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THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
MADAM CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I ASK FOR THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
ASK FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
YES, MA'AM.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA WILL
BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
REPORT THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MS. JACKSON LEE OF TEXAS.
PAGE 32, LINE 12, AFTER THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT DECREASED
BY $5,500,000.
PAGE 65, LINE 19, AFTER THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT INCREASED
BY $5 MILLION.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
I THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.
WE ARE IN SOME TOUGH TIMES, BUT
I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE A STRUCTURE IN THIS
GOVERNMENT THAT PROVIDES
OVERSIGHT OVER THE ENVIRONMENT
OF THIS COUNTRY. AND HOWEVER ONE MAY
QUARREL WITH REGULATIONS THAT
MAY SEEM A LITTLE STEEP, THE
WORK OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY IS IMPORTANT.
AND AS WE STAND HERE TODAY, THIS
LEGISLATION CUTS THE BUDGET OF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY BY 18%, IN ADDITION TO
16% IN FUNDING FOR F.Y. 2011,
34%.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN ORDER TO
PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT
HARMING INDUSTRY, WE MUST REACH
A COMPROMISE WITHOUT SLASHING
THE E.P.A. BUDGET.
THESE CUTS LIMIT THE E.P.A.'S
ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL
AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO
DRINKING WATER THAT DOES NOT
CONTAIN TOXINS THAT EXPOSE
AMERICANS TO TYPHOID AND ORGAN
DAMAGE.
THE ASSAULT ON PUBLIC HEALTH
DOES NOT STOP WITH THE QUALITY
OF OUR DRINKING WATER.
THIS BILL TAKES STEPS.
A RIDER IS ATTACHED THAT WOULD
PREVENT THE E.P.A. FROM
IMPLEMENTING A REGULATION THAT
WAS IMPLEMENTED TO PROTECT THE
PUBLIC FROM DANGEROUS AIR
POLLUTION AND PREVENT UP TO
34,000 PREMATURE DEATHS AND
400,000 CASES OF ASTHMA.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN E.P.A.
DIRECTOR AS HARD AS LISA
JACKSON, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HAD
OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATORS.
SHE HAS WORKED WITH MEMBERS
ACROSS THE AISLE.
BUT THESE CUTS REDUCE FUNDING
FOR PROGRAMS THAT KEEP OUR
CONSTITUENTS SAFE AND I CANNOT
SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE BUT I
CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THESE CUTS
IMPACT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.
HOUSTON HAS THE POOREST AIR
QUALITY IN THE NATION.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND A
WAY TO INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR
THE E.P.A. AND AS THIS BILL
MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE FLOOR,
I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO DO SO
AND I START FIRST WITH THIS
EFFORT AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
CANNOT RESERVE.
I DO NOT YIELD
BACK.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE, PLEASE?
2 1/2 MINUTES.
I WILL CONTINUE
AND I WILL NOT AT THIS TIME
YIELD BACK MY TIME.
LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU ABOUT THE
OLD ACRES COUNCIL.
THIS IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY.
THEY CONDUCTED A STUDY TO ACK
ASSESS THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH
RISK.
A LOCAL LANDFILL COULD BE THE
CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS.
ENORMOUS CANCER IN THAT AREA.
IT WAS AWARDED A $20,000 GRANT
FROM THE E.P.A.
AND IT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE
SUPERFUND WHICH OBVIOUSLY IT WAS
IN SOME YEARS PAST TO CONDUCT
TESTS TO CONDUCT ASSESS AND
AQUALITY THE RISKS TO HUMAN
HEALTH.
THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM WAS TO
INVESTIGATE WHETHER THERE WERE
HAZARDOUS RUNOFF.
THIS COMMUNITY NEEDED THOSE
RESOURCES.
THE COUNCIL USED THE GRANT FUNDS
TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO TAKE AIR
AND WATER SAMPLES.
THE ANALYSIS REVEALED HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS OF HIGH TOXIN
SUBSTANCES.
THEY OBSERVED SUBSTANCES SEEP
PPING.
THIS WILL COLLECTED INTO POOLS
OF WATER.
THEY BECAME ENGEORGED AND
INCREASED -- INCREASING
EXPOSURES OF RESIDENTS TO
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES.
IT EDUCATED A POOR COMMUNITY OF
SENIORS AND OTHERS ABOUT THE
CONDITIONS OF THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS FUNDING THAT TAKES AWAY
FROM E.P.A. AND TAKES AWAY FROM
THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING
FUND AND IMPACTS COMMUNITIES
LIKE THAT OF THE ACRES HOME
COMMUNITY IN THE 18TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
MY FRIENDS, WE CANNOT GAMBLE
WITH THE SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN
PUM PUBLIC.
THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE NEED
TO RESTORE THIS FUNDING AND I
HAVE MADE THIS EFFORT TO DO SO.
I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
SINCE THE DEBT LIMIT WAS PUT IN
PLACE, WE HAVE ALWAYS PAID
AMERICA'S BILLS.
WE FIGHT TODAY TO RAISE THE DEBT
CEILING BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE
ARE CUTTING AT AMERICA'S SAFETY
AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN'S
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO IS
RECOGNIZED.
SAME DEBATE OVER
AGAIN.
WE ARE TAKING MONEY FROM THE
OFFICE OF SECRETARY WHICH IS
DOWN SOME $33 MILLION FROM THE
BUDGET REQUEST OF THIS YEAR THAN
WE HAVE TAKEN $20 MILLION OUT OF
THAT ALREADY TO PUT IN THE WATER
AND LAND CONSERVATION FUND.
THIS WOULD TAKE MORE MONEY OUT
OF THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF
THE.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOMEONE HAS AN
AMENDMENT TO FUND A PROGRAM THAT
THEY FEEL IS IMPORTANT, THE
SAVINGS ACCOUNT YOU GET IT FROM
IS THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
NOT ONLY IN THIS BILL BUT OTHER
BILLS.
WE TAKE IT OUT OF
ADMINISTRATION.
IT'S THAT'S THE EASIEST THING TO
DO.
THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY HAS
TAKEN A PRETTY GOOD HIT IN THIS
BILL BOTH DURING THE MARKUP AND
HERE ON DEBATE ON THE FLOOR.
I'M AFRAID I HAVE TO OPPOSE THIS
AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT HITS AN
ACCOUNT THAT IS ALREADY
SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN WHAT
WAS REQUESTED.
I DIDN'T THANK
YOU AND THE RANKING MEMBER FOR A
VERY TOUGH TASK AND MY OVERALL
INTENT WAS THE NEED FOR
INCREASING THE FUNDING IN THE
E.P.A.
AS WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS
PROCESS, DOES THE GENTLEMAN SEE
IN THE CONSULTATION WITH THE
OTHER BODY ANY OPPORTUNITY TO
RESTORE ANY OF THESE FUNDS TO
THE E.P.A.?
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SENATE IS
DOING, WHAT THEIR ALLOCATION IS
GOING TO BE, THEY HAVE NOT
PASSED THE BUDGET, SO THEY HAVE
NO 302-B TO WORK WITH.
THE E.P.A. HAS TAKEN THE LARGEST
HIT WITHIN THIS BUDGET.
A LOT OF THAT WAS DUE TO THE
FACT THEY HAD THE LARGEST
INCREASES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS.
CERTAINLY, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT
ALL OF THESE ACCOUNTS WHEN WE GO
INTO CONFERENCE WITH THE BODY
CROSS THE ROTUNDA TO COME TO A
COMPROMISE.
I WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
AND I KNOW WE WILL TAKE A VOTE
ON THIS.
AND I WILL COME BACK AGAIN ON
THE FLOOR, BECAUSE I THINK THIS
IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I
THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING
TO ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS THAT THE
E.P.A. BE FUNDED MORE FULLY THAN
IT HAS BEEN.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
TEXAS.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
PAGE 33, LINE 18,
ASSISTANCE TO TERRITORIES,
$82,558,000.
COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION,
$3,307,00.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS, THE
SECRETARY MAY TRANSFER
DISCRETIONARY FUNDS PROVIDED
UNDER PUBLIC LAW 108-188 AND
PUBLIC 104-134.
OFFICER OF THE SOLICITOR,
SALARIES AND EXPENSES, $64
MILLION.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA RISE?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE TABLE.
AMENDMENT OFFERED
OFFERED BY MR. GOSAR OF ARIZONA.
PAGE 26, LINE, ININSERT DECREASE
$3 MILLION, PAGE 88, LINE 9,
AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT
INCREASE $4 MILL THON 367,000.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA IS RKNIESED.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE
PROFOUND VALUE OF ORAL HEALTH
PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN.
ORAL HEALTH CARE IS SHOWN TO BE
A CRITICAL ASPECT OF
PREVENTATIVE CARE.
THIS IS TRUE IN THE NATIVE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHICH I'M
PROUD TO SERVE WHICH HAS 21
FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES.
MY AMENDMENT WILL TRANSFER
$4,367,000 IN FROM THE OFFICE TO
THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE.
IT RECOMMENDS $4 MILLION THAN
THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST FOR
DENTAL HEALTH AND WHILE THE BILL
DOES NOT NAME DENTAL HEALTH
SPECIFICALLY I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS
REALLOCATION OF FUNDS IS INTNDED
TO FUND DENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
WITHIN I.H.S.
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TOOK LONG AGO A NUMBER OF
OBLIGATIONS TO OUR NATIVE PEOPLE
AND HEALTH CARE WAS AMONG THEM.
IN PARTICULAR, I COLT STATE THAT
THE INDIAN TRIBES HAVE SUFFERED
IN THE AREA OF ORAL HEALTH.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE INCIDENTS
OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARRIERS
OCCURS WITHIN THE TRIBE
POPULATION AT 300% THE NATIONAL
RATE.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SOMEONE
WHO HAS PRACTICED DEN TIES TRY.
THIS WILL HAVE DIRE
CONSEQUENCES.
DEKAY IS HIRE IN THESE CHILDREN.
PRE-SCHOOL NATIVE CHILDREN
SUFFER.
IN MANY NATIVE COMMUNITIES
BETWEEN 25% AND 50% OF
PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE
EXTENSIVE TOOTH DECAY REQUIRE
RESTORATION.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO IMPROVE
THIS SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT FOR THE
SAKE OF NATIVE CHILDREN WHO WE
HAVE AN OLINGS.
AND I YIELD BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO RISE?
STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE
THAN TIRE DENTAL CAUCUS.
WE ARE THE TWO DENTISTS THAT ARE
IN CONGRESS SO IT MIGHT NOT
SURPRISE YOU THAT I SUPPORT THE
GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT.
I APPRECIATE HIS SINCERE EFFORTS
TO ADDRESS THE OBLIGATIONS BOTH
TRUST OBLIGATIONS AND TREATY
OBLIGATIONS AND MORAL
OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH
OUR INDIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M PROUDEST
OF IN THIS BILL WAS TO BE ABLE
TO CARRY ON THE WORK THAT HAD
BEEN DONE BY CHAIRMAN DICKS WHEN
HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE
AND NOW THAT I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE TO MEET THOSE TRUST
OLINGSES THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR
INDIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
ONE OF THE AREAS IN THIS BILL,
ONE OF THE TWO AREAS THAT GOT
INCREASED FUNDING WAS INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICES BECAUSE WE HAVE
THE OBLIGATION TO MEET THESE
SERVICES.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
PREVALENT DISEASE IN THE UNITED
STATES AND 300% MORE LIKELY IN
NATIVE AMERICANS THAN IT IS IN
THE NORMAL POPULATION.
THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND WE HAVE
TO DO SOMETHING AND MEET THE
CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS.
THERE IS A SAYING THAT'S BEEN
SAID AROUND THE COUNTRY, IF YOU
LIVE IN INDIAN COUNTRY, YOU NEED
TO GET SICK BEFORE JUNE BECAUSE
THE CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS RUN
OUT ABOUT THAT TIME.
ONE THING WE HAVE MADE A
CONCERTED EFFORT, SUPPORT THE
CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS FOR
NATIVE AMERICANS.
WE ARE AT 93 OR 94%.
THE CONTRACT SUPPORT IN THE
B.I.A. THAT DOES THE POLICE WORK
AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE
FULLY FUNDED.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TO MEET THOSE OBLIGATIONS THAT I
THINK WE AS AMERICANS HAVE AND I
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT OFFERED
BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA
AND I TRULY APPRECIATE HIS
SUPPORT FOR OUR INDIAN BROTHERS
AND SISTERS AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE
LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED.
AS I HAVE SAID
PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY TO THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
SUBCOMMITTEE, I CONGRATULATE HIM
FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE AND
SHOWING THE COMMITMENT IN THE
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE BY
INCREASING IT BY $369 MILLION
THIS YEAR AND DENTAL HEALTH
SPECIFICALLY IS UP BY $13.8
MILLION.
THAT'S ABOVE THE EXISTING LEVEL
THIS YEAR AND THIS YEAR IS ABOVE
LAST YEAR.
GRANTED, THE NEED IS VERY
SUBSTANTIAL.
AND SO I HAVE BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WITH THIS
AMENDMENT THAT ADDS ANOTHER $4.3
MILLION FOR THE EXPRESSED
PURPOSE OF INCREASING DENTAL
HEALTH FURTHER, IT'S THE OFFSET.
.
THE CUT IS TO THE SOLICITOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT THAT SERVES AS
THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER AND
IT'S THE SOLICITOR THAT
PROVIDES LEGAL SERVICES TO
NATIVE AMERICANS ON BEHALF OF
THE DEPARTMENT.
SO YOU'RE TAKING THE CHIEF
LEGAL OFFICER FOR THE NATIVE
AMERICANS OF THIS COUNTRY AND
MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL CUT TO THE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THAT
POSITION.
IT'S KIND OF ROBBING PETER TO
PAY PAUL.
THERE ARE VERY SUBSTANTIAL AND
SERIOUS LEGAL ISSUES THAT NEED
TO BE DEALT WITH ON BEHALF OF
INDIANS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
AND THERE ARE VERY DIFFICULT
HEALTH ISSUES THAT CERTAINLY
NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I DID NOT RISE IN OPPOSITION TO
THE AMENDMENT BUT I DO THINK
THAT TAKING THE MONEY FROM THE
SOLICITOR IS AN UNFORTUNATE
PLACE TO BE FINDING A CUT OF
$4.3 MILLION.
BUT I'LL YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR THE
AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO RISE?
I ASK --
I ASK THAT THE
REMAINDER OF THE BILL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ, PRINTED IN
THE RECORD AND OPEN TO
AMENDMENT AT ANY POINT.
IS THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO RISE?
I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE MOTION THAT THE COMMITTEE
RISE.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
ACCORDINGLY, THE COMMITTEE
RISES.
MADAM
CHAIR.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION, HAVING
HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION H.R.
2584, DIRECTS ME TO REPORT THAT
IT HAS COME TO NO RESOLUTION
THEREON.
THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE
UNION REPORTS THAT THE
COMMITTEE HAS HAD UNDER
CONSIDERATION H.R. 2584 AND HAS
COME TO NO RESOLUTION THEREON.
MR. SPEAKER.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM IDAHO RISE?
I MOVE THAT THE --
I MOVE THAT THE
HOUSE DO NOW ADJOURN.
THE --
THE
QUESTION SON THE MOTION TO
ADJOURN.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.