Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the privilege of being able to address the House for this special order of 60 minutes. And the topic tonight will be on the topic that's on the minds of Americans all across this country. It's the high price of energy and the impact that that is having on the middle class, on families, on individuals, on farmers and on businessmen.

There is nothing that is shocking us more now, Mr. Speaker, than the high cost of energy and the impact that that is having directly on people all across the country.

When I came into Washington, D.C. this week from my home in Minnesota, I had the privilege of representing the great people in the Sixth Congressional District in Minnesota. And I was reading the newspaper. And I was reading a few things. And I just wanted to bring a couple of headlines to the attention of the American people.

Here is one of the headlines that I read this week when I came in. It was on Tuesday of this week. This headline in USA Today said ``will gas prices plateau after hitting another record?'' It seems like every morning when we wake up and the clock radio goes off next to our bed, we hear about a new increase in the price in gasoline. And we're shocked. And it's like our day already starts out on the wrong foot because we hear about yet one more shocking increase. And we wonder what will we have to give up next? What will we have to give up? What will we have to yield out of our lives? It's a lot of bad news that has been coming this way with the American people.

Let me read this. It says ``$4 plus cost cuts demand even as supply is rising.'' It began, The price of gasoline set another record Monday where the average is going up now again. And this is something that the people are worried about.

This is something that the people are worried about, the record prices that are going up. As a matter of fact, the price of gasoline today is $4.07 and we will talk a little bit more about that as we go on during the course of the hour that we have together to talk about this very important issue.

Here is another headline that was in USA Today, and this is Tuesday's paper again, and it says, ``Prepare to pay if you don't gas up your car rental.'' If you can believe this, rental car companies are having to charge $8 a gallon when someone who is renting a car returns it to an airport with a less than full tank. Usually we try to guess as well as we can and fill that tank up before we return it to the car rental place because we know the price at the pump for the car rental will be higher.

Well, guess what, that price is now a whooping $8 to $10 a gallon that car rental companies are forced to charge their customers now when cars are returned to the car rental company with a less-than-full tank.

These are numbers, I believe, Mr. Speaker, that none of us ever thought in our wildest dreams that we would ever imagine that we could be paying. This is a lot of bad news that the American people are having to take, along with the flooding, the terrible, terrible conditions that people in Iowa are facing right now, in Arkansas and Missouri, with all of the impact of the weather.

We hear yet more negative reports about how our crops will be impacted. In Iowa, nearly all of the counties are devastated. I was born in the State of Iowa in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, where the Cedar River came up over its banks and flooded that downtown area, displacing hundreds and thousands of people from their homes, and people from their businesses.

And Iowa, as I know from my experience, is a leading corn producer and soybean producer, and so now we see that the price of corn will also probably be going up.

Well, I didn't ask for this hour, to manage this hour just to talk about gloom and doom and the negative. The reason why I started out with these comments, Mr. Speaker, is to identify with all of the American people at home right now who are experiencing this pain, who are experiencing this suffering that they never imagined they would be experiencing with the high cost of energy.

But I am here tonight because I want to talk about the great news, and the great news is this: we are privileged to stand right now on the answer to the problem that is plaguing us, the high cost of energy. And the great news is that we have a key. We have an answer. The American people, the American middle class don't need to suffer any longer. It is unnecessary because we have a key that can be the answer to our problem. And here it is. We can get back to our goal which is $2 a gallon gasoline. This isn't fantasy, this is reality. We can once again see America paying $2 a gallon gasoline.

Are you kidding? How is that going to happen, you ask. Well, easy. This is how we can do it. We need to start to explore here in America. Because the truth be told, America does not have a famine of energy, absolutely not. Just the opposite. We are sitting on the cusp of one of the greatest industries that can be developed in this century and on into the future, one that will deliver millions of high-paying jobs for Americans all across this country. In fact, in every State in this country America could become the leading exporter of energy. You heard me right. America could be the world's leading exporter of energy and create some of the highest-paying jobs known in the world because right here in America we are standing on a veritable treasure trove of energy. So we need to start here, start in America, to access these wonderful resources and we need to do it now in order to get back to $2 a gallon gasoline. In order to be able to get off of foreign dependence on energy, we need to explore here and we need to explore now because then the American people can start to pay less, and that paying less would get us back to $2 a gallon gasoline.

You say how is that possible? How is it possible that once again we could be paying $2 a gallon gasoline? Well, just think, it took us 25 years in this country to go from $1 a gallon gasoline to $2 a gallon gasoline; 25 years to go from $1 to $2.

How long did it take us to go from $2 a gallon gasoline to $4 a gallon gasoline and even more a gallon gasoline? It took us less than 2 years to go from $2 to $4.

Well, what changed? There are a few things that came into the mix. One is the American dollar came into a weakened position. And when the American dollar became weakened, the United States unfortunately found itself very dependent on foreign sources of energy that we were dependent on.

Do you know that from 2007 to 2008 the United States has become 7 percent more dependent on the OPEC nations for our energy, going exactly in the wrong direction.

I don't know of anyone right now, Mr. Speaker, who believes that America should become more dependent on foreign oil. In fact, what I hear from my constituents is can't we get less dependent.

Absolutely. We can be less dependent on foreign oil. In fact, we can become independent of foreign oil and we can become a leading exporter of energy to the world and we can become the head, and not the tail.

Right now America is busy becoming part of the tail when it comes to energy. But we can turn this around. We can become the leading producer and exporter. Well, you ask, how is that possible? I will tell you how it is possible. Take a look at the situation we are in right now. Here is the key to our answer, and now it is up to Congress to unlock that key, unleash this energy and bring the price of gasoline back down to $2 a gallon. It is Congress that has been the bad guy in this scenario. And it is Congress that can be the hero in this scenario. Congress.

Right now Congress has made it illegal, virtually illegal to be able to access this gift of energy. How did we do that? Congress has made it illegal to access the energy that is in the Arctic energy slope up in Alaska. Do you realize that we already have the Alaskan transatlantic pipeline that was built in the mid-1970s from Prudhoe Bay and has been piping oil from Alaska down into the lower 48. That pipeline is already up in existence, and it is only half of capacity flowing. With a very little effort, we could tap into the Arctic energy slope and begin accessing that over 10 billion barrels of oil that are available to us in the Arctic energy slope.

Do you realize that if we accessed this wonderful source of energy, we will increase American energy production by 50 percent, access to American resources by 50 percent. Also, we have the Outer Continental Shelf that is available to us for deep sea energy reserves.

Now get this, if you thought 10 billion barrels was a lot, just listen, this is 86 billion barrels of oil. You heard me, 86 billion barrels that are available to us to access of deep sea energy reserves that we could tap, get up online, and we could have access to and supply the American people and American industry so that energy would become one of the cheapest costs of doing business rather than one of the most expensive.

Let me give you one little story that I heard yesterday. Northwest Airlines is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are proud to have this airline in our State. As you know, airlines have come under hard times. I was told yesterday that Northwest Airlines had paid about a billion and a half dollars for fuel last year. Do you know what they had to budget this year, an additional $2 billion to pay for the price of energy.

So Northwest Airlines, instead of spending about a billion and a half on energy, will have to spend this year $3.5 billion on energy. Can you imagine, if that's your industry and that cost, you have to somehow absorb, you just can't absorb it without passing that cost on to your consumer, to your customer, who will be purchasing your product. And those are people who fly on airplanes. That is why we see the price of airline tickets have gone through the roof and why airlines have had to park planes and reduce the number of seats and reduce capacity. Don't fool yourself, America is changing, and we are changing because we don't have energy.

Not only that, we have a gift of natural gas. In the gulf coast region in the Gulf of Mexico, we have what may be

the largest reserves of natural gas, 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas exists right here in the gulf coast region. Do you know that natural gas can be used to fire up electric power plants. With modifications to cars and buses, we could run cars and buses on natural gas. Almost the world's largest supply right here in our backyard, illegal, off-limits. And 85 percent of our Outer Continental Shelf, illegal, off-limits. The Arctic energy slope, illegal, off-limits. And also shale. Do you realize that the Saudi Arabia of oil in the United States is this wonderful ring of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, containing 1.3 trillion, yes, you heard me right, 1.3 trillion barrels of shale oil. This is one of the most exciting finds. We have one of the world's largest supplies of shale oil right here in our backyard. But guess what, it is off-limits. We are handcuffed. We can't access it. Who made all of this off-limits?

Do you realize the United States of America is one of the only countries in the world that has made it illegal to access the answer to our problem; made it illegal to access our own energy. We have this great gift waiting for us, great job producer waiting for us. And it is the United States Congress, your representatives, which have said no, no way, we are not going to access it.

When I talk to the American people about this back home, when I talk to average Minnesotans, they look at me and they say, Michele, what in the world is Congress thinking? Why in the world wouldn't they allow us? Don't they want us to have $2 a gallon gas? I wonder sometimes, too.

We have the key right here, and I have other Members who are with me right now who would also like to weigh in, who are leaders on this issue, passionate about this issue, people who are speaking out and advocating for you, the American people, who want you to be able to again get up in the morning with a happy, light heart realizing you can afford to go to the gas station because you can be paying $2 a gallon gas again. You can see your grocery bills go down. You can see your consumables go down. You can see the price that you are going to be paying for air conditioning this summer and your electric bill go down. This fall in Minnesota when all the furnaces kick back in again, to be able to see your heat bill go back down, this is all to be, all possible.

We have a great story to tell tonight, so I hope that you will listen for the next few minutes, and I would like to yield to the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King). There is not a day that goes by that Representative Steve King is not here on the floor advocating for the good of the American people, to get back to paying $2 a gallon gasoline.

With that, I yield to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

Thank you, Congressman King.

I would ask the Speaker how much time remains.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that.

I'm sure everyone tonight, Mr. Speaker, can hear the passion in the voices of the people who are speaking in this Special Order hour. It's because we understand from our constituents back home how real this is for them. This is an issue where the American people are way ahead of people in Congress. They get it, how difficult this is, and that's why we have been repeatedly asking our constituents back home in our districts ``Why don't you go ahead and show us how painful this is, how difficult this is, how real this is. Take your receipts from your car when you go and fill up your tank or, if you are a trucker, when you fill up your truck. Take those receipts. Fill them up. Send them to us. Send them to your Member of Congress. We want to be able to have them here so we can demonstrate what tremendous agony this is for Americans.''

I believe that we should have bushel baskets full of receipts from people when they fill up their gas tanks so we can show people how real this is, the pain at the pump, because that represents money that every person is paying today, money that would be needless, that we don't have to pay because we know we can get back to $2 a gallon. How do we know that?

We know that rather than paying $4.07, which is today's national average for gasoline--it still shocks me when I see that number up on a billboard. We know we've got our answer. This is our answer: Our natural gift from God that he has given to the United States. God has given us these natural resources, and it is our obligation to be good stewards of what we have and to take dominion over this, to take dominion and to cultivate what we have in a safe, sound and environmentally sensitive way so we can take care of the needs of our people and yet also be good stewards of the land.

We have two very different philosophies that we're looking at. For those of us who are speaking now in the Special Order, we're saying explore America; do it now so that Americans can pay less. There is a completely different philosophy that has also been talked about in recent weeks, and that plan is to pay more and to drive less. That's really what it comes down to. Pay more and drive less. But is that what we want for Americans? Is that what we want for this generation and for the next generation? I don't, because this is what I'm concerned about: Whoever controls fuel will control our freedom. Think about that. Whoever controls our energy will control our freedom and will control the future.

Congressman Steve King of Iowa was talking a little bit about climate control legislation, and it's also called a cap-and-trade system. Now, I don't call it ``cap and trade.'' I call it ``tax and spend'' because that's really what it is, in a nutshell, if you want to know what ``cap and trade'' is.

Before I hand this off to Representative Phil Gingrey from Georgia, who has some comments he would like to make, I just want to say a little bit about cap and trade, or what I call ``tax and spend.''

This proposal that has been coming from people who want you to pay more and drive less, that's their answer regarding this energy crisis. You pay more and you drive less. As a matter of fact, we heard from the nominee of one of the major political parties that his concern was not the high price that Americans are paying for gasoline but how quickly that price is rising.

Well, I think, for those of us who are speaking tonight in this special hour, our real concern is that high price of gasoline because we see not only is it impacting people personally in their pocketbooks, not only is it having a devastating impact on the economy, but it's also impacting our national security because, as we are more dependent on foreign oil and as we're paying ever-increasing prices and sending billions--and now it will soon be $1 trillion--off to other countries that don't like us very much, we are seeing that negative impact here at home.

Let me just say a few words about cap and trade, or tax and spend. Tax and spend works like this:

If you think you're already paying a high price for energy, now what your Federal Government wants to do is to force you to pay for the right to buy that energy. As if it isn't punishing enough to just buy the energy in the first place, you're going to have to pay for the right to buy energy. Now, think of that madness. You're going to have to buy a permit if you're a business. If you're an individual, you're going to be paying indirectly for that permit.

By the way, the Federal Government created the problem. Congress created these high prices. Now, if they haven't mucked it up already, Congress wants to charge you for the right to purchase overly inflated prices of energy. Think of that. By the year 2025, Congress in one bill wants to tax you $6.7 trillion. They want you to pay $6.7 trillion in this tax for the right to purchase very expensive energy. Think of what that is going to do to our economy.

If you do that and if we comply with what all of these grandiose schemes are, guess what the bottom line result will be out of this cap- and-trade or, what I call, tax-and-spend legislation? By the way, the brain trusts who have come up with this scheme have already spent this $6.7 trillion. They have already decided how they're going to spend this money.

But guess what the final result will be. If everything goes perfectly, according to plan, they will only reduce the Earth's temperature, according to their models, by seven one hundredths of a percent. Just think. Are we really willing to devastate the United States' economy? For what? To cool the Earth? Maybe. At seven one hundredths of a percent?

We need to think about this really carefully and have a debate right here, a genuine debate, where you see a few more Members of Congress in the room who are debating this very serious issue. This is serious enough that we are here tonight because we want the American people to know that there are answers, and we don't have to go along with all of this folderol, the tax and spend and all of the nonsense that goes on.

Let me tell you one of the first bills that we voted on this week. We voted to make it illegal to transport monkeys across State lines. I'm not making this up. This is absolutely the truth. We all got on planes that emit a lot of carbon. We came from all corners of the United States so that we could have the right--you heard me--to vote to make it illegal to transport monkeys across State lines. That was the most pressing thing that this body had to do this week while you were busy getting out of bed in the morning, paying $4.07 a gallon, thinking, ``Now what am I going to do? Now what am I going to have to give up so I can pay $4.07 a gallon?'' But don't worry. In the United States Congress, we made it illegal to transport monkeys across State lines.

If you don't think that's bad enough, do you know what we did a couple of weeks ago? It is absolutely true, and it happened right here on this floor. We voted to send your money--I did not vote for it, but enough people in this body voted for it. We voted to send $25 million of your money to foreign countries in foreign aid to pay for foreign cats and foreign dogs, not even American cats and dogs in foreign countries. We spent your money, $25 million, and sent it to foreign countries to pay for foreign cats and foreign dogs.

As if that were not bad enough, the next day, we sent more millions to foreign countries to pay for foreign birds. Well, at least we didn't do that for foreign monkeys. All we did is make it illegal to transport monkeys across State lines. This is what your United States Congress has been doing while you've been busy spending $4.07 a gallon. That's a travesty.

That's why we're here tonight to tell you don't give up hope yet. We're saying let's explore America. Let's explore

now so that you can pay less because, otherwise, we'll have to go with their answer. Remember what their answer is: Pay more. Drive less. I don't think that's what we want to do.

That's why I want you to hear from my distinguished colleague from Georgia's 11th District. His name is Dr. Phil Gingrey. I'd like you to give him some attention so that he can talk to you about what he knows to be true about energy.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey. Thank you for those important words. And again, I appreciate the expertise that you bring to bear on this wonderful debate tonight.

Remember, there's two ways that we can go about approaching this problem. We can go with the philosophy that says pay more, drive less, put on your sweater, lower your thermostat and sit home, give in to defeat, just think it's over, suck your thumb.

Mr. Speaker, that's one philosophy that the American people could embrace, but I don't think that's the American way. I don't think that's the ``can do'' spirit. I don't think that's what the founders of this Nation bled and died for.

I think if they were here right now, they'd be telling us, wake up, take a look at reality. We have got the answer right here in America.

We haven't talked an awful lot about nuclear power tonight. That's something that we can look at as well. We've talked about exploring the Arctic energy slope, Representative Steve King spoke about that and what the landscape looks like and the fact that we can do this in a wonderfully clean, environmentally sensitive way. It's entirely possible.

We can explore our deep sea reserves which contain over 86 billion barrels of oil, perhaps even more. We can access those.

Also, our natural gas that's available to us in the Gulf of Mexico area, and also the shale energy reserves where we are the Saudi Arabia of oil in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Nuclear power, we know that France derives 80 percent of its energy from nuclear power. I'm grateful that there's a nuclear power plant in my district in Monticello, Minnesota. It's such a wonderfully reliable source of energy, clean, and has zero emissions.

And also tax incentives for alternative energy. Can you believe that we would let these incentives expire, Mr.

Speaker, these incentives for alternative energies, whether it's wind, solar or biofuels? We shouldn't let these expire, we should extend these.

Because what we are saying on the Republican side of the aisle, Mr. Speaker, is let's get a big table, like a big table like we have here in the well this evening, and let's take every answer that America has, put it on the table, let's develop that resource. Let's have dominion over that resource. Let's open it up, cultivate it, use it in a wise way.

You know, Mr. Speaker, the United States is one of the only countries in the world that actually saw a reduction in its emissions over this last year. We didn't sign the Kyoto Treaty, yet nations all across the world that signed the Kyoto Treaty, they saw their emissions go up. Europe, the EU countries have signed a cap and trade system, or what we call the tax and spend system because that describes it more accurately. Europe has actually seen an increase in its emissions. Think of that.

I think it's good for us, I'm glad that Europe decided to go that route before the United States made the mistake of going down that road. It's important, Mr. Speaker, that we know what we're getting into before we take that plunge.

I just wanted to give a couple of statistics before I hand the next few moments over to my distinguished colleague from the great State of Michigan, Representative Tim Walberg, and it's this: It's the facts. All we have to do is look at the facts. This isn't junk science. These are facts, Mr. Speaker. And if you look at the facts of voting patterns over the last 15 years, I'm not talking about the last 15 days, the last 15 months, but if you look at the voting patterns of this Congress over the last 15 years, Mr. Speaker, this is what you'll find out. Over 90 percent of the time, House Republicans voted to increase production of American-made oil and gas. You heard me right. Over 91 percent of the time Republicans voted to explore in America, to explore now for American oil and gas. The Republicans have not been the obstacles. The Republicans haven't been perfect by a long shot. There's a lot of missed opportunities the Republicans have made. But over 91 percent of the time you've been able to count, Mr. Speaker, the American people have been able to count on the Republicans to vote to explore for American oil and American gas now.

Let's take a look at the other statistic. Almost 90 percent of the time, 86 percent of the time, to be exact, that's the percentage of time that the House Democrats, over the last 15 years, have voted against increasing the production of American-made oil and gas. Those numbers are almost flipped. And I have no joy in giving those numbers, because my preference, and my heart is to see Republicans and Democrats come together. Now we're in a crisis. We can't be partisan right now. We have to be about America right now because now is about solutions and answers so we can get to our goal, $2 a gallon gasoline. And it's real, and it's possible, and we can get there sooner if we start now.

And with that, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to hand over the next few moments to my distinguished colleague from the great State of Michigan, Representative Tim Walberg, who has tremendous passion, and who also has stood on this floor and managed an hour on energy so that he can also get his passion to the American people for the answers that he knows are available to make all of our lives better, Mr. Speaker, so we can get back to $2 a gallon gasoline.

Representative Tim Walberg of Michigan.

Thank you to the representative from Michigan, Tim Walberg. I appreciate that.

We are a great country. I believe that we are the greatest country that the world has ever seen. And in this country, in the fields of Pennsylvania, over 100 years ago was discovered a resource called oil; and that resource literally changed the world, changed this Nation, and allowed us to grow and to prosper in a way that our forefathers never dreamed would even be a possibility.

We have that future yet in front of us again, Mr. Speaker. That future lies before us. It isn't time to throw in the towel for the American people. I know I'm not willing to have my generation be the last generation that sees growth. I don't want my children to live in the shadow of history in a declining Nation.

I don't think most American people want that. We want a future. We want a hope, and that's something that we can have, and we have to have energy in order to make that happen.

Now, remember, there's two choices that we talked about tonight. We can have one that is pay more, drive less, put on your sweater, lower your thermostat and sit at home. That's one philosophy.

And as Representative Walberg said, there were people on the opposite side of the aisle, Democrats yesterday who said, and I quote, we, the government, should own the refineries. Then we can control how much gets out into the market.

I stipulate, Mr. Speaker, that's exactly the wrong message for us. We, instead of having the Federal Government nationalizing industries, want to explore here, explore now, pay less. And I yield back.

Madam Speaker, tonight, Dan Meyer, a high school teacher from Mt. Hermon, California, will be honored with an annual Cable's Leader in Learning Award at a ceremony in the Library of Congress.

Dan Meyer, who teaches at San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, is one of just ten educators in the country receiving this prestigious award--and the only teacher to receive the award in his category, ``Pushing the Envelope.'' Awardees in this category are recognized for the inventive and creative incorporation of video media to achieve greater learning and growth in the classroom.

As an algebra teacher, Meyer began producing short videos to demonstrate algebra equations to his students. The result of his pioneering technique was profound--Meyer reports students began picking up the algebra with shocking speed. When Meyer posted his instructional videos online, thousands of teachers began downloading the videos to take advantage of Meyer's innovative approach.

Education is one of the world's noblest professions. And Meyer reminds us all that education is not an act but a process--a process that thrives on the passion and innovation of those trusted with this great responsibility.

And so I am thrilled today to recognize Dan Meyer for his important achievement. As America continues its march into the 21st century I know that our future is secure so long as we have people like those being honored tonight to help educate our next generation of leaders.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly special Minnesotan. Sixth grade student Monica Nelson from Ham Lake, Minnesota has been chosen to represent Minnesota at the National History Day competition taking place at the University of Maryland this week. Monica was selected from the nearly 30,000 students from Minnesota who take part in History Day every year.

The theme for this year's competition is ``Conflict and Compromise in History.'' At this competition, participants get an opportunity to finally present their findings after an exhaustive and critical analysis of facts and figures relating to their chosen topic. Monica presented her research on a famous St. Cloud, Minnesota resident, early abolitionist and women's rights advocate, Jane Grey Swisshelm. Presenting her research through an acted performance, Monica gave an account of Jane Swisshelm's life and contributions from the perspective of her daughter.

Thank you, Monica, for your hard work and passion for our Nation's history. You have paid a great honor to our American heritage, and your very own contributions have ensured that this early patriot's contributions to our Nation will never be forgotten. Minnesota thanks you and wishes you the best during the competition. We are all proud of you, Monica, and we look forward to seeing all that you do with your God-given talents in years to come.

Mr. Speaker, today, I was proud to support, H. Res. 1127, a bill which condemns the endemic restrictions on freedom of the press and media and public expression in the Middle East and the concurrent and widespread presence of anti-Semitic material, Holocaust denial, and incitement to violence in the Arab media and press.

The people of Israel have been victims of violence and hatred for far too long. Not only are these peace-loving individuals targets of rocket attacks and terrorist actions, they are also victims of government- censored, hateful press. It is far too common for Arab media markets to condemn Israel and promote actions which foster violence and hinder the peace process in the region. Israeli reporters and journalists have been harassed and intimidated by Middle East government officials who have placed harsh legal restrictions on what news can and cannot be reported.

I strongly believe that the universal right of all persons to peacefully express themselves in a nonviolent way should be upheld in the Middle East. It is the responsibility of the United States and the global community to condemn this lack of freedom and work to promote an environment which fosters the license of nonviolent speech and press and peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 20 heroes who served the people of our Nation valiantly in Operation Iraqi Freedom and who this past weekend were honored at the Fallen Heroes Memorial in Bloomington, Minnesota.

SPC Benjamin J. Slaven, SGT Brent W. Koch, SPC Kyle R. Miller, Staff SGT Jeffrey J. Hansen, Staff SGT Joshua R. Hanson, SGT Germaine L. Debro, SPC Kampha B. Sourivong, SGT 1st Class Scott E. Nisely, SGT Bryan T. McDonough, and SGT Corey J. Rystad.

SGT Nicholas D. Turcotte, Staff SGT Thomas W. Clemons, Staff SGT James M. Wosika, Jr., SPC Carla J. Stewart, SGT MAJ Michael C. Mettille, SGT 1st Class David R. Berry, Staff SGT Greg N. Riewer, SGT Joshua A. Schmit, SGT Brandon L. Wallace, and Staff SGT Robert J. Basham.

Each made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and each deserves a special place in America's history and America's heart. I join with their friends, family, and comrades who were in attendance this weekend in honoring their memories.

Madam Speaker, since its founding in 1992 with the financial assistance of a local VFW post, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, MAC-V, has been serving Minnesota's veterans with pride and honor. Back then, it started by providing 4 homeless veterans with shelter and support. Today, it serves hundreds all across the state.

Too often, our brave heroes return from service to find the life they had left behind has left them behind in their absence. MAC-V helps our veterans pick up the pieces of their shattered lives in so many ways. In addition to providing shelter to veterans who return from service and find themselves in need of this basic need, MAC-V also helps veterans struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, provides important job training skills, and more.

Their annual Stand Down event, at which returning veterans have an opportunity to meet with veterans organizations that provide the full range of services, has become one of the most anticipated events in the veterans community.

MAC-V not only provides for the physical and mental needs of our veterans, but also forms a welcoming circle of support, friendship and camaraderie that these brave men and women need most of all. Partnering with local companies, organizations, and an army of volunteers, MAC-V has become an important part of the Minnesota veterans community and I thank them for their service to those who have served us so well.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia.

Our President John Quincy Adams said, ``The virtue which had been infused into the Constitution of the United States . . . was no other than . . . those abstract principles which had been first proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence--namely, the self-evident truths of the natural and unalienable rights of man . . . This was the platform upon which the Constitution of the United States had been erected.''

Abraham Lincoln similarly made reference to the importance of these

foundational principles when he said, ``I have never had a thought politically which did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.''

The Declaration contains 12 such sentiments which follow:

The Pillar number 1 is National Sovereignty.

The Declaration of Independence could just as well be called the ``Declaration of National Sovereignty.''

Pillar number 2: Natural law. Natural law is the universal moral code that governs all people.

Pillar number 3: Self-evident Truth. We hold these truths to be self- evident, evidence for all to see.

Pillar number 4: Equality. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.

Pillar number 5: Inalienable Rights. Inalienable rights are not granted by government. They are granted to us by God. The role of government, then, is to protect our God-given rights.

Pillar number 6: The Inalienable Right to Life.

Pillar number 7: The Inalienable Right to Liberty.

Pillar number 8: The Inalienable Right to Private Property.

Pillar number 9: The primary purpose of government is to protect the inalienable rights. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.

Pillar number 10: Popular Sovereignty. To secure these rights, governments derived their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Pillar number 7: Federalism and State rights. The Declaration affirms not only the sovereignty of the Federal United States, but also the sovereignty of the separate states.

And finally, Pillar number 12: Divine Providence. The Declaration of Independence ends with this sentence:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

The Colonists stated their conviction that there is a God in the Heavens who ultimately governs in the affairs of men. There is no Natural law without a Law giver. The unalienable rights they said were God-given. Equality, they said, was the state in which we were created by God.

May God bless to this present generation the memory of the Declaration of Independence and the 12 principles contained therein.

Mr. Speaker, it is vital that we recognize the rich spiritual and religious history of our Nation's founding and subsequent history, and I rise today to express support for the designation of the first week in May as ``American Religious History Week'' to raise the appreciation of and to promote education on America's history of religious faith.

In doing so, we recommit ourselves to our nation's common religious faith, also called ``the American Creed.'' We reconnect our people with our most basic principles--our fundamental statement of faith--as stated in our foundational Document, the Declaration of Independence.

This document is a Declaration that we are first and foremost a religious country. It clarifies that our breaking of the bond with Great Britain was justified by the spiritual principle of Natural Law-- the universal and God-given understanding of morality and human rights that applies to all people and all nations throughout the world.

This American Creed stated in the Declaration clarifies that all people are entitled to be free, to have their lives protected and to own property. Why? Because our Creator--God made us that way.

Our forefathers understood that God made us to be largely like him. That is, they understood that just as God is free, he made us with a right to be free. Just as God lives, he made us with a right to live; and just as God owns everything, he made us with a right to own some things.

The founders understood that religion is the foundation of a just society. Here it is in their own words.

``All our basic rights and freedoms are recognized by the American Creed as belonging to us and inherent in us because of religious principles. If we fail to recognize our nation's religious foundation, these same rights and freedoms become increasingly vulnerable.''

The Declaration ends by appealing to ``Divine Providence''. That is, our Declaration says that the success of this new republic depends on God looking favorably upon it and protecting it.

Today, we recommit ourselves and our country to these all-important religious foundational principles. Today, we recommit ourselves to being free.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor one of my constituents, a true community servant, Ms. Louise Botzek.

Ms. Botzek has volunteered at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center for over 30 years, totaling more than 5,000 hours of service. As a wife and sister of men who served in our Nation's armed forces, Ms. Botzek has made it a priority to give her time to those who have fought to protect our Nation's freedom.

While at the VA Medical Center, Ms. Botzek plays card games with the patients and transports them to medical appointments and chapel services. Her dedication to service has made a difference in the lives of many treated at the Center. A simple task like taking someone outside to enjoy the weather makes a world of difference to these veterans.

Our Nation's heroes sacrificed their comforts and safety so that Americans can enjoy their continued freedoms. For their great efforts, veterans deserve much from the American people. It's efforts like those of Ms. Botzek that truly show our appreciation for these heroes.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize and congratulate Ms. Louise Botzek for her exemplary service to our Nation's heroes. The time that she has sacrificed to serve the military men and women of our great state of Minnesota will not be forgotten.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 336. There is no greater American hero than the military veteran, and I am proud to join my fellow colleagues today in honoring the sacrifices and contributions of our disabled American veterans.

The American soldier is the embodiment of hard work, patriotism, and service, and the soldier who has sacrificed his body for the freedom and liberty of others around the world deserves our utmost respect. The blood spilled on our own soil and abroad is a lasting reminder of the commitment that our soldiers have sacrificed for us all, and every citizen owes a deep and lasting gratitude to these brave warriors.

Madam Speaker, our departed soldiers must never be forgotten, and those injured veterans from wars past and those just returning from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan should receive our Nation's and this Congress's unwavering support and reverence. It is an honor to rise today and praise the bravest of all Americans--the disabled military veteran. America will never forget your valor during our most trying times, and we are forever grateful for your dedicated service and selfless sacrifice to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. David Hale, Chief of Staff and ER Medical Director at Woodwinds Health Campus, for being named a 2008 Health Care Hero by the Twin Cities Business Magazine. A modem day hero not only in his community, but as far away as Iraq, Dr. Hale's selfless service and dedication to his work

have earned him the respect and admiration of his patients and colleagues spread throughout the world.

Dr. David Hale has earned the reputation as a giant in his field. In fact, one distinguished colleague has even said, ``The world is a better place because of Dr. Hale.'' After hearing his long record of accomplishment, you will surely agree.

As an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Hale is known for his caring and compassionate demeanor towards patients and for his leadership in hospital patient services. Some suggest he is the reason Woodwinds receives some of the highest patient satisfaction scores not only in Minnesota, but across the country.

If that was not enough, Dr. Hale is a Major in the Minnesota National Guard and has completed two tours of duty in Iraq. Among his military honors, Dr. Hale earned a Bronze Medal Star in March 2007, an Army Commendation Medal in March 2005, an Army Achievement Medal in August 2003, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal and many other awards for his outstanding military service.

Even more amazing are the contributions he has made on the humanitarian front during his time in Iraq. During his first tour of duty, Dr. Hale stm1ed an international humanitarian effort to teach basic 'tnedical care to Iraqis, a program that still exists today. During his second tour in Iraq, he expanded his efforts to provide 400 first aid kits and midwife kits to Iraqi women and children, a gesture well received by Iraqi villagers and soldiers alike.

Now back in Minnesota, Dr, Hale is focused on helping veterans returning home from war, many of whom suffered traumatic injuries on the battlefield.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to celebrate Dr. David Hale's extraordinary and selfless career of service. His contributions to his community, the state of Minnesota, and the country of Iraq make him a distinguished patriot, and make us all proud to be Americans. I stand today and join his family, friends, and colleagues in wishing him a long and successful career.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of Hugo, Minnesota.

It was just several weeks ago that the people of Hugo encountered a terrible tragedy; it occurred at 5 o'clock on a quiet Sunday afternoon. A tornado touched down in Hugo, and within 30 seconds over 50 to 60 homes were completely flattened, between 150 and 200 homes were uninhabitable. But the wonderful spirit, Madam Speaker, among the people of Hugo, the fire department, the police department, the State Patrol, almost instantaneously had a wonderful textbook outpouring of rebuilding.

Within one week, the community of Hugo had so many volunteers they had to turn them away. They completely removed all the debris from the city within one week, and now they're on the road to rebuilding.

I congratulate Mayor Fran Miron. I congratulate City Administrator Mike Ericsson. And I congratulate all the people of Hugo who have exuded the spirit of Minnesota, the loving experience of loving a neighbor. And that's what people in Hugo do best, they love each other.

So congratulations to the people of Hugo. You will rebuild. You will be back. And I'm so honored to represent you here in this great House.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly special American patriot. This particular American hasn't served overseas defending our freedom and liberty, nor has she dedicated her life to serving her fellow man through charity. However, I'm certain that later in life she'll be able to reflect on her accomplishments and truly realize the impact she has made on so many lives.

Madam Speaker, this patriot's name is E'leese Madgett Manrique, and she is a 12-year-old girl from Buffalo, Minnesota. I call attention to her today because on June 7, she will embark on a mission in honor of our military veterans.

To show her support for our military personnel and their families, she will be leaving the Buffalo Rodeo Grounds on her horse ``Chip'' at noon this Saturday, and will ride her horse for the next 86 days throughout Minnesota to raise money for a ranch to support our military veterans. Her vision is to create a place where any soldier in need of a place to heal can go for free.

To paint a clearer picture of what ``The Ranch'' will look like, I'll let E'leese tell you in her own words:

The Ranch will not be fancy, in fact it will be humble.

Just like the men and women that serve their country. Here in

Minnesota we have a very good life. People in Minnesota have

a long tradition of service and volunteering. Neighbor

helping neighbor. The Ranch will be a number of cabins

surrounding a lodge and dining room. Soldiers can spend the

day lounging around. Taking a walk, going for a swim, or

taking a horse out for a ride. Do ranch chores or relax, read

a book, or have a good conversation, be our guest. For those

who do so much for others, we thank you.

E'leese, we thank you. At the tender of age 12, you are displaying more respect, love, and caring than many folks do in a lifetime. As you start your trip this Saturday, know that you have the prayers and support of Minnesota and Americans across the country. We are all proud of you E'leese, and your selflessness is an inspiration to us all. May God bless you on your journey, and we look forward to your safe return.

Madam Speaker, this Sunday a beloved community leader in Elk River, Minnesota, will be retiring. Arlen Krinke has faithfully served as Principal of St. John Lutheran School for 34 years, pouring his heart into the school and earning the profound admiration of people throughout the community.

Schools are the fertile ground where young minds are shaped, young hearts are filled with hope, and young dreams are given life. As generations of students can attest, Principal Krinke has made St. John Lutheran a place filled with hopes and dreams, and where mind, body and spirit are nurtured and fulfilled.

There are few greater services one can render then to serve the young. And Principal Arlen Krinke truly has a servant's heart. He has given his all to this school--and made a real and lasting impact on those who walked through its doors.

Most important, Arlen Krinke has helped foster a learning community that values not just facts and statistics and data--but faith and character and values. At a time when so many are trying to pull kids astray, Arlen Krinke helped to lead them down the right path.

And so on this bittersweet occasion, it is my honor to join the families and students of the St. John Lutheran Community in recognizing Arlen Krinke for his 34 years of service and in wishing him well in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, as the author of an amendment that was not made in order under this rule, I rise in opposition to this rule. My amendment would have prohibited taxpayer funds authorized by this bill from being used to purchase mercury-laden compact fluorescent light bulbs, also known as the CFL.

Mr. Speaker, it is not my intention to take the choice away from public schools as to how to meet their lighting needs. In fact, I believe that Congress already makes, too often, decisions for our citizens. But it is Congress' single-minded dangerous pursuit of this environmental fad that has gotten us all to this point of silliness today.

Congress must ensure that mercury-laden light bulbs are safe before we encourage their use in our child's classrooms. There are very serious health concerns about these light bulbs that are filled with mercury. They pose problems to humans precisely because of their high mercury content, and we must be sure of their safety before we force them on our public school children through this ill-conceived law.

When mercury light bulbs break, let's remember, extensive cleanup is needed. That's what these regulations show us. This is very highly selective and very detailed clean-up regulations.

What does this mean for school children that could be exposed to light bulbs of the broken mercury latent light bulbs? On the EPA's own Web site

are these eight pages of instructions about how to deal with a mercury spill, specifically including spills due to broken mercury light bulbs.

Let me run you through just some of the steps for cleaning up just one broken mercury light bulb.

Before the clean-up ever begins, people must leave the room for 15 minutes as the room airs out putting a halt to the learning that's taking place in the classroom. The school then is told to shut off their central air-conditioning system, or, in Minnesota's case, central heating system, and then they're told not to use a broom to sweep up the broken light bulb as they could come in contact with mercury at a later time.

This should give Congress pause to think about this next rule that says if clothing comes in contact with a broken light bulb and the mercury, it must be disposed of immediately. Imagine that. Children or teachers or the janitorial staff would have to remove their clothing immediately, and we're told that you are not allowed to wash your clothes. That's what the EPA rules say. You're not allowed to wash your clothes. That won't do the trick because mercury fragments in the clothing might contaminate the washing machine and also pollute sewage.

Let's get this straight. Congress is worried about harming sewage and yet we're rushing to place these mercury light bulbs in our classrooms next to our children. That step alone should be a warning to the dangers of mercury-laden light bulbs.

But the kicker of them all is the disposal process. Immediately a person must place all of the clean-up materials in an outdoor trash can or protected area for normal trash pickup. But make sure that you check with your local government.

In Minnesota, my home State, it does not allow for normal trash disposal for mercury. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

There are so many rules that are contained on the EPA Web site that I don't have time to address them all, but while these clean-up guidelines are important and should be followed, the harm that just one broken light bulb can have on a child, senior citizen, or an animal is very real, which is why Congress should not embark on these fads.

I hope none of us will have to respond to the news story of a girl or a boy or a senior citizen or an animal who is poisoned by a broken mercury-ladened light bulb. That would be horrible.

I speak today to alert this body and the American people of this yet considerable loss of liberty.

Madam Speaker, recently in Del Rio, Texas, the veterans of the U.S. Air Force's 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing held their 52nd and final reunion.

I am proud to say that many of Minnesota's finest have served in this distinguished outfit, including the man who shared with me their incredible achievements, Minnesota native Jim Wemple, Airmen 2nd Class, who joined the unit the year it was formed, 1956.

The 4080th is one of the most distinguished units in the great history of the American armed services. In fact, it holds the distinct honor of being the highest decorated unit in the Air Force during peace time. The unit has received a Presidential citation, and its members have been awarded the highest honors afforded by the military, including the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor.

With skill and courage, the 4080th flew critical recon missions time and again, including many daring missions during the Cold War. Their efforts and sacrifices averted conflicts, saved lives and secured peace.

The brave patriots who served in this unit have played a pivotal role in many of the defining events of the 20th Century. With courage and dignity, they put their lives on the line to defend our flag and our freedoms and these men truly deserve our undying gratitude.

And so it is my honor to recognize and pay tribute to the all the men of the 4080th Recon Wing. We must always hold the American serviceman in our hearts, for, as General MacArthur said, they hold America's destiny in their hands.