Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a historic first step for this United States Congress; it's a step towards energy independence.

The energy bill that we're considering today recognizes a tremendous renewable resource that we literally have at our fingertips, the power of the sun. This bill includes my provisions to authorize new research and development into solar technologies. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize our energy production, not just in southern Arizona, but across this Nation.

As we develop these new technologies, we're going to need qualified workers to install and maintain the latest solar technologies. That is why this bill includes training programs specifically for solar technology.

But this bill is only a first step. I'm disappointed that we're not passing the House's fiscally responsible renewable energy tax policies and the tax incentives that go with this legislation. Those are the incentives that are really going to spur energy innovation, so we're going to continue to work for those.

I support this bill today, but we have a lot more work that we have to do. Mr. Speaker, I urge support on both sides of the aisle.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and to support fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax.

In my southern Arizona district, over 40,000 families are going to be directly impacted if Congress and our President do not take action.

The AMT was never intended to impact middle-class families. That is why we must fix this tax and allow families instead to make decisions about investing into their futures.

This is a critical, critical priority. As a Blue Dog Member, I'm pleased that this bill also respects what Americans respect, what Arizonans respect, which is fiscal accountability. And that is why this bill is offset by closing a tax loophole.

Congress has to play by the same rules that our families in America play by, balancing budgets and being fiscally responsible. This is a priority that we're going to continue to push and push and push.

Today, we're standing strong for tax policies that help middle-class families, the backbone of America, and I urge Members to support the rule and support fixing the AMT.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, led by Chairman Skelton, I am pleased to vote for a comprehensive bill that bolsters military readiness, supports our military families, and makes sure that we have strong national security.

In southern Arizona, I represent two major military installations and thousands of military personnel. Having visited with troops both at home and abroad, I am well aware of the challenges our men and women in uniform face. New recruits at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca currently earn just $18,000 a year. Many of them have families. This bill recognizes their commitment and gives them a 3.5 percent pay increase.

Our military is facing a retention crisis. In this time of war, our armed services must have the best and brightest. We must retain those men and women by providing them the best training, equipment, and support possible. From southern Arizona to Afghanistan, we have to ensure that our men and women are ready to face any challenge.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our troops and our national security by voting for this essential legislation.

Mr. Speaker, there are three critical priorities that this Congress faces: our independence from foreign oil sources, addressing global warming, but also American competitiveness. I believe that solar energy technology offers one of the best solutions to challenging these great, great problems that we have.

Now, as the House takes up this energy independence bill, I commend the commitment that this legislation makes to solar energy. This bill authorizes new research and development into solar technologies. The bill authorizes programs to help train a qualified solar workforce to install and maintain these technologies, not just in Arizona, but across the country. This bill also contains some tax incentives from my Renewal Energy Assistance Act that will help solar become more affordable, not just to homeowners, but also to businesses. This is what is so critical to spur the innovation and investment that is vital to the creation of our reliable solar market for the country, not just Arizona. But with over 350 days of sunshine every single year, it is critical that we harness the power of the sun.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, on November 7, 2007, I missed four votes. Had I been present that evening, I would have voted as follows:

``No'' on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 3685, the Employment Non- Discrimination Act (ENDA)--vote No. 1056.

``Yea'' on final passage of H.R. 3685, the Employment Non- Discrimination Act (ENDA)--vote No. 1057.

``Yea'' on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Con. Res. 236, Recognizing the close relationship between the United States and the Republic of San Marino--vote No. 1058

``Yea'' on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 801: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3688) to implement the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement--vote No. 1059.

Madam Speaker, on November 8, 2007, I was absent from the House. Had I been present that day, I would have voted as follows:

``Yea'' on final passage of H.R. 3688, the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement--vote No. 1060.

``Yea'' on agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 806, Providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 3222, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes--vote No. 1063.

``Yea'' on agreeing to the Conference Report for H.R. 3222, Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes--vote No. 1064.

``Yea'' on Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 802, Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3355) to ensure the availability and affordability of homeowners' insurance coverage for catastrophic events--vote No. 1066.

``Yea'' on the Motion to Instruct Conferees regarding H.R. 3074, the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations for FY 2008--vote No. 1067.

``Yea'' on Representative Klein of Florida Amendment No. 17 to H.R. 3355, the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007--vote No. 1068.

``No'' on the following Amendments: Representative Roskam's Amendments 6 and 13, Representative Manullo's Amendment and Mr. Shays' Amendment to H.R. 3355, the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007--votes No. 1069, 1070, 1071, and 1072.

``No'' on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions H.R. 3355, the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007--vote No. 1073.

``Yea'' on final passage of H.R. 3355, the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007--vote No. 1074.

``Yea'' on Agreeing to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3043, Making appropriations for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes--vote No. 1075.

Madam Speaker, on November 9, 2007, I was absent from the House. Had I been present that day, I would have voted as follows:

``Yea'' on agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 809, providing for the consideration of H.R. 3996, Temporary Tax Relief Act--vote No. 1078.

``Yea'' on final passage of H.R. 3996, the Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007--vote No. 1081.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of tax cuts for true American heroes: our combat troops, our veterans, and our firefighters.

Last month I introduced H.R. 3808, the Combat Troops Tax Relief Act. I am very pleased that the first provision in the HEART Act is taken from my tax bill.

This bill honors the patriotic commitment of military families such as the Heberts in southern Arizona. Army Specialist Adam Hebert is currently serving at Fort Huachuca. He is married with two children, and soon will be deployed abroad for combat service. This bill will give the Heberts concrete tax relief. It will permanently protect their eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

In southern Arizona and across the United States, we must honor our heroes with true tax relief. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join with me to pass H.R. 3997, the HEART Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Hardrock Mining Reclamation Act. Long overdue, the time for mining law reform has finally arrived.

The 1872 mining law was enacted 40 years before Arizona was even a State. At that time, it encouraged the development and the expansion of the American West. My district of southern Arizona had a town of Bisbee that during the turn of the century actually had its own stock exchange and was the largest community from St. Louis to San Francisco. The copper star on the State of Arizona's flag symbolized the importance when we achieved statehood of the copper industry.

However, times have changed. Today's West now depends on the health, as well as the conservation, of our fragile environment as much as it relies on mining.

H.R. 2262 is a solid first step. It provides impact assistance to mining communities and establishes a practical and a modern approach to reclaiming and restoring the land as well as water resources.

As this legislation progresses, I further encourage Members to look specifically at the royalty provisions. We

do not want to undermine the financial viability of U.S. mining. Our modern, high-tech economy continues to depend on minerals, and this is the importance of making sure that we have a hardrock mining industry that is strong and able to supply all of these minerals.

I commend Chairman Rahall for his work. I commend Chairman Costa for crafting a new mining law that reflects modern values, as well as goals that benefit taxpayers, the public lands, as well as the mining industry.

This is an important piece of legislation, long overdue; and I encourage Members on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act.

Small business, as we all know, is the lifeblood of our communities. Small businesses are responsible for creativity, innovation, and community investment. I honestly believe that a community that has strong small businesses is a strong and vibrant community.

This legislation is going to give small businesses in my home state, southern Arizona, a chance to be competitive with federal contracts, whether it's in Oro Valley down to Green Valley or Tucson all the way to Bisbee and to Douglas.

For example, OfficeSmart in Sierra Vista, was founded in 1993 by Glenn McDaniel, a veteran, along with his wife, Diane. OfficeSmart has 12 employees and nearly 1,000 commercial customers in southern Arizona. They compete for federal contracts and to provide office supplies to Ft. Huachuca.

This bill is going to keep federal contract benefits targeted at local small businesses like OfficeSmart in local communities. It also honors our commitment to disabled veterans.

We know with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan there will be more and more veterans. This legislation also kick-starts the SBA's Women's Procurement Program.

As a former president, CEO, and small business owner myself, I know the importance of small businesses and how difficult it is to compete. I strongly support passage of this bill and I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman for your hard work on this committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 1483, amending the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act.

Early this year, I introduced the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act with Congressman Grijalva. I am pleased that our bill has been included in H.R. 1483.

By designating the Santa Cruz Valley as a National Heritage Area, this beautiful and thriving region will receive modest Federal support for promoting the area's history, cultural resources and indigenous wildlife habitat. We are ensuring that the Santa Cruz Valley visitors can experience the unique watershed and diverse societies it has supported, Native American tribes, descendants of Spanish ancestors, American pioneers, and, now, members of our diverse Sonoran Arizona communities.

Widely supported from Marana, Arizona, to Patagonia, the Santa Cruz Valley will protect private property rights and public use of this federally managed land.

So I support this bill. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the underlying bill to support preserving Arizona's National Heritage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the 179,000 children in the State of Arizona who need Congress to stand up for them.

Ten million American children need SCHIP, known as KidsCare in my home State of Arizona, because it changes their lives. For example, when Collin Bollinger was born, his mother, Sherry, did not have health insurance. Sherry was gainfully employed, but she could not afford her company's high insurance premiums and did not qualify for Medicaid. After Collin's second birthday and a series of ear infections, Sherry scraped and borrowed enough money for private insurance to cover Collin at the high cost of $150 per month. At times, Sherry chose her son's health care over paying the rent and having a full dinner.

Then she discovered the KidsCare program; her premiums then fell by 90 percent per month. With the money that Sherry saved, she could even afford her own health insurance. Now Collin is a straight A student. He plays football at Cienega High School and leads a happy and healthy life. His mother credits KidsCare.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to vote today in support of H.R. 2095, the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007.

This legislation includes important safety improvements that will positively impact railroad workers and passengers.

H.R. 2095 recognizes that railroad workers have tremendous responsibilities. Americans rely on them to transport commercial goods that are critical to our economy and to keep passengers and the public safe. The bill promotes a safer and healthier work environment and requires railroad companies to devise and implement fatigue management plans.

Additionally, this bill will ensure that railroad employees who handle hazardous waste moving through our communities are properly rested and alert.

I am pleased that concerns about the safety of locomotive engineers are reflected in H.R. 2095 which calls for a formal study of locomotive cab design. This study will take into account the health effects of locomotive seats, diesel-fume inhalation for lead and trailing locomotives, and other cab working conditions.

H.R 2095 also includes protections for whistle-blowers who report unsafe conditions and personal injuries.

I thank Chairman Oberstar for bringing this legislation forward and ask my colleagues to join rite in voting for its passage.

Madam Speaker, last week, I introduced the Combat Troops Tax Relief Act. From Fort Huachuca in Arizona to Iraq and Afghanistan, members of our armed services make the defense of our great Nation their number one priority. With unflinching honor and dedication, our military families inspire us by sending their husbands and their wives and their sons and daughters off to war to protect our freedoms.

My bill calls on Congress to honor their patriotism and commitment to the military families with more than rhetoric. This bill would give them concrete tax relief. This Congress is setting new priorities, including policies impacting military families. This bill does more by cutting taxes for middle-class military families. It increases the standard tax deduction for our soldiers and protects military families' eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Care Tax Credit.

Military families in southern Arizona and across the country deserve nothing less.

Madam Speaker, 46 years ago, space was the next frontier and President Kennedy focused our Nation on the space outside our planet's atmosphere.

Today's Apollo mission is focused right here on planet Earth. Our challenge is the Renewable Energy Revolution. And nowhere is that call to action being answered better than in Southern Arizona's ``Solar-con Valley.''

In my home state we are once again proving that American innovation can meet any challenge. There, the leading solar experts who compose my Solar Advisory Council published a detailed assessment of Southern Arizona's solar landscape from research to market development and consumer awareness. Building on some of their recommendations, today I am introducing the Renewable Energy Assistance Tax Act.

My bill ensures that we do not let the sun set on valuable tax incentives for consumers and businesses who invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.

By extending these tax credits for 8 years, we will spur the innovation and investment vital to creating a reliable market for new solar technology.

Please join me answering this call to action and supporting solar and energy efficient technology.