H4046 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2011 Grow’’ congressional plan. It’s common b 1412 these funds without doing any damage. sense. First cut spending, then the IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE I would ask my colleagues to consider economy will grow. That is the best Accordingly, the House resolved this amendment. way to produce jobs by small busi- itself into the Committee of the Whole I thank the committee. I usually nesses. House on the state of the Union for the don’t get into other folks’ turf, par- In conclusion, God bless our troops, further consideration of the bill (H.R. ticularly military construction. I deal and we will never forget September the 2055) making appropriations for mili- mostly with transportation in the 11th in the global war on terrorism. tary construction, the Department of House, and I understand the difficulty sometimes when other Members come f Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, in and try to manage some of the im- CONGRESSIONAL PAY 2012, and for other purposes, with Mr. portant dollars that are made avail- ACCOUNTABILITY ACT MCCLINTOCK (Acting Chair) in the able. I know the difficult choices that (Mr. HULTGREN asked and was chair. the committee has in trying to assign given permission to address the House The Clerk read the title of the bill. appropriate dollars, particularly for de- for 1 minute and to revise and extend The Acting CHAIR. When the Com- fense facilities construction. his remarks.) mittee of the Whole rose on Thursday, Again, I won’t just take up the Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise June 2, 2011, the amendment offered by House’s time in unnecessary conversa- today to ask whether Congress can the gentleman from Texas (Mr. CUL- tion, but it is a simple matter. We raise itself to the standard of account- BERSON) had been disposed of and the transfer $25 million from the NATO se- ability of your home State, the State bill was open for amendment from page curity investment account to fund of California, that was set there re- 2, line 8, through page 60, line 9. military construction for our National cently. AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. MICA Guard. We have the need across the Na- On April 15 of this year, I introduced Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I have an tion. It is evident in every State where the Congressional Pay Accountability amendment at the desk. we have National Guard activities. Act of 2011, a bill that requires Con- The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will re- This isn’t a great amount, but I think gress to pass a budget and appropria- port the amendment. it can make a significant difference on tions bills before the beginning of the The Clerk read as follows: a number of projects throughout the fiscal year. If we don’t, we don’t get Page 6, line 18, insert after the dollar United States. paid. amount the following: ‘‘(increased by I urge my colleagues to support the I introduced this bill because if Con- $25,000,000)’’. amendment. Page 9, line 21, insert after the dollar gress is unable to perform its basic fun- I yield back the balance of my time. amount the following: ‘‘(decreased by Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair- damental duties—to pass the budget $25,000,000)’’. and appropriations bills—we aren’t man, I move to strike the last word. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is doing our job and should be held ac- from Florida is recognized for 5 min- recognized for 5 minutes. countable and should not get paid. utes. Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair- Recently, I read that California vot- Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I come to man, this amendment would decrease ers approved a ballot measure that re- the floor this afternoon to present an the NATO Security Investment Pro- quires the same thing of their State amendment that would transfer $25 gram by $25 million and increase the legislators—pass a budget or don’t get million from one of the accounts, that Army National Guard account by $25 paid. California voters, facing one of is the NATO Security Investment Pro- million. We support the Guard and our the worst budget crises in U.S. history, gram, to the Military Construction Reserves wholeheartedly, but I want to spoke up and said that they wanted to Army National Guard Account. I take join Chairman CULBERSON in some con- hold their elected officials accountable. this action for several reasons. cerns that I have about the amend- As America faces the worst debt cri- First, in our State of Florida, we ment. sis in its history, I hope Congress can have at least two projects that are very The MilCon portion of this bill for stand up and declare that we, too, want important to the operation of the Na- the most part is flat-funded, and the to be held accountable. tional Guard. Our men and women who resources provided in this title were Ask yourselves: If California can do belong to the National Guard, not only distributed, we believe, in a very judi- it, why can’t Congress do it? in Florida but across the Nation, de- cious manner. The bill funds the Guard f serve an upgrade in their facilities. We account at the budget request level, have several projects that have gone on which makes the needed investments b 1410 for years and years. One of the projects in Guard facilities. GENERAL LEAVE I understand has had difficulty in the In addition, I am concerned that the contract falling apart. Nonetheless, Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask offset that the gentleman has chosen whether it is in Florida, again, in south could cause shortfalls in the NATO Se- unanimous consent that all Members Florida, central Florida, or in any may have 5 legislative days in which to curity Investment Program, which in State, we should adequately fund the turn could cause further delays in the revise and extend their remarks and in- account that protects and provides the clude extraneous material on H.R. 2055, NATO Security Construction Program. accommodations necessary for the fa- The Security Investment Program pro- and that I may include tabular mate- cilities for our National Guard. So here rial on the same. vides support for many of the impor- we want to plus-up by $25 million from tant operations that we are involved The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there the NATO Security Investment Pro- objection to the request of the gen- in, including our current operations in gram to our National Guard facilities. Afghanistan. I believe that we have to tleman from Texas? Across the country I hear the same There was no objection. get the NATO program back on track thing—that National Guard facilities, because it will ultimately save us f many of which are two or three times money in the long run. older than those who are serving there, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND need replacement. b 1420 VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RE- So this is a general amount, $25 mil- While I agree with the spirit of the LATED AGENCIES APPROPRIA- lion, but I believe that it can help amendment, I do have some concerns TIONS ACT, 2012 boost up the facilities account that is about the gentleman’s amendment. I The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- so important for Florida and for the won’t oppose it at this time, but I hope ant to House Resolution 288 and rule Nation. I am willing to work with the that we will be able to work through XVIII, the Chair declares the House in committee in any fashion to plus-up those concerns as we work through this the Committee of the Whole House on this account. I am not trying to pick process and as the bill goes to the Sen- the state of the Union for the further on NATO, although I believe that there ate and it comes back and we can deal consideration of the bill, H.R. 2055. is room in their budget to transfer with these concerns in conference.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:55 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.002 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE June 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4047 With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield Order 13502 (41 U.S.C. 251 note), FAR Rule So funds are appropriated to the back the balance of my time. 2009–005, or any agency memorandum, bul- agencies. Say it’s the Department of Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I letin, or contracting policy that derives its Veterans Affairs and they’re going move to strike the last word. authority from Executive Order 13502 or FAR build a new hospital. You say, Depart- Rule 2009–005. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman ment of Veterans Affairs, you study AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. LATOURETTE from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. which is going to bring that project in Mr. CULBERSON. I certainly agree Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I at the best quality, the best price, on with the gentleman from Florida, our have an amendment at the desk. time, and giving the taxpayer the best The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will re- distinguished chairman of the Trans- bang for his or her buck. portation and Infrastructure Com- port the amendment. Well, this amendment strikes that mittee, that we need to do everything The Clerk read as follows: funding. And so it doesn’t say you can’t we can to support our National Guard. Page 60, strike lines 16 through 21. use project labor agreements. What it I look forward to working with the The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman does say is that the agency can’t make gentleman in conference. from Ohio is recognized for 5 minutes. that comparison. And if you’re not We will accept the amendment, Mr. LATOURETTE. This is a simple, making that comparison to find out again, as an expression of our support straightforward amendment. which is better for the taxpayer, which for making sure that our National During the committee markup of the is in fact going to cause the project to Guard and Reserve components have Military Construction bill, under the come in at the lowest cost and with the all the support they need. But we’ll able leadership of the subcommittee best quality and under time, then it work with the chairman in conference chairman, an amendment was offered has nothing to do with saving the tax- to see if we can find the best source of by Mr. FLAKE of Arizona to deny fund- payer money. funding for this addition plus-up on the ing to the President’s Executive order We hear a lot about these are tough National Guard. We, of course, want to dealing with project labor agreements. times and we have to tighten our belts. make sure that they’re not only taken The matter was accepted by voice vote. I agree with that. I voted for that con- care of in the State of Florida but It was accepted by voice vote because, sistently. But that is just union bash- around the Nation. quite frankly, I couldn’t rustle up ing. This is just saying we don’t want I know the chairman shares my con- enough votes in the committee to over- to know whether a project labor agree- cern with border security. The Na- turn it. ment can develop a project that is tional Guard plays a vital role in help- However, this continues a pattern cheaper, of better quality, and under ing our Border Patrol agents and in that we’ve seen in this Congress. I be- time. helping all of our law enforcement and lieve we’ve had on the floor four votes Quite frankly, although there are Homeland Security folks in securing on whether or not Davis-Bacon should studies on both sides, there is an orga- the border. So we want to make sure be the law of the land. In each one of nization called ABC. They have a study those elements of the National Guard’s the cases, the proponents of Davis- that shows that it adds so much cost. role in securing our Nation’s borders Bacon have been successful, the last You have a study by organized labor are fully funded as well. one garnering 52 Republican votes. that says it reduces so much cost. I So we will accept the amendment at This would be the third vote by those choose not to look at either of those this time. who would wish to do away with because each of those folks and organi- Mr. MICA. Will the gentleman yield? project labor agreements that will zations, quite frankly, have some skin Mr. CULBERSON. I yield to the gen- occur on the House floor. In the pre- in the fight and have some incentive, if tleman from Florida. vious two, again, the proponents of you will, to look at the data one way Mr. MICA. Thank you. project labor agreements have pre- or another. Again, I want to thank Mr. CULBER- vailed. In the last instance, 28 Repub- I would go with our nonpartisan, bi- SON for his leadership and for his will- licans were, in fact, supportive of partisan Congressional Research Serv- ingness to work with us, both sides of project labor agreements. ice, which last October was asked to the aisle. Again, if it is necessary to Mr. Chairman, basically, project study this issue, and they indicated, take funds from another account—and labor agreements are those agreements quite frankly, that the jury is out and, we chose NATO in this instance for wherein someone who is doing a con- if anything, the data indicates that this amendment—we would welcome struction project determines that they they really can’t say and they can’t any assistance in plussing-up our Na- want to have an all-encompassing uni- find any convincing data as to whether tional Guard facilities and construc- versal agreement that covers the con- or not project labor agreements save tion accounts. So, again, thank you so much for struction from start to finish. If union money or don’t save money, which your leadership—I know you have dif- labor is involved, it denies unions the really is the genius of the President’s ficult choices and I know the people ability to strike. It denies the con- Executive order because it says you that serve in our National Guard are tractor the ability to lock out. Wages should study it. grateful for your leadership—and also are set. Terms are set. Conditions are Quite frankly, the CRS goes on to in- for accepting the amendment at this set. And, quite frankly, the project dicate that in those areas of the coun- time. labor agreements have been resounding try where there’s a lot of organized Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, successes. labor, the project labor agreements again, we accept the amendment and As a matter of fact, project labor tend to bring these projects in on time, move its adoption. agreements, 90 percent of them are under cost, with better quality. In I yield back the balance of my time. used by private industry. Some of the those areas of the country which aren’t The Acting CHAIR. The question is biggest users of project labor agree- heavily unionized, the opposite is, in on the amendment offered by the gen- ments are the Disney Corporation and, fact, true. tleman from Florida (Mr. MICA). in fact, Walmart. So neither of those So with the jury being out and all of The amendment was agreed to. companies have ever been sort of iden- us wanting to achieve the greatest sav- The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will tified as big labor-loving organizations. ings for the taxpayer and build good, read. Now, this is a backdoor piece of lan- quality projects in the military con- The Clerk read as follows: guage in line 16 to 21 because it doesn’t struction account which benefits our SEC. 414. None of the funds made available attack project labor agreements. What men and women in uniform, why would by this Act may be used to enter into a con- it does is, if you go back and look in we deny the departments the oppor- tract, memorandum of understanding, or co- February when President Obama en- tunity to study which way is cheaper, operative agreement with, or to make a acted this Executive order, he said: I better, more effective, and with a bet- grant to, any corporation that was convicted don’t know which is going to be better ter quality? So there’s only one reason. of a felony criminal violation under any Fed- and which is going to be cheaper, based It’s to continue this constant drumbeat eral or State law within the preceding 24 months. upon the size of the project, where the of: We hate unions. And that’s not a SEC. 415. None of the funds made available project is located, what it is we want good reason to have this language in by this Act may be used to enforce Executive to get done. the bill.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:55 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.005 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H4048 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2011 I urge support of the amendment. ing on to our children and grand- There has been study after study I yield back the balance of my time. children. This is an unacceptable direc- after study that illustrates how the use Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I tion the Nation is taking because of of these project labor agreements does rise in opposition to the amendment. uncontrolled spending by previous Con- not extend costs to the taxpayers or to The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman gresses. other projects—rather, that they often from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. Why would we voluntarily, know- save money. In fact, in most cases, Mr. CULBERSON. This is a straight- ingly, allow our kids and grandkids to they do save money because, as a re- forward vote to the House about pay, as The Wall Street Journal points sult of having a higher skilled work- whether or not we will, on behalf of out and as the Veterans Administra- force, they don’t have to worry about American taxpayers, vote to impose tion discovered, and why would we vol- equipment being broken; they don’t union collective bargaining require- untarily pay 12 to 14 percent more for have to worry about the waste of re- ments on any private company doing construction contracts? In a study they sources and materials; they don’t have business with the Federal Government. did, the VA discovered, when they to worry about the contracts not being The Executive order that our bill does looked at the construction costs for performed on time. It’s to the con- not fund and the amendment attempts hospitals in three of five markets, the trary. If you’re worried about protec- to strike, language in our bill which cost of construction would jump by as tions, project labor agreements will does not fund this Executive order, the much as 9 percent. The Beacon Hill In- prohibit strikes or work stoppages by Executive order says that ‘‘in awarding stitute at Boston Suffolk University in any kind of construction workers on any contract in connection with a 2006 said, when you impose these the project. They will establish a single large-scale construction project, the project labor agreements, it will in- procedure for handling workforce dis- administration may require the use of crease school construction costs by 12 putes. a project labor agreement.’’ to 14 percent. Why would we volun- It is a tool for ensuring that large b 1430 tarily do that? and complex projects, as many of our This amendment must be defeated. government projects are, are com- A project labor agreement, under the This amendment is an effort to prevent pleted on time. It allows for the em- Executive order’s own definition, Congress from saving precious tax dol- ployment of local citizens. And right means a pre-hire collective bargaining lars. If this amendment passes, the now, with the unemployment rate as it agreement with one or more labor or- Obama administration will be able to is and with so many of our skilled ganizations. So the Obama administra- impose collective bargaining on any workers out of work, it allows for flexi- tion through this Executive order is at- private company that wants to do busi- bility. tempting to unionize any private com- ness with the Federal Government. I The Executive order, which seems to pany in America that wants to do busi- strongly urge Members to oppose this be the source of the complaint, really ness with the Federal Government. amendment. does not require that they be used. It That’s just an outrage. I yield back the balance of my time. gives the government the option of Again, in looking at a Wall Street Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I move to making a decision that is in the best Journal editorial from April 14 of 2010, strike the last word. interest of the American taxpayers. it reiterates data that is widely avail- The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is Certainly, we want to do everything able and that has been repeatedly recognized for 5 minutes. that we can possibly do to make sure verified: that only about 15 percent of Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair- that we come in on budget or under the Nation’s construction workers are man, as much as I agree with many of budget, with the highest quality, with unionized. So from now on, under this the objectives expressed by the chair- the safest work environment, and that Executive order, the other 85 percent of man in his discussion just a few mo- we are able to employ the people in our America’s construction workers will ments ago, particularly that we want communities to get the job done. As have to give up the opportunity to to make the most efficient use of tax- much as we need to improve employ- work on a Federal project, or not be payer dollars, I think the very argu- ment, to increase the number of people unionized. ments that he makes support why we who are working, these project labor This is just a blatant attempt by the need to have project labor agreements. agreements just add another tool to Obama administration to impose union This has nothing to do with union or allow, in the awarding of taxpayer collective bargaining on any private nonunion workforce standards. The funded contracts, the most efficient company in America that wants to do project labor agreements do not man- use of those dollars. So I join the gen- business with the Federal Government. date or predetermine that a workforce tleman in support of this amendment. I If indeed the idea were to reduce the has to be union or nonunion. It allows think it is well thought out and that costs, that’s fine. We are in an era of for the project owner, such as the gov- it’s a benefit to the taxpayers. austerity unlike anything this Nation ernment or a private sector entity, to With all due respect to my colleague has ever experienced. We confront establish workforce standards that on the other side who is opposed to this record debt, record deficit, record pub- both union and nonunion workers have amendment, I think, when it is all said lic debt held by foreign nations. This is to meet in order to be hired by contrac- and done, the bottom line is these unlike anything we have ever seen be- tors and subcontractors under the project labor agreements in this Execu- fore. project labor agreements. tive order, while not requiring the use As I showed when we debated this bill This is a model that increases the ef- of project labor agreements, will be an earlier, just before the break, every ficiency and the quality of construc- added tool in our arsenal to get the single dollar of Federal revenue that tion projects. Of course the ultimate most bang for taxpayer bucks to en- comes in the door is already spent on objective is that we will have a work- hance what we do for our country, for existing social welfare programs. In force that will ensure construction our citizens whom we put to work, and fact, 104 percent of Federal income is projects are built correctly the first to make sure that the conditions and obligated to pay for the existing social time so that we won’t have cost over- terms of their employment and the safety net. Social Security, Medicare, runs, so that they are built on time, so work that they do is done with appro- Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, and inter- that we won’t have to extend the con- priate standards. est on the national debt consume 104 tracts, and so that we won’t have safe- I yield back the balance of my time. percent of our Nation’s income. There- ty problems because of having un- Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I move fore, America is living on borrowed skilled workers. Basically, in the to strike the last word. money, and it is our obligation as stew- awarding of these contracts, these The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman ards of the Treasury to ensure that we project labor agreements will make from Maryland is recognized for 5 min- do not waste any of these precious dol- sure that the government’s money is utes. lars and that we cut spending every- spent well. We want to get the most Mr. HARRIS. I thank my colleague where we possibly can so that we do ev- bang for taxpayer bucks. We want to from Ohio for introducing this amend- erything within our power to limit the make sure we make the most efficient ment and, once again, for this dialogue atrocious debt burden that we are pass- use of taxpayer dollars. on an important issue.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:55 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.008 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE June 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4049 I will remind my colleague that, al- trict of Maryland; but, Mr. Chairman, I land is a wonderful new Member, and I though he brings up the fact that this don’t have a lot of union contractors in enjoyed his remarks very much and his has been decided in the Chamber twice my district. There are a lot of districts passion, and it would be a compelling already in other similar circumstances, that don’t have a lot of union contrac- argument if his facts were correct. it’s not really the same because, last tors. So if we want local contractors to The difficulty is no one on this floor Friday, of course, we found out that be employed, if we want local citizens would support project labor agree- our unemployment rate is rising in the to get jobs, our local unemployment ments if the evidence was that project country. It’s now 9.1 percent again. We rates to go down, Mr. Chairman, I labor agreements increased the cost of only created 54,000 jobs, not the 200,000 would suggest we defeat this amend- a construction project by 10 to 20 per- jobs we’d hoped we would create and ment, which will frequently require cent. The study cited by Mr. CULBER- certainly much fewer than the 150,000 that in order to qualify for a contract SON, the chairman of the Sub- jobs we need to create in order to get you have to hire out of district. You committee, by the U.S. Department of back to full employment. That’s how may have to go to another State. Veterans Affairs, concluded that the ef- many we need to create every month. That’s not good for anyone, certainly fect of PLAs on construction costs was What this amendment means, very not good for the folks in the First Con- strongly influenced by the degree of simply, is that we are going to have to gressional District of Maryland. unionization in an area. In highly spend 10 to 20 percent more on every Mr. Chairman, again, I want to thank unionized cities, the costs of a PLA are single project that ends up in a project my colleague from Ohio for bringing less and the project comes in under labor agreement—and more projects this issue up, but we do need to revisit cost, under time, better quality. And will. If more projects wouldn’t, then this issue because we don’t live in the those that don’t have, as apparently the advocates wouldn’t care about same world we lived in one week ago. the First District of Maryland doesn’t whether we put this provision in. It We live in a world where the talk of the have as many unions, the evidence clearly will result in project labor double-dip recession is sincere and it’s does, in fact, come in; in some of those agreements, so let’s review what a serious and our unemployment rate cases costs can increase by 5 to 9 per- project labor agreement does. going up, not down; the number of jobs cent, not 10 to 20. First and foremost, it increases the going down, not up. The last thing we But the problem with this language cost 10 to 20 percent on every project. should do is to take those hard-earned is, it doesn’t condemn project labor Now, Mr. Chairman, if you or I or peo- taxpayer dollars and to use them, and agreements. This is an appropriations ple in my congressional district were I will say to waste them, in some cir- bill. What this amendment does is de- going to contract to build something cumstances, on project labor agree- prive the agency of the funds to study in your area—my area happens to be around their homes, they wouldn’t put ments. a provision in normally that says that I yield back the balance of my time. heavily unionized, so Cleveland, Ohio— prevents the VA from studying wheth- we’re only going to hire union contrac- Mr. DICKS. I move to strike the last er or not use of the PLA would save the tors. word. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman government money or cost the govern- b 1440 from Washington is recognized for 5 ment money. And I’ve got to tell you, if the con- They will go out. They will get the minutes. bids. They will go out. They will seek Mr. DICKS. The gentleman’s amend- clusion is that it’s going to cost the to find out what the reputations of the ment would strike the provision in the government money, it’s like ‘‘I Love Lucy’’ and Ricky Ricardo. I mean, I’m bidders are, and then they will make bill prohibiting the use of project labor sure that somebody is going to ask the the decision based purely on price and agreements on any project funded in head of that agency, you know, you’ve quality and value whether or not to this bill. PLAs are a benefit to both got a lot of explaining to do why you make that deal, not whether someone employers and unions. They provide went with a program that’s going to is a member of a union or hires union uniform wages, benefits, overtime. A cost the government more money. laborers; but that’s what a project PLA sets the terms and conditions of labor agreement does. That isn’t what this is about. This is employment for all workers on site, in- union bashing. This isn’t costing or So let’s talk about jobs a little bit. cluding work conditions and rules. In What is our important role here in saving money. It’s just we don’t like addition, a PLA prohibits strikes and unions, and I thank the gentleman for Congress? Our role in Congress is to try work stoppages. A PLA provides a sin- to get our unemployment rate up. Well, yielding. gle collective bargaining unit which al- Mr. DICKS. I thank the gentleman if we save 10 to 20 percent on every job, lows for easier management of a for offering the amendment, and I com- we certainly can do more construction project. pletely agree with him. I don’t think jobs. I just met over lunch with one of Executive order 13502 only encour- there’s any evidence that except for the people in my district who is an ages executive agencies to consider the some of the people like the Wall Street electrical contractor and he’s not use of project labor agreements. There Journal who say this, I don’t see any unionized, and he asked me to come is no requirement to use a PLA. It evidence of it; and as the gentleman down here and he said, please, go to the should be up to the agency and project says, if there was evidence, Congress floor today and ask so that those 80 manager if the use of a PLA is appro- would not approve of project labor percent, or 7 percent, of us who are priate for their particular project. And agreements. contractors who are not unionized can I was pleased that the chairman, Mr. So I, again, rise in strong support of get a piece of that pie so that we don’t CULBERSON, read the language and it the LaTourette amendment and urge have to fire our employees. says ‘‘may,’’ not ‘‘shall.’’ that it be adopted. Mr. Chairman, it’s simple. If we can Two weeks ago during the consider- I yield back the balance of my time. save 10 to 20 percent on every project, ation of the FY 2012 Homeland Secu- Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair- we can hire 10 to 20 percent more peo- rity appropriations bill, an amendment man, I move to strike the last word. ple to do more projects. And again, the was offered to prohibit the Department The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is sad fact is our unemployment rate is from allowing project labor agree- recognized for 5 minutes. 9.1 percent. It’s going up, not down. ments, and it was defeated. We should Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair- The number of new jobs created last support the option on the use of PLAs. man, I’m here today in opposition to month, 54,000, going down, not up. I urge the adoption of the LaTourette this amendment, and I’ve heard a lot of We’ve got to reverse that, and we’ve amendment. the compelling arguments here today got to do it by being efficient and being Mr. LATOURETTE. Will the gen- as to why this amendment should be smart with our dollars, and one way is tleman yield? adopted. to not require project labor agree- Mr. DICKS. I yield to the gentleman Well, first, let me remind the Mem- ments. from Ohio. bers that the Appropriations Com- Finally, let me address the issue of Mr. LATOURETTE. I thank the dis- mittee passed the language that’s in local citizens. I want these contracts to tinguished ranking member very much; this bill right now that restricts fund- go into the First Congressional Dis- and, you know, Mr. HARRIS from Mary- ing from going to projects that require

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:05 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.010 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H4050 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2011 project labor agreements. That’s all up, I have no idea, when our Nation So, if we’re going to speak on the this does, and I think we should all be was founded on such great principles as floor of this House, it’s important, if for it. We should all be for free mar- we have been founded on and yet over we’re going to talk about facts, let’s kets. We should all be for capitalism, the years we feel like we can manipu- actually say those facts. So this dispels for the best contractor competing late the marketplaces, just like the the myth that Executive Order 13502 against the best contractor and putting project labor agreement requirements makes requirements in the awarding of up the best price for the project. are going to do as well. Federal contracts. Now, they said that there were re- Mr. Chairman, I say we defeat this Now let’s talk a little bit about those ports cited in The Wall Street Journal, amendment, and we think about that 1- project labor agreements. and I just happen to have what The year anniversary here of that summer There is no substantial evidence that Wall Street Journal cited, and they did of recovery declaration from last year. says that PLAs decrease the number of cite the independent study that was And I know there was a lot of hope that bidders on a project or increase the commissioned by the Department of that summer of recovery would occur; costs of construction projects. In fact, Veterans Affairs that says in the study, but the one thing that is true, Mr. project labor agreements promote cost- the Obama project labor agreement Chairman, is you cannot change the effectiveness and efficiency in those would likely raise the VA construction facts, and the facts are clear. Ameri- construction projects. Having project costs for hospitals by as much as 9 per- cans are ready to be empowered with labor agreements prevents labor dis- cent in three of the five markets. So new jobs and employment. The only putes; it eliminates project delays and, it’s clear that there is a study by an way we can do that, though, is to em- thereby, helps us to get the projects independent organization there that power the private sector, and let’s get done. says costs will go up. government out of the way to do it. We can all talk about facts and fig- Now, can we not accept that as evi- Mr. Chairman, I yield back the bal- ures and dates and sections, but I dence enough that we do not need ance of my time. would like to talk about what’s hap- project labor agreements as a mandate b 1450 pening in my district. I know from to receive the funding for projects Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chairman, I firsthand experience that project labor throughout this Nation? I mean, we move to strike the last word. agreements work. In California, we live in a day and a time in which the The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman have seen project labor agreements ne- debt and deficit are out of control, and from California is recognized for 5 min- gotiated and implemented with incred- it seems to be what we spend our argu- utes. ible success. ments about and our debates about is Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chairman, I There have been many who have spending, and that’s an important rise in strong support of the LaTou- talked about project labor agreements. topic. But the number one issue facing rette amendment. But before I get into Here are just a few of the many exam- this Nation right now is the economy the details, I would like to speak to the ples of successful project labor agree- and the job losses. comments that were just made. ments in California: Mr. HARRIS, he was so eloquent as he I happen to have the privilege of One, the construction of the L.A. was talking about unemployment, 9.1 serving currently on the Transpor- Metro’s Blue Line; number two, the ex- percent now. We all know that. We’re tation and Infrastructure Committee, pansion and renovation of the Los An- here on the celebration of the 1 year and I would say to any Member of Con- geles World Airports; the recent Middle since the beginning of the summer of gress who would like to know about Harbor Project at the Ports of Los An- recovery, and yet we don’t see any re- the thousands of jobs that were, in geles and Long Beach, which are the covery. fact, created and maintained through largest ports in this country; and then, These project labor agreement re- the American Recovery Act, I would be finally, the $2.2 billion Alameda Cor- quirements by the executive order were more than happy to give them a copy ridor Project. That was a project that placed in effect in 2009; and as Mr. of that document. Let me move into, was completed on time and under budg- BISHOP referenced, you know, this was though, the topic that is at hand, et. good for jobs, good for creating local which is really the LaTourette amend- So, with that, Mr. Chairman, I would jobs. Well, where are the jobs? They do ment, which is not in reference to the ask respectfully that Mr. LATOU- not exist. In essence, we’ve had 2 years American Recovery Act. RETTE’s amendment would be found in of a failed experiment, Mr. Chairman; I strongly speak in support of this order and that all of our colleagues will and I think it’s time to say, you know amendment because, one, it protects join in support of it. what, look, the experiment didn’t American jobs; two, it completes Finally, I would just like to say, for work, let’s put it up on the shelf, and projects safely; and, three, it often- those who say that PLAs drive up the let’s try something new. Let’s go back times saves the taxpayers money. The cost of construction, if they would say to what we know works and that’s em- LaTourette amendment ensures that that, then we would simply ask: Why is powering the private sector, empow- funds for large-scale construction it that Walmart is increasingly using ering the free markets, allow competi- projects utilize the most cost-effective PLAs and Toyota Motor Corporation tion to thrive, allow costs to come and efficient process for the awarding has built every one of its North Amer- down and the quality of goods to go up. of Federal contracts. Section 415 of ican manufacturing facilities under a I have to tell you, Mr. Chairman, H.R. 2055 prohibits agencies from being project labor agreement? when I go home, it pains me to see the able to use all available methods to en- So, when we talk about this, Mr. new ‘‘For Sale’’ signs that are up, the sure that Federal contracts are cost ef- LATOURETTE has been a leader on this new ‘‘For Rent’’ signs that go up each ficient, including the utilization of issue. I strongly support his amend- and every time, and I’m sure we see it project labor agreements. ment. I stand in lockstep. in each and every one of our districts Our ranking member, Mr. DICKS, just Mr. LATOURETTE. Will the gentle- as we go home. And oftentimes pre- recently spoke a few moments ago woman yield? viously, 4 or 5 years ago, you might see about section 415, and I will only reit- Ms. RICHARDSON. I yield to the a vacancy in a shop because they had erate two points: One, section 1, sub- gentleman from Ohio. moved out, because they had expanded section (b) says, ‘‘Accordingly, it is the Mr. LATOURETTE. First of all, I their operations and they were moving policy of the Federal Government to want to thank the gentlewoman very up. But now it’s just the opposite. We encourage executive agencies to con- much. I want the body to know that know that businesses are not moving sider requiring the use of project labor Ms. RICHARDSON was going to offer this out and expanding as much as they agreements.’’ Section 3, subsection (a) amendment and, over the weekend, once did. Instead, they’re shutting says, ‘‘In awarding any contract, exec- permitted me to offer it as a member of down and closing the doors and that utive agencies may, on a project-by- the committee. I appreciate that very ‘‘For Rent’’ or ‘‘For Sale’’ sign goes up. project basis.’’ And then finally, sec- much. She is certainly a champion of It’s time to reverse that back, and we tion 5 says, ‘‘This order does not re- PLAs. know how to do that. It is so simple; it quire an executive agency to use a I want to address the gentleman from is so clear. Why it binds this Congress project labor agreement.’’ Georgia’s observations because he is

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Project—1998. the five that they studied, PLAs would San Jose International Airport Expansion City of Concord—Concord Avenue Parking have increased labor costs. It doesn’t and Renovation—2002. Garage—1999. say anything about the benefit from Metropolitan Water District of Southern Contra Costa County—Family Law Cen- having increased quality, on time, and California—Capital Program—2003. ter—2001. Sacramento Regional County Sanitation Contra Costa County—All Work Over $1 all that other business. District—Affholder, Inc. (a general con- But what happened to the other two? Million (revised—original policy never im- tractor) signed for Lower Northwest Inter- plemented)—2002/2003. In 40 percent of them, the answer is ei- ceptor Northern and Southern Sacramento Solano County—Government Center and ther there was no difference or they re- River Tunnel Crossings—2004. Parking Garage—2002. duced costs, which is exactly the point. San Diego County Water Authority—Pol- City of San Jose—City Hall/Civic Center— The amendment strikes out the lan- icy to Consider PLAs for Projects Over $100 2002. guage inserted in the bill by the gen- Million—2005. Contra Costa County—Two Small Renova- Contra Costa Water District—Brentwood tion Projects in Richmond and Antioch— tleman from Arizona (Mr. FLAKE) that Water Treatment Plant—2005. would prevent an agency from studying 2002. Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach—Berths Contra Costa County—New Discovery which way gets you the bigger bang for 90–91 Cruise Terminal Baggage Handling House Facility—2003. the buck. Why would we want to do Building—2006. City of San Mateo—New Main Library— Napa County Flood Control and Water that? 2004. Conservation District—Three contractors I thank the gentlelady. Santa Clara County—Valley Specialty Cen- signed for Napa River Flood Protection Ms. RICHARDSON. All of us in Con- ter Bid Package 2—2004. Project—2006. City of Carson—All General Contracts over gress are looking for ways to rein in City of San Francisco—Measure A—Water $125,000, All Specialty Contracts over the deficit. System Improvement Program (Hetch $25,000—2005. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the Hetchy)—2007. gentlewoman has expired. Contra Costa Water District—Alternative City of Santa Cruz—West Coast Santa Cruz Intake Project—2007. Hotel and Conference Center Redevelop- Ms. RICHARDSON. I strongly sup- ment—2005. port the LaTourette amendment. Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach—Berth 408 Liquid Bulk Petroleum Terminal—2008. Santa Clara County—Gilroy Valley, Fair PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT ACTIVITY IN Port of Long Beach—Middle Harbor Oaks, and Milpitas Health Centers; New CALIFORNIA 1984 THROUGH MARCH 2010 Project—2010. Crime Lab—2005. Santa Clara County—Required Staff Anal- This is a working list maintained by Kevin NEGOTIATIONS APPROVED Dayton, Government Affairs Director of As- ysis of PLA Benefits for Projects Over $10 East Bay Municipal Utility District—Sup- sociated Builders and Contractors of Cali- Million—2005. plemental Water Supply Project—1999. fornia. Identification comes from primary Los Angeles Department of Public Works— Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach—All Fu- documents as well as secondary sources that New Police Headquarters, Metro Detention ture Projects on Port Property—2008. include web sites, union publications, and Center, Harbor Area Police Station and Jail newspaper articles. PLAs on private projects PROPOSED Facility, Fire Station 64, Hollenback Police are often not publicized, so this list may not Temperance Flat Dam—Madera/Fresno Station, Main Street Parking/Motor Trans- include all PLAs imposed on refineries, Counties—2002. port Division and Aiso Street Parking, Auto- power plants, industrial facilities, and hous- Contra Costa Water District—Los mated Traffic Surveillance and Control ing projects. Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion—2003. (ATSAC) Systems—2005–2009. Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach—Berth Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach—2005–06, LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE 93C–94 Boardwalk—2003. 2006–07 Site Improvements—2005. IMPLEMENTED San Francisco International Airport—West City of San Fernando—All General Con- Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Field Cargo Redevelopment Project—2003. tracts over $150,000, All Specialty Contracts Authority—Blue Line—1984. City of Santa Paula—Wastewater Treat- Over $25,000—2005. San Joaquin Hills Transportation Cor- ment Plant—2008. City of San Mateo—New Police Station— ridor—1993. City of Long Beach—Airport Expansion— 2005. Metropolitan Water District of Southern 2009. El Camino Hospital District—Measure D— California—Eastside (Domenigoni) Reservoir Los Angeles County Metropolitan Trans- Hospital Bldg. Replacement and Central Project—1994. portation Authority—Metro Gold Line Foot- Utility Plant—2005. Contra Costa Water District—Los hill Extension—2009. City of Milpitas—New Library, Parking Vaqueros Reservoir Project—Three Compo- PROPOSED BUT REJECTED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED Garage, and Other Midtown Projects—2006. nents—1994–1995. Los Osos Community Services District— Solano County—All Work Over $10 Million Contra Costa Water District—Ralph D. Wastewater Project—2003. (Threshold Increased from $1 Million Estab. Bollman Water Treatment Plant Upgrade— San Diego County Water Authority—Twin in 2004)—2007. 1995. Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant—2005. City of Richmond—Civic Center—2007. Metropolitan Water District of Southern Palmdale Water District—All Work—2007. San Joaquin County—New Administration California—Inland Feeder Project—1996. Central Marin Sanitation Agency—Wet Building—2007. San Francisco International Airport Ex- Weather Improvement Project—2007. City of Los Angeles Community Redevelop- pansion and Renovation—1996. San Diego County Regional Airport Au- ment Agency—All Work—2008. U.S. Department of Energy—Lawrence thority—Terminal 2 Expansion—2009. City of Milpitas—Senior Center—2008. Livermore National Laboratories—National PROHIBITED BY PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE City of Brentwood—Civic Center—2009. Ignition Facility—1997. ORDER 13202 Solano County—321 Tuolumne Street/So- Sacramento Regional Transit District— Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transpor- lano Justice Center and 355 Tuolumne Street South Corridor Extension—1998. tation District—Seismic Retrofit Phase II— Renovation—2009. Alameda County Transportation Author- 2001. City of Vallejo—Downtown Parking Ga- ity—Alameda Corridor Project—1998. East Bay Municipal Utility District—Wal- rage—2009. Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Construc- nut Creek-San Ramon Valley Improvement Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water tion Authority—Gold Line—1998. Project—2001. District—Future Capital Improvement Los Angeles Department of Public Works— Sacramento Regional Transit District— Projects—2010. Hyperion Full Secondary Treatment Plant— Folsom Line Extension—2001. City of Brentwood—Parking Garage—2010. 1998. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Sacramento Municipal Utility District— Port of Oakland Maritime and Aviation Agency—Interstate 405 Improvements—2006. Corporation Yard—2010 Expansion and Renovation—1999. Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach—Highway NEGOTIATIONS APPROVED Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transpor- Improvements to Harry Bridges Boulevard— City of Long Beach—All Work—2005, 2007. tation District—Seismic Retrofit Phase I— 2010. 1999. Alameda County Medical Center—Highland San Diego County Water Authority—Emer- MUNICIPAL Hospital Acute Care Tower Replacement— gency Storage Project—1999. IMPLEMENTED 2008. Los Angeles World Airports Expansion and City of Los Angeles—Convention Center— Alameda County—All Work—2008. Renovation—2000. 1990. Santa Barbara County—All Work—2010.

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PROPOSED PROHIBITED San Francisco Unified School District— City of San Diego—New Central Library— City of Fresno—All Work (ordinance)— Proposition A (2006)—2008. 1999. 2000. Mt. Diablo Unified School District—Class- City of San Jose—Convention Center Ex- City of Antioch—All Work (sense of the room Projects and HVAC Work—2008. pansion—2002. council resolution)—2002. John Swett Unified School District—Meas- City of Union City—Intermodal Station Orange County—All Work (ordinance)— ure A—2009. Mixed Use Development Project—2002. 2009. San Mateo Union High School District— City of Alhambra—West Main Street Cor- San Diego County—All Work (ordinance)— Half of Measure M—2009. ridor Redevelopment—2005. 2010. San Diego Unified School District—Propo- City of South El Monte—All Work—2007. PROPOSED BUT REJECTED OR ABANDONED sition S (Original and Revised Versions)— City of Los Angeles—All Work—2004, 2008. PROHIBITIONS 2009. City of San Leandro—All Work—2009. Riverside County—All Work (ordinance)— Alum Rock Union Elementary School Dis- Various Projects in Ventura County (Santa 2010. trict (San Jose)—Measure G—2009. Paula, Fillmore, Oxnard, Piru)—2009. Fremont Union High School District—All City of Long Beach—Airport Expansion— PROPOSED PROHIBITIONS Outdoor Atheletic Facilities—2009. 2009. City of Chula Vista—All Work (June—2010 Hayward Unified School District—Measure PROPOSED BUT REJECTED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED ballot initiative for proposed ordinance)— 2009. I—2009. City of Sacramento—Sewer Maintenance City of San Diego—All Work (qualification Peralta Community College District— Building—1996. for Nov. 2010 ballot initiative for charter Berkeley City College Build-Out, Phase 2— City of Pinole—City Hall—1996. amendment)—2009. 2009. City of Redding—Civic Center—1998. City of Oceanside—All Work (June 2010 bal- Sacramento City Unified School District— City of Sacramento—All Work—1998. All Projects More Than $1 Million—Four- City of San Francisco—All Work—1998. lot initiative for new charter)—2009. City of Roseville—All Work (proposed June Year Renewal—2009. City of West Hollywood—All Work—1999. City of San Diego Convention Center Ex- 2010 ballot initiative for proposed charter Riverside Community College District— pansion—1999. amendment)—2009. Remainder of Measure C—2010. City of Fresno—All Work—2000. EDUCATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS APPROVED Sacramento County—Sacramento Inter- IMPLEMENTED Alisal Union School District (Salinas)— national Airport Parking Garage—2000. Los Angeles Unified School District—Prop- New High School—Not Built. City of Sacramento—Sacramento River osition BB, Measure K, Measure R, Measure Contra Costa Community College Dis- Water Treatment Plant Replacement In- Q—1999–2009. trict—Measure A (2006)—2006. take—2000. West Contra Costa Unified School Dis- Centinela Valley Union High School Dis- City of Santa Rosa—The Geysers Recharge trict—Measure E, Measure M, Measure D— Project—2000. trict (Hawthorne, Lawndale, and Lennox)— 2000–2005. Measure CV—2009. City of Santa Rosa—Downtown Hotel and Vallejo City Unified School District— Convention Center—2000. San Gabriel Unified School District—Fu- Measure A—2001. ture Construction—2010. City of West Sacramento—City Hall/Civic Los Angeles Community College District— Center—2001. Proposition A—2001. PROPOSED City of San Diego—SeaWorld Hotel and Ex- Rialto Unified School District—District West Valley-Mission Community College pansion—2002. High School #3—2001. District—Measure H—2005, 2008. City of Cupertino—New Library—2003. San Mateo Community College District— City of Watsonville—Civic Center—2004. San Juan Unified School District—Measure Proposition C—2002. C—2005. City of Gardena—Gardena Transit Facility San Mateo Union High School District— Project—2006. New Haven Unified School District—Meas- San Mateo High School Modernization ure A—2005. City of Fairfield—All Work—2007. Phases I and II—2002. Konocti Unified School District—Measure Washington Township Health Care Dis- Rancho Santiago Community College Dis- G—2005. trict—Measure FF—Central Plant and Hos- trict (Orange County)—Measure E—2003. pital Expansion—2007, 2008. East Side Union High School District (San Allan Hancock Joint Community College Imperial County—Green Retrofit Pro- Jose)—Measure G, Measure E—2003,—2008. District—Future Construction—2005. gram—2009. Solano County Community College Dis- Natomas Unified School District—Measure TERMINATED trict—Measure G—Certain Larger Projects— D—2006. San Francisco Housing Authority—All 2004. Napa Valley Unified School District— Work—1994–2003. Oakland Unified School District—Measure Measure G—2007. Orange County—All General Contracts A after February 2004 (adopted by adminis- Jefferson Union High School District— over $225,000, All Specialty Contracts over trator)—2004. Measure N—2007. $15,000—2000–2005. Peralta Community College District— Sweetwater Union High School District— Solano County—All Work Over $1 Million Vista Campus (Measure E)—2004. Proposition O—2007. (Threshold Increased to $10 Million on 5/22/ Hartnell Community College (Salinas)— San Diego Community College District— 07)—2004–2007. Measure H—Five Small Contracts—2004. Proposition N—2007. Pittsburg Unified School District—All Alisal Union School District—Measure A PROHIBITED BY PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE Work Over $1 Million/Measure E—2005. ORDER 13202 (2006)—2008. City College of San Francisco—Proposition Southwestern Community College District City of Richmond—Former Ford Motor As- A after February 2005—2005. (Chula Vista)—Measure R—2010. sembly Building. Albany Unified School District—Measure San Bernardino City Unified School Dis- City of Richmond—Bay Area Rapid Transit A—2005. trict—Future Construction—2010. Village. Rio Hondo Community College District Pasadena Unified School District—Future City of Richmond—Former Port Terminal (Whittier)—Measure A—2005. One. Compton Unified School District—Remain- Construction 2010. City of Vallejo—Downtown Parking Ga- der of Measure I—2005. PROPOSED BUT REJECTED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED rage (not built during Bush Administra- Sacramento City Unified School District— San Diego Unified School District—Propo- tion)—2000. Remainder of Measures E and I—2005. sition MM—1999. Orange County—Resurfacing of Santiago San Jose/Evergreen Community College Sacramento City Unified School District— Canyon Road. District—2006. Six Summer 2000 School Projects—2000. Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center Mt. Diablo Unified School District—Pilot Grant Joint Union High School District Replacement Project—2003. Project—Prototypical Classrooms 2006 (Sacramento)—2001. San Mateo County Youth Services Cen- Groups 1 and 2—2006. Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District— ter—2004. Chabot-Las Positas Community College 2001. City of Pasadena City Hall Restoration— District—Seven Projects Funded by Measure 2004. B—2006. Sonoma County Junior College—Measure Orange County—Glassell Street Bridge Re- San Leandro Unified School District— A—2002. placement Project—2004. Measure B—2007. John Swett Unified School District (Crock- City of Hayward—Water Pollution Control Mt. Diablo Unified School District—Cer- ett)—New Elementary School—2002. Facility Improvement Project—Phase 1— tain Projects Over $2 Million for One Year— University of California at Merced—New 2005. 2007. Campus—2002. Union City—Union City Intermodal Tran- Foothill-DeAnza Community College Dis- Ohlone Community College District— sit Village—2006. trict—Measure C—2008. Measure A—2002. Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District— College of Marin—Two Large Projects Oakland Unified School District—Measure MetroBase Project—2006. Funded by Measure C—2008. A through February 2004—2002.

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Contra Costa County Community College— PROPOSED Lytton Band of Pomo Indians Casino (City Measure A (2002)—2002. Kings River Conservation District (Fres- of San Pablo)—Proposed. Ventura County Community College Dis- no)—Community Power Plant—2007. Marina Hotel Renovation, Los Angeles trict—Measure S—2003. Northern California Power Authority— Harbor (San Pedro Ownership, Inc.)—2005. Foothill-DeAnza Community College Dis- Lodi Power Plant—2008. Marine World, Vallejo trict—Measure E—2003 (?). Mission Bay Project (Catellus Develop- PROPOSED BUT REJECTED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED San Jose Unified School District—Measure ment Company), San Francisco F—2003. Modesto Irrigation District Electric Gen- Motorplex at Yuba County—Not Built. Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District— eration Station—Ripon—2004. Myers Development Retail/Commercial, Measure C after February 2004—2004. Turlock Irrigation District—Walnut En- Bay Area Berryessa Union School District—2004. ergy Center—2004. Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco Giants Rialto Unified School District—Measure City of Riverside Acorn Peaker—2004. Baseball Stadium H—2004. City of Victorville Solar Hybrid Power Pacific Commons (Catellus Development San Joaquin-Delta Community College Plant—2007. Company), Fremont District—Measure L—All Work—2004, 2010. City of Riverside Energy Resource Cen- Pacific L.A. Marine Terminal, Port of Los Hartnell Community College (Salinas)— ter—Units 3 & 4—2008. Angeles/Long Beach, Pier 400—Berth 408— Measure H—CALL Building—2004. PRIVATE PROJECTS 2009. City College of San Francisco—Proposition IMPLEMENTED Park Station Lofts, South San Francisco A through February 2005—2002. (James E. Roberts, Obayashi Corporation)— Alameda 1 and 2 Residential and Commer- Washington Unified School District—Meas- 2006. cial Developments, Alameda ure Q—2004. Petco Park, San Diego Padres Baseball Alameda Point Community Partners Hous- Cabrillo Community College District Stadium (cost $474 million; received $300 mil- ing and Office Development, Alameda (Aptos)—Measure D—2004. lion subsidy from City of San Diego) Alexandria Parking Structure, S.F. Rede- Chino Valley Unified School District— Playa Vista Development, Los Angeles velopment Agency (Alexandria Real Estate Measure M—2004. Poseidon Resources Corporation—Carlsbad Equities) Napa Valley College—Measure N—2004. and Huntington Beach Desalination Plants— ARCO Refinery Project, Carson (Cherne Mt. Diablo Unified School District—Sum- Proposed. Contracting Corp.) mer 2005 School Projects Funded by Measure Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Ballpark District, East Square Village, C—2005. (Mission Hills) Expansion—2010. San Diego Sonoma County Junior College—Measure River Islands at Lathrop (Cambay Develop- Buck Center for Research in Aging, Novato A after May 2005—2005. ment Group)—Proposed. Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians San Francisco Unified School District— Roman Catholic Diocese of Los Angeles— Casino (City of Ione, Amador County)—Pro- Proposition A Work at least through Janu- Cathedral of Our Lady of Los Angeles posed. ary 2007—2004. San Diego Ballpark Development Project Carson Terminal Expansion Project San Joaquin-Delta Community College (JMI Realty and Lennar-San Diego Urban (Kinder Morgan Energy Partners)—2004. District—Measure L—One Pilot Project in Division)—2005. Chevron El Segundo Refinery Project 2007—2005. San Mateo Marriott Addition (Tarsadia (Cherne Contracting Corp.) Montebello Unified School District—Meas- Hotels) Chevron Richmond Refinery Upgrade ure M—2006. Santee Court, Downtown Los Angeles CIM Downtown Redevelopment, San Jose— Del Norte Unified School District—New (MJW Investments)—2005. 2002. and Modernization Projects—2009. Shell Clean Fuels Project, Martinez Coast Santa Cruz Hotel Renovation—Not Mendocino-Lake Community College Dis- Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento (re- Built. trict—Measure W—2009. ceived subsidy from City of Sacramento) Community Health Systems Downtown Signature Properties Oak to Ninth Street TERMINATED Campus, Fresno Project, Oakland Santa Ana Unified School District—Meas- ConocoPhillips 66 Refinery Project, Rodeo 616 East Carson Street Project, Carson ure C—2000–2005. ConocoPhillips 66 Conversion to Ultra-Low (Community Dynamics)—required by city Sulfur Diesel, Rodeo—2004. PROHIBITED BY PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE council—2009. Cypress Walk Development, Pacifica (The ORDER 13202 655 Broadway, San Diego (Lankford & As- Olson Company)—Proposed. East Side Union High School District— sociates) Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Dry Network Upgrades at Three High Schools— Staples Center, Los Angeles (cost $375 mil- Cask Storage (PG&E)—2006. 2005. lion; City of Los Angeles borrowed $38.5 mil- Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Steam Los Angeles Unified School District—Net- lion for it) Generator Replacement Project (SGT)—2008. working Projects at Various Schools—2001– Station District Family Housing, Union Diablo Grande Golf Development, Patter- 2005. City (Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition)— son 2009. MUNICIPAL POWER PLANTS Dixon Downs Racetrack and Development Sutter Health—Sacramento Medical Cen- IMPLEMENTED (Magna Entertainment Corp.)—Rejected. ter Expansion Downtown Vallejo Redevelopment Project Sacramento Municipal Utility District— Taco Bell Discovery Science Center, Santa East Housing/Fleet Industrial Supply Cen- Carson Ice-Gen Plant—1993. Ana ter, Alameda (Catellus Development Com- Sacramento Municipal Utility District— Tongva Casino, Compton—Gabrielino- pany)—2007. Proctor & Gamble Company Generation Tongva Tribal Council Equilon Refinery Project, Wilmington Plant—1995. Tosco Refinery Upgrade (Bechtel) (Cherne Contracting Corp.) Sacramento Municipal Utility District— Trans Bay Cable Project, Pittsburg (Bab- Estrada de Santa Barbara Campbell Soup Cogeneration Plant—1996. cock & Brown Power Operating Partners)— Ethanol Plant, Goshen (Phoenix Bio Indus- Los Angeles Department of Water and 2007. tries)—2005. Power—Valley Generating Station—2001. United Spiral Pipe Manufacturing Plant, Ethanol Plant, Madera (Pacific Ethanol)— City of Santa Clara—Pico Power Project— Pittsburg—2007. 2005. 2003. Uptown Project, Oakland (Forest City)— Ethanol Plant, Pixley (Calgren Renewable Sacramento Municipal Utility District— 2006. Fuels)—2005. New Cosumnes Power Plant—2003. Valero Improvement Project—Refinery Up- Ethanol Plant, San Joaquin County/Stock- City of Burbank Magnolia Power Project— grade, Benicia ton (Pacific Ethanol)—2006. 2003. Westfield San Francisco Center (Westfield City of Pasadena Glenarm Power Plant— Ethanol Plant, Stanislaus County Corporation and Forest City)—2005. 2003. (Cilion)—2006. Westfield Roseville Galleria Expansion— City of Vernon/Malburg Generating Sta- Exxon Clean Fuels Project, Benicia 2006. tion—2003. Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Ca- Wild Goose Storage, Inc. Natural Gas Stor- Kings River Conservation District (Fresno) sino (Sonoma County)—Proposed. age Expansion Project and Pipeline, Butte Peaker Plant—2004. Genentech Phases I and II, Vacaville County—2002. City of Roseville—Roseville Energy Park— The Getty Center, Los Angeles Yerba Buena Project, San Francisco 2004. Kern River Pipeline Expansion (Williams Imperial Irrigation District—Niland Gas Gas Pipeline/MidAmerican Energy Holdings) PROPOSED Turbine Plant—2007. L.A. Live (Anschutz Entertainment Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland Cathe- City of Vernon Power Plant—Cancelled. Group)—2005. dral—2000. City of Palmdale Hybrid Power Plant— Lagoon Valley Development, Vacaville Roman Catholic Diocese of San 2009. (Triad Communities)—Proposed. Bernardino—All Work—2002. Sacramento Municipal Utility District— Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Ex- Sutter Health—San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano Phase 3 Wind Project—2010. pansion—2005. Vallejo Facilities—2002.

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Mitsubishi Liquified Natural Gas Ter- Flying J/Big West Refinery Upgrade (Ba- PROPOSED minal—Los Angeles Harbor—2003. kersfield)—Cancelled. Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area expan- HCA Regional Medical Center San Jose— Sacramento Railyards Project (Thomas sion (Florida Power & Light) 2003. Enterprises)—2007. Solar Thermal Power Plant, San Luis San Diego Chargers Football Stadium— Sonoma Mountain Village (Codding Enter- Obispo County (Ausra)—Cancelled. 2004. prises)—2009. Beacon Solar Energy Project (Florida BHP Billiton Cabrillo Port Liquified Nat- Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center Power & Light)—Proposed. ural Gas Deepwater Port (off Ventura Coun- Upgrade Phase 1—2010. PROPOSED BUT REJECTED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED ty coast)—2004. PRIVATE POWER PLANTS Huntington Beach Units 3 and 4 (AES)— Wood Street/West Oakland Train Station IMPLEMENTED Completed. Development, Oakland—2005. The State Building and Construction Valero Energy Corporation Cogeneration Treasure Island, Treasure Island Develop- Unit I—Completed. ment Authority, San Francisco—2005. Trades Council of California claimed on April 30, 2003 that ‘‘of the 35 power plants Sun Valley Energy Project, Romoland Chula Vista Bayfront Redevelopment— (Edison Mission)—Under Const. Gaylord Entertainment Co.—Abandoned. that have been licensed for construction, 34 Tesoro Refinery Coker Upgrade, Mar- have signed Project Labor Agreements for HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS tinez—2006. their construction.’’ As of November 1, 2009, IMPLEMENTED Anaheim NFL Stadium—2006. the State Building and Construction Trades Bay Area (Kaufman & Broad) Orange County Great Park—Lennar Cor- Council of California claims that since 1999, Brentwood (Pulte Homes)—496 houses— poration—2006. developers of 57 of the 63 power plants larger 2002. New Sacramento Kings Arena—Maloof than 50 megawatts built in California have Foster City (Summerhill Construction)— Sports & Entertainment—2006. signed PLAs. 160 houses MacArthur BART Transit Village Project Blythe, Blythe (Caithness)—Completed. Foster City (Webcor Builders) (receiving subsidy from City of Oakland)— Colusa, Colusa County (Reliant Energy)— Half Moon Bay (Ailanto Builders)—145 2006. Not Built. houses Grand Avenue Redevelopment Project, Los Costa Costa, Antioch (Mirant)—On Hold. Hercules (Hercules Victoria and subse- Angeles—2006. Delta Energy Center, Pittsburg (Calpine/ quent developers)—Victoria by the Bay— Target Store, City of Davis—2006. Bechtel)—Completed. plumbers & elect. Universal City Vision Plan (NBC Uni- East Altamont Energy Center, Alameda Oakley Magnolia Park Project (Pulte versal)—2006. County (Calpine)—On Hold. Homes) Hunters Point Development, San Francisco Elk Hills, Kern County (Sempra/Occi- Pacifica (Ryland Homes)—43 houses San Francisco (HMS Gateway Office). (Lennar/BVHP)—2007. dental)—Completed. San Francisco (Waterford Associates)—21 Candlestick Point Development, San Fran- Fourmile Hill Geothermal Project, houses cisco (TopVision)—2007. Siskiyou County (Calpine) Hanford, Hanford (GWF Power Systems)— San Francisco (Western Pacific)—74 houses La Bahia Hotel, Santa Cruz (1999—King San Francisco (Saddle Mountain Estates)— Not Built. Ventures, 2007—Barry Swenson Builder)— 74 houses High Desert, Victorville (Constellation 1999, 2007. San Francisco (Greystone Homes)—212 Power)—Completed. Alameda Street Redevelopment between units High Winds Energy Center expansion, Col- First & Temple Streets, Los Angeles—2007. San Francisco (Parkside Homes Devel- linsville (Florida Power & Light) Placer Vineyards Specific Plan, Placer opers)—156 condos County—2007. Inland Empire Energy Center, Romoland San Pedro—Pointe Vista (Bisno Develop- Lane Field Development, San Diego (Calpine)—On Hold. ment Co.)—Proposed. (Woodfin Hotels)—2007. Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System Vacaville Southtown Project (Western Pa- Marriott Convention Hotel at Ballpark Vil- (BrightSource Energy/Bechtel)—Proposed. cific Housing)—2004. lage (JMI Realty)—2007. La Paloma, Kern County (PG&E/NEG)— PROPOSED Greenbriar, City of Sacramento (AKT De- Completed. velopment and Woodside Homes)—2008. Los Medanos Energy Center, Pittsburg Sebastopol (Schellinger Brothers)—157 CityWalk in Oakland (The Olsen Com- (Calpine)—Completed. units—2002. San Rafael-St. Vincent School for Boys De- pany)—2008. Metcalf, San Jose (Calpine/Bechtel)—Under velopment (Shappell Industries)—2002. Douglas Park, Long Beach (Boeing Realty Const. Corporation)—2008. Midway-Sunset, Kern County (Edison)—On IMPLEMENTED THEN DECLARED ILLEGAL BY Santa Ana Renaissance Plan—2008. Hold. NLRB TrePac Terminal Expansion, Berth 136–147, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo (Duke En- Anatolia-Sacramento County (Sun Port of Los Angeles—2008. ergy)—On Hold. Ridge)—2714 houses—2002–2004. Moss Landing, Monterey County (Duke En- Placer County Developments: Riolo Vine- PUBLIC/PRIVATE HYBRID PROJECTS ergy)—Completed. yards, Curry Creek—2008. Contra Costa Community College Dis- City of Roseville Developments: Mountainview, San Bernardino (Edison)— On Hold. trict—San Ramon Valley Center—2004. Creekview, Sierra Vista, Placer Ranch, This project is covered by the Windemere Brookfield—2008. Nueva Azalea, South Gate (Sunlaw)—Not Built. Development private PLA with U.A. Local Sacramento County Development: Cordova 159 Plumbers and Steamfitters Union. The Hills/University of Sacramento (Conwy Orange Grove Energy Peaking Power Plant (J-Power USA Development)—Proposed. college board of trustees did not vote on this LLC)—2008. PLA. Sutter Health—Elk Grove Facility—2008. Otay Mesa, San Diego (Calpine)—On Hold. Brentwood Union School District (Pulte Primafuels, Inc. Biofuel Plant, West Sac- Palomar, Escondido (Sempra Energy)— Homes—Magnolia Park Project)—2004. ramento—2008. Under Const. This project is covered by the Pulte Homes Drexel University New West Coast Campus Pastoria, Kern County (Calpine)—Under private PLA with three unions. and Related Development, Placer County— Const. 2008. Rio Linda, Rio Linda (Florida Power & West Roseville Specific Plan (Westpark Delta Shores, City of Sacramento (M&H Light)—Not Built. Property)-Roseville City School District— Realty Partners LLC)—2009. Russell City, Hayward (Calpine/Bechte1) 2005. San Leandro Crossings/Cannery Court Calpine/General Electric)—On Hold. This development is covered by the Signa- (BRIDGE Housing) (receiving subsidy from Salton Sea Six Geothermal Plant (CE Ob- ture Properties private PLA with three San Leandro)—2009. sidian Energy)—Approved. unions. The district board of trustees voted San Joaquin Valley Energy Center, San to cut language in their documents ratfiying PROPOSED BUT REJECTED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED Joaquin (Calpine)—On Hold. the PLA. Raley Field—Sacramento River Cats AAA Stirling Energy Systems Solar Two Rio School District—RiverPark East Ele- Baseball Stadium—1999. Project, Imperial County—Proposed. mentary School—2005. Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento— Sunrise Cogeneration, Kern County (Tex- This project was covered by a Shea Homes Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Renova- aco and Edison Mission)—Completed. private PLA. tions—2002. Sutter Power, Yuba City (Calpine)—Com- PROPOSED Save Mart Center—Fresno State Univer- pleted. sity—2000. Tesla (Florida Power & Light)—On Hold. City of San Diego Civic Center Complex— Thunder Valley Casino—United Auburn In- Three Mountain, Burney (Ogden Energy)— 2009. dian Community (Placer County) On Hold. Leading prospective bidder Gerdling Edlen Casino—Upper Lake Band of Pomo Indians Tracy Peaker Project (GWF Energy)— has indicated intent to sign a PLA. (West Sacramento)—Cancelled. Completed. PROPOSED BUT REJECTED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED Bay Street Emeryville, Phase II United Golden Gate, San Mateo County (El Rio School District—RiverPark East Inter- Las Lomas (Los Angeles)—Rejected. Paso Merchant)—Not Built. mediate School—2006.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:05 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.023 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE June 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4055 This project was initially covered by a time that you have an issue where ev- Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I Shea Homes private PLA. erybody has come together, and, clear- rise in support of the amendment. We Solar Project at Fresno Yosemite Inter- ly, here is an issue where members of will accept Mr. MEEKS’ amendment be- national Airport—2007. the community and the veterans have cause it’s vitally important that all World Water & Solar Technologies Corp. is spoken with one voice to say that what Federal agencies, the VA included, un- building this private project to serve the air- is being proposed there is against the derstand that the Member of Congress port and rental car facilities at the airport. best wishes of the veterans and the representing that district, he’s their UNION-ONLY LANGUAGE IN BID SPECIFICATIONS needs of the veterans and against the voice. IMPLEMENTED wishes of the community, basically I represent Houston, Texas. I’m Capitol Park Safety and Security Improve- changing the whole complexity of the proud to do so. I have an obligation, ments—2005. community so that the people that live obviously, to look after the entire Na- State Compensation Insurance Fund (State there would have a terrible injustice tion. But first and foremost, I am the Fund)—Fresno District Office Automation Representative of the people of District System—2008. and disservice. Now, I know that the EUL process Seven in Houston, Texas, as Mr. MEEKS REJECTED works in certain areas because part of is the Representative of his constitu- Arvin-Edison Water District—North Canal it is supposed to be where the EUL ents in New York. And I think it’s vi- Spreading Works—1999. process works with the community and tally important that every Federal South San Joaquin Irrigation District— agency understand that they need to South County Water Supply Program Turn- veterans and everybody agreeing and out Facilities—2003. working together. That is not the case work with and earn the support of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District— in this scenario. Representative of that district before MetroBase Project Parking Garage—2005. In this scenario, we have veterans they move forward with a major The Acting CHAIR. The question is from all over—in fact, we have the project of any kind. And as Mr. MEEKS has said, the com- on the amendment offered by the gen- Queens County Council of VFWs. We have the Vietnam Vets of America. We munity is opposed to the direction the tleman from Ohio (Mr. LATOURETTE). VA is taking. And I would join with my The question was taken; and the Act- have the New York Vets Advocacy friend, Mr. BISHOP. And we strongly ing Chair announced that the ayes ap- Group. We have the Department of New support the VA looking to the private peared to have it. York District 1 VFW, United Council sector to partner with the private sec- Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I for Veterans Rights, Nassau County VFW, Vets Helping Vets, Inc., all of tor to find innovative, cost-effective demand a recorded vote. ways of providing better services to our The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to whom are supportive of this amend- ment saying that this is not in the best veterans by partnering with the pri- clause 6 of rule XVIII, further pro- interests of veterans. vate sector. ceedings on the amendment offered by The VA has come up with the idea of And certainly, the committee does the gentleman from Ohio will be post- putting together a facility that doesn’t not want to discourage in any way the poned. even include a full-service hospital and VA’s expansion of private partnerships The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will is not based upon the number of vets to give better service to veterans. We read. that we have coming back from Af- encourage it. We want the VA to look The Clerk read as follows: ghanistan and Iraq. Now, they have put for ways to save money, to provide bet- SPENDING REDUCTION ACCOUNT everything on the line for them, and ter service to our veterans, to use the SEC. 416. The amount by which the applica- here we have the opportunity to make extraordinary expertise of hospitals ble allocation of new budget authority made sure that we do the very best that we and medical communities like the by the Committee on Appropriations of the can for our veterans. And here the Texas Medical Center, which I rep- House of Representatives under section resent. The work that Mr. BISHOP is 302(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 whole community surrounds us, and we exceeds the amount of proposed new budget want what the veterans want. We want doing with Fort Benning and the VA in authority is $0. to stand behind them in 100 percent his district has created a marvelous partnership with private physicians to AMENDMENT NO. 1 OFFERED BY MR. MEEKS lockstep. And it seems as though, to provide better services. We want the Mr. MEEKS. I have an amendment at some at the VA, there is a deaf ear in VA to continue that effort. the desk. regard to that. So we will continue to fight. And But it is absolutely essential that the The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will VA understand that they have to earn designate the amendment. what this bill says is that we will stop the EUL process in New York at the St. the support and approval of the com- The text of the amendment is as fol- munity. That means they have to earn lows: Albans facility because it is not what is needed. It is not what the vets want. the support and approval of the Rep- At the end of the bill (before the short resentative for that district. And in title) insert the following: It just seems to me that, instead of working with the community, the VA this instance, I hope the VA is tuned in SEC. ll. None of the funds made available and listening. The VA needs to earn by this Act may be used to declare as excess has chosen to go out and do a high-den- to the needs of the Department of Veterans sity residential area, residential build- the support and approval of Congress- Affairs or otherwise take any action to ex- ing in this facility that is not even just man MEEKS before they move forward change, trade, auction, transfer, or otherwise for veterans, which will then have a with this effort. So for that reason, we will accept the dispose of, or reduce the acreage of, Federal devastating impact on the local com- amendment. And I want to know that land and improvements at the St. Albans munity. campus, consisting of approximately 55 acres So we’re saying no, that shouldn’t the VA is not only returning Mr. of land, with borders near Linden Boulevard MEEKS’ phone calls, but they are lis- on the northwest, 115th Avenue on the west, happen. You can’t destroy the very fab- ric of a great community, and you tening to, responding to, and satisfying the Long Island Railroad on the northeast, the needs of the community, the needs and Baisley Boulevard on the southeast. can’t produce something that does not benefit the very vets that we’re sup- of his constituents, the needs of the The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman veterans that he represents; and that from New York is recognized for 5 min- posed to be here to help. So, Mr. Chair, I urge support of this the VA, once they have earned the sup- utes. amendment regarding the St. Albans port of the community, they are going Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chair, I rise in sup- VA Hospital. I urge that we support to have the support of Mr. MEEKS. And port of the amendment I have regard- our veterans who are absolutely united when Mr. MEEKS comes to the sub- ing the St. Albans VA Hospital in New on this matter. committee and says that the VA has York. I yield back the balance of my time. earned his support, the community has First of all, this is clearly a bipar- earned his support, then the committee tisan bill. I have the support of my b 1500 will be prepared to move forward and good friends PETER KING and MICHAEL Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I support the VA work at St. Albans. GRIMM of New York to stop the en- move to strike the last word. So for those reasons, we will accept hanced lease process for the St. Albans The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman the amendment. And I am looking for- VA in my district. There is rarely a from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. ward to the day when Mr. MEEKS comes

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We should from New York is recognized for 5 min- cially, for seeing through the politics not disadvantage nonunion employees utes. of this and understanding that these who are willing to perform more con- Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I are our veterans that we are fighting struction for less money. By elimi- rise in strong support of the Meeks for; that we, as Members of Congress, nating government-mandated wages, amendment, which not only affects his understand our constituencies and our we can better allocate resources, in- district, but affects at least 11 congres- needs and their needs. crease efficiency, and put hardworking sional districts that surround his dis- I want to personally thank Rep- Americans back on the job. trict, all in support of our veterans and resentatives GRIMM and KING, who are Providing for our national defense fighting men and women who have re- among our delegation, as well as the and the care of our veterans are crit- turned from wars overseas, some of rest of the Democratic members of the ical priorities. Construction projects in them severely injured and in need of delegation in our region, and thank the appropriations bill include VA fa- cilities, family housing, schools and in- our care, concern, and support at this Representative MEEKS for his dynamic frastructure for our National Guard very moment. and great leadership in bringing this to troops stationed on the border. We owe For 7 years now, the Department of our attention so that we could stand it to our constituents to stretch every Veterans Affairs has pursued a perhaps together as patriotic Americans all, at taxpayer dollar and spend wisely. well-intentioned but a stubbornly least on this issue, and fight for the wrongheaded plan for the St. Albans Blocking Davis-Bacon’s application needs of our veterans. to military construction and VA Primary and Extended Care facility I yield back the balance of my time. which is located in the county of projects will honor our commitment to The Acting CHAIR. The question is fiscal responsibility and to our vet- Queens. I am very concerned that the on the amendment offered by the gen- erans. Let’s let competition determine VA is proceeding full speed ahead with tleman from New York (Mr. MEEKS). wages, not the Federal Government. its plans to lease a property for 34 The amendment was agreed to. Please support my amendment to block years, property currently dedicated ex- AMENDMENT NO. 4 OFFERED BY MR. AMASH Davis-Bacon. clusively for veterans. And what are Mr. AMASH. Mr. Chair, I have an b 1510 the veterans supposed to do for the amendment at the desk. next 75 years without this facility, The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will I now yield to the gentleman from when there is a rising demand among designate the amendment. Texas. our veterans for medical services? The text of the amendment is as fol- Mr. CULBERSON. I thank the gen- The justification—you have to hear lows: tleman from Michigan for bringing this this—the justification for the VA’s de- important amendment. I strongly sup- At the end of the bill (before the short port this amendment and urge the cision stems from an absurd outdated title), insert the following: report that relied on data from 2003, 8 SEC. ll. None of the funds made available House to adopt the gentleman’s amend- years ago, when we were only at the by this Act may be used to administer or en- ment because it will save, again, our beginning of the wars in Iraq and Af- force the wage-rate requirements of sub- children and grandchildren a signifi- ghanistan. We have, unfortunately, chapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United cant amount of money. seen tremendous increases in veterans States Code, popularly known as the ‘‘Davis- We are in an era of austerity unlike homelessness, foreclosures, divorce, Bacon Act.’’ anything America has ever experi- substance abuse, PTSD and, yes, sui- The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman enced. We are living on borrowed cides. from Michigan is recognized for 5 min- money. Every dollar the Federal Gov- And yet the VA report from all those utes. ernment brings in goes right out the years ago projected at that time, al- Mr. AMASH. Mr. Chairman, the back door to pay for the existing social most a decade ago, that mental health Davis-Bacon Act requires nearly all safety net. Social Security, Medicare, services for our veterans was going to Federal construction contracts to pay Medicaid, interest on the national debt decrease over the next 20 years. It’s a prevailing wage determined by the and veterans’ benefits consume 104 per- been 8 years since that report. And Department of Labor. Under the law, cent of America’s revenue. Therefore, what have we seen during the 8 years construction contractors and sub- all the money we appropriate for the alone? And there’s 12 years more to go. contractors may not pay their own entire year for military construction, for the VA, for transportation, for We’ve seen increases in all of these workers wages lower than the depart- homeland security, for the Defense De- problems among our veterans. And yet ment’s pay rate, even if the workers partment, all of it, is borrowed. There- they cling stubbornly to the data in bargain for a wage below the govern- fore, we need to do everything we can that report, thinking that these things ment-set rate. to cut, to save money, to eliminate My amendment blocks application of are going to go down among our vet- fraud, waste and abuse and to avoid Davis-Bacon to the Military Construc- erans. And this, everybody knows, is spending more money than we should. certainly not going to be the case. tion and Veterans’ Affairs appropria- Here, very straightforward, the gen- All evidence suggests that returning tions bill. There are two main reasons tleman’s amendment would save Amer- veterans are going to require a greater why the House should block Davis- ican taxpayers a significant amount of significant increase especially in VA Bacon. money. It depends on what study mental health services. A Rand Center First, Davis-Bacon wastes taxpayer you’re looking at, but my very capable report alone found that already 18.5 dollars on overpriced contracts. A re- staff has looked at this and analyzed a percent of all U.S. servicemembers who cent study showed that, on average, whole variety of studies that indicate have returned already from Afghani- nationwide, the government-set rate is that there’s a whole range of savings. stan and Iraq currently suffer from 22 percent higher than the true market The Chamber of Commerce believes PTSD or depression, and that 19.5 per- rate. For example, if sheet metal work- that Davis-Bacon, or paying union pre- cent suffer from traumatic brain in- ers in Long Island, New York, are paid vailing wages in, for example, a free jury. $28.79 per hour, while the government- market environment like in Texas, we Where is the Veterans Administra- set rate for that area is $45.40, fac- don’t pay prevailing wage. We in Texas tion’s common sense? To give away toring in the cost of materials and on a highway project pay the competi- this property, which is intended and se- other supplies, studies suggest that the tive free market wage. cured right now for our veterans, is a Federal Government overpays for con- First of all, not only are we going to huge mistake, based on a report that is struction contracts by between 10 per- save money, but why would we discour- already discredited by the facts. This is cent and 15 percent. age competition? Why, in this terrible

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We As on the last amendment, the wages for government contracts. have a social responsibility to work to LaTourette amendment, which I hope I noticed that the previous speaker a return to what used to be the Amer- the House defeats, that amendment we was really concerned about the possi- ican norm, and that is that each gen- need to defeat so that we could encour- bility that Davis-Bacon would raise the eration does better than the last. age companies to come in and compete cost of the performance of these con- But the second, even from a crudely for Federal contracts, this amendment tracts, but it only requires that pre- proprietary position, the Federal Gov- needs to be adopted to encourage busi- vailing wages in the area where the ernment is in a very different position nesses to come in and compete for Fed- contract is going to be performed is than a private homeowner, private eral contracts. This would expand the maintained. For example, if in some of property owner. I know I was tempted universe of companies that could com- the urban areas where labor costs are the last time we fixed our home, maybe pete and apply for work. As in Texas, very, very high and the prevailing I should go with the slipshod, cheap- for example, on a highway project, we wages are there, the standard of living skate company. After all, I’m only pay the competitive, best price for and the wage payment for that area going to live there a few more years. bids, and in the Chamber of Com- would be consistent. If it was in a Even many private owners, they’re merce’s opinion, if we eliminate the lower wage area, then Davis-Bacon only going to own the building for a Davis-Bacon prevailing wage, it would wages would be the wages that were few years. save about 15 percent on average on paid in that market. So basically it So many of us in our daily lives use project construction. The Cato Insti- just allows the workers to be paid at a government-constructed projects from tute estimates a 10 percent savings. rate consistent with where the project the 1930s. When the government builds The Acting CHAIR. The time of the is being conducted. something, it is normally going to be gentleman has expired. The act requires that every construc- owned and operated by the government Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I tion contract that the Federal Govern- and used by our citizens for many, move to strike the last word. ment participates in in excess of $2,000 many decades. Why do we want slip- The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has to have this provision defining the shod construction? Why do we want from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. minimum wage. It was taken up by those who are not looking to have Mr. CULBERSON. Thank you very this House just a few days ago, and, of skilled craftsmen and craftswomen but, much. course, three times this House has de- rather, are looking to slap it up there If I could, Mr. Chairman, point out feated attempts to repeal this Davis- in the cheapest possible way? that the Heritage Foundation esti- Bacon requirement. It would appear to b 1520 mates that there will be a 22 percent me that this House has exercised great savings to taxpayers by eliminating wisdom three times in this session in Our public works need to be built by the Davis-Bacon requirement. The Bea- preserving the right of workers to earn those with the proper construction con Hill Institute at Suffolk University the wages that are paid in the area skills; it’s not a matter of just hiring in Boston estimates a 10 percent sav- where the project is being constructed. as many hands as you can as cheaply as ings. That just makes sense. We want our possible. This whole variety of savings, if you workers to be paid fairly. We don’t And so I support the gentleman from line them up, for example, we’ll just want the government to overpay. So Georgia and his comments, and I urge say, for the sake of argument, that we won’t pay higher wages in an area the defeat of this amendment. there is about a 10 percent savings in where prevailing wages are lower. We Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I move to construction costs, we as a Nation liv- won’t pay lower wages in an area where strike the requisite number of words. ing on borrowed money should not vol- the prevailing wages are higher, where The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman untarily, willingly pay 10 percent the cost of living is higher, where the from Washington is recognized for 5 more. It makes no sense. cost of doing business is higher, where minutes. The gentleman’s amendment is ex- the cost of doing the construction Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in traordinarily important. It will save would be higher. We want the govern- strong opposition to this amendment. taxpayers a significant amount of ment to get the best bang for the buck. Some in the minority continue to try money on every construction project. These amendments are probably very to repeal Davis-Bacon, despite the On average, you’re going to wind up well-intentioned. We want to save the House being on record supporting the saving, under the gentleman’s amend- taxpayers’ dollars, but we cannot and protection of labor standards. ment, about 10 percent. Ten percent we should not be penny-wise and Two weeks ago, the full committee goes a long way on a lot of these mas- pound-foolish. The repeal of Davis- voted to strip the anti-Davis-Bacon sive construction projects. The gentle- Bacon, I think, and I think that this provision that was added by the chair- man’s amendment is vitally important House has stated on at least three oc- man of the subcommittee. A similar in this economy. The adoption of the casions on this floor during this session amendment repealing Davis-Bacon was gentleman’s amendment will increase of Congress, would be pound-foolish. offered during the consideration of the the number of jobs available for people I yield back the balance of my time. FY 2012 Homeland Security appropria- to work on Federal projects. The gen- Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I tions bill. It failed on a vote of 183–234. tleman’s amendment will create jobs move to strike the last word. I have been a longtime supporter of and save money for taxpayers. In an The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman Davis-Bacon’s prevailing wage require- era of record debt, record deficit, and from California is recognized for 5 min- ments. It helps ensure that local record burden that we simply cannot utes. projects provide local jobs with afford- pass on to our kids, it is vitally impor- Mr. SHERMAN. I join the gentleman able middle class wages. The law pro- tant that the House approve the gen- from Georgia in opposing this amend- tects the government from contractors tleman’s amendment, and I urge its ment and associate myself with his re- trying to win Federal contracts by bid- adoption. marks. ding too low to attract competent I yield back the balance of my time. The Federal Government is in a dif- workers. I strongly oppose this amend- Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I move to ferent position from a private company ment. strike the last word. having construction done, for two rea- I point out, if there is a problem The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is sons: First, one of the greatest social here, it’s because we do not do the recognized for 5 minutes. problems we face in this country is the wage surveys on a continuing and con- Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair- eroding wages of middle class families. sistent basis. That is a real problem. man, I rise in opposition to this amend- We see that even in times when there That rests with the Department of ment. are sufficient jobs, the average Amer- Labor, and we need to make sure that The Davis-Bacon Act is a pretty sim- ican doesn’t make any more on an in- they’re doing their part of the equa- ple concept, and it’s a fair concept. flation-adjusted basis than a decade or tion.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:05 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.020 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H4058 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2011 Mr. Chairman, I yield back the bal- cost, it will extend the time, and ulti- we are going to adopt a policy that ance of my time. mately it will cost our taxpayers more says that money is not going to be ap- Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair- money, and we will not get the effi- propriated for deliberate violation of man, I move to strike the requisite ciencies that each and every tax dollar our law, that we apply this amendment number of words. should have because they are hard- not only to the Defense Appropriations The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is earned tax dollars, and our taxpayers bill, but to this second bill that funds recognized for 5 minutes. don’t give them up lightly. But when the Pentagon. Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair- we do pay our taxes, everybody in this Why is this amendment necessary? man, let me just say that the Davis- body and across this country wants to Because so many administrations have Bacon Act prevents competition for make sure that we get the best bang embraced the idea of an imperial Presi- construction contracts from artifi- for the buck. Davis-Bacon would give dency, the idea that a President can cially depressing local labor standards. us that result. It has proven that. The send our forces into battle for unlim- The Davis-Bacon Act will prevent sub- studies show that. ited duration, for any purpose, unlim- verting the prevailing wage laws, I would submit that this amendment ited in scope. This is not what the Con- which will lead to shoddy construction is ill-advised and should be defeated. stitution and the law provides. and substantial cost overruns. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the bal- The War Powers Act is the law of the Under the prevailing wage laws, con- ance of my time. land, and it says the President may in- tractors are forced to compete on the The Acting CHAIR. The question is deed commit our forces, but the Presi- basis of who can best train, best equip, on the amendment offered by the gen- dent must seek congressional author- and best manage a construction crew, tleman from Michigan (Mr. AMASH). ization and must withdraw within 60 not on the basis of who can assemble The question was taken; and the Act- days if that authorization is not pro- the cheapest, most exploitable work- ing Chair announced that the noes ap- vided by the affirmative vote of both force, either locally or through import- peared to have it. Houses of Congress. ing labor from outside. Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I In Libya, we face not an attack on The Davis-Bacon Act does not re- demand a recorded vote. the United States, not an attack on our quire a union wage; it requires pre- The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to allies. But even in this circumstance, vailing wage based upon surveys of clause 6 of rule XVIII, further pro- this President, like others, claims that wages and benefits that are actually ceedings on the amendment offered by he does not have to follow the law. paid to various job classifications of the gentleman from Michigan will be b 1530 construction workers, such as iron postponed. The administration has implied that workers in a community, without re- AMENDMENT NO. 2 OFFERED BY MR. SHERMAN there are substitutes for congressional gard to whether they belong to a union Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I have authorization; they have implied that or not. an amendment at the desk. resolutions by the United Nations, the According to the Department of The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will Arab League or NATO can be a sub- Labor, a whopping 72 percent of pre- designate the amendment. stitute for congressional authorization; vailing wage rates issued in 2000 were Mr. SHERMAN. May the Clerk read and they implied that consulting con- based upon nonunion wage rates. A the amendment? gressional leaders, a lunch with leader- union wage prevails only if the Depart- The Acting CHAIR. Without objec- ship, is a substitute for the affirmative ment of Labor survey determines that tion, the Clerk will report the amend- vote of both Houses of Congress. It is the local union wage is paid to more ment. time for us to stand up and say, No, than 50 percent of the workers in that There was no objection. Mr. President, you actually have to fol- job classification. The Clerk read as follows: low the law. Now higher wages and skills result in At the end of the bill, before the short Obviously, this amendment is even greater productivity and lower cost. title, insert the following: more apropos to the Defense appropria- It’s so much greater among high-wage, SEC. ll. None of the funds made available tions bill, but we will be dealing with high-skill workers that projects that by this Act may be used in contravention of that weeks from now. The President use high-skilled workers and high-paid the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et has been violating the War Powers Act workers often cost less than those that seq.). for many weeks. It is time to act use the low-wage, low-skilled workers The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman today. due to repairs, revisions, and lengthy from California is recognized for 5 min- Moreover, if we put this amendment delays. utes. only on the Defense appropriations bill The opponents who claim that the Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I had and don’t put it on this bill, then we in- government could save billions by the Clerk read the amendment because vite the administration to try to figure eliminating the Davis-Bacon protec- it’s a simple one-sentence amendment. out clever accounting ways to use the tions ignore the productivity, quality, It says that none of the money in this billions of dollars provided to the De- safety, community development and act can be used deliberately by the fense Department in this bill to carry other economic benefits which con- President to violate the law, in par- out operations in Libya. We should not tribute to the real cost effectiveness of ticular, the War Powers resolution, invite a loophole hunt. We should put Davis-Bacon. A study of 10 States often referred to as the War Powers the same restriction on both of the where nearly half of all of the highway Act, which is found in title 50 of the bills that fund the Defense Depart- and bridge work is done in the United United States Code. ment. States showed that when high-wage This is the same amendment I offered Now, if we can pass the amendment, workers were paid double the wage of to the Homeland Security appropria- the President will, I hope, request an low-wage workers, they built 74.4 more tions bill. Some 208 Members of Con- authorization from Congress to take miles of roadbed and 32.8 more miles of gress voted for that amendment. The action in Libya, and he will have to ac- bridges for $557 million less. only argument against the amendment cept an authorization that will, I ex- Driving wages down will not help bal- at that time was that it wasn’t exactly pect, be limited in time and scope. Per- ance the budget. The Davis-Bacon Act appropriate or relevant to the Home- haps it will say that only air forces and will improve our local economies and it land Security bill. After all, I was pre- not ground forces can be committed. will result in increased productivity. venting the funding of violation of the Perhaps it will require renewal every 3 I am convinced that, again, we have War Powers Act with the funds pro- or 6 months. There may be conditions people with good intentions that want vided to the Department of Homeland on funding sources. For example, per- to save us money, but if you pay cheap- Security. haps we use some of the $33 billion that er wages, you will have to employ less Now that I offer this amendment to Qadhafi was stupid enough to leave in- skilled workers. If you hire less skilled the MilCon bill, it is relevant. This is a vested in the United States in ways workers, they will, in all likelihood, bill that provides tens of billions of that we could find and that we have have to have work redone that will dollars for the Defense Department. frozen rather than use taxpayer dol- have to be repaired. It will extend the And it is necessary and appropriate, if lars.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:05 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.022 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE June 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4059 Congress will ask some tough ques- fornia has taken, I agree with com- er the programs are funded because tions. And we may put some conditions pletely. they are worthwhile or because they requiring certain action also by the The action in Libya, as Mr. MCCLIN- benefit a House Member personally. Benghazi transitional government. We TOCK has said, there could not be a The appropriations bill we are con- would ask why the Benghazi govern- more clear violation of the War Powers sidering today has a prohibition on ment has refused to disassociate itself Act than the President’s involvement ‘‘monuments to me’’ that mirrors the from the al Qaeda fighters and the Lib- of American Armed Forces in Libya. House rules and bans naming programs yan Islamic Fighting Group men who The Congress has never been notified. and buildings after current House are in their midst and why they will There has been obviously no attack on Members. My amendment extends that not remove from that transitional gov- the United States. There is no stra- same prohibition to current Senators ernment those that have American tegic interest of the United States at and the President. blood on their hands from Iraq and Af- stake in Libya or in Yemen. Where else Ending ‘‘monuments to me’’ is an im- ghanistan. is he going to send our troops without portant step to preventing the waste of This is not just the issue of an notifying the Congress and the people taxpayer dollars and to ensuring that aggrandizing President. It is also the of the United States as required by the our appropriations are in the best in- issue of a derelict Congress. Continuing War Powers Act? terests of the public, not the personal military action in Libya should be con- So, Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of interests of elected representatives. I ducted only consistent with American the gentleman’s amendment. I want to ask you to support my amendment. law. If Congress habitually appro- rise in support of Mr. TOM MCCLINTOCK I yield back the balance of my time. priates funds knowing that those funds of California’s eloquent defense of the Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I will be used to violate the law of the War Powers Act, and I urge the House insist on my point of order. land, then we are complicit in under- to adopt Mr. SHERMAN’s amendment. I certainly agree with the gentle- mining democracy and the rule of law I yield back the balance of my time. man’s sentiment. It is important that in the United States. The question is The Acting CHAIR. The question is we as Members of Congress don’t spend not democracy and the rule of law in on the amendment offered by the gen- any money to name anything after our- Libya; the question is democracy and tleman from California (Mr. SHERMAN). selves. It is inappropriate. It just ought the rule of law in the United States. The question was taken; and the Act- not be done. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the ing Chair announced that the ayes ap- I know that my colleague from Texas gentleman has expired. peared to have it. (Mr. MCCAUL) has also been working on Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I demand this to prevent the use of taxpayer rise in support of the amendment. a recorded vote. funds from being spent on monuments The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to built at taxpayer expense to Members from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. clause 6 of rule XVIII, further pro- of Congress that are still living. This Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I ceedings on the amendment offered by rule is in place for the House of Rep- rise in support of the gentleman’s the gentleman from California will be resentatives. It ought to be in place for amendment, and I will happily accept postponed. the Senate and the President of the it, because it is evident that the ad- AMENDMENT NO. 5 OFFERED BY MR. AMASH United States. ministration is in direct violation of Mr. AMASH. Mr. Chairman, I have an POINT OF ORDER the War Powers Act, which requires amendment at the desk. Unfortunately, the gentleman’s the President to either certify to the The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will amendment imposes a duty on Federal Congress that the United States has designate the amendment. agencies in violation of clause 2 of rule been attacked or there is a national se- The text of the amendment is as fol- XXI, so I regret reluctantly I have to curity interest of the United States at lows: raise a point of order against the gen- stake, and, if not, then we need to be At the end of the bill (before the short tleman’s amendment in that it pro- notified. I think we are still waiting for title), insert the following: poses to change existing law, Mr. the administration to talk to us, to SEC. ll. None of the funds made available Chairman, and therefore constitutes justify, to explain the involvement of in this Act may be used for a project or pro- legislation in an appropriations bill in gram named for an individual serving as a U.S. forces in Libya. Now we read over violation of clause 2 of rule XXI, and the weekend that the administration Senator in the United States Senate or as the President of the United States. that the amendment seeks to impose may send U.S. forces, our young men additional duties on a Federal agency Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I and women, into harm’s way in Yemen. or entity. reserve a point of order on the gentle- What are we going to do, Syria next? I ask for a ruling from the Chair. man’s amendment. The Congress of the United States The Acting CHAIR. Does any other The Acting CHAIR. A point of order has an obligation to make sure that, in Member wish to be heard on the point is reserved. the stewardship of our precious tax dol- of order? If not, the Chair will rule. The gentleman from Michigan is rec- lars and the responsibility we have to The Chair finds that this amendment ognized for 5 minutes on his amend- ensure the protection of our men and includes language requiring a new de- ment. women in uniform and the people of termination by the relevant executive Mr. AMASH. Mr. Chairman, at the this Nation, that we are enforcing the branch official of the current member- start of this Congress, the House made War Powers Act, that we are directly ship of a body in the legislative branch. important changes to the way the in- involved as a partner in the defense of The amendment therefore constitutes stitution operates. We began by ending the United States. legislation in violation of clause 2 of The administration has persistently earmarks. Americans understood that rule XXI. and consistently refused to involve the the practice favored Representatives’ The point of order is sustained and Congress in these decisions to send our pet projects while the taxpayer was left the amendment is not in order. men and women into Libya and wheth- to foot the bill. Earmarks diverted our er or not we are going to go into constituents’ hard-earned money to b 1540 Yemen. Mr. SHERMAN’s amendment is low-priority projects and, even worse, AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. FLORES very reasonable and points out that, appeared corrupt. Americans started to Mr. FLORES. Mr. Chairman, I have simply, we are not going to spend any lose confidence in their government an amendment at the desk. money in violation of the law, we are when they saw their Representatives The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will re- not going to spend any money in viola- using public funds for personal gain. port the amendment. tion of the War Powers Resolution. In a similar vein, this Congress con- The Clerk read as follows: The distinguished Chairman of the tinued last Congress’ prohibition on At the end of the bill (before the short Committee of the Whole House is un- ‘‘monuments to me.’’ Like earmarks, title), add the following new section: able to speak, but I have to say that when House Members name Federal SEC. 4ll. None of the funds made avail- Mr. MCCLINTOCK’s editorial, the posi- programs and buildings after them- able by this Act shall be available to enforce tions that the gentleman from Cali- selves, Americans can’t be sure wheth- section 526 of the Energy Independence and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:05 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.051 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H4060 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2011 Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–140; 42 I urge my colleagues to support pas- the administration has used our tax U.S.C. 17142). sage of this commonsense amendment. dollars and its influence in the Inter- The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman I yield back the balance of my time. national Monetary Fund to attempt to from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I prop up and support Brazilian explo- Mr. FLORES. Mr. Chairman, my move to strike the last word. ration for oil and gas, discouraging amendment is quite simple. During the The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman American development of oil and gas. 110th Congress there was a section from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. It’s a policy that continues to drive up added to the Energy Independence and Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I the unemployment rate and drive down Security Act that bans Federal agen- rise in strong support of the gentle- the production of American oil and gas. cies from entering into contracts for man’s amendment. Mr. FLORES’ amendment will allow us procurement of alternative fuel sources The United States is the Saudi Ara- to expand the production of one vital unless the ‘‘lifecycle greenhouse gas bia of coal. We’ve been blessed by the American resource that we have in emissions’’ are less than or equal to good Lord with extraordinary re- abundance—and that’s coal. such emissions from an equivalent con- sources. We have, apparently, the So I strongly support the gentle- ventional fuel produced from conven- world’s largest supply of shale gas, man’s amendment and urge its adop- tional petroleum sources. This amend- shale oil. Yet the administration is tion. ment would simply prohibit the gov- doing everything in their power to pre- I yield back the balance of my time. ernment from enforcing this ban on vent us from even finding or locating Mr. DICKS. I move to strike the req- Federal agencies funded by the under- additional shale oil or gas. The admin- uisite number of words. lying bill. istration is doing everything in their The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman I was not yet in Congress when the power to prevent us from drilling in from Washington is recognized for 5 Energy Independence and Security Act the Gulf of Mexico, which we’ve done minutes. was considered, but section 526 raises for decades cleanly, safely, economi- Mr. DICKS. I rise today in opposition concerns over national security, eco- cally. to the gentleman’s amendment. Sec- nomic security, and it creates bureau- We could create hundreds and hun- tion 526 of the Energy Independence cratic uncertainty. Section 526 was dreds and hundreds of thousands of and Security Act of 2007 is intended to added to this bill to stifle the Defense high-paying jobs in the United States if ensure that any alternative fuel that is Department’s plans to buy and develop the administration would simply get introduced to replace conventional pe- coal-based—or ‘‘coal-to-liquids’’—jet out of the way and let Texans run troleum-based fuels must have green- fuels. Environmentalists allege that Texas, and let the gulf States and the house gas emissions that are less than this coal-based fuel will ultimately energy community unleash American or equal to the fuel it is replacing. produce more greenhouse emissions ingenuity to do what they do best— That is a commonsense approach. The than would traditional petroleum re- produce domestic oil and gas cleanly Department of Defense alone is the sin- sources. This allegation is uncertain at and safely. The jobs that are produced gle largest energy consumer in the best and does not account for ongoing in the Gulf of Mexico in the energy in- world. Its leadership in this area is improvements in carbon-capture tech- dustry across the United States are critical to any credible approach to nologies in association with CTL tech- safe, high-paying, high-quality jobs dealing with energy independence nology. that the economy and the people of issues. Section 526 provides an oppor- My amendment prohibits funds in the America desperately need. tunity for DOD to play a substantial bill from being used to enforce section Mr. FLORES has brought a very im- role in spurring the innovation needed 526. Section 526 makes it more difficult portant amendment to the floor which to produce alternative fuels which will for our Defense Department to become would expand the use of petroleum de- not further exacerbate global climate energy independent and to rely on rived from coal. The United States is change. more domestic and more stable sources blessed with abundant amounts of coal. I would like to congratulate Sec- of fuel instead of sources located in This Federal law, section 526 of the En- retary Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, more unstable, volatile parts of the ergy Independence and Security Act, for his energetic approach to trying to world. This is very problematic for our discourages the production of liquefied find alternative fuels. I think he, as Defense Department by creating uncer- gas or fuel from coal—and that’s a Secretary, has done an outstanding tainty about what fuels DOD can pro- vital part of our energy future. We un- job. He has put the Navy on a path to- cure, and it discourages development of derstand, as constitutional conserv- wards energy independence and reduc- new sources, particularly reliable do- atives, as the new majority in the ing the amount of petroleum products mestic sources of energy supplies for House, that the United States needs to that we’re using today. the Armed Forces. Section 526 opens continue to invest in alternative tech- So I urge my colleagues to vote ‘‘no’’ DOD up to court or administrative nologies for the future. We are all in on this very shortsighted amendment. challenges for every fuel purchase it support of finding new ways to gen- I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, makes. Per a July 9, 2008, letter to Sen- erate electricity to move the United I move to strike the last word. ator JAMES INHOFE from the Pentagon, States into the next era of energy be- The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is ‘‘Such a decision could cause signifi- yond petroleum. But in the meantime, recognized for 5 minutes. cant harm to the readiness of the in the short term, we need to drill here Mr. ROE of Tennessee. The amend- Armed Forces because these fuels may and drill now. We need to use every ment I’ve offered the past week would be widely used and particularly impor- available resource that the good Lord simply reduce the information tech- tant in certain geographical areas.’’ has blessed this Nation with in a way nology account in the VA by $70 mil- Not only have extreme environ- that’s obviously clean, safe, eco- lion and increase the same account by mental views, policies, and regulations logically friendly. We’ve done it in $70 million. like section 526 burdened American Texas for years. families, hurt job creation, and hurt Mr. FLORES has extensive experience b 1550 American businesses, but they are now in the energy industry. I’m proud to My intention is to make it clear to potentially causing significant harm to represent the energy corridor of Texas. the Department of Veterans Affairs the readiness of the Armed Forces. The Houston is to the energy industry what that we must see progress on efforts to Defense Department should not be California and Silicon Valley are to the integrate the Department of Defense’s wasting its time studying fuel emis- computer industry. We’ve proven time and the VA’s electronic medical sions and should not have to be stifled and time again that we can produce oil records. by the arguments over how to interpret and gas safely, cleanly. We desperately It is unthinkable that as we seek to a small section of an energy law. This need to open up drilling in the gulf. make the transition from the military is an unacceptable burden to continue This administration has deliberately back to the homeland as seamless as to place on our Nation’s military, and and systematically shut down drilling possible we have a system as befud- it is an unacceptable precedent set in in the Gulf of Mexico, which increases dling as the one we have, where a serv- regard to America’s energy policy. our dependence on foreign oil, while icemember literally needs a paper copy

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:05 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.008 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE June 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4061 of his or her medical records to ensure Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I yield to the Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. I yield to information isn’t lost in transitioning gentleman from Washington. the gentleman. between the two systems. When se- Mr. DICKS. We are trying to vote on Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the verely injured patients are released and the Flores amendment. Could you have gentleman for yielding. transferred from Walter Reed to the waited until we had voted on the I certainly can appreciate the con- VA center at Mountain Home in John- amendment to make your 5-minute cerns that the gentleman raises that son City, Tennessee, all the informa- speech? This is totally irrelevant to have caused him to offer the amend- tion regarding their injuries and trans- this debate. ment. Yet I want to remind the gen- fers can be terribly difficult to access. Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I apologize to tleman of the awful incident that oc- That shouldn’t be the case. the gentleman. curred at Fort Hood in Texas. There This is why I support Chairman CUL- I yield back the balance of my time. were a lot of our servicemembers who BERSON’s report language, which rec- The Acting CHAIR. The question is were present who experienced that ommends that the Department of Vet- on the amendment offered by the gen- awful, awful situation. Under this erans Affairs set aside $70 million of tleman from Texas (Mr. FLORES). amendment, it would prevent the vet- the overall $3.25 billion in the Informa- The amendment was agreed to. erans and servicemembers, once tion Technology account for the Vir- AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. COFFMAN OF they’re discharged, from being able to tual Lifetime Electronic Medical COLORADO take advantage of the benefits of the Record system. I would, in fact, like to Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Department of Veterans Affairs be- strengthen this language by putting it Chairman, I have an amendment at the cause they were at Fort Hood as op- in the underlying bill to ensure this desk. posed to Afghanistan or Iraq or in some money gets spent on integration. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will re- other place of hostility. The VA and DOD maintain the two port the amendment. Also, I would remind the gentleman largest health care systems in the Na- The Clerk read as follows: that the servicemembers who operate tion, providing health care to 6 million At the end of the bill (before the short our unmanned aerial vehicles, such as veterans and to over 1.5 million active title) insert the following: the Predator, which has great capa- duty servicemembers respectfully. SEC. ll. None of the funds made available bility for causing destruction in war— Within the VA alone, there are over in this Act may be used to by the Secretary it’s one of our great weapons—actually 1,500 different facilities that provide of Veterans Affairs to provide disability can see on video, in realtime, the death compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, care to veterans. To provide this care, United States Code, to any veteran for post- and the destruction and the dis- the DOD and VA both rely on elec- traumatic stress disorder if the required in- memberment that is caused by the uti- tronic health record systems to create, service stressor claimed by the veteran is re- lization of that, although they’re in maintain, and manage patient health lated to the veteran’s fear of hostile military Nevada and the weapon is actually information; but the two agencies for or terrorist activity and the places, types, making its impact in Afghanistan. Of years have operated different systems and circumstances of the veteran’s service course, because of that, they would be that can’t talk to each other. did not include a combat zone. disqualified. Let me give you an example: Ten bil- Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I Under this amendment, I think the lion dollars has been spent. A soldier reserve a point of order on the gentle- gentleman’s point is well taken in leaves the military, and his records man’s amendment. wanting to make sure that only those can’t be transferred electronically to The Acting CHAIR. A point of order people who are entitled to veterans the VA. I had someone in my office just is reserved. benefits in fact get them, but I think before I walked over here on the House The gentleman from Colorado is rec- that perhaps there are some problems floor who showed where an electronic ognized for 5 minutes. in the artful drafting of the amend- medical records system would have Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. ment, which should be clarified. Be- prevented the delay in treatment of a Chairman, I stand with the American cause of that, I am reluctant to sup- veteran. people in wanting to make sure that port it, and of course must oppose this This general lack of cooperation be- our returning servicemembers from amendment. tween the two Departments has oc- Iraq and Afghanistan are taken care of. Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Reclaim- curred for years at the collective cost The signature wound in this war has ing my time, the chairman has raised a of billions of dollars. I first became emerged to be post-traumatic stress similar issue. I certainly agree with aware of this problem when I arrived in disorder. Since 2008, almost 100,000 him and understand about the issue of Congress and didn’t realize it had been claims for disability based on post- expanding the definition in this amend- worked on for years. traumatic stress disorder have been ment to reflect terrorist activity that I applaud the Appropriations Com- awarded at a tremendous cost; but the would be beyond a combat zone. Again, mittee for highlighting the need for the concern is, again, that these veterans certainly, treatment would be avail- VLER in its committee report, and I are taken care of. In July of last year, able. We’re not talking about that. think this language should be put in new rules were promulgated as to the We’re merely talking about disability the bill to ensure the VA spends the eligibility criteria for post-traumatic compensation. I probably disagree with money for this purpose. A lifetime stress disorder. What they did was to you, as a combat veteran myself, on electronic health records system would no longer require the servicemembers the ground side of your UAV example. improve the delivery of care to service- to relate a specific combat occurrence I realize that the amendment is out members who are transitioning from or occurrences to their post-traumatic of order because of the fact that it real- military to civilian life. stress disorders. ly impedes on authorizing versus ap- As a physician myself, I know the It is my belief that these rules are propriating. Certainly, it is my in- importance of having an organized and too loosely written and that what we tent—and I’d be happy to work with efficient electronic medical records ought to have is more definition to say the gentleman from Georgia as well as systems. In fact, I helped put an elec- that someone who has never served in with the gentleman from Texas—to tronic medical records system in my a combat zone should not be eligible come up with a definition that makes office for over 70 providers and tens of for post-traumatic stress disorder dis- sure that we take care of those vet- thousands of patients. I do understand ability benefits—not treatment. Cer- erans who are most in need. the difficulties, and I know how hard it tainly, one would be eligible for treat- Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous con- is to be done, but I know the impor- ment, but I understand that this sent to withdraw my amendment. tance of it. I hope the committee will amendment will require the Veterans The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection adopt this amendment and work on Administration to create a definition to the request of the gentleman from strengthening it in the final bill to en- and to make decisions on something Colorado? sure we make clear to the VA that this they currently don’t do, which is: serv- There was no objection. integration must be a priority. ice in a combat zone. AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. FITZPATRICK Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Will the gen- Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I yield? tleman yield? have an amendment at the desk.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:40 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.033 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H4062 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2011 The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will re- novation and expertise can help lead other legislation, some authorizing leg- port the amendment. our American recovery. Ultimately, we islation that I think the chairman, Mr. The Clerk read as follows: must all be focused on putting our con- CULBERSON, and I, along with Mr. DICKS At the end of the bill (before the short stituents back to work, and I believe, and Mr. YOUNG and many, many others, title) insert the following: Mr. Chairman, that this amendment on a bipartisan basis, have often called SEC. ll. None of the funds made available will help to do that. the Hiring Heroes Act, which basically in this Act may be used to enter into a con- This amendment will give veteran- supports our veterans as they come tract using procedures that do not give to owned small businesses preferences for small business concerns owned and con- back to make sure that they can be trolled by veterans (as that term is defined contracts in this bill equal to any gainfully employed and that they are in section 3(q)(3) of the Small Business Act group eligible for preferred consider- duly allowed to participate in the econ- (15 U.S.C. 632(q)(3)) that are included in the ation, except for service-disabled vet- omy, to work and to engage in gainful database under section 8127(f) of title 38, eran-owned small businesses. The prac- employment. United States Code, any preference available tice of the Federal Government pro- I think that this amendment, as far with respect to such contract, except for a viding preferences to encourage gov- as small businesses go, as far as vet- preference given to small business concerns ernment to do business with certain erans preferences, is very well taken, owned and controlled by service-disabled groups is well established. This amend- veterans (as that term defined in section and I think that we ought to do that, 3(q)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. ment does not diminish preferences to as well as everything else we can pos- 632(q)(2)). any other group. It simply extends to sibly do, to make sure that the transi- veteran-owned small businesses the tion from full-time active service to b 1600 same level of consideration. the civilian population of our country The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman The amendment would apply to all on the part of our veterans is fully sup- from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 Federal contracts authorized by the ported by this Congress and by the peo- minutes. Military Construction and Veterans Af- ple of the United States. Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I fairs Act and would be attached to any With that, I yield back the balance of rise today to offer an amendment that portion of State and local projects my time. would level the playing field for our funded with Federal dollars. Mr. DICKS. I move to strike the last Nation’s veterans when it comes to To preserve the integrity of the pro- word. contracting with the Federal Govern- gram, small businesses are considered The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman ment. those defined by the Small Business from Washington is recognized for 5 After putting their lives on the line Administration, and eligible businesses minutes. and at times their families and careers must be registered veteran-owned busi- Mr. DICKS. I rise in support of the on hold in the service of our Nation, nesses with the Department of Vet- gentleman’s amendment. Veteran- America’s veterans deserve every con- erans Affairs. The VA’s Center for Vet- owned companies are a great asset that sideration we can give them to adjust eran Enterprise maintains a database we should be further encouraging. to life once they return. Veteran-owned of certified registered veteran-owned These businesses obviously play a posi- small businesses are part of the Amer- businesses. In many cases, this amend- tive role in the economy by providing ican fabric; and as a government and a ment will simply be codifying existing not only jobs, goods, and services, but people, we must do all we can to en- practice and ensure that it will con- also are reducing unemployment courage them. tinue to be the policy of our Nation. amongst veterans who are already Here are a few facts: According to the Mr. Chairman, veterans have sac- struggling with the unemployment most recent census, over 2.4 million of rificed much for our Nation. It is only rate greater than that of the general our Nation’s veterans are now small fair that, if any group is given pref- populace. business owners. Veteran-owned com- erential contracting status, that vet- panies now make up 9 percent of all Furthermore, the government has erans receive it as a well. I urge my done poorly in reaching its 3 percent U.S. firms. The Small Business Admin- colleagues to support this amendment. istration now estimates that one in contracting goal for veterans. For ex- I yield back the balance of my time. ample, agencies’ contract awards were seven veterans are self-employed or a Mr. CULBERSON. I rise in support of below 1 percent from 2003 to 2006. The small business owner. And, finally, the gentleman’s amendment. most recent figures for 2009 show agen- nearly a quarter of veterans say The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman cies awarded only 1.98 percent to serv- they’re interested in starting or in from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. ice-disabled veterans. We must do more buying a small business. Mr. CULBERSON. I want to express to ensure that our veterans are Despite these encouraging numbers, the committee’s strong support for the transitioning from soldiers to civilians the truth of the matter is veterans are gentleman’s amendment. unemployed at a higher level than any We are all in agreement that the Na- and we are actively encouraging new of us find acceptable. For instance, the tion needs to look first to attempt to opportunities for vets. unemployment rate for young veterans hire our veterans who have served this I believe this amendment will help returning from Afghanistan and Iraq Nation, to attempt to encourage the the Department of Defense and VA to reached a staggering 22 percent last businesses that are developed and built do better. I support this amendment year. Mr. Chairman, this number is by veterans to thrive and to prosper; and urge its adoption. simply unacceptable. We must work to and the gentleman’s amendment is a I yield back the balance of my time. reduce this number, and it should be great way to encourage veteran-owned The Acting CHAIR. The question is the explicit, stated policy of all gov- businesses to thrive. on the amendment offered by the gen- ernment agencies to assist veteran en- We should, in the work the Federal tleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. trepreneurs. Government contracts out, do every- FITZPATRICK). As our Nation struggles to achieve an thing we can to encourage the develop- The amendment was agreed to. economic recovery, we should be look- ment of, and hiring of, small businesses Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I move to ing to utilize the talent, expertise, and owned and operated by veterans; and strike the last word. leadership skills of our Nation’s vet- we strongly support the gentleman’s The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is erans. These men and women volun- amendment and urge its adoption. recognized for 5 minutes. teered to selflessly serve our country I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I rise to en- and, in order to succeed, must display Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I move to gage in a colloquy with the gentleman self-discipline and leadership. It is strike the last word. from Texas. characteristics and character traits The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from like these that should be nurtured and recognized for 5 minutes. Pennsylvania (Mr. FATTAH) brought a fostered to help our economy grow Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Let me just matter to our attention that is very, again and put people back to work. say that the gentleman’s amendment is very important and significant, and I Veterans have served our Nation very, very well taken. I fully support think it’s appropriate that we ought to nobly across the world. Now, their in- it; and it works in tandem with some at least examine that in the form of a

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:40 Jun 14, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.036 H13JNPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE June 13, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4063 colloquy here on the floor as we con- Accordingly, the Committee rose; The Chair will reduce to 2 minutes sider this Military Construction, Vet- and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. the time for any electronic vote after erans Affairs, and Related Agencies ap- FITZPATRICK) having assumed the the first vote in this series. propriations bill. chair, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Acting Chair of AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. LATOURETTE Mr. Chairman, many veterans have the Committee of the Whole House on The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished returned home from Iraq and Afghani- the state of the Union, reported that business is the demand for a recorded stan with severe disabilities; and when that Committee, having had under con- vote on the amendment offered by the their service results in a disability, we sideration the bill (H.R. 2055) making gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LATOU- have a duty to help them. And one way appropriations for military construc- RETTE) on which further proceedings that veterans receive this help is tion, the Department of Veterans Af- were postponed and on which the ayes through the use of guide dogs. Now, the fairs, and related agencies for the fiscal prevailed by voice vote. way the process works, veterans are as- year ending September 30, 2012, and for The Clerk will redesignate the sessed and they’re trained for orienta- other purposes, had come to no resolu- amendment. tion and mobility. If a veteran needs a tion thereon. The Clerk redesignated the amend- guide dog, information on how to con- f ment. tact guide dog schools is provided. Es- RECORDED VOTE sentially, the veteran is referred to a RECESS The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote nonprofit. There’s no funding provided The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- has been demanded. directly from the VA to these non- ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair A recorded vote was ordered. profits; and with the costs associated declares the House in recess until ap- The vote was taken by electronic de- with training these dogs, it takes time proximately 6:30 p.m. today. vice, and there were—ayes 204, noes 203, to raise the money which, in turn, Accordingly (at 4 o’clock and 13 min- not voting 25, as follows: causes a backlog for veterans, as well utes p.m.), the House stood in recess [Roll No. 413] as for nonveterans. until approximately 6:30 p.m. AYES—204 b 1610 f Ackerman Green, Gene Neal We have to look at this issue and see b 1830 Altmire Grimm Olver what it is that the Veterans Adminis- Andrews Gutierrez Owens AFTER RECESS Baca Hanabusa Pallone tration can do to help because these Baldwin Hastings (FL) Pascrell dogs mean so much to those who need The recess having expired, the House Barrow Hayworth Pastor (AZ) them. was called to order by the Speaker pro Barton (TX) Heinrich Payne tempore (Mr. LANKFORD) at 6 o’clock Bass (CA) Himes Pelosi Mr. CULBERSON. Will the ranking Becerra Hinchey and 30 minutes p.m. Perlmutter member yield? Berkley Hinojosa Peters Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I yield to the f Berman Hirono Peterson chairman of the subcommittee. Biggert Hochul Petri Bishop (GA) Holden Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. BISHOP, the MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND Pingree (ME) VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RE- Bishop (NY) Holt Polis gentleman from Pennsylvania has Blumenauer Honda LATED AGENCIES APPROPRIA- Price (NC) raised a very important matter that we Boswell Hoyer Quigley TIONS ACT, 2012 Brady (PA) Inslee Rahall need to look into in the subcommittee Braley (IA) Israel as we move into conference. And I want The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Rangel Brown (FL) Jackson (IL) Reichert to reassure the gentleman from Penn- ant to House Resolution 288 and rule Capps Jackson Lee Reyes sylvania that the subcommittee and I XVIII, the Chair declares the House in Capuano (TX) Richardson Carnahan Johnson (GA) will work diligently with him to look the Committee of the Whole House on Richmond Carney Johnson (IL) Ros-Lehtinen further into this issue to find ways the state of the Union for the further Carson (IN) Johnson, E. B. Roskam Castor (FL) Kaptur that we can help make sure that the consideration of the bill, H.R. 2055. Ross (AR) Chandler Keating Rothman (NJ) veterans who need guide dogs and serv- Chu Kildee b 1832 Roybal-Allard ice dogs get them. Cicilline Kind Runyan IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Clarke (MI) King (NY) Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I am sure, Ruppersberger Clarke (NY) Kissell Mr. Chairman, that Mr. FATTAH and Accordingly, the House resolved Ryan (OH) Clay Kucinich Sa´ nchez, Linda other Members will be very, very ap- itself into the Committee of the Whole Cleaver Lance T. preciative of you. We thank you for House on the state of the Union for the Clyburn Langevin Sanchez, Loretta Cohen Larsen (WA) your comments, and we look forward further consideration of the bill (H.R. Sarbanes Connolly (VA) Larson (CT) to working with all of our colleagues to 2055) making appropriations for mili- Schakowsky Conyers LaTourette support our veterans and their fami- tary construction, the Department of Cooper Levin Schiff lies. Veterans Affairs, and related agencies Costa Lewis (GA) Schmidt Schock Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman for the fiscal year ending September 30, Costello Lipinski Courtney LoBiondo Schrader yield? 2012, and for other purposes, with Mr. Critz Loebsack Schwartz Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I would be WESTMORELAND (Acting Chair) in the Crowley Lofgren, Zoe Scott (VA) chair. Cuellar Lowey Scott, David delighted to yield to the gentleman Serrano from Washington. The Clerk read the title of the bill. Cummings Luja´ n Davis (CA) Lynch Sewell Mr. DICKS. I just want to mention a The Acting CHAIR. When the Com- Davis (IL) Maloney Sherman program called Pets for Patriots. I hap- mittee of the Whole rose earlier today, DeFazio Markey Shuler pened to have attended an event here the amendment offered by the gen- DeGette Matheson Sires DeLauro Matsui Smith (NJ) just about a week ago where there is a tleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Deutch McCarthy (NY) Smith (WA) national organization being created to FITZPATRICK) had been disposed of and Diaz-Balart McCollum Stark get pets for our returning veterans and the bill had been read through page 61, Dicks McCotter Sutton Thompson (CA) especially for some of those who have line 2. Doggett McDermott Dold McGovern Thompson (MS) very serious injuries. So I think there The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to Donnelly (IN) McIntyre Tierney is a real need for this, and I think it’s clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings will Doyle McKinley Tonko been demonstrated. And I commend now resume on those amendments on Edwards McNerney Towns Ellison Meeks Turner Mr. FATTAH for his diligence and for which further proceedings were post- Emerson Michaud Van Hollen your help in raising this issue. poned, in the following order: Farr Miller (NC) Vela´ zquez Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Thank you The amendment by Mr. LATOURETTE Fattah Miller, George Visclosky very much for your comments. of Ohio. Filner Moore Walsh (IL) Frank (MA) Moran Walz (MN) I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 4 by Mr. AMASH of Fudge Murphy (CT) Waters Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I Michigan. Garamendi Murphy (PA) Watt move that the Committee do now rise. Amendment No. 2 by Mr. SHERMAN of Gonzalez Nadler Waxman The motion was agreed to. California. Green, Al Napolitano Welch

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