Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to praise the very hard work of this administration and the President's auto task force and the many stakeholders in Chrysler who came together in an effort to protect jobs and build a stronger, leaner and more competitive Chrysler.

Chrysler's management is to be commended for making the hard decisions needed to form a new alliance with Fiat that will make the company stronger and more competitive in the future.

Many of Chrysler's creditors are to be commended for accepting a return on their investment that is more commensurate with the current market and will allow Chrysler to weather this economic crisis. Most importantly, Chrysler's workers are to be commended for sacrificing, so greatly, really, in accepting painful concessions that will allow the company to better compete. Because of all of this hard work, the foundation was laid for Chrysler to successfully restructure outside of bankruptcy.

But bankruptcy will now be required only because of the greed of a few Wall Street hedge funds that held a portion of Chrysler's debt. Much of that debt had been purchased at pennies on the dollar, but these hedge funds demanded a return much higher than what was being accepted by other lenders and much higher than what the current market would bear, Madam Speaker.

These hedge funds operate in an unregulated area of the economy, and they seem to care only about maximizing their profit, no matter what the cost. They have seemingly no concern for the workers or families that would be devastated by the destruction of Chrysler.

They demonstrate no concern for the communities across this Nation that depend on a healthy Chrysler. They show no concern for the myriad of companies that would be forced out of business because of their dependence on business with Chrysler. Their only concern seems to be their desire to squeeze the last drop of blood out of this company. Those who seek to game our financial system in a fashion that helps only them and hurts countless other Americans do not have the best interests of our economy or our Nation at heart.

President Obama said today that he does not stand with these greedy hedge funds, and neither do I. But I believe that the plan developed by Chrysler and its stakeholders is strong and will fare very well in a quick bankruptcy proceeding.

At the other end of this time, I believe that we will see a stronger, leaner, more competitive and healthy Chrysler that will continue to build some of the greatest cars in the world. Some of my colleagues, who may have advocated bankruptcy last December, will feel vindicated that this bankruptcy filing happened today, but they should not.

Those who oppose bridge loans and called for a bankruptcy filing last December, in my opinion, held a position that would have led to a disorderly bankruptcy in the liquidation of this iconic American company. Such a bankruptcy would also have led to far greater burdens being placed on the American taxpayers when they would have had to absorb higher workers' pensions, health care costs and unemployment benefits. Those costs would have been much higher than what has been extended in bridge loans.

Fortunately, President Bush thought better and provided those bridge loans and bought this important company important time to reconstruct and to construct a strong viability plan.

Fortunately, President Obama and his auto task force worked in good faith with all of the stakeholders to put that viability plan together, and they are offering the continued support needed to see that the plan is going to have a successful conclusion. And what is included in that plan?

Madam Speaker, most importantly, no plant closures or new job losses. It calls for a strategic partnership with Fiat that will provide innovative technology to build outstanding fuel-efficient vehicles based on that technology right here in America. And it will also give Chrysler's outstanding products, like Jeep, enhanced access to the European market.

It also ensures that every single dime of taxpayer money will be repaid before Fiat can take majority control of Chrysler. So jobs will be saved. More fuel-efficient cars will be built here by American workers and the taxpayers will have their investment returned.

Now we will continue to look to the future, and there is more that we must do here in Congress to make certain that not only does Chrysler have short-term viability and long-term viability as well, but also that the entirety of the American auto industry does as well.

The most important thing that we can do here to help the auto industry is to help spur sales. Madam Speaker, we only need to look to Europe, South America or Asia for plans that are actually working. Eighteen countries already have implemented fleet modernization programs, and every Nation that has done so has seen auto sales rise, while every country that has not has seen auto sales plummet in this difficult economy.

That's why I was proud to introduce my partisan implementation to implement a fleet modernization plan, better known as ``Cash for Clunkers,'' right here in America. Our plan would provide consumers with a point-of-sale voucher to turn in older, less fuel-efficient vehicles for new more modern more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.

I would urge my colleagues to research our proposals and to join us in that.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1747, the Great Lakes Icebreaker Replacement Act, because it is so important to promoting commercial activity on the Great Lakes.

Over a billion dollars worth of commerce takes place on the Great Lakes during the winter months, despite the harsh conditions. Half of Lake Michigan, for example, is covered in ice during the winter months.

Especially in this economy, we cannot afford to have business shut down simply because ice-breakers are spread to thinly across the Great Lakes. My State of Michigan currently has the highest unemployment in the country at about 12 percent, and many counties in my district are already near 20 percent. We need every job we can get in our State, including jobs that are supported by commercial activity on the Great Lakes.

One of the other impacts of unbroken ice is property damage. In my district along the St. Clair River, we have regularly seen problems caused by ice jams lead to flooding for many of my constituents.

This year, we saw a fairly spectacular occurrence in the town of Linwood, Michigan, when literal mountains of ice were blown up from Saginaw Bay and into people's yards and homes. Chunks of ice were piled up to 10 feet high in some places and excavators had to be brought in to remove the ice so that people could go about repairing damage to their windows and homes.

Many of the ice-breaking ships that we do have in the Great Lakes are nearing the end of their useful lives and have become vulnerable to mechanical failure in these harsh winter conditions.

Last fall, I was very concerned about the approaching winter and whether the Coast Guard would have sufficient ice-breaking capabilities to keep critical channels open. In fact, I joined a number of members in writing to Admiral Allen at the Coast Guard and urging him to provide additional resources to the Great Lakes to deal with the coming winter.

Finally, after that incident in Linwood, the Coast Guard did respond and assigned an additional cutter from Maine to come over and assist with ice-breaking, which has been of great assistance to us as we get the lakes fully opened up for the summer shipping season.

But the need for this bill has already been well established. This bill will authorize the Coast Guard to design and construct a new replacement ice-breaker for the Great Lakes. In addition to assisting with ice-breaking problems we have had on the Great Lakes, this bill will also put Americans to work building this vessel.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I commend the chairman for putting this legislation forward.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and this legislation as well, the National Water Resource and Development Initiative Act.

As a Representative of Michigan, the Great Lakes State, water issues of all varieties are very important to all of my constituents. The Great Lakes are fully one-fifth, or 20 percent, of the

world's freshwater drinking supply, and certainly that makes them a natural resource unparalleled on the planet.

This legislation, which would establish a national committee to study our Nation's water needs and to make recommendations for a comprehensive national water strategy, sounds very good and very noncontroversial at first blush. But whenever a national water policy is first discussed, we in Michigan and the Great Lakes Basin get very nervous. And whether it is due to population expansion and to dryer areas of the Nation in the South or the West or global warming or whatever, water is going to be a very important need for many in the 21st century.

In fact, just last year, Mr. Speaker, Business Week magazine did a cover story about why the great oilman T. Boone Pickens thinks water is actually the new oil. As a result of these challenges, some have begun to promote the idea of a natural water policy to deal with these challenges, and attention will undoubtedly turn to the places that have freshwater like the Great Lakes. There have been numerous examples of this over the decades on both sides of the aisle here. But let me illustrate a recent one.

During the 2008 Presidential campaign, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who was then running for President, told the Las Vegas Sun, ``I want a national water policy. We need a dialogue between the States to deal with issues like water conservation, water reuse technology, water delivery, and water production.'' And he went on to say, ``States like Wisconsin are awash with water.''

Fortunately, in order to prevent efforts by others to divert Great Lakes water outside the Basin, last fall we enacted the Great Lakes Compact, which reserves for the Governors of the Great Lakes States the opportunity to regulate diversions of water from the Great Lakes Basin. The compact bans new and increased diversions of water outside the Great Lakes Basin with only limited, highly regulated exceptions, and it establishes a framework for each State and the two provinces in Canada to enact laws protecting the Basin. And after being ratified by the Great Lakes State, the compact passed this House last September by a vote of 390-25, and the Senate actually passed it under unanimous consent, was then signed into law by then-President Bush.

In order to ensure that this new water initiative does not infringe on the principles associated with the Great Lakes Compact, I offered an amendment to the Rules Committee yesterday. Regrettably, it was not made in order. Quite simply, my amendment would have prevented the interagency committee, the National Water Initiative Coordination Office, the National Water Research and Assessment Plan from considering or promoting policies that would undermine or interfere with the principles of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.

The Great Lakes, as I said, are the very identity of my State of Michigan and all of us in the Great Lakes Basin, and we all take their care very seriously. My constituents will not abide even the prospect of a diversion of the Great Lakes water to other areas of the country where growth is beginning to outstrip their resources. And some might argue that the Great Lakes Compact provides all of the protections that we need.

I do agree that there are very strong protections in the compact, but I also fear that everything is subject to change. And while I am not suggesting that this legislation aims to divert Great Lakes water, it also does nothing to protect them or to protect and prohibit diversion either. Such protections would make, certainly, my constituents and all the people that live in the Great Lakes Basin much more comfortable with the establishment of a national water policy. And since those protections are not included in this legislation, Mr. Speaker, I will be opposing both this rule and the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Detroit Free Press for winning journalism's most esteemed award, the Pulitzer Prize, in the category of Local Reporting. Through old- fashioned hard work and investigative journalism, reporters Jim Schaefer and M.L. Elrick helped to secure their newspaper's prize by uncovering evidence which revealed endemic corruption at Detroit City Hall.

The Free Press's journalistic prowess and integrity provided a needed check to government power and corruption, a tradition which is firmly rooted in America's great tradition of a free press. The reporting of Schaefer and Elrick, and their work in uncovering the truth for the people of Detroit, is something that this entire country can be proud of.

Regardless of all of the ways that the media have changed in recent years, one thing that will never go out of style in America is the ability of a free press to keep the public accurately and honestly informed about its government.

Congratulations to the Detroit Free Press. You make us all proud, and you truly exemplify the spirit of the first amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to let my colleagues know that there is no challenge that we in Michigan cannot handle. So when the administration's auto plan came out this week, and it was announced that some decisions have been made that might mean even tougher times ahead, I knew that we would just do what we have always done: roll up our sleeves and get to work. And that's exactly what we are doing.

Recently, a bipartisan group of us in Congress introduced the CARS Act, which would offer vouchers to Americans to purchase new fuel- efficient cars made in North America, while trading in their old gas guzzlers. I was encouraged to hear the President say this week that he is in favor of such an incentive program.

This ``cash for clunkers'' program is a win-win plan. It gives our auto industry a much-needed boost, it cleans up our environment at the same time, and it does what those in Michigan and this great country have always done. It creates an innovative solution to answer the call of a challenge.

Let's support this plan and continue to work together to create solutions. That is the Michigan way. That is the American way.

Madam Speaker, yesterday was a very, very tough medicine, I would say that is an understatement, tough medicine for the people of Michigan, as President Obama put down very quick timelines for General Motors and Chrysler to complete the restructuring plans that will make them viable both in the short term, and long-term viability as well.

At that same time, the President indicated his support for the industry, which we took to heart, and we find that very, very encouraging, and the President indicated his desire to work with the Congress to produce an incentive to get customers in the showroom. And this is key: How can we incent people to actually purchase an automobile in these economic times?

Madam Speaker, recently I was very proud to join with my Democratic colleagues, Betty Sutton of Ohio and Bruce Braley of Iowa, to sponsor H.R. 1550, which we call the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009, or the CARS Act, or as it is now commonly being referred to as the Cash for Clunkers bill.

This bill, Madam Speaker, would provide consumers with up to a $7,500 incentive to trade in an older, less fuel-efficient vehicle for a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. And we know this is an idea that will work because it already has.

In this case, consumers actually get the immediacy at the point of sale, not later on in the year when they might be doing their tax returns to get a credit or something, but when they are purchasing a car they would get a voucher for this. And the good thing is as well that dealers don't actually have to take that trade-in and have it sitting on the lot, either. That car would be scrapped. But, as I say, we know it would work because we have seen what has happened.

Recently, the German Government introduced a similar incentive, and in February German car sales were up 22 percent, as sales fell, as we all are painfully aware, around the rest of the world.

There was an op-ed in today's USA Today by Bill Ford, and it is titled, ``Cash in Old Cars for New Ones. Economy, Consumers, Automakers Would All Benefit.'' This is written by Bill Ford of the Ford Motor Company. And I will also say that this bill is supported by all of the Big Three, General Motors, and Chrysler, as well as supported by the

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 178--expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain injury and support for the designation of a National Brain Injury Awareness Month.

It is appropriate that we debate this bill today, since March is widely recognized as Brain Injury Awareness Month. Now, more than ever, we need to heighten the public's awareness to a growing issue-- Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic Brain Injury has been called the signature wound of the War on Terror, as thousands of American servicemen and women have been diagnosed with TBI and untold more have yet to be diagnosed.

An estimated 360,000 soldiers have sustained Traumatic Brain Injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. Furthermore, Military health screening programs have shown that as many as 20% of returning troops have suffered at least a mild concussion.

The use of Improvised Explosive devices are the primary cause of this silent wound. Often, symptoms don't manifest themselves for some time. Many of the symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury are similar to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, further hindering a proper diagnosis.

The dramatic increase in Traumatic Brain Injuries among military veterans has created huge stresses on the VA system's capability to handle. While there was no way that the VA could have predicted the demand for Traumatic Brain Injuries treatment and rehabilitation before our troops were deployed in response to the attacks on our country, the fact remains that we need to provide better services to our veterans, and we need to be able to provide those services in their own communities rather than requiring them to travel for treatment.

The Veterans Administration is already working with some private and nonprofit providers of Traumatic Brain Injury treatment and rehabilitation, but it can and should identify more opportunities to allow veterans to receive appropriate, high-quality care from providers in their own communities.

And that is why I have joined with my colleagues here in Congress and joined the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.

Our goal is to further educate and raise awareness of brain injury and support funding for basic and applied research on brain injury rehabilitation. It is important that we give brain injury the attention it is due to help us move beyond the ``silent epidemic'' and towards real treatments, supports, and eventually cures.

The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force has worked to ensure that individuals have access to reliable information, effective prevention strategies, and, if injured, comprehensive and appropriate treatments.

We owe our nation's veterans a debt we cannot fully repay, but we must make sure that every solider, sailor, airman or Marine exposed to an Improvised Explosive Device is properly screened and treated for Traumatic Brain Injury--we owe them no less.

I support the recognition of March as National Brain Injury Awareness Month and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, how amazing, quite amazing that we just heard this testimony and these remarks from our colleague from Louisiana, Representative Cao. But if there is any reason for our colleagues to support this resolution, it is by the words that he just spoke. What an unbelievable story he told. He is a Vietnamese-American, his father for 7 years in a re-education camp in Vietnam, and here he is as a result of our men and women fighting for freedom and democracy and liberty. That is certainly a vivid demonstration of why we need to pass this resolution today. I certainly support Resolution 234, which will designate a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

My district in McComb County, Michigan, is actually home to I think one of if not the largest chapter of Vietnam veterans, Chapter 154, in the entire Nation.

My husband, a very proud Vietnam veteran, actually flew F-102s with the 509th Fighter-Interceptor group from air bases in both Danang and Saigon. These veterans served our Nation faithfully and with distinction and honor. But, to our everlasting shame, they received a horrible homecoming.

One of the saddest times, Mr. Speaker, in American history was the way that we treated our Vietnam veterans when they returned from combat. Caught in the crossfire of the debate on the war in our Nation, they came home to taunts, insults, and worse. These brave men and women, these great war fighters, these great patriots, these great Americans, they answered our Nation's call to fight, and they fought, they bled, and they died in the service of our country.

Not only did they have to bear their physical and psychological wounds of warfare, Mr. Speaker, but our Nation did not recognize them as the heroes that they were and that they are. There were no parades and no yellow ribbons and no thanks for serving when our Nation asked them to do so, and they stepped forward to defend freedom and liberty and democracy.

These men and women deserved better, Mr. Speaker. And although it has taken many years to rectify the injustice some of our fellow citizens visited upon our Vietnam veterans, today we can honor them, and we should, with a day to welcome them home properly. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial here in Washington is one of the most visited memorials. This wall stands as a reminder that 58,000 of our fellow countrymen paid the ultimate price, and we must never forget them.

We owe our Nation's veterans a debt that can never be fully repaid, but we want to thank them for their service and their sacrifice on behalf of our great Nation, and all of us will continue to work the halls of Congress to ensure that our veterans get the care, the help, the recognition, and the benefits that they so richly deserve. I know that I have a MIA/POW flag hanging right outside the door of my Congressional office, and if you walk up and down the halls of Congress, you will see many, many others displayed here as well.

We can never forget.

And I would encourage every community in America to observe the ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'' so that we never forget our veterans' bravery, courage and sacrifice. And today let me say ``welcome home.''

I ask all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, this week, we saw the latest outrage from Wall Street when it was exposed that AIG paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses, much of which went to workers in the division that helped actually cause the economic meltdown, and all with taxpayers' money. The excuse we are given is that those are contractual obligations and they must be paid, and we are supposed to just accept that.

Let us contrast that with how American auto workers are treated when General Motors or Chrysler need bridge loans from the government. They are told that they make too much money and that their contracts are killing the companies, and that they must take less or else the Federal Government will let the companies die.

So let's get this straight; AIG employees, who helped implode the economy, are given bonuses with taxpayers' money because it's in their contract, while UAW workers whose companies were badly hurt by the economic meltdown--partially caused by AIG--are told that their contracts must be disregarded or renegotiated. That is a vivid example of the double standard where people who work on Wall Street get their contracts upheld, but people who work on the line, it doesn't matter, and let them eat cake. This is wrong, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, all too often, it seems as though celebrities get caught up in their own life and have little time for those who are struggling in this very difficult economy. Well, Jay Leno is not one of those people. In fact, I think Jay Leno is an American hero today, because on Tuesday's Tonight Show, Jay Leno announced he will soon be doing a show at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Metro Detroit for the unemployed workers who have been struggling in this difficult economy, and the show will be absolutely free of charge.

Jay is donating his immense talent in an effort to give those workers who have been struggling a night out for a few laughs. I certainly also want to praise the leaders of the Palace who have offered up the facility free of charge for this event.

Jay Leno is a ``car guy'' who understands the hard work done by our Nation's auto workers and the incredible products they produce, and he understands that in this tough economy, many of those workers no longer have jobs.

It is absolutely outstanding that he is doing this to help lift their spirits

and to help highlight the economic challenges that we face around our Nation, but especially in southeast Michigan. I want to thank you, Jay Leno. We in Metro Detroit welcome you, and you have our sincere thanks.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise to support this rule, as well as the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, it has been said that if the last century was all about the world's obsession with oil, that this century is going to be about water; fresh, clean water. Now, you cannot drink oil, but you cannot live without fresh, clean water.

In Michigan, we are truly blessed to be surrounded by the Great Lakes. These bodies of water are a world treasure--not just a national treasure, but a world treasure--because they comprise fully 20 percent, or one-fifth, of the fresh water drinking supply of our entire planet. Unfortunately, after years of industrial pollution and sewage overflows from aging, inadequate underground infrastructure and sewage systems, all of this has taken a toll on our magnificent Great Lakes.

This bill, the Water Quality Investment Act, continues a very proud tradition of continuing our efforts to improve water quality, both in the Great Lakes and around our Nation as well. I want to commend Chairman Oberstar, as well a Ranking Member Mica, for their work on these very important bills. As has been mentioned, we are consolidating five very important bills that passed the House last year into this one piece of legislation which is, again, so critically important to our fresh water supply in our Nation.

Specifically, this bill is authorizing $13.8 billion for capitalization grants for Clean Water Revolving Funds, and $1.8 billion for grants to deal specifically with sewer overflows. It is estimated, Mr. Speaker, that 24 billion gallons of municipal sewage find their way directly into local water systems every year, and that is the equivalent of over 100 olympic-size swimming pools full of sewage each and every day getting into our water supply. This legislation recognizes this problem and acts to correct it.

This bill also reauthorizes the Great Lakes Legacy Act, which, unfortunately, will expire next year if we don't take action now. As a result of this act, nearly 800,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments have been removed from areas of concern in the Great Lakes Basin. But we still have a very long way to go. We need to continue this good work because 31 areas of concern which have been designated remain in the United States alone, and then there are five others that are split between the United States and the nation of Canada. This bill increases the authorization for this program up to $150 million annually, again, which will help us meet our goal of cleaning up the Great Lakes.

I also want to take a moment and mention my support for the application of Davis-Bacon requirements to projects funded from Clean Water Revolving Funds in this act. As a Member, Mr. Speaker, coming from the great State of Michigan, which is, unfortunately, suffering with over 11 percent unemployment today, I want to be absolutely certain that water infrastructure projects in my State are built by workers who live in my State, a State where we need every single job that we can get.

Davis-Bacon ensures that local workers benefit from projects being done in their area.

The Water Quality Investment Act will help us make great strides, I think, in efforts to maintain and to improve our Nation's water infrastructure and to clean up the Great Lakes. As I say, for all these water projects throughout our entire Nation, as my colleague from Florida has mentioned, this is such a critically important piece of legislation. On our side, I think you can expect an awful lot of support for this bill.

Clean water is not a partisan issue. Water doesn't know if it's in a Republican district or a Democratic district or what kind of district it is, but it is for those of us in Congress to speak up and to support, again, this rule and this bill, and I would certainly urge my colleagues to do so.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment because, quite simply, Davis-Bacon works.

Some might say that Davis-Bacon is nothing more than a giveaway to unions, but nothing in Davis-Bacon actually requires government contractors to hire union labor. All Davis-Bacon actually does is to require that a local prevailing wage be paid to employees who do work on government infrastructure projects. And it just so happens that in many cases, when Davis-Bacon is applied, that union labor is hired because they have outstanding training that warrants the wage that is being paid is paid to them. And in the end, most importantly, good work is done on public projects.

Let us also remember for a moment what actually happened after Hurricane Katrina when then-President Bush suspended Davis-Bacon during the emergency rebuilding. During that time, Mr. Speaker, we saw local workers turned away in favor of immigrant labor from other areas, many of them workers who were in this country illegally. It got so bad after Katrina that I joined a number of my Republican colleagues in going to President Bush to implore him to restore Davis-Bacon protections. President Bush then rescinded his earlier order and the people of the gulf coast got the jobs they needed and the rebuilding went much smoother. And I will say this: When government work is being done in Michigan, I want highly skilled Michigan building trades workers to get those jobs.

Mr. Chairman, again, very simply, Davis-Bacon works. And I would urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

Mr. Chairman, last year a constituent of the mine, Gail St. Laurent, told me of a story surrounding the passing of her mother, who had a long battle with cancer. Fortunately, her mother had very good insurance, so she was able to get many, many drugs administered to help her manage pain during the final days of her life.

Gail was there when her mother passed away, and before her mother was taken out of the room, Gail watched as an official took all of the remaining drugs that her mother had, including OxyContin, Marinal, and liquid morphine, and then this person flushed them down the toilet. Then Gail had to sign a form that she had witnessed them being flushed down the toilet. Now, not only were those drugs sent down the toilet and into our water system, but they were perfectly good, including two vials of liquid morphine delivered just that day, and could have been used to help other patients.

This is not an isolated incident. Only about 1 year ago, the Associated Press reported the results of a 5-month investigation into America's water, and their results were shocking. A vast array of pharmaceutical products were found in the water supplies and the water systems that serve millions of Americans their drinking water supply. These drugs were found in water systems all across our country, from Detroit to southern California, from San Francisco to New Jersey. These drugs, which included treatments for high cholesterol, sex hormones, and anti-depressants, have also been found to be causing havoc on our ecosystems, resulting in mutated plant and animal life.

Now, there are a number of ways pharmaceuticals can end up in our lakes or our rivers and our water supplies. But the most direct route right now is when health care facilities and individuals flush unused drugs down the toilet. As this issue began to get more attention, I learned that Federal agencies have issued varying guidelines on how to dispose of drugs that are no longer needed. The AP actually noted that the government has an inconsistency in this area, and this is a follow- up story from September of 2008, and I quote:

``Federal agencies don't have a consistent message. For example, the Fish and Wildlife Service says do not flush unused medications, while the White House, backed by the FDA and the EPA, says flush prescription drugs down the toilet if they are on the list in the special guidelines. Meanwhile, the Drug Enforcement Administration says there is no safe, secure, and reliable disposal system for some narcotics.''

Mr. Chairman, if we are to begin the process of cleaning up our water and safely disposing of these drugs, the Federal Government's message needs to be consistent in telling consumers what to do.

My amendment very simply directs the EPA to convene a task force of the relevant Federal agencies to develop uniform recommendations on the proper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals. These recommendations would be designed with the goal in mind of reducing the detrimental effects caused by unused pharmaceuticals entering our Nation's water supply. The task force would also develop a strategy to educate the public on these recommendations. And I would hope that the task force could also find a safe way to allow for unused drugs to be given to other patients who would benefit from their use.

A year from enactment, the task force would then be required to submit a report to the Congress on their findings, and 6 months later, the task force would be disbanded.

So while I do not expect that this problem will be solved overnight, I feel strongly that we must begin paying proper attention to this issue because of its impact on our environment and its potential impact on public health. This amendment can get us started on working toward a solution. And if we can get everybody on the same page in terms of how to dispose of these products properly, then perhaps we could take a very significant step forward towards protecting our Nation's drinking water supply.

I certainly want to thank my friend Gail St. Laurent not only for the loving care that she gave to her mother but also for bringing this serious issue to my attention. Gail has really endeavored to make something good happen from that instance in her life.

I would urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield to the distinguished chairman.

I thank the chairman for his comments. And I would certainly yield to our ranking member from the subcommittee as well.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to adopt the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice S. Miller.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Huron County, Michigan Sherriffs Office.

Address of Requesting Entity: 120 S. Heisterman St. Bad Axe, MI 48413.

Description of Request: Funds would be used for law enforcement technologies.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sanilac County, Michigan Sherriffs Office.

Address of Requesting Entity: 65 N. Elk Street, Sandusky, MI 48471.

Description of Request: Funds would be used to replace their current computer system which lacks storage capabilities and is antiquated. The goal is to convert the current system to a Windows platform which would allow for more interoperable connectivity with agencies at the local, state and federal level.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lapeer County Sheriffs Office.

Address of Requesting Entity: 3231 John Conley Dr. Lapeer, MI 48446.

Description of Request: Funds would be used to add Mobile Data Terminals to eight patrol cars.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: Small Business Administration--Business Loan Programs.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Macomb County.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1 S. Main St. 7th floor, Mt. Clemens, Ml 48043.

Description of Request: The funds would be used to provide a variety of much needed programs and services including training such as business plan and marketing writing and assistance. Additionally it would serve businesses and entrepreneurs in Macomb County who currently does not have access to vital services.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Thumb Rural Health Network.

Address of Requesting Entity: 210 S. First St. Harbor Beach, MI 48441.

Description of Request: Funds will be utilized to establish and enhance integrated communications systems for a small network of small, rural critical access hospitals. Funds will be used to purchase equipment, establish a system wide communications and triage network thus cutting down movement between these 5 hospitals located all over Michigan's thumb area.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: Higher Education (FIPSE).

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Saint Clair County Community College.

Address of Requesting Entity: 323 Erie St., Port Huron, MI 48061.

Description of Request: This funding would be used to develop a 2 year alternative energy degree.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: Higher Education (FIPSE).

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Macomb County Community College.

Address of Requesting Entity: 14500 E. Twelve Mile Road, Warren, MI 48088.

Description of Request: The funding would be used to develop a comprehensive 2 year alternative energy degree.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: Investigations.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments.

Address of Requesting Entity: 535 Griswold St. Ste. 300 Detroit, MI 48226.

Description of Request: The funding would be used to establish a partnership of federal, State of Michigan and local agencies to guide the implementation of the Lake St. Clair Management Plan. Funds would also be used to develop a strategic implementation plan that will guide the Army Corps in its implementation of the Management plan. Both activities are a requirement of Section 3089 of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: O&M.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers.

Address of Requesting Entity: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226.

Description of Request: The funding would be used for dredging channels in Lake St. Clair.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: O&M.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers.

Address of Requesting Entity: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226.

Description of Request: The funding would be used for dredging Caseville harbor.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105.

Account: O&M.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers.

Address of Requesting Entity: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226.

Description of Request: The funding would be used for dredging the Clinton River.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: O&M

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226

Description of Request: The funding would be used for dredging Lexington Harbor

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: O&M

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226

Description of Request: The funding would be used for dredging Port Austin Harbor

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: O&M

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226

Description of Request: The funding would be used for dredging Port Sanilac Harbor

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: O&M

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226

Description of Request: The funding would be used for dredging the St. Clair River

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: EERE-Building Technologies

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: St. Clair County Community College

Address of Requesting Entity: 323 Erie St. Port Huron, MI 48061

Description of Request: This funding would be used for infrastructure to match and accommodate a developing curriculum regarding alternative energies.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: TCSP Transportation and Community and System Preservation

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: County of Sanilac

Address of Requesting Entity: 60 W. Sanilac Rd. Sanilac County Courthouse, Room 214, Sandusky, MI 48471

Description of Request: The funding would be used for a bike path between Lexington and Port Sanilac

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: AIP--Airport Improvement Program

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Sandusky

Address of Requesting Entity: 26 W. Speaker St. Sandusky, Ml 48471

Description of Request: This funding would be used for the extension of the runway and new taxiway.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Buses and Bus Facilities

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sanilac Count Transportation Authority

Address of Requesting Entity: 25 S. Arthur St. Carsonville, MI 48419

Description of Request: This funding would be used for the replacement of buses.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Buses and Bus Facilities

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Greater Lapeer Transportation Authority

Address of Requesting Entity: 230 South Monroe St. Lapeer, MI 48446

Description of Request: This funding would be used for the replacement of buses.

Mr. Speaker, I come from Macomb County, Michigan, which is the proud home of the Reagan Democrats. And it is a community that has been impacted as much as anybody in this Nation by the economic downturn. And I do not need to be lectured by anyone about the challenges we are facing, because we live with it every single day. I understand. Believe me, I understand.

So when President Obama talked about an economic stimulus plan that was focused on tax cuts or massive infrastructure investment, I was there. But what we are about to vote on today is unrecognizable from what he talked about. Michigan is a State of about 10 million people, and we are the hardest hit, as I said, by this economy. And yet we are expected to get approximately $7 billion from this bill. And apparently the Senate majority leader has earmarked $8 billion for a rail system from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? You have got to be kidding. You have got to be kidding.

As everyone knows, Michigan is dependent on the auto industry, which is on its knees right now. So I was incredibly disappointed to see an $11 billion auto incentive to spur auto sales reduced to $2 billion in the conference report.

Please vote ``no'' against this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to be offering the motion to recommit momentarily, which will be offering to restore the tax credit for car purchases to the full $11.5 billion, which was reported by the Senate to the conference committee. Unfortunately, it was stripped out of there. The Democrats watered down this proposal to $1.6 billion, which will have almost no impact on the auto industry. Of course, my being from Michigan and as we all know, the auto industry is on its knees.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

In its current form, yes, I do oppose the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 632, the National Silver Alert Act.

This legislation will provide federal grants to states to assist them in the development or improvement of an alert system for seniors.

I believe that a society can be judged by the compassion it shows to the most vulnerable in that society. And in America those are our children and our seniors.

We all know that our society is aging and many in our community are facing the challenges posed by dealing with aging parents and loved ones.

We worry about the safety of our seniors, particularly those who suffer from either Alzheimers or dementia. And our first concern is to ensure that our loved ones get the care they need.

Many times those seniors when going about everyday tasks like going to the store or walking their dog can wander or drive off and become lost.

Statistics show that as many as 60% of patients with Alzheimers or dementia will wander at some point during their illness. Those same statistics also show that if they are not found within the first 24 hours that as many as 50% will suffer serious injury or death.

That is enough to elicit serious concern from any loved one or care provider.

We have experienced similar issues with young children who wander away or are taken by someone.

To combat that problem we established the Amber Alert system.

Amber Alert ensures that the information concerning that child is shared with law enforcement and with the general public through the media and signs along our roadways.

We have all seen these reports when they are issued and we all keep an extra keen eye to provide any assistance we can to return those children to safety.

The Amber Alert System works and it works well.

Our seniors deserve no less support, particularly those suffering from Alzheimers or dementia.

They too often can become confused and travel far distances or to areas of danger with little ability to find their way home.

That is why I strongly support the National Silver Alert Act. I am hopeful that we can quickly pass this important legislation and urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.