Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the fire service leadership in Delaware during the Annual Conference of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association.

Thousands of the citizens of Delaware participate as volunteer emergency responders

and support personnel in our fire companies across the state. They work tirelessly along side of our career fire service members making our state a safer place to live.

Each year at the Conference firefighters come to training opportunities, business meetings and social events. Firefighters display the pride in their company and equipment during the annual parade.

This year the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association was led by President Alan Robinson of Citizen Hose in Smyrna. As a life member of Citizen Hose, Alan has been a tremendous asset to the community serving as a Past Chief of Citizen Hose and as past President of the Kent County Volunteer Firemen's Association. His dedication to the fire service is without question and his leadership as a teacher in the public and parochial schools has provided many young individuals with an opportunity to succeed. All of us in the community greatly appreciate his dedication and commitment to serving others and during his leadership we have seen many great accomplishments in the DVFA. We are forever in his debt.

The Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association Ladies Auxiliary leader and President for the past year, Florence Legates, has given her time and energy for many years serving in many capacities. As a public safety fire educator with the Delaware Fire School, Florence was nationally recognized as a fire educator. In addition, Florence's service as President of the Kent County Ladies Auxiliary and her overall commitment to the fire service helped bring about positive change. Her service on the National Fire Protection Association Committee has been remarkable and we in Delaware know the value of what she has been able to accomplish as our President of the DVFA Ladies Auxiliary.

Fire Company leaders like Alan and Florence exemplify a commitment of service to our citizens not unlike the service provided by all the members of the Delaware Fire Service. I wish them well over the next year as they transition out of their role as President and thank them for their dedicated service leading our first responders.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the VA Medical Hospital of Wilmington, DE as a 2007 recipient of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. This award is given to those employers who have gone above and beyond in their support for their employees who are members of the National Guard and Reserve. The VA Medical Hospital has earned this honor through its unflagging support for our Nation's troops and its commitment to our Nation's security.

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the United States' government's highest recognition for those employers who support their employees in the National Guard and Reserve. Candidates are judged on several categories, including their pay policies, benefits and leave policies, and supervisor training.

In order to be honored with this prestigious award, an employer must be nominated by an

employee who is a member of the National Guard or Reserve. This nomination process reflects how highly regarded the VA Medical Hospital is by its many employees. Wilmington's VA Medical Center is a teaching hospital that provides veterans with health care options, readjustment counseling, as well as a nursing home care unit. With its high end technology and 60-bed, well-organized facility, the VA Medical hospital provides care for veterans on multiple levels.

I join Delawareans in thanking the Wilmington VA Medical Hospital for its continued support of its employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. I commend the hospital for 61 years of practice and thank them for their tireless dedication to the veterans, as well as to the United States of America.

Mr. Chairman, the work of this Congress will not be complete until we act to tackle our greatest hurdle in this area, climate change. While this energy bill moves us closer to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for the 21st century, we must not stop short of enacting a comprehensive global warming plan that places mandatory limits on harmful global warming pollution.

At a time when the oil and gas industry continues to see record profit, the tax package, H.R. 2776, which includes provisions similar to those that passed the House in January, would repeal oil and gas tax breaks and use the revenue to promote the renewable energy production and use; energy efficiency in residential property; and bonds for state and local governments to fund energy conservation efforts, among many other new incentives. I am pleased the legislation includes a long-term extension of the renewable production tax credit, however, I oppose the cap placed on the credit for wind, and hope that agreement on a straight extension of the current credit will be reached during negotiations with the Senate.

H.R. 3221 takes preliminary steps toward a more secure, diverse, and domestic energy portfolio that will help spur investment in new technology. The legislation repeals royalty relief for oil and gas producers on leased federal land and takes preliminary steps to address climate change. The bill restores protections to public lands that will continue to allow oil and gas development while better protecting fish and wildlife, and water resources. It sets new efficiency standards for appliances, lighting and buildings, while authorizing billions for the research and development of sustainable energy sources and alternative fuels. And, it authorizes funding for research and development: for the higher production of biofuels, like cellulosic ethanol, which can be an economic driver in rural communities; and for carbon capture and sequestration, an essential element in addressing climate change, particularly in the U.S. where coal is abundant.

Offshore wind can play an important part in diversifying the nation's energy supply and easing our demand for fossil fuels. For this reason, I proposed an amendment to require

the agency charged with developing new rules for new offshore wind energy production to update Congress on their progress. These guidelines are long overdue and are not expected to be ready for over a year. We need to know the reason for the delay and what can be done to move things along, so communities wishing to invest in this clean, renewable technology can move forward. This is of critical importance to the state of Delaware who has not only agreed to produce 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, but has made a strong commitment to offshore wind resources as a component of its energy portfolio. Without these rules, promising offshore wind projects are being delayed across the country at a time when additional clean energy could curb air pollution and climate change. I look forward to working with the appropriate agencies to make sure our renewable energy resources are developed in a timely and environmentally friendly manner.

I also supported a key amendment to create a 15 percent national renewable electricity standard, which will help lower energy costs, create new jobs and help diversifying our energy supply with clean, renewable sources, like wind and solar energy. This standard will hopefully begin to ease pressure on natural gas prices and help reduce carbon emissions quickly. While I am a cosponsor of legislation to create a 20 percent national renewable electricity standard, complimenting Delaware's recently adopted standard, this compromise is the first step in engaging with the Senate on this critical issue.

I regret that the House did not follow the lead of the Senate to tackle increasing vehicle fuel economy. Reasonable CAFE standards are both achievable and practical--and there is no question they would have a positive impact on fuel consumption in this country. While the issue of raising CAFE standards is not new and the proposals for how it should be achieved differ, it is my hope Congress will come to an agreement on a proposal that is both ambitious and achievable.

In the end, I supported the energy package, because it represents important progress, but we clearly have much further to go. In fact, scientists say that if we are to have a good chance of avoiding potentially catastrophic repercussions of climate change, we must reduce emissions 60 percent to 80 percent by 2050. Through cap-and- trade, based on a sound energy policy foundation, Congress can deliver the kind of reform business and industry need to grow the economy, stabilize the climate, and create more diverse and secure sources of energy. I sincerely hope the Speaker keeps the commitment to address this critical issue when the Congress returns in the fall.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

I am pleased to join my colleague, Mr. Delahunt, in offering this amendment today.

The 2005 energy law required Minerals Management Service, MMS, under the Department of the Interior, to develop regulations for offshore wind development within 270 days. It is now 6 months past the deadline, and it appears we will keep waiting. The delay causes regulatory uncertainty and potential setbacks for pursuing the development of this renewable energy source.

Our amendment to H.R. 3221 would require MMS to report to Congress within 30 days on the status of these regulations. We need to know the reason for the delay and what can be done to move things along so communities wishing to invest in this clean, renewable technology can move forward. This is of critical importance to the State of Delaware, which has not only agreed to produce 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 but has made a strong commitment to offshore wind resources as a component of its energy portfolio.

Wind power is one of the fastest-growing sources of energy and contributes economically and environmentally to America's energy future. Electricity from wind is inflation proof and is not subject to the price volatility of traditional sources. With growing concern over climate change, wind power offers emission-free energy that will diversify our energy supply domestically, while easing demand for polluting and imported fossil fuels.

For Delaware and many other coastal States, our best wind resource lies not inland but just off our shores. I look forward to learning from and working with the various agencies to make sure our renewable energy resources are developed in a timely and environmentally friendly manner so States like Delaware that have signaled it is time to move forward can do so.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I yield to the gentleman for questions he may have.

Mr. Chairman, if there is anything in this amendment that I thought would slow down that process further, I would pull the amendment in a minute.

The whole idea of this amendment is to compel them to look at what they are doing, give us a report, and move forward with it. It is in no way intended, directly or indirectly, to slow anything down. It is an effort to get it done. I think we both strongly believe in the wind energy circumstance.

To the best of my knowledge, absolutely not. We have made the amendment very plain, very clear, so there could not be a roadblock and could not be a slow-down circumstance.

I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Virginia; and I appreciate his support as well. I very much appreciate the support of the gentleman from Massachusetts, who has been very involved with this.

I encourage support of the amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment pertaining to leave.

Mr. Chairman, I'm informed that the point of order will probably be upheld here, but I would like to make this point before I withdraw the amendment.

Today, all members of the Armed Forces, including those serving in the Guard and Reserves, receive two-and-a-half days of leave time per month, regardless of whether they're deployed in Iraq or back in the U.S. or at their home base.

My amendment would simply credit soldiers one additional day of leave time for every month that they are deployed in a combat zone, and this could be used when they return Stateside. We learned this from speaking to a soldier in particular by e-mail and to soldiers more specifically about it, and realized that with some of the mental health problems which are going on, the extra leave time, not time on standby but actual leave time, would be good as far as our soldiers are concerned, and so decided we wanted to push it.

We tried to do it in the Tauscher bill a couple of days ago, and unfortunately, the Rules Committee did not accept it. And I tried to put it in this Defense appropriations bill, and I realize it might have limitations as far as the point of order is concerned.

But I think it's an important question, and I just wanted to appeal to the chairman and to the ranking member to consider this perhaps in conference, perhaps at some other time, perhaps somebody else can borrow it. I just believe it's something we ought to be thinking about doing for our soldiers who have been called back on a fairly repetitive rotating basis. In my judgment, they would benefit from this extra leave time.

I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

I thank the gentleman from Florida.

I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Chairman, I thank both the distinguished gentlemen for their points.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding.

I do rise in opposition to what I consider to be a closed rule. I do support the underlying bill, but I object to the leadership's decision to prevent any substantive debate.

I offered an amendment yesterday that would have credited soldiers with one additional day of leave for every month that they are deployed in a combat zone. All members of the Armed Forces, including those serving the Guard and Reserve, receive 2\1/2\ days of leave time per month, regardless whether they are deployed in Iraq or back in the U.S. at their home base.

I developed this legislation, an extra day per month, not from anything out of my mind but in correspondence with a soldier who had been in the combat zone. We feel very strongly that spending time with family and loved ones after returning from deployment is essential to a soldier's mental health,

and that is why I prepared the amendment and introduced it.

We think that it is small step to help the troops, but this amendment was denied in the rule. For that reason, I oppose the rule as we have it.

But I am also very disappointed that this House continues to prevent consideration of the Iraq Study Group Recommendations Implementation Act. They are now getting close to 60 Members, almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, who support the concepts in this.

My decision is that the time has come to have the discussion of the Iraq Study Group's recommendations on the floor of the House of Representatives, and I hope that can happen sooner rather than later.

I would be happy to yield.

In closing, I think both of these amendments are extremely important. I sometimes understand the writing on the wall when it comes to votes on rules, but I would hope that we in this House would consider the amendment that I put forward on the extra day leave in the Iraq Study Group recommendations sooner rather than later. I think it is an important way to move towards actually ending the war.

So I oppose the rule and urge Members to vote against the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this closed rule.

While Members of this body will have differing views regarding the U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, we can all agree that the American soldiers who have been deployed into these combat zones have bravely risked their lives in the service of their Nation. These men and women have done everything we have asked of them, and as we all know, many returning soldiers experience some form of post-traumatic stress.

Under the current Pentagon policies, all members of the Armed Forces, including those serving in the Guard and Reserve, receive 2.5 days of leave time per month--regardless of whether they are deployed in Iraq or back in the U.S. at their home base. My amendment would have simply credited soldiers 1 additional day of leave time for every month that they are deployed in a combat zone. For example, if a soldier serves 12 months in Baghdad, that soldier would be credited 12 additional days of leave to be used when he or she returns stateside.

Although I am obviously the sponsor of this amendment, I cannot take credit for the idea. My staff developed this legislation after talking with a soldier who as we speak is deployed in a combat zone. Corresponding via e-mail, this soldier shared his experiences in combat and offered his opinion that many of the troops returning home after a deployment would benefit from being credited with additional leave time based on the number of months they served in a combat zone. This soldier noted that the opportunity to spend some time away from military life once returning stateside would be important in terms of both mental and physical recovery.

In fact, the Director of the U.S. Army Medical Command's Office for Behavioral Health has stated that 15 to 30 percent of troops returning home from combat experience post-traumatic stress or other mental health symptoms. While the Army Medical Command notes that this is not unusual after combat, it underscores that in addition to receiving treatment, it is critical for soldiers returning home from a combat zone to ``spend time with family,'' ``avoid a busy schedule,'' and ``resume family routines'' as soon as possible.

It is clear that my amendment would not solve every problem that troops face when they return stateside. Receiving appropriate diagnosis and treatment is also vital in dealing with post-traumatic stress. And this amendment is not meant to diminish the efforts of our military leaders to provide care for soldiers once they return to the U.S. The Army's Medical Command and its corresponding services have in many cases gone above and beyond the call of duty to diagnose, treat, and prevent post-traumatic stress disorder. Still, in many cases spending time away from military life and reconnecting with friends and family is the best way for individuals to prepare to resume their service in the military.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment recognizes the difficulties faced by soldiers who serve time in a combat zone and would assist them in their homecoming by providing additional leave time to help improve their transition. The men and women who have sacrificed so much to serve our Nation in combat have earned this additional time to spend with their loved ones. Unfortunately the rule before us prevented any substantive debate, including debate on my important amendment.

Offered By: Mr. Castle

Amendment No. 15: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Castle

Amendment No. 16: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Sec. 8110. Funds made available under title II of this Act

shall be used to credit each member of the Armed Forces,

including each member of a reserve component, with one

additional day of leave for every month of the member's most

recent previous deployment in a combat zone.

Offered By: Mr. Castle

Amendment No. 15: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Castle

Amendment No. 16: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Sec. 8110. Funds made available under title II of this Act

shall be used to credit each member of the Armed Forces,

including each member of a reserve component, with one

additional day of leave for every month of the member's most

recent previous deployment in a combat zone.

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

I rise also in support of House Resolution 515 congratulating Oregon State University's baseball team for winning the 2007 National Collegiate Association Division I College World Series championship for the second consecutive year.

On June 24, 2007, the Beavers of Oregon State defeated the University of North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 9-3, sweeping the best of three series, two games to none, to win the 2007 NCAA Division I College World Series championship. They became the first team in 10 years to win back-to-back College World Series championships.

Oregon State University dominated the finals of the College World Series, trailing for only one of the 45 innings they played. The Beavers of Oregon State outscored their opponents 42-16 during their remarkable run in the College World Series, becoming the first three- seed to ever win the tournament.

Much of this team's success is due to Head Coach Pat Casey. After starting the year with only 23 wins and only 3 losses, the team hit a bit of a slump in May, which nearly cost them a spot in the tournament. But Coach Casey kept the team motivated and focused to help lead the Beavers to a 49-18 record.

The 2007 World Series MVP, Jorge Reyes, a freshman, who went 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA during the College World Series, became only the fifth freshman to ever win the award in the 58-year history of the College World Series.

And while we commend the college athletics department today, we should also recognize Oregon State University as an excellent academic institution. Known for its geosciences programs, which rank sixth in the Nation, the university offers over 200 undergraduate programs and more than 80 graduate programs. The campus has a renowned library and exceptional research facilities as well as great internship and study abroad programs to offer its students.

I extend my congratulations to Head Coach Pat Casey, Athletics Director Bob De Carolis, President Dr. Edward Ray, and all of the hardworking players, the fans, and Oregon State University. I am happy to represent my good friend and colleague Representative Hooley in recognizing this exceptional team in all of its accomplishments and wish all involved continued success.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the bill's sponsor, Mr. Campbell of California.

Mr. Speaker, I also would like to congratulate the University of California-Irvine for its tremendous victory and dominance in the Division I Men's Volleyball National Championship. And I congratulate the gentleman from California for his sponsorship honoring this team, which did such an extraordinary job

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2707.

I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Kucinich, for introducing this bill to ensure that those organizations that work so hard to share the history of the Underground Railroad are able to continue their good works.

The Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program was created in the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that provide education about and research into the Underground Railroad. In addition, grants could be used for organizations to collect, display or interpret artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad. For example, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, houses eight permanent exhibits and hosts any number of temporary exhibits, including displays, musical programs, and group discussion.

Other grantees under this program host tours that try and recreate the journey taken by anyone brave enough to utilize the Underground Railroad and exhibits the detail of the development of the Underground Railroad.

I supported the reauthorization of this program when Republicans brought a complete reauthorization of the Higher Education Act to the House floor last Congress. I had hoped to support this program again in the context of a complete reauthorization of the Higher Education Act again this year. Even though this program is receiving the attention of the Congress now, I hope we can complete the HEA reauthorization bill when we return from the August recess.

I believe strongly in promoting programs and partnerships to commemorate this time in history and educating the public about the historical significance of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was very active in the State of Delaware, I might also add. We have many of our own tributes to that in my small State.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1, legislation to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

In July of 2004, the 9/11 Commission concluded that the United States Government was unprepared for the devastating terrorist attacks of 2001. In the weeks and months following the release of the 9/11 Commission's report, the U.S. Congress enacted important legislation to overhaul the intelligence community and improve our Government's ability to detect and respond to attacks. The legislation before us today will further expand our nation's preparedness by providing our first responders and emergency personnel with additional tools to enhance security, such as interoperable communication and cargo screening technology.

In fact, I am particularly pleased that H.R. 1 includes my amendment requiring the Department of Homeland Security to assess key foreign rail security practices that are not currently used in the US. While the concept of ``rail security'' is relatively new here at home, security officials in Europe and Asia have decades of experience with terrorist attacks and I have long believed in the importance of leveraging this experience to improve our own system. My amendment, which was approved overwhelmingly by the House and the Senate, will require our government to develop a plan for utilizing techniques such as covert testing of security systems and random screening of rail passengers and baggage. It will also require our government to model U.S. train stations and subway systems after methods used in London to prevent terrorist attacks.

Additionally, while I support the overall purpose of this bill, I am very concerned that Congress failed to use this opportunity to implement several of the 9/11 Commission's other most important recommendations. Specifically, I believe it is inexcusable that H.R. 1 does not include the 9/11 Commission's critical recommendation to reform congressional oversight of the intelligence community. Currently, intelligence funding is concealed in the classified section of the Pentagon's budget, and thus is subject to very little accountability. As a former Member of the House Intelligence Committee, I believe strongly in this 9/11 Commission recommendation and I have introduced H.R. 334 to create an empowered and independent intelligence appropriations subcommittee to oversee intelligence community funding. Unfortunately, the House's Democratic leadership denied my attempt to amend H.R. 1 to include this important provision.

Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned that we have missed a key opportunity to enact all of the 9/11 Report's recommendations. However, the bill before us makes progress to expand security and I commend the conference committee for taking much needed steps to improve rail security in the US. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation and I call on the leadership in Congress to act immediately to address these remaining national security issues.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague Representative Adam Schiff in supporting H.R. 2630, the Campaign Expenditure Transparency Act.

By ending the practice of making campaign payments to a candidate or Federal officeholder's spouse and by requiring the disclosure of any payments made to other family members, we can eliminate the perception that campaign payments are a means for converting campaign funds to the family's personal use. While I support going one step further to prohibit the same payments to immediate family members, and have introduced legislation to do so, I am pleased to lend my support to H.R. 2630, which takes us in the right direction.

Specifically, H.R. 2630 would prohibit the campaign from compensating the spouse of the candidate. The prohibition would create an exception for reimbursements on travel, and an exception for nominal reimbursements up to $500 in a calendar year. The bill also requires disclosure to the Federal Election Commission, FEC, of all reimbursements.

H.R. 2630 would also require disclosure to the FEC of payments to immediate family members of the candidate or Federal officeholder. The prohibition and disclosure requirements would also apply to businesses where the spouse or family member is an officer or director of the business. Penalty for violation of these provisions would be imposed on the candidate or officeholder.

Numerous Members of Congress employ their spouses and family members for campaign activity without abusing the system. However, the practice of paying spouses and family members creates the potential for campaign finance and ethics abuses. If a payment to a spouse becomes part of the Member's family income, the Member, for all practical purposes, is receiving a direct personal financial benefit of campaign funds.

I believe it is our responsibility to close the gaps in our laws and in our rules that have been exposed and to restore the confidence of the American people in their elected officials.

H.R. 2630 moves us in the direction of increased transparency and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting the legislation.