Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it's time for commonsense health care reform that will strengthen free enterprise, lower cost and expand access to affordable quality care.

Unfortunately, at a cost of $1.28 trillion, Democrats wish to create a new government program that will unwillingly force more than 100 million people out of their current coverage, increase taxes by $818 billion, and cut 4.7 million jobs.

According to CBO, this legislation would also increase the Federal deficit by $239 billion over 10 years and, as a result, would ration care, force doctors out of the profession and hospitals out of business, and ultimately provide fewer options and longer waits for patients.

Locally, new health mandates in South Carolina, a State already in financial crisis, would create more unbudgeted costs and reduce funding for other important issues in the State.

Spending so much and accomplishing so little, a government takeover of health care is the wrong direction for all Americans. Republicans have a better plan that expands access to affordable health care and allows families to choose the plan that best fits their needs.

Madam Speaker, the unemployment rate in South Carolina is over 12 percent. This is the third worst in the Nation, but only $400,000 in stimulus highway dollars have been spent. Instead of creating jobs, red tape is slowing projects down and forcing millions to be spent on painting road lines and pouring sidewalks, instead of going towards job-creating jobs like I-73.

Infrastructure investment is a proven job creator, but instead of workers constructing miles of new and badly needed highways, we have miles of red tape.

And we are at risk of seeing even more job losses as the Obama administration and the Senate stand against a new highway bill. Instead of setting a path of 6 years of needed investment in highways and transit, the other body and President Obama want us to wait another 18 months. They want us to go down the same path as the last highway bill, where 12 extensions led to hundreds of millions of dollars in reduced investments and tens of thousands of jobs lost.

Madam Speaker, we can do better. We must move forward with a new highway bill, but we also must ensure that we give States the tools they need to cut through the red tape preventing these dollars from creating jobs and building new infrastructure.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak against the amendment offered by my friend from Arizona. I am proud to represent coastal South Carolina. I know that the economy of Myrtle Beach is suffering, and jobs are being lost every day.

The tourism industry is the number one industry in the Myrtle Beach region, and the lifeblood of the surrounding area. The Myrtle Beach International Trade and Conference Center is an important part of that industry, with local economy impact of over $55 million every year. However, it has reached capacity, limiting its ability to attract major conventions. In light of this, the community has embarked upon a multiyear effort to expand the Center, funded through a mix of local and other dollars.

Not only will improvements to the Center assist in attracting national conventions to Myrtle Beach, which will result in more good- paying jobs for the region, but it also serves as the emergency command center for the city of Myrtle Beach in the event of a hurricane or other types of national disasters, which is why this project has received past support from the Department of Homeland Security.

Horry County is one of the hardest-hit counties in South Carolina during this recession, and I am proud to do everything I can to assist my district to

create jobs and improve the quality of life of my constituents.

Mr. Chairman, I would submit, for the Record, a letter from Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, as well as a letter from the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, detailing why this funding is needed and how it will be spent.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Flake amendment No. 15.

Myrtle Beach Area

Chamber of Commerce,

Myrtle Beach, SC, July 15, 2009.

Hon. Henry Brown,

House of Representative,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Brown: I am writing to thank you for your

efforts to secure federal funds for the expansion of the

Myrtle Beach Convention Center. In particular, I thank you

for seeking $100,000.00 in the current legislation moving

through Congress. Your support of this important project is

greatly appreciated.

The expansion project, once underway, will create hundreds

of jobs in our area. With our unemployment rate reaching

record levels, we desperately need more jobs and this project

will help us accomplish that objective.

Once complete, the expanded convention center will attract

more groups and thousands of visitors to the area, boosting

tourism and creating jobs. Since tourism is the key

cornerstone to our local economy, we simply must find ways to

grow the economic base and create more jobs. Because the

convention center is so important to our economy today, an

expanded convention center will undoubtedly create new jobs

in our local community.

We appreciate your past support of expanding the Myrtle

Beach Convention Center and urge you to continue to seek

funding for this important project. Your leadership is

crucial to this project and I hope you will continue to press

forward on this project.

Thank you for all you do to lead South Carolina and the

First Congressional District.

With warmest regards, I am,

Brad Dean,

President.

Mr. Speaker, like the rest of the Nation, it has been a hard summer for the First District of South Carolina.

Just last week, Georgetown County's International Paper cut their hours, and the Mittal Steel Mill closed indefinitely, putting 275 South Carolinians out of work. With 14.7 million unemployed Americans, this number seems small; but with no end in sight, closings like this will continue nationwide.

More than 4 months after the stimulus bill's passage, we still face the highest unemployment rate in 25 years. South Carolina itself has a rate of over 12 percent, the fourth highest in the Nation.

Sadly, the Democrats' only answer is more Federal spending and a cap- and-trade national energy tax that will increase energy costs for every American, sending millions of jobs overseas.

These are not plans for prosperity, and the administration must be held accountable for them and their failed stimulus, a plan pushed through Congress with false promises of immediate relief.

The Republican plan, though ignored, would have cost half as much and created twice as many jobs, but, as every American continues to ask, ``Where are the jobs,'' we vow to work towards real solutions for American families, small businesses and manufacturers.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, 100 years ago, a parcel of Federal land in Salt Lake City was conveyed to the Mount Olivet Cemetery Association. H.R. 1442 directs the Secretary to accept an offer from the association to purchase certain reversionary interests in 60 of those acres. The bill requires the sale to be accomplished at no cost to the taxpayer and for the appraised value of the rights.

I support the bill because it reduces, although only by 60 acres, excessive Federal land holdings at a time when the Department of Interior is facing a multibillion-dollar maintenance backlog for the lands it already owns.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

H.R. 2188 would statutorily establish the existing Migratory Bird Joint Venture program. This program, which has been funded as an administrative line item in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service budget for over 20 years, has done a remarkable job of conserving some 15.7 million acres of grasslands, forests, wetlands and riparian habitat throughout North America.

By enacting this program into law, we will send a positive message to the international community that the United States is committed to its wildlife treaty obligations. We will also ensure that Congress has an opportunity to periodically examine this program to evaluate its ongoing effectiveness and whether it merits the further expenditure of our taxpayer money in the future.

I would like to recognize the other three bipartisan sponsors of this legislation: Congressmen Frank Kratovil, Ron Kind, and Rob Wittman.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Price.

I have no further speakers and yield back the balance of my time.

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

H.R. 129 corrects a problem resulting from the way a small section of the Los Padres National Forest boundary crosses an old road. This road provides the only access to property owned by the White Lotus Foundation. This bill authorizes the Secretary to sell five acres to the foundation and requires that the sale be accomplished at no cost to the taxpayers.

I support the bill and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California, the author of the bill, Mr. Gallegly.

(Mr. GALLEGLY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I think we have one more speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Broun.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 409 directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway 115 acres adjacent to the Speedway at fair market value. The Speedway attracts over 140,000 fans, and the additional acreage is needed to prevent the hazardous driving conditions that result from the backup of cars trying to park in inadequate facilities.

All costs associated with the conveyance, including the appraisal, will be paid by the Speedway. The bill also includes a reversionary clause that would return the land to the Department of Interior should it be used for anything other than a parking lot.

Mr. Heller should be commended for his work on this bill. I congratulate him for his efforts to reduce--however small--the Federal Government land inventory.

I support the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).

(Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Henry E. Brown, Jr.

Bill Number: H.R. 2892, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: FEMA, State and Local Programs

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Dorchester County

Address of Requesting Entity: 201 Johnston Street, St. George, SC 29477

Description of Project: Construct and equip a new emergency operations center to enhance response by first responders and survivability of critical equipment in a county that contains significant critical infrastructure, including I-26, and is in close proximity to Charleston's military bases and ports.

Requesting Member: Henry E. Brown, Jr.

Bill Number: H.R. 2996, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: National Park Service, Save America's Treasures

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Dorchester County

Address of Requesting Entity: 201 Johnston Street, St. George, SC 29477

Description of Project: Repairing standing wooden tents at this historic meeting compound that were damaged as a result of arson, and facilities upgrades allowable under program rules; Cypress Historic Meeting Compound, which was founded in 1794, is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been recognized as one of the last ``Great Awakening'' religious compounds. National Register Number: 78002504.

Requesting Member: Henry E. Brown, Jr.

Bill Number: H.R. 2997, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, SRG

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Clemson University

Address of Requesting Entity: 201 Sikes Hall, Clemson, SC 29634

Description of Project: Funds will be used to support the continued development of fruit tree genomics at Clemson University that currently underpins the future of competitive specialty crop agriculture in South Carolina and the U.S. This work identifies, characterizes and manipulates the genes and gene actions that control: the normal growth and development of fruiting trees, natural resistance genes to both abiotic and biotic stresses, genes that influence the progression of disease in the trees (e.g. peach tree short life), and genes controlling quality and yield of fruits. This research provides the pipeline for future fruit tree improvement and sustainability. Clemson is at the heart of fruit tree genomics research in the U.S. Project has been funded in past appropriations acts.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Henry E. Brown, Jr.

Bill Number: H.R. 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: COPS--Technology Assistance

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sumter County Sheriff (on behalf of 15 SC counties, including Charleston, Georgetown, Berkeley & Dorchester)

Address of Requesting Entity: 107 East Hampton Avenue, Sumter, SC 29150

Description of Project: $1 million to provide 15 South Carolina counties (including Charleston, Georgetown, Berkeley and Dorchester counties) with detailed imaging to assist with emergency response, planning, and other activities to enhance public safety and officer safety. Program will also supplement existing GIS technologies to assist with planning, environmental protection, and other public services.

Requesting Member: Henry E. Brown, Jr.

Bill Number: H.R. 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Office of Justice Programs--Juvenile Justice

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Youth Advocate Programs

Address of Requesting Entity: 3422 Rivers Avenue, 2nd Floor, North Charleston, SC 29405 Description of Project: $250,000 to build upon existing Youth Advocate Programs in Charleston and Myrtle Beach that develop community-based alternative for high-risk kids that are referred to the program by local courts; program currently has an 82% success rate in South Carolina, reducing costs borne by taxpayers for incarceration and other punitive measures. Project also sees support from local government and private sector.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the International Paper Mill in Georgetown, South Carolina, for recently reaching a safety milestone of logging 4 million safe work hours without any employees missing work due to injuries sustained on the job.

This is not an easy task with nearly 700 employees working at the paper mill daily, and it is obvious that the team in Georgetown has been working hard to develop new ways to proactively prevent accidents.

``Our goal is to leave work every day in the same or better condition than we arrived, for ourselves and for our families,'' said Debbie Feck, mill manager.

Recently, employees at the mill implemented a new personalized safety process focusing on people acting, caring and thinking safely, or PACTS for short. They see this as a great way to focus on safety, but also realize that there is no single action that can create the ultimate safe environment, and everyone must work together to achieve this goal.

Congratulations to the Georgetown Mill team. I speak for myself and everyone in the First District when I say we are proud of you and encourage the team to keep working toward those safety milestones.

Madam Speaker, for years my Republican colleagues and I have focused on implementing an all-of-the-above energy plan to cut the ties of foreign oil and create affordable American energy. However, the Democrat cap-and-tax plan will actually serve as a national energy tax, resulting in fewer jobs and more government control.

More than $3,100 will be added to the annual energy costs of American families, a financial hardship that will greatly impact the poor, who spend a large part of their income on energy. These taxes will directly impact farmers in South Carolina as everyday costs of fuel and fertilizer become too expensive for them to afford.

Additionally, our State's clean-energy production will be excessively taxed, forcing companies to move to countries with less stringent standards, resulting in little progress towards protecting our environment. The relocation of these businesses could result in the loss of up to 7 million jobs, increasing unemployment and placing further economic strains on the American families, all for a policy that won't even achieve its initial goal of reducing carbon emissions.

Americans are sick of this energy roller coaster. I encourage my colleagues to support an all-of-the-above energy plan that will not tax us to death.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from California yielding.

H.R. 2344, the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009, grants limited statutory authority to SoundExchange, the government-designated entity that is responsible for disbursing Webcasting royalties to copyright owners.

The bill gives SoundExchange the legal authority to effect an agreement that has already been negotiated with certain ``pureplay'' Webcasters for the performance of sound recordings over the Internet.

Under the terms, the bill will provide a window of 30 days for other Webcasters to agree to be bound by this new agreement.

For those Webcasters who choose to take advantage, they will be able to substitute the rate and rate calculation methods provided in the agreement for those previously announced by the copyright royalty judges, CRJs, on April 30, 2007.

These new terms will run through the end of 2015, which means that this group of Webcasters and sound recording artists who are due royalties under the Webcasting licensing will benefit from the extended period of certainty in their economic relationship.

Mr. Speaker, I have a strong preference for voluntarily negotiating settlements, which allow each side to compromise, claim a measure of victory, and go home.

This is particularly true when the alternative is for parties to engage in lengthy and expensive adversarial legal and lobbying efforts such as those that have followed the CRJs' determination in the Webcasters proceedings in 2007.

When they issued their 117-page final order, the CRJs established the statutory rates and the terms for the performance of compulsorily licensed Internet streamed music for a 5-year period that is due to expire December 31, 2010.

The law provides this process because we have an obligation to ensure that copyright owners whose works are made available in a government- mandated license are fairly compensated by the private parties who seek to benefit from such use.

Indeed, the Judiciary Committee and the Congress established the CRJ process, in no small part, in response to Webcasters' concerns that the previous Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel, or CARP, process effectively prohibited many small entities from participating.

Nevertheless, despite their advocacy for this process, some Webcasters have suggested from time to time that the CRJs acted unfairly in reaching their decision. But the record reveals that the decision came at the end of an 18-month proceeding that included 48 days of testimony, 192 exhibits, 475 pleadings, motions and orders, and a transcript that exceeded 13,000 pages.

Notwithstanding these facts, the Congress enacted the Webcasting Settlement Act of 2008 late last year to provide an additional period of time for parties to negotiate private agreements. That period expired February 15, 2009.

Several entities, including the National Association of Broadcasters, are to be commended for reaching an accord during this window, but it appears a number of others were either unable or unwilling to come to terms during the generous period of time that Congress provided.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2344, but in so doing, I note that it seems a bit like the tail wagging the dog for Congress to legislate and create exceptions to the due process and notice requirements in the existing statutory process each time one party or another calculates they could get a better deal by disregarding the deadline the law provides.

I appreciate my colleague from Wisconsin for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for House Resolution 410, legislation I was proud to introduce with Representative Klein. As the Representative for 75 percent of South Carolina's coast and for many of my State's recreational and commercial boaters, I am proud of this resolution, which recognizes the numerous contributions of the recreational boating community and of the boating industry.

Boating is big business in the State of South Carolina, with more than $826 million in sales a year and with nearly 9,000 boating industry employees across the State. Boats are owned by families of all income levels in communities across my State and the Nation. In my district alone, there are 82,441 registered recreational boats, and there are 145 boating businesses which range from small charter operations and marinas to major boat engine manufacturers at Cummins Marine, an employer of hundreds of my constituents.

Nationally, the recreational boating community includes over 59 million Americans, and it makes a significant impact on our economy. Boaters also serve as stewards of the marine environment as the boating community has a long history of educating future generations on the value of these resources and on how to preserve them for their enjoyment. Additionally, through annual motorboat fuel taxes, boaters contribute more than $100 million towards fish restoration and towards other environmental programs.

More than anything else, boating is important to American families as it provides opportunities for them to spend quality time together. It appeals to all age groups, and it has the beneficial effect on the physical fitness and scholastic performance of those who participate.

At the request of my constituent, Mr. Bill Hanahan, I worked to include language in this resolution, marking the

important role that boating plays for American families. As Mr. Hanahan said, Joining family and friends on the water is a great way to escape the chaos of our busy lives, create quality memories together and appreciate nature in all its glory.

Boating does just that, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Henry E. Brown, Jr.

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Department of Education--National Projects, Innovation and Improvement

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Reading is Fundamental

Address of Requesting Entity: 1825 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington,