Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as we continue to hope that a spirit of consensus will come forth to avoid this self-inflicted wound, I think it's well to think of a general principle on how we should approach our fiscal challenges, and that is that a nation that does not learn from its clear, unambiguous mistakes is bound to repeat them. And, in fact, the problem with the Republican plan that will be on the floor today is that it not only repeats the mistakes that occurred during the Bush administration, it enshrines them into permanent law.

Now, I remember very well where Alan Greenspan came before us years ago during the last President's administration and said that we needed to have massive cuts for multimillionaires and further cuts for the oil industries, because if we didn't do that the United States Government would just have too much money in the kitty.

That didn't work out too well. In fact, because of those giant mistakes, it blew a hole in the deficit.

Do not repeat them. Let's go back and solve this problem the real way.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. Chairman, it is true that no bill is perfect, but this bill is truly atrocious. I have come here as cochair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition to talk about how this bill represents a wholesale failure to really recognize our stewardship responsibilities of the greatness of this country. And it is a great country. I fly across it every Monday and Friday, and the words of the song that God's grace was shed on thee in this country are really true. But this bill shows nothing but disdain for the precious assets of clean air, clean water, and good open ground that we have in this country.

I'm sad to say that when you look out across America today you will see Republicans and Democrats out recreating--they understand what a beautiful playground we have in our national lands and clean water--but right now all this bill is is a playground for the special interests. And it's sad to say that a party that we have worked with historically has now turned its back on its stewardship responsibility. Teddy Roosevelt, who started this effort, would be rolling over in his grave to see this wholesale abandonment of this stewardship responsibility of this great country.

Republicans and Democrats alike want more clean air; this bill gives them less. They want more clean water; this bill gives them less. They want more open good ground; this bill gives them less. And the reason is is that it's based on a huge, mistaken belief that dirty air is good for our economy, that dirty water is good for our economy, and that despoiled land is good for our economy. These are falsehoods.

You want to talk about job creation, I'd like to talk about some jobs we would like to create and keep that are damaged by this bill. Right now in Puget Sound out in Washington State, we have historically grown some of the best oysters in the world in Hood Canal and other places. And now, because of water pollution, the oyster industry that employs thousands of people in my State is endangered by water pollution.

Now, one would think, when we're trying to protect jobs in every industry, including the oyster industry, we might be interested in preventing pollution that destroys a whole industry. But no, that's not what this bill does. This bill weakens our ability to protect against dirty water and storm water pollution that is endangering jobs in my State and other places in this Nation. Now, if you go to talk to people in this industry, they'll say their jobs are important. But according to this bill, they are not. What's important are the special interests and the ability to degrade our environmental protection.

Take a look at the alternative fuels industry that is now growing across this country and its ability to create millions of new jobs. A few weeks ago, I was at a company called Targeted Growth. Targeted Growth had an idea a few years ago of creating biofuels that we could fly airplanes with. Five years ago, people thought this was a pipe dream. But because of their intellectual prowess, just a few weeks ago, using Targeted Growth biofuels, we flew the first transoceanic flight using biofuels from camelina that can be grown in my State and refined in my State, the first time in American history. That's something to be proud of.

Now, one would think in a bill like this, we would help new job- creating industries like that get started. But no. What this bill does is degrade the clean energy parts of our law that would give inspiration and additional innovation and investment in these clean energy industries.

This bill is an anti-job creation bill because it makes the assumption that dirty air and sick people are good for

economic growth, and that is not a recipe for economic growth in this country.

Now I'll just talk about one thing. There has been an 80 percent reduction in our Land and Conservation Water Fund, which is very disturbing, and it should be to Democrats and Republicans alike. This is one thing I hope we can fix in this bill, and it is not something that is so urban or rural. I think about this little city park in Mossy Rock, Washington. A police officer said, Why do I get all of these kids hanging around the bars? Let's get them in something. Let's get them off the streets. Using some of these funds, we now have a city park being built in Mossy Rock, Washington. Is that such a dangerous thing for our economy?

I hope the Bass amendment is successful later on so we can at least fix one thing in this bill. Otherwise, reject this bill.

Madam Speaker, as we search for a bipartisan solution to our fiscal short-term and long-term issues, I don't think we should be unmindful of what is really happening in the real world. In the real world, there are two things: One, we have a jobs crisis; and, two, we have Americans sweltering from coast to coast with unprecedented heat. And these things are connected, because if we adopt a clean energy strategy to develop clean energy sources, we can prevent our climate from continuing to change, which left unabated will leave New York City with three times the number of days with over 95 degree temperatures in the next several decades.

We need to have an energy policy that will invest in those clean energy jobs. And as we look for this bipartisan solution, let's not cut off our energy research, which is going to be successful building a new clean energy strategy for this country and building millions of new clean energy jobs and, by the way, keep us down to a climate that's habitable.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that today the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe will host the annual Tribal Canoe Journey in the town of Port Gamble on Washington state's Kitsap Peninsula. The Tribal Canoe Journey has been held annually since 1989 to continue the historic intertribal canoe journeys of the Coast Salish people. The first annual journey culminated in Seattle and included nine canoes, one of which was from the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe. Canoe families train all year for the multi-day event and often carve their canoes, which is a traditional practice that has been revived for many tribes as a result of the annual Tribal Canoe Journey. Two years ago I was honored to watch the majestic parade of canoes as they came in on the Suquamish land. The beautifully carved canoes are a testament to the determination and renewal of our local tribes to preserve their sacred traditions.

The S'Klallam tribe is one of the 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington state. Along with other Northwest Native American tribes, members have struggled to preserve their culture in the face of the United States' westward expansion. In 1855, the S'Klallam tribe ceded its traditional lands to the United States in the Treaty of Point No Point, and its current reservation, which is in my district, was created in 1938.

I would like to highlight the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe's leadership in issues relating to economic growth, water resources, and land use while retaining many of its tribal practices. The tribe relies heavily on the traditional harvest of clams, oysters, and crabs from Port Gamble Bay, which is one of the only bays in the Puget Sound open to commercial shellfish harvesting. This year saw the opening of Teekalet Village on the reservation, which is an ``ecologically and financially-friendly'' housing development for low to middle income tribal members.

I am pleased to announce that more than 1000 participants from many Native American tribes are expected to journey through Port Gamble on their way to Swinomish to celebrate the 22nd annual Tribal Canoe Journey. I am honored to recognize the journey's importance before Congress today in helping facilitate a cultural resurgence among Native Americans in the Northwest and for their dedication to this journey.

Mr. Speaker, today I voted against an amendment, offered by Representative Gosar, that sought to prohibit funding in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill from being used to enforce Davis-Bacon prevailing

wage requirements for federal contracts. Throughout the appropriations process for the upcoming fiscal year, I have voted against other similar amendments that seek to give federal contractors the ability to undercut the local wage levels on contracts valued at more than $2,000.

The Davis-Bacon Act has been law since 1930, and simply requires that federal contractors, performing work for the government valued at more than $2,000, must be paid at least the local prevailing wage and fringe benefits in the area. This ensures that any workers that are working on a federal contract receive the same compensation as the work done by their neighbors. In a time of great economic difficulty and uncertainty for so many working families in our country, I will staunchly oppose efforts to undermine or weaken common-sense protections like those put in place by the Davis-Bacon Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a founding member of the Congressional Croatian Caucus to recognize the service of Croatia's Ambassador to the United States, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, and the work of other Croatian Americans. On March 30, 2011, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic was named a top deputy to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. She will serve as NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy and she departed Washington for Brussels at the end of June.

Many in the United States will miss Ambassador Grabar Kitarovic. On March 19, 2008, she was sworn in as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Croatia to the United States after serving three years as Foreign Minister of her new nation-state. In Washington, she effectively communicated her nation's desires to join the West and fully integrate her country into Euro-Atlantic multilateral alliances after the dissolution of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the

early 1990s. Ambassador Grabar Kitarovic, the Congressional Croatian Caucus, and the National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) successfully pushed the NATO Treaty to passage in the U.S. Senate, an important achievement for her country. As her record demonstrates, Ambassador Grabar has made a positive impact on both our country and her native Croatia.

The Croatian Caucus was also instrumental in supporting Croatia's bid for full membership in NATO--along with the entire Croatian American community as led by the NFCA--in an earlier legislative initiative. In December 2005, the House passed H. Res. 529 underlining the Republic of Croatia's readiness to join NATO, and I heard from many Croatian Americans in my district and state on the importance of the passage of this Resolution in the House and Senate.

In recognizing the work of Ambassador Grabar Kitarovic, I would also like to recognize two Croatian Americans who, through their work, made a positive impact on myself and on my constituents. As a young high school student growing up in Seattle, I had the good fortune to have played football for one of the greatest high school coaches in Washington state history, who was also a Croatian American: Coach Tony Gasparovic of Ingraham High School. He continues to be remembered fondly by hundreds of his former players.

Another important Croatian American is business leader Ed Loverich, who founded Town and Country Market on Bainbridge Island, Washington in 1957. This store is still a thriving town center today, and has expanded to more locations throughout the Seattle area. These are only a few of the positive contributions that the Croatian-American community has made on the Pacific Northwest, and our country as a whole.

I believe that I also speak for the Croatian Caucus Co-Chairs in wishing Ambassador Grabar Kitarovic and her husband, Jakov Kitarovic, and their two children the best of luck and success in Brussels. We hope her work with NATO brings her back through Washington in the coming years.

Mr. Chair, I am concerned about the devastating impact that the underlying legislation will have on the clean energy economy. H.R. 2354 is a disappointment to those working to advance the clean energy economy because it slashes investments--by 40 percent from the President's request--in the new clean energy jobs of the future, ranging from solar to biomass to wind, and new technologies for more energy efficient cars and buildings.

Today, more than ever, we need investments in clean energy research, innovation, and manufacturing--investments which can grow new industries, create American jobs, reduce U.S. oil dependence, and increase our national security. H.R. 2354 abandons efforts for a new American energy economy that would lower electricity prices for families, reduce our reliance on foreign energy, and increase energy independence.

While I understand the fiscal situation we are in, H.R. 2354 cuts programs that can be targeted to actually grow our economy. The bill slashes Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EERE, by 27 percent, cuts the Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy, ARPA-E, by 44 percent, cuts Weatherization Assistance Grants and associated training programs by 81 percent, all the while increasing funding for fossil fuel research and development. I believe that this demonstrates that the priorities of H.R 2354 are aligned with outdated 20th century energy policies that will not recharge our new economy. A 21st century Energy and Water Appropriations Act should include measures to increase funding for renewable energy and clean technology and these increases should be offset by dollars from fossil energy research and development.

To help strengthen our economy and create new jobs, we must rebuild America. In a report released this week by the Brookings Institution entitled ``Sizing the Clean Energy Economy: A National and Regional Green Jobs Assessment,'' it is reported that 2.7 million Americans are now employed in the clean technology economy. The report found that in the State of Washington, there are 83,676 clean energy jobs, with an annual wage of $46,457. The report showed that median wages for clean- economy workers are about 13 percent higher than median U.S. wages. The clean technology economy has created export intensive jobs; on average, twice as much value is exported from clean tech jobs than the national average. The potential for future job creation in the clean energy economy is endless and targeted investments in this new economy make sense.

As the House of Representatives considers amendments to H.R. 2354, I urge my colleagues to consider the opportunities for economic growth and job creation embodied in the clean energy economy and oppose the misguided priorities in this bill.

I move to strike the last word.

I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois and the committee for helping us find a solution to this problem.

There are really a couple of reasons for this amendment:

One, there really is a national interest here. We've got 75,000 metric tons of nuclear waste at 80 sites in 45 States. This is a national interest, a national

bill, and is an appropriation we need to get done.

Two, my State is particularly acute at the Hanford site, a place where we fought World War II and the Cold War, and now we are preparing nuclear waste to go to Yucca Mountain--nuclear waste that, essentially, will be all dressed up with no place to go if we don't finish this project.

This is a very small step forward, but I do think it's important, not just for the $10 million that will help us move forward on the scientific assessment of this, but the fact that it will be another statement by this House of why we need to move forward. We made that statement in 1987. We made that statement in 2002. We made it again in 2007. This is the way to do it in the appropriations system. It is an important statement to make. We've got to continue to push this ball uphill until this job gets done.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Cascadia Marine Trail Study Act.

The Cascadia Marine Trail is a unique, 150-mile long water trail stretching from the Canadian border south through the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound to Olympia. It was started in the late 1980s by local kayaking enthusiasts wanting to highlight the 5,000-year old small- boating tradition along the water trail. The trail's popularity with both tourists and local boating enthusiasts is a testament to its grassroots beginnings and extensive local support, making it a valuable economic and natural State resource.

The Cascadia Marine Trail has been recognized as a significant environmental and tourist resource, including its 1994 designation as a National Recreation Trail and in 1999 as a National Millennium Trail. In 2005, the American Canoe Association (ACA) designated the trail an ACA-Recommended Water Trail. The trail's 55 safe pull-out zones and campsites are managed by a multitude of State and local agencies, despite its extensive length.

First introduced in 2009, the Cascadia Marine Trail Study Act directs the Department of Interior to study the feasibility of adding the trail to the National Trail system. During the

110th Congress, the bill passed the House with unanimous support but unfortunately, did not make it out of the Senate. Today, with bipartisan support, I am reintroducing the Cascadia Marine Trail Study Act. The trail's designation as a National Scenic or Historic Trail, if recommended by the Department of Interior study mandated by the bill, would raise its national profile, provide for educational and interpretive resources along the trail, and coordinate management and restoration of the trail and surrounding campsites.

The bill has wide support, including endorsements from several national and statewide recreation and conservation agencies and is the first step toward enhancing the visibility and preservation of this historic water trail. Designation will help encourage tourism across the Puget Sound, which will bolster local economies in the Puget Sound region. According to the Prosperity Partnership, the Tourism and Visitor industry cluster is the region's largest economic cluster with more than 108,000 jobs across the region. Scenic travel to places like the Cascadia Marine Trail can have a significant impact on the economy of surrounding communities. The Cascadia Marine Trail is a State gem that deserves its chance to become a national treasure.

Madam Chair, I am concerned about the underlying legislation's attempt to zero out funding for the USDA Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), in the Agriculture Appropriations bill for FY2012. BCAP is an important economic development program uniquely focused on advanced, next generation biofuels that can be grown, produced, and refined in Washington state. This biomass can be used for heat, power, bio-based products, and biofuels. In fact, it is the only program that helps farmers transition from growing traditional crops to growing energy crops.

BCAP is vitally important for the development of the clean domestic biomass energy industry. Authorized in Title IX of the 2008 Farm Bill, BCAP received $552 million in FY 2010, but the final Continuing Resolution that passed into law for FY 2011 reduced BCAP funding to $112 million. Today, the House Agriculture Appropriations bill goes further, proposing to eliminate funding for this program in its entirety. I believe that eliminating this program is the wrong direction, and will hinder job creation in the emerging biomass and biofuels industries.

It is widely agreed that developing a robust sustainable biomass and biofuels industry will produce significant jobs and generate revenues in rural areas. One national study has found that producing 475 million gallons of biofuel in 2009 resulted in 23,000 jobs across the economy, $4.1 billion in added GDP growth, $445 million in Federal tax revenues, and $383 million for State and local governments. Feedstock production would likely represent half the direct jobs, boosting employment in rural areas and small communities.

For example, in the Pacific Northwest, a coalition of aviation and airline industries, universities, ports and international airports, recently released a report outlining how to commercialize aviation biofuels. Many of the coalition partners are working to bring these aviation biofuels to market and will rely on BCAP, as do countless other biofuel and biomass organizations around the Nation. Because of the prospects for widespread job creation and superb opportunities for positive rural development, I believe that rather than zero out this program, Congress should preserve funding at the Administration's proposed budget of $201 million.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kathy Fletcher for her lifelong dedication to bettering the environment within Washington State and across the Nation.

Kathy Fletcher is retiring after 20 years serving as the Executive Director of People for Puget Sound, a citizen's organization she founded in 1991 to preserve the Puget Sound and Northwest Straits. The organization has inspired countless individuals through its education and volunteer programs. It also has successfully lobbied to strengthen environmental safeguards throughout the Puget Sound. Kathy has had a distinguished career spanning over 30 years of environmental activism, beginning with a position on President Carter's White House Domestic Policy Staff handling environmental and natural resource issues. A fifth-generation Washingtonian, she moved to Seattle to become the first chair of the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority and has since sat on the board of many local and national environmental organizations. Through her efforts, Kathy has helped protect Washington State's coastlines from disintegration and degradation and has made environmental activism more accessible to all.

Kathy, thank you for your environmental leadership and for your tireless efforts to improve Washington State for the benefit of all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the graduating Class of 2011 from Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Washington. These students were finalists in President Obama's Commencement Challenge, and because of their inspiring story, deserve to be recognized.

Bridgeport is a public school in eastern Washington State where students are forging a way to bring energy and talent to a small, rural orchard community. Most of the students I recognize today have overcome incredible challenges in order to graduate this June. Many of them will be among the first in their families to do so and all of them are on free or reduced lunch plans, an indicator of the difficult economic circumstances overcome by these students and their families.

Only two students in the class have parents that graduated from high school. Yet, 90 percent of the students will receive their diplomas and 82 percent of the students are college-bound. This is a remarkable accomplishment and something for which all schools should strive.

The principal, teachers, students, and families of Bridgeport High School should be commended for their success. They have demonstrated that by working together, we can close the academic achievement gap, improve graduation rates, and most of all, help students realize their dreams.

Congratulations to the exemplary graduating class at Bridgeport:

Adriana Gomez Saucedo--Valedictorian; Ana Berta Soto Mendez-- Salutatorian; Javier Aguilar; Elivis Alcaraz; Michael Baca; Norma Camacho; Brooke Desjardins; Fredy Eduardo Flores; Elizabeth Gameros Garcia; Maria Elizabeth Garcia Gomez; Miranda Garza Trevino; Alejandro Jr. Gomez Camacho; Irma Gomez Garcia; Nadia Gonzalez Garcia; Lizbet Lopez Casillas; Maria Alexis Macedo Ruiz; Baltazar Munoz Perez; Mauro Efrain Mosqueda; Marisol Vanessa Valdovinos Aleman; Carina Ochoa Valdovinos; Christian Perales Barboza; Ricardo Perez Rojas; Miguel Angel Ramos Parbol; Paige Leone Rodriguez; Rosendo Rodriguez Hernandez Jr.; Erika Berenice Saucedo Rubio; Samuel Soto Rojas; Alfredo Ubaldo Rosas; Joaquin Valdovinos Infante; Xenia Valdovinos Perez; Daniel Velasco Velasco; Jasmine Mogollan Roa; Olivia Silva Dominguez; Veronica Nicole Saucedo; Elodia Isabel Jimenez Valdovinos; Carina Velasquez.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my concern over a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 that would limit the access of certain military retirees to the TRICARE Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP).

As you know, USFHP has been an extremely popular program within the Military Health System since its introduction in 1981, serving more than 115,000 active duty service members, veterans, and their families 16 states, including more than 11,000 in Washington state. USFHP consistently earns a 90 percent satisfaction rating among its enrollees--by far the highest among military beneficiary programs. In addition to its success and popularity, this program plays an integral component in the Department of Defense (DoD) meeting its commitment to provide health care to those who have served our country in uniform.

The provision included in this year's Defense Authorization bill would terminate health care services under the plan when beneficiaries reach the age of 65 and become eligible to transfer to Medicare. Over one third of all USFHP beneficiaries are currently over 65 and are taking advantage of the USFHP managed care structure. Removing them from the program could undermine the highly effective disease management and prevention aspects of the USFHP, not to mention potentially ending longstanding patient-doctor relationships due to the change in coverage.

USFHP is a fully capitated program, providing quality and efficient care to beneficiaries. Even recently, Congress highlighted the effectiveness of USFHP in the 111th DoD authorization bill, while directing DoD to examine opportunities to improve the broader TRICARE Program. Additionally last year the Director of TRICARE Management engaged USFHP to assist in educating the rest of the DoD system about their highly successful prevention and disease management programs.

As we look to improve the quality of care while addressing high costs, we can learn from effective programs like USFHP, which provides managed care and includes a focus on preventative care and managing chronic illnesses to improve the lives of our service members and potentially creating savings in the long run. Transferring beneficiaries to Medicare will only shift costs, rather than improve the quality of care for those who have served our country.

In light of this, and the success this program has had in providing for those who have served in uniform, I wish to reiterate my support for USFHP. I hope we can avoid major alterations to the US Family Health Plan and continue to offer this service to all eligible beneficiaries, including those over the age of 65, who I believe have earned a right to this high quality program through service to our country.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, we're offering a simple amendment that will make it much easier for our wounded warriors to obtain access to adaptive recreational equipment. We have these proud men and women coming back from the field of battle with obviously very, very severe wounds; and what we have found is some of the best things they could do to get back with their lives and professional development is to have access to adaptive recreation, both services and equipment. And I know some of these folks do incredible things with paralysis skiing, with severe injuries riding adaptive bicycles, people who have lost their vision, wounded warriors getting back up on the slopes, and it has been a tremendous thing for these men and women to help restore their confidence, rebuild their strength, and get back into the swing of things.

Research has shown this works not only from a psychological but also from a physical standpoint. But we have a little glitch that, whereas our veterans through the Veterans Administration can have access to this adaptive equipment, such as monoskis and adaptive hand-cranked bikes, our wounded warriors haven't necessarily had the authorization to be provided that equipment who are on active duty. So my amendment would simply authorize the Department of Defense to make that available.

And I have been inspired by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek, who until today has been the commanding officer of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma. He is moving on to continue this work here at the Pentagon. He lost some function in his limbs and has done a tremendous job helping wounded warriors get back going.

We'd like to extend this systemwide now, and this would authorize the DOD to do that.

So we would commend this as one step forward to helping our proud men and women regain their confidence, enjoy life and professional abilities. We commend this.

For the young men and women who return from overseas with a severe injury or disability, recreational activities--spending time outdoors skiing or on the basketball court shooting hoops with friends--offer them a chance to forget their disability and focus on doing the things they love. Research has shown that engaging in physical activity regularly benefits wounded warriors' confidence and overall quality of life. Thanks to the incredible equipment available to these wounded warriors--such as ``mono-skis'' or sport

wheelchairs that have been adapted to fit their disability-- participating in outdoor recreation is a real possibility. At this time, service-disabled veterans may receive such adaptive recreation equipment through the Department of Veterans Affairs. For the wounded warriors who remain on active duty, however, access to the rehabilitative equipment that can get them outdoors and active may be more difficult. Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek, who until today served as the commanding officer of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Joint Base Lewis McChord, in Tacoma, WA, is one of these brave wounded warriors. My amendment would authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide wounded warriors who remain on active duty the same recreational equipment that their retired comrades receive through the Department of Veterans Affairs. This amendment will open the door to daily exercise and friendly athletic competition with friends, and will give them independence to pursue the recreational activities that give them the most joy.

Brief Background

After a scathing Washington Post investigation of their wounded warrior programs at Walter Reed, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs overhauled their wounded warrior transition care programs. While I applaud the steps they have taken, I am introducing this amendment to fill a remaining benefit gap.

Previously, when a member of the Armed Services was found ``unfit to serve'' because of a disability--a process that included an appearance before a MedBoard--they were automatically retired and began receiving care through the VA. Now, you can apply to remain on active duty.

Active duty members, who have been declared unfit for duty and cannot transition back into, stay on in service of their country in other capacities. Many of these men, such as Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek (who I mentioned earlier), are serving as inspirational mentors to other wounded warriors who are undergoing a difficult transition. Though they are not serving on the battlefield, they are providing our country a valuable service by assisting with this transition.

To account for the benefit gap that prevents active duty wounded warriors from receiving recreational equipment through TRICARE, the DoD has worked with VA to see that some active-duty members received assistance through the VA. However, this was inefficient and many active duty wounded warriors were still without the equipment they wanted. Further, the VA's authority to help active duty members is set to expire on December 31, 2012.

Beginning in 2008, the DoD developed a pilot program to provide rehabilitative equipment to active duty service members. However, the definition of rehabilitative equipment was restricted to simply provide ``hand bicycles.'' My amendment would give the DoD flexibility, and allow wounded warriors independence to choose the type of recreational rehab they want to pursue.

My amendment in no way abridges the rights or services currently enjoyed by wounded warriors. It simply gives them expanded access to rehabilitative, recreational equipment.

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek (Commanding Officer of Joint Base Lewis McChord's Warrior Transition Battalion)--paralyzed from the feet down after an IED attack. Stayed in the service working with other wounded warriors as they transitioned back to active duty or retired. LTC Dudek wanted a ``mono-ski,'' but was unable to receive one through the DoD. Had he retired, he could have been provided a ``sit-ski'' by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under my amendment, the Secretary of Defense will be authorized to provide this equipment.

I have spoken with another Army Colonel who is 100 percent disabled but was approved to stay on active duty. However, when he tried to get adaptive sporting equipment--in this case a mono-ski--through the caregivers at the DoD health facility Walter Reed, he was unable to get it as it wasn't covered through TRICARE. Again, the VA could have purchased it if he was a veteran, but since he had not yet retired he did not have access to the same equipment that he otherwise would have.

Testimonials from Wounded Warriors

``All the training and dedication pays off when you have

crossed the finish line, you're standing completely exhausted

next to your fellow service member, and for that moment,

completely forgetting about your disabilities.''--Jose Ramos,

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class, U.S. Navy, Above Elbow

Amputation, Iraq War Veteran

``Six months after my injury I was skiing again. You can't

imagine the confidence that gives you and so you start seeing

yourself doing things in life again . . . knowing that you're

going to get a job, knowing that you're going to go to school

because you're out there tearing up the slopes. It's just a

super family here. It's a great experience, it's a family

experience, and the whole community just gives its all to

give you a group hug and I love coming here.''--Dennis

Walburn, U.S. National Guard LTC, Wounded Warrior, Above Knee

Amputee, Iraq War Veteran

``It was amazing, I was out there on the water, hearing

everyone cheer me on. I was waterskiing! It's something I

never thought I would be able to do again.''--Joey Bozik,

U.S. Army SGT, Triple amputee, Iraq War Veteran

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the bipartisan Domestic Fuel for Enhancing National Security (D-FENS) Act of 2011, which will allow Civilian Agencies and Military Agencies to extend multiyear contracts from the current limit of 5 years to up to 15 years for the purchase of advanced biofuels. I thank my colleague Mr. Jones of North Carolina for working with me on this issue, which will increase our national security and help build an American industry.

Accounting for about 2 percent of U.S. energy consumption, the Department of Defense is the largest single consumer of energy in the country. According to Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ``[the Department of Defense] is using 300,000 barrels of oil every day. The energy use per soldier creeps up every year. And our number-one import into Afghanistan is fossil fuel.''

U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Maybus has outlined several goals to lead the Navy toward a more energy-secure fleet. By 2015, the Navy will reduce petroleum use in the commercial fleet by 50 percent. By 2020, the Navy will produce at least 50 percent of shore-based energy requirements from alternative sources and 50 percent of total energy consumption will come from alternative sources.

No one knows better than the Department of Defense that energy supplies are critical to combat troops and our national security. To ultimately realize these goals, we must dramatically scale-up advanced biofuel production in the United States. With added Congressional authority to purchase longer-term contracts, our defense sector could adopt domestically produced sustainable fuels for the security of our troops.

Companies already have developed technologies to produce ``drop-in'' ready fuels, meaning our military could use these fuels in existing infrastructure, aircraft and ships. The longer-term contracts provided by this bill will not only increase our energy security, but can ultimately help unlock private investment for construction and development of large advanced biofuel refineries in the United States. In states like Washington, North Carolina, California, Montana and others, interests from the private sector, universities, ports and major airports are already working to bring the first generation of biofuels to the market, and their efforts can be greatly enhanced by this legislation.

Washington state and the Pacific Northwest are well-positioned to commercialize aviation biofuels--all elements of the supply chain are feasible, and the region has come together to map out a strategic and sustainable path to bring advanced bio-based jet fuels to market. Already in the Northwest, 40 public and private stakeholders from academic research institutions, environmental advocacy, and government, and the aerospace and aviation, biofuels, and agriculture and forestry industries have formed the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN) initiative. This effort was convened by regional aviation leaders Boeing, Alaska Airlines, the region's largest airports--Port of Seattle, Port of Portland and Spokane International Airport--as well as Washington State University, a center of advanced biofuels research. Stakeholders include fuel producers, farm and forest managers, non- governmental organizations and key government leaders, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Defense Logistics Agency. This diverse group representing all points along the supply chain is working to create a ``flight path'' that will overcome challenges to deploying advanced aviation biofuels. This legislation will support Washington's effort to make the Northwest region a market leader in the advanced biofuel industry.

With our nation's security and energy independence in mind, I urge my colleagues to support the Domestic Fuel for Enhancing National Security (D-FENS) Act of 2011.