Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I rise today to pay tribute to teachers across the country.

This year, National Teacher Appreciation Week has extra significance. With unemployment holding near double-digits, the economy in a prolonged recession, and education budgets slashed in many states, many teachers face the possibility of being laid-off. As Congress considers education reform legislation, we must keep in mind the needs of educators, who have the most important job of all--preparing our young people for the future.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have spent a great deal of time working on education issues, meeting with teachers, and trying to better understand the many issues confronting our nation's schools. While there are many pressing needs at hand, I will take every opportunity to recognize the commitment of our teachers, many of whom are underpaid and often underappreciated for their crucial work. That is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of H. Res. 1312, which recognizes the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well- being.

Teachers play a critical role in shaping our future. They touch the lives of children every day. They inspire, encourage, motivate, and educate the next generation. I applaud their efforts and thank them for their dedication

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for H. Res. 1041 and H. Res. 1042, both offered by my colleague from Idaho, Congressman Walt Minnick.

The resolutions honor the successes of two excellent college football programs in Idaho and commend them on their historic 2009 seasons.

H. Res. 1041 congratulates the University of Idaho's football team, led by head coach Rob Akey, for their remarkable season, capped by their thrilling come from behind victory in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl. The success of this team marked an exceptional turnaround for a program that has struggled in the past and now is amongst the best in the conference after a stellar 2009. It can be expected that Coach Akey and his staff will continue to succeed in Moscow, where they have developed a mindset that expects to win.

H. Res. 1042 commends Boise State University for another fantastic football season in 2009. Coach Chris Peterson has developed BSU into one of the most prestigious programs in the nation. Indeed, 2009 was perhaps the most successful in Boise, with the Broncos posting a 14-0 undefeated record, culminating in a convincing victory in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and a number four national ranking to end the season. Coach Peterson was also awarded the Paul `Bear' Bryant Award, as the NCAA college football national coach of the year, a deserved honor. Enough cannot be said about the work of Coach Peterson and the players to transform BSU into a national powerhouse in only a few years.

As we look ahead to 2010, we can expect more good things from both of these programs, and both of these universities. The people of Idaho are truly blessed to have such world class universities in their state.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872. Passage of this legislation represents the first step to a government takeover of our health care system. Everyone agrees that our health care system needs to be reformed. Health care in America is too expensive and too many families across America are worried about losing or have already lost their health coverage. Businesses, small and large alike, are struggling to provide health insurance for their employees.

Unfortunately, rather than working on real reforms to improve access to health care for

all Americans, Democrats have chosen to pass a trillion dollar bill that would raise Americans' taxes, create a massive new tax burden, and do little to address the problems in our current health system. The frightening reality for the American taxpayer and anyone who will need health care in the future is that the Democrats are hiding the true costs of these bills and doing so in ways that will be disastrous to our Nation's long-term fiscal health. Instead of creating another absurdly expensive government program, we should work to make health care affordable and accessible for everyone.

I strongly believe that there are a number of measures that all of us, regardless of party affiliation, support that will bring down costs and improve access to care for all Americans. These are not new ideas-- they are, however, ideas that are critical to implementing real, affordable and effective health reform. First, we must pass effective medical malpractice reform. We should end the practice of banning the purchase of insurance across State lines, and we should pass legislation to allow small businesses to band together through associations to buy health care coverage. I also support provisions that prohibit insurers from denying coverage to those people with pre- existing conditions. Further, we need to do more as a country to focus on prevention and early intervention. As a dentist, I have seen the benefits of prevention and early intervention. We should be focusing more on how to prevent disease or treat it early when it is most cost- effective and the outcomes are best.

Unfortunately, the Democrats' health reform bill fails to accomplish these goals. I am disappointed that President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have chosen to ignore the clear message from the American people by supporting a massive government takeover of our health system. Americans deserve REAL reform--not a partisan, gimmicky bill that will cost trillions of dollars and do little to improve care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4474, the Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act.

This bipartisan, non-controversial legislation is a technical fix intended to enable the Forest Service to authorize and permit existing historical water diversions within Idaho wilderness.

Last year, one of my constituents came to me for help with a problem. The Middle Fork Lodge has a water diversion within the Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness Area that has existed since before the wilderness area was established and is protected under statute.

The diversion was beginning to leak and is in desperate need of repairs to ensure that it does not threaten the environment and watershed, but when the Forest Service began the process of issuing the Lodge a permit to allow them to make the necessary repairs, we discovered that the Forest Service did not have the authority to issue the required permit.

As we looked into this issue, we discovered that the Forest Service lacks this authority throughout both the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, where there are a number of these diversions. These diversions are primarily used to support irrigation and minor hydropower generation for use on non- Federal lands.

The damage to the water diversion at the Middle Fork Lodge is severe enough that the Forest Service had to do temporary emergency repairs last fall, but without authority to issue them the necessary special use permit, they will be unable to do the work needed to permanently fix the problem.

While the urgent situation at the Middle Fork Lodge brought this issue to my attention, it is obvious to me that this problem is larger than just one diversion. At some point in the future, all 20 of these existing diversions will need maintenance or repair work done to ensure their integrity.

H.R. 4474 authorizes the Forest Service to issue special use permits for 20 qualifying historic water systems in these wilderness areas. I believe it is important to get ahead of this problem and ensure that the Forest Service has the tools necessary to manage these lands.

For these reasons I have worked with my colleague, Walt Minnick, to introduce H.R. 4474. This legislation allows the Forest Service to issue the required special use permits to owners of these historic water systems and sets out specific criteria for doing so.

Providing this authority will ensure that existing water diversions can be properly maintained and repaired when necessary and preserves beneficial use for private property owners who hold water rights under State law.

I have deeply appreciated the cooperation of the Forest Service in addressing this problem. Not only have they communicated with me the need to find a system-wide solution to this issue, but at my request they have worked with me on this legislation to ensure that it only impacts specific targeted historical diversions--those with valid water rights that cannot feasibly be relocated outside of the wilderness area.

H.R. 4474 is bipartisan and non-controversial. It is intended as a simple, reasonable solution to a problem that I think we can all agree should be solved as quickly as possible. I was encouraged that the bill passed out of Committee without objection, and I am hopeful that today we can pass it without delay so that the necessary maintenance to these diversions may be completed before the damage is beyond repair.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3538, the Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act. This bipartisan, non- controversial legislation is a technical fix intended to enable the Forest Service to authorize and permit existing historical water diversions within Idaho wilderness.

Last year, one of my constituents came to me for help with a problem. The Middle Fork Lodge has a water diversion within the Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness Area that has existed since before the wilderness area was established and is protected under statute. The diversion was beginning to leak and is in desperate need of repairs to ensure that it does not threaten the environment and watershed, but when the Forest Service began the process of issuing the Lodge a permit to allow them to make the necessary repairs, we discovered that the Forest Service did not have the authority to issue the required permit.

As we looked into this issue, we discovered that the Forest Service lacks this authority throughout both the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, where there are 22 known water developments, and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, where there are three. These diversions are primarily used to support irrigation and minor hydropower generation for use on non-Federal lands.

The damage to the water diversion at the Middle Fork Lodge is severe enough that the Forest Service had to do temporary emergency repairs last fall, but without authority to issue them the necessary special use permit, they will be unable to do the work needed to permanently fix the problem. While the urgent situation at the Middle Fork Lodge brought this issue to my attention, it is obvious to me that this problem is larger than just one diversion. At some point in the future, all 20 of these existing diversions will need maintenance or repair work done to ensure their integrity.

H.R. 3538 authorizes the Forest Service to issue special use permits for 20 qualifying historic water systems in these wilderness areas. I believe it is important to get ahead of this problem and ensure that the Forest Service has the tools necessary to manage these lands.

For these reasons I have worked with my colleague, Walt Minnick, to introduce H.R. 3538. This legislation allows the Forest Service to issue the required special use permits to owners of these historic water systems and sets out specific criteria for doing so. Providing this authority will ensure that existing water diversions can be properly maintained and repaired when necessary and preserves beneficial use for private property owners who hold water rights under state law.

I have deeply appreciated the cooperation of the Forest Service in addressing this problem. Not only have they communicated with me the need to find a system-wide solution to this issue, but at my request they drafted this legislation to ensure that it only impacts specific targeted historical diversions--those with valid water rights that cannot feasibly be relocated outside of the wilderness area.

H.R. 3538 is bipartisan and non-controversial. It is intended as a simple, reasonable solution to a problem that I think we can all agree should be solved as quickly as possible. I was encouraged that the bill passed out of Committee without objection and am hopeful that we can move it through the legislative process without delay so that the necessary maintenance to these diversions may be completed before the damage is beyond repair.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the policies and standards put forth

by the House Appropriations Committee and the GOP leadership, I would like to list the congressionally-directed projects I have requested in my home State of Idaho that are contained in the Conference Report accompanying H.R. 3326, the FY2010 House Defense Appropriations Bill.

Project Name: 3-D Technology for Advanced Sensor Systems

Amount Received: $2,000,000

Account: Electronics Technology Account in the Department of Defense

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the policies and standards put forth by the House Appropriations Committee and the GOP Leadership, I place in the Record a listing of the congressionally- directed projects I requested in my home State of Idaho that are contained in the Conference Report accompanying H.R. 3288, the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

Division A--FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development

Project Name: Buses and Bus Facilities, Idaho Transit Coalition

Amount Received: $1,000,000

Account: FTA/Buses and Bus Facilities

Recipient: Community Transportation Association of Idaho

Recipient's Street Address: 10480 Garverdale Court, Bldg. 4, Ste. 804A, Boise, ID 83704

Description: Funding for this project will be used to support essential transit systems in rural and urban areas of the State of Idaho. This project meets the criteria of the FTA's Section 5209 Capital Program and has been funded by the Committee since FY 2002.

Project Name: Custer County Economic Development Initiative in Custer County, ID

Amount Received: $500,000

Account: HUD/EDI

Recipient: Custer County, ID

Recipient's Street Address: 802 Main Street, Challis, ID 83226

Description: At almost 5,000 square miles, Custer County is larger than three states, and it has just over 4,000 people. Unfortunately, it is burdened with a high proportion of public lands with over 95 percent of the county's 3.4 million acres administered by federal agencies. The county's tax base, or more specifically the lack thereof, is inadequate to support the services required for such an expansive county. This grossly disproportionate public ownership causes a severe strain on their resources. Funding would be used to construct a community center which would serve a number of purposes for the county.

Project Name: I-84, Broadway to Gowen Road Widening, Boise, ID

Amount Received: $400,000

Account: FHWA/Interstate Maintenance Discretionary

Recipient: Idaho Transportation Department

Recipient's Street Address: 3311 West State Street, Boise, ID 83707

Description: This project will add a third east and westbound lane to I-84 between Broadway Avenue and Gowen Road on I-84. The FY10 earmark will fund the design of this project. The project will be ready for construction in FY11 in conjunction with the Connecting Idaho--GARVEE, bonding--projects in this area. This project is required to alleviate congestion and safety issues caused by the continued fast growth in the Treasure Valley. This project is included in the I-84 Boise Corridor Study adopted by the Idaho Transportation and Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, COMPASS, Boards in October of 2001 and part of the COMPASS Regional 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan, approved in 2006.

Project Name: Trail Creek Highway/Forest Highway 66 Reconstruction, Mackay, ID

Amount Received: $3,750,000

Account: FHWA/Public Lands Highways

Recipient: Lost River Highway District

Recipient's Street Address: 213 South McCaleb, Mackay, ID 83251

Description: Trail Creek Highway/Forest Highway 66 runs through the Salmon-Challis National Forest from U.S. Highway 93 west to Sun Valley, Idaho. The road is maintained entirely by the Lost River Highway District and includes 17 miles of unpaved road that is used extensively for commerce and recreational purposes by tourists and homeowners. The high traffic volume--500 cars per day and expected to grow--and poor road conditions cause safety concerns for those traveling along the highway. Funds would be used to complete study and design work and upgrade the road by paving 5.5 miles of gravel road from the end of existing pavement near the West Bartlett Point Road--MP 11.750--to the Copper Basin Turn-off, MP 17.250.

Division B--FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies

Project Name: Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory, BCAL, Watershed Modeling Utilizing LiDAR at Idaho State University

Amount Requested: $500,000

Account: Department of Commerce NOAA

Recipient: Idaho State University

Recipient's Street Address: 921 South 8th Avenue Stop 8007, Pocatello, Idaho 83209

Description: ISU's Department of Geosciences has developed free spatial analysis tools available to the public for remote sensing and geographic information sciences, GIS. The remote sensing tools include a downloadable toolbox for analyzing light detection and ranging, LiDAR, data. LiDAR is an imaging method using a laser mounted on an aircraft to determine precise vertical information, topography, of the earth's surface--15 cm precision. Commonly, this information is translated into high-resolution digital elevation models, DEMs. LiDAR can provide both a bare earth surface and the vegetated--or built-- surface. LiDAR can also provide topographic data below water. Specifically to the concern of NOAA and the State of Idaho, LiDAR can provide up to date and precise flood plain maps for rivers with built environments--such as the Boise River--to guide decisions on flood insurance coverage and land use restrictions. These predictive maps can also aid in evacuation of people and livestock during an impending flood. This project will leverage existing infrastructure and expertise at ISU to develop state-of-the-art watershed modeling tools for NOAA and other federal agencies. These tools will enable better management of watersheds through improved topographic analyses for prediction of runoff, floods, and water storage capacity. Hyperspectral analysis-- soils and vegetation--will be coupled with the LiDAR data for a full characterization, spectrally and spatially of the landscape. These analyses will allow for studies of vegetation structure, dependence of vegetation, soils, and earth processes, e.g. fire, erosion, on topology--slope and aspect, drainages, surface roughness. The goal of this research and its resulting algorithms and tools is to significantly benefit NOAA in its ability to convert LiDAR data into usable derivative datasets for environmental and safety applications in Idaho and elsewhere.

Project Name: Idaho Meth Project

Amount Requested: $1,000,000

Account: Department of Justice COPS Meth

Recipient: Idaho Meth Project

Recipient's Street Address: 304 N. 8th Street, Room 446, Boise, Idaho 83702

Description: Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse in Idaho has been on the rise over the past few years and, as a result, meth is having a devastating impact in many communities throughout Idaho. Meth is the number one illegal drug of choice in Idaho and the State's leading drug problem. The financial and social consequences of meth abuse in Idaho are devastating. It is a contributing cause for much of the crime in Idaho, costs millions of dollars in productivity, contributes to the ever increasing prison populations and adversely impacts families. The Idaho Meth Project is a large-scale, statewide prevention and public awareness program designed to reduce the prevalence of first-time methamphetamine abuse in Idaho by influencing attitudes through high- impact advertising. The Idaho Meth Project is focused solely upon prevention and, to achieve this goal, is active in three areas: public service messaging, community action and public policy. This includes a pervasive media campaign reaching the target population through TV, radio, billboards, print, and the Internet.

Project Name: Idaho State Police to participate in the Criminal Information Sharing Affiance Network, CISAnet

Amount Requested: $500,000

Account: Department of Justice COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Recipient: Idaho State Police

Recipient's Street Address: 700 South Stratford, Meridian, Idaho 83642

Description: In 2006, the Idaho State Police, ISP, developed and deployed, on a limited basis, a web-based Case Investigative System, CIS. This tool allows investigators to collect, use and share critical law enforcement information across the state. CISAnet provides a bi- directional information-sharing network within and between state and local law enforcement agencies. CISAnet provides ISP and law enforcement across Idaho with real time access to criminal intelligence information shared by law enforcement partner agencies within the states of Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. This ten state area is regarded as one of the most vulnerable to our Nation's security--a ``soft spot'' through which illegal Mexican immigrants filter, illegal drug trafficking passes and terrorists move freely. It is believed that securing this porous border with Mexico is an effective way to protect American citizens. The CISAnet system provides an effective means for law enforcement agencies to share information across state lines on known or suspected criminal activity. Together, access to CISAnet, Idaho's Fusion Center and remote access to CIS will ensure that Idaho state and local law enforcement officers have the best information available in a timely manner. In today's environment, these systems are an effective way to monitor illegal drug and terrorist activity and identify, target and locate potential terrorists. These systems are important components of an overall prevention strategy and are crucial to protecting the citizens of Idaho and the United States' homeland security. The Criminal Information Sharing Alliance network, CISAnet,

Mr. Speaker, as the House considers the conference report on H.R. 3288, the Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY2010, I wanted to clarify the sponsorship of one congressionally-directed projects included in the report that has been attributed to me. Division A of the Conference Report, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, includes $400,000 in funding for FH-24, Banks to Lowman. The Report mistakenly names me as the sponsor of this project. While this project is located in Idaho, I did not submit a request for this project, which is located in the first district. I appreciate the Committee's work in providing funding for important projects in Idaho, but in the interest of transparency, I wanted to clarify this for the record.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the policies and standards put forth by the House Appropriations Committee and the GOP Leadership, I would like to submit a listing of the congressionally- directed projects I requested in my home state of Idaho that are contained in the Conference Report accompanying H.R. 2996, the FY2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

Project Name: City of American Falls Wastewater System Improvements

Amount Requested: $300,000

Account: EPA/STAG

Recipient: City of American Falls

Recipient's Address: 550 N. Oregon Trail, American Falls, ID 83211- 1800

Description: The city's recently completed wastewater facilities planning study evaluated numerous options to address the city's wastewater infrastructure deficiencies and meet U.S. EPA and IDEQ regulations. Based on input from the city, IDEQ, citizens of American Falls, and the consulting engineers performing the study, it was determined that a new wastewater treatment facility incorporating membrane technologies was the best solution to meet the needs of the city. Such a treatment facility utilizes state-of-the-art treatment technology that would be able to meet current and anticipated future State and Federal requirements. In addition, it would provide future flexibility to the city for pursuing other treated wastewater disposal methods. Total project cost is over $10 million. The people of American Falls will be absorbing the majority of costs for this project.

Project Name: City of Buhl Wastewater System Improvements

Amount: $750,000

Account: EPA/STAG

Recipient: City of Buhl

Recipient's Address: 203 North Broadway, Buhl, ID 83316

Description: The city is periodically exceeding the NPDES limitations under the Clean Water Act and was recently fined by EPA for non- compliance of their pH, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) IDEQ and EPA have mandated that the city build a new wastewater treatment center. Buhl, a town of less than 5,000 residents, recently passed a bond election for $15 million to help pay for the required improvements to their water system. The loan funds will be a burden to the residents--many of whom are elderly (19% of the community) and the majority of whom are low to moderate income--and will increase monthly water bills by over $100, but even this will be unsustainable without additional assistance. Funding for this project will enable the City build a new wastewater treatment center that would meet the Federal and State mandates imposed on the community.

Project Name: Historic Old Pen Site Stabilization Project

Amount: $150,000 8 604

Account: National Park Service/Save America's Treasures

Recipient: Idaho State Historical Society

Recipient's Address: 2205 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83712

Description: This project will provide stabilization to the Old Idaho State Penitentiary historic site, which is operated by the Idaho State Historical Society. The Old Pen is one of the West's most significant prison sites and one of the most visited cultural facilities in Idaho. It thus plays a key role in the economic vitality of Boise and the Treasure Valley. Funding would be used for work needed immediately to stabilize the site. In addition, funding would be used for an historic structures report to help better anticipate future maintenance and repair needs before they become emergency situations.

Project Name: Idaho Sage-Grouse Management Plan

Amount: $1,000,000

Account: Fish and Wildlife Service/ESA Resource Management

Recipient: Idaho Governor's Office of Species Conservation

Recipient's Address: 300 N. 6th Street, Boise, ID 83702

Description: Sage-grouse are on the verge of being listed under the Endangered Species Act, with a decision on listing expected this spring. Idaho is taking proactive steps to recover this species before a listing is required. The management plan, which is a partnership with private landowners, is an attempt to be wise stewards of the nation's wildlife without being compelled to do so by law.

Project Name: Piva Parcel Land Acquisition

Amount: $400,000

Account: USFS/Land Acquisition

Recipient: U.S. Forest Service, Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Recipient's Address: 5 North Fork Canyon Road, Ketchum, ID 83340

Description: Funds will be used to enable the Forest Service to acquire the 160-acre Piva parcel from a willing seller so that it can be used for public recreation and access to the Redfish Lake recreation area from the town of Stanley. The Forest Service currently has a conservation easement on the property, but acquiring the land is necessary to carry out planned improvements.

Project Name: SNRA Trail Maintenance and Improvements

Amount: $1,200,000

Account: Capital Improvements and Maintenance (Trail Construction)

Recipient: U.S. Forest Service, Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Recipient's Address: 5 North Fork Canyon Road, Ketchum, ID 83340

Description: Funds will be used for trail construction, maintenance, and improvement in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Of the funds appropriated for trail maintenance and improvement in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, $500,000 is for trail improvements; $500,000 is for maintenance of existing motorized trails and areas; and $200,000 is for the improvement of two existing trails to provide primitive wheelchair access at Murdock Creek and Phyllis Lake.

I appreciate the opportunity to provide a list of congressionally- directed projects in my district that have received funding in the Conference Report accompanying the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2010 and provide an explanation of my support for them.

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

I would like to begin my comments today by expressing my thanks to Chairman Dicks for the even-handed manner in which he has conducted the business of the Interior and Environment Subcommittee this year. While we may disagree about the need for a 17 percent increase in spending in this conference agreement, our work together has been a bipartisan, collaborative effort. While we certainly don't agree on every issue, when we do disagree, Chairman Dicks and I continue to work very well together.

Of the many things achieved by this legislation, I hope it will be remembered for the effort made to address the long-standing issue of adequately funding our country's fire suppression needs without bankrupting other non-fire accounts. From our hearings earlier this year, we know that almost 50 percent of the Forest Service budget is consumed by the costs of fighting wildfires. In past years, the Forest Service has had to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars from other accounts just to pay for fire suppression.

The President took positive steps this year by proposing a contingency reserve fund for fire suppression. The House and Senate also acted by approving the FLAME Act in each Chamber with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. Working together, authorizers and appropriators have developed FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Funds, providing both the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service the additional tools they need to combat large, severe fire emergencies.

This conference report also provides needed attention to our Native American brothers and sisters. There are many unmet needs within Indian Country in education, health care, law enforcement, drug abuse prevention, and other areas, and this legislation does a great deal to address these issues. I thank Chairman Dicks for his attention to this important area of the budget.

However, while this conference agreement tackles many challenging issues, it also assumes that more money is the answer to every problem we face. I just don't believe that a $4.7 billion, or 17 percent, increase over last year makes sense. This additional spending comes on the heels of a 13 percent last year and an $11 billion infusion from the stimulus bill.

The Federal budget deficit is now a staggering $1.4 trillion, the highest deficit in history, and three times higher than that of the previous administration. Our current deficit is almost 10 percent of the gross domestic product, a level not witnessed since World War II. Remember, this is before Congress begins tackling the issue of health care, cap-and-trade, and other expensive pieces of legislation.

I believe a better approach would have been to create a balanced bill. This conference report provides a disproportionate level of funding to one agency, the EPA, and creates an imbalance that undermines what could be a very fine piece of legislation.

I question the need for a $10.2 million budget for EPA, a 35 percent increase from just last year. This is on top of the $7.2 billion the agency received in stimulus funding and the $7.6 billion it received in last year's Interior bill. Taken together, the EPA will receive more than $25 billion in this calendar year. That is about the size of the entire Interior and environment spending bill just 2 years ago.

This package also provides large increases in programs without having clearly defined goals or sufficient processes in place to measure results or the return on our investment. We are making rapid investments in water, climate change, renewable energy, and other areas, all of them worthy endeavors, but with relatively little planning and coordination across multiple agencies and the rest of government.

I look forward to receiving a detailed report from the administration on how and where climate change dollars are being spent, not just within this bill, but across all of government. Spending on climate change programs in this package alone has increased from $231

million in last year's budget to $382 million in this year's conference agreement. That is a 66 percent increase in 1 year.

As I said earlier, I have the highest regard for Chairman Dicks and look forward to continuing our work together. I would very much like to support this conference report, but regrettably, I cannot. The bottom line for me is that the conference agreement simply spends too much money.

In closing, I would like to thank both the majority and minority staff for their long hours and fine work in producing this conference report. On the majority side, this includes Delia Scott, Chris Topik, Julie Falkner, Greg Knadle, Beth Houser, Melissa Squire, Pete Modaff and Ryan Shauers. Of the minority staff, I'd like to thank my staff, Missy Small, Megan Milam, Kaylyn Bessey, and Lindsay Slater, as well as committee staffers, Darren Benjamin and Dave LesStrang.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), a member of the subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), another member of the subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to another member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to a valuable member of the Resources Committee, the authorizing committee, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop).

Madam Speaker, might I inquire as to the amount of time remaining?

I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).

Would the Speaker tell us how much time is remaining on each side?

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling).

I would inform the gentleman from Washington that I am ready to close whenever the gentleman is.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I will close. Again, I want to thank Chairman Dicks and the staff for the tremendous job they have done and the bipartisan way in which they have worked with us in trying to solve some problems.

Madam Speaker, I don't think there is anybody on this side of the aisle that actually disagrees with the various programs that are going on in this appropriations bill. The disagreement comes that we just believe it's too much money; a 17 percent increase on top of the $11 billion that was received during the stimulus package I think is too much, given these economic times and the hardship that is being felt by Americans all across this country.

I think that's where the main opposition comes. It's not about any particular program. We have done a tremendous job in a lot of different areas that I think all of us agree with. There are specifics that I think if I were king for a day would probably be a little different, and this bill would probably be a little different if you were king for a day.

We realize it's a compromise, and we try to work out those differences between both the majority and the minority and between the House and the Senate. I think Chairman Dicks has done an admirable job of doing that. In fact, I don't even disagree with the discussion that was going on here earlier about the Great Lakes shipping. I don't disagree with what Chairman Obey was trying to do here. I understand the impact that it would have on the economy in the Great Lakes and what is going on there.

All we ask oftentimes is that when we have those same types of issues relative to mining or timber or industries in our part of the country, that people will be sensitive to the impact that some of the regulations that are imposed by the EPA and other agencies are going to have on those, and we are only seen as trying to gut those regulations when, in fact, we are trying to do oftentimes the same thing that's being done here. I don't disagree with what you are trying to do, and I understand it. I support what you are trying to do.

While I would like to tell the chairman that I could support this bill, because I think we have done some good work here, unfortunately, I can't, just because of the spending level. I would encourage my Members to vote ``no'' on this appropriations bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to instruct at the desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, before I get into the substance of this motion to instruct, I want to thank Chairman Dicks and his staff for listening to the views of the minority during our preconference deliberations. While we may not agree on everything in this Interior Appropriations conference agreement, our staff discussions have been very productive.

The motion I am offering today is very straightforward and does two things. First, it would insist on section 425 of the House bill regarding a prohibition on funds to implement any rule requiring mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems. Secondly, it would require that the Interior Appropriations conference report be available 72 hours prior to House consideration for the public and Members to read.

This motion to instruct simply insists upon the House-passed bill's position relating to the Latham amendment. The Latham amendment simply says that the EPA cannot implement a rule that requires mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from cow, pig, or chicken manure.

The Latham amendment was offered in full committee and was one of the very few amendments passed this year with strong bipartisan support. Every Democrat on the Appropriations Committee with agricultural interests in his district supported it, and no one made an effort to strike the language on the House floor. Now, of course anyone could have done that--excuse me, I was wrong. We didn't consider this bill under an open rule, so they would have had to go to the Rules Committee, but no one did go to the Rules Committee to get an amendment approved so that they could offer it on the floor. It was part of the House-passed Interior Appropriations bill and should be a part of the Interior Appropriations conference agreement.

According to the EPA, livestock manure management systems account for less than 1 percent of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Over 85 percent--that's 85 percent--of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in total come from sources other than manure management systems, and these sources are not subject to the reporting rule. By the EPA's own admission, regulating these sources would be overly expensive and burdensome.

Members of the Agriculture Committee have been warning us for years of the danger of climate change rulemaking outside of the legislative process. This EPA rule is clear evidence that the chickens have finally come home to roost, as have the cows and pigs.

If you have livestock or a family farm in your congressional district, you will want to support this motion to instruct. The simple truth is that the livestock industry is being hammered by the downturn in our national economy. If you are raising animals for food, you are either losing your shirt or you are going out of business. That's the truth. It's not an exaggeration. Frozen credit markets have left farmers and ranchers without the credit they need to run their day-to- day operations, and many have been forced to sell their land or declare bankruptcy.

It was only a few weeks ago that we added $350 million to the Ag Appropriations conference report to bail out the dairy industry, which is collapsing under the strain of the credit crisis and low milk prices. And in the Interior conference report, we're not only making it more difficult for farmers to succeed, we are setting them up to fail.

There is another irony here worth noting. The Interior Appropriations conference agreement is likely to include an exemption to a clean air rule affecting ships on the Great Lakes. Chairman Obey recognized that the excesses of the EPA would place additional hardships upon an economy already devastated by the recession, so the chairman has done what anyone in his position would do to help his constituents--he took action. I happen to agree with him. That's no different from what Tom Latham is trying to do to help farmers, ranchers, and livestock producers in Iowa and across the country. The only difference is that Mr. Latham's amendment was in the original House bill and Chairman Obey's rider was airdropped in at the last minute. So we are going to protect the Great Lakes on the one hand while we regulate farmers out of business on the other hand.

If the EPA had existed in Biblical times, there is no question in my mind that it would have regulated gas emissions from Noah's Ark. Poor Noah and his livestock; they could withstand a 40-day flood, but they would never have survived the EPA.

I encourage Members on both sides to take a step back and think about this. Let's use a little common sense here. I urge Members, especially if you support agriculture, farming, and the livestock industry, to support this motion.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham).

I would just remind the chairman that what we have is an authorizing committee that ought to be doing this and not the Appropriations Committee that ought to be doing this. This is the result of language put in an appropriations bill. We have authorizing committees like the Ag Committee which ought to be looking at this and overseeing it, not the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).

May I inquire of the Speaker as to how much time we have remaining?

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington for entertaining this motion to instruct.

I said earlier that we had authorizing committees to do this. Some have suggested maybe they don't do their job and the Appropriations Committee has to do it for them. I don't think that's right.

But I will tell you that in the only comprehensive climate change bill that's passed the House, the Waxman-Markey bill, it exempted all animal agriculture sources from greenhouse gas emissions reporting. We have two bills now that have passed the House, and the House has stated they do not want to have to report animal emissions to the EPA, Waxman- Markey and the Interior appropriations bill that passed.

Now remember this legislation, or this amendment by Mr. Latham, was not in the original Interior bill as it came before the Appropriations Committee. It was added as an amendment. We affirmatively said we do not want the EPA to implement this rule on greenhouse gas emissions from animals. We affirmatively said it. It was not an oversight. That's what the committee said. When it came to the full House, no one offered an amendment to remove that language. I think that we ought to insist on the House language that is in this bill.

Now I am puzzled a little bit when the chairman says ``we'll do our best'' and then stands up and defends the rule. What is ``our best''? I don't know where we are headed with this.

Let me tell you how this process works just a little bit. Preconferencing goes on between the House and the Senate, generally between the staffs; they talk with the Members of Congress and so forth, but the preconferencing goes on. Apparently the Senate didn't like the Latham amendment, and we caved. And we said, No, we'll drop the Latham amendment.

I think we need to insist on the Latham amendment. It's been the only expression by either body of the direction we ought to go, that we are opposed to this mandatory reporting by the EPA that's going to cost us, I think the gentleman from Iowa said, $115 million a year. Remember, we just gave the dairy industry $350 million because of the hardships they are currently suffering. And now we are going to impose these kinds of costs on them.

We need to go to conference, and when we say we're going to do the best we can, if, when we go to conference, if the preconferenced conference report does not have the Latham language in it, that means we can offer an amendment to put it in the language, in the appropriation bill. But if the Senate doesn't have the votes to pass it there, then it's dropped and it's out.

If it goes to conference with the language in, they have to get an amendment both past the House and the Senate to drop it. It's to our advantage and to the will of this House that it have the language in the preconferenced report before we go to conference, and apparently we've dropped it. So when the chairman says we'll do the best we can, I don't know exactly what that means.

I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Now I'm really confused. I'm really puzzled. I don't understand what the gentleman is saying.

Reclaiming my time, I would yield to the gentleman from Iowa.

Reclaiming my time, I will point out once again, this is the Appropriations Committee. The authorizing committee specifically exempts all animal agricultural source from greenhouse gas emission reporting. We got 100 percent of the legislation under the requirement the EPA can't oversee the emissions from the ships on the Great Lakes. We need to stand up strong, and we need to stand up for what the House voted for, not once but twice, what the committee voted for. We need to stand up in the conference committee with the Senate.

I encourage the chairman to do just that. I encourage my colleagues to vote for this motion to instruct.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the policies and standards put forth by the House Appropriations Committee and the GOP Leadership, I would like to place in the record a listing of the congressionally directed project I requested in my home state of Idaho that is contained in the Conference Report accompanying H.R. 2892, the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

Project Name: Power and Cyber Systems Protection, Analysis, and Testing Program

Amount: $3,000,000

Account: NPPD Infrastructure Protection and Information Security

Recipient: Idaho National Laboratory

Recipient's Street Address: 2525 North Freemont St, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415

Description: This funding will be used to conduct vulnerability analysis, testing, and protection of power and cyber connected systems for the Department of Homeland Security, utilizing the unique resources available at the Idaho National Laboratory, such as the electric grid, SCADA and control systems, cyber and communication test beds, and the explosives test range. The project entails collaboration with leading universities and other National Laboratories to leverage ongoing research at these institutions and advance the state of the art in building resilience into infrastructure systems. The funding will be used to obtain full-scale systems in sectors of interest to DHS for testing of vulnerabilities, identification of protection strategies, and evaluation of resilient designs; partner with universities and National Laboratories to develop resilient control systems; and establish a program that develops new protection schemes. The INL is uniquely placed to carry out this program, which leverages its ongoing work in this area sponsored by DOD, DHS, and Intelligence Agencies and its established relationships with industry, universities, and National Laboratories.

I appreciate the opportunity to provide a list of the Idaho project that has received funding

in the Conference Report for the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill and provide an explanation of my support for it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support to H.R. 3763, to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide for an exclusion from Red Flag Guidelines for certain businesses. This bill is a bipartisan, common-sense approach to protecting our nation's small businesses from needless, burdensome government regulation. This legislation would exempt certain businesses, including health providers, from complying with the Red Flags Rule, which requires financial institutions and creditors to develop and implement a written identity theft program.

The bill recognizes that many of our nation's small businesses, particularly health providers, are not financial institutions and therefore do not present the same level of risk as financial institutions in cases of identity theft. In fact, many of these medical and dental offices were considered creditors under the rule simply because of the fact that they are willing to work with patients on developing flexible payment plans for those patients that can't afford to pay at the time of service. Thus, this rule actually appeared to discourage efforts to improve access to care for people who can't afford to pay, which runs contrary to all of Congress's efforts, on both sides of the aisle, to improve our health system.

When Congress expressed those concerns to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), they delayed the implementation of the rule twice, in April and again in August, as they worked with providers and other small businesses in an effort to minimize the burdens of compliance and address their concerns with the program. I would like to recognize and thank the FTC for their efforts. However, as this bill demonstrates, Congress believes that entities such as health providers, accountants and others were never meant to be included in the definition of creditor. This legislation is an appropriate next step to better defining who is a creditor and protecting our small businesses from needless costs and regulations.

I would like to thank Chairman Frank and Ranking Member Bacchus for working with us to craft a balanced bill to address all parties' concerns. In addition, I would like to thank Congressman Adler and Congressman Broun--I have greatly enjoyed working with you on this legislation. In addition, 1 would like to thank tile FTC for their willingness to work with us to address the concerns of medical providers and small businesses alike. They have been a true partner in this process, and I would like to recognize their efforts to address our concerns with this rule.

Mr. Speaker, during these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever that government push forward legislation to promote small businesses in America. In addition, we should be working with America's dentists and doctors to promote policies that improve access to care instead of burdening them with unnecessary rules and compliance measures. This legislation does exactly that.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the policies and standards put forth by the House Appropriations Committee and the GOP Leadership, I submit a list of the congressionally directed projects I have requested in my home state of Idaho that are contained in the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 3183, the FY 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill.

Project Name: City of Boise Geothermal Expansion to Boise State University

Amount Received: $1,000,000

Account: DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Geothermal Technology

Recipient: City of Boise

Recipient's Street Address: 150 N Capitol Boulevard, Third Floor, Boise, Idaho 83702

Description: The Boise City geothermal system currently provides a low cost, environmentally sound, sustainable, locally provided heat source to commercial and publicly owned buildings in downtown Boise. Geothermal heat is considered a renewable source of energy and does not rely on fossil fuels, nuclear power, mining or damming of rivers and emits zero emissions into the atmosphere. This project will extend the City of Boise geothermal pipeline system to Boise State University and would have the capacity to heat almost two million square feet on the campus. As global energy costs increase, the expansion to increased facilities will provide significant cost savings.

Project Name: Idaho Accelerator Center Production of Medical Isotopes

Amount Received: $1,500,000

Account: DOE Office of Science

Recipient: Idaho State University

Recipient's Street Address: 921 South 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83209

Description: The National Academy of Sciences recently issued a report recommending that the federal government increase support to radionuclide production, distribution and basic research in production mechanisms; increase the domestic production of medical radionuclides through dedicated accelerators and reactors; and educate the next generation of medically-related nuclear scientists. The Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) will develop a medical isotope production facility that will serve regional isotope needs, conduct basic research in isotope production, educate the next generation of medically-related nuclear scientists, and partner with regional and national entities in medical isotope distribution and use. This program will meet regional and national needs in education and isotope production and provide new isotopes that are not currently part of the national isotope portfolio. IAC will complement, supplement and enhance DOE's National Isotope Program.

Project Name: Idaho National Laboratory Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES)

Amount Received: $1,000,000

Account: DOE Office of Science

Recipient: Idaho National Laboratory

Recipient's Street Address: 2525 North Freemont St., Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415

Description: CAES is a partnership between the State of Idaho and its academic research institutions, the federal government through the U.S. Department of Energy and the Idaho National Laboratory managed by the Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC. Through its collaborative structure, CAES combines the efforts of these institutions to provide timely energy research on both technical and policy issues. The funds provided will procure world-class computation and visualization research equipment to be located in the CAES research laboratory. These research tools will enable both critical-path scientific research and graduate education programs focused on such twenty-first century energy challenges as the availability of carbon-neutral renewable energy, such as biofuels for transportation; the stewardship of the environment including water resource management through energy efficiency; the management of fossil fuel energy systems; and the expansion of energy production from commercial nuclear power while educating the next generation of scientists, engineers, policy makers and the public.

Project Name: Little Wood River Ecosystem Restoration

Amount Received: $100,000

Account: Corps of Engineers

Recipient: City of Gooding, Idaho

Recipient's Street Address: 308 5th Ave. West, Gooding, ID 83330

Description: This funding was authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 and would be used to repair and replace an aging WPA/CCC project that channeled the Little Wood River through the City of Gooding, Idaho. The project will remove and replace the existing rock wall and the boxed culverts that severely restrict the stream channel flow. Approximately 1.5 miles of the Little Wood River flow within Gooding city limits. Over the years, aging along with high water and ice jam events have caused severe deterioration of the masonry rock walls constructed in the 1930's and 40's in order to protect the city from floods. Large portions of the existing lava rock walls that line the Little Wood River through the city are structurally unserviceable and many have failed and fallen into the channel. This deterioration has increased at an alarming rate. The Corps of Engineers and the City of Gooding have been working on a solution for this rock wall failure for the past 20 years. The Army Corps has completed the Reconnaissance Study and the General Investigation Study, but the project has been on hold due to a lack of funding.

Project Name: Rural Idaho Section 595

Amount Received: $3,875,000

Account: Corps of Engineers

Recipient: Walla Walla District Corps of Engineers

Recipient's Street Address: Boise Field Office, 304 8th St., Rm. 140, Boise, ID 83702-5802

Description: The funding was authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. This funding is critical to assisting rural Idaho communities in upgrading their water and wastewater treatment facilities. In many cases, this funding is required to comply with unfunded mandates passed down by this Congress and federal agencies. In addition, these funds help rural communities in Idaho trying to attract new businesses and spur economic development. The vital water funding in this bill will assist rural communities in job creation and affordable housing by offering improved services at lower costs than would otherwise be possible. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account. Funding will be directed primarily to the Eastern Idaho Regional Wastewater Authority in Shelley, Idaho.

I appreciate the opportunity to provide a list of Congressionally- directed projects included in the Conference Report to accompany HR 3183, the FY2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, on behalf of Idaho and provide an explanation of my support for them.