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CAN REACH AGREEMENT SOONER
RATHER THAN LATE SORE THAT
AMERICA'S ECONOMY CAN CONTINUE
TO RECOVER AND AMERICAN WORKERS
CAN GO BACK TO WORK WITH
CERTAINTY.
THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK.
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MAY I INQUIRE OF THE
CHAIR HOW MUCH TIME IS REMAINING
ON BOTH SIDES?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS HAS
5 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA
HAS NINE MINUTES REMAINING.
COULD I CONTINUE TO
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES OF MY TIME TO
MR. WHITFIELD FROM KENTUCKY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I RISE TO SUPPORT
THE MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES
TO THE HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION
BILL, TO STOP E.P.A. FROM
REGULATING COAL ASH AS A
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.
SINCE THE FORMATION OF E.P.A.,
E.P.A. HAS LOOKED PERIODICALLY
AT COAL ASH.
MOST RECENTLY THEY DID IT IN
1993 AND 2000, UNDER THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION, AND CAME TO THE
CONCLUSION THAT COAL ASH DOES
NOT WARRANT BEING REGULATED AS A
HAZARDOUS WASTE.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE TODAY AND
THEN IS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION
IS DETERMINED TO PUT THE COAL
BUSINESS OUT OF BUSINESS.
AND YET AMERICA GETS ABOUT 48%
OF ITS ELECTRICITY FROM COAL.
WE CANNOT EXPECT TO MEET THE
DEMANDS OF THIS NATION'S
ELECTRICITY NEEDS OVER THE NEXT
20 YEARS WITHOUT COAL.
IF WE -- IF E.P.A. IS SUCCESSFUL
IN TREATING COAL ASH AS A
HAZARDOUS WASTE, WHICH IS QUITE
RADICAL, THE FEDERAL -- WE KNOW
THAT INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS HAS
SHOWN THAT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH ROAD AND BRIDGE BUILDING IN
AMERICA WILL INCREASE BY MORE
THAN $100 BILLION OVER A 20-YEAR
AND IN AMERICA TODAY, TO
STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY, TO GET
OUR GOODS TO MARKET, WE NEED TO
IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF
THIS COUNTRY.
AND AT THIS TIME IN OUR NATION'S
HISTORY, WITH THE ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, TO TRY TO
INCREASE THE COST FOR
CONSTRUCTION TO MEET THE VITAL
IS REALLY
UNCONSCIONABLE, PARTICULARLY
WHEN THERE'S BEEN NO CAUSAL
RELATIONSHIP FOUND BETWEEN COAL
ASH AND HEALTH PROBLEMS.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
CONTINUE TO RESERVE?
RESERVE.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES.
VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THE NEXT TWO MINUTES OF
THE TIME THAT'S REMAINING TO MR.
THE
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, THANK
YOU AND THANK YOU TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA FOR
YIELDING.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE
MCKINLEY MOTION TO INSTRUCT
CONFEREES, ASKING THAT THE
BIPARTISAN-SUPPORTED COAL
COMBUSTION RE-RESIDUALS PROGRAM
LANGUAGE FROM H.R. 4348 BE
RETAINED IN THE FINAL
TRANSPORTATION RE-AUTHORIZATION
COAL ASH IS A CRITICAL -- IS OF
CRITICAL IMPORTANCE AS IT IS
CONTAINED IN THE COMPOSITION OF
THE CONCRETE USED IN OUR ROADS,
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE USE OF COAL ASH IN
TRANSPORTATION HAS ALLOWED OUR
COUNTRY TO MAINTAIN LOWER COSTS
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT COAL ASH
COSTS 20% TO 50% LESS THAN OTHER
PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET TODAY.
DURING A TIME WHEN OUR ROADS ARE
DEFICIENT AND WE NEED SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE COST EFFICIENT, COAL
RESOURCE.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN MATERIALS
THAT WILL ALLOW US THE HIGHEST
RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND STRETCH
OUR HIGHWAY DOLLARS FOR NEEDED
IMPROVEMENTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE COST SAVING
THAT THIS WILL PROVIDE, THIS
LANGUAGE IS ALSO CRITICAL TO
SUPPORT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND
NEARLY 3 -- ENVIRONMENT AND
NEARLY 3,000 JOBS.
I'VE WITNESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF
COAL ASH TO MANY COMMUNITIES IN
MY DISTRICT AND SURROUNDING
AREAS.
WE HAVE SEEN A TRANSFORMATION
FROM ORANGE SKIES AND ORANGE
SKIES TO AN AREA WHERE BEAUTY
HAS BEEN RESTORED.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO INCLUDE
THE MCKINLEY LANGUAGE SO
CRITICAL TO OUR NATION'S
ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDS.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
DOES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
CONTINUE TO RESERVE?
I YIELD MYSELF TWO MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THE WAY I
UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT ON THE
OTHER SIDE, THE E.P.A.
REGULATES COAL ASH AND CALLS IT
HAZARDOUS THAT WILL LEAD
CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TO AVOID
IT AS A BUILDING MATERIAL.
IS THAT -- IF I CAN ADDRESS THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA,
MR. MCKINLEY IS THAT AN
ACCURATE STATEMENT, THAT YOU'RE
FEARFUL OF THE DESIGNATION AND
THE STIGMA OF THAT DESIGNATION
AS HA SARDOUS.
ARE YOU SAYING,
STIGMA.
IS THERE A FEAR
THAT IF IT IS DESIGNATED AS
HAZARD OUT THAT -- HAZARDOUS
THAT THERE WILL BE A STIGMA AND
IT WON'T BE USED BY
CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AS A
BUILDING MATERIAL?
I BELIEVE THERE
IS A STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT PENDING DECISION, YES.
THERE IS A STIGMA ASSOCIATED
WITH THE MISINFORMATION THAT'S
BEEN DISSEMINATED, CORRECT.
THE THING THAT IS
SO CONFUSING TO ME IS THAT COAL
ASH IS OFTEN USED AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR CONCRETE, IT
REDUCES THE COST AND REDUCES
GREENHOUSE GAS EMOTIONS.
WE DON'T NEED TO PASS
LEGISLATION TO HAVE THAT
HAPPEN.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
PORTLAND CEMENT IS DESIGNATED
AS HAZARDOUS, IT'S A HAZARDOUS
CHEMICAL UNDER THE OSHA HAZARDS
COMMUNICATION RULE, IT'S A
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE UNDER THE
SUPERFUND AMENDMENTS IT'S A
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE UNDER
FEDERAL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
ACT AND IT'S HAZARDOUS UNDER
THE CANADIAN HAZARDOUS ACT.
BUT IT CONTINUES TO BE USED
EXTENSIVELY IN CONCRETE AND
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS.
I YIELD MYSELF AN ADDITIONAL
MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THE E.P.A. IS NOT
SEEKING TO CALL COAL ASH
HAZARDOUS, THEY WANT TO CALL IT
A SPECIAL WASTE.
BUT EVEN IF THEY CALLED IT
HAZARDOUS, WHY WOULD IT NOT BE
USED THE WAY PORTLAND CEMENT IS
NOW USED EVEN THOUGH THAT
SUBSTANCE IS DESIGNATED AS
HAZARDOUS?
IF MY COLLEAGUE
PAID ATTENTION TO THE
AMENDMENT, THE AMENDMENT IS --
ARE TRY TIGHT LOU MORE TIME
FOR THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO
WORK RATHER THAN DEBATE PROS
AND CONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
ASPECTS OF IT.
WE WANT THE COMMITTEE TO
CONTINUE TO WORK TO REACH A
COMPROMISE AND I'VE BEEN TOLD
THERE HAS BEEN GREAT PROGRESS
BEING MADE ON THAT.
BUT DON'T STOP AT THIS 11TH
HOUR.
THEY'RE CLOSE TO MAKING IT
WE WANT TO STAND BESIDE THEM
AND MAKE SURE THEY FINISH THEIR
WORK ON THESE NEGOTIATIONS.
WHERE THEY ARE --
RECLAIMING MY TIME.
I YIELD MYSELF ONE ADDITIONAL
MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
THE REASON I ASK
FOR MORE TIME IS, AS I
UNDERSTAND THE MCKINLEY BILL,
WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE,
IT WOULD PROHIBIT E.P.A. FROM
REGULATING COAL ASH BECAUSE IT
BE DESIGNATED POSSIBLY AS
HAZARDOUS AND THE ARGUMENT HAS
BEEN THAT THAT WOULD BE A
PROBLEM TO BE USED AS A
SUBSTANCE FOR CONCRETE AND
THE CASE.
NOW I THINK THAT THE COMMITTEE
WITH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE
OUGHT TO COMPLETE ITS BUSINESS
AMENDMENT IS NEEDED UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCE AND THAT'S WHY I
WOULD URGE MEMBERS TO VOTE
BECAUSE IT IS TRYING TO
INTERJECT IN THAT HIGHWAY BILL
SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY NOT
PART OF THE HIGHWAY BILL,
SOMETHING THAT ON ITS OWN
SHOULD NOT BE ADOPTED IN THE
FORM OF THE MCKINLEY BILL.
IF I HAVE ANY FURTHER TIME, I
RESERVE IT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, HOW
MUCH TIME DO I HAVE REMAINING?
THE
GENTLEMAN HAS FIVE AND A HALF
MINUTES REMAIN, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA HAS ONE AND A
HALF MINUTES REMAINING.
I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO MY FELLOW
ENGINEERING COLLEAGUE FROM THE
STATE OF TEXAS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
YIELDING.
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS FOR
THAT.
I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING
ON THIS BILL BUT I WAS
LISTENING IN MY OFFICE TO THE
DEBATE BETWEEN THE PROPONENTS
AND OPPONENTS OF THE BILL AND
TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT THE OPPONENTS HAVE ASKED
OF THE BILL.
E.P.A. IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FAIR
REFEREE.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, IF IT'S A
STRIKE, IT'S A STRIKE IF IT'S A
BALL, IT'S A BALL, IF HE'S OUT,
HE'S OUT IF HE'S SAFE, HE'S
SAFE.
BUT THE OBAMA E.P.A. IS NOT A
FAIR REFEREE.
NOT A FAIR UMPIRE.
THE OBAMA E.P.A. HAS A
PRECONCEIVED, WHAT I CONSIDER
TO BE RADICAL ENVIRONMENTAL
AGENDA AND THEY APPEAR
HECK-BENT TO IMPOSE IT ON THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WHETHER THERE
IS A SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE OR
NOT.
AS MR. OLSON OF TEXAS JUST
POINTED OUT, THE PRESIDENT AS A
CANDIDATE SAID THAT BASICALLY
HE WANTED TO TRY TO MAKE IT
IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD MORE
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS IN
AMERICA.
WHEN HE BECAME PRESIDENT, HE
APPOINTED A REGIONAL
ADMINISTRATOR DOWN IN TEXAS,
DR. ARMAND DARIS WHO SAID HE
WANTED TO PUT HYDRAULIC
FRACTURING OUT OF BUSINESS AND
BROUGHT A CASE AGAINST RANGE
RESOURCES IN TEXAS THAT WAS
THROWN OUT ON ITS FACE.
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF EVIDENCE
THAT THERE WAS ANY OF
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IN THE
SPECIFIC CASE IN PARKER COUNTY.
YOU HAD THE CIVIL SERVANT AT
EARLY IN THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION WHEN THEY WERE
CONSIDERING THEIR ENDANGERMENT
FINDING, WHICH THEY HAD TO
IMPOSE IN ORDER TO SAY THEY
COULD RECK LATE GREENHOUSE
GASES, THEY HAD A CAREER CIVIL
SERVANT WHO SENT A DETAILED 50
OR 60-PAGEAGE STHOIFS
ENDANGERMENT FINDING AND SAID
IT WAS HOGWASH AND HE GOT BACK
EMAILS FROM WITHIN THE WHITE
HOUSE IN THE HIGHER RANKINGS AT
THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS IN
THE E.P.A. THAT SAID DON'T THE
TELL US THE FACTS, WITH WE'VE
MADE UP OUR MIND.
THIS SAME DR. ARMAND DARIS MADE
A COMMENT NOT TOO MANY YEARS
AGO THAT HE WANTED TO CRUCIFY
INDUSTRY.
WANTED TO CRUCIFY, WANTED TO
CRUCIFY, HE HAS SINCE RESIGNED
BECAUSE OF THOSE COMMENTS.
SO THOSE OF US THAT SUPPORT THE
MCKINLEY AMENDMENT OR MCKINLEY
BILL DO SO BECAUSE WE DON'T
THINK THE CURRENT E.P.A. IS
FAIR.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO TELL THE
E.P.A. WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THEY
SEEM TO BE INCAPABLE OF
APPLYING BASIC SCIENTIFIC
METHODS, SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES.
THEY WANT TO IMPOSE A RADICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA,
APPARENTLY, AND SOME OF US
DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT AND WE
DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE
ECONOMY.
SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT WHAT MY
GOOD FRIEND FROM WEST VIRGINIA
IS DOING BECAUSE IT AT LEAST
MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR A SOURCE
THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND
DECADES HAS BEEN USED WITHOUT
ANY PROBLEM AT ALL TO CONTINUE
TO BE USED AND I THINK THAT'S A
GOOD THING SO I RISE IN
SUPPORT, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR THE TIME AND I HOPE THE
HOUSE WILL ADOPT HIS MOTION TO
INSTRUCT CONFER QUEES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, MY
COLLEAGUES, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS SAID HE WAS SO MOVED TO
COME HERE TO CORRECT THE RECORD
THINGS
THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY INACCURATE.
THE PRESIDENT HAS NEVER SAID HE
DOESN'T WANT TO BUILD NEW POWER
PLANTS IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT IS NOT TRUE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS WHO
WORKED FOR THE E.P.A. NEVER
SAID THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION,
OR THAT HE PERSONALLY WAS
AGAINST HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.
IT'S NOT TRUE.
AND THE ANALYSIS OF THE
ENDANGERMENT FINDING BY THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION WAS SIGNED
OFF NOT JUST BY A CAREER DIP LA
MAT, CAREER CIVIL SERVANT BUT
BY THE HEAD OF THE E.P.A.
WHEN YOU GET THESE WRONG
STATEMENTS IN YOUR HEAD, YOU
CAN DREAM UP A REASON TO BE
PARANOID ABOUT THE E.P.A.
E.P.A. WANTS TO PROTECT THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY IN
REGULATING COAL ASH THAT IN
DOING SO THEY WILL NOT PREVENT
COAL ASH FROM BEING USED FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
AND I WOULD URGE THAT WE DEFEAT
AND I
YIELD BACK WHATEVER SECONDS I
HAVE LEFT.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
REQUEST THE RIGHT TO CLOSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE HAS ANY
MORE TIME.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
YIELDED BACK HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
FOR TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S
FAIRLY OBVIOUS THAT A LOT OF
THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN
SPEAKING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THIS ISSUE HAVE NOT READ THE
BILL AND DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE
PROVISION BUT PERHAPS READING
THE BILL, READING THE AMENDMENT
WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM GREATER
INSIGHT AS TO THE ROLE OF THE
E.P.A. BECAUSE WE ARE, BY
VIRTUE OF THIS AMENDMENT, WE
ARE GIVING THEM GREAT INSIGHT,
GREAT INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROPER
DISPOSAL OF THE AMOUNT THAT'S
NOT RECYCLED.
IT COMES DOWN TO AN ISSUE BEING
VERY CLEAR.
OUR OPPONENTS ARE JUST OPPOSED
TO THE COAL INDUSTRY.
THEY'RE OPPOSED TO THE MEN AND
WOMEN WORKING IN OUR COAL
THEY'RE OPPOSED TO THE 700-PLUS
COAL-FIRED ELECTRIC UTILITIES.
THEY'RE OPPOSED TO KEEPING
UTILITY COSTS LOW.
THERE IS A WAR ON COAL, MR.
SPEAKER.
AND IT'S TIME WE SAID TO THE --
STOOD UP FOR THE COAL WORKERS
IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOR
THE MEN AND WOMEN AND CONSUMERS
THAT USE ELECTRICITY AT LOW
COST.
NOW LET'S GO LOOK AT WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR SAID IF
COAL ASH IS DESIGNATED A
HAZARDOUS WASTE, AS IS BEING
CONSIDERED, IT WILL NO LONGER
BE USED IN CONCRETE.
THAT'S FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR.
THEY ALSO SAID THAT FLY ASH
COSTS APPROXIMATELY 20% TO 50%
LESS THAN THE COVES CEMENT.
OF INTERIOR.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
FLY ASH IS A VALUABLE BYPRODUCT
USED IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, A
VITAL COMPONENT OF CONCRETE AND
A NUMBER OF OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE USES.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK ALL MY
COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME TODAY IN
SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TO
INSTRUCT THE CONFEREES TO
CONTINUE DISCUSSING THIS
BIPARTISAN NEGOTIATION ON THIS
PART OF THE HIGHWAY BILL AND
SAME.
LET'S MAXIMIZE THE USE OF ALL
THE MONEY WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO
BUILD MORE ROADS, REBUILD MORE
BRIDGES, DO MORE
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, PUT AMERICA BACK
TO WORK.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
VOTE FOR THIS MOTION TO
INSTRUCT AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
WITHOUT OBJECTION THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION IS ORDERED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION
I DEMAND THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
THOSE
NAYS WILL RISE.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS
ON MY MOTION TO INSTRUCT
CONFEREES ON H.R. 4348.
OBJECTION.
SO ORDERED.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY
HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
ON THE LEGISLATION AND TO INSERT
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON H.R.
4480.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 691
AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR DECLARES
THE HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF
THE UNION FOR THE CONSIDERATION
OF H.R. 4480.
THE CHAIR APPOINTS THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARKANSAS, MR. WOMACK, TO
PRESIDE OVER THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4480 WHICH
THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY TITLE.
A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN TO
INCREASE OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION
, UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, THE
SECRETARY OF ENERGY, THE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND
RESPONDS TO A DRAWDOWN OF
PETROLEUM RESERVES FROM THE
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE,
THE BILL IS CONSIDERED READ THE
GENERAL DEBATE SHALL BE CONFINED
TO THE BILL AND SHALL NOT EXCEED
TWO HOURS EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
AND THE CHAIR AND RANKING
MINORITY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE
ON NATURAL RESOURCES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR.
UPTON, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. WAXMAN, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR.
HASTINGS, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, MR. MARKEY, EACH
WILL CONTROL 30 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR.
UPTON.
CHAIRMAN.
I WOULD YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME
AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE
PRICE OF GAS AND THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BOTH REMAIN
WAY TOO HIGH.
AND AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE
STRUGGLING AS A RESULT.
THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT H.R. 4480,
THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS ACT
TO DO THE SAME.
THIS BILL IS TRULY A WIN-WIN.
THE STEPS THAT IT TAKES TO
EXPAND SUPPLIES IN AFFORDABLE
DOMESTIC ENERGY WILL CREATE MANY
JOBS IN THE PROCESS.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT I DON'T SEE
EYE-TO-EYE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA
ON ENERGY POLICY BUT PERHAPS THE
MOST INEXPLICABLE ENERGY POLICY
MOVEMENT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
MADE WAS THE JUNE, 2011,
DECISION TO WITHDRAW 30 MILLION
BARRELS OF OIL FROM THE
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE WITH
NO PLAN TO REPLACE IT.
AND IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY
THE PRESIDENT WOULD TAKE OIL
FROM THE NATION'S EMERGENCY
STOCKPILE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
KEEPING OFF LIMITS THE FAR
GREATER AMOUNTS BENEATH
FEDERALLY CONTROLLED LANDS AND
OFFSHORE AREAS.
IT'S LIKE A COUPLE PAWNING THEIR
WEDDING RINGS FOR CASH WHILE
IGNORING A MAJOR GOLD DISCOVERY
IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.
THE AMOUNT OF UNTAPPED OIL IN
AREAS KEPT OUT OF REACH BY THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS ESTIMATED TO
EXCEED THE ENTIRE STRATEGIC
PETROLEUM RESERVE DOZENS OF
TIMES OVER.
SPECULATION.
INDEED THE RECENT INCREASES IN
OIL PRODUCTION ON STATE AND
PRIVATELY OWNED LANDS
DEMONSTRATE THE TREMENDOUS
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL ON
FEDERAL LANDS.
BUT THAT POTENTIAL WILL ONLY BE
REALIZED IF THE ADMINISTRATION'S
ROAD BLOCKS ARE REMOVED.
TITLE 1 OF THIS BILL DOES THAT.
IT REQUIRES THAT THE NEXT TIME
THE PRESIDENT WITHDRAWS OIL FROM
THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
HE MUST ALSO COMMIT TO MORE OIL
LEASING ON FEDERAL LANDS IN
OFFSHORE AREAS.
THE RESULT WOULD BE GREATER
SUPPLIES OF DOMESTIC OIL AND
LOWER PRICES, NOT TO MENTION
THOUSANDS OF NEW ENERGY INDUSTRY
JOBS.
GAINING ACCESS TO UNTAPPED OIL
RESERVES IS PART OF THE
EQUATION, BUT BEFORE THAT OIL
CAN REACH CONSUMERS AT THE PUMP
IT HAS TO BE REFINED INTO
GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL.
TITLE 2 OF THIS BILL WILL HELP
KEEP FUELING OUR ECONOMY.
AND FUELING THE COUNTRY.
BECAUSE WHAT REFINERS REALLY
NEED IS A LITTLE COMMON SENSE.
A LITTLE REGULATORY CERTAINTY.
IT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO
SAY THAT THE -- THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION'S REGULATORS HAVE
NOT BEEN FRIENDLY TO DOMESTIC
OIL PRODUCTION AND THE TRUTH IS
THEY HAVE BEEN NO BETTER TO THE
REFIBERS WHO PRODUCED THE FUELS
THAT WE USE -- REFIBERS WHO
USED.
REGS ARE LIKELY TO DRIVE UP THE
PRICE AT THE PUMP AND JEOPARDIZE
REFINER SECTOR JOBS.
TITLE 2 REQUIRES THAT WE LEARN
ABOUT THE COMBENSES --
CONSEQUENCES BEFORE IMPOSING
ADDITIONAL RED TAPE.
IT SETS UP AN INTERAGENCY
COMMITTEE THAT WILL ANALYZE THE
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF SEVERAL
UPCOMING E.P.A. RIGS ON FUEL
PRICES AS WELL AS JOBS.
IT ALSO DEFERS THE FINALIZATION
OF THREE MEASURES UNTIL AFTER
THE ANALYSIS IS COMPLETED.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT A FUTURE
OF CHRONICALLY HIGH GAS PRICES
IS NOT INEVITABLE.
THESE POLICIES THAT I'VE
DISCUSSED IN NUMEROUS OTHER
PROVISIONS IN THE LEGISLATION
WILL IN FACT MOVE US TOWARD MORE
SECURE, MORE AFFORDABLE AMERICAN
IT.
THE NATION KIN CREASE DOMESTIC
ENERGY SUPPLIES, LOWER FUTURE
PRICES AT THE PUMP, AND CREATE
MANY MORE JOBS.
THIS LEGISLATION TAKES THE STEPS
TO USHER IN THE BRIGHTER FUTURE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN
WITH ME IN SUPPORTING IT AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MYSELF FOUR MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES.
THROUGHOUT THIS
CONGRESS HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE
MADE AN ALL-OUT ASSAULT ON OUR
NATION'S MOST BASIC PUBLIC
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS.
AND THEY'VE BLOCKED ANY EFFORT
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, MOVE
TOWARD CLEAN ENERGY OR PROMOTE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
ON MONDAY CONGRESSMAN MARKEY AND
I RELEASED A REPORT THAT
DOCUMENTS THIS ASSAULT.
IT CONFIRMS THIS IS THE MOST
ANTI-ENVIRONMENT HOUSE IN THE
HISTORY OF CONGRESS.
OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, THE
HOUSE HAS VOTED 247 TIMES TO
UNDERMINE PROTECTION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.
THAT'S ALMOST ONE OUT OF EVERY
FIVE VOTES TAKEN IN THE HOUSE.
THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY HAS
BENEFITED MORE THAN ANY OTHER
SECTOR FROM THESE
ANTI-ENVIRONMENT VOTES.
OF 2011, THE
HOUSE HAS VOTED 109 TIMES FOR
POLICIES THAT WOULD ADVANCE THE
INTERESTS OF THE OIL AND GAS
INDUSTRY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND
THE TAXPAYER.
THE RESULT IS A GRAVE AND
GROWING PERIL TO OUR ENVIRONMENT
, TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND TO OUR
ECONOMY.
THE MASSIVE WILDFIRES, FLOODS,
DROUGHTS THAT HAVE BEEN
AFFLICTING OUR COUNTRY ARE A
HASHINGER OF WHAT IS TO COME.
AMERICANS KNOW THIS.
AS "THE WASHINGTON POST"
REPORTED THIS MORNING, THE VAST
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BELIEVE
OUR ENVIRONMENT IS DETERIORATING
AND THEY KNOW THAT UNCHECKED
POLLUTION FROM OIL REFINERIES
AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL SOURCES IS
MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE.
YET WHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY?
TODAY'S BILL IS ONE MORE MASSIVE
GIVEAWAY AND IT IS ONE MORE
ASSAULT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
BILL CONTAINS TWO PROPOSALS
REPORTED BY THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE.
ONE WOULD BLOCK STANDARDS FOR
OIL COMPANIES TO CLEAN UP THEIR
POLLUTION.
THE OTHER SEEKS TO BYPASS
EXISTING LEASING PROGRAMS IN
ORDER TO PRY OPEN EVERY POSSIBLE
ACRE OF FEDERAL LAND FOR OIL
DRILLING.
THIS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN
PROMOTED AS A SOLUTION TO HIGH
GASOLINE PRICES.
BUT THIS BILL IS A TROJAN HORSE.
THIS BILL WOULD NOT LOWER PRICES
BY ONE PENNY.
THIS BILL DOESN'T PROTECT
CONSUMERS.
IT HURTS THEM.
THE BILL WILL KEEP DIRTY
GASOLINE ON THE MARKET, ALLOW
OIL REFINERIES TO SPEW TOXIC
EMISSIONS AND FORESTALL ACTION
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.
TUCKED INSIDE THIS LEGISLATION
IS THE LATTA AMENDMENT.
THE LANGUAGE OF THIS AMENDMENT
CUTS THE HEART OUT OF THE CLEAN
AIR ACT, RADICALLY CHANGING THE
WAY AIR QUALITY STANDARDS ARE
SET.
RATHER THAN BASING SMOG
STANDARDS ON WHAT IS HEALTHY FOR
OUR CHILDREN TO BREATHE, THIS
BILL WOULD REQUIRE STANDARDS TO
BE BASED ON WHAT INDUSTRY SAYS
IT WILL COST TO REDUCE
POLLUTION.
THIS RADICAL PROPOSAL WILL
UNDERMINE DECADES OF PROGRESS ON
CLEANING UP THE AIR.
THE BILL WILL ALSO COST JOBS.
THE REGULATIONS BLOCKED BY THIS
BILL WOULD CREATE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS, INSTALLING
POLLUTION CONTROLS AND
MODERNIZING OIL REFINERIES.
IN ADDITION THIS BILL WILL MAKE
IT HARDER FOR THE PRESIDENT TO
TAP THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM
RESERVE DURING EMERGENCIES.
BY LAYERING ON NEW BUREAUCRATIC
REQUIREMENTS TO FORCE DRILLING
ACROSS A VAST EXPANSE OF PUBLIC
LAND.
THIS BILL MAY BE GOOD FOR THE
OIL COMPANIES, IT MAY BE GOOD
FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, BUT
IT IS A DISASTER FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THE REPUBLICAN ENERGY POLICY
ISN'T AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
POLICY, IT'S OIL-ABOVE-ALL.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PUT TWO
LETTERS IN FROM CHAIRMAN MCKEON
AND CHAIRMAN LUCAS, INTO THE
RECORD AT THIS POINT.
REQUEST IS COVERED BY GENERAL
THANK YOU.
AND I WOULD YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ENERGY AND
POWER SUBCOMMITTEE, MR. WHICH
IT'SFIELD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KENTUCKY IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I RISE TODAY TO
SUPPORT THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND
REASONS.
FIRST OF ALL, IT WOULD INKEN --
ENCOURAGE MORE PRODUCTION OF
ENERGY IN THE UNITED STATES.
TWO, IT WOULD LOWER ENERGY
COSTS.
THREE, IT WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL
JOBS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND FOUR, JUST AS IMPORTANT, IT
WOULD KEEP AMERICA MORE
COMPETITIVE IN THE GLOBAL
MARKETPLACE.
WE LIVE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY AND
HAVE CHEAP,
AFFORDABLE AND ABUNDANT ENERGY
IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IF WE'RE
GOING TO COMPETE WITH COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS LEGISLATION
IS DESIGNED TO DO.
ALL OF US HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
BUT WE GENUINELY BELIEVE, AFTER
HEARING AFTER HEARING AFTER
HEARING AFTER HEARING, HAVING
PEOPLE WHO CREATE JOBS COME IN
AND TALK ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL
COSTS THEY'RE INCURRING BECAUSE
OF THIS OVERLY AGGRESSIVE E.P.A.
, HEADED UP BY ADMINISTRATOR
LISA JACKSON, I WOULD ALSO SAY
THAT ONE PORTION OF THIS BILL I
THINK IS A VERY COMMONSENSE
APPROACH.
WHILE IT WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY
LOWER GASOLINE PRICES, IT DOES
ASK THE PRESIDENT TO ESTABLISH
AN INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO
EXAMINE THE IMPACT ON JOBS,
THREE
REGULATIONS THAT THE E.P.A. HAS
INITIATED.
THEY HAVEN'T FINALIZED IT, THEY
HAVEN'T DECIDED THEY'RE GOING TO
BUT THEY HAVE STARTED THE FIRST
STEPS.
AND SO WE ASK THIS AGENCY TO
LOOK, WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON FUEL
PRICES WITH THESE REGULATIONS IF
THEY ARE ADOPTED?
AND TO REPORT BACK TO CONGRESS
AND TO NOT FINALIZE ANY OF THESE
RULES UNTIL AT LEAST SIX MONTHS
CONGRESS.
IT SEEMS TO ME A COMMONSENSE
APPROACH.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO HAVE SOME
IDEA OF THE IMPACT OF THESE
REGULATIONS ON THE ECONOMY.
AND I THINK MY TIME HAS EXPIRED.
SO THANK YOU.
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS
TIME I WANT TO YIELD FIVE
MINUTES TO THE RANKING MEMBER OF
THE ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE, MR.
RUSH, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT MR. RUSH
BE PERMITTED TO CONTROL THE REST
OF THE TIME FOR OUR SIDE OF THE
AISLE.
ON THE GENERAL DEBATE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ILLINOIS IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF THE 112TH CONGRESS,
WE HAVE HELD OVER 30 ENERGY AND
POWER SUBCOMMITTEE AND JOINT
SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS.
WE HAVE HELD OVER A DOZEN
SUBCOMMITTEE AND FULL COMMITTEE
MARKUPS.
AND INCLUDING H.R. 4480 WHICH WE
WILL VOTE ON TODAY.
WE HAVE HAD 10 BILLS THAT
ORIGINATED FROM THE ENERGY AND
POWER SUBCOMMITTEE, THAT HAVE
HOUSE.
YET, MR. SPEAKER, FROM ALL THAT
TIME AND ALL THAT EFFORT, THE
ENERGY AND POWER SUBCOMMITTEE
HAS PRODUCED EXACTLY ONE
SUBSTANTIVE BILL.
LET ME REPEAT.
ONLY ONE SUBSTANTIVE,
SIGNIFICANT BILL, THE PIPELINE
SAFETY RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT.
ONLY ONE THAT HAS ACTUALLY
BECOME LAW.
MR. SPEAKER, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING
OUR EFFORTS ON TRYING TO CREATE
THE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS OF THE
21ST CENTURY, THE MAJORITY PARTY
HAS SPENT THE PAST 18 MONTHS
ALLOWING PARTISAN ATTACKS,
LOBBYING PARTISAN ATTACKS
AGAINST THE E.P.A. AND THE CLEAN
TO APPEASE BIG
OIL AND SOME OF THE MORE EXTREME
CONSTITUENCIES THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY REPRESENTS.
MR. SPEAKER, MOST AMERICANS
WOULD LIKE TO SEE US UTILIZING
OUR TIME, WORKING IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER TO ADDRESS
CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS ACCESS
TO JOBS, CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN
WATER, LESS DEPENDENCE ON
FOREIGN OIL, ENHANCE ENERGY
FSHTSY MEASURES AND INCREASE
RELIANCE ON THE CLEANER AND
RENEWABLE RESOURCES OF THE
FUTURE.
YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN, DEBATING
YET ANOTHER BILL THAT WILL
CONTAIN THE CONCENTRATED EFFORT
BY THE MAJORITY PARTY TO LOOSEN
THE AUTHORITY OF THIS -- WEAKEN
THE AUTHORITY OF THE E.P.A. AND
AGENCY'S
REGULATIONS AS, I QUOTE, JOB
KILLERS, END OF QUOTE.
MR. SPEAKER, WITH JUST A LITTLE
OVER 20 DAYS REMAINING BEFORE
THE AUGUST RECESS, WE SHOULD BE
FOCUSING OUR LIMITED TIME ON
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE
JOBS AND MOVE AMERICA FORWARD
TOWARD A SMARTER ENERGY FUTURE
THAT IS LESS VULNERABLE TO THE
WHIMS OF THE WORLD OIL MARKETS.
HOWEVER, NOTHING IN THIS BILL
ACCOMPLISHES THAT.
THE MOST OFFENSIVE PROVISION OF
THIS BILL WOULD FUNDAMENTALLY
CHANGE THE CORNERSTONE OF
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, THE PUBLIC
-- CLEAN AIR ACT AND I ASK MY
COLLEAGUES WHY, TO WHAT END?
THIS BILL WILL NOT CREATE ANY
RATHER BLOCK
E.P.A. RULES THAT MAKE -- AND
WOULD BLOCK RULES THAT PROTECT
CLEAN AIR.
IT BLOCKS FROM PREVENTING NEW
REFINERIES FROM POLLUTING AND
POLITICS THE AGENCY FROM
UPDATING THE STANDARDS ON OZONE
TO REFLECT HOW MUCH OZONE CAN
BE AFFECTED WITHOUT SERIOUS
PROBLEMS TO HEALTH.
H.R. 4480 ISN'T REALLY ABOUT
JOBS OR LOWERING GASOLINE
PRICES.
IT IS ABOUT AN EXCUSE TO PUSH A
PROFOUNDLY ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL
AGENDA AND PROVIDE OIL
COMPANIES WITH MORE ITEMS FROM
THEIR ELECTION-YEAR WISH LIST.
I OPPOSE THIS BILL BECAUSE IT
WOULD STRIKE AT THE HEART OF
THE CLEAN AIR ACT AND WOULD NOT
PROVIDE ANY TANGIBLE BENEFITS
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I URGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO
OPPOSE IT AS WELL.
I THANK YOU AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MR.
POMPEII OWE AND ASK THAT AT THE
END OF HIS TWO MINUTE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME BE
CONTROLLED BY MR. GARDNER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REQUEST
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE LEGISLATION WE
WILL VOTE ON HAS THREE SIMPLE
MISSIONS, THE FIRST IS TO LOWER
AND CREATE AFFORDABLE ENERGY
FOR FOLKS ACROSS AMERICA AND
THE SECOND IS TO CREATE THE
JOBS THAT GO WITH IT AND
FINALLY TO BEGIN TO PUT
AMERICAN ENERGY POLICY BACK ON
A COMMON SENSE STANDARD THAT
ALLOWS AFFORDABLE NRNL TO BE
PRODUCED HERE IN AMERICA, BY
AMERICANS, FOR AMERICANS.
WE HAVE SEEN IN THESE
DISCUSSIONS, THESE DEBATES,
THAT THERE ARE OPPOSING VIEWS
ON HOW TO DO THIS.
THE FIRST IS THE VIEW OF FOLKS
ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO THINK IF
WE JUST HAD ONE MORE RULE, ONE
MORE SET OF REGULATIONS,
ANOTHER SUBSIDY, ANOTHER
HANDOUT FROM THE TAXPAYERS, WE
COULD FIND THAT NEXT GREAT
AFFORDABLE ENERGY SOURCE.
WE'VE SEEN HOW THAT WORKED.
WE'VE GOT GASOLINE AT $3.50 A
GALLON, WE'VE GOT FOLKS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY ASKING FOR RATE
INCREASES.
THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO GO ABOUT
IT, TO LET THE MARKET RESPOND
TO PRICE SIGNALS, TO GET THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE
WAY, REDUCE REGULATIONS ACROSS
THE BOARD WHILE MAKING SURE WE
HAVE CLEAN AIR AND WATER.
THESE CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE CONSUMERS
HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
AMERICAN ENERGY.
WE'VE GOT TREMENDOUS
OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN AMERICA,
RIGHT IN KANSAS' FOURTH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, ALL
OVER SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS, AN
ENORMOUS NEW OIL PLOT, CREATING
AFFORDABLE NEW ENERGY.
AND IF WE TAP THIS IMPORTANT
AMERICAN RESOURCE, THE S.P.R.,
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE, WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE REPLENISH
IT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
LEGISLATION TO REACH THE HOUSE
FLOOR IN A LONG TIME AND I URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS
TIME.
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS.
I WANT TO YIELD FOUR
MINUTES TO MY FRIEND FROM MY
HOME STATE, MANY SCHAKOWSKY.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND I
APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP ON
THE ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE.
AS A MEMBER ON THE FULL ENERGY
AND COMMERCE SUBCOMMITTEE --
COMMITTEE, I'M ASHAMED THAT THE
HOUSE IS CONSIDERING
LEGISLATION TO PUT DECISIONS IN
THE HANDS OF THE OIL INDUSTRY.
TITLE 2 OF H.R. 4480 ELIMINATES
A CORE PRINCIPLE OF THE CLEAN
AIR ACT WITH RESPECT TO SMOG.
FOR OVER 40 YEARS, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
HAS SET HEALTH-BASED AIR
QUALITY STANDARDS USING
SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL EVIDENCE
TO IDENTIFY THE MAXIMUM SAFE
LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION FOR
HUMAN BEINGS TO BREATHE.
TITE 28 WOULD DO AWAY WITH THAT
PRECEDENT BY REQUIRING THAT THE
COST TO INDUSTRY BE THE PRIMARY
CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING
HEALTHY EMOTION STAN CARDS.
-- STANDARDS.
YES.
IF THIS LEGISLATION PASSES,
HEALTH-BASED DECISIONS WILL
PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO DOLLAR
TIME.
OVER THE YEARS, OUR AIR HAS
BECOME CLEANER AND SAFER
BECAUSE INDUSTRY HAS HAD TO
STANDARDS.
LEAD IS NO LONGER POISONING OUR
CHILDREN FROM THE PUMP.
THERE ARE FEWER KIDS WITH
ASTHMA DUE TO GAS POLLUTANTS.
AND OIL COMPANIES RATHER THAN
SUFFERING ARE NOW MAKING RECORD
WE DON'T HAVE TO PASS THAT FOR
THE OIL COMPANIES, THE FIVE
LARGEST MADE $173 BILLION IN
PROFIT LAST YEAR AND $33.5
BILLION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF
2012.
I HOPE -- OUR HEALTH DECISIONS
SHOULD BE MADE BY HEALTH
EXPERTS, NOT OUR WORST
POLLUTERS.
H R. 4480 CONTINUES THE POLICY
OF THE 112TH CONGRESS.
IF THE OIL INDUSTRY ASKS, THE
OIL INDUSTRY GETS.
NO MATTER THE IMPACT ON
AMERICAN FAMILIES.
TITLE 2 SETS UP A NEW
INTERAGENCY BUREAUCRACY TO
CONDUCT AN IMPOSSIBLE STUDY OF
THE ALLEGED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
SEVERAL E.P.A. RULES TO REDUCE
POLLUTION FROM REFINERIES AND
FUELS WHICH HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN
PROPOSED, USING DAY THAT --
DATA THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
IT BLOCKS AIR QUALITY
PROTECTIONS THAT THE OIL
INDUSTRY WOULD PREFER GO AWAY.
TITE 28 DOES NOTHING TO PROTECT
THE CONSUMER FROM PRICE SPIKES
AT THE PUMP OR TO REDUCE OUR
COUNTRY'S DEPENDENCE ON OIL.
INSTEAD, IT IS A GIVEAWAY TO
THE OIL INDUSTRY UNDER THE
FALSE PRETENSE OF LOWERING
GASOLINE PRICES.
THE OIL INDUSTRY DOESN'T WANT
TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TOXIC
AIR POLLUTION SPEWING FROM ITS
REFINERIES.
THE OIL INDUSTRY DOESN'T WANT
TO PRODUCE CLEANER BURNING
GASOLINE.
THE OIL INDUSTRY WOULD RATHER
NOT CONSTRUCT NEW REFINERIES
THAT ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND
LESS DAMAGING TO THE WORLD'S
CLIMATE.
OIL INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES WOULD
PREFER TO POCKET ALL THEIR
BILLIONS IN ANNUAL PROFITS
RATHER THAN INVEST ANY OF IT IN
TECHNOLOGY.
I OFFERED AN AMENDMENT
YESTERDAY THAT WOULD HAVE
SIMPLY SAID THAT THE
UNNECESSARY AND IMPOSSIBLE
STUDY REQUIRED UNDER TITLE 2
WOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE ONE
INDUSTRY THAT MOST STANDS TO
GAIN FROM ITS IMPLEMENTATION,
BIG OIL MY AMENDMENT WAS NOT
MADE IN ORDER.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE
BETTER THAN THIS.
THEY DESERVE CLEAN AIR AND
CLEAN WATER.
THEY DESERVE MORE THAN A FEW
MONTHS OF A TRANSPORTATION
THEY DESERVE A JOBS PACKAGE
THAT WILL PUT MILLIONS TO WORK,
INCLUDING TEACHERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE
OFFICERS.
THEY DESERVE AFFORDABLE STUDENT
LOAN RATES.
INSTEAD, THE REPUBLICANS OF
THIS HOUSE HAVE ELECTED TO
CARVE OUT ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES
FOR BIG OIL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLELADY
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM KANSAS,
MS. JENKINS.
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
AS A MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE ENERGY ACTION COMMITTEE
AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM AN
ENERGY STATE, I COME TO THE
FLOOR TODAY TO SUPPORT AN
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE ENERGY BILL
AND AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE JOBS
BILL.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE TREMENDOUS
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB
CREATION THAT COMES FROM
UNLOCKING AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY.
MY STATE OF KANSAS IS
UNDERGOING AN ENERGY BOOM.
FARMERS ARE MAKING MONEY,
TRACTOR DEALERSHIPS ARE SELLING
NEW TRACTORS AND FAMILIES ARE
PAYING OFF LOANS.
EVEN CHURCH CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE
BENEFITED.
SADLY, THIS AMERICAN SUCCESS
STORY HAS BEEN ATTACKED BY THE
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S
REPEATED REJECTION OF POLICIES
THAT WOULD INCREASE DOMESTIC
ENERGY PRODUCTION AND CREATE
THOUSANDS OF HIGH-PAYING
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
STRENGTHENS OUR ENERGY
SECURITY, IT REMOVES THE
BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE HINDERING
AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION AND
IT CREATES AMERICAN JOBS.
SIMPLY, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO
DELAY ACTION THAT WOULD CREATE
THOUSANDS OF JOBS.
URGE PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ILLINOIS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
FIVE MINUTES TO A MEMBER OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE AND A
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE
FULL COMMITTEE, I YIELD FOUR
MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
BILL.
THE WAY THIS BILL
PURPORTS TO CREATE AN ALL-OF OF
THIS THE-ABOVE STRATEGY IS BY
HALTING REGULATIONS, OPENING
WIDE SWATHS OF LAND TO OIL AND
GAS TRILLING AND GUTTING THE
CLEAN AIR ACT.
IT'S CLEAR THIS IS NOT A TRUE
EFFORT TO DEVELOP AN
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE STRATEGY BUT
INSTEAD A NARROW-MINDED
APPROACH TO OIL AND GAS
DEVELOPMENT AT ANY COST.
REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO CRIT
SIDES PRESIDENT OBAMA AND CON
GREGS -- AND CONGRESSIONAL
DEMOCRATS FOR OPPOSING EFFORTS
TO INCREASE U.S. DOMESTIC OIL
PRODUCTION BUT THE FACTS
DISPROVE THIS NOTION.
THE PRESIDENT HASN'T AGREED
WITH EVERY PROPOSAL TO INCREASE
DRILLING IN THE UNITED STATES
BUT HE HAS TAKEN ACTION TO OPEN
UP SUBSTANTIAL NEW PUBLIC LANDS
AND OASTOAST -- AND COASTAL
WATERS TO DEVELOPMENT.
TODAY, ROUGHLY 75% OF U.S. OIL
RESERVES HAVE BEEN LEASED OUT
FOR OIL DRILLERS.
IN FACT, DOMESTIC OIL
PRODUCTION IS AT AN EIGHT-YEAR
HIGH AND THE PRODUCTION OF
NATURAL GAS PLANT LICK WADES,
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES USED
FOR FUEL, IS CURRENTLY AT AN
ALL-TIME HIGH OF MORE THAN TWO
MILLION BARRELS PER DAY.
ALL TOLD, THE U.S. ENERGY
INFORMATION AGENCY ESTIMATES
THAT U.S. PETROLEUM PRODUCTION
IN 2012 WILL AVERAGE MORE THAN
MILLION BARRELS PER DAY.
THE NUMBER OF OIL RIGS IN THE
UNITED STATES HAS QUADRUPLED
UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.
AT THE SAME TIME, PETROLEUM
CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED
STATES HAS DROPPED BY MORE THAN
TWO MILLION BARRELS PER DAY
SINCE ITS ALL-TIME PEAK IN
2006.
NOW, SINCE DOMESTIC OIL
PRODUCTION IS UP AND PETROLEUM
CONSUMPTION IS DOWN, U.S. OIL
IMPORTS ARE AT A 17-YEAR LOW.
IN FACT, THE UNITED STATES IS
IMPORTING 10%LESS OIL THAN IT
WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO.
NOW, ONE MIGHT REASONABLY
CONCLUDE THAT SINCE THE UNITED
STATES IS PRODUCING MORE OIL
AND CONSUMING LESS, OIL AND GAS
PRICES WOULD BE GOING DOWN.
BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
OIL AND GAS PRICES ARE GOING
UP.
HOW CAN THAT BE?
OIL PRICES AND CONSEQUENTLY GAS
PRICES ARE RISING BECAUSE,
WHILE OIL CON SUMS MAY BE LOWER
IN THE UNITED STATES, GLOBAL
DEMAND FOR OIL IS IN FACT
RISING.
REST ASSURED, THIS BILL DOES
NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE REAL
PROBLEM OF HIGH GAS PRICES AND
IT DOES NOTHING TO DEVELOP A
REAL ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE ENERGY
STRATEGY FOR THE UNITED STATES
THIS BILL IS GOING NOWHERE IN
THE SENATE AND IT'S A TRUE
DISAPPOINTMENT AS THIS
CONGRESS' EFFORT TO ADDRESS
HIGH GAS PRICES AND EXPANDED
ENERGY PORTFOLIO.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REJECT
THIS BILL AND I YIELD BACK MY
TIME.
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM LOUISIANA, MR. SCALISE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FROM COLORADO FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION TO PUT A GOOD
ENERGY SPOIL IN PLACE IN THIS
COUNTRY WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE
TODAY UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.
IF YOU LOOK AT COMPONENTS OF
THE BILL, THE STRATEGIC
PETROLEUM RESERVE, HE'S USED
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
AS A BAILOUT FOR HIS FAILED
POLICY.
HE RAIDED 30 MILLION BARRELS
FROM SPRO AND HASN'T REPLACED
IT AND HE TOOK THE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FROM THAT AND SPENT IT
SPENDING.
HE'S BEEN USING IT AS HIS
PERSONAL PIGGY BANK AND BAILOUT
THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT AN
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE STRATEGY AND
BEING HIGHER.
WHAT THEY FAIL TO MENTION,
ENERGY PRODUCTION ON FEDERAL
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S OWN
ADMINISTRATION, THE ENERGY
INFORMATION AGENCY, CONFIRMED
AGAIN RECENTLY THAT PRODUCTION
THIS YEAR ON FEDERAL LANDS IS
DOWN 30% JUST IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO FROM LAST YEAR.
SO THEY TALK ABOUT PRODUCTION
BEING HIGHER, IT'S HIGHER ON
PRIVATE LANDS WHERE THEY HAVE
NO CONTROL AND BY THE WAY, TO
E.P.A. AND DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR AND OTHER FEDERAL
AGENCIES, THEY'RE TRYING TO
TOO.
WHILE THEY'RE PRAGUING ABOUT
IT, THEY'RE TRYING TO SHUT IT
IN NEW ORLEANS TODAY, THEY HAD
THE FIRST LEASE SALE WE'VE HAD
IN TWO YEARS AND IT SHOWS
TREMENDOUS INTEREST IN
EXPLORING FOR AMERICAN ENERGY
BUT THERE'S NO PLAN IN PLACE.
NORMALLY OFF FIVE-YEAR PLAN IN
THIS COUNTRY.
BY LAW THE PRESIDENT IS
SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FIVE-YEAR
PLAN.
AFTER TODAY, THERE'S NOTHING ON
THE BOOKS.
FOR ANY MORE FUTURE LEASE
SALES.
IN FACT THE PROPOSAL THE
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SITTING ON
SHUTS OFF 85% OF THE AREAS THAT
WERE GETTING READY TO BE OPENED
UP FOR EXPLORATION.
THAT LEADS TO A GREATER DEPEND
SUNNY MIDDLE EASTERN OIL, ON
FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT DON'T
LIKE US.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SHIPPED TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF ENERGY JOBS OUT
OF THIS COUNTRY, WE'VE TRACKED
RIGS THAT HAVE LEFT THE UNITED
STATES AND GONE TO EGYPT AND
THOSE JOBS OUGHT TO BE HERE, WE
OUGHT TO BE CREATING THOSE JOBS
HERE AND SEEKING ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE AND THIS BILL IS A
GREAT START, I URGE SUPPORT AND
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ILLINOIS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON IS
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN'S
COURTESY.
THIS BILL SADLY IS A MISSED
OPPORTUNITY.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH AN
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE AND A JOBS
BILL, BUT IT SIMPLY IS NOT.
WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE
DOMESTIC OIL PRODUCTION IS
STRONG, AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING
AT -- AND CURRENTLY THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT GIVING OUT --
ENCOURAGING MORE LAND TO BE
LOCKED UP FOR THE FUTURE RATHER
THAN USING THE 25 MILLION ACRES
CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED FOR
DRILLING THAT ARE NOT BEING
USED BY OIL COMPANIES TODAY.
THEY WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO SIT
ON LAND, PAYING ONLY $1.50, $
AN ACRE FOR -- $2 AN ACRE FOR
UP TO 10 YEARS.
NOW, I THINK IT'S WISE FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD TO
ENCOURAGE ENERGY PRODUCTION.
IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE
AGGRESSIVELY OF
INSENTING SUSTAINABLE ENERGY,
CLEAN ENERGY, ENERGY THAT WILL
BE WITH US FOR DECADES TO COME
RATHER THAN DEPLETING EXISTING
RESOURCES AND TYING UP LEASES
IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS AN EXCUSE TO UNDERMINE
EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS.
WHY IN HEAVEN'S NAME WOULD WE
SEEK TO UNDERMINE TAILPIPE
EMISSION REGULATIONS THAT ARE
ALREADY SUPPORTED BY THE AUTO
INDUSTRY?
IT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.
IT IS NOT WISE TO HAVE LANGUAGE
THAT ORDERS THE E.P.A. TO
CONSIDER THE COST OF A CLEAN
ENERGY RULE RATHER THAN THE
IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH.
TURNING ON ITS HEADLONG
STANDING PRIORITIES.
I SUPPOSE YOU -- HEAD LONG
STANDING PRIORITIES.
I SUPPOSE YOU CAN DIAGNOSIS
CANCER BUT SAY, OH, IT'S PRETTY
EXPENSIVE BUT LET'S NOT SAY
IT'S LUNG CANCER, LET'S CALL IT
A COUGH.
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
E.P.A. TO MAKE THE DECISIONS TO
PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
RATHER THAN COMPANY PROFITS
WHICH ARE EXPLODING IN TIME.
THIS IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
I SUGGEST ITS REJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO.
SPEAKER.
I'D LIKE TO INQUIRE HOW MUCH
TIME MY SIDE HAS REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO HAS 19 1/2 MINUTES
REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS HAS
12 MINUTES REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
WITH THAT I YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS,
MR. CANSECO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1 1/2
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN, AND I THANK THE
YIELDING TIME.
HIGH ENERGY PRICES ARE HAVING A
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY
AND ON OUR FAMILY BUDGETS, BUT
DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
THIS IS WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS
HAVE TOLD ME FIRSTHAND.
THERE'S DAVID FROM CASTRO,
TEXAS, WHO WROTE, QUOTE, AS A
SELF-EMPLOYED CARPENTER, GAS
PRICES ARE FOR A LARGE TRUCK
CUT INTO MY PROFITS.
IT IS MADNESS THAT THE U.S.A.
IS NOT OIL AND GAS INDEPENDENT.
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IS
ESSENTIAL FOR OUR ECONOMY TO
GROW AND PROTECT OUR FREEDOM,
CLOSED QUOTE.
AND ANOTHER STWEND, RAY, STATED
-- CONSTITUENT, RAY, STATED, I
HAD TO CURTAIL MY PLANS TO
TRAVEL THIS SUMMER BECAUSE OF
THE HIGH COST OF GASOLINE.
THIS HAS CUT DEEPLY INTO MY
RETIREMENT PAY AND I AM
SPENDING MORE TIME AT HOME
BECAUSE OF GASOLINE PRICES,
CLOSED QUOTE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS ISN'T
RHETORIC FROM WASHINGTON
INSIDERS BUT INPUT FROM
WORKING-CLASS AMERICANS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS
ACT IN ORDER TO INCREASE ENERGY
PRODUCTION, ELIMINATE RED TAPE
TIME.
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. GARAMENDI.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR HIS COURTESY.
FACTS ARE REALLY KIND OF
DIFFICULT IF YOU HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THEM.
THE GENTLEMAN JUST SPOKE ABOUT
A SAD CASE OF AN INDIVIDUAL
THAT WASN'T ABLE TO GO ON A
TRIP BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PRICE
HE MAY WANT TO TELL THAT
INDIVIDUAL THAT THE OIL
INDUSTRY ON AVERAGE OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAS
EXPORTED OVER 24 MILLION
GALLONS OF GASOLINE A DAY, 24
MILLION GALLONS OF GASOLINE A
DAY EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED
STATES.
MAYBE THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE HIGH PRICES.
BUT A FEW OTHER FACTS.
AS OF MARCH 11, MARCH OF 2011,
ONSHORE THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR OFFERED BETWEEN TWINE
AND -- 2009 AND 2011 SIX
MILLION ACRES OF LAND FOR
THE OIL INDUSTRY ONLY TOOK FOUR
MILLION ACRES.
AS OF THAT TIME, MARCH, 2011,
UNDER LEASE.
25 MILLION ACRES OF LAND WERE
INACTIVE.
A FULL 65% OF THE AVAILABLE
LEASED LAND ALREADY IN THE HAND
OF THE OIL INDUSTRY WAS
NOT BEING EXPLORED, NOT BEING
PRODUCED.
65% UNUSED, INACTIVE.
OFFSHORE, 37 MILLION ACRES WERE
UNDER LEASE.
2.4 MILLION ACRES WERE ACTIVE.
70% NOT BEING USED.
SO WHY ARE WE HERE?
OPENING MORE LAND.
THERE'S A REASON FOR IT.
THERE IS A REASON WHY THE OIL
INDUSTRY WANTS TO DO IT.
IF THEY ARE ABLE TO ACQUIRE A
LEASE, THEY PUT IT ON THEIR
BOOKS AS AN ASSET.
THEREBY GIVING THE APPEARANCE
THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF ASSETS
AVAILABLE TO THEM WHEN IN FACT
THEY HAVE NO INTENTION TO IN
THE NEAR TERM, PROBABLY NEXT
DECADE OR SO, ACTUALLY EXPLORE
AND PRODUCE.
IT IS A FINANCIAL GAME.
IT IS NOT A GAME OF PRODUCING
OIL.
NOW, IF WE REALLY WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING, WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY
PUT IN PLACE A PRODUCTION TAX
CREDIT FOR THE WIND TURBINE
INDUSTRY WHICH IS LANGUISHING
NOW BECAUSE WE ARE REFUSING --
REPUBLICANS IN THIS CASE --
REFUSING TO PUT FORTH A RENEWAL
OF THE PRODUCTION TAX SO THAT
THE WIND INDUSTRY CAN ACTUALLY
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE ENERGY FOR
OUR NATION.
SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
75,000 JOBS IN
THE WIND INDUSTRY TODAY.
SOME 17,000 MORE WOULD
IMMEDIATELY GO INTO PLACE IF
THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT WERE
IN THIS BILL AND BECAME LAW.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF WE WERE TO
ENACT MY BILL, H.R. 487?
THOSE WIND TURBINES WOULD BE
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED
STATES AND 1,000 MORE JOBS --
COULD I REQUEST ANOTHER 30
SECONDS?
SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
SECONDS.
BOTTOM LINE,
THIS IS A PLAY BY THE OIL
INDUSTRY TO GATHER MORE ASSETS
ON THE BALANCE SHEET AT THE
EXPENSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
JUST AS IMPORTANT AT THE
EXPENSE OF A REAL ABOVE-ALL
ENERGY POLICY.
IT'S A SAD DAY THAT WE'RE HERE
DEBATING AN ENERGY BILL THAT
REALLY DOESN'T DO ANYTHING AT
ALL TO HELP US MEET THE ENERGY
NEEDS OF THIS NATION.
RENEWABLES.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
I YIELD BACK MY REMAINING TIME.
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
SPEAKER.
I'D YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA,
MR. LATTA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1
1/2 -- I'M SORRY -- THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES.
VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING AND, MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 4480,
THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS
THIS BILL COMES AT A CRITICAL
TIME AS CONSUMERS, FARMERS AND
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE FACING
HIGH FUEL PRICES AND THE
PRESIDENT IS RESTRICTING
FEDERAL LEASES FROM OIL
PRODUCTION WHILE AT THE SAME
TIME CONSIDERING RELEASING ONLY
FROM THE UNITED STATES
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE.
I REPRESENT AN AREA OF THE
STATE OF OHIO THAT HAS THE
LARGEST NUMBER OF AGRICULTURE
PRODUCERS, MANUFACTURING JOBS
AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS,
WE HAVE A VERY HIGH
DISPROPORTIONATE HIT FOR MY
CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE OF HIGH
OIL PRICES.
AND THIS BILL REQUIRES ALL
REGULATIONS TO BE SUBJECT TO A
THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF COST
IMPLEMENTATION.
THE GASOLINE REGULATIONS ACT OF
2012, WHICH IS PART OF THIS
BILL, WOULD DELAY REGULATIONS
THAT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASE FUEL PRICES ON
CONSUMERS, FARMERS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES WHILE THESE
REGULATIONS ARE UNDER REVIEW.
IT WILL ALSO PROSIDE SOME
MUCH-NEEDED REGULATORY RELIEF
TO REFINERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING
TO STAY IN BUSINESS DUE TO THE
HIGH COST OF FUEL.
REDUCING THE COST OF REFINING
OIL -- FUEL IS A GREAT FIRST
STEP, BUT THE KEY TO REDUCING
FUEL COSTS -- I SUPPORT
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW
INCREASED ACCESS TO RESPONSIBLE
DOMESTIC OIL PRODUCTION AND
WITH THAT I SUPPORT THE BILL.
I YIELD BACK.
ILLINOIS.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
SPEAKER.
AND AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE
TO RECOGNIZE THE MAJORITY WHIP,