Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010:

Requesting Member: Congressman Dean Heller

Bill Number: H.R. 2996

Account: Environmental Protection Agency--STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lyon County Utilities

Address of Requesting Entity: 275 Main Street, Yerington, NV 89447

Description of Request: $500,000. This project will expand the current wastewater treatment facility at Mound House to serve residents currently on septic. This will help remediate the groundwater contamination currently taking place downstream of the wastewater treatment plant's leach field. Through this project groundwater contamination can be reversed with improved wastewater treatment and by eliminating the existing septic system.

Thank you. I appreciate the Member for yielding.

Here is the bill again. I think we have seen this a couple of times. Here is the bill. It is 1,201 pages. What does this cost the American taxpayer? It is $700 million a page for this bill. What does this bill do? Every time you flip on your light switch, you are taxed. Every time you drive your kids to school, you are taxed. Every time you cook your family dinner, you are taxed. Air travel, food prices, electricity costs, gas prices, transportation cost, all will skyrocket under this bill.

This bill will cost my district a half billion dollars in economic activity. It will cost my district 5,500 jobs. It will cost my district nearly 650 million in personal income loss in just the first year.

Nevada, as a whole, will lose 14,000 jobs. Mining, housing, farming, ranching, tourism industries will be devastated at a time when Nevadans are hurting. The majority can't afford the time for hearings or debate, but Americans can't afford this bill.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairwoman, I thank the chairman and ranking member for the opportunity to present this amendment on the floor today.

My amendment prohibits the site-specific construction of a Bureau of Land Management facility in a residential neighborhood in Carson City, Nevada. It is also of note that this amendment solely impacts my district. In Nevada, approximately 85 percent of the land is controlled by the Federal Government; 67 percent of this land base is controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. In other words, they own about 48 million acres of property within the State of Nevada.

The Bureau of Land Management is currently in the comment phase for a proposed interagency fire center on approximately 15 acres of Federal land in Carson City, Nevada, near a large neighborhood.

While I, along with my constituents, support the construction of the interagency fire center and believe the facility will help with combating catastrophic wildfires, BLM's proposed location for this particular facility is problematic. The proposed location is in a community of nearly 300 homes. Local residents are opposed to the location, and the Carson City Board of Supervisors, our county commission, recently passed a resolution voicing its opposition to the proposed location of the fire center. The BLM has under consideration multiple sites for this particular facility, all of which are better suited than the chosen location.

Madam Chairwoman, my amendment prohibits the funds for the construction of this facility at this specific 15-acre location in Carson City and allows for the facility to be built at any of the alternative sites in the area.

I want to express my support again for an additional interagency fire center in Nevada; it just doesn't make sense to build this facility in a residential neighborhood.

I urge my colleagues to support the will of the people, the will of the local governments, and please support this amendment.

Again, the Bureau of Land Management, the Federal Government owns 84 million acres, and they choose to put this facility next to a neighborhood. There are a lot of other alternative sites that I support and would support moving forward, just not this particular area.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).

Madam Chairwoman, just to reiterate what was said, and I want to thank the gentleman from Idaho who has a real good understanding of what it means to have public lands and have the Federal Government own a tremendous amount of property within your State, within the boundaries. Again, I think it was very clear. I think at times we think here in Washington we know what is better for the local communities. Again, I think it is important to understand that you can have a small community somewhere in the State of Nevada and have all Federal land surrounding it.

I think there should be a voice in this process and the voice should come from the people; it should come from the local government and not be pushed down to them through Washington.

I think this is a great amendment. I would continue to urge my colleagues to please support this particular amendment. It is very ripe. It just happened recently. I don't believe this could have been brought before the committee because it just happened within the last couple of days with the vote by the board of supervisors.

I thank the chairman and the ranking member for the time and effort to be able to bring this particular amendment to the floor. I urge my colleagues' positive support.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 418, Article IV of impeaching Samuel B. Kent, I was unavoidably detained.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 417, Article III of impeaching Samuel B. Kent, I was unavoidably detained.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''.

Madam Speaker, Pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2892--Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010:

Requesting Member: Congressman Dean Heller

Bill Number: H.R. 2892--Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: FEMA--Predisaster Mitigation

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Reno, Nevada

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 1900, Reno, NV 89505.

Description of Request: $500,000. The Reno area is ringed by federal lands and each year the growing community moves closer to the ``wildland/urban interface,'' zone where the City limits meet open land. As a result, the threat of wildfires reaching and damaging the community grows significantly. The Reno Fire Department has initiated discussions with regional and statewide stakeholders to help residents and organizations undertake the needed mitigation that would reduce the susceptibility to wildfire. This Federal funding will expand fire suppression activities throughout the Washoe County area and provide assistance that would be shared by multiple partner agencies.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 405, a motion to reconsider, I was unavoidably detained.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and the underlying bill, which proposes a $300 million increase over last year for the operations of this House. That's a 6.3 increase at a time most Americans' budgets are shrinking. $51 million of this increase goes to Members Representational Allowances, or the MRA, which we all use for operating our offices and keeping in touch with our constituents.

Now, I'll be the first to tell you that my office could use an MRA increase. My district is 105,000 square miles. I fly several hundred thousand miles every year, I probably drive another 50,000 miles in my district. Traveling my largely rural district and staying in touch with thousands of Nevadans takes a significant amount of MRA funds. But I am always mindful of the fact that MRA funds are simply taxpayer dollars by another name, and I have a responsibility to use those funds wisely.

Many of my constituents and many of yours are making due with less than they had last year. As public servants, we have a responsibility to make similar sacrifices. Some counties in my district are facing 15 percent unemployment. Statewide unemployment is hovering around 11 percent, well above the national average of 9 percent. Nevada's current unemployment level is at the highest rate of joblessness since they began keeping track, or keeping record, in 1976. Our State budget crisis led the Nevada legislature to cut back services some 20 percent. Meanwhile, Nevada has been hit the hardest by the wave of foreclosures sweeping the United States.

Those lucky enough to have jobs are also making tough decisions. Moms and dads across the country are sitting around their kitchen tables, deciding what must be cut from their family budgets to ensure they can pay their bills and feed their children as the cost of living continues to skyrocket. Meanwhile, as a whole, our Nation faces an $11 trillion debt.

Last night, in spite of irresponsible journalism this morning by the Politico to the contrary, I offered an amendment to the Rules Committee that would simply retain the fiscal year 2009 funding level for the MRA. This amendment is simple. I believe it shows the Americans, who are figuring out their family budgets at their kitchen tables this morning, that they are not alone and that someone in Congress understands that these difficult times call for shared sacrifice.

We who have been given the honor of serving in this body must be part of the sacrifice, and that should start here in our offices, and it should start now. Unfortunately, my amendment was rejected by the Rules Committee.

I urge this body to reject this restrictive rule so that my amendment can come to the House floor. Give this Congress a chance to lead by example with commonsense fiscal responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 409, the previous question on the Rule for the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2847 the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010:

Requesting Member: Congressman Dean Heller

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: DOJ--COPS Tech

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Washoe County Sheriff's Department

Address of Requesting Entity: 911 Parr Boulevard, Reno NV 89512

Description of Request: $500,000. Washoe County is the second most populous county in Nevada, occupying 6608 square miles. Washoe County Sheriff's Office Patrol Divisions will use this Federal funding to purchase In-Car Video Systems which have proven to be useful in the collection of evidence, increased perception of safety by Patrol Officers, and improved confidence in the law enforcement community by the citizenry. These systems have also proven useful during internal affairs investigations, reducing agency liability, evaluations of policies and procedures, as well as training. The use of a wireless In- Car Video System would satisfy all of these concerns for the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. -

Requesting Member: Congressman Dean Heller

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: DOJ--OJP-Juvenile Justice

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

Address of Requesting Entity: 1041 North Virginia Street, Third Floor, Reno, Nevada 89503

Description of Request: $600,000. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), the nation's premier judicial education organization, has been providing critical education to members of the judiciary for decades. Located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, its long and outstanding reputation for providing cutting-edge training for judges and other system professionals in areas related to court practice is nationally recognized. The National Council uses these Federal dollars to provide training to judges nationwide on child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, divorce, custody and visitation, substance abuse, and mental health and educational needs of children, among other topics.

Offered By: Mr. Heller

Amendment No. 51: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Chair, I support and would have voted for H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Fraud and Anti-Predatory Lending Act. Considering the serious situation in Nevada related to housing issues, I support and would have voted for this bill to reform the mortgage and housing industry. H.R. 1728 reforms federal laws related to mortgage loan providers, those that buy or sell mortgages on the secondary securities markets, as well as appraisers. This bill will help reduce predatory lending practices and restrict lenders from making loans available to consumers that cannot afford them.

In the last Congress, I supported and voted for a similar bill, H.R. 3915, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007. This bill passed the House by a vote of 291-127, on November 15, 2007, but was never considered by the Senate. Though this new version of the bill in the 111th Congress has a number of differences, and is not a perfect piece of legislation, I still would have voted in support of the legislation. I sincerely hope that some of the changes that need to be made will be achieved by the Senate or in a conference committee.

The economic downturn and housing situation in Nevada is dire. According to one leading foreclosure tracking service, foreclosures in Nevada were up 108% from February 2008 to February 2009. Nevada is the number one state, per capita, in foreclosures. Housing inventory is at an all-time high and construction and new starts are at a near standstill in both northern and southern Nevada. Clark County is one of the hardest hit counties in the nation.

Reforming mortgage fraud and predatory lending practices is critical to restoring confidence in the nation's housing market, helping get the economy back on track, and most importantly, helping keep Nevada families in their homes.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 237, the adoption of the rule on H.R. 1728, I was absent from the House at a family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 238, the Frank Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 1728, I was absent from the House at a family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

amendment no. 5 offered by mr. hensarling

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 239, the Hensarling Amendment No. 5 to H.R. 1728, I was absent from the House at a family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

amendment no. 7 offered by mr. price of georgia

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 240, the Price (GA) Amendment No. 7 to H.R. 1728, I was absent from the House at a family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Mc Henry

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 241, the McHenry Amendment No. 9 to H.R. 1728, I was absent from the House at a family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 242, final passage of H.R. 1728, I was absent from the House at a family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.

Requesting Member: Congressman Dean Heller

Bill Number: HR 1105

Account: Dept of Agriculture--SRG

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Nevada-Reno

Address of Requesting Entity: 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557- 0208

Description of Request: Funding would be used to address critical rangeland issues as they affect the health and productivity of land, forage for wildlife and domestic livestock, protection of endangered species, wildfires and invasive species. Science-based solutions to reduce wildfires, improve forage production, and protect wildlife species are critical needs. Funds requested will pay for scientific projects approved by the Experiment Station after peer-review.

Requesting Member: Congressman Dean Heller

Bill Number: HR 1105

Account: Dept of Agriculture--Conservation Operations

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Carson City, Nevada

Address of Requesting Entity: 201 North Carson Street, Carson City,