Floor Statements

I thank you, Mr. Markey.

I rise in opposition to the bill, especially to the border provisions of the bill, and I rise in support of the Grijalva amendment that is going to be coming.

I represent the entire California-Mexico border. I know how harmful this bill can be. As I read the exemptions from laws, I can see--I don't know--undocumented child labor filling in wetlands.

I mean, come on.

Our natural beauty depends on these protections. These laws protect us, and the Department of Homeland Security, as I understand it, is not in support of these provisions. They testified in July of 2011:

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency enjoys a

close working relationship with the Department of the

Interior and with the Department of Agriculture that allows

us to fulfill our border enforcement responsibilities while

respecting and enhancing the environment.

This excessive exemption from a century's worth of environmental protection laws would affect public lands and national parks all across the country.

This would put in danger important parks and monuments, not only in my area, but those such as the Statue of Liberty National Monument, Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Point Reyes in California, Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina, and scores of others. We must protect these important national parks, recreation areas, and wilderness lands for future generations.

Mr. Chairman, I also invited the gentleman, Mr. Denham, whose bill this is, to join me at the border to see what we would be protecting. I don't think he ever answered my letter.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 371, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 372, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Scalise

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 373, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Moran

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 374, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Stated against:

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 375, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Personal Explanation

Madam Speaker, on rollcall 376, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall 377, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall 378, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 359, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

(By unanimous consent, Mr. Hoyer was allowed to speak out of order.)

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 358, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Stated for:

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 360, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 361, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 362, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. King of Iowa

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 363, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mrs. Blackburn

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 364, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mrs. Blackburn

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 365, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Sullivan

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 366, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Turner of New York

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 367, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Polis

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 368, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 369, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 370, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

personal explanation

Madam Chair, on rollcall 319, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Stearns

Madam Chair. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 320, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Shimkus

Madam Chair, on rollcall 321, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Tipton

Madam Chair, on rollcall 322, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Luetkemeyer

Madam Chair, on rollcall 323, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 325, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 326, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Connolly of Virginia

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 328, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Burgess

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 329, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Stated against:

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 330, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 331, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Polis

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 332, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Lujan

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 333, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

(By unanimous consent, Mr. Cantor was allowed to speak out of order.)

Legislative Program

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 334, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mrs. Blackburn

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 335, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Mulvaney

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 336, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Flake

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 337, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. King of Iowa

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 338, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mrs. Lummis of Wyoming

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 339, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Connolly of Virginia

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 340, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 341, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 342, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 343, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 344, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Personal Explanation

Mr. Speaker, during consideration of H.R. 5325, the FY 2013 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents.

Had I been present I would have voted: ``yes'' on the Fortenberry Amendment; ``yes'' on the Jackson-Lee Amendment; ``yes'' on the Connolly Amendment; ``no'' on the Kucinich Amendment; ``yes'' on the Burgess Amendment; ``no'' on the Reed Amendment; ``yes'' on the Loretta Sanchez Amendment; ``yes'' on the Polis Amendment; ``yes'' on the Lujan Amendment; ``no'' on the Chabot Amendment; ``no'' on the Blackburn Amendment; ``no'' on the Mulvaney Amendment; ``no'' on the Flake Amendment; ``no'' on the King (IA) Amendment; ``yes'' on the Lummis Amendment; ``yes'' on the Motion to Recommit; ``no'' on Final Passage.

In addition, I would have voted: ``no'' on the Republican Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348; ``yes'' on the Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348.

Personal Explanation

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 345, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Broun of Georgia

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 346, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Holt

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 347, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Clarke of Michigan

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 348, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Clarke of Michigan

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 349, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Ms. Hahn

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 350, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Ms. Hahn

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 351, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Poe of Texas

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 352, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Bishop of Utah

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 353, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 354, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 355, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Higgins

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 356, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Bishop of New York

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 357, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

personal explanation

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 315, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Ms. Hirono

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 316, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. McClintock

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 317, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment Offered by Matheson

Mr. Chair, on rollcall 318, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Personal Explanation

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 294, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 295, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 296, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

personal explanation