Bart Gordon

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert Dedman, who is retiring after twelve years of service as Wilson County Mayor and a lifetime of public service. A lifelong resident of Lebanon, Tennessee, Bob served a tour of duty with the Army in the 1950s, followed by a time with the American Legion. After serving his country, he served his community as Lebanon's Purchasing Agent in 1972. He went on to join the Tennessee Secretary of State's Personal Property and Inventory Division until 1984, when he successfully ran for Wilson County Property Assessor. After deciding not to seek re-election to the office, he spent a term with the 100th General Assembly as Senate Sergeant-At-Arms. In 1998, Bob was elected Wilson County Mayor, and during his time in office, Wilson County has become the fastest growing county in the state. For twelve years, he has been a dedicated servant to the people of Wilson County. He has always been true to his promise to listen to the people he serves, accessible and welcoming to county residents. Recently, Progressive Farmer magazine ranked Wilson County as one of the top ten ``Most Livable Small Communities.'' This accolade is in large part due to Bob's leadership and the collective vision of the Wilson County Commission, over which he has presided. For decades, Bob has been committed to his community. He has served on the boards of the Four Lakes Development District, Greater Nashville Regional Council of Governments, University Medical Center, and the Regional Transportation Authority. This list of memberships is only a small sample of Bob's commitment to his community. Thank you, Bob, for a job well done. I hope you enjoy a long and happy retirement with your wife Lois, your children and grandchildren.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2693) to amend title VII of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, once again I want to thank the gentlelady from California (Ms. Woolsey) for bringing this bill before us, Dr. Baird for getting it through the subcommittee, the 26 Democrats and Republicans on the Science and Technology Committee that brought amendments to make a good bill better, and the majority and minority staffs for working together to bring this bill before us.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as we all know, on April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred aboard the BP Deepwater Horizon drill rig that claimed the lives of 11 men and resulted in the largest environmental disaster in our Nation's history. While the flow of oil from the well might have stopped for now, as long as our economy is dependent on oil, we risk similar tragedies happening again and again. We have a responsibility to ensure that the relevant Federal agencies are equipped with the technology and intellectual and financial resources needed to prevent future oil spills and to effectively respond when they occur. With that, I am pleased to bring before the House two bills that enhance U.S. preparedness for future oil spills and improve worker safety. The first bill is H.R. 2693, the Oil Pollution Research and Development Program Reauthorization Act of 2010, introduced by my friend from California, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey. I congratulate her for her foresight in introducing this bill. This bill was passed out of the Science and Technology Committee last week by a voice vote after considering 21 member amendments, and it incorporates a few additional changes, partly to address minority concerns raised in the committee markup. H.R. 2693 amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. In response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, OPA 90 was enacted to improve the Nation's ability to both prevent and mitigate oil spills. Unfortunately, little progress has been made since then, and today's responders are left with virtually the same set of tools they had in 1989. Ms. Woolsey recognized this critical shortcoming in response to the COSCO Busan oil spill in her district in 2007, and she drafted this amendment to the OPA 90 to improve the interagency research program. The BP Deepwater Horizon tragedy has made the intent of this bill all the more relevant today. H.R. 2693 enhances the research and development activities, sets up a more efficient Federal management structure, and provides for more robust oversight and accountability of the interagency R&D program established in OPA 90. I would like to thank my ranking member from Texas (Mr. Hall) and other Republican colleagues for working with us to improve this bill. Also, once again, I commend Ms. Woolsey for her foresight and for her commitment to enhancing the Nation's preparedness for oil spills through H.R. 2693. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), the author of the bill.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, Dr. Baird.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2693, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, as we move forward today with floor consideration of H.R. 2693, the Oil Pollution Research and Development Program Reauthorization Act of 2010, I would like to recognize and thank Chairman Thompson of the Homeland Security Committee and Chairman Oberstar of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their cooperation with respect to this piece of legislation. Both Chairman Thompson and Chairman Oberstar have been very supportive in getting this bill to the floor today, and at this time I would like to insert exchanges of letters between myself and each of the Chairmen into the Record. House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC, July 20, 2010. Hon. Bart Gordon, Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Gordon: I write to you regarding H.R. 2693, the ``Federal Oil Spill Research Program Act''. H.R. 2693 contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and, accordingly, I will not seek a sequential referral of the bill. However, I agree to waive consideration of this bill with the mutual understanding that my decision to forgo a sequential referral of the bill does not waive, reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure over H.R. 2693. Further, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation on provisions of the bill that are within the Committee's jurisdiction. I ask for your commitment to support any request by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the appointment of conferees on H.R. 2693 or similar legislation. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's jurisdictional interest in the Committee Report on H.R. 2693 and in the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure in the House. I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass this important legislation. Sincerely, James L. Oberstar, M.C., Chairman.

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

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5716) to provide for enhancement of existing efforts in support of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities to advance technologies for the safe and environmentally responsible exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas resources, as amended.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I want to once again thank Ranking Member Hall for his initiating this bill. He is the father of this bill, and I think we all recognize his good work there. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Tim Murphy).

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5716, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Advances in drilling technologies have allowed industry to venture into ever deeper waters in search of the enormous oil and gas reserves found there. Operating in such extreme environments entails immense engineering and technological challenges, the complexity of which is encountered in few other endeavors. In the hypercompetitive field of energy, the industry is naturally guarded about sharing information and collaborating on proprietary technology development. But safety is universal, and it's time we use Federal resources in pushing the technology envelope towards safer and more environmentally responsible oil and natural gas exploration and production. My bill, H.R. 5716, the Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and Development Act, does just that by realigning the focus and funding of existing programs set-up under section 999 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 on environmental and worker safety and accident prevention and mitigation. I introduced this bill after close collaboration with my friend from Texas, Mr. Hall, who has been a long- time champion of this program. As we look toward Federal resources to rapidly advance this field, it is somewhat fortuitous that the 999 program is already in place. Both the outside research consortium, RPSEA, and the program at the National Energy Technology Laboratory are well-suited to take on challenges of R&D into the technologies for drilling safety and accident prevention mitigation. As a DOE lab for fossil energy, NETL has an extensive research infrastructure and a long history of expertise and excellence in this field and through the relatively new RPSEA, currently has approximately 170 members from across industry, academia, NGOs, and government research entities. Furthermore, the program does not require new spending since it's already funded from $50 million in royalty revenues. If properly realigned to meet the current challenges, this research program, authorized by section 666, represents the Department of Energy's best resources for improving safety and reducing the environmental impact of offshore and onshore oil and natural gas exploration and production activities. As I said, H.R. 5716 is the product of significant bipartisan collaboration, and I want to thank Mr. Hall, his staff, and the other members of the Science and Technology Committee for their continuing good work as we move this legislation forward. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. I certainly respect the gentleman's opinion on this matter and do, in fact, foresee that employees at the National Energy Technology Laboratories will continue their work on ultra deepwater research under the program's new name of Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research. They've done an excellent job in the past, and I'm sure they will continue to do an excellent job.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Washington, Dr. Baird.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. I yield 2 additional minutes to the gentleman.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 292) supporting the goals and ideals of National Aerospace Week, and for other purposes.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 292, the concurrent resolution now under consideration.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. No matter how many times you fly, there is still something magical about the first moment of takeoff when acceleration gives way to the sudden lift and you soar into the clouds. Behind that moment of wonder lies over a century of hard work, long hours, and sacrifice spent uncovering the secrets of aerodynamics and mastering the engineering of heavier-than-air flight. It should be a point of great pride that the United States was a leader in making aviation a reality. So in recognition of National Aerospace Week, we honor a national history of achievement in both aeronautics and in space. America's achievements in aerospace inspire awe and admiration around the world. From the very first heavier-than-air flight in 1903 to the Moon landing in 1969, America has led the way in aerospace. Today, we continue to move forward by sending robotic probes to the far reaches of the solar systems, sending observatories into space, and leading the international team that constructed the international space station. American superiority in aerospace is part of the foundation on which our security rests. Satellites provide our troops in distant lands with everything from vital intelligence about local weather and terrain to updates on NBA finals. Unmanned aerial vehicles and communications, and satellite-based navigation and position systems are essential tools that members of the Armed Forces rely on to do their job safely and effectively. Space-derived systems like GPS and weather satellites have become integral to civil society as well. The aerospace industry employs many hundreds of thousands of Americans and is one of the most vibrant and innovative sectors of our economy. Industry sales are estimated to reach $215 billion in 2010. In addition to the 831,000 Americans who work in the aerospace industry, an additional 11 million work in the field of commercial aviation. For its contributions to science and engineering, to our national security and economy, as well as to the general well-being and progress of humankind, the aerospace industry deserves recognition. With this resolution, we take a moment to remember the glories of the past and the anticipation of wonders for the future. I want to thank the sponsor of this resolution, Dr. Vern Ehlers, for his long support of our Nation's aerospace industry and for his support for science and technology generally during his tenure in Congress on the Science and Technology Committee. We think of him as the conscience of science, and we thank him for this good resolution today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, let me say all the accolades that Dr. Ehlers has received have been well deserved. He has left a thick trail of accomplishments in this body. I now yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Dicks), the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.