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COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES WHICH HAS JUST
BEGUN FOR THE DAY.
AY.
ETERNAL AND GREASHES GOD, WE
CALL ON YOUR NAME BY YOUR MERCY
AS ONE NATION UNDER YOUR DIVINE
COUNSEL.
DEAR LORD, I LIFT UP TO YOU
THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE
BEEN WEIGHTED BY LIFE, BY THE
VIRTUE OF THE OFFICE THEY HAVE
BEEN CALLED TO SERVE FOR SUCH A
TIME AS THIS.
WE ASK YOU, LORD, TO EQUIP AND
EMPOWER THESE LEADERS TO
FAITHFULLY CARRY OUT THE DUTY
FOR WHICH IT AFFECTS OUR DAILY
LIVES.
REMIND THEM OF THEIR DIVINE
PURPOSE.
TO GIVE PEACE WHERE THERE IS
CHAOS.
AND LEADERSHIP THAT PROMOTES
UNITY.
GUIDE THEIR MINDS TO MAKE
DECISIONS THAT EMBODY THE GOOD
OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AND
PILOT THEIR HANDS TO GIVE VOICE
TO THE VOICELESS.
THIS IS OUR PRAY IN YOUR
AWESOME NAME.
AMEN.
THE
CHAIR HAS EXAMINED THE JOURNAL
OF THE LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS
AND ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS
APPROVAL THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL
BE LED BY THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. LEE.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE
PLEDGE.
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.
WITHOUT OBJECTION -- WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. LEE, IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I'M PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE
REVEREND DR. CHARLEY HAMES.
DR. HAMES IS A PASTOR AT B.B.
CALIFORNIA.
MEMORIAL CATHEDRAL IN OAKLAND,
IT WENT FROM OVER FOUR MEMBERS
TO OVER 1,400 MEMBERS MAKING IT
THE FASTEST GROWING CHURCHES IN
THE BAY AREA.
IN ADDITION TO HIS 19 YEARS IN
THE MINISTRY, THAT WOULD SERVE
AS CHAIR OF THE EMPOWERMENT
COMMUNITY, A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
REVEREND DR. HAMES IS THE PROUD
RECIPIENT OF THE NINTH
EPISCOPAL PASTOR OF THE YEAR,
IS CHAPLAIN OF THE 100 BLACK
MEN OF THE BAY AREA AND
DIRECTOR OF THE OAKLAND
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE BORED.
HE'S MARRIED TO HIS WIFE --
COMMERCE BOARD.
HE'S MARRIED TO FELICIA.
TO THANK HIM FOR HIS
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AND A
COMMITMENT FOR MAKING THIS A
BETTER WORLD FOR ALL OF GOD'S
CHILDREN.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO
FIVE ONE-MINUTE REQUESTS ON
EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WITH MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD OF
IRAN GIVING HIS USUAL
ANTI-AMERICAN RANT YESTERDAY,
I'D LIKE TO MAKE MY CONCERNS
ABOUT IRAN'S STRATEGIC AIMS
ABOUT HERE AND THE WESTERN
ATMOSPHERE.
MEDAL HONOR WINNER, MAJOR
LIVINGSTON RELEASED THE AL
QAEDA NEXUS REPORT IN APRIL,
THE TEXT OF WHICH I ASK TO BE
INSERTED IN THE RECORD.
IT GOES TO THE HEART OF THE
MATTER DEALING THAT IRAN HAS
FORGED A STRONG WORKING
RELATIONSHIP WITH AL QAEDA'S
LEADERS.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOUTH
AMERICA.
HEZBOLLAH HAS OPENED SIX
EMBASSIES.
IN THE LIVES OF AMERICANS COULD
FACE THREATS, WHY WOULD THIS
ADMINISTRATION EVEN CONSIDER
GIVING PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD A
VISA TO ATTEND THE UNITED
NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MEETING?
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER,
LAST NIGHT ROGER WAS HONORED
FOR HIS 20 YEARS LEADERSHIP AS
DEFENDERS EVER OF WILDLIFE,
WHERE HE BECAME A KEY PILLAR OF
THE AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL
MOVEMENT.
THE SUCCESSFUL REINTRODUCTION
OF THE GRAY WOLF IN THE
AMERICAN WEST IS AN EXAMPLE OF
HIS TENACITY, SKILL AND VISION.
WHETHER ROGER WAS FIGHTING TO
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
FROM ASSAULT OR USING THEM FOR
THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES, HE
SHOWED HOW EVEN IN DIFFICULT
TIMES PEOPLE WOULD RESPOND TO
PROTECT WHAT THEY CHERISH.
THAT IS HOW WE BUILT DEFENDERS
OF WILDLIFE IN THE FORMEDIBLE
POLITICAL AND POLICY FORCE,
INCREASING THE MEMBERSHIP
1,500% TO ALMOST A MILLION
PEOPLE.
WHETHER IT'S TAKING HIS PHONE
CALL, TAKING A VISIT OR
EXPLORING THE REFUGE WITH
ROGER, HIS PASSION WAS CLEAR TO
ME.
ROGER PROVIDED LEADERSHIP THAT
MATTERS WHICH SPEAKS VOLUMES
TODAY AND WILL FAR INTO THE
FUTURE.
THANK YOU, ROGER.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS SEEK RECOGNITION?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THIS WEEK PRESIDENT OBAMA WENT
TO NEW YORK TO ADDRESS UNITED
NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
HE DID SO REMARKABLY FOR AN
AMERICAN LEADER FROM A POSITION
OF WEAKNESS.
AS THE
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY BEGAN TO
CAMPAIGN AT THE U.N., THIS
ADMINISTRATION WAIVERED AND
TOO LONG.
VACILLATED AND DID NOTHING FOR
THIS WAS A FAILURE OF
LEADERSHIP AND LEAVES US, OUR
ISRAELI ALLIES AND THE EVER
TENSE MIDDLE EAST AT AN
UNCERTAIN CROSSROADS.
THE PRESIDENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO RESCUE THE SITUATION
WITH THE FORCEFUL SPEECH LAYING
DOWN A CLEAR MARKER OF
AMERICA'S SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.
INSTEAD, HE FALSELY BLAMED
ISRAEL FOR THE STALEMATED PEACE
PROCESS.
I HAVE ALWAYS
BELIEVED THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH ISRAEL IS UNIQUE AND
CRITICAL TO BOTH COUNTRIES.
THOSE BELIEFS WERE REINFORCED
WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
VISIT WITH ISRAEL AND MEET WITH
THE PRIME MINISTER IN MAY.
PRESIDENT OBAMA MUST STAND UP,
NOT ONLY FOR ISRAEL AND THE
ISRAELI PEOPLE BUT ALSO FOR OUR
COMMITMENT TO THE PEACE PROCESS
AND THE RULE OF LAW.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE HURTING.
THEY NEED OUR HELP NOW.
IT'S TIME FOR CONGRESS TO STEP
UP TO THE PLATE AND LIVE UP TO
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
LET'S DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE
MARN PEOPLE.
THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT CONTAINS
BIPARTISAN POLICY THAT BOTH
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS HAVE
SUPPORTED IN THE PAST.
ECONOMICS ACROSS THE --
AGREES.
ECONOMISTS ACROSS THE NATION
IT WILL CREATE JOBS AND GIVE
OUR ECONOMY AN IMMEDIATE BOOST.
IF WE LIVE -- IF WE DO PASS THE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT, IN MY OWN
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, OVER
700,000 BUSINESSES WILL RECEIVE
$3.9 BILLION IN THE
A PAYROLL TAX CUT.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT WILL
CREATE OVER 50,000 NEW JOBS AND
OVER 37,000 TEACHERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS WILL BE SAVED FROM
LAYOFF.
THIS DEBATE IS NOT ABOUT
POLITICAL WINNERS AND LOSERS.
IT'S ABOUT THE STRUGGLE OF
EVERYDAY AMERICANS.
AWAY.
THE NEXT ELECTION IS 14 MONTHS
LET'S COME TOGETHER AND PASS
THIS BIPARTISAN AGENDA.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
MY REMARKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, IT IS MY HONOR
TODAY TO SEND BIRTHDAY
GREETINGS TO A MEMBER OF
AMERICA'S GREATEST GENERATION,
DR. R.C. GOODMAN SR. OF FORT
SMITH, ARKANSAS.
THIS AMERICAN PATRIOT MOBILIZED
WITH THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL
GUARD AT THE BEGINNING OF WORLD
WAR II, EARNING TWO PURPLE
HEARTS AND THE COMBAT
INFANTRYMAN'S BADGE.
YOU SEE, DR.
GOODMAN WAS IN CHARGE OF A
TRAINED CAR FULL OF GERMAN
P.O.W.'S.
THE TRAIN WRECKED AND DR.
GOODMAN WAS ONE OF THE FEW
SURVIVORS.
HE LATER SHARED WITH HIS
CHILDREN THE TERRIFIC SENSE OF
HELPLESSNESS WATCHING SO MANY
DIE THAT DAY AND HE MADE A
COMMITMENT TO BECOMING A
PHYSICIAN SO THAT HE WOULD
ALWAYS BE ABLE TO HELP IN THE
PRESENCE OF HUMAN SUFFERING.
DR. GOODMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY AND TO
YOUR FELLOW MAN, AND ON THE
OCCASION OF YOUR 91ST BIRTHDAY,
AMERICA SENDS ITS BEST WISHES,
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM DELAWARE RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO
RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL
CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS
MONTH.
WHEN I SERVED AS DELAWARE'S
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I SPENT A
LOT OF MY TIME HELPING CHILDREN
IN OUR STATE UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF MAKING HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE CHOICES.
I STARTED A PROGRAM CALLED THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S CHALLENGE
THAT HELPED THOUSANDS OF
DELAWARE STUDENTS MAKE REGULAR
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PART OF THEIR
DAILY LIVES.
ONE OF MY PARTNERS IN THESE
INITIATIVES WAS A FOUNDATION
THAT OPERATES A.I. HOSPITAL, A
WORLD-CLASS FACILITY FOR
CHILDREN IN WILMINGTON,
DELAWARE.
THE MOORES WORKS WITH SCHOOLS,
CHILDCARE CENTERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP CHILDREN
MAKE HEALTHY FOOD AND LIFESTYLE
CHOICES AND TO STAY PHYSICALLY
ACTIVE.
IF WE CAN HELP CHILDREN MAKE
HEALTHY DECISIONS AT AN EARLY
AGE, THOSE HABITS WILL STAY
WITH THEM FOR A LIFETIME AND WE
WILL SAVE MONEY ON THE
COUNTRY'S HEALTH BILL AS A
RESULT OF THAT.
MR. SPEAKER, WE SHOULD FOLLOW
THE LEAD LIKE THE ORGANIZATION
LIKE LAMOORE,.
THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
JOBS?
MR. PRESIDENT, WHERE ARE THE
TRILLION ON
A STIMULUS BILL THAT FAILED.
NOW YOU WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER
$450 BILLION ON ANOTHER
STIMULUS BILL.
THIS IS EXPECTING A DIFFERENT
OUTCOME.
SOLYNDRA IS THE
EXAMPLE OF A WASTE OF YOUR
STIMULUS BILL.
THIS COMPANY IS A CRONY OF YOUR
ADMINISTRATION.
SOLYNDRA'S BACKERS WERE FRIENDS
OF YOUR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
AND THE COMPANY RECEIVED
ADMINISTRATION.
FRIENDLY TREATMENT FROM YOUR
SOLYNDRA WAS SUPPOSED TO CREATE
GREEN JOBS BUT NOW MORE THAN
1,000 ARE LAID OFF.
THEY GOT A TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED
LOAN BUT THEY ARE NOW BANKRUPT
AND THEIR OFFICERS ARE TAKING
THE FIFTH AMENDMENT.
WE MUST HELP THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY BY EXPANDING AFFORDABLE
ENERGY, STOP THREATENING JOB
CREATORS WITH HIGHER TAXES AND
STOP WASTING TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
MR. SPEAKER, NO MORE SOLYNDRAS.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO ADDRESS
THEIR REMARKS TO THE CHAIR.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT SEEK
RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE
AND EXTEND.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
WE HAVE TWO PROBLEMS
IN THIS ECONOMY.
ONE IS WE HAVE A LONG-TERM
DEFICIT THAT REQUIRES LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS.
SECOND, WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE
CRISIS OF HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.
WE HAVE 23 MILLION AMERICANS
WHO ARE OUT OF WORK FULL TIME
OR OUT OF WORK PART TIME.
PEOPLE LOOKING FOR FULL-TIME
WORK THAT DON'T HAVE IT.
23 MILLION AMERICANS.
WHY CAN'T WE FOCUS ON POLICIES
THAT ARE GOING TO PUT PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK?
THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS PLAN WILL
HELP US DO THAT.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
WE START TO INVEST IN
INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT IS DISGRACEFUL THAT THE
ROADS AND BRIDGES OF THIS
COUNTRY, THAT THE WATER AND
SEWER SYSTEMS IN YOUR TOWN AND
MINE ARE ANCIENT ANDANT
KUWAITED.
THEY NEED RE-- AND ANTIQUATED.
THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED.
GENERATIONS WILL BENEFIT FROM
IT.
PART OF THE SOLUTION IS
REBUILDING OUR SCHOOLS.
WHO -- WHO AMONG US HAS NOT
BEEN TO A SCHOOL IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD OR OUR DISTRICT
THAT IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF
REPAIR?
WE HAVE FOLKS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO
AREN'T BUILDING HOUSES BECAUSE
OF THE HOUSING CRISIS BUT CAN
BE REBUILDING THESE SCHOOLS AND
CAN BE RETROFITTING OUR HOME.
WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON PUTTING
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THIS MORNING I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THE TRAIN ACT, H.R. 2401.
THIS BILL PROVIDES THE
COMMONSENSE APPROACH THAT
ADDRESSES A SERIES OF E.P.A.
REGULATIONS THAT WILL COST JOBS
AND CRIPPLE OUR NATION'S
ECONOMY.
TRAIN REQUIRES THE COMMISSION
SIMPLY TO STUDLY THE CUMULATIVE
E.P.A.'S REGULATIONS
AND DELAY TWO INCREDIBLE
LEGISLATION, THE MACT RULES AND
THE CROSS-STATE RULES.
BE ENORMOUS.
THESE TWO RULES' IMPACTS WOULD
THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
BUILDING AN 895 MEGAWATT COAL
PLANT FOR YEARS.
IT WILL INCREASE OUR ENERGY
SUPPLY USING ENVIRONMENTAL
CONTROLS TO REDUCE AIR
EMISSIONS.
IT'S A WIN-WIN.
GOOD JOBS FOR KANSAS, IT'S GOOD
FOR THE ECONOMY AND GOOD FOR
THE ENVIRONMENT.
BUT NOW THIS PROJECT IS IN
SERIOUS JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF
THESE E.P.A. RULES.
THE KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS
FILED A LAWSUIT IN THE D.C.
COURT OF APPEALS TRYING TO SLOW
DOWN AND STOP THIS RULE BECAUSE
IT WILL BE PHYSICALLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR KANSAS UTILITY
TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES.
THE PROBLEMS FOR KANSAS ARE THE
SAME PROBLEMS ALL AMERICANS
FACE, BECAUSE OF E.P.A.'S
REFUSAL TO CONSIDER THE REAL
ECONOMIC COSTS OF THESE
REGULATIONS.
PASSING THIS TRAIN ACT SAVES
JOBS.
LET'S DO IT.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY
FROM HAWAII SEEK RECOGNITION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, LET'S TALK ABOUT
THINGS THAT WE CAN AGREE ON.
WE CAN AGREE THAT THE GREATEST
CHALLENGE THAT FACES ALL OF US
TODAY IS TO STOP THE EROSION OF
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
WE CAN ALSO AGREE
THAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IS
CRITICAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S
REALLY GOING TO KICK START OUR
ECONOMY.
WE CAN ALSO AGREE THAT WHEN YOU
LOOK AND YOU TALK TO THE PEOPLE
IN OUR VARIOUS DISTRICTS WHAT
ARE THEY MOST CONCERNED ABOUT?
THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT JOBS
BECAUSE WHAT DOES JOBS
REPRESENT?
IT REPRESENTS THE SECURITY THAT
THEY NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THE
MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR
LIFE, THEIR FAMILIES.
WE COULD ALSO AGREE THAT IF
THERE'S A PLAN OUT THERE THAT
CAN ADD TO G.D.P. 2%, ADD AT
LEAST TWO MILLION JOBS, CUT
EMPLOYMENT BY 1% THAT THAT'S A
PLAN WE SHOULD CONSIDER.
WE CAN ALSO AGREE THAT WE WANT
PUT TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS,
FIRST RESPONDERS BACK TO WORK.
AND THAT WE WANT TO BUILD
INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE CAN BE THE
ALWAYS BEEN.
GREATEST COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE
AND WE CAN ALSO AGREE THAT WE
WANT TAX CUTS FOR EMPLOYEES AND
EMPLOYERS.
SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, MR.
SPEAKER?
IS IT THE PROBLEM THAT THIS IS
THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN?
THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE PROBLEM.
LET'S GET IT TOGETHER AND LET'S
WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS
GREAT NATION.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY
HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO
REMARKS
AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
ON H.R. 2401.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 406
AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR DECLARES
THE HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF
THE UNION FOR THE FURTHER
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2401.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ILLINOIS, MR. DOLD, KINDLY TAKE
THE CHAIR.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR
FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R.
2401, WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT BY TITLE.
ANALYSES OF THE
CUMULATIVE AND INCREMENTAL
IMPACTS OF CERTAIN RULES AND
ACTIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
WHEN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE ROSE ON THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 22, 2011, PURSUANT TO
HOUSE RESOLUTION 406, ALL TIME
FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAD EXPIRED.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE PRINTED IN BIT SHALL
BE CONSIDERED AS AN ORIGINAL
BILL FOR THE PURPOSE OF
AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE
RULE AND SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
READ.
NO AMENDMENT TO THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENT IS IN ORDER EXCEPT
THOSE PRINTED IN THE HOUSE
REPORT 112-213, EACH SUCH
AMENDMENT MAY BE OFFERED
OVERWHELM IN THE ORDER PRINTED
IN THE REPORT BY A MEMBER
DESIGNATED IN THE REPORT.
SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS READ.
SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR THE TIME
SPECIFIED IN THE REPORT EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
PROPONENT AND AN OPPONENT, AND
NOT BE SUBJECT TO AN
AMENDMENT.
AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
DEMAND FOR DIVISION OF THE
QUESTION.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112-213.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I SEEK RECOGNITION TO
OFFER THE AMENDMENT OF MR. RUSH
AS HIS DESIGNEE.
THE
AMENDMENT.
CLERK WILL DESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1,
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT NUMBER
112-213, OFFERED BY MR. WELCH OF
VERMONT.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 406, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VERMONT, MR. WELCH, AND A
MEMBER OPPOSED WILL EACH CONTROL
FIVE MINUTES THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VERMONT.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THIS AMENDMENT MAKES NEEDED
ANALYSIS
MANDATED BY THE UNDERLYING BILL.
BUT FUNDAMENTALLY THIS BILL
ITSELF WE BELIEVE IS AN ASSAULT
ON THE CLEAN AIR ACT.
NOT REALLY A BILL THAT REQUIRES
A STUDY.
THE LEGISLATION BEGAN IN
COMMITTEE AS A BILL TO REQUIRE A
NEW STUDY ON THE ECONOMIC
IMPACTS OF E.P.A. RULES TO CUT
AIR POLLUTION.
AT THAT POINT THE BILL SIMPLY
REQUIRES THE BURDENSOME AND
REDUNDANT STUDY OF E.P.A. RULES
AND DID NOT AFFECT ANY OF THE
RULES IT PROPOSED TO EXAMINE.
IT CHANGED IN COMMITTEE.
THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS AMENDED
IT TO INDEFINITELY DELAY
IMPLEMENTATION OF TWO VERY KEY
RULES TO REDUCE POWER PLANT
POLLUTION.
THE CROSS STATE AIR POLLUTION
RULE AND THE MERCURY AND AIR
TOXIC RULES.
NOW, MR. WHITFIELD HAS PROPOSED
AMENDING THE BILL TO FURTHER
ELIMINATE THOSE RULES ALTOGETHER
AND PREVENT E.P.A. FROM BEING
ABLE TO CLEAN UP POWER PLANTS IN
THE FUTURE.
MR. LATTA HAS OFFERED AN
AMENDMENT TO FORCE E.P.A. TO
LISTEN TO POLLUTERS' ACCOUNTANTS
RATHER THAN SCIENTISTS WHEN
SETTING AIR QUALITY STANDARDS.
THIS BILL IS NOW A DIRECT ATTACK
ON THE HEART OF THE CLEAN AIR
ACT.
THAT ACT HAS SAVED THOUSANDS OF
LIVES.
THE BILL STILL CONTAINS THE
STUDY ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
E.P.A. RULES, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT
SURE WHY IT WOULD DO THAT.
THE RUSH AMENDMENT, MR. SPEAKER,
WOULD MAKE THE STUDY REQUIRED BY
THIS LEGISLATION A LITTLE LESS
BIASED AND A LITTLE MORE USEFUL.
THE BILL CREATES A NEW
GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY TO CREATE
A COMPLICATED STUDY OF E.P.A.
RULES, IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
IN ADDITION, THE BILL ENSURES
THAT THE FINAL STUDY WILL BE
BIASED.
UNBALANCED AND INHERENTLY
IT'S ONE THING TO TAKE A HARD
LOOK AT REGULATIONS, IT'S
ANOTHER THING TO COOK THE
OUTCOME OF THAT EXAMINATION.
THE RUSH AMENDMENT ENSURES THAT
THE COMMITTEE WILL LOOK AT BOTH
THE COST AND THE BENEFITS OF
E.P.A. RULES.
THE BILL SUPPORTERS ORIGINALLY
PRESENTED THIS BILL AS A MEANS
TO GATHER MORE FACTS ON KEY
E.P.A. RULES, AS AMENDED BY THE
REPUBLICANS, IT'S INCREASINGLY
CLEAR THAT THE FACTS REALLY
DON'T MATTER.
I SUPPORT THE RUSH AMENDMENT,
BUT I REMAIN STAUNCHLY OPPOSED
TO FINAL PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
I REFRESH.
-- I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN
TIME.
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
TIME.
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY RISE?
TO CLAIM THE TIME
IN OPPOSITION.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
AMENDMENT FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE TRAIN ACT, THE
UNDERLYING BILL WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT HERE, APPLIES TO 14
REGULATIONS OF E.P.A.
IT DOES NOT DELAY IN ANY WAY ANY
OF THOSE REGULATIONS EXCEPT FOR
TWO, AND THAT'S REFERRED TO AS
UTILITY MACT AND THE CROSS
STATE AIR TRANSPORT RULE.
AND EVEN ON THOSE TWO ACTS, IT
ONLY PLAYS THE CROSS STATE
TRANSPORT RULE BY THREE YEARS
AND IT DELAYS THE UTILITY MACT
BY ONE YEAR.
AND THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE
TRAIN ACT IS SIMPLY TO LOOK MORE
CLOSELY AT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT
ON JOBS, ON ELECTRICITY PRICES,
ON AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS IN
THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE, AND
E.P.A. HAS DONE A VERY THOROUGH
JOB ON MOST OF THESE REGULATIONS
IN CALCULATING BENEFITS.
BUT THEY HAVE NOT LOOKED CLOSELY
IN ALL OF THEM ON COST.
AND UNDER THE TRAIN ACT, WE ARE
SIMPLY ASKING THIS INDEPENDENT
GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO LOOK AT ALL
COST AND ALL BENEFITS.
ANOTHER REASON THAT I WOULD
SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
AMENDMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT REQUIRES THIS INDEPENDENT
BODY TO DO IS TO EXAMINE THE
EFFECT ON GREEN ENERGY
COMPANIES.
NOW, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE
TRAIN ACT THAT'S SELECTING ONE
INDUSTRY TO GIVE SOME FAVORABLE
TREATMENT TO.
AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY WHAT
THIS AMENDMENT DOES.
AND I MIGHT ADD ON GREEN ENERGY
THE GREEN ENERGY INDUSTRY HAS
RECEIVED INCREASES OF 153% OF
SUBSIDIES.
SUBSIDIES HAVE INCREASED 153%
FOR GREEN ENERGY.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT THEY
SHOULD BE RECEIVING SOME SPECIAL
BENEFIT FROM THIS RUSH
AMENDMENT, AND THAT'S WHY I
WOULD OPPOSE IT AND I WOULD ASK
ALL MEMBERS TO OPPOSE IT.
I RETAIN THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I
HAVE?
2 1/2 MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
THE CLEAN AIR ACT, MR.
SPEAKER.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE POWER PLANTS
THAT ARE COLEBURNING AND EMIT
TOXIC INTO THE AIR.
THAT'S NOT IN DISPUTE.
BUT THE ATTACK ON ANY KIND OF
REGULATION SAYS THAT IF THERE IS
ANY EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH
PROVIDING HEALTH AND SAFETY TO
THE PEOPLE DOWNWIND OF THE
POLLUTING EMITTING POWER PLANTS,
THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'VE GOT TO BREATHE THAT AIR
AND IT'S THEIR PROBLEM.
NOW, I LIVE IN VERMONT.
THE COLEBURNING PLANTS, THE AIR
-- THE COAL BURNING PLANTS, THE
AIR ALL COMES AND FALLS IN
VERMONT.
THE CLEAN AIR ACT HAS HAD
TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN ACTUALLY
CLEANING UP SOME OF THESE POWER
PLANTS.
NOW, OF COURSE THERE'S SOME
EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH BURNING
CLEAN, BUT THERE'S ALSO, AS YOU
KNOW, MR. SPEAKER, ENORMOUS COST
ASSOCIATED WERE BURN -- WITH
BURNING DIRTY.
IT MAY BE CHEAPER FOR THE POWER
PLANT OWNER, AND IT MIGHT EVEN
CHEAPER FOR THE ELECTRICITY
USERS OF THAT POWER PLANT, BUT
THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE
HEALTH, SAFETY, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ARE SIMPLY
OFFLOADED BY THE POLLUTER ON TO
THE INNOCENT MEMBERS OF SOCIETY
WHO ARE DOWNWIND OF THE MERCURY
SPEWING, POLLUTING PLANTS.
SURE, WE CAN HAVE SOME DEBATE
ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE THE PROPER
EXPENSE, BUT SHOULD WE REALLY
HAVE A DEBATE THAT IS
ILLEGITIMATE FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTIONS,
REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE, THAT
PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
INNOCENT PEOPLE?
THE LAW OF PHYSICS HAS AIR
CARRYING POLLUTANTS GOING IN THE
DIRECTION THAT NATURE SENDS IT.
AND THAT MEANS EVERYBODY
DOWNWIND GETS AFFECTED.
IT'S REALLY ASTONISHING THAT IN
THE LEGITIMATE EFFORT TO ASK
LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHETHER A REGULATION IS SERVING
PURPOSE, WHETHER THE
REGULATION ACHIEVES THE INTENDED
GOAL, WHETHER THERE'S A WAY TO
ACHIEVE THAT GOAL AT LESS
EXPENSE, THOSE ARE ALL FAIR
QUESTIONS, BUT TO ABOLISH THE
REGULATIONS ALTOGETHER, TO
SUGGEST THAT EVERYBODY WHO WILL
BE AFFECTED BY MERCURY POLLUTION
HAS NO REMEDY AND CANNOT LOOK TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME
PROTECTION FOR THEIR HEALTH?
FOR THE HEALTH OF THEIR
CHILDREN?
THAT'S EXTREME.
AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
AND IT'S EXPENSIVE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
MAY I ASK HOW
MUCH TIME I HAVE REMAINING?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KENTUCKY HAS THREE MINUTES.
I WOULD SAY FIRST
TO THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN
THAT WHILE WE ARE DELAYING THIS
CROSS STATE AIR TRANSPORT RULE,
WE HAVE IN EFFECT TODAY THE CAIR
ACT WHICH HAS BEEN IN EFFECT
SINCE 2005.
AND E.P.A. ITSELF HAS SAID THAT
THIS ACT THAT IS CURRENTLY
CONTROLLING THE CROSSWIND
INTERSTATE WIND MOVEMENTS WILL
REDUES SULFUR DIOXIDE AND
EMISSIONS BY 57% AND 53%
RESPECTIVELY.
AND SO THAT REGULATION IS STILL
GOING TO BE IN EFFECT.
AND I WOULD ALSO REMIND EVERYONE
THAT E.P.A. WHEN THEY
IMPLEMENTED THE CARE ACT POINTED
OUT THAT IT WOULD HAVE $100
BILLION IN HEALTH BENEFITS EACH
YEAR PREVENTING 17,000 PREMATURE
DEATHS, 22,000 NONFATAL HEART
ATTACKS, 12,300 HOSPITAL
EMISSIONS, 1.7 MILLION LOST WORK
DAYS, 500,000 LOST SCHOOL DAYS.
AND IT GOES ON TO ALL OF THE
BENEFITS.
SO SIMPLY BECAUSE A COURT
THE CAIR ACT BECAUSE
E.P.A. WAS LOOKING AT A REGIONAL
PROGRAM RATHER THAN A STATE BY
STATE PROGRAM DOES NOT MEAN THAT
THIS IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE
REGULATION THAT'S IN EXISTENCE
TODAY.
AND EVEN THE -- MANY
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ACTUALLY
SUPPORTED E.P.A. IN OPPOSING THE
EFFORT TO INVALIDATE THE CAIR
ACT.
E.P.A. MADE STRONG ARGUMENTS
.
THAT THE CAIR ACT WAS ADEQUATE.
SO ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
ELIMINATE THIS CROSS-STATE RULE
WHICH AS I SAY RESPECTED
INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS HAVE
INDICATED THAT THESE TWO RULES,
UTILITY MACT AND THE CROSS
STATE AIR TRANSPORT RULE WILL
HAVE A NET EFFECT OF A LOSS OF
1.4 MILLION JOBS AND INCREASED
ELECTRIC UTILITY BILLS BY 23%.
NOW, AT A TIME WHEN OUR ECONOMY
IS SO WEAK, WHEN WE'RE TRYING
TO CREATE JOBS, WE SIMPLY WANT
TO LOOK AT IT MORE CLOSELY.
GIVE E.P.A. A LITTLE BIT MORE
TIME, AND THAT'S ALL THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO WITH OUR ACT AND
THAT'S WHY WE'RE VERY MUCH
OPPOSED TO THE RUSH AMENDMENT.
AND DOES THE OTHER SIDE HAVE
TIME REMAINING?
NO.
I YIELD BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY EVMENT
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR THE
NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK FOR THE
YEAS AND NAYS.
THE GENTLEMAN ASKS
FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY VERMONT
WILL BE POSTPONED.
IT'S NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112-213.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-213
OFFERED BY MR. MCNERNEY OF
CALIFORNIA.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 406, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. MCNERNEY,
AND A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE TO OFFER A SIMPLE AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD AMENDMENT TO
H.R. 2401.
MY AMENDMENT WILL HELP MAKE
SURE THAT THE REPORTS REQUIRED
BY H.R. 2401 ARE FAIR, NOT
SKEWED, TO SUPPORT THE
MAJORITY'S FAVORITE TALKING
POINTS.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE REPORTS
LOOK AT THE BENEFICIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION, INCLUDING THE FACT
THAT GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICIES CREATE JOBS IN THE
CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR.
I REJECT THE ARGUMENT THAT THE
MAJORITY IS MAKING HERE TODAY.
CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HEARD
MEMBERS OF THE MAJORITY SAY
OVER AND OVER DURING TODAY'S
DEBATE, POLICIES THAT PROTECT
JOBS.
OUR ENVIRONMENT ALSO CREATE
JOBS.
THEY CREATE GOOD FAMILY WAGED
BEFORE I CAME TO CONGRESS I
SPENT MY CAREER AS A CLEAN
ENERGY ENGINEER.
I DESIGNED WINDMILLS THAT
CALIFORNIA.
OVERLOOK INSIDE DISTRICT IN
AND I HELPED CREATE JOBS IN THE
CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR.
TO MY GREAT DISTRESS, I WATCHED
THOSE JOBS GET SHIPPED OVERSEAS
TO MANY PLACES LIKE GERMANY.
I'M COMMITTED TO CREATING JOBS
AND SEEKING MORE GOODS PRODUCED
RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA, ALTHOUGH
I'M CONFIDENT THAT EVERY -- A
GOAL I'M CONFIDENT EVERY MEMBER
OF THIS CHAMBER CHAIRS.
POLICIES THAT PROMOTE A CLEAN
ENVIRONMENT CREATES NEW
INCENTIVES FOR INVESTMENTS IN
CLEAN ENERGY, CREATING
THOUSANDS OF JOBS, SUPPORTING
NEW INDUSTRIES, PROMOTING
EXPORTS AND BENEFITING PUBLIC
HEALTH.
MY AMENDMENT SIMPLY ENSURES
THAT WE INCLUDE THE
JOB-CREATING EFFORTS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES ON THE
CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR IN THE
REPORTS PROVIDED BY THIS BILL.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT A FAIR,
UNBIASED ASSESSMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL RULES WILL SHOW
THAT THEY CREATE GOOD FAMILY
WAGE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS.
I HOPE THE MAJORITY WILL ACCEPT
THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND
I'LL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN
TIME.
RESERVES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY SEEK
RECOGNITION?
ON --
WHITNEY PAVLIK TO CLAIM TIME IN
TO CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
WHILE I RESPECT
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
I'D REMIND EVERYONE THAT IN HIS
2008 CONVENTION SPEECH, BARACK
OBAMA PROMISED TO CREATE FIVE
MILLION GREEN ENERGY JOBS, AND
THOSE JOBS HAVE NOT BEEN
CREATED.
SUBSIDIES WENT FROM $5.1
BILLION TO $14.7 BILLION.
WIND, FOR EXAMPLE, LED -- THEY
RECEIVED A 10-FOLD INCREASE,
THAT INDUSTRY, FROM $476
MILLION TO $4.986 BILLION.
SOLAR SUBSIDIES INCREASED BY
MORE THAN A FACTOR OF SIX FROM
$179 MILLION TO $1.134 BILLION.
AND THEN WE KNOW THAT OVER THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THERE ARE
LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAMS.
AND AS THIS ARTICLE IN "THE NEW
YORK TIMES" STATED, THEY GAVE
AN EXAMPLE OF ONE COMPANY THAT
HAD RECEIVED $300 MILLION TO
CREATE GREEN TECHNOLOGY JOBS.
THEY END UP CREATING 150 JOBS
AT A COST OF $2 MILLION PER
JOB.
NOW, COAL, NUCLEAR AND NATURAL
GAS STILL PROVIDE ABOUT 95%,
96% OF THE ELECTRICITY PRODUCED
IN AMERICA, AND THE REASON WE
OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT IS IT
ALSO GIVES SPECIAL TREATMENT TO
GREEN ENERGY.
AND I THINK IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS
THAT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS FAVOR
GREEN ENERGY RIGHT NOW AS
ILLUSTRATED BY THE INCREASE IN
THE RENEWABLE SUBSIDIES
AVAILABLE TO THEM SO OUR
POSITION IS WHEN THE THREE
BASIC -- COAL, NUCLEAR AND
NATURAL GAS, ARE PROVIDING THE
BASE LOAD TO CREATE THE
INDUSTRIAL GROWTH OF THIS
COUNTRY BY PROVIDING LOW COST
ELECTRICITY, WE DO NOT NEED
AMENDMENT TO INSTRUCT THIS
INDEPENDENT BODY TO LOOK AT
SPECIFICALLY THE IMPACT ON
GREEN ENERGY EXPORTING
COMPANIES, AND FOR THAT REASON
I WOULD OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
DON'T DISPUTE THE FACTS OF MY
GOOD FRIEND FROM KENTUCKY.
BASICALLY WHAT I'M ASKING IS WE
MAKE SURE THAT THESE JOBS ARE
COUNTED, THAT THEY'RE NOT
IGNORED OR LOOKED OVER, WHICH
IS WHAT I'M AFRAID WILL HAPPEN.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM
OREGON.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
FRIEND FROM CALIFORNIA JUST
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT MY
SAID.
WHAT THE AMENDMENT DOES IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ADD TO THE
ANALYSIS THE IMPACT ON CLEAN
ENERGY JOBS AND CLEAN ENERGY
COMPANIES.
WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO MAKE
SURE EXPLICITLY THAT THAT IS A
PART OF THE ANALYSIS?
INVITE YOU TO COME TO
PORTLAND, OREGON, TO LOOK WHERE
WE HAVE AN EMERGING WIND ENERGY
-- THE WIND ENERGY CAPITAL.
IT'S MAKING A LOT OF DIFFERENCE
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS
AMERICA.
WIND ENERGY, FOR INSTANCE, IS
ONE OF THE -- IS THE FASTEST
CAPACITY.
GROWING IN TERMS OF INSTALLED
COSTS ARE GOING DOWN.
IT IS AN ENERGY THAT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE TO THE ECONOMY --
WHAT MY COLLEAGUE FROM
CALIFORNIA'S URGING IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S A PART OF THE
STUDY.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T -- IT'S
UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE TO THIS
POINT THIS MORNING ANYWAY.
WE STARTED THIS ODYSSEY IN 1990
WITH THE CLEAN AIR ACT.
AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF STUDY AT
E.P.A., THE CONCLUSION WAS THIS
IS A REAL PROBLEM, AND THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND THE
E.P.A. STARTED THE RULEMAKING
PROCESS.
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION DRUGGED
2005 WITH AN
INADEQUATE RESPONSE THAT WAS
THROWN OUT BY THE COURTS.
FINALLY NOW AFTER 21 YEARS
WE'RE STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T
TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 2015.
AND IN THE MEANTIME THERE WOULD
BE MANY JOBS THAT WOULD BE
AVAILABLE IN CONSTRUCTION, IN
CLEAN TECHNOLOGY.
AT LEAST -- AT LEAST -- AT
LEAST, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT
SUCCESSFUL IN STRETCHING THIS
OUT FURTHER TO DELAY ACTION,
BUT AT THE MINIMUM YOU WOULD
THINK YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE A
FULL PICTURE.
LOOK AT THE PEOPLE LIKE IN MY
COMMUNITY THAT ARE PRODUCING
PRODUCTS, MAKING IT AVAILABLE
FOR EXPORT.
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
HAS 45 SECONDS REMAINING.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY.
DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA HAVE
CLOSE?
DOES HE HAVE THE RIGHT TO
CLOSE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KENTUCKY HAS THE RIGHT TO
CLOSE.
WELL, DO YOU
HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY ON
THE ISSUE, MR. MCNERNEY?
I JUST WANT TO
EMPHASIZE, I EXPERIENCED JOB
CREATION IN THE GREEN ENERGY
SECTOR.
I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF JOBS CREATED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COUNT
THOSE JOBS.
I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A WHITE
WASH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS
ANALYSIS BE OPEN AND FAIR AND
BALANCED.
THAT'S ALL WE WANT ON THIS
SIDE.
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
THE BALANCE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY.
I SAY TO THE
GENTLEMAN, WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF GREEN ENERGY.
THERE ISN'T ONE OF THESE
REGULATIONS THAT WE ARE LOOKING
FOR AN ANALYSIS THAT HAS ANY
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON GREEN
ENERGY.
IN FACT, EVERY ONE OF THESE
ENERGY.
REGULATIONS WILL HELP GREEN
I SAID, THE GOVERNMENT'S
PHILOSOPHY RIGHT NOW IS TO DO
ENERGY.
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR GREEN
MORE SUBSIDIES, STUDIES GOING
ON ALL THE TIME ON THE IMPACT
ON JOBS.
AND FOR THAT REASON WE DON'T --
WE DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD -- IS NECESSARY
AND WOULD ASK THE MEMBERS TO
OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT.
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NO, SIR HAVE IT.
THE -- THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
MR. SPEAKER, I
ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS ON
THIS.
THE GENTLEMAN ASKS
FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
-- THE GENTLEMAN FROM
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA WILL BE POSTPONED.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 PRINTED IN
THE HOUSE REPORT 112-213.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM WISCONSIN
RISE?
MR. CHAIR, I RISE TO
OFFER AN AMENDMENT THAT'S AT
THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 3
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-213
OFFERED BY MS. MOORE OF
WISCONSIN.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 406, THE GENTLEWOMAN
FROM WISCONSIN, MS. MOORE, AND
A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
AND I DO THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD SIMPLY
ENSURE THAT LOW-INCOME
COMMUNITIES AND THAT THE PUBLIC
HEALTH GENERALLY OF ALL
AMERICANS ARE CONSIDERED IN THE
BILL'S SECTION ON STUDIES ABOUT
THE IMPACT OF THIS REGULATION.
I OFFER THIS AMENDMENT, MR.
CHAIR, IN HOPES THAT WE MIGHT
HAVE AN HONEST DEBATE, A DEBATE
THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF THOSE MOST
AFFECTED BY THE VERY POLICIES
THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE
ATTEMPTING TO TIE UP AND IN TWO
CASES OUTRIGHT PREVENT.
LET ME BE FRANK WITH YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
I GREW UP -- I WAS BORN IN
1951, AND I GREW UP GASPING FOR
BREATH MOST OF MY LIFE.
LIVED IN AN INDUSTRIAL CITY, A
MANUFACTURING CITY IN
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AND I HAD
MY FIRST ASTHMA ATTACK
SHOVELING COAL INTO A FURNACE
AND THEN GASPING FOR BREATH
BECAUSE OF THE SMOG THAT WAS
GENERATED FROM MANUFACTURING.
THANK GOD FOR THE 1990 CLEAN
AIR ACT AMENDMENT.
WE'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS HEALTH
BENEFITS OVER THE YEARS, THANKS
TO THE WORK OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, AND NOT ONLY THE
BUREAUCRACY BUT THE COURTS THAT
HAVE MADE SURE THAT DEADLINES
ARE ENFORCED AND NOT SIMPLY
THROWN TO THE CURBS.
ACCORDING TO A RECENT E.P.A.
STUDY, WE'VE HAD SUBSTANTIAL
AND HARD SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT
PROTECTING OUR NATION'S AIR
QUALITY FROM HAZARDOUS
POLLUTANTS IS A VERY
SUBSTANTIAL BENEFIT.
IN 2010, THE REDUCTIONS IN FINE
PARTICLE IN OZONE POLLUTION
FROM THE 1990 CLEAN AIR ACT
AMENDMENT PREVENTED MORE THAN
160,000 CASES OF PREMATURE
MORTALITY, 100,000 HEART
ATTACKS, 13 MILLION LOST WORK
DAYS AND 1.7 MILLION ASTHMA
ATTACKS.
WE DO KNOW THAT THE CLEAN AIR
ACT REGULATIONS BY THE E.P.A.,
ESPECIALLY HELPS LOW-INCOME
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE OFTEN
IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL
INJUSTICES AND OTHER VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS.
A RECENT TWO-YEAR-OLD STUDY BY
THE UNIVERSITY OF
MASSACHUSETTS, THE UNIVERSITY
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ANALYZED
300 DIFFERENT METROPOLITAN
AREAS AND RANKED THEM BASED ON
HOW POLLUTION AFFECTS
LOW-INCOME AND MINORITY
COMMUNITIES.
THIS STUDY CITED THAT AIR
POLLUTION IS UNEVENLY
DISTRIBUTED WITHIN STATES AS
WELL AS WITHIN THEM.
A GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH HAS
DEMONSTRATED THAT PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND LOW-INCOME
COMMUNITIES OFTEN FACE THE
GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS,
AND THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT
IN THE METRO MILWAUKEE AREA
CAME IN THE TOP 10 CITIES IN
.
BOTH CASES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST WOULD LIKE
TO ADD MY OWN PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE TO THE BODY OF THIS
RESEARCH.
AND MR. CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLELADY
RESERVES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY SEEK
RECOGNITION?
TO CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I WOULD LIKE TO
HE ARE MIND EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN
THAT THE TRAIN ACT IS APPLIED TO
14 REGULATIONS COMING OUT OF
E.P.A.
IT'S SELDOM THAT CONGRESS
INTERVENES IN THESE REGULATIONS,
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OF THESE
AND THE COST OF JOBS AND THE
COST OF BUYING THE EQUIPMENT AND
THE LACK OF ACHIEVEABILITY OF
MANY OF THEM TO -- ACHIEVIBILITY
OF MANY OF THEM TO MEET THE
CRITERIA IS THE REASON WE DO
THIS.
I WOULD REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE
DO NOT DELAY IN ANY WAY ANY OF
THESE REGULATIONS EXCEPT TWO OF
THEM.
AND I WOULD SAY TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM WISCONSIN THAT I
AGREE WITH HER.
MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT
WOULD MOST SUFFER HIGH ENERGY
PRICES AND UNEMPLOYMENT AS A
RESULT OF THE E.P.A. REGULATIONS
ARE THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT RELY
ON AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE,
COAL-FIRED ENERGY TO LIGHT THEIR
HOMES AND RUN THEIR BUSINESSES.
THESE COMMUNITIES ARE THE LEAST
ABLE TO AFFORD INCREASED
UNEMPLOYMENT, INCREASED ENERGY
PRICES, AND THE ILLNESS THAT
RESULTS FROM UNEMPLOYMENT AND
BEING UNABLE TO AFFORD FUEL.
AND I MIGHT SAY THAT WHEN THE
THEIR ANALYSIS, THEY
NEVER LOOK AT THE EFFECT OF THE
HEALTH OF THE CHILDREN OF THE
PEOPLE WORKING IN THE COAL MINES
AND THE UTILITY PLANTS WHO LOSE
THEIR JOBS.
AND THERE IS AN IMPACT ON IT.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HELP THE
ANALYSIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
-- TELL THE LADY FROM WISCONSIN
WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ACCEPT THIS
AMENDMENT.
YOU WOULD BE HAPPY TO
ACCEPT IT, YOU SAY?
YES, MA'AM.
I DO THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR ACCEPTING THIS
AMENDMENT.
DO I REPEAT THAT THE TWO -- I DO
REPEAT THAT THE TWO PARTS THIS
BILL HAD FORMALLY INCLUDED PART
TO YOUR ACCEPTING MY AMENDMENT
WOULD HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR STATES THAT WANTED CLEAN
AIR, THEY WOULD BE -- FIND
THEMSELVES HELPLESS BECAUSE IT
WOULD BASICALLY EVISCERATE THEIR
ABILITY TO PREVENT POLLUTION
FROM CROSSING THE BORDER.
APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN
ACCEPTING MY AMENDMENT AND WITH
THAT, I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLELADY YIELDS
BACK.
I WOULD LIKE
REMIND THE GENTLELADY A THAT THE
CAIR ACT IS STILL IN EFFECT, AS
I READ EARLIER, ALL THE BENEFITS
ARE THERE THAT THE E.P.A. SAID
WOULD BE THERE.
AND IT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED
EMISSIONS.
WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO
CHANGE THAT EXISTING LAW.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE
AMENDMENT AND AS I SAID WE FEEL
LIKE IT WILL REALLY HELP ON THIS
STUDY.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
WISCONSIN.
AYE.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
AYE VS. IT.
THE AMENDMENT --
I WOULD NOTE THERE IS
NOT A QUORUM.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR A VOTE
ON THIS AMENDMENT.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM WISCONSIN WILL
BE POSTPONED.
DID THE
GENTLELADY UNDERSTAND TO SAY WE
WOULD ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT?
THE LADY HAS ASKED
FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
THANK YOU.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO
CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER 4,
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-213,
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 4
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT NUMBER
112-213, OFFERED BY MRS. CAPPS
OF CALIFORNIA.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 406, THE GENTLEWOMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MISS CAPPS, AND
A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE GOAL OF THE
SIMPLY TO STUDY
E.P.A. STANDARDS.
THE GOAL OF THE MAJORITY IS TO
BLOCK THE EFFORTS OF E.P.A. TO
CUT MERCURY AND OTHER TOXIC
PLANTS.
POLLUTION FROM DIRTY POWER
THAT'S DANGEROUS AND IT'S
MISGUIDED.
THE RESEARCH IS CLEAR, UNLESS
E.P.A. ENFORCES THESE STANDARDS,
THERE WILL BE MORE PREMATURE
DEATHS, MORE HEART AND ASTHMA
ATTACKS, MORE HOSPITAL AND
EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS.
UP UNTIL RECENTLY I THOUGHT THAT
I WAS SAFE FROM THIS POLLUTION.
I DON'T LIVE NEXT DOOR TO A
POWER PLANT.
I LIVE NEAR THE COAST OF THE
PACIFIC ISLAND -- OCEAN.
BUT I LEARNED THAT YOU DON'T
NEED TO LIVE NEAR DIRTY POWER
PLANT TO BE EXPOSED TO ITS
HARMFUL EFFECTS.
I RECEIVED TEST RESULTS THIS
SUMMER SHOWING THAT I HAVE AN
UNSAFE LEVEL OF MERCURY IN MY
BODY, AND I'M NOT ALONE.
TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICAN
WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE AND
THEIR CHILDREN ARE AT RISK FROM
MERCURY AND OTHER TOXINS THAT
RELEASED INTO OUR AIR EACH
AND EVERY YEAR.
EVERY YEAR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF BABIES ARE EXPOSED TO
MERCURY.
MERCURY EXPOSURE CAN CAUSE
LEARNING DISABILITIES,
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, AND OTHER
DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS.
WE OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN TO
CLEAN UP TOXIC MERCURY
POLLUTION.
AMENDMENT.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M OFFERING THIS
THE AMENDMENT WOULD SIMPLY
REQUIRE THAT THIS COMMITTEE
DESIGNATE THE ANALYSIS OF THE
TRUE COSTS OF INCLUDING HEALTH
EFFECTS IN BLOCKING E.P.A.'S
LIFESAVING CLEAN AIR SAFEGUARDS.
THESE COSTS ARE CLEAR TO MOTHERS
AND GRANDMOTHERS ACROSS THE
NATION.
BRAIN DAMAGE, DEVELOPMENTAL
PROBLEMS, INFANT DEATHS.
SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLELADY
RESERVES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
ALL OF US
CERTAINLY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
IMPACTS ON CHILDREN.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE
WITH THIS AMENDMENT IS THAT WHEN
YOU TRY TO DETERMINE
SPECIFICALLY WHAT CAUSES A BIRTH
DEFECT, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE
LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
FOLIC ACID IS A B VITAMIN.
TAKING SUPPLEMENTS BEFORE
GETTING PREGNANT AND EARLY
PREGNANCY LOWERS THE RISK OF
HAVING A BABY WITH SERIOUS BIRTH
DEFECTS.
DRIPPINGING ALCOHOL INCREASES
THE LIKELIHOOD OF SERIOUS BIRTH
DEFECTS.
SMOKING.
WOMEN WHO ARE OBESE WHEN THEY
GET PREGNANT HAVE A HIGHER RISK
OF HAVING A BABY WITH SERIOUS
BIRTH DEFECTS.
POOR CONTROL OF DIABETES IN
PREGNANT WOMEN INCREASES THE
CHANCE OF HAVING A BIRTH DEFECT.
SO THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT
REASONS AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO
SET OUT A CAUSAL REASON.
I WOULD SAY TO THE GENTLELADY
FROM CALIFORNIA, WHO WE KNOW IS
GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE
HEALTH ISSUES AND HAS
DISTINGUISHED HER CAREER BY
RAISING THEM FREQUENTLY, THE
E.P.A. DID EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ALL THESE
RULES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
GREENHOUSE GAS.
THEY DIDN'T DO ANY STUDY ON
ANYTHING THERE.
BUT -- SO WE HAVE A LOT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH
BENEFITS.
AS FAR AS THE MERCURY ISSUE, I
WOULD SAY TO THE GENTLELADY THAT
THE UTILITY MACT, E.P.A. ITSELF
HAS SAID THAT THIS WOULD REDUCE
MERCURY BY SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT
THAT IT WOULD REPRESENT ONLY
.004% OF THE TOTAL CLAIMED
BENEFITS OF THE RULE.
AND THE REMAINING 99.996% WOULD
BE DUE TO PARTICULATE MATTER
REDUCTION.
AND I WOULD ALSO REMIND THE
GENTLELADY THAT THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY AND OTHER GROUPS HAVE
INDICATED THAT 99% OF MERCURY
DEPOSITS IN THE U.S. DO NOT COME
COMPANIES, BUT THEY
ORIGINATE FROM NATURE AND FROM
FOREIGN INDUSTRIAL SOURCES IN
WHICH THE WIND BRINGS THEM TO
THE U.S.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S
ADEQUATE INFORMATION ON HEALTH
BENEFITS.
AND FURTHERMORE, THE TRAIN ACT
DOES ASK THE INDEPENDENT BODY TO
LOOK AT BENEFITS, CAN BE HEALTH,
WHATEVER, AND COST.
OPPOSE THE GENTLELADY'S
SO FOR THAT REASON WE WOULD
AMENDMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO --
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA.
POWER PLANTS ARE THE
BIGGEST INDUSTRIAL SOURCE OF
MERCURY IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE REMARKS
OF THE CHAIRMAN SUBCOMMITTEE --
CHAIRMAN OF THE ENERGY COMMITTEE
UNDERSCORE THE VERY REASON THAT
WE SHOULD HAVE THE STUDIES OF
THE HEALTH EFFECTS INCLUDED IN
THE STUDY REQUESTED BY THE TRAIN
ACT.
AND I AM PLEASED TO YIELD NOW TO
MY COLLEAGUE FROM OREGON, THE
LIVABLE CITIES, A
MINUTE, TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC.
I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLELADY'S COURTESY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR OFFERING THIS
AMENDMENT.
MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH
WAYS.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF STUDY.
FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES, E.P.A. HAS
ALREADY ESTIMATED COST OF
COMPLIANCE LESS THAN $1 BILLION,
AND THE SAVINGS TO AMERICANS
FROM LIVES SAVED, HEALTH CARE
COSTS DEVOIDED, AND DAYS OF WORK
AND SCHOOL NOT MISSED BETWEEN
120 AND 2 $280 BILLION.
THIS IS A PART OF THE STUDY
EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON
FOR 20 YEARS.
WE HAD HOPED THAT ON THE 25TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT
IN 2015 WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE
FULL COMPLIANCE.
AND YET WE ARE QUIBBLING HERE
ABOUT THINGS THAT E.P.A. HAS
BEEN UNABLE TO MONETIZE LIKE A
BIRTH DEFECT, BUT FOR HEAVEN'S
SAKES IT'S SERIOUS.
IN ADDITION TO THE HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS THAT THEY CAN MONETIZE.
THIS IS, I THINK, UNFORTUNATE
THAT IF THIS APPROACH IS
APPROVED, THAT WILL ENABLE THE
CHINESE TO -- WILL ENABLE THE
CHINESE TO GET AHEAD OF US
AGAIN.
REMEMBER I PUT IN THE RECORD
LAST NIGHT THAT -- THE PAGE OF
THE CHINESE DAILY WHERE THEY ARE
MOVING AHEAD TO REDUCE
EMISSIONS.
THEY ARE WILLING TO INCUR THE
COSTS BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH
BENEFITS.
BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR MY
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE TO GO AHEAD AFTER 25
YEARS.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KENTUCKY.
DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA HAVE
ANY TIME LEFT?
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA HAS ONE MINUTE.
MAY I ASK HOW MUCH
TIME IS LEFT?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KENTUCKY HAS 2 1/2.
HAS ONE.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
WE DON'T HAVE ANY
OTHER SPEAKERS.
SO I WOULD WAIT FOR THE
GENTLELADY TO CLOSE.
I'M HAPPY TO YIELD A
MINUTE TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM
FLORIDA, A MOTHER OF THREE YOUNG
CHILDREN, MISS DEBBIE WASSERMAN
SCHULTZ.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MY
COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSWOMAN LOIS
CAPPS, AND IN OPPOSITION TO THE
UNDERLYING BILL.
THE MAJORITY'S LATEST ASSAULT ON
CLEAN AIR AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
I'D LIKE TO THANK CONGRESSWOMAN
CAPPS AND ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO
HAVE SPOKEN IN OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL WHICH PUTS THE HELD OF
ALL AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY OUR
CHILDREN, AT GREAT RISK.
THIS AMENDMENT SIMPLY REQUIRES
THE RECOGNITION OF THE VERY REAL
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF AIR
POLLUTION.
FOR EXAMPLE, CURBING MERCURY
POLLUTION WILL PROTECT CHILDREN
AND MOTHERS FROM TOXINS THAT
DAMAGE DEVELOPING BRAINS.
WHEN THIS AMENDMENT THE REQUIRED
REPORT MUST ASSESS THE EFFECT ON
BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DEFECTS
AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES
CAUSED BY THE DELAY.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
WHO COULD BE OPPOSED TO THAT?
FOR SUCH A SMALL ADDITIONAL
EFFORT, THIS ASSESSMENT WOULD
PROVIDE CRUCIAL INFORMATION
AFFECT THE HEALTH OF ALL
FEMENTS.
AS A MOTHER OF THREE YOUNG
CHILDREN WHOSE HEALTH IS AMONG
MY GREATIERS CONCERNS, MY URGE
MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE PARENTS
AND GRANT PARENTS TO CONSIDER
THE IMPACT OF THIS BAD BILL.
DELAYING THE STANDARDS WILL HAVE
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ON THEIR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
REMEMBER THAT WE ARE THEIR FIRST
LINE OF DEFENSE IN THIS WORLD.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN SUPPORTING THIS GOOD
AMENDMENT AND OPPOSING THE
THANK YOU.
UNDERLYING BILL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLELADY'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY IS
I WOULD REMIND
EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT 14 REGULATIONS.
IN ANY WAY.
WE ARE NOT DELAYING 12 OF THEM
WE ARE ASKING FOR FURTHER
ANALYSIS OF TWO OF THEM.
AND FOR THAT REASON I WOULD
OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT.
AND YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELD
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
CALIFORNIA.
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
AYE.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
NOT AGREED TO.
I ASK FOR A RECORDED
VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA WILL
BE POSTPONED.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 5 PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112-213.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS SEEK
RECOGNITION?
DESK.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE
THE
AMENDMENT.
CLERK WILL DESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT NUMBER 5,
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT NUMBER
112-213, OFFERED BY MR. KIN
ZINGER OF ILLINOIS --
MR. KINZINGER OF ILLINOIS.
THE MEMBER FROM
ILLINOIS, MR. KINZINGER, AND A
MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS.
I WANT TO THANK
MY COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS, MR.
GONZALEZ, FOR CO-AUTHORING THIS
AMENDMENT WITH ME TO H.R. 2401,
THE TRAIN ACT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT BIPARTISAN
AMENDMENT THAT HITS DIRECTLY ON
WHAT AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY MY
CONSTITUENTS IN ILLINOIS, ARE
FACING EVERY DAY.
THE HIGH COST OF GASOLINE.
LATER THIS YEAR IT IS EXPECTED
THAT THE E.P.A. WILL PROMULGATE
RULES ON GASOLINE REFINERS
MANDATING THEY LOWER SULFUR
LEVELS AND VAPOR PRESSURE BY
70%.
THIS WOULD BE EVEN FURTHER BELOW
THE ALREADY LOW LEVELS MANDATED
.
IN 2004.
THEY LOWERED SULFUR IN GASOLINE
BY 70%.
IT COULD FORCE REFINERIES IN
THE U.S. TO SLASH THEIR
GASOLINE PRODUCTION BY UP TO
14%, LEAVING THE UNITED STATES
EVEN MORE DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN
SOURCES OF OIL.
OUR AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE THE
E.P.A. TO JUST TO STUDY THE
ECONOMIC COSTS OF THESE NEW
FIELD REQUIREMENTS.
BEFORE DELIVERING WHAT COULD BE
A DEVASTATING BLOW TO THE
CUSTOMER AND TO OUR ECONOMY,
THE E.P.A. SHOULD FIRST PROVIDE
DATA TO SHOW LOWERING THE
SULFUR CONTENT WILL ACTUALLY
ACHIEVE COST-EFFECTIVE REAL
EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS IN AIR
QUALITY AND HEALTH AND WELFARE
BENEFITS.
AMERICANS ARE FED UP WITH THE
MARKETS.
VOLATILITY IN THE GASOLINE
WHILE WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
CONTROL THE PRICE OF OIL IN THE
GLOBAL MARKET, WE CAN CONTROL
FUEL.
THE COSTS OF REGULATIONS IN OUR
EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S TAKEN OUT
OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLAR DUE TO
NEW REGULATION IS A DOLLAR
THAT'S NOT GOING TO REFUEL THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY.
WE NEED COMMONSENSE REGULATIONS
AND WE NEED TO KNOW THE IMPACTS
OF REGULATIONS ON FAMILIES AND
BUSINESSES BEFORE THEY GO INTO
EFFECT.
THIS AMENDMENT A COMMONSENSE
APPROACH TO ENSURE AMERICANS
GETS THE COST WORTHY BENEFITS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS AMENDMENT AND AT THIS TIME
IT'S MY HONOR TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE CO-AUTHOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, MR. GONZALEZ.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
FIRST OFF, I
EXTEND MY THANKS TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM ILLINOIS TO JOIN
ME IN CO-SPONSORING WHAT I
BELIEVE IS A VERY IMPORTANT
AMENDMENT.