Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2273, the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011.

Unfortunately, this legislation is necessary because last June the Obama administration proposed two new rules in its ongoing war on coal that could cost tens of thousands of jobs and tens of billions of dollars to our GDP. The two new rules are a departure from decades of accepted practice of allowing States to regulate coal ash.

Furthermore, EPA's current actions fly in the face of two previous EPA studies--one study from the Clinton administration--which found that coal ash shouldn't be regulated by the EPA as a hazardous material.

Now, keep in mind these new rules will not only negatively effect the coal and the utility industries but also will lead to job losses and increased cost for the infrastructure and construction industries. Furthermore, coal residuals are a key component of many of the materials used by these trades. If the EPA is successful in classifying coal residuals as a hazardous material, the cost of the raw goods in these vital industries would skyrocket.

This bipartisan legislation not only stops the onerous proposed rule from going forward, but also allows States to regulate coal residuals by using an existing and successful Federal regulatory program. This compromise bill sets realistic and enforceable standards while leaving the regulation enforcement to the States. In fact, State environmental officials, including my home State of Ohio, see this type of regulation as a model for the future because it provides strong health and environmental protection with minimal Federal EPA involvement.

At a time when the President and the other side of the aisle are stumping for their so-called jobs proposal, Madam Chair, I find it confusing and ironic that this administration would propose rules that will cost tens of thousands of job losses and will lead to the loss of billions of dollars from America's GDP. This legislation will save the administration from themselves by saving jobs while still protecting human health and the environment.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

Madam Speaker, last week we witnessed shocking, shocking hypocrisy from President Obama. His Justice Department filed a lawsuit, a frivolous lawsuit, to block the State of Alabama from enforcing a law that would keep illegal immigrants from taking American jobs.

In the lawsuit, Mr. Obama's lawyers claimed that the law would expose those whom authorities suspect might be here illegally from ``new difficulties in routine dealings.'' Now, keep in mind that this is the same Obama administration that is strangling small businesses with job- killing regulations, and because of Barack Obama, virtually every small business in America is now facing ``new difficulties in routine dealings.''

The people I represent are beyond frustrated with Washington politicians, who are slow to protect America's businesses, yet who are quick to sue over a law that would help American citizens get jobs. Americans have given up on their leadership, so here is a message for President Obama:

Stop targeting small businesses, and let these job creators get back to doing what they do best--creating jobs.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Madam Speaker, solving this Nation's crushing unemployment problem has been my focus since the people of eastern and southeastern Ohio sent me to Washington to start the process of change.

Today I rise to outline five specific actions we must accomplish to create economic certainty, give job creators the confidence they need to begin hiring again, and make American companies more competitive both here at home and globally.

They are: require the Federal Government to balance its budget annually; scrap the current Federal Tax Code and implement a flatter, fairer tax code; eliminate all pending Federal regulations not directly tied to public health or national security; establish a clear national energy policy; and repeal the President's health care law.

Now, I've discussed all of this with countless residents of eastern and southeastern Ohio, and they all like what they hear. But the popularity of this agenda has little to do with me. These ideas are rooted in the American dream, and they can boost America's economy and lead to real job creation.

If this administration wants to help us, we can start creating the jobs Ohio and America needs.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2646) to authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects and leases, to extend certain expiring provisions of law, and to modify certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2646, as amended, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act, would encompass the Department of Veterans Affairs' request for major medical facility projects and leases for fiscal year 2012 and extend certain expiring authorities.

The bill before us today tracks with the resources that were provided in the appropriations bill that passed the House with bipartisan support.

The VA provides high-quality medical care and services to our honored veterans through an extensive and diverse portfolio of medical facilities. This national infrastructure generates a great deal of costly construction and maintenance needs which the Department must address.

Section 2 of the bill would authorize the appropriation of $87 million for seismic corrections and renovations at facilities in Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington.

Section 3 of the bill would authorize the appropriation of $850 million to construct and modify medical facilities in Palo Alto, California; St. Louis, Missouri; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Orlando, Florida.

Section 4 would authorize the appropriation of $50 million for leasing eight out-patient medical facilities in Columbus, Georgia; Salem, Oregon; Springfield, Missouri; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Mobile, Alabama; Rochester, New York; San Jose, California; and South Bend, Indiana.

Section 6 of the bill would clarify what information the VA must provide to Congress when seeking authorization for a major medical project or facility project or lease.

Under current law, the VA is required to submit to Congress a prospectus for all major medical facility projects and lease requests. The information should include details relating to construction, equipment, and other costs for the proposed project, as well as any and all alternatives considered and data on projected utilization and operating costs. However, the VA has not provided this information in sufficient detail to allow Congress to effectively evaluate proposed projects and alternatives. Without accurate and complete information, Congress cannot carry out its statutory mission of ensuring an equitable distribution of medical facilities to provide access to care for our veterans across the United States or be assured we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

To similarly improve oversight, section 7 of the bill would require the VA to obtain congressional authorization when using bid savings to expand the purpose of a major medical facility project.

Section 8 of the bill would name the VA telehealth clinic in Craig, Colorado, the ``Major William Edward Adams VA Clinic.'' This provision was adopted from H.R. 1658, introduced by my friend and colleague Scott Tipton from Colorado, and I thank him for bringing this proposal forward. Major William Edward Adams, a Medal of Honor recipient, was a true American hero, and this designation would appropriately memorialize his brave service.

Section 9 of the bill would name the VA medical center in Big Spring, Texas, the ``George H. O'Brien, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.'' I would also like to thank my friend and colleague from Texas, Randy Neugebauer, for his efforts to introduce H.R. 558, which became this provision. George H. O'Brien, Jr., is also a Medal of Honor recipient, and it is important that we recognize his honorable service.

Additionally, the bill would extend, for various periods, expiring authorities for several programs, including those that provide services to homeless veterans.

It is deeply concerning that veterans continue to be overrepresented in the homeless population, and helping homeless veterans and those at risk gain access to the support they need to reintegrate into stable community environments and lead productive lives is one of the highest priorities of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

The extension of these programs would provide comprehensive supportive services to help homeless and at-risk veterans find permanent housing, overcome substance use or other issues, gain meaningful employment, and put them on the path to being productive, successful members of our society.

This legislation represents a bipartisan effort, and I would like to express my thanks to Chairman Jeff Miller and Ranking Member Bob Filner, as well as Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Ann Marie Buerkle and Ranking Member Mike Michaud, for their efforts to quickly move this important legislation through committee and to the House floor.

Further, the manager's amendment reflects an agreement reached with the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senator Patty Murray and Senator Richard Burr. I extend my appreciation to them for their work on this bill. It is my expectation that, following consideration in the House, the Senate will act to take up H.R. 2646, as amended, and the legislation will be presented to the President for signature prior to the end of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2646, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from the great State of Texas, Representative Randy Neugebauer.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the manager's amendment to H.R. 2646, as amended.

Once again, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 2646, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, for far too long now, previous Congresses have treated increases to America's debt ceiling as temporary problems to be dealt with later on. Well, it's now later on, and we have to deal with this very serious challenge to America's fiscal health. House Republicans have now passed two bills that would end the debt limit crisis while cutting trillions from the deficit.

Today the House will vote down the Reid proposal. The Reid proposal is full of budget gimmicks that the American people are, quite frankly, fed up with. Not only is the Reid plan dead on arrival in the House, but it appears to be dead on departure from the Senate. I urge all of my colleagues to vote against the Reid plan today because it's time for every Member of Congress to join House Republicans in producing not a deal but a solution to this debt crisis, one that makes real spending cuts, one that establishes real spending controls, one that forces the Federal Government to live within its means, and one that doesn't raise taxes on American families and job creators.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Chairman, today I rise in support of H.R. 1938, the North American-Made Energy Security Act.

For far too long, the proposed Keystone XL pipeline has been caught up in bureaucratic red tape that unfortunately has become the norm with this administration. This legislation simply forces the administration to make a decision by November 1 of this year, which will be more than 3 years after the application was originally submitted. This bill addresses our Nation's dependence on OPEC for oil, but it also creates American jobs.

The pipeline extension would allow for an additional 700,000 barrels of oil per day to be brought to the U.S. marketplace. This increase in oil, from America's largest trading partner, would begin to make America less beholden to unstable OPEC countries for our oil demands. Furthermore, if this pipeline isn't built, the oil will simply go to China instead of coming to America.

This legislation would also pave the way for the creation of 13,000 direct

jobs and tens of thousands of indirect jobs should the project be approved.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 641, I inadvertently voted ``yes'' on the Rush Amendment, when I intended to vote ``no.'' I had just led a moment of silence from the chair, and in the excitement afterwards pressed the wrong button.

Amendment No. 3 Offered by Ms. Eshoo

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.

Last November, the American people sent a clear and resounding message to cut up the Nation's credit card and to stop spending money we don't have. Today, we are doing that.

This act makes immediate spending cuts and forces the Federal Government to do what Americans all over this country are doing: living within their means. This legislation also begins to cap Federal Government spending at levels that are historically sustainable to ensure vibrant economic growth. Finally, this measure forces the Federal Government to do what to most Americans is simply plain common sense: to spend only the amount of money that you have.

A balanced budget amendment is long overdue.

Republicans have heard the American people's call to action to reduce spending, and that is why I strongly support this measure. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.

I thank my colleague.

We are sitting here today with unemployment over 9 percent and rising, 22 million Americans out of work, and what are we getting? We are getting an administration whose bureaucrats have got a stranglehold on America's energy future.

I stood in this Chamber just a couple of months ago when the Prime Minister of Australia addressed a joint session of the House. I know my colleagues will remember that. And the Prime Minister said something that was profound. She related a story. She talked about being a young girl sitting in front of her television and watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the moon and thinking to herself, Wow, those Americans can do anything.

She went on to give her speech, and she talked about the long relationship between Australia and America and how we have solved many of the world's problems. At the end of her speech, she said, You know something? She said, I am not that young girl any more. I am the Prime Minister of our country, but today I still believe that Americans can do anything.

That was profound, and I think for many of us it was like you could hear a pin drop here in the House Chamber because what she said was something that we need to hear from our national leaders, and we are not getting that kind of leadership here in America today.

I believe that Americans can do anything. We saw, when President Kennedy decided that we were going to the Moon in 10 years, he mobilized our academic institutions. He engaged our industrial base, our military, our political will, our economic will. Every fabric of our culture was focused on that goal.

I remember as a young boy watching the space race shots from school or being sent home because it was like a national holiday. We had a national vision. We saw industries crop up. We saw hundreds of thousands of jobs created. We saw young people going into disciplines that would prepare them for careers in aerospace and astronautics and other disciplines to support our conquest of the space frontier.

I am so proud to be a part House Energy Action Team because we are trying to promote that same type of national vision around energy independence and security.

I believe if we had a national vision that said, look, over the next 10 years we are drawing a line in the sand starting today, and we are going to establish a goal to be energy secure and energy independent over the next 10 years. And we are going to drill for our own oil; we are going to drill for our own natural gas. We are going to continue to mine coal, and we are going to learn how to use it environmentally soundly and safely. We are going to expand our nuclear footprint. We are going to look at our alternative forms of energy like wind and solar and find out where they fit into our overall energy profile. But what we are not going to do is sit on the sidelines any longer and depend on foreign sources for our energy and put future generations at risk. I believe if we had that kind of vision, we would again see industries crop up. We would see hundreds of thousands of jobs created as a result. And at the end of the day, we would learn how to produce and store and use energy in ways that we have never, ever imagined, because guess what? Americans can do anything. With a national vision around energy independence and security, Americans would be put back to work.

I live in a district and represent a district where unemployment rates are popping up well over 10 percent. Some of them 12-plus percent. Ladies and gentlemen, people from my district have lost hope in the American Dream. We need a national vision around energy. That's what this House is promoting. That's what my colleagues and I are striving for. I, too, urge the Senate, take action on these bills. Get America back to work, and let's secure America's energy future.

Thank you for letting me have some time.

Mr. Speaker, the administration's war on coal led the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation to try and change a rule that would redefine what is considered a stream as it pertains to mining operations.

I am pleased than an amendment I offered during the debate over the budget continuing resolution has been included in the Interior appropriations bill in an effort to stop this irresponsible regulatory overreach.

No one is surprised that the Obama administration is continuing the war on coal, but this is also a war on jobs. And the coal industry employs thousands of people in eastern and southeastern Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, we all want a cleaner environment, but we need to make sure that the policies being enacted are common sense and do not come at the expense of jobs and our economy. Stopping the Obama administration from rewriting the stream buffer zone rule will be a victory for jobs and a defeat to a radical agenda that is seeking to outlaw coal entirely. We can and we must enact smart policies that clean up our environment while protecting American jobs.

Last night, we heard President Obama's plan for withdrawing our troops from Afghanistan. While I share the President's goal of wanting to bring home our brave troops as soon and as safely as possible, I'm concerned that political considerations were given more weight in this decision than military strategy.

As a military veteran of 27 years, I understand how important it is to base decisions like this on the guidance of our commanders in the field. Our military commanders are the best military strategists in the world, and they are the ones in a position to know how many and what type of troops they need to do their mission.

When the President announced his troop surge, he included the lasting influence of Taliban among his reasons. The Taliban remains allied with al Qaeda, and both terrorist networks would rather see Afghanistan destroyed than lose their influence over the Afghan people.

Mr. Speaker, we've learned that fighting our Nation's wars from the Oval Office does not work. Let's make sure our troops come home in victory.

Mr. Speaker, the economy, the national debt, high gas prices, and the need for jobs, those are still the important issues to the people in my district in southeastern Ohio; but today, I rise to congratulate the Marietta College baseball team for winning their record fifth Division III College World Series title yesterday. Our people have something to cheer about.

The Pioneers, led by coach Brian Brewer, won the deciding game in convincing fashion with an 18-5 victory over Chapman University.

The 'Etta Express was led defensively by a strong pitching performance from All-American honorable mention pitcher Austin Blaski. Blaski pitched a nearly perfect six innings, allowing only two hits and one earned run.

On the offensive side, the Pioneers were led by right-fielder Aaron Hopper, who had four hits, four RBIs, and a stolen base. All-American senior center fielder John Snyder added three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI to end his college career.

The Pioneers finished the season with an amazing record of 47 wins and

4 losses on their way to a record fifth national title.

Congratulations to the 'Etta Express.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act, which will lift the President's ban on new offshore drilling by requiring the administration to do what my constituents in southeastern and eastern Ohio have been calling for Congress to do: open up for production the areas that contain the most oil and natural gas resources right here in America.

The hardworking people of my district have made it abundantly clear that their number one concern is the rising price of gas at the pumps. Over the past week, this side of the aisle has begun to show the American people that we are serious about addressing our energy crisis and that we will not succumb to bringing up bogus proposals that may poll well in the court of public opinion but that will only result in higher gas prices.

In 2008, our country was also experiencing record high prices at the pump, and in a logical and commonsense response to those record-high prices, that Congress and that President took action to end a decades- long drilling ban offshore by opening up new areas in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans for exploration and production. Unfortunately, this administration has reversed the will of the people, and has taken steps to reinstate this moratorium from new lease sales in these offshore areas.

Not only has the administration abandoned the plan to go forward with opening up new areas for production, but they have also cancelled previously scheduled lease sales. We are now again faced with rising prices at the pump, and instead of being able to focus on new ways to make America's energy secure, we are forced to bring up legislation that will do again what Congress did 3 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, recently, the Secretary of the Interior testified before the Natural Resources Committee. Between his testimony and answers to questions, he made it painfully obvious that this administration does not have a real national energy strategy. Today, with this legislation, we're going to help the Secretary and the administration take a big step toward developing a real energy plan for America. This legislation requires the administration and the Secretary of the Interior to set specific goals on the amount of oil and natural gas production that is estimated from each of the 5-year lease plans contained in this legislation.

During my 26-plus-year career in the United States Air Force, we set goals and objectives, and then we set out about working hard to not only meet them but to exceed them. This legislation sets the production goals at a level that is triple the level of America's current production, and it therefore reduces foreign imports by one-third.

Once this legislation is adopted, we will send a signal to the world oil markets that America means business when it comes to our energy future. I am fully confident that if we set the bar high, as this legislation does, American drive and ingenuity will rise to the occasion and will exceed this goal.

If we're going to become energy secure, Mr. Speaker, we must increase our energy production, not limit it, and we need to commit ourselves to developing our own resources. That is why I strongly support the Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Chairman, today we are taking up the Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act, which will accomplish two very important goals: create jobs and help lower energy costs. It will end the Obama administration's de facto drilling moratorium in the gulf in a way that is safe, transparent, and responsible.

A study from Louisiana State University predicted that keeping this permitorium in place for 18 months could cause the loss of more than 36,000 jobs nationwide. We simply can't afford the Obama administration's job-killing policies. Rather than putting Americans back to work, they're seriously impacting America's energy production. The ``March 2011 Short-Term Energy Outlook'' from the Energy Information Administration noted that production from the Gulf of Mexico is expected to fall by 240,000 barrels per day this year.

If we're going to become energy secure, we need to increase our energy production, not limit it; and we need to commit ourselves to developing our own resources. The Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act will help do that.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act.

Last night, I held a telephone town hall with hundreds of my constituents. The overwhelming concern was about the high price of gas. Seniors, students, working families and small business owners want to know what we're doing to help lower fuel costs. They want us to stop being dependent on foreign energy and start really developing America's resources. Today, we're doing that.

Unfortunately, our colleagues across the aisle believe that raising taxes on oil companies will somehow lower the price of gas. This defies both logic and common sense. Not only would raising taxes ensure job losses in America but it would also result in the increase of America's dependence on foreign sources of oil. Raising taxes on American energy companies would give a competitive advantage to the Russian, Chinese and OPEC countries that are operating without anti-growth, anti-self- sufficient energy policies.

Mr. Chairman, my constituents in southeastern and eastern Ohio understand the negative impact that these proposed tax increases would have on gas prices and they oppose these efforts. I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to support the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act that will help put our country on the path to energy security.

Mr. Speaker, the average for a gallon of gas in Ohio is over $4 a gallon. In eastern and southeast Ohio, this is particularly hard on families who live in rural areas. Farmers, ranchers, seniors, working families who have limited means of transportation--these high gas prices are having a negative impact on everyone. The higher gas prices go, the more of an impact it has on our economy and on our chances for a real economic recovery.

Small business owners are watching money they could otherwise invest in their businesses go to paying for fuel, and working families are anxiously redoing their budgets to account for higher fuel costs and looking for ways to cut back.

We're blessed with an abundance of natural resources in Ohio. We're one of the highest coal-producing areas, and with the Marcellus shale right next door in West Virginia, we're poised to make an enormous contribution to making America self-sufficient in energy. We need an energy strategy that will help us become energy self-sufficient so we stop relying on other countries to meet our energy needs.

Now is the time to levy a ``permatorium'' on developing American energy resources. Let's open up our American resources and put our country on the path to ensuring our energy security, instead of continuing to rely on foreign sources for energy.