Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dustin Deford, a 24- year-old Montana native who was among the 19 Hotshot firefighters who recently died while battling a wildfire in Arizona. The son of Reverend Steve and Celeste Deford, Dustin grew up in the small town of Ekalaka, Montana, where he was well known for his joyful spirit as well as his deep faith in Christ. Dustin also had a passion for community service at an early age. In fact, he volunteered for the Carter County Rural Fire Department as soon as he turned 18 and continued working as a county firefighter every summer from 2007 until this year, when he earned a position on the Granite Mountain Hotshots in Arizona. Cindy and I join all the people of Montana in mourning the loss of Dustin and all the brave firefighters who lost their lives on June 30. We are keeping Dustin's family and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I'm grateful for my good friend from North Dakota, Kevin Cramer, for this time to talk about what is really important to the people out in the heartland, which sometimes is a very different set of values than what we find right here in the beltway of Washington. I was also struck by my good friend from Kentucky, Andy Barr, as he shared his comments. It reminds me that we are the party, we are the leaders back here standing for the working middle class in this country, standing for jobs, for revenues that go to our schools, and the tax base for low-cost energy. This President says one thing, but the consequence of this policy is something that will only ultimately benefit the elite and the wealthy in this country instead of the regular working families in this country. I want to thank my friends here today for organizing this Special Order and bringing attention to the importance of an American energy sector to our economy and to the daily lives of all Americans. In Montana, we know the importance of a robust energy sector. Whether it's oil, gas, coal, wind, water, biomass, it's all needed to create jobs and keep energy costs low for the people of our country. In fact, one of my priorities in Congress is to fight for the all-of-the- above energy plan that helps grow American jobs, lowers energy costs, and helps us fight for North American energy independence, energy security. Unfortunately, President Obama does not seem to share this goal. In fact, yesterday, President Obama unveiled his latest energy plan, a job-killing agenda that will hurt American jobs and American families and small businesses. After his announcement yesterday, President Obama made a commitment to waging war on American energy, which was made crystal clear. In fact, by imposing further barriers to the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and by working to severely hinder American coal production, President Obama has unveiled a misguided agenda that will only hurt Montana and American energy consumers and will cost good-paying Montana jobs. Montana's energy sector is a huge driver for our State's economy. Our coal mining industry employs over 1,200 workers across our State. Montana contains more coal reserves than any other State in America, and it ranks number six overall in coal production nationwide. Additionally, coal production provides critical funding for Montana schools, as much of our State's coal is located on school trust lands. We forget about the contribution to our tax base, that of helping build schools and funding teachers, which comes from the energy industry. The development of our coal reserves produces millions of dollars for Montana public education every year. My daughter is a senior at Montana State University, preparing to graduate and go into elementary education in Montana. Energy production will be critical to funding our public schools in Montana as we look down the road. We have also seen tremendous growth from the booming development of the Bakken formation, as my friend from North Dakota alluded to, which spreads across eastern Montana and into western North Dakota. Oil production in our State has created thousands of good-paying jobs, both in the oil fields and also in the service industries that are at the heart of many of our small towns. I would like to have the President come out to eastern Montana and see what's happening out there. Families are struggling, living month to month, but are seeing the benefits now of the energy industry as they are seeing paychecks they can count on as they look forward. It has also injected millions of dollars into our State's economy; and, like coal, it has helped provide millions of dollars in much-needed funding for Montana's schools. Recent reports show that Bakken oil production currently accounts for 11 percent of the total U.S. oil production and represents 40 percent of increased oil production nationwide. If the Keystone XL pipeline is built, it would be able to move up to 100,000 barrels of oil. That's Montana and North Dakota oil per day from our very own Bakken formation. Mr. President, I am in favor of ``made in America'' energy. Montana's natural resources, like coal and oil, not only provide our State and Nation with quality American energy, but they are helping keep the utility costs low for hardworking American taxpayers. Montana gets more than half of its power from coal. That helps keep electric rates low. We see some electric cars driving down the highways today and in our towns. I'm not opposed to electric cars; but if the truth be known, we ought to have a sticker on the back that reads: ``This electric car likely powered by coal.'' The average retail price in Montana is currently 8.4 cents per kilowatt hour, which is among the lowest in the Nation. The construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, on the other hand, would also have a tremendous impact on energy prices for Montanans. In fact, not too long ago, I was traveling around our State. I am the only Member of Congress for the State of Montana. It's a privilege to represent an entire State. I was up in Glasgow, Montana, meeting with the NorVal Electric Co-Op. I learned that the NorVal Electric Co-Op is expected to supply power for one of the Keystone pump stations. If the Keystone pipeline is built, it will help NorVal keep its customers' electric rates stable for the next 10 years. Think about that--10 years of no increase. Contrast that to, if the pipeline is not built, NorVal expects that their rates will grow upwards of 40 percent over the next decade. Mr. President, these customers at NorVal live month to month. They live paycheck to paycheck. This is what is helping American middle class, hardworking taxpayers survive--expanding our energy production. By declaring a war on energy right now, you are declaring a war on American families who are struggling every month to make ends meet. For most Montanans who live on tight budgets and who carefully track where their paychecks are going, unlike a lot of the folks around here in Washington, D.C., a 40 percent increase in utility rates would be devastating. Unfortunately, under President Obama's agenda, that very well could happen. President Obama's war on coal would severely hinder coal production in Montana and the jobs that rely on this important industry. It would be a serious blow to Montana families and to small businesses that rely on coal as a reliable source of affordable electricity. Just as bad, this job-killing agenda will be imposed through unilateral action, demonstrating that the President is more set on achieving his own political goals rather than on listening to the will of the American people or on working to create much-needed jobs. Mr. President, the people of America are focused on paying their bills every month. That's a higher priority to them than your priority, which is that of winning an election in 2014. By sidestepping Congress and public scrutiny, President Obama will set his agenda in motion through costly regulations and more and more red tape and bureaucratic hoops. These roadblocks won't just hurt the coal industry as we know President Obama and his advisers seek to do; these regulations will hurt hardworking American taxpayers who rely on American energy each and every day. Let me be clear: President Obama's agenda isn't just a war on coal. This is a war on Montana energy, on Montana families, on Montana small businesses, and on Montana jobs--and it must be stopped. I will remain steadfast in this fight to stop the President's job-killing agenda, and I look forward to working with my colleagues here today on commonsense policies that grow American energy and help create the good-paying jobs that the American people desperately need.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend, Montana Public Service Commissioner Chairman Bill Gallagher, who was recently diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer. Cindy and I join the people of Montana in keeping Bill and his family in our prayers during this most difficult time. Sadly, this is a disease that affects all too many Montanans. Yesterday, I met with Abby Brown, a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network volunteer from my home town of Bozeman, who recently lost her dad to pancreatic cancer. She shared stories about her dad's fight, as well as other Montanans like Gallatin County District Judge Mark Guenther, who was also a friend of mine. Abby also told me of the importance of regular checkups and healthy living as key preventative measures in lowering one's chances of being diagnosed with higher risk cancers. Unfortunately, cancer has affected each and every American in some way. I hope all Montanans will work to promote cancer awareness, and even more importantly, take preventive measures to prevent cancer and increase early diagnoses. Know it. Fight it. End it.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, as a person of conscience, I believe we are called to protect the most vulnerable in our society. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is an important measure to do exactly that: protect unborn children who can feel pain. And as parents of four children, two boys and two girls, Cindy and I instinctively do all we can as parents to protect our children from pain. During the Gosnell trial, we all learned of the gruesome methods of ending the life of just-born children, some of whom were a little over 20 weeks old. If Gosnell aborted these children moments before they were removed from the womb in the method similar to the dismemberment which occurs in several clinics throughout our country and science tells us causes pain to the baby, would the loss of life have been any less tragic, any less appalling? We cannot stand idly by and allow such painful terminations of human life to continue. I urge passage of this bill, and I look forward to casting my vote in support of the rule.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam Chairman, one of the top requests that I hear from Montanans when I go back every weekend is Congress needs to pass a long-term farm bill. One in five of Montana jobs rely on agriculture, and it's past time for passage of a 5-year farm bill that protects and promotes Montana's number one industry. We need a farm bill that supports our rural communities and gives the ag community the certainty needed to plant the crops that feed our country and ensure a stable food supply. We need a farm bill that gives Montana farmers relief from burdensome regulations and encourages young people to remain active in their family farms. This bill also contains important provisions for our timber community, and for the health of our forests. As we begin fire season, we've already seen the terrible consequences of the lack of active forest management. It's important we give the Forest Service the necessary regulatory relief in order to protect our communities. In light of our Nation's escalating debt crisis, Congress must look to save taxpayer money wherever possible. I am pleased that the Ag Committee has made substantive, cost-saving changes to a wide variety of programs in the proposed farm bill, including reforms designed to reduce fraud and abuse in the distribution of food stamps. It's important to get the farm bill passed through the House, into conference, and on the President's desk before expiration. It's time to pass the farm bill.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Representative Lummis for her leadership on this critically important issue and show my strong support for this amendment which I have joined her and our friend from North Dakota in introducing today. Our Nation's intercontinental ballistic missiles are a vital component of our nuclear deterrence strategy to keep the American people safe from mankind's most dangerous threat. And for several decades, this ``peace through strength'' policy has worked. Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, is home to 150 of our Nation's ICBMs. I recently visited Malmstrom and met with the leaders of the 341st Missile Wing to discuss the importance of our ICBM mission to our national security. In fact, at the conclusion of the visit, Colonel Robert Stanley, the commander at Malmstrom, gave me this commander's coin. The motto embossed on it summarizes why our defense strategy is effective. And let me read it. It says this: Scaring the hell out of America's enemies since 1962. I am grateful for their role in keeping America secure and their enormous contributions to Montana. I believe it will be deeply unwise to rewrite our effective policy for peace. Our potential adversaries in the 21st century may differ from those during the Cold War, but a comprehensive nuclear deterrence capability will remain crucial to our national security. Our amendment requires the Pentagon to keep our ICBM silos in warm status even as adjustments pursuant to the New START Treaty are made. It will keep potential adversaries at bay and ensure that our crucial nuclear force remains flexible and responsive. I urge all my colleagues to vote for it.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, as a fifth-generation Montanan and sportsman, I know how special the Treasure State is. Our State's rivers and mountains and our outdoor heritage are an important part of every Montanan's way of life and play an important part in our State's economy. It's important that we work together to protect these valuable resources so that future generations can enjoy them for years to come. The North Fork Watershed, on the western slope of Glacier National Park, is critical to our State's outdoor heritage and the tourism economy in the Flathead Valley. Efforts to protect the North Fork Watershed, like the North Fork Watershed Protection Act, is a good example of how we can work together to put Montana first. That's why I'm introducing legislation to protect this valuable resource, while also ensuring that current recreational uses, livestock management, and forest management in this region are maintained. I'm glad to be part of this important, bipartisan effort in leading the charge in the House to achieve the goals that the Flathead community supports.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam Speaker, like most Montanans, I was appalled to learn that the IRS had deliberately targeted groups for investigation based on their beliefs. Given these events, it would be senseless to empower the IRS to oversee major aspects of the American health care system. Yet that's what ObamaCare calls for. That's why I've signed on to the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act, which states that the IRS may not be involved in any aspect of President Obama's health care law. In fact, just last night, I held a tele-town hall meeting with thousands of my fellow Montanans, and more than 90 percent of those who participated agreed that the IRS should be stripped of its power to implement ObamaCare. The American people have every right to demand that their government be accountable and that their government's actions be driven by a desire to serve the American people, not by political motivation. With the IRS' recent abuse of power, it's sadly clear that stopping the IRS from using its power to oversee Americans' health care is a necessary step.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Chairman, it took Canada just 7 months to approve the Keystone XL pipeline; meanwhile, Americans have been waiting 4\1/2\ years for President Obama to act. Montanans understand how important this project is for our economy and for our energy future. In eastern Montana, we've seen the tremendous potential for jobs and economic growth that comes with oil production in the Bakken field. In fact, this pipeline will transport up to 100,000 barrels per day of Bakken oil--that is Montana and North Dakota oil--through a connecting on-ramp in Baker, Montana. And in Glasgow, Montana, the NorVal Electric Co-op is slated to supply electricity to one of the Keystone XL pump stations. Let me tell you what this means to middle class, hardworking Americans. If this pipeline is built, this rural electric co-op will be able to spread their cost burdens with the pipeline and, consequently, hold rates steady for their 3,000 customers. But if the pipeline is not approved, NorVal customers will see upwards of a 40 percent increase in their utility rates over the next 10 years. Mr. Chairman, if the President isn't willing to listen to the voice of the people, the House will. It's time to build the Keystone XL pipeline.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Earlier this week, I sent an online survey out to my constituents with one simple question: Do you support efforts to repeal ObamaCare? Thousands of Montanans responded, and by a 3-1 margin they made it clear that ObamaCare needs to be repealed. And as we speak, the American people are lighting up Twitter. Check it out yourself. They're tweeting about the harms of ObamaCare in three words. Actually, the hashtag is: ObamaCare in Three Words. But while Americans are saying things like ``job-crushing mandates'' and ``premiums are skyrocketing,'' 1 hour ago the White House tweeted back and said this: ``Because. It's. Law.'' Well, I have three words for the White House: arrogance of power. Madam Speaker, if the President is unwilling to listen to the voice of the people, then the House will, because this is the people's House. ObamaCare is a bad law, plain and simple. I was elected to serve the people of Montana and represent their voice in this Congress, and that's what I'm doing today. Montanans have spoken loud and clear: they want this law repealed. That's why I will vote to repeal it.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Thanks much to my good friend from Kentucky, Mr. Thomas Massie, for coordinating this Special Order here tonight. I appreciate it greatly. We're here tonight to share our strong opposition to the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act. This is a bill that mandates small businesses to collect sales tax on behalf of other cities and States when selling products over the Internet. The problem is this bill would fundamentally change how online purchases are taxed and would impose yet another burden on small businesses across the country, but especially like my home State of Montana. You see, in Montana we don't have a statewide sales tax. In fact, we often say you know you're a native Montanan if you voted against a sales tax twice. But I will have to say that in my home State we have a balanced budget requirement. And not only did our State balance its budget this year, we're running a surplus, and we've done that without a sales tax. And Washington should do the same. They should learn how to balance their budget, and they don't have to impose a sales tax that's imposed on businesses across this country. But even though we don't have a sales tax, under this legislation, Montana small businesses would be forced to collect sales taxes for up to 9,600 cities and States, none of which would go back to the people of Montana. Let me be clear. This isn't just a bill that hurts no sales tax States like Montana. It hurts small businesses in every State, burdening businesses that depend on Internet sales with added costs and more paperwork and more regulations. Proponents of this bill say, well, it's about fairness. They say that this bill will help prevent the supposedly widespread practice of ``showrooming,'' where customers visit a physical store but then buy the goods online where customers can get a better price or avoid paying sales tax. According to proponents of this bill, this showrooming is destroying our brick-and-mortar businesses. Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is not only misleading; it's wrong. As the National Journal reported, a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of 10,000 shoppers found this so-called widespread problem occurred less than 2 percent of the time. In fact, the survey found that 10 times as many consumers researched products online so they could go buy them at the local brick-and-mortar shop. Think about that. And we've all had that happen to us. You may go online and shop, but you may not want to pay the shipping costs. You may not want to have the time it takes to receive the goods. You may want to be buying that bike for your child, so you go downtown and buy at the brick-and-mortar store. Furthermore, the study states, and I quote, ``We also can't emphasize enough that the physical store remains the centerpiece of the purchase journey for many categories. In 9 out of 11 categories, in fact, the majority of consumers use physical stores for both researching and purchasing the products they want to buy.'' I know that many times I'd rather head downtown to my home of Bozeman, Montana, to talk to folks face-to-face and purchase a product I've researched online so I can avoid shipping fees and avoid the wait time. I know a lot of Montanans feel the same way. But then I also have to ask, what is fair about forcing a small business that relies on Internet sales to learn the ins and outs of 9,600 different tax jurisdictions or be subjected to tax audits, as the gentleman from Kentucky just mentioned, not just from one State but from all 46 States that collect sales tax? Imposing these unreasonable standards on online retail sales but not also on brick-and-mortar retail stores is not only unfair, it's unworkable. I've heard from Montana's small businessowners who are deeply concerned about what this bill means for them and how it will affect their ability to remain profitable. I'm concerned too. I've spent nearly three decades in the private sector. In fact, prior to having served in Congress, the last elective office I held was student body president in high school. So I've come from the business world. I've been a job creator and somebody that's had to fight the regulations and pay taxes. I know that if you're a small business owner and you're forced to comply with more than 9,000 different tax codes, which, by the way, most small businessowners readily admit it's next to impossible for any small business to do that. You are not going to be investing in your own business. You're not going to be hiring new employees, you're not going to be growing your product base or promoting innovation. You're now going to be spending more time and more capital dealing with regulations and mandates and more time with lawyers and accountants. We also can't forget the threat that this holds for principles that are the foundation of our Nation's tax policy, and that is that States must not be allowed to extend their taxation and regulatory authorities beyond their borders. The Internet tax would do away with the physical presence standard which dictates that a State can only require a business to collect a sales tax if it's physically present within its boundaries. Furthermore, the people don't want an online sales tax. A recent survey found that 84 percent of consumers were opposed to this bill and 75 percent of small online retailers are opposed. Those numbers send a clear message that the American people are strongly opposed to this proposal. So I would ask my colleagues this--remember this is the people's House. We're here to represent our districts and our States and do what is best for them. The problem back in this town, in Washington, D.C., is that the big businesses, the big corporations, have lobbyists here to be the voice here on the Hill. We need to be the voice tonight for the small business people who don't have lobbyists here in Washington, D.C., because they can't afford them. Imposing a new tax burden in these precarious economic times is clearly not what our small businesses and consumers need. I know one of the fastest ways to slow down growth and innovation is to tax it and to regulate it. This bill is a $23 billion tax increase coming right out of the pockets of hardworking American families. So let me be clear. The so-called Marketplace Fairness Act is a job- killing tax hike that hurts America's small businesses, and it hurts America's consumers. I promise I will continue to fight this bad piece of legislation.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I thank my good friend from Indiana, Congressman Luke Messer, for organizing this Special Order in preparation for Thursday's vote to repeal the President's health care law. Earlier today I emailed my constituents a quick survey back home in Montana with one simple question: Do you support efforts to repeal President Obama's health care law? We've seen already overwhelming response to our office here tonight from Montanans across our State, combined with letters, emails, the phone calls we've received, by three to one, Montanans want to repeal ObamaCare. Last week I had a tele-townhall meeting so I could hear from the people of Montana about the issues that matter most to them. The last question I was asked at the very end of this hour-long tele-townhall was from a woman from Florence, Montana, a small town on the western side of our State. She shared her heartfelt concerns about the health care law and how it was going to affect her small business. Between the costly new rules and regulations and rising health insurance premiums, she didn't know how she would be able to follow the law and keep her business afloat. And these challenges aren't unique to this one small business owner from Montana. Families and small businesses across America are struggling under President Obama's health care overhaul. Rather than providing real solutions to increase access to affordable care, ObamaCare is driving costs up, it's hurting small businesses, it's raising taxes on Americans by more than $1 trillion over the next decade and, ultimately, puts the government directly between patients and their doctors. This law also hurts our seniors and their access to health care. The President's health care law took more than $700 billion out of Medicare to pay for new ObamaCare spending, and establishes IPAB, this unaccountable, unelected board of bureaucrats empowered to further undermine seniors' access to medical care. And following this week's troubling news from the IRS, it makes it very clear that the IRS should not be in charge of enforcing ObamaCare's core provisions. We need to repeal ObamaCare to strip them of this authority. Furthermore, the President's health care overhaul sets in motion serious violations of America's religious freedoms. Under ObamaCare, the Department of Health and Human Services has mandated health care coverage of products and services to which some Americans are morally opposed. Under this mandate, religious institutions and employers, as well as health care providers who hold religious and moral convictions, are stripped of their religious freedoms. This is a clear violation of Americans' First Amendment rights, and it is of critical importance that the religious and moral convictions held by many Americans are protected. That's why I recently joined more than 90 of my colleagues here in the House in calling for the upcoming House appropriations proposals to contain full protections for Americans' religious liberties and conscience rights by including provisions found in the Health Care Conscience Rights Act, which I helped introduce in March. But we must continue fighting to repeal this failed law in its entirety. We know that our health care system is complex; it has major problems that need to be addressed. But ObamaCare only makes the matters worse. The President's health care law takes us in the wrong direction. At the end of the day, it will result in higher costs, higher premiums, and force millions of Americans to lose the coverage they currently have. And let's just remember something from 3 years ago. Remember in March of 2010, when ObamaCare passed the House, there was nothing bipartisan about ObamaCare. There was bipartisan opposition. In fact, 34 Democrats joined 178 Republicans in opposing ObamaCare, but not one single Republican voted for this. There's nothing bipartisan about it, other than bipartisan opposition. I will vote to repeal this law on Thursday. I will continue to work with my colleagues in support of better, more effective solutions that give Americans the quality, affordable care they deserve.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong opposition to the Marketplace Fairness Act. This is a bill that mandates small businesses to collect sales tax on behalf of other cities and States when selling products over the Internet. This bill would fundamentally change how online purchases are taxed and would impose yet another burden on Montana's small businesses. You see, back home in Montana, we don't have a Statewide sales tax. In fact, we often say that ``You know you're a native Montanan if you've voted against a sales tax twice.'' But under this legislation, which the Senate passed last night, Montana's small businesses would be forced to collect sales tax for up to 9,600 cities and States--none of which would go to Montana. The added costs and the burden of more paperwork and more regulations would severely undermine many small businesses in our State. As a fifth-generation Montanan who supports our State's no sales tax policy, I strongly oppose this legislation, and I will fight to stop it should it reach the House floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, Military Appreciation Day is an important reminder for all Americans of the importance of thanking and honoring the men and women who have served our nation in the armed forces. I want to especially recognize Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas Parker of Ronan, Montana. Lance Cpl. Parker served in the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, and on December 11, 2010 he lost both of his legs and much of his left hand from an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. After months of surgeries and rehabilitation, Lance Cpl. Parker returned home to Montana, and I'm proud to have him joining us for Military Appreciation Day in Helena. His strength, perseverance, and selfless service has made Montana proud and is worthy of our deepest appreciation. I'm proud to honor Montana's veterans and service members on Military Appreciation Day, but may we always remember to thank these selfless Americans each and every day for their service to our country and the sacrifices they have made to protect our nation's security and our freedom.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 86 Montana World War II veterans who recently made their way to Washington, D.C., as part of the Big Sky Honor Flight. I'm so proud that the Honor Flight program exists, and I'm deeply thankful to all the volunteers that made this possible. As the son of a U.S. Marine, I have a deep appreciation for the sacrifices our veterans have made in service to our Nation. But I was struck by something that one of our Montana World War II vets said while sitting before the World War II monument just this past Monday. He said this: ``At the end of my life, I look around this memorial and I see the power of this Nation.'' It's true. The monuments that line our National Mall do remind us of the strength and perseverance of the United States. But, Mr. Speaker, I look at our veterans and our servicemembers, from the members of the Greatest Generation to the men and women serving our Nation today, and in them I see the power of this Nation, founded in a commitment to freedom and an unwavering dedication to service.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, thank you, Mr. Johnson for leading tonight's leadership hour on American energy. This is an issue of great importance to the people of Montana, and I'm glad we're having this discussion tonight. 1678. That's how many days it's been since the application to build the Keystone XL pipeline was filed. It took Canada seven months to approve the pipeline. President Obama has taken over four and a half years. Study after study has shown that not only is the pipeline safe--but it said to be the most advanced, state-of-the art pipeline ever constructed. And the benefits of constructing this pipeline go beyond just transporting oil. Earlier this month, I was in Glasgow, Montana visiting NorVal Electric Co-op. Members of the co-op told me that they are going to be supplying electricity to pump stations for the KXL, allowing them to spread their cost burdens and hold rates steady for customers. If Obama does not approve the Keystone pipeline, their customers will see upwards of a 40 percent increase in their utility rates over the next ten years. This is a great example of how this will impact everyday Americans. It will create thousands of jobs--at least 800 in my home state of Montana alone. And the president still can't make a decision. Last month, the U.S. State Department issued its Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Keystone XL Presidential Permit application, which confirmed what we already knew. The Keystone XL Pipeline will have no significant impacts on the environment. In fact, this is the fourth environmental review of the Keystone Pipeline--with a final report still to come. Let me be clear--this project means jobs. This project could directly create more than 800 good-paying jobs in Montana--and thousands more across the nation. It means coming one step closer to North American energy independence. The Keystone XL would be able to move up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day. That's about half the amount that the U.S. presently imports from the Middle East. And of the oil moved each day, 100,000 barrels will come from the Bakken formation, which spreads across Montana and North Dakota. This isn't about politics--Republicans and Democrats alike support the pipeline. This is about our nation's security. This is about lowering energy costs for American families. This is about American jobs. After four and a half years of waiting on President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, enough is enough. The American people deserve action on this job-creating project, not more of President Obama's delays. That's why today, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to advance the Northern Route Approval Act. This bill makes it possible for the pipeline to be constructed in its entirety by removing the need for a presidential permit for the northern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline. With this approval, we are one step closer to getting this pipeline approved. The construction of the Keystone XL pipeline means hundreds of good- paying jobs created for Montanans, it means millions of dollars injected into our economy, and it even means lower utility rates for Montanans--we can't afford to wait any longer. Enough is enough. It's been 1678 days. As a member of the House Energy Action Team, I urge President Obama to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. And, if he won't act, we will.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. I want to thank the gentleman from Kentucky this evening for this opportunity to talk about coal. I stand with my colleagues to show support for an all-of-the-above energy strategy. Montana possesses an abundance of hydropower, oil, sun, wind, natural gas, and coal. And coal is a very important piece of that equation. Coal provides the fuel for roughly 40 percent of the electricity used in the United States. You know, I see the electric cars going down the street; and I'm not opposed to electric cars, but they ought to say ``powered by coal'' on them in terms of understanding where the source of the power is to power these electric cars. Coal keeps energy costs low. It helps keep American businesses competitive, and it allows middle Americans to keep more of their hard- earned dollars during these challenging economic times. In Montana, we are seeing firsthand the critical role that coal plays in the energy sector. In my home State, it is creating hundreds of jobs, fostering important relationships with our Indian reservations, being a leader in coal production for our country and leading the way for coal exports. I support this industry because it enables more young Montanans to put their training and education to work and to stay at home with their job instead of exporting our talent to other places so Grandma and Grandpa have to fly to see the grandkids versus visiting them next door. You see, in my home State of Montana, we boast the largest coal reserve in the Nation. The Powder River Basin, which spans across southern Montana and northern Wyoming, contains nearly 3.4 billion tons of coal reserves. I recently met with representatives from Arch Coal, a company that is ready to invest millions of dollars into developing the Otter Creek mine in southeastern Montana. Developing these resources creates jobs, injects millions of dollars into the economy. It helps lower energy costs, and, importantly, it creates tax revenues for our schools. Cloud Peak Energy recently signed an agreement with the Crow Tribe to open up access to more than 1.4 billion tons of coal on the northern Powder River Basin, which would help inject millions of dollars into the Crow reservation's economy. I met with Chairman Old Coyote of the Crow Tribe. He said they have a vision of becoming financially independent on the reservation because of these coal opportunities. These are exciting opportunities, but the industry is under attack. Fringe environmental groups continue to pressure the administration and others to slow production and slow economic development. This must change. As Montana's Congressman, I'm committed to working for commonsense reforms that ensure that our natural resources like coal can be developed responsibly. With that, I thank the rest of my colleagues here tonight for helping do the same.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern and opposition to legislation introduced today in the House of Representatives by Representatives Peter King and Mike Thompson. This bill, which mirrors a recent Senate proposal to expand background checks, holds threats to our Second Amendment rights while doing little to address the underlying problems behind violent crimes. As thousands of Montanans have shared with me, expanding Washington bureaucracy and restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens is the wrong approach. This is the number one issue I hear about from my great State. As a fifth-generation Montanan and lifelong sportsman, I am deeply committed to protecting the rights that thousands of Montanans lawfully exercise every day. We recognize that the Second Amendment is not about hunting. It is about freedom. That's why I joined my colleague, Representative Steve Stockman, in the calling of the House to block any proposal to undermine the Second Amendment; and I will continue to fight against any proposals, whether in the House or the Senate, that threaten Montanans' Second Amendment rights.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, today, on the other side of the Capitol, our friends in the Senate are considering a number of proposals that hold serious threats to our Second Amendment rights. I agree that we need to have a serious conversation about how to reduce violent crime. But the Senate's recent decision to focus debate on restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens is the wrong approach. These proposals will do nothing but expand Washington bureaucracy and further complicate the ability of law-abiding Montanans to purchase firearms while doing little to actually address the underlying problems behind violent crimes. Thousands of Montanans have reached out to my office, expressing their concern over these threats to their Second Amendment rights. As a fifth-generation Montanan and lifelong sportsman, I too am deeply concerned about the Senate's proposal to expand background checks for private sales to Montana citizens, which would criminalize the private transfer of firearms between law-abiding Montanans. Let me point out, the Second Amendment is not about hunting; it is about freedom. So let me be clear. I am strongly opposed to and will fight back against any efforts that infringe upon Montanans' Second Amendment rights.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, last week, I was home in Montana to highlight the important role that natural resources play in our State's economy. In fact, I put 3,000 miles in traveling around our great State. One question I was asked repeatedly was: When will the Keystone pipeline be approved? We all know the tremendous economic impact the Keystone pipeline would have and the jobs that would be created; but when I was in Glasgow, Montana, I learned of a relatively unknown benefit as a result of the pipeline. You see, NorVal Electric Co-Op in Glasgow is slated to supply electricity to one of the Keystone XL pump stations. If the pipeline is built, this rural electric co-op will be able to spread its cost burdens with the pipeline and, consequently, hold rates steady for its 3,000-plus Montana customers. If the pipeline is not approved, it told me that NorVal customers will see upwards of a 40-percent increase in their utility rates over the next 10 years. As I've said time and time again, this is common sense. Keystone means jobs; it means another step towards energy independence; and it means lower utility rates for rural Montanans, for hardworking Montana families. President Obama, it's time to approve the Keystone pipeline.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Chairman Hastings, thanks to you and to Mr. Tipton for the opportunity to speak in support of H.R. 678 today. This bill reflects an issue that is of true importance to my home State of Montana. You know, when most people think of our rivers and waterways in Montana, they think of celebrities like Brad Pitt standing in the Little Blackfoot River casting for trout in the movie ``A River Runs Through It.'' Back in Montana, we rely on our rivers and our natural resources as an important part of our way of life. However, I'm here today to focus on a very significant benefit of our waterways, and that's hydropower. Our waterways help power our homes, they irrigate our farms and ranches, and they water our livestock. In Montana, about a third of our energy comes from hydropower, generating 1,100 megawatts per year. To put this in perspective, 1 megawatt will power nearly 600 homes. Six of Montana's 10 largest generating plants run on hydroelectric power. But we're not here to talk about streams and rivers; we're here to talk about man-made canals and manmade waterways. The Bureau of Reclamation has constructed 32 such projects in Montana, and with the improved ability to harness the energy of moving water in conduits, the Rural Jobs Act would allow each of these projects to generate more than 26 million kilowatts per hour of power. There is no reason red tape should tie up that much alternative energy potential. This bill will help lower energy costs, create Montana jobs, and provide our Nation with a sustainable, renewable source of energy. This is common sense. I believe that H.R. 678, the Rural Jobs Act, is important for our country, and I strongly support its passage.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Montana is well known for its millions of acres of forestland. As a result, acreage that would normally be privately owned and generating tax revenue to help fund local services is instead locked away by the Federal Government. In 1908, President Teddy Roosevelt signed legislation ensuring that impacted communities will receive 25 percent of the receipts for timber harvests occurring on Forest Service lands. Because Montana has some of the most abundant forests, this commitment to robust timber harvesting also helped to provide jobs for thousands of families in my home State. Sadly, timber harvests have plummeted by 90 percent in many areas due to out-of-balance Federal policies. Montana was previously home to 30 mills. It is now home to just seven. This means far fewer jobs for Montanans. The Secure Rural Schools program has provided short-term relief, but revitalizing our timber industry is the only permanent solution to the problem President Roosevelt recognized 100 years ago. This is my number one priority as a member of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands. I look forward to championing this issue.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I arrived here in Washington, D.C., to serve the people of Montana and my country with a bit of a different resume than many folks have here in Washington. You see, I've spent the past 28 years in the private sector working to grow businesses, having to balance a budget and create good jobs. I loved my job in the private sector. But when I looked at Washington and the path our economy and our country was on, I knew that things needed to change. So I ran for Congress because the challenges facing our Nation were far too great to just sit back on the sidelines. As Montana's small businesses know, you can't spend more than you take in. Year after year of Federal deficits with no end in sight doesn't lead to prosperity, doesn't lead to growth--it leads to financial ruin. I'm also the father of four great kids--two in college and two in high school. They know that as a family, we have to plan ahead for the future. We need to create a budget and then live within our means. These are the same principles that my parents passed down to me. These are the values that Montana families live by each and every day. Those values are exemplified in Montana's own State legislature, where the only constitutionally required duty is passing a balanced budget. In fact, when our legislature in Montana adjourns in just a little over a month, they will have given Montana a balanced budget, just like they did last year and the year before and the year before that. It seems simple: live within your means and spend no more than you take in. But it's not so easy here in Washington. Right now we're presented with two very different visions for our country, two visions that will lead to two very different outcomes for this country. One vision calls for more taxes taken out of the pockets of hardworking American families and more government spending, which adds to the trillions of dollars in debt that will be handed down to the next generation. Our friends on the other side of the aisle talk about a balanced approach, but they refuse to even balance their own budget. Our vision calls for a stop to Washington's failed policies and reckless spending. It says American families and small businesses understand you can't spend more than you take in, that you need to balance your budget. It's time for Washington to do the same. This vision seeks to protect the things that we value most, to keep the promises that we've made to our seniors and to our veterans--I'm the son of a U.S. Marine--while at the same time allowing us to leave a better future to our kids and our grandkids. That's the vision I want to work toward, and that's why I'm proud to support the House Budget Committee's proposals which we will be voting on later this week. This isn't about passing a budget for one year just one time. This is about creating lasting solutions that help grow our economy and put our country back on track. That's what this budget will do.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Abbi Helland, a remarkable young woman from Glasgow, Montana, who was recently named Miss Teen Montana International. Abbi is the daughter of Pete and Allison Helland and the granddaughter of Montana's former Congressman, Ron Marlenee, and his wife Cindy. Abbi is passionate about reading and making sure that Montanans of all ages have access to books. She'll be working with our State's schools, libraries, and book stores to promote reading education and to support the ``I Love to Read Week'' in Montana communities. She also will work to install programs to send books overseas and to expand access to books for Montana's seniors. Abbi is a true example of the spirit and drive that we value in my home State of Montana. She'll represent our State well as our ambassador to the Miss Teen International competition in Chicago this July. Congratulations, Abbi. We're proud of you.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Specialist Bernard L. Rustad, who will be awarded with the Bronze Star Medal on April 5, 2013, for his bravery and selflessness while serving in Vietnam. Specialist Rustad served with the 1st Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division during Combat Operation Lam Son 719. On April 6, 1971, Specialist Rustad's unit was providing security for the last withdrawing units from the Khe Sahn airstrip area, in the midst of heavy enemy fire. During this time, Specialist Rustad noticed that soldiers from the neighboring unit had been wounded and left unattended. With complete disregard for his own safety, Specialist Rustad ran to their assistance and saved the lives of these young men. Specialist Rustad's actions demonstrated true bravery--and also stand as an example to all of us as what true selflessness looks like. It is an honor to present Specialist Bernard L. Rustad with the Bronze Star Medal, and I thank him for his service and sacrifice.