Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, America has tremendous potential for renewable energy production. Indeed, these are the jobs of our future.

One of the most important renewable energy sources for Oregon that binds rural and urban communities is the production of energy from forestry and agricultural byproducts, otherwise known as renewable biomass.

Unfortunately, it would appear that EPA is rewriting the rules in direct contravention to the intent of this Congress. In their final tailoring rule for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, the EPA ignores hundreds of studies and precedents from their own research that biomass combustion is indeed carbon neutral. This contradicts what was also included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which passed out of this very body.

Despite the tremendous benefit to engage our rural farmers and foresters to play a role in our renewable energy future, EPA has decided to legislate instead of administrate. Through this tailoring role, they are doing their best to alienate rural America and deny them the opportunity to be a part of our renewable future.

Mr. Chairman, I am here offering an amendment in the Defense reauthorization bill for 2011 because of some of the treatment that Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Nevada, Maryland, and Vermont Guardsmen may have received when they got back from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan this spring.

The National Guard and the Army have been fighting side-by-side through nearly 9 years of war. It is time to make a full assessment of the treatment our National Guard soldiers receive when they get home.

My first amendment directs the Department of Defense Inspector General to report back to Congress by the end of the year on the treatment and medical care our National Guard soldiers receive in comparison to regular Army.

The second amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to provide each member of the National Guard with a clear and comprehensive statement of the medical care and treatment they are entitled to receive. When they are in theater, the Army makes no distinction between the National Guard, Army Reserves, and regular Army soldiers. There should be no distinction in the care when they return home.

I ask the House to continue this work by supporting my amendments.

Madam Speaker, my state of Oregon has its share of remarkable people. One of whom I wish to recognize today is a constituent of mine, Jessie Pavlinac, a registered dietitian from Oregon City.

As a registered dietitian, Jessie directs nutrition and patient services for adult and pediatric patients at Oregon Health and Science University Hospitals and Clinics in Portland. She is an instructor at OHSU's School of Medicine, the preceptor for the dietetic internship program where she has influenced the careers of thousands of dietitians for more than 27 years, and is also a faculty member of the University of Phoenix in Portland. Her specialty in dietetics is the complex area of renal nutrition and transplant nutrition support, both of which will increase in importance owing to our nation's aging population.

She and her husband Randy, and their two sons, lived for nearly 20 years on a small family berry farm, an experience which has given her a life-long commitment to a reliable, sustainable and safe food supply for the health of our nation.

Jessie Pavlinac's commitment to good nutrition and health has led her to numerous leadership positions in the American Dietetic Association, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Since June 1, 2009, Jessie has served as ADA's 84th president. Her term as president expires at the end of May. Among the many accomplishments of the American Dietetic Association during Jessie Pavlinac's presidency, ADA will end this Fiscal Year on May 31 with its largest membership ever--more than 71,000.

In addition to serving her patients and students, Jessie has held numerous positions in the dietetics profession, including president of both the Portland Dietetic Association and the Oregon Dietetic Association. A partial listing of her many awards and honors includes the National Kidney Foundation Council on Renal Nutrition Recognized Dietitian Award, OHSU's ``Hidden Treasure'' Award, ADA's Council on Education Outstanding Dietetics Educator, the Oregon Dietetic Association Award of Merit, and the 2006 Nutrition Ambassador Scholarship.

After completion of her bachelor's degree at Oregon State University, Jessie earned a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Founded in 1917, ADA is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession through research, education and advocacy. Approximately three-fourths of ADA's members are registered dietitians. Other members include dietetic technicians registered, educators, researchers, and students. In fact, nearly half of the membership holds advanced academic degrees. ADA members serve throughout the nation's healthcare system as well as in nonprofit organizations, schools, correctional facilities, government, and community organizations. They can also be found in the food industry, health clubs, weight management clinics, wellness centers, and as consultants.

Madam Speaker, I want to extend my congratulations and best wishes to Jessie Pavlinac for completing a successful term as President of the American Dietetic Association, and for her service to her patients, her colleagues, her profession, and our nation.

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

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

I rise today because it is no secret to any Member of the House that the United States faces a looming budget crisis. To address this crisis and bring our deficits under control, we must consider all options. Today we continue our work on reining in the profligate spending on defense contracts. We do this work to strengthen our budget and our national security.

The amendment I am offering today will control a small portion of this spending and ensure necessary transparencies are in place within the defense-industrial relationship. My amendment addresses the Department of Defense's use of contracts for personal services to hire senior mentors. The current use of contracts for senior mentor personal services circumvents necessary transparency protocols the rest of the department has.

The Defense Department has no uniform policy on the use of the senior mentor contracts, which vary among the services. They do not know, we do not know, and the public does not know how many of these contracts are awarded or even at what cost. My amendment would open these contracts to regular procedures for transparency. The amendment will establish standard rates of pay for senior mentors and allow and apply financial disclosure

and conflict of interest provisions already applicable to other Federal employees. The military will still benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of retired officers while ensuring taxpayer money is spent wisely and appropriately.

I reserve the balance of my time.

In closing, I appreciate the concerns of the Member from Texas and acknowledge the Member from New Jersey's responses. I think that this is a good amendment. It does hopefully make sure that our senior officers can continue to give their insight, knowledge, and wisdom, without any hint or taint of opprobrium, which I think is possible under our current statute and laws. This should actually make it easier for our members who have served our country gallantly over their careers to come back and continue to share with us in a forthright, transparent manner. We win, they win, and the taxpayer wins.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I believe it is time to bring the United States Military's involvement in Afghanistan to a close. Last year I became a cosponsor of H.R. 2404, to require the President to issue a plan for withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2009; and I voted for an amendment to the FY2010 Defense Authorization Act to mandate the same. Although a majority of my colleagues did not join me in supporting those measures, H. Con. Res. 248 is not the right approach.

It is unrealistic to ask President Obama to remove military forces from Iraq within the next 30 days or even the next 10 months as H. Con. Res. 248 demands. Ending a war is unfortunately more complicated than beginning one. Even as a candidate in 2008, President Obama recognized an expedited withdrawal of troops from Iraq would take 15 to 24 months. Asking for a 10 month window for withdrawal from Afghanistan is unrealistic.

With thousands of Oregon Guardsmen currently serving in Iraq and hundreds more deploying to Afghanistan, such a resolution at this time, in this manner, would be inappropriate.

Madam Speaker, for the third year, the North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce in my district is holding a Community Safety Luncheon to recognize the members of the community whose actions have improved public safety in our local neighborhoods. For some of these men and women, they're first responders and public safety employees who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty in their jobs. For others, they are tireless volunteers, giving up hours of their free time to improve the lives of their neighbors. But all of them are being recognized today because of the importance of what they do and because the support of community members like these is key to the success of public safety departments throughout the country.

I'd like to take a minute to recognize the brave and selfless men, women and organizations who are being honored by the North Clackamas Chamber today:

American Medical Response River Rescue, which worked to turn a local community swimming hole on the Clackamas River from a dangerous site where drowning deaths were an all too regular occurrence to a safe swimming location for the community.

Amy Bullard, a retired teacher from the Oregon Trail School District, who helped train over 1,000 students at Sandy High School in lifesaving skills when she incorporated CPR and first aid training into the tenth grade health classes.

Damascus Community Church, which has hosted shelter trainings and been a leader in the community in emergency management operations with their participation in community safety events.

Angela Fox, publisher of the Clackamas Review and Oregon City News, who works to provide the community with in-depth reporting on public safety issues, using the media to educate and inform the public.

Olga Gerberg, a volunteer from Sandy who has coordinated bike helmet fitting and child safety seat inspection workshops for the local community and regularly reaches out to her neighbors to share safety information about available resources and services.

Tom Hogan, the volunteer coordinator for the Gladstone Emergency Management Support team who volunteers his time to improve emergency preparedness in the community, training other volunteers and working to bring grant funding to the community.

Dale Kim, with the Clackamas County Juvenile Department, who serves as the lead organizer for the Sandy Youth Service Team and whose work reaching out to at-risk youth and intervention and prevention services have helped countless community youth. The Milwaukie Public Safety Foundation, which has raised over $20,000 to start a K-9 program for the Milwaukie Police Department and supports the department by conducting an annual Office of the Year function and a Parent Awareness Night.

Jeff Oliver, with the Lake Oswego Police Department, who volunteers to assist at the monthly Child Safety Seat Fitting Station and has trained, certified, and re-certified 36 CPS technicians in North Clackamas County.

Portland Mountain Rescue, a volunteer organization that provides specialized search and rescue services to Mt. Hood and other areas in the region and participated in 10 mountain rescues in 2008, in addition to providing outdoor and wilderness safety training to the community.

And Larry Alexander, from the Boring Water District, who is the first recipient of the North Clackamas Chamber's Shining Star Safety Award, for his work in securing funding for the water district as well as his work in establishing an effective notification system to notify all Boring Water customers of an emergency in under one minute. He's also been an active volunteer in his home community, starting a neighborhood watch with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

To these men and women as well as every other community safety volunteer who does their part to keep our neighborhoods safe, I say thank you for all that you do.

I rise today to urge the House to once again pass statutory pay-as-you-go legislation. I remind my colleagues of the history of PAYGO. Less than 20 years ago, PAYGO was used by a Republican Congress and a Democratic President to bring balance to the budget and begin paying down the debt from what were then record deficits. Unfortunately, during the Bush administration, PAYGO and other fiscally responsible policies were abandoned for tax cuts and expensive drug programs we didn't pay for. This week, we have the opportunity to once again vote for a return to fiscally responsible policies. We already voted for this on July 22, when we passed the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2009, with a bipartisan majority.

Although this bill isn't perfect, it's very practical. It worked in the 1990s. It moved us from a record deficit to record surpluses. It will work now. The fiscal and economic mismanagement that this Congress and the President inherited in January, 2009, must be addressed. Instituting statutory PAYGO is a concrete start to the fiscal reform American families struggling to balance their own budgets expect us to meet.

I appreciate the opportunity to testify on this bill. It is really tremendously exciting to the good citizens of Molalla and Clackamas County, Oregon, that we have this bill to vote on today. I'm sorry to have some of the discussion we've been hearing so far. It's basically irrelevant to the bill.

The idea here is to designate the Molalla River as a recreation river under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that was initiated by a small gathering of folks a few years ago, local river stewards and Molalla residents who were looking to preserve and protect their river and aid their local economy by increasing tourism. They came to me earlier this year with the idea. Our team liked it, and we introduced the bill. It immediately garnered major support in Molalla and Clackamas County. And as of now, this bill is supported by the city of Molalla, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and over 40 Oregon-based environmental, recreational, and public safety groups. All recognize the social, economic, and cultural benefits of this bill.

In particular, I want to personally thank the many people who worked so tirelessly on this bill. This includes the president of the Molalla River Alliance, Mike Moody; the mayor of Molalla, Mike Clarke; Molalla City Manager John Atkins; Police Chief Gerald Giger; the executive director of Molalla River Watch, Kay Patterson; the president of Molalla Community Planning Organization, Jim Gilbert; and, frankly, Oregon river enthusiasts like Kavita Heyn and Erik Fernandez.

I also want to personally acknowledge Ryan Morgan, a lifelong Molalla resident and member of the Molalla City Council who tragically died earlier this year. Ryan was a river enthusiast and a strong supporter of this legislation. I would like to think he is looking down on us right now with pride over the vote and this particular piece of legislation that he worked so hard to get on the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, the Molalla River is a national treasure in my State. Historically, it serves as both the trail for indigenous Molalla Indians and as a trade route between pioneers in the Willamette Valley and residents of eastern Oregon. Its Table Rock Trail, which is also known as ``Huckleberry Trail,'' was used by members of the Warm Springs tribe in search of huckleberry- and salmonberry-picking areas in the early days. Early settlers used its fertile lands and drinking water for homesteading, and its Ogle Mountain mine attracted migrants during the gold rush.

Today the Molalla River is known for its many recreational purposes, including hiking, diving, fishing, kayaking, white-water rafting, picnicking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It's also nationally recognized for its beautiful and scenic wildlife. It provides spawning beds for threatened steelhead trout and Chinook salmon and is an essential wildlife area for the pileated woodpecker, red tree vole, red-legged frog, northern spotted owl, Pacific giant salamander, and both golden and bald eagles.

Designating the Molalla River as recreational under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System would have tremendous economic, cultural, and environmental benefits for the region. Economically, we need jobs. It would attract more tourism and create tons of new jobs in a very, very difficult environment in Molalla, something the State of Oregon desperately needs in

its rural communities. Environmentally, it will protect the character of the river, preserving it so future generations can recognize its rich cultural, historical, social, and economic benefits.

I want to thank Chairman Rahall and Subcommittee Chair Grijalva for their support and efforts on this bill. I also want to thank their staff, and in particular Leslie Duncan, for all of their hard work.

A lot of focus has been around the comments the gentleman from Washington referenced that I made in committee. My goal there as a lifelong friend of the timber industry, particularly in my legislative arena, was to make sure that if there was impact on logging in this area, in my county, in my State so desperately in need of economic energy, that we'd investigate that. The committee--I appreciate the work they've done--and I and my office checked into whether or not these matrix lands were going to impact the timber harvest or any of the land in that area.

And I am pleased to report back, as has been reported, that the BLM has told us again and again that there are no timber sales in that area, and there have never been any timber sales planned in that area. So I guess I'm a little concerned that as I step up and try to make sure that the concerns of the gentleman from Washington are addressed, and we bring this topic up, which I hope we will bring up in any of the legislation that comes from his State and other States, that it seems like it's turned against one.

I don't feel in any way that I have changed my view on the need to make sure that if there is an issue, we have offsetting lands for harvest if it is going to affect local communities.

But no private landowner, I want to make this very clear, no private landowner in this area, including Weyerhaeuser, including some of the big timber companies and the small woodlot owners, is objecting to this bill. I go to the gentleman from Washington's earlier comments that if this is a bill brought forward by a Member who represents the State, and more particularly represents the local district in which this wild and scenic river designation is to be had, that generally he votes in favor of these things. So I ask him politely to consider changing his viewpoint and voting for the bill since such a Member has done the work that he asked to do in the first of all.

I yield to the gentleman.

I would like to reclaim my time.

I appreciate the gentleman from Washington's concern. As I said before, it is very explicit in my testimony and testimony from the chairman, and others who have spoken in favor of this bill, that we have investigated it. I am a full supporter of making sure that if there is a problem in the timber harvest or management area that is going to impact the economics of my community, that I will be there.

Right now, this bill is an economic driver for this community, sir. We actually have to make sure that this bill passes because the tourism that is going to happen in this bill is the big economic driver in this community. Right now we actually have serious drug issues in our State and, frankly, in this area where, if we have the opportunity to make sure that law enforcement has the ability to get special protection and maybe special opportunities, we can make sure that this area stays drug free. We can make sure that we actually have a better chance to make sure that this community is going to be economically advantaged. The men and women in my State and in my district are hurting, so I want to make sure we have economic opportunities.

Frankly, I would just like to say in my final comment, at this time this State faces tremendous economic hardship. We are one of the most heavily hit States in the Nation. We are an income tax State, and we are hurting. We are hurting bad in this economy.

I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 2781. Aid the good people of Molalla and Clackamas County. They need your help. This will attract tourism to the river, more business for river guides, anglers, more stops at the local restaurants, hotels, and shops that preserve the character of the river so future generations can enjoy its cultural, historic, and recreational benefits. I really urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank my colleague from the eastern part of the great State of Oregon for supporting this bill. He's an acknowledged forest policy expert in his caucus; and if he thinks the bill has merit, I would hope that the rest of his colleagues would, too.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have cast an historic vote to overhaul America's failing health care system today. Controlling escalating health care costs is essential to getting our nation's fiscal picture under control. For the first time in our country's history it has brought consumers, businesses and providers to the table in a united effort to control costs, make health care affordable and improve our health outcomes. I have always said that if you like your current health care you need to be in favor of reform because you will not be able to afford that same level of care if the status quo persists.

H.R. 3962 prohibits exclusions based on preexisting conditions. It forbids the cancellation of your health care because you have suffered an illness or injury. It makes sure that everyone shares appropriately in the benefits and costs of affordable health care reform. Americans will no longer be one illness or job loss away from bankruptcy. It guarantees basic benefits for all Americans and allows competition across state lines to reduce costs.

H.R. 3962 makes major reforms in our health care delivery system that we have not had the political courage to do for years. Major improvements in Medicare and Medicaid save over $400 billion while still expanding services to our seniors. I am pleased the House bill contains a section on Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER). However, I believe the CER provisions contained within the bill could use significant improvement to ensure the research that is conducted is protected from undue political influence from the government. Earlier this year I introduced H.R. 2502, the Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2009. My bill reinforces a core principal of health care that patients and doctors should be making medical decisions. It would establish an independent institute charged with coordinating and guiding comparative effectiveness research programs. By streamlining access to the latest medical research, doctors can make sound decisions that will improve the health of their patients and ultimately lower costs by reducing the number of redundant and ineffective treatments. This is the approach that has guided CER efforts in the Senate and it is my intention to work closely with the House leadership and the conference committee to ensure any final compromise establishes a public-private institute outside of government to guide the research and ensure it will be independent, credible, and protected from political influence.

It begins to emphasize, and pay for early, intervention and prevention to keep people healthy and reduce costs. H.R. 3962 puts $34 billion is put into wellness and prevention programs and developing the primary care network needed to provide timely service to all Americans. Rural America also gets particular attention in the bill with loan forgiveness and incentive programs.

America's senior citizens do particularly well under this legislation. In addition to modernizing and reducing costs, Medicare improvements allow seniors to keep more assets and still access subsidies. The new bill fixes the donut hole sooner and allows more drug price-

negotiation to ensure seniors are getting the best prices for their medication. In a separate bill Congress fixes doctor reimbursement so that a 21 percent rate reduction is avoided and doctors become more willing to take senior Medicare patients again.

Private employer-based health insurance would still constitute 60 percent of the way Americans get their health care. This bill provides a public option with negotiated rates and without tax-payer subsidies that will drive down costs without creating an uneven playing-field with private insurance companies.

H.R. 3962 does better by small businesses too. Small businesses with payrolls below $500,000 are excluded from having to provide health care or pay penalties. The old bill set that limit at $250,000. And only individuals earning over $500,000 and families over $1 million would be subject to the surcharge for incomes over those amounts.

Oregon does particularly well in the new bill. Not only are many of our pioneering health care delivery systems included in the bill with grants for expanding, but two studies create a Congress proof opportunity for the restructuring of Medicare reimbursement that will reward high-quality low-cost states like Oregon.

Perhaps most significantly H.R. 3962 substantially reduces the cost of the initial reform bill. Almost $200 billion is trimmed from the costs, with more to come in negotiations with the Senate and President Obama. According to CBO, the bill reduces the deficit both in the short- and long-term. According to leading economists, the bill lowers premiums going forward compared to current law for all income groups, even those without subsidies.

I believe we can do better! I have personal commitments from the President that more cost containment is necessary and will occur as we work with the Senate. The Senate subsidies are much more sustainable over the long-term and strike a better balance between making health care affordable and curbing the overutilization through meaningful cost sharing.

I am excited about reforming our health care system to deliver better health outcomes and more affordable costs for families, businesses and our Nation.

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

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my colleague Mr. Kissell from North Carolina for working with me on this amendment to help address some of the concerns from the agricultural community with the underlying bill.

The Schrader-Kissell amendment is a perfecting amendment, and it builds on the efforts of Mr. Ross of Arkansas, of Mr. Space of Ohio, and of the Energy and Commerce Committee in the consideration of H.R. 2868. I believe it is noncontroversial and that it has broad support from the agricultural community.

There are concerns within the ag community that H.R. 2868 has the potential to cause undue burdens, possibly resulting in the industry's dropping widely used and essential products listed as ``chemicals of interest'' due to increased regulatory costs and liability concerns.

This amendment would require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an impact assessment that an inherently safer technology would have on agricultural facilities covered by these security regulations. Through this impact assessment, we hope to determine whether an IST mandate would result in fewer product options for farmers or ranchers, possibly leading to increased production costs as alternative, higher- priced crop input products that may not have the same agronomic benefits may only be available and could impact their crop yields. Additionally, the amendment would authorize grant funding for agricultural facilities to assist with any IST compliance requirements.

I think my colleagues will all agree we want to ensure the highest safety standards possible for facilities using these potentially dangerous chemicals. However, it is also essential we have all of the data at our disposal, so we will proceed in a thoughtful manner and will fully understand the impacts these new regulations may have on our family farms and ranchers.

I ask that my colleagues support this amendment and urge its adoption.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. Chairman, I just urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Public Power Week 2009 in the State of Oregon. The history of public power in Oregon stems from a grassroots campaign of Oregonians in the 1930's who, due to their rural service areas, did not have access to electricity. They spearheaded an initiative and Oregon eventually passed a measure allowing for the development of publically owned and operated energy utilities.

As President Franklin Roosevelt stood at the gates of the Bonneville Dam and inaugurated the Bonneville Power Administration, BPA, these Oregonians finally had a viable option towards implementing their publically owned energy facilities. By the 1940's, four People's Utility Districts were formed across Oregon in Lincoln, Tillamook, Clatskanie, and Wasco Counties. By the early 1980's, two more were created: Emerald and Columbia River People Utility Districts.

Oregon's PUDs are a testament to the cooperation of more than 250,000 Oregonians who publically own and operate their energy company. Oregon's PUDs focus on renewable generation, conservation, and energy efficiency programs has resulted in over 90 percent of their power generated and distributed being green and renewable. This is quite an achievement. Today, Oregon's PUDs are thriving with green technology innovation while still providing low-cost rates and quality service to their consumers.

There are two PUDs that serve my district: Central Lincoln PUD and Tillamook PUD. I would like to take a moment and highlight the excellent work they continue to do:

Central Lincoln PUD--Central Lincoln PUD, serving portions of Lincoln, Lane, Douglas and Coos counties, provides affordable electricity to nearly 84,000 Oregonians, supporting thousands of jobs in the tourism, fishing, and forest products industries. Central Lincoln has helped many of its commercial and industrial customers with long-term energy saving projects, including the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport and the Georgia-Pacific paper mill in Toledo. Central Lincoln is a platinum sponsor of cutting edge renewable energy and electricity storage research at Oregon State University's Wallace Energy Systems & Renewables Facility at its school of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Additionally, Central Lincoln is enhancing its focus on conservation and energy efficiency, including the hiring of an energy services specialist, who will provide technical assistance and information to customers and the general public regarding practical application of a variety of energy technologies. Central Lincoln is also a recent recipient of a $10 million smart-grid grant from the federal government.

Tillamook PUD--Tillamook PUD and Hampton Lumber's Tillamook Lumber Mill have a strong working relationship and have worked together on energy efficiency improvement projects for more than two decades. Tillamook Lumber, one of Tillamook PUD's largest customers, has always valued conservation, and has demonstrated its importance even through this rough economic downturn. During the spring, operations at the mill decreased from a 24 hour operation to one shift, leaving nearly one- third of its employees out of work. With rebates and assistance from Tillamook PUD, Hampton installed new motors and variable frequency drives in several areas of the mill, resulting in annual savings of over $90,000. More than 40 percent of the $486,000 project costs were paid through the Tillamook PUD/BPA rebate program. Tillamook PUD and the Port of Tillamook are also converting a very valuable asset from its famous cows into energy. In 2003, the Port constructed a centralized methane digester to biologically process the manure from 4,000 of the county's 30,000 dairy cows. The digester has the ability to produce and capture methane from the manure and reduces the amount of methane that otherwise would enter the atmosphere. The green power generated is sold to Tillamook PUD, powers approximately over 200 homes, and maintains more than 150 family-wage dairy industry jobs in the community.

Madam Speaker, while more than 70 years has passed since the establishment of public power in the State of Oregon, I am proud to say that they represent a spirit that I believe all Americans share: the spirit of community first. I honor them as they celebrate Public Power Week 2009 and wish them continued success in the coming years.

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

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009. This bill represents the culmination of work done by many hard-working members of the Small Business Committee, Democrats and Republicans. They both understand how critical small business growth is for communities throughout this Nation and to our economy as a whole.

I specifically want to acknowledge Chairwoman Velazquez, Ranking Member Graves, Representatives Halvorson, Kirkpatrick, Nye, Luetkemeyer, Dahlkemper, Ellsworth and Griffith, and the ranking member of my Subcommittee on Finance and Tax, Representative Buchanan, and their expertise in crafting the various sections of the bill that the ranking member referenced. These leaders recognize that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and must be the driving force in spurring economic growth.

Also, I want to thank personally my Small Business Advisory Board in Oregon. They provided me critical information and thoughts about what this Congress can be doing to truly aid small businesses.

Small businesses are the real job creators for most of our communities, but unfortunately, the current recession has hit them very, very hard. As a small business owner myself for over 30 years, I understand all too well the difficulties they face accessing capital during these tough economic times. Many small business owners literally survive month-to-month. They rely on timely payment for their products and services because they do not possess the deep reserves of some of the larger companies. That is why a deep, prolonged recession is particularly dangerous for small businesses.

In August, I held a hearing of my Finance and Tax Subcommittee in Salem, Oregon, in the heart of my congressional district. We took testimony from small business owners and learned firsthand about the difficulties of accessing loans and how crippling the current situation is for many small businesses. We also heard from banks and credit unions who talked about their concerns with making loans, given the recession environment, and the new regulatory burdens placed on them. We talked about problems with the SBA and how we can improve their programs to make them friendlier, more efficient and responsive to both businesses and lenders, and we talked about many solutions to the current credit freeze. I am pleased to say that many of these proposals are in the legislation we are debating here today.

In our current environment, small businesses everywhere, in every industry, face the same problem: They cannot access affordable capital. Entrepreneurs who are looking to expand and hire workers, and companies who want to borrow money to stay afloat, are unable to secure necessary credit because of the economic downturn, despite their own past good credit.

The SBA's diverse catalog of lending and investment programs, as approved here today, have the potential to increase access to capital and provide the needed loans when the private sector is uncertain about accepting more risk.

That is why passage of H.R. 3854 is so critical to create jobs and build our economy right now. It increases the maximum loan sizes for SBA 7(a), 504, microloan, and newly created ARC loan programs. It increases efficiency at the SBA, something we have needed for a long time, by reducing burdensome application loan times for the regular loans, rural loans, cooperative loans and the ARC program. It allows CDCs to do loan liquidation for the 504 program, helping pay for that program. It includes closing costs on 7(a) and 504

loans in the loans. It approves the SBIC licensing protocol to make it more attractive to our lenders and aligns definitions and program opportunities with the U.S. Department of Agriculture with similar programs.

It encourages banks to participate once again and loan by increasing guarantees to 90 percent. It extends for a longer period of time the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act so it's more attractive for banks to gear up for those programs. It cuts lender fees, requires prompt purchase of bad loans by the SBA within 45 days, and simplifies the ARC loan application to one page.

Mr. Chairman, our American small businesses are comprised of individuals who drive innovation, develop resources to meet the demands of our changing world, and make a meaningful impact on our local communities. In my State of Oregon, 98 percent of the businesses are small businesses, and they employ almost 60 percent of our workforce.

At a time when our State and our country face high unemployment, it makes perfect sense to do all we can to help small businesses do what they do best, create jobs in our economy. That's what H.R. 3854 will do, and why I urge a strong ``yes'' vote.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Bean).

Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from Pennsylvania (Mrs. Dahlkemper).

We have no further speakers and are prepared to close.

I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez).

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H. Res. 874.

Mr. Speaker, I've come to the floor this week to dispel the assertion by Republican colleagues that the Recovery Act is not creating jobs. It's simply not accurate. I would like to talk to you about the first four construction transportation projects under way in my district.

Oregon 22, one of the few roads that connects the Willamette Valley to the Oregon coast, is getting two overlay construction projects, employing 44 and 80 workers respectively. These projects make sure that freight and tourists can keep our economy going.

Twenty workers are being put to work replacing the concrete barriers on Interstate 5, a major valley thoroughfare. This makes our highways safe. There are 120 workers who are being put to work paving and rebuilding sections of Highway 101, the only north-south road that connects the small Oregon coastal communities.

Mr. Speaker, those are 261 jobs under way in my district alone at this early stage of the recovery, and there are more in the works.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the

Tillamook County Creamery Association. The Tillamook Creamery Association and its world famous cheese factory is an institution in Tillamook County, Oregon, and now, for 100 years, has been one of the oldest farmer cooperatives in my state.

The roots of the Tillamook County Creamery Association date back to those pioneers who ventured out West on the Oregon Trail. When they arrived in Oregon, many established farms after seeing that the fertile lands and cool ocean breeze of Tillamook County were appealing for dairy production. In 1894, an entrepreneur named T.S. Townsend took 30 cows from local Tillamook farmers and created the first commercial cheese plant in Tillamook County. His cheese, and specifically his cheddar cheese recipe, gained fame across the west and Townsend eventually became known as the ``Cheese King of the Coast.''

As more local dairy owners followed Townsend's lead and founded their own cheese plants, 10 came together in 1909 to form the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA). The goal of the association was to promote their community by marketing all of the cheese from Tillamook as being from the county, instead of from individual farmers. That cooperative ensured that all profits from the sale of dairy products from Tillamook would go back to the farmers and everyone else who ensured its production.

By the late 1940s several of the larger independent cheese production plants merged and by 1968, all of the small cheese plants had combined and together built a centralized cooperative plant in Tillamook known as the Tillamook Cheese Factory. As the factory and its delicious cheese became known across the country, the owners built a visitors center where tourists could watch the cheese making process, taste homemade fudge and ice cream and of course, sample the cheese. The factory eventually became the largest attractor of tourism in Tillamook County, with now close to 1 million people visiting annually.

Even today, Tillamook cheese is still being internationally recognized. It won six awards in cheddar cheese at the 2008 National Milk Producers Federation cheese contest and five at the 2009 Oregon Dairy Industries. In 2009, for the third year in the row the factory was ranked by the Portland Business Journal as one of the Most Admired Companies in Oregon for forestry or agriculture products. It's owned, of course, by 110 local Tillamook dairy families.

While 100 years have now passed since the establishment of the association, the guiding principles that the founders promoted remain the same. In the association, it's called ``The Tillamook Tradition.'' That ``tradition'' always ensures a commitment to quality, cooperation, integrity, stewardship, responsiveness, and a dedication to their local community dairy industries. The association also supports that tradition by annually donating to more than 200 organizations across the state of Oregon. I know, that those original pioneers would be proud to see that even after 100 years, two things have stayed constant: the notion of community first, and of course, the cheese.