Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the 50th anniversary of the National Waterways Conference-- an organization founded as a national advocate for effective policy and robust funding to meet our Nation's water-related infrastructure needs. I commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare) for introducing this resolution.

This resolution recognizes the valuable work of the National Waterways Conference, and congratulates them on marking 50 years of effective advocacy for meeting the Nation's water-related infrastructure challenges.

Mr. Speaker, as the Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) frequently states, we are a Nation that was formed along the waters. While initially used as the main thoroughfare for commerce and trade, the utility of our Nation's rivers, streams, and coastal areas to our communities has expanded through the years; however, their importance has never waned.

Throughout its history, our Nation has been well served by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lead-Federal agency charged by Congress with meeting the growing water-related challenges facing the Nation.

For centuries, the Corps has served as the Nation's premier water resource agency, charged by Congress with responsibility over its three principal mission areas of navigation, flood damage reduction, and environmental restoration.

Throughout this history, the Corps has had great successes in addressing many of the major water resource challenges presented to the agency by Congress.

From the development of major U.S. ports and the inland waterway system, to the protection of thousands of American cities and towns from the risk of flood damage, to the restoration of some of the Nation's most valuable natural treasures, such as Yellowstone National Park and the Everglades.

This Congress, on a regular basis, has provided the Corps with the authority to carry out nationally significant projects that have improved the economic prosperity of the Nation, have protected its citizenry from the threat of flooding and coastal storms, and have put in place environmental restoration efforts for the Nation's natural treasures.

These authorities are typically included in a water resources development act, under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and my Subcommittee. Our Committee has a tradition of saying there are ``no Republican levees, and no Democratic navigation projects''--but, I would contend, these projects are essential to the lives and livelihoods of the constituents we represent.

Investment in our water-related infrastructure should be one of those areas where we can come together as a nation--to meet the ever-growing challenges facing our Nation. As in the past, with the historic override of the Presidential veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, this Congress has a history of transcending our political differences to address the needs of the Nation.

I look forward to continuing this work with my colleagues, and on completing our efforts on the Water Resources Development Act of 2010, which was approved by the Committee before the August District Work period.

Similarly, I join my colleagues in commending the work of the National Waterways Conference in the furtherance of our efforts to move water resources bills on a biennial basis. Throughout its 50-year history, the Conference has been an effective National advocate for water resources policy and law, as well as a strong supporter for robust funding of the authorities for the Corps of Engineers.

Fundamental to this effort is the Conference's attempts to maintain a diverse membership that reflects many of the uses of the Nation's waterways, including flood control associations, levee boards, waterways shippers and carriers, industry and regional associations, port authorities, shipyards, dredging contractors, regional water districts, engineering consultants, and local governments.

As is clear from the diversity of the Conference's membership, few areas of National policy have more divergent views, often competing needs, and potential for controversy than the Nation's waters.

However, to aid this effort, organizations, such as the National Waterways Conference, can bring together often competing view points to promote effective National policy with respect to the management and protection of the Nation's waters.

In that light, I applaud the Conference for its support of the Recovery Act, and its appropriation of $4.6 billion for the Corps to address the water-resource needs of the Nation. This investment, of which, as of August 31, over 93 percent has been obligated, has allowed the Corps to address much of the critical backlog for operation and maintenance of projects in the Corps' jurisdiction.

I also applaud the Conference's support for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's efforts to move the Water Resources Development Act of 2010. This effort is consistent with the traditions of the Committee to consider a water resources development act in every Congress to address the current and future water resource needs of the Nation.

Again, I congratulate the National Waterways Conference on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, and urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an admirable leader and beloved friend's husband, Charles Ansbacher. His life exemplifies an attainable American dream. Mr. Ansbacher was a firm believer in the power of music to lift individual spirits. For this, I commend his legacy.

Mr. Ansbacher was born in Providence and grew up in Vermont. His parents, noted psychologists Drs. Heinz Ludwig and Rowena Ripin Ansbacher, encouraged his study by sending him to Greenwood Music Camp and Tanglewood. He later majored in physics at Brown University but switched to music after creating a successful chamber orchestra with his classmates. He studied music at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and at the Mozarteum in Austria.

His faith in music's ability to forge and repair a community led him to guest conduct far outside the typical circuit. He worked with orchestras in Beirut, Jerusalem, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Macedonia, Moldova, and Uzbekistan and

held positions with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Bishkek Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra of Kyrgyzstan, and the Sarajevo Philharmonic. He was the first American to conduct the Vietnam National Symphony.

When he founded his orchestra in 2000, Mr. Ansbacher placed the word ``landmarks'' in its title to signal his belief in the connection between his music and the locations where it was created. During that period he also developed his public policy interests, serving as a White House Fellow and co-chairing a U.S. Department of Transportation task force that advocated for the use of federal funds to build a presence for the arts within the mass transit system. As he was involved with his work, he met my dear friend, Swanee Hunt, whom he later married and accompanied to Vienna when she was appointed U.S. ambassador to Austria. There he worked as a guest conductor, and began his relationship with the Sarajevo Philharmonic.

Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Ansbacher's wife of 25 years, said: ``Concerts, audience members, and passengers can be counted, but the impact of his ideas is incalculable. He imagined opportunities where others saw barriers. How many of us have dreamed bolder dreams, reached unimaginably farther, because of his stubborn encouragement and prodding? Our work is an extension of his work--no, of his life.''

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Thirtieth District of Texas and North Texas community, I am honored to commend the life of an astounding man, Charles Ansbacher.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the contributions of nine humanitarian aid workers, including six Americans, who were killed in Afghanistan last month, and to mourn their loss.

These six Americans were dedicated to the health and well-being of the people of Afghanistan. Mr. Glen Lapp, a nurse from Lancaster, PA, had been in the country nearly two years and was managing a provincial ophthalmic care program. Ms. Cheryl Beckett from Knoxville, TN, had been working in the areas of community development and maternal-child health for the past six years. Dr. Tom Grams, a dentist from Durango, CO, was inspired to lend his services to victims of the Taliban in Afghanistan shortly after the September 11th attacks. Dr. Tom Little, an optometrist from Delmar, NY, had spent the better part of thirty years in the country and was the coordinator of a national ophthalmic rehabilitation program. Mr. Dan Terry of Pennsylvania had also lived and worked in humanitarian aid in Afghanistan for several decades. And videographer Mr. Brian Carderelli, from Harrisonburg, VA, had been in the country less than a year documenting the lives of the Afghan people.

The humanitarian efforts of this group and others are some of the best ways that Americans can reach out to the people of Afghanistan. This important work will help establish a better relationship between our countries, and directly undermines the work of terrorist groups. We mourn not only the loss of these six brave individuals, but the greater loss to Afghanistan and the United States alike.

Madam Speaker, I ask that all my distinguished colleagues join me in honoring Mr. Glen Lapp, Ms. Cheryl Beckett, Dr. Tom Grams, Dr. Tom Little, Mr. Dan Terry, and Mr. Brian Carderelli. Our world will be a darker place, for want of their light.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the achievements of the American Tennis Association, the oldest African American sports organization in the United States.

On November 30, 1916, the ATA was founded by a group of African American businessmen, college professors and physicians, when segregation prohibited them from joining the existing United States Lawn Tennis Association. Though it was founded to help more African American youngsters learn to love tennis, it now welcomes people of all backgrounds. The ATA has produced some of the world's top players, including Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, the first African Americans to be ranked number one and to win Grand Slam titles.

This proud tradition continues today, in young players such as Pierre Craig III of Dallas. He has placed in several national tennis tournaments, including winning first place doubles at the 2009 ATA Nationals in the Boys 12 division, and second place in the singles. He is supported by his father, Pierre II, who is the Director of Tennis and Head Tennis Professional at the Oakridge Country Club and his mother, Juevette.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to honor the American Tennis Association and its members, and wish them the best for their 2010 National Tournament.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of this week's anniversary of independence of numerous Latin American countries, of our country's Hispanic Heritage Month, and in special recognition of Latinos in my district and throughout our country.

On September 15, five Latin American countries commemorate their independence, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. I join these nations in mutual celebration of liberty, democracy and freedom, values which we share dearly.

I am proud that my district is the home of thousands of Hispanic or Latino descent. This community is comprised of individuals who cherish their various ethnicities and national origins. And yet, the Hispanic- American community is united by the importance that they place on faith, family, hard work, and the hope of sharing in a better America.

Madam Speaker, it is in this spirit of national unity that I join you in commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5282) to provide funds to the Army Corps of Engineers to hire veterans and members of the Armed Forces to assist the Corps with curation and historic preservation activities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 5282, a bill introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow) to provide a 5-year authorization for the Corps of Engineers' Veterans' Curation Program.

H.R. 5282 is a worthy piece of legislation. It provides job training to our veterans. It helps to record and protect our Nation's cultural resources, and it assists the Corps in fulfilling its obligations to protect our Nation's cultural and historical legacy.

Thousands upon thousands of artifacts rest uncataloged in hundreds of museums and Federal repositories across the country. These objects represent our past and help describe who we are today. It is, therefore, a cultural imperative that we preserve and understand these pieces. It is also a matter of law and policy that we do so.

The Veterans' Curation Program, located at labs in Georgia, the District of Columbia, and Missouri, provides veterans with a skill set to preserve the many cultural and historical artifacts encountered by the Corps of Engineers.

These employees gain valuable work skills in a host of areas, including computer database management, photographic and scanning techniques, and software proficiency. The development of these skills provides valuable training and experience for future work at museums, forensics labs, records management entities, and at government agencies.

This legislation authorizes the program for 5 years, through fiscal year 2015. It also provides a realistic step increase of authorized funding from $5 million in 2011 through $9 million in 2015. This will allow the Corps to incrementally expand the program in a rational and deliberate manner.

The Corps has had success with this program using Recovery Act dollars, so I ask all of the Members to join me in supporting this bill. It will ensure the continuation of a worthwhile program that respects the Nation's cultural heritage at the same time as providing valuable training to the men and women who have valiantly served our Nation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5651) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 515 9th Street in Rapid City, South Dakota, as the ``Andrew W. Bogue Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5651.

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 5651, which designates the federally occupied building located at 515 9th Street in Rapid City, South Dakota, as the ``Andrew W. Bogue Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''

Judge Andrew W. Bogue was a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the war. After serving with the U.S. Army, Judge Bogue graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law and went into private practice for several years before another stint in the U.S. Army with the JAG Corps.

Judge Andrew Bogue was nominated to the Federal bench by President Richard Nixon in 1970 and served for 15 years as an active district Federal judge before taking senior status in 1985. Even after taking senior status, Judge Bogue continued to hear cases up until a few months before his death on June 10, 2009.

Given Judge Andrew Bogue's contribution to public service to his country and the great State of South Dakota, it is fitting to designate the Federal building and the United States Courthouse located at 515 Ninth Street in Rapid City, South Dakota, as the Andrew W. Bogue Federal Building and United States Courthouse.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin).

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5706) to designate the facility of the Government Printing Office located at 31451 East United Avenue in Pueblo, Colorado, as the ``Frank Evans Government Printing Office Building'', as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5706, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5706, as amended, which designates the facility of the Government Printing Office located at 31451 East United Avenue in Pueblo, Colorado, as the Frank Evans Government Printing Office Building.

Congressman Evans is a distinguished former Member of the House of Representatives, born September 6, 1923, in Pueblo, Colorado. After serving as a U.S. Navy pilot during World War II, Congressman Evans attended the University of Denver, graduating with a bachelor's degree, and then received his law degree in 1950. Congressman Evans went on to be elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives in 1960. After serving in the Colorado House of Representatives, Congressman Evans would go on to win seven terms representing Colorado's Third Congressional District in 1964 before retiring in 1978. He is often credited with helping to bring the Federal Citizen's Information Center to Pueblo, Colorado, in 1970. Unfortunately, Congressman Frank Edwards Evans died this past summer on June 8, 2010.

Given Representative Evans' exceptional service to the Federal Government and to the Third Congressional

District of Colorado, it is fitting to honor him by naming the Government Printing Office located at 31451 East United Avenue in Pueblo, Colorado, as the Frank Evans Government Printing Office Building. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Salazar).

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 3562) to designate the federally occupied building located at 1220 Echelon Parkway in Jackson, Mississippi, as the ``James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner Federal Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on the Senate amendments to H.R. 3562.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 3562, which designates the federally occupied building located at 1220 Echelon Parkway in Jackson, Mississippi, as the James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and Roy K. Moore Federal Building.

The Senate amendment to H.R. 3562 adds FBI agent Roy K. Moore to the naming designation of the federally occupied building that will house the Jackson, Mississippi, FBI field office. Agent Roy Moore was personally picked by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to lead the investigation into the deaths of Civil Rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner.

The events surrounding these three young men have a special place in civil rights history. They were civil rights activists who were training in Ohio to organize African Americans in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964. These three men represented a wave of young Americans who took time off from other parts of their lives to wade into certain adversity and to fight for equal rights for all Americans.

All of the activists were murdered in the Freedom Summer of 1964, and their bodies were buried in an earthen dam outside of Philadelphia, Mississippi. FBI agent Roy Moore was tasked with leading the investigation of their disappearances and of bringing their attackers to justice. The events of that summer were later widely lauded as an

important milestone in bringing law and order to Mississippi with respect to African American civil rights. Agent Moore's efforts resulted in 19 people being indicted in 1967 for violating the civil rights of these three gentlemen. Ultimately, seven men were tried and convicted. Roy Moore served 34 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and died on October 12, 2008, at the age of 94.

It is fitting that we honor the memories of these young men and the memory of the FBI agent responsible for leading the investigation of their disappearances by designating the federally occupied building located at 1220 Echelon Parkway in Jackson, Mississippi, as the James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and Roy K. Moore Federal Building.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I support this legislation, move that it pass, and yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5773) to designate the Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building,'' as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5773.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5773, as amended, which designates the Social Security Operations Building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the Robert M. Ball Federal Building.

Commissioner Ball was often described in press accounts as not only the longest serving Social Security Commissioner, but also as chief advocate and defender through the years. Commissioner Ball started with the Social Security Administration as a field assistant in 1939 in New Jersey for the Social Security Administration, eventually becoming the Social Security Administrator from 1962 to 1973.

After Commissioner Ball left the Social Security Administration, he continued to have an outsized role in shaping the program. In 1981, he served as a member of the National Commission on Social Security Reform, arguing for a mix of tax increases and benefit cuts to maintain the viability of Social Security. Commissioner Ball was an outspoken opponent of any attempts to dismantle Social Security or to privatize Social Security. Commissioner Robert M. Ball died January 29, 2008.

Given Commissioner Ball's exceptional public service and dedication to the Social Security Administration, it is fitting to honor him by naming the Operations Facility of the Social Security Administration located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the Robert M. Ball Federal Building. I urge support of my colleagues.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I simply ask for support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1583) observing the fifth anniversary of the date on which Hurricane Rita devastated the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, remembering those lost in the storm and in the process of evacuation, recovery, and rebuilding; saluting the dedication of the volunteers who offered assistance in support of those affected by the storm, recognizing the progress of efforts to rebuild the affected Gulf Coast region, commending the persistence of the people of the States of Louisiana and Texas following the second major hurricane to hit Louisiana that season, and reaffirming Congress' commitment to restore and renew the Gulf Coast region, as amended.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous material on H. Res. 1583.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1583, observing the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Rita.

Hurricane Rita made landfall as a category 3 hurricane just east of the Texas and Louisiana border with wind speeds of 120 miles per hour unleashing devastating destruction.

Hurricane Rita directly led to the deaths of at least seven people, left over 1 million people without electricity, and damaged or destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes. In addition to this devastation the storm caused in Texas and Louisiana, it also caused flooding and tornadoes in the States of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Total damages from the storm are estimated to be over $11 billion.

Hurricane Rita also led to one of the largest evacuations in United States history. Prior to making landfall, Hurricane Rita set a record as the most intense hurricane ever in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm also set a record for the most rapid intensification for any tropical cyclone, as it strengthened from a category 2 hurricane to a category 5 hurricane in less than a day.

All of these factors, coming less than a month after Hurricane Katrina, prompted 3 million residents to evacuate their homes. In many instances,

those who were evacuating from Hurricane Rita were displaced, having evacuated from Hurricane Katrina.

The good news today is the gulf coast is coming back.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1583.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no further requests for time, I simply ask for support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Social Security Act. One of the cornerstones of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, the Social Security Act drastically enhanced economic security in our country.

Shepherded by then Labor Secretary, Frances Perkins, the Social Security Act marked the first time a President and Congress sought to offer financial protections for the elderly. Today, that groundbreaking legislation encompasses several programs, including: Supplemental Security Income; Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance; SCHIP; Medicaid; Medicare; TANF; and Unemployment benefits.

On the third anniversary of the Social Security Act, President Roosevelt said, ``We have come a long way. But we still have a long way to go. There is still today a frontier that remains unconquered--an America unclaimed. This is the great, the nationwide frontier of insecurity, of human want and fear. This is the frontier--the America-- we have set ourselves to reclaim.''

Today, much of that dream has been realized. While we may never completely eradicate poverty, great strides have been made. In 1935, more than 50% of the elderly population lived in poverty. Today that poverty rate stands officially at 9.4%. However, that rate may not truly reflect the number of elderly that actually face poverty, as the formula instated in 1955 does not adequately take into account the cost of medicine or other factors that face the senior population.

As we recognize and celebrate this anniversary, we must still bear in mind the unmet needs and reforms needed to our current system. A strong society is the one which takes into account the needs of the least among us, as well as those who are better off. I believe strongly in fiscal responsibility, however we must not turn back the clock on the humanitarian policies created by the Democrats under the New Deal. It is a strong and proud legacy, and our country is certainly better for the security provided by the Social Security Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Motion to Concur to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1586, which provides emergency education and Medicaid funding for the States. This $10 billion in education funding will save thousands of teacher jobs across this country. In my congressional district in Dallas, nearly 700 teacher jobs will be preserved with these emergency dollars.

In particular, I'd like to thank House and Senate Leadership for including within this bill Texas specific language that would prevent the State of Texas from misusing federally directed dollars for educational purposes. When Texas was awarded $3.25 billion for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, this money never made it to the local education agencies. Instead, it was placed in a rainy day fund by the Texas Governor. This was not the intent of these funds, and it has forced Congress to prevent this situation from happening again.

Provisions inserted into this bill would prevent Texas from placing these emergency dollars meant for teachers into any other fund. It would tie funding to Title I schools, so that this money goes to our neediest schools. It would also prevent the State of Texas from making

a severe and disproportionate cut to state education funding next year. We did this, so that the Texas Governor could not say to Dallas schools, since you received $39 million extra from the federal government last year, we're going to cut your funding by the same amount for 2011. If the State of Texas cannot abide by this and rejects the funding, then the Department of Education will provide the money directly to the local education agencies. No matter what this money will go to our schools and students.

The State of Texas has shown it cannot act in good faith when it relates to federal funding for our schools. These dollars are imperative and will save 14,500 teacher jobs across Texas.

I do have some concerns regarding this legislation and offsets that are made to fund this bill. In particular, I disagree with a funding cut to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. At a time when we have record enrollment in the SNAP program, a decrease in funding to this program is very disconcerting. We must not target the poorest among us in providing emergency funds for others in need. Despite my concerns I recognize the importance of this funding and support the passage of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a young lady on her initiative and academic accomplishments. Hazel Rochelle Baylor is to be commended on her efforts to fulfill her dreams of pursuing a career in the field of space and aviation.

A graduate of A. Maceo Smith High School, Hazel will soon begin classes at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in aerospace engineering and minoring in aviation and business. Facing many challenges early in life, Hazel has not let her past define her future.

Her early interest in aviation was augmented by a meeting with Donald Elder, an original Tuskegee Airman. Mr. Elder inspired Hazel to follow her dreams in this field.

Hazel's desire and personality have driven her success. During an aviation presentation with the NJROTC program, Hazel met Mr. Monte Ford of American Airlines. He was so impressed with her enthusiasm that it led to an internship with American Airlines.

Hazel has many role models in aviation, but cites her strongest inspiration has come from Donald Elder, and astronaut, Dr. Mae Jamison. Hazel wants to follow into the footsteps of her idol Dr. Jamison and not just be a pilot but to become an astronaut as well.

I commend Hazel on all of her work and wish her the best on what I know will be a successful future.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

I rise to speak strongly in support of H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2010. While this legislation cannot stem the oil that continues to gush into the Gulf of Mexico, it takes solid strides forward to preventing such an event from occurring in the future.

As a Congress, it is our duty to look forward and ensure we have protections

in place for future similar spills in these deepwater areas. We also need to review the current oil and gas regulations and ensure that we have safety and environmental protections in place for all types of onshore and offshore operations and facilities.

This legislation will help to make sure we are better prepared going forward, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

I am pleased that Title VII of this legislation, the ``Oil Spill Accountability and Environmental Protection Act of 2010,'' was largely taken from the bill that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed out of committee. This title covers a number of areas of critical concern: liability provisions; safety measures; and provisions to protect the environment.

The legislation makes much-needed changes to the liability caps for both offshore oil facilities, as well as vessels. With regard to oil facilities, liability caps for economic damages are removed. This is as it should be.

This provision eliminates future incentives for oil companies to ignore the true impacts of their activities and engage in riskier behavior than they otherwise would. As a Congress, we should not enable or subsidize risky behavior on the part of companies simply because they want to do something.

This legislation also includes a number of other important safety and environmental provisions.

It requires that, going forward, there is one individual in true control of the safety of the vessel--and conflicting lines of authority will not result in mishaps, as with the Deepwater Horizon.

This legislation also forces EPA to take a much more rigorous look at oil spill dispersants than has been the case in the past. It is my view that there is a time and a place for the use of some dispersants.

However, it is altogether disturbing that such large volumes of dispersants have been used at the Deepwater site (1,843,786 gallons to date), while so little is known about their impacts to human health, water quality, and marine life.

As a result, we are requiring that EPA study the potential impacts of given dispersants to human health and the environment, get independent verification of effectiveness and toxicity, and then allow for the public disclosure of the chemical ingredients for any product that is ``pre-approved'' for use. Finally, EPA approval will be required for any use of a dispersant in relation to a future oil spill.

I urge all Members of the House to join with me in supporting this well-considered legislation.