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DEALING WITH FEDERAL LANDS AND
OTHE RISSUES --
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 441 AS AMENDED.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 103, H.R. 441, A BILL TO
AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR TO ISSUE PERMITS FOR A
MICROHYDROPROJECT IN WILDERNESS
AREAS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF
DINALI NATIONAL PARK AND
RESERVE FROM TOURISM AND FOR
PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA, MR.
YOUNG, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MRS. NAPOLITANO,
WILL EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS
UNDER THE BILL UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, H.R.
441, THE ACT, WILL AUTHORIZE
THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO
ISSUE PERMITS FOR A MICROHYDRO
PROJECT WITHIN THE DENALI
NATIONAL PARK.
IT WILL FACILITATE A SMALL LAND
EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE WHICH OWNS AND
OPERATES THE FACILITIES THAT
WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPOSED
MICROHYDRO PROJECT.
AT THE REQUEST OF THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE, THIS WILL ALLOW
THE PARK SERVICE TO ADMIT
SIMILAR PROJECTS THAT MAY EXIST
IN THE FUTURE.
ROUGHLY HOME SIX ACHES OF OF
LAND WILL BE AFFECTED.
IT'S ONE OF THE 13 ALASKA
NATIONAL NATIVE REGIONAL
CORPORATIONS FORMED UNDER THE
ALASKA NATIVE LAND CLAIM
SETTLEMENT ACT.
CURRENTLY THE FACILITIES AT CAN
TITCH IN A WHICH ARE LOCATED IN
THE 90MAN MILE PARK ROAD ARE
OPERATED OFF OF DIESEL FUEL.
NOT BEING CONNECTED TO ANY GRID
SYSTEM, THE ROAD HOUSE MUST
PRODUCE ALL OF ITS ENERGY ON
SITE.
THIS MEANS TRUCKING THOUSANDS
OF GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL OVER
THE PARK ROAD.
INJURIES CREATED BY THIS
MICROHYDRO PROJECT COULD CUT
THE ROAD HOUSE'S DIESEL USAGE
IN HALF AND REDUCE THE NEED OF
THESE TRIPS.
DOWN THE ROAD AT THE NEW
VISITOR CENTER, THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE OPERATES A SIMILAR
PROJECT TO GREAT SUCCESS AND
THE ROAD HOUSE SEEMS TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY
TO RID THEIR RELIANCE ON COSTLY
DIESEL FUEL.
WORKING WITH BOTH THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE AND WE HAVE BEFORE
US A BILL THAT WAS CRAFTED IN A
TRULY COLLABORATIVE FASHION
THAT IS A WIN-WIN THAT LOWERS
THE FOSSIL FUEL USE IN THE PARK
AND LOWERS THE COST FOR THE
LODGE OPERATORS AND PROTECTS
PARK RESOURCES.
I URGE THE ADOPTION OF THE
MEASURE AND RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
NAP THAP THANK YOU, --
MR. SPEAKER.
MRS. NAPOLITANO:, THANK YOU,
I REALLY MUST COMMEND MY
COLLEAGUE AND MY FRIEND, MR.
YOUNG, ON INTRODUCTION OF THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
AS WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE
INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TO GO TO
GREEN ENERGY AND SAVE FOSSIL
FUEL -- IN FACT IT SAVES MANY
OTHER THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
IN OUR COMMITTEES AND
SUBCOMMITTEES SO I'M GLAD TO
SEE THIS, MR. YOUNG.
WE FULLY SUPPORT THE PROJECT
DESIGNATED TO REDUCE THE
POLLUTION COST BY THE USE OF
FOSSIL FUELS.
IN THIS INSTANCE, EXCUSE ME, A
SMALL HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
WILL BE USED TO SUPPLY SOME OF
THE POWER CURRENTLY BEING
GENERATED BY A DIESEL GENERATOR
FOR A BACK COUNTRY LODGE.
THE PROJECT WILL REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF TRIPS NEEDED TO HAUL
DIESEL FUEL INTO THE PARK.
HOPEFULLY THE NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE CAN FIND MANY OTHER
UNITS WHERE CLEANER ENERGY
TECHNOLOGY CAN BE EMPLOYED AND
HEARTACHE.
THUS SAVE EVERYBODY SOME
PARDON ME.
I COMMEND AGAIN MY COLLEAGUE,
MY FRIEND, FOR INTRODUCTION OF
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I JUST
URGE THE PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
WE SUPPORT H.R. 441 AND I ALSO
SEND BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
441 AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE
BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA, MR.
YOUNG, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN --
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 295 AS AMENDED.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
H.R. 295, A BILL TO
AMEND A HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES
IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998, TO
AUTHORIZE FUNDS TO ACQUIRE
HYDROGRAPHIC DATA AND PROVIDE
HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES SPECIFIC
TO THE ARCTIC FOR SAFE
NAVIGATION.
DELINEATING THE UNITED STATES
EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF AND
THE MONITORING AND DESCRIPTION
OF COASTAL CHANGES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA, MR.
YOUNG, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MRS. NAPOLITANO,
WILL EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS ON
THE BILL UNCONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, H.R.
295 WOULD USE EXISTING
AUTHORIZED APPROPRIATION AND
HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY IMPROVEMENT
ACT OF 1998 FOR FISCAL YEAR
2012 TO FUND SURVEYS AND
ARCTIC.
MAPPING ACTIVITIES IN THE
CURRENTLY THESE HYDROGRAPHIC
DATA, EXCUSE ME, CURRENTLY
BASED HYDROGRAPHIC DATA IN THE
ARCTIC IS INADEQUATE AND NOT
SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT FUTURE
MARINE ACTIVITIES.
THE LAST SURVEY HAVING OCCURRED
MORE THAN 60 YEARS AGO AFTER
WORLD WAR II AND WITH OTHER
AREAS NOT HAVING BEEN SURVEYED
THE 1800, THERE'S A LOT
OF WORK TO DO.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE ARCTIC HAS
BECOME THE FOCUS OF MANY OF ITS
SURROUNDING NATIONS TO
DETERMINE OWNERSHIP OF THE
SEABED AND ANY POTENTIAL ENERGY
SOURCES IN THE AREA.
IN ADDITION TO A LACK OF SEA
ICE, OPENING UP SHIPPING ROUTES
TO VESSELS.
H.R. 295 IS AN EFFORT TO MOVE
THIS PROCESS FORWARD.
THIS BILL IS NECESSARY TO
EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR THE EASY
TO COLLECT HYDROGRAPHIC DATA
AND PROVIDE HYDROGRAPHIC
SERVICES IN THE ARCTIC REGION.
LAST CONGRESS SIMILAR
LEGISLATION PASSED OUT OF THE
HOUSE BY A ROLL CALL OF 420-0
AND THIS YEAR I ALSO URGE
ADOPTION OF THE MEASURE AND
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REVISE
AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 295
AS AMENDED WHICH WOULD AMEND
THE HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES
IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998 TO
AUTHORIZE APPROPRIATIONS
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
ACQUISITION OF HYDROGRAPHIC
DATA IN COASTAL CHANGE ANALYSIS
IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
AGAIN, I COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE
FOR THIS FORWARD-LOOKING PIECE
OF LEGISLATION.
WE SOMETIMES IGNORE SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE THAT WILL HELP US BE
ABLE TO GAUGE WHERE THE REST OF
THE WORLD IS GOING TO BE IN
REGARD TO CHANGES IN THE
ATMOSPHERE, ETC.
AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE DOES
SHOW MELTING ARCTIC ICE SEA --
SEA ICE, SORRY, IS DRASTICALLY
CHANGING THE ARCTIC LANDSCAPE.
THE COLLECTION OF DATA
AUTHORIZED BY THIS BILL WOULD
HELP NOAA DELINEATE THE U.S.
EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF,
MONITOR COASTAL AND ICE PACK
CHANGES AND ALSO PROVIDE
INFORMATION SO CRITICAL TO
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE, TO OUR
NATIONAL DEFENSE AND TO OUR
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN
THAT AREA.
I AGAIN COMMEND AND THANK MY
COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN YOUNG
FROM ALASKA, FOR INTRODUCING
THE BILL AND I DO RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA IS
MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE
NO REQUESTS FOR ANY SPEAKERS
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA.
NAP THAP THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I ALSO YIELD BACK THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME, SINCE I DO NOT HAVE
ANY SPEAKERS.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
295 AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND THE
BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE TITLE OF
H.R. 441 IS AMENDED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 1160 AS AMENDED.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
H.R. 1160, A BILL TO
REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR TO CONVEY THE MCKINNEY
LAKE NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY TO
THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA, MR.
YOUNG, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MRS. NAPOLITANO,
EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE
DAYS TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR
REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS
MATERIALS ON THE BILL
UNCONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS
BILL WOULD TRANSFER TITLE TO
422 ACRES OF LAND FOR THE FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, FROM THE
FISH AND WILDLIFE TO THE NORTH
CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES
COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN
EFFECTIVELY MANAGED SINCE 1998,
ON AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE
SERVICE.
THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING ANGERS
WITH 150,000 CATFISH EACH YEAR.
BOTH THE STATE AND THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION TESTIFIED IN
SUPPORT OF THIS CONVEYANCE.
I NOTE THAT CONGRESS HAS
PREVIOUSLY CONVEYED 10 NATIONAL
FISH HATCHERIES TO VARIOUS
STATES AND KNEW MISS IT --
MUNICIPALITIES.
I DO ADOPT -- URGE THE ADOPTION
OF THIS MEASURE AND RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU,
SIR.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1160,
AS AMENDED, WHICH WOULD CONVEY
THE MCKINNEY LAKE NATIONAL FISH
HATCHERY TO THE NORTH CAROLINA
WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION
FOR THE PURPOSES OF FISH AND
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.
THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR THE
CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE
HATCHERY AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE
IT PLAYS IN THE STATE'S URBAN
FISHING PROGRAM AND IN
ADDRESSING THE RESTORATION OR
RECOVERY NEEDS OF AQUATIC
RESOURCES HELD IN PUBLIC TRUST.
AND AS WE'VE HEARD BEFORE, WITH
THE WARMING OF THE OCEANS, WE
ARE IN CRITICAL NEED OF HELPING
THE -- CONSERVE OUR FISHING
INDUSTRY.
TO ME THIS IS A CRITICAL PIECE
OF LEGISLATION AND I DO COMMEND
MY COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN
KISSEL FROM NORTH CAROLINA, FOR
INTRODUCING HIS BILL WHICH IS
SUPPORTED BY HIS STATE, HIS
ADMINISTRATION AND I RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I RESERVE -- HAVE
ANOTHER SPEAKER, DO YOU NOT?
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA.
--
NAP THAP THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I DO YIELD TO MR. KISSEL FROM
NORTH CAROLINA FOR SUCH TIME AS
HE MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK, MR. SPEAKER, MY
COLLEAGUE FOR YIELDING TIME.
I DO RISE IN SUPPORT, STRONG
SUPPORT OF H.R. 1160, THE
MCKINNEY LAKE NATIONAL FISH
HATCHERY CONVEYANCE ACT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN,
RANKING MEMBER AND STAFF OF THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE FOR
HELPING US PUT THIS BILL
TOGETHER.
ALSO WANT TO COUNT -- THANK
THOSE FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA
WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION
AND THOSE FROM THE U.S. FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.
IT ALSO HELPED MY STAFF IN
PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
IT SAID THE MCKINNEY LAKE FISH
HATCHERY IS A 422 ACRES LOCATED
IN SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
, NEAR HOFFMAN, NORTH CAROLINA.
IT CONSISTS OF 23 PONDS WITH
THE MAIN LAKE BEING MCKINNEY
LAKE.
IT COVERS THE WATER RESOURCES
THERE COVER 18 ACRES.
THIS EFFORT WAS FIRST STARTED
IN THE MID 1990'S BUT DUE TO
STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS ON THE DAM
OF MCKINNEY LAKE ITSELF, THE
CONVEYANCE WAS UNABLE TO BE
COMPLETED AND AS ALSO MENTIONED
THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF
M.O.A.'S BETWEEN THE U.S. FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE
NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE
COMMISSION.
IN THE MEANTIME, THOSE
STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN
SATISFIED, THEY'RE NO LONGER AN
ISSUE AND WE'RE READY TO
PROCEED WITH THIS.
IT HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT,
WITH 10 OF OUR COLLEAGUES FROM
NORTH CAROLINA CO-SPONSORING
THIS BILL AND BOTH SENATORS
FROM NORTH CAROLINA HAVE SIGNED
OFF ON SIMILAR LEGISLATION IN
THE SENATE.
THE PRIME PURPOSE AND USE OF
THE FISH HATCHERY NOW IS IN THE
COMMUNITY FISHING PROGRAM
THAT'S SPONSORED BY THE NORTH
CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES
COMMISSION, TAKING FINGERLING
SIZE FISH THAT ARE GROWN HERE
IN THE HATCHERY THROUGHOUT
NORTH CAROLINA TO PONDS AND
LAKES AND COMMUNITIES AND
ALLOWING PEOPLE FROM NORTH
CAROLINA WHO MAY NOT HAVE
ACCESS OTHERWISE TO COME IN AND
ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF FISHING,
ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE EFFORTS
THAT ARE MADE FOR THOSE THAT
MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE WITH
HANDICAPS, IT ALLOWS THEM
ACCESS TO FISHING AND ALSO
PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO GET OUR
CHILDREN INVOLVED AND TO GROW
UP KNOWING THE PLEASURES OF
FISHING. ONCE AGAIN THIS IS A
WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR ALL THOSE
INVOLVED.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS AND I YIELD BACK.
DOES
THE GENTLELADY WISH TO YIELD
HER TIME?
I HAVE NO
FURTHER SPEAKERS, MR. SPEAKER,
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE
NO OTHER SPEAKERS AND I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
1160, 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 --
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
ON THAT I DEMAND THE
YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE WILL RISE AND REMAIN
STANDING UNTIL COUNTED -- AND
WILL REMAIN STANDING UNTIL
COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
AND THE CHAIR'S PRIOR
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20
ANNOUNCEMENT, FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS ON THIS MOTION WILL
BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 461 AS AMENDED.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
H.R. 461, A BILL TO
DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR TO CONVEY CERTAIN
FEDERAL FEATURES OF THE
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO
THE SOUTH UTAH VALLEY ELECTRIC
SERVICE DISTRICT, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA, MR.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
CALIFORNIA, MRS. NAPOLITANO,
YOUNG, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
WILL EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON THE
BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, H.R.
461, SPONSORED BY CONGRESSMAN
JASON CHAFFETZ OF UTAH, CONVEYS
ENTITY.
TO A LOCAL
IT INVOLVES AN OWNERSHIP
CONFUSION THAT WILL LEAD TO
MORE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF
THE PROJECT.
SO-CALLED TITLE TRANSFERS IS A
PROMISING ONE.
THEY PLACE PROJECTS UNDER LOCAL
CONTROL.
THEY REDUCE FEDERAL PAPERWORK
AND PROVIDE INSTANT OWNERSHIP
EQUITY TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE
FINANCING DOLLARS.
THESE BENEFITS WILL ALL BE
ACHIEVED WITHOUT A COST TO THE
AMERICAN TAXPAYER.
THIS BILL IS AN EXCELLENT
EXAMPLE OF A WIN-WIN SCENARIO.
I URGE ADOPTION OF THE
LEGISLATION AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU,
H.R. 461, AS THE MAJORITY
MENTIONED, WILL TRANSFER TITLE
OF AN ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM BUREAU OF RECLAMATION TO
THE SOUTH UTAH VALLEY ELECTRIC
SERVICE.
THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ALREADY
OPERATES AND MAINTAINS THE
EXISTING FACILITIES.
THE ACT WOULD ELIMINATE THE
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION'S
OBLIGATIONS TO OVERSEE THE
MAINTENANCE OF THIS
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND TO
ADMINISTER THE ASSOCIATED
LANDS.
THE STRAWBERRY RECLAMATION
PROJECT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS PLAYED IN
HELPING TO SPUR THE ECONOMY OF
LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE WEST.
WITHOUT RECLAMATIONS'
INVOLVEMENT, YEARS AGO IT'S
HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT WE WOULD
BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THESE
FACILITIES TO THE LOCAL
ENTITIES TODAY.
SO I COMMEND MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN CHAFFETZ
FROM UTAH, FOR SUPPORTING THIS
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT HELPS THE AREA SO WELL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
I'M SORRY.
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES HER TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, AT IT
THIS TIME I YIELD SUCH TIME AS
HE MAY CONSUME TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM UTAH, MR. CHAFFETZ, FOR
WHATEVER TIME HE MAY USE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 461,
THE SOUTH UTAH VALLEY ELECTRIC
CONVEYANCE ACT OF 2011.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CHAIR AND
THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE FOR
ADVANCING THIS BILL TO THE
FLOOMPLET IT WOULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED WITHOUT GOOD SUPPORT
AND CONSIDERATION ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE.
FOR THAT I'M VERY GRATEFUL.
THE SOUTH UTAH VALLEY ELECTRIC
CONVEYANCE ACT WOULD HAVE A
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THAT WAS
SPONSORED BY THE STRAWBERRY
VALLEY PROJECT.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE STRAWBERRY
VALLEY PROJECT BEGAN IN 1906
AND CURRENTLY INCLUDES THE
STRAWBERRY DAM AND RESERVOIR,
DIVERSION DAMS, CANALES AND A
206-MILE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
SINCE 1906, LOCAL AND PRIVATE
PARTNERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
THE CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT
AND OWNERSHIP OF THE STRAWBERRY
VALLEY PROJECT.
CURRENTLY THE NONFEDERAL SOUTH
UTAH VALLEY SPECIAL SERVICE
DISTRICT OWNS THE DISTRICT.
THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
CLAIMED THAT THEYRY MAINED
TITLED TO THE UNITED STATES.
THIS DISCREPANCY EXISTS DUE TO
THE CONSTRUCTION THAT OCCURRED
BEFORE AND AFTER 1940 REPAYMENT
AGREEMENT.
THE BUREAU HAS NOT YET
QUANTIFIED HOW MUCH THIS SYSTEM
HAD IT ACTUALLY OWNED BUT
PREDICTED THAT AN INVENTORY
WOULD TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS AND
BE VERY COSTLY TO TAXPAYERS.
THE SOUTH UTAH ELECTRIC
CONVEYANCE ACT WOULD ALLOW
TRANSFER TO ALLOW THIS
OWNERSHIP UNCERTAINTY BY
TRANSFERRING TITLE TO THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM TO THE DISTRICT
THE BUREAU WOULD DIVEST ITSELF
OF FUTURE LIABILITY WHILE
PROVIDING THE SERVICE WITH
GREATER CERTAINTY AND AUTONOMY
IN DAY-TO-DAY AND LONG-TERM
OPERATIONS.
TITLE TRANSFERS ARE
NONCONTROVERSIAL AND COMMON
PRACTICE.
SINCE 1996, PORTIONS OF 26
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION PROJECTS
HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO PRIVATE
PROJECTS.
THEY BENEFIT BOTH PARTIES.
WHEN THE NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE MOVED THIS TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IT
STATED, IT BENEFITS BOTH LOCAL
COMMUNITIES AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, END QUOTE.
FURTHER, LEGISLATION IS IN LINE
WITH THE BUREAU OF
RECLAMATION'S 1995 FRAMEWORK
FOR TRANSFER OF TITLE.
THIS POLICY DOCUMENTED OUTLINES
CRITERIA NEEDED FOR THE
FORWARD.
TRANSFERS IN ORDER TO MOVE
NUMBER ONE, THE FEDERAL
TREASURY AND THE TAXPAYERS'
INTEREST MISSISSIPPI BE --
MISSISSIPPI BE MAINTAINED.
AGREEMENTS MUST BE PROTECTED.
THE NATIVE AMERICAN TRUST
RESPONSIBILITIES MUST BE MET.
NUMBER FIVE, TREATY OBLIGATIONS
AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
MUST BE FULFILLED.
AND NUMBER SIX, THE PUBLIC
ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT MUST BE
PROTECTED.
THE SOUTH VALLEY UTAH ELECTRIC
CONVEYANCE ACT IS IN LINE WITH
THE BUREAU'S FRAMEWORK.
I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN
HASTINGS AND THE NATURAL
ADVANCING THIS BILL TO THE
RESOURCES COMMITTEE FOR
FLOOR AND HELP FROM BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE.
THE SOUTH VALLEY ELECTRIC
CONVEYANCE ACT IS BOTH
BENEFICIAL TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE LOCALITIES.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
IT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
DOES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA WISH
TO RESERVE?
I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
HAVE NO SPEAKERS.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
I DO --
I HAVE NO OTHER
SPEAKERS.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
461 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
THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA EEK
RECOGNITION?
-- SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 818.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 163, H.R. 818, A BILL
SDREKTSDREKT -- DRICTDRICT --
TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR TO CONVEY CERTAIN
FEDERAL FEATURES OF THE
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO
THE SOUTH UTAH VALLEY ELECTRIC
SERVICE DISTRICT, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES -- A BILL TO DIRECT
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
TO ALLOW FOR PREPAYMENT OF
REPAYMENT CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND THE UINTAH
WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA, MR.
YOUNG, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MRS. NAPOLITANO,
WILL EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
CONSUME.
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
H.R. 818 WOULD ALOY
PREPAYMENT THAT CAN BENEFIT
LOCAL WATER UTILITIES BECAUSE
IT RELIEVES OF INTEREST COSTS
AND SOME REGULATORY BURDENS.
THIS CONCEPT IS SIMILAR TO
GIVING A FAMILY TO PREPAY THEIR
MORTGAGE AND OTHER DEBTS TO
SAVE COMPOUNDED INTEREST COSTS.
IT'S ALSO IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS SINCE
IT WILL FACILITATE THE REVENUES
TO THE U.S. TREASURY.
I URGE THE ADOPTION OF THIS
MEASURE AND RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER,
H.R. 818 SPONSORED BY OUR
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE,
CONGRESSMAN MATHESON, WOULD
ALLOW THE UINTAH WATER
CONSERVANCY DISTRICT IN UTAH TO
PREPAY, THAT MEANS TO PAY AHEAD
OF TIME, FOR ANYBODY THAT
REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE PREPAY,
THE DEBT OWED TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE UNIT.
AT A TIME WHEN OUR COUNTRY IS
WATCHING OUR DOLLARS AND CENTS,
H.R. 818 IS THE LEGISLATION
THAT DOES MAKE VERY MUCH
CREDIBLE SENSE.
THE WATER DISTRICT WOULD HAVE
THE OPTION TO PAY THEIR LOAN
EARLY.
WHAT A NOFBLE CONCEPT.
AND -- NOVEL CONCEPT.
AND HAVE LOWER INTEREST RATES
TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BE
ABLE TO USE THAT FOR DEBT
NEEDED.
REDUCTION OR WHATEVER ELSE IS
I DO COMMEND CONGRESSMAN
MATHESON OF UTAH FOR HIS
EFFORTS IN MOVING THIS
LEGISLATION FORWARD.
IDENTICAL LEGISLATION PASSED
THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY IN THE
111TH CONGRESS.
I ASK THAT MY COLLEAGUES
SUPPORT THIS BILL, AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
I YIELD TO
CONGRESSMAN MATHESON FROM UTAH.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 818
WOULD DISTRICT THE SECRETARY OF
INTERIOR TO ALLOW FOR
PREPAYMENT OF REPAYMENT
CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND THE UINTAH WATER
CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN
HASTINGS AND MCCLINTOCK AND
RANKING MEMBER HASTINGS AND
NAPOLITANO FOR MOVING THIS BILL
COMMITTEE.
THE RESOURCES
THIS IS A COMMONSENSE BILL THAT
PROMOTES COMMONSENSE
RESPONSIBILITY.
ALLOWING THE WATER CONSERVANCY
DISTRICT TO PAY ITS DEBT
OBLIGATIONS BACK EARLY AND IN A
TIMELY MANNER IS WHAT WE LIKE
TO CALL A WIN-WIN.
IT'S FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL TO
LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS
ALIKE.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO SELF-GOVERN, BE
ABLE TO PAY OFF THEIR LOAN
EARLY AND SAVE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN
INTEREST PAYMENTS.
IT WOULD LOWER COSTS TO WATER
USERS, VERY IMPORTANT AS WE
GROW OUT OF THE CURRENT
ECONOMIC RECESSION AND HAVE
WAYS TO HAVE MUCH-NEEDED
DEVELOPMENT.
IT WOULD ALLOW PREPAYMENT TO
THE FEDERAL TREASURY.
AS WE ENCOURAGE BEST PRACTICES
AND GOOD GOVERNMENT POLICIES,
ALLOWING FOR PREPAYMENT IS A
GOOD MODEL TO FOLLOW.
IN ADDITION, I BELIEVE THIS
LEGISLATION PROVIDES A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP RURAL
COMMUNITIES PRIORITIZE AND
IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES TO
UTILIZE SCARCE RESOURCES IN AN
EFFORT TO MEET RURAL WATER
DEMANDS AND A -- IN A
COST-EFFECTIVE AND FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
I'D LIKE TO POINT THERE IS
PREPAYMENT FOR REPAYMENT
CONTRACTS.
H.R. 818 IS SIMILAR TO
LEGISLATION USED BY THE CENTRAL
UTAH WATER CONVERVEANSY
DISTRICT WHICH ALLOW FOR
REPAYMENT OF THE PREPAYMENT
CONTRACTS FOR THE BONNAVILLE
UNIT.
IT SAVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, ALLOWING
THEM TO CONSIDER TIME AND COST
SAVINGS TO MANAGING AN
IMPORTANT RESOURCE IN MY STATE.
THIS BILL, H.R. 818, THE SAME
BILL PASSED THE HOUSE
CONGRESS.
UNANIMOUSLY IN THE 111TH
IT'S ALSO THIS CONGRESS BEEN
REINTRODUCED IN THE SENATE BY
MY-COUNT PARTS IN THE UTAH
DELEGATION, SENATORS HATCH AND
LEE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
AGAIN.
IN PASSING THIS BILL ONCE
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, BUT
I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
VOTE FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT
PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
818.
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, AND THE BILL IS
PASSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 320.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
HOUSE CALENDAR
THE BILL.
NUMBER 55, H.R. 320, A BILL TO
DESIGNATE A DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS NATIONAL MEMORIAL
AT THE MARCH FIELD AIR MUSEUM
IN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA, MR.
YOUNG, AND THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA, MRS. NAPOLITANO,
EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON
THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
.
CONSUME.
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
YOUNG YNG I WANT TO THANK
CONGRESSMAN --
I WANT TO THANK THE
CONGRESS MOTHER FOR INTRODUCING
THIS BILL IN HONOR OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO
HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.
A NEW MEMORIAL WAS DEDICATED
AIR MUSEUM.
OCTOBER 27, 2010, AS MARSHFIELD
WITH THE LEGISLATION THAT THE
MEMORIAL WILL BE DESIGNATED AS
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
NATIONAL MEMORIAL.
THIS DESIGNATION HONORS THOSE
PATRIOTS AND DOES NOT REQUIRE
OR PERMIT THE EXPENDITURE OF
ANY FEDERAL DOLLARS.
I URGE THE ADOPTION OF THE
MEASURE AND RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RESERVES.
IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AND I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE RECIPIENTS OF THE
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
INCLUDE CAPTAIN CHARLES
LINDBERG, COMMANDER RICHARD
BYRD, AMELIA EARHART AND
CAPTAIN MARK KELLY AND YOU
MIGHT KNOW WHO CAPTAIN MARK
KELLY IS BECAUSE HE HAD HIS
MEDAL PINNED BY HIS WIFE, OUR
DEAR COLLEAGUE, REPRESENTATIVE
GABBY GIFFORDS.
ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
HAVE RECEIVED THIS MEDAL ARE
AMERICAN HEROES AND THE
MARSHFIELD AIR MUSEUM IS TO BE
COMMENDED FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO
ESTABLISH A MEMORIAL HONORING
THESE INDIVIDUALS.
ON OUR SIDE WE WOULD LIKELY
SUPPORT SOME FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR THE PROJECT BUT KNOWING OUR
STATUS ON OUR BUDGETARY
PROBLEMS AND OUR FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE HAVE WRITTEN THE
BILL TO PROHIBIT FEDERAL
SUPPORT.
NEVERTHELESS WE DO
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT H.R.
320.
I COMMEND MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE FROM MY HOME STATE OF
CALIFORNIA FOR INTRODUCING THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, TO
RECOGNIZE ALL OUR HEROES AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MR. CALVERT.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 320, A
BILL TO DESIGNATE A NATIONAL
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
CALIFORNIA.
MEMORIAL IN RIVERSIDE,
I THANK MY FRIEND, MR. YOUNG,
AND MRS. NAPOLITANO, FOR
MANAGING THE BILL TODAY.
I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT THE
EMPIRE CHAPEL TER OF THE
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
SOCIETY WHICH IS THE PRIMARY
SPONSOR OF THIS MEMORIAL.
THE MEMORIAL HONORS ALL CURRENT
AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES WHO HAVE AWARDED -- HAVE
BEEN AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS.
IN THE 111TH CONGRESS I
INTRODUCED H.R. 2788 WHICH
PASSED THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY
AND TODAY I STAND AGAIN IN
H.R. 320 WHICH WOULD
DESIGNATE A MEMORIAL AT
MARSHFIELD AIR MUSEUM AS THE
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
NATIONAL MEMORIAL.
THE LEGISLATION IS SUPPORTED BY
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
SOCIETY.
THE MILITARY OFFICER'S
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, THE AIR
FORCE ASSOCIATION, THE AIR
FORCE SERGEANT'S ASSOCIATION,
THE ASSOCIATION OF NAVAL
AVIATION, THE VIETNAM
HELICOPTERS PILOTS ASSOCIATION,
THE CHINA, BURMA, INDIAN
VETERANS ASSOCIATION.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THE
LANGUAGE IN THE BILL
SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE
DESIGNATION SHALL NOT BE
CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE OR PERMIT
FEDERAL FUNDS TO BE EXPENDED
FOR ANY PURPOSE RELATED TO THE
NATIONAL MEMORIAL.
FUNDS HAVE BEEN AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE RAISED THROUGH
PRIVATE MEANS FOR THESE
PURPOSES.
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
RECIPIENTS HAVE RECEIVED THIS
PRESTIGIOUS MEDAL FOR THEIR
HEROISM, EXTRAORDINARY
ACHIEVEMENT, WHILE
PARTICIPATING IN AERIAL FLIGHT
WHILE SERVING IN ANY CAPACITY
WITH THE U.S. ARMED FORCES.
THERE ARE MANY WELL-KNOWN
PEOPLE THAT HAVE PLAYED A VITAL
ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF MILITARY
AVIATION AND HAVE RECEIVED THE
AWARD.
AS WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED,
THIS RENOWNED GROUP INCLUDES
CAPTAIN CHARLES L. LINDBERG,
FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W.
BUSH, BRIGADIER GENERAL JIMMY
DOOLITTLE, GENERAL CURTIS
LAMAY, SENATOR MCCAIN, JIMMY
STEWART, ADMIRAL JIM STCKTO,
JUST TO NAME A FEW.
THE BASE IS ADJACENT TO THE
LOCATION OF THE MEMORIAL OF
MARCH AIR MUSEUM.
VISITERS ARE ABLE TO WITNESS
ACTIVE OPERATIONAL AIR UNITS,
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
WHICH IS AN APPROPRIATE SETTING
THAT HONORS THE MANY AVEATERS
WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED
THEMSELVES BY -- AVEATERS WHO
HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES
BY THESE PERFORMED AND AERIAL
FLIGHTS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THOSE WHO
WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE
THIS MEMORIAL IS BUILT AND
PROPERLY DESIGNATED, IN HONOR
OF THE DISTINGUISHED AVIATORS
HAVE THANK HAVE SERVED THIS
GREAT NATION.
PARTICULARLY I'D LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE JIM CHAPLAIN, HIS
LATE WIFE TRISH, DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS SOCIETY PRESIDENT
CHUCK SWEENEY AND THE SOCIETY'S
HISTORIAN, DR. BARRY LAMBEN.
WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENT NAL
THIS EFFORT.
AGAIN, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN
SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF
THE NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS MEMORIAL AT THE
MARCHFIELD AIR MUSEUM AND
SUPPORT H.R. 320 AND THANK YOU
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA WISH
TO RESERVE?
RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA
VOICED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AND I JUST WANT TO URGE OUR --
BOTH SIDES TO SUPPORT H.R. 320
BUT AT THE SAME TIME I'D ALSO
LIKE TO THANK OUR MAJORITY AND
OUR MINORITY -- NOT ONLY OUR
MEMBERS BUT THE STAFF, THEY'VE
DONE A VERY WONDERFUL JOB IN
HELPING US PUT THIS STUFF
TOGETHER.
AND PUTTING UP WITH US.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
320.
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND THE
BILL IS PASSED.
MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALASKA.
MR. SPEAKER, ON THAT
I DEMAND THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE IN QUESTION
-- ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THE VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WISCONSIN SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL, H.R. 2594.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 151, H.R. 2594, A BILL
TO PROHIBIT OPERATIONS OF CIVIL
AIRCRAFT OF THE UNITED STATES
FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE
EUROPEAN UNION'S EMISSIONS
PURPOSES.
TRADING SCHEME AND FOR OTHER
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN, MR.
PETRI, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
FLORIDA, MS. BROWN, WILL
CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE
DAYS IN WHICH TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON
THE BILL BEFORE US, H.R. 2594.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
CONSENT TO INCLUDE IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD THE
EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND THE COMMITTEE ON
TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNING H.R.
2594.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MIGHT
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL BEFORE US, H.R. 2594,
THE EUROPEAN UNION EMISSIONS
TRADING SCHEME PROHIBITION ACT
OF 2011.
STARTING IN JANUARY OF 2012 THE
EUROPEAN UNION WILL BEGIN TO
UNILATERALLY APPLY ITS
EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME TO
CIVIL AVIATION OPERATORS
LANDING IN OR DEPARTING FROM
ONE OF THE E.U. MEMBER STATES.
UNDER THE EMISSIONS TRADING
SCHEME, E.U. MEMBER STATES WILL
REQUIRE INTERNATIONAL AIR
CARRIERS TO -- AND OPERATORS TO
PAY FOR EMISSION ALLOWANCES AND
IN SOME CASES PENALTIES FOR
CARBON EMISSIONS.
THE SCHEME WILL APPLY TO THE
ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FLIGHT,
INCLUDING THOSE PARTS OF THE
FLIGHT OUTSIDE THE E.U. AIR
SPACE.
FOR INSTANCE, A FLIGHT LEAVING
LOS ANGELES FOR LONDON, TAXES
WOULD BE LEV IDEA NOT JUST ON
THE PORTION OF THE FLIGHT OVER
THE UNITED NATIONS, BUT ALSO --
UNITED KINGDOM, BUT ALSO FOR
THE PORTIONS OF THE FLIGHT OVER
THE UNITED STATES SOVEREIGN
SOIL AND THE HIGH SEAS.
ON SEPTEMBER 30, 21 COUNTRIES,
INCLUDING THE U.S., SIGNED A
JOINT DECLARATION AGAINST THE
E.U. EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME
IN NEW DELHI, INDIA.
DESPITE SERIOUS LEGAL ISSUES OF
OBJECTIONS BY THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY, THE E.U. IS PRESSING
AHEAD WITH ITS PLANS.
THE BILL BEFORE US WILL
PROHIBIT U.S. AIRCRAFT
OPERATORS FROM PARTICIPATING IN
THIS ILLEGAL SCHEME PUT FORWARD
UNILATERALLY BY THE E.U.
THE EUROPEAN UNION'S UNILATERAL
APPLICATION OF THE SCHEME ONTO
U.S. FLAG OPERATORS WITHOUT THE
CONSENT OF THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT RAISES SIGNIFICANT
LEGAL CONCERNS UNDER
INTERNATIONAL LAW, INCLUDING
VIOLATIONS OF THE CHICAGO
CONVENTION AND THE U.S.-E.U.
AIR TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT.
THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS THAT
THE EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME IS
NOTHING MORE THAN A REVENUE
RAZOR FOR E.U. MEMBER STATES,
SO THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT
E.U. MEMBER STATES MUST USE THE
FUNDS FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO
THE REDUCTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE
PROJECTION BUT I -- BY THIS
CIVIL AVIATION SECTOR.
THE EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME
WILL EXTRACT MONEY FROM THE
AIRLINE INDUSTRY THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BE INVESTED IN
NEXTGEN TECHNOLOGIES AND THE
PURCHASE OF NEW AIRCRAFT.
JUST TWO PROVEN METHODS FOR
IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL
PERFORMANCE.
IN ADDITION, THE SCHEME WOULD
INTRODUCE A NEW COMMODITIES
MARKET INTO THE COST STRUCTURE
FOR AIRLINES.
GIVEN THE HAVOC, FLUCTUATING
OIL MARKETS HAVE PLAYED ON THE
U.S. AIRLINE INDUSTRY, DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE TO SUBJECT THE
STRUGGLING AIRLINE INDUSTRY TO
ANOTHER COMMODITIES MARKET THAT
IS VULNERABLE TO SPECULATION.
ACCORDING TO THE AIR
TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATIONS
THE AVIATION
SUBCOMMITTEE THIS JULY, THE
EXTRACTION OF CAPITAL FROM THE
AVIATION SYSTEM IS ENVISIONED
UNDER THE E.U. ADMISSIONS
TRADING SCHEME COULD THREATEN
AS MANY AS 78,000, -- 78,500
U.S. JOBS.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
FINALLY, THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE
PROLIFERATION OF E.U. MEMBER
STATES' ECOCHARGES BEING PUT IN
PLACE ON TOP OF THE EMISSIONS
TRADING SCHEME.
QUESTIONS HAVE ARISEN AS TO
WHETHER THE ECOCHARGES ARE
CONSISTENT WITH U.S. MEMBER
STATES' OBLIGATIONS UNDER
INTERNATIONAL LAW AND WHETHER
SOME OF THESE CHARGES MAY IN
EFFECT BE DOUBLE CHARGES FOR
THE SAME EMISSIONS THE E.U.
INTENDS TO REGULATE UNDER THE
EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME.
GIVEN ALL OF THESE CONCERNS, WE
BELIEVE THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION
NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN, CAREFULLY
WEIGHING THEIR PLANS TO INCLUDE
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION IN
THEIR EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME.
WE BELIEVE A BETTER APPROACH IS
TO WORK WITHIN THE
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION
COMMUNITY THROUGH THE U.N.
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION
ORGANIZATION, TO ESTABLISH
CONSENSUS-DRIVEN EMISSIONS TO
REDUCE EMISSIONS.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE E.U. HAS
SHOWN NO INTEREST IN WORKING
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THEIR
CONCERNS AND OBJECTIONS AND TO
SEEK A GLOBAL APPROACH TO CIVIL
AVIATION EMISSIONS, WE'RE
MOVING THIS BIPARTISAN
LEGISLATION FORWARD TO ENSURE
U.S. OPERATORS WILL NOT
PARTICIPATE IN THEIR UNILATERAL
AND QUESTIONABLE SCHEME.
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HERE
IN THE HOUSE HAVE RECOGNIZED
THE TROUBLED APPROACH TAKEN BY
THE EUROPEANS AND HAVE
EXPRESSED ARDENT OPPOSITION.
THIS LEGISLATION IS ONE OF MANY
AVENUES THE UNITED STATES CAN
TAKE, CONCURRENT WITH OTHERS,
TO RESOLVE THIS CONFLICT.
TO BE SURE, THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT WILL USE ALL TOOLS
AT ITS DISPOSAL TO HOLD OUR
AVIATION INTERESTS HARMLESS
FROM THE EUROPEAN'S UNFAIR AND
ILLEGAL SCHEME.
MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION AND
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2594,
A BILL THAT WILL PROTECT U.S.
AIRLINES, THEIR EMPLOYEES AND
THEIR PASSENGERS FROM THE
EUROPEAN UNION'S PLAN TO
UNFAIRLY CHARGE U.S. AIRLINE
FOR EMISSIONS IN U.S. AIR
SPACE.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS TAKEN A
STRONG STAND AGAINST THE E.U.
EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME --
SCAM ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS
INCONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL
AVIATION LAW AND PRACTICE.
ADDITIONALLY AIRLINES AND LABOR
GROUPS OPPOSED IT BECAUSE IT
WOULD IMPOSE NEW AND
UNJUSTIFIABLE COSTS ON THE
INDUSTRY AND DESTROY AMERICAN
JOBS.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS A GLOBAL
PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES A GLOBAL
SOLUTION.
WORKING THROUGH THE
INTERNATIONAL CIVIC AVIATION
ORGANIZATION, THE UNITED STATES
HAVE COMMITTED TO FIND A GLOBAL
SOLUTION TO ADDRESS AVIATION
EMISSIONS BASED ON AGREEMENT
AND COOPERATIONS.
HOWEVER THE E.U. HAS DECIDED TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH A GO-IT-ALONE
APPROACH THAT IS CONTRARY TO
INTERNATIONAL LAW AND VIOLATES
U.S. SOVEREIGNTY BY CHARGING
U.S. AIRLINES FOR ALL EMISSIONS
FROM FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND EUROPE.
EVEN THE PORTION OF FLIGHTS
OVER OUR OWN AIR SPACE AND
RETURN THE REVENUE TO EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES WITHOUT ANY SPECIFIC
ASSURANCES REGARDING HOW THE
REVENUE WILL BE USED.
THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THIS BILL WILL PROTECT U.S.
AIRLINES FROM UNJUST LIABILITY
TRADING SYSTEM.
UNDER THE E.U. EMISSIONS
SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE FROM
CONGRESS THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT
WHAT THE E.U. IS DOING FOR A
VARIETY OF REASONS.
THE UNITED STATES IS FAR FROM
ALONE IN EXPRESSING STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THE E.U.
PROPOSAL.
LAST MONTH 25 OTHER COUNTRIES
JOINED THE UNITED STATES IN
SIGNING A JOINT DECLARATION IN
INDIA THAT CALLS UPON THE E.U.
NOT TO IMPOSE THE EMISSIONS
TRADING SYSTEM ON NON-EUROPEAN
AIRLINES AND THEY URGE E.U.
MEMBERS AND COUNTRIES TO
INSTEAD ADDRESS AVIATION
EMISSIONS THROUGH I.K.O. WHERE
PROGRESS ALREADY IS BEING MADE.
THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS STAND
READY AND WILLING TO WORK TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE
CONSTRUCTIVELY THROUGH THE
PROPER INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK.
WE RIGHTFULLY PECTS BOTH
THE AIRLINES TO
BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
IN FACT, THE FEDERAL AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION AND THE AIRLINE
INDUSTRY HAVE INVESTED BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN NEXTGEN AIR
TRAFFIC UPGRADES AND THE F.A.A.
PLANS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS BY 2%
THROUGH THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
FURTHER, U.S. IMPROVED FUEL
EFFICIENCY BY APPROXIMATELY
111% SINCE 1978 FROM 2000 TO
2009, U.S. CARRIERS REDUCED
FUEL BURN AND CARBON EMISSIONS
BY 15% WHILE CARRYING 7% MORE
PASSENGERS AND CARGO.
AT A MEETING LAST WEEK, I ALONE
WITH CHAIRMAN MICA AND SEVERAL
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
MET WITH EUROPEAN UNION
REPRESENTATIVES TO EXPRESS OUR
WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH OUR
FRIENDS TO COME TO A MORE
EQUITYIBLE SOLUTION TO THIS
PROBLEM, AND -- EQUITABLE
SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND I
BELIEVE THE MEETING WAS VERY
PRODUCTIVE.
WE MADE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT THE
E.U. MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY
APPROACH WAS TOTALLY
UNACCEPTABLE AND WE WILL TAKE
EVERY ACTION NECESSARY TO
PREVENT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THESE UNNECESSARY AND DANGEROUS
-- AND WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT
THE CONGRESS WILL STAND UP AND
DEFEND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE
UNITED STATES.
OF MY TIME.
WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO
OUR COLLEAGUE FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. BILL SHUSTER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
AND I COULDN'T
AGREE MORE WITH MY COLLEAGUE
FROM FLORIDA, MS. BROWN, ON HER
SUPPORT FOR H.R. 2594, AND TO
MY COLLEAGUES WATCHING OR
LISTENING TO THIS DEBATE
TONIGHT, I'D URGE YOU TO LISTEN
CLOSELY BECAUSE THIS IS A
SERIOUS SITUATION THAT'S GOING
TO OCCUR AND IT'S UP TO
CONGRESS TO SEND A MESSAGE TO
THE EUROPEAN CAPITALS OF THE
WORLD THAT THE UNITED STATES
WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS.
THIS WILL BE A TERRIBLE BURDEN
FOR NOT ONLY OUR CARRIERS BUT
FOR AVIATION AIRLINES, AIR
TRAVEL, COMMERCIAL TRAVEL
AROUND THE WORLD.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MORE
ILL-CONCEIVED PROGRAM THAN WHAT
THE EUROPEAN UNION IS PUTTING
FORTH IN THIS EMISSIONS TRADING
SCREAM.
THEY'RE GOING FORTH WITH THIS,
FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE IT'S
VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW,
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION WHICH
WAS SIGNED IN THE MID 1940'S
WHICH SIGNED UP I.K.O., WHICH
IS A CIVIL ORGANIZATION, WHICH
COORDINATES AND ALLOWS FOR
TRANSPORTATION, COMMERCIAL
TRANSPORTATION, AVIATION
TRANSPORTATION AROUND THE WORLD
TO GO FORTH IN A WAY THAT IS
ORDERLY.
WE COME TOGETHER AT THIS
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE --
THIS INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
AND BUILD ON CONSENSUS WITH
RULE MAKINGS AND REGULATIONS
THAT HELP US TO NOT ONLY BUILD
OUR AIRPLANES BUT TO FLY THEM
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WHAT THE EUROPEANS ARE
DOING IS WANT TO IMPOSE A TAX
ON AMERICAN AIR CARRIERS, ON
ALL AIR CARRIERS FROM THEIR
POINTS OF DEPARTURE SO IN OUR
SOVEREIGN NATION AND SOVEREIGN
NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
THEY'RE GOING TO TAX US TO FLY
FROM, FOR INSTANCE, LOS ANGELES
TO PARIS, WHICH I BELIEVE,
AGAIN, IS A VIOLATION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO
THROW THE AVIATION,
INTERNATIONAL AVIATION INTO AN
UNCERTAIN TIME PERIOD AND MAY
CAUSE TREMENDOUS DISRUPTION IN
THE FLOW OF COMMERCE THROUGH
THE AIR.
THE AIR TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY
WORLDWIDE ACCOUNTS FOR 8% OF
GLOBAL G.D.P. BUT ONLY ACCOUNTS
FOR 2% OF THE CO-2 EMISSIONS
AND AVIATION INDUSTRY, THE
AIRLINE INDUSTRY HAS A GREAT
INCENTIVE TO DECREASE THE
OF FUEL IT HAS.
IT'S NOT ONE BUT MAYBE THE
LARGEST EXPENSE.
THE AIRLINERS WE BUILD TODAY
WITH THE WAY WE CONTROL OUR AIR
TRAFFIC CONTROL PATTERNS TODAY,
WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE CO-2
EMISSIONS OVER THE PAST 10
YEARS SIGNIFICANTLY AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE
IT'S AN INCENTIVE -- THE
INCENTIVE IS THERE FOR THE
AIRLINE INDUSTRY IN AMERICA TO
USE LESS FUEL, NOT MORE FUEL.
IT'S BETTER FOR THEIR BOTTOM
LINES.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS TRADING
SCREAM, THIS EMISSION TRADING
-- SCHEME, THIS EMISSION
TRADING SCHEME IS GOING TO
IMPOSE A TAX ON OUR CARRIERS.
THEY ESTIMATE IT'S $2 A TICKET.
OUR AIRLINE INDUSTRY BELIEVES
IT WILL BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
$2.50 AND $4 A TICKET.
IT'S NOT CERTAIN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 10
YEARS AT THE AVIATION INDUSTRY
IN THIS COUNTRY WE HAVE LOST
$2.80 PER TICKET SOLD.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN
INDUSTRY THAT'S NOW RECOVERING,
AN INDUSTRY THAT SEEMS TO BE
MAKING PROFITS.
IF THE EUROPEANS ARE ALLOWED TO
IMPOSE A $2 TAX, IT WILL
PROBABLY WIPE OUT THE ENTIRE
PROFITS OF OUR AIRLINE
INDUSTRY.
SO WE CAN'T LET IT STAND.
ALSO, IT'S A COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
MEASURE.
THE EUROPEANS SAY THEY WILL
REDUCE EMISSIONS BY THIS.
I BELIEVE IT WILL DO THE
OPPOSITE.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THESE
PLANES, NOT THE NEW PLANES BUT
THE OLD ONES, REFURBISHED ONES,
WILL GO THROUGH OTHER PARTS OF
THE WORLD AND THESE PLANES DO
PRODUCE CO-2.
AFRICA, THE ONES THAT CAN'T
AFFORD THE BOEING REBUST PLANES
WILL BE SPEWING MORE CO-2
EMISSIONS IN THE AIR.
IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
IF YOU WANT THEM TO INVEST IN
FUEL-EFFICIENT AIRLINERS, YOU
HAVE TO MAKE A PROFIT.
THEY NEED WAYS TO REDUCE
COMING FROM THESE
AIRLINERS SO IT'S
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
IT ALSO -- IF THE EUROPEANS
WANT TO REDUCE EMISSIONS, WHICH
THEY HAVE NOT IN THEIR AIRLINE
INDUSTRY OVER THE LAST 10
YEARS, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY
COULD DO, A HUGE STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, IS TO CREATE A
SINGLE EUROPEAN AIRSPACE.
AND THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO DO
THAT.
AND TODAY WHEN YOU FLY INTO THE
UNITED STATES, BECAUSE WE'RE SO
MUCH MORE EFFICIENT THAN THE
EUROPEANS, OUR PLANES LAND
QUICKER.
THAT MEANS THEY ARE NOT UP IN
THE ATMOSPHERE PUTTING OUT CO-2
EMISSIONS.
IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER, WHAT
YOU HAVE ARE 25 OR 30 DIFFERENT
AIRSPACES SO WHAT YOU TEND TO
DO, IS PLANES CIRCLE AROUND THE
AIRPORT FOR LONGER PERIOD OF
TIMES EMITTING MORE CO-2.
SO IF THE EUROPEANS ARE REALLY
SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, INSTEAD OF
JUST DOING THE EASY THING AND
TAX THE AMERICANS OR TAX THE
CHINESE OR TAX THE RUSSIANS,
THEY SHOULD LOOK AT SERIOUSLY
TURNING THEIR 30 DIFFERENT
INTO A SINGLE
EUROPEAN AIRSPACE.
THAT WOULD HAVE TREMENDOUS
IMPROVEMENT, TREMENDOUS
IMPROVEMENT ON THE AMOUNT --
HAVE TREMENDOUS REDUCTION IN
THE CO-2 THAT THEY'RE PUTTING
OFF INTO THE AIR.
SO MY COLLEAGUES, IF YOU'RE
LISTENING TO THIS TONIGHT, I
URGE YOU -- I URGE YOU STRONGLY
TO SUPPORT THE GENTLELADY FROM
FLORIDA AND MYSELF AND OTHERS
IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO SEND A
STRONG VOTE, A STRONG MESSAGE
TO THE EUROPEANS TO DON'T GO
DOWN THIS PATH.
LET'S SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE,
LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
WE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT
REDUCES CO-2 WITHOUT TAXING
AMERICAN CARRIERS AND
DISRUPTING AN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN SO
POSITIVE AND SO VITAL TO
COMMERCE IN THIS WORLD.
SO WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO MR. HOLDEN FROM
PHILADELPHIA.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION.
OF THAT ORGANIZATION COMMISSION
THERE ARE 36 VOTES, 26 OF THE
VOTING NATIONS HAVE IN WRITING
EXPRESSED THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF
APPROVING.
WHAT THE EUROPEANS ARE
THE ONLY 10 COUNTRIES IN
APPROVAL ARE EIGHT EUROPEAN
CANADA.
COUNTRIES AND AUSTRALIA AND
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CLEARLY
VIOLATES ARTICLE 1 OF CHICAGO
CONVENTION OF 1944.
ARTICLE 1 STATES THAT ALL
SIGNATURE COUNTRIES TO THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL HAVE CONTROL
OVER THEIR OWN AIRSPACE.
IF THE EUROPEAN UNION WANTS TO
PUT THIS SCHEME INTO PLACE IN
THE EUROPEAN UNION THEY'RE
WELCOMED TO DO THAT BUT THEY
CAN'T TELL AIRCRAFT LEAVING
O'HARE OR LOGAN OR DULLES THAT
THEY HAVE TO START PAYING TAXES
THERE.
AND THE EXPLANATIONS FROM THE
EUROPEAN UNION DOESN'T PASS THE
LAST TEST.
THEY SAY THE EUROPEAN UNION
MEMBER STATES ARE NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR 1944 AGREEMENT
BECAUSE THE EUROPEAN UNION WAS
NOT IN EXISTENT IN 1944.
WELL, THEIR MEMBER STATES WERE
NEXTISTENS AND THEY ARE
SIGNATURES TO THE AGREEMENT AND
THEY ARE BOUND BY IT.
AND IF THE EUROPEAN UNION
CONTINUES TO MOVE DOWN THIS
PATH THEY KNOW IN I.K.O. THERE
ARE REMEDIES AND REMEDIES THAT
WILL BE SOUGHT.
I URGE THIS BODY TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY AND I EVEN
MORE URGE THE EUROPEANS TO PUT
THIS ASIDE, COME BACK TO THE
I.K.O. ORGANIZATION, A VISION
THAT F.D.R. HAD IN 1944 TO
CONTROL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION
TO HAVE A GLOBAL SOLUTION TO
THE PROBLEM THAT WE FACE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
MR. SPEAKER, HOW
MUCH TIME IS LEFT ON BOTH
SIDES, PLEASE?
THE
GENTLELADY HAS 14 MINUTES
REMAINING.
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WISCONSIN HAS NINE.
YES, SIR, I RESERVE
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
WE'D RESERVE AT THIS
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
YES, I YIELD FIVE
MINUTES TO MR. MARKEY FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MARKEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. MARK -- FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
LEGISLATION.
IF IT WERE TO PASS THE HOUSE,
WE LAWMAKERS WOULD BE DIRECTING
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
TO TELL U.S. AIRLINES NOT TO
FOLLOW THE LAW.
IF WE PROHIBIT OUR COMPANIES
FROM COMPLYING WITH LAWS IN
OTHER COUNTRIES WE SHOULD
EXPECT OTHER COUNTRIES TO DO
THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR
COMPANIES COMPLYING WITH U.S.
LAW.
IF AN EFFORT TO PROTECT U.S.
AIRLINES, THIS BILL MIGHT
SECURITY.
UNDERMINE AIRLINE
THE U.S. CURRENTLY REQUIRES
INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES TO
COMPLY WITH A WIDE RANGE OF
U.S. LAWS WHEN IT COMES TO
PASSENGER, BAGGAGE AND CARGO
SECURITY IN ORDER TO DO
BUSINESS IN OUR COUNTRY.
IF WE LEGISLATE OUR COMPANIES
OUT OF EUROPE'S ENVIRONMENTAL
LAWS, OUR HOMELAND SECURITY
COULD BE ADVERSELY IMPACTED.
IF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DECIDE TO
WITHHOLD THEIR COOPERATION IN
RESPONSE WITH REGARD TO
SCREENING OF BAGGAGE FOR BOMBS
ON PLANES FLYING INTO THE
UNITED STATES.
WHEN IT COMES TO POLLUTION FROM
THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, THE
UNITED STATES WAS THE FIRST TO
PASS A LAW REQUIRING ANYONE IN
THE WORLD INTERESTED IN COMING
TO OUR SHORES TO FOLLOW OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
IN 1990, CONGRESS PASSED THE
OIL POLLUTION ACT IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE EXXON VALDEZ
OIL SPILL.
IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
AN OIL SPILL IT REQUIRED ALL
TANKERS OPERATING IN U.S.
WATERS TO BE DOUBLE HULLED BY
2015 NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY'S
FLAG A TANKER IS FLYING, IT
WILL HAVE TO DOUBLE HULL TO
SAIL INTO THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA TO PROTECT US FROM
THEIR POLLUTION.
WE ACTED UNILATERALLY TO
PROTECT OUR COUNTRY FROM THE
CARBON POLLUTION ASSOCIATED
WITH AN OIL SPILL 21 YEARS AGO.
NOW, AFTER YEARS OF TRYING TO
FORGE AN INTERNATIONAL AVIATION
AGREEMENT, THE EUROPEAN UNION
IS ACTING TO PROTECT ITSELF
FROM THE CARBON POLLUTION
ASSOCIATED FROM AIRLINE TRAVEL.
LAST WEEK, AN INDEPENDENT TEAM
OF SCIENTISTS AT BERKLEY
RELEASED THEIR -- BERKELEY
RELEASED THEIR ANALYSIS OF
1900.
SURFACE RECORDS GOING BACK TO
THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN NOAA AND
NASA HAD PREVIOUSLY SHOWN THAT
TEMPERATURES WERE INCREASING.
ONCE AGAIN, SCIENTISTS HAVE
CONFIRMED THAT GLOBAL WARMING
IS REAL.
NOW, THAT INDEPENDENT
SCIENTISTS HAVE VALIDATED THIS
DEAD ROCK FACT, PERHAPS MY
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE QUESTIONED
THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
WILL BE WILLING TO GIVE CLIMATE
SCIENTISTS THE BENEFIT OF THE
DOUBT THAT THE REST OF THEIR
FINDINGS ARE ACCURATE.
AND THOSE FINDINGS HAVE
SOBERING CONSEQUENCES FOR THE
UNITED STATES.
MORE HEAT WAVES, RISING SEA
LEVELS, DECLINING SNOW PACT OR
FREQUENT DROUGHT, MORE FREQUENT
PRESCRIPTION WHEN IT DOES RAIN,
TO NAME JUST A FEW.
2011 HAS BEEN A RECORD-BREAKING
YEAR FOR EXTREME WEATHER IN THE
UNITED STATES.
IT LEFT UNCHECKED -- IF LEFT
UNCHECKED, CLIMATE CHANGE COULD
MAKE A YEAR LIKE THIS SEEM
NORMAL.
THE EUROPEANS ARE TAKING
CLIMATE CHANGE SERIOUSLY.
WE SHOULDN'T UNDERMINE THEIR
EFFORTS BY LEGISLATING THAT OUR
AIRLINES BREAK THE LAW.
ON H.R.
2954, AND JUST REMEMBER THAT
ALL OF THE OTHER LAWS THAT WE
EXPECT THEM TO ABIDE IN TERMS
OF THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN
ENVIRONMENT AND AMERICAN
SECURITY BECOME JEOPARDIZED
WHEN WE QUESTION LEGITIMATE
LAWS THAT THE EUROPEANS PUT ON
THE BOOKS IN ORDER TO PROTECT
OUR PLANET.
AND SO I URGE A NO VOTE ON THIS
BILL.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
I -- NO -- I HAVE
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.
DO YOU HAVE A SPEAKER AT THIS
TIME?
IF YOU HAVE THE
TIME, YOU MAY HAVE YOUR --
IF YOU HAVE THE TIME
YOU MAY HAVE YOUR SPEAKERS.
YES, I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO MR. WAXMAN, PLEASE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR YIELDING TO ME
AND, MR. CHAIRMAN, I ALSO RISE
IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
LEGISLATION.
I THINK MR. MARKEY MADE AN
ARTICULATE CASE AND A
COMPELLING CASE.
IF WE EXPECT EUROPEAN COMPANIES
TO COMPLY WITH U.S. LAWS WHEN
THEY DO BUSINESS IN OUR COUNTRY
, WHETHER THE E.U. COUNTRIES
AGREE WITH OUR LAWS OR NOT, WE
HAVE TO RESPECT THEIR LAWS.
BUT THIS BILL, H.R. 2594,
PROHIBITS U.S. AIRLINES FROM
COMPLYING WITH THE LAWS OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION.
WORLDWIDE AVIATION IS ESTIMATED
TO PRODUCE ABOUT 3% OF THE
TOTAL MANMADE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS AND THESE EMISSIONS
ARE RISING RAPIDLY.
IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS
AVIATION'S UNCONTROLLED
CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE,
THE E.U. HAS ADOPTED A CAP ON
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM
THE AVIATION SECTOR.
THE E.U. PROGRAM SETS MODEST
AND ACHIEVABLE EMISSION LIMITS.
IT IS FLEXIBLE AND MARKET
ORIENTED AND THERE IS NO VIABLE
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH BASED ON
REGULATING ONLY THOSE EMISSIONS
COUNTRY'S OWN
AIR SPACE.
THE E.U. PROGRAM ALSO SHOULD
BENEFIT U.S. AIRCRAFT AND
ENGINE MANUFACTURERS SUCH AS
BOEING WHICH ARE BUILDING MORE
EFFICIENT ENGINES TODAY.
THE PROGRAM WILL ENCOURAGE
AIRLINES TO PURCHASE NEW
AIRCRAFT WITH LOWER FUEL COSTS,
BOOSTING THE ECONOMY AND
MONEY.
POTENTIALLY SAVING CONSUMERS
I JUST GOT OFF A PLANE, AS A
MATTER OF FACT, TODAY FROM THE
EUROPEAN UNION AND I WOULD HATE
TO THINK THAT WHEN I TRAVEL ON
AN AMERICAN AIRLINE THEY WILL
NOT RESPECT THE LAWS IN THE
EUROPEAN UNION OR THE EUROPEAN
UNION MIGHT DECIDE THEY DON'T
HAVE TO RESPECT OUR LAWS.
I URGE A NO VOTE ON THIS BILL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
BROWN BROWN -- MS. BROWN: YES,
SIR.
I USED TO LIKE THIS PROGRAM,
SERGEANT JOE FRIDAY, AND HE