Michael Arcuri

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and friend from Washington. It's always a pleasure managing a rule on the floor with you. I would like to thank him for making a point which I think is a very good point in his closing, and that is we can't drill our way to oil independence. I think that is abundantly clear, especially to Americans. I think they know that. The fact of the matter is, is that oil is a finite resource. That as much as we want to dream and that as much as we want to wish, it is a finite resource. And while there may be reserves that may last us 5 years or 10 years, the fact of the matter is if we don't deal with the fact that it is a finite resource, then our children and our grandchildren will have to deal with the fact that there is no more oil left. That's what today's bill does. That's what this rule does. It attempts to take real steps to promote alternative energy because that is the future of our children and our grandchildren. H.R. 6049, if it passes the House today, it will be the fourth time the House has voted to extend many of these energy tax provisions. In each of the previous three times, the legislation has come under heavy fire because of the revenue-raising provisions that were included to ensure that the extensions were compliant with House pay-as-you-go rules. That is the new Democratic majority's commitment to lowering the national debt by bringing fiscal responsibility back to the House of Representatives. The debate has not fallen on deaf ears. I applaud the Ways and Means Committee and Chairman Rangel for its tireless commitment to finding less controversial means for paying for this vital tax relief and alternative energy development incentives. Their efforts have been successful judging by the list of organizations and businesses that are supporting H.R. 6049, including the League of Conservation Voters, the National Retail Federation, the National Wildlife Federation, Dow Chemical Company, The Sierra Club, The American Farm Bureau, and the list goes on and on. Providing tax relief to middle class families and small businesses, providing incentives to promote alternative energy development, and adhering to fiscal responsibility should never, never be a partisan issue. Too often in this Chamber we hear countless reasons why not to do something, but the fact of the matter is, we cannot afford to allow the vital tax relief and renewable energy incentives in H.R. 6049 to fall victim to Washington politics. Just to set the record straight, by voting ``yes'' on the previous question and voting ``yes'' on the rule and bringing this legislation to the floor, it will allow 11 million families to deduct State and local sales taxes; it will allow 3\1/2\ million teachers to deduct classroom expenses so they can better educate the children they teach; it will allow 4 million families the ability to deduct education expenses and help put their children through college; it will allow 13 million families to claim the child tax credit and make it a little easier to put food on their table; and it will allow 27,000 domestic businesses to remain competitive in the global marketplace by investing in vital research and development. Clearly we in the majority are working to advance the interests of the American people. I am hopeful we can come together later today, Republicans and Democrats, pass this rule, pass the underlying legislation, and move our country forward. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Washington is as follows: Amendment to H. Res. 1212 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this resolution or the operation of the previous question, it shall be in order to consider any amendment to the substitute which the proponent asserts, if enacted, would have the effect of lowering the national average price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline. Such amendments shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for thirty minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against such amendments are waived except those arising under clause 9 of rule XXI.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney).

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. Giffords).

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont, my colleague from the Rules Committee, Mr. Welch.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to make one point. Some people in this institution tend to talk about trial lawyers and seem to want to point out the things that they do that they think aren't good. But no one talks about the fact that trial lawyers are out there representing people who have been injured. They are protecting people's civil rights. They are defending people on a contingency fee basis who don't have the money to come forward and sue people that have hurt them. That is critically important. And this bill does not give a windfall tax rebate to lawyers. All it does is allow them to claim expenditures that they have put out in the year that they have made that expenditure, no different than any other business in this country can do. So I think it is unfair to criticize trial attorneys who are out there doing the kind of things that people hire them to do; and that is protecting people's civil rights and ensuring that people who are injured are able to get what they need so that they are not victimized even further. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, my friend and colleague from the Rules Committee, Ms. Matsui.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1212 provides for consideration of H.R. 6049, the Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate controlled by the Committee on Ways and Means and waives all points of order against consideration of the bill, except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule also provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this rule and H.R. 6049, the Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, which will not only bring this country into a new alternative energy future, but strengthen our economy by directing fiscally responsible tax relief to middle class families, creating jobs at small businesses in the very towns and rural communities where we need it the most. The legislation this rule provides for consideration of will extend a number of critical tax relief measures targeted at middle class families and small businesses, including deductions for State and local sales tax, tuition education expenses, and expanding the child tax credit and research and development tax credit. During these uncertain economic times, it is also absolutely critical that we pass legislation to invest in jobs for today and long-term development for tomorrow, including alternative energy like wind and biomass that will reduce our Nation's dependence on foreign oil and bring the price of gas at the pump to a level families and businesses can afford. The best way to encourage growth and development of new technology is to let businesses invest their own money in ways that expand our economic horizons. Tax credits for alternative energy production have the power to truly jump-start our economy and create good paying, highly skilled jobs that can't be sent overseas. In my upstate New York district, our location, natural resources, renowned colleges and universities and world class scientific and technological companies perfectly poise our community to seize this opportunity to create a new green economy, complete with green jobs. I have spoken numerous times throughout the debate over how to extend these renewable tax credits and about the new businesses in my district that are utilizing the national investment in alternative energy to create good paying jobs in upstate New York. Those businesses are to be commended, and that is why I am proud to support nearly $20 billion in long-term clean renewable energy tax incentives and investment included in the Energy and Job Creation Act. I hope that doing so will encourage other companies to follow suit, both in our region and across this great Nation. The underlying legislation extends and modifies critical tax credits for the production of electricity from renewable sources ranging from wind, solar and geothermal energy to closed-loop and open-loop biomass. It would also extend clean renewable energy bonds, efficient commercial building tax incentives, investment tax credit for solar and fuel cell systems, tax credit for energy efficiency upgrades to existing homes, tax credits for production of efficient home appliances and tax incentives for consumer purchases of energy efficient products. Most of these incentives either expired at the end of last year or are set to expire at the end of this year. It is vitally important to sustaining the development of clean energy technology industries that these incentives are extended. H.R. 6049 also includes an extension of the research and development tax credit that allows companies a tax credit for a portion of their research and development expenditures. Extending the R&D credit is vital to ensuring that America remains on the cutting edge of innovation that keeps our companies competitive and working here, not offshore. This credit is of particular interest to the area that I represent because its extension will further the expansion of the microchip fabrication and nanotechnology industries which are beginning to blossom in our region. American companies rely on this credit and upon its continuity to adequately plan their long-term research projects. I support this 1- year extension to provide that continuity and I will continue to work with leaders on the committee and in this body to seek a permanent extension that would eliminate concerns over expirations and lapses. The bill also extends important tax credits for individuals, as well as creating new and expanded credits. It extends for 1 year the personal income tax deductions for tuition and education expenses, the State and local sales taxes, and teachers' out-of-pocket expenses for classroom supplies. The bill creates a new standard deduction for up to $700 for couples to cover State and local property taxes, and expands the eligibility for the refundable child tax credit. Under the child tax credit, certain low-income taxpayers can claim a refundable tax credit equal to 15 percent of their earned income above an inflation- adjusted threshold. In 2008, this threshold is set to be $12,050, but under H.R. 6049 that threshold will be reduced to $8,500, providing increased relief to more than 12 million families with children nationwide. Supporting H.R. 6049 comes down to simple common sense. We can create tens of thousands of new jobs, reduce our dependence on oil from hostile regimes, reduce greenhouse gases, spur innovation and provide tax relief to middle class families, and we can do it all--and let me emphasize this--all of those things, without adding to the national deficit. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this rule and the underlying legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). All time yielded during consideration of this rule is for debate purposes only. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 1212.

Mr. ARCURI. We have no additional speakers, so I am prepared to close.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1212 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds. This good bill will help us wean ourselves off fossil fuels. It will help us keep good-paying jobs in the energy industry, in the entertainment industry, and a great many other industries, and I urge support.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, last week, Congress, with strong Democratic support, passed the new GI Bill, which provides all veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars the promise of a full 4-year college scholarship. The bill makes veterans a part of the American economic recovery. The original GI Bill in 1944 allowed millions of families to achieve the American Dream. It also set our economy on the right course after World War II. For every dollar spent on the GI Bill, $7 were returned to the economy. A similar economic spark is needed today. You would think that the new GI Bill would gain the support of President Bush. But he opposes it. Unfortunately, the vast majority of House Republicans opposed the bill when it was on the floor last week. We must make sure that the brave men and women that we are sending off to battle have everything they need and deserve when they return home. Mr. Speaker, House Democrats vow to never leave a veteran behind after returning from war by ensuring that they receive the quality care and benefits they have earned. That includes living up to the promise of providing them access to quality higher education.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Captain Jack B. Howey, a member of my Veterans Advisory Committee who passed away on April 14, 2008. Captain Howey had 9 years of enlisted service and 18 years of commissioned service in the Active Duty Army, the Army Reserve and the New York Army National Guard. A veteran of the Korean War, he served as an advisor to the South Korean Army. He retired in 1974 from the 204th Engineer Battalion of the New York Army National Guard. As the Director of the Tioga County Veterans Service Agency and as a member of my Veterans Advisory Committee, he worked diligently to ensure that fellow veterans were getting all the benefits that they deserved in the quickest way possible. He particularly focused on ensuring that veterans had adequate transportation so that they could get to hospitals and outpatient clinics for medical treatment. He also shared his hard work with others by writing articles in the Owego Pennysaver to alert veterans of any news that might be of use to them. Captain Howey was born on October 24, 1928 in Oneonta, New York, to the late Morris and Eva Burrell Howey. He leaves behind his wife, Audrey; sister, Maureen; son, Clark; stepdaughters Tammy and Ellen; and stepsons Mark, Tom and Henry. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Maria, Randi, Chance, Andrew, Amanda and Justin, and great- grandchildren: Christian, Justin and Shea. He was involved in many organizations, including serving as past commander and life-long member of the Owego Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1371 and as a member of the American Legion, Quiet Birdmen, Binghamton Hanger and Harris Hill Soaring Corporation. In addition to his work for veterans, Captain Howey was also an avid pilot who worked as a pilot instructor and examiner. His exceptional dedication to veterans, as well as his own faithful service to his country and community, is to be commended. I express my deepest sympathies to Captain Howey's family, and the entire Tioga County community, for their loss.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, we have sat here for the past hour and listened to so many speakers talk about energy, when the underlying bill is actually the Coast Guard reauthorization bill. But if our colleagues want to talk about energy, then I think we should point out some very obvious facts to them. First of all, when the Clinton administration finished in the White House, oil was at $27 a barrel. It is now at $119 a barrel, a significant increase. Yet they try to point the finger at this Congress, this Democratic Congress that has been in the majority for 16 months. Yet on every bill that we bring up, every bill that the Democrats bring before this Congress that attempts in any way, shape, fashion or form to reduce the price of oil, we get nothing but ``no'' votes from the other side of the aisle. That is their response to high energy costs. That is what they want to do to the American people in terms of the energy costs. I said earlier in the debate a point that I think is very important. They want to talk about priorities as what we do for the big energy companies, what we do for the big oil companies. Well, that is not the priority of this side of the aisle. We want to talk about alternative energy. We want to talk about reducing the dependence on foreign oil, reducing the dependence on gas and on fossil fuels, thereby making our country stronger, both domestically and internationally. If they want to talk about gas and oil, that is the debate. But this debate is about the Coast Guard bill. Mr. Speaker, the men and women of the Coast Guard are to be commended for their service to our country and their commitment to the multifaceted mission of the Coast Guard. They serve their country, they risk their lives, just to keep us safe, safe along our coasts, safe along our inland waterways; not thousands of miles away, but right here in the United States. We need to ensure that they have the tools and the support to do the job in the best way that they can. The Coast Guard deserves and needs this bill. The American people deserve and need this bill. Mr. Speaker, after extensive consideration by three House committees, it is time to bring the Coast Guard authorization bill to the floor. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland, the chairman of the Coast Guard Subcommittee, Mr. Cummings.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, one point that I would like to make at this time is that the gentleman talks about oil and talks about energy, but the thing that he fails to point out is that gas and oil are limited, they are not going to be there forever. We need to stop our reliance upon fossil fuels, upon gas and oil, and start to focus on renewable alternative energy and become less dependent on foreign oil, less reliant upon fossil fuels. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Stupak.

Mr. ARCURI. That is correct. I do not have any additional speakers.

Mr. ARCURI. I thank my friend from Texas for his comments. I would just like to make two points in that regard. The first point is that he mentioned that this bill doesn't deal with the LNG issue. And I would beg to differ. This bill ensures that the Coast Guard will be there to ensure and protect the safety of our liquefied natural gas facilities that are built out in the deep water or out in the ocean. It's critical. Security is absolutely critical to these facilities, and that's exactly what this bill insures. Secondly, my friend mentions that we have not done anything about energy. Well, I would respectfully say that anyone who says that, I would have to ask them where have they been for the past 16 months. We have done a great deal with respect to energy. The difference is that we haven't done anything to help large oil companies because we believe that they are part of the problem. We have done things to help develop alternative energy, because that is the future of America. It's about making America less dependent on foreign oil and less dependent on the large oil companies. That's what we have done. That's what Democrats believe in, and that's what we will continue to do. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.