Shelley Capito

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my colleagues for joining me, and especially thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) for her leadership. I would like to say briefly that everyone's passion is personal. My personal passion is the mother-in-law I never had, who died from breast cancer at a very early age. My children never met their grandmother or their great grandmother or their aunt. So we have to find a cure for this horrible disease.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, quickly, because I know we are running out of time, I want to yield to my colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Ms. CAPITO

Ms. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield at this time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), an outstanding member of the Women's Caucus.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I enjoy his insight into not only the possibilities of males having breast cancer, but I think we need to raise the awareness of that, and then the hope that we all have to find this, eradicate it, find a cure. So I am pleased that the gentleman was able to join us this evening. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her contributions, not only tonight in discussing an important issue, breast cancer awareness and cures and action, but thank her also for the efforts she has done on behalf of the women of the House and the women of America in terms of shedding light on a lot of issues, health and economic issues. I applaud her for all of her issues. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the cochair, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my Special Order.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this special order to talk about a topic of great importance to all Americans, and in particular it has become a great focus of the Women's Caucus here in the United States Congress, and that is October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer impacts all of us in America in some way. Whether it is a family member, a friend, a neighbor, an acquaintance, someone who goes to church with us, we have all been touched in one way or another by breast cancer. So we are going to talk a lot tonight about breast cancer and breast cancer awareness and cures for breast cancer. As a member of the Women's Caucus of the House, I would like to yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), who is the cochair of the Women's Caucus.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate all of the gentlewoman's hard work, many years of hard work. It is an inspiration to all of us. I would now like to yield to my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood).

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from New York and introduce another colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Good luck to his mother. I know she is in good hands. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), my vice-chair counterpart.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from California, for her insight and for sharing her personal story, because I think it shows that a proactive approach to diagnosis does not necessarily end in a bad way; but it ends in a way to put one on high alert, so one knows as the years and months go by that we need to be retested and relooked at and be very aware of how our bodies are developing. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), who has come in to share some of his insights into breast cancer and breast cancer awareness. I thank the gentleman for joining us today.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), and I commend her for her hard work in this area. I was extremely gratified to see that when they got to the W's, that she did name West Virginia as one of the States taking advantage of those very, very critical funds in terms of breast cancer detection. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 42, a resolution to honor our fallen firefighters. The events of September 11 highlighted the hard work and dedication of many emergency personnel. Many of us watched the pictures on the evening news of men and women walking into burning buildings carrying injured people to safety and retrieving bodies beneath the buried rubble. Today, after those recent terrorist attacks and the rescue efforts that ensued, it seems especially poignant and timely that Congress pass a resolution as a memorial to such acts of heroism. Firefighters are the first persons to respond to any emergency. They are ambassadors of courage, wisdom, and heroism. In my home State of West Virginia, there are many dedicated firefighters who put their lives on the line each year. Between 1981 and 1999, West Virginia has lost 25 firefighters in the line of duty. Honored in last year's ceremony was Arch Russell Sligar. This year we will honor Robert Cowey Brannon. Those are just two names of the many men and women who have lost their lives. Madam Speaker, in light of the recent demonstrations of bravery by the New York and Washington area firefighters, as well as the endless acts of service and sacrifice of all firefighters, I urge passage of the resolution, and that we will be lowering our flags to half-mast every October 7 in their honor.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I would like to speak in support of the manager's amendment, but I would like to talk briefly about part of that amendment that came from the heart of West Virginia. The day after the tragedy on September 11, the eighth grade class of Moorefield Middle School, Mr. Sisler's class, got together and talked about what they could do to help. One of the girls in the class said, I would like to give some money to rebuild the Pentagon. So we engaged in a conversation; and what we came up with was a specific bill, part of this amendment, that would allow children and adults throughout the country to specifically donate to the Department of Defense to create a fund to rebuild and restructure our Pentagon. That is part of this manager's amendment. It is with great pride that I offer this from the Moorefield Middle School children, from the hearts of West Virginia to the hearts of America; and I thank the gentleman for letting me be a part of this.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 61. Today, my heart is heavy, filled with sorrow and outrage. Today, there are children who will be unable to hug their parents again, and there are parents who will never hear the voice of their children exclaim, Hi, Mom; Hi, Dad. So today, I join with my fellow West Virginians and my colleagues to offer our tears, our support, and our prayers. The events of yesterday bring our perspective into sharp focus, reshaping and strengthening our notions of freedom, democracy, and peace. An attack that claimed the lives of our loved ones and attempts to destroy our national resolve hurts America. But make no mistake, we will rise to fight this horrible offense. The heart and the soul of the American people cannot be destroyed by cowardly, faceless acts. Never, never will we be defeated. The United States has been violated as a Nation, but we are united. We will pick ourselves up and face the challenges of the coming days, weeks, and months. West Virginians and others around the country are outraged and sickened by yesterday's attack, but I ask my constituents, my colleagues, and my fellow Americans not to let the outrage outweigh our compassion and cooperation. The heroic efforts of so many Americans are inspiring and heart-warming. Now is the time for us to unite and follow our Nation's leaders with full faith. I know that the United States is the greatest country in the world, and I feel blessed to enjoy the freedoms that we share. God bless America.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank also the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette); the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the chairman of our committee; and the ranking members, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello), for all their hard work on reauthorizing the Appalachian Regional Commission. As a West Virginian native, I am especially grateful to the ARC for its commitment to improving the lives of my fellow Mountaineers. As my colleagues may know, West Virginia is the only State that is entirely within the boundaries of the ARC. The Appalachian Regional Commission is critical to the continued economic development not only of my State but the whole of Appalachia. The area served by the ARC is very diverse, both economically and geographically. And while we have made progress in recent years, we continue to face numerous challenges. ARC's assistance helps level the playing field and gives my constituents a chance to share in the economic prosperity that has for so long left many of us behind. The flexibility and diversity of its programs enable local communities to tailor the ARC grants to their individual needs. In the district I represent, 11 counties are classified by the ARC as economically distressed. And I have seen firsthand the positive impact that these grants can have on a community. In my district alone, the ARC has assisted with equipping industrial parks, helped improve the skills of the workforce, and preserved precious jobs by strengthening industries ranging from wood products to Internet technology. The ARC is also instrumental at meeting energy funding requests to assist rural communities with their most desperate situations. Recently, the town of Wardensville contacted me regarding the need for immediate assistance for a damaged sewer. I contacted the ARC and was able to secure the necessary funding which allowed the town to repair the damage rather quickly. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative for the Congress to reauthorize the ARC. A 5-year reauthorization will ensure that ARC continues to address my home State of West Virginia's needs. It would also enable the commission and our local communities to develop and implement long-term strategies for economic growth with a new emphasis on technology. I fully support this request, and I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I thank all three gentlemen for their great comments in support of coal gasification and clean coal technologies. I am enthusiastic about this. I agree with the chairman when he says it is a win-win-win. I believe it is not only a win for this country, but it is a win for my State of West Virginia. I look forward to its passage.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment which will require that the Department of Energy fund at least one coal gasification project with the funds authorized under the bill's research and development title. In my home State of West Virginia, coal continues to be an integral part of the lives and livelihoods of thousands of West Virginians, but most people do not realize that coal is also vital to the well-being of families across the country. The events of last year have shown us that when we flip the switch, we cannot always be certain that the lights will come on. Fortunately, we do have an abundant source of energy available right now to address our current and future energy needs in coal. Our Nation's recoverable coal has the energy equivalent of about one trillion barrels of crude oil, comparable in energy content to the entire world's known oil reserves. U.S. coal reserves are expected to last at least 275 years. In order to fully utilize this vast energy resource, however, we must find ways to use it in a more environmentally friendly way. One method which has already shown great potential is coal gasification. Rather than burning coal in a boiler, gasification converts coal into a combustible gas, cleans the gas, and then burns the gas in a turbine, much like natural gas. More than 99 percent of the sulfur, nitrogen, and particulate pollutants are removed in this process. It is a low-emission technology. Continued research and development in clean coal technologies like coal gasification are vital to keeping coal, our most abundant energy resource, an integral part of supplying energy to America. Our goal should be to give industry the incentives to develop the commercial viability of coal gasification, bringing energy to consumers while protecting the environment and coal's future in America's energy plan. I congratulate the chairman and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) and all the Members of the committees who have worked so hard to bring this comprehensive energy package to the floor. This bill represents a bipartisan effort, and it is my hope that it will move swiftly through the House and Senate and be signed by the President as soon as possible. The American people have waited long enough for an energy plan. I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment and to vote yes on final passage. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mrs. CAPITO. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much. It is a pleasure to be here this evening to talk about the impending energy legislation that will be before us tomorrow. I was listening to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) discuss his definition of energy: When you wake up in the morning you feel energized, or sometimes you do not feel so energized. When I think about this energy plan, another word comes to mind to me, and that is balance. I think as a new Congresswoman, I am trying to learn myself how to balance things in my life; how to balance my work with my leisure, if I have any, and my family, in my new surroundings here in Washington. It is a matter of making choices, it is a matter of setting priorities, and it is a matter of being realistic about what is before me as a new Congresswoman. I see the new energy plan much in the same way. For the past 20 years, America has coasted blindly into the future, naively trusting that our sufficient resources would be ready and available whenever we would need them. But we know the recent blackouts in California and serious fluctuations in the prices of gasoline have shown that our well of energy has dried up a bit. Fortunately, we have an administration before us now with President Bush and Vice President Cheney who have compiled a plan that is balanced and comprehensive, and it provides for our energy in a safe and clean manner. The Bush plan calls for increased production, but it also calls for greater technology, greater research and development, and also has a large component of conservation, there again, striking a balance between all the elements. Not only will this help protect the American consumer from future blackouts and huge electricity price spikes, but, for me, living in West Virginia, one of the bonuses is it will create more jobs. That is welcome news for us as West Virginians. We see the depth of the diversity in the plan in the amount of research in funding that goes to green energy, a new resource, and alternate sources such as biomass. There is an expansion of the biomass tax credit and more funding for biopower energy programs. The reason I bring this up, even though coal is a great part of what I want to talk about, just last week a few of my constituents came in to see me about implementing a potential biomass energy production project in my district. Because our State of West Virginia also has a large timber industry, they proposed using the energy from the wood scraps and the leftover wood by-products to provide local power. Their proposal, I thought, was very impressive. They were creating green power out of what has basically been and formerly been a waste product from the timber industry. They have a wonderful idea of how to use another West Virginia resource in an environmentally clean way and to provide for that basic need, energy. Aside from being environmentally friendly, the use of this type of energy positively impacts our local rural economies. For instance, to transport the timber would be very expensive, so you place the power plant very close to the fuel crop of timber, and then you can use that raw material to generate green power. This creates a new plant and jobs in the community. The Bush energy plan directs more time and resources to exploring these projects and others like them. For instance, about a month ago I went to West Virginia State College, a college in my district, in Institute, West Virginia. They had just imported from another area in my district, Moorefield, that has quite a few chicken farms, and they had imported a digester. They are taking the chicken by-products and with the digester using them to create power, small levels of power, but enough to power the football field, some of the athletic facilities, at West Virginia State College. It is experimental, but, there again, a different approach to creating energy. In addition to producing more alternative fuels like biomass, we see more production in this plan for the traditional sources of power. Another one we have in abundance in West Virginia is natural gas. We are one of the largest exporters of natural gas in the whole country. We are digging deeper and becoming more productive in our ways of getting natural gas. This energy plan we have before us has a large component of natural gas. I think the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson) mentioned in his opening statement that natural gas is still the largest fuel used for energy. I would like to turn to coal. With 35.4 billion tons of coal in reserve, West Virginia has a ripe opportunity to help in this time of a national energy crunch. The amount of coal that lays sleeping in our West Virginia hills amounts to $4.5 trillion in value. Last year in West Virginia the coal industry alone employed 21,000 West Virginians, up almost 4 percent from a year ago. It is clear that increasing production of this resource would be good for economic development in West Virginia, a state that is always searching for more jobs. Last year in West Virginia in the transportation and public utilities industry we employed 37,000 people. Well, with new clean coal technology and an advanced way to burn and use our coal more efficiently, not only would we have more coal production, but we would also have offshoots of this, like transportation in the construction industry. A plan that calls for more production of energy resources, more construction of power plants, and more infrastructure will make these 70,000 employees more productive and more useful. I see a tremendous amount of potential in this energy plan, because it is balanced. We are not finding one solution to a very large problem; we are looking at a myriad of solutions to try to meet an enormous problem and to face the future of the next at least 25 to 30 years. I think timing is everything in politics, they say, and I think in terms of facing energy needs, there could be no more timeliness than the present moment. America cannot walk blindly into the future and naively assume, I think as we have in the past, that our children's energy needs will be met. We must have long-term vision and must plan not only to produce, we must learn to conserve, and we must learn now to act tomorrow to implement what I think is an innovative, exciting energy plan for the country.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar). Mr. Speaker, I rise quickly to express my support for the passage of H.R. 1140, the Railroad Retirement Survivors Improvement Act. As the title suggests, this bill aims to provide equitable and fitting compensation for those who have served and those who are currently serving the railroad industry. The move to modernize the railroad retirement trust fund is revolutionary, yet vital. With this bill, the railroad retirement trust fund will receive increased revenues for its beneficiaries through investment in a diversified portfolio. In my home State of West Virginia, almost 12,000 railroad employees, retirees, spouses, and widows have benefitted from this plan. In my district alone, 3,000 railroad beneficiaries would benefit from this. Many of these people have called my office over the past few months asking me to support this bipartisan effort. Widows of former rail workers have told me stories about the minimum benefits they receive, where they can barely pay their bills. Such stories should encourage us to act and act quickly. Over the past century, the hard work, long hours, and true dedication of many men and women have built an effective network of rail tracks around this country. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to pass this legislation.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to urge this Congress to act immediately and implement a comprehensive and balanced energy policy. The Bush administration has provided much-needed leadership on this issue, stepping up to the plate and articulating a clear plan to address our energy needs. One part of the President's plan calls for the construction of 1900 new power plants to catch up with the current demand for electricity. Yesterday, I introduced a bill that calls for construction of one of those plants, using clean-coal technology called coal gasification. Building more coal gasification plants makes sense for a number of reasons. Number one, the process removes virtually all the sulfur, nitrogen, and other pollutants, leaving cleaner air and water for future generations. Two, it uses an abundant resource, coal, which is the dominant source of power in our country; and three, it means jobs. Building new power plants, coal-based or not, creates lots of new jobs, creates rail operators, barge captains, truckers, construction workers, and also those that will be running the day-to-day operations in the plant. Today, more than ever, the U.S. needs to adopt a policy making advanced clean coal technology easier and more productive. I look forward to working with this Congress to advance this technology.