H6788 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 22, 2008 for enabling this to move forward in MOTION TO GO TO CONFERENCE nurse. Their kids are good students and such an expeditious manner. ON S. 294, PASSENGER RAIL IN- play basketball and volleyball. But On 9 separate occasions, Congress has VESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENT gasoline expenses are hurting their established a commission or a joint ACT OF 2008 budget. Disposable income for them, committee to celebrate the life and ac- Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, just like all Americans, is disappearing complishments of one of our Nation’s pursuant to clause 1 of rule XXII, and as they drop their kids off to play Presidents or First Ladies. To date, we by direction of the Committee on sports or attend their kids’ games. have honored James Madison, Thomas Transportation and Infrastructure, I Record high fuel prices are not only Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy move to take from the Speaker’s table crippling family budgets, but also pub- Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin the Senate bill (S. 294) to reauthorize lic safety efforts, educational institu- Roosevelt, his wife, Eleanor, Harry Amtrak, and for other purposes, with a tions, small businesses, and causing in- Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. House amendment thereto, insist upon flation in all manner of products and commodities. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5235, The the House amendment, and request a Despite several promises from the Reagan Centennial Commission Act, conference with the Senate thereon. majority party, however, we have seen would create a commission to add Ron- The Clerk read the title of the Senate nothing that would truly help con- ald Reagan to that list. Like previous bill. sumers with the high cost of fuel commissions, the Reagan Commission The motion was agreed to. today. Yet, April 18, 2006, more than 2 will use the occasion of what would MOTION TO INSTRUCT years ago, then Minority Leader NANCY have been President Reagan’s 100th Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam PELOSI stated, ‘‘Democrats have a plan birthday in 2011 to call attention to his Speaker, I have a motion to instruct at to lower gas prices.’’ Again, April 24, life and his numerous accomplish- the desk. 2006, Minority Leader NANCY PELOSI re- ments. The Clerk read as follows: leased a statement saying, ‘‘Democrats The commission will plan activities Mr. Heller of Nevada moves that the man- agers on the part of the House at the con- have a commonsense plan to help bring for the year leading up to the Presi- ference on the disagreeing votes of the 2 down skyrocketing gas prices.’’ dent’s birthday. In the past, activities houses on the House amendment to the bill The parade of bold statements prom- have included essay contests for stu- S. 294 be instructed to insist on the provi- ising help for the American consumers dents, research papers, symposiums, sions contained in section 221 of the House continues. Majority Leader STENY events at particular historical sites, amendment. HOYER, October 2005 said, ‘‘Democrats and even joint sessions of Congress. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- believe we can do more for the Amer- The commission will be composed of ant to clause 7 of rule XXII, the gen- ican people who are struggling to deal Members of Congress and individuals tleman from Nevada (Mr. HELLER) and with high gas prices.’’ who have a knowledge or other exper- the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Not to be outdone, Democrat Whip tise concerning the life of President OBERSTAR) each will control 30 min- JIM CLYBURN said, ‘‘House Democrats Reagan, including his childhood, his utes. have a plan to help curb rising gas career in Hollywood and his political The Chair recognizes the gentleman prices’’ in July of 2006. career and legacy. Given the impact of from Nevada. And Madam Speaker, we haven’t seen President Reagan on his beloved Cali- Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam the results of these plans. The Amer- fornia, the United States and the Speaker, I rise today to offer a motion ican people would like to see the plan. world, this is a fitting and a proper to instruct conferees on H.R. 6003, the I reserve the balance of my time. tribute. Passenger Rail Investment Improve- Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I Madam Speaker, Ronald Reagan ment Act of 2008. This simple motion yield myself such time as I may con- transformed our Nation. He spoke of directs the House-Senate conferees to sume. limited government, commonsense val- insist upon section 221 of the House I welcome the gentleman’s motion to ues, and the bedrock notion of democ- bill, which states that ‘‘Amtrak shall instruct. The Buy America provision in racy which built this country. He em- be subject to the Buy American Act, Amtrak is comparable to the Buy bodied the optimism, the principles the regulations thereunder, for pur- America provision that I authored, got and the determination of our citizens chases of $100,000 or more.’’ enacted in the 1982 Surface Transpor- Especially during these trying eco- and our Nation. The American people tation Assistance Act, to require all nomic times, it is important that Am- responded to his call, and he led this steel in the Federal Aid Highway Pro- trak, a taxpayer-subsidized agency country back from a decade of decline, gram to be made in America, American that has never turned a profit, support transforming politics forever. steel. And we extended that to the American businesses and jobs. In fact, transit program subsequently, and to As a broadcaster, as an actor, as Gov- one of the most important ways Am- the Corps of Engineers program. ernor and as President, he gave voice trak could help the American economy The situation with Amtrak is that to America. is by buying American, especially by there are two Buy America laws. The I am pleased to support this legisla- buying American oil. first was established in 1978. It requires tion, and I ask my colleagues to join Amtrak runs on diesel fuel, and die- Amtrak to buy U.S.-sourced equip- me. sel prices in our Nation are at an all- ment, U.S. materials, U.S. supplies for Madam Speaker, I yield the balance time high. For the past several purchase in excess of $1 million. of my time. months, when I was at home in Nevada, As time went on, there was concern Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I the number one issue on the minds of that there was a good deal of equip- thank the gentleman from California my constituents was the high price of ment manufacturing moving offshore for introducing this measure. I urge its fuel. I am sure there is no difference because our domestic rail transit, rail passage, and I yield back. than any other district, since fuel costs passenger transit systems were in de- have reached record highs across this cline. There was little funding for The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Nation. them, and manufacturers were drying question is on the motion offered by In fact, this week some of my con- up in America, and the new sourcing the gentleman from New York (Mr. stituents were in town and came by the was coming from foreign manufactur- HIGGINS) that the House suspend the office. In talking with them, I was viv- ers. So the Appropriation Bill of 2002 rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5235, as idly reminded just how the high cost of required Amtrak to comply with the amended. fuel, spurred by congressional inaction, Buy America for procurements under The question was taken; and (two- is hurting families in my district. $1 million, pursuant to Amtrak’s grant thirds being in the affirmative) the The Anderson family lives in Carson agreements. rules were suspended and the bill, as City with their two kids, Steve and Our bill would require Buy America amended, was passed. Sarah. They are a model American to apply to purchases of $100,000, being A motion to reconsider was laid on middle class family. The father is a very specific about it, $100,000 or more. the table. dental lab technician, the mother is a So this motion instructs the managers

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Jul 23, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22JY7.068 H22JYPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with HOUSE July 22, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6789 to insist, and we are happy to insist on policy in our country over the last 30 tels. But only one of these measures is those provisions. years. And unfortunately, our col- now law. I thank the gentleman from Nevada leagues on the Democrat side of the I just returned, as my colleague from for his motion. aisle have made a very clear and dis- Minnesota mentioned, with a group I reserve the balance of my time. tinct decision, and it has been this: No from the Arctic National Wildlife Re- Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam new energy exploration in the United serve and other areas of Alaska which Speaker, I reserve 5 minutes for the States. They have been very clear are rich in potential oil and energy re- gentlewoman from Minnesota, Michele about this. They don’t want to increase sources. Exploration and development Bachmann. energy exploration in the United of these resources could easily happen Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank my col- States. We need to. in an environmentally sound fashion, league from Nevada (Mr. HELLER) for And we aren’t choosing just oil, just quickly brought online, and is some- his leadership on buying American, es- natural gas, just coal; we want to say thing that Alaskans support. pecially as it relates to American en- ‘‘yes’’ to wind, to solar, to biofuels, to Our group on this same recent trip ergy sources. nuclear power, to all of the above. We toured the National Renewable Energy I also thank the Speaker, as well, for have to say ‘‘yes’’ to all of the above or Laboratory in Colorado as well. As Ne- this 5 minutes. It is important, Madam America will find itself at an energy vada is a leader in renewable energy Speaker, that we do buy American, es- deficit. development, I also strongly support pecially American energy. I know the people that I serve, renewable energy as a long-term solu- Part of the problem that we have had Madam Speaker, in the Sixth Congres- tion to our energy needs. I voted for a for the last 31 years is that the United sional District in Minnesota are feeling renewable portfolio standard and on States, specifically the United States that squeeze right now. I checked the House floor have cosponsored legis- Congress, has almost made it a decided today in Minnesota, the average price lation to expand renewable energy by decision not to purchase American en- of regular unleaded gas is $3.86 a gal- extending tax incentives. However, ergy. lon. It’s something more than that na- these bills scratch the surface of our How do I say this? tionally. But I will tell you the people fuel crisis, nor are they a substitution I have a voting record in front of me, in Minnesota, especially the people for a realistic and truly comprehensive Madam Speaker, and it says this: When who are living on the margins, are feel- energy policy. the votes have come on this floor to ing the pain right now of these price Congress needs to act now on meas- purchase American energy, this is how increases. ures that will lower the price of fuel the votes have gone over purchasing oil But a wonderful story that Congress- immediately and in the short term. and exploring for oil up in the ANWR man HELLER and I learned when we Conservation is one such area, explo- region, where Mr. HELLER and myself were on the all-of-the-above explor- ration and drilling are another. Long- were this weekend. Republicans voted atory tool is that we have great an- term solutions—alternative fuels, re- over 90 percent of the time to buy swers here in the United States. The newable fuels, and even the expansion American, yes, American energy in the good news, Madam Speaker, is that we of mass transit—are simply not going ANWR region. Democrats, unfortu- do not have an energy deficit in the to help our constituents this month, nately, Madam Speaker, voted ‘‘no’’ to United States. We do not suffer from a this summer, or probably even this buy American 85 percent of the time. lack of resources. We have 27 percent of year. They are very likely several When you look at purchasing Amer- all of the world’s coal in the United years off. So this Congress must act to ican energy, Madam Speaker, through States. We have 2 trillion barrels of oil address the short-term needs of drivers the coal-to-liquid program, Americans just in the United States. We have 88 today. Currently, the current approach voted almost 100 percent of the time to billion barrels, conservatively speak- by Congress to date has done little or buy American. Democrats voted ‘‘no’’ ing, in the Outer Continental Shelf, nothing to address the crisis on fuel almost 80 percent of the time to buy over 10 billion barrels in ANWR, and prices now gripping my district and the American on coal-to-liquid fuels. also 10 billion barrels near my home Nation. On oil shale exploration, purchasing State in the Bakken Oil Reserve. We I reserve the balance of my time. American energy through this tremen- have energy in abundance in the Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, we dous resource of oil shale exploration United States. The problem is that have no other speakers on our side, and of which America is the Saudi Arabia Congress has said ‘‘no.’’ I reserve my time. of the world in Colorado, Utah and Wy- So what is standing between $2 gaso- Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam oming, Republicans voted ‘‘yes’’ 90 per- line and the American people, Madam Speaker, Americans are now paying on cent of the time, while Democrats Speaker, especially American-made en- average $1.67 more per gallon than they voted ‘‘no’’ to buying American 85 per- ergy? It’s the United States Congress. were when the 110th Congress began. In cent of the time. It isn’t the companies that have been Nevada, since the 110th Congress bad guys or that the American people began, gasoline has increased about 1800 b have been bad guys for using too much $1.50 per gallon. So far this year, crude Sounds like we’re on a roll. Sounds energy; it’s the United States Con- prices have increased 40 percent. like we’re on a trend. gress, and unfortunately, the Demo- Since passage of H.R. 6, a so-called Well, unfortunately, Madam Speaker, crat-controlled United States Congress comprehensive energy bill, in Decem- the Outer Continental Shelf explo- that it’s made a clear decision that ber of 2007 gas prices have risen nearly ration, Republicans also voted ‘‘yes’’ to they don’t want to increase American 10 percent, diesel prices have risen buy American oil and American nat- energy. This is nonsense. more than 16 percent, oil has reached ural gas over 80 percent of the time Both Congressman HELLER and I all-time highs. Clearly this bill was not while our Democratic colleagues across learned together this weekend that we the answer to our fuel problems. Clear- the aisle voted ‘‘no’’ 80 percent of the have the resources, we have them ly whatever the House majority is time to buy American energy. available, which is why we need to buy doing, badgering corporate executives, To purchase American energy, American energy now. berating the President, holding hear- Madam Speaker, to increase refinery Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I ings after hearings wasting time, is not capacity—this is a crucial issue in our reserve the balance of my time. working. It’s not the commonsense energy capacity—Republicans voted Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam plan we were promised. Tax increases ‘‘yes’’ to buy American energy from re- Speaker, the House has addressed some on fuels are not part of the common- fineries almost 100 percent of the time minor aspects of energy policy. And I sense solution and are not a substitute while Democrats voted ‘‘no’’ on in- have supported several of the measures for a real energy policy. creasing energy capacity with refin- that the House has debated and voted I have spoken to more than 100,000 eries 95 percent of the time. on, including legislation to address households in Nevada during the course I know it’s hard to believe and hard price gouging, halt delivery to the of some telephone/town hall meetings to understand, but there has really Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and to and have asked, Do you support the been a very clear divide over energy address the international energy car- proposed 50 cent per gallon gas tax?

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Jul 23, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22JY7.070 H22JYPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with HOUSE H6790 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 22, 2008 Eighty-two percent oppose this tax in- moratoria on much of the Outer Conti- Among those, we’re pushing very hard crease sending a clear message that the nental Shelf since 1982. This oil rep- on the President to cease putting oil people of Nevada oppose these out- resents about 33 percent of Saudi Ara- into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. rageous plans. bia’s proven reserves. He finally came around on that. So I Additionally, tax increases that af- ANWR holds billions of barrels of oil think that made a difference. fect oil companies also hurt retirees, that we intentionally refuse to develop. Secondly, the push in recent legisla- seniors, and pension funds. In 2004, The U.S. is the only Nation that closes tion to try to curb the speculation in more than 2,600 pension funds run by off its own reserves, its own natural re- the oil and gas industry by interests, Federal, State, and local governments sources and willfully subjects its eco- frankly, that don’t know much about held almost $64 billion in shares of U.S. nomic future to the whims of oil dicta- that industry but are in it to make a oil and natural gas companies. These torships like Venezuela. buck and have been driving the price funds represent the major retirement Russia and the volatile Middle East up and up, and we want to crack down security for the Nation’s current and can hold sway over the American econ- on that. retired soldiers, teachers, and police omy not because they can but because Finally, among the more immediate and fire personnel at every level of gov- we allow them to. China, a Communist measures that we can take—you know, ernment. Fourteen percent of shares country, is exploring for oil with the I’m privileged to serve, as is my col- are held in IRAs and other personal re- consent of Cuba, another Communist league, on the Natural Resources Com- tirement accounts. Forty-five million country right off our shores. In what mittee here in Congress. So we bring a U.S. households have IRAs and other economic world does that make com- very thoughtful analysis to what is personal retirement accounts. monsense? happening with our Federal and public The effects of a punitive windfall Simply put, we cannot conserve, tax, lands and making sure we’re using our profits tax on the energy industry or regulate our way out of this prob- natural resources wisely. would likely be the same as when it lem. Nor should we cajole our way out One of the ways we do that is to have was tried last in the 1980s reducing in- by begging foreign nations for help. Re- issued from the agencies that have re- vestment in domestic oil production. newable and alternative sources of en- sponsibility for it, permits and leases The windfall profits tax during the ergy, which enjoy bipartisan support, so that the oil industry can explore Carter administration drained billions are simply not a realistic, cost-effec- right here in the United States. And of dollars from the industry which was tive option today. I’m going to repeat the figure which money not spent on U.S. exploration The reality today is that our Nation, has been repeated many times because and production. Furthermore, the now and into the foreseeable imme- it’s an accurate one, and that is that windfall profits tax failed to raise a diate future, runs on gasoline, diesel there are 68 million acres right now for which the oil industry, oil and gas in- fraction of the projected revenue. fuel, and other petroleum products. Consequently, like most of the House Recognizing this reality and doing dustries hold permits and leases where and Senate Republicans, I have voted something about it is critical to our they are not producing, where they are against billions in tax increases on en- economy, public safety, education, not pursuing those leases. So we hear a lot about we should be ergy companies which have only been tourism, and other areas. trying to buy American resources and passed along to consumers in the form The House should encourage buying buy American and buy American oil. of higher prices. With billions in tax in- American oil just as we encourage buy- Well, we have the opportunity to buy creases being put forth in the House, ing American products. In the mean- American oil only if we’re producing time, this House should have a real not one of them has passed the Senate. American oil. Clearly this approach is not consensus broad, open, and forthright energy de- and is not part of a commonsense plan bate, not a series of small-bore suspen- b 1815 to address high fuel prices. sion calendar bills that merely tinker And the industry, for one reason or While speculation may have a signifi- around the edges. Congress must ad- another—and it’s kind of hard to figure cant effect on oil prices, this process dress all of the energy and fuel issues out the industry—has not taken advan- can work in reverse as well. Merely the gripping this Nation the way the Amer- tage of those permits that they have. announcement that Congress is willing ican people understand. We tried to put through legislation to allow full debate on the issues or Let the will of the House work in a last week. It was defeated in large part that certain moratoria will be lifted fashion that our constituents can fol- because of the opposition on the other will cause energy prices to react ac- low and appreciate. The American peo- side, a bill where we would basically cordingly. In fact, I have requested a ple, like the Andersons and so many force the oil industry to either use hearing on this issue at the Financial others in my district and nationwide, these permits or lose these permits, Services Committee on which the com- are demanding answers and demanding which we think is the right thing to do mittee has some jurisdiction. action. We should respond accordingly. in order to take advantage of the nat- A real energy policy will address a Support this motion to instruct and ural resources that we have here right variety of measures, including the very support buying American, including in our own country. basic cause of high prices, supply, and American energy. I’m trying to figure out why the oil demand. Congress desperately needs to Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- industry doesn’t want to drill, and then address refinery expansion, coal-to-liq- ance of my time. it occurred to me that, if you’re an oil uid technologies, lifting offshore mora- Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I company, the current state of things toria, oil shale, and other areas that yield such time as he may consume to isn’t so bad. You know, people are pay- will address skyrocketing gasoline and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. ing $4, more than $4 a gallon for gas at diesel prices. SARBANES). the pump. The oil industry last year Our Nation hasn’t built a new refin- Mr. SARBANES. I thank the chair- pulled down $100 billion worth of prof- ery in more than 30 years, yet demand man, and Madam Speaker, I wanted to its. So why would they think there’s for refined petroleum has continued to respond to some of the points that have any problem? That’s why we’ve got to increase. Estimates show the world’s been raised regarding what is going on push them, and the other side hasn’t energy needs will be 50 percent higher with the gas prices right now in the taken advantage of the opportunity in 2030 with 55 to 65 percent of demand country. here legislatively to try to push the oil from conventional oil and gas. I am talking to constituents, just as industry to take advantage of these The last time Congress opened access my colleague on the other side is talk- leases and permits that they already of a large oil field to develop was in ing to constituents, and there is no have. 1973. The Congressional Research Serv- question that people are hurting with Not only that, there are leases and ice notes that 86 billion barrels of oil the gas prices that are out there right permits out there with respect to the and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural now. That’s one of the reasons the Outer Continental Shelf in terms of ex- gas are classified as undiscovered re- Democrats here in Congress have tried ploring our natural resources there, as sources right here in this country and to take some very constructive steps to well as the National Petroleum Re- are offshore. Yet Congress has imposed bring down the cost of gas at the pump. serve in Alaska.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Jul 23, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22JY7.072 H22JYPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with HOUSE July 22, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6791 You know, we’ve heard a lot about it because this is something that the was up in the North Slope of Alaska, this visit that a contingent of Repub- American people have been subjected Prudhoe Bay. Today, the largest oil lican lawmakers took to visit the Arc- to now for the last couple of weeks, field in the United States remains up tic National Wildlife Refuge last week. this canard, that there are 68 million in Prudhoe Bay. They went to the wrong place. I mean, acres, and they somehow want the This Congress has made a decision why not go to the place where you can American people to believe that com- not to increase its oil fields. When the actually get some oil and get it quick, panies are risking their capital on Trans-Alaska Pipeline was built in if we would take advantage of the fact leases that they’re not using. Alaska in the mid seventies, when oil that permits and leases can be issued? And what I challenge the majority to production first began, 2.1 million bar- We’ve already done the analysis on the do is produce even one lease, even one rels a day was flowing through that 800 NPRA, on this National Petroleum Re- lease in the U.S. where there is an acre miles of pipeline, 2.1 million barrels a serve in Alaska, and the evidence is of land that has been leased that is not day. Do you know what that is today, that we could get more oil from that in some stage of production or explo- Madam Speaker? We are now down to location, for which we already have the ration. Not one. We haven’t seen proof 700,000 barrels a day flowing through authority to issue permits and leases of even one lease where a company has that pipeline, 700,000 barrels a day. We to drill, than we could from the Arctic bid for that lease and that lease is not have diminished by more than half the National Wildlife Refuge. in some stage of either production or amount of oil that we are sending down So I want to caution Americans not exploration. to the lower 48 from that wonderful en- to be misled by some of this rhetoric Again, let’s look at Congress and ergy lifeline in Alaska. that we’re hearing from the other side. Congress’ complicity in this area be- Here’s the sobering news, Madam We need to break our addiction to cause Congress has set artificial Speaker. We learned this weekend that oil. The President of the United States timelines, delayed timelines, for per- once we get down to 300,000 barrels a himself has admitted that we’re ad- mitting. The leases are 10 years’ long, day flowing through that pipeline, the dicted to oil. If you’re addicted to and there are no less than 11 different pipeline won’t work anymore. This something, you don’t solve your prob- stop points in that 10-year lease period pipeline is a marvel of modern human lem by just going and finding a new where private parties can file lawsuits engineering, a marvel. It’s an incred- supply of the same thing that you’re to stop the drilling. So, if a lawsuit is ibly valuable asset. I was told this addicted to. You try to move to some- filed, for instance, by Friends of the weekend, Madam Speaker, that if we thing else. You try to transition, and Earth, by Sierra Club, by Earth Jus- had to rebuild that pipeline today, we we need to move over the long term to tice, the oil company, or whatever could be looking at a $15 billion invest- smarter policies with respect to energy business it is, has to respond to the ment. What’s the window of opportunity and finding alternative sources of en- lawsuit. The lawsuit will end up in that we have? If we don’t open up new ergy and renewable sources of energy. Federal district court. Then it may get oil fields, potentially within 10 years’ We can do that. We have the ingenuity kicked up to the Ninth Circuit Court of time, that pipeline will be of no use to in this country; there’s no question Appeals. There’s one case where a deci- us because what we were told is, if you about that, if we’re given the tools and sion wasn’t rendered for 2 years. Well, don’t use it, you lose it. the right kind of policies to pursue it. who made that scenario? The United The SPEAKER pro tempore. The And we can break this addiction. States Congress. time of the gentlewoman from Min- The companies have bid on these In the meantime, there’s going to be nesota has expired. a transition, absolutely, and it’s not leases. They’ve put money down on the Mr. HELLER of Nevada. I yield 1 ad- like tomorrow we’re going to wake up barrel head to actually lease the land. ditional minute. and we’re not going to need oil any- They’ve got a 10-year timeline that Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank my col- more. I understand that. Everybody in Congress has given them, and there are league for that additional minute. this body understands that. So you artificial delays built in for the permit- I just want to conclude by saying have got to have a plan to transition, ting and also 11 different points for pri- this. If you want to talk about a real and during that transition, we abso- vate lawsuits to be filed. So those use-it-or-lose-it, Madam Speaker, lutely should be taking advantage of delays, again, are ones that Congress you’re talking about one of the most the resources in our own country. They has allowed to occur. valuable resources we have. It is the can provide some of the energy. There aren’t companies that are sit- American energy lifeline that runs And that’s why, again, I come back ting or dallying on a lease. I challenge through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to wondering out loud why it is that this majority to produce even one, even that brings the valuable oil down to our Republican colleagues are so ada- one lease on even just 1 acre, where a the lower 48. If we lose this pipeline, mant in opposing these efforts to try to company has a lease and they’re not in and if we lose it on this Democrat-con- get the oil industry to drill on lands some stage that Congress created of ei- trolled Congress’ watch, we will lose and in waters where they already have ther producing or exploring on the our lifeline for any future oil develop- permits. land. Let alone defying any common ment, which is all the more reason why So, I’d just like to say that what the sense of any businessman or -woman we need to begin drilling here in the American people are looking for right who puts their money on the line, their United States so we can buy American now is not a lot of rhetoric, not a lot of capital, they’re not going to dissipate energy and buy it now. double-talk. They want to know that capital. If we fast track the permitting, if we we’re trying to create smart policy But you will hear the Democrat ma- pull out all of the unnecessary law- here in Washington. The Democratic jority, Madam Speaker, rant and rail suits, we could literally within just a leadership has been doing that, both that there’re somehow dilatory compa- few years’ time build a 74-mile spur with respect to the steps we can take nies out there that are sitting on into ANWR, get that oil down to the in the immediate near term to deal leases. They haven’t produced one, United States, and increase American with the price of gas at the pump, but they haven’t shown one example that energy reserves by 50 percent. also to show that we’ve got an idea of they can parade around this Chamber I thank the gentleman for yielding where we’re headed so that we can where a company is not producing on that time. move away from this oil dependency the land. It’s just a patently false Mr. OBERSTAR. May I inquire of the and addiction. statement and, in fact, one that Chair how much time remains on both Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam shouldn’t be used. sides. Speaker, I yield an additional 5 min- I tell you, the real use-it-or-lose-it, The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- utes to my colleague from Minnesota Madam Speaker, it’s this. When Con- tleman from Minnesota has 22 minutes. (Mrs. BACHMANN). gressman HELLER and I were recently The gentleman from Nevada has 71⁄2 Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank my col- up in ANWR this weekend, we learned minutes. league, Mr. HELLER. a very sobering fact, and the sobering Mr. OBERSTAR. In the interest of I am so grateful that the majority fact is this. Thirty-one years ago, the fast-tracking Amtrak, I reserve the brought this issue up of use-it-or-lose- largest oil field in the United States balance of my time.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Jul 23, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22JY7.074 H22JYPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with HOUSE H6792 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 22, 2008 Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam I will tell you, what struck me on my We need to move ahead with this leg- Speaker, I have some final thoughts I’d trip up to ANWR was this; that if we islation and make our contribution in like to share with this body, and I want conserve—and the American people are our little corner of the world in trans- to thank the chairman for his patience conserving and they’ll do more to con- portation through accelerating the on this particular issue. serve—if we build renewable energy, work on Amtrak, which has been a bi- It was well-addressed by the gentle- look for cars, look for opportunities, partisan product of our committee. woman from Minnesota, the amount of the technology for renewable energies, Section 221 of the bill requires Amtrak to time and the time and the energy we and meet our goals—our goal here in comply with the Buy America Act, and the reg- spent up in ANWR, but I want to talk this Congress I believe is 15 percent by ulations thereunder, for purchases of $100,000 a little bit about the energy renewable the year 2020—if we meet those goals, or more. laboratory in Golden, Colorado, where we are still going to need an additional Amtrak is currently subject to two separate we also spent some time. 10 million barrels a day of oil by the Buy America laws. The first was established in I found the statistics and the issues year 2025. Even if we conserve, even if 1978 and requires Amtrak to procure U.S.- there very, very interesting. I’m one we do all the renewable efforts—and sourced equipment, materials, and supplies for who thinks that we have a three- the American people are doing that— purchases in excess of $1 million. The second pronged chair here that’s very impor- we’re still going to go from 15 million was established in the appropriations bill of tant in our energy future. We want, of barrels of oil a day to 25 million barrels 2002 and requires Amtrak to comply with Buy course, to be in conservation, which I a day by the year 2025. That’s why it’s America requirements for procurements under believe the American people under- critical. That’s why we went up to $1 million, pursuant to Amtrak’s grant agree- stand that conservation is a critical ANWR. That’s why we want to take a ments in effect with the Department of Trans- part. Renewable energy is also the look at the opportunity to open up the portation. third leg of that chair which is very Outer Continental Shelf, to look at the Our bill ensures that Amtrak would be sub- critical. And also finding additional northern shore of Alaska. I think these ject to one set of Buy America requirements sources of energy through our natural principles are critical, that’s why we for procurements of $100,000 or more. resources is very critical. did that. This motion instructs the House managers I want to talk about the National Re- Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- in the conference to insist on the provisions newable Energy Lab that we spent ance of my time. contained in Section 221 of the bill. The Sen- some time with out there. We saw and Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I ate-passed Amtrak reauthorization bill does drove in electric cars. We saw and yield myself 2 minutes. drove in hydrogen cars, and obviously, I appreciate the thoughtful presen- not contain a similar Buy America requirement we saw the hybrid cars, also. tation of the gentleman from Nevada, for Amtrak. We feel this provision is important, I just want to mention briefly that very structured and supported by docu- so we support the motion. renewable energy is the future, but I ments and references to specific facts. ENERGY BENEFITS OF AMTRAK believe it’s a long-term future. Let me The energy issue really consists of Amtrak and intercity passenger rail helps give you an example. three elements; supply, demand, and a fight global warming. Our transportation Five or 6 years ago, I drove in a hy- regulatory function. We need to deal sector produces one-third of the nation’s drogen car down in Las Vegas. I got a with all three of those. greenhouse gas emissions (and one-twelfth of the world’s). The average intercity passenger phone call from the other end of the On the supply side, one of the ele- train produces 60 percent less carbon dioxide State, come on down, drive this hydro- ments we’re supplying is the Maglev emissions per passenger mile than the aver- gen car. I thought it was a great idea, project that was authorized in the cur- age automobile, and 50 percent less carbon went down there, drove in a hydrogen rent SAFETEA legislation that the dioxide emissions per passenger mile of an car, went around the block, got out of gentleman from Alaska and I worked airplane. the car, and I asked the gentleman: So on to connect Los Angeles with Las Amtrak and intercity passenger rail re- what does it cost? How much does it Vegas. I know that’s of great interest duces highway and aviation congestion. cost for a consumer to buy this hydro- to the gentleman from Nevada. And Gridlock is becoming a shared experience for gen car? He told me it was $1 million, I’m very hopeful that we will see that tens of millions of motorists every day, which impacts communities across the coun- $1 million for this hydrogen car. project take root and go into oper- try. Over the past decade alone, travel Well, Madam Speaker, I drove a hy- ation. It will be a great addition to our growth on the nation’s highways has aver- drogen car last week, drove it around surface transportation system and will aged 2.2 percent annually. In 2007, congestion the block, got done, opened the door, reduce energy costs. forced Americans to waste 2.9 billion gallons asked the gentleman: So how much I heard the gentleman’s reference to of fuel and cost Americans a staggering $78 does this car cost? And the car still the electric car. There is a small, fam- billion. One full passenger train can take 250 cost $1 million dollars, $1 million for a ily-owned firm in my district that’s to 350 cars off the road. Further Amtrak as hydrogen car. I don’t have very many making a very small electric car, sell- a whole removes 8 million cars from the road constituents that are willing to go out ing for under $120,000, maybe $115,000. and eliminates the need for 50,000 fully-load- It’s not an Escalade, but it’s a very ed passenger airplanes each year. In conjunc- today and buy a $1 million car. tion with metropolitan transit systems, the So we drove the electric car, drove it nice vehicle. It can get people from one city-center to city-center service offered by around the block, ran fine, asked the point to another very efficiently for intercity passenger rail can also support question: How far does the car go? He about the cost of what it takes to run dense, transit-oriented development in down- said, well, about 70 miles on a charge. your refrigerator for a year. So there is town areas, helping to reduce highway travel How long does it take to charge? About progress being made in all of these are- demand for both local trips and intercity 6 minutes. How much does this car nas. trips. cost? Very expensive, over $100,000. I In Amtrak, we will be able to make Amtrak provides an alternative to air said, well, what would it take, what an enormous contribution, an alter- travel. Intercity passenger rail is competi- native to air travel, intercity pas- tive with air travel of 500 miles or less, and would it take to get an electric car more than 80 percent of all trips exceeding that goes 300 miles at 60 miles an hour senger rail more fuel efficient than car 100 miles in length are less than 500 miles. that charges in 10 to 15 minutes and and air travel, consuming less energy For example, Amtrak service controls 56% of costs less than $30,000 but it will go 60 than a car or airplanes. the air/rail market from Washington, DC to miles an hour? That’s what the con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The New York City and 43% of the air/rail mar- sumers want here in this country, and time of the gentleman has expired. ket from New York City to Boston, MA. they say we’re not even close. We’re Mr. OBERSTAR. I yield myself an Amtrak and intercity passenger rail is not even close to that. additional minute. more fuel efficient than automobile and air And with the new energy-efficient travel. The Department of Energy’s Trans- b 1830 equipment that Amtrak and the freight portation Energy Data Book reports that Renewables are incredibly important; rail network are using, we will see intercity passenger rail consumes 17 percent less energy per passenger mile than airlines the technology isn’t there today. So more fuel-efficient switching loco- and 21 percent less per passenger mile than that is the purpose that we continue to motives, more energy-efficient auto automobiles. go up to ANWR, take a look at ANWR, train vehicle carriers, and the regen- Amtrak and intercity passenger rail con- talk about additional oils. erative braking system with Acela. sumes less energy than automobile and air

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Jul 23, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K22JY7.076 H22JYPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC60 with HOUSE July 22, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6793 travel. Amtrak’s British Thermal Unit, (or, H. Res. 1311, by the yeas and nays; King (NY) Moran (KS) Serrano ‘‘BTU,’’ standard unit of energy) per pas- H. Res. 1202, by the yeas and nays. Kingston Moran (VA) Shadegg senger mile was 2,650 in 2006. This compares Kirk Murphy (CT) Shays The first electronic vote will be con- Klein (FL) Murphy, Patrick to the 3,264 BTUs for air travel and 3,445 Shea-Porter ducted as a 15-minute vote. Remaining Kline (MN) Murphy, Tim Sherman BTUs for highway travel in 2006. New energy electronic votes will be conducted as 5- Knollenberg Murtha Shimkus efficient equipment is further improving Kucinich Musgrave minute votes. Shuster conservation (e.g., in addition to Acela Ex- Kuhl (NY) Myrick Sires press trains’ regenerative braking system, f LaHood Nadler Skelton Amtrak has acquired new more energy-effi- Lamborn Napolitano Slaughter Larsen (WA) Neal (MA) cient Auto Train vehicle carriers and is eval- AVIATION SAFETY ENHANCEMENT Smith (NE) Larson (CT) Neugebauer Smith (NJ) uating more fuel efficient switching loco- ACT OF 2008 Latham Nunes Smith (TX) motives). Amtrak’s BTU per passenger mile LaTourette Oberstar The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Smith (WA) improved from 2,800 in 2003 to 2,760 in 2004, Latta Obey Snyder 2,709 in 2005, and 2,650 in 2006. finished business is the vote on the mo- Lee Olver Souder Amtrak is taking steps to further reduce tion to suspend the rules and pass the Levin Pallone Lewis (CA) Pascrell Space its greenhouse gas emissions. After Amtrak bill, H.R. 6493, as amended, on which Speier restored electrified service to the 104–mile Lewis (GA) Pastor the yeas and nays were ordered. Lewis (KY) Payne Spratt Philadelphia-Harrisburg line in October 2006, The Clerk read the title of the bill. Linder Pence Stark it replaced 9 diesel powered roundtrip trains The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Lipinski Perlmutter Stearns Stupak per weekday with 12 roundtrip trains pow- question is on the motion offered by LoBiondo Peterson (MN) ered by electricity. Today, most of the elec- Loebsack Petri Sullivan tric power Amtrak uses between New York the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Lofgren, Zoe Pickering Sutton and Washington is generated from non-fossil OBERSTAR) that the House suspend the Lowey Pitts Tancredo Tanner fuel sources. rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6493, as Lucas Platts Lungren, Daniel Pomeroy Tauscher Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- amended. E. Porter Taylor ance of my time. The vote was taken by electronic de- Lynch Price (GA) Terry Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam vice, and there were—yeas 392, nays 0, Mack Price (NC) Thompson (CA) not voting 42, as follows: Mahoney (FL) Pryce (OH) Thompson (MS) Speaker, I appreciate the chairman’s Maloney (NY) Putnam Thornberry comments and his commitment to re- [Roll No. 512] Manzullo Radanovich Tiberi newable energies. YEAS—392 Marchant Rahall Tierney Markey Ramstad Towns Abercrombie Childers Foster I just want to mention, living in a Marshall Rangel Tsongas Ackerman Clarke Foxx district that’s 105,000 square miles—and Matheson Regula Turner Aderholt Clay Frank (MA) Matsui Rehberg Udall (CO) I mention that every time I get a Akin Cleaver Franks (AZ) McCarthy (CA) Reichert Udall (NM) chance to speak—— Alexander Clyburn Frelinghuysen McCarthy (NY) Reyes Upton Mr. OBERSTAR. Will the gentleman Allen Coble Gallegly McCaul (TX) Reynolds Altmire Cohen Garrett (NJ) Van Hollen yield? McCollum (MN) Richardson ´ Andrews Cole (OK) Gerlach Velazquez Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Absolutely. McCotter Rogers (AL) Visclosky Arcuri Conaway Giffords McCrery Rogers (KY) Mr. OBERSTAR. My district is 30,000 Baca Conyers Gilchrest Walberg McDermott Rogers (MI) Walden (OR) Bachmann Cooper Gillibrand McGovern Rohrabacher square miles. I sympathize. Walsh (NY) Bachus Costa Gingrey McHenry Ros-Lehtinen Mr. HELLER of Nevada. It takes me Walz (MN) Baird Costello Gohmert McHugh Roskam Wamp 15 hours to get from one end of my dis- Baldwin Courtney Gonzalez McIntyre Ross Wasserman trict to the other. Barrett (SC) Cramer Goode McKeon Rothman Schultz So what I’m looking for, as I men- Barrow Crenshaw Goodlatte McMorris Roybal-Allard Bartlett (MD) Crowley Gordon Waters tioned earlier—and I appreciate your Rodgers Royce Barton (TX) Cubin Granger McNerney Ruppersberger Watson commitment to electric cars because Becerra Culberson Graves McNulty Ryan (OH) Watt we’re all there. The fact is I want a car Berkley Cummings Green, Al Meek (FL) Ryan (WI) Waxman that goes 300 miles and recharges in 5 Berman Davis (AL) Hall (NY) Meeks (NY) Salazar Weiner Berry Davis (CA) Hall (TX) Melancon Sali Welch (VT) to 10 minutes because if you live in Biggert Davis (IL) Hastings (FL) Mica Sa´ nchez, Linda Weller Elko, Nevada and you have an electric Bilbray Davis (KY) Hastings (WA) Michaud T. Wexler car, it takes you 300 miles roundtrip to Bilirakis Davis, David Hayes Miller (FL) Sarbanes Whitfield (KY) Bishop (NY) Davis, Lincoln Heller get anywhere. And if it takes you 6 Miller (MI) Scalise Wilson (NM) Blackburn Davis, Tom Hensarling Miller (NC) Schakowsky Wilson (OH) hours to plug it in, it’s certainly going Blumenauer Deal (GA) Herger Miller, Gary Schiff Wilson (SC) to cost you more to reserve time in a Blunt DeFazio Herseth Sandlin Miller, George Schmidt Wittman (VA) hotel in order to get back. But again, I Boehner DeGette Higgins Mitchell Schwartz Wolf Bonner Delahunt Hinojosa Mollohan Scott (GA) Woolsey want to thank the chairman. Bono Mack DeLauro Hirono Moore (KS) Scott (VA) Wu Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- Boozman Dent Hobson Moore (WI) Sensenbrenner Yarmuth ance of my time. Boren Diaz-Balart, L. Hodes Boustany Diaz-Balart, M. Hoekstra NOT VOTING—42 Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I Boyd (FL) Dicks Holden yield back the balance of my time. Boyda (KS) Dingell Holt Bean Hare Rush The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without Brady (PA) Doggett Honda Bishop (GA) Harman Sanchez, Loretta Brady (TX) Donnelly Hooley Bishop (UT) Hill Saxton objection, the previous question is or- Braley (IA) Doyle Hoyer Boswell Hinchey Sessions dered on the motion to instruct. Broun (GA) Drake Inglis (SC) Boucher Hulshof Sestak There was no objection. Brown (SC) Dreier Inslee Brown-Waite, Hunter Shuler Ginny Lampson The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Brown, Corrine Duncan Israel Simpson Buchanan Edwards (MD) Issa Cannon Langevin Solis question is on the motion to instruct. Carter Ortiz Burgess Edwards (TX) Jackson (IL) Tiahrt Cuellar Paul The motion to instruct was agreed Burton (IN) Ehlers Jackson-Lee Weldon (FL) Doolittle Pearce to. Butterfield Ellison (TX) Westmoreland Buyer Ellsworth Jefferson Everett Peterson (PA) A motion to reconsider was laid on Green, Gene Poe Young (AK) Calvert Emanuel Johnson (GA) Young (FL) the table. Camp (MI) Emerson Johnson (IL) Grijalva Renzi Gutierrez Rodriguez f Campbell (CA) Engel Johnson, E. B. Cantor English (PA) Johnson, Sam ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Capito Eshoo Jones (NC) Capps Etheridge Jones (OH) b 1859 PRO TEMPORE Capuano Fallin Jordan So (two-thirds being in the affirma- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Cardoza Farr Kagen Carnahan Fattah Kanjorski tive) the rules were suspended and the ant to clause 8 of rule XX, proceedings Carney Feeney Kaptur bill, as amended, was passed. will resume on motions to suspend the Carson Ferguson Keller rules previously postponed. Castle Filner Kennedy The result of the vote was announced Votes will be taken in the following Castor Flake Kildee as above recorded. Cazayoux Forbes Kilpatrick order: Chabot Fortenberry Kind A motion to reconsider was laid on H.R. 6493, by the yeas and nays; Chandler Fossella King (IA) the table.

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