Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3767, a bill to designate the U.S. postal facility at 2600 Oak Street in St. Charles, Illinois, the Jacob L. Frazier Post Office Building.

I thank the entire Illinois delegation for co-sponsoring this legislation honoring Jacob L. Frazier, the first soldier from my district to lose his life in the War on Terror.

Staff Sergeant Jacob Frazier served as a tactical air controller with the Illinois National Guard 182nd Airlift Wing based in Peoria, Illinois.

Jacob was killed while working with the Army's elite Green Berets on March 29, 2003.

His team was ambushed in a southern province of Afghanistan as it returned from touring a clinic and school that were recently built with American aid.

Staff Sergeant Jacob Frazier was 24 years old.

He left behind his proud and loving family, parents Joyce and Jim, sisters Jessica and Kathryn, brothers Zachary and Daniel, and fiancee Jessica Fregin.

To his family, Jacob was more than a brother and son--he was a compassionate and loyal friend.

To his classmates at Burlington Central High School in Burlington, Illinois, Jacob was a natural leader who consistently thought of others before himself.

And to his fellow soldiers, Jacob was the tireless worker who never turned down a mission.

Faced with unlimited potential in his young life, Jacob made the courageous and conscious decision to put himself in harm's way to defend the people and ideals of his country.

It is only because of such selflessness that our Nation enjoys peace and freedom at home--and we must never forget his sacrifice.

By dedicating the St. Charles postal facility in Jacob's name, we ensure that his legacy will carry on for years to come.

Family, friends and community members will have an enduring reminder of the man they knew and loved.

And those who never had the honor of meeting Jacob will be reminded of the American patriot who set aside his self-interest and safety to achieve a greater good.

Further, the Jacob L. Frazier Post Office will serve as a memorial to all the brave men and women from the Fox Valley who have given their lives while serving this great Nation.

Once again, I thank the members of the Illinois delegation for co- sponsoring this legislation and urge my colleagues to approve H.R. 3767 and create a lasting memory for this truly great American.

Mr. Speaker, the agreement we have before us is critical to America's economic future. You see, America's economic stability is directly linked to our ability to maintain a robust trading relationship with the rest of the world.

Right now, the CAFTA region is the second largest U.S. export market in Latin America. Eighty percent of goods from that region already enter the U.S. duty-free.

But currently, U.S. products don't enjoy the same benefits. American exporters of everything from cars, vegetables, fruits, grain and wood products all face average tariffs of 10 to 30 percent.

In my home state of Illinois, some farmers are paying tariffs on farm goods that are as high as 16 percent. These high tariffs prevent farmers from competing in the growing markets of Central America and the Dominican Republic.

Last year, export shipments from Illinois to the CAFTA region totaled $211 million dollars. That's the 16th largest in the U.S.

Passing CAFTA will allow exporters in Illinois and the rest of the country to enjoy the same benefits that our Central American partners already have. And that means more U.S. products can enter and be sold in Central America.

This agreement is a win-win situation for American farmers, businesses and consumers. No matter how you look at it, business activity will increase. And we all know, when businesses do well, jobs are created. In fact, it is estimated that one out of every five factory jobs in the U.S. depends on trade.

There is another component to CAFTA that is also important to address.

This agreement will help solidify democracy and economic reform in Central America. Here is what we know. Trade creates jobs and lifts people out of poverty. And when that happens, societies stabilize and grow. And there is nothing like a stable society to fight terrorism and strengthen democracy, freedom and rule of law.

Finally, Hispanics are now the largest minority group in the United States. For the millions of Hispanic Americans with families still living in Central America, this agreement creates a mutually beneficial economic relationship that strengthens our ties and our friendship.

Put simply, this trade agreement is about fairness. Fairness for American workers and fairness for American exporters. Our businesses and workers deserve a competitive trading environment on a level playing field.

This is important legislation. It will expand economic opportunity in the United States, and it will promote freedom and democracy in Central America. I urge the House to do the right thing and pass this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a minute to, first of all, congratulate the people who worked for years to make this bill possible. First of all, our chairman, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) for their hard work in getting this done, and their staffs.

As we know, in the legislative process, sometimes everything does not turn out exactly perfect the way we envision when we began. But this bill is a result of people working together on both sides of the aisle, setting goals, moving toward those goals, talking to each other, listening to each other. And it is a very good thing.

What this bill also means as we move our people and our products across this country, whether it be highway or rail or people by transit, we can do it in a better and more efficient way.

So many areas have unique needs. We have growth areas. We have huge expanses across this country with not very many people, but yet we need to move the goods and products across this Nation. We have a railroad industry that some bridges go back almost 150 years. But we need to modernize and we need to move forward because if we are going to be an economic trader in the years to come, if we are going to be able to move our products from the East Coast to the West Coast on things we manufacture and produce and buy, then we need to have the transportation to move it. This bill will make that possible.

I think of the hours of days every week that commuters sit on clogged interstates, intersections, commuter highways, and the waste of American energy and productivity; this bill will begin to help that issue. As a father, I can think of all those hours that families sit on those interstates slowly moving along, and kids say, Daddy, when are we going to get there? Maybe with this bill, we may have to answer that three or four less times in our lives.

I appreciate the great effort to get this bill done. Let us move to it.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the Domenici-Barton Energy Policy Act.

I want to congratulate the House Conferees and thank them all for their hard work. I would like to especially recognize the efforts of the Chairman of the Conference, Mr. Barton and the Dean of the House, Mr. Dingell.

Working together with their Senate counterparts, the House Conferees did what many said was impossible: complete the most comprehensive energy legislation in a generation in less than one month.

Mr. Speaker, completing this job was important for our Nation. Americans have waited too long for this legislation to get finished. Americans need this legislation to lower their energy costs, to drive economic growth and job creation and to promote greater energy independence.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is important to the Nation for a number of reasons.

First, this bill addresses the burden that higher gasoline prices place on American consumers by reducing our dependency on foreign oil.

This legislation encourages domestic production of oil by streamlining the permit process for new wells. It also promotes greater refining capacity so more gasoline will be on the market; and it increases gasoline supply by putting an end to the proliferation of boutique fuels.

In addition, this bill helps us reduce our dependence on foreign oil by unleashing the power of the American farmer.

This legislation includes a historic Renewable Fuel Standard, which will result in the doubling of the use of clean-burning and renewable ethanol. The production and use of 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol by 2012 will displace over 2 billion barrels of crude oil. America has a strategic reserve of motor fuels in the cornfields of Illinois, the fields of rice in California, and the cane fields of Florida and its time we tap it.

This legislation also helps alleviate the hidden tax on American consumers, farmers, small businesses and manufacturers that comes in the form of higher natural gas prices. Increased natural gas prices have had an adverse impact on the American economy for too long. Several provisions in H.R. 6, including the streamlining of the LNG infrastructure permitting process and the inventory of America's off- shore resources, are significant steps toward ensuring that our Nation has an adequate and affordable supply of natural gas.

Additionally, this bill provides incentives for the development of clean energy technologies. Included in this legislation are tax credits and funds for the promotion and development of clean coal technologies. There are important incentives for the construction of new nuclear power plants, including the President's proposal for risk insurance to protect against the difficult and lengthy regulatory process of building a nuclear plant. And, this bill continues our Nation's commitment to producing electricity through the use of solar, geothermal and wind power.

Another important component of this legislation enhances our electricity transmission infrastructure so it can meet the needs of our growing economy and help reduce the potential for future blackouts. This bill requires the adoption of strict transmission reliability standards and provides incentives for building additional transmission capacity. This bill also includes measures to update our Nation's electricity laws which will attract much-needed capital to this vital sector of our economy.

However, this bill is not just about the creation of energy, it also contains several important provisions which will help conserve energy as well. This bill establishes new mandatory efficiency standards for federal buildings. And, it sets new standards and requires product labeling for battery chargers, commercial refrigerators, freezers and other household products.

Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on about all the positive and important elements in this legislation. But I believe it's enough to say that we should support this bill and send it to the President because it's the right thing for the American people. They should expect to have an affordable, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sound supply of energy and this bill assures that they will.

Again, let me congratulate Mr. Barton and all the House Conferees and urge my colleagues to support this historic legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Joe Plaskas on his upcoming induction into the Northern Illinois University Hall of Fame on October 14, 2005.

A native of Oswego, Illinois, Joe started his athletic career at Oswego High School as a 3-year letter winner in both football and baseball. Joe's love for sports continued after his playing years as a long-time football and baseball coach at Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois. Through coaching, Joe was able to instill the same values of hard work, dedication and discipline he displayed to the many students he guided as a teacher and coach.

During his college career at Northern Illinois University (NIU), Joe earned eight letters as an outstanding two sport athlete in football and baseball, earning First-Team All-Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) honors in both sports.

As a fullback at NIU, Joe powered his way through defenses, leading the Huskies in rushing in the 1958 and 1959 campaigns. In his final season, Joe helped lead the Huskies to a 7-2 record and second place finish in the IIAC, earning National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-America Honorable Mention and First-Team All-IIAC honors. He also earned a place on the Fourth-Team Peoria Journal Star All-State team in 1959.

Currently ranked No. 22 on the all-time NIU rushing list with 1,315 career yards, Joe not only rewrote school records set by Hall of Famers before him, but held that standard for five more seasons until 1964.

On the diamond, Joe performed with equal passion and excellence. At the plate, Joe led the league in batting with a .455 average as a sophomore and won First-Team All-IIAC honors as a pitcher.

Once again, congratulations Joe on your many successes on and off the field.

Mr. Speaker, this week marks a significant time in the history of the House of Representatives, and in the future of the American people.

Just 6 months into the 109th Congress, we have made some great strides. And this week we mark a milestone.

You see, by the end of today, for the first time in nearly 20 years, the House of Representatives will have completed all of its appropriations bills before the July 4th holiday. It is an unprecedented success, and I want to thank and congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), chairman; the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey); and the Committee on Appropriations for all their hard work and long hours.

I am especially proud of Members under the House Republican leadership for their input and support for our overall agenda.

Just like families must live within their budgets, the Federal Government must live within its means. We have passed appropriations bills that have been fiscally responsible while recognizing our national priorities.

We set out important goals in our budget: to provide overall increases only to defend America at home and abroad. We have kept that promise.

Earlier this spring, we passed a wartime supplemental that gives our troops the tools they need to fight the war on terror. That same legislation, which is now law, includes provisions to protect our borders from terrorists by establishing Federal driver's license guidelines and beefing up our deportation laws.

We passed a budget that continues to cut the deficit. It also requires us to slow the growth of entitlement programs for the first time since 1997. For the first time, we are going to reform these programs and we are going to save our taxpayers more money by eliminating waste and fraud and abuse.

By restraining spending and by cutting the deficit, Republican policies are helping to keep our economy strong.

Currently, our Nation's unemployment stands at 5.1 percent. That is the lowest it has been since before the September 11 attacks. More Americans, especially minorities, own homes now than ever before. Federal revenues are coming in well above estimates, which means the deficit will be lower than expected.

And just yesterday we learned that overall economic growth was 3.8 percent for the first quarter of 2005, higher than expected.

America's economy has now had 14 straight quarters of growth.

On the domestic front, we passed legislation that will maintain our status as the world leader. We have passed legislation which the President signed into law which would curb class action lawsuits. This is a problem that has been devastating to our small businesses across this country. Many of them spend on average $150,000 per year on litigation expenses. Our legislation will bring relief to those mom and pop small businesses.

We passed a bankruptcy bill that will help curb the number of abusive and frivolous bankruptcy filings. That bill is now law. While the bill allows relief to those who truly need it, it is going to rein in those fraudulent bankruptcies that drive up the cost of credit to hard- working Americans who pay their bills.

We have moved to ease America's energy crisis. I am sure you have all heard from constituents upset about raising gas prices. In the long term, the comprehensive energy bill passed in this House will ease our dependence on foreign oil and curb high gas prices. It would also create nearly half a million jobs. I am pleased that the Senate this week passed their version of the bill, and I urge the Senate to quickly appoint conferees so that House and Senate negotiators can develop a compromise and send it to the President for his signature.

We have passed and are now awaiting Senate action on legislation that permanently ends the death tax. Many of our small businesses are wrapped up in a loved one's estate. Figures show that

70 percent of family businesses do not survive a second generation. Ending the death tax penalty will do much to keep our economy moving.

House and Senate negotiators have been working on a compromise for a transportation bill that would make much-needed improvements to Federal highways. Tonight they came to an agreement, both on a bipartisan and bicameral agreement, to move that bill forward. Economists estimate that for every $1 billion spent to improve our highways, 40,000 jobs will be created.

On all of these accomplishments, I want to thank those Members on the other side of the aisle who chose to work together to get good things done for the American people.

Our work is far from done. Next month we should complete work on conference reports, on job creation bills like the highway bill and the energy bill, as well as legislation dealing with CAFTA. We also plan to take up the PATRIOT Act, reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act and the taking of people's private property by the government. And soon we will begin the steps of reforming Social Security for coming generations.

I am proud that this House under Republican leadership has stayed focused on a real agenda. We are doing what we can to improve conditions for America's families and to foster job creation, economic growth and innovation. We are getting the work done.

One of my heroes, Ronald Reagan, once said, ``Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.'' That has been the goal of our Republican Conference each time the American people have sent us back into leadership.

In the end, I really do believe that we will be judged by our work and our accomplishments for the American people. The partisan sniping that has become the mainstay of Washington does nothing for the farmer back home in the cornfields of Illinois, the housewife in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or the struggling family in Greenville, Mississippi. We help the American people most by showing leadership, by taking action, by keeping our promises.

This 109th Congress is off to an unprecedented start, and I thank our Members for their perseverance, their dedication and their commitment to the people of the United States of America. God bless you all.

Mr. Chairman, just yesterday we saw the important role that first responders play in keeping our nation safe. I want to commend Police Chief Terrance Gainer and the U.S. Capitol Police for a quick, professional response that protected the Members of the House of Representatives, our employees as well as the Capitol visitors.

We live in a new day when homeland security threats can come at any time, in any form. Yesterday's events highlight how important it is that the United States stays vigilant and prepared. H.R. 1544, the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005, is a much- needed step towards that effort.

This legislation cuts the red tape and streamlines the grant system so that desperately needed preparedness funds can get to communities without delay on the part of the Federal Government. In exchange, it establishes measurable goals so that local authorities can achieve a baseline of security for their communities. And, because we all know how much can be done working together, this bill encourages States, localities and communities to pool their resources and apply jointly for these grants. Such regional cooperation can ensure a tighter net while incurring less cost.

The bill focuses on getting funds to the communities that need them, while protecting valuable taxpayer dollars from misuse. Misuse has occurred. Shortly after the September

11th attacks, we began sending money to the States, and unfortunately, some of those taxpayer dollars went towards inappropriate uses: like air-conditioned garbage trucks, plasma television monitors and a rap song to teach children about emergency preparedness. America's homeland security is paramount. We will never become safe through waste. This legislation has safeguards to ensure that the money goes to the men and women on the front lines of the war on terror in the United States, our first responders.

A number of groups representing those first responders have come out in support of this legislation, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Troopers Coalition and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.

H.R. 1544 will make the homeland security grant program more effective. It fulfills the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which cautioned in its report last year that Congress should not use terrorism preparedness dollars as ``a pork barrel.'' And most important, this legislation will get first responders the money they need to do their jobs.

Yesterday, we saw how the United States has become more skilled in its homeland security efforts. We're doing better, but there's still room for improvement. We cannot rest until we've enacted every means possible to protect the United States from those who would cause us harm. Today's vote will go a long way towards keeping this country safe for American families.

Mr. Speaker, during times of war, the United States Congress has an obligation to act. With this bill, we do just that.

I want to commend Chairman Jerry Lewis and the Appropriations Committee for their hard work on this legislation. This is the first appropriations bill completed under the leadership of the gentleman from California. He and our conferees did a tremendous job of crafting this war supplemental promptly and responsibly.

H.R. 1268 provides the funds needed to pay, equip and protect our military during a time of overseas conflict. It supports the war on terrorism at home and abroad.

It also is important to note that tomorrow is Military Spouses Appreciation Day, and this bill provides for spouses and families who might tragically lose a loved one at war. The bill increases the maximum Servicemember Group Life Insurance benefit from $250,000 to $400,000. The onetime death gratuity for combat families will rise from $12,000 to $100,000. There are also new insurance benefits for soldiers who suffer traumatic injuries, such as loss of a limb or sight.

Funds are included to assist our coalition partners, support international peacekeeping efforts and continue reconstruction programs in Afghanistan. As you know, opium production is undermining Afghanistan's efforts to rebuild and in too many cases, funding terrorists. Money included in this bill will train Afghan police and help farmers produce alternative crops.

We pledged to include in this bill critical provisions to protect our border and curtail illegal immigration. We have delivered on that promise, and I thank Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner of the Judiciary Committee and Chairman Tom Davis of the Government Reform Committee for their leadership on these provisions.

The bill includes $176.3 million to hire, train and equip 500 new Border Patrol Agents. New immigration enforcement agents and other criminal investigators are also funded in the bill. Last year, Border Patrol agents arrested nearly 1.2 million illegal aliens; nearly 12 percent of them were captured near the San Diego Sector. In an important step, this bill eliminates the barriers to completing construction of the San Diego border fence, closing a critical border security breach.

Finally, the bill supports recovery efforts for the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by the Indian Ocean tsunami by providing $656 million in tsunami-related disaster relief.

Mr. Speaker, this bill goes a long way towards meeting our global commitments and maintaining America's status as a world leader. More importantly, it declares to the brave men and women serving in our armed forces that the United States Congress will continue to stand beside them in the war on terror. I urge the House to adopt this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my best wishes and a fond farewell to Kathryn Lehman who is leaving Capitol Hill after 15 years of service. Kathryn has been like few others: effective, universally admired, and respected. And she has always offered blunt advice.

During her Hill career, Kathryn has served two Judiciary Committee Chairmen, one Majority Whip, one Conference Chairman, and two Speakers of the House--including myself.

Kathryn cut her teeth on the House Judiciary Committee working for then-Ranking Member Sensenbrenner on the Civil and Constitutional Rights Subcommittee and, following that, then-Ranking Member Hyde. Those tough days in the minority prepared Kathryn for the responsibility of her role as Chief Counsel following the Republican victory in 1994. She went on to serve as Special Assistant to Speaker Newt Gingrich, Policy Director for then-Majority Whip Tom DeLay, my Director of Coalitions and Outreach, and finally Chief of Staff for the House Republican Conference.

Kathryn has not only been in the room when some of the most important decisions of this House were made, but she also helped to make them. From habeas corpus reform to tax reform, Kathryn has touched it all. She has impacted more legislation during her career than she'd probably care to admit, and each time she acted with strength and conviction.

Many staffers have a laundry list of legislative achievements and career highlights, but Kathryn is more than the sum of her accomplishments. Her tenure is marked just as surely by the friendships she has made--on both sides of the aisle--than by the laws she helped to craft or the bills she ushered through to passage.

But perhaps Kathryn's most astonishing--and admirable--characteristic is her unwavering idealism. Throughout her time on Capitol Hill, she has never lost her way and has been guided by her beliefs and values. In good times and bad, Kathryn always spoke her mind and kept us all on the right track. I will miss her loyalty, her ability to make you laugh, and her sound judgment.

I wish Kathryn the very best and know that she will continue to be a standard bearer for what is right in Washington.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my good friend from Ohio, Rep. Rob Portman. As you all know, Rob is likely to be confirmed by the Senate to be the next United States Trade Representative. His confirmation means that American companies and their products have a tireless advocate in the global marketplace.

While we all wish Rob the best, it's a sad day for the House of Representatives and the Republican Leadership team.

Rob Portman is a true ``people's legislator.'' From the moment he was elected from Ohio's Second Congressional District 12 years ago, Rob has worked tirelessly for the people of Ohio. He is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and serves as Vice-Chairman of the Budget Committee. His congressional work has done much to benefit the American people.

Rob authored or coauthored more than a dozen bills that passed both Houses and eventually became law. His accomplishments include improving our nation's pension laws, eliminating capital gains taxes on the sale of most homes, restructuring the IRS with significant new taxpayer rights, and in an area that is close to my heart, Rob helped enact legislation that supports community anti-drug efforts. Most recently, he assisted in drafting landmark legislation to create what we now know as the Department of Homeland Security, one of the largest and most significant reorganizations of the Federal government in our nation's history.

Since January 2001, Rob has served as the Chairman of the Elected Leadership for House Republicans. He has been an outstanding and invaluable member of our team in the House.

The list of Rob Portman's contributions to the House of Representatives and the American people could go on and on. The Nation is fortunate to have had his service in the House of Representatives.

I am especially privileged to have had Rob Portman's friendship as well. His character and integrity are unquestionable. His dedication to our country and his constituents is surpassed only by his devotion to his wife Jane and their three children.

It is my pleasure to congratulate the next United States Trade Representative, Rob Portman. I wish him the very best.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Nussle and all the members of the Budget Committee for their tireless work. This budget agreement is a major accomplishment made possible by them.

Our nation is at a pivotal point. We are at war around the globe as our brave armed forces continue to root out unscrupulous terrorists. We have an economy, stymied after the September 11th attacks, now recovering and gaining strength, as long as we continue our pro-growth agenda. And we have decades-old entitlement programs that are overdue for some much-needed improvements and reforms.

House Republicans have demonstrated fiscal discipline and leadership, keeping America on course towards a strong economy. This budget agreement commits the Congress and the federal government to spend less while still addressing our nation's priorities. It ensures a safe and secure future for America's families by reforming and improving important programs like Medicaid, fully supporting our military at home and overseas, and protecting our homeland. It keeps our promise to reduce the deficit by half while providing tax relief for American families.

We should do everything within our power to make certain that the terrorist attacks of 2001 never happen again in this country. This budget keeps that commitment, but it also rightly calls for spending restraint in the rest of the budget. We no longer live in an era of surpluses. Our efforts to fight terrorism have left us with a big deficit. We need to spend less money, and this budget spends less money.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, by tradition, would argue that the solution is to tax families more so that the government has more to spend. I could not disagree more. Higher taxes kill jobs, hurt families and stifle growth. Those who would be hit hardest by the flawed policy of the other side are our small businesses. They make up 99 percent of all businesses in America. They're the mom and pop stores, the family business started out of the garage. They would suffer if this House picked up the tax-and-spend banner of the other side.

My friends, America's future growth depends on its ability to be stable, secure and economically prosperous. The budget agreement on the floor firmly places our nation on that path. Any other proposals move us backwards, towards bigger government, bigger tax burdens and a bigger fiscal mess.

Mr. Chairman, American consumers are being hit hard at the gas pump right now. The legislation we have on the floor today will go a long way towards giving our Nation the sound, comprehensive energy policy that our citizens need and deserve.

Our Nation is too dependent on a fickle foreign oil market that is being stretched to the limit by global demands.

The evidence can be seen at gas stations across the United States. Recently, the national average price of gasoline hit an all-time high of $2.28 a gallon. Oil prices, at one point, jumped to almost $58 a barrel. Analyst forecast a higher spike to $60 soon.

In some parts of the country, like the West Coast, gas has jumped to more than $2.50 for a gallon of unleaded.

The House has passed energy legislation three times. Each time it has been blocked for partisan gamesmanship.

Meanwhile, families are finding it more expensive to plan a family vacation or even drive their kids to little league practice. Many of our small business owners, like florists, truck drivers and pizza delivery companies, are struggling to make ends meet.

This is unacceptable. America is in the midst of an energy crisis that threatens our national and economic security.

The House legislation does a number of things to address the crisis.

It reduces our dependence on foreign oil by expanding domestic supplies and allowing oil and gas exploration right here in the United States. Incentives are provided for the energy industry to increase refining capacity for gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil and jet fuel.

And, this legislation makes a significant venture into the use of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel--environmentally safe alternatives that can be found in the corn, soybean and sugarcane fields right here in the United States.

Under this legislation, our citizens would have access to more fuel efficient cars. It launches a state-of-the-art program to have emission-free hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the road by the year 2020.

And, it provides grants to State and local governments to acquire alternative fueled vehicles, hybrids and ultra-low sulfur vehicles.

There's also a positive economic aspect to the bill. It would create nearly half a million jobs in the manufacturing, construction, agriculture and technology sectors.

House Republicans have produced a bill that is environmentally friendly yet comprehensive, sound and balanced. More importantly, it eases America's dependence on an unpredictable foreign market.

This legislation provides a clear path towards the more efficient, reliable and affordable energy policy that our citizens deserve. I urge the obstructionists to put partisan politics aside for the good of the American people and support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mr. William Schmidt, the Village President of Hampshire, Illinois, on his more than 40 years of service and devotion to the Village and its residents. After arriving in Hampshire in 1945, Mr. Schmidt taught history at Hampshire High School for 23 years. His commitment to his students and to the community's young people is evident in his enduring relationships with many of these individuals.

Bill Schmidt began his public service in 1980 as a Village Board member. He was subsequently elected to a 4-year term as Village Trustee in 1981. First elected as Village President in 1985, Mr. Schmidt was then elected to four additional successive terms, serving a total of 20 years as Village President.

During his tenure, Bill worked to ensure a diversified tax base for the Village by expanding the Village's boundaries to include the I-90 and U.S. 20 interchange, securing more than $7 million in public investment that leveraged nearly $100 million in private investment, and securing new businesses that created more than 750 new jobs.

Bill and his late wife, Dorothy, have helped to position Hampshire for a successful future by building on the community's history, values and respect for each of its citizens. I would like to extend my thanks to Bill Schmidt for his many years of service and dedication to the people of Hampshire, Illinois. The Village of Hampshire is certainly fortunate to have benefited from his talent and expertise for so many years.

Mr. Speaker, we come to the floor today to address an issue of tax fairness. You see, no matter what kind of spin our friends on the other side of the aisle try to use--the death tax simply isn't fair. It's an unfair burden that the government has placed on families and small business owners. I've called it a cancer--because it's slowly destroying family farms and businesses across the nation.

Many of our small family businesses are wrapped up in a loved one's estate. And when family members are left with a huge tax bill, it hits them hard. I've heard countless stories from families who have had to sell off a chunk of the family farm just to handle their tax burden. Our friends on the other side of the aisle say that this is too costly and it's bad for the budget. I say it's too costly not to act.

This tax is destroying small businesses. And we all know they're the real job creators in our economy. What kind of nation have we become when a small family farmer can't afford to pass the business on to his children?

Look at the facts.

70 percent of family businesses do not survive the second generation,

87 percent do not make it to the third generation.

Many of these businesses are going belly-up because of the Death Tax.

We all realize that the government must have revenues, and that taxes are a necessary evil. But this tax isn't necessary; it's just evil-- because it takes away the American Dream from too many American families.

It's time we give families a real chance at the American Dream.

We need to tell the IRS to stop lurking around a grieving family's pockets. Death is not a taxable event.

It's time we let the Death Tax die.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish farewell to three members of my press office who are moving on to other careers after distinguished service on Capitol Hill. My press secretary John Feehery, communications director Pete Jeffries, and deputy press secretary Paige Ralston have been the core of my press team for my entire tenure as Speaker, and I would like to take this moment to recognize their contributions to my office.

As my chief spokesman, John helped me articulate the positive effects of important reforms we passed concerning Medicare, tax policy, and the organization of intelligence community, just to name a few. I depended on John for advice on how best to get my message across on a wide range of issues and the events of the day.

Pete crafted a strategy for communicating our goals and accomplishments to other Members and to the rest of America. He could take a step back and tie broader themes together to create an overall message with which Americans could identify. Pete worked with other press secretaries to coordinate our message to make it more powerful, and as a result the Republican majority has had great success in recent years.

A good message is only useful if people are listening, and that's where Paige came in. As my point person for arranging interviews with the press, she helped me reach out to different audiences in different ways to effectively explain our agenda. She has a keen sense for connecting the particular message I wanted to convey with the best venue for conveying it.

I have learned that in this legislative body, effective communication is crucial for turning good ideas into good policy. For the past 6 years, John, Pete and Paige formed a team of advisors who helped me convey our hopeful message to the rest of America. Though they will be missed greatly, I wish them all the best in the next stage of their lives.