Tom Cole

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in opposition to H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. While I have supported unemployment extensions in time of economic emergency, and will continue to do so, I will not give my support to this particular legislation because it unfairly taxes states with strong economies to pay for workers in states that have engaged in poor economic planning. As you know, the bill would extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks in states where the average unemployment rate is over 8.5 percent. To pay for this extension, the legislation extends the 0.2 percent Federal Unemployment surtax for one more year. This is a tax that all employers are required to pay regardless of the state unemployment rate. In other words, citizens in states with low unemployment will be paying for benefits in states that have been fiscally irresponsible or have mishandled their own unemployment fund. Currently, Madam Speaker, there are 27 states with an unemployment rate of over 8.5 percent. But many states have engaged in commonsense approaches to economic development to avoid this catastrophe. In my home state of Oklahoma, for example, our unemployment rate, though rising, is still only at 6.8 percent. As many of you know, Oklahoma suffered a major economic downturn in the 1980s due to the oil bust. However, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the state of Oklahoma and business community learned from this experience and made great strides in economic diversification. In the years following, housing prices in Oklahoma remained stable and infrastructure grew. Today, Oklahoma's energy, agricultural and entertainment industries are strong and help to support a robust, diversified economy. At the same time, the state of Oklahoma has worked hard to ensure that its unemployment fund remains solvent. Though many states' unemployment funds were not prepared for a major recession, Oklahoma is one of the only states that will not have to borrow from the federal fund to repay benefits to unemployed workers. In fact, Madam Speaker, the state is not raising the unemployment payments next year. It is entirely inappropriate to force the citizens of states like this to pay a tax in order to pay for the irresponsibility of others. Oklahoma already pays more in unemployment taxes than they receive back from the system, and this extension only makes the situation worse. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I again would like to emphasize that I am not opposed to ensuring that Americans have means to support themselves in economic hardship. However, I do believe that it is unwarranted to tax the citizens of the 23 other states who have produced good economic growth and responsible governance.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, it is a great privilege to be here with my colleagues and participate in honoring our former colleague in this Chamber, Wes Watkins. Usually when you come down to the floor on an occasion like this, you are armed with all sorts of wonderful prepared remarks, and you lay them out. But I would rather talk about my friend, Wes Watkins, spontaneously and, frankly, from a rather unique perspective because I have run races against him, and I have run races for him. And I have to tell you, I never beat him when I ran a race against him, but I was a lot more successful working for him. He is really an extraordinary political figure in his own right. As my friend, Congressman Boren mentioned, he served as a State senator. He was a Congressman. He ran for governor twice, frankly, nearly getting the Democratic nomination in 1990. Had he gotten that, he undoubtedly would have won the election and have been the Governor of our State. He ran again in 1994 as an Independent. Very unusual. By the way, his congressional district voted for him as a Democrat, voted for him as an Independent, and then later voted for him as a Republican. I have never seen a loyalty directed toward an individual that way. In the course of his 1990 campaign, he got to be pretty good friends with my client, Frank Keating, who later went on to be Governor. Frank Keating thought so much of Wes Watkins, his opponent, that he offered him a job in his Cabinet as a Secretary for international trade because Wes was so passionate about bringing jobs and opportunity to the people of Oklahoma. That says a lot about you as an individual that one of your opponents thinks so highly of you that they want to move you over into their administration. Unfortunately, some of Wes's colleagues in the State senate in Oklahoma decided that having run as an Independent instead of a Democrat, they were not inclined to do that. But a number of years later, an opportunity came up when the seat that he won came open again. Our good friend, Bill Brewster, decided to retire. And I remember, Wes was still registered as an Independent, and there was 17 days before the cutoff when you had to choose your party. The minute that Frank Keating, then Governor Keating, saw that congressional seat was open, he literally within 20 minutes called Wes Watkins and said, Wes, I want you to run for Congress. I don't care if you run as an Independent; I don't care if you run as a Democrat. I'm a Republican. I would like you to run as that. That doesn't matter. We are going to do everything we can. We need you back in the Congress of the United States. We need your passion and your commitment for economic development and to help the people of this State. Wes honestly made, I would say, a tough political call because he would have won as a Democrat. He would have won as an Independent. He chose to become a Republican for a lot of reasons, but I think partly because he thought we were in the majority then, he thought he would be very effective in that role, and he was. He was an extraordinarily effective Congressman for his State. Now, when I think about Wes, you can't think about Wes and not think about Lou Watkins, his partner, his only real political consultant and, quite frankly, now a regent at Oklahoma State University, one of the really fine public figures and one of the best classroom teachers I ever saw in my life. As a college political science professor, I used to occasionally go and deal with her students. And incredibly fair. Together, they have done so much good for our State. They are deep in the hearts of the people that they manage to serve. I do want to tell one polling story and one media story about my friend, Wes Watkins. When he first decided to run as a Republican, the district was literally registered over 80 percent Democrat at that time. We did a survey. In the survey you ask what are called open-ended questions: What do you like most, what do you like least about this individual. I never saw this before, 97 percent of the people could tell you something specific about Wes Watkins, all of it positive: he helped my father get a job; he helped bring this business to our community. It was the most incredibly impressive testimony for an individual's good deeds and using public office in an appropriate way to help people that I have ever seen in my life. We sent the media consultant to travel with him around the district for 3 days. She came back and I asked, What did you think? She said, In 3 days I only met one person who didn't call him Wes in every little town. She said it was actually a young lady, probably 16 or 17 years. She came up to say, Mr. Watkins, could I please shake your hand. Thank you for something you have done for my family. The consultant said he just threw his arms around her and said, Honey, just call me Wes. He is just a remarkable human being. I want to thank both of my colleagues for this recognition, particularly my good friend, Dan Boren, who worked with him. Wes Watkins has done as much for our State as anybody I have seen in my political lifetime. And continues to do it. And so does Lou. This is such a fitting and appropriate honor. I am happy to join my friends as a cosponsor and look forward to voting for this particular piece of legislation with a great deal of pleasure.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010: Name: Advanced Autonomous Robotic Inspections for Aging Aircraft Bill #: H.R. 3326 Account: Operations & Maintenance, Air Force Legal Name of requesting entity: Veracity Technology Solutions, LLC Address of requesting entity: 2701 Liberty Parkway, Suite 311; Midwest City, OK 73110 Description: Provide an earmark of $1 million for the purposes of providing military aviation with an inspection system vehicle which will be utilized for the autonomous gathering of nondestructive inspection (NDI) data for the detection of corrosion and cracking on the KC-135 wing skins as well as other aging aircraft. This funding will allow Veracity Technology Solutions (VTS) to complete development and implement a precise and cost-effective autonomous vehicle that can provide these needed inspection results. This system will allow for condition assessment of aircraft structures, as well as continuous assessment through the historical comparison of previous and present inspection results. Currently the method for inspecting the wing skins of the KC-135 aircraft is with traditional NDI methods that are both antiquated and time consuming. Veracity, in collaboration with the Air Force have proven the ability to reduce the time of inspection on the KC-135 wing skin by a factor of 5X through the successful demonstration of a semi-autonomous automated inspection vehicle. With the addition of these congressional funds, Veracity will be able to implement a fully automated autonomous robotic vehicle that has the capability to inspect for corrosion as well as crack detection around fasteners. This system will allow maintenance personnel to set up the automated vehicle, perform the scan, analyze data real time, and perform visual inspection of fasteners which is currently not available to maintenance personnel. This system will decrease the maintenance downtime and unnecessary refurbishment of serviceable components. Without this system there is the increased risk of the catastrophic failure of these critical components. This project will provide a state-of-the-art NDI system and training that have the potential to decrease costs while assuring safety and airworthiness. This plan provides information regarding the development and deployment of two platforms. The first 60% of the granted earmark funds will be utilized on the deployment of the Autonomous Robot with the Eddy Current and Ultrasonic Inspection capabilities. The remaining 40% will be utilized for the deployment of additional proof of project concept between the KC-135 program office and Veracity. These inspections will help eliminate the need for hazardous x-ray technology, reduce idle workers, due to the use of x- ray technology, reduce flow delays, and greatly improve efficiency. There are as many as 126 inspections on the KC-135 that are meeting these criteria according to Boeing and Air Force officials, which are expected to save more than $1.5 million annually. If this inspection were to be deployed fleet-wide the savings could grow to more than $55 million. These requirements are based upon US Air Force's needs for a more reliable and sensitive inspection system. Name: Joint Fires and Effects Trainer System Enhancements Bill #: H.R. 3326 Account: RDT&E, Army Legal Name of requesting entity: Creative Technologies, Inc. Address of requesting entity: 6255 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 716; Los Angeles, CA 90028 Description: Provide an earmark of $2,500,000 for the purpose of testing and developing a handheld interactive application that will develop the capability of the Artillery branch to export the JFETS Training capability to forces not located at Fort Sill, OK. The application of precision fires and effects is an essential capability not only in current theaters of war, but in virtually the entire spectrum of conflict for which US defense forces prepare. Live fire training cost and environmental impact are limiting factors in the volume and frequency of Soldier training in this domain. Virtual simulation training for Joint Fires and Effects is intended to mitigate these limitations, for both initial training and currency, by reducing total cost and increasing the total number of training repetitions Soldiers may experience. The Joint Fires and Effects Trainer System (JFETS) at the Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE), Fort Sill, Oklahoma has received funding to develop an excellent prototype; Joint Forces Command rates the JFETS Close Air Support Module as the best in existence. The current system design, however, limits throughput and, as a result, Instructors at the FCoE are unable to use the system to its fullest potential for their classes. Accordingly, the FCoE Fires Battle Lab in 2008 commissioned a study to increase throughput in the JFETS Open Terrain Module (OTM): a key venue for Call For Fire Training. The results of this study propose a technological enhancement that will allow a single Instructor to manage nine concurrent discrete call for fire training sessions in the OTM facility: an 800% increase in efficiency over the current configuration. While the underlying technology in the proposed solution is mature and sound, the question remains as to whether the enhancement will work as planned. In effect, there is a need to determine whether a single instructor will be able to manage nine concurrent sessions as predicted. Notwithstanding this increase in efficiency, the JFETS OTM will still be, relatively speaking, a scarce resource at the FCoE. Additionally, students will need to review training received on the OTM and other JFETS modules in the field after training in the school house. To maximize the value of Soldier training time in the JFETS, an interactive application is required to drill Soldiers in the five essential elements of accurate predictive fires to prepare them before they train in the immersive environment and reinforce that training once they leave. An extension to the JFETS suite of capabilities, the application will be designed to work on a variety of platforms. FCoE leadership has expressed interest in an application to work on a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Smartphone or other portable platform in addition to a desktop computational environment. Name: Tactical Metal Fabrication System (TACFAB) Bill #: H.R. 3326 Account: RDT&E, Army Legal Name of requesting entity: IMTEC Address of requesting entity: IMTEC Plaza, 2401 North Commerce; Ardmore, OK 73401 Description: Provide an earmark of $1 million for TacFab. 63% will be used for a Shelterized Integration of a Low-End (TacFab) Capability. An additional 37% will be used for the Integration of Full-Up Deployable (TacFab) Capability. TacFab demonstrates a tactically mobile, rapid metal fabrication capability that will be a companion unit to the MPH to provide spare and replacement parts to our Warfighters in theater, and also as a stand-alone metal casting resource provided to domestic organic Army depots and industrial facilities in support of RESET activities. TacFab provides a containerized, mobile foundry to the U.S. Army, allowing deployed forces to produce spare and replacement parts in the field. This cuts the order time from weeks or months to 24 hours. The Army uses its Rapid Manufacturing System to provide deployed forces with critical spare and replacement parts to keep its tanks, helicopters, guns and other systems operating under the extreme wear and tear of battle. The system provides troops on the ground with parts that they would otherwise need to wait weeks or months for, if they were being ordered through the standard supply chain and shipped to the front. However, because the existing system does not include a mobile foundry, the system cannot address the need for cast parts, which make up a large percentage of needs. The Tactical Metal Fabrication (TacFab) System will provide a complementary capability to the RMS to cut the time required to produce parts by 90%. Name: UAV/UAS Test Facility Bill #: H.R. 3326 Account: RDT&E, DefenseWide Legal Name of requesting entity: University Multispectral Labs Address of requesting entity: 500 West South Avenue; Ponca City, OK 74601 Description: Provide an earmark of $3 million to advance the National Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/System (UAV/S) Test Facility initiated in FY2009. The test facility is located adjacent to restricted Fort Sill, Oklahoma airspace and established on behalf of the United States Special Operations Command. 68% is for material, engineering support, range equipment and renovations, and 32% is for further creation of high-technology jobs consisting of technicians, engineers and scientists. Facility will also support Army Fires Center of Excellence and foster a positive impact on the surrounding areas. The UML has a fully executed Memorandum of Agreement with the Garrison Commander supported by the Fort Sill Commanding General. Name: Infrared Materials Laboratory Bill #: H.R. 3326 Account: RDT&E, Navy Legal Name of requesting entity: Amethyst Research Inc. Address of requesting entity: 1405 4th Ave. NW, Box 345; Ardmore, OK 73401 Description: Provide an earmark of $3.5 million for advanced infrared systems development. Approximately 83% is for research, development, testing and evaluation; approximately 14% is for research equipment lease, and approximately 3% is for building lease. This project has the support of key officials within the Department of Defense and from U.S. suppliers of key defense-related technologies to the U.S. Government. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the ONR, RDTE, N account. While not required to do so, the State of Oklahoma and the host community City of Ardmore have committed non- federal dollars toward this national priority. The Infrared Materials Laboratories are overcoming the technical and financial barriers preventing the use of HgCdTe (Mercury Cadmium Telluride) on large- format Si (Silicon) substrate infrared focal plane arrays (IRFPAs) and also are resolving related DoD challenges of the highest national priority. This research, performed by a highly respected team of former NVESD, Oak Ridge National Lab, Sandia National Labs, General Electric, ONR, and USAF scientists at Amethyst Research Inc. as well as at collaborating research universities and DoD equipment manufacturers will: (1) dramatically lower the cost of high-performance IR devices for DoD applications, (2) create a stable, domestic supply of wafers for IRFPA fabrication at all major U.S. infrared houses, and (3) put superior technologies into the hands of the U.S. warfighter more quickly. DOD requirement for funds is: ``Passivation of Dislocation Defects by Hydrogenation for High Performance LWIR HgCdTe on Si''-- NVESD W15P7T-05-C-F401; ``Si Based Large Area Substrates for HgCdTe Infrared Detectors''--ARO W911 NF-06-0074; ``Defect Mapping of Wafers for Increasing Yield and Operability of Infrared Focal Plane Arrays''-- MDA, Pending; ``Passivation Technologies for Improved Operability and Radiation Hardness of VLWIR HgCdTe Focal Plane Arrays--MDA HQ006-07-C- 7705, B063-025-044. This program will eliminate complete DoD dependency on a single, foreign source for a key component of infrared sensors. Further, this program will reduce DoD's cost to acquire and deploy high-performance IRFPAs (including 3D LADAR technologies) and improve the ability of DoD assets to distinguish, track, and target well- camouflaged enemy assets in highly cluttered environments and in space. The goal of this program is to reduce by a factor of five (5) DoD's current --$200,000 cost per IRFPA. DoD estimates that the program's integral proprietary defect characterization system alone will result in taxpayer savings of $100,000,000 over 10 years. This effort is rooted in proprietary hydrogenation, wafer mapping and repair techniques that dramatically improve the operability and yield of infrared focal plane arrays used in military and homeland security applications. It will result in the production of large-area HgCdTe on Si wafer substrates and defect mapping and repair/mitigation on existing CdZnTe wafer substrates. The major U.S. infrared manufacturing houses are collaborating with Amethyst Research Inc. on this effort. The President of the United States has determined that certain components of this program are of the highest national priority.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, since January, we've had a lot of talk about bipartisanship, and we've even had some of it. We had a partisan Democratic stimulus bill that created bipartisan debt and unemployment, but no bipartisan jobs. We had a partisan Democratic cap-and-trade bill that will create bipartisan higher energy prices, but no more bipartisan energy. And now we've got a partisan Democratic health care bill that will cost Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike their jobs and quality health care. Hopefully, Mr. Speaker, the Democratic majority will eventually create a bipartisan opposition that will stop their job-killing health care bill in its tracks.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3293--Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Provision: Title I Account: Employment and Training Administration (ETA)--Training & Employment Services (TES) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma City Community College Address of Requesting Entity: 7777 South May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $200,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used to pilot the Operation Servicemen Success Program. The goal of the program is to address the unique needs of military veteran students and equip them to successfully transition from military service to college and then to their civilian careers. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number; H.R. 3293 Provision: Title II Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Norman Regional Health System Address of Requesting Entity: 901 North Porter St., Norman, OK 73071 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,715,000. Of the funds allocated $1,153,000.00 will be used for facilities; $412,000.00 will be used for fixtures and equipment, $150,000.00 will be used for communications and information technology by Norman Regional Health System (NRHS), a not-for-profit community health system in south central Oklahoma, for the modernization of the North Tower of the Porter Street Campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Provision: Title II Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma City Community College Address of Requesting Entity: 7777 South May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $250,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used to purchase an additional Human Patient Simulator for the Division of Health Professions at OCCC. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole BM Number: H.R. 3293 Provision: Title II Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Address of Requesting Entity: 825 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $300,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used to purchase equipment for a new eight-story, state-of-the-art, Leed Gold Certified green research tower. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Provision: Title III Account: Higher Education (includes FIPSE) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Mid-America Christian University Address of Requesting Entity: 3500 W 119th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73170 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $485,000. Of the funds allocated approximately: $28,954.50 will be used for program coordination; 130,707.50 will be used for Personal; $85,748.00 will be used for student support services; $67,706.00 will be used for technology upgrades and support; $94,769.00 will be used for community college expenses; $16,926.50 will be used for faculty recruitment; $31,961.50 will be used for accelerated curriculum development; $28,297.00 will be used for alternative certification development. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Provision: Title IV Account: Museums & Libraries Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Native American Cultural Center and Museum Address of Requesting Entity: 900 North Broadway Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73126 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $750,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used for institutional development and program planning as well as the development of Tribal educational and cultural exhibits in the Museum.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3288--Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Provision: Title I Account: Interstate Maintenance Discretionary Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma Department of Transportation Address of Requesting Entity: 200 N.E. 21st Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $750,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used by ODOT to widen 1-35 to six lanes from the 1- 35/SH-9 West Interchange to North of Main Street. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Provision: Title I Account: Surface Transportation Priorities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma Department of Transportation Address of Requesting Entity: 200 N.E. 21st Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used by ODOT to reconstruct access for safety reasons from 1-44 and US-62 to Fort Sill Artillery Center. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Provision: Title I Account: Buses & Bus Facilities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma Transit Association Address of Requesting Entity: 1141 N. Robinson, Suite 101B Oklahoma City, OK 74820 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,400,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used to meet the vehicle needs for the two section 5307 systems in Oklahoma: CART/University of Oklahoma; and Lawton area Transit System. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Provision: Title II Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ada Public Works Authority Address of Requesting Entity: 231 South Townsend Ada, OK 74820 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $400,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used to construct a 1 million gallon water storage tower. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Provision: Title II Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma City Community College Address of Requesting Entity: 7777 South May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73159 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $200,000. 100% of funds allocated will be used to prepare the necessary asbestos abatement and remodeling and retrofitting of the space.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a woman that could teach us all a thing or two about love and compassion. Geraldine Martin is currently looking down on us from Heaven where last month she was reunited with the love of her life, Jesse, her husband of 63 years. A mother of four, grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of six, family was her first thought in the morning and last thought at night. When complications from birth left her son Cecil with special needs, she became a crusader for children with challenges. From coaching Special Olympics for two decades to establishing the Power Shop, helping children meet and exceed their potential was a calling Geraldine gladly answered. A dedicated volunteer at the Bethel Assembly of God and a professional banker for nearly four decades, she retired as vice president of the First Bank and Trust of Velma, Oklahoma in 2003 to enjoy her family, her volunteer work, sewing, gardening and, of course, drinking coffee on her back porch. Geraldine considered her legacy to be her family and today, on behalf of myself and the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Brady, we honor her and offer them our sincerest condolences. She leaves behind two daughters, Sharon Frame and her husband Larry of Oklahoma City, and Gail Clark and her husband Joe of Krum, Texas; two sons: Jesse Martin and his wife, Vicki, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Cecil Ray Martin. She is also survived by three sisters: Betty Stanley and Margaret Tiemann, both of Goldthwaite, Texas, and Kay Nixon and her husband, Bill, of Anaheim, California, and one brother, Jackie Sherrill and his wife, Peggy, of Memphis, Tennessee. She will be especially missed by her nine wonderful grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and her many friends and admirers. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Geraldine Martin for showing us all how to live a great life and extend our greatest sympathy to her family.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, where are the jobs? Well, they certainly aren't in the Democrats' job-killing health care plan. At a time when America is suffering the worst recession in a generation, it's utterly irresponsible to propose a government takeover of our health care system and destroy millions of private sector jobs in the process. Since the Democrats passed their stimulus package, more than 2 million American jobs have been lost, and the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, Dr. Christina Romer, has suggested that the tax hikes on businesses that will be required to pay for the Democratic health care plan will result in the loss of an additional 4.7 million jobs. In addition, Mr. Speaker, the Democratic proposal will force drastic cuts in Medicare Advantage, causing millions of seniors to lose their coverage for prescription medicine, the cost of private health care will skyrocket, and the Lewin Group has estimated that nearly 114 million Americans will be forced out of their current private health care coverage and into government-run health care plans. Mr. Speaker, the Democrats' job-killing health care proposal is the wrong prescription. It will cost millions of jobs. Americans need a second opinion.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3183--Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, for FY2010 Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Provision: Title III Account: DOE--EERE Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``The University of Oklahoma'' Address of Requesting Entity: 660 Parrington Oval, Norman OK 73019 Description of Request: Provide an earmark for $500,000.00 to develop technologies for improved, highly efficient processes for production of biomass-derived liquid fuels compatible with the existing fuels infrastructure. The specific initial research projects will focus on critical aspects of an integrated process for thermochemical/catalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to green gasoline and diesel, and chemicals--i.e., hydrocarbons compatible with the existing fuels and chemicals infrastructure. Such a process will make use of our State's agricultural resources to provide environmentally improved fuels that will significantly increase domestic fuel supplies to meet growing demand without increasing dependence on imported petroleum feedstocks. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Provision: Title III Account: DOE--Fossil Energy R&D Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``The University of Oklahoma'' Address of Requesting Entity: 660 Parrington Oval, Norman OK 73019 Description of Request: Provide an earmark for $500,000.00 for new technology in the form of next generation microemulsion technology now exists to increase the production from these fields and recover as much as an additional 30 percent of this oil. By bringing this technology to the small, independent oil producers who produce most of our domestic onshore oil, we can significantly slow the decrease in US domestic oil production, reduce oil imports, improve the US balance of trade, and create tens of thousands of new, high paying jobs, without drilling in environmentally sensitive areas. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Provision: Title I Account: Corps of Engineers--O&M Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Corps of Engineers Address of Requesting Entity: 1645 South 101 East Ave. Tulsa, OK 74128 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $3,000,000.00 to fund the modernizing the 1976/78 Corps of Engineers Lake Texoma Master Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, and 1996 Shoreline Management Plan is critical to future regional development. Expedited federal funding to update these critical plans will greatly enable resolution of critical interstate and intrastate water use issues and effective and balanced planning, zoning and development around Lake Texoma. The updated Master and related plans will involve public and business participation and will be essential to manage future development and different interests in the Lake Texoma and surrounding areas. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Provision: Title I Account: Corps of Engineers--Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma Water Resources board Address of Requesting Entity: 3800 North Classen Blvd., OK 73118 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $300,000.00 to conduct a study. Area covers a 29 county area in southeast Oklahoma, including the Kiamichi River Basin and other tributaries of the Red River. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board signed the FCSA in July 2001, halted the study in 2002 due to a lack of State funds, but requested restarting the study and focusing the study on stream flows, habitat analysis and water supply. Study results will be integrated into the OK State Comprehensive Water Planning initiative. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Provision: Title I Account: Corps of Engineers--Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma Water Resources board Address of Requesting Entity: 3800 North Classen Blvd., OK 73118 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $250,000.00 to conduct a feasibility study to develop a Washita River Watershed management plan.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3170--Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2010 Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 3170 Provision: Title V Account: GSA--Operating Expenses Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation Address of Requesting Entity: 620 N. Harvey, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, P.O. Box 323 Oklahoma City, OK 73101 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 to fund the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation's operation and maintenance cost associated with the Memorial Museum, as well as the execution of outreach and educational programs.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill to honor a great American and a great Oklahoman, Wayman Lawrence Tisdale. I would like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their work on the bill. As the gentlelady from the District of Columbia so aptly noted, Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was an all-star basketball player and a brilliant jazz musician. However, Tisdale was not only an exceptional athlete and musician, he brought a positive spirit to everything he did and should serve as a role model to all Americans. Even when he faced personal adversity, he maintained an optimistic attitude and brought joy to all of those surrounding him. Wayman Tisdale was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the youngest of six children of a distinguished Baptist minister and a loving wife. At 6'9", Wayman excelled as a basketball player at Booker T. Washington High School where he was named Oklahoma's only McDonald's All American and was named Converse National High School Player of the Year. Though Tisdale had many scholarship offers, he chose to remain close to home and attend the University of Oklahoma. After arriving at the University of Oklahoma, Tisdale quickly distinguished himself as one of the greatest basketball players the school has ever seen. In his 3-year college career, he received the honor of being named Big 8 Player of the Year in 1983, 1984, and 1985. Mr. Speaker, he was also named to the All American Team three times in 3 years while at the University of Oklahoma. Tisdale averaged 25.6 points a game and 10.1 rebounds a contest during his career with the Sooners. He still holds Oklahoma career records for points and rebounds. Tisdale also owns the school's single- game scoring mark and career marks for points per game, field goals, and free throws attempted and made. Tisdale was a member of the gold medal U.S. Olympic team of 1984 and was the number two NBA draft pick in 1986. While in the NBA, Mr. Speaker, Wayman Tisdale played with the Indiana Pacers, the Sacramento Kings, and the Phoenix Suns scoring more than 12,800 points and pulling down more than 5,000 rebounds in a 12- year professional career. On November 22, 2009, Wayman Tisdale will be formally inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame. Mr. Speaker, in addition to a remarkable basketball career, Mr. Tisdale distinguished himself as a jazz musician. As the son of a Baptist minister, he became intrigued by the bass guitarists at his father's church and began teaching himself to play guitar and bass. He recorded and released eight albums of jazz, one of which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top 10; another one reached No. 4 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart. In addition to his solo career, Tisdale also collaborated with some of the most popular musicians in smooth jazz, including solo artists Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Kirk Whalum, David Sanborn, Jonathan Butler, and Everette Harp. In 2002, Wayman received the distinction of the Bassist of the Year in the National Smooth Jazz Awards. Though Tisdale was a remarkably talented basketball player and musician, it's perhaps his positive spirit that distinguished him above all else. Mr. Speaker, in my home State of Oklahoma, we are justly proud of Will Rogers who liked to say he never met a man he didn't like. Well, I can't testify as to whether that was true of Mr. Tisdale or not, but I'm certain that Mr. Tisdale never met a man who didn't like him. Friends and relatives have noted that Wayman was also upbeat, had a remarkable ability to smile at everyone he met, even in the darkest circumstances. Former coaches and players have said that Tisdale was able to turn the national spotlight on the University of Oklahoma basketball program not only by his incredible talent on the court, but by his positive spirit and his sheer charisma as a player and as a person. Our Governor, Governor Brad Henry, referred to him as ``one of the most inspirational people I have ever known.'' Fellow Olympic team member and close friend, Sam Perkins, said that Tisdale was ``a real friend who's got your back and would do just about anything for you.'' In 2007, Wayman Tisdale was diagnosed with bone cancer, which ultimately resulted in the removal of part of his leg. During this ordeal, Tisdale maintained a very positive spirit, which should serve as an example for all Americans and all people who struggle with hardship and disease. When referring to his battle with cancer, he said, ``You don't change because things come in your life. You get better because things come in your life.'' Tragically, Mr. Tisdale passed away due to complications from cancer on May 15, 2009. Despite his personal struggles, Tisdale excelled at two separate careers. His strong spirit and the positive attitude that he brought to everything that he did should serve as an inspiration to everyone. It's only fitting that Congress should pay tribute to this outstanding American. Again, I urge the passage of H. Res. 469.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2997 Provision: Title I Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture--Extension Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``Oklahoma State University'' Address of Requesting Entity: 107 Whitehurst Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $209,000 to fund the Pilot Technology transfer services and engineering assistance to small, rural manufacturers with the goal of improving their profitability and enhancing the economy in rural communities. More specifically, 25 percent of these funds be used for Oklahoma State University's Corporate Extension office to fund the salary and benefits for one Applications Engineer, 25 percent of the funds would fund the Rural Enterprises Institute, and 50 percent of the funds would fund a companion program at Mississippi State University. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2997 Provision: Title I Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture--Special Research Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``Oklahoma State University'' Address of Requesting Entity: 107 Whitehurst Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $223,000 for the expanded Wheat Pasture project to develop science and technologies, uniquely adapted wheat varieties, decision-support economic models, and extension education programs to increase profitability of the many dual-purpose wheat enterprises (i.e. wheat grain and stocker cattle) in Oklahoma and the southern Great Plains and strengthen the economies of rural communities. More specifically, 60 percent will be used for staff salaries to conduct the program; 33 percent will be for the annual land lease where field trials are conducted; and 7 percent will be used for field supplies, vehicles and maintenance and other miscellaneous expenses. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2997 Provision: Title I Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture--Special Research Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``City of Norman, Oklahoma'' Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``Oklahoma State University'' Address of Requesting Entity: 107 Whitehurst Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $177,000 for the Integrated Production Systems for Alternative Crops to develop and refine crop management techniques that enable environmentally sound and economically feasible production of alternative crops that will best utilize natural resources as they produce organically grown vegetable crops and crops for the bio-fuel industry. The research and educational program includes organic production practices, pest management strategies and weed control using organically approved practices and chemical agents. The work is conducted at the Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Lane, Oklahoma. All the funding will be used for the technician, researcher and student salaries needed to carry out the program.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010: Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2996 Provision: Title I Account: National Park Service--Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``National Park Service--Chickasaw National Recreation Area'' Address of Requesting Entity: 1008 West Second Street, Sulphur, OK Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for a design plan to construct a Visitor's Center at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The need for a Visitor's Center was identified in the recreation area's 1980 General Management Plan and 1994 Addendum to the 1980 General Management Plan. The Visitor's Center was previously budgeted for, but funds were reprogrammed for wildfire suppression. The Visitor's Center will provide those visiting the Chickasaw National Recreation Area a much needed centralized location where the Park Service may educate individuals on the ecosystems and history of the area. This will increase tourism to the recreation area, and thereby grow the local economy substantially. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2996 Provision: Title II Account: STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lawton Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce Address of Requesting Entity: 9 SW ``C'' Avenue, Lawton, OK 73501 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for water and sewer line expansions at the Lawton Industrial Park, in Lawton, OK. The Comanche County Industrial Development Authority recently purchased an additional 480 acres immediately southwest of the present industrial park for purposes of expansion. Before this development can begin, water and sewer lines must be expanded to the property. The industrial park expansion will allow for more commercial expansion, thus creating jobs and aiding Lawton's economy. For this project, 80 percent of funds will be used for construction costs, 12 percent will be used for contingency, 6 percent will be for engineering costs and 2 percent will be used for inspections.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak against this flawed cap-and-trade, or rather, cap-and-tax legislation. There is no good time for a bad idea, Madam Speaker. This bad bill is nothing more or less than a national energy tax. The legislation will force American families to pay on average more than $3,000 a year in additional energy costs. The majority would like us to believe that passing this legislation will benefit all Americans. Nothing could be further from the truth. Under this bill, energy-producing States like Oklahoma will be economically punished and devastated. Residents in rural areas who must commute long distances to work will be disproportionately affected. Rising fuel prices, coupled with rising home energy costs, will force people to make ever tougher choices. Many will face reduced living standards; spending less, saving less, and going without many of the items they need for a decent life. Madam Speaker, for over 100 years, the people in my State and my district have worked hard to produce the energy that this country needs. Now that energy is going to be taxed. Taking away their choices, their jobs and their future just isn't bad policy. It is punitive, and it is shameful.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I must begin by expressing two reservations about the legislation in front of us. The first is the manner in which it arrived at the floor. Like my colleagues on my side, we're used to and treasure the idea that appropriations bills should come to this floor under an open rule so every Member can come forward and offer good suggestions, and the product can be improved. We didn't do that in this case, and I think that's regrettable. The bill would have been better; and frankly, I think the process a little less rancorous. Second, I want to express my sentiments in agreement with Mr. Simpson about the spending levels here. There's a lot of good projects in this bill. But whether or not we can sustain them over the long term I think is a very legitimate question that we're going to have to wrestle with again and again in bill after bill. Having said that, Madam Chairwoman, I'd like to balance my comments with three very positive observations about this product. The first is the process under which we arrived at a bill. I have to echo Mr. Simpson's appreciation for Chairman Dicks' wonderful cooperation and open process. Certainly the chairman and the ranking member worked together well. They included all of this, and I'm very grateful for that. Second, I agree with the chairman and the ranking member's emphasis on the importance of water projects. I too represent many small communities that struggle to have sufficient revenue to actually build the water systems they need. That's an appropriate focus, and I am grateful for that. And finally, Madam Chairwoman, all too often in this body the First Americans have been the last Americans. That's certainly not the case in this bill. The chairman, in particular, deserves extraordinary credit for the effort and resources he's put behind Native American concerns in health care, law enforcement and education. I am personally very grateful for it. It's one of the best efforts we've seen certainly in over a decade. In conclusion, Madam Chairwoman, I hope we can do a little bit better going forward in working on the spending and the prioritization. But I appreciate the process, and I'm confident we can improve this bill as we work it through.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, like many Americans, I cheered when CIA Director Leon Panetta recently defended the honor of his agency against unsubstantiated charges by the Speaker of the House that the CIA routinely lied to Americans and to the Congress of the United States. Given those remarks, I was surprised to see his recent remarks about Vice President Cheney when he said, It's almost as if he wishes that this country would be attacked again in order to make his point. Just as Mr. Panetta deserves an apology from the Speaker, Mr. Panetta owes one to the Vice President of the United States. The Vice President was Vice President when this country was attacked. He and the President spent the next 7\1/2\ years making sure it didn't happen again. They deserve our thanks and our appreciation, not cheap shots and not questions about their motives when they address the critical issues before our country.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this conference report, and I do that with a heavy heart, quite frankly. When this measure was initially before us I supported it enthusiastically. And in my remarks I praised the President. I thought he'd made a tough decision and deserved bipartisan support. I praised the majority because they had brought us, I think, a very good and finely crafted bill. And frankly, I was proud of the minority because we stepped up unconditionally, supported the President, provided the votes that he needed to win and make a difference to have not just a bipartisan majority, but Republican votes that put us in the majority. I felt like we dealt with the President and the administration in good faith. And frankly, I don't think, since that point, that faith has been reciprocated. Over the course of the process as this legislation's moved through, IMF funding has been added. It scores at $5 billion but it's a considerably greater amount of money that will be deployed. We've had this issue with the photos. We've had the issue of detainees. And frankly, throughout that, there's been no effort to negotiate with our side of the aisle, which did provide the funding again, the votes needed to pass the original bill, you know, without condition. And frankly, it's almost as if there was assumption on the other side that we would either roll over or be blackmailed or be bullied into supporting the bill simply because of the military funding in it. And I wonder whether or not, in retrospect, it was worth losing literally dozens and dozens of Republicans that were prepared to support this bill in a bipartisan fashion in order to add these other measures which could have, frankly, been brought to the floor on their own. So I'm forced to urge the rejection of this conference report. I would hope that we could restore the military funding that was taken out. I would hope that we could strip the unrelated IMF funding, and I would hope that we could practice once again the bipartisanship that led us to such an overwhelming success in the original bill. And if we go back to that method, I think that the President and the administration will be able to rely on continued bipartisan support in the tough decisions they have to make going forward.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2847, the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations for FY2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2847 Provision: Title I Account: NOAA-ORF Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``The University of Oklahoma'' Address of Requesting Entity: 100 E. Boyd St, Room 1110, Norman, OK 73019 USA Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 to support research and development for a Phased Array Radar system, with the capability of detecting forecasting advanced detection of tornadoes, and other forms of severe weather at the National Severe Storms Labs (NSSL) in Norman, OK. Approximately, $800,000 is for Development of polarimetry and a phased array panel for advanced weather radar observations; $700,000 for Fundamental research on imaging radar technology as a possibility for multi-function national radar coverage; and $500,000 will be used for precision laboratory experiments for radio wave scattering of hydrometeors for advancements in numerical weather prediction. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2847 Provision: Title II Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``The Chickasaw Nation'' Address of Requesting Entity: 1130 West Main St., Ada, Ok 74820 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $750,000 to administer a law enforcement visual intelligence technology project for the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations, which encompasses 22 counties in Southern and Southeastern Oklahoma. Approximately, $39,000 will be used for program administration; $688,000 will be used for image libraries; $7,500 will be used for media distribution and equipment; and $15,500 will be used for installation, training and customer support. For the first time, all federal, state, and local agencies operating within the aforementioned areas will have a common visual imagery tool to jointly manage emergencies. The project enhances public safety, officer safety, and puts sophisticated geospatial intelligence information into the hands of those responding to fire, crisis, 911 calls, and more. In this way, they can better respond to the situations at hand and do so more safely. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2847 Provision: Title II Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``City of Norman, Oklahoma'' Address of Requesting Entity: 201 West Gray, PO Box 370, Norman, OK, USA Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $250,000 to replace the state's current networking system for Computer Aided Dispatch, record management, mobile data access, mapping, and other software tools critical to disaster response. Of this amount, approximately $135,000 would be used for application software, $56,000 would be used for support services, $28,000 would be used for third party costs, $17,000 would be used for custom software interfaces, and $14,000 would be used for travel and living expenses for the contractors installing the system. The City's present system does not provide effective integration of these services and causes critical delays in disaster response. The City of Norman will provide a minimum of a 50/50 cost share and this funding will come directly from the City. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 2847 Provision: Title II Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``Southeastern Oklahoma State University'' Address of Requesting Entity: 1405 N 4th Ave, PMB 4187, Durant, OK 74701 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $270,000 to enhance the Emergency response System at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Approximately, $20,000 is for a Campus-wide Panic Duress Systems; $200,000 for engineering; $75,000 for economic analysis; $2,000 is for SMS text messaging software; $50,000 will be used for a Campus-wide public announcement system; $23,000 will be used for campus emergency call boxes; $75,000 will be used for an emergency power generator; $50,000 will be used for Equipment, Radios and Uniforms for public safety staff; and $50,000 will be used for a fingerprint and document imaging scanner. This safety equipment will ensure that students feel safe on campus and will increase the response abilities of Southeastern State. This safety will also encourage more students to attend this college and therefore grow the local community.

Mr. COLE of Oklahoma

Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today not only as a Member of Congress representing 11 tribal nations, but also as a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation to support the passage of H.J. Res. 40. I would like to thank Mr. Baca for his leadership on this bill and for all the work he does on behalf of Tribes. This bill recognizes of the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the United States and encourages all Americans to observe the day after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day. As a Nation with a tragic history in the treatment toward Native Americans, it is important that this Congress recognize the contribution that native peoples have made to the development of our Nation. Today, there are 562 federally recognized Indian tribes in 34 States. Mr. Speaker, throughout the course of American history, these tribes ceded millions of acres of land to the United States, but have never ceded sovereignty or agreed to self-liquidation. Today, Indian lands are only about 5 percent of all land in the United States. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, many tribes remain fractured and broken, due to the destructive policies toward Native Americans. However, tribal heritage, history and contributions to the United States remain robust and all Americans should remember to honor the contributions of this courageous group. Mr. Speaker, from the birth of the United States, Native Americans have contributed to our success as a country. The first European settlers could not have survived without the help of the native communities. Even during the Revolutionary War, Native Americans fought along side the colonists to fight for liberty. During their journey west, Lewis and Clark depended on tribes to see them through harsh winters and save them from starvation. Mr. Speaker, even while it was the policy of the United States to remove or destroy tribal governments in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Native Americans still worked alongside European settlers to grow our Nation both economically and culturally. Mr. Speaker, throughout the course of our history, Native Americans have fought with, against, and for the United States. In fact, Indians have served in all the country's wars and historically enlist in the military in great numbers. Though all Native Americans did not even have U.S. Citizenship during World War I, they still volunteered their service. It is estimated that more than 12,000 American Indians served in the United States military in World War I. By using native languages to confuse the enemy, these soldiers were able to turn the tide of one of the bloodiest wars in history. These ``Codetalkers'' continued this heroic effort in World War II. Historically, Native Americans have the highest record of service per capita than any other demographic group and there are over 190,000 Native American veterans today. Today, Mr. Speaker, tribal communities are vibrant and growing. Tribal governments are strong, ensuring that their people retain their culture, values and way of life. In my state of Oklahoma in particular, home to 39 distinct tribes, Indian Country is flourishing. Tribal enterprises contribute millions of dollars to the State's economy and provide thousands of jobs for Oklahomans. Mr. Speaker, unlike private corporations, Native American owed businesses give back to their communities by investing in basic infrastructure, healthcare, education, law enforcement and a host of other government services. In many areas, tribal cultural activities are the only access to the arts and humanities that the local population can readily access. The changes that have been made my Native businesses in recent years are absolutely astounding. Tribal cultures enrich American life, and tribal economies provide opportunities where few would otherwise exist. As legislators and as Americans, it is vitally important that we consider the contributions that Native Americans have made to the success of our great country. It is equally imperative that Congress remembers that we have engaged with Indian tribes as a government-to- government relationship with tribes since the first European settlers arrived in North America. As we make laws that will affect Indian Country, we should do so with the intention of keeping tribal governments strong, self-sufficient and encourage the preservation of tribal cultures. Again, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to vote in favor of this significant legislation.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this supplemental, and, frankly, I want to congratulate the majority on the legislation. I am particularly pleased with the military portion that was worked out in negotiations between Mr. Murtha and Mr. Young. The extra dollars that were provided beyond what the administration requests I think were wise expenditures. I certainly don't agree with everything in the bill and have my differences over process, both in the committee and more profoundly, frankly, on this floor, where I wish we had the amendments available that my friend, Mr. Tiahrt, mentioned. But, by and large, it's a great bill and, frankly, it deserves our support. I think we ought to stop for a minute, Mr. Speaker, and recognize the significance of the vote that we are about to take. With the passage of this proposal, President Obama, in my mind at least, effectively becomes a war President. In his campaign, he said that Afghanistan was the central front in the war on terror, and he also said, if necessary, he would move into other countries to pursue al Qaeda. Since he has been elected, I think he has actually put those views into effect in this legislation and in other actions. He has chosen a new commander; he has increased the size of our forces in Afghanistan dramatically; he has begun a civilian surge, which alters in some ways, and I think appropriately, the nature of our mission; he has requested additional forces from European countries; and, frankly, he has made it clear that he is expanding activity into Pakistan. This is a major commitment. It's not a commitment that will be over in a year. Frankly, I suspect President Obama will be dealing with this issue throughout his Presidency, whether he's a one- or two-term President. As long as he continues to operate in this capacity, frankly, I think he deserves bipartisan support. I think a war President deserves bipartisan support from Congress. He will certainly have it from me as long as he is consistent with the principles he has laid out and operates under the advice, although reserving the final decision to himself, of the commanders on the ground. So it's a good piece of legislation and it deserves to be passed.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, I was unavoidably detained and I missed the first vote in a series of three votes. I missed rollcall vote No. 173. Had I been present and voting, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote No. 173: ``no'' (On agreeing to H. Res. 279).

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. And, Madam Chair, I rise to oppose this Democratic budget. As we have heard repeatedly tonight, it spends too much, it taxes too much, and it borrows too much. But I want to be fair to my friends on the Democratic side. There is one area of the budget where there is a glaring exception to that rule, and that is the defense of the United States of America. Over the course of a 10-year projected Obama budget, we will move from 20 percent of the Federal budget down to 14 percent devoted to defending the country. We will move from just over 4 percent of the gross national product to 3 percent to defend the United States of America. We will risk canceling major weapons systems, like the future combat system, a tanker that will help us project air power around the world and missile defense, at a time when the North Koreans and the Iranians are developing missiles. That risks jobs, that risks security. That is reckless in a dangerous world. That is not just my opinion, Madam Chairman. Let me read from Robert Samuelson's recent article, ``Obama, the Great Pretender.'' ``It would be responsible for Obama to acknowledge the big gamble in his budget. National security has long been government's first job. In his budget, defense spending drops from 20 percent to 14 percent of the total from 2008 to 2016, the smallest share since the 1930s. The decline presumes a much safer world. If the world doesn't cooperate, deficits will grow.'' More importantly, American soldiers and American security will be at risk, Madam Chairman. So let's reject this budget because it does spend too much, it does borrow too much, it does tax too much. And let's embrace the Republican alternative which spends less, borrows less, taxes less, but, most importantly, puts more resources where it counts, defending the United States of America.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. No, sir. But I do have some information that might help you as you move forward. I wouldn't say that this would be definitive. I think you should ask every individual, as you're doing. But I do have a signed list of people that were in the room--that were principal negotiators in the room. I think they need to be able to answer for themselves, as one of them, Mr. Frank, already has. I do want to point out in defense of some of our colleagues, Mr. Lewis' from California name is there, but it's scratched out because he wasn't allowed to be in the room. There's also Mr. Camp from Michigan. His name is scratched out, too, because he also was not allowed to be in the room. And then there's the distinguished Senator Cochran from Mississippi. His name is also crossed out because he wasn't allowed to be there. Then there's Senator Grassley from Iowa. His name as well is scratched out. So I don't know that that would prove that they did not do it, but I think that's a very strong indication they did not. Coincidentally, they're all Republicans. But I thought that might help you as you pursue your vision.

Mr. COLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank him for the way in which he framed the debate and did it in a way we can all understand. But this has been a troubling episode as well. I think I guess what I'd call Bonusgate begins, I like to think, with three words. We've heard a lot of the three words recently. We've heard the word inherit, we've heard the word transparency, and we've heard the word accountability. Well, this is not a situation that was inherited by this administration or by this majority. This was a situation that came into being on their watch. This is a situation where they have not been transparent. Quite the opposite. They have done everything they can to obscure what happened, when it happened, who's responsible. Finally, it's certainly an incident where, at least to this point, nobody has been held accountable for anything. It's just something that somehow is unfortunate, but we are going to move collectively to try and correct before we have even identified who created the problem for us in the first place. What do we know? Well, we do know a lot. We do know that Secretary Geithner has been involved in designing legislation around both the bailout and the stimulus literally since November--really, since September, when he was involved in his capacity as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve in New York. We do know that, frankly, he was aware at some point late last year or probably early this year, at the minimum, there were going to be large bonuses paid. Certainly, the Fed had been informed that, and we would expect in his position there and as Secretary of the Treasury he would have been informed. We do know that he had the means to stop this. He literally released $30 billion at the beginning of this month to AIG. At that point, he could have said, Look, you do this; no money. You're bankrupt. I suspect something could have happened where these bonuses wouldn't have been paid out. We also know that he didn't bother to tell the President of the United States, for whom he works and to whom he is responsible, anything about this until the day before it happened. That's what the Secretary has said, that's what the President has said. So we know that Mr. Geithner has been around this problem a lot and we know that he did not--or, it appears he did not inform the President. The second thing we know relates to the stimulus bill. My friend, Mr. LaTourette, went through that pretty well. We had a bill that was rammed through, literally was put together in a hurry, where this body guaranteed its Members by unanimous bipartisan vote we would have time to read it. We weren't given the time that in this body we said we would give Members. We know that the bill eventually ended up in a conference committee. We have a pretty good idea who the six people were there, one of whom we now presume had nothing to do with this. I would certainly take the chairman at his word. And we know that that language was inserted in that conference. It was not something that was inherited from the last administration. It was not something, to be fair, that was even in the first version of the stimulus bill. It was something that was specifically put there. And so, while we know that the majority didn't read the bill and we know that the minority didn't read the bill, and I doubt the President read the bill, somebody read the bill. Somebody read the bill well enough to know, Hey, there's language in here that's going to prevent the payment of bonuses--and we need to get that out and put something in. So somebody did indeed finally read the bill. We also know that today, rather than confront those questions, we decided we'd do everything we could on the floor of this body to look like we were doing something. As a matter of fact, I would argue we made a lot of the same mistakes. We presented a bill that hadn't gone through committee, that people hadn't seen, that hadn't been discussed, because we needed to show that we were going to act. And we presented a resolution which, thank goodness, did not make it through, which essentially would have exonerated the administration. Now those are all things that we know. What should we do, is now the real question, it seems to me. The first thing we should do is do what the President did in the very first week of this administration and say: I made a mistake. I think the classic word was: I screwed up. I think the President and the administration, certainly the majority, screwed up. I think admitting it would be helpful. The second thing I would do if I were the President of the United States is fire the Secretary of the Treasury. I wouldn't wait for him to resign. I would make the point that if there's something this explosive and this important and this damaging and you know about it for months and you don't bother to tell me about it until the day before it happens, when I'm in almost no position to do anything about it, I'm sorry, you're not really who I need to be the Secretary of the Treasury. Goodbye. I think the President would score enormous points within his own party. Indeed, earlier this evening we actually heard essentially a Democratic Member of Congress calling in this floor for him to do exactly that, something he ought to do. Finally, we need the people in that room to just simply fess up. One out of six of them did it; and, if they did it at somebody else's instructions at the White House, then they ought to tell us who that was. Who sent that language down? Or, ``I drafted it,'' or whatever. But there is not that many people involved. I still retain faith that the truth is going to come out here and that people will step up and do the right thing. The great British statesman Winston Churchill was often exasperated with our people and with the United States. He used to like to say, ``You can always count on the American people to do the right thing, after they have exhausted every other possibility.'' I would suggest that is what the administration has been doing, they have been exhausting possibilities. But in the end, they just simply need to do the right thing: Fire the Secretary, in my opinion, who certainly has not served this President well; admit, whoever put this language in there, that they did it, and tell us who instructed or asked them or requested that they do it; and, finally, just level with the American people instead of pass smokescreen, whitewash legislation, which, by the way, is dangerous in and of itself, as my friend from Ohio alluded. You don't use the Tax Code as a punitive weapon directed at people. It is pretty close to a bill of attainder. It is an extraordinarily bad and blunt instrument, and to do it only to provide cover is, I think, a dangerous thing. I don't think many of my colleagues who voted for this on the other side expect that this will become law. This was a political exercise on this floor put together at the last minute to give people cover when they went home. So let's show Mr. Churchill for once that perhaps he is mistaken; perhaps we can do the right thing without exhausting every other possibility. I ask the administration to step forward and do that, provide the kind of leadership that the President promised that he would give us in the campaign, leadership that is transparent, leadership that is accountable. I yield back to my friend from Ohio.

Mr. COLE

Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 1105, FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act: Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Higher Education (Includes FIPSE) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: East Central University Address of Requesting Entity: 1100 East 14th Street; Ada Oklahoma 74820 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $476,000 for curriculum development at the Economic Development Training and Education Center, including purchase of equipment. Of the $476,000, 15% will be used for curriculum development supplies, 20% will be used for personnel, and 65% for equipment and classroom needs. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Higher Education (Includes FIPSE) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Mid-America Christian University Address of Requesting Entity: 3500 West 119th Street; Oklahoma City, OK 73170 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $285,000 for a teacher training initiative at Mid-America Christian University. Of the $285,000, 9.5% will be used for program coordination, 43% will be used for personnel (faculty), 28% will be used for student support services, 10.5% will be used for curriculum development/accelerated, and 9% for alternative certification development. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Health, Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Norman Regional Health System Address of Requesting Entity: 901 North Porter Street; Norman, OK 73071 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $381,000 for an electronic medical records initiative. Of the $381,000, $181,000 will be used for data set expansion and labor and data mining conversion, $66,000 for physician connection (hardware, software and training), $135,000 hospital interfaces. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Museums and Libraries Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Native American Cultural & Educational Authority Address of Requesting Entity: 900 North Stiles Avenue; Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $285,000 to develop educational and cultural exhibits. Of the $285,000, 20% will be used for wayfinding, identity and graphics, 60% will be used for content development and exhibition design development, and 20% will be used for educational program development. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``Oklahoma Department of Safety'' Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 11415 Oklahoma City, OK USA Description of Request: Provide an addition of $200,000 to replace the state's aging communication system and to provide comprehensive radio and data communications capabilities for all emergency response agency units in Oklahoma. Out of this $200,000, the amount of $150,000 [75% of the total] will be used for the replacement of a 800 MHz base station and associated repeater equipment at a major transmission site in Chickasha, OK which is ten years old and is now frequently failing, creating a safety issue for the public safety personnel that depend on that location. Additionally, the amount of $50,000 [25% of the total] will be used to replace and upgrade a dispatcher console in Muskogee, OK in order that it can handle low band and 800 MHz radio frequencies. The current communications capabilities of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies are inadequate, unsafe, and antiquated. Deployment of this communications system will patch geographical gaps in the state, link all the types of the first responders and support personnel and enable Oklahoma state and local public safety agencies to quickly transmit critical information on potential threats. A statewide 800-megahertz communications system was approved in 1982 but has never been completed due to budget constraints. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``The University of Oklahoma'' Address of Requesting Entity: 100 E. Boyd St, Room 1110, Norman, OK 73019 USA Description of Request: Provide an addition of $350,000 to support research and development of phased array weather radar technology using the National Weather Radar Testbed, which is operated by the National Severe Storms Labs in Norman, OK. Approximately, $100,000 is for dual- polarimetric phased array studies; $150,000 is for adaptive algorithm development; $100,000 is for rapid scanning optimization. The Phased Array Radar Research, with its multi-function applications will allow potential savings to the taxpayer of $2 billion in acquisition costs and an additional $3 billion in operations and maintenance costs over a 30-year period by utilizing one multi-function radar network that can provide the same coverage available today from several weather and aircraft surveillance networks, but with 40% fewer radars. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``City of Norman, Oklahoma'' Address of Requesting Entity: 201 West Gray, PO Box 370, Norman OK USA Description of Request: Provide an addition of $150,000 to replace the state's current networking system for Computer Aided Dispatch, record management, mobile data access, mapping, and other software tools critical to disaster response. All $150,000 would be used to replace the Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD). This replacement project includes the needed software, conversion of data, and training necessary to operate the new system. This system is needed to decrease response times and increase interoperable data sharing between local, state, and federal public safety responders. The City's present system does not provide effective integration of these services and causes critical delays in disaster response. The City of Norman will provide a minimum of a 50/50 cost share and this funding will come directly from the City. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Army Core of Engineers, Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Core of Engineers, Tulsa District Address of Requesting Entity: 1645 S. 101 E. Avenue Tulsa, OK 74128 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $311,000, of which 100% of the appropriated funds will be used to conduct a multi-year study that identifies solutions to water resources problems with the study area, including a systems approach to collaboratively develop pertinent existing, forecasted and strategic information for the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Army Core of Engineers, Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma Water Resources Board Address of Requesting Entity: 3801 N. Classen Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $191,000, of which 100% of the appropriated funds will be used for feasibility level studies to solve the water resource problems within the study area (including systems approach to collaboratively develop a Washita River Watershed management Plan that provides pertinent existing, forecasted, and strategic information) for the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan (OCWP). The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is the non-Federal sponsor. Also collaborating on this effort are the Oklahoma Water Resources Research Institute, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other stakeholders. Output will be a Watershed Management Plan which becomes an integral part of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Army Core of Engineers, O & M Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Core of Engineers, Tulsa District Address of Requesting Entity: 1645 S. 101 E. Avenue Tulsa, OK 74128 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $6,164,000 for Denison Dam which will be executed in the following way: 57% Recreation--Park Rangers, operating the recreation sites, general service items likes cutting grass, trash pick-up; 26% Flood Risk Management for maintaining the dam and outlet structures, for engineers to determine daily flows through the dam for hydropower, and managing the lake levels during high water levels, 17% Environmental Stewardship--for land management of the Federal property around the lake for ecosystem enhancement. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Army Core of Engineers, O & M Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Core of Engineers, Tulsa District Address of Requesting Entity: 1645 S. 101 E. Avenue Tulsa, OK 74128 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $1,014,000 for Waurika Lake to be used in the following way: 55% Recreation--Park Rangers, operating the recreation sites, general service items likes cutting grass, trash pick-up; 35% Flood Risk Management for maintaining the dam and outlet structures, for engineers to determine daily flows through the dam for hydropower, and managing the lake levels during high water levels; 10% Environmental Stewardship for land management of the Federal property around the lake for ecosystem enhancement. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Bureau of Reclamation, Water & Related Resources Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oklahoma Water Resources Board Address of Requesting Entity: 3801 N. Classen Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $65,000 of which 100% will be used to assist the State of Oklahoma in updating the Oklahoma State Comprehensive Water Plan, including water management planning, implementation of conservation measures, acquisition of hydrologic data, modernization of the OWRB database management system and other water plan related projects. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: EPA, State and Tribal Assistance Grants, Infrastructure Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ``Ada Public Works Authority'' Address of Requesting Entity: 231 S. Townsend, Ada, OK, 74820 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $500,000. Consistent with 33 U.S.C. 1301 and project authorization by Congress in P.L. 110- 114, I received an addition of $500,000 to help replace a failing wastewater lift station to meet the requirements of a new Indian Hospital and local business and residential expansion. Specifically, $350,000 will be used to purchase lift station equipment and $150,000 will be used to improve the grit removal process at the treatment plant. This represents 26 percent of total project costs with 74 percent to be provided by local, state and tribal funds. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Priorities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lawton Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce and Industry Address of Requesting Entity: 629 SW C Avenue, Suite A, Lawton OK 73501 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $95,000 of which 100% of the appropriated dollars for the Lawton Downtown Revitalization will be used for historic preservation. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Priorities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Midwest City, Oklahoma Address of Requesting Entity: 100 N. Midwest Blvd., Midwest City, OK 73110 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $450,000 of which 53% will be used to construct masonry welcome signage and landscaping along Interstate 40 through Midwest City, 47% of the appropriation will be used for the replacement of a 17,231 foot deteriorating chain link fence in Midwest City. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiatives Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ada Public Works Authority Address of Requesting Entity: 231 S. Townsend, Ada, OK 74820 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $190,000. Consistent with 33 USC 1301 and project authorization by Congress in P.L. 110-114, I received an addition of $190,000 to construct a water tower to satisfy fire flow requirements and improve business opportunities in this community with a poverty rate 5 percent higher than the national average. Specifically, $190,000 will be used for construction of the water tower. This represents less than 10 percent of total project costs with a cumulative non-federal match of 78 percent. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiatives Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ardmore Development Authority Address of Requesting Entity: 410 West Main, Ardmore, OK, 73401 Description of Request: Provide an addition of $190,000. Consistent with 33 USC 1301 and project authorization by Congress in P.L. 110-114, I received an addition of $190,000 for infrastructure improvements necessary to develop the Ardmore Technology Park and improve business opportunities in this community with a poverty rate 4 percent higher than the national average. Specifically, $190,000 will be used to install an 8-inch water main, 10-inch sewer line, and 7 manholes. This represents less than 10 percent of total Ardmore Technology Park construction costs with a non-federal match in excess of 90 percent. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Department of Energy, EERE Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Oklahoma, College of Engineering Address of Requesting Entity: 202 W. Boyd St., Room 107, Norman OK 73019 Description of Request: I obtained an addition of $713,625 to be used as follows: approximately $170,615 for catalyst synthesis, characterization and activity measurement for conversion of pyrolysis oil intermediates into fungible fuel compounds; $110,000 for studies of emulsion processing for energy-efficient and selective conversion of pyrolysis oil and/or solvolysis oil fractions; $105,000 for pyrolysis/ fractionation of switchgrass and other lignocellulosic materials; $93,000 for catalyst synthesis, characterization and activity measurement for conversion of algae- or vegetable oil-based fatty acid methyl esters to fungible fuels and chemicals; $60,000 for development of quantitative structure-property relationships to enable prediction of fuel properties for biomass-based components and mixtures; $175,000 for combustion and engine studies to characterize new biomass-based fuel components and blends. Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Cole Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Department of Energy, Science Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Oklahoma Address of Requesting Entity: 660 Parrington Oval, Norman OK 73019 Description of Request: I obtained an addition of $951,500 to be used as follows: approximately $131,500 for production of single-walled carbon nanotubes meeting quality and quantity requirements of projects; $490,000 for studies, analysis and characterization testing of properties for priority applications; $105,000 for photodynamic cancer therapies; $120,000 for enzymatic biofuels cells; $105,000 for fundamental studies of applications in polymers.