Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated patriot and a true American hero. On May 19, 2009, our state and our nation lost a brave servicemember when Naval Air Crewman 1st Class Samuel ``Grant'' Kerslake died during training operations off the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California. In all, the U.S. Navy lost six members of its Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) when its HH- 60 Seahawk helicopter crashed.

Petty Officer Kerslake was a 1986 graduate of Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy, Arkansas. Dedicating his life to his country, Petty Officer Kerslake had just completed 20 years of honorable service with the U.S. Armed Forces.

While his untimely and tragic death is a shock to all of us in Arkansas, we are left with the memories and inspiration Petty Officer Kerslake shared with all who met him. We admired Petty Officer Kerslake for his commitment to his family, community and country. His legacy of service, patriotism and honor will forever define what we remember about this brave sailor.

My deepest thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Christine; two sons, Samuel Ryan Kerslake and Justin Fields; his mother, JoAnne Kerslake of Hot Springs; his father, Samuel Kerslake of Florida; and the rest of his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

Today, I ask all members of Congress to join me as we honor the life of Petty Officer Samuel ``Grant'' Kerslake and his legacy and all those men and women in our Armed Forces who give the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Jim Hudson of Texarkana, Arkansas, who passed away on May 3, 2009, at the much too early age of 56. As a man of faith, a devoted husband and father, and a committed statesman, his life and legacy is an example to us all.

As a circuit judge for the 8th judicial district south serving Miller and Lafayette Counties since 1991 and as a former prosecuting attorney, Jim was one of the most fair-minded and selfless people I have had the pleasure to know. Arkansas lost a true public servant with Jim's passing and he will be deeply missed.

I knew Jim my entire adult life and was proud to call him my friend. His steadfast commitment to justice and his devotion to his community made Jim a person many of us looked up to and respected, as we witnessed Jim help countless individuals and families throughout his career in public service. He was so respected in his profession that both Arkansas's U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor recently selected Jim as a possible nominee to fill a U.S. district judge's position in the Western District of Arkansas, a position for which he would have been perfectly suited.

Jim's cheerful personality was contagious and he was liked by all he encountered. In

fact, over the course of Jim's difficult five-week struggle with post- surgical complications, a website updated daily with information regarding his progress was visited more than 60,000 times.

As a respected jurist, Jim's greatest legacy is to the legal profession where he had a coveted grasp of complex legal issues and a commitment to helping troubled youth find their way. He also mentored numerous young lawyers and jurists that now practice across the region, passing on his knowledge and teachings that exemplified his fairness and passion for law. His legacy will live on for decades in our region's legal system through the many lives and careers he touched.

My thoughts and prayers and those of every Arkansan are with Jim's family during this difficult time, especially to his wife, Kathy; his two daughters, Sarah and Claire Hudson; his stepmother, Jane Hudson; and, his grandson, Jaxson Hudson.

Jim left us much too early and those of us who knew him will always remember the laughter and lessons he shared with us all. We too often forget how much one person can make a difference in this world and Jim's life and legacy is an example of how one man can better the lives of so many, the profession he cared so deeply about and the church, community and state he called home.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Robert E. ``Bob'' Wheeler of Hot Springs, who passed away on April 16, 2009, at the age of 72. Affectionately called ``Mister Hot Springs,'' Bob dedicated his life's work to Hot Springs, the city he loved and the city he called home.

Bob was a hard worker and an inspiring leader, and it was his vision that helped make Hot Springs the vibrant center of tourism, commerce and history that it is today. In response to the city's struggling economy in the 1980s, Bob was instrumental in passing bond issues that renovated and expanded the former Hot Springs Convention Auditorium into the Hot Springs Convention Center, a state-of-the-art conference facility that now hosts groups from across the country. He was also key in reopening the Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park, as well as envisioning and seeing to completion Summit Arena, which now hosts major concerts and athletic events.

In an official capacity, Bob served as the City Director from 1986 until 2004, when he declined to run for re-election. He also served on the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission for 15 years, being named the commission's only ``Commissioner Emeritus'' upon his retirement.

Bob was a successful businessman heading Wheeler Printing, and he was the motivation for making Hot Springs the permanent home of the Miss Arkansas Pageant, where he served more than 40 years as the state pageant's Executive Director.

Realizing the city's important contributions to Arkansas over the years, Bob's vision included a city that recognizes and honors its past and traditions while embracing change and economic development. Today, as a direct result of Bob's efforts, Hot Springs is a year-round destination for conventions and tourists and a thriving community in which to raise a family.

Most importantly. Bob inspired a new generation of leaders in Hot Springs all of whom embraced his vision and shared his infectious energy and passion that will carry the city well into the 21st century.

Unfortunately. Bob lost his long battle with Alzheimer's disease last week. Though he is no longer with us and will be deeply missed, Bob's legacy will live on as Hot Springs and its leaders continue to meet the expectations, dreams and goals outlined by the city's biggest champion.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, I was not present for rollcall vote 170.

Had I been present for rollcall 170, H.R. 577, the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rison High School in Rison, Arkansas, for having been selected as one of the top high schools in America by U.S. News and World Report.

U.S. News and World Report honored Rison High School with its Silver Medal, one of only four schools in Arkansas to receive such recognition. In order to qualify for this honor, a high school must have a challenging college-ready curriculum, performed well on standardized tests, and provide support and programs that best serve students from all backgrounds, according to the report.

I am personally proud of Rison High School for working to achieve excellence in the classroom and helping to ensure their students have the means they need to succeed in this 21st century global marketplace. A stellar education requires not only good educators and administrators, but also support from the surrounding community. The Rison community, with its top-notch educators, active parents and involved local leadership, deserve much-needed praise for their unified efforts in providing Rison High School students with a world-class education, and I am pleased that U.S. News and World Report took notice.

Once again, I would like to congratulate Rison High School on this significant accomplishment and hope they will continue to strive for excellence in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American hero. On January 17, 2009, our Nation and our state lost a brave soldier when Army Staff Sergeant Carlo Montel Robinson died in Bagram, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He died of wounds sustained in Kabul, Afghanistan, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

Staff Sergeant Robinson grew up in Hope, Arkansas--a tight-knit community where I had the privilege of growing up as well. Although I never had the honor to meet Staff Sergeant Robinson, on behalf of the community of Hope, I extend my utmost condolences to his family, friends and all who knew him for this devasting loss.

Staff Sergeant Robinson was assigned to the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Fort Polk, La., and carried out his duties with pride in his country and without reservation. Staff Sergeant Robinson spent the last thirteen years in the U.S. Army where he served with distinction and dedication, epitomizing a true patriot.

My deepest thoughts and prayers are with his daughters, Carneshia and Destiny, son, Da'karia, mother, Jennifer, grandmother, Martha, and the rest of his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

Today, I ask all members of Congress to join me as we honor the life of Staff Sergeant Carlo Robinson and his legacy, and all those men and women in our Armed Forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Stanley Reed of Marianna, Arkansas, and his outstanding service to the state of Arkansas as outgoing president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau and outgoing chairman of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees.

I have had the distinct honor and privilege of knowing Stanley for many years and his dedication to the citizens of Arkansas is second to none. A third-generation cotton farmer from Marianna, he holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering and a law degree from the University of Arkansas, though his affection for the land eventually led him back to the farm.

Stanley is one of the greatest allies to and advocates for Arkansas farmers and farm families. He has served as president of Arkansas Farm Bureau for 5 years, and has been a member of the organization's state board for more than 20 years, including stints as vice president and secretary-treasurer. He also serves as a member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation's board of directors. Due to his determination to improve Arkansas agriculture, Stanley has participated in numerous foreign trade missions including trips to Mexico, Turkey, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Cuba.

Of course, Stanley's commitment to Arkansas does not end with farming. Stanley just completed a 10-year term on the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, where he served as chairman for 2 years. His service on this distinguished panel earned him the respect and admiration of all who came into contact with him throughout his tenure. Stanley will forever be remembered for his selfless service to improve secondary education opportunities for countless Arkansans. In addition to these roles, Stanley also serves on the board of directors for Baptist Health and as a board member of Pine Bluff-based Simmons First National Bank.

Amidst all of these professional successes, anyone who knows Stanley understands that his most treasured role in life is that of a husband to Charlene, father to Haley Davis, Nathan and Anna, and grandfather to three grandchildren. Carrying on in true Reed family tradition, Stanley's son Nathan continues to work with him on the family farm.

Stanley Reed will long be considered one of Arkansas's finest, and a best friend and advocate for agriculture. It is with great pride that I rise today to recognize Stanley Reed for a lifetime of accomplishments, and for his much-admired service to one of his greatest passions-- farming.

Madam Speaker, I rise to make a good-news announcement.

I'm joined today by the Arkansas congressional delegation, minus one, and the one that's not with us today is Congressman Vic Snyder from Little Rock. And the reason he is not is we are pleased to announce that yesterday morning, Vic and his wife, Betsy, and their son, Penn, were pleased to welcome into this world newborn triplets. The three- member Snyder family has now grown by three, and they welcome Aubrey at 3 pounds, 15 ounces; Wyatt at 4 pounds, 10 ounces; and Sullivan at 4 pounds, 15 ounces. They are all doing well, and they expect to remain in the hospital for about 3 weeks.

Please keep Vic, Betsy and Penn in your hearts and prayers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the passage of the House amendment to S. 2382, the FEMA Accountability Act of 2008.

I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for all of their hard work on this bill. I also want to thank Senator Mark Pryor, who introduced the Senate version of this bill and whom I have worked tirelessly with to ensure that this critical legislation becomes law.

Last year, I introduced H.R. 4830, the House version of this legislation which would require FEMA to quickly and fairly address the abundance of surplus temporary housing units stored by the Federal Government across the Nation at taxpayer expense. My bill would require FEMA to devise a plan to distribute the excess temporary housing units being stored around the country that have been deemed safe and ready to be used.

The legislation specifically gives the agency 3 months to determine the number of housing it needs on hand to shelter future disaster victims; 6 months to provide a plan to permanently store the units it plans to keep, sell usable surplus units and dispose the rest; 9 months to implement its plan, and one year to report the status to Congress.

Families all over the Nation are in desperate need of housing. However, as many of you know many of the manufactured homes and travel trailers purchased by FEMA for use in Hurricane Katrina are still sitting unused in FEMA staging areas around the country. In my congressional district alone, FEMA is storing over 7,000 brand new, fully furnished, never before used manufactured homes in Hope, Arkansas.

These manufactured homes were originally purchased for Hurricane Katrina victims, but never made it to them. Instead, they have been sitting idly by in Hope since 2005. Since that time, many other natural disasters have occurred where temporary housing units were desperately needed by those who lost their homes.

However, it is my hope that the passage of this bill today will make FEMA recognize the continuing need to change this and deliver these homes to families all over the nation that desperately need them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize all the dedicated people at the Rainbow of Challenges in Hope, Arkansas and the South Arkansas Developmental Center for Children and Families, Inc. These are just a few of many organizations in Arkansas that are helping thousands of disabled individuals gain access to needed support services.

Unfortunately, there is an increasing workforce shortage threatening the quality of these services available in Arkansas and throughout the nation. Without an adequately paid, trained and dedicated workforce, our nation's disabled individuals and their families face a less secure future. Without the necessary workforce, providers can not help our nation fulfill its commitment to people with disabilities as intended by Congress's passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For this reason, I am a cosponsor of the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act of 2007 (H.R.1279). This important legislation would provide funds to states to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals in providing services to individuals with disabilities under the Medicaid Program. It is essential that the House of Representatives pass this legislation and bring it one step closer to being signed into law.

I applaud the work of these Arkansas organizations for taking a lead and coming to Washington, DC this month to advocate for improvements on this workforce issue. There is no better way to recognize their contribution to the nation than by passing this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Childers amendment to H.R. 6842. I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for giving me 2 minutes to address this issue.

Some folks may say, why would a Member of Congress from Arkansas be concerned about D.C. gun laws? It's quite simple. Number one, I'm a pro-gun Democrat. Number two, if the Government of D.C. can take your guns away from you in our Nation's capital, Prescott, Arkansas and many other small towns across this country could be next.

Now, why are we here? In June, the Supreme Court struck down D.C.'s ban on handguns and operable firearms within the home for self-defense. The District responded by passing an emergency bill that fails to comply with the Court's ruling. Here's what D.C.'s response was to the Supreme Court ruling saying, yes, the second right applies to the citizens of the District of Columbia just as it does to all the other citizens in the United States of America, and this is how the Government of D.C. responded. They did not correct its machine gun ban, which, unlike Federal or State laws, defines machine guns to include semi-automatic firearms. Well, guess what, Mr. Speaker, almost every weapon in America today is a semi-automatic firearm. You can't duck hunt without a semi-automatic firearm. Very few pistols can be purchased that are not semi-automatic firearms.

D.C. failed to eliminate its ban on operable firearms within the home, allowing a person to assemble and load a firearm at home only if a criminal attack is underway. In other words, if someone breaks into your house in D.C., you've got to say, excuse me, Mr. Intruder, would you pause a moment while I assemble my gun? This bill makes no sense, and that's why the Childers amendment is in order and that's why I will be supporting it today.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Childers amendment to H.R. 6842.

Tonight is a historic night. The American people are sick and tired of all of the partisan bickering that goes on up in Washington. Time after time, bills come to the floor, and they pass or fail on a straight party line vote. Tonight, a bill is going to be defeated by Democrats and Republicans coming together, and an amendment is going to pass because of Democrats and Republicans coming together. That, in my opinion, is long overdue.

Mr. Chairman, when I raised my right hand and took the oath of office, I swore that I would uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. That includes amendment No. 2. Mr. Chairman, I could not be more proud of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Childers). He may be a new Member of Congress, but he certainly knows where he is, and he knows why he's here--to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. We can't cherry pick. We took the oath to defend the entire Constitution, including the second amendment.

Back home in Arkansas, there's a bumper sticker that says, ``When you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.'' Quite frankly, I don't believe it's a coincidence that Washington, D.C. has a high crime rate, a rate where guns can only be found with the outlaws and not with responsible, law-abiding citizens.

In June of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down D.C.'s ban on handguns and operable firearms for self-defense within the home as in the case of D.C. versus Heller. Mr. Souder and I had a bill to address this issue. We thought we would no longer need to raise the issue after the Supreme Court ruling, but that was before we learned that the District responded by passing an emergency bill that failed to comply with the Supreme Court's ruling. In fact, they snubbed their nose at the Supreme Court.

The Childers substitute amendment remedies this by enforcing the Supreme Court's Heller decision and by preventing the District of Columbia's government from restricting the second amendment rights of its citizens. This should be very important to every one of us who is a Member of Congress because, folks, Mr. Chairman, if our Nation's capital can pass gun control, our hometowns all across America could be next. That's why I'm against this bill and why I am for the amendment. I'm proud to stand here as a pro gun Democrat.

What did the Washington, D.C. city council do that was so bad and that makes no sense in snubbing their nose at the Supreme Court?

Number one, they defined ``machine guns'' to include all semiautomatic guns. Nearly every gun in America today is a semiautomatic gun. We duck hunt with semiautomatic guns. Pistols are semiautomatics.

They also said that any gun that you own must be unassembled in the privacy of your own home until you are in imminent danger. In other words, you've got to wait until someone is inside your home and then say, ``Mr. Intruder, would you please respectfully wait while I assemble my gun.''

That makes no sense either.

Then, finally, the Supreme Court said you can have a gun in D.C., but they don't sell guns in D.C. Guess what? The D.C. city council said you can't transport a gun from Maryland or Virginia into D.C. Therefore, that means you can still no longer have a gun in D.C.

We're not giving Washington, D.C. any more or any less than what most citizens in this country enjoy today under the second amendment. That is the ability of law-abiding citizens to responsibly own guns and to have them assembled, if they so choose, in the privacy of their own homes. We provide Washington, D.C. in this substitute amendment the same definition as most of the rest of the country has as it relates to machine guns.

I urge support of the amendment and a vote against the bill in support of our Nation's second amendment rights.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a great Arkansas statesman MG (Ret.) James Herbert ``Jimmie Red'' Jones of Hot Springs, Arkansas, who passed away on September 1, 2008 at the age of 88. He was a former Arkansas State auditor and a former adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard.

I will forever remember Jimmie Red Jones as one of Arkansas's finest. His life was one defined by honor, leadership, and service to the people of Arkansas for over 70 years.

Jimmie Red Jones graduated from Magnolia High School, Southern Arkansas University and Keegan's School of Radio and Television in Memphis. He attended Arkansas Law School and later received the Southern Arkansas University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988.

Jimmie Red Jones joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1938, and by the time he left active service in 1945, he had received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters (which he particularly cherished), the Joint Service Medal, the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal recognition with five Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal--along with many others. He later rejoined the National Guard in 1947 and remained with the Guard until his promotion to adjutant general in 1979, earning the Legion of Merit and the Armed Forces Reserve Medals.

Jimmie Red Jones returned to Magnolia after the war and sought to serve his community. He organized the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, and Chamber of Commerce in Magnolia. Governor Francis Cherry appointed him as State land commissioner in 1955 and he was named Magnolia Man of the Year that same year.

He was also elected State auditor in 1956 and served 12 terms. He would later serve as adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard from 1979 to 1981 and then from 1983 to 1984.

I will especially always remember the many miles and countless hours that I spent with Jimmie Red Jones on the campaign trail while he pursued his active interest in politics serving as state campaign manager for Bill Clinton's 1982 gubernatorial campaign.

Jimmie Red Jones will be forever remembered in Arkansas as an inspiring example of selfless service to state and country. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Shirley Ledbetter Jones, Colonel (Ret.); stepsons Bobby Dale Gentry of Pine Bluff, Barry Gentry of Redfield and Chan Holcombe of Fort Smith; his six grand-step-children and his niece and nephew. Jimmie Red Jones will be greatly missed in Arkansas and we are all truly saddened by this loss.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot of talk, a lot of rhetoric about energy. We have heard a lot of partisan talk about energy.

You know, Congress has never been in session in August, in recent memory. It is a traditional district work period. And all the Republicans that complained about Congress adjourning for August, as it does each August, if the truth be known, if you were to look at their schedule, they had public events scheduled throughout their district in August. Why? Because they knew that Congress is traditionally not in session in August.

And, quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, if we had stayed on the floor the whole month of August, we would be hearing a lot of the stuff we are hearing tonight. We would be hearing all this partisan bickering about energy. But instead, all 435 Members of Congress went back home to their respective districts during the month of August. And if you listen to the national press, it sounds like we were all laid up on the beach somewhere for 5 weeks.

The fact is, most Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle did what I did; I began the break by making a trip to Iraq to visit the 3,000 members of the Arkansas National Guard. Regardless of how we feel about what is going on in Iraq and what we should or should not be doing, it is important, not as Democrats and Republicans, but as Americans, that we remain united in support of our men and women in uniform.

So I made the trip to Iraq to visit the 3,000 members of the Arkansas National Guard. It is their second deployment in 33 months. They have gone above and beyond what has been asked of them. When that National Guard recruiter showed up, they said, ``Sign here, son, and the most you will be out of the country is once every 5 years.'' This is the Arkansas National Guard 39th Brigade's second deployment in 33 months. And I felt like the least I could do is make the trip to Iraq, let them know we support them, thank them for their service, and to make sure that some of the $16 million an hour of your tax money that is going to Iraq is being spent on the equipment and supplies that they need.

Then I came home to Arkansas, and during the month of August I visited something like 40 towns across my district. Most Members of Congress did the same thing during August; they were visiting their constituents. And if they did, I am sure, like me, they got an earful about the high price of gasoline. And I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress going home to their districts and getting an earful on high gasoline prices will go a lot further toward getting a commonsense energy bill passed on the floor of the United States House of Representatives than having all of us sit here and fight and bicker and act like a bunch of school-aged kids for a month.

And because we were home in our districts in August and because we did get an earful, I predict that we will see a commonsense energy bill passed on the floor of the House this month. The question is whether the Republicans really want to pass an energy bill, or whether they just want to try and blame the Democrats. The irony of this is they have been in control of this for the last 6 years of the White House, House, and Senate. And during that time, of course, I don't have to tell anyone what has happened with the price of gasoline.

So this month, I predict, on the floor of the House the Republican Members of this body will have an opportunity to help pass a bipartisan, commonsense energy bill. The question is, will they do that, or will they not do it and try to continue to use this issue and the American people as a political football?

I can tell you that people in my district, they work hard, they get up, they go to work, they work hard for a living, and many of them live in rural areas and they travel great distances to and from work and they are sick and tired of being a political football. They don't see this as a Democrat or a Republican energy crisis. They see it, as I do, as an American energy crisis.

Here is what I do know. When I was born in 1961, our Nation was 19 percent dependent on foreign oil. By the time I graduated from high school in 1979, we were 45 percent dependent on foreign oil. We are now approaching 70 percent dependency on foreign oil.

Mr. Speaker, when we go to the gas pump and when we tank up, we are indirectly putting money in the hands of the terrorists who want to harm us. That does not make any sense at all.

Here is what else I know. There is going to be 100 million new cars on the road in the next 8 years. 100 million new cars on the road in the next 8 years; not here; in China and India. And I don't care who tells you what, no President, no Member of Congress can change the expansion of the middle class in China and India or anywhere else in the world.

The second thing that I want to point out is 3 weeks ago Kurdish rebels went into Turkey and blew up an oil pipeline, halfway around the world, and yet the next day in South Arkansas we were paying more per gallon of gasoline. No President, no Member of Congress can do anything about that.

We can't change world demand and world circumstances, but I will tell you what we can change. We can change our domestic supply here at home. And that is why a number of us that are Democrats believe that we have got to drill here at home.

The Republicans say, drill and your problems are solved. Not so. The fact is, that because demand is going to continue to increase, if we do all the alternatives and renewables that are in the science lab today and bring them to the marketplace, our oil needs will still be just as great in 20 years as they are today because the demand is going to continue to increase.

So some say drill and your problems are solved. They are not leveling with you. Others say do alternative renewable fuels and your problems are solved. They are not leveling with you, either, Mr. Speaker. I contend it is going to take all of these things. And I have a plan to accomplish that. It is called the American-Made Energy Act, and here is how it works.

Number one, to get us the oil we need short term we drill here at home in ANWR, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is real controversial with some, and I understand that. The truth is, there is 19 million acres in ANWR, and using new technology we only need 2,000 acres out of the 19 million to recover the oil we need. 19 million acres in ANWR at issue; the land area we need in order to drill and recover the oil that is there is 2,000 acres. Put it another way, one- sixth the size of the airport near Washington, D.C.

We need to drill off the coast. We need to drill where it makes sense, in the 48 continental United States, not using 1940 or 1950 technology, not even 1990 technology. My bill says that we will do it utilizing 21st century technology that can allow us to recover the oil we need and be good stewards of the environment all at the same time.

Here is what else it does. It generates $80 billion in lease and royalty payments to our government. $80 billion. When President Kennedy set out to put a man on the moon, in today's dollars it was a $90 billion investment, and we did a lot more than put a man on the moon. We grew a new generation of innovators in this country that went on to create many of the jobs and technologies that we enjoy today.

You contrast that with energy. Everybody is talking about alternative and renewable fuels, but the truth is we will spend more money in Iraq in the next 10 days than we will spend this year on research and development of new and exciting alternative and renewable forms of energy, and that is wrong.

I want to take the revenue from the lease and royalty payments, $80 billion, and I want to put every dime of it into making a President Kennedy ``let's go to the moon'' size investment in alternative and renewable fuels.

We can take automobiles that run on gas and run them on natural gas. We have a lot of natural gas in America. We have a plentiful supply of natural gas, and new areas are being found all the time. In Arkansas now we have got something called the Fayetteville Shale, and a lot of people who used to not have very much are now finding

themselves in the middle-class or even better. A lot of poor farmers, a lot of poor working families are now discovering some wealth because of the Fayetteville Shale, which is where they are recovering natural gas.

Now, not too long ago, they didn't know it existed. And then they knew it existed, but they didn't have the technology to recover it. And then they had the technology to recover it, but it was too costly. And then the price of natural gas went up, and, guess what. Now we are seeing this great explosion of this natural gas find in Arkansas known as the Fayetteville Shale. There is another one in Louisiana. They are both going to rival what is known as the Barnett Shale in Texas.

New and exciting technologies are allowing us to possibly move to natural gas powered cars. Biofuels, ethanol, cellulosic ethanol where we take the treetops and the tree limbs, add value to the land owner, and we can turn them into ethanol. The first ever cellulosic ethanol plant is being built right now in Georgia. The people building it I recently had on the panel when I hosted the first ever Arkansas Biofuels Conference at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, a forestry school located within my district.

Batteries, a lot of promise with batteries. Now, battery powered cars, plug-in electric cars probably won't make a lot of sense for those of us in rural areas. Last Thursday, I traveled 450 miles in my district. I represent about half of Arkansas. That is a lot of miles. Obviously, plug-in and battery powered doesn't make sense for a lot of folks that live in rural areas and drive 20 or even 50 miles each way to and from work. But you know what? For those folks in the urban areas, for those folks where we have a lot of people living, if we can transition them into battery and plug-in electric cars where they spend an hour getting 6 miles to work each day, that will reduce our Nation's need for oil and, therefore, it will reduce the price that we pay at the pump in areas where we will continue to have automobiles that run on gasoline, which comes from oil.

There is a lot of promise. Hydrogen fuel cell. I have test driven a hydrogen fuel cell car. It sounds like an electric golf cart, it runs like a regular car, and no pollution. And when you stop, if you take an empty cup and run to the tailpipe in time, it will pour you a half a cup of water that you can drink. This is not Star Wars stuff. This is not stuff that is even in the science lab anymore. These are ideas that are out of the science lab and ready for the marketplace. The problem is, we do not have an energy policy in this country that embraces them.

So that is what my plan does; it drills, it gives us the oil we need short term; it reduces the price we pay at the pump; it makes a President Kennedy ``let's go to the moon'' size investment in alternative and renewable fuels that can create hundreds of thousands of new jobs here at home.

Ironically, high gas prices helped get us in this economic recession, and having a President Kennedy ``let's go to the moon'' size investment in alternative and renewable energy, growing a new generation of energy innovators in this country can also help get us out of this recession. I call it my Common Sense Energy Plan for America's Future. And I am going to talk more about it a little bit later this evening, because we don't just address the high price of gasoline, we also address electricity. Because I can tell you, we have a gasoline and diesel crisis today, but we are going to have an electricity crisis as early as 2030, and it is going to be far greater and much worse than the gasoline crisis we have today, and my bill speaks to that. It is H.R. 5437, the American-Made Energy Act, and we are going to talk about it in more detail a little bit later this evening.

But at this time, I have got a number of Democrats that have joined me that are for new energy, they are for drilling, they are for alternatives, they are for renewables. They are for American-made energy. Again, this is not a Republican or a Democratic energy crisis, it is an American energy crisis, and we are here to say that we want to make a difference.

I am pleased at this time to introduce my good friend, my colleague from California, the Honorable Jim Costa.

I thank the gentleman from California for his insight, his commitment to finding a common sense to this energy crisis facing America today. And the Member from California, Mr. Costa, talked about the Blue Dogs.

The Blue Dog Coalition is a group of fiscally conservative Democrats that come from all over this country. There's 49 of us. And we're about trying to restore fiscal discipline, common sense and accountability to our government.

We're sick and tired of all the partisan bickering that goes on up in Washington. We don't care if it's a Democrat or a Republican idea. We want to know is it a common sense idea. Does it make sense for the people that send us here to be their voice at our Nation's Capital.

Tonight you're hearing from various members of the Blue Dog Coalition. It's not necessarily a Blue Dog position. It's Democratic positions. It's individual positions from individual Members within the Blue Dogs.

But you know, to listen to the Republicans tell it, you'd think Democrats aren't for drilling. We're for drilling, we're just not for giving the big oil companies a free ride to go along with it.

And tonight, I have got a number of my colleagues, Democratic Members of Congress, that, like me, believe that we need to drill, and we need to drill now, here at home in America to reduce the price we pay at the pump.

But we're not so short sighted that we stop there. We also say, take the revenue from the lease and royalty payments, and let's make the single largest investment in the history of America in alternative and renewable fuels.

At this time I'm pleased to yield to my colleague from Ohio, Charlie Wilson, for as much time as he desires. Not to be confused with the other Charlie Wilson. Charlie Wilson from Ohio.

I appreciate the gentleman from Ohio for joining us. And if you are able to stick around, we'd love to visit more about coal with you.

We've got at least a 225-year supply of coal here in America. Instead of saying it's bad and turning our back on it, doesn't it make sense to invest some of this $80 billion from the lease and royalty payments from drilling here at home and trying to find ways to clean it up? Coal-to-liquid.

We're so close to getting coal-to-liquid figured out that if we could, we wouldn't need to import another barrel of oil for 300 years in this country. I look forward to visiting more with the gentleman from Ohio about coal. In fact, I've got a coal plant being built in my district right now. Coal is not the cleanest form of energy. We all recognize that. But I can tell you this: with new technologies when this plant comes on line, it will be the cleanest new coal plant in America today. It will be plumbed, outfitted for carbon capture and sequestration, another promising technology that's currently in the science lab but getting close to being ready for the marketplace.

At this time, I would like to yield to my dear friend, a real leader in the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas, and that's Nick Lampson.

I thank the gentleman from Texas.

And Mr. Speaker, when I committed to doing this hour this evening on our need for energy, including drilling here at home as well as investing in alternative renewable fuels, I wasn't sure if I would be spending an hour here by myself or not. The reality is that we've got Democrats that keep filing on to the floor of the United States House of Representatives, so many so that we may not be able to get to them all in this hour.

These are Democrats that are demanding a new energy policy for this country, and we can only hope the Republicans will join us in passing one in a bipartisan way. We're here to reach out to the Republicans and say, This is not a Democrat or Republican energy crisis, it's an American energy crisis. Let's solve it together.

I'm pleased now to yield to a brand new Member of Congress, all the way from Mississippi, who's brought a good dose of commonsense and fresh air to Washington with him, and that's my friend Travis Childers.

I thank the gentleman from Mississippi, and at this time, I will yield to the gentleman from Georgia, David Scott, my friend.

I appreciate my colleague from Georgia, my dear friend, for working late on a Tuesday night here to help us address this energy crisis facing this country.

And at this time, I'm pleased to yield to another leader of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, my good friend from the State of Tennessee, Lincoln Davis.

I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for coming out and joining us this evening.

Mr. Speaker, tonight, you've heard from Democrats from Texas, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Tennessee, Georgia, and yes, Arkansas. They are Democrats who share a common vision, a common plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, to create new jobs here at home, to drill here at home, to take the lease and royalty payments to invest in alternative and renewable fuels which will create new jobs here at home, all of which, of course, will lower the price we pay at the pump.

We invite Republicans to join us. It's H.R. 5437, the American-Made Energy Act. It's a bipartisan bill. I hope Republicans will support it as well as they will support these other bills mentioned this evening.

I would yield to the gentleman from Tennessee.

The gentleman from Tennessee is absolutely correct.

Mr. Speaker, we don't have a Democratic energy crisis. We don't have a Republican energy crisis. We've got an American energy crisis, and we're here asking Republicans to join us, the Democrats, in passing a bill that includes drilling here at home and in investing in alternative and renewable fuels. If the Republicans will do that, if they will come to the table and will sit down and will talk to us and with us instead of at us, I promise you, Mr. Speaker, we will pass a commonsense energy plan for America, a plan that will reduce the price we pay at the pump.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 10 o'clock and 1 minute p.m.) the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 10 a.m.