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AND THIS IS AT NO, LET ME
REPEAT MYSELF IN THIS FACT,
THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY IS AT NO
COST TO THE TAXPAYER OR THE
PUBLIC.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND I COULDN'T AGREE
WITH MR. GOSAR MORE ON SOME OF
HIS PRESENTATION THAT THE
BUREAU WOULD BE ABLE TO, AT THE
THESE PROJECTS
-- WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
THEY COULD UNDERSTAND HOW THEY
COULD EXPEDITE SOME OF THESE
PROJECTS.
SO NEPA IS NOT SOME RADICAL
PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT IS WHAT IS OVERWHELMINGLY
APPROVED BY CONGRESS MORE THAN
FOUR DECADES AGO AND SIGNED
INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT NIXON.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH -- IT'S A TOOL
TO BE USED TO FACILITATE
COORDINATION, COOPERATION AND
PUBLIC INPUT.
IT IS NOT A BARRIER.
IT IS A SHIELD PROTECTING
COMMUNITIES, YOURS AND MINE,
FROM THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES THAT CAN OCCUR
WHEN A BIG, CLUMSY FEDERAL
ACTING.
GOVERNMENT CAN DO WITHOUT
THEY JUST REQUIRE THE
GOVERNMENT TO ANALYZE
ALTERNATIVES AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, SEEK PUBLIC
COMMENT.
EVIDENCE THAT NEPA DOES NOT
STOP PROJECTS IS JUST PLAIN --
THE MAJORITY CANNOT PROVIDE A
EXAMPLE WHERE NEPA
PROVIDED SOME OF THESE HYDRO
PROJECTS FROM MOVING FORWARD.
THEY ARE GRANTED EXPEDITIOUSLY
AND IT PROVIDES THE BORE POR
ALL THE FLEXIBILITY NECESSARY
TO APPLY NEPA QUICKLY AND
EFFICIENTLY TO THE PROJECTS.
THERE IS NO DELAY.
TO OPPOSE NEPA -- AGAIN, IT
WOULD THEN OPPOSE PUBLIC INPUT.
TO OPPOSE NEPA SHOULD OPPOSE
THINKING BEFORE WE ACT.
THIS UNNECESSARY AND UNWISE
BLANKET WAIVER OF NEPA SHOULD
BE STRUCK FROM THIS BILL AND
THEN THIS BILL COULD BE PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY AND GO ON TO
APPROVAL IN OUR OTHER BODY, AND
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HER
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
IS RECOGNIZED.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
JUST WANT TO POINT OUT WHAT
THIS BILL DOES AND THE
SIMPLICITY OF THIS BILL.
IN 1902, WHEN THIS HOUSE, ALONG
WITH THE OTHER HOUSE, CREATED
THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION,
THE LANDS.
THAT'S WHERE RECLAMATION COMES
FROM.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP
AREAS THAT HERETOFORE DIDN'T
HAVE THE RESOURCES IN WHICH TO
DEVELOP.
MAINLY THE RESOURCES THEY WERE
LACKING WAS WATER.
AND SO THE BUREAU OF
RECLAMATION WAS CREATED SO THAT
THOSE ERRANT AREAS, CERTAINLY
MY AREA IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON,
QUALIFIED AS THAT BECAUSE THE
DAM IS THE FACILITY THAT
IRGATES THE 500,000-PLUS ACRES
IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON.
BUT IT WAS DECIDES TO DEVELOP
AN AREA THAT COULDN'T BE
DEVELOPED BEFORE.
SO NOW WE HAVE THESE FACILITIES
IN PLACE ALL OVER THE WEST.
THEY'VE GONE THROUGH EXTENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS IN ORDER
TO BE PUT INTO PLACE.
YET, EVEN WITH THE TECHNOLOGY
THAT MAKES IRRIGATION BETTER
AND BETTER AND MORE AND MORE
EFFICIENT, THERE STILL IS WATER
IN THESE CANALS THAT GOES BACK
TO THE RIVER.
IN MY CASE, THE COLUMBIA RIVER.
ENDS UP IN THE RIVER SOME 120
MILES DOWNSTREAM.
AND DURING THAT PROCESS WHERE
THE WATER GOES DOWN, IRGAITS
VARIOUS PARTS OF THE PROJECT,
-- IRRIGATES VARIOUS PARTS OF
THE PROJECT, WE COULD
EFFICIENTLY USE THAT WATER BY
PRODUCING POWER.
THAT'S WHAT THIS LEGISLATION
DOES.
AGAIN, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE
EXTENSION -- THE EXTENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW TO BUILD
THE DITCH, THE CANAL.
WE SAW PICTURES OF THAT
EARLIER.
ALL WE'RE SUGGESTING NOW IS
THAT WE PUT SOMETHING IN THERE
TO CAPTURE THE WATER POWER TO
GENERATE ELECTRICITY.
IT'S NO MORE COMPLICATED THAN
THAT.
THAT'S ALL THIS BILL IS ABOUT.
AND SO WITH THAT, WHILE THERE
IS AN OBJECTION TO A NEPA
PROCESS, THERE IS AN AMENDMENT
THAT WILL ADDRESS THAT AND WE
WILL HAVE MORE EXTENSIVE DEBATE
ON THAT, BUT I WOULD JUST
REPEAT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ALL OF THE BUILDING OF THE
DITCHES, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT
REALLY DISTURBS THE LAND, THAT
WENT THROUGH EXTENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS TO GET TO
THAT POINT.
WE ARE NOW BUILDING WITHIN WHAT
WE DISTURBED.
BOY, TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO
HAVE ANOTHER PROCESS,
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE, AT LEAST TO THIS
MEMBER.
SO WITH THAT I'LL YIELD BACK
THE TIME THAT I YIELDED TO
MYSELF AND RESERVE THE BALANCE.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE LEFT,
SIR?
THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS
18 1/2 MINUTES, AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON HAS
SIX MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT
WE FULLY SUPPORT THE INTENT OF
THE LEGISLATION WITHOUT THE
NEPA -- EXEMPTION
OF NEPA ON PAGE 12, LINE 14.
ONE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN WORKING
ON HYDROKINETIC FOR A WHILE.
WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING THE
ISSUES OF HYDROKINETIC AND
THEIR RESULTS AND PROJECTS THEY
HAVE IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK
TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE
ELECTRICITY, AND WE HAVE FOR AT
LEAST FIVE YEARS BEEN TRYING TO
MAKE CONGRESS AND THE COMMITTEE
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY VIABLE.
EVEN THE HEED OFF OF THE
PUMPING MOTORS, IT BEING
RECAPTURED AND CONVERTED INTO
ELECTRICITY IN ONE OF MY AREAS.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND, AND I'M
GLAD THAT IT'S FINALLY
BEGINNING TO TAKE HOLD THERE IS
THE ABILITY TO CREATE
ELECTRICITY FROM HYDRO.
WE SUPPORT INCREASED GENERATION
AT ALL FACILITIES BY DEVELOPING
CONDUIT AND IN CANAL
HYDROPOWER.
I, AGAIN, SUPPORT ALL OF THE
PROVISIONS I STATED HERE.
WAIVING NEPA DOES NOT PROVIDE
THE CARE AND CERTAINTY TO BE A
CLEAR PROCESS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF HYDRO AT
RECLAMATION FACILITIES.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT AT LEAST
THE POWER PRIVILEGE IS CLEAR
AND DOES PROVIDE THIS SPECIFIC
CERTAINTY.
IT SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH
FERC PROCESS, AS STATED IN THE
LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL
HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION AS
INTRODUCED IN THE RECORD.
WE WILL HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO
FIX THE PROBLEM.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HER
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D
LIKE TO ASK OF MY FRIEND FROM
CALIFORNIA IF SHE HAS ANY MORE
SPEAKERS ON THE DEBATE PORTION
OF THIS.
MR. SPEAKER, I
DO NOT.
IF NOT, I AM
PREPARED TO CLOSE AND I WON'T
EVEN CLOSE.
I'LL YIELD BACK AND START THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS IF THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLELADY
YIELDS BACK.
I YIELD BACK.
ALL TIME FOR GENERAL
DEBATE IS EXPIRED.
THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF
A SUBSTITUTE PRINTED IN THE
BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS AN
ORIGINAL BILL FOR THE PURPOSE
OF AMENDMENT UNDER THE
FIVE-MINUTE RULE AND SHALL BE
CONSIDERED READ.
EACH SECTION OF THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
AS READ.
SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE CONSIDERED
NO AMENDMENT TO THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE IN ORDER
EXCEPT, ONE, THOSE RECEIVED FOR
PRINTING IN THE PORTION OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD DESIGNATED
FOR THAT PURPOSE DATED AT LEAST
ONE DAY BEFORE THE DATE OF
CONSIDERATION FOR THE AMENDMENT
AND, TWO, PRO FORMA AMENDMENTS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE.
EACH AMENDMENT SO RECEIVED MAY
BE OFFERED ONLY BY THE MEMBER
WHO CAUSED IT TO BE PRINTED OR
A DESIGNEE AND SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ IF PRINTED.
THE CLERK WILL DESIGNATE
SECTION 1.
1, SHORT
TITLE, --
DESK.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
OF COLORADO.
RECORD, OFFERED BY MR. TIPTON
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS
IS A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT,
CHANGES THE YEAR OF THE BILL
FROM 2011 TO 2012.
SKI MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS NONCONTROVERSIAL
AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
DOES ANY MEMBER SEEK
RECOGNITION --
WE HAVE NO
OBJECTION.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR THE
AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
THE CLERK WILL DESIGNATE
2.
SECTION 2,
AUTHORIZATION.
ARE THERE ANY
AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 2.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE
DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
NAPOLITANO OF CALIFORNIA.
RECORD, OFFERED BY MRS.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
A SIMPLE
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AMENDMENT STRIKING OUT A
SECTION AND RENEWING THE
NEPAWARE.
THE PROPONENTS OF THE MEASURE
WILL ARGUE IT ALLOWS FOR
CATEGORICAL AMENDMENT FOR
STATUTORY CRITERIA AND DO NOT
HAVE THE ABILITY OF AMENDMENT.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS THE
LEGISLATION ATTEMPTS WHERE ALL
ENVIRONMENTAL REGARDS ARE
COMPLETELY WAIVED THIS BILL IS
AS AMENED PROPOSES TO TOTALLY
EXEMPT ALL SMALL HIDE ROW FROM
EXTENSION PROCESS.
RECLAMATION ALREADY HAS THE
SAME AUTHORITY AS FERC, TO
DEVELOP A PROCESS OF COMPLYING
WITH NEPA.
WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF
DETERMINING WHETHER SMULE HIDE
ROWS MAY BE PLACED UNDER
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION.
THEY PLAN TO HAVE -- THE DRAFT
IS OUT, THEY ARE CONSULTING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THIS BILL IS
WHAT THEY NEED.
THEY HAVE ALSO GRANTED SPECIFIC
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTIONS TO THREE
L.L.P. PROJECTS AS MENTIONED IN
MY OPENING STATEMENT.
LOW-IMPACT HYDROPOWER CAN BE
UTILIZED BY USING EXISTING
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
PROVISIONS.
WE HAVE SEEN EXAMPLES OF
PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT UNDULY
DELAYED PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE PLACED LETTERS FROM
NATIONAL HIDE ROW POWER
ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS TO
HIGHLIGHT THE VIEWS OF THE
HYDROPOWER INDUSTRY AND THE
HYDROPOWER.
LEADING CONSERVATION GROUP ON
BOTH ARE SUPPORTIVE OF 2042 AS
LONG AS IT IS PATTERNED AFTER
THE MODEL USED BY FERC.
IT WOULD PROVIDE FOR PROPER
OVERSIGHT AND I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE POSITIVELY
YES ON THIS AMENDMENT AND I
RESERVE THE PERHAPS OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLELADY MAY
NOT RESERVE THE BALANCE OF HER
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN --
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
YIELDS BACK.
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE?
MOVE TO STRIKE THE
LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
OUR OPPONENTS ON THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION ARE
CONFUSED AS TO WHAT THE DEBATE
IS TRULY ABOUT.
IF IT IS ABOUT JOBS AND ABOUT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IF IT IS
ABOUT PROVIDING ENERGY
CERTAINTY, IF IT IS ABOUT
REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT
IN THIS COUNTRY, 2842 IS A GOOD
PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
THEY SAY CONCEPTUALLY THEY
EMBRACE IT BUT THEY WANT TO PUT
ON THE BACKS OF HARD WORKING
AMERICANS MORE -- HARDWORKING
AMERICANS MORE COST, MORE
UNCERTAINTY WHEN WE NEED TO
CREATE CERTAINTY, WHEN WE NEED
TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
REDUCE COSTS.
OUR -- THE GENTLELADY SAID WE
SEE NO EVIDENCE OF PROMPTS
BEING DELAY.
THE TRUTH IS, WHEN WE HAD
TESTIMONY, CHRIS TREES OF THE
COLORADO WATER DISTRICT NOTED
OVER A YEAR FOR A
PROJECT TO BE APPROVED.
MANY PROJECTS WERE NOT BEING
CONSIDERED SIMPLY BECAUSE OF
THE REGULATORY COSTS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS CHART ON
PROJECTED COST TO BUILD A SMALL
HYDROPOWER INSTALLATION, THE
$20,000.
ACTUAL COST TO BUILD THE IS
BY THE TIME WE CONCUR WITH OUR
DEMOCRATS' COLLEAGUES
ASSISTANCE THAT WE EXPAND
BUREAUCRACY HAVE MORE
GOVERNMENT, WE'LL ADD AN
ADDITIONAL $50,000 IN COSTS.
WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE?
-- FOR RURAL AMERICA IT IS --
WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE?
FOR RURAL AMERICA IT IS
DOLLARS.
WE HAVE STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES,
PEOPLE THAT NEED JOBS, PEOPLE
THAT NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE PUT
BACK TO WORK.
IT MAY IN BIG CITIES NOT BE BIG
MONEY WHEN YOU START TO TALK
ABOUT $50,000 BUT FOR A SMALL
WATER DISTRICT, IT TRULY IS.
THIS IS A CHANCE TO STAND UP
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS IS A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO
CREATE CLEAN ENERGY FOR THIS
NATION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT
EXAMPLES IN TERMS OF WHAT DOES
OVERREGULATION BY THE
GOVERNMENT DO, WHEN WE WENT
THROUGH THE NEPA PROCESS, NO
ONE ARGUED AS WE HAD PHOTOS MY
COLLEAGUE MR. GOSAR HAD SHOWN
OF CONSTRUCTED DITCHES PUT IN
PLACE TO HAVE THE NEPA PROCESS
BUT THEN TO DUPLICATE THAT
POSSESS, WE CAN LOOK AT BUREAU
OF RECLAMATION'S PROCESS IN
WHICH IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO
FIND OUT IT HAD JURISDICTION
OVER THE PROJECT SEA DROP CANAL
IN ORDER TO A PAVE THE WAY FOR
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER.
FIVE YEARS.
JOIN WITH US IN CARING ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENT.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING
TO BE DELIVERING CLEAN
HYDROPOWER, NOT DELAYING IT FOR
FIVE YEAR, NOT DELAYING IT FOR
A YEAR, NOT PUTTING MORE COSTS
ON THE BACK OF THE AMERICANS
PEOPLE WHEN THEY SIMPLY CAN'T
AFFORD IT AND PUTTING PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK.
THAT'S THE CHOICE WE HAVE ON
THIS LEGISLATION.
AS CHAIRMAN HASTINGS HAS NOTED,
IT'S A COMMON, COMMON SENSE
PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT MAKES SENSE AND IT MAKES
GOOD COMMON SENSE TO VOTE FOR
IT.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS?
I YIELD TO MY
COLLEAGUE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING IF YOU'D
PUT THAT POSTER BACK UP AGAIN.
THAT EXAMPLE DEMONSTRATES WHY
AMERICA IS SO FED UP WITH WHAT
HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
HERE IS A PROJECT THAT IS
AFFORDABLE, AT $20,000, SO
SOMEBODY WANTS TO TAKE THAT
COULDN'T TO -- OPPORTUNITY TO
PERHAPS MAKE SOME MUP, NOTHING
WRONG WITH THAT IN OUR COUNTRY
AN YOU FIND OUT THAT THE COST
IS 2.5 TIME WHAT
THE PROJECT IS.
WHAT CERTAINTY DOES THAT SEND
TO THE MARKETPLACE THAT WE WANT
TO DO BUSINESS?
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
AND -- ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING
COSTS HERE IN THIS PARTICULAR
EXAMPLE, OF COURSE THAT'S
EXEMPLIFIED BY, WHAT?
NEPA.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD TAKE THE
WAIVER OF KNEE PA OUT OF THE
EDF NEPA OUT OF THE EQUATION.
IN OTHER WORDS, UNDER THE BILL
YOU HAVE OFFERED, THAT RED
SLICE THERE WOULD BE
DRAMATICALLY, DRAMATICALLY
REDUCED.
IS THAT CORRECT?
I'LL YIELD BACK.
THAT IS CORRECT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THIS AMENDMENT AS THE
GENTLELADY POINTED OUT STRIKES
NEPA EXEMPTION FOR
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS.
THE NEPA EXEMPTION IS THE
ENTIRE POINT OF THE BILL.
AS THE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARD, IT'S
PRECISELY THIS DUPLICATIVE,
COSTLY, TIME-CONSUMING AND
ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY PROCESS
THAT IS MORE THAN -- THAT HAS
MORE THAN DOUBLED THE COST OF
SMALL HIDE ROW PROJECTS AND
MAKES THEM COST PROHIBITIVE.
THEY KNOW THEY
DON'T PENCIL OUT ONCE THE
KANSASES.
STUDIES ARE FACTORED INTO THEIR
THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
DOESN'T DENY PERMITS, IT SIMPLY
DEMANDS SUCH COSTLY
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AS TO
MAKE THEM COST PROHIBITIVE.
THE BILL AUTHORIZES THESE
PROJECTS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO
GO THROUGH THE COSTLY,
TIME-CONSUMING AND POINTLESS
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.
THE GENTLELADY SEVERAL TIMES
MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THE
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WAS
MOVING AHEAD WITH THREE PERMITS
IN COLORADO.
SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
LET'S LOOK AT THOSE THREE
PERMITS.
WASN'T CONDUIT
HYDROPOWER, ONE WAS
SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY
CONGRESS IN THE 1980'S AND THE
THIRD TOOK A FULL YEAR TO GET
THE PERMITTING DONE ON AN
EXISTING CANAL OUTLET.
IF THAT'S WHAT THE GENTLELADY
DESCRIBES AS SUCCESS, I THINK
SHE IS JUST -- SHE HAS JUST
PROVEN OUR POINT.
LET ME ASK THEY ARE THIS -- ASK
HER THIS -- WHAT IS THE POINT
OF TIME-CONSUMING,
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS WHEN ALL
YOU'RE DOING IS PUTTING A SMALL
GENERATOR IN AN EXIST BUGE ROW
OF RECLAMATION PIPE THAT HAS
ALREADY UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS?
FERC ALREADY PROVIDES FOR
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION ON
PROJECTS, THE PEW ROW'S OWN
NEPA MAN WRULE CLEARLY ALLOWS
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTIONS FOR,
QUOTE, AND THIS IS FROM THEIR
MANUAL, QUOTE, MINOR
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WHICH
MERELY AUGMENT OR SUPPLEMENT OR
ARE ENCLOSED IN EXISTING
FACILITIES.
THESE SMALL HIDE ROW GENERATORS
PRECISELY MEET THIS
REQUIREMENT.
THE PROBLEM IS, THE AGENCY
IGNORES ITS OWN GUIDELINES THAT
IS PRECISELY WHY THIS BILL IS
NECESSARY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, PLACING
GENERATORS IN PIPELINES IS
EITHER ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING
OR IT'S NOT AND ANYBODY WITH A
LICK OF SENSE KNOWS THE ANSWER
TO THAT QUESTION AND I WOULD
EXPECT THEM TO BE SUPPORTING
THE BILL OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DOES THE JELL FROM ARIZONA
RISE?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT
CALIFORNIA.
FROM THE GENTLELADY FROM
IN FACT, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
TWO OF THE MOST -- TWO OF THE
ARIZONA WITNESSES WHO HAVE SOME
OF THE MOST APPLICABLE
UNDERSTANDING OF THE BILL.
THE FIRST PERSON I WANT TO
QUOTE IS MR. BOB LYNCH, IN
WHICH HE TESTIFIED WORK NEED
CONGRESS TO STREAMLINE THE
FACILITIES, BOTH FOR
RECLAMATION AN NONFEDERAL
FACILITIES THIS WILL OPEN UP
THIS EWEST TO A WHOLE NEW
PRODUCT LINE OF SMALL P
FACILITIES THAT CAN TAP THE
ENERGY IN FLOWING WATER THAT'S
CURRENTLY BEING WASTED.
IF THE RED TAPE CAN
BE CUT DOWN, THE COST OF THESE
UNITS CAN BE APORTIZED.
THEY HAVE NO IMPACT OTHER THAN
TO PROVIDE CLEAN HYDROPOW FOR
THE SMALL QUANTITY
QUESTIONITIES, ALL OVER THE
UNITED STATES.
THE SECOND PERSON ILL LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT IS MR. GRANT WARD,
WHO RETCHTS ONE OF THESE
DISTRICTS, IN WHICH HE
TESTIFIED HOW THE PERMITTING
COST, $50,000 FOR EVERY SMALL
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER UNIT IN HIS
AREA, ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN
$20,000.
THE ACTUAL INCE LAGE OF
HERE WE HEAR FROM MS. BARBARA
LIFRPBL, REPRESENTING THE
IRRIGATION AN ELECTRICAL
IRRIGATION OF ARIZONA, SOMEONE
OF EXPERTISE IN THIS
THIS AREA, AS WELL AS MR. GRANT
WARD, WHO HAS EXPERIENCE ON THE
GROUND LEVEL, WITH THEIR
I RISE IN OPPOSITION.
TESTIMONY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
RECORDED VOTE
REQUESTED, PLEASE.
FUTH PROCEEDINGS ON
THE MOTION OFFERED BY THE -- ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
WILL BE POSTPONED.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS
TO SECTION 2?
AMENDMENT.
THE CLERK WILL DESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE PINTED IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD OFFERED BY
MR. ELLISON OF MINNESOTA.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I HAVE -- OUR TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAM EXPIRES AT THE END OF
MARCH.
AND WE ARE STILL FACING HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT.
WHY AREN'T WE WORKING ON A REAL
JOBS BILL THAT WILL CREATE GOOD
INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS?
THE G.O.P. WASTED ABOUT 427
DAYS SINCE THEY'VE BEEN IN
CHARGE BY NOT PRODUCING A REAL
JOBS AGENDA.
BUT IT'S AROUND TRANSPORTATION
AN INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE WE HAVE
A REAL OPPORTUNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, CERTAIN PEOPLE
HAVE USED CREATIVE TITLES,
DECEIVING TITLES IN SOME CASES,
TO TRY TO DISTRACT THE PUBLIC.
THEIR TRANSPORTATION BILL WAS
CALLED THE AMERICAN
INFRASTRUCTURE AN ENERGY JOBS
ACT BUT YOU WOULDN'T PROMOTE
JOBS IN ENERGY OR
INFRASTRUCTURE, IT WOULD
ACTUALLY CUT HIGHWAY INVESTMENT
BY $16 BILLION IN FIVE YEARS.
THIS IS A LOSS OF HALF A
MILLION JOBS NATIONWIDE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THE AMERICAN ENERGY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS ACT WOULD
CUT 500,000 JOBS.
THE BILL WOULD COST ABOUT
11,000 JOBS IN MY HOME STATE OF
MINNESOTA.
TODAY, WE'RE DEBATING, QUOTE,
THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SMALL
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT
AND RURAL JOBS ACT.
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SMALL
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER WHEN WE NEED
INVESTMENT IN HIGHWAYS,
BRIDGES, TRANSIT, AIRPORTS?
NOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG.
I'M NOT HERE TO RUN DOWN SMALL
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER.
I JUST THINK IT'S TOO SMALL.
ALSO ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK IS
THE SO-CALLED JUMP-START OUR
BUSINESS STARTUPS ACT, JOBS.
THIS IS A REHASH OF ACCESS TO
CAPITAL.
IN FACT, I MAY SUPPORT IT.
IT WILL BARELY MAKE A DENT IN
OUR UNEMPLOYMENT AND
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.
THE G.O.P. MAY HAVE CREATIVE
TITLES, MAY HAVE SOME TITLE
THAT CATCHES ATTENTION AND
SOUNDS GOOD, BUT IF YOU SCRATCH
SURFACE JUST A LITTLE BIT
THERE'S NO JOBS AGENDA.
EVEN IN BILLS THAT SAY JOBS.
THE CIVIL ENGINEERS GROUP IS A
GROUP, COLLECTION OF
PROFESSIONALS WHO KNOWS THE
ISSUE AND THEY GIVE OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE GRADE A D.
D DON'T STAND FOR DANDY.
IT STANDS FOR DOWNRIGHT BAD AND
UNFORTUNATE.
WE HAVE NEARLY 70,000 BRIDGES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY OR 11.5% OF
ALL HIGHWAY BRIDGES CLASSIFIED
AS STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT,
MEANING THEY REQUIRE
SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE OR
REPLACEMENT.
SEVERAL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE
OF MY HOME AND IN 2007 MY
DISTRICT TRAGICALLY FELT THE
IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL DEFICIENT
BRIDGE WITH THE COLLAPSE OF A
BRIDGE.
WE NEED A REAL TRANSPORTATION
BILL AND A REAL JOBS AGENDA TO
REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND
TO PUT AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
WELL, SO I'D LIKE TO YIELD NOW
TO EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
PARDON ME.
THE GENTLEMAN MUST REMAIN
STANDING AS HE'S YIELDING TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
LET ME THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA FOR LEADING THIS
POSITION.
I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
CURRENT HE THINKS TENSION OF
THE TRANSPORTATION BILL --
EXTENSION OF THE TRANSPORTATION
BILL WHICH IS SET TO EXPIRE AT
THE END OF THIS MONTH, AND I AM
FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF
ACTION IN THIS CHAMBER AND THE
LACK OF ATTENTION BEING PAID BY
MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED
THESE JOBS.
THE CURRENT TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORIZATION EXPIRES AT THE
END OF MARCH, BUT WE ARE STILL
FACING HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND A
WEAK ECONOMY.
WE NEED THE KIND OF LONG-TERM
TRANSPORTATION POLICY THAT WILL
REPAIR OUR CRUMBLING
INFRASTRUCTURE AND BRING BACK
GOOD-PAYING CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
I'VE BEEN ON THE HOUSE
TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR 20
YEARS THIS YEAR, AND UP UNTIL
NOW THE COMMITTEE HAS WORKED IN
A BIPARTISAN FASHION, AND WE
PRODUCE SOUND, COMMONSENSE
LEGISLATION, BUT THE PROGRESS
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE HAS
BEEN STYMIED BY PARTISAN
BICKERING AND BAD POLICY.
THE CURRENT TRANSPORTATION BILL
OFFERED BY THE MAJORITY WILL
CUT INVESTMENT IN OUR NATION'S
HIGHWAYS BY ALMOST $16 BILLION
FIVE YEARS.
THIS WOULD MEAN A LOSS OF OVER
500,000 JOBS NATIONWIDE.
MR. SPEAKER, WE TALK ABOUT THIS
BEING THE JOBS BILL.
WHAT IS BEFORE US IS A
JOB-KILLING BILL.
BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
WAITING.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I'D
LIKE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA RISE?
TO CLAIM TIME
IN OPPOSITION.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD GIVE TO
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
THE ABILITY LITERALLY TO
UNILATERALLY VETO THIS MEASURE
IF HE FINDS IT WILL RESULT IN A
LOSS OF JOBS.
NOW, LET'S BE CLEAR WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THIS IS THE SAME SECRETARY OF
THE INTERIOR WHO CAME TO THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE IN
2009 WHEN FEDERAL WATER
DIVERSIONS IN WATER'S CENTRAL
VALLEY WERE THROWING THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF FARM WORKERS
INTO UNEMPLOYMENT, AND BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE HE ADMITTED HE
HAD THE AUTHORITY TO STOP THE
DIVERSIONS AND STOP THROWING
THESE THOUSANDS OF HARDWORKING
FAMILIES INTO POVERTY BUT THAT
HE CHOSE NOT TO DO SO BECAUSE
HE SAID IT WOULD BE LIKE
ADMITTING FAILURE.
THIS IS THE SAME ADMINISTRATION
THAT BLISSFULLY THREW THOUSANDS
OF GULF OIL WORKERS INTO
UNEMPLOYMENT BY HAVING A
MORATORIUM IN THE GULF.
THIS IS THE SAME ADMINISTRATION
THAT IS BLOCKING DRILLING IN
THE ARCTIC TUNDRA.
THIS IS THE SAME ADMINISTRATION
THAT'S TORPEDOED THE KEYSTONE
X.L. AND THE THOUSANDS OF JOBS
IT WOULD HAVE CREATED, AND NOW
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA
WOULD GIVE THE SAME OFFICIAL
AND THE SAME ADMINISTRATION THE
POWER TO SHUT DOWN SMALL
HYDROELECTRIC FACILITIES THAT
COULD ADD THOUSANDS OF
MEGAWATTS OF ADDITIONAL
ELECTRICITY TO OUR ENERGY
SUPPLIES.
I WOULD ASSURE THE GENTLEMAN
THAT THE REASON FOR THIS BILL
IS BECAUSE WE FULLY EXPECT IT
TO PRODUCE A QUANTUM LEAP AND
DEMAND FOR SMALL GENERATORS AND
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO
BUILD THEM AND SOMEBODY'S GOING
TO HAVE TO INSTALL THEM.
THAT MEANS MORE JOBS.
NOW, IF THE GENTLEMAN'S WORRIED
ABOUT JOBS BEING LOST IN THE
REGULATORY BUREAUCRACY BECAUSE
THEY WON'T HAVE AS MANY
BUSINESSES TO HARASS, I CAN
ASSURE HIM THEY HAVE
DEMONSTRATED OVER THE YEARS A
TREMENDOUS CREATIVITY IN
FINDING NEW BUSINESSES TO
HARASS AND NEW REASONS TO
INCREASE THEIR BUDGETS.
BUT I SAY AGAIN, I DON'T
BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA
TO PUT IN THE HANDS OF THIS
SECRETARY AND THIS
ADMINISTRATION YET ANOTHER TOOL
TO OBSTRUCT ENERGY AND JOB
DEVELOPMENT.
NOW, HIGHER ELECTRICITY PRICES
MIGHT NOT BE A PROBLEM IN
MINNESOTA, BUT I CAN ASSURE THE
GENTLEMAN THEY ARE A SERIOUS
PROBLEM IN CALIFORNIA AND
THAT'S WHY HIS AMENDMENT IS SO
DANGEROUS.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE BILL I AM SPEAKING ON IS
THE TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE BILL.
THE SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION, WHO HAS SERVED
ON THIS COMMITTEE, HAS CLEARLY
EXPLAINED WHAT THIS BILL AND --
IN ITS PRESENT FORM WILL DO FOR
THIS COUNTRY.
I KNOW PROBABLY NO ONE WANTS TO
QUOTE THIS PARTICULAR SECRETARY
WHO HAS HAD INSIDE EXPERIENCE
AS WELL AS OUTSIDE EXPERIENCE,
AND HE IS VERY AWARE BECAUSE HE
SERVED ON THIS COMMITTEE DURING
THE TIME WE WORKED IN A
BIPARTISAN FASHION.
AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HIGHWAYS AND BECAUSE SOMEONE
WILL PUT A LOT MORE EXTRA
CURRICULA, EXTRANEOUS KIND OF
STUFF IN THIS BILL THAT DOESN'T
RELATE TO THESE HIGHWAYS, THEN
-- BUT THE PROGRESS THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN MADE WAS REALLY
STYMIED BY THIS VERY KIND OF
PROPAGANDA AND BAD POLICY.
THE CURRENT TRANSPORTATION BILL
, OFFERED BY THE MAJORITY,
COULD INVEST IN OUR NATION'S
HIGHWAYS AND -- WON'T INVEST IN
OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS AND KILL
JOBS.
WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE IN
THIS COUNTRY.
MR. SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR US TO DO
SOMETHING.
WE WILL SIT HERE BY OUR
CONSTITUENTS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS,
NOT TO CREATE THEM AND NOT TO
FIND EXCUSES TO DISPLACE THE
REAL REALITY.
LET'S GET BACK TO WORK AND
REPAIR OUR NATION'S
INFRASTRUCTURE AND GET
THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS BACK TO
WORK, NOT TO TRY TO CHALLENGE
THIS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE YOU
DON'T LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION.
TO SEE SOMETHING THAT'S
REAL AND SOMETHING THAT
ADDRESSES REAL PROBLEMS AND NOT
SIT AROUND WITH A LOT OF IDEAS
AND A LOT OF PROPAGANDA THAT
BILL.
SIMPLY DOES NOT RELATE TO THIS
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
YIELDS BACK.
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
I MOVE TO STRIKE
THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
FIND THIS DEBATE RATHER
INTERESTING BECAUSE THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS HAD SPOKE
-- DID NOT SPEAK ON THIS BILL.
SHE SPOKE ON ANOTHER PIECE OF
PENDING LEGISLATION THAT DEALT
THAT'S GOOD.
WITH JOBS.
THAT PENDING PIECE OF
LEGISLATION I MIGHT ADD HAD TWO
COMPONENTS TO IT.
IT HAD THE ENERGY COMPONENT AND
IT HAD THE TRANSPORTATION
COMPONENT WHICH OF COURSE IS
PENDING.
WE KNOW IT EXPIRES AT THE END
OF THIS MONTH, BUT WE DID PASS
THE ENERGY COMPONENT OF THAT
BILL WHICH CREATES OVER, YOU
KNOW, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
JOBS.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT MR.
CHAIRMAN, THE GENTLELADY VOTED
AGAINST THAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
SOMETIMES WE HEAR MIXED
MESSAGES HERE BUT I JUST WANTED
TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
THIS HAD BILL IS ANOTHER
EXTENSION OF ENERGY -- OF
ENERGY PRODUCTION AND, OF
COURSE, CREATING AMERICAN
ENERGY JOBS.
AND WITH THAT I FIND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA'S
AMENDMENT REALLY VERY
INTERESTING BECAUSE WHAT HE IS
SAYING BY HIS AMENDMENT, UNLESS
THE BUREAUCRACY DECIDES BY
GIVING ALL THIS AUTHORITY TO
THE SECRETARY, BY THE WAY, I'M
NOT SURE WHICH SECRETARY IT IS
BECAUSE IT IS NOT DELINEATED IN
THE AMENDMENT, BUT LEAVING THAT
ASIDE, HE'S SAYING THERE WILL
BE NO JOBS UNLESS, WHAT, THE
BE JOBS.
BUREAUCRACY DECIDES THERE WILL
NOW, HOW LUDICROUS IS THAT?
BUT THAT IS PRECISELY WHERE WE
SEEM TO BE TODAY, AND I THINK
THIS IS, AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, THIS IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY I THINK AMERICANS
ARE SO FED UP WITH WHAT'S
HAPPENING HERE IN D.C. WITH
THIS SORT OF BACK AND FORTH.
LET ME REPEAT.
THIS IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS
IN PLACE.
THERE IS WATER RUNNING THROUGH
THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
CAPTURE THAT ENERGY AT NO COST
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
CREATE JOBS AND LOWER THE COST
OF ENERGY.
IT DOESN'T GET MORE -- NOTHING
MORE SIMPLISTIC THAN THAT, MR.
CHAIRMAN, SO I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THIS
AMENDMENT AND I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON THE
UNDERLYING BILL AND I YIELD
BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
MR. CHAIRMAN, IT'S
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
INTERESTING.
OUR COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT JOBS.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CREATE
JOBS, TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE
THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICANS
TO GO BACK TO WORK, TO BE ABLE
TO CREATE CLEAN ENERGY RIGHT
AS MY COLLEAGUE WAS POINTING
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
OUT, A COMMON PIECE OF -- A
COMMONSENSE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH EXISTING
CONDUITS, WHAT WE CALL IN OUR
PART OF THE WORLD DITCHES, TO
BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT ENERGY,
DELIVER IT TO
ALLOW LOCAL DECISIONS TO BE
MADE BUT OUR COLLEAGUES SEEM TO
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
STANDING UP OR THEY'RE STANDING
UP FOR THE STATUS QUO AND THAT
JUST MEANS SAY NO.
SAY NO TO CLEAN
ENERGY.
SUPPORT US AND SUPPORT CLEAN
ENERGY AND HYDROELECTRIC POWER.
YOU'RE SAYING NO TO JOBS.
JOIN WITH US TO BE ABLE TO
CREATE JOBS RIGHT HERE IN THIS
COUNTRY AND BE ABLE TO PUT OUR
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
WE HAVE ENOUGH RED TAPE.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL SIMPLY GROW
MORE GOVERNMENT AND AS WE SAW
FROM TESTIMONY IN OUR COMMITTEE
AND CHARTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN
DURING THIS DEBATE, THERE'S NO
NEED TO PUT MORE EXPENSE ON THE
BACKS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WHO SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD YOUR
GOVERNMENT.
STANCE TO BUILD MORE
REJECTED.
THIS AMENDMENT DESERVES TO BE
I ASK THAT AND ASK FOR A
FAVORABLE VOTE ON 2842.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE MOTION THAT THE COMMITTEE
RISE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
ACCORDINGLY, THE COMMITTEE
RISES.
MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE
UNION HAVING HAD UNDER
CONSIDERATION H.R. 2842 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 THAT
COMMITTEE HAS HAD UNDER
H R. 2842 AND HAS
COME TO NO RESOLUTION THEREON.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
AN ENROLLED BILL.
SENATE 1710, AN ACT
TO DESIGNATE THE UNITED STATES
COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT 222 WEST
SEVENTH AVENUE, ANCHORAGE,
ALASKA, AS THE JAMES M.
FITZGERALD UNITED STATES
COURTHOUSE.
THE
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN REQUESTS
FOR ONE-MINUTES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, SKI UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND REVISE AND
EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
WE ARE TOLD TO MOURN WITH
THOSE WHO MOURN AND GRIEVE WITH
THOSE WHO GRIEVE.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TO DO SO TODAY.
ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA IN
HENRYSVILLE, MARYSVILLE AND
OTHERS, HOOSIER FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES ARE PICKING UP THE
PIECES AFTER ONE OF THE MOST
DEAF STRAITING -- DEVASTATING
TORNADOES IN MY LIFETIME SWEPT
THROUGH THE STATE.
I COME TO THE FLOOR TODAY TO
PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LOSS AND TO
THOSE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES AND
BUSINESSES, TO PAY TRIBUTE TO
THE FIRST RESPOPPEDERS AND TO
THE COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF
HOOSIERS WHO HAVE COME
ALONGSIDE THEIR NEIGHBORS IN
THIS GRIEVOUS HOUR.
AS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE
WITNESSED ON TELEVISION, THESE
VIOLENT STORMS LEFT UTTER
DESTRUCTION IN THEIR WAKE
ACROSS A THREE-STATE AREA.
SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND HOMES
ARE REDUCED TO PILES OF RUBBLE,
CARS WERE FLIPPED AN THROWN
ABOUT AS IF THEY WERE TOYS.
SOME COMMUNITIES, AS ONE LOW
KALE OFFICIAL SAID, WERE,
QUOTE, COMPLETELY GONE.
IN THE HOOSIER STATE, WE LOST
13 LIVES, INCLUDING AN ENTIRE
FAMILY.
YET IN THIS DARK HOUR, FOR SO
MANY FAMILY WITH EHEAR STORIES
OF COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER
TO REBUILD.
DESPITE THE SNOW AND COAL THAT
FOLLOWED THE STORLS, WE SEE YEN
ROSSITY, COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN
FULL DISPLAY.
OVER THE COMING DAYS, WEEKS,
AND MONTHS THE WOUNDS WILL
HEAL, DEBRIS WILL BE CLEARED,
HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND BARNS
WILL BE REBUILT.
AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKES
ITS ASSESS.
TODAY ABOUT FEDERAL SUPPORT, WE
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING ALL
FREAL ASSISTANCE BUT I RISE
TODAY TO COMMEND GOVERNOR
DANIELS, THE INDIANA NATIONAL
GUARD, THE INDIANA STATE
POLICE, ALL OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS AND HOMELAND
SECURITY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
FOR THEIR DECISIVE LEADERSHIP
IN THIS MOMENT BUT I ALSO RISE
TODAY TO COMMEND ALL THOSE WHO
STEPPED FORWARD TO PROVIDE A
HELPING HAND EITHER WITH TIME
OR TALENT OR TREASURE.
VOLUNTEERS DONATING FOOD AN
CLOTHING AND LABOR.
IT IS PROFOUNDLY INSPIRING AND
BE A HOOSIER.
HUMBLING AND MAKES ME PROUD TO
MAY FWOD COMFORT THE FAMILIES
OF THE LOST AND GIVE STRENGTH
AND COMFORT TO THOSE WHO WILL
REBUILD IN THE WAKE OF THESE
STORMS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
ARE THERE OTHER REQUESTS FOR
ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES?
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OFIAN 5, 2011, THE
FROM ***
ISLANDS, MRS. CHRISTENSEN, IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 60 MINUTES AS
DESIGNEE OF THE MINORITY
LEADER.
THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER.
TODAY, AS YOU HEARD, THE HOUSE,
THE CONGRESS AS A WHOLE, THE
10TH DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY,
OUR NATION, THE COUNTRIES OF
AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, OF
IRELAND, WHERE HE WAS AN
HONORARY CITIZEN, AND INDEED
THE WORLD, HAS SUFFERED A GREAT
LOSS.
DONNELL PAYNE WAS A FRIEND AND
ADVOCATE FOR THE WORLD AND ITS
PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE
SONS OF AFRICA HERE AND
WORLDWIDE.
TONIGHT I AM HONORED TO CHAIR
THIS SPECIAL ORDER IN HIS HONOR
AND TO RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUES
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE
WHO WILL BE COMING TO PAY
TRIBUTE TO DONALD PAYNE.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ASKING
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MIGHT HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON
THE TOPIC OF THE SPECIAL ORDER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I'D LIKE TO
BEGIN BY YIELDING TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA, MR. ELLISON.
MR. SPEAKER,
DONALD PAYNE PLAYED A VERY
SPECIAL ROLE IN MY SERVICE AS A
MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
I DIDN'T KNOW HIM NEARLY AS
LONG AS MANY OTHER MEMBERS AND
I GUESS I PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW
HIM AS WELL, BUT THERE'S NO
DOUBT THAT AS A MEMBER COMING
INTO CONGRESS TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO BE THE BEST MEMBER I
COULD BE, DONALD PAYNE WAS ONE
OF THE PEOPLE WHO I ADMIRED AND
LOOKED TO AND NO MORE SO THAN
WHEN HE WAS FIGHTING FOR THE
HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE.
DONALD PAYNE GAVE ME A NEW AND
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON SUFFERING
IN DARFUR, EXPLAINING THE
COMPLEXITIES AS IT RELATED TO
MAKING SURE THAT DARFURIANS NOT
ONLY GOT RELIEF BUT ONE DAY
WOULD GET JUSTICE HE DIDN'T
STOP THERE.
I HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF MY
CONSTITUENTS WHO HAIL FROM
SOMALIA AND DONALD PAYNE GAVE
ME HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE ON
SOMALIA ON A REGULAR BASIS,
WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE, AND ALSO
AGAIN HELPED ME UNDERSTAND HOW
DIFFICULT IT WAS BUT HOW
IMPORTANT ITAL WAS THAT WE
STAND FOR STABILITY FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SOMALIA.
IN FACT, HIS LEVEL OF
COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF
SOMALIA WAS SO GREAT, HE GOT
INTO AN AIRPLANE, FLEW THERE,
AN ON HIS WAY OUT WAS ACTUALLY
SHOT OUT WHEN SOMEONE TRIED TO
TAKE HIS LIFE FOR SHOWING
CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE.
HE TRAVEL MARYLAND PLACES AND
WENT ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT HE ALSO WENT INTO MY
DISTRICT, AS WE WENT TO MANY
DISTRICTS AND -- AS HE WENT TO
MANY DISTRICTS, AND I'LL NEVER
FORGET THE DAY WHEN WE
ORGANIZED A COMMUNITY FORUM ON
EAST AFTER CHARACTER WE HAD
FROM SOMALIA, PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER WHO MADE AMERICA
HOME BY CHOICE OR BECAUSE THEY
WERE REFUGEES AND FOR THREE
STRAIGHT HOURS, DONALD PAYNE
ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS, GAVE
THEM COMFORT AND ASSURANCE AND
INFORMATION, AND HE IS A
TOWERING FIGURE IN MY WORLD AND
I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER FORGET
DONALD PAYNE AND I JUST SAY,
MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND GOD
BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU,
CONGRESSMAN ELLISON.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO MR. WOLF OF
VIRGINIA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND.
I RISE TODAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO
THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF
CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE.
AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, HE HAS
CONSISTENTLY STOOD WITH THE
FORGOTTEN PEOPLE AN CAUSES.
HE HAS CHAMPIONED THEIR PLIGHT
AND ADVOCATED ON THEIR BEHALF.
PERHAPS NONE MORE SO THAN THE
LONG-SUFFERING PEOPLE OF
SOUTHERN SUDAN.
FOR YEARS, HE ADVOCATED FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN WHO
ENDURED GREAT HARDSHIP AT THE
HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT IN
KHARTOUM.
HE WAS ALSO THE LEADING VOICE
IN URGING STATES TO DIVEST FROM
COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN
SUDAN IN LIGHT OF THE HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES THERE.
HE WAS AUTHOR OF A
CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION
CALLING ATTENTION TO HORRORS IN
DARFUR.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING WITH
HIM IN KENYA IN 2005 FOR THE
HISTORIC SIGNING OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT
WHICH MARKED THE END OF A
BRUTAL CIVIL WAR BETWEEN THE
NORTH AND SOUTH WHICH SPANNED
21 YEARS AND CLAIMED THE LIVES
OF MORE THAN TWO MILLION
PEOPLE.
CONGRESSMAN PAYNE LABORED FOR
YEARS TO SEE THAT DAY ARRIVE.
NO ONE DID MORE THAN DON PAYNE
TO BRING ABOUT THE NEW COUNTRY
WHICH IS NOW THE COUNTRY OF
SOUTHERN SUE DAP.
HE -- SUDAN.
RETURNED TO SUDAN
IN JULY OF 2007 TO JOIN THE
PEOPLE IN THAT LAND IN
CELEBRATING THEIR LONG-AWAITED
INDEPENDENCE A FULFILLMENT OF
THE PROMISE.
UPON BEING CHOSEN TO REPORT TO
THE OFFICIAL U.S. DELEGATION,
HE OFFERED THE FOL ROWING
STATEMENT HE SAID, AS A RANKING
MEMBER ON THE HOUSE FOREIGN
AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA,
GLOBAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS,
I HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO
HELPING SUDAN ACHIEVE PEACE AND
JUSTICE.
INDEED, HE WAS COMMITTED.
CONGRESSMAN PAYNE WORKED HARD,
TRAVELED TO THE REGION
COUNTLESS TIMES, EXPERIENCED
THE PEOPLE SUFFERING AND THEN
HE ACTED.
CONGRESSMAN PAYNE HEARD THE
PEOPLE SUFFERING AN NEVER CHOSE
TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE
WITH HIS FAMILY AS THEY GRIEVE,
THAT CONGRESS WOULD PROFOUNDLY
-- CONGRESS WILL PROFOUNDLY
MISS HIS VOICE AS WILL
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS AROUND THE
WORLD.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
--
THK THANK YOU
THANK YOU,
CONGRESSMAN WOLF.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN
FROM TEXAS, CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE
BERNICE JOHNSON.
MS. EDDIE --
THANK YOU AN THANK
YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE
VIR SIN ISLANDS.
I RISE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE LOS
OF CONGRESSMAN PAYNE HE LOST
HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER EARLY
THIS MORNING AND WE IN CONGRESS
LOST AN ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE.
MY RELATIONSHIP AND
ACQUAINTANCE WITH CONGRESSMAN
PAYNE CAME BEFORE I CAME TO
CONGRESS IN MEETING HIM WHEN HE
SERVED ON THE NATIONAL YMCA
BOARD AND BECAME THE CHAIR OF
THE NATIONAL YMCA BOARD.
AND I KNOW HIM AS A DEVOTED
PUBLIC SERVANT WHO USED HIS
POSITION IN CONGRESS TO
ADVOCATE FOR THOSE LESS
FORTUNATE.
FIRST AS A TEACHER AND LATER
SERVING ON THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
EDUCATION AN WORK FORCE AND
HE WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN
AND WORKED TO MAKE COLLEGE MORE
AFFORDABLE.
AS THE HIGHEST RANKING DEMOCRAT
ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SUBCOMMITTEE FOR AFRICA, GLOBAL
HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS WORKED
TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND
THE WORLD AND HELPED SECURE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FOREIGN
AID FOR TREATING H.I.V., AIDS,
TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO LOSE A
MEMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
BLACK CAUCUS FAMILY.
WE ARE A SMALL -- WE ARE SMALL
BUT VERY CONNECTED.
CONGRESSMAN PAYNE SERVED THE
10TH DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
WITH DEDICATION AN SERVED AS
CHAIR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
BLACK CAUCUS AS WELL MY THOUGHS
AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HIS FAMILY
TODAY IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU,
CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD A FEW
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
CONGRESSWOMAN ELEANOR HOLMES
NORTON.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR LEADING THIS
SPECIAL ORDER FOR OUR GOOD
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, DONNELL
PAYNE, WHOSE PASSING LEAVES ME
SHOCKED AND DEEPLY SADDENED.
AFTER 12 TERMS OF OUTSTANDING
SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, DON WAS A
FRIEND, HE WAS MORE THAN A
COLLEAGUE, HE WAS THE KIND OF
FRIEND YOU COULD ALWAYS STRIKE
UP A CONVERSATION WITH ABOUT
MATTERS TECHNICAL OR JUST
MATTERS AT HAND.
BECAUSE DON WAS EASY OF MANNER
BUT STRONG OF CONVICTION.
DON TURNED OUT TO BE A REAL
PATH BREAKER AND HISTORY MAKER.
HE CAME TO CONGRESS AS THE
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO SERVE
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF
NEW JERSEY, HE FOLLOWED THE
GREAT PETER RIDINO, WHO HAD
SERVED NEWARK FOR DECADES.
NEWARK HAD BECOME A MAJORITY
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITY, BUT DON
GREW UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
WAS AS ITALIAN AS IT WAS BLACK
AND FELT COMFORTABLE WITH
PEOPLE OF ALL ETHNIC GROUPS.
WHEN CONGRESSMAN RIDINO WHO WAS
CHAIR OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, THIS WAS BEFORE I
CAME TO CONGRESS BUT IT WAS
MUCH COMMENTED UPON, DON, WHO
HAD RUN AGAINST HIM SEVERAL
TIMES, INDEED, WAS THE LOGICAL
PERSON TO WIN THAT ELECTION.
AND HE PLUNGED INTO HIS WORK
NEEDED A MAN OF
HIS DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING AND
CONVICTION OF THEIR PROBLEMS,
THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR HEALTH
CARE, THEIR HOUSING NEEDS, FOR
NEWARK, WHEN CONGRESSMAN --
WHEN THE CONGRESSMAN CAME HERE
12 TERMS AGO, WHAT PERSONIFIED,
SYMBOLIZED THE GREAT URBAN
COMMUNITIES OF OUR CITY AND THE
UPHEAVALS THEY WERE UNDERGOING,
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT.
AND HE PLUNGED INTO THAT WORK
AND YET HE WAS ABLE AT THE SAME
TIME TO BECOME PERHAPS THE
HOUSE'S MOST EXPERT, MOST
EXPERT MEMBER ON AFRICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN.
HE WAS A LEADER IN AFRICA WHO
DID NOT WORK FOR THE NEWSPAPERS
OR THE JOURNALS BUT TRAVELS THE
-- BUT TRAVELED THE CONTINENT
AND CAME BACK WITH FIRSTHAND
INFORMATION FOR THE
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS.
DON WAS THE GO-TO MAN.
NOBODY FROM THE CAUCUS MOVED ON
A MATTER AFFECTING AFRICA
WITHOUT GOING TO DON FIRST.
GO TO THE EXPERT FIRST, FIND
OUT IF YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT FOOT
AND THEN PERHAPS MOVE FORWARD.
DON WAS VIGOROUS IN HIS
EVALUATION OF THE LEADERSHIP OF
THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES OF
AFRICA, HE NEVER WITHERED WHEN
AN AFRICAN LEADER NEEDED THE
STRONG CRITICISM OF THE UNITED
STATES AND HIS OWN STRONG
CRITICISM AND THUS HIS
LEADERSHIP WAS TRUSTED ALL
ACROSS THE CONGRESS WHEN HE
STEPPED FORWARD WITH HIS VIEWS.
HE WORKED WITH EVERY PRESIDENT
BECAUSE REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS ALIKE
HAVE BEEN ENSCONCED IN THE
ISSUE AFFECTING AFRICA AN THEY,
LIKE US, TURN TO DON ON THOSE
ISSUES.
WHERE WILL WE FIND SUCH A
MEMBER TODAY?
IS THERE SUCH A MEMBER WHO HAS
CAN HE VOTED SO MUCH OF HIS
LIFE, NOT ONLY TO URBAN
AMERICA, BUT ESPECIALLY TO
AFRICA, WHO KNEW EVERYTHING,
KNEW EVERYONE, AND KNEW
ANYTHING WE NEEDED TO KNOW?
DON WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY
THIS CHAMBER.
HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED.
I KNOW I SPEAK FOR US ALL WHEN
I SAY THAT HIS FAMILY HAS OUR
DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND OUR
EVERLASTING LOVE.
I YIELD BACK TO THE LADY.
APPRECIATE THE TIME.
KRISTEN WIIG --
THANK YOU,
GENTLELADY.
I YIELD TO A CONGRESSMAN FROM
HIS DISTRICT, MR. HOLT.
HOLT: I THANK THE
GENTLELADY.
ALL OF US ARE SADDENED ABOUT
THE COUNTRY'S LOSS OF DON
PAYNE.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO GET
USED TO, THE ABSENCE OF DON.
DON'S BEEN A GOOD FRIEND TO ME,
SOMEONE I'VE LOOKED UP TO HERE
IN CONGRESS.
NO ONE IN CONGRESS HAS BEEN A
STRONGER ADVOCATE FOR EQUALITY
OF OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION.
NO ONE IN CONGRESS HAS BEEN A
GREATER ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN
SERVICES AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.
NO ONE HAS BEEN MORE
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT AFRICA.
NO ONE HAS VOTED MORE
CONSISTENTLY FOR PEACEFUL AND
NONMILITARY RESOLUTIONS TO
PROBLEMS.
NO ONE HAS BEEN MORE CONSISTENT
IN THE FIGHT TO RESPECT
WORKERS' SAFETY AND WORKERS'
CONDITIONS.
AND THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS HE'S
BEEN VERY ATTENTIVE.
DON PAYNE WAS VERY ATTENTIVE TO
THE INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND
ESPECIALLY TO THE INTERESTS OF
HIS CONSTITUENTS.
HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION AND
CONDEMNATION TO THE GENOCIDE IN
DARFUR, AS WE'VE HEARD ALREADY.
AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, HE
BROUGHT AN INVALUABLE
PERSPECTIVE TO OUR WORK
TOGETHER ON THE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE.
HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING
MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE
PEPFAR PROGRAM, FOR DEALING
WITH H.I.V., RESISTANT T.B.,
MALARIA AROUND THE WORLD,
ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA, AND I
MIGHT ADD HE DID THAT WITH
PRESIDENT BUSH.
HE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR AN
ADEQUATE MINIMUM WAGE.
HE WAS A KEY PLAYER IN WRITING
THE COLLEGE COST REDUCTION AND
ACCESS ACT, TO CUT INTEREST
RATES FOR COLLEGE LOANS, TO
INCREASE PELL GRANTS, TO
PROVIDE LOAN FORGIVENESS TO
PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES WITH
STUDENT DEBT.
IT WAS A GREAT PLEASURE AND
REALLY A MARVEL TO WATCH HIM ON
THE EDUCATION AND LABOR
COMMITTEE.
DON WAS I THINK YOU WOULD SAY
AN UNABASHED LIBERAL,
RECOGNIZING THERE ARE SOME
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER
TOGETHER THAN SEPARATELY.
HE WAS NOT A YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN
KIND OF GUY.
AND THAT WAS TRUE IN PERSON
TOO.
VERY INCLUSIVE.
GOOD HUMOR AND DIGNITY IN
EVERYTHING HE DID.
DON PAYNE WAS A GOOD FRIEND, A
GOOD MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE, A
GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT.
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE
WITH HIS FAMILY AND HIS MANY
FRIENDS, AND I KNOW HIS
CONSTITUENTS WILL BE HARD
PRESSED TO FIND SOMEBODY TO
REPRESENT THEM AS WELL AS DON
PAYNE DID.
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU,
CONGRESSMAN HOLT.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO ANOTHER COLLEAGUE
FROM NEW JERSEY, CONGRESSMAN
FRELINGHUYSEN.
I THANK THE
GENTLEWOMAN FOR YIELDING.
DON PAYNE AND I HAVE BEEN
FRIENDS FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
WE SERVED TOGETHER IN COUNTY
GOVERNMENT AS FREEHOLDERS IN
NEW JERSEY FROM OUR RESPECTIVE
COUNTIES, MORRIS AND ESSEX
COUNTIES, BEFORE HE PRECEDED ME
TO CONGRESS.
DURING HIS SERVICE IN THIS
HOUSE HE WORKED LONG AND HARD
ON ISSUES THAT LITERALLY CRIED
OUT FOR ATTENTION.
AT HOME WE ALL ADMIRED HIS
STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO
ENSURING THAT OUR NATION'S
CHILDREN HAD THE BEST QUALITY
EDUCATION POSSIBLE.
ABROAD HE FOCUSED ON GLOBAL
PUBLIC HEALTH, ISSUES LIKE
CHILDHOOD SURVIVAL AND HUMAN
RIGHTS ON THE CONTINENT OF
AFRICA AND ELSEWHERE.
DON PAYNE TOOK UP THE CAUSE FOR
SUFFERING PEOPLE AROUND THE
WORLD AND GAVE VOICE TO THEIR
PLIGHT EVEN AT GREAT PERSONAL
RISK.
MR. SPEAKER, DON PAYNE LOVED
CONGRESS.
HE LOVED PUBLIC SERVICE.
HE LOVED NEW JERSEY AND HE
LOVED HIS HOMETOWN OF NEWARK.
HE WAS PROUD TO WORK WITH HIM
TO REVITALIZE THE RIVER IN
NEWARK, THAT WATERFRONT WHICH
FOR MANY YEARS HAD BEEN
INACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
DON WILL BE SORELY MISSED,
ESPECIALLY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.
I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS
VALUABLE SERVICE.
WE LOST A GREAT PRINCIPALED MAN
WHO LIVED A LIFE FROM WHICH WE
CAN ALL LEARN SOMETHING.
MAY THE TRIBUTES AND PRAYER OF
SO MANY OF HIS COLLEAGUES HERE
THIS AFTERNOON TODAY BE A
SOURCE OF STRENGTH TO HIS
FAMILY.
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US AND FOR OFFERING
THOSE WORDS ON BEHALF OF
CONGRESSMAN PAYNE.
I NOW LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, ANOTHER DEAR FRIEND
OF CONGRESSMAN PAYNE, LYNN
WOOLSEY.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A MAN I
LOVED, A MAN I RESPECTED, A
FRIEND FOR LIFE AND A MENTOR.
WHEN I CAME TO CONGRESS I
COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A BETTER
MENTOR.
A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER FROM
NEW JERSEY.
SOMEONE KIND AND SMART,
DEDICATED.
ACTUALLY BURNING IN HIS BELLY
ABOUT ISSUES OF VALUE AND
CONSCIENCE.
AFRICA SUBCOMMITTEE.
I SERVED ON CONGRESSMAN PAYNE'S
HE SERVED ON MY WORK FORCE
PROTECTION SUBCOMMITTEE.
ON BOTH PANELS I BENEFITED FROM
HIS WISDOM, ADVICE AND
EXPERTISE.
ON THE AFRICA SUBCOMMITTEE I
WAS ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH
AND WHO HE KNEW.
THIS IS A MAN WHO KNEW WHAT
PUBLIC SERVICE WAS ALL ABOUT.
AS HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF, A
MILD-MANNERED MAN BUT HE WAS
ALSO TENACIOUS, DEDICATED AND
STUBBORN.
NO ONE HAS WORKED HARDER TO
BRING PEACE, DEMOCRACY AND
HUMAN RIGHTS TO AFRICA.
HE ALMOST GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE
CAUSE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN HIS
PLANE WAS SHOT BY REBELS AS HE
PREPARED TO COME HOME AFTER A
SOMALIA MISSION.
ACTUALLY THE STATE DEPARTMENT
HAD WARNED HIM AGAINST.
AS CHANGE CONTINUES AND AS
CHANGE CONTINUES TO COME
PARTICULARLY TO AFRICA IN THE
COMING YEARS, WE'LL ALL
REMEMBER THE ROLE THAT DONALD
PAYNE PLAYED IN LAYING THE
GROUNDWORK AND HELPING MAKE
THAT CHANGE HAPPEN.
A
HUMANITARIAN, DONALD'S DEATH
THIS MORNING ALREADY LEAVES AN
INDESCRIBABLE VOID.
DONALD PAYNE HAD A HUGE HEART
AND A KEEN MIND, AND BELIEVE
ME, I WILL MISS THEM BOTH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU,
CONGRESSWOMAN WOOLSEY.
NOW I'D LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO ANOTHER COLLEAGUE
FROM NEW JERSEY, CONGRESSMAN
LANCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,