Charles Dent

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to point out that the legislation we are considering today is very different from the legislation that the committee considered a couple years ago. There are civil lawsuit provisions, civil suit provisions in here that are very, very different in this legislation than the bill we considered a couple of years ago. The IST provisions have not been changed, but there are other differences in the legislation as well. This is not comparing apples to apples. These are very different bills, and there are a lot of reasons to oppose this bill. I just wanted to correct the record about my position on this bill and the previous bill.

Mr. DENT. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DENT. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the response of Sue Armstrong, director of the office responsible for implementing these requirements, when questioned on this topic. When I asked exactly what IST was, she demurred, stating, ``There is enough debate in industry and academia that I can't take a position on that very topic.'' Yet this bill not only asks her to do so but requires her, under threat of lawsuit, and saddles hundreds of facilities with the costs of the decision. So, in closing, I just wanted to make this point once and for all that, you know, with unemployment rates approaching 10 percent, this legislation will imperil many jobs of people who make things, who make chemicals. I think perhaps the intent of some people proposing this legislation is simply that they would rather not have these chemicals be made in this country, that they be made elsewhere. This legislation will have the effect of making it more difficult to produce chemicals that we need in this country. They will be produced elsewhere. I urge the rejection of this rule. We all support greater chemical plant security, but this is not the way to do it, and this will certainly cost jobs throughout America at this time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, you are going to hear a lot of talk here today about chemical plant security, but let's be very clear. All of us, I think, in this Chamber understand the need for greater chemical plant security. As Mr. Lungren so eloquently stated, we have regulations in place, the so-called CFATS regulations, that are being implemented, and we should give them time to be implemented. I will get into that in more specificity in a few moments. But I do rise to oppose the rule here today. Mr. Austria of Ohio offered an amendment that was rejected by the Rules Committee that would have exempted small businesses from the inherently safer technologies provisions contained in the legislation that we are discussing today. I would like to get into that IST in just a moment. Again, we all support the need for greater chemical plant security. We should also note, too, that by adding drinking water and wastewater facilities, we will double the number of facilities that will need to be reviewed under the existing regulatory scheme. Actually, 4,000 of the 6,000 security vulnerability assessments have not yet been reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security, currently. Adding IST will complicate this thing to a much greater extent. People who know a great deal about IST--``inherently safer technologies'' is the term--have opposed mandating it into this law. Congress is acting as chief engineer. We ought not to be doing that. But this legislation is not simply about chemical facilities. It is about facilities with chemicals. And what kind of facilities have chemicals? Well, what about hospitals, colleges, and universities? We have 3,630 facilities that employ 50 or fewer people who are going to be impacted by this. The point being is hospitals and colleges and universities are going to be subject to these inherently safer technology provisions contained in the legislation. Now, specifically with respect to IST, Mr. Lungren just referred to the gentleman Scott Berger who came before our committee previously and vehemently argued against mandating inherently safer technologies in this legislation. But I do want to focus my comments on section 2111 of the chemical security title, addressing the concept of IST that was shoehorned into this security-focused bill. There are similar provisions in the drinking water and wastewater titles, but this bill attempts to define IST, which is a catchy phrase. But I want to say that the concept of IST is not a new one. It's been around for decades as part of the environmental movement. As the Committee on Homeland Security prepared to tackle this bill back in June, I met with a number of scientists and subject matter experts. They consider it a conceptual framework, as Mr. Lungren said, that involves four basic elements: first, minimizing the use of hazardous substance; two, replacing a substance with a less hazardous one; three, using a less hazardous process; and four, simplifying the design of a process. This is not a technology. It is a concept. It is a framework. It's an engineering process that may or may not lead to a technology. The engineers are very concerned about us mandating this, and here we are, Congress, filled with a lot of lawyers. I'm not a lawyer, but a lot of lawyers are telling them how to build a chemical plant. I represent a district where I have about 4,000 people who make a living building chemical plants, not just in this country but all over the world. They understand this. I'll give you an example. They built hydrogen plants down by refineries on the gulf coast because you need the hydrogen to help purify or clean the air as it relates to sulfur emissions. It's a requirement. So you build a hydrogen plant down by the refinery. Substituting hydrogen for something else won't work. These plants were placed where they were for a specific reason, and the chemicals they are producing there are being produced for a specific reason. Let not Congress act like chief engineer for the government. We are about to ask the Department of Homeland Security to institute a means by which to police our chemical facilities on their implementation of a conceptual framework. Think about the implication of this for a second. DHS will be required, under threat of lawsuit by any person, any person that the citizen suit provisions, to fine companies $25,000 a day for noncompliance with a bureaucrat's idea of whether a particular facility has sufficiently implemented a concept. Think about that. During the committee's only hearing on this legislation in June, I inquired with Deputy Under Secretary Reitinger about how many IST specialists they currently have at the department. His answer was, ``I think the answer is none.'' Similarly, when I asked Secretary Napolitano about the number of IST experts currently employed at the Department during our budget hearing earlier this year, she, too, indicated zero.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I think you just heard some very powerful arguments in opposition to this legislation. This issue is all about jobs. I want to say one thing. It is a darn good thing that the House of Representatives just a couple of hours ago passed an extension of unemployment benefits. Because of this legislation, people are going to need them. That said, people around this country are very scared of Washington right now. They are scared of the agenda, and they are scared of the national energy tax called cap-and-trade. They are afraid of the card check bill and the health care bill that will cost more than a trillion dollars. So is it any wonder that unemployment rates are going the way they are going. But one thing about these IST assessments, and I feel we have to talk about this from a jobs standpoint, but contesting these IST assessments will be costly, too costly for most small businesses to afford. Experts estimate that a simple, one ingredient substitution would take two persons 2 weeks to complete and cost between $10,000 and $40,000, and that is on the low end. A pharmaceutical pilot plant with about 12 products would take three to six persons up to 10 weeks to complete an assessment at a cost of $100,000 to $500,000. Larger facilities with particularly hazardous chemicals, already regulated by OSHA, would require 8 to 10 people 6 months or more to complete at a cost of over a million dollars for the assessment. Fifty- nine percent of the facilities regulated under the current CFATS regulations that would be required to conduct these costly assessments employ 50 or fewer people. Mandating IST will be devastating to small businesses across America. According to a California fertilizer manufacturer, eliminating the use of anhydrous ammonia and substituting it with urea can cost a 1,000 acre farm up to $15,000 per application. This would be a recurring cost passed on to the consumer. On Friday, the Department of Labor is expected to revise the unemployment figures. Does anyone in this Chamber expect those numbers to go down? We hope they do, but I am afraid we know what the answer may be.

Mr. DENT. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, first, there has been considerable debate here today whether farmers and small agricultural retailers currently exempt from existing regulations will be exempt from the new regulations required by this legislation. The short answer is: They will not. Section 2120 of this bill requires the Secretary to issue new regulations to replace the existing CFATS regulations. Nowhere in this bill does the Secretary have any authority to exempt certain individuals or classes from those regulations. Nowhere. If the majority disagrees and would care to point to a particular provision that authorizes the Secretary to grant exemptions from the provisions, including the costly IST assessment and implementation provisions, I would ask that they point to that provision. At this time, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus). (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, everyone in America understands the need for health care reform, and so do I. Unfortunately, the new $1.2 trillion, 2,000- page bill, H.R. 3962, still cuts Medicare by one-half trillion dollars to our seniors and creates a new entitlement program. The bill provides disincentives to States and punishes them if they impose caps on noneconomic damages or limits contingency fees to trial lawyers in medical liability cases. This takes us backwards, not forwards. There is a job-crushing employer mandate and tax increases on small businesses in the form of surtaxes on income. This is a job killer, make no mistake. There is a medical device tax that punishes innovation and imperils manufacturing jobs at companies like B. Braun and Olympus in my congressional district. In fact, many of them refer to this tax as the death tax. When is enough enough?

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today as an original cosponsor and strong supporter of House Resolution 754, and I would like to thank Congressman Tim Holden of Schuykill County for introducing this resolution. The United States National Guard is the oldest component of our Armed Forces, dating back to pre-Revolutionary War times. Over the past 8 years, we have witnessed thousands of Guard members answer the call as they are asked to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. Approximately 4,000 members of the Pennsylvania Guard were deployed to Iraq last fall, the largest deployment of the Pennsylvania National Guard since the Korean war. Prior to the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team's deployment to Iraq, I, along with some of my colleagues, Tim Holden, Bill Shuster and Jim Gerlach, visited the Pennsylvania Stryker Brigade in Mississippi and Louisiana at Camp Shelby and Fort Polk as they prepared for their mobilization overseas. In June 2009, I traveled to Iraq to meet with the Pennsylvania National Guard 56th Stryker Brigade and other Pennsylvania troops, accompanied by many Members who are here in the Chamber today, including Representative Dahlkemper. During my visit to Iraq, I saw a significant improvement in the security conditions on the ground. And the fact that we were able to safely drive through the bustling streets of Baghdad was an encouraging and welcome development. I know, without a doubt, it is the sacrifice, perseverance and bravery of these young men and women that enabled such progress. I am pleased that just 1 year later, the 56th Stryker Brigade is returning home. As of late September, most of the brigade has returned home. I am honored to be standing here today to pay tribute to these heroes. Our military families demonstrate tremendous bravery as they watch their loved ones go overseas to fight in harm's way for the freedoms we experience every day in this great Nation. We say ``thank you'' to the entire Pennsylvania National Guard for protecting the families and communities of our great Commonwealth and standing at the ready to defend our homeland. I urge Members to support House Resolution 754.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding a project that is listed in the Conference Report of H.R. 3183, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010: Bill Number: Conference Report--H.R. 3183, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Department of Energy, EERE, Title: Advance Power Cube for Wind Power and Grid Regulation Services, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: East Penn Manufacturing, Address of Requesting Entity: Deka Road, Lyon Station, PA 19536, Description of Request: This funding will support design, testing, fabrication and implementation of new advanced battery energy storage technology that will be used to balance the fluctuating generation of electricity in wind systems and improve the efficiency of the current electricity grid. This technology will produce a more affordable, cleaner, recyclable and more efficient energy storage option than what is currently available for wind power farms and grid regulation services.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. I would like to thank those supporting this legislation today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution, which I introduced with my colleague from Pennsylvania, Tim Holden. This fall, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, located in beautiful Berks County, Pennsylvania, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Located at the boundary of three counties--Berks, Schuylkill and Lehigh--and as the world's first refuge for birds of prey, Hawk Mountain has an extremely rich history in eastern Pennsylvania and has become one of the preeminent wildlife sanctuaries in the United States. In 1934, noted wildlife conservationist Rosalie Edge was drawn to Hawk Mountain after learning large numbers of hawks were being killed as they migrated along the Appalachian Mountains' Kittatinny Ridge. After this initial visit, Edge leased 1,400 acres of the ridge for a mere $500 and opened it to the public as a place for local residents to view birds of prey in their natural habitat. Later, the property was deeded to the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, which oversaw the preservation of the land and protection of its wildlife. Since its modest beginnings in the 1930s, Hawk Mountain has remained a year-round wildlife sanctuary that introduces students and visitors to the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains and the many birds of prey that call the range home. Today, 16 full-time employees and a volunteer workforce of over 200 dedicated members help educate thousands of visitors each year about the value of preserving the native ecology of eastern Pennsylvania. With the goal of providing a unique and engaging educational experience for its visitors, Hawk Mountain offers weekend programs for local residents, guided programs for students and groups, and fully accredited college-level courses in cooperation with Cedar Crest College located in my congressional district. In addition to educating the public, the employees and volunteers at Hawk Mountain have contributed greatly to the development of effective conservation practices that help preserve vital ecosystems throughout the world. The sanctuary staff works with world-class raptor scientists, conservationists, graduate students, and international interns to collect and analyze important information as well as formulate and test new conservation strategies. The natural beauty and value of Hawk Mountain and the achievements of the sanctuary's devoted staff have not gone unnoticed over the years. In 1965, Hawk Mountain was designated a Registered National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of Interior, ranking it as one of the best examples of biological and geological features in America. Over 20 years later, the sanctuary received the prestigious Chevron Conservation Award, North America's oldest private conservation honor, which recognizes significant contributions to the preservation of natural resources in the United States. Mr. Speaker, today's consideration of the resolution couldn't come at a more appropriate time. During the autumn months, visitors to Hawk Mountain have the unique opportunity to view numerous raptors of various species participate in their yearly migration through Pennsylvania. Currently, the sanctuary is in the midst of its annual Hawk Watch, which runs from August 15 to December 15. In this period, the sanctuary records the number of raptors migrating past its scenic north lookout. Yesterday, visitors spotted over 600 hawks of varying species, 26 ospreys, four bald eagles, and a single falcon in the skies over Berks County. Clearly, Hawk Mountain provides a remarkable chance for bird enthusiasts and novices alike to view the migration of critical and sometimes rare bird species. Mr. Speaker, I commend Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for its contributions to the preservation of wildlife, especially birds of prey, as well as the native ecology of the Appalachian Mountains and eastern Pennsylvania. I also applaud the sanctuary for its dedication to educating the American public and international community about wildlife conservation. In fact, a celebration of Hawk Mountain's 75th anniversary just occurred a week ago on Saturday, September 12. It was a joyous occasion for all who attended. I know I enjoyed it thoroughly, as did many hundreds of others who came to celebrate time at Hawk Mountain. Finally, I would encourage my colleagues to join me in officially congratulating and saluting Hawk Mountain on its 75th anniversary and wish the sanctuary and its staff many, many more years of achievement. And I wish the visitors all happy and engaging times there.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that are listed in H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010: Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: DPA, Title: Navy Production Capacity Improvement Project, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lehigh Heavy Forge Corporation, Address of Requesting Entity: 275 Emery Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015, Description of Request: The Navy Production Capacity Improvement Project will expand, modernize, and maintain the production capabilities of Lehigh Heavy Forge, which is needed to support production of Navy Ship shafts and Navy Nuclear Reactor components. Lehigh Heavy Forge is the only domestic facility with the capability to produce the large, complex forgings required for the nuclear power plants and propulsion shafts of the U.S. Navy Submarine and Aircraft Carrier Programs. Specifically, this project will provide for the engineering and installation of an automated Ultrasonic test system to increase production capability and improve the inspection process; the installation of a new computer programming and drafting system to replace an old and unreliable system; the engineering and rebuilding of three heating furnaces in the Forge and Treatment Department; and the engineering and upgrading of facilities for shipping and inspection operations. Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: O&M, Army, Title: Army Force Generation Synchronization Tool, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ProModel Corporation, Address of Requesting Entity: 7540 Windsor Drive, Suite 300, Allentown, PA 18195, Description of Request: In 2006 ProModel was tasked by FORSCOM to provide a technology solution based on its COTS software platform. The solution enables the Army to capture the Army Force Generation Model (ARFORGEN) process in software, providing decision makers the ability to rapidly create Courses of Action and predict the impact of their decisions on key metrics such as Dwell and Boots on Ground. The ability through automation to run ``what if's'' to assess risk on readiness is recognized as a key priority for the Army and Joint Forces. The project will accelerate the deployment and enhance the current capabilities of the ProModel ARFORGEN Synchronization Tool (AST). The AST has provided a unique capability to quickly visualize the impact of today's sourcing decisions on the Army's capability to sustain operations in the future and to synchronize associated resources and training. Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: RDT&E, Army, Title: Ballistic Armor Research, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Address of Requesting Entity: 7201 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18195, Description of Request: This project partners industry with a strategic university to conduct research under the leadership of the U.S. Army Research Lab (ARL) in Aberdeen, MD to develop polymers and materials that will provide the basis for the next generation of armor to protect personnel, equipment, and critical infrastructure. While current approaches in vehicle armor technology continue to use all-metal construction or in some cases ceramic-steel and polymer-ceramic-steel designs, polymer-based armor, based on multilayer composite technology comprising ceramics, metals, and polymers, will allow for better protection, at a lighter weight and lower cost. This research will provide a fundamental understanding of how materials undergo physical and chemical changes during the blast/impact which will lead to polymer-based armor solutions for programs like MCWL Lightweight Body Armor. The body armor advances can be replicated in next-generation vehicle armor systems for new programs such as Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and the MRAP-ATV armored vehicle program needed for use in Afghanistan. Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: RDT&E, Army, Title: Chronic Tinnitus Treatment Program, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Neuromonics, Inc., Address of Requesting Entity: 2810 Emrick Boulevard, Bethlehem, PA 18020, Description of Request: The Army reports that tinnitus is among the top medical complaints of soldiers returning from OIF/OEF and often occurs with Traumatic Brain Injury/mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI/mTBI). Until recently, no effective treatment program has existed to help individuals suffering with the effects of tinnitus. The Chronic Tinnitus Treatment Program is designed to interact, interrupt, and desensitize tinnitus disturbance for long-term benefit, especially in those suffering with chronic and severe tinnitus. The treatment program shows promise by reducing symptoms quickly, in particular, providing relief from the disturbing effects of the condition; treating the neurological causes associated with tinnitus; providing long term relief and improvements in quality of life; and being convenient and noninvasive. This funding will expand a clinical trial to study the effectiveness of the program with specific subgroups of service-members (PTSD and/or TBI) and veterans with chronic and severe tinnitus. Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: RDT&E, Army, Title: Networked Reliability and Safety Early Evaluation System, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Bosch Rexroth Corporation, Address of Requesting Entity: 2315 City Line Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017, Description of Request: Changing requirements for combat and tactical vehicles are accelerating the urgent need to quickly assess and identify new technology for reliability, durability, and safety shortcomings in combat environments. The Networked Reliability and Safety Early Evaluation System (NRSEES) will include a Dynamic High Frequency Component Reliability System and a High Payload Reliability System (HPRS). Specifically, funding for this project is to design, build, test, train and install the HPRS. This system will be a large simulator capable of accurately assessing vehicle system structural reliability for platforms up to 35 tons, which will include current MRAPs, MATV, JLTV, FCS and all legacy Tactical Wheeled Vehicles, Trailers and Light Armored Vehicles. Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: RDT&E, Army, Title: Silent Watch, IB NPS 1160 Lithium- Ion Advanced Battery, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: International Battery, Inc., Address of Requesting Entity: 6845 Snowdrift Road, Allentown, PA 18106, Description of Request: The project will demonstrate the improved performance capability of the Lithium-Ion battery, which will provide increased power and energy density, and life cycle sustainability over the previous (IB model IB-1100) battery type. Through this program, it is anticipated that the operational support cost drivers will be reduced. This battery will consist of a Silent Watch, 28V (seven series connected 160Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate cells), third generation IB BMS, and a self-contained Thermal Management System. Importantly, the battery provides no hazardous material such as lead or acid, which eliminates major disposal charges. Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: RDT&E, Navy, Title: Landing Craft Composite Lift Fan, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Curtiss Wright Engineered Pump Division (EPD), Address of Requesting Entity: 222 Cameron Drive, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, Description of Request: The presence of salt water, extreme temperatures, and the abrasive effects of airborne sand reduce the effective life of LCAC Amphibious Assault Vessels' metal fans. The U.S. Navy spends approximately $1.4 million a year repairing and replacing the lift fan blades on the LCAC Landing Craft. This project will complete the development of composite material lift fans for Navy landing craft, enabling the replacement of metallic blades which require high maintenance and frequent replacement, resulting in higher life cycle costs and decreased operational reliability. Funding will support the installation and testing of a composite lift fan prototype on a Navy landing craft and any final design modifications that are required. This project will provide a domestic manufacturer of a composite lift fan that will reduce maintenance and life cycle costs, and increase operational reliability for the current and next generation landing craft fleet. Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: RDT&E, Air Force, Title: Hybrid Nanoparticle-based Coolant Technology Development and Manufacturing, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Dynalene, Inc., Address of Requesting Entity: 5250 West Coplay Road, Whitehall, PA 18052, Description of Request: DOD is actively supporting thermal management activities to ensure that Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) function properly when they are introduced into the military. The cooling system in these applications requires not only a highly efficient heat transfer device, but also a coolant that has significantly better thermo-physical properties than existing fluids. There is no coolant fluid currently available that possesses all of the desirable properties required for high heat flux applications such as DEWs. Dynalene has developed an advanced coolant composition that addresses the shortcomings of existing coolants by combining a base composition (which can be a mixture of water and an antifreeze compound) with specially designed hybrid nanoparticles. This project will complete the optimization of the coolant and demonstrate its applicability in a real DEW system. Funding will be used to fabricate a reactor and separator, develop a quality control system for the hybrid nanoparticles and the coolant, establish scale-up criteria to go to the next level of manufacturing, and generate samples for testing in DEW systems as well as various civilian applications. Bill Number: H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: RDT&E, Defense-Wide, Title: High Speed Optical Interconnects for Next Generation Supercomputing, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lightwire, Inc., Address of Requesting Entity: 7540 Windsor Drive, Suite 412, Allentown, PA 18195, Description of Request: The Army and other services have two overarching future needs in the area of computing devices--they need to be faster and more capable, but at the same time smaller (and use less energy). These needs run the entire spectrum from the largest defense computing assets (supercomputers) to the very smallest (PDAs that can be ``worn'' by a soldier). The requirements for high performance computer simulations by classified Defense projects are massive. Supercomputers can model ballistics, armor performance under attack, radar signatures of new stealth technologies, and nuclear weapons performance, saving manpower and funding that would be required to truly test such phenomena. In order to target the next generation of supercomputers, Lightwire will engage in a joint research effort with DARPA to explore uses of its optical printed circuit board technology supporting both C4ISR antenna remoting and supercomputing needs. Funding will be used to accelerate the development of high speed optical interconnects needed to enable the next generation of DOD supercomputing needs.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, the issue this week is health care and jobs, jobs, jobs. You know, a friend of mine who employs many people in my district, and he also provides very good health benefits, said to me recently that the policy proposals coming out of Washington are impeding job creation and scaring people. He's right. And there are five issues that are driving his concern: First, a stimulus bill that spends too much, borrows too much and delivers too few jobs; two, a budget that doubles the national debt in 5 years and triples it in 10 years; three, a card check bill that is undemocratic and imposes binding arbitration which will increase health care and other costs; four, a national energy tax cap-and-trade that will cost 66,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and jacked-up electric bills, natural gas bills, and prices at the gasoline pump for consumers; and, five, now a House health care bill with enormous tax increases and mandates on all businesses and businesses of all sizes. Enough is enough. Time to let Washington get out of the way and let job creators do what they do best: create jobs.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that are listed in H.R. 3293, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010: Bill Number: H.R. 3293, the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2010 Account: Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Aging, Title: Dementia Leadership Initiative, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Westminster Village, Address of Requesting Entity: 803 N. Wahneta Street, Allentown, PA 18109, Description of Request: Funding will be used to develop outreach initiatives to educate the public about maintaining brain health and mitigating the impact of dementia, create a public resource center, and provide staff training in the most advanced methods of dementia care. Approximately 15 million Americans will have Alzheimer's by the middle of this century unless a cure or prevention is found. This program will provide enhanced medical diagnosis, treatment and care for those with Alzheimer's; offer individuals and families vital information and support; and enable long-term care facilities to provide for optimal outcomes for affected individuals. Bill Number: H.R. 3293, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Service, Title: Emergency Management Service Facility Expansion and Renovation, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Bethlehem, Address of Requesting Entity: 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018, Description of Request: Funding will be used by the City of Bethlehem to support the community's increasing need for EMS services by renovating a portion of a building owned by St. Luke's Hospital. Specifically, the completion of this project will more than double the current EMS facility. The new facility will provide the ability to improve numerous aspects of EMS--faster responses, centralization of location, maintaining centralization of EMS administration, future growth, safer access and egress. Bill Number: H.R. 3293, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services, Title: Drive for Healthy Kids Program, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lehigh Valley Coalition for Kids, Address of Requesting Entity: 5000 Tilghman Street, #207, Allentown, PA 18104, Description of Request: Funding will allow the Lehigh Valley Coalition for Kids (LVCK) and St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network to improve a Lehigh Valley-wide collaborative effort to provide medical, dental, and vision care to children and adolescents (under 19) lacking basic health care due to low family income and/or a broad range of socio-economic issues. Through this initiative, fully equipped and supplied health vans will bring regularly scheduled services to area schools and youth agencies throughout much of Northampton and Lehigh Counties. In 2007, this program provided 1,234 medical visits and 2,984 dental visits. About one-third of the children treated on the vans do not have health insurance. The remaining two-thirds qualify for free or reduced care but do not receive regular medical or dental care. Over 50 percent of the children receiving dental services in any given year have never seen a dentist. The immediate urgent need for medical, dental, and vision care far exceeds currently available resources. This funding will be a major step toward meeting the most critical current and anticipated needs. Bill Number: H.R. 3293, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services, Title: Operating Room Equipment, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sacred Heart Hospital, Address of Requesting Entity: 421 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18102, Description of Request: This project will support the purchase of operating room equipment essential for treatment and service for Hospital patients. Specifically, funding will be used to replace or upgrade essential equipment in the operating suite to provide Sacred Heart patients with the highest quality of care. The existing equipment does not reflect the highest levels of technology currently available to hospitals. Sacred Heart Hospital is a 226 bed, acute care teaching hospital in the City of Allentown.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that are listed in H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010: Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Federal Highway Administration, Surface Transportation Priorities, Title: Larry Holmes Drive Traffic Calming, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Easton, Address of Requesting Entity: 1 South Third Street, Easton, PA 18042, Description of Request: This funding will be used to improve the traffic flow and safety of a Delaware River waterfront gateway between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The project will enhance access to one of the only remaining steel truss suspension bridges in the nation near the City of Easton's National Register Historic District. These modifications will reduce vehicular speeds and benefit local economic development by allowing disabled pedestrians and bicyclists to more easily access adjacent trails and parks, and the city's downtown area. Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Federal Transit Administration, Alternatives Analysis, Title: Lehigh Valley Bus Rapid Transit Analysis, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA), Address of Requesting Entity: 1060 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA 18103, Description of Request: This funding will be used to conduct an analysis of the feasibility and components of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program along high density transit corridors within the Lehigh Valley by the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA). The investigation of BRT service is an outcome of a regional transit development planning process designed to establish a long term vision for regional transit, as well as short range development priorities. LANTA's service expansion effort will be focused, to a significant degree, on improving job accessibility. This is needed to support economic development and job growth within the Lehigh Valley, one of the fastest growing areas in the northeast region. This analysis is an essential part of a project development effort that could lead to a future comprehensive project. Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Federal Transit Administration, Buses & Bus Facilities, Title: Lehigh Valley Hybrid Transit Bus Purchase, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA), Address of Requesting Entity: 1060 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA 18103, Description of Request: This funding will be used to support the purchase of heavy- duty, hybrid powered transit buses for the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA). The buses will replace vehicles purchased in 1998 in order to continue LANTA's expansion efforts. Service expansion over the last 10 years has been supported through a combination of timely bus fleet replacements and fleet expansions, resulting in an 80% increase in ridership, with 51% of those riders using the system to access jobs. An active service and equipment update program is necessary to support the demand to improve services in the growing Lehigh Valley region. Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives (EDI), Title: Souderton Train Station and Freight Buildings Restoration, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Borough of Souderton, Address of Requesting Entity: 31 West Summit Street, Souderton, PA 18964, Description of Request: This funding will be used to renovate and restore the interior and exterior of the historic Souderton Train Station and two adjacent freight buildings by the Borough of Souderton. Souderton is one of at least seven communities with rail buildings built at the turn of the 20th century to accommodate freight and passenger service on the Quakertown-Stony Creek line. With an active effort being made to return passenger rail service to the existing line, which currently handles a large amount of freight traffic, these local facilities are being restored throughout the region. The buildings in Souderton reflect the history of communities that blossomed around rail lines and will serve as a warm welcome to residents using this line when passenger service is restored. Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives (EDI), Title: New Bethany Ministries Building Rehabilitation, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Episcopal Ministries of the Diocese of Bethlehem, Address of Requesting Entity: 333 West 4th Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015, Description of Request: This funding will be used to rehabilitate a building into a community asset where low-income, mentally disabled and homeless people will receive groceries, meals, financial case management, used clothing, and a variety of emergency walk-in services. The upper floor will be transformed into safe and secure single room occupancy units of case-managed housing for low- income mentally disabled or chronically homeless adults. Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives (EDI), Title: Sunnybrook Historic Revitalization, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sunnybrook Foundation, Address of Requesting Entity: 50 Sunnybrook Road, Pottstown, PA 19464, Description of Request: This funding will be used for the preservation and revitalization of a historic ballroom, a National Historic Register site, which will be used by the community for seniors and youth programs. The funding will also advance the completion of a conference center and performing arts venue to bolster regional tourism. This project will benefit the greater Pottstown area by providing a modern facility for community activity and enhancing tourism in the region.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. The issue is: Jobs, jobs, jobs. A friend of mine who employs many people in my district said this to me the other day, The policy proposals coming out of Washington are impeding job creation and scaring people. He's right. And there are five reasons that are driving his concern. One, a stimulus that spends too much, borrows too much, and delivers too few jobs. Two, a budget that doubles the national debt in 5 years and triples it in 10 years. Three, a card check bill that is undemocratic and imposes binding arbitration. Four, a national energy tax, cap-and-trade, that will cost 66,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and jack up electric bills for consumers. And, five, a House health care bill with enormous tax increases and mandates on small businesses and businesses of all size. Enough is enough. Time for Washington to get out of the way and let job creators do what they know how to do--create jobs.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that are listed in H.R. 3183, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010: Bill Number: H.R. 3183, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010 Account: Department of Energy, EERE Title: Energy Reduction and Efficiency Improvement Through Lighting Control Legal Name of Requesting Entity: St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network Address of Requesting Entity: 801 Ostrum Street, Fountain Hill, PA 18015 Description of Request: This funding will support an energy reduction and efficiency initiative at St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network by helping to install advanced lighting controls that automatically adjust to lighting needs. Using locally-produced lighting technology, St. Luke's estimates a 20 percent to 30 percent reduction in lighting costs. This project will assure the hospital maintains suitable lighting at all times for patients and staff while saving energy and reducing costs. Bill Number: H.R. 3183, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010 Account: Department of Energy, Fossil Energy R&D Title: Innovations for Low-Cost Gasification Systems Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 7201 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18195 Description of Request: This funding will advance the development of Green Energy ITM Ceramic Membranes, which can be integrated into a state-of-the-art gasification system to produce synthesis gas for the generation of advanced electric, hydrogen, or other clean fuels power. This versatile technology also enables the capture of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and can be applied in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner to a broad list of energy sources, including coal, natural gas, liquid hydrocarbons, biomaterials, and waste materials. Bill Number: H.R. 3183, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010 Account: Department of Energy, Science Title: Energy Systems Engineering Institute Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lehigh University Address of Requesting Entity: 5 East Packer Avenue, Whitaker 318, Bethlehem, PA 18015 Description of Request: This funding will support a research and education program, the Lehigh Energy Systems Engineering Institute (ESEI), at Lehigh University to spawn energy technology breakthroughs while simultaneously creating a pipeline of new talent for the energy sector workforce. The initiative will be a university-based program in which the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and various energy companies partner with university faculty to address critical research needs while developing the next generation of leaders and innovators for the energy industry.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding a project that is listed in H.R. 3170, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, FY2010: Bill Number: H.R. 3170, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Small Business Administration, Salaries and Expenses, Title: Green Business Advancement Program, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV)--Rising Tide Community Loan Fund (RTCLF), Address of Requesting Entity: 1337 East Fifth Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015, Description of Request: This program will help small businesses identify and implement energy efficiency improvements. For each participating small business, the CACLV will offer a green business assessment/energy audit, generate an estimated savings calculation based on potential remediation projects, and develop an energy savings plan that outlines work necessary to reach maximum efficiency and a detailed schedule of work. CACLV will work with business owners and contractors in scheduling assessments, audits, and renovations; preparing loan packages and documentation; developing partnerships with community organizations focused on energy efficiency and sustainability; monitoring utility bills and savings of borrowers; and providing technical assistance in environmentally friendly business practices.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding a project that is listed in H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010: Bill Number: H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010 Account: National Institute for Food and Agriculture, SRG Title: Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802 Description of Request: Funding for this project will support a collaborative research and education program between the Pennsylvania State University and the Rodale Institute that will help diverse farm operations better adopt sustainable farming practices. The project will increase field research and demonstration to enhance the exposure of farm advisors and farmers to sustainable cropping system practices. Practices to be further investigated and field-demonstrated include: crop species and cultivars for inclusion in crop rotations that improve the performance of sustainable and organic cropping systems, especially for the Northeast; fine-tuning of management guidelines for mechanical control of cover crops and weeds in conservation and no-tillage systems to reduce or eliminate herbicides; factors that better promote conservation of biological control organisms and beneficial soil microorganisms for weed seed predation and management of other pests; and practices that increase soil organic matter.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this national energy tax. This bill is all cost and no benefit. And I want to read some excerpts from a letter that was sent to me from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission: ``This policy will have a profound adverse impact on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If the Waxman-Markey bill were to pass, Pennsylvania is looking at a bleak scenario, a net loss of as many as 66,000 jobs, a sizeable hike in the electric bills of residential customers, an increase in natural gas prices, and significant downward pressure on our gross State product.'' ``The cost estimates are staggering.'' ``Congress has a responsibility to ensure that legislation enacted on this important topic is in the best interests of every State and region in the United States.'' ``Residents of Pennsylvania will be severely and disproportionately harmed. It will be impossible to rapidly or immediately stop using power generated at existing coal-fired or natural gas-fired power plants without causing severe and protracted reliability problems.'' ``Is Pennsylvania ready to acquiesce behind Federal legislation that will choke off our economy by displacing thousands of jobs and increasing utility bills for residential taxpayers? We hope not.'' That is the Pennsylvania PUC. I say, save jobs. Save money. Vote ``no.''

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that are listed in H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010: Bill Number: H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, Account: National Park Service, Save America's Treasures, Title: Saylor Cement Kilns Historic Preservation, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: County of Lehigh, Address of Requesting Entity: 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101, Description of Request: This funding will be used to stabilize and restore the historic Coplay Company Cement Kilns, known locally as the Saylor Cement Kilns, a unique industrial feature built between 1892 and 1893 that is key to the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor's industrial story. The Saylor Cement Kilns are in a state of serious decay, prompting concerns about public safety and liability, as well as the potential loss of a significant historical landmark in the Lehigh Valley region. Rehabilitating the kilns will have a positive impact on local economic development through increased heritage tourism. Once restored, the site will encourage use for historical education and community events. Bill Number: H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, Account: EPA, STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project, Title: Vera Cruz Wastewater Collection System, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lehigh County Authority, Address of Requesting Entity: 1053 Spruce Street, P.O. Box 3348, Allentown, PA 18106, Description of Request: This funding will be used to build a wastewater collection system for the Vera Cruz area of Upper Milford Township. On-lot sewer disposal systems in the area are failing, causing environmental damage and public health concerns. The project will provide central sewer service to approximately 284 properties in the village of Vera Cruz and the surrounding area. Funds will be used for construction, engineering services and purchase of capacity in downstream transportation and treatment facilities.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, we just heard a speech a few moments ago about how jobs will be created through this national energy tax. Apparently those jobs will not be created in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in any significant way. In fact, I would like to share with my friends and the American people a letter from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, three of the five commissioners who wrote me and told me about the impacts of this legislation. They said, ``Pennsylvania is the fourth largest coal producer in the Nation, distributing over 75 million tons of coal each year. Roughly 7 percent of the Nation's supply is in Pennsylvania and 58 percent of all electricity used here comes from coal. However, if the Waxman-Markey bill were to pass, Pennsylvania is looking at a bleak scenario by 2020; a net loss of as many as 66,000 jobs, a sizeable hike in electric bills of residential customers, an increase in national gas prices, and significant downward pressure on the State gross product. The cost estimates are staggering.'' Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. I urge my colleagues to reject this national energy tax. The industrial and agricultural heartland States of America will pay and will pay big. It's time that we reject this tax.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that are listed in H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010: Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: NOAA--Operations, Research and Facilities, Title: Delaware River Enhanced Flood Warning System, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Delaware River Basin Commission, Address of Requesting Entity: 25 State Police Drive, PO Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ, 08628, Description of Request: This funding will be used by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), in conjunction with NOAA/NWS, USGS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to enhance the Delaware River Basin's flood warning system through upgrades to the existing precipitation and stream gage network, improvements of flash flood forecasting capabilities, flood warning education and outreach, and increased support of flood coordination. Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Title: Lehigh and Northampton Counties Interoperability Development Project, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Allentown Police Department, Address of Requesting Entity: 425 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA, 18101, Description of Request: This funding will be used to develop a cohesive, regional communications network of voice, data and video information sharing. This network will leverage the capabilities of Internet Protocol (IP) transport mechanisms to increase the exchange of all types of data information amongst numerous first responder agencies in the Lehigh Valley area. This project will allow multiple jurisdictions to perform day-to-day public safety operations, task force operations or large scale disaster situations through a seamless exchange of voice and data communications in real time circumstances. Multiple first responder agencies, including the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem, are seeking to achieve interoperability and information sharing within jurisdictions throughout Lehigh and Northampton Counties. The goal of this project is to eliminate technology to technology barriers that prohibit voice and data sharing among neighboring communities in Pennsylvania's third largest metropolitan region. The ability to communicate and share information is critical to reducing crime and creating a safer environment for local residents. Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: Office of Justice Programs, Juvenile Justice, Title: Adventure Challenge Education for Gang Prevention (ACE), Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Valley Youth House Committee, Inc., Address of Requesting Entity: 829 Linden Street, Allentown, PA 18101, Description of Request: This funding will be used to advance an intensive 21-week intervention for youth ages 15-17. The program will benefit young people who are at high risk for gang involvement due to family members' or neighbors' connection with gang activity or the youth's own delinquent behavior. As a result of their involvement in the proposed program, youth will develop positive decision making, problem solving and leadership skills, enhancing their ability to become responsible and productive members of the local community. The ACE program was developed in response to the increasing presence and threat of gang activity in the Lehigh Valley region, including the recent introduction of several national gangs. ACE was piloted as a four-week summer program in 2007 with federal funding through the 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Initiative. This funding would make it possible to repeat the program four times in 2010 and expand it to include an intensive follow-up component to increase impact and ensure that youth are able to sustain progress.

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. The gentleman, Mr. Kirk from Illinois, pointed out an interesting point. He mentioned the Massachusetts health care experiment. What they did in Massachusetts, they had a universal mandate for coverage, but they did not do anything to deal with the cost issue. So what happened in Massachusetts is while the numbers of those who were being provided coverage through the various programs in Massachusetts through the mandates, those costs rose, but the ability of the taxpayers to meet those rising costs, of course, was limited. So what does the government do? It restricts care, it denies treatment, it denies service, it rations care. That is sort of a microcosm in Massachusetts of what happens in perhaps some other Western European countries or perhaps even Canada. I am not here to either praise or condemn those systems in Western Europe and the United Kingdom or in Canada or anywhere else. They are different systems. And people need to understand that what happens in those systems when the costs continue to rise for health care and there aren't the tax dollars to meet those costs, they deny care. I think we all know that people are concerned about cures and not treatments. They want to be treated like human beings and not numbers. Unfortunately, that can happen in those systems where you have a single-payer system. You take a number, wait for your dialysis, wait for your hip replacement, if you can wait that long. If you are a Canadian, if you have the money, you come across the border and get the care you need when you need it. We need to have this very sober discussion.

Mr. DENT. That's an astounding statistic from the Llewellyn Group. When you talk about 100 million Americans potentially losing their health care, where will they go to get it? That's really the issue. So that employer exclusion, that favorable tax treatment is absolutely essential to making sure that many Americans are able to maintain their coverage. And that's the first thing we have to protect in this whole discussion. We have to protect that first. And some of the proposals that are floating around this capital, as you correctly pointed out, would either eliminate that exclusion or severely limit it as a way to finance whatever kind of program they're advancing. And this is big money. So I just wanted to share that with the American people, make sure they understand that that seems to be the primary funding mechanism that many are looking at to finance whatever kind of health care system would be proposed, whether it's a government option or some other proposal, single-payer. That's something to be concerned about.