNTRY DURING WAR TOO TIME AND PEACE TIME AND AT ANY MOMENT CAN PARTICIPATE IN ALL FACETS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY BUT ARE FORGOTTEN. SOMETHING PERHAPS SYMBOLIC, MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THESE QUARTERS COME OUT WITH NATIONAL PARKS -- |
| 04:12:11 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. |
| 04:12:14 | MR. SERRANO | THEY INCLUDE PUERTO RICO AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. |
| 04:12:18 | Maloney, Carolyn | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR HIS STATEMENT AND HE HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE TERRITORIES. HE RAISES AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT THE TERRITORIES ARE INCLUDED. AND I APPRECIATE HIS RECOGNIZING THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CITIZENS OF PUERTO RICO AND OTHER TERRITORIES TO OUR GREAT COUNTRY. MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NO FURTHER REQUESTS FOR TIME. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS CREATIVE BILL THAT IS BEFORE US. I HOPE THAT IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AND MOVE TO THE SENATE WITH SWIFT PASSAGE. |
| 04:12:56 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HER TIME. DELAWARE DELAWARE COULD I ASK FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION? I SAID I WAS PREPARED TO YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A RULING ON THAT. |
| 04:13:15 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | DOES THE GENTLEMAN ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RECLAIM? |
| 04:13:19 | Castle, Michael | I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RECLAIM MY TIME. |
| 04:13:22 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | IS THERE OBJECTION? |
| 04:13:26 | Maloney, Carolyn | I DO OBJECT. WE HAVE A SYSTEM. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IT AND I FEEL WE SHOULD MOVE TOWARD A VOTE. |
| 04:13:32 | Castle, Michael | OBJECTION IS HEARD. THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE -- DELAWARE DELAWARE COULD I GET A CLARIFICATION? I'M NOT CERTAIN I YIELDED BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE IN THE CHAIR AT THAT TIME BUT I INDICATED I WAS PREPARED TO YIELD BACK AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WAS A RULING. COULD THAT BE CLARIFIED? |
| 04:13:53 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN UTTERED THE WORDS, YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME |
| 04:14:02 | Castle, Michael | THE WORDS WERE I AM PREPARED TO YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. AND THEN I BELIEVE THE THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK WAS CALLED ON AT THAT POINT, WITHOUT THE RULING OF THE CHAIR. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION. |
| 04:14:20 | Maloney, Carolyn | IF THE GENTLEMAN FEELS SO STRONGLY ABOUT IT AND YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS BILL. IT'S A SUCCESSFUL BILL AND WE HOPE TO HAVE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL BILL. SO I WILL ALLOW THE GENTLEMAN TO RECLAIM HIS TIME. AND CAN I INQUIRE HOW MUCH TIME REMAINS ON BOTH SIDES, MR. SPEAKER? |
| 04:14:40 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK, WHO HAS -- YIELDED BACK THE BALANCE OF HER TIME HAD 6 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE HAD 5 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. |
| 04:14:57 | Maloney, Carolyn | IF HE IS RECLAIMING HIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECLAIM MY TIME. |
| 04:15:02 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WE CAN DO THESE ONE AT A TIME. DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RECLAIM HIS TIME? |
| 04:15:14 | Castle, Michael | I DO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RECLAIM OUR TIME. |
| 04:15:16 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | IS THERE OBJECTION? DOES THE THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RECLAIM HER TIME? |
| 04:15:22 | Maloney, Carolyn | I DO ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RECLAIM MY TIME. |
| 04:15:28 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | IS THERE OBJECTION? GOOD. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE IS RECOGNIZED. . |
| 04:15:36 | Castle, Michael | AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR. WALDEN, SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. |
| 04:15:42 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON IS RECOGNIZED FOR -- THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 04:15:50 | Walden, Greg | THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WANT TO THANK MY FRIEND FROM DELAWARE AND CONGRATULATE HIM AND OUR COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK ON IN LEGISLATION. AND JUST ADVISE THE BODY THAT OREGON, ONCE AGAIN, IS IN THE LEAD WHEN IT COMES TO RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PARKS. AS OUR QUARTER, THE DESIGN FOR THE BACK OF IT FOR OUR STATE WAS PROCESSED THROUGH A VERY PUBLIC EFFORT, THEY PICKED CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK AS THE PARK TO RECOGNIZE ON THE BACK OF THE QUARTER. AND SO WE'RE ALREADY IN THE LEAD. IT'S A WONDERFUL NATIONAL PARK. AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, IT'S ALSO ONE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE A GREAT DISTANCE TO GET TO. AND WHEN I WAS IN MY HOME COUNTY THIS LAST WEEK, DIESEL WAS $5.08 A GALLON. GASOLINE WAS $4.39 A GALLON. AND IF THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC DIRECTION FOR THE CONGRESS AND FOR THE COUNTRY, THEN I HOPE WE'RE ABOUT THE END OF THIS NEW DIRECTION BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN US TO A DEAD END. NOW, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A CLARIFICATION, I GUESS, IN TERMS OF THESE LEASES WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE DEMOCRATS WERE LAST IN CHARGE THEY ACTUALLY VOTED A LAW TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF THOSE LEASES. THE OIL COMPANIES HAVE. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM, THE OIL COMPANIES, PROCESS THESE LEASES AND MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT AMERICA NEEDS IS MORE ENERGY, MORE AMERICAN ENERGY, AND YET THIS CONGRESS IS RE-- HAS REFUSED TO EVEN ALLOW A VOTE, AFRAID TO EVEN ALLOW A VOTE ON ACCESSING THE 85% OF THE OFFSHORE RESOURCE. THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE. IT'S NOT AVAILABLE. AND IF THE ARGUMENT IS WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF BY ACCESSING THE LEASES ALREADY THERE, THEN THE ARGUMENT REALLY IS ADDING TO SUPPLY MATTERS AND ADDING THE SUPPLY WILL RESULT IN LOWER GAS AND LOWER DIESEL COSTS. SO IT SEEMS LOGICAL TO PRESUME THAT ACCESSING AMERICA'S GREAT RESERVES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF WOULD NOT ONLY CREATE NEW OIL AND GAS SUPPLIES FOR AMERICA AND AMERICAN CONSUMERS, IT WOULD ALSO GENERATE ROYALTY DOLLARS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES. AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DEAL WITH THE TWIN ISSUES OF ENERGY POLICY FOR AMERICA THAT CREATES NEW GAS, NEW DIESEL, NEW ACCESS TO OIL AS WELL AS FUND THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY THIS CONGRESS HAS SEEN. AND HELP THOSE LOWEST INCOME AMONG US WITH THEIR HOME HEATING BILLS AND TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEGLECTED CHALLENGE THIS CONGRESS HAS REFUSED TO TAKE UP AND PASS AND THAT IS HELP FOR OUR COUNTIES THAT ARE DOMINATED BY FEDERAL LANDS. SO WE WOULD PAY FOR FIVE YEARS THE TIMBER PAYMENTS AND FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES. WE PUT A BILLION INTO LIHEAP AND NOT DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE FUEL. MY COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK ASKED, WHAT DID REPUBLICANS DO? WE INVESTED IN THE NEWEST AND FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY, TRYING TO DRIVE THE BASIC SCIENCE IN HYDROGEN FUEL CELL DEVELOPMENT. WE SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO EXTEND SUCCESSFULLY, I MIGHT ADD, THE TAX CREDITS FOR WIND, ENERGY AND GEOTHERMAL AND SOLAR AND THE THINGS THAT I THINK WILL GIVE US A GREAT FUTURE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY. BUT WE HAVE A HERE AND TODAY PROBLEM THAT THIS CONGRESS AND ITS LEADERSHIP FAILS TO ADDRESS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WERE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, BUT I WAS HOME WITH REAL PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING. THEY ARE TRUCKERS WHO ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS AND FARMERS WHO TELL ME THAT IT COSTS HUNDREDS TO FILL THE TANK IN THEIR TRACTORS AND THOSE WHO CAN'T GO TO THEIR KIDS' SUMMER SPORTS GAMES. I GOT TO TELL YOU, IT'S A DEAD END DIRECTION. IT NEEDS TO CHANGE. WHY NOT GIVE US AT LEAST THE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS GREAT HOUSE, THIS GREAT PLACE WHERE AMERICANS COME TOGETHER TO DEBATE ISSUES TO AT LEAST ALLOW A VOTE TO ACCESS THE ENERGY RESERVES WE KNOW ARE OUT THERE ON FEDERAL LAND OR IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, UP IN ALASKA , AND IF IT FAILS IT FAILS. THE CONGRESS WILL HAVE SPOKEN IN THE HOUSE. BUT FAR WE HAVE GONE THROUGH, AS A RESULT OF THE DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP, THE MOST INCREDIBLE -- THIS REMINDS ME OF THE GAME OF TWISTER. WE ARE SO CONVOLUTED AND UPSIDE DOWN AND TWISTED TO AVOID ANY VOTE THAT IT IS REPREHENSIBLE. AND SO, MR. SPEAKER, I BOTH SUPPORT NOT ONLY THE ACT BEFORE US TODAY BUT I CALL ON THE HOUSE TO AT LEAST ALLOW A VOTE THAT I THINK WOULD NOT ONLY BE BIPARTISAN, LIKE IT WAS IN 2006, WHEN WE PASSED IN THIS HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY WITH 40 DEMOCRATS SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS, AN EFFORT TO GET TO OUR OFFSHORE OIL RESOURCE, IT WOULD BE AN OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN VOTE. AND ISN'T THAT WHAT DEMOCRACY REALLY SAW ABOUT? YOU PUT AN ISSUE UP ON THE TABLE, YOU ALLOW A VOTE AND WE LIVE WITH THE OUTCOME. SO I ASK FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY, MR. SPEAKER, JUST AS WE'RE VOTING TODAY ON THIS WONDERFUL BILL TO ALLOW NATIONAL PARKS TO HAVE A COIN, AS I SAID, OREGON HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT ON THAT ISSUE, JUST LIKE WE ARE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY. BUT LET'S HAVE A VOTE. LET'S NOT HAVE A VOTE WHEN WE PASSED THE ENERGY ACT OF 2007 THAT SAID IF ANOTHER COUNTRY'S MAKING OIL FROM TAR SANDS, DON'T LET THE AMERICAN MILITARY USE IT. OR LIKE WHAT WAS STUFFED IN THAT BILL, A PROVISION IF YOU CAN TAKE WOODY BIOMASS AND TURN IT INTO AN ETHANOL-LIKE FUEL, DON'T COUNT THAT AGAINST THE ETHANOL FUEL STANDARD. WHY IS THAT IN THERE? WHY CAN'T YOU USE THE GREAT RESOURCE OF OUR AMERICAN FOREST, CONVERT THEM INTO ETHANOL, USING CELLULOSIC TECHNOLOGY, WHICH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AGREE NEEDS TO HAPPEN? BUT THEN WHEN YOU SAY, IF YOU USE THAT IT WON'T COUNT FOR THIS OUT-OF-CONTROL STANDARD. NO, WE'D RATHER RELY ON CORN, I GUESS. AND THAT HASN'T HELPED US A LOT. SO I THINK WE HAVE INVESTED IN NEW TECHNOLOGY WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN CONTROL. WE INVESTED IN NEW SCIENCE. WE ALSO TRIED TO ACK AT THE INDICT ACCESS TO AMERICA'S RESERVES. EVERY OTHER COUNTRY ON THE PLANET HAS ACCESS TO THE RIGHT OF THEIR OWN RESERVES. IT MIGHT TAKE 10 YEARS, BUT IF PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULDN'T HAVE VETOED ALASKA RESOURCES, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN -- WHAT DO WE USE, 20 MILLION BARRELS A DAY, WE PRODUCE FIVE? WHERE WOULD WE BE IF PRESIDENT CLINTON HADN'T VETOED THAT? WE WOULD BE A LOT BETTER OFF, FOLKS. BECAUSE THE WORLD PRODUCES ABOUT 85 MILLION BARRELS A DAY AND CONSUMES 86 OR THEREABOUTS. THIS HAS A LOT OF THINGS AROUND IT. CERTAINLY MONEY SUPPLY, VALUE OF THE DOLLAR, INFLATION, SPECULATORS, WHO KNOWS WHAT, BUT AT ITS CORE UNTIL WE BRIDGE TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF FUEL FOR OUR VEHICLES, WE HAVE A HERE AND NOW PROBLEM AT THE GAS PUMP, AT THE DIESEL PUMP, AND AT THE AMERICAN BUDGET. THE FAMILIES IN THIS COUNTRY ARE HURTING, HURTING, AND IF YOU'RE NOT HEARING THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, YOU'RE NOT GOING HOME AND LISTENING. YOU CAN'T HIDE FOREVER IN THE ABILITY TO ACCESS AMERICA'S RESOURCES. YOU CAN'T STOP THE COUNTRY FROM DEMANDING A VOTE. JUST ONE VOTE. GIVE US A VOTE UP OR DOWN, CLEAN, SIMPLE, THE WAY DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK IN THIS HOUSE. BUT, NO, THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, GROUND TO A HALT. MIGHT BE A VOTE ON ENERGY. EVERY OTHER BILL THAT MIGHT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ENERGY, GROUND TO A HALT. HECK, EVEN DECLARE WILD AND SCENIC RIVER IN MASSACHUSETTS HAD TO PULLED. GROUND TO A HALT. THIS COUNTRY IS GRIND INTO A HALT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE IN HOW THIS CONGRESS ACTS. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 04:24:14 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE |
| 04:24:16 | Maloney, Carolyn | THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS NO OTHER SPEAKERS. I WONDER IF THE GENTLEMAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE YIELDS BACK HIS TIME. |
| 04:24:23 | Castle, Michael | THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WE DO HAVE -- THANK YOU, THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK. WE DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SPEAKER. |
| 04:24:32 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HER TIME? |
| 04:24:37 | Maloney, Carolyn | I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 04:24:39 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE. |
| 04:24:42 | Castle, Michael | I WILL YIELD SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. PRICE. |
| 04:24:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME. |
| 04:24:52 | Price, Tom | HOW MUCH TIME REMAINS? |
| 04:24:54 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS 1 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. |
| 04:24:58 | Price, Tom | THANK YOU. I THANK MY GOOD FRIEND FROM DELAWARE TO JUST KIND OF COMMENT ON A FEW OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK. AND TRY TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT A LITTLE BIT. THE ISSUE OF THE 68 MILLION ACRES OF LEASED LAND TO FEDERAL LAND TO GAIN ACCESS TO OIL RESERVES UNDER FEDERAL LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES ISN'T WHETHER OR NOT ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN USED. IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ANY OIL UNDERNEATH THEM. AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, MR. SPEAKER, IN MUCH OF THOSE AREAS THERE IS NOIL UNDERNEATH THEM. AND YOU DON'T NEED TO DRILL UNDERNEATH THEM TO CONFIRM THERE IS NO OIL IN ADJACENT ACRES. THE TECHNOLOGY SIN CREDIBLE TODAY. THE FACT THAT ALL OF THEM HAVEN'T BEEN DRILLED DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE UNDER OF THOSE 68 MILLION HAVEN'T BEEN UTILIZED BECAUSE THEY HAVE. 95% OF THE LAND THAT OUGHT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR LEASING IS NOT, HAS NOT BEEN LEASED. MY GOOD FRIEND ASKS, WHAT HAPPENED ON OUR WATCH? WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN CHARGE? WELL, MR. SPEAKER, AS YOU KNOW, WE PASSED THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE AND THEN GOT HELD UP IN THE SENATE. THEY GOT HELD UP BECAUSE IT REQUIRES 60 VOTES TO MOVE ANYWHERE IN THE SENATE. MY POSITION IS NOW, MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE NOW 40 INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD STOP THESE BILLS FROM MOVING FORWARD, THAT THE HOLDUP IS HERE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. MY GOOD FRIEND FROM NEW YORK TALKS BALL OF THE BILLS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PASSED. WELL, MR. SPEAKER, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT NONE OF THEM, NOT WITHIN OF THEM DEALS WITH INCREASING SUPPLY. THEY CALL IT A LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND BECAUSE IT'S A LAW. IT'S A LAW. IF YOU INCREASE THE SUPPLY, YOU'LL DECREASE THE COST AT THE PUMP. AMERICANS KNOW THAT, AMERICANS WANT A VOTE ON SUPPLY. MR. SPEAKER, GIVE US A VOTE ON SUPPLY. AMERICAN ENERGY FOR AMERICANS. |
| 04:26:41 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. |
| 04:26:44 | Maloney, Carolyn | I THANK THE SPEAKER. AND I -- JUST TO RESPOND TO MY DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE BILL BEFORE US, BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS BILL THAT WOULD IN ANY WAY PREVENT DRILLING. IN FACT, THEY CAN DRILL NOW ON 68 MILLIONS OF LAND ON WHICH THEY HAVE A LEASE. AND WE DID HAVE A VOTE, AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE DID NOT SUPPORT THE VOTE THAT WOULD COMPEL THE OIL INDUSTRY TO START DRILLING OR LOSE PERMITS ON THE 68 MILLION ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED FEDERAL OIL RESERVES, WHICH THEY ARE CURRENTLY WAREHOUSING AND KEEPING DOMESTIC SUPPLY LOWER AND PRICES HIGHER. I BELIEVE THAT'S A VERY BALANCED FREE MARKET APPROACH. USE IT OR LOSE IT. LET SOMEONE ELSE DRILL THERE. AND INDUSTRY IS ONLY USING A FRACTION OF ITS LEASES NOW AND REFINING IS NOT AN ISSUE. REFINERIES ARE RUNNING BELOW CAPACITY. BUT WE HAVE AN -- ENACTED IN LAW, PASSED LAWS, THAT ARE LAWS NOW THE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT. THIS HISTORIC ACT WOULD INCREASE VEHICLE FUEL EFFICIENCY TO 35 MILES PER GALLON. AND THIS IS THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL INCREASE IN MORE THAN THREE DECADES. AND THIS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. AND I'D LIKE TO PLACE INTO THE RECORD AN ENTIRE LIST OF LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN ENACTED BY THIS DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP, LAWS THAT ARE COMING UP TO BE CONSIDERED, INCLUDING CRACKING DOWN ON PRICE GOUGING AND LEGISLATION THAT THE HOUSE HAS PASSED AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THE SENATE TO ACT ON, THE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND JOB CREATION ACT, THE GAS PRICE RELIEF FOR CONSUMERS ACT, THE ENERGY PRICE GOUGING PREVENTION ACT, THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT CONCRETE STEPS, NOT RHETORIC, BUT CONCRETE STEPS TO HELP CONSUMERS. AND I'D LIKE TO REMIND MY DEAR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH CAME TO OFFICE HE HAD A $5 TRILLION PROJECTED SURPLUS. WE NOW HAVE A SERIES OF RECORDS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US BY THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP. ONLY THEY ARE THE WRONG KINDS OF RECORDS. WE HAVE RECORD DEBT THAT IS GALLOPING TOWARDS $9 TRILLION. EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN OWES OVER $30,000 TO THIS DEBT. . WE HAVE THE LARGEST DEFICIT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE LOST MORE JOBS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR THAN HAVE BEEN LOST SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. AND IF WE CONTINUE AT THIS RATE, WE WILL LOSE OVER A MILLION JOBS IN THIS YEAR. NOW, THAT IS THE RECORD OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP. BUT WHAT IS BEFORE US IS A VERY IMPORTANT BILL, ONE THAT I SUPPORT, ONE THAT I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT. AND I WOULD YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME AND URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT CONSIDERATION OF 6184. AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE A BIPARTISAN COMMITMENT TO PASSING THIS LEGISLATION. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 04:30:29 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE QUESTION IS -- WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REFERENCED MATERIALS THAT THE THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK ASKED TO BE INSERTED INTO THE RECORD. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 6184. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND THE BILL IS PASSED. AND WITHOUT OBJECTION -- FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE RISE? |
| 04:30:58 | Castle, Michael | ON THAT MAY I REQUEST A RECORDED VOTE. THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL COUNTED. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN, YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8, RULE 20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS MOTION WILL BE POSTPONED. |
| 04:31:51 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA RISE? |
| 04:31:55 | MR. RAHALL | I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE BILL H.R. 5541 AS AMENDED. |
| 04:32:00 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. |
| 04:32:04 | THE CLERK | A BILL TO PROVIDE A SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR CATASTROPHIC EMERGENCY WILDLAND FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES ON DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO DEVELOP A COHESIVE WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. |
| 04:32:23 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA, MR. RAHALL, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO, MR. SALI, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 04:32:38 | MR. RAHALL | I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL FOR THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. |
| 04:32:48 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 04:32:51 | MR. RAHALL | THIS YEAR -- I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 04:32:54 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 04:32:58 | MR. RAHALL | THIS YEAR'S FIRE SEASON IN CALIFORNIA STARTED IN UNPRECEDENTED FASHION WITH 1,700 FIRES ERUPTED IN A 48-HOUR PERIOD BEGINNING JUNE 21. ALREADY, JUST OVER THREE WEEKS LATER, FIRES HAVE BURNED MORE THAN 960 SQUARE MILES IN CALIFORNIA. AND AS OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, 330 FIRES WERE STILL ACTIVELY BURNING THERE WHEN CITIZENS RECEIVED THE WARNING THAT CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR, AS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DESCRIBED IT, EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE BIG SUR, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AND OTHER AREAS UP AND DOWN THE COAST WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DEVASTATING WILDFIRES AS WE SPEAK. THOSE CALIFORNIA FIRES ARE ONLY THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE OF THE DRAMATIC AND TRAGIC EXPANSION OF OUR NATION'S WILDLAND FIRE SEASON. FOR THE LAST DECADE, THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPERIENCED A GROWTH IN THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF FIRE SEASONS THAT HAVE TAKEN AMERICAN LIVES, ELIMINATED HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND SCORCHED THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF OUR TREASURED PUBLIC LANDS. AND THIS IS NOT ONLY OCCURRING IN THE WEST. I WELL RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THE NEW RIVER GORGE IN MY HOME STATE WAS BURNING. I HAD THE HONOR TO MEET WITH FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS WHO FLEW IN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BATTLE THE BLAZES. INDEED, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, ANSWERED THE CALL AND MOBILIZED LEGIONS OF BRAVE FIREFIGHTERS TO BEAT BACK THE FLAMES AND PROTECT OUR LANDS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. BUT AS A RESULT, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO DRAMATICALLY SHIFTED SPENDING PRIORITIES, RAPIDLY INCREASING FUNDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING WHILE AXING MONEY FOR OTHER PROGRAMS AND SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS WERE CREATED TO ACTUALLY PREVENT FIRES. THERE'S LITTLE REASON TO HOPE THAT FIRE SEASON FOR THE FUTURE WILL BE ANY LESS CATASTROPHIC THAN THOSE OF THE LESS DECADE. THE TREND HAS CERTAINLY BEEN WORKING TOWARDS MORE DESTRUCTION. KNOWING THAT, WE MUST BE BETTER PREPARED. THE FLAME ACT, WHICH MY COLLEAGUES, MR. NORM DICKS AND MYSELF INTRODUCED TO CORRECT COURSE AND GET OUT IN FRONT AT THE START OF THESE FIRE SEASONS. THE BILL HAS RECEIVED BROAD, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM 56 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, INCLUDING THE RANKING MEMBER OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, MR. YOUNG, AS WELL, IT ENJOYS THE SUPPORT OF THE FIVE FORMER CHIEFS OF THE FOREST SERVICE, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FOR ESTHERS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF EMPLOYEES, WESTERN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION AND NEARLY 40 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. WITHIN THE FOREST SERVICE, WHILELAND FIRE ACTIVITIES NOW ACCOUNT FOR APPROXIMATELY 48% OF THE AGENCY'S BUDGET, CAUSING THE SERVICE TO CUT BACK ON OTHER IMPORTANT PROGRAMS TO COVER THE ESCALATING COSTS OF FIRE SUPPRESSION. THE FLAME ACT WOULD HELP TO ADDRESS THAT FUNDING PROBLEM AS WELL AS THE FUNDING ISSUES FACED BY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING FUNDS FROM THEIR LIMITED ACCOUNTS TO FIGHT THESE FIRES. THE ACT WOULD ESTABLISH A DEDICATED FEDERAL FUND FOR CATASTROPHIC EMERGENCY WILDLAND FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES SEPARATE FROM APPROPRIATED AGENCY FIRE FIGHTING FUNDING. THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE FOREST SERVICE AND DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO PRESENT TO CONGRESS A LONG OVERDUE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR COMBATING WILDLAND FIRE, A STRATEGY THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE SHORTCOMINGS ACID FIDE BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE AND THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTOR GENERAL. I CANNOT UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF TODAY'S ACTION. WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUES FACING OUR FEDERALLAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND IF NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY AND APPROPRIATELY, WILL CONTINUE TO COST HOMES, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITIES, PUBLIC LANDS AND AMERICAN LIVES. THE FLAME ACT WILL ALLOW THE FOREST SERVICE AND DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO RESPOND TO THESE DANGEROUS FIRES WHILE ALSO ACCOMPLISHING OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THEIR MISSIONS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT WILL PREVENT FIRES FROM DEVASTATING OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE FUTURE. I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT PASSAGE OF THE FLAME ACT AND I RESEVERE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 04:37:45 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO. |
| 04:37:48 | Sali, Bill | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIEL6 C13 |
| 04:37:51 | Sali, Bill | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF AS MUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 04:37:55 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 04:37:58 | Sali, Bill | FIRE SEASON IS HERE AND WILDLANDS ARE IN FLAMES ACROSS THE NATION AS WE SPEAK. CALIFORNIA IS REPORTING 24 LARGE FIRES. ALONG WITH CALIFORNIA THERE ARE FIRES BURNING IN ARIZONA, OREGON, WASHINGTON, VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA. SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, SOME 46,000 WILDLAND FIRES HAVE BURNED MORE THAN 2.71 MILLION ACRES DESTROYING 461 RESIDENCES, 15 COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND 979 OUTBUILDINGS. BUT IT'S NOT JUST PROPERTY, HOMES, COMMUNITIES, WATERSHEDS OR LIVELIHOODS THAT ARE AT STAKE WHEN A WILDLAND FIRE BURNS. LIVES ARE ALSO IN DANGER. AND SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR ALONE, EIGHT FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DIED FIGHTING WILDLAND FIRES. THE WILDLAND FIRE SEASON IS JUST BEGINNING. IT'S AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH AS EACH YEAR IN IDAHO, THE SKIES FILL WITH SMOKE. LAST YEAR ALONE, MORE THAN TWO MILLION ACRES BURNED IN IDAHO THREATENING LIVES, HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. I COMMEND MY CHAIRMAN ON HIS INITIATIVE TO MOVE A BILL TO BRING THIS CRITICAL ISSUE BEFORE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TODAY. REAL SOLUTIONS TO THESE DEADLY AND GROWING WILDFIRES MUST BE FOUND. AND I APPRECIATE HIS EFFORTS TO THAT END. REGRETTABLY, THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY WILL NOT DO ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE RAGING WILDFIRES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. COMMUNITIES, HOMES AND LIVES WILL REMAIN AT RISK FROM THE WILDLAND FIRES. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE ARE BUDGET ISSUES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. WE REQUIRE THE FOREST SERVICE TO FIGHT THESE FIRES WHILE WE HAVE HANDCUFFED THAT AGENCY AT THE SAME TIME WHETHER THROUGH ITS BUDGET OR WITH FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON THIS FLOOR, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS OF HOW TO PAY FOR THE MEASURES THAT ARE PASSED BY THIS BODY. AND YET, THE FOREST SERVICE USED TO PROVIDE A SOURCE OF REVENUE. USED TO MANAGE FEDERAL LANDS SELLING THE TIMBER AND BRINGING IN REVENUE. TODAY IN MOST AREAS, ACTIVE HARVEST AND FOREST MANAGEMENT IS NONEXIST TANT ON FEDERAL LANDS. THIS HAS HAD A TWO-FOLD EFFECT. THERE IS LESS MONEY GENERATED BY THE FOREST SERVICE, WHILE THERE ARE EVER GROWING FUEL LOADS. I AGREE WE CANNOT EXPECT AN AGENCY TO BUDGET FOR THE VERY LARGE WILDLAND FIRES WE HAVE SEEN DEVELOP OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. TO DO THAT IS LIKE ASKING OUR AMERICAN FAMILIES NOT ONLY TO BUDGET FOR UNFORESEEABLE EXPENSES AND BUDGET FOR SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT OR TRAGIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT WOULD EAT UP 50% OF THEIR ENTIRE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR. YET, THAT IS THE POINT WE HAVE REACHED WITH THE FOREST SERVICE. 48% OF THE FOREST SERVICE BUDGET IS DEDICATED TO WILDLAND FIRES, BUT WE STILL EXPECT THE SERVICE TO BUDGET FOR THESE FIRES. WE AGREE THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE FUNDING. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS BILL DOESN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHILE WELL INTENDED, THIS BILL FAILS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY FACE. EVEN IF IT DID, NEARLY ERASING AND REWRITING LINES IN A LEDGER BOOK DOES NOTHING TO FIX THE CRISIS ON THE GROUND IN FEDERALLY MANAGED LANDS. MOVING MONEY TO DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHILE WELL INTENTIONED, UNFORTUNATELY THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY FAILS TO ADDRESS THE MORE CRITICAL ISSUE, FOREST MANAGEMENT. THE GREATEST OBSTACLE OUR PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS FACE IN PREVENTING CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES ISN'T DOLLARS BUT THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME MOUNTAINS OF RED TAPE AND LAWSUITS FILED BY EXTREMISTS. THE LAWS THAT CONGRESS HAS CREATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE OUR FORESTS HAVE NOW BECOME THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES FROM SAVING THEM FROM WILDFIRES. CONGRESS SHOULD NOT BE ADDRESSING FUNDING FOR SUPRESSING THESE LARGE FIRES WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE CAUSE OF THESE LARGE FIRES AS WELL. THE INCREASING AND UNCHECKED FUEL LOADS IN OUR NATIONAL FORESTS THAT SURROUND OR ADJACENT TO HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN PREFOREST MANAGEMENT AND FIRE FIGHTING WAS ILLUSTRATED AT THE HEARING WE HAD ON THIS BILL AT THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE. DURING THAT HEARING, ARIZONA GOVERNOR, A DEMOCRAT, TESTIFIED THAT THE 2006 WOODY FIRE NEAR FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA, WAS HALTED BEFORE IT REACHED 100 ACRES BECAUSE OF THE HAZARDOUS FUEL TREATMENT THAT HAD BEEN DONE IN THAT AREA. ACCORDING TO THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR, THOSE TREATMENTS DRAMATICALLY MINIMIZED THE FIRE'S DEVASTATION. SIMILARLY, DURING THAT HEARING, OUR COLLEAGUE, NORM DICKS TESTIFIED ABOUT THE LARGE FUEL LOADS THAT CONTINUE TO ACCUMLUATE IN FEDERAL FORESTS. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LARGER FIRES HAVE RESULTED FROM INCREASING FUEL LOADS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE LARGER AND LARGER FIRES UNTIL WE REDUCE FUEL LOADING, UNTIL WE PROVIDE THE TOOLS FOR PREFIRE PROFERT MANAGEMENT IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SEE HOMES BURNED, WATERSHEDS DESTROYED AND LIVES LOST. WE MUST PROVIDE THE TOOLS TO PREEMPT THESE DEVASTATING FIRES, THE KIND OF PREEMPTION POINTED TO BY THE GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA THAT PROTECTED SO MANY PEOPLE AND HOMES IN THE 2006 WOODY FIRE NEAR FLAGSTAFF. LAST YEAR DURING THE POE CABIN FIRE IN IDAHO, IN ONE AREA, THE FIRE MOVED THREE MILES IN A MERE 20 MINUTES. IN THAT AREA, SEVERAL HOMES THAT HAD DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND THEM DUE TO FUEL REDUCTIONS ON PRIVATE LAND, SURVIVED THE FIRE WHILE OTHER HOMES DID NOT SURVIVE. ONE OF THESE HOMEOWNERS WAS ABLE TO GET HIS WIFE OUT WHILE HE STAYED LONGER AFTER HE FINISHED LOADING HIS TRUCK. BECAUSE OF THE INTENSE FIRE, COMBINED WITH THE HEAVY FUEL LOADING ON FEDERAL GROUND, HE BECAME TRAPPED BY THE FIRE AND WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE. WHILE THIS COULD HAVE QUICKLY BECOME A TRAGIC STORY, THIS MAN LIVED AND HIS HOME SURVIVED, THANKS TO THE FUEL REDUCTION THAT HAD BEEN DONE AROUND HIS HOME. WHILE THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF FUEL REDUCTION DONE WHOLLY ON PRIVATE GROUND, MANY INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF ENOUGH LAND TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES, WATERSHEDS HOMES AND LIFE. PROVIDING THE TOOLS TO THESE COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES, LIVELIHOODS FROM THESE DEVASTATING FIRES WE CAN AND MUST DO WHEN ADDRESSING LONG-TERM FUNDING TO SUPRESS THE FIRES. WE ARE DISCUSSING SOLUTIONS THAT I PROPOSED TO PROVIDE AGENCIES WITH ONE MORE TOOL TO REDUCE HAZARDOUS FUEL LOADS AROUND COMMUNITIES AND HOMES. . BUT IMPLEMENTATION OF MANY OF THESE PLANS HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS. THESE CDPP'S, AS MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, ARE COOPERATIVE PLANS REQUIRING COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND INPUT IN THE FORMATION OF THE PLAN. BY DELAYING TREATMENT FOR THE SAFETY OF COMMUNITIES THROUGH UNBELIEVE RED TAPE, WE SUBJECT THESE COMMUNITIES TO BE THREATENED BY LARGE WILDFIRES. MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT ONLY A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, THIS IS A NONPARTISAN ISSUE. IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOUND FOREST MANAGEMENT THAT WILL BENEFIT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. MY BILL, WHICH I WOULD URGE MY BODY TO TAKE UP, WOULD PROVIDE FOR A CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FROM THE PROCESS TO PROVIDE ANOTHER TOOL FOR TIMELY TREATMENTS TO PROTECT THESE COMMUNITIES FROM LARGE AND DEVASTATING FIRES AND PRESERVE OUR PRISTINE NATIONAL FOREST. TOO MANY HOMES HAVE BURNED AND TOO MANY LIVES HAVE ALREADY BEEN LOST. WE MUST PROVIDE REAL TOOLS FOR FIREFIGHTING. WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 04:46:20 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 04:46:23 | MR. RAHALL | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SOME FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH THESE FIRES, MR. SAM FARR. |
| 04:46:31 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. |
| 04:46:34 | Farr, Sam | THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. RAHALL. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRE ACT. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF SOME BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE OF BEING A FIREFIGHTER WHEN I WAS A YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT. AND I RISE WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ON THE BASIN COMPLEX FIRE IN BIG SURR LAST WEEK. AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THROUGHOUT MY EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN RESPONDING TO FIRES HAS BEEN THE BEST ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IN GOVERNMENT. THE WHOLE INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE IS NOW BEING USED, STARTED IN CALIFORNIA FIRE AND BEING USED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND WORLD FOR HOW WE SHOULD MANAGE EMERGENCY INCIDENTS LIKE FIRE. AND IN FACT, OUR WHOLE STRUCTURE WITHIN THE HOMELAND SECURITY, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE SPENT TO BRING TO ONE STOP SO THAT WE CAN BRING THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR PREVENTION AND RESPONSE. THE ONE AREA, THOUGH, THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE AREA WHERE WE HAVE TO RESPOND YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHICH IS WILDLAND FIRES. LAST YEAR, THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE SPENT $1 BILLION ON FIRES. AND ESSENTIALLY THAT SPENDING IS AN EMERGENCY PROCESS. AND WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN YOU WANT TO SAY, OK, NOW IT'S STOPPED THE FIRE SEASON, WE HAVE SOME TIME, LET'S GO IN AND DO SOME PREVENTION, LET'S DO SOME CONTROL BURNS AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT AND WE HAVE NO MONEY TO DO IT. WHAT THIS GREAT BILL DOES IT SETS UP A SPECIAL FUND, THE EMERGENCY MONEY AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE REALLY CHANGED THE NATURE OF OUR WHOLE STATE THROUGH OUR FIRE EXPERIENCES. AND WE HAVE CHANGED THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY IN CALIFORNIA TO -- 30 SECONDS. |
| 04:48:37 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. |
| 04:48:40 | MR. RAHALL | I YIELD HIM AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS. |
| 04:48:42 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30 SECONDS. |
| 04:48:46 | Farr, Sam | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WHAT IT DOES IS LET'S DO THE SAME THING WE'VE DONE WITH HOMELAND SECURITY, LET'S HAVE ONE STOP, LET'S HAVE FIRE PLANNING, LET'S HAVE PREVENTION AND LET'S HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND. THIS IS A GREAT BILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. |
| 04:49:03 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO. |
| 04:49:06 | Sali, Bill | I YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR. WALDEN. |
| 04:49:11 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. |
| 04:49:15 | Walden, Greg | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I COME TO THE FLOOR TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION AND FEEL IT'S A GOOD FIRST STEP. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T DO QUITE WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH WAS TO REALLY WALLED THIS OFF IS EMERGENCY FUNDING BUT IT DOES SET UP A SEPARATE BUDGET ACCOUNT. THEY SPEND 47% OF THEIR BUDGET FIGHTING FIRE. FOR MANY YEARS I'VE ARGUED ON THIS FLOOR THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS WE GET THE FIRE SEASON, THE FOREST SERVICE RUNS OUT OF MONEY SO THEN THEY ROB FRALL OF THE ACCOUNTS WHERE THEY HAD THE PROJECTS IN PLACE TO DO THE THINNING, TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF FIRE FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND THEN TIME RUNS OUT IN THE SEASON, THEY CAN'T DO THOSE PROJECTS AND WE GET FIRE. AND THEN WE RESTORE THE MONEY AS A CONGRESS AND WE REPEAT THE CYCLE. AND TODAY IN AMERICA THERE ARE TENS OF MILLIONS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF FEDERAL FOREST LAND THAT IS SUBJECT TO CATASTROPHIC FIRE, DISEASE AND BUG INFESTATION. IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING AND THINK CARBON ADDITIONS TO THE ATMOSPHERE ARE THE PROBLEM, THEN YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT EVERY YEAR 290 MILLION METRIC TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE GO INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE FROM FOREST FIRES. THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT TO 4% TO 6% OF THE NATION'S CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM BURNING. THIS PORTRAIT HERE, THIS PICTURE IS JUDGE STEVE GRASSBY, A DEMOCRAT IN MY DISTRICT, HIS GRANDKIDS. AND THEY'RE STANDING OUT IN THE EGLEY FIRE. THIS FIRE BURNED OVER 100,000 ACRES, AN AREA THAT NEEDED THINNING AND DIDN'T GET THINNED. THAT IS WHAT BRINGS ME TO THE FLOOR TODAY BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE TO IDENTIFY THE MOST HIGHEST RISK AREAS THAT NEED THE TREATMENT AND TO GO IN AND TREAT THEM AND HELP THE COMMUNITIES WITH GRANTS AND THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS BILL. WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN THAT. WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THE LESSON THAT TREATED FOREST IS A HEALTHIER FOREST. WHEN WE COLLECTIVELY PASSED THE HEALTHY FOREST RESTORATION ACT IN 1993, THE FORESTRY BEGAN TO EXPEDITE THE TREATMENTS. AND THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT MY COLLEAGUE FROM IDAHO TALKED ABOUT, THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER THE PLANNING PROGRAM ALLOWED THEM TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE MILE AND A HALF AROUND A COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY DECIDED WHAT NEEDED TO BE TREATED. IN REGION SIX, THE GREAT FOREST OF AMERICA, IS THAT MOST OF THE FIRE STARTS OVER 1,400 OF THEM IN 2007 STARTED UP IN THE RIDGELINES AND DEEP IN THE FORESTS. ONLY A DOZEN OR TWO DOES AND START AROUND THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE. THE TRAINED SCIENTISTS THAT DEAL WITH FIRE ENVIRONMENT TELL ME THEY NEED TO TAKE THAT HEALTHY RESTORATION WE GRANTED THEM IN EX-- AND EXPAND IT IN THE CLASS TWO AND THREE LANDS, THE LANDS DETERMINED BY THE SCIENTISTS TO BE MOST OUT OF WHACK AND OUT OF BALANCE IN NATURE AND TO DO THE THINNING. WE KNOW WHERE THAT OCCURS FIRE BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY. YOU ALL FROM CALIFORNIA KNOW VERY CLEARLY, THIS IS THE KIND OF FIRE YOU HAVE TODAY. IT SWEEPS THROUGH THE AREA THAT -- THIS IS IS THE SAME AREA OF THAT FIRE, THE SQUIRES PEAK FIRE THAT HAD BEEN TREATED. THIS AREA THAT'S BURNING IS THE AREA THAT THEY HADN'T TREATED YET. THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE. LOOK AT THE GREEN GROWTH HERE. THE FIRE WENT THROUGH UNDER THE BRUSH THAT HAD BEEN TREATED. AND IT'S FINE. THIS PICTURE, BY THE WAY, WAS SHOT BY THE LAST GUY DOING TREATMENT AS THEY DROVE AWAY FROM THE FIRE. THEY WERE OUT DOING THE TREATMENT. AND THEN THEY TURNED INTO FIREFIGHTERS AND HE SHOT THAT OUT OF THE BACK OF HIS RIG. SO I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DIFFERENT LEGISLATION. THIS IS A GOOD ONE. PASS IT. DECLARE IT AN EMERGENCY. DO THIS FUNDING PIECE. BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE. IF YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THESE FIRES THAT ARE SETTING RECORDS FOR HOW MUCH THEY CONSUME, NOT ONLY THE TAXPAYERS' PURSE BUT OF OUR NATION'S RESOURCE. HABITAT, WATERSHED. LOOK AT THE GREENHOUSE GASES, THE SMOKE, THE POLLUTANTS IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE THE FOREST MANAGERS THE TOOLS THEY PROVE CAN WORK IN COMMUNITIES AND EXTEND THOSE OUT IN THE GREAT RESERVES, THE FORESTS THAT ARE CLASS TWO AND THREE. I HOPE WE CAN BUILD A BIPARTISAN COLLABORATION TO DO THAT. I HOPE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE WILL HELP US DO THAT. IF WE DON'T THEN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES WILL CAUSE THESE FORESTS GET MORE DROUGHT RIDDEN, MORE DISEASE INFESTED, MORE LIKELY TO BURN UP IN FIRE. AND I TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THIS PICTURE, AND THE GRANDKIDS, THIS IS WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND. THIS IS NOT SMOW. THIS IS ASH AND DESTROYED GROUND. THESE ARE THE TREES WHICH, BY THE WAY, MAY NEVER BE HARVESTED. |
| 04:54:18 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. |
| 04:54:21 | Walden, Greg | DO YOU WANT ME TO |
| 04:54:23 | Sali, Bill | 30 SECONDS. |
| 04:54:24 | Walden, Greg | WE CAN BE BETTER STEWARDS OF OUR NATION'S FORESTS. WE OWE IT. THAT IS OUR LEGACY TO THE FUTURE IS TO BE GOOD STEWARDS TODAY. BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITH THE LAWS THAT ARE IN PLACE, THAT IMPEDE THE WORK. AND WE OWE IT. I CAN'T BE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. I WORKED WITH MANY OF NEW A BIPARTISAN WAY TO PASS THE HEALTHY FOREST RESTORATION ACT AND THE OTHER ONE THAT THE SENATE FAILED TO TAKE UP LAST CONGRESS. WE GOT TO BE DOING BETTER THAN WE ARE TODAY. THIS IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD SO THE FOREST WORKERS CAN DO THEIR WORK. |
| 04:55:01 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 04:55:06 | MR. RAHALL | I'M VERY HAPPY TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO A MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MRS. CAPPS, AND COMMEND HER FOR HER ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING THIS LEGISLATION AS WELL. |
| 04:55:17 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. |
| 04:55:21 | Capps, Lois | MR. SPEAKER, I'M RISING IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE FLAME ACT. THIS BILL COMES AT SUCH A CRITICAL TIME. OUR NATION IS NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO FACE LONGER AND MORE INTENSE FIRE SEASONS DUE TO DROUGHT -- GLOBAL WARMING AND DROUGHT. PROJECTIONS INDICATE THAT THIS TREND WILL ONLY INCREASE, ESPECIALLY IN POPULATED WILDLAND, URBAN INTERFACE AREAS. THE FOREST SERVICE HAS SPENT OVER $1 BILLION PER YEAR ON FIVE OF THE LAST SEVEN YEARS TO EXTINGUISH FIRES. WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IS SUPPOSED TO CONSUME OVER HALF OF THE BUDGET'S THIS YEAR, THESE COSTS ARE HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE FOREST SERVICE. FOR EXAMPLE, FOREST SERVICES FORCED TO PULL FUNDS FROM OTHER PROGRAMS, LEAVING FEWER FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR CAMPGROUND MAINTENANCE AND FOREST RESTORATION. THE EMERGENCY FUND CREATED BY THE FLAME ACT WILL REDUCE THE NEED TO DEPLETE IMPORTANT FOREST PROGRAMS AND PROVIDE MORE RELIABLE PROGRAMS THAN UNCERTAIN YEAR-TO-YEAR SPLELLS. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, THEY WILL -- SUPPLEMENTALS. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, THEY WILL HAVE SUCH PREVENTION STEPS LIKE FIREWISE COMMUNITIES, HAZARDOUS FUEL TREATMENT. IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT OUR EFFORTS TO FIGHT TODAY'S FIRES DON'T HURT OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT TOMORROW'S FIRES. THIS BILL ENSURES THIS IS THE CASE. THE FIRE THAT BURNED 240,000 ACRES IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LAST YEAR COST THE FOREST SERVICE $120 MILLION. THAT'S ONE FIRE ALONE. WITH MORE THAN 1,700 FIRES IN CALIFORNIA THIS YEAR ALREADY, AND THE FIRE SEASON'S NOT EVEN HALF OVER, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE AN EMERGENCY FEDERAL FUND DEDICATED SOLELY TO DEVASTATING WILDFIRES. THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AND THIS LEGISLATION DESERVES TO BE APPROVED BY THE HOUSE. SO I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM WILDFIRE SITUATION BY SUPPORTING THE FLAME ACT. |
| 04:57:27 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. I'M SORRY. THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO. |
| 04:57:35 | Sali, Bill | I YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA, MS. FOXX. |
| 04:57:39 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. |
| 04:57:43 | Foxx, Virginia | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THESE FIRES ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND OUR HEART GOES OUT TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM THESE FIRES. AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. IN MY AREA, WE RELY ON VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE DEDICATED AND WHOSE SERVICE I CHERISH. HOWEVER, WE'RE PUTTING THESE DEDICATED SERVANTS WHO ARE VOLUNTEERS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AT A TERRIBLE DISADVANTAGE WITH GAS COSTS OF $4.11 A GALLON HIGHER, 75 CENTS HIGHER. NOW, LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN. MANY AMERICANS DO NOT REALIZE THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CONTROL OF CONGRESS. WE ARE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE ON INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF GASOLINE BY THE DEMOCRATS. NOW WHAT IS THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY FOR INCREASING SUPPLY OF GASOLINE, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BRING DOWN THE PRICE? LET ME QUOTE FROM AN ARTICLE IN YESTERDAY'S "HILL" NEWSPAPER, AN AIDE TO SPEAKER PELOSI. "RIGHT NOW OUR STRATEGY ON GAS PRICES IS DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND." NOW, THAT REMINDS ME OF AN -- THE EPISODE, WHICH MANY PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER FROM THEIR HISTORY BOOKS, WHEN THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE WERE STARVING, PEOPLE WENT TO THE QUEEN AND SAID THAT THE PEOPLE NEED BREAD, THEY'RE BEGGING FOR BREAD. SHE SAID, LET THEM EAT CAKE. AGAIN, THE STRATEGY OF THE DEMOCRATS IS, RIGHT NOW OUR STRATEGY ON GAS PRICES IS DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND. . FOLKS, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP. WE NEED LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. WE NEED ACTION TO BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF GASOLINE. AND WHAT WILL BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF GASOLINE IS AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY. WE ARE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO PRODUCE AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY THAT WE CAN PRODUCE TO BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF GASOLINE. ON THE LAST BILL THE DEMOCRATS TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS UP. WE HAD 54 STRAIGHT MONTHS OF JOB GROWTH IN THIS COUNTRY UNTIL JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WHEN GAS PRICES REALLY STARTED TO GO UP. THE PRICE OF GAS IS AFFECTING EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY. AGAIN, IT'S DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP THAT HAS PUT US IN THIS POSITION, NOT REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP. I MET TODAY WITH PEOPLE FROM THE TURKEY FEDERATION. THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRICE OF FEED. IT'S DRIVING UP THE COST OF FOOD. WHY? BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING SUCH GREAT SUBSIDIES TO ETHANOL. SO CORN IS BEING USED TO PRODUCE ETHANOL, NOT GOING INTO SFEED FOR OUR ANIMALS. WE KNOW THAT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE PLACE. WHY IS IT THAT CONGRESS HAS A 9% APPROVAL RATE RIGHT NOW? IT'S BECAUSE THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAID, THIS IS THE MOST DO-NOTHING CONGRESS IN 20 YEARS. WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE. AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING. WE CAN BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF OIL. WE CAN HELP VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS. WE CAN BRING DOWN THE COST OF FOOD BY PROVIDING AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY. AND IT'S TIME WE THAT WE STARTED DOING THAT. DEMOCRATS THINK YOU CAN DEFY THE LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND. WE CANNOT DO THAT. IF WE INCREASE SUPPLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF GASOLINE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. I YIELD BACK, MR. SPEAKER. |
| 05:01:35 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 05:01:38 | MR. RAHALL | MR. SPEAKER, IN RESPONSE TO THE LAST SPEAKER, THIS GENTLEMAN CERTAINLY JOINS WITH HER IN COMMENDING OUR FIREFIGHTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED ACROSS OUR NATION TO FIGHT THESE FIRES WHERE THEY OCCUR. OUR FIREFIGHTERS, AS THEY SHOWED US ON 9/11, ARE CERTAINLY ON THE FOREFRONT OF OUR NATION'S DEFENSE AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN THIS COUNTRY. IN REGARD TO THE PRICE OF GAS, LET ME REMIND THE LADY WHEN PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH TOOK OFFICE, THE PRICE OF GAS ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ENERGY INFORMATION AGENCY WAS $1.47. TIME I LEFT WEST VIRGINIA, IT WAS $4.14. I'M HONORED TO YIELD NOW TO THE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NANCY PELOSI. |
| 05:02:27 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 05:02:32 | THE SPEAKER | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND MR. SALI FOR BRINGING THIS PORT LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR IN A TIMELY FASHION FOR US IN CALIFORNIA. I APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK OF YOUR COMMITTEE. MR. SPEAKER, CALIFORNIA TODAY IS FIGHTING SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FIRES IN TERMS OF ACRES BURNED IN OUR HISTORY. MORE THAN 675,000 ACRES. AS THE FIRES HAVE COST $276 MILLION TO FIGHT, ACCORDING TO THIS STATE AND FEDERAL REPORTS. TO DATE. THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE WILDFIRES UP AND DOWN THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA IS 330. THERE HAVE BEEN 1,731 FIRES SINCE JUNE 21. LATER TODAY -- I WANTED TO SAY UP TO 20,000 FIREFIGHTERS ARE BATTLING THE BLAZES, MANY OF THEM FROM NEIGHBORING STATES, MANY FROM FAR AND WIDE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MANY MEXICO, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND COMING TO THE RESCUE. I NOTE TODAY, WE WILL HAVE A RESOLUTION OFFERED TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. FARR, WHOSE DISTRICT IS IMPACTED BY THESE FIRES, A RESOLUTION TO COMMEND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION AND DEBATE AT THAT TIME. BUT IN ADDITION TO EXTENDING OUR SYMPATHY TO THOSE FOR THEIR LOSSES AND OUR APPRECIATION TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS, WE HAVE TO DO MORE. AND TODAY, MR. RAHALL, YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT. THIS LEGISLATION, THE FLAME ACT BEFORE US, CREATES AN EMERGENCY FEDERAL FUND TO COMBAT THE CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES. THIS FUND WILL HELP ENSURE THAT FIRE PREVENTION RESOURCES ARE NOT CONSUMED BY EMERGENCY FIRE FIGHTING EXPENSES. OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE NEED FOR US TO EVEN GO BEYOND THIS ACT IN TERMS OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTION, BUT THIS ACT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS FUND WILL PREVENT THE SOAKING UP OF ALL OF THE OTHER DOLLARS THAT SHOULD BE USED FOR PREVENTION. THE FLAME ACT ALSO REQUIRES THE ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP A COHESIVE WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY. THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND LONG OVERDUE. WE NEED PREVENTION AND TREATMENT THAT WAS DESCRIBED BY OUR COLLEAGUES. A LONG-TERM STRATEGY AND INCLUDE EXPERIENCED WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS. WE HAVE ENORMOUSLY TALENTED PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY. WE WANT THEM TO WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THAT'S WHY I OPPOSE THE ADMINISTRATION'S INSISTENCE ON OUTSOURCING AND OTHER POLICIES THAT UNDERCUT THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE WHICH EXTENDS TO OUR WILDFIRE FIGHTERS. I WANT TO COMMEND MR. RAHALL WHOSE LEADERSHIP ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE HAS STRENGTHENED EFFORTS TO BETTER PREPARE FOR AND COMBAT WILDFIRES, MR. SALI AS WELL, BRINGING THIS LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR, THE RESOURCES NATIONAL PARKS FOREST AND PUBLIC LANDS SUBCOMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE INTERIOR. THESE LEADERS HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THAT WILL HELP US FIGHT FUTURE CATASTROPHIC FIRES AND MAKE SURE THAT DEDICATED RESOURCES ARE THERE TO PROTECT CITIZENS AND PROPERTY. THAT IS WHY THIS LEGISLATION HAS BROAD, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY FIVE FORMER CHIEFS OF THE FOREST SERVICE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, THE WESTERN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION AND NEARLY 40 OTHER LEADING ORGANIZATIONS. AS I SAID EARLIER, OUR COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN FARR, IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR AUTHORING LEGISLATION THE HOUSE WILL CONSIDER SHORTLY TO COMMEND FIREFIGHTERS FROM CALIFORNIA AND ELSEWHERE FOR THEIR SERVICE. WE SHOULD ALSO HONOR THE SERVICE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS FROM THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR HELPING PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS' LIVES AND HOMES IN CALIFORNIA AND THROUGHOUT THE WEST. WE ALSO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED DEEP PERSONAL LOSSES AS A RESULT OF THESE FIRES, PARTICULARLY FAMILIES OF TWO FIREFIGHTERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, ROBERT ROLAND OF THE ANDERSON VALLEY, A VOLUNTEER FIRE MAN AND JOHN HERMOUX FROM OREGON. HE CAME DOWN TO HELP FIGHT THE FIRE AND HE DROWNED WHILE OFFDUTY BUT NONETHELESS IN THE SERVICE OF THIS IMPORTANT FIGHT. THIS CRITICAL LEGISLATION IS AN 600 WHICH TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE RESOLUTION UNDER CONSIDERATION. |
| 05:09:58 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 05:10:00 | MR. RAHALL | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 05:10:02 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 05:10:06 | MR. RAHALL | SINCE JUNE 20, 2008, AS WE HAVE HEARD THE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER TELL US, THERE HAVE BEEN 1,700 WILDFIRES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THERE ARE 323 FIRES STILL BURNING IN THE STATE. FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR WEEKS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THESE FIRES, RISKING THEIR LIVES AND ENDURING GREAT HARDSHIP. THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN CONTAINING CALIFORNIA'S WILDFIRES. AS TO DATE, 1,400 WILDFIRES HAVE BEEN CONTAINED. SADLY, SEVERAL FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN INJURED AND ONE FIREFIGHTER HAS GIVEN HIS LIFE IN FIGHTING THESE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA. THIS RESOLUTION COMMENDS THESE FIREFIGHTERS FOR THEIR COURAGEOUS ACTIONS AND SACRIFICES IN FIGHTING THE WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA. THE RESOLUTION ALSO EXTENDS HEARTFELT SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES, BUSINESSES OR LOVED ONES IN THIS TRAGEDY. I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 05:11:10 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO. |
| 05:11:13 | Sali, Bill | I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 05:11:16 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 05:11:18 | Sali, Bill | I RISE TO COMMEND THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF FIREFIGHTERS THROUGHOUT OUR NATION. AT TIMES, THEY ARE CALLED TO PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO SAVE LIFE AND PROPERTY OF OTHERS. I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FIGHT WILDFIRES IN MY STATE OF IDAHO AND THERE IS NO GREATER EXAMPLE OF COURAGE THAN THESE FOLKS. I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROVIDE FIREFIGHTERS WHO BATTLE WILDFIRES WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB. THREATS TO HUMAN LIFE ARE COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN HOMES NEAR THE FIRE-PRONE FOREST PLACING THEMSELVES AT GREATER RISK. IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, I OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008 THAT ALLOWED THE FIRE ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEARING BIOMASS FROM FEDERAL LANDS. THIS COMMON SENSE AMENDMENT REQUIRED THEM TO WORK IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE USFA PROVIDES THE BEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION. AS WE COME UPON ANOTHER DEADLY AND COSTLY FIRE SEASON, THIS INFORMATION IS AS VITAL AS EVER. WE MUST PROVIDE OUR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, WHO ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD, ALL OF THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES AND THEMSELVES SAFE FROM CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES. I URGE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE TO HOLD MORE HEARINGS ON THE CRISIS SITUATION IN OUR NATION'S FORESTS. WE HAVE HAD ONE HEARINGS ON WILDFIRES COMPARED TO LAST SIX IN PREVIOUS CONGRESSES. I URGE MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROVIDING FIREFIGHTERS AND PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS. AS FIREFIGHTERS RISK LIFE AND LIMB, THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED. WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 05:13:19 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 05:13:21 | MR. RAHALL | I'M VERY HAPPY TO YIELD SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO THE AUTHOR OF THIS RESOLUTION COMMENDING OUR FIREFIGHTERS, THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. SAM FARR. |
| 05:13:31 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 05:13:38 | Farr, Sam | THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING. AND I RISE SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION WITH THE BACKING OF ALL THE -- ALMOST ALL THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND CERTAINLY MAY CO-AUTHORS THAT ARE ON HERE. THIS RESOLUTION COMMENDS THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE FIGHTING IN THIS INCREDIBLE MAP YOU CAN JUST SEE WHAT THE EXTENT OF FIRES ARE IN CALIFORNIA. AND HAVING COME OFF THE FIRE IN THE BIG SURREGION THAT I REPRESENT, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRIDE FOR THE ABILITY TO CALL TO ORDER FIREMEN AND WOMEN FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE WE ARE SO OVERSTRAPPED, WE ARE HELPING FOR HELP FROM MEXICO IN CREWS AND EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE HAD CREWS COME DOWN FROM CANADA AND WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TO BRING IN MORE PERSONNEL. THEY WORK NONSTOP, THEY ARE ON 12 HOURS AND OFF 12 HOURS, BUT THEY HAVE TO WORK EVERY DAY. THEY DON'T STOP ON WEEKENDS. THEY JUST KEEP GOING OUT OF THE CAMPS AND INTO THE FIRE LINES. . AS WAS POINTED OUT A MOMENT AGO, THE TRAGEDY FOR TWO OF THOSE WORKERS, ONE A VOLUNTEER FROM ANDERSON VALLEY, ROBERT ROLAND DIED ON THE FIRE LINE OF HEART FAILURE AND JOHN ERMO A FIREFIGHTER, FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FROM OREGON CAME DOWN TO FIGHT THE CALIFORNIA FIRES AND GOT SOME TIME OFF AFTER SO MANY DAYS ON THE FIRE AND DURING HIS REST, JUST NOT BEING ON THE FIRE LINE, DROWNED IN THE RIVER THERE. AND IT'S REALLY A TRAGEDY. HERE THESE FAMILIES HAVE SENT OFF THESE YOUNG FOLKS TO HELP US TO RESPOND AS FIRST RESPONDERS, AS EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, SO THIS RESOLUTION IS A PROFOUND DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THEM. I KNOW THOSE FIREFIGHTERS CAN'T SEE THIS ON THEIR C-SPAN AT HOME BUT CERTAINLY THE PARENTS AND RELATIVES WHO HAVE SENT LOVED ONES TO THE FIRES. FIRES HAVE THREATENED HOMES AND BUSINESSES, THERE'S STILL 223 FIRES BURNING IN CALIFORNIA. MORE THAN 14,000 FIRES HAVE BEEN CONTAINED BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THE FIREFIGHTERS. THERE'S 18,000 PERSONNEL, FIRE FIGHTERS, ON THE LINES RIGHT NOW AND THERE HAVE BEEN EVACUATION ORDERS IN KERN, MEND SEE NOAH, PLUMA, AND MY COUNTY AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SHERIFF OF MY COUNTY FOR LIFTING THE MANDATORY EVACUATION WHICH MADE PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR HOMES IN RURAL AREAS, MANY OF WHOM FELT THEY WERE BEST TABLE PROTECT THEIR HOMES, AND NOW THE BIG SUR HIGHWAY IS BACK IN ORDER FOR PERSONNEL. OUR FIGHT FIERCE -- FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORKING NONSTOP, SOME FOR FOUR WEEKS WITHOUT REST. THEY'RE GOING TO NEED REST. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING IN MORE PERSONNEL, THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING IN OTHER PEOPLE. THIS IS HEARTFELT THANKS FROM THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE PERSONNEL THIS THIS COUNTRY WHO RESPOND ON A BASIS TO KEEP OUR CITIES AND RURAL AREAS SAFE DURING WILD LAND FIRES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. |
| 05:17:18 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO. |
| 05:17:21 | Sali, Bill | I YIELD SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE, MR. WARREN. |
| 05:17:35 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 05:17:38 | Wamp, Zachary | I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I WANT TO JOIN THE CHORUS IN PRAISING THESE FIREFIGHTERS AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO ANSWER THIS EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT CALL TO PUBLIC SERVICE EVERY TIME THAT ONE OF THESE FIRES ENCROACHES ON AREAS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND WORK. BUT I DO FIND IT IRONIC, HAVING BEEN HERE 14 YEARS, FROM TIME TO TIME, THAT THESE ISSUES CROSS OVER WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE FRANKLY, THE NEXUS BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS A PART OF THESE FIRES, ENERGY WHICH IS ALSO A PIECE OF THIS, AND NATIONAL SECURITY, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE OF OUR GENERATION. THIS NEXUS. AND THEY ARE CONNECTED. OVER THE LAST 14 YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE, EVEN WITH MR. FARR TO TRAVEL TO PLACES LIKE YELLOWSTONE AND YOSEMITE VALLEY AND THE OLYMPICS IN WASHINGTON STATE AND SEE WITH THE STEWARDS OF OUR PUBLIC LANDS WHICH REPRESENTS OVER 1/3 OF THE LAND MASS OF THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES IS GOVERNMENT OWNED LAND AND BE THERE WITH THE FOREST SERVICE, THE PARKS SERVICE, THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, MANY OF WHOM ARE REGISTERED FORESTERS WHO SAY THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH THE CREATION OF THESE FIRES IS THE DEAD AND DYING TIME PER -- TIMBER WE REFUSED TO CLEAN OUT IN TERMS OF STEWARDSHIP OF THE FOREST. YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE THE FOREST ALONE AND LET ALL THIS TIMBER BECOME JUST A MATCH BOX ON THE GROUND WITHOUT HUGE PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRES. SO THE MINDSET THAT SAYS, LEAVE ALL FORESTS ALONE AND DO NOT TOUCH THEM, EVEN TO THE POINT OF NOT CLEANING UP THE DEAD AND DYING TIMBER WHICH CREATES, YOU KNOW, WITH ANY KIND OF SPARK, THESE OUT OF CONTROL FIRES THAT COME INTO CALIFORNIA, INTO THE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, THE MINDSET THAT SAYS, FOR WHATEVER REASON DO, NOT TOUCH THESE FORESTS, IS A FLAWED MINDSET THAT CAUSES THESE FIRES. AND THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR FIREFIGHTERS IS TO TRY TO MITIGATE THE FIRES WITH GOOD FORESTRY PRACTICES, GOOD STEWARDSHIP AND LOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE. I CONSIDER MYSELF A VERY LOGICAL AND RATIONAL LAWMAKER ON ISSUES OF THE ENVIRONMENT. BUT THAT'S THE SAME MINDSET THAT SAYS, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU TAKE A PIECE OF LAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARCTIC TUNDRA AND NOT EXPLORE FOR OIL AND GAS THERE. THAT'S THE SAME MINDSET. IT'S A FLAWED MINDSET. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE ENERGY PINCH. IT'S A MINDSET THAT SAYS, STATES CANNOT EVEN GO INTO THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF IF THEY WANT TO AND EXPLORE OIL AND GAS RESOURCES, WHEN IN FACT WE SHOULD LEAVE THAT UP TO THE STATES. SO HERE WE ARE, KIND OF FEELING THE PINCH AND THE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF EXTREMIST ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, WHETHER IT'S FIRES, WHETHER IT'S ENERGY SOURCES, WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO A RATIONAL, LOGICAL, MODERN APPROACH. I'M VERY MUCH PART CHEROKEE INDIAN. THE CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST IS IN MY DISTRICT. THE CHEROKEE USED TO INTENTION LALLY BURN THE FOREST. WHY? IT HELPED THE NUTRIENTS IN THE GROUND. IT BECAME MORE ROBUST. THEY INTENTIONALLY DID IT. SPEAKING OF GOOD FORESTRY PRACTICES, THEY WERE NOT ONLY NOT AFRAID OF FIRE, THEY USED FIRE FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSES SO THE FIRE WOULDN'T GET OUT OF CONTROL AND BURN WILDLY. IT'S THAT KIND OF THINKING, LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP THAT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO SO THAT THE POLITICAL WINDS OF THE DAY DO NOT STYMIE US ON GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITH OUR FOREST OR GOOD ENERGY POLICY AS A NATION SO THAT EVERYTHING NOT OFF LIMITS TO THE POINT THAT THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN CALIFORNIA OR WE'RE PAYING $4.50 A GALLON FOR GAS. THESE ARE UNACCEPTABLE OUTCOMES WHEN ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE A REASONABLE, RESPONSIBLE APPROACH FROM THE CENTER OF AMERICA, REPRESENTING AVERAGE PEOPLE AND SAYING, WE'RE ALL FOR STEWARDSHIP, WE'RE ALL FOR PARTICIPATING IN GLOBAL WARMING, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR FUTURE. OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, ALL THESE ISSUES COME TOGETHER. I WOULD IMPLORE THE LEADERSHIP. THE SPROUSE SAID THE SPRO DOES NEED TO BE RELEASE SOD WE CAN INCREASE SOME SUPPLY OF OIL. I'M GLAD TO SEE THESE STEPS ARE TAKEN FINALLY TO RECOGNIZE THAT SUPPLY AND DEMAND ARE AT STAKE HERE, THEY'RE AT WORK HERE AND WE NEED TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF OIL AND GAS IN THIS COUNTRY. NOT THAT THAT'S THE CURE-ALL, END-ALL, BUT IT'S ONE OF MANY THINGS WE NEED TO DO IN AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH TO ENERGY WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND GOOD LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP FOR OUR COUNTRY. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR THE TIME AND I YIELD BACK. |
| 05:22:36 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 05:22:41 | MR. RAHALL | I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MRS. CAPPS. |
| 05:22:47 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. |
| 05:22:51 | Capps, Lois | I THANK MY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING TIMES. AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF AREAS AFFECTED BY THE WILD FIRES AND A CO-SPONSOR, I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION. I THANK MY COLLEAGUE AND NEIGHBORING MEMBER OF CONGRESS, CONGRESSMAN FARR, FOR INTRODUCING THIS LEGISLATION. IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS, MORE THAN 1,700 WILD FIRES HAVE BURNED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN OUR HOME STATE OF CALIFORNIA. IN MY DISTRICT ALONE, THE GAP FIRE, ONE OF THE STATE'S HIGHEST PRIORITIES NOW, HAS BURNED NEARLY 10,000 ACRES AND THREATENED SEVERAL HUNDRED HOMES IN THE CITY OF GOLITA. DESPITE HIGH WINDS AND TEMPERATURES, OUR INCREDIBLE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL HAVE LIMITED THE DESTRUCTION, HAVE SAVED HUNDREDS OF HOMES, HUNDREDS OF LIVES. I AM SO PROUD TO SAY THAT CALIFORNIA'S EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SYSTEMINGS AND PROCEDURES ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION. MY CONSTITUENTS ARE THE MOST RECENT BENEFICIARIES OF THE SYSTEM. I'M A LITTLE BIASED TOWARD OUR FIREFIGHTERS AS WELL. YEARS AGO, AS A SCHOOL NURSE THEY TAUGHT ME C.P.R., TAUGHT ME FIRST AID, AND HELPED ME TRAIN OUR SCHOOL PERSONNEL. THEY'RE A WONDERFUL ASSET TO SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS TO OUR COMMUNITIES. STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO MOVE RESOURCES FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO AREAS THAT NEEDED THEM MOST. THEY'RE MASTERS AT DOING THIS. WERE IT NOT FOR THIS ORGANIZED AND SWIFT EFFORT, MANY MORE ACRES, HOMES, AND LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN LOST. AS WE SPEAK HERE TODAY ON THE FLOOR OF THIS HOUSE, IN THIS WELL, THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, ENDURING GREAT HARDSHIPS TO PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE, OUR PROPERTY, INDEED, OUR LIVES. WE COMMEND THESE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS AND EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE AT THEIR SACRIFICE AND SERVICE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN MR. FARR AND ALL OF US IN THANKING AND HONORING THESE COURAGEOUS INDIVIDUALS BY SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION. I YIELD BACK. |
| 05:24:58 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO. |
| 05:25:03 | Sali, Bill | I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 05:25:06 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 05:25:10 | MR. RAHALL | I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, I'M PREPARED TO YIELD BACK. |
| 05:25:16 | Sali, Bill | I YIELD BACK. |
| 05:25:18 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. |
| 05:25:22 | MR. RAHALL | I YIELD BACK. |
| 05:25:24 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND AGREE TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 1322. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3'S BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20, PROCEEDINGS WILL RESUME ON QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY POSTPONED. VOTES WILL BE TAKEN IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER. ORDERING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ON HOUSERES. 1318, AND ADOPTING H.RES. 1318 IF ORDERED, THE FIRST ELECTRONIC VOTE WILL BE CONDUCTED AS A 15-MINUTE VOTE. THE SECOND ELECTRONIC VOTE WILL BE CONDUCTED AS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE. THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE VOTE ON ORDERING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ON HOUSE RESOLUTION 1318 ON WHICH A RECORDED VOTE IS ORDERED. THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION. |
| 05:26:34 | Clay, William Lacy Jr. | HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 246, HOUSE RESOLUTION 1318, RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL H.R. 5811 TO AMEND TITLE 44 OF UNITED STATES CODE TO REQUIRE PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN ELECTRONIC RECORDS BY FEDERAL AGENCIES TO REQUIRE A CERTIFICATION AND REPORTS RELATING TO PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. |
| 05:26:57 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEI @@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@ B @@@@@@@@@@ |
| 06:05:23 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | ON THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 229. THE NAYS ARE 193. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE. THE CHAIR WILL RECEIVE A MESSAGE. THE MESSENGER: MR. SPEAKER, A MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE. SOIK MR. SPEAKER. I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE SENATE TO INFORM THE HOUSE THAT THE SENATE HAS AGREED TO H. 6304, CITED AS THE FISA AMENDMENT ACT OF 2008. |
| 06:06:25 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. |
| 06:07:00 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WILL MEMBERS REMOVE THEIR CONVERSATIONS FROM THE FLOOR? THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. |
| 06:07:17 | >> | MR. SPEAKER. |
| 06:07:20 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. WILL MEMBERS REMOVE THEIR CONVERSATIONS FROM THE FLOOR? FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI RISE? |
| 06:07:30 | Clay, William Lacy Jr. | MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO WITHDRAW MY NAME AS A CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 362. |
| 06:07:43 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 06:07:45 | Clay, William Lacy Jr. | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 1318 I CALL UP H.R. 5811, THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE PRESERVATION ACT. |
| 06:07:57 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL. |
| 06:08:01 | Clay, William Lacy Jr. | UNION CALENDAR NUMBER 450, H.R. 5811. A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 44 UNITED STATES CODE TO REQUIRE PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN ELECTRONIC RECORDS BY FEDERAL AGENCIES TO REQUIRE A CERTIFICATION AND REPORTS RELATING TO PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. |
| 06:08:18 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 1318, THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE PRINTED IN THE BILL IS ADOPTED AND THE BILL IS AMENDED -- AS AMENDED IS CONSIDERED READ. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR. CLAY, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. DAVIS, EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI. |
| 06:08:36 | Clay, William Lacy Jr. | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS. |
| 06:08:46 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND FOR A MOMENT. THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI. |
| 06:09:01 | Clay, William Lacy Jr. | MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. MR. WAXMAN. |
| 06:09:11 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 06:09:15 | MR. WAXMAN | MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 5811, THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE PRESERVATION ACT OF 2008 AND I WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVES CLAY AND HODES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS BILL. THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE PRESERVATION ACT AMENDS BOTH THE FEDERAL RECORDS ACT AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS ACT TO ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF EMAIL RECORDS. IN RECENT YEARS -- |
| 06:09:44 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND. THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. WILL MEMBERS REMOVE THEIR CONVERSATIONS FROM THE FLOOR? THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. |
| 06:09:58 | MR. WAXMAN | IN RECENT YEARS, MR. SPEAKER, EMAIL HAS BECOME AN ESSENTIAL FORM OF COMMUNICATIONS AND A KEY SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT FEDERAL DECISION MAKING. DESPITE THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE RECORDS, SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES EXIST IN THE WAY EMAILS ARE PRESERVED, BOTH BY THE WHITE HOUSE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. THE PRESERVATION OF THESE RECORDS MUST BE IMPROVED IF HISTORIANS ARE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPLETE RECORD OF GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKING AND IF CONGRESS IS TO PERFORM NEEDED OVERSIGHT. UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ALLOWED SENIOR OFFICIALS TO USE NONGOVERNMENTAL EMAIL ACCOUNTS MAINTAINED BY THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS. AND -- AN INVESTIGATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM FOUND THAT MANY OF THESE EMAILS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. OTHER EMAILS HAVE BEEN LOST BECAUSE THE WHITE HOUSE RELIED FOR FIVE YEARS ON AN EMAIL ARCHIVING SYSTEM DESCRIBED AS PRIMITIVE BY A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICER. WHILE THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY ACUTE UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT CLINTON, HAVE ALSO ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS PRESERVING EMAIL RECORDS. TO ENSURE THAT THESE PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS ARE APPROPRIATELY PRESERVED, H.R. 5811 DIRECTS THE ARC VISIT TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR THE CAPTURE, MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION OF EMAIL RECORDS AND TO CERTIFY THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS MEETING THESE STANDARDS. COMMITTEE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE ALSO REVILED THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE -- REVEALED THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INCONSISTENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF EMAIL RECORDS. MOST AGENCIES STILL RELY ON AN UNRELIABLE PRINT AND FILE PROCESS TO PRESERVE EMAIL RECORDS RATHER THAN PRESERVING THEM ELECTRONICALLY. G.A.O. IN A REPORT RELEASED YESTERDAY FOUND THAT SENIOR AGENCY OFFICIALS ARE NOT COMPLIANT WITH KEY EMAIL PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS. G.A.O. REVIEWED THE PRACTICES OF SENIOR AGENCY OFFICIALS AND DETERMINED THAT THE EMAILS WERE NOT RETAINED IN ADEQUATE RECORD KEEPING SYSTEMS, MAKING THE EMAIL RECORDS EASIER TO LOSE OR DELETE AND HARDER TO FIND AND USE. THIS BILL WOULD MODERNIZE AGENCY RECORD KEEPING. THE BILL DIRECTS THE A -- THE BILL DIRECTS THAT WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF THE ENACTMENT OF THIS LEGISLATION, ALL FEDERAL AGENCIES MANAGE AND PRESERVE THEIR EMAIL RECORDS ELECTRONICALLY. MR. SPEAKER, SOME HAVE SAID THAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT PRESERVING HISTORY AND IT IS. BUT IT ALSO IS ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT AND FOR HOLDING THIS AND ANY ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE. ACCESS TO PRESIDENTIAL AND FEDERAL RECORDS HELPS US DO OUR JOB. I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS BILL AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 06:13:06 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. |
| 06:13:09 | MR. DAVIS | I THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. |
| 06:13:14 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 06:13:17 | Davis, Thomas | MR. SPEAKER, H.R. 5811, THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS PRESERVATION ACT WOULD REQUIRE THE PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN ELECTRONIC RECORDS BY FEDERAL AGENCIES AND CERTIFICATION AND REPORTS BY THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES RELATING TO PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS. WHY AREN'T WE -- WHY ARE WE TAKING UP THIS BILL? WE'VE BEEN OUT OF SESSION FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, WE'VE BEEN GETTING READY FOR A MONTH-LONG RECESS AND THIS IS THE BEST THAT THEY CAN OFFER TO DISCUSS? THIS IS THE MAJOR BILL OF THE WEEK? NOT THE HOUSING DIE SIS? NOT GASOLINE -- CRISIS? NOT GASOLINE PRICES? NOT RETIREMENT SECURITY FOR BABY BOOMERS? WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS AT FEDERAL AGENCIES. THIS IS THE BEST THEY CAN COME UP WITH. AND THOUGH THE ANSWER TO THAT IS APPROPRIATELY YES, THIS BILL DOESN'T TAKE THE RIGHT APPROACH. SECURE INFORMATION IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IN THIS SOCIETY, INFORMATION TAKES THE FORM OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS AND EMAILS. I HAVE PERSONALLY SPENT YEARS FOCUSING ON GOVERNMENTWIDE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND POLICY AND HAVE CONSISTENTLY ENCOURAGED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO EMBRACE DIGITAL GOVERNMENT, EXPAND E-GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES AND FIND MORE WAYS TO LEVERAGE INFORMATION TECH NOTHING. WITH MORE AND MORE OF THE -- TECHNOLOGY. WITH MORE AND MORE BUSINESS CONDUCTED ELECTRONICALLY, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED AND SECURED. AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT IS ESSENTIAL. AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DEPEND ON AN ACCURATE RECORD. MAJORITY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT AT MARKUP HAS CONCERNS THAT WE RAISED. IT CLARIFIED THAT THE LEGISLATION WOULD APPLY TO ELECTRONIC MESSAGES RATHER THAN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. AND PROVIDED A WORKABLE DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC MESSAGES. SIMILE, BASED ON COMMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES THAT APPLICATIONS MAY LIMIT AGENCIES' ABILITIES TO ADOPT THE CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES. THE AMENDMENT CLARIFIED THAT AGENCIES AND THE WHITE HOUSE SHOULD RELY ON BROADLY DEFINED ELECTRONIC RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO MANAGE RECORDS. AT THAT TIME, I URGED THE CHAIRMAN TO CONTINUE TO REFINE THIS BILL TO MAKE SURE WE GOT IT RIGHT ON ISSUES LIKE MANAGING THE COST OF PRESERVING UNKNOWN BUT PRESUMABLY VAST ELECTRONIC DATABASES, HOW TO INCLUDE EMERGING MEDIA IN THE SYSTEM AND THE FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF ANY REQUIREMENT THAT THE DATA BE SEARCHABLE. THOSE ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY SINCE THE MARKUP. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE ARCHIVES AND THE WHITE HOUSE REMAIN UNRESOLVED AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, ARCHIVES BELIEVES THAT THE ANNUAL CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT IS UNPRECEDENTED AND WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM ACCEPTED AND LONG-STANDING PRACTICE. ALSO, THERE ARE SEVERAL CLARIFICATIONS OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS ASKED FOR BY THE ARCHIVES, WHICH ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN THE BILL WE ARE TAKING UP TODAY. IN ADDITION, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE WHITE HOUSE VIEWS THE BILL AS OVERTURNING THE HISTORICAL DISTINCTION IN LAW BETWEEN AGENCY RECORDS AND PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS. IN A STATEMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL POLICY ISSUED YESTERDAY REITERATES THE WHITE HOUSE'S VETO THREAT. NOW, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE WHITE HOUSE, IN THIS CASE, IS PROTECTING THE INSTITUTION. NOT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. THIS BILL DOESN'T AFFECT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. AND OUR INTERESTS HERE ARE INSTITUTIONAL AS WELL. BUT IF WE WANT TO LEGISLATE, WE SHOULD DO IT APPROPRIATELY AND THOUGHTFULLY, NOT IN SOME NEEDLESS RUSH TO SOMEHOW PUNISH AN ADMINISTRATION THAT WON'T EVEN BE AFFECTED BY THIS BILL. I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT THIS BILL'S THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION, BUT I DO BELIEVE LEGISLATION IS NECESSARY IN THIS AREA, AND I WANT TO WORK WITH CHAIRMAN WAXMAN AND THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE ARCHIVES ON A BILL WHICH WILL GIVE APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE TO AGENCIES AND THE WHITE HOUSE ON PRESERVING ELECTRONIC RECORDS. I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 06:17:21 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI. |
| 06:17:27 | Clay, William Lacy Jr. | MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE. |
| 06:17:30 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. |
| 06:17:34 | Hodes, Paul | THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I THANK MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE, MR. CLAY, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, ALONG WITH MR. WAXMAN, ON THIS BILL. I RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 5811, THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE PRESERVATION ACT. MY COLLEAGUE FROM VIRGINIA HAS SAID THAT THE ARCHIVISTS SUGGESTS THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATION UNDER THIS BILL IS UNPRECEDENTED. WELL, THIS BILL IS FILED IN PART AS A RESPONSE TO WHITE HOUSE PRACTICES THAT HAVE BEEN UNPRECEDENTED AND SHOW CLEARLY THE NEED FOR THIS LEGISLATION. THE DOCUMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE EMAILS, CORRESPONDENCE, MEMOS PRODUCED BY AN ADMINISTRATION BELONG NOT TO THE PRESIDENT BUT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. THIS BILL WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THESE RECORDS ARE PRESERVED PROPERLY FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS BILL WILL HELP LIFT THE VEIL OF SECRECY THAT HAS FALLEN OVER OUR GOVERNMENT UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. EVERY DAY THE PRESIDENT AND HIS STAFF GENERATE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS ON THE ISSUES CONFRONTING OUR NATION. THESE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN IMPORTANT INSIGHTS NOT WAY OUR GOVERNMENT IS MAKING DE-- INTO THE WAY OUR GOVERNMENT IS MAKING DECISIONS AFFECTING OUR LIVES. WHO BENEFITS? WHO GETS TO INFLUENCE OUR GOVERNMENT LEADERS? WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY THE WHITE HOUSE IS PRESERVING THESE DOCUMENTS OR NOT PRESERVING THEM AND WHETHER THE TRUE PURPOSE OF NOT PRESERVING THEM IS TO HIDE THE DEALINGS FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THROUGH THE INVESTIGATIONS BY THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE WHITE HOUSE LOST HUNDREDS OF DAYS OF EMAIL RECORDS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2003 AND 2005. ADDITIONALLY, IT APPEARS THAT SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE SKIRTING THE HISTORICAL RECORD LAWS BY USING AN EMAIL SYSTEM PROVIDED BY THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR MOST OF THEIR EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, KARL ROVE, FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, IS SAID TO HAVE USED THE R.N.C. SYSTEM FOR 95% OF HIS EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE TO WHICH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NEVER HAVE ACCESS. UNDER THE PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS ACT, THE PRESIDENT HAS THE SOLE AUTHORITY TO MANAGE HIS RECORDS DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE. THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE FOUND THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION DID NOT KEEP RECORDS AS IT WAS REQUIRED TO. SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHAT WERE THEY TRYING TO HIDE? IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION THAT LEAKED VALERIE PLAME'S COVERT IDENTITY AND ORGANIZED PROPAGANDA TO PROMOTE A WAR IN IRAQ IS EVADING RECORD KEEPING PRACTICES TO HIDE INFORMATION FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS IS ARGUABLY PARTISAN POLITICS AT ITS WORSE, AND THE ONLY REMEDY IS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE SUNSHINE. THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE PRESERVATION ACT WILL HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE IMPORTANT RECORDS ARE KEPT AND HELP SHINE LIGHT ON WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING AND WHY. MR. SPEAKER, I'D ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER FOR THE RECORD A LETTER SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION THAT BRINGS ACCOUNTABILITY BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE. THE LETTER WAS SIGNED BY A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT ADVOCATE FOR AN OPEN TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT AND OPENTHEGOVERNMENT.ORG. WITHOUT OBJECTION. THANK YOU. MR. SPEAKER, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST SECRET ARE A TIF AND MOST -- SECRETIVE AND MOST TRANSPARENT IN HISTORY. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID WITH BIG OIL EXECUTIVES TO SET OUR ENERGY POLICY, AND TODAY WE SUFFER FROM RECORD HIGH GAS PRICES. THE SECRECY IN THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PREVENTED OFFICIALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE FROM BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE PRESERVATION ACT WILL REFORM WHITE HOUSE RECORD KEEPING AND ALLOWING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HIDE THE TRUTH FROM THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY OR FROM HISTORY. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I YIELD BACK. |
| 06:21:50 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. |
| 06:21:54 | Davis, Thomas | THANK YOU. LET ME JUST NOTE AS THE CHAIRMAN NOTED IN HIS OPENING REMARKS, THIS IS NOT A BUSH ADMINISTRATION ISSUE, THIS WAS A CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ISSUE. ACCORDING TO ,000 EMAILS WERE LOST, ACCORDING TO THE G.A.O. THERE IS A LOT OF ATTENTION PAID TO WHITE HOUSE EMAILS. WE ARE LOOKING TO PRESERVE ALL THE RECORDS FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE'VE HAD A LONG GOING INVESTIGATION. IT'S BEEN A HOBBY TO BASH THIS ADMINISTRATION OR A CRUSADE. THIS BILL DOES NOTHING TODAY TO THIS ADMINISTRATION. THIS DOESN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. IT'S EFFECTIVE ONE YEAR AFTER ENACTMENT. SO KEEP IN MIND THESE PROVISIONS AFFECT THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION FOR WHICH THERE IS NO GUIDANCE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THAT'S WHY THE NEED FOR LEGISLATION IS THERE. OUR OBJECTION AND CONCERN AND SOMETHING WE HOPE TO WORK WITH THE MAJORITY ON IS THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS CURRENTLY TOO BROAD AND IT GIVES UNLIMITED AUTHORITY TO THE ARCHIVIST WHO DOESN'T EVEN WANT IT. THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER MEDIUM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IF YOU WANT TO BLAST, WE CAN PLAY THE GAME TOO. I YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. |
| 06:23:15 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES. |
| 06:23:22 | Lungren, Daniel E. | I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL FOR THE REASON STATED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, WE COULD HAVE HAD A BILL HERE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS AS THEY TRULY EXIST, BUT INSTEAD WE HAVE THIS BILL ON THE FLOOR. THE GENTLEMAN THAT JUST SPOKE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAD UNPRECEDENTED ACTION BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND, THEREFORE, WE NEED TO ACT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WHAT IS UNPRECEDENTED, WHAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IS THE TREMENDOUS INCREASE THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE COST OF GASOLINE TO AVERAGE AMERICANS BACK HOME. I JUST GOT BACK FROM MY DISTRICT. I HAD TWO TOWN HALL MEETINGS. I TALKED WITH MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT ELECTRONIC RECORDKEEPING. I'M SORRY TO DISAPPOINT THE GENTLEMAN. THAT WAS NOT ON THE TIP OF THEIR TONGUES. THAT WAS NOT IN THE BACK OF THEIR BRAIN. THEY NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT. FRANKLY, THEY THINK WE CAN DO THAT SOMETIME ELSE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SINCE THIS BILL DOESN'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL ANOTHER YEAR, WE COULD DO IT ANOTHER TIME. WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING HERE IS RESPONDING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, WHEN ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER? SO I CAME BACK HOPING THAT I COULD FIND THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, THE SECRET EMAILS OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP AS TO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT ENERGY. AND WHAT I FOUND WAS A STATEMENT BY ONE OF THE AIDES TO ONE OF THE TOP DEMOCRATIC LEADERS. AND THIS IS THEIR ENERGY PLAN QUOTED. RIGHT NOW OUR STRATEGY IS DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND. DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND. I HOPE EVERYBODY ACROSS THIS LAND UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR ENERGY APPEARS TO BE. IT BASICALLY MEANS, LISTEN, THOSE OF YOU BACK HOME. SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO. WE HAVE TO RUSH BACK AND DEAL WITH THE ELECTRONIC RECORDKEEPING BILL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. NOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND A SINGLE PERSON IN MY DISTRICT WHO DRIVES WITH A WIND-DRIVEN CAR. AND I'M ALL FOR WIND ENERGY, AND I'M ALL FOR SOLAR ENERGY. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT BRINGING THE COST DOWN. NOW, SOON WE MIGHT HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE. THEY ARE GOING TO BRING A BILL TO SUSPEND THE LAWS OF ECONOMICS AND THEY ARE GOING TO TELL US THAT SUPPLY AND DEMAND NO LONGER PREVAIL. MAYBE THAT'S THE NEW MAGIC WE'RE WAITING FOR. BUT THAT WON'T SATISFY THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT. THE PEOPLE I MET WITH, AND THE PEOPLE I MET IN THE DELTA, IN RIO VISTA, THE FOLKS I MET WITH IN CITRUS HEIGHTS. THE PEOPLE I WAS TALKING TO IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA, THEY DEMAND THAT WE DO SOMETHING NOW. AND WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING IS DRILL HERE. THAT'S IN AMERICA. DRILL NOW. NOT 10 YEARS FROM NOW. AND PAY LESS. NOW, YOU CAN HEAR ALL THE ARGUMENTS. IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. IF IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, WHY DO WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THAT THEIR FIRST STEP TOWARDS DEALING WITH THIS IS TO EMPTY THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE, CLAIMING THAT THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON THE WORLD MARKET? AT LEAST THEY'RE SAYING THAT SUPPLY DOES MATTER. IF SUPPLY REALLY MATTERS, THEN LET'S NOT TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AS WE HEAR NOW FROM THE DEMOCRATS, DRIVE SMALL CARS AND WAIT FOR THE WIND. OR AS WE HEAR FROM THE SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS WHO SAID THAT HE'S NOT SO UPSET ABOUT THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GOING UP, IT'S THAT IT WENT UP SO FAST. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR US IF THE PRICE OF GASOLINE HAD GONE UP MORE SLOWLY AND CONTINUED ON. THAT'S NOT AN ENERGY POLICY. SO WHILE I RESPECT THE WORK OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE ON THIS ISSUE, THE -- AND AS IMPORTANT AS ELECTRONIC PRESERVATION IS, IT PAILS COMPARED TO THE NRGED -- ENERGY NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. CERTAINLY WE COULD DO BETTER. WE OUGHT TO DO BETTER OR NOT GO HOME AT ALL. |
| 06:27:42 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI. |
| 06:27:44 | Clay, William Lacy Jr. | I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. WAXMAN. |
| 06:27:48 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE | THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. |
| 06:27:52 | MR. WAXMAN | THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YIELDING. THE ISSUE OF ENERGY IS VERY MUCH RELATED TO THIS QUESTION OF EMAILS. AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE RECORDS. WHY DO WE HAVE OUR ENERGY PROBLEMS IN THIS COUNTRY? SUDDENLY THE PROBLEMS ARE SAYING, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE RUN THIS GOVERNMENT FOR 7 1/2 YEARS, THE DEMOCRATS, THE DEMOCRATS ARE AT FAULT. WELL, LET ME POINT OUT THAT AS SOON AS PRESIDENT BUSH CAME INTO OFFICE HE ASKED VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY TO CHAIR AN ENERGY TASK FORCE. AND THEY OPERATED IN SECRECY. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO THEY HEARD FROM OR WHAT THEY WERE ASKED TO DO. BUT WE KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION REQUESTED FROM THE CONGRESS WAS FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE GIVEN TO THE OIL, GAS, COAL AND NUCLEAR INDUSTRIES. INDUSTRIES THAT ARE MAKING RECORD PROFITS. AT THAT SAME TIME THOSE OF US FROM CALIFORNIA WERE HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE ENERGY WHOLE SALERS, INCLUDING ENRON -- WHOLESALERS, INCLUDING ENRON, WERE HOLDING BACK SUPPLIES IN ORDER TO DRIVE UP THE PRICE. AND WE ALL MET WITH VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID TO US? THE REASON YOU'RE HAVING A HIGH PRICES OF ELECTRICITY IS BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. AND WE SAID, NO. IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE BEING TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS BY ENRON AND OTHER ENERGY WHOLESALERS. AND HE SAID, NO, IT'S NOT TRUE. WELL, WHEN WE DID OUR INVESTIGATIONS ON ENRON, WE FOUND OUT IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. NOW THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WENT ON WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION'S DELIBERATIONS FOR ENERGY POLICY. WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE ALL FAILED. WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE HIGH PRICE OF GAS TODAY IF THEY HAD DONE THEIR JOB OF GETTING THIS OFF OUR RELIANCE ON OIL. BECAUSE WE'RE SO DEPENDENT NOW ON BRINGING IN OIL FROM OVERSEAS. EVEN IF WE DRILLED EVERY POSSIBILITY IN THE UNITED STATES, WE'D STILL BE IMPORTING OIL FROM PLACES THAT ARE VERY VULNERABLE AND ARE VERY HOSTILE TO US. BUT THIS ENERGY TASK FORCE AND THIS ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED BENEFITS FOR THE OIL COMPANIES AND NO POLICIES TO HELP US GET OUT OF THAT DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL AND DOMESTIC OIL. TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES. TO LOOK FOR CONSERVATION. TO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN DRILL, DRILL, DRILL AND MAKE THE OIL COMPANIES MORE PROFITABLE. AND WHEN WE TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT WENT ON, WE COULDN'T GET THE EMAILS. WE COULDN'T LOOK AT THE EMAILS AND WHY? WELL, DO YOU KNOW KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T -- DO YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T USING EMAILS FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE THEY WERE DOING GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. THEY WERE USING THE EMAILS OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE. ARE THEY DOING PARTY BUSINESS OR ARE THEY DOING GOVERNMENT STPWHISS |
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