Vernon Ehlers

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to observe for a moment there will be no expense to any voter. It will be paid by the Federal Government if the voter has to pay money to get a birth certificate or a photo ID. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to another member of the House Administration Committee, Mr. John Mica of Florida.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) for another colloquy.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Walden for purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1015, I call up the bill (H.R. 4844) to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require any individual who desires to register or re-register to vote in an election for Federal office to provide the appropriate State election official with proof that the individual is a citizen of the United States to prevent fraud in Federal elections, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) one of the most honorable persons in the Chamber, one who has served well for so many years, the sponsor of this bill, who has worked tirelessly for this Congress and for the people of the United States, including on this bill.

Mr. EHLERS

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

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert).

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of the bill.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, please find attached the Congressional Budget Office's estimate for the legislation, H.R. 4844, the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006, as reported by the Committee on House Administration. U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, September 19, 2006. Hon. Vernon J. Ehlers, Chairman, Committee on House Administration, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4844, the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Matthew Pickford (for federal costs), Sarah Puro (for the impact on state and local governments), and Paige Piper/Bach (for the impact on the private sector). Sincerely, Donald B. Marron, Acting Director. Enclosure. H.R. 4844--Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 Summary: H.R. 4844 would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require all voters in federal elections to display a valid and current photo identification card issued by a government agency. The requirement would begin with the November 2008 federal election. The legislation would require the photo identification cards to document U.S. citizenship by the 2010 federal election. The legislation would require states to provide photo identification cards to all eligible voters who cannot pay for them, and it would authorize appropriations for the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to reimburse states for those costs. CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4844 would cost about $1 million in 2007 and $77 million over the 2007-2011 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. H.R 4844 contains intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). Beginning in 2008, the bill would: Require state and local governments to establish a program that would make certain forms of photo identification available to those who currently do not have it; Prohibit state and local governments from allowing individuals without proper photo identification to vote; and Prohibit states from charging a fee for such identification if the applicant cannot afford the fee. While the aggregate costs to state, local, and tribal governments of complying with these mandates is uncertain, CBO estimates that they would far exceed the threshold established in UMRA ($64 million in 2006, adjusted annually for inflation) in at least one of the first five I years after the mandates go into effect. The bill would authorize funds to cover the costs of reimbursing states for providing identification cards to those individuals that cannot afford them, which CBO estimates would total about $70 million over the next few years. By requiring individuals to have a government-issued identification to vote in a federal election, H.R. 4844 also would impose new private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA. Based on information from government and other sources, CBO estimates that the cost to comply with those mandates would exceed the annual threshold established by UMRA for private- sector mandates ($128 million in 2006, adjusted annually for inflation) in at least one of the first five years the mandates are in effect. Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 4844 is shown in the following table. The cost of this legislation falls within budget function 800 (general government). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2965. This bill restores a modicum of sense to our current government procurement system. Let me highlight two important aspects of this bill. One, the bill helps federal agencies manage taxpayer dollars more responsibly. For the first time, private-sector firms will be free to bid on federal contracting opportunities currently reserved for Federal Prison Industries. To assure that a buying agency is getting adequate value for the taxpayer dollars being spent on clothing, textiles, electronics, office furniture, equipment, services, or other procurement items, the buying agency--rather than FPI--would be empowered to determine whether the offered product and delivery schedule meet the buying agency's needs. Similarly, the buying agency would be empowered to determine whether FPI's offered price meets the procurement standard for a ``fair and reasonable price.'' Two, the bill is eminently more fair to contractors. Let me give you one example of the egregiously unfair practices under the current system. Back in 2003, the FAA was seeking to procure office furniture for its headquarters building. Through the General Services Administration, it solicited bids for the contract. On April 16, 2003, Steelcase (which is a major office furniture manufacturer based in my district) submitted its final bid for this contract to the GSA. A week later, Steelcase was informed by GSA that they were likely the winning bid on the contract. On May 7, they were informed by GSA that FPI had copied the proposal word for word and exactly matched Steelcase's bid. FPI asserted its sole source authority and decided not to grant a waiver for this contract. This was completely unfair as Steelcase had spent over 1,000 man hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars preparing the design, construction schedule, labor and material costs and other elements of this bid, only to have FPI duplicate the offer and undercut them. Thankfully, FPI eventually relented after considerable political pressure was brought to bear by myself and others. We cannot continue to fight these kinds of situations on a case-by- case basis. That is why I support comprehensive FPI reform. If FPI can compete on quality and price, then great! Let me note that the bill does not alter a broad array of other advantages that FPI enjoys when it competes with private-sector firms, including extremely low wage rates, low overhead costs and no tax liability. But the current mandatory source privilege is anathema to principles of the free market and open enterprise. I commend my colleague, Mr. Hoekstra, for his steadfast dedication to addressing this problem and for working with all the interested stakeholders. I urge everyone to support this bill.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer recognition of the 150th anniversary of the First Christian Church of Muir, Michigan. It is located in Ionia County, part of the Third Congressional District of Michigan, which I represent. The church will celebrate its sesquicentennial on September 7, 2006. The First Christian Church of Muir is part of the Michigan Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has great historical significance within that denomination. The church was formed in 1856 at about the same time the village of Muir was organized. Some members of the community called upon a friend, the Rev. Isaac Errett of Ohio, to come to Michigan to establish a church. The church held its first meeting on a cold, mid-winter morning, when parishoners gathered at the edge of the Grand River with temperatures that reached 31 degrees below zero. They had to break through the river's ice in order to get water to perform baptismal rites--certainly not a baptism by fire, I must say! The church became known as the ``Mother Church of the World,'' as it was the denomination's first church in the Grand River Valley and became the parent church of offshoots in Ionia, Owosso, Detroit, North Plains and Woodard Lake, as well as financing other Disciple churches in Tennessee, Kansas and Missouri. In 1861, the church building was completed, and Rev. Errett's longtime friend and fellow Disciple of Christ James A. Garfield, soon to become a member of this House and later to be the 20th President of the United States, traveled to Muir to dedicate the building. An elder and minister in the Disciples of Christ, Garfield had visited the church and preached there several times. Garfield was not the only House member and future president to visit the church, as then- Congressman Gerald R. Ford was on hand in 1956 to participate in the church's centennial celebration. The First Christian Church of Muir, originally constructed at a cost of $3,215 with boards cut at local saw mills, today rests on its original foundation and displays several stained-glass memorial windows, with the main window as a memorial to Rev. Isaac Errett. The church's bell, which was cast in England and hangs in the church's belfry, still is rung to announce services each Sunday, and also rings out on special occasions. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in congratulating the First Christian Church of Muir on its 150th anniversary and send well wishes to Rev. W. Gregory Gladding and the church's congregation as they celebrate their sesquicentennial on September 7, 2006.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. This is a very complex issue, and we have worked on this bill for a considerable amount of time in the Committee on Education and the Workforce, of which I am a member. I am puzzled, because there is a little confusion on the floor tonight about the airlines issue, and I hope I can help to clarify that. The impression that has been given, and I have heard it in other discussions and not just in this debate, that there is one plan here for Northwest and Delta and a different plan here for Continental and American Airlines. That is simply not true. There are two plans, but it does not specify which airlines. Any of the airlines can pick one of the two plans. It is an open choice. One plan is for an airline which chooses to freeze their pensions. In that case, they will pay what they owe to the PBGC at a certain rate of interest over a certain period of time. In the other plan, airlines do not have to freeze their pensions and they pay their obligation to the PBGC at a certain rate over a certain amount of time. Now, those rates and times are different because the two plans are different. The liabilities of the airlines are different. But Continental or American Airlines can choose to use the frozen plan with no problem whatsoever. If they think Northwest and Delta are getting a better deal, they can join them. They can freeze their plans and get the same repayment rate, same interest rate, same time to repay as Northwest and Delta. It is very simple. Two plans, but no airline is tied to a particular plan. They can make the choice they wish. In fact, Continental is using both plans. And so the argument that we are being unfair and are picking winners and losers among the airlines simply does not apply in this case. As Mr. Oberstar said, this is a fair arrangement which will preserve the pension funds for the employees of the airlines and will prevent a further load from being assigned to the PBGC, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, which would lose a lot of government money and which we may have to bail out if we do not adopt this plan. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 108) authorizing the printing of a revised edition of a pocket version of the United States Constitution, and other publications, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 108, authorizing the printing of a revised edition of a pocket version of the United States Constitution and other publications. This concurrent resolution not only reauthorizes the printing of the pocket size Constitution, but also the publication ``Our Flag.'' These congressional publications are favorites among Members to distribute to their constituents who visit them both here and in the Nation's Capitol and back at home in their district. And I can say that not only do Members enjoy distributing them, because we have such a respect and love for the Constitution, but I do have to tell you that students, citizens, teachers, also love to receive these pocket editions. And I urge them to emphasize to them what a fantastic thing it is that a pocket-sized version of a document has served this Nation so well for so many years that it has led to the longest lasting democratic government in the history of this planet. In addition, this resolution authorizes for the first time the printing of a history of the U.S. Botanic Garden. This book offers a comprehensive history of the garden and will further help its mission of educating the American public on environmental sciences. With that, Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of this resolution.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Captain Victor J. Van Heest for his service as a member of the United States Navy on the occasion of his retirement after 27 years of military service. Captain Van Heest is a native of my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and currently serves as Senior Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. After attending Michigan State University, where he graduated in 1979 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Captain Van Heest was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in August 1979. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1980 after completing flight school. He has served in many different posts around the country and world and has been deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf during his career. Furthermore, he continued his education, earning a Master of Science in Administration degree from Central Michigan University in 1999, and graduating from the Air War College in 1996. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal (three awards). Upon graduation from the Air War College, he transferred to VR-48, NAF Washington, DC, as the Executive Officer and in April 1997 assumed command of the squadron. During this time, the ``Capital Skyliners,'' who fly the C-20G aircraft, won the Battle `E' for C-9 and C-20 squadrons. Following his command tour, he reported to the Director of Air Warfare staff at the Pentagon as the Transport Aircraft Coordinator. One year later, he transferred to the Director of Naval Reserve staff as the Head, Reserve Air Logistics Programs and then fleeted up to Director, Air Programs Management Division. Assuming command of Fleet Logistics Support Wing in July 2001, he led the Airwing during Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He relinquished command in July 2003 having accumulated more than 5,700 flight hours in Navy aircraft. Captain Van Heest and his wife, Anne, reside with their sons, Peter and Andrew, in Annapolis, Maryland. Their oldest son, Kyle, is a Midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Upon his retirement, the Van Heests plan to move to Holland, Michigan, where, I am told, he will work for Haworth Inc. I ask my colleagues to join me in offering Captain Victor J. Van Heest our deepest gratitude for his 27 years of service to our Nation and congratulations on his retirement.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 40) authorizing the printing and binding of a supplement to, and revised edition of, Senate Procedure, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. For three-quarters of a century, the Department of Veterans Affairs has supported the distinguished men and women of our Armed Forces through the many services they offer. Since its inception in 1930, the VA has worked tirelessly to enhance patient care and veterans benefits, providing excellence in service to those who serve our Nation proudly. Of the 25 million veterans currently alive, nearly three of every four served during a war or in an official period of hostility. About a quarter of the Nation's population, approximately 70 million people, are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans. But the VA stands for more than the collection of services they offer. They represent the desire of all Americans to ensure that we honor those who selflessly answer the call to defend our great Nation with the great dignity and respect they deserve. On the occasion of its 75th anniversary year, the Department of Veterans Affairs, with the support of Chairman Buyer of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has requested use of the Capitol rotunda to commemorate the significant contribution that the VA has made in supporting veterans. As I have noted in the past, it is important for us to continually identify opportunities to recognize the contribution of our men and women in uniform as a way to give thanks for all that they have given to the American people. As you may know, the Committee on House Administration recently partnered with the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Armed Services Committee to introduce the Wall of the Fallen memorial, a tribute to those men and women who have lost their lives in battle in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was proud to sponsor the Wall of the Fallen in recognition of these heroes, just as I lend my full support to the request of the Department of Veterans Affairs for use of the Capitol rotunda to celebrate their 75 years of service to our Nation's veterans. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 427) permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder). (Mr. SOUDER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous matter on the subject of the bill.

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this excellent bill and to thank my good friend and colleague, Chairman Frank Wolf, for his tireless leadership in funding for basic scientific research in the fiscal year 2007 budget. In a tough budget environment, Chairman Wolf has fought hard to ensure that the President's American Competitiveness Initiative is fully funded. I appreciate the chairman's hard work on an issue that is so important to the Nation. I spent my career in Congress championing the need for investment in basic research to help keep our Nation on the leading edge of science and innovation. We have gained so much benefit from basic research, ranging from MRIs, through laser technology, human genome mapping, fiberoptics, and GPS systems. The President has recognized the necessity of this investment through his American Competitiveness Initiative, which includes much needed funding for the National Science Foundation. I very much appreciate that Chairman Wolf has recognized this need and has done as much as he could within the constraints of the budget to provide this funding. Also I should mention NIST and the great work they do, as well as NOAA and the National Weather Service. In these difficult budgetary times, the chairman has done a marvelous job, and I am very pleased by the funding levels for these entities. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and again thank Chairman Wolf for his leadership on important science research and education issues.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. If I may, if the gentleman will yield.

Mr. EHLERS. I thank the gentleman from Iowa for yielding. I didn't want to interrupt your beautiful soliloquy, it was fascinating, but I came to the floor because I heard those who were speaking before you, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. They were members of the other party describing in great detail how horrible Republicans are. Now, I don't know who they were talking about. They weren't talking about you. They weren't talking about me. They are not talking about any of my other Republican colleagues here. But you would literally think the world was ending. I have to tell you, Mr. King, how refreshing it is to come to the floor and hear you give this beautiful speech without condemning the other party, but simply outlining where you are coming from in a very careful, thoughtful way. I really, truly appreciate your expression of your beliefs about where the country should go and what is happening, without throwing rocks or mud or condemning anyone else, but simply outlining very beautifully what you believe. Now, if I may, I would just like to add a few comments. You live in northwest Iowa. I was born in southwest Minnesota, just a few miles from there. I think we have come from the same framework. Maybe that is another reason why I appreciate so much what you have been saying. You said when you were born, your glass was half full. Mine actually was about one-eighth full, simply because I grew up in a family with considerable poverty, poverty of money, but great richness of persons, of my parents and my siblings, great richness of faith. Frankly, that has always meant more to me than money. I am not a rich man. I never had very high incomes. The highest income I ever received is from the Congress of the United States. My point is that there is more than money to this life. That is what you were illustrating as well. My cup was one-eighth full, also, because I had serious illness, and I wasn't ever able to go to school. I was home-schooled before there was such a thing as home schooling. Through the love of my family, the encouragement of my family and friends, I survived that situation, and I did well in college, I did well in graduate school, and I ended up getting a Ph.D. in nuclear physics and teaching physics until I ended up in the political arena. So even though the glass was one-eighth full, it is overflowing and has been overflowing most of my life because of these circumstances. If I may add one final thought in response to the comments you made about the dot.com bubble. There is no question about it. That dot.com bubble really was a tremendous economic boom to this country. If you look back over the past 50 years, most of the economic growth has come from our investment in science and in scientific research. The dot.com bubble is a good example of that. Development of the Internet. It is amusing because I was using the Internet before the rest of the world knew it existed. It was a wonderful thing. But we were using it as scientists to transmit voluminous amounts of data back and forth around the world. And then someone gets the bright idea, hey, I bet the public would like to use this, too, and that was the start of the dot.com boom. As a scientist, I believe it is absolutely essential for our Nation to continue supporting research, the basic research. In the old days of monopolies, AT&T had Bell Labs. They could do the research. IBM had their labs. They did research. In today's globally competitive world, that is not possible. The government has to do the basic research, and from that industry develops the products that become very, very useful to us. And so I appreciate the point you made about that. I just want to emphasize, let's support the research that will continue having this country be the leader throughout the world in developing these products. I often find people saying, what do you need that research for? I remember when I was a graduate student, one of my colleagues at Berkeley developed nuclear magnetic resonance. It was a wonderful thing to investigate matter with. That is what he was doing. But, lo and behold, that is the basis of the MRI machine which has been the most powerful diagnostic tool that medicine has ever seen. Similarly with the CAT scan, developed out of some work we were doing at Berkeley. X- rays, discovered by a physicist. All basic research with very direct, practical implications for the world today. I know this is a sidetrack from the point you were making, but this is what makes America great: the creative ability that we have. We worry about losing jobs to other countries, but our creative instinct is what is going to help us win that battle. We don't have the low wages they do. I am glad we don't. But the point is because of our creative juices in this country, we come up with these great ideas. The greatest country that this planet has ever seen, the greatest ideas of freedom for everyone, and the creative ability to meet the challenges and meet the needs of the people of this world today. I thank you for yielding some time. I just wanted to add those few thoughts to your beautiful comments. Thank you very much.