Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2009 No. 156 House of Representatives The House met at 12:30 p.m. and was Mr. Speaker, nowhere is this more neers, the International Union of Oper- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- important than dealing with long-ne- ating Engineers, the National Utility pore (Mr. RAHALL). glected water infrastructure, because Contractors Association as just some f as bad as things are on the surface with in the private sector. We have water problems with our electrical grid, utilities and government officials, from DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO crumbling roads and bridges in poor re- the National Association of Clean TEMPORE pair, what is under the surface is an Water Agencies, the American Public The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- even worse condition. We have 72,000 Works Association, the Association of fore the House the following commu- miles of sewer pipe and water main Floodplain Managers. And we have nication from the Speaker: that are over 80 years of age. Every public interest groups, like American WASHINGTON, DC, year there are almost a quarter million Rivers, the Rural Community Assist- October 26, 2009. water main breaks which cause every- ance Partnership, the Clean Water Net- I hereby appoint the Honorable NICK J. RA- thing from traffic jams to supply dis- work and the Alliance for Water Effi- HALL II to act as Speaker pro tempore on ruptions. Who can forget a few months ciency. this day. ago when a main broke on River Road Mr. Speaker, by providing this fund- NANCY PELOSI, here in metropolitan Washington and ing through existing State revolving Speaker of the House of Representatives. they had to send in a helicopter to res- funds, money will be equitably distrib- f cue a stranded motorist? uted to all States. We have special pro- MORNING-HOUR DEBATE Water infrastructure problems result visions to ensure that small rural com- in 1.3 million cases of waterborne dis- munities and large urban areas get The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ease each year, while sewer overflows funding specific to their needs. We ant to the order of the House of Janu- during rainstorms send raw sewage can’t afford to leave anyone or any ary 6, 2009, the Chair will now recog- into our oceans, our bays and our riv- community out. nize Members from lists submitted by ers, resulting in an estimated 1.8 to 3.5 I strongly urge my colleagues to re- the majority and minority leaders for million illnesses. The Environmental flect on what we have here in our com- morning-hour debate. Protection Agency estimates that munity in Washington, D.C., and back The Chair will alternate recognition there is a $534 billion gap between our home in our own districts. Too many of between the parties, with each party current water investment and the pro- these systems rely on brick and water limited to 30 minutes and each Mem- jected needs over the next 20 years, sewers that date back decades; in some ber, other than the majority and mi- just for water and wastewater. cases centuries. The economy cannot nority leaders and the minority whip, To deal with that, Mr. Speaker, I stand it, the health of our communities limited to 5 minutes. have introduced the Water Protection cannot put up with this neglect, and f and Reinvestment Act, H.R. 3202. At a frankly the pressure on local taxpayers time of economic problems for our and ratepayers is such that they need H.R. 3202, THE WATER PROTECTION country, this bill will create between and deserve our help. AND REINVESTMENT ACT 200,000 and 267,000 new jobs in engineer- I strongly urge that my colleagues The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ing, construction and related indus- who haven’t yet examined this legisla- Chair recognizes the gentleman from tries. The bill is deficit neutral, attach- tion do so, and that they join the bi- Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER) for 5 min- ing small fees to those activities and partisan support for H.R. 3202, the utes. industries that benefit from clean Water Protection and Reinvestment Mr. BLUMENAUER. Thank you very water or who complicate our need to Act. much, Mr. Speaker. purify water. It will raise $10 billion in f The United States is facing a chal- a deficit neutral way. lenge today in terms of fraying infra- Because of the need and because of RECESS structure from coast to coast. The need the focused solution of this legislation, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- to rebuild and renew America has H.R. 3202 is supported by a broad cross- ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair never been more critical; not only to section of stakeholders. There are al- declares the House in recess until 2 strengthen our economy, to protect our ready 19 bipartisan Members of Con- p.m. today. health, to reduce global warming, it’s gress who have signed on, but we have Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 37 important for our national and inter- the Associated General Contractors, minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- national competitiveness. the American Society of Civil Engi- cess until 2 p.m. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H11741 . VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:48 Oct 27, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26OC7.000 H26OCPT1 wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with HOUSE H11742 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 26, 2009 b 1400 their ability to create jobs and help us and nays are ordered, or on which the emerge from this economic downturn. vote incurs objection under clause 6 of AFTER RECESS This doesn’t sound like health care rule XX. The recess having expired, the House reform. It sounds like a disaster. Record votes on postponed questions was called to order by the Speaker pro f will be taken after 6:30 p.m. today. tempore (Mr. LARSEN of Washington) f at 2 p.m. RAISING THE STATUTORY LIMIT ON THE NATIONAL DEBT IS BAD NATIONAL LAND REMOTE f POLICY SENSING OUTREACH ACT PRAYER (Mr. BOOZMAN asked and was given Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. permission to address the House for 1 to suspend the rules and pass the bill Coughlin, offered the following prayer: minute and to revise and extend his re- (H.R. 2489) to authorize a comprehen- O Lord our God, send forth Your light marks.) sive national cooperative geospatial and Your truth. Let these be our guide. Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise imagery mapping program through the Lead this Congress and this Nation to today to express my concern for raising United States Geological Survey, to the heights of Your holy mountain and the national debt limit. promote use of the program for edu- to all the places You choose to dwell. Last week, the U.S. Department of cation, workforce training and develop- We will come before You filled with joy the Treasury reported that 2009 was the ment, and applied research, and to sup- and offer thanksgiving to You, our Re- worst fiscal year in our country’s his- port Federal, State, tribal, and local deemer. tory. This shouldn’t be a surprise con- government programs, as amended. So why do we seem downcast at sidering the amount of hard-earned The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: times? Hope in God. Hope in God as our taxpayer dollars that Washington has Savior. There is always a reason to been spending at a record-setting pace. H.R. 2489 praise the Lord. Again and again He The massive stimulus bill that I op- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- will prove Himself our mighty God, posed in February increased the na- resentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, both now and forever. Amen. tional debt by $925 billion to $12.1 tril- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. f lion. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Land I am extremely troubled by the re- Remote Sensing Outreach Act’’. THE JOURNAL cent media reports that show leaders of SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the majority party saying that the na- In this Act: Chair has examined the Journal of the tional debt limit has to be raised again, (1) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means last day’s proceedings and announces and soon. Mr. Speaker, we cannot the National Land Remote Sensing Outreach to the House his approval thereof. spend and borrow our way to pros- Program established in section 3. (2) EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.—The term Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- perity. I have heard the anger of the Amer- ‘‘educational institution’’ means any public or nal stands approved. private elementary or secondary school, or any ican people and my constituents, and f institution of vocational, professional, or higher they aren’t supportive of any more education (including a junior college or teach- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE debt increases. I voted against this ear- ers’ college). lier this year, and I remain opposed to (3) GEOSPATIAL IMAGERY.—The term The SPEAKER pro tempore.