[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11181-11212]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2012

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that, during 
further consideration of H.R. 2354 in the Committee of the Whole 
pursuant to House Resolution 337, no further amendment to the bill may 
be offered except: pro forma amendments offered at any point in the 
reading by the chair or ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations or their respective designees for the purpose of debate; 
amendments printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 21, 26, 27, 
53, 63, 66, 67, 70, 75, 76, 80, and 81; an amendment by Mrs. Adams 
regarding limiting funds for a Department of Energy Web site that 
disseminates information regarding energy efficiency and educational 
programs to children or adolescents; two amendments by Mrs. Blackburn 
regarding across-the-board cuts; an amendment by Mr. Broun of Georgia 
regarding limiting funds for certain programs, projects or activities 
in Energy Programs-Science; two amendments by Mrs. Capps regarding 
limiting funds for the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant; an amendment 
by Mr. Cohen regarding funding levels for the Solar Energy Program; an 
amendment by Mr. Denham regarding limiting funds to implement section 
10011(b) of Public Law 111-11; an amendment by Mr. Engel regarding 
limiting funds for lease or purchase of new light-duty vehicles; an 
amendment by Ms. Eshoo regarding limiting funds for contracts with 
business entities that do not disclose political expenditures; an 
amendment by Mr. Flake regarding limiting funds for Advanced Research 
Projects Agency-Energy; an amendment by Mr. Flake regarding limiting 
funds for Fossil Energy Research and Development; amendments by Mr. 
Frelinghuysen regarding funding levels; an amendment by Mr. Gosar 
regarding the Davis-Bacon Act; an amendment by Mr. Graves regarding 
limiting funds to be used in contravention of the 2006 Missouri River 
Master Manual; an amendment by Mr. Hastings of Florida regarding 
limiting funds to be used in contravention of Executive Order No. 
12898; an amendment by Mr. Hastings of Washington regarding limiting 
funds for the McNary Shoreline Management Plan; an amendment by Mr. 
Hastings of Washington regarding limiting funds for the Office of 
Nuclear Security; an amendment by Mr. Hastings of Washington regarding 
limiting funds for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project No. 
2342; an amendment by Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas regarding limiting funds 
to be used in contravention of the Department of Energy Organization 
Act; an amendment by Ms. Kaptur regarding funding for Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy; an amendment by Mr. Luetkemeyer regarding the 
study pursuant to section 5018(a)(1) of the Water Resources Development 
Act of 2007; an amendment by Mr. Rohrabacher regarding limiting funds 
for loan guarantees for carbon capture and sequestration; an amendment 
by Mr. Rohrabacher regarding 10 percent of loan guarantee funds for 
non-water advanced nuclear reactors; an amendment by Mr. Rohrabacher 
regarding loan guarantees for carbon capture and sequestration projects 
not exceeding funds for non-water advanced nuclear reactor loan 
guarantees; an amendment by Mr. Richmond or Mr. Scalise regarding 
funding for Corps of Engineers construction; and an amendment by Mr. 
Sherman regarding limiting funds for international activities at the 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and, further, that 
each such amendment may be offered only by the Member named in this 
request or a designee, or by the Member who caused it to be printed in 
the Congressional Record or a designee, shall not be subject to 
amendment, except that the chair and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Appropriations (or a respective designee) each may offer 
one pro forma amendment for the purpose of debate, and shall not be 
subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the 
Committee of the Whole; and, further, that each amendment shall be 
debatable for 10 minutes, equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent; and, further, that an amendment shall be 
considered to fit the description stated in this request if it 
addresses in whole or in part the object described.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 337 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, 
H.R. 2354.

                              {time}  1520


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of 
the bill (H.R. 2354) making appropriations for energy and water 
development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2012, and for other purposes, with Mr. Dold (Acting Chair) in the 
chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose earlier today, 
the bill had been read through page 62, line 2.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of today, no further amendment may 
be offered except those specified in the previous order, which is at 
the desk.


                  Amendment No. 26 Offered by Mr. Cole

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __ None of the funds made available by this Act may be 
     used to implement any rule, regulation, or executive order 
     regarding the disclosure of political contributions that 
     takes effect on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
  Mr. COLE. Mr. Chairman, in April a draft Executive order was 
circulated that would force companies, as a condition of applying for a 
Federal contract, to disclose all Federal campaign contributions. In my 
opinion, if implemented, this Executive order would lead to a 
significant politicization of the Federal procurement process. Instead 
of judging companies on the basis of their past work performance, their 
demonstrated ability to do the job or their price, we would actually 
introduce potentially the element of their political participation and 
contributions and activities into the consideration process.
  This Executive order would not, in fact, lead to more objectivity in 
the evaluation process. It would, instead, chill the constitutionally 
protected

[[Page 11182]]

right of people to donate politically to whatever candidate or cause or 
political party they choose to. Those very same people would fear 
repercussion to their bottom line as, frankly, I'm sure this Executive 
order intends to do.
  The draft order claims that these burdensome and intrusive disclosure 
requirements are necessary to ensure that contracting decisions, quote, 
deliver the best value to the taxpayer and are free from the undue 
influence of extraneous factors such as political activity or political 
favoritism. If one accepts this rationale--and I certainly don't--then 
delivering the, quote, best value to the taxpayer would require such 
disclosure by anyone receiving Federal dollars.
  This Executive order would not apply to Federal employee unions that 
negotiate with the government to provide billions of dollars in 
benefits for their members, nor would it apply to many nonprofits that 
receive Federal grants, many of whom have strong political agendas of 
their own.
  My amendment would prevent any funds from this act going towards the 
implementation of any rule, regulation, or Executive order regarding 
political contributions that takes effect on or after the date of the 
enactment of the act. It is important to recognize, Mr. Chairman, my 
bill does not change Federal campaign law in any way. It does not 
change the current disclosure requirements.
  My amendment has already been agreed to on three previous pieces of 
legislation: the Defense Authorization bill for FY 2012, the Homeland 
Security appropriations bill, and also the Defense appropriations bill.
  Mr. Chairman, ``pay-to-play'' has no place in the Federal contracting 
process. Requiring the disclosure of campaign contributions for 
government contracts in my opinion does just that.
  Congress considered the proposed Executive order, something like it, 
during the 111th Congress as part of the DISCLOSE Act and rejected it. 
This Executive order is a backdoor attempt to implement the DISCLOSE 
Act by executive fiat.
  For those reasons, Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of the 
amendment.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. COLE. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the amendment.
  The Department of Energy relies heavily on a dedicated contractor 
workforce to manage and operate our national laboratories. Therefore, 
such an Executive order would impact nearly every program at the 
Department of Energy.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote on the gentleman from Oklahoma's amendment, a 
member of our committee.
  Mr. COLE. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ESHOO. I thank the chairman.
  I rise once again in strong opposition to Representative Cole's 
amendment to block transparency and disclosure for taxpayers. That's 
what this issue is about.
  It is with continuing curiosity that when I listened to the 
gentleman, Mr. Cole, present his view, if in fact you believe in 
disclosure, bring a bill to the floor. The reason that the House has 
passed what you keep offering is the House is not presented with an 
opposing view because my amendment is continually blocked and not 
accepted to be debated on the floor.
  What this is about is the following: there are businesses large and 
small that receive billions of taxpayer dollars for services and 
products in doing business with the Federal Government. In return for 
this public money, they should have the obligation, which is not 
burdensome, to simply disclose how they use it. That's all this is. 
When they spend it in our elections, they know it, the recipients know 
it, but the taxpayers don't know it. That's one hell of a deal. For 
those who want to keep it in a dark corner, it's a great deal for them.
  The American people have spoken clearly. Last year, a CBS/New York 
Times poll found that 92 percent of the American people support 
requiring campaigns, independent groups, businesses to disclose how 
much money they've raised, where it came from, and how it was used.
  I am going to offer my own amendment again, for the fourth time, to 
require the disclosure which Representative Cole's amendment forbids. I 
expect, once again, that the majority is going to block it. It's an 
unfortunate turnaround, I think, from just a few years ago when 
Republicans led the fight for disclosure. They were for it before they 
decided to be against it. Does that tag line ring some bells for you? 
You were thinking that it would be better than restricting 
contributions. That was the thinking at the time. But now that the 
Supreme Court allows unlimited corporate spending, they're against any 
restrictions whatsoever.
  We should oppose any amendments that are designed to keep the public 
less informed rather than more informed about what happens with their 
tax dollars. That's what this is about. The majority has made a big 
deal and talked incessantly about spending. What about this spending? 
Does this not mean something in terms of the Federal Government and the 
taxpayers? I think with public dollars comes public responsibility.
  This does not present any constitutional issues, no freedom of speech 
issues. It is not burdensome. It is simply disclosure. If you want to 
stand with the uber-lobbyists who are representing lobbyists in support 
of the gentleman from Oklahoma's amendment, be my guest. I didn't come 
to Congress to do that.
  I think that the President's Executive order is sensible, I think it 
should be put into place, and I think that any legislation brought to 
this floor to prevent that from happening is really on the wrong side 
of history.
  With that, Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would just remind my friend from California that when Republicans 
brought disclosure, they didn't link it to the contracting process, 
which this potential Executive order does. I think that's out of 
bounds.
  I would also remind my friend the Democrats opposed that and when 
Democrats were in the majority, and overwhelmingly in the majority, 
they failed to enact legislation similar to what she suggests in the 
DISCLOSE Act.
  I think this is something that this legislative body has looked at. 
If my friend from California wants to introduce a bill to do this, 
that's perfectly appropriate to it, but doing it in the context of the 
contracting process is simply wrong. People that are submitting bids 
will somehow think inevitably that they will be helped or hurt by their 
political activity. That has no basis in judging the quality of a bid 
for a Federal contract.
  In addition, frankly, my friends have never wanted to apply that same 
standard to labor unions or to affiliated groups applying for Federal 
dollars. I would actually agree with them on that. I don't think it has 
any place in a disclosure in those areas either. There's a place to do 
this, and there's a place not to do it. Doing it on a contract is 
inevitably meant to try and use the Federal dollars to impact, one way 
or another, what groups do politically. That's wrong, we shouldn't 
allow it, and we should never, never risk politicizing the procurement 
process.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1530

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 1 minute.
  Mr. ANDREWS. I thank my friend for yielding.
  I would say to my friend from Oklahoma, through the Chair, that he 
makes a very compelling case. I agree with him. I think that the secret 
groups that are funding massive--usually negative--ad campaigns against

[[Page 11183]]

people running for office should be held to exactly the same standard 
labor unions are held under present law. If a labor union uses dues 
money or PAC money or any money to advocate for or against a candidate 
or a cause, they must disclose it to the public and to their members. 
That is precisely the principle that Ms. Eshoo is standing for, and I 
am proud to stand with her.
  If you really believe in something that you say, then you shouldn't 
be ashamed to let everyone know that you said it. If you really believe 
that what you're advocating is right for the country, then you will let 
everyone know that you said it. It's a simple principle of disclosure. 
It is something that I think is long overdue. Let's not have anybody 
hide in the shadows of the American political process.
  The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. COLE. Mr. Chairman, I would just urge the body to support the 
amendment.
  I would disagree with my friend. Sham groups are quite often formed 
in labor unions or underneath, but that's another debate for another 
day. Let's just keep outside money out of the procurement process.
  I yield back the balance of my time and urge adoption of my 
amendment.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I rise in strong opposition to the gentleman's 
amendment and join with my colleagues from California and New Jersey in 
their opposition.
  The amendment is a legislative attempt to circumvent a draft 
Executive order which would provide for increased disclosure of the 
political contributions of government contractors, especially 
contributions given to third-party entities.
  The argument is made that companies should not disclose more 
information because people in power would misuse that information to 
retaliate against them. Using that logic, all campaign disclosures are 
bad. Government contractors already disclose contributions and 
expenditures by their PACs and those who contribute to them. By 
extension, we ought to take that law and ensure that the voters of this 
country are protected so that they also know what those corporations 
are doing with their money as far as involvement in the electoral 
process.
  The provisions, as drafted, are, I think, very good. The information 
is required to be provided, and the Executive order that the amendment 
would circumvent enhances the quality of information that people and 
citizens ought to have before they go to the polls. Disclosure is good. 
And for that reason I rise, again, in strong opposition to the 
gentleman's amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma 
will be postponed.


                     Amendment Offered by Ms. Eshoo

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to enter into a contract with a corporation or other 
     business entity that does not disclose its political 
     expenditures.

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the 
gentlewoman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Eshoo) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I rise for the fourth time this year to call 
for transparency in our political system. I maintain the view shared by 
the overwhelming majority of the American people that transparency in 
the use of our tax dollars is absolutely critical.
  There are thousands of companies that do business with the Federal 
Government, receiving billions of public dollars for their services and 
their products. Our constituents deserve to know whether they spend any 
of these dollars to influence our elections. My amendment will 
accomplish this, and I once again urge my colleagues to support it.
  Now, some say, as we just heard a few moments ago, that this 
disclosure requirement will politicize the procurement process. It's 
difficult to maintain that view with a straight face. As I've said 
before, when a business contracts with the Federal Government and 
spends money in elections, the process is already politicized. Even in 
the Citizens United decision legalizing corporate expenditures, eight 
out of nine justices specifically endorsed prompt disclosure of 
expenditures. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, ``Disclosure permits 
citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities 
in a proper way.'' This is not an onerous burden. As Justice Louis 
Brandeis famously said, ``Sunlight is the best disinfectant.''
  I want to share an example from my home State of California that 
illustrates the importance of disclosure. Last year, in 2010, 
Proposition 23 was on the ballot. It was an effort to kill the State's 
tough new global warming rules. The airwaves were flooded with ads, but 
because California requires disclosure, voters were informed. The oil 
companies financing the ads had to stand by them each and every time 
the ad aired, stating that they had paid for them. So voters were 
informed. They made up their minds. Prop 23 lost by 23 percent in 
November because voters knew who had paid for the ads and what and whom 
were behind them. It wasn't just someone skipping through a field, it 
was going to have an effect on them. It was disclosure.
  As he has a half-dozen times this year, my colleague, Tom Cole, has 
offered an amendment to prevent the very disclosure I'm asking us to 
endorse. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reject it. 
Preventing transparency puts us all on the wrong side of history every 
time.
  Republicans supported disclosure before they were against it, and the 
record is very clear on that. So I urge those from both the other side 
of the aisle and my colleagues on this side--I don't believe this is a 
partisan issue--I believe that disclosure is good for America, it's 
good for our system. It is not burdensome, it is not anti-
constitutional, and it's simple. The voters should know, taxpayers 
should know.
  I yield back the balance of my time.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I insist on my point of order.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his point of order.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the 
amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes 
legislation in an appropriation bill and therefore violates clause 2 of 
rule XXI.
  The rule states in pertinent part, ``An amendment to a general 
appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' 
The amendment requires a new determination.
  I ask for a ruling from the Chair.
  The Acting CHAIR. Does any Member wish to be heard on the point of 
order?
  If not, the Chair is prepared to rule.
  For the reasons stated by the Chair on February 17, June 2, and July 
7, 2011, the amendment constitutes legislation in violation of clause 2 
of rule XXI.
  The point of order is sustained. The amendment is not in order.

                              {time}  1540


                 Amendment No. 66 Offered by Mr. Gosar

  Mr. GOSAR. I have an amendment at the desk, the Gosar-Altmire-Gibbs 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.

[[Page 11184]]

  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __ None of the funds made available by this Act may be 
     used to implement or enforce section 327.13(a) of title 36, 
     Code of Federal Regulations.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of our amendment that would 
defund a Federal regulation, a regulation that has the force of law 
across the United States that is, in my view, unconstitutional and 
simply wrong.
  Currently, as a result of law passed in the 111th Congress, a person 
licensed by a State to carry a personal sidearm for personal defense 
can carry that weapon in a national park or refuge. Prior to 2009, our 
own Federal Government trampled the Second Amendment and prohibited 
citizens from protecting themselves in some of the most dangerous 
remote lands we have. The ability to carry a firearm in case of 
emergency is imperative. Later we learned that when Congress changed 
the law, the bill language omitted the Army Corps of Engineers, 
creating confusion and uncertainty.
  The Corps owns or manages over 11.7 million acres, including 400 
lakes and river projects, 90,000 camp sites, and 4,000 miles of trail. 
Soon after the law's passage, the Army Corps proudly declared that it 
would continue to ban self-defense on its lands. There is a bill 
pending, H.R. 1865, that seeks a long-term fix, but this amendment is a 
short-term fix. It defunds a Federal regulation by which the Army Corps 
of Engineers enforces, creates, and authorizes its ban on self-defense 
firearms.
  This bipartisan amendment to the Energy and Water appropriations bill 
will clarify this confusing policy. We are simply asking that the 
Secretary of the Army not use any fiscal year 2012 funding to enforce a 
regulation that prohibits firearm possession that complies with State 
law on Corps projects and lands. The amendment would not, however, 
allow firearms in Federal facilities, such as Army Corps headquarters, 
Corps research facilities, or lock and dam buildings. This is a 
commonsense amendment that upholds our Constitution and gives people 
who use our public lands the right to defend themselves, if needed.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I would take a different tack on the issue of common 
sense and security. I would like to talk about the security of our 
Nation and about our economic infrastructure and about these Corps 
regions.
  I understand that the intent of the gentleman's amendment is to 
prohibit the Corps from preventing individuals from having handguns on 
projects administered by the Corps. I understand it's aimed at those 
who obviously support the Second Amendment. I do, myself. The fact is, 
I believe the gentleman's amendment is injurious to our national 
security. I do not think it is a good idea to allow individuals to walk 
around with guns over dams and water treatment plants that are 
administered by the Army Corps of Engineers.
  Now, I assume that some of my colleagues disagree with me. However, 
this amendment also prohibits the Corps from implementing or enforcing 
rules on explosives and fireworks and other weapons. I don't believe 
there are other Members in this body who believe the Corps should not 
be able to stringently enforce rules on explosives at dams and water 
projects and treatment facilities that they have jurisdiction over. 
Further, what if there's danger of fire on the Corps land? Unless there 
is some other law that supersedes the regulations that your amendment 
is aimed at, Corps employees would not be able to prevent people from 
launching fireworks, despite the dangers of wildfires.
  I strongly oppose the gentleman's amendment and would hope that he 
would consider withdrawing his overly broad and misguided amendments.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSAR. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Gibbs).
  Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Gosar-Gibbs-Altmire 
amendment, to prohibit funding the Secretary of the Army to enforce a 
regulation that prohibits firearm possession in compliance with State 
law on Corps projects and lands.
  Earlier this year, Representative Altmire from Pennsylvania, 
Representative Gosar from Arizona, and myself introduced H.R. 1865, a 
stand-alone bill that would prohibit the Secretary of the Army from 
enforcing any regulation that keeps an individual from possessing 
firearms on Army Corps of Engineer water or resource development 
projects.
  Gun owners need to be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights 
when they are legally camping, hunting, and fishing on Army Corps 
property. Last Congress, this House passed national parks language that 
became law to allow for guns on national parks land; and the Army Corps 
of Engineers immediately issued the following release: ``Public Law 
111-024 does not apply to Corps projects or facilities. The passage of 
this new law does not affect application of title 36 regulations.'' 
This policy preempts State regulatory framework from transporting and 
carrying firearms, thus invalidating concealed weapon permits and other 
State laws that allow law-abiding citizens to transport and carry 
firearms.
  This amendment is a bipartisan effort that would put a temporary fix 
to end the patchwork of regulations that govern different lands managed 
by different Federal agencies.
  I urge all Members to support the Gosar-Gibbs-Altmire amendment.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Altmire).
  Mr. ALTMIRE. I thank the gentleman from Indiana.
  I rise in support of the Gosar-Gibbs-Altmire amendment to protect the 
Second Amendment rights of our Nation's sportsmen.
  The Army Corps of Engineers owns or manages more than 11 million 
acres of Federal lands, where Americans are not allowed to carry 
firearms for self-defense, including 90,000 camp sites and thousands of 
miles of trails where law enforcement is scattered.
  Our amendment will simplify regulations for law-abiding citizens by 
defunding a Federal regulation that bans firearms for self-defense on 
Army Corps lands. This will not change rules against bringing firearms 
into Federal buildings, such as Army Corps headquarters, or locks and 
dams. It will simply guarantee that sportsmen are able to defend 
themselves while they legally hunt and fish on property that the Army 
Corps owns and operates.
  To correct this problem in the long term, Mr. Gibbs and I have also 
introduced the Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act. But this amendment 
is a necessary first step and is supported by the National Rifle 
Association and Gun Owners of America.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, the Second Amendment is a key component of 
national security. And in that aspect, it allows citizens to carry. 
This is about possession of sidearms only. It does not apply to 
explosives in or around structures.
  I will finish up by saying that I wish everybody would support this 
amendment, and I look forward to its passage.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, in closing, I will reiterate my strong 
opposition to the gentleman's amendment.
  We are talking about allowing people with weapons in areas where we 
have dams and water treatment plants, and the Army Corps of Engineers 
ought to be able to exercise control over those for the protection of 
those major economic infrastructures. I would respectfully disagree 
with the gentleman, that

[[Page 11185]]

he would also reduce their ability as far as the regulation of people 
with explosives. And I think that, again, is very detrimental relative 
to our national security. For these reasons, I strongly oppose the 
gentleman's amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  1550


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Cohen

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __ For ``Department of Energy--Energy Programs--Energy 
     Efficiency and Renewable Energy'' for the Solar Energy 
     Program, as authorized by sections 602(b), 604(e), 605(d), 
     606(d), and 607(i)(5) of the Energy Independence and Security 
     Act of 2007, there is hereby appropriated, and the amount 
     otherwise provided by this Act for ``Department of Energy--
     Energy Programs--Fossil Energy Research and Development'' is 
     hereby reduced by, $16,000,000 and $32,000,000, respectively.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, our Nation is at an energy crossroads. 
Either we can further increase our addiction to fossil fuels and use 
advanced technologies to suck out every last drop of oil, coal, and 
natural gas that exists underneath the Earth's surface, no matter what 
the economic or environmental cost, or we can decide to break our 
addiction to fossil fuels by investing in clean, renewable energy 
sources that have the capacity to power our Nation forever.
  The majority's decision to cut funding for renewable energy programs 
and increase spending on fossil fuels makes it clear that they haven't 
quite gotten off their addiction to dirty energy, but this amendment 
offers them an opportunity do so. Their decision is shortsighted, will 
endanger American prosperity, and threaten our economic viability.
  To help rectify this situation, this amendment's offered to cut $32 
million from the Fossil Energy Research and Development account and 
increase the Solar Energy program by $16 million, to give my friends on 
the other side an opportunity to let the Sun shine in and join with 
God's wonderful source of energy. My amendment has a net impact of zero 
on the budget authority and does not increase 2012 outlays.
  Despite overwhelming evidence that the U.S. needs to invest more in 
solar and spend less on fossil fuels, the majority has decided to 
reduce funding for solar research and development by 37 percent. This 
severe cut is unacceptable and especially egregious since the majority 
has allocated an additional $32 million to the Fossil Fuels account, a 
7 percent increase.
  This amendment that I have offered seeks to create some parity to 
2011 funding by cutting the Fossil Fuels account back to its 2011 level 
and increasing the Solar account by 10 percent. Solar is the future and 
fossil fuels aren't.
  If the majority wants to fulfill their commitment to create jobs and 
increase American energy security, then they need to start seriously 
investing in solar. Recent studies have demonstrated investments in 
solar can create three times as many jobs as funding for traditional 
fossil fuels. And if the government decided to invest $1 million in 
solar development, that investment would create at least 17 jobs. But 
that same million dollars in fossil fuels would create but five jobs. 
And jobs is what the American public is interested in.
  The 17 jobs created would be high-paying jobs in the manufacturing 
and construction sectors, the kind of jobs that once were the backbone 
of our Nation and the jobs that the American people are clamoring for, 
giving the middle class an opportunity to have jobs and participate in 
the American economy.
  I have witnessed the power of solar in my own community to create 
jobs, spur economic development, and transform the lives of everyday 
Americans. As a result of previous Federal solar investments, Sharp 
Solar, which is located in my district, is a burgeoning solar industry 
and operates a manufacturing facility that employs nearly 500 
Memphians. Additional Federal investments in solar will create 
thousands of new jobs in my district and millions of new jobs across 
the country, some of which will be in New Jersey.
  Not only is solar a superior job creator, but it's also a far better 
long-term investment. Fossil fuel proponents may not publicly admit it, 
but renewable energy will power the future. So establishing dominance 
in this sector is critical to our national energy security and economic 
security. Supplies of fossil fuels are diminishing rapidly, and their 
nonrenewable nature makes them a short-term solution to a long-term 
problem.
  Recognizing the critical role renewable energy technologies like 
solar will have, nations across the world are making massive 
investments in clean technology so they can establish themselves as 
leaders and exporters of the future's energy. I recently visited 
Germany, and solar is everywhere. The Germans are investing and 
supplying many of their buildings with solar, and they are a leader, 
just as China is. But America's being left behind.
  As is demonstrated by this appropriations bill, the U.S. is not 
making the requisite investments in solar to compete in the emerging 
global marketplace. Unless the majority decides to change course and 
support the efforts that we've made here to make unprecedented 
investments in renewables, the United States will transition from 
importing oil from the Middle East to importing clean energy 
technologies from China and Europe, not what we should be aiming for.
  My $16 million amendment alone will not determine the course of 
America's energy future, because we need to be investing billions in 
solar energy to keep up with the Chinese, the Germans, and other 
countries, but this zero cost amendment will create jobs and push 
America a little further down the road to a clean energy economy. The 
amendment offers a clear signal to the American people and the world 
the United States is serious about ending its addiction to fossil fuels 
and becoming a world leader in the renewable energy sector.
  We shouldn't just orbit around the Sun; we should harness its energy 
and use it to supply energy for this planet. The Sun is there for a 
purpose other than just an anchor.
  I urge support for this important amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. His amendment would increase funding for the 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Solar Energy program 
at the expense of fossil energy research. Our bill applied solar energy 
research to $97 million below fiscal year 2011 because, especially 
within today's budgetary constraints, we cannot afford to spend 
taxpayers' dollars on activities like demonstrations of proven 
technologies that should be funded by the private sector. But our bill 
preserves funding for the cutting-edge research that will advance 
American industry and help us lead globally. By the numbers, I can't 
support an amendment that adds funding back into this program.
  Fossil energy generates 70 percent of our Nation's electricity and, 
may I add, generates, I believe, close to 55 percent of your State's 
energy. And it will continue to provide the lion's share of your and 
our Nation's energy's needs well into the 21st century.
  The Fossil Energy Research program receives $477 million in our bill 
for research that's let us squeeze more energy out of our domestic 
fossil energy resources. This research aims to increase the efficiency 
of our fossil energy plants across the Nation. If we

[[Page 11186]]

were to increase the efficiency of our fossil energy plants by just 1 
percent, we would increase the output of our power plants by 12 times 
the total output of solar power in the United States. That's without 
using 1 pound or 1 liter of extra fuel from the ground.
  I appreciate, truly, the gentleman's desire to move towards solar 
technologies, coming from a State that is a leader in that regard, and 
that's why we have included $166 million in our bill for that purpose. 
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable account has nearly $9 billion in 
unspent stimulus money. We've heard that before in earlier debates. And 
the importance of using fossil energy sources well is too great; so I 
can't support cutting into further fossil energy research and 
development. Therefore, I oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues 
to do likewise.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Tennessee 
will be postponed.

                              {time}  1600


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Gosar

  Mr. GOSAR. I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. _. None of the funds made available under this Act may 
     be expended to administer or enforce the requirements of 
     subchapter IV of chapter 31 or title 40, United States Code 
     (commonly referred to as the Davis-Bacon Act), except with 
     respect to a contract that exceeds $20,000,000.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 
2354 that seeks to defund title 40, U.S.C. section 31, up to $20 
million instead of the current $2,000 threshold.
  Right now we are in serious and prolonged economic recession. The 
construction industry has been hit the hardest throughout the United 
States. My amendment defunds the Davis-Bacon Act up to a certain amount 
in order to allow small business and small contractors the ability to 
compete on the smaller government contracts.
  This amendment will assist the small businesses that do not have the 
resources to compete for the larger contracts that compel compliance 
with all the requirements of Davis-Bacon. That is why this amendment 
defunds contract applications for smaller contracts under the $20 
million threshold, but the larger projects are still subject to the 
Davis-Bacon Act. This is a temporary measure for the duration of the 
fiscal year in direct response to the recession.
  Now, on average, research establishes that Federal public projects 
that are forced to operate under this law spend 22 percent more than 
projects not bound by this law. By eliminating the onerous cost for 
small projects, there will actually be more work, up to 22 percent more 
work, for the same dollar and the smaller contractors will be able to 
compete for jobs that otherwise are out of their reach.
  Yet this agreement preserves the application of the act to the larger 
projects, so that those big projects across the U.S., where larger 
contracts typically get the contracts in any event, these companies can 
more readily comply with the provisions of the act and have deeper 
pockets to handle the administrative and other requirements mandated by 
the act.
  We also know that one study concluded that the Davis-Bacon Act will 
waste $10.9 billion in 2011. We also know that the Government 
Accountability Office states that this act is extremely difficult to 
administer, and the GAO has advocated for its repeal as far back as 
1979. To a certain degree, this amendment seeks to reduce that waste, 
but the most important aspect of this amendment is encouraging small 
business participation in these government building contracts.
  I have stated before that we, as Members of Congress, we are stewards 
of the public Treasury. We have an obligation to spend taxpayer money 
wisely. The government does not earn money. The government does not 
generate wealth. We have an obligation to spend this money wisely, and 
we have an obligation to help the businesses of the country, and those 
that build our infrastructure need our help. This amendment addresses 
that need.
  The Heritage Foundation suggests that for every billion dollars, 
Federal construction spending supports 14,000 workers. Then the savings 
from the suspension of the Davis-Bacon law for 1 year would support 
163,000 new construction jobs.
  My amendment addresses this very issue and seeks to boost employment 
and work for small businesses and small contractors who can compete for 
smaller government contracts temporarily if the Davis-Bacon 
requirements are defunded for 1 year.
  I ask that you support this amendment, support small businesses, more 
efficient spending of our taxpayer money, spreading our limited 
resources and keeping more American construction workers in a job, a 
livelihood, and a mission to rebuild this America together.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, Davis-Bacon is a fairly simple concept, 
and it is a very fair one.
  What it does is to protect the government and the taxpayers, as well 
as the workers, in carrying out the policy of paying a decent wage on 
government contracts.
  The Davis-Bacon Act requires that workers on federally funded 
construction projects be paid no less than the wages paid in the 
community for similar work. The fact is that opponents claim Davis-
Bacon requires union wage jobs. However, more than 75 percent of Davis-
Bacon wage determinations are not based solely on union wages.
  The quality of work on energy and water projects, for example, is 
crucial to the communities depending on them, and we do need 
individuals who are trained, who are more efficient, and who are going 
to do the job right the first time. One of the things that tends not to 
be noted when we have a discussion and debate about Davis-Bacon is the 
money it saves to the taxpayers that are hidden costs by those who do 
not use union labor and do not pay union scale wages.
  By including fringe benefits in wage calculations, the Davis-Bacon 
act delivers health care and pensions for workers on Federal projects, 
ensuring that they aren't part of the many uninsured Americans who rely 
on Medicaid and cost the American taxpayers. The Department of Labor 
survey methods also incorporate hourly investments in training and 
apprenticeship, where appropriate, to ensure the skilled, productive, 
future workforce.
  I would also point out that in the past the House has taken two votes 
on this issue, the first vote taken included a limitation on Davis-
Bacon and was considered in H.R. 1, and it failed by a vote of 189-233. 
The second vote was a limitation taken during consideration of the FAA 
bill, and it failed 183-238.
  But, most importantly, and the gentleman indicated that he is spurred 
on to action here because of the recession, is because of the money 
involved relative to those who work in the United States of America. 
Since 1977, we have fortunately had great growth in this general 
economy.
  But I would point out to all of the Members that according to the 
Department of Labor in 1977, the real hourly wage that a human being in 
the United States of America earned for 1 hour's worth of labor was 
$19.57. In 2010 the Department of Labor reported that a

[[Page 11187]]

human being in the United States of America for their human labor for 1 
hour now earns $19.04.
  People today, for an hour's worth of work, make less than they did in 
1977, despite the growth of our economy. The last thing we need to do 
here today is to put more downward pressure on the ability of an 
American citizen to work at a good-paying job that guarantees them a 
decent living, and I strongly oppose the gentleman's amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment.
  The recommendation I brought to the full committee prohibited Davis-
Bacon provisions on any sort of construction, roads, bridges, dams, and 
buildings, because the taxpayers, as a result, pay more.
  Unfortunately, this provision was stricken, impacting right to work 
States and, quite honestly, shortchanging them.
  You do the math. There have been plenty of studies. Davis-Bacon 
provisions inflate costs for construction projects as much as, in some 
cases, 22 percent. These added expenses come at a time when we are 
really close to being broke as a nation. How many more jobs, union or 
nonunion jobs, could we provide to put America back to work by 
supporting this amendment? Plenty more, and thus I am pleased to 
support the amendment.
  I urge my colleagues to do likewise.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1610

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, at a national unemployment rate of 9.3 
percent, this is a jobs amendment. Davis-Bacon does not protect the 
Federal Government nor the taxpayer. It only increases the cost to the 
taxpayer and the Federal Government by 22 percent. There are no studies 
that show that there is any difference in outcomes. As a contractor and 
working in contracts, we're held to the same standards. This is a 
temporary measure meant to help all our small companies and business 
contractors. It's also an investment into increasing the number of 
build-outs of our vital infrastructure projects.
  I urge my companions on the other side of the aisle to join in this 
and look at this fairly and increase the access to this funding, 
properly and fairly, to make sure that we get more people to work and 
get this vital infrastructure back and get America back to work.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I would close by indicating that there 
has been discussion about the burden that this act imposes upon small 
businesses. And I would, again, wish to contradict that.
  I also believe that the administrative requirements of the act are 
critical to prevent a fraud against government agencies. First, to 
comply with the IRS and overtime regulations, all law-abiding 
contractors must retain records on hours worked, wages, and benefits. 
Second, electronic transmission of data has streamlined reporting. 
Third, the integrity of the whole program relies on this reporting to 
avoid kickbacks, misclassification of workers, and cheating under the 
Davis-Bacon Act. It is important to remember that Federal overtime law, 
including the Fair Labor Standards Act, requires all employers--not 
just those that must comply with Davis-Bacon--to keep records.
  So, again, I would ask that my colleagues oppose the gentleman's 
amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Westmoreland). The question is on the amendment 
offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will 
be postponed.


             Amendment Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the 
desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following new section:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds made available by this Act for 
     ``Department of Energy--Energy Programs--Science'' may be 
     used in contravention of the Department of Energy 
     Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I want to thank the chairman of the 
subcommittee and ranking member for the courtesies extended to me.
  Mr. Chairman, my amendment will protect funds provided for science 
under title 3 of the Department of Energy's energy programs. This 
amendment addresses the need to increase programs that educate 
minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, known 
as STEM, as well as the need to train teachers and scientists in 
advanced scientific and technical practices.
  Let me, first of all, say I consider this a jobs bill. I'm excited 
when we talk about jobs here on the floor of the House and recognize 
that America has changed. As a former member of the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology and a member of the Aviation 
subcommittee and Space subcommittee dealing with NASA's commitment and 
mission in human exploration, I believe that America's future is not 
only today but in front of her and focused on science and technology. 
The importance of developing a highly skilled technical workforce is 
crucial.
  Over the last 50 years there have been major changes in the United 
States in terms of both the economy and the population. Now let me be 
very clear. I'm a member of the Manufacturing Caucus, and I believe 
that we should restore manufacturing in this country. We are so well 
placed to be multitasked, boosting our manufacturing and then, as well, 
moving forward to processing and analyzing information. In this 
information-driven economy, it is important that we recognize that our 
valuable assets are human resources. Therefore, in order to compete 
successfully in the global economy, the U.S. needs citizens who are 
literate in terms of science and mathematics, and a STEM workforce that 
is well educated and well trained.
  I believe my amendment focuses on that very program and focus. By 
investing in the scientific advancement of our workforce and our youth, 
we are investing in our future, we're investing in job creation, and 
we're investing in greater job opportunities for Americans. It is 
important to note that under this legislation, workforce development 
for teachers in science has taken a hit. But I believe what we should 
do is make sure that we emphasize that those resources be kept in and 
at some point add to those resources. And the reason I say that is, 
workforce development programs for teachers and scientists provide 
funding to graduate fellowship programs that help train the Nation's 
top scientists, a crucial, crucial effort.
  The United States faces a critical shortage of highly qualified 
mathematics and science teachers. We will need an additional 283,000 
teachers in secondary schools setting up by 2015 to meet the needs of 
our Nation's students. This qualified teacher shortage is particularly 
pronounced in low-income districts. So in order to move forward, let us 
protect the scientific aspect of the work of this government.
  According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 30 
percent of fourth-graders and 20 percent of eighth-graders cannot 
perform basic mathematical computation. So I have long recognized the 
need to improve the participation performance of America's students in 
science, technology, engineering, and math. I worked with

[[Page 11188]]

one of our corporate leaders to ensure that private funding was given 
to one of our inner city school districts to establish a program 
without comparison in its excellence focusing on science, technology, 
engineering, and math.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We would be happy to accept your amendment as it 
restates current law, and we appreciate your advocacy in this regard.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank the gentleman very much. And as I 
conclude with that generous offer, let me mention in 2006 only 4.5 
percent of college graduates in the United States received a diploma in 
engineering compared to 25 percent in South Korea and 33 percent in 
China.
  So let me close, Mr. Chairman, by saying that we have had programs 
that have been very effective, such as the Harmony Science Academy in 
Houston, that devotes an impressive amount of time and resources 
educating the city's youth, minority youth in math and science and even 
doing research in cancer.
  Finally, I want to thank Dr. Reagan Flowers, who has implemented a 
dynamic program on STEM technology in the Houston area and a national 
program. I would like to congratulate Mae Jemison, one of our 
astronauts, the first African American woman to go into space, who 
likewise has an outstanding program, and the Ron McNair Program, one of 
our astronauts who lost his life sacrificing for the American people, 
challenging us and challenging our capacity. His program run by his 
family is another excellent program.
  In conclusion, from Ben Franklin to NASA to Silicon Valley, the 
success of the competitiveness of America has always depended on the 
knowledge and skills in the STEM field. This amendment will help us 
focus on expanding that for all Americans.
  I thank the gentleman for his generosity.
  Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 2354, the 
Energy and Water Appropriations Development Bill. My amendment will 
protect funds provided for science under Title III of the Department of 
Energy's Energy Programs. This amendment addresses the need to increase 
programs that educate minorities in science, technology, engineering 
and mathematics, STEM, as well as the need to train teachers and 
scientists in advanced scientific and technical practices.
  As a former Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, I recognize the importance of developing a highly skilled 
technical workforce. Over the last 50 years, there have been major 
changes in the United States in terms of both the economy and the 
population. The economic base has built upon the base of manufacturing 
of durable goods and added the processing and analyzing of information. 
In the 21st century we can manufacture goods and expand information 
technology--both create jobs. In this information-driven economy, the 
most valuable assets are human resources. Therefore, in order to 
compete successfully in the global economy, the U.S. needs citizens who 
are literate in terms of science and mathematics, and a STEM workforce 
that is well educated and well trained (Friedman 2005, National Academy 
of Sciences 2005, Pearson 2005). Consequently, we cannot--literally or 
figuratively--afford to squander its human resources; it is imperative 
that we develop and nurture the talent of all its citizens.
  The jobs of tomorrow will require workers who possess strong advanced 
science, engineering and math backgrounds. Other countries are training 
and educating their citizens in these areas and we must do the same. By 
investing in the scientific advancement of our workforce and our youth, 
we are investing in our future . . . we are investing in job creation . 
. . we are investing in greater job opportunities for Americans. This 
investment is the only way to address the increasing knowledge gap 
between our Nation's workforce and those of our international 
counterparts. We must invest in our citizens. My amendment will ensure 
the funds that have been made available will be utilized for that 
purpose.


    PROGRAM 1: WORKFORCE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS AND 
                               SCIENTISTS

  The workforce and development program for teachers and scientists is 
vital to ensure that we have an adequate amount of properly educated 
and trained teachers and scientists. Under H.R. 2354, workforce 
development for teachers and scientists is funded at $17,849,000, which 
is $4,751,000 below the fiscal year 2011 level, which is a devastating 
$17,751,000 below the President's requested amount. This is a draconian 
cut which will have drastic effects on an already struggling workforce. 
My amendment would ensure that the amount provided to this program 
would remain intact.
  The workforce development program for teachers and scientists 
provides funding to graduate fellowship programs which train and 
develop our Nation's top scientists, engineers, and teachers. These 
individuals go on to become researchers and innovators--contributing to 
American business and, moreover, the U.S. economy. Fellowship programs 
like these are exactly what our country needs in order to develop a 
highly skilled technical workforce.
  As we have heard time and time again in many different contexts, our 
country suffers from a shortage of scientists and engineers. Moreover, 
our country is dealing with a lack of qualified instructors, at all 
levels--elementary, secondary, and post-secondary--to teach STEM 
subjects--science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  The United States faces a critical shortage of highly qualified 
mathematics and science teachers, we will need an additional 283,000 
teachers in secondary school settings by 2015 to meet the needs of our 
Nation's students. This qualified teacher shortage is particularly 
pronounced in low-income, urban school districts. As BHEF reported in A 
Commitment to America's Future: Responding to the Crisis in Mathematics 
and Science Education, high teacher turnover in conjunction with 
increasing student enrollment and lower student-to-teacher ratios will 
cause annual increases in the mathematics and science teacher shortage 
culminating in a 283,000-person shortage by 2015.
  Fewer American students than ever are graduating from college with 
math and science degrees. In 2006 only 4.5 percent of college graduates 
in the United States received a diploma in engineering compared with 
25.4 percent in South Korea, 33.3 percent in China, and 39.1 percent in 
Singapore.
  The problem is systemic. According to the National Center for 
Education Statistics, about 30 percent of fourth-graders and 20 percent 
of eighth graders cannot perform basic mathematical computations. 
Today, American students rank 21st out of 30 in science literacy among 
students from developed countries and 25th out of 30 in math literacy. 
If this trend continues, there will be dire consequences for our 
children and our economy.
  To be sure, in order to train and develop the amount of scientists, 
educators, and teachers of STEM subjects that our country needs, we 
would really need more of these graduate fellowship programs. As 
reflected in the budgetary request, which H.R. 2354 fails to meet, an 
increased number o graduate fellowships would be ideal to invest in our 
future.
  At the very least, we would want to keep the same amount of graduate 
fellowships available. Unfortunately, the proposed amount appropriated 
to these programs under H.R. 2354 ignores the current shortage of 
scientists and teachers, and irresponsibly ignores our future by 
providing for lesser amount of graduate fellowships.


  PROGRAM 2: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM)

  I have long recognized the need to improve the participation and 
performance of America's students in Science, Technology, and 
Engineering and Math, STEM, fields.
  Traditionally, our Nation recruited its STEM workforce from a 
relatively homogenous talent pool consisting largely of non-Hispanic 
White males. However, this pool has decreased significantly due not 
only to comprising an increasingly smaller proportion of the total US 
Population but also to declining interest among this group in pursuing 
careers in STEM. It is important to note that the need to improve the 
participation of underrepresented groups--especially underrepresented 
racial/ethnic groups--in STEM is not solely driven by demographics and 
supply-side considerations; an even more important driver is that STEM 
workers from a variety of backgrounds improve and enhance the quality 
of science insofar as they are likely to bring a variety of new 
perspectives to bear on the STEM enterprise in terms of both research 
and application (Best 2004; Jackson 2003; Leggon and Malcom 1994).
  The current state of STEM education is deplorable. In 2006 only 4.5 
percent of college graduates in the United States received a diploma in 
engineering, compared with 25.4 percent in South Korea, 33.3 percent in 
China, and 39.1 percent in Singapore. Today, American students rank 
21st out of 30 in science literacy among students from developed 
countries and 25th out of 30 in math literacy. If this

[[Page 11189]]

trend continues, there will be dire consequence for our children and 
our economy.
  These numbers are discouraging, but the statistics on minority 
students in the STEM fields are even more alarming. In 2004, African 
American and Hispanic students were among the least likely groups to 
take advanced math and science courses in high school. Even as African 
Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans comprise an increasingly 
large portion of the population, they continue to be underrepresented 
in the science and engineering disciplines. Together, these three 
groups account for over 25 percent of the population, but only earn 
16.2 percent of bachelor's degrees, 10.7 percent of master's degrees, 
and 5.4 percent of doctorate degtees in the science, math and 
engineering fields. This fact directly contributes to the unacceptable 
underrepresentation of African American and Hispanics in the STEM 
workforce. If we choose to continue to ignore this problem, we are not 
only shortchanging our students' success, we will be giving up on our 
Nation's future.
  Many school districts across the nation have begun to recognize this 
problem and work towards a strategic solution. In my home district for 
example, several public schools and charter schools have started to 
allocate funds towards programs aimed at increasing STEM performance.
  For example the Harmony Science Academy in Houston devotes an 
impressive amount of time and resources towards educating the city's 
youth in the sciences. Small class sizes, high expectations for 
students, and well-qualified teachers helped this school make it to 
Newsweek magazine's list of best high schools in America. Harmony 
Science Academy is a success story we can all be proud of. 
Unfortunately, schools like this are the exception and not the rule.
  In many school districts there simply are not enough resources 
available to make our children science and math literate. There is a 
shortage of qualified teachers, many classes are woefully overcrowded 
and some schools just cannot afford the materials and books that 
students need in order to master basic math and science concepts. I 
cannot stand idly by while we fail to give our children the educational 
tools they need to succeed in life and gain employment.
  This amendment recognizes the importance of equipping young minds 
with the technological and scientific knowledge necessary to compete in 
a globalized economy. Further, within the context of globalization, I 
strongly believe that this country's ability to achieve and maintain a 
high standard of living is dependent on the extent to which it can 
harness science and technology. Thus, in order to enhance the 
international competitiveness of the country, it is critical for us to 
promote and support students pursuing careers in STEM fields.
  Mr. Chairman, it is essential that we invest in a workforce ready for 
global competition by creating a new generation of innovators and make 
a sustained commitment to Federal research and development. We need to 
spur and expand affordable access to broadband, achieve energy 
independence, and provide small business with tools to encourage 
entrepreneurial innovation.
  The establishment and maintenance of a capable scientific and 
technological workforce remains an important facet of U.S. efforts to 
maintain economic competitiveness. Pre-college instruction in 
mathematics and scientific fields is crucial to the development of U.S. 
scientific and technological personnel, as well as our overall 
scientific literacy as a nation. The value of education in scientific 
and mathematics is not limited to those students pursuing a degree in 
one of these fields, and even students pursuing nonscientific and 
nonmathematical fields are likely to require basic knowledge in these 
subjects.
  Mr. Chairman, the United States has a great history of scientific 
innovation. From Ben Franklin to NASA to Silicon Valley, the success 
and competitiveness of America has always depended the knowledge and 
skills in the STEM fields. Funding my amendment today will help ensure 
that the American legacies of intelligence, innovation, and invention 
continue. Today I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and 
invest in America's future.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  The amendment was agreed to.


            Amendment Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to implement or enforce the recommendations or 
     guidance proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the final 
     draft of the McNary Shoreline Management Plan, Lake Wallula, 
     Washington.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  For years, the Walla Walla District of the Army Corps of Engineers 
has managed several miles of the public shoreline along the Columbia 
and Snake Rivers in the Tri-Cities area of my congressional district.
  Five years ago, in 2006, the Corps sought to update its McNary 
Shoreline Management Plan, which had last been revised in the early 
1980s. The existing management plan includes a permit program for 
private property owners that seek to build or use docks along the river 
shoreline.
  The 2006 revision was so controversial that the Corps was forced back 
to the drawing board. It proposed a variety of restrictive measures, 
including a moratorium on the building of docks by private property 
owners along the shoreline and requiring existing dock owners to tear 
out their docks at great personal expense in order to keep their 
permits.

                              {time}  1620

  The Corps got an earful at a public meeting on the proposal and this 
year came back with a similarly controversial proposal, which included 
new questionable mandates from the National Marine Fisheries Service--
including specific requirements for the length, width, color, and 
transparency of each dock, all of which NMFS claims would help save 
salmon.
  Mr. Chairman, with all existing local docks as is right now, salmon 
runs are at near record levels along the Columbia River, and the Corps 
itself acknowledges that juvenile salmon in the McNary area average 20 
to 30 million. Mr. Chairman, docks aren't killing salmon.
  Regrettably, the Corps did little to justify their plan's sketchy 
science at another recent public meeting at which over 200 people 
attended to voice their opposition.
  This amendment will ensure that the Army Corps will not charge ahead 
with a shoreline management plan until it answers questions about the 
questionable NMFS mandate and addresses concerns raised by a 
substantial number of citizens. Without this amendment, the Corps' 
unwise shoreline plan would be implemented and force questionable 
regulations on local residents and recreational activities.
  Mr. Chairman, I am not suggesting that the Corps should not be 
allowed to implement a revised shoreline plan, but it should not do so 
based on shaky science and without ensuring that the local public's 
concerns are adequately addressed.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We have no objection to your amendment. We are 
pleased to support it. Certainly anyone who lives near the Columbia and 
Snake Rivers knows this is a beautiful part of the country. We are 
aware of this issue and commend you for addressing it forthrightly.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I appreciate the chairman's concurrence 
on this. If that is the same on both sides, I will be more than happy 
to yield back.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                    Amendment Offered by Ms. Kaptur

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

[[Page 11190]]

  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __. The amounts otherwise provided by this Act are 
     revised by reducing the amount made available for 
     ``Department of Energy--Energy Programs--Departmental 
     Administration'', and by increasing the amount made available 
     for ``Department of Energy--Energy Programs--Energy 
     Efficiency and Renewable Energy'' (except for Program 
     Direction), by $10,000,000.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Ohio.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I offer this amendment to help promote a 
dynamic energy market in America through continued development of our 
budding solar industry. My amendment conservatively would transfer $10 
million from administrative costs within the Department of Energy and 
shift those to solar energy research and development within the Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy account.
  Certainly I understand the difficulty in drafting this bill, given 
the large allocation cuts for the Energy and Water Subcommittee, and I 
appreciate the chairman's work and the ranking member's work in helping 
America meet the energy and water challenges of our Nation, which are 
huge. Yet this bill cuts research in solar energy by more than one-
third from last year and over 60 percent from the President's request, 
providing $166 million--$97 million below fiscal year 2011 and $291 
million below the request.
  The $10 million transfer I propose from administration to 
implementation represents less than 5 percent of the funds in the 
administrative budget of the Department of Energy. I want to make clear 
that this amendment does not target other programs that are critical to 
our Nation's energy needs. Rather than cut fossil fuels and nuclear 
power, this amendment asks the Department of Energy to tighten its 
administrative belt a little bit more to prioritize the 
administration's core mission, the promotion of a viable energy future 
for America, and to do it in a sector that is growing jobs in our 
country despite what we face in terms of international global 
competition.
  While this amendment proposes a modest 5 percent cut from the 
Department's administrative accounts, these dollars will go far in 
supporting additional energy options for American consumers and 
companies.
  Solar energy production has nearly tripled in the last 5 years. In 
2006, we generated 508,000 megawatt hours. Today, we produce 1.4 
million megawatt hours annually. And I can't wait until it is 100 
million.
  Ernst & Young predicts the cost of solar will decrease by as much as 
half next year. And while the U.S. economy is anticipated to increase 
jobs by just 2 percent over the next year, in the solar industry that 
number is 26 percent, according to Cornell University. As costs go down 
and production capacity grows, solar energy becomes a viable 
alternative to imported energy sources. And this is exactly what our 
country needs right now: a vibrant energy market that gives Americans 
choices and encourages economic growth here at home.
  Now, some would argue that with numbers like these, solar energy 
doesn't need anything, any additional funding, but I disagree. It is 
precisely because of our investment in this fledgling, cutting-edge 
industry that is high tech that such successes are possible. We cannot 
allow America to be complacent. Right now we are in competition to be 
the energy leader of the future in this sector. For years, we were the 
leader in developing new technology, but we have been falling behind. 
And guess who has been right at our heels the whole time: China. China 
knows that our technology will power the future, and they are setting 
themselves up to be the new global leaders in solar. I can verify that.
  As we sat back and patted ourselves here, China exponentially 
increased their funding for solar and other clean energy technology. In 
addition, they are providing 15-year tax holidays for firms that locate 
production there. So as we develop this very fledgling industry here, 
they are more than willing to outsource it there. So we must redouble 
our efforts and continue our investment in research and bring this 
market to scale in America.
  Right now, we are powering homes and some bases with solar. We should 
be powering neighborhoods and entire communities. That's what it means 
to have the real thriving, new energy market that Americans are 
demanding, and the jobs that go with them.
  This amendment will create increased efficiency within the Department 
of Energy and promote American industry and energy independence. I ask 
my colleagues to think about it and help me by supporting this 
amendment which merely takes less than 5 percent of the administrative 
budget of the Department of Energy, $10 million--we are not talking 
about billions here--and shifts it to the Solar Energy account. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in supporting the Kaptur amendment for solar.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
gentlewoman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The gentlewoman's amendment would reduce funding 
in the departmental accounts. Because of quite a few amendments we have 
already passed on the floor, your reduction would not be a 5 percent 
reduction; it probably would be a 10 percent reduction.
  I know generally there is not a lot of sympathy for administrative 
responsibilities in the Department of Energy, but this would leave 
Secretary Steve Chu with not perhaps enough people in his operation to 
oversee a lot of issues that he has before him, including solar energy.
  May I say for the record, the Solar Energy account in the Department 
of Energy budget is $166 million. It is less than perhaps what it 
should be, but if you take it from the Department administrative 
account, we will have, I think, cause for more managerial problems to 
deal with. We also, may I say, have in the Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable program, as I have mentioned on a number of occasions, $9 
billion of unspent stimulus funds. So there is plenty of money in here, 
and I don't think that the Department salaries and wages ought to 
suffer and be reduced at a time when they need the additional 
leadership over there. I somewhat reluctantly oppose your amendment and 
urge my colleagues to do so as well.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1630

  Ms. KAPTUR. May I inquire as to my remaining time?
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Ohio has 30 seconds remaining.
  Ms. KAPTUR. I want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee very 
much, Mr. Frelinghuysen, as well as the ranking member, Mr. Visclosky, 
for allowing me this time.
  I am going to ask for a vote on this amendment, but I am hoping that 
as this moves towards the Senate and final consideration that, as to 
some of those who just happened to get to the microphone earlier, we 
might find a way to move some of those dollars around to support an 
industry that truly is a cutting-edge industry for our country, which 
deserves the kind of support that this Congress should give to new 
technology to try to create good jobs in this country and help us wean 
ourselves off our chief strategic vulnerability--imported energy.
  I ask my colleagues to support the Kaptur amendment on solar.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Ohio will 
be postponed.

[[Page 11191]]




            Amendment Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the 
desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 609. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Department of Energy to move the Office of 
     Environmental Management under the authority of the Under 
     Secretary for Nuclear Security of the Department of Energy.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, last Friday, the Department 
of Energy made a surprise announcement that not only was the Assistant 
Secretary for Environmental Management--or EM--leaving but that they 
were restructuring the entire $6 billion program under the Under 
Secretary of Nuclear Security, who also serves as the head of the NNSA.
  EM is responsible for cleaning up the nuclear waste created during 
our Nation's defense program that helped end World War II and the Cold 
War. The Federal Government has signed legal agreements with the States 
to clean up this waste. The major restructuring was simply declared by 
DOE with absolutely zero consultation with Congress, the States, the 
communities or the stakeholders.
  I haven't been given sufficient answer to the simple question: How 
does EM benefit from this change?
  We have no idea how this decision was reached or why restructuring 
was considered. Given what little has been made public, I believe there 
are some real risks, including the potential for cleanup to become less 
of a priority under as structure that has always been focused--and 
rightfully so--on nuclear security.
  In the late 1980s, DOE moved the cleanup program out of the weapons 
program in order to provide more definition, transparency and to focus 
on cleanup. Now DOE wants to put them back together.
  I ask again: What is the benefit to EM?
  In DOE's own words from this past Friday: ``The Office of 
Environmental Management has made unparalleled progress in cleaning up 
our Nation's Cold War nuclear legacy at sites across the country.'' 
Yet, out of nowhere, they decide to throw the program into a state of 
flux.
  Without sufficient answers, I can't stand idly by while the 
department makes a seemingly snap decision that will impact something 
as important and as complex as nuclear waste cleanup. So my amendment 
would prohibit the use of funds to move the Office of Environmental 
Management under the Under Secretary of Nuclear Security.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield to the distinguished chairman, 
the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I would be happy to support your amendment. Of 
course, I will reserve judgment as to what Secretary Chu's plans are as 
they're somewhat on the drawing board; but we would agree with you that 
he needs to come to the Appropriations Committee and explain fully how 
he is going to have a better program for environmental management. It's 
too important to the Nation, not only to your State, but to other 
cleanup operations and sites around the Nation.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I thank the gentleman for his support.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I would be happy to yield to the 
gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I would make the point that this past Friday, the 
Department of Energy said that the Office of Environmental Management 
has made unparalleled progress in cleaning up our Nation's Cold War 
nuclear legacy at sites across the country, and then they announced 
restructuring. This subcommittee held a hearing on the issue of cleanup 
in April of 2006. We find ourselves here in 2011 still talking about 
it, let alone the cost.
  I appreciate the gentleman's concern. My point would be I have some 
ambivalence, as I'd mentioned to the gentleman earlier, simply because 
I had a conversation with the Secretary relative to the change. My 
observation to the Secretary is I appreciate he knows he has a problem, 
and I also appreciate he has done something about the problem.
  I certainly appreciate the attentiveness of the gentleman, of your 
involvement and your good work on this, and I certainly do not object 
to what you're trying to accomplish here, because I do think, the 
stronger the message, the more diligent the department will be on this 
matter. I thank the gentleman for raising the issue.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. In reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I 
will simply say that this may be a good idea; but for goodness sakes, 
what is the benefit to a $6 billion program that only 6 days ago was 
announced is moving under another structure? There may be a good 
reason, but tell us what that reason is. So this amendment, hopefully, 
will elicit that answer, and we can move forward.
  With support on both sides, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Engel

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Department of Energy or any other Federal 
     agency to lease or purchase new light duty vehicles, for any 
     executive fleet, or for an agency's fleet inventory, except 
     in accordance with Presidential Memorandum-Federal Fleet 
     Performance, dated May 24, 2011.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, on May 24, President Obama issued a 
memorandum on Federal fleet performance, which requires all new light-
duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to be alternate few vehicles, such 
as hybrid, electric, natural gas or biofuel, by December 31, 2015.
  My amendment simply echos the Presidential memorandum by prohibiting 
funds in the Energy and Water appropriations bill from being used to 
lease or purchase new light-duty vehicles except in accord with the 
President's memorandum. I have introduced similar amendments to the 
Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and the Agriculture 
appropriations bills. All three were accepted by the majority and 
passed by voice vote.
  Our transportation sector is by far the biggest reason we send $600 
billion per year to hostile nations to pay for oil at ever-increasing 
costs, but America doesn't need to be dependent on foreign sources of 
oil for transportation fuel. Alternative technologies exist today that 
when implemented broadly will allow any alternative fuel to be used in 
America's automotive fleet.
  The Federal Government operates the largest fleet of light-duty 
vehicles in America. According to GSA, there are over 660,000 vehicles 
in the Federal fleet, with just over 15,000 being used by the 
Department of Energy. By supporting a diverse array of vehicle 
technologies in our Federal fleet, we will encourage the development of 
domestic energy resources, including biomass, natural gas, coal, 
agricultural waste, hydrogen, and renewable electricity. Expanding the 
role these energy sources play in or transportation economy will help 
break the leverage over Americans held by foreign government-controlled 
oil companies; it will increase our Nation's domestic security,

[[Page 11192]]

and protect consumers from price spikes and shortages in the world's 
oil markets.
  I just want to say very briefly on a similar note, I have worked with 
my colleagues John Shimkus, Roscoe Bartlett and Steve Israel to 
introduce the bipartisan Open Fuel Standard Act, which is H.R. 1687. 
Our bill would require 50 percent of all new automobiles in 2014, 80 
percent in 2016, and 95 percent in 2017 to be warranted to operate on 
non-petroleum fuels in addition to, or instead of, petroleum-based 
fuels. Compliance possibilities include the full array of existing 
technologies, including flex fuel, natural gas, hydrogen, biodiesel, 
plug-in electric drive, and fuel cell, as well as a catchall of new 
technologies.
  So I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

                              {time}  1640

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ENGEL. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We are prepared to accept your amendment and 
commend you for it.
  Mr. ENGEL. I thank the gentleman.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).
  The amendment was agreed to.


            Amendment Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, for the last time, I have 
an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available to the Corps of 
     Engineers by this Act may be used for the removal or 
     associated mitigation of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
     Project number 2342.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, in these tight budget times, it is more important than 
ever that the Federal Government focus its funding on the most 
essential and core functions. The Federal Government, however, should 
not subsidize private companies' business decisions, particularly when 
that business decision involves tearing out a 14 megawatt hydropower 
dam that has served two rural counties in my district.
  The Condit Dam, a privately owned and operated hydropower-producing 
dam located in my district, was constructed in 1913 on the White Salmon 
River, which is a tributary of the Columbia River. Since 1947, the 
Condit Dam has been owned and operated by PacifiCorp and has held a 
license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
  Over the past 20 years, rather than agree to the rigorous and costly 
measures associated with the FERC relicensing process, PacifiCorp opted 
to pursue actions to surrender its license to operate the dam and now 
wants to remove that dam at its own cost. This amendment will ensure 
that no Federal tax dollars will be used by the Corps of Engineers to 
remove or mitigate for the removal of the Condit Dam.
  Recently, PacifiCorp representatives communicated to my office that 
they acknowledge that PacifiCorp itself, and not the Corps, is 
responsible for all impacts that removing this dam might cause to the 
Federal Columbia River navigation channel. My amendment simply ensures 
that the Federal taxpayers do not get left holding the bag for a 
private company's actions that could cost this private company, by 
their own admission, up to $32 million.
  Having said that, I do want to say this, Mr. Chairman. While I give 
tacit approval to a dam being removed in the Northwest--it's a private 
decision by a private company--I want to reiterate and continue my 
opposition to any attempt to remove any of the Federal dams along the 
Columbia or Snake River. This is a private company making their 
decision, and they should pay for it; and that's what this amendment 
attempts to address.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield to the distinguished chairman.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I am pleased to support your amendment.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I thank the gentleman very much.
  With that concurrence on the other side, I yield back the balance of 
my time and urge adoption of the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                    Amendment Offered by Mrs. Capps

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds provided in this Act may be 
     expended by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the 
     purposes of the license renewal process for the Diablo Canyon 
     Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2, until advanced, peer-
     reviewed seismic studies are completed and lessons learned 
     from the earthquake and resulting tsunami that severely 
     damaged Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on 
     March 11, 2011 are taken into account.

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the 
gentlewoman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Capps) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  My amendment would ensure the Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not 
move forward with the license renewal process for the Diablo Canyon 
power plant, located in my congressional district, until advanced 
seismic studies are completed and independently reviewed.
  Over the last several months, I've called for a short pause in the 
relicensing effort currently under way at this nuclear power plant 
until a myriad of seismic questions at the facility are answered. 
Further studies are needed to demonstrate if the plant's design and 
operations can withstand an earthquake and other potential threats, 
including a previously undetected fault line, the Shoreline Fault, 
which runs within a few hundred yards of the plant. Even PG&E, the 
plant's operator, has acknowledged the validity of these concerns.
  Earlier this year, the utility acceded to my request and asked the 
NRC to delay the finance issuance of the plant's license renewal while 
it completes recommended advanced seismic studies of the area. The NRC 
agreed to review those findings before making a final decision. PG&E 
also asked the California Public Utilities Commission to suspend 
proceedings associated with license renewal for Diablo Canyon until the 
studies are submitted to the NRC.
  But, Mr. Chairman, PG&E and the NRC are only talking about delaying 
the final decision. The relicensing process is still going forward, 
despite the fact that virtually all of the decisions that would be made 
about the relicensing of the plant would be affected by what the 
seismic studies tell us. The cart is clearly being put before the horse 
here, and we need to rectify this.
  My constituents deserve answers to questions regarding the ability of 
the plant to withstand an earthquake and nuclear accident at the same 
time and how long the plant would be self-sustaining in the event of 
such damage. It is particularly pertinent given that in March the NRC 
confirmed that Diablo Canyon is one of two nuclear power plants in the 
highest risk seismic areas in the country.
  I am, to put it lightly, concerned that the NRC has not taken this 
seismic risk seriously enough. For example, it has failed to support 
the recommendations from a 2008 California

[[Page 11193]]

Energy Commission report clearly delineating that more information is 
needed to determine the true seismic risk at Diablo Canyon. And just 
yesterday, an NRC task force review of the Japanese reactor meltdowns 
determined that our reactors are not sufficiently prepared to respond 
to catastrophic events or even simple power outages, like the one that 
triggered the Fukushima meltdown.
  The NRC should quickly move to adopt the recommendations of this 
report as well as the full complement of lessons that can be learned 
from this disaster, and it should do it before moving forward on 
issuing new operating licenses to PG&E to run Diablo Canyon long into 
the future.
  Finally, it is important to note, Mr. Chairman, that there is no 
hurry to relicense Diablo Canyon. The current operating licenses run to 
2024 and 2025. Surely that's more than enough time to adequately 
investigate seismic concerns in a thoughtful and transparent manner.
  To be clear, I'm not calling for Diablo Canyon to be shut down or for 
the plant to be denied new operating licenses. What I am doing with 
this amendment is asking that the relicensing process be paused, 
briefly, until comprehensive, independent analyses of the seismic 
issues are completed and that they be considered as part of the 
relicensing process.
  Diablo Canyon provides over 3 million people in California with 
affordable electricity. It provides many jobs in my district. It's an 
important element of the tax base of San Luis Obispo County; but this 
is an issue about safety, and we all agree that safety must be 
everyone's number one concern here.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment that would ensure that 
this is the case.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chair, earlier today, during consideration of H.R. 
2354, Ms. Capps offered an amendment that would have required peer-
reviewed seismic studies to be completed and lessons learned from the 
Japanese nuclear disaster before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
considers an application to renew the operating licenses for the Diablo 
Canyon nuclear power plant in California. I thought this was a 
reasonable approach. Unfortunately, that amendment was ruled out of 
order. Though this second Capps amendment is less precise than the 
original amendment, I support it because I believe it is crucial that 
the necessary seismic studies be completed and considered during the 
license renewal process. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must have a 
comprehensive understanding of what went wrong at the Fukushima Daiichi 
reactors and access to the latest scientific information in order to 
ensure that Diablo Canyon can be safely operated after the current 
licenses expire in 2024 and 2025. I urge my colleagues to support this 
amendment.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I yield back the balance of my time.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I insist on my point of order.
  Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the amendment because 
it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an 
appropriation bill and therefore violates clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The rule states in pertinent part: ``An amendment to a general 
appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' 
The amendment imposes additional duties.
  I ask for a ruling from the Chair.
  The Acting CHAIR. Does any Member wish to speak on the point of 
order?
  The Chair is prepared to rule.
  The Chair finds that this amendment imposes new duties on the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission. The amendment therefore constitutes legislation 
in violation of clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The point of order is sustained, and the amendment is not in order.

                              {time}  1650


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Flake

  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following new section:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for the Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy.

  Mr. FLAKE (during the reading). I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendment be considered as read.
  The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Chairman, I know there are a lot of people that are 
offering amendments, so I will try to move very quickly here.
  This amendment would simply prohibit funds from going to the Advanced 
Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA-E. There is ARPA-Defense, 
there is ARPA other stuff, there is ARPA-E. This is what we are trying 
to do is prohibit funding from going to ARPA-E, or energy.
  ARPA-E is currently set to receive about $100 million in this 
appropriation bill. The most compelling argument given to defund ARPA-E 
is found on its own Web site, which states that it was established ``to 
focus on creative, out-of-the-box transformational energy research that 
industry by itself cannot or will not support due to its high risk, but 
where success would provide dramatic benefits.'' It is this kind of, I 
guess, out-of-the-box thinking that has gotten us into this deficit 
that we're running, about $1.6 trillion.
  We are broke. We are borrowing 41 cents on every dollar that we 
spend, yet still we find within our budget reason to find $100 million 
to fund energy research in private companies that others won't fund 
because it's too risky.
  Now, we're not talking about products for defense for which there is 
no commercial application; we're talking about private sector research 
that could reap a windfall for some private company, and has in a 
number of other areas. But yet we believe that it's prudent to borrow--
because we're borrowing everything here--borrow money from the taxpayer 
to pick and choose favored companies to receive this research money.
  It's not right. We ought to defund it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. My colleague's amendment would eliminate funding 
for ARPA-E. The committee's top responsibility, of course, is to reduce 
government spending, and I appreciate my colleague's amendment and 
perhaps some of his other amendments for that reason. To that end, our 
bill reduces spending for energy and water development to near the 2006 
level, $100 billion below fiscal year 2011, and a full $5.9 billion 
below the request.
  I certainly share many of my colleague's concerns about this program. 
The committee has taken a very close look at it. Right now, ARPA-E must 
not intervene where private capital markets are already acting, and it 
must not be redundant with other programs of the Department of Energy.
  I oppose the gentleman's amendment.
  I yield to the ranking member, Mr. Visclosky.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the chairman yielding and would join him 
in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.
  We just had a vote earlier in the Chamber adding $79 million to this 
program. But setting that particular vote aside, as I have mentioned 
several times, while I have great trepidation about people at the 
Department of Energy talking to each other and the Department not 
having the same vigor, if you would, that they have for ARPA-E, 
instilling that in other research centers, it does appear that this is 
a successful program in its infancy. We certainly ought to make sure 
that it has a chance to show that it can be successful over a limited 
number of years--they are talking about 3. My emphasis with them is to 
distill that same effort across the Department of Energy.
  So I would join my chairman in opposing the gentleman's amendment.

[[Page 11194]]


  Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I would be happy to yield to the gentleman from 
Washington.
  Mr. DICKS. I rise in opposition to this amendment, too. The bill 
would provide $100 million for ARPA-E, which is already $80 million 
less than FY 2011 funding--and of course we have to take into account 
the amendment that was just passed--and $450 million below the 
President's budget request.
  ARPA-E is a promising new program that can drive innovation to 
support our scientific competitiveness. As I stated previously in my 
opening statement, ARPA-E has shown potential as a new organizational 
model. And I am disappointed that the same vigor that led to its 
creation has been largely absent when it comes to addressing the 
systemic and organizational problems in other existing applied 
programs, which was an element of the justification used for ARPA-E.
  ARPA-E is modeled on DARPA. And as the ranking member of the Defense 
Appropriations Subcommittee, DARPA has been one of the great leaders of 
innovation in the national security area.
  So again, I'm sorry to say it, but I think we have to defeat the 
Flake amendment.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Chairman, I'm just hoping that this amendment doesn't 
rise to the level of being the most ridiculous amendment that the 
gentleman from Washington has ever seen.
  Mr. DICKS. Close.
  Mr. FLAKE. They usually do.
  But I would just say again here, we're not talking about things in 
national security or in defense for which there is no commercial 
application, for which companies that invest in this kind of research 
would not reap a windfall, the reason for which the profit motive 
incentivizes companies to invest in these things. Why in the world does 
government have to be the investor of last resort in what are, quote, 
transformational energy research for which the industry by itself 
cannot or will not support due to its high risk? I mean, if it's that 
high risk, believe me, we shouldn't be taking it.
  If venture capital out there won't do it, we shouldn't be doing it 
either with money that we're borrowing from venture capitalists and 
others who have a little better idea than we do. When we go out and 
support corn ethanol for 30 years, for crying out loud, or some of 
these other things and we keep doing it and saying, Yeah, it's going to 
come around one of these days and this is just a promising new area of 
research, come on. We're $14 trillion in debt. We have negotiations 
going on right now over at the White House or somewhere else trying to 
figure a way to raise the debt ceiling to spend more.
  Isn't it time that we review programs like this, where we are trying 
to replace what is not happening in the private sector or trying to 
outguess the private sector?
  And I just tell you, if we can't cut here, I don't know where we're 
going to cut, I really don't. The gentleman made the point that we are 
down to 2006 levels. Great. We ought to go further than that. I mean, 
2006, we act as if that was a Great Depression year, ``Grapes of 
Wrath'' music playing or something. It wasn't exactly that. We have 
seen ramping up year after year after year in some of these programs. 
We are spending more than we ever have.
  So I would urge adoption of the amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will 
be postponed.


                    Amendment Offered by Mrs. Capps

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following new section:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds provided in this Act may be 
     expended by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to issue a 
     draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for 
     Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  It is my hope that we can simply all agree to this amendment. It 
would simply bar the NRC from issuing a draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement for the license renewal of the Diablo 
Canyon nuclear power plant.
  The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that the NRC does not move 
forward with the relicensing effort currently underway at Diablo Canyon 
until advanced, peer-reviewed seismic studies of the area are completed 
and the findings are shared with the NRC. These advanced seismic 
studies are needed because the USGS--U.S. Geological Survey--announced 
in 2008 the discovery of a previously undetected fault line, the 
Shoreline Fault, which runs within a few hundred yards of Diablo 
Canyon.

                              {time}  1700

  The NRC also recently confirmed that Diablo Canyon is one of two 
nuclear power plants in the highest risk seismic areas in the country. 
Without these studies, we cannot say for certain whether an earthquake 
along the Shoreline Fault or others nearby would result in a severe 
nuclear accident.
  It's important to note, Mr. Chairman, that my amendment only affects 
the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. It will not shut down the power 
plant, nor will it stop the relicensing effort or even prevent PG&E, 
the plant's operator, from gaining new operating licensings to run 
Diablo Canyon in the future. Instead, it would simply ensure the NRC 
gets answers to the unstudied and unresolved seismic questions before 
it issues the draft environmental report.
  My amendment is also consistent with PG&E's own request that the NRC 
delay the final issuance of the plant's license renewal until its 
seismic research in the area is completed. The NRC has also made it 
clear it will review those findings before making a decision on whether 
to grant renewed operating licenses for the plant to PG&E.
  Moreover, last month, PG&E asked the California Public Utilities 
Commission to suspend proceedings associated with license renewal 
funding for Diablo Canyon until its advanced seismic studies are 
finished and the findings have been submitted to the NRC. 
Unfortunately, however, work on the relicensing effort continues, even 
though the seismic studies have not been completed and won't be for 
several years and even though the outcome of these studies could very 
well affect every operation at the plant.
  Mr. Chairman, we need answers about the seismic risks at Diablo 
Canyon and what steps are needed to address them and prepare for any 
disaster, and we need them before the relicensing process moves 
forward. So I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this 
straightforward amendment, to ensure an evaluation of the risks that 
the offshore faults pose to Diablo Canyon.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
gentlewoman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We respect the gentlewoman's efforts to protect 
the interests of her State and district; however, her amendment 
intervenes in a specific local project by prohibiting funds for a 
required step in the licensing process. I do not believe this is an 
appropriate Federal role in a process

[[Page 11195]]

that should be driven by the State and local communities while being 
carefully evaluated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. I, therefore, 
must oppose the amendment and urge other Members to oppose it as well.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I would be happy to yield to the ranking member 
from Indiana.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the gentleman yielding.
  I reluctantly join him in his opposition. Again, I understand what 
the gentlewoman from California is attempting to do. I appreciate her 
endeavors here and certainly would commit to working with her to ensure 
that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is moving forward in a 
considered and responsible manner on this license application.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California 
will be postponed.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Flake

  Mr. FLAKE. I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following new section:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for the Fossil Energy Research and Development 
     program of the Department of Energy.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. FLAKE. This amendment would prohibit funds from going to the 
Fossil Energy Research and Development program.
  The Fossil Energy Research and Development program is set to receive 
nearly $500 million through this appropriation bill. The committee 
report recommends that no less than $25 million be used to continue 
research in certain areas. But we shouldn't have any money going to 
subsidize Big Oil.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The gentleman's amendment would eliminate funding 
for the Fossil Energy Research and Development program, causing 
hundreds, if not thousands, of job losses and threatening our Nation's 
ability to compete in the rapidly growing portion of the energy sector.
  I may also note for the record, Mr. Chairman, that Arizona itself is 
dependent, I believe, with close to 60 percent of its energy coming 
from fossil energy. So fossil energy is a part of the Nation's 
equation, and we had better be careful before we eliminate research and 
development.
  Let me say, I appreciate and recognize the gentleman's passion for 
cutting spending and spending that is duplicative, but this type of 
research is important.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the ranking member.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I want to join the chairman in his opposition.
  Recognizing that 70 percent of our energy consumption comes from 
carbon fuels, it's very important for this government and for this 
Nation to learn how to, as efficiently and as effectively, use them. 
And again I think, for that reason alone, we should oppose the 
gentleman's amendment.
  I appreciate the chairman yielding.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLAKE. You know, with an energy resource as old as fossil energy, 
we're talking fossil fuels, we're talking Big Oil. We always hear from 
the other side of the aisle, Quit subsidizing Big Oil. And here we are 
directly saying we're going to give them research.
  You know, some of the companies that directly receive grants under 
the plan I think are companies like Chevron or others to develop energy 
in the gulf or whatever else. Why in the world are we subsidizing that? 
We are hearing that they have profits, billions and billions of dollars 
just in the quarter, not just the year, and yet here we are subsidizing 
them again to more efficiently use fossil energy?
  Now, fossil energy has been around a long time. It's not exactly a 
notion that no research goes into it. And it's going to be around for a 
lot longer still. Why in the world is the Federal Government saying we 
need to subsidize these companies who are conducting research on use 
and efficiency for fossil energy?
  If we can't cut here, again, where can we cut? If we're going to 
stand up for Big Oil when it comes to spending money here, then where 
can we cut? I'm just flabbergasted when I come down to the floor and 
look at what we're funding and subsidizing here. But yet I hear the 
rhetoric about how we need to make sure that they're paying taxes and 
whatever else. I think they should. I think we ought to get rid of the 
corporate subsidies, all of these kinds of corporate subsidies. But why 
in the world are we developing programs to spend billions of dollars 
overall, millions in this case, to help these for-profit companies that 
we blast in one breath and then subsidize with the next? Where does it 
end, Mr. Chairman? If we can't cut here, where can we cut?
  Again, this is fossil energy. It's been around a long time. It will 
be around a long time. We don't need to subsidize it.
  And remember, every dollar we spend here is a dollar that we have 
borrowed from people across the country, from taxpayers, from 
investors, from venture capitalists, from others who would invest it 
far more wisely than we would here. The best allocation of capital 
resources is through the free market, not by government fiat or 
subsidy. We've learned that over time, but yet we persist in doing this 
time after time after time.
  I urge adoption of the amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will 
be postponed.

                              {time}  1710


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Denham

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. 6__.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement section 10011(b) of Public Law 111-11.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Denham) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. DENHAM. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chair, the underlying bill has already removed the funding for a 
program that is failing to show any positive results and has done more 
harm than good. The San Joaquin River Restoration Program continues to 
push forward on an ill-advised path of wasting water out to the ocean 
under the guise of saving salmon. What this amendment does is to 
prohibit the premature reintroduction of an endangered species into an 
uninhabitable

[[Page 11196]]

 river, a river biologists say is not ready for salmon, a program that 
is supposed to occur after the construction of fish screens and the 
completion of an environmental study, neither of which is complete.
  All Central Valley salmon runs are struggling to regain healthy 
numbers. This amendment ensures that bureaucrats don't purposely reduce 
the numbers of available salmon in other streams to plant them into the 
San Joaquin system and further threaten or endanger current runs. The 
Bureau of Reclamation needs to be provided with more time to complete 
the environmental studies and build the infrastructure required by the 
San Joaquin River Restoration Program before this river can sustain a 
salmon run.
  Finally, even the National Marine Fisheries Services has doubts about 
the success of reintroduction. Contained within the final draft of 
their Reintroduction Strategies, NMFS expressed concerns that the San 
Joaquin River Restoration Program will not complete necessary channel 
improvements for a successful reintroduction.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the 
amendment offered by my colleague from California. In 2009, Congress 
ratified the San Joaquin Settlement Act, which ended 18 years of 
litigation in the Central Valley of California over water. The 
agreement was supported by the previous administration and California's 
then-Republican Governor Schwarzenegger.
  The Federal authorizing legislation was initially cosponsored by 
Congressman Pombo in the House and Senator Feinstein in the Senate. The 
underlying bill zeroes the $9 million request for the San Joaquin River 
Restoration Fund and rescinds $66 million in mandatory funds for these 
activities.
  As we stand on the House floor today, we are undermining this 
agreement, which, if it were to stand, that is the amendment, will land 
this case simply back into court. If the court is forced to take over 
river restoration, the Friant water users would be at risk of losing 
over 20 years of water supply certainty provided by the settlement. The 
amendment, I believe, is an attempt to end the broadly supported and 
bipartisan effort to restore the river, while also improving water 
supply management, flood protection, and water quality.
  The amendment is piling on, if you would, given that the vast 
majority of funding for the settlement has been cut. There is no need 
to eliminate all funding just to ensure water attorneys can make a few 
more boat payments.
  As I said at the outset, I strongly oppose the gentleman's amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chair, it's apparent that the gentleman from Indiana 
has not seen the river in my area, or simply just doesn't understand 
its flow. But to take an endangered species from Northern California, 
truck it down to the Central Valley, put it into a river that does not 
have fish screens, that does not have fish ladders, that does not have 
the environmental study just to watch these fish die is not only 
irresponsible, but it's a waste of money.
  So I would invite the gentleman from Indiana to come visit us 
anytime. But certainly don't make the mistake of killing an endangered 
species. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. In closing, I would again point out that in 2009, 
Congress ratified this settlement to end 18 years of litigation. I do 
not think we should adopt the amendment and potentially begin another 
18 years of litigation and would ask my colleagues to oppose the 
amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Denham).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Scalise

  Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___ For ``Corps of Engineers-Civil--Construction'' 
     there is hereby appropriated, and the amount otherwise 
     provided by this Act for ``Corps of Engineers-Civil--
     Expenses'' is hereby reduced by, $1,000,000.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
  Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Chairman, I offer this bipartisan amendment with my 
fellow Louisiana colleague, Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond. And 
what our amendment does is it transfers $1 million out of the Corps of 
Engineers' expense account and into the Corps' construction account for 
critical coastal restoration efforts.
  If you look at what we're dealing with here, what we're trying to 
address, not only can we maintain fiscal responsibility, but we need to 
also maintain and restore America's wetlands.
  And just what is happening to America's wetlands? What are we trying 
to address with this amendment? Louisiana alone has lost 25 square 
miles of coastal wetlands every year.
  And I want to hold up this football to represent that every single 
hour, Mr. Chairman, every single hour the State of Louisiana alone 
loses an entire football field of land, an entire football field of 
land that's eroded away. And what exactly does that wetland, America's 
wetland, protect that's eroding away?
  I want to show a chart here of the oil and gas infrastructure, the 
pipelines that move America's energy throughout the country. In the 
gulf coast alone, just in Louisiana, we produce about one-third of 
America's energy. And we talk all the time about our interest in 
reducing our country's dependence on foreign oil, and I strongly, 
strongly support that effort. In fact, Louisiana is at the forefront of 
doing that.
  But that energy that we produce, and we ought to be producing more of 
it, we have the opportunity to produce more, but the energy we do 
produce is distributed throughout the entire country through pipelines 
that are in jeopardy right now because of that erosion of our coast, 
this wetland in America.
  And not only is it the oil and gas infrastructure that's at risk, but 
also seafood production. The gulf coast of Louisiana, we produce a 
third of the country's seafood. And just looking at this chart makes me 
hungry when you look at the oysters, and the crabs, and the fish, this 
great product that we produce off our coast. But all of that comes from 
America's wetland, from that wetland that's evaporating, eroding away. 
And we're trying, we're bringing a bipartisan amendment to stop that 
from happening.
  Louisiana's put its own skin in the game to the tune of over a 
billion dollars, over a billion dollars of money that Louisiana's put 
in. But there was a project that was authorized by this Congress, 
because this is a national issue. And, in fact, Congress has recognized 
this is an issue that shouldn't just be left up to Louisiana, because 
we're talking about something that protects and serves the entire 
country. And that's why in 2007, the LCA project was authorized by 
Congress. And all we're trying to do is keep that project alive, moving 
a million dollars from the expense account over into the Corps' 
construction account.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in reluctant opposition. First of all, I 
want to commend the gentleman for his advocacy for coastal restoration, 
and should we say literally carrying the ball for coastal restoration 
and for his remarkable props. We know on this committee what a high 
priority it is for his district and his State. May I thank him also for 
coming to the floor

[[Page 11197]]

earlier to make a case, obviously, for controlling spending, but also 
doing some things that are very important to his constituents and 
others affected by the devastating floods. I want to commend him for 
his strong advocacy.

                              {time}  1720

  The bill before us includes more than $16 million, or more than 15 
percent of the entire investigations account, to continue work on 
coastal restoration through studies, engineering, and design on various 
components of the program.
  The committee had to make some tough choices in the bill, though, and 
although the Corps of Engineers construction account has increased $86 
million above the President's request, let me say, above the 
President's request, it is still a reduction from fiscal year 2011.
  The Corps had numerous projects under construction that were not 
included in the President's budget request and so were likely to be 
funded in construction year 2012.
  While construction funding is trending downward, I believe it is most 
prudent to prioritize funding for these ongoing projects so they can be 
completed and the Federal Government can realize some benefits from 
previous spending, rather than starting new projects, as important as 
they are.
  And even given that this project is currently authorized at 
approaching $2 billion and may continue to grow, it would not be 
prudent to begin another major new project while we have so many new 
commitments.
  For these reasons I must oppose the amendment, but I sympathize with 
the gentleman on the purposes for which he is here.
  I yield to the ranking member, the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I thank the chairman for yielding.
  I also would use the word ``reluctantly'' because I understand the 
need that the gentleman has in his region in this country. I appreciate 
his efforts in this regard.
  But, again, I do support the Chair's policies as far as no new 
starts, given the fact that over the last several years we have 
terminated hundreds of ongoing projects. This is going to be a 
significant cost.
  Until we can have the intestinal fortitude with the administration to 
provide the necessary funds for ongoing funds alone, it is difficult to 
begin a new endeavor. The gentleman indicated his efforts to increase a 
request made by the President, despite his best efforts to add money to 
the bill. We are now $677 million below what we are spending on water 
projects in this country in fiscal year 2010.
  So, again, with all reluctance I am constrained to join with my 
chairman in opposition.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the interest by both 
gentlemen in dealing with the backlog that the Corps currently has, 
and, in fact, that's one of the reasons why, when I worked closely with 
my colleague from New Orleans, Cedric Richmond, on this amendment, we 
first of all made sure not to take anything away from existing 
projects, so those existing projects in the pipeline are not affected 
at all by this amendment.
  And, in fact, the Corps's overall budget is not increased by our 
amendment, and we worked very hard to get to that point that we weren't 
taking away from other vital projects but pointing out that this is not 
a Louisiana-specific issue, this is a national issue. And as we talked 
about that pipeline, that series of pipelines that goes throughout the 
entire country to supply the energy needs of our Nation, and we talk 
about the vital seafood production and the things that make our gulf 
seafood so appetizing to people all around the country and around the 
world, but I also want to go back to this football and talk about the 
football field of land that erodes every hour. Just the last hour we 
have been sitting here, an entire football field of America's wetlands 
has eroded away, and we can reverse that trend without taking away from 
any other projects.
  I understand the importance of that and, like I said, that's why we 
worked so hard to put the amendment together in the way that we did. I 
would urge adoption from all of my colleagues.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Louisiana 
will be postponed.


            Amendment No. 81 Offered by Mr. Broun of Georgia

  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  The amount otherwise made available by this Act 
     for ``Department of Energy--Energy Programs--Energy 
     Efficiency and Renewable Energy'' is hereby reduced to $0.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, my amendment eliminates funding 
to the Department of Energy's Office of Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy.
  We should be developing the vast quantities of proven energy 
resources readily available in this country, but instead the government 
continues to subsidize green technologies that are not yet ready to be 
used wide scale. They are neither efficient nor affordable, and Federal 
agencies should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. 
If these technologies were viable, the Federal Government would not 
need to give them handouts and, instead, they would be able to succeed 
on their own.
  Further, this legislation provides millions of dollars of foreign 
assistance to countries like China and India to implement renewable 
energy programs. At a time when our Nation is broke, and we are broke, 
why are we sending taxpayer money to our foreign competition?
  I urge support of this amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I would point out to my colleagues that 
the amendment, as stated by the gentleman, would eliminate all funding 
for the Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
  The bill already includes a reduction of $491 million from the 
current year level, which is a 25 percent cut.
  The debate, relative to energy policy in this House--and not 
necessarily restricted to this amendment--talks about subsidies. But 
there are two parts to a Federal budget: There are spending-side issues 
and there are revenue- and tax-side issues.
  I would hazard a guess as we stand here that there is not an energy 
source in the United States of America, be it coal, be it nuclear, be 
it gas, be it solar, be it wind, that does not somehow receive some 
benefit either by loss revenue or direct spending of the Federal 
Government in its endeavors.
  What we do have to do is necessary research to make sure that we do 
expand the mix of energy utilization in this country, and certainly 
that is the purpose of the Renewable Energy Program Research at the 
national level. With 70 percent of our energy now generated through 
coal or natural gas, this cannot continue.
  As I have said in earlier debates during the week, my senior Senator 
from Indiana, Senator Lugar, has always described our energy problem as 
a national security issue given where petroleum products tend to be 
bought in the

[[Page 11198]]

United States of America. Without this type of very serious research, 
we are not going to solve that national security problem, and we are 
not going to assiduously create job opportunities and economic 
opportunities.
  I would respectfully object and oppose the gentleman's amendment.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. I appreciate my colleague for yielding.
  Very briefly, while I am very respectful of my colleague's attempt 
here to do what he can to cut clear back on spending, this is a very 
important area of our committee's responsibility.
  The amendment would totally eliminate funding for Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy. It is a bit, a step too far, and I associate 
myself with the remarks of my colleague and reluctantly oppose the 
amendment.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. I appreciate the gentleman from Indiana's 
comments, and I submit that the best way to make sure that we have that 
national security that my colleague from Indiana was talking about is 
for us to open up all of our God-given resources of energy here in this 
country, and we are not doing that.
  Mr. Chairman, we need to start doing everything we can to develop 
every energy source that we have, and I believe in an all-of-the-above 
energy policy.

                              {time}  1730

  The best way to determine what energy policy is going to be viable 
and is best for America is by letting the marketplace work. I believe 
in the brilliance of the marketplace. The marketplace, unencumbered by 
taxes and regulation as well as free from government meddling in the 
marketplace by picking winners or losers, is the best way to develop 
those drastically needed energy resources. And I believe in renewable 
energy. But is it viable economically? And is this country going to be 
viable economically if we continue spending like we have been spending?
  And, in fact, many Members of Congress seem to have the idea that 
this country is going to totally dry up and blow away if the Federal 
Government doesn't supply everything to every entity's needs. I hear 
over and over again from colleagues that they want to continue this 
spending and that spending. In fact, in the committees--I serve on 
three committees--I hear my colleagues, particularly other side, talk 
about we have a tremendous debt that we need to deal with.
  But it reminds me--as I hear them also talking about not cutting 
programs--it reminds me of an old saying back from our founding era 
when our Founding Fathers were talking about the discussion in taxes. 
Today's mantra is ``don't cut me, don't cut thee, cut the fellow behind 
the tree.'' Well there's nobody behind the tree.
  I believe we are in an economic emergency as a Nation, and Congress 
needs to face the fact. We're headed towards an economic collapse as a 
Nation. We've got to stop picking winners and losers and let the 
marketplace do that. Let people vote with their dollars instead of our 
funding this and not funding that, subsidizing this and not subsidizing 
that. The best way to do these things, the best way to figure out who 
should be the winner or loser is let the marketplace do what it does 
best and let people vote with their dollars. Let people invest in 
things that make sense and not invest in those things that don't make 
sense.
  And we've got a lot of renewables such as this corn-based ethanol 
that doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense economically, and it 
doesn't make sense even from an energy perspective. In fact, I'm a good 
Southern boy. I love my grits and cornbread. It makes absolutely no 
sense for me to be burning up my grits and cornbread driving down the 
road putting it in the gas tank of my GMC Yukon.
  So we need to let the marketplace do its thing. We need to reel in 
the spending that Republicans and Democrats alike over the last several 
decades have been using to grow the size and scope of government. So I 
encourage my colleagues on both sides to support this amendment. It 
makes sense economically.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will 
be postponed.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of 
words.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Washington is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. DICKS. I would just point out that there are no amendments left 
on our side that I know of, and I hope that your side can be more 
expeditious. Thank you. Some of us have important ball games to go to.
  I yield back the balance of my time.


            Amendment No. 63 Offered by Mr. Broun of Georgia

  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following new section:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to carry out the activities specified in section 505 
     of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13255).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I will try to be expeditious and 
comply with my friend from Washington's request to not delay this.
  This amendment simply prohibits the Department of Energy from 
spending money to implement the Vehicle Technologies Deployment 
Subprogram within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's ``Clean 
Cities'' program.
  Earlier, I offered an amendment to cut funding from this program and 
transfer it into the spending reduction account. As I mentioned before 
when I presented my previous amendment, it is not appropriate for the 
Federal Government to be spending dollars on programs that the private 
sector should be doing or that local and State government can do. This 
program, this Vehicle Technologies Deployment Subprogram, is corporate 
welfare. I remind my friends, this is corporate welfare. And, in fact, 
I have heard over and over from my friends on the Democrat side that we 
need to stop doing corporate welfare. And I hope that they will support 
this amendment because that's what this simply is.
  I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The amendment of the gentleman from Georgia would 
prohibit funds for the Vehicle Technologies activities at the 
Department of Energy that work with cities across the country to reduce 
our dependence on foreign oil. The gentleman should know that the 
committee closely evaluated the alternative fuels program and slashed 
it to $202 million below the budget request, leaving only $26 million 
that we found to be well justified.
  So we are making some progress and we are making some tough 
decisions. And even though the gentleman's heart is in the right place, 
we do need the $26 million to continue the program, and thus I oppose 
the gentleman's amendment, albeit reluctantly.

[[Page 11199]]

  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the committee's 
cutting this program down to the $26 million. But, again, this is 
corporate welfare to Fortune 100 companies, many that get these funds. 
We do need to reduce this country's dependence upon foreign oil, but 
this is not the way to do it. The way to do it is to open up 
exploration of our own energy resources here in America.
  This is a commonsense amendment to strike out about $26.5 million out 
of funding that we just simply don't have. It's money that we're 
borrowing from our foreign competitors as well as here in this country, 
and it's creating more and more debt. So I urge passage of my 
amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will 
be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 27 Offered by Mr. Flores

  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), add the 
     following new section:
       Sec. __ None of the funds made available by this Act may be 
     used to enforce section 526 of the Energy Independence and 
     Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-140; 42 U.S.C. 17142).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer my amendment, which would 
address another restrictive and misguided Federal regulation. Section 
526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act prevents Federal 
agencies from entering into contracts for the procurement of an 
alternative fuel unless its ``lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions'' are 
less than or equal to emissions from conventional fuel produced from 
conventional petroleum resources. Simply put, my amendment would stop 
the government from enforcing this ban on Federal agencies funded by 
the Energy and Water appropriations bill.

                              {time}  1740

  The initial purpose of section 526 was to stifle the Defense 
Department's plan to buy and develop coal-based or coal-to-liquids jet 
fuels, based on the opinion of environmentalists that coal-based jet 
fuel produces more greenhouse gas emissions than traditional petroleum. 
I recently offered similar amendments to the MilCon-VA, Ag, and DOD 
appropriations bills, and each time those amendments passed this House 
by voice votes. My friend Mr. Conaway also had language added to the 
Defense authorization bill to exempt the Defense Department from this 
burdensome regulation. But section 526's ban on fuel choice applies to 
all Federal agencies, not just the Defense Department. That is why I am 
offering it again today.
  Federal agencies should not be burdened with wasting their time 
studying fuel emissions when there is a simple fix, and that is not 
restricting their fuel choices based on extreme environmental views, 
policies, and regulations like section 526. With increasing competition 
from other countries for energy and fuel resources, and the continued 
volatility and instability in the Middle East, it is more important 
than ever for our country to become more energy independent and to 
further develop and produce our domestic energy resources. Placing 
restrictions on Federal agencies' fuel choices is an unacceptable 
precedent to set with regard to America's energy independence and its 
energy policy.
  Section 526 makes our Nation more dependent on Middle East oil. 
Stopping the impact of section 526 will help American energy, improve 
the American economy, and create American jobs. I urge my colleagues to 
support passage of this commonsense amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, section 526, I believe, is a commonsense 
provision that stops Federal agencies from wasting taxpayer dollars on 
new, alternative fuels that are dirtier and more polluting than the 
fuels we use today. The section simply bars agencies from entering into 
contracts to purchase alternative and unconventional fuels that emit 
more carbon pollution than conventional fuels on a lifecycle basis. I 
think that is just a rational, commonsense requirement.
  The effect of this provision that has been in place is to spur 
development of advanced biofuels. These fuels are being successfully 
tested and proven today on U.S. Navy planes at supersonic speeds. And I 
believe it is a testament to American ingenuity.
  I think the path that the gentleman wants to pursue is the wrong one. 
It is unsustainable in the longer term, and it will not lead us to 
energy security. Therefore, I am opposed to his amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I am prepared to accept the amendment offered by 
the gentleman from Texas. His amendment strengthens national security 
by allowing the Federal Government more alternatives to imported 
petroleum fuels.
  More than half of the oil the Nation consumes each year is imported, 
as we know, and today the price of gasoline is hovering around the $4-
a-gallon mark. By declaring some new fuel options to be off limits, 
section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 limits 
our Nation's ability to reduce its dependence on oil imports.
  His amendment puts all alternatives back on the table, which I think 
is needed, so the Nation can begin to develop and use fuels that are 
made with resources from here in the United States. Energy self-
sufficiency is a national security issue, and this amendment takes us 
in the right direction. I am pleased to support the gentleman's 
amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLORES. I want to respond to what my amendment really does, and 
let me read a letter from the Department of Defense general counsel to 
Senator Inhofe from July of 2008. I quote: ``It creates uncertainty 
about what fuels DOD can procure, and will discourage the development 
of new sources, particularly reliable domestic sources of energy 
supplies for the Armed Forces.''
  Let me go on. Let me give you a practical, real world example as to 
what section 526 does.
  Our closest neighbor with stable energy supplies is Canada. We import 
650,000-plus barrels a day of oil that is produced from oil sands in 
Canada. That oil makes its way throughout the refinery system 
throughout the United States and gets blended into jet fuels, gasoline, 
and diesel fuel. A literal interpretation of section 526 would say that 
the U.S. military, the United States Government, more broadly, cannot 
utilize any of those fuels. There is no technical or commercial way 
that the military of the United States Government can make sure it is 
not using any fuel source that came from that crude oil.
  Let me go on and wrap up like this. You are going to hear a lot of 
remarks from the other side of the aisle regarding the claims about 
section 526 or about my amendment. My amendment does nothing, nothing 
to remove the ability of the Federal Government to use alternative fuel 
sources. It can use

[[Page 11200]]

whatever fuel source it wants to under my amendment.
  Section 526 increases our reliance on Middle East oil. It hurts our 
military readiness, and its national security and energy security. It 
prevents the increased use of safe, clean, and efficient North American 
oil and gas. It increases the cost of American food and energy, and it 
hurts American jobs and the American economy.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. If I could ask the author of the amendment just one 
question.
  On the letter, was that a letter from Senator Inhofe to the 
Department of Energy or from the Department of Energy to the Senator?
  I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. FLORES. It is from the Department of Defense to Senator Inhofe.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the clarification.
  I remain opposed to the gentleman's amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores).
  The amendment was agreed to.


            Amendment No. 75 Offered by Mr. Young of Indiana

  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following new section:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to pay the salaries of Department of Energy employees 
     to carry out section 407 of division A of the American 
     Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Young) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Our Nation's unemployment rate currently sits at 9.2 percent, a full 
1.6 percent higher than when President Obama took office. I am hearing 
from my southern Indiana constituents, and I've heard this for months 
now, that the President's failed experiment of spending our way to 
prosperity and creating great uncertainty about future tax rates and 
interest rates must end.
  A step in the right direction would be supporting this modest 
amendment which my esteemed colleague, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Burton), and I have worked on together. The amendment would merely 
restore eligibility criteria for the Weatherization Assistance Program 
to pre-stimulus levels.
  By way of background, prior to 2008, the Weatherization Assistance 
Program enabled families at or below the 150 percent poverty level to 
reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. 
Since the stimulus bill increased this eligibility threshold, the 
Weatherization fund has exploded and currently has accumulated an 
estimated $1.5 billion in unspent funds.
  Moreover, the program has been a model of government waste and 
inefficiency. Late last year, for example, New Jersey's State auditor 
audited just $614,000 worth of Weatherization funds disbursed in his 
State. He found that $33,000 of this $614,000 that were spent actually 
went to no services at all. So over 5 percent of the funds spent in 
that State were spent on nothing.
  This sort of waste and inefficiency, no doubt, is being seen all 
across the country. We have seen recent audits of Weatherization 
programs in Illinois, Delaware, Tennessee, and Texas yield similar 
results.
  Personally, I agree with those who say that most Americans already 
have sufficient incentives and means to reduce their energy bills by 
weatherizing their own homes and that government lacks sufficient 
incentives to spend our tax dollars responsibly. That is why we should 
adopt this modest amendment that would merely limit this program to our 
neediest citizens by restoring eligibility criteria back to pre-
stimulus levels.
  So I would say let's improve our climate for private sector job 
creation however we can. Let's eliminate wasteful and nonessential 
spending wherever we can find it. That is what this amendment does.

                              {time}  1750

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. We accept the amendment.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We accept the amendment as well.
  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Young).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 76 Offered by Mr. Landry

  Mr. LANDRY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __ None of the funds made available by this Act may be 
     used to pay the salary of individuals appointed to their 
     current position through, or otherwise carry out, paragraphs 
     (1), (2), and (3) of section 5503(a) of title 5, United 
     States Code.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Landry) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
  Mr. LANDRY. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is simple. It prevents the 
misuse of recess appointments while preserving the Founders' intent by 
allowing the President to quickly make emergency recess appointments if 
the need arises.
  I know this may surprise many Members, but current law actually 
prohibits the salaries of recess appointees, which was a law passed in 
1863 that stayed on the books until 1940. It prohibited those who 
received recess appointments from being paid. Then some exceptions were 
made, and those exceptions basically took the intent of the law out. So 
these exceptions, these loopholes, are so broad that they make the 
prohibition against recess appointments useless, but the administration 
can always find a way to make these recess appointments.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Bass of New Hampshire). The gentleman from 
Indiana is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. These are legal appointments made by the President of 
the United States--by this President, the last President, the President 
before that, the President back to George Washington. It is the 
administration's priority to make these appointments.
  While each of us, or collectively, disagree with some of the 
individuals put into particular positions, until we change the law, the 
House should not pick and choose the staff for the executive branch any 
more than it should be picking ours.
  If the gentleman wants a say in the President's hires and 
appointments, I suggest he work to change the Constitution. Article II, 
section 2 gives the Senate say over Presidential appointments and gives 
the President power to make recess appointments.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANDRY. I don't argue the legality of the President's recess 
appointments.
  I am doing what many Congresses have done prior, all the way since 
1860, when they realized that this was a problem when Presidents and 
administrations tried to bypass the will of the people. I am using the 
power of this House, which is the power of the purse, to make sure 
that, when the President

[[Page 11201]]

makes recess appointments--look, this isn't the 1800s anymore. Congress 
is not out for months and months at a time. If the President needs to 
make an appointment in an emergency, he certainly has the time, and he 
will be able to take that recess appointment and put it before the 
Senate. I am simply saying, until that recess appointee is confirmed by 
the Senate, he or she shall not receive any pay.
  My friends across the aisle have spent most of the past month talking 
about closing loopholes, so I hope they will join me in protecting the 
taxpayers by closing the loophole in the law that currently exists. 
Let's bring the law back to the intent of it, which is to prohibit 
recess appointees from receiving salaries until the appointees are 
confirmed. I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, this is a constitutional issue, and we 
have no business in it. I would urge my colleagues to vote against the 
gentleman's amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Landry).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. LANDRY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Louisiana 
will be postponed.


                  Amendment Offered by Mrs. Blackburn

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __ Each amount made available by this Act (other than 
     an amount required to be made available by a provision of 
     law) is hereby reduced by 5 percent.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) and a Member opposed each 
will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Tennessee.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, the Energy and Water Development 
appropriations bill before us today includes $30.6 billion in funding. 
That falls $1 billion below last year's level and $5.9 billion beneath 
the President's budget request.
  While I applaud our appropriators for the great work they've done in 
reducing this spending, I am one of those Members of the House who 
believes there is still room for improvement. We are in an 
extraordinary time when it comes to our budget and when it comes to the 
budget of this Nation in the spending, and this extraordinary time does 
require some extraordinary measures.
  That's why I am introducing a 5 percent across-the-board spending 
reduction amendment. This amendment has the backing of 10 national 
conservative groups. This amendment would reduce the funding 
appropriated by this bill by an additional $1.5 billion and would take 
Federal spending back to just above the fiscal year 2007 level.
  Across-the-board spending cuts effectively control the growth and the 
cost of the Federal Government. They give agencies the flexibility to 
determine which expenses are necessary and which are not. In fact, in 
my State of Tennessee, as I have mentioned many times as we have 
debated these across-the-board amendments--and Mr. Chairman, I know 
many of my colleagues are probably a little bit tired of hearing of 
these across-the-board spending cuts--we bring them forward because the 
States have used them, and they've used them successfully.
  A Governor in my State, who is of my colleague's party across the 
aisle, made a 9 percent across-the-board spending reduction to bring 
that budget back into balance, to put our State on a firm fiscal 
footing. Our States that have balanced budget amendments take these 
actions, and they take them carefully, cautiously, and with an eye 
towards securing fiscal stability.
  It is time for us in Congress to begin to enact these very same 
measures. Removing a nickel from every dollar is a way we can help our 
departments find new efficiencies and to reform wasteful business 
practices. It would save taxpayers millions of dollars in the process. 
Indeed, if we had been doing this for years, we probably wouldn't find 
ourselves in the situation that we are in right now. It's a step in the 
right direction, so I encourage the support of my colleagues on the 
amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the 
gentlewoman from Tennessee's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. First of all, I do appreciate the fact that she 
recognizes the committee made some tough choices. In fact, our overall 
bill is really down close to the 2006 level. Obviously, in some 
quarters, that doesn't satisfy every Member of Congress, but I'm 
respectful of her desire to go further.
  Cuts of this magnitude, quite honestly, go far too deep. The types of 
things we do in our bill--our responsibility for the reliability of the 
nuclear stockpile--that's utmost, as is our responsibility for cleaning 
up nuclear waste. In fact, there are consent decrees where things have 
to be cleaned up because of things left over from World War II. There 
is research and development, which is important, and water issues. We 
heard for 2\1/2\ hours earlier today of the types of things that can 
happen to our Nation when water infrastructure is not kept up and 
modernized. There is the loss of human life, the loss of livelihoods, 
the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.

                              {time}  1800

  I am respectful of the gentlewoman's perspective, but in reality this 
would be very damaging to our national security and to things that are 
important to life and property.
  I am happy to yield to the ranking member.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the chairman for yielding and join with 
him in opposition. I think he has stated the case very well.
  I would also add the expenditures in this legislation on 
nonproliferation. I think one of the greatest threats our country faces 
is the issue of nuclear terrorism. Again, we have to be very 
thoughtful. The chairman has had to make some very serious and profound 
choices. I think he has done an excellent job doing so, and we ought to 
stop where we are.
  I am opposed to the woman's amendment.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. In closing, I do appreciate the comments that have 
been made, and I appreciate the work of the Appropriations Committee. I 
do agree that the issues that are dealt with are important issues. So 
is the fiscal stability of this Nation, I think. That's a very crucial 
and very important issue that is laid before us at this time. So is 
sending a message to our constituents and to the taxpayers of this 
Nation, that, yes, indeed we are going to require the bureaucracy to 
tighten its belt.
  One of the questions I am most often asked by my constituents is, in 
our homes, in our businesses, in our churches, we're all tightening the 
belt. Why is the bureaucracy not tightening its belt? Why does 
Washington seem to be recession-proof?
  They want to see this bureaucracy engaged in this. They want to see 
the bureaucracy join us in the fight to put this Nation on a firm 
fiscal footing.
  When it comes to our Nation's security, I would just remind my 
colleagues that on July 6, 2010, Admiral Mullen made the comment that 
the greatest threat to our national security is our Nation's debt.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

[[Page 11202]]

  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Tennessee 
will be postponed.


                  Amendment Offered by Mrs. Blackburn

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __. Each amount made available by this Act (other than 
     an amount required to be made available by a provision of 
     law) is hereby reduced by 1 percent.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) and a Member opposed each 
will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Tennessee.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank the chairman of 
the Appropriations Committee for the time to speak on this and to bring 
this amendment forward.
  Again, this is a cut amendment. Every year, I say let's look at 1 
percent, 2 percent, 5 percent. Let's look at where to make these 
reductions. I do it because I know that we all realize and probably 
many of us in this Chamber agree with the sentiment that Ronald Reagan 
regularly expressed, and that is that the closest thing to eternal life 
on Earth is a Federal Government program. We are reminded of that fact 
today as we are here debating this funding bill.
  This amendment calls for a clean 1 percent across-the-board reduction 
in each account of this act. One penny on a dollar. We are doing this, 
yes, for today; yes, to send a message to constituents that we are 
working to reduce the spending; yes, to send a message to those that 
are watching the growing debt in this country; yes, a message that we 
are getting the fiscal house in order. We are also doing it for our 
children and our grandchildren, to make certain that they have an 
America that is strong, that is safe, that has its fiscal house in 
order.
  We are in a time where every child that is born in this Nation is now 
seeing $46,000 worth of debt heaped on their head, Federal debt, that 
is theirs. It is so important that we make this cut. It's an extra $306 
million that would come out of this budget.
  As I said in my previous remarks, the appropriators have worked hard. 
They have worked diligently to make certain that they were reducing and 
coming in below last year's level, and they are to be commended for 
that. But these are extraordinary times and it requires that we put the 
focus on going a step further, that we engage those that are running 
the bureaucracies, and that we have them go save a penny out of a 
dollar and that they do it for future generations.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. First of all, I want to thank the gentlewoman from 
Tennessee again for her steadfastness in trying to reduce spending.
  Our committee had the lowest--our spending level went back to 2006. 
One of the benefits of serving on the committee and one of the reasons 
I traditionally oppose across-the-board cuts, 1 percent, 5 percent, 3 
percent, is when you serve on the committee and you've already made 
substantial reductions, you do it in a careful and thoughtful manner. 
And when you're dealing with issues that relate to the nuclear 
stockpile, the reliability of that stockpile, the responsibility for 
taking care of nuclear waste and meeting consent decrees and court 
orders and you're dealing with lives and property that relate to issues 
of flooding and things that affect lives and property literally, 
billions of dollars of commerce that we heard about earlier this 
afternoon from those who represent Missouri and the Mississippi, really 
the bedrock of, I think, 44 percent of our Nation's economy, making 
these types of cuts, while it may feel good, without having the benefit 
of what we have the benefit of, which is debate and input from some of 
the Nation's greatest experts as well as obviously people from the 
administration, there is no way that I would support this reduction.
  I would be pleased to yield to the ranking member.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the gentleman for yielding.
  I think you have stated the case well and do want to join with you in 
my strong opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Graves).
  Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I thank the gentlelady.
  I want to thank you for your amendment, because you bring forth such 
an incredible issue that we can't just stop with what was passed out of 
the Appropriations Committee. There are Members all across this body 
that had the opportunity to scour the legislation--and I'm on the 
committee--and to improve upon the legislation. That's exactly what 
she's doing here by offering additional cuts.
  Mr. Chairman, I want to bring out the fact that in the House over the 
last five appropriations bills, there have been 250 amendments offered. 
Only 11 cutting amendments have been passed, and eight of these were by 
voice vote. So here on the floor of the House, and I guess I'm speaking 
to my colleagues in the Republican Party, we are not cutting any more 
than what comes out of the committee. So far, out of these five 
appropriations bills, there's been $691 billion spent, and yet we've 
only cut $304 million in addition to that.
  Mr. Chairman, as I think about where we are, I brought the analogy 
and trying to put this in context of where we are as a Nation, that's 2 
cents, just two pennies out of a gallon of gas. Just two pennies.
  I leave you that--my 2 cents' worth on this appropriations bill.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McClintock).
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  I rise in support of this amendment. This is the last opportunity we 
have, really, to rein in spending that's literally bankrupting our 
country in this bill.
  It's interesting. All the talk of the billions of dollars of 
subsidies that we continue to dole out to dubious enterprises are all 
unfulfilled promises of energy independence. You would think after 30 
years those promises are starting to ring hollow. After 30 years of 
such promises, we're more dependent on foreign energy than when we 
began and even deeper in debt.
  I rise also to draw to the attention of the House a provision of this 
measure relating to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

                              {time}  1810

  Under current law as that reserve is drawn down either for 
maintenance or for market manipulation, the proceeds from the oil must 
go back into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That guarantees that it's 
maintained in a constant state of readiness to provide for our national 
security. Whenever a dollar comes out of that reserve, a dollar has to 
be put back into it--until this bill. There is a half-billion dollars 
going out of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, not to replenish the 
reserve, but to fund additional spending in this budget. That is a 
scandal.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I would just remind my colleagues, all 
the issues we address are important issues, but as Admiral Mullen has 
said, ``the greatest threat to our national security is our growing 
national debt.''
  We are calling for another $306 million to be reduced from this bill. 
Ten

[[Page 11203]]

conservative groups support this. Let's tighten our belts. Let's engage 
the bureaucracy. Let's put our country back on the path to fiscal 
health.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Tennessee 
will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 53 Offered by Mr. Harris

  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following new section:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to fund any portion of the International program 
     activities at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
     Energy of the Department of Energy with the exception of the 
     activities authorized in section 917 of the Energy 
     Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I will try to be brief because this 
amendment follows up on an amendment that was adopted by a voice vote 
by the Committee of the Whole just 2 days ago.
  This amendment is the second part of the amendment I offered on 
Monday of this week. That amendment reduced funding by $6 million from 
the EERE, and that would be enough to cut the funding that this 
amendment limits that would reduce funding for the international 
programs of EERE. It was an amendment endorsed by Citizens Against 
Government Waste.
  The international programs are a subset of the EERE budget and do not 
have their own line item in an appropriations bill, so because of that, 
this limitation amendment would be required to properly implement the 
spending reduction amendment, again, passed by the committee on Monday.
  This amendment clearly states that no funds may be spent on the 
international program activities of the Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy, with the exception of the activities authorized in 
section 917 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. So we 
removed $6 million in funding on Monday, $8 million was recommended by 
the committee, therefore leaving $2 million in the program. The United 
States Government has $1.5 trillion in debt, borrowing 40 cents out of 
every dollar, and now is not the time to take our hard-borrowed dollars 
and spend them overseas.
  This program literally--and I will read the programs funded under the 
international program--assists manufacturing facilities in China and 
India to reduce their energy use. Mr. Chairman, we should be keeping 
that money to help our factories reduce their energy use, not our 
international competitors. Improving energy efficiency in the Chinese 
building sector. Mr. Chairman, we should be improving our energy 
efficiency, not the Chinese building sector. Partnering with the 
Kazakhstan Government to provide training on industrial efficiency. Mr. 
Chairman, when we're borrowing this amount of money, we should be using 
it to promote our industrial efficiency, not the Kazakhstan Government.
  Furthermore, it does things like help build windmills in Mexico. Now 
Mr. Chairman, we don't have the money to build windmills here, we have 
to borrow the money to do that. We shouldn't be borrowing money to 
build windmills in Mexico.
  Again, this amendment implements the spending reduction already 
adopted on Monday.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The amendment eliminates, as we know, 
international cooperative programs at the Department of Energy that 
focus on developing innovative energy technologies.
  I appreciate and share the gentleman's concerns that activities that 
simply fund energy projects--like installing windmills--in other 
nations are not an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. There is 
nothing in this program that funds windmills, with all due respect. 
This is especially true when we must rein in spending and eliminate 
waste all around. But this is a good example of when a scalpel is 
needed to save the worthwhile programs instead of a blunt instrument 
that eliminates the entire program.
  The gentleman is correct that this program includes several small 
activities that the United States should not bankroll. However, many of 
the large activities in this program not only engender good will in 
countries like China, India, and Brazil--and Kazakhstan, which has been 
a tremendous ally in the war on terror--but they also increase economic 
activities abroad.
  The energy sectors in China and India are increasing by leaps and 
bounds. In just the last 10 years, China's energy consumption has more 
than doubled. China and India and other nations' energy sectors 
represent an enormous economic opportunity for whoever will develop and 
supply energy technologies used in these rapidly growing countries. 
Cooperative programs eliminated by this amendment help the U.S. 
industry and researchers gain access to these booming markets. These 
programs don't cost much, but they leverage much more in international 
contacts and economic opportunities. For this reason and many others, I 
oppose the amendment.
  I yield to the ranking member, the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the gentleman yielding and would join him 
in his opposition to the gentleman's amendment.
  Again, I think the chairman has stated the proposition very well, but 
I would point out that the program's technical assistance activities 
really do help prime markets for clean technologies in major emerging 
economies to support and encourage U.S. exports.
  So again, I am opposed to the amendment and appreciate the gentleman 
yielding.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time I have 
remaining?
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, just so we dispel any misconceptions that 
the committee might hold about what these programs are, let me read 
from the EERE Web site, because we were saying these are developing 
countries. Well, China is not a developing country, Mr. Chairman. This 
is what it says: ``The U.S. Department of Energy today announced $1 
million in available funding to train energy assessors who will assist 
manufacturing facilities in China and India to reduce their energy 
use.'' Mr. Chairman, those aren't my words; they're the words of the 
Department that is asking for funding, for us to borrow money from 
China so that we can go to China to ``reduce their energy use.''
  It goes on to say, ``The EERE engages in multiple technology and 
policy efforts to improve energy efficiency in the Chinese building 
sector.'' These aren't my words, Mr. Chairman; these are the words of 
the DOE that wants us to borrow money from China to spend money in 
China to improve energy efficiency in the Chinese building sector.
  Let's go further on. It says, ``EERE partnered with the Kazakh 
Government to provide training on Save Energy Now industrial 
efficiency.'' In Kazakhstan. I would offer that if we want to do 
foreign aid, that we do it in the Department of State budget.

[[Page 11204]]

  With regards to these cooperative programs, they're not zeroed out. 
The chairman should know that these programs are partially funded 
through the Department of State, and we don't affect the Department of 
State budget in this appropriation. What we do say is the Department 
has egregiously spent American taxpayer dollars. They are wasting 
taxpayer dollars. And with regards to wind power and windmills, I don't 
know what they're building in Mexico, but let me read from their Web 
site--not my words, their Web site: ``EERE is involved in several 
projects currently underway, including wind energy in Mexico.'' Now Mr. 
Chairman, unless there is something else beside windmills that uses 
wind energy, the Department says they are involved in projects 
involving windmills in Mexico.
  This country can't afford to make Chinese factories energy efficient 
and to build windmills in Mexico when we are borrowing 40 cents out of 
every dollar.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Maryland 
will be postponed.

                              {time}  1820

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Chairman, I rise for the purpose of asking the 
gentleman from New Jersey, the subcommittee chairman, to engage in a 
colloquy on the importance of solid oxide fuel cell technology and the 
need to maintain sufficient funding levels for research and development 
of this critical asset.
  Mr. Chairman, I first want to commend you on the fine bill. This 
bill, which I know was full of difficult choices and competing 
priorities, comes in more than 16 percent less than the 
administration's request, marking a clear commitment to fiscal 
discipline and restraint. I understand that within the Fossil Energy 
Research and Development account the committee has appropriated $25 
million for the research, development, and demonstration of solid oxide 
fuel cells.
  Is my understanding correct, Mr. Chairman?
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The gentleman from Ohio is correct. As the 
committee states in the report accompanying H.R. 2354, we believe solid 
oxide fuel cell systems have the potential to substantially increase 
the efficiency of clean coal power generation systems, to create new 
opportunities for the efficient use of natural gas, and to contribute 
significantly to the development of alternative fuel vehicles.
  Mr. RENACCI. If the gentleman will continue to yield, I appreciate 
his kind words about this particular innovative technology.
  I believe that properly funding solid oxide fuel cell systems is an 
important step towards an all-of-the-above energy policy. The 
technology will help increase American energy capacity, reduce 
emissions, reduce our dependence on imported oil, and encourage the 
sustainable use of domestic hydrocarbons, including coal, oil, and 
natural gas, particularly newly discovered shale gas in the Marcellus 
and Utica formations located within my home State of Ohio.
  It is my understanding that the Department of Energy's Solid State 
Energy Conversion Alliance, or SECA, is a model example of a public-
private partnership that creates jobs, promotes private investment, and 
enhances our energy security. It is also my understanding that 
preserving the current funding level is paramount in protecting over 
700 existing SECA-related private sector jobs. Moreover, ensuring 
timely commercialization of this technology will provide the basis for 
broader domestic economic growth, potentially paving the way for 
creating thousands more high-tech, high-skilled American manufacturing 
jobs.
  Does the chairman agree with this understanding?
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I want to assure the gentleman from Ohio of my 
agreement with the economic, environmental, and energy security 
benefits of this technology and that I will work to maintain this 
already reduced funding level as the Energy and Water Development 
appropriations bill moves forward.
  Mr. RENACCI. I appreciate the gentleman's commitment to this 
technology and to working to ensure that this funding level, 
approximately 50 percent less than in fiscal year 2011, is not 
needlessly reduced any further for the coming fiscal year.
  I again thank the gentleman from New Jersey and the ranking member 
from Indiana for their hard work on this bill.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.


              Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mr. Luetkemeyer

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for the study of the Missouri River Projects 
     authorized in section 108 of the Energy and Water Development 
     and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 (division C of 
     Public Law 111-8).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) and a Member opposed each 
will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, the Missouri River basin is currently 
facing some of the worst flooding in its history. This devastation, 
combined with the ongoing economic crisis and our aging inland 
waterways infrastructure, means that now, more than ever, we must be 
focused and responsible with taxpayer-funded river projects.
  My amendment would prohibit funding for the Missouri River Authorized 
Purposes Study, also known as MRAPS. This $25 million earmarked study 
comes on the heels of a comprehensive $35 million, 17-year study 
completed in 2004 that showed that the current authorized purposes are 
important and should be maintained.
  For river communities, few issues are as important as flood control, 
water supply, power, and navigation. People in these communities rely 
on the river for their livelihoods and will do so today, tomorrow, and 
long after the floodwaters have receded.
  This Congress and this administration need to focus on protecting 
human life and property and maintaining the safety and soundness of our 
levees. We also must support the important commercial advantages 
provided to us by our inland waterways system.
  The Missouri River moves goods to market and is an important tool in 
both domestic and international trade. That's why the National Corn 
Growers Association, the American Waterways Operators, the Coalition to 
Protect the Missouri River, and the Missouri Farm Bureau support this 
amendment.
  This study puts in jeopardy the lower Missouri and the Mississippi 
rivers, which could result in devastating consequences for navigation 
and transportation, resulting in barriers for waterways operators, 
agriculture, and every product that depends on the Missouri and 
Mississippi rivers to get to market.
  The current authorized uses of the Missouri River provide necessary 
resources and translate to continued economic stability not only for 
Missourians but also for many Americans living throughout the Missouri 
and Lower Mississippi River basins.
  We've said we want to focus on creating and maintaining jobs. This 
Congress is on the brink of passing three major trade agreements, and 
the ability of our inland waterways to transport manufactured and 
agricultural

[[Page 11205]]

goods, goods purchased and grown by Americans, is as important as it 
ever has been.
  This study is duplicative and wasteful of taxpayer dollars. On this 
exact issue we've already spent 17 years and $35 million on hundreds of 
public meetings and extensive litigation. I offered identical language 
during our first debate on the fiscal year 2011 continuing resolution. 
That amendment passed by a vote of 245-176. I appreciate my colleagues 
who offered their support and hope to have their support again.
  While there is no funding in the underlying bill for MRAPS, I will 
remind my colleagues that in committee an amendment was adopted to 
allow the Corps of Engineers to use and receive non-Federal funds to 
continue and complete ongoing Federal studies. The need for my 
amendment is as urgent as ever.
  With that, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Missouri (Mrs. 
Hartzler).
  Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of amendment No. 21, 
sponsored by my friend and colleague from Missouri.
  This amendment is a commonsense idea to save tax dollars and ensure 
that the Missouri River focuses on protecting human life and property. 
It ensures $25 million of taxpayer dollars won't be wasted on a second 
study of the purposes of the Missouri River. A 17-year, $35 million 
study was just completed in 2004 to look at the purposes of this river. 
We don't need a second study, and we don't need to squander the 
taxpayers' money in this way.
  Think about how much money is proposed for this study: $25 million. 
That's a lot of money. As a commonsense person from Missouri, I have to 
ask: How does government spend that much money on a study? $500,000 is 
a lot of money where I come from. How about $1 million or $2 million? 
Think of what the average family could do with $1 million or $2 
million. But this study thinks that's not enough. It wants $25 million 
to study a river that's already been studied.
  Now is the time for common sense. Now is the time for fiscal sanity. 
Now is the time to stop spending money we don't have on things we don't 
need.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Missouri (Mr. Akin).
  Mr. AKIN. The lady before me said it so eloquently and so simply: Why 
do we want to spend a whole lot of money? We're already in a crisis 
now. Huge debates about how are we going to control Federal spending. 
And here we find this proposal to drop another $25 million to do a 
study that we have already done before.
  First of all, we could save a lot of money in this, and that's a good 
idea. Of course, why is it that somebody would make the proposal after 
we've done a study that's supposed to work for 17 years and want to do 
it all over again? Well, it's because they didn't like the results of 
the first study, quite obviously.
  What did the study prioritize? Well, it prioritized, first of all, 
protecting human lives. That's not exactly a bad prioritization. And 
that's in the context of flood control. But it also talked about their 
livelihoods, not just their lives but their livelihoods. And that was 
the transportation part. That should also be a part of what the 
Missouri River is about. And of course the water supply and the safety. 
Now the proposal is to make the priorities on something else.
  Look, the Missouri River is a great resource. We need to use it that 
way and prioritize our people, their property, and their prosperity.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Who seeks time in opposition?
  The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  1830


                  Amendment Offered by Mr. Luetkemeyer

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to continue the study conducted by the Army Corps of 
     Engineers pursuant to section 5018(a)(1) of the Water 
     Resources Development Act of 2007.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) and a Member opposed each 
will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, in recent months the Midwestern United 
States has been pummeled by severe weather that has destroyed land, 
homes, and even lives, particularly along the Missouri and Mississippi 
Rivers. Citizens living in communities along the Missouri River have 
endured what is beginning to be referred to as the worst flooding in 
history.
  Just in this year alone, millions of taxpayer dollars have gone 
towards environmental restoration and recovery programs, while 
operations and maintenance of our infrastructure has been terribly 
neglected. Because of this neglect, this year's record rainfall, 
snowfall, and subsequent snowmelt have created extremely dangerous 
conditions that are growing more serious with each passing day.
  President Obama in his fiscal year 2012 budget requested more than 
$72 million for the Missouri River Recovery Program, which would 
primarily go towards the funding of environmental restoration studies 
and projects. This funding dwarfs the insufficient $6.1 million that 
was requested for an entire operations and maintenance fund that 
supports the area covering the entire region from Sioux City to the 
mouth of the Missouri in St. Louis. It is preposterous to think that 
environmental projects are more important than the protection of human 
life.
  The Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan, or MR-ERP, is slated 
to receive $4 million of the more than $72 million in Federal funding 
that will go towards the Missouri River Recovery Program. This program 
is only one of the many Missouri River ecosystem recovery programs 
funded by American taxpayers, and MR-ERP is one of no fewer than 70 
environmental and ecological studies focused on the Missouri River. The 
people who have to foot the bill for these studies and projects, many 
of which take years to complete and are ultimately inconclusive, are 
the very people who are at risk of losing their farms, their 
businesses, their homes, and even their lives today.
  I do not take for granted the importance of river ecosystems. I grew 
up near the Missouri River, as did many of the people I represent in 
Congress. But we have now reached a point in our Nation where we value 
the welfare of fish more than the welfare of human beings. Our 
priorities are backwards.
  My amendment, supported by the Coalition to Protect the Missouri 
River and the Missouri Farm Bureau, proposes a prohibition of funding 
for the MR-ERP program. The end of the study will in no way jeopardize 
the Corps' ability to meet requirements under the Endangered Species 
Act. What this amendment will do is eliminate one of the many ecosystem 
studies along the river, a study that has become little more than a 
tool of the administration for the promotion of the return of the river 
to its most natural state, with little regard for navigation, trade, 
power generation, or the many people who depend on the Missouri River 
and adjacent lands for their livelihoods. This study has the potential 
to result in river management that is environmentally driven rather 
than focused on balancing the needs of the environment with those along 
the river and our wonderful communities.
  We've seen this same scenario played out on a nationwide basis. The 
result is increased unemployment, reduced trade, economic depression, 
and sometimes questionable environmental results.
  Mr. Chairman, should the funding for MR-ERP go forward, we must stop 
and think about what we are doing. I urge my colleagues to support this 
amendment, to support our Nation's river communities.

[[Page 11206]]

  I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).
  Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, Representative Luetkemeyer.
  I rise today in support of this amendment. Like he said, this 
amendment is about priorities. What is important? Or better yet, who is 
important? I would contend that people are important, people along the 
Missouri River, people who are seeing their homes flooded and their 
livelihoods destroyed due to flooding. Crops, businesses, and homes are 
underwater as levees have been breached and overtopped in parts of 
Missouri.
  Now is the time to refocus our attention on what matters as we manage 
the Missouri River. We need to protect people and property. The 
President's 2012 budget, as Representative Luetkemeyer said, requested 
$72 million to ``recover'' the river for two birds and one fish, but 
only $6.1 million for operations and maintenance on the levees from 
Sioux City to St. Louis. Now, that's an example of wrong priorities.
  This amendment ensures that the Corps of Engineers continues to focus 
on people and keep flood control and navigation as the focus. It's time 
to get our priorities back and to save tax dollars while we're doing 
it. That's a good combination.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I do rise in opposition to the amendment 
offered by the gentleman from Missouri. The WRDA 2007 Act, which was 
passed with such bipartisan support that it overcame a Presidential 
veto, authorized the Corps to undertake the Missouri River Ecosystem 
Restoration Plan and develop the Missouri River Recovery Implementation 
Committee to consult on the study. This authority provided a venue for 
collaboration between the 70-member stakeholder group of tribes, 
States, affected groups, and Federal agencies to develop a shared 
vision and comprehensive plan for the restoration of the Missouri River 
ecosystem.
  By prohibiting the Corps from expending any fiscal year 2012 funding 
on the study, this amendment will result in a scheduled delay of the 
study, potentially additional start-up expenses and schedule impacts, 
and potential erosion of trust of the delicate partnership in this 
basin. There also could be legal implications associated with the 
National Environmental Policy Act if funding were prohibited for this 
study in the longer term. A 1-year prohibition would not allow work 
described above to be done and could push the entire schedule of the 
report out.
  I also do believe that it places the Army Corps in jeopardy of not 
being in compliance with the act, which could also adversely affect 
their operation of the dams on the waterways. In the long term, the 
study represents the required programmatic NEPA coverage for the 
Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Recovery Project; and 13 Federal 
agencies, eight States, and 15 tribes have formally agreed to cooperate 
with the agency under the act. The fact that this was authorized in 
2007 in an overwhelming fashion, that you have had this collaboration, 
and there are risks involved in adopting the gentleman's amendment, I 
would urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. I yield myself the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 30 seconds.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, very quickly, I think I understood the 
gentleman to say that this would affect some of the Corps' operations. 
This will in no way affect the Corps' operations whatsoever. This is a 
study that does nothing more than dictate how some things should be 
done after the study is over with. And in Missouri, our experience with 
these kinds of studies is such that we always come out on the short 
end.
  We have farmers, and businesses, and communities along the river 
right now who have been dramatically impacted by previous studies which 
have protected fish and birds over the welfare of our citizens, our 
communities, and our businesses.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I would suggest that my colleague's 
relief stands with the authorizing committees. We have a law in place 
since 2007. Perhaps he might want it amended through the authorization 
process. At this point in time, I think it is unwise policy to slow 
this study down and would ask my colleagues to oppose the amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  1840


                Amendment No. 70 Offered by Mr. Burgess

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the 
     following new section:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used--
       (1) to implement or enforce section 430.32(x) of title 10, 
     Code of Federal Regulations; or
       (2) to implement or enforce the standards established by 
     the tables contained in section 325(i)(1)(B) of the Energy 
     Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(i)(1)(B)) with 
     respect to BPAR incandescent reflector lamps, BR incandescent 
     reflector lamps, and ER incandescent reflector lamps.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. BURGESS. Earlier this week, 233 Members of this body, our 
colleagues, voted in repealing the 100-watt light bulb ban. This ban 
comes as a result of the 2007 energy legislation that included a 
provision that regulates what type of light bulb the American people 
may buy and may use in their homes. The Federal Government has no right 
to tell me or any other citizen what type of light bulb to use at home. 
It is our right to choose.
  Clearly a majority of this body, 233 Members, agree with the American 
people. Stay out of the decisionmaking and give the choice back to the 
consumer. Consumers want the 100-watt light bulb, and some consumers 
need the 100-watt light bulb.
  Now after our debate earlier on the floor this week I got this 
message from a constituent named Dave. Dave wrote: I need my 100-watt 
light bulb to do the type of work that I do. It is very detailed work. 
I need to see my work with a 100-watt light bulb, and sometimes I use a 
200-watt light bulb. It is necessary. I cannot do my work with less 
wattage because I have to strain my eyes to do my work and that causes 
me headaches, and then I am unable to work. Those types of light bulbs, 
100-watt light bulbs, are like having sunshine at your home and at your 
work bench. LEDs do not suffice. Neons don't work, nor any other type 
of new-tech bulbs that are so-called energy savers, and I don't want to 
purchase those lights that have mercury in them. Nobody should have the 
right to dictate what types of lights we buy and use in our homes. I 
cannot read the very fine, small print of some of the product labels 
using those weak light bulbs. Stop that ban on those light bulbs that 
will serve us well with proper light for working on very detailed 
projects and reading product labels that have very small print.
  That is what Dave said. Dave should have the right to choose what 
sort of light bulb he uses when doing his work at home.
  Now, look, I work in a Federal building. I understand the Federal 
Government gets to tell me what type of light under which I must work 
in that Federal building. But when I go home at night to read my Denton 
Record Chronicle, I should be able to choose what type of light I use 
for that illumination.
  In 2010, the last major GE factory that manufactured the incandescent

[[Page 11207]]

light bulb closed its doors as a result of the reckless 2007 
legislation, and as a direct result 200 people lost their jobs. This 
wasn't the only plant to close as a result of that 2007 legislation.
  These policies kill jobs. It's the clearest example of how real 
consequences affect real people with this reckless legislation. These 
jobs are being sent overseas. General Electric has said that the new 
lights cost about 50 percent more to make in the U.S. than in China.
  The overregulating government policies have to stop. It would not 
only be better for the environment and our pocketbooks, but it would 
bring those jobs back to America.
  My amendment at the desk would give Dave his choice of light and 
would allow every other American to choose, yes, choose what light bulb 
they want to use when they are in the comfort of their own home.
  I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment of the 
gentleman from Texas. I am pleased to do so.
  Mr. BURGESS. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. As the gentleman pointed out, we had this debate 
earlier this week on the House floor. I would point out that the 
performance standards for light bulbs were established in an act in 
2007. It's the law of the land.
  At that time the bill enjoyed strong bipartisan support, with 95 
House Republicans voting for final passage and the bill being signed 
into law by President George Bush.
  As far as I am aware, the issues that inspired this standard have not 
changed and, if anything, have gotten worse. Families continue to 
struggle every day to meet rising energy bills and there are real 
savings to be had by moving to more efficient illumination.
  It is estimated that efficient lighting will save the average 
American family around $100 every year. Further, while claiming that 
the incandescent bulb is dead makes for a good sound bite, it doesn't 
affect reality. As a result of the 2007 law, manufacturers are already 
making a variety right of new energy-saving bulbs for homes, including 
more efficient incandescent bulbs.
  These bulbs look, light and turn on like those we have used for 
decades, but are 28 to 33 percent more efficient. What we are talking 
about here is a standard, not the definition of a discrete bulb.
  This progress has been made because of the standard and goals that 
were set in that bill. I do not think it is time to turn the clock 
back. I do think we ought to enjoy these energy savings, and I am 
opposed to the gentleman's amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. The fact is, the United States Congress, the Federal 
Government, should not pick winners and losers. Yes, there is new 
technology. It didn't happen as fast as the proponents of this 
legislation articulated in December of 2007, and the technology that 
was promised for 5 years later, which is now, in fact, has been slow to 
develop, but it will develop and then let them meet in the marketplace.
  Let the consumer decide. Let the consumer pick the winners and losers 
in this argument, not the United States Congress, not the Federal 
Government.
  We had no business restricting the sale of the 100-watt light bulb. 
We had no business restricting what light people should use in their 
homes. This is one time we should back off and let the American people 
make the choices that are right for them.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I would simply say again we are talking 
about a standard that was adopted under law in 2007. We ought to try to 
achieve that standard to save energy in this country.
  I remain opposed to the gentleman's amendment. I would ask my 
colleagues to vote ``no.''
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will 
be postponed.


                Amendment No. 80 Offered by Mr. Cravaack

  Mr. CRAVAACK. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to develop or submit a proposal to expand the 
     authorized uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund 
     described in section 9505(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 
     U.S.C. 9505(c)).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Cravaack) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
  Mr. CRAVAACK. Mr. Chairman, in March of this year, Jo-Ellen Darcy, 
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, testified before the 
House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment that the 
administration is preparing to plan draft legislation to expand the 
scope of projects eligible to receive Harbor Trust Fund moneys.
  In the hearing, Assistant Secretary Darcy alluded to the 
Administration's interest in using Harbor Trust Fund moneys for port 
security, among other things.
  While I fully support funding port security through the general 
appropriations process, I oppose the efforts to divert Harbor 
Maintenance Trust Fund moneys until the Federal Government demonstrates 
it has fully used these trust funds to their intended purpose, and that 
is dredging.
  As many of you know, the Harbor Maintenance Tax is an ad valorem tax 
assessed on the maritime shippers that use America's ports. By law, 
revenues of this user tax are to be dedicated to the United States Army 
Corps of Engineers' operations and maintenance budgets to ensure 
American navigation channels remain dredged to their authorized depths 
and widths.
  Despite the significant revenues and the roughly $6 billion supposed 
balance in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, our Nation's maritime 
infrastructure has largely fallen into disrepair.
  Only one-third of our Nation's navigation channels are at their 
authorized depths and widths. Portions of the important Atlantic 
Intracoastal Waterway have been closed to commercial navigation due to 
lack of maintenance dredging. Eight out of the ten of our Nation's 
largest harbors are not dredged at their authorized depths and widths.
  Mr. Chairman, make no mistake, this has a direct impact on American 
job creation and prosperity. When American ships have to ``light load'' 
to clear the shallowest channel, American economic productivity is 
lost.
  For example, for each inch silted in, the American Laker fleet 
collectively, per voyage, leaves 8,000 tons of Minnesota ore on the 
docks in Duluth. That's enough to produce over 6,000 cars. I know I 
don't have to tell the ranking member and fellow Steel Caucus member 
what this means.
  Moreover light loading causes increased transportation costs for our 
exports, decreases our national economic competitiveness. Every billion 
dollars in exports, Mr. Chairman, translates to 15,000 American jobs.
  Given the economic straits we are in it is imperative we don't hold 
back American business with increased transportation costs caused by 
unmaintained channels.

                              {time}  1850

  We must, Mr. Chairman, ensure that the moneys intended for dredging 
are not siphoned off for other programs.

[[Page 11208]]

My amendment will prohibit moneys from being used by the administration 
to develop a plan or draft legislation to expand the scope of the 
projects eligible to receive Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund moneys.
  American shippers are taxed specifically to maintain the channels 
they, and our Nation, depend on. It is imperative that we ensure that 
harbor trust fund moneys be spent as they are intended, thereby 
ensuring American competitiveness and the proliferation of American 
jobs.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Let me thank the gentleman for his amendment and 
tell him that I'm pleased to accept it. I know that you included the 
fact that you wouldn't have to tell the ranking of the important 
purpose of your amendment. I also share those same sentiments. We don't 
want to degrade the purposes for the harbor maintenance fund from the 
express purposes now. There are too many priorities that are out there. 
We don't need to expand them.
  I'm very pleased to lend my support.
  I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I associate 
myself with your support of the amendment.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRAVAACK. I thank the gentlemen for their kind comments, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Cravaack).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment Offered by Mr. Rohrabacher

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following new section:
       Sec. 609.  Of the funds made available by this Act for 
     carrying out section 1703 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
     (42 U.S.C. 16513), the amount of funds made available by the 
     Secretary to carry out projects described in subsection 
     (b)(5) of that section shall not exceed the amount of funds 
     made available by the Secretary to carry out projects 
     described in subsection (b)(4) that use coolants different 
     from those commercial technologies that are in service at the 
     time the guarantee is issued.

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey reserves a point of 
order.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment 
which would require that the amount provided for in title 17 of the 
Energy and Water development appropriations bill for loan guarantees 
for advanced nuclear energy facilities be equal to or exceed that for 
loan guarantees targeted for carbon capture and sequestration projects.
  In laymen's terms, my amendment would specify that we cannot use more 
funds in this act for loan guarantees for carbon capture and 
sequestration projects than we make available for projects using 
nuclear technologies such as small modular gas-cooled reactors.
  The purpose for this is simple. These new technologies hold 
significant promise of meeting our ever-increasing energy needs with 
safe, clean, reliable, cost-effective, proliferation-resistant 
noncarbon-producing American-built nuclear reactors.
  As a member of the Science Committee, I, along with my colleagues, 
have studied this technology over the past 7 years. And let me note, 
the bureaucracy has studied this technology almost to death. Well, the 
time has come for that study to be left behind. It's time for the study 
to be over, and it's time for us to act. There are commercial companies 
out there right now trying to bring these technologies to market, and 
this amendment will help make this a reality.
  I would like to also note that the GAO and the committee have stated 
that there is a lack of transparency in this loan guarantee program. We 
cannot expect to perform proper oversight without knowing where and how 
these funds are being used, and it is critical that we become more 
specific in stating how we intend the funds to be used. And that's what 
this amendment would do.
  It would also be important that we require the administration to 
report back to Congress with a full explanation of how these funds are 
being used. Thus I ask for support for this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Does the gentleman from New Jersey continue to 
insist on his point of order?
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I do.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman reserves his point of order.
  Who seeks time in opposition?
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. 
But may I say I have always found him to be very thoughtful and 
considerate, and I know that he is extremely knowledgeable about this 
and is committed to the whole issue of taking a look at these types of 
loan guarantees.
  When we put together our bill, we had several guiding principles, and 
chief among them was to get the Federal Government out of the private 
sector's way. You should understand that.
  The loan guarantee program is at the heart of that debate, and our 
bill begins to ramp down this temporary program while including funding 
to help new technologies so that the private sector could take them 
over. The gentleman's amendment, however, appears to dictate which 
technology should receive funding through this program and which should 
not.
  Mr. Chairman, responsible private sector entities have sunk literally 
hundreds of millions of dollars into their applications; and this 
amendment would, I think, potentially cut off those applicants, despite 
their investments in good faith efforts. And even more importantly, 
however, the amendment would determine which technologies win and which 
would lose. I don't think in our committee or in this Congress we 
should be determining the winners and losers. We should let the market 
decide.
  So I would ask my colleagues to oppose the amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I do insist on my point of order.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will kindly state his point of order.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the 
amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes 
legislation in an appropriation bill and therefore violates clause 2 of 
rule XXI.
  The rule states in pertinent part: ``An amendment to a general 
appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.''
  The amendment requires a new determination.
  I ask for a ruling from the Chair.
  The Acting CHAIR. Does any Member wish to be heard on the point of 
order?
  The gentleman from California is recognized.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. I believe that it is Congress' job to make 
decisions. We are the ones who should be actually designating exactly 
where money is going. I'm a senior member of the Science and Technology 
Committee. We have studied this issue directly, and this is my 
recommendation. And I think that what we're supposed to do here is make 
sure that rather than having money, saying we can just spend all we 
want in sequestration and accepting that alternative, that we must 
designate what we think is the best use and most efficient use of the

[[Page 11209]]

taxpayer money. That sounds within the rules to me.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair is prepared to rule on the point of 
order.
  The Chair finds that this amendment includes language requiring a new 
determination of whether a certain type of coolant is used on a 
project. The amendment therefore constitutes legislation in violation 
of clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The point of order is sustained, and the amendment is not in order.


                  Amendment Offered by Mr. Rohrabacher

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. I have another amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 609. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to carry out projects described in section 1703(b)(5) 
     of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16513(b)(5)).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and a Member opposed each 
will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. I rise in support of my amendment which would 
require that none of the funds provided for in title 17 of the Energy 
and Water development appropriations bill be used for the purposes of 
providing loan guarantees for ``carbon capture and sequestration 
projects.'' If you think that carbon capture and sequestration is an 
important goal--and I'm sure there are some people who believe it is. 
Let me just note that I do not believe that, and I think that having 
heard the debates that have been going on about this particular issue 
over the years, that there are large numbers of my colleagues who do 
not believe that as well.
  Well, if you do not believe in carbon sequestration and capture as an 
important goal, then I would suggest that the best sequestration--if 
you really believe that we must sequester carbon and that that is an 
important goal, then let me suggest this, and that's what my amendment 
is all about: it's better to leave the oil and coal in the ground if 
that's what you really want to do is capture this carbon and sequester 
the carbon and capture it.

                              {time}  1900

  And I would suggest that the best way to do that is by promoting new 
nuclear technologies such as the new, inherently safe, small, modular 
nuclear reactors, especially those that do not use water as a coolant. 
We can provide all the clean, safe electricity that we need. And I 
would hope that any funds that the Secretary might have, in terms of 
his opinion, determined to use in carbon capture and sequestration, 
instead that the Secretary will use that limited amount of money that 
he has available to him on a positive program that will permit us an 
alternative to oil and gas. I personally, however, do not believe that 
oil and gas necessarily and the capture of carbon sequestration is an 
important goal; but if you do, you should be supporting--instead of 
basically using that as an expensive tool that will hurt the economy, 
we should be using the funds that are available instead to promote this 
positive alternative of nuclear energy, especially the high-
temperature, gas-cooled reactor.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. As I said earlier, respectfully, I still think 
this amendment, as with the previous one, is an issue where we are 
determining winners and losers, and I believe the market should decide.
  Let me say, the committee is strongly supportive of the whole issue 
of development of small, modular nuclear reactors, and it is amazing 
how much interest there is out there. There is incredible ingenuity 
that is going into it.
  We do have support for nuclear loan guarantees. I think there is $11 
billion in unused funds and $6 billion for fossil fuels. We have money 
available for the development of these types of technologies which 
hopefully you will find to be reassuring.
  But for reasons I said earlier, without repeating myself again, I 
oppose your amendment at this time.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. How much time do I have remaining, Mr. Chairman?
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, let me just suggest that, again, we 
should be taking responsibility, especially when we see something as 
important to the American people as the issue of energy, especially 
clean energy, and how we are going to make sure that it is supplied to 
the people of the United States.
  Specifically designating that these funds won't be used for 
sequestration and carbon capture, I mean, that seems to me that is what 
we should do. We should determine whether or not we believe this is an 
appropriate use of government funds. I suggest that it is not, 
especially when we have alternatives that are available to us, like 
these new technologies in the nuclear field, that can give us what we 
need in terms of not producing carbon and making sure that you don't 
even need sequestration then. If you have those alternatives, then we 
shouldn't be spending the money on this other approach, on the carbon 
capture and sequestration approach. That makes sense to me.
  We need, as Members of Congress, to set these type of parameters on 
the spending of our limited dollars in a way that will have the most 
positive impact, and the carbon capture and sequestration concept is 
not the best way to spend our money when we have these other 
alternatives.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California 
will be postponed.


                  Amendment Offered by Mr. Rohrabacher

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 609.  Not less than 10 percent of the funds made 
     available by this Act for carrying out section 1703 of the 
     Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16513) shall be 
     available for carrying out projects described in subsection 
     (b)(4) of such section that use coolants different from those 
     commercial technologies that are in service at the time the 
     guarantee is issued.

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the 
gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment, 
which would support advanced nuclear reactors, particularly those 
reactors that do not use a light water coolant, which happens to be 
technology used for decades and seems to be what certain members of the 
business world are trying to foist off on the American people. No, it 
is time to upgrade, to update, and innovate.
  Since I understand that a point of order has been raised against this 
amendment, I intend to withdraw it. But before I do so, I would like to 
make some remarks as to why it is important for these new reactors to 
come forward.
  As I stated earlier, these new technologies, such as the high-
temperature, gas-cooled reactors hold significant promise of meeting 
our ever-increasing energy needs with safe, clean, reliable, cost-
effective, noncarbon-producing, proliferation-resistant, American-built 
nuclear power plants. A number of our

[[Page 11210]]

commercial companies out there right now are ready to bring forth this 
cutting-edge nuclear technology and put it on the market and create 
new, high-tech private sector jobs for the American people. Their 
success should be our goal.
  There is some mention of these technologies in the committee report. 
I am very grateful for that, but I would like to draw attention to why 
these are so vitally important for our country.
  First of all, the small modular nuclear reactors, especially those 
that do not rely on decades-old light water coolant systems, exemplify 
the next wave of nuclear power, and we should pursue it far more 
aggressively than we are today. Specifically, we should be more 
aggressively pursuing the next generation nuclear plant and make the 
best use of the technologies that have been developed which include 
inherently safe reactors that don't require extraneous engineered 
safety devices to protect the public. We have a new level of safety 
that is almost unimaginable in these new reactors. We should understand 
that we need the high fuel burn-up rates that will greatly reduce the 
proliferation concerns. So we have reactors now that will be available 
that will not leave the residue and the leftover material that can be 
turned into nuclear weapons.
  We also have reactors that are modular, scalable, and can be 
delivered on the back of a truck. This would make them far more 
economical and far more feasible for various communities throughout the 
world. Read that, we can manufacture these somewhere in America and 
transport them around the country or around the planet.
  The Department of Energy should encourage and partner with industry 
to build working reactor prototypes using these technologies to provide 
the data required for commercial licensing.
  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission should encourage applications from 
private companies for the purpose of building working commercial 
reactors incorporating these new technologies. The NRC should also 
consider these applications immediately upon receiving them and 
expedite the processing.

                              {time}  1910

  Ideally, the NRC should be able to complete the process within 2 
years of the receipt of the initial application. That should be more 
than a goal. That should be a commitment.
  I hope I've made it clear how vital these technologies are to our 
energy future. We are either going to lead the world in the nuclear 
arena or we are going to be left behind as a country.
  Now, I understand that there is a technical problem with this 
amendment, but I would like to make sure that my colleagues understand 
the significance of this new technology.
  Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the amendment is withdrawn.
  There was no objection.


                    Amendment Offered by Mrs. Adams

  Mrs. ADAMS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 62, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 609.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Department of Energy for maintaining, 
     developing, or creating any Web site which disseminates 
     information regarding energy efficiency and educational 
     programs on energy efficiency specifically to children under 
     18 years of age, including the current Web site operated by 
     the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy titled 
     Kids Saving Energy and the current Web site operated by the 
     Energy Information Administration titled Energy Kids.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Adams) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
  Mrs. ADAMS. I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 2354, 
which would eliminate wasteful spending at the Department of Energy.
  Why did the foolish gardener plant a light bulb? He wanted to grow a 
power plant.
  How did Benjamin Franklin feel when he discovered electricity? He was 
shocked.
  Mr. Chairman, what's shocking about this is how our hard-earned 
taxpayer dollars are being used. While some may find these jokes 
humorous, there are those of us who don't believe it's funny. There is 
nothing funny about the source of wasteful funding for these jokes. 
These riddles, along with numerous others just like it, are displayed 
on the U.S. Energy Information Administration's ``Energy Kids'' Web 
site, as seen here. This Web page also has Sudoku and crossword puzzles 
about greenhouse gases and coal power. These riddles and games are 
being paid for by you, the taxpayer, at a time when our country is 
facing enormous debt.
  In November, the American people sent a resounding message to 
Congress, calling on them to stop wasteful spending and to prioritize 
Federal dollars towards job creation. With our Nation facing a $14.3 
trillion debt, this is the kind of wasteful spending we must stop. 
Rather than using taxpayer dollars to reduce energy prices for all 
Americans, the Department of Energy has instead decided to spend your 
hard-earned taxpayer dollars towards creating and maintaining this Web 
site.
  This Web site is not the only Web site of its kind. There are others 
just like it. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
maintains a ``Kids Saving Energy'' Web site. This Web site has videos 
with Tinker Bell telling children to use energy-saving light bulbs and 
quizzes asking children how many kilowatt hours an average U.S. home 
uses each month. While I have no problem with Tinker Bell--I am a huge 
supporter of Disney World, which is just outside my district--I do have 
a problem with wasteful government spending, and that's where the 
problem lies.
  In this tight economy, Congress must prioritize funding, and these 
Web sites are a blatant misuse of taxpayer money. Now, Mr. Chairman, I 
recently asked Secretary Chu how much money the Department of Energy 
spends to maintain and operate these Web sites, but the Secretary 
refused to provide the amount. In today's economy, Congress and the 
Department of Energy should be squarely focused on reducing our 
national deficit, encouraging job creation in the private sector and 
making energy more affordable for American families.
  My amendment would ensure that no Federal funds in the underlying 
legislation may be used to maintain, develop or create these and other 
similar Web sites, and I would encourage you to support this amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I rise in opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, there is a Web page that has been 
described by the proponent of the amendment at the Energy Information 
Agency. Over the past 12 months, the Web site has had over 26 million 
visitors. There are 224 million pages of information. It is not an 
underutilized site. The fact is that young people access the kids' page 
more than any other one on this Web site, visiting 16 million pages. 
``Energy Kids'' gets nearly 10 times as many hits, if you will, as the 
adult version.
  The gentlelady talks about puzzles and other very elementary 
approaches as far as education. I think education, not being an 
educator myself, ought to be age appropriate. I would also point out 
that there have not been significant changes as far as the update for 
this site in that they're trying to hold down the cost. To the extent 
that work has taken place, $10,000 has been spent in fiscal year 2011, 
not necessarily in the coming year. There is no anticipated incremental 
cost for the ``Energy Kids'' Web site in the fiscal year 2012 
President's budget.
  But the reason I really rise in opposition is not necessarily over 
the details but with respect to the idea that we should not look for 
ways to educate young people in this country. We are having a tax on 
science; we are having a tax on scientific knowledge; we are having a 
tax on education. What is wrong at this late date with educating

[[Page 11211]]

young people and having the Federal Government reach out and provide 
information on conserving energy, on using it wisely, recycling, so 
that we can reduce our dependency on energy?
  We have programs--and have had them for years--on drugs. Maybe for 
those under 18 we shouldn't have any Federal expenditures to educate 
young people about drugs because, well, we've got to save money. We're 
at a spot where we just can't spend any more Federal funds on 
education. We have an obesity problem in this country. Youth obesity is 
at a crisis level, but maybe what we should do is say, If you're under 
18, we don't want to spend any money educating you because we can talk 
to you when you're 19. We have a problem as far as people not getting 
enough exercise. Too many people use elevators. They park their cars 
close to the door. So maybe we shouldn't spend any Federal resources 
educating young people about, you know, you should walk once in a 
while. You shouldn't sit on that couch all day. You shouldn't watch 
that TV all day.
  So let's stop educating. Let's stop using any Federal money because 
we've got a debt crisis here--and I acknowledge that. So let's just 
stop educating young people. Let's just stop, and we'll wait until 
they're all 18 and they have type 2 diabetes. Then we'll stop because 
they've got a drug problem, and maybe we can convince them to get off 
of drugs when they're 18. Maybe we'll convince them they ought to get 
on a treadmill when they're 18. In this case, when are we going to 
start?
  As a parent myself and not an educator, my sense is the damage is 
done for young people. That's why we have a Head Start program by the 
time they start school. Children have that impression. They gain that 
knowledge. They have values that are transferred to them by their 
parents. I certainly think there is an absolute role by the Federal 
Government to help young people know what are the values and what are 
things to do that will improve our society for them and their 
generation. So I am strongly opposed to this amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. ADAMS. I appreciate that. I too want to encourage our young 
people to get outside and exercise instead of staying on their 
computers and playing Sudoku games and other games through this Web 
site.
  We need to look at the funding that's being spent. While you've 
quoted numbers, the Secretary couldn't give me any numbers in 
committee. We've asked for those numbers, and he still has yet to 
provide them.
  I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. The gentlewoman talked about getting people away from 
their computers, and I would agree that we need a balance in life. 
That's why we should educate people--children--that there is a value of 
sitting in front of that computer, in gaining knowledge through that 
computer and in using it for their homework--but then getting out and 
exercising, making sure they know they shouldn't do drugs, making sure 
they should eat appropriately.
  Not being a terribly compliant person as far as technology, I 
understand that you could take a walk and still access that site. So 
why don't we do both. I would ask the gentlewoman to consider 
withdrawing her amendment, but I will state my opposition to it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1920

  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Adams).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mrs. ADAMS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida 
will be postponed.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Oregon.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I would like to engage in a colloquy with the 
gentleman from New Jersey.
  Throughout this debate on the Energy and Water appropriations bill, 
we have discussed the importance of research and development of new 
energy technologies. However, I would like to highlight the importance 
of demonstration projects that are carried out within the Department of 
Energy's Building Technologies Program.
  The Department of Energy spends millions of dollars each year on 
research and development for new technologies. However, that R&D often 
reaches a point known as the Valley of Death. The Valley of Death is 
where promising new technologies fade into obscurity because they can't 
attract the capital investments to move from concept to 
commercialization.
  In essence, on one side of the Valley of Death is research and 
development; good ideas. On the other side is the actual deployment and 
commercialization. A demonstration project takes the research and 
development just a little bit further and bridges this divide so that 
private entities will be interested in deployment, private entities 
will be interested in commercialization.
  This good use of federally funded demonstration projects is critical 
to reducing the risk to private sector investors and allows 
technologies to cross the Valley of Death and establish commercial 
viability for investors and, indeed, attract their interest.
  I strongly believe that in the course of our discussion about funding 
for the coming fiscal year, it is important to highlight the importance 
of the Building Technologies Program's demonstration projects. I very 
much appreciate our previous discussions that I have shared with the 
chairman and ranking member, and I would be interested in the 
chairman's insight into this matter.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I agree with the gentleman about the importance of 
projects that develop new, extraordinarily beneficial technologies that 
would never be developed without Federal investment. It is critical 
that we maintain a national investment in activities at the Department 
of Energy that protect our country's security and competitiveness.
  The Building Technologies Program at the Department of Energy has 
played a significant role in developing technologies that are too risky 
for the private sector to invest in alone and that will substantially 
reduce energy costs for American homes and businesses. The government's 
role in energy should not extend to commercializing new technologies. 
It is the role of the private sector to deploy them.
  However, without many of the projects that develop these new 
technologies, it would be too risky for private companies to invest. I 
want to thank the gentleman for his deep commitment to advancing 
American technology and innovation, and I look forward to continuing to 
work with him on this important issue.
  Mr. WU. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their 
engagement in this issue, and I look forward to working with them.
  The chairman knows that fully 40 percent of total energy use in 
America is in buildings and fully 70 percent of electricity use is in 
buildings. So when we make buildings more efficient, this is indeed the 
low-hanging fruit toward future energy efficiency, and in fact the 
ability to bring new, innovative American-made technologies to market 
is key to rejuvenating our economy. Successful projects in the Building 
Technologies Program will result in the manufacture and sale of new 
products here in the United States and result in rejuvenating our 
economy and building good American jobs here.
  I thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the ranking member.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Bass

[[Page 11212]]

of New Hampshire) having assumed the chair, Mr. Reed, Acting Chair of 
the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported 
that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 
2354) making appropriations for energy and water development and 
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for 
other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

                          ____________________