[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 28 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E324-E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other 
     departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes:

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1--legislation 
introduced by the House Republican majority that would cut over $60 
billion in essential funding to America's communities without making a 
significant impact on this year's federal deficit.
  The number one priority for Congress is to keep America's economic 
recovery moving forward by creating jobs today and building a 
foundation for sustained, long-term growth. This will require strategic 
investments by the federal government in education, infrastructure, 
research and other areas that promote innovation and enable America to 
compete in the global economy. Tackling rising federal deficits are 
also part of the broader economic challenge. Federal deficits must be 
reduced with ``smart cuts'' to outdated or unnecessary federal programs 
including taxpayer-sponsorship of NASCAR, duplicative weapons programs 
at the Pentagon, and broadcasting to Cuba that never reaches its 
intended audience. I offered amendments to H.R. 1 to make some of these 
``smart cuts.'' Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues voted to 
protect taxpayer subsidies for NASCAR and instead slashed funding to 
homeless veterans, heating assistance for the poor, neighborhood 
schools, road and bridge repair, and hundreds of other critical 
community investments.
  Because H.R. 1 undermines vital services and key long-term 
investments, professional economists believe the bill will put 
America's fragile economic recovery at risk. The Economic Policy 
Institute estimates that enactment of H.R. 1 would result in the 
destruction of 800,000 jobs nationwide. This week, Goldman Sachs 
economic forecaster Alec Phillips concluded that the Republicans' 
budget plan could slow economic growth by up to 2 percent.
  If my Republican colleagues were serious about deficit reduction they 
would support amendments like mine to reduce wasteful programs wherever 
they occur in the federal government--including the Pentagon. They 
would end their political fixation on ``earmarks'' in annual spending 
bills that totaled $16 billion last year and instead focus on special 
interest earmarks in the tax code that cost the government more than $1 
trillion in revenue every year. And if Republicans in Congress really 
wanted to reduce federal deficits they would not have voted in December 
2010 for a bloated $858 billion tax cut package that included $140 
billion in tax cuts for the richest 2 percent of Americans--every cent 
of this package was borrowed and added to federal deficits. I believe 
it is wrong to ask middle class families to sacrifice the quality of 
their schools, roads and health clinics so the richest Americans 
receive a tax cut they do not need.
  America's economy recovery and serious federal budget challenges 
require difficult choices in federal spending and taxation. But 
difficult choices can be made without threatening economic recovery or 
undermining the future competitiveness of our nation.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting H.R. 1 and instead, get 
to work on a budget that will create jobs and lead to renewed economic 
growth. I was unavailable to vote the following amendments to H.R. 1 
because of a longstanding obligation with the Pentagon's National 
Defense University in the Middle East.
  Representative McCollum (MN) Amendment No. 50: Prohibits funds from 
being used for the Department of Defense to sponsor NASCAR race cars. 
Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``yes'' on Amendment No. 50.
  Representative Nadler (NY)/Representative Lee (CA)/Representative 
Stark (CA) Amendment No. 232: Would limit funds for military operations 
in Afghanistan to $10 billion. Had Representative McCollum been present 
to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 232.
  Representative Kline (MN) Amendment No. 214: Prohibits funds from 
being used to implement regulations on ``Program Integrity: Gainful 
Employment--New Programs'' published by the Department of Education. 
Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 214.
  Representative Pence (IN) Amendment No. 11: Prohibits any federal 
funds from being used by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. 
Planned Parenthood is already prevented by federal law from using 
federal dollars for abortion services. This amendment takes away the 
money they use to provide for family planning, birth control, medical 
and preventive services. Had Representative McCollum been present to 
vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 11.
  Representative Young (AK) Amendment No. 533: Would block the 
Environmental Appeals Board from reviewing air pollution permits 
related to drilling in the Arctic Ocean. Had Representative McCollum 
been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 533.
  Representative Nadler (NY)/Representative Conyers (MI)/Representative 
Paul (TX)/Representative Jones (NC) Amendment No. 524: Prohibits funds 
to make a FISA application for an order requiring the production of 
library circulation records, library patron lists, book sales records, 
or book customer lists. Had Representative McCollum been present to 
vote she would have voted ``yes'' on Amendment No. 524.
  Representative Poe (TX) Amendment No. 466: Prohibits funds from being 
used by EPA to implement and enforce any requirements or issue permits 
for stationary source emissions of six pollutants that cause smog and 
global warming. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she 
would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 466.
  Representative Rehberg (MT) Amendment No. 575: Prohibits any funds 
from being paid to any employee, officer, contractor, or grantee of any 
department or agency funded by the Labor, Health and Human Services, 
Education, and related agencies to implement the Affordable Care Act. 
Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 575.
  Representative King (IA) Amendment No. 267: Prohibits any funds from 
being used to implement any provision of the Affordable Care Act. Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 267.
  Representative King (IA) Amendment No. 268: Prohibits any funds from 
being used to pay the salary of employees of any Federal department or 
agency with respect to implementing any provision of the Affordable 
Care Act. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would 
have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 268.
  Representative Emerson (MO) Amendment No. 83: Prohibits funds from 
being used for enforcement of the individual mandate. Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 83.
  Representative Kind (WI) Amendment No. 89: Prohibits a $147 million 
payment to the Brazil Cotton Institute for Brazilian farmers, part of 
an Administration-brokered settlement to avoid retaliation by Brazil 
pursuant to a WTO ruling in Brazil's favor. Had Representative McCollum 
been present to vote she would have voted ``yes'' on Amendment No. 89.
  Representative Kind (WI) Amendment No. 88: Prohibits funds to be used 
to research, develop, test, evaluate, or procure the Expeditionary 
Fighting Vehicle or the Surface-Launched Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-
Air Missile program. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote 
she would have voted ``yes'' on Amendment No. 88.
  Representative Blackburn (TN)/Representative Jordan (OH) Amendment 
No. 104: Would cut an additional $22 billion on top of the $100 billion 
in cuts in the CR, reducing Legislative Branch appropriations by an 
additional 11%, and by reducing all other appropriations by 5.5%, 
exempting Defense, Homeland Security, and Military Construction-
Veterans, and funding for Israel. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 104.
  Representative Bishop (NY) Amendment No. 414: Prohibits the use of 
funds for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, 
Kansas. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have 
voted ``yes'' on Amendment No. 414.
  Representative Campbell (CA) Amendment No. 519: Reduces funds by 3.5% 
for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``yes'' on Amendment No. 519.
  Representative Broun (GA) Amendment No. 246: Prohibits funds from 
being used for beach replenishment projects by the Army Corps of 
Engineers. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would 
have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 246.

[[Page E325]]

  Representative Broun (GA) Amendment No. 263: Prohibits the use of 
funds to pay any dues to the United Nations. Had Representative 
McCollum been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment 
No. 263.
  Representative Wu (OR) Amendment No. 526: Prohibits the use of funds 
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from spending any 
money on oversight of all import and export liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
facilities. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would 
have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 526.
  Representative Markey (MA) Amendment No. 27: Requires oil companies 
that hold royalty-free leases allowing them to drill for free on the 
public's offshore lands to renegotiate those leases so that the public 
is paid the standard royalty charged for drilling. Had Representative 
McCollum been present to vote she would have voted ``yes'' on Amendment 
No. 27.
  Representative Price (GA) Amendment No. 409: Prohibits funds from 
implementing or enforcing the Affordable Care Act. Had Representative 
McCollum been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment 
No. 409.
  Representative McClintock (CA) Amendment No. 296: Would prevent the 
Department of the Interior from completing a science-based process on 
the Klamath River and deprive the public of information about whether 
dam removal is in the public interest. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 296.
  Representative McDermott (WA) Amendment No. 99: Prohibits the use of 
funds to be used to plan for, begin, continue, finish, process, or 
approve the relocation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's Marine Operations Center-Pacific from Seattle, 
Washington, to Newport, Oregon. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on amendment No. 99.
  Representative Herger (CA) Amendment No. 177: Stops all funding to 
complete the USDA Forest Service from finishing a 6-year locally 
oriented planning process for designation of roads, trails and off-road 
use of National Forests. Had Representative McCollum been present to 
vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 177.
  Representative Blumenauer (OR) Amendment No. 323: Prohibits funds 
from being used to make farm commodity payments to people or entities 
in excess of $250,000. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote 
she would have voted ``yes'' on Amendment No. 323.
  Representative Boren (OK) Amendment No. 566: Prohibits reporting of 
multiple sales of rifles and shotguns. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 566.
  Representative Forbes (VA) Amendment No. 146: Prohibits the use of 
funds for the Office of the Secretary of Defense to be used for 
official representation purposes. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``yes'' on Amendment No. 146.
  Representative Kaptur (OH) Amendment No. 333: Reduces the amount made 
available in the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program by 75%. Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 104.
  Representative Polis (CO) Amendment No. 46: Limits the end strength 
level of U.S. Armed Forces in Europe to 35,000; limits the end strength 
level for active duty Army to 565,275; limits the end strength level 
for active duty Navy to 328,250; limits the end strength level for 
active duty Air Force to 329,275; and reduces the corresponding 
military personnel accounts by $292,451,213. Had Representative 
McCollum been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment 
No. 46.
  Representative Johnson (OH) Amendment No. 498: Prohibits Interior 
Department's Office of Surface Mining from implementing regulations 
that protect streams from mining waste and other pollution. Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 104.
  Representative Goodlatte (VA) Amendment No. 467: Prohibits the use of 
funds to develop, evaluate, or provide oversight to, or backstop total 
maximum daily loads or watershed implementation plans for the 
Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Had Representative McCollum been present to 
vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 467.
  Representative Gardner (CO) Amendment No. 79: Prohibits the use of 
funds for health insurance exchanges. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 79.
  Representative Neugebauer (TX) Amendment No. 151: Prohibits the use 
of funds for repair, alteration, or improvement of the Executive 
Residence at the White House. Had Representative McCollum been present 
to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 151.
  Representative Rooney (FL) Amendment No. 13: Prohibits the use of 
funds by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement or 
enforce water quality standards to protect the State of Florida's lakes 
and waters. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would 
have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 13.
  Representative Stearns (FL) Amendment No. 8: Prohibits the use of 
funds for the design, renovation, construction, or rental of any 
headquarters for the United Nations. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 8.
  Representative Flake (AZ) Amendment No. 377: Prohibits the use of 
funds for the construction of ethanol blender pumps or ethanol storage 
facilities. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would 
have ``yes'' voted on Amendment No. 377.
  Representative Guinta (NH) Amendment No. 166: Prohibits the use of 
funds for a government contract that requires a project labor 
agreement. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would 
have voted ``no'' Amendment No. 166.
  Representative Hall (TX) Amendment No. 495: Would block scientific 
research efforts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) to understand the domestic and international impacts of climate 
change. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have 
voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 495.
  Representative Lee (CA)/Representative Stark (CA) Amendment No. 141: 
Would reduce DoD funding to 2008 levels excluding funding for military 
personnel and the defense health program. Had Representative McCollum 
been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 141.
  Representative Griffith (VA) Amendment No. 109: Would seek to stop 
federal agencies from regulating mountain top removal mining. Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 109.
  Representative Jones (NC) Amendment No. 548: Would prohibit the 
development of approval of fisheries catch shares programs under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which are an 
important tool for rebuilding fish stocks, and aiding recovery and 
sustainability of ocean fisheries. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 548.
  Representative Luetkemeyer (MO) Amendment No. 47: Would bar funding 
for the study of the Missouri River Projects authorized by the Water 
Resources Development Act of 2009. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 47.
  Representative Luetkemeyer (MO) Amendment No. 149: Would block U.S. 
contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 
limiting domestic and international scientific research efforts to 
understand the impacts of climate change. Had Representative McCollum 
been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 149.
  Representative Issa (CA) Amendment No. 569: Prohibits federal 
agencies from awarding pay raises to employees who move to a higher pay 
grade and assume greater responsibilities. Had Representative McCollum 
been present to vote she would have ``no'' on Amendment No. 569.
  Representative Sullivan (OK) Amendment No. 94: No funds for 
implementation of decision by EPA administrator to increase ethanol 
content in gas to 15 percent. Had Representative McCollum been present 
to vote she would have voted ``no'' Amendment No. 94.
  Representative McKinley (WV) Amendment No. 216: Would bar EPA from 
exercising or implementing Sec. 404(c) of the Clean Water Act EPA under 
which the agency regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material 
into U.S. wetlands and waters. Had Representative McCollum been present 
to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 216.
  Representative McKinley (WV) Amendment No. 217: Eliminates funding 
for regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste. Had Representative 
McCollum been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment 
No. 217.
  Representative Pompeo (KS) Amendment No. 545: Prohibits the use of 
federal funds for the public, searchable consumer product safety 
database the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act directs the CPSC 
to create. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would 
have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 545.
  Representative Burgess (TX) Amendment No. 200: Prohibits funds from 
being used to pay the salary of any employee of the Center for Consumer 
Information and Insurance Oversight in the Department of Health and 
Human Services. Had Representative McCollum

[[Page E326]]

been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 200.
  Representative Heller (NV) Amendment No. 482: Prohibits the use of 
funds for monument designations. Had Representative McCollum been 
present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 482.
  Representative Noem (SD) Amendment No. 563: Prohibits the use of 
funds by EPA to issue air quality standards for soot (coarse 
particulate matter). Had Representative McCollum been present to vote 
she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 104.
  Representative Pitts (PA) Amendment No. 430: Prohibits the use of 
funds to be used to pay the salary of any officer or employee of the 
Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, or 
the Department of the Treasury who takes any action to specify or 
define, through regulations, guidelines, or otherwise, essential 
benefits under section 1302 of the Affordable Care Act. Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 430.
  Representative Carney (DE) Amendment No. 241: Prohibits funds for the 
oil and gas research and development program at the department of 
energy. Had Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have 
voted ``yes'' on Amendment No. 241.
  Representative Mulvaney (SC) Amendment No. 164: Cuts all funds in the 
bill back to 2006 levels, except for the Department of Defense, 
Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. Had Representative McCollum 
been present to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 164.
  Representative King (IA) Amendment No. 273: Prohibits the use of 
funds to administer the wage-rate requirements (Davis-Bacon) of 
subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code, with 
respect to any project or program funded by this Act. Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on Amendment No. 273.
  Representative Burgess (TX) Amendment No. 154: Prohibits the 
Department of Education from using FY 2011 funds to execute a provision 
in the Education Jobs Fund which required the Governor of Texas to 
provide certain assurances of State effort to maintain elementary and 
secondary education funding. Had Representative McCollum been present 
to vote she would have voted ``no'' on Amendment No. 154.
  Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 1. Had Representative McCollum 
been present to vote she would have ``yes'' on the Democratic Motion to 
Recommit.
  Final Passage of H.R. 1--Fiscal Year Continuing Appropriations Act 
for FY 2011 (Representative Rogers (KY)--Appropriations). Had 
Representative McCollum been present to vote she would have voted 
``no'' on H.R. 1.

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