Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as the Chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4255, as amended, which the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee passed on June 26 and the full Committee approved on July 15.

I would like to congratulate Chairman Filner for introducing this bill to authorize the VA to make a grant to the United States Olympic Committee to provide and develop activities for servicemembers and veterans with physical disabilities. I also would like to thank full Committee Ranking Member Buyer for his leadership and willingness to work with the majority to combine provisions of his bill, H.R. 1370, with the Chairman's bill.

The United States Olympic Committee Paralympics Program Act will help increase the participation of disabled veterans in physical activities and sports to promote healthy-living, help elite-level athletes compete in sporting programs, and help our wounded servicemembers transition to the next stage in their lives.

Again, I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member Buyer for their leadership on this important issue. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4255.

Mr. Speaker, as the Chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee and sponsor of the bill, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6225, as amended, which the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee passed on June 26 and the full Committee approved on July 15.

I would like to thank full Committee Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Boozman for their leadership and bipartisan support of this bill, which I introduced on June 10, 2008.

The bill would amend section 2 of title 38 by declaring the court ``shall'' instead of ``may'' use its full equity powers, including temporary or permanent injunctions, temporary restraining orders, and contempt orders, to protect the rights and benefits of veterans. It is my expectation that more courts will use this remedy when deemed appropriate that equitable relief is warranted.

I also would like to thank Mr. Matthew Tully of Tully and Rinckey LLC, who specializes in law under USERRA, and brought the need for this change to our Subcommittee's attention during a hearing on February 13 of this year.

I also would like to thank Representative Susan Davis for the introduction of H.R. 2910, ``The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act,'' Representative Patrick Murphy for the introduction of H.R. 3298 ``The 21st Century Servicemembers Protection Act,'' and Representative John Carter for the introduction of H.R. 6070, ``The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act''--all of which have also been included in H.R. 6225.

These bills take steps in the right direction to providing greater protections and safeguards to those that have answered the call to duty.

Again, I thank Chairman Filner for his support of these important bills. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 6225, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, as the Chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee and sponsor of the ``Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act,'' which has been included in the ``Improving Veterans' Opportunity in Education

and Business Act,'' I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6221, as amended.

I would like to thank full Committee Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, and the sponsor of the bill, Subcommittee Ranking Member Boozman for their leadership and bipartisan support of this bill, which the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee passed on June 26 and the full Committee approved on July 15.

As I noted, this important measure to improve business and education opportunities for veterans includes the ``Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act,'' which I introduced on June 10 of this year. The purpose of my bill is to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 5-year pilot program to expand on existing work- study activities for veterans. Currently, veterans that qualify for work-study would be limited to working on VA related work. My bill would allow those veterans the option of working in academic departments and student services. This change would put them at par with students that qualify for a work-study position under programs not administered by the VA.

I also would like to thank Representative Peter Welch for a bill, which was also included in H.R. 6221, to reauthorize the Military Occupational Specialty Transition (MOST) Program, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Boozman for the introduction of the underlying bill to require VA contractees to comply with contracting goals and preferences for small businesses owned by veterans.

Again, I thank Chairman Boozman for sponsoring this important bill. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 6221, as amended.

I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry Hyde HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act. I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member for their work on this important legislation authorizing $50 billion to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria overseas. I also support a provision added by the Senate to authorize $2 billion to fund essential programs and infrastructure development for Native American tribes, sovereign nations within our own borders.

The United States has a special government-to-government relationship to the federally recognized American Indian tribes, as established in the U.S.

Constitution. The $750 million for tribal law enforcement and public safety would provide funding for detention facilities, police officers, tribal courts, and other crucial services.

In June of 2007, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota entitled ``The Needs and Challenges of Tribal Law Enforcement on Indian Reservations.'' At the hearing tribal leaders shared examples of police departments stretched too thin. They spoke of how a lack of law enforcement personnel negatively impacts victims of crime and undermines the sense of security across their communities. The funding in today's bill will empower tribes to improve the law enforcement and judicial systems on their reservations.

Additionally, I support the $250 million for the Indian Health Service included in the bill. The Indian Health Service is the Federal health care provider for approximately 1.5 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Across the country tribal leaders agree that health care is one of their top concerns. American Indians in my region of the country die from cancer at a rate approximately 40 percent greater than the general United States population. American Indians are over two times more likely than non-Indians to be diagnosed with diabetes. The $250 million in the bill is one important step towards addressing the great needs for health care across Indian country.

And, finally, Native American reservations are often located in remote rural areas where the basic water and sewer infrastructure many of us take for granted is not well developed. The $1 billion helps address the need for safe, clean, reliable sources of water.

Again I thank the chairman and ranking member for their work on the bill. I look forward to supporting this bill that addresses the needs of populations both overseas and on Native American reservations.

Madam Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2008. I want to thank Senator Dorgan and his colleagues and staff on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee for their tireless dedication to addressing the needs of law enforcement and justice services in Indian Country. I am proud to sponsor the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

In June 2007, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the Lower Brule Reservation in south central South Dakota. Entitled, The Needs and Challenges of Tribal Law Enforcement in Indian Reservations, tribal leaders and law enforcement officials from eight tribes testified for the need to improve government-to-government consultations between tribes and the federal agencies charged with supporting their law enforcement goals. Witnesses explained the need for more resources for officers, equipment, jails, and tribal courts. One witness, Chairman Joseph Brings Plenty of the Cheyenne River Reservation, explained that on his reservation, there are an average of only three officers per shift to cover nineteen communities with 15,000 people and an area approximately the size of Connecticut. On this large, land-based reservation, each officer covers an average of 450 miles of road in one 8 hour shift. In 2006 alone, the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe's police department responded to 11,488 calls for service and made 11,791 arrests. From my work with tribal communities in South Dakota and as a Member of the Committee on Natural Resources, I know that Cheyenne River is not an extreme case. The experiences and frustrations articulated by Chairman Brings Plenty resonate with tribal leaders across the United States.

The Tribal Law and Order Act is an important step to addressing the complex and broken system of law and order in Indian Country. This bill would clarify the responsibilities of Federal, State, tribal, and local governments with respect to crimes committed in tribal communities; increase coordination and communication among Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies; empower tribal governments with the authority, resources, and information necessary to safely and effectively provide for the public's safety in tribal communities; reduce the prevalence of violent crime in tribal communities and to combat violence against Indian and Alaska Native women; address and prevent drug trafficking and reduce rates of alcohol and drug addiction in Indian country; and increase and standardize the collection of criminal data and the sharing of criminal history information among Federal, State, and tribal officials responsible for responding to and investigating crimes in tribal communities.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has held numerous hearings and has reached out to tribes across the United States while crafting this bill, and I appreciate their efforts to address the concerns raised by tribal members and leaders. I recognize that this bill alone will not solve the problems raised by tribes in these consultations and hearings. As such, I will continue to work for increased funding for law enforcement personnel, detention facilities, equipment and training, tribal courts, and other components required for a successful justice system. I will continue to hold Bureau of Indian Affairs accountable for upholding the trust responsibility within the realm of law enforcement. Ultimately, I believe that this bill offers important and necessary tools in our shared goal of making Indian Country a safer place to be.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced a bill to protect our Nation's food supply and rural economies. This bill, the Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008, will block meat imports from Argentina until the USDA can certify to Congress that every region of that country is free of FMD.

The USDA is currently considering opening the U.S. protein market to select regions of Argentina, a country with a history of FMD outbreaks. This plan is flawed. It assumes that a highly infectious, airborne disease like FMD would stop at imaginary borders, and it trusts Argentina to effectively police itself.

Argentina is a country that lacks the infrastructure to handle FMD outbreaks. The USDA hasn't conducted a safety assessment in Argentina since the 2006 outbreak there, yet it is still moving with their plan to regionalize the country. This doesn't make sense, and it is not sound policy.

FMD has the potential to wipe out our livestock industry overnight, as it did to the British economy, which lost nearly $20 billion with their outbreak in 2001, resulting in 6 million animals destroyed. A similar outbreak here would cripple the livestock industry, shut down exports of American beef, and send meat prices through the roof.

I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this bill to block the USDA's plan to regionalize Argentina.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee and in other capacities and with the Blue Dog Coalition on energy issues.

And in citing our energy principles that the Blue Dogs stand by, we have a number of those that have been addressed already this evening, but fuel diversity is certainly one that I think deserves emphasis.

The representative from the State of South Dakota, an at-large district, a very rural district, as many of the Blue Dogs represent rural districts, the impact of these high gas and oil prices are having a disproportionate effect in many respects on my constituents who have to drive great distances to work, who have to drive great distances to get children to school, who have to put nitrogen fertilizer on crops, and who have to use great amounts of diesel and gasoline to plant and harvest those crops to maintain a safe, abundant cheap food supply.

So much has been made in recent weeks of high commodity prices. We just recently passed the farm bill. Overrode the President's veto twice to pass a farm bill that preserves the safety net. And as people point to those high commodity prices and think that farmers and ranchers have never had it better, one thing that I would hope that my colleagues, Madam Speaker, would keep in mind is that nitrogen fertilizer, which depends on natural gas, is an essential ingredient, and the high cost of gas and diesel are the input costs that are dramatically higher than they've ever been, that cuts into any profits, dramatically, that farmers and ranchers may be experiencing now that they're finally getting decent commodity prices that are saving taxpayers dollars because those are higher than the target prices and loan rates that we've set into law. And therefore we aren't making countercyclical payments and loan deficiency payments to farmers across the country because they have another buyer for that grain rather than just one buyer putting it on the export market at a lot less than the cost of production.

That other buyer is the local ethanol plant. And as my colleague from Georgia pointed out, we know that we're just maybe less than 2, 3 years away from the technology available to make commercially available not just corn ethanol and the dramatic increases we've seen in the improvements and the production process to make the efficiencies in the production process even better, but cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol that can be developed in every region of the country given biomass sources, given other nonfood and feed crops that can be grown in every region of the country. And it's the importance of those technologies that can only be facilitated by the financing and some of the loan guarantees that we've recently passed, but the financing and the private market that are essential.

Which is why I strongly argue that, Madam Speaker, that it's not corn ethanol that should be blamed for high

food prices; it is the high cost of energy, which is the focus of our discussion here tonight, and the transportation and the production and the marketing of the food to Americans across the country. We need corn ethanol as a bridge to cellulosic ethanol. And that is where the financing will follow, that's where the capital will follow to get us to second-generation ethanol production.

And we also have to look at other sources that currently aren't available. For example, woody biomass off the national forests which, in my opinion, should be able to be used for cellulosic ethanol production. It not only reduces the wildfire hazard based on the hazardous fuels that are lining the bottoms of our forests, but it is a proven technology for a use for cellulosic ethanol. If we don't use it, it sits there and rots and releases methane into the atmosphere, which is worse than carbon, or it burns and releases carbon into the atmosphere.

So the bottom line--and I think this is back to the Blue Dog principle of diversity of fuels--we shouldn't be so quick to take energy sources available domestically off the table. We shouldn't be reluctant to reevaluate long-held positions on a particular energy source in light of new technologies that can help us extract resources in an environmentally sound way; new technologies that can facilitate wind energy development, biofuels development, a whole host of other technologies on the electricity side, whether it's clean burning coal, hydroelectric power, solar power; and of course, in the transportation side, with vehicle technology and engine technology for flex-fuel vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

Already this Congress we've taken a number of important steps, not the least of which is the renewable fuel standard that we passed in December that, by many analyses, shows that is moderating the price of gasoline at 15 percent less than it would be otherwise without that increased biofuels production. So biofuels production is saving consumers money at the pump.

But obviously, we know that consumers are suffering with $4 gasoline, higher in some areas. We know that there are ways that we need to get at speculation that may exist in the marketplace for oil and other commodities, that we have the weak dollar that my colleague from Utah pointed out at the top of the hour that is affecting the increased costs per barrel of oil.

We, in addition to the renewable fuel standard, passed CAFE standards that go to the heart of conservation energy efficiency and the additional technologies that we know exist to help maximize those efforts.

We have passed legislation to ensure that the President no longer adds oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and we know that that Strategic Petroleum Reserve is yet another tool that we need to consider using as we move forward to give some relief to consumers at the pump.

We passed a bill that looks at the issue of how many leases are currently outstanding and how many millions of acres perhaps where there is natural gas and oil where we can facilitate production of those sources on public lands.

But we also know, as I stated, that we can't be taking energy sources off the table, and we have to be looking at where else, whether it's in the deepwater gulf or other parts of the Outer Continental Shelf, elsewhere on public lands, where it can make sense both economically and from an environmental perspective to be able to extract those resources, particularly natural gas, which does not pose the same types of environmental problems in drilling on the OCS. Although I think that technology, again, has brought us to a point that can minimize those types of spills. The oil shales that we know exist in a number of States, whether it's in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and of course, the other States, working with our trading partners and allies to our north in Canada as it relates to a natural gas pipeline, as it relates to oil pipelines that are being sited and under construction across South Dakota, to be able to get more oil into the Midwest where we oftentimes are at a disadvantage in being at the end of the line.

So I think that it's important tonight that we focus on not only what we've already done but what more we are prepared to do to enhance the diversity of fuels, to enhance the diversity of options both in the transportation sector and the electricity sector to make us less dependent on foreign oil, to create jobs, to enhance technologies that create the jobs for the future, for the young men and women that are looking into careers in science and environmental engineering and mechanical engineering and a whole host of opportunities it affords to every region of the country, if we take the steps that we need to take, reevaluate those long-held positions, look at information with a fresh look and glance, and be willing to take some risks because that's what it's going to require to do right by our constituents.

And I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Well, not specifically to that point, but I did want to mention--and I know you have the gentleman from Georgia who wants to make another point, too, so I will be quick.

The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) and I are both on the Agriculture Committee, and you may have mentioned this. One of the bills that we'll be taking up tomorrow is a bill that you have introduced, and so I think it's important for our constituents who, understandably, don't feel like they're getting a fair shake every time they go up and fill up their vehicle, that they understand that we are doing something here in Washington.

We are having a set of three different hearings in the Agriculture Committee this week. There are other committees having hearings. This is a complicated issue, and we are determined to get it right and to do what we can to get the speculation out of the market and to give the Commodities Futures Trading Commission the authority it needs and to understand this problem, whether it's over-the-counter, whether it's swaps, whether it's what's going on with the foreign exchanges, the issue of transparency, and your bill is one of those that we'll be taking a look at which we think makes an important step in addressing that issue.

Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate in three votes on the floor of the House of Representatives on June 9, 2008. I was absent due to illness.

As noted, I was not present for three votes:

The first vote was H. Res. 1225, Expressing support for designation of June 2008 as ``National Safety Month.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

The second vote was H. Res. 1243, Recognizing the immeasurable contributions of fathers in the healthy development of children, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially on Father's Day. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

The third vote was H. Res. 127, Recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the entry of Alaska in the Union as the 49th State. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise today in support of H.R. 3058, the Public Land Communities Transition Assistance Act, and I too thank the gentleman from Oregon, Mr. DeFazio, for his tireless efforts to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program. I also thank the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House leadership for their work on this legislation.

H.R. 3058 would reauthorize the secure rural schools program for 4 years. Annual payments to counties impacted by National Forest lands are an important part of many school districts' budgets, and failure to reauthorize the Secure Rural schools would force very difficult decisions in counties and school districts in over 40 States.

In the State of South Dakota, the Black Hills National Forest is a special place and a highly valued resource. Yet the national ownership of this land has clear impacts on finances of counties in western South Dakota. For example, under the Secure Rural Schools program, Custer County schools receive approximately $310,000 for the 2007-2008 school year. If this program isn't reauthorized, Custer schools would receive about $90,000. The loss of $210,000 would likely lead to eliminating numerous teaching positions and increasing class sizes to as many as 40 students per class.

Custer County isn't alone. If we fail to reauthorize the secure rural schools program, almost 7,000 teachers and other educational staff will be laid off across the country as of June 30, 2008, when their contracts expire. H.R. 3058 provides a new distribution formula and transition payments as counties adjust.

On the offset, by my count, 48 of my Republican colleagues have in the past voted for legislation that included this offset. That was all in 2007, before oil went over $100 a barrel. So I would think that even those of us that do support expanded exploration and drilling for energy sources on public lands would agree that it should be equitable and Federal royalty payments should be paid when we are extracting oil resources from public lands.

I encourage my colleagues to support this fair, bipartisan bill.

Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Charles Ruch for his nearly 5 years of service to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota. Dr. Ruch was installed as the school's seventeenth president on July 1, 2003. During his tenure at the School of Mines, Dr. Ruch led the institution in strengthening the undergraduate curriculum to ensure that students graduate with exceptional scientific training and real world skills. Dr. Ruch worked to improve and expand graduate programs and thereby increased the research activities taking place at the School of Mines. I appreciate Dr. Ruch's commitment to working closely with the Rapid City community, the state government and Board of Regents, the Congressional delegation, and other partners to enhance the reputation of the School of Mines as a teaching and research center of excellence.

I send best wishes and congratulations to Dr. Ruch on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3681, the ``Veterans Benefits Awareness Act'' which authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to advertise in the national media to promote awareness of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.

As an original cosponsor of H.R. 3681, and the Chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I would like to thank Representative Boozman, who serves as the Subcommittee Ranking Member, for introducing this important bill. I also would like to recognize Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for their strong leadership and for working to quickly move this bill to the House floor.

It is important that Congress not only provide the VA with the resources to properly care for our nation's veterans, but that we also provide them with the authority to promote awareness of benefits that are available to veterans and their dependents.

Again, I thank Representative Boozman for introducing this important bill. I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3889, a bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation programs administered by the VA.

I would like to thank Representative Boozman, the Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, which I Chair, for introducing H.R.

3889 to help determine the effectiveness and long-term outcomes of the VA's vocational rehabilitation programs for disabled veterans. These vocational rehabilitation programs are important factors in helping disabled veterans obtain and keep suitable jobs. They also help seriously disabled veterans achieve independence in daily living.

I also would like to thank Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for their support of the bill and for working to quickly move this legislation to the House floor.

I support H.R. 3889 to ensure the VA's vocational rehabilitation services are helping disabled veterans reach their rehabilitation goals.

Again, I thank Representative Boozman for introducing this important bill. I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5664, a bill to direct the VA to update the plans and specifications for specially adapted housing furnished to veterans.

As the Chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I would like to thank Representative Rodriguez for introducing this important bill. I also would like to thank Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for their support of the bill.

The VA's main grant program guide, which is provided to contractors to draw up plans and specifications to modify homes, was last updated in 1978. H.R. 5664 will ensure that the 30-year-old guide contains up- to-date directions and is applicable for today's veterans, who often come home from battle with injuries different than servicemembers from previous military conflicts.

Again, I thank Representative Rodriguez for introducing this important bill. I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 1074 which honors the 60th anniversary of the commencement of the carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

I was proud to introduce this resolution that recognizes 60 years of work on the Crazy Horse Memorial, which, when completed, will be the largest carving in the world. In 1939, upon witnessing the carving of Mt. Rushmore, Dakota Chief Henry Standing Bear contacted sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Chief Standing Bear encouraged Ziolkowski to create a mountain memorial, writing ``My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.''

On June 3, 1948, the mountain was dedicated and carving began. Though Mr. Ziolkowski passed away in 1982, his wife, Ruth, and their family continue to make progress on carving the mountain. To this end, they have established the Crazy Horse Foundation which is dedicated to honoring the culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American Indians and the spirit of Crazy Horse. There is no projected completion date for the Crazy Horse Memorial due to the availability of funding and to natural challenges, such as weather and the structure of the mountain.

On June 3rd, 2008, the Crazy Horse Memorial will commemorate the 60th anniversary since Chief Standing Bear's dedication of the mountain. I thank my colleagues in joining me in celebrating the accomplishments of the Ziolkowski family, recognizing the legacy of Crazy Horse, and honoring the contributions and sacrifices of the Lakota nation and all Native Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Obey for his hard work in putting together this emergency supplemental and overcoming a number of challenges in readying the amendments the House is considering today.

As chairwoman of the Economic Opportunities Subcommittee of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee with jurisdiction over veterans' education benefits, I am proud to support today's efforts to modernize the Montgomery GI Bill. Members of the subcommittee have worked diligently throughout the 110th Congress to understand how best to enhance education benefits and make them easier to access for our Nation's veterans in the 21st century.

My stepbrother, a 3rd Class Petty Officer in the United States Navy, next week deploys to the Persian Gulf on the USS Ronald Reagan. He, like so many thousands of brave and dedicated service men and women, stands to benefit from our important vote today, a vote to invest more wisely in these men and women who make the commitment to serve our country and keep us safe, a vote that reflects our priorities as a Nation to recognize their honored service.

I urge my colleagues to support this much-needed improvement in veterans education benefits.