Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday of last week, the Education and the Workforce Committee, of which I am a member, passed the single largest cut to student aid in history.

By taking $15 billion out of the Federal aid programs, the Republican leadership proved again that its agenda is replete with misplaced priorities. When we had the choice to lift up a generation of young Americans by helping them achieve the dream of a college education, we chose instead to give more comfort to the already very comfortable. Our differences are profound. It appears that so are our values and what we perceive to be America's priorities.

Future generations of Americans are entitled to a basic education, but they will not be able to afford it after we reconcile how to pay for the hurricane damage, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and even two more tax cuts that have not yet begun to take effect and will not even benefit 97 percent of American families.

Madam Speaker, we cannot afford to hold sacred the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the values, priorities, or needs of the middle class. Americans deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania, for yielding and for her leadership on this motion to instruct the conferees. I will confine my remarks to the price-gouging component of the motion to instruct.

After two bites of the apple, this Congress is running out of opportunities to prove to the American people that we will stand in their corner as the oil and gas companies continue a campaign of price- gouging in the wake of human suffering.

Twice in this session, we have given away tax breaks to the oil and gas companies amounting to $14.5 billion and $2 billion, respectively. The most recent was passed just in time for Halloween, a treat for BP, Exxon-Mobil, and Conoco, but a bad trick on the American families.

Exxon-Mobil reaped profits of almost $10 billion this quarter alone. We have heard the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania talk about these numbers, but they are so astounding that they bear repeating. This is a record-breaking amount for an American company and represents a 75 percent increase over the same period last year.

Shell rang up profits that represented a 68 percent increase, just over $9 billion.

I would be remiss in failing to congratulate the shareholders of ConocoPhillips, whose dividends will soar after an almost 90 percent increase from last year's quarterly earnings.

Now there is nothing wrong with healthy profits. In fact, they are what this Nation and the world's greatest economy are built on. But when profits come at the expense of American families, and when profiteering is clearly reflected by a company's bottom line, then there is something very wrong, and that is when it is time for us to do our job to protect consumers.

These profits were being earned just as the major oil companies claimed

they needed more incentives to expand refining capacity after Hurricane Katrina. Almost immediately, this House responded by passing the so- called Gasoline for America's Security Act, which rolled back environmental laws and opened Federal lands and coastal waters to drilling and exploration.

While the public was pleading for relief from profiteering corporations, the majority actually reduced penalties for price- gouging. Let me say that again. This House voted to weaken price- gouging laws at a time when the public was paying almost an average of $3 a gallon.

Clearly, our failure to do the right thing then contributed to the spike in gas prices and the exorbitant increases in the oil companies' bottom lines. That is why my colleagues, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Dingell, Ms. Schwartz, and I offered a substitute to create a strategic refinery reserve expanding refining capacity and, perhaps most importantly, increasing price-gouging penalties.

As winter approaches, families will struggle to put food on the table and heat their homes. Still, we keep hearing the same rhetoric from the other side that free enterprise is the answer to every one of our Nation's problems, and it is the great equalizer that should be applied to every challenge. But Hurricane Katrina exposed vulnerabilities that still exist in the energy market, a problem that is compounded by the administration's energy policy.

Consequently, it makes little, if any, sense that we gave away one of the most generous corporate welfare packages bestowed on any industry in the form of the last two energy bills. This is precisely why we must vote to instruct the Science-State-Justice-Commerce conferees to adopt the Senate position directing the FTC to investigate price-gouging and other forms of market manipulation.

Before we vote next week to slash the budget for food stamps or Medicaid or student aid, let us make sure we at least give American families a break at the pump by voting for this motion to instruct. Now is the time we must act, to prove the interests of middle-class Americans are paramount, not the oil companies. Let us put an end to price-gouging once and for all. Let us not let another opportunity go by without giving middle-class families the relief they so desperately need and deserve.

Mr. Speaker, on price-gouging, the House is down by two strikes. This motion makes sure we do not strike out. If we want to do the right thing for America and the American taxpayers here and now, vote for this motion to instruct.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the observance of October 2005 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month provides an important opportunity to raise the level of awareness and education among American women about the importance of annual mammograms and monthly breast self-examinations in the fight against breast cancer.

Like most American families, Long Islanders are all too familiar with the loss of a loved one to some form of cancer. Breast cancer in particular remains the leading cause of death

among women between the ages of 40 and 55. My sister-in-law, Abby Irwin, was among them, having died at the age of only 41 after a courageous eleven-year struggle against breast cancer.

This year alone, over 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. In fact, a woman is diagnosed with a new case every three minutes. And one out of every eight women who live to the age of 85 will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

However, there is good news: the survival rate of women who have breast cancer is 96 percent when detected in the early stages. I am very grateful that my mother, for instance, is a twenty-year survivor. She is one among two million survivors nationwide.

By observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we can do even more to promote the effectiveness of life-saving mammograms and monthly breast self-exams as the keys to early detection and prevention. Furthermore, we can recognize and applaud national and community organizations for their work in promoting awareness about breast cancer, providing information, and offering treatment to its sufferers. In my Long Island, New York district, I am proud to have an active and involved Breast Cancer Advisory Board that includes leading researchers, advocates and support personnel as well as survivors.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage each of my colleagues to join in paying tribute to the survivors, volunteers, and health care professionals who combat breast cancer and save lives each day. Until we find a cure, we should continue to do all that we can to increase research funding and expand prevention awareness for all women who are at risk today.

Madam Speaker, too many American families have experienced the loss of a loved one or know someone close who has suffered from some form of cancer. Breast cancer in particular is the leading cause of death among between 40 and 55, including my sister-in- law Abby Irwin, who died at 41 after an 11-year struggle.

Two hundred thousand new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year alone, including 1,100 in my district. The good news is the 96 percent survival rate when breast cancer is detected early. In fact, a study being published today in the New England Journal of Medicine found that mammograms contributed to a 65 percent drop in breast cancer deaths in the last decade.

Back home on Long Island, I am proud to have an active breast cancer advisory board with leading researchers, advocates, and survivors. I found their insights and ideas to be invaluable assets.

We should continue to do all that we can every day, not just during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to encourage the survivors, volunteers, and health care professionals to keep up the fight against breast cancer.

Madam Speaker, by raising awareness, we bring ourselves that much closer to the promise of a cure.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise with the New York Congressional Delegation to recognize an American hero. Today I am introducing legislation to name a post office in my district--in Patchogue, New York--in honor of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy.

Lieutenant Murphy, U.S. Navy, was killed in Afghanistan when he and three other SEALs were ambushed by Taliban insurgents. Many of you may recall the reports during the week of June 27 about the heroic rescue attempt of Lt. Murphy's unit, when an Army MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by a rifle-propelled grenade in the Kunar province with 16 special operations troops aboard.

Lt. Murphy was only 29 years old when he died. Already having achieved his dreams of attending Penn State University and becoming a Navy SEAL, he had deferred another dream of attending law school until his tour had ended. He was also engaged to be married upon his return in November.

Lt. Murphy was universally admired and loved. His parents, teachers, and commanding officers all praise his intelligence, dedication and kindness. Perhaps the commanding officer of the Navy's SEAL Recruiting program who mentored Lt. Murphy and prepared him for SEAL training best summed up this young hero's essence when he said:

He achieved something most of us don't have the courage to

attempt . . . He was a very focused young man with a terrific

attitude, quiet intensity and determination.

After learning of his tragic loss, Lt. Murphy's father reflected on what the memory of his son left behind:

We were just honored to have him as a son for 29 years.

He's our herd, and I think he is everybody else's hero . . .

He squeezed more life in 29 years than I will ever see.''

This past summer, my district lost a beloved friend and our nation lost one of its bravest sons to the War on Terror.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Americans, I thank the House for honoring St. Murphy's service, valor and ultimate sacrifice for this Nation by renaming the post office located at 170 East Main Street in Patchogue, New York as the ``Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Post Office.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher) for their leadership in offering this substitute, and I am proud to join them.

I rise in strong support of this substitute for two reasons. Unlike the underlying legislation, it contains a meaningful deterrent to price gouging, and it provides an effective strategy to expand refinery capacity.

We can all agree there were some good provisions in the first energy bill, but Katrina exposed its shortcomings, as well as vulnerabilities that still exist in the energy market.

We can also agree that the hurricane made it harder to meet the challenge of delivering relief to families struggling to pay their energy bills and that a rash of price gouging compounded this problem.

Our substitute takes direct aim at these challenges by creating a strong

deterrent to price gouging that keeps gas prices stable. The underlying bill sets an $11,000 fine for price gouging. That may sound like a lot to the average middle class family, but it is not much to the Exxon- Mobils of this world who earn record profits.

In contrast, this substitute deters price gouging at every stage of production, not just the retail phase, but at all phases in the chain of supply, and this will strengthen those measures.

Mr. Speaker, now is the time that we must stand up to profiteers by assuring hardworking American families that Congress is standing up for their interests, not the oil companies'.

I urge my colleagues to support this substitute that protects American taxpayers and our national security.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.

In its present form, yes.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, the price of a gallon of gasoline in America was $1.94. The day before Hurricane Katrina struck, it was $2.61. This difference shows that exorbitant increases began even before Katrina wreaked havoc on our economy. The day after Katrina, prices jumped to $3.07. Today, our constituents are looking toward their elected representatives to rein in gas prices once and for all.

Earlier this year, we passed up a golden opportunity to protect Americans from price gouging when we enacted the first energy bill. If we pass this energy bill in its current form, we pass up that opportunity a second time. Let us not make the same mistake twice.

In that spirit, we offer this motion to recommit, which attacks soaring gas prices head on. Our motion achieves this objective by investing new authority in the FTC to investigate, enforce and then punish price gouging and market manipulation.

Specifically, our motion prohibits the sale of crude oil, gasoline, natural gas or any other petroleum distillates at a price that is considered either unconscionably excessive or indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage of the circumstances to increase prices unreasonably.

Any violation will result in new civil penalties, and will be enforced with up to triple the damages of the profits gained by the violation. Unlike the underlying bill, this motion has teeth by reining in scrupulous practices of the oil and gas executives, interested more in padding their bottom line than helping middle-class families make ends meet.

I urge my colleagues to stand up to the oil companies and show hardworking Americans that we are in their corner. Now is the time we must act, to prove that their interests are paramount, not the oil companies'. Our price gouging provisions are superior to those of the underlying legislation, and our provisions are in effect at every stage of the oil and gas production, covering everyone in the supply chain.

Let us put an end to price gouging once and for all. Do not let another opportunity go by without giving middle-class families the relief that they so desperately need and deserve. If you want to do the right thing for America here and now, vote for the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Schwartz).

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, ``payback'' has more than one meaning for our troops. For dozens, perhaps hundreds, of their families, it referred to a glaring oversight by the Pentagon that led to grave disappointment, dismay and continuing frustration.

Until the Pentagon finally issued regulations yesterday, 1 year after Congress imposed its deadlines, many troops and their families were not reimbursed for their body armor, combat helmets and protective gear. We ask our troops to risk life and limb to defend us, and yet, unconscionably, we made their families pick up the tab.

With their lives on the line, our troops cannot afford to focus on the mission with distractions and worries about family debts incurred to help America's war effort. We have spent over $200 billion in taxpayer funds to carry out the war in Iraq.

The first priority for this money should be supplying our troops with protective gear they need to survive combat. I commend the Senate for voting last night to shift control of this money directly to unit commanders in the field.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to measure up to the valor and sacrifices of our troops by expanding these rules to also cover rifle scopes, additional radios and more armor for Humvees before we approve another dime in yet another supplemental funding bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize a great American patriot and good friend, retiring Major General Thomas P. Maguire, for his extraordinary accomplishments throughout a distinguished career.

As GEN Maguire steps down as New York's Adjutant General, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of New York and a grateful Nation to express our gratitude for his diligence and exceptional leadership through our State's most trying times.

GEN Maguire assumed command of New York's National Guard in August 2001, just one month before the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and WorId Trade Center. Under his command, the National Guard was thrust into unprecedented responsibilities in contributing to and strengthening our homeland security. His leadership was a critical component of restoring the safety and way of life for New Yorkers after September 11th.

It is for these reasons, and many others, that General Maguire should be recognized as a patriot and a great man. Tom graduated from Holy Cross College in 1969, just as I began my college career at the same school. He left with a Degree in History and as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program.

In 1970, he earned his wings, beginning a long and distinguished career that included 250 combat flights during his tour of duty in Vietnam. His military decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters.

Upon his return, GEN Maguire served as a flight instructor before joining the New York Air National Guard's 137th Tactical Air Support Squadron in 1974. In the years that followed, GEN Maguire excelled in various commands and as a forward air controller, brigade liaison officer, standardization officer, air operations officer, Deputy Commander for Operations and Vice Commander before assuming command of the 137th in 1994. He is also a veteran of Operation Desert Storm.

Under GEN Maguire's command, New York's National Guard has not only performed its military mission with excellence, but it has also been an integral part of our state's emergency response force and contributed to many international disaster relief missions.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all New Yorkers, I thank and congratulate Major General Maguire for his outstanding service and a highly distinguished career. We wish him and his family continued success and a bright future in the years ahead.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bipartisan substitute and in unwavering opposition to the underlying Threatened and Endangered Species Act of 2005, which does not defend endangered species as it purports, but rather protects the special interests of private industry and landowners.

I am concerned about the environmental and fiscal health of our great nation and the path chosen by many of America's leaders whose policies are painfully lacking in promoting conservation. Although Americans may debate the need to update the Endangered Species Act of 1973, TESRA is absolutely not the answer. In fact, TESRA is a step back, furthering the degradation of species and compounding man's conflict with the environment.

What exactly is the urgency by which the majority has brought this issue at this time? America is still in mourning as we enter the early stages of rebuilding the Gulf Coast and fighting a war in Iraq and Afghanistan costing our nation hundreds upon hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars.

Particularly egregious is that TESRA will cost nearly $3 billion in new spending in just the next 4 years, which will be used not to protect threatened and endangered species, but rather the interests of private landowners.

Taxpayers should be outraged by the fiscal irresponsibility of this Congress. If we have $3 billion to give away, let's give it to families in need by renewing TANF or to expand rather than cut Pell grants so that students who wish to attend college can meet the financial demands.

In my district, hardworking families are struggling to absorb the high costs of fuel into their budget while putting food on their tables and sending their children to college.

Mr. Chairman, the narrow-vision and short-term policy decisions made by this Congress do not reflect middle-class values. At what point will a clean environment and healthy future for our children and grandchildren become a priority?

The American public deserves a future that includes true protection of our endangered species and the development of fuel sources that are clean, renewable and promote conservation and energy independence.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to reject the underlying legislation to reform the ESA and support the bipartisan substitute.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, Ben Bernanke said: ``Every effort needs to be made to try and offset the cost of Katrina and Rita by reductions in other government programs.'' He suggested following through with eliminating or severely cutting 154 health care, education, and infrastructure priorities as proposed in the President's budget in order to meet his goal of cutting the deficit in half in 5 years.

What would these cuts entail? A $4.3 billion cut from the Education Department's budget and $2 billion from the Health and Human Services budget, just to name a few.

But what did Mr. Bernanke not suggest might help this President reach his deficit reduction goals? Any hint of rolling back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans who earn over $400,000 or scaling back the estate tax cut which has no impact on 98 percent of American families?

Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we find ways to pay for the hurricane damage, but we cannot afford to hold sacred the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the values, priorities, or needs of middle-class Americans. They deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Natural Disaster Student Aid Fairness Act.

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita have caused destruction of monumental proportions. First and foremost, our priority should remain delivering food, water and other aid to those most in need. During this time of national crisis we should tap every available resource of the Federal Government to make sure that we are providing relief in every corner of the devastated Gulf Coast region. This relief extends to the colleges and universities that work so hard to provide our young people with the skills they need to succeed.

This important legislation would allow the Secretary of Education to grant waivers to colleges and universities affected by these disasters that participate in Federal Campus-Based Aid programs such as SEOG and Federal Work-Study. This would waive the requirement that participating institutions of higher education provide matching Federal funds provided to the institution for these programs.

I am pleased to see the speed at which legislation is being considered to help students in the affected regions and applaud the spirit of bipartisanship in addressing these important issues. I commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) for introducing this legislation, and I thank the leadership for calling this legislation to the floor so quickly.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill in a difficult hour. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote for it.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) requiring the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of waterfront facilities transferring liquefied gas, LNG, and proposed shipping routes for LNG tankers. I appreciate Mr. Markey's leadership and advocacy for the safety and welfare of Americans potentially affected by ``siting'' or expanding floating and shore- based LNG terminals.

Importantly, the Markey amendment does not refute the need for more LNG terminals or a greater supply of natural gas. Rather, the amendment simply requires an assessment of whether terminals are safely located and sufficiently remote from city centers and highly populated areas. It also directs terminal owners and operators how to best mitigate risks.

The Coast Guard is a firm pillar of our homeland security and national security defenses. It is therefore uniquely prepared to assess the risk of siting LNG terminals upon our Nation's waterways and shorelines. Well-versed in the safety and security needs of our local ports and harbors, we must build upon the Coast Guard's success as the trusted steward of our shores.

Accordingly, Mr. Chairman, the Markey amendment gives the Coast Guard the right to challenge the safety of an LNG proposal during the siting or expansion process. To that end, I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote for the Markey amendment in order to give the Coast Guard the last word in terminal siting and thereby maximize Federal preparedness against possible accidents or terrorist attacks upon LNG terminals.

Mr. Speaker, as our nation continues to deliver relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, we pause to remember the victims of an earlier American tragedy on the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

While grasping to comprehend the enormity of the natural disaster that has befallen the Gulf Coast region, Americans to this day still struggle to make sense of the terrorists' ruthlessness, their hatred of our core values of liberty, democracy and equality, as well as their capacity for the horrific atrocities they carried out against innocent men, women and children 4 years ago today.

As we remember our loss on September 11th, we are also reminded of the strength of the human spirit when other crises arrived. Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, we have witnessed a world united in action and sharing a common goal of helping those most in need in the aftermath of tragedy, including the tsunami in Southern Asia, the terrorist attacks in Spain and England, and now in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Our Nation continues to heal from September 11, 2001, but with firm resolve, we have moved forward to rebuild--never bowing to terrorist demands or allowing an unwelcome sense of vulnerability to permeate our lives. With even greater respect and admiration for our first responders, medical professionals and other heroes across our Nation, we honor their valor and sacrifices as they ease mankind's suffering and elevate humanity to new heights.

On this day, Mr. Speaker, we will always remember and honor the Americans lost at the hands of terrorist attackers. This year, once again, we extend our deepest sympathies to their families, friends, and loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act.

Hurricane Katrina created a disaster of monumental proportions. First and foremost, our priority should remain saving of lives and delivering aid immediately to those most in need. As long as this crisis continues, we should tap every available resource of the Federal Government to make sure that we are providing relief in every corner of the disaster zone. This relief extends to young Americans who work so very hard and, with the help of Federal assistance, were able to realize their dream of attending college.

This crucial legislation would allow the Secretary to grant waivers to students who were forced from school by a natural disaster such as Katrina. This would waive the requirement for them to pay back Federal Pell grant aid when they withdraw from school. It is hard enough for them to get into college without this disaster throwing up yet another barrier to achieving the dream of a college education.

I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) for introducing this legislation, and I thank the leadership for calling this legislation to the floor so quickly. And I also thank my colleagues on the Committee on Education and the Workforce for supporting this measure when we considered the Higher Education Act in July.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill in a difficult hour. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote for it.

I also would like to say a word about the bill that the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) are introducing today. It is every bit as important that we pass that bill in a timely fashion as it is that we pass the gentleman from Florida's (Mr. Keller) bill. It is particularly important that we allow families to adjust their expected family contribution.

One of the problems with the financial aid system is that the information that is used to determine eligibility is often a year behind reality. That system works when reality does not change that much from year to year; but when it changes as dramatically as it has for so many people affected by this tragedy, it would place students in a thoroughly disadvantageous position if they were unable to change their financial contribution. So I urge speedy consideration and passage of that bill as well as of the gentleman from Florida's (Mr. Keller) bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 308, a bill supporting the goals of National Marina Day, and urging that marinas continue providing environmentally friendly gateways to boating.

In my district on Eastern Long Island, business associated with local marinas is important to vacationers and residents alike. The tourism and fishing industries are two of the most important contributing elements of the local economy, and marinas help these economic engines create much needed revenue throughout Brookhaven and the five East End Towns.

There are more than 12,000 marinas nationally that benefit local communities by providing safe and reliable gateways to boating. The marinas of the United States serve as stewards of the environment, and they actively protect the waterways that surround them for current and future enjoyment.

The Marina Operators Association of America has designated August 13, 2005, as National Marina Day to increase awareness among citizens and elected officials about the many contributions that marinas make to communities, and it is important that Congress support this initiative.

As vacationers throughout the country flock to the coasts for well- deserved vacations, it is important that we recognize the significance of marinas. I'd therefore echo the Marina Operator's support for National Marina Day and urge my colleagues to do the same.