House Session 2011 - 07 - 25 - 17 - 11 - 21 - 18 - 35 - 49

HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE, BEAUTIFUL AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL TO ENJOY. I STRONGLY URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THIS TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE BILL. TIME. THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN RISE? I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. CHAIRMAN A AS ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS AND LEADER OF THE SPORTSMAN'S CAUCUS, THE LARGEST BIPARTISAN CAUCUS IN THIS CONGRESS, I RELUCTANTLY RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL THIS BILL FALLS SHORT ON SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS, ESPECIALLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FUTURE GENERATIONS TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC LAND, THE VITAL NATURAL RESOURCE THE WILDLIFE WE HAVE WITHIN OUR BORDERS. BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, MR. CHAIRMAN. WE'VE HAD A TRADITION IN THIS PLACE FOR MANY YEARS OF HAVING STRONG, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR REASONABLE, SENSIBLE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. THAT'S WHY EARLIER THIS MONTH A COALITION OF OVER 640 OUTDOOR RECREATION ENTITIES SENT A LETTER TO EACH OF OUR OFFICES INCLUDING THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP EXPRESSING THEIR DEEP CONCERN AND DISMAY OVER THE FUNDING CUTS PROPOSED IN THIS APPROPRIATION BILL. THIS LETTER WAS SIGNED BY ENTITIES SUCH AS THE BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB, DUCKS UNLIMITED, NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION, THABBLE WILD TURKEY FOUNDATION, TEDY ROOSEVELT CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP, TROUT UNLIMITED AND IT WAS ALSO SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY, BILL MEADOWS AND THE BOARD MEMBER OF THE CIVIL WAR TRUST, JOHN MAO. I'D LIKE TO READ THE LETTER AT THIS TIME. WE ARE A BROAD COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING MILLIONS OF MEMBERS WITH DIVERSE POLITICAL BACKGROUNDS AND AREAS OF INTEREST UNITED BEHIND A SHARED BELIEF THAT NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION,OUT DOOR RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ARE VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR GREAT NATION. LIKE YOU, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR NATION'S FISCAL HEALTH. THE NATION FACES UNSUSTAINABLE FUTURE FISCAL DEFICITS WHICH MUST BE ADDRESSED. AS PART OF THE OVERALL SOLUTION TO OUR DEFICIT CHALLENGES, WE KNOW THAT CONSERVATION, RECREATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAMS WILL NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE EXEMPTED FROM SCRUTINY. WE ARE WILLING TO ENGAGE IN A PROCESS TO FIND FURTHER SAVINGS IN SPENDING TO REVIEW THE ECONOMIC AND BUDGETARY SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS. THE FEDERAL BUDGET SHOULD NOT BE BALANCED DISPR PORTION GNATLY ON THE BACKS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AND PRESERVATION BECAUSE OF FUTURE YEN RATIONS WHOSE WELL BEING DEPENDSEN OOUR CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. WE CARE ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. WE STAND READY TO WORK WITH YOU ON A SERIOUS EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE NATION'S SERIOUS ECONOMIC AND FISCAL CHALLENGES AS THEY RELATE TO CHOICES IN AND ABOVE WHAT WE CARE ABOUT. WE URGE THE CONGRESS TO ADDRESS THE FEDERAL DEFICIT WHILE ADDRESSING IN CRITICAL CONSERVATION AND HISTORIC RESERVATION PROGRAMS IN 2012. END QUOTE. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO HAVE THE RECORD -- HAVE THIS LETTER INSERTED IN THE RECORD AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THAT WILL BE COVERED BY YEN LEAVE. THESE GROUPS AND MANY OF US REALIZE THIS IS MORE THAN JUST BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAND AND DOING RIGHT BY FUTURE GENERATIONS. INVESTMENT IN THESE PROGRAMS ARE CRUCIAL FOR ECONOMIC THIS COUNTRY. THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY FOUNDATION ISSUED A SURVEY FROM YEAR TO YEAR SHOWING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MANY OF THESE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS ON OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES. THEY FOUND THAT OUTDOOR RECREATION CONTRIBUTES $700 BILLION ANNUALLY TO THE U.S. ECONOMY, SUPPORTS 6 PPT 5 MILLION PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS, ONE OF EVERY 20 JOB, AND STIMULATES 8% OF CONSUMER SPENDING. IN WISCONSIN ALONE, MY HOME STATE, HUNTING AND FISHING ALOAN SUPPORTS 57,000 JOBS $400 MILLION IN STATE REVENUE, SPORTSMEN SPEND $3.1 BILLION ANNUALLY WHICH HELPS STIMULATE THE WISCONSIN ECONOMY AND OTHER STATES. MR. CHAIRMAN, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN GIVING AT THE IDLE OF DEFICIT REDUCTION FOR SOMETIME. IN FACT, OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, AMERICANS INVESTMENT IN PARKS, WILDLIFE, CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER HAS FALLEN FROM 7.1% OF OVERALL BUDGET TO 6%. SO THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THERE'S BEEN A CONTINUAL REDUCTION FOR THESE PROGRAMS. FOR EVERY PUBLIC DOLLAR USED IT'S LEVERAGE TO DRAW IN MORE PRIVATE SECTOR DOLLARS. THIS, TOO BE, WILL BE IN GREAT JEOPARDY WITH THE DISMANTLING OF THESE PROGRAMS. THESE AREN'T PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN TURN OFF AT THE SPIGOT. YOU NEED A CONTINUITY OF IT WITH FUNDING OF THIS MAGNITUDE IT WILL BE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMAIN THAT CONTINUITY OF CARE. WHETHER IT'S TO CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, WILDLIFE, ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE UNDER DIRECT RESULT OF THE INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THE IRONY WITH ANOTHER PROGRAM IT'S FUNDED BY OIL ROYALTIES. IT'S A GRAND BARGAIN THAT'S BEEN USED IN THE PAST TO ALLOW OIL ON PUBLIC LANDS. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THIS APPROPRIATIONS BILL. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS. I YIELD BACK. BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE? WORD. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. WITHOUT OBJECTION. SPEAKER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THERE'S AN UNFORTUNATE TIME-HONORED TRADITION IN THE HOUSE OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE FLOOR AND OBJECTING TO REDUCTIONS IN SPENDING WITH HEART FELT ARGUMENTS AS TO WHY THE SPENDING IS NECESSARY AND NEVER OFFERING ANY SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY MIGHT BE MADE UP INSTEAD. AND THAT FRANKLY IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE THE HUGE DEFICITS AND DEBTS THAT WE DO, SO I WANT TO BREAK WITH THAT TRADITION AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT A SPENDING REDUCTION I HAVE A GREAT CONCERN ABOUT AND THEN TALK ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT MAKE IT UP INSTEAD. THERE IS NOT A PERSON IN THIS HOUSE WHO'S NOT BEEN TOUCHED IN SOME WAY BY CANCER IN THEIR FAMILY AND SOMEONE THEY LOVE, SOME FRIEND. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY HERE THAT HASN'T HAD THE HEARTBREAK OF DEALING WITH MALIG NANCY IN THEIR FAMILY -- MALIGNANCY IN THEIR FAMILY. I DON'T THINK THERE IS NOT A MEMBER THAT COULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT WHO IS INDIFFERENT OF THE PROBLEM OF FIGHTING CANCER. NOW, CANCER COMES FROM A LOT OF THINGS. IT'S GENETIC, IT'S HE HAD RED TEAR, IT COMES FROM FOODS. A LOT OF IT COMES FROM THE WATER. IF THE WATER WE COOK WITH, BATHE IN, IT COULD BE THE TRIGGER OF THE DREADED DISEASE OF CANCER . SO A LONG TIME AGO WHEN THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN THE 1960'S THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO CLEAN THE WATER OF THIS COUNTRY AND KEEP IT CLEAN. AND IT WAS UPHELD BY PRESIDENTS LIKE RONALD REAGAN AND GEORGE BUSH, BILL CLINTON, JIMMY CARTER, BARACK OBAMA, MANY OTHERS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL OF CONGRESS. THAT'S WHY I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY AND JUST BE ASTONISHED BY THE FACT THAT THE CLEAN WATER FUND IS CUT BY 55%. LET ME SAY THIS AGAIN. THE FUND THAT HAS BEEN SET UP TO PROTECT THE CLEAN WATER OF OUR COUNTRY, THAT IS CONSUMED BY REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, CUT BY 55%. THE AMOUNT OF THAT CUT IS ABOUT $833 MILLION BELOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR. ABOUT $833 MILLION. NOW, USUALLY PEOPLE STOP THERE, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE SHOULD GET THE MONEY INSTEAD. $833 MILLION IS LESS THAN THREE DAYS WORTH RF SPENDING IN IRAQ AND -- OF SPENDING IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. HOW ABOUT THAT? WE WILL SPEND MORE THAN $833 MILLION IN THE NEXT THREE DAYS IN KABUL AND BAGHDAD. IN PART TO HELP BUILD CLEAN WATER SYSTEMS THERE. IN PART TO HELP CREATE JOBS THERE. I JUST THINK THAT'S INEXCUSABLE THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE SPENDING IN TWO OR THREE DAYS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WHEN WE COULD SPEND TO ELIMINATE THIS CUT AND PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY. THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIES WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OIL COMPANIES. THE OIL COMPANIES MADE RECORD PROFITS IN 2010. THEY MADE ABOUT $60 BILLION IN PROFITS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. $77 BILLION, ACTUALLY, IN PROFITS LAST YEAR. WE'LL SPEND SIX TIMES AS MUCH OF THIS CUT IN THE CLEAN DRINKING WATER FUND TO GIVE MONEY AWAY TO THOSE OIL COMPANIES THIS YEAR. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO MADE $77 BILLION IN PROFITS LAST YEAR, WHOSE STOCKS ARE OFF THE CHARTS, WHO ARE PAYING THEIR C.E.O.'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COMPENSATION, AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM ABOUT $7 BILLION FROM THE WALLETS OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY THIS YEAR. THAT'S SIX TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THIS CUT IN THE CLEAN DRINKING WATER FUND. THE CLEAN WATER FUND, EXCUSE ME. SO I UNDERSTAND IF YOU COME TO THE FLOOR YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAYING, IF YOU DON'T CUT THIS YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAYING WHERE ELSE WE SHOULD GET IT FROM. SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE, MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE THIS -- LET'S NOT REDUCE THE CLEAN WATER FUND BY 55%. LET'S NOT SAY TO CITIES AND VILLAGES AND TOWNS AND STATES AND INDIAN TRIBES AROUND OUR COUNTRY THAT THE MONEY THAT WE LEND TO THEM -- WE DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM. MOST OF THE TIME IT'S A LOAN TO HELP BRING CLEAN WATER TO OUR KITCHENS AND OUR HOMES AND OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP AND WORK, HOSPITALS, LET'S NOT REDUCE THAT. INSTEAD, LET'S TAKE 2 1/2 DAYS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND PUT IT THERE. LET'S TAKE 1/6 OF THE MONEY WE'RE GOING TO HAND TO THE OIL COMPANIES AND PUT IT THERE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULDN'T TIME. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE RISE? WORD. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. I RISE TO I MOVE TO STRIKE THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF WORDS AND RISE IN OPPOSITION OF THE INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL. AS A MEMBER OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE I WANT TO THANK RANKING MEMBER MORAN AND OUR FULL COMMITTEE RANKING MEMBER, CONGRESSMAN DICKS, FOR LEADING THE FIGHT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AGAINST THIS REPUBLICAN ASSAULT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. SADLY, MR. CHAIR, THIS BILL IS NOTHING MORE THAN A VEHICLE FOR BIGGER PROFITS FOR BIG OIL AND OTHER SPECIAL INTERESTS POLLUTERS. THIS BILL IN ALL IT CONTAINS DESTROYS CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH. BY ATTACKING MORE THAN 40 EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POLICY RIDERS, THE REPUBLICANS TAKE DIRECT AIM ON THE WATER WE DRINK, THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE THIS TERRIBLE LEGISLATION GUTS THE BUDGETS OF KEY FEDERAL AGENCIES CHARGED WITH PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS AND OUR NATURAL NATIONAL RESOURCES. IT TERMINATES AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AS WELL AS AIR AND WATER CONSERVATION MONEY THAT WILL IMPACT ALL COMMUNITIES IN OUR COUNTRY. BUT THESE CUTS WILL HIT MY HOME STATE OF CALIFORNIA ESPECIALLY MR. CHAIR, I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF CALIFORNIA'S NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHICH HAS LONG BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT INCLUDING WORKING ON CRITICAL ISSUES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AS WELL AS FIGHTING FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, GREEN JOBS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. THIS BILL UNDERMINES THE CLEAN AIR ACT'S ABILITY TO CRACK DOWN ON AIR POLLUTION, THREATENING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES INCLUDING MY CONSTITUENTS IN THE EAST BAY, MANY OF WHOM SUFFER UNFAIRLY FROM POOR AIR QUALITY. NOW, LET ME JUST TELL YOU THIS STORY, THIS PERSONAL STORY. MANY OF MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, MIND YOU, WHO GREW UP IN -- WITH ME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, A POLLUTED NEIGHBORHOOD IN EL PASO, TEXAS, MANY OF THEM WERE DEAD, MIND YOU, BEFORE THEY TURNED 55 YEARS OF AGE OR MANY OF THEM WHO ARE STILL ALIVE HAVE CHRONIC OR DEBILITATING DISEASES. AND THESE TRAGEDIES CAN BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH I LIVED IN AND GREW UP IN IN EL PASO, TEXAS. ALSO, LET ME SAY, THIS BILL IS UNJUST BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES REFUSE TO FUND E.P.A. AT A LEVEL WHERE THERE CAN BE SOME JUSTICE IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL PROGRAMS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADMINISTRATION WHERE IT CAN IMPLEMENT ITS CORE MISSION OF PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS MEANS THAT MORE WOMEN AND MORE CHILDREN AND MORE PEOPLE FACING OR LIVING IN IMPOVERTY OR NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF POLLUTION, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE. SADLY, THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE REPUBLICAN PLAN TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR. RATHER THAN CREATING JOBS, THIS BILL GUTS FUNDING TO CREATE JOBS, ESPECIALLY GREEN JOBS. RATHER THAN THE REPUBLICANS TAKING ACTION TO PROTECT OUR NATION'S CLEAN WATER SUPPLY AND OPEN SPACES, THIS BILL TAKES US BACK TO DIRTY WATER AND CLOSED PARKS. RATHER THAN TAKING ACTION TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY CAN TRUST OUR GOVERNMENT, AND THEY WANT TO TRUST US, TO PROTECT THE WATER THAT THEY DRINK AND THE AIR THAT THEY BREATHE, THIS BILL ROLLS BACK THE STANDARDS AND PROTECTIONS AIMED AT PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH. MR. CHAIRMAN, AS A PERSON OF FAITH, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MORAL AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE NATURAL RESOURCES PROVIDED BY OUR CREATOR. THIS MEASURE BEFORE US PROHIBITS US FROM ACTING ON THAT VERY, VERY SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY. HOW CAN WE HERE MAKE DECISIONS THAT KNOWINGLY HARM PEOPLE? HOW CAN WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT POLLUTE OUR ENVIRONMENT? HOW CAN WE MAKE THESE CRASS DECISIONS AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT WILL INCREASE HEALTH HAZARDS LEADING TO DISEASES SUCH AS CANCER? PEOPLE ELECT US BECAUSE THEY TRUST US TO MAKE DECISIONS TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. THEY WANT US TO PRESERVE OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET. FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE COUNTING ON US. THIS BILL REALLY DOES LET THEM WE NEED TO DEFEAT THIS HORRIBLY DESTRUCTIVE BILL AND MOVE QUICKLY TO MATTERS THAT AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT US TO ADDRESS LIKE TO CREATE JOBS, TO RAISE OUR DEBT CEILING AND TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH. THANK YOU AND I YIELD THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION? FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM ILLINOIS RISE? TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WHILE OUR NATION STUMBLES TO A DEFAULT, WE ARE WASTING TIME TO CONSIDER A BILL THAT WILL NOT MOVE THROUGH THE CITY AND WHICH THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY THREATENED TO VETO. IT ARTICULATES THE REPUBLICANS IN THIS HOUSE THIS IS A BILL THAT REALLY MAKES ONE SHAKE ONE'S HEAD. IT IS AN ASTONISHING EFFORT TO DESTROY HARD, LONGSTANDING AND SUCCESSFUL POPULAR LAWS. IT BALANCES MINIMAL COST SAVINGS ON THE BACK OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES. H.R. 2584, THE FUNDING BILL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES, COMPLETELY GUTS FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LANDS AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AND DESPERATELY NEED. A 64% CUT TO THE STATE AND TRIBAL WILDLIFE GRANTS PROGRAM AND A 95% CUT TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUNDS MEAN WE CAN EXPECT A RAPID INCREASE IN ENDANGERED AND EXTINCT SPECIES ON FEDERAL AND NONFEDERAL LANDS ALIKE. AN 80% REDUCTION TO THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND MEANS WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF LANDMARKS INCLUDING HARPERS FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, OR CALIFORNIA'S BIG SUR COAST. A 40% COAST TO THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION SYSTEM MEANS 27 MILLION ACRES OF NATIONAL MONUMENTS, WILDERNESS SCENIC RIVERS AND OTHER TREASURES WILL BE INADEQUATELY PROTECTED. A 60% CUT TO THE NORTHERN AMERICAN WETTELAND CONSERVATION ACT MEANS OUR BIRDS AND FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES WILL LOSE PROTECTIONS THAT KEEP THESE POPULATIONS VIABLE. A 55% REDUCTION TO THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND MEANS LESS PROTECTION FOR QUALITY -- FOR WATER QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND A PROHIBITION OF FUNDING FOR THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE MEAN MISHOME STATE OF ILLINOIS AND THE GREAT LAKE MICHIGAN WILL LOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE FOOD JOBS AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR MILLIONS OF OUR CITIZENS. AND WHILE THIS BILL SEVERELY CUTS THESE AND OTHER PRIORITIES, IT PROVIDES HANDOUTS TO CORPORATE POLLUTERS IN THE FORM OF POLICY RIDERS. THESE WOULD THREATEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WHICH HAVE PROTECTED OUR COUNTRY FOR DECADES. ONE RIDER REVERSES A MORATORIUM ON URANIUM MINING ON THE RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON. IT WOULD TURN ONE OF OUR NATION'S MOST ICONIC LANDMARKS INTO AN EYESORE. ANOTHER EXTENDS LOOPHOLES FROM THE CLEAN WATER ACT JEOPARDIZING DRINKING WATER FOR 117 MILLION AMERICANS. MANY OTHERS WEAKEN THE CLEAN AIR ACT WHICH SAVED AN ESTIMATED 160,000 LIVES JUST LAST YEAR. THE CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER ACT PROTECTED AMERICAN HEALTH AND WELFARE FOR 40 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN THE CAT RHYS FOR GREEN ENERGY INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION. MORE THAN 80% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BELIEVE THE E.P.A. SHOULD NOT BE PREVENTED FROM PERFORMING ITS DUTIES. A GALLUP POLL REPORTS THAT FOUR OUT OF FIVE AMERICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WATER THEY DRINK, AS WELL THEY SHOULD. ALTHOUGH THIS LEGISLATION IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL AT THE WHITE HOUSE, IT POSES A FUNDAMENTAL DEBATE ABOUT THE TYPE OF COUNTRY WE WANT TO HAND OVER TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. DO WE WANT TO BE A NATION THAT OVERSEES THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ANIMAL POPULATIONS AND WELTLANDS AND NATIONAL PARKS BECAUSE WE AREN'T WILLING TO ASK FOR ONE PENNY MORE FROM MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES? DO WE WANT TO BE A NATION THAT TURNS AWAY FROM WATER TREATMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE HOPES THAT NO ONE WILL NOTICE? DO WE WANT TO BE A NATION THAT VALUES THE PROFITS OF CORPORATE POLLUTERS OVER THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN? THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS CLEARLY STATED ITS POSITION. I OPPOSE THIS BILL. THE FUNDING CUTS AND DESTRUCTIVE POLICY RIDERS THAT RID UNTIL BILL TURN BACK THE CLOCK ON VITAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH POLICIES. WE OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO UPHOLD OUR COMMITMENT TO CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND PRESERVED NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS WEEKEND, MY GRANDCHILDREN, MY GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO CELEBRATED HER 10TH BIRTHDAY, HAD HER PARTY ON LAKE MICHIGAN AND ENJOYED THE PRECIOUS CLEAN WATER. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ATTACK ON OUR AMERICAN RESOURCES AND OUR VALUES. THE GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE? MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME, I STRIKE THE LAST WORD. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. I'VE BEEN LISTENING FROM AFAR TO THIS DISCUSSION ON THE FLOOR WHICH IS SO, SO FASCINATING. THE FORMER MAJORITY WANTING SO DESPERATELY TO BECOME THE MAJORITY AGAIN IS SUGGESTING THAT BY WAY OF THIS BILL WE'RE TAKING THE HEART OUT OF AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. THE FACT IS, IN RECENT YEARS, THE FORMER MAJORITY INCREASED SPENDING IN ALL THESE CATEGORIES AT LEVELS THAT WOULD ALMOST STARTLE THE PEOPLE IF THEY COULD EVER SEE THE DETAILED FACTS. THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT INCREASING SPENDING TO THEIR WISH LIST AHEAD SOME WAY BECOMES A CUT IN THEIR MIND'S EYE. WHEN WE'RE FACED WITH REALITY THAT THE COVERED WAGON THAT TOOK US TO CALIFORNIA FROM THE EAST IS ABOUT TO GO OVER THE CLIFF OF BANKRUPTCY IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT SPENDING. THIS SAME VOICE OR SERIES OF VOICES CURRENTLY IS DOING BATTLE OVER THE DEBT LIMITATION AND THEY'RE SUGGESTING THAT WE'RE HOLDING THIS UP BECAUSE OF SOME LOOPHOLES IN TAXES OTHERWISE FOR THE SO-CALLED RICH. CONVERSATIONS TAKING PLACE BY MANY OF THE RICH OF THE HOUSE INDEIDRE FLECTS THE REALITY THAT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT IS MORE SPENDING, MORE FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS, WHILE WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO CUT BACK SPENDING AND CUT THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THESE SAME VOICES WILL NOT GIVE UP UNTIL THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SO ONE OF THE TWO PARTIES HAVING THIS DISCUSSION WANT MORE SPENDING IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, WANT MORE TAXES, THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS DISCUSSION WOULD SUGGEST WE OUGHT TO CUT BACK SPENDING, MAKE SENSE OUT OF OUR BUDGET AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR KEEPING SOME MONEY IN THEIR JEANS, INVESTING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IS THE WAY TO CREATE JOBS. WHILE IT'S FASCINATING TO WATCH THIS DISCUSSION, I'M GLAD TO COME BACK THREE OR FOUR MORE TIMES AND HAVE THIS DISCUSSION BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT OR REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE INTERIOR BILL RATHER THAN THE RHETORIC THAT'S PART OF NEXT YEAR'S CAMPAIGN. BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE? TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECK THESED FOR FIVE MINUTES. WHAT A FORE-- WHAT A FORTUITOUS MOMENT TO FLOLE MY COLLEAGUE FROM CALIFORNIA. I DO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE INTERIOR BUDGET. I KNOW WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR MEANS TO AMERICA. EARLY THIS MORNING, I LEFT SACRAMENTO. MY MIND WAS VERY MUCH ON THE DEBATE YOU JUST SUGGESTED, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE DEFICIT. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG AS I SAT BY THE WINDOW, AS I MOVED OVER THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, TO NEVADA AND ACROSS THE ROCKIES AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION. FOR MOST OF THE WAY IT WAS RATHER CLEAR. WE HAVE AN AWESOME, UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND WE'RE THE STRONGEST NATION IN THE WORLD AND WE HAVE GREAT ECONOMIC STRENGTH. THIS BILL, HOWEVER, WOULD TAKE THIS GREAT NATION, THE GREAT BEAUTY, THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE OF AMERICA AND PUT THEM AT RISK. AND PUT THIS NATION'S EX-TRORDNARY BEAUTY AND RESOURCES AT RISK. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THIS ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE BUDGET DEFICIT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THIS IS A MIN US KUHL PART OF THE OVERALL FEDERAL BUDGET. IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THIS NATION'S PHYSICAL AND HUMAN HEALTH. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. THIS BILL AS WRITTEN WOULD BRING TO THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA POISON. IT IS THE POISONING OF OUR RIVERS AND OUR AIR. USE WHATEVER WORD YOU WANT ABOUT CLEANING UP, USE THE NICE WORDS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POISONING THE RIVERS AND AIR OF AMERICA. THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES. WHEN YOU TAKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND YOU TAKE AWAY ITS ABILITY TO PROTECT US, THEN YOU ARE ALLOWING POISONS TO BE IN OUR WATER AND IN OUR AIR AND IN OUR LAND. YOU LOOK AT THIS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I WILL NOT YIELD, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR TIME LATER. YOU LOOK AT THIS BILL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY PHYSICAL NATURE OF AMERICA. DO YOU WANT THE GREAT MOUNTAINS OF THE APPALACHIAS TO BE FLATTENED SO YOU CAN HAVE MORE COAL TO BURN IT AND FOUL THE ATMOSPHERE? THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY OF THIS NATION TO PROTECT YOUR PRECIOUS MO JAVY DESERT? THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL -- MOJAVE DESERT? THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES. DO YOU WANT TO ALLOW THOSE WHO WOULD DESTROY BY GRABBING THE RESOURCES OF THIS NATION WITHOUT EVEN BOTHERING TO PAY A DECENT ROYALTY, THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES. WHETHER IT'S THE OIL IN THE GULF OR THE COPPER IN A NEW MINE IN ARIZONA. I'VE LISTENED TO THE REPUBLICAN BILLS DAY AFTER DAY ON THIS FLOOR AND IN COMMITTEE AND THEY WOULD STRIP AWAY, THEY WOULD STRIP AWAY THE PROTECTIONS THAT AMERICANS WANT FOR THEIR HEALTH AND FOR THEIR LAND. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE MY COLLEAGUE FROM NEW JERSEY SAID IT VERY WELL. IT'S IN AFGHANISTAN AND IT'S IN BAGHDAD. WE'RE BUILDING THE BRIDGES, WE'RE BUILDING -- CLEANING THE RIVERS, PROVIDING THE WATER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THERE TO THE TUNE OF $150 BILLION A YEAR. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME. BRING OUR MONEY BACK TO AMERICA. BUILD AMERICA. WE RE-BUILD AMERICA. THERE'S THE ANSWER. NOT IN THIS WAY. -- NOT IN THIS WAY WILL YOU EVER SOLVE THE DEFICIT. AND BY THE WAY THIS BILL LAYS OFF PEOPLE. 15,000 PEOPLE AT THE E.P.A. ALONE. THIS BILL WILL NOT BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS BILL WILL TAKE AWAY THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR SANITATION SYSTEMS, FOR OUR WATER SYSTEMS. THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES. MY COLLEAGUE FROM CALIFORNIA KNOWS FULL GOOD AND WELL WHAT'S INTENDED HERE. IT'S TO GIVE OUR RESOURCES TO THE POLLUTERS. IT'S TO FOUL OUR AIR. IT'S TO REMOVE THE ABILITY OF THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA, NOT SOME GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON, BUT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA HAVE FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS DEMANDED CLEAN WATER THAT THEIR RESOURCES BE PROTECTED, THAT THE COMMONS BE PROTECTED. S THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA THAT WANT A FUTURE THAT'S GOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THAT WANT A FUTURE THAT'S VIABLE. THAT WANT A FUTURE THAT DOES NOT HAVE POISONED WATER AND AIR. THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA WANT. THIS BILL GOES EXACTLY THE WRONG DIRECTION. I YIELD BACK MY TIME. BACK. WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION? THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN RISE? WORD. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. CHAIRMAN, I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO FISCAL 2012 INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL. I DO WANT TO START ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE BILL WOULD RESTORE THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED CUTS TO MITIGATION FISH HATCHERIES, THAT'S A GOOD THING. IT WOULD INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND IT WOULD LARGELY MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICES AND THE SMITHSONIAN. I COMMEND THEM FOR THOSE DIGS. BUT THE LIST OF POSITIVE THINGS IS PRETTY SHORT. I WANT TO IN THE TIME I HAVE LIST SOME OF THE DEVASTATING CUTS THIS BILL INCLUDES. WHILE OUR FRIEND FROM CALIFORNIA HAS SUGGESTED THESE REAL REALLY AREN'T DEEP CUTS, I BELIEVE THE CONTENT OF THIS BILL BELIES THAT NOTION. THE BILL BEFORE US PICKS UP WHERE H.R. 1 LEFT OFF LAST SPRING, MAKING NUMEROUS AND DEEP CUTS TO THE PROGRAMS THAT PROTECT OUR AIR, WATER, PUBLIC LANDS AND WILDLIFE. HERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS CUTS IN THIS FIRST THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND. THIS FUNDS THE ACCUSATION OF PUBLIC LANDS SO THEY'RE PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT CAN BE ENJOYED BY FUTURE YEN RATIONS. THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND HAS A DEDICATED REVENUE STREAM FROM OFFSHORE DRILLING ROYALTIES. IT TAKES NOTHING FROM THE GENERAL FUND. YET THIS BILL WOULD CUT LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. BIG 80%, THE LOWEST LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM IN 45 YEARS. IT THREATENS COMPLETION OF THE ACCUSATION OF THE ROCKY FORD TRACK IN EAST TENNESSEE AND SEVERAL TREASURES IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT NEED PROTECTION. EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY SHOULD ASK, HOW MANY ACCUSATION PROJECTS WOULD THIS HALT IN MY STATE? THERE IS NO REASSURING ANSWER. SECONDLY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. THE BILL CONTINUES THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY'S ASSAULT ON THE E.P.A. AFTER IMPOSING A 16% CUT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE MAJORITY IS NOW PROPOSING A FURTHER 18% REDUCTION IN THE AGENCY'S BUDGET. THAT WOULD PUSH AGENCY STAFFING TO 1991 LEVELS. THE GOAL OF THE CUT SO MASSIVE IS PLAIN AND SIMPLE TO ENSURE THAT E.P.A. DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO FULFILL ITS CORE MISSION, INCLUDING LIFE-SAVING AND LIFE ENHANCING RESEARCH BASED IN MY DISTRICT AT RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK. THIRD, THE CLEAN WATER AND DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND, THE S.R.F.'S, PROVIDE FUNDING TO STATES TO FUND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO ALLOW COMMUNITIES TO BETTER MANAGE WASTEWATER AND PROTECT AND SAFE DRINKING WATER. THIS PROVIDES ONE OF THE MOST BASIC SERVICES TAXPAYERS EXPECT. CLEAN WATER. AND YET THIS BILL WOULD CUT FUNDING FOR THESE TWO PROGRAMS BY NEARLY $1 BILLION COMBINED. GIVEN HOW ESSENTIAL WATER SUPPLY IS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, THIS IS IRONIC AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME AS OUR COMMUNITIES STRUGGLE TO RETAIN AND REGAIN JOBS. I SUGGEST TO COLLEAGUES, ASK YOUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE UP THIS DIFFERENCE. MR. CHAIRMAN, AS IF THESE CUTS WEREN'T BAD ENOUGH, THE MAJORITY HAS LOADED THIS BILL WITH LEGISLATIVE POLICY RIDERS AND FUNDING LIMITATIONS THAT WILL ROLL BACK 40 YEARS OF PROGRESS TOWARD CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER. THESE ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL RIDERS HAVE NO PLACE IN AN APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THEY WILL NOT SAVE THE COUNTRY A PENNY AND WILL COST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES, EXPOSE OUR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO UNNECESSARY ILLNESSES, AND THEY WILL DEGRADE OUR IRREPLACEABLE NATURAL RESOURCES. THE MAJORITY CLAIMS THAT THESE CUTS ARE NEEDED TO DEMONSTRATE FISCAL DISCIPLINE. MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS BOOK IS A TEXTBOOK CASE IN FALSE ECONOMIES. IN GUTTING CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS, IT PILES UP FRIGHTFUL ECONOMIC AND HUMAN COSTS FOR THE FUTURE. OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR ENVIRONMENT TODAY AND IN FUTURE GENERATIONS DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT THIS BILL IS OFFERING. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THIS SHORTSIGHTED APPROPRIATIONS BILL. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE? WORD. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EVER CONSIDERED. IT CUTS FUNDING TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IN HALF A IT OPENS THE GRAND CANYON TO URANIUM MINING. IT DENIES THE EXISTENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ELIMINATES FUNDING FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES TO MONITOR AND ADAPT TO IT. IT CONTAINS MORE THAN THREE DOZEN ANTI-ENVIRONMENT POLICY RIDERS THAT EVISCERATE THE CLEAN AIR ACT, THE CLEAN WATER ACT, THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES. THE BILL DESECRATES THE LEGACY OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT AND A LONG LINE OF BIPARTISAN CONSERVATION LEADERS WHILE IT ALSO ENDANGERS PUBLIC HEALTH. A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY CLAIMS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT SPENDING, BUT THIS RECKLESS BILL WOULD IMPOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, MR. CHAIRMAN, OF HEALTH CARE COSTS ON AMERICANS BY INCREASING THE INCIDENTS OF ASTHMA, EMPHYSEMA, HEART ATTACKS AND EVEN PREMATURE DEATHS. THIS ENVIRONMENTAL BILL WILL INCREASE HEALTH CARE COSTS BY UP TO $539 BILLION, ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SINCE MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND CHIP ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 33.9% OF TOTAL HEALTH CARE COSTS, THIS REPUBLICAN BILL WILL COST TAXPAYERS SOME $179 BILLION MORE. IN ADDITION, IT WILL CAUSE MORE THAN 60,000 PREMATURE DEATHS. 20 MILLION LOST DAYS OF WORK. AND 36,800 ADDITIONAL HEART ATTACKS IN AMERICA. THIS BILL ELIMINATES FUNDING FOR CRITICAL LAND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES, COMPLETELY PROGRAM. IT DEFUNDS THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION PROGRAM. IT BLOCKS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS FOR PARTICULAT, LEAD AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. IT REPEALS CLEAN WATER ACT STANDARDS TO PROTECT STREAMS FROM MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL. IT IMPERILS THE COLLEGELINESS OF DRINKING WATER BY UNREGULATED DISPOSAL OF COAL. THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY SEEMS TO BE LIVING IN AN ALTERNATIVE AS AMERICANS FACE UNPRECEDENTED DROUGHT IN THE SOUTHWEST, RECORD FLOODS IN THE MISSISSIPPI BASIN, RECORD HEAT HERE IN EASTERN AND MIDWESTERN CITIES, ACCELERATING SEA LEVEL RISES AND OTHER SYMPTOMS OF GLOBAL WARMING, THIS BILL BLOCKS FUNDING EVEN TO MONITOR GLOBAL WARMING. NOT ONLY DO REPUBLICANS DENY THE EXISTENCE OF GLOBAL WARMING, APPARENTLY, THEY HAVE EVEN BLOCKED FUNDING TO MONITOR ITS IMPACTS. THIS RECKLESS POLICY RIDER DOESN'T JUST ENDANGER POLAR BEARS, CORAL REEFS AND COUNTLESS OTHER SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS, IT ENDANGERS AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE. FROM THE NORFOLK NAVAL BASE TO THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL. IT ENDANGERS PUBLIC HEALTH BY INCREASING SMOG SOLUTION AND HEALTH-RELATED DEATHS AS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE RECENT HEAT WAVE THAT SWEPT ACROSS THE EAST AND MIDWEST UNITED STATES, SETTING RECORD TEMPERATURES HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., NEWARK AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE EASTERN SEABOARD. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REJECT THIS RECKLESS LEGISLATION THAT DEFUNDS CRITICAL LAND PROGRAMS, EVISCERATE 40 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND DESECRATES THE MEMORY OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT. BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE? I MOVE TO STRIKE THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF WORDS. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. SPEAKER, OUR COUNTRY IS FACING AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT MOMENT AS CRITICAL DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE REGARDING THE NATIONAL DEBT AND OUR LONG-TERM DEFICIT AND HOW TO CONSTRAIN SPENDING. MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS AISLE RECOGNIZE THE REALITY THAT WE NEED TO RESTORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR BUDGET. HOWEVER, MR. SPEAKER, IN TIMES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE WE NEED TO STAY FOCUS ON WHAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS AND WHAT'S BEST FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND AVOID THE TEMPTATION TO PLAY POLITICS AS THIS BILL DOES. FAR TOO MUCH HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT BY THE MAJORITY PARTY UNDER THE GUISE OF COST CUTTING AND THE DEFICIT WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY POLICYMAKING TO IMPLEMENT A HARD RIGHT RADICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA WHICH CAN ACTUALLY COST MORE MONEY IN TERM. MR. SPEAKER, THE CUTS PROPOSED BY THE MAJORITY IN BILL HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IMPLEMENTING RADICAL ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL IDEOLOGY. THE BILL MAKES SWEEPING CUTS TO CRITICAL PROGRAMS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH, REDUCE OUR EXPENDITURES FOR HEALTH CARE, PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND KEEP INDUSTRY FROM RUNNING OVER THE PUBLIC AND CONSUMER RIGHTS. YET, AT THE SAME TIME IT DOES THAT, MR. SPEAKER, IT INCREASES SPENDING ON PROGRAMS THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE THAN HANDOUTS TO OIL COMPANIES AND MINING COMPANIES. ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG GROUP, THE GRAND DADDY OF FEDERAL SUBSIDIES IT WAS CALLED. THIS ISN'T ABOUT SAVING TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES IN THIS IT'S ABOUT SLASHING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS OR GIVING HANDOUTS IN SOME OF THE MOST DIRTIEST INDUSTRIES. THERE IS MORE PORK IN THIS THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SPENDING BILL THAT -- DEMANDED BY THE NATION'S WORST POLLUTERS, OTHER SPECIAL INTERESTS WHO RECEIVE HANDOUTS UNDER THIS BILL. YET, WHILE THIS BILL WOULD DO AWAY WITH THE CLEAN WATER ACT, PUTTING THE REST OF US IN DANGER BECAUSE MOUNTAIN TOP COAL MINING INDUSTRIES AND FACTORY FARMS WANT IT AND WHILE IT DOES AWAY WITH PROVISIONS OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT, THERE WILL BE MORE TOXIC MERCURY, ARSENIC AND LEAD IN OUR AIR AND PUT OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH AT RISK. STATES WOULD BE BLOCKED FROM MOVING AHEAD WITH THEIR OWN CLEAN CAR STANDARDS, THREATENING THE HEALTH OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN, ELDERLY CITIZENS AND OTHER CITIZEN TO ELIMINATE DANGEROUS CARBON POLLUTION FROM POWER PLANTS AND OTHER STATIONARY SOURCES. THIS BILL EXAT THE INDICTS URANIUM MINING IN THE GRAND CANYON, GIVES PUBLIC EXEMPTION OF GRAZING ON PUBLIC LANDS, DOESN'T PROTECT BIG HORN SHEEP AND GRAY WOLVES AND OTHER ELEMENTS THAT THREATEN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND ARE AN ADDITIONAL HANDOUT TO BIG OIL. THIS IS A POLLUTERS' WISH LIST OF SUBSIDIES, HANDOUT AND PORK. THE MAJORITY CAN CALL IT WHAT THEY WILL BUT DON'T SAY THIS BILL SERVES THE CAUSE OF COST CUTTING WHILE IT LARDS UP PROGRAMS THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE THAN A SUBSIDY TO WEALTHY MINING AND DRILLING INTERESTS. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RISE? MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK. REPORT THE AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. RICHMOND OF LOUISIANA. PAGE 2, LINE 20, AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT DECREESD BY $6 MILLION. PAGE 19, LINE TO , AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT INCREESD BY $5 MILLION. PURSUANT TO THE RULE , THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES AND A PERSON OPPOSED WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THE GENTLEMAN WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. CHAIRMAN, WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES IS INCREASES THE FUNDING FOR OUR BUREAU OF OCEANS MANAGEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT BY $5 MILLION. WHAT IT WOULD DO IS IT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO QUICKEN THE PACE TO PERMIT APPROVAL AND IN TURN PROMOTE THE RATE OF OIL AND GAS INVESTMENT IN THE GULF REGION. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS INVESTMENT, WE WILL REDUCE THE RANGE LAND MANAGEMENT FUND BY $6 MILLION WHICH STILL LEAVES THAT FUND ABOVE ITS FISCAL YEAR 2011 FUNDING LEVELS. NOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, LET ME POINT OUT TO YOU WHY THIS IS THE WISE THING TO DO. IN RESPONSE TO THE DEEPWATER HORIZON EXPLOSION AND THE RESULTING OIL SPILL LAST YEAR, IN MAY THE ADMINISTRATION ISSUED A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM, HALTING THE PERMITS OF OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION ON THE O.C.S. THE MORATORIUM WAS LIFTED BUT SINCE THEN THE PERMITS HAVE BEEN SLOW. PRESIDENT OBAMA DIRECTED THEM TO REORGANIZE ITSELF INTO TWO INDEPENDENT GROUPS. ONE THAT HANDLES REVENUE FROM OIL AND GAS LEASING AND THE OTHER THAT REGULATES THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY. THIS IS ALL THE CHANGE THAT MOST OF US BELIEVE IS NECESSARY AND WISE. HOWEVER, THE SPEED OF PERMITTING ACTIVITY HAS NOT RETURNED TO PRE-DEEPWATER HORIZON LEVELS. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AND GROWING BACKLOG OF DRILLING PLANS PENDING APPROVAL. THE NUMBER OF PENDING DEEP-WATER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS HAS INCREASED BY MORE THAN 250%. THIS IS UP FROM A HISTORIC AVERAGE OF 18 PLANS PENDING TO NOW NEARLY 65 PENDING APPROVAL. ALSO, THERE'S A DRASTIC DECLINE IN DRILLING PERMIT APPROVALS. DEEP-WATER EXPLORATION AND DRILLING PERMIT APPROVALS HAVE DECLINED BY APPROXIMATELY 80%, DOWN FROM AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 160 PER YEAR TO A PACE OF ONLY 30 PER YEAR. SHALLOW-WATER EXPLORATION AND DROFMENTE, DRILLING PERMITS HAVE ALSO DROPPED BY NEARLY 50% FROM AN AVERAGE OF 390 PER YEAR YEAR. MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS A RECENT STUDY THAT SHOWED THAT INCREASING THE PACE OF PERMITTING AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE PACE AND SCALE OF INVESTMENT IN THE GULF WOULD CREATE 230,000 DOMESTIC JOBS IN 2012 AS WELL AS MORE THAN $44 PRODUCT. AND I JUST WANT TO HARP ON THAT NUMBER FOR A SECOND, MR. CHAIRMAN, BECAUSE AS WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE 112TH CONGRESS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEMANDING THAT WE USE THE MONEY WE HAVE EFFICIENTLY SO THAT WE CAN INVEST IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND GET A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT. SO HERE WE'RE ASKING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR $5 MILLION AND ASKING OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO EARLIER THIS YEAR PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WAS PURPORTED TO INCREASE DRILLING AND TO LOWER GAS PRICES. WELL, NOW THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE $5 MILLION, INVEST IT AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE 230,000. THERE ARE 14.1 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, MR. SPEAKER, WHO ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING EMPLOYMENT WHO CAN'T FIND IT. HERE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO HELP 230,000 OF THEM IN FISCAL YEAR 2012 ALONE SAND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCREASE OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY $44 MILLION. MR. CHAIRMAN, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING. THEY WANT US TO USE OUR MONEY WISELY. THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT I'D JUST ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDE OF THE AISLES TO SUPPORT THIS. IT'S A JOB-CREATION AMENDMENT, AND I WOULD JUST ASK FOR THE SUPPORT, AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO RISE? TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD IN OPPOSITION OF THE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT. THE AMENDMENT WOULD TAKE $6 MILLION FROM B.L.M.'S LANDS AND RESOURCES AND TRANSFER IT. THE B.L.M.'S MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT HAS ALREADY BEEN CUT $43.5 MILLION BELOW FISCAL YEAR 2011. THIS FUND ALLOWS THE B.L.M. TO TAKE CARE OF MORE THAN 235 MILLION SURFACE ACRES, FURTHER CUTS TO THIS ACCOUNT WOULD NOT BE WARRANTED. I WANT TO COMMEND THE GENTLEMAN FOR THE LOCATION WHERE HE WANTS TO SEND THE MONEY. HAVE NO BIG OPPOSITION TO THE INCREASE IN THE OTHER SPENDING, BUT WE DID THE BEST WE COULD TO BALANCE THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION. BOMA HAS ALREADY BEEN INCREASED ABOVE 2011. IT HAS BEEN INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN SEVERAL CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS. THEREFORE, BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE OFFSET, I URGE OUR COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THE I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. THE NOES HAVE IT. THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO A RECORDED VOTE. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY LOUISIANA -- THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RISE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA RISE? I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK. DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT. REPORT THE AMENDMENT. AN AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. RICHMOND OF LOUISIANA. PAGE 2, LINE 20, AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT REDUCED BY PAGE 10, LINE 21, AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT INCREASED BY $10,617,000. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MR. CHAIRMAN, AGAIN, I RISE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE WISE INVESTMENTS INTO THE FUTURE AND STABILITY OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY. FOR THE LAST 21 YEARS THE NORTH AMERICAN WHALING CONSERVATION ACT HAS CREATED JOBS AND SERVED AS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT TO OUR NATION'S ECONOMY AND FOR WETLANDS IN EVERY SINGLE STATE. IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTORING 26 MILLION ACRES OF WETLANDS, OHIO. NOT ONLY DID IT RESTORE OVER 26 MILLION ACRES, IT ALSO CREATED NEARLY 7,500 JOBS ANNUALLY AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN WORKER EARNINGS EVERY YEAR. IF WE LOOK AT THE FISCAL YEAR 2011 APPROPRIATIONS WITH $37.5 MILLION DOWN FROM $47.6 MILLION FROM FISCAL YEAR 2010. THIS BILL ALLOCATES ONLY $20 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012, A CUT OF 47% FROM FISCAL YEAR 2011 LEVELS AND 58% FROM FISCAL YEAR 2010. HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART. THE LAW REQUIRES THAT EACH FEDERAL DOLLAR PUT INTO THE PROGRAM BE MATCHED BY $1 IN NONFEDERAL FUNDS. BECAUSE THE COMPETITION FOR THESE DOLLARS IS SO GREAT, ON AVERAGE, EACH FEDERAL DOLLAR IS MATCHED THREE TO ONE. I THINK THAT -- OVER AND OVER AGAIN I KEEP SAYING THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR US TO SPEND MONEY IN GREAT COUNTRY WHERE WE GET A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT. NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM WHERE FOR EVERY $1 WE SPEND ON THIS PROGRAM, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GET $3. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING SHIP TIMES. I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE TO LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE SPENDING MONEY IN THIS BILL, AND PUT MONEY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET A GOOD RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE JOHNS AND AT THE SAME TIME PRESERVE AND RESTORE OUR WETLANDS. THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I THINK IS THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, THE WISE THING TO DO AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT IT. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS. THE GENTLEMAN MAY NOT YIELD BLOCKS OF TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS RECOGNIZED. I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA FOR YIELDING. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE RICHMOND AMENDMENT AND IN OPPOSITION TO THE INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT PROPINGS AND I DO SO BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE SUCH DRASTIC CUTS TO PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT OUR NATION'S DRINKING WATER AND REDUCE THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE. FOR EXAMPLE, ILLINOIS WHERE I LIVE, THE DRINKING WATER SYSTEM HAS A REQUIRED INVEST OMENT $13.5 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS TO REPLACE AGING FACILITIES AND COMPLY WITH SAFE DRINKING REGULATIONS. IN 2009, TOTAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR DRINKING WATER WAS LESS THAN $3 BILLION, WHICH INCLUDED A ONE-TIME $2 BILLION INFUSION OF FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT. WITHIN COOK COUNTY, A LARGE PORTION OF MY DISTRICT, WE CAN TAKE ONLY HALF AN INCH OF RAIN WATER BEFORE FLOODING TAKES PLACE. THIS MEANS SEVERE SEWER WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINATION FLOODING STREETS AND HOMES. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO REDUCE THE HEALTH AN SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS AND WE CANNOT DISRUPT OUR ENVIRONMENT. AGAIN, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND URGE SUPPORT OF HIS AMENDMENT AND URGE THAT WE DEFEAT THE OVERALL APPROPRIATION BILL. I YIELD BACK. MR. CHAIRMAN, IN CLOSING, I WOULD SAY THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY SMALL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE AN AWFUL BILL JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT AND I YIELD BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO RISE? TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS AMENDMENT. WE INDICATED THE ACCOUNT IS ALREADY CUT BELOW THE FISCAL YEAR 2011 LEVEL AND $15.5 BILLION BELOW THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST. IN ADDITION, THIS TIME THE PRESIDENT ATTEMPTS TO REACH THE SECRETARY'S ACCOUNT AND WANTS TO REDUCE IT BY $6.8 MILLION. THAT ACCOUNT, NOBODY LIKES TO STAND UP FOR BUREAUCRATS OR SECRETARIES AROUND HERE THAT ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CUT BY $33.5 MILLION. ANY FURTHER REDUCTIONS COULD IMPEDE THE NEW OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCE REVENUE WHICH COLLECTS THE REVENUES FOR ON AND OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION WHICH I KNOW IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR FRIENDS IN AMERICA. FOR THOSE REASON, NOT BECAUSE OF WHERE THE GENTLEMAN WANTS TO PUT THE FUNDS BUT WHERE THEY COME FROM, I URGE OPPOSITION. I YIELD BACK. THE QUESTION SON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE NOES HAVE IT. THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE? MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AT THE DESK. THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MS. HOCHUL OF NEW YORK, PAGE THREE, LINE THREE, AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, INSERT REDUCED BY $4,452,000. AFTER PAGE THREE LINE FOUR, AFTER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT REDUCED BY $4,452,000. I BELIEVE MY AMENDMENT WILL APPEAL TO BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. I'VE HEARD IF THE REPUBLICANS WE NEED TO CUT OUR EXPENSES. MY AMENDMENT DOES JUST THAT. MY AMENDMENT WOULD REMOVE $4.4 MILLION IN SPENDING INCREASES AND RETURN THOSE VERY FUNDS TO DEFICIT REDUCTION. THOSE OF US WHO ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT HAND OVER AN ADDITIONAL $4 HADN'T 4 MILLION JUST TO HELP OUT THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY THIS AMENDMENT. WHAT MY AMENDMENT DOES IS REMOVE A $4 HADN'T 4 MILLION INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR OIL AND GAS MANAGEMENT. I CANNOT STAND HERE AND SUPPORT AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN TAXPAYER FUNDING AT A TIME WHEN OTHER PARTS OF THIS BUDGET ARE BEING SLASHED. FORGIVE ME TODAY IF I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR BIG OIL. LAST QUARTER, EXXON POSTED $11.4 BILLION IN PROFITS ALONE, ONE QUARTER ALONE, MR. CHAIRMAN. ROYAL DUTCH SHELL POSTED OVER $6 BILLION PROFIT IN ONE QUARTER ALONE. THE ADDITIONAL $4 HADN'T 4 MILLION ADDED TO HELP OUT THE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES TO COVER THEIR PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESSING IS LITERALLY POCKET CHANGE FOR THESE BIG COMPANIES. WE ALL LIVE IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES AND WE CAME TO CONGRESS TO MAKE TOUGH DIGS. WE NEED TO CUT SPENDING. THAT'S WHY I ASK MY CHEEGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT AND SUPPORT THIS FUNDING -- AND CUT THIS SPENDING INCREASE. IN MY AMENDMENT, I DO NOT ADDRESS DRILLING WHATSOEVER. THIS IS SIMPLY AN ISSUE OF FAIRNESS FOR TAXPAYERS. IN TIMES OF GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY AND RECORD PROFITS FOR OIL COMPANIES, THIS AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY A STATEMENT THAT THESE COMPANIES SHOULD PAY THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH FILING THEIR APPLICATIONS. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM ASKING OUR SENIORS AND BUSINESSES TO PAY MORE DURING THESE TOUGH TIMES. I THINK IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR TO INCREASE SPENDING IN THEIR AREAS AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE HURTING OUR SENIORS. ALMOST EVERY OTHER PART OF THE BILL IS BEING SLASHED BUT THE ONE THAT GREASES THE SKIDS FOR OIL COMPANIES TO GET THEIR APPROVAL IS BEING INCRESSED. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH OUR NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND I BELIEVE THAT REASONABLE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WILL AGREE. MR. CHAIRMAN, I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM IDAHO RISE? STRIKE THE LAST WORD IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. DEP I APPRECIATE THE YOM'S CONCERN, BUT I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS EAFMENT MR. SIMPTON -- MR. SIMPSON: THIS WOULD -- THE B.L.M. STILL COLLECTS THE FEE, THEY JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEND THE FUNDS. THIS MAKES LITTLE SENSE AS THOUGH FEES OFFSET THE COST TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. IN OTHER WORDS, THESE PROGRAMS ARE PAID FOR BY THE INDUSTRY, NOT TAXPAYERS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE B.L.M. WILL HAVE THE COST OF THESE PROGRAMS BUT WON'T BE ALLOWED TO SPEND THE FEES IT'S COLLECTED. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS AMENDMENT AND URGE MY I YIELD BACK. THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE YOM FROM NEW YORK. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO. IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE NOES HAVE IT. I ASK FOR A RECORDED VOTE. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE SIX OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE AMENDMENT WILL BE POSTPONED. PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18, PROCEEDINGS WILL NOW RESUME ON THOSE AMENDMENTS ON WHICH FURTHER PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER, AN AMENDMENT BY MR. MORAN OF VIRGINIA, AN AMENDMENT BY MR. HUELSKAMP OF KANSAS, AN AMENDMENT BY MR. RICHMOND OF LOUISIANA AND AN AMENDMENT BY MS. HOCHUL OF NEW YORK. THE CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO FIVE MINUTES THE TIME FOR ANY ELECTRONIC VOTE AFTER THE FIRST VOTE IN THE SERIES. THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR. MORAN, ON WHICH FURTHER PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED AND ON WHICH THE AYES PREVAILED BY VOICE VOTE. THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. MORAN OF VIRGINIA. BEEN REQUESTED. THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE AND BE COUNTED. A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING RISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS ORDERED. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES.] ON THIS VOTE --