Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, throughout my tenure in the House of Representatives, I have been continually impressed by the legions of staffers who eagerly sign up to serve in the ranks of Congressional aides.

Having started my own career of public service as a staffer in the U.S. Senate, I know a little about laboring behind the scenes, answering the phones, responding to the mail, enduring the long hours of sometimes mundane, often utterly thankless tasks that keep this place running for the people we were elected to serve. These eager, bright minds come to this place looking to make a difference in the world. They sacrifice higher paying jobs in the private sector, and precious time with their family and friends, in order to work without applause for the betterment of our Nation.

These members of our staffs do their work anonymously and generally do their work exceedingly well, putting their heart and soul into fighting for the people we were elected to serve. Frankly, they put up with a lot and Members of Congress ought to do more to defend these loyal employees. When the slings and arrows of public anger are aimed at this institution, these staffers have demonstrated, time and again, a selfless willingness to stand silently as their jobs and benefits are slashed in some ill-conceived sacrificial exercise. They are not our political shields. It is the lot of a leader--a true leader--to take the hits.

Before retiring this year, I want to acknowledge and express my deep gratitude to the staff members who have been by my side throughout my career. And I take this moment to express my undying thanks to those who stayed with me until the very end--never wavering in their loyalty to me and the constituency we served together. These are outstanding and dedicated individuals who deserve the highest praise for their selfless sacrifice and service in behalf of the people of southern West Virginia.

David McMaster, my Chief of Staff

Kent Keyser, my longtime aide and trusted advisor

Kate Denman, my Deputy Chief of Staff

Diane Luensmann, my Communications Director

Carol Wallace, my Projects Director

Josh Sutherland, my Legislative Correspondent

Megan Price, my Staff Assistant

Andy Mollohan and Rachel Meyer, my Legislative Assistants,

Kelly Dyke, my District Director, and Greg Crist, Kim McMillion, and Larone Alexander, who worked in the Congressional Office in Beckley

Debrina Workman, Teri Booth, and Debbie Stevens--my longtime district aides who staffed the Congressional Offices in Logan, Huntington, and Bluefield

Jim Zoia, Ann Adler, Ward McCarragher, Ed Gilman, Lisa James, and Luke Strimer on my Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff.

Madam Speaker, in good times and bad, one constant remains here on Capitol Hill. The Congress of the United States continues to attract some of the brightest minds and most eager spirits our country's colleges and universities can produce. They are our staff.

I want to acknowledge and express my deep gratitude to my staff members, especially Kent Keyser, my former chief of staff and now senior policy adviser, and Jim Zoia, my chief counsel, both of whom have been by my side every step of the way. They are outstanding and dedicated individuals who deserve the highest praise for their selfless sacrifice and service in behalf of the people of southern West Virginia. Through the years, many too numerous to mention have served on my staff and then have moved on, putting the lessons they learned serving on my staff to work for our State and Nation.

In addition to Kent and Jim, those serving on my Washington staff include: David McMaster, chief of staff; Kate Denman, deputy chief of staff; Diane Luensmann, communications director; Andy Mollohan and Rachel Meyer, legislative assistants; Carol Wallace, projects director; Josh Sutherland, legislative correspondent; and Megan Price, staff assistant.

In my West Virginia offices: Kelly Dyke, my district director; and Debrina Workman, Debbie Stevens, Teri Booth, and Kim McMillion represent over a century of service and experience to their fellow West Virginians. They are joined by Greg Crist, my district representative, and Larone Alexander, who serves on my staff through the House Wounded Warrior Program.

Those working on my Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff are: Ann Adler, Ward McCarragher, Ed Gilman, Lisa James, and Luke Strimer.

Those who serve on my subcommittee staff include: Alex Burkett, Rachel Carr, Dave Jansen, Elliot Doomes, Janet Erickson, Alexa Old Crow, Helena Zyblikewycz, Jennifer Homendy, Ryan Seiger, and Chelsea Welch.

My own public service began as a staffer for the master of the United States Senate, Robert C. Byrd. I learned of the institutional ups and downs firsthand, starting work as an elevator operator for the Senators only, so I know a little about laboring behind the scenes: answering the phones, responding to the mail, enduring the long hours of sometimes mundane, often utterly thankless tasks that keep this place running for the very people we were elected to serve.

My entire career in this body has been served on two committees: first, it was called the Public Works and Transportation Committee, then it changed to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where I now serve as ranking member. I served also on the House Interior and Insular Affairs that later changed to the House Resources Committee, where I had the honor of chairing on the Subcommittee on Mines and Mining, and, most importantly, serving as chairman of that House Resources Committee.

I do appreciate, Mr. Speaker, that all of us in this body are all bridge builders. We have tried--and I certainly have tried--hard to build bridges between our coal miners in my great State of West Virginia and our coal operators, between our disadvantaged and our advantaged, between our need to provide jobs and protect jobs in our coal fields and our need to protect our land and the air we breathe, and from all our middle class to the Middle East and beyond, we all seek a world of peace.

I am proud of my record, my 38-year record in this body of protecting and providing black lung benefits, health care and pensions, and, most importantly, safety for our coal miners. I have steadfastly sought relief from excessive regulations on our coal industry. I have defended and protected that vital safety net for our unemployed, our sick, elderly, and others disadvantaged through no fault of their own. My direct help in building our infrastructure in southern West Virginia, where the transportation, technology, or tourism is well-documented for generations to come. I have created vital additional wilderness areas in our State, white water rafting opportunities, and the largest Federally protected areas east of the Mississippi, which is called the New River Gorge National Recreation Area.

Mr. Speaker, my grandfathers came to this great land as pack peddlers from Lebanon. They worked hard, as all West Virginians do. They lived the American Dream.

I have traveled the Middle East extensively during my close to four decades in this body, including with President Clinton in that historic December 1988 codel to the Middle East when he became the first U.S. President to step foot on Palestinian soil. I have met with kings, queens, emirs, presidents, prime ministers, militia chiefs, warlords, you name it, in this region, many times even when not in sync with our official U.S. policy. I have long advocated for Palestinian justice, human rights, dignity, and relief.

Madam Speaker, I do leave this body with a great sense of pride and a great sense of accomplishment in what we have been able to do together for the people of West Virginia.

I do appreciate my colleagues taking a moment to reflect with me on what truly has been a remarkable personal journey, a distinct honor, and a true privilege to serve the people. From elevator operator, mail carrier, assistant to the Democratic Whip Robert Byrd in the Democratic cloakroom in the other body through those Watergate years, all through my 38 years in this august body, it has been both exciting and frustrating, full of fast-paced days and long, drawn-out nights, such as we have just been through this evening. It has been full of sometimes tears, sometimes laughter, and, indeed, it has been an experience that I have truly appreciated and have loved every minute of it.

I want to say in conclusion that I thank, first and foremost, of course, God. I thank my family for their support. This very day, as I speak, is a 10th anniversary of my dear wife, Melinda, and I, and we celebrate this anniversary knowing that it has been a great ride in this institution. My late father stood behind me all the way. My 89- year-old mother, now living in my hometown of Beckley, and my brother Ed and my sisters Vickie and Tanya have always been there for me. My three children, Rebecca and her husband, Michael; Nick III and Laura; and Suzanne Nicole have always been behind my career. And all three of my grandchildren, Madison Kaylee, Nick Joe IV, and Ellianna, that is what it is all about, as we all know in this body, making this place a better place for our children and our grandchildren to live in.

My heartfelt thanks go out to the good people in West Virginia. I have been most proud to fight for our courageous coal miners, and I am very happy to see just this week that those war notices issued by the coal companies earlier this year will, fortunately, not be honored in most cases, and, fortunately, these coal miners will be able to keep holding their jobs.

I have been deeply proud to fight for our courageous coal miners. I have been deeply humble to serve and stand up for our American heroes, our veterans. West Virginia is a proud and patriotic State. I thank our working men and women, the backbone of our country, and our seniors who strengthen this Nation day after day with their continuing contributions. And may God bless our educators, our teachers who positively shape the future of our youth throughout eternity.

Madam Speaker, in concluding this chapter of my life, I offer my special heartfelt thanks to you, each of you in this body, my colleagues, for all the experiences, for representing the immense diversity of our country, and for a lifetime of lessons through the many trials and tribulations that you have shared and taught me. I truly have had the high honor of serving with dedicated public servants and their staffs who will ensure this country remains forever the best in the world.

Thank you and God bless this House of Representatives, and God bless our country.

Mr. Speaker, one of my distinct pleasures in serving for 38 years in this body has been to work with the dean of the House, Mr. John Dingell. Throughout our almost four decades of serving the people of our respective districts and those of our Nation, my respect and sincere appreciation for this son of Michigan has only grown each and every day.

Few, if any, who have served here in the people's House over the last nearly 60 years would have a different view of the worth and of the value of John Dingell's contributions to the day-to-day work of this distinguished body. In fact, Representative Dingell's vast legacy will assuredly be the legions of Members and staff who have learned so many lasting lessons of leadership under John's tutelage. Basic, fundamental, timeless lessons on how to get the people's business done were always at the ready for any Member to partake in and adopt for their own future use. All of us can remember times when Big John felt it appropriate, timely, and beneficial to just gently impose one of his lessons on Members, even on this body as a whole, if he felt it would move our country forward.

First and foremost, John Dingell has always valued good, old- fashioned trust. He sees a person's word as his bond--a bond that never shifts even in the strongest political winds. In John's playbook, loyalty, particularly loyalty to principles, is a powerful force that can move the entire country forward. He insists on one other useful attribute for success--time-tested hard work. One must put in the time to do the hard work, the homework, with great attention to the details, ensuring that every T is crossed and that every I is dotted.

These virtues exercised by my friend, whether by his hand's wielding the gavel or in his sizable arm's embracing your future in the back of the House Chamber, he has served our Nation productively. Upon this virtuous foundation, many compromises have been struck to forge stable vehicles to serve the people, their environment, their health, and their livelihoods. A champion of the American worker, of the autoworker, and of our Nation's coal miner, John Dingell fully appreciates the role that our government can and should play in supporting the breadwinners in every American family.

From the moment John Dingell came here to the moment he leaves and well beyond, these tenets are the legacy that will always burn brightly in my mind as well as warm my heart. Had I but served a single term with John Dingell, I would have counted many blessings because of it. Multiplied 29 times, suffice it to say, the entire Nation can itself count many

blessings thanks to the good work of our dear friend, John Dingell, the dean of the House of Representatives.

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

(Mr. RAHALL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5769, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. This legislation was developed, as Mr. Hunter has said, through very cooperative, bipartisan, and bicameral negotiations over the past 2 months.

That we are here today considering this legislation on the suspension calendar demonstrates again that, when we put aside partisan differences, we can find agreement on substantive legislation that serves the greater interests of the American public.

I commend full committee Chairman Shuster for his leadership in reaching out to the other body to initiate the process that has culminated in producing the outstanding bill that is before the House today.

I also want to thank and acknowledge the chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Duncan Hunter, and the ranking Democratic member of our Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Mr. John Garamendi, for their tireless efforts to advance this important legislation.

As well, to our colleague Howard Coble, whom I have served with on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since he was first elected to the House in 1984.

It is truly fitting that the pending bill will be named after Howard. He is a true gentleman in every sense of the word, a gentleman of this House, and a superb friend to myself, as well as to many of our colleagues.

The U.S. Coast Guard, one of our Nation's five military services, remains an agency that is as indispensable today as it was 100 years ago. Whether maintaining the safety of maritime commerce on the high seas, securing our ports, harbors, and inland waterways, or when protecting life at sea, the Coast Guard stands ready and able to serve whenever called.

I am pleased that this legislation will provide sufficient authorized funding to ensure that the Coast Guard has the resources and the personnel that it needs to accomplish its many missions, and most importantly, this legislation provides adequate funding to allow the Coast Guard to maintain progress in recapitalizing its offshore fleet of cutters, which is a very high priority.

I am also pleased that this legislation will advance several policies to support our merchant marine, especially a provision that will strengthen the enforcement of cargo preference requirements and ensure that the transport of U.S. Government cargoes continue to provide jobs for U.S. seafarers.

In general, this legislation will do much to advance our maritime industries and ensure that our maritime economy remains a vibrant contributor

and source of jobs for millions of Americans.

This legislation is noncontroversial. It does have solid bipartisan and bicameral support, and I urge Members to support this worthy bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman another minute.

Mr. Speaker, may I have a time check, please.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen), the distinguished ranking member of our Subcommittee on Aviation.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I want to commend our full committee chairman, Mr. Shuster; the subcommittee chair, Mr. Hunter; our ranking member, Mr. Garamendi; and our staffs, as well, for the tremendous work that has gone in to producing this legislation.

Under Chairman Shuster's leadership, our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is indeed demonstrating once again today what bipartisanship can do and the productive manner in which we can work for the American people in what is often described as a dysfunctional city. I know that in the years ahead, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will step up to the plate and do its work again, especially in addressing a major transportation bill next year and a major aviation bill that is on its agenda.

I guess it is kind of fitting, Mr. Speaker, that the last bill that Senator Rockefeller and myself are in part being managed by West Virginians. Both of us will be leaving this Congress. West Virginia is the great seafaring State that it is. But I do salute Senator Rockefeller as well for his tremendous leadership as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, for his leadership on this legislation and so many other pieces of legislation that have benefited our State of West Virginia in a more direct way, perhaps, but also a benefit to this great country. He is one that has been concerned for all of us, as we all are, about producing jobs for America, and that is what our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is about.

I commend the staffs and I commend my dear friend Mr. Coble that so much has been said about and for whom this legislation is named. We have traveled together on a few occasions. During my entire time here, I have not seen any Member of this body conduct themselves in such a true gentleman fashion as Howard Coble does. We all call him our dear friend.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and, again, commend Chairman Hunter and Chairman Shuster for their bipartisan and cooperative manner in which they have worked on this and so many pieces of legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, all of us who work on Capitol Hill owe a tremendous debt to the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police. One of my constituents, Jack D. Ballard of Greenbrier County, wrote to me to share some of his own memories and about the friendships he forged during his tenure on the force of Capitol Hill's finest. His late father, Leonard H. Ballard Jr., who retired as an inspector after 38 years on the force instructed Jack that, ``on Capitol Hill, you can be struck by lightning when there isn't a cloud in the sky.'' That's sound advice from a seasoned voice for everyone on the Hill.

Jack worked with many fellow West Virginians during his tenure on Capitol Hill, including Emery ``Bud'' Aliff, Donald Shumate, Jimmie Young, Lenvil Young, Charles Farmer, William Harrah, William Hall, and Lt. Colonel Jervis. Jack found a common trait among these West Virginians, they all worked together to get the job done.

Mr. Speaker, we all ought to celebrate that common thread of the ``can do'' spirit that weaves throughout the hills of West Virginia and throughout our Nation. It is a trait that has and can continue to serve our Nation well.

Mr. Speaker, according to their team manager, Coach Dell Adkins, the 2014 Barboursville Intermediate Little League All-Stars ``had that look in their eyes'' this past season when they climbed their way all the way to the best of the best--the World Series in Livermore, California. And what a season it was as they claimed championship after championship including West Virginia District 1, West Virginia State, and the Southeast Regional Championship in Apopka, Florida.

The Barboursville champs compiled quite a team record this past season, as well. They finished All-Stars with a 12-2 record and All- Star play sixth in the world. They outscored opponents 193-69 with a team batting average of 0.438. The defeated State Champions from North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida to win the Southeast Region and California and Michigan during the World Series. And they stole 22 bases during the World Series, just one shy of the World Series record of 23 set by Japan; they also hit 25 homeruns during Southeast Region play.

Individually, the team's contributions are just as exemplary:

Griffin Adkins (CF, Pitcher) tied for the team lead with 24 hits, led the team with 43 total bases and runs scored with 29, tied for team lead with 5 HR's and was the winning pitcher against Michigan during World Series play.

Brody Aliff (1B, Pitcher) was the winning pitcher in the SE region semi-finals against South Carolina, top 4 in southeast region Homerun Derby, scoring 18 runs.

Brett Armbruster (Outfield) had an on base percentage of 0.417 and 8 stolen bases.

Hogan Carter (1B, SS, 3B, Pitcher) led team in slugging avg of 0.976 and RBI's with a total of 23, batted 0.512 and scored 22 runs.

Trey Chapman (SS, Pitcher) led the team in batting average at 0.522 and tied for team lead with 24 hits, second in runs scored with 25, winning pitcher against California during World Series play.

Luke Ellis (Catcher, Pitcher) led the team in on-base percentages at 0.615 and for stolen bases with a total of 21. He was the winning pitcher in SE region championship game against Florida.

Kristian Gerwig (Outfield, Catcher) batted 0.440, and was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI's against California in World Series play.

Jayce Gould (2B, Pitcher) tied for team lead with 5 HR's, second in RBI's with a total of 21, and he had 21 runs scored. He hit the only homerun for Barboursville during World Series play against the eventual World Series Champions Arizona.

Camron Lewis (Outfield, 3B, 1B, Pitcher) batted 0.375 during Southeast Regional play. He pitched one scoreless inning during World Series play against the eventual World Series champions, Arizona.

Austin Petry (Catcher, 3B, Outfield) batted 0.419 during All-Star play with 2 HR's and 11 runs scored.

Ivan Vaughnv (Outfield, Catcher) led the team with 3 triples, batted 0.436, scored 15 runs, and had 19 stolen bases.

Peyton Weekly (Catcher, 3B, Pitcher) lead team with 6 doubles, batted 0.478, 16 RBI's, scored 19 runs, and was the winner of the Southeast Region Homerun Derby.

The team was most fortunate to have a talented and dedicated coaching staff that included Manager, Dell Adkins and coaches, Pat Carter and Randy Coyle.

Mr. Speaker, the 2014 Barboursville Intermediate Little League All- Stars not only had that look in their eyes they had good sportsmanship and fair play in their hearts. The invaluable lessons this young team learned on the field during this stellar season under the sound guidance of their coaches will well serve them, as well as our nation, off the field in the years and decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, this Saturday, September 20th, a former Member of the House from my State of West Virginia, Dr. Ken Hechler, will celebrate his 100th birthday.

First elected to the House in 1958 and re-elected to eight consecutive terms, Ken Hechler is now the longest living former Member of Congress, and remains a champion for black lung benefits for which he successfully fought during his tenure. Subsequent to his service in this body, he would continue his dedicated public service to the people of West Virginia by being elected Secretary of State for four terms.

Before serving in the House, Dr. Hechler served as a military historian, writing about major European battles, and he retired from the U.S. Army as a Major.

Dr. Hechler then worked as a speech writer in the Truman Administration. Entrusted with a Ph.D. from Columbia University, he devoted a considerable amount of his career to teaching; that included teaching in the Political Science Department at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

Dr. Hechler has authored nine books, including The Bridge at Remagen, West Virginia Memories of President Kennedy, and Working with Truman: A Personal Memoir of the White House Years.

In an era when this Nation seems so divided on the issues of the day, Dr. Hechler's perspective on the job of a Member of Congress is pertinent for political observers, pundits, students of government, our fellow citizens, and, particularly, Members of Congress.

In speaking about taking unpopular positions, yet being elected time and again, Dr. Hechler has said, ``Well, if you do your job on other things; to most people that's more important. If you answer your mail directly and they believe you're honest in your beliefs, why, this is usually accepted even if they disagree with you.''

Ken Hechler and I have been occasionally at odds, but upon one thing we have consistently agreed: Tending to the needs and interests of those we have the high honor of representing in the Congress--one call, one letter at a time--is our highest obligation.

Thank you for your many contributions to our Nation, Ken, and Happy Birthday on this centennial milestone.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5078.

In proposing its latest version of regulations defining ``waters of the United States,'' the EPA claims to be attempting to provide clarity. It claims to be attempting to provide certainty for multitudes of Americans who have been left perplexed by Clean Water Act jurisdiction for many years.

Without a doubt, confusing and conflicting Supreme Court decisions have helped to create a regulatory jumble. But the EPA's proposed new regulations are doing little, if anything, to clear and calm those murky and roiling regulatory waters.

These proposed regulations have only stirred up more worry, aggravation, and, frankly, anger. In truth, the only certainty that these regulations provide is the sure knowledge that, under them, anyone undertaking nearly any activity involving so much as a ditch in the United States will have to deal with the bureaucracy known as the

Mr. Chairman, I am very honored at this time to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop), the distinguished ranking member of our Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on our Transportation Committee, although we are not in full agreement on this measure.

I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), a very valued member of our committee. He is also the ranking member of the Committee on Natural Resources.

Mr. Chairman, I am very happy at this time to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Peterson), a strong supporter, the cosponsor of this legislation, original cosponsor of it, and the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Chairman, at this time, it is my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentlelady from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), a very powerful lady on the Committee on Appropriations, the ranking member on Energy and Water Development.

Mr. Chairman, at this time, I am happy to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), who is leaving this august body, but certainly, we will continue to rely upon his wisdom and friendship, wisdom that is except on this particular bill, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Interior and Environment on the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Chairman, I am happy to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Enyart), who is on the Agriculture Committee and an original sponsor of the legislation. He has been of tremendous help in moving this forward.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I want to first commend the chairman of our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Shuster, for bringing this legislation forward and commend the staff on both sides of the aisle for the work in producing this bill. I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Southerland) as well.

This legislation is truly about giving the American people and giving our States a say in what is theirs and in the direction that they wish for the people within their borders.

Much has been said about the homebuilders' support for this bill, the contractors' support for this bill, and many, many, many other organizations. But I have two quotes here from the National Association of Home Builders and the Associated General Contractors.

These individuals are on the ground. They know what the effect is, the day-to-day effect of policy that emanates or regulations that are promulgated from our Nation's Capital.

These are the individuals that provide jobs for our people. As I said, they are on the ground, on the front lines every day trying to provide those jobs for our people, and in an environmentally sound way, I might add, as well.

Mr. James Tobin has written Members of Congress on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders, and he says, and I quote:

For home builders, this proposed rule adds confusion and

increases the cost and time needed to obtain a Federal

wetlands permit prior to home construction. The costs of this

rule will increase the price of a home at a time when home

construction is beginning to recover from the devastating

effects of the economic downturn. Many American families will

be priced out of the housing market if this rule is finalized

in its current form.

That hits home. That hits home to the young people of this Nation seeking to buy their first-time home. It speaks to those seeking to refinance their homes. It speaks to a key sector of our economy that provides jobs and provides a future for this country that many of our young people are looking to improve.

The Associated General Contractors has written Members of Congress. Their senior executive director, Mr. Jeff Shoaf, has said that we must find ``a more predictable definition to clearly differentiate those waters that are regulated by the Federal Government from those that fall under the jurisdiction of State and local governments.''

In my opinion, it is time that this EPA recognize that our States do have a say in the future of regulations that affect people within their borders.

Unfortunately, we have seen too many instances, as I said in my opening comments, where this EPA has overreached. It has reached beyond what its legal authority is in trying to promote an ideological agenda that is not good for the heartland of America, the true areas that have built this country and provided jobs for our people in the past, and can provide jobs to a very talented and available workforce that is available, if only given a chance to work without further intrusion from the EPA.

So I conclude, and, again, commend my chairman for bringing this bill forward, and urge all Members to support the pending legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, with the new school year upon us, we are reminded of the great role education has played in our personal and professional growth. And we can't help but smile as we remember the educators, the teachers, school administrators and staff who, through the years, so enriched our lives. One individual who devoted her career and most of her adult life to education certainly comes to mind, Ms. Mary Abbott.

Ms. Abbott passed away late last year. And yet, Mr. Speaker, Mary Abbott's influence lives on. In fact, as has been said, a teacher affects eternity; they never know where their influence ends. Mary Abbott taught sound lessons throughout her productive life; even long after her formal role in education had come to an end, her selfless service continued for her community.

Ms. Abbott devoted a great deal of time educating herself so she could serve others. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and received Bachelor Degrees from St. Mary of the Springs College in Columbus, Ohio, and Concord College in Athens, West Virginia. She received a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from West Virginia University and did advanced studies at the University.

Ms. Abbott taught at Rhodell, Stoco and Hollywood Elementary Schools. She served as curriculum supervisor for Raleigh County Schools for 28 years and served on numerous committees at the county, state and national levels.

Retiring from the Raleigh County School system in 1988, Ms. Abbott became active in the West Virginia and Raleigh County Associations of Retired School Employees, and was a West Virginia State volunteer for AARP serving as the West Virginia Retired Educators Liaison. She was a Prisoner Visitation and Support Volunteer at the Federal Correctional Institution of Beckley, a member of the Woman's Club of Beckley serving as the president in 2008-2010, Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Society for teachers, and a member of the Raleigh County Democrat Executive Committee.

It's not surprising that Ms. Abbott's love for our great Nation and her passion for learning continue to benefit her community. On September 17th the first Mary Abbott Memorial Scholarship awards will be presented to three worthy Raleigh County high school students who have penned winning essays titled, ``What the United States Constitution Means to Me.''

Mr. Speaker, it is because of the contributions of dedicated, devoted citizens, like Mary Abbott, that this Nation has been so blessed. And because of the lessons Mary Abbott so selflessly imparted to generations, her work will continue without end.

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

Madam Speaker, 2 weeks ago, I stood in this exact spot and urged passage of a highway trust fund patch as soon as possible to keep our surface transportation programs up and running.

Now we stand at the edge of an enormous cliff with days--not weeks-- to go before the trust fund goes belly up and the Transportation Department starts rationing payments to States. We do not have the luxury of time to deliberate or trade further ideas. Congress needs to act now to enact a bill and avert an unnecessary crisis. That is why I support the motion before us today, but not because I think the House bill is a better approach.

The Senate extended programs through December to keep the pressure on Congress to enact a long-term highway bill as soon as possible. I fully support this approach. Unfortunately, the Senate amendment contains a technical error. It does not fully offset the transfer to the highway trust fund, and the House Republican leadership has made clear that the House will not consider a highway bill that is not fully offset.

With a single legislative day left to address this looming crisis, we need to ensure continued funding of roads, bridges, transit systems, and the safety of our travelers and passengers.

Two weeks ago, House Democrats supported a shorter extension as an alternative to H.R. 5021.

This approach was rejected by House Republicans. Today, the House Republican leadership will not even allow us to vote on a fix to the technical error in the Senate amendment.

The House bill and the Senate amendment both help States get through the remainder of this construction season, and they both provide the opportunity for Congress to come together on a bipartisan basis, which the chairman and I have done so well under his tenure and for which I commend him, and pass a long-term surface transportation law in a lameduck session.

There is absolutely no reason that Congress cannot come together and complete a long-term highway bill this fall. I repeat the point I just made, that this legislation that we are acting on today does not preclude us from coming together in a lameduck session of Congress and doing what is necessary for the American people, and that is passing a long-term, robustly funded transportation bill that puts our people to work and repairs our decaying infrastructure.

While I will vote for this motion today, it is not because the House approach is a better solution, but because it does provide the only path forward available to us to avert an immediate crisis and still allow the opportunity for Congress to do the right thing.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, the distinguished ranking member on our Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional minute to the gentlewoman.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), a former member of our powerful House Transportation Committee, who decided to go to the esteemed Ways and Means Committee.

Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), a valued member of our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1010, the minimum wage increase, in order to jump-start the middle class, instead of this partisan lawsuit.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud for bringing this Veterans' Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act to us today.

In medically-underserved communities, where health care staffing shortages have caused delays in appointments, this conference agreement will help provide critical investments so that the VA can begin hiring the doctors it needs to serve our veterans.

It will help to reduce the backlog in VA construction and maintenance projects. It will help to ensure that veterans unable to get a medical appointment at a VA facility will be able to get the care they need from a non-VA provider.

This legislation can do a lot of good, but it is only a first step. The bill must be implemented, regulations issued, and scarce moneys allocated to ensure that veterans get the care that this legislation promises.

We must not lose sight of the rural, underserved areas in our Nation like in southern West Virginia, where veterans are elderly and travel is costly and burdensome. We must not lose sight of the need for medical facilities and health providers in those areas.

I urge the VA to remember rural veterans as it implements this bill, and I certainly aim to help to ensure that it does so. Again, I commend the chairman and ranking member for bringing this legislation to us today.

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

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

The House has just finished its rollcall votes for this week. With the conference committee at an impasse on H.R. 3230, the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, hope is fading that any legislation will be enacted this summer to address the urgent needs at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This is truly shameful, and as an American, I think this is shameful. It is beyond me to understand why our legislative branch of government cannot get this done.

It is true that this body has taken some modest steps toward improvements, like allowing veterans to seek care at non-VA providers when they cannot get medical appointments. I

have supported that effort. That is fine where private sector health providers are available, but for elderly veterans in rural areas, where travel is difficult and costly, where physician shortages and medically underserved areas are abundant, like in southern West Virginia, that doesn't help much.

My State's VA facilities need funding to hire doctors--lots of them. We need primary and specialty care providers and mental health specialists. We need the resources to train and recruit health professionals and to pay them competitive salaries.

Our VA health providers, many of them veterans themselves, have a unique understanding of our veterans' needs. That expertise cannot be duplicated in the private sector.

The VA health system is designed to take care of elderly veterans with special needs. It is designed to treat combat wounds, physical and psychological--something not commonly seen in the private sector.

The VA health system is designed so that doctors can build long-term relationships with their patients and can build expertise in illnesses unique to veterans. Clearly, a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from exposure to a toxic substance like Agent Orange could expect to find a greater depth of knowledge and experience with the particular infirmities from the VA than from a private sector facility.

My State needs VA doctors. We need VA specialty care providers. We need VA facilities.

The veterans bill in conference can provide relief to our veterans in need of care, but it remains stuck in conference, frustratingly hung up in partisan politics.

When it comes to the shortage of health providers in general, that is not a local problem affecting only my State. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates a nationwide doctor shortage of more than 91,500 physicians by the year 2020. The shortage will grow to more than 130,000 by 2025.

The impact is most severe in rural States, so any notion of private sector medical care serving as a backstop to the VA is completely wrongheaded.

This is not a new problem either. We all know it has been projected going back years, before this administration, before the Affordable Care Act, to the Bush administration and beyond.

Baby boomers are getting older. Doctors are retiring. More patients require specialized and extended care.

We, this Congress, must address this crisis, and it is a crisis. But the House stands immobilized, ``frozen in the ice of its own indifference,'' as a great American President, Franklin Roosevelt once said.

So today, I am calling upon this House, I am imploring this House to put politics aside, advance the work of the ongoing conference, and get this bill done.

This motion calls for the House to recede from disagreement with section 203 of the Senate amendment relating to the use of unobligated amounts to hire additional health care providers for the Veterans Health Administration; and recede from the House amendment and concur in the Senate amendment in all instances.

I urge the House to support this motion to instruct conferees.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick), a true leader on veterans issues and a member of the VA conference committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gallego).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera), a doctor.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am honored to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), a distinguished member of the Military Construction-VA Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, Mrs. Lois Capps, and commend her for her leadership on this issue as well.

May I have a time check, please, Mr. Speaker?

Reserving my right to close, I will reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, America's veterans deserve the very best care our Nation can muster. The gentleman from North Carolina said it well. Many Americans have said it well. Every one of our soldiers knows it is their motto to leave no soldier behind. Therefore, we, as Americans, should have as our creed and our basic principle guiding us that we leave no veteran behind.

That prescription begins with the very best corps of physicians that we can assemble. Time alone will not heal the wounds of war that our veterans have suffered. They are our true American heroes.

We have, time and time again, mustered the budgetary resources to deploy and support our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and lands beyond, and we salute those of our Armed Forces serving as we speak for defending this great Nation of ours.

America's sons and daughters, those who have volunteered to defend our national causes, did not hesitate for an instant to go. They went. They served. They suffered. They sacrificed their good health. They gave their all.

We are proud in West Virginia, as a strong, patriotic State, to serve up there at the top of the 50 States, on a per capita basis, of our number of young men and women that answer the call of duty for all wars.

Now, the bill for war has come due; but, alas, where has all of this body's patriotic fervor gone? It appears to be buried beneath a mound of budgetary spreadsheets and handwringing about deficits, about the need to trim back, about the need to cut back on deficits.

I say this House ought to take a different course, one in which we can stand united with those who fought with meritorious service on behalf of a grateful Nation. Let us pay the medical bills of America's sons and daughters. Let us do so with dispatch. Let us hire the doctors that America's sons and daughters deserve.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a great deal about this issue over the last several months. We know it is not a new issue. We have heard that it has been going on through several different administrations, but that should not hinder us from stepping up to the plate and doing what is necessary today, not after we come back from our so-called vacation in August, but we should address it today before we go home.

So I urge that this motion to instruct conferees be accepted by this body, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 7(c) of rule XXII, I hereby give notice of my intention to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 3230, the conference report on Veterans Access and Accountability.

The form of the motion is as follows:

Mr. Rahall moves that the managers on the part of the House

at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses

on the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill

H.R. 3230 (an Act to improve the access of veterans to

medical services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and

for other purposes) be instructed to--

(1) recede from disagreement with section 203 of the Senate

amendment (relating to the use of unobligated amounts to hire

additional health care providers for the Veterans Health

Administration); and

(2) recede from the House amendment and concur in the

Senate amendment in all other instances.

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

Mr. Speaker, passage of this bill today is absolutely necessary to keep our surface transportation programs up and running. In less than a month, the highway trust fund will go belly up and force-feed our States rationed payments for their transportation and infrastructure investments. This would starve our national economy, put States in a desperate situation, and

cost jobs. Congress must act now to avert this unnecessary crisis.

The bill under consideration today will help States get through the remainder of the construction season. It will also provide time for Congress to come together and pass a longer-term surface transportation law so that we don't find ourselves in this crisis mode again.

But this needs to happen sooner rather than later because this bill leaves our highway, transit, and safety programs on autopilot. While the driverless car may be the wave of the future, it is no way to run our transportation programs, and I know the chairman has driven those cars on autopilot.

Passing extension after extension only brings us more of the same, and our States have already said that the status quo isn't meeting their needs.

A long-term, robust surface transportation bill is the only way we are going to address our greatest infrastructure challenges. It is the only way we will be able to build on what works and reform what isn't. It is one of the few sure-fire ways to boost our economy, create jobs, and help us compete with our global rivals.

``Starving the beast'' simply doesn't work when it comes to transportation and infrastructure policy. We need greater investment in our roads and bridges. We need an increased focus on moving freight across our borders and overseas.

We should grow regional collaborations to build significant projects, and we must bring every possible transportation job back to the U.S. to be done by American workers.

It is worth noting that this debate is about far more than accounting, dollar signs, and trust funds. It is about the men and women who work in these industries and have to face needless uncertainty about their futures. It is about those that rely on public transit systems. And it is about the driving public who must endure aging infrastructure and the car repair bills and safety concerns that come with it.

I am going to vote for this bill today not because it is the best solution, but because it does avert an immediate crisis and keeps the ball rolling forward.

I thank the members of the Ways and Means Committee for their work on this bill, and I look forward to working with our chairman, Mr. Shuster, to bring forward a robust, long-term surface transportation bill to vote on in the near future.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), ranking member of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hahn), a very valued member of our Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), a distinguished member of our Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), our distinguished minority whip and a strong supporter of our infrastructure in this country.

Mr. Speaker, may I have the time remaining, please.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel), a very distinguished member of our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, much has been said today in dislike of this temporary fix, and I could not agree more. It is not my preference. We all want to address this in a long-term, robust manner. That is also the opinion of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, who say that further delay will only maintain the status quo in keeping workers off the job, undercutting long-term planning and hindering the country in advancing to a 21st century transportation system.

There are very similar views, like views, expressed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce when they say in a letter to Members of Congress that, in the Chamber's view, the longer the pass, the easier it will be for Congress to kick the can down the road and avoid the tough question of how we will maintain Federal investment in highway public transportation and highway safety.

I hope we come back before next May and address this issue.

I yield back the balance of my time.