[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 22096-22110]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            JOB CREATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF ACT OF 2008

  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1507, I call up 
the bill (H.R. 7110) making supplemental appropriations for job 
creation and preservation, infrastructure investment, and economic and 
energy assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and 
for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7110

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the 
     Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, namely:

                  TITLE I--INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS

                       CHAPTER 1--TRANSPORTATION

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                    Federal Aviation Administration

                       grants-in-aid for airports

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

       For an additional amount for ``Grants-in-Aid for 
     Airports'', to enable the Secretary of Transportation to make 
     discretionary grants as authorized by subchapter I of chapter 
     471 and subchapter I of chapter 475 of title 49, United 
     States Code, $600,000,000, to be derived from the Airport and 
     Airway Trust Fund and to remain available until September 30, 
     2009: Provided, That in selecting projects to be funded, 
     priority shall be given to airport projects that can award 
     contracts based on bids within 120 days of enactment of this 
     Act.

                     Federal Highway Administration

                   highway infrastructure investment

       For projects and activities eligible under section 133 of 
     title 23, United States Code

[[Page 22097]]

     (without regard to subsection (d)), section 144 of such title 
     (without regard to subsection (g)), and sections 103, 119, 
     148, and 149 of such title, $12,800,000,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2009: Provided, That funds made 
     available under this heading shall be distributed among the 
     States, including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the 
     Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands, in the same ratio as the obligation limitation for 
     fiscal year 2008 was distributed among the States in 
     accordance with the formula specified in section 120(a)(6) of 
     division K of Public Law 110-161, but, in the case of the 
     Puerto Rico Highway Program and the Territorial Highway 
     Program, under section 120(a)(5) of such division: Provided 
     further, That in selecting projects to be funded, priority 
     shall be given to ready-to-go projects that can award bids 
     within 120 days of enactment of this Act: Provided further, 
     That funds made available under this heading shall be 
     administered as if apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, 
     United States Code: Provided further, That the Federal share 
     payable on account of any project or activity carried out 
     with funds made available under this heading shall be 100 
     percent of the total cost thereof: Provided further, That 
     amounts made available under this heading that are not 
     obligated within 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act shall be redistributed, in the manner described in 
     section 120(c) of division K of Public Law 110-161, to those 
     States able to obligate amounts in addition to those 
     previously distributed: Provided further, That the amount 
     made available under this heading shall not be subject to any 
     limitation on obligations for Federal-aid highways or highway 
     safety construction programs set forth in any Act.

                    Federal Railroad Administration

  capital and debt service grants to the national railroad passenger 
                              corporation

       For an additional amount for ``Capital and Debt Service 
     Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation'', 
     $500,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009: 
     Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation may retain up 
     to one-quarter of 1 percent of the funds made available under 
     this heading to fund the oversight by the Federal Railroad 
     Administration of the design and implementation of capital 
     projects funded by grants made under this heading: Provided 
     further, That none of the funds made available under this 
     heading may be used to subsidize operating losses of Amtrak: 
     Provided further, That none of the funds made available under 
     this heading shall be for debt service obligations: Provided 
     further, That in selecting projects to be funded, priority 
     shall be given to Amtrak capital projects that can award 
     contracts based on bids within 120 days of enactment of this 
     Act.

                     Federal Transit Administration

                       transit capital assistance

       For transit capital assistance grants, $3,600,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2009, of which 
     $3,240,000,000 shall be for grants under section 5307 of 
     title 49, United States Code and shall be apportioned in 
     accordance with section 5336 of such title (other than 
     subsections (i)(1) and (j)) but may not be combined or 
     commingled with any other funds apportioned under such 
     section 5336, and of which $360,000,000 shall be for grants 
     under section 5311 of such title and shall be apportioned in 
     accordance with such section 5311 but may not be combined or 
     commingled with any other funds apportioned under that 
     section: Provided, That in selecting projects to be funded, 
     priority shall be given to projects that can award contracts 
     based on bids within 120 days of enactment of this Act: 
     Provided further, That the Federal share of the costs for 
     which a grant is made under this heading shall be 100 
     percent.

                    transit energy assistance grants

       For transit energy assistance grants, $1,000,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2009, of which 
     $800,000,000 shall be for grants under section 5307 of title 
     49, United States Code and shall be apportioned in accordance 
     with section 5336 of such title (other than subsections 
     (i)(1) and (j)) but may not be combined or commingled with 
     any other funds apportioned under such section 5336, and of 
     which $200,000,000 shall be for grants under section 5311 of 
     such title and shall be apportioned in accordance with such 
     section 5311 but may not be combined or commingled with any 
     other funds apportioned under that section: Provided, That 
     the Federal share of the costs for which a grant is made 
     under this heading shall be 100 percent: Provided further, 
     That notwithstanding such sections 5307 and 5311, funds 
     appropriated under this heading are available for only one or 
     more of the following purposes:
       (1) If the recipient of the grant is reducing, or certifies 
     to the Secretary of Transportation within the time the 
     Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the 
     recipient will reduce, one or more fares the recipient 
     charges for public transportation, or in the case of 
     subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, 
     those operating costs of equipment and facilities being used 
     to provide the public transportation, or in the case of 
     subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, 
     that the recipient is no longer able to pay from the revenues 
     derived from such fare or fares as a result of such 
     reduction.
       (2) If the recipient of the grant is expanding, or 
     certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary 
     prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient 
     will expand, public transportation service, or in the case of 
     subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, 
     those operating and capital costs of equipment and facilities 
     being used to provide the public transportation service, or 
     in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity 
     bus service, that the recipient incurs as a result of the 
     expansion of such service.
       (3) To avoid increases in fares for public transportation, 
     or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, 
     intercity bus service, or decreases in current public 
     transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of 
     such section 5311, intercity bus service, that would 
     otherwise result from an increase in costs to the public 
     transportation or intercity bus agency for transportation-
     related fuel or meeting additional transportation-related 
     equipment or facility maintenance needs, if the recipient of 
     the grant certifies to the Secretary within the time the 
     Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the 
     recipient will not increase the fares that the recipient 
     charges for public transportation, or in the case of 
     subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, 
     or, will not decrease the public transportation service, or 
     in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity 
     bus service, that the recipient provides.
       (4) If the recipient of the grant is acquiring, or 
     certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary 
     prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient 
     will acquire, clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related 
     equipment or facilities for the purpose of improving fuel 
     efficiency, the costs of acquiring the equipment or 
     facilities.
       (5) If the recipient of the grant is establishing or 
     expanding, or certifies to the Secretary within the time the 
     Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the 
     recipient will establish or expand, commuter matching 
     services to provide commuters with information and assistance 
     about alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use, those 
     administrative costs in establishing or expanding such 
     services.

                         CHAPTER 2--CLEAN WATER

                    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

                   State and Tribal Assistance Grants

       For an additional amount for ``State and Tribal Assistance 
     Grants'', $7,500,000,000, to remain available until September 
     30, 2009, for capitalization grants for State revolving 
     funds, which shall be used as follows:
       (1) $6,500,000,000 shall be for making capitalization 
     grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds under title 
     VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, except that 
     the funds shall not be subject to the state matching 
     requirements in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 602(b) of 
     such Act.
       (2) $1,000,000,000 shall be for capitalization grants for 
     the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds under section 1452 
     of the Safe Drinking Water Act, except that the funds shall 
     not be subject to the state matching requirements of section 
     1452(e) of such Act:
     Provided, That a State shall agree to enter into binding 
     commitments with the funds appropriated under this heading no 
     later than 120 days after the date on which the State 
     receives the funds: Provided further, That, notwithstanding 
     the limitation on amounts specified in section 518(c) of the 
     Federal Water Pollution Control Act, up to a total of 1.5 
     percent of the funds made available under paragraph (1) of 
     this heading may be reserved by the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency for grants under section 
     518(c) of such Act: Provided further, That section 1452(k) of 
     the Safe Drinking Water Act shall not apply to amounts made 
     available under this heading.

              CHAPTER 3--FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER RESOURCES

                      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--CIVIL

                         DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

                       Corps of Engineers--Civil

                              construction

       For an additional amount for ``Construction'', 
     $2,500,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: 
     Provided, That funds appropriated under this heading shall 
     not be derived from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund: Provided 
     further, That the Corps of Engineers is directed to 
     prioritize funding for activities based on the ability to 
     accelerate existing contracts or fully fund project elements 
     and contracts for such elements in a time period of 2 years 
     after the date of enactment of this Act and to give 
     preference to those activities that are labor intensive.

                   mississippi river and tributaries

       For an additional amount for ``Mississippi River and 
     Tributaries'', $500,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2010: Provided, That the Corps of Engineers is 
     directed to prioritize funding for activities based on the 
     ability to accelerate existing contracts or fully fund 
     project elements and contracts for such elements in a time 
     period of 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act and 
     to give preference to those activities that are labor 
     intensive.

[[Page 22098]]



                       operation and maintenance

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance'', 
     $2,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: 
     Provided, That the Corps of Engineers is directed to 
     prioritize funding for activities based on the ability to 
     accelerate existing contracts or fully fund project elements 
     and contracts for such elements in a time period of 2 years 
     after the date of enactment of this Act and to give 
     preference to those activities that are labor intensive.

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

                         Bureau of Reclamation

                      water and related resources

       For an additional amount for ``Water and Related 
     Resources'', $300,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2010: Provided, That such sums shall be used 
     for capital improvement projects, including authorized rural 
     water projects: Provided further, That of the amount 
     appropriated under this heading, $126,000,000 shall be used 
     for water reclamation and reuse projects authorized under 
     title XVI of Public Law 102-575.

 CHAPTER 4--21ST CENTURY GREEN HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES

                        DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

              School Modernization, Renovation, and Repair

        For carrying out section 1401, $3,000,000,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2009.

                    GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS CHAPTER

       Sec. 1401. (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``Bureau-funded school'' has the meaning given 
     to such term in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 
     1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021).
       (2) The term ``charter school'' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 5210 of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965.
       (3) The term ``local educational agency''--
       (A) has the meaning given to that term in section 9101 of 
     the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and shall 
     also include the Recovery School District of Louisiana and 
     the New Orleans Public Schools; and
       (B) includes any public charter school that constitutes a 
     local educational agency under State law.
       (4) The term ``outlying area''--
       (A) means the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
     Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; 
     and
       (B) includes the freely associated states of the Republic 
     of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
     and the Republic of Palau.
       (5) The term ``public school facilities'' includes charter 
     schools.
       (6) The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, the 
     District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
       (7) The term ``LEED Green Building Rating System'' means 
     the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy 
     and Environmental Design green building rating standard 
     referred to as the LEED Green Building Rating System.
       (8) The term ``Energy Star'' means the Energy Star program 
     of the United States Department of Energy and the United 
     States Environmental Protection Agency.
       (9) The term ``CHPS Criteria'' means the green building 
     rating program developed by the Collaborative for High 
     Performance Schools.
       (10) The term ``Green Globes'' means the Green Building 
     Initiative environmental design and rating system referred to 
     as Green Globes.
       (b) Purpose.--Grants under this section shall be for the 
     purpose of modernizing, renovating, or repairing public 
     school facilities, based on their need for such improvements, 
     to be safe, healthy, high-performing, and up-to-date 
     technologically.
       (c) Allocation of Funds.--
       (1) Reservation.--From the amount appropriated to carry out 
     this section, the Secretary of Education shall reserve 1 
     percent of such amount, consistent with the purpose described 
     in subsection (b)--
       (A) to provide assistance to the outlying areas; and
       (B) for payments to the Secretary of the Interior to 
     provide assistance to Bureau-funded schools.
       (2) Allocation to states.--
       (A) State-by-state allocation.--Of the amount appropriated 
     to carry out this section, and not reserved under paragraph 
     (1), each State shall be allocated an amount in proportion to 
     the amount received by all local educational agencies in the 
     State under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 for fiscal year 2008 relative to the 
     total amount received by all local educational agencies in 
     every State under such part for such fiscal year.
       (B) State administration.--A State may reserve up to 1 
     percent of its allocation under subparagraph (A) to carry out 
     its responsibilities under this section, including--
       (i) providing technical assistance to local educational 
     agencies;
       (ii) developing, within 6 months of receiving its 
     allocation under subparagraph (A), a plan to develop a 
     database that includes an inventory of public school 
     facilities in the State and the modernization, renovation, 
     and repair needs of, energy use by, and the carbon footprint 
     of such schools; and
       (iii) developing a school energy efficiency quality plan.
       (C) Grants to local educational agencies.--From the amount 
     allocated to a State under subparagraph (A), each local 
     educational agency in the State that meets the requirements 
     of section 1112(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 shall receive an amount in proportion to the 
     amount received by such local educational agency under part A 
     of title I of that Act for fiscal year 2008 relative to the 
     total amount received by all local educational agencies in 
     the State under such part for such fiscal year, except that 
     no local educational agency that received funds under part A 
     of title I of that Act for such fiscal year shall receive a 
     grant of less than $5,000.
       (D) Special rule.--Section 1122(c)(3) of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 shall not apply to 
     subparagraph (A) or (C).
       (3) Special rules.--
       (A) Distributions by secretary.--The Secretary of Education 
     shall make and distribute the reservations and allocations 
     described in paragraphs (1) and (2) not later than 30 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (B) Distributions by states.--A State shall make and 
     distribute the allocations described in paragraph (2)(C) 
     within 30 days of receiving such funds from the Secretary.
       (d) Allowable Uses of Funds.--A local educational agency 
     receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant for 
     modernization, renovation, or repair of public school 
     facilities, including--
       (1) repairing, replacing, or installing roofs, including 
     extensive, intensive or semi-intensive green roofs, 
     electrical wiring, plumbing systems, sewage systems, lighting 
     systems, or components of such systems, windows, or doors, 
     including security doors;
       (2) repairing, replacing, or installing heating, 
     ventilation, air conditioning systems, or components of such 
     systems (including insulation), including indoor air quality 
     assessments;
       (3) bringing public schools into compliance with fire, 
     health, and safety codes, including professional installation 
     of fire/life safety alarms, including modernizations, 
     renovations, and repairs that ensure that schools are 
     prepared for emergencies, such as improving building 
     infrastructure to accommodate security measures;
       (4) modifications necessary to make public school 
     facilities accessible to comply with the Americans with 
     Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and 
     section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
     794), except that such modifications shall not be the primary 
     use of the grant;
       (5) asbestos or polychlorinated biphenyls abatement or 
     removal from public school facilities;
       (6) implementation of measures designed to reduce or 
     eliminate human exposure to lead-based paint hazards through 
     methods including interim controls, abatement, or a 
     combination of each;
       (7) implementation of measures designed to reduce or 
     eliminate human exposure to mold or mildew;
       (8) upgrading or installing educational technology 
     infrastructure to ensure that students have access to up-to-
     date educational technology;
       (9) modernization, renovation, or repair of science and 
     engineering laboratory facilities, libraries, and career and 
     technical education facilities, including those related to 
     energy efficiency and renewable energy, and improvements to 
     building infrastructure to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian 
     access;
       (10) renewable energy generation and heating systems, 
     including solar, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, or biomass, 
     including wood pellet, systems or components of such systems;
       (11) other modernization, renovation, or repair of public 
     school facilities to--
       (A) improve teachers' ability to teach and students' 
     ability to learn;
       (B) ensure the health and safety of students and staff;
       (C) make them more energy efficient; or
       (D) reduce class size; and
       (12) required environmental remediation related to public 
     school modernization, renovation, or repair described in 
     paragraphs (1) through (11).
       (e) Impermissible Uses of Funds.--No funds received under 
     this section may be used for--
       (1) payment of maintenance costs; or
       (2) stadiums or other facilities primarily used for 
     athletic contests or exhibitions or other events for which 
     admission is charged to the general public.
       (f) Supplement, Not Supplant.--A local educational agency 
     receiving a grant under this section shall use such Federal 
     funds only to supplement and not supplant the amount of funds 
     that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be 
     available for modernization, renovation, or repair of public 
     school facilities.
       (g) Prohibition Regarding State Aid.--A State shall not 
     take into consideration payments under this section in 
     determining the

[[Page 22099]]

     eligibility of any local educational agency in that State for 
     State aid, or the amount of State aid, with respect to free 
     public education of children.
       (h) Special Rule on Contracting.--Each local educational 
     agency receiving a grant under this section shall ensure 
     that, if the agency carries out modernization, renovation, or 
     repair through a contract, the process for any such contract 
     ensures the maximum number of qualified bidders, including 
     local, small, minority, and women- and veteran-owned 
     businesses, through full and open competition.
       (i) Special Rule on Use of Iron and Steel Produced in the 
     United States.--
       (1) In general.--A local educational agency shall not 
     obligate or expend funds received under this section for a 
     project for the modernization, renovation, or repair of a 
     public school facility unless all of the iron and steel used 
     in such project is produced in the United States.
       (2) Exceptions.--The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not 
     apply in any case in which the local educational agency finds 
     that--
       (A) their application would be inconsistent with the public 
     interest;
       (B) iron and steel are not produced in the United States in 
     sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a 
     satisfactory quality; or
       (C) inclusion of iron and steel produced in the United 
     States will increase the cost of the overall project contract 
     by more than 25 percent.
       (j) Application of GEPA.--The grant program under this 
     section is an applicable program (as that term is defined in 
     section 400 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 
     U.S.C. 1221)) subject to section 439 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1232b).
       (k) Green Schools.--
       (1) In general.--A local educational agency shall use not 
     less than 25 percent of the funds received under this section 
     for public school modernization, renovation, or repairs that 
     are certified, verified, or consistent with any applicable 
     provisions of--
       (A) the LEED Green Building Rating System;
       (B) Energy Star;
       (C) the CHPS Criteria;
       (D) Green Globes; or
       (E) an equivalent program adopted by the State or another 
     jurisdiction with authority over the local educational 
     agency.
       (2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency, shall provide outreach and 
     technical assistance to States and school districts 
     concerning the best practices in school modernization, 
     renovation, and repair, including those related to student 
     academic achievement and student and staff health, energy 
     efficiency, and environmental protection.
       (l) Reporting.--
       (1) Reports by local educational agencies.--Local 
     educational agencies receiving a grant under this section 
     shall compile, and submit to the State educational agency 
     (which shall compile and submit such reports to the 
     Secretary), a report describing the projects for which such 
     funds were used, including--
       (A) the number of public schools in the agency, including 
     the number of charter schools;
       (B) the total amount of funds received by the local 
     educational agency under this section and the amount of such 
     funds expended, including the amount expended for 
     modernization, renovation, and repair of charter schools;
       (C) the number of public schools in the agency with a 
     metro-centric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by 
     the National Center for Education Statistics and the 
     percentage of funds received by the agency under this section 
     that were used for projects at such schools;
       (D) the number of public schools in the agency that are 
     eligible for schoolwide programs under section 1114 of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the 
     percentage of funds received by the agency under this section 
     that were used for projects at such schools;
       (E) the cost of each project, which, if any, of the 
     standards described in subsection (k)(1) the project met, and 
     any demonstrable or expected academic, energy, or 
     environmental benefits as a result of the project;
       (F) if flooring was installed, whether--
       (i) it was low- or no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) 
     flooring;
       (ii) it was made from sustainable materials; and
       (iii) use of flooring described in clause (i) or (ii) was 
     cost effective; and
       (G) the total number and amount of contracts awarded, and 
     the number and amount of contracts awarded to local, small, 
     minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses.
       (2) Reports by secretary.--Not later than December 31, 
     2010, the Secretary of Education shall submit to the 
     Committees on Education and Labor and Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committees on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions and Appropriations of the 
     Senate a report on grants made under this section, including 
     the information described in paragraph (1), the types of 
     modernization, renovation, and repair funded, and the number 
     of students impacted, including the number of students 
     counted under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965.

                           CHAPTER 5--HOUSING

              DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

                       Public and Indian Housing

                      public housing capital fund

       For an additional amount for the ``Public Housing Capital 
     Fund'' to carry out capital and management activities for 
     public housing agencies, as authorized under section 9 of the 
     United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g), 
     $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009: 
     Provided, That this additional amount shall be allocated to 
     public housing agencies according to the same funding formula 
     used for other amounts already made available in fiscal year 
     2008, and not later than 120 days after enactment of this 
     Act: Provided further, That in selecting projects to be 
     funded, public housing agencies shall give priority to 
     capital projects for which contract awards based on 
     competitive bids can be executed within 120 days of enactment 
     of this Act.

                     CHAPTER 6--ENERGY DEVELOPMENT

                          DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

       For an additional amount for ``Energy Efficiency and 
     Renewable Energy'', $500,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2009: Provided, That funds shall be available 
     for expenses necessary for energy efficiency and renewable 
     energy research and development and demonstration activities 
     to accelerate the development of technologies that will 
     diversify the nation's energy portfolio and contribute to a 
     reliable, domestic energy supply.

              Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

       For an additional amount for ``Electricity Delivery and 
     Energy Reliability'', $100,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2009: Provided, That funds shall be available 
     for expenses necessary for electricity delivery and energy 
     reliability activities to modernize the electric grid, 
     enhance security and reliability of the energy 
     infrastructure, and facilitate recovery from disruptions to 
     the energy supply.

            Advanced Battery Loan Guarantee Program Account

       For the cost of guaranteed loans as authorized by section 
     135 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 
     (Public Law 110-140; 42 U.S.C. 17012), $1,000,000,000 to 
     remain available until expended: Provided, That of such 
     amount, $5,000,000 shall be used for administrative expenses 
     in carrying out the guaranteed loan program: Provided 
     further, That commitments for guaranteed loans using such 
     amount shall not exceed $3,333,000,000 in total loan 
     principal: Provided further, That the cost of such loans, 
     including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as 
     defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
     1974.

          TITLE II--UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION AND JOB TRAINING

           CHAPTER 1--EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION


                     additional first-tier benefits

       Sec. 2101.  Section 4002(b)(1) of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2008 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``50'' and inserting 
     ``80''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``13'' and inserting 
     ``20''.


                          second-tier benefits

       Sec. 2102.  Section 4002 of the Supplemental Appropriations 
     Act, 2008 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(c) Special Rule.--
       ``(1) In general.--If, at the time that the amount 
     established in an individual's account under subsection 
     (b)(1) is exhausted or at any time thereafter, such 
     individual's State is in an extended benefit period (as 
     determined under paragraph (2)), such account shall be 
     augmented by an amount equal to the lesser of--
       ``(A) 50 percent of the total amount of regular 
     compensation (including dependents' allowances) payable to 
     the individual during the individual's benefit year under the 
     State law, or
       ``(B) 13 times the individual's average weekly benefit 
     amount (as determined under subsection (b)(2)) for the 
     benefit year.
       ``(2) Extended benefit period.--For purposes of paragraph 
     (1), a State shall be considered to be in an extended benefit 
     period, as of any given time, if--
       ``(A) such a period is then in effect for such State under 
     the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 
     1970;
       ``(B) such a period would then be in effect for such State 
     under such Act if section 203(d) of such Act--
       ``(i) were applied by substituting `4' for `5' each place 
     it appears; and
       ``(ii) did not include the requirement under paragraph 
     (1)(A) thereof; or
       ``(C) such a period would then be in effect for such State 
     under such Act if--
       ``(i) section 203(f) of such Act were applied to such State 
     (regardless of whether the

[[Page 22100]]

     State by law had provided for such application); and
       ``(ii) such section 203(f)--

       ``(I) were applied by substituting `6.0' for `6.5' in 
     paragraph (1)(A)(i) thereof; and
       ``(II) did not include the requirement under paragraph 
     (1)(A)(ii) thereof.

       ``(3) Limitation.--The account of an individual may be 
     augmented not more than once under this subsection.''.


                          phaseout provisions

       Sec. 2103.  Section 4007(b) of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2008 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2),'' and 
     inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3),''; and
       (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
       ``(2) No augmentation after march 31, 2009.--If the amount 
     established in an individual's account under subsection 
     (b)(1) is exhausted after March 31, 2009, then section 
     4002(c) shall not apply and such account shall not be 
     augmented under such section, regardless of whether such 
     individual's State is in an extended benefit period (as 
     determined under paragraph (2) of such section).
       ``(3) Termination.--No compensation under this title shall 
     be payable for any week beginning after August 27, 2009.''.


                             effective date

       Sec. 2104.  (a) In General.--The amendments made by this 
     chapter shall apply as if included in the enactment of the 
     Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008, subject to subsection 
     (b).
       (b) Additional Benefits.--In applying the amendments made 
     by sections 2101 and 2102, any additional emergency 
     unemployment compensation made payable by such amendments 
     (which would not otherwise have been payable if such 
     amendments had not been enacted) shall be payable only with 
     respect to any week of unemployment beginning on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.

                        CHAPTER 2--JOB TRAINING

                          DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

                 Employment and Training Administration

                    training and employment services

       For an additional amount for ``Training and Employment 
     Services'' for activities under the Workforce Investment Act 
     of 1998, $400,000,000, to remain available through June 30, 
     2009, of which $200,000,000 is for grants to the States for 
     dislocated worker employment and training activities and 
     $200,000,000 is for grants to the States for youth 
     activities: Provided, That no portion of such funds shall be 
     reserved to carry out section 127(b)(1)(A) or section 128(a) 
     of such Act: Provided further, That the work readiness 
     performance indicator described in section 
     136(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of such Act shall be the only measure of 
     performance used to assess the effectiveness of youth 
     activities provided with such funds: Provided further, That, 
     with respect to the youth activities provided with such 
     funds, section 101(13)(A) of such Act shall be applied by 
     substituting ``age 24'' for ``age 21''.

     state unemployment insurance and employment service operations

       For an additional amount for ``State Unemployment Insurance 
     and Employment Service Operations'' for grants to the States 
     for reemployment services in accordance with section 6 of the 
     Wagner-Peyser Act, $100,000,000, which may be expended from 
     the Employment Security Administration Account in the 
     Unemployment Trust Fund, and which shall remain available 
     through September 30, 2009: Provided, That, with respect to 
     such funds, section 6(b)(1) of such Act shall be applied by 
     substituting ``one-third'' for ``two-thirds'' in subparagraph 
     (A), with the remaining one-third of the sums to be allotted 
     in accordance with section 132(b)(2)(B)(ii)(III) of the 
     Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

        TITLE III--TEMPORARY INCREASE IN MEDICAID MATCHING RATE


           temporary increase of medicaid fmap for 14 months

       Sec. 3001.  (a) Permitting Maintenance of Fiscal Year 2008 
     or 2009 FMAP.--Subject to subsections (d), (e), and (f), if 
     the FMAP determined without regard to this section for a 
     State for--
       (1) fiscal year 2009 is less than the FMAP as so determined 
     for fiscal year 2008, the FMAP for the State for fiscal year 
     2008 shall be substituted for the State's FMAP for fiscal 
     year 2009, before the application of this section; or
       (2) fiscal year 2010 is less than the FMAP as so determined 
     for fiscal year 2009, the FMAP for the State for fiscal year 
     2009 shall be substituted for the State's FMAP for fiscal 
     year 2010, before the application of this section, but only 
     for the portion of the first calendar quarter in fiscal year 
     2010 before December 1, 2009.
       (b) General 1 Percentage Point Increase.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to subsections (d), (e), and (f), 
     for each State for fiscal year 2009 and the portion of the 
     first calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010 before December 1, 
     2009, the FMAP (taking into account the application of 
     subsection (a) and before the application of subsection (c)) 
     shall be increased by 1 percentage point.
       (2)  Increase in cap on Medicaid payments to territories.--
     Subject to subsections (e) and (f), with respect to fiscal 
     year 2009 and with respect to fiscal year 2010 in proportion 
     to the portion of the fiscal year that occurs during the 
     first calendar quarter before December 1, 2009, the amounts 
     otherwise determined for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
     Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa under 
     subsections (f) and (g) of section 1108 of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) shall each be increased by 4 
     percent.
       (c) Additional Percentage Points Increase for Qualifying 
     States.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to subsections (d), (e), and (f), 
     in the case of a State that is 1 of the 50 States or the 
     District of Columbia, if the State is awarded a total of--
       (A) 3 or more points under paragraph (2) for a calendar 
     quarter in fiscal year 2009 or for the first calendar quarter 
     in fiscal year 2010, then for that calendar quarter or, in 
     the case the State is awarded such points for the calendar 
     quarter in fiscal year 2010, for the portion of such quarter 
     before December 1, 2009, (and each succeeding calendar 
     quarter, if any, in fiscal year 2009 and the portion of the 
     first calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010 before December 1, 
     2009) the FMAP (taking into account the application of 
     subsections (a) and (b)(1)) shall be further increased by 3 
     percentage points; or
       (B) 2 points under paragraph (2) for a calendar quarter in 
     fiscal year 2009 or in the first calendar quarter in fiscal 
     year 2010 and has not been awarded 3 or more points under 
     such paragraph for a previous calendar quarter in fiscal year 
     2009, then for that calendar quarter or, in the case the 
     State is awarded such points for the calendar quarter in 
     fiscal year 2010, for the portion of such quarter before 
     December 1, 2009, (and each succeeding calendar quarter, if 
     any, in fiscal year 2009 and the portion of the first 
     calendar quarter in fiscal year 2010 before December 1, 2009) 
     the FMAP (taking into account the application of subsections 
     (a) and (b)(1)) shall be further increased by 1 percentage 
     point.
       (2) Awarding of points based on qualifying criteria.--For 
     purposes of paragraph (1), each State shall be awarded points 
     for a calendar quarter equal to the total of the points 
     awarded under each of the following subparagraphs:
       (A) Reduction in employment.--
       (i) In general.--A State shall be awarded under this 
     subparagraph--

       (I) 2 points if the State's employment for the quarter 
     decreased or if such employment for the quarter increased but 
     by not more than 0.25 percent; or
       (II) 1 point if the State's employment for the quarter 
     increased by more than 0.25 percent but by less than 2.0 
     percent.

       (ii) Measurement of employment.--For purposes of clause 
     (i), an increase or decrease in a State's employment for a 
     quarter shall be measured by comparing--

       (I) the average total nonfarm employment for the State in 
     the 3 most recent months, as determined based on the most 
     recent monthly publications of the Current Employer 
     Statistics Survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics available 
     as of the first day of the quarter; to
       (II) the average total nonfarm employment for the State in 
     the same months two years earlier, as so determined.

       (B)  Increase in food stamps or supplemental nutrition 
     assistance program participation.--
       (i) In general.--A State shall be awarded under this 
     subparagraph 1 point if the State's food stamp or 
     Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation for 
     the quarter increased by more than 4 percent.
       (ii) Food stamp or supplemental nutrition assistance 
     program participation.--For purposes of clause (i), an 
     increase in a State's food stamp or Supplemental Nutrition 
     Assistance Program participation for a quarter shall be 
     measured by comparing--

       (I) the average monthly participation by persons in food 
     stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under 
     the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) 
     for the State in the 3 most recent months, as determined 
     based on the most recent monthly publications of Food and 
     Nutrition Service Data of the Department of Agriculture 
     available as of the first day of the quarter, adjusted for 
     participation in disaster programs under section 5(h) of the 
     Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7. U.S.C. 2014(h)); to
       (II) the average monthly participation by persons in food 
     stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for 
     the State in the same months two years earlier, as so 
     determined.

       (C) Increase in foreclosures.--
       (i) In general.--A State shall be awarded under this 
     subparagraph --

       (I) 2 points if the State's foreclosure rate for the 
     quarter increased by greater than 200 percent; or
       (II) 1 point if the State's foreclosure rate increased by 
     greater than 60 percent, but not more than 200 percent.

       (ii) Foreclosure rate.--For purposes of clause (i), an 
     increase in a State's foreclosure rate for a quarter shall be 
     measured by comparing--

       (I) the percentage of total mortgages in foreclosure for 
     the State for the most recent

[[Page 22101]]

     quarter, as determined by the Board of Governors of the 
     Federal Reserve System based on the most recent satisfactory 
     data available to such Board available as of the first day of 
     the quarter; to
       (II) such percentage for the State for the same quarter two 
     years earlier, as so determined.

       (d) Scope of Application.--The increases in the FMAP for a 
     State under this section shall apply only for purposes of 
     title XIX of the Social Security Act and shall not apply with 
     respect to--
       (1) disproportionate share hospital payments described in 
     section 1923 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r-4);
       (2) payments under title IV or XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     601 et seq. and 1397aa et seq.); or
       (3) any payments under title XIX of such Act that are based 
     on the enhanced FMAP described in section 2105(b) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(b)).
       (e) State Ineligibility.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a State is not 
     eligible for an increase in its FMAP under subsection (b)(1) 
     or (c), or an increase in a cap amount under subsection 
     (b)(2), if eligibility standards, methodologies, or 
     procedures under its State plan under title XIX of the Social 
     Security Act (including any waiver under such title or under 
     section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315)) are more 
     restrictive than the eligibility standards, methodologies, or 
     procedures, respectively, under such plan (or waiver) as in 
     effect on July 1, 2008.
       (2) State reinstatement of eligibility permitted.--A State 
     that has restricted eligibility standards, methodologies, or 
     procedures under its State plan under title XIX of the Social 
     Security Act (including any waiver under such title or under 
     section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315)) after July 1, 
     2008, is no longer ineligible under paragraph (1) beginning 
     with the first calendar quarter in which the State has 
     reinstated eligibility standards, methodologies, or 
     procedures that are no more restrictive than the eligibility 
     standards, methodologies, or procedures, respectively, under 
     such plan (or waiver) as in effect on July 1, 2008.
       (3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in paragraph (1) or (2) 
     shall be construed as affecting a State's flexibility with 
     respect to benefits offered under the State Medicaid program 
     under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et 
     seq.) (including any waiver under such title or under section 
     1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315)).
       (f) Requirement for Certain States.--In the case of a State 
     that requires political subdivisions within the State to 
     contribute toward the non-Federal share of expenditures under 
     the State Medicaid plan required under section 1902(a)(2) of 
     the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(2)), the State is 
     not eligible for an increase in its FMAP under subsection 
     (b)(1) or (c), or an increase in a cap amount under 
     subsection (b)(2), if it requires that such political 
     subdivisions pay a greater percentage of the non-Federal 
     share of such expenditures for fiscal year 2009, than the 
     percentage that would have been required by the State under 
     such plan on September 30, 2008, prior to application of this 
     section.
       (g) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) FMAP.--The term ``FMAP'' means the Federal medical 
     assistance percentage, as defined in section 1905(b) of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)).
       (2) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
     term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
       (h) Repeal.--Effective as of October 1, 2010, this section 
     is repealed.


      adjustment in computation of medicaid fmap to disregard an 
              extraordinary employer pension contribution

       Sec. 3002.  (a) In General.--Only for purposes of computing 
     the FMAP (as defined in subsection (e)) for a State for a 
     fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2006) and applying 
     the FMAP under title XIX of the Social Security Act, any 
     significantly disproportionate employer pension or insurance 
     fund contribution described in subsection (b) shall be 
     disregarded in computing the per capita income of such State, 
     but shall not be disregarded in computing the per capita 
     income for the continental United States (and Alaska) and 
     Hawaii.
       (b) Significantly Disproportionate Employer Pension and 
     Insurance Fund Contribution.--
       (1) In general.--For purposes of this section, a 
     significantly disproportionate employer pension and insurance 
     fund contribution described in this subsection with respect 
     to a State is any identifiable employer contribution towards 
     pension or other employee insurance funds that is estimated 
     to accrue to residents of such State for a calendar year 
     (beginning with calendar year 2003) if the increase in the 
     amount so estimated exceeds 25 percent of the total increase 
     in personal income in that State for the year involved.
       (2) Data to be used.--For estimating and adjusting a FMAP 
     already calculated as of the date of the enactment of this 
     Act for a State with a significantly disproportionate 
     employer pension and insurance fund contribution, the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services shall use the personal 
     income data set originally used in calculating such FMAP.
       (3) Special adjustment for negative growth.--If in any 
     calendar year the total personal income growth in a State is 
     negative, an employer pension and insurance fund contribution 
     for the purposes of calculating the State's FMAP for a 
     calendar year shall not exceed 125 percent of the amount of 
     such contribution for the previous calendar year for the 
     State.
       (c) Hold Harmless.--No State shall have its FMAP for a 
     fiscal year reduced as a result of the application of this 
     section.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall submit to Congress a report on the problems 
     presented by the current treatment of pension and insurance 
     fund contributions in the use of Bureau of Economic Affairs 
     calculations for the FMAP and for Medicaid and on possible 
     alternative methodologies to mitigate such problems.
       (e) FMAP Defined.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     ``FMAP'' means the Federal medical assistance percentage, as 
     defined in section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1396(d)).

            TITLE IV--TEMPORARY INCREASE IN FOOD ASSISTANCE


    temporary increase in benefits under the supplemental nutrition 
                           assistance program

       Sec. 4001.  (a) Maximum Benefit Increase.--
       (1) In general.--Beginning the first month that begins not 
     less than 25 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the value of benefits determined under section 8(a) of the 
     Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and consolidated block grants 
     for Puerto Rico and American Samoa determined under section 
     19(a) of such Act shall be calculated using 105 percent of 
     the June 2008 value of the thrifty food plan as specified 
     under section 3(o) of such Act.
       (2) Termination.--The authority provided by this subsection 
     shall terminate after September 30, 2009.
       (b) Requirements for the Secretary.--In carrying out this 
     section, the Secretary shall--
       (1) consider the benefit increases described in subsection 
     (a) to be a ``mass change'';
       (2) require a simple process for States to notify 
     households of the increase in benefits;
       (3) consider section 16(c)(3)(A) of the Food and Nutrition 
     Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(3)(A)) to apply to any errors 
     in the implementation of this section, without regard to the 
     120-day limit described in that section; and
       (4) have the authority to take such measures as necessary 
     to ensure the efficient administration of the benefits 
     provided in this section.
       (c) State Administrative Expenses.--
       (1) In general.--For the costs of State administrative 
     expenses associated with carrying out this section, the 
     Secretary shall make available $50,000,000.
       (2) Availability of funds.--Funds described in paragraph 
     (1) shall be made available as grants to State agencies based 
     on each State's share of households that participate in the 
     Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as reported to the 
     Department of Agriculture for the 12-month period ending with 
     June, 2008.
       (d) Funding.--There is appropriated to the Secretary of 
     Agriculture such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
     section.

                      TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS


                              short title

       Sec. 5001.  This Act may be cited as the ``Job Creation and 
     Unemployment Relief Act of 2008''.


                              prohibition

       Sec. 5002.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
     Act, none of the funds made available in this Act may be used 
     to employ workers in violation of section 274A of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a).


                         emergency designation

       Sec. 5003.  Each amount in each title of this Act is 
     designated as an emergency requirement and necessary to meet 
     emergency needs pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21 
     (110th Congress) and section 301(b)(2) of S. Con. Res. 70 
     (110th Congress), the concurrent resolutions on the budget 
     for fiscal years 2008 and 2009.


                      supplemental appropriations

       Sec. 5004.  Unless otherwise expressly provided, each 
     amount in this Act is made available in addition to amounts 
     otherwise available for fiscal year 2009.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1507, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lewis) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 7110, and

[[Page 22102]]

that I may include tabular material on the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.


                     Permission to Offer Amendment

  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to propound a unanimous consent 
request in response to the comments that we had during consideration of 
the rule on this bill. We've had some of our friends on the minority 
side of the aisle indicate that they are disappointed that the 
Appropriations Committee did not provide funding for the western 
schools program, which is expired, and which is not under the 
jurisdiction of our committee.
  In the interest of comity, I would like to respond to that concern by 
simply asking unanimous consent that the amendment that I have placed 
at the desk be considered as adopted. It would have the effect of 
resurrecting that western schools program for 1 year in the same manner 
in which it was being operated before it expired.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to H.R. 7110 offered by Mr. Obey:
       Page 27, after line 9, insert the following new chapter:

            CHAPTER 7--SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

       Sec. 1701. (a) Payments.--For fiscal year 2008, payments 
     shall be made from any revenues, fees, penalties, or 
     miscellaneous receipts described in sections 102(b)(3) and 
     103(b)(2) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
     Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393; 16 U.S.C. 500 
     note), not to exceed $100,000,000, and the payments shall be 
     made, to the maximum extent practicable, in the same amounts, 
     for the same purposes, and in the same manner as payments 
     were made to States and counties in 2006 under that Act.
       (b) Additional Appropriation.--There is appropriated 
     $400,000,000 from funds not otherwise appropriated, to remain 
     available until December 31, 2008, to be used to cover any 
     shortfall for payments made under this section.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--Titles II and III of secure 
     Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 
     (Public Law 106-393; 16 U.S.C. 500 note) are amended, 
     effective as of September 30, 2007, by striking ``2007'' and 
     ``2008'' each place they appear and inserting ``2009'' and 
     ``2010'', respectively.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, 
I would guess there is nobody in the House that has more rural 
territory than this Member, and the program that my chairman is 
suggesting we put in the bill is one that is very important to my 
constituency. I do have serious reservations, however, about the way we 
got to having to present this in the first place.
  This Member just received this bill very early this morning. I would 
guess there may be dozens of Members who have issues that they would 
hope would be in the bill if they had the time or the flexibility in 
the approach we handled this bill to have their items considered. So in 
that sense, I have serious reservations, but it is not my intention to 
object.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I object.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Objection is heard.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would simply like to have the Record 
show that we have tried to respond to concerns expressed on the 
minority side of the aisle, that the objection to allowing us to do 
that came from the minority side of the aisle. I regret that, but I 
guess there's not as much interest in comity as I had hoped today. 
Having said that, let me explain the bill before us.
  I think both political parties are seriously misdescribing the 
economic crisis that we now find ourselves in. I do not believe that 
this crisis began on Wall Street. I think this crisis began right here 
in this Chamber. I think it began right here in this town, in the White 
House. And I think what is happening today is a logical extension of 
what has happened since the Reagan administration over 20 years ago.
  The fact is that this Congress and previous and present Presidents 
have followed economic policies through the years which have resulted 
in the middle class--and what's called the underclass by some--being 
squeezed to the wall. Since 1980, the top 10 percent of American 
families has absorbed 80 percent of the increase in the national 
income. And in the last 8 years, the richest 10 percent of American 
families have absorbed 96 percent of all of the income growth in this 
country. That means the other 90 percent of American families have been 
struggling for table scraps, struggling to keep their head above water. 
And one of the ways that they've been doing that has been by borrowing.
  There is a lot of talk about the increase in the Federal debt over 
the past decade, which has been over $1 trillion. But the fact is that 
mortgage debt alone in the private sector in this country has increased 
by almost $7 trillion at that same time. And at the same time that that 
huge increase in borrowing was occurring by families trying to stay 
above the water line, we also had a simultaneous, ill-advised 
deregulation of the financial sector of the economy. The umpire was, in 
fact, taken off the field, and as a result, Wall Street took advantage 
of that, invented all kinds of interesting and complicated instruments, 
and at the same time, there was very little regulation to protect 
little people who didn't know what they were getting into. And so, as a 
result, we've had trickle down economics being followed for 25 years, 
and now we are experiencing the trickle down consequences. We have, I 
think, a serious choice to make in this Chamber and in the other body 
over the next few days. And I hope we make the right choice.
  All through this year this Congress has tried to do a number of 
things that would alleviate the squeeze on the middle class. To cite 
just some of our efforts, we passed the largest expansion of the GI 
Bill, education benefits, since that program started in 1945. We 
provided the largest veterans health care funding increase in modern 
history. We blocked the President's efforts to eliminate all student 
aid programs except Pell grant and work study. And we, instead, 
provided an increase in the Pell Grants of $750. And we passed 
legislation cutting the loan costs of student loans by 50 percent over 
the next 5 years, all to help middle class families send their kids to 
school.
  We increased the minimum wage for the first time in a decade. We 
extended unemployment insurance benefits to help people who had run out 
of unemployment benefits and have still not been able to find a job. We 
provided additional funding to save the SCHIP program, to help keep 
needy kids on the health care payrolls of our various States.
  We've provided funding to help States establish high-risk insurance 
pools----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. OBEY. I yield myself another 5 minutes.
  To increase access for almost 200,000 people who did not have access 
to health care. We extended dental care programs for the poor by 50 
percent. We passed all kinds of efforts to improve the lot of middle-
income Americans. And we had a large dispute with the President of the 
United States over budget levels for programs in the health, education, 
science and social services area. The President objected to a number of 
those programs. He wanted to require Congress to impose $14 billion in 
cuts in those crucial programs, and he said we simply could not afford 
that money. But now we are being confronted with a Presidential request 
to deal with the Wall Street bailout, and that cost will be about 50 
times as large as the cost of funding the programs that we've been 
trying to fund for a year.
  Meanwhile, this economy is sagging. Jobs, income, sales, and 
industrial production have all gone down. We have lost 600,000 jobs. 
Twenty-seven percent more people are unemployed today than was the case 
just 6 months ago. And so we are bringing before the House today an 
effort to counter some of those problems.

[[Page 22103]]

  We are trying to provide a major increase in investments in highways, 
bridges and airports to modernize our infrastructure and to provide 
well-paying construction jobs at the same time.
  We are providing a significant increase in funding for construction 
jobs by helping local communities and States construct sewer and water 
systems. There is a $600 billion national backlog on that.
  We are providing additional help to create jobs by moving ahead with 
flood control projects.
  As far as schools are concerned, the GAO tells us we have a $112 
billion backlog in maintenance, building safety, and technology 
upgrades for our schools. We're trying to provide a small amount of 
funding to help begin to take care of that.
  On the energy front, we've had a theological debate about energy 
between the parties for the last several months. We are trying to 
provide some funding here for energy research programs which will 
create jobs in that area, and at the same time, we are trying to invest 
a significant amount of money in order to assure that our auto 
industry, as it converts to battery-driven, dual-technology 
automobiles, we're trying to make certain that those batteries are 
developed and produced in the United States. If we can accomplish that, 
it will be a large number of jobs that we keep here in the United 
States.
  We also are trying to extend unemployment compensation benefits for 
an additional 7 weeks. And we are trying to help State budgets to make 
sure that States don't have to knock low-income children and low-income 
families off the health care rolls.

                              {time}  1745

  This is the main thrust of this legislation. We think it is long 
overdue.
  And I would urge passage in the House.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it was just 2 days ago that we were debating an $800 
billion continuing resolution to fund our troops and veterans, protect 
our homeland, respond to natural disasters and put our country on a 
pathway towards energy independence. Many Members, including this 
Member, reluctantly agreed to support the CR to keep the essential 
business of our government running through March 6 of next year.
  Now in addition to being asked to pay for a bailout for Wall Street, 
taxpayers are being asked by House Democrats to swallow an additional 
60, that is $60 billion in spending on a laundry list of items I saw 
for the first time just a few hours ago. This would be laughable if it 
were not so serious.
  I was reluctant to support the CR the other day because virtually 
every dollar was approved without the consideration of the House 
Appropriations Committee, without floor consideration in the House and 
Senate, without any amendments or input from any House Member or 
Senator and without formal House and Senate conference committee work.
  During our debate we all agreed on the importance of getting the 
appropriations process back on track. Just 2 days ago we found 
ourselves back on the House floor making the very same mistakes again, 
debating an additional $60 billion--$60 billion is a lot of money--in 
spending legislation that very few have yet seen. There was no 
committee consideration, no amendments and no debate. One more time, we 
are presented with a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. So much for 
getting the appropriations process back on track.
  The majority is describing this legislation as a ``stimulus package'' 
to help our national economy. But let's be clear about that. Let's not 
fool ourselves. This is a political document pure and simple. If these 
priorities are so important, why hasn't this bill gone through the 
normal legislative process? We could have, and should have, debated 
many of the items included in this package, hearing full committee and 
House floor consideration when we are considering each of the 12 
individual bills. But as we know, the majority is unwilling to move 
individual spending bills and derailed the appropriations process for 
this entire year.
  Before you make a decision on this legislation, I ask you to consider 
three sobering facts: First, of the projected $247 billion increase in 
the budget deficit in 2008, $226 billion results from additional 
spending, and $21 billion results from decreased revenues. Second, in 
2009, spending is projected to reach 21.4 percent of the GDP for the 
first time since 1993. Third, balancing the Federal budget by 2013 
would require either limiting annual spending growth to 1.4 percent or 
raising annual revenue growth at 8 percent or a combination of both.
  So to balance the budget, we either need to raise taxes or we need to 
spend less. Now I didn't fall off the turnip truck this morning. It 
doesn't take an economist to tell you that the economy needs our help. 
And what does this Congress do? It proposes to spend billions and 
billions and billions more without any offsets in spending. The failure 
to adhere to pay-as-you-go, or what we call PAYGO, means that this new 
spending will be financed through additional borrowing, which will 
increase interest rates and prove a further drag on our struggling 
economy.
  In recent days, government has taken steps to bail out the auto 
industry to the tune of some $25 billion. It has proposed a bailout for 
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the tune of another $25 billion. It has 
committed as much as $70 billion to rescue AIG. In the last few weeks, 
this Congress hasn't found a cause that doesn't need a handout or a 
bailout. Where does the spending end, Mr. Speaker? Where does it end?
  In this time of financial instability and national anxiety over the 
state of our financial market, the first goal of the Congress should be 
to do no harm. But this legislation does just the opposite. Is it any 
wonder that the approval rating of Congress is now at 13 percent? If 
Congress were a business, its CEO would have been fired long ago.
  Mr. Speaker, there's an old saying: ``No bill is better than a bad 
bill.'' That is especially true in this case. We would be doing our 
constituents, our shareholders, the American taxpayer, a tremendous 
favor if we took our foot off the gas pedal for a while. We ought to be 
focused on more oversight rather than more spending. Indeed, spending 
money is not the answer to every problem.
  Mr. Speaker, I have got a feeling that I have seen this movie before. 
And believe me, the sequel is always worse than the original. We must 
display more discipline and demonstrate better judgment in spending 
taxpayers' money. There is no better time or place to begin than right 
here now.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to reject this unfettered spending 
spree.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished 
gentleman from Oregon.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. I thank the chairman, and I thank him for his earlier 
unanimous consent request.
  After 2 days of regular order and much noise on that side of the 
aisle about wanting to waive the rules of the House and have the Rules 
Committee waive the rules of the House to consider county schools, the 
chairman of the committee gave everybody in the House, including the 
minority who has been so loud in the last few days, a chance to waive 
the rules of the House and accept 1 year's funding for county and 
school payments. The end of those payments means 8,000 teachers have 
been laid off in rural counties across America, and thousands of deputy 
sheriffs, police and public safety officers. People will die because 
these payments aren't being extended.
  The authorization expired when the Republicans controlled the House, 
the White House and the Senate. And now, today, because Republicans 
have yet again chosen to stonewall county payments by objecting to a 
unanimous consent request by the chairman of the full committee to 
waive the rules of the House and insert those payments, I am shocked, I 
am saddened, and I am absolutely stunned.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.

[[Page 22104]]


  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Massachusetts, the chairman of the Transportation 
appropriations subcommittee.
  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important 
legislation to put America back to work. The financial crisis on Wall 
Street will soon be addressed by this Congress, and we must not adjourn 
for the year without also throwing a lifeline to the millions of people 
that are struggling to find work and support their families.
  In the last year alone, the unemployment rate has risen from 4.3 
percent to 6.1 percent. Furthermore, we currently need about 125,000 
new jobs each month just to keep pace with population growth. Instead, 
we have lost over 600,000 jobs since January, yielding a deficit of 
1,600,000 jobs so far this year.
  The jobs bill before us is needed for two reasons. It will create 
thousands of new good-paying jobs, and it will help close the 
investment gap in our transportation and housing infrastructure. The 
transportation and housing infrastructure parts of this bill will 
create nearly 500,000 jobs.
  In addition to the jobs created, the infrastructure investments we 
fund will make a lasting and tangible impact on this country. This bill 
provides funding only for projects that will have an immediate economic 
impact and can be bid within 90 days. The bill includes almost $13 
billion to create safer and less congested roads and bridges, over $5 
billion to improve and expand transit and intercity passenger rail, 
$600 million for safety and capacity improvements at our Nation's 
airports, and $1 billion in infrastructure funding for the public 
housing capital fund, which will help repair our Nation's public 
housing.
  Let's put America back to work and improve our transportation and 
housing infrastructure by passing the Job Creation and Unemployment 
Relief Act.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Connecticut, the chairman of the Agriculture 
appropriations subcommittee.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, as we try to prevent our financial markets 
from breaking down, we can never forget the middle class families 
across this Nation who bear the brunt and continue struggling every day 
just to get by.
  I believe our government has a responsibility to help get our economy 
back on track and make opportunity real in our communities and for our 
families. But with soaring energy prices, rising foreclosures and a 
Republican economy that continues to shed more jobs and produce less 
income, middle class families are at great risk.
  There were more than 490,000 new filings for State jobless benefits 
last week, the highest number of weekly claims since shortly after 9/
11. In Connecticut, unemployment climbed to 6.9 percent in August, 
topping the national average. That is why I support this economic 
recovery package, targeted investment to jump-start this economy and 
create quality jobs.
  This bill makes a serious commitment to our national infrastructure. 
According to State transportation departments, there are $18 billion in 
ready-to-go infrastructure projects across the country. This bill 
provides $12.8 billion for those projects that can start right away, 
begin creating quality jobs and rebuild our Nation's aging highways, 
roads and bridges; $6.5 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving 
Fund and $1 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to 
repair, rehabilitate and expand water systems, many of which are over 
50 years old; $3 billion for the States to immediately fund much-needed 
school maintenance, and still more innovative green infrastructure, 
Amtrak maintenance and public housing construction projects.
  This is about making a direct and an immediate impact, creating jobs, 
jobs that cannot be outsourced, spurring economic growth and putting 
our Nation on a better path, not just for today but for the future.
  I urge my colleagues to support this economic recovery package.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
chairman of the public works and infrastructure authorizing committee, 
the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).
  Mr. OBERSTAR. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Should all this be enacted, we will have to rename the chairman 
``Obey the Builder'' because this legislation will build America, 
rebuild America, create jobs, $30 billion to invest in America, the 
roads, the bridges and the transit and passenger rail systems, the 
airports, the locks, dams, waterways and environmental infrastructure 
that enhance mobility, that improve productivity, reduce the cost of 
logistics, the cost of moving people and goods in our economy and make 
America productive again.
  This investment will create jobs here in America, jobs that will not 
be outsourced to Bangalore or anyplace else in the world, the real jobs 
in America that pay the mortgage, send the kids to school, buy the 
fishing boats and the snowmobiles and put food on the table. These are 
the real jobs of this economy. Over 800,000 construction workers are 
now out of work. The construction industry has the highest unemployment 
of any sector in this economy, 8.2 percent. This bill will create and 
sustain more than 1 million family wage jobs, jobs and projects that 
will be underway in 90 days, as we require in the legislation, that we 
proposed from our Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for 
highways and bridges, $12.8 billion, on projects that are ready to go 
within 90 days. We have a list already--I will submit that for the 
Record--that will provide funding for transit and capital investment 
and $1 billion relief for high energy costs; $500 million for Amtrak, a 
bill we just passed yesterday in this body; the Airport Improvement 
Program of aviation, to reduce congestion on our airways, create more 
capacity on the ground side of airports; and funding for environmental 
infrastructure under the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, in fact 
a bill this House passed over a year ago; as well as $5 billion for the 
Corps of Engineers to invest in the locks and dams and waterways and 
improve our ability to resist hurricanes and storms in this country.
  We need to make this investment in America for our future, for these 
jobs in this economy.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 7110, the ``Job Creation and 
Unemployment Relief Act of 2008.''
  This bill invests in America--in the roads, bridges, transit and 
passenger rail systems, airports, locks, dams, waterways, and 
environmental infrastructure that enable our economy to work and keep 
our citizens safe. This is the infrastructure that, too often, we take 
for granted, until it fails.
  This bill recognizes the critical importance of meeting our Nation's 
transportation and environmental infrastructure investment needs, and 
provides $30 billion toward that end. This $30 billion investment will 
yield lasting benefits in terms of reduced travel times, higher 
productivity, increased competitiveness in the world marketplace, and 
cleaner water.
  With more than 800,000 construction workers out of work, and the 
construction industry suffering the highest unemployment rate, 8.2 
percent, of any industrial sector, this bill puts America back to work. 
It will create or sustain more than one million good, family-wage 
jobs--jobs that cannot be outsourced to another country, because the 
work must be done here in the United States on our roads, bridges, 
transit and rail systems, airports, waterways, and wastewater treatment 
facilities.
  For highways and bridges, the bill provides $12.8 billion. State 
Departments of Transportation, ``DOTs'', have a tremendous backlog of 
highway projects that could be implemented quickly if these additional 
funds are made available. For example, State DOTs often have open-ended 
contracts in place for resurfacing projects, which means that work 
could begin immediately upon receipt of additional funds. In addition, 
many State DOTs have projects already in process that could be 
accelerated if additional funding were provided. According to an 
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, ``AASHTO'', 
survey of State DOTs, States have more than 3,000 projects totaling 
$17.9 billion which are

[[Page 22105]]

ready-to-go and can be out to bid and under contract within 90 days.
  Although I have heard the administration's economists discount the 
stimulative effects of infrastructure investment, they may want to 
check with the State DOTs. In August, State DOTs informed the Federal 
Highway Administration, ``FHWA'', that they had $8 billion of highway 
projects that could advance before next week, September 30, if funding 
were available. Regrettably, FHWA only had $1 billion available to 
distribute to the States through its August redistribution process.
  Not only will these additional funds be put to use quickly, they will 
be put to good use, to meet urgent highway and bridge investment needs. 
For instance, consider the ready-to-go projects of just one State DOT, 
Missouri. With funding provided by this bill, Missouri could accelerate 
repair work on the Brownville, Nebraska bridge over the Missouri River. 
The 1,903-foot bridge is 70 years old and is structurally deficient. 
The bridge has a sufficiency rating of 3, which is even lower than the 
rating of the I-35W Bridge which collapsed in Minnesota. This rating 
reflects such a serious condition that if its rating drops to 2, the 
bridge will be closed. If the bridge has to be closed, residents will 
have to make a 123-mile detour. Missouri could also accelerate the 
replacement of a structurally deficient and obsolete bridge with the 
construction of a new bridge over the Osage River at Tuscumbia, 
Missouri. The current bridge is a two-lane, 1,083-foot structure that 
is 75 years old and is also rated a 3, serious condition. If this 
bridge has to be closed, residents will have to make a 40-mile detour.
  For transit, the bill provides $3.6 billion for capital investments, 
and $1 billion for relief from high energy costs. Due to high gas 
prices, transit agencies across the country are experiencing increased 
demand for transit services, yet they are struggling to meet this 
demand due to the impact high fuel costs have had on their own 
operating budgets. In 2007, 10.3 billion trips were taken on public 
transportation--the highest number of trips taken in 50 years. 
Ridership has continued to climb in 2008, with a 4.4-percent increase 
in trips taken during the first half of 2008 compared to the same 
period last year, putting 2008 on track to beat last year's modern 
record ridership numbers. Additional funds could be put to immediate 
use by transit agencies to meet this demand while at the same time 
creating much-needed jobs and economic activity.
  For Amtrak, the bill provides $500 million. Similar to transit, 
Amtrak is experiencing record ridership and revenues in fiscal year 
2008, and demand is growing across Amtrak's entire system for intercity 
passenger rail service. With this additional funding, Amtrak will be 
able to refurbish rail cars that are currently in storage and return 
them to service, and fund other urgently needed repair and maintenance 
of its facilities.
  For the Airport Improvement Program, ``AlP'', the bill provides $600 
million. This funding will allow the AlP program to keep pace with 
inflationary cost increases, and begin to address the investment gap in 
airport safety and capacity needs. Ready-to-go AlP projects that would 
be funded by this bill include runway and taxiway rehabilitations, 
extensions, and widening; obstruction removal; apron construction, 
expansion and rehabilitation; Airport Rescue and Firefighting equipment 
and facilities; and airside service or public access roads.
  For environmental infrastructure, this bill provides $6.5 billion for 
Clean Water State Revolving Funds, ``SRFs''. Under this administration, 
funding for the Clean Water SRF program has been cut repeatedly and 
funding is now one-half of it what it was a decade ago, despite the 
fact that the needs continue to grow. These cuts have created pent-up 
demand in the States for project funding. In addition, wastewater 
treatment facilities must meet new treatment requirements, including 
requirements to control nutrients, sewer overflows, stormwater, and 
nonpoint sources. Aging infrastructure must be replaced or repaired. 
Additional funds could be put to immediate use in many States, creating 
family-wage construction jobs and economic activity. A recent survey by 
the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities and the Association 
of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators 
identified more than $9 billion in ready-to-go Clean Water SRF projects 
that cannot be funded within existing appropriation levels.
  For the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the bill provides $5 billion to 
invest in the Nation's water resource infrastructure. This investment 
will provide jobs, help American products compete on the world market, 
reduce the risk that larger sums for disaster relief will be needed in 
the future, and restore precious ecosystems. For example, the infusion 
of additional construction capital could be used for the construction 
of the second 1,200-foot lock at Saulte Ste. Marie. If the second lock 
were completed, then the incident that occurred earlier this week would 
not shut down traffic between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes because 
there would be a second point of transit. The existing Poe lock, that 
failed, is the only 1,200-foot lock between the Upper and Lower Lakes.
  Finally, I thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Obey, Chairman of the 
Committee on Appropriations, and Chairman Olver, Chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and 
Independent Agencies, for working with me throughout the development of 
this job creation package.
  Throughout our Nation's history, economic growth, prosperity, and 
opportunity have followed investments in the Nation's infrastructure. 
From the ``internal improvements'' of the early 1800s--canals, locks, 
and roads--to the Interstate Highway System of today, infrastructure 
investment has been our foundation for economic growth. The investments 
funded by H.R. 7110 will not only create jobs today, they will provide 
long-term economic, safety, health, and environmental benefits.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7110, a 
true investment in America's future.
  I insert in the Record the results of a survey conducted by the 
American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials of 
ready-to-go highway and bridge projects in each State.

    RESULTS OF AASHTO SURVEY OF READY-TO-GO HIGHWAY & BRIDGE PROJECTS
                     [With 47 State DOTs Reporting]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Dollar
                     State                       Number of    Value (in
                                                  Projects    millions)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................................          128       $671.1
Alaska........................................            7         92.6
Arizona.......................................           39        790.0
Arkansas......................................          107        728.3
California....................................           28        800.0
Colorado......................................           52        395.1
Connecticut...................................           20        728.5
DC............................................            1         50.0
Delaware......................................  ...........  ...........
Florida.......................................            5        675.0
Georgia.......................................           32        397.3
Hawaii........................................            6         42.0
Idaho.........................................           11        174.8
Illinois......................................          212        831.4
Indiana.......................................  ...........  ...........
Iowa..........................................           40        152.0
Kansas........................................          126         68.0
Kentucky......................................            4        200.0
Louisiana.....................................          208        351.4
Maine.........................................           15         94.1
Maryland......................................           32         94.6
Massachusetts.................................           59        181.5
Michigan......................................           43        257.0
Minnesota.....................................           30        217.8
Mississippi...................................           33        176.2
Missouri......................................          127        546.6
Montana.......................................           70        116.0
Nebraska......................................            5         20.0
Nevada........................................            4        120.0
New Hampshire.................................           11         81.3
New Jersey....................................            7         50.8
New Mexico....................................           77      1,400.0
New York......................................           40        200.0
North Carolina................................           44        231.4
North Dakota..................................           90         71.0
Ohio..........................................          114        299.3
Oklahoma......................................           73        146.4
Oregon........................................           50        251.2
Pennsylvania..................................          524      1,300.0
Rhode Island..................................           41        102.0
South Carolina................................           58        510.0
South Dakota..................................          142        181.0
Tennessee.....................................           74        184.1
Texas.........................................           44      1,800.0
Utah..........................................           84        425.1
Vermont.......................................           11         62.6
Virginia......................................            1        101.9
Washington....................................
West Virginia.................................           67      1,200.0
Wisconsin.....................................           20         35.0
Wyoming.......................................           55        287.2
                                               -------------------------
      Total...................................         3071     17,891.6
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              {time}  1800

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not intend to take very much time, but I do want to 
take just a moment to express to the Members that which I have 
expressed to my chairman in many a forum.
  This Member has been very, very concerned about the way the 
appropriations process has been working during this Congress, concerned 
enough to think that we could very well be on the pathway to destroy 
the Appropriations Committee, which has historically been the rock of 
this place in terms of accomplishing real work.
  I certainly don't point to my chairman in terms of these concerns 
directly. We have very, very fine members with great experience and 
talent on each of our subcommittees. On both sides we have fabulous 
staff people who make a great contribution to this entire arena. But 
over this last year or year-and-a-half, those people have been heard 
all too seldom. Indeed, while our staffs do work together weekend after 
weekend, in turn they know full well we are not producing the product 
we could if we had a fully-developed bipartisan discussion in every one 
of these very important subcommittees.

[[Page 22106]]

  It is with that concern that I rise to suggest to the Members, it is 
long past due that we change the pattern by way of which we are 
carrying forward our appropriations business.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I hate to keep going over old ground, but in light of 
the gentleman's comments, I would like to present a slightly different 
interpretation of where we are.
  The fact is that we have passed out of this body and we expect to 
have sent to the President this weekend the three foreign policy 
appropriation bills for the year, representing well over 60 percent of 
the discretionary funding in the budget. We have not sent him any of 
the domestic appropriations bills for one simple reason, because the 
White House declared them dead on arrival before they had ever been 
written.
  The White House simply made quite clear that if we did not submit to 
their budget wishes and cut $14 billion out of education, out of health 
care, out of science, out of energy research and the like, if we didn't 
do that they would veto the bills. When we asked if they would sit down 
and talk about it and consider compromise, they indicated they had no 
interest.
  It is clear to us that the President means what he says. He often 
does. So under those circumstances, we had a choice. We could either 
capitulate to the President's requirements that we cut everything from 
medical research at NIH to vocational education and the like, or we 
could say no, we are not going to accept those reductions; we will try 
to appeal to the public and let them choose.
  So the public will choose by their selection of either Mr. Obama or 
Mr. McCain. I am sorry, it has been a long day. The fellow from 
Arizona. Anyway, the public will choose one or the other. And if they 
choose Mr. McCain, then they will get President Bush's domestic budget, 
and if they choose Mr. Obama, they will get something quite different.
  So I think there is a very rational reason for our making this 
choice. The only other option would have been for us to scream at each 
other and argue with each other for 6 months, knowing that the bills 
were going nowhere because of the President's intent to veto the bills.
  That, in essence, is why we find ourselves where we are on those 
domestic appropriation bills.
  But this bill is a different issue. This bill relates not to 
yesterday's arguments, but to today's problems and tomorrow's 
solutions. What this bill represents is an effort to respond to the 
economic chaos that we have seen in this country for the past 8 months 
or more. It represents an effort. At a time when people are talking 
about doing a huge bailout for the financial system, we are trying to 
find discrete ways of making life a little less miserable for people 
who have been hit hard by the consequences of the economic chaos that 
has swept over the country.
  So we make no apology. In a year when we have lost 600,000 jobs, we 
make no apology for trying to help resurrect the possibility for some 
more good-paying jobs by adding to construction, to our infrastructure 
by way of airport and highway and transit development, by doing 
additional energy research, by doing additional cleanup of sewer and 
water, again, construction jobs that will mean a good many families 
will be seeing decent income again where they were not before. That is 
what this bill tries to do.
  It is in fact a very modest proposal in terms of what most economists 
think will be necessary, but it is a whole lot better than doing 
nothing.
  FDR warned a long time ago, he said, ``Better the occasional mistake 
of a government that cares than the constant omission of a government 
frozen in the ice of its own indifference.'' And that I think is the 
choice that faces us today.
  As Franklin Roosevelt said a long time ago in his inaugural address, 
``This country needs action; it needs action now.'' We are trying in a 
small way to provide that, along with the two other pieces that are now 
before this Congress, one being the continuing resolution, and the 
second being the disposition of the huge economy rescue project that 
the President has proposed. This is a key element in those efforts.
  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support an economic stimulus 
package that will create American jobs in a growing clean energy 
economy. Thanks to the advocacy of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and 
Chairman John Dingell, Congress authorized an advanced battery loan 
guarantee program for advanced vehicle batteries and systems--key 
components to fuel efficient cars--in the United States. I also want to 
thank my good friends Representatives Steve Israel and Tim Ryan for 
engaging in the effort to push this program and others like Speaker 
Nancy Pelosi, Chairman Dave Obey and Rahm Emanuel for their support in 
moving forward. Also integral in this achievement are hard-working 
staff.
  As many Americans know, a healthy automobile industry is as American 
as apple pie. In the transition to a clean energy economy, batteries 
and advanced electric systems are the key to our future success in this 
area. Once cars are electrified, batteries will be equivalent to up to 
50 percent the total cost of the car. At this time, all of the domestic 
auto manufacturers plan to purchase batteries that have been produced 
offshore for their new efficient electric vehicles. However, today, the 
House will provide funding for a $3.3 billion in loan guarantee program 
for the domestic construction of facilities that will manufacture 
advanced vehicle batteries and battery systems. This will enable an 
American industry to remain competitive in producing advanced lithium 
ion batteries, hybrid electrical systems, components and software 
designs.
  Loan guarantees provided in this bill will enable several domestic 
advanced battery manufacturers and advanced vehicle systems companies 
to grow in a global marketplace. Such companies could include AFS 
Trinity, of Medina, WA, Enerdel of Indianapolis, IN, Altairnano Battery 
of Reno, NV, Firefly of Peoria, IL and International Battery of 
Allentown, PA. There are others that have also developed technology 
here and we hope that this provision will encourage those companies to 
open facilities in the United States.
  Absent this program, we risk losing the advanced battery industry to 
Asia when there is no technological reason that America cannot compete 
in this technology. With this program, we will ensure that America 
retains green collar jobs in an important industry. We also ensure our 
companies grow in a global marketplace. I urge my colleagues to support 
this bill and fund this program.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, you only need to open a newspaper or turn on 
a TV to see the case for this economic recovery package made far more 
eloquently than I can make it.
  The financial crisis we are facing would have repercussions far 
beyond Wall Street--it could endanger the economic security of 
millions. Crisis or not, we are facing an economic downturn that is 
very real, one that speaks poorly of the President's economic 
stewardship. This year, America has lost jobs every single month--a 
total of 605,000 this year. More than a million American families have 
been foreclosed on, and the housing market has taken its worst dive 
since the Great Depression. Household income is down under President 
Bush. 5.7 million more Americans are living in poverty since he took 
office. And today, 46 million of our fellow Americans are without 
health insurance.
  All of those facts call out, urgently, for this recovery package.
  This bill provides immediate assistance to those who are suffering 
through an economic storm not of their making. And, just as 
importantly, it gives that assistance in a way that stimulates the 
economy as a whole. It has five key provisions.
  First, it supports efforts to renew America's outdated, worn-down 
infrastructure--the roads, bridges, pipes, and tracks that are the 
foundation of our economy. Infrastructure projects are surefire job-
creators. And we cannot expect to be a prosperous nation when more than 
150,000 of our bridges are in as dangerous a shape as the bridge that 
collapsed in Minneapolis last year, and when some of our cities depend 
on century-old water systems. Past infrastructure investments--from 
canals to electrification to interstate highways--have brought 
significant economic growth in their wake.
  Second, this bill makes a serious investment in several renewable 
energy and energy independence programs. I am particularly glad that it 
includes funding for the advanced battery loan guarantee program 
authorized by last year's energy bill. The program will provide 
assistance in the construction of domestic facilities to manufacture 
advanced lithium-ion

[[Page 22107]]

battery systems, one of the energy innovations we are counting on to 
break our dependence on foreign oil and revitalize American industry. I 
was proud to write that provision with Mr. Dingell, and Mr. Inslee's 
support has been instrumental in making it a priority.
  Third, this bill adds resources to the Federal Medical Assistance 
Program, sending aid to states forced to cut back vital services in 
this time of shortfall. Surely, even in these hard times, we can set 
aside money to care for the poor and the sick.
  Fourth, this bill includes a temporary increase in food stamp 
benefits. Food stamps can barely buy a month's food for families in 
normal times. With the recent spike in food prices, we need an increase 
in assistance to match. Moreover, economists find that food stamps are 
one of the best kinds of economic stimulus, injecting money right back 
into local communities.
  Fifth and finally, the recovery package will extend unemployment 
benefits for seven weeks, or 13 weeks in the hardest-hit states. Like 
food stamps, unemployment benefits assist families while directly 
stimulating local economies. And if we do not act, nearly 800,000 
workers who had their unemployment benefits extended in July will find 
themselves out of luck in a week and a half--dumped into the midst of a 
brewing economic crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, the state of our economy demands a comprehensive 
response. It should include a 21st-century energy policy, sound 
regulations to protect investors and taxpayers, and the financial 
rescue we hope to bring to the floor soon. But right now, for the 
people of our districts, this bill is the single most meaningful thing 
we can do. I urge my colleagues to pass it.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
economic recovery package as a $63 billion shot in the arm for an 
economy that clearly needs it. As we debate the President's $700 
billion bailout plan for Wall Street, we must never forget the struggle 
on Main Street caused by eight years of failed economic policies.
  This legislation will grow our economy and create jobs by investing 
$34 billion in needed infrastructure improvements for our roads, 
bridges, water resources, schools, public transit, airports and 
housing. It provides $1.6 billion to accelerate advanced battery, 
renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. And it offers a 
helping hand to our neighbors in need by extending unemployment 
benefits for an additional seven weeks, increasing food stamp support 
by $2.6 billion, bolstering our job training efforts by $500 million, 
and temporarily enhancing the federal match to state Medicaid programs 
in order to protect health care for our most vulnerable citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, with the President warning of ``financial panic'' and 
605,000 American jobs already lost this year, this proactive effort to 
support our struggling economy is a modest, but important step. I urge 
my colleagues' support.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, while Wall street teeters on the edge of 
collapse families have been in free-fall for months. As a nation, our 
economy is in trouble.
  For the people of Rhode Island, who currently face 8.5 percent 
unemployment, this crisis demands immediate action. Over the past year, 
unemployment in the state has risen by three and a half percent.
  Mr. Speaker, the economic recovery package before us today will help 
stem the slide of our economy into a deep recession while 
simultaneously making important investments in our future. My 
constituents in Rhode Island cannot afford another day without this 
critical legislation.
  This bill will help get more Americans back to work right away by 
investing in our crumbling bridges and highways.
  This bill will help local transit agencies, like those in my state, 
which currently face cost overruns and drastic reductions in service 
because of aging fleets and escalating gas prices.
  This bill will make essential investments in our schools by providing 
funding to repair dilapidated buildings and make energy-saving 
renovations up front, so that less of our future education budget 
literally goes up in smoke.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation makes a number of other important 
investments, but I would like to call my colleagues attention to the 
help it offers to the most vulnerable among us. For Rhode Islanders and 
those across this country who are out of work, this bill extends 
unemployment benefits to keep families in their houses and to keep food 
on their tables.
  Certainly, these are trying economic times for our country which 
require fundamental change. This legislation represents an important 
step toward policies which couple sound investment with true 
compassion.
  For all American families struggling in these trying times, I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 7110, the ``Job Creation Unemployment Relief Act of 
2008.'' This important legislation will help families struggling in 
these difficult economic times, provide critical investments in our 
infrastructure, and create jobs for Americans.
  Right now, families in Connecticut and all across the country are 
facing rising energy costs, rising food prices, rising health care 
costs and an uncertain economic future. They are working hard but 
finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
  This bill will put Americans back to work and provide needed relief 
for families. It invests $500 million in job training programs and 
invests billions to rebuild roads, bridges, schools, and public 
transportation. To protect our energy future, this bill invests crucial 
funds in the development of renewable energy sources and energy 
efficient vehicles.
  To address the turbulent economic times, this bill provides key 
investments to assist families. With 11,000 Connecticut residents 
facing exhaustion of their unemployment benefits in October, H.R. 7110 
will provide an extension of up to 13 weeks to help those workers get 
back on their feet. Finally, this bill will give crucial funding to 
increase food assistance and will also provide a substantial increase 
in Medicaid funding to the states.
  At this time of great economic uncertainty, the American people need 
to know that their representatives are looking out for the interests of 
Main Street, not Wall Street. This bill is an investment in our 
greatest resource: the American people. I again want to express my 
strong support for this legislation and urge its passage.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of a 
second economic stimulus package. This package comes at a time when the 
number of unemployed continues to rise, gas and fuel prices are 
continuing to fluctuate, and our financial markets are in crisis.
  For many months now, Congress has witnessed our economy continue on 
its economic downturn. I was happy to join with my colleagues to 
support rebate checks for 117 million American families in the first 
stimulus package that Congress passed at the beginning of this year. 
However, I believe now, as I did then, that a one-time check does 
little for families who have been struggling paycheck to paycheck for 
months. Bolder action is needed, and I think Congress is taking an 
important step today to help our working families and to bolster our 
economy.
  In my home state of Michigan we have been struggling with the highest 
unemployment rate in the Nation, now at 8.9 percent. Since 2000 wages 
have fallen in Michigan at a rate of 0.5 percent per year, healthcare 
premiums have risen over 42 percent, and we have lost thousands of 
jobs. Despite all of this tragedy, Michigan's economic plight has not 
received much attention. I am here today to warn my colleagues that 
without today's stimulus package, many other States may be joining 
Michigan's struggles.
  Today's proposal includes a number of measures that my colleagues in 
the Michigan delegation have been urging our House and Senate 
leadership to consider.
  First it includes language from my colleague Congressman Jim 
McDermott's legislation H.R. 6867, which extends unemployment benefits 
by 7 weeks in all States to a total of 20 weeks and will extend these 
benefits by an additional 13 weeks for States with high unemployment, 
like Michigan. I cosponsored this legislation because Michigan workers 
need these extra benefits now more than ever, and I know that this will 
provide them with he extra time they need to get back on their feet.
  Second, this economic stimulus package provides $15 billion in relief 
to all States and territories through a temporary increase in Federal 
Medicaid funding. This money will ensure States can continue to provide 
healthcare to their low-income populations including children, pregnant 
women, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly, without cutting 
important benefits. It will also help prepare Medicaid for the health 
services it may provide to the additional workers who lose their jobs, 
access to private health insurance, or both.
  In Michigan we have witnessed firsthand how rising healthcare costs 
have hamstrung our manufacturers and employers. We know now that 
healthcare costs more than steel in a domestic automobile, and 
Starbucks spends more on healthcare than coffee beans. Further, as 
unemployment has increased, more and more families are relying on 
Medicaid to receive the healthcare they so desperately need. The 
injection of new Federal dollars through Medicaid has a measurable 
effect on State economies, including generating new

[[Page 22108]]

jobs and wages. In fact, $1 million in additional Medicaid dollars 
creates $3.4 million in new business activity.
  As an author of legislation with a similar one-time increase in FMAP, 
I know very well that an increase of this nature is one of the 
simplest, fastest, and best ways to provide stimulus to States and I 
applaud our leadership for including it in today's bill.
  Third, this legislation includes a temporary increase in Food Stamp 
benefits. We know that millions of households rely on these benefits to 
purchase their groceries, however, when food prices have increased by 
7.5 percent, Food Stamps do not stretch as far as they once did. 
Today's proposal will provide $2.6 billion toward increasing Food Stamp 
benefits, helping thousands of families put food in the pantry and 
dinner on the table.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you for your leadership on this issue and for 
standing up to this administration once again. I know that putting 
together today's legislation was no easy task. However, our families 
desperately need the Federal Government to help provide them with 
relief and reassurance that we hear and understand their struggles. I 
am pleased that I will be able to return home to the 15th Congressional 
District and tell my constituents about the $25 billion in loans to 
auto makers the Michigan delegation was able to secure and a second 
economic stimulus package that Congress was hopefully able to pass and 
the President signed into law. I know that these actions will not go 
unnoticed, and as their Federal representative it is my duty to do 
whatever I can to help them through this tough time. I urge my 
colleagues to rise in support of today's package, a ``no'' vote on this 
legislation or a veto by the President's pen is no way to help our 
families in need.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7110, the Job 
Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 2008. Within this legislation 
are several provisions relating to Federal funding for Guam. As a 
result of the current economic situation, this is much needed 
legislation for all Americans.
  Of particular note, H.R. 7110 would temporarily increase the cap on 
Medicaid payments to the territories by 4 percent for fiscal years 2009 
and 2010. Although this increase represents progress toward addressing 
the inequity in Federal health care financing between the States and 
territories, I continue to work with the leadership of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate to also adjust the statutory-set Federal 
medical assistance percentages (FMAPs) for the territories which are 
currently set at 50 percent. Unlike the States, territories pay more to 
care for the medically indigent in their jurisdictions, creating a 
larger issue of health inequity in the country. Our local government is 
burdened with budget shortfalls, and in tough economic times like these 
we need to ensure that families under economic stress have access to 
health care.
  Secondly are the provisions contained within this bill providing 
increases in food stamps and territorial highway program funding. This 
additional highway funding should stimulate the economies of the 
territories and help us to meet urgent road infrastructure projects.
  I support this economic stimulus and jobs package, and I thank our 
leadership for their efforts on this legislation.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7110, the 
Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act, which will provide funding 
for job creation and preservation initiatives, infrastructure 
investments, and economic and energy assistance. This important measure 
represents our commitment to help hard-working Americans weather these 
turbulent economic times.
  In February, Congress passed the Recovery Rebates and Economic 
Stimulus for the American People Act, which aimed to inject $150 
billion into our economy to revitalize our markets, increase consumer 
confidence, and protect against recession. This legislation provided 
rebates to Americans that put money directly into their pockets. While 
this short-term recovery plan was helpful to American families, our 
country's economic crisis has since worsened, and additional action by 
Congress is necessary. In August, 84,000 Americans lost their jobs, 
making it the eighth straight month that our economy has seen 
reductions in the workforce. The number of unemployed Americans is the 
highest it has been since 1992, and unemployment claims have increased 
by more than 38 percent this year. Sadly, in my home State of Rhode 
Island, the unemployment rate has risen to 8.5 percent--the second 
highest in the Nation. My constituents have reached out to me and the 
Federal Government because they need help in this struggling economy to 
refinance their mortgages, pay their home heating bills, secure good-
paying jobs, and find affordable health care.
  H.R. 7110 begins to answer their call by providing a critical and 
immediate boost to the many Rhode Islanders, and Americans across the 
Nation, who are struggling to find work. It provides 7 weeks of 
extended benefits for those ho have exhausted regular unemployment 
compensation. This is in addition to the 13-week extension passed in 
June of this year. Residents in high unemployment Sates, like Rhode 
Island, may also be eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits. In 
addition this measure provides $500 million for job training, including 
assistance for dislocated workers programs, youth employment 
activities, and customized help to those receiving unemployment 
benefits. This bill will give hard-working Americans another chance to 
continue their job search and provide for their families.
  This bill also includes investments in infrastructure and renewable 
energy technologies that will have an immediate impact on the economy 
by creating jobs and meeting existing needs in our country. While Rhode 
Island's coastline is one of the most beautiful in the Nation, it 
presents our State with unique infrastructure challenges. H.R. 7110 
provides $12.8 billion for highway infrastructure, which is critical to 
the hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders who rely on the safety of 
our State's highways and bridges. I am pleased that the bill also 
provides an increase in funding for the Nation's drinking water 
infrastructure, which has been underfunded by the Bush Administration 
for the past several years. Three billion dollars is also included to 
repair and upgrade our schools, $1 billion for repair and construction 
projects for public housing, and $4.6 billion to upgrade and expand 
public transportation.
  Also included within the stimulus package is a temporary increase in 
the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to assist State 
Medicaid programs. This is particularly important for Rhode Island, 
which is currently faced wIth a $400 million budgetary deficit fueled 
in part by unsustainable increases in Medicaid expenditures. These 
funds are designed to prevent cuts to health insurance and health care 
services for low-income children and families, as well as generate 
business activities, jobs, and wages that Rhode Island would otherwise 
not see.
  Our country has faced economic hardships and recessions before, and I 
have no doubt we will weather this current downturn. However, we must 
provide Americans with the necessary tools to turn this economy around. 
I encourage my colleagues to pass this bill and give a hand up to those 
who are most vulnerable during these trying times.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7110, the Job 
Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 2008. This bill will give 
economic support to Main Streets across the Nation, providing $60.8 
billion to help families who are struggling and creating jobs that can 
put our economy back on track.
  H.R. 7110 makes strategic investments to repair our Nation's aging 
infrastructure, improving our communities while also creating jobs and 
stimulating local economies. This bill provides $12.8 billion for 
bridge and highway improvements that will address longstanding needs, 
improving safety and reducing traffic congestion. H.R. 7110 includes a 
$5 billion investment in the Nation's water resource infrastructure to 
improve flood protection and hydropower capability. In addition, this 
stimulus package provides $3.6 billion to expand public transportation 
and meet growing demand as Americans face rising fuel costs. H.R. 7110 
also includes $1 billion for repair and construction of public housing 
projects. This kind of funding produces $2.12 in economic return for 
every dollar invested.
  I am particularly pleased that this bill includes $3 billion for 
school construction and modernization funding to repair aging and 
unsafe schools, provide students with better technology in the 
classrooms, and improve energy efficiency. As the only former school 
superintendent serving in Congress, I am very concerned about the dire 
need for school infrastructure improvements, as quality education 
cannot take place in crumbling schools. Nearly every school district in 
this country has a list of repair projects that need funding, so 
investments in school construction and renovation can quickly make 
their way to the local economy, providing jobs and stimulating economic 
activity. Given the desperate need for school modernization and 
construction across the Nation, I am disappointed that H.R. 7110 does 
not leverage this funding through tax credits to support more activity, 
as in the bill that I have introduced with my friend Ways and Means 
Chairman Charlie Rangel. I am hopeful that the House of Representatives 
will consider H.R. 2470, the America's Better Classrooms Act, at some 
future date. However, I am pleased that H.R. 7110 provides a starting 
point with this $3 billion investment.
  As our Nation faces a struggling economy and we face the highest rate 
of unemployment

[[Page 22109]]

since 1992, this bill will provide relief to struggling families across 
our country. This bill provides an additional 7 weeks of extended 
benefits for workers who have exhausted regular unemployment 
compensation, and an additional 13 weeks for workers in certain high-
unemployment states. These are benefits that are directed to the folks 
who need them the most, and this funding will boost the overall economy 
because the dollars awarded will be spent quickly. H.R. 7110 also 
provides Medicaid increases that will prevent cuts to health insurance 
and health care services for low-income children and families; $2.6 
billion to address rising food costs for seniors, people with 
disabilities, and low-income families; and $500 million for job 
training programs that will help Americans find and prepare for good 
jobs.
  I support H.R. 7110, Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 
2008, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for its passage.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
the Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act and congratulate Speaker 
Pelosi and Chairman Obey for providing important relief to American 
families struggling under current economic conditions.
  At a time when taxpayers are being asked to rescue Wall Street, it is 
imperative that Congress also recognize the challenges facing Main 
Street. Our economy has lost jobs for eight straight months with 
605,000 American jobs lost this year. This summer Minnesota's 
unemployment rate reached its highest level in 22 years. Putting 
Americans back to work is critical to the recovery of our economy and 
to the health and safety of families.
  H.R. 7110 invests in families by creating good-paying jobs through 
new infrastructure projects. These investments have an immediate effect 
on the economy by putting people to work and will have a long term 
effect with improvements to our roads, bridges and schools.
  Other jobs will be created through new energy technologies. New loans 
to the auto industry and investment in new renewable energy 
technologies will both put people in good paying, stable jobs but will 
also move this country towards energy independence.
  For those hit hardest by economic conditions, this legislation 
provides an extension of unemployment benefits for those still 
searching for a job, including 20,000 Minnesotans. It also includes 
additional food assistance to help deal with rising food prices and a 
temporary increase in Medicaid payments for states so they can continue 
to provide health care coverage for children and families. To address 
the cost of fuel and growing demand for public transportation, this 
bill invests in transit to improve access and afford ability of buses 
and trains.
  It is absolutely unacceptable for members to find the political will 
to bail out Wall Street at a cost of $700 billion to taxpayers and at 
the same time claim that we do not have the resources to invest one-
tenth of that in American families. This is a prudent, targeted package 
and it is critical to our economic recovery. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting H.R. 7110.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7110, the 
Appropriations for Job Creation and Preservation, Infrastructure 
Investment, and Economic and Energy Assistance Act of 2008.
  There is no denying that our country is in the midst of a financial 
crisis. While those in the media continue to focus on the crisis on 
Wall Street, they have forgotten that American families have been 
struggling for months. The unemployment rate has been steadily 
increasing, reaching 6.1 percent this month, the highest level since 
1992. 84,000 Americans lost their jobs in August and 605,000 have lost 
their jobs this year. Employed Americans are continuing to struggle 
from increased energy and food costs, and decreasing wages. Many are at 
risk of losing their pensions due to bad decisions made by Wall Street. 
The legislation before us today would directly help those struggling on 
Main Street and I strongly encourage my colleagues to support it.
  H.R. 7110 would provide immediate assistance to those who need it 
most. It would extend unemployment benefits by 7 weeks for workers who 
have exhausted regular unemployment compensation. It would help provide 
healthcare to the growing number low-income children and families by 
providing a temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance 
Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid health costs. It would provide $2.6 
billion for food stamps to address the rising food costs for seniors, 
people with disabilities and very poor families with children. It would 
also increase access to job training for youths and for workers who 
have lost their jobs to help them to find new employment.
  This legislation would help to grow our economy by providing tens of 
thousands of jobs by making a significant investment in our nation's 
infrastructure. H.R. 7110 would provide $12.8 billion to improving our 
nation's aging highways and bridges. It would contribute $12.5 billion 
for investment in our nation's water resource infrastructure, $3 
billion for repairing crumbling schools, $5.1 billion for expanding 
public transportation including Amtrak, and $1 billion for improving 
public housing.
  H.R. 7110 would also provide for our long term energy needs. This 
legislation would provide $500 million to accelerate the development of 
renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. Additionally, it 
would invest $1 billion in advanced batteries.
  This legislation would provide some much needed relief to America's 
families as they struggle through these tough economic times. However 
there is much more that needs to be done to keep our economy strong in 
the long term. I look forward to working with my colleagues to find 
real solutions which will help to keep America's economy strong.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. I rise in support of H.R. 7110, the Job 
Creation and Unemployment Relief Act.
  While I have reservations about any bill that relies on deficit 
spending, I think the long-term benefits this bill will have for the 
American economy outweigh those reservations. I am, however, very 
disappointed with the minority's objection to an amendment that would 
have included funding for the Secure Rural Schools program in this 
bill.
  H.R. 7110 will help stimulate the American economy by creating jobs, 
and will update the Nation's rapidly deteriorating infrastructure. 
Nationwide, 84,000 Americans have lost their jobs within the last 
month, and more than 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs within the 
last month, and more than 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs 
throughout the year. In my home state of Colorado, more than 19,000 
Coloradans have lost their jobs within the last year.
  This bill will put Coloradans to work, rebuilding our roads, 
expanding our public transportation, investing in our water 
infrastructure, and fixing our schools. The Colorado Department of 
Transportation, CDOT, recently weighed down by a combination of 
deteriorating infrastructure and shrinking resources, will receive more 
than $200 million in direct funding that will be put to use quickly and 
efficiently, and which will immediately help local economies. Colorado 
will be eligible for further funding for its public transit agencies.
  This bill will also provide assistance for those who need help 
getting back on their feet after being wiped out by the current state 
of our economy. H.R. 7110 will extend unemployment benefits for up to 
12,000 unemployed Coloradans, and fund job training programs to help 
them find work. And for those struggling to put food on the table, this 
bill will provide additional food stamps, and will help maintain the 
health of struggling Coloradans by increasing Medicaid assistance.
  As a national leader in the development of clean, renewable energy, 
Colorado stands to benefit greatly from the resources dedicated in this 
bill to advance such technologies. This bill will further help lead 
this nation into an era of energy independence by investing in the 
manufacture of advanced vehicle batteries and battery systems--a key 
component to developing a new fleet of fuel efficient cars.
  Simply put, this bill is an investment in America--her people, her 
ingenuity, and her future. I urge my colleagues to join me in support 
of this bill.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
7110, the Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act. Millions of 
Americans are struggling to make ends meet during these extremely 
difficult economic times. The budgets of American families are being 
squeezed as the price of gas, food, housing and healthcare continue to 
increase, while wages are down and unemployment is up. The number of 
unemployed Americans is the highest it has been since 1992. The economy 
has lost jobs for 8 straight months, with 605,000 American jobs lost 
this year. Last month alone, 84,000 Americans lost their jobs.
  In February, I was pleased to vote in favor of the first economic 
stimulus package when it passed the House. However, I was disappointed 
that, because of Republican opposition and the need to move the bill 
quickly, it did not include increases in unemployment benefits, Food 
Stamps, Medicaid payments to States, Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program benefits, or infrastructure investments, all of which would 
have a significant stimulative effect on our economy. As a result, a 
number of studies have concluded that the stimulus package only had a 
negligible effect on our economy.
  Seven months later, the recession has only worsened. The crisis on 
Wall Street continues

[[Page 22110]]

to expand, with the largest bank collapse in our Nation's history 
occurring on Thursday, and more and more banks coming to government, 
hat in hand, asking to be bailed out. The time has come to take care of 
the millions of working families across America who have been 
struggling for years under the Bush economy, before we swoop in to 
rescue Wall Street with billions of taxpayer dollars.
  H.R. 7110 provides a critical additional 7 weeks of extended benefits 
for workers who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation, with 
workers in high unemployment States eligible for an additional 13 weeks 
of benefits. Studies have shown that extending unemployment insurance 
is one of the quickest forms of economic stimulus because workers who 
have lost their jobs spend those benefits quickly.
  This package also provides a crucial temporary increase in Medicaid 
payments to States. These funds will help States offset the increased 
cost of Medicaid as more people apply for assistance while healthcare 
costs continue to skyrocket While Governor Blagojevich is struggling to 
maintain benefits in Illinois, we have already seen other States 
cutting eligibility and services, and more reductions will occur if we 
do not provide increased temporary assistance. As we know from past 
financial downturns when we took similar action, increased Federal 
payments are not only important to the children, senior citizens, 
persons with disabilities and others who rely on Medicaid but will 
stimulate the economy quickly and substantially as well.
  Finally, this package also contains $12.8 billion for our Nation's 
deteriorating highways and bridges; $1 billion for repair and 
construction projects of public housing units; and $3 billion to repair 
crumbling schools, including technology upgrades and energy-efficiency 
improvements, which likewise will have an immediate stimulative effect 
on the economy. These projects provide short-term benefit by putting 
people to work immediately--with funding, work can begin on many of 
them tomorrow--and they provide long-term improvements that will 
benefit Americans for years to come.
  This is an excellent package, and I urge all my colleagues to join me 
in creating good jobs and providing assistance to those struggling in 
today's economy.
  Mr. OBEY. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 1507, the bill is considered read and 
the previous question is ordered.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 264, 
nays 158, not voting 12, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 660]

                               YEAS--264

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bono Mack
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (PA)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Butterfield
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castle
     Castor
     Cazayoux
     Chandler
     Childers
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards (MD)
     Edwards (TX)
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     Engel
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Farr
     Fattah
     Filner
     Foster
     Frank (MA)
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gillibrand
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Graves
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hall (TX)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones (NC)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Klein (FL)
     Knollenberg
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     LaTourette
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Musgrave
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Richardson
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (MI)
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuler
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Speier
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Thompson (CA)
     Towns
     Tsongas
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walsh (NY)
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wilson (OH)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)

                               NAYS--158

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Boozman
     Boustany
     Boyd (FL)
     Brady (TX)
     Broun (GA)
     Brown (SC)
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Carter
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Cooper
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Everett
     Fallin
     Ferguson
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Hastings (WA)
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Herseth Sandlin
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hunter
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kline (MN)
     Lamborn
     Lampson
     Latham
     Latta
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Matheson
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McKeon
     McMorris Rodgers
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller, Gary
     Moran (KS)
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Paul
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Pitts
     Poe
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reynolds
     Rogers (KY)
     Rohrabacher
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Scalise
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Tancredo
     Taylor
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Westmoreland
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman (VA)
     Wolf
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--12

     Costa
     Cubin
     Feeney
     LaHood
     Peterson (PA)
     Pickering
     Saxton
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield (KY)


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). Members should be aware 
that the display is inoperative. The Chair would encourage all Members 
to verify their votes at any of the 46 electronic voting stations.

                              {time}  1841

  Mr. EHLERS changed his vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Messrs. SPRATT, HALL of Texas, BOREN, and Mrs. BONO MACK changed 
their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________