Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act. This bill makes drastic changes to our nation's food safety laws that will affect every farmer and rancher in the United States. However, Mr. Speaker, the extent of these changes is unknown, because the full text of this bill was not yet available to Members until the day before the vote. Our Nation has the safest food supply in the world, Mr. Speaker, and that is because our growers and processors work hard to provide quality products to consumers. While the circumstances surrounding recent food safety violations must be addressed, in nearly every case, these were violations of existing laws and standards. It is imperative that Congress does not rush to use these incidents as an excuse to unnecessarily and dramatically expand federal regulation of our producers and processors. This is a better bill than the one that came out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Yet, I am still concerned about the broad authority this legislation gives to the Food and Drug Administration to regulate on-farm practices for our fruit and vegetable growers. If this bill is signed into law, the FDA will for the first time have the explicit authority to regulate the way produce is grown and harvested. I am also concerned, Mr. Speaker, with the significant financial burden that the new traceability and record-keeping requirement will have on America's small farmers and agriculture processors. This bill would allow FDA to charge huge fines for even minor paperwork violations that could put smaller operations out of business. Also of note, is the broad quarantine authority that this bill gives to FDA. While I recognize the need to quarantine the source of food- borne illnesses, this bill would allow the FDA to quarantine wide geographic areas where the source may exist. We know that the FDA can make mistakes over the origin of an outbreak, and this provision could cause devastating economic impacts to growers and processors who have done absolutely nothing wrong. Agriculture is the number one industry in Washington State. Creating jobs and growing our economy is dependent upon supporting our farmers and ranchers--not passing legislation that could put them out of business. I have heard some of my colleagues say that we can rely on the Senate to address the flaws in this bill. I believe that the House of Representatives owes it to our growers and processors to take the time to do this right, and not rely on the Senate to fix our mistakes.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, to provide open disclosure, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that I support for inclusion in H.R. 3326 the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010. Amount: $3 million Account: Army Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Entity receiving funds: Army and General Dynamics located at 9256 Randolph Road NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837. Description: The U.S. military has stated that it needs a compact, low-cost accuracy kit to place on existing mortar and rockets. This funding will be used to develop this technology for the U.S. military. Amount: $1.5 million Account: Army National Guard, Operations and Maintenance Entity receiving funds: Army National Guard and the HAMMER facility, located at 2890 Horn Rapids Road, Richland, WA 99354. Description: These funds will be used to ensure that Army National Guard units receive the training needed to respond to weapons of mass destruction attack. Amount: $1 million Account: Army Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Entity receiving funds: Army and Infinia, located at 6811 West Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. Description: These funds will be used to provide the Army with a small, efficient, reliable way to equip American troops with both electricity and hot water. Amount: $2 million Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Defense Wide Entity receiving funds: Battelle Northwest located at 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA 99352 and Heritage University located at 3240 Fort Road, Toppenish, WA 98948. Description: These funds will be used to provide a security protected collection of technical reports, scientific studies, and reference documents on chemical and biological warfare available to the U.S. intelligence community. This supports the intelligence community's mission to make all relevant documents available to intelligence analysts.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, to provide open disclosure, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that I support for inclusion in H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act of 2010. Amount: $750,000 Account: Federal Highway Administration--Transportation and Community and System Preservation Entity receiving funds: City of Pasco, located at 525 North Third Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301. Description: These funds will be used to replace the Lewis Street railroad undercrossing with a four-lane overpass to improve the safety of motorists and pedestrians, while improving freight mobility and response times for emergency services. Amount: $500,000 Account: Federal Transit Administration--Buses and Bus Facilities Entity receiving funds: Link Transit of 2700 Euclid Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801. Description: Funds will be used to replace old buses and ensure that Link Transit can continue to provide current services.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, to provide open disclosure, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that I support for inclusion in H.R. 3293, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010. Amount: $600,000 Account: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--Health Resources and Service Administration Entity receiving funds: Central Washington Hospital located at 1201 South Miller Street, Wenatchee, WA 98807. Description: These funds will be used to expand Central Washington Hospital's medical campus so that the hospital can continue to meet the health care needs of North Central Washington. This region is currently facing a shortage of hospital beds. Amount: $400,000 Account: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--Health Resources and Service Administration Entity receiving funds: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences located at 111 University Parkway, Suite 202, Yakima, WA 98901. Description: Funds will be used to help the new College of Allied Health and Sciences and Postgraduate Studies develop and implement new programs to teach medical specialties where there are doctor shortages in the region.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, Democrats in this body are negotiating behind closed doors the most sweeping changes to American health care since the 1960s. An article on CNN's Web site today explains the dangers of what happens when one party negotiates with itself in secret. Entitled ``Five Freedoms You Would Lose in Health Care Reform,'' it explains that under the plan drafted by House Democrats, families will lose choices and control of their health care. According to the CNN story, Americans would, one, lose the freedom to choose what is in their insurance plan; two, lose the freedom to be rewarded for healthy living or pay their real costs; three, lose the freedom to choose high deductible coverage; four, lose the freedom to keep their existing plan; and, five, lose the freedom to choose their doctors. Americans need more health care choices, not fewer. House Democrats should scrap this plan and negotiate in a bipartisan effort to help increase choices and reduce costs.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 509, which was introduced by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown), a member of the resources committee, will extend the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to issue conservation grants to assist highly endangered marine sea turtles. Under this measure, the authorization of appropriations is extended an additional 5 years at existing funding levels. Since 2004, 78 conservation projects have been approved to assist the imperiled green, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead, and Olive Ridley marine sea turtles. These projects are making a real difference in the ongoing struggle to save these species. I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 509. Again, I want to compliment my friend and colleague from South Carolina, Mr. Brown. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 556, a bill which will take a threatened species and place its management needs above others, even if those species are in danger of becoming extinct. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the agency with management over the southern sea otter and most other animals listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Service should be afforded the opportunity to make its own determination on how best to use Endangered Species Act recovery funds. Mr. Speaker, I don't believe Congress should get into the habit of promoting one species' needs over other more endangered species. We should let the management agency do its job, guided by the Endangered Species Act. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for time, and so I'll yield back my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the author of this legislation, the gentlelady from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the reservoir that supplies the water to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, is on land that was donated to the Blue Ridge Parkway over 50 years ago. After the Park Service acquired the land, the reservoir continued to operate under an informal agreement until recently when the National Park Service decided to require an annual special use permit for the site and imposed water rights fees. The Park Service pronouncement means that the town faced the prospect of renting its longstanding sole source of water 1 year at a time and being charged for the water. So I want to compliment Dr. Foxx for this legislative solution to the problem. Her bill will allow Blowing Rock to own and manage its 20-acre municipal water supply, rather than accessing it through the Park Service permitting process. I must say, though, that I am dismayed because of the price extracted by the National Park Service because it forced the town to come up with 192 acres in exchange for 20. I think that is a bad ratio. Nevertheless, I support this legislation. I think it's a good piece of legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. If there are no more requests for time, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, again, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I've talked about this and it is a legitimate concern. And so I would inquire of the gentlelady from Guam if she has anymore speakers.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I just want to make the point that this bill was marked up in July and, as I mentioned in my opening statement, there was an amendment that was offered, so the issue has been known. But like I say, this Member has not heard directly from people in Waco, but maybe others have. But again, I was talking in a larger sense, because we've seen examples of this in other parts of the country. So I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. No. I have to say, I have not. Now having said that, there may be somebody on the staff that has. I can tell the gentleman that I have not heard specifically on this. But I just want to point out, there are examples of this in other parts of the country. Again, something that was not anticipated but, in fact, there was an infringement on those private property rights.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. If the gentleman would yield.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, I have no problem with the designation. I thought you described it very, very well. You've heard those of us from the West talk about private property rights, like these things only happen in the western part of the United States. But examples like these where these buffer zones have infringed on priority property rights, as a matter of fact, have happened all over the United States, in Michigan, obviously in the West, and even in the Smoky Mountains here in the eastern part of the United States. I know the gentleman is sensitive to that. I was disappointed that the amendment failed by a very close margin. But the reason that was offered for why it didn't pass was because there is no precedence in law. In fact, there is precedence in law. I suspect your legislation is going to pass on its merits, notwithstanding my opposition to it. But I would certainly advise the gentleman as this process moves forward to look at this very closely because this is not an isolated example. And I know that that would be an unintended consequence of what you intended with this, especially as I understand this legislation sitting in Waco.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1376 would designate a national monument in the middle of the city of Waco in Texas. I do not necessarily oppose the designation, but I do oppose the legislation as it is written because it lacks language protecting the property rights on lands adjacent to the monument. The National Park Service has a history of interfering with the use of lands it does not own. During the committee markup, Congressman Rob Bishop of Utah offered a commonsense amendment that limited the Park Service's control to the boundaries of the proposed monument and prohibited the Park Service from designating buffer zones on private lands. The chairman of the subcommittee opposed the amendment, stating that the concept of buffer zones did not exist and was nowhere to be found in law. However, a quick search of the Park Service's own Web site finds 78 references to buffer zones, including references in Federal law. The amendment that was offered by Mr. Bishop was narrowly defeated by a 22-20 vote, largely along party lines. So without language protecting private landowners adjacent to the monument, which includes homeowners, farmers and, for that matter, even Baylor University, passing this legislation would be, in my view, irresponsible. This is not just a vague hypothetical concern. In the Park Service's own study, recommending the designation of the Waco monument, the issue of controlling neighboring lands through local zoning is specifically mentioned; and the door is left open for the Park Service to push for restrictions on adjacent private property. That's the part that concerns me with this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on H.R. 1376 until language is added protecting property rights in the buffer zone. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution has been adequately explained by the gentlewoman from Guam. I would like to add that it is my hope that this resolution reminds the American people that public lands are theirs to fully enjoy.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, to provide open disclosure, I am submitting the following information regarding projects that I support for inclusion in H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Appropriations Act, 2010. Amount: $16,454,000 Account: Bureau of Reclamation's Water and Related Resources Entity receiving funds: Columbia Basin Project, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, located at 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706. Description: These funds will be used for ongoing operations of the Columbia Basin Project. Amount: $150,000 Account: Bureau of Reclamation's Water and Related Resources Entity receiving funds: Washington Investigations Program, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, located at 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706. Description: These funds will be used to support ongoing engineering and planning studies of Bureau of Reclamation projects in Washington state. Amount: $8,512,000 Account: Bureau of Reclamation's Water and Related Resources Entity receiving funds: Yakima Project, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, located at 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706. Description: These funds will be used for ongoing operations of the Yakima Basin Project. Amount: $8,500,000 Account: Bureau of Reclamation's Water and Related Resources Entity receiving funds: Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, located at 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706. Description: These funds will be used for ongoing programs of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. Amount: $3,000,000 Account: Bureau of Reclamation's Water and Related Resources Entity receiving funds: Odessa Subarea Special Study, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, located at 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706. Description: These funds will be used to continue efforts to identify solutions and alternatives for local irrigators dependent on depleting Odessa wells. Amount: $1,500,000 Account: Bureau of Reclamation's Water and Related Resources Entity receiving funds: Yakima River Basin Water Supply Study, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, located at 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706. Description: These funds will be used to support the development of a plan to meet the water storage and supply needs of the Yakima River Basin.