Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 110 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 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2007 No. 161 House of Representatives The House met at 9 a.m. and was don’t meet the goal. But the fact is of the problem as we promise more called to order by the Speaker pro tem- that there still is one-third that are water to more diverse users than na- pore (Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee). not in compliance with our basic water ture can deliver. f quality standards. It is time for us to revisit, not just When we look under the ground, the the celebration of the 35th anniversary DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO situation is even worse. There are over of the Clean Water Act, but revisit our TEMPORE 72,000 miles of sewer pipe and water commitment that is embodied in that The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- main that are over 80 years old. It is Act and where we are going over the fore the House the following commu- one of the reason large sink holes open next 35 years. up and swallow trucks in American nication from the Speaker: It is important that we deal with streets, why the American Society of WASHINGTON, DC, October 23, 2007. very real problems of environmental Civil Engineers has given our water in- I hereby appoint the Honorable LINCOLN quality requirements to save fish and AVIS frastructure a D-minus grade. D to act as Speaker pro tempore on this wildlife and protect eco systems and, day. All of this is compounded by the indeed, human life. We are watching NANCY PELOSI, stress from global warming, as we see Speaker of the House of Representatives. not just the ice caps shrink but the the problems of diminishing supplies as we mine fossilized water in ancient un- f snow pack being reduced, we watch evaporation being accelerated as a re- derground aquifers. Global warming of MORNING-HOUR DEBATE sult of the elevated temperatures, and course is going to make all of these The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- we see that thirsty crops need more problems more complex, more severe, ant to the order of the House of Janu- water because of the global warming. and harder to solve. ary 4, 2007, the Chair will now recog- Agriculture of course is 90 percent of Every Member of Congress needs to nize Members from lists submitted by our water commitment. do more than just celebrate the 35th the majority and minority leaders for Now, there is going to be more fric- anniversary of the Clean Water Act. I morning-hour debate. tion, more problems over time with would hope that, in the months ahead, The Chair will alternate recognition Water and Agriculture. We have some every one of us does an assessment at between the parties, with each party of our programs that have been enacted home to find out how bad the situation limited to 25 minutes and each Mem- that are just plain silly. We continue is with our local water supply, storm ber, other than the majority and mi- to grow heavily subsidized cotton with water, sewage, and drainage. Are we nority leaders and the minority whip, subsidized water in the desert, some- one of the over 1,000 communities with limited to 5 minutes, but in no event thing that long since should have been combined sewer overflow problems? shall debate continue beyond 9:50 a.m. phased out. The New York Times Mag- How is it going to be paid for? What is The Chair recognizes the gentleman azine this weekend featured the South- the planning that needs to take place? from Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER) for 5 west United States water problems, es- Every one of us should be insisting minutes. pecially centered on the Colorado that we shift to basinwide framework f River and the demands that are rising for analyzing and solving water prob- there. But this tremendous problem is lems, not just looking at isolated in- CLEAN WATER ACT not limited to the southwest. On the stances. Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, front page of this morning’s paper we It is time for us to be serious about a last week we observed the 35th anniver- see the Georgia delegation in Congress funding solution. In 1978, the Federal sary of the Clean Water Act, and it was is suggesting that they deal with their Government provided 78 percent of the an important observation here on the severe drought and water supply prob- funding for our water quality problems. floor as we dealt with the impact that lems by ignoring the environmental Today, that is just 3 percent. Even that that new law had, the heightened regulations of the Endangered Species 3 percent is as uncertain, as it is inad- awareness and the progress that re- Act, upsetting not just environmental- equate. It is time to establish a water sulted. Back in 1972 when the law was ists but their friends downstream. It is trust fund, like the Highway Trust enacted, only one-third of our water- a problem we are familiar with in the Fund, to help be a partner with State ways met water quality standards. Pacific Northwest, where we have a se- and local communities in meeting Two-thirds did not. In the course of verely water stressed Klamath River water quality needs. Finally, we need that 35 years, we have reversed that: Basin, where the Federal Government to begin addressing the ultimate ques- Now there are only one-third that as in most all instances has been part tion of who is going to get the water 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. H11849 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 23:40 Oct 23, 2007 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23OC7.000 H23OCPT1 ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HOUSE H11850 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 23, 2007 and why, beyond just some historic ac- WELCOMING THE REVEREND dress the House for 1 minute and to re- cident and water rights policy no BOBBY L. JOHNSON vise and extend his remarks.) longer adequate for today’s challenges. Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. I strongly urge my friends in Con- (Mr. BOOZMAN asked and was given Madam Speaker, last week, America’s gress to reflect on the 35th anniversary permission to address the House for 1 number one radio personality, Rush of the Clean Water Act by getting seri- minute.) Limbaugh, auctioned off for charity a ous today with our constituents at Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, it is letter shamefully signed by a group of home about what we are going to do for my pleasure to introduce a good friend, 41 Democratic Senators. The letter to the next 35 years of clean water. a man who ministers to the men and Limbaugh’s employer attacked Rush women of western Arkansas, a man of for comments blatantly distorted by f God, our guest chaplain, the Reverend Media Matters regarding persons who RECESS Bobby L. Johnson of Van Buren, Ar- had lied about their service in the mili- kansas. He has been pastor of First As- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- tary. sembly of God in Van Buren since June ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair I am happy to report that the Senate of 1980. Since then, the church has declares the House in recess until 10 letter of infamy was auctioned for $2.1 grown from over 200 at Sunday School a.m. today. million, an amount Rush says he will to over 2,000, placing it among the fast- Accordingly (at 9 o’clock and 6 min- generously match. That brings the est growing Sunday Schools in Arkan- utes a.m.), the House stood in recess total to $4.2 million. sas and the Nation. The money will be donated to the until 10 a.m. His mission is bringing the Word to Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foun- f the people through his extensive out- dation. This charitable organization b 1000 reach, from mobile ministry to tele- provides financial assistance to the vision and over the Internet. A grad- children of fallen marines and law en- AFTER RECESS uate of both the University of Central forcement officers. I wish to commend The recess having expired, the House Arkansas and Evangel College in Mis- Rush for overcoming what was clearly was called to order by the Speaker pro souri, Pastor Johnson has taught pub- a political ploy to chill his first amend- tempore (Ms. DEGETTE) at 10 a.m. lic high school and pastored three ment rights of free speech. Rush took f other churches in Arkansas. an abusive power by Democratic lead- It is my honor to welcome Pastor ership and turned it into something PRAYER Johnson to the House of Representa- positive. Between Rush Limbaugh and The Reverend Bobby L. Johnson, tives and thank him for his service to Senate Democrats, America knows who First Assembly of God, Van Buren, Ar- his calling and to the people of Arkan- really supports our troops. kansas, offered the following prayer: sas. In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September the Almighty God, today we come hum- f bly and thankfully to You.