Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation to give the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) the flexibility to use unobligated funds to ensure the safety of our nation's air transportation system. I specifically want to affirm the intent of this legislation that grants the Secretary of Transportation the ability to use unobligated balances of the Airport Improvement Program account to prevent the closure of 149 contract air traffic control towers and halt the furloughs of air traffic controllers.

The needless proposed closure of four Arizona air traffic control towers, including the tower located at the Laughlin-Bullhead International Airport located in my district, would have a profound impact on our rural economies. Our nation's air transportation system is a comprehensive network of intertwined departments. Maintaining service at all contract air traffic control towers is essential to ensure a safe and efficient air transportation system--the basis of this legislation.

The inaction of the Department of Transportation to request sequester reprogramming authority and maintain some level of service at all contract towers has necessitated this legislation. The safety and efficiency of our skies have been put at risk and it has become incumbent upon the Congress to direct this authority to the Secretary of Transportation.

Mr. Speaker, today, I want to congratulate the Toyota Arizona Proving Ground (TAPG) as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. I have had the opportunity to visit and learn about their operations and am proud to represent the Toyota team members working at this fine facility. The 12,000 acre facility's most dramatic feature is the 10 mile, high speed, oval track. But in addition, it is home to many more miles of unique test tracks and a state-of-the-art engineering facility.

TAPG, which is part of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc., is responsible for evaluating the performance and endurance of Toyota vehicles on the test tracks in Wittmann, Arizona. TAPG employs about 50 team members and welcomes hundreds of contractors and visiting engineers each year--all contributing to Arizona's economy and to the development of Toyota's American made vehicles.

As their representative to Congress, I want to reiterate my commitment to supporting policies and a federal regulatory environment that encourages companies, like Toyota, to continue to invest in research and development in Arizona and across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, today, I join my colleagues to express my disgust and anger at the barbaric actions of Dr. Kermit Gosnell.

The facts of this case are gut-wrenching. As a father, a Catholic, and a health care provider, I believe in protecting the unborn.

This case isn't only about upholding the sanctity of life, but it is also about patient care and safety. Further, it shows many in the mainstream media will turn a blind eye to the murder of infants if it suits their political agenda.

Regardless of one's abortion position, no one can defend Gosnell's practices, yet his criminal case proceeds without the national outcry for justice that we have heard on other murder cases. Do we value the lives of infants or the health care of mothers who endured such horrific medical care?

The lack of oversight allowing Dr. Gosnell to operate under horrific conditions, perform late-term abortions and murder babies should be scrutinized in the same manner as other serial killers. My hope is our actions today shed light on this case and start a conversation to be sure that this never happens again.

Thank you, Chairman Hastings.

Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 678, the Bureau of Reclamation and Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2013. This legislation was one of Representative Tipton's and my top priorities in the Natural Resources Committee last Congress, so I am pleased to join him again as an original cosponsor and appreciate that the House is taking up the legislation so quickly in the 113th Congress.

Our country is failing to fully tap its hydroelectric power generation potential. The Federal Government owns over 47,000 miles of canals, laterals, drains, pipeline and tunnels throughout the West that are perfectly suitable for hydropower production, but hardworking irrigators and power providers in our districts, already operating and maintaining this infrastructure on behalf of the Federal Government, cannot install hydropower generators because government regulations and bureaucratic confusion are making it cost prohibitive.

H.R. 678 will clear away these bureaucratic obstacles that stand between our Nation and thousands of megawatts of clean, cheap, abundant, and reliable hydroelectricity. The resulting development will create jobs in rural communities hit hardest by the recession, increase our country's renewable energy portfolio, and even generate revenue for the Federal Treasury.

The Members of this body opposing this legislation claim it could cause harm to the environment. To be clear, this bill only allows for development on existing irrigation canals and ditch systems, not free- flowing rivers and streams. These conduits have been in place for years, do not contain any endangered wildlife or fish, and were subject to environmental analysis at the time of construction or rehabilitation.

On the poster to my left is a clear example of what we are talking about. Folks, it's concrete. It's been sitting here with running water. I don't see the need and I hope you don't see the need for a NEPA environmental assessment. This canal is in the western part of my congressional district. We have miles of this type of infrastructure throughout the State, including the Central Arizona Project. It provides my constituents with the water necessary to live in the desert and even grow a good portion of this Nation's produce.

The experts on the ground say we are sitting on a hydropower gold mine waiting for the needed clarifications and streamlining that will cut costs and make this program more attractive. There are over 26 locations just like this one in my State alone--mostly in Yuma, Pinal, and western Maricopa Counties--that are suitable for this development. The Agri-Business Council of Arizona believes its members could produce enough low-cost clean energy to power nearly 5,000 homes simply by installing these small hydropower generators. That is a huge economic impact for the small rural communities these irrigators serve. They would provide a real economic boost and lower energy costs.

There are many solutions to our Nation's energy crisis, but hydropower is clearly part of our all-of-the-above plan. It already accounts for about 75 percent of this country's total renewable electricity generation, and we haven't even begun yet.

Early this Congress, the House unanimously passed the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act, which promotes development on privately owned infrastructure. We should do the same today on Congressman Tipton's and my legislation that does the same for publicly owned infrastructure.

Congress would be doing the American people an injustice if we didn't move swiftly on this bill. Hydropower must be an integral component of the long-term all-of-the-above energy strategy in Arizona and for our Nation, and this bill will allow rural western communities to play a major role in that future. I will continue to work with Congressman Tipton to ensure that this bill not only passes the House this year but gets through the Senate and is sent to the President's desk for his signature. Folks, it is that simple: commonsense utilization of infrastructure we already have.

``He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law.

``But the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.''

Today, I'm here to remember the sacrifice of an American hero and the bravery of those who served with him.

Two years ago this Saturday, our Nation lost one of our own who was serving to protect our country by securing the Arizona-Mexico border. On December 14, Border Agents Brian Terry, William Castano, Gabriel Fragoza, and Timothy Keller began patrolling an area west of the town of Rio Rico, Arizona, tasked with interdicting violent criminals sneaking into the United States.

At 11 p.m. on the following day, December 15, the team was alerted to five suspects in their interdiction zone. After identifying themselves, they were fired upon and Agent Terry was struck and killed. The men who fought beside him that night were heroic in their efforts to provide aid and to protect Agent Brian Terry.

After the dust settled, that horrific night's details were brought to light about our government's role in supplying weapons found at the scene of the crime. Through Operation Fast and Furious--a fundamentally flawed gunrunning operation ran by the U.S. Department of Justice-- weapons like those found at the scene nearly 2 years ago were allowed to be purchased by middlemen and passed along to some of the most dangerous cartels in Mexico without proper law enforcement interdiction and justice.

Subsequently, numerous hearings have been held to demand answers as to how this program came to be, who authorized it, and who knew about it. My goals are simple: justice and accountability, not just for Brian Terry, who lost his life, and the brave men serving him that night, but also justice for the hundreds of Mexicans who also lost their lives from the weapons from the Fast and Furious scheme.

As I close, please join me in a moment of silence for those lives who have been lost and the loved ones that they leave behind.

For my part, I will continue to demand answers from the Department of Justice. I will continue to stress the need for bipartisan support for getting those answers. I look to leadership not to relent. I also look to the Hispanic Caucus to break their silence and to take up this issue affecting everyone in Mexico.

Finally, I will not rest until we are certain that justice is served and that this atrocity can never happen again.

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

Last week, the ninth circuit court heard a case regarding Tombstone, Arizona's right to access its water supply. Last year, a devastating combination of wildfires and monsoons struck Tombstone, leaving only 3 of its 25 springs in operation. Tombstone has been engaged in a yearlong standoff with the Federal Government over the repairs that will restore the town's water supply because those springs are in wilderness areas and they are prohibited from using mechanized equipment to make the necessary repairs.

This situation is not unique. A similar disaster occurred in northern Arizona after the 2010 Schultz Pass fire.

The Inner Basin pipeline, infrastructure that delivers water to Flagstaff, was severed during catastrophic floods that followed the fire. In our case, a lawsuit wasn't necessary, but it took my team and the city over a year to persuade multiple agencies to allow for repairs. Last month, I took the first sip of water out of the repaired infrastructure with Mayor Jerry Nabours.

Our communities shouldn't need their Congressman or a lawsuit to make basic repairs to infrastructure. The Federal Government should work with us, not against us, to preserve western water supplies.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5788) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 Center Street West in Eatonville, Washington, as the ``National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson Post Office.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 5788, introduced by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 Center Street West in Eatonville, Washington, as the National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson Post Office. The bill is cosponsored by the entire Washington State delegation, and it was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 27.

Mr. Speaker, while we will consider multiple bills this afternoon to designate postal facilities after fallen military heroes, H.R. 5788 gives us the opportunity to honor those who wear a different kind of uniform--our country's national park rangers. Specifically, this legislation would name the post office in Eatonville, Washington, for Margaret Anderson, who was a national park ranger who was shot and killed in the line of duty on New Year's Day in 2012.

Ranger Anderson worked to keep the visitors of Mount Rainier safe, and on New Year's Day, she gave the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of others. For going above and beyond a park ranger's duty to protect and serve, I thank Ranger Anderson and all those who serve in our national parks for their service and dedication to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I now yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Washington, the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Reichert.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5738) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15285 Samohin Drive in Macomb, Michigan, as the ``Lance Cpl. Anthony A. DiLisio Clinton-Macomb Carrier Annex''.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5738, introduced by the gentlelady from Michigan (Mrs. Miller), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15285 Samohin Drive in

Macomb, Michigan, as the Lance Cpl. Anthony A. DiLisio Clinton-Macomb Carrier Annex. The bill is cosponsored by the entire Michigan State delegation and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on September 20.

Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Macomb, Michigan, for Marine Corps Lance Corporal DiLisio, a selfless patriot who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan at just 20 years of age. Lance Corporal DiLisio was shot and killed by enemy fighters during a patrol he had volunteered for.

Mr. Speaker, Lance Corporal DiLisio and all of our brave and courageous fighting men and women are true heroes. And I'm thankful to have this opportunity to stand before this Chamber and express my sincere gratitude for all that our servicemembers do and all that they sacrifice each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3892) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8771 Auburn Folsom Road in Roseville, California, as the ``Private First Class Victor A. Dew Post Office,'' as amended.

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

General Leave

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3892, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8771 Auburn Folsom Road in Roseville, California, as the Lance Corporal Victor A. Dew Post Office. The bill is cosponsored by the entire California State

delegation and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 7.

Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Roseville, California, for Marine Corps Lance Corporal Dew, a true American hero who gave his life courageously defending our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, Lance Corporal Dew and all of our brave and courageous fighting men and women are true heroes. There is no way a grateful Nation can adequately express our thanks to those who serve. However, naming this post office after Lance Corporal Dew is a small, but fitting, gesture to the brave men and women who are the reason that this country is free.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of California, the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. McClintock.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2338) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the ``Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent this all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2338, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office. The bill is cosponsored by the entire Florida State delegation and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 27.

Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Cocoa, Florida, for Harry and Harriette Moore, leaders of the civil rights movement in Florida. Harry Moore established the first branch of the NAACP in Brevard County, Florida, and is considered the first martyr of the civil rights movement. Sadly, on Christmas night in 1951, the Moores were killed by a bomb planted beneath their home.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Florida (Mr. Posey), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 2338, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3912) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 110 Mastic Road in Mastic Beach, New York, as the ``Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull Post Office Building.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3912, introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop), will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 110 Mastic Road in Mastic Beach, New York, as the Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull Post Office Building. The bill is cosponsored by the entire New York State delegation and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 27.

Mr. Speaker, Brigadier General Woodhull was a great Revolutionary hero. He was a leader of the New York Provincial Congress and a brigadier general of the New York militia during the American Revolution. Woodhull fought gallantly for the freedom that we know today. Despite hardship, never did he stray from his dedication to a free United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, Brigadier General Woodhull is a very worthy designee of this postal facility naming, and I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3912, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5954) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the ``Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building''.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 5954, introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building. The bill is cosponsored by the entire Pennsylvania State delegation and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on September 20.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Leslie Sabo, Jr., was known for his heroism while serving in the Army during the Vietnam War. He is a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He earned the medal for leading his company during an attack by a North Vietnamese force. Sergeant Sabo distributed ammunition to his fellow soldiers during heavy fire and provided cover to medical evacuation helicopters as they retrieved his injured comrades. During the battle, he was killed by enemy fire.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly grateful for the brave and heroic service of Sergeant Sabo and for all those who serve and defend our Nation every day.

I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 5954, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to support and thank my colleagues, Congressmen Jeff Flake and Rick Berg, and support this amendment.

I represent the areas where two of the Arizona plants threatened by the EPA's heavy-handed regulations are located, the Coronado Generating Station in St. Johns and the Cholla plant near Joseph City. The third plant, the Apache Generating Station, near Wilcox, is just 100 miles away and serves a good portion of my constituents in the southern part of my district. These are bedrock to our local communities. They provide high-paying jobs where unemployment is already over 10 percent.

Over the August recess, the Environmental Protection Agency held public hearings in Phoenix, Holbrook, and Benson on their Federal plan. Each of the hearings in rural Arizona had over 300 people present. That is an incredible turnout in these relatively small towns. That is how important this issue is to my constituents.

The EPA refused to hold a hearing in St. Johns, despite being a community directly impacted by the regulations, so I hosted a meeting to facilitate the submission of public comments. On a night where the local high school had their first football game and the county fair was taking place, we still had over 100 people show up.

Listen, everybody wants clean air and good-paying jobs. The fact of the matter is the EPA is acting well beyond its authority and under public law in my State and many others across the country.

Vote ``yes'' for our amendment.

I have an amendment made in order under the rule.

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

Today, I am pleased to put forth an amendment to protect the residents of Arizona from the EPA's attacks on the Navajo Generating Station, which is located near Page, Arizona. The uncertainty surrounding proposed EPA regulations and their effects on the Navajo Generating Station were some of the first issues brought to my attention when I was sworn into Congress.

The overreaching regulations would effectively shut down this critical and unique plant. A closure would dramatically increase the cost of water and power for my constituents, and it would eliminate thousands of tribal and nontribal jobs--all for no discernible improvement in visibility. Again, according to the Federal Government, itself, no discernible improvement in visibility.

You see, this plant is unique because it is owned by six entities, including the Federal Government. It was part of a plan created by visionaries so that we could provide power to move water from the Colorado River, through the largest aqueduct system ever constructed in the United States, to the people of Arizona. You can see it across here. In fact, the CAP delivers water to up to 80 percent of my State's population. This includes 45 percent of Phoenix's water, which is the fifth largest city in the United States, and 80 percent of the water to the 32nd largest city in the United States, which is Tucson.

The Arizona we know today would, without a doubt, not exist if it were not for this plant. The Navajo Generating Station and the associated coal mine directly employ over 1,000 Arizonans, who are mostly Native Americans. Additionally, according to an Arizona State University study, the plant will indirectly account for more than $20 billion in gross State product and will indirectly provide for 3,000 jobs annually over the next 40 years.

I also want to point out a complicated but important part of this issue. The Federal Government is actually working against itself with these regulations. Revenues from the sale of excess power generated by the plant are used to repay the Federal Government's debt for the construction of the CAP project. They are also used to help pay for the costs of congressionally authorized Indian water rights settlements between the Federal Government, tribes, and entities within Arizona. So, without these revenues, the Federal Government will be undermining its own legal agreements with Native Americans and the people of Arizona.

Let's put an end to this insanity. Vote for my amendment, and stop the EPA from issuing far-reaching regulations that threaten jobs, Arizona's water supply, affordable electricity, and tribal rights established with Congress.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 90 seconds to my friend from Arizona (Mr. Franks).

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to my good friend, Mr. Schweikert, from Arizona.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an important issue and to point out the efforts of a person who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes on this issue.

The issue I am referring to is the passage of a Victim Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Currently, this issue is before us by way of H.J. Res. 106.

The resolution seeks to amend our Constitution by fixing a problem our founders never likely anticipated. Our founding fathers were concerned, with good reason, about the prosecutorial abuses they had witnessed by the King of England and local Colonial loyalist bureaucrats.

There are few offices more powerful than a prosecutor, and abuse of that office by prosecutors, or by the police assisting that office, is prevented by many provisions in our Constitution. What has happened, however, is that all of the Constitutional provisions designed to stop prosecutorial abuse have essentially conveyed criminals in our society with fundamental rights unparalleled even for its lawful citizens.

This proposed amendment addresses the reality that for every crime there is a victim, and that our legal system has systematically excluded these victims from meaningful consideration. This amendment, if enacted, would prohibit the denial or limitation of the rights of a crime victim to fairness, respect, and dignity. It would also convey to a crime victim the right: (1) to reasonable notice of, and to not be excluded from, public proceedings relating to the offense; (2) to be heard at any release, plea, sentencing, or other such proceeding involving any right established under this amendment; (3) to proceedings free from unreasonable delay; (4) to reasonable notice of the release or escape of the accused; (5) to due consideration of the crime victim's safety; and (6) to restitution.

The victims of crimes would have standing to fully assert and enforce any of the above rights in court. This amendment brings balance back to the criminal justice system which has, for centuries, protected the criminals and ignored and often harmed the victims a second time.

At the same time, no constitutional right afforded to a criminal would be impacted or lessened. All such rights are preserved. Instead, crime victims are afforded some legal rights long overdue.

I want to point out the good work of Steven J. Twist, of Phoenix, Arizona. He has been an advocate for crime victims' rights. He recently published a scholarly review on this issue, called ``The Proposed Victims' Rights Amendment: A Brief Point/Counterpoint'' in the Phoenix Law Review, Volume 5, Number 2 (2012). He researched this issue and has advocated for this issue for years. His work should be recognized and applauded. On behalf of my constituents and the people of Arizona, I want to thank Mr. Twist for his work in this area and I encourage my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 106.