Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the World Champion Philadelphia Eagles, winners of the National Football League's Super Bowl LII.

On Sunday, February 4, 2018, in front of an international audience, the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII by a score of 41-33, defeating the defending champions, the New England Patriots, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Under the steady leadership of owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman, and head coach Doug Pederson, the ``Birds,'' as they are affectionately known, won their first-ever Super Bowl title.

The Eagles embraced their ``underdog'' status following multiple regular season injuries to key players, defeating last year's National Football Conference (NFC) champions, the Atlanta Falcons, the NFL's top-ranked defense, the Minnesota Vikings, and ultimately the five-time Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots, to clinch the world championship.

Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles earned Super Bowl LII's Most Valuable Player after he completed 373 yards for three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in a trick play, what was arguably the most memorable moment of Super Bowl LII.

Glassboro, New Jersey's very own Corey Clement, running back for the Eagles, recorded four catches for 100 offensive yards and a critical 22 yard touchdown for the Eagles. Clement has family members who still reside in Glassboro.

South Jersey and New Jersey's First Congressional District neighbor the City of Philadelphia are verifiably ``Eagles Country,'' home to many Eagles players, staff, and countless Eagles fans, including 2018 NFL MVP Nick Foles, Coach Doug Pederson, Hall of Fame quarterback Ron Jaworski, and famed Eagles sportscaster Sal Paolantonio.

Philadelphia Eagles' fans are known worldwide as the most passionate and dedicated fans in the NFL and whether we identify as ``Red'' or ``Blue'', we put that aside to all proudly wear green.

Mr. Speaker, allow me to once again congratulate the Philadelphia Eagles on their historic victory in Super Bowl LII.

Mr. Speaker, the land of opportunity is right here. It is called the United States of America. But, unfortunately, there is not always a level playing field when it comes to that land of opportunity. This year is the 83rd anniversary of the National Labor Relations Act, the act that gave workers a voice, a voice in the workplace. It gave them the ability to bargain--along with their employers--a living wage, pensions, the ability to retire with dignity.

But today, we are really debating how to hurt workers--that somehow you get treated outside of the reservations in a humane way, where casinos are operating in a very profitable way, but you cross that line, and you are being treated differently. You are being treated less than and doing it all under the guise of Native American sovereignty.

The vast majority of casinos on their properties are treated with respect by employees. But they were able to get to some folks to introduce this piece that somehow let them try to do it differently on that line. When we cross it, you are less than. We can take advantage of you, and we see that happen time after time.

I have been before the NLRB many times, had cases. I won many, but I also lost them. But I always felt as if I was treated fairly. And that is what we should be doing here, treating employees, no matter where you are in this great country, fairly. It has been a decade since we raised the minimum wage. And somehow, we are just looking for no reason to hurt employees.

Mr. Speaker, we want to respect the sovereign nations, but we can't pick and choose the way we treat them. Certainly, everybody who works in this great country deserves an opportunity to be treated fairly.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the Transport Workers Union of America that talks about being fairly treated.

Transport Workders Union of America, AFL-CIO,

January 10, 2018.

Vote Alert: Vote NO on the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (S. 140)

Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transport Workers

Union of America (TWU), AFL-CIO, we write urging you to

oppose the

Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act. This bill (introduced as H.R.

986) has been paired with unrelated bills and packaged as

part of S. 140, which the House is expected to vote on today.

We urge you to oppose the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act by

voting NO on S. 140.

The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act would exempt from the

protections of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

workers employed by tribal-owned and -operated commercial

enterprises located on tribal lands. Under this bill, the

NLRA rights and protections would be denied to more than

600,000 tribal casino workers, the vast majority of whom are

not Native American.

This bill would overturn a 2004 decision by the Bush

Administration's National Labor Relations Board (Board), in

which the Board applied the NLRA to a tribal casino (San

Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, 341 NLRB No. 138 (2004)). In

reaching this decision, the Board applied a test: the NLRA

will not apply if its application would ``touch exclusive

rights of self-governance in purely intramural matters.''

And, the NLRA will not apply if it would ``abrogate Indian

treaty rights.'' The Board also considered other factors,

including that the casino in question was a typical

commercial enterprise that catered to non-Native American

customers and employed non-Native Americans. While the Board

asserted NLRA protections in the San Manuel decision, it

ruled the opposite way, denying its jurisdiction in a

companion case (Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, 341 NLRB

No. 139 (2004)).

We understand the importance of tribal sovereignty and

support the principle in true self-governance matters. But

the fundamental human rights of employees are not the

exclusive concern of tribal enterprises or tribal

governments. While proponents of the bill falsely compare

tribal governments to state governments, they miss a glaring

truth: while state governments are exempt from NLRA

protections, their workers are eligible to vote for those who

set their labor laws. But the vast majority of the 600,000

casino workers who would be impacted by the Tribal Labor

Sovereignty Act are not Native Americans, and therefore have

no voice in the selection of those setting tribal policy nor

the ability to petition the tribal government to protect

their rights.

We object to a sweeping exemption of all tribal enterprises

from the NLRA, and believe the test used by the Board to

determine whether the NLRA is applicable should remain.

Unfortunately, the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act has been

packaged with unrelated bills in an attempt to pressure

support for this particular bill. While TWU has no position

on the other bills contained in S. 140, we urge you vote NO

in opposition to the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask Members to really look inside yourself. Is this the best way to treat employees? Is this how we help lift up all of those workers? I think not, and I urge Members to reject this attempt to hurt workers and not protect sovereignty.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of the late Riletta L. Cream, a lifelong constituent of New Jersey's First Congressional District who distinguished herself as a devoted educator and public servant.

Born and raised in South Camden, Mrs. Cream would ascend to high- profile leadership positions, earning the admiration and respect of constituents across Southern New Jersey.

After graduating from Camden High School in 1944, Mrs. Cream attended Glassboro State College, now known as Rowan University, and would embark on a remarkable, four-decade career in education, serving as an elementary school teacher, then principal of Pyne Poynt & Camden High Schools in her home City. Mrs. Cream's reputation as a no-nonsense educator led Camden High School through transformative change in her 15 year tenure as principal, and was regarded as a mentor and role model for students, teachers, and administrators alike.

After retiring from Camden High School, Mrs. Cream served as administrator for BPUM, Inc. Day Care Centers, and later as an adjunct professor and supervisor of student teachers at both Rowan and Rutgers Universities.

In 1994, Mrs. Cream was appointed to the Camden County New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders. Mrs. Cream earned reelection to that post four times, shepherding critical education-focused projects, including the installation of computers in classrooms, the implementation of distance learning equipment for students and teachers, and expanding Camden County's Library System.

Mrs. Cream was an ardent advocate for continuing education, encouraging and inspiring individuals to pursue academic dreams, and supported those endeavors by writing letters of recommendation for students and establishing scholarships for graduates of Camden's high schools.

On December 18, 2017, Mrs. Cream passed away, and a beacon of promise was dimmed.

Today, a school and library bear Mrs. Cream's name, and stand in tribute to her enduring legacy and are inspiring future generations of students.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in celebrating the life, contributions, and service of a woman who blazed trails and deserves to be remembered for her selfless service and commitment, from a grateful community, the Honorable Riletta Cream.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very special woman, Mrs. Riletta Cream, from Camden County, but was known not only from the city she was born in, but the entire State of New Jersey. She passed away, unfortunately, yesterday.

Mrs. Cream was a kind, gentle, and loving woman, but had special character, strength, and conviction.

She was known as an institution for education and public service. She was a friend, a mentor, an educator, and a dear, dear friend to so many of those children who went to her school.

She was a Camden city native, and was a principal of Camden City High School for over a decade. She served as a role model for students, teachers, and administrators. After retiring, she didn't give up. She then ran as a freeholder, and was elected time after time, continuing to serve the community.

She led projects at the time called Tech 2000 to make sure there was a computer in every child's classroom and at their desk. She fought for libraries when funding was short. She knew the value of education, whether it was going to college or to a trade school.

Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join me in mourning the loss of this shining light in my hometown. Mrs. Cream accomplished so much and gave so many years of service. May she rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I am here to speak about the Republican's billionaires-first tax bill.

Mr. Speaker, the Tax Policy Center determined they will raise taxes for approximately 38 million middle class households. Americans agree that we need more jobs, higher wages, and lower taxes. But the Republican bill rewards billionaires, prioritizes corporate profits, and hurts working families.

It is welfare for the wealthy paid for by the hardworking middle class American. It fails the President's own Trump test, which says their tax plan would not benefit the wealthiest of us. Guess what. It does.

Worst of all, New Jersey families suffer the most. The bill guts the critical State and local tax deduction. That means one-fourth of all New Jerseyans will be paying more taxes.

Why should billionaires receive tax relief instead of New Jersey's middle class families?

Americans must reject this billionaires-first, bloated, backwards bill. It will do nothing to raise wages or bring real relief for working families.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two letters of opposition, one from the North America's

Building Trades Unions, and one from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

North America's Building

Trades Unions,

Washington, DC, November 6, 2017.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the 3 million skilled

craft professionals who comprise the 14 national and

international unions of North America's Building Trades

Unions (NABTU), I urge your opposition to H.R. 3441, the Save

Local Business Act. If enacted this piece of legislation

would have a devastating impact on the construction industry

which is dependent upon a variety of contractor and

subcontractor relationships.

Unfortunately, many low road contractors in the

construction industry are becoming increasingly skilled in

shielding themselves from legal liabilities through layers of

subcontractors. Contractors use subcontractors or labor

brokers that either pay their employees off the books or

intentionally misclassify them as 1099 subcontractors. When

that is done, income taxes are not deducted, and Social

Security and Medicare taxes are not paid, as well as

unemployment contributions, workers' compensation premium and

overtime.

H.R. 3441 purports to save businesses by making it

extremely difficult for the National Labor Relations Board

(NLRB) and U.S. Department of Labor to find employers jointly

liable for violations of the law. If enacted it would have

the unintended consequence of promoting a low road

contracting model in which those who willfully commit labor

violations are unaccountable, to the disadvantage of law-

abiding employers and their employees.

This piece of legislation would further induce bad actors

to perfect their efforts to undermine the labor standards in

our industry, making it more challenging for American workers

to achieve access to the middle class. It would also create a

competitive disadvantage to high road contractors who obey

the law. As such, I strongly urge your opposition to this

harmful legislation.

Sincerely,

Sean McGarvey,

President.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Scott for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3441, which is falsely called Save Local Business Act. The new name should be ``Crush Local Workers Act.''

I am happy to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I look forward to helping small businesses and helping them raise wages, but this bill does neither. It empowers corporations, and it depresses wages.

Employers are relying more and more on subcontractors and permanent temporaries. These temporary staffing agencies employ around 3 million people. That is about one-fifth of all the new jobs created since 2009.

I have fought to raise wages for over two decades for workers. This bill lets corporations keep wages low by subcontracting out their work. They are subcontracting their conscience to put profits over people.

This bill makes it nearly impossible for workers to hold temporary staffing agencies responsible for unfair labor practices or wage theft. It denies employees a voice in the workplace. It prevents workers from joining unions, collective bargaining, which go ultimately to help raise wages.

We should be lifting workers' wages up, not trying to crush them.

I will remind our colleagues that, from 1930 to 1984, the courts were the ones who were making these joint employer decisions, and it was Ronald Reagan's administration who first made this change. It was the Reagan administration who first made this change.

The Obama administration brought it back to where it was, yet, apparently, people are forgetting those very important facts.

Mr. Speaker, that is why I urge my colleagues to vote against this crush local workers act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Petty Officer Kenneth ``Kenny'' Aaron Smith of Cherry Hill, New Jersey for his service to our nation.

Petty Officer Smith was born in Jackson, Michigan in 1995 and moved to Chesapeake, Virginia at the age of 10. When he was a teenager, Petty Officer Smith moved to South Jersey with his father, a Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. In 2013, he graduated from Cherry Hill High School-East, and followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps to join the U.S. Navy. As a third generation sailor, Petty Officer Smith was in his fourth year of serving.

During his time in the Navy, Petty Officer Smith worked in radar technology and held the rank of Electronics Technician, 3rd class and was posthumously advanced to the rank of Electronics Technician 2nd Class. During his free time, he published science fiction writings through an online platform known as `Wattpad.' These writings were well liked by fans of the website. As an avid gamer, he also aspired to eventually pursue a career as a video game developer.

Petty Officer Smith is remembered by those close to him as being adventurous, loyal and patriotic. During his time at sea, Petty Officer Smith's ship had been to Australia and Japan, and he was looking forward to traveling to more places throughout the world. Petty Officer Smith was also known for his dedication to human rights, a love for animals and the ability to leave a positive mark on those he was acquainted with.

Petty Officer Smith was a true American hero who sadly lost his life while serving in the United States Navy. His service and sacrifice

to our country will not be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, Petty Officer Kenneth Aaron Smith was a great American who exemplified the true meaning of patriotism. I ask you to join me in honoring the memory of this truly exceptional young man.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army and Coast Guard veteran, Mrs. May Brill of Camden in New Jersey's First Congressional District.

May Brill was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1924. After her two brothers enlisted, wanting to show her patriotism Brill enlisted at the age of 20, she became a part of the supply core in a division of the U.S. Navy known as W.A.V.E.S. Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.

Sent to Hunter College in the Bronx, New York for basic training where women were trained with the same Advanced Individual Training as men, Mrs. Brill was selected to receive additional training at the U.S. Naval Training School in Georgia State College for Women located in Milledgeville, GA. It was here May learned the specialized skills for her military duties in the supply core.

Mrs. Brill ended up stationed in Oakland, California. She started off ranked as a Seamen Third Class, the lowest rank in the Navy, but worked her way up five ranks to become a Storekeeper Second Class.

Her duties were to procure equipment, tools, medical supplies, and consumable goods to ship off to supply the ships and bases in the Pacific.

Currently, Mrs. Brill is very active as an advocate for Veterans and women in the military, she currently serves as: Senior vice Commander of the Jewish War Veterans Post 126, New Jersey Chairperson of ``Women in the Military'' Chairperson for the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home.

Additionally, she has four daughters, nine grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. She wishes for less war and more peaceful times for the future.

Mrs. Brill is an honorable American, having served our great nation in a time of war, and merits our collective appreciation.

I ask you to join me in saluting and thanking May Brill for her service to our country and her ongoing commitment to our nation's veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Donald C. Siegel, an influential labor advocate for fair and equal working privileges for the American worker. Mister Siegel served 46 years with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and retired as Third District International Vice President for IBEW.

Brother Siegel is a native of West Reading, Pennsylvania across the Delaware River from my Congressional District in Southern New Jersey.

In 1973, Brother Siegel was initiated into IBEW's Reading Local 743 and was ultimately elected to the executive board. Donald Siegel's service would take him to Salt Lake City, Utah and San Jose, California, before returning to his home state of Pennsylvania where he would work at the Limerick Generating Station.

In 1989 Donald Siegel would ascend to the helm of Local 743, overseeing the merger of another local union that dramatically increased the Local's membership. Siegel would eventually assume the role of IBEW international representative before becoming IBEW's Third District International Vice President.

Throughout his career, Brother Siegel has a reputation for tackling the most difficult tasks with the best interests of hardworking men and women at heart.

As he reflects on his storied career, Donald Siegel acknowledges his proudest achievement as building the best staff in any trade union.

Retirement will not interrupt Donald Siegel's ardent advocacy for hardworking men and women. Brother Siegel's work continues with the Team Pennsylvania Foundation and the Ben Franklin Technology Developmental Authority.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in celebrating Donald C. Siegel for his service and his devotion to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of the late Mr. Earl Wardlow of the Borough of Lawnside in New Jersey's First Congressional District--a U.S. military veteran, father and devoted community leader.

Earl Wardlow was born September 23, 1940 to the late Mrs. Horstein Wardlow and Otheel ``Pip'' Wardlow in Oakland, Kentucky. He was educated in the Bowling Green Public School System, graduated high school in 1958, and enlisted in United States Navy in 1960. He served our country with distinction for four years.

In 1965, Mr. Wardlow married Mary Ann Haskins in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wardlows would welcome two daughters into the world, and ultimately relocate to the historic Borough of Lawnside, New Jersey in 1971 where the Wardlows would establish themselves as a family committed to public service.

After attending Camden County College and the former Glassboro State College, Mr. Wardlow started a 30 year career commitment to Public Service Electric & Gas Company.

Mr. Wardlow would stay active in his retirement, driving local students to school for a transportation company.

Mr. Wardlow's many contributions to his beloved community of Lawnside include serving on the following: committee for the Borough's Fourth of July festivities, Zoning Board Officer, Lawnside Board of Adjustments, Board Member of Mt. Peace Cemetery, and Lawnside Town Watch.

Mr. Wardlow, affectionately known as ``Pop Pop'' to his relatives, leaves behind his beloved wife, the Honorable Mary Ann Wardlow, Mayor of Lawnside, as well as daughters, grandchildren extended family, and a grateful community.

I ask you to join me honoring the memory of Earl Wardlow for his service to our country and his remarkable commitment to the community of Lawnside, New Jersey.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment that would eliminate the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage.

Is it that time of year?

It must be. Come back here to Congress and say: I want to lower the wages and working conditions for those men and women in my district. That is exactly what we are hearing.

When you can't win it on the votes, you make revisionist history, you play the race card, you throw whatever you can.

Over 100 years ago, Republican Congressmen Jim Davis and Robert Bacon realized there was a problem with Federal contracts. These contracts were unfair to local economies. They were not taking into account what had been going on historically in those areas. This, very simply, ensures that construction workers are paid the same as workers in that local community.

But what I am hearing tonight is I want to go back to the district, to people who elected me, and say: I want to lower your wages. I want to lower them to the point I will make anything up.

Because that is exactly what we are hearing. This has been around, and it continues to be evolved and made to work because it works for those local communities. It is about ensuring those local communities are not going to be run over by big Federal contractors coming in, they are going to be paid exactly what the people in that community are being paid.

It continues today because it works. It works in New York, it works in New Jersey, it works in Florida, and it works in Oklahoma. It is about fairness. It is about leveling the playing field--something that apparently many people in this Chamber forgot.

We are here to help raise the standards of men and women we represent, not lower them. So I encourage that we defeat this amendment to keep doing what we are supposed to do: represent the people who elected us and to make their lives just a little bit better, not what we are hearing: I will play the race card and try to lower the wages.

My God, where are we going? We are fighting to lower wages?

It is about raising people up, letting them be what they should be, the greatest thing they can be in the greatest country.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for yielding and to my colleagues for including this amendment en bloc.

Mr. Chair, this amendment addresses the ongoing and, unfortunately, growing opioid epidemic in our communities. There are 60,000 overdose deaths each year.

I am vice chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic. We are looking for ways to address this issue. It is a complex issue, and we want to take a variety of actions to help those suffering from the disease of addiction.

Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, are at increased risk of abusing opioids according to the AMA, the American Medical Association. Many brave men and women who serve come back with what is described as invisible wounds. We know they are not invisible. We see it every day. I have spoken to those veterans who live in my community who suffer from PTSD and, unfortunately, from the disease of addiction.

My amendment would set aside $5 million for the National Center for PTSD to study the connection between addiction and PTSD. Our veterans are suffering, and this investment will help them. Let's get to the bottom of the connection between PTSD and opioid abuse. It is a simple but necessary way to address the epidemic.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the Congresswoman for yielding me time.

I rise in strong opposition to this misguided Davis-Bacon amendment.

Why would anybody come to this floor and say: I want to lower the wages for the people I represent? Why would anybody want to do that? We are here to help people raise their local standards of living.

That is what this amendment would do: it would lower the wages for the working conditions of those very men and women that we were elected to serve. It would hurt the local economy, devalue the workers' pay.

Almost 100 years ago, two Republicans, Congressman James Davis and Robert Bacon, realized there was a problem with the Federal Government and contracts. The contracts were unfair to those local economies. In 1931,

unanimously approved, Davis-Bacon prevailing wage, it ensured construction workers coming in are paid the same as local labor--as local labor. It levels the playing field, ensures workers get paid a fair day's pay for a hard day's work--easy answers, very easy answers.

For my colleagues supporting this amendment, I have a few questions of you.

Do you want the Federal Government to make bad investments?

Do you want to cut those wages for the very people who elected you?

Do you want local workers to suffer, people coming into your town and your community, and cut the wages?

I don't think so. We are not here to lower the standards. We are here to raise the standards.

Speaking of President Trump, guess who used and paid prevailing wage? You have got it. Donald Trump in Atlantic City. He paid prevailing wages. He didn't have to. He did because he understood he wanted to help the people in that economy build a good product. This is what we are talking about: quality wages to people who go to work each and every day and play hard and work hard, follow the rules. That is what prevailing wage is, giving local communities a say in the Federal Government.

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

Mr. Chairman, this important amendment looks to the future and what we need for our 21st century clean energy economy. It redirects funds so we are sufficiently investing in renewable energy jobs of tomorrow.

It is a simple change. The amendment simply moves $162 million to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. It leaves the amount in that account, and the underlying bill still exceeds what the administration requested.

Certainly my colleague from West Virginia understands that investing in the future in technology is extremely important.

This bill provides $354 million more for fossil fuels. But by providing the additional resources for energy efficiency and renewable energy, we can better meet the needs of the future economy. I happen to agree, we need to invest in all of the above. But we also must invest in solar, wind, water, and geothermal. In fact, New Jersey is second in the Nation leading in solar and renewables. We must seek that cost- effective way of reducing energy costs for our manufacturing plants, our office buildings, and certainly our homes.

We shouldn't underfund our energy future, let's make that clear. We should invest in it, the way we are in this bill. But we can redirect a small portion of that for future needs of renewable energy.

Tomorrow might be too late to do the investigation and that research. We can do it today because we need a long-term strategy that takes the best of what we do here in America and continues that. If it is clean coal, we can do that. If it is solar, we can do that. If it is wind, we can do that. We have the ability to do all that, and add high-paying jobs.

Let's make this simple change and reallocate just a small portion of the fund. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and embrace the clean energy future.

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

Mr. Chair, in many ways, I think my colleague from the other side of the aisle is agreeing with me. We need to do research, that R&D that he is speaking about, but it is about balance. The dollars that were in the underlying bill far exceeded that of what the administration asked for.

We are simply saying, let's not pick one winner, let's pick them all, and see where that technology of tomorrow is taking us.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the Congresswoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree) for her remarks.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time I have left.

Mr. Chair, this is the first time I have ever heard ``gutting'' by giving millions of additional dollars over the administration.

I have worked in nuclear power houses, I have worked in coal power houses, gas-fired, I have worked in solar fields. This is absolutely about the future of our energy needs. We don't know what it holds, but I do know that investing in research and development is the way to go.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I come here today to speak in opposition to the amendment, one that would hurt the local economy, devalue workers' pay, and take a very important tool out of the toolbox for both Republicans, Democrats, and Americans.

Almost 100 years ago, two Republican Congressmen, James Davis and Robert Bacon, realized there was a problem with Federal contracts. Those contracts were unfair to the local economies. So in 1931, Congress unanimously approved Davis-Bacon prevailing wage. It ensures that construction workers are paid the same as construction workers in that local community.

The prevailing wage is based on surveys of local wages and benefits, not whether there is a union or not. It keeps the community vibrant, and it takes into account those things that happened in that local community. So when you hear the term ``if it ain't

broke don't fix it,'' this is a classic example.

They are trying to talk about surveys and methodologies. Quite frankly, this system has worked for over 80 years. They are talking about technicalities, but the fact of the matter is this is about cutting wages in your local community. Why would you ever want to go back and say, I want to hurt the people I represent? But apparently that seems to be what we are doing.

So we want to make sure that local workers are paid a fair wage. The system has worked fine for so many years and makes sure that those men and women who work hard each and every day are properly compensated.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. McKinley).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

Mr. Chairman, I want to just bring this back home.

Why in the world would you ever want to cut the wages of the men and women you represent? This is about fairness, leveling the playing field. It works, and we want to continue it.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dorothy A. Burley, a woman of strength, character and commitment, on the occasion of her 75th birthday. Ms. Burley is a friend, mentor, educator and inspiration to many across New Jersey's First Congressional District and beyond.

After receiving her Associate's Degree in Human Services at Camden County College and her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), Ms. Burley taught for 16 years at various Camden City schools, shaping young minds.

Ms. Burley's commitment to community continued beyond the classroom when, in 1993, she made history by taking the oath of office as the first African American female municipal clerk in the City of Camden.

Ms. Burley would go on to hold other positions of distinction in the community, in both appointed and elected offices, including Commissioner for the Camden County Board of Elections, Chairperson of the Housing Authority of the City of Camden, Chairperson of the Alcohol Beverage Control Board, President of ``Girls on the Move'' Youth Foundation, and a member of the National and Camden Education Association. Ms. Burley would also serve as director of human resources at CAMcare Health Corporation until her well-deserved retirement.

Separate from her professional commitments, Ms. Burley has selflessly dedicated her time and talents to organizations that enhance the lives of Southern New Jersey constituents.

Though she's been honored and recognized for her many meaningful efforts, Ms. Burley is especially deserving of this special recognition, as she continues her mission to inspire everyone she encounters.

Mr. Speaker, for that reason and so many others, I ask you to join me in wishing this devoted mother, grandmother, public servant, and mentor, Ms. Dorothy A. Burley, a very happy 75th birthday.