Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention to Liberty Common High School's (LCHS) outstanding performance on the ACT college readiness assessment. Liberty Common High School is a relatively new public high school located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and its students performed exceptionally on this year's exam. Liberty's achievement not only shows the intellectual strength of the Class of 2015, but also demonstrates the overall success of the charter school's educational program.

The ACT is a college readiness assessment that all Colorado high school students are required to take in their junior year. In both 2012 and 2013, Liberty Common High School achieved the highest composite ACT score in the state of Colorado. This year, Liberty Common High School's composite score of 28.63 was not only the highest of all the high schools in Colorado, but was also the highest in the history of our great state. LCHS also now holds the record for every subject category on the ACT. These feats are particularly impressive given the fact that LCHS only opened in 2010 and is such a young school. It has obtained the highest ACT score in the state in every year that its students have taken the test.

Academic achievement at this level not only shows the success of a charter school built on parental involvement, but also the strength of the curriculum taught at Liberty Common High School. The principal of Liberty Common High School, former Congressman Bob Schaffer said, ``These scores are a reflection of a solid classical, college- preparatory curriculum we've built atop the powerful Core Knowledge curriculum we use in grades K through eight.'' This Core Knowledge curriculum, along with the character education in both elementary and high school, is structured in a way so that students' knowledge builds upon what they learned in the previous year. The foundational skills learned in the elementary grades allow students to reach a higher level of education in high school.

While in high school, LCHS students are not only challenged by their classes and teachers, but also by their peers. Members of Liberty Common High School's Class of 2015, who have just recently set the ACT composite score record for the state of Colorado, attribute their success, in part, to the class which preceded them. The Class of 2014 not only set the bar high for the class below them, but held sessions that helped juniors prepare for the ACT early. They challenged the Class of 2015 to beat their score while helping them to do so. A student community like the one at Liberty allows students to invite others to try their best while offering help to one another in the process.

This score is outstanding, but what is more outstanding is what this score symbolizes--a school run by parents, chosen by parents, and supported by parents preparing their children to achieve in college and in life. Successes like these should not go unnoticed, but instead should be highlighted as an example for what a great public education can achieve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the Greeley, Colorado chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) for their outstanding service to our state and nation.

Abiding by the motto ``God, Home and Country,'' the Centennial State chapter of NSDAR has worked tirelessly over its 110 year existence to provide assistance for members of our military serving oversees and those honorably discharged. This group of women has a commitment to the veteran's community of Greeley, but also to education and higher learning within the community at large. It is an inspiration to see an organization so committed to educating our children, serving those in need, and preserving American history.

I am honored that the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution serves Colorado's 4th district. Their service resonates throughout the community. I commend them for preserving their long and storied history, and wish them continued success in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in observation of the 1-year anniversary of the horrific floods that hit the State of Colorado 1 year ago.

Starting on September 11, floods ravaged communities and wiped away homes, schools, and businesses. The widespread damage was unlike anything I have seen in my lifetime in Colorado.

As the flooding was happening and in the immediate aftermath, I joined neighbors and leaders to survey many of the damaged areas. We worked together to make sure that we provided the much-needed relief.

In west Longmont, I saw railroad tracks ripped and tangled. I saw vehicles lying upside down and garages filled with mud. I also saw people working in the spirit of community, striving to recover, helping each other.

I couldn't possibly name all of the heroes involved in the flood response and recovery, but I would like to recognize a few:

St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District Director Sean Cronin has provided invaluable resources to water districts and ditch companies to help them provide water to communities for agriculture;

John Zadel and Stan Linker of the Central Weld County Water District worked to get water systems for small communities like Frederick and Firestone back in operation;

Local fire districts like Mountain View, Hygiene, Johnstown, and others were on the front lines of flood response.

In the year since the disaster, we have made tremendous progress, but there is a lot more work to be done. Communities in Weld, Morgan, and Logan continue their work today.

With the great resilience of the people of this State, I have no doubt we will come back stronger than ever and continue working together for the good of our great State.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Whitfield for his leadership on the Energy and Power Subcommittee, and I certainly appreciate the work you have done on energy independence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014. This bill simply seeks to achieve congressional intent of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 regarding exemptions for certain service parts.

I would like to thank my colleague from New York, Congressman Tonko, for working with me on this legislation, and I would also like to thank Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman for bringing this bill to the floor.

In the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, Congress recognized the need for manufacturers to continue to produce and distribute service and spare parts to be used with older out-of-production products that didn't comply with the new energy efficiency regulations produced by the 2007 bill.

The most common forms of EPS products are laptops, desktops, tablets, printers, and network products--products we use every day. Congress anticipated issues surrounding older service parts. The 2007 bill provided that from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2015, the energy standards would not apply to EPS made available as service or spare parts for end use products manufactured before July 1, 2008.

The reason for this legislation is to make a technical correction to provide explicit authority to the Department of Energy to create a similar exemption when the Department of Energy updated their EPS efficiency standards.

The existing language in the 2007 bill, according to DOE, has the opposite effect. It actually prevents DOE from extending this needed exemption in its February 2014 rulemaking on EPS efficiency standards.

The EPS Service Parts Act is in line with the original intent of the 2007 energy bill. It allows for continued production and distribution of replacement EPS for use with equipment manufactured before February 10, 2016, the effective date of the new DOE efficiency standards.

By passing this legislation, the bill will benefit both U.S. consumers and manufacturers. It will allow manufacturers such as Dell or Hewlett-Packard to maintain and distribute supplies of replacement parts for older equipment. It will also allow for warranty and contract compliance by these manufacturers.

Without this legislation, manufacturers would be required to redesign and qualify service on spare EPS parts at significant expense solely to support products that are no longer in production.

Manufacturers would also be forced to destroy existing inventories. Again, they would have to be destroyed--existing inventories--that were intended to support service and spare parts.

Also, in addition to meeting energy efficiency standards, the redesigned EPS parts would also need to be recertified to all the applicable safety, efficiency, and other environmental specifications.

Because of the low volume of services and spare parts, this would be a very costly and job-costing undertaking for manufacturers. Companies have estimated increased costs in the millions of dollars with no corresponding benefit to energy savings or the consumer.

This bill has the support of the Information Technology Industry Council, the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, the Consumer Electronics Association, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The bill saves money and avoids a regulatory overreach not intended by, but accidentally instigated by a previous Congress.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill.

Again, thank you to my colleague from New York (Mr. Tonko).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Pat Bowlen. Mr. Bowlen is a natural leader with unquestionable integrity, an incredible work ethic, and a voracious appetite for success. As the Denver Broncos owner over 30 years, he led the team to back-to-back Super Bowl Championships and 6 AFC Division Championships.

In 1984, Mr. Bowlen took over as the Denver Broncos CEO during a time when the team was having financial difficulties. Since then, his distinguished leadership and strategic vision has turned the franchise into one of the most successful teams in the NFL today.

His outstanding business acumen is respected by players, coaches, and the fans themselves. In 2000, according to an ESPN fan poll, Mr. Bowlen was voted in as the NFL owner fans would most like to play for.

Mr. Bowlen is also very proactive in the Denver community. In 2007, he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2013 received the Mizel Institute Community Enrichment Award, only given to those who have exemplary philanthropic involvement in their communities.

During his personal time, Mr. Bowlen has participated in grueling fitness activities such as the Ironman Triathlon, which is just another testament to his incredible self discipline and work ethic.

Due to Mr. Bowlen's courageous fight against Alzheimer's disease, he will step down this month from his position as CEO of one of the greatest NFL franchises in history, but his dignified legacy will live on. Mr. Bowlen, thank you for being such a positive influence and inspiration for the city of Denver, the Colorado community, and people all across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, Abecedarium. A-b-e-c-e-d-a-r-i-u-m. Abecedarium.

It was 1985 and I was in the fifth grade at Yuma Middle School. Back then, the school

held the fourth through eighth grades under one roof. As a fifth grader, we weren't the new kids any more, getting used to a new school. And we certainly weren't the oldest or the coolest. We weren't in junior high and we didn't get outdoor camp like the sixth graders. We were in sort of a ``tweener'' grade for a tweener age--long before any of us knew there was any such thing as a tween.

But what we lacked in age rights or age slights, we made up for in our teacher, Leslie Woody. With a Bachelor's degree from Colorado College, Mrs. Woody began her teaching career in 1980, and after 34 years in the Yuma School District RJ-1 (and a Master's degree along the way), retired this year. It's hard to believe that anyone can stay in the same workplace for 34 years; today, the average length of a job is just under 5 years. But for the hundreds of kids who were lucky enough to call her our teacher, we are very glad (and blessed) that she did. It's hard to believe she had only been teaching for 5 years when she met the motley class of 1993!

She taught us to be happy (it's hard to do!). Positive about life. To surprise people with optimism.

And she was the Superspeller's super coach. I couldn't spell bupkis (sp?) without her. She taught us to compete, to excel, and not be afraid. To work hard and study. We made it to the district, regional, and state spelling bees. We got crushed by the students from St. Mary's, but we made it nonetheless. We gained confidence that only comes from hard work and perseverance and hours of practice. Perhaps the most important thing, and her secret lesson plan all along, was that Mrs. Woody taught us the lesson of how to learn.

Our daughter is entering fifth grade this year. And while Mrs. Woody will not be teaching her, there are other great teachers who will shape her young life the way Mrs. Woody shaped ours, something Jaime and I are certainly grateful for. But no one can ever replace the special place for a special teacher who helped make someone--who helped make me--who they are today.

For your years of service to our children and the future, and for the impact you had on my life, thank you. Please accept this recognition from one member of the United States House of Representatives and your student, knowing you made a difference.

Thank you. T-h-a-n-k y-o-u. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I will take this time to talk about Brand USA. To the chairman of the subcommittee, thank you for your leadership on this important, bipartisan issue. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation and urge its favorable passage today.

Just looking at the Colorado Tourism Office, just reading the Colorado tourism industry facts, it starts with saying that tourism equals jobs and revenue for Colorado. It is a vital piece of our economy. Tourism is one of the largest industries in Colorado in terms of jobs, employing 144,000 people in the tourism sector. Overall, these employees earn $4.1 billion annually, contributing to State revenue through income taxes. And, in fact, it is a little known fact that, without the taxes that are paid by tourists who visit from out of country, out of State to Colorado, the average Colorado family would have to pay an additional $407 a year in taxes to make up for the money that would be lost if we didn't have those tourism dollars being spent in Colorado. It has been a tremendous success.

When it comes to Brand USA, a quick look at the work that Brand USA has done in Colorado, partnering with Colorado to market the State to international visitors--marketing activities include both traditional media from TV display out of homes, social media, and more--but also our work in Colorado when it comes to craft beer being featured as part of Brand USA's 2014 Great American Road Trip, talking about the work we are doing in Colorado, thousands of people being employed in a new and growing industry.

Colorado was featured in Brand USA's 2014 inspirational visitors' guide, over 16 international audiences exposed because of Brand USA's international visitors' guide, which will generate over 30 million impressions through Brand USA. The list goes on and on, the work that we do.

I think it is also important to highlight the work Colorado has done with Brand USA's Discover America Pavilion at international trade shows around the world, like the Japanese Association of Travel Agents, work that we can do to highlight the opportunities to come to the United States, to create opportunities, perhaps a tourist the first time but a business partner the next time. I think it is a number of jobs that we can create.

Again, I thank the chairman for his work on this legislation, the bipartisan support for the legislation, and urge its passage today with the support of the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rex Davis, from Lamar, Colorado.

Mr. Davis owns a 298 acre irrigated farm in southern Colorado and has participated in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program since 2007.

Throughout the years Mr. Davis has introduced efficient and sustainable practices to improve his irrigation management which will make his farm operation viable for years to come.

His conservation practices have included gated pipeline, water control structure, irrigation system sprinkler, irrigation reservoir, pest management and nutrient management.

In addition to his farm operations, Mr. Davis raises Black Angus cattle, is a member of the Lamar Elks and is currently working on his second passion by training for his private pilot's license.

I am pleased to recognize Rex Davis as the 2013 Prowers County Conservationist of the Year.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment which allocates $3 million for water conservation and delivery.

The funding for this amendment is taken directly from the underlying bill's $56 million appropriation to the Bureau of Reclamation for water projects. The amendment directs $3 million of this sum specifically for water conservation and delivery projects.

The Bureau of Reclamation water conservation delivery fund provides critical assistance to Western areas of the country. In the arid West, water is our life. These projects improve water supply quality, address water shortage issues, improve conservation measures, and stabilize water supplies. These are projects like the Arkansas Valley Conduit, with over 100 miles of pipelines serving dozen of communities with clean, abundant, and affordable water.

In the Western United States, water is an economic driver. In order to attract more economic growth, either in business or agriculture, every industry in the West is dependent upon an ample and safe water supply.

This amendment will allow the Bureau of Reclamation more flexibility to continue with these types of projects while simultaneously improving public health and improving the environment. Also, these projects are critically important during drought years so that water is appropriately allocated for both municipal and agriculture uses.

The water conservation and delivery line in the Bureau's budget has been previously used for the California Central Valley Project, Washington State's Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, the Arkansas Valley Conduit in Colorado, and the Lewiston Orchard Project in the chairman's home State of Idaho.

I urge support of the amendment, and I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), the coauthor of this amendment, and I thank him for leadership on issues relating to water in the State of Colorado.

Again, I would like to thank the chairman of the subcommittee for his leadership. He is another Western lawmaker who has done tremendous good for our Western States when it comes to water conservation delivery efforts.

Mr. Chairman, I would urge the support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I thank you again for the opportunity to debate H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act. It is something that, in this Congress, we don't do that often, a bill to address both job creation here at home and also to provide our trading partners and our allies with energy security abroad.

The amendment before the desk right now is a manager's amendment, brought to this Chamber in a bipartisan fashion with the gentleman from Texas, Representative Gene Green, who has been gracious and patient in this effort to work through this process to make sure that we have as broad-based support as possible for this legislation.

It recognizes that, despite some of the concerns our side has with the recent DOE changes to their process, including the expanding scope of DOE's public interest analysis to include elements unrelated to DOE's primary authorities, it is still vitally important to send as strong a message as possible to our allies that the U.S. is prepared to answer their call and enter the market as a major exporting nation.

It is equally important that we send a message that we are bringing certainty to the applicants and the jobs currently waiting in limbo at DOE, and that DOE will, indeed, be held accountable to do its job once FERC finishes their facility review and the NEPA process.

Again, this legislation has the potential to lift 45,000 people off of the unemployment rolls. Daniel Yergin testified before the Energy and Commerce Committee that we could move from 1.7 million jobs in this country to 3 million jobs in this country in energy by 2020. And H.R. 6 and this amendment help advance that job creation.

But because DOE's recent changes did not put a final deadline for the Department to act on applications, this amendment requires that the Department must issue a decision on pending applications within 30 days after FERC completes the NEPA review for the project. We are doing this because some of these applications have been languishing for more than 2 years, and it is time to insert accountability back into the process, especially when DOE's own analysis concludes: Increasing natural gas exports are net positive to our economy.

This issue is too important to domestic job creation and to increasing the United States' role in international energy diplomacy to continue to squander and delay our opportunities.

This amendment also addresses many of the concerns that those on the other side have voiced with previous versions of this legislation, including completing full environmental reviews and maintaining DOE's role in the public interest test. I hope this will help H.R. 6 garner even broader support.

At this time, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green) and, again, thank him for his support.

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

I thank Ranking Member Waxman for his support of the amendment but would remind him that an Ambassador from Hungary, ambassador-at-large for energy security, said it is simply not true that lifting the natural gas export ban today would not have an immediate effect in Europe. It would immediately change the business calculus of infrastructure investment and send an extremely important message of strategic reassurance to the region, which currently feels more threatened than at any time since the cold war.

Passage of this bill would send an immediate signal to our allies and our enemies that the United States is serious about energy security and aiding our friends most in need of energy security.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I would just point out that here is an article that states that: ``Centrica buys U.S. LNG in 20-year deal as U.K. output wanes.'' Selling U.S. LNG to Europe, Italy is close to 20- year LNG deal with Cheniere; another article, ``Cheniere and Endesa sign 20-year LNG sale and purchase agreement.''

Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of the amendment to H.R. 6.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, the Holt amendment is a virtual rewrite of the entire Natural Gas Act that has been drafted without the benefit of the full debate of this Chamber or committee in regular order of this process.

The amendment would reverse the rebuttable presumption that proposed exports are consistent with the public interest. The amendment would also require the Department of Energy to undertake a new rulemaking and issue new regulations to determine whether an export of natural gas from the U.S. to a foreign country is in the public interest.

The moratorium on processing applications resulting from the Holt amendment could last years. The DOE has already spent more than 3 years--3 years--establishing the process for reviewing the public interest.

The DOE's public interest analysis is already well informed by numerous economic and environmental studies; and in prior decisions, DOE has looked at a number of factors, including economic impacts, international considerations, U.S. energy security, and environmental considerations, already among other things.

To conduct its reviews, DOE looks to the record of evidence developed in the application proceeding. Applicants and intervenors are free to raise new issues or concerns relevant to the public interest that may not have been addressed in prior cases.

Even though the DOE has repeatedly rejected the same reoccurring arguments lodged by the same Washington, D.C.-based special interest groups, they are delaying decisions on new export applications.

The Department of Energy has continually stated that the public interest generally favors authorizing proposals to export natural gas that have been shown to lead to net benefits on the U.S. economy, and I believe the Holt amendment would disrupt the process that DOE has developed and result in even further delays.

Mr. Chairman, with that, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

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

I would just add that the National Association of Manufacturers, on April 9--which claims to be the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 States--supports H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act.

So the largest organization of manufacturers supports H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act.

Mr. Chairman, I would also point out the risks if we do not have an outlet for American energy production.

The result of shut-in wells and less production, indeed, will lead to increased prices for consumers, but the fact is that DOE studies have already stated that exporting natural gas has been shown to lead to net benefits to

the U.S. economy, adding billions of dollars to our GDP, adding tens of thousands of jobs to our Nation's workforce, and removing people from the unemployment rolls.

This is something this Congress ought to adopt today, a way to move forward on energy security, and a way to move forward on jobs that are ready to put people to work. Let's pass this bill today.

I oppose the gentleman's amendment for the simple fact that it is unworkable and rewrites the law without adequate discussion and debate amongst this body.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the remaining time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I have spent a great deal of my time, both here in this Chamber and actually working in the State legislature as well, to protect people's property rights, particularly private property rights. In the State legislature, I remember the decision coming down from the Supreme Court, making sure that we could do everything we could to prevent any abuse of eminent domain. But it is that State legislative experience that taught me that the

legal process of eminent domain is largely a State and local issue which should have no bearing on the Department of Energy's public interest determination--again, this is about the public interest determination--for the export of LNG to non-free trade countries.

By law, the Secretary of Energy plays no part in approving the construction of LNG export facilities or the pipelines connecting the gas to the facility. By law, the Secretary of Energy plays no part in the pipeline or construction of the facilities.

This bill only addresses the Department of Energy's process, and this amendment would expand the role of DOE into an area where the DOE is not currently involved and has no expertise.

The purpose of H.R. 6 is to expedite liquefied natural gas export applications which have been stuck in limbo awaiting a decision for far too long--in some cases, for more than 2 years. This amendment would unfairly put new requirements on these already pending applications, and I believe we should oppose the amendment because it is something, again, that is left to the States and local determination factors. With that, I would ask for a ``no'' vote.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

Mr. Chairman, I would just add again that there is no eminent domain authority for an LNG facility. That is what H.R. 6 is addressing, the export permits for LNG facilities. There is no eminent domain authority for an LNG facility. Mr. Chairman, I urge opposition to the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the motion.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that motions to recommit are procedural motions that are not substantive legislative proposals. They are offered by the minority party, whether Republican or Democrat, with the goal of undermining or stopping the underlying legislation on the floor.

The Department of Energy's public interest consideration already looks at the concerns that you raise in this procedural motion. They already look at the factors that you talk about in this procedural motion.

No liquefied natural gas can go to countries which we have sanctions on or are otherwise restricted in law.

This administration has already said this will provide a net benefit to our economy. This administration has said U.S. natural gas prices will not rise to world prices. This administration has said that studies consistently demonstrate net economic benefits across all scenarios and export volumes. This administration has said the U.S. manufacturing renaissance is unlikely to be harmed by LNG exports.

If you stand for this bill you stand for jobs, you stand for economic opportunity, and you stand against delays. Let's pass this bill and defeat the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, let's oppose the motion to recommit and do what is right for America, creating jobs for us and our allies, answering the call for freedom at home.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6.

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

Mr. Chairman, America's natural gas output has been rising since 2006, and the Energy Information Administration expects the increases to continue for decades to come. As a result, we can meet domestic demand for affordable natural gas while also producing a surplus for export to our allies around the world. The only thing standing in the way is outdated Federal redtape that greatly delays the construction of LNG export facilities.

H.R. 6, the bill before us, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, is a targeted bill that cuts redtape and puts the Department of Energy on a reasonable deadline to act on LNG export applications.

I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Gene Green from Texas, for his cosponsorship of this bipartisan bill, and I urge the support of every Member in this Chamber for H.R. 6.

According to the lead study conducted for the Department of Energy, natural gas exports would be a net benefit to the American economy. These exports would improve the balance of payments and support up to 45,000 jobs associated with additional natural gas production as well as the construction and operation of LNG export facilities by 2018. Needless to say, these new jobs could not come at a better time for our economy.

Remember the concerns many of us had over the U.S. economy hemorrhaging billions of dollars every year going overseas to pay for energy imports. Well, for natural gas, the roles can be reversed, and we could be the ones selling energy on the global market and bringing in billions of dollars in job-sustaining revenues.

The economic impacts alone make natural gas exports a winning policy, but the geopolitical impacts are an incredible benefit as well and have been ignored for far too long. Allies around the world have told us that they would greatly benefit from American LNG.

Last October, the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a forum that included ambassadors and other officials representing 11 U.S. allies, all of whom strongly urged us to enter the global LNG marketplace. Since then, several other allies have stepped forward with the same request. This includes our friends in eastern Europe unfortunate enough to be reliant on Russia for natural gas.

Not only do these nations face unfair pricing, but political pressure, as a result of their dependence on Russia. These nations believe that the very passage of this legislation, the signal that we are serious about LNG exports, would immediately reduce Russia's negotiating leverage even before the first molecule of LNG shipment actually goes out. H.R. 6 will start doing good the very day it is enacted.

I should note that our efforts on LNG exports began before the current crisis erupted in Ukraine. Russia's actions over the past several months demonstrate the importance of this bill, and Russia's recent decision to cut off supplies to Ukraine further underscore the need for America to provide Europe an alternative supply of natural gas. Indeed, we can effectively push back against Russia's aggression and help our friends without ever putting any troops in harm's way.

Beyond Europe, we can also strengthen our economic ties with allies in Asia, who would rather buy their energy from us than from less reliable Middle Eastern suppliers.

We can also assist nations in achieving their environmental goals by offering the option of clean-burning natural gas, and we can help many developing countries by providing them with an energy source that is cheaper than the choices available to them now.

The economic benefits alone--or the geopolitical benefits alone--make LNG exports a worthwhile policy; but taken together, they make it a no- brainer. Unfortunately, the decades-old Federal approval process for LNG export facilities is acting as an impediment.

Proposed projects have languished at DOE for years on end. While DOE has recently announced some changes to the process, the agency is still under no deadline to act.

The amendment that I am offering with Mr. Green changes that. It provides that, once the extensive environmental review conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act is complete for a project, the Department of Energy has a 30-day deadline to issue a final decision on the application pending before the agency.

It is a sensible and workable solution to the current regulatory bottleneck. It is an answer to a call from our allies for energy security.

It is time to help our friends abroad. It is time to create jobs here at home.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Congress of the United States,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, June 24, 2014.

Hon. Fred Upton,

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Upton, I am writing concerning H.R. 6, the

``Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act,'' which the

Committee on Energy and Commerce reported on June 19, 2014.

As reported, H.R. 6 contains a section on judicial review,

which is within the Committee on the Judiciary's Rule X

jurisdiction. As a result of your having consulted with the

Committee and in order to expedite the House's consideration

of H.R. 6, the Committee on the Judiciary will not assert is

jurisdictional claim over this bill by seeking a sequential

referral. However, this is conditional on our mutual

understanding and agreement that doing so will in no way

diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on the

Judiciary with respect to the appointment of conferees or to

any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters

contained in the bill or similar legislation.

I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming

this understanding, and would request that you include a copy

of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record

during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in

advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Bob Goodlatte,

Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I would just point out that nothing in this bill changes the requirements of a NEPA analysis to be completed.

I share your frustration with the titles of bill names--the bill titles. Imagine our consternation over the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).

I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Louisiana.

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

I would point out that our colleagues in the Senate have introduced legislation similar to our legislation here on LNG exports titled, the Freedom Through Energy Export Act, by our colleague from Alaska, Mr. Begich.

I point out, too, that when it comes to domestic prosperity, the fact that this could create 45,000 job opportunities, increasing the employment in energy to 3 million people by 2020, that is prosperity and freedom.

Hungary's Ambassador at Large for Energy Security, Dr. Anita Orban, testified that this legislation ``sends a clear signal that the global gas market is changing, that there is the prospect of much greater supply coming from other parts of the world.''

That is world security, freedom, prosperity.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner), who has been a true leader on the issue of LNG exports.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks).

I yield the gentlelady an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

We have two additional speakers.

At this point, we only have two remaining speakers.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), a sponsor of H.R. 6, somebody who has been with this bill, this legislation, from the beginning as we have worked on this bipartisan process.

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

I thank the chairman for your leadership over this hour and thank the gentleman from California for the debate and the Members who came and debated this important piece of legislation today.

Look, we know this bill has the support of organizations like the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. People who represent the businesses of this country, the industrial might of this country, support H.R. 6 because they know that when we can produce our energy in our own backyard and help our allies to a greater prosperity for themselves, we are doing the right thing with

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable veterans of Honor Flight Northern Colorado as they make their 12th trip to Washington, DC to visit the memorials that stand in our nation's capital. While they served on different battlefields, they are united in their dedication and sacrifice to protecting the greatest nation on Earth.

The Honor Flight program was founded in 2005 with its original mission to fly veterans of World War II to Washington, DC free of cost, to visit the monuments and statues that symbolize their great sacrifices. Since then, Honor Flight has expanded and now includes every brave individual who has served valiantly in all other American engagements. This venerable program stands as a symbol of this country's gratitude and admiration for our veterans, and will continue to honor the men and women who have answered the call of duty. Of the 121 veterans visiting with its next flight, 34 served in WWII, 69 in Korea, and 18 in Vietnam.

Ours is the greatest nation on Earth, where the inherent values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are preserved through the countless heroic deeds demonstrated by our men and women in uniform. While these memorials and statues resemble the selfless acts and service of our veterans, in truth, the debt that we owe them can never be repaid in stone. Today, we honor these dignified heroes who have guaranteed through their sacrifice the underlying virtues, laws, and freedoms of this exceptional nation:

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Norlin Akers, Joseph Arthur, Donald Carlstrom, William Culp, Robert Davidson, Victor Ebel, Reginold Edwards, Arthur Engler, John Eschbaugh, Daniel Flanagan, Anthony Gance, Robert Gittinger, Paul Glasgow, Gene Hansen, Dean Hecker, Henry Jesse, Benjamin Jones, Robert King, Virgil Kiser, Fred Knipschild, James McIver, Richard Minges, Jack Moss, Ronald Reidy, Robert Ryan, Herbert Shelton, Jay Spaulding, William Spearman, Charles Sutter, Howard Swartz, Arpad Szallar, Eugene Turnbull, William Worth, George Zuniga, Dean Amdahl, Alfred Apodaca, Jennings Barr, Earl Bartlow, Elmer Bartlow, James Beach, John Bergquist, Eugene Burmester, Larry Carpenter, Glenn Chapman, William Chrismer, Harl Clark, Leonard Cooper Sr., LaVerne Dietz, Alfred Duchene, Emanuel Eckas, Thelma Eckas, Donald Eckert, Jessie Ellis, Edwin Ellstrom, Samuel Evans Jr., Herman Friesenhahn, Henry Geisert, Paul Gill, Lloyd Gould, George Hare, Eugene Hemmerle, William Hock, Milton Hunholz, Willis Janssen, William King, Dean Kingcade, Wallace Kirchhoff, Lawrence Kopecky, Richard Kounovsky, John Kreman, Kenneth Lamp, Robert Larsen, Dennis Larson, Lawrence Lawler, James Lee, William Leppert, Murdo MacLennan, Philip Mahoney, Charles Markesbery, Gene Mitchell, Robert Nagel, Dale Nelson, George Niedermayr, Willard Nordick, Richard Ochsner, Gerald Pearson, Donald Piermattei, Reid Pope, Paul Shapard, Howard Smallwood, Richard Spaulding, Donald Sterling, Harold Sulzbach, Robert Swanstrom, Betty Taylor, John Waddell, Donald Webb, Louie Wells, Russel White, Norman Wikler, Egbert Womack Jr., George Woodman, James Yenter, Jon Ackerman, Isidro Arroyo, Ronald Britton, Steven Drake, Vearlon Forbes, James Freeland, Jimmie Garcia, Kenneth Hedger, Kenneth Hollingshead, Kenneth Jacobsen, Mark Kauffman, Terry Keating, Robert Klausner, William Miller, William Ortega, Marvin Pruitt, Robert Taylor, and Gene Thim.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, and I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun) be listed as a cosponsor of my amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment which provides an additional $3.4 million for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas.

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program was reduced from FY14- enacted levels, and my amendment restores some of the funding to improve access to health care and education for rural areas.

Rural areas are typically areas where they have local primary care physicians who perform routine checkups and primary care. But what if a patient requires a specialist or has a more complicated medical condition?

My hometown of Yuma, Colorado, is more than 2 hours from a number of specialized medical services, complex trauma centers, or oncology centers. The doctors in our area and in other rural areas do the best job they can with the resources that they have, but most lack the specialization to treat more complicated cases.

We can improve patient outcomes, quality of life, lower costs, and improve care by utilizing technology that is already available. This amendment provides additional resources for our rural communities to do just that. Increases in funding for telemedicine will give patients access to health care anywhere at any time.

Additionally, this amendment would provide funding to support distance learning services. These funds will go toward providing better educational opportunities to students in rural areas. There is no reason children should be at a disadvantage simply because of their location.

This amendment reduces the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration by $3.4 million back to the FY14-enacted levels. GIPSA's responsibility is to oversee the marketing of livestock, poultry, meats, grains, and other agriculture products. This agency has more than ample resources to do its work, and it is only reducing funds to the FY14-enacted levels.

This amendment will provide so much more to the people in our rural communities, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for his support, and I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for his support and encourage passage of this bill to help rural Colorado and rural America produce and provide greater telemedicine opportunities for the country.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment to H.R. 4660.

This amendment transfers $2.5 million to the Office on Violence Against Women. The amendment provides additional resources for domestic violence and child abuse enforcement assistance grants.

My colleague from Texas and I each represent significantly rural and large geographic districts. In fact, my district is the size of South Carolina.

I appreciate the gentleman's willingness to bring this bill to the floor today, and I ask for its adoption.

I yield back the balance of my time.