Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to start by thanking Congresswoman Giffords for introducing the Solar Technology Roadmap Act and Chairman Gordon for his leadership on bringing this important bill to the floor.

As a cosponsor of this legislation, I believe it makes a timely investment in clean energy technology that will stimulate economic growth and create jobs nationwide. My amendment would clarify that research activities on the development of solar energy storage technologies are eligible for funding in this bill.

Solar energy technology has significant potential to supply cheap, clean and renewable energy to American families and businesses. However, one of the major challenges with solar energy is that it can only be produced during daylight hours. That is obvious. Thus, it is only available at certain times, which may not necessarily correspond to the times it is most needed by the electric grid, when electricity is the most expensive, during peak hours, and the least efficient fuels are likely to be used.

To use a metaphor, the distribution of solar electricity to date is like trying to distribute water from rain without having reservoirs to catch and hold the water.

In my home State of Florida, we are known as the Sunshine State, and for good reason. Businesses in Florida have invested over $1 billion in solar technology over the past 3 years, building the largest photovoltaic solar plant in North America and installing more solar power than almost every other State in the country. But without cost- effective storage technology, we cannot build upon this investment, not only in Florida but throughout the country, to eventually rely more heavily on solar power for our States' and our country's energy needs.

There are emerging storage technologies, including batteries, thermal storage and others, that can take solar energy when it is produced, store it, and then provide electricity to the grid at opportune times. These technologies have the power to make solar power more reliable, more cost-efficient, and more widely used as an alternative to fossil fuels for our energy needs. They also have the potential to create thousands of new jobs right here in the United States as we develop technologies, manufacture products, and sell them all over the world.

Storage technology may also have a substantial impact on the way we purchase energy to power our homes and businesses, regardless of the energy source. With more advanced and more affordable storage technology, we may one day be able to purchase energy from utility companies during off-peak hours, when energy costs are low, and store the energy for when we need it. This would allow utility companies to run more efficiently by reducing demand during peak hours and utilize their plants in the middle of the night when demand is low, thus helping businesses and consumers purchase the energy at the lowest energy cost.

The development of solar energy technology will be critical to establishing solar power as a primary source of electricity in the United States and significantly altering the future of our energy infrastructure. Alternative renewable sources of energy, like solar, that can be generated right here in the United States will make household and business energy bills cheaper, improve our environment, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, if we develop the technology to make it more efficient and cost-effective.

This amendment will emphasize the importance of devoting Federal research dollars in this bill to further advancing storage technology that will propel storage technology to the next level.

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

Mr. Chairman, again, I would just yield myself such time as I may consume for purposes of closing.

The legislation under consideration today, as I said, presents an incredibly exciting opportunity for Florida and all the States in our Union to propel this technology forward and one day establish our country as a global leader in clean, renewable energy technology relating to solar power. I am confident that the Solar Technology Roadmap Act will substantially advance solar technology in the United States, reduce its cost, and help America transition to a clean energy economy.

I urge adoption.

I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Tennessee.

I thank the chairman, and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1793, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, and thank the distinguished Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Waxman, and Ranking Member Barton, as well as the Health Subcommittee Chair, Mr. Pallone, and Ranking Member Deal, for bringing this important bill to the floor before the Ryan White program ends at the end of the month.

The Ryan White program is our nation's keystone public health program for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Originally enacted in 1990, the Ryan White program provides federal funds to states and metropolitan

areas for health care costs and support services for people living with HIV and AIDS. Some of these services include medical care, drug treatments, dental care, home health care, and outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment. Over half a million low-income people with HIV/AIDS receive critical health care services through Ryan White, and a third of them lack any health insurance at all.

In addition to preauthorizing the Ryan White program for four years, S. 1793 will increase funding for all programs by 5 percent to meet the growing needs of states, communities, and individuals. Of particular interest for my constituents is the increased funding for the Emergency Relief program, which provides grants to metropolitan areas with very high numbers of AIDS cases for primary care and support services like hospice care, housing, and transportation.

Unfortunately, the City of Ft. Lauderdale, which is in my congressional district, has the fourth highest AIDS rate in America, behind only San Francisco, New York, and Miami. This puts an enormous strain on local resources. Although Broward County has worked very hard to be as efficient as possible with the services they provide, this 5 percent funding increase will be a welcome relief during these difficult economic times.

I am also pleased to see that S. 1793 increases the unobligated fund requirement from 2 percent to 5 percent. As it stands now, this provision penalizes Part A and B grantees if they have more than 2 percent of their award unobligated at the end of a grant year. The consequence is that programs are ineligible to compete for supplemental components of their awards, creating an undue burden on grantees like Broward County who face state and county budget factors such as hiring freezes, purchasing delays and spending caps among other funding obstacles. Boosting this level to 5 percent will create a more realistic requirement for unobligated funds, and I thank the distinguished chairmen and ranking members for correcting this important problem.

Mr. Speaker, it was 28 years ago that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued its first warning for AIDS. In the interim, far too many people have died from this terrible disease. But thanks to this hallmark safety net program, the Ryan White program provides a vital lifeline to hundreds of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS. We cannot let this lifeline end at the end of the month. We must pass this program today so that everyone living with HIV/AIDS can know that our great country will be there to help them when they need it most.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 465 and to thank the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Brown, for introducing this important bill. I have had the good fortune of working with the distinguished gentleman on other legislation, and I can say that on this and other issues, he serves his constituents well.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 465 acknowledges the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, and it recognizes the importance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to recreational, commercial, and military vessels and to the history and quality of life of the citizens of the United States.

Having a congressional district with over 75 miles along the Intracoastal Waterway, I know firsthand its importance to South Florida. It serves as a crucial thoroughfare for the two ports in my district, the Port of Palm Beach and Port Everglades. In fact, the Army Corps of Engineers reported that over 2.5 million tons of freight traffic was shipped along the Intracoastal Waterway in 2007 alone, including commodities such as wheat, corn, and soybeans.

But the Intracoastal Waterway provides Americans with more than just economic activity. Just go out on the water any day of the week in my congressional district and you'll see recreational boaters traveling on the Intracoastal Waterway. Boating is an iconic symbol for South Florida, and the Intracoastal Waterway serves as an important part of that. Simply put: South Florida would not be the boating capital of the world without it.

I also want to take a moment and commend the work of the Florida Inland Navigation District, or FIND. They maintain our state's portion of the Intracoastal Waterway, from Jacksonville to Miami. Created in 1927 by the Florida State Legislature, FIND is a special taxing district charged with helping to maintain the Intracoastal Waterway with the Army Corps of Engineers. They are an important entity and perform an often unheralded job, so I wanted to take this moment to commend the men and women employed by FIND for helping to maintain one of Florida's most important natural resources.

In closing, I want to again thank the gentleman from South Carolina for introducing House Resolution 465, urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 1327, the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act.

The United States has found itself at a crossroads when it comes to Iran. As we pursue an engagement strategy, we must also prepare for the worst. If Iran fails to comply with their commitments, we must have tools to compel them to change their behavior. This is what we're doing here today with this bill.

I would like to thank Congressman Barney Frank for his continued and sustained leadership on this issue. The Iran Sanctions Enabling Act is one of many steps that Congress can and should take to isolate Iran, which we are working on.

I am proud that my home State of Florida was the first in the Nation to pass the law to divest from companies that conduct business in Iran. I would also like to acknowledge many of the activists and people in Florida that help pass this legislation. In particular, I note the accomplishment of my friend, State Senator Ted Deutch, the author of the Protecting Florida's Investments Act of 2007.

Iran must not get a nuclear weapon--not on our watch and certainly not on our dime. I would certainly urge the swift passage of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I would have voted on September 15, 2009 when I was unavoidably detained as follows:

Thank you to the gentlelady from New York. I rise today to strongly support the rule and the underlying bill, the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act. I'm grateful to Chairwoman Slaughter for the time to speak, and Chairman Skelton and the ranking member for crafting a bill that protects our national security in a fiscally responsible way.

This morning, I would like to focus on section 1077, which allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans with service dogs that can facilitate treatment of their physical and mental disabilities.

I first introduced the bipartisan Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps Act in July, and I'm proud to have worked out this language in this bill to help keep

America's promise to our disabled veterans. The men and women who have served this country and are injured deserve our full and complete support when they return home, and that means doing everything we can to improve their quality of life after their service.

I have seen these programs where they provide service dogs in action. I have witnessed the growth of disabled veterans after working with a guide dog or an animal that can assist them with physical therapy, their mental health, and even their job. These programs succeed, and they're another important way we can strongly stand behind our veterans and their families.

I'd like to thank Senator Al Franken of Minnesota and Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, who were my indispensable partners in this bipartisan effort. I'd like to also acknowledge David Kildee of the House Armed Services Committee staff, and the Armed Services Committee staff, whose assistance proved crucial in this effort.

Finally, this effort would not be possible without Irwin Stovroff, former World War II POW and someone who's a personal friend and my constituent. He is a guardian angel to many disabled veterans and wounded warriors who depend on him for their service dogs and their quality of life.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure, the conference report, and the rule.

Mr. Speaker, we in Congress will be able to make a real difference for the military veterans who have served our country so honorably this week.

From my first day in office, our local veterans groups in south Florida made it clear that one of their top priorities was securing advanced appropriations for the Veterans Administration. These dedicated servicemembers thought it was wrong that the VA, which provides health care and so many other critical services to our heroes, was subjected to the whims of an annual congressional budgeting process.

Mr. Speaker, I couldn't agree more. The needs of our veterans are too important to be bogged down and held up in this process. Putting advanced appropriations in place allows the VA to plan ahead, improve service delivery, and make smart, fiscally responsible budget decisions.

At long last this House will vote today on the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009. This bill puts advanced appropriations in place, responding to the top priority of our veterans' organizations.

I strongly urge my colleagues to speak out with one voice as Democrats and Republicans alike to support our veterans and pass this legislation.

I thank the gentlelady. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Travel Promotion Act for all the reasons that have been discussed so far. Tourism is an economic engine for our home State of Florida. From our pristine beaches to the Everglades to our large destination amusement parks, Florida has so much to offer both international and domestic tourists.

The tourism industry creates jobs in all sorts of sectors: hospitality, construction, travel. In fact, in my home county of Palm Beach, as well as Broward County, 160,000 people are employed in tourism-related jobs, contributing over $11 billion to our local economy.

The tourism industry has faced challenges this year, which is why it is imperative that Congress pass the Travel Promotion Act. This bill will greatly strengthen south Florida's ability and all over the United States the ability to attract tourists from abroad, which will in turn reinforce our local economies.

I encourage our colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Last week, the House passed critical legislation to protect one of Florida's most treasured national wonders. The Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement, which I strongly supported, will be a key tool in protecting this endangered ecosystem.

The bill will support grants for coral reef conservation and scientific research at our outstanding institutions like the National Coral Reef Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Coral reefs are integral to our safety and economy in south Florida. They act as a first line of defense against hurricanes and storm surges and they drive our tourist economy by bringing divers, snorkelers, and fishermen from all over the world to our community. In Broward County alone, coral reefs contribute over $2 billion annually to our local economy.

Madam Speaker, this is not a Democrat or a Republican issue. Protecting our national treasures is something we can all agree on. I'm proud that my colleagues came together to pass this important piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 692, supporting the goals and ideals of Tay-Sachs Awareness Month, and I thank my good friend from New York, Mr. Arcuri, for introducing this important resolution, as well as all of my colleagues who, like me, have added their name as a cosponsor.

Tay-Sachs disease is a rare, genetic disorder that lacks a proven treatment or cure. It attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord of children with fatal results. The deterioration starts at 6 months of age and usually ends with death by age four.

Everyone in this distinguished chamber would agree that this fate should never fall on a child or the parents. Yet this genetic disease disproportionately impacts specific ethnic groups. Approximately 1 in 27 Ashkenazi Jews, 1 in 30 Louisianan Cajuns, 1 in 30 French Canadians, and 1 in 50 Irish Americans are carriers of this gene. If the parents of a child are both carriers of Tay-Sachs disease, then the child has a 1 in 4 chance of developing the disease.

My wife, Dori, and her family were personally affected by this terrible disease. Both parents were carriers, and as a result, my wife's sister developed Tay-Sachs as a baby. It was a terrible tragedy to see a life so young taken from them, and it's a reminder to me that our work here in the United States Congress must include a long-term commitment to curing diseases like Tay-Sachs, so every child can have an opportunity to grow up and live the American Dream.

H. Res. 692 will help in this crusade by bringing important attention to Tay-Sachs disease and supporting the goals and ideals of Tay-Sachs Awareness Month. I thank the lead sponsor, Mr. Arcuri, again for introducing this important resolution and urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, last week, we marked the 15th anniversary of a critical piece of legislation, the Violence Against Women Act.

This bill was a landmark achievement, and it has led to major strides in keeping American women more secure and in ensuring that victims of violence receive the services they need. By cracking down on crimes like stalking, sexual assault and domestic abuse, with tougher sentences for perpetrators and with more support for victims, the Violence Against Women Act has made our country a safer place to live.

As a husband and the father of a wonderful daughter, I am committed to continuing the programs established by this critical legislation-- for my family and for all of the families in south Florida.

Much has been accomplished in the last 15 years, but violent crimes against women are still far too common. On this anniversary, we must all rededicate ourselves to better protecting America's women from violence and to supporting survivors of these crimes.

I thank the gentlelady and also my colleague from Florida. I rise to support this rule and the underlying bill. The seniors in my district in south Florida are grateful to my friend, Congresswoman Titus; the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Rangel; and the Health Subcommittee chairman, Mr. Stark, for acting swiftly to address one of the biggest issues facing our seniors as we speak.

Mr. Speaker, for the first time in 35 years, our seniors face a year without the traditional cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, as we call it, in their Social Security payments because inflation has not increased. Of course, if you try telling our seniors that inflation isn't a concern, the first thing they are going to do is show you their medical bills and prove you wrong, because a fact that our seniors know is fundamentally they have different expenses than a typical family of four because of their medical expenses.

Currently, the cost for seniors who utilize Medicare part B, services like doctor visits or home oxygen equipment, is around $96 a month. If we do nothing, if we fail to act today, then premiums could skyrocket to almost $120 a month for the same services.

During these tough economic times, we cannot ask seniors who face staggering losses in the value of their homes and retirement plans and increased medical costs to make additional sacrifices. That is why the Medicare Premium Fairness Act is so important. This bill will ensure that next year's premiums for all Medicare part B beneficiaries will not increase by a dime.

Earlier this week, this body acted to extend unemployment benefits. Florida will be one of the beneficiaries of that. Giving Americans a hand up during these tough economic times was the right thing to do then, and giving a hand up to our Greatest Generation is without question the right thing to do now.

I urge my colleagues to pass this rule and pass the Medicare Premium Fairness Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 860, the Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments of 2009. I also want to thank the lead sponsor of the legislation and distinguished chair of the Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee, Ms. Bordallo, for all her tireless efforts to protect our natural resources and insular areas.

Mr. Speaker, coral reefs are among the most diverse, biologically complex, and valuable ecosystems on earth. In my home State of Florida, we are fortunate to have the third largest barrier reef in the world. The importance of coral reefs to south Florida cannot be overstated. In addition to erecting a vital first-line of defense against hurricanes and storm surges for our coastal communities, coral

reefs have an immeasurable environmental value. They provide awe and inspiration to divers and snorkelers from all over the world, and are a driving force for our tourism and fishing industries. In Broward County alone, coral reefs contribute over $2 billion annually to our local economy.

Coral reefs, however, are in nothing short of a crisis. Faced with dangers both man-made and natural, including global warming, overfishing, coastal pollution, and bleaching, coral reefs are dying in alarming numbers. In fact, scientists estimate that 60 percent of coral reefs may disappear before 2050.

That's why I'm proud to support the legislation before us today. H.R. 860 will reauthorize the landmark Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, which created the Coral Reef Conservation Program to directly issue grants to States, territories, and other partners for coral reef conservation projects. The act also requires the development of a Coral Reef Action Strategy and authorizes NOAA to undertake research, mapping, management, and education and outreach activities to protect coral reef ecosystems.

In addition to reauthorizing these important provisions, H.R. 860 will make important changes to the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. One will be to take advantage of the vast resources and expertise at our prestigious universities and research institutes. For example, the three U.S. Coral Reef Institutes at Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii conduct outstanding scientific research, and support State and local coral reef resource managers and local action strategies.

I personally can attest to their great work because the National Coral Reef Institute, NCRI, is located in my backyard, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. NCRI and the other institutes serve as a ready source of knowledge, research, monitoring, and management support for corals and coral reefs via partnerships between academia, NOAA, and other Federal, State, and local managers.

Another important aspect of this legislation will be to authorize NOAA to respond to vessel groundings. Since 1994, we've seen 12 large ships run aground on sensitive coral reefs near Ft. Lauderdale. The last one, occurring almost 2 years ago, involved a freighter that left a 20-foot swath of destruction about 100 feet long. Whatever coral that once lived there sadly is now gone.

Part of the solution to vessel groundings is adopting better prevention strategies, such as closing anchorage sites in shallow waters that are close to coral reefs. But we also need to respond faster when a vessel runs aground because the sooner the corals can be restored, the better chances it has for survival. Expanding NOAA's authority to act will allow NOAA to utilize their experience and resources to both assess the damage and restore the reefs.

Mr. Speaker, we, in this distinguished body, frequently debate contentious issues that divide America. But not with this bill and not with this issue. Protecting a national treasure such as coral reefs brings people together because everyone understands their vital importance--Democrats and Republicans alike. That's why I am confident that we'll have broad bipartisan support to pass H.R. 860. I thank my colleagues in advance.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Broward County School District, one of four finalists for the Broad Prize for Urban Education. The Broad Prize is known as the ``Nobel Prize for public education'' and is awarded to districts that show strong reading and math skills among low-income and minority students.

As a finalist for the second consecutive year, Broward schools have made real strides toward closing the achievement gap in public education and have set a standard of excellence for all students.

The winning school district, to be announced this week, will take home $1 million in student scholarships, and all finalists receive $250,000, a critical boost in these difficult economic times.

I congratulate Superintendent James Notter and School Board Chair Maureen Dinnen, as well as the students, parents, and teachers in the

Broward school system for a job well done. Keep up the good work.

I thank the gentleman from Colorado.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule and the underlying bill, the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009.

This legislation, which is supported by a bipartisan majority of this body and on behalf of the American people, makes an excellent and a smart investment in research that will catapult American ingenuity into new levels of competitiveness.

Now, for years, I know many people have said, Why haven't our car companies kept up? There were a lot of decisions along the way and a lot of reasons; but I think what we're doing today is taking a very, very important step for which many of us have been advocating for many, many years. I know a lot of people have said, Well, the technology must be there. It's just not being utilized. Maybe that's the case and maybe that isn't the case, but what's happening right now is something that many of us have been advocating for.

On December 5, 2008, in the Financial Services Committee where American automakers testified before Congress on their dire financial state, I, personally, had the opportunity to ask the automakers about whether they would support a process by which we could bring the best of technology, of the engineers and of the entrepreneurs together to really leapfrog. I mean, I'm a firm believer that American ingenuity is at the top. It's one of the strengths we have in our country. Fortunately, those car leaders at that time said yes.

Well, this bill takes that moment, that effort, and the financial resources and does what the gentleman from Florida said: it allows us to have a stake and a participation in advancing research. Whether through medical science or the automobile business, I think this is a role that we can play.

The New Democrat Coalition, in which I participate, followed up with a letter to the administration, stressing the themes of allowing there to be some resource commitment to this new electric and hybrid technology. I, along with many of my colleagues and many Americans, believe that our country's researchers and engineers can and will develop the engine technology that will leapfrog automakers from all over the world and will speedily deploy an electric car of the future.

The legislation today that we are considering accomplishes these goals by investing in a program that brings together these stakeholders from across the industry to develop this vehicle technology of tomorrow right here in the United States. I am confident that this technology and this program will provide automakers with the tools they need to lead the auto industry into a new generation of innovation.

Let me point out that section 101 contains language to ensure that grants do not fund duplicative efforts. This is essential to our commitment to fiscal responsibility. It saves taxpayer money because grant recipients will not be reinventing the wheel separately, but will be coming together efficiently.

I would like to commend my colleague, Congressman Gary Peters, for introducing this legislation and Chairman Bart Gordon for his leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor today.

I urge passage of this rule and the underlying bill.