Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dewayne Bunch, a brave member of the Kentucky National Guard, a leader in the State legislature, and a dedicated teacher at Whitley County High School: His passing is a great loss and he will be deeply missed by Whitley and Laurel County and across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Dewayne's life encompassed the true meaning of a public servant. Described as ``a mighty man of valor,'' Dewayne helped lead our Commonwealth with an extraordinary level of dedication and excellence. While serving in the Kentucky National Guard, Dewayne proudly fought for our country in Iraq as a first sergeant and received multiple honors, including the Bronze Star. Dewayne was also a veteran of the United States Army and after 24 years of service to the Kentucky National Guard, Dewayne was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in the fall of 2010 and thoughtfully represented Whitley and Laurel Counties. In his brief legislative career in Frankfort, Dewayne showed tremendous potential as a legislator.

In April of 2011, Dewayne was severely injured while trying to break up a fight between two students at Whitley County High School where he taught math and science for 17 years. Dewayne was highly regarded by his students and faculty, and shared a vision with lawmakers for a better Kentucky, especially in the field of education. After his injury, Dewayne resigned from the Kentucky legislature, and the position was filled by his dutiful wife, Regina Bunch.

On July 11th, 2012, Dewayne passed away at the age of 50. Over 450 people attended his funeral, including State legislators, fellow educators, members of the Patriot Guard Riders, and friends from all walks of life. During the funeral service, it was announced that the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal had been posthumously awarded to Dewayne, for his exceptionally admirable and meritorious conduct.

Dewayne was a quality man, dedicated to his State, his church, and most importantly, his family. On behalf of my wife Cynthia and myself, I want to extend our deepest heartfelt sympathies to Regina, the Bunch family, and those who had the privilege of knowing Dewayne.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the late Dewayne Bunch for dedicating a lifetime of service to the families of southeastern Kentucky, our Commonwealth, and our great Nation.

I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, as we begin to wind down the debate on this defense bill, I wanted to take just a moment to pay tribute to this dynamic duo that we have--Bill Young and Norm Dicks. The collective experience, wisdom, and knowledge of this defense bill and the actions of our military is almost unprecedented in this House.

They have put forward a great bill in the highest bipartisan traditions of the House, and all of us in this body say ``thank you'' for the great service of these two stalwarts in this body. They have conducted themselves during this debate in the highest traditions of this House. They have collaborated together in a bipartisan way to help defend this country. I think I speak for all Members of the House of Representatives in saying ``thank you'' to these two great stalwarts of this body.

This will be the last defense bill that Norm Dicks will take part in. He is departing this body in retirement, and we will miss his wisdom and his camaraderie and his knowledge of the needs of our country and its defense. I think I speak for all of the House when I say ``thank you'' to Norm Dicks for great service to his country, to this body, and to the defense of our country especially. We will miss his presence. We will miss his expertise. We will miss the fact that he is a jolly good fellow, among other things.

I will be happy to yield to the chairman.

I thank the gentleman, and I can't help but mention the great service the former chairman of this committee has rendered to the body, as well.

Mr. Chairman, I am happy to yield.

I will be happy to yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mr. Chairman, Chairman Young has mentioned briefly the service of our friend from California (Mr. Lewis), who, as we all know, served as chairman of the full committee for a period of time, and, of course, chairman of this great subcommittee. We're going to miss his presence because he is seeking greener pastures out there as well in retirement.

Jerry Lewis has been a stalwart Member of this body for many years and he has rendered great service to his country, certainly to this House, and most importantly, I think, on this subcommittee, because this subcommittee is in charge of defending our country, and there is no higher calling for any of us than to say we've been a part of that.

Mr. Chairman, I wind my remarks up. We've had some 60 or 70 amendments on this bill, and I think the debate that took place is in the highest traditions of this body. I wish Mr. Lewis and Mr. Dicks happy retirements and other pursuits in life, and we wish you Godspeed.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

I rise in support of this essential bill.

It provides more than $519 billion in critical resources for a strong national defense, supporting our warfighters and protecting the American people. This is an increase of $1.1 billion over last year and more than $3 billion more than what the President asked of us. It is also more than $8 billion over what the Senate Democrats would like to provide.

This Nation, with all the opportunities it provides and the rights it grants, would not be the bastion of freedom without the greatest defense system in the world. Freedom is not free. As we continue to face threats to our safety and way of life, we must deal with the costs of war, keep our military at the ready, and stay constantly vigilant.

This bill supports and takes care of our troops at the highest level possible, providing a 1.7 percent pay raise. We have also increased the critical health and benefits program that our troops deserve, providing $35.1 billion for health and family programs, including funding for traumatic brain injury research and suicide prevention outreach programs.

This legislation keeps America at the forefront of defense technologies by continuing research and development efforts. We boost key training and readiness programs to prepare our troops for combat and peacetime missions with an increase of $12.1 billion for operations and maintenance. We also enhance our military arsenal with $102.5 billion for equipment and upgrades, and we continue fighting the global war on terror by including $88.5 billion for overseas contingency operations.

But, in this environment of fiscal austerity, the committee recognized that even the Pentagon should not have carte blanche when it comes to discretionary spending. We increased oversight and took a balanced approach to budgeting. Commonsense decisions were made to save tax dollars wherever possible, including rescinding unused, prior-year funds and terminating unnecessary programs like the

Medium Extended Air Defense System; but we can guarantee that none of these cuts will affect the safety or success of our troops and missions.

The bill also prohibits funding for the transfers of Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. or its territories, prohibits funding to modify any facility in the U.S. to house detainees, and places strict conditions on the release of detainees--all provisions that were authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act.

I want to take a moment, Mr. Chairman, to recognize the Appropriations Committee's ranking member, Mr. Dicks, who also serves as ranking member of the Defense Subcommittee. He has been a formidable servant of the American people and a dedicated usher of appropriations dollars for some 36 years, and we appreciate his service. As he moves to another phase of his life, we wish him well and Godspeed. He has been a great member of this committee and subcommittee and of this Congress.

Also, I want to say a word of thanks to Jerry Lewis of California, who has been a member and chairman of the Defense Subcommittee and the full committee, for his many years of service to the appropriations process and to this Congress.

We will be sorry to lose the expertise, the leadership, talent, and friendship of these two gentlemen when they retire at the end of this year, but we wish them well in their next pursuits in life. The Appropriations Committee has been made stronger, more responsive, responsible, and respectful thanks to these two outstanding and upstanding legislators and appropriators.

I also want to say a word of congratulations and thanks to our chairman, Bill Young, and to this great staff that Norm Dicks has referred to as the greatest on the Hill, and I can't dispute that. They worked long and hard on a very, very tough bill, under austere circumstances, in order to put together a bill that is necessary for our Nation's defense. These many hours and capable hands that have had a touch on this bill, I think, have crafted a successful bipartisan bill that all of us can be proud to support.

So congratulations, Chairman Young, for another great job. You bring such expertise and experience to this chore, which is so much appreciated by this body.

Mr. Chairman, this is a must-pass piece of legislation that is vital to the security of our homeland and to the safety and health of our troops and veterans. I urge my colleagues to support this great Nation and to approve this necessary bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ernestine Cornett, in honor of her retirement after dedicating nearly 30 years to WYMT-TV, a CBS-affiliate in Hazard, Kentucky, providing continuous news coverage and serving as a tireless ambassador for southern and eastern Kentucky.

With Ernestine Cornett at the helm of WYMT as General Manager, hundreds of thousands of families gained access to local, live-remote news coverage in southern and eastern Kentucky with the station's first satellite truck. Over the years, WYMT-TV has also answered the call for more than news coverage. To promote higher attainment rates for college degrees, Ernestine led the way for thousands of students in the region to gain access to college scholarships through fundraising efforts by the station. In the midst of flooding, tornadoes and other natural disasters, the station has provided staff and airtime for numerous telethons to raise money to give back to families and communities in dire need. During the holidays, WYMT also promotes food and donation drives to make sure the less fortunate have something to celebrate.

Ernestine Cornett is also a model for women in business in rural communities. Starting in the commercial traffic department at WYMT more than two decades ago, Ernestine worked her way up the ladder to general manager in 1990 through her loyalty to the region, integrity in decision-making, her astute leadership, and pure hard work. The station's call letters, WYMT, stand for ``We're Your Mountain Television'' and it's Ernestine's passion for connecting and improving the region that have served as hallmarks for the station's mission.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring a leader and dear friend of southern and eastern Kentucky, Ernestine Cornett, on her retirement. My wife, Cynthia and I wish Ernestine and her family all the best in the years to come.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise in support of this bill. This is the sixth bill that we've considered on the House floor, which means the House is nearly halfway done with its appropriations bills for fiscal year 2013. The Appropriations Committee has considered 11 of the 12 annual bills so far this year, in record time. I'm proud of our quick and thorough progress, and also that we have been able to work in regular order, which has been the goal of this committee from the git-go last January.

The other commitment this committee made at the beginning of the Congress was to reduce discretionary spending wherever we can. In the past two fiscal years, we've cut spending by more than $95 billion and are on our way to continue reductions for a third year in a row.

I've said it before, Mr. Chairman, but this is a historic accomplishment--a record for spending reductions that this Nation has not seen since at least World War II.

The fiscal year 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill continues this downward trajectory, cutting $4 billion from last year's level, bringing us to the lowest level of spending for this bill since 2009.

The $15.6 billion included in this bill funds Department of Transportation agencies like the FAA, the Federal Railroad Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as critical Housing and Urban Development programs.

Within the Department of Transportation, the bill targets funds towards programs that improve the reliability, efficiency, and safety of our Nation's transportation system. This includes reducing congestion and delays for air travelers by providing nearly $1 billion for the FAA's NextGen program, carefully funding Amtrak to help build rail bridges and tunnels, and supporting construction at airports across the Nation.

These smart investments in America's infrastructure will help create an environment that supports job creation and spurs economic growth.

Overall, funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development is cut by $3.8 billion compared with last year, but we took careful steps to ensure that this reduction didn't unfairly displace our most vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities and the elderly.

The funding in this section of the bill prioritizes the most beneficial and cost-effective programs. We are providing section 8 vouchers for 2.2 million families--fully funding the President's request--and keeping our veterans with roofs over their heads.

We also increased funding for the Community Development Block Grant program. Throughout the bill, the chairman of the subcommittee has made policy reforms and conditions that will ensure greater efficiency and less waste.

The safe and responsible shepherding of taxpayer dollars is important government-wide, particularly when dealing with our Nation's infrastructure and housing.

We help guarantee that taxpayer dollars aren't slipping through the cracks by implementing strict oversight and eliminating wasteful, unnecessary programs. To this end, we provided no funding for the President's High-Speed Rail program, the unauthorized and expensive Choice Neighborhoods program, or the extraneous TIGER grants program, among other uneconomical and unnecessary initiatives. Furthermore, the bill rejects the administration's attempted accounting tricks that would enact new fees on air travelers.

There are still several moving parts in this section of the bill as we await reauthorization for the highway trust fund and its mass transit account. The committee stands ready to adjust the bill, as needed, if a multiyear authorization should be enacted.

In closing, I want to take a moment to extend my thanks and congratulations to Chairman Latham, Ranking Member Olver, and the entire subcommittee for their expert work on this bill. I also want to thank the staff for both the majority and the minority; without them, the bill would not be here.

As many of you know, this is Ranking Member Olver's final THUD appropriations bill before he retires. His leadership and his expertise, his work on this committee, and his contribution to the House as a whole are incomparable, and we will certainly miss the gentleman a great deal. Congratulations, Mr. Olver, for a great career in this body.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It smartly focuses on our key infrastructure priorities, supports a more responsible and slimmed down housing department, and holds the line on discretionary spending to a more sustainable level.

Thank you, Chairman Aderholt, for yielding the time.

Mr. Chairman, this is the 10th anniversary bill for this subcommittee. We began work in 2003, and the first three speakers that are on the platform today are the three chairmen of that subcommittee in its 10 years of history. I have the honor of being the first chairman and then was followed by David Price as chairman, and now Robert Aderholt. So we have--if there is any accumulated wisdom, we posses a portion of it.

So we want to thank Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Price for their hard work on this subcommittee. This is truly a bipartisan, nonpartisan subcommittee because the Nation's security cannot bow to any partisan spirits.

I think after these 10 years we can all agree that the country is indeed safer than it was then. The country has thwarted several attempts at terrorist attacks in our skies. We've eliminated the world's most heinous terrorist, Osama bin Laden, and more recently the number two al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But we face constant reminders that the war on terror is anything near over. Our freedom is not free, and we can't skimp on our national security if we want to stay vigilant and, most importantly, safe.

Discretionary funding in this bill totals just over $39 billion, which, indeed, is a cut of $483 million below last year and $393 million below what the President requested. Chairman Aderholt and his subcommittee drafted this bill with four priorities in mind: one, putting security first; second, encouraging strong fiscal discipline; three, mandating robust oversight efforts; and four, boosting the research and grant programs that support American jobs, innovation, and preparedness.

To support and address vital frontline operations, the bill makes smart increases or holds constant programs that enhance intelligence, threat-targeting, or that act as the first line of defense and response. This includes providing funding for the largest immigration detention capacity and number of Border Patrol agents in ICE history.

But at the end of the day, the bill totals less than it did last year, and that's because of thoughtful, responsible reductions. Our limited government resources must be put toward programs and services with proven benefits and tangible results. These cuts

targeted programs with known inefficiencies, program delays, excessive overhead costs, or those that simply had lower budget requirements. The bill also rescinds excess or unspent prior-year funds.

Now, as the Department enters its 10th anniversary, we are reminded that the Department in its current form is still ``under construction.'' Though we have seen some real progress made, DHS can still improve the way it spends taxpayer dollars and administers its grant programs.

This legislation, I think, takes the right steps to direct spending accordingly--enacting reforms, requiring tougher oversight, and demanding justifications and spending plans from programs that do not have a history of wise spending decisions.

Again, I want to thank Chairman Aderholt, Ranking Member Price, all of the members of the subcommittee, and the hardworking staff for all the many hours they've spent in drafting this important bill. This legislation is proof that we can do more with less. A reduction in spending, coupled with reforms to encourage efficiency and sustainability, will help us get on a stronger fiscal path.

I believe this is a good bill, Mr. Chairman. It's as good a bill as I've seen in my 10 years on this subcommittee, and I want to, again, congratulate those who had a hand in making it possible.

So I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill to help prevent future terrorist attacks, to protect air passengers, and to keep our border secure.

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

The Obama administration has not been shy about its desire to wipe out our Nation's use of fossil energy resources. Mining permits in Kentucky and eastern America have ground to a halt. Oil and gas leasing on Federal lands and our Outer Continental Shelf are stagnant, onerous regulations are shuttering power plants, and EPA officials have gone on the record expressing a desire to crucify the fossil industries, which have been the backbone of our energy security for decades and continue to today.

And how does this administration propose to fill the gaping hole they've

left in our energy security? By throwing billions of taxpayer dollars down a black hole at pie-in-the-sky renewable pet projects like Solyndra.

I agree with my colleagues that we must balance the expansion of conventional fuels--coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear--to provide energy today with investment into renewable energies to power our future. And that's exactly what the underlying bill seeks to do, Mr. Chairman.

The funding provided for fossil energy research and development will support investments in carbon capture, carbon storage, and other advanced energy systems so our country can more efficiently use centuries worth of coal and natural gas already at our disposal. Meanwhile, we continue to support reasonable levels in the EERE account that have seen exponential increases in recent years.

The President's energy strategy yields neither savvy investments for the taxpayer nor does it strengthen our energy security or our economy. Seen in tandem with the EPA's onerous utility regulations and deliberate delays to energy production permits, any cuts to fossil energy research are a part of a pincer movement designed to drive fossil energy from the marketplace. The results will be spiking energy costs, greater reliance on foreign sources of energy, and lost jobs.

As a result, Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Appalachia confronts a combination of challenges that few other parts of the country face: mountainous terrain and isolation, a dispersed population, inadequate infrastructure, a lack of financial and human resources, and a weak track record in applying for and receiving assistance from other Federal programs.

For decades, Appalachia has experienced an economic lag. Even during years of economic expansion, employment growth in this 13 State region was significantly lower than the Nation's as a whole. Even with ARC's funding, in fiscal '09, Appalachia received 33 percent fewer Federal expenditures per capita than the Nation. It's clear ARC programs do not duplicate other Federal programs. Instead, they extend the reach of those programs. In the last 5 years, every dollar of ARC investment yielded $10 of private sector investment. Clearly, ARC is an effective and efficient steward of the taxpayer dollar, targeting these funds where they are needed the most.

As a result, 125,000 households were served by infrastructure. Nearly 140,000 jobs were created or retained. And 100,000 students received vital job training skills. In addition, completing the Appalachian Development Highway System is expected to generate some $5 billion in annual economic benefit for the entire country by 2035.

But perhaps just as important as ARC's winning investment strategies is its working knowledge of the communities served. When storms ripped through rural Kentucky last March, leveling entire towns and particularly devastating the community of West Liberty, ARC was one of the first agencies on the ground to support and coordinate the State, local, and Federal response.

Largely because of ARC, these communities have a sense of hope for a successful rebuild and restoration. The Appalachian Regional Commission is uniquely qualified to administer these much-needed and targeted Federal investments to close the economic gap between Appalachia and the rest of the Nation and bring the region's 420 counties and 25 million people into the Nation's economic mainstream.

We must uphold our commitment to the American people to reduce the size and scope of government while maintaining the funding for proven effective programs like ARC that create jobs and keep the economy moving. I am confident ARC will continue its strong legacy of creating jobs and positive change in areas of the country which have been bypassed by opportunity. I urge a ``no'' vote.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my loyal district administrator, Bob Mitchell, in honor of his retirement after dedicating more than 32 years as my right-hand-man, my confidant, political adviser and tireless ambassador for southern and eastern Kentucky.

Bob Mitchell is arguably one of the greatest political advisers in the history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He understands the power of partnerships, regionalization and communication, yet never underestimates the importance of gratitude and humility.

His father, the late Murrell Mitchell, who served as a member of the Knox County School Board, as well as three terms as a Knox County Magistrate, inspired Bob's political interests and philanthropic heart. It is thus his courage of conviction that has driven his work to transform southern and eastern Kentucky and improve the quality of life in our rural region.

With Bob Mitchell at the helm of all district projects, thousands of families now have access to clean drinking water and sanitary waste water systems, are protected by flood-control projects and live without the fear of yearly floods, have better roads to travel on, and have good-paying, stable jobs. He also helped launch and provide guidance to non-profit organizations like the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation for job creation, Forward in the Fifth for education, The Center for Rural Development, TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky to promote tourism, PRIDE for environmental education and clean-ups, as well as Operation UNITE in fighting drug abuse.

Countless organizations and political candidates have coveted Bob Mitchell's impeccable leadership skills. He has served on a litany of boards from financial institutions to non-profit organizations, and assisted with campaigns from county seats to Presidential hopefuls. His legacy will continue to flourish from the seeds of wisdom, hope and inspiration he has planted across our great Commonwealth.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring my friend and my partner, Bob Mitchell, on his retirement. My wife, Cynthia and I wish Bob and his wife, Nancy all the best in the years to come.

I thank the chairman for yielding the time.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of this bill. Earlier this week, we celebrated Memorial Day--a day to commemorate those warfighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of our great Nation. I can think of no better bill to take up this week in honor of those heroes.

We know the risks our troops take to fight for our freedom, and it's the duty of Congress to care for them accordingly.

This bipartisan legislation ensures that our troops and veterans have the vital resources they need and deserve to fight successfully, have a sufficient quality of life, and stay healthy. This bill is funded at the same level as last year, $71.7 billion in discretionary funding for construction efforts here and abroad, and for veterans health, job training, and disability and education benefits programs.

Included in this total is $1.65 billion for military family housing, ensuring quality housing for more than 1.2 million military families. Also included is funding for the improvements of existing military medical facilities and the continued construction of new ones to ensure rapid and quality care for our wounded troops.

As a result of savings from the planned drawdowns in construction and declining BRAC costs, as well as rescissions of excess prior-year funds and

other efficiencies, we were able to increase spending on veterans health discretionary funding by more than $2 billion while holding the line on overall spending.

But these increases were not without stringent oversight. We know there are areas where the VA can improve, so we've required them to report on construction expenditures and savings, and restricted them from taking certain spending actions without telling the Congress first. This bill continues to implement our committee-wide--indeed, House-wide--mission to smart, sustainable spending without negatively impacting our warfighters or vets.

You'll see that this bill was written very deliberately to most effectively provide for our troops and our veterans with the most careful and streamlined use of taxpayer dollars.

I want to commend Chairman Culberson and the ranking member, Mr. Bishop, for their dedication and mutual respect as they crafted this legislation. There's not a subcommittee in our full committee that has the kind of cooperative spirit that this subcommittee has. Their staff and the members have worked hard and well to ensure that we bring a great piece of bipartisan legislation before the body today.

Last but not least, I also want to thank one former member of the subcommittee staff specifically for his tireless service, Tim Peterson, as he embarks on his retirement after more than 30 years of Federal service. Tim was most recently the clerk of this subcommittee, and as a member of the appropriations staff, has worked on veterans issue, among others, for almost 20 years. He also served on the Defense Subcommittee for 6 years. Before joining the committee staff in 1989, Tim was a budget analyst in the Office of the Navy Comptroller. Staff and members of the committee alike all agree that he was one of our best-- knowledgeable, accurate, always professional.

He was a very calming presence. No matter what was thrown his way, he always rose above the fray and the hardships in order to get things done. His expertise and dedication will be greatly missed, and I thank him for his years of service.

One thing I want to mention in closing, the chairman mentioned language in the bill which I'm very grateful for dealing with the sharing of medical records between the DOD and the Veterans Department. A few years ago, 2 or 3 years ago, I learned of a young soldier in my district who was hit by an IED in Iraq and was blinded in one eye and had some vision in the other eye. And when he was discharged, went to the veterans hospital because he was losing the vision of the other eye. They were unable to help him because they didn't know what the military hospital had done when they operated in his forehead around his eyes, and they couldn't get the records out of DOD at the veterans hospital to help him with his problem. The result was he lost his remaining eyesight.

He lost the vision of the second eye simply because the veterans hospital could not get access to the military hospital after he was injured, I assume, from the hospital in Germany. That is unforgivable, that two Federal Agencies both dealing with military and veterans, can't share records. And so the language in the bill, which I am very grateful to the chairman and the ranking member for including, hopefully will force these two Departments to mesh these medical records so that we can save lives and save veterans and soldiers from untold misery.

As we remember those who lost their lives in battle, Madam Chair, we are reminded that we can provide our Nation's troops, our veterans, our military families, with the programs and services they have earned as a result of their service and sacrifice. So I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I thank the chairman for that generous offer.

Mr. Chairman, this is a good bill. It is a hard-fought bill. It is a tough bill, and I want to commend the chairman and the ranking member for their hard work because the allocation to this subcommittee was not greatest in the world. But Chairman Frelinghuysen and Mr. Visclosky, I think, have done wonders with a short allocation.

It funds the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation $32.1 billion. That's a cut of nearly $1 billion off of the President's request; and within the bill we've placed the highest priorities on programs that shore up our national security, help tackle skyrocketing gasoline and energy prices, and support American competitiveness.

We know this is a bill that can do a great deal to help promote job creation, improve public safety and regional commerce, and help relieve some of that pain at the pump in the future. So we've made those smart investments that will help boost the American economy.

Nuclear security programs, as the chairman mentioned, are increased by $275 million over last year. We've made the key investments that are needed to modernize our nuclear weapons stockpile and its supporting infrastructure, advance our nuclear nonproliferation activities around the world, and power the reactors that run our Navy--all in order to maintain the safety and readiness of our national defense. To achieve this, the President's request of $7.6 billion for weapons activities is fully funded.

In total, nonsecurity spending in this bill is cut $188 million below last year. Within this nonsecurity category, the committee prioritized programs that support energy security and American competitiveness.

For instance, the Corps of Engineers budget contains $83 million more than what the President requested, directing funds to ensure our waterways stay open in support of commerce that will help our economy thrive.

The committee also invests in finding ways to help America achieve greater energy independence, providing over $1 billion to strengthen DOE programs to help address rapidly rising gasoline prices.

The bill also creates a new shale oil research and development program, and promotes advanced research into coal, natural gas, and other fossil energy resources that provide more than 83 percent of our Nation's energy.

In order to strengthen defense programs and these other national priorities, the committee had to find cuts elsewhere in the bill, cuts that targeted inefficiencies and waste and did the least harm to our Nation's infrastructure and competitiveness.

We've also cut certain energy programs that aren't as valuable to manufacturing and commerce, and we've rescinded prior-year funds wherever possible.

I want to stress that we're still able to fund important programs at adequate levels in order to ensure the safety of our citizens and our future economic security. But as we face the dangers of unresolved debts and skyrocketing deficits, we simply cannot fund everything at elevated amounts. We have to cut back--just as families know they have to cut back in these precarious times.

As I said, Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky did an excellent job working together as they distributed their 302(b) suballocation in the most responsible and effective way possible. The subcommittee and its staffs from both sides of the aisle should be proud, as I know they are, of their hard work on this bill, and I want to thank them for the many hours they spent crafting this bill.

Mr. Chairman, this is a good piece of legislation. I think any reasonable person looking at this bill will find that this committee did the very best that they could with the allocation that they have received. It gives priority to programs that boost our national defense, supports competitiveness and innovation, and helps reduce the volatility of gasoline prices. So I urge my colleagues to support this bill. And with that, I thank Mr. Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky and members of your subcommittee and staff for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my loyal district administrator, Bob Mitchell, in honor of his retirement after dedicating more than 32 years as my right-hand-man, my confidant, political adviser and tireless ambassador for southern and eastern Kentucky.

Bob Mitchell is arguably one of the greatest political advisers in the history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He understands the power of partnerships, regionalization and communication, yet never underestimates the importance of gratitude and humility.

His father, the late Murrell Mitchell, who served as a member of the Knox County School Board, as well as three terms as a Knox County Magistrate, inspired Bob's political interests and philanthropic heart. It is thus his courage of conviction that has driven his work to transform southern and eastern Kentucky and improve the quality of life in our rural region.

With Bob Mitchell at the helm of all district projects, thousands of families now have access to clean water and sanitation systems, are protected by flood-control projects and live without the fear of yearly floods, have better roads to travel on, and have good-paying, stable jobs. He also helped launch and provide guidance to non-profit organizations like the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation for job creation, Forward in the Fifth for education, The Center for Rural Development, TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky to promote tourism, PRIDE for environmental education and clean-ups, as well as Operation UNITE in fighting drug abuse.

Countless organizations and political candidates have coveted Bob Mitchell's impeccable leadership skills. He has served on a litany of boards from financial institutions to non-profit organizations and assisted with campaigns from county seats to Presidential hopefuls. His legacy will continue to flourish from the seeds of wisdom, hope, and inspiration he has planted across our great Commonwealth.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring my friend and my partner, Bob Mitchell, on his retirement. My wife, Cynthia and I wish Bob and his wife, Nancy all the best in the years to come.

I thank the chairman for yielding the time.

I rise in strong support of this bill. This bill, the first for fiscal '13, marks one of the earliest starts to the appropriations process in recent memory, which is a good sign for moving all 12 bills before the September 30 end of the fiscal year.

I look forward to an open and transparent process as we consider each of the bills, staying faithful to our commitment to smart, reduced levels of spending to help do our part in controlling the Federal deficit.

I want to especially commend Chairman Wolf, Ranking Member Fattah, members of the subcommittee, and my colleague and ranking member, Norm Dicks, and all of the staff who have hard work invested in this bill.

The Appropriations Committee has held more than 100 hearings and briefings since January, which helps us determine the best use of limited tax dollars that we must spread out over a great number of vital Federal programs, services, and Agencies. The Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill is in line with the House-passed budget resolution. It totals $51.1 billion, which is $1.6 billion below current level and below the pre-stimulus, pre-bailout level of 2008.

Within this total, the committee prioritized programs and services that:

One, protect our people from threats at home, abroad, and in cyberspace;

Two, that maintain the competitiveness of American industry and businesses; and,

Three, that encourage the scientific research that has kept America at the forefront of the world in innovation.

Some of these critical investments include $8.3 billion for the FBI; $468 million for the International Trade Administration; $830 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and $2.4 billion for the Drug Enforcement Agency. In addition, this bill includes various provisions to promote freedom and liberty, while also fulfilling our moral obligation to the most vulnerable among us. The bill helps to uphold our Second Amendment rights; prevent violence against women; help victims of trafficking, and missing and exploited children; and bring under control our country's fastest-growing drug threat--the abuse of prescription drugs--which the CDC has now labeled a national epidemic.

We were able to fund these programs at adequate, responsible levels while cutting spending--including terminating 37 duplicative, unnecessary, or lower-priority programs.

Not all of these decisions were easy to make, and I know many of my colleagues will have amendments to offer as we debate the bill. But I am proud of the work that this committee and this subcommittee has done to ensure responsibility and sustainability in these Federal budgets. While making important reductions that curtail unnecessary overhead and wasteful inefficiencies, this bill makes judicious and sensible investments in programs that make America the great Nation that it is, an America that's safe and secure, an America that leads the way in scientific development and innovation, and an America that helps get its people back to work.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I thank the chairman for yielding.

Madam Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Madam Chairwoman, my district has historically lagged behind others in the Commonwealth and in the Nation, which is why I have made the economic development of rural Kentucky my top priority since coming to Congress.

Creating jobs in a mountainous region without sufficient roadways or suitable water infrastructure might seem an insurmountable challenge, but I've always encouraged my constituents and community leaders to ``plan their work and work their plan.'' With the help of EDA, this is what we've done in southern and eastern Kentucky.

The Economic Development Administration is one of the few entities in our Federal Government uniquely qualified to address the needs of communities with chronically high unemployment or facing enormous setbacks due to natural disasters. EDA's grants, awarded in a competitive fashion, leverage over $10 from the private sector for every Federal dollar invested and are targeted at facilities that are essential for private industry to remain or locate in these underachieving areas. As

a result of these targeted investments in water systems, workforce training centers, intermodal facilities or broadband networks, struggling communities around the country have seen the creation of some 314,000 jobs in the last 7 years.

I wholeheartedly concur with the sponsor of the amendment that the role of the Federal Government isn't to create jobs, but instead, to create the conditions favorable for private sector job creation. By partnering with local area development districts, leveraging public and private dollars, and engaging the local workforce, EDA does just that.

This bill provides $220 million for the agency--which is already $38 million below the current level--rejects the administration's request to shift funds away from vital public works programs, and supports a loan guarantee program to development innovative manufacturing technologies that will keep rural areas competitive nationally and globally. With unemployment in rural areas around the country still hovering at well above the national average, this is an investment we cannot afford to lose. I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who has served as a true Kentucky leader, innovator, and businessman, Nick Nicholson. On April 18th, 2012, Nicholson announced his retirement as CEO of Keeneland. This remarkable Thoroughbred enthusiast has forever impacted the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the horse industry and most indelibly, Lexington's Keeneland Race Course. By implementing new technology, expanding racing enthusiasm, and bringing sound accounting and business management practices, Nicholson has contributed to making Keeneland the top-rated North American track for the last four years. Over the past 13 years, Nicholson and Keeneland have thrived during a time of industry contraction. I commend Mr. Nicholson on his dedicated service as the Keeneland Association's chief executive and as an astute leader in the Bluegrass.

In his youth, Nicholson developed his interest for horse racing when attending Keeneland races with his grandfather while growing up in Central Kentucky. Nicholson's early career began in Washington, DC, where he served as executive assistant to Kentucky Senator Wendell Ford. He next went on to serve as the executive vice president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association where he was instrumental in the drafting and passage of legislation that permits interstate track wagering. In 1989, he became the executive vice president and director of the Jockey Club, an organization dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing. While employed by this organization, he most notably introduced the world's first interactive Thoroughbred registration system. In 2000, he joined the Keeneland family and became Keeneland's sixth president.

In his 13 years serving as Keeneland's president, Nicholson led the industry by introducing an all-weather surface that has made Keeneland the safest major racetrack in North America. Nicholson has also led Keeneland in setting numerous attendance and wagering records for its race meetings, including an all-time record of 250,163 attendees during its 75th Anniversary meet in October 2011, and

an all-time one-day record of 40,617 attendees for the 2012 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. During his tenure, Keeneland's auction company's top sales figures included $11.7 million for Meydan City at the 2006 September Yearling Sale and has amassed more than $7 billion in total gross sales since 2000. He also led many efforts to update Keeneland with several construction projects, including the completion of a new outdoor walking ring; an enclosure of the first floor of the clubhouse, the renovation of the historic Keeneland Sales Pavilion, the construction of the Keeneland Library and the restoration of Keene Place. For his many contributions to the industry, Nicholson was honored with the Lifetime Service Award from the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, as well as The Jockey Club Gold Medal. In 2004, he was honored by election as a member into the Jockey Club.

Nicholson is a highly active member of his community and has served on the board of the Board of Trustees of UK Healthcare, Urban League, Commerce Lexington Inc., KET Commonwealth Fund, Transylvania University, Shakertown and Central Bank. Nicholson is a husband and father of two, as well as a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Nicholson has served as a remarkable guide for Keeneland as the racetrack president. Through his leadership, wisdom, and outstanding vision, Nicholson has solidified Keeneland's status as an industry leader and treasured Kentucky tradition. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring a true leader and visionary and wish him well in his new endeavors, Mr. Nick Nicholson.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Operation UNITE, the non-profit anti-drug organization in southern and eastern Kentucky for organizing the inaugural National Rx Drug Abuse Summit in Orlando, FL April 10 12, 2012.

This small grassroots organization took on the enormous task of uniting federal, state and local officials on a national stage to discuss obstacles and solutions for the prescription drug epidemic plaguing our country. In its first year, the Summit garnered an outstanding audience of 750 attendees, along with national headliners including: the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske; U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin; the Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, Dr. Ileana Arias; Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Diversion Control with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, Joseph Rannazzisi; the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA, Dr. Nora Volkow; the Appalachian Regional Commission, ARC; and four members of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse, including myself, U.S. Rep. Mary Bono-Mack of California, U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia, and U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia.

As a nation, we can no longer afford to sit quietly on the sidelines. The epidemic now claims more lives every year through drug overdoses than any other accidental death, according to the CDC. During the Summit, Director Kerlikowske called it a public health crisis, noting prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the country. In Kentucky, we are losing 82 people a month to drug abuse-- more than car crashes. This Summit brought forth the realization that unsecure medicine cabinets are more dangerous than our cars.

President & CEO, Karen Kelly, highlighted the multi-pronged approach of the UNITE organization on the national stage as a model for the rest of the country. The Summit featured sessions on healthcare, advocacy and prevention, human resources, treatment and law enforcement. Together, leaders from each field shared resources and information at the Summit, crossing industry lines and state boundaries, for the first time in some areas.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Operation UNITE on a successful inaugural National Rx Drug Abuse Summit. They tossed a pebble into a big pond and I believe the ripple effect will be tremendous in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dedicated employee of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Mariessa Flynn, upon her retirement from my Somerset district office following three decades of service.

``Resa'' has been my right hand on many issues impacting constituents of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District over the last 30 years. However, she found the greatest joy in serving thousands of veterans of our U.S. Armed Forces, assisting them with everything from financial struggles to replacing lost war medals. Countless veterans visit my Somerset District Office each year, because they know they have a friend in Resa Flynn, who will go to every length to help them in their time of need. Resa's loyalty, passion and persistence will be missed as she enters retirement.

Outside my Congressional office, Resa has served as a long-time leader for the Pulaski County Republican Party and the Pulaski County Lincoln Club. She has always led with a strong voice, stout convictions, and has been a tireless advocate for many worthy community projects across the region.

Resa is also a talented crafter and uses her spare time to crochet the most beautiful afghans for families and friends in the Somerset area. She is also a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated employee of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mrs. Mariessa Flynn, upon her retirement from my Somerset district office following three decades of service.

Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Resa Flynn on her retirement, as we also commend her for 30 years of service to the people of southern and eastern Kentucky.