Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate Earth Day. Since its inception following the tragic oil spill off Santa Barbara, Earth Day has become a call to action on behalf of the environment.

As one who represents this coastline, one of the most beautiful and sensitive areas in America, I know that every day is Earth Day. But the important thing about this year's celebration is that it marks a turning point for our Nation. Under Democratic leadership our country is finally poised to begin addressing our longstanding energy issues.

Through the Recovery Act, for example, we've launched a clean energy economy that's creating millions of jobs, reducing our dependence on dirty energy sources, and, through efficiencies, lowering energy costs for American families and businesses.

Now is the time to seize the unprecedented opportunity before us. The clean energy legislation we've passed in this Chamber will be the legacy we leave for our children and our grandchildren. To protect them and all who come after us, we must continue making these smart investments and meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1116) supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material for the Record.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1116, recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week, which actually took place the week of March 8.

Now, while Multiple Sclerosis Week occurred last month, it is never the wrong time to draw attention to this important health issue and to reaffirm our commitment to combating MS.

Multiple sclerosis affects an estimated 400,000 people in the United States and 2\1/2\ million people worldwide. MS is thought to be an autoimmune disorder where the immune system incorrectly attacks healthy nerve fibers of the central nervous system. Symptoms that people with MS experience include blurred vision and blindness, tremors, extreme fatigue and paralysis. However, the exact causes of MS are unknown, and there is no known cure for this disease.

But what we all know is that it can affect men and women of all ages, and it does affect each person differently.

Many of us have our own personal stories of loved ones who've been diagnosed with MS. We will hear some of those stories today.

I've gotten to know some wonderful constituent advocates from my district to learn of their personal stories over the years through the MS Society chapter which I represent in my district, and I know that many of my colleagues have benefited from interactions with their local chapters and the members who have shared their stories with them.

So I want to commend my colleague, Representative Lee, for introducing this resolution. I also recognize Representative Carnahan and Representative Burgess for their leadership on the Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to the Representative from California, Representative Lee, who is the author of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to yield to our colleague from Missouri, Representative Carnahan, who is the cochair of the Multiple Sclerosis Caucus, such time as he may consume.

Madam Speaker, as we conclude this discussion on the importance of being aware of multiple sclerosis and adoption of this resolution, I will call attention to my colleagues all of our local chapters throughout the country.

Our colleagues have highlighted some of the chapters they represent, and I know I've had wonderful interactions with the Members and people who support our local chapter in my district as they seek to raise awareness within our local communities and also work together to raise funds through their walks and through their fundraising drives to provide quality of life and support for their members, those who are afflicted with multiple sclerosis and their families, and it is an honor to serve with them and work with them and represent them here as they would have us do.

And what they would want us to underscore, as well, is the importance of our funding adequately the national endowments for the health, the efforts for continuing research, for accentuating the research in all neurological disorders, those that affect a whole host of ranges that impact people's lives; and among them, so important, are those who are afflicted with multiple sclerosis. That is surely what we can do on their behalf as we look forward to possibilities, as new discoveries are made, and much more research can be done in this arena.

So our resolution can bring all of that to fruition. I encourage all of our colleagues to honor and vote for House Resolution 1116, supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

I yield back my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of World Malaria Day.

While anyone exposed to a malaria-causing parasite can be afflicted with the disease, pregnant women and children are malaria's most frequent victims.

Over ten percent of global maternal deaths are caused by malaria. Pregnant women are highly susceptible to malaria because their bodies' natural defense mechanisms are reduced during pregnancy. In these women, malaria causes high rates of miscarriage and severe anemia. Furthermore, malaria can cause low birth weight among newborn infants-- a leading risk factor for infant mortality and impaired growth and development.

Malaria kills a child somewhere in the world every 30 seconds. In parts of the world where malaria is endemic, children are exposed repeatedly to the parasite, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Although malaria is both preventable and treatable, if ineffective medicines are given or if treatment is delayed, the number of parasites in a child's body continues to increase. In these children, the disease can progress to a severe stage that is fatal in the majority of cases.

I have long been a supporter of U.S. programs to promote maternal and child health overseas, and malaria programming is a key aspect of that. We have proven, effective tools to prevent and treat malaria. But more must be done. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of scaled-up deployment of these tools to reduce soaring child and maternal mortality rates in the developing world.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 212, H.R. 1257, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Thank you, Chairman Oberstar, for recognizing me.

I rise today to express my support for H.R. 4715, the Clean Estuaries Act, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize and make improvements to the National Estuary Program.

I wish to thank my colleagues, Tim Bishop and Frank LoBiondo, for introducing this bill. We each represent coastal districts that are home to amazing estuary systems of great importance to our communities.

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 now nearly all filled and developed, but the Morro Bay Estuary has survived largely thanks to local efforts and now the support of the estuary program.

Like other national estuaries, the one in Morro Bay provides vital habitat for birds and fish. It is an important stopover for more than 150 species of migratory birds and it acts as a nursery for more than 75 percent of commercial fish species right in the immediate area.

Since the Morro Bay Estuary was incorporated into the national program in 1995, the inspiring team of local staff and volunteers has spearheaded numerous efforts to preserve and restore the estuary. I particularly want to commend former program director Dan Berman, interim director Mike Multari and his staff, as well as the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay. Their accomplishments over the years are a reflection of the strong partnerships and community support that define the Morro Bay National Estuary Program. For example, partnering with local ranchers, the hardworking team in Morro Bay has installed riparian fencing along nearly 75,000 feet of creek to limit cattle access. This has protected water quality and improved habitat on seven creeks leading to the estuary.

The estuary program has also been a source of funding for the city of Morro Bay's efforts to remove derelict marine vessels before they pollute local waters and damage habitat. And the Estuary Nature Center helps the public to understand the estuary's importance to water quality and conservation.

Mr. Speaker, estuaries are among the richest habitats known on the Earth, providing immeasurable economic and ecological benefits, but they are threatened by climate change, by pollution, and other human activities. The Clean Estuaries Act helps to combat these problems and improves the efficiency of our National Estuary Program.

First, the bill requires that each approved estuary program be evaluated every 4 years and the results be publicly released. Second, the bill increases Federal attention to local priorities and requires that Federal agencies participate in planning and coordinating the implementation of the site's own management plan.

Third, the bill requires that estuaries identify and plan for vulnerabilities to climate change.

And, finally, the bill increases the program's annual authorization to $50 million.

Thank you.

This modest funding increase will strengthen the capacity of our existing estuaries to protect these critical coastal and marine resources; and the proposed funding increase will allow for the responsible expansion of the program to incorporate new regions that are not currently served in the NEP.

Mr. Chairman, we are at a critical juncture for our ocean and coastal resources, and the National Estuary Program is a vital part of that network. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to protect some of our Nation's most valuable and treasured natural resources, our national estuaries.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Emergency Nurses Association and to congratulate them on their 40th anniversary.

The Emergency Nurses Association, or ENA, is the only professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing and emergency care through advocacy, expertise, innovation and leadership. It boasts more than 37,000 members worldwide.

Founded in 1970 as the Emergency Department Nurses Association and led by Anita M. Dorr, RN and Judith C. Kelleher, RN, it was originally established to set standards for best practices in emergency nursing care. It also provided continuing education programs for emergency nurses and a united voice for nurses involved in emergency care. In 1985, the Association name was changed to Emergency Nurses Association,

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Natalie Myerson, an exceptional woman and a dear friend.

Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1920, Natalie Anita Salter grew up in nearby Newton, MA and attended Goucher College in Baltimore, MD. In the fall of 1942, she was introduced to Raymond King Myerson, who was a naval officer stationed in Cambridge. After a brief courtship, Natalie and Raymond were married on February 20, 1943. They had 63 wonderful years together until Raymond's death in 2006.

While Raymond was in the Navy during World War II, Natalie lived with his parents in Chicago. When Raymond returned from the war in 1945, the young couple moved into their own apartment in Chicago. Their daughter Bette Kay was born in 1946, and 3 years after that, in 1949, son Toby came along. Shortly after Toby's birth the family moved to Highland Park, Illinois where they lived for 15 years. In Highland Park Natalie was an active volunteer with the Brandeis National Women's Committee, Hadassah, and a number of other organizations.

On July 4, 1964 the family moved to Los Angeles and in 1974 came to Santa Barbara. Natalie has lived longer in Santa Barbara than any other city; she and Raymond became very active members of the community. Natalie served on the Board of Directors and was treasurer of the Santa Barbara Symphony for many years. She and Raymond were great supporters of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. They were honored at the ADL annual dinner in 2001.

Natalie has also served on the Advisory Board of the Hillel Foundation of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Natalie and Raymond were honored by that organization in 2006. They were also involved with the Affiliates of University of California, Santa Barbara. Natalie was an active member of the Santa Barbara Arts Council for many years. She is

currently one of the mainstays and most loyal and celebrated members of Santa Barbara's Congregation B'nai B'rith. Natalie was honored as a ``Woman of Valor'' by the Women's Division of the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation in 2009.

Natalie is the matriarch of the Myerson and Salter families and is most beloved by her family. In addition, she has ``adopted'' 39 ``courtesy daughters'' who consider her their second mother.

Natalie is sought after as a speaker, emcee, and presenter. She is an elegant, beautifully dressed, kind, and caring woman, and a gracious hostess. I can speak with authority that it is a privilege to call her a friend. Natalie is an instrumental pillar of our central coast community, and I'm humbled to honor her this month as she celebrates her 90th birthday. I wish her continued good health!

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, the House passed groundbreaking legislation to make college more affordable.

Students in my district and across the Nation are struggling to keep up with devastating State budget cuts and ever rising tuition. This week I met with college students from UC Santa Barbara and Oxnard Community College on the Capitol steps, and I was proud to tell them that, during these tough economic times, I voted for the single largest investment ever in higher education.

Our bill will save taxpayers over $60 billion from wasteful bank subsidies, and we're making education a priority, investing most of these savings directly into Pell Grants. The bill will mean nearly $48 million for Pell Grants for these and other students over the next 10 years.

Now, more than ever, we need to invest in education to get our economy back on track, and with this bill we did just that. Today we can finish the job for our college students.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a tremendous woman.

Helen Pedotti was a rancher, business owner, activist, philanthropist, educator, wife and mother. She died on January 25 and with her passing, our community lost a wonderful friend whose talents were as limitless as her generosity.

Throughout the Central and South Coasts of California, Helen was known in many circles. Along with her husband Pida, she ran Rancho Arbolado on the Gaviota Coast, where they also raised their four children: Holly, Tina, Jon and Chico. Active in the ranching community, Helen was known as a bighearted neighbor, efficient business partner and loyal friend.

Helen was known in many circles for her support of community colleges, progressive politics, the environment, immigration reform, civic justice, and the right for all children to have a quality education. Her friend Robert Isaacson described her perfectly when he said ``her passions, values, and politics were integrated fully into a powerful force, and she was utterly fearless in her beliefs.''

Despite so many interests, Helen was never satisfied with just lending her support to a particular issue. She would tirelessly contribute her time, resources and innovative ideas to everything she felt passionately about. All of us who knew and worked with Helen were challenged to think greater and do better than we thought possible of ourselves. I will always be grateful to her for instilling that kind of confidence.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor to pay tribute to this remarkable woman and friend. I know I speak on behalf of my entire community when I say she leaves an irreplaceable gap in our community and our hearts.

I thank the chairman. Madam Speaker, we've been trying to reform health care in this country for decades, and I've been blessed to participate both as a health care provider and now as a Member of Congress. Passing this bill is not only the right thing to do; it is truly a matter of life and death for the millions of Americans who today lack health insurance coverage, and it is critical for all who suffer from diseases that could have been completely preventible or dealt with earlier had they had access to screenings.

One thing, our bill will now guarantee no more copays for preventive screenings for diseases like cervical cancer or heart disease. As a public health nurse with decades of experience, I know this is one of the most important steps we can take to improve the health of American families, and I stress this point because it's one that's not brought up all that often.

I underscore the importance of universal access to preventive care because this measure will improve the lives of millions of families and save us all billions in avoidable health care costs. I know my constituents are going to appreciate these important provisions which will improve health care in the United States. It's one of the many reasons I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of passing comprehensive health care reform legislation.

This moment has been a long time coming. I've worked on health care since coming to Congress and passing comprehensive reform has always been a major goal of mine.

I've met with and listened to my constituents, along with countless doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, researchers, and other health care experts. They know that America's health care system has many wonderful aspects: it can provide the most cutting edge care, cure diseases thought fatal only a few years ago, and devise new and exciting drugs, devices and treatments with mind numbing speed.

But we also know our health care system's problems are legion. Coverage is erratic, incomplete and can evaporate without notice; costs are out of control for consumers, businesses and taxpayers; and health outcomes are actually better in dozens of countries that spend far less per capita than we do.

The legislation before us addresses these problems and will help ensure that affordable, quality health care is always available to all Americans.

The most trumpeted aspect of the bill is the coverage it would provide to some 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured, including an estimated 92,000 citizens in my own district. Passing this legislation is a matter of life or death for them as an estimated 45,000 Americans die every year because they lack health care insurance. In addition, the uninsured are much more likely to forego primary care and delay other health care services leading to the development of otherwise preventable disease, requiring much more invasive and costly treatments.

The bill expands Medicaid to provide coverage for more very low income individuals, and sets up state exchanges that will serve as marketplaces for individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health plans. The bill provides assistance to some individuals to purchase coverage and tax credits to small businesses so that they can provide health insurance to their employees. And it lets young adults stay on their parents' plans until age 26. These new mechanisms and support systems should provide coverage to the vast majority of today's uninsured, improving both the physical and financial health of millions of our fellow citizens.

But, perhaps just as important, the bill offers critical protection for those already with health insurance. Today, insurance companies often drop consumers if they get sick, refuse coverage for so-called pre-existing conditions, and put annual and lifetime limits on a consumer's coverage. This bill puts an end to those unfair practices. A wife's diagnosis of cancer or a child's serious accident shouldn't be the cause for a family losing health insurance just when it is needed most.

Those currently with coverage will also benefit through lowered insurance premiums. The Congressional Budget Office says premiums will be 14 to 20 percent lower per policy holder. Furthermore, the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimates that without health care reform individuals and families would see their health insurance premiums rise by as much as 79 percent over the next decade. That is unaffordable, unsustainable and just one of the many reasons we must enact this legislation.

The bill also makes significant investments to train our next generation of doctors, nurses and allied-health professionals. This is critical because today's current shortages of nurses and doctors would only be exacerbated as we bring millions of new regular patients into the system without the appropriate investment in our health care workforce.

The legislation will also make it much easier to access preventive health care services by eliminating co-pays for important recommended screenings such as those for heart disease or cervical cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I've been hearing a lot from senior citizens concerned about what our health care reform proposal would mean for them.

The bill will close Medicare's prescription drug ``donut hole,'' which in my Congressional district affects nearly 9,000 beneficiaries. It is unfair that policyholders should have to pay insurance premiums while receiving no coverage. The legislation before us today will give seniors who fall into the donut hole a $250 rebate this year, 50 percent discounts on brand name drugs when they fall into the donut hole beginning next year, and completely close the donut hole by 2020. In addition to closing the donut hole, we take steps to crack down on fraud, waste and abuse which will extend the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund by 9 years, according to CBO.

Finally, this bill is the largest deficit reduction measure in a generation. According to CBO enactment of this legislation is projected to reduce the federal deficit by $130 billion by 2020 and by over $1.2 trillion during the following decade. Earlier this year, the Democratic-led Congress reinstated tough ``pay-go'' budget rules the Republican-led Congress had allowed to lapse in 2003 and this health care bill is a reflection of our determination to bring our federal books back into balance as they were prior to the Bush Administration.

Mr. Speaker, I will not argue this is a perfect bill because it is not. Most problematically, it lacks a public option, which would make the insurance market more competitive, ensure the greatest possible choice for consumers and bring down health care costs even more than the bill does already. I am also deeply disappointed the bill contains inappropriate language that may restrict a woman's access to reproductive health services.

But I'm also not one to let the perfect be the enemy of the good and in this case, we have legislation that is very good and deserves our favorable consideration.

I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1612, the Public Lands Service Corps Act. And as I do so, I note the rather unusual markup of this bill or vote on this bill this afternoon here, or this morning here in our Nation's Capital on a Saturday. We are not usually gathered here, but that's because we have an historic opportunity tomorrow to cast a vote for major health care and health insurance reform legislation in the House of Representatives.

It's interesting the way the various topics are interconnected. When I think of health, we often think of people's health. But we can also think of the health and survival, really, of our environment. And then I also believe that this is a jobs bill because this is a bill designed to put our young people to work. And that has a great deal to do with the subject very much on our minds these days with our slow economy and our great unemployment rate, and as the colleague who preceded me mentioned, the even higher unemployment rate among our young people.

This legislation will allow more of them to go to work and go to work in very healthy settings, out in the fresh air, engaged in exercise, learning to appreciate their natural surroundings. And I believe it really is a win-win all the way around.

So let me address the legislation. This important bill would help prepare, repair, and restore our Nation's public lands while also creating jobs for thousands of young Americans. Years of inadequate funding have left our public land management agencies with huge backlogs of labor-intensive work in our national parks, our forests, our wildlife refuges and our historic sites. Physical infrastructure is crumbling, and the natural resources have been neglected.

In many places, such as my home State of California, the effects of climate change are only magnifying the existing problems such as fire risk, damage from invasive species, coastal erosion, and fragmented habitat.

H.R. 1612 will help address all of these problems by expanding and strengthening the Public Lands Corps. It will streamline the corps' management, modernize its scope and provide new tools to help the program accomplish its mission. It will also expand the program to other agencies within the Department of the Interior and to the Commerce Department agencies, those which manage our coastal and marine systems, and our national marine sanctuaries.

This expanded public service initiative will introduce people from a greater diversity of social, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds to our Nation's parks, our forests, and our public lands, not only as possible future employees, but also as lifelong enthusiasts. And this bill will create jobs. H.R. 1612 will provide meaningful training and employment to young people who especially need it now while also improving the condition of our priceless natural and cultural resources.

As one who represents a national forest and a national marine sanctuary as well as a national park, the Channel Islands, I can attest to the great work of the Public Lands Corps and the importance of this legislation. So I thank you, Mr. Grijalva, for introducing this very important bill and for your great leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to H. Res. 1192, I call up the bill (H.R. 3644) to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish education and watershed programs which advance environmental literacy, including preparedness and adaptability for the likely impacts of climate change in coastal watershed regions, as amended, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members that may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 3644.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 3644, which I introduced on September 24, 2009.

Madam Speaker, in California, we are often inundated with reports of the impacts of climate change, overfishing, wildfires and droughts. Such reports may frighten or dampen a child's innate curiosity and wonder of the natural environment. Fortunately, we have found that connecting children to their environment through hands-on experiences offers an effective way to overcome these challenges.

Over the past 7 years, two NOAA education programs, the Bay-Watershed Education and Training regional program, or as it's known, B-WET, and the Environmental Literacy Grants, or ELG, programs, have been critical tools in advancing a nationwide strategy of experiential education in building ocean, atmospheric and environmental awareness in the United States.

In my district, the MERITO program, which has been funded through the California B-WET program for the past 4 years, has allowed hundreds of children to enjoy the benefits of hands-on, bilingual ocean conservation experiences with trained scientists and professionals in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

Many of these children have taken their first trips to the beach under this MERITO program, even though they may live only a few miles away. According to the testimonials of their parents and their teachers, it has given many of them a new awareness of their local environment and their community and opened the world of new opportunities that they now know they can pursue.

Madam Speaker, my bill, H.R. 3644, seeks to formally authorize these two innovative and important NOAA education programs that were established through the annual appropriations process so we can ensure that they are here for our children now and in the future. It also ensures that certain standards and criteria for positive implementation are met by the agency when they spend these funds. To me, this represents a responsible oversight effort on the part of our committee to exercise our proper duties.

Madam Speaker, these programs have been well received by the ocean and environmental literacy communities, and in fact, since the ELG program was initiated in 2005, the demand for ELG grants has been 10 times greater than the available funding.

Each program has gathered significant momentum and prominence since the Congress passed the America COMPETES Act in 2007, which elevated and enhanced NOAA's educational mission. A recent report released by the National Academy of Sciences also commends both programs for their positive contributions to increase student interest in science and to improve awareness of the ocean and coastal environment.

H.R. 3644 is fully supported by the administration. The legislation is also strongly supported by the Campaign for Environmental Literacy. This is a coalition of nearly 60 national, regional and local private and non-profit organizations; and they represent science, education, conservation, outdoor recreation and zoological parks, including the National Wildlife Federation, American Fisheries Society, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, to name just a few.

At the appropriate time, I will offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute which reflects a bipartisan compromise to address the concerns raised by my colleague and my friend, Congressman Cassidy of Louisiana, during the markup of this bill by the Committee on Natural Resources.

Madam Speaker, in closing, the B-WET and ELG programs are both effective, wildly popular, and in great demand by educators around the country. These programs represent two critical investments in our efforts to connect children to their natural world and, hopefully as a result, inspire their interest in the sciences and in ensuring the future of their coastal communities. We should recognize their importance today by passing this legislation and codify them as formal programs within NOAA.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I'm pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee).

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains?

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).

At this point I'm pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

I'd like now to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah).

Madam Speaker, could I again inquire of the time remaining.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased now to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

Madam Speaker, at this time I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased now to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. Speaker, in closing the debate on this topic, I want to spend a couple of minutes responding to some claims from the other side. First with respect to the authorization levels, Congress is already investing in both of these programs under discussion today through the appropriations process. The authorized funding levels contained in my bipartisan compromise amendment were based upon existing appropriations and allow for the continuation and measured growth of both programs, which are in high demand by educators nationwide. They were negotiated with my colleague Mr. Cassidy, and I do appreciate his efforts.

My bill would authorize the programs that Congress is already spending money on and makes sure that certain standards and criteria for implementation are met by the agency when they do spend these funds. To me, this represents a responsible effort on the part of our committee and our Congress to exercise our oversight function.

Second, with respect to the argument that we should not consider this legislation because we need time to study the recommendations from the NAS evaluation of NOAA's education program, it is true that the National Academy of Science report on NOAA's education program was released last week. Nothing in the report, however, was specifically critical of either the B-WET or ELG programs. And because of this, this report should have no bearing on my legislation to codify both programs.

Indeed, the NAS' National Research Council panel found that over the relatively short lives of both programs, they have made positive contributions to fulfill NOAA's educational mission and that they reflect well the agency's diverse capabilities in science, resource stewardship, and education.

In short, these are both very good programs with broad support from more than 60 science education, outdoor recreation, and conservation organizations. By authorizing them, we ensure money already being spent is spent well and responsibly. I urge all Members to support the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

Mr. Speaker, my amendment in the nature of a substitute reflects changes to the bill, as ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources, that, as I mentioned, were negotiated between myself and Congressman Cassidy of Louisiana. I wish to thank Mr. Cassidy and his staff for their cooperation and thoughtful suggestions to improve this bill, and I think that the final bipartisan compromise does just that.

In particular, the amendment makes several changes to reflect the significant economic importance of coastal areas and resources to the overall economy of the United States.

As a Representative of a coastal district, I could not agree more that the economic health and viability of our coastal communities is intrinsically connected to the health of the natural resources of the watersheds in which we live. You cannot have one without the other. In addition, my amendment will authorize a gradual increase in authorized appropriations for fiscal years 2011 through 2015. This modest annual increase of 10 percent will allow for the responsible expansion of both programs to incorporate new regions that are not currently served, particularly by the regional B-WET programs.

I applaud the gentleman from Louisiana for his leadership on this front. Both of our districts enjoy the benefits of the regional B-WET programs, and we would like to see those benefits extended to other watersheds around the country where, I can assure you, there is an overwhelming demand. Mr. Speaker, the changes reflected in this amendment serve to strengthen the overall purposes of this bill. I would like once more to thank Congressman Cassidy and his staff for their work on these revisions, and I do encourage support of my colleague's amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) who is the pioneer in the area of coastal education.

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards).

Madam Speaker, as I close my discussion of this amendment, let me remark that over the past 7 years these two programs, the environmental and coastal programs have cumulatively introduced millions of students to unique hands-on learning experiences. The National Academy of Sciences report that was requested by NOAA, not by Congress, reaffirms that each program has increased student interest in science, increased teacher capabilities to instruct science, and increased awareness and appreciation of the environment.

So I urge Members to support the amendment and the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the gentleman from Arizona for offering his amendment to ensure that funds appropriated to support the implementation of the B- WET and the ELG programs are not earmarked. One of the primary purposes of this legislation is to finally codify these programs as permanent educational programs within NOAA's larger educational initiative so that they can be incorporated into NOAA's base budget. In addition, this legislation will establish the purposes and policies of both programs, which should improve the ability of Congress to conduct its oversight to ensure that they remain effective and accountable.

As it now stands, funds appropriated for these programs are not earmarked to benefit any one institution, but rather funds are distributed through regional programs or NOAA's education office through merit-based competitive processes. While this amendment will prohibit the earmarking of funds appropriated to implement both programs, it should have little direct effect on how B-WET or ELG grants are awarded in the future because, as the history of the programs demonstrates, funds have always been awarded competitively.

Consequently, we can accept this amendment even though it is unnecessary, and thank the gentleman from Arizona for his interest in maintaining merit-based and competitive grant making for both programs.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, could I inquire what time there is remaining on this side?

At this point I am very pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my colleague from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Tennessee, the chairman of the Science Committee, Mr. Gordon.

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

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

I object.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to claim time in opposition to this motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, may I go back to the underlying legislation, which is H.R. 3644, the Ocean, Coastal, and Watershed Educational Act. This is an educational program for children. They are not qualified to do natural resource surveys or to assess the impacts of oil seep. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, does not have jurisdiction over air quality and the mitigation of impacts. That would fall under jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The proposal to level fund the program was rejected in the Natural Resources Committee and by the Rules Committee. The modest increases in this bill were negotiated with my colleague, Mr. Cassidy, in the Natural Resources Committee, in a very bipartisan discussion with negotiations that we made between the two sides, and I urge Members to oppose this motion and support the underlying bill.

I remind my colleagues that these programs have a track record of being grant-making programs under NOAA for several years, and in all the places where they are currently being enacted, they are very popular. At a time when our public schools are being inundated with funding decreases and cuts and at a time when we're so concerned about the availability of our young people to learn the basics in science and math, this is a hands-on experience that they can have. It is an educational program that helps them appreciate their environment and take good care of it. We have 10 more applicants for every grant that's been available. So we made this modest agreement in a bipartisan way to increase over time by a very small amount the amount of money that can be available under this program through NOAA. I would hope that we would all get back to the basics of the legislation, oppose the motion to recommit, and support this underlying bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of March as Women's History Month. Throughout history, women have been at the forefront of our Nation's most important struggles; the abolition movement, support for people with disabilities, efforts to enact child labor laws, civil rights, and environmental causes, to name a few. And now we are again at the forefront of one of the most historic efforts of our time, the fight for affordable health care coverage.

It's not coincidence that we are finally making progress on health care reform with the first woman Speaker of the House at the helm, a woman in charge at the White House Office of Health Reform, as well as several Cabinet Secretaries.

Finally, with all due respect to our male colleagues, I believe it is very appropriate during Women's History Month that we pay special tribute to the women of the House as we continue fighting for the causes our mothers and grandmothers fought for before us. Together, we will continue to make history and will do so next with the passage of health care reform.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4851.

This bill takes the necessary steps to extend crucial health care provisions in law that would otherwise expire soon. Although there is a sense of deja vu in voting to prevent an impending 21 percent cut to Medicare and TRICARE reimbursements, we must take action to prevent those cuts from going into effect. I am sure all of my colleagues are well aware of what such cuts would mean to the health providers in their own districts and the restricted access to patients if the cuts happen.

The House can be proud of passing H.R. 3961 this last fall to permanently solve the annual Sustainable Growth Rate, or the SGR, program. But our friends in the other Chamber have failed thus far to act. And until they do, we must ensure that the cuts do not go into effect.

H.R. 4851 also provides a crucial extension to the current arbitrary Medicare beneficiary therapy caps. When outpatient therapy is considered medically necessary for a patient, we should never put an arbitrary limit on the dollar amount that can be spent to provide this important care. And I support the provisions of this bill to allow Medicare beneficiaries to continue receiving the outpatient therapy care that they need.

Finally, I applaud the inclusion of a provision in this bill to correct an inadvertent error regarding electronic health records and incentive payments for physicians who implement them. Through our technical correction in this legislation, we will ensure that physicians who work in outpatient clinics that are owned by hospitals will be eligible for these important incentive payments. Encouraging the adoption of health information technology in all health care settings is a priority shared by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I am pleased that we will further improve adoption of electronic health records with this fix.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4851 and the important health care provisions included in this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.

I continue to reserve.

Madam Speaker, I yield back any remaining time that I might have.