Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I thank my esteemed colleagues for raising the issue, but it is more an issue of accuracy than anything else.

As we look at this, Mr. Chairman, it is real easy to look at CBO and realize that they are the one group that makes a weatherman's 10-day forecast look accurate. They consistently miss it all the time.

When you look at the 2002 farm bill, they missed it by $137 billion. The 2008 farm bill, they missed by $309 billion. Eventually, it adds up to real money.

But even with that, let's look at the sale of 64 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Oil Reserve. They actually said that there is no income from that and that it costs the government to get rid of 64 million barrels of oil. What kind of analysis does that?

So if my friend opposite wants to debate this over the accuracy, I welcome it.

Mr. Chair, it is time that we deal with this.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 342.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor for H.R. 60.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 1873--the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act.

North Carolina is home to four national forests that offer visitors and residents access to incredible scenery, wildlife, and a wide variety of recreational activities.

In my district in Western North Carolina, American Forestry management has its roots in the Pisgah National Forest: The Cradle of Forestry, the very first forestry school in the country, is located there.

Proper forestry management is a part of North Carolina's history that we hope to pass on to for our future generations to come.

I commend my colleagues, Reps. Doug LaMalfa and Kurt Schrader, for identifying a problem and for providing a common-sense solution to make vegetation management in national forests easier.

Managing vegetation around power lines is important for ensuring electric grid reliability, and for keeping overgrown and falling trees from interfering with nearby power lines which can cause blackouts, wildfires, and other safety hazards.

This bill would ensure utility companies, who are responsible for vegetation management near power lines on federal lands, are no longer delayed by bureaucratic red tape and inconsistent federal standards between agencies.

With the passage of this bill, we will be a step closer to providing expedited forestry management plan approval, while also giving utility companies the authority to remove hazardous debris in emergency situations.

Mr. Chair, I am pleased we are advancing a bipartisan proposal today--I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Major David Anderson of the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office. On behalf of the people of Western North Carolina, I would like to thank Major Anderson for his 30 years of service to Caldwell County.

Major Anderson began his law enforcement career in 1986 when he graduated from the U.S. Army Military Police School at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The following year he joined the 21st Airborne Military Police Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He then worked for the Lenoir Police Department as a patrol officer and field training officer from 1990 until 1993.

In 1993 Major Anderson joined the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office and was assigned to the Patrol Division as Deputy Sheriff. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1994, to Lieutenant in 1998, and to Captain of the Patrol Division in 2006. Major Anderson was appointed to Major/ Chief Deputy by Sheriff Alan Jones in 2008 and served in this position until his retirement. As Chief Deputy, Major Anderson supervised budgetary and personnel matters and oversaw the daily operations of the Sheriff's office. In addition to these duties, Major Anderson conducted an extensive research project to document the history of the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office.

Throughout his career, Major Anderson has received numerous medals, service awards, and commendations including the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate, Advanced Service Award, Officer of the Year, and the Medal of Valor. Major Anderson is a lifelong resident of Caldwell County, where he lives with his wife and children.

Through his dedication to the people and history of Caldwell County, Major Anderson has enriched the community that he so faithfully served. I am honored to recognize Major Anderson on his retirement and convey the sincere congratulations and best wishes of the people of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Whisnants, a musical ensemble from Morganton, North Carolina. On behalf of the people of Western North Carolina, I would like to congratulate The Whisnants for nearly 50 years of the continued growth of their remarkable ministry.

This ministry began many years ago in 1970, when John and Betty Whisnant and their family began singing gospel music in Morganton, North Carolina. The group has expanded over the years, with members coming and going, but they have always remained true to their mission. This family has asked God to use their ministry to touch more and more lives, and he has clearly used their music to do so. In the 47 years since they got their start, the Whisnants have performed across the nation and the world. The Whisnants have been recognized as leaders in gospel music, and their songs have frequently been awarded top accolades throughout their career.

As the family's ministry continues to grow and as new generations of Whisnants take new roles, they do so with my prayers and continued best wishes. The Whisnants have been extraordinary representatives of our community across our state and nation. On behalf of the people of Western North Carolina, it's my honor to recognize them on this important family milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Republic of Kazakhstan and its President on taking significant steps towards a more open and democratized form of governance. Recently, President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced constitutional reforms aimed at improving the accountability of government and the transfer of many powers to the Parliament and ministry level.

Last December, Kazakhstan celebrated twenty-five years of independence from the former Soviet Union. In those twenty-five years, Kazakhstan has become a modernized republic, moved towards a market- based economy, and stewarded growth and prosperity for its citizens. Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev is now taking the welcomed steps towards implementing the political and constitutional reforms that a modern republic, governed by the people and for the people, requires for continued long-term stability and prosperity.

I am proud of the United States' partnership with Kazakhstan as it continues to make clear its commitment to the rights of its citizens, and we encourage its progress in protecting religious minorities and freedom of the press. These commendable steps towards the democratization of government serve as an example for other countries in the region.

In the coming months, I look forward to welcoming and working with the new Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov, and commend the Kazakh government for the willingness to continuously improve the country's governmental system.

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

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the leadership of the chairman of the full committee on matters of transparency and accountability. I can tell you that there is no one who has a greater definitive desire to make sure that we hold our government accountable and certainly accountable to the American people.

So, it is with that goal in mind that I rise to ask my colleagues to support an amendment that we are offering that would actually just keep a log of any of the pre-review consultations with agencies that OIRA actually has and conducts, and to publish that list upon completion of review.

Dating back to some 2003, the Government Accountability Office had made the recommendation about increasing this transparency at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. GAO actually made one recommendation targeted at what they call informal review, Mr. Chairman, that OIRA conducts before an agency actually formally submits a rule for review.

Indeed, the GAO recommended that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget should define a transparency requirement that would be applicable to agencies and OIRA, in Section 6 of Executive Order 12866, in such a way that would not include not only the formal review, but it would also include the informal review period when OIRA says that it has sometimes, considering some of the most important facts as it relates to new rules.

This recommendation remains unimplemented today, and I can tell you, Mr. Chairman, we have had a number of hearings where we have had this particular group in. I know my colleagues, the gentleman opposite from Virginia, and I believe that OIRA plays a critical role. And yet, at the same time, some of these meetings were going on without the knowledge, and even after the fact, when they went into effect, and we had really no understanding of some of the deliberation that went on.

So this is just a great transparency, commonsense amendment, and I would urge my colleagues to support it.

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

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

I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands, and, as a gifted orator, and certainly a gifted attorney, I appreciate her compliments. And although not all might agree with her assessment of the reasonable fashion of which I craft particular amendments, I do appreciate the fact that she recognizes it in this case.

She also knows that, in doing this, working in a bipartisan way, is something that, on this particular committee, Oversight and Government Reform, Mr. Chairman, we have had just a wonderful history of being able to work in a real way. And so she certainly has my commitment to continue to try to perfect the language in making sure that transparency is held paramount.

That being said, I don't intend to withdraw the amendment because there are two ways things get done here in Washington, D.C., slow and never. And if we just remember that, this particular day, hopefully we will put this in place.

But the esteemed gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands has my commitment to work with her in a bipartisan way to perfect any language in legislation

that may come up after this particular bill.

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

Mr. Chairman, I thank the two colleagues opposite for their gracious remarks and understand their reluctance to support it based on their concerns with the underlying bill. I, again, reaffirm my commitment to work in a bipartisan way to make sure that transparency is the key for the day.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Daniel Reid Simpson. Unfortunately, on January 24 of this year, he lost a courageous battle with Lewy body dementia and went on to meet his Maker.

Senator Simpson, as many of us knew him, was a father and a husband to Mary Alice for some 63 years. He served the State of North Carolina in the State senate for six terms.

It was not just his service to our great State that made this man truly a remarkable example of a community servant. One of his proudest accomplishments, as he would tell it, was introducing the bill and shepherding it through the State legislature to set up Western Piedmont Community College.

Additionally, he helped set up the Glen Alpine Recreation Foundation. In 2007, they honored him for that work by naming the field the ``Simpson Field,'' for not only the recognition of his great work for the kids of that community who wanted to play baseball and football, but also for his lifelong commitment to the folks of Burke County.

Senator Simpson also served in the military. He fought with MacArthur's forces in the Philippines and served in the occupation forces in Japan.

Not only was he of service to our great State and our great country, but he was of service to Burke County and to his family. So it is with sadness, but certainly with great honor, that I remember his life.

Our prayers are with his wife, his three children, and all of his family at this time.

I thank the chairman for his leadership on this bill and for bringing it through regular order. We continue to hear that around here on this particular bill.

Mr. Chairman, before the gentleman from Massachusetts leaves, I think it is important that we address this. As the gentleman would indicate, he is making this out to be all about big banks, but it is really about the small business folks and, truly, about the municipalities. I want to read a few excerpts from the resolution that comes from his home State--from Massachusetts--because they got together, and they said this is a real problem:

``Whereas, the Federal Government has imposed additional requirements, based on incomplete scientific analysis

and review, on the cities and towns of Massachusetts.'' In this resolution, Mr. Chairman, it talks about going further and that, at a minimum, what we should do is provide a ``fiscal note included as part of any such proposal.''

So it is the towns and the counties across the country and, yes, indeed, from the gentleman--my esteemed friend from Massachusetts--a resolution from his State that talks about the problems that we have with unfunded mandates. Over 850 major pieces of regulation, with impacts of over $100 million a piece, have failed this basic principle and test, and 75 percent of them never get the analysis that we should be doing at the Federal Government.

We have a responsibility to the local towns and governments but also a responsibility, Mr. Chairman, to farmers. I left a hearing today with the EPA and an unfunded mandate. Who are they consulting with? The Department of Agriculture, not with the farmers from across this great country. They are talking to other bureaucrats. It is time that we bring the private sector in, and I think it is time that we stand alongside them.

Mr. Chairman, the chairman points out very clearly that, indeed, the definition of ``private sector'' includes individuals. I would also like to go further and talk about small businesses.

We are talking about small businesses and how they are not supported in this. It is troubling, because if that were the case, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, who represents thousands and thousands of small businesses, or the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, which does the same, would not be endorsing this piece of legislation. So, Mr. Chairman, I want to make sure the record is corrected.

With regards to the $18 million, that was cleared up in Rules yesterday; the committee was made aware of it. And despite the legislation being identical to last Congress' bill, the CBO had scored it as having a direct spending cost, but this was partly because the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB, doesn't have the authority to collect the fees. And so we have already addressed that, Mr. Chairman, and I wanted to make sure we cleared up the record.

Mr. Speaker, just last summer, Delta launched The Blue Lightning Initiative with the help of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Blue Lighting Initiative is a computer based training program that provides airlines with the added tools to help ID and report suspected instances of human trafficking.

According to Delta, it is among some of the first airlines to adopt this expansive type of human trafficking detection training.

Delta and others taking on similar initiatives should be applauded for taking the initiative to end Human Trafficking, one of the greatest challenges we face.

As horrific as Human Trafficking is, it is even more troubling that the United States Government is not taking the steps necessary to properly train DHS employees, such as TSA officers, who have the potential to identify cases of trafficking and help save lives.

This type of training is what Rep. Mark Walker's bill H.R. 460, the Human Trafficking Detection Act, aims to achieve. Awareness is

key and it is essential to ending the human trafficking epidemic that is stealing the freedom of nearly 27 million people worldwide.

Requires DHS to establish a human trafficking training program to be given in classroom or virtually, and to ensure DHS personnel receive this training within 180 days.

This training must include:

Methods to effectively deter, detect, and disrupt human trafficking, and be relevant for each federal employee's particular location or professional environment.

This will help to ensure that DHS doesn't simply establish a generic, one-size-fits-all approach for all employees, and is able to provide thorough training specific to each employee's particular job setting.

Other topics determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.

A post-training evaluation for personnel receiving such training.

H.R. 460 also allows DHS to provide the human trafficking training curricula to State, local or tribal government, or private organization at the entity's request. This will help these government and private entities establish their own training programs.

CBO: Does not expect H.R. 460 to increase federal spending.

Thank you so much for your leadership on this critical evening to express the will of so many Members of Congress that hopefully is the will of the American people. I thank you for your service not only here in Congress, but also for serving the people of King County as sheriff.

Mr. Speaker, when we get to call out some of our dear friends who are sheriffs or police chiefs, many times we

don't even refer to them by name. It is ``sheriff'' or ``chief.'' But tonight, I want to talk a little bit about what I call most of my law enforcement colleagues in western North Carolina. I call them friends. I want to tell a few personal stories.

Before I do that, I want to share a little bit about the gentleman from Washington who is leading this tonight, because it is real easy to see the professional side of a Member who serves with distinction here in this body, but sometimes the people back home miss the personal side.

Today, we were discussing a number of bills on human trafficking and the unbelievable blight that is on our Nation and on our world where we have more people today in modern-day slavery than at the height of the slave trade. But it is personal for this gentleman to my left because time and time again, in meetings, he has brought up the plight of those young girls, their being trafficked at the hands of so many that are out there. It is that personal side that we can applaud tonight, not only for my colleague, but for many of the sheriffs and chiefs that I have the honor of knowing because of being in this position.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell story after story, but there is one police chief in my area who shared a story about one of his officers who was working for him who puts his life on the line every single day, and he does it for a little over $12 an hour. When I heard that, I could hardly believe it, because as we start to see the dedication with which our law enforcement officers truly put themselves out each and every day, not only them, but their families--and we expect them to come home.

Mr. Speaker, as has been shared previously, sometimes, they don't come home; so we must do a better job of standing by our law enforcement officers each and every day to thank them, to go out of our way, to make sure that we thank them for their service, thank their families for their sacrifice.

There are birthday parties that are missed, anniversaries that are missed, dinner engagements that are missed because when the phone rings or when the call goes off or when the beeper is alert, they are always there. Not answering that call is not an option for them. They are always available.

Yet in my district back in North Carolina, we have sheriffs who are getting involved to make sure that the homeless have a place, a warm bed, and a hot meal; a sheriff that has actually gone out in his community in one of my counties that makes sure that those that are in need have a place on Halloween night to come and celebrate in a safe environment; dedicated volunteers over and over; a sheriff back home who really works tirelessly to make sure that the needs of those that are most needy in his community are taken care of--story upon story, Mr. Speaker, of people who put politics aside and put the interests of their community first.

Whether it is a Democrat or Republican, they all work together to make sure that what happens is that their community is safe.

Mr. Speaker, they have my back, and I think it is time that the American people stand up and have their back. We need to make sure that we stand with them.

I thank the gentleman for his time, for his leadership on this issue, and for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 2521) to amend chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, to provide for reform to Federal information security, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5385) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 55 Grasso Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri, as the ``Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5385, sponsored by Representative Ann Wagner of Missouri, to designate the Post Office located at 55 Grasso Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri, as the Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson Post Office.

Army Sergeant Amanda Pinson died on March 16, 2006, while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She, along with a fellow soldier, were killed when a mortar round detonated. She was only 21 years old.

Sergeant Pinson enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school and was known as a model soldier, a ``breath of fresh air,'' and wanted to attend college after the military to become a CIA or FBI agent.

Mr. Speaker, this courageous young woman served her country with honor and gave her life in defense of our country. It is my honor and privilege to stand before this body and pay tribute to Sergeant Pinson's memory and sacrifice. I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Vermont for his support.

I yield as much time as she may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri for her words, and I would say that it represents her heart. Whether it is here in Washington, D.C., or anywhere else, she is always looking to really recognize those who serve their country.

Certainly, in this honor today, I would urge all our Members to join me in support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5794) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16105 Swingley Ridge Road in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the ``Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5794, introduced by Representative Ann Wagner of Missouri, to designate the post office located at 16105 Swingley Ridge Road in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher Post Office.

Army Sergeant Zachary Fisher, a native of Ballwin, Missouri, was killed on July 14, 2010, at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Afghanistan. He died of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his vehicle and detonated an improvised explosive device. Sergeant Fisher was only 24 years old.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Fisher was a brave young man. He decided to join the Army Reserve, and then courageously volunteered to become a member of the Active Duty military. Sergeant Fisher chose to put himself in harm's way in order to protect the freedoms that we, as Americans, enjoy every day. We owe him a great debt of gratitude for making the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.

I ask my colleagues to honor and memorialize Zachary M. Fisher's service by supporting H.R. 5794.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 5794, and I yield back the balance of my time.