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US A RICH INHERITANCE OF
NATURAL RESOURCES IN OUR
WILDLIFE REF REFUGES, H R. 4480
DRASTICALLY ALTERS --
THE GENTLEMAN YIELD
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I AM PLEASED TO
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, MR.
TIPTON, AUTHOR OF ONE OF THE
PROVISIONS IN THE BILL.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN HASTINGS,
FOR YIELDING ME TIME AS WELL.
AMERICA HAS ALWAYS HAD A
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AS A
NATION.
IT'S BEEN THE
ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP, THE HARD
WORKING THE INNOVATION OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WE'VE ALSO ALWAYS HAD A
DIFFERENT ADVANTAGE AS WELL.
AFFORDABLE ENERGY IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE SEE THAT NOW IN PERIL.
1979, JIMMY CARTER CHALLENGED
THIS NATION TO MOVE TO ENERGY
SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
DECADE AFTER DECADE, IT HAS NOT
BEEN ADDRESSED.
LEGISLATION IS TO
MOVE AMERICA FULLY INTO THE
21ST CENTURY.
TO BE ABLE TO SECURE FOR US AND
FOR OUR CHILDREN THIS LAND OF
GROWTH.
LIBERTY, OPPORTUNITY, AND
IT COOKS -- IT COMES WITH
AMERICAN ENERGY.
YOU KNOW, THE RANKING MEMBER
FROM MASSACHUSETTS, I HAVE GOOD
NEWS FOR YOU.
WHEN YOU READ THE ACTUAL
LEGISLATION THAT'S PUT FORWARD,
IT STATES IN MY PORTION OF THE
BILL, THE PLANNING FOR AMERICAN
ENERGY ACT OF 2012, PAGE 16,
LINE 16, CALLING ON THE
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO
DEVELOP A PLAN FOR AMERICAN
ENERGY.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
CREATING THE BEST ESTIMATE,
BASED UPON COMMERCIAL AND
SCIENTIFIC DATA, OF THE
EXPECTED INCREASE IN MEGA WATTS
FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION FROM
SOURCES.
WIND, SOLAR, BIOMASS,
HYDROPOWER, AND GEOTHERMAL
ENERGY, PRODUCED ON FEDERAL
LANDS.
THE VERY THING YOU ASKED FOR.
IT'S IN THE BILL.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE
ABLE TO CREATE AN AMERICAN
ENERGY FUTURE IN THIS CASE.
-- IN THIS NATION.
TO BE ABE TO SECURE FOR OUR
CHILDREN THE BIRTH RIGHT THAT
MANY OF US GREW UP BELIEVING
WAS AN AMERICAN BIRTH RIGHT,
THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE
THAT AMERICAN DREAM.
TO BE ABLE TO PUT AMERICANS
BACK TO WORK.
THE PLANNING FOR AMERICAN
ENERGY ACT OF 2012, MY PORTION
COMMONSENSE, ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
OF THIS BILL, SPEAKS TO THAT
PROPOSAL WE ALL SEEK, WIND,
THERMAL, GEE -- WIND, SOLAR,
GEOTHERMAL, USING THE WIND
RESOURCES, THE NATURAL GAS, THE
OIL, THAT WE FIND ON AMERICAN
SOIL.
WHEN WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDEAST, WHEN
WE SEE AT THE GAS PUMP PRICES
DOUBLED FROM JUST THREE SHORT
YEARS AGO, WHEN WE TALK TO
SENIOR CITIZENS ON FIXED
INCOMES, WHO ARE FINDING OUT
WHEN THEY TURN ON THE LIGHT
SWITCH THEIR BILL IS INCREASED,
IS IT TIME, IS IT APPROPRIATE
FOR US TO SEEK AN AMERICAN
ENERGY SOLUTION?
THE TIME HAS COME, THE DAY HAS
ARRIVED.
RATHER THAN ENCOURAGING ENERGY
OFF OF OUR SHORES --
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 30 SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
RATHER THAN
ENCOURAGING ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
OFF OUR SHORES AS THE PRESIDENT
HAS DONE WITH HIS $2 BILLION
BRAZIL TO DEVELOP THEIR ENERGY
LOAN GAREN TOE -- GUARANTEE TO
RESOURCES, IF WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE THOSE TYPE OF INVESTMENTS,
WOULD IT NOT BE BETTER FOR US
TO DEVELOP AMERICAN ENERGY ON
AMERICAN SOIL TO PUT AMERICANS
BACK TO WORK AND CREATE
AMERICAN ENERGY CERTAINTY?
THAT DAY HAS COME, THE TIME IS
NOW, THIS IS IS A -- THIS IS A
GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR
AMERICAN SECURITY AND AMERICAN
JOBS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I
.
YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
RESERVES.
MASSACHUSETTS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
I YIELD MYSELF ONE
MINUTE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING
IS THEY WANT A STUDY FOR FOUR
YEARS OF WIND AND SOLAR.
A STUDY?
IT IS VERY SEASON IN FLORIDA AND
WINDY OUT IN THE WEST.
OF WIND.
THERE HAVE BEEN 35 NEW MEGAWATTS
AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE 4,000
MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR INSTALLED IN
THE UNITED STATES JUST THIS
YEAR.
MAYBE THE -- I DO NOT YIELD --
MAYBE THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD
STUDY THE STUDIES THAT ARE
ALREADY OUT THERE AND LOOK OVER
ASK THE COAL INDUSTRY WHAT
THEIR THINKING WHEN THEY HAVE
DROPPED FROM 51% DOWN TO 36% OF
ALL ELECTRICAL GENERATION IN THE
LAST FIVE YEARS.
MAYBE THEY ARE LOOKING AT WIND
AND SOLAR.
MAYBE YOU CAN CALL THEM.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOUR
YEARS.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS GIVE THE
WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY TO
CONTINUE THEIR REVOLUTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD FIVE
MINUTES, IF I MAY, TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY,
RANKING MEMBER OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE, MR. HOLT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
FIVE MINUTES.
NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
HOLT HOLT I THANK MY --
I THANK MY FRIEND FROM
MASSACHUSETTS AND I THANK HIM
FOR LAYING OUT THE SHORTCOMINGS
OF THIS LEGISLATION THE OIL
ABOVE ALL LEGISLATION.
IT REALLY IS NOTHING BUT A BIG
GIVEAWAY TO BIG OIL.
THE ONLY JOBS IT WILL CREATE
WILL BE IN THE BOARD ROOMS AND
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE BIG
OIL COMPANIES BECAUSE SINCE
2005, EVEN AS EXXON MOBIL,
CHEVRON, BP AND SHELL HAVE MADE
OVER 650 BILLION IN PROFITS,
NEED I REPEAT THAT, $650
BILLION, THEY ELIMINATED MORE
THAN 11,000 JOBS, U.S. JOBS,
AMERICAN JOBS.
AND THIS IS EVEN WHILE WIND AND
SOLAR WERE CREATING 50,000 JOBS.
YES, THERE IS A MISMATCH HERE.
THE BILL BEFORE US PRESENTED BY
THE REPUBLICANS SAYS WE'LL STUDY
TO SEE HOW MUCH SOLAR AND WIND
ENERGY MIGHT COME FROM THESE
LANDS IN THE FUTURE.
LET'S GET
THESE ENERGY SOURCES OF THE 21ST
CENTURY ROLLING IN THESE LANDS.
NOT A PLAN OF WHAT WE MIGHT GET,
THE MARKEY AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE
SET STANDARDS FOR WHAT WE WOULD
GET.
NOW, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A LONG
RECORD OF PROTECTING TAX BREAKS
FOR BIG OIL WHILE CUTTING CLEAN
ENERGY INITIATIVES.
THAT'S WHAT WE SEE HERE.
BUT WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
IS THE DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE DONE
UNDER THIS LEGISLATION.
HEALTH OFFICIALS TODAY HERE IN
WASHINGTON ARE WARNING PEOPLE
HERE TO AVOID THE HEAT AND STAY
INDOORS.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAD IN MIND
THAT WE STAY INDOORS TO PASS
LEGISLATION THAT CHOKES OFF
PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS, THAT
THE CLEAN AIR ACT TO
MAKE IT INEFFECTIVE, AND YET,
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
BY REJECTING CLEAN ENERGY AND
PUSHING ONLY FOR MORE FOSSIL
FUELS TO BLANKET THE WORLD WITH
HEAT-TRAPPING POLLUTION, THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS
ESSENTIALLY TURNING OFF THE
WORLD'S AIR CONDITIONER AND
TURNING ON THE HEATER.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A REASON THAT
THE TERM FOSSIL FUELS APPLY --
THE TERM APPLIES.
ACTUALLY TWO REASONS.
ONE IS THESE ARE DERIVED FROM
OLD PLANTS THAT HAVE DEKAYED
DEEP IN THE EARTH AND PRODUCE
PETROLEUM.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER REASON,
FOSSIL MEANS ARCHAIC.
FOSSIL MEANS OUT OF DATE.
FOSSIL DOES NOT MEAN 21 THE THE
THEST SENT -- 21 CENTURY AND YET
THAT'S WHERE THIS LEGISLATION IS
TAKING US, IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
AND IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WITH
REGARD TO ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION.
IN THE WAKE OF THE DEEPWATER
HORIZON DISASTER, WE SHOULDN'T
BE PLAYING GAMES WITH SAFETY AND
THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE SPILL EXPOSED A WOEFULLY
INADEQUATE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
PROCESS THAT WAS DONE PRIOR TO
THE OIL AND GAS LEASING.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW DONE
PRIOR TO THE BP SPILL WAS SO
SLOPPY THAT RESPONSE PLANS
TALKED ABOUT PROTECTING WALL
RUSSES.
OBVIOUSLY, -- WALRUSES, THEY
WERE USING OLD ALASKA PAGES.
TOURISM IS THE LIFEBLOOD AND AS
THE ECONOMY IS STRUGGLING TO
RECOVER, WE CAN'T RISK THE KIND
OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE THAT
DERAILS ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN
THESE AREAS.
WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE RISKS
OF DRILLING, AND WE SHOULD
STRENGTHEN THE PROTECTIONS, NOT
WEAKEN THEM.
FURTHERMORE, THERE WILL BE
DAMAGE DONE TO THE WHOLE LEASING
PROCESS.
AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO ARE
SO WORRIED THAT PUTTING SOME
REAL STANDARDS, SOME EXPECTING
GOOD PERFORMANCE FROM OIL
COMPANIES WOULD SOMEHOW
INTERFERE WITH THEIR PRODUCTION,
LET ME POINT OUT SOME GOOD NEWS.
TODAY, THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
ANNOUNCED -- THEY ANNOUNCED THE
RESULTS OF AN OIL AND GAS LEASE
SALE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
NOW ACCORDING TO THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT --
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
IS THERE REMAINING
TIME?
HOW MUCH TIME IS
REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN HAS 8
1/2 MINUTES.
I YIELD AN
ADDITIONAL MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, TODAY'S
LEASES THAT WERE BID ON TODAY,
WHICH HAS SOME LEASED STANDARDS
APPLY THAT REQUIRE SHORTER LEASE
TERMS, THE VERY THINGS THAT THE
FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE HEARSAY WOULD BE KILLERS,
WOULD STOP THE DRILLING, EVEN
WITH THESE NEW CONDITIONS FOR
OFFSHORE DRILLING, A
RECORD-SETTING LEASE SALE
BRINGING IN $11.7 BILLION, AND
THEY'RE SAYING WHAT WORKS HERE
OFFSHORE WON'T WORK ON THE LAND
LEGISLATION.
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS
IN THIS.
NOW, I'LL TELL WHAT'S A KILLER
A KILLER IS THE RELAXING OF THE
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS IN THE LEGISLATION.
THAT IS LITERALLY A KILLER.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M
PLEASED TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA OR TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALASKA, A STATE THAT HAS
TREMENDOUS RESOURCES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALASKA IS RECOGNIZED.
I SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION.
TITLE 6'S LEGISLATION IS A GOOD
STEP FORWARD IN ALASKA AND I
LISTENED TO THE TWO PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS.
WIND POWER, YOU COULD TAKE AND
COVER EVERY ACRE OF THE UNITED
STATES, INCLUDING THE PARKS AND
REFUGES AND PUT SOLAR PANELS ON
THEM AND ONLY PRODUCE 20% OF THE
CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY WE USE
THAT.
NO PARK, NO REFUGES, ALL SOLAR
PANELS.
IT HAS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A
BATTERY THAT ARE MADE IN CHINA.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S NONSENSE.
THE IDEA WIND IS GOING TO SOLVE
THE PROBLEM AND SOLAR IS GOING
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THAT'S
NONSENSE, BECAUSE IN REALITY,
FOSSIL FUELS TO THIS DAY IS THE
ONLY FUEL THAT CAN MOVE AN
OBJECT AND MOVES YOUR CAR, MOVES
YOUR TRUCK, MOVES YOUR PLANE,
MOVES YOUR TRAIN AND MOVES THE
SHIP THAT BRINGS PRODUCT TO AND
FROM THE UNITED STATES.
YOU AREN'T GOING TO DO IT WITH A
BEANEY ON YOUR HEAD OR SOLAR
PANELS THAT COVER EVERY ACRE IN
THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE WE ARE
COLLECTING THE POWER OF THE SUN
DOWN HERE.
THAT IS THE BOTTOM OF THE PIER
MY.
WE AREN'T COLLECTING FROM THE
SOURCE.
YOU WANT TO BE FAR, COLLECT IT
UP THERE AND BEAM IT DOWN TO A
ELECTRICITY.
POINT WHERE WE CAN CREATE
THIS IS A GOOD BILL.
BECAUSE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
KEEP IN MIND, AND MR. TIPTON
SAID IT RIGHT, IN HIS BILL, WE
HAVE ACTION ON WIND AND SOLAR
AND LOW IT WON'T WORK AND WE
KNOW IT WON'T WORK.
WE NEED FOSSIL FUEL NOW AND WE
NEED TO PRODUCE ANOTHER SOURCE
OF ENERGY THAT DOESN'T COME AND
DOESN'T NEED ELECTRICAL
BATTERIES TO RUN A CAR.
GOING TO PLUG A CAR IN?
NONSENSE, IT WON'T HAPPEN.
YOU NEED TO PRODUCE ENERGY FROM
SOME OTHER SOURCE THAT CREATES
ELECTRICITY.
HYDRO POWER.
YOU ARE AGAINST NUCLEAR AND
AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO GROW OUR
WAY INTO NEW POWER BY USING
CORN, A FOOD FOR ENERGY AND THAT
IS ABSOLUTELY NONSENSE.
SHAME ON YOU TO SAY IT IS NOT A
GOOD BILL.
NONSENSE.
IT IS A GOOD BILL.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON RESERVES.
MASSACHUSETTS.
COULD I ASK HOW MUCH
IS REMAINING ON THE MAJORITY
SIDE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS HAS 17 1/2 MINUTES
-- I'M SORRY, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON HAS 17 1/2 MINUTES.
I'M GOING TO
RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS HAS 7 1/2 MINUTES.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, A
MEMBER OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE, MR. DUNCAN.
I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN.
THERE CAN BE NO NATIONAL
SECURITY WITHOUT ENERGY
SECURITY.
LET THAT SINK IN.
THERE CAN BE NO NATIONAL
SECURITY WITHOUT ENERGY
SECURITY.
AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS SUPPORT A
TRULY ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY
POLICY OF THE NOT ONE PUT FORTH
BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND
HOUSE DEMOCRATS, WHICH BASICALLY
IS AN ALL THE ABOVE EXCEPT FOR
X, Y AND Z POLICY WHICH BLOWS
AMERICAN'S HARD-EARNED
TAX DOLLARS CHASING PHANTOM
ALTERNATIVES.
ALL OF THE ABOVE MEANS OPENING
UP FEDERAL LANDS FOR ENERGY
PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION AND
PUTS AMERICANS TO WORK.
AMERICANS NEED TO LOOK TO ONE
WESTERN STATE TO SEE A -- WHAT
AMERICA CAN BE.
THAT STATE IS NORTH DAKOTA.
WHEN YOU GET OFF THE PLANE IN
NORTH DAKOTA, THEY GIVE YOU A
JOB WHETHER YOU NEED ONE OR NOT.
ZERO UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
ENERGY-DRIVEN ECONOMY.
WHAT THIS NATION COULD BE IF WE
PURSUE AN ENERGY-DRIVEN ECONOMY.
DRILLING ON FEDERAL LANDS COULD
BE A REALITY.
DRILLING ON THE OUTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF COULD BE A
REALITY IF WE OPEN UP RESOURCES
IN PRODUCTION LIKE THE FOLKS IN
NORTH DAKOTA HAVE DONE.
ENERGY POLICY WORKS.
AND WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
MASSACHUSETTS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
I WANT TO CONTINUE
TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
TIME.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO ANOTHER
MEMBER OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
4480.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R.
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
BEGINS TO PUT IN PLACE A TRUE
ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY PLAN, A
TYPE OF PLAN THAT HAS BEEN
MISSING SINCE THIS PRESIDENT
CAME INTO OFFICE IN 2009.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL EXPAND
OIL, GAS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT ON FEDERAL LANDS TO
HELP INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF
ENERGY AND LOWER ENERGY PRICES
FOR CONSUMERS.
IT WILL GIVE RELIEF TO DRIVERS
THAT ARE PAYING HIGH PRICES AT
THE PUMP.
EVERY MONTH FROM VERY COSTLY
E.P.A. REGULATIONS THAT ARE
SCHEDULED TO GO INTO PLACE.
THIS LEGISLATION ALSO CONTAINS A
BILL THAT I INTRODUCED, THE
B.L.M. LIVE INTERNET AUCTIONS
ACT.
THIS BILL IS SUPPORTED BY MY
FRIENDS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF
ADMINISTRATION.
THE AISLE HERE AND EVEN THE
THE B.L.M. LIVE INTERNET
AUCTIONS ACT WILL BRING THE
LEASE AUCTION PROGRAM INTO THE
21ST CENTURY BY ALLOWING B.L.M.
TO CONDUCT ONLINE LEASES JUST
LIKE THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS BEEN
DOING FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT AN ALL OF
THE ABOVE ENERGY POLICY.
THE PRESIDENT EVEN TALKED ABOUT
AN ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY
POLICY IN THE STATE OF THE
UNION.
I'M CONVINCED THAT WHAT THE
PRESIDENT MEANS BY AN ALL OF THE
ABOVE ENERGY POLICY IS ANYTHING
ABOVE THE GROUND BECAUSE IT
SEEMS LIKE HE DOESN'T WANT US
GOING AFTER OUR OWN NATURAL
RESOURCES.
IF WE HAD AN ENERGY POLICY THAT
SAID, LOOK, WE ARE GOING TO DRAW
A LINE IN THE SAND AND OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS WE WILL BE ENERGY
INDEPENDENT AND GO AFTER THE
TRILLIONS OF BARRELS OF OIL THAT
WE ALREADY OWN AND HARVEST THE
VOLUMES OF NATURAL GAS AND OIL
THAT WE OWN AND CONTINUE TO MINE
AND HARVEST COAL AND USE IT
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUNDLY AND
EXPAND OUR NUCLEAR FOOTPRINT AND
WE'LL EVEN LOOK AT WIND AND
SOLAR AND FIND OUT WHERE THOSE
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES FIT
INTO AN OVERALL SCHEME, BUT WE
AREN'T GOING TO SIT ON THE
SIDELINES AND BE BE HOLDEN FOR
THEIR ENERGY.
IF WE HAD THAT THAT SAID TO THE
REGULATORY AGENCIES LIKE THE
E.P.A. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR, STARTING TODAY YOU
BECOME PARTNERS IN PROGRESS.
IF YOU GOT A NATIONAL SECURITY
OR PUBLIC HEALTH OR PUBLIC
SAFETY REASON FOR SAYING NO,
THEN SAY NO.
NO BE THE FINAL
ANSWER.
I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE
AN EXPECTATION THAT THEIR
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE
BUREAUCRACIES THAT ARE SENT HERE
TO MANAGE THE AMERICAN SYSTEM
ARE PARTNERS IN PROGRESS, NOT
BARRIERS TO PROGRESS.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT H.R. 4480 THE DOMESTIC
ENERGY AND JOBS ACT.
I CERTAINLY DO AND I URGE THEM,
TOO, AS WELL AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS IS RECOGNIZED.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN, MR. ELLISON.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK YOU, MR. MARKEY, AND MR.
HASTINGS AS WELL FOR THE TIME.
MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE KEEP USING THE
MANTRA, ALL OF THE ABOVE.
ALL OF THE ABOVE.
I THINK THEY SHOULD NAME IT OIL
ABOVE ALL.
OIL ABOVE ALL WOULD BE A BETTER
NAME BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THAT
THIS BILL IS REALLY JUST A WISH
LIST AND A CHECK OFF FOR THE
BIG OIL INDUSTRY.
IT WEAKENS PUBLIC HEALTH
PROTECTIONS.
IT FORCES ARBITRARY GIVEAWAYS
ON PUBLIC LAND.
IT PUTS ENERGY DRILLING AHEAD
OF ALL USES OF FEDERAL LAND.
THIS IS NOT A LONG-TERM
STRATEGY SOLUTION.
IT IS AN OIL ABOVE ALL
STRATEGY.
THE OIL, GAS, AND COAL INDUSTRY
ARE ALREADY GETTING BILLIONS IN
CORPORATE WELFARE.
WHILE THEY'RE MAKING RECORD
PROFITS.
HOW MUCH OF THE AMERICAN
TAXPAYERS' MONEY DO THEY NEED?
THEY WILL RECEIVE AT LEAST $110
BILLION IN SUBSIDIES OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS.
THESE SUBSIDIES HAVE BEEN WON
BY DECADES OF LOBBYING.
GAS, AND COAL
INDUSTRY SPENT $167 MILLION
LOBBYING.
BUT IN COMPARISON TO THE RETURN
ON THEIR INVESTMENT, $167
MILLION IS SMALL.
BECAUSE THEY GOT SUBSIDIES TO
$110 BILLION.
SO IT'S A LUKE -- IT'S
LUCRATIVE FOR THEM TO DO SO
MR. SPEAKER.
THAFMENTE DON'T NEED OUR HELP,
IN 2011, JUST LAST YEAR, THE
BIG FIVE OIL COMPANIES MADE
$137 BILLION IN PROFITS.
THAT'S GOOD BY ANY MEASURE.
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD AN
INDUSTRY THAT MAKES $137
BILLION IN PROFITS NEED THE
HELP OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WITH THESE TAX BREAKS THAT THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY WASN'T --
MAJORITY WON'T EVEN AGREE TO
GET RID OF.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS RESERVES, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA, DR. GINGREY A MEMBER
OF THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
COMMITTEE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, IT
SOUNDS LIKE HIS POLICY ON HIS
SIDE OF THE AISLE IS NO OIL, NO
MATTER WHAT.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD BILL.
IF IT BECOMES LAW, H.R. 4480,
THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS
ACT WILL PUT PEOPLE BACK TO
WORK.
IT WILL BE A GREAT, GIANT STEP
TOWARD CREATING ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE FOR THIS COUNTRY
AND YES, INDEED, MY COLLEAGUES,
IT WILL BRING DOWN THE PRICE OF
GASOLINE AT THE PUMP, WHICH HAS
ACTUALLY DOUBLED IN THREE AND A
HALF YEARS UNDER PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S WATCH.
AS A MEMBER OF THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE, LET ME
FOCUS ON ONE SPECIFIC
TITETHOLVE LEGISLATION, THE
STRATEGIC ENERGY PRODUCTION
ACT.
THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY IS
ABOUT 700 MILLION BARRELS OF
OIL.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT RESERVE IS
THERE FOR A SITUATION OF A
DOMESTIC CRISIS, NOT A
POLITICAL CRISIS.
700 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL, WE
USE 20 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL A
DAY IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND IF YOU ASSUME THAT 60% OF
IT BUZZ DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED
AND WE HAD TO IMPORT EIGHT
MILLION BARRELS OF OIL A DAY,
THEN THINK ABOUT HOW MANY DAYS
HAVE WE TRULY HAD A CRISIS IN
THESE COUNTRIES LIKE OPEC CUT
IMPORT?
US OFF COMPLETELY FROM WHAT WE
THEN THAT RESERVE WOULD LAST
ABOUT 90 DAYS.
A THREE-MONTH PERIOD OF TIME.
AND YET PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS
TAKE THAT RESERVE AND USE IT
FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.
THIS TITLE OF THE BILL, MR.
CHAIRMAN, JUST SIMPLY SAYS THAT
FOR EVERY OUNCE OF OIL THAT HE
TAKES OUT OF THE STRATEGIC
RESERVE, WE WOULD INCREASE THAT
SAME AMOUNT ON FEDERAL LANDS.
OF COURSE HE HAS CUT THAT
PRODUCTION.
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 30 SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE
THIS IS AN *** POINT
COLLEAGUES.
WHAT THIS PRESIDENT HAS DONE IS
CUT THE PRODUCTION ON FEDERAL
LANDS, ON FEDERAL LANDS, BY 11%
ON HIS WATCH.
LET'S PASS THIS BILL SO THAT WE
DO CREATE JOBS, WE PUT PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK, WE BECOME
INDEPENDENT IN THIS COUNTRY AND
HATE US.
NOT DEPENDENT ON NATIONS THAT
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON RESERVES.
MASSACHUSETTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE TO RESERVE AT THIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I AM PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE, DR.
ROW.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I RISE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF H.R. 4480, THE
AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY BUYS
1,100 GALLONS OF GASOLINE PER
YEAR.
IF THE PRICE OF GASOLINE FELL
JUST $1 FROM ITS CURRENT LEVEL
OF $3.49, OF FAMILIES WOULD
SAVE $1,100 A YEAR.
TODAY, IN THIS BODY, WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER
AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE
FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.
THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS
ACT WILL HELP EASE THE PAIN AT
THE PUMP, CREATE JOBS AND PUSH
INDEPENDENCE.
THIS COUNTRY TOWARD ENERGY
THIS COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION
WOULD PUT SEVERAL COSTLY AND
POTENTIALLY BURDENSOME E.P.A.
ON HOLD WHILE AN
ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL COST
AND RULES IS DONE.
TO ME IT'S UNTHINKABLE WE
WOULDN'T ASK AGENCIES TO
CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF A
REGULATION ON JOBS AND THE
ECONOMY, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME
OF SUCH ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.
TO BOOST OUR ENERGY PRODUCTION,
THE DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS
ACT WOULD REQUIRE THE SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR TO ACT ON OIL
AND NATURAL GAS LEASE
APPLICATIONS AND OPEN UP NEW
RESERVES IN ALASKA THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD RESTRICT THE
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
FROM BEING TAPPED UNLESS THE
ADMINISTRATION DEVELOPS A PLAN
TO ALLOW MORE LEASES, TO
EXPLORE FOR ADECISIONAL SOURCES
OF OIL.
LET ME PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE
RIGHT HERE.
AS A YOUNG ARMY OFFICER IN
KOREA, 1973 AND 1974, THERE WAS
AN OIL EMBARGO, IF YOU DONE
REMEMBER.
WE CUT OFF THE -- OPEC CUT OFF
OIL PRODUCTION AND SENDING IT
TO THE U.S.
WE ONLY GOT HEAT THREE HOURS A
DAY, WE HAD TO KEEP THE HEAT
FOR OUR TANKS AND AIRCRAFT TO
PROTECT THIS NATION.
SO IT IS ONE OF STRATEGIC
IMPORTANCE AND ENERGY IS A VERY
IMPORTANT SOURCE OF THAT.
TO OBTAIN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE,
IT'S NOT ONLY A KEY COMPONENT
TO DOMESTIC RECOVERY, IT'S ALSO
AN ISSUE OF NATIONAL SECURITY,
AS I JUST MENTIONED.
THE COMING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
IS -- BECOMING ENERGY
INDEPENDENT IS FAR TOO
IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO PUT
POLITICS ABOVE PEOPLE.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
JOIN IN SUPPORTING THE DOMESTIC
ENERGY AND JOBS ACT AND I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MAY I ASK AGAIN
THAT WE REVIEW THE MAJORITY AND
MINORITY ARE IN TIME REMAINING
IN DEBATE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS HAS 5 1/2
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
HAS 8 1/2 MINUTES.
I WOULD YIELD
MYSELF ONE MINUTE AT THIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THANK YOU.
ONE MINUTE.
I'D LIKE TO REVIEW ONCE AGAIN
THE REPUBLICAN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
PLAN.
ONE, LIGHT, SWEET CRUDE OIL.
TWO, SOUR HIGH SULFUR OIL.
THREE, HEAVY OIL.
FOUR TAR SANDS OIL.
FIVE, OIL SHALE.
AND OH, JUST TO MIX IT UP, A
LITTLE NATURAL GAS.
WHAT THEY FORGOT WAS, OF
COURSE, WIND, SOLAR, AND
GEOTHERMAL AND BIOMASS AND THEY
WON'T EVEN ALLOW US TO HAVE AN
AMENDMENT OUT HERE ON THE FLOOR
IN ORDER TO HAVE A DEBATE OVER
IT.
BUT THAT OIL ABOVE ALL AGENERAL
TA YOU HAVE, IT'S VERY
COMPREHENSIVE AND I GIVE YOU A
LOT OF CREDIT FOR FIGURING OUT
EVERY SINGLE WAY WE CAN HELP
ALL THE OIL COMPANIES IN THE
UNITED STATES AT THE EXPENSE OF
ALL THE RENEWABLE ENERGY
INDUSTRIES.
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
I CONTINUE TO RESERVE THE
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I AM PLEASED TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MISSISSIPPI, MR. NUNNELEE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR
YIELDING.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE
DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS ACT.
AMERICA HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH
AN ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL
RESOURCES UNDER OUR FEET, OFF
OUR SHORES.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST COAL
RESERVES IN THE WORLD.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE MAKING IT
POSSIBLE TO UNLOCK VAST NEW
RESERVES OF OIL AND NATURAL
GAS.
WE NEED TO BE DOING EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO SAFELY AND
RESPONSIBLY DEVELOP THOSE
NATURAL RESOURCES BECAUSE DOING
SO WILL CREATE GOOD,
HIGH-PAYING JOBS.
AND IT WILL IMPROVE NATIONAL
SECURITY BY REDUCING DEPENDENCE
ON ENERGY FROM UNSTABLE REGIONS
OF THE WORLD.
HIGHER GAS PRICES ARE A CRUEL
TAX.
THEY'RE A CRUEL TAX ON
HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN THAT
ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET
BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.
HIGHER GAS PRICES ARE A CRUEL
TAX ON SENIORS ON FIXED INCOME.
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS FULL OF
PEOPLE PUSHING A RADICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA THAT'S
HOSTILE TO ENERGY DEVELOPMENT.
THEY BELIEVE THE SOLUTION IS TO
FORCE THE PRICE OF TRADITIONAL
ENERGY SUPPLIES TO SKYROCKET SO
THAT ALTERNATIVE GREEN ENERGY
BECOMES ARTIFICIALLY
COMPETITIVE.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SHOULD BE A
PART OF THE MIX BUT THE REALITY
IS THAT FOSSIL FUELS WILL BE
THE MAIN SOURCE OF OUR ENERGY
FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO
GENERATIONS.
IT'S A FANTASY TO SUGGEST
OTHERWISE.
WE DO SUPPORT AN
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE STRATEGY BUT
THAT ALSO INCLUDES AN
ALL-OF-THE-BELOW STRATEGY.
WE SUPPORT DEVELOPING THOSE
RESOURCES BELOW OUR FEET AND
OFF OUR SHORES.
THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT
THE AMERICAN ENERGY AND JOBS
ACT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
I YIELD MYSELF TWO
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MARKEY: YOU KNOW, I HATE
GIVING ALL THE BAD NEWS TO THE
REPUBLICANS BUT I'LL GIVE YOU
SOME MORE BAD NEWS YOU HATE TO
HEAR IT BUT I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU
ANYWAY.
IN 2011, IN TERMS OF NEW
ELECTRICAL GENERATION IN THE
UNITED STATES, 33% CAME FROM
NATURAL GAS, 29% FROM WIND, 20%
FROM COAL AND 8% FROM SOLAR.
GOT THAT AGAIN?
WIND AND SOLAR WERE ABOUT 37%
OF ALL NEW ELECTRICAL
GENERATING CAPACITY IN THE
UNITED STATES IN 2011.
ROW GUYS WANT TO STUDY IT, YOU
WANT TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY.
IN THAT STUDY, YOU SHOULD THROW
A FEW OTHER THING A SINGLE
DEVICE FROM WHICH YOU CAN TALK
TO YOUR FAMILY, SEND EMAILS AND
WATCH VIDEOS.
THAT'S A CONCEPT SOME PEOPLE
HAVE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STUDY
THAT AS WELL.
NO, WE ALREADY HAVE THAT.
SENDING A MAN TO THE MOON AND
RETURNING THEM SAFETY TO THE
EARTH, I GUESS THAT'S SOMETHING
WE ALREADY DID.
HOW ABOUT STUDYING THE
POSSIBILITY OF MAPPING THE
GEE NOEM SO WE CAN
HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT
MATERIAL THAT HUMANITY IS MADE
OUT OF -- OH, I THINK WE'VE
ALREADY DONE THAT.
MAYBE MANY OTHER THINS WE CAN
THROW INTO THAT SOLAR AND WIND
STUDY THAT WE ALSO DON'T NEED
TO HAVE STUDIED THAT YOU CAN
ALSO THROW IN THERE AS PART OF
YOUR TECHNOLOGICAL AND
SCIENTIFIC PHOBIA THAT REFUSES
TO HAVE YOU ADMIT THAT THINGS
ARE ALREADY HAPPENING.
SOMETHING ELSE YOU'RE REFUSING
TO ADMIT THAT HAPPENED?
DURING BUSH'S TERM AS PRESIDENT
THE PRODUCTION OF OIL WENT
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.
2001, 2008.
YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ONCE
OBAMA TOOK OVER?
UP, UP, UP.
UP.
SO MUCH OIL DRILLING THAT IT'S
ALL THE RIGS IN THE WORLD
COMBINED NOT MATCHING WHAT
OBAMA HAS DONE IN TERMS OF
TOTAL OIL RIGS OUT THERE AND WE
ARE NOW AT AN 18-YEAR HIGH IN
OIL.
I KNOW -- MAYBE YOU SHOULD
STUDY THIS, THIS IS HARD FOR
YOU TO UNDERSTAND, I'VE HEARD
THE MEMBERS OUT HERE SAYING
THERE'S A JIHAD AGAINST OIL
THAT IS BEING WAGED BY THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, IT JUST
DOESN'T MATCH ANY OF THE
EVIDENCE.
.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I ADVISE MY VERY
GOOD FRIEND FROM MASSACHUSETTS
THAT I'M PREPARED TO CLOSE IF HE
IS PREPARED TO CLOSE.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW
MUCH TIME IS REMAINING, MR.
CHAIRMAN?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS HAS 2 1/2 MINUTES.
I YIELD MYSELF THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 2 1/2 MINUTES.
LET ME JUST SAY
THIS, I KNOW IT'S NOT ANYTHING
OBSERVED BY THE REPUBLICANS, BUT
THE PRICE OF GASOLINE HAS
DROPPED FOR THE LAST 11 WEEKS IN
SINCE THE PRESIDENT
THREATENED TO USE THE STRATEGIC
PETROLEUM RESERVE BECAUSE IT WAS
NEVER ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND
BUT ABOUT FEAR AND GREED, WHAT
WALL STREET WAS DOING IN
MANIPULATING THE PRICE OF OIL
AND THE COMMODITY FUTURES
MARKETPLACE.
IT WAS ABOUT THE FEAR PEOPLE HAD
OF WAR IN IRAN BREAKING OUT.
BUT WHAT'S THE RESPONSE FROM THE
REPUBLICANS?
WELL, THEY HAVE A BRILLIANT
AMENDMENT INSIDE OF THEIR BILL.
WHAT THEY SAY HERE IS THAT IF,
GOD FORBID, THE AYOTOLLA EVER
ATTACKED THE UNITED STATES, A
MIDDLE EASTERN WAR BROKE OUT AND
THE PRESIDENT USED THE STRATEGIC
PETROLEUM RESERVE, YOU KNOW WHAT
THEIR BILL SAYS, WE, IF THE
REPUBLICAN BILL PASSES TODAY,
WOULD HAVE TO SELL TO EXXON
MOBIL AND THE OTHER BIG OIL
200 MILLION ACRES OF
FEDERAL LANDS FOR EXXON MOBIL
AND THE OTHER BIG OIL COMPANIES
TO DRILL ON.
UNDERSTAND THAT?
THE AYOTOLLA ATTACKS US AND
THERE IS A WAR IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, WHO WOULD WE HAVE TO PAY
THE RANSOME TOO?
HOW NONSENSICAL IS THAT?
THAT IS AN ABSOLUTELY CRAZY IDEA
THAT THE OIL COMPANIES BECOME
THE BENEFICIARIES OF A MIDDLE
EASTERN CONFLICT.
THEY GET THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE
UNITED STATES, 200 MILLION ACRES
THAT WE HAVE TO SELL THEM
SIMULTANEOUSLY, A TRIGGER THAT
OCCURS INSIDE THEIR LEGISLATION.
THIS IS CRAZY SET OF CONCEPTS
WHERE WE CAN'T HAVE AN AMENDMENT
SOLAR, GEOTHERMAL,
BIOMASS, PLUG-IN HYBRIDS, THE
TECHNOLOGY.
AND AS A PENALTY, THE COUNTRY TO
USE THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM
RESERVE AS A WEAPON OF OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY AGAINST OPEC,
THAT IF THE PRESIDENT USES IT,
WE HAVE TO SELL 200 MILLION
ACRES OF AMERICAN LAND TO THE
OIL COMPANIES SO IT CAN EVEN
DRILL FOR BARGAIN BASEMENT
PRICES IN THE COUNTRY.
THIS BILL IS THE ABSOLUTELY
WRONG RECIPE FOR OUR COUNTRY AS
WE HEAD INTO THE 21 CENTURY AND
I URGE A NO VOTE.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I
HAVE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON HAS SEVEN MINUTES.
I YIELD MYSELF THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IT IS HARD TO KNOW
WHERE I START AS I CLOSE THE
DEBATE ON THIS PORTION OF THE
BILL BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SO
INFORMATION OUT THERE AND
SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT FRANKLY
-- I WON'T SAY IT'S UNTRUE, BUT
IT'S NOT EXACTLY ACCURATE.
LET ME START WITH THE IDEA THAT
THE PRICE OF GASOLINE HAS
ADMINISTRATION.
DROPPED WITH THIS
IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE AVERAGE
PRICE OF GASOLINE IN THIS
COUNTRY WAS $1.82 A GALLON.
WHAT IS MAGIC ABOUT JANUARY,
2009?
WELL, THAT WAS THE MONTH THAT
THE PRESIDENT WAS INAUGURATED.
AND THE PRICE OF GASOLINE WAS
$1.82 A GALLON.
TODAY, TODAY, THE AVERAGE PRICE
OF GASOLINE IS $3.48.
IF YOUR MATHIS SUCH THAT THE
PRICE OF GASOLINE DROPS WHEN IT
STARTS AT $1.82 AND ENDS AT $
3.48, YOU HAVE FUZZY MATH, BUT
HEARING.
FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE HEARD, OH,
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEMBERS
SPOKE, BUT I DARE SAY EVERY ONE
ON THE OTHER SIDE SAID THIS IS A
GIVEAWAY TO OIL AND GAS.
IF THEY DIDN'T SAY IT, THEY
IMPLIED IT, TRYING TO GET THE
MESSAGE ACROSS.
I WONDERED WHEN I HEARD THE
DEBATE HERE THAT THERE IS NO
REFERENCE TO RENEWABLES, THAT
THEY READ THE BILL.
I'M CONVINCED THEY DID NOT READ
THE BILL, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY.
BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
RENEWABLES, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
FEDERAL LANDS.
AND WE SAY THAT THE SECRETARY --
AND I'M READING FROM PAGE 15,
TITLE 3, SECTION 44, PARAGRAPH
THREE, IT SAYS, AND I QUOTE, THE
SECRETARY SHALL DETERMINE A
DOMESTIC STRATEGIC PRODUCTION
OBJECTIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
ENERGY RESOURCES FROM FEDERAL
ONSHORE LANDS.
THAT'S THE DIRECTIVE.
SO, WE SAID WELL, ON PAGE 16, WE
ENERGY.
MAKE REFERENCE TO RENEWABLE
AND THEY SAID, IT'S JUST A
STUDY.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S JUST A
STUDY?
WELL, IF YOU READ, MR. CHAIRMAN,
WE ARE ASKING FOR A STUDY FOR
THE ESTIMATES OF WHAT?
ON SUBSECTION A, IT'S OIL AND
NATURAL GAS.
WHAT?
WE ARE ASKING FOR A STUDY ON OIL
AND NATURAL GAS ON FEDERAL
LANDS.
B, NOW, IT'S FOR -- C, I SHOULD
SAY HERE, TALKS ABOUT CRITICAL
MINERALS AND GOES ON TO
RENEWABLES.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE POINT I'M
MAKING, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THIS
IS VERY IMPORTANT, IF THIS IS A
GIVEAWAY TO OIL AND GAS
COMPANIES AND NOT HELPING
RENEWABLES, THEN WHY IS THE
PRECISE SAME LANGUAGE FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF ENERGY -- FOR THE
TYPE OF PRODUCTION OF ENERGY ON
FEDERAL LANDS?
IT BOTH WAYS.
SO I THINK, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT
THIS IS A VERY GOOD BILL,
BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSING ON WHERE
THE GREATEST RESOURCES WE HAVE
IN THIS COUNTRY ON FEDERAL LAND.
THAT'S WHERE THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL RESOURCES ARE.
THIS BILL IS AIMED AT THOSE
RESOURCES.
THAT'S WHY THIS BILL IS SO
IMPORTANT.
LET'S SET PRODUCTION GOALS ON
ALL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT
MEANS ALL OF THE ABOVE.
BELOW GROUND.
THAT MEANS ABOVE GROUND AND
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO
DO.
BUT TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A
GIVEAWAY WHEN THE SAME LANGUAGE
APPLIES TO ALL ENERGY
PRODUCTION, FRANKLY IS
INACCURATE.
SO WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS
EXPIRED.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE BILL
SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR
AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE
RULE.
IN LIEU OF THE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND COMMERCE PRINTED IN
THE BILL, IT SHALL BE IN ORDER
TO CONSIDER AS AN ORANGE BILL
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT
UNDER THE AMENDMENT IN THE
AMENDMENT OF THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE CONSIDERED THE RULES
TEXT.
THAT AMENDMENT IS IN THE
AMENDMENT OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL
BE CONSIDERED AS READ.
NO AMENDMENT TO THAT AMENDMENT
IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
SHALL BE IN ORDER EXCEPT THOSE
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-540.
EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE
OFFERED IN THE ORDER PRINTED IN
THE REPORT BY A MEMBER
DESIGNATED IN THE REPORT, SHALL
BE CONSIDERED READ, SHALL BE
DEBATING SPECIFIED IN THE TIME
OF THE REPORT EQUALLY CONTROLLED
BY THE PROPONENT AND AN
OPPONENT, SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT
TO AMENDMENT AND SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT FOR DEMAND OF THE
QUESTION.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112- 40.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-540,
OFFERED BY MR. HASTINGS OF
WASHINGTON.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 691, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WASHINGTON, MR. HASTINGS,
AND A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE
NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE
ALASKA WAS SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNATED AS A PETROLEUM
RESERVE BACK IN 1923 AS A PLACE
WE COULD DEVELOP OUR RESOURCES
FOR ENERGY AND NATIONAL
SECURITY.
TITLE 6 OF THIS BILL WILL ENSURE
OCCUR ON NP
RMP A BY REQUIRING AN ANNUAL
LEASE SALE AND ENSURE THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR A PLAN TO ALLOW
FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE
PRODUCT OUT OF NPRA.
IN ADDITION TO MAKING TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS, THIS AMENDMENT AIMS
TO ACCOMPLISH TWO GOALS FOR
FACILITATING DEVELOPMENT.
FIRST, IT WOULD REQUIRE AT THE
REQUEST OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL RIGHT-OF
-WAY S AND THIS WOULD PROVIDE
APPROVED RIGHTS OF WAY IN AND
OUT OF THIS AREA.
SECONDLY, IT WOULD REPEAL THE
DESIGNATION OF THE COAL DELIVERY
AS AN AQUATIC RESOURCE.
THIS WAS USED BY THE ANTI-AGENCY
E.P.A. TO STOP ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT ON THIS AREA.
WHILE THE PRESIDENT TOUTS HIS
ENERGY RECORD AND SPEAKS OF HIS
ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT IN THE NPRA AND
FAILS TO MENTION THAT DUE TO RED
TAPE FROM HIS ADMINISTRATION,
THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA HAVE WAITED
YEAR AND YEARS FOR APPROVAL TO
BUILD A BRIDGE ACROSS THE
COLVILLE RIVER, BUT WHAT YOU DID
HEAR IS THE E.P.A. PAID NO
ATTENTION TO THE COLVILLE UNTIL
AFTER CONOCO PHILLIPS FILED AN
APPLICATION FOR THE BRIDGE AND
SHORTLY AFTER THAT APPLICATION,
E.P.A. DECLARED IT WAS AN
AQUATIC RESOURCE OF NATIONAL OF
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE AND STOPPED
THE PRODUCTION FOR NEARLY A
DECADE BEFORE APPROVAL OF THIS
SIMPLE BRIDGE AND PIPELINE.
WHAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
SAYS AND WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION
DOES TO PROMOTE ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT IN ALASKA ARE
TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
THOSE TWO THINGS THAT I
MORE MARKEY: I YIELD MYSELF THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM DEBATING
THIS ISSUE, BUT I THINK IT
SHOULD BE DONE IN AN
APPROPRIATE WAY.
IT OVERTURNS AN E.P.A. DECISION
OF SOME SIGNIFICANCE.
AND I URGE A NO VOTE AND YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I YIELD MYSELF
THE BALANCE OF THE TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
JUST BRIEFLY,
THERE ARE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
IN HERE WHICH I ACKNOWLEDGE AND
WHICH THE GENTLEMAN DID
ACKNOWLEDGE BUT THERE ARE TWO
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES AND THE
GENTLEMAN ACKNOWLEDGED BOTH OF
THOSE.
I WANT TO REPEAT, HE TALKED
ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE
COLLEVILLE RIVER WAS AQUATIC
RESOURCE OF NATIONAL
IMPORTANCE.
HE WAS BASING THIS ON A REASON
WHY WE SHOULD OPPOSE, WHY WE
SHOULD NOT ADOPT THIS
AMENDMENT.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN,
I MADE THIS OBSERVATION IN MY
REMARKS, THE COLLEVILLE RIVER
WAS NOT DESIGNATED THIS UNTIL
AFTER, I WANT TO SAY THIS GEP,
VERY SLOWLY, SOMETIMES YOU
DON'T HEAR THINGS IN THIS ECHO
CHAMBER, AFTER CONOCO WANTED TO
DEVELOP THE NPRA.
WHEN THEY DEVELOPED NPRA, THEY
HAD TO HAVE ACCESS ACROSS THE
RIVER BUT, OH, THE E.P.A. SAID,
MINUTE, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO
MAKE THAT CHANGE.
CHAIRMAN.
THAT'S PURE POLITICS, MR.
I WILL SAY THIS, I WAS UP IN
ALASKA LAST YEAR.
I STOOD RIGHT AT THE SPOT WHERE
THEY WANTED TO BUILD A RIVER
ACROSS THE COLLEVILLE RIVER.
THE RIVER THERE IS NOT VERY
LARGE AND TO SUGGEST THAT IT
FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY AND WE
SHOULD NOT ADOPT THIS AMENDMENT
FLIES IN THE FACE OF COMMON
SENSE.
WITH THAT, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO ADOPT THIS AMENDMENT AND I
YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
I ASK FOR A
RECORDED VOTE.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT
AGEED TO.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON WILL
BE POSTPONED.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112-540.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-540
OFFERED BY MR. POLIS OF
COLORADO.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 691, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM COLORADO, MR. POE LIGS,
AND A -- MR. POLIS AND A MEMBER
OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL TIVE
FINNS.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
I YIELD MYSELF TWO
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD
PROVIDE A BUFFER BETWEEN
OIL DRILLERS USING
FRACKING.
ACCORDING TO THE OIL AND GAS
CONTACT COMMISSION, FRACKING
OCCURS IN MORE THAN 90% OF OIL
AND GAS WELLS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
ADVANCES IN UNCONVENTIONAL OIL
AND GAS EXTRACTION HAVE LED TO
AN INCREASE IN FRACKING NEAR
WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK AND
PLAY.
THAT MEANS INCREASED EX-PE SURE
TO TOXIC CHEMICALS AS WELL AS
THE NOISE AND NUISANCE OF HEAVY
TRUCK TRAFFIC.
A RECENT REPORT BY THE COLORADO
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
INDICATED THAT RESIDENTS
LIVINGLESS THAN HALF A MILE
FROM WELLS WERE AT GREATER RISK
OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC HEALTH
PROBLEMS THAN THOSE WHO LIVED
FARTHER AWAY INCLUDING EXPOSURE
TO BENZENE A KNOWN CARCINOGEN,
AT A LEVEL FIVE TIMES HIGHER
THAN THE FEDERAL STANDARD.
GIVEN THIS RISK AND THE NEED
FOR MORE INFORMATION, WE SHOULD
ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION,
CHILDREN.
PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO
WE NEED ADDITIONAL STUDIES BUT
GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW, FRANKLY,
IT'S TIME TO AFPBLGT WE ALREADY
SET SOME BASIC STANDARDS WHERE
WE KNOW POLLUTANTS MAY PUT
CHILDREN AT RISK.
AS AN EXAMPLE, IN MY DISTRICT
AT COLORADO, COMMERCIAL DIESEL
VEHICLES ARE PROHIBITED FROM
IDLING FOR MORE THAN FIVE
MINUTES WITHIN 500 FEET FROM
THE SCHOOL.
FRACKING OPERATION MACE BE 100
PETE FROM -- FEET FROM A HOME
AND 150 FEET FROM A PUBLIC
AREA.
WE FOUND 26 SCHOOLS THAT HAVE
DRILLING WELLS OPERATIONAL
EMITTING TOXIC GASES WITHIN
1,000 FEET OF SCHOOLS.
IN ERIE, COLORADO, I MET WITH
HOMEOWNERS AND PARENTS
INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT
THE IMPACTS OF FRACKING ON
THEIR HELL AND THEIR CHILDREN'S
HEALTH.
WE SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THEIR
VOICES AND NOT JUST THE DEMANDS
OF ENERGY COUNTRIES.
WE NEED TO FIND A REASONABLE
COMPROMISE TO ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS OF FAMILIES IN ERIE
AND ACROSS AMERICA.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK, MR. HINCHEY.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE GENTLEMAN'S
AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING ON PUBLIC
LANDS FROM TAKING PLACE WITHIN
1,000 FEET OF OUR SCHOOLS.
THIS MAJOR INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY
HAS SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH
RISKS AND HAS NO BUSINESS BEING
NEAR OUR KIDS.
HYDRAULICALLY FRACTURED WELLS
EMIT HUGE QUANTITIES OF SMOG
FORMING CHEMICALS, HAZARDOUS
AIR POLLUTANTS LIKE BENZENE AND
METHANE.
PROBLEMS.
THESE CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH
THIS PAST MARCH, THE COLORADO
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RELEASED A REPORT BASED ON
THREE YEARS MONITORING THAT
FOUND HIGHER CANCER,
RESPIRATORY AND NEUROLOGICAL
HEALTH RISKS AMONG PEOPLE
LIVING CLOSEST TO DRILLING
SITES.
THEY FOUND VOLATILE ORGANIC
CHEMICALS TO BE FIVE TIMES THE
LEVEL AT WHICH EMISSIONS ARE
CONSIDERED POTENTIALLY HARMFUL
TO PUBLIC HEALTH, ACCORDING TO
E.P.A.'S HAZARD INDEX.
THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK
HAS RECENTLY URGED CAUTION WITH
EXPANDED DRILLING BECAUSE OF
CONCERNS ABOUT HEALTH IMPACTS
AND DATA COLLECTED BY THE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION HAS
SHOWN INCREASED GROUND LEVEL
OZONE AND OTHER POLLUTION VULLS
OF FRACKING.
BUT THE RISKS GO BEYOND JUST
AIR QUALITY.
IN APRIL, 2010, THERE WAS MAJOR
BLOWOUT IN PENNSYLVANIA,
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING WELL SITE.
FOR 17 HOURS.
GAS SPEWED 17 FEET IN THE AIR
THESE KINDS OF BLOWOUTS HAPPEN
FAR TOO OFTEN.
OUR KIDS.
WE NEED TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM
IT SHOULDN'T BE DONE NEAR OUR
SCHOOLS.
I URGE SUPPORT FOR THE
GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
I YIELD MYSELF THE
REMAINDER OF THE TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES
TO ASK THEMSELVES, WOULD THEY
WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE 300 FEET,
500 FEET, EVERY DAY FROM A
FRACKING SITE?
300 FEET IS THE SIZE OF ONE
FOOTBALL FIELD.
FRACKING IS SCIENTIFICALLY
DUMONTED AT PRODUCING AIR
POLLUTION.
WE KNOW THE LEVEL OF AIR
POLLUTION THAT IS PROMOTED AND
IT IS MEASURED.
ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY MAKE
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
POSSIBLE.
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING MEANS WE
CAN LOCATE WELLS MILES FROM
SCHOOLS AND STILL EXTRACT THE
OIL AND NATURAL GAS RESOURCE WE
NEED AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR
CHILDREN REMAIN HEALTHY.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUES
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE
SUPPORT THIS COMMONSENSE
AMENDMENT THAT WILL PROTECT
PUBLIC HEALTH, ENSURE THE SAFE
DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS AND
PRODUCTION.
PROMOTE DOMESTIC ENERGY
I URGE A YES VOTE ON THEAMENT
AND URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN
ME IN KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD REALLY RESTRICT THE
ABILITY TO PRODUCE ENERGY ON
FEDERAL LANDS AND I THINK,
POLITICAL AMENDMENT.
QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS PURELY A
RATHER THAN ALLOW EXISTING
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AND
REVIEWS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
SAFE DRILLING OPERATIONS, THIS
AMENDMENT SEEKS TO USE AN
ARBITRARY STANDARD THAT FRANKLY
IS MORE OF A SCARE TACTIC THAN
GOOD SCIENCE.
IT WOULD ACTUALLY HARM SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, PRINCIPALLY THOSE IN
THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST, THAT
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR LARGE
LANDHOLDER STATUS TO LEASE
THEIR LANDS FOR ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT.
IN ADDITION, IT WOULD INFRINGE
ON THE ABILITY OF NATIVE
AMERICAN TRIBES TO MANAGE THEIR
LANDS AND RESOURCES.
IT'S BAD POLICY, PARTICULARLY
FOR TRIBAL LAND TRYING TO
DEVELOP THEIR ENERGY RESOURCES,
THIS WILL RESTRICT THEIR
ABILITY TO DO THAT.
NOW, WE'VE HEARD THE OTHER SIDE
TALK ABOUT WHY WE NEED TO DO
THIS AND THE IMPLICATION IS
THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS TO
PROTECT DRINKING WATER AT OUR
CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS THAT MAY
BECOME CONTAMINATED FROM
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO SAY
THIS VERY EMPHATICALLY.
THIS MISINFORMATION OF
CONTAMINATION IS BASED ON
ABSOLUTELY NO SCIENCE OR
FACTUAL EVIDENCE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, TO PUT AN
EXCLAMATION POINT ON THAT,
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE
GENTLEMAN'S -- THE GENTLEMAN
WHO IS OFFERING THIS AMENDMENT,
GOVERNOR OF
COLORADO WHO I MIGHT ADD, IS A
DEMOCRAT, WAS QUOTED AS SAYING,
I'LL -- I'LL SAY THE WHOLE
QUOTE HERE AND I'LL SAY IT AS
SLOWLY AS I CAN SO EVERYBODY
CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
GOVERNOR SAID, I QUOTE, THERE
HAVE BEEN TENS AND THOUSANDS OF
WELLS IN COLORADO AND WE CAN'T
FIND ANYWHERE IN COLORADO A
SINGLE EXAMPLE OF THE PROCESS
OF FRACKING THAT HAS POLLUTED
GROUND WATER AND -- END QUOTE.
I DIDN'T SAY THIS I AM QUOTING
THE GOVERNOR OF THE GENTLEMAN
WHO OFFERED THE AMENDMENT.
HIS STATE.
SO MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST HAVE TO
SAY, I BELIEVE THIS IS A
CLINICALLY -- A POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED AMENDMENT AND IT
FRANKLY DOES NOT EVEN DESERVE
DEBATE ON THAT.
SO I URGE REJECTION OF THIS
AMENDMENT AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
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 NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
THE CHAIR UNDERSTANDS THAT
AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE WILL NOT
BE OFFERED.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR PRINTED
IN HOUSE REPORT 112-540.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. QUICK --
I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.