Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 5116.

Madam Chair, I would like to thank Chairman Gordon for this wonderful bill that will actually create jobs. My amendment adds training for energy auditors, field technicians, and building contractors to promote the use of energy retrofits and energy-efficient technology to the list of programs that may be included in the Department of Energy's STEM education activities.

Madam Chair, I have long been an advocate for clean energy and a balanced approach to meeting our energy needs while preserving our natural resources. As we continue to expand our use of renewable sources of energy, it is important that we have a well trained and knowledgeable workforce in place to take advantage of every job opportunity that is created.

Alternative energy is an economic boon for rural districts like the one I represent. The Third Congressional District of Colorado is leading the way with innovations in solar, wind, and woody biomass. In the San Luis Valley, where I live, there is currently an 8-megawatt solar farm with an additional 1,000 megawatts of solar in the works. However, it is critical to reduce the cost to America's families and our impact on the environment that the men and women who build, repair, and refurbish our homes and infrastructure incorporate green technology in their operations.

In a recent study, scientists at the Department of Energy's Berkeley Laboratory examined the workforce needs of the energy-efficiency services sector. They found that the rate of employment growth will depend in part on how effectively the Nation deploys training and education programs for the energy-efficiency workforce. It is estimated that the size of the energy-efficiency sector workforce is currently at about 120,000 full-time workers. That number would go as high as 400,000 when including part-time workers. If we want to ensure the growth of job opportunities, we must secure the training programs that will allow Americans to take advantage and excel in these fields. By doing so, we will not only take important steps to reduce energy consumption, but we will enhance national security by reducing the country's dependence on foreign sources of energy.

I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to lend their support to my amendment and the underlying legislation. The America COMPETES reauthorization is an important job creation tool, and will put the necessary funding and focus where it's needed most.

With that, Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, this amendment is critical to creating the job force that would actually help increase the number of people that are trained for renewable and alternative energies.

With that, Madam Chair, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee, Chairman Gordon.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, heros come in all shapes and sizes and I rise today to honor eight-year-old Dillon Earl of Fruita, Colorado for heroic acts that saved lives on Sunday, April 25.

While the two were on their way to church, Dillon's grandmother Lisa DeKruger had a seizure behind the wheel of her truck. Luckily for both of them, Dillon's quick thinking and bravery under pressure saved both their lives and those of other drivers on the road.

When he noticed something was wrong with his grandmother, eight-year- old Dillon reached for the brake and guided the truck to the side of the interstate. With the assistance of another driver, he called 9-1-1 and got his grandmother the urgent medical attention she needed.

The impact of Dillon's actions has only begun to sink in for his grandmother who recently told him, ``I guess Grandma owes you lots of candy for the rest of your life.''

Throughout this incredible incident, Dillon has shown humility and a maturity beyond his years. His remarkable courage and concern for his loved ones are an inspiration to all of us. This brave young man from Mesa County Colorado has made his family, his community and his Congressman very proud.

I wish him and his family continued health and happiness.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Art Isgar, a respected leader in his community of southwest Colorado. Arthur Richard Isgar died in Durango on March 17th, 2010. It was a privilege to know Art Isgar and his wonderful family and I offer my condolences to them at this time of loss.

Art Isgar was born in Oxford, Colorado, on October 6th, 1915. One of seven boys, he spent his childhood in rural La Plata County. At times, he lived with members of the Southern Ute Tribe which was an experience that left him with a deep appreciation of other cultures. As a child he also spent time in the mining camps of the San Juan Mountains near Silverton and Telluride. Supporting himself from the age of 13, Art Isgar learned to make his way in the world by working on farms and delivering mail on horseback.

In 1946 he got married to Ann Wise. They took the train from Durango to Silverton and returned home in time to milk the cows. Art went on to become a defender of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in its time of need.

With their hard work, the Isgars' ranch grew into one of the largest in La Plata County. Art was president of the La Plata County Cattlemen's Association and helped lead the fight to create the Animas- La Plata Project. He was also instrumental in the effort to bring Fort Lewis College to its current site in Durango. Art Isgar was also deeply involved in politics working with the Democratic Party to bring the State convention to Durango in 1960, a convention that presidential hopeful John F. Kennedy attended. Art's life was a life of service to his family and his community.

The legacy of Art Isgar continues in his amazing family. Art Isgar's son, Jim Isgar, continues the proud tradition of public service established by his father, serving as a State Senator and now as the State Director for the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

At the end of the day, after all of his community service, Art Isgar still had his feet on the ground. He was always a farmer who found his greatest joy out irrigating his fields. Even at the age of 93 that is where he could be found.

Madam Speaker southwest Colorado has lost a great leader. I wish his family well in this time of loss. Art Isgar will be missed but his legacy will live on through his amazing family and all the lives that he touched in his time in southwest Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support S. 1963 the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009.

As a veteran, I am proud to lend my support to this landmark bill.

With its provisions for women, homeless and rural veterans, S. 1963 addresses many critical sectors of the veteran's community.

Mr. Speaker, Colorado is home to over 427,000 veterans, 70,000 of which live in my district.

These veterans and their families face many of the same issues as their urban counterparts but must also deal with unique issues of accessibility and availability of resources.

This historic bill contains provisions that will be of particular importance to America's rural veterans.

I am encouraged that the bill specifically looks to improve health care for veterans living in rural areas and will provide financial assistance to help transport veterans to local VA hospitals and clinics.

S. 1963 will create a demonstration project to examine the feasibility and advisability of alternatives for expanding care for veterans in rural areas in addition to establishing goals for the recruitment of personnel in rural areas.

I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Doug Shriver, who was tragically killed with his friend Ray Wright on Friday, March 19, while clearing snow from the roof of Mr. Wright's cabin above Creede, Colorado. Mr. Shriver was my friend and a tremendously respected member of the San Luis Valley and Colorado water community. He was only 54 years old.

Combined, both of these men held nearly 60 years of water knowledge related to the Upper Rio Grande basin and State of Colorado. Shriver was on the Colorado Ground Water Commission and served as president of the Rio Grande Water Users Association, an umbrella organization for ditch companies along the Rio Grande. All of these board positions were on a volunteer basis.

Doug's service on these boards put him in the middle of the San Luis Valley's successful fight to keep its groundwater, sought by the American Water Development, Inc., and later the Stockmen's Water Company, both who hoped to sell it to the big cities. At the time of his death, he championed the establishment of subdistricts to further protect the San Luis Valley's groundwater, a concept where groundwater users pay a combination of fees and assessments to retire farm ground and reduce groundwater pumping to protect the aquifer. Shriver was a visionary in the San Luis Valley and Colorado water community. He strongly believed that both wildlife and agriculture could live together, and was a vocal advocate for the rural way of life at the Statewide level. A native of eastern Rio Grande County, he farmed potatoes and small grains. He was also an avid outdoorsman, who loved to ride snowmobiles and four-wheelers in the high country. My heart goes out to his family and his wife Carla.

Madam Speaker, today, I also rise to pay tribute and honor the life of Ray Wright, who was tragically killed with his friend Doug Shriver in the same accident while clearing snow from the roof of his cabin in Creede, Colorado. Mr. Wright was my friend and a tremendously respected member of the San Luis Valley and Colorado's water community. He was 56 years old.

Wright served on the Rio Grande Water Conservation District for nearly two decades, with the last 10 years as president. He was also a member of Colorado's Interbasin Compact Committee, a Statewide board tasked with balancing the State's water needs, and had served two terms on the Colorado Water Conservation Board. All of these board positions were on a volunteer basis.

I served with Mr. Wright on the Rio Grande Water Conservation District board. His service on that board put him in the middle of San Luis Valley's successful fight to keep its groundwater, sought by AWDI and Stockmen's Water, who both hoped to sell it to big cities. At the time of his death, he championed the establishment also of the subdistricts to further protect the San Luis Valley's groundwater.

Ray was also a visionary in the San Luis Valley and the Colorado water community. He strongly believed that both wildlife and agriculture could live together, and was a vocal advocate for the rural way of life. A native of Rio Grande County, he farmed potatoes and small grains. He was also an avid outdoorsman and angler, who built his own bamboo fly rods.

He leaves three daughters--Suzanne, Sarah, and Lauren--as well as his long-time partner, Mona.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1128, honoring the 2010 American Winter Olympic team. This resolution recognizes the incredible accomplishments of the most decorated group of Winter Olympians in history and graciously thanks the people and the Government of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada for hosting Team

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work and legacy of Gary Severson, who for the past 11 years has admirably served as Executive Director of the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG).

Mr. Severson has led the council with an openness and team spirit that has allowed for effective management, while developing partnerships among the city and county entities he served. Under his leadership, the NWCCOG has emerged as a viable cohort and has grown as a respected and valued resource in addressing regional issues. As a result, the Council's guidance has been sought by elected officials from Colorado to Washington, DC.

Under Mr. Severson, the NWCCOG has taken responsibility for many complex federal and state projects with significant impact on programs including Weatherization, All-Hazards Emergency Management and Elevator Inspection Programs. The influence of his leadership has been particularly profound in protection of federal lands within the confines of the NWCCOG region.

With more than 68 percent of the NWCCOG region being managed by federal agencies, his stewardship and insight have helped grow the Council into a recognized leader in National Forest Planning, Community Wildfire Protection Planning and mitigating the detrimental effects of bark beetle infestation. Such efforts have led to many accolades, including receipt of the prestigious USDA Rural Leadership Award.

The future is bright for the region as the NWCCOG explores ways to expand on an economic base of recreation and construction. Mr. Severson's vision includes the possibilities of a sustainable wood products industry, enhancing higher education and upgrading medical services. He has truly left a lasting legacy of accomplishment.

Madam Speaker, I proudly acknowledge the work and leadership of Gary Severson and extend to him the gratitude of the 28 member jurisdictions of NWCCOG for his 11 years as Executive Director. I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Martha Twarkins, a Legis Congressional Fellow from the Brookings Institute, a specialist with the United States Forest Service and, for the past year, a dedicated and invaluable member of my staff.

Throughout the year, Ms. Twarkins has contributed her considerable expertise and ability to legislative responsibilities in my office, and I could not be more grateful for or appreciative of her hard work.

Throughout her tenure in my office, Ms. Twarkins has worked diligently to mitigate the effects of the bark beetle epidemic on communities in Colorado and across the western United States. She has also provided oversight and direction to many of my legislative priorities concerning the Forest Service, including securing an additional $40 million to help with the emergency bark beetle crisis.

She was an important resource on grazing and water rights, and a key advisor in the consideration and proposal of many new wilderness designations to forever protect our most beautiful public lands.

Additionally, Ms. Twarkins was my key liaison to the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Ms. Twarkins advised me on the committee's work on issues from fighting climate change in developing countries to creating a roadmap to Copenhagen. I truly appreciate her guidance on this committee.

Ms. Twarkins will always have a special place in my heart. My entire staff joins me in wishing her the best of luck as she resumes her position with the Forest Service, and with all her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man who has dedicated his life to serving others. Mr. Eduardo Pena's lifelong commitment to public service and the Hispanic American community are to be commended.

Pena, a native of Laredo, Texas, is a 1957 graduate of the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marketing. He received his law degree in 1967 from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., while working full time for the Department of Labor.

Pena has a long and distinguished career in public service, working for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the U.S. Senate, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He is a two time recipient, 1968 and 1969, of the DOL's award for meritorious achievement.

In 1979, he resigned from government service to enter private law practice. However, this did not prevent him from engaging in a number of community service activities.

In 1978 he was elected president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), where he served for one year and used his expertise to ensure civil rights for Latinos. Today, Pena remains heavily involved in LULAC as a volunteer and his wife, Ada, serves as the State Director for the District of Columbia.

Earlier this year Eduardo Pena stepped down as General Counsel for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a pro bono post he held since March 1978.

In this role he committed his own time and energy to providing pro bono expert legal counsel and guidance to an organization that has grown dramatically since he began his work.

His efforts have assisted thousands of young Latinos to achieve a college education and take the first steps towards launching a successful career in public service and many other fields.

CHCI's growth and advancement as an organization have taken place thanks to the dedication Eduardo Pena has demonstrated for more than three decades.

Madam Speaker, I extend my sincere gratitude for more than 30 years of service to CHCI and a lifetime of contributions to the Hispanic American community and the nation.

Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased that this bill will help rural America. Currently, physicians in rural areas are reimbursed less from Medicare than their urban counterparts. H.R. 3962 will reimburse primary care physicians in rural areas 10 percent more than the urban physicians not only to equalize the disparity, but to make rural communities more attractive to physicians.

Most of my district is considered a health professional shortage area. In my district in Colorado, we have three counties with only one practicing physician. We have one county with none at all. This bill will increase the number of physicians in all of my counties and improve access for 106,000 Medicare beneficiaries.

This bill will expand insurance coverage to 111,000 currently uninsured residents in my district. In my district, it will protect 900 families from going bankrupt due to excessive health care costs. It will help 184,000 low-income families pay for their insurance.

Our current system is broken, and it is time to fix it now.

I want to thank the gentlewoman for recognizing me.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 139, a bill congratulating the first graduating class of the United States Air Force Academy on their 50th graduation anniversary. I want to commend my colleague the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) for introducing this resolution.

The Air Force Academy is located just a few miles from my district, the Third Congressional District, in my home State of Colorado. Since its creation after being signed into law on April 1, 1954, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Air Force Academy has not only stood as an integral training ground for our Nation's officer corps, but is recognized nationally as a pillar of education.

Since the swearing in of the 306 young men who made up the first class, many of our Nation's best and brightest have started their careers in the Air Force Academy. Each year around this time I receive applications from students across my district looking for recommendations to attend the Academy. I am proud to lend my support to hard-working students from the Third Congressional District of Colorado who are looking to advance their education while also serving their Nation. Today's cadets enthusiastically hope to follow in the steps of their predecessors who we are honoring today.

Madam Speaker, I encourage Members on both sides of the aisle to support this measure, and congratulate those who took the first step as part of the initial graduating class 50 years ago.

Once again, I commend the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 174, directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery south of Colorado Springs, to serve the veterans and families of southern Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, Coloradans take great pride in serving our nation.

As a veteran myself, I am proud to represent a district that is home to 70,000 of Colorado's almost 427,000 veterans.

Generations of Coloradans have stood in the service of our nation with pride.

In sharing that pride, our nation must also show its gratitude when our veterans pass away.

During this difficult time, it eases a family's burden when seeing their loved one interred at a veteran's cemetery and to witness their sacrifices being remembered by the nation they served.

However, we are faced with a situation where current standards place many VA cemeteries closer to large metropolitan areas.

In my home state alone, there are 150,000 veterans in the 29 designated southern Colorado counties that are waiting for an accessible veteran's cemetery.

Such policies punish our veterans for choosing to be buried in the small towns where they chose to live and raise their families.

It is wrong to force families to travel many hours and hundreds of miles to visit the final resting place of their loved ones.

As it stands, veterans and their families living in southern Colorado have the option of either making the difficult journey north to Ft. Logan in Denver or east to Ft. Lyons in Las Animas.

With these facilities, families have found themselves forced to travel extreme distances over rough terrain in unpredictable weather.

Since 1862, more than three million burials have been made in VA national cemeteries.

National cemeteries are the testimony of a grateful nation to appropriately commemorate the Americans who have served our nation in the armed forces.

Of the 120 cemeteries the VA National Cemetery Administration manages, 58 of them are no longer accepting interments. In anticipation of this, a cemetery in southern Colorado would extend the life of Ft. Logan and Ft. Lyon.

Families would no longer have to travel to these distant locations and instead could bury their loved ones closer to home.

In doing so, space that would otherwise be used at Ft. Logan and Ft. Lyon would remain available for families closer to Denver and Las Animas.

On May 2, 2008 the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs held a field hearing in Colorado Springs, Colorado to review the need for a cemetery in southern Colorado.

The hearing was presided over by Chairman John Hall, Representative Doug Lamborn and myself.

Veterans Advocates, VSO's and widows with Gold Star Wives gave testimony in support of the legislation and reinforced the need for such a cemetery.

After hearing testimony and having experienced the difficult driving conditions and an abrupt snow storm, particularly over Monument Hill, then Under Secretary Tuerk committed to bringing a national veterans cemetery to the southern Colorado region.

The cemetery is supported by national VSO's, local veteran's advocates and most importantly the veterans and their families living in Colorado.

With such overwhelming support by the Colorado delegation and Congress, the VA would be acting on the intent of Congress in establishing a cemetery in southern Colorado.

I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our rural veterans and support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act of 2010.

It is critical that we promote the development of solar energy technology in order to expand our national energy profile. Such advancements are also important in helping us achieve our goal of energy independence.

Colorado, in particular, has great potential for the generation and use of solar energy. Ten miles west of the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Alamosa County, Colorado, sits an 8.2 megawatt photovoltaic plant, one of the largest solar farms in the Nation. With 1 megawatt having the capacity to power 800 homes, enough energy is produced at the Alamosa plant to power over 6,500 homes. The facility is expected to add 250 megawatts of solar power by 2015.

Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management identified southern Colorado as a solar energy study area for concentrated solar energy production. The two dozen areas currently being evaluated by the Bureau of Land Management could produce as much as 100,000 megawatts of solar electricity. As a rancher, I am confident that the positive environmental impact, economic development, and cost savings yielded by the access to solar energy would benefit rural communities across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, it is crucial that we promote the use of technologies such as solar as part of our energy mix. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to give this bill their full support. Investment in advanced technologies will ensure that America remains on the cutting edge, secures our standing as a leader on the alternative energy front, and brings us one step closer to energy independence.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment today to pay tribute to my very good friend Ray Clifton. Ray is the executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, a position he has held since 1986. However, he will soon be retiring.

Ray is a graduate of the University of Georgia and began his career in the utility industry, working with the Georgia Statewide association of cooperatives, the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. From there, he came to Colorado to take on the job of running the CREA.

As executive director, he has helped guide the CREA through exciting and challenging times, as the needs of supplying energy to Colorado homes and businesses has grown exponentially. He has been a leader and an innovator. His work has earned him awards and accolades, not to mention the many people who call him friend. I can proudly say that Ray is, indeed, my friend.

Since my election to Congress in 2004, I have had many occasions to call upon Ray for advice and help as we deal with the difficult energy issues facing our State and our Nation. I always knew that Ray would tell it like it is and that his years of experience would be of great benefit to me as we in Congress wrestled with ensuring that our constituents had access to a reliable supply of electricity.

What I really want to say today is thank you. Thank you for your years of service. Thank you for your always excellent and sage advice, and more importantly, thank you for your friendship and for the kindness you have shown me. Ray, I wish you the best in your retirement.