Leonard Boswell

Mr BOSWELL

Mr BOSWELL. I am opposed to the bill in its current form.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. The passage of this amendment will add protections for America's seniors to the bill. It will not, I repeat, it will not prevent the passage of the underlying bill. If it's adopted, the amendment will be incorporated in the bill, and the bill will be immediately voted upon. My motion to recommit will protect Medicare and Social Security beneficiaries and repair, yes, repair the trust between seniors and this body. The Republican leadership has, for more than a year, promised that slash-and-burn legislation would revitalize this Nation and empower employers. Well, we're still waiting on millionaire job creators to show us the jobs. To date, we have seen nothing from the Republican Party that would encourage job growth, stabilize the American family, or help seniors pay for their Medicare. Instead, the policies we have seen attempt to take from hardworking Americans the assistance they have been promised and that they have paid into their entire working careers, throughout their lives. Last year we were promised legislation that would fuel job growth. We ended up with a budget that would pay for a tax break for the wealthy by dismantling Medicare. Instead of providing the benefits these workers had earned, the Republican budget attempted to charge seniors higher premium costs for fewer benefits. Seniors were let down when this plan had enough Republican support to pass the Chamber. Like me, again, seniors will be disheartened once more when the Republican budget on the floor next month again attempts to end Medicare. Seniors have a right to know when their benefits are being cut or when their Social Security trust funds are being drained. They should not have to fear each day what this Chamber's leadership is going to do to their benefits. American seniors have the right to know. That is why we are offering this amendment today, to ensure that Iowa's 450,000-plus seniors know when legislation could tamper with their hard-earned benefits. This amendment will side with our seniors by requiring an assessment of each bill to show how it will affect the programs our seniors rely on. Voting for this amendment will prove to the American seniors that you are on their side and that you care about the programs that made this country great. The greatest success of Medicare and Social Security is that, in a time of need, these programs brought Americans over the age of 60 out of poverty and ensured their access to care. These programs honor America's work ethic and the communities that we build together. This amendment would provide peace of mind by ensuring that any attempt to change Social Security, Medicare, and the Medicare trust fund will be reported to Congress and the public. Should a bill harm the solvency of the trust fund, lessen the benefits owed to American workers, or command seniors to pay more in premium costs, our seniors will know. Americans who are enrolled in Social Security and Medicare have paid into these programs throughout their entire careers, and they have helped to make this country what it is today. It is our responsibility--our responsibility--to work together and preserve the structure of Medicare. We must provide America's seniors with a viable safety net and insurance plan for their future. So I will fight to--continue to fight for proposals that strengthen Medicare and the benefits that American retirees have worked for throughout their lives. I hope, again, I hope you will join me, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act. As a farmer, and an original cosponsor of this legislation, I appreciate the opportunity to this discuss this bill and speak in support of its common sense approach to rural dust regulations. I have traveled the rural parts of my district and I have farmed my own fields. I know that when I'm harvesting my crops in the combine that I'm going to stir up some dust. Whether I am planting, tiling, or transferring crop to the grain bin, I cannot control the fact that there will be dust. A one size fits all approach to regulating particulate matter, does not take into consideration that there are many sources of dust. This legislation allows the flexibility for our states and municipalities to manage dust in rural areas, so that local residents and workers can determine which types may be harmful, and what is simply the result of hardworking Americans of doing their jobs. Our farmers, ranchers, and rural business leaders are facing the same economic uncertainties as the rest of the country and they cannot afford additional, costly regulations on dust. Particularly, those producers who are in areas where natural disasters have created new challenges for tilling soil that has been harmed by drought, fire and flood. For these individuals, many of the challenges remain unknown. Additional regulations will only increase their burdens and limit their ability to return to their job and contribute to the economy of rural America. I know that Administrator Jackson has stated that the agency plans to maintain current standards. I thank her for that. I appreciate her intention to work with Congress and our farmers and ranchers. However, her statement alone does not protect the farm operations across our nation and it does not prevent this body from legislating on behalf of our producers. This legislation provides the protections needed for rural Americans to continue to do their day to day work without the threat of new regulation interfering with their mission to grow safe, plentiful, and affordable food for our nation. We all have a vested interest to ensure that farmers and ranchers can provide for their families and all Americans. I encourage my colleagues to support his legislation

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My motion to recommit will provide both parties with the opportunity to come together to save hundreds of millions of dollars, rein in Federal spending, and support America's seniors, America's troops, and America's veterans. Let me be clear. The passage of this amendment will not prevent the passage of the underlying bill. If it's adopted, my amendment will be incorporated into the bill and the bill will be immediately voted upon. The amendment is direct and incredibly important. Simply put, it will prevent the underlying bill from creating regulatory hurdles for low- cost drugs. Day in and day out, we talk about spending in this country and, particularly, in this Congress. Well, my amendment gives the Chamber the chance to rein in one of the greatest culprits of our out- of-control spending--health care. Today, health care spending is more than 17 percent of our Nation's GDP, a number so massive that a 5-point reduction would save Americans $870 billion. Medicare part D covers 29.5 million Medicare beneficiaries. So how do we pay for prescription drugs? Eighty-three percent of Medicare part D funds come from our Nation's general revenue, and CBO has estimated that America's Medicare part D spending will total approximately $53 billion in 2012. That's quite an incentive to pay for drugs wisely and efficiently. This amendment helps us do just that. First, it protects current and future regulations that lower the cost of pharmaceuticals from being hindered by the underlying bill. We have done too much to support America's seniors and improve health care today to let regulations increase costs on our citizens or jeopardize their access to care. Nationwide, we have provided greater access to health services for Medicare beneficiaries and reduced their costs by allowing access to discounted drugs in Medicare part D. We sent checks to seniors this year who hit the part D doughnut hole, and we made a commitment to close it by 2020. We must continue to aid our seniors and reduce the cost of their medicine, but we must also reduce this cost for our Nation. The second part of the amendment ensures that this bill will not prevent the Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs, or Health and Human Services from negotiating for lower drug prices. Military health care covers the needs of more than 9 million individuals, ranging from Active Duty, their families, and veterans. Fortunately, the Secretaries of the Department of Defense and the VA have the authority to negotiate with companies on the price of drugs. We must protect their ability to serve the millions of needs of military members--Active Duty and retired--and their families who have served our Nation. Not only will this amendment defend the right of these agencies to ensure the best prices for our veterans and military families, it will protect any future provision that would provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services that same power to serve nearly 30 million Medicare part D beneficiaries and make medicine more affordable. Our constituents know what a driving force health costs are in our Nation's spending crisis. They feel it every day in their own homes and do all they can to get by. My own constituent, Jan, in Des Moines, recently wrote to tell me that she is ``concerned about the prices of medicine in our country, as it's often the biggest part of most citizens' out-of-pocket health care costs.'' Echoing her concerns in a small town, Donna wrote, ``Countless Americans can't afford to buy medications in the U.S. and yet cannot afford to go without them.'' These constituents and many more told me that if we could pass legislation to lower the cost of medicine that ``it would be extremely popular with your constituents, and it would be easy to garner bipartisan support.'' I agree with my constituents. We should do this. I hope that you will support this, bring it back, and let's pass it, and let's be sure that we do the best we can to help our seniors, our military with military families, and our veterans. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. BOSWELL. I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise to encourage my colleagues to support my amendment to the underlying legislation. I first want to thank my colleagues, Mr. Miller and Mr. Andrews, for their work on this important issue. I'm concerned that this legislation creates an opportunity for parties to abuse the preelection hearing process to engage in open- ended litigation. The majority would allow parties in a hearing to raise any ``relevant and material'' issues at any time before the close of the hearing. Yet they define ``relevant and material'' as ``any other issues'' that may possibly impact the election. Practically, this means that any workplace issue, however frivolous, could be raised and litigated before the hearing closes. As we've seen, there are always some--though not all--that seek to enrich their CEOs while denying their workers a fairer and safer workplace. This amendment would only apply to companies that have given bonuses--now hear this--bonuses to their executives that amount to 10,000 percent more than the average yearly salary of their employees. Those employers would be required to state their issues and positions at the onset of a hearing and would be prohibited from engaging in open-ended litigation. This is a simple principle: If your average employee makes $50,000 and you can afford to pay the CEO a bonus of $5 million, then you can also afford to be prepared for the hearing in 14 days and state your position up front. I'm not sure why we're considering H.R. 3094 right now. It won't create one job, and it won't reduce our deficit by $1. It won't add one job for unemployed construction workers to fix Iowa bridges that need to be repaired. It won't help one member of the Iowa National Guard that recently returned from Afghanistan and is still looking for a job. All this bill does is help a small number of companies make it harder for their workers to organize. The very least we can do is make sure those companies aren't abusing their process while handing out executive bonuses that are 10,000 percent more than what their workers earn. Support this amendment for fairness. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. BOSWELL. Thank you very much, and I appreciate the discussion. Thank you, Mr. Andrews, for those very astute remarks that have applied to workers. My friend from Minnesota, Congressman, I recall we both have led troops, and I'm proud of you for having done that. I'm proud that I had the opportunity. I see these top CEOs as--who are their troops? Their troops are the workers. Thank heavens we have got those people that are willing to be entrepreneurs and get out there and invest and do those things, but they've got to have workers to get the job done just like you and I had to have troops to take the objective. What's the difference? Our troops had to be well-fed, trained, equipped, morale had to be good, and then we could take our objective. Any sergeant, any lieutenant, any lieutenant colonel, any general, they can't take their objective without troops. And how do CEOs and people, entrepreneurs that we appreciate--we rely on them, but they've got to have those workers; they've got to treat them fairly, and they've got to realize that they too want to have the American Dream. And I was concerned where is that American Dream going to be as I was surrounded by my grandchildren just a few days ago at Thanksgiving. Is it going to be there for them? Then we'd better be thinking about it. We don't pull the ladder up, we leave it down. Let's let everybody have a part of the American Dream. And 10,000 percent, and you're worried about that? Come on, give me a break. I urge support of this amendment. I think it is fair and it's the right thing to do. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 2. An amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Congress pass a balanced budget is something I've long supported and will continue to support. I'll try to tell you why. I greatly respect and I hear Mr. Conyers and my friend, Mr. Nadler. I understand their strong feelings, and I would concur with many of them. I'd like to thank the gentleman from Virginia, my good friend Mr. Goodlatte, for his efforts to bring this bipartisan resolution to the floor. I also want to thank him for resisting the efforts of some in his party to enshrine the disastrous fiscal policies of the Tea Party into our Constitution. My colleagues, our budget is broken. After years of special interest handouts on both the revenue and spending ledgers, we now have a system that requires us to borrow over $1 trillion just to meet our basic obligations. Why? Why do we borrow? Has anybody in this body ever really asked this question? It seems we borrow because there is not the political will in this body to make the difficult decisions in our country that we need to do. We're elected leaders. We're elected to lead. But when it comes to the long-term fiscal imbalance our Nation faces, many in this body seem to be more interested in securing the next election than securing the safety and soundness of our fiscal future. And no one party's at fault. Both parties are responsible for the financial mess we're facing. Our national debt did not reach its current level overnight, although we seem to have amnesia, what happened in September of '08 when Secretary Paulson came to talk to us about the sky was falling. But the problem has been decades in the making, with the current economic climate making the issue that much more visible. These are serious times, and serious times call for serious people to make serious decisions; and we know what these decisions must be. We cannot cut our way out of this mess, and we cannot and should not tax our way out of this mess. We need, quite simply, a balanced approach that gets us to a balanced budget. If I could tell you a situation in my home State, when I was appropriations chair, we were faced with a budget that was breaking the constitution.

Mr. BOSWELL. And so we decided to take it on. We were breaking our constitution in the State, and we took it on. And we worked with downtown, we worked with everybody across the State, and we came up with a solution and it's working. There's money in the bank in Iowa. The unemployment rate is around 6 percent, and that's something we need to be striving to achieve here. We can do it. What we have left out in this that we need to consider as we go through the steps is how do we include the revenue side of it. We had a revenue piece. But it's working. And it'll work here. We can do this. Let's work together. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 451.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. In its current form, I am.

Mr. BOSWELL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the outset, let me say this amendment does not--repeat, does not-- kill the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has been hit by devastating and unprecedented flooding this past spring that has displaced and damaged homes in 29 States and nearly 700 counties. That is right. Nearly three-fifths of the States in this country, 60 percent, have counties that have been declared emergency areas by the President. I would like to insert into the Record the list of States and counties that have been hit by the floods of 2011. In my home State of Iowa, right as we stand here in this Chamber, we are seeing flooding as the Missouri River rises on the western border. Just last week, the Department of Agriculture declared Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie, and Woodbury Counties in Iowa as agriculture disaster areas. Farmers, homeowners, and small business owners are seeing their lives and their very livelihoods quite literally being washed away. As I talk to mayors, county supervisors, and my friends across the State who are being affected, they want to know if their government, this Congress, will stand with them in their time of dire need. We need to step up to the plate and help these flood victims rebuild their lives and repair the damage, and they should not be subjected to premium increases as they struggle to get back on their feet. This final amendment helps flood victims in three important ways: First, this amendment builds on a bipartisan program that was established in 1994 following the devastating Midwestern floods by reimbursing a flood policyholder for the cost of rebuilding a flood- damaged structure as needed to comply with State and local floodplain management laws. Second, this amendment provides a new important tool to aid victims of the 2011 floods by giving the agency discretion to provide grants to homeowners to repair flood damage. Third, this amendment provides a temporary reprieve from any increases in flood insurance premiums for policyholders as they struggle to rebuild their homes and their lives. It does so by suspending any increases in flood insurance premiums for a period of 36 months--we're talking about increases--for policyholders located in areas designated by the President as a major disaster or emergency. Importantly, this amendment accomplishes this in a responsible way by limiting such assistance to homeowners with existing flood policies. It rewards those who have obtained flood insurance and have paid into the Flood Insurance Fund. This amendment is consistent with the underlying policy of this bill by encouraging homeowners to obtain flood insurance, and by placing the program on stronger financial footing through a responsible phase-in of risk premium rates to full actuarial rates. In past years, Congress has stepped up to the plate and provided assistance to victims of natural disasters. That is what epitomizes our great country and its spirit. Yet this Congress has shown a disregard for flood victims at a time when we are struggling to recover from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Yes, we are a country marked by individual initiative, but we are also a country of compassion. This final amendment is not a handout. It provides immediate assistance and relief to those homeowners who have paid into the Flood Insurance Fund. The Flood Insurance Fund is paid through premiums and fees paid by policyholders, not the taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to read the list of 29 States and 696 counties that have been hit by these devastating floods and join me in providing swift and immediate assistance to your constituents. These are your friends, your neighbors; and they are asking for your help. So I ask you to stand with them, and I ask my colleagues to do the same. Vote ``yes'' on this final amendment; and, remember, it does not kill the underlying bill. Statement of Rep. Leonard L. Boswell To Accompany The Motion To Recommit the Bill, H.R. 1309 with Instructions According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, there have been a total of 696 counties in 29 states for which a Major Disaster or Emergency has been declared. There is some overlap of states for which a major disaster and emergency have been declared and some overlap of counties for which a major disaster and emergency have been declared. Below is a breakdown of the affected counties and states by major disaster and by emergency. 26 States for Which a Major Disaster has been Declared in 2011 for flooding* Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington 696 Counties in 26 States Covered by a Major Disaster Declaration in 2011 for flooding* Alabama Counties Autauga County, Baldwin County, Barbour County, Bibb County, Blount County, Bullock County, Butler County, Calhoun County, Chambers County, Cherokee County, Chilton County, Choctaw County, Clarke County, Clay County, Cleburne County, Coffee County, Colbert County, Conecuh County, Coosa County, Covington County, Crenshaw County, Cullman County, Dale County, Dallas County, DeKalb County, Elmore County, Escambia County, Etowah County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Geneva County, Greene County, Hale County, Henry County, Houston County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Lamar County, Lauderdale County, Lawrence County, Lee County, Limestone County, Lowndes County, Macon County, Madison County, Marengo County, Marion County, Marshall County, Mobile County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Morgan County, Perry County, Pickens County, Pike County, Randolph County, Russell County, Saint Clair County, Shelby County, Sumter County, Talladega County, Tallapoosa County, Tuscaloosa County, Walker County, Washington County, Wilcox County, and Winston County. Alaska Counties Crooked Creek (ANV/ANVSA), Kuspuk Regional Educational Attendance Area, and Red Devil (ANV/ANVSA). Arkansas Counties Arkansas County, Baxter County, Benton County, Boone County, Bradley County, Calhoun County, Carroll County, Chicot County, Clark County, Clay County, Cleburne County, Cleveland County, Conway County, Craighead County, Crawford County, Crittenden County, Dallas County, Faulkner County, Franklin County, Fulton County, Garland County, Greene County, Hot Spring County, Howard County, Independence County, Izard County, Jackson County, Johnson County, Lawrence County, Lee County, Lincoln County, Lonoke County, Madison County, Marion County, Mississippi County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Nevada County, Newton County, Perry County, Phillips County, Pike County, Poinsett County, Polk County, Prairie County, Pulaski County, Randolph County, Saint Francis County, Saline County, Searcy County, Sharp County, Stone County, Van Buren County, Washington County, White County, Woodruff County, and Yell County. California Counties Del Norte County, Inyo County, Kern County, Kings County, Monterey County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Cruz County, and Tulare County. Georgia Counties Bartow County, Catoosa County, Cherokee County, Coweta County, Dade County, Floyd County, Gordon County, Greene County, Harris County, Heard County, Jasper County, Lamar County, Lumpkin County, Meriwether County, Monroe County, Morgan County, Newton County, Pickens County, Rabun County, Spalding County, Troup County, Walker County, and White County. Hawaii Counties Hawaii County, Honolulu County, and Maui County. Idaho Counties and Indian Reservations Bonner County, Clearwater County, Idaho County, Nez Perce County, Nez Perce Indian Reservation, and Shoshone County. Illinois Counties Alexander County, Franklin County, Gallatin County, Hamilton County, Hardin County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Lawrence County, Marion County, Massac County, Perry County, Pope County, Pulaski County, Randolph County, Saline County, Union County, Wabash County, Washington County, Wayne County, White County, and Williamson County. Indiana Counties Benton County, Clark County, Crawford County, Daviess County, Dearborn County, Dubois County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Gibson County, Harrison County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Jennings County, Knox County, Martin County, Monroe County, Ohio County, Orange County, Parke County, Perry County, Pike County, Posey County, Putnam County, Ripley County, Scott County, Spencer County, Starke County, Sullivan County, Switzerland County, Vanderburgh County, Warrick County, and Washington County. Iowa Counties Fremont County, Harrison County, Mills County, Monona County, Pottawattamie County, and Woodbury County. Kentucky Counties Anderson County, Ballard County, Bath County, Boone County, Boyd County, Bracken County, Breathitt County, Breckinridge County, Butler County, Caldwell County, Calloway County, Campbell County, Carlisle County, Carroll County, Carter County, Christian County, Clay County, Crittenden County, Daviess County, Edmonson County, Elliott County, Estill County, Fleming County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Fulton County, Gallatin County, Grant County, Graves County, Grayson County, Green County, Greenup County, Hancock County, Harlan County, Henderson County, Henry County, Hickman County, Hopkins County, Johnson County, Kenton County, Knott County, Lawrence County, Lee County, Lewis County, Livingston County, Logan County, Lyon County, Magoffin County, Marion County, Marshall County, Martin County, Mason County, McCracken County, McLean County, Meade County, Menifee County, Mercer County, Monroe County, Morgan County, Nelson County, Nicholas County, Oldham County, Owen County, Owsley County, Pendleton County, Perry County, Robertson County, Rowan County, Spencer County, Todd County, Trigg County, Trimble County, Union County, Washington County, Webster County, and Wolfe County. Maine Counties Aroostook County, Piscataquis County, and Washington County. Minnesota Counties Becker County, Beltrami County, Big Stone County, Blue Earth County, Brown County, Carver County, Chippewa County, Clay County, Grant County, Kittson County, Lac qui Parle County, Le Sueur County, Lyon County, Marshall County, McLeod County, Nicollet County, Norman County, Otter Tail County, Polk County, Ramsey County, Red Lake County, Red Lake Indian Reservation, Redwood County, Renville County, Roseau County, Scott County, Sibley County, Stevens County, Swift County, Traverse County, Washington County, Wilkin County, Wright County, and Yellow Medicine County. Mississippi Counties Adams County, Alcorn County, Attala County, Benton County, Bolivar County, Calhoun County, Carroll County, Chickasaw County, Choctaw County, Claiborne County, Clarke County, Clay County, Coahoma County, DeSoto County, Greene County, Hinds County, Holmes County, Humphreys County, Issaquena County, Itawamba County, Jasper County, Jefferson County, Kemper County, Lafayette County, Lee County, Marshall County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Neshoba County, Newton County, Noxubee County, Panola County, Prentiss County, Quitman County, Scott County, Sharkey County, Smith County, Tate County, Tippah County, Tishomingo County, Tunica County, Union County, Warren County, Washington County, Webster County, Wilkinson County, Winston County, and Yazoo County. Missouri Counties Barry County, Bollinger County, Butler County, Cape Girardeau County, Carter County, Christian County, Douglas County, Dunklin County, Howell County, Iron County, Jasper County, Madison County, McDonald County, Miller County, Mississippi County, New Madrid County, Newton County, Oregon County, Ozark County, Pemiscot County, Perry County, Pettis County, Polk County, Reynolds County, Ripley County, Saint Francois County, Saint Louis County, Sainte Genevieve County, Scott County, Shannon County, Stoddard County, Stone County, Taney County, Texas County, Washington County, Wayne County, Webster County, and Wright County. Montana Counties and Indian Reservations Big Horn County, Blaine County, Broadwater County, Carbon County, Carter County, Cascade County, Chouteau County, Crow Indian Reservation, Custer County, Dawson County, Fallon County, Fergus County, Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Garfield County, Golden Valley County, Hill County, Judith Basin County, McCone County, Meagher County, Musselshell County, Petroleum County, Phillips County, Powder River County, Prairie County, Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, Roosevelt County, Rosebud County, Stillwater County, Sweet Grass County, Treasure County, Valley County, Wheatland County, Wibaux County, and Yellowstone County. New York Counties Allegany County, Broome County, Chemung County, Chenango County, Clinton County, Delaware County, Essex County, Franklin County, Hamilton County, Herkimer County, Lewis County, Livingston County, Madison County, Niagara County, Oneida County, Onondaga County, Ontario County, Steuben County, Tioga County, Ulster County, Warren County, Wyoming County, and Yates County. North Carolina Counties Alamance County, Bertie County, Bladen County, Craven County, Cumberland County, Currituck County, Greene County, Halifax County, Harnett County, Hertford County, Hoke County, Johnston County, Lee County, Onslow County, Pitt County, Robeson County, Sampson County, Tyrrell County, Wake County, and Wilson County. North Dakota Counties and Indian Reservations Barnes County, Benson County, Billings County, Bottineau County, Burke County, Burleigh County, Cass County, Cavalier County, Dickey County, Divide County, Eddy County, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Foster County, Grand Forks County, Grant County, Griggs County, Kidder County, LaMoure County, Logan County, McHenry County, McIntosh County, McKenzie County, McLean County, Mercer County, Morton County, Mountrail County, Nelson County, Pembina County, Pierce County, Ramsey County, Ransom County, Renville County, Richland County, Rolette County, Sargent County, Sheridan County, Spirit Lake Reservation, Steele County, Stutsman County, Towner County, Traill County, Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, Walsh County, Ward County, Wells County, and Williams County. Oklahoma Counties Adair County, Caddo County, Canadian County, Cherokee County, Delaware County, Grady County, Haskell County, Kingfisher County, Le Fiore County, Logan County, McClain County, McIntosh County, Muskogee County, Okmulgee County, Pittsburg County, and Sequoyah County. Oregon Counties Clackamas County, Clatsop County, Coos County, Crook County, Curry County, Douglas County, Lincoln County, and Tillamook County. South Dakota Counties Aurora County, Beadle County, Brookings County, Brown County, Buffalo County, Butte County, Charles Mix County, Clark County, Clay County, Codington County, Day County, Deuel County, Edmunds County, Faulk County, Grant County, Hamlin County, Hand County, Hanson County, Hughes County, Hutchinson County, Hyde County, Jackson County, Jerauld County, Kingsbury County, Lake County, Marshall County, Miner County, Moody County, Perkins County, Potter County, Roberts County, Sanborn County, Spink County, Stanley County, Sully County, Union County, and Yankton County. Tennessee Counties Benton County, Bledsoe County, Blount County, Bradley County, Campbell County, Carroll County, Chester County, Cocke County, Crockett County, Davidson County, Decatur County, Dickson County, Dyer County, Fayette County, Fentress County, Franklin County, Gibson County, Giles County, Grainger County, Greene County, Hamilton County, Hardeman County, Hardin County, Henderson County, Henry County, Hickman County, Houston County, Humphreys County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Johnson County, Knox County, Lake County, Lauderdale County, Lawrence County, Lewis County, Lincoln County, Loudon County, Madison County, Marion County, Marshall County, McMinn County, McNairy County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Moore County, Morgan County, Obion County, Perry County, Pickett County, Polk County, Rhea County, Scott County, Sequatchie County, Shelby County, Smith County, Stewart County, Sullivan County, Sumner County, Tipton County, Union County, Washington County, Wayne County, and Weakley County. Utah Counties Garfield County, Kane County, and Washington County. Vermont Counties Addison County, Chittenden County, Essex County, Franklin County, Grand Isle County, Lamoille County, and Orleans County. Washington Counties King County, Kittitas County, Klickitat County, Lewis County, Skagit County, Skamania County, and Wahkiakum County. 7 States For Which an Emergency has been Declared in 2011 for flooding* Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee 116 Counties in 7 States Covered by Emergency Declaration in 2011 for flooding* Kansas Counties Atchison County, Doniphan County, Leavenworth County, and Wyandotte County. Louisiana Counties Ascension Parish, Assumption Parish, Avoyelles Parish, Catahoula Parish, Concordia Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, East Carroll Parish, East Feliciana Parish, Franklin Parish, Iberia Parish, lberville Parish, La Salle Parish, Lafourche Parish, Madison Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish, Richland Parish, Saint Charles Parish, Saint James Parish, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Saint Landry Parish, Saint Martin Parish, Saint Mary Parish, Tensas Parish, Terrebonne Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, and West Feliciana Parish. Mississippi Counties Adams County, Bolivar County, Claiborne County, Coahoma County, DeSoto County, Humphreys County, Issaquena County, Jefferson County, Sharkey County, Tunica County, Warren County, Washington County, Wilkinson County, and Yazoo County. Missouri Counties Andrew County, Atchison County, Boone County, Buchanan County, Callaway County, Carroll County, Chariton County, Clark County, Clay County, Cole County, Cooper County, Franklin County, Gasconade County, Holt County, Howard County, Jackson County, Lafayette County, Lewis County, Moniteau County, Montgomery County, Osage County, Platte County, Ray County, Saint Charles County, Saint Louis, Saint Louis County, Saline County, and Warren County. Nebraska Counties Boyd County, Burt County, Cass County, Cedar County, Dakota County, Dixon County, Douglas County, Garden County, Knox County, Lincoln County, Morrill County, Nemaha County, Otoe County, Richardson County, Sarpy County, Scotts Bluff County, Thurston County, and Washington County. North Dakota Counties Barnes County, Benson County, Burleigh County, Cass County, Eddy County, Emmons County, Grand Forks County, McLean County, Mercer County, Morton County, Nelson County, Oliver County, Pembina County, Ramsey County, Ransom County, Richland County, Sioux County, Standing Rock Indian Reservation (also SD), Towner County, Traill County, Walsh County, and Ward County. Tennessee Counties Dyer County, Lake County, Shelby County, and Stewart County. * Data is based on information publicly available on the Federal Agency Management Association (FEMA) website at: http://www.fema.govinews/disasters.fema. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BOSWELL. This is a very simple amendment. It clarifies that the Defense suicide prevention programs are a priority and should always remain a priority. I am not alone in my concern for the rates of suicide among our servicemembers in the active duty, Guard, and Reserve components. I, like some of the rest of you, have had that experience with my own constituency back in the Iowa Reserve. The Department of Defense has identified large potential savings from improved efficiencies, totaling as much as $100 billion over the next 5 years. Section 8128 directs the Secretary to report to Congress on how it will redirect those savings into priorities of the military departments. However, there is no direction that ensures that the Secretary include existing suicide programs as ``priorities'' for reinvestment from these savings. This amendment simply clarifies that suicide prevention programs-- which already exist and have already been authorized--are a priority and will remain a priority. We must do everything in our power to reduce the suicide rates of our men and women in uniform, and this amendment fulfills that obligation. I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chairman, as you might expect, respectfully I rise in opposition to the point of order. In accordance with clause 2 of rule XXI, this amendment does not make a new appropriation; it does not re-appropriate unused funds; it does not restrict the availability of funds; and it does not change existing law. In fact, Defense suicide prevention programs have already been authorized by law, for example, the Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps support National Guard and Reserve servicemembers and families. This amendment simply clarifies that suicide prevention programs--which already exist and have already been authorized--are a priority and will always remain a priority. So I humbly suggest that no one in good conscience could suggest otherwise.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to language in the agricultural appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2012. H.R. 2112 contains a rider that withholds funding to implement the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule that the authorizing committee directed the USDA to craft in the 2008 Farm Bill. Today, the USDA is in the process of conducting economic analyses as well as a comprehensive review of the comments submitted on the proposed rule. H.R. 2112 would stop the USDA in its tracks and prevent it from completing its year of work on GIPSA. Two of our Nation's largest member organizations who work to support farmers, ranchers and producers are opposed to the provision which would cut off funding for the GIPSA rule--the National Farmers Union and the Farm Bureau. Like me, these Iowa members and the national organizations believe that this is an issue under the jurisdiction of the authorizing committee, not the appropriating committee, and that regardless of which side of the regulation you may fall, that the comment review and economic analyses deserve completion. NFU President Roger Johnson said in a recent statement: ``I urge that funds for the enforcement of the GIPSA rule be reinstated in future versions of the agriculture appropriations bill.'' The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to my colleague, Congresswoman Kaptur, on May 31, 2011, the day of the full committee markup, that stated: ``We oppose language to preclude USDA from reviewing the comments and completing their economic analysis and are strongly opposed to any action that would stop work on that [GIPSA] rule.'' However, appropriators ignored this call to action, and instead chose to move forward on behalf of large processors. The rulemaking process on the GIPSA rule was started with the issuance of the draft rule on June 22, 2010--nearly one year ago and more than 60,000 comments were submitted on the GIPSA rule docket. To end the process now would equate to an unfortunate waste of government resources. Thirty years ago there were 1.3 million beef cattle operations. Today there are 740,000. In 1980, there were 660,000 hog farms. Today there are 67,000. Last year alone, approximately 2,300 additional hog producers went out of business. On behalf of producers and competition in our marketplace, I urge my colleagues to oppose defunding the GIPSA rule, and allow the USDA to complete their work and review on this issue.

Mr. BOSWELL

Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment offered by Congresswoman Lummis. As a farmer and senior member of the authorizing committee, I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this issue and speak in opposition to the language in section 737 of the agriculture appropriations bill for FY 2012 and its attempt to limit state rights and commerce with respect to horse meat, and the safe and healthy inspection of those deceased animals. The amendment before us would simply allow horse slaughter facilities to use their own money for inspections. While no one likes the idea of slaughtering horses we must deal with the problem of abandoned and neglected horses in the United States. We hear frequently on this topic the issue of humane treatment. However, on average, adoption facilities used as a ``last resource'' can only house approximately 30 horses. Often times these adoption facilities are so over-crowded that older horses end up starving to death because the real last resort is abandoning these horses, which happens all too frequently. Each year there are almost 100,000 abandoned and neglected horses in the United States. Opponent of horse slaughter often claim that unwanted horses can be moved to adoption facilities. I believe that current limits on horse slaughter set poor precedent for legitimate livestock slaughter for reasons other than for food safety or public health. As a long time horse owner, I understand the emotional attachment one can feel for an animal, however, currently with the over capacity of animal adoption facilities I have concerns on what would happen to abandoned and neglected horses each year. Restore the Horsemeat Industry and Create Jobs Two weeks ago, the House Appropriations committee voted to reinsert language into the Agriculture Appropriations bill to prevent funds for inspections--inspections that are required by law--of horsemeat, continuing a logic-defying policy that harms the welfare of horses, infringes on the rights of horse owners, and cripples the horse industry. Most of all, it prevents the immediate creation of hundreds of good, American jobs. The unemployment rate just hit 9.1 percent and both parties are blaming the other for it. In this instance both are to blame for killing the highly regulated horsemeat industry. Before 2005, the horsemeat industry was a $65 million a year business. In 2003, the two Texas plants employed a total of 130 people to process 40,000 horses per year. One small business that shipped the meat noted in a 2002 letter that it employed twenty-one people, all of whom were heads of households. Their annual horsemeat airfreight exports generated $4 million for the airlines they used. These jobs are all gone. Instead, they are in Mexico and Canada. Now horses are shipped much greater distances and at higher costs to slaughter, and are slaughtered without USDA regulation. Last year, over 150,000 horses were sent across the boarders to be processed. Horse processing serves to set a floor price for horses. The higher cost of shipping them to Canada and Mexico has lowered the price owners receive for any horse, and the effects ripple through the entire horse industry. Many U.S. zoos use horsemeat to feed their animals because it's high in protein and low in fat. Ironically, those zoos now have to buy horsemeat--derived from American horses--from Mexico or Canada. Advocates in favor of this irresponsible policy, like my former colleague, Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), say that horse processing is ``not humane.'' He's wrong, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) say he's wrong. The U.S. plants used ``penetrating captive bolt'' to euthanize horses before they closed, a technique common to the beef industry and considered humane for horses by AVMA and AAEP. As with processing plants for all animals, there are laws on the books for humane slaughter methods for horses, and FSIS inspectors present to ensure those laws are followed. Concerns about the safeness of horsemeat are misplaced. Both USDA and the European Union regulate horsemeat stringently, and the U.S. processing plants kept horses for withdrawal periods depending on the drugs (if any) that had been administered to them. The plants also performed constant residue testing in their holding pens, and if a harmful substance was detected the entire lot would be condemned. To my knowledge, the EU has never had any issues with ``contaminated'' horsemeat imported from the U.S. I believe the shuttering of the processing plants, combined with the recession has led to an increase in abandoned and neglected horses. Others disagree. GAO is planning to release a report on the impact of the closing of the processing plants on horses hopefully by the end of the month, yet the House is scheduled to vote on Tuesday to continue this policy without having the benefit of this report's conclusions, whatever they may be. I think that is bad governing. Let's be clear: horses are livestock under the law--not companion animals such as dogs as Rep. Moran has said--and are allowed to be deducted as diminishing assets and their expenses written off accordingly. Horses are expensive to maintain, and can cost $500 to $2,000 to euthanize by lethal injection and bury--assuming you can find a place that is willing to dispose of a 1,500 pound animal filled with drugs. Horse owners deserve a humane end of life option for their horses that has monetary value. Right now, Republicans and Democrats are using emotional arguments to an ill-informed public to deny horse owners their rights. In the process, they are preventing the creation of American jobs and causing more inhumane treatment of horses. Charles W. Stenholm served the 17th U.S. House District of Texas as a Democrat, 1979-2005. He is now a Senior Policy Advisor with Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC.