Jason Chaffetz

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. On April 19, 234 years ago, the British commander in Boston sent a detachment of troops to nearby Lexington and Concord to impose what I am sure he thought was a perfectly reasonable gun control measure. After all, there wasn't any reason to allow people to possess guns in the park-like green commons of those pleasant little towns. Unfortunately for General Howe, the patriots disagreed. Fortunately for us, the men who stood their ground at Lexington, at Concord, and later at Trenton, at Saratoga and at Yorktown are the men who wrote our Constitution. And when they met in Philadelphia a decade later to form a more perfect Union, they still believed that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. They therefore set out to devise a government with only limited, enumerated powers so that they and their descendants would, they hoped, be citizens of a free Republic, not submissive subjects of an ever-expanding government. Our Constitution was written and ratified by the very Minutemen and patriots who fought for freedom in New England, the Middle Atlantic States and the South. That is why we have the Bill of Rights. They knew that private property rights, free exercise of religion, the individual right to keep and bear arms, and State's rights will always have opponents. That's why they are in the Constitution. So it is appropriate that we take time to honor the Minutemen who left us a legacy of freedom on this, the 50th anniversary of the Minute Man National Historical Park. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to support H.R. 2522, legislation introduced by my Natural Resources Committee colleague, Elton Gallegly, and cosponsored by Congresswoman Lois Capps. This legislation extends limited Federal participation in the Calleguas Municipal Water District Water Recycling Project. This project is already underway to help over 600,000 water consumers with their water supply needs by recycling wastewater. The residents of the region are entirely dependent on imported water, and this bill will help alleviate that dependence by extending the Federal financial cap on the project. Because he's flying back to Washington, DC, from his California district, Congressman Gallegly is unable to be here for debate on this bill; therefore, his statement will be included in the Record. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise to support legislation offered by our colleague, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden). This bill authorizes limited Federal participation in a water recycling project for the city of Hermiston, Oregon. The goal of the bill is to help the city recycle wastewater, to provide extra water for endangered salmon, and deliver water for irrigated crops. It also helps the city meet unfunded Federal mandates. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate the kind words and comments from my colleague Ms. Bordallo, and I thank my Democratic colleagues for supporting this bill to help the Magna Water District meet unfunded Federal mandates. My legislation authorizes limited Federal assistance to help a community remove arsenic and perchlorate while producing more high- quality drinking water. We have very limited water supplies in the West, and we need every tool in the water toolbox to help meet our water supply needs. This and similar legislation before us today will help stretch our supplies to meet the growing needs of our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2802 has been adequately explained by the majority, and we support the legislation. We commend the work of Mr. Delahunt and the gentleman that he is. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We believe that the bill has been adequately explained and studied, and we commend the efforts of Mr. Rahall in his working with the Members on both sides of the aisle. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1080 will give the United States more tools to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported (or IUU) fishing. This pirate fishing has had a negative impact on important fisheries and has hurt those fishermen and fishing nations that play by the rules. The only concern I have with this legislation is that we need to make sure our government, in setting the example to the world for transparency, does not sacrifice proprietary information from our domestic industries that would erode our competitiveness in the world's seafood market. This legislation walks that fine line, but we need to keep an eye on those who will implement this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, having no other speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. CHAFFETZ. I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 860 reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. That act provided grants for locally based actions to address locally identified threats to coral reefs. While H.R. 860, as introduced, was not a bill that Ranking Member Hastings could support, I appreciate the efforts by subcommittee Chair Ms. Bordallo to address the concerns on our side of the aisle and to make this a much better piece of legislation than it was before. This legislation has a long way to go and faces hurdles in the Senate. I hope that we will be able to continue to work cooperatively across the aisle to make sure this legislation does not create new regulatory burdens on those activities that only indirectly affect coral reefs and does not create a new industry for litigation based on coral reef conservation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I wish to make the following disclosure in accordance with the Republican Earmark Transparency Standards requiring Members to place a statement in the Congressional Record prior to floor vote on a bill that includes earmarks they have requested. Specifically, H.R. 2265, the Magna Water District Water Reuse and Groundwater Recharge Act of 2009, which I introduced on May 6, 2009, contains an earmark as defined under House Rule XXI, clause 9. The earmark in H.R. 2265 authorizes appropriations for projects under Title XVI of Public Law 102-575, the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act. The project authorized in H.R. 2265 is an advanced water treatment facility and reuse water system in the township of Magna, Utah, located in the northwest quadrant of Salt Lake County. Magna relies on drinking water from two well fields, one of which has been impacted by the contaminant perchlorate, a byproduct of decades of manufacturing of rocket motors and explosives by the defense and aerospace industries. Additionally, the EPA changed the standard for arsenic in drinking water, an unfunded mandate for which water suppliers across the Nation must comply. Because of this contamination and the unfunded federal mandate, the Magna Water District is attempting to restore the Barton Well Field, a valuable water resource. Therefore, reclamation of this drinking water source necessitates federal assistance. This legislation would authorize $12 million to allow for the planning, design, and construction of the Magna Water District (District) water reuse and groundwater recharge project. The District constructed an electrodialysis reversal (EDR) drinking water treatment plant to remove harmful arsenic and perchlorate from the Barton Well Field. To address the water shortage issues facing the citizens of northwest Salt Lake County, the District developed a state-of-the-art, first of its type in the world water reuse and recharge facility, known as BIOBROx, that treats the waste stream from the EDR plant to produce high quality effluent that can be used for outdoor irrigation. In doing so, the District will be saving over 580 million gallons/year of drinkable water that was formerly being used for irrigation purposes. The project also includes additional pumping facilities, distribution system upgrades, and storage facilities required to deliver reuse water to the District's customers. The Magna Water District has invested $36 million in the project and is seeking the $12 million federal appropriation to complete construction of the project. I certify that this project does not have any foreseeable effect on any of my financial interests, nor the interests of any member of my family. Consistent with the Republican Conference's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge, this request (1) is not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. I want to thank Chairman Towns and I want to thank Ranking Member Issa for the bipartisan support and effort to move this bill forward. It's an important piece of legislation. H.R. 22 is needed to avoid a taxpayer-funded bailout to the United States Postal Service. The United States Postal Service is the only Federal entity required to prefund its pension and retiree health plans. H.R. 22 would enable the United States Postal Service to use its existing revenues that have been funded over the years through its own operations to pay for retiree health benefits as opposed to using this year's operating revenues. While the United States Postal Service needs to continue to reduce costs, one of the impressive things that has happened is that they have reduced their workforce by 22 percent since 1999, a 22 percent reduction in their workforce since 1999, compared to a 13 percent increase in the Federal workforce in other parts of the government. The main driver of the United States Postal Service debt has been the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act's requirement to prefund 80 percent of its future retiree health benefit costs, a 75-year liability, in just 10 years. No other business or government entity in the United States does that. Had it not been for this prefunding, the United States Postal Service would actually have shown a profit, and that's why I think you see broad bipartisan support with 339 cosponsors on this bill in support of H.R. 22. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this so that we can avoid a taxpayer bailout that would be needed. Finally, let me just mention the good men and women who work so hard, so diligently, that care so much. My hat's off to them for the good work that they do for this country and the United States Postal Service.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, volunteering in America 2009 found that a total of 61.8 million Americans volunteered through an organization in 2008. For the fourth year in a row, Utah was the top volunteer state with a volunteer rate of 43.5%. With a whopping 62.9% volunteer rate, Provo, Utah again led the nation in volunteering rates from mid-sized cities. Every day millions of Americans are helping to solve some of our toughest challenges. Instead of turning inward, Americans are responding to tough times by reaching out to help others in need. Volunteering is a great way to address pressing community needs and the people of Provo, Utah are demonstrating that on a daily basis. During this prolonged economic recession, the need of volunteers is growing. I am proud of the many Provo city residents who are pitching in to help.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, the United States has the best health care in the world, but if you don't have insurance, you have that sinking pit in your stomach that is scary. It is very scary. But I think I feel like most Americans. I want insurance that I can own. If I lose my job or move to another job or my job leaves me, I want to be able to make sure that I have something that is portable. I am willing to pay my fair share. I want to be able to be covered for catastrophic events. But I also want to make sure that others pay their fair share. I want to find insurance, even if I have a preexisting condition, and I want the freedom to choose the insurance that best fits our family's needs. But, most of all, I don't want a Washington, DC, politician making decisions that should be made between my wife and our doctor. When our sons or daughters need help, I don't want somebody in Washington, DC, to deny it. If my mother or father needs help, I don't want to wait for a government bureaucrat to decide whether or not they are going to be cared for. In other words, we must stop the government takeover of health care. We need reform, but we don't need more government.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

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

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. With all due respect to my colleague, I'm sure that the people of Monroe County are wonderful, beautiful people, and I wish them nothing but the best. But to suggest that $250,000 doesn't matter is fundamentally what is absolutely totally wrong with this institution. We are $12 trillion in debt. We are spending $600 million a day in interest, and the people of Utah and the people of Florida and the people of Michigan should not pay to try to build up another Monroe County Farmers' Market. I opposed a parking lot, a $750,000 appropriation, for the city of Provo in my district because I do not believe it's the fundamental and proper role of government to try to transfer a group of shoppers from one mall to another mall. I opposed in Utah a million-dollar expenditure for the Shakespeare Festival because they wanted a new lighting system. This is what is wrong with America. We have to say no to something. If we can't say no to a farmers market, what in the world are we going to say no to? Time after time after time the gentleman from Arizona has identified projects that fundamentally have absolutely no, no Federal nexus. When is this body going to stand up and take a stand and say, It's not our money; it's the people's money? And we should not be spending Federal taxpayer dollars on another farmers market if it's in my district, if it's in Kentucky, no matter where it is.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, given this was Speaker Pelosi's bill, please note that we did take a little harder, closer look. And I'm happy to report that this is an outstanding American. I appreciate the Speaker's bringing this bill that is a worthy designation. He is a great American and somebody I hope our communities across this country can look up to. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 534, supporting the goals and ideals of National Children and Families Day. Families have long played a critical role in the development of America's youth and well being of our society as a whole. With this resolution, we celebrate those who create a positive family atmosphere and for the many families who commit to the challenging task of raising healthy, productive young men and women. Over the years, we have learned that the families who provide ethical and moral guidance are the linchpins of our Nation. We depend on our families to encourage education, arouse curiosity, and cultivate safe, supportive environments that contribute to self-confidence. At this time in history, our youth are increasingly exposed to undesirable influences and because of that it becomes all the more important for family units to pull together as a team, listen to one another, and to work through life's issues. By spending time engaging in family activities such as volunteering for community service projects, children can learn that service to others benefits all those who participate, either those who need assistance or those who volunteer to serve them. Creating these strong family environments will ultimately result in a new generation of well- rounded leaders for our country. By celebrating National Children and Families Day on the fourth Saturday in June, the country recognizes the importance of families as well as our country's greatest natural resource, the children of our Nation. I find it interesting that today, July 21, was my mother's birthday. To be able to ask to speak on this is special to me. She passed away in 1995. I miss her dearly. I would encourage my colleagues to stand up and support this legislation. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers at the moment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I also urge the Members to support the passage of H. Res. 534, and yield back the balance of my time.