New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for all of his work on this as well.

It is a great opportunity to speak on this bill, H.R. 2606, the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act, which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of a natural gas pipeline facility in the New York portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

I appreciate Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey's support for the bill when it was first considered here in the House, and now as it is considered with the Senate modifications.

Further, I wish to extend my sincerest appreciation to a good friend and my colleague from New York, Mr. Gregory Meeks. From start to finish, this bill has been a bipartisan effort and is an example of what exactly we can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.

This project will be the first bulk natural gas transmission project in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens in more than 40 years. The 5.2 million people living in these three boroughs are demanding more and more natural gas. Natural gas, as we all know, is reliable. It's clean, it's domestic, and it's economical.

On September 15 of last year, New York City Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway testified before the National Parks Subcommittee in support of the Grimm-Meeks bill. I appreciate all of the courtesies shown to him on that day. In this testimony, the deputy mayor stated ``energy demand in New York City is increasing and will continue to grow.'' Therefore, getting the Gateway project done is a major effort that includes the private sector, the city, State, and Federal governments.

The Gateway pipeline project will generate approximately $265 million in construction activity, create almost 300 local jobs, and bring in about $8 million in annual local revenue for the city of New York, providing much-needed short- and long-term boosts to our economy.

Following House passage, my colleague Congressman Crowley praised the bill for reducing the use of two so-called dirtier fuels: No. 4 and No. 6 oil. The Senate modification of H.R. 2606 resolves concerns raised by the National Park Service about the House bill and now has full National Park support, as well as that of the Partnership for New York City, the Regional Plan Association, organized labor, and Mayor Bloomberg.

When I came to Congress, I promised my constituents in Staten Island and in Brooklyn that I would find fiscally conservative ways to create jobs and get our country moving again. Mr. Speaker, this bill does just that. Not only will it create a unique public-private partnership to revitalize Floyd Bennett Field, but it also creates well-paying jobs and it increases the supply of inexpensive natural gas, and does it all at absolutely no cost to the taxpayer, even bringing revenue to the Treasury.

So, Mr. Speaker, I thank you again for the opportunity to speak in support of this bill. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of my bill, H.R. 2606, the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act which would authorize the Secretary of Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the New York portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

I appreciate Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey's support for the bill by when it was first considered by the House and now as we consider the Senate modification.

Further, I wish to extend my sincerest appreciation to my friend and colleague from New York, Mr. Meeks. From start to finish this bill has been a bipartisan effort and an example of what we can accomplish when we work together towards a common goal.

This project will be the first bulk natural gas transmission project in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens in more than 40 years. The 5.2 million people living in these three boroughs are demanding more and more natural gas. Natural gas, as we all know, is reliable, clean, domestic and economical.

On September 15 of last year, New York City Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway testified before the National Parks Subcommittee in support of the Grimm-Meeks bill and I appreciate all the courtesy shown him on that day.

In his testimony Deputy Mayor Holloway stated the ``energy demand in New York City is increasing and will continue to grow'' and getting the Gateway project done ``is a major effort that includes the private sector, and the City, State, and Federal governments.''

The Gateway pipeline project will generate approximately $265 million in construction activity, almost 300 local construction jobs, about $8 million in annual local property taxes for New York City, providing a much-needed short-term and long-term boost to our economy.

Following House passage, my colleague Congressman Crowley praised the bill for reducing the use of ``two dirtier fuels: number four and number six oil.''

The Senate modification of H.R. 2606 resolves concerns raised by NPS about the House bill and has full NPS support as well as that of the Partnership for New York City, the Regional Plan Association, organized labor, and Mayor Bloomberg.

When I came to Congress I promised my constituents on Staten Island and Brooklyn that I would find fiscally conservative ways to create jobs and get our country moving again. Mr. Speaker, this bill does just that. Not only will it create a unique public-private partnership to revitalize Floyd Bennett Field, but it also creates good paying jobs, increases our supply of inexpensive natural gas, and does it all at no cost to the taxpayer and even brings revenue into the Treasury.

Mr. Speaker, thank you again for the opportunity to speak in support of the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and ask that my written statement be included in the Record.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak in support of my bill, H.R. 2606, the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act.

This bill, as was said, will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the New York portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

I would like to especially thank my colleague and cosponsor and friend, Congressman Gregory Meeks, for all of his efforts. It was a pleasure to work with him in a bipartisan manner, and we appreciate his staff as well.

We would like to thank Natural Resources Chairman Hastings, Ranking Member Markey, Subcommittee Chairman Bishop, Ranking Member Grijalva, and their staffs for helping move our bill through the committee and on a bipartisan basis for their work with the National Park Service in strengthening the bill as it moved to the House floor.

The National Park Service deserves our appreciation as well for all of its efforts over the years for improving the Gateway National Recreation Area and, in particular, for reviving the historic Floyd Bennett Field for future generations.

This project will be the first bulk natural gas transmission project in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens in more than 40 years. The 5.2 million people living in these three boroughs are demanding more and more natural gas. Natural gas, as we all know, is reliable; it's clean; it's domestic; and it's economical.

On September 15 of last year, New York City Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway testified before the National Parks Subcommittee and, in support of the Grimm-Meeks bill, explained why it was so important. I would like to thank Mr. Holloway, the deputy mayor, for his efforts, and I would like to draw special attention to some of his testimony.

Deputy Mayor Holloway stated: ``Energy demand in New York City is increasing and will continue to grow,'' so getting this Gateway project done, as Deputy Mayor Holloway said, ``is a major effort that includes the private sector, the city, State, and Federal Governments.''

This pipeline will pass underneath both Gateway's beachfront Jacob Riis Park in Queens and Jamaica Bay to the meter station located at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn where it will then interconnect into the local natural gas distribution system serving the communities in and around my district.

The pipeline project authorized in H.R. 2606 will help the Park Service in the face of severe fiscal constraints by authorizing the NPS to enter into a lease, which will allow the Gateway pipeline project to meter and regulate a station inside one of the hangar buildings. The meter station is basically a secure building inside a building with a hangar building's exterior being restored to its original condition coupled with a lease payment that we expect NPS to put towards the restoration of other hangar buildings for multipurpose park uses. More importantly, however, is the fact that the Gateway pipeline project will generate approximately $265 million in construction activity. That's almost 300 local jobs--300 construction jobs--and that's about $8 million in annual local property taxes for New York City, providing a much-needed short-term and long-term boost to our local economy.

When I came to Congress, I promised my constituents on Staten Island and in Brooklyn that I would find fiscally conservative ways to create jobs and get the country moving again. Mr. Speaker, this bill does exactly that. Not only will it create a unique public-private partnership to revitalize Floyd Bennett Field, but it also creates good-paying jobs and increases the supply of inexpensive natural gas.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before Subcommittee on National Parks. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills:

S. 29, a bill to establish the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

National Heritage Area;

S. 1150, a bill to establish the Susquehanna Gateway

National Heritage Area in the State of Pennsylvania;

S. 1191, a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to

carry out a study regarding the suitability and feasibility

of establishing the Naugatuck River Valley National Heritage

Area in Connecticut;

S. 1198, a bill to reauthorize the Essex National Heritage

Area;

S. 1215, a bill to provide for the exchange of land located

in the Lowell National Historical Park;

S. 1589, a bill to extend the authorization for the Coastal

Heritage Trail in the State of New Jersey;

S. 1708, a bill to establish the John H. Chafee Blackstone

River Valley National Historical Park;

H.R. 1141, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to

study the suitability and feasibility of designating

prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota,

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of

the National Park System.

H.R. 2606, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to

allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline

facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area, and for

other purposes.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 6150, or by email to Jake__McCook@energy.senate.gov.

For further information, please contact David Brooks (202) 224 9863 or Jake McCook (202) 224 9313.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 10 a.m., in room SD 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the ``Report of the Independent Consultant's Review with Respect to the Department of Energy Loan and Loan Guarantee Portfolio.''

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510 6150, or by email to Abigail__Campbell@energy.senate .gov.

For further information, please contact Michael Carr at 202 224 8164 or Colin Hayes at (202) 224 4797 or Abigail Campbell at 202 224 1219.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of the ``New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act'' (H.R. 2606). This bipartisan legislation will authorize the Secretary of Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the New York portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

My southeastern Queens district includes part of the Gateway National Recreation Area near Kennedy Airport, including the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. I have long supported efforts to improve the environment in and around Gateway as well as to enhance Gateway's facilities.

I join with Congressman Grimm and Congressman Turner in thanking Resources Chairman Hastings, Ranking Member Markey, Subcommittee Chair Bishop and Ranking

Member Grijalva and their staffs for their help in moving our bill through their committee to the floor.

I also thank the National Park Service for its work to strengthen the legislation as well as for its efforts over the years to improve Gateway and its historic Floyd Bennett Field. Also deserving our appreciation are Governor Cuomo, New York Deputy Secretary for Energy Congdon, Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Holloway, the Floyd Bennett Field Blue Ribbon Panel, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Regional Plan Association, and countless other individuals and organizations in New York for their work and collaboration in support of Gateway.

The natural gas pipeline system serving Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island is 40 to 60 years old. While adequate for the demand at the time, the system no longer has the capacity for the approximately 5.2 million residents of these three boroughs. Simply put, we need new natural gas infrastructure to meet our existing and growing needs, and H.R. 2606 is necessary to get us there.

Robert Yaro, the President of the Regional Plan Association, summed it up in August 22, 2011 letter to me in support of our bill. He stated that H.R. 2606 will expand the supply of natural gas in New York City, help support economic development, improve public health by increasing air quality, and provide needed financial support for restoration of one of Floyd Bennett Field's historically significant airplane hangars.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2606 is a win all around.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2606) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 2606, introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grimm), authorizes the construction of a lateral pipeline off the coast of New York City. The pipeline will pass under the Gateway National Recreation Area and will deliver natural gas to residents of Brooklyn and Queens. Under current law, the National Park Service does not have the authority to approve the pipeline. Therefore, Mr. Grimm introduced H.R. 2606 to allow this project to move forward, benefiting not only New York residents but visitors to the Gateway National Recreation Area. Specifically, as part of the agreement reached with the National Park Service, historic aircraft hangars located at Floyd Bennett Field will be rehabilitated and put into use by the park. Of course, this project will also create much-needed jobs and promote job creation by providing reliable, affordable energy.

The City of New York has enthusiastically embraced this proposal and, in particular, has expressed support for the use of the horizontal directional drilling to safely install a 3-mile, 26-inch-diameter pipeline. H.R. 2606 has bipartisan support, and of course it is supported by the National Park Service. So I urge its adoption and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Staten Island, New York (Mr. Grimm).

I urge the adoption of H.R. 2606, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.