Gene Green

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, with today's high price of gasoline, I would like to insert into the Record an article reprinted in the Baytown Sun which highlights the need for offshore drilling in our country. [From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jun. 24, 2008] Offshore Drilling The legendary Willie Sutton robbed banks because, as he famously explained, that's where the money was. The United States should take a cue from the late Sutton. It needs to expand drilling for oil and natural gas in offshore waters because that's where many of the nation's biggest untapped petroleum deposits probably can be found. At a time when gasoline prices have soared to the once- unthinkable level of $4 per gallon, the country is more vulnerable than ever in terms of its exceptionally heavy reliance on foreign oil. President Bush urged Wednesday that Congress remove a 27- year-old moratorium on offshore drilling. The ban includes waters off the East and West Coasts and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico off southwest Florida. Bush also called for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and areas of the western continental United States with large oil-shale deposits. Annual U.S. oil production is about 1.8 billion barrels. The Interior Department estimates that up to 10 times that amount--about 19 billion barrels--is potentially recoverable in offshore areas that currently are off-limits to drillers, according to a McClatchy Newspapers report on Bush's proposal. Democrats called the proposal a gimmick that will backfire on the Republicans. The Star-Telegram Editorial Board long has supported significantly expanded offshore drilling. We also favor drilling in a limited portion of the Arctic refuge that constitutes only about 8 percent of that vast preserve, which is roughly the size of South Carolina. We're also open to considering expanded drilling in some areas of the Western

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. This important piece of legislation outlines the United States' efforts to combat the devastating effects of AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis on our global community. I am extremely encouraged that this bill declares Tuberculosis control a major objective of U.S. foreign assistance programs-- particularly, that this bill will encourage the development of a TB vaccine. TB is the leading killer of people with HIV/AIDS, and the explosion of drug-resistant TB in sub-Saharan Africa threatens to halt and roll back our progress in combating both diseases. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 1.7 milion people died of tuberculosis in 2006, with 200,000 dying from HIV- associated TB. The TB germ is constantly changing and drug resistant strains have been found in 28 countries on 6 continents. Our current TB Vaccine, BCG, is more than 85 years old and is not compatible against pulmonary TB, which accounts for most TB cases. Even right here in the United States, it is estimated that 10 to 15 million people in the U.S. have latent TB. Therefore, developing a vaccine has important implications both internationally and domestically. Studies also show that the ten year economic benefits of a TB vaccine that was only 75 percent effective could result in an estimated savings of $25 billion; no one can deny that this is a significant amount. This legislation is a good start in our critical battle against TB and we as a legislative body need to continue to work on TB efforts both internationally and right here at home. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased that Congress has come together in a bipartisan and bicameral way to address the devastating impact ofHIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act reaffirms our commitment to fighting the causes and the spread of these terrible and largely preventable diseases. Treating HIV/AIDS is more than taking prescription drugs. I applaud my colleagues in the House and Senate, particularly Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen, for recognizing that fighting HIV/AIDS means treating the person and not just the disease. The latest breakthrough medicines are worthless without access to food, water, and security. This legislation makes the connection and contains an important section to address barriers that limit the start of and adherence to treatment services. There is specific recognition of the direct linkages between efforts to treat HIV/AIDS and nutrition, income security, and drinking water and sanitation programs. We cannot treat HIV/AIDS without clean water. There is terrible irony in providing patients with advanced antiretroviral agents, and asking them to wash the life-saving pills down with a glass of water that may infect them with a life-threatening, water-bourne illness. I am particularly proud that my simple amendment to add safe drinking water to the list of related activities vital to treatment is included here. This small addition shapes our approach to treatment in a realistic and profoundly positive way. Much more must be done to deal with the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and the problem of lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitization, the world's leading preventable cause of death. The recognition of these important linkages is a critical step forward in our understanding and treatment of these diseases. This bill is an important part of the tribute to our late colleagues, Chairman Lantos and Chairman Hyde.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress do not like to miss votes on the House floor, and I agree with that feeling. There is sometimes very good reason Members do miss votes, whether it is illness or important business in our district. This last week, I missed both Tuesday and Wednesday due to an important reason: my wife and I became grandparents for the third time. Our grandson was born Tuesday, July 22, at 3:20 p.m. at Christus St. John's Hospital in Houston. Braden Alexander Hewlett weighed in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and 19 inches long. Our daughter, Dr. Angela Hewlett, and her husband, father Dr. Alex Hewlett, and now big sister, Lauren, who is all of 3 years old, and Braden are doing well, and I want to congratulate their growing family.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. By requiring the DOE to conduct the sale or exchange within 6 months the 70 million barrels of light crude for heavy crude. The GAO found that refineries who, if forced to rely solely on SPR oil during an emergency, would experience a 5 percent reduction in their production capacity. This bill will increase the ability of refineries to respond to supply disruption, and optimize our SPR's effectiveness. This release would have an immediate impact on the market, reducing the prices at the pump, and easing the effects of energy market speculation. This is a good first step. And I urge my colleagues, make this step, because we do have a lot of other steps we have to make.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my Georgia colleague and member of our Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding to me. And I stand here in strong support of H.R. 6578, the Consumer Energy Supply Act for 2008, introduced by my good friend from Texas and a leader in the House on energy issues, Nick Lampson, as well as my esteemed colleague on our committee, Representative Ed Markey of Massachusetts. Now, I have to admit, I agree--we need everything, Mr. Speaker. We need to drill more. And frankly, my Michigan colleague, maybe we ought to drill in the part of Lake Michigan that we are not allowed to drill in, since Canada drills there and probably exports that gas to us. But this bill is so important because this is something we can do immediately. Today's rising petroleum gasoline prices are taking a toll on our hardworking families, even in our district that produce a lot of refined products. And let's be clear. There are no quick fixes or easy answers to the high price of gas. Prices are set by complex factors like climbing world demand and geopolitical events. But for the problems within our control, the proper management of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or the SPR, we need to take steps necessary to protect the American consumers' interest. I do not believe the current administration has properly managed the SPR. The SPR exists to protect us during the energy crisis, and is almost full to its 227 million barrel capacity. But while the cost per barrel of oil skyrocketed, the administration continued to purchase high-priced oil off the market to put in the SPR, limiting the amount of oil available. Granted, it is a small amount, but it would still allow for that additional oil to be on the market. But Congress fixed that when it sent legislation to the President. And I supported it and it was signed in law to suspend oil additions to the SPR until the end of the year, unless the price of oil falls below $75. I also believe that when oil prices are very high, we should release SPR oil into the market to increase supply, as the Department of Energy did in response to Hurricane Katrina. Consistent with the Government Accountability Office recommendation to add heavy crude to our national reserves, this bill would modernize SPR by requiring DOE----

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to explain my reason for missing votes on July 22 and July 23, 2008. My voting percentage is over 96% for the 110th and I rarely miss votes, but there are certain family events that cannot be missed, and for that reason, I was in Houston for the birth of our newest grandson. I am proud to report the newest grandson, as well as mother, father, and the rest of the family are doing fine. Had I been present for votes, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall vote No. 523, H. Res. 1344, On Agreeing to the Resolution, Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3999--The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 522, H. Res. 1344, On Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 3999--The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act (H.Res.1344) I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 521, H.R. 6535, Table Motion to Reconsider, National Energy Security Intelligence Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 520, H.R. 6535, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, National Energy Security Intelligence Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 519, H.R. 3221, Concur in Senate Amendment with House Amendment, Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 518, H.R. 6532, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the Highway Trust Fund balance, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 517, H. Res. 1363, On Agreeing to the Resolution, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendments to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3221, to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 516, H. Res. 1363, On Ordering the Previous Question, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendments to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3221, to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 515, On Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted ``nay;'' On rollcall vote No. 514, H. Res. 1202, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 513, H. Res. 1311, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, Expressing support for the designation of National GEAR UP Day, I would have voted ``aye;'' On rollcall vote No. 512, H.R. 6493, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Onesephor Peter Broussard, a constituent and citizen of Pleasantville, Texas, and a tireless civil rights advocate, who passed away June 25, 2008, at the age of 81. Born in Louisiana to sharecropper parents, Mr. Broussard served in a segregated Army unit during World War II, in the battalion known as the Black Panthers. After returning to the States, Mr. Broussard served as a union organizer at Armco Steel, where he worked for 35 years. But what truly distinguished Mr. Broussard, was his endless fight for civil rights, specifically for the integration of the Houston Independent School District. In 1966, Mr. Broussard and his wife filed a lawsuit against HISD to stop a project that would encourage de facto segregation. The suit eventually went to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, where the judges unfortunately refused to halt the program. Despite this, Mr. Broussard's eldest son, Richard Broussard, became the first African-American freshman at McReynolds High School in the Fifth Ward of Houston, TX. It was only thanks to his father's tireless struggle that Richard, and his siblings, were able to gain the good education that their father had never had. In addition to this civil rights work, Mr. Broussard served as an officer in the Pleasantville Civic League, and as director of the Gulf Coast Community Action Board and the Community Development Commission. He dedicated his life to helping others, and this made him a true leader in every way. O.P. was a civil rights pioneer and a good friend. He will be greatly missed by the Pleasantville community and by all those who knew him, and I ask that you remember the Broussard family in your thoughts and prayers.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I will be glad to yield.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise not necessarily in opposition to H.R. 6251. It is difficult to support or oppose something that is already current law. We already have use-it-or-lose-it. We have 10-year leases in this bill. That is what the law is. Americans need Congress to look at real solutions in addressing energy needs, especially when we have $4 a gallon gas. We need answers, and not just slogans. We cannot drill our way to energy independence, we can't conserve our way, and we surely can't use alternatives to have energy independence. We need to do it all. The legislation before us today was introduced a week ago with no committee hearings, no markups. And they raise a valid question: Are people really sitting on oil leases and not producing? Now, there may be reasons for it, like there are not permits allowed to get it from the Navy Petroleum Reserve. I know in the Outer Continental Shelf, which I am real familiar with because it is off of Texas, a lot of those leases can't produce because there are no resources on it, but they still have that lease for 10 years. Let me tell you, with $140 a barrel oil, everybody wants to drill everywhere that you can. But we already have 10-year leases. In fact, I would like to include for the Record a copy of a current lease that is from Minerals Management on section 4, diligence and rate of development. We already have a diligence requirement in the 10 year leases that are there. What we need to do is actually do everything we can. We need to drill the leases we have, but we do need to get additional leases available in some of the most productive areas of the Outer Continental Shelf and make it available, because we need to make sure that our country is going to be energy independent and not dependent on Venezuela or Saudi Arabia or any other country. And we can do it. We have Senators going to Saudi Arabia begging for them to increase their production, but we won't increase ours in some of the most potential productive areas. That is why we need solutions instead of slogans. That is why I have a hesitation to support the bill or oppose it, because it is already current law.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I would be glad to read part of the lease for you, the fact that they can already take that lease back now under current law, if they want to. Mr. Speaker, I include the lease section referred to earlier for the Record. Sec. 4. Diligence, rate of development, unitization, and drainage--Lessee must exercise reasonable diligence in developing and producing, and must prevent unnecessary damage to, loss of, or waste of leased resources. Lessor reserves right to specify rates of development and production in the public interest and to require lessee to subscribe to a cooperative or unit plan, within 30 days of notice, if deemed necessary for proper development and operation of area, field, or pool embracing these leased lands. Lessee must drill and produce wells necessary to protect leased lands from drainage or compensatory royalty for drainage in amount determined by lessor.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of HR 6331. This important piece of legislation will delay the physician payment cut, which is scheduled to go into effect on July 1. It has been over a decade since the physician fee schedule was put in place to help control increases in Medicare payments to physicians. The Medicare program reimburses physicians who treat seniors using a complex formula that is based on a number of factors. Unfortunately, payments for physician services matched the SGR and expenditure targets for only the first 5 years. Since then, the actual expenditures have exceeded the target by so much that the system is no longer realistic. As we have learned in recent years the formula reduces payments to physicians when the economy goes down--a time when doctors are least able to absorb the extra costs. These payment reductions have caused many physicians to hold off on accepting new Medicare patients, withdraw from the program, or retire altogether. In areas like mine that rely heavily on Medicare and Medicaid, we probably will not be in a situation where doctors stop taking Medicare. Rather, we will see access problems created by attrition--where the gap created physician retirements is not filled by new crops of doctors willing to take Medicare patients. If we reach that point, Medicare will have failed in its mission to provide equality in access to health care for our senior citizens. Twice we have tried to pass legislation to address the physician payment cut and these bills were vetoed twice by the President. H.R. 6331 will delay by 18 months the 10.6% physician pay-cut in Medicare reimbursement rates due to take effect July 1 and will give physicians a 1.1 % payment update for 2009. This bill is not a long term solution to the physician payment and SGR problem, but it does give Congress time to revamp the program.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 195, which would designate June 2008 as National Dysphagia Awareness Month. Dysphagia is a condition that affects nearly 15 million Americans. According to the NIH, people with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and may also experience pain while swallowing. Some people may be completely unable to swallow or may have trouble swallowing liquids, foods, or saliva. Eating then becomes a challenge. Often, dysphagia makes it difficult to take in enough calories and fluids to nourish the body. The CDC estimates that 1,000 people in the United States annually are diagnosed with dysphagia and 60,000 Americans die from complications from this condition every year. However, many people have never heard of dysphagia and unfortunately most cases of dysphagia go unreported. Designating June 2008 as National Dysphagia Awareness Month will help raise awareness and understanding of dysphagia. I want to thank Mr. Wamp for sponsoring this legislation and urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment to H.R. 6063 submitted by my good friend from Texas, Congressman Nick Lampson. The Lampson amendment will enable NASA to meet its energy needs by clarifying language set forth in Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Section 526 prohibits Federal agencies from purchasing alternative or synthetic fuels for mobility-related use other than for research or testing, unless the purchase contract specifies that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are less than that of conventional petroleum- based fuels. The Lampson amendment will enable NASA to continue to contract for generally available fuels as long as the fuel is not predominately made from non-conventional sources. Without the certainty of this amendment, NASA may not have been able to procure fuels that may have been mixed with Canadian oil sands, no matter how small the mixture. North American oil sands are vital to United States oil supplies. Oil sands represent approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. oil supply and are mixed in with fuel derived from other sources. With the price of energy skyrocketing, our nation needs to diversify our fuel supplies, not restrict them. America should also encourage increased supplies of North American energy and decrease our dependence on oil from hostile countries. I applaud Congressman Lampson's amendment and urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support it. Thank you.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I was unable to return to Washington in time for votes on June 17, 2008 due to a personal matter in my hometown of Houston, TX. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: ``Yea'' on rollcall vote 414 on H.R. 2964, the Captive Primate Safety Act; ``Yea'' on rollcall vote 415 on H.R. 3702, the Montana Cemetery Act; ``Yea'' on rollcall vote 416 on H. Res. 1275, Honoring the life of Timothy John Russert, Jr., public servant, political analyst, and author.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 31, which will congratulate the Honorable Andrew L. Jefferson, Jr. on his achievements and his selection as the First Endowed Chair of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Trial Advocacy Program. Judge Jefferson is a friend of mine and a fine American who earned this recognition. Judge Jefferson has dedicated almost 50 years of service to the legal profession, serving in both public and private practice. He served with honor as a judge of the Court of Domestic Relations in Harris County, and later as the 208th District Court Judge for Harris County. Throughout his career, he has received numerous commendations and awards, including the Anti-Defamation League National Torch of Liberty Award and the League of United Latin American Citizens National Community Service Award, to name a few. Judge Jefferson has also been an integral member of the Houston community. He has devoted much effort to public service in our area and has been involved with community organizations and services throughout his life. He stands as a lifetime member of the Houston Area Urban League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This endowment will be an invaluable resource to the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the legal profession at large. Its creation ensures that Judge Jefferson's legacy continues. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of an increasing problem with H2B Visa abuse in my hometown of Houston and elsewhere. Fraudulent recruiters are increasingly bringing in foreign workers for temporary, low skill positions by claming there is a labor shortage for this type of work. These recruiters frequently advertise positions with wages below what they should be paid, and when there are no responses the employers claim there is a labor shortage and bring in foreign workers to do that work. The Immigration and Nationality Act requires that the hiring of foreign workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers working in the occupation in the area of intended employment. However, these regulations are not being strictly enforced. The Department of Labor has proposed new procedures based on its contention that its workload, and the workload of State workforce agencies, has greatly increased in recent years due to the H2B visa program and that an adequate rise in funding to meet that increased workload has not occurred. The proposed changes would cover many aspects of the H2B visa application process, including the moving of filing of State workforce agencies to the National Processing Centers. New requirements for employers to report on the status of their H2B employees should be enforced. I am extremely concerned about these changes, because current regulations are not being strictly enforced at the national level, or at the State workforce agency level and moving filings to the national processing center along with these other changes will not improve enforcement. This lack of enforcement is driving down wages, and preventing individuals from gaining experience necessary to move into higher paying jobs. Congress needs to act and should require recruiters to be certified or licensed to prevent temporary workers and their U.S. employers from being misled about the nature of their visas being defrauded or victimized by outrageous fees. This would allow oversight of the recruiting process which is a much- needed addition to the program. Madam Speaker, I plan to work to see that this issue is addressed, that these rules are corrected, and I urge my colleague to join me in fixing this problem.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. This is my first term on the Foreign Affairs Committee. But I am not here necessarily as a committee member. I am here as a Member of Congress from Texas concerning the relationship Texas has had with Mexico for generations, if not centuries, and the relationship that we need to continue. There is literally a battle going on in Mexico, our closest neighbor, and there has been an effort to try and support them in their battle with narcotics and narco-terrorism, and that is what this bill is about. Whatever Mexico has been doing in their country is actually protecting those of us in Texas and California and all over the United States, because if they slow that situation down or win that battle, it makes our citizens and our people a lot safer. We should help our local police even more. We should do a lot of things. But that is a whole separate piece of legislation. What we are talking about here is stepping up to the plate and helping a neighbor who is our closest neighbor and one who is in the middle of a war and losing police chiefs, law enforcement officers, the military. Whatever they do in their own country to take care of thisi problem will make us safer in our own. There are some concerns about human rights, and I want to address that, but I would hope we would address it with members of Congress from Mexico. When I met with those members from both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in Mexico, they were concerned about some of the human rights violations in our country. We have to share that information and work with each other. Again, we are not moving, Mexico is not moving, and we need to make sure we work as a partnership with Mexico in their efforts to control their own country. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the grand opening of GreenHunter Energy's Renewable Fuels Campus located in my congressional district in Houston, Texas. GreenHunter Energy's renewable fuels campus--a converted waste oil refinery--is the largest and most versatile biodiesel refinery in the U.S. to date. The campus includes a 105 million gallon per year biodiesel refinery, a 700,000 barrel bulk liquid terminal operation, a 200 million pound-per-year glycerin distillation system, and a 45,000 barrel-per-month methanol distillation tower. GreenHunter Energy's biodiesel refinery is ``feedstock agnostic'', meaning that it can use 100 percent animal fats, 100 percent vegetable oils, or any blend of the two interchangeably. By producing biodiesel from multiple feedstocks, including non-edible sources such as tallow and jatropha, GreenHunter offers practical solutions to the ongoing ``food versus fuels'' debate. Located along Houston's Ship Channel, GreenHunter's campus has deepwater access and the ability to transport products via barge, rail, and truck. Biodiesel generators at the site will provide enough electricity for GreenHunter to power the campus and sell unneeded renewable power back to the area's power grid. The addition of GreenHunter Energy's zero emission facility has created many new long-term jobs for Texans and will help move our nation closer to its goal of reducing dependence on foreign crude oil supplies.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1343, the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2008. The health centers program was first enacted 40 years ago. Today, health centers are located in 6,000 sites in all 50 States serving as the medical home and family physician to 17 million people nationally. Over the years, the health centers program has gained tremendous support from Democrats, Republicans, the Congress and the President. We don't all agree on much, but there is no doubt that the health centers program has been a great success. The overwhelming support for the health centers program may be attributed to the impact health centers have made on the health and well-being of our country's most vulnerable populations. Federally qualified health centers are local, nonprofit or public entity, community-owned health care provider serving low-income and medically underserved areas as designated by the Federal Government. Health centers provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care, with services available to all community residents where they are located, regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Community health centers have helped fill the medical void for low- income communities and uninsured individuals. The health centers program's focus on primary and preventive care has garnered savings for our health care system because the health centers provide the uninsured and underserved with access to care they would usually receive at hospital emergency rooms. By providing access to affordable primary care, health centers have also reduced the need for in-patient and specialty care in hospitals, because medical problems in health center patients are treated earlier, before they require in-patient hospital care. Studies suggest that health centers save Medicaid approximately 30 percent in annual spending for health centers due to reduced specialty care referrals, fewer hospital admissions, and emergency room visits. Forty percent of health center patients are uninsured, and 35 percent depend on Medicaid, making health centers a critical feature of our country's safety net and, for many individuals, their only source for health care services. Unfortunately, the number of uninsured in our country is 47 million and has been steadily rising, and in turn, the need for health centers are increasing. Our district in Texas and many other communities nationwide are desperately in need of more health centers. Houston has approximately 1 million uninsured but only 10 federally qualified health centers. As the fourth largest city in the United States, Houston lags far behind the number of health centers located in our area when compared to Chicago, with over 80 community health centers and the third largest city in the country. Houston is not alone in this need for more health centers. Studies show that 56 million Americans lack access to primary care or a health care home. The Health Centers Renewal Act will reauthorize the health centers program, which would address the growing need for community health centers in not only my area but throughout the United States. This legislation would authorize the increased funding necessary for our community to build on the success of the health centers program and develop additional health centers to meet our tremendous need for affordable and quality health care. This bill would allow health centers to serve approximately 23 million patients in the next 5 years. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Pickering, who is the original cosponsor, along with the Energy and Commerce Committee and my subcommittee for their full support of this legislation. I believe the bill is truly an investment in the future of health centers for the medically underserved communities throughout our country. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, as much as I would like to debate energy prices, hopefully we can deal with renewal of qualified health centers. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to close. We have no other speakers. First, to comment on my colleague from Georgia. Coming from Houston, Texas, I have some pipeline companies that would love to have that contract from Mars to Houston to bring oil if we discover it drilling through that ice there. I appreciate, as a physician, your devotion to community-based health clinics, because that's what this bill is about, it's about reauthorizing. In fact, as we stand here today, Madam Speaker, we're actually expanding one in our district. Like I said earlier, we only have 10 in the Houston area, and our next largest city close to us has 80. So we have a job to do in Houston, in Texas--and my colleague from Fort Worth mentioned it--to expand community-based health centers. This bill will allow us to do that because it will go to the underserved community, areas in the country that really don't even have access to a community-based health center now and will have with this legislation, also with the additional authorization funds. Of course we have to go back and ask the Appropriations Committee every year for additional funding that we authorize. But that's something that we do. This is very bipartisan support for community- based health centers. That's why I would hope that we would have almost unanimous support for this legislation.