Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3250) to provide for the training of Federal building personnel, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 3250.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3250. This bill has bipartisan sponsorships in the Senate by Senators Carper and Collins. It is the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act. The legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and it is identical to H.R. 5112, introduced by me and my Republican colleague, Representative Judy Biggert of Illinois. The bill also passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a voice vote.

At a time when many people are tired of partisan gridlock here in Washington, I believe this legislation is a good example of what we can do when we work across the aisle to accomplish commonsense legislation that will safeguard taxpayer investments, will provide certainty to small business and, most importantly, will save taxpayers money.

Madam Speaker, when we invest in our Federal facilities, we also need to invest in the people operating and maintaining them. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included a substantial investment of $5.5 billion apportioned to the GSA to upgrade its facilities. In order to safeguard this substantial investment, I want to ensure that GSA and other Federal agencies have the tools necessary to properly maintain and operate these buildings at their highest performance levels.

Late last year, a Government Accountability Office report found that a lack of proper expertise and training was a major challenge for the Federal Government in reaching its energy reduction goals. This legislation will fill the training gap. Most importantly, by filling the training gap, the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act will save taxpayer dollars on operations and maintenance costs.

The Federal Government currently consumes about 2 percent of the Nation's total energy, or about $17.5 billion in annual energy costs. The potential for cost savings here is huge. In fact, a recent study by the International Facility Management Association showed that for every dollar spent on facility management training, organizations reported receiving an average of $3.95 in return. If we are to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, in addition to investing in energy- efficient buildings, we must invest in the people maintaining those buildings so we can recoup the largest energy and cost savings possible.

This legislation will help ensure that our Federal buildings are run in a way that maximizes their performance, assuring that they retain value throughout their lifecycles and that the taxpayer investments in these properties are both protected and leveraged to reap the cost savings involved with efficient operations and management.

I want to personally thank the Republican cosponsor, my colleagues, Representative Pete Sessions and Representative Judy Biggert, for their support throughout this process. Representative Biggert and I cochair the High-Performance Buildings Caucus and we have continually advocated for the Federal Government to lead by example in high-performance building practices.

I also want to give special thanks to Chairman Oberstar--for his long and distinguished leadership on this issue--and to Ranking Member Mica for their support to bring this bill to the floor.

Madam Speaker, I would like to insert into the Record a support letter from over 50 of the country's leading building professionals, manufacturers, and small businesses. They are pleased to support this legislation and are poised to provide the necessary training to achieve both public and private sector goals.

High-Performance Building

Congressional Caucus Coalition,

December 1, 2010.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Minority Leader John Boehner,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Re: Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Boehner: As the

leading organizations involved in the design, construction,

operation and maintenance of buildings, we applaud Congress's

continued efforts to improve our nation's buildings. We are

particularly pleased to support H.R. 5112/S. 3250, ``Federal

Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010.'' In the final days

of the 111th Congress, we encourage passage of this important

legislation--it has already passed the Senate by voice vote.

As you know, Congress and the President have established

stringent goals for Federal agencies to achieve reductions in

energy and water use and greenhouse gas emissions. Agencies

also have additional needs related to other high-performance

building attributes, including safety and security. Achieving

these goals requires personnel engaged in the design,

construction, operation and maintenance of federal buildings

to have the appropriate skills and training. This bill will

provide federal agencies with these necessary tools with no

significant impact on the deficit.

Federal agencies have long been looked to as an example of

what can be done within the built environment. As the

Nation's largest holder of real estate, the Federal

Government has the opportunity and resources to influence the

development and implementation of building design,

construction, operations and maintenance tools, technologies

and practices. Federal buildings should serve as public

showcases and leading examples of energy efficiency and

indoor environmental quality (IEQ) through their design,

construction, equipment, and operations and maintenance.

As both public and private sector buildings become

increasingly complex to meet our nation's energy and

environmental goals, personnel with the necessary

competencies will be critical to achieving these goals. The

undersigned organizations representing the breadth of the

building community including building professionals,

manufacturers, and small businesses, are pleased to support

this legislation and are poised to provide the necessary

training to achieve both public and private sector goals.

We look forward to continued work with you in realizing the

full potential of high-performance buildings.

Sincerely,

National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS); American

Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning

Engineers (ASHRAE); International Facility Management

Association (IFMA); National Electrical Manufacturers

Association (NEMA); U.S. Green Building Council

(USGBC); International Association of Plumbing and

Mechanical Officials (IAPMO); Federation of American

Scientists (FAS); National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA); International Code Council (ICC);

Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association

(PIMA); American Institute of Architects (AIA); Spray

Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA); United Association--

Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and HVAC Service

Techs; Green Mechanical Council; The Stella Group,

Ltd.; Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE);

Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA);

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE);

BuildingInsight, LLC; American Council of Engineering

Companies (ACEC); Green Building Initiative (GBI);

Ecobuild America/AEC Science & Technology, LLC;

American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA); Air-

conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute

(AHRI); National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC);

Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing (CEIR);

The Radiant Panel Association; Carbon Monoxide Safety

Association (COSA); Educational Standards Corporation

Institute (ESCO Institute); HVAC Excellence; Air

Conditioning and Refrigeration Association (AC&R);

Federal Performance Contracting Coalition; Sustainable

Buildings Industry Council (SBIC); National Insulation

Association (NIA); InfoComm International; Building

Intelligence Group; Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning

Contractors National Association, Inc. (SMACNA);

Architecture 2030; LonMark International; Environmental

and Energy Study Institute (EESI); American Society of

Civil Engineers (ASCE); BASF; EIFS Industry Members

Association (EIMA); Plumbing-Heating-Cooling

Contractors--National Association (PHCC); Johnson

Controls; APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities;

International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD);

The Vinyl Institute; Illuminating Engineering Society

(IES); DuPont; Brick Industry Association; Association

of Energy Engineers (AEE); Siemens.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the chairwoman of the Federal Buildings Subcommittee of Transportation, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.

I yield 1 additional minute to the gentlewoman.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, earlier, I listened to the colloquy between the two members of the Banking Committee as they outlined the importance of true Wall Street accountability and the Wall Street reforms we will consider in the future.

I rise to speak about a particular opportunity we have as we consider this important and far-reaching reform legislation, and that is to discuss a piece of legislation I have introduced today called the Fair Access to Credit Scores Act of 2010.

Senator Lugar and I joined along with eight other colleagues, to introduce this bill that would put consumers back in control of their finances. This bill takes a commonsense yet significant step in that direction by offering Americans annual access to their credit score when they access their annual free credit report.

Making the distinction between your score and your report, a report tells consumers what outstanding credit accounts they have open, such as student loans or credit cards, maybe a car or home loan. Unfortunately, it tells Americans little else. Often, they already know--they hopefully should know that information in their credit report. In contrast, your credit score, which our legislation would make available, is what banks and lenders and increasingly even employers have access to. It is critical information that each one of us needs to know.

Today, you and I would have to jump through hoop after hoop and ultimately have to pay to have access to our credit score, while banks and lenders can get this information more easily. Mr. President, I know you have been a strong advocate for fairness in America, and that is simply not fair.

In 2003, Congress enacted legislation that required the three major consumer credit reporting agencies to provide a free annual report to each one of us on a yearly basis. This was known as the FACT Act. It was an important step in ensuring that financial records of American consumers are accurate. You could cross-check, as a consumer, what was in your report.

Many of my constituents in Colorado have seen frequent television commercials and Internet advertisements, and they are led to believe that the annual credit report under law includes this credit score I am discussing. Unfortunately, we were all disappointed--I have been personally--to find out that you only have access to your credit report, not the critical information that helps you judge your creditworthiness. You actually have to purchase your score or subscribe to a credit-monitoring service that costs you up to $200 a year to receive it. There are some troubling cases that even go further, where consumers believe they are signing up for a free credit score, only to find out later that they have actually signed up for a costly monthly monitoring service instead. This is simply not fair. It is why the Consumer Federation of America and the Consumers Union support this legislation.

Your credit score is a critical piece of information that impacts your interest rates, your monthly payments on home loans, and it could be the difference between whether a child is able to afford college or not. As I alluded to earlier, this information is increasingly being used to decide whether you will be offered a job. When you apply for a job, your potential employer has access to that information, and you don't even know what it is. This is personal information, and the consumers themselves seem to be the only people who don't have easy access to it.

We are talking about empowering American consumers when we pass--and I know we will--Wall Street accountability legislation. We want to empower consumers to be able to shape their own financial futures and thereby the country's financial future. To do that, we have to have transparency.

When you have free access to your credit score, although that is a small part of the larger reforms we need, it addresses one of the fundamental inequities that pervade our current financial system. Put simply, the one-sided marketplace today is rigged to benefit large financial institutions at the expense of hard-working Americans who are struggling to support their families and save for retirement. Consumers continually find themselves on the losing end of this bargain.

With so much at stake, this legislation we filed today is a small step to help restore balance and put Americans back in charge of their financial health. My hope is that, as this Chamber considers the Wall Street accountability bill, we will consider adding this legislation as an amendment and restore a greater dose of fairness to consumers in Colorado, to the Presiding Officer's constituents, and to all the rest of our Nation.

Let me close by thanking a group of Senators who have joined me: Senators Lugar, Scott Brown, Hagan, Levin, Lieberman, Klobuchar, Menendez, Shaheen, and Tom Udall. They have all joined me in putting consumers first by cosponsoring this commonsense, proconsumer legislation.

I ask each one of my colleagues as well to join me in supporting its passage.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from New Mexico for his courtesy.

I rise in support of this legislation. I intend at some later date to spend additional time on the floor talking about my Uncle Stewart, who was a wonderful man, an uncle to me, but more than that, he was a mentor, he was a leader. In the last 12 years of his life after my father died, he really served as a second father to me; therefore, I feel as though I lost a second father recently.

I thank the Senator on behalf of at least my side of the family. I know my cousin Tom will, at the right time and in the right way, express his thanks as well.

My uncle was many things, but he was at his heart a student of the West. He was a son of the West. He always looked for the lessons that the landscapes and the people of the West could provide all of us.

I know the Senator from New Mexico knows of the many books he wrote. He wrote over half a dozen books. One of the books I took the most insight from was a book called ``The Founding Fathers and Mothers of the West.'' He pointed out in that book that people came to the West-- the Presiding Officer will be interested in this--to find a new life. He continued in that vein by talking about the great western director of western movies, John Ford. He once asked John Ford if his movies portrayed the West as it was. Ford's answer was: No; they portrayed the West as it should have been, doggone it. My uncle's point was that the West was not settled by the gunfighters and those who had gotten into conflicts. The West was settled by those who came looking to create communities and to work together. It was the people standing on the wooden sidewalks watching the gunfights who in the end settled the West, established the West as we know the West today.

My uncle in particular had great affection and respect for the Native populations in the West. That led him to have great passion and even outrage about the way Native Americans had been treated. In his later years, as the Presiding Officer knows, he went to battle in the courts through his words in every form possible advocating justice and fair treatment for our Native American brothers and sisters. In our family, we characterized him as being outraged without being outrageous.

We are going to, obviously, miss him. I am going to miss his wise counsel. I will do everything I can to live by the credo he carried forward, I say to Senator Bingaman, which he believed deeply: We didn't inherit the Earth from our parents; we are borrowing it from our children. I think that is the fundamental lesson our uncle left with us. The inspiring step of the Senator from New Mexico to name the Interior Building after my uncle will help us keep that firmly in our view and keep committed to that purpose for our time on this Earth.

I thank the Senator from New Mexico for his graciousness. I look forward to this bill becoming the law of the land.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce two pieces of legislation that I believe will help the Federal Government cut its energy bill, save taxpayers' money and benefit the environment. Today is Earth Day, when people are thinking about how they can take better care of our planet. Federal agencies need to do the same.

Also important, the last few years have underscored the need for our Nation to rethink its energy use. Constantly shifting energy costs and our Nation's severe economic problems have resulted in families, homeowners, and businesses all taking a hard look at how much they are spending, including for energy needs. Governments should be no different, and they are no different.

Over the past few months, my Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security held hearings to examine how the Federal Government can lead by example in being more energy efficient. We learned, among other things, that the Federal Government is the single largest energy user in the Nation.

In fiscal year 2008, the total energy consumption of Federal Government buildings and operations was roughly 1.5 percent of all energy consumption in the United States. The energy bill for the Federal Government that year was $24.5 billion. Of that $24.5 billion, over $7 billion was spent on energy to operate Federal buildings alone.

With a price tag that large, there are significant opportunities for savings. Today, I offer a series of proposals that I believe will allow the Federal Government to take better advantage of these opportunities.

The Government Accountability Office has noted that Federal agencies face a number of challenges in meeting their energy management goals. One of those is rapidly building and retrofitting our buildings with advanced technologies, without regard for the skills necessary to operate and maintain these facilities to their optimum efficiency.

The Federal Government has spent billions of dollars on technology and hardware to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings. However, if this significant investment is not safeguarded by well- trained individuals, we will never be able to achieve the biggest bang for our buck. New technology demands new skills. My legislation would better ensure that the individuals who manage our Federal facilities possess the knowledge they need to meet these demands.

The Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010, which I am introducing today along with Senator Collins, and Representatives Carnahan

and Biggert in the House, will ensure that the General Services Administration has all of the tools necessary to not only upgrade our infrastructure, but also guarantee that these buildings are properly maintained and operated at their highest performance levels. You wouldn't give a race car to an inexperienced driver and expect them to win the Indy 500. In the same way, we can't expect our Federal buildings to run at peak efficiency if we don't make sure our personnel have adequate training.

I am also introducing a second bill, the Improving Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Use By Federal Agencies Act of 2010.

Federal agencies are pursuing many ideas and technologies to reduce the amount of energy they consume, and adopt renewable energy such as solar panels on top of Federal buildings. These proven technologies have resulted in financial savings that have more than paid for the initial financial investment. This is in addition to the environmental and energy security benefits of reduced energy use.

In fact, earlier this year the Administration announced plans for Federal agencies to reduce its greenhouse gas pollution by 28 percent by 2020, representing between $8 billion and $11 billion in cost savings. These goals are part of a very useful and effective executive order signed last year directing agencies to not only devote more attention to energy reduction, but share their best ideas.

While the Administration's Executive Order, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance, represents an important step forward, there is more we can do.

Federal agencies can make use of some creative financial tools where government partners with the private sector. For example, with Power Purchasing Agreements a Federal agency allows a company to use government land, for example an unused portion of military base, to build solar, wind or other renewable power production with private sector funding, and in exchange gives the Federal facility cheaper electricity. This means that governments can reduce the cost of its energy use and help clean up the environment by promoting renewable energy--all without having to spend a single taxpayer dollar. Not a bad way to do business.

Currently, DOD is more successful with Power Purchasing Agreements because their facilities are allowed to enter into longer term agreements, as compared to civilian agencies which are restricted to only 10 years. My bill will allow longer-term agreements for all agencies.

It is important to remember, the cleanest, most efficient--and cheapest--energy, is the energy we don't use. That is why I would like Federal agencies to quicken the pace of its efforts to implement energy efficiency measures. To help accomplish this, my bill establishes a $500 million revolving fund to provide financial support for Federal agency energy efficiency and renewable projects. This fund would increase the number of agency energy efficiency projects, such as new heating and cooling systems, which save on operations costs. Savings from the projects would be paid back into the fund over time, and eventually fund additional projects.

Other provisions of my bill adopt some good, common-sense ideas. For example, President Obama's fiscal year 2011 budget proposal outlined how the Department of Veterans Affairs is saving money by operating their computers more efficiently. Using new computers that use less energy, and software that automates when a computer is turned on and off, the agency plans to save around $32 million over the next 5 years. My bill would require other Federal agencies to consider and adopt steps similar to that of the Department of Veteran Affairs' successful example.

I am also interested in expanding cutting edge advanced metering technology throughout government. There's an old saying that goes, ``You can't manage, what you can't measure.'' It can easily be applied to energy use. At my recent hearings I learned that, with new digital technology, we can save energy and money by connecting facilities across an organization and monitoring buildings--and even parts of buildings and individual pieces of machinery--on their energy use in real-time. Wal-Mart uses this technology because they understand the financial savings it brings. From their headquarters in Bentonville, AR, they will know if a freezer door has been left open for too long at their store in Middletown, Delaware. The Federal Government should do the same so that building managers can make more effective decisions. The best part about deploying advanced metering is the fact that the investment pays for itself in less than a year.

As America's largest consumer of energy, Federal agencies can and should be good stewards of precious taxpayer dollars by using energy as efficiently as possible. The proposals contained in my two pieces of legislation will help the Federal Government lead by example, and demonstrate to the American people that energy efficiency efforts can pay real dividends in saving both money and the environment. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Administration to get these two bills signed into law, and implement these important ideas.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of these two bills be printed in the Record.

Madam Speaker, attached is a amended support letter for S. 3250 which passed the House on Wednesday, December 1, 2010. A previous copy was submitted for the Record.

High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition,

December 3, 2010.

Re Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010.

Russ Carnahan,

Washington, DC.

Judy Biggert,

Washington, DC.

Thomas Carper,

Washington, DC.

Susan Collins,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representatives Carnahan and Biggert and Senators

Carper and Collins: As the leading organizations involved in

the design, construction, operation and maintenance of

buildings, we applaud your continued efforts to improve our

Nation's buildings. Thank you for your leadership and vision

in the development and passage of H.R. 5112 and S. 3250,

``Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010.''

As you know, Congress and the President have established

stringent goals for Federal agencies to achieve reductions in

energy and water use and greenhouse gas emissions. Agencies

also have additional needs related to other high-performance

building attributes, including safety and security. Achieving

these goals requires personnel engaged in the design,

construction, operation and maintenance of federal buildings

to have the appropriate skills and training.

Federal agencies have long been looked to as an example of

what can be done within the built environment. As the

Nation's largest holder of real estate, the Federal

government has the opportunity and resources to influence the

development and implementation of building design,

construction, operations and maintenance tools, technologies

and practices. Federal buildings should serve as public

showcases and leading examples of energy efficiency and

indoor environmental quality (IEQ) through their design,

construction, equipment, and operations and maintenance.

As both public and private sector buildings become

increasingly complex to meet our Nation's energy and

environmental goals, personnel with the necessary

competencies will be critical to achieving these goals. The

undersigned organizations, thank you for your leadership on

this legislation and are poised to provide the necessary

training to achieve both public and private sector goals.

We look forward to continued work with you in realizing the

full potential of high-performance buildings.

Sincerely,

National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS); American

Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning

Engineers (ASHRAE); International Facility Management

Association (IFMA); National Electrical Manufacturers

Association (NEMA); U.S. Green Building Council

(USGBC); International Association of Plumbing and

Mechanical Officials (IAPMO); Federation of American

Scientists (FAS); National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA); International Code Council (ICC);

Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association

(PIMA); American Institute of Architects (AIA); Spray

Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA); United Association--

Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and HVAC Service

Techs; Green Mechanical Council; The Stella Group,

Ltd.; Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE);

Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA);

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE);

Buildinglnsight, LLC; American Council of Engineering

Companies (ACEC); Green Building Initiative (GBI);

Ecobuild America/AEC Science & Technology, LLC;

American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA); Air-

conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute

(AHRI); National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC);

Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing (CEIR);

The Radiant Panel Association; Carbon Monoxide Safety

Association (COSA); Educational Standards Corporation

Institute (ESCO Institute); HVAC Excellence; Air

Conditioning and Refrigeration Association (AC&R);

Federal Performance Contracting Coalition; Sustainable

Buildings Industry Council (SBIC); National Insulation

Association (NIA); InfoComm International; Building

Intelligence Group; Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning

Contractors--National Association, Inc. (SMACNA);

Architecture 2030; LonMark International; Environmental

and Energy Study Institute (EESI); American Society of

Civil Engineers (ASCE); BASF; EIFS Industry Members

Association (EIMA); Plumbing-Heating-Cooling

Contractors--National Association (PHCC); Johnson

Controls; APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities;

International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD);

The Vinyl Institute; Iluminating Engineering Society

(IES); DuPont; Brick Industry Association; Association

of Energy Engineers (AEE); Siemens; Bentley Systems;

International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators

and Allied Workers; Delphi; Ingersoll Rand; Natural

Resource Defense Council (NRDC).

I thank the gentleman for yielding, but I need to thank him for much more, for not only sponsoring this bill, but for shepherding this bill. It was not always smooth sailing, but it was mostly smooth sailing because its underlying purpose is so clear and necessary. I appreciate that it has been a bipartisan bill both here and in the Senate. I certainly appreciate its bipartisan sponsorship by Representative Biggert and you, Mr. Carnahan. I know that this bill will be gratifying to Mr. Oberstar, who has presided over much of the building of the Federal inventory during his extraordinary service here in the House.

May I thank my good friend, the ranking member, Mr. Diaz-Balart, with whom I've worked so closely and so well since I became chair, for his work not only on this bill but on the many bills and the many hearings we have held together.

Madam Speaker, what we have to consider is that the Federal building inventory amounts to $43 billion of investment of the taxpayers of the United States over many decades. It is clearly irreplaceable. Some of it is familiar to us all--the buildings here in Washington, such as the Justice Department, or your own office building when you go home to invite in your constituents and to do your constituent service, the courthouses where you are. But there has been little investment in this inventory, even inventory close to home.

We had a hearing in our subcommittee that showed scores of violations in the buildings of the Capitol complex, which I am pleased to say are now being quickly remedied, but some of them would have endangered the lives of the millions of people who visit the Capitol every year, not to mention the many thousands who live here. So this is a particularly gratifying piece of legislation.

Every year, our committee approves hundreds of millions of dollars in projects of construction and repair and modernization, nothing, however, like what we have done recently. Because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress took the opportunity to invest in the updating of

more than $5 billion in GSA inventory which had been untouched and was a growing backlog. And we didn't simply invest in it by saying fix the roofs. We said save the taxpayers money by upgrading to state-of-the- art energy systems so that we save the taxpayers more money than we are investing today and we begin to catch up on the backlog of many decades of disinvestment in our own priceless inventory.

So we are upgrading these federally owned facilities with more energy-efficient and sustainable building components for the first time in memory. This investment will be important; but if we allow these buildings to deteriorate as so much of our inventory has, we will pour the investment right down the drain. That means that you now will have contractors, subcontractors, yes, and many employees who are being asked to maintain inventory that has entirely new components of the kind they have never had to operate and maintain before, because these are energy-efficient, new state-of-the-art materials.

In order to maintain this extraordinary investment, this once-in-a- lifetime investment for the Congress, we will want a workforce that is trained and operating to keep this inventory at peak performance so that we don't see it deteriorate before our eyes as we have seen so much of the Federal inventory.

We now know that design and construction costs, for example, represent only about 5 or 10 percent of the costs of a facility.

But operations and maintenance represents 60 to 85 percent of the costs of a facility over its lifetime. Look what we're doing here today. We've saved the taxpayer money by investing in energy efficiency. Now we're going to save money for all of us, and especially the taxpayers, by investing in what it will take, curriculum and training, to keep these buildings at peak performance and thereby maximize our investment.

I thank the gentleman for his hard work and for yielding.