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MEXICO AND ALASKA.
LET'S DEVELOP IT IN SHALE.
LET'S CREATE JOBS, LET'S CREATE
A SECURE ENERGY FUTURE FOR THIS
COUNTRY AND LET'S MOVE THIS
COUNTRY FORWARD.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
IF WE DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION I'LL OFFER AN AMENDMENT
TO THIS RULE THAT WILL ALLOW THE
HOUSE TO CONSIDER THE STOP THE
RATE HIKE ACT OF 2012.
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD KEEP THE
AND REDUCE THE DEFICIT.
STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATE LOW
IF CONGRESS FAILS TO ACT, MORE
THAN SEVEN MILLION STUDENTS
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WILL SEE
THEIR STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATE
DOUBLE COME JULY 1.
JULY 1.
JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT AT THIS
TIME OF SLOW AND PAINFUL
ECONOMIC RECOVERY THE MAJORITY
CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO WORK ON
THIS ISSUE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
TO DISCUSS THIS PROPOSAL, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MR.
COURTNEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
POLIS, FOR YIELDING.
AND FOR AGAIN BRINGING THIS
ISSUE BACK TO THE FLOOR WHICH AS
MY CHART INDICATES WE'RE NOW
DOWN TO 10 DAYS.
WHEN THIS CHART WAS FIRST
CREATED IT WAS 110 DAYS AND IT
COINCIDED WITH THE DELIVERY OF
130,000 PETITION SIGNATURES FROM
COLLEGE CAMPUSES ALL ACROSS
AMERICA PLEADING WITH CONGRESS
TO LISTEN TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
CHALLENGE ON JANUARY 25, RIGHT
FROM THAT PODIUM, THAT WE SHOULD
BLOCK THE INCREASE FROM GOING
THROUGH.
MY LEGISLATION WHICH WAS
INTRODUCED AT MIDNIGHT THE SAME
NIGHT HAD 152 CO-SPONSORS TO
LOCK IN THE LOWER RATE.
FOR THREE MONTHS NOTHING
HAPPENED.
A BILL WAS RUSHED TO THE FLOOR
BY THE MAJORITY WITHOUT ANY
CONSULTATION WITH THE OTHER
SIDE.
TOOK MONEY OUT OF A FUND TO PAY
FOR CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING,
DIABETES SCREENING.
HYPERPARTISAN MEASURE WHICH THE
PRESIDENT INDICATED HE WOULD
TAKEN.
VETO EVEN BEFORE THE VOTE WAS
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT MR.
BOEHNER HAS ALREADY MOVED AWAY
FROM THAT PROPOSAL.
HE SENT A LETTER WITH SENATOR
MCCONNELL TO THE SENATE
LEADERSHIP OFFERING NEW PAY-FORS
AND MOVING OFF OF THE HOUSE BILL
AGAIN THAT WAS RUSHED THROUGH
WITH NO CONSULTATION ON ANY
BIPARTISAN BASIS.
THERE ARE SEVEN MILLION COLLEGE
STUDENTS WHO ARE WAITING FOR AN
ANSWER IN THE NEXT 10 DAYS TO
THIS ISSUE.
THE RATES WILL DOUBLE FROM 3.4%
TO 6.8%.
SENATOR REID HAS TALKED ALREADY
ABOUT A PROPOSAL WHICH IS A
PAY-FOR THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE
ON.
SOME WILLINGNESS TO MOVE FORWARD
WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THAT
ISSUE RIGHT NOW, NOT THIS
MEASURE WHICH SON THE FLOOR
WHICH IS GOING NOWHERE -- WHICH
IS ON THE FLOOR WHICH IS GOING
NOWHERE.
THIS ISSUE, HELPING STUDENTS PAY
FOR COLLEGE AND -- AT A TIME
WHEN STUDENT LOAN DEBT NOW IS
OVER $1 FEDERAL, IS AN ISSUE
THAT AMERICA IS WATCHING AND
WAITING.
AND FROM FLORIDA ALL THE WAY TO
THE WEST COAST, NEWSPAPERS ARE
DEMANDING BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE,
NOT THE KIND OF MEASURE WHICH
WAS RAMMED THROUGH THIS HOUSE A
MONTH AND A HALF AGO.
THE BUILDING BLOCKS ARE THERE
BUT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT,
NOT THE MEASURE THAT'S BEFORE US
TODAY AND THE TIERNEY BILL IS A
PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO
SOMETHING WHICH AGAIN HAS A
BALANCED APPROACH AND WHICH WILL
PROTECT STUDENTS FROM DOUBLING
OF THEIR STUDENT LOAN INTEREST
RATES.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
RESERVES.
.
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH IS
RECOGNIZED.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
TO A
I YIELD TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM MICHIGAN, MRS.
MILLER.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
MADAM SPEAKER, OUR ECONOMY IS
STRUGGLING.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED JOBS
FAMILIES ARE
STRUGGLING UNDER THE BURDEN OF
EVER RISING ENERGY PRICES.
IT'S SERM LONG PAST TIME FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ACT.
TODAY THIS HOUSE WILL ACT.
THIS NATION, MADAM SPEAKER, HAS
BEEN BLESSED WITH SO MANY ENERGY
RESOURCES, JUST VAST INJURING
RESOURCES THAT IF WE ACTUALLY
ADVANTAGED OURSELVES OF, WE
COULD ACTUALLY MEET ALL OF OUR
NATION'S ENERGY NEEDS.
WE COULD CREATE COUNTLESS JOBS,
GOOD-PAYING JOBS RIGHT HERE AT
HOME.
WE COULD PROVIDE NEEDED FUNDING
FOR OUR FEDERAL TREASURY.
EXPAND OUR ECONOMY.
MAKE OUR NATION MORE SECURE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T DO
THAT.
INSTEAD, IN FACT, WE ARE NEARLY
THE ONLY NATION I THINK ON THE
FACE OF THE PLANET, REALLY, THAT
DOES NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS
OWN ENERGY ENERGY RESOURCES.
MANY OF OUR NEEDS FROM UNSTABLE
AND UNFRIENDLY NATIONS FROM WHOM
WE EXPORT HUNDREDS OF AND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF OUR
NATIONAL WEALTH EVERY YEAR AND
WE BYPASS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CREATE NEEDED JOBS HERE AT HOME.
NEEDS TO CHANGE.
WHILE PRESIDENT OBAMA TALKS
ABOUT AN ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY
STRATEGY, HIS ACTIONS TELL A
DIFFERENT STORY, REALLY.
WHILE EXPLORATION OF OIL AND
OTHER ENERGY RESOURCES IS UP
OVERALL, IT'S BEEN REDUCED ON
LANDS UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL
UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.
AND THIS ADMINISTRATION'S E.P.A.
HAS MADE THE COAL INDUSTRY
PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE CHEAPEST
AND MOST ABUNDANT SOURCES
ELECTRIC GENERATION THAT WE HAVE
HERE IN OUR NATION.
TODAY THIS HOUSE WILL ACT ON A
TRUE ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY
STRATEGY.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL STREAMLINE
AND REMOVE GOVERNMENT RED TAPE
AS HURDLES TO ENERGY PRODUCTION.
IT WILL REQUIRE OUR NATION TO
PUT FORWARD GOALS FOR PRODUCTION
OF ALL ENERGY SOURCES, INCLUDING
OIL, NATURAL GAS, COAL,
FEDERAL LANDS.
RENEWABLES, OF COURSE, ON
AND IT WILL MAKE THE PERMITTING
PROCESS MUCH EASIER AND OPEN UP
NEW AREAS TO EXPLORATION AND
DEVELOPMENT, BOTH ON SHORE AS
WELL AS OFFSHORE.
ENERGY PRICES FOR HARD-PRESSED
THIS LEGISLATION WILL LOWER
CONSUMERS.
IT WILL CREATE GOOD-PAYING JOBS
HERE AT HOME, AND IT WILL
ENHANCE OUR ECONOMIC SECURITY
AND NATIONAL SECURITY AS WELL.
I CERTAINLY URGE ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN
SUPPORTING THIS CRITICAL
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN
LEGISLATION.
YIELDING TIME.
I SUPPORT THE RULE AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK OF THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH
RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I'D LICK TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
MRS. CAPPS.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FOR YIELDING, MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS RULE AND THE
UNDERLYING BILL.
WE ALL KNOW THAT HIGH OIL AND
GASOLINE PRICES TAKE THEIR TOLL
ON AMERICAN CONSUMERS.
UNDERSTANDABLY, THEY WANT THEIR
ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TAKE ACTION
BUT WHEN THEY DON'T WANT IS
EMPTY PROMISES OR POLITICAL
POSTURING DESIGNED TO SCORE
CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS IN AN
ELECTION YEAR.
THAT'S ALL THIS BILL GIVES US.
H.R. 4480 BLOCKS AND DELAYS
E.P.A. AIR QUALITY PROTECTIONS,
PROTECTIONS THAT HAVEN'T EVEN
BEEN PROPOSED YET.
IT INCLUDES THE RADICAL PROPOSAL
THAT DAMAGES THE CLEAN AIR ACT
GOAL THAT AIR SHOULD BE CLEAN
ENOUGH TO BREATHE SAFELY.
AND IT GIVES THE ENERGY
DEPARTMENT THE JOB OF DEVELOPING
A NEW DRILLING PLAN ON FEDERAL
LANDS EVEN THOUGH THIS IS NOT AN
AREA OF EXPERTISE AT ALL.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE IDEA BEHIND
OUT.
THIS BILL IS JUST NOT SOUGHT
IT'S NOT A SOLUTION TO HIGH OIL
AND GASOLINE PRICES, NOR WILL IT
CREATE ANY IMMEDIATE JOBS.
IT IS REALLY NOTHING MORE THAN A
TRANSPARENT ATTEMPT TO USE THIS
ISSUE AS AN EXCUSE FOR ADVANCING
AN AGENDA IN ORDER TO HURT OUR
PRECIOUS RESOURCES OF LAND AND
OUR OWN HEALTH.
AND THAT'S WHY I HAVE SENT TO
THE RULES COMMITTEE A
STRAIGHTFORWARD AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD HAVE PROTECTED MY STATE'S
COAST LINE FROM NEW OFFSHORE
DRILLING.
AND MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. BILBRAY, HAD A
SIMILAR AMENDMENT ON THE SAME
ISSUE, BUT THIS RULES COMMITTEE
IS NOT ALLOWING EITHER AMENDMENT
EVEN TO BE DEBATED, EVEN TO HAVE
ITS SAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
A STATE WHERE OFFSHORE DRILLING
HAS BEEN PROTECTED IN STATE
WATERS WILL NOW, BECAUSE THESE
AMENDMENTS WERE NOT MADE IN
ORDER, HAS TO ALLOW THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO WORK ITS WILL IN
CONTRADICTION TO THE STATE.
THAT'S WRONG.
THAT'S WHY MEMBERS FROM BOTH
SIDES SHOULD USE THEIR GOOD
SENSE AND OPPOSE THIS RULE AND
OPPOSE THE UNDERLYING BILL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH IS
I AM NOW PLEASED TO
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS,
DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN, WHO HAS
PROBABLY HEARD MANY OF THESE
ARGUMENTS BEFORE, CHAIRMAN HALL.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE
OF COURSE IN SUPPORT OF H.R.
4480, THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND
JOBS ACT, PROACTIVE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT ENCOURAGES AND
EXPANDS PRODUCTION OF OUR VAST
DOMESTIC RESOURCES TO HELP PUT
OUR AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT OTHER
THAN PRIOR ENERGY IS PROBABLY
THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD IN THE
DICTIONARY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
IT'S THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH
OUR NATION HAS PROSPERED AND THE
KEY TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND
OUR STANDARD OF LIVING.
AMERICA'S BLESSED WITH THE
WEALTH OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND
ENERGY RESOURCES LEADING
CITIGROUP TO PREDICT THAT WE
COULD SOON BECOME THE WORLD'S
LARGEST OIL PRODUCER.
THE RECENT SHALE GAS RESOLUTION
HAS DRIVEN PRODUCTION TO NEW
HEIGHTS AND PRICES TO NEW LOWS
HAS CREATED HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS AND
STIMULATED RESURGENCE OF
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING IN THIS
COUNTRY.
IN 2010 UNCONVENTIONAL NATURAL
GAS PRODUCTION ALONE SUPPORTED
AMERICAN JOBS.
APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION
SIMULTANEOUSLY SHALE OIL
PRODUCTION HAS LED TO RAPID AND
DRAMATIC ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB
CREATION IN PLACES NOT TYPICALLY
KNOWN FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION SUCH
AS NORTH DAKOTA.
WORKERS ARE FLOCKING TO THE
STATE TO PURSUE THE ABUNDANT
OPPORTUNITIES OF THE SHALE WHILE
THE NATION SUFFERS UNEMPLOYMENT
RATES IN EXCESS OF 8%,
UNEMPLOYMENT IN NORTH DAKOTA IS
IN THE LOWEST IN THIS COUNTRY AT
JUST 3%.
THE ONLY THING PREVENTING US
FROM REAPING THE BENEFITS OF
BEING A WORLD LEADER IN ENERGY
PRODUCTION IS BUREAUCRATIC RED
TAPE, PERMITTING DELAYS,
DECLINING PRODUCTION ON FEDERAL
LAND, RESTRICTED ACCESS, AND
STIFLING REGULATIONS ALL STAND
IN THE WAY.
H.R. 4480 WOULD FREE US FROM
THESE BARRIERS PUT FORTH BY THE
ADMINISTRATION AND INSTEAD SET
US ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO UNLEASH
THE FULL ENERGY POTENTIAL OF
THIS NATION.
ADDRESSES NUMEROUS
ISSUES OF SCIENCE, SPACE, AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE HAS
EXAMINED, INCLUDING, FOR
EXAMPLE, COSTLY REGULATION THAT
IS WOULD INCREASE THE PRICE OF
FUEL AT A TIME WHEN FAMILIES CAN
LEAST TO AFFORD TO PAY MORE FOR
THEIR COMMUTE.
NOT ONLY WOULD THIS STAND PLACE
A BURDEN ON HOUSEHOLD BUDGET,
BUT THE E.P.A. IGNORED THE LAW
BY FAILING TO COMPLETE A STUDY
ON THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF
R.S.F. PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK
ON THESE STANDARDS.
QUITE SIMPLY AGAIN, THE E.P.A.
FAILED TO DO ITS HOMEWORK.
INSTEAD BARRELING FORWARD WITH
REGULATIONS WITHOUT A SUFFICIENT
FOUNDATION.
REGULATIONS LIKE THIS ONE ARE
FAR TOO OFTEN BASED UPON SHAKY
SCIENCE, DEVOID OF ADEQUATE PIER
REVIEW, AND RELY ON SECRET DATA
E.P.A. REFUSES TO SHARE WITH THE
PUBLIC.
THE E.P.A. IGNORES THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN ORDER TO
OVERSTATE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS
OF ITS RULES IN AN ATTEMPT TO
JUSTIFY THEIR SIZABLE COST.
H.R. 4480 TAKES A TIME-OUT FROM
E.P.A.'S ACTIVIST REGULATION
AGENDA AND SEEKS TO PUT OUR
COUNTRY ON TRACK TO PURSUE A
GENUINE ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY
STRATEGY THAT WOULD EXPAND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCTION
RATHER THAN STIFLE IT.
I URGE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS
RULE AS WELL AS THE UNDERLYING
BILL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
ASSOCIATION, THE ASSOCIATION OF
CITY, COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS,
AND A NUMBER OF OTHER
SIGNATORIES ON THIS LETTER THAT
SAY VERY SIMPLY WE SHOULD MAKE
SURE THAT THE E.P.A. CAN
DETERMINE WHETHER OUR AIR IS
SAFE TO BREATHE AND NOT DO IT
BASED ON HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO
REDUCE AIR POLLUTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M PROUD TO
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS,
YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE
MR. MARKEY.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT
TO GIVE AWAY OUR PUBLIC LANDS TO
THE WEALTHIEST OIL COMPANIES IN
THE WORLD.
THIS
AGENDA.
OF THE REPUBLICAN OIL ABOVE ALL
INSTEAD OF APPROVING THIS
LEGISLATIVE LOVE LETTER TO BIG
OIL, THE MAJORITY SHOULD BE
SENDING A THANK YOU NOTE TO
PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR HIS ACTIONS
TO INCREASE DOMESTIC ENERGY
PRODUCTION AND DECREASE OUR
DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
THE TRUTH IS THAT OIL PRODUCTION
FROM FEDERAL LANDS ON SHORE
TODAY IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS.
-- THAN IT WAS UNDER PRESIDENT
BUSH.
AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OIL
PRODUCTION FROM ALL PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE LANDS, OIL PRODUCTION
FROM ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
LANDS IS UNBELIEVABLY NOW AT AN
18-YEAR HIGH.
OBAMA IS DRILLING, BABY.
HE'S DRILLING.
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE STRATEGY HAS
ALSO BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CREATING
JOBS.
SINCE 2008 14,000 NEW JOBS HAVE
BEEN CREATED IN OIL AND GAS
EXTRACTION.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT OBAMA.
BUT 50,000 NEW JOBS HAVE ALSO
BEEN CREATED IN WIND AND SOLAR.
BUT REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT A
REAL ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE ENERGY
STRATEGY.
AT THE RULES COMMITTEE I OFFERED
AN AMENDMENT ALONG WITH MR.
WELCH THAT WOULD HAVE
ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL RENEWABLE
ENERGY STANDARD.
THAT AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE
CREATED WIND AND SOLAR ALL
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AS A
STANDARD.
THAT AMENDMENT WAS GERMANE TO
THIS BILL.
AND HAD NO BUDGETARY IMPACT.
BUT THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY
REFUSED TO EVEN ALLOW US TO
DEBATE AN AMENDMENT SO THAT
MEMBERS COULD HAVE A CHANCE TO
VOTE ON AN ACTUAL
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE PACKAGE THAT
WASN'T JUST OIL AND GAS.
AND PRESIDENT OBAMA IS ABOUT AS
GOOD A PRESIDENT AS YOU CAN HAVE
ON THAT ISSUE BUT WIND AND SOLAR
AND BIOMASS AND GEOTHERMAL AND
ALL OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES OF THE
FUTURE.
THEY REFUSED TO EVEN ALLOW THE
DEMOCRATS TO HAVE A VOTE ON
THAT, ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS
AFTERNOON.
THEY'RE NOT ALL OF THE ABOVE,
THEY ARE OIL ABOVE ALL.
THEY DON'T WANT WIND AND SOLAR
BECAUSE THE OIL INDUSTRY DOESN'T
WANT IT AND THE COAL INDUSTRY
DOESN'T WANT IT BECAUSE IT'S
REAL COMPETITION FROM THE
FUTURE.
THE RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
STANDARD THAT I WOULD HAVE
OFFERED WOULD HAVE CREATED
300,000 NEW JOBS AND SAVED
CONSUMERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON
THEIR ELECTRICITY BILL.
IN 2007 32 REPUBLICANS JOINED
188 DEMOCRATS IN OVERWHELMING
SUPPORT OF A SIMILAR RENEWABLE
ELECTRICITY STANDARD.
IN 2009 THE HOUSE AGAIN PASSED
THAT POLICY ON A BIPARTISAN
BASIS.
IT DIED IN THE SENATE BOTH
TIMES.
TODAY IT DIES HERE ON THE HOUSE
FLOOR BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS
DON'T WANT 32 REPUBLICANS TO
EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR
WIND AND SOLAR AND BIOMASS AND
GEOTHERMAL.
THEY'RE AFRAID THAT REPUBLICANS
MIGHT VOTE FOR IT.
ON THE FLOOR, SAYING NO DEBATE
SO IT'S A GAG HERE, A GAG ORDER
AND COAL DON'T WANT IT DEBATED.
ON THE RENEWABLES BECAUSE OIL
THERE WILL NOT BE A VOTE ON
THIS.
THE MAJORITY HAS VOTED MORE THAN
100 TIMES IN THIS CONGRESS TO
HELP THE OIL INDUSTRY BUT THEY
ONCE IN FAVOR OF
CLEAN ENERGY IN THE YEAR AND A
HALF THAT THEY HAVE CONTROLLED
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
MOREOVER, BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT
EXTEND THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT
FOR WIND, 40,000 JOBS ARE GOING
TO BE LOST IN THE WIND INDUSTRY
IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2013.
THIS IS THE BIG OIL DREAM ACT.
REPUBLICANS.
THIS IS THE DREAM ACT OF THE
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
OPPOSED.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH IS
RECOGNIZED.
IRONICALLY I DO
AGREE WITH THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS IN ONE ELEMENT OF
THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION,
WHAT HE SAID.
PRESIDENT OBAMA, IS DRILLING ON
PERMITS THAT WERE GRANTED BY
BUSH AND CLINTON.
THE UNFORTUNATE SIDE IS THAT
WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS --
IS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS
NOT PERMITTING ANY NEW DRILLING
PERMITS FOR THE FUTURE GROWTH OF
THIS COUNTRY.
WITH THAT I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY
FROM TENNESSEE WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING DILIGENTLY FOR MANY
YEARS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE
AND HAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF
IT, MRS. BLACKBURN.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH FOR YIELDING
THE TIME AND I AM SO PLEASED,
MADAM SPEAKER, THAT WE ARE
PUSHING FORWARD ON SOME BILLS
THAT ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY ALLOW
-- CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR
JOBS GROWTH TO TAKE PLACE.
OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT THAT IS
NEEDED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
DAY.
WE HEAR ABOUT IT EVERY SINGLE
YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT THE LONGEST
STREAK THAT WE HAVE HAD SINCE
THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE
LONGEST STREAK WITH UNEMPLOYMENT
BEING ABOVE 8%.
IF YOU LOOK AT UNDEREMPLOYMENT
IT'S AT 14.8%.
CLEARLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
SPEAKING OUT THAT THEY WANT
ACTION AND THEY WANT TO GET BACK
TO WORK.
THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS ACT
WILL DO THAT.
HELPING TO CREATE THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR JOBS GROWTH TO
TAKE PLACE.
HELPING TO CREATE THE
ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE TAKE
ACTIONS TO FUEL THIS ECONOMY.
OUR UNEMPLOYMENT AND
UNDEREMPLOYMENT NUMBERS SHOULD
BE A WAKE-UP CALL TO THE
PRESIDENT, SHOULD BE A WAKE-UP
CALL TO THE SENATE.
THEY CAN'T CONTINUE TO SIT ON
THEIR HANDS AND PLAY THE BLAME
GAME WHILE 13 MILLION AMERICANS
REMAIN OUT OF WORK.
AS I SAID, THIS LEGISLATION WILL
HELP CREATE THE JOBS THAT ARE
NEEDED IN OUR NATION'S ENERGY
SECTOR.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IS MORE
AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY, MORE
AMERICAN EXPLORATION.
WE WANT TO SEE AMERICAN
INNOVATION AND END OUR
DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
THOSE ARE WORTHY GOALS AND THESE
ARE STEPS IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
WE ALSO HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE
PUMP.
I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO ARE THE
MOM IN THE MINIVAN AND ARE
GETTING CHILDREN BACK AND FORTH
TO AND FROM ACTIVITIES AND AT
$3.50 A GALLON AS THE NEW NORMAL
, IF YOU WILL, GAS HAVING
DOUBLED, THE PRICE OF GASOLINE
AS A TRANSPORTATION FUEL HAVING
DOUBLED SINCE THIS PRESIDENT WAS
SWORN IN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WOMEN TALK TO US
ABOUT REGULARLY.
THERE ARE DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT
THIS.
THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR
ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THIS COUNTRY
CAN BE FOUND IN THIS NATION'S
PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES AND
OUR ENERGY RESOURCES.
AND WHILE THE PRESIDENT IS
CLEARLY PREOCCUPIED WITH TELLING
AMERICANS THAT WHAT WE WANT --
WON'T DO ON ENERGY, WHAT HE WILL
NOT TAKE STEPS TO DO, THE
ECONOMY AND JOBS AND WHAT HE
ISN'T GOING TO DO THERE, HOUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE LAYING OUT A
PATHWAY FOR WHAT WE CAN DO.
BY WORKING HARD WE CAN EMPOWER
THOSE INNOVATORS TO HARNESS OUR
DOMESTIC ENERGY CAPABILITIES
USING SO MANY OF THOSE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
NEW INNOVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT FORWARD BY SO MANY OF
THE PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND THE
INNOVATORS IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE
ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR AN
I HAVE TO SAY
THIS.
WITH EVERY NEW DISCOVERY OF
AMERICAN ENERGY, IN EVERY NEW
TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT WE ARE
ABLE TO PUT MORE INTO THE
MARKETPLACE FOR OUR NATION'S
MANUFACTURERS, ENGINEERS, OUR
LEASING SPECIALISTS, OUR RIG
OPERATORS AND MUCH MORE.
I RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE BACK IN SOUTH MISSISSIPPI
WHERE I GREW UP, HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH SOME OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE
INVOLVED AND WORKING AND
INNOVATING IN THE OIL AND GAS
INDUSTRY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHAT I HEARD FROM THEM WAS THE
DEGREE OF ADVANCEMENT AND THE
NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT
EXIST IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WILL GET OUT OF THE WAY AND
RETURN OUR FOCUS TO CREATING THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR ENERGY
EXPLORATION AND JOBS GROWTH TO
I YIELD BACK.
TAKE PLACE IN THIS GREAT NATION.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH
RESERVES.
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
IT'S MY HONOR TO YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. GARAMENDI.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER,
THE GENTLELADY WAS QUITE CORRECT
ABOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE PRICE
OF GASOLINE AND AS YOU SIT
AROUND TALKING ABOUT THAT, YOU
OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
24 MILLION GALLONS OF GASOLINE
STATES EVERY DAY.
THAT IS EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED
YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER
THAT THE PRICE OF NATURAL GAS
HAS PLUMMETED BY MORE THAN 60%
DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION,
PROVIDING US WITH AN
EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY FOR
GROWTH.
BUT WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT IS THIS BILL IS NOT A
STRATEGIC ENERGY PRODUCTION ACT.
IT DOES NOT DEAL WITH THE
RENEWABLE ENERGIES.
IN FACT, THE SOLAR -- THE WIND
ENERGY INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED
STATES IS ABOUT TO COME TO A
SCREECHING HALT.
75,000 JOBS ARE PRESENTLY IN
THIS INDUSTRY.
WE'RE ALREADY BEGINNING TO SEE
THE DOWNSIZING, 17,000 ARE NOW
BEING LAID OFF BECAUSE THE
BEING EXTENDED.
PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT IS NOT
IF WE WERE TO EXTEND THE
PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT WE COULD
PROBABLY FIND ANOTHER 37,000
PEOPLE WORKING NEXT YEAR.
AND IF WE ADDED TO THIS, MY
OF LEGISLATION, 487, WHICH
REQUIRES THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS,
IN THIS CASE THE PRODUCTION TAX
CREDIT, BE SPENT ON
AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT, WE
COULD SEE PERHAPS EVEN MORE
MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED
STATES.
BOTTOM LINE, THE STRATEGIC
ENERGY PRODUCTION ACT IS AN ACT
FOR THE OIL AND COAL INDUSTRY.
IT IS NOT FOR AMERICA.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT, WE NEED
TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE ABOVE, NOT
JUST OIL AND COAL.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
RESERVES.
AND THE GENTLELADY FROM UTAH IS
RECOGNIZED.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY
FROM ARKANSAS, MR. GRIFFIN.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R.
4480, THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND
JOBS ACT.
A PACKAGE OF SEVEN BILLS THAT
TAKEN TOGETHER WILL CREATE JOBS
AND MAKE AMERICA MORE ENERGY
INDEPENDENT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS
BUT AMONG THEM THE BILL REFORMS
AND STREAMLINES THE ENERGY
PERMITTING PROCESS BISETTING
FIRM TIMELINES FOR LEGAL
CHALLENGES AND LIMITING THE
DURATION OF INJUNCTIONS.
THIS PROVISION IS CRITICAL
BECAUSE IT ADDRESSES ALL THE RED
TAPE, THE WASHINGTON RED TAPE,
AND THE CONSTANT WAVING OF
LAWSUITS BY RADICAL
ENVIRONMENTALISTS THAT HAVE --
WAVE OF LAWSUITS BY RADICAL
ENVIRONMENTALIST IT'S THAT
PREVENTED MANY ENERGY PRODUCTS
FROM EVER GETTING OFF THE
GROUND.
TOO OFTEN ACTIVIST WASHINGTON
LAWYERS COME BETWEEN THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ABUNDANT
AFFORDABLE ENERGY.
WITH THIS BILL, WE ARE FIGHTING
BACK.
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE'S PROJECT -- NO PROJECT
REPORT, ENERGY PERMITTING REFORM
COULD UNLEASH INVESTMENT TO THE
TUNE OF $3.4 TRILLION IN
ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND OVER $2.--
2.6 MILLION JOBS CREATED.
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS LOOK AT THE
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA FOR THE
BENEFITS OF PRODUCING AMERICAN
ENERGY.
OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IS
BOOMING, THE STATE HAS A 3%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
NATIONALLY?
WOULDN'T WE LIKE TO HAVE THAT
GOOD GRIEF.
AND WORKERS ARE SLEEPING IN
THEIR CARS, MANY OF THEM,
BECAUSE THE HOUSING SUPPLY CAN'T
KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.
IN MY HOME STATE OF ARKANSAS,
WE'VE GOT OUR OWN SUCCESS STORY.
PRODUCTION IN THE BROWN DENSE
FORMATION HAS AND WILL CONTINUE
TO CREATE JOBS AND AMERICAN
ENERGY.
BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET UP.
WE HAVE TALKED WAY TOO LONG
ABOUT JOB CREATION AND ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE.
ACTION.
WE NEED LESS TALK AND MORE
I URGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT BILL TO
CREATE JOBS AND INCREASE
AMERICAN ENERGY NUMBERS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
MADAM SPEAKER, I
WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE
TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. LEE.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU.
LET ME THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING AND FOR HIS TREMENDOUS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
OF COURSE I RISE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THE RULE AND ALSO
THE BILL.
ENERGY ACT IS YET ANOTHER
THIS SO-CALLED DOMESTIC JOBS AND
EXAMPLE OF HOW THE TEA PARTY-LED
HOUSE IS WASTING AMERICAN
PEOPLE'S TIME BY PASSING
LEGISLATION THAT WILL NEVER
BECOME LAW.
THIS UNCONSCIONABLE WISH LIST
FOR BIG OIL CONTAINS DANGEROUS
PROVISIONS THAT WOULD
IRRESPONSIBLY EXPAND DRILLING ON
PUBLIC LANDS, ROLL BACK POLICIES
TO PROVIDE FOR THE SAFE AND
RESPONSIBLE ENERGY PRODUCTION IN
THE UNITED STATES AND IT WILL
ENDANGER OUR PUBLIC HEALTH BY
BLOCKING IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH
SAFEGUARDS UNDER THE CLEAN AIR
ACT.
GUTTING THE CLEAN AIR ACT WILL
NOT LOWER GAS PRICES BUT IT WILL
HURT THE HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE NEED A REAL
JOBS AGENDA, NOT ANOTHER MASSIVE
GIVEAWAY TO BIG OIL.
WE MUST PASS THE AMERICAN JOBS
ACT, INVEST IN OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, INCREASE JOB
OUR SAFETY NET.
TRAINING EFFORTS AND STRENGTHEN
WE SHOULD SUPPORT THE ECONOMY
AND CREATE JOBS BY INVESTING IN
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS CONGRESS MUST ENSURE THAT
OUR NATION'S SAFETY NET IS --
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 20 SECONDS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IN CONCLUSION WE MUST ENSURE
THAT OUR NATION'S SAFETY NET IS
A BRIDGE THAT IS STRONG ENOUGH
TO DELIVER US ALL, EVEN THE MOST
VULNERABLE, OVER THESE TROUBLED
WATERS.
THIS GIVEAWAY TO BIG OIL WILL
NOT DO THAT.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC
HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
RESERVES.
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH IS
RECOGNIZED.
PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE
ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE RESOURCES
COMMITTEE HERE WHO UNDERSTANDS
THIS ISSUE VERY WELL, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, MR.
COFFMAN, FOR THREE MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS
ACT REMOVES THE OBSTACLES THAT
ARE BLOCKING OUR EFFORTS TO
ACHIEVE GREATER AMERICAN ENERGY
PRODUCTION AND JOB CREATION BY
PROVIDING CERTAINTY AND CLARITY
TO THE PUBLIC LANDS LEASING AND
PERMITTING PROCESS.
IN PARTICULAR MY PART OF THIS
LEGISLATION WILL ENSURE THAT
FEDERAL OIL AND NATURAL GAS
LEASE SALES OCCUR ON A
CONSISTENT BASIS AND PROVIDE THE
NECESSARY LEASE CERTAINTY SO
PRODUCTION IS MADE EASIER.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE ROUGHLY
1,631 OUTSTANDING PROJECTS ON
FEDERAL LANDS, INCLUDING LANDS
IN COLORADO, WHICH ARE DELAYED
-- WHICH HAVE BEEN DELAYED OVER
THREE YEARS.
FEDERAL REGULATORY DELAYS
PREVENT THE CREATION OF OVER
.
60,000 JOBS.
WE HAVE ENDURED SEVERAL YEARS OF
OVER 8% UNEMPLOYMENT, OVER 12%
OF OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN ARE
STILL OUT OF WORK.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT FULLY
BENEFITING FROM THE EMPLOYMENT
AND FINANCIAL POTENTIAL OF OUR
ENERGY RESOURCES IS SIMPLY
WRONG.
THE PRESIDENT OFTEN BOASTS ABOUT
HIS ENERGY RECORD, BUT THIS
ADMINISTRATION REGULARLY DELAYS
AND BLOCKS LEASES.
IN FACT, D.O.M. OVERWHELM
APPROVED 11 OIL AND GAS LEASES
IN 2011.
WHERE IN 2006, THERE WERE 363
APPROVALS.
WE IN COLORADO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF HARNESSING OUR OWN
RESOURCES AND THE VALUE IT
PROVIDES OUR ECONOMY.
THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IN
COLORADO DIRECTLY EMPLOY 50,000
JOBS IN OUR STATES.
PEOPLE AND SUPPORTS OVER 190,000
THIS INDUSTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
ROUGHLY 6% OF TOTAL EMPLOYMENT
IN COLORADO.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THIS
LEGISLATION TO CREATE JOBS BY
DEVELOPING OUR OWN RESOURCES --
OIL RESOURCES RIGHT HERE AT
HOME.
OPPONENTS OF DOMESTIC ENERGY
EXPLORATION CLAIM THAT THE
INDUSTRY HAS ALREADY HAD
THOUSANDS OF ACRES BUT ARE NOT
PRODUCING THE WELL.
THESE CRITICS POINT TO RECENT
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR REPORTS
THAT THIS REPORT REPRESENTS THE
REASONS FOR NONPRODUCING WELLS.
OFTEN THAN NOT THE FACT IS
THAT CAUSE OF NONPRODUCTION ARE
DELAYS INSTITUTED BY THE
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT ITSELF BY
PROJECTS.
REQUIRING REDUNDANT REVIEWS OF
ONE IS THE NEWEST LEASING PLAN
BY THE SECRETARY.
DELAYS ALSO OCCUR BECAUSE
EXPLORATION COMPANIES DO NOT
HAVE FULL INFORMATION AS TO THE
CAPACITY OF PRODUCTION ON THE
LAND UNTIL AFTER THE LEASE SALE
IS FINALIZED.
THEREFORE SOME LEASES PROVE TO
BE NONCOMMERCIAL AND GO UNUSED.
ALTHOUGH INDUSTRY HAS ALREADY
PAID THE GOVERNMENT THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS IN FEES FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE, MANY
TIMES THEY RECEIVE NO ECONOMIC
BENEFIT AND THE RISK IS ENTIRELY
ON THEM.
LET ME ALSO BE CLEAR, BECAUSE
THIS FACT IS LARGELY MISSED BY
THE OPPONENTS OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
ONLY LANDS THAT ARE ALREADY
FOR
EXPLORATION CAN BE NOMINATED BY
INDUSTRY.
THIS BILL IS NOT A GREEN LIGHT
FOR IMMEDIATE PRODUCTION ON ALL
FEDERAL ACRES.
RATHER IT GRANTS ACCESS TO A
VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE
TOTAL OF FEDERAL LANDS.
I RESPECT THE NEED TO PRESERVE
OUR WILDERNESS AREAS, BUT I ALSO
UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO
RESPONSIBLY CAPITALIZE ON OUR
VAST RESOURCES IN ORDER TO GET
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
AS A MARINE CORPS COMBAT VETERAN
WHO HAS SERVED MULTIPLE TOURS IN
THE MIDDLE EAST, I FULLY
UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO REDUCE
OUR RELIANCE ON FOREIGN OIL AND
THAT.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL HELP DO
FOR THESE REASONS I ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON
CERTAINTY, YES ON JOBS, AND YES
ON THE FINAL PASSAGE OF THE
NECESSARYIC ENERGY -- DOMESTIC
ENERGY AND JOBS ACT.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH
RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
INSERT THE TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL IMMEDIATELY
IN THE RECORD ALONG WITH
PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
HERE WE ARE WHILE WE
ARE DEBATING THE DEATH AND
DESTRUCTION OF OIL ABOVE ALL
BILL AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON
STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS THAT WILL
COST MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD THREE MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, MR. TIERNEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
AT THE END OF THIS MONTH THE
STUDENT FEDERAL LOAN INTEREST
RATE IS SET TO DOUBLE FROM 3.4%
TO .8%.
IT'S AN URGENT DEADLINE FOR MORE
THAN SEVEN MILLION AMERICAN
STUDENTS AND MORE THAN 177,000
STUDENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS.
IT'S AN URGENT DEADLINE FOR
STUDENTS I MET WITH AT MIDDLESEX
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ELSEWHERE.
JOBS.
THESE STUDENTS ARE WORKING MANY
THEY ARE STILL CARRYING
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN STUDENT
DEBT AND DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT
THE DOUBLING OF THE RATE THAT
WILL OCCUR ON JULY 1.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS AN URGENT
DEADLINE FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS.
WE HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF THIS
ISSUE FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS.
OUR LEAGUE, MR. COURTNEY OF
CONNECTICUT, INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING A
PERMANENT FIX BACK IN JANUARY.
OUR COLLEAGUES, MR. MILLER OF
CALIFORNIA, AND MR. HINOJOSA OF
EDUCATION WORK FORCE COMMITTEE
TEXAS, SENT A LETTER TO
CHAIRMAN MR. KLEIN IN FEBRUARY
ASKING THAT THE QUESTION BE
TAKEN BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TO
PREVENT THE STUDENT LOAN
INTEREST HIKE.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE, MADAM SPEAKER,
THAT THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES DOES NOT
APPEAR TO UNDERSTAND OR SHARE
THIS URGENCY.
THERE ARE 10 DAYS LEFT IN JUNE
AND WE ARE ONLY SCHEDULED TO BE
IN SESSION FOR FIVE OF THEM.
AS OF RIGHT NOW TAKING LAX TO
STOP THE DOUBLING OF THE STUDENT
LOAN INTEREST RATE IS STILL NOT
ON THE HOUSE'S LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA BETWEEN NOW AND THE END
OF THE MONTH.
IN FACT, ADDRESSING THE ISSUE IS
NOT PART OF THE MAJORITY LEADERS
SUMMER LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
AND IT WAS REPORTED THAT SPEAKER
BOEHNER PRIVATELY CALLED THE
ISSUE A PHONY ISSUE.
SO LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT
IT, THIS IS NOTHING PHONY FOR
THE MILLIONS OF STUDENTS WHO
WILL BE IMPACTED AND SEE THEIR
RATES DOUBLE IN JULY.
MADAM SPEAKER, SINCE THE HOUSE
MAJORITY DOESN'T APPEAR READY TO
MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE, WE
HAVE TO TAKE THIS ACTION TODAY
TO DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
SO THE RULE CAN BE AMENDED TO
ALLOW FOR CONSIDERATION OF MY
BILL, THE STOP RATE HEIGHT ACT
OF 2012.
THAT BILL CONTINUES THE CURRENT
NEED BASED STAFFORD LOAN RATE AT
3.4% FOR ONE YEAR AND OFFSET THE
COSTS BY CLOSING A TACKS SUBSIDY
FOR THE OIL INDUSTRY.
JUST ONE.
ONE THAT THEY WEREN'T ORIGINALLY
INTENDED TO BENEFIT FROM AT ANY
RATE.
I THINK THAT'S A FAIR AND
REASONABLE PLAN FOR ELIMINATING
AN UNJUSTIFIED GIVE AWAY TO A
HUGELY PROFITABLE INDUSTRY SO
MILLIONS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS
STUDENTS LOANS.
WILL NOT SEE AN INCREASE IN
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DEFEAT
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SO THE
HOUSE CAN CONSIDER THAT BILL AND
STOP THE STUDENT LOAN INTEREST
RATE HIKE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH IS
BISHOP: RESERVES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH RESERVES
IS RECOGNIZED.
MUCH THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
I WOULD LIKE TO
INQUIRE OF THE OTHER SIDE IF HE
HAS REMAINING SPEAKERS?
I THINK I'M IT.
VERY GOOD.
I'M PREPARED TO CLOSE AND I WILL
YIELD MYSELF THE BALANCE OF THE
TIME.
--
SIP THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THIS RULE ONLY
CERTAIN AMENDMENTS.
PROVIDES FOR CONSIDERATION OF
WHY ARE THE REPUBLICANS SO
CONCERNED WITH LETTING THE HOUSE
WORK THEIR WILL ON SUCH AN
IMPORTANT BILL?
NOW, THE NUMBER OF THESE
MEASURES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT
COLORADO.
FORWARD BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THESE
ARE POLICIES THAT ARE NOT
COLORADO.
UNIVERSALLY SUPPORTED IN
AND MANY OF US BELIEVE THE
POLICIES CONTAINED IN THIS SET
OF BILLS WILL DESTROY JOBS AS
WELL AS THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND
HEALTH OF NOT ONLY COLORADO AND
THE WEST BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
IN COLORADO WE HAVE CREATED A
BALANCED APPROACH TO ENERGY
POLICY THAT'S WORKED.
IN SOME AREAS WE LEASE, SOME
AREAS WE USE FOR OTHER PURPOSE,
SOME AREAS WE PROTECT.
MANY COLORADO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AGREE OUR PARKS AND
PUBLIC LANDS ARE CRITICAL NOT
ONLY TO THE ECONOMY AND JOB
GROWTH, HIKING, FISHING,
HUNTING, THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY,
AND HEALTH.
BUT ALSO TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
THIS JOB DESTROYING FEDERAL LAND
GRAB FEDERAL WATER GRAB BILL
WOULD PUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
COLORADOANS OUT OF WORK AND
DESTROY THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
OUR ENTIRE STATE.
THIS BILL PUTS THE OIL AND GAS
INDUSTRY ABOVE ALL THE OTHER
USERS OF PUBLIC LANDS.
ABOVE THE INTEREST OF HUNTERS,
ABOVE THE INTERESTS OF
FISHERMEN, HIKERS, ABOVE THE
INTEREST OF TOURISM, ABOVE THE
INTEREST OF SKIERS,
CONSERVATIONISTS.
THIS BILL IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH
THE CITIZENS OF COLORADO AND
AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
WOULD DESTROY JOBS IN COLORADO
LOOK, COMPANIES ARE ABLE TO
DRILL.
THEY HAVE BEEN DRILLING THE LAST
40 YEARS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S LEADERSHIP HAS
LED TO TWICE THE NUMBER OF
DRILLING WELLS.
OUR ENERGY PRODUCTION IS AT AN
EIGHT-YEAR PEAK FROM OIL AND
GAS.
AND WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR
ENERGY PRODUCTION ON PUBLIC
LANDS AND THERE IS A RESPONSIBLE
WAY TO DO T WE NEED A BALANCED
APPROACH THAT DOESN'T THROW OUT
THE SAFEGUARDS AND PROTECTIONS
THAT PROTECT THE HEALTH OF
CHILDREN, THE HEALTH OF
FAMILIES, TO PROTECT OUR JOBS
AND THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY, TO
PROTECT OUR JOBS IN THE
RECREATION INDUSTRY.
AND PROTECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES
AND ALSO PROTECT OUR WATER AND
LAWS TO PROTECT OUR AIR.
THIS BILL, THIS SERIES OF
OMNIBUS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
BILLS SIMPLY FAILS THAT TEST.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE MORE
THAN THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
OIL ABOVE ALL OMNIBUS PACKAGE
THAT'S BEING OFFERED HERE TODAY.
WHILE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE
WAITING IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT
LINE, WE HAVE A BILL THAT
CREATES JOBS RATHER THAN
DESTROYS JOBS.
INCREASED CONCENTRATION OF TOXIC
CHEMICALS CAN HARM THE HEALTH OF
AMERICAN CITIZENS AND
COLORADOANS.
THERE'S GREAT PROMISE AND
OPPORTUNITY AND TECHNOLOGY THAT
ALLOW COMPANIES TO DRILL WITH
LESS IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH AND
THE ENVIRONMENT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE THAT THERE
IS INCENTIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE SAFE.
THIS PACKAGE OF JOB DESTROYING
BILLS BROUGHT BEFORE US TODAY
WOULD HARM OUR SENSITIVE LAND
AND CONSTITUTES A FEDERAL LAND
GRAB AND FEDERAL WATER GRAB, ALL
WITHOUT LOWERING THE PRICE AT
THE PUMP AND DESTROYING TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE
PROCESS.
THIS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION BILL
IS SIMPLY NOT WHAT THIS COUNTRY
NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE
THE RULE AND OPPOSE THE BILL.
I URGE A NO VOTE ON THE RULE AND
DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO YIELDS
BACK HIS TIME.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH IS
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
IN THE 111TH CONGRESS WHEN THE
OTHER SIDE WAS IN CHARGE, HOUSE
BILL 2454 WAS BROUGHT FORTH FROM
THE FLOOR, CALLED THE AMERICAN
CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT.
THERE WERE 224 AMENDMENTS
SUBMITTED.
ONE WAS MADE IN ORDER.
IN OUR BILL TODAY, 27 AMENDMENTS
ARE MADE IN ORDER, 2/3 OF WHICH
ARE DEMOCRAT AMENDMENTS.
THIS IS A VERY FAIR RULE AND
WILL PROVIDE FOR AN OPEN AND
CLEAR DEBATE ON THE PARTICULAR
ISSUE.
LET'S FACE IT, MADAM SPEAKER,
THE UNITED STATES HAS A LOT OF
UNTAPPED AREAS ON PUBLIC LANDS
THAT ARE INVOLVED NOT ONLY IN
AND COAL.
OIL AND SHALE, BUT NATURAL GAS
WE ARE AN ENERGY RICH COUNTRY.
WE ARE AN ENERGY PRODUCING
COUNTRY.
IT'S ABOUT TIME WE RECOGNIZE
THAT FACT AND DEVELOP THE ENERGY
THAT WE HAVE FOR THE BETTERMENT
OF OUR PEOPLE AND FOR JOB
CREATION.
WE NEED AN ALL OF THE ABOVE
STRATEGY THAT IS NOT JUST A
RHETORICAL EXERCISE IN AN
ELECTION YEAR BUT AN ALL OF THE
ABOVE STRATEGY THAT ACTUALLY
REALLY CREATES SOMETHING WITHOUT
HIDDEN DELAYS DISGUISED AS
PROCEDURAL PRACTICES AND
PROCESSES.
THIS BILL WILL CREATE JOBS.
THIS BILL WILL KEEP AMERICAN
DOLLARS AT HOME.
THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE ECONOMIC
GROWTH INSTEAD OF SENDING OUR
MONEY ABROAD.
THIS IS A GOOD BILL AND IT IS AN
INCREDIBLY FAIR RULE.
I URGE ITS ADOPTION.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME AND MOVE THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
MADAM SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
RECOGNIZED.
ON THAT I REQUEST A
RECORDED VOTE.
A
RECORDED VOTE IS REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE
WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 AND CLAUSE
9 OF RULE 20, THIS 15-MINUTE
VOTE ON ORDERING THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A
FIVE-MINUTE VOTE ON ADOPTION ON
THE RESOLUTION IF ORDERED AND A
FIVE-MINUTE VOTE ON THE MOTION
TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES OFFERED BY
MR. WALZ OF MINNESOTA.
15-MINUTE VOTE.
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
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.]
ON THIS
VOTE THE YEAS ARE 242.
THE NAYS ARE 183.
ORDERED.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS
THE QUESTION IS ON ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR WILL SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED WILL SAY NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO SEEK
-- SEEK RECOGNITION?
WRECK ANYTHING?
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
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.]