Tom Feeney

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend from Texas for yielding. It is an enormous challenge to follow a distinguished gentleman, the dean of the House from Michigan, who comes and asks us to invest in America. Indeed, all of us feel passionately about the investors and, more importantly, the workers, not just in Michigan, but around the country, that are currently dependent on the automobile industry in America. But, as the gentleman from Michigan pleaded we ought to invest in America, the truth of the matter is the reason we are here tonight is that nobody in their right mind is willing to invest their own money in a failed and antiquated model. So they are asking Congress to confiscate money from taxpayers to make an investment. That is what this is about. It is a short-term bailout so we can get until March so that much, much more money will be spent bailing out these failed and antiquated industries. There are people in Florida hurting, not just in the automobile industry. We have got automobile dealers and salespeople and parts manufacturers. Our real estate industry is devastated, our time share industry, our theme park industry, our hotels and motels and restaurants. But the truth of the matter is, micromanaging a business from Washington is the supreme act of hubris. It will never work. No matter how much the administration, no matter how much the Congress wants to do the right thing, they will hurt us. 110 years ago, the United States Congress probably felt bad for people that manufactured buggy whips and horse carriages. We could have bailed them out. We could have created a buggy whip and horse carriage czar. It would not have helped America move towards prosperity and freedom. And, unfortunately, this is a terrible idea that will punish taxpayers and just prolong the agony. I ask us to vote for freedom and free markets and reject this bailout.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. Madam Speaker, I would like to quote Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, author of this bailout bill, ``The free market failed, it's up to government to fix the problem.'' It is important that we understand the how we got here in order to address a solution to the problem. Who and what caused the subprime bubbles and the current economic crisis? Treasury Secretary Alan Greenspan in 2005 said: If Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ``continue to grow . . . they potentially create ever-growing potential systemic risk down the road . . . we are placing the total financial system of the future at substantial risk.'' During a Financial Services Committee legislative markup on May 24, 2005, the Hensarling/Feeney Amendment was offered to protect taxpayers from crushing bailouts of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Hensarling/Feeney Amendment established a new regulator to: (1) repeal the Congressional charters of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (2) create a bank-like secondary mortgage market, and (3) establish new charters for limited purpose mortgage securitization entities that could be auctioned off competitively. I voted YES but the Democrats unanimously voted NO and killed reform and taxpayer protection. Why? Leading Democrat Barney Frank said in 2003: These two entities--Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac--are not facing any kind of financial crisis. The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.'' After billions in accounting scandals at both Fannie Mac and Freddie Mac, Barney Frank said in 2004: I don't see anything in your report that raises safety and soundness problems. I have seen nothing in here that suggests the safety and soundness are an issue. And, I think it serves us badly to raise safety and soundness as kind of a general [inaudible] when it does not seem to be an issue. Democratic leader Maxine Waters said: Through nearly a dozen hearings that we were, frankly, trying to fix something that wasn't broke. Mr. Chairman we do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac, and in particular Fannie Mae under the outstanding leadership of Mr. Frank Rains. I also voted in 2005 to cut off a $2 billion line of credit from U.S. taxpayers to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Today, the same people who protected the corrupt and out-of-control Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are proposing a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street speculators. Barney Frank and other Democratic leaders revised the Community Reinvestment Act in 1995, forcing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and all American lenders to make risky loans to people in poor communities. Loans were given regardless of the borrower's ability to pay! And, ACORN, a corrupt left wing ``community group'' engaged in extensive voter registration fraud across this country, was given taxpayer money to extort banks and lenders into making more bad loans. Taxpayer money was used to browbeat lenders to make non-creditworthy loans. Since the economic credit crisis began, we were told by Secretary Paulson and Barney Frank that: 1. The $152 billion ``stimulus'' package would resolve the American economic problem. (I predicted it is a silly ``rain dance,'' having no long term stimulus) 2. The Bear Stearns taxpayer bailout would resolve the credit crisis. 3. The Fannie/Freddie bailout in July would totally resolve the financial crisis and the U.S. Treasury would not have to take over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (I voted no and predict bigger problems for America) 4. The federal government takeover of AIG, the largest insurer in America, would end this global crisis. The current $700 billion bailout, touted by Treasury Secretary Paulson and Chairman Barney Frank, fixes none of the fundamental structural problems the federal government is responsible for. Buying troubled assets on Wall Street balance sheets does NOT stimulate American banks on Main Street in Central Florida to increase lending and credit. It adds short term money, which banks will HOARD, as they are required to increase reserves and make fewer loans to healthy consumers and businesses. It does NOT privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It does not repeal the community Reinvestment Act. It creates a huge new bureaucracy which may control lending in America and become the largest leap toward socialism in my lifetime. What we must do (now or later) to save American freedom and our economy. 1. Stop naked short selling of bank stocks--Predatory investors, including foreigners, sell stocks they don't own to drive down the price of the stock, which they can later buy cheaper and profit. This kills bank equity and forces banks to stop making loans in order to meet material reserve requirements. 2. Guarantee bank deposits in excess of $100,000 and bank creditors-- This will bolster bank share prices and lead to more immediate lending to families and small businesses. 3. Issue guaranteed network certificates in exchange for bank promissory notes--This will get banks to save lending restrictions and give them time to work through the real estate mess. 4. End ``mark to market'' accounting rules--Banks and institutions that hold packages of securitized mortgages cannot sell those packages because in this environment there are NO buyers. But those mortgages are secured by real estate worth some value, even if it is not 100 percent of the loan value. These mortgages are not worth zero, just because there is no market to buy them during this crisis. Banks have to count such mortgage holdings as ZERO asset reserves. Every dollar a bank counts as reserves would result in $10 in lending ability today. Mark these assets at ``fair market value.'' 5. Jump start private purchase of mortgage securities--Don't buy $700 billion in troubled mortgage securities with taxpayer money. have an auction for private investors using private money to make such purchasers. To start buyer activity, grant buyers a zero percent capital gains tax--not the 28 percent tax Senator Obama proposes, but 0 percent. Most mortgages will be purchased without any taxpayer exposure. 6. Establish a privately funded insurance model for mortgage backed securities--Holders of these securities would pay risk-based premiums to fully fund a guarantee of asset values, without taxpayer exposure. 7. Unleash the American Economy--Immediately pass comprehensive energy policy that will put hundreds of billions of dollars into the American economy overnight. Congress should pass free trade legislation including agreements with Columbia, Panama, and South Korea to help American exporters. Without delay, Congress should kill the built-in Democrat tax increases which are scheduled to raise taxes on Florida families by $3,040 a year. Finally, the Paulson/Frank bailout bill raises the Federal Government's debt to $11.3 trillion--a 26 percent increase. In the less than two years Democrats have controlled Congress, the national debt has jumped over $8,000 for every man, woman, and child in America. Can we afford two more years of that behavior?

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. Madam Speaker, on rollcall no. H.R. 7110--Providing for Appropriations for Job Creation and Preservation, Infrastructure Investment, and Economic and Energy Assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. Due to a computer malfunction it appeared the vote was not taking place. By the time I got back to my office and a new vote ordered it was too late to return to the floor. The computer malfunction is the cause of my missed vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638, The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act: I received two projects as follows: Project 1--Joint Medical Simulation Technology Research and Development Center (JMSTRDC) at 12423 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826, received $1,600,000 from the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army, Line 38 PE 0603015A Next Generation Training and Simulation Systems account. The funds will be used to provide this facility with a new modeling and simulation center to coordinate Army efforts in medical care simulation training. The center will improve medical care for wounded servicemen and women. Project 2--The Joint Training Integration and Evaluation Center at 12000 Research Parkway, Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32826 received from the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army, Line 104 PE 0604760A Distribution Interactive Simulations account. The funds will be used to provide the facility with a unique asset to leverage with Joint Forces. This center links Joint Forces Command in Virginia with Orlando's modeling and simulation capabilities. This helps to foster development of Department of Defense high fidelity training for war fighters.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. I thank the ranking member, and I am pleased to rise to talk about this bill. I just think that it's important that we be square with the American people about what this bill does and what it doesn't do. This bill essentially creates a straw man or a boogeyman and attacks that straw man or boogeyman as though they were responsible for the price of gasoline and energy in America today. Regardless of whether you are voting for or against this bill, it doesn't do anything to help Americans concerned about saving the American family and American business from the high price of oil and gas. Let me explain to Americans what speculators do. I am not a speculator. Speculators bet on the future. It's legal to make a gamble in America and bet on the future of commodities prices, of pork bellies, and, as the agriculture chairman and ranking member are well aware, of the price of corn and wheat in the future. Speculators bet on the future. What speculators have done with the price of oil and gas on the commodities market, they have simply bet on the future price of oil and gas. Now in this case, what are they betting on? They are betting that the demand for energy in the world, places like India and China and the third world, will increase. That's a pretty smart bet. But they are betting on another thing. They are betting that the Democratic-led Congress will continue to be stupid and refuse to supply more energy for America. It's a simple preponderance rule of supply and demand. If you have less corn 2 months from now, the price of corn will go up. That's what speculators bet on. If you are going to have more demand for energy and oil and gas, and you know you will not produce more supply, then the price of oil and gas will go up. To punish the speculators for betting that Congress will continue to be stupid and not produce American energy is really attacking a boogeyman. It is attacking a straw man and will not help with the price of oil. Now, as the ranking member said, the great news is, America has an abundant supply of energy. We just won't access it. We are the Saudi Arabia of the world's coal supply. We can produce and burn coal in a liquefied or gasified manner cleaner than ever, but we refuse to do it. China is doing it, India is doing it, our competitors are doing it. We won't, even though we are the Saudi Arabia of coal. We won't drill in ANWR. We will not access oil and tar shale. We passed a fraud on the American people in a bill the other day that said 88 percent of the area where we could drill off the Outer Continental Shelf for oil can never be drilled in, and the other 12 percent can be drilled in, but only if all of the radical environmentalists and trial lawyers somehow, someday, give us permission. That is a no drilling bill. It is a no energy bill. Now we won't build nuclear plants. America has the finest nuclear technology in the world. We stopped building nuclear plants 30 years ago, and American nuclear expertise, scientists and technologies went to France. You are a really foolish country if the French are outsmarting you on policy with your own technology, but that is what's happening every day. So what do we do here today? Instead of passing a real American-based energy bill where American energy can be produced by American workers to save American families and American jobs, we have tax speculators who have bet on the future, and they have bet that the Democrat-led Congress will continue to be dumb. I think they made a good bet.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 6599, the FY 09 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill: I sent the attached letter to the Appropriations committee members on February 4, 2008 asking for complete funding for the veterans hospital being built in Orlando, FL. The funds for the new medical facility in Orlando, FL come from the Major Construction account under Veterans Affairs. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, will be receiving the funds. The $220,000,000 will be used toward construction, site preparation, installation of utilities, roads, and an energy plant. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, February 4, 2008. Hon. Roger Wicker, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Ranking Member Wicker: I am writing to request that Congress include full funding for the completion of the VA hospital to be located in Orlando, Florida. The President's budget released today allocates $120 million for the hospital. In order to insure the swift completion of the Lake Nona hospital it is imperative that the VA receive full funding in this budget year. Today, there are more than 26.5 million veterans living in the United States and Puerto Rico with more than 1.8 million of them residing in the State of Florida. That is the second highest total in America, second only to California. More than one-third of these live in the Central Florida area alone. According to the VA, Central Florida is the number one destination for combat veterans 65 years of age or older. It is also the number one area for veterans who have 50 percent or more service connected disability and 18 percent of our veterans have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Department of Veterans Affairs has estimated the cost to complete this hospital at $597 million. This hospital is a top priority for the VA and is badly needed in central Florida. It is vital that the remaining $537 million, to finish construction, is included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Military Construction appropriations bill. I hope you will consider the inclusion of these funds as you work through the many important requests during the FY09 appropriations process. Sincerely, Tom Feeney, Member of Congress.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. I want to thank the gentleman from Washington and the others that worked on this bill. Our oceans are the property of all humanity, and we want to do everything we can to understand them and preserve them. With that I would urge the passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 5 minutes to my friend the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Inglis).

Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the oceans have been the largest sink of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is a valuable natural function. When the oceans absorb carbon dioxide, it lowers the pH of the water. Although the increased acidity of the oceans to date has not been significant, many in the ocean science community are concerned about the rate of change that they have witnessed. H.R. 4174 organizes Federal activities on ocean acidification research. It is intended to provide a blueprint for research and monitoring efforts at the Federal level, and encourage international cooperation for a global problem. We have an obligation to ourselves and to future generations to make informed decisions on something as serious as the health and welfare of our oceans, but at this point, we do not know enough to make those decisions. We do not know how much the ocean's chemistry is going to change, how fast it will change, or what the impacts of this change will be on marine life or the health of marine ecosystems. We also do not know how all of this will affect mankind's reliance on the ocean for food, for industry, and for energy resources. How can we possibly engage in serious discussions about mitigation and adoption strategies if we do not know these important things? Passing the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act is the first step we need to take to collect this vital information. The legislation directs the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, or JSOST, to coordinate all Federal research and monitoring activities. The subcommittee is co-chaired by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, the National Science Foundation, NSF, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the White House. These are the three agencies that should be most involved in ocean acidification research. This bill requires JSOST to develop a strategic research plan with an eye toward being able to produce useable products to the fishing industry, the energy industry, policy makers, and other shareholders at some point in the future. This strategic plan is not meant to reinvent the wheel. It should be based on several research road maps that have already been developed by other institutions. The legislation authorizes NOAA to continue its ocean acidification research and monitoring activities as long as such activities are consistent with the strategic research plan. It also authorizes funding for NSF to provide research grants for ocean acidification. And it directs NASA to focus resources on ocean acidification monitoring in future Earth observation missions. Most importantly, H.R. 4174 requires that JSOST and NOAA coordinate U.S. ocean acidification research and monitoring efforts with those in the international community. Many countries are currently in the same place as we are, organizing their research efforts and laying out road maps for the future. Just last month, the European Union launched the European Ocean Acidification Project, an initiative to investigate ocean acidification and its consequences. The U.S. should not have to bear the full and sole burden for global environmental problems. International cooperation ensures that resources and funding are distributed among many nations so that all may benefit from the increase in understanding of ocean acidification. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4174. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. I thank the gentleman from Texas, and I'm thrilled to be part of the celebration of NASA's 50th anniversary with this House Resolution 1315. NASA was created 50 years ago in the wake of the former Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik. Sputnik provided the perception of Soviet superiority in military power and scientific achievement. To counter that challenge, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was founded for conducting America's civilian space program. NASA actually succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, a splendid organization founded in 1915 that produced gems of aeronautical research. Now the task was to extend America's reach from the air to space. NASA did so. Satellites were launched to monitor the weather, relay communications, and explore our solar system. America's human spaceflight program, Project Mercury, began. Astronauts were selected in 1959, and in 1960, NASA began planning a manned lunar landing. The rest became an integral part of the American identity, not just for us but for how the rest of the world views the American experience: our journeys to the Moon; the space shuttle; the International Space Station; Apollo 13's harrowing journey; the tragedies of Apollo 1, the Shuttle Challenger, and the Shuttle Columbia; the Hubble Space Telescope; the robotic exploration of other planets; the monitoring of our dynamic Earth; and of course, the wonder of flight itself. All done in the full view of the world. Today, America is the world's premier spacefaring Nation. For 50 years, the men and women of the NASA family have brought great honor and prestige to this country. Today, the House of Representatives honors those people, past and present. We will continue that legacy. Last month, this House overwhelmingly passed a NASA reauthorization bill that lays out a comprehensive blueprint for sustaining a healthy and vigorous NASA. Considerable care has been devoted to all elements of NASA's portfolio, human spaceflight, Earth and space sciences, and aeronautics. We must never relinquish our leadership in space. And yet, today in the Washington Post, the Washington Post points out that just like competition on Earth, space is now a global competitive environment, and I quote the Washington Post from today's edition. ``Space, like Earth below, is globalizing. And as it does, America's long-held superiority in exploring, exploiting and commercializing `the final frontier' is slipping away, many experts believe.'' I agree with that assessment. Slowly but steadily, we are allowing our historic lead in space to slip away, and this House and the Senate and the next administration needs to step to the forefront. We're experiencing increasing competition from China, from India, from Japan, from Russia, from the European Space Agency, and increasingly, many others. In the aftermath of the Shuttle Columbia accident, America rededicated itself to human spaceflight. We vowed to resume flying the shuttle, complete the International Space Station, and then build and fly a new generation of spacecraft that will take America beyond orbiting the Earth. The Moon will be the first of many destinations. When this vision was announced, one of the first responses came in an editorial in The Daily Telegraph. Sometimes those living ``across the pond'' are the best way to observe the American people. Here's what the editorial said. ``Americans, thank Heaven, are a restless, inquisitive, pioneering people. The concept of exploration, of an ever-expanding frontier, is central to their identity in a way that some Europeans find hard to understand.'' As the world watches, NASA displays this fundamental part of our American character, and that is appropriate. For we explore space not just for ourselves, we do so for all of humankind.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close. With that, I want to thank Mr. Lamborn and urge the resolution's adoption by the full House. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of the resolution, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I would yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1312 which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Space Foundation. I want to thank its sponsors, Mr. Lamborn of Colorado and Mr. Lampson from Texas, for this very important resolution honoring the Space Foundation. The Space Foundation was established in Colorado Springs in 1983 to provide a nonpartisan source of credible information to a wide variety in the space community, from professionals to the general public. Over the last 25 years, the Space Foundation's mission has been to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity. The Space Foundation has developed alongside the space community by fostering and promoting a greater understanding and awareness and practical uses of space for the benefit of civilization in all aspects of space: commercial, civil, and national security. Perhaps the most notable has been the Space Foundation's commitment to space education programs. Since its inception, the Space Foundation has been a leading champion for bringing space science into the classroom. The Space Foundation's Summer Institute provides a unique educational environment in which teachers can continue their space studies and help enhance their students' classroom experience. In addition to the Summer Institute, the Space Foundation hosts the National Space Symposium and Strategic Space and Defense, two of the top three conferences for space professionals worldwide. I might say I had the honor of attending a recent conference in Colorado Springs. The Space Foundation has been useful in efforts to bring together all aspects of the space industry and has established itself a crucial member of the space community. I'm proud to support this resolution honoring a significant organization, and I urge my colleagues to also support House Resolution 1312. With that, I would reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 375, to honor the goal of the International Year of Astronomy, along with the gentleman from Texas. In 1609, Galileo Galilei turned a telescope to the night sky and saw an amazing array of astronomical wonders. From that point on, mankind has been fascinated by the secrets of the universe and has been committed to understanding Earth and everything beyond through extraordinary scientific leaps. In honor of the 400th anniversary of Galileo's discovery, the United Nations has designated 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. The purpose of the International Year of Astronomy is to help citizens of the world discover the impact astronomy has had on their daily lives and create a greater knowledge of what the universe has to offer. The International Year of Astronomy will be a worldwide celebration aiming to stimulate interest in astronomy and science, particularly in younger generations, coalescing around the central theme of, ``The Universe, Yours to Discover.'' There are eight major goals of the International Year of Astronomy. They include: Increasing scientific awareness in the general public through the communication of scientific breakthroughs; Promoting widespread access to the universal knowledge of fundamental science through astronomy and sky-observing experiences; Empowering astronomical communities in developing countries by engaging in international collaboration; Supporting and improving formal and informal science education in schools and science centers; Providing a modern image of science and scientists to reinforce the connection between science education and science careers; Facilitating new and strengthen existing astronomical networks by connecting amateur astronomers with educators and scientists on a local, regional, and national level; Improving the gender balance of scientists at all levels and promote greater involvement by underrepresented minorities in scientific and engineering careers; and, finally Facilitating the preservation of the world's dark skies in places such as national parks and astronomical sites. The U.S. is taking a lead role in the International Year of Astronomy by heading up four of the 11 cornerstone projects outlined by the International Astronomical Union. They include the Galileoscope initiative, which aims to provide millions of people with an inexpensive telescope in order to make their own discoveries just as Galileo did so many years ago; and Dark Skies Awareness, a wide-ranging effort to preserve and protect the world's heritage of Dark Night Skies in astronomical observation sites. The U.S. is also taking part in From the Earth to the Universe, an exhibit of astronomical photographs from ground and space-based observatories to be displayed in public locations accessible to all. These projects are designed to help achieve one or more of the eight main goals that I went through before. The International Year of Astronomy is an effort in which the United States is pleased to take a leading role, and I applaud the efforts of the United Nations and the International Astronomical Union. Therefore, I am pleased to join today with the gentleman from Texas, and I urge all of my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 375. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank again the gentleman from Texas. All humanity has a common interest in what astronomy can provide to us, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support the bill. I want to thank staff on both sides for their work on this bill, including a young woman named Susan Gleiser. This is one of the first bills she has had a chance to work on. I urge unanimous adoption of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join Mr. Lampson in cosponsoring House Resolution 1313 which honors the life and accomplishments of an amazing woman, astronaut Dr. Sally K. Ride. Sally Ride was born in Los Angeles, California, on May 26, 1951, and is perhaps best known as the first American woman in space. She was selected for NASA's astronaut program in January 1978, and became a mission specialist on the seventh space shuttle mission, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on June 18, 1983. This was the second flight of the space shuttle Challenger, and the first mission with a five-person crew. During the mission, Dr. Ride operated the shuttle's remote manipulator arm to perform the first deployment and retrieval exercise from the shuttle's cargo bay. These early demonstrations paved the way for routine, yet vitally important, operations necessary to build the International Space Station. Prior to her service with NASA, Sally Ride received a bachelor of science in physics and a bachelor of arts in English, and went on to receive a master of science and doctorate degree in physics from Stanford University. What is perhaps less well known about Sally Ride is the work she has done to motivate girls and young women to pursue careers in math and science and technology. She has written five science books for children, and initiated and directed education programs to encourage a fascination with science among middle school students. Dr. Ride also served the Nation in other capacities, including as a member of the Presidential Commission investigating the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, and later the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. She has been a member of the President's Committee of Advisers on Science and Technology, and the National Research Council's Space Studies Board, as well as served on the Boards of Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. Indeed, our country does owe a great debt of gratitude to this amazing woman, Dr. Sally Ride. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY. I have no further speakers, and again, I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of Mr. Lampson's resolution honoring a great American. I urge its adoption by the House. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY

Mr. FEENEY. Actually if I could suggest, rather than taking up your 2 minutes, I would be grateful if you yielded, but I will yield back to you and claim my own 2 minutes so that you can use yours since you were gracious enough not to object.

Mr. FEENEY. I want to thank Ranking Member Hall and Chairman Gordon and, as they pointed out, all of the staff on both sides that made possible a bipartisan bill that got unanimous support in the committee. I also want to suggest that terrific staff work on both sides and transparency and openness in the process is sort of a model that this Congress ought to try to emulate more often, and I want to thank, again, Chairman Gordon and Chairman Udall for doing that. By the way, this is likely to be, since he's not running for reelection, Chairman Udall's last reauthorization as a House Member. He has been a champion on space issues. He's been a great friend and a delight to work with, and I know that he will continue to be a champion for space and aeronautics. And so I really appreciated the chance to work with you. And following me I think at some point will be Congressman Weldon, my neighbor to the south. We share the different assets of Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Air Force Base, and Congressman Weldon will not be running for office again anytime soon, at least not the House. We appreciate Dave Weldon's leadership. He's been a terrific advocate for space in general and Kennedy Space Center and human spaceflight in specific. So it's been terrific to work with two great leaders that will not be working with us in all likelihood next year. NASA was created in response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik in 1957. The space age had begun. Fifty years have now passed. America is still the world's preeminent spacefaring Nation. NASA helped lead us to that status. Today, we build on that foundation. We have laid out a comprehensive blueprint for sustaining a healthy and vigorous NASA during the next administration, and as Chairman Gordon pointed out, we don't know who the next President will be. We don't know who their next NASA administrator will be, but the starting point for the next administration's space program has been designed right here in the House of Representatives, thanks to the leadership of the people that you are hearing from. Considerable care has been devoted to all elements of NASA's portfolio, human spaceflight, earth and space sciences, and aeronautics. I look forward to continued success and excellence in all of these endeavors. Each success sustains America's technical prowess and brings enormous prestige to the American people. Because I represent the Kennedy Space Center, I want to particularly note this bill's unambiguous endorsement of America's human spaceflight program. By the way, all of our human spaceflight program has an international component to it. Five years ago, America was stunned by the loss of the Shuttle Columbia. We had to re-examine our objectives for human spaceflight and articulate a more sustainable vision for our future spacefaring. We have done so, and this bill continues that progress by providing much- needed stability, on a bipartisan basis, in our strategy and architecture for human spaceflight. The shuttle has resumed flight. We are having a successful mission as we speak today. We will complete the International Space Station and then strive to utilize its enormous potential. And we will also set forth to explore beyond lower orbit, starting with the moon and then beyond, for the future of humankind. These are ambitious goals, but Americans are a strong, optimistic people willing to take up and meet any challenge. And as this bill highlights, America invites others throughout the world to join us in this journey. It is done on behalf of all mankind. NASA's human space exploration and satellite programs publicly demonstrate America's spacefaring prowess. Other Nations are striving to achieve what America has already accomplished. In prior generations, mastery of the sea and air brought global power and prestige. Today, such power and respect accrues to those mastering space. This bill sustains America's prowess in space, and I urge its passage.

Mr. FEENEY. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment under the name of Mr. Rohrabacher at the desk.

Mr. FEENEY. I am claiming time, without objection, for the minority side. We have no further speakers and would urge support and adoption of the manager's amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FEENEY. I thank Ranking Member Hall, and I thank Chairman Gordon for this amendment. I did want to take a moment or two to point out a very important aspect of this manager's amendment. It directs the White House Office of Science and Technology to establish an interagency committee to study issues related to locating a commercial space launch range in close proximity to a Federal launch range. In order to have viable commercial launch operations in the United States, effective coordination and cooperation must exist between potential commercial ranges and existing Federal ranges. Federal agencies have to endeavor to assist and not choke off commercial space ranges. The interagency committee will focus on these agencies and the importance of this issue. Let me say that for the last 50 years, space has been really a bipolar world. Either you were a part of the former Soviet orbit and space power, or you were part of the American-led free nations in space power. Today it is a very different world. I just recently came back from the first ever global space summit in Beijing, China, where over 15 nations were represented, some six or seven major spacefaring powers. It is not just people that have to come ask the United States to get permission to get commercial opportunities in space today. There are some 50 different international agreements, many of which don't even involve the United States of America. In some ways, our competitors are beating us to the punch in commercial launch opportunities. It is not just bad for business. Let me say, for example, the Chinese have launched over 33 satellites from other countries. They are doing this to help countries we would consider troublesome, for example, Venezuela or Nigeria. They are also using it to buy influence with our friends, like Japan or Brazil. America cannot shoot itself in the foot in developing and maintaining our historic leadership in commercial opportunities any more than we can give up predominance in the civilian side of human space exploration. And so this manager's amendment contains a very important aspect. I sincerely applaud the chairman and others, including John Culberson, for advocating for this specific piece of the manager's amendment.

Mr. FEENEY. Madam Chairman, on behalf of this amendment, as Congressman Rohrabacher explained earlier, this amendment is a sense of the Congress provision stating the U.S. should seek to obtain commitments for cooperation from other nations in the search for near- Earth objects. Mr. Rohrabacher has been an ardent advocate in our committee for the potential threat posed by asteroids and comets having orbits that bring them close to Earth and the devastation they could create should one of them impact us. By the way, I have sat through hearings, along with Congressman Udall and others, and we have incredibly sophisticated technology and capabilities one day to protect Earth if we know we are going to be targeted by an asteroid or comet, for example. In fact, the testimony was that some 99 percent of the resources today globally to prepare for this eventuality are American tax dollars. It seems seeking cooperation on behalf of all humankind only makes sense. Our committee held a highly informative set of hearings on near-Earth objects late last fall. It is clear to me that the entire world community needs to be much more vigilant in finding, tracking and characterizing near-Earth objects and developing deflection capabilities and technologies. I urge support for this amendment.

Mr. FEENEY. I will be glad to.

Mr. FEENEY. Reclaiming my time just to close on behalf of Mr. Rohrabacher's amendment, he is a great advocate, but I felt more comfortable after I heard from a bevy of the world's best astrophysicists that this is not only a real threat, but a real potential way to solve a threat to humankind. With that, I would urge my colleagues to support the Rohrabacher amendment.