Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 1503, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Day.

I want to thank my colleague, Kathy Castor, for introducing this resolution, which I have cosponsored.

We each represent coastal districts that are home to estuaries-- places where the rivers meet the sea--and these estuaries are of great importance to the health of our coastal communities and environment.

In my district, the Morro Bay National Estuary is an ecological treasure.

Lagoons and wetlands that were once common along the southern California coast are nearly all filled and developed. But we are fortunate that the Morro Bay Estuary has largely survived. And we must continue to protect this natural resource.

The Estuary provides vital habitat for birds and fish. It is an important stop-over for over 150 species of migratory birds during their annual migration. And it is a critical winter home to several other bird species. The estuary also acts as a nursery for commercial fish in the area.

Since the Morro Bay Estuary was incorporated into the National Program in 1995, the inspiring team of staff and volunteers has spearheaded numerous efforts to preserve and restore the estuary.

For example, partnering with local ranchers, the Estuary Program has installed fencing along nearly 75,000 feet of creek to limit cattle access. This has protected water quality and improved riparian habitat on seven creeks.

The Program has provided funding to the City of Morro Bay to remove derelict vessels before they pollute local waters and damage habitat.

They have also established the Estuary Nature Center and WaterFest, to educate the general public about the beauty of the estuary and its importance to water quality and conservation.

In addition, dedicated volunteers collect and provide important water quality data for the Estuary Program each year. These data are critical to evaluating the health of the estuary and watershed, as well as compiling a plan to address problems.

Estuaries are among the richest habitats known on earth--providing immeasurable economic and ecological benefits. But they are threatened by human activities.

We all live in a watershed. We must understand that our actions directly affect our nation's waterways. By working together we can work to lower our impact and protect our valuable water resources.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 1503--to recognize National Estuaries Day and the community organizations that fight to preserve these invaluable resources.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of my constituent, John Callahan. Mr. Callahan served as Fire Chief for the San Luis Obispo Fire Department. He was a truly honorable member of the Central Coast community.

Chief Callahan began his career in 1970 as a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department. He rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chief, second in command of the department, before moving north to San Luis Obispo County.

While working in Los Angeles, Chief Callahan supervised the implementation of the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, served as Commander of the Fire Suppression and Rescue Bureau, managed the Disaster Preparedness Section, oversaw Communications and Dispatch and the In-Service Training Section, and headed up LAFD preparations for the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

After moving to San Luis Obispo, Chief Callahan led the department for five years. During this time, he acquired a new Aerial Ladder Truck and managed the opening of a new Dispatch Center. He also served as President of the local YMCA and was active in the Rotary Club.

Madam Speaker, it is for good reason that we regularly pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of our nation's First Responders. They keep us safe in our homes and neighborhoods and are always there when we need them most. They put our safety and our well being above their own every single day. Chief Callahan personified that commitment and the entire San Luis Obispo community benefited from this dedicated public servant's sense of duty.

Most importantly, Chief Callahan's family and friends will miss his inclusive and generous spirit, his penchant for hard work and love of the outdoors. We will all miss his loyalty to his colleagues and his community.

Chief Callahan is survived by his wife, Lynne, and their children, Danise, Christopher, Erik and Jake. I know I speak on behalf of the entire Central Coast community when I say he will be truly missed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my constituent Lauren Brown. Mr. Brown has travelled from San Luis Obispo, CA, to Washington, DC, by bike this summer to raise funds for students to attend school in India.

His journey has taken him from the West coast through the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains, across the Great Lakes and through much of the East Coast. Along the way, he has met with countless Americans to spread his message of peace and the importance of quality education.

I commend him and his family today, and honor the end of this momentous journey. It's an honor to represent an individual who cares so much about not only his local community, but the world at large.

Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I rise in full support of this critical assistance for our teachers and relief for our state budgets.

Passage of this bill will provide over $1 billion in desperately needed Medicaid funding for California in order to protect essential health care services for our most vulnerable.

Without this crucial assistance, California's Medicaid program, Medi- Cal, would have to

eliminate programs, reduce reimbursements and otherwise inhibit access to health care services at a time when more families than ever are relying on this safety-net program.

In addition, the emergency funding for education will bring $19.1 million dollars to my district just in time to begin the 2010-2011 school year.

There is no doubt in my mind that the preservation of 268 education jobs in my district alone was worth flying back to Washington to take this important vote.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation and hope to see it signed by the President as quickly as possible.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the CLEAR Act, and I say this as the Representative of the Santa Barbara channel which Chairman Rahall referred to as the scene of the big blowout of platform A in 1969.

BP's oil spill is an unprecedented human, economic, and environmental disaster. BP must do everything possible to clean up its damage and make the people of the gulf whole. But this catastrophe is also a sobering reminder of the serious risks from drilling. We can't stop drilling overnight, but we can do everything in our power to ensure that such a disaster never happens again.

That's why we must pass the CLEAR Act. It breaks up the scandal- ridden MMS, increases penalties for polluters, places new safety and environmental standards on oil companies, pays down the deficit by closing loopholes that allow oil companies to drill on the public's land without paying royalties, creates a new trust fund to protect and improve our oceans, provides the Presidential commission looking into the accident with subpoena power.

Once again, this Congress is acting to protect America's families and businesses, rebuild the gulf coast, hold BP accountable. Let's vote to ensure that a spill of this kind never happens again. Vote ``yes'' on the CLEAR Act.

BP's oil spill is an unprecedented environmental disaster that has tragically resulted in the loss of human life and great economic harm.

BP must do everything possible to clean up the damage and make the people of the Gulf whole.

But the catastrophe is also a sobering reminder of the serious risks from oil drilling.

We need a safer, cleaner, more economical approach to energy development, one that shifts us away from oil and toward renewable sources that can't destroy our coasts.

While we can't stop drilling overnight, we can do everything in our power to ensure that such a disaster never happens again.

This Democratic-led Congress has vigorously investigated BP's spill and offshore drilling.

We've exposed our broken regulatory system.

Always a dysfunctional agency, MMS management reached new lows during the Bush Administration.

An Inspector General report, for example, raised serious concerns about the, ``ease with which safety inspectors move between industry and government.''

Oil companies were allowed to cut corners on safety and environmental protection.

And virtually no effort was put into preventing accidents and improving spill response technologies.

Basically, offshore drilling decisions were being made by the oil companies for their benefit instead of the public's.

Sadly, the people in the Gulf are now paying the price.

That's why it's time to pass the CLEAR Act.

The CLEAR Act breaks up the scandal-ridden MMS, increases penalties for polluters, and places new standards on oil companies to prevent another blowout.

It also pays down the deficit by closing loopholes that allow oil companies to drill on the public's land without paying royalties.

It creates a new trust fund to protect and improve our ocean and coastal areas.

And it gives the Presidental Commission investigating the BP spill subpoena power to make sure it can get to the bottom of what actually happened.

Mr. Chairman, there are lots of reasons for us to pass this bill.

But my greatest hope is that some good can come out of this tragedy.

Finally freeing ourselves from our costly oil addiction is the only fitting tribute to the terrible tragedy being borne by the people of the Gulf.

Vote ``yes'' on the CLEAR Act.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of National Convenient Care Week and in support of the 1,100 retail-based convenient care clinics in our nation.

Convenient care clinics, which are based in retail outlets with pharmacy services across the nation, provide an extension to our traditional health care system. Primarily staffed by nurse practitioners, these clinics provide preventative services like vaccinations, as well as acute illness diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, they can also provide needed services to help manage chronic illnesses.

Convenient care clinics are an important component of our health care system. Not only are they a way to relieve the stress on busy emergency rooms and primary care offices, but they also provide care to working families who benefit from their extended hours and walk-in policies.

For all of these reasons, I encourage my colleagues to support National Convenient Care Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the President's executive order establishing a comprehensive national ocean policy. Now, more than ever, we need a coordinated approach for the management of our ocean and coastal resources.

The tragedy in the gulf is a wake-up call. We would have been much better prepared to deal with this disaster had a national ocean policy been in place before the spill.

But Mr. Speaker, oil spills are just one threat. Overfishing and ocean acidification are also evidence of the urgent need to ensure wise stewardship of our coasts, our oceans, and the Great Lakes.

In the gulf and around the country, our communities are intimately linked to healthy coastal oceanic ecosystems. A national ocean policy will make our oceans healthier and our coastal economy stronger. It will strengthen ocean governance and coordination. It will bring a science-based approach to ocean conservation.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the President for taking this historic step. This vision of healthy, resilient oceans will ensure that future generations can share in the wonders of our cherished seas.

Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Mr. Langevin, I rise today to recognize the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and offer my strong support for H. Res. 1504.

Twenty years ago, the ADA declared that the millions of Americans living with disabilities had a right to reasonable accommodations in the workplace and access to public buildings. In doing so, it acknowledged for the first time the civil rights of these Americans who live independently to fully participate in all aspects of our society, our schools, our businesses, our communities.

Today we extend that participation to the Speaker's chair, and I want to acknowledge our colleague, Congressman Langevin. His place today managing debate over the people's House is long overdue.

When President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA in 1990, the late Senator Ted Kennedy said, ``Equal justice under the law is not a privilege but a fundamental birthright in America.'' I couldn't agree more. We must protect the rights of men and women regardless of ability, mental capacity, or physicality. By removing barriers for people with disabilities, we allow America to be a society where equal justice prevails.

I urge support for H. Res. 1504.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 2693, the Oil Pollution Research and Development Program Reauthorization Act of 2010.

The Deepwater Horizon tragedy has shown that the U.S. preparedness for offshore exploration, in relation to technologies to prevent and respond to oil spills, is severely lacking.

Unfortunately, I know first hand how little these technologies have improved in the past 41 years, since the 1969 oil spill off of my coast in Santa Barbara.

The tragic loss of 11 lives in the explosion on the BP Deepwater Horizon and the resulting environmental damage, underscores the need to focus more research on accident prevention and environmental safety.

H.R. 2693 will make oil and gas drilling safer.

This bipartisan legislation provides for robust oversight and accountability of the interagency research and development program established in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

H.R. 2693 sets up a more efficient federal management structure by establishing a multi-agency committee to coordinate research and ensure the ongoing development of new technologies and methods to prevent, recover and respond to future oil spills.

We have a responsibility to ensure that the relevant federal agencies are equipped with the financial resources needed to effectively respond to future oil spills.

H.R. 2693 increases the funding for a regional research, development and demonstration program. I support the increase in funding for this program as well as the measure in the bill to authorize $2 million a year for the next 4 years for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, to conduct oil-spill demonstration projects.

As long as we extract and transport oil along our coasts, there will be the risk of oil spills, and the potential for damage to our coastal ecosystems and economies.

That is why I support H.R. 2693. It allows for better interagency coordination and a more robust strategy for responding to and reducing the environmental and economic impacts of future oil spills.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting yes on H.R. 2693.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Rick Algert on the occasion of his retirement after 20 years as Harbor Director and Harbormaster for the City of Morro Bay. He is truly an asset to our local community and his excellent work is reflected in Morro Bay's Harbor.

Mr. Algert has spent much of his life on the coast and in the City of Morro Bay. He grew up in Fallbrook, California and came to Morro Bay from the City of Eureka. Prior to that he lived in the City of Santa Barbara, where he attended the University of California and received a degree in Business. Rick and his wife Nancy have three children; Bridgett, Paul and Jamie.

Mr. Algert is deeply familiar with the workings of Morro Bay. He has been involved with

almost every essential aspect of the Harbor's functioning over the last two decades. He was responsible for developing and implementing several major projects in the Harbor, including the reconstruction of the South T-Pier, rebuilding the Beach Street slips, dredging the City Mooring area, the North T-Pier re-decking project, and the Fisherman's Gear Storage building.

Mr. Algert has also been the voice of the Harbor and has been its tireless advocate at the local, state and federal levels. He has been instrumental in keeping the City Council abreast of important issues like economic development and federal dredging dollars. And he was a consistent advocate for our local fishing families, representing their views at meetings throughout the country. Finally, he maintained a balanced budget and aimed to provide the highest level of service and efficiency from the Harbor Department and Harbor Patrol, and he did so with no revenue derived from taxes, which stands as a testament to his skill as a public servant.

I commend Mr. Algert's gift of talent, passion, and his devotion to service. His work has been central to helping our waterfront communities flourish in difficult times. I feel deeply honored to share this community with Rick Algert and I have seen first hand the effect of his work on Morro Bay. I wish him much happiness and much deserved relaxation in retirement, knowing fully that he will remain deeply connected to our community, its businesses, Harbor tenants and boat owners.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Wall Street reform. After months of diligent work, the House and Senate will finally vote this week to enact Wall Street reform. This is a historic achievement. The bill is not perfect, but it's a major step forward. Wall Street's unchecked greed and recklessness nearly destroyed our economy. Wall Street reform will repair our financial system and prevent another collapse.

When the House last voted on this bill, Democrats voted ``yes,'' while Republicans all voted ``no.'' Democrats voted to protect Main Street consumers from deceptive mortgages and predatory credit cards. Republicans voted ``no.'' Democrats voted to shine a bright light of transparency and accountability on the shady dealings of Wall Street, but Republicans voted ``no.'' And Democrats voted to never again use taxpayer dollars to bail out reckless, too-big-to-fail financial firms like AIG. Republicans voted ``no.''

It's time to show where you stand: with Main Street or with Wall Street.

I urge my Republican colleagues to finally vote ``yes.'' Support Main Street instead of Wall Street.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act.

Fair, free elections are the foundation of our democracy. As Members of Congress, it is our duty to uphold the Constitution and ensure the voices of our constituents are heard. But in its Citizens United ruling, the Supreme Court overturned nearly a century of precedent and threatened the legitimacy of our elections by opening the flood gates to unlimited corporate spending on elections.

This ruling is sadly just a continuation of the failed policies that thrived under Republican leadership, when special interests dominated Washington. Fueled by big donations from special interests, for years Republicans allowed Big Oil to run amok, stood by and watched as Wall Street's greed nearly destroyed our financial system, and sat on their hands as health insurers raked in record profits at the expense of struggling American families.

Thankfully, things have changed under Democratic leadership. Under Democratic leadership, corporate influence in Washington is diminishing. Health Reform. Wall Street Reform. Energy Reform. Special interests have fought these efforts tooth and nail from the start, and they have failed.

The DISCLOSE Act is Democrats' latest effort to fight back against corporate special interests. This legislation begins to roll back the gaping loopholes in Citizens United that threaten the integrity of our elections and will drown out the voices of everyday American voters.

It prevents corporations controlled by foreign--or even hostile-- governments from dumping in secret money to influence U.S. elections and drown out the voice of American voters.

It prohibits government contractors and TARP recipients from making political expenditures with taxpayer dollars.

And it throws a little sunshine on who is behind the ads in our elections. It does that by requiring disclosure by corporations, unions and advocacy groups that spend money on elections. It requires corporate CEOs to show their face and stand by their ads just like candidates must do.

The DISCLOSE Act helps ensure transparency and accountability in our federal elections. Voters deserve to know when Wall Street, Big Oil or credit card companies are the ones behind political advertisements. Shareholders deserve to know what their companies are spending their investment dollars on. And Americans deserve to know when special interests like health insurers and energy companies set up sham organizations meant to trick and deceive them into voting against their own interests.

Mr. Chair, transparency works. We need look no further than my home state of California, where just weeks ago voters soundly defeated a ballot measure after learning that the sham group ``Californians to Protect the Right to Vote'' that supported it was actually funded by energy giant Pacific Gas & Electric.

Mr. Chair, it is time to act. It is time to stop special interests and their billions of dollars from drowning out the voices of American voters. It is time to put the interests of American voters above those of corporations.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting yes on the DISCLOSE Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation to give the National Commission on the BP Oil Spill the power to issue subpoenas.

I want to thank three chairmen--Chairman Rahall, Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Conyers--for expediting the consideration of my bill, and I really appreciate the tireless effort of Chairman Markey, who has worked with me on this bill and our earlier bill which was the basis for the President's order to set up the commission in the first place. I also appreciate the Speaker and the majority leader for bringing H.R. 5481 before us today.

As we witness the continued destruction affecting the livelihood of gulf residents and the environment, a full and thorough investigation must be conducted. The American people want answers from those responsible for the devastating gulf oil spill. Providing subpoena power to the commission will ensure that no stone goes unturned, and it will enable the American people to get the truth about how and why this disaster occurred.

While the President has committed the full cooperation of the Federal Government to the commission, he does not have the authority to give it subpoena power; congressional action is required. With the investigation expected to start soon, it's vital the commission has the tools and the resources it needs to get the job done.

As I've said repeatedly on the House floor, oil drilling is never without risk, but if we're going to make it as safe as possible, we need to provide the commission with every means available to find out exactly what caused the BP disaster so we can do everything possible to prevent such a disaster from ever happening again. Arming the commission with subpoena power will help us accomplish these goals and will help the affected communities to recover.

Madam Speaker, the need for subpoena power is certainly indicated by BP's wholly unsatisfactory response to this crisis. Unlike the gush of oil, BP has tightly controlled the flow of information following its spill. It has regularly stonewalled requests by Members of Congress, independent researchers, and the public to provide accurate and timely information.

BP has failed to tell us the amount of oil it's spilling into the gulf waters every day. BP has failed to provide health and safety data to the public, to the scientists, and the Federal Government. And BP has failed to prepare for the capture of all the oil being siphoned up from the well. Simply put, BP's behavior raises major doubts about its willingness to provide a full accounting of what went wrong when they appear before the commission.

The only way to get the information we all need from BP, Transocean, Halliburton and other private entities is for the commission to have the power to compel its disclosure. The commission just won't be able to do its work without complete access to the information it needs. So passing this bill is the appropriate and responsible thing to do. It's also consistent with Federal commission investigations that followed previous disasters, such as that on Three Mile Island.

Madam Speaker, the people of the Gulf of Mexico and the Nation deserve an explanation for all the circumstances and the decisions that led up to this disaster. Only a comprehensive, independent review with subpoena power will ensure the necessary lessons to be learned, practices changed, and future disasters averted.

So I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation. Subpoena power is critical to hold all the parties accountable, protect taxpayers, and successfully clean up the disaster in the gulf.

I thank the chairman for recognizing me.

I just want to give some information about the nature of the commission for the Record and to clear up some misinformation that apparently is being circulated. The truth is that the commission is not designed to be technical in nature. It is more oriented to understanding the regulatory and organizational framework, which clearly has a major bearing on the incident.

The commission is going to consult the very best minds and subject matter experts as they do their work. The commission members bring expertise in a range of relevant fields, from oil drilling to engineering to environmental science. The appointment of the commission is another step from the Obama administration to hold the oil industry accountable by ensuring that independent experts review the facts of the spill and recommend necessary environmental and safety precautions to address this disaster and to prevent future disasters. At the request of co-chair William Riley, there is a 66-member expert panel led by Robert Bea that will serve as a consultant to the commission. These technical experts are critical to sorting through all of the information that's presented, and the commission is required to draw on the technical analysis that the National Association of Engineering is currently performing.

I just want to add that Congress is also providing oversight on efforts to contain the spill and to mitigate the devastation. There are thorough investigations into what led to this tragedy, with dozens of House hearings in the past 2 weeks alone in order to hold responsible parties accountable, as well as to inform what changes must be made so that it never happens again. Although Republican leaders have scoffed at these efforts, Democrats will continue to provide the necessary oversight to hold responsible parties accountable and to ensure that every measure is taken to ensure that a disaster like this never occurs again.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 369, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 364, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''