Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the ordering of the yeas and nays on the motion that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4239) to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and

other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs, as amended, be vacated, to the end that the Chair put the question de novo.

I thank the chair of the Budget Committee. And first, let me commend Chairman Ryan and the Budget Committee for bringing this resolution to the floor today.

I'm pleased with the cooperative working relationship between our two committees, particularly as we seek to move a multiyear surface transportation reauthorization to the floor in the near future.

As you know, H.R. 7 is the most significant transportation reform bill since the Interstate Highway System was created some 50 years ago. The bill will reduce the Federal bureaucracy by consolidating or eliminating more than 70 programs and allows States to set their own transportation priorities, not bureaucrats here in Washington.

H.R. 7 provides the stable and predictable funding stream that is necessary for States and construction companies to take on major construction projects that span several years. The bill accomplishes more with less through significant reforms, including cutting in half the time it takes to complete major transportation infrastructure projects.

H.R. 7 also establishes a blueprint for job creation, is responsibly paid for, and includes no earmarks, no tax increases or deficit spending.

As everyone here knows, our surface transportation programs expire on Saturday, and we need to pass an extension in the next few days in order to ensure that these programs will not disrupt the folks who may be furloughed and construction workers who would be sent home.

I hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will act responsibly and put politics aside and join us in passing a short-term extension so we can work on a longer-term solution.

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 7 meets two criteria of the deficit-neutral reserve fund outlined in this budget. First, it will maintain the solvency of the highway trust fund, and second, it will not increase the deficit over the period of fiscal year 2013 through fiscal 2022.

The resolution before us also assumes a new potential funding stream for the trust fund in the form of oil and gas revenues, and ensures that any future funding transfers will be fully offset.

Both of which are included in H.R. 7.

I would like to confirm with the gentleman from Wisconsin that my understanding of these provisions is correct, and that H.R. 7 is in compliance with the budget resolution.

I thank the chairman for his diligence and ongoing efforts to bring much-needed fiscal discipline to Federal spending.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4239) to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 4239, as amended.

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

My colleagues and Mr. Speaker, this is a 60-day extension that has been agreed to by our leadership and negotiated with the other side of the aisle. I believe it will ensure the surface transportation programs at the Department of Transportation will continue to function, and that we can continue programs across the country, ensuring our men and women stay in jobs at such a difficult time with our economy, again, needing some reliability in transportation programs from this Federal level.

So with that, I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 4239, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, March 26, 2012.

Hon. John Mica,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Mica: I am writing concerning H.R. 4239, the

``Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012,'' which is

scheduled for floor consideration this week.

As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means has

jurisdiction over the Internal Revenue Code. Title IV of this

bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by extending

the current Highway Trust Fund expenditure authority and the

associated Federal excise taxes to June 1, 2012. However, in

order to expedite this legislation for floor consideration,

the Committee will forgo action on this bill. This is being

done with the understanding that it does not in any way

prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of

conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or

similar legislation.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

this understanding with respect to H.R. 4239, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record during floor

consideration,

Sincerely,

Dave Camp.

Chairman.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, let's deal with just a few facts.

First of all, the fact is that this would be the ninth extension. The fact is that the Democrats, who are on the other side of the aisle, when they controlled the entire House of Representatives and the United States Senate--the other body--in a huge majority and the White House, they did six extensions. That's the first fact.

The second fact is that the folks from the other side of the aisle, when they controlled it, they weren't even able to get a bill out from subcommittee to full committee. We passed it in committee, and we've gotten it this far to the floor with huge majorities. They did not pass it.

Let's just deal with the facts. The facts are, on June 17, 2009, after my cooperating with the previous chair on the other side of the aisle to go forward with a long-term bill, it was President Obama who sent then-Secretary Ray LaHood to tell us that they were going to kill a 6-year bill that we had agreed on to move forward, which they couldn't even get out of committee, to an 18-month extension.

These are the facts. The fact is that they had 6,300 earmarks in the last bill, and they were open to earmarks in the bill that they were about to propose. This bill is being brought forward without tax increases. It is responsibly funded with dramatic reforms and, again, devolves to the States and local governments, which actually build these projects, the streamlining and other financial opportunities that they can take advantage of.

As for the part about bankrupting the trust fund, let's deal again with facts. The facts are that the bill that is proposed by the other body is a 2-year bill, and the trust fund money expires in 18 months. That's not responsible. The bill we brought out has a pay-for.

With regard to the comments that we're slashing, we are continuing at current levels. It's $52 billion for 5 years. Do the math. It's 260. The Senate bill is $109 billion. It's 54.9. We are increasing spending at a time when we shouldn't be increasing spending, but we're maintaining the current level. They count no increase as a cut. That's the kind of math that's going on here.

So I came to the floor because there was a bipartisan agreement between the leadership of the House and the Senate to move forward because we have to get people to work. This is my third extension. I have had the honor and privilege of chairing the committee for--what?-- 14 months now. I have cooperated with the other side, including holding extensive hearings in the district of the first gentleman who spoke, Mr. Rahall--in Beckley, West Virginia--all the way to the west coast. I've held dozens of hearings out in the field and here in Washington to try to develop legislation that could get the job done and so that we could do more with even the same amount of money and put people to work at this time in our country's history. So those are the facts.

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), the chair of the Highway Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased at this time to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chair of our Rail Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the balance of time on each side?

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

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 2 minutes to Mr. Shuster, the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

I yield the gentleman from Pennsylvania an additional 30 seconds.

I have no further speakers, and I would reserve my time to close.

I yield myself the balance of my time.

Unfortunately, this has turned into, I guess, sort of a political ``gotcha'' game. If this was a sporting event right now, the umpire would probably come out, throw down the flag, and say a foul has been committed.

It's kind of sad that bipartisanship has become a one-way street. No one has worked harder than I have to try to accommodate the other side of the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, one of the former speakers said we had refused to work with the Democrats. That's not true. We took 60 percent of their recommendations. And one reason we took longer than I had hoped was to make certain that everybody had a fair and open opportunity. The process was completely open by going to the ranking member's district for the first hearing and all the way to the west coast.

In the amendment process, I told Members that everyone would be heard and everyone would have an opportunity to offer an amendment. Yes, we sat for 18 hours. We took over 100 amendments from the other side of the aisle, and each of them was considered with the respect and dignity that every Member of this body should have before everybody.

This is not true. Again, I just don't think it's fair.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) came to the floor and said that I was the only one that had a copy of the bill. In fact, the irony of it is that Mr. Bishop and his staff, everyone--in fact, all the Members were given a copy beforehand, which is twice the period of time in the past; and copies of the bill were distributed from his office, which he also admitted to in committee long before the bill came to the committee.

The Secretary said this is the worst bill he has seen, and it is for bureaucrats and for people in those tall buildings in Washington, because we're consolidating programs. We went from six core programs to 130. We have offices that we don't need, duplicate programs. Someone is trying to actually do reform.

Yes, we do substantial reform. They throw money at problems. We, at least, keep it level and we responsibly pay for it. But even when they threw money at things, like the stimulus that Mr. Shuster brought forward, 35 percent of the money and 2\1/2\ years later, that money was still sitting in the Federal Treasury because shovel-ready became a national joke; and it is a national joke

because of the red tape, the bureaucracy, all by those people who may lose their jobs in those glass buildings right here in our Nation's Capital.

Again, I don't think it's fair. I'm disappointed. We tried to do a 90-day bill. The House and the Senate are going to be out for 2 weeks for Easter. Then they come back, and one body is out and the other body is out and nobody is here. They weren't happy with 90 days, and we tried to accommodate the 60 days.

This is a political game of ``gotcha,'' and it's unfortunate because there are many Americans who are counting on us for jobs and many people who have lost their home, particularly in the construction industry. They don't want rhetoric. They want action from this Congress. If we just had a cooperative effort on this, and true bipartisanship, we could get so much done for the American people.

I'm saddened in a way, but I tell you I've done everything I can to move this forward. For some of those people I've talked to that don't have a job, that have lost their homes and their life savings, we need to put a few of them to work. And we can if people would stop the nonsense and move forward in a responsible fashion.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me speak to transportation and what we're doing in Congress on the Republican side. The other side of the aisle, the Democrat majority, had responsibility over transportation, and huge majorities for 4 years and control for 2 years of the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives.

This week the President signed it into law, and we got it done. As the Cable Guy says, we're going to ``git 'er done.'' And we're getting her done.

But you wouldn't know that the FAA bill was signed into law by the President. He signed it in the dark. He failed to send me even a bouquet of flowers or candy on Valentine's Day when he did it. He didn't want the American people to know that we succeeded in getting legislation that is responsible for 10 percent of our economy done, and we got it done without tax increases, cutting $3,700 subsidies for airline tickets. We're going to do the same thing with the transportation bill because it will put people to work and it will lower energy costs.

So, Mr. Speaker, there's more, as Paul Harvey said, there's the rest of the story, and that's part of the story I came to tell you and the rest of the country and the Congress.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 44 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 533, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 658) to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2011 through 2014, to streamline programs, create efficiencies, reduce waste, and improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on the conference report to accompany H.R. 658.

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

Today, I am pleased to rise in support of the conference report for the FAA reauthorization. This is the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2012.

First, I want to take a moment to thank Ranking Member Rahall, Chairman Petri, Ranking Member Costello, as well as Chairman Rockefeller, Ranking Member Hutchison, and the conferees who worked on this conference report and the underlying bill so that we could reach an agreement on this conference report and this

bipartisan bill. I also want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), the Science, Space, and Technology Committee chairman, who is with us this morning, as well as Ranking Member Levin of the Ways and Means Committee, for their assistance, and I want to thank other committees in Congress that have played important parts and have provided assistance to our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to get this bill done.

I must also thank the staff. If I look a little bedraggled this morning, our staff is probably even more bedraggled. Almost all of the members of the T&I Committee stayed through a markup that ended at 2:49 a.m. this morning, and they are here bright and chipper this morning. I appreciate all of the staff. I want to particularly thank Holly Woodruff Lyons, who is our staff director on the FAA subcommittee; Mr. Jim Coon, our staff director of the full committee; Amy Steinmann Smith, who is our policy director; Bailey Edwards; and Suzanne Mullen.

I also have to give a special thanks to our legal counsel, who last night informed me she is resigning today. That was at about 2 a.m. in the morning, but it was with good plans for her, her family and her future. She has served the committee well. We'll miss her. It wasn't as a result of staying up all night and working on this bill, but I'm sure that provided some incentive.

People don't understand how our staff works. On this measure, our staff worked over the holidays--and I'm talking about through Christmas last year and the New Year's holiday. They worked on weekends, and they worked late into the night, not unlike many Americans. They did this for many Americans who want to work, and that's what this legislation is about.

This legislation deals with our entire American aviation industry. It sets all of the policy, all of the formulas. All of the major projects are outlined. This is the blueprint for the United States of America and, actually, for anywhere between 8 and 11 percent of our entire economic activity.

Aviation, we take for granted, but two-thirds of all the people who fly in the world fly in the United States. Aviation has provided a magic carpet where today, these Members are here, Mr. Speaker, and in a few hours or several flights later, they'll be home--across the continent, to the far reaches of the United States and our territories. That's the magic it provides us. It's the engine that drives business and the economy for the United States, and this Congress failed to provide a reauthorization.

I have only been the chair of this committee for a year now. I had the good fortune of being the chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation in 2001, and we wrote the last authorization, a 4-year bill, in 2003 that expired in 2007 when the other side of the aisle had control. For 4 years, they had control of the House and the Senate, and for 2 years, they had total control--House, Senate, White House.

They could not pass a bill, a blueprint for the aviation industry. They passed 17 extensions, and the former FAA Administrator said it's causing havoc. These extensions cost the taxpayer millions of dollars, and you can't run an agency that's responsible for so much of our economy with these hiccup extensions.

Now, we've done a total of 23, probably more extensions in the history of any other legislation that's come before this Congress for authorization of an activity within the government. Twenty-three. Seventeen. I had to do six.

I got a little testy, I got tough, but I said, enough is enough. I was tough, and I think I did get people to come to their senses and say that this isn't a Republican or a Democrat issue. This isn't a labor a business issue. This is an issue about putting people to work and defining Federal policy for one of the most important aspects of our economy. So although it's tough, I intend to be tough.

Last night, we stayed till 3 o'clock in the morning. We'll stay as long as it takes to get these measures done that are so important to drive the economic engine of America. With the transportation legislation last night, there were historic reforms, and we took 90 amendments, I believe, from the other side, in a very open process, and everyone had an opportunity to participate and vote on this FAA authorization and in the historic legislation that we passed at 2:49 a.m. this morning. So no one has been denied the opportunity to participate.

It's amazing, when you come together, what you can get done, and the American people want that. They're tired of the bickering and they're tired of the fighting. Yes, we may have some heated discussions--yes, we may have differences of opinion--but we got the job done. So today is an historic day on two counts with two major accomplishments to pass a transportation bill, working, again, with Members, and I appreciate their work.

Today, this historic conference report finally sets a blueprint for aviation industry and an important aspect of our economy. This sets the policy for also taking us into the next generation of air travel. It's called NextGen, next generation air traffic control, so our planes can fly safer in the skies, so we have the ability to save fuel, so that we can get from point to point and know where those aircraft are both in the air and on the ground. This legislation sets that blueprint.

So I am very pleased to be here. I am pleased for the American people because the Congress has done its work. They don't want excuses. They want results. And today is a day of results for one of the longest-term extended authorizations in the history of the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to document for the Record a clerical error in the message to the Senate regarding the House appointment of conferees on H.R. 658. On January 31, 2012, the Speaker appointed members of the Ways and Means committee to serve as conferees on, among other provisions, title VIII of the Senate amendment. The Journal, the House Calendar and the signature sheets on the conference report accurately depict this appointment. However, the message to the Senate provided that the appointment was for title VII of the Senate amendment. I want to assure Members that the House conferees acted in accordance with the Speaker's appointment.

With those few remarks--and I will have additional--I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), the chair of the Aviation Subcommittee.

I yield myself 15 seconds to say how much Pat Mica and I have enjoyed our relationship with Jerry Costello and his wife, Georgia. People don't know a lot about Congress and how many friends there are across the aisle and how we can be privileged to have somebody like Jerry Costello, both to chair an aviation subcommittee and to be a ranking member, a key player.

I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, one of the conferees, and a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Shuster.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.

Let me just say that we did not change the provision of the law, that it still requires the same provisions that the NMB put in place that changed 70 years of labor law. Of anyone who shows up--if there are 1,000 people in the union and 200 show up--101 can have a vote and go into the union. We did change a requirement, and actually, I didn't negotiate it specifically.

I yield myself 30 additional seconds.

That was negotiated by our Mr. Boehner, our Speaker, and the leadership controlled by the Democrats in the Senate. In fact, it is fair to labor because it does requires a certain number of people to sign up to have the election.

I think it's a good compromise. The House voted to do away with the provision that the gentleman spoke about. Republicans are concerned and want to help labor. In fact, the vice-chair of our subcommittee, Mr. Cravaack, is a card-carrying member of the union. So that's bogus.

I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the young, dynamic leader and chair of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California, a senior member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Mr. Rohrabacher.

I yield myself 30 seconds, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased to hear the cooperative tone of the other side of the aisle, which had the opportunity, when it controlled the House, the Senate, and the White House, to pass a bill and failed to do so. But I'm really encouraged today by their willingness to come together in a bipartisan effort on behalf of the American people and to get one of the most important job creation infrastructure bills and pieces of legislation done, which is our responsibility.

I yield 1 minute to the chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time remains on both sides.

I would be pleased at this time to yield 1 minute to one of the most distinguished chairs of the Transportation Infrastructure Committee, a good friend, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

First, I'd like to insert in the Record a list of the staff who worked on H.R. 658.

Mr. Speaker, as I close today on this historic legislation, again, I can't thank enough folks like Mr. Costello, who will be leaving us; Mr. Rahall, our ranking member; the leader of the committee, Mr. Petri; and others who have been here helping and working on this.

I think Mr. Costello and Mr. Young summed it up: this is the work of many people. It is not exactly what any one of us individually would offer. The important thing is this provides some certainty in an uncertain time. This process is very difficult; the Founding Fathers wanted it that way. But the American people want us to get the job done.

Now, just to be factual, the other side, again, had 4 years in which they controlled this body, the United States Senate, and 2 years in which they had significant majorities and the Presidency; and they could not get it done. They did 17 extensions. Let me praise Mr. DeFazio; I didn't see him here. He and I helped lead the effort to pass, in 2003, a 4-year bill that expired in 2007. That means for the past 5 years we have not had a revised and updated policy for our aviation system and for the FAA. And that hurts the system, it hurts the American people, it hurts looking for safety improvements in the process, and it hurts people looking for expanded opportunities to be employed.

Today, we heard some good news on employment, and the good news is that some of the policies that went amok, the spending that went amok, the new regulations that went amok, this small band of people who were sent here have called a lot of that to a halt. It wasn't productive.

This bill does not have tax increases in it. This bill does not have earmarks in it. This bill does not have any special plums or favors for anyone.

And contrary to what's been said here today, this bill does not adversely affect labor. It's a fairness issue. The House passed a measure that would have codified and changed what the NMB changed in 70 years of labor law, allowing whoever showed up to vote into a union. It set out a fair process, and it was done with a compromise. And if you want to know what the delay was in the first 4 years, let's be frank: it was a labor issue that the Democrats couldn't resolve among themselves, and they controlled the whole process.

So I am here 1 year later as chair. I took some tough measures, and I will take tough measures to see that we get our job done. We stayed until 2:49 this morning to get the next piece of legislation marked up. We have done and passed, and the President has signed, an improvement to our pipeline safety which is so important for energy, expanding energy sources, but also making certain that that energy is coming to us in a safe and responsible manner.

Today, we will pass in the House the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act, accounting for up to 11 percent, I'm told, of our gross domestic product, our economic activity for the country, $1.3 trillion in business activity, thousands of jobs. And let me tell you too, we can't let labor--you can't let business--go astray. It's our responsibility to set a steady course.

Look, this is a very fragile industry. We just heard an announcement that American Airlines is going to cut more than 10,000, I think 13,000, jobs in bankruptcy. Boeing, we almost lost jobs in South Carolina. We can't play those games, labor and business. We've got to come together and get people working. The aviation industry--not only the passengers, for whom flying is so important--but aviation products, they are the core to our exports. So we can and we must get this done working together.

Staff Who Worked on H.R. 658, the FAA Reauthorization Bill: February 3,

2012

Submitted by: Congressman John L. Mica

House Majority Staff:

Holly Woodruff Lyons

Bailey Edwards

Simone Perez

Andrew Rademaker

Jim Coon

Amy Smith

Suzanne Mullen

Sharon Barkeloo

Tracy Mosebey

Debbie Gebhardt

House Minority Staff:

Giles Giovinazzi

Alex Burkett

Julia Rowe

Jim Zoia

Ward McCarragher

Sarah Blackwood

Senate Majority Staff:

Gael Sullivan

Rich Swayze

Adam Duffy

Ellen Doneski

James Reed

John Williams

Senate Minority Staff:

Jarrod Thompson

Todd Bertoson

I am pleased to yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Louis Roney, who has devoted his life both as a performing artist and in support of the arts. Throughout his career as a longtime leading operatic tenor, he has been featured in the great opera houses of Europe and North America. As a great patron of the arts in Florida, he has recently been recognized and will soon be inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.

Mr. Roney's professional music career began after his studies at Harvard and commended service in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Over four decades he sang leading roles throughout Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich and Lisbon, as well as Italy, Canada, and of course, the United States. He was frequently engaged as a soloist all across America and Europe and appeared in numerous movies and national operatic festivals over the course of his career. Over the years he has performed as leading tenor in every major French and German opera house. His life work has been performing, teaching and supporting music.

Though he spent his whole life mingling amongst heads of state, royalty and Europe's cultural elite, he never lost a deep sense of how art can transcend power and wealth and can be appreciated and enjoyed by everyone. Mr. Roney has said that, ``The artist's life is a `giving' proposition. And if giving is more blessed than receiving, the artist is more blest than those who enjoy his art.''

Returning to his home State of Florida after his European career, Mr. Roney continued to devote his life to expanding cultural opportunities for others. He founded and for 17 years led Orlando's Festival of Orchestras. He served as Distinguished Professor of Music and Artist in Residence Emeritus at the University of Central Florida. In both of these roles Mr. Roney has worked with passion and dedication to make culture and the arts accessible to as many people as possible.

Mr. Roney is well deserving of the honor and induction into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. This recognition expresses our State's appreciation for his selfless service to the humanities and salutes a life lived with great dignity and purpose, as well as a daily sense of the high calling of the artist. He and his career have had a deep and profound impact on our community, State and Nation. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Mr. Roney for his decades of service and congratulate him on the Florida Artists Hall of Fame's recognition of his invaluable contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Petri, our chair of the Aviation Subcommittee. I see Mr. Costello, the ranking member, former chair of the subcommittee. Thank you for your work.

We're here to extend FAA for the 23rd time. The consequences of that can, I hope, be positive, that we can conclude this long overdue and very important authorization.

Members of Congress, we must authorize every program. That's part of our constitutional responsibility.

I had the privilege, when I chaired the Aviation Subcommittee, to write a lot of what was in the last bill which we authored in 2003. It expired in 2007. The other side of the aisle had 4 years in which they controlled the body, 2 of which they controlled every branch of government, and were unable to pass that. They passed 17 extensions. We've had to pass--it will now be five--but we can get this done. This should be a bipartisan and must be a bicameral jobs bill.

The aviation industry in our country accounts for between 7 and 8 percent of our gross domestic national economic activity, and for us not to have passed an authorization that updates the safety, all of the programs, the next generation of air traffic control, things that are so important to have a dynamic industry, and then an area of our economy that we have led in in the world. The biggest area of exports is aviation. That's huge for jobs in this country.

So this is going to be the last extension. It's done in, again, a bipartisan effort to conclude the negotiation.

Let me say in conclusion, there are some tough issues on labor that have held us up--4 years with the Democrats, the last year with us--and I want to commend Speaker Boehner for his leadership working with the leadership of the Senate. The Speaker and his staff and others have worked day and night through the holidays and right up to now to conclude what I think is a very fair compromise. And it must be a compromise.

This is part of our business is to do the best business we can for the American people and getting this economy working and getting in place the framework for one of the most important aspects of our industry. If we want to see Americans back to work, we'll pass this legislation by the 17th of February, and then we'll come back in the next week or two, and we will pass a long-term infrastructure transportation measure, and we will and we can get Americans working.

So I ask for continued cooperation to complete this important process.

I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his leadership in helping to guide this legislation and important measure through Congress. I want to take this opportunity to thank folks on both sides of the aisle: Mr. Upton, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee; I particularly want to thank Ms. Brown, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Waxman; and of course others who have helped on the Senate side.

This legislation is being done really the way Congress is intended to work, to try to reach a bicameral, bipartisan consensus. We don't have to go to conference. We have worked out some of the issues, and this is not an easy piece of legislation to pass. This is a very important piece of legislation for the American people as far as our energy resources and transporting them safely across the land, as far as an industry that is so important to creating jobs and opportunity and keeping the cost of energy down for men and women, consumers and people hit by difficult times right now, looking for reasonable energy costs and keeping the U.S. competitive and providing reasonably costed energy and transporting it safely.

This is probably one of the four main jobs bills, too, that we will pass from our committee. We have today the pipeline safety legislation. Our committee has also passed the Coast Guard authorization, and we are hoping we can reach a consensus on that. We have finished and are preconferencing with the Senate the FAA bill which is 4\1/2\ years overdue. We inherited that 4 years late, and we are basically finished. There are a few items that must be resolved by leadership. Then, finally, time did not allow us to finish a major transportation bill, sometimes referred to as the highway bill, but this will be more than a highway bill. We plan to have that up as soon as we return.

So those are our four major pieces of legislation, and this represents, again, a concerted effort by a number of key players in dual committees and in both the House and the Senate.

What's important about this legislation is it does make some changes, and you have heard from Members who have had horrendous pipeline incidents in their communities and their States, people have lost their lives, there's been extreme property damage, and we have also impacted in a negative fashion the environment.

And what we do here in this legislation are some simple things. First, we enhance the inspections. We set standards of better inspections for pipelines. We hold pipeline operators accountable, and that's important. People must be responsible for their actions, and we double the fines if there is negligence. There will be a penalty to pay because the damage has been incurred. And, again, we have seen some of the bad results. What we hope for is good results from this, again, that we can keep energy flowing and provide it for consumers.

That's good news for consumers, that's good news for the industry at a time when we should be hiring and employing people in this important energy activity, and it's good news for, again, safe transport and safe jobs in an important industry in our country.

So I'm pleased that we've come together. We have, I think, achieved and set an example for the Congress when Congress's reputation is, oh, very low, and that's giving us high marks. And when people express their disappointment in the inability of Congress to act, we are acting. Because this is being resolved without conflict and without, again, huge disruption in the congressional process, it probably won't get much attention. But it is in fact, and it is indeed a very important seep forward.

I'm grateful for all of those who have come together and worked and made this an example of how Congress can and should work for the benefit of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper) be removed as a cosponsor from H.R. 3538.

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, it's time for the other body to act.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has a plan for putting Americans back to work. We've moved on more than 20 pieces of legislation that now sit idly in the other body. We have provisions that will empower small businesses--the great job creators of America. We have provisions that will fix the Tax Code to help create jobs. We have provisions that will help manufacturing to have jobs in America, not overseas. We have provisions that will encourage entrepreneurship and growth and maximize American energy production. And all of these measures sit over in the other body.

I call on the leadership of the other body and all Members to get this legislation moving forward. There are millions of people without jobs, and they need us to act not later but now.

And finally, I call on them to help finalize a 4\1/2\-year-old, with more than 21 extensions, FAA bill that still languishes. It's time to stop the nonsense and get America back to work.

Let's pass these bills held hostage.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, November 11, 2011 a central Florida Soldier, PFC Theodore B. Rushing, lost his life in service to our nation from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an I.E.D. in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan while assigned to 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment; 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

PFC Rushing joined the U.S. Army in March of this year. Upon completion of his training at Ft. Benning, Georgia, PFC Rushing reported to Fort Drum, New York. In August he deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

PFC Rushing's impressive list of awards and decorations include the Purple Heart; Army Achievement Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; NATO Medal; National Defense Service Medal; the Combat Action Badge; and a Bronze Star awarded posthumously.

PFC Rushing was a former student at Altamonte Christian School in Altamonte Springs where he had a reputation of being fearless, an attribute that he carried into battle. Upon completion of high school, PFC Rushing attended Seminole State College where he earned his associates degree. PFC Rushing had planned on following in his father's footsteps as a police officer once he had completed his military service.

We shall never forget the ultimate sacrifice PFC Rushing has given for his country. His actions will serve as an everlasting reminder of the dedication and sacrifice the members of our nation's Armed Services make every day.

To his family, we extend our very deepest sympathy and condolences. PFC Rushing is survived by his father George, mother Ann, sister Stacy and grandparents Marcheta and William.

For his service and sacrifice, I ask all Members to join me in honoring his life and commitment to our nation.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of the amending the Constitution to include a Balanced Budget Amendment requiring government to live within its means.

This week, our national debt surpassed $15 trillion. Our nation faces difficult economic times, a good part due to spending beyond our means. Debt per household and for every American is at an unsustainable level and jeopardizes our future. We can balance our budget. I helped and voted for that responsible path which we achieved from 1996 to 2001.

We have today the opportunity to take an important step toward reestablishing fiscal order to our nation. Congress must ensure that the reckless spending and poor choices of today do not doom our children and grandchildren to insurmountable indebtedness.

Having balanced our budgets in the past, and, while it will not be easy, it can be done again. Families and businesses have made the tough choices that are required. Government must now follow.

I strongly encourage my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution and provide Americans the opportunity to vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment. This is a decision not just for the House of Representatives or Congress, but for the American people. History will judge us today on how we have laid the foundation for the success of future generations. I urge my colleagues to make the right choice.

Mr. Chair, attached are exchange of letters between the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security regarding provisions included in H.R. 2838 for inclusion in the Congressional Record.

U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure,

Washington, DC, September 27, 2011.

Hon. Peter T. King,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R.

2838, the ``Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of

2011.'' I acknowledge that by forgoing a sequential referral

on this legislation, your Committee is not diminishing or

altering its jurisdiction.

I also concur with you that forgoing action on this bill

does not in any way prejudice the

Committee on Homeland Security with respect to its

jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar

legislation in the future, and I would support your effort to

seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any

House-Senate conference involving this legislation.

I will include our letters on H.R. 2838 in the

Congressional Record during House floor consideration of the

bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this

legislation, and I look forward to working with the Committee

on Homeland Security as the bill moves through the

legislative process.

Sincerely,

John L. Mica,

Chairman.

Mr. Chair, H.R. 2838, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 2011, authorizes Coast Guard funding for Fiscal Years 2012, 2013 and 2014. The authorized levels were approved in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Budget Views and Estimates, and reflect the levels set in the House-passed Budget Resolution.

Following up on the Committee's Sitting on Our Assets Report, H.R. 2838 decommissions two aging icebreakers, neither of which currently operates. The bill also restricts the purchases of future National Security Cutters (NSCs) until current NSCs meet long-promised mission performance capabilities.

In addition to authorizing the Coast Guard and making improvements to the service's programs and capabilities, the bill also improves the administration of maritime transportation, including--clarifying the circumstances under which a foreign seaman injured outside the United States can sue in United States courts.

The bill incorporates H.R. 2840, the Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2011. H.R. 2840 establishes a uniform national standard for ballast water discharges. This provision is strongly supported by the U.S. and international maritime industry. It protects the environment and makes maritime transportation more efficient.

H.R. 2838 also incorporates an amended version of H.R. 2839, the Piracy Suppression Act of 2011, which authorizes additional actions to suppress piracy. It also improves the tracking of ransom payments to pirates to assure these payments do not fund terrorism.

This bill promotes maritime safety and security and make makes maritime commerce more efficient. I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 2838.