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YOU CAN SEE THAT COMMITTEE
HEARING UNDER WAY RIGHT NOW ON
OUR COMPANION NETWORK, C-SPAN3.
YOUR PHONE
CALLS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF
THE HEARING.
FLOOR.
THE HOUSE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED TODAY
BY OUR GUEST CHAPLAIN, REVEREND
RICHARD HAYNES, SALEM MISSIONARY
BAPTIST CHURCH, LILBURN,
GEORGIA.
OUR FATHER IN
NEW DAY.
FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AND
POSSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH
THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO BE BETTER, THANK
YOU FOR THE BLESSED OPPORTUNITY
TO DO BETTER.
WE THANK YOU FOR YET ANOTHER
MAKE CRITICAL LEGISLATIVE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE BETTERMENT
OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.
WITH A HEART OF GRATITUDE FOR
THE MANY POSSIBILITIES THAT THIS
DAY BRINGS, WE DECLARE WITH THE
SONG OF DAVID THAT WE WILL
REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.
THEMSELVES IN GOOD WORKS, THAT
OTHERS MAY SEE AND THAT YOU MAY
BE GLORIFIED.
IN THE NAME OF YOUR DARLING SON
WE PRAY, AMEN.
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 TODAY
WILL BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN
GEORGIA.
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,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE HOUSE IS FORTUNATE TODAY TO
HAVE REVEREND DR. RICHARD
CHAPLAIN.
HE'S A LIFE-LONG SERVANT OF THE
LORD, GROWING UP AS SON OF A
BAPTIST MINISTER.
HE IS IN MY HOME COUNTY OF
HE'S A FISHERMAN BUT HE'S A
FISHER OF MEN.
LED SALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST,
THAT CHURCH HAS GROWN FROM 100
TO 4,500 IN THAT CONGREGATION.
BEYOND THE PULPIT, REVEREND
HAYES IS ACTIVE THROUGHOUT OUR
HE'S BEEN PAST CHAPLAIN OF THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, DIRECTOR
OF THE STATEWIDE MINISTER'S
COMMISSION AND CURRENTLY BOARD
OF EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD, TO
NAME JUST A FEW.
I'M HONORED TO HAVE HIM IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., WITH ME
HIM, HIS WIFE, BEVERLY, IS WITH
US TODAY AND IS HIS DAUGHTER,
SHEENA, AND HIS TWO GRANDSONS,
BENJAMIN AND BASHON.
REVEREND, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY
EVERY DAY, AND I YIELD BACK THE
THE
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN 15 FURTHER
REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE
SPEECHES ON EACH SIDE OF THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE
NUMBER OF JOB OPENINGS IS AT
ITS LOWEST POINT IN FIVE
MONTHS.
THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE JOBS
DROPPED FROM 3.7 MILLION IN
THIS FACT SHOWS THAT THE
PRESIDENT'S FAILED POLICIES ARE
DESTROYING JOBS ACROSS OUR
NATION AND UNDERMINING
UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN ABOVE 8%
FOR 40 MONTHS, NOT INCLUDING
THE MILLIONS WHO ARE
UNDEREMPLOYED OR WHO HAVE LOST
HOPE AND NO LONGER LOOKING FOR
YET, THE PRESIDENT STILL
BELIEVES THAT OUR PRIVATE
SECTOR IS DOING FINE.
IN FACT, SADLY NOW THE
PRESIDENT'S OFFERING WORK
PERMITS TO ILLEGAL ALIENS TO
TAKE JOBS FROM HARDWORKING
AMERICANS.
IT'S PAST TIME FOR THEM TO PASS
THE DOZENS OF BIPARTISAN
JOB-CREATION BILLS WHICH ARE
STALLED IN THE SENATE
GRAVEYARD.
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
SEPTEMBER 11 11 AND THE GLOBAL
WAR ON -- SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. --
DID YOU HAVE ANY EFFORT OF
WHAT BROUGHT THE WHOLESOME
BREAKFAST TO YOUR TABLE?
I DID.
I WENT TO THE
LARGEST PRODUCING DAIRY FARM IN
THE UNITED STATES.
I DIDN'T HAVE MILK.
I WENT TO LISTEN TO THEIR
CONCERNS.
I SAW MOTHER, FATHER, BROTHER,
THE LIGHT OF DAY TO DO THEIR
WORK, TREMENDOUSLY HARD WORK
WHAT THEY DO.
WE PROUDLY SALUTE THE MILLIONS
OF FAMILIES ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
IN PARTICULAR, THE DAIRY
FARMING FAMILIES DURING
NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH.
WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR THESE
STEWARDS OF OUR NATIONAL FOOD
SECURITY.
WE CAN GIVE OUT PROCLAMATIONS
AND PAY LIP SERVICE TO THE
51,000 FAMILIES ACROSS THIS
PRODUCTS OR WE CAN ACTUALLY
LISTEN TO THEM AND DO SOMETHING
TO HELP.
FIRST OFF, THEY WANT A FARM
THEY WANT CERTAINTY TO KNOW
WHAT THE DEAL IS GOING TO BE,
NOT LATER, NOT LATER THIS YEAR
SECOND, THEY WANT LABOR.
THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE
WHEN I'M HEARING THE NOBLE, THE
LET'S GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
SPEAKER.
I JOIN WITH MANY OTHERS IN THE
GREATER CHICAGO AREA IN
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND RECENT
PASSING OF A TREMENDOUSLY
RESPECTED, SELFLESS AND
INSPIRATIONAL LEADER IN OUR
COMMUNITY, RICHARD SHONSTETH.
RICHARD NO DOUBT MADE A
DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD WITH
HIS TIRELESS DEDICATION TO
STRENGTHENING THE U.S.-ISRAEL
HIS SWEEPING PASSION FOR AN
SET A VERY HIGH BAR WHICH BOTH
COMMITMENT OF SO MANY GOOD
PEOPLE TO PRO-ISRAEL CAUSES.
RICHARD BELIEVED IN ENGAGEMENT
AND ACTIVISM AND HE LIVED HIS
LIFE KNOWING THERE WAS ONLY ONE
WAY.
HE SERVED HIS COMMUNITY AS AN
OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF
LEADERSHIP AND EARNED A
REPUTATION AS BRILLIANT AND
COMMITTED MENTOR TO MANY, MANY
PEOPLE.
LIKE SO MANY WHO WERE LUCKY TO
KNOW HIM, I FEEL I WAS GIVEN A
SPECIAL GIFT IN RICHARD'S
FRIENDSHIP.
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT
TO HIS FAMILY, CERTAINLY HIS
WIFE, CINDY, HIS DAUGHTERS,
CARLY AND KATE, AND THE ENTIRE
EXTENDED FAMILY.
MAY HIS MEMORY CONTINUE TO
INSPIRE US TO ACTION AND MAY WE
IN THIS CONGRESS NOW AND
FOREVER REMAIN DEDICATED TO
ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES THAT
RICHARD SO PROUDLY STOOD AND
FOUGHT FOR THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
ASK UNANIMOUS
FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER,
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HIGHER
EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT OUR COUNTRY'S SO GREAT.
AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE
GATEWAY TO AMERICA, I HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE TRANSFORM AGSAL
POWER OF EDUCATION.
HOWEVER -- TRANSFORMATIONAL
POWER TO EDUCATION.
HOWEVER, ACCESS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION IS BEING THREATENED.
IN TWO WEEKS THE INTEREST RATE
IN STUDENT LOANS IS SCHEDULED
TO DOUBLE FROM 3.4% TO 6.8%.
THIS WILL MAKE EXTREMELY
BURDENSOME FOR STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL
RESOURCES TO ATTEND COLLEGE.
JUST IN THE PAST 10 YEARS,
COLLEGE TUITION HAS INCREASED
MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES ARE
STRUGGLING TO SEND THEIR SONS
AND DAUGHTERS TO SCHOOL.
FOR MANY AMERICANS, A COLLEGE
EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL TO
FUTURE SUCCESS.
OVER A LIFETIME IT IS ESTIMATED
THAT A COLLEGE GRADUATE MAKES
AN AVERAGE OF $2.27 MILLION.
IN CONTRAST, THOSE WITH ONLY A
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS
ESTIMATED TO MAKE $1.3 MILLION.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING AND WE
MUST ACT NOW.
CONGRESS SHOULD NOT BLOCK
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE EDUCATION.
LET US WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP
STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES LOW
AND I YIELD BACK.
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WEST VIRGINIA RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
THE STATE OF WEST
VIRGINIA IS CELEBRATING ITS
149TH BIRTHDAY TODAY.
CELEBRATIONS ARE BEING HELD AS
WE SPEAK THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
I'M A PROUD SEVENTH GENERATION
WEST VIRGINIAN HONORED TO SERVE
THE STATE THAT I LOVE.
BEING A WEST VIRGINIAN COMES
WITH GREAT HONOR, TRADITION AND
IN CONCERT WITH A RESTORED
STATE OF VIRGINIA, PRESIDENT
LINCOLN ON APRIL 20, 1863
PROCLAIMED THAT WEST VIRGINIA
COULD BE ADMITTED TO THE STATE,
THE UNITED STATES AS A SEPARATE
STATE.
60 DAYS LATER ON JUNE 20, 1863,
WEST VIRGINIA BECAME A MEMBER
OF THE UNION.
STATE CREATED DURING
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
EVERY YEAR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
TRAVEL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY ROADS
OF OUR GREAT STATE AND VIEW THE
BEAUTIFUL SCENIC MOUNTAINS,
FROM THE SHENANDOAH RIVER TO
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
MADAM SPEAKER, I HOPE EVERYONE
ENJOYS THIS TIME-HONORED
TRADITION OF WEST VIRGINIA DAY
AND CELEBRATES OUR WILD AND
WONDERFUL STATE.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WEST VIRGINIA,
MY TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
30 YEARS AGO, VINCENT
CHIN, A YOUNG CHINESE AMERICAN
ENGINEER, WAS CELEBRATING HIS
IMPENDING WEDDING IN MICHIGAN
WHEN AUTO WORKERS SHOUTED TO
HIM, IT IS YOU, JAPANESE, WHO
IS TAKING AWAY OUR JOBS.
THEY CHASED HIM DOWN AND BASHED
HIS HEAD IN WITH A BASEBALL
BAT.
HIS MURDERERS GOT OFF WITHOUT
SPENDING A DAY IN JAIL AND A
FINE.
INSTEAD OF GOING TO HIS
WEDDING, VINCENT'S FAMILY WENT
THIS INJUSTICE LED TO THE
EMERGEANS OF A NATIONAL ASIAN
PACIFIC AMERICAN IDENTITY
MOVEMENT.
THIS WEEK, AS CHAIR OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC
AMERICAN CAUCUS, I WILL BE
INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION ON THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 30TH
ANNIVERSARY OF VINCENT'S DEATH.
HIS STORY REMAINS AN IMPORTANT
REMINDER OF WHY WE MUST ALWAYS
COMBAT THE DANGERS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MOST OF US JUST RETURNED FROM A
WEEK TALKING WITH OUR
CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME.
IN THE THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS,
FOLKS ONLY HAD ONE THING ON
THEIR MIND -- THE PRESIDENT'S
DISGRACEFUL DECISION TO GRANT
AMNESTY TO A MILLION ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS.
ARE OUTRAGED.
AMNESTY REWARDS PEOPLE FOR
BREAKING OUR LAWS AND
ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE
SAME.
NOT A RIGHT.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE.
SINCE TAKING OFFICE, THE
PRESIDENT HAS TIME AND AGAIN
TAKEN REPREHENSIBLE STEPS THAT
WEAKEN OUR BORDER SECURITY AND
UNDERMINE THE RULE OF LAW IN
AMERICA.
BY SIDESTEPPING CONGRESS, THE
PRESIDENT IS NOW SINGLE
HANDEDLY REWRITING OUR
IMMIGRATION POLICIES, VIOLATING
THE TRUST BETWEEN THE CONGRESS
LAWS OF THIS LAND.
JUST DID IT AGAIN TODAY.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
THIS ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO
STOP PUTTING POLITICS AHEAD OF
THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
I YIELD BACK.
SPOIPT CHAIR WILL REMIND MEMBERS
TO REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING IN
PRESIDENT.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND
RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
RISE TODAY TO HONOR DEVON BECK,
RHODE ISLAND.
DEVON SET A GOAL TO RAISE $2,000
FOR EXECUTIVES WITHOUT BORDERS,
A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT
WORKS TO ENGAGE BUSINESS
PROFESSIONALS IN SOLVING
THE WORLD.
SO ON JANUARY 11 OF THIS YEAR,
DEVON LEFT SAINT AUGUSTINE,
FLORIDA, WITH A GOAL OF CYCLING
TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, A
DESTINATION MORE THAN 2,000
MILES AWAY.
ON FEBRUARY 25, 46 DAYS LATER,
COMPLETING A JOURNEY THAT
SPANNED 232 HOURS, 17 MINUTES
AND 44 SECONDS ON HIS BIKE.
IN THE END DESKEN EXCEEDED HIS
GOAL TO RAISE $6,000 FOR
EXECUTIVES WITHOUT BORDERS TO
BENEFIT A PROGRAM THAT IS
HELPING HAITI TO BUILD NEW
RECYCLING CENTERS TO RECOVER
IT SUFFERED IN 2010.
I CONGRATULATE THIS YOUNG MAN,
DEVON, AS WELL AS HIS PARENTS,
DONALD AND KATHLEEN, ON HIS
TRULY IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, REVISE AND
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER, ON
JUNE 4, AMERICA'S NATURAL GAS
CONTESTING THE E.P.A.'S RECENT
STUDY ON GREEN HOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS AND -- GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS AND NATURAL GAS
METHANE EMISSIONS FROM SHELL
OPERATIONS ARE 86% LOWER THAN
E.P.A. ESTIMATED.
FURTHER, METHANE DOESN'T REMAIN
IN THE ATMOSPHERE FOR LONG
UNFORTUNATELY SOME ENERGY
ALTERNATIVES RECEIVING
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES HAVE WORSE
EMISSIONS THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT.
THE NEW BOOK, "GREEN ILLUSIONS,"
SHOWS THAT BUILDING SOLAR CELLS
RELEASES SUBSTANTIAL QUALITIES
OF EMISSIONS LIKE SULFUR WHICH
LOT OFS WHICH LASTS 267 TIMES IN
THE ATMOSPHERE AND HAS NEARLY
DOUBLED SINCE 1998.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY,
U.S. CARBON EMISSIONS ARE DOWN
MORE THAN ANY COUNTRY.
IN FACT, SINCE 2006 U.S.
EMISSIONS HAVE FALLEN 7.7% WITH
THE INCREASED USE OF SHELL GAS
AS A KEY FACTOR IN THE DROP
ACCORDING TO THE AGENCY'S CHIEF
ECONOMIST.
THIS LEADS TO A CONCLUSION THAT
MANY MIGHT FIND PARADOXCAL.
IF GLOBAL WARM SOMETHING A
PROBLEM, WE NEED TO ADDRESS,
THEN WE SHOULD WELCOME THE
INCREASED PRODUCTION AND USE OF
SOURCE.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
RECOGNITION?
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, IN
THESE TOUGH TIMES WE SHOULD MAKE
EVERY EFFORT TO INCREASE ACCESS
TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL
MAKING COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE
DOESN'T JUST HELP STUDENTS, IT
STRENGTHENS OUR ECONOMY.
UNFORTUNATELY IF CONGRESS DOES
NOT ACT SOON, INTEREST RATES ON
STUDENT LOANS WILL DOUBLE OVER
SEVEN MILLION STUDENTS IN LESS
THAN TWO WEEKS.
JULY 1 IS AROUND THE CORNER.
A SERIOUS SOLUTION
TO HELP OUR NATION'S CHILDREN.
INSTEAD OF WORKING TOWARDS A
COMPROMISE, -- REPUBLICANS HAVE
PUT FORWARD A PLAN TO CUT HEALTH
SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
REPUBLICANS JUST DON'T GET IT.
ONCE AGAIN WE'RE TOO BUSY
CUTTING TAXES FOR MILLIONAIRES
AND BILLIONAIRES INSTEAD OF
WORKING FOR OUR MIDDLE CLASS.
REPUBLICANS ARE SHOWING THE
PRIORITIES ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH
HARDWORKING AMERICANS.
WE NEED TO REACT NOW ON STUDENT
LET'S HELP ALL OF THESE STUDENTS
HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION.
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY
FROM ILLINOIS SEEK RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
RISE TODAY TO SALUTE THE
HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS WHO
STRIVING EVERY DAY TO PROTECT
THE SAFETY -- STRIVE EVERY DAY
TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF AIR
THESE ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION, NACA,
WHO YESTERDAY CELEBRATED THEIR
25TH YEAR AS THE GUARDIANS OF
THE U.S. NATIONAL AIR SPACE
SYSTEM.
ON JUNE 19, 1987, THE FEDERAL
LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
CERTIFIED NACA AS THE EXCLUSIVE
BARGAINING REPRESENTATIVE FOR
THE FEDERAL AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROLLERS.
NACA NOW REPRESENTS MORE THAN
20,000 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS,
ENGINEERS AND OTHER AVIATION
SAFETY PROFESSIONALS.
THEY HAVE THE SAFEST RECORD IN
HISTORY, GUIDING 70,000 FLIGHTS
PER DAY AND PROTECTING OVER 700
MILLION PASSENGERS PER YEAR.
MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD ASK ALL
OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE
TODAY TO JOIN NACA IN
CELEBRATING A QUARTER CENTURY OF
HARD WORK, KEEPING AMERICA'S AIR
SPACE SYSTEM THE SAFEST IN THE
WORLD.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK SEEK RECOGNITION?
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, THE GREAT LAKES
ASSETS.
YET THEY ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE
OF FRESHWATER IN THE WORLD AND
ACCOUNT FOR $7 BILLION IN
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ANNUALLY.
IN MY WEST NEW YORK COMME
COMMUNITY, THE RESURGENCE OF OUR
INNER AND OUTER HARBORS ALONG
LAKE ERIE IS AN IMPORTANT
REMINDER OF THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE HEALTH OF THE GREAT
LAKES AND OUR REGION'S ECONOMIC
THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS
FINALIZING A REVISION TO THE
DEMRAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT
WITH CANADA.
THIS IMPORTANT
ADWREEMENT EXPRESSES A JOINT
COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING AND
RESTORING THE GREAT LAKES
ECOSYSTEM.
MR. SPEAKER, I RECENTLY JOINED
MY CONGRESSIONAL COLLEAGUES IN
THE GREAT LAKES REGION IN ASKING
THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR THE
STATUS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND
HAVE OFFERED TO HOST A SIGNING
CEREMONY BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND CANADA IN BUFFALO,
NEW YORK.
IT IS IMPORTANT -- IT IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE TO
AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO
PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF THE
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM WASHINGTON SEEK
HECKNITION?
I WISH TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE, REVISE AND
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
IT'S WITH A HEAVY HEART TODAY
THAT I RISE TO HONOR THE LIFE OF
LIEUTENANT -- FIRST LIEUTENANT
MATTHEW LAZARI.
HERO.
HE'S A NATIVE --
HE'S A
NATIVE OF WITH A LA WITH A LA --
WALAWALA, WASHINGTON.
HE WAS MEMBER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS
82ND AIRBORNE AND HE GAVE HIS
OUR COUNTRY.
HE LOST HIS LIFE ON JUNE 6,
2012, WHEN A HELICOPTER WAS SHOT
IN
AFGHANISTAN.
HE LOST HIS LIFE IN THE NAME OF
AMERICA, AMERICANS' FREEDOM.
AND HE LOST HIS LIFE TO PROTECT
ALL OF OURS.
HE LEAVES BEHIND A COMMUNITY WHO
ADMIRES HIM, A COUNTRY WHO PAYS
HOMAGE TO HIM AND A FAMILY WHO'S
BEFORE FOREVER CHANGED BY HIM.
HE WAS A SON, A BROTHER, A
HUSBAND AND A FATHER.
HE SAYS GOODBYE TO A FAMILY THAT
GOT THE CALL THEY HOPED THEY
WOULD NEVER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I THANK YOU FOR
THIS TIME.
WE MOURN HIS LOSS.
WE CELEBRATE HIS LIFE.
AND I YIELD BACK.
WE
THANK THE GENTLELADY FOR
YIELDING BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I STAND HERE TODAY FRUSTRATED BY
FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I'VE HEARD
FROM SO MANY PEOPLE IN ST.
LOUIS, MISSOURI, WHO I
REPRESENT, SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, VETERANS, STUDENTS AND
THING.
PUT ME TO WORK.
THEY WANT TO HELP REBUILD OUR
THEY WANT TO HELP CREATE NEW
AMERICAN JOBS.
THEY'RE NOT SAYING, KILL ME A
SEA LION, THEY'RE NOT SAYING,
ALLOW CORPORATIONS TO POLLUTE MY
AIR AND WATER.
THEY'RE NOT SAYING, GIVE MORE
BREAKS FOR THE WELL-OFF
AMERICANS AND MORE BURDENS FOR
SENIORS.
THEY'RE SAYING, PUT ME TO WORK.
THEY ARE DETERMINED AND SO AM I.
SO I SAY TO YOU, PUT US TO WORK
PASSING THE STUDENT LOAN
INTEREST RATE EXTENSION TO
PROTECT STUDENTS WHO ARE
MARKETPLACE.
PUT US TO WORK PASSING THE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT
PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY WITH
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND WOULD
CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS.
PUT US TO WORK PASSING THE
STARTUP ACT TO CREATE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN
INNOVATION.
LISTEN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THEY WANT TO GO TO WORK.
THEY ARE CHEERING FOR OUR
COUNTRY TO SUCCEED AND TO WORK
AND THEY EXPECT AND DESERVE
THEIR CONGRESS TO DO THE SAME.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY
FROM TENNESSEE SEEK RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE
PRIVATE SECTOR IS DOING JUST
FINE.
BUT FOR MILLIONS OF UNEMPLOYED
AND UNDEREMPLOYED AMERICANS AND
MILLIONS MORE STRUGGLING WITH
HIGHER FOOD AND ENERGY PRICES,
THERE'S NOTHING FINE ABOUT THE
STATE OF THE U.S. ECONOMY.
THAT'S WHY THE HOUSE HAS PASSED
MORE THAN A DOZEN BIPARTISAN
BILLS AND THIS WEEK THE HOUSE
WILL CONSIDER THE DOMESTIC
AND JOBS ACT.
THIS PACKAGE OF DOMESTIC ENERGY
PRODUCTION BILLS OF WHICH I AM A
CO-SPONSOR WILL NOT ONLY REDUCE
ENERGY COSTS FOR HARDWORKING
FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES,
BUT IT WILL ALSO GET GOVERNMENT
OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT AMERICAN
JOB CREATORS CAN DO WHAT THEY DO
THAT IS GROW THE ECONOMY AND PUT
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY THIS HOUSE
TAKES UP THE CYNICALLY NAMED
DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS ACT
WHICH IS THE LATEST REPUBLICAN
INSTALLMENT IN THEIR MAD DASH TO
ALLOW POLLUTERS TO DUMP GARBAGE
WATER.
IF I HAD MORE TIMES I WOULD
POINT OUT THAT THIS BILL WOULD
GUT THE CLEAN AIR ACT WHICH WAS
SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE EARLY
1970'S BY A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT
BEFORE THAT PARTY ABANDONED THE
VALUE THAT WE SHOULD BE STEWARDS
OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
I WOULD TALK ABOUT MY
DAUGHTER WHO SUFFERS FROM
THAT ASTHMA AND THE ASTHMA OF
MILLIONS OF OTHERS YOUNG PEOPLE
WILL GET WORSE IF THIS BILL
BECOMES LAW.
AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE
IDEA THAT THIS IS ABOUT JOBS IS
BOLOGNA AND I WOULD SAY THAT A
SAID THAT 1/3 OF 1%
OF JOBS AND LAYOFFS WERE BECAUSE
OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION.
INSTEAD, I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENED TO PERSONAL
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE IDEA THAT
WE CLEAN UP OUR OWN MESS?
MADAM SPEAKER, WHY ARE WE ASKING
THE ENTIRE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO
PAY THE COST OF POLLUTING OUR
AIR AND WATER?
THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM NORTH CAROLINA
SEEK RECOGNITION?
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, MADAM
THE
MINUTE.
SPEAKER.
SUMMER IS UPON US.
TRADITIONALLY THIS IS THE SEASON
WHEN AMERICANS PACK THE FAMILY
CAR TO HEAD OUT FOR A
WELL-DESERVED VACATION.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR MANY
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS
BECAUSE GAS PRICES ARE TOO HIGH
DUE TO THE FAILED ECONOMIC AND
ENERGY POLICIES OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION AND LACK OF
ACTION FROM THE SENATE.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE CRAFTED
AND PASSED MANY BIPARTISAN BILLS
ISSUE BUT SENATE
INTRAN GENERALS -- BUT THE
SENATE HAS KEPT US FROM MOVING
FORWARD.
TODAY HOUSE REPUBLICANS WILL
OFFER ANOTHER SOLUTION, H.R.
4480, THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND
JOBS ACT.
THIS LEGISLATION PROMOTES JOB
CREATION AND ADDRESSES THE HIGH
ENERGY COSTS WHICH ARE BURDENING
SO MANY FAMILIES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES ACROSS AMERICA.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE MAY JOBS
REPORT AND THE HIGH COST OF
ENERGY DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACTION.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE ANSWERING
THIS ACT.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS VERY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I THANK THE
SPEAKER AND I ASK TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE, UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY FROM
TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER,
THE CONSTITUTION IS AN
ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
THE OVERSIGHT OF CONGRESS IS AN
ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT
RESPONSIBILITY.
LIVES LOST IN THE COURSE OF
VARIOUS ACTIVITIES OF OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT ARE ISSUES THAT WE
TAKE WITH GREAT CONCERN.
AS A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, IT HAS BEEN MY
RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE YEARS
FROM IMPEACHMENTS TO WACO TO
THE FACTS AND I RESPECT THAT.
I'M APPALLED, HOWEVER, WHEN THE
CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF
THE UNITED STATES IS CALLED A
AND I STAND ON THIS FLOOR TO
REJECT ANY THOUGHT THAT A U.S.
-- A UNITED STATES ATTORNEY THAT
TAKES AN OATH OF OFFICE WOULD
LIE.
WE CAN FIND A RESOLUTION TO THE
FACTS OF FAST AND FURIOUS THAT
HAVE BEEN REINVESTIGATED AND
REINVESTIGATED, STARTED UNDER
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO MALIGN
JOB.
AND I WOULD ASK THIS CONGRESS TO
ULTIMATELY REJECT ANY CONTEMPT
CHARGE AGAINST THE CHIEF LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER,
OBAMACARE HAS NOT TAKEN FULL
EFFECT YET, BUT IT IS ALREADY
CRIPPLING OUR COUNTRY AND OUR
ECONOMY.
BUSINESSES ARE SHEDDING JOBS.
DOCTORS AND PATIENTS ARE
PARTY MAKING HEALTH CARE
DECISIONS AND THAT'S THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
FORTUNATELY, THE SUPREME COURT
HAS SOME OF THESE SAME CONCERNS
ABOUT OBAMACARE, AND HOPEFULLY
THEY WILL STRIKE DOWN BOTH THE
INDIVIDUAL MANDATE AND THE
ENTIRE LAW.
HOWEVER THE COURT RULES,
THOUGH, OBAMACARE MUST GO.
IN THE G.O.P. DOCTORS CAUCUS,
WE KNOW THAT THE AMERICAN
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM NEEDS SOME
SERIOUS SURGERY.
WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD MANY
IDEAS TO DO JUST THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, MY PATIENT OPTION
ACT WILL REVITALIZE AMERICAN
HEALTH CARE, NOT THROUGH
GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE BY BY
GIVING DOCTORS AND PATIENTS
FULL -- INTERFERENCE BY GIVING
DRRTS AND PATIENTS FULL
CONTROL.
WHEN OBAMACARE FALLS, MY
LEGISLATION WILL HELP THEIR
WANTS AND NEEDS.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL LOOK
TO THE OPTION ACT TO SEE WHAT
REAL REFORM LOOKS LIKE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN LOS
ANGELES IN THE 1950'S WHEN THE
SMOG WAS SO BAD THAT WE
ACTUALLY HAD TO STAY INSIDE THE
CLASSROOM DURING RECESS.
AND WHEN YOU TRIED TO INHALE
DEEPLY, THE PAIN IN YOUR CHEST
WAS SO SEVERE FROM THE
POLLUTION AND THE SMOG.
BUT THANKS TO GOVERNMENT
INTERVENTION, WE HAVE MADE HUGE
STRIDES, NOT ONLY IN LOS
ANGELES, BUT THROUGHOUT THIS
COUNTRY IN CLEANING OUR AIR FOR
THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN.
WE MADE PROGRESS BUT WE NEED TO
MAKE A LOT MORE, AND
FORTUNATELY TO CONTINUE TO
COMBAT THIS PROBLEM, CONGRESS
MUST TAKE BOWLED STEPS TO HAVE
CLEAN ENERGY, CLEAN VEHICLES.
MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS ARE
DENYING NOT ONLY LOS ANGELES
BUT ALL CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY
TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR AIR
AND IMPROVE OUR HEALTH.
THIS BILL WOULD ROB THE E.P.A.
TO EFFECTIVELY
ENFORCE CLEAN AIR LAWS AND
DEEPEN OUR DEPENDENCY ON DIRTY
FOSSIL FUELS.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND,
RECOGNITION?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS SO RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER,
TOMORROW IS THE 15TH
ANNIVERSARY RENEWABLE ENERGY
EXPO FROM 9:30 A.M. TO 4:30
P.M. IN THE CANNON CAUCUS ROOM.
IT FEATURES MORE THAN 50
EXHIBITORS INCLUDING SIX FROM
MARYLAND AND 30 SPEAKERS
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND
COME AND LEARN THE PRESENT
STATE US AND THEIR POTENTIAL OF
THE CRO HAS SECTION OF NEW
ENERGY WHICH IS GEOTHERMAL,
SOLAR, WIND AND ENERGY
EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGIES ARE
CREATING JOBS AND MEETING 11.7%
AND
GENERATION.
I ENCOURAGE MEMBERS, STAFF AND
VISITORS TO HAVE THE 15TH
AND ENERGY EFFICIENT EXPO AND
FORUM.
THANK YOU.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLELADY IS SO
RECOGNIZED.
SUNLIGHT IS THE
BEST DISINFECTANT, ONE SAID,
AND SADLY IN CITIZENS UNITED
THE COURT TURNED ITS BACK ON
THIS WISDOM AND HAS GIVEN
CORPORATIONS THE POWER TO
SHADOWS.
TO SAY THESE ARE NOT DARK DAYS
UNDERSTATEMENT.
MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ARE FLOWING INTO OUR
POLITICAL SYSTEM THROUGH SUPER
PAC'S BUT THE DONORS THAT
SUPPLY THIS MONEY REMAINS
LET'S NOT FUEL OURSELVES, LET'S
NOT FULL OURSELVES IN THINKING
THE IDENTITY OF THESE DONORS IS
SECRET TO THE POLITICIANS ARE
BEING HELPED BY THEIR MONEY.
TO IGNORE THE POTENTIAL FOR
UNSEEMLY INFLUENCE HERE IS
TRULY NAIVE.
WHEN ONE DONOR CAN DECIDE THE
FATE OF A LEGISLATOR'S
RE-ELECTION, THEY CLEARLY WIELD
A GREAT DEAL OF POWER.
WE MUST COME TOGETHER AND PASS
THE DISCLOSE ACT WHICH ALLOWS
THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHO IS MAKING
THESE MEGADONATIONS, AND
TOGETHER WE CAN LET SUNLIGHT
BACK INTO OUR DEMOCRACY.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
MY REMARKS.
GENTLEMAN IS SO RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SINCE 1982 THE CONGRESSIONAL
ART CAUCUS RECOGNIZED THE
IMPORTANCE OF ART IN OUR
CLASSROOMS.
TODAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF
RECOGNIZING OUR ART COMPETITION
FOR HELPING HER OVERCOME HER
LEARNING CHALLENGES.
SARAH STRUGGLED WITH READING
AND MATH AND EXCELLED WITH A
SKETCHBOOK AND PENCIL IN HAND.
ONCE HER TEACHERS AT
BAKERSFIELD SOUTH HIGH TAPPED
INTO THAT TALENT, SARAH'S LIFE
CHANGED.
SHE BECAME EXCITED ABOUT SCHOOL
AND HER GRADES IMPROVED.
SARAH'S MOTHER, KERRY, SAID ART
WAS AND I ALWAYS SUSPECT WILL
BE HER REFUGE.
IT WAS HER PLACE TO BEGIN TO
SHINE AND HER PLACE IN SCHOOL
TO BELONG.
KERRY AND SARAH ARE MORE THAN
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.
THEY ARE BEST FRIENDS.
AS I WELCOME HER AND HER FAMILY
TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK, I
APPLAUD SARAH'S ARTISTIC FEAT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HER
PERSEVERANCE THROUGH HER
CHALLENGES IS WHAT I FIND MORE
LADY.
THE ART AND LIFE SHE HAS
CREATED IS SOMETHING ANY PARENT
OR TEACHER CAN AND SHOULD BE
PROUD OF AS SHE CONTINUES TO
FABRIC.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MADAM SPEAKER, BY
THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE
ON RULES, I CALL UP HOUSE
RESOLUTION 691 AND ASK FOR ITS
THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE CALENDAR
NUMBER 138, HOUSE RESOLUTION
691.
RESOLVED, THAT AT ANY TIME
RESOLUTION THE SPEAKER MAY,
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2-B OF RULE
18, DECLARE THE HOUSE RESOLVED
INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION
FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL
H.R. 4480, TO PROVIDE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN TO
INCREASE OIL AND GAS
EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND
PRODUCTION UNDER OIL AND GAS
LEASES OF FEDERAL LANDS UNDER
THE JURISDICTION OF THE
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, THE
SECRETARY OF ENERGY, THE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, AND
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IN
RESPONSE TO A DRAWDOWN OF
PETROLEUM RESERVES FROM THE
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE.
THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL
SHALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE
WAIVED.
GENERAL DEBATE SHALL BE
CONFINED TO THE BILL AND
AMENDMENTS SPECIFIED IN THIS
RESOLUTION AND SHALL NOT EXCEED
TWO HOURS EQUALLY DIVIDED AMONG
AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMERCE AND THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES.
AFTER GENERAL DEBATE THE BILL
SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR
RULE.
IN LIEU OF THE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND COMMERCE NOW PRINTED
IN THE BILL, IT SHALL BE IN
ORDER TO CONSIDER AS AN
ORIGINAL BILL FOR THE PURPOSE
OF AMENDMENT UNDER THE
IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
CONSISTING OF THE TEXT OF RULES
THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF
A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF
A SUBSTITUTE ARE WAIVED.
NO AMENDMENT TO THAT AMENDMENT
IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
SHALL BE IN ORDER EXCEPT THOSE
PRINTED IN THE REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES ACCOMPANYING
THIS RESOLUTION.
EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY IN THE ORDER
PRINTED IN THE REPORT, MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY 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,
SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
SUBJECT TO A DEMAND FOR
DIVISION OF THE QUESTION IN THE
HOUSE OR IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
SUCH AMENDMENTS ARE WAIVED.
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL FOR
AMENDMENT THE COMMITTEE SHALL
RISE AND REPORT THE BILL TO THE
MAY HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
ANY MEMBER MAY DEMAND A
SEPARATE VOTE IN THE HOUSE ON
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO THE
BILL OR TO THE AMENDMENT IN THE
ORDER AS ORIGINAL TEXT.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
BILL AND AMENDMENTS THERETO TO
FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT ONE
MOTION TO RECOMMIT WITH OR
WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR.
MADAM SPEAKER, FOR
THE PURPOSES OF DEBATE ONLY I
YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO,
MR. POLIS, PENDING WHICH I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
DURING CONSIDERATION OF THIS
RESOLUTION, ALL TIME YIELDED IS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY.
I ASK THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE
FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS DURING
WHICH THEY MAY REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THIS RESOLUTION FOR
VIDSE FOR A STRUCTURED RULE OF
H.R. 4480, THE STRATEGIC ENERGY
PRODUCTION ACT .
AND IT MAKES IN ORDER 27
INDIVIDUAL AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
SPECIFIED UNDER THE RULE.
2/3 OF WHICH ARE DEMOCRAT
AMENDMENTS.
THE RULE PROVIDES FOR TWO HOURS
OF GENERAL DEBATE EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF BOTH THE COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND COMMERCE AS WELL AS
THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL
SO THIS STRUCTURED RULE IS VERY
FAIR AND IT WILL PROVIDE FOR A
BALANCED DEBATE ON THE MERITS
OF THE BILL.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M ACTUALLY
PLEASED TO STAND BEFORE THE
HOUSE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS
RULE AS WELL AS THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION, H.R. 4480.
THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THIS
LEGISLATION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO, MR. GARDNER, IS TO BE
COMMENDED FOR HIS HARD WORK AND
LEADERSHIP IN PUTTING THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION TOGETHER.
I ALSO COMMEND THE CHAIRMAN OF
BOTH THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
COMMITTEE AND THE NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMITTEE FOR THEIR
SUPPORT, THEIR HARD WORK AS
WELL ON THIS PARTICULAR ACT AS
WELL AS OTHER IMPORTANT PIECES
OF LEGISLATION AIMED AT MAKING
OUR NATION MORE ENERGY
INDEPENDENT.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS BILL IS
ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS NOT DOING
ENOUGH TO DEVELOP OUR OWN
DOMESTIC ENERGY RESOURCES WHICH
ARE PLENTIFUL IN MANY PARTS OF
OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
MY OWN STATE OF UTAH, FOR
OF OIL AND OIL SHALE RESERVE
THAT REMAIN UNTAPPED LARGELY
DUE TO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP
POLITICS THAT KEEPS THESE LANDS
AS WE GO ABROAD
AND INCREASE OUR DEPENDENCE ON
FOREIGN SOURCES AS WELL AS
INCREASING OUR TRADE DEFICIT.
ENERGY IS AN ABSOLUTE
PREREQUISITE TO OUR ECONOMIC
ENGINE AND CREATES JOBS.
IF THIS ADMINISTRATION EVER
HOPES TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN
DURING ITS TENURE THEN
IS THE KEY.
THIS BILL, H.R. 4480, STANDS
PROPOSITION.
PROPOSITION IS WHENEVER THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
FROM THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM
RESERVE, THE SECRETARY OF
ENERGY WILL BE REQUIRED TO
DEVELOP A PLAN TO INCREASE THE
PERCENTAGE OF FEDERAL LAND OIL
PRODUCTION BY A COMMENSURATE
PERCENTAGE.
SO THE DATA THAT WAS RELEASED
FROM THE RESERVE.
THE RESERVE IS A RESERVE,
RESERVED FOR EMERGENCIES.
FORTUNATELY THIS ADMINISTRATION
IS USING OUR RESERVE TO
ACCOMMODATE COMMON DAILY LIFE.
IT IS IMPORTANT AND THE PURPOSE
OF THIS LEGISLATION IS, NUMBER
ONE, TO DEVELOP OUR RESOURCES.
NUMBER TWO, TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE CAN STREAMLINE THE PROCESS
SO WE DO NOT DELAY THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR RESOURCES.
NUMBER THREE, TO KEEP THE
RESERVE FOR REAL EMERGENCIES.
NUMBER FOUR, ORGANIZE A PLAN TO
MAKE SURE THAT WILL BE IN
EFFECT AND, FIVE, RECOGNIZE
FOR JOB CREATION.
WITHOUT THAT ENERGY WE WILL NOT
CREATE THE JOBS THAT ARE
NECESSARY FOR THIS COUNTRY TO
THIS BILL WOULD ACTUALLY LIMIT
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEDERAL
LANDS TO BE LEASED ONLY 10% OF
THE TOTAL OF ALL PUBLIC LANDS.
10% IS VERY REASONABLE.
THE BILL ALSO EXCLUDES NATIONAL
PARKS, OBVIOUSLY, AND FEDERALLY
CONNELLY DESIGNATED WILDERNESS
-- CONGRESSIONALLY DESIGNATED
WILDERNESS AREAS.
IT'S A COMMONSENSE BILL BUT
WHEN PASSED WILL BE A KEY PART
STRATEGY.
I URGE ADOPTION OF THE RULE AND
THE COMMONSENSE BILL AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH RESERVES
IS RECOGNIZED.
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING ME THE CUSTOMARY 30
MINUTES, AND I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE RULE
AND THE UNDERLYING BILL, H.R.
4480, THE SO-CALLED DOMESTIC
ENERGY AND JOBS ACT, WHAT IS
REALLY A DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
ACT, AN ACT THAT WILL DIRECTLY
LEAD TO THE DEATH OF AMERICAN
CITIZENS FROM VARIOUS
HEALTH-RELATED CAUSES INCLUDING
CANCER AND DESTRUCTION,
DESTRUCTION NOT ONLY OF OUR
ENVIRONMENT BUT OF OUR QUALITY
OF LIFE, INCLUDING OUR QUALITY
OF LIFE IN MY HOME STATE OF
COLORADO THAT IS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT PART OF DRIVING OUR
ECONOMY FORWARD AND CREATING
JOBS.
HERE WE ARE WHERE SEVERAL
CONTROVERSIAL, HIGHLY PARTISAN
BILLS HAVE BEEN PACKAGED
TOGETHER.
SEVEN BILLS.
BUT WHILE THERE IS AN ATTEMPT
TO DRESS THIS UP AS A JOBS
PACKAGE, IT'S REALLY A WISH
LIST FOR THE OIL INDUSTRY THAT
HAS NO CHANCE OF BECOMING LAW,
A HUGE GIVEAWAY TO THE OIL
INDUSTRY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
HEALTH OF AMERICAN FAMILIES,
THE HEALTH OF OUR ENVIRONMENT
AND OUR ENJOYMENT AND
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ON
PUBLIC LANDS.
THIS BILL, THE HOUSE MAJORITY
HAS BLOCKED MANY AMENDMENTS
OFFERED BY REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS ALIKE.
UNDER THIS RESTRICTIVE RULE,
COMMONSENSE AMENDMENTS WERE
BLOCKED, INCLUDING AN AMENDMENT
I OFFERED THAT WOULD HAVE
DIRECTED A STUDY ON THE IMPACTS
OF OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT ON
USAGE.
MY COLLEAGUE FROM ARIZONA,
REPRESENTATIVE NAPOLITANO,
OFFERED A SIMILAR AMENDMENT IN
AND THOSE OF US IN THE WEST,
WHERE FARMERS, RANCHERS AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS CONSISTENTLY
KEEP US ABREAST OF WATER ISSUES
AND WATER IS OUR MOST PRECIOUS
RESOURCE, KNOW THAT WE NEED SOME
AND OBJECTIVE DATA.
WITH REGARD TO HOW ENERGY
PRODUCTION IMPACTS RESOURCES,
PARTICULARLY OUR MOST PRECIOUS
RESOURCE, WATER.
WHAT LIES AT THE HEART OF THIS
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION BILL TODAY
IS SIMPLY A FALSE PREMISE.
IT'S THE FALSE PREMISE THAT
SOMEHOW THE UNITED STATES IS
FAILING TO MAKE GOOD ON ITS
NATURAL ENERGY RESOURCES.
NOW, THE FACT IS AS A RESULT OF
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE ENERGY
STRATEGY, OUR NATION'S
DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL HAS
FALLEN DRASTICALLY AND CRUDE OIL
PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES
IS AT AN EIGHT-YEAR HIGH.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS INCREASED
PRODUCTION OF CRUDE OIL
SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION LOWS.
THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES ARE
AN APPROACH TO ENERGY IN THE
UNITED STATES THAT BOOSTS OIL
AND GAS PRODUCTION AND INVESTS
IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF
CLEANER, JOB-CREATING, RENEWABLE
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS
WIND, SOLAR AND GEOTHERMAL.
NOW, IN CONTRAST TO THE
PRESIDENT'S ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
APPROACH WHICH WILL LEAD TO
PRICES AND A
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE FOR
OUR COUNTRY, THIS DEATH AND
DESTRUCTION BILL BEFORE US TODAY
IS AN OIL ABOVE ALL APPROACH.
THIS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION BILL
HANDS PUBLIC LANDS THAT WE ALL
VALUE OVER TO THE OIL AND GAS
INDUSTRY AND UNDERMINES THE LAWS
AND RULES THAT HAVE MADE OUR AIR
AND WATER CLEANER AND SAFER OVER
THE PAST 40 YEARS.
ONE OF THE SCARIEST PROVISIONS
IN THIS PACKAGE WOULD GUT
IMPORTANT HEALTH-BASED STANDARDS
PROVIDED FOR IN THE CLEAN AIR
ACT ESTABLISHED IN A BIPARTISAN
BASIS IN 1970.
NOW, THE CLEAN AIR ACT'S BASE
STANDARDS ARE ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT FOR PROTECTING
CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY AND OTHERS
WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HARMFUL
MANY NONPARTISAN PUBLIC HEALTH
AND MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
RECOGNIZED THAT THIS BILL WOULD
OVERRIDE CLEAN AIR STANDARDS
THAT HAVE PROTECTED AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND FAMILIES FROM HARMFUL
POLLUTION IN THE PAST 40 YEARS.
THAT'S WHY ON THIS BILL, WHICH
THE MAJORITY PURPORTS DEALS WITH
ENERGY, WE'VE HEARD FROM
PEDIATRICIANS, WE'VE HEARD FROM
DOCTORS, WE'VE HEARD FROM HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS THAT THIS WOULD
LEAD TO DEATH AS WELL AS THE
DESTRUCTION OF JOBS, AS WELL AS
THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR
ENVIRONMENT AND RECREATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES.
ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL PARTISAN
PROVISION IN THIS BILL WOULD
OPEN UP VAST QUANTITIES OF
PUBLIC LANDS TO DRILLING.
THE BILL SETS AN ARBITRARY RE--
REQUIREMENT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR TO OFFER OIL COMPANIES
AT LEAST 25% OF ONSHORE AREAS
THAT INDUSTRY NOMINATES EACH
YEAR.
SO LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR WANTS
TO OPEN UP MORE LANDS TO
INDUSTRY EVEN THOUGH OIL AND GAS
COMPANIES HOLD MORE THAN 25
MILLION ACRES OF PUBLIC LANDS
ONSHORE WHERE THEY'RE NOT
PRODUCING OIL AND GAS.
IN ADDITION THESE COMPANIES ARE
SITTING ON 6,700 DRILLING
PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED
THAT THEY ARE NOT USING.
THEY NEED TO EXPLORE LANDS WHERE
THEY ALREADY HOLD ENERGY LEASES.
NOW, THIS IS NOT A SENSIBLE
IT'S CALLED AN OLD-FASHIONED
WATER GRAB.
THEY'RE COMING UP AFTER OUR LAND
IN THE WEST AND THEY'RE COMING
AFTER OUR WATER IN THE WEST AND
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT
ANOTHER EXTREME PROVISION IN
THIS BILL WOULD OVERTURN THE
FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND
MANAGEMENT ACT TO ELEVATE ENERGY
PRODUCTION ABOVE OTHER PUBLIC
NOW, MY CONSTITUENTS IN COLORADO
ARE TREMENDOUSLY CONCERNED THAT
SOMEHOW OIL PRODUCTION WOULD
TRUMP JOB CREATING ACTIVITIES
INCLUDING HUNTING, FISHING,
RECREATION, GRAZING,
CONSERVATION, MAIN STAYS OF JOBS
IN THE ECONOMY IN MY DISTRICT,
WOULD BE OVERRIDDEN IN THE NAME
OF OIL.
DESTROYING JOBS, DESTROYING THE
HEALTH OF COLORADO FAMILIES.
AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES.
ANOTHER PROVISION IN THIS BILL
TURNS THE REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS
TO DRILL INTO NOTHING MORE THAN
A RUBBER STAMP.
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
DOESN'T MAKE A DECISION WITHIN
APPROVED.
AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED WITH NO
PROCESS.
AT THE SAME TIME THE MANY
PROPONENTS OF THIS BILL ARE
ATTEMPTING TO GUT THE BUDGET OF
MANY OF THE AGENCIES NEEDING TO
REVIEW THESE APPLICATIONS,
EFFECTIVELY ENSURING THAT NO
APPLICATION CAN PROBABLY BE
DEALT WITH AND EVALUATED WITH IN
60 DAYS AND THEY WOULD
AUTOMATICALLY BE APPROVED,
REGARDLESS OF THE IMPACT ON THE
HEALTH OR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
AND JOBS.
NOW, THERE'S SO MANY TROUBLING
PROVISIONS IN THIS BILL.
ANOTHER ONE, AND THIS ONE WOULD
LIKELY VIOLATE OUR CONSTITUTION,
WHICH WE BEGAN THIS SESSION OF
CONGRESS BY RECITING VERY
PUBLICLY IN THIS BODY, IT WOULD
LIMIT A CITIZEN'S RIGHT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION OF
LEASING AND DRILLING BY MAKING
ALL DISSENTERS PAY A $5,000 FEE.
NOW, IMAGINE YOU'RE A COLORADAN,
AN ARIZONAN, A PENNSYLVANIAN, A
TEXTAN, WHO'S CONCERNED ABOUT --
TEXAN, WHO'S CONCERNED ABOUT
DRILLING NEAR YOUR HOME OR
SCHOOL OR RANCH.
YOU UNDERSTAND THIS DEATH AND
DESTRUCTION BILL, OPENING YOUR
MOUTH WOULD COST YOU $5,000.
FREE.
IF THIS BILL PASSES.
PUBLIC.
WE ALL OWN A SHARE OF THEM.
WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THEM.
THEY'RE NOT THE PRIVATE PLAY
GROUND OF OIL AND GAS COMPANIES.
THEY'RE OWNED BY ALL AMERICANS
AND ALL AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE A
SAY IN HOW THEY'RE USED.
NOT JUST AMERICANS WHO COUGH UP
WELL, THIS BILL WOULD GRANT THE
OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY'S WISH LIST
BY OPENING UP PUBLIC LANDS AND
ROLLING BACK PUBLIC HEALTH
SAFEGUARDS, HURTING THE HEALTH
AND KILLING AMERICAN FAMILIES.
ONE THING THIS BILL WILL NOT DO
IS LOWER THE PRICE OF GASOLINE.
ECONOMISTS AGREE THIS BILL HAS
NO IMPACT ON THE PRICE OF
THERE'S ACTUALLY NOW MORE
DRILLING RIGS IN OPERATION IN
THE UNITED STATES THANKS TO
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S LEADERSHIP
TODAY THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD
IN ADDITION THE NUMBER OF
DRILLING RIGS HAS DOUBLED,
DOUBLED SINCE 2009.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S LEADERSHIP HAS
DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF DRILLING
RIGS SINCE 2009.
NOW, RESEARCH GOING BACK MORE
THAN THREE DECADES SHOW THAT
THERE'S VERY LITTLE CORRELATION
BETWEEN THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC
OIL AND THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AT
THE PUMP.
GO AHEAD AND TELL THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT WE WANT OIL AND GAS
COMPANIES TO DRILL ANYWHERE THEY
LIKE, NO REGARD TO PUBLIC HEALTH
IS THAT THE MESSAGE THAT WE WANT
TO SEND -- HEALTH.
TO SEND?
THIS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION BILL
WOULD NOT ONLY LEAD TO THE
DEATHS OF AMERICANS, BUT WOULD
DESTROY JOBS, DESTROY ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES, DESTROY
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S NOTHING SHORT OF A FEDERAL
LAND GRAB AND A FEDERAL WATER
GRAB.
AND REPRESENTING MY CONSTITUENTS
IN COLORADO, I ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SAY, HECK NO ON
BOTH THE BILL AS WELL AS THE
RULE AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE
THE
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH IS
RECOGNIZED.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
WHOSE HOME STATE HAS PROVIDED A
PROGRAM OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
WHICH HAS LED TO A 3% OR LESS
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, JOBS AND
ENERGY PRODUCTION.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, MR. BERG.
THE
THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR RECOGNIZING ME TODAY.
THE UNDERLYING BILL.
THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS
ACT.
MY MY HOME STATE OF NORTH
DAKOTA, WE'RE -- IN MY HOME
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, WE'RE
SEEING UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH.
AT 3%, AS IT WAS MENTIONED,
NORTH DAKOTA HAS THE LOWEST
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE
COUNTRY.
WE HAVE A NEARLY $2 BILLION
BUDGET SURPLUS.
WE HAVE STABILIZED OUR FINANCES
AND WE HAVE CREATED CERTAINTY.
AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF
OUR STATE.
A LARGE PART OF OUR ECONOMIC
SUCCESS IS DUE TO A
COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY POLICY.
AND A COMMONSENSE REGULATORY
ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IN NORTH DAKOTA IS KNOWN AS
EMPOWER NORTH DAKOTA.
IN NORTH DAKOTA WE KNOW THAT ALL
ENERGY PRODUCTION IS GOOD ENERGY
PRODUCTION.
RATHER THAN PICKING WINNERS AND
ENERGY, THIS EMPOWER
ACT CREATES A STABLE BUSINESS
FRIENDLY CLIMATE.
IT DOES THIS BY ENCOURAGING ALL
NORTH DAKOTA EMBRACES ALL ENERGY
PRODUCTION, NATURAL RESOURCES
CAPABILITIES ACROSS OUR STATE.
IN NORTH DAKOTA IT'S REALLY
REALLY DOES WORK.
AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE
SHOULD NOT BE TAKING THIS PROVEN
APPROACH TO DEVELOPING ENERGY
AND DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION
AND APPLYING IT NATIONWIDE.
THERE'S REALLY THE GOAL OF THIS
LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING
TODAY.
AND I'M PROUD TO OFFER MY STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION AND
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
TO DO THE SAME BY SUPPORTING
THIS RULE.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
RECOGNIZED.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA, MS.
CASTOR.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
COLLEAGUES, I RISE TO OPPOSE THE
RULE AND THE UNDERLYING BILL FOR
THREE PRIMARY REASONS.
FIRST, THE PACKAGE IS VERY POOR
PUBLIC POLICY.
SECOND, I OFFERED A COMMONSENSE
AMENDMENT AND THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY BLOCKED IT FROM BEING
DEBATED SO IT WILL NOT BE HEARD
TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY.
AND THIRD, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES SHOULDN'T BE
WASTING ITS TIME ON A PACKAGE
THAT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
INSTEAD WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON
JOB CREATION, ESPECIALLY PASSAGE
OF THE TRANSPORTATION BILL WHERE
WE CAN CREATE THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF JOBS ACROSS THE
BUT FIRST AS WE MARKED UP PART
OF THIS PACKAGE IN THE ENERGY
AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE, IT
BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS
PACKAGE IS CHALK FULL OF
DETRIMENTAL POLICY DECISIONS FOR
IT CREATES NEW BUREAUCRACIES
WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SECURITY.
IT ROLLS BACK POLICIES THAT
SUPPORT THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF
SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE ENERGY
PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IT IMPROPERLY REMOVES
PROTECTIONS THAT WE ENJOY UNDER
THE CLEAN AIR ACT.
THAT PROTECT THE HEALTH OF
AMERICAN FAMILIES ALL ACROSS
THIS GREAT NATION.
SECOND, IF MY COLLEAGUES RECALL,
FOLLOWING THE B.P. DEEPWATER
HORIZON BLOWOUT IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO, A MAJOR FLAW IN THE LAW
CAME TO LIGHT.
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR'S MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR
COMPANIES VIOLATING OFFSHORE
DRILLING LAWS IS LIMITED TO
AND FOR A MAJOR ONSHORE DRILLING
VIOLATION IT'S ONLY $5,000.
SO THESE AMOUNTS ARE NOT ENOUGH
OF A DETERRENT FOR BAD BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S WHY I OFFERED AN
AMENDMENT TO GIVE THE SECRETARY
OF INTERIOR THE AUTHORITY TO
INCREASE CIVIL FINES AGAINST OIL
COMPANIES WHO VIOLATE THE LAW
WHILE DRILLING.
UNFORTUNATELY MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES HAVE ONCE AGAIN
BLOCKED SENSIBLE POLICY IN ORDER
TO PROTECT BIG OIL.
THE DEEPWATER HORIZON DISASTER
WAS A MAJOR ECONOMIC BLOW TO MY
HOME STATE OF FLORIDA.
IF OUR LAWS DO NOT ESTABLISH
APPROPRIATE DETERRENCE, THEN YOU
PUT OUR JOBS AT RISK.
OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY, SMALL
BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS,
FISHERMEN AND THE MILITARY RELY
ON CLEAN WATER AND CLEAN BEACHES
AND OUR LAWS SHOULD PROTECT
AMERICAN FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES
AND NOT JUST BIG OIL.
FINALLY, I STRONGLY DISAGREE
WITH THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY'S
DECISION TO BLOCK THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL AND THE
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS
THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON IT.
THE REPUBLICAN INACTION ON A
BILL THAT PASSED THE UNITED
STATES SENATE IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY WITH OVER 70 VOTES IS BEING
BLOCKED HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE
HOUSE AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE UP IN
AT A TIME WHEVE WHEN WE'VE GOT
TO MAKE -- AND ATH A TIME WHEN
WHEEVE -- AT A TIME WHEN WE'VE
GOT TO MAKE GREATER PROGRESS IN
GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK,
THIS IS CAUSING GREAT ECONOMIC
HARM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE
DEBATING TODAY.
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, A
STATE THAT TRULY UNDERSTANDS
WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE AN
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE POLICY FOR
ENERGY PRODUCTION AND WHAT
ENERGY MEANS TO JOB CREATION,
THE GENTLEMAN, DR. BOUSTANY.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING TIME TO ME.
THE SAD FACT TODAY IS THAT THIS
COUNTRY DOES NOT HAVE A COHERENT
PURE AND SIMPLE.
I CAN TELL YOU, I COME FROM
LOUISIANA WHERE WE KNOW
FIRSTHAND, PROBABLY MORE THAN
ANY OTHER STATE, THAT GOOD
ENERGY POLICY CAN MARCH HAND IN
HAND WITH GOOD ECONOMIC BOIL AND
GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.
WE'VE LIVED THAT LIFE.
WE KNOW THAT ENERGY, THE ENERGY
SECTOR, AMERICAN ENERGY
PRODUCTION CREATES GOOD PAYING
JOBS.
MANY OF THESE JOBS GO TO PEOPLE
WHO -- A FAMILY THAT'S NEVER HAD
ANYONE THAT'S HAD COLLEGE AND
THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO PAY FOR
COLLEGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
THESE ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS.
BETTER PAYING THAN MOST.
THE FIRST STEP IN ENERGY POLICY,
THE FIRST STEP IS, NUMBER ONE,
DON'T PUNISH YOUR CURRENT ENERGY
PRODUCTION.
PRODUCTION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
FROM FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS OF
PROPOSING HIGH TAXES, NEW TAXES
ON INDEPENDENT SMALL ENERGY
COMPANIES, SMALL OIL AND GAS
NEW TAXES.
AT A TIME WHEN WE OUGHT TO BE
DEVELOPING OUR ENERGY PRODUCTION
MAKE NOES SENSE AT ALL.
SECONDLY, WHAT'S OUR TRANSITION
STRATEGY?
WE CLEARLY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF
TECHNOLOGY.
WE HAVE LED THE WORLD IN THIS.
WE OUGHT TO BE DEVELOPING IT AND
WE CAN ACHIEVE ENERGY SECURITY
PAYING AMERICAN JOBS.
THIS ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED A
MORATORIUM ON DRILLING IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO AND NOW, YES,
THEY LIFTED THE MORATORIUM, BUT
THEY STILL CONTINUE TO SLOW WALK
THE PERMITS.
THIS BILL WOULD GO FORWARD AND
HELP TO US STREAMLINE THAT
PROCESS SO WE CAN GET AMERICAN
ENERGY PRODUCTION BACK UP ONLINE
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND TO
NEEDS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE RESERVE,
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION
SECTOR FROM UPSTREAM, MIDSTREAM,
DOWNSTREAM, IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR
SIX MILLION JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY
AND WE CAN GROW MORE JOBS.
WE CAN GROW MORE JOBS BEYOND
THAT.
GOOD PAYING JOBS IF WE DO THIS.
AND MEET OUR ENERGY SECURITY
NEEDS.
BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.
I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO TAKE
A LOOK AT THAT PLAQUE UP THERE
NEAR THE CEILING, JUST ABOVE THE
SPEAKER'S CHAIR.
IT SAYS, LET US DEVELOP THE
RESOURCES OF OUR LAND.
A QUOTE FROM DANIEL WEBSTER.
WE SHOULD HEED THAT ADVICE.
WE SHOULD DEVELOP THE RESOURCES
LET'S DEVELOP OUR AMERICAN
ENERGY PRODUCTION IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO AND ALASKA.
LET'S DEVELOP IT IN SHALE.
LET'S CREATE JOBS, LET'S CREATE
A SECURE ENERGY FUTURE FOR THIS
COUNTRY AND LET'S MOVE THIS
COUNTRY FORWARD.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH
RESERVES.