Cory Gardner

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Chairman, this amendment which I'm offering along with my colleague, Mr. Welch from Vermont, addresses an important issue relating to Coast Guard facilities. We've offered this same amendment to the two other appropriations bills this week, and they've passed by a voice vote. And while my colleague from Vermont is not here this evening, I want to commend him for his hard work on these amendments, and energy savings performance contracts in general. I think the passage of these amendments sends a clear signal that Congress understands the importance of saving energy and, therefore, saving costs for the Federal Government. This amendment does one simple thing. It says that the Coast Guard should provide an inventory of ways to improve efficiencies in their buildings, which is already a directive under current law. Under current law, energy savings performance contracts, or ESPCs, are provided as a mechanism for private companies to come into Federal buildings and make energy efficiency upgrades. ESPCs result in savings for the Federal Government and create well-paying private sector jobs at no cost to taxpayers. It creates a win-win situation of reducing debt and creating jobs. The private sector company must guarantee the project improvements will produce energy savings sufficient to pay for the project. In this fiscal climate, there is no reason we shouldn't be helping the Federal buildings find ways to save money and upgrade Federal buildings with cleaner and more efficient facilities. I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Thank you, Mr. Welch, for allowing me to sponsor this amendment with you. Energy savings performance contracts present a great opportunity for this government to do two of our highest priorities: number one, create jobs and, number two, reduce spending. It's an opportunity that we can all work together, something that has bipartisan support to make sure that we're doing the right thing when it comes to making our government buildings more efficient, and do it in a way that actually creates private sector jobs. By some estimates the Federal Government can save $20 million or more by implementing energy savings measures in Federal buildings. Again, this is a program that's been approved, it's in law, and it's something that we have seen before used in a way that can create jobs, private sector opportunity, but benefit all taxpayers by reducing spending. I thank the gentleman from Vermont for the opportunity to work with him and ask and urge the adoption of this amendment.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ma Ying-jeou will be inaugurated as President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on May 20, 2012. On January 14, 2012, he won reelection and I sincerely congratulate him for his achievement. I would like to applaud the effort that President Ma and his people have put forth to develop a strong democracy that promotes freedom, liberty, and the rule of law. To people around the world, Taiwan is a beacon of democracy and it is an honor to recognize their continued commitment to this distinguished ideal. The United States and Taiwan have a long history of economic cooperation and friendship over the years. As a friend of Taiwan in the United States Congress, I would like to add that many of my colleagues and I strongly support our commitments to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act. This partnership between the United States and Taiwan is invaluable and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future. We also support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization. Again, on the occasion of Mr. Ma's inauguration, we wish Mr. Ma and his people continued success in all their endeavors.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank Lieutenant Colonel David Arnett from Greeley, Colorado, for his 29 years of service in the United States Air Force. Colonel Arnett retired from service as the flight commander of the 137th Space Warning Squadron in Greeley this past month. His extensive accomplishments in the United States Air Force are rivaled only by his service and involvement in the Greeley community. Colonel Arnett was recognized for his outstanding performance as a combat field commander, and the 137th Space Warning Squadron was recognized as the Nation's top nonflying Air National Guard combat squadron six times, which is unprecedented. After 16 years of service in Greeley and a dozen major and minor combat inspections by the United States Air Force, Colonel Arnett was additionally recognized as one of the Nation's top space and missile operators and flight commanders. In the Greeley community, Colonel Arnett was the Boy Scouts of America Scout Master of the Year and is a loving husband to his wife, Cindy, and father of their four children. Today, I would like to formally honor and congratulate Colonel Arnett on his retirement and thank him for his service and commitment to our Nation.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. I thank the gentleman from New York for his words and for his comments on sequestration, on defense spending, on the challenges that we face in this country. I also want to thank the Speaker, who is our colleague from Alabama, for her work in making sure that we are providing the leadership necessary for our Armed Forces. The gentleman from Virginia mentioned a key word. He mentioned the word ``leadership.'' The leadership is obvious that this House has shown in making sure that we are strengthening and keeping our defense strong in this Nation while also addressing the very serious crisis that we face with our national debt and deficit: passing a reconciliation plan, working with Members of this House to make sure that we come up with ways to find spending cuts, to reduce spending but to do so in a way that is responsible, to do so in a way that provides the leadership that our Armed Forces deserve and that the people of this country deserve. Last week, a week ago yesterday, I had the incredible opportunity to go to the Iwo Jima Memorial where I was able to join over 100 veterans from my district in northern Colorado who had served in World War II and the Korean war. These veterans came from Greeley, Fort Collins, and from across the State's eastern plains. They were there to spend one day in Washington to visit the World War II Memorial and to visit the various monuments that are here in their honor for their service and their sacrifice. I met three brothers who served on the same ship in the Korean war. I met a gentleman who was 92 years old who had never been on an airplane since his time in World War II. As I was leaving, as they were departing for their bus, a gentleman who was 85 years old came up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. He stopped me and I turned around. He said, You know, I don't have much time left here--I really didn't know where he was going and what he was talking about--but he said, We're counting on you. And I've thought about that. I thought long and hard about those words: ``we're counting on you'' to do the right thing, to do what is right for our country, to do what is right for our military, to do what is right for our men and women across this country who go to work each and every day to try to make ends meet but who are protected by people they've never met around the globe. There is no doubt that we have a very serious fiscal challenge in front of us. There is no doubt that we are $15 trillion in debt. There is no doubt that $1.5 trillion deficits must make tough decisions around this place happen. The one thing that we cannot do is jeopardize the safety and security of this country and put our men and women in uniform at risk. I am somebody who has come to the House floor time and time again, who has gone back to the district, and who has stood with many of my colleagues--with the gentleman from New York--to say, You know what? I believe we can reduce spending at the Department of Defense. I believe there are ways that we can reduce spending. We can find waste, abuse. We can reduce duplicative programs, including those programs that may be within the Department of Defense. But we can never, never jeopardize the security of this country, the security of our men and women in uniform--those people who are serving on the front lines of freedom around the world--by cutting too far and too deep. The question that, I think, every American and every person in this Chamber ought to be asking is: Where is the leadership from the White House? Where is the plan to avoid these cuts that jeopardize not only our men and women but the very security of this country? Where is that plan to avoid very costly cuts that jeopardize the future of this Nation? We passed a plan out of this Chamber to reduce spending by $1.2 trillion but to do so in a way that provides the leadership that this Nation desperately needs. Our men and women are standing up around this country--those men and women I met at the Iwo Jima Memorial a week ago, who stood in the trenches in Korea and World War II, who are counting on us to do what is right. Their legacy of freedom didn't end when the wars ended. It continues to this very day as they stand with their brothers and sisters in arms to make sure that this country has the ability to protect and defend itself. Ultimately, the leadership provided by this House will make sure that we continue to fund our defense, that we continue to fund our men and women in uniform appropriately, and that our national security will remain protected against any and all threats. I believe the Secretary of Defense has even recognized the grave challenges that the sequestration poses for our men and women in uniform. But I think it's time the question be asked to the President of the United States: Mr. President, where is your plan to protect our men and women in uniform? Where is your plan to continue the great protection of this country? While my colleague from New York and my colleague from Virginia come and speak about the great risks and challenges that we face, everybody recognizes that we have to address our debt-and-deficit situation. It reminds me of a time when Zell Miller, a Senator from Georgia, asked the question: What are we going to do? Are we going to provide the ammunition for our men and women in uniform with spitballs, or are we going to do what is right, by providing them the ability to defend themselves? With that, I thank again our colleague from Alabama (Mrs. Roby) for her leadership on this very important issue.

Mr. GARDNER. I know our friend from Virginia talked about the concerns of the Secretary of Defense, yet we still have no plan from this White House on how to deal with the very serious problem that faces our troops and jeopardizes our country's security. I thank the gentlelady from Alabama for her leadership tonight.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee, as well, for his work and leadership on this bill today and yesterday. We voted long into the morning this morning, and certainly appreciate his time and consideration. The appropriations bills before us present an opportunity to provide oversight that is one of the most important duties and functions of this Congress, to make sure that we are looking at the ways our Federal Agencies, our administration is spending money and making sure that it is carried out properly. One of the areas where I believe this Congress needs to further its oversight and step up its oversight concerns the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's asset forfeiture fund. This is money that is comprised of fines paid by individuals who violate the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The act, as many Members know, is the primary law governing fish management in our Federal waters, and it is responsible for managing fisheries, promoting conservation, producing bycatch, and ending overfishing. The money in NOAA's asset forfeiture fund can only be used for express purposes that are laid out in statute, such as paying costs associated with providing any temporary storage of property seized during civil or criminal proceedings, paying off valid liens or mortgages against forfeited property, or reimbursing any Agency that assisted NOAA in enforcing the law. Unfortunately, what we have seen is a pattern of unaccountability, a pattern of abuse of this money, including a purchase of a $300,000 yacht that was used for personal use by certain officials within NOAA. This amendment simply says that the law, the money in the asset forfeiture fund should only be used for those express purposes as defined in statute, making sure that these abuses do not continue and making sure that this Congress steps up its role in oversight when it comes to funds of the United States. With that, I ask for a ``yes'' vote on the amendment to make sure that we are accountable for the funds from the taxpayer, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GARDNER. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. GARDNER. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GARDNER. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. GARDNER. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise on the occasion of Honor Flight Northern Colorado's eighth flight to Washington, D.C. bringing Veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam to see their memorials. On behalf of a grateful delegation, state, and country, we welcome these heroes. The 122 Veterans on this flight include 48 from the Korea conflict, and 8 Purple Heart recipients from the Vietnam War. The Honor Flight program, founded in 2005, was intended to first honor all WWII Veterans that could make the trips, but then to afford the same to those from the Korea and Vietnam eras. We are, this day, honoring those Veterans from Korea (the Forgotten War) and Vietnam, our longest conflict in modern times, as they get to see their memorials. These trips are provided to our Veterans at no cost to them or their families. The fact that these soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen would uproot themselves from their homes and families and put themselves in harm's way for our country is very humbling. The sacrifices they--and the families they left behind--made are truly incredible. The debt of gratitude we owe them can never be repaid, for without their honor, courage, commitment, and above all--sacrifice we would not able to enjoy the freedoms have today. Please join me in thanking Charles Agnew, Lewis Ashcraft, Robert Barnd, Eugene Bonkiewicz, Carson Bright, Frank Brown, Wayne Bullock, William Castor, Lowell Dart, Donald Draxler, Robert Duntsch, Jose Duran, Joseph Edwards, George Emerick, Jack Endacott, Marvin Fowler, Robert Gillham, Warren Garst, Joseph Graham, William Hampton, Walter Hayword, Roland Kaiser, Willis Kramer, Victor Lazar, David Leon, Verne Lewellen, Harry Livingston, Mary Livingston, Gilbert Lopez, Russell Mam, W. Dennis McHenry, Raymond Mega, Gerald Monroe, Donald Morrison, Bernard Nettesheim, Reynolds Olson, Homer Phillips Jr., Richard Porter, Marion Raines, James Rauenbuehler, Frederick Reck, Gilbert Rohde, Walter Sapp, Henry Schmitt Jr., John Shedd, Alan Schultes, Bill Shupe, Waldo Smith, Charles Smoot, Fredrick Stein, William Stromberg Sr., Gene Thorson, Clyde Treadway, Theodore Wahler, Arthur Wartburg, Crowell Werner, James White, Robert Williams, Evans Woodhouse, Darryl Anderson, Raymond Anderson, Donald Armagost, James Ball, Eugene Ball, Harry Ball, Leslie Brumley, Orlis Charboneau, Dale Crist, Robert Cupp, Timothy Daley, Bobbie Desmond, Edward Eson, Clarence Ehrlich, Alvin Eurich, Francis Fleming Jr., James Flynn, Leslie Fraley Jr., George Frysinger III, Richard Gero, John Goad, Virgil Hanson, Roman Herrmann, John Hess, Billy Hettinger, Donald Hoffner, Marguerite Ingram, Robert Kramer, Robert Kruger, Lindy Leifheit, Chester McCoy, Chester McGuire, William Miller, Raymond Nuss, James Ochsner, Louis Peterson, Marshall Petring, Arnold Piel, Wayne Pimple, Richard Reagan, Gerald Rice, Harry Rieger, Edward Roebuck, Gerald Ross, Alan Seaman, Dick Sears, Joseph Sellers, William Shirey, Norris Slechta, Robert Stanley, Elizabeth Strahan, Clarence Strahan Jr., William Striffler, Darrell Viegut, Sam Warner, Doyle Biggs, Paul Delgado, Edward Fast, Dennis Henneberg, Donald Hess, Daniel Menzies, Jack Roberts and Steven White for their dedication, commitment, and service to this great nation.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Leona Martens of Greeley, Colorado. Leona faithfully served the community of Weld County for 22 years as the executive director of the Weld County Food Bank. While Leona lost her battle against cancer, her legacy and influence will continue the fight against hunger for generations to come. Under Leona's leadership, the Weld Food Bank grew its annual distribution from 40,000 to 8 million pounds of food. She expanded their operating facilities to 35,000 square feet, where they serve more than 10,000 residents each month. The tremendous leadership, dedication, and passion she held for the citizens of Weld County is unrivaled, and the county has truly reaped the benefit of her work. I had the opportunity to tour the food bank--part of it is named after her and in her memory--this past December and fully agree with her colleagues and friends who described Leona as ``an amazing leader with tremendous vision,'' a ``tireless worker,'' and ``true friend.'' Thanks to Leona's passion and tireless effort, Weld County citizens are ensured continued service and dedication. It is my honor to stand here today to remember and recognize Leona Martens for her incredible vision, hard work, and passion to improve the lives of the citizens of Greeley, Colorado.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Paul Gresky on reaching the 15,000 mark in teaching the Hunter Education Certification. His lifelong commitment to safety instruction is an invaluable contribution to Colorado citizens and the responsible upholding of our 2nd Amendment rights. We are grateful for the countless hours he has dedicated and the leadership Paul has exhibited to better Coloradans. Since 1974 Paul has educated our community in the safety necessary for firearm owners. In 1983 Paul began serving Coloradans as a Master Instructor, receiving Instructor of the Year in 1985. Now Paul has successfully reached the 15,000 mark. All of these are impressive feats. I commend Paul for his service, not only because of his work teaching the Hunter Education Certification, but also because of his work in educating the Boy Scouts of America who are involved in the National Rifle Association's marksmanship and home firearms responsibility programs Colorado is greatly indebted to individuals like Paul who continue to promote the safe and responsible use of firearms. I commend him for his work and wish him the best as he continues to make Colorado a safer place.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, Nancy Kay Judkins was born in Amarillo, Texas, to Burnell Campbell and James Roy Judkins on October 18, 1946. When she was four, her sister Peggy arrived, and there began a sweet, abiding, lifelong bond. Then, only 8 years into her childhood, she contracted polio. At this early age, an inner strength and fortitude arose in her which was to define Nancy throughout her life. Throughout her upbringing, Nancy was an honor student and was recognized for academic excellence. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Medical Technology at North Texas State University and went on to work at Baylor Hospital and Dallas/Fort Worth Medical Center for many years before moving to Salt Lake City where she worked for Asarco as a Laboratory Supervisor. Almost four years ago, she and Peggy moved to Colorado to be closer to family living there. Among many of Nancy's passions were the arts--especially the theater. She worked backstage for many theatrical productions and loved musical theater above all else. Some of her favorite shows included ``The Fantasticks,'' ``Brigadoon,'' ``Annie Get Your Gun,'' ``Showboat,'' ``Kiss Me Kate,'' and ``Yankee Doodle Dandy.'' She collected a variety of music including classical, ragtime, show tunes, and jazz, and learned to play the piano herself as a young adult. Her love of words was reflected in her large book collection--from Austen to Whitman, Shakespeare to Safire, Twain to Thurber. She delighted in the Harry Potter stories, as well as stories of murder and intrigue. There was hardly a time in Nancy's life when she was without a feline friend or two, and she adored her sweet Maggie dog. She had a fascination with Germany; and after studying the language, she traveled there several times. Italy, London, and a cruise to the Caribbean were also on her list of travels. Her love and connection to her family were never so strong as when she began an interest in genealogy and became the family historian. She spent countless hours tracing the family's ancestors' lives and traveled to many of the places they lived and died. Nancy loved red hats, anything chocolate, irises in the spring, puzzles, popcorn, and the color purple. She loved Chaplin, Egyptology, Monet and O'Keefe. She loved so much and so many and was so loved in return. Her gentle strength and quiet courage inspired so many. She lived a difficult and challenging life with grace and dignity. We honor her today for all the gifts she gave and all the wonderful ways she expressed her beautiful soul. Nancy passed on January 28, 2012, in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. GARDNER

Mr. GARDNER. I would just make the point that if this administration acknowledges that by tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve they can increase supplies and, therefore, have an impact on price, isn't it obvious what we ought to be doing as the policy of this country?

Mr. GARDNER. Absolutely.

Mr. GARDNER. That's a great point on national security, because not only do we have economic objectives that we need to achieve with a national energy policy where we're relying on our own production, but we've got national security implications. And if we don't rise to the challenge, we're going to be risking our security because of our reliance on other nations. To go to the point of energy prices, this chart just illustrates how much gas prices have increased, how high they've increased. $1.80 over the past several years. The average price of gasoline has increased 42 cents since February of 2011. That's just on average around the country. The important thing to recognize is the impact that gas price increases have on the American consumer, on American families. All told, each penny increase in the cost of gasoline takes about $1 billion out of the economy. So as gas prices hit $3.17 in February, just a few weeks ago, $3.18, every penny was a billion dollars taken out of the American consumers' pockets, sent overseas. If a 50-cent jump in gasoline prices is sustained over the next year, $70 billion would be lost in the U.S. economy. This chart says it all. Go back to January of 2009. The President takes office, $1.84. If you went and you filled up your car, $1.84 a gallon. As of February 23, just a few days ago, just a week ago, $3.61. Billions of dollars taken away from the American consumer, sent overseas, when we could be using that money right here to create American jobs, reducing the price at the pump. By spring, perhaps sometime this spring, according to Barron's, gasoline may even reach $4.50 a gallon. These aren't scare tactics. This is reality that Americans are facing each and every day when they fill up at the pump. Trying to figure out how to make ends meet, trying to make sure they're able to meet their mortgages, pay their bills, put food on the table for their family, $60 a tank, $70 a tank to get to work. What trade-offs are we forcing the American consumer to make, when we have the opportunity to create American energy right here, to build the Keystone XL pipeline, to develop our Federal resources and do it in a responsible manner, do it in a way that creates jobs, giving our own communities the benefit of that exploration, of that development of the tax revenue that they generate. $3.61 a gallon, it's unacceptable, and yet we hear talk of increasing production in Saudi Arabia, instead of doing it here? We hear an administration that says, you know, they were against the Keystone pipeline and then they were for it and then they're for part of it. I heard the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), who's been a leader on the XL pipeline, say that that's like a little bit like the rooster trying to take credit for the dawn. We have an obligation to make sure we're developing our resources right here, right now. We hear others talk about tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In fact, just a few headlines in recent days: Secretary Tim Geithner says tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is an option that's on the table for the administration. An article in Politico on February 25: House Democrat leaders are urging President Obama to open the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Another article, that same day: Washington liberals call on President Obama to tap Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Mr. GARDNER. I think as those rigs have left, as we've seen production occur elsewhere because of the roadblocks to domestic energy production, we see other countries--us becoming even more reliant on overseas energy. Just a couple of weeks ago, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that a major disruption in foreign oil supplies that sends prices skyward could thwart the economic recovery. So the Federal Reserve Chairman has recognized that the more dependent we become on somebody else, if there's a disruption in that supply, a disruption in that overseas energy source that we're relying on, it could thwart our economic recovery. Let me just go to a chart next.