Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I am proud to support H. Res. 917, and I thank my colleague Mr. Lipinski for introducing this resolution. As a mathematician who spent much of my career working as a renewable energy engineer, I am particularly honored to advocate for the passage of this legislation. H. Res. 917 supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week, a valuable opportunity to recognize the importance of the work engineers perform.

Engineers are responsible for many of the vital technological breakthroughs that improve the quality of life for Americans and people around the globe. American engineers and businesses lead the world in innovation, but unfortunately we are no longer producing as many engineers as our international competitors. Without a sustained national effort to train a new generation of engineers, our country is at risk of losing our competitive edge.

I am proud of the work of the 110th Congress to reinvest in the science, technology, engineering, and math education programs that will train the next generation of American engineers. In addition, the America COMPETES Act, which was passed last summer, is a signature bipartisan achievement that marks a major milestone for science, technology, engineering, and math education in our country. More work remains to be done, however, and I hope all of my colleagues will join me in a bipartisan effort to support engineering in America.

I would like to thank my colleagues again for their support of H. Res. 917, and I look forward to watching as American engineering continues to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, our national budget should invest in our future. Unfortunately, the President's final budget is more of the same, missed opportunities and misplaced opportunities.

The President's budget is fiscally reckless, adding $1.6 trillion in deficit over the next 5 years instead of becoming balanced over that same period. But you won't hear that from the President. He claims that the budget is balanced by 2012, but that is only because he leaves out enormous costs, including the 5-year cost of fixing the alternative minimum tax and the full cost of the Iraq war.

When realistic costs are included, the budget runs into significant deficits over each of the next 5 years. This, unfortunately, is more of the same. The President took a 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion that he inherited and turned it into a $3.6 trillion deficit. This budget continues down the same path by borrowing from our children and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats can simply not afford this fiscal recklessness. In the coming months, we will present a fiscally responsible budget that meets our pay-as-you-go requirements.

Mr. Speaker, I feel passionately enough about renewable energy to have spent most of my career developing it, and I know firsthand that clean energy is an economic reality. Because of this, I will continue to fight for renewable energy standards and important tax incentives that are not included, but should be included, in this bill. However, I believe that H.R. 6 will create jobs here at home and is an important first step for greater energy independence and a green future.

H.R. 6 raises our fuel economy standards, stimulates energy efficiency, and allows the development of exciting clean energy technologies, such as the language I wrote to stimulate the development of geothermal energy technologies. New geothermal energy technologies have the potential to generate vast amounts of clean, domestically produced electricity, and we should begin research immediately. I support H.R. 6.

Mr. Speaker, in the next few days the House and Senate are expected to pass H.R. 6, a comprehensive energy bill to chart a new course for our Nation's energy policy. This legislation is a major step towards a sustainable energy future, and I am proud that language was included in the bill to advance geothermal research. Specifically, a subtitle of H.R. 6 authorizes investments in new methods of extracting geothermal energy from the earth. These technologies have the potential to generate tremendous amounts of environmentally friendly, domestically produced electricity.

Today we are considering the Fiscal Year 2008 omnibus appropriations bill to fund most of our Federal Government for the coming year. It is my hope that to the extent that funds are available beyond purposes specifically directed by this appropriations measure, the appropriation for the Department of Energy's geothermal research program should be used to begin implementation of provisions in Subtitle B of Section VI of HR 6, also known as the Advanced Geothermal Energy Research and Development Act of 2007. Geothermal energy has the potential to contribute significantly towards energy independence and efforts to address climate change, and we should pursue this research without delay.

Mr. Speaker, I spent two good decades working professionally in renewable energy, and I know the great potential that new energy technology offers. The steps we're taking today will improve the world for future generations.

We should all feel proud as we pass this bill that will benefit our economy, our security, our children, and our planet. When future generations look back on the actions we're taking today, they will see it as a monumental first step away from centuries of consumption and exploitation and towards a bright and clean future.

I'm very pleased that this bill includes incentives for renewable energy, higher fuel economy standards for vehicles, a 15 percent renewable energy standard, and my bill, which will encourage groundbreaking research and geothermal energy. States like California have blazed the trail on these issues, and now everyone else can follow.

I support this bill, this rule, and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 251) commending the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for its work of promoting energy efficiency for 30 years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 251, the resolution now under consideration.

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

I would first like to thank my good friend and colleague from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter), the sponsor of this resolution, which recognizes the invaluable contributions of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL. The gentleman from Colorado and I both share deep concern about our Nation's dependence on imported oil and the impact that fossil fuels have on our environment.

As someone who has worked at the national laboratory, I have spent many years at the laboratory working as an engineer, a consultant, and I certainly appreciate the work that NREL does. Tucked in the foothills of the Rockies and looking up to the scenic Flatirons, NREL has led the charge in developing and deploying cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for three decades. I have been continually impressed by the caliber of work that this laboratory has put out over the years.

New energy technology takes time to develop. It's a long, difficult process, but we have seen tremendous advances. For example, in wind energy we have seen it come from an outlying technology to where now it's one of the leading sources of new energy in the world. We can expect other forms of energy technology such as solar, geothermal, and energy efficiency technologies to follow that same trajectory to becoming cost-effective and competitive with all other forms of energy.

The experts at NREL have played a critical role in developing a range of technologies that will transform our energy future. NREL scientists and engineers have made breakthroughs in such diverse areas as biofuels, wind, solar power, near zero-energy buildings, and super efficient cars and trucks.

As our country works to combat climate change and achieve energy independence, NREL's mission is more important than ever. But staying ahead of the technology curve requires considerable resources and very smart policymaking. I am sure that the dedicated employees of NREL share my appreciation for this resolution and will continue their tireless efforts to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and practices to the marketplace.

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

I thank the gentleman from Texas for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers or any further comments, but I just want to point out that NREL has done a fine job. I want to see this institution and this government support and continue to support that kind of work that is going on in northern Colorado.

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

Mr. Chairman, we are in a housing crisis that has led to instability and increases in criminal activity that is destroying our communities. While some people took out risky loans that they could not afford, many were caught up in exaggerated promises and the predatory lending practices that blossomed in recent years.

Stockton, California, in my congressional district, is unfortunately at the center of it all. One out of every 31 homes in Stockton faces foreclosure--the highest rate in the country.

While there is no magic bullet to solve the problems in the housing market, the bill we are voting on today is an important part of our nation's comprehensive response to the surge in foreclosures.

We are establishing common-sense homebuyer protections to ensure that responsible real estate professionals can provide safe mortgage products.

Owning one's own home is the American Dream and promoting responsible home ownership is a policy that makes sense. In Congress, I will continue working for sensible policies to encourage home ownership and the stable communities it creates.

I am proud to support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

I thank my friend from Minnesota.

Madam Speaker, the President turned his back on about 10 million American children that he could have protected. I am actually appalled by this decision to veto funding for children's health insurance, and his rejection of support from nearly every U.S. Governor and almost three-quarters of the American people.

The Children's Health Insurance Program is a good program. It is worthy and efficient. It costs less than $3.50 per day per child.

However, rather than protecting our children, this President put at risk nearly 45,000 of the children in my district and millions of children across the United States. As the cost of health care continues to rise, which it will, it's reckless to oppose a plan that covers our country's most needy children.

Let me tell you what I'm talking about in more personal terms. It's going to cost a family of four about $750 a month for health insurance. That's about $9,000 a year. If you're earning $45,000, you have a family of four, $9,000 is completely out of reach, and this follows on my good friend from Wisconsin.

You have to pay for gasoline, you have to pay for your car, for your transportation, about $1,000 to $2,000 for your mortgage. How on Earth are you going to be able to afford $9,000 a year for health insurance? You're going to be forced to take your children to the emergency rooms when their situations are critical.

So the Children's Health Insurance Program is very important. It's needed. Our children need to have that.

I just want to follow up on the bipartisanship here.

We passed this with a good margin here in the House. We got 265 votes, a clear bipartisan majority. They got 69 votes in the Senate, more than two-thirds. Our Governor in California, Arnold Schwarzenegger supports SCHIP. This is a significant achievement for us to work together to have us produce something that the majority of Americans want across the board, bipartisanship. They want us to cooperate. They want us to do good things for the country. Here, we produce something, we're proud and I'm proud of it, and the President chose to veto it.

So I think this shows that we can work together and that the President needs to come around to our way of seeing this. This is good for the children. Americans want it.

I want to follow up on what my good friend and colleague from Iowa said about being in the children's hospital and looking at children suffering with devastating diseases. We can think of this as sad, but if we look at that with the great spirit and hope that these young children are showing, we can find true inspiration. We can find true appreciation for the human spirit. But, we cannot let them suffer alone. We must stand together. We must come together for these children and give them the help they need to overcome these devastating illnesses and bring the kind of future that they will bring to our country and to the future of the world.

With that, I would like to yield to my colleague from Wisconsin.

We know the poll numbers are very strong, 81 percent. We know the financial numbers are very strong. But this isn't about polls. It's not about money. It's about our responsibility, living up to our responsibility as Americans to our children.

We know that we can send a man to the Moon. We can make technology. We can produce the best art, the best science, the best music, and, yes, we do have the very best health care services in the entire world. So let's extend some of that service to the ones among us that need it the very most, the poorest children, Cassidy and her daughter, the children that cannot afford it that need health care to get through those first 5 years of life.

So let's come together. I urge my colleagues to come together to do the right thing and to vote in a bipartisan way to override this misguided veto and pass the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Thank you very much.

I would like to ask a rhetorical question. What gives you the most joy in life? And the answer, of course, is your children.

You go to the mall. You are walking down. You've had a hard day. You see a child. You bend over, you talk to it. It brings a smile to your face. You're walking down the street in your neighborhood. A young mother comes along with a baby and cart. It brings a smile to your face.

And it's not just the United States of America. It's a worldwide phenomenon. People love children. They love to dote on their children. They love to spend money on their children. They love to do everything they can to give their children the best possible future they can.

So why can't we come together on a bipartisan basis and give our children the health care they need to be productive citizens in this country, in this world.

And that's a rhetorical question that I will leave with the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, in my district, the city of Stockton, California and surrounding San Joaquin County are the very epicenter of the growing national home mortgage crisis. San Joaquin County has the second highest level of foreclosures in the country. Nearly one out of 50 homes is being repossessed. Stockton has the highest foreclosure rate of any United States city, and this is tearing our communities apart. To add insult to injury, former homeowners who lost money when their houses were sold, have to pay taxes on their losses. And

those able to negotiate for a reduction in the amount they owe are forced to pay taxes on this amount.

This doesn't make sense. Thankfully, the legislation we're voting on today will eliminate this phantom tax and provide some breathing room for people in financial crisis.

I strongly support this bill.

Madam Speaker, for 6\1/2\ years this President was not concerned about fiscal responsibility, but today he claims to get the picture. However, what he claims is clearly in conflict with the facts.

Our SCHIP is fiscally responsible, it's compassionate, and it makes sense. And it's what the American people want. We are determined to override the President's veto, because it is the responsibility of this body to take care of the children of this country. This isn't about ideology, as the President wants, but about practicality. It's about doing what it will take to fulfill the responsibility to the next generation of our country.

We will override this veto and give health care to our children. I can tell you something, anyone who votes against SCHIP will answer to his or her constituents in November.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time, and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 326, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

It is important to recognize the contributions of our men and women in the armed services no matter when they served. In particular, we should pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice during their service.

Although the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated nearly 25 years ago, the families of the fallen and their fellow soldiers find the same peace and solace there today. The memorial is a somber reminder of the devastating human costs of the Vietnam war and the massive losses this country sustained.

Mothers and fathers lost their children, and families throughout the country lost their loved ones. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a serene place that helps the country deal with one of the most difficult periods of our history, and it is important that we recognize such a lasting tribute.

Today, when we remember the Vietnam war, we should not forget the soldiers who laid down their lives in defense of this great Nation. Nor should we forget those who returned home with posttraumatic stress disorder.

As we reflect upon the commitment of our veterans from past conflicts, it is important to remember the 168,000 American soldiers currently serving overseas. We must do more for our Nation's veterans, those of past wars, current conflicts, and those who will defend our flag for generations to come.

We should never forget the deep sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, and it is fitting that we pause today to commemorate one of the most important and emotional events in our history. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Local 595 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on the occasion of their 100th anniversary. IBEW was founded in 1891 and has become the largest union representing electrical workers in the United States and Canada. Local 595 was established by charter of the national IBEW on August 26, 1907, in Oakland, California. Today, Local 595 is headquartered in Dublin, California, in the district that I represent.

For the last 100 years, Local 595 has organized all of the electrical workers in Alameda County. The thousands of electrical workers, who have made up Local 595 throughout its history, have excelled in their trade while working at shipyards, motor shops, construction sites, and government facilities.

These men and women have electrified hundreds of thousands of homes, office buildings, manufacturing plants, and classrooms throughout the East Bay. Local 595 has consistently and dramatically improved the lives of its members and their families, thereby improving the communities in which they live. Local 595's apprenticeship programs have greatly improved the quality of electrical workers throughout the region, and this heightened expertise has helped to ensure Local 595 members have long careers with high wages, good pensions, and quality healthcare benefits.

Local 595 has reached out to help all working families in the East Bay through its active involvement in the Alameda County Building Trades Council and the Alameda County Central Labor Council. Local 595 has helped to build and grow communities throughout the East Bay by supporting numerous volunteer construction, scholarship, educational, and cancer research programs. For these reasons, and many others, I would like to commend IBEW Local 595 for 100 years of service to its members and to the community.

Mr. Chairman, today is a landmark day for our country's path towards energy indepence, and I would like to thank my colleagues and the committees that have worked so hard to make enactment of this forward-thinking legislation possible. H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act, marks a major step towards a secure, sustainable energy future.

Mr. Chairman, I am fortunate to serve on three committees that contributed significantly to the bill we are considering, and I have seen the tremendous collaboration that went into the creation of this comprehensive legislation. And as someone who has spent more than two decades working with wind energy and other forms of new energy technologies, I am particularly proud of our work here today.

Not only is the energy package we are debating today good for our environment and good for our security, it is also good for our economy. Estimates are that clean energy technology could create almost half a million new jobs--an entire spectrum of good-paying American jobs.

In addition, I am pleased that my bill, H.R. 2304, the Advanced Geothermal Energy Research and Development Act, has been included in this energy package. Geothermal energy is one of the most promising renewable energy sources, and it has the potential to generate vast amounts of clean electricity.

Geothermal, which utilizes the earth's natural heat, provides constantly-available baseload power, not limited by factors such as sunlight or wind conditions. Additionally, geothermal energy is 100 percent domestically produced--truly helping to lead our Nation to energy independence.

To extract geothermal energy today, engineers must tap into pre- existing water reservoirs near the surface. However, recent research indicates that new geothermal resources called Enhanced Geothermal Systems, or EGS, could greatly expand geothermal use and potentially generate as much as 100 gigawatts of power in the next half century. That is enough clean, environmentally friendly energy, to power 75 million homes.

EGS is in the early stages of development, and H.R. 2304, which has been incorporated into the bill we are debating today, authorizes Federal assistance for the research and development needed to make EGS both technically feasible and economic.

I would request that all of my colleagues join me in supporting the energy package before us today.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished chairman for his diligent work in passing the conference report on the America COMPETES Act. This is an important day for the Congress, it's important for the educators, and it's important for the students across this great land.

When the National Academies report, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm,'' was presented to Congress, it painted a sobering picture of how dependent America's economy is on an educated public and how easily we could fall behind the rest of the world. Thankfully, the report also provides specific recommendations on how to increase educational achievement, which is the backbone of our economy.

As a mathematician and an engineer, I understand clearly the advantage of having a STEM education. This COMPETES Act will spur the creation of high-quality jobs and ensure that American companies won't have to look overseas for talented employees.

Again, I thank the chairman. I thank the ranking member.

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the tragedy that occurred today in Minnesota and assure our colleagues from Minnesota and the families of Minnesota victims that we stand in solidarity with them.

Thank you, Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for all your hard work to finalize what would be the first WRDA bill to become law since the year 2000. I would also like to thank the staff for their diligence in finalizing the details of this important legislation.

Simply put, enactment of this bill is long overdue, not just because we have billions of dollars of water infrastructure projects that desperately need to be completed but because this bill means more jobs throughout the country and each project we undertake provides a net benefit to the economy in terms of improved commerce, new jobs and a cleaner environment.

In particular, this bill is vitally important to my State, and the chairman and members of the California delegation know all too well that much of Northern California that I represent is held together by a fragile web of 100-year-old levees with varying degrees of stability. As a source of drinking water for 25 million Californians, the mix of natural and manmade channels in the San Joaquin Delta need constant oversight and perpetual maintenance to remain functional.

Of particular importance is a flood protection project near the city of Morgan Hill in my district that improves the Llagas Creek, a waterway that runs several miles through Morgan Hill south to Gilroy. I'm very pleased that we are correcting a jurisdictional issue in this legislation that stopped the Corps from completing work on Llagas Creek for years. Specifically, we are now directing the Corps to complete the Llagas Creek.

Mr. Speaker, as a conference member on this legislation, I want the Record to indicate that the Llagas Creek project is meant to be completed under the national directive language we included in the bill and under the cost-sharing ratio we have explicitly included in H.R. 1495.

I'm hopeful the Corps will expeditiously complete the project so the residents of Morgan Hill can rest easy in the knowledge that we're protecting them from periodic flood damage.

Again, I want to compliment the chairman for his hard work.