Brian Baird

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and yield myself as much time as I may consume. I'm delighted to support this resolution marking the 100th anniversary of the independence of Bulgaria. I would like to note my good friend Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina for his leadership in ensuring that the House mark this important date. Founded over 1300 years ago in 681, Bulgaria is one of the most ancient countries in the world. Often referred to as the cradle of Slavic culture, Bulgaria was the birthplace of Orpheus and Spartacus. It has given the world the Cyrillic alphabet, beautiful handicrafts, and folk music. In September 1908, Bulgaria threw off the yoke of Ottoman occupation, proclaimed its independence, and became a sovereign state under the name of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. In the 100 years since it achieved independent statehood, Bulgaria has become a Democratic nation, a staunch ally of the United States, and an active participant in the transatlantic community. Bulgaria joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, in April 2004. It has actively participated in NATO missions aimed at ensuring the security and stability of the Balkans. Bulgaria provided support for Operation Allied Force and Operation Joint Guardian and furnished peacekeeping troops to the Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Kosovo Force. Bulgaria also has been a country of strategic importance to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan allowing the U.S. to establish bases in the country and make use of its technical facilities. Bulgaria was welcomed into the European Union in January 2007, which made the Cyrillic alphabet the third official alphabet of the Union after Latin and Greek. Bulgaria has also sought to strengthen its ties to the United States. Bulgarians began immigrating to this country in large numbers between 1903 and 1910, seeking economic opportunities and political freedoms during a time of great turmoil on the continent. According to the United States Census of 2000, there were 63,000 people of Bulgarian descent living in the United States. They're undoubtedly making a rich contribution to the tapestry of American life. This resolution rightly encourages opportunities for even greater collaboration between our two nations in the political, economic, military, and cultural realms. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Bulgarian people on the 100th anniversary of their independence and in celebrating enduring Bulgarian-American friendship. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD. I would echo the thanks and congratulate the gentleman on a successful resolution.

Mr. BAIRD. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1383) recognizing the 100th anniversary of the independence of Bulgaria, as amended.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1307) commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding elections and broadening political participation, as amended.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and yield myself as much time as I may consume. I am very pleased to be here today to speak in support of H. Res. 1307, commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding elections and broadening political participation. I want to pay special thanks to my colleague Fred Upton for his assistance with this legislation as well. I had the honor of visiting the Kingdom of Bhutan in August of 2006. It is truly a magnificent and beautiful country with delightful people. I am proud to have authored this resolution and urge its passage. Throughout modern history, Bhutan has been one of the most geographically isolated nations in the world. Nestled among the highest peaks in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan was inaccessible by road, rail, and air throughout the greater portion of the 20th century. This unique seclusion fostered in Bhutan a distinctive culture marked by rich artistic tradition, deep spirituality, and an agrarian heritage emphasizing conservation and environmental stewardship. Bhutan has adopted a principle to guide its development and preserve its rich cultural heritage--the principle of ``gross national happiness,'' or as the King informed us, contentment. This unique philosophy, enshrined as Bhutan's national objective by King Jigme Singye Wanghuck in 1982, measures progress not only in terms of economic gains or technological achievement, but as a complete balance of many important factors encompassing the well-being and prosperity of the communities and individuals who make up the kingdom. The pursuit of gross national happiness promotes Bhutanese cultural values as the key to the nation's development and has enabled Bhutan to progress in the modern world while maintaining its commitment to itself. By respecting these traditions, Bhutan has preserved not only its culture but its pristine national environment and enabled the kingdom to remain one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. As Bhutan continued on its careful path of development under the leadership of King Jigme Wangchuck, the kingdom began to pursue political reforms. In 2008, Bhutan observes an important milestone and celebrates a historical achievement: 2008 marks not only the 100th anniversary of the kingdom's monarchy but also the dawn of Bhutan's emergence as a democratic constitutional monarchy. This process of democratization began in 1998 when King Wangchuck devolved executive authority from the throne to the cabinet and initiated the drafting of a constitution by royal decree. On December 14, 2006, King Wangchuck honored his pledge and abdicated the throne, abolished Bhutan's absolute monarchy, and transferred the throne to his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The new King has continued to oversee the democratization of his country. In March of 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary elections, embarking on the final step in its decade-long transition to full constitutional democracy. There are plans for a grant coronation in November of this year. At that time, Bhutan's first constitutional monarch will formally ascend to the throne. H. Res. 1307 recognizes the political achievements of the Kingdom of Bhutan and commends the people and the leadership of the kingdom for their ability to pursue development while serving the nation's gross national happiness. We also commemorate the participation of Bhutan at the 2008 Folklife Festival, marking a unique opportunity for thousands of Americans to appreciate the Bhutanese culture that continues to flourish along Bhutan's path of development. I urge passage of the resolution. I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his kind words. It is truly a marvelous story, the development of Bhutan into a democratic monarchy. The effort of the King and his son and the entire Bhutanese people is really astonishing and a great story to tell. It is also a remarkably beautiful country. So I would urge passage of this. I have no further speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD. I thank the gentleman. With that, I yield back the balance of my time as well.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4174) to establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification research and monitoring plan and to establish an ocean acidification program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as amended.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4174, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by complimenting my dear friend, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Gilchrest, as well as Mr. Inslee, and particularly Mr. Inglis, who worked so closely with me on the manager's amendment to this bill. We have an enormous problem facing this world, and it is often neglected. This bill addresses that. On Monday, I had the privilege of being in Fort Lauderdale at the International Society for Reef Studies, their coral reef symposium, which happens every 4 years. Based on reports there and recent studies published in Science and other leading journals, it is clear that although ocean acidification is not often talked about, it may well be a challenge as great or perhaps even greater as climate change. Approximately one-half of the carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels has been absorbed by the oceans. The good news is that this absorption has helped reduce and delay the impact of global warming. The bad news, however, is that the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide has caused and will continue to cause changes in ocean chemistry. The disruption in ocean chemistry causes the pH to decrease and results in a phenomenon identified as ocean acidification. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ocean hydrogen ion concentration, a measure of acidity, has increased 30 percent since industrialization. Studies have projected that by the end of the century, carbon dioxide emission scenarios could result in the lowest levels of ocean pH in 20 million years. The potential impacts of acidification are diverse and far-reaching. These impacts include adverse effects on marine ecosystems, food webs for many fish and marine mammals, and the economies of many coastal States that rely upon the seafood industry and coastal and ocean tourism. Increasing acidity and changes in ocean chemistry are also corrosive to corals and shell-forming plankton, a major food source for baleen whales and commercially important fish species such as salmon, mackerel, herring, cod and others. Some studies have also suggested that ocean acidification could be detrimental to shellfish, including scallops, clams, oysters and lobsters. Evidence shows that calcification rates will decrease and carbon dissolution rates will increase for these calcifying organisms leaving them unable to compete ecologically, perhaps even threatening them to the point of extinction. Shallow water corals face similar threats due to decreased ocean rates and increased shell corrosion. Corals comprise some of the richest habitats on Earth. According to NOAA, about 4,000 species of fish, including approximately half of all federally managed fisheries, depend on coral reefs and their related habitat for a portion of their life cycles. Juvenile fish may face physiological challenges, including respiratory stress and acidosis associated with increased acidification. Deep sea corals and other animals are also threatened by changes in chemistry, and may find parts of the deep ocean uninhabitable by the end of the century. We must do more to assess this grave problem. There is significant uncertainty as to the rate and magnitude of change that will occur, but national investment in a coordinated program of research and monitoring could improve the understanding of ecosystem responses, assess socioeconomic impacts due to increasing acidification, and provide resource managers the information they need to develop strategies and protect these critical species. That's why I have joined Representatives Allen, Inslee, and others, in introducing the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act. This bill establishes an interagency program through the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council to develop and coordinate a comprehensive plan to better understand and address the impacts of acidification, to provide for assessment of ecosystem and socioeconomic impact of ocean acidification, and to provide for research on adaptation strategies to conserve marine resources. It also directs NOAA, the National Science Foundation, and NASA to conduct research and monitoring activities on ocean acidification consistent with the strategic plan developed by the subcommittee. I want to thank the researchers who have led the way on this important topic, also my fellow sponsors for their important work, and particularly Chairman Gordon and the other members of the Science and Technology Committee for moving this bill and getting it to the floor. Finally, I want to thank the Science Committee staff, including Jean Fruci, Shimere Williams on the majority staff, and my own staff member, Hillary Cain. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I want to particularly compliment the Chair of the Resources Committee, Chairman Rahall, for his collaboration on this. At this point I would like to place in the Record letters exchanged between the Resources Committee and the Science Committee. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, July 7,2008. Hon. Bart Gordon, Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, Washington,

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from South Carolina for his input and involvement and for his genuine interest in this. It has been a privilege to travel with him, and we actually had the opportunity to meet with some of the world's leading scientists on this, and I know Mr. Inglis has maintained that dialogue ever since those journeys, and those scientists send their regards. I met with them just 2 days ago, in fact. Mr. Speaker, I want to now acknowledge a dear friend from Washington who has been a leader not only in the Congress but in the world on the issue of renewable energy and climate change. This issue of acidification took particular relevance off our own Pacific Northwest coast about 2 months ago when NOAA published studies suggesting that the rate of acidification is much more rapid and much closer to our shores than they had ever anticipated, and it is deeply concerning. Jay Inslee has been a champion of responsible energy policies. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee). (Mr. INSLEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BAIRD. I thank the gentleman from Florida for his support. I also want to acknowledge the leadership of Mr. Lampson from Texas and Mr. Hall and their support of this as well. Let me close with this, and it takes off from something that Mr. Inslee said a moment ago. We can debate the temperature changes. I think the evidence is compelling from the IPCC report. But ocean acidification is something you can demonstrate in a lab. You can introduce CO2 into the air, above water. The water will take up the CO2. That will make the water more acidic. The more acidic water will reduce the availability of calcium carbonate and other minerals. And then, as Mr. Inslee described, and as laboratory scientists are doing throughout the world in Australia and Israel and Jordan and off our own Florida coast, you can take these organisms, put them in this more acidic water, and you will see their growth be retarded. You will see their mortality rates increase. And, importantly, when you combine higher acidification levels with increased temperature, the mortality grows dramatically up. We are effectively killing the oceans and then possibly killing ourselves. I am speaking on behalf of two little boys, William and Walter, my own sons, whom some of you know. They stop by here from time to time. They're 3\1/2\. I would like them to enjoy the oceans the way we have. I would like them to see the magnificent species that we now enjoy. I do not want to bequeath to those young boys or to anyone's children or grandchildren a world bereft of the coral reefs and the many species they depend on. So with that I urge passage of this legislation and would urge that we vigorously endeavor to reduce the factors that are contributing to this dangerous problem. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3058, the Public Land Communities Transition Act, and I commend my dear friend, Peter DeFazio. I have rarely seen a Member of Congress work so diligently on behalf of his constituents. He also works on behalf of my constituents because in southwest Washington, we are one of the 10 most forested districts in the entire country. So much of the land in my district is under control of the Forest Service. Counties like Lewis, Skamania, and Cowlitz rely on Secure Rural Schools money to keep public safety working. My friends, we have to work to pass this bill. It is urgent, as many speakers have said. It is a bit ironic, however, to criticize the bill and say the criticism is because this bill will not become law, and then vote against it. Things don't become law around here when people vote against them. Things become law when people vote for them. Because of that, I would encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill. Without this bill, 600 counties across the country that are home to millions of Americans would be left behind. Without this program, millions of rural communities would face steep job losses, breakdowns in services and infrastructure, and deep cuts to school budgets. Without this funding, almost 7,000 teachers and other educational staff will be laid off across the country. They are facing termination as we speak. Delay should not be an option. Passage should be our remedy. I urge passage of this fine bill.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. I thank the Chairman for the time and applaud him for his leadership of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I also want to thank him and Subcommittee Chairman Cummings for their work in bringing this bill to the floor. I rise today in support of the Coast Guard Authorization Act. This bill makes important strides in strengthening the modern day mission of our Coast Guard and enhancing our national security. Also included in this bill is language clarifying the rule related to the taxation of interstate waterway workers. Under current law, most employees whose jobs require them to work in multiple states, such as our rail and airline workers for example, are taxed only by their state of residence. This has previously not been true for waterway workers. In an effort to address the unsettled tax situation of waterway workers throughout the country, I authored legislation in the 106th Congress called the ``Transportation Employment Fair Taxation Act.'' The legislation barred states from taxing a nonresident waterway worker ``who performs regularly-assigned duties while engaged as a master, officer, or crewman on a vessel operating on the navigable waters of more than one state.'' As the House report for this legislation stated, the purpose of the legislation was to ``prohibit any State from taxing the income of a non-resident interstate waterway worker.'' The Senate version of this legislation was signed into law on November 9, 2000. Unfortunately, I have recently been made aware of a 2006 decision by one state's tax court that is inconsistent with the intent of the 2000 law. The court concluded that because the bill uses the word ``of'' instead of ``in,'' it only applies the waterways that are owned jointly by more than one state. This was not the intent of the 2000 law. The legislative history at the time makes clear that it was not the intent of the law. And I know what the intent was because I authored the legislation. The legislation before us today makes a slight wording change to the 2000 law to clarify that the law is intended to apply to all interstate waterway workers on all waterways, not just workers who work on waterways that are jointly owned by two or more states. It is my sincere hope that this minor change will, in no uncertain terms, make clear that states are prohibited from taxing the income of a non- resident interstate waterway worker. I want to make clear that this is the intent of the language in the bill before us today, and it remains the intent of the law I authored in 2000.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Chairman, I would like to thank my dear friend from Oregon, my colleague and neighbor across the river, and also the gentlelady from New York (Ms. Velazquez) for her leadership, and my friend, Mr. Ehlers from Michigan, and Mr. Chabot from Ohio. I am particularly pleased about the aspect of this legislation that will eliminate what I feel are counterproductive barriers to participation by firms that receive venture capital in the SBIR program. This issue was brought to my attention by a local firm, nLight Photonics, which is leading the world in high-capacity semiconductor lasers. Many of our top high-tech companies demand startup venture capital in order to build the infrastructure they need to produce the products which save us money, save us lives, and help stimulate our economy. These successful companies, however, often would like to branch out into a parallel area, perhaps not their primary pursuit, but a parallel area for which SBIR funds would be fully appropriate and advantageous. Unfortunately, under current rules, that is prohibited. In other words, the very companies that have proven successful and have been able to demonstrate to venture capital that they have a process, personnel, and products that are worth supporting are then precluded from Federal support. This bill corrects that. I commend the gentlelady and Mr. Wu for recognizing that. I want to thank Mr. Graves, who worked on this with me several years ago, and again thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle. It is a good bill. It will help, by the way, address some of those energy challenges that the gentleman who just spoke alluded to.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1118) honoring the life and achievements of John Archibald Wheeler and expressing condolences on his passing.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1112) recognizing 2008 as the International Year of the Reef.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1112, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am very pleased to be here today to speak in support of H. Res. 1112, a resolution I have introduced with my friend from Illinois, Mark Kirk. The resolution expresses the support of the House of Representatives for the International Coral Reef Initiative designation of the year 2008 as the International Year of the Reef, and for strong environmental and marine research efforts that will allow us to better understand the threats facing the planet's coral reef systems. From the Great Barrier Reef that spans over 1,600 miles just off Australia's northeast coast, to the coral reefs found within the Red Sea, to the coral reef system that began forming off the Florida coast nearly 7,000 years ago, coral reefs are among the most vibrant and diverse ecosystems on the planet. Known as the Rain Forest of the Sea, these important treasures are not only the source of food and shelter to millions of sea creatures, they also provide environmental, cultural, and economic value for people around the world. However, coral reefs across the planet are in peril and face an uncertain future. Global estimates suggest that 10 percent of the earth's coral reefs have already been seriously degraded, and an even greater share of reefs face serious decline. Rising sea temperatures, damage by divers and marine vessels, pollution, and other manmade threats have raised the specter that over the next century, a vast number of the world's coral reef systems will cease to exist. One of the most troubling threats facing coral reefs is ocean acidification, a phenomenon that occurs when the ocean becomes so acidic that corals and other shell-making organisms are unable to produce the calcium carbonate or to use the calcium carbonate that they need to form their shells. Another disturbing trend is the onset of coral bleaching, which results from rising sea temperatures causing corals to expel the algae that live within their tissues and provide the corals' different colors. Once the algae has been expelled, corals lose their color and, lacking the nourishment provided by photosynthesis that algae provides, the coral dies. In 1994, recognizing the increasing degradation of the world reefs, the U.S. partnered with other countries to establish the International Coral Reef Initiative. Through its efforts, the International Coral Reef Initiative has mobilized regional and national governments to pursue science-based management of coral reef systems, spurred the establishment of coordinated coral reef protection efforts, and assembled organizations and stakeholders throughout the world to address pollution and other manmade threats that imperil the coral reefs of the world. The International Coral Reef Initiative has declared 2008 the International Year of the Reef. The Initiative is leading an international effort to continue to bring the preservation of coral reefs into the global spotlight so that we can do what needs to be done to protect these vital national resources for generations to come. I would like to commend the International Coral Reef Initiative for its efforts and express my enthusiasm for the level of interest, participation, and action that has been generated as a result of its work. I would also like to thank Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall, as well as their staff, for bringing this resolution to the floor. I look forward to working with them further to ensure that the world's coral reefs are protected and preserved, and I urge passage of the resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.