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DRUGS, IT CAN BE AN ATTAINABLE
GOAL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AND
FAMILY AFFLICTED BY RARE
DISEASES NOT ONLY TO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE BUT POSSIBLY
EVEN FIND A CURE.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL
AND YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA IN
SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATION, MR.
PAULSEN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
ALL, THE CHAIRMAN AND
AND I WANT TO APPLAUD, FIRST OF
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS
BIPARTISAN PACKAGE TO THE FLOOR,
AND THE RANKING MEMBER.
MR. SPEAKER, NEARLY EVERY WEEK I
GET A CHANCE TO TOUR A MEDICAL
DEVICE COMPANY IN MY DISTRICT.
AND ALMOST EVERY WEEK I HEAR A
SIMILAR STORY FROM THESE
COMPANIES THAT TALK ABOUT HOW
THE F.D.A. HAS BECOME SO
BURDENSOME AND BUREAUCRACY AND
INEFFICIENT THAT THEY --
BUREAUCRATIC AND INEFFICIENT
THAT HE MOVE THE GOAL POSTS AND
-- THAT THEY MOVE THE GOAL
POSTS.
SOME OF THESE COMPANIES ARE
CLOSING THEIR DOORS AND
INVESTING OVERSEAS AND MOVING
JOBS AS OPPOSED TO KEEPING THEM
IN MINNESOTA OR HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS THAT
WASHINGTON TENDS TO THRIVE IN
THESE TYPES OF BUREAUCRACIES AND
INEFFICIENCIES AND I THINK THE
PACKAGE THAT IS BEFORE US TODAY
IS DESIGNED TO HELP CORRECT
THAT.
AND THE F.D.A. REVIEW PROCESS
NEEDS TO BE RIGOROUS, BUT IT
ALSO NEEDS TO BE RELEVANT.
AND TIME AGAIN.
WE'VE HEARD THAT MESSAGE TIME
WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO
STREAMLINE AND MODERNIZE THE
F.D.A. SO THAT THE UNITED STATES
CAN REMAIN THE LEADER IN GLOBAL
MEDICAL INNOVATION.
THIS PACKAGE ABSOLUTELY MOVES US
CLOSER TO MEETING ALL THOSE
GOALS.
THESE REFORMS WILL MAKE THE
DEVICE APPROVAL PROCESS MUCH
MORE TRANSPARENT, MUCH MORE
CONSISTENT, MUCH MORE
PREDICTABLE AND SPECIFICALLY I'M
HAPPY THAT MY PROVISIONS TO
STREAMLINE THE THIRD PARTY
REVIEW PROCESS WERE INCLUDED AS
WELL.
I WANT TO THANK FOR THE
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, THANK THE
CHAIRMAN AND URGE SUPPORT BY MY
COLLEAGUES.
I YIELD BACK.
MR. SPEAKER, MAY I
ASK HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT ON
EACH SIDE?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN HAS TWO
MINUTES.
HAS 2 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY
MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE
JUST MYSELF LEFT.
NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
SO IF THE GENTLEMAN WANTS TO
CLOSE AND THEN I'LL CLOSE AND
WE'LL --
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 2 1/2 MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WON'T USE ALL THE TIME.
I JUST WANT TO STRESS AGAIN THAT
THE PROCESS IN GETTING THIS BILL
PASSED AND MOVED BOTH HERE AND
IN THE SENATE HAS BEEN JUST A
GREAT MODEL, IF YOU WILL, FOR I
THINK WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE
WANT TO GET TOGETHER AND WORK
BICAMERAL BASIS.
TOGETHER ON A BIPARTISAN,
SO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT
EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND THE
STAFF IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN
TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT THIS IS.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S ON A
SUSPENSION AND SOME PEOPLE MAY
SAY, WELL, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT?
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
SOME OF THOSE SENTIMENTS HAVE
BEEN ECHOED BY THOSE WHO TALK
ABOUT THE DRUG AND MEDICAL
DEVICE INDUSTRY, WHICH IS REALLY
SO IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTRY.
.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON INNOVATION
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW THERE ARE
MANY OF THESE COMPANIES IN MY
DISTRICT AND WE PRIDE OURSELVES
ON THE FACT THAT THOMAS EDISON
HAD HIS LAB AT MY DISTRICT AND
THAT WE'RE AN INOWE VATIVER IN
IN NEW JERSEY AND -- INNOVATIVER
AS A WHOLE.
IN IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW JERSEY
BUT INNOVATION CAN'T CONTINUE TO
HAPPEN IN THIS INDUSTRY UNLESS
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AN F.D.A.
PROCESS THAT RUNS SMOOTHLY AND
EFFECTIVELY.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
THIS LEGISLATION IS DESIGNED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTINUES TO
HAPPEN.
THAT THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE SO
WE CAN HAVE AN EFFICIENT PROCESS
THAT CONTINUES TO MAKE THE
UNITED STATES THE INNOVATOR IN
THE AREA OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND
MEDICAL DEVICES.
SO I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A
PART OF THIS TODAY.
I URGE EVERYONE TO SUPPORT THE
BILL AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I JUST WANT TO SAY,
ALL OF THE POSITIVE COMMENTS
HERE, THIS BILL WAS NOT A PIECE
OF CAKE.
IT WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK.
BY BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
PARTICULARLY THE STAFF ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE.
AGAIN I WANT TO SAY CLAY AND
RYAN ON OUR STAFF.
ALL OF US PARTICULARLY INVOLVED
BUT LET'S FACE IT.
ON THE HEALTH SIDE OF THE
ISSUES, AS WE MEET WITH
DIFFERENT FOLKS AFFLICTED WITH
DIFFERENT DISEASES, WE WANT TO
FIND A CURE.
AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO FIND
BECAUSE WE HAVE OUTSTANDING
THAT CURE HERE IN AMERICA.
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES THAT
HAVE THE TALENT, THE STAFF TO
WORK WITH, THE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER IT BE THE
N.I.H., THE C.D.C., CERTAINLY
THE F.D.A.
SO WE REALLY DID SIT OUT LAST
SUMMER TO EMBARK ON A GOOD
LISTENING SESSION TO FIND OUT
TO NOT ONLY TO FIND THE CURES
WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO
AND THE PRESCRIPTIONS BUT THE
RIGHT PROCESS FOR THEM TO BE
APPROVED, SO THAT THOSE
COMPANIES WILLING TO MAKE THAT
INVESTMENT WOULD STAY HERE IN
AMERICA AND NOT GO OVERSEAS.
WE CLEARLY WANT IT MADE IN
AMERICA.
WE HAVE THE BEST FOLKS HERE AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
AND THE HARD WORK BY SO MANY,
THE HEARINGS THAT JOE PITTS LED
WITH MR. PALLONE, THE WORK OF
THE AMENDMENTS, THE FULL
COMMITTEE, THE SUBCOMMITTEE,
THE WHOLE PROCESS TO GET IT
DONE BEFORE IT REALLY EXPIRED
LATER ON THIS YEAR IS SO
IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY TO THE
WORKERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
TO THE PATIENTS.
SO DEALING WITH THE DRUG
SHORTAGES AND WORKING WITH MR.
MCCAUL AND THE DIFFERENT RARE
DISEASES, ALL THOSE DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO WEAVE
FINE, STRONG BILL.
INTO WHAT I THINK IS A MIGHTY
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WORK WITH
OUR COUNTERPARTS IN THE SENATE,
THEY ACTUALLY STAYED WITH US
AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK IN A
STRONG, BIPARTISAN WAY TO
GET OUR TWO BILLS REFINED AND
DONE IN ORDER TO BRING UP ON
THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS AFTERNOON.
AND I WANT TO COMPLIMENT
EVERYONE, CERTAINLY MR. WAXMAN,
WHO'S BACK ON THE FLOOR, BUT
OUR LEADERSHIP, THE TEAM WE HAD
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE,
AGAIN, OUR HARDWORKING STAFF
THAT REALLY WORKED SO HARD TO
GET THIS DONE THAT IMPACTS
MILLIONS OF LIVES.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS BILL AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
SENATE 3187 AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED,
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
TABLE.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WEST VIRGINIA RISE?
RASHAUN STEPHANY MR. SPEAKER, I
I HAVE A MOTION
HAVE A --
AT THE DESK.
MOTION TO INSTRUCT
CONFEREES OFFERED BY MR.
MCKINLEY OF WEST VIRGINIA.
MR. MCKINLEY OF WEST VIRGINIA
MOVES THAT THE MANAGERS ON THE
PART OF THE HOUSE AT THE
CONFERENCE ON THE DISAGREEING
VOTES OF THE TWO HOUSES ON THE
SENATE AMENDMENT TO THE BILL
H.R. 4348 BE INSTRUCTED TO
INSIST ON THE PROVISIONS
CONTAINED IN TITLE 5 OF THE
HOUSE BILL RELATING TO COAL
CONBUGGS RESIDUALS.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 7 OF RULE
22, THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA, MR. MCKINLEY, AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
WAXMAN, EACH WILL CONTROL 30
MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SEVEN MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
SEVEN MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
CONCRETE IS A FUNDAMENTAL
ELEMENT OF ROADS, BRIDGES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF
CONCRETE IS COAL ASH.
THIS IS NOW THE FOURTH TIME THE
HOUSE HAS AFFIRMED AND
REAFFIRMED ITS SUPPORT FOR THE
BENEFICIAL USE OF RECYCLING
COAL ASH.
CURRENTLY, THE CONFERENCE
4348 IS DEEP
IN PRODUCTIVE NEGOTIATIONS AND
STRONG BIPARTISAN COMPROMISES
COAL ASH PROVISION.
HAVE OCCURRED RELATIVE TO THE
MY INTENT TODAY IS TO URGE THE
CONFEREES TO CONTINUE THIS
BIPARTISAN NEGOTIATION AND
RETAIN THIS IMPORTANT COST
SAVING PROVISION IN THE BILL.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO REHASH THE
SAME IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED
ARGUMENTS WE HAVE HEARD FROM
EXTREMISTS.
SIMPLY PUT, WE ARE HERE TO HELP
PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK TO GIVE
AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND TO
PROVIDE THE HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT OF OUR FAMILIES AND
FRIENDS.
FOR THOSE WHO SAY COAL ASH IS
IRRELEVANT TO ROADS AND
BRIDGES, THEY COULDN'T BE
FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
CONCRETE SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN
INCORPORATING COAL ASH INTO
CONCRETE MIXTURES SINCE THE
THE HOOVER DAM
OVER 80 YEARS AGO.
WITHOUT COAL ASH, THE COSTS OF
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WOULD
INCREASE BY $100 BILLION,
ACCORDING TO AMERICAN ROAD AND
TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION.
THEREBY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF
MONEYS AVAILABLE FOR ROADS AND
BRIDGES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN
AMERICA.
KEEP IN MIND, LESS CONSTRUCTION
RESULTS IN FEWER JOBS.
BY RETAINING THIS BIPARTISAN
SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY BILL,
CONGRESS WILL BE PROTECTING THE
316,000 JOBS THAT ARE AT STAKE
IN THE RECYCLING OF FLY ASH.
JOBS INVOLVING CONCRETE BLOCK,
BRICK, DRY WALL, CERAMIC TILE,
BOWLING BALLS, AND EVEN IN THE
COSMETICS INDUSTRY.
FOR THOSE WHO'VE BEEN ASKING
WHERE THE JOBS BILLS ARE, THIS
IS A JOBS BILL.
THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS
LANGUAGE ARE THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS,
THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD
OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS, THE
UNITED MINE WORKERS, THE UNITED
TRANSPORTATION UNION, THE
AMERICAN ROAD AND
TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION, THE INTERNATIONAL
BROTHERHOOD OF BOILERMAKERS AND
THE AFL-CIO BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
CONSIDER THESE QUOTES, MR.
SPEAKER -- REMOVING THE COAL
ASH FROM THE SUPPLY CHANGE
WOULD INCREASE THE PRICE OF
CONCRETE BY AN AVERAGE OF 10%,
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS.
COORLINGD TO THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS,
-- ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS,
COAL ASH CONTRIBUTES TO $6
BILLION TO $11 BILLION ANNUALLY
FOR SELL OF BENEFICIAL USE,
DISPOSAL AND SAVINGS FROM
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS.
MR. SPEAKER, CURRENTLY 60
BILLION TONS OF COAL ASH IS
RECYCLED ANNUALLY.
IT RETAINS 15% TO 30% OF THE
USE IN CONCRETE.
THE USE OF CONCRETE -- COAL ASH
IN CONCRETE HAS RESULTED IN 25
MILLION TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS ANNUALLY AND AS MUCH
AS 54 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL.
THE E.P.A. HAS INDICATED THE
ANNUAL FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF
USING COAL ASH AS A SUBSTITUTE
FOR PORTLAND'S CEMENT
CONTRIBUTES NEARLY $5 BILLION
IN ENERGY SAVINGS.
$41 BILLION IN WATER SAVINGS.
$240 MILLION IN EMISSION
REDUCTIONS, AND NEARLY $18
BILLION IN NONGREENHOUSE GASES
RELATED POLLUTION.
E.P.A. ITSELF STATES THAT
COAL ASH LEADS TO BETTER ROADS.
IN TWO STUDIES, ONE IN 1993 AND
2000, BOTH UNDER THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION'S E.P.A., FOUND
THAT COAL ASH DID NOT WARRANT
THE REGULATIONS BEING PUSHED BY
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
IN 2005, THE E.P.A., THE
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
COLLABORATED WITH THE PRIVATE
SECTOR TO CRAFT GUIDANCE ON THE
APPROPRIATE USES AND BENEFITS
OF COAL ASH IN HIGHWAY
CONSTRUCTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF FIVE MINUTES.
THE
FIVE MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
REAUTHORIZING THE
FEDERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAMS IS -- RE-AUTHORIZATION
THE FEDERAL SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS WILL
HELP REVITALIZE OUR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
AND WILL CREATE JOBS.
THE TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO
FINALIZE A CONFERENCE REPORT AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK.
THE SENATE WORKED ON A
BIPARTISAN MANNER.
THEY DEVELOPED A STRONG BILL
THAT WILL CREATE JOBS AND HELP
THE ECONOMY.
THEY FOCUSED ON THE CORE
ISSUES.
IGNORING THE TEMPTATION TO
ATTACH SIDE ISSUES TO THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL IS NOW
BEING JEOPARDIZED BY EXTRANEOUS
AND ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL
PROVISIONS BEING PUSHED BY
REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE.
INSTEAD OF WORKING TO COME TO
AGREEMENT ON IMPORTANT
TRANSPORTATION POLICY
PROVISIONS, HOUSE REPUBLICANS
ARE HOLDING THE BILL HOSTAGE
FOR A LEGISLATIVE EARMARK FOR
THE KEYSTONE X.L. TAR SANDS
PIPELINE, PROVISIONS TO STEAM
ROLL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF
PROJECTS AND THE MCKINLEY COAL
ASH BILL THAT ELIMINATES
EXISTING AUTHORITY TO PROTECT
HUMAN HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT FROM THE RISKS
COAL ASH.
POSED BY UNSAFE DISPOSAL OF
THIS MOTION TO INSTRUCT IS THE
LATEST EFFORT TO PUSH THESE
POSITIONS.
IT WOULD INSTRUCT THE
TRANSPORTATION CONFEREES TO
INSIST ON THE MCKINLEY COAL ASH
.
BILL IN THE TRANSPORTATION BILL
BUT THE MCKINLEY COAL ASH
PROPOSAL IS EXTRANEOUS.
IT WILL DO NOTHING ON THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL TO ADDRESS
COAL ASH DISPOSAL.
COAL ASH WILL CONTINUE TO BE
AVAILABLE FOR USE IN CONCRETE,
FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
JUST AS IT IS TODAY.
CURRENT FEDERAL REGULATIONS DO
NOT RESTRICT THE USE OF COAL
ASH IN CONCRETE, AND COUNTER TO
WHAT YOU MAY HEAR TODAY, E.P.A.
HAS NOT PROPOSED TO REGULATE
SUCH BENEFICIAL REUSES.
ALTHOUGH SOME MAY SUGGEST THAT
RECYCLING OF COAL ASH WILL
DECREASE BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA,
EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN WHEN WASTE
MATERIALS ARE REGULATED, AS
E.P.A. HAS PROPOSED TO DO FOR
COAL ASH, THE RATES OF
RECYCLING AND REUSE INCREASES.
THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH OTHER
REGULATED WASTE.
IT HAPPENED WITH COAL ASH IN
WISCONSIN WHICH HAS A ROBUST
REGULATORY SCHEME.
THERE'S A VERY SIMPLE REASON
FOR THIS.
DISPOSAL IN UNSAFE PITS IS
INEXPENSIVE BUT ENVIRONMENTALLY
DANGEROUS.
WHEN REASONABLE ENVIRONMENTAL
SAFEGUARDS ARE PUT IN PLACE,
THE COST OF DISPOSAL WILL
INCREASE.
THAT MAKES ALTERNATIVES LIKE
USING COAL ASH IN CONCRETE MORE
ATTRACTIVE.
THE COAL ASH LEGISLATION THAT
THIS MOTION SEEKS TO INCLUDE
WILL NOT ENSURE THE SAFE
DISPOSAL OF COAL ASH.
IT WILL NOT PREVENT COAL ASH
IMPOUNDMENTS FROM CAT
STROFFCALLY FAILING.
IT -- CATASTROPHICALLY FAILING.
NO PREVENT
CONTAMINATION OF PUBLIC
DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS.
THE MCKINLEY COAL ASH BILL WILL
NOT STOP ANOTHER SPILL LIKE WE
SAW IN KINGSTON.
AIR POLLUTION LIKE WE HAVE SEEN
IN MARYLAND OR WATER POLLUTION
LIKE WE HAVE SEEN NATIONWIDE.
WHAT THIS COAL ASH PROPOSAL
WILL DO IS STOP THE
TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE FROM
SUCCEEDING.
THIS MOTION TO INSTRUCT
ATTEMPTS TO LOCK THE HOUSE
CONFEREES INTO A POSITION THAT
THE SENATE WILL ONLY REJECT AND
IT WILL DOOM THE TRANSPORTATION
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO
FAILURE.
WE CAN RETREAT TO INTRACTABLE
POSITIONS ON EXTRANEOUS ISSUES,
MAKING A TRANSPORTATION BILL
DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO
PASS, PARTICULARLY IN THE TIME
FRAME THAT WE HAVE SET OUT FOR
US.
OR WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IN THE
TIME WE HAVE TO PRODUCE A
TRANSPORTATION THAT WILL BE
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT AND WE
WILL KEEP OUR ECONOMY ON THE
MEND.
A VOTE FOR THIS MOTION IS A
VOTE AGAINST COMPLETING THE
TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE.
I'D URGE ALL MEMBERS TO SAY YES
TO TRANSPORTATION AND VOTE NO
ON THIS POSITION.
AND ON THIS MOTION.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
SHIMKUS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
IT'S GREAT TO BE DOWN HERE AND
THIS IS WHY THIS PROVISION OF
THE HIGHWAY BILL.
THIS BILL IS REALLY PERTINENT TO
HERE IT IS.
FLY ASH, LIGHTER, MORE DURABLE.
I GOT TWO DOCUMENTS I BROUGHT
DOWN TO THE FLOOR.
THE SECOND ONE READS IN THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THIS DOCUMENT
WAS PREPARED BY THE U.S. E.P.A.
IN COOPERATION WITH THE
FOLLOWING AGENCIES AND
ASSOCIATIONS.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, FEDERAL
HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND
AMERICAN COAL ASH ASSOCIATION
AND THE UTILITYS SOLID WASTE
ACTIVITIES GROUP.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THESE
TWO BOOKS, ONE PUBLISHED IN
JUNE, 2003, THE OTHER ONE
PUBLISHED IN 2005, IS THEY GO
THROUGH ALL THE GREAT USES OF
FLY ASH IN CONSTRUCTION.
AND I'D LIKE TO READ JUST A FEW
OF THOSE.
HERE'S ONE.
FLY ASH IMPROVES WORKABILITY FOR
PAYMENT OF CONCRETE.
MAYBE D.O.T. BOOK, D.O.E.
APPROVED.
THE NEXT ONE HAS, FLY ASH
CONCRETE IS USED IN SEVERE
EXPOSURE APPLICATIONS SUCH AS
DECKS AND PIERS OF TAMPA BAY'S
SUNSHINE SKYWAY BRIDGE.
BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE.
SO THIS IS NOT NEW.
THIS IS REAFFIRMING WHAT THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY'S BEEN
DOING FOR DECADES.
AND ACTUALLY IN THIS OTHER
PAMPHLET, I'LL TALK ABOUT EVEN
GREATER USE.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
FLY ASH CONCRETE FINISHING.
AGAIN, THIS IS A FEDERAL HIGHWAY
ADMINISTRATION BOOK, DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY BOOK, SPONSORED BY THE
U.S. E.P.A., ALL SAYING GOOD
THINGS ABOUT FLY ASH IN ROAD
CONSTRUCTION.
FULL DEATH RECLAMATION BY A
ROAD, ANOTHER ONE, FILL USED IN
UTILITY TRENCH APPLICATIONS, ALL
DEALING WITH FLY ASH.
FLY ASH STRUCTURAL FIELDS AND HE
EMBANKMENTS.
NICE PHOTO OF THEM USING THAT IN
THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR.
ALSO THE STABILIZATION TO
IMPROVE SOIL STRENGTH.
ALL USING FLY ASH APPLICATIONS.
WE HAVE A HIGHWAY BILL AND
THAT'S WHY THIS PROVISION IS
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE IF THE E.P.A. HAS ITS
WAY AND THEY LABEL FLY ASH AS
TOXIC, GUESS WHAT?
NO MORE FLEX CONCRETE.
NO MORE BUILDING OF BUILDINGS
THAT HAVE FLY ASH APPLICATIONS.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ONES.
USE OF ASH IN CONSTRUCTION
THROUGH THE AGES.
THE ANCIENT TIME, THE ROMANS
ADDED VOLCANIC ASH TO CONCRETE
TO STRENGTHEN STRUCTURES SUCH AS
THE ROMAN PANTHEON AND THE
COLOSSEUM, BOTH OF WHICH STILL
STAND TODAY.
THE FIRST MAJOR USE OF COAL FLY
ASH IN CONCRETE IN THE UNITED
STATES OCCURRED IN 1942, TO
REPAIR A TUNNEL SPILLWAY AT THE
HOOVER DAM.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE
CONCRETE STRUCTURES IN THE
COUNTRY IS HUNGRY HORSE DAN NEAR
GLACER NATIONAL PARK IN MONTANA,
WAS CONSTRUCTED FROM 1948 TO
1952 WITH CONCRETE CONTAINING,
YOU GUESSED IT, FLY ASH.
WE'RE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WHAT ARE ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS
WE SEE HERE IN -- I ASK FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS.
ADDITIONAL.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
BOTH THE SUBWAY
SYSTEM NAMED AS METRO, AND THE
NEW RONALD REAGAN BUILDING AND
INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER WERE
BUILT BY, YOU GUESSED IT, FLY
ASH.
AND CONCRETE.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES
UTILIZING COAL FLY ASH IS
CONCRETE INCLUDING THE BIG DIG
IN BOSTON AND DECKS AND PIERS OF
BRIDGE.
THE TAMPA BAY'S SUNSHINE SKYWAY
THAT'S WHY THIS IS APPLICABLE TO
THE HIGHWAY BILL.
I COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE AND I
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS
TIME I'D LIKE TO YIELD FIVE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ILLINOIS, THE RANKING MEMBER OF
THE ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE, MR.
RUSH.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I WANT TO THANK THE
RANKING MEMBER ON THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND LET HIM
KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE NOT
ONLY HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE OTHER
ISSUES BUT PARTICULARLY HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE HERE.
SPEAKER, I STAND HERE
ASTOUNDED, AMAZED AND -- BY THE
REMARKS FROM THE LAST SPEAKER.
YOU KNOW, HE WANTS THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TO BE CONVINCED THAT FLY
ASH IS AS HEALTHY TO THEM AS IT
CAN BE AND THAT THEY SHOULD IN
FACT MAYBE GO OUT AND GO TO A
LOCAL DRUG STORE AND ASK FOR A
BOTTLE OF FLY ASH SO THEY CAN
SPLINKLE IT OVER THEIR --
SPLINKLE IT OVER THEIR DINNER --
SPRINK IT WILL OVER THEIR DINNER
MEAL AS THEY WOULD SALAD
DRESSING.
I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WOULD BE PLEASED WITH
THAT.
MR. SPEAKER, I STAND IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS MOTION TO
INSTRUCT.
AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE FACING
HISTORIC LEVELS OF JOBLESSNESS
IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY, IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY AND OTHER MINORITY
COMMUNITIES, REPUBLICANS ARE
PLAYING CHICKEN WITH THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL, WHICH IS
INTENDED TO PROVIDE AMERICAN
JOBS AND REPAIR OUR AGING
ECONOMY.
NOT TO FURTHER THE CONTAMINATION
OF THE WATER SUPPLIES, THE AIR
SUPPLIES IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES.
SO WHY DON'T WE STOP THE
CHARADE?
WHY DON'T WE STOP THE ASTHMATIC
ASSAULT ON THE MOST VULNERABLE
SEGMENTS IN THE MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES IN OUR NATION?
THIS MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONTAINS
AND DANGEROUS PROVISION
THAT WOULD ONLY ALLOW MORE
POISONING, MORE DISEASE AND MORE
DEATH FROM ONE OF OUR NATION'S
BIGGEST WASTE PRODUCTS, THE
DEADLY, CANCEROUS COAL ASH
THAT'S UNDER THIS SESSION TODAY.
COAL ASH, I WANT TO REMIND YOU,
IS A WASTE LEFTOVER AFTER
THOUSANDS OF TONS OF COAL ARE
BURNED AT COAL-FIRED POWER
PLANTS AND IS LADEN FROM TOP TO
BOTTOM WITH TOXINS.
SUCH AS MERCURY, ARSENIC,
CHROMIUM AND LEAD.
THESE ARE THE POLLUTANTS THAT
CAUSES CANCER, THAT CAUSES
DISEASE, BREATHING PROBLEMS,
NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE,
DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS AND EVEN
THE FINAL PROBLEM WHICH IS
DEATH.
MR. SPEAKER, TITLE 5 OF H.R.
4348 GIVES COMPANIES AN
UNPRECEDENTED ABILITY TO POLLUTE
THE RESOURCE, CONSERVATION AND
RECOVERY ACT.
THE UNPRECEDENTED ABILITY TO
POLLUTE OTHER RESOURCES,
CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT.
EVEN THOUGH THE E.P.A., THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
FOUND SOME COAL ASH PONDS,
THERE'S A ONE IN 50 RISK OF
CANCER RELATED TO RESIDENTS
DRINKING ARSENIC-CONTAMINATED
WATER.
THAT'S 2,000 TIMES THE E.P.A.'S
REGULATORY ROLE.
DANGEROUS COAL ASH DISPOSAL
AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF U.S.
COMMUNITIES.
RESEARCH INFORMS US THAT INCOME
AND RACE REMAINS STRONG
PREDICTERS OF THE AMOUNT OF
FACE.
POLLUTIONS THAT THESE AMERICANS
THE MAJORITY OF COAL ASH IS
DISPOSED AND GROSSLY INADEQUATE
DUMP SITES WHICH ARE PRIMARILY
LOKETTED IN LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES -- LOCATED IN LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES.
THIS IMPACTS THOSE WHO ARE LEAST
EQUIPPED TO RESPOND TO WATER
CONTAMINATION AND THE ONSLAUGHT
OF TOXIC DUST IN THE AIR.
LOW INCOME
ACCIDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
RELY ON GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES AND
LESS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCESS TO
MEDICAL INSURANCE AND HEALTH
CARE.
CAN I HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE?
YIELD THE GENTLEMAN
AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MORE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, TITLE 5
OF H.R. 4348 FAILS TO PROTECT
PEOPLE AND THEIR DRINKING WATER
FROM TOXIC COAL ASH OR FROM
ANOTHER MASSIVE SPILL LIKE THE
DISASTER THAT OCCURRED IN
HOUSTON, TENNESSEE, IN 2008.
MR. SPEAKER, LET ME CONCLUDE BY
SAYING THAT MY STATE ALONE
PRODUCES 4.4 MILLION TONS OF
COAL ASH ANNUALLY AND AT LEAST
SITES HAVE
CONTAMINATED LOCAL WATER
SUPPLIES.
ADDITIONALLY EACH AND EVERY DAY
A STEAM-FIRED STEAMSHIP, THE
S.S. BADGER, DUMPS FOUR TONS OF
COAL ASH INTO LAKE MICHIGAN, MY
BELOVED CITY OF CHICAGO'S
PRIMARY WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.
I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO
VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION TO
INSTRUCT AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR.
HOLDEN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WEST VIRGINIA'S MOTION TO
INSTRUCT CONFEREES, TO RESOLVE
THE COAL ASH PROVISION IN THE
HIGHWAY BILL.
THERE ARE MORE CO-GENERATION
PLANTS IN MY CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT THAN ANY CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY.
MORE THAN 100 YEARS, COAL
REFUGE PILES CREATED EYE SORES
THROUGHOUT NORTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.
THESE COMB BANKS ARE NOW
BASEBALL FIELDS AND SHOPPING
CENTERS.
COAL ASH IS NOT HAZARDOUS.
E.P.A. DETERMINED THAT FACT IN A
REGULATORY DETERMINATION IN 1993
AND IN 2000.
THE FACT THAT E.P.A. CONTINUES
TO LEAVE A HAZARDOUS WASTE
DESIGNATION FOR COAL ASH ON THE
TABLE, EVEN THOUGH THESE THREE
DECADES OF SCIENCE AND FACTS
POINTS THE OTHER WAY, IS
DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE
LOSS OF CURRENT AND FUTURE
RECYCLING.
THIS DESIGNATION WOULD HARM
COMPANIES AND IS STILL EMERGING
COAL COMBUSTION BYPRODUCT
MARKETS THAT MAKE EVERYDAY
AND WALL BOARD.
PRODUCTS LIKE CONCRETE, SHINGLES
IT WILL ALSO HINDER STATE
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION
AND JOB CREATING HIGHWAY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS,
OVERWHELM STATE BUDGET IT'S AND
EMPLOYEE RESOURCES BY MORE THAN
DOUBLING THE VOLUME OF WASTE
THAT HAZARD OUT WASTE
CONTROLS AND TRANSLATES INTO
INCREASED ENERGY RATES FOR
MILLIONS OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS.
AS A MEMBER OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, I SEE
NO BETTER WAY TO CREATE JOBS
THAN TO PASS THE HIGHWAY BILL.
DURING THE LAST HIGHWAY BILL,
PENNSYLVANIA RECEIVED OVER $10
BILLION WHICH CREATED OVER
400,000 JOBS.
THE COAL ASH PROVISION IN THE
HIGHWAY BILL ONLY STRENGTHENS
JOB CREATION, SIMPLY PUT HIGHWAY
SPENDING STRENGTHENS THE FABRIC
OF OUR NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE
WHILE CREATING JOBS FOR MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS.
I URGE PASSAGE OF THE
GENTLEMAN'S MOTION TO INSTRUCT
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS
TIME I YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
MORAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE VERY
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, RANKING
MEMBER ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE.
AND I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES, TO
THE COAL RESIDUALS AND
REUSE MANAGEMENT ACT INTO ANY
FINAL CONFERENCE AGREEMENT ON
THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORIZATION BILL.
THE BILL MY COLLEAGUE SEEKS TO
INCLUDE IN THE SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION BILL IS BAD
POLICY.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
TRANSPORTATION AND IT WOULD
PLACE COMMUNITIES LIVING
DOWNSTREAM FROM COAL ASH PONDS
IN REAL DANGER.
WHEN PROPERLY RECYCLED, COAL ASH
AND OTHER RESIDUALS FROM BURNING
COAL DO HAVE ECONOMIC VALUE.
THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE HERE.
BUT MANAGED IMPROPERLY THEY CAN
BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS.
COAL ASH SHOULDN'T BE DUMPED IN
UNREGULATED PONDS TO CONTAMINATE
GROUNDWATER AND SPILL INTO
NEARBY STREAMS AND RIVERS.
IN 2008 AS MR. RUSH POINTED TO,
THE KINGSTON FOSSIL PLANT IN
TENNESSEE FAILED TO PROPERLY
MAINTAIN ITS COAL ASH
EMPOWERMENT POND.
THE POND COLLAPSED, IT DUMPED
1.1 BILLION GALLONS OF COAL ASH
INTO THE CLENCH RIVER.
IT INUNDATED SEVERAL HOUSES WITH
AND MUD.
AND THEN WHEN THEY INDEPENDENTLY
TESTED THE CLENCH RIVER AFTER
THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
EMPOUNDMENT COLLAPSED, IT SHOWED
HIGH LEVELS OF ARSENIC, COPPER,
BARUM, CHROMIUM, LEAD, MERCURY,
NICKEL AND FALUM, ALL RELATED TO
THAT SPILL.
THE SPILL CONTAMINATED THE
WATER, IT KILLED THE FISH AND IT
DESTROYED PROPERTY.
THE CLEANUP PRICE TAG IS STILL
BEING ASSESSED.
BUT IT'S ESTIMATED TO COST
BETWEEN $700,000 AND $1 BILLION.
THE MOTION MY COLLEAGUE FROM
WEST VIRGINIA IS PROPOSING WOULD
PREVENT E.P.A. FROM SETTING
STANDARDS FOR THIS TYPE OF COAL
ASH DUMP.
ALLOWING THESE PROBLEMS TO
CONTINUE UNCHECKED.
WE NEED TO PRESERVE THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY'S AUTHORITY TO ADVANCE
REGULATIONS THAT DISCOURAGE
IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF COAL ASH
AND TO ENCOURAGE RECYCLING.
EVERY YEAR COAL-FIRED POWER
PLANTS AND INDUSTRIAL BOILERS IN
THE UNITED STATES GENERATE ABOUT
67 MILLION TONS OF COAL ASH AND
SCHRAGG AND ABOUT 19 MILLION
TONS OF COAL SLUDGE.
WHILE FLY ASH, BOTTOM ASH AND
BOILER SLAG ALL HAVE A NUMBER OF
BENEFICIAL REUSES IN CONCRETE,
ROADS, WALL BOARD, THEY ALSO
CONTAIN HEAVY METALS, INCLUDING
LEAD, ARSENIC, AND MERCURY, AS
WELL AS RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS.
THESE HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS
DICTATE THAT WE MUST BE CAREFUL
IN THE HANDLING, REUSE AND
DISPOSAL OF THE MATERIAL.
CONTRARY TO MUCH OF THE
PUBLICITY SURROUNDING THE COAL
ASH ISSUE, E.P.A. IS NOT TRYING
TO BAN THE BENEFICIAL REUSE OF
.
COAL ASH.
THEY HAD TWO SEPARATE POSSIBLE
REGULATORY REGIMES TO ENCOURAGE
RECYCLING AND REDUCE IMPOUR
COAL ASH DISPOSAL.
E.P.A. WANTS TO ENSURE THAT
COAL ASH REUSE IS PRESERVED
WHILE GUARANTEEING THAT ANY
DISPOSAL IS DONE SAFELY AND
EFFECTIVELY.
E.P.A.'S PROPOSED RULES
RECEIVED EXTENSIVE PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT, INCLUDING
THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS
AND EIGHT PUBLIC HEARINGS
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THE COAL RESIDUALS AND THE
MANAGEMENT ACT IS DESIGNED TO
DEPREVIOUS E.P.A. THE ABILITY
TO USE THE BEST AVAILABLE
SCIENCE AT ITS DECISIONS AND IT
WOULD NEGATE THOSE THOUSANDS OF
PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE
RECEIVED AFTER THE PROPOSAL.
IT WOULD ALSO GIVE A FREE PASS
TO POWER COMPANIES TO POLLUTE
AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE.
COAL ASH IS A NATIONAL
INTRASTATE ISSUE AND SHOULD BE
SUBJECT TO FEDERAL REGULATION.
WHEN PASSING THE CONSERVATION
AND RESOURCES CONSERVATION ACT,
THE DISPOSAL BECOMES NATIONAL
IN SCOPE AND CONCERN AND
NECESSITATE FEDERAL ACTION.
DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE AND
HAZARDOUS WASTE AROUND THE LAND
WITHOUT CAREFUL PLANNING AND
MANAGEMENT WILL PRESENT A
DANGER TO HUMAN HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.
AND IT IS
TRUE NOW.
IT ENCOURAGES RATHER THAN
DISCOURAGES RECYCLING.
IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL AND
SAFETY CONTROLS MAKES RECYCLING
FAR MORE ATTRACTIVE AND FAR
MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR.
30 YEARS OF DATA ON SOLID AND
HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL HAVE
BORNE THIS THIS OUT.
LET'S NOT REVISIT THE WILD WEST
PAST OF HARSALEDOUS DISPOSAL.
-- HAZARDOUS DISPOSAL.
I STRONGLY URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO OPPOSE THE MCKINLEY MOTION.
PREVENT MORE KINGSTON ASH AND
DASTERS.
THIS HE WILL BE REPLICATED AND
IT WILL BE OUR FAULT.
WE NEED TO ALLOW E.P.A. TO
REGULATE RESPONSIBLY AND TO
ALLOW THE BENEFICIAL USE OF
COAL ASH.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, JUST
BEFORE I YIELD TWO MINUTES --
THREE MINUTES -- TWO MINUTES TO
MY COLLEAGUE FROM WEST
VIRGINIA, I JUST MIGHT SUGGEST
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT I THINK
THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSING THIS
AMENDMENT, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD
ENCOURAGE THEM TO READ THE
BILL.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE FROM THE WILD,
WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM WEST VIRGINIA
IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE, MR.
MCKINLEY, FROM WEST VIRGINIA
FOR HIS SOLID WORK ON THIS
ISSUE.
I WANT TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE
FROM CALIFORNIA WHO SAID THIS
ISSUE IS GOING TO HOLD THE
TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE BILL
HOSTAGE, IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT A
FAIR STATEMENT.
I'M ON THE TRANSPORTATION
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
WE'RE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT IN
A BICAMERAL, BIPARTISAN WAY TO
REACH A COMPROMISE ON A JOBS
BILL AND THIS COAL ASH
PROVISION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
ARE UNFAMILIAR
WITH IT BUT 40% IS USED AS A
BRIDGES.
RAW MATERIAL TO BUILD ROADS AND
HOOVER DAM.
MY COLLEAGUE TALKS ABOUT THE
WE CELEBRATED A 50-YEAR
BIRTHDAY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE DAM IN MY AREA.
IT WAS BUILT WITH COAL ASH.
IT'S AN ESSENTIAL AND SAFE
INFRASTRUCTURE.
MATERIAL TO BE USED IN OUR
ACCORDING TO AMERICAN ROAD AND
TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION, IF WE DON'T USE
COAL ASH IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION
THE COST WOULD INCREASE OVER
$100 BILLION OVER 20 YEARS.
WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD THIS.
LET'S BE SMART ABOUT THIS.
WE CAN FIND A WAY AS THE SUTTON
DAM AND HOOVER DAM HAS SHOWN
US.
I THINK WE CAN FIND A WAY TO
SAFELY REDUCE THE COST OF ROADS
AND BRIDGES USING COAL ASH.
WE HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT OVER 8%
FOR OVER 30 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.
WE NEED A SMART TRANSPORTATION
WE NEED A TRANSPORTATION BILL.
BILL THAT'S GOING TO PUT
AMERICA BACK TO WORK AND
REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
MR. MCKINLEY'S LEGISLATION AND
THIS MOTION TAKES THE RIGHT
APPROACH BY GIVING THE STATES
THE AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH
THIS.
I HOPE MY FELLOW CONFEREES WILL
WORK TO ENSURE THIS IMPORTANT
PROVISION REMAINS IN THE BILL,
THAT WE PASS THE GENTLEMAN'S
MOTION TO INSTRUCT.
THIS WILL NOT BE AN OBSTRUCTION
TO US, PASSING THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO PASSING THAT BILL ON
THE FLOOR IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
PLEASED AT THIS TIME TO YIELD
FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MASSACHUSETTS, MR. MARKEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
TODAY MARKS THE SUMMER
SOLSTACE, THE LONGEST DAY OF
THE YEAR.
INSTEAD OF SPENDING THE
HOURS PASSING A CLEAN
TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT WILL
HELP SHORE UP REAL JOBS FOR
AMERICANS, THE CONGRESS WILL BE
SPENDING THE DAY REPEALING
PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS AND
GIVING AWAY NEARLY ALL OF OUR
PUBLIC LANDS TO OIL AND GAS
COMPANIES AND THE CULMINATION
OF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY'S
OIL ABOVE ALL AGENDA.
IT IS REALLY A MIDSUMMER'S
NIGHTMARE FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
BUT BEFORE WE GET TO VOTING ON
THE REPUBLICAN OIL PACKAGE, WE
GET TO DEBATE WHETHER ANOTHER
REPUBLICAN BILL WHOSE SOLE
PREMISE IS TO PREVENT E.P.A.
FROM FOLLOWING THE SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN
THE TRANSPORTATION BILL.
THIS BILL SAYS THAT NO MATTER
WHAT E.P.A. LEARNS ABOUT THE
SLUDGE THAT COMES OUT OF
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS NO
MATTER HOW HIGH THE
OF POISONOUS
ARSENIC, MERCURY OR CHROMIUM,
NO MATTER WHAT E.P.A. LEARNS
ABOUT HOW THESE MATERIALS FIND
THEIR WAY INTO OUR DRINKING
WATER, E.P.A. IS FORBIDDEN TO
CLASSIFY OR REGULATE IT AS
HAZARDOUS WASTE.
E.P.A. IS FORBIDDEN TO REQUIRE
THAT THIS TOXIC MATERIAL BE
DISPOSED OF CAREFULLY.
THIS BILL TURNS A BLIND EYE TO
EVIDENCE OF KNOWN HAZARDS AND
TAKES US BACK TO THE DARK AGES,
TO A TIME BEFORE SCIENCE WAS
VALID AND BEFORE ADVANCED
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORMED SOCIETY.
IT TAKES US BACK TO AN ERA WHEN
MERCURY AND ARSENIC, MAJOR
COMPONENTS OF COAL ASH, WERE
USED TO CURE TOOTH ACHES AND
CLEAR UP YOUR COMPLEX.
IT TAKES US BACK TO AN ERA
WHERE CHILDREN WERE SENT DEEP
INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH TO
RIP COAL FROM THE MINES AND DIE
EARLY DEATHS.
APPARENTLY HOUSE REPUBLICANS
NOT ONLY WISH TO EMBRACE THE
PRINCIPLEED ENERGY SOURCE OF
THE 19TH CENTURY, THEY ALSO
WISH TO RETURN US TO THE 19TH
CENTURY PRINCIPLES ABOUT PUBLIC
HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
REGARDING ARSENIC AND MERCURY
AND THEIR DANGER TO THE
CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTRY.
NOW, THERE ARE GOOD USES FOR
COAL ASH, BENEFICIAL USES.
IT CAN BE USED TO CONSTRUCT
HIGHWAYS AND SHINGLES.
THAT'S GOOD.
IT CAN BE MIXED INTO CONCRETE
AND GROUT.
THAT'S GOOD.
BUT WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS FOR
THE INDUSTRY TO BE ABLE TO USE
IT TO INSTRUCT A GOLF COURSE
LIKE WHAT THEY DID IN
BATTLEFIELD, VIRGINIA, BECAUSE
IT CAN DIRECTLY CONTAMINATE THE
GROUNDWATER.
IT CAN POLLUTE AND CAUSE INJURY
AND CANCERS IN THE NEIGHBORS OF
THAT GOLF COURSE.
WE ALSO DON'T WANT IT TO BE
DISPOSED OF IN PITS THAT AREN'T
SEALED TO HANDLE THE SPECIAL
WASTE LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN
TENNESSEE WHEN A PIT COLLAPSED
ENGULFING AN ENTIRE SMALL TOWN
IN TOXIC SLUDGE.
WE SHOULD HAVE REGULATIONS TO
PROTECT AGAINST THAT EVER
HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AGAIN.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS BILL,
THE REPUBLICAN BILL, WILL DO.
IT WILL BLAST US BACK INTO THE
PAST AND ALLOW COAL ASH TO BE
DISPOSED OF WITHOUT PROPER
CONSTRUCTION OR MONITORING.
AT THE END OF THIS MONTH,
TRANSIT AND HIGHWAY FUNDING
WILL EXPIRE, HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS ARE AT STAKE
AND OUR TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE IN
PERIL.
EVEN SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE
RECOGNIZED THE DANGERS INHERENT
IN ALLOWING THIS TO OCCUR AND
HAVE JOINED WITH SENATE
DEMOCRATS TO CRAFT A BIPARTISAN
BILL SO WE CAN PUT PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK USING COAL ASH IN THE
HIGHWAYS OF OUR COUNTRY.
BUT IN SPITE OF THIS, THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE INSISTING THAT
UNRELATED AND UNNECESSARY TOXIC
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF
PROVISIONS DANGEROUS TO THE
AMERICANS BE ATTACHED TO THIS
BILL IN ORDER TO PROTECT BIG
OIL AND BIG COAL.
INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE COAL
INDUSTRY AND REPUBLICANS TO
TRANSPORT OUR COUNTRY'S
ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
STANDARDS BACK TO THE ERA OF
CHARLES DICKENS, WE SHOULD BE
HOLDING THEM TO HIGHER
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING OF OUR PEOPLE.
I URGE A NO VOTE ON THIS
PREPOSTEROUS REPUBLICAN
INITIATIVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO MY
COLLEAGUE, MR. RENACCI, FROM
THE GREAT STATE OF OHIO.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
TO CLASSIFY COAL
ASH AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IS
ADMINISTRATION'S CONTINUAL
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THIS
ATTACK ON COAL AND THE
AFFORDABLE DOMESTIC ENERGY IT
GENERATES.
THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF COAL
ASH HAS GROWN INTO A
MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY,
SUPPORTING THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN
MY HOME STATE OF OHIO.
COAL ASH IS USED IN MORE THAN
75% OF THE CONCRETE PRIMARILY
OF ITS
COST-EFFECTIVENESS.
ELIMINATING IT WOULD FORCE
CONCRETE PRODUCERS TO USE
EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVES, DRIVING
UP THE COST OF BUILDING ROADS
AND BRIDGES IN AMERICA BY MORE
THAN $5 BILLION A YEAR.
THAT MEANS CONSTRUCTION COSTS
WON'T GO AS FAR AT A TIME WHEN
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN DIRE
NEED OF REPAIR.
IN ADDITION, CLASSIFYING COAL
ASH AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
WILL PROVE EXTREMELY COSTLY FOR
KOWAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.
SOME COMPANIES MAY ANALYZE THE
COST AND FIND IT SIMPLY TOO
EXPENSIVE TO CONTINUE
OPERATING.
OTHERS MAY ATTEMPT TO PASS THE
NEW COSTS ONTO CONSUMERS IN A
FORM OF HIGHER UTILITY COSTS.
EITHER WAY, THE OUTCOME WOULD
BE DEVASTATING FOR A STATE LIKE
OHIO THAT DERIVES 80% OF ITS
ELECTRIC POWER FROM COAL.
WITH OUR ECONOMY STILL
STRUGGLING, THAT IS THE LAST
THING OHIO BUSINESSES,
CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AND
FAMILIES NEED RIGHT NOW.
DESPITE DECADES OF RESEARCH AND
STUDIES CONCLUDING THERE IS NO
REASON TO CONSIDER COAL ASH
HAZARDOUS, MANY OF WHICH THE
E.P.A. ITSELF CARRIED OUT, THE
AGENCY NOW APPEARS WILLING TO
JEOPARDIZE THOUSANDS OF JOBS
WITH THIS INACCURATE RULING.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT EFFORTS ARE
TAKEN TO PREVENT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
REGULATION AND INSTEAD ALLOW
EACH STATE TO SET UP THEIR OWN
COAL ASH RECYCLING PROGRAMS
FOLLOWING E.P.A.'S REGULATIONS.
AND OUR ECONOMY IN MY HOME
THIS APPROACH WILL PROTECT JOBS
STATE AND ACROSS COUNTRY.
I APPLAUD REPRESENTATIVE
MCKINLEY FOR HIS WORK ON THIS
ISSUE AND I ASK THAT THEY KEEP
THIS VERSION IN THE FINAL
VERSION OF THE SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION BILL.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I'D
NOW HAVE THE PLEASURE TO YIELD
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS, MR. QUIGLEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU.
MR. SPEAKER, TODAY THE HOUSE
ANOTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL RUINOUS BILL.
THIS MOMENT TO INSTRUCT SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION CONFEREES TO
RETAIN THE LANGUAGE OF H.R.
2273 WHICH PROHIBITS THE E.P.A.
FROM REGULATING COAL ASH.
COAL ASH IS THE TOXIC
COMBINATION OF MERCURY, BORON,
ALUMINUM, THALLIUM AND ARSENIC.
SHOCKINGLY, PEOPLE WHO LIVE
AROUND THIS, HAVE THE RISK OF
CANCER 2,000 MORE.
ALLOWING THE E.P.A. WOULD HELP
AVOID DISASTERS LIKE THE 2008
SPILL IN TENNESSEE WITH A DAM
HOLDING ONE BILLION GALLONS OF
TOXIC COAL ASH SPILLED.
IT DEVASTATED WILDLIFE,
POISONED TWO RIVERS AND
APPARENTLY TAUGHT US NOTHING.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE
THIS LATEST YOU ATTEMPT TO BAR
THE E.P.A. WERE SAVING LIVES
AND PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES OF MY
REMAINING TIME TO MR. DOYLE,
CONGRESSMAN DOYLE, FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THE GENTLEMAN'S MOTION TO
INSTRUCT.
COAL ASH IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR
THIS COUNTRY.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR PENNSYLVANIA.
NEARLY ALL OF MY CONSTITUENTS
GET THEIR POWER FROM COAL AND
WITH THAT POWER GENERATION COMES
ITS BYPRODUCT, COAL ASH.
IT'S AN UNAVOIDABLE PART OF OUR
PENNSYLVANIA.
POWER GENERATION IN SOUTHWESTERN
AND THOUGH THE COMMONWEALTH OF
PENNSYLVANIA HAS SOME OF THE
TOUGHEST COAL ASH DISPOSAL
STANDARDS IN THE COUNTRY, I'VE
BEEN CONVINCED THAT COAL ASH
NEEDS TO BE FEDERALLY REGULATED
UNDER THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION
AND RECOVERY ACT.
HOWEVER, THIS MOTION TO INSTRUCT
DOES NOT FULLY ENCOMPASS MY
POSITION ON THE ISSUE.
THOUGH THIS MOTION TO INSTRUCT
TO ASSIST --
INSIST UPON HOUSE LANGUAGE ON
COAL ASH, THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE
STORY.
IN FACT, I SUPPORT THE COAL ASH
LANGUAGE IN THE BIPARTISAN GROUP
THAT SENATORS ARE WORKING ON.
I'VE SEEN MUCH OF THE WORK
THEY'VE BEEN DOING AND I CAN
TELL YOU I BELIEVE IT TO BE AN
IMPROVEMENT ON WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE IN THE HOUSE.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE
CONFEREES AGREE TO A BILL AT ALL
AND WILL IT INCLUDE COAL ASH?
MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION
IS MEANT TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO FINISH THE PROCESS SO WE CAN
RESOLVE THE COAL ASH ISSUE IN A
WAY THAT'S GOOD FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT, OUR CONSTITUENTS
AND THE PURPOSES OF RECYCLING
THESE MATERIALS.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR I DO NOT
BELIEVE THAT ANY COAL ASH OR
KEYSTONE PROVISIONS SHOULD BE
USED TO HOLD UP THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL CONFERENCE.
ABOVE ALL ELSE, IT'S ESSENTIAL
THAT THIS CONGRESS DOES ITS JOB
AND COMPLETES THE HIGHWAY BILL
CONFERENCE BEFORE THE CURRENT
PROGRAM EXPIRES ON JUNE 30.
TO SUPPORT THE
FEDERAL REGULATION OF COAL ASH
AS A NONHAZARDOUS WASTE.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
WORK QUICKLY TOWARDS A
BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL RESOLUTION
ON THIS ISSUE AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
SORRY, THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA.
WAX WHACK MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO
YIELD AT --
MR. SPEAKER, I WANT
TO YIELD AT THIS TIME THREE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
RHODE ISLAND, MR. LANGEVIN.
DOES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA
SEEK TO YIELD TIME?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND
IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND
IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, YET ANOTHER SUMMER
BUILDING SEASON IS WELL UNDER
BILL.
WAY WITHOUT A LONG-TERM TRNGS
WE ARE QUITE FRANKLY DOWN TO THE
WIRE ON THE CURRENT FUNDING
AUTHORIZATION WHICH EXPIRES NEXT
SUNDAY.
HERE WE ARE DEBATING THE
ADDITION OF EVEN MORE NON
TRANSPORTATION-RELATED MEASURES.
CONGRESSMAN MCKINLEY'S MOTION TO
INSTRUCT ON COPE ASH IS ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF -- COAL ASH IS
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF DELAY.
THE CONFEREES OUGHT TO BE
COMPLETING THEIR WORK ON A
LONG-TERM AUTHORIZATION NOT
SADDLED WITH EXTRANEOUS
REQUIREMENTS WHICH POSE A THREAT
TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
WITH THOUSANDS OF JOBS ON HOLD
UNTIL CONGRESS ACTS, THIS DELAY
IS UNCONSCIONABLE.
NOW, OUR STATE DEPARTMENTS OF
DEPTH TRANSPORTATION GAVE US
EARLY WARNING THAT IF THE
CONGRESS DOES NOT ACT AND DID
NOT ACT ON A LONG-TERM
TRANSPORTATION BILL BY MARCH 31,
BE COMPROMISED.
THE SUMMER BUILDING SEASON WOULD
NOW, THE SENATE RECOGNIZED THIS
CONCERN AND SENT TO THE HOUSE
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION KNOWN AS
MAP 21, A BILL WHICH PASSED THE
SENATE WITH A STRONG BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT OF 74 SENATORS.
AND YET AS WE SAW MARCH 31,
DEADLINE COME AND GO, HOUSE
LEADERSHIP REFUSED TO TAKE UP
THE BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL
KNOWING FULL WELL THAT CARRYING
EXTENSION INTO THE SUMMER
BUILDING SEASON WOULD COST JOBS
AND IT HAS.
NOWHERE IS OUR NATION'S FRAGILE
RECOVERY MORE APPARENT THAN IN
MY HOME STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.
WHICH CURRENTLY HAS AN
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 11%.
ACCORDING TO A WEBSITE, MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN PROJECTS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN DELAYED, INCLUDING
A $6.4 MILLION PROJECT TO CARRY
I-95 OVER A ROAD IN RHODE
ISLAND.
ADS 1.5 MILLION PROJECT -- A
$1.5 HELLO PROJECT TO PROVIDE --
MILLION PROJECT.
$3.5 MILLION PROJECT TO
RESURFACE STATE STREET TO BROAD
STREET AND MAIN STREET IN WEST
RHODE ISLAND.
THESE PROJECTS NOT ONLY IMPROVE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE UPON WHICH
OUR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS
RELY, THEY MEAN REAL JOBS,
DESPERATELY NEEDED JOBS FOR
RHODE ISLANDERS.
MAP 21 WILL HELP REBUILD
AMERICA'S ECONOMY TO A STRONGER
AND MORE SUSTAINABLE FOUNDATION.
IT WILL PROVIDE FINANCING FOR
CRITICAL HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT
PROJECTS.
AND SUPPORT ALMOST TWO MILLION
JOBS, 9,000 OF THEM IN MY HOME
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.
NOW, A 90-DAY EXTENSION, MR.
SPEAKER, IS ALMOST UP.
IT WAS RELUCTANTLY PASSED BACK
IN MARCH WITH THE PROMISE OF A
LONG-TERM MEASURE TO FOLLOW.
A BILL WHICH IS YET TO
MATERIALIZE.
NOW, WE, MR. SPEAKER, MUST LET
THE CONFEREES FINISH THEIR WORK
WORK, LET THE E.P.A. CONTINUE TO
DO ITS JOB, PROTECTING THE
PUBLIC FROM THE RISKS OF COAL
ASH WHICH INCLUDE CANCER,
NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, BIRTH
DEFECTS AND ASTHMA.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
AGAINST THIS INDUSTRY-DRIVEN
MOTION AND TO VOTE FOR MOVING
FORWARD ON THE PATH TO
REBUILDING BL OUR ROADS, OUR
COMMUNITIES AND OUR ECONOMY BY
BRINGING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A
LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION BILL.
WITH THAT I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING AND I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS, MR. OLSON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TO SUPPORT MY GOOD
FRIEND, MR. MCKINLEY, IN HIS
EFFORTS TO INCLUDE THE COAL
FINAL TRANSPORTATION
RESIDUALS MANAGEMENT ACT IN THE
AUTHORIZATION BILL.
E.P.A.'S GOAL, TO REGULATE COAL
COMBUSTION RESIDUALS, WILL HAVE
FAR-REACHING AND NEGATIVE
IMPACTS ON OUR ECONOMY.
THESE E.P.A. RULES WOULD
SEVERELY HAMPER AMERICAN ENERGY
PRODUCTION, THEREBY RISK OUR
NATION'S ABILITY TO MEET THE
ELECTRICITY GENERATION WE NEED
TO GROW OUR ECONOMY AND GET OUR
COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK, WORKING
AGAIN.
PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS TO
ELIMINATE COAL AS A SOURCE OF
ENERGY FOR AMERICA.
THIS SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE
TO THOSE WHO HAVE LISTENED TO
THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS WHEN HE
WAS A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE.
HE SPOKE FROM HIS HEART IN SAN
FRANCISCO IN 2008.
HERE'S WHAT HE SAID.
A QUOTE.
LET ME DESCRIBE MY OVERALL
POLICY.
WHAT I'VE SAID IS THAT WE WOULD
PUT A CAP AND TRADE SYSTEM IN
PLACE THAT IS AS AGGRESSIVE IF
NOT MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN ANYBODY
ELSE'S OUT THERE.
HE THEN SAID, SO IF SOMEBODY
WANTS TO BUILD A COAL-POWERED
PLANT, THEY CAN IT'S JUST THAT
IT WILL BANKRUPT THEM BECAUSE
THEY'LL BE CHARGED A HUGE SUM
FOR ALL THE GREENHOUSE GAS
THAT'S BEEN EMITTED.
WE NEED COMMON SENSE AT E.P.A.
AND A PRESIDENT WHO UNDERSTANDS
THAT AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
STRATEGY INCLUDES AMERICAN COAL.
AND THAT IS WHY I'M SUPPORTING
MR. MCKINLEY'S ACT IN THE FINAL
BILL.
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZATION
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES VOLUNTARY
VOTE FOR MR. MCKINLEY'S MOTION
TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
COULD WE RESERVE AT
THIS POINT IN TIME?
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES?
THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THE NEXT TWO MINUTES OF MY
TIME TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM WEST
VIRGINIA, MR. RAHALL.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA FOR YIELDING, MY GOOD
FRIEND, AND I COMMEND HIM FOR
HIS DOGGED DETERMINATION ON THIS
ISSUE.
HIS PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE.
AND I CERTAINLY RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS MOTION TO INSTRUCT.
THIS GENTLEMAN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA WAS, AFTER ALL, THE
DEMOCRATIC FLOOR MANAGER OF THE
HOUSE BILL WHICH GOT US INTO
CONFERENCE WITH THE SENATE WHO
ACCEPTED THE AMENDMENT OFFERED
BY MR. MCKINLEY WHICH PASSED BY
VOICE VOTE ON APRIL 18.
THIS AMENDMENT, KNOWN AS THE
COAL ASH PROVISION, IS AN
IMPORTANT PROVISION AND I LIKE
MANY OTHERS DO NOT WANT TO SEE
IT DERAIL THE ENTIRE
TRANSPORTATION BILL IN ITS
ENTIRETY BUT I THINK IF THIS
BODY WERE TO FOLLOW THE
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE HOUSE, BOTH
IN THIS MOTION AND IN THE
PREVIOUS MOTION ADOPTED BY MR.
WALZ OF MINNESOTA WHICH
INSTRUCTED CONFEREES TO REPORT
BACK BY JUNE 22, THEN I BELIEVE
WE WOULD HAVE A TRANSPORTATION
BILL THAT THIS NATION WOULD
BENEFIT FROM AND OUR AMERICAN
WORKERS WOULD BENEFIT.
SINCE 1980 THE E.P.A. HAS
STRUGGLED TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER
COAL ASH SHOULD BE REGULATED
UNDER THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION
AND RECOVERY ACT AND IF SO IN
WHAT FASHION.
AS OF THIS DATE, 32 YEARS LATER,
NO E.P.A. REGULATION IS IN
PLACE.
THE AGENCY HAD ITS SHOT AND NOW
IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.
THE PROVISION BY THE HOUSE IS
AIMED AT THE STATES BOLSTERING
THEIR PROGRAMS, GOVERNING THE
REGULATION OF COAL ASH AND
INCLUDES ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IF
THEY FAIL TO DO SO.
GIVEN THE NEXUS BETWEEN THE USE
OF COAL ASH AND THE
MANUFACTURING OF CEMENT AND THAT
PRODUCT'S USE IN OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, IT IS AN
APPROPRIATE MATTER TO BE
CONSIDERED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF
THE CONFERENCE OF THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL.
CONTRARY TO SOME REMARKS WE'VE
HEARD ON THE FLOOR TODAY, THESE
MOTIONS TO INSTRUCT DO NOT DELAY
THE WORK OF CONFEREES, BEING A
CONFEREE MYSELF I KNOW THAT THE
CONFERENCE CONTINUES TO MEET
FORTH.
WITH PROPOSALS GOING BACK AND
WE'RE CURRENTLY PLAYING PING
PONG ON A LOT OF THESE PROPOSALS
BUT THAT'S GOOD.
IT MEANS WE'RE TALKING AND IT
MEANS THE PROCESS IS GOING
FORWARD AND I'M JUST VERY
OPTIMISTIC AND HOPEFUL THAT WE
CAN REACH AGREEMENT SOONER
RATHER THAN LATE SORE THAT
AMERICA'S ECONOMY CAN CONTINUE
TO RECOVER AND AMERICAN WORKERS
CAN GO BACK TO WORK WITH
CERTAINTY.
THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MASSACHUSETTS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MAY I INQUIRE OF THE
CHAIR HOW MUCH TIME IS REMAINING
ON BOTH SIDES?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS HAS