Bob Dold

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for your leadership and for yielding the time. I also want to thank Mr. Meadows, Mr. Deutch, and all those who have worked tirelessly on this bill. The Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act is one that is important. We need to choke off funds to a well-known terrorist organization that has been engaged in terror for decades. We know a lot, Madam Speaker, and we have talked a lot about the threat of ISIS, what is going on in Syria, what is happening with Iran, Iran being the greatest state sponsor of terror in the world, using its proxies, one of which is Hezbollah. But I want to make sure that we are not losing sight of Hezbollah and the dangers that they pose. That is why this is such an important piece of legislation. Hezbollah has killed Americans. They are one of the most deadly terrorist organizations in the world. They are a major threat not only to the United States; they are a threat to our one true ally in the Middle East, the State of Israel. The buildup of Hezbollah's rocket arsenal is a concern, Madam Speaker, to everyday Israelis, and it should be a concern for all of us. As we think about terror and choking off that financing, it is absolutely critical that we speak with one clear voice here in the United States, that we focus on these cells, and that we focus on how Hezbollah is getting its resources. This is, again, another issue on which I am delighted that we are working together in a bipartisan fashion because this is not about partisanship. This is about making sure that the world is a safer place and shining a light on terrorist organizations, Hezbollah being one of the worst. Just last week, Madam Speaker, I was in Israel, and we went into the Golan. We went north to the border, and we looked off over the border, not only into Syria; we looked into Lebanon as well. We met with lone soldiers, members from Chicago who went over to Israel to join the IDF and fight, and they are terrified and prepared for attacks from Hezbollah.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Peter Shipman and his many accomplishments for this great institution and his community. He is one of the many unsung champions of this body who kept the House running over the course of his career. Peter began his career for the United States House of Representatives on November 1, 1979, shortly after graduating from VCU with a degree in arts, specializing in furniture making and design. Peter soon established himself as a highly regarded craftsman among a shop of senior cabinetmakers. As his passion and talent for his craft became apparent, he soon earned the role of producing more high-profile projects. Peter's drive for perfection, creativity, and attention to unique details were second to none. Many of his coworkers still are using his techniques today. From the time he became shop foreman until his retirement, Peter had a hand in the design of most of the pieces of newly constructed furniture built by the craftsmen in the Cabinet Shop. His hard work and dedication to his craft and to this House earned him the much sought-after job of shop foreman in 2001 and, indeed, manager of the shop in 2007. Upon his retirement in 2012, Peter was asked about his proudest accomplishments during his service here in the United States House of Representatives. Peter said he was ``proudest of the individuals who have made up the Cabinet Shop, Finishing Shop, Drapery, Upholstery and Carpet Shops, and my association with all past and present individuals who have been part of these groups. Sincerely this is my proudest achievement.'' A small sample of the projects that Peter was involved with includes the construction of the Speaker's Chair, Madam Speaker. He also designed and managed the construction of the podiums that we are using here on the House floor, the sideboard for Speaker Gingrich, the hand- painted hummingbird desk for Speaker Foley, and the display cabinets for Leader Bob Michel. Examples of Peter's superior talents, along with his loyalty to this House, will live on for many years in the Capitol and in the House Office Buildings. His artistic approach to furniture design added a special touch that few craftsmen possess. He was truly dedicated to his art and the talented individuals whom he mentored along the way. Madam Speaker, he will surely be missed by his peers who knew and loved him as well as by the entire House community. Peter is survived by his wife, Jennifer; their son, Walker; stepson, Derek; brother, Tourne; and sisters, Carie, Airlie, and Mellick. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his colleagues who continue his tradition of beautiful craftsmanship today.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Nick Pellar. Nick is an Eagle Scout in Troop 13 and is a senior at New Trier High School in north suburban Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Boy Scouts of America is the Nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organization. The Boy Scouts provide a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating in citizenship, and develops personal fitness. Nick embodies all of these ideals and more. Mr. Speaker, Nick recently earned his 140th merit badge. That means not only does Nick have every single badge available, he actually has earned seven more than you can get today. As Scouts go into the program today, there are only 133 available merit badges. As merit badges are added, some are taken off. He has actually earned 140 merit badges. Eagle Scouts, Mr. Speaker, are some of the top 4 percent of Scouts across the country. Nick's accomplishments put him among the top handful of Eagle Scouts in the entire Nation. He is so incredibly accomplished for a young man of his age, and this achievement demonstrates his personal dedication and moral fortitude. Mr. Speaker, I have known Nick personally for many years, and I am incredibly proud of this awesome accomplishment. Mr. Speaker, I offer my sincere congratulations to Nick and wish him the best as he starts college this fall at my alma mater, Denison University.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Captain George Klein of the United States Army. Captain Klein served during World War II and fought valiantly during the invasion of Normandy. As a member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Captain Klein took part in the dangerous mission of scaling the cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc. On June 6, 1944, Captain Klein led Fox Company as they began the invasion of Normandy. Upon landing, the Company charged the cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc and began to climb the 100 feet to the top. After scaling the cliffs Captain Klein was injured by a German soldier. Thankfully, Captain Klein was given medical treatment and recovered from his wounds in England. Captain Klein will be returning to the cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc this year in recognition of the 71st anniversary of D-Day. Captain Klein's unwavering courage and gallantry displayed during the landing at Normandy deserves our utmost respect and gratitude. He is truly an American hero, and Illinois' 10th Congressional District is lucky to have him as a resident.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Coalition for Healthy Communities on their 20th Anniversary. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center assembled the Coalition of leaders in the Zion-Benton Township to effectively address the need to improve the health and wellness of our community. The Coalition's focus is to provide the community with education on ways to access primary health care, sexual education, immunizations for young children, parental education, and adolescent substance abuse. The leaders of the Coalition are working hard to provide healthcare that extends beyond the walls of hospitals. Mr. Speaker, the Coalition of Healthy Communities is essential to ensuring that Zion, Beach Park and Winthrop Harbor's residents receive the proper tools to lead a healthy, safe and fulfilling life. I offered my sincere thanks to the Coalition for their efforts over the last 20 years and wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lake County Chamber of Commerce which is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary this year. Established in 1915 as the Waukegan Chamber of Commerce, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce has undergone significant change and has prospered despite difficulties over the past one hundred years. Today the Chamber assists businesses and citizens through weekly events catered to improving opportunities for networking and marketing. In short, Mr. Speaker, the Chamber successfully works to advance the overall welfare and prosperity of Lake County citizens and small businesses. I offer my most sincere congratulations to The Lake County Chamber of Commerce for its success in helping to strengthen our community and wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish my son, Bobby Dold, a happy birthday. Bobby turns eleven years old today. He was born in Evanston, Illinois, and since that day in 2004, has kept me, his mother, Danielle, and his two sisters, Harper and Honor always on our toes. Bobby continues to grow and develop as a young man and an athlete. As a member of the Dold family, Bobby excels in multiple sports, including football, hockey, and lacrosse. Bobby brightens every room he walks into and makes friends with everyone he meets. It is clear that he has a true zest for life, and I hope that he continues to grow that enthusiasm in the years to come. Bobby enjoys visiting the beach of Lake Michigan with his proud grandparents, Nana and Chief, Papa and Granma, his aunts and uncles, and all of his cousins. I look forward to watching Bobby grow and mature into a fine independent young man. I hope that Bobby will continue to be a shining light to our family and community. Happy Birthday Bobby.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and I rise to support the goals and ideals we have been promoting these past 30 days. More than 200,000 people in the United States are sexually assaulted each year. One in five women will be sexually assaulted during her college years. Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. Our work is not done until the number of sexual assaults is zero. Sexual assault is an affront to our basic humanity. It threatens our individual liberty, family values, and basic human rights. Mr. Speaker, we owe it to our children to live up to those values. We must reject the passive, quiet acceptance of sexual assault that has pervaded our society for far too long. We must refuse to accept that which is unquestionably unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, although April is coming to an end, we must remain committed to raising awareness, empowering survivors, and preventing more people from experiencing these heinous acts.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pastor H. Lee Jordan on his 5th anniversary as Pastor at the Greater Faith Church in Waukegan, Illinois. Pastor Jordan became Pastor of the Greater Faith Church on January 20, 2010 after initially beginning his pilgrimage on June 20, 1993. Since joining the Greater Faith Church 5 years ago, Mr. Speaker, Pastor Jordan has worked tirelessly to serve the Waukegan community. In addition to his service to The Greater Faith Church, Pastor Jordan is a loving father and husband, a community leader, recipient of numerous awards, and sits on the boards of multiple local community organizations. Mr. Speaker, Pastor Jordan enhances the legacy and integrity of the nationally known church, dedicating himself to promoting spiritual growth. I offer my most sincere congratulations to the Pastor for passing this milestone and faithfully serving the Waukegan community.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Mothers Trust Foundation of Lake County. Founded by Barbara Monsor, the Mothers Trust Foundation's mission is to provide immediate assistance during times of crisis to low-income children. Mr. Speaker, the Mothers Trust Foundation works to connect children in desperate situations with those who want to provide assistance where it truly makes a difference. Each request is specific to the child's financial needs. For example, the organization helps fund the cost of school supplies, a class field trip fee or even a college application payment. By assisting in these times of need, the Mothers Trust Foundation strives to build confidence and make a positive difference in young people's lives. Thank you to Jody Ortiz, Jeanette Lincoln, Wendy Feldhaus, Daria Andrews, Jane Rubin, Terri Karst, Tina Mascari and Mary Claire Sparrow for dedicating your time to a special cause. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize these selfless, inspiring leaders and the Mothers Trust Foundation.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, so I would like to take this opportunity to rise in recognition of Animal Education and Rescue, a humane society in the 10th District. Founder and director Sandy Wisniewski has dedicated herself to improving the lives of both animals and people in our community. Ms. Wisniewski works to prevent cruelty to animals by educating the public through school and community center visits. Her curriculum emphasizes the need to properly care for pets. She understands the strong correlation between animal abuse and other violent crimes, and she seeks to break the cycle of violence through education. As a humane investigator, Ms. Wisniewski responds to reports of animal abuse and neglect. She often rescues these neglected animals and places them with foster families until they find permanent homes. Her work is vital to our community. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, I am pleased to recognize AEAR and Ms. Wisniewski. I am grateful for their work and wish them continued success.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Community Partners for Affordable Housing for the exceptional progress they have made in providing the basic human need of housing to those struggling to afford its rising costs. Partnering with the cities of Highland Park, Evanston and Lake Forest, CPAH addresses affordable housing collaboratively, operating the first community land trust program in Illinois. CPAH preserves communities' existing housing stock by rehabilitating problematic or blighted properties. This maximizes the cost- effectiveness of public and private investment for long-term community benefit. In short, CPAH synthesizes safe, clean housing with affordability. CPAH is an incredible asset that the cities of Highland Park, Evanston, and Lake Forest are fortunate to benefit from. I am proud to represent Community Partners for Affordable Housing.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, as I stand before you today, it is with a heavy heart that I think back to the events and to the atrocities that began 100 years ago. This week, millions of us will gather around the world to mark the centennial of the Armenian genocide. Today, I stand to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who perished from 1915 to 1923. As a crime against all humanity, the Armenian genocide has left an indelible mark on all of us. Unfortunately, Turkey, the successor to the Ottoman Empire, has never accepted responsibility for these atrocities. Instead, Turkey continues to hide behind the bullying tactics that conceal violations of human rights. As a world leader and as a country that stands for freedom and justice for all, we must recognize the events that occurred and work to change the policies that ignore the actions of the Ottoman Empire against the people of Armenia. The continued campaign of denial sets a dangerous precedent that makes future atrocities and genocides more likely. As the greatest force for human dignity in the world, the United States is long overdue to stand with the Armenian people. We cannot continue to play politics with something that is this important. For me, it is incredibly disappointing that the administration will not follow in the footsteps of many world leaders, most recently those of Germany, Austria, and the Vatican, who have recognized this genocide on its 100th anniversary.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. This body is, in essence, saying to the CFPB, Mr. Chairman, to the CFPB and Director Cordray, we are saying: please get small business input into what you are thinking. In order to do that, the dollars that are out there, Mr. Chairman, are talking about trying to fly people in, small businesses in. That is where the dollars are coming from. We think the CBO has scored this at about $9 million out of nearly a $7 billion budget over 10 years. Surely, this can't be the thing that is killing the bill. There has got to be something bigger that is killing the bill because, frankly, the American public, Mr. Chairman, are going to roll their eyes and say: you have got to be kidding me. We are going to disregard small businesses from being able to come in and weigh in on something that is going to drastically impact the economy because they don't want to take what could potentially be $9 million in airfare and other things to try to make sure they can get the small business advisory board to come to Washington. If we find that there is a problem, I will be the first one to reach across the aisle to say we need to fix this. This is a problem that we need to solve, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill to get small businesses engaged.

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Boards Act. I want to thank my friend from North Carolina for his work, and I want to thank my friend from Washington for his work as well on what really should be a bipartisan bill. Honestly, I think the American public, Mr. Chairman, will take a look at what is happening here on the floor and are going to be baffled by it as well. As a small-business owner, let me just tell you, Mr. Chairman, there are nearly 29 million small businesses in our Nation; 99 percent of all employer firms in the United States are considered small businesses; over 56 million Americans work in these small businesses; and two- thirds of all net new jobs. Last I checked, the labor force participation rate is near a three- decade low, so the net new jobs that we are looking for are created by small business. Two-thirds are created by small business. This is a bill that would basically say to the CFPB: we want you to have a small business advisory board. With all of the businesses that are out there, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency in Washington that sets the rules and regulations with far-reaching impacts into our economy, completely fails to ensure that small businesses have a permanent seat at the table when the CFPB is making decisions, making decisions that impact the lives of millions of Americans and businesses across the land. This is a commonsense piece of legislation. If we are going to talk about small businesses, my goodness, please, let's talk about having small business representation at the table. Mr. Chairman, there are a lot of decisions that get made in this Chamber. There are a lot of decisions that get made in Washington. I have to tell you, one of the things that I try to do is I try to surround myself with people that it impacts. If we are going to talk about health care, I try to surround myself with physicians and patients and nurses, to try to get their input in terms of how this bill or how a bill that comes to the floor would impact them. Surround yourself with people that might know more about a topic than you do; educate yourself. The fact that the CFPB doesn't already have a small business advisory board or small business voice at the table is unacceptable-- unacceptable in today's day and age. This is something that we need to support. Frankly, I want it to be a bipartisan bill. I think the underlying substance of it is bipartisan, and only at the last minute are we talking about not making this a bipartisan bill over the pay-for. Mr. Chairman, I want you to think about this for a second as a business that gets regulated time and again. They don't come with a pay-for there. Basically, they say: this is what we need you to do, and you find a way to pay for it.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week and to thank Mike Nerheim and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office for organizing the event. This year's theme of engaging communities and empowering victims emphasizes the role that communities can and should play to support victims of crime during their recovery. Engaging communities to recognize the impact of victimization enables us to help more victims by providing a safe environment where they are supported and empowered. By working with local community leaders like victim counselor Debbie Vanderwall, State's Attorney's citizen advisor Pastor John Caples and education advocate Jonathan Meier, we can leverage our resources to better understand the needs of victims. We are fortunate that Lake County is such a strong community, eager to offer help to those who need it. I am honored to work with State's Attorney Mike Nerheim to help raise awareness for this important cause and facilitate new partnerships to elevate victims' rights.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mano a Mano on its 15-year anniversary in Round Lake Park and to recognize the staff and volunteers who support this incredible organization. In 2000, community leaders saw a rise in the Latino immigrant population, as well as the struggles they face due to language barriers and a lack of higher education. Mr. Speaker, these leaders took it upon themselves to help the growing community through support and education. They opened the doors of Mano a Mano and began providing services such as community school for parents, kindergarten readiness, citizenship preparation, employment connection, and health education. It is because of organizations like Mano a Mano that families can break down the barriers they face and succeed. Through these services, Mr. Speaker, Mano a Mano has empowered immigrants and underserved families to become proud contributing members of our community. I congratulate them on their 15-year anniversary.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 160 I was unavoidably detained with constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor for me to be here today with several colleagues to talk about and highlight a very serious environmental risk to our communities. For the last 58 years, this Nation has embraced nuclear power as an inexpensive, clean, and nearly inexhaustible power source for our growing society; yet, in all that time, we have not yet addressed a key problem caused by nuclear power, and that is how to safely dispose of spent nuclear fuel. We have gathered a good crew of folks here, Mr. Speaker, and it is an honor for me to yield to my good friend from Washington (Mr. Newhouse).

Mr. DOLD. I thank the gentleman from Washington. I just want to highlight, again, if I may, you mentioned a statistic just a moment ago that was talking about the fact that because the government hasn't moved forward with Yucca Mountain, the fact that we are actually paying to store this material all over the country to Exelon and other companies along those lines, it was anywhere between $15 and $50 billion.

Mr. DOLD. That is astounding. I thank the gentleman from Washington for your leadership. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus). He is the dean of the Illinois delegation and someone whose leadership, when it comes to Yucca Mountain, has been extensive. He is certainly someone who understands what we need to be doing in terms of making sure this material gets off the shores of the Great Lakes and from our neighborhoods all around the country and put into a safe location about 150 miles from any inhabitant in Yucca Mountain.

Mr. DOLD. Can the gentleman shed a little light? Many people might be watching this and not know who actually owns the nuclear fuel. Many people don't realize that private entities can't own this. This is actually all owned by the government. Private entities can use it for power, but the actual nuclear fuel rods, the spent nuclear fuel rods, are owned by the government. Can you shed a little light on that? This is actually the government's problem here.

Mr. DOLD. Well, I certainly appreciate your leadership, and it is great to have you speak on such an important topic. This is an environmental issue; it is a safety issue; it is an economic issue--and one that we have to step up and solve. I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams), my good friend, who understands these issues and understands them very well.

Mr. DOLD. I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for his insight. Certainly, he knows, in living close to and representing an area that is very close to the water there on the Savannah River, that it is very close to what my particular issue is with spent nuclear fuel being just a few hundred feet away from the greatest fresh surface water we have in the world. Ninety-five percent of the world's fresh surface water is in the Great Lakes. Storing that nuclear fuel so close, I think, is not only an environmental risk and a terrorist risk, but it is jeopardizing where 30 million Americans actually get their drinking water. It is really just a jewel of a natural resource and one that we need to protect, so I certainly appreciate your leadership.

Mr. DOLD. Thank you, sir. Mr. Speaker, we have heard today from different people from around our country about the need for us to move forward with Yucca Mountain. Again, just highlighting some of the points: Yucca Mountain is 100 miles away from the Colorado River, further away from any inhabitants, sitting 1,000 feet above the water table, 1,000 feet below ground. Mr. Speaker, I came today wanting to share with you a story about my district and, more specifically, about a portion of my district in Zion, Illinois. Zion has 25,000 residents and sits on the shores of Lake Michigan. Yet, due to the obstruction of the administration, tons of spent nuclear fuel remain stored at Zion. It is stored on the shores of the Great Lakes, literally just a few hundred feet away from the shore where 30 million Americans receive their fresh drinking water. We need to make sure we do everything we can to protect what, I believe, is the jewel of our ecosystem in the Great Lakes, but so long as the fuel remains there, the city of Zion cannot use this site to bring in new businesses or new jobs on that site, and it continues to suffer from lost revenue from lost property taxes. The uranium that has been used in the nuclear reactors stays radioactive for tens of thousands of years. It stays radioactive after it has been removed from the reactor, and it must be isolated from the environment in order to allow it to safely degrade. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has not done its part to take charge. As we talked about earlier, Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government is the one that actually owns the fuel, so it is sitting now in our communities as opposed to going to a site we have spent nearly $15 billion researching and putting money into--Yucca Mountain. For the past three decades, the policy of the Federal Government has been to push forward with a long-term, deep geologic repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Thirteen years ago, the Department of Energy determined that Yucca Mountain was the best and safest location in which to store America's nuclear waste. Indeed, it is the law of the land, as we have heard tonight, and we have spent billions of dollars to study the site and get it ready to be able to store our spent nuclear fuel. Mr. Speaker, despite the billions of dollars spent, nothing has been done on Yucca Mountain since this administration has taken office. The administration cut off funding for Yucca Mountain and ensured that nothing would be done to get this site ready--this despite the three decades spent studying the site and the over $15 billion spent. If we do not proceed, that money will be completely wasted. Further, the administration has failed to bring forward any kind of alternative, meaning that spent nuclear waste continues to sit in our communities where, I would argue, it should not be. America's nuclear power plants have produced over 71,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel over the past six decades, and while it has created jobs and clean energy, we do have an obligation to make sure that it is stored, and stored safely. We need to make sure that it is stored in a long-term facility. But, instead, spent nuclear fuel remains at plants at at least 75 nationwide sites, including at Zion. There is a solution to this problem which affects not only Zion but the entire country. We can fund the Yucca Mountain project and ensure that we will solve the problem once and for all. If we don't, the only alternative right now is to leave the waste where it is, stored in places like Zion, leaving both Zion and the drinking water for 30 million Americans vulnerable to an environmental disaster or to a terrorist event, leaving the residents of Zion with a large plot of land in the heart of their community that, frankly, we can't use. The only responsible course of action is to tackle this problem today. We have seen the statistics out there, and as we look at what the facts are, the Department of Energy has determined that the deep geological disposal is the safest method to store spent nuclear fuel. If we just look at the difference here, in Zion, Illinois, on the shores of Lake Michigan, there are 65 casks containing 1,135 metric tons of nuclear waste--waste stored above the ground, about 5 feet above the water table and just a few hundred feet away from the shores of Lake Michigan. Yet Yucca Mountain, on the other hand--a place where we have spent $15 billion, where our experts have said is the safest place for us--is where we actually tested a nuclear weapon. It is near an Air Force base. So, when people talk about the neighbors, as Congressman Shimkus talked about earlier, the neighbor is the Federal Government. The Federal Government owns the spent nuclear fuel. The Federal Government owns the land around it. The Federal Government owns the site at Yucca Mountain--Yucca Mountain, again, 100 miles away from the Colorado River. The storage that we are talking about would be 1,000 feet above the water table, because it is important that we protect our water, and 1,000 feet below ground. This is the ideal spot. Yet we have come not on science; this hasn't been objected to by the scientific research. This has been objected to for political reasons. Frankly, I have to tell you, Mr. Speaker, the politics has to end because what it is doing is jeopardizing communities across our Nation. We should be transporting this spent nuclear fuel to the safest location possible to make sure that we are not putting our citizens at risk, that we are not damaging or potentially damaging the environment. The Department of Energy has concluded that the repository would have little or no adverse impact on future populations or the environment. These are key. So we are going to take a look at what the Department of Energy has to say and at the studies that have been done. Literally, Yucca Mountain is probably the most studied piece of real estate that we have in our Nation today. All of the studies that have come back say this is the spot at which we should be storing this spent nuclear fuel. Instead, it is staying all across the country at the cost to the taxpayers. The Federal Government owns the nuclear fuel, and when it refused, according to the law, to take that nuclear fuel back and deal with it, we had our companies out there that basically said, Well, what are we supposed to do with it? So they sued on breach of contract, literally costing the taxpayers billions of dollars. We heard my colleague from Washington say that it could be as much as $50 billion that the hard- working taxpayers are going to pay to keep the spent nuclear fuel where we don't want it to stay. The government has an obligation, Mr. Speaker, to step up and do the right thing. I, for one, am delighted to be able to be here today to tell you about the story of Zion, Illinois, but we recognize that this is a situation that is impacting over 104 different sites. We cannot afford to wait any longer. There are some on the other side of the building, Mr. Speaker, who are specifically holding this process up. We need to move forward. We need to make sure Yucca Mountain is approved, open, and, again, able to store this for up to a million years. It is the right thing to do, and I urge my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats--we have got those in the Illinois delegation to my south who rely on Lake Michigan. This is something that we should all be united behind. I am honored to be able to come up and talk about this, but I am also saddened that it has taken so long and that, if we do nothing, it will be potentially decades longer. This is unacceptable. The citizens of our country demand that the United States Government abide by the law and by its obligations to store the spent fuel at Yucca Mountain. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.