Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution recognizing Europe's Black population and expressing solidarity with their struggle as we mark 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent. Some years ago, on April 29, 2008, I chaired a U.S. Helsinki Commission hearing entitled, ``The State of (In)visible Black Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics'' which focused on the more than seven million people who make up Europe's Black or Afro-descendant population. Since that hearing, I have been calling for the recognition of Black Europeans, who, despite their numerous contributions to European society, like African-Americans, face the daily challenges of racism and discrimination. This includes being the targets of violent hate crimes and racial profiling, in addition to continuing inequalities in education, housing, employment, and in other sectors. Few Black Europeans are in leadership positions, and political participation is also limited for many, providing obstacles for addressing these problems. This resolution supports the 2011 International Year for People of African Descent goal to recognize and support the economic, political, cultural, and social inclusion of Black Europeans, including by urging European governments to develop and implement anti-discrimination legislation and other plans of action in cooperation with Black European communities. Given the lessons learned from our own civil rights struggle and continuing anti-discrimination and diversity efforts in Europe, the resolution also supports an increase in transatlantic cooperative efforts between U.S. and European governments, civil society, and the private sector to provide useful partnerships and assistance in combating racism and discrimination abroad and at home. Specifically, U.S. government support is requested to aid such efforts in line with U.S. support for human rights. I believe that cooperation is key to addressing the global problems of racism and discrimination. It is for this reason that, since 2009, I have worked in cooperation with minority and other European legislators to hold annual events in Brussels, Belgium at the European Parliament focused on addressing the situation of Blacks and other minorities, with a focus on increasing political participation. These events include the 2009 Black European Summit: Transatlantic Dialogue on Political Inclusion and the 2010 and 2011 Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conferences, where solutions, such as a U.S.-EU Joint Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality and Inclusion have been discussed. As I continue to work on these initiatives, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this Resolution Recognizing Black Europeans during the International Year or People of African Descent. Additionally, I would like to submit the following background materials on Black Europeans for the official record.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thom Rumberger, who dedicated much of his life to preserving and restoring the unique, national treasure that is the Everglades. Thom's dedication and perseverance, in fact, earned him the nickname ``Defender of the Everglades.'' The importance of the Everglades to both Florida and our country cannot be understated, and so neither can the accomplishments of a man who spent a significant amount of his career working to protect this one-of-a-kind national treasure. As an instrumental part in the passage of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and the securing of several billion dollars in funding to execute this overarching plan to restore the Everglades, we owe him a great debt of gratitude both as Americans and as Everglades supporters. Thom's noteworthy accomplishments are not just limited to the Everglades, he was also involved in the implementation of two constitutional amendments as well as some of the first manatee protection laws. Thom's success extends to his career in private practice, as a founding partner of the Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell law firm. Under his leadership, the firm's modest beginnings quickly expanded to the forefront of global business litigation, representing such multi- national corporations as American Airlines, Inc., Sears, Roebuck and Co., and Toyota Motor Corporation. Today, his firm includes 75 trial attorneys in five offices across Florida and Alabama. Thom has also been listed in Florida Super Lawyers every year from 2007 to 2010. In addition to spending his career as a public servant, judge and prosecutor, Thom is a dedicated father and grandfather. Throughout his four decades in public service, Thom Rumberger embodied the importance of looking out for the common good. Thanks to the selfless commitment of folks like Thom, the restoration of America's Everglades is well underway. I urge my colleagues to support this bi-partisan resolution recognizing and honoring the life and work of Thom Rumberger.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Mr. Alvin A. Davis, who as a teacher has shown outstanding merit and dedication to his profession and who has been a source of inspiration and courage for hundreds of students in my hometown of Miramar, Florida. For his accomplishments as the head band and music teacher for Miramar High School, Mr. Davis has recently been awarded the 2012 Florida Department of Education's prestigious Teacher of the Year Award. Additionally, Mr. Davis has previously been recognized as the 2011 Broward County Teacher of the Year and the African-American Community Unsung Hero Award in 2010 for his dedication to his students and the community. While Mr. Davis teaches music, many see him as more than just a `music teacher.' For the past ten years he has taken the initiative to go above and beyond his duties as a teacher and makes the focus of his class on three things: academics, discipline, and music. He requires his students to receive one-on-one counseling with a member of the band staff and he personally reviews students' report cards and interim reports, even though it may not be part of his job description. Every school band rehearsal includes a one-hour study hall where students are tutored, even though his school may not have the budget for it. But what is most outstanding is how Mr. Davis has made it his personal mission to ensure that his students make it on to college and move on to a brighter future, one that some students could never dream of. The Broward County school district confirms that for the past three years, every student who was a regular participating member of the Miramar High band program has gone on to college. Mr. Davis personally counsels his students on their future decisions and requires that seniors be only able to perform if they have registered for the ACT or SAT and if they can prove that they have applied to a college or university. Through his vision and steadfast dedication, Mr. Davis has single-handedly transformed the lives and futures of hundreds of students and their families. Education is the back-bone of our country. It is what has made America prosperous, what has made the quality of life in this country the envy of the world, and what has safeguarded our democracy. Yet today we live in a time where the American education system, once ranked as top in the world, has slipped and tumbled to the point of not even making top twenty in some categories. Unfortunately, there are some voices who now decry the public education system as hopeless and worthy of scrapping. To those who have lost faith, I say that they should hear of the vision and successes of Mr. Alvin Davis who is dedicated, selfless, and capable, and works tirelessly every single day to transform the future of Florida's education system. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize and honor Mr. Alvin A. Davis today for his accomplishments and his dedication, may we also recognize the hope and light educators like Mr. Davis bring to the future of this country.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a lady who has made a lifelong commitment to transforming her talents and hobbies into thousands of acts of kindness and giving. Ms. Carol J. Roselle, a resident of West Palm Beach, FL, has been knitting and crocheting since she was a young girl during World War II. Her Aunt Emma would take her to Red Cross meetings, where Ms. Roselle observed women knitting cuffs to keep soldiers warm. Throughout the intervening years she has knit an array of gifts for friends and family members, but when she began volunteering for the Lantana Health Center in 2002, the scope of her giving expanded dramatically. Ms. Roselle and her knitting group, the 3 B's, have spent the last 9 years lovingly knitting booties, blankets, and beanies for newborns, as well as lap blankets for veterans in wheelchairs at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Riviera Beach, FL. Over the years, the ladies have knitted thousands of items, and they have donated each one out of the kindness of their hearts. Ms. Roselle and her knitting group are a shining example of how each and every American can make a difference while having fun in the process. Mr. Speaker, by identifying their unique strengths and passions and then using those strengths and passions to contribute to their community in a substantive, meaningful way, these ladies have created a win-win situation for everyone involved. Ms. Roselle has been awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Palm Beach County Health Department for her selfless efforts, and it is my great honor to underscore the merits of her work. I offer my heartfelt thanks and admiration for her creative and proactive willingness to give back, and I urge every American to follow in her footsteps by using their own unique gifts to give back to society and make the world a better place for all of us.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Federal Aviation Employees Protection Act of 2011, which would allow the nearly 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, employees left in limbo by a partial FAA shutdown to get back to work. While House Republicans continue to ignore their Congressional duties by opposing a short-term FAA extension, as well as an open and transparent process for a long-term FAA reauthorization, Democrats in the House and Senate have been working to address these furloughs. This legislation is a companion bill to S. 1433, introduced by Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, and 14 other senators on July 27, 2011. On July 23, 2011, the FAA went into partial shutdown on the watch of House Republicans who, earlier that week, voted to restrict Essential Air Service, EAS, for small and rural communities instead of passing a clean, short-term FAA extension. As a result, the FAA was forced to furlough 3,594 employees, including engineering and electronics technicians, computer and logistics specialists, and support staff, among other workers. In addition, the FAA has halted hundreds of airport construction projects, suspended research on next-generation air traffic control systems (NextGen), and lost upwards of $30 million in tax revenue with each passing day. Without steady funding or workers, the FAA is unable to move forward with the long-term programs and projects that are vital to the future of our aviation system, including lifesaving airport safety improvements and the transition to NextGen. As House Republicans continue playing the blame game with the Senate, American businesses and workers are losing out on much-needed economic opportunities. The ongoing partial shutdown and consequent furlough of FAA employees have had a devastating impact on families and communities in 35 states across the country. In particular, my home state of Florida has lost 27 FAA employees, 3,061 airport construction jobs, and $88 million in airport construction funding. Furthermore, media reports indicate that certain airlines have raised consumer prices in order to capitalize on the FAA's inability to collect aviation excise taxes. Failure to address this dire issue threatens jobs, raises construction costs, and harms consumers at a time when the economic security and stability of our nation's economy is called into question by political gridlock. Fortunately, there is a solution. Much of the FAA is self-funded through user fees that go into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. The Federal Aviation Employees Protection Act uses this revenue to allow furloughed FAA employees to continue working with pay and benefits, and to provide retroactive pay for the period of their furlough, as Congress seeks a compromise on long-term FAA reauthorization. Mr. Speaker, the FAA is now in its 10th consecutive day of partial shutdown, which means that furloughed FAA employees have been out of work and without pay for 10 days. This is unconscionable and unacceptable. I urge my colleagues to join me in standing up for these hard-working federal employees and help ensure the continued safety and improvement of our nation's aviation system by supporting the Federal Aviation Employees Protection Act. Enough is enough. If House Republicans were serious about bringing an end to the partial shutdown and furlough of FAA employees, they would support a clean, short-term FAA extension so that Congress could finalize and pass a long-term FAA reauthorization as soon as possible. It is clear that they are not.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution condemning in the strongest possible terms the cold-blooded terror attacks that wounded as many as 96 people and took 76 lives in Norway on July 22, 2011. The attacks commenced with the brutal bombing of government buildings in Oslo, and the violence then reached its peak with a twin attack at a youth camp on Utoya Island, where the majority of casualties were children. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attacks as ``peacetime Norway's deadliest day'', and I urge my colleagues to stand by Norway, a great friend and ally, in its darkest hour by supporting this resolution. For the Norwegian government and people, these attacks are an atrocity, a nightmare, and a national tragedy. For the world, this is a stark reminder that, as long as hatred and intolerance are allowed to persist, even the most peaceful of nations are not immune to its devastating effects. A founding member of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Norway is the home of the Nobel Peace Prize and offers a safe haven to refugees and the politically persecuted. Many of its police officers don't carry arms. To think that even this peaceful society can be the target of brutal, relentless hatred and violence is utterly shocking, and a call for action is necessary. The international community must not stand for this type of ideological violence, and this resolution reaffirms the resolve of Congress to combat all forms of terrorism, both domestically and abroad. It also expresses deep sympathy, solidarity, and condolences for Norway and reaffirms our joint commitment to peace and the elimination of actions motivated by hatred and religious or cultural intolerance worldwide. Despite the terrible violence committed against unarmed and innocent civilians, the country has courageously demonstrated that their commitment to peace, freedom, and tolerance remains unwavering. Morten Helleso Johansen, an 18-year-old survivor of the attack, expresses this sentiment in no uncertain terms. ``I want to return to that Island next year,'' he says. ``It is the best way to honor the memory of those who died by showing that I'm not afraid, and that I'm not silenced!'' Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to personify Morten's courageous spirit by supporting this resolution and honoring the victims and survivors of this tragedy. To those who perpetuate fear, hatred, and intolerance throughout the world, we say: ``We are not afraid, and we will not be silenced!''

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would say to my friend, Judge Poe, that we have to start--and we are starting--the green energy movement. I readily understand the economic impact on Port Arthur, the State of Texas, and I also am deeply concerned for the ranchers in the Midwest, specifically Montana, Nebraska, those States, North Dakota, that are bypassed. And the possibility of their oil and gas costing more is, at the least, disturbing. But I do want to share a report that was formulated regarding tar sands and their potential by the IHS Cambridge Energy Research Association, and it's under the aegis: ``Growth in the Canadian Oil Sands.'' What it says is: ``Tar sands, which are also known as `oil sands,' are a combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen, a heavy, black, asphalt-like hydrocarbon that cannot be extracted through a well like conventional oil. It is estimated that Canada's economically recoverable tar sands deposits in Alberta total 173 billion barrels, making Canada''--as Judge Poe pointed out--``second after Saudi Arabia in oil reserves. ``Producing fuel from tar sands has significant environmental impacts. Extracting tar sands bitumen and upgrading it to synthetic crude oil produces roughly three times greater greenhouse gas emissions than producing conventional oil on a per-unit basis. Tar sands development also destroys boreal forests and wetlands and wildlife habitat, kills migratory birds, and degrades water quality and air quality.'' That said, tar sands oil contains, on average, 11 times more sulfur, 11 times more nickel, six times more nitrogen, and five times more lead than conventional oil. These pollutants are harmful to human health, causing lung and respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis, and the metals found in tar sands are neurotoxic. The pollutants released by refining tar sands causes acid rain, smog, and haze, and communities living near these refineries report elevated levels of cancer. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us overrides current law for the sake of padding the pockets of oil company CEOs and fails to create significant sustainable jobs for the average American in the growing sustainable energy sector. This bill will never become law and is once again a waste of our time. I oppose this unnecessary opportunistic legislation for many of the same reasons that I have made very clear, as have others, but I have made the vow to be the last man standing in the fight against expanding offshore drilling, and I may be among those that will continue to stand against transborder tar sands being transmitted here for purposes of going out onto the world market and not allowing for any reduction in the cost of gasoline in the United States of America. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank my friend for yielding and compliment him on his sunshine tie, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the rule for H.R. 1938 and feel that, much like the majority's previous legislation attempts to increase offshore drilling, this backwards-looking dirty energy bill will not lower the price of gasoline for the average American today, tomorrow, or in the future. It manages, this bill does, to completely ignore the pressing needs to develop clean, sustainable energy. In fact, only the large oil companies will benefit from this bill. In its very application for the Keystone XL pipeline expansion, TransCanada indicated that it believes this expansion will actually raise oil and gasoline prices. The pipeline expansion connects Canadian oil to the Gulf of Mexico, making it possible to ship tar sands oil out onto the world market for the first time. The pipeline will allow TransCanada to bypass the Midwest, reducing what the company called, and I quote, price discounting in the Midwest due to what it considers an, I quote, oversupply. The oil will run past Montana, right through Texas, ignore Nebraska completely, and wave good-bye to the United States while it rides right out of the country. Providing Canadian oil companies access to this new market is the only reason to want to expand the pipeline. TransCanada's application actually indicates that it expects the price of crude oil to increase by $6.55 per barrel in the Midwest and $3 everywhere else after the expansion is completed. Ultimately, the expansion would lead to a windfall for Canadian oil companies of between $2 billion and $3.9 billion by the year 2013, while increasing the cost of gasoline for hardworking Americans between 10 and 20 cents per gallon. The people of the United States will bear all the risks of an onshore oil spill and reap absolutely none of the benefits. Let there be no mistake about this: the risk of an oil spill from these tar sand pipelines is very real. The oil is so much more corrosive than traditional crude oil that even Canada has yet to approve a dedicated pipeline conveying it to its coasts. The oil eats away at the pipelines, compromising them and leading to frequent spills. For example, the very pipeline for which the majority bill hastens expansion suffered 12 spills in its very first year. The first spill in June 2010 occurred only 1 month after the pipeline went into operation. Just this last May, the Keystone spewed 21,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota. Already, Mr. Speaker, Americans are paying the price for a project which delivers to them absolutely no benefit. A similar pipeline recently discharged 840,000 gallons of oil into Michigan's Kalamazoo River, causing one of the largest oil spills ever in the Midwest. On July 1, a pipeline broke and spewed approximately 42,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River. Between 1990 and 2005, there were over 4,700 related oil spills. The Keystone pipeline expansion would expand the risk of a BP-sized oil spill from the Gulf of Mexico to front yards across the heart of this country. After its initial impact statement received harsh and extensive criticism, the State Department issued a supplemental draft statement. The period for public comment on that draft closed on June 6. The State Department is currently reviewing the comments it received in response to this second statement in a process expected to take several months. Nonetheless, the State Department has reasonably indicated that a decision can be expected by the end of the year. Yet this bill would require a decision within 30 days of the issuance of the final environmental impact statement and no later than November 1. Without further justification, Republicans seem to think it necessary to short-cut the process, compromising the discussion and its analysis. There are still many questions that need to be answered regarding the pipeline, including information on greenhouse gas emissions, safety, alternative routes, and environmental justice considerations. This year, the Republican majority has offered three offshore drilling bills that have utterly failed to preserve and protect our environment. It is clear that my friends in the majority are more concerned with keeping big oil companies happy than implementing a workable energy policy for the future. Instead of crafting policies to ensure that the growing sustainable energy industry is filled with American workers, the majority wants to enrich Canadian oil companies at a cost of America's economy and environment. These kinds of dirty energy bills keep us mired in the muck of fossil fuels when what we need to do is focus on making our energy use more efficient. We need to develop the next generation of clean energy technology. Unfortunately, Republicans seem intent on enabling our country's oil addiction. This is not good policy today and will certainly not be good policy in the future. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, if I could engage the gentleman from Texas just a moment, I will yield myself 30 seconds before yielding to my colleague from Virginia. I just am curious to know if this will cause the price of gasoline to go down, in your judgment.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Likely possibility. I'll take that pretty much as a ``no.''

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. In so doing, Mr. Speaker, having now fully read Senator Rockefeller's letter, I do ask that it be made part of the Record. I will read only four sentences from it. He says to Chairman Mica: ``I strongly urge you to reconsider your position and send over a clean FAA extension and appoint conferees for the FAA reauthorization bill, as the Senate did on April 7, 2011, to move this important legislation forward. Further efforts to add policy components to FAA extensions that have not been negotiated with the Senate will likely shut the FAA down.'' As Transportation Secretary LaHood and FAA Administrator Babbitt have said, the United States faces a pivotal time in aviation history. In order to ensure the safety of the flying public and bring our air transportation system into the 21st century, the FAA needs a long-term reauthorization bill. While H.R. 2553 buys us a little more time, we cannot afford to continue ignoring the underlying problem. Mr. Speaker, I try very much not to be as parochial as I can be in many instances, but in West Palm Beach, we are building a new airport tower, and we need the NextGen facilities. At the Fort Lauderdale Airport--that is my hometown airport--we are expanding the runway. It becomes increasingly difficult to complete the projects when money for doing so comes in increments rather than in a block that will allow that they go forward in a meaningful way. Toward that end, the failure to enact a multiyear FAA reauthorization is just going to result in delays to much needed infrastructure improvements, including, as I have mentioned, the ground-based and NextGen technologies; and it will ultimately cost our Nation more in the long run with regard to passenger safety, jobs and the environment. Enough is enough. We need a clean extension now in order to pass a long-term authorization as soon as possible. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and on the underlying bill. United States Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Washington DC, July 19, 2011. Hon. John Mica, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. John, As you are well aware, Congress has passed 20 routine Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extensions since 2007. I was genuinely hopeful that we would have had a comprehensive bill after four months of negotiations, but appreciated that a handful of difficult issues remained to be resolved before agreement on a final bill could be reached. I was under the impression that we were still operating on a shared desire to complete this important legislation. It is for this reason that I am deeply puzzled by your decision to introduce an FAA extension with language that adversely affects the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. This surprise maneuver is a complete reversal from the discussions we have been having for several months, and strongly suggests you have not been negotiating in good faith. As troubling and problematic as the extension you introduced is, I am even more taken aback by the blistering press release you issued in conjunction with it. Its hostility was unexpected. The tone and tenor of the release was so different than any of our previous interactions, I almost did not believe you wrote it. As your press release inferred, you inserted the EAS language into the FAA extension in retaliation for the Senate's refusal to accept your language on the National Mediation Board (NMB). At no point during our discussions, have we ever linked reforms to the EAS program to language on NMB. I made it clear from the beginning of our negotiations that the NMB language included in your bill--or any other language adversely impacting workers rights--could not pass the Senate. As you know, the Senate voted on this issue last year and our Leadership considers this matter settled. Your attempt to punish the Senate by hurting small community air service has backfired--this language only guarantees that the Senate will reject the FAA extension. As I told you on numerous occasions, EAS is critical to West Virginia. Specifically, I discussed how Morgantown and Clarksburg depend on the EAS program. Air service has been a critical factor in the economies of these communities, and drives economic growth across my state. Our every conversation had me convinced that you appreciated the reasons I am so dedicated to supporting this program. I believed you when you indicated you wanted to work with me on reaching language acceptable to both chambers. The language in the FAA extension you introduced with Congressmen Camp and Petri makes it harder to find a path forward on this issue. Over the last twenty-four hours, it is my understanding that you have asserted to others that you had no role in developing this extension, claiming that it was a leadership decision. If this is true, I am unclear as to why you sponsored it, and issued such a searing press release along with it. If you truly have no authority to make final decisions on the FAA bill, I urge the House to formally appoint conferees and allow me to negotiate directly with your colleagues who can make decisions. I strongly urge you to reconsider your position and send over a clean FAA extension and appoint conferees for the FAA reauthorization bill, as the Senate did on April 7, 2011, to move this important legislation forward. Further efforts to add policy components to FAA extensions that have not been negotiated with the Senate will likely shut the FAA down. You need to think about this very, very carefully. Any consequences resulting from such an action will fall squarely on your shoulders. Right now you are in control of the agency's immediate future. Sincerely, John D. Rockefeller IV. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I would ask my good friend from Florida whether he has any other requests for time. I am prepared to close.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Florida for yielding me the time, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV, extends aviation trust fund revenue collections and aviation program authority at current funding levels through September 16 of this year while also imposing new restrictions on the Essential Air Service program. Frankly, it is no substitute for a long-term Federal Aviation Administration authorization, and casts further doubt on airport construction and safety improvements instead of ensuring air passenger safety, creating jobs, or investing in air traffic control modernization. As I'm sure most Americans would agree, the word ``uncertain'' does not belong in a conversation about our Nation's aviation system and it certainly does not belong in the same sentence as air passenger safety. I note a friend in the House who is a pilot agrees with that statement. Over the course of almost 4 years, however, great uncertainty surrounding long-term funding for the FAA has threatened and continues to threaten both. Without steady funding, the FAA is unable to best manage the long-term programs and projects that are vital to the future of our aviation system, including lifesaving airport safety improvements and the transition to the very important Next Generation Air Transportation System that we know as NextGen. Make no mistake, the United States has the safest, most efficient aviation system in the world. We can all thank our highly skilled, dedicated aviation professionals for that. But in order to ensure that it remains that way, we must stop kicking the FAA reauthorization can further down the road. I know these cans around here get tired of being kicked down the road. The measure before us is the 21st short-term FAA extension to be considered since the last FAA authorization bill. Vision 100 expired at the end of September 2007. I repeat: This is the 21st short-term FAA extension we have considered in less than 4 years. It is also the sixth extension of operation authority for fiscal year 2011. Meanwhile, there has been no progress for weeks on a long-term authorization. While short-term extensions have their place in the legislative process, they should be the exception, not the rule, especially when authorizing the important safety and modernization activities of the FAA. The extension not only fails to address the long-term aviation needs of our Nation, but also denies many of our small and rural communities the air service and economic opportunity made possible by the Essential Air Service program. By including these policy riders, House Republicans risk a shutdown of our aviation system. Senator Rockefeller, after our Rules Committee meeting last night, made that very clear in a letter from him to Chairman Mica. Instead of appointing conferees, as the Senate did 100 days ago, House Republicans seem to be pointing fingers and effectively forcing a vote on the future of the EAS program ahead of conference legislation. While House Republicans continue to play the blame game with the Senate, American businesses and workers are losing out on much needed economic opportunities. Aviation, as we all know, is an economic engine for the United States, contributing $1.3 trillion to our economy, accounting for more than 11.5 million jobs and $396 billion in earnings, and contributing 5.6 percent to our Nation's gross domestic product. Without full-year funding for the FAA, local officials are unable to move forward with project proposals. Because of this, the FAA is an estimated $800 million to $1 billion behind in obligating funding, which translates to tens of thousands of jobs. Furthermore, if the FAA is unable to utilize these funds before the end of the fiscal year, they risk being reprogrammed or rescinded. This, in my view, is irresponsible, dangerous, and unacceptable. The FAA will have to do more with less, which reduces its ability to help airports finance safety improvements such as special runway overshoot areas, runway resurfacing, proper signage and lighting, and equipment to prevent snow and ice buildup on runways. These measures not only save lives but increase efficiency at a time when air traffic is projected to continue growing significantly. According to the FAA, the number of passengers on U.S. airlines is forecasted to increase by about 75 percent within the next 20 years and to reach 1 billion passengers annually within the next decade. We must invest more in our aviation system, not less. Long-term FAA authorization should be an immediate priority. In the 110th and 111th Congresses, the House, under Democratic leadership, passed FAA reauthorization bills that would have created jobs, improved aviation safety, and provided the FAA with the tools necessary to modernize airport and air traffic control infrastructure. My friends on the other side should do the responsible thing and appoint conferees so that the House and Senate can work out their differences and finalize a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. Unfortunately, my friends on the other side of the aisle are clearly preoccupied with further isolating small and rural communities than moving this debate forward. In fact, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has held no hearings specifically on the EAS program this year, nor did they hold a markup on the measure before us. The Senate is not going to pass this. The letter from Senator Rockefeller makes it very clear, as the chair of the relevant committee in the Senate, that this is not going to pass in its form with the policy riders attached. Yet, without the ability to offer amendments on the floor, as I requested in the Rules Committee last night, to consider a clean extension, one free of the policy riders that will hurt our small and rural communities, we face a shutdown. I believe my good friend from Florida (Mr. Webster) said on Friday this short-term extension would expire and then our aviation system stands to shut down. That would be most unfortunate. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentlelady an additional minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to my very good friend from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the American soldiers who participated in the 1918 Trench Fever study, conducted by the American Red Cross. Their service was brought to my attention by one of my constituents, Eugene O'Connor, whose father, Joseph John O'Connor, served as a private in the U.S. Army during World War I and participated in the study. After volunteering along with 19 other American soldiers, Pvt. O'Connor, at the time only 19 years old, was selected to participate in the study to determine the causes and progression of trench fever, an illness that was one of the most prevalent diseases amongst soldiers during World War I. From 1915 to 1918, nearly 1 million soldiers became ill from trench fever, many of whom remained ill for months. On February 23, 1918, Pvt. O'Connor was directly injected with 15 c.c. of plasma from soldiers suffering from trench fever, eventually becoming severely ill while researchers documented the progression, effects, and transmission of the disease. After two continuous months of the illness, and having suffered from its debilitating effects, Pvt. O'Connor recovered and returned to the front lines as an ambulance driver and stretch-bearer until the end of the war. Mr. Speaker, Pvt. O'Connor and the other soldiers who participated in the Trench Fever study were never recognized, compensated, or acknowledged for their sacrifice. They deserve to be properly recognized for the courage and sacrifice they made to help doctors understand and treat a disease afflicting their fellow soldiers. Because of their participation, this illness has been all but eradicated in modern times. We owe Joseph John O'Connor and these other brave men a debt of gratitude.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution in support of the 6th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention (IAS 2011), which takes place from July 17, 2011, through July 20, 2011, in Rome, Italy. This year's conference is of particular importance given the first documented case of a patient being cured of HIV infection and global resurgence of tuberculosis (TB), including multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). My resolution supports a strong international response to HIV/AIDS; the rights of those infected; and increased access to testing, treatment, and care. There are currently 33.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and more than 25 million have died of AIDS since the first cases were reported in 1981. In the United States, approximately 1.1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS and someone is newly infected with HIV every 9.5 minutes. To make matters worse, one in five individuals living with HIV is unaware of their infection, and significant disparities persist across different communities and populations with regard to incidence, access to treatment, and health outcomes. The biennial IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention is the world's largest open scientific conference on HIV/ AIDS, attracting about 5,000 delegates from around the world. Together with the International AIDS Conference, which will next be held in Washington, DC from July 22, 2012, through July 27, 2012, it provides the world's leading scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and community leaders with a unique opportunity to examine the latest developments in HIV research and how scientific advances can practically guide the national and global response to HIV/AIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, TB is the leading cause of death among persons with HIV worldwide and XDR- TB is resistant to the most powerful first-line and second-line drugs. The improper treatment of TB in HIV-infected individuals perpetuates the spread of this infectious disease as well as bolsters drug resistance, which poses a tremendous threat to public health in the United States and abroad. Improved efforts to prevent and treat TB among people living with HIV, including the development of new, transformational antibiotic drugs, can save millions of lives. Several organizations, including small business biotechnology companies, developing therapeutic vaccines and other immune-based therapies are presenting updates on their clinical research at IAS 2011. In addition, the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) and Health People, the first community-based organization for women infected with HIV in the United States, are hosting the NAPWA ``Treatment Horizons: Pathways to a Functional Cure'' satellite symposium, which is officially affiliated with IAS 2011. Therapeutic vaccine candidates and immune-based therapies such as those being presented at IAS 2011 may lead to a ``functional cure'' for HIV/AIDS. Mr. Speaker, continued commitment by the United States to HIV/AIDS research, prevention, and treatment programs is crucial to protecting global health. I urge my colleagues to support my resolution, which recognizes the important contributions of the 6th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention in the global struggle to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic. If we are to be successful in preventing the transmission of HIV and tuberculosis and improving the health outcomes of people living with HIV/AIDS, we must encourage the ongoing development of innovative therapies, advances in clinical treatment, and new, transformational antibiotic drugs to treat infectious diseases.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I will not take a minute. I will just ask the sponsor of the bill, as I did last night in the Rules Committee, do you genuinely believe that this particular measure is going to become the law?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Utah.