Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize World Philosophy Day 2008, sponsored by the Philosophy Program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This year, World Philosophy Day will take place on November 20. On this occasion, numerous events to recognize this day occur in many UNESCO member states, and Delaware is privileged to join with these organizations and schools in doing so.

It is especially fitting that World Philosophy Day be recognized and celebrated in the United States, as it has been since 2002. The United States is perhaps unique in the world as a nation founded on the ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy. Thomas Jefferson, in drafting our ``Declaration of Independence'', drew heavily from the writings of British Philosopher John Locke. Likewise, the framers of the United States Constitution were greatly influenced by the French Philosophers Voltaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Baron de Montesquieu, the latter shaping the American understanding of separation of governmental powers. Philosophy continues to play a profound role in the development of American thought in many areas, including public policy, religion, the sciences, and jurisprudence.

It is also especially fitting that World Philosophy Day be recognized and celebrated in Delaware. The American Philosophical Association (APA), founded in 1901, is headquartered at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. The APA is the largest philosophical society in the world, with over 11,000 members. According to its mission, this long-standing organization focuses on promoting philosophical research and scholarly endeavors, improving the quality of philosophical education in American schools and universities, and working to better equip American students to face the challenges of our rapidly changing and greatly diversified world.

Once again, I am pleased to stand to recognize World Philosophy Day 2008. The critical and analytical skills that remain at the core of philosophy are increasingly vital to education in our State of Delaware, our nation, and our world. For this reason it is particularly appropriate to join with UNESCO in setting aside November 20 to celebrate the ancient yet always relevant discipline of philosophy.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize Dr. Gerald M. Lemole, M.D. Dr. Lemole is the 2008 recipient of the Wilmington Senior Center's Lifetime Achievement Award. The Wilmington Senior Center bestows this prestigious award upon an older adult whose accomplishments are particularly laudable. As one of our nation's foremost cardiothoracic surgeons, Dr. Lemole is certainly deserving of such an honor.

Following his graduation from Villanova University in 1958 and after earning his doctor of medicine degree from Temple University in 1962, Dr. Lemole completed an internship at Staten Island University and his residency at Temple University Hospital. From 1967 to 1969, Dr. Lemole received cardiac training from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Serving as an instructor in surgery at Baylor in 1968, he was part of the surgical team that performed the first successful heart transplant in the United States.

Returning to Temple University in 1969, Dr. Lemole quickly made his mark on the Tri-State area, performing the first coronary bypass that same year. At 32, he became Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Temple University, Chief of Surgery at Deborah Heart and Lung Center at 35, and a full professor of surgery at Temple University at 38, making him one of the youngest individuals in the United States to achieve such a position. Dr. Lemole re-located to Delaware in 1986 in order to establish our State's first open heart surgery program, where he has since continued to save numerous lives as well as train and mentor other promising surgeons on the staff in the Christiana Care Health System. He also serves on the staff at A.I. Dupont Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, along with several hospitals in the Greater Philadelphia area.

As an accomplished physician and brilliant instructor, Dr. Lemole has lectured extensively and authored many articles for various publications. He has served as a visiting professor at several colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad, including the University of Istanbul, where he performed Turkey's first successful coronary bypass surgery in 1982.

I thank and acknowledge Dr. Gerald Lemole for his dedicated service to our nation and the State of Delaware. With honed precision and an exceptional medical mind, Dr. Lemole has touched countless lives in his over forty years of surgical practice. He is a truly worthy recipient of the Wilmington Senior Center's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize Delaware State Representative Joseph E. Miro and his wife, Joanne. On October 17, the

Delaware Latin American Community Center will honor Joe and Joanne for their contributions to the Delaware community at their Annual Grand Ball, Una Noche en Espana.

Joe's life in public service began following his 1970 graduation from Lincoln University when he accepted a position teaching in the Wilmington School District in Wilmington, Delaware. He continued teaching in the Christina School District until his retirement in 2001. In 1975, he earned a masters degree from West Chester University and completed post-graduate degree work at the University of Delaware. Joe's career in politics began in 1992 when he was elected to the New Castle County Council, serving until his election to the Delaware House of Representatives in 1998. As a member of Delaware's General Assembly, Joe has been a strong advocate of an increased focus on improving education statewide and nationwide, joining such associations as the Delaware State Education Association and the Association of Teachers of Foreign Language.

Likewise, Joanne has dedicated herself toward improving education for our youth in Delaware and across America. Her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Delaware and background in education and school counseling have served her well in numerous influential leadership positions, including serving as vice president of the College of Education, Human Services and Public Policy at the University of Delaware and as president of the Delaware School Counselors Association and the Delaware Counseling Association. Joanne also served as a board member of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Joanne currently serves as an education associate for school improvement with the Delaware Department of Education.

In addition, Joe and Joanne have been very active members in the Hispanic community. Joe currently serves as the President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and as a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs. From 1994 to 2002, Joe was a board member of the Latin American Community Center in Delaware. Joanne continues to lend her support to Joe's efforts in representing the interests of Latinos in Delaware and throughout the United States.

I acknowledge and thank Representative Joe and Joanne Miro for their service to the State of Delaware and our country. I am confident that they will remain active and enthusiastic advocates for these causes that are so dear to their hearts.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize Mary Carpenter for her 50 years of support to the Pilot School in Wilmington, Delaware. As the principal founder of the Pilot School, Mary has seen her dream blossom into a reality: an innovative, individualized learning facility that has impacted the lives of countless children and their parents in the Delaware Valley area.

The Pilot School serves to provide a learning environment for children who need individualized, therapeutic attention to build basic academic and social skills. In 1957, the Pilot School began as a class of five young boys and two teachers who met at the Christ Church Sunday School in Greenville, Delaware. One of these students was Keith Carpenter, Mary's fourth child. Mary's vision for a school that could meet her son's learning needs inspired four other parents, who supported Mary in realizing this vision. The groundbreaking teaching of these instructors proved so successful, the teachers, parents, and Mary recognized that this ``pilot'' program must become an established, ongoing school. Pilot has grown into a teacher-designed facility with 50 staff members educating approximately 160 students ages 5 to 14 each year.

Today, Mary serves on the Board of Trustees to the Pilot School, helping to set school policy, manage finances, raise financial support for tuition aid, and oversee maintenance to the school's facility. As such, she serves on the Financial Aid Committee and the Executive Committee. While she remains heavily involved in the overall workings of Pilot, Mary still reaches out to the teachers and parents of Pilot students as a person who understands the challenges that face those who seek to properly intervene for children with language-based learning difficulties. If she hears of a need, Mary meets that need, often sending supplies, materials, and thoughtful gifts to teachers for their classrooms.

I acknowledge and thank Mary Carpenter for her many years of service and numerous contributions to the Pilot School and education in the State of Delaware. I am confident that she will remain an influential part of the Pilot School for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) Act, H.R. 1907.

CELCP is a wonderful example of a public/private partnership. I believe strongly in protecting lands currently threatened by the rapid

development across the country and I am so pleased that CELCP is able to make such a valuable contribution to the protection of coastal and estuarine lands, which are considered important for their ecological, conservation, recreational, historical and aesthetic value.

This program provides badly needed federal funds for the purchase and protection of sensitive coastal ecosystems with the goal of better ensuring the ecological and economic health of our coastal communities--this is critical in light of the fact that 60 percent of Americans will live along the coast by 2010.

I have been privileged to work with Representative Saxton and applaud his dedication to formally authorizing this program that Congress has funded since 2003. By establishing a plan for the preservation of our coastal areas, authorizing CELCP will build on the successful Coastal Zone Management Act, and it will continue to encourage partnership programs among federal government, state agencies, local governments, private landowners and non-profits.

CELCP has certainly provided the backbone for strong partnerships in Delaware, through the Nature Conservancy, and DNREC, and NOAA--and I look forward to the continued success of the program.

As we all know too well, protecting open space is particularly important in Delaware, where rapid development is underway. Delaware's CELCP funding totals around $10 million; most recently it has helped ensure that Blackbird Creek, with wetlands, forest, and important species, remains ecologically valuable today and in the future.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting H.R. 1907.

Mr. Speaker, I remain frustrated that Congress has yet to arrive at a compromise to ensure a majority vote in both chambers on a comprehensive energy package. There is a finite supply of oil and increasing global demand, and this picture will not change. For this reason, I believe that all solutions are essential in any compromise legislation striving to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, so that future generations are not faced with the same energy problems. It is my goal to continue to work toward a compromise package, which can be signed into law, to deliver the relief the American public needs now and an energy policy for the 21st Century.

New domestic offshore drilling has been the subject of much debate over the last few months. With Delaware's coastline and tourism economy in mind I have been cautions about any new drilling that could have a negative impact. However, I do believe that additional domestic oil and gas production on a limited basis and carried out in an environmentally sound manner is realistic, so that American dollars no longer go overseas to in some cases unfriendly nations. Coupled with this must be a sincere commitment to invest in renewable energy development and energy efficiency measures. It is this way that we will improve our national security, help address climate change, improve American competitiveness, and create jobs.

Today I voted to support maintaining a ban on oil and gas development up to 50 miles off our coastlines, to allow drilling between 50 and 100 miles offshore if states give the green light, and to allow the federal government to permit drilling from 100 to 200 miles offshore in the Outer Continental Shelf. The bill ensures drilling happens in a way that protects ``coastal environment, marine environment, and human environment of state coastal areas and the Outer Continental Shelf.'' A strong protective barrier between our coastlines and where new drilling could begin is important for protecting sensitive coastal habitat and the tourism industry Delaware. A sustainable federal funding mechanism for conservation and alternative and renewable energy initiatives, which this bill includes, is critical, but I also support revenue sharing with the states, including impacted neighboring states, which this legislation unfortunately omits.

As for renewable energy production and energy efficiency measures, which I have supported many times in the last few months, the bill provides $19 billion over ten years in tax incentives. Included in this is a short-term extension of the production tax credit for renewable energy production, like wind facilities, critical for states like Delaware pushing offshore wind projects. We must continue strive for longer-term incentives. To pay for the continued investment in these important measures, the bill requires U.S. oil companies to renegotiate leases and pay royalty payments and repeals certain tax incentives at a time of record profits. The legislation also includes a requirement that power companies generate 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, which I have previously supported.

The measure also allows leasing federal lands for oil shale production, only if states like Colorado, Utah and Wyoming allow it. While I believe alternative fuels are important to develop, I believe we should not make commercially available those that are more greenhouse gas intensive than conventional fuels.

Other provisions included in the bill are tax incentives for coal projects that capture carbon, plug-in hybrid cars, and fueling stations for natural gas vehicles, and grants for public transportation agencies; requiring the U.S. Department of the Interior to offer oil and gas lease sales on the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska on an annual basis; encouraging completion of a new oil and gas pipeline to aid the transmission of supply; and reinstates the ban on the export of Alaskan oil. Additionally, this bill requires oil companies to ``diligently develop'' all of their current leases for energy production or relinquish them. Finally, the legislation requires the government to release 70 million barrels of crude oil in exchange from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Many of these provisions have been considered by the House in earlier iterations and I believe represent substantive small steps we can take now to make additional supply available and some of which could reduce prices immediately.

My priority is promoting pragmatic solutions that cover a broader spectrum of energy policies, including intensifying development of alternatives, extending renewable and efficiency tax credits, implementing stronger efficiency standards, and encouraging more conservation. A comprehensive compromise energy policy is critical for our national security, public health, meeting the challenges of global warming, and bolstering the economy.

There is no silver bullet and we must be willing to compromise. I hope that the House and Senate will now sit down and craft yet another compromise that we can deliver to the President as soon as possible.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Name of Project: Replacement of C-130 Aircraft Maintenance Shops.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Delaware Air National Guard.

Address of Requesting Entity: 2600 Spruance Dr., Corporate Commons, New Castle, DE.

Account: ANG.

Project Description: $11.6 million for Replacement of C-130 Aircraft Maintenance Shops. The project is part of a multi-phased construction program to replace an aged hangar and shops, which support the 166th Airlift Wing's flying mission for its 8 C-130 aircraft. An improved aircraft maintenance facility will ensure a ready force that can meet both State and Federal requirements. Over 100 personnel will work and train in this facility. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: Reactive Plastic CO2 Absorbent Production Capacity.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Micropore, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 350F Pencader Drive, Newark, DE.

Account: DPA.

Project Description: $1.6 million for Reactive Plastic CO2 Absorbent Production Capacity. The Department of Defense is working with Micropore to establish a domestic production capability for reactive plastic CO2 absorbent to ensure sufficient quantities are available to meet a wide range of military and national security needs and to bring the per unit cost down. Micropore produces an absorbent cartridge used by the Department of Defense in rebreathing and life support systems for military SCUBA, on submarines, in medical oxygen delivery, and for chemical and biological weapons protection. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: 2nd Generation Extended Cold Weather Clothing System.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: WL Gore & Associates.

Address of Requesting Entity: 551 Paper Mill Rd., Newark, DE.

Account: OM, ARNG.

Project Description: $3.2 million for 2nd Generation Extended Cold Weather Clothing System. The President's FY 09 Budget requested funding for the U.S. Army National Guard to purchase the Second Generation Extended Cold Weather Clothing System from W.L. Gore. This is a set of GORE-TEX' outerwear (parka, liner and trousers) designed specifically to provide protection during cold and/

or wet weather. By reducing personal discomfort during inclement weather conditions, these systems give the soldier the capability to operate at his or her most effective readiness level. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: Combat Desert Jacket.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: WL Gore & Associates.

Address of Requesting Entity: 551 Paper Mill Rd., Newark, DE.

Account: OM, MC.

Project Description: $4 million for Combat Desert Jacket. The President's FY 09 Budget requested funding for the U.S. Marines to purchase the Combat Desert Jacket from W.L. Gore. This is a lightweight, two layer barrier garment that is comfortable to wear during periods of prolonged activity. In need of a tough, resilient outer garment for use during combat operations in the demanding desert environment, the Marines worked with W.L. Gore to develop a highly effective jacket that provides exceptional protection across a wide spectrum of elements. The Marines are in a 5 year fielding plan to provide this garment to all Marines. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: Phoenix Quad-band Satellite Receiver.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Delaware Army National Guard.

Address of Requesting Entity: First Regiment Rd., Wilmington, DE.

Account: OP, A.

Project Description: $4 million for Phoenix Quad-band Satellite Receiver. The Delaware Army National Guard's 261st Signal Brigade has requested funds to purchase a mobile satellite communications receiver to provide high data rate exchanges between various satellites and ground communications systems in secure digital formats. This system will improve the Delaware Guard's domestic support and combat capability, while maintaining critical communication interoperability between the Guard and Active Component Army signal units. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: UD Center for Composite Materials Projects.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Delaware.

Address of Requesting Entity: 107 Hullihen Hall, Newark, DE.

Account: RDTE, A / RDTE, N.

Project Description: $9 million (4 separate projects) for UD Center for Composite Materials. The Department of Defense has asked the University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials to develop ultra-lightweight, durable armor to protect soldiers against mine blast, ballistic, IED and EFP threats. Current metallic armor for combat and tactical vehicle protection is too heavy and is rapidly wearing out vehicles with maintenance and replacement costs estimated in the billions. The University of Delaware's modeling and simulation of composite armor is essential to accelerate the insertion of new composite solutions into the battlefield. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: Garment-Based Physiological Monitoring Systems.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Textronics Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 3825 Lancaster Pike, Suite 201, Wilmington, DE

Account: RDTE, A.

Project Description: $1.6 million for Garment-Based Physiological Monitoring Systems. The U.S. Army is working with Textronics to develop a new generation of wearable physiological monitoring systems that will enable the accurate and real-time remote monitoring of a U.S. soldier's heart rate, respiration, and other physiological parameters. These systems will integrate technology improvements that work under prolonged harsh conditions to satisfy the expressed needs and preferences of the troops. The project will help the military improve the safety, security, health, well-being, and performance of U.S. soldiers. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: Optimized M-25 Soldier Fuel Cell System.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: DuPont Fuel Cells.

Address of Requesting Entity: Chestnut Run Plaza, P.O. Box 80701, Wilmington, DE.

Account: RDTE, A.

Project Description: $2 million for Optimized M-25 Soldier Fuel Cell System. The U.S. Army has asked DuPont to develop a lightweight and reliable individual power source for U.S. soldiers operating in combat. Currently, U.S. soldiers carry heavy batteries to charge individual equipment, including communications equipment. DuPont's Soldier Fuel Cell System will be smaller, more durable, more economical, and last up to 10 times longer than today's batteries. It will provide new on- soldier and standalone charging capability, reducing the overall load carried by soldiers for military operations. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller (VTDP) Compound Helicopter Advanced Technology Flight Demonstration Program.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Piasecki Aircraft Corporation.

Address of Requesting Entity: 2nd Street West, P.O. Box 360, Essington, PA.

Account: RDTE, A.

Project Description: $5 million for Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller (VTDP) Compound Helicopter Advanced Technology Flight Demonstration Program. The U.S. Army has asked Piasecki Aircraft to increase the rotorcraft speed, range, and survivability of the Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller Compound Helicopter. The flight testing, which will be conducted at New Castle County Airport, is being initiated to expand the helicopter's air assault and combat logistics support capabilities at higher altitudes. This development will allow for improved reliability and rapid MEDEVAC of victims from combat to critical care facilities. Combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq has highlighted the need for these capabilities. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: Joint Services Aircrew Mask (JSAM) Don/Doff Inflight Upgrade.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ILC Dover LP.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1 Moonwalker Road, Frederica, DE.

Account: RDTE, DW.

Project Description: $1.6 million for Joint Services Aircrew Mask (JSAM) Don/Doff Inflight Upgrade. The Department of Defense has asked ILC Dover to develop an aircrew mask that provides above the neck Chemical-Biological and Anti-G protection to aircrew personnel. This product will enhance soldiers' ability to survive in the case of chemical or biological weapons attacks and it will allow aircrews to be at a state of high level Chemical-Biological threat preparedness for extended periods, both on the ground and in the air. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: NIDS Improved Handheld Biological Agent Detector.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ANP Technologies, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 824 Interchange Blvd., Newark, DE.

Account: RDTE, DW.

Project Description: $1.6 million for NIDS Improved Handheld Biological Agent Detector. The U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps have asked ANP Technologies to develop a light, reliable, and easy-to-use handheld tool for soldiers in the battlefield to test for biological weapons. The handheld detector will be water sealed, have an explosion free battery compartment, dual rechargeable/disposable battery options, and wireless connection capabilities. This system will be better able to protect U.S. soldiers serving in combat and the American people in the homeland in case of biological warfare agent attacks, at lower costs. Funding for this project may be adjusted when the House considers the final spending package.

Name of Project: Army Plant Vaccine Development Program.

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology.

Address of Requesting Entity: 9 Innovation Way, Suite 200, Newark,

I thank the gentleman from California for yielding.

Let me first pay a compliment to the sponsor of the legislation. I worked with her through a number of the hearings on this situation with credit card companies. I think she heightened the awareness to do something about this. Maybe that's, in part, why the Federal Reserve has started to move forward. I think she deserves a great deal of credit for that.

Madam Speaker, I do not, however, support this legislation at this time for a lot of the reasons that have already been stated.

The Federal Reserve, as we all know, regulates in this area. This is not one of those unregulated banking areas. They have issued a rule on unfair and deceptive practices. They have received, as the gentlewoman has properly pointed out, over 50,000 comments concerning that. Those comments have come both in opposition to their rule and in support of it, and they are now going through all of that.

We anticipate that by the end of the year they will issue their final, what is known as UDAP, rules on this particular subject, dealing with these deceptive practices, which will guide the consumers, which will guide the credit card companies, in which a great deal of expertise and time has been put in. I am certain that a number of provisions that are in this legislation will be included in whatever the Fed people issue, but there also may be different ways of looking at problems, there may be different nuances. Frankly, I trust their expertise to be able to do that.

Plus, we have the ability as Congress, or at least the next Congress does, to come back and incorporate into law anything we feel should happen. I think by doing what we are doing now by trying to pass legislation at this point, regardless of whether it could pass in the Senate or not in the next few days, we are, indeed, taking the responsibility of doing something that the Fed is well prepared to handle. I think we should leave it to them to do that.

For that reason, I believe that this legislation should not have come up. I prefer not to oppose it, but in the circumstances that we are dealing with, I feel that we need to oppose it.

There are a few points here. There is a lot of competition out there and people can go from one credit card company to another. I do not necessarily think that we are abrogating our responsibility, as has been stated on the floor here, by not supporting this legislation at this time. As a matter of fact, I think we are doing the right thing as far as consumers, credit card companies and the economy is concerned.

I am also concerned about who is going to pay all of this. If some of these steps are taken and all of a sudden there are losses as far as the credit card industry is concerned, does that mean fees go up? Other people who were paying lower interest rates are going to pay higher interest rates? Will they charge more at the beginning? Various steps that I don't know if I have the economic sophistication to explain, but I have a gut reaction that the bottom line is that somebody is going to pay for it. They always do in some way or another, and that could be many consumers who are presently being responsible in terms of how they are handling their debt circumstances.

So for all of these reasons, it is my judgment that this is legislation better not done at this time. Could it come back in the spring in the form of incorporating what the Fed has done or incorporating and polishing what the Federal Reserve issues in their rules, yes, that would be something that we should do. I think we all agree there should be steps taken in this situation.

But I trust those who have received all of these comments and looked at all of this and have all of the expertise to make the decisions. I would hope that Members of Congress would withhold voting for this at this time and see what the Federal Reserve is going to issue.

I would just add, the statement was made by the sponsor, I believe, that hoping that the Fed will act is an abrogation of our responsibility. The Fed has acted. They have issued a rule. They are getting comments. They are going to issue a final rule. I don't think there is any doubt in anyone's mind that the Fed has acted in this circumstance, so I urge defeat of this legislation if it is going to move forward.

I again thank the gentleman from California for yielding.

I would like to take up a couple of points that the sponsor of the bill raised.

One is the credit card companies in general oppose what is happening at the Federal Reserve and thereby also oppose her legislation which is here. That may be accurate to a degree, but there are a couple of factors in this. One is that many of the better credit card companies-- ``better'' being the ones that are paying attention to the practices-- have already made a number of the changes proposed both by the Federal Reserve and what is in this legislation.

Secondly, I certainly support the concepts of this legislation as well as support what has been recommended in the unfair and deceptive practices rule which hopefully will get even better with the 50,000- plus comments that will come out here again in the fall. I think that's a matter of good consumer adjustment that needed to be made.

I also hope that consumers in general will understand the significance of understanding what they're dealing with. What bothers me sometimes is people don't understand all of their practices, but we need to make sure it's clear before them. And so I, and I think many others on this side and even some of the better credit card companies, would be very supportive of a lot of these changes which are being made.

The other thing that concerns me somewhat is the statement that there is no evidence that this legislation may raise the cost of credit. That may be a correct statement. But I think it is also correct to say there is no evidence that it will not raise the cost of credit. I think that's a logical conclusion. If

you take away money in one way or another, they're going to have to make up for it, and they're probably going to do that by looking at fees charged, interest rates, or whatever it may be.

My bottom line is you are probably going to see increases if indeed the changes as proposed in this legislation are made.

Again, I would urge the bill to be withdrawn. I don't expect it today, but I would urge the bill to be withdrawn so we can allow the Federal Reserve to make its opinions known and then proceed from there.

Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Yes, in its current form, I am.

Madam Speaker, I hope that we listened to the motion carefully. It pertains to the issue that's been raised a couple times in the discussion, the matter of credit.

And what we are simply trying to do in this is to make sure that there is not a reduction in the availability of credit covered by this act to certain groups, small businesses, veterans or minorities. There is a concern that as you start to make some of these shifts that you could have a credit increase, and even though the committee held several hearings on the bill before us today, not a single witness could reassure the committee that this bill would not result in a reduction of credit.

Given the current state of our financial system with available credit staying locked up on the sidelines, credit cards are becoming increasingly important to make ends meet for seniors, small businesses, and average Americans.

Should this bill be signed into law without an appropriate effort to evaluate the impacts, Congress will have been an accomplice to the reduction in credit.

This motion to recommit simply asks the Federal Reserve to study the effects of the bill, and if the conclusion is that this will damage our economy and reduce credit, then we would not enact these sweeping provisions.

There are more than 4 million minority-owned small businesses in America. SBA data shows that some 15 percent of the capital used to open a minority-owned small business comes from the use of credit cards. There are nearly 10.4 million firms owned by women employing 12.8 million people. However, these women-owned businesses had to make an average of four attempts to obtain bank loans or lines of credit and 22 attempts to obtain equity capital. So clearly the need is there.

Eleven percent of the capital for women-owned businesses comes from the use of credit cards. What if that number is reduced or eliminated due to a provision in the bill? The economy obviously would take a direct hit.

I would also point out in closing, Madam Speaker, that this hopefully is a motion to recommit that could be supported by everybody, even those in favor of the legislation, on the basis that we need to establish whether or not there's going to be a credit hit with respect to all this before such legislation would go into place.

I would encourage support from all the Members of the House for the motion to recommit.

I yield back the balance of my time.

At this time, we will not accept the suggestion. I appreciate the kind offer, however, of the sponsor.

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

I thank the distinguished gentleman from California for yielding to me, and I do rise in support of H.R. 3036, the No Child Left Inside Act.

This legislation builds upon a strong foundation of the National Environmental Education Act, NEEA, a law originally passed in 1990 to coordinate the Federal Government's environmental education programs through the Environmental Protection Agency, which we know as the EPA.

I believe strongly in the need for environmental education--our dependence on fossil fuels, growing global warming pollution, and skyrocketing energy costs are all major concerns that require multi- pronged approaches. I believe environmental education is the tool of choice in tackling many of these issues. Never before has it been more imperative that we educate not only the next generation of scientists, but also the next generation of environmental stewards.

Environmental education fosters greater appreciation among Americans, beginning in the classroom and extending throughout their adult lives, for the role we all play, collectively and as individuals, in shaping a greener world. Through the NEEA, the Federal Government is playing a strong role in environmental education, promoting science to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and helping to foster a green economy.

I believe this legislation takes a number of steps which work to bolster environmental education and ultimately benefit our Nation's students, such as extending for one year the NEEA, strengthening the existing environmental education and training programs so that it focuses on creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development, and developing a National Capacity Environmental Education Grant Program under NEEA to develop elementary and secondary environmental programs.

I am also pleased that this bill includes language that I offered before the Committee on Education and Labor to ensure that the programs and activities funded under the NEEA are, in fact, quality programs and activities by requiring participants to report on and subsequently making public the progress they make on a number of quality indicators. Important indicators which foster the understanding and appreciation of the environment, such as enhancing the understanding of the natural and built environment, fostering an appreciation of environmental issues, increasing academic achievement in environmental issues and in related areas of national interest such as mathematics and science, increasing the understanding of the benefits of natural environmental exposure, increasing the understanding of how human and natural systems interact with one another, and broadening the awareness of environmental issues for funded programs and activities.

As I stated earlier, I believe strongly in improving educational achievement

and believe environmental education is an important component. Resulting from the No Child Left Behind Act, which I coauthored, all 50 States have implemented accountability measures in response to increasing concerns about the quality of our Nation's students' elementary and secondary education. I believe this amendment follows this trend by ensuring that environmental education, too, is of a high standard in this country.

While I believe the underlying legislation will help strengthen environmental education in our country, I also believe it is necessary for Congress to move forward with a broader reauthorization of the National Environmental Education Act.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on this vital piece of legislation as we head into next year.

I would just point out with all the discussion we've had on the floor in the last 2 or 3 months about energy and the environment, that education such as this could be very helpful in terms of future Congresses as well.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3036.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize Ms. Margi Pruitt for her dedication and service to the American Red Cross. She will retire from her post as CEO of the Delmarva Peninsula Chapter of the American Red Cross in October after thirty five years of excellent work helping Americans in need.

Margi began working for the Delaware Chapter of the American Red Cross in 1973,

immediately after graduating from college. Following service to the American Red Cross in seven different states, Margi returned to the same branch--now known as the Delmarva Peninsula Chapter--and has remained there for the past twenty years. During this time, she has worked to orchestrate relief efforts for large disasters such as flooding in the Elsmere region of northern Delaware, several winter storms along the east coast, a tornado in Smyrna, Delaware, and most recently, substantial flooding in Kent and Sussex Counties following a series of severe thunderstorms. In addition, she led volunteers in the relief effort for victims of both Hurricane Andrew and Hurricane Katrina. Her dedication and compassion have helped the American Red Cross reach countless people affected by natural disasters in the Delmarva region and throughout the United States.

I, along with the rest of the Delaware Congressional delegation, have had the personal privilege of collaborating with Margi on several occasions, and we have witnessed her untiring dedication to strengthening the American Red Cross's presence in our state. Margi has worked to build strong partnerships with emergency management throughout the state of Delaware. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, she was instrumental in launching a public awareness campaign to help those in the community better understand the assistance that is available to them through the American Red Cross.

I acknowledge and thank Ms. Margi Pruitt for her commitment to the American Red Cross. The entire State of Delaware has benefited from her innumerable contributions to help people manage the most difficult and trying of situations. I am confident that her kind and diligent presence, though it will be missed by her colleagues on the occasion of her retirement from the American Red Cross, will remain an active influence in our community.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the MegaSkills program on its program's 20th anniversary. The MegaSkills program helps parents and guardians assist their children in reaching their academic potential by providing a clear road map and guidelines to success.

The MegaSkills program was created in the 1988 by Dorothy Rich, a resident of Sussex County, DE. The program was started with the goal of teaching families how to help their children succeed. Based on the idea that family involvement is fundamental to learning, the program is designed to instruct families on how to instill habits and behaviors in their children that make up the ``Never-ending Report Card'' which includes confidence, motivation, effort, responsibility, caring, teamwork, and others.

When I served as Delaware's Governor, I had the privilege of visiting the town of Seaford to honor the teachers, students, and families who participated in one of the first MegaSkills programs. It was clear even then that MegaSkills had tapped into one of the secrets of early education: parents and guardians who are involved in their child's education at home ensure that they get the best education possible in the schools.

Over the years, the program has proven to be highly successful in early childhood education and is now used in over 4,000 rural and urbn schools across the nation. Recently MegaSkills completed a new MegaSkills for Babies and Toddlers book to help parents ensure their children receive the best education possible. Furthermore, the program has been applied in various different languages to accommodate our diverse population.

MegaSkills has demonstrated its success in increasing time students spend with their parents, their motivation on homework, and performance on standardized tests and I acknowledge and commend the MegaSkills Program for 20 years of successful dedication to improving education throughout the United States. The creators and administrators of this program understand what we all need to understand in order to improve our education system: strong families yield strong students with a passion for academic excellence. I am confident the MegaSkills program will continue to expand and benefit educating families nationwide.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Name of Project: Physical Fitness Center

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle

Bill Number: H.R. 6599

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Dover Air Force Base

Address of Requesting Entity: Dover, DE

Project Description: The existing fitness center at Dover AFB is not large enough to accommodate the needs of all personnel in sports, wellness, and fitness programs. A new facility is necessary to meet the Air Force's new requirements and emphasis on physical fitness, health, and wellness. The existing facility is insufficient to accommodate year-round use necessary for mission readiness. The new facility will provide for an additional gymnasium and fitness rooms, as well as incorporating a Health and Wellness Center. The project has been included in the President's FY09 Budget Request.

Name of Project: Information Operations Communication Facility

Requesting Member: Congressman Michael N. Castle

Bill Number: H.R. 6599

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Dover Air Force Base

Address of Requesting Entity: Dover, DE

Project Description: The current Delaware National Guard Information Operations Unit operates from a cramped, overloaded, inadequate facility. Because of the specialized nature of this new mission, there are no facilities on the New Castle Air National Guard base that can accommodate the unit. Without a new facility, the unit will not be capable of properly training or supporting active combat missions with respect to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. This project has been included in the President's FY09 Budget Request.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I will see what I can do about college costs in 2 minutes.

I thank both the gentlemen from California for their tremendous work on this legislation. I will submit a statement for the Record.

I am one who watched college costs go up even in the time I have been in Congress at a rate that is higher than anything else in the country, maybe not gasoline in the last year or two, but health care and all the other things that we worry about so much.

And we have heard many Members come to the floor and speak about the need to educate our children. I think every one of us here understands that the future of our economy in this country depends upon these young individuals being able to get access to higher education. And I believe that this legislation, which I totally support, will at least help with this.

We are now going to have more transparency than we did before. We are going to have publication of lists of those schools which have had the highest rate of increases in recent years, for example.

But we have also spoken to some of the areas such as student loans, the Perkins Act and others, in which we are helping individuals get more funding, or were controlling funding better than we did before. I think that is extraordinarily important as well.

I hate to have borrowing. I love what some schools are doing now and using their funds to help with the tuition issues. But the bottom line is that some borrowing is going to be necessary.

I am very appreciative of some amendments that I was involved with, the Teach for America program, to allow very bright young students in this country that weren't necessarily going into education to be able to teach for a while and hopefully, in some cases, stay in education. I think that is an important step in terms of where we are going.

And I believe that the reauthorization, in general, is absolutely essential if we are going to be able to move forward with respect to education.

The transparency is significant. That alone won't change the cost of higher education. I don't think we have the authority here to tell private schools and even State public schools exactly how to do that. But we certainly have the authority to pass good legislation such as this in order for the public to be able to understand exactly what they are dealing with.

For all these reasons, I would encourage all of us to support this good legislation. Again, I thank all those staff individuals and, of course, the Members that had anything to do with putting this together.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding to me.

I also rise to ask my colleagues to support the legislation before us today, Michelle's Law, which will prohibit insurers and group health plans from terminating coverage of dependent college students who lose their full-time student status due to a serious illness or injury.

As you may know, some insurance plans allow college students to remain covered as dependents only if they attend a post-secondary institution full-time. As a result, this may force college students throughout the country with serious illnesses or serious injuries, who are dependent upon their parents' insurance, to make the difficult choice of pursuing a college education or taking care of their health.

Mr. Hodes just spoke about Michelle Morse who died tragically of colon cancer in 2005 after going against her doctor's wishes and maintaining her full-time course schedule to maintain her health insurance.

In my home State of Delaware, Michelle Rigney, a University of Delaware student diagnosed with melanoma when she was 19, and cancer advocate who I had the honor of working with several times over the last few years, also recently lost her battle with the disease.

Throughout her battle with cancer, Michelle Rigney advocated for the passage of this bill to make things easier for others in similar situations. Michelle expressed her concerns over insurance to me as well as the importance of easing the stress students with a serious illness face when deciding between an education and their health.

I believe strongly that Michelle's Law will give seriously ill and injured students and their families the time they need to decide what their next steps should be without the fear of losing their health insurance. CBO estimates that the bipartisan H.R. 2851 would have no significant impact on the budget. Additionally, this commonsense legislation has been endorsed by several key health and insurance groups, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the National Education Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, and the American Diabetes Association. A full list of groups that endorse this bill will be submitted for the Record, and indeed, Representative Hodes sent up letters already doing that.

List of Groups that Support the Passage of Michelle's Law

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN);

American College Health Association; American Diabetes

Association; America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP);

American Heart/Stroke Association; American Hospital

Association; American Medical Student Association; American

Nurses Association; Colorectal Cancer Coalition; Leukemia and

Lymphoma Society; Healthcare Leadership Council; National

Association of Graduate Professional Students; National

Association of Social Workers; National Collegiate Athletic

Association (NCAA); National Education Association (NEA);

National Health Council; National Kidney Foundation; National

Patient Advocate Foundation.

Finally, I want to thank Representative Hodes for his leadership on this bill in the House, and I thank all of the various committees, Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce Committee Members and their staff members for their hard work on getting this bill to the floor.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2851, Michelle's Law.

Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act.

In February, I joined experts from the Delaware Department of Transportation for a tour of some of the most heavily traveled roads and bridges in Delaware. I have often heard Delaware referred to as ``The East Coast's Main Street''--and it is true. In fact, during our tour, we visited construction sites where men and women were working diligently on important highway, infrastructure, and bridge projects that are utilized by an estimated 230,000 vehicles every day.

Over the next 50 years, the United States is projected to add 150 million new residents, representing a 50 percent increase over our present population. This population surge will put a greater strain on our transportation system--particularly at key chokepoints in dense areas like the northeast corridor. And last August, the tragic Minneapolis bridge collapse, which killed 13 and injured 145, underscored the serious safety implications of this dramatic increase in highway users when combined with severely aging infrastructure.

Clearly, this situation will continue to deteriorate unless we act soon. For this reason, I support passage of H.R. 3999 and I believe it is vital that we identify and prioritize funding to repair structurally deficient bridges to ensure the safety of all travelers. I also feel strongly that the Federal Government must allow States the appropriate flexibility to allocate these resources as efficiently as possible. I am hopeful that we will make progress in improving these provisions and reducing burdensome spending requirements when this legislation goes to conference with the U.S. Senate.