Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to discuss the importance of this pay-as-you-go system that my colleague from Arkansas, Congressman Ross, and my other colleagues have spoken on thus far.

What you're going to hear this evening across the breadth and width of Representatives from throughout the country is a common and reoccurring theme, and that is, as Blue Dogs, we believe that putting our fiscal House in order is among the highest of priorities that we are sent here back to Washington to do. And so, therefore, it is a very important discussion that we are having with you this evening, as many Americans sit at their home having dinner and wondering just really what's going on in Washington.

What's going on is really trying to draw a line in the sand. Are we about trying to establish and stay with fiscal responsibility or not?

Now, PAYGO is a tool, as was mentioned, to try to ensure that any additional expenditures of our Federal budget be paid for. That's not the only tool, but it is one of the few tools that we now have in place. Certainly as Blue Dog members, we are looking and trying to figure out how we can do other efforts to focus on budget cutting and reestablishing our priorities. But right now pay-as-you-go is the most important tool that we have available to us.

Now, let me give you a little history of how all this took place. In 1990, when the Budget Enforcement Act was passed, there was an attempt to reign in deficits that had occurred for over 30 years, Federal deficits that had been

experienced since 1970. This Act, passed by a Democratic Congress in 1990 and signed by a Republican President, President George Bush the First, sought to control the budgetary impact of legislation through the enforcement of the provisions that we now refer to as pay-as-you- go.

Now, that was law and that was enforced for 10 years, about. Then in 2001, with a new Republican majority in Congress, our current President, President George Bush the Second, abandoned the PAYGO provisions.

And that, I think, among other factors took our projected budget surplus, then at $5.6 trillion over a 10-year period, and created the current budget deficit that we have today, which is over $2 trillion over that same time period. Yes, I think it's disappointing for all Americans that a sensible tax policy, an investment in smart growth in our country that was achieved between 1990 and 2001 on a bipartisan basis, has been squandered in the last 6 years to the large unsustainable deficit that we have today.

Now, where are we? Well, at the beginning of this year, the new Democratic majority returned to Congress a path of fiscal responsibility. As Congressman Ross and others mentioned, PAYGO was one of the first provisions we enacted. Under these rules we have in every piece of legislation that we have acted on this year enforced the PAYGO principle. This promise we made to the American people we intend to keep true to our word. We have already made great strides in bringing our fiscal house in order; but if we want to continue that, we must include this with all legislation, which includes the alternative minimum tax. It needs to comply with PAYGO.

Currently, our national debt is over $9 trillion, with much of it being held by foreign governments. In 2007, China alone had increased the holdings of U.S. Treasury securities by nearly 500 percent in the last 6 years, from $74 billion in July, 2001, to $408 billion in July of this year. Overall, and it has been said before, this administration has borrowed more money from foreign sources throughout the world than the previous 42 Presidents combined. Let me repeat that: overall, this administration has borrowed more money from foreign sources than all the previous 42 Presidents combined.

As a proud member of the Blue Dog Caucus, I strongly believe that fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets are essential to make our economy and our country strong and prosperous. Government should not be allowed to spend more than it takes in. Common sense tells us that. Any strategy of our Nation's budget must include a strategy for reducing these record deficits so that we don't pass them on to our children. Without adequate controls, prolonged deficit spending will weaken our ability to fund worthwhile domestic spending programs and jeopardize our national security. That's at the heart of this discussion.

I further believe that it's fiscally and morally irresponsible, therefore, to place the burden of today's deficit on our children and grandchildren. And that's why PAYGO is so important, that we draw the line and make this fight this week.

The alternative minimum tax is important. We passed that relief on that over a week ago. But it's not worth borrowing from China to pay for the alternative minimum tax. We can do this in a commonsense way, and that's what the Blue Dogs are asking you to support our efforts in.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the distinguished career of Gregory ``Don'' Hunsucker. After decades of dedication to the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Don decided to retire this past August.

Don's career in the labor movement began over 3 decades ago with the Retail Clerks International Association as a special representative and organizer. He joined the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, local 1288 in 1973 as a Union Representative and rose quickly within the organization to become president and chief executive officer in 1977.

The labor community in California's San Joaquin Valley has benefited immensely from Don's leadership. While he was president and chief executive officer of the union, local 1288 represented over 11,000 United Food and Commercial Workers in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare Counties.

Presently, Don continues to be heavily involved in various local and statewide labor organizations. Some of these positions include president of the Western States Council of United Food and Commercial Workers Union, chair of the Northern California Caucus of UFCW, and chief executive officer of the Valley Economic Leadership Institute. He has also served on many civic and charitable boards.

Throughout his distinguished career, Gregory ``Don'' Hunsucker has proven to be a highly effective leader committed to excellence in his work and service to others. As he celebrates this milestone in his life and gets ready to spend more time with his wife Linda, I wish him good health and best wishes for the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Retired BG Edward E. Munger who served our Nation in the California Army National Guard as well as the United States Army. A native of Fresno, General Munger is an individual who exemplifies outstanding work ethic and is certainly worthy of special recognition.

During his senior year in high school, Edward enlisted in Fresno's 185th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard as a private. From there, his military career blossomed, as he progressed through staff and command positions, eventually including battalion commander of his infantry regiment.

While serving in the California National Guard, Edward owned and operated Engineered Sound, an electronics contracting business with offices in Fresno, Reno, and Las Vegas. Under his leadership, Engineered Sound landed major contracts at such landmarks as the Las Vegas Hilton, The Sands Hotel, and Caesars Palace, as well as many others in Reno and Lake Tahoe.

Various local television and radio stations have called on General Munger to comment on military operations and strategic planning. He is respected throughout the area, and remains involved in many community service organizations. Some of these organizations include: the Fresno Rotary Club, Valley Children's Hospital, and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.

In his personal life, General Munger and his wife Tamsen have two adult children. It is both an honor and a pleasure to recognize such a great man who throughout his life has demonstrated courage and love of our country. I want to extend, on behalf of the residents of Fresno, my sincerest appreciation for his dedication and service to the country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my good friend Lawrence Gallagher. Mr. Gallagher unfortunately passed away this past Thursday at the age of 68. Larry lived his life with a strong commitment to his family and to his community and is certainly most deserving of this honor.

Born in Boston, he enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after finishing high school and was proud to serve his country with courage and distinction. At the end of his service, Larry settled in Riverside, California where he began his career in law enforcement eventually becoming the Deputy Sherriff. With a passion to serve the public, Mr. Gallagher went on to become Director of Criminal Justice Planning for the Southern California Association of Governments.

Throughout his life, he remained involved in his community by being a member of the Rotary Club, volunteering at the local YMCA, and serving on the board of directors at the South Bay Youth and Family Center. A devoted family man; he will be deeply missed by his wife, Linda; his children Donald, Dennis, Denny, and Holly; and his seven grandchildren.

Larry had a passion for water resources that led him to serve with a number of California water authorities such as: the Kern County Water Agency, the West Basin Municipal Water District and the Association of California Water Agencies. For years, I was proud to work with Larry on the water issues facing our Valley and I was fortunate enough to call him a friend. He kindly agreed to serve on the selection committee for the Jim Costa--Kern County Water Agency Water Resources Fellowship and I was grateful for his advice and wisdom.

Larry Gallagher was a man of great principle and integrity. He was my friend and I will miss him a great deal. He conducted his life with a reverence for humanity and with the philosophy of ensuring that our future generation's quality of life was protected and assured. It is with great pride that I honor him for all that he did on behalf of the San Joaquin Valley and for California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Willie James Whisenhunt, RPh for being named a 2007 honoree at the Tribute to Health Champions reception by the West Fresno Healthcare Coalition. A mere three days after arriving in our fair city, Mr. Whisenhunt opened the Westside Pharmacy. More than 30 years later his career and contributions to the area are impressive and most deserving of this honor.

Mr. Whisenhunt was born in Vredenburgh, AL, the eldest of three children. His father, a carpenter, died when Mr. Whisenhunt was 10, and he was raised by his grandparents, uncle and aunt. His family taught him the value of hard work, commitment, and unconditional love. He received his high school diploma from Escambia County Training School, later receiving his bachelor's of science in pharmaceuticals from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Community service has always been a focus in Mr. Whisenhunt's life, particularly his commitment to the youth of west Fresno. He has sponsored various athletic teams at Edison High School, including both the women's and men's baseball teams. He has helped southwest Fresno students by aiding speech teams and academic decathlons. He has been a mentor to our youth, promoting higher education in the community, encouraging students to pursue careers in science and funding trips to historically black colleges and our Nation's Capital. Outside the boundaries of west Fresno, he has served in various leadership positions, holding the distinction of being the only African American president of the Fresno-Madera Pharmacists Association.

Furthermore, Mr. Whisenhunt has been a lifelong supporter to the United Negro College Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Silesian Society of Don Bosco. In 2006, he received the Health Care Professional of the Year Small Business Award from the Fresno Black Expo.

Willie James Whisenhunt is a great man and a true example of the American Dream. It is with great pride that I congratulate him for receiving this distinguished award and for all that he does on behalf of west Fresno.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Fitzalbert Michael Marius of Fresno, CA, for being named a 2007 Honoree at the Tribute to Health Champions reception, held by the West Fresno Healthcare Coalition. As an original member of the first open-heart surgery team at Valley Children's Hospital, his medical career is impressive and he is most deserving of this honor.

Born in Colon, Panama, to parents of West Indian decent, Dr. Marius moved to America as a young boy and chased the American dream of bettering himself by attending college. A true patriot, he left the university to serve in the United States Army in World War II, returning undeterred to not only finish his undergraduate education, but also complete medical school.

After receiving his M.D. from Howard University Medical School in Washington, DC, Dr. Marius spent a year in the cardiac surgery program at Stanford University's Lane Hospital in San Francisco. Throughout his career, Dr. Marius has performed general, vascular, and thoracic surgery in Fresno. In addition, Dr. Marius has been actively involved with the Sickle Cell Support Group in southwest Fresno and continues to work with the heart surgery teams of St. Agnes Hospital, the Fresno Heart Hospital and Community Hospital.

Dr. Fitzalbert Marius personifies the principles and integrity of our Valley. He is a role model for all of us, especially our Valley's upcoming generation of medical professionals. It is with great pride that I recognize him for all that he has done on behalf of our community and congratulate him for receiving this distinguished award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate La'Vera Ethridge-Williams of Fresno, California, for being named a 2007 Honoree at the West Fresno Healthcare Coalition's Tribute to Health Champions reception. As a principal advocate for childcare in Fresno County, La'Vera is a woman of great vision, and is certainly most deserving of this honor.

Born in Boley, Oklahoma, La'Vera moved to Fresno, where she attended Fresno City College, and then California State University, Fresno. Recognizing the need for a child care facility in West Fresno she submitted a proposal to the California Department of Health and Welfare. After 4 long years, her dream became a reality when her first private child care center designed specifically for infants was inaugurated.

La'Vera opened a chain of daycare centers geared to the education of young children, providing not only a service to the community, but also employment opportunities for West Fresno residents. Mrs. Ethridge- Williams' emphasis has always been on the health, nutrition, and education of children. Her involvement in the health arena has also led her to become one of the founding members of the Sickle Cell Support Group in Fresno, California.

La'Vera Ethridge Williams is a woman of great principle and integrity. She is a role model for all of us, especially those in the childcare industry. I have known La'Vera and her family for years and know they care deeply and contribute daily to make our Valley a better place to live. It is with great pride that I congratulate her for all that she does on behalf of the West Fresno community and for receiving this distinguished award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate George F. Baker, D.D.S. for being posthumously named a 2007 honoree at the Tribute to Health Champions reception by the West Fresno Healthcare Coalition. As a person who helped shape the dental profession and patient care throughout San Joaquin Valley, he is certainly deserving of this honor.

Dr. Baker is fondly remembered by the residents of Southwest Fresno as one of the few dentists who would not hesitate to care for those less fortunate who were served only by publicly funded dental programs. His goal was to ensure that people in rural areas had access to good, affordable dental care. It was this commitment to caring for the underserved which led Dr. Baker to author the initial grant request in the mid 1970's to establish the Firebaugh-Mendota Dental Clinic. Dr. Baker was also a strong supporter and advocate of the UCSF-Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research, a program built to address the persistent shortage of Latino physicians in the community and amongst the medical school faculty. He helped create the dental clinic at the Valley Medical Center and was closely involved in managing and ensuring that indigent families had access to dental services there at all times.

The establishment of a scholarship in his name for entering students at the UCLA School of Dentistry demonstrates the high regard in which Dr. Baker is held. It recognizes the long and outstanding contributions he made to the dental profession and to education in the field of dentistry.

Dr. Baker was a man of great principle and integrity and continues to be a role model for our Valley's newest dental professionals. Along with the memory of his work, his scholarship will enable more dentists to help those in need, as Dr. Baker did for so long. George was my friend and a mentor during my early years in health care for our valley and the political process. His son Tim and daughter Bethany carry on this spirit of community service. It is with great pride that I posthumously honor him for all that he did on behalf of Western Fresno and congratulate him for receiving this distinguished award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Borba Farms of Riverdale, California for receiving the 2007 Agricultural Business of the Year Award from the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce.

Borba Farms began in 1919 when A.J. Borba emigrated from the Azores Islands off Portugal and started a dairy farm in Riverdale with 40 cows and 120 acres of land. Eventually, A.J.'s sons, Ross, Sr. and Darril diversified their farming operation by expanding into cotton, tomatoes, and other row crops. The sons of Ross Borba, Sr. and his wife Justina, Mark and Ross Borba, Jr., now farm about 8,600 acres of crops that include lettuce, cotton, tomatoes, garlic, onions, alfalfa, sugar beets, wheat and almonds. The success of the Borba family's farming operation is evident in the quality of these crops, which often garner high praise from chefs, and appear in Farmer's markets around the State.

Also, the Borbas have been active in addressing water, marketing and political issues important to the industry, serving as leaders in the National Cotton Council, Westlands Water District, the California Leadership Program and other organizations. This involvement further emphasizes the Borba's commitment to their trade and their strong ties to California's San Joaquin Valley.

Borba Farms is a model institution and a shining example for other industry professionals. It is with great pride that I congratulate Borba Farms on receiving this distinguished award, and I wish them success in their future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Nat DiBuduo, President of Allied Grape Growers in Fresno, for receiving the 2007 Agriculturist of the Year Award from the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce. His service and commitment to various agricultural organizations is worthy of respect and admiration. Some of these include The Big Fresno Fair, Fresno City Planning Commission, United Cerebral Palsy, the Bulldog Foundation at Fresno State, and the University's Viticulture and Enology Industry Advisory Board.

A native of California's San Joaquin Valley, Nat attended California State University, Fresno where he earned a B.S. in Plant Science/ Viticulture and a minor in Business. Nat is also a graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program. Over thirty years ago his family pioneered the wine grape industry in California's San Joaquin Valley.

Nat has been able to glean valuable experience in wine grape production and processing through his involvement with his family's local winery. Nat holds a Certified Pest Control Advisor's license as well as a Department of Real Estate sales license. Nat's wide range of work experience has also contributed to his extensive knowledge in the agricultural field. One of his previous positions involved overseeing the farm management of 24,000 acres of winegrapes, nuts, and vegetables. He holds extensive exposure to regional wine growing in the Central San Joaquin Valley, and throughout other wine producing regions of the state.

Nat's proficiency is virtually unmatched. He was hired in May of 2000 to replace the outgoing president of Allied Grape Growers of Fresno, an organization which represents 500 grape growing members throughout the state of California. Together they annually produce 200,000 to 250,000 tons of wine grapes.

The leadership and commitment Mr. DiBuduo has shown in Fresno County, where he and his wife Marilyn live, has never wavered. He personifies a man of great principle and integrity. Nat is a role model for all of us, especially our Valley's upcoming generation of agricultural professionals. It is with great pride that I congratulate him for receiving this distinguished award and I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui) for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the Rules Committee for their cooperation and assistance in bringing this bill to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I think there are many reasons why we should support the rule proposed for H.R. 2262. Most important among them is what I believe is a sound, solid legislative process that has led to the amended version of H.R. 2262 that we have before us today.

Now, with deference to my colleague who just spoke, let me be clear that the process has worked. Proper order has been followed. We have worked on this issue for most of the last 10 months with the subcommittee that I chair, the Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals on Public Lands.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals on Public Lands has the jurisdiction to provide a balance. This balance we talk about often in the subcommittee. It is a challenging balance because on the one hand we are to protect and preserve the natural heritage of our Nation's public lands for all of our citizens to enjoy in perpetuity, and to ensure that those public lands remain available for all generations of future Americans to benefit from.

There are many numerous ways in which we benefit from them. We know historically that those public lands have played a very meaningful role in our Nation's development, and it's that balance.

In this case, the subcommittee knows that the energy and the mineral developments that took place in the 19th and the 20th century were key and critical to the development, economically, of our Nation, and they also had obviously a very important role in the social development as well because if it were not for the discovery of gold in the 19th century in California and the opportunities that discovery brought forth, as in all the other minerals and energy that have been discovered on public lands in the 19th and 20th century, we would not have seen the opening of the West.

So, therefore, our subcommittee and the members on the subcommittee are very mindful of the fact that we have this dual role: balancing the resources that provide important energy and minerals to our Nation's wealth and at the same time preserving and protecting those same public lands to ensure that, in fact, they will be available for future generations of Americans to come.

And, yes, one other thing, when those public lands are being used in that dual role, since they belong to all Americans, that, in fact, all Americans are able to derive some benefit of the wealth that is derived from the utilization of those public lands for either mineral resource or for energy development because, remember, these lands belong to all Americans, unlike private holdings.

So when I took over the subcommittee chairmanship early this year, this issue clearly was going to be one of the issues that Chairman Rahall wanted to address. Why? Well, for two decades, Chairman Rahall has attempted to reform this law. This is not a new issue. Let's be clear about this. This is no rush to judgment of some issue for the sake of having an issue on the floor.

The mining law that was put together in 1872, signed by then- President Ulysses S. Grant, has not been changed, modified in shape or form since President Ulysses Grant signed it into law in 1872.

Back in the late 1970s and 1980s, Chairman Rahall, Congressman Rahall from West Virginia, a person who

has a great deal of mining that takes place in his own district, came to this issue and wanted to make necessary changes for all the right reasons. As I took over the subcommittee chairmanship early this year, we decided we would build on that record and that effort of Chairman Rahall.

In response to complaints, the minority has raised about having more hearings on this measure, let me tell you about the good work that the subcommittee and the committee has done.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals, we've held four hearings this year on H.R. 2262, the 1872 mining law. Two of them, one in Elko, Nevada, with Members of both parties well-represented and Senator Reid, the other one in Tucson, Arizona, provided valuable opportunities for local input from community citizens. In total, we have heard from over 33 witnesses in two field hearings and a multitude of hearings here in our Nation's Capital. We have done what you're supposed to do in the process. We've listened. We've made changes.

Those hearings led to significant improvements in the bill, improvements supported by both the conservation community as well as the mining industry. That's not to say that everybody has gotten everything they want because, of course, that never happens in this process. No bill will ever be perfect on all sides, but this is a bill that has had thorough vetting and due, some would say past due, for all the attention this matter has gotten over two decades.

I would also note that there's a long history as it relates to the mining law reform, the history that really predates this legislation, as I noted.

So I think it's important to understand that we have taken into account over the last two decades hearings that have been held in the following States: Nevada, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, all States in which mining is of critical importance.

In short, the need for mining law reform is not a new issue. It's one that has extensive legislative history. The flaws of the current law are well-debated and analyzed.

I appreciate the leadership's interest in H.R. 2262 and Chairman Rahall's leadership and look forward to the debate on the amendments before us.

Mr. Speaker, having, as I said, held extensive hearings on this issue over the last 10 months, I think it's important that we respond to the comments that were made from my good friend, the gentleman from Nevada.

We did have witnesses who testified on the issue of royalty. We had several witnesses that indicated that an 8 percent royalty would not be unreasonable, some even said perhaps too low.

Taxpayers for Common Sense actually urged a higher rate. James Otto, a royalty consultant to governments around the world, stated that he would normally counsel a country to impose a gross royalty of between 2 and 5 percent. However, he did say that a proposed 8 percent might not necessarily be too high. Why? Because a depletion allowance, depletion allowance, which is a tax break, enjoyed by the hardrock mining industry in the United States is significant.

Mr. Otto pointed out that the depletion allowance works like a negative royalty. Perhaps only four countries in the world offer such a lucrative tax break, in this case, to our mining industry. This would be offset by a potential 8 percent.

A Congressional Research Service witness indicated that royalties for oil and gas and coal operators in the United States, and we want to keep these oil and gas and coal operators doing their good work, is 8 percent and more in some cases. Therefore, the fact that no royalty is charged, I think, needs to be taken into account. After all, these are public lands. No one wants to put the hardrock mining industry out of business. Nevada does a wonderful job, and we want to keep all those operations that are good stewards of the land in business.

This is fair, it's equitable, and it's what's taking place in other countries. I think it's important that we note that.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for all your hard work on this issue, not just this year, but for the last two decades. I also want to thank the ranking Republican member, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and the ranking member of our subcommittee, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce), for all of their hard work over the last 10 months.

Mr. Chairman, this is an important piece of legislation and it provides a balanced approach to public lands. It recognizes that hardrock minerals to our lives are important, but they are also important as a public trust that belong to all Americans.

During this process over the last 10 months, we held numerous hearings at which over 33 witnesses testified. For example, in Pima County, Arizona, earlier this year, we had local government

and citizens talk about the important values, as well as the impacts to water, wildlife and recreational opportunities. We also listened to State and local government and tribes and gave them the option to close sensitive lands which are critical to their communities, or to have restraint. Lands that provide, in fact, drinking water supplies.

In Elko, Nevada, the subcommittee received additional testimony from people to understand how important the mining is to those communities in those towns. Let's make it clear. We do not want to put those mining operations out of business. They provide a viable industry to this Nation which has already been substantiated. We gained a better understanding on the ways that industry strives, and they are doing a marvelous job for the most part in being responsible and following regulations which they must comply with.

Many States have already taken initiatives. The committee listened. We have taken amendments which make mineral exploration provisions to benefit an important part of the industry to keep the momentum and the motivation there. We also took changes in title III to set forth strong national standards for mining but make sure that we are not duplicating existing State law and regulations. The subcommittee hearings in Washington also focused on the issue of royalties, which has been much talked about.

Let me address some of those criticisms at this time about it decimating the mining industry. Some of us are old enough to remember Sergeant Friday from Dragnet. Remember what he used to say: ``Just the facts, ma'am.'' Well, the facts are this: These are multinational companies that mine in areas throughout the world, and they pay royalties in those countries. They pay royalties in those countries, and they are existing and doing fine, as they are doing fine in this country.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the total income subject to the proposed royalty, which I would submit is a work in progress, would average roughly $1 billion a year. These are public lands. We require the same for oil and gas production. It is a relatively small number when you take into account that the total U.S. mining industry produces $23 billion each year.

The Congressional Budget Office also estimates that the cost of this legislation, should it become law, would approximately be, with this royalty, $200 million over a period of 5 years. That is $200 million over a period of 5 years, a $23 billion a year industry in this country. We think that is a fair shake for these lands that are owned by all Americans, and it makes a serious opportunity to resolve something that has been contentious for two decades.

The industry will tell you that they want certainty. They don't want the vagaries from administration to administration. They know this is a work in process. They know the issue of royalties are subject to negotiation between us and the Senate as this measure moves on.

So let's be clear about it. This measure, in short, I think reflects a thoughtful and informed process. Did everybody get everything they wanted? No. Is the process still moving along? Yes. We will continue to work with our colleagues of the loyal opposition as we try to endeavor to create a bill that reflects the best interests of America.

Let me quickly respond to the issue of the precious metals. This chart explains it very clearly. The U.S. Geologic Survey ranks the import reliance for nonfuel mineral materials. According to the USGS, there are 30 nonfuel minerals on which we are 80 to 100 percent reliant on imports. Simply put, we almost completely import these minerals, as has been stated, rather than produce them domestically.

Now, that sounds worrisome, and the Republicans have noted that. But it is important that we realize that 19 of these 30 minerals, two- thirds of them, are not ``locatable'' and therefore are not subject to the 1872 mining law. So the reform of this law will have no effect on the production or the imports of those minerals. They will not be subject to the royalty we propose or the environmental standards.

Of the other 11, all but one are simply not available in terms of commercially marketable quantities in the United States. We depend on imports of these minerals. Ones like graphite and rare earths do not exist in deposits where it is economical to produce them or they don't exist on public lands, so they are not subject to the legislation.

So if it ain't here, you can't mine it.

The only mineral among those 30 that are 100 percent import reliant into this country and impacts both the 1872 mining law and that are ``locatable'' minerals, the only one that is actually located in deposits large enough to be economically produced is fluorspar. Fluorspar. We are dependent upon fluorspar. Now let me tell you what we use fluorspar for: Toothpaste. We get fluorspar from China, Mexico, South Africa and Mongolia. We don't need to worry that the cleanliness of our teeth is in jeopardy because of this mining law.

The last time I checked, tooth decay, while distasteful, is not a national security issue. I ask that we support this measure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Sarkis Sarabian, president of Sarabian Farms in Sanger, California, for receiving the 2007 Agriculturist of the Year Award from the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce. As a family farmer, who has lead his family's growing and shipping operations for many years, Sarkis is most deserving of this honor.

The roots of Sarabian Farms run deep in California's Central Valley. Since 1920 the Sarabian family has actively participated in the farming operation specializing in peaches, plums and nectarines. Now in its fourth generation, Sarabian Farms is proof that multi-generational farming can continue to thrive as an outstanding enterprise for many years.

For ten years, Sarkis has worked with Asian growers in the Central Valley to help them develop quality control and marketing skills. He is a founding member of the Armenian Technology Group in Fresno and has worked on projects that included reviving the honey industry in Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist region of Azerbaijan.

Mr. Sarabian, a licensed pest control advisor, has also worked as a soil conservationist and an agricultural consultant in countries that include Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Kenya, Moldova, Jordan, Venezuela and Morocco.

Sarkis Sarabian exemplifies great principle and integrity. He is a role model for all of us, especially our Valley's upcoming generation of agricultural professionals. It is with great pride that I congratulate him for receiving this distinguished award and for all that he does on behalf of the industry.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague Congressman McCarthy, to congratulate the Bakersfield Fire Department on the celebration of their 130th anniversary.

The Bakersfield Fire Department dates back to 1877, when community members recognized a need for a well-organized, professional fire department and held local fundraisers to buy equipment. Since those early days, the department has expanded and now serves the public with 13 engines, 3 ladder trucks and over 180 firefighters.

For over a century, the Bakersfield Fire Department has served the Bakersfield community, and their deep and longstanding commitment to public safety is evident by the many public education programs they conduct every year. Throughout the year, the department hosts many informational sessions such as: fire safety and home evacuation, the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors, earthquake preparedness and chemical safety. Bakersfield's firefighters also deliver presentations in local classrooms, educating our children on helping to make their communities a safe place to live.

Through the efforts of their public education and fire prevention services division, the firefighters are working hard to ensure fire disasters never occur in the first place. However, should the worst occur, the operations, training and arson divisions stand ready to assist our citizens at a second's notice.

The Bakersfield Firefighters have always prided themselves on serving the community not only through first-rate emergency services while on- the-job, but also a commitment to volunteerism that extends beyond their job responsibilities. As active members of the community, the firefighters are involved in a wide range of volunteer activities, from serving on local boards of community organizations to helping disadvantaged children get school supplies for the upcoming school year.

The 130th anniversary of the Bakersfield Fire Department is a perfect opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women who risk their lives every day for the safety of our community. Often, when people are running out of buildings, away from the danger, these brave men and women are the ones running towards the flames. They are our everyday heroes and both my community and myself are eternally grateful for their service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate James Rowland of Fresno, California. A great honor is being bestowed upon James, as the new Fresno County Probation Department Crime Victim Assistance Facility will be officially named the James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center.

James Rowland began his career as the Fresno County chief probation officer on October 2, 1972. His efforts to give crime victims the consideration, fairness, and support they so desperately deserve has been instrumental in changing the way the justice system perceives and treats crime victims. In 1976 James Rowland created the first victim impact statement to provide the judiciary with an objective inventory of victim injuries and losses at sentencing. The victim impact statement has brought not only nationwide but worldwide recognition that crime victims need additional assistance. This happened through James Rowland's resolve and fierce determination to provide appropriate and comprehensive services to Fresno County crime victims.

After 10 years of service as Fresno County's chief probation officer, James Rowland went on to serve as the director of the California Youth Authority and the director of the California Department of Corrections. He also established the Office of Victims of Crimes in both State agencies. Furthermore, he instituted classes in State prisons where inmates learned firsthand the impact of their crimes on their victims.

James Rowland took responsibility for changing the justice system to accommodate and respond to the suffering and trauma of those victimized by crime. He has received prestigious awards from both Pepperdine and Harvard Universities, as well as various criminal justice and private agencies for contributions to the field of corrections worldwide. He is now known internationally as a crime cictim advocate.

Although James Rowland is now retired after 40 years of public service, he continues to provide direction and assistance to persons and agencies that change the justice system. It is with great pride that I congratulate him for receiving this distinguished honor and for all that he has done on behalf of the county of Fresno.