[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15301-15302]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      BEYOND ``BIKE-PARTISANSHIP''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. For years, I have traveled the country preaching 
``bike-partisanship,'' using bicycle and pedestrian facilities to help 
people burn calories, not fossil fuel, improve their health, have fun, 
and enrich the community. Red State, blue State, Republican, Democrat, 
Independent, it doesn't matter; the public gets it and has been part of 
an amazing renaissance. Let's redouble our efforts at creating a 
stronger Federal partnership to help more communities realize this 
vision.
  But let's not stop with bike-partisanship. Are there other areas that 
are low or no cost that enjoy broad public support, solve problems, and 
bring people together rather than divide them? What about rebuilding 
and renewing America? Certainly the need is there.
  Until recently, the T&I Committee was an island of congressional 
consensus. Since we merely extended the last transportation 
reauthorization and the new Congress must act in about 97 weeks, let's 
work on a bolder vision of investing in America, one that puts people 
to work, improves the economy, the environment, and saves money in the 
long run. Congress can begin on this now.
  In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Congress can't ignore the near 
bankrupt flood insurance program. While we fix the short-term problems, 
however, let's make it more effective, efficient, and actuarially sound 
so that it will spare lives, property, and the Federal Treasury. 
Overhauling the flood insurance program would solve the most immediate 
challenges caused by extreme weather events likely due to global 
warming. We may even be able to discuss climate change in a more 
thoughtful and rational way.
  Based on the work I've done in the past with Congressman Paul Ryan 
and Senator-elect Jeff Flake, I know agricultural reform is a ripe 
opportunity. Taxpayers cannot afford to lavish unnecessary subsidies on 
large agribusiness while harming the environment and shortchanging 
small farmers and ranchers.
  Surely Tea Party Republicans and members of the Progressive Caucus 
can come together to improve nutrition, wildlife habitats, hunting, and 
fishing while strengthening family farms.
  And since Big Bird dodged a bullet during the Presidential campaign,

[[Page 15302]]

maybe it's time to address the vital role that the Federal support for 
public broadcasting plays, which we all rely on--not just for news and 
information, but education for our kids and, as illustrated by 
Hurricane Sandy, emergency communication.
  With incredibly broad public support from Americans regardless of 
political party, Congress should make a long-term financial commitment 
to funding the most trusted brand in broadcasting so it can plan for 
the future.
  The last 10 years have been characterized by bipartisan cooperation 
to promote access to safe drinking water and sanitation around the 
globe. My 2005 legislation, cosponsored by Henry Hyde, Bill Frist, 
Harry Reid, saved lives and made friends for America.
  In this Congress we have another bipartisan bill, Water for the 
World, which is cosponsored by my friend Ted Poe, which would build on 
that foundation and accelerate progress. It's all teed up and ready to 
go and could be easily passed next week.
  Mr. Speaker, 86 percent of Americans think getting full information 
about their situation as a loved one faces the end of life should be a 
top priority for health care. Before the 2009 political ``lie of the 
year'' about ``death panels,'' this provision in the health care reform 
enjoyed broad bipartisan support.
  There is new legislation to personalize people's health care so that 
they get the information they need to make these difficult, sometimes 
painful, decisions and make sure their decisions, whatever they are, 
are respected by doctors and hospitals. This refined legislation could 
easily be achieved now that we're implementing health care reform.
  These are all bipartisan, cost-effective initiatives that are 
overwhelmingly embraced by the public. Is it perhaps time to have a 
Legislators' Caucus, where Members in both parties who just want to get 
something done can come together with ideas like these? Who knows? 
Working together to get something done might become habit-forming.

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