Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, now is the time to create an energy plan to wean this country from its reliance on foreign oil and to harness renewable energy sources. It is not the time to line the pockets of the special interests. This Congress should be developing a long-term energy policy that will make this Nation energy independent by utilizing 21st-century technology, not propping up obsolete energy sources guaranteed to continue this Nation's reliance on the oil, gas, and nuclear industries.

We should be putting our resources into the research and development of renewable energy, harness the sun, wind, geothermal. At a time when oil companies are reaping record profits, the Republican energy bill will give 93 percent of the subsidies in this bill to the oil, gas, and nuclear industries and chump change for research and development of renewable energy. It boggles my mind that at a time of record prices for gasoline, we are doing absolutely nothing in this bill to reduce gas prices. This debacle of a Republican bill will actually increase gas prices by 3 cents on the gallon.

I am appalled that we would spend one cent more on nuclear energy when we have no solution to the nuclear waste problem. We continue to lavish billions of dollars on the nuclear industry when we have no safe way to store the waste. I hope that we defeat this ridiculous piece of legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) for yielding his time.

I rise in support of this amendment which would strike the provision in the bill to expand the number of Assistant Secretaries at the Department of Energy, one of which being an Assistant Secretary for improved management of nuclear energy issues.

Why are we creating a new position for nuclear power? There is no Assistant Secretary for gas or oil or coal. Nuclear energy should not be elevated above all the others.

This administration continues to push for expanded nuclear power, despite having no solution for the issue of radioactive nuclear waste disposal.

Recently, the Department of Energy revealed that Federal employees working on the Yucca Mountain project deliberately falsified scientific documentation regarding water infiltration and climate studies.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the second highest court in the land, struck down the EPA's radiation standards, which they said were inadequate for a mere 290,000 years. Yet the DOE continues to move forward with its license application for a dump that will never be built and continues to spend billions of dollars of taxpayers' money while they are doing it.

Before creating an Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Issues and increasing our reliance on nuclear power, we must find a safe and scientifically sound solution to the problem of disposing of tens of thousands of tons of radioactive, toxic nuclear waste.

Mr. Chairman, Yucca Mountain is not a solution to our current problem, nor will it address the issue of storing newly created nuclear waste. Creating yet another layer of bureaucracy is not the answer to this Nation's energy problem, and certainly the Department of Energy has done nothing, nothing in its history to warrant additional funding and additional support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and the underlying bill because, despite Republican claims, this energy bill really does not help American families with the cost of power or the skyrocketing gas prices. This bill does, however, help the administration's special interest friends. It is riddled with billions of dollars of taxpayer giveaways to the nuclear, oil and gas industries.

I am appalled that we are doing nothing to reduce gas prices at a time when oil companies are reaping obscene profits. Current prices of oil are lingering at $50 a barrel and are expected to continue to skyrocket.

We should be focusing on reducing our dependence on foreign oil by diversifying our energy sources, not by encouraging more oil and gas production.

This bill does little to promote renewable energy, the energy of our future. Given the latest revelations about the wanton falsification of scientific studies of the proposed Yucca Mountain Repository, Congress should not funnel one more penny of taxpayer dollars into the Yucca Mountain Project.

Additional problems continued to plague the site. The courts have ruled that the EPA radiation standards will not protect the health and safety of the American people. Instead of making the United States safer, the proposed Yucca Mountain Project provides a terrorist target that could cause massive economic and civilian casualties.

In the Committee on Rules, my colleague, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) and I offered a simple amendment that would have included Yucca Mountain in the Nuclear Site Threat Assessment Study, already a part of the energy bill. Despite the findings of the GAO and the National Academy of Sciences that there are security vulnerabilities present at reactor sites during high-level radioactive waste, there has been no threat assessment conducted at the mother of all radioactive waste sites, Yucca Mountain.

Regardless of how any of us feels about Yucca Mountain, the Federal Government has a duty to assess the risks, not just to protect Nevada and our neighbors in the West, but for the well-being of our Nation. Unfortunately, the Committee on Rules did not put that amendment in order.

Now is the time to create an energy plan that will wean our country off of foreign oil. It is not the time to line the pockets of the special interests.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this very backward, very foolish, very good piece of legislation if you are in the energy business.

Mr. Speaker, on March 28, 2005, my community of southern Nevada lost one of its most outstanding citizens. Polly Ann Gonzalez was taken from us in a highway accident, a tragic event that shocked the community. Southern Nevadans by the thousands have expressed their sense of loss and their loving memories of Polly through their e-mails of condolence, their attendance at memorial services, and their contributions in support of Polly's daughters, Sabrina and Gabriella.

The passing of Polly Gonzalez is a heart-rending instance of the good dying young, far too young. In her mere 43 years, Polly attained the highest levels of accomplishment, both as a newswoman and as an advocate for people in need.

Polly first earned the reputation as a top-notch television investigative reporter in northern California, exposing the social and economic injustices faced by agricultural workers and by revealing the growing threat of gang violence, among other important stories she brought to light. Honored with an Emmy Award, Polly moved on to Las Vegas, where she quickly established herself as one of the area's most popular, admired, and energetic television news anchors.

Polly's passion for bringing truth to the public through her reporting was matched by her commitment to public service. She established herself as a most effective advocate for the advancement of the Latino community and for the less advantaged. She went beyond the call of duty to be involved in community organizations and events, accepting myriad requests for her time, her talent, and her energy to support the people of the Las Vegas area.

As was stated on KLAS-TV8, where Polly worked for 10 years, she ``always was . . . standing up for people whose voices might not have carried as much weight as hers.'' She was a preeminent role model for young women, whom she showed, ``if they put their mind to it they could accomplish anything.''

Polly's passing has brought an overwhelming and nearly unprecedented outpouring of emotion from those who knew her personally or knew her only through her newscasts. I join all southern Nevadans in mourning the loss of a great friend, a great newswoman, and a great contributor to the building of a community with opportunity for all. I miss you, Polly, and I thank you, my

friend, for the treasured moments I shared with you, for your soaring spirit, and for the marvelous work you accomplished.

Mr. Speaker, for the last 20 years the Nevada delegation, Republican and Democrat, have fought to keep the Yucca Mountain Project from becoming a reality.

What is the Yucca Mountain Project? 77,000 tons of toxic nuclear waste being transported across 43 States to be buried in a hole in the Nevada desert where we have groundwater issues, seismic activity, and volcanic activity.

The President when he approved this said that his decision was based on sound science. Sound science? There were 294 unresolved scientific and technical issues.

There is no canister that can safely store this radioactive waste, and we have a court decision that says that rather than a 10,000-year standard for radiation there should be a 300,000-year standard for radiation.

Now, as of yesterday, the new Secretary of Energy has come forward and disclosed that the scientific documentation for Yucca Mountain has been falsified. It is about time that the rest of the country knew what the Nevada delegation knows and has been saying for 20 years. This is not based on sound science. It is based on sound politics.

I have urged the Secretary of Energy to appoint an independent body to investigate the science. We know now it has been falsified. It is wrong. This is a bad project and I urge the President to rescind his order to Yucca Mountain and stop this project now.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by my colleague from New York. It boggles my mind that the United States provides any funding to the Saudi kingdom. With all of its oil and all of its wealth, it is nothing short of insanity.

It is no secret, in spite of what the last speaker said, that the Saudi regime is a leading exporter of terrorism worldwide; it is a leading financier of terrorism worldwide. The thought that one cent of American money is being spent in Saudi Arabia is an insult to every American taxpayer. The Saudis continue to declare to the world that they are a progressive-thinking nation and they are our partners in the global war on terrorism. That is what their PR firm says, anyway. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This is our partner in peace? Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. That did not happen by accident. This is the same Saudi Arabia that has the worst record for religious tolerance on the planet, the same Saudi Arabia that exudes racism and anti-Semitic hatred.

Our partners in peace? How shameful for the United States. The Saudis claim that they are prosecuting terrorists. Who are they kidding? Saudi efforts to prosecute terrorists are inept at best and more accurately nonexistent. If they are doing anything in Lebanon, it is for themselves, not for the people of the United States of America.

I ask everyone to support the Weiner amendment.

Mr. Speaker, this Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic train bombing in Madrid, Spain.

The resolution I have introduced with Mr. McCotter expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives to the families of individuals killed in the bombing. It also expresses solidarity with Spain and all other countries that have been attacked during the Global War on Terrorism.

These bombings were the worst acts of terrorism ever experienced in Spanish history--killing 191 individuals and injuring almost 2,000. They also marked the deadliest terrorist attacks in Europe since the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

Much like our own September 11th, the March 11 attacks were senseless acts of violence perpetrated by terrorists against innocent civilians. This was nothing more than an attack against freedom and democracy-- perpetrated by cowards bent on turmoil and destruction.

While we have had our differences with the government of Spain over the last year--it is important that Congress reiterate its support with the people of Spain. The war on terrorism is a global conflict that knows no boundaries and does not distinguish between civilian and soldier. We have experienced its destruction first-hand, and we must stand in unity with others who have also felt this tragedy.

The relationship between the United States and Spain remains strong, and Spain remains an important ally in the war on terrorism. The Madrid bombings were a direct attack on this peace-loving government and its democratic principles.

I am deeply saddened by this senseless loss of life, and join my colleagues in expressing our most sincere condolences to the victims, their families and the people and government of the Kingdom of Spain.

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

Mr. Speaker, as the Congresswoman from Nevada, I am pleased to support H. Con. Res. 5, which provides for the acceptance of the statue of Sarah Winnemucca, presented by the State of Nevada, for placement in the National Statuary Hall Collection. It also allows for the use of the rotunda of the Capitol on March 9 for a presentation ceremony for the statue.

The Nevada legislature designated Sarah Winnemucca as Nevada's second statue in 2001. The Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs and Nevada's Women's History Project raised the funds necessary to make this statue a reality.

The statue of Sarah Winnemucca will join Nevada's other statue and will be the 99th statue in the overall collection, the eighth statue of a woman, and the fourth statue of a significant American Indian.

Benjamin Victor sculpted the bronze statue of Sarah Winnemucca, which depicts Sarah as a young woman with her hair falling to her waist; a shell flower, for which she was named, in her outstretched right hand; a book under her left arm; and wind fluttering through her dress. The statue encompasses a sense of movement in order to signify the energy that Sarah Winnemucca had throughout her life.

Sarah was born in Nevada in the Northern Paiute Tribe in 1844. She was the daughter of Chief Winnemucca and the granddaughter of Chief Truckee. Sarah's Paiute name meant ``shell flower,'' and according to Nevada folklore, one of Sarah's happiest memories was celebrating the Festival of Flowers every spring when she and all the girls named with flower names would go to see if their flowers that they had been named for were in bloom yet.

By the time Sarah was 14, she had learned five languages, three Indian dialects, English, and Spanish. When she was older, she used these talents as an interpreter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Army.

Sarah spent her life as a champion of the Paiutes in Nevada and across the country. In 1879 she went on a nationwide speaking tour to teach people about the Indian culture and the difficult life on the Indian reservations. Trying to bridge two seemingly incompatible cultures, Sarah gave more than 400 speeches to publicize the injustices suffered by the Paiutes and met with high officials in the American Government, including President Rutherford B. Hayes, to improve the horrendous conditions of Indians living on the reservations.

Eventually, Sarah received many promises from our government to make improvements for her people. Unfortunately, our government broke those promises, causing many of her own people to lose confidence in her.

On Sarah's East Coast speaking tour, she secured thousands of signatures on a petition calling for the promised allotment of reservation land to individual Paiutes. Congress passed a bill to that end in 1884, but once again our government did not live up to its commitments.

Sarah, however, never gave up. In 1883, this extraordinary woman wrote a book, ``Life Among the Paiutes,'' which was the first book ever published that was written by a Native American woman. Do keep in mind that while she was publishing this book, women were not even allowed to vote in this country. ``In Life Among the Paiutes,'' Sarah wrote about western history from the perspective of the American Indian.

Sarah was also a dedicated teacher to the Paiute children and established Nevada's first school for Indian children called Peabody's Institute near Lovelock, Nevada. Unfortunately, the school closed within 2 years when Federal funding failed to come through.

On October 17, 1891, Sarah died of tuberculosis at the age of 47. Sarah is remembered in Nevada for her dedication

and her strength. She was an author, a teacher, a translator, a negotiator and a spokeswoman for her people. I am proud that Nevada is sharing her legacy with all Americans and international visitors to our Capitol. It is with great pride that I helped sponsor this resolution. The people of the State of Nevada are very proud and very excited about this and are looking forward to the dedication.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this concurrent resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today proudly in support of House Concurrent Resolution 63, authorizing use of the Capitol Rotunda on May 5 of this year for a ceremony sponsored by its United States Holocaust Memorial Council to observe the Days of Remembrance for victims of the Holocaust.

I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for introducing this, as well as the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender- McDonald), the original cosponsor of the bill. Unfortunately, she could not be here because of a prior commitment in her congressional district.

The Days of Remembrance ceremony honors those men, women and children who suffered through one of the darkest periods of our history. Every year, the Days of Remembrance recalls different historical events of the Holocaust. This year's theme, ``From Liberation to Pursuit of Justice,'' commemorates the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps and the persecution of war criminals at Nuremberg, Germany.

For over 20 years, Congress has approved the use of the Rotunda for this ceremony each spring and every year that I attend I am struck by the two competing feelings that I have: One, the shocking realization that man's inhumanity to man sometimes seems to know no bounds; that a mere 60 years ago, 6 million Jews were exterminated throughout the world, their only transgression being the fact that they were Jewish.

But I am also struck by the incredible realization that 60 years after the most heinous episode in our civilized world's history here we still are. We are not only survivors, but we have managed to thrive. Every year those who have survived and thrived, their children and grandchildren and now their great grandchildren, gather under the dome of the United States Capitol, the very seat of power of the most important and strongest nation in the world.

I am second-generation American. My grandparents literally walked across Europe to come to this country. My mother's side comes from Salonika, Greece. Prior to World War II, prior to the Nazis, there were approximately 80,000 Jews in Salonika. When the Nazis finished with those Jews, there were only 1,000 left. And I am not presumptuous enough to presume to think that my family would have been among those that were chosen to live.

My father's side from the Russia-Poland border after hundreds and hundreds of years of a thriving culture and civilization were obliterated, exterminated in this Holocaust. Nobody remained. Not the towns. Not the people. Not the culture. But here we are 60 years after the Holocaust. Here I am, a Jewish American, elected to serve her community and her country in the United States Congress, standing on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, alive and free, supporting the resolution honoring those that were lost.

This past January I had the privilege of attending the ceremony commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz. I attended it as part of a congressional delegation. As I walked in the freezing cold and the snow the mile from Auschwitz to Birkenau where the ceremony was taking place, we were surrounded by survivors that were in Auschwitz as children. Now in their late 70s and 80s, each one of them was anxious to talk and tell us when they had been there, what it was like, who they had lost, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, entire families obliterated. But there we were. And as we sat there for the few hours for that extraordinary ceremony commemorating that liberation of Auschwitz and the concentration camps, I was struck by the fact that it was truly a miracle that anybody had survived, because there I was sitting with four pairs of socks, boots, a hat, two pairs of gloves, four sweaters, a warm jacket and sitting under a blanket and freezing wondering how these people, how these extraordinary people managed to survive one day. Forget the gas chambers, forget the gruesome medical experiments, forget the random acts of man's inhumanity to man, the incredibility cruelty. Surviving day to day with no clothes, with no blankets, with no food is truly a testament to those people who managed to survive.

The ceremony we are authorizing today honors Holocaust survivors and those lost loved ones. It will also serve as a reminder that we must continue as a civilized people to battle hate and prejudice and violence and demand justice and humanity to all. It does not matter culture, ethnicity, religion, color of our skin. We all deserve to be treated as human beings with dignity. We must not allow this tragedy to ever be repeated again.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of this concurrent resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, while I do not intend to object, I would like to give the chairman the opportunity to explain the resolution, and I would also like to acknowledge the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) for having introduced this resolution.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind words and urge passage of this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nevada Federal Credit Union (FCU), located in my district of Las Vegas, for its efforts to support our troops abroad by providing them outstanding financial services.

Patriotism can be demonstrated by soldiers and civilians alike. As a show of support for our troops, Nevada FCU is refunding all savings and checking related fees for new and existing members who are actively serving in a designated war zone. This benefit represents an excellent example of what we at home can do for those who put their lives on the line, and I hope that other financial institutions will follow suit.

Nevada FCU, with over 82,000 members, has a commitment to providing the best service, rates and products to its membership. From its modest beginnings in the 1950s, Nevada FCU has flourished into the largest credit union in my State with the understanding that community involvement begins at home.

I applaud Nevada FCU and its President and CEO, Brad Beal, for their ongoing commitment to their customers, this country and to those who bravely serve it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the

$651 million included in the President's budget for the Yucca Mountain project. An increase in funds for the Yucca project that is consistently riddled with problems is ridiculous.

Last year the Department of Energy faced insurmountable hurdles it was unable to overcome, resulting in its failure to submit its license application on time. The second highest court in the United States ruled that the Yucca Mountain radiation standards were inadequate to protect the health and safety of the American people and that the EPA knowingly ignored the scientists' recommendations. We are talking about the harmful effects of radiation being underestimated by a mere 290,000 years.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to its credit, refused to rubber- stamp an electronic database required for licensing the Yucca repository, and expressed serious concerns about the lack of information supplied in the license application.

Instead of dumping even more money into a $9 billion hole in the Nevada desert, we should be investing in clean, renewable energy sources and moving toward energy independence. Instead, the President is slashing critical funding for renewable energy while adding $651 million to the Yucca Mountain debacle.

Fraud, waste and abuse in government, look at the Yucca Mountain project. It is the poster child.

Mr. Speaker, I was not able to participate in floor proceedings on January 25-26, 2005 as I was in Poland as part of a Congressional Delegation to the ceremonies honoring the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. As a result I missed rollcall votes 8-13. On rollcall No. 8, passage of H. Con. Res 16, congratulating the people of Ukraine for conducting a democratic, transparent, and fair runoff Presidential election on December 26, 2004, and congratulating Viktor Yushchenko on his election as President of Ukraine and his commitment to democracy and reform, I would have voted ``Yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 9; regarding commending countries and organizations for marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and urging a strengthening of the fight against racism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, discrimination, and anti-Semitism, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 10, Crowley of New York Amendment No. 2 to H.R.. 54, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 11, Crowley of New York Amendment No. 3 to H.R. 54, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 12, a motion to recommit H.R. 54, to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide reasonable standards for congressional gold medals, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present. On rollcall No. 13, H.R. 54, to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide reasonable standards for congressional gold medals, I would have voted ``yes'' had I been present.

Mr. Speaker, today I join millions of NASCAR fans in honoring the extraordinary achievement of an outstanding son of Nevada, Kurt Busch--the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion.

Born in Las Vegas, and a graduate of Durango High School, Kurt developed his racing skills at age 14, driving Dwarf Cars to victory at a speedway in nearby Pahrump, Nevada, earning the title of Rookie of the Year in the State Championships. Still a teenager, Kurt won honors as Rookie of the Year for his exciting exploits racing in the Legend Cars Nationals, and shortly thereafter was awarded the same title for his tremendous performance in the Late Model Stock Southwest Series. By 1998, Kurt became the youngest NASCAR Touring Champion with a record- setting victory in the Featherlite Southwest Series.

My favorite raceway, and one of the world's greatest speed venues-- the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, is Kurt's home track, where he accelerated his drive to the pinnacle of NASCAR in just four racing seasons. His exciting racing style and ``go for it'' attitude truly reflect the spirit of Las Vegas, from where he hails. In 2001, as part of the legendary Roush racing team, Kurt was recognized as NASCAR's Rookie of the Year, setting the stage for a fabulous string of victories and top-10 finishes in 2002 and 2003.

This year, Kurt and the Roush team more than lived up to Nevada's State Motto: Battle Born. With Kurt at the wheel, the team overcame a staggering gauntlet of bad breaks during their dramatic run for the NEXTEL Cup, including a blown motor, blown tires, wheels falling off, spin-outs, and crashes. Despite tire and wheel problems in the final race, which would have sidelined lesser teams, Kurt, beating the odds in true Las Vegas fashion, piloted Number 97 to a thrilling finish for the Roush crew, winning the NEXTEL Cup.

At just 26 years of age, Southern Nevada's own Kurt Busch has reached the top of America's most-watched sport. It is a pleasure to recognize in the Congressional Record the great performance of a great competitor from Las Vegas, Nevada, the 2004 NEXTEL Cup Champion, Kurt Busch.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Congresswoman for her courtesy and her help with this legislation.

I rise today in strong support of the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004. I would like to thank Senator Reid and Senator Ensign and my House colleagues, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), and the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) for their tireless efforts in reaching a compromise on this bipartisan legislation that is important to all Nevadans.

I would also like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) for his leadership and especially acknowledge the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), a truly good friend who worked with the Nevada delegation to reach this compromise.

The Nevada delegation worked diligently with the people of Lincoln County, the environmental community, wilderness groups, ranchers and officials in southern Nevada to carefully craft this piece of legislation. While every group did not get every provision they wanted in the bill, this is a compromise we are all proud of.

This bill is well-balanced. It will help Lincoln County flourish and create economic opportunities for its citizens. Lincoln County officials and residents will be able to develop their community and expand their financial base. Protecting Nevada's environment is very important to me, and this allows for development without jeopardizing Nevada's precious resources.

The Federal Government owns over 98 percent of the land in Lincoln County. This restricts vital economic growth for the area. Allowing for private development will give the people of Lincoln County a way to increase prosperity for themselves and their children.

The Bureau of Land Management will only auction off approved lands. Lincoln County will use the proceeds from land sales to preserve parks, trails and natural resources Nevadans utilize and the natural beauty Nevadans have grown to love.

Nearly 770,000 acres of land will be designated as wilderness. This will protect treasured sites important to Native Americans in Nevada and rich in archaeological artifacts such as petroglyphs. The Nevada desert is also home to many species of wildlife, such as the sage grouse and desert tortoise.

Nevada is facing an unprecedented challenge as a result of a 5-year drought affecting the Colorado River Basin. This bill provides for additional water resources in southern Nevada which are desperately needed.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. I appreciate their support and their help.