Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House and to acknowledge the innovative work of the National Center for Sustainable Development (NCSD) a national 501 c 3 nonprofit corporation headquartered here in Washington, DC and doing good work in my home state of Texas through its Dallas and Austin offices to restore urban and suburban contaminated real estate to new productive use. The Center is now undertaking potentially significant initiatives involving both energy production and air quality in local communities in the recycling of waste products to biodiesel. As Texas is the historic home of innovation and creativity in the use of natural and man made resources, my purpose is to encourage the pilot initiative being undertaken by the Center in the city of Texarkana focusing on the recycling of commercial and industrial food waste products currently a significant threat to the proper maintenance and efficiency of municipal waste water treatment facilities.

The initiative which I seek recognition for will produce biodiesel from a waste stream currently which is a constraint on the development of services and small business serving the community of Texarkana and placing a burden on the infrastructure that assures proper and environmentally appropriate disposal of grease and waste oils. The undertaking of such a pilot program in Texarkana, Texas is not by chance. The operations of the pilot will be located in an industrial park next to the Red River Army Depot, the main focus of which is the refurbishment and maintenance of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Humvees currently supporting our mission in Iraq. A portion of the biodiesel rendered from this initiative will be made available to RRAD for their use in testing its properties for both quality as a fuel and its properties as a cleaner burning replacement for conventional petroleum based diesel fuel.

As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality I recognize that many are pursuing the goals of increased efficiency and air quality that biodiesel holds for helping to satisfy the domestic need for diesel fuel, now in short supply, and that many methods are being evaluated, but my hope is that NCSD can help create and encourage energy production from existing resources now perceived as obstacles to sustainable growth in my district and elsewhere.

By the House and Committee's acknowledgement of the initiative of the National Center for Sustainable Development I am asking for their report on the progress of the Texarkana facility at the milestone of their first six full months of operations. The subcommittee will be interested in the results of this initiative for both its applications for energy production and for improved air quality. I will close by reiterating my support for this worthy initiative and to follow their progress as an example for use by the subcommittee in its critical work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a remarkable Texan, June Womack Gilmer, who passed away this year after a valiant battle with Alzheimer's. A descendant of one of Texas's pioneering families, the Lydays, she could trace her family ancestry back to 17th century Williamsburg, Virginia, and 13th century Runnymede, England.

June was born in Honey Grove and raised in the small town of Wolfe City, in the Fourth Congressional District. She married her childhood sweetheart, Ray Gilmer, and they soon settled in Garland, Texas, where June raised her family and pursued numerous civic endeavors. She was president of the PTA, Garden Club, and wives club of the Garland Junior Chamber of Commerce. She was a regent and registrar of the Colonel James Mason Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, an officer of the John Wheeler Bunton Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the Magna Carta Dames.

A beautiful and accomplished woman, June was a runner-up in the Mrs. Texas contest in the 1950s. She studied interior design in college and for many years worked as a decorator and volunteered her talents for many worthy causes. June and my wife, Mary Ellen, were very close friends. Our families shared food and cars as Ray Gilmer attended the SMU School of Engineering and I was attending the SMU School of Law. Our children played together and we felt a deep and lifelong kinship to the Gilmers.

June is survived by her adored and adoring husband of 60 years, Ray Gilmer, daughter Jamie Williams and son-in-law Dr. Craig Williams, daughter Anne Snow and husband James Snow, six grandchildren, and other family members and life-long friends. Their loss is shared by all those who knew June Womack Gilmer, and we join them in mourning the loss and celebrating the life of this wonderful woman. As we adjourn the United States House of Representatives today, let us do so in memory of and respect for June and the wonderful Gilmer family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House and to acknowledge the innovative work of the National Center for Sustainable Development (NCSD) a national 501c3 nonprofit corporation headquartered here in Washington, DC, and doing good work in my home state of Texas through its Dallas and Austin offices to restore urban and suburban contaminated real estate to new productive use. The Center is now undertaking potentially significant initiatives involving both energy production and air quality in local communities in the recycling of waste products to biodiesel. As Texas is the historic home of innovation and creativity in the use of natural and man made resources, my purpose is to encourage the pilot initiative being undertaken by the Center in the city of Texarkana focusing on the recycling of commercial and industrial food waste products currently a significant threat to the proper maintenance and efficiency of municipal waste water treatment facilities.

The initiative which I seek recognition for will produce biodiesel from a waste stream currently which is a constraint on the development of services and small business serving the community of Texarkana and placing a burden on the infrastructure that assures proper and environmentally appropriate disposal of grease and waste oils. The undertaking of such a pilot program in Texarkana, Texas is not by chance. The operations of the pilot will be located in an industrial park next to the Red River Army Depot, the main focus of which is the refurbishment and maintenance of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Humvees currently supporting our mission in Iraq. A portion of the biodiesel rendered from this initiative will be made available to RRAD for their use in testing its properties for both quality as a fuel and its properties as a cleaner burning replacement for conventional petroleum based diesel fuel.

As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality I recognize that many are pursuing the goals of increased efficiency and air quality that biodiesel holds for helping to satisfy the domestic need for diesel fuel, now in short supply, and that many methods are being evaluated, but my hope is that NCSD can help create and encourage energy production from existing resources now perceived as obstacles to sustainable growth in my district and elsewhere.

By the House and Committee's acknowledgement of the initiative of the National Center for Sustainable Development I am asking for their report on the progress of the Texarkana facility at the milestone of their first six full months of operations. The subcommittee will be interested in the results of this initiative for both its applications for energy production and for improved air quality. I will close by reiterating my support for this worthy initiative and to follow their progress as an example for use by the subcommittee in its critical work.

Mr. Speaker, I join in lauding the leaders, the chairman, the minority leaders, the subcommittee chairman, and everyone who has worked on this to hammer out this bill.

Investing in NASA not only keeps this country at the forefront of exploration and innovation but it is also vital to our economy and our national security. By investing less than 1 percent of the budget, we get exponential growth in scientific and technological spinoffs. From the development of MRI technology to microchips, the scientific partnerships between NASA and American universities and companies ensure our Nation's viability.

We need to keep America at the forefront of innovations and discovery for generations to come.

When President Bush announced the new Vision for Space Exploration in January 2004, I was excited to see that NASA had a new direction and focus for the future. Our ventures into space not only keep America at the forefront of exploration and innovation, but they also are vital to our economy and our national security. This new Vision sets America on a course toward the Moon and Mars, and we should embrace this dream and work to make it a reality.

Today's authorization act for NASA outlines the broad goals of this Vision. While it embraces the exploration agenda of the space agency, it also bolsters other vital NASA programs in science and aeronautics that keep America competitive globally.

This is a well-balanced bill, and I commend my colleagues and their staff for crafting such a fine piece of legislation. I am particularly pleased that the bill includes my provision that directs Administrator Griffin to develop a Crew Exploration Vehicle with a robust crew escape system. As we implement the new space vision, I will work to ensure that NASA fulfills this priority and minimizes the risks for our brave men and women who fly our space missions. Our hopes and dreams ride with them, and we must do all we can, at whatever cost is necessary, to ensure their safety.

I urge Members to pass this bill. With the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, America has proven its preeminence in Space. We need to keep America at the forefront of innovation and discovery for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to announce the passing of a great Texan, Henry Cushing ``Hank'' Grover, a man of singular vision and integrity. Born of humble roots in Corpus Christi, Texas, and raised in San Antonio during the Great Depression, Hank understood what it was to be humble and poor.

The middle child of eight, Hank was raised with solid grounding in those values Americans hold dear. His mother was a German immigrant, and his father was a descendent of Irish roots. Hank was a sixth generation Texan, whose family predated even the Republic of Texas. His great-great grandfather was the first European doctor on Texas soil, and his studies of Kickapoo medicine are archived in The University of Texas library. His

ancestor was a Minuteman in the Revolutionary War. His great uncle fought at San Jacinto. Another great uncle was a founder of Lawrence, Kansas, and ran an underground railroad out of his barn. Hank's father was a childhood friend of Jesse James and Harry S. Truman, in Independence, Kansas.

With this family background, it is no surprise that Hank studied history as an undergraduate at the University of Saint Thomas and received his master's degree from the University of Houston. He taught history at Lamar High School in the 1950s, where he had such a profound effect on his students that many entered public service, becoming attorneys, judges and legislators. His students encouraged him to run for office, and he first stood for the Texas House in 1959 and was first elected in 1961. He served three terms as a Democrat in the Texas House, then switched to the Republican Party in 1965, a radical move in Texas at that time, and won three more terms as Senator from District 15.

In 1972 Hank ran for governor of Texas and came within 200,000 votes of victory--an amazing accomplishment in a state that had not elected a Republican Governor since Reconstruction. Hank's race helped strengthen the Republican Party in Texas and set the stage for Republican Mark White to be elected Governor. He also was the largest private contributor in the effort to elect Ronald Regan as President in 1980.

Hank believed deeply in limited government and fiscal responsibility. He sought to limit federal power and to rein in deficit spending both at the state and federal level. His was a moral and ethical view, grounded in the history and culture of America. Hank also was devoted to his family--his wonderful wife of 56 years, Kathleen Downey Grover, and his children, Bernard Downey, Bridget Cushing, Joseph Courtney, Hilary Helen, Laetitia Jane, and Patrick Fleming (who served on my staff).

Mr. Speaker, as we complete the Nation's business today, let us do so in honor and in memory of this great American who dedicated his life to upholding the values on which America was founded and whose legacy will live on through his family, his friends and the many students whose lives he influenced. Let us pay our last respects to Henry Cushing ``Hank'' Grover.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Harry A. Thompson , a veteran of World War II and a WWII Prisoner of War. Harry is a longtime resident Wolfe City, Texas, and for the past fifty years has been working on his memoirs of his experience as a POW in Germany. His book, entitled Patton's Ill-Fated Raid, relates how he fell into enemy hands on the second day of the Battle of the Bulge and the events that transpired thereafter.

Chief Warrant Officer Harry Thompson was a Battalion Personnel Officer assigned to the 924th Field Artillery Battalion of the 99th Infantry Division in Bullingen, Belgium, when the German Army broke through the American lines during the Battle of the Bulge, and he was captured. He was taken to Hammelburg,

the German POW camp for American officers where General Patton's son- in-law also was being held. As a result of the ill-fated raid to liberate the POWs in Hammelburg, all POWs were evacuated from camp and were forced to walk a treacherous journey of 241 miles in subzero weather across Germany before their liberation on May 2, 1945.

Mr. Thompson's account of his harrowing experiences at Hammelburg and during this long march is a sobering reminder to readers of the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. In his introduction he wrote, ``The fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge has passed. World War II seems ancient history to my grandchildren as much as the Civil War seemed to me when I was growing up. This narrative is for my family as much as for the public, a memoir of a horrible time, the likes of which I hope they will never have to live.''

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to commend Harry Thompson for publishing his memoirs. He says that he hopes that other Veterans and POWs will share their stories and ``that together we can record what it is for America to be at war, what it is to serve in the armed Forces of the United States of America and, after service during wartime, what it means to salute the flag as well as why we, as Veterans, sometimes have a tear or two when we see a patriotic ceremony or parade.''

Harry Thompson has served our Nation in two important ways--by his service and sacrifice during World War II, and by the publication of his book that will be part of the history of America for all to read. I am honored to pay tribute today in the House of Representatives to this great American and Veteran of World War II and to thank him for his service to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time, and I thank the gentleman from Oregon for his kind and informative information.

I, of course, rise in support of H. Res. 444. I refer to it as ``Grace's Resolution.'' It has been so referred to several times. I thank Chairman Barton, Chairman Deal, Ranking Member Sherrod Brown and all the leadership for bringing this very important bill directly to the floor and the attention of all Members.

This fall, the American public has been engaged in quite a few public awareness campaigns for cancer related to women, including breast and cervical cancer. During September, the

Nation also recognized Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and groups held hundreds of events across the country to increase public awareness of this terrible disease.

While it is heartening to see that Americans' risk of dying from cancer continues to decline every year, it is unfortunate that ovarian cancer does not follow this trend. In fact, the Ovarian Cancer Institute statistics demonstrate a woman's risk of dying from ovarian cancer is no less today than it was 10 years ago.

It is an unfortunate fact that ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Currently, 50 percent of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer do not make it for 5 years. The disease is very treatable when detected early, but 81 percent of cases are diagnosed late, after the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries. There are still large gaps in knowledge on key aspects of the disease and there is not a reliable screening test that can help diagnose the disease at an earlier stage.

The resolution before the House today outlines common symptoms of the disease, including abdominal pressure, nausea, indigestion, unusual fatigue and unexplained weight loss or gain. Women are more at risk if they have a personal or family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer, have not had children or are of increasing age.

The resolution supports further research to develop early detection tools, prevention methods, therapies and a cure. Unfortunately, funding for ovarian cancer research decreased from fiscal year 2003 to fiscal year 2004 by $7 million. Other than a $1 million decrease for prostrate cancer, no other cancer received a decrease in the same period.

As a Nation, we need to turn these grim statistics around. I would like to call on appropriators to adequately fund ovarian cancer research, and I would like to see the National Cancer Institute step up their efforts to find an early detection test.

I have a very personal interest in making ovarian cancer research a top priority. My long-time legislative director, Grace Warren, my friend, friend of my wife's, friend of our family's, is battling this terrible disease. Many on Capitol Hill have worked with Grace Warren and know that I have always referred to her as ``Amazing Grace.'' Some even said that the Baptists had named a song about ``Amazing Grace.'' I am not sure.

Grace was with me some 24 years, with Ray Roberts, my predecessor, 19 years, and I have always thought she worked for Mr. Rayburn, but I was afraid to ask her.

Grace devoted her entire career to Capitol Hill. She walked right off the high school stage on to Capitol Hill when she was 18 years old and has been here and given her life to it. Her specialty is health care policy, and all those who are familiar with the work of the Health Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee know Grace as both a policy expert and as a friend.

Grace's battle with ovarian cancer has been going on for 2 years now, and she has taken up the call for advocacy, even in retirement and as she undergoes treatment. She is working with South Carolina and national ovarian cancer awareness groups to bring this disease to the forefront of our attention and to call for affirmative action.

For Grace and all the women who fight this disease every day, I say to you that we will keep fighting. I ask my colleagues to support this goal and to support increased funding, and I ask all of those who know me to join in prayer for her recovery and recovery for those who suffer the same illness.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New

Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), a member of the committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass), a member of committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers), a member of the committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, this is one of the two most important bills that has come before this Congress maybe in the last 10 years, one we passed a couple or 3 months ago. This bill is not just important to us in Congress that we pass something; it is not just important to companies that have to adhere to the contents of it; not just to the big oil companies, as they have been referred to, we need them, they need us, we need what they can do for us; but it is important to the youth of our Nation. This is really a generational bill because it affects your children and my children and my grandchildren.

I probably have asked myself a dozen times what is the primary duty of a Member of Congress. It is probably to prevent a war. And how do you do that? You do that by removing the causes of war, and energy or lack of energy is a major cause of most wars that I know anything about or remember.

Who fights wars? Your children do. They are today in school, juniors or seniors or maybe in junior college, totally unaware of what we are doing here, but so affected by what we do. Our children have to fight wars, not us anymore. About 64 years ago I was a senior in high school, and I heard Frank Roosevelt at that podium right there stand up and say in a speech after our Nation had been attacked, ``To some generations much is given, of some generations, much is expected,

but this generation has a rendezvous with destiny.'' That rendezvous was World War II. We do not want that rendezvous for our children. If we remove the causes of war, and energy is a major cause of war, if we pass this bill, we will have refinery capacity to prevent a war for this generation and those that are waiting.

So, Mr. Speaker, of course I rise today in support of H.R. 3893. While the impetus for the bill arose from tragedy, it opened our eyes to the vulnerability of our Nation's gasoline supply and causes us to act to prevent the price spikes and shortages from happening again, and everything we have said or done here on this floor is going to be in the Congressional Record for the American people to see. I would hate to say that I opposed everything that had been offered to solve the energy crisis.

There has not been a new refinery built in some 25 or 30 years, and the ones that are currently running are doing so at 95 percent of operating capacity and at peak times of the year, even higher.

The main thrust of this bill before us today encourages the building of new refineries, and in more diverse locations. It gives areas with closed military bases a chance to convert these bases into refineries so that they can keep their citizens employed and remain economically stable. I have one in my district at Texarkana, not subject to the vicissitudes of nature or the hurricanes; it is inland far enough. There are other areas in here. I hope consideration is given to them.

I encourage my colleagues to vote for H.R. 3893 insomuch as it is a bill that addresses head-on the high price of gasoline and provides solutions from supply to conservation. I am tired of seeing my constituents have to pay almost 3 bucks for a gallon of gas. If you want your constituents to keep on paying these exorbitant prices, then go ahead and vote against this bill. If you want to help them, like I do, I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

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

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

Mr. Speaker, people are sick and tired of the two words, do nothing. And that is just no answer to folks who are startled when they go to gas their vehicle, 50 bucks, 60 bucks, $70 to fill it up. They are startled that we have airlines that are flying full and going broke because of the cost of energy, and we just cannot afford to do nothing.

Let me just list a few of the areas here of the Stupak substitute that do nothing. It will do nothing to limit boutique fuels that have propped up gasoline prices by artificially limiting supply. It will do nothing to encourage private industry to build new refineries that will increase daily supplies of gasoline. It will do nothing to help diversify our domestic refining capacity away from the gulf coast. It will do nothing to help site crude oil and petroleum product pipelines that transport gasoline to Americans. It will do nothing to help small refineries utilize their capacity to increase supply and encourage robust competition in the industry. It will do nothing to provide authority to the President to temporarily waive Federal, State and local fuel additive requirements in the event of an extreme and unusual supply circumstance caused by a natural disaster, which proved to be critical in the wake of Katrina and Rita. It will do nothing to encourage conservation like carpooling and van pooling. Do nothing to strengthen the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to ensure that critical crude oil supply is there when the Nation needs it. It will do nothing to ensure that the crude oil sold from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is used for its intended purpose, to be refined for our domestic use. And finally, it will do nothing for the northeast to help develop the northeast home heating oil. We cannot afford to do nothing outlined in the Stupak amendment. I urge a vote against it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 261. This bipartisan resolution commends the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; and it calls on CMS, as the chairman has said, to extend this project through the year 2006. I am pleased that Members from both sides of the aisle join me as cosponsors of this very important resolution.

Delivering cancer treatment involves more than simply providing chemotherapy drugs. Oncologists need to plan drug regimens, educate caregivers, and monitor patient symptoms; and they are responsible for managing pain, minimizing nausea, and limiting fatigue.

The demonstration project was critically important to improving quality cancer care in 2005. It provided resources to assess a patient experiencing chemotherapy side effects, including pain, nausea and fatigue.

The project has achieved three important objectives: collecting data to improve the quality of cancer care, maintaining stability in the cancer care delivery system, and focusing limited resources in the aspect of cancer treatment most difficult for patients.

Oncologists in America are the lifeline to so many individuals facing the greatest challenge of their lives. Hearing the diagnosis of cancer is a frightening and lonely experience, and the men and women who devote their careers to fighting this disease are the healers these patients look to for help. As a Nation, we need to do all we can to support these oncologists.

I would like to thank the American Society of Clinical Oncology for working so closely with me and all of us on this resolution. I would certainly like to commend the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) and the staff of the Committee on Energy and Commerce for working with my office to bring this resolution to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, the Congress has passed and the President has signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, a historic bill that will put America on course for more energy independence. We now need to move as quickly as possible to increase production and distribution of energy supplies in the United States. The disruption of supplies and spiraling gasoline costs as a result of Hurricane Katrina--combined with the threat of disruption from other natural disasters or terrorist attacks--underscore the need to increase our energy supplies and reduce our dependence on foreign sources.

One provision in the Energy Act that will increase supplies is my provision for Ultra-deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources. I want to share with my colleagues the letter and attachments that I sent to Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman last week. These provide further analysis and clarification of this program to develop the technologies needed to drill in ultra-deep and unconventional areas. This program will improve our energy and national security, increase natural gas and oil production, increase royalty revenues, and help lower energy costs for consumers. I urge the Department of Energy to take steps to implement the program as soon as possible.

Washington, DC, September 14, 2005.

Hon. Samuel W. Bodman,

Secretary of Energy, Department of Energy, Independence Ave.,

SW., Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Secretary: I want to congratulate you and your

colleagues at the Department of Energy for your fine work in

helping with the enactment of H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act

of 2005. There are many important provisions in the new law,

and in this letter I want to draw your attention to

``Subtitle J--Ultra-deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas

and Other Petroleum Resources.''

As you may know, I first introduced this legislation in

2001 when it was included in H.R 4, the comprehensive energy

bill that passed the House that year. Since that time I have

shepherded this legislation through three separate

Congresses. The provision has been the subject of

Congressional hearings and much legislative debate. On the

way to enactment in August, the provision was passed by

either the House or Senate eight times in the last four

years. The final version contained in the Energy Policy Act

of 2005 embodies many improvements that were made throughout

this long process and the important compromises that were

reached during the Conference Committee meetings this past

July. Since there was no detailed Conference Committee Report

to accompany the bill, I am sending this letter to provide

some additional context and clarification of legislative

intent for this new program.

My purpose for introducing this legislation was to enhance

the ability of the Department to conduct well-funded, multi-

year, resource based natural gas and oil R&D activities to

accelerate the development of new technologies and increase

domestic natural gas and oil production in the near and mid-

term. This new program is intended to complement the work of

the Department and allow the current Oil and Natural Gas

Program to focus its ongoing efforts on solving the more

basic production and environmental issues that challenge our

collective ability to increase production and to transition

to a hydrogen based energy system in the longer term. For

example, the vast methane hydrate and oil shale resources in

the U.S. could make a substantial fossil fuel contribution to

the ultimate evolution of a hydrogen based energy system for

the country. The Oil and Natural Gas Program should also

continue its important work analyzing the consequences of

past and potential actions by other federal agencies on

domestic natural gas and oil production, conducting public

interest analysis and fostering the education of the next

generation of American oil and gas technologists.

This new program will receive an assured, multi-year

funding source from the Ultra-deepwater and Unconventional

Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Research Fund to pay for

research, development, demonstration and commercial

applications to create and deploy the technologies needed to

bring these vital natural gas resources to the consumers of

this country. This Fund and the authorities established in

the law provide the tools to ``the Department of Energy to

work through its National Energy Technology Laboratory to

accomplish these objectives and to work to develop the

technologies for lowering the cost of drilling to formations

in the Outer Continental Shelf to depths greater than 15,000

feet and to address the technology challenges of small

producers.

It is the intention of Congress that the Department will

take steps immediately to implement this new program in

accordance with the schedule established in the statute. We

expect that the Department will use existing program

direction management funds to conduct the solicitation and

select the program consortium. It is critical that this new

program be implemented as quickly as possible. Most recently,

the Energy Information Administration forecast that natural

gas prices in the Midwest will be 71 percent higher this

winter than last. That means that gas prices during the

coming heating season will top $12. Work needs to begin

immediately to accelerate the development of the new

technology needed to increase domestic natural gas production

to avoid such high prices in the future.

The Ultra-deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and

Other Petroleum Resources Program has been designed to foster

the development of additional natural gas from the vast

resources of technically recoverable natural gas in the

United States. The 2003 National Petroleum Council study on

natural gas estimated that there are 1969 Tcf of technically

recoverable natural gas reserves in North America--equivalent

to 90 years of gas supply at current rates of consumption.

The lower-48 contains 1240 Tcf, about 56 years of supply, of

which only about 210 are unavailable to be developed due to

moratoria or other restriction. The balance is in Alaska and

Canada. Some of the Alaskan resource is technically

challenged, but the predominant problem there is with price

due to the high cost of pipelines to transport the gas to

market. Much of the Canadian technically challenged resource

would become productive with the application of the new

technologies developed by this program.

It is the intention of this legislation that the Department

will carry out this program through two entities:

1. A single program consortium selected by the Secretary

through a competitive solicitation will administer the

programmatic activities as prescribed in the law and make

awards to research performers to carry out research,

development, demonstration, and commercial application

activities under the program; this program consortium, which

will operate with significant oversight of the Department,

should provide much needed industry and academic expertise to

the program as well as ensure that the cross-cutting

technologies for both the ultra-deepwater and unconventional

onshore research are coordinated, developed and deployed.

Selecting a single consortium for this program will render

the greatest benefit for consumers by ensuring that R&D

activities that are applicable to multiple gas provinces

are well coordinated and the results of the work are

effectively disseminated. Of the funds made available for

this program, 75% shall be administered by the program

consortium. Up to 10% of that amount should be adequate

for the program consortium to administer the program.

Significant authority has been provided for the National

Energy Technology Laboratory on behalf of the Secretary:

to issue a competitive solicitation for the program

consortium; evaluate, select, and award a contract or

other agreement to a qualified program consortium; and,

have primary review and oversight responsibility for the

program consortium. Up to 5% of program funds to be

administered by the program consortium are allocated in

the law for NETL to perform these activities. The review

and oversight responsibility includes review and approval

of research awards proposed to be made by the program

consortium. NETL may use the allocated funds for program

direction and to establish a site office if it is

necessary to carry out the program, which I encourage; and

2. The Secretary has been provided 25% of the total funds

for the National Energy Technology Laboratory to carry out a

program of research and other activities, including program

direction, overall program oversight, contract management,

and the establishment and operation of a technical committee

to ensure that in-house research activities funded are

technically complementary to, and not duplicative of,

research conducted under this new program. While it is

contemplated that the NETL may contract out some of this

work, the intent of the legislation is to encourage NETL to

build internal research and development capabilities with

this portion of the program funds.

To ensure that this program is implemented as soon as

possible, the legislation requires the Secretary to select

the program consortium not later than 270 days after the date

of enactment. That time line should provide sufficient time

for a final contract with the selected program consortium to

be completed and for work to commence when funds for the

program consortium become available on October 1, 2006. In

the preparation of the solicitation of proposals for the

program consortium that will administer the program, I

encourage the National Energy Technology Laboratory to seek

broad public comment prior to the issuance of a final request

for proposals.

I look forward to working with you to see that this program

is successful. If it is effectively administered in

accordance with the direction and timelines provided in the

statute, I feel confident that it will improve energy and

national security and achieve the additional natural gas and

oil production, increased royalty revenues and lower energy

costs for consumers as described in 2004 analysis by the

Energy Information Administration.

I am attaching further analysis of the policy basis and

thrust of the new program and plan to submit this letter and

attachment for inclusion in the Congressional Record. Should

you need additional information, please let me know. Again, I

look forward to working with you on this important

initiative.

With best personal regards, I am

Sincerely,

Ralph M. Hall,

Member of Congress.

Attachment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to congratulate NASA and the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery on their very successful completion of their latest mission.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to congratulate NASA and the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the successful completion of their latest mission to the International Space Station. Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly, Mission Specialists Charlie Camarda, Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi, Steve Robinson, and Andy Thomas skillfully executed the 14-day mission in outer space.

This Space Shuttle mission was the first since the Columbia disaster two years ago. NASA learned a great deal from that accident, and this test flight two months ago helped the space agency learn even more. While in space, the crew completed three successful spacewalks, and accomplished the first in-flight heat shield repairs on the Shuttle. The two-week mission also encompassed the first ``back flip maneuver'' so that crew could take pictures of the underbelly of the Shuttle to determine if there was damage to the vehicle during lift-off.

The Discovery crew also delivered more than 6 tons of needed supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. While on the Station, ``spacewalkers'' Noguchi and Robinson replaced a failed gyroscope with a new one, thus restoring full capability of the Station's attitude control system. The crew also facilitated ``virtual visits'' from the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Japan.

Returning the Shuttle to flight was the first step toward meeting the goals of the new Vision for Space Exploration--it helps America fulfill its promise to our international partners to complete the International Space Station. While the Shuttle's next return to space ,will be delayed for a few months as engineers work to redesign the tiles on the fuel tank, I am hopeful that we will soon be on our way back to the Station.

Just this week, NASA administrator Michael Griffin unveiled detailed plans for achieving the goal of returning to the moon by 2018 and pushing on to Mars beyond that date. I am particularly pleased that the plans include many crew safety mechanisms for the new space ship. Astronauts like the ones we are honoring today, deserve our best efforts to ensure their safe journey into space and return to earth. Our hopes and dreams ride with them, and we must do all we can, at whatever cost is necessary, to ensure their safety.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to help make the Vision for Space Exploration a reality. With astronauts like the Discovery team and specialists and staff at NASA, America will continue to push frontiers and lead the world in space exploration and discovery.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, of course, in support of H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005; and I am very pleased with the conference agreement before us today as the culmination of years of hard work and determination amongst my colleagues and friends. I certainly commend the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton) and the gentleman from Michigan (Ranking Member Dingell). I have been here 25 years, and I have never seen an operation like the one we have gone through this last week where the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), and the chairman, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), worked together on hammering out a good bill; not perfect for either one of them, but both of them working for what has been called ``the greatest good for the greatest number.'' These two men worked together, did not agree on everything, but worked together for the good of the people, basically for the young people of this country who will have to fight a war for energy if we do not find our own energy, and we have plenty of it here.

We need this bill before us today. We needed it 5 years ago. But I gladly accept it, because we simply cannot go another day without doing anything we have to do to increase our domestic production of oil and gas, increase our energy efficiency, and step up our conservation efforts, all towards the goal of being less reliant on foreign countries, people that do not trust us, people that we do not really trust for our energy needs.

I am especially pleased about the inclusion of my Ultra-deepwater and Unconventional Offshore Natural Gas and Research and Development program, which will enable the development of new technology to increase natural gas production from the 1,900 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable reserves in North America, enough to meet over 85 years of demand at current rates of consumption.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill for the Nation, it is a good bill for the Fourth Congressional District of Texas, it is good for our country, and it is good also for this generation of high school juniors and high school seniors who, using this energy policy, will be able to ask themselves which university or college will I enter, rather than which branch of service will I enter.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for this very important piece of legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his kind words, and for the hard work he and the group have put in.

Mr. Chairman, as we wait to launch Discovery on another vital mission to the International Space Station, Congress is moving forward with legislation that celebrates and supports the Space Shuttle fleet, as well as putting our country on a new vision for space exploration.

When President Bush announced the new vision for space in January 2004, I was really excited to see that NASA had a new direction and a new focus for the future. Our ventures into space not only keep our country at the forefront of exploration and innovation, but they are also vital to our economy and very vital to our national security.

This new vision sets America on a course toward the Moon and toward Mars, and we should embrace this dream and work to make it a reality.

Today's bill before the House reauthorizes NASA and outlines the broad goals of the vision. While it embraces the exploration agenda of the space agency, it also bolsters other NASA programs in science and aeronautics that keeps America competitive globally.

I am grateful for a well-balanced bill, and I commend the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert) and the gentleman from California (Chairman Calvert), and the ranking members, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), and the staff, for crafting such a fine bill.

I am particularly pleased that the bill includes a provision that I worked with that directs Administrator Griffin, our fine new leader, to develop a Crew Exploration Vehicle with a robust crew escape system. As we implement this new space vision, I am going to continue to work and I know our leaders are going to continue to work to ensure that NASA fulfills this priority and minimizes the risk for our brave men and women who fly our space missions.

Our hopes and dreams ride with them, and we must do all we can, and we want to do all we can, and we are going to do all we can at whatever cost is necessary to ensure their safety.

The money that we put into NASA grows exponentially when we consider the scientific and technological spin-offs that space exploration provides. Experiments conducted on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station expand health research and move us toward cures for some of our most threatening diseases. Microgravity experiments in the 1990s led to advances in antibiotics to fight infections. These experiments also unlocked secrets to protein growth that produced medicines to treat patients who have suffered from strokes and to prepare them for open-heart surgery. Americans suffering from osteoporosis also benefit from bone-density experiments conducted on the International Space Station in microgravity environments. These tests accelerated the clinical trials of a drug that is expected to be on the market soon. From the development of MRI technology to microchips, the scientific partnerships between NASA and American universities and companies ensure our Nation's viability, increase our Nation's competitiveness, and help drive our economy.

I urge Members to pass this bill with the space shuttle and International Space Station. I thank everybody involved.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in paying tribute to a truly great former Member of the House, the late Jake Pickle of Austin. Jake served his district and the people of Austin for more than 30 years and was one of the most effective and formidable Representatives this body has ever known.

Jake was my colleague in the House for about half of his tenure. He loved this institution and was one of its leading Members throughout his service. Time and again, Jake convinced a majority of us to support appropriations and programs that benefited the citizens of his district around Austin--and at the same time he managed to convince us that it was somehow good for our districts, too.

Jake had the intellect, personality, and drive to accomplish countless legislative victories for his district and our country. As a senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, he was instrumental in passing major Social Security reform legislation in 1983. This legislation helped ensure the viability of this great program for senior citizens for the past two decades.

Jake managed to be both respected and beloved. He will be long remembered not only for his accomplishments but also for his engaging and flamboyant personality. His influence will be felt for generations to come, and he will forever be remembered in Austin as one of the great statesmen of the State of Texas.

May God bless his family, and may he rest in peace.