Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I wish to remind everybody about a real-life story of being outnumbered 10 to 1, a story of courage, will, discipline, suffering, immense sacrifice, and success, a tale of two great militaries, surprise, weather, overwhelming force, and sheer resolve. It is marked with the graves of thousands and exemplifies the struggle for the very future of freedom in our world.

The story ends with the 101st Airborne and Patton's Armor being victorious in January and February of 1945, and I think it is important to recognize the accomplishments of all the units who struggled and suffered greatly under the German siege of a small town in Belgium named Bastogne. This January and the recent December marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

Most people know of the 101st Airborne, nicknamed the ``battling Bastards of Bastogne,'' and the plight of Patton's Armor, as chronicled in so many stories and movies now burnished into the collective consciousness of our Nation, and rightly so.

However, Mr. Speaker, on this 70th anniversary, I want to remind us of an often untold story of the other heroes of the Battle of the Bulge and the little but critical town of Bastogne. It is a story of the American soldiers of the 28th Division from Pennsylvania, who held at all costs.

In late October to mid-November of 1944, the battle of the Hurtgen Forest was described as a meat grinder. The 28th Division was in a fierce battle with the German 73rd Corps. For the 28th, the battle losses were 248 officers and 5,452 enlisted men. After the battle, the weary division needed a rest.

The Ardennes Forest was thick and seemingly impenetrable. It was known as a quiet sector in which the 28th could reequip, reorganize, and assimilate thousands of new replacements into the ranks while the division rested.

Greatly weakened by the previous battle, the 28th Division was spread out over some 25 miles along a front which was more than double that which was recommended in standard practice by any division at the time.

On the morning of 16 December 1944, the peace was shattered by the opening barrage of the Germans opening up one of the largest displays of artillery bombardment ever, signaling the start of Hitler's last great offensive on the Western Front in World War II.

For the next 4 days, without any sleep, often without food, elements of the 28th Division and their affiliates fought continuously, often until the last bullet and life, to deny the enemy success. It was exceptionally cold, foggy, damp, and, of course, snow covered, exactly what Hitler had counted on, as the winter would only add to the element of surprise.

The German 5th and 15th Panzer Armies, 6th SS, and 7th Army attacked the U.S. 8th Army in a line between Aachen and Bastogne with a plan to go as close as possible down the seam between American, Canadian, and British forces to split them.

After crossing the Meuse River, the attacking Panzers were to turn north and capture the port city of Antwerp, thus collapsing the supply lines and the alliance.

The timetable established by the German general staff and German high command called for the capture of the entire 28th Division sector early in the morning of 16 December and the capture of Bastogne by the same evening of that day. Bastogne was a major road junction which was needed by the Germans for armor and resupply units.

In the early morning hours of 16 December, the 28th Division received a message telling them to hold at all costs. Keystoners, as they were known, were dug in and began the slow and painful art of trading space for time, trading space for time and life.

The 110th Regiment was soon surrounded and fought to the last round. From 0530 that morning of the 16th until sometime late in the afternoon of the 18th and early on the 19th in some locations, men of the 110th Infantry Regiment fought and held, giving ground only when forced out, but all the while buying precious time for General Eisenhower to find and move reserves forward from deep inside France.

The other two regimental combat teams of the division, the 109th and 112th Infantry Regiments, did only slightly better. The 110th Regiment stayed in place as they were assigned the center sector of the division. The regiment alone fought elements of five German divisions, of which it was outnumbered at times 7 to 1.

I must abbreviate due to time.

While there are many things that come to mind when we think of the Battle of the Bulge like the 101st Airborne, Patton's Armor, or Easy Company from the Band of Brothers, please also remember the names and places familiar to those others who held at all costs: the 103rd, the 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th of the 28th. These are the echoes of the 28th Division and the men who held at all costs and traded space for time so that the 101st and Patton's Third Army could get into position in time to defeat the German offensive.

Mr. Speaker, we can learn a lot from these dedicated soldiers who refused to surrender but fought on for what they believed in. I just wanted to remind everyone and to offer my salute to these finest Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to remind everybody about a real life story of being outnumbered 10 to 1.

A story of courage, will, discipline suffering, immense sacrifice and success. A tale of two great two militaries, surprise, weather, overwhelming force and sheer resolve. A story marked with the graves of thousands, and that exemplifies the struggle for the very future of freedom in our world.

The story ends with the 101st Airborne Division and Patton's Armor victorious in January and February of 1945.

We must recognize the accomplishments of all the units that struggled and suffered greatly under the German siege of a small town in Belgium named Bastogne.

This past December 2014 through the end of January 2015 marks the 70th Anniversary of the one of the most significant and deadly battles of World War II--the Battle of the Bulge.

We must also remember the German units and the actions of their Soldiers committed to their nation's cause. We must recount their actions as well--the cause of their leadership, the unfortunate actions that occurred in those desperate hours and learn from that history so that we may never again have to re-endure them.

Most people know of the 101st Airborne (nicknamed the ``Battling Bastards of Bastogne'') and the plight of Patton's Armor as chronicled in so many stories and movies now burnished into the collective consciousness of our Nation--and rightly so. However Mr. Speaker, on this 70th Anniversary, I'm reminded of an often untold story of other heroes of the Battle of the Bulge, in the little but critically important town of Bastogne. It's the story of the American Soldiers of the 28th Division from Pennsylvania who held at all costs.

In late October to mid-November of 1944, occurred the Battle of the Huertgen Forest--described as ``the meat grinder''--where the 28th Division fought a fierce and deadly battle with the German 73rd Corps. For the 28th, battle losses were 248 officers and 5,452 enlisted men, after which the battle-weary Division needed a rest and were moved to the Ardennes Forest, thick and seemingly impenetrable but quiet sector in which the 28th Division could reconstitute, reorganize and assimilate thousands of replacements into the ranks while the Division recovered. Greatly weakened by the previous battle, the 28th Division was spread out over some 25 miles along a front more than double that which was recommended in standard practice by any division at the time. On the morning of 16 December 1944, the peace was shattered by the opening barrage of the Germans in one of the largest and most deadly artillery bombardments ever--signaling the start of Hitler's last great offensive on the Western Front in WWII. For the next four days without any sleep, and often without food, elements of the 28th Division and their Allies fought tirelessly--to the last bullet in most cases--as well as to the last life, to deny the enemy success.

The day and night were punishing--freezing, wet, foggy and snow- covered--exactly what Hitler had counted on, as the winter would only add to the element of surprise and exponentially increase his chances for success. The German 5th and 15th Panzer Armies, 6th SS and 7th Army attacked the U.S. 8th Army and aligned between Aachen and Bastogne with a plan to fight as close as possible down the seam between American, Canadian and British forces in order to split them. After crossing the Meuse River, the attacking Panzers were to turn north and capture the port city of Antwerp, thus collapsing the supply lines and the Alliance. The timetable established by the German General Staff and High Command called for the capture of the entire 28th Division sector early in the morning of 16 December, and the capture of Bastogne by the same evening. Bastogne was a major road junction that was needed by the Germans for armor and resupply units.

In the early morning hours of 16 December the 28th Division received the order to ``Hold at all costs!''

``Keystoners'', as they were known, were dug in and began the slow and painful art of trading space and lives for time--time enough for the 101st Airborne and Patton's Armor to get into the fight, and win it.

The 110th Infantry Regiment soon was surrounded and fought to the last bullet. From 0530 hours on 16 December, until sometime late in afternoon of the 18th and early on the 19th in some locations, men of the 110th Infantry fought and held--giving ground only when forced out--but while buying precious time for General Eisenhower to find and move reserves forward from deep inside France.

The other two Regimental Combat Teams of the Division--the 109th and 112th--did only slightly better, and the 109th ran out of ammunition on the 18th. These scattered and battered units of the 28th Division held out in the face of overwhelming odds--delaying the Germans as long as they was by any standard a miraculous feat because of the complete and massive confusion of the Battle.

However, the 110th Regiment stayed in place as they were assigned the center sector of the Division. This Regiment alone fought elements of five German divisions, outnumbering the Americans 7 to 1.

Overall the 28th Division would identify elements of 9 divisions in its sector before the Battle was over. Early on, the force ratios reached 10 to 1 in the Germans' favor, but still Pennsylvania's 28th Division valiantly held its ground.

Small determined units, low on ammunition, food, water, anti-tank weapons, and morale, continued to stand and fight until forced to retreat, captured or killed.

The old 110th, which had served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Nation since 1873, started to fight with just over 2200 Soldiers. When all was said and done, less than 750 officers and men could be found still fighting. Some unit strength reports have it just around 500 unit members still standing. The German Fifth Panzer Army was so ravaged by the Keystoners that many say it ultimately cost the Germans the battle.

The Division held until it could hold no more, and it never ordered a single retreat. It was a continuous fighting withdraw under fire-- described as ``We made the Germans pay for every yard, every road junction, and fighting house by house, floor by floor, often hand-to- hand when the ammunition ran out.''

The 28th inflicted 11,700 casualties on the enemy at a cost of 3850 Americans killed and wounded, and another 2000 captured when they simply ran out of ammunition.

There are many footnotes to this intense Battle:

On 17 December, Allied prisoners of war were executed in cold blood by elements of the 6th SS Panzer Army. Some 100 prisoners were killed where they stood at Malmedy on direct orders from German Colonel Joachim Peiper.

On 19 December, 6000 Allied Troops surrendered to the encircling German Army at Schnee Eiffel.

On 20 December, the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne completely was encircled by the German 47th Panzer Corps and the US 10th and 19th Armored Divisions completely were encircled by the German advance. After holding on to Bastogne for a full week while encircled, the 101st repelled the final German thrust with the arrival of the 4th Armored Division.

On 25 December, the 2nd Panzer Division was stopped by a combined force of British and American armor made up of General Montgomery's 29th Armored Brigade and the American 2nd Armored Division.

7 February 1945 marked the end of the battle where the German casualty count was a staggering 82,000 men, matched only by the 77,000 casualties suffered by the American Army.

While many things come to mind when we think of the Battle of the Bulge--like the 101st, Patton's Armor or Easy Company (made famous by the book and movie, ``Band of Brothers'', please also remember the names and places familiar to the others that held at all costs:

The 103rd, 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th Infantry Regiments; the towns and grounds of Clervaux, Wilt, the Clerf River, Foy and Noville; and the other units like Combat Command B, 48th Armored Field Artillery, Combat Command R, 158th Engineer Battalion, 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 1278th Engineer Battalion and the 299th Engineer Battalion who suffered and fought to reconstitute and support this brave endeavor. These are the echoes of the 28th Division and the men and units who held at all costs and traded space for time so that the 101st and Patton's 3rd Army could get into position in time to defeat the German offensive.

Mr. Speaker, we could learn so much from these dedicated Soldiers who not only refused to surrender, but fought for what they believed in.

I remind us all of this tale of heroism, tireless and selfless service, and salute these brave Americans.

``In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a State shall be party, the supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all other cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.''

I thank the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I also am proud to cosponsor this bill and thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Young) for his hard work on it.

I think it is fascinating that we hear from my colleagues from the other side that they are so interested in how much money the Federal Government would lose--the Federal Government. I wonder who they came here to work for. Are they interested in how many dollars their hardworking taxpayers are losing by the implementation of this ill- founded law?

I just got off of the phone with one of my employers in the district who has about 500 employees. It is a good, hardworking, family-run business, and he tells me, the number one issue that he is dealing with is poring over spreadsheets day in and day out, trying to figure out how he can put one employee in a place where that employee wants to work in his business because that employee might want more hours because he wants to make his own or her own choice about health care or how much money he or she has. Maybe that employee is retired, their husband or wife is retired, and they just need the extra hours, want the extra hours, but he can't provide them.

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to me that some folks on the other side said, just help us fix it. Yet when we try to fix it, they say, no, it is fine; it is perfect the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, central planning did not work in the USSR. It does not work in Cuba. And I wish you would quit trying to place it in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, the day following the announcement of a 7- month extension to nuclear talks, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, did a victory lap. He said, ``In the nuclear issue, America and colonial European countries got together and did their best to bring the Islamic Republic to its knees, but they could not do so, and they will not be able to do so.''

These remarks are incredibly disturbing, especially when coupled with his earlier intention of building 100,000 centrifuges. The Iranian regime is essentially bragging that they are running circles around Western negotiators by achieving sanctions relief without indicating any change in behavior.

The economic effects of tough sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table to begin with. We must continue to hold Iran's feet to the fire with economic sanctions. To do otherwise plays right into Iran's hands and may force our allies in the region, particularly Israel, to take matters into their own hands.

Mr. Speaker, I call attention to the bravery exhibited during the Civil War by Private John Sipe during the Battle of Fort Stedman.

In addition, I recognize and commend the tireless efforts by his great-grandson, Mr. Reuben Troutman, a constituent of Pennsylvania's Fourth District, who has advocated for over a decade for the consideration of his great-grandfather to receive the Medal of Honor.

On March 25, 1865, Private Sipe's selfless actions in the face of grave danger exhibited unparalleled bravery while fighting at the Battle of Fort Stedman with the 205th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.

After Confederate forces succeeded in capturing Fort Stedman, the 205th Regiment made a gallant charge to counter the rebel attack. Although still considered to be in training status at that time, these brave Pennsylvanians managed to force the opposition back into Fort Stedman, halting the Confederate onslaught.

During the intense hand-to-hand combat that occurred in retaking the fort, Private Sipe displayed extreme heroism when, without concern for his own safety, he fearlessly charged the rebel lines and captured the Confederate flag.

The commander of the IX Army Corps, Major General John G. Parke, recommended to Army headquarters that Private Sipe be awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor and selflessness in capturing the enemy flag.

Mr. Speaker, I must explain that capturing this flag at the time was not like this game that you might have heard about of capturing the flag. At the time of the Civil War, just imagine the fire and the sound of cannonade, muskets, the screams of compatriots on either side of the line in trying to manage the battle.

It was the flag, it was the guidon, it was the standard, that showed the soldiers what action their unit was taking, and without it, it would render them impotent because there was no communication. There were no radios during the Civil War, so capturing the flag meant everything; not only was it symbolic, but it had a huge purpose in determining what that unit could, would, or would not do.

Although recommended to receive the award by the commanding general, according to the National Archives and Records Administration, Private Sipe, however, never received the Medal of Honor.

In a process that has spanned more than a decade, Private Sipe's only living relative--his great-grandson Reuben Troutman of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania--has worked with our office and the office of my predecessors to ensure that Private Sipe was given fair consideration for the Medal of Honor for which he was recommended.

Unfortunately, the Department of Defense determined this year that a lack of existing evidence precludes the award of the Medal of Honor for Private Sipe's bravery and service. Private Sipe's heroism warrants recognition, nonetheless.

Additionally, Reuben Troutman has dedicated an extensive amount of time over many years in researching his great-grandfather's contribution at the Battle of Fort Stedman, and he has worked diligently and tirelessly to bring to light historical facts of Private Sipe's military record.

I commend Reuben for his attention to detail, persistence, tenacity, and zeal in seeking to honor his family heritage and for a valiant attempt at obtaining recognition for his great-grandfather's honorable and courageous service during the Civil War.

As a proud servicemember myself and as a combat veteran and on behalf of the millions of other uniformed personnel who have served after him, I thank not only Private Sipe, but also Mr. Troutman, for their selfless service and dedication to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce for this legislation, and I offer my strongest support because, if nothing else, it reminds us of what the Iranian regime really is at its foundational core, what its essence is.

With much of today's focus on the prospects of a nuclear deal with Iran and the potential military cooperation of our Nation with theirs against ISIS, we absolutely cannot and must not forget the unacceptable and appalling human rights abuses the Iranian regime commits on a daily basis.

Just today, a U.N. resolution condemned Iran's numerous human rights abuses, which include an ``alarmingly high frequency'' of the use of the death penalty, the persecution and imprisonment of religious and ethnic minorities, and the suppression of multiple individual freedoms, and the list just goes on.

Firsthand reports continue to emerge, describing how, of the over 800 documented executions over the past year, 80 percent were for drug offenses, and legal due process was almost never given to defendants. We don't even know if the defendants committed any offenses whatsoever.

Also, disturbingly, in 2014 alone, at least eight people under the age of 18 at the time they allegedly committed their crimes were executed.

Mr. Speaker, President Hassan Rouhani promised to improve the Iranian regime's human rights record. Really? Does anybody take that seriously at all? Realistically, the Iranian regime has only ramped up the oppression of its citizens.

We absolutely must remain clear-eyed when dealing with this extremist regime in all accounts, whether it is a nuclear deal, whether it is in cooperation against ISIS, and certainly when it comes to their human rights violations.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, today is an important anniversary. On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Prior to this famous address, Lincoln arrived at the Gettysburg train station. Earlier this year, the House passed my bill to permanently preserve this historic landmark without utilizing any federal funds.

Currently, this bill awaits consideration by the full Senate.

The Battle of Gettysburg marks a turning point in American history. By preserving the Lincoln train station, I hope to inspire my fellow citizens to learn and appreciate the significance of the Gettysburg Campaign, the Gettysburg Address, the Civil War, and the bravery of the soldiers who, in President Lincoln's powerful words, gave the last full measure of devotion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and thank a constituent from the wonderful little town of Biglerville, Pennsylvania, for his service and sacrifice to spread the cooperative principle of concern for community.

Jay Kroeze, a lead lineman at Adams Electric Cooperative, volunteered for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's International Foundation in Haiti as part of the Caracol Community Electrification Project. He spent 2 weeks in northern Haiti building and upgrading more than a mile and a half of power lines to help communities receive affordable, safe, and reliable electricity.

To date, more than 4,800 consumers in the northern part of Haiti now have access to electricity. Some now have TVs. A few have water treatment plants. Doctors can provide better care to patients, and residents have opened their own small businesses.

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International currently is providing support to USAID in Haiti to bring safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to areas in northern Haiti.

On behalf of the Fourth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, I commend Jay Kroeze and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International Foundation for their tireless efforts in Haiti and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by thanking the great gentleman from Utah who is, indeed, a friend, and I thank him for his service.

We have heard much tonight about Israel and the rockets and everything that is happening in that part of the world, but one thing we haven't talked about much is the United Nations Human Rights Council, which really can't be taken seriously as a human rights organization, and I will tell you why.

Let's talk about some of the members on that: Cuba, Russia, Congo, Ivory Coast, Venezuela, and China.

When you think about Cuba and Venezuela, they outlaw political demonstrations in their country, but yet they are on the Human Rights Council judging Israel. When you think about Ivory Coast or Congo, they allow genital mutilation in their country, yet they are judging Israel.

Now, this commission established a commission to probe alleged war crimes in violation of international law by Israel for defending its citizens against rocket attacks and terror tunnels. I mean, really? A competition to probe the war crimes from Israel.

Now, what they should be doing, instead, is focusing on Hamas, which uses its citizens as human shields while its commanders flee to bunkers. If Hamas uses human shields to protect its rockets, I mean, is that Israel's fault for defending itself? But somehow, as Americans, we are told that that is what we should believe.

Everybody--everybody--in this Chamber, every American is saddened by the tragic loss of innocent life on both sides of the conflict. However, let's be clear. It is Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, that has refused to deescalate this conflict.

Recently, I heard a reporter and some other folks saying: Well, in Gaza, where should the Palestinians go? It is small. There is nowhere to go to avoid the rockets from Israel. Where should they go?

They should stay right there and quit firing on Israel, quit digging tunnels into Israel. That is what they should do, and then this problem would relieve itself. I mean, who dug these tunnels? Who has fired over 2,000 rockets into Israel? They don't have to go anywhere. They just need to quit attacking Israel.

No U.S. funds should go towards the Palestinian Authority or its institution so long as Hamas is part of a unity Palestinian Government.

Secretary Kerry's recent actions have actually hampered a cease-fire. This administration continues to befriend our enemies and make enemies of our friends, and it must stop, Mr. Speaker. It is critical for the U.S. to reiterate our support for our ally, our only ally there, which is Israel, including its right of its people to live in peace and to defend itself.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 437 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Stated against:

Mr. Speaker, 400 rocket attacks from Gaza in the past 3 weeks--Israel has made several attempts to defuse the issue and the situation.

This is how Hamas responded: ``We will not agree to quiet in exchange for quiet. If Israel does not agree to our demands, I expect we will continue this battle.''

Can you imagine that? Demands from Hamas that Israel not respond to rocket attacks. That is the only way you will get quiet for quiet between Israel and Hamas.

Now, we all know where this recent exchange started. On June 12, the abduction and subsequent murder of three Israeli teenagers, suspected by Hamas members, inflamed the situation, and then it was pushed over the edge by a murder of a Palestinian boy by Jewish extremists, Mr. Speaker.

There is a difference between how both sides act. From the Israeli Prime Minister, ``I unequivocally condemn the murder of a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem. Murder, riots, incitement, vigilantism--they have no place in our democracy.''

Israel quickly tracked down and arrested the teens' suspected murderers--tracked them down and arrested them and is prosecuting them.

What is the response from Hamas? What is the like response? In response, they launched nearly 400 rockets at Israel since June 14. For a month, this has been going on--into their population centers, not into military targets, Mr. Speaker, but population centers.

Now, last week, I attended a briefing with Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer to discuss the ongoing operation in Gaza, and one of the things I found interesting was all the members that were there from Israel had on their phones an application which sounded an air raid siren every time one sounded in Israel. We could scarcely get through the briefing because they were just continually going off all around the room.

I imagined myself in my hometown, hunkered down in my basement against a rocket attack. No civilization should live this way.

Interestingly enough, we viewed surveillance video of Hamas members using their own people as human shields. The Israelis actually send a warning shot--this is the building we are going to hit, this is where you are making rockets, and we are going to attack it next.

You would think that people would run from the building, knowing it is going to be blown up, but what does Hamas do? They send people, Mr. Speaker, to the building.

I would remind everybody the responsibility for civilian casualties, when those civilians are used as human shields, lies with the party that deliberately places them at risk, namely, Hamas.

Understand, they are placing their launch sites and their factories next to mosques, next to churches, next to hospitals, next to schools. The plan is--their intent is to make sure that, when Israel responds, responds to an attack, that there are maximum casualties of civilians, so that Americans will think that the Israelis are bad, that the narrative is that Israelis are using an unmeasured response--response.

Remember, it is a response, Mr. Speaker. No other country faces daily rocket attacks against its civilians, nor would any, nor should any other nation tolerate such violence, and we strongly condemn the continued rocket fire into Israel and the deliberate targeting, again, Mr. Speaker, of citizens.

Now, this can all end. President Mahmoud Abbas can renounce the Hamas-backed unity government. How are we ever going to get to peace when their unity government is unified with terrorists, Mr. Speaker?

Since the beginning of July, the Palestinian terrorists have fired hundreds of missiles and projectiles at the population centers in Israel and, just recently, rejected the cease-fire negotiated by Egypt.

What is it that they want? Well, we know what they want. They want Israel obliterated from the map, Mr. Speaker.

For our administration, who has at times been with Israel--but not enough times--I would urge them, instead of calling on restraint for Israel, asking Israel to restrain--they are responding, Mr. Speaker, to attacks on their civilian population.

Instead of asking them to restrain, demand the PA denounce, renounce Hamas and start supporting Israel and give them the necessary resources to meet this threat.

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

Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur for their diligence in this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I think every single American can agree that reducing our dependence on foreign oil is something that--and all foreign sources of energy--should be something that we should pursue, and in that vein, renewables is a significant component, but this bill cuts hydropower over $20 million.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would seek to restore funding specifically--not to all renewables--but to hydropower, and it is offset with a Department of Energy administrative cost. That is where the money is coming from. According to the budget office, the amendment actually reduces outlays by $8 million.

Now, hydropower is available in every region of the country. It is not just the east coast. It is the whole way across the country, to the point that 2,200 hydropower plants provide America its most abundant source of clean, renewable electricity and accounts for 67 percent of domestic renewable generation or 7 percent of the total electricity generated. This could increase that 15 percent, creating over 1 million jobs by 2025--1.4 million, according to my figures.

Mr. Chairman, hydroelectricity is predictable. You can count on it. It is not variable. You don't have to count on the wind blowing. You don't have to count on the Sun shining. Twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, as long as the rain is falling and the rivers are flowing, we are generating power.

You don't need a bank of batteries. You don't need the wind to be blowing. You don't need an alternative source of base load powers being generated. It provides it at a relatively low-maintenance cost.

As a matter of fact, Mr. Chairman, I would contend that it is the most efficient and economic form of renewable energy. It is unobtrusive. It is not bothering anybody. It is sitting there. You don't have to worry about birds flying into it or bats being killed on its blades. The fish swim right through it.

Now, it does face a significant regulatory approval process. There is much red tape, which equates to up to 15 years in permitting cycles, and that is a detractor that needs to be addressed, so much so that there are now 60,000 megawatts of preliminary permits and projects awaiting final approval and are pending before the commission in 45 of our 50 States--45 of our 50 States.

We can have this electricity if we can get through this red tape, Mr. Chairman. Of our 80,000 dams in the United States, 600--600 of them-- have an immediate capability to produce energy at this moment.

Harnessing conventional hydroenergy will create a truly renewable and green energy source for our country. It is not just about Pennsylvania, and it is not just about the Fourth District that I represent. It is about all of our country becoming energy independent on renewable.

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

Mr. Chairman, I look forward to working with the chairman in the future on this and would ask, at this point, unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I am on the House floor, privileged to continue with the recitation.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British

brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts

by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction

over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our

emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their

native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by

the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations,

which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and

correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of

justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce

in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold

them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in

Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of

America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the

Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our

intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good

People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That

these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and

Independent States; that they are Absolved from all

Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political

connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is

and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and

Independent States, they have full Power to levy War,

conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and

to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may

of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a

firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we

mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our

sacred Honor.

Mr. Speaker, U.S. Customs and Border Protection currently possesses a very large fleet of unmanned aerial systems, or UAS's. Certainly, this technology can be a valuable asset. We want them to use it to our benefit on the border to enforce border security.

Between 2010 and 2012, the CBP flew nearly 700 missions on behalf of other Federal, State, and local agencies. They were not flying the border, in other words. As a matter of fact, some agencies have absolutely nothing to do with border security, such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

I have researched this issue, Mr. Speaker, and found no codified procedures for how DHS loans their drones out. Certainly, the use of drones for unapproved purposes is unacceptable and poses a myriad of civil liberty concerns, not to mention the fact that it potentially abuses taxpayer dollars, Mr. Speaker.

We need to ensure proper oversight is conducted, civil liberties are upheld, and taxpayer dollars aren't squandered.