Rick Berg

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour overland flood sites in North Dakota. River levels hit record highs, and thousands of North Dakotans volunteered their time and energy to save homes and lives. So today, I would like to recognize the thousands of high school students that helped fill and stack sandbags that protected property and lives. Together, they helped Cass County residents protect their homes as the river rose. Without the help of these young volunteers, many North Dakotans would have been left unprepared for the overland flooding that affected our State. These students are students that care about their communities. Their dedication exemplifies the spirit that we see in North Dakota and the next generation of leaders. I am pleased that their efforts to protect our communities worked, and I would like to recognize them today.

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. Mr. Chairman, this bill is a starting point to lowering energy costs. This bill encourages private sector investment and will grow jobs. North Dakota is a leader in energy development. However, overreaching EPA regulations threaten not only energy producers but consumers as well. The EPA's efforts to impose a cap-and-trade tax threaten to increase the price of energy for American families. These higher energy costs will also impact small business, threatening them and preventing them from growing the economy and creating jobs. Our economy is suffering, and heaping more taxes on American families and imposing new regulations that will hurt job creation is not what our country needs to get back on track. I firmly support the Energy Tax Prevention Act.

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. Mr. Chair, for eight years, Washington has failed to provide our nation with a long term and stable plan for our aviation infrastructure. This bill will ensure the much-needed long-term stability and development of our nation's aviation infrastructure. However, I'm incredibly concerned about the provision in this bill that would phase out Essential Air Service support. EAS is critical in large states like my own. Rural regions rely on EAS support for vital air transportation. In North Dakota, airports like those in Jamestown and Devils Lake would not be able to provide critical air service without EAS support. I've talked with North Dakotans, and I know how much they rely on access to air service. Numerous North Dakotans depend on air travel as an essential part of their jobs, and for many rural residents, driving in bad North Dakota weather to get to a larger airport simply isn't viable. Eliminating EAS would have a significant, detrimental effect on my state and on North Dakotans' access to air service. As we prioritize spending, we also must promote economic development and job creation. In areas like North Dakota, maintaining essential air service is critical for commerce--we want businesses to invest in our cities. A Goodrich plant in Jamestown employs nearly 500 North Dakotans. They rely on local air service to do business--air service that would not be possible if essential air service support was phased out. We can't ask companies to invest in our state if we are unable to provide the basic infrastructure necessary for them to be competitive and do business. I've spoken with Congressman Mica and with the Transportation committee and I understand the need for this process to keep moving forward. This bill contains many good provisions that I support. It will expand research and development for remotely piloted aircraft, a growing field that holds enormous potential not only for our nation's military, but also our academic institutions and farmers and border security. North Dakota has established itself as a leader in the development and research of remotely piloted aircraft technology, and I'm confident that the creation of new test sites will benefit this technology's continued success in our state. But while I support these things, I also know how vital rural access to essential aviation is. That's why, before it is sent to the President, it is critical that the final version of this bill maintains EAS support. So I ask the gentleman from Florida if he will commit to working with me and other concerned members to support the EAS program and maintain critical rural air service.

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. Today I would like to recognize the 10th anniversary of Microsoft having invested in Fargo, North Dakota. Since coming to North Dakota, Microsoft has helped to create hundreds of jobs, and it's increased the economic opportunity in our State. Ten years ago tomorrow, Microsoft acquired Great Plains Software in Fargo, a local homegrown company. At the time, Great Plains employed 800 people. Today, there are more than 1,500 people working in Fargo for Microsoft. And the Microsoft campus continues to grow. In fact today, there are more than 60 open positions at Microsoft looking for people. This is what our country needs throughout all the States. I am pleased that companies like Microsoft have felt confident in investing in our State and our people. Congratulations to Fargo Microsoft employees on your 10-year anniversary, and thank you for the positive work you've done for the Fargo community.

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 210, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. This bill will ensure the much-needed long-term stability and development of our Nation's aviation infrastructure. However, I am incredibly concerned about the provision in this bill that would phase out Essential Air Service. EAS is critical to large States like my own. Rural regions rely on EAS for vital air transportation. In North Dakota, airports like Jamestown and Devil's Lake would not be able to provide critical air service without this support. I've spoken with Chairman Mica, and I understand the need for the process to keep moving forward with this bill. This bill contains many good provisions that I support. I also know how vital rural access to essential aviation is. So I would ask the gentlemen from Florida and Pennsylvania if they'd commit to working with me and other Members to support the EAS program.

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. I rise today to strongly urge my colleagues to pass this legislation to protect American farmers from overreaching EPA rules and unnecessary regulations. If this ruling were to stand, the EPA would have full discretion over controlling a buffer zone for chemicals on crops near water sources. Now, I have talked with farmers in North Dakota who rely on herbicides like Roundup to produce a good crop and to prevent weeds from growing. Most of central North Dakota sits in a water-rich region called the Prairie Pot Hole, and many of these farmers plant on land that is well within the EPA's buffer zone. This ruling could prevent these farmers from raising a good crop in this land. If this ruling goes into effect, it will require over 6 million pesticide applications will have to be issued each year to tens or even hundreds of thousands of farmers. If they don't comply, they will be forced with a fine of up to $37,000 per day per incident. We know overregulation hurts American business. Overregulation hurts family farms. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. Madam Speaker, I rise today in firm support of eliminating the 1099 requirement that burdens so many of our small businesses and costs jobs. Madam Speaker, if Congress is serious about getting Americans back to work and our economy back on track, the choice is clear. We need to repeal this mandate. This law forces American businesses deeper and deeper into the bureaucratic Washington nightmare for small business. And it takes away from their core mission, which is to grow their business and create jobs. Small business is the core of North Dakota's economy. Farmers, ranchers and small businessmen, they're all burdened by this mandate. And another regulation is another expense that makes it even more difficult for them to do business. This is commonsense legislation. With national unemployment still hovering around 9 percent, the decision to repeal this mandate should be easy. We desperately need economic renewal, we need private sector job growth, and we need to eliminate the small business paperwork that's in this mandate. It's time to eliminate this onerous mandate and allow business to get back to doing what they do best, and that's create American jobs.

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 160 I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. BERG

Mr. BERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in firm support of repealing this job-killing health care law. This is a $500 billion tax that will hurt small businesses at a time when we need these job creators to help put our country back on track. America's small businesses cannot grow with the tax hikes and government mandates in this law. Medicare payroll taxes will increase. Costly penalties will be imposed on small businesses, and there will be increased health care costs. Repealing this law and removing these barriers will provide businesses with the certainty they need to help get America back on track. My wife is a family practice doctor, and when this law first passed, our first concern was this puts government between patients and their doctors. We need to repeal this law and put those health care decisions back between the patients directly and their doctors. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.