Charlie Bass

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 616, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 614, 615, 617, 618, and 619, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Elizabeth ``Libby'' Curran, who was recently named Teacher of the Year by People Magazine, one of only five educators across the country to receive this award for her efforts to change the lives of her students. Libby is a special education teacher at Richards Elementary School in Newport, New Hampshire. She also serves as a district trainer for Newport School District's Alternative Assessment Program, mentoring her colleagues and serving as a role model for new educators. Libby's dedication to her students goes beyond the classroom and normal school hours. She created a successful afterschool reading buddies program for students to improve their reading skills by reading to each other, and Libby has encouraged 500 children and their families become regular library users. Libby even writes and illustrates small hand-made books that she distributes to her students. As Libby says in the magazine, ``Reading is the key to success, not just in school, but also in life.'' Our children's success in the classroom starts with great teachers, and Libby is a terrific example of the caliber of teachers we are proud to have in the Granite State. It is an honor to represent Libby in the United States Congress, and I wish her all the best as she continues to touch the lives of so many students in New Hampshire and beyond.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor retired Air Force Colonel Robert Fortnam of Pembroke, a New Hampshire hero whose service and sacrifice during World War II is to be commended and remembered. Mr. Fortnam is celebrating his 90th birthday this year, and in his 90 years, he has seen and experienced more than most Americans ever will in their lifetimes. Mr. Fortnam served as a B-17 co-pilot in the 305th Bombardment Group during World War II. On October 8, 1943, his life changed dramatically after his plane was shot down by a German F-190 fighter over the German border. Mr. Fortnam landed the plane safely and protected the lives of the 10 crew members on board, but their luck would change when German guards picked them up and sent them off to a POW camp in Poland, where Mr. Fortnam spent the next 19 months of his life. After the war, Mr. Fortnam returned to the Granite State, where he graduated from the University of New Hampshire, became a mechanical engineer, and continued to serve in the Reserves as a colonel until his retirement. Mr. Fortnam still likes to fly once a week in a Cessna Skyhawk and travel all over New England. Mr. Speaker, stories like Mr. Fortnam's reaffirm my commitment to those who have served and continue to serve our nation. We all owe Mr. Fortnam and the brave men and women of our armed forces a debt of gratitude that we can never truly repay, but we will continue fighting for them as they have fought for us. New Hampshire citizens have long answered the call to service to our nation, and Mr. Fortnam represents the best of our state. It is an honor to represent him in the United States Congress, and I wish him all the best as he continues to share his incredible story of service and sacrifice with us all.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 225th birthday of the Washington, New Hampshire Meetinghouse on August 11, 1787. In 1752, Governor Jonathan Belcher granted a charter to the settlement that was later established as the town of Washington, New Hampshire--named for our first president, George Washington. The original charter decreed that ``a Convenient Meeting house be built.'' The colonial-style, wooden structure henceforth erected has remained largely unchanged in both appearance and purpose. Although a tower was added in 1825, the meetinghouse retains its original exterior. Inside, the building has adapted to the community's needs, continuously serving as church, cultural center, school, and Town Hall for over two centuries. The meetinghouse is a foundational establishment, fostering the civic growth of Washingtonians who have contributed to both our state and nation through their work as service members, small businessmen, farmers, educators, lawyers, ministers, and doctors. Merging its natural beauty with its dedicated and lively community, the town of Washington is truly representative of the best qualities of the State of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I join the people of the Granite State in congratulating the town of Washington on the 225th birthday of its Meetinghouse. This tribute celebrates the history and birth of political discourse in the United States with Meetinghouses, and honors these institutions as symbols of American freedom and independence, whose creation and preservation are reminders of the founding of our country.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, as this Congress debates measures to address our nation's energy independence, economic growth, and job creation, I rise in strong support of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Reauthorization Act of 2011 (H.R. 1756). Oilheat safely and efficiently heats 9.5 million American households, keeping an estimated 24.5 million individuals comfortable when the temperature drops. As the American cost of living continues to rise, vital advances in this industry can save consumers money. With the goal of improving heating efficiency and technology, we have introduced H.R. 1756, legislation to reauthorize this vital program and have the support of 70 bipartisan and geographically diverse cosponsors. Since its inception in 2001, the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) has made significant progress in improving the efficiency and reliability of oilheating equipment, thus lowering costs to consumers and reducing the use of oil. NORA is a collaborative program established by the oilheat industry aiming to strengthen the industry by improving education and training for employees, providing information to customers, and developing new products for consumers. From an ecological standpoint, NORA is working on the development of sustainable biofuels as part of heating oil, and improving emissions controlling technology. NORA is funded by a fee of 2/10th of 0.01 cent per gallon paid for by oilheat distributors only if 85% of the industry agrees that it is wanted. This fee does not affect consumers, but rather is an initiative by members of the industry to improve their product and save customers money. Since the authorization of NORA the industry has: Improved residential oilheat efficiency by 30 percent or 120 gallons per home. Based on the U.S. average heating oil price in the 2009/2010 winter season, the volume reduction over this period has reduced oilheat consumer's energy costs by about $335 per household at a cost of $7.50 per household heated with oil. Reduced foreign oil imports by 185,000 barrels per day. Reduced CO2 emissions by 30 million tons. The adoption of NORA's best practices resulted in reduced claims and less severity for industry participants. This yielded a significant reduction in the cost of insurance for companies. For a typical company utilizing NORA's best practices, insurance costs per customer will be reduced by 1.0 cent per gallon. The authorization of NORA merely provides the mechanism for the oilheat industry, should they choose to work cooperatively, develop programs, and ensure that solutions are found systematically and resourcefully. By reauthorizing NORA, we will help ensure the continuation of research that has helped lower consumer costs and improved heating efficiency. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues and the staff on the Energy and Commerce Committee for the work they have done on this legislation and urge its consideration and passage.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. I thank the distinguished chairman of the committee for recognizing me for 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. The user fee process at the FDA is a vital element in maintaining operations at the FDA to bring valuable drugs and devices through the approval pathway and to market. I am optimistic that, with the enhanced financial incentives and resources available to the FDA included in the user fee agreements, we will see shorter approval times and more products available to patients. Throughout this process, there has been a commitment to addressing the unique issues associated with the rare disease community and bringing it to the forefront of this debate. And I am proud to have had my bill, the Humanitarian Device Reform Act, included as a provision in this device regulatory section. This language will make it easier for medical device manufacturers to create devices specifically for the treatment of individuals, both children and adults, who are afflicted with very rare diseases. With this increased focus on providing incentives to manufacturers to invest in the development of these devices and drugs, it can be an attainable goal for an individual and family affected by rare diseases to not only improve the quality of life but possibly even find a cure.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Talbot Blanchard, a licensed nursing assistant, LNA, from the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, New Hampshire. Talbot was recently honored by the New Hampshire Hospital Association as the 13th Annual LNA of the Year Award. As a medical/surgical LNA, he was previously named ``Employee of the Year'' at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital after his first year on the staff and was chosen for the New Hampshire Hospital Association award from among a dozen finalists from throughout the state. Blanchard is a ``career change'' nurse who previously spent 29 years at the Ethan Allen furniture plant in Beecher Falls, Vermont. It was a change that today benefits the residents of Colebrook and the surrounding communities as is evident by the comments made by his peers during the nomination process. Talbot is known for ``bringing brightness and energy to his patients during their darkest and sickest hours.'' It is the care and dedication of medical staff like Talbot Blanchard that allows New Hampshire hospitals to be among the finest institutions in the nation. I ask you to join me in recognizing Talbot Blanchard for his accomplishments, along with recognizing the care and service provided by thousands of nurses and medical staff every day in New Hampshire and throughout our country.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Dartmouth College Men's 7s Rugby team upon winning their second consecutive USA 7s Collegiate Rugby National Championship on Sunday, June 3rd Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Led by their coach, Alex Magleby, a powerful and experienced Dartmouth squad defeated the talented team from the University of Arizona 24 5 in the final match. The Big Green was dominant throughout the 16- team, two-day round-robin tournament winning a total of six games. During this time they outscored their opponents by a combined score of 170 41. It was only during their semi-final match against the University of California that Dartmouth ever found their selves behind, but the squad from Hanover battled back from a 12 point deficit to a 21 19 victory. The 2012 7s Collegiate Rugby National Championship adds to the distinguished record and history of Dartmouth Rugby. In addition to the 2011 7s National Championship, Dartmouth has the most rugby wins and championships among the members of the Ivy League, including winning 12 of the last 15 Ivy League Championships (15s), as well as the 2012 Ivy League 7s Championship. Mr. Speaker it is with great pleasure to recognize the success of my alma mater and the members of the 2012 Dartmouth College 7s Rugby team. Bill Lehmann '12 Nate Brakeley '12 Derek Fish '12 Will Mueller '12 Paul Jarvis '12 Clark Judge '12 Dave Turnbull '12 Justin Ciambella '13 Pat Flynn '13 Kevin Clark '14 James Sharpe '14 Madison Hughes '15 Coach Alex Magleby '00.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5651, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Reform Act of 2012. The user fee process at the FDA is a vital element in maintaining operations at the FDA to bring valuable drugs and devices through the approval pathway and to market. I am optimistic that, with the enhanced financial incentives and resources available to the FDA included in the user fee agreements, we will see shorter approval times and more successful products available to patients. Additionally, there are significant drug and device regulatory improvements that will, I believe, increase transparency, market involvement, and the development of innovative and life-saving drugs and devices. Consistent throughout this process has been a commitment to bringing the need of the rare disease community to the forefront of this debate, both through medical device legislation as well as a focus on drug development for rare diseases. I am proud to have my bill, the Humanitarian Device Reform Act (H.R. 3211), included as a provision in the device regulatory section. This language will make it easier for device manufacturers to create Humanitarian Use Devices (HUDs) to treat individuals, both children and adults, who suffer from diseases that affect communities of 4,000 or fewer each year. Current law prevents companies who manufacture HUDs from recouping beyond the research and development costs, subsequently restricting entry into this field, particularly for smaller device companies, such as those found in New Hampshire. This provision would lift this outdated profit cap restriction and would do so in a way that maintains incentives for devices developed for both children and adults and keeps in place the necessary product safeguards. It would maintain FDA's current oversight of HUDs but, by allowing manufacturers to generate a profit from the sale of these devices, allow for further development, improvements, and incentives to make it possible for new device developers to enter the marketplace, many of which cannot afford to do so under current statute. During this debate I have made clear my support for rare diseases and the focus on drug development and expedited approval pathways for drugs to treat rare diseases. With this increased focus on providing incentives to manufacturers to invest in the development of these drugs, it can be an attainable goal for an individual and family affected by rare diseases to not only improve the quality of life but possibly even find a cure. By working together, the FDA and drug developers will be able to maintain the high standards of safety but also fast-track the approval process in order to bring these important drugs to the patient. While H.R. 5651 makes a number of important reforms, more work needs to be done to strengthen the integrity of the drug supply chain. Congress must maintain its commitment to keeping the American people safe and protect the integrity of drugs, from the manufacturing floor to the medicine cabinet. We need more than the prospect of a patchwork of state regulations that would prove to be costly and ineffective, and more importantly, would fail to get the job done. Instead, we need a common sense national tracking system that will provide a consistent and workable solution for all parties in the supply chain. At the beginning of May, I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in writing a letter to Chairmen Upton and Pitts and Ranking Members Waxman and Pallone stressing the importance of the pharmaceutical distribution chain and urging the inclusion of legislative language to establish a prescription drug traceability platform. While I had hoped an agreement would have been included in the bill we are considering today, I am encouraged that a compromise can be reached during a House and Senate conference. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for the work they have done on this user fee agreement and urge its swift passage.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of Milford High School's We the People state championship team. We the People is a national competition that tests students' knowledge of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Teams from all over the country compete for various prizes and awards. With the help of their teacher, Dave Alcox, and after many months of dedication and hard work, the Milford High School team placed first in New Hampshire's We the People State Championship. In doing so, they earned a spot to compete in the National Championship here in Washington, DC earlier this month, where they placed 30th overall and first in the Unit 3 division out of more than 50 teams. I want to congratulate the following students for their accomplishments and inspiring commitment to their team: Kelsey Bailey; Jack Betelak; Cara Brewer; Jess Byrne; Laura Elser; Mathias Christensen; Josh Clemens; Paige Craven; Emily Curry; Bekah Curtis; Molly Desmond; Adam Drescher; Robby Finan; Ryan Fitzgerald; Melissa Gray; Sarah Halstead; Ryan Hull; Kyle Joyce; Hannah Ladeau; Ally LaForge; Katie Lannin; Julia Lengvarska; Tom Lundstedt; Comfort Dum Maude; Zach O'Neill; Jon Penniman; Jason Porter; Nick Simo; James Smith; Natasija Vucicevic; and Brittney White. Mr. Speaker, the people of New Hampshire join me in congratulating these students on a job well done, and I wish them all the best in what I know will be a very successful future.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Illinois for recognizing me. There's little disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over the need to extend the subsidized interest rates for student loans for at least another year. Student loan debt now in America exceeds $1 trillion which, I believe, is more than the entire Nation's credit card debt. It's a very serious national priority that needs to be addressed, and it should be resolved in a bipartisan fashion. As you can tell from the tenor of the debate this morning, it has been reduced to the issue of how we are going to come up with the money to pay for this. First of all, I think it's a miracle that we're even debating that because the prior administration in this Congress wouldn't have even brought the subject up of how to pay for it. At least the Democrats now want to pay for it by raising prices on gasoline through higher taxes on oil companies. And I believe that taxation of oil companies should be on the table in tax reform, not on an education bill. We have a proposal that would reduce the funding in the prevention and public health fund account, and of course our friends on the other side of the aisle are right on message, on the national message, of tying everything that Republicans want to do to be some sort of a battle against women. Let me just point out that I believe there's already about $119 million in FY 2011 for the CDC's breast and cervical cancer early detection program. And I know my friend from Illinois will probably enumerate on this even further. I would point out that the program, or the fund, that the Democrats are trying to protect actually is providing money for early detection, but it's for free spaying and neutering for dogs and cats around the country. This money comes out of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work campaign, and that's receiving money from this Health and Human Services Secretary slush fund. I would also point out to my friends that this fund has already been reduced in order to pay for the payroll tax reduction, so it's not setting any kind of a precedent.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. I would suggest that a fund that's funded at $17.75 billion for the first 10 years, and then automatically advance-appropriated for $2 billion a year after that, I've never heard of that in the Congress. That means that we are turning over our authority to raise and appropriate money to the tune of $2 billion a year to the Health and Human Services Secretary with no oversight from Congress at all. I want student loans to remain at their lower rate, and I want to do it in a fiscally responsible fashion; and that's what this bill does.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the pending amendment. The budget presented by my friend from Wisconsin, Congressman Ryan, is a great statement of principle, and I will vote for it. And I suspect that it will pass the House. But it will not be considered by the Senate. The Senate will not accept or pass appropriations at its levels, and there will be no reconciliation this year. Mr. Chairman, in 9 short months, the Bush-era tax cuts will end, and taxes will go up by $4.6 trillion, the biggest tax increase in American history. The mindless across-the-board cuts in spending in the sequester will take effect cutting, amongst other programs, defense by over $400 billion. We'll have a vote to raise this Nation's debt with no accomplishments to justify it. We will have to either renew or repeal the temporary payroll tax holiday, and we'll have to complete our appropriations at higher levels than in this budget, the base budget, or face the specter of continuing resolutions through next year. The American people have heard the debate on both sides, and they are crying for solutions--not squabbling, not posturing or policy brinksmanship. We all have principles. Compromise is not a capitulation of principle. It never has been. All of the great policy accomplishments of our Nation's history have resulted from the willingness of men and women of principle to attack and resolve crises together through negotiation and, yes, compromise. We have that chance tonight. Mr. Chairman, I challenge Republicans and Democrats to vote for the LaTourette-Cooper-Simpson-Bowles bipartisan budget tonight and make America proud of us once again.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Oregon for yielding to me. He's a cosponsor of this legislation. I'm pleased that the House is considering it. It's important to reform procedures at the FCC. H.R. 3309 will improve the transparency, fairness, and consistency of this regulatory agency with oversight over telecommunications and technology and will provide certainty to these markets that are so critical to our Nation's economic recovery and growth. Indeed, over the past 8 years, landline, wireless, and cable providers have vested more than half a trillion dollars in broadband infrastructure. This investment has created countless jobs for our Nation and has positively affected our economy many times over. H.R. 3309 contains the commonsense and nonpartisan thrust of ensuring transparency and accountability of unelected bureaucrats by applying the regulatory reform principles endorsed by the President's own January, 2011 Executive order. Establishing clear timeframes for requiring the FCC to perform a cost benefit analysis before implementing new regulations will provide our Nation's small businesses and innovators with the regulatory certainty necessary to invest and create new jobs. I urge passage of this important legislation.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Madam Speaker, today the Congress will take up H.R. 5, Protecting Access to Healthcare Act. Amongst other things, this bill will repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board, one of the many ill-conceived provisions that was part of the so-called Affordable Care Act. This independent advisory board basically has charged 15 unelected individuals with making decisions about what's covered for both patients below the age of 65 and Medicare recipients. It is the Affordable Care Act's way of reducing costs, i.e., telling doctors and patients what they can do and what they can't do. Fifteen unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., are going to tell you what you can do. They stand ahead of you and your doctor. Now, this bill did not make it to the floor last year. It will make it to the floor this year with bipartisan support. It costs $3.1 billion, which is made up with a tort law reform provision which has been added. But that shows that $3.1 billion is what's saved by denying Americans access to health care that they've purchased or that they deserve. Join me in repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for yielding to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the bill consisting of two previous bills--tort law reform and a repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board. I wasn't here when the Obama health care, the Affordable Care Act law, was passed. In listening to the debate over the last half hour, you would have thought that nobody supported this bill. Of all the speakers we've had, I think three have admitted they supported it then, and now you'd think that it never existed. Well, any agency that's scored by CBO to save $3.1 billion is not going to do it by providing more services for seniors or innovation or preservation. It's going to do it by cutting payments to providers or by cutting services to beneficiaries. It's as simple as that. This is the beginning of, perhaps, the core of what represents a Federal Government takeover of health care services in this country. Sure, there may be a process whereby recommendations could go to the Congress; but instead of the relationship being between a patient and a doctor, it is going to be governed more by a Federal bureaucracy that will make these decisions. I urge support of the pending bill, H.R. 5.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Steven O'Connor of Milford, New Hampshire, a remarkable young man who, in June of 2010, demonstrated immense bravery and courage in order to save his younger sister's life. Steven, who was a Webelo Cub Scout at the time, had just recently learned how to swim when he was celebrating Father's Day at his grandparents' house with his family. Mackenzie O'Connor, Steven's younger sister, had slipped underwater and was struggling to stay afloat when Steven leaped into action. Before any of the adults had time to react to Mackenzie's struggles, Steven had jumped into the pool and pulled his younger sister to safety. Steven's selfless and heroic actions are commendable, and I am incredibly impressed by this young man's quick thinking and fearless instincts. Steven will be awarded with the Boy Scouts of America's Meritorious Action Award this Saturday in Hollis, New Hampshire, an award that is truly well-deserved. Steven's parents, grandparents, sister, and extended family, as well as his friends and teachers, must be extremely proud of his bravery, and I join the people of Milford, and indeed the entire Granite State, in congratulating Steven on a job well done. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors, particularly as he seeks to become an Eagle Scout.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the National Guard in honor of its 375th anniversary and a particular thank you to the men and women that serve in the New Hampshire National Guard. The origins of the New Hampshire National Guard can be traced back to 1623 with a proud tradition of protecting the lives and property of Granite State residents. New Hampshire Guardsmen have always answered the call to serve our great state and nation and since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, more than 2,000 New Hampshire Guardsmen have served overseas as part of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. Collectively, the New Hampshire Guardsmen have received the highest honors our military bestows including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medals, Combat Infantry and Combat Action Badges and Purple Hearts. New Hampshire's citizen soldiers and airmen have served domestically as well by mobilizing under Operation Noble Eagle, aiding the victims of severe weather, and rescuing lost hikers in the White Mountains. I am proud to represent the brave men and women of New Hampshire's National Guard and look forward to honoring them for their service in the years to come.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, the weather is cold in the Northeast. This year is no exception. In October, we had a huge snowstorm, an emergency declaration. Residents of the northern States-- Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont--are over 80 percent dependent on heating oil. And we've depended--in the case of New Hampshire, 47,200 people--on the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. It is imperative that this program be adequately funded this year. Mr. Speaker, the President, in his budget submission this year, proposed to cut LIHEAP funding by 50 percent. I urge our appropriators to do better than that this year because there are a lot of people in the Northeast that need this funding this year. I urge support for adequate funding for low income energy assistance.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report, which includes the CJS approps bill for fiscal year 2012, and I want to pay a special thanks to Chairman Wolf for his help in working out a very difficult problem. In 2010, a Federal prison was built in Berlin, New Hampshire, which is in my district. However, due to the lack of funding, the facility has been sitting idle now for a year and a half at a significant cost to taxpayers. So I applaud the inclusion of report language that urges the Bureau of Prisons to begin the activation phase of this prison in Berlin, New Hampshire, and others where construction has been completed but where the facilities currently sit idle. Additionally, I would like to thank Mayor Grenier in Berlin for his dogged determination and my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for their special attention to this very serious problem. Once opened, this prison will house over 1,000 minimum-security and medium-security adult male offenders. It will produce over 300 jobs for the region and bring $40 million to the local economy. It is a very worthwhile program. I thank you for being attentive to this issue with me. I urge final passage of the bill.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, while I was present for rollcall vote 820 on November 2, 2011, my vote was not recorded. Had my vote been recorded I would have voted ``yes'' on that passage of the Small Company Capital Formation Act.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, on October 6, 2011, I had a family gathering and was not present for rollcall votes 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, and 770. Had I been present, I would have voted in the affirmative on rollcall vote 765 and against rollcall votes 766, 767, 768, 769, and 770.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. I want to thank my friend and colleague from Oregon for yielding me time. I also want to thank my friend from California for supporting this legislation and for speaking in support of it. Mr. Speaker, as the representative of a rural district, I understand the challenges of increasing access to broadband Internet service. We have many, many communities that suffer economically, as well as culturally, due to the lack of access to broadband; and any effort that's undertaken to improve that access is a good effort. At the same time, however, Congress must act to protect the taxpayer and provide oversight for the nearly $7.2 billion in funds appropriated by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I would only note that a significant percentage of the obligated funds are being expended by recipients who have little or no experience in the business of designing and building broadband Internet and that that, in and of itself, justifies the passage of this legislation, which would provide much needed oversight for the broadband stimulus funds and would ensure that the law is definitive and would be quick to reclaim funds if there is reason to terminate an award for reasons of waste, fraud, or insufficient performance. As my friend from Oregon and my friend from California mentioned, it does not revoke any award that has already been granted. The GAO and Inspectors General have testified that the size and complexity of the programs and the short turnaround time provided to the NTIA and RUS to award the money has created substantial risk in these programs. Thus far, nearly 30 awards for grants and loans worth about $200 million have been returned to the Treasury. Many have returned the awards because they've recognized that they won't be successful. In those cases, we want to ensure that taxpayer exposure is minimized, and we want to prevent throwing good money after bad for projects that should be terminated for waste, fraud, or insufficient performance. During committee hearings, the administrators testified that the decision to deobligate funds for awards that give rise to reason to terminate is discretionary, according to the Recovery Act language. I emphasize ``discretionary.'' The Inspectors General said the stimulus bill does not make clear whether or when the NTIA and the RUS must deobligate funds for troubled projects. This legislation removes that ambiguity and makes clear that such problem awards must be terminated and deobligated. Moreover, the Inspectors General said current law does not ensure the NTIA and RUS will be responsive to their oversight recommendations. H.R. 1343 will provide important sunlight by requiring the administrators to act on recommendations made by the IG or to respond with their reasons for not acting. While I wasn't in Congress for the Recovery Act's passage, now that the funds have been awarded, I think it's common sense that Congress should require an accounting of how these funds are being spent and what the American taxpayer is getting for these expenditures. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Congress to pass this important piece of legislation.

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, due to weather related travel delays I was unable to be present for rollcall vote 692 on September 7, 2011. This vote was on H. Con. Res. 67, a resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of H. Con. Res. 67.