Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the ability to provide oversight of the Federal Reserve's dealings is hindered by current law that prohibits the Government Accountability Office from auditing aspects of the Bank's activities including monetary policy matters and transactions with foreign entities. H.R. 459 would remove these and other restrictions on GAO audits of the Federal Reserve, increasing transparency.

It defies common sense that there is currently no full oversight over the Federal Reserve, which sets the monetary policy that impacts every American citizen and holds a balance sheet of $3 trillion. H.R. 459 will increase transparency of the Federal Reserve by allowing a full audit of all aspects of the bank's dealings including the decision- making behind its monetary policy. The ability to fully audit the Federal Reserve is long overdue, and this bill is a victory for all who strive for a more transparent government.

My pleasure, and I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, we have a great challenge in this Nation: to be able to get our people back to work.

Right now we are paying, as a country, $1.75 trillion per year in regulatory costs. As was noted earlier, small businesses are incurring better than $10,000 per employee. That is a burden that they cannot sustain, hoping to be able to create jobs and to be able to get this economy moving.

I'd like to be able to just give you a couple of real, personal examples of regulations that are impacting real lives.

A gentleman in Pueblo, Colorado--they just had their new unemployment figures come out: 11.1 percent, and those are just the official numbers. The real numbers are even much higher. Jim Bartness, much to his dismay, contributed to that, simply because he tried to play by the rules that the government had issued.

A small construction company, Mr. Bartness had had a few good years. In fact, under the President's proposals now, a couple of years ago he would be deemed as wealthy. What did he do with his wealth as a small business man, an LLC, a sole proprietorship? He reinvested those dollars right back into his business--to be able to create jobs, to be able to provide for his family. He paid down his line of credit to zero, kept a little bit of cushion to be able to get them through the tough times.

In construction, if you're familiar with that, you often bid jobs but you don't get them. So he needed to re-up that line of credit to be able to keep his business going, to keep his employees going. When he went down to the local community bank, he was told they wanted to re-up that line of credit, but regulatorily, they could not. He could not get that line of credit. The one option he had was to shut down his business, line up that equipment, and auction it off.

As I talked to Mr. Bartness, you could see tears welling in his eyes as he related that story of calling in those 23 employees to tell them it was going to be their last day. That was a regulatory killing-- literally--of a business.

I think we all do concur. We know there need to be some regulations. You know, at the beginning of the 1900s in this country, when we first started building cars, there were only two automobiles in New York City. They ran into each other. A stoplight isn't a bad idea. But we have seen such overreach out of government.

When we're talking about the agricultural community, as I traveled through the San Luis Valley, where I was this last weekend, held a town hall meeting and met with potato farmers, fully willing to take on the issues that we deal with often in Colorado, dealing with water, they didn't want to talk about water. They wanted to talk about the EPA. The overreach of government in the regulatory process is literally killing business.

We had a message that they wanted to be able to have delivered. They heard the President's comments that they didn't build that business; they owed it to government. They want the President to know that when they open up that business early in the morning and put in those 12-, 14-hour days, sometimes 7 days a week, and they are the ones that lock that door at night, it isn't Washington, D.C., but it is this President's policies which are inhibiting job growth in America.

We've got to be able to get America back to work, and the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act is something that will help achieve that, and I'm proud to be able to stand with you and speak to this this evening.

That's correct.

It is. And I think it's incredibly important to note, they're continuing to grow. The moving bar that our businesses face in terms of regulatory compliance is costing American jobs

I would like to be able to comment really in regards to Congresswoman Foxx, that this is an exciting piece of legislation.

The fact is that if you sit down and you talk to small businesses, they're excited about this legislation because they're the ones that are literally feeling this impact. We passed the REINS Act to be able to pull back those massive regulations which were impacting jobs in this country. We are standing up for the small businesses that create 7 out of 10 jobs in this country to be able to get our people back to work.

Just recently when we were talking about committee hearings, we just had a hearing in a Small Business Subcommittee that I chair over at Energy, Ag, and Trade, and we saw that the Department of Labor was going to start regulating children working on the family farm. You couldn't work on a haystack higher than 6 feet; you couldn't take your animal down to the county fair to be able to show. In farming and ranching, you learn by doing. They pulled that rule now for the balance of the year. What's frightening to the farm and ranch community is the words ``for the balance of the year.'' They will be back. The regulators will be back.

This is a commonsense piece of legislation that's speaking to the heart of the people that drive this country, the small businessmen and -women who are willing to wake up those mornings and put in that hard labor just for the hope of being able to live the American Dream. This is the right thing to do at the right time for American business, to be able to stimulate jobs and get this economy moving.

You know, in Colorado, we just call that common sense. And I bet we do in every other State in the Union as well.

Here is what is fundamentally the problem: We will recall that Minority Leader Pelosi, with the passage of the President's health care mandate, said that once it is passed, we'll find out what's in it. It is a little comical to be able to hear that. But the fact is, it was actually true because they continued to fill in the blanks with regulations. We continue to see that with Dodd-Frank. And the Congress is not having the opportunity to truly be able to be engaged.

I know in each of our committees, we have challenged bureaucracies, departments as they have come in to be able to bring those rules back to the authoritative committees, to be able to bring them back to Congress to actually be able to play a role because here is fundamentally the problem: Once they go final with a rule, it takes that proverbial act of Congress to be able to pull back that rule that a Member of Congress, a Member of the Senate never asked for.

We have got to be able to have these opportunities, to reengage the people who are actually elected to be able to represent the American people rather than having nameless, faceless bureaucrats writing regulations that are hurting American business, hurting our economic prospects, and preventing us from being able to get this economy moving.

I applaud that comment.

Let's make American jobs the key priority. Putting Americans back to work; that must be a priority. And we call on the President to join us in this action. We are putting forward the idea. But we need some partners that are willing to be able to work with us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Steve Ebner. Since 2006, Mr. Ebner has served as Fire Chief at the Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Department and on August 1, he will step down from this position.

Beginning his career as a volunteer in Maryland, Mr. Ebner worked for nearly 42 years in the fire service industry. His experience gained him teaching positions at both the University of Maryland and San Juan College Fire Science Programs. In 2006, after many distinguished years of service, the Fort Lewis Fire Department appointed Mr. Ebner to the fire chief position.

During his time at Fort Lewis Mesa, Mr. Ebner was essential to the development and expansion of the fire department. With improved training sessions and enhanced services, Mr. Ebner advanced the department's ability to perform. His leadership and commitment to the community were also recognized this past spring when eight department members shaved their heads in support of Mr. Ebner's battle with chemotherapy.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Chief Steve Ebner. I rise today to thank him for his work on behalf of the state of Colorado, and I wish him the best in his fight against cancer.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the common ground that we have is seeking affordability and accessibility. ObamaCare fails on both counts.

We've heard comments from our colleagues saying more is yet to come. That's exactly what the American people--workers, senior citizens, American families--are worried about: more to come.

We cannot find doctors. We're seeing our costs increase. We hear the comments that are coming. It is the Affordable Care Act. The problem is, there's nothing affordable about it. It is a $2 trillion tax increase on the backs of struggling Americans. If we're going to stand up for true health care, we need to make sure that we repeal this bill, repeal it now, and replace it with common sense.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

The ranking member just listed off many of the challenges the businesses face, and we agree. But let me add one more. A company in Pueblo, Colorado, PDI, employing better than 200 handicapped individuals, that company is threatening to be able to see their business shut down because of ObamaCare. They simply cannot afford it.

That is the challenge that small businesses across this Nation are truly facing, a $2 trillion tax, a $2 trillion tax when we need to be investing in things like competition. Let's create those opportunities, positive opportunities, through health care, allowing the marketplaces to work, ensuring that people have those opportunities to have preexisting conditions covered.

Let's let our children who are 26 years old stay on those policies, but let's bring competition to the market and have things like tort reform as well.

PDI and those handicapped individuals in Pueblo, Colorado, are counting on common sense, not politics as usual out of Washington, D.C., where one-size-fits-all, and Washington has all the answers. Let's not get between that patient/doctor relationship. The people are counting on positive action.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sgt. Warren Watts of Pueblo, Colorado. Sgt. Watts was a highly respected and distinguished 18-year veteran of the Pueblo County Sheriff's Department, who tragically passed away last Saturday at the age of 53, after falling ill during his routine morning jog.

One of Pueblo County's finest, Sgt. Watts spent much of his career in patrol and investigations. He was also the commander of the SWAT unit, and served for two years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Joint Terrorism Task Force. After years of outstanding service he was appointed to the position of Inspector of Internal Affairs.

Sgt. Watts was recognized for his professionalism and commitment to the people of Pueblo County when he received the Medal of Valor in 2004. Sgt. Warren Watt's was a devoted husband to his wife of 32 years, Lori,

and father to his daughters, Nicole and Brittany.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Sgt. Warren Watts for his great service to the people of Pueblo County. His loss is mourned by many and he will be sadly missed.

Thank you, Chairman Hastings, for yielding me time.

America has always had a competitive advantage as a Nation. It's been the entrepreneurship, the hard work, the innovation of the American people. But we've also always had a different advantage as well-- affordable energy in this country. We see that now imperiled.

In 1979, Jimmy Carter challenged this Nation to move to energy self- sufficiency. Decade after decade it has not been addressed. This piece of legislation is to move America fully into the 21st century, to be able to secure for us and for our children this land of liberty, opportunity, and growth. It comes with American energy.

The ranking member from Massachusetts, I have good news for you. When you read the actual legislation that is put forward, it states in my portion of the bill, the Planning for American Energy Act of 2012, page 16, line 16, calling on the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan for American energy.

What does it say?

Creating the best estimate, based upon commercial and

scientific data of the expected increase in megawatts for

electricity production from each of the following sources:

wind, solar, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal energy

produced on Federal lands.

The very thing you asked for is in the bill. We have an opportunity to be able to create an American energy future in this Nation, to be able to secure for our children that birthright that many of us grew up believing was an American birthright--the right to be able to live that American Dream--to be able to put Americans back to work.

The Planning for American Energy Act of 2012, my portion of this bill, speaks to that commonsense, all-of-the-above proposal that we all seek: wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, using the minerals, the resources, the natural gas, the oil that we find on American soil.

When we see what is happening right now in the Middle East, when we see at the gas pump our prices doubled from just 3 short years ago, when we talk to senior citizens on fixed incomes who are finding out when they turn on that light switch that their bill has increased, is it time, is it appropriate for us to seek an American energy solution? The time has come. The day has arrived.

Rather than encouraging energy development off of our shores, as the President has done with his $2 billion loan guarantee to Brazil to develop their energy sources, if we're going to make those kind of investments, if we're going to look to that type of future, would it not be better for us to develop American energy on American soil to put Americans back to work and create American energy certainty? That day has come. The time is now.

This is a good piece of legislation for American security and American jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Salvatore Ingraldi of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mr. Ingraldi is a proud

American, who served in the Air Force for 24\1/2\ years. He joined the Air Force as a Security Policeman, and after a distinguished career retired as a Chief Master Sergeant.

Following his retirement, Mr. Ingraldi's enthusiasm and belief that it is our duty to honor WWII Veterans inspired him to found an Honor Flight Hub, in Southern Colorado, and he was subsequently voted President of the organization. It is through Mr. Ingraldi's passion and leadership that the Honor Flight Hub will be sponsoring its first trip to Washington, DC.

Because of Mr. Ingraldi's efforts, four WWII Veterans who without the help of the Honor Flight Hub would not have been able to come to our nations capital, will now be able to pay respects to their fallen comrades at the national WWII Memorial.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Mr. Ingraldi for his great service to our country and its veterans. Through Mr. Ingraldi's hard work the Honor Flight Hub, in Southern Colorado, will continue to give WWII Veterans the opportunity to visit and reflect at their memorial.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment aimed at ending an egregious practice of wasting taxpayer dollars in this time of mounting Federal debt. This amendment specifically aims to eliminate the Federal Government's recent practice of sending out cash to encourage survey responses favorable to agency goals. I wholeheartedly agree with the general need for public input in our government, but the practice of sending out American taxpayer dollars to encourage public participation, or worse, to buy public support where it might otherwise be lacking, is a symbol of the lack of accountability and how out of touch our Federal Government has become.

For generations, the Bureau of Reclamation has served the Western United States well. Its dams, reservoirs, canals, and hydro-powered turbines have formed the backbone of our communities and provided abundant water and emission-free energy. This was all based on ratepayers paying for almost every cent of these projects at no expense to the taxpayers. Yet that mission is changing, and this couldn't be a better example of just how out of touch the agency has become under this administration.

At issue here is the so-called survey aimed at soliciting local, regional, and national input on the societal need to remove four privately owned dams on the Klamath River. The survey was mailed to 1,000 households in California, Oregon, and selected households in the rest of the Nation. Each of these households received a postcard telling them that the survey was coming. Then a large packet with the survey arrived. In each packet a cover letter, a postage paid return envelope, a survey, and a $2 bill was included to entice the people to respond. That's $22,000 of American taxpayers' money being spent.

To those who did not respond but kept the $2 bill anyway, a Federal Express or priority mail package was sent out. This was sent to 1,245 people, out of which 286 responded.

Each of these 286 respondents was then given $20, which means that $5,720 of additional taxpayer dollars was spent, not including the cost of the FedEx or Priority Mail. Only the Federal Government would further reward people for not responding the first time.

Let's take a look at some of the responses that the Bureau of Reclamation published in a report earlier this year:

``Another waste of taxpayer money,'' one said.

``No wonder the U.S. is having money problems if the government has extra $2 bills to mail out randomly,'' said another.

``Wow, what a waste of time. I have neither the time or interest in something I have not a clue about happening clear across the country. Sorry. P.S. Thanks for the 2 bucks,'' yet another wrote.

In all fairness, there were some positive responses. But, I think this comment says it best:

``Send me no more. Thank you.''

And that's what this amendment does, Mr. Chairman. It simply prohibits the Bureau of Reclamation and other agencies covered under the legislation from funding a survey in which money is included or provided for the benefit of the responder. It doesn't say that the Federal Government can't have public input or send out surveys, which is necessary to the process. It simply says no more giving away taxpayer dollars.

The above amounts may not seem a lot in this day of trillion-dollar budgets, but it is symbolic of the waste and abuse going on here.

To make matters worse, the Bureau of Reclamation has yet to fully answer

and comply with a request made months ago by Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings and the Water and Power Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock that is aimed at answering the rationale about the survey, the overall cost of this survey, and why taxpayer dollars were included. The American people deserve answers. They deserve transparency that apparently this administration will not give. In the interim, however, they deserve to know that their government will not be sending out their hard-earned tax dollars on a dam removal survey by an organization that was once dedicated to building dams.

I urge my colleagues to end this blatant waste of taxpayer fraud and abuse by supporting this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Mr. Tipton

Amendment No. 12: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I had the opportunity to be in a truly remarkable part of the United States in southwestern Colorado, an area called Chimney Rock, which is an area renowned for its cultural heritage and its important archeological traits.

Chimney Rock is considered by the historic preservation community and the archeological community to be one of the most significant archeological sites in the western United States. Centuries ago, hundreds of early Native Americans called the area home. Archeologists have uncovered ancient farming areas, homes, and other structures, indicating that this was a major cultural center for these early Americans. The ancestors of modern Pueblo

Indians made a journey to this northernmost outpost of the Chacoan civilization to witness a rare lunar occurrence that they held to be sacred. Chimney Rock is only one of three sites like this in the entire world.

Despite the scarcity of this gem, the Chimney Rock site of the San Juan National Forest has yet to receive a designation worthy of its historical and cultural significance. The area is currently under the management of the U.S. Forest Service and is covered under the USFS Organic Act, which has no provision to be able to address preservation and the management of such a historic and culturally significant area as Chimney Rock.

H.R. 2621, the Chimney Rock National Monument Establishment Act, requires no additional Federal funds, and therefore no increase in spending. It ensures continued access to the area so that local ranchers will be able to utilize the lands that they depend on for grazing, for outdoorsmen to be able to continue to take advantage of the game opportunities in the area, and for members of the Indian tribes to be able to continue the use of Chimney Rock for traditional ceremonies. The bill also allows for continued archeological research and exploration in the area.

In addition to preserving and protecting the site's historical and cultural treasures, the national monument designation will give Chimney Rock the prestige and protection it deserves and elevate it to a status that will increase its exposure to the region and enable it to generate tourism, creating a potential economic boost for the surrounding communities and generating jobs. Without any new spending, making Chimney Rock a national monument will create a win-win situation for this remarkable place, for the local communities, the State of Colorado, Native Indian tribes, and future generations of American.

Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to able to sponsor H.R. 2621.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of John Cassidy of Montrose, Colorado, who is celebrating his 30th anniversary as a volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol.

A man of wide-ranging experience and talents, John Cassidy served in the U.S. Navy before obtaining his bachelor's and master's degrees, and becoming a highly respected Montrose High School teacher. John was active in Habitat for Humanity where he helped with numerous projects, including his students in many home renovations.

As an aircraft owner, John looked for an additional way to serve the community, finding it when he joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). He is a superb mountain search and rescue pilot, flying countless missions searching for lost hikers, hunters, snowmobilers, and crashed aircraft.

During the course of his 30 years with the Civil Air Patrol, John has held every leadership position in the Montrose squadron, and is a role model for the hundreds of cadets who have known him. Many of those cadets have gone on to successful careers in law enforcement, the military (including USAFA, USMA and USNA), teaching, engineering, technical and medical fields.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize not just John's 30 years as a volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol, but all of the ways that John Cassidy has added to the quality of life for those who live and work in Montrose County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Larry Decker of Pueblo, Colorado.

After earning his education and serving in the U.S. Navy Mr. Decker moved to Pueblo. Always a strong leader in the community, Mr. Decker was frequently involved in Veterans activities and organizations. He was a proud member of American Legion Post 207 and served a leadership role among his peers. As the senior vice commander of Post 207, Mr. Decker was highly respected not only in the American Legion but also in the Pueblo community.

As enthusiastic as he was with helping others in the community, his real passion was his family. He leaves behind his wife Joan who has been by his side since 1964. Together they raised a loving family that includes two daughters and three grandchildren. On April 5th, the city of Pueblo and the State of Colorado lost a great man.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Larry Decker. I rise today to thank him for his work on behalf of the citizens of Pueblo, and for his service to our nation. May he rest in peace.

As a sponsor of this bipartisan legislation, I support the rule on H.R. 2842, and I encourage an open debate because I believe the merits of this bill will speak for themselves. H.R. 2842 is a bipartisan plan to authorize new hydropower production and streamline the regulatory process in order to create new American jobs.

Many rural water and irrigation districts and electric utilities in western States seek to develop hydropower on Bureau of Reclamation water canals and pipelines, but overburdensome and unnecessary regulations stand in the way and discourage investment in these projects. Most of these small projects are not currently authorized at Bureau of Reclamation canals and, as a result, they never get off the ground. Those that are currently authorized are subject to an additional review process under the National Environmental Policy Act even though the canals on which they are built have already gone through a full environmental review when they were constructed or rehabilitated.

H.R. 2842 authorizes the production of hydropower at all Bureau of Reclamation conduits; and by doing so, it allows placement of small hydropower generators on existing man-made canals and pipes that have already gone through the NEPA process. This authorization does not currently exist, and therefore hydropower development under current reclamation law will not happen unless Congress acts. This bill also eliminates duplicative red tape by exempting small hydropower projects on previously disturbed ground from going through an additional NEPA review. This bill does not apply to rivers, large dams, or natural- flowing waters in any way, and it will not impact endangered fish or wildlife.

In many cases, having to go through an additional unnecessary review process determines whether or not a hydropower project is economically feasible and, as a result, determines whether or not this country moves forward with the development of green energy.

Chris Treese of the Colorado Water District in the Natural Resources Committee testified on this bill and he stated:

Environmental reviews under NEPA are universally time

consuming and expensive. The River District's current

experience with an environmental assessment on a

nonconstruction action has taken over a year and nearly $1

million in outside expenses.

By eliminating this duplicative requirement, we can add power to the grid, provide an environment for job growth in rural America and return revenues to the Treasury. This commonsense piece of legislation has bipartisan cosponsorship and passed out

of the committee with bipartisan support. It's also been endorsed by the rural irrigators and electric utilities that operate the Bureau of Reclamation canals and know the issue best. These organizations include: the Family Farm Alliance, the National Water Resources Association, the American Public Power Association, and the Association of California Water Agencies.

I'm proud to offer this contribution to the House Republicans of the all-of-the-above energy strategy for America, and I look forward to a spirited discussion on how we can produce more renewable energy and put our people in this country back to work.

I thank the gentleman from Washington for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, Members of the House on both sides of the aisle talk of the need for an all-of-the-above energy solution for this country, a solution that gives serious consideration to all resources, including renewable and alternative energy.

It's easy to talk about this need, but today I offer a bill that turns that talk into action. My bill, the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2012, is a key piece of the all-of-the-above strategy energy that our country needs in order to strengthen reliable, domestic energy production; expand development of responsible, renewable energy; generate economic growth; and get Americans working once more.

Hydropower is the cheapest and cleanest source of electricity. This is created through modern technology. It's the highest source of non- carbon emitting energy in the world, accounting for approximately 69.9 percent of the United States' total renewable electricity generation, making it the lead renewable energy resource power, according to the Hydropower Association.

In Colorado, nearly 30.7 percent of our renewable energy is hydropower, but only 3.1 percent of all Colorado is hydropower. We have a significant opportunity in Colorado to expand on this clean, renewable source of power while creating badly needed jobs for the Third District of Colorado in the process. In Colorado alone, there's enough existing capacity to generate as much power as the Glen Canyon Dam. However, as it stands, no major hydroelectric facilities have been built in many years. Existing facilities are being drained by endless litigation and regulatory obstacles that stifle production and lead to an increase in electricity prices and shortages in many regions of the country.

By streamlining the regulatory process and reducing administrative costs for small hydropower development at Reclamation's facilities, this commonsense legislation will encourage the production of clean, renewable hydropower and provide much needed opportunities for the creation of new jobs in Colorado for some of our Nation's hardest hit rural areas.

This commonsense bill garnered bipartisan support in the House Natural Resources Committee and has been endorsed by the Family Farm Alliance, the National Water Resources Association, the Association of California Water Agencies, and the American Public Power Association.

Chris Treese of the Family Farm Alliance and a constituent of mine in the Third Congressional District put it best when talking about the need for the bill:

The margins on small hydro are very small. Districts need

to be able to make timely investment decisions without the

prospect of environmental reviews of undetermined length and

expense. Additionally, Western water districts share the

Nation's desire to make investments that can put people to

work immediately. Environmental reviews of small hydro on

existing conduits represent an unnecessary and often chilling

uncertainty for an economically marginal investment.

This legislation, which applies to all projects on Reclamation conduits without exception, seeks to address this concern and fix an unwieldy environmental review process that requires small developers to jump through unnecessary and duplicative bureaucratic hoops in order to complete a project on existing conduits that has already undergone the proper environmental reviews. By doing this, the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2012 will jump-start small hydropower development through which power generated will be sent directly to the grid and also create revenues that will help pay for aging infrastructure in our communities.

From the beginning, this Congress has made responsible energy development a legislative priority with the goal of putting forward a comprehensive solution that expands the development of alternative and renewable energy technologies while continuing the development of traditional energy resources.

We have an opportunity to join together in this body and pass a commonsense solution to advance the common goal of developing clean and renewable alternative energy and to put into place a key component of an all-of-the-above energy plan.

I ask my colleagues to take this into consideration and to remember the words that are inscribed in this very Chamber from Daniel Webster, saying:

Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its

powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great

interests, and see whether we also in our day and generation

may not perform something worthy to be remembered.

Hydropower development follows in the legacy of the responsible development of our precious natural resources with the steadfast protection of our environment. So I ask my colleagues for their support of the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2011.

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

Mr. Chairman, this is a technical amendment that changes the year of the bill from 2011 to 2012, and I ask my colleagues to support this noncontroversial amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I think our opponents on this piece of legislation are confused as to actually what the debate is truly about. If it is about jobs, if it is about the American people, if it is about providing energy certainty, and if it is about reducing the carbon footprint in this country, then 2842 is a good piece of legislation.

They say conceptually they embrace it, but they want to put on the backs of hardworking Americans more cost and more uncertainty at a time when we need to create certainty and when we

need to be able to have that opportunity to be able to reduce costs.

Our opponent commented that we see no evidence that projects are being delayed. Well, the fact of the matter is, when we had testimony, Chris Trees of the Colorado Water District noted that it took well over a year for a project to be approved. Many projects were not being considered simply because of the regulatory costs.

When we look at this chart on a projected cost to build a small hydropower installation, the actual cost to build the unit is $20,000. By the time that we concur with our Democrat colleagues' insistence that we expand bureaucracy and have more government, we are going to add an additional $50,000 in cost.

What's the challenge for rural America? It is dollars. We have struggling communities of people that need jobs. People need to be able to be put back to work. It may, in big cities, not be big money when you start to talk about $50,000, but for our small water districts, it truly is.

This is a chance to stand up for the American people. This is a chance to be able to create clean energy for this Nation.

When we looked at examples in terms of what does overregulation by the government do, when we went through the NEPA process, no one argued as we had photos that my colleague, Mr. Gosar, had shown of constructed ditches made by men, were put into place to have the NEPA process, but then to duplicate that process, we could look at Bureau of Reclamation's process in which it took 5 years for it to find out that it even had jurisdiction over the Klamath project C-Drop Canal in order to pave the way for conduit hydropower--5 years.

Join with us in caring about the environment, to make sure that we're going to be delivering clean hydropower--not delaying it for 5 years, not delaying it for a year, not putting more costs on the backs of the American people when they simply can't afford it--and putting people back to work. That's the choice we have on this legislation.

As Chairman Hastings has noted, it's a commonsense piece of legislation. It makes sense, and it makes good common sense to vote for it.

I'll certainly yield to my colleague.

That is correct.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, it's interesting, our colleagues do talk about jobs. We want to be able to create jobs, to be able to facilitate that opportunity for Americans to be able to go back to work, to be able to create clean energy right here in the United States. As my colleague was pointing out, a commonsense piece of legislation.

We're going through existing conduits, what we call in our part of the world ditches, to be able to capture that energy, to be able to deliver it to allow local decisions to be able to be made.

But our colleagues seem to want to make sure that we're standing up, or they are standing up, for the status quo, and that just means say no--say no to clean energy. No, join with us and support clean energy and hydroelectric power.

You're saying no to jobs. Join with us to be able to create jobs right here in this country and be able to put our people back to work.

We have enough red tape. This amendment will simply grow more government. And as we saw from testimony in our committee and charts that have been shown during this debate, there's no need to put more expense on the backs of the American people, who simply cannot afford your stand to build more government.

This is an amendment that deserves to be rejected. I ask for that, and ask for a favorable vote on H.R. 2842.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Tipton

Amendment No. 2: In section 1, strike ``2011'' and insert

``2012''.