Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. James Kramer. Mr. Kramer is the Pueblo County Coroner and will be retiring this month after a remarkable 37-year career, making him one of the longest serving public officials in Colorado history.

Mr. Kramer was elected as Pueblo County coroner on November 1, 1977 and has investigated around 21,000 cases during his career. He has been a tireless servant to the people of Pueblo County and has remained on- call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the better-half of four decades. He has compassionately delivered tragic news on thousands of occasions and has served with his team nationally both at ground zero after the September 11th attacks and in Louisiana after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Prior to Mr. Kramer's service to the county of Pueblo, he served this nation in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-1977, and worked as a physician's assistant at Touchstone Family Practice.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kramer's dogged work ethic and dedication to serving both his country and community is truly admirable. I stand with the residents of Pueblo County and the citizens of the United States in thanking Mr. Kramer and congratulating him on a lifetime of public and selfless service. Although he is retiring from the Coroner's role, he will stay on as a physician's assistant at the Touchstone Family Practice and I look forward to seeing him continue his dedicated work as a leader in the Pueblo County community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Colorado State University--Pueblo ThunderWolves men's football team and their coach, John Wristen. In their trip to the NCAA Division II National Finals this year, the ThunderWolves claimed their first national football championship in school history.

The ThunderWolves squared off against Minnesota State, who were undefeated for the season. With grit and a stout defense, the Wolf Pack shut out the Mavericks by a score of 13-0.

Before the season began, Coach Wristen gave each player a shirt with the letters W-T-L-G, which meant ``Win the Last Game.'' Coach Wristen's dream, when he became head coach of the ThunderWolves 7 years ago, was to win a national championship. Now, the Wolf Pack players and coaches can proudly say they are national champions. The city of Pueblo is proud of the team.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the team and their outstanding coach, John Wristen, for the stellar season and championship. With Coach Wristen's leadership and the team's tireless commitment to winning, they captured their first football championship and are solidifying the ThunderWolves program's legacy of excellence.

Amendment XXIII:

Section 1:

``The District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

``A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; . . . ''

Mr. Speaker, recently negotiations with Iran over the country's nuclear program were extended again for another 7 months. This extension, however, carried no additional or strengthened economic sanctions on Iran. Disturbingly, we have now heard that the administration has considered sanctions against Israel, our ally.

A nuclear Iran poses an incredible threat to the Middle East and to the United States. The security of our allies, including Israel, and the stability of the region is at stake. Stronger sanctions are needed regarding Iran--not our ally Israel--to increase pressure, advance negotiations, and achieve a favorable outcome for the U.S. and all of our allies. There is no room for error, and the administration must get a strong agreement in place.

H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013, seeks to strengthen and update sanctions on Iran. This passed the House of Representatives. Despite broad bipartisan support, the Senate has done nothing on this bill. The Senate needs to take it up and increase pressure on Iran to reach an agreement. We cannot afford to wait.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Pueblo East High School football team and their coach, David Ramirez, who claimed their first Class 3A football title.

The Eagles and their opponents, the Rifle Bears, who had an impressive 12-win season, both showed great sportsmanship and determination in the final game, resulting in a 30-14 victory for the Eagles.

All year long Coach Ramirez and his staff instilled confidence in the Eagle team to work hard but most importantly believe in themselves and their quest for a championship. With grit and a long tradition of Eagle pride, a stellar season was realized in the culmination of a State football title. The city of Pueblo is extremely proud of this team. Each coach, player, and the staff of this Eagle football team will stand tall among the great athletic champions in Pueblo sports history.

Mr. Speaker, with Coach Ramirez's leadership and the team's hard work, Pueblo East captured their first football championship in school history while establishing a legacy of dedication and commitment to the game. There is no doubt that future Eagle teams will be inspired to do the same. We are very proud of them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Air Force Captain William H. DuBois, whose life was tragically lost in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on December 1, 2014.

Captain DuBois grew up in New Castle, Colorado, where he attended Rifle High School. After high school, he studied Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Colorado in Boulder, later joining the United States Air Force.

As a member of the 77th Fighter Squadron out of Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, Captain DuBois was a specialist aviator in air-to- ground attacks against enemy forces. On

Monday, December 1, 2014, Captain DuBois took off from a U.S. Coalition air base for a combat mission in Operation Inherent Resolve, when his F-16 aircraft began to experience mechanical problems. Captain Dubois attempted to return to the air base and was unable to eject before his airplane crashed.

Captain DuBois was only 30 years old and recently married to his wife Ashley (Jones) DuBois. According to those who knew him, there was rarely a moment when he didn't have a smile on his face, and his selfless and encouraging personality was contagious to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. The numbers of lives touched by this courageous young man are innumerable and the love and memories he shared with his friends and family will live on through them.

The death of Captain DuBois is an unfortunate reminder of the dangers our service men and women face every day as they defend our country, as well as of the many sacrifices they make to protect our freedoms and way of life. Captain DuBois served his country with great pride and honor, doing what he had dreamed of since he was a boy. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and squadron.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Captain William H. DuBois. His dedication to our country, and the way he selflessly lived his life, serve as an inspiration to a grateful nation, as well as to the State of Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Air Force Captain William H. DuBois, whose life was tragically lost in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on December 1, 2014. Captain DuBois grew up in New Castle, Colorado.

On Monday, December 1, 2014, Captain DuBois took off from a U.S. coalition air base for a combat mission in Operation Inherent Resolve, when the F-16 he was flying began to experience mechanical problems. Captain DuBois attempted to return to the air base and was unable to eject before his plane crashed.

Captain DuBois was only 30 years old and was recently married to his wife, Ashley. The number of lives touched by this courageous young man are innumerable, and the love and memories he shared with his friends and family still linger today.

The death of Captain DuBois is an unfortunate reminder of the dangers our servicemen and -women face every day as they defend our country, as well as many sacrifices made to protect freedoms and our way of life.

Captain DuBois served his country with great distinction and honor, something that he always had dreamed of. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and his squadron.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Captain William H. DuBois. His dedication to our country and the way he selflessly lived his life serve as an inspiration to a grateful Nation as well as the State of Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise today to recognize the life of Mr. Douglas Ring, a valuable member of the Pueblo, Colorado community. Mr. Ring, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, was a businessman and community servant who faithfully stood by his community for over four decades.

Mr. Ring moved to Pueblo with his family when he was 14 years old where he attended Centennial High School, graduating in 1958. As an avid baker and gourmet chef, Mr. Ring worked in the restaurant business in multiple capacities, eventually opening the Great American Winery in 1974. Throughout the rest of his life, Mr. Ring fueled his passion for cooking and baking, bringing as many as 15

to 20 recipes to the Colorado State Fair each year, and winning an award for his baklava recipe.

Mr. Ring was not only an award-winning chef and pastry maker, but a respected public servant. From 1975 to 1989, Mr. Ring served on the Pueblo City Council during some of Pueblo's hardest economic times. He worked tirelessly to help the city manage the downsizing of the then CF&I Steel Mill and the Pueblo Army Depot. During this time, the unemployment rate throughout Pueblo reached as high as 20 percent, forcing Mr. Ring to make tough decisions with his colleagues to determine the fate of his beloved community. As one of his colleagues on the Pueblo City Council recently said about him, Mr. Ring was a major influence in keeping the city moving in a positive direction.

In later years, Mr. Ring became a local realtor, working for Prudential Platinum. Even after retirement, he remained active in the Pueblo community, serving on multiple volunteer boards and community projects, and spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize the life of Mr. Douglas Ring. He lived a life filled with passion for his family, friends, baking and cooking, and service to the Pueblo community. I stand with the Pueblo community and the State of Colorado in recognition of his life and service. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ginger Andenucio, an educator from Pueblo, Colorado. After 36 years of service in Pueblo County District 70, Ms. Andenucio is retiring to spend time with her family and friends.

Ms. Andenucio has had an exemplary career as an educator and an administrator in District 70. Long before she began her career as a teacher, she was a student in the District, and after college, Ms. Andenucio was drawn to working in there. During her time in the classroom, she would teach at the elementary, middle and high school levels. After teaching for 20 years, Ms. Andenucio began working in the administration, where she was tasked with building District 70's gifted and talented program. From there, she climbed the ladder, eventually becoming the Assistant Superintendent. Under her leadership, District 70 launched programs such as Gateway to Technology, the International Baccalaureate program, and Project Lead the Way. Ms. Andenucio also led the transition to modernize classrooms by bringing laptops and Promethean boards to schools. Throughout this period, she has had one goal in mind, to create a better learning experience for the students of District 70.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Andenucio's hard work and dedication are an example to us all. I stand with the residents of Pueblo County and the students and parents of District 70 in thanking Ms. Andenucio and congratulating her on a lifetime of service. Although she is retiring from her current post, I am confident she will continue to be a valuable part of her community, and I look forward to seeing all she will accomplish in the years to come.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague (Mr. Gardner) for yielding to me and for his partnership in this critical matter.

As you know, water is the lifeblood of the Western United States and absolutely critical to the health of our communities and our local economies. In order to meet federally mandated water quality standards across the West, the Bureau of Reclamation water conservation and delivery fund is essential.

In Colorado, as is the case throughout the West, we have similar needs to be able to move forward with engineering design work on the authorized features of existing Reclamation projects. This amendment will provide the Bureau of Reclamation the flexibility it needs to be able to allocate funds to advance and complete ongoing work that will provide efficient delivery of water from an existing multipurpose Reclamation project as authorized by Congress in 1962.

Among the eligible projects within the water conservation and delivery fund is, in my district, the Arkansas Valley Conduit. It is the final component of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, which is a water diversion and storage project in the lower Arkansas Valley.

Once constructed, the conduit will deliver clean drinking water to families, producers, and municipalities throughout southeastern Colorado.

By directing $3 million of this sum specifically for water conservation and delivery projects, the Bureau of Reclamation can proceed with ongoing work on water supply delivery projects at a more efficient pace to be able to reach our shared goals in meeting increased water demands by developing and maximizing clean water supplies.

It is our hope that Reclamation prioritizes these projects and resolves the water shortages that exist in the West while enhancing our regional development and promoting our job growth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rod Downey, a mail carrier from Pueblo, Colorado. Mr. Downey has been awarded the United States Postal Services' inaugural Postal Hero Award for going above and beyond in his service to his county and its citizens.

On January 10, Mr. Downey was delivering mail when he heard the cries of Louise Grebenc. Ms. Grebenc, who was 81 at the time of the incident, had fallen on her porch the day before and could not get up. She called for help throughout the night as the temperature dropped below freezing. She had given up until Mr. Downey arrived. He quickly assessed the situation and called 911, staying with Ms. Grebenc until an ambulance came. Mr. Downey's actions saved her life.

Mr. Speaker, Rod Downey's exemplary performance and dedication are an example to us all. I stand with the residents of Pueblo County and the United States Postal Service in thanking Mr. Downey for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Julie Geiser of Alamosa, Colorado.

After 18 years of service as the Director of the Alamosa Public Health Department, Ms. Geiser is retiring to spend time with her family and friends.

Ms. Geiser has had an exemplary career, leading her department with vision and passion. Under her guidance, the Alamosa Public Health Department has doubled in size, while continuing to maintain a standard of excellence that meets the needs of her community. In 2008 Ms. Geiser provided crucial leadership during a salmonella outbreak, prioritizing public safety by ensuring that the public remained informed. During this tenuous time she worked with local officials to locate and terminate the source of the outbreak and limit its spread. Instances like this demonstrate the important role Ms. Geiser has had in ensuring the health and vitality of her community. Ms. Geiser was recognized by the Nightingale Luminaries in 2014 for demonstrating outstanding leadership, advocacy, and innovation in her community.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Geiser's hard work and dedication to serving her community are commendable. I stand with the residents of Alamosa County in thanking Ms. Geiser and congratulating her on a lifetime of service. Although she is retiring from her current post, I am confident she remain a valuable part of her community, and I look forward to seeing all she will accomplish in the years to come.

I thank the gentleman from Washington, Chairman Hastings, for yielding time and for his leadership on this critical matter. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to work closely with him on this legislation and am pleased my Planning for American Energy Act was incorporated as part of the Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America That Works Act of 2014.

Mr. Chair, this final commonsense package seeks to put in place a responsible energy plan that reduces gas prices and other energy costs for consumers, while also spurring economic growth and job creation.

Unlocking our vast natural resources right here at home will lead us closer to energy independence. The legislation before us today would unleash the potential for thousands of new jobs and establish a reliable, affordable, and secure source of American energy through responsible production.

As Americans make plans to celebrate our Nation's independence next week and prepare for summer trips, they are noticing that gasoline prices are rising. Many people are facing gas prices above $3.50 a gallon to $4 a gallon at the pump. These rising fuel costs have a ripple effect across our economy. But, sadly, this upward trend has been steady for the last several years. Fortunately, this doesn't have to be the case.

Nature and entrepreneurial ingenuity have created the potential to allow America to take complete control of its energy future. This legislation will enhance the value of our energy reserves by removing overly burdensome, redundant bureaucratic barriers that stand in the way of responsibly developing our Nation's energy production infrastructure.

Incorporated in this vital legislative package, my Planning for American Energy Act seeks to establish commonsense steps to create an all-of-the-above American energy plan for using Federal lands to meet America's energy needs. Under title II of this legislation, the nonpartisan Energy Information Administration would be required to provide the Secretaries of the

Interior and Agriculture the projected energy needs of the United States for the next 30 years. The Secretaries would use this information to establish environmentally responsible 4-year energy production plans.

The bill allows for energy development on public lands in order to promote the energy and national security of the United States, in accordance with the multiple-use management standard established by the Federal Land Policy Management Act. It requires that all energy resources, including wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, oil, natural gas, coal, oil shale, and minerals needed for energy development, be included in the plan. These goals would be accomplished responsibly, without repealing a single environmental regulation or review process.

Since President Obama took office, energy production on Federal lands has declined significantly. Additionally, the drastic increase of burdensome Federal regulations imposed by this administration is having a detrimental effect on small businesses, jobs, and consumer prices across the board. A recent study showed that the regulatory burden on Americans is costing our economy about $1.8 trillion annually.

Colorado and our Western neighbors are home to vast energy reserves that, if tapped and developed responsibly, could fuel our Nation's economic recovery and ensure the United States remains competitive in the world market. By promoting a commonsense regulatory framework, embracing domestic energy research and development, and applying environmental and safety standards already on the books, rather than adding costly new mandates, we can help meet America's energy needs right here at home, providing energy and economic security that will benefit American families.

America's energy capabilities are being strangled, and rising gas prices is one of the consequences. This doesn't have to be. A true all- of-the-above energy strategy that unleashes our abundant resources will lead to affordable energy for our families and small businesses for years to come. Our nature and the future prosperity of our citizens requires a true all-of-the-above domestic energy plan that responsibly increases production on Federal lands while streamlining efficiencies and reducing red tape.

That is exactly what H.R. 4899 will accomplish. This legislation puts people to work, putting people in America first, keeping energy costs low for families and businesses, and strengthening our national security.

I urge immediate passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ben Weindling, a longtime businessman from Pueblo, Colorado. Mr. Weindling, a loving father and husband, not only created a successful men's clothing store, but was also greatly involved in the Pueblo community.

Mr. Weindling created ``Burling's Clothing'' with his partner Sheldon Burstein. As owner and manager, Mr. Weindling was named ``Dress Apparel Retailer of the Year'' in 1972. He was equally involved in his community as he was in his business, serving as president of the Pueblo Country Club, participating on many boards and clubs including Pueblo Housing Authority, the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, and multiple- hospital boards such as Parkview. In 1977, he was appointed to the Colorado Health Facilities Authority by Governor Richard Lamm, where he served until 2013. Additionally, Mr. Weindling worked as a member of the University of Southern Colorado board of trustees and later served a term as president in 1981. He made noteworthy donations to Colorado State University--Pueblo. Above all else, Mr. Weindling found time to care of his wife, children, and grandchildren and was heavily involved in their lives until his death on June 12, 2014.

Mr. Speaker, Ben Weindling gave his family and the Pueblo community all he had to offer and served as a selfless and dedicated public servant throughout his life. I stand with the residents of Pueblo County in giving thanks for his service to the community, and pay tribute to him for a life well lived.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Julie Geiser of Pueblo, Colorado. After 18 years of service as the Director of the Alamosa Public Health Department, Ms. Geiser is retiring to spend time with her family and friends.

Ms. Geiser has had an exemplary career, leading her department with vision and passion. Under her guidance, the Alamosa Public Health Department has doubled in size, while continuing to maintain a standard of excellence that meets the needs of her community. In 2008 Ms. Geiser provided crucial leadership during a salmonella outbreak, prioritizing public safety by ensuring that the public remained informed. During this tenuous time she worked with local officials to locate and terminate the source of the outbreak and limit its spread. Instances like this demonstrate the important role Ms. Geiser has had in ensuring the health and vitality of her community. Ms. Geiser was recognized by the Nightingale Luminaries in 2014 for demonstrating outstanding leadership, advocacy, and innovation in her community.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Geiser's hard work and dedication to serving her community are commendable. I stand with the residents of Alamosa County in thanking Ms. Geiser and congratulating her on a lifetime of service. Although she is retiring from her current post, I am confident she will remain a valuable part of her community, and I look forward to seeing all she will accomplish in the years to come.