Norm Dicks

Mr. DICKS

Mr. DICKS. I rise in strong opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. DICKS. The House has spoken on this issue repeatedly. There's been a very substantial majority in favor of retaining Davis-Bacon and opposing the gentleman's amendment. Some Members continue to try to repeal Davis-Bacon, despite the House record of supporting the protection on labor standards. I have been a longtime supporter of Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements. It helps ensure that local projects provide local jobs with affordable middle class wages. The law protects the government from contractors trying to win Federal contracts by bidding too low to attract competent workers. And we have seen time and time again where you have prevailing wages. The State of Washington has its own prevailing wage standard in our State; and we find that on these projects, you get better work and the work is done at a higher quality. So, again, I oppose this amendment. And as I said, we have had several votes on this this year, and every time it's been defeated. I hope that we can again defeat the King amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DICKS

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker. Today I am proud to be introducing the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic River Act of 2012, which will provide critical protection of key forested areas and rivers in the State of Washington. This bill, a result of more than two years of work by my staff and the staff of Washington Senator Patty Murray, is a consensus effort that adds critical protection for sources of clean drinking water and preserves critical salmon and steelhead habitat. It creates more than 126,000 acres of new wilderness on the Olympic National Forest and designates 19 new Wild and Scenic Rivers and their tributaries in the National Forest, in Olympic National Park and on Washington Department of Natural Resources land. I am particularly proud that the final version of this bill that is being introduced today has evolved through a long consultative process that included extensive local community input from Tribes, conservation groups, timber communities, business leaders, shellfish growers, farmers, local elected officials, hunters, anglers, mountain bikers, hikers, federal and state land managers and the general public. The result, in my judgment, is a common sense solution that offers permanent protection to some of the most spectacular of the Olympic Peninsula's public lands--without having a significant impact on timber jobs or recreational access. In our great state of Washington, Mr. Speaker, we cherish the ability of our citizens to have access to the natural beauty of our region, especially areas that remain pristine and undisturbed. Our challenge as leaders of a growing population has been to assure that the most sensitive of these areas are protected from development so that future generations--our kids and their kids--have the same ability that we have had to see the magnificent vistas and enjoy the benefits of a clean environment. The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic River Act of 2012 represents an important incremental step in assuring the protection of additional roadless areas in Washington, and I will be working with my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee to urge timely consideration of this legislation.

Mr. DICKS

Mr. DICKS. If we have another Member, could we go out of order by unanimous consent? Is that a problem?

Mr. DICKS. First of all, I would like to pass along my appreciation to Chairman Crenshaw and to Ranking Member Honda for their willingness to work together in a very bipartisan manner. I also would like to commend the staffs of the majority and minority for their efforts in bringing this bill where we are today. This bill's allocation is just slightly below last year's and is well within the range of what would have been expected had the majority stuck to the discretionary number agreed to in the Budget Control Act. But for the most part, this bill has been protected from Ryan budget austerity. Many programs and agencies important to the operation of Congress have been spared from harmful cuts. Support agencies, such as the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the Government Accountability Office are all adequately funded, which will allow them to continue operating without further reductions in staff or services. However, it is important to note that not every account has been spared. As we all know, the Architect of the Capitol is in the middle of an extensive restoration effort. This bill's allocation does not provide the funds needed to begin the second phase of that effort but, rather, cuts the Architect of the Capitol significantly below last year's funding level. As I'd mentioned during the committee markup, I'd rather the dome remain a monument to our Nation's greatness than become a symbol for shortsighted austerity.

Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DICKS. Apparently, we would have to go back in the House and ask unanimous consent if we wanted to go out of order on this. Maybe it's just better to wait for the gentleman from Arizona to get here. Since we're here, what is the plan for phase two of the Capitol, of the dome restoration? How does the chairman see this?

Mr. DICKS. I thought it was.

Mr. DICKS. There is no emergency requirement here? I mean, this work is work that can be done over a staged period of time, and there is no real serious problem that could have an adverse effect on the Capitol, is there?

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. DICKS. I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren).

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Gosar

Mr. DICKS. I thank the gentleman. Just so we have a historical perspective of what we're talking about here today, the United States Botanic Garden is rooted in the Nation's heritage. During the late 18th century, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison shared the dream of a national Botanic Garden and were instrumental in establishing one on The National Mall in 1820. It just seems to me that even though we're in difficult fiscal times--and I could make an argument that we should be spending money on projects to put people to work, including the dome. But this has a historic significance to our country--George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. To me, we can find $1.23 million to do the repair work that is necessary to keep this in good condition for the American people. This is a priority. I hope that we will all resoundingly defeat the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. DICKS

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. DICKS. I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Colorado.

Mr. DICKS. The only thing I would say to my friend is, if you know where all these programs are, you ought to cut the programs and not do an across-the-board cut. That is the easy way out.

Mr. DICKS. I yield to my good friend from Colorado. He will tell us more about the alternate reality, I think.

Mr. DICKS. Reclaiming my time, do you think they deserve a trial? Do these people deserve a trial.

Mr. DICKS. I mean, there has to be some kind of legal process.

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

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I yield to my good friend from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren).

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the amendment.

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, we do not have an accurate copy of the amendment, and we feel like we're at a disadvantage. This thing has been rewritten, and we don't have the final draft.

Mr. DICKS. Thank you.