Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6545) to require the Director of National Intelligence to conduct a national intelligence assessment on national security and energy security issues.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 6545.

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

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cazayoux) for sponsoring this important and timely piece of legislation. Gas prices are at a record high at more than $4 a gallon. As a result, the price of our everyday needs are going up as well. Things like food and consumer goods need to be transported long distances before they reach store shelves in our neighborhoods. Moreover, high fuel costs strain our military operations and increase the taxpayer dollars required to move our troops, ships and planes around the world.

The recent escalation in prices serves as a reminder of the fact that the United States relies on the global energy market. About 65 percent of our oil is imported from other countries, and the price of oil fluctuates with global events. Although much of the oil we import comes from Canada and Mexico, our western hemisphere allies, our oil consumption impacts the global oil market. Many other oil-producing countries are hostile to the United States and are plagued by corruption or instability. The list of the top ten holders of oil reserves includes Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Russia and Nigeria. For the past few years, 20 to 30 percent of Nigeria's oil output has been disrupted by rebel attacks; Iraq's production hovers below pre-invasion levels and is by no means stable; and Iran's nuclear activities have raised concerns around the world.

In addition, over the past few years global oil reserves have declined while global demand for oil has increased. Some estimate that global demand will increase by 46 percent over the next 25 years. If supply cannot keep pace with demand, the market becomes increasingly volatile and disruptions have a much greater effect.

We must understand the national security implications of the global energy market. Some countries are beginning to use energy as a leverage to achieve their foreign policy goals. For instance, 40 percent of the world's oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Would Iran try to block the Strait of Hormuz in the event of a foreign policy crisis? The Intelligence Committee should analyze the impact of such a crisis.

The National Intelligence Assessment required by this legislation will allow the intelligence community to work with the best minds in the country, from academia to industry, much like the National Intelligence Assessment on global climate change. The intelligence community will collect data from various sources and then assess the geopolitical aspects.

I also note that the report required by this bill is the same one that would have been required in the motion offered by the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee last week. However, the form in which he offered it would have killed the entire intelligence authorization bill. Unfortunately, when asked, he refused to agree to allow the House to simply adopt this amendment on the spot which would have saved the bill. That forced Members into the uncomfortable position of choosing this report over authorizing full funding and other critical legislation that our intelligence agencies need to do their jobs of keeping us safe.

I am pleased that we passed the intelligence authorization last week, and I will vote to support this legislation. This report will be an important tool for policymakers to understand the current energy crisis and plan for the future. I urge my colleagues to vote for the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Would the gentleman yield?

Just to answer that question, it was the language chosen by Ranking Member Hoekstra.

Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time is left, please.

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

First, I understand the issues that my friend from the Intelligence Committee has raised. I just want to point out that this issue we have with the oil crisis and energy crisis did not occur in the last couple of years. This administration has been in office now close to 7\1/2\ years, and this is a policy we should have started 8 years ago. And now we are attempting to resolve it.

I want to respond to one of your issues, though, about the drilling. The oil companies should explore the more than 68 million acres of Federal land that we have already leased to them. It just boggles my mind, this has not been used.

But maybe I found a reason why they don't want to do this. In today's Baltimore Sun, July 22, an Associated Press article, Big Oil Big on Dividends and Buybacks, and this is a quote: ``Giant oil companies such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips are set to report what will probably be another round of eye-popping quarterly profits. Which raises the question: Just where is all that money going?

``The companies insist they're trying to find new oil that might help bring down gas prices, but the money they spend on exploration is nothing compared with what they spend on stock buybacks and dividends.

``It's good news for shareholders, including mutual funds and retirement plans for millions of Americans, but no help to drivers making drastic cutbacks to offset high fuel bills.

``The five biggest international oil companies plowed about 55 percent of the cash they made from their businesses into stock buybacks and dividends last year, up from 30 percent in 2000 and just 1 percent in 1993, according to Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute For Public Policy.

``The percentage they spend to find new deposits of fossil fuels has remained flat for years, in the mid-single digits.''

Is this why we are not drilling, they are not drilling the 68 million acres? Based on this article, and based on the evidence before us, they have not drilled. They have improved their profits. They have done it for their stockholders, but it has hurt the American public as a result of that policy.

Mr. Speaker, I would now yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cazayoux) the sponsor of H.R. 6545, the National Energy Security Intelligence Act.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to respond to my good friend, who I respect. Former law enforcement.

I am not mad at the oil companies. I am disappointed in the oil companies on behalf of the American people.

I think you have talked about where we buy our oil. It seems to me that this administration has been in office for about 7\1/2\ years, have set the oil policy, and now we are paying for it. And we are attempting to do whatever we can on this side of the aisle to resurrect it.

And to come up with an issue of drill, drill, drill. We keep saying, and the facts are there, we have 83 million acres that the oil companies have under license, and they have not chosen to put money into the drilling of those 83 million acres, both onshore and offshore. That is number one.

What really concerns me, and what I am upset about though is the fact that we, this Congress, when the Republicans were in the majority, that we gave oil companies billions of dollars of grants to do research. And yet I haven't seen any of that money go to drilling or doing what you are suggesting that we should do now.

What I see is what I read in that article in the Sun paper about the fact that the oil companies are making outstanding, the highest profits they have ever made in their history. And you know why? Because they are putting the money, the grants that we gave them, the American dollars, not in to drilling and trying to help bring the oil prices down, but to the bottom line of their stockholders and also to really having the American people suffer because of that strategy.

So I would just say that this is an issue we must move forward with. We are talking about drilling when this is an intelligence bill, and we should stand behind this bill, as Americans, as Republicans and as Democrats.

Now I yield 3 minutes to my friend from Rhode Island, Congressman Kennedy.

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

How much time remains on each side?

I reserve.

I yield an additional 30 seconds to my friend.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).

How much time do I have remaining?

I will close.

First, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana and the other sponsors of H.R. 6545 for introducing this important piece of legislation.

Energy and the availability of fuel affects every aspect of our lives. It impacts our security. It impacts our economy, and it impacts our wallets. We need the best information available and the best analysis possible on energy security. The intelligence community is in a unique position to give it to us.

I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 509, unfortunately, I am getting a medical procedure done and cannot vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 510, if I were present I would have voted ``yea.'' Unfortunately, I am getting a medical procedure done and cannot vote today.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 511, unfortunately, I am getting a medical procedure done and cannot vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support H.R. 5959. I would first like to thank Chairman Reyes and Ranking Member Hoekstra for their leadership in helping us put together a good bipartisan bill. I also am going to miss Bud Cramer, Terry Everett, and Heather Wilson. We have all worked well together on this committee. You will be missed.

I ask my colleagues to vote for this bill because it supports the men and women who work within the intelligence community. The National Security Agency, the NSA, is headquartered in my district. I personally know that NSA's employees work very hard to ensure our Nation's security.

We must continue to invest in the people and resources necessary to make our intelligence community effective. Intelligence is the best defense against terrorism.

This bill advances the Cybersecurity Initiative to protect our computer networks, a very important issue that we will be dealing with in the future, cybersecurity attacks. We know now that certain countries are attacking the United States of America through the Internet.

Two, it increases research and development so that we can maintain our technical advantage; and, three, invests in both satellite and airborne collection and in the systems needed to

process, exploit and distribute this data.

The intelligence community faces enduring technical challenges, but this bill provides our people, who are our most important asset, with the tools they need to do their jobs well. In order to protect our country from threats from countries such as China and Russia, we must continue to invest heavily in science and technology.

This bill lays the foundation for the future and communicates areas of concern to current intelligence leaders and the next Presidential administration.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill and the important work of the intelligence community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support and recognition of House Resolution 369 honoring the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on the occasion of its 35th anniversary.

For the last 35 years, the men and women of the DEA have served their country with distinction and honor while fighting one of the most dangerous problems this country faces today. Drug use and the violence associated with drug trafficking touches every American's life in some way or another. The men and women of the DEA are working tirelessly every day to prevent drugs from coming into the United States and to prevent or dismantle the manufacturing and distribution of drugs within our borders. This is no easy task.

The DEA consistently adapts to changes in the drug trade. From dismantling illegal Internet pharmacies to identifying new trends in manufacturing and distribution, the DEA is and must be at the top of their game. Because the DEA has the greatest presence overseas of any Federal law enforcement agency, diplomacy and collaboration with the leadership of drug-producing countries, like Colombia, is essential for their efforts to be effective. The men and women of the DEA are up to the challenge.

The over 9,000 employees of the DEA are an asset to the country, and I'm proud to honor them every day. They are in very dangerous places putting their lives on the line every day. I want to thank them for their dedication and their commitment to the agency and our country. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Patricia Frounfelker, recently nominated for the 2008 Service to America Call to Service Medal. Ms. Frounfelker is being nominated for her studies of potential hazards and risks associated with U.S. combat vehicles. Ms. Frounfelker's research on these hazards has led to safety improvements that are minimizing risks for our Nation's soldiers on the front line.

In her three years of government service with the Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, Patricia Frounfelker has become a leading expert in analyzing and characterizing the survivability of U.S. Army soldiers to a wide variety of potential risks. Most recently, she examined the potential for reactive armor to cause collateral injuries to troops who are near a tactical vehicle that is under attack. Ms. Frounfelker developed a detailed test plan to characterize reactive armor tiles being sent to Iraq for use on the Abrams tank. She collected and analyzed the data following each test and determined the collateral injuries likely to be suffered by dismounted U.S. troops within proximity to the tank. Ms. Frounfelker conducted her analysis using a novel methodology that she had previously developed to characterize the collateral damage to dismounted troops within proximity of the Stryker and Bradley vehicles. Her results identified areas of concern regarding hazards from each version of reactive armor and have led the Army to change how dismounted troops operate around these vehicles.

During the same period, Ms. Frounfelker served as the lead assessor of crew casualties for 25 U.S. Army developmental systems, including 11 that were fielded in Iraq or Afghanistan. These systems included three variants of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and several tactical wheeled vehicles. She collected and analyzed fragment data for every live-fire test of these systems, and her assessments provided the data needed to assess the lethality of U.S. munitions and the survivability of combat vehicles.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Patricia Frounfelker in her nomination for the 2008 Service to America Call to Service Medal. Patricia Frounfelker's efforts in this time of war have directly benefited soldiers and Marines by identifying and assessing potential injuries they might suffer in or near U.S. combat vehicles. This has allowed the Army to modify the vehicles or the tactics, techniques and procedures before the vehicles are fielded to better protect U.S. military personnel. Her efforts have resulted in better equipped, better protected warfighters, who are better able to protect and defend our Nation. It is with great pride that I congratulate Patricia Frounfelker on her exemplary efforts to increase safety for our armed forces overseas.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Dr. Renate Reimschuessel, recently nominated for the 2008 Service to America Homeland Security Medal. By honoring excellence in the Federal workforce, the Service to America Medal sends a compelling message to the American people about the importance of a strong civil service and inspires a new generation of Americans to public service.

The Homeland Security Medal recognizes a federal employee for a significant contribution to the nation in activities related to homeland security. Dr. Reimschuessel has been nominated for her scientific breakthrough that identified the cause of the largest pet food recall in history and is currently conducting critical research to guarantee the safety of imported foods.

In 2007, the FDA issued the largest pet food recall in history due to the significant number of pet fatalities. As a research biologist for the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine in Maryland, Dr. Reimschuessel was asked by the FDA to help investigate the cause of the hundreds of pet deaths and illnesses. Just weeks after she began her investigation, Dr. Reimschuessel discovered exactly why so many animals were getting sick, a discovery that is improving the safety of imported foods for both animals and humans.

Due to Dr. Reimschuessel's discovery, the United States has increased surveillance for melamine and related compounds in food ingredients. In an effort to identify potential risks to humans, she is continuing to test the effects of melamine in chickens, pigs, and fish. Dr. Reimschuessel's research helped improve the way our government preserves scientific specimens and identified the ability of nontoxic compounds to become toxic when combined. These discoveries helped resolve an immediate crisis, and her continued efforts are helping protect the U.S. food supply from tainted imports and toxic chemical combinations.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Dr. Renate Reimschuessel in her nomination for the 2008 Service to America Homeland Security Medal. Her tireless investigation into the cause of the mass illness of pets in 2007 not only resolved a nationwide crisis, but initiated a series of scientific improvements, both in the veterinary world and the in safety of our imported food supply. It is with great pride that I congratulate Dr. Reimschuessel on her exemplary efforts to help guard against ongoing threats to the safety of the U.S. food supply.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 434, I was meeting with constituents in my district office. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 435, I was meeting with constituents in my district office. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 436, I was meeting with constituents in my district office. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of H.R. 6304. I would like to thank Chairman Reyes, Chairman Conyers, Majority Leader Hoyer, Minority Leader Blunt, and Ranking Member Hoekstra for coming together with a bill that we need on behalf of our country.

My district includes the National Security Agency, and many of NSA's employees are my constituents. As a

member of the House Committee on Intelligence and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, which oversees NSA, I know that the men and women who work for our Nation's intelligence agencies work hard every day to keep our Nation safe.

The intelligence agencies must do their work within the laws of this country, and they need those laws to be clear. The NSA employees in my district need a clear law with a bright line between legal and illegal surveillance activities, and this bill provides that.

Our Constitution requires checks and balances for the three branches of government. This bill provides that the FISA Court must review surveillance requests to protect the constitutional rights of our citizens.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill because it gives our intelligence community the tools they need to keep our Nation safe while protecting the constitutional rights of Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Keith Laffman on his eight years of dedicated service to the Office of the Attending Physician (OAP). Prior to his position at the OAP, Keith served as a physical therapist in the United States Navy, training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and then stationed at the Bethesda Navy Medical Center.

Working as a Physical Therapy Technician in the OAP since November of 2000, Keith has consistently maintained close working relationships with the patients he serves. His dedication to his work and patients, along with his ability to organize and manage, made him a competent and effective office manager during much of his tenure at the OAP.

Keith is an integral part of the team in the Attending Physician's office. As a person who has broken many bones and suffered multiple injuries, I can attest to the fact that Keith is one of the most professional, caring, and healing physical therapists I have ever worked with during my time as a patient. In addition to providing basic care to a wide variety of patients, the Office of Attending Physician provides a broad spectrum of services, including emergency evaluations, flu vaccinations, physician referrals, and occupational exams and certifications. Eight separate health units in Congressional and other federal buildings ensure that the OAP is able to provide convenient and quality health care around the Hill.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Keith Laffman for his committed service to his patients, from visitors and staff to high ranking government officials. It is with great pride that I congratulate Keith for his work at the Office of Attending Physician and his continued exemplary service to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Leah Waller, recently awarded the title of 2007-2008 Baltimore City Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Waller has been a teacher with the Baltimore City Public School System for eight years, teaching Kindergarten and first grade at Maree G. Farring Elementary School.

When she's not teaching at Farring Elementary, Mrs. Waller has taught Summer School and tutored at the Jemicy School for Dyslexic Children. She has served as a mentor teacher for student teachers and new teachers. In addition, she has worked closely with the Children's Literacy Initiative and was selected to be a Model Classroom for Baltimore City.

Always well prepared for daily instruction, Mrs. Waller utilizes the curriculum and Baltimore City Public School System mandated programs in an effective and engaging way. In Mrs. Waller's classroom, lessons are thoroughly developed with the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learner in mind. Skills and concepts are successfully mastered through a variety of strategies and techniques to ensure full comprehension from the students.

The individual needs of all students are met in Mrs. Waller's classroom. Assessment data is consistently analyzed to diagnose student strengths and areas for concern. This data is analyzed to help drive instruction in the most beneficial way. Because of the active participation in the learning process, the environment in Mrs. Waller's classroom is very conducive to learning. She holds her students to the highest expectations and creates an atmosphere of mutual respect between the teacher and students.

Mrs. Waller's professional responsibilities are fulfilled with great care. She maintains an organized recordkeeping system that monitors

individual student achievement and progress. Constantly interacting with students, parents, colleagues, and administrators, Mrs. Waller works collaboratively to ensure the academic success and social development of her students. -

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Leah Waller in her acceptance of the 2007-2008 Baltimore City Teacher of the Year Award. Her legacy as a dedicated, enthusiastic educator will be forever remembered by the grateful students who walk through her classroom doors. It is with great pride that I congratulate Leah Waller on her exemplary career in education and her outstanding performance at Maree G. Farring Elementary School in Baltimore City.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Christine Roland, recently awarded the title of 2007-2008 Harford County Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Roland has been a teacher with Harford County Public Schools for five years, teaching Biology and Forensic Science at Edgewood High School.

Born and raised in Switzerland, Mrs. Roland earned a degree in advertising and public relations and became fluent in three languages before she moved to the United States. She has since earned a bachelor's degree in Biology from Towson University, a Certification in Education, and is currently working on her master's degree in Biology.

Thanks to her unique background and teaching style, her bright, inviting classroom and original lessons keep her students active and engaged in the classroom. Using her background in advertising, Mrs. Roland packages her lessons and activities in an appealing and creative way. Her enthusiastic teachings inspire and motivate her students to put effort into their work and truly absorb the class material.

Mrs. Roland goes the extra mile when it comes to helping her students succeed. Appreciating that biology can be a difficult subject, Mrs. Roland acknowledges all student achievement. She evaluates student understanding and provides immediate feedback. Her students know that she will not move on until there is a basic understanding of every concept. The projects and activities she assigns are challenging and diverse so every student can feel a sense of accomplishment. Mrs. Roland makes herself available to students and parents before and after school, as well as through e-mail in the evenings should a student need assistance with an assignment.

Mrs. Roland is eager to attend relevant conferences and meetings to enhance her professional development. She plays a major role on the Technology Steering Committee and is actively involved in the curriculum writing for many subjects. She initiated a new course in forensic science for Harford County, received approval and wrote the entire curriculum. The course is now part of the county curriculum and she is working on staff development for the teachers. -

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Christine Roland in her acceptance of the 2007-2008 Harford County Teacher of the Year Award. Her legacy as a dedicated, enthusiastic teacher will be forever remembered by the appreciative students who walk through her classroom doors. It is with great pride that I congratulate Christine Roland on her exemplary career in education and her outstanding performance at Edgewood High School in Harford County.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Robin August, recently awarded the title of 2007-2008 Baltimore County Teacher of the Year. Ms. August has been a teacher with Baltimore County Public Schools for 8 years, teaching mathematics at Deep Creek Elementary School and now Deep Creek Magnet Middle School.

Ms. August began her career in education in 1990, working for the Baltimore City Public School System. In 2000, she accepted a position at Deep Creek Elementary School in Baltimore County and is currently a mathematics teacher and team leader at Deep Creek Magnet Middle School.

As the team leader for the 6th grade at Deep Creek, Ms. August has been instrumental in developing and maintaining parental involvement that is necessary for the school to be successful. She consistently monitors the academic performance of her students in all of their classes in order to provide mentorship to the students and provide strategies to help them succeed. Throughout the year, Ms. August opens her classroom doors to teachers who are in need of professional development, modeling lessons that demonstrate excellence in teaching.

She has dedicated her career to improving achievement for her students, serving on many school improvement teams and holding positions as diverse as Student Council Advisor, curriculum writer, and mentor. As a member of the leadership team at Deep Creek Middle, Ms. August continues to bring new ideas to the school plan, helping to design better and more efficient ways of meeting the various needs of the students. Through the Teaching American History in Maryland program, she has published work with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Center for History Education and presented at the Maryland Conference for the Social Studies.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Robin August in her acceptance of the 2007-2008 Baltimore County Teacher of the Year Award. Her legacy as a dedicated, enthusiastic educator will be forever remembered by the grateful students who walk through her classroom doors. It is with great pride that I congratulate Robin August on her exemplary career in education and her outstanding performance at Deep Creek Magnet Middle School in Baltimore County.

Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Colonel Kenneth O. McCreedy, Installation Commander at Fort Meade in Maryland. Colonel McCreedy holds a bachelor's degree in history from Washington and Lee University, master's and doctorate degrees from University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Military Arts and Sciences degree from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College. He is also a graduate of both the Army's School of Advanced Military Studies and the Advanced Strategic Art Program.

After over twenty years in the service, Colonel McCreedy took command of Fort Meade in June 2005. Since then, Colonel McCreedy has worked closely with business leaders and elected officials, to consider how his decisions would affect the communities both inside and outside of the Fort Meade gates.

Fort Meade, located halfway between Baltimore and Washington, DC, is the fourth largest army installation base in the continental United States with approximately 40,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. The base thrives not only as a military installation, but also as a leading contributor to Maryland's economy.

Colonel McCreedy has played a large role in planning and preparing for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, which will cause a projected 25 percent population increase and 5,700 jobs at Fort Meade alone. He also has worked closely with the Fort Meade Alliance, an advocacy membership organization created to promote and support Fort Meade as an economic asset and resource to the region.

Among his countless awards and decorations, Colonel McCreedy has earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Colonel Kenneth O. McCreedy in his retirement from the position of Fort Meade Installation Commander. His legacy as a brilliant military commander will be forever remembered in his service to one of our nation's largest military installations. It is with great pride that I congratulate Colonel McCreedy on his exemplary military career and his outstanding leadership at Fort Meade.