H8456 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 18, 2008 Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speak- sent to the scene of a traffic accident. tleman from Indiana (Mr. BURTON) is er, I rise today to address an issue that After waiting 2 more hours, they called recognized for 5 minutes. has reached crisis levels in many Na- yet again. In the end, the police officer (Mr. BURTON of Indiana addressed tive American communities: the Fed- never came to take her statement. the House. His remarks will appear eral funding shortfalls crippling tribal Large land-based reservations are hit hereafter in the Extensions of Re- law enforcement and justice systems. especially hard by insufficient funding. marks.) Native American families, like all For example, the Cheyenne River Sioux f families, deserve safe and secure com- tribal chairman has testified that his The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a munities. Tragically, there is a perva- tribe has only three officers per shift to previous order of the House, the gentle- sive sense of lawlessness in too many cover an area almost the size of Con- woman from California (Ms. WOOLSEY) areas of Indian country. As the at-large necticut. These situations and statis- is recognized for 5 minutes. Member of Congress for South Dakota, tics show that the extent of these prob- (Ms. WOOLSEY addressed the House. I am proud to represent nine sovereign lems far exceed the level of appropria- Her remarks will appear hereafter in native nations. tions. the Extensions of Remarks.) The Federal Government has a I applaud the interior appropriations f unique relationship with the 562 feder- subcommittee Chairman NORMAN DICKS The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a ally recognized tribes. This govern- and the entire Appropriations Com- previous order of the House, the gentle- ment-to-government relationship is es- mittee for increasing tribal law en- woman from North Carolina (Ms. FOXX) tablished in the U.S. Constitution, is forcement and justice funding by $28.7 is recognized for 5 minutes. recognized through treaties and is re- million from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal (Ms. FOXX addressed the House. Her affirmed through executive orders, ju- year 2008. However, we have much more remarks will appear hereafter in the dicial decisions and congressional ac- to do. Extensions of Remarks.) tion. In 2004, the Interior Department In- Law enforcement is one of the Fed- f spector General reported on the dete- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a eral Government’s trust obligations to riorating conditions of tribal detention previous order of the House, the gen- tribes. Yet, on many counts, we are facilities. Four years later, not much tleman from New Jersey (Mr. PAYNE) is failing to meet that obligation. Less has changed. recognized for 5 minutes. than 3,000 law enforcement officers pa- Last month, the BIA jail in Pine (Mr. PAYNE addressed the House. His trol more than 56 million acres of In- Ridge, South Dakota was closed for remarks will appear hereafter in the dian country. Let me repeat: 3,000 offi- safety reasons after years of insuffi- Extensions of Remarks.) cers for 56 million acres. That reflects cient maintenance by the Federal Gov- less than one half of the law enforce- ernment. It’s estimated that the tribal f ment presence in comparable rural detention system alone will require $8.4 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a communities. billion to address our current defi- previous order of the House, the gen- A recent master plan for justice serv- ciencies. tleman from New Jersey (Mr. GARRETT) ices in Indian country found that crime In conclusion, fully funding tribal is recognized for 5 minutes. (Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey ad- is increasing. The report notes that law enforcement will not fix every dressed the House. His remarks will ap- drug cartels deliberately base their op- problem such as the lack of trans- pear hereafter in the Extensions of Re- erations in Indian country because of parency and accountability at the BIA. marks.) the lack of law enforcement. Once drug That is why I am proud to sponsor the producers gain a foothold in reserva- Tribal Law and Order Act. This act was f tions, they can sell drugs throughout written by Senator DORGAN, chairman The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a the United States. Drug trafficking of the Indian Affairs Committee in the previous order of the House, the gen- demonstrates that weak tribal law en- Senate. I look forward to working with tleman from New Jersey (Mr. HOLT) is forcement systems are not just a prob- him to ensure the bill becomes law. recognized for 5 minutes. lem for Indian country; they affect us The immediate challenge facing (Mr. HOLT addressed the House. His all. tribes is the insufficient Federal funds remarks will appear hereafter in the In addition to drug activity, the that leads to too few officers, to jails Extensions of Remarks.) rates of crime against women are stag- too unsafe for inmates and staff and to f gering. In June 2007, Amnesty Inter- tribal courts nearly overwhelmed with The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a national released their report, entitled caseloads. previous order of the House, the gen- ‘‘Maze of Injustice,’’ which documents Let me say again: Native American tleman from Arizona (Mr. FLAKE) is what native women have long known families, like all families, deserve to recognized for 5 minutes. before and have fought against. The raise their children and to live their (Mr. FLAKE addressed the House. His figures suggest that 34 percent of na- lives with a basic sense of security and remarks will appear hereafter in the tive women will be raped in their life- safety. Congress must meet our trust Extensions of Remarks.) times. Even more women will be vic- responsibilities by fully funding tribal f tims of domestic violence. When tribal law enforcement and justice systems. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a law enforcement departments are f previous order of the House, the gen- understaffed, there are delays in re- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a tleman from California (Mr. HONDA) is sponding to victims and to collecting previous order of the House, the gen- recognized for 5 minutes. evidence. tleman from North Carolina (Mr. (Mr. HONDA addressed the House. At a 2007 Natural Resources Com- JONES) is recognized for 5 minutes. His remarks will appear hereafter in mittee field hearing, we heard from (Mr. JONES addressed the House. His the Extensions of Remarks.) Georgia Little Shield, director of the remarks will appear hereafter in the f Pretty Bird Woman House on the Extensions of Remarks.) Standing Rock Reservation, which was ENERGY named in honor of a Lakota woman f The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under who was brutally raped and murdered The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- in that community. previous order of the House, the gen- uary 18, 2007, the gentleman from Geor- Ms. Little Shield told of a woman tleman from Maryland (Mr. CUMMINGS) gia (Mr. GINGREY) is recognized for 60 who was beaten by her partner and who is recognized for 5 minutes. minutes as the designee of the minor- had called her for help in filing a police (Mr. CUMMINGS addressed the ity leader. report. They called the police and were House. His remarks will appear here- Mr. GINGREY. I thank the Speaker told, when an officer becomes avail- after in the Extensions of Remarks.) for his recognition, and I thank the mi- able, he would take her statement. f nority leader for yielding the time for After 2 hours of waiting, they called The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a me to speak on such an important again. The one officer on duty had been previous order of the House, the gen- issue this evening.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:24 Sep 19, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18SE7.113 H18SEPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE September 18, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8457 Of course, that is the ongoing prob- publicans, and we all understand the to be 5 weeks? I said, well, I sure hope lem with the crisis as to our price of need to get back and be in the commu- not. I hope that Ms. PELOSI is listening, energy, as to the price of gasoline at nity. But if we are not doing their Mr. HOYER is listening. They are intel- the pump, as to the price of heating oil, work, if we are not solving their prob- ligent people, no question about it. particularly as we get into the winter lems, if we are not making sure that They wouldn’t be in these positions of months approaching in the northeast, when the school doors open the day leadership if they are not. and people are continuing to struggle. after Labor Day, or in fact mid-August I thought, well, the force of public Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important in most places, that the kids are going opinion, these polls taken all across in any discussion about energy to let to be able to go to school five days a this country, Mr. Speaker, are saying the American people know this week and not four, that they are going that 85–88 percent of the American peo- through the Members of this great to be able to ride the school buses and ple want us to do this. They don’t want body on both sides of the aisle, at the they are not going to be shut down at us to be dependent on Venezuela and end of this 45 minutes to 1-hour period the school barn because there is no gas- Iran and Russia. They don’t mind us of discussion on the issue, who hope- oline or diesel fuel to put in them, so importing a little oil from Canada and fully will be able to go back home and let’s stay here another week if it takes a little oil from Mexico, but they fully in a very frank, honest way discuss it, three days, whatever, we are smart agree that if we have got this product, with their constituents what exactly people, and let’s get this done. Then we this natural resource right here in we’ve been doing up here in the peo- can go home. River City, why wouldn’t we use our ple’s House over the last couple of It is kind of like you don’t want to own? So if you believe in the law of months. I’ll tell you, from my perspec- leave campus until you have passed supply and demand, you increase that tive—and I think it would be hard for your last exam. How can you go home supply from anywhere in the world, in anybody to disagree—the answer is not for, say, Thanksgiving or Christmas fact, and you will help balance some of very much, not very much, indeed. and relax, knowing that when you get that demand and bring down prices. As you know, Mr. Speaker, in the back you have still got your work to But even better, if you increase your first week in August, we left Wash- do? It just made no sense. But, anyway, own domestic supply, then you are a ington for that traditional August re- as you know, Mr. Speaker, the Demo- player. Then you are a player. So that cess, which actually was more than a cratic majority made the decision and is what we were all about. month. It was actually 5 weeks when moved for adjournment basically that Well, as we came to the end of the you included the Labor Day weekend. day, that Thursday or Friday after- August recess, we began to hear little So we were going to be out of here for noon, cut off all debate. tidbits of sound bites from Ms. PELOSI, 5 weeks. At the time, people were pay- So what the Republican minority de- and it sounded like maybe that she fi- ing $4, more in some places, a little less cided to do, it was kind of a sponta- nally was getting the message, either in some places, but on average, it was neous thing, really, it wasn’t planned from the Republicans in Washington or $4 a gallon for regular gasoline; for die- ahead, we said, well, we are not going maybe some individual late-night sel fuel, it was even higher than that. home. We are not going to take recess phone calls from her own conference, People certainly couldn’t afford to until we have done our homework. particularly the Blue Dog Members take a vacation. So there were, I don’t know, 40 or 50 who I felt may have wanted to come up Members just kind of mulling around. here and join us and speak. So Ms. b 1815 And, lo and behold, the lights got PELOSI said, well, we will maybe look We didn’t see nearly as many people turned off, the microphones got turned at drilling when we get back. here in the Nation’s Capital during off, the C–SPAN cameras weren’t show- Lo and behold, we get back now, we month of August because of this. ing no video. But these brave men and had three weeks, three weeks, we The Republican minority party had women, all on the Republican side, but thought 15 days, but as it turns out it introduced a bill actually a month be- we kept asking for our colleagues on is only going to be at the most 13, be- fore that, and it was called, as you re- the Democratic side, Mr. Speaker, to cause they cut us short Friday of last call, Mr. Speaker, the American En- join us, because we know, we know full week, they are cutting us short Friday ergy Act, or the all-of-the-above act, well that there is like-mindedness on of this week, and maybe we will go 5 which included certainly as a corner- this issue on both sides of the aisle, but days next week. But 13 days working stone drilling, and a lot of people for the stranglehold that they have out of five months, from August 1st. picked up different mottos like ‘‘drill, with their leadership. There are no plans that I know of for baby, drill,’’ ‘‘drill here, drill now,’’ So we came back. We would fly, go any kind of session after we end here ‘‘save money.’’ home, go work a couple of days, jump next Friday. We won’t come back to The point of all that was to try to on a plane, come back up there, stand this body, Mr. Speaker, until after the emphasize the fact that we do, even right here. We would bring people in new President, the new administrative though we have this tremendous de- from the gallery. Not just this gallery, team is sworn in. pendency for our fossil fuel needs, par- but out in Statuary Hall. People were So to think we are working full time ticularly petroleum and natural gas taking tours through the Capitol. They for the taxpayer, and that by definition from other countries, 60 percent of marched in here in droves and sat in is what we do and we are not really what we use, our daily utilization is our seats and listened to us. And Mem- permitted to go back home and have being imported from other countries, bers would speak 10 minutes, 15 min- another job, and here we are working and they don’t all like us very much, utes, a tag-team approach, trying not 13 days in five months, there is some- unfortunately, and that gives them to be partisan, but just say, look, we thing wrong with that math, some- sort of a stranglehold on our economy. have a job to do and we are not doing thing very wrong with that math. So this bill does have a strong com- it. And when you go back home, par- So I cannot tell you in strong enough ponent of going after our own natural ticularly if you are a Democrat from terms, Mr. Speaker, how disappointed I resources, be they natural gas or petro- the Midwest or the Northeast or you was when I got back and looked at this leum products, or converting other are a Republican from the Southeast or bill, this none-of-the-above energy bill, things, unconventional things like the Far West, or just an independent not all-of-the-above, but none-of-the- shale rock or coal-to-liquid petroleum voter, let your Congressmen and Con- above, that none-of-the-above, the ac- or to natural gas. gresswomen know, let your Senators ronym is NOTA, NOTA energy bill that We kept asking and saying to the know that you want something done was presented to us on this floor that leadership, the Democratic leadership, about this, that you are suffering, your we voted on this week, and it does look, let’s don’t go home on August 1st. grocery prices are through the roof. very, very little in regard to drilling. This August recess is a 5-week period So this is how it all got started. We I tell you, I feel blessed tonight to of time. Members certainly want to get kept thinking, I kept thinking that have with me one of my colleagues back in their districts, and all of us any day people would ask, how long are from Tennessee, a Member that has really are up for reelection. Some have you Republicans going to keep this up been here probably twice as long as tough reelects, both Democrats and Re- now? How long can you go? Is it going have. He is twice as young as I am. He

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:37 Sep 19, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18SE7.124 H18SEPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE H8458 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 18, 2008 is not nearly as good looking. But he is ical Congress in the history of the production, if we don’t throw the ball a very good member of the Energy and country; that no earmarks would ever deep on energy, we are going to con- Commerce Committee and he knows be dropped in straight on the floor that tinue to come to our knees economi- this subject inside out and backwards. weren’t properly vetted and gone cally. I am happy at this point to yield to through the committee; that nothing Now, you might ask, why would the my friend from Tennessee, ZACH WAMP. would come to the floor straight from refineries not be able to give the out- Then we will kind of do a colloquy and the Rules Committee under a closed put if one or two of them are down or further discuss this issue. rule that is not an open process where if there is a hurricane that comes in? ZACH, take it away. the people who are rightly elected Let me just say that all of the new per- Mr. WAMP. Well, I thank the gen- would have access to offering sub- mit applications to explore for oil and tleman for yielding. I even come over stitutes; that they wouldn’t strong-arm gas or bring on new refineries face liti- to the Democratic side to begin my their own Members to vote against gation from these extreme groups that commentary tonight, because in my 14 things that they had actually cospon- are lined up with lawyers 10 deep to years here, I have developed extraor- sored. stop new oil and gas production in this dinary relationships across the aisle. I have to tell you, all of those things country. I actually grew up a Democrat. Ron- that I just said they had promised were b 1830 ald Reagan made me and many people violated, not just in the last 2 years, That’s the truth. That’s the truth. in my family members of the Repub- but this week. Every single thing that That is a special interest that has a lican Party. And I constantly say here I just mentioned was violated by the that I don’t think either party has an foothold in the Congress with this new majority this week, and it was an ugly majority. That’s the truth. They score exclusive on integrity or either party week here in Congress when we finally has an exclusive on ideas, and at dif- their votes, they rate them, and this got to the most important issue of the week they pressured them to vote ferent times both parties have really year, which is energy. against a new capacity bill that was bi- let the American people down. But I I want to tell a couple of stories. partisan, created by dozens of Members think it is important right now to ana- Three years ago, after Katrina hit, I from both parties and, frankly, they lyze where we are and what the impor- was on two appropriations subcommit- voted against the bill that they actu- tant issues are that are not adequately tees that had jurisdiction to the after- ally wrote. being addressed here in the United math of Katrina, the Interior Appro- Now, how can you get Members to do States Congress at a real critical time priations Subcommittee and the En- that unless those special interests, the for a whole lot of people. ergy and Water Appropriations Sub- radical environmental groups that file This is not just talk. This is a fair as- committee. suit over all this new oil and gas sup- sessment and analysis about where we When Rita was bearing down, the sec- ply that we have access to, but we have are. As a matter of fact, National Pub- ond hurricane, on Galveston, they locked it up, and we want to unleash it, lic Radio interviewed me today and called an emergency meeting of our this is the critical issue of our time. asked for my honest analysis about two subcommittees and called us into a Our way of life is at stake. this new Democratic Congress that room and they said, if Hurricane Rita This is that important, and you are took over 2 years ago, because I was continues on the track it is on and it seeing a sinking of our economy, a loss very blunt and candid and critical hits Galveston head-on, we need to in- of our competitiveness. Without nat- about the Republican majority of form the committees that by next ural gas resources, our manufacturing which I was a part over the last few week we will not have gasoline across base is leaving this country, without years of our majority, because I felt the eastern seaboard in some places. the ability of our people to move like, and I stated it, that we were more And it was an emergency crisis kind of around and make a living. Let me tell interested in protecting ourselves for a a call. you, Dixie Produce, Lee Pittman, a period of time than the fundamental I have to tell you that after Ike last small businessman and an excellent en- principles that brought us into a ma- week, in a small way, but in a very trepreneur, pays his bills on time, jority in 1994, and I knew we were sink- meaningful and unfortunate way, that works hard. He can’t make a go of it ing and I knew, frankly, we were going happened in Tennessee. Prices spiked because gasoline is too high for him to in the wrong direction. to $4.99 a gallon. In some stations there make a profit. He has nowhere to turn. Sure enough, we lost. The voters was no gas whatsoever. And that was I feel for these people. I want this really didn’t vote for the new Demo- from Ike, that did less damage than Congress to respond. I want us to throw cratic majority as much as they voted was feared, and it just proves how vul- the ball deep on energy. against us. So I gave a fair assessment nerable we are as a nation because of Now the Democrats typically say all today of this new Democratic Congress energy. you all want to do is drill, and we want that we have been under now for al- This issue is now bringing us to our renewables. Listen, I am the cochair- most 2 years. knees economically. So many people man of the Renewable Energy Caucus. The success formula in life is some- on fixed income are hurting so bad. I have been for 8 years. I have pro- times defined as preparation and oppor- And even the markets. You wonder moted more than anybody on our side, tunity meeting each other. You hear a about Wall Street and what has hap- maybe ROSCOE BARTLETT and I, the ex- lot of other definitions of what success pened and the mortgage industry. pansion of tax credits and incentives is. One definition of success in politics Listen, credit has been overextended, for renewable investments, but they and public service might be to under- and those people ought to be held ac- are not quite ready for the market- promise and over-deliver. And I have to countable and the government place. tell you that what I really have seen shouldn’t come in and bail out the pri- The total percentage of all energy is here in the last 2 years is over-prom- vate sector. But I can tell you one rea- only 6 percent, and you can’t increase ising and under-delivery. son why the credit is not being honored it to 20 overnight. I would ask the new This new majority, and I am not a and the bills are not being paid, is be- majority, if they really believe that critic, I am rarely critical, and I am cause the cost of energy for American much, why have they not extended the not a blamer, I rarely blame, but I have consumers has soared so much that renewable tax energy credits and in- to tell you, it is unbelievable how bad they can’t meet their obligations and centives all year long. We are still things have gotten here in the Con- people are being foreclosed on, credit is waiting for that. It’s supposed to come gress in the last several months. not being paid on time. And these big up next week, they say. The tradition of bringing the appro- institutions like AIG and Bear Stearns Now today we hear they want to ad- priations bills to the floor, taking and Lehman Brothers, they have all journ next Friday and put that off them through the committee, having consolidated and they have over- until after the election too. They are an opportunity to amend them, has ba- extended credit. But it is a huge prob- also talking about a new economic sically just been thrown out the win- lem, and most all of it is driven by en- stimulus, which they say means unem- dow. They came in ballyhooing that ergy. And if we don’t diversity our sup- ployment compensation and other so- they were going to have the most eth- ply, if we don’t increase our domestic cial-type programs. I know we have got

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:37 Sep 19, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18SE7.125 H18SEPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE September 18, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8459 to help people that need relief, but the Armed Services Committee. But our topic since I have gotten here, and I most important economic stimulus we first Science Committee hearing of the think it’s going to be topic for years to can do is pass the American Energy year, our witness was—and this is pret- come. It’s really important for me. Act, creating thousands and thousands ty unusual, I have been up here 6 years, My district, as a lot of you already of new production jobs in manufac- I have never seen this happen before, know, I represent the number-one agri- turing and energy technologies for the that the Speaker of the House would be culture district in the State of Ohio, whole world, for our country and the a witness, or the sole witness before a and I also represent one of the top 10 world. That’s throwing it deep and standing committee—Ms. PELOSI. manufacturing districts in Congress. If going after it for all the right reasons. It was all about global warming, and we don’t have energy in my district, we Listen, this place is broken down to it was all about her plan to save the are not going to survive. If we don’t where for months now, this Democratic planet from carbon dioxide and green- have energy for those farmers, they majority has been in retreat over this house gases. She told us about the fact can’t get out there and plant those issue of energy because the radicals, that she was going to create a commis- crops. the extremists, have basically con- sion of Congress, a bipartisan commis- To tell you a couple of examples that vinced them that the higher the price sion, I think. Ultimately she did, and have been going on, I have had meet- of gas goes, the better off we are. Peo- Mr. MARKEY assumed chairmanship of ings across my 16 counties, talking ple will quit driving and quit using fos- that committee, even over the objec- with farmers all over the entire dis- sil fuels if the prices go that high. tion of the most venerable, distin- trict. Right now I have talked to many We don’t believe that’s in America’s guished long-serving member of this a farmer that when they go out with best interests. We believe we have got body, JOHN DINGELL from Michigan, their tractor in the morning, and by to build a bridge to the future by bring- who chairs the Energy and Commerce the time they get back at night, they ing on some new oil and gas supplies, Committee. have put $800 to $1,000 of diesel fuel diversifying our supply, go after the re- But that was the kind of focus that through their equipment in 1 day. newals in hydrogen and the new ad- Madam Speaker had at the time, when, They talk about their fertilizer, they vancements and build nuclear plants, of course, the price of gasoline was talk about the chemicals that they but we believe you have got to do it all. about $2.33 a gallon. have to put on that land and make that This week they watered down a bill A couple of weeks later, our second land productive. They are coming back, so bad that it has very, very little, if hearing in the Science Committee, who and they are saying, you know, we are any, oil in it, even if you could do it. did we have again, a single witness. paying two and a half to three times They passed it so the Members could go Guess who it was, former Vice Presi- more than we did 2 years ago for the home and say we voted to drill. Please dent Al Gore just after he had gotten same product. re-elect us and keep us there. his Oscar award for that documentary The question is, well, these farmers That’s not really what the American film, ‘‘An Inconvenient Truth,’’ about are all getting rich right now. No, they people deserve or expect. I am not say- global warming. That’s all they wanted are not, because they are out there ing that Republicans are smart and to talk about was Kyoto Protocol and having to pay all these high prices for Democrats are dumb, or we are good cap and trade and how we were going diesel. They have to pay all these high and they are bad. I am saying that they to eliminate the carbon footprint from prices when it comes to fertilizer. They are not doing a good job representing this country. have to pay all these high prices when what our country needs. They are not It’s a little hard, I mean, as we sit it comes to chemicals, and they can’t bringing the legislation to the floor, here tonight, talking, we are expelling, afford it. and they are playing politics with this we are breathing out carbon dioxide. What is happening, of course, is when thing, and we have got to have a bill There are greenhouse gases all over the people go to the store, and they buy soon to the President, because we can’t environment that are not necessarily that loaf of broad, when they buy that put this off for any longer time. created by what human beings do. gallon of milk, they are saying, gee, Mr. GINGREY. I thank the gen- But, again, I think that certain peo- why are prices going up? I can tell you tleman for his remarks. ple had drank all of the Kool-Aid in re- why prices are going up, because these You know, Representative WAMP gard to global warming. Maybe when energy prices are out of control in this made one statement, there are actually gasoline prices are low and $2 a gallon, country. These energy prices are out of people, I know this is hard to believe, I you can afford to do that. Do you re- control because this Congress, this know it is, in these trying economic member the old expression, I can’t be Democrat-controlled Congress, is not times, that want the price of gasoline worrying about draining the swamp acting today to make sure that we can to be high, that want to make it so when I am up to my elbows in alli- put food on the table and keep this high that we eliminate all fossil fuel. gators? price cheap for Americans. Look at this quote from Carl Pope, the Well, I think that’s kind of the anal- We were able a few years ago, and up executive director of the Sierra Club, a ogy of where we are right now. They to this year, say that most people strong environmental club. ‘‘We’re bet- are still worrying about draining the within 42 to 43 days were able to pay ter off without cheap gas.’’ swamp, and we are up to our elbows in for all of their food in those first 42 to I mean, it’s not just him. Ms. PELOSI alligators with these prices that are 43 days of the year. That’s what we herself has said many times that any literally killing the American people. need to do in this country, because if bill that includes drilling is a hoax, and They can certainly starve to death a we don’t, it’s the same thing that is that she is more concerned with saving whole lot quicker than they can choke going to happen on manufacturing side, the planet. That is a direct quote on to death from greenhouse gases over we are in that same situation where the national news network, my passion the next 100 years. I think it’s impor- right now the United States is the is to save the planet. tant that we put that into perspective. number one manufacturing country in Then HARRY REID, the majority lead- At this time, I see I have been joined the world. er of the Senate says, and this is al- by a couple more of my colleagues that Well, guess what, next year we drop most a verbatim quote, fossil fuel is do such a great job on the floor, one of to number two, and we all know who poison. Fossil fuel is poison, and it our newest Members, but you would number one will be, and that will be needs to be eliminated completely by never know it by hearing him speak China. They have been out there mak- the year 2020. That’s the kind of thing and the level of participation that he ing sure they have that supply, but that Representative WAMP was talking engages in, and that’s my good friend also they have that supply of energy about, and the nonsense that we are from Ohio. I yield to BOB LATTA, Con- that they have for the future. hearing from the other side. gressman BOB LATTA. So it’s very, very important for not Before I yield to one of my other col- Mr. LATTA. Well, I thank my friend only the Fifth Congressional District leagues, I just want to make this com- from Georgia for hosting this tonight of Ohio, but it’s also important for this ment. When the 110th Congress began because, once again, energy is the num- country of ours, this great country, to in January of 2007, I happened to sit on ber-one topic on everyone’s mind in make sure that we can meet the energy the Science Committee as well as the this country. It has been a number-one needs of the future. I know that one of

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:37 Sep 19, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18SE7.127 H18SEPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE H8460 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 18, 2008 our Members not too long ago told us a a lot of people have to drive more than So we have to drill and make sure story about a trucker, a long-haul 50 miles one way to work. Well these that we have that oil for the future. trucker in his district. He said he got a cars, you can only go 60 miles before Just real briefly in summation, when load to go from Texas to California and you have got to plug them back in. we are talking about what we want to back. Well, that’s a real problem. do up there, we are talking about He was paid $1,700 for the entire load. You can’t just go 60 miles in my dis- ANWR which is 19 million acres, the Well, it cost him $1,500 in fuel, so by trict because you would never get size of South Carolina. Section 10.02 the time you figure the cost of insur- home that night. If you are driving 100 land is about 1.5 million acres, and we ance, buying that truck and everything miles one way, you have got a problem need 2,000 acres to get this oil out. We else, it would have been cheaper for there. You know, but those are things have to make sure that we can get this him to let that truck stay at home and we are working on for the future. As done so we have a future for this coun- just leave the keys in it. Now, I have my friend from Tennessee mentioned try. had truckers call me, independent earlier, these things are down the road, I applaud my friend for having this truckers, saying you know what, Bob, we are not there yet. all-important special order tonight to we have got real problems out here. We It’s the same way when we talk about bring up this subject about why we are actually turning our keys back the wind side. You know, we have seen need energy for this country. over to the finance company because a lot of commercials on TV, from T. Mr. GINGREY. I thank my friend we can’t afford to even run our trucks Boone Pickens and how much we would from Ohio. As Representative LATTA anymore. We can’t afford to do our job. like to have, in the near future, by described, he and a number of Members In Ohio, when we have 80 percent of wind power. Well, the problem with did go up to Alaska in August and had all products being delivered by truck, that is it’s going to take maybe 150,000 an opportunity to meet the governor of how are we going to get things to the to 200,000 wind turbines to get us to Alaska, Governor Palin, and see what consumer, how are we going to get the that point. We are not there, next year she had done in regard to getting that product to market? So that’s what we or the year after, or the year after natural gas pipeline and that natural have got, massive problems right here, that. We are talking maybe 2020 or gas flowing down to the lower 48. not only in Ohio, but across this coun- 2030. I feel refreshed and energized, not to try. We have got to have energy now. If use a pun, to think that Senator As has been mentioned a little bit by we are not going to have energy now, MCCAIN and Governor Palin understand the gentleman before from Tennessee, we are not going to be able to manufac- this issue very well and have the wis- we are talking about renewables. I am ture. We are not going to have farmers dom and the strength of character and 100 percent behind renewables, because in the field. This winter we have people the force of leadership to deal with big it is kind of interesting in my district, telling me right now that we are not oil, to deal with the environmentalists we already have one solar manufac- going to have the fuel to put in their and to help us solve this problem as we turing plant in business right now. We tanks at home to make it through the go forward. So my colleagues, Mr. have another one that’s going to be on- entire winter when it comes to home Speaker, I truly believe that hope is on line next year. heating oil. the way. We also have a company working on We have a lot of work we have got to Before I turn to my good friend and a hydrogen engine, we have the only get done, and we have got to get it colleague from Louisiana, I want to four wind turbines. I can see from them done now. When we went to ANWR, it say one other thing about this bill that from the backyard of my house in was really fascinating in that when we Speaker PELOSI finally brought to us Bowling Green. We also have two eth- were up there we flew up by Fairbanks when we got back from this August re- anol plants in my district. into Prudhoe Bay. When Prudhoe Bay cess, and certainly not by the regular The one thing is a lot of people like first came on line, they were talking process, not by going through the En- to think on the other side of the aisle, about it might only produce around 9 ergy and Commerce Committee and lis- and some of the environmentalists, all to 10 billion barrels of oil. Now they tening to the wisdom of JOHN DINGELL this is going to happen overnight. It’s have revised that, it could be up to 13 and JOE BARTON and others who have not. to 15 billion barrels. worked so well in a bipartisan manner I was privileged to be one of the The pipeline up there, you know, it’s to come up with a bill that we could all Members that went up to ANWR not 800 miles long. That brings that lifeline be satisfied with and that was good for too long ago, but we stopped in Colo- down to the lower 48 to make sure that nobodies’ politics, or maybe rado first at the National Renewable we have fuel. At its peak it was bring- everybody’s politics, but more impor- Energy Laboratory. When we were ing down about 2.1 million barrels a tantly, good for the American people. there, it was interesting, because I was day. Today it’s only bringing down It wasn’t done that way. Unfortu- fascinated because everything I just 700,000 barrels a day. nately, the bill was drawn strictly by mentioned from solar to wind to hydro- b 1845 the Democratic leadership behind gen to ethanol, that’s what they are closed doors. If any of my colleagues doing out there right now. The thing that really concerns me can remember the song ‘‘The Green Every time that we talked about when I hear that, when that number Door,’’ behind the green door, and it something, they showed us something, gets down to 300,000 barrels a day, and was a 290-page bill and no Republican for instance, we were talking about on we are losing about 15 percent capacity had any input. Indeed, no committee of the hydrogen side. They said this is every year up there, when it gets down jurisdiction. what we would like to do on the hydro- to 300,000 barrels a day, that pipeline But the ironic thing about that was gen. It was kind of fascinating, be- won’t be able to flow any more. If there that Ms. PELOSI, when she was trying cause, well, we could create the hydro- is oil in the pipeline, it will clog it up to lead her troops to the majority, to gen, because we could take a wind tur- and they won’t be able to go back in the promised land back in the fall of bine and break down that electricity, there and clean out the pipeline. That 2006, she made some rather outstanding break them into hydrogen, and we means that the pipeline is finished. quotes, very attractive quotes like could run it down to like a hydrogen When we are importing 70 percent of ‘‘bills should generally come to the filling station so you could fill your car our oil every day into this country, we floor under a procedure that allows up right there. can’t afford to shut that pipeline off. open, full and fair debate consisting of But the same question I always asked It has also been demonstrated why a full amendment process that grants every time we got through a subject is we need diversification from where we the minority,’’ that would be us Repub- how long and how far are we? They get our oil in this country. When you licans, we Republicans, ‘‘the right to said, we are not there yet. We are not have a hurricane and you have to shut offer its alternatives, including a sub- there yet. We are off for quite a ways. down oil rigs in the gulf, and the refin- stitute.’’ This is Speaker PELOSI, a new It’s just like the electric cars, they eries are out there, we have a problem. direction for America. showed us electric cars. We have to diversify. We have to be up How quickly we forget. A lot of us in northwest Ohio, and I in Alaska. We know there is a known Another quote from Madam Speaker, know across this great country of ours, source of about 10.3 billion barrels. ‘‘Members should have at least 24 hours

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:37 Sep 19, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18SE7.129 H18SEPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE September 18, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8461 to examine a bill and a conference re- that oftentimes takes 2 or 3 days of refineries, while they were not dam- port text prior to floor consideration. their time, often at their own expense. aged, they had to be shut down for a Rules governing floor debate must be So getting a comprehensive energy period of time. We don’t have large in- reported before 10 p.m. for a bill to be policy is about good, high-paying ventories of gasoline in this country. considered the following day.’’ A quote American jobs. It is about keeping jobs We don’t have it. So when you shut re- from Ms. PELOSI back in 2006. in the United States. It is about grow- fineries down, particularly a large We have far more important things ing new jobs. It is not just about the oil number of them, you end up with to talk about than process, so I yield to and gas industry. shortages of gasoline and this country a physician colleague of mine from the What we have been advocating is a has had to start importing gasoline to great State of Louisiana. And if any- comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy a much greater extent than we used to. body knows about energy and refin- approach, an energy approach that Mr. GINGREY. So the refined prod- eries and what goes on in hurricane looks at oil and gas because we are de- ucts? alley, Congressman CHARLES BOUSTANY pendent on oil and gas for most of our Mr. BOUSTANY. Diesel as well, and does. And he probably spent a lot of transportation needs, much of our elec- other refined products. So this a sig- time in his home in St. Charles after tricity, and really for a good part of all nificant problem. If we had true de- Ida and Gustav and the destruction and of our energy needs. Oil and gas are a struction of those refineries, which probably working in one of the Red critical part, but at the same time we could have easily happened, we are Cross shelters trying to help victims of also have to look at good, tried and talking about a real vulnerability, real the hurricanes. But he did not lose true methods of conservation. And we price shocks at the pump, and a long sight of the ball in regard to energy. It have to look at alternative fuels and time before we can get this infrastruc- only strengthened his resolve, and I renewable energy and nuclear power ture back up and running. yield to the gentleman from Louisiana and clean coal technology. All of the The point is with a comprehensive (Mr. BOUSTANY). ideas that are out there, we should be energy policy, we are going to diversify Mr. BOUSTANY. I thank my friend unleashing individual American genius our sources of energy. We need to ex- and colleague from Georgia. A little bit because that is what has made this pand refining capacity and build out in about my district. My district is the country great and has helped to solve other areas of the country. We need to 7th Congressional District of Lou- problems of the past, and is what will invest in the alternative fuels that will isiana. It is southwest Louisiana. So I help us pull out of this energy crisis give us alternatives to gasoline, but it am on the border with Texas. I am on that we are seeing. Families and sen- takes time for those investments. the gulf coast, and we have been a long iors and small businesses and our Clearly, it is important that we start time leader in the oil and gas industry. schools, our local governments are the process. We have about 3,800 drilling plat- struggling with the high cost of en- In my district, a large oil company forms out in the Gulf of Mexico. Most ergy. has just recently put a significant in- of those are located off the coast of my I talked to a senior not long ago who vestment into an alternative fuel com- district. I have one of the Strategic Pe- told me it was getting difficult for her pany that is going to be making cel- troleum Reserves in my district, and it to afford gas and make the usual runs lulosic ethanol. It is the first cellulosic accounts for one-fourth of the oil that to the grocery store. And she was pay- ethanol facility in the entire country. we hold. I also have a confluence of ing high food prices on top of that, so They are ramping up and there is a lot pipelines called the Henry Hub which is she teamed up with folks in her neigh- of excitement about it, and it offers the pricing point for natural gas for borhood and they are still struggling great possibilities, but we have to de- the entire country. with the cost of gas. This is just unac- velop this and we have to develop the We have a number of refineries along ceptable. In a country that has the infrastructure. That is going to take the Calcashoe ship channel located brilliance that the American people time. So what we have to do is strate- throughout southwest Louisiana, so we have and the entrepreneurship, we gically manage our dependence on fos- have a significant amount of the refin- shouldn’t be struggling with this. The sil fuels right now as we transition to ing capacity that supplies refined prod- sad thing is that the only thing block- the next energy economy which will in- ucts to this country. ing it is good policy, and this Congress volve alternatives and renewables. The oil and gas industry is about has it within itself to move forward on Mr. GINGREY. That is exactly right. jobs. Every time I fly back and forth to a good, comprehensive energy policy. It I think you used the key word, and my home in Lafayette, Louisiana, I run distresses me it has been blocked. We that is ‘‘transition.’’ We are talking into four or five gentlemen typically have not had an opportunity to bring a about transition. It is just that some who work in the oil and gas industry, comprehensive energy bill to the floor people want to transition just a little and when I ask them where they are of the House. too quickly. working, they are telling me that they This country has had one energy I wish you would speak a little bit are coming from or going to countries shock after another. There have been and reference this slide that I am show- all over the globe, Angola in Africa, about six of them since the end of the ing right now in regard to the revenue- Equatorial Guinea, Thailand, Vietnam, Second World War. A number have sharing issue. This goes back to the and countries throughout the Middle caused significant price spikes, when Energy Security Act of 2006 regarding East. you talk about 1973 with the Arab oil the gulf coast States and the energy I ask them why is that? Why are you embargo, 1979 when the Iranian prob- sharing. And I know that you have out there? lem came up, the 1990 gulf crisis, the talked with me and other Members of They tell me I used to work in the oil windfall profits tax thrown on top of the conference about what Louisiana and gas industry off the gulf coast, and the oil industry in the 1980s, and of does with that revenue sharing and after the imposition of the windfall course recently what we have seen with how important it is to the State. profits tax in the 1980s which dev- real high price spikes. As I close out, I will talk about this astated the oil and gas industry, they Mr. GINGREY. Dr. BOUSTANY, please ‘‘NOTA’’ energy bill. I like to call it a lost their jobs in the gulf coast area address the issue in regard to the refin- ‘‘nota,’’ none-of-the-above act that we and they ended up going off and work- eries and the run up in prices just be- passed this week, and one of the key ing all over the globe. cause of the recent hurricanes, and problems was the lack of any revenue We have expertise all over the world what a problem it is to have all of sharing for the States on the east and in the oil and gas industry, and every those refineries located in one area. west coast. If you don’t mind address- one of these gentlemen when I talk to Mr. BOUSTANY. I am glad you ing that, I appreciate it. them wishes they could come back brought that up. Clearly, having a Mr. BOUSTANY. First of all, as we home and work in the United States, to whole lot of refineries concentrated on try to transition, we still need oil and be close to their families, to work in an the gulf coast, in Texas or on the coast gas, and we should be investing in this area that they are comfortable with of Louisiana, we have a very soft un- country and in the United States, look- rather than being off in foreign coun- derbelly. We have a true vulnerability ing at our own natural resources. A tries and having to do all of that travel with key energy infrastructure. Many large part of the oil and gas that is

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:37 Sep 19, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18SE7.130 H18SEPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE H8462 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 18, 2008 available is off our Outer Continental sissippi, Louisiana, you’ve said you they can starve to death. They can die Shelf, in the gulf coast area, as we have fought hard for it many years, Texas, a lot quicker from that than they can seen off the coast of Louisiana and you get 37 percent revenue sharing, 37.5 over maybe a 75- to 100-year period Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, but also percent. time from inhaling a little bit of an en- east coast and west coast. We ought to But are you telling me now that in vironment that’s not healthy for their be taking advantage and using those that area in the Gulf of Mexico, when lungs. resources as we transition. the oil companies go out and build new So we care about it. We care about One of the key features that we rigs and purchase new leases, then, ac- childhood asthma. We care about fought for, I say ‘‘we,’’ the Louisiana cording to this no energy bill that was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease delegation, for 50 years we fought to passed this week, you wouldn’t get any and emphysema and lung cancer and get revenue sharing whereby the tax revenue on those new sites? all those things. revenue that comes to the Federal Gov- Mr. BOUSTANY. It is my under- But it becomes, really, a matter for ernment, some of it is shared with the standing that that revenue sharing is leadership of the Congress to make States. at risk. these decisions and place priorities on For instance, in Louisiana now with Mr. GINGREY. Well, that’s what I’m things. We don’t want the planet to in- new production, we have the oppor- thinking too. And I’m not glad to hear crease 11⁄2 degrees Fahrenheit over the tunity to share in 37.5 percent of rev- you say that, but I think you’re right. next 75 years because there may be a enue that will go to the State to help I think that’s absolutely right. scintilla rise in the level of the water the State do environmental repair Mr. BOUSTANY. There is no assur- and some remote island may get flood- along the gulf coast. It will help us in- ance that that revenue would be re- ed and 50 people lose their lives. vest in infrastructure, and it also pro- tained. And that’s a very important in- Now, I understand all that science. vides an opportunity to invest in alter- centive to get the States to play ball But right now what I really under- natives fuels. That provision was en- with this. And let’s take advantage and stand, and I think you do too, is the job acted in the Energy Security Act of use those natural resources that we’re loss, the unemployment rate, the econ- 2006, something we fought very hard for so fortunate to have. We’re at a time omy, these wild gyrations that are oc- and it is a very good bill. right now where oil reserves are being curring in the stock market, the food It is critically important that States depleted around the world, and oil in- prices, the oil prices. This is the crisis along the coast have that revenue- frastructure is really in a state of of the day, the crisis du jour, and I sharing option available to them. That decay in many of these countries. It’s think real leadership should recognize is the incentive for them to allow drill- the free market companies, the big that, don’t you, Dr. BOUSTANY? ing off their coast. companies that are around the world Mr. BOUSTANY. I fully agree with that have the kinds of technology that you. And we in Louisiana know that 1900 b we need to get in there and do this. But good energy policy can march hand in And that helps them build their in- with everything else in decline, we hand with environmental policy that’s frastructure. The Democrat bill earlier need to be taking advantage of using sensible, and it’s also good for the this week didn’t allow that. And that’s our own resources while we transition, economy and it grows jobs. We have one of the reasons why I think this was and increase investment in alternative seen that. We’ve seen what happens a sham approach. It was saying, we’ll forms of energy, alternative fuels, when bad policy affects an industry give a little lip service to drilling in whether it’s biofuels, because there’s a like the oil and gas industry and you the Outer Continental Shelf, but we’re whole host of new generation biofuels lose jobs. We’ve seen that kind of cycle. going to restrict certain areas of the that we’re on the cusp of working with. And there’s no reason for that. Those Outer Continental Shelf, and we’re not We need to invest in that, but it’s not are policy decisions made by those who going to allow revenue sharing, which going to happen overnight. So that’s are truly uninformed. is something the States all want. And why it’s critically important right now What the American public has al- that’s the essence of federalism. That’s to make strategically good decisions ready very clearly stated is that they a great way to do it. about how we use our resources. want a comprehensive energy policy. Mr. GINGREY. Reclaiming my time We owe that to the American people. And we have it within ourselves to do for a second, that’s what I’ve depicted This Congress will be irresponsible. Our that. This is not rocket science. on this slide on the bottom, this new Democratic friends will be irrespon- Mr. GINGREY. Well, I think, and I bill that we just passed this week. Ev- sible if they don’t allow a comprehen- want to thank you for your contribu- eryone else, nada, again, zero, nothing, sive energy reform package to come to tion tonight because I think you said no revenue sharing. So where is the in- the floor of the House. the key word when you said transition. centive for one of these States, Geor- Mr. GINGREY. Well, I just want to And we are going to transition. And I gia, we’ve got 130 miles of shore line on thank my colleague. And of course, think that, you know, 50, 75, 100 years the Atlantic Ocean. California, I mean, we’re both physicians, Dr. BOUSTANY, a from now we may not be burning much there’s just not going to be the incen- cardiothoracic surgeon, myself, an OB/ fossil fuel. But you can’t do that over- tive to do it. GYN doctor for many years before we night. You can’t, all of a sudden say Mr. BOUSTANY. And I would say for had the distinct honor of getting elect- we’re going to, by 2020 we’re not going folks back home in Louisiana who may ed to the Congress and working in the to burn any fossil fuel. Coal is fossil be listening to this, our 37.5 percent people’s House and representing the fuel. Petroleum products, diesel fuel, revenue sharing was also jeopardized folks we represent. gasoline. We would have no transpor- by this Democratic bill. So after 50 And I, again, CHARLES, I think about tation and we have no electricity. We’d years of fighting to get revenue sharing this a lot of times, when I started the be back using kerosene lanterns and bi- for Louisiana in the 8.3 million acres hour talking about how our leadership, cycles and skateboards, I guess, to get that were opened up in the eastern Gulf Ms. PELOSI, Speaker PELOSI, Rep- around in this country. of Mexico, we could suddenly lose that resentative, I mean Senator HARRY Well, Dr. BOUSTANY, thank you so if that bill were to go all the way REID, Majority Leader HARRY REID, much. I had a few more remarks to through the Senate and the President former Vice President Al Gore and oth- make as we concluded. I think we have, signed it. Fortunately, the President ers were so focused on saving the plan- Mr. Speaker, do we have about 10 min- says he’s going to veto it, but our own et and global warming and climate utes left? Democratic Senator, MARY LANDRIEU, change. And I understand there’s some The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- has said this bill is dead on arrival. concerns there, and I’m not oblivious, tleman has 6 minutes remaining. Mr. GINGREY. Well, I’ll reclaim just although all scientists don’t agree with Mr. GINGREY. Six minutes. Well, I for a second. Let me make sure I un- that. But, you know, it does really be- would rather yield to my friend from derstand this now. You’re saying that come a matter of priority. And you and Texas than to use any concluding re- currently, under this Energy Security I, as physicians understand that people marks, because I’ll tell you, this gen- Act of 2006, as I point to this slide, literally without a job, without a tleman from east Texas, again, knows again, GOMESA, that Alabama, Mis- home, without a warm set of clothing, of what he talks about. The Strategic

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:24 Sep 19, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18SE7.132 H18SEPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE September 18, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8463 Petroleum Reserve is located in Con- structions with a bill. And they’ve just great interest to me as well. And the gressman BOUSTANY’s State of Lou- referred to it, the Abercrombie, Demo- reason that I mentioned their names is isiana and Congressman GOHMERT’s crat from Hawaii, Peterson, Republican that the subject matter that brings me State of Texas. So he’s been working from Pennsylvania that had 39 Demo- to the well tonight with other col- very hard on this issue. And I want to crats cosponsoring the bill. And when leagues is how we improve the health yield at least 5 minutes to the gen- we offered that as a substitute, which care system. tleman from Texas. we felt that each one of them, they had b 1915 Mr. GOHMERT. I thank my dear already signed on to the bill, surely friend from Georgia for yielding. they were going to vote for it. And I’d And when I hear Judge LOUIE This has been a really difficult week. like for my colleagues to tell the rest GOHMERT, who serves with distinction Having spent the weekend with my of us what happened. on the Judiciary Committee, I always constituents that were hit by a hurri- Mr. BOUSTANY. I thank the gen- love to try to involve him in what cane in east Texas, and then coming tleman for yielding. I just want to we’re doing. And of course we have here to Congress and figuring, surely mention to my friend from Texas that great respect for Representative we can put party issues aside because, we’re with you on this. My State got GINGREY, the gentleman from Georgia, frankly, when I was in the district, it hit by four hurricanes, two really dev- who is a physician, a medical doctor; was around, I don’t know, the wee astating hurricanes in 2005, Rita and Dr. BOUSTANY of Louisiana. All of these hours, and one sheriff that was helping Katrina, and now Gustav and Ike. And are gentlemen whose attention I would said, now, you know I’m a Democrat. I folks are suffering back home on top of like to draw and invite to join us in said, you know I don’t care. It doesn’t the suffering that they’ve had as a re- this and future discussions about the matter. And then I get back to Wash- sult of high prices at the pump. And I state of health care in the country. I ington and that’s all it’s about. You have to say, it frustrates the heck out will be making every attempt to com- know, the Democrats have the major- of me to come up here to try to get municate with them on it. ity and they were determined to shut something done to help folks back We happen to have a doctor here on out any ideas from the Republicans. home and around the country suffering our side, Dr. DONNA CHRISTENSEN from There was a wonderful bipartisan with these high gas prices, and we the Virgin Islands, a medical doctor as bill, as you pointed out, the Aber- can’t get it done. We’re playing polit- well. And so just think of the exciting crombie/Peterson bill had 38 Demo- ical games up here because of the lead- exchange of views that might have oth- cratic cosponsors that understand the ership on the other side. It’s very frus- erwise occurred. importance of energy. Twenty-four of trating because folks in Texas, my But this is nevertheless an oppor- them voted against their own bill when friend’s State, my home State of Lou- tunity to take special orders to review, that was made as a substitute. isiana, are really suffering doubly be- Mr. Speaker, that over 45 million And it’s just incredible how some- cause we have born the burden of pro- Americans are currently without any thing is being rammed down on the Na- viding energy for this country in Lou- form of health insurance whatsoever. tion when we can’t afford it. People isiana and in Texas. And yet, folks More than eight out of ten of these need gasoline. They need diesel. Some back home are saying, what’s wrong Americans are members of working of those guys pointed out, they’ve lost with the rest of the country? What’s families, of all things. And then an- power. There are no hybrid generators, wrong with the Democratic leadership? other 50 million Americans are under- and that’s what’s keeping about a third Why won’t they give us an energy pol- insured and face possible financial ruin of my district going. icy. due to an unexpected medical bill for Mr. GINGREY. I’ll reclaim my time, Give us a vote. We’ve got the bills. hospitalization or other emergencies Representative GOHMERT, just for a We’ve got the answers. Give us a vote. that might occur. second and yield right back to you, be- That’s all we’re asking. And I yield And so for many Americans, the cost cause what the gentleman from Texas back to my friend from Texas. of health care, the cost of insurance, is talking about, of course, is this, the Mr. GINGREY. I yield to the gen- the insecurity of employer-based cov- bill that was passed by the Democratic tleman from Texas. erage—because many companies are majority. And I have a little poster up Mr. GOHMERT. Thank you. I know downsizing or moving out of the coun- here comparing the Republican bill, we’re running out of time. But one of try entirely—and these factors limit the American Energy Act, to the bill the comments that was made about their most important choices in life: that was actually passed. And I just Ike, making it so scary, it was a hurri- staying well and staying healthy, their want to quickly run through this be- cane that was coming in the middle of decisions to work, to raise a family, to fore I yield back to my two colleagues. the night. And when it comes in the return to school, to have children, to In the American Energy Act, real off- middle of the night, it is scarier. And retire early or not, to change careers. shore exploration, yes. Democratic en- that’s exactly what happened with this And the fact of the matter is that ergy plan, no. Renewables, without tax Democratic energy bill. It was filed at health care is the number one subject hikes, our bill, yes. Their bill, no. Real nearly 10:00, and it was a hurricane dis- for nearly everyone in this country. oil shale exploration. I won’t get into aster for this country. And so it is truly odd that some of details of that, but our bill, yes. Their Mr. GINGREY. And it indeed is my colleagues seem to believe that bill, no. Arctic coastal plain, the scary. And with that, Mr. Speaker, health care for all is somehow divorced ANWR. Our bill, go after that petro- we’ll yield back. We don’t have any from what they perceive to be the leum. Their bill, nada. Emission-free time to yield back. We’ll just shut up. ‘‘American Dream.’’ Indeed, the Amer- nuclear, our bill, yes, their bill, no, no, Thank you very much, and we’ll say ican Dream is posited on the notion no, can’t have nuclear. Clean coal tech- good night from this side. that you would be healthy. Before you nology, coal-to-liquid or coal-to-gas. f would become educated, prosperous, Yes in our bill. No in their bill. New re- rich, accomplished, you have to have finery capacity, Dr. BOUSTANY and I IMPROVING OUR HEALTH CARE good health. Physical and mental as talked about that. Our bill, yes. Their SYSTEM well. bill, no. No energy tax hikes, yes for The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under And so I begin our discussion under- Republicans, no for Democrats. No the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- scoring the fact that the American electricity price spikes. Yes for Repub- uary 18, 2007, the gentleman from Dream assumes that we’re in good licans, no for Democrats. Lawsuit re- Michigan (Mr. CONYERS) is recognized health and that good health, continued form, yes in the Republican bill. No in for 60 minutes as the designee of the good health is available to all. the Democratic bill. majority leader. One of the Presidents of the United So what Representative GOHMERT Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, and States once stated that Americans al- and Representative BOUSTANY are prob- Members of the Congress, I am de- ready have universal health care be- ably going to talk about now is when lighted to come here this evening to cause the emergency rooms cannot le- we had one, we had no amendments. We have listened to two doctors and a gally refuse to treat patients. That is had a motion to recommit with in- judge talking about a subject that is of the sitting President of the United

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