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. 3170--Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2010. The entity to receive funding is the Lock Haven Small Business Development Center, 301 W. Church Street, East Campus, J102, Lock Haven, PA 17745, in the amount of $50,000. The funding will be used for establishment of a regional tax compliance center at the Lock Haven University Small Business Development Center.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent who has been invaluable to Pennsylvania agriculture and has served with distinction at Penn State University. Dr. Robert Steele has been dean of the University's College of Agricultural Sciences since July 1, 1997. Dr. Steele has been in charge of Penn State's agricultural program, which includes 12 academic departments serving more than 3,000 students.

Under Dr. Steele's leadership, Penn State has performed significant agricultural research, and I'm grateful for

the support that Congress has shown over the years for this important work. Specific programs at Penn State that I proudly support include agricultural entrepreneurial alternatives, sustainable agriculture, dairy farm profitability, improved dairy management practices, and milk safety.

Dr. Steele is stepping down as dean and returning to the classroom.

Thank you, Dr. Steele, for your many years of service and your dedication to agriculture and higher education. I thank you, Dr. Steele, for your service and leadership. Pennsylvania agriculture is stronger for it.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as a part of H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act, 2010. The entity to receive funding is the Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802, in the amount of $133,000. Funding will be used to increase field research/demonstration in order to increase farmer and farm advisor exposure to sustainable cropping system practices.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as a part of H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act, 2010. The entity to receive funding is the Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802, in the amount of $349,000. Funding will be used for a project at Penn State that has a goal of improving dairy farm profitability throughout the Commonwealth.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as a part of H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act, 2010. The entity to receive funding is the Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802, in the amount of $771,000. Funding will be used for research that protects the safety of dairy products for Pennsylvania and the nation.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as a part of H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act, 2010. The entity to receive funding is the Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802, in the amount of $233,000. Funding will be used for farm- and community-level educational programs and assistance focused on value added activities. Objectives of this project are to provide research- based extension education to assist small farmers to maintain/develop new economically viable enterprises, provide support to assist small farmers develop and maintain economically viable enterprises, including applying for available and appropriate grants and loans, and helping to build community capacity to sustain growth and development of local agriculture and food sectors.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as a part of H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The entity to receive funding is the Haines Aaronsburg Municipal Authority, 420 Homes Street, Willowbank Building, Bellefonte, PA 16823, in the amount of $250,0000. Funding will be used the Haines Aaronsburg Municipal Authority Water Line Interconnection.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as a part of H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act, 2010. The entity to receive funding is the Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802, in the amount of $233,000. Funding will be used to evaluate the impact new management tools will have on dairy farm

profitability, and will work towards bringing these new tools to the industry based upon sound scientific study.

I thank my friend from Oklahoma for yielding.

I have more concerns with this legislation than I even have time to discuss. But since agriculture is Pennsylvania's number one industry and because I'm a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I would like to focus on the alarming effects cap-and-trade will have on the farmers in my home State.

This legislation, through mandates, attempts to decrease our use of fossil fuels. The whole point of cap-and-trade is to make fossil fuels, or 85 percent of the energy we consume, more expensive. Fossil fuels are essential for energy and electrical generation and also are equally important to use as a feedstock in many goods that we utilize.

Agriculture is an energy-intensive industry, and natural gas will be capped under this legislation. Natural gas is a basic ingredient in fertilizer, which is a building block for all of the food the U.S. supplies. We can't make our food without fertilizer, and we can't make fertilizer without natural gas.

The dairy industry in my State is having a difficult time making profits because of falling milk prices. And while there are many reasons for low milk prices, energy costs are certainly part of that equation.

This legislation will do nothing to reduce our carbon emissions or help Pennsylvania agriculture and will only cause more economic hardship for many small farmers and businesses.

I urge my colleagues to reject this misguided measure.

Madam Speaker, Pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of H.R. 2647, The National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2010. The entity authorized to receive funding for this project is KCF Technologies, 112 West Foster Avenue, State College, PA 16801, in the amount of $2,000,000. It is my understanding that the funding would be used for self-powered prosthetic limb technology. Successful development and deployment of the Self-Powered Prosthetic Limb Technology will create an opportunity for our country's injured soldiers to attain high functional levels with hopes of remaining on active duty in service to their country.

Mr. Speaker, while I support the purpose of this bill, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

I rise in support of this legislation, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The House easily passed this bill under suspension at the end of March and, as often happens with the legislative process, when it went to the Senate, a few changes were made. Therefore, we are here again today simply to give final approval to a bill we have already supported, and rightfully so.

The primary purpose of this legislation is to make technical changes to ensure smooth implementation of the bipartisan higher education reforms enacted last year. Second, it addresses a pressing issue facing the Federal student loan programs. And third, the legislation includes a provision to assist students who have lost a parent to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The technical corrections are just that, clarifications needed to ensure that the first comprehensive renewal of higher education programs in a decade can be put into place as Congress intended. The legislation will also help student loan borrowers who have fallen behind to rebuild their damaged credit by making these loans eligible for emergency liquidity measures enacted last fall. It's a simple change that will make a real difference for borrowers who are just trying to do the right thing by restarting regular payments on their Federal student loans.

The other change we are making in this bill is also important for a different set of students, students who have suffered a terrible loss but who have continued to move forward to achieve a postsecondary education. And I'm talking about the students who have lost a parent due to the military action taking place in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Higher Education Act reauthorization bill that was passed by this body last Congress included a provision that would allow Pell-eligible students to automatically receive the maximum Pell Grant if one of their parents died as a result of their military service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The legislation before us today extends a similar benefit to students who may fall outside of the income limits placed on the Pell Grant program but who have also suffered the same type of loss.

Under this legislation, all students who have lost a soldier-parent as a direct result of fighting in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan will be eligible for a grant. The parents of these students have given their lives in service to our country.

A college student who loses a parent in the war loses so much more than we can fathom. These students will not have their parent around to move into their first dorm room or hear complaints about cafeteria food. They will not have their parent's consolation and encouragement to continue even after a poor test grade or a difficult professor. Of course, these students who lose a parent in Iraq or Afghanistan will not have the financial support of their parent in this time of rising college costs and economic uncertainty.

While this legislation does not provide students with the same type of support a parent could provide, I hope it will ease the financial burden of paying for college just a little bit.

The legislation before us easily passed the House once. I hope for a similar result again, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Lady Golden Tide softball team of Curwensville, Pennsylvania, for capturing the State softball championship in their division.

This is the team's second Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A title in 3 years. They won on June 12 by a single run against a powerhouse team from Old Forge, the Lady Blue Devils, who had a record of 18 wins and 3 losses.

Tide Coach Allen Leigey said in an interview, ``This group of girls has been great, and we're really going to miss the seniors. They've done everything we've asked, and their winning attitude is just tremendous.''

Winning Lady Tide pitcher Holly Lansberry also hit the winning run for the team in a 1-0 game. The Lady Blue Devils were on a 17-game winning streak, but the momentum was with the Tide. After the Curwensville run scored, the Lady Blue Devils were shut out by a double play in the sixth inning.

All these women deserve praise for their competitive spirit and their team effort. Coach Leigey can be justifiably proud of these young women who worked hard to get to the finals and to come home champions.

Congratulations to the Lady Golden Tide.

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, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The entity to receive

the funding is the Lycoming County Commissioners, 48 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, in the amount of $250,000. This funding through the COPS account will purchase new equipment for use by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and 9-1-1 center. This will directly support the acquisition of an Emergency 9-1-1 console purchase and relocation into a new addition at the center.

The entity to receive funding is the Clarion County Commissioners, 421 Main Street, Clarion, PA 16214, in the amount of $500,000. This funding through the COPS account will create a joint communication system that will promote seamless interoperability capabilities among counties, hospitals, schools, regional, state, and federal agencies. Radio communications, along with broadband/internet connectivity, are vital elements necessary to link all telecommunications needs together where the counties provide direct services and mutual aid.

The entity to receive funding is the Centre County Commissioners, Willow Bank Office Building, Bellefonte, PA 16823, in the amount of $250,000. The funding will be used for purchase of an upgraded emergency communications system that will improve safety for citizens of the County and allow for interoperability among multiple agencies throughout Centre County.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Lady Eagles from the Bald Eagle Area School District in Pennsylvania for winning the state championship softball title on Friday, June 12. It was the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's Class AA title game against the Brandywine Heights Area School District, and both are outstanding teams.

Led by pitcher Megan Shaw, the Lady Eagles won by a score of 2-0 against the Lady Bullets in a match where the Bullets had a better record with 27 wins and no losses. The Eagles' record was 23 wins and 3 losses.

This is a story about heart and determination after the Lady Eagles lost last year in the state finals. They have won 2 years out of 4 and are fierce competitors. Scoring runs were by Brooke Klinefelter and Taylor Parsons, with help from two other hitters, Lily Glunt and Jasa Mitchell; one bunted, and the second gave a base hit to bring in Parsons.

Coach Dave Breon can be justifiably proud of these high school girls and the hard work that got them to the finals and made them state champions. Great job, Lady Eagles.