[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 21 (Thursday, February 10, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S643-S646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mr. Begich):
S. 313. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue
permits for a microhydro project in nonwilderness areas within the
boundaries of Denali National Park and Preserve, to acquire land for
Denali National Park and Preserve from Doyon Tourism, Inc., and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce
legislation, cosponsored by my colleague Mark Begich from Alaska, that
represents an important step in the conversion to renewable energy
sources in rural Alaska.
Today I introduce the Kantishna Hills Renewable Energy Act of 2011.
The Kantishna Roadhouse, owned by Doyon Tourism, Inc., is located 100
miles inside Denali National Park and Preserve. The settlement of
Kantishna was founded in 1905 as a mining camp near the juncture of
Eureka and Moose Creeks. Gold in the region brought a flurry of
prospectors in the early days, but as the gold began to run out, so did
interest in mining the Kantishna Hills. The original roadhouse at
Kantishna was built in the early 1900s, serving as a private residence,
a community center, post office, and informal hotel accommodations for
those who visited Kantishna in Denali Park.
The Roadhouse, like many structures within Denali National Park, is
entirely off the grid and generates all of its electricity needs with a
diesel generator. As a result, all guests and supplies, including
diesel, are trucked through the Park to the Roadhouse over National
Park roads. The construction of the micro hydro project would allow the
Roadhouse to cut down their diesel usage by approximately 50%, which
would result in a decrease in diesel truck traffic on the Park Road,
improved local air quality, and less sound pollution in this remote
area, as well as reduce disturbance and vehicle impacts on park
wildlife, allowing for an enhanced visitor experience for tourists
within the National Park.
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My bill will authorize the National Park Service to exchange roughly
10 acres of National Park land for an equivalent amount of land
currently owned by Doyon Tourism, and would allow the National Park
Service to obtain the highly desired Galena tract of land, located just
off the Park Road in the Kantishna region. Doyon Tourism would obtain
land over which the hydro project would be implemented. In the interim
period, prior to completion of the land exchange, the National Park
Service will issue a permit to allow Doyon Tourism, Inc., to construct
the micro hydro unit.
I want to emphasize how important I believe that this bill is. The
benefit to the citizens of Alaska, especially rural Alaska, of reducing
their dependence on expensive diesel generation through access to
renewable and clean sources of energy is enormous. This type of Micro-
Hydro project within Denali provides an excellent blueprint for others
around the State to follow suit.
I would like to thank Senator Begich, an original co-sponsor of this
bill, for his and his staff's hard work in moving this bill forward. It
is our hope that this bill will receive quick but careful consideration
as the very short construction season in Alaska lasts only from May
through September.
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By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley):
S. 317. A bill to allow for use of existing Section 8 housing funds,
so as to preserve and revitalize affordable housing options for low-
income individuals; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the Affordable
Housing Preservation and Revitalization Act. I am delighted and honored
to be joined in this effort by my good friend and colleague, Senator
Jeff Merkley. It has been my privilege to work with Senator Merkley and
his staff on an issue that is so important to our State of Oregon and
to folks around the country.
There has been a lot of talk about housing in the media over the past
year. The topic of most of these conversations has been the foreclosure
crisis and the continued fallout from the mortgage meltdown.
But there is another housing story here, even though it may not get
the same attention or airtime: It is the story of homelessness and the
struggle to find affordable housing, and for thousands of Oregonians
it's a daily reality.
Like many States, Oregon is experiencing a sharp rise in
homelessness.
The most recent count available from Oregon, found 19,208 people
homeless on a particular night. That number represented a 12 percent
increase in homelessness over 2009.
This same count also indicates that 31 percent of those experiencing
homelessness were children and the number of homeless families with
children rose 33 percent from 2009.
In times like these, the Federal Government can hardly stand to lose
its stock of affordable housing. Sadly, that is exactly what's
happening.
As long-term contracts are coming due, many landlords are leaving the
business of affordable housing for the private market. As these owners
convert to market rents, which is in their economic interest, the low-
income tenants will be unable to afford their homes. With fewer and
fewer places to turn, many of these folks will end up on the street.
Some of these properties have what are known as residual receipts--
funds left over once the operating expenses and owner's distribution
have been paid. Currently, this money can only be used in the most
extreme of situations. As a result, many of these residual receipts
have accumulated for nearly 3 decades. In Oregon alone, estimates
suggest there are more than $10 million in untapped residual receipts.
Senator Merkley and I believe these funds represent a substantial
asset that could be used to help preserve affordable housing projects
with expiring contracts. That is why we are introducing the Affordable
Housing Preservation and Revitalization Act.
Our legislation would permit residual receipts to be transferred with
affordable housing properties that are sold to non-profits, provided
the non-profits commit to preserving and maintaining the housing stock
as affordable.
Our legislation isn't a magic bullet and it certainly will not ensure
that every American can put a roof over their head. But we think it's
the kind of commonsense approach that Americans can get behind. I hope
that our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill.
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By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Vitter, Mr. McCain,
Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Collins, Mr. Brown
of Ohio, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr.
Leahy, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs.
McCaskill, Mr. Begich, and Mr. Nelson of Florida):
S. 319. A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with
respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I am proud to introduce the Pharmaceutical
Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2011. I am enormously grateful to
partner with Senator Stabenow in this endeavor and to have the support
of 17 additional bipartisan cosponsors. I also want to salute former
Senator Byron Dorgan, who was such a tremendous ally on this issue for
nearly a decade.
During health reform, I was disappointed with the $80 billion deal
struck by the drug industry in exchange for supporting the legislation.
Make no mistake--this is hardly a generous offer from the industry.
Consider the fact that last August, a report issued by AARP on retail
prices of brand-name drugs showed that the 217 products most used by
older Americans increased by an average of 8.3 percent during 2009,
even as inflation was negative. So in other words, we have the industry
setting a new pricing baseline that is entirely off kilter with the
rest of the economy . . . widely unaffordable for the American people .
. . and clearly unsustainable for the future. Negotiating concessions
is no substitute for instilling market competition--which is exactly
what this legislation will do.
It is unconscionable that more and more individuals are forced to
skip doses or split pills as prices increase while our economy
contracts. Today our bill could already be providing the access that
Americans deserve to the more affordable drug prices available in other
industrialized nations. It is simply indisputable that Americans pay
far too much for prescription drugs--when other countries pay 35-55
percent less. And the cost of brand drugs in the U.S. increases at two
to three times the inflation rate.
When nations institute safe, regulated trade in pharmaceuticals they
see results--as Sweden did when it entered the European system of trade
and saw a reduction of 12-19 percent in the price of traded drugs. Now,
opponents claim importation will cause harm, but they fail to note the
greatest prescription drug threat to the safety of Americans . . . that
the inability to take a drug as it is prescribed . . . exacts a
tremendous toll on thousands of American lives every year.
The bottom line is that safety is the foundation of our bill--our
legislation not only addresses the safety of imports, but also was the
first to provide FDA with the resources to improve inspection of
foreign drug plants--many of which today produce medications marketed
here by U.S. firms which consumers assume to be ``domestic.''
They have also failed to understand or acknowledge we have left no
stone unturned to assure importation will be safe . . . why we require
FDA approval of all imported drugs . . . that the agency regulate,
inspect and monitor those who handle medications . . . that we require
strong prescription controls, improved labeling, anticounterfeiting
technology and tracking of shipments to assure the security of
medications. We don't rely on ``certifying safety''--this legislation
ensures safety.
Indeed when all the provisions of this legislation are considered,
this legislation will set a new standard for domestic drug safety.
Because, right now--today--many of the drugs which Americans use every
day are in fact manufactured in foreign factories. Yet today foreign
plants are seldom inspected--it can be as many as 12 years between
inspections. The fact is, global sourcing
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of production to lower cost countries--including those with inadequate
regulatory oversight--means that FDA simply must be examining all
facilities where our medications are made.
Under our bill, such plants--and in fact every step in the drug
supply chain--are to be inspected and regulated by FDA. And we include
long-sought incentives, to improve drug safety such as anti-
counterfeiting technologies, drug ``pedigrees,'' and improved
regulation and oversight of the handling of prescription drugs.
At the same time, this legislation will ensure that importation is
effective in delivering savings to consumers. The Congressional Budget
Office reports our bill will generate savings of $19.4 billion to the
Federal Government alone. Isn't that exactly the kind of savings we
should achieve at a time of escalating health care costs?
So it is clear that the time for enactment of this legislation is
certainly long overdue--and today the need for this legislation is
actually greater . . . not less. Among working age adults--only those
with Medicare coverage saw any improvement in their ability to fill
their prescriptions. All others saw a rise in their inability to obtain
needed medications! Among the uninsured more than 1 in 3 individuals
went without a required prescription--and in those with chronic disease
that number doubles! So despite manufacturer assistance programs--
despite the increased use of generics--the high and escalating cost of
brand name drugs is directly impacting the health of millions.
It is indeed time to engender more competition, and the more
affordable pricing that will bring. That is why I look forward to
moving forward together to see passage of our bill this year.
______
By Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Ms. Mikulski):
S. 324. A bill to amend the Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Development Act
to extend to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Commission; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I am proud to re-introduce
legislation to support greater public involvement in the administration
of one of Maryland's most treasured National Parks. The Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission Act ensures
that the communities located along the 184.5 mile long C&O Canal
National Historical Park have a voice with the National Park Service
regarding decisions affecting the administration of the Park. The
Commission keeps the people and small businesses most affected by the
operation of the C&O Canal National Historical Park informed and
involved in the decisions surrounding the Park. Citizen involvement in
the governmental process is a hallmark of our democracy and the C&O
Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission Act exemplifies the
goal of ensuring the public's role in government decision making.
The importance of the Commission is intrinsically tied to the
uniqueness of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. The Park covers
an area of 20,000 acres winding North and West along the Potomac River
from the heart of Georgetown's old industrial district in Washington
D.C. to Cumberland, MD nestled in the valleys and mountains of Western
Maryland. The Park's watered canal, contiguous towpath, popular among
cyclists, backpackers, day hikers and runners, hundreds of historic
structures and towns like Hancock, Hagerstown, Harpers Ferry,
Williamsport and Sharpsburg that grew during the Canal's heyday, all
tell the story of how the C&O Canal once served as a crucial East/West
commercial link. The Park also preserves pristine views of the Potomac
River, evocative of the C&O Canal's working days. At its widest points,
the C&O Canal National Historical Park spans less than \2/10\ of a mile
across and in many areas directly abuts neighboring commercial and
residential properties bordering the Park.
During the commercial operation of the C&O Canal, these towns were
local commercial centers where area farmers and tradesman utilized the
canal boats to deliver their goods to market. Today, the hospitality
and tourism industries of these communities thrive upon the C&O Canal
National Historical Park's popularity and are integral to enhancing the
park user experience. Whether it is hotel or bed and breakfast to spend
the night in, a restaurant or diner to grab a meal, stores to shop in
and perhaps stock up on camping provisions, boathouses to rent a canoe
for the afternoon, bike shops to service a flat tire or make repairs to
your bike or any of the myriad of goods and services park visitors may
need, the communities along the C&O Canal are as important to the Park
user experience as the Park's users are to maintaining their
businesses.
In 2009, more than 3.75 million people visited the C&O Canal National
Historical Park. To put it in perspective, in 2009, more people visited
this historic treasure than the number of people who visited
Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Everglades or Shenandoah National Park. Much
of the C&O Canal National Historical Park's success is attributable to
the positive relationship that has developed over time between the
National Park Service and the local community leaders that span the
length of the Park. The Park's Commission has greatly facilitated this
relationship.
The Commission provides the vital link between the affected committee
that the Park runs through and the National Park Service. The
Commission ensures that the public is engaged in the numerous processes
surrounding operational policy and infrastructure maintenance and
restoration projects on the C&O Canal National Historic Park. The
Commission plays a vital consultation and planning role for park
activities and operations. The cooperation that has developed between
the Commission and the National Park Service helps ties to the Park to
its communities. The Commission serves a purely advisory function and
does not have the authority to make binding park policy.
The Commission was first established as part of the 1971 Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal Development Act sponsored by Rep. Gilbert Gude, R-MD.
Every ten years, a bill like mine comes before congress, when the 10-
year extension of the Commission's authorization expires. Three times
over a 40-year period extension bills have passed by unanimous consent
and without controversy. My bill is another 10-year extension of the
Advisory Commission's authorization and makes no changes to the
Commission's authority. Legislative precedent has never set an
authorization amount for the Commission, but the Commission has always
functioned at a nominal cost.
The General Services Administration's Federal Advisory Commissions
Act database determined that the C&O Canal Advisory Commission's
expenses totaled $33,199 for fiscal year 2010. All expenses came out of
the National Park Service's general operating budget. Expenses covered
the cost of travel for commission members, $295, Federal staff time,
$28,074, and miscellaneous expenses, $4,830, like meeting space,
printing, supplies and website maintenance.
The National Park System is a showcase of America's natural and
historical treasures. So much of the National Park System's success is
rooted in the citizen stewardship projects and the involvement of
caring citizens and community leaders. Like so many of our National
Parks the C&O Canal National Historical Park has an extensive backlog
of maintenance and repair projects. The Commission plays a critical
role in helping keep these projects moving forward and assisting the
National Park Service with their completion because there is
recognition of the shared responsibility between the Park Service and
the Commission about the importance of continuing to make the Park a
desirable tourism and outdoor recreation destination. The Commission
provides that bridge between the government and public. I urge my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 324
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
COMMISSION.
Section 6(g) of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development
Act (16 U.S.C. 410y-4(g)) is amended by striking ``40'' and
inserting ``50''.
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