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I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING FIRST
BEFORE -- THAT'S IT.
I AM READY NOW TO YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME AFTER I
MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ON
THIS RESOLUTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
WITHOUT OBJECTION THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION IS ORDERED.
THE QUESTION IS ON ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, THIS 15-MINUTE VOTE ON
ADOPTION OF HOUSE RESOLUTION
587 WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A
FIVE-MINUTE VOTE ON THE MOTION
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 665.
THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 232 AND
THE NCAAS ARE 170.
THES REMAIN -- NAYS ARE 170.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
VOTE ON THE MOTION OF THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH, MR.
CHAFFETZ, TO SUSPEND THE RULES
AND PASS H.R. 665 AS AMENDED ON
WHICH THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
H.R. 665, A BILL TO
ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR
THE FEDERAL RAIL PROPERTY.
THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 402, THE
NCAAS ARE ZERO.
2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE --
THE NAYS ARE ZERO.
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE
PASSED.
THE
YEAS ARE 403, THE NAYS ARE
ZERO.
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED -- THE
RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL
IS PASSED AND WITHOUT OBJECTION
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS
LAID ON THE TABLE.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS.
THE HONORABLE THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, IN ORDER
TO REJOIN THE COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND COMMERCE, I HEREBY
RESIGN MY SEAT ON THE SCIENCE,
SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE EFFECTIVE TODAY.
SIGNED, SINCERELY, JOHN
SARBANES, MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
THE HONORABLE THE SPEAKER,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SIR,
PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION
FROM THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
SCIENCE, SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
I HAVE BEEN PLEASED TO SERVE ON
THE S.S.T. COMMITTEE DURING THE
112TH CONGRESS.
IS
NECESSITATED BY THE RECENT
VACANCY AND MY ASSIGNMENT TO
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION AND THE WORK FORCE.
THANK YOU, BEST REGARDS, MARSHA
L. FUDGE, MEMBER OF -- M --
MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
RESIGNATIONS ARE ACCEPTED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON SEEK
RECOGNITION?
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT SEEK
RECOGNITION?
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, BY DIRECTION OF
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, I OFFER
A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION AND ASK
FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE RESOLUTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION
590, RESOLVED THAT THE
FOLLOWING NAMED MEMBERS BE AND
ARE HEREBY ELECTED TO THE
FOLLOWING STANDING COMMITTEES
OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ONE, COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND
THE WORK FORCE.
I ASK THAT THE RESOLUTION BE
CONSIDERED AS READ AND PRINTED
IN THE RECORD.
IS
THERE ANY OBJECTION?
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
HIS CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO AND THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RECOGNITION?
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 MATERIAL
ON THE BILL H.R. 2087.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
587 AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR
DECLARES THE HOUSE IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2087.
THE CHAIR APPOINTS THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, MR.
GARDNER, 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 THE H. -- OF
H.R. 2087 WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT BY TITLE.
A BILL TO REMOVE
RESTRICTIONS FROM A PARCEL OF
LAND SITUATED IN THE ATLANTIC
DISTRICT ACCOMACK COUNTY,
VIRGINIA.
PURSUANT TO THE
RULE, THE BILL IS CONSIDERED
READ THE FIRST TIME, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR.
HASTINGS, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA, MR. GRIJALVA,
EACH WILL CONTROL 30 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
MR. SPEAKER, OR
MR. CHAIRMAN -- MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD MYSELF AS MUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
YIELDS.
EX KEYS CUSTE ME, TO HIMSELF --
EXCUSE ME, TO HIMSELF.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R.
2087 ON A NO COSTS JOBS BILL
THAT REMOVES GOVERNMENT HURDLES
TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS BILL BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA MR. A-- WILL ALLOW
ACCOMACK COUNTY IN VIRGINIA TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS TO
DEVELOP AND, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
WANT TO SAY THIS VERY
EXPLICITLY, TO DEVELOP 32 ACRE
PARCEL.
NOT 32 MILLION, NOT 300 --
320,000, 32-ACRE PARCEL OF LAND
ADJACENT TO AN AIR STRIP INTO A
TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
FACILITY.
CURRENTLY THE PARCEL HAS A
RESTRICTION LIMITING USE OF THE
PURPOSES.
THIS WAS A CONDITION PLACED ON
THE PROPERTY WHEN THE COUNTY
OBTAINED THE DEED THROUGH THE
FEDERAL LAND PARK TO PROGRAM IN
1976.
UNFORTUNATELY THE PARK HAS BEEN
OF LITTLE BENEFIT TO THE
THOUGH THE COUNTY HAS MADE
DILIGENT EFFORTS, THE PARK HAS
FALLEN OUT OF USE AND IS
CURRENTLY OVERGROWN AND
UNMAINTAINED.
NOW ACCOMACK COUNTY HAS FOUND A
BETTER WAY TO SERVE ITS
CITIZENS AND DETERMINE THAT
THIS LEGISLATION THAT CAN
CREATE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS
OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
JOBS IS A PROPER WAY TO GO.
THIS PROPERTY IS ALREADY OWNED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, AGAIN, THIS
PROPERTY IS ALREADY OWNED BY
ACCOMACK COUNTY.
NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
CONGRESS CREATED THE PROGRAM
THAT ALLOWED THE COUNTY TO TAKE
TITLE TO THIS LAND.
THE PURPOSE AT THAT TIME WAS TO
HELP COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS TO
DO WHAT THE BILL SAYS IT SHOULD
DO.
CONGRESS HAS THE AUTHORITY TO
DO THIS AND SHOULD HAVE THE
COMMON SENSE TO ALLOW THE
COUNTY TO DO THIS.
THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS THAT
THIS WILL LEAD TO AN AVALANCHE
OF THESE TYPES OF REQUESTS.
LET'S BE CLEAR.
THIS IS JUST ONE SPECIFIC
PROPOSAL DEALING WITH ONE
PARCEL OF LAND TOTALING 32
ACRES, NOT 320 ACRES, NOT
3,200, JUST 32 ACRES.
OF LANDS
THAT HAVE BEEN TFERED THROUGH
THE LAND TO PARK -- TRANSFERED
THROUGH THE LAND TO PARK
THIS INVOLVES AN EXTHREEMLY
SMALL -- EXTREMELY SMALL AMOUNT
OF LAND.
THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY INSTANCES
IN WHICH COMMUNITIES AND STATES
WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF THE
FEDERAL RED TAPE ON PRIVATE
LANDOWNERSHIP WAS LIFTED.
JUST AS THERE WERE INSTANCES
WHERE REDUCING FEDERAL
LANDOWNERSHIP WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES
AND STATES.
YET, HERE WE ARE TO DEBATE THIS
SPECIFIC BILL, AND IT IS SIMPLY
NOT REASONABLE TO ARGUE THAT
THE SKY IS GOING TO FALL IF
THIS BILL AFFECTING, AGAIN, MR.
CHAIRMAN, 32 ACRES IN ACCOMACK
COUNTY BECOMES LAW.
WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT IS STILL OVER
8%, CONGRESS SHOULD BE LOOKING
EVERY OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE,
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL
TO CREATE NEW AMERICAN JOBS.
GAS PRICES ARE RAPIDLY RISING
AND FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES ARE
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, CONGRESS
SHOULD MAKE IT A PRIORITY, A
PRIORITY TO ELIMINATE HURDLES
TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA HAS
GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
IMMEDIATELY HELP A COMMUNITY
WITH THE PLAN TO CREATE JOBS.
WE NEED TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION TO -- TODAY AND I
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
H.R. 2087.
WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
LEGISLATION AND YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
THE FEDERAL LAND TO PARK
PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL PARTS OF OUR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
FOR THOSE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
THAT ARE NOT BLESSED WITH THE
GRAND CANYON OR THE SONORA
DESERT, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH EXCESS
FEDERAL LANDS AT NO COST,
PROVIDED THE LAND IS USED FOR
RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
OVER THE YEARS, NEARLY 1,500
PARCELS OF LAND HAVE GONE TO
GOVERNMENTS FOR FREE.
THE LAND HAS BEEN FOISTED UPON
THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
INSTEAD, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
ACTIVELY WORK WITH THE PARK
SERVICE TO OBTAIN LAND FOR
HISTORICAL, NATURAL OR
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS.
I SHOULD NOTE FOR
CLARIFICATION, AS WE GO FORWARD
WITH THIS DEBATE, THAT THIS IS
NOT COUNTY LAND.
THIS IS FEDERAL LAND.
THE COUNTY IS ALLOWED TO
CONTROL THIS LAND AS LONG AS IT
IS USED FOR THE RECREATIONAL
PURPOSES IN THE AGREEMENT.
IF THIS WAS COUNTY LAND, WE
WOULD NOT BE HERE.
COUNTY CAN'T SELL THE LAND.
THE COUNTY CAN'T LEASE THE
THE COUNTY CAN'T RENT THE LAND.
THE COUNTY DOES NOT OWN THE
LAND.
THIS BILL GIVES FEDERAL LAND
AWAY FOR FREE.
EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS
ARE 195 ACRES THAT WENT TO THE
CITY OF OGDEN IN UTAH FOR THE
OGDEN NATIONAL CENTER, RODEO
AND FAIR GROUNDS.
97 ACRES THAT WENT TO BRING HAM
CITY, UTAH, FOR THE BRIGHAM
INTERCITY GOLF COURSE.
AND 307 ACRES TO THE CITY OF
AURORA, COLORADO, FOR THE
AURORA RESERVOIR PARK.
2.7 ACRES TO THE TOWN OF
SULPHUR SPRINGS, COLORADO.
ALL OF THESE TOOK THE SAME
DEALS AS ACCOMACK COUNTY IN
1976.
THEY ADVOCATED FOR THE TRANSFER
AND FREELY AGREED TO THE DEED
THAT ENSURED THE LAND WOULD BE
USED FOR RECREATION OR REVERT
BACK TO FEDERAL OWNERSHIP.
OVER THE YEARS, AS LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE FOUGHT
DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES AND
BUDGET SHORTFALLS, THE PARK
SERVICE AND THE GENERAL
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION HAVE
DEVELOPED A LAND EXCHANGE
PROCESS TO ENABLE SOME
FLEXIBILITY FOR THESE
THEY CAN ENTER INTO A LAND
EXCHANGE THAT REQUIRES THE LAND
BE OF EQUAL RECREATION AND FREE
MARKET VALUE.
ALTERNATIVE, THE COUNTY COULD
RETURN THE LAND TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND PURCHASE IT FOR
FAIR MARKET VALUE THROUGH THE
G.S.A. PROCESS.
THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION
AND THE COUNTY INVOLVED HAVE
REJECTED BOTH OF THESE OPTIONS.
INSTEAD, THE COUNTY IS ACTIVELY
PROMOTING A DEVELOPMENT PLAN
THAT INCLUDES THESE LANDS IN
QUESTION WHILE WAITING FOR AN
DEED.
ENACTMENT OF THIS BILL CREATES
AN UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS
PRECEDENT EVERY -- FOR EVERY
OTHER PROJECT OUT THERE.
THE REASON THE FEDERAL LAND
MANAGEMENT AGENCIES REFUSE TO
GIVE AWAY FEDERAL LAND IS
BECAUSE CONGRESS, CONGRESS
REQUIRES THE AGENCIES TO SEEK
LEGISLATION TO SELL OR TRANSFER
FEDERAL LANDS.
AND YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE A PESKY LITTLE
DEVELOPMENT CALLED THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION REQUIRES
CONGRESS TO MAKE LAWS WITH
RESPECT TO DISPOSITION OF
IT ENCOURAGES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO -- THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RUN TO
CONGRESS AND CASH IN ON A GIFT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHARED
WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
THIS LEGISLATION SHOULD BE
REJECTED.
I URGE A NO VOTE ON THIS BILL
AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
AM VERY PLEASED TO YIELD FIVE
MINUTES TO THE AUTHOR OF THIS
LEGISLATION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA, MR. RIGELL.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
I THANK MY FRIEND,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY,
MR. SPEAKER, TO COME BEFORE
THIS BODY TODAY AND MAKE THE
CASE THAT THIS IS WONDERFUL AND
STRONG LEGISLATION THAT SHOULD
BE MOVED FORWARD FOR ONE
PURPOSE, JOB CREATION AND THE
COMMONWEALTH -- IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, IN
ACCOMACK COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY.
THIS BILL REFLECTS COMMON
IT REFLECTS COMMON GROUND.
IT CAME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE
WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, MR.
SPEAKER, IT REFLECTS THE
COLLECTIVE WISDOM AND THE WILL
OF THE HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS OF
ACCOMACK COUNTY, AND HERE'S
WHY, MR. SPEAKER, THAT THIS
BILL, IF ENACTED AND PASSED,
WILL CREATE JOBS.
YOU SEE, THE FOLKS OF ACCOMACK
COUNTY HAVE NOT ASKED THE
SOMETHING.
THEY SIMPLY ASK THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO GET OUT OF THE
WAY SO THE GREATEST JOB
PRODUCING ENGINE THE WORLD'S
EVER KNOWN, THE ENTREPRENEURS
IN ACCOMACK COUNTY CAN GET TO
WORK IN A VERY RESPONSIBLE WAY
OF DEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY
THAT IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT
NASA FACILITY THERE.
IT'S I THINK A CLEAR CONTRAST
OF TWO BASIC PHILOSOPHICAL
APPROACHES TO JOB CREATION.
ONE LOOKS TO THIS INSTITUTION
AND TO WASHINGTON TO SEE THIS
INSTITUTION IS THE PRIMARY
CRIFERE OF JOB CREATION.
-- DRIVER OF JOB CREATION.
AS A LIFETIME ENTREPRENEUR, MR.
SPEAKER, I REJECT THAT APPROACH
AND INSTEAD HAVE ADOPTED ALL OF
MY LIFE AND BELIEVE WE NEED TO
BRING TO THIS BODY THE MINDSET
THAT THE BEST THING TO DO TO
GET OUR ECONOMY GOING AGAIN IS
TO ELIMINATE THE HURDLES.
THIS IS A VERY PRACTICAL HURDLE
THAT IS HOLDING BACK JOB
CREATION IN A COUNTY THAT
DESPERATELY NEEDS JOBS.
16%, MR. SPEAKER, OF THE
HARDWORKING FAMILIES IN
ACCOMACK COUNTY LIVE UNDER THE
POVERTY LINE.
ABOUT 90% OF THE PROPERTY
THAT'S IN ACCOMACK COUNTY IS
AGRICULTURAL.
IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A POOR
COUNTY.
AND THIS BILL SIMPLY REMOVES A
DEED RESTRICTION.
MY FRIEND BEHIND ME JUST A FEW
MOMENTS AGO SAID, NOW, DO YOU
HAVE A PICTURE OF THIS?
I SAID, WELL, WE DIDN'T BRING
IT DOWN TO THE FLOOR.
WE COULD HAVE.
IT IS OVERGROWN.
THERE IS A DELAP TATED DUGOUT
FACILITY.
THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE IS NO BUILDINGS.
ACCOMACK COUNTY HAS A PLAN.
YOU KNOW, AMERICANS ARE
RESOURCEFUL.
THEY'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY --
FIGURE A WAY OUT OF THIS.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE A
WONDERFUL PLAN FOR THE RESEARCH
PARK BUT IT ONLY WORKS, MR.
SPEAKER -- MR. CHAIRMAN, RATHER
-- IT ONLY WORKS, MR. CHAIRMAN,
IF THIS DEED RESTRICTION IS
REMOVED.
ACRES.
GREAT POTENTIAL, GREAT
POTENTIAL FOR THE FOLKS IN
ACCOMACK COUNTY.
I WANT TO CLOSE, MR. CHAIRMAN,
BY RECOUNTING A CONVERSATION
THAT I HAD JUST A FEW MOMENTS
AGO, AND I ACTUALLY CALLED THE
PERSON BACK AND I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE I HAD HER PERMISSION
TO SHARE THIS STORY.
I TRUST SHE'S LISTENING NOW.
MR. CHAIRMAN, HER NAME IS
HER HUSBAND IS A BUILDER IN
ACCOMACK COUNTY, AND THEIR
BUSINESS HAS BEEN HURTING
BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY.
AND JIM'S A FRIEND OF MINE.
HURTING.
KATHY USED TO WORK FOR HIM IN
ACCOUNTING AND SHE'S BEEN OUT
LOOKING FOR WORK BECAUSE THE
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS IS SO
DEPRESSED AND WE ALL KNOW THAT.
AND I CALLED KATHY.
I SAID, KATHY, I'D LIKE TO
REFERENCE YOU HERE.
DO I HAVE YOUR PERMISSION?
AND SHE SAID, YES, YOU DO.
THIS IS A -- THIS IS JUST ONE
THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF FAMILIES IN ACCOMACK COUNTY,
AND I WISH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE WHO ARE OPPOSING
THIS BILL COULD LOOK THEM IN
THE EYE AND EXPLAIN TO THEM
WHY, WHY WE CAN'T REMOVE THIS
DEED RESTRICTION.
IT'S A CLASSIC EXAMPLE, MR.
CHAIRMAN, OF PATERNALISTIC
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AN
OPPRESSIVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HOLDING BACK JOB CREATION.
WE'RE ALL AMERICAN TAXPAYERS.
THIS IDEA OF TRANSFERRING IT
FROM ONE TO ANOTHER, $800,000
OR MORE FROM A POOR COUNTY,
THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH
AMERICA, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND EVEN
THOUGH THIS IS A RELATIVELY
SMALL BIG IN THE -- BILL IN THE
BIG SCHEME OF THINGS, 32 ACRES,
WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OWNS ALMOST 1/3 OF ALL THE LAND
IN THE UNITED STATES -- THAT,
TOO, IS A PROBLEM.
MAYBE WE'LL GET AROUND TO IT
ONE DAY, MR. CHAIRMAN.
BUT UNTIL THEN WE'RE JUST
TALKING ABOUT 32 ACRES, SO I
ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE TO RECONSIDER AND I'D ASK
THEM TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS
AND LET'S GET SOME HARDWORKING
TO WORK.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
YES, LET ME YIELD
FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY
FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IT'S
INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT WITH
ALL THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE THAT
ARE FACING OUR NATION THIS BODY
IS TAKING UP LEGISLATION TODAY
HAVING TO DO WITH A 32-ACRE
PARCEL OF LAND IN VIRGINIA.
IS THIS REALLY THE BEST WE CAN
DO?
AT A MOMENT WHEN OUR ECONOMY IS
STILL UNDERPERFORMING, AT A
MOMENT WHEN WE'RE STILL SENDING
BRAVE AMERICANS TO DIE IN AN
IMMORAL WAR THAT'S GONE ON FOR
NEARLY AS LONG AS MY GRANDSON,
ALIVE, WE STILL
HAVE MORE THAN 8% UNEMPLOYMENT
IN THIS COUNTRY, WE STILL HAVE
FAMILIES AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES
WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
WE HAVE FAMILIES LOSING HOMES
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
WE HAVE FAMILIES NOT KNOWING
HOW TO PAY NEXT MONTH'S BILLS
TO COLLEGE.
WE ARE WONDERING WHY THE VERY
HEALTH CARE REFORMS THEY NEEDED
ARE ABOUT TO GO ON TRIAL AT THE
U.S. SUPREME COURT.
WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WHO MORE
THAN EVER ARE DEPENDING ON A
SAFETY NET, PROGRAMS LIKE
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, WHICH
HAVE A BIG FAT TARGET ON THEIR
BACKS PUT IN BY THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET PLAN THAT WAS JUST
UNVEILED TODAY.
A GOOD START WOULD BE TO PASS
THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION BILL
TO REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
WORK.
THEN, HOW ABOUT GETTING DOWN TO
BUSINESS OF ENDING THE WAR
IN AFGHANISTAN WHICH IS KILLING
OUR PEOPLE, UNDERMINING OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DIVERTING
THE MONEY THAT WE NEED TO MEET
HUMAN NEEDS RIGHT HERE AT HOME?
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO
DEBATE A BILL ABOUT 32 ACRES OF
LAND IN VIRGINIA.
NOT WHEN WE STILL HAVE
THOUSANDS OF TROOPS IN HARM'S
WAY FIGHTING A WAR THAT IS
DOING NOTHING TO KEEP AMERICA
VITAL INTERESTS.
WE HAVE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO
DEBATE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
BIG PROBLEMS TO TACKLE.
AMERICANS WHO NEED OUR HELP AND
END.
URGENCY.
WHY ISN'T THE MAJORITY ACTING
I YIELD BACK.
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
AM VERY PLEASED TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE CO-SPONSOR OF
THIS LEGISLATION, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MARYLAND, MR. HARRIS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I WANT
TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA FOR
GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CO-SPONSOR THIS BILL.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, OF
COURSE, IS FROM THE SOUTHERN
END OF THE DELMARVA PENINSULA.
I REPRESENT THE MIDDLE PART,
JOINING ACCOMACK COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, WE HEARD A LOT DURING
THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.
THE PRESIDENT STOOD IN FRONT OF
YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND TALKED
ABOUT SHOVEL-READY JOBS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE ARE
SHOVEL-READY JOBS READY TO GO.
THIS AREAED A JOINS THE LAUNCH
FACILITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
AREAS THAT LAUNCH PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE VEHICLES INTO SPACE.
THAT.
FOR A POOR COUNTY IN ACCOMACK.
AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE MENTIONED IT, 8%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
WORCESTER COUNTY WHERE HALF THE
EMPLOYEES IN THIS INDUSTRIAL
WORK HAD AN 8% RATE.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 16.5%
IN WORCESTER COUNTY.
THE PRESIDENT STOOD THERE AND
SAID WE HAVE TO GET AMERICANS
BACK TO WORK.
MR. CHAIRMAN WE NEED TO CUT
THROUGH THE RED TAPE JUST LIKE
THE PRESIDENT SAID AND GET
PROJECTS LIKE THIS GOING.
THERE'S NO LOSS OF RECREATION
AREA.
ACCOMACK COUNTY IS OFFERED TO
IN FACT FIND ANOTHER 32 ACRES
TO HAVE THE RECREATION AREA.
SO LET'S NOT PRETEND THERE'S A
LOSS.
LET'S NOT PRETEND THIS LAND
DOESN'T BELONG TO ACCOMACK KTS.
THEY HOLD THE TITLE.
LIKE A POOR STEP-CHILD, THEY'RE
COMING TO ANGELINA -- UNCLE
SAM, BEGGING FOR PERMISSION TO
DETERIORATE JOBS IN ACCOMACK
COUNTY AND LIKE THE MEAN OLD
UNCLE, UNCLE SAM HAS SAID NO.
THERE'S RED TAPE INVOLVED.
WE HAVE A BUREAUCRACY.
YOU HAVE TO FILL IN ALL THE
YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE 15.6% OF
WORCESTER COUNTY WHO RUN
EMPLOYED DON'T HAVE THE TIME
FOR THIS RED TAPE.
WE MUST DO THIS.
THE GENTLEMAN CALLED THIS
UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU'RE RIGHT.
UNACCEPTABLE.
IT'S DANGEROUS TO OUR ECONOMY.
JEAMENT SAID IT'S INCONCEIVE --
THE GENTLELADY SAID THAT IT'S
INCONCEIVABLE THAT WE'RE HERE.
COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER.
HOW COULD OUR FEDERAL
POORLY?
WE NEED TO PASS THIS BILL, MR.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD FOUR
MINUTES TO MY COLLEAGUE, MR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FOUR MINUTES.
I'D LIKE TO THANK
TIME.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THESE
ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE
PEOPLE INVOLVED.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO SUPPORT AND OPPOSE THIS
BILL CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IT.
IT'S A LOCAL ISSUE AND I COME
FROM A LOCALITY AND THEREFORE
UNDERSTAND.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
THAT OUR COUNTRY IS IN SOME
SERIOUSLY GRIEVOUS HARM.
BECAUSE WE, YES, WE DO HAVE AN
EXORBITANT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
IT'S BEEN GOING DOWN, WE'VE
PRIVATE SECTOR
BUT THERE'S STILL TOO MANY
PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED.
AND YET THE MAJORITY IS NOT --
HAS NOT TAKEN THE TIME ON THE
FLOOR TODAY TO DEAL WITH HOW
WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL
AMERICANS BACK.
THEY'RE TAKING TIME TO ANYTHING
OUT HOW THEY CAN DO AN EARMARK
EARMARKS.
THIS IS REMARKABLE.
I'M ACTUALLY NOT AGAINST
I'M FOR THEM.
I THINK THEY'RE A GOOD THING.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE MAJORITY HAS SAID NO
EARMARKS AND YET THIS IS LIKE
THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF WEEKS WE SEE THEM
FLOATING THEIR EARMARKS RIGHT
ON THROUGH.
YOU KNOW, H.R. 2087 WOULD ALLOW
A COUNTY IN A PARTICULAR
REPRESENTATIVE'S DISTRICT TO
ACQUIRE FULL OWNERSHIP OF A
LITTLE LESS THAN 32 ACRES OF
FEDERAL LAND WORTH MORE THAN
$800,000 FOR FREE.
NOW, THAT'S AN EARMARK.
YET THE REST OF US CABINET GET
BUT IF YOU ARE -- CAN'T GET
THEM.
BUT IF YOU'RE IN AMONG THE
THAT'S WRONG.
THAT'S UNFAIR.
THAT'S UNJUST.
AND IT'S PARTICULARLY UNJUST
GIVEN THE GRIEVOUS PROBLEMS
THAT WE'RE FACING AS A NATION.
WE SHOULD BE VOTING ON A REAL
JOBS BILL TO CREATE GOOD JOBS
ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING WITH
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT
A NOW PROINVENTION INTEREST IN
TRYING TO GIVE AWAY FEDERAL
LAND FOR FREE FOR A PARTICULAR
INTEREST IN A PARTICULAR
LOCALITY.
WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT HOW
WE'RE GOING TO SAVE AND PROTECT
MEDICARE GUARANTEE FOR ALL
AMERICANS WHICH IS IN THREAT,
GIVEN THE RYAN BUDGET, BUT, NO,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A NARROW
SMALLTOWN INTEREST WHICH I
THINK IS IMPORTANT BUT WHICH
THE MAJORITY IN THEIR INFINITE
WISDOM HAS SAID WE CAN'T DO
BECAUSE THAT'S AN EARMARK.
YOU KNOW, THE G.O.P. HAS WASTED
THE LAST 441 DAYS THAT THEY'VE
BEEN IN CHARGE AND FAILED TO
PRODUCE A SINGLE JOBS BILL.
IN FACT, THEY'RE TRYING TO CUT
JOBS.
THE TRANSPORTATION BILL WOULD
LEAD TO A LOSS OF OVER 500,000
JOBS.
NOW, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY
SYMPATHIZE WITH THE FOLKS WHO
ARE OUT OF WORK IN THE COUNTY
WHERE THIS EARMARK IS GOING TO
I DO.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
UNEMPLOYED.
THAT'S WHY I WISH WE HAD A REAL
JOBS BILL AS OPPOSED TO THESE
GIVEAWAYS OF FEDERAL LAND AND
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO'S
GOING TO END UP BENEFITING AT
THE END OF THE DAY.
BOTTOM LINE IS, WE HAVE REAL
PROBLEMS IN AMERICA.
WE GOT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, WE
GOT ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS, WE GOT
HEALTH CARE NEEDS.
WE GOT REAL DEBATES TO TAKE
CARE OF.
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE
DEBATING THOSE THINGS, WE GOT
TO BE ON THE FLOOR TAKING THE
TIME TO DO THOSE THINGS, NOT
DEALING WITH DISGUISED EARMARKS
FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY
HAPPEN TO, I DON'T KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW WHY THEY GET
PRIVILEGED TREATMENT OVER
PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO DON'T GET TO
OFFER EARMARKS ANYMORE.
I SAY THIS, MR. SPEAKER, AT THE
END OF THE DAY AMERICA AS A
COUNTRY -- IS A COUNTRY THAT
NEEDS THE ATTENTION OF THIS
CONGRESS SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN
GET A JOB THAT PAYS WELL ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY.
AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.
WE'RE FAILING.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE
ALLOWING ONE COUNTY IN ONE
MEMBER'S DISTRICT TO ACQUIRE
FULL OWNERSHIP OF A VALUABLE
PIECE OF LAND FOR FREE.
AND THAT'S WRONG.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.