Tim Holden

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the bill we are considering today, H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program Act, will greatly benefit our rural residents. The agriculture provisions in this bill build on existing U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and will reduce energy consumption and, as a result, reduce energy costs in rural America. Rural electric cooperatives estimate that the Rural Energy Savings Program Act has the potential to create between 20,000 and 40,000 jobs per year and will make loans available to between 1.1 and 1.6 million rural households, depending on the average consumer size. It is clear that this is a win-win proposition for our rural constituents and our rural economy. This Act furthers the Agriculture Committee's commitment to expand renewable and alternative sources of power and discover new technologies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of existing power generation across rural America. H.R. 4785 authorizes USDA's rural utility service to make interest- free loans to eligible entities. These entities will use these funds to make low-interest loans to rural consumers allowing them to implement energy-efficient measures on their property. Using the existing Rural Utilities Service structure, with the rural electric cooperatives as the delivery system, rural consumers can more quickly obtain the benefits of energy-efficient investments and ultimately decrease their energy bills. Rural customers are facing increasing energy costs and rural electric cooperatives, which serve 42 million member owners across the country, are facing growing demand for electric power, yet are constrained from building new generation capacity. The upfront costs to make energy-efficient upgrades are often beyond the reach of most consumers. This is true even if the costs can be recovered over time or a tax credit or a rebate would reduce the initial price. Additionally, consumers often lack the necessary knowledge about what technologies would be the most effective. H.R. 4785 is an opportunity to meet these challenges and enact policy that we know will reduce energy costs and consumption and improve the quality of life in our rural communities. I would like to thank Congressman Clyburn and Congressman Perriello for their hard work and dedication to improving energy efficiency and their support for the agriculture provisions within this Act. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support the agriculture provisions contained in this Act and encourage its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentlemen from North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas for their support of the manager's amendment, and encourage its passage. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, we know that rural cooperatives will need to double generating capacity. Several reports, including one done by USDA, state it will take a 10-year capital requirement of $65.5 billion, $49.9 billion which would be for new generation, and this does not even take into consideration the $10 billion needed for transmission and the $3 billion to retrofit. So that would be a tremendous expense to consumers across rural America. Energy efficiency investment is the way we need to proceed, so I encourage adoption of the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. I thank the chairman.

Mr. HOLDEN. I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 4173. I serve as chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research. As such, we have jurisdiction over the institutions of the Farm Credit System that serve agriculture as well as rural communities across the country. Over 20 years ago, the Agriculture Committee put in place a revised legislative and regulatory regime for the Farm Credit System that has successfully stood the test of time in ensuring that these institutions operate safe and sound. Farm Credit System institutions are regulated and examined by a fully empowered independent regulatory agency, the Farm Credit Administration, which has the authority to shut down and liquidate a system institution that is not financially viable. In addition, the Farm Credit System is the only GSE that has a self-funded insurance program in place that was established to not only protect investors in farm credit debt securities against loss of their principal and interest, but also to protect taxpayers. These are just a few of the reasons why the Agriculture Committee insisted that the institutions of the Farm Credit System not be subject to a number of the provisions of this legislation. They were not the cause of the problem, did not utilize TARP funds, and did not engage in abusive subprime lending. We have believed that this legislation should not do anything to disrupt this record of success. Mr. Speaker, I now would like to enter into a colloquy with the chairman of the Agriculture Committee. Mr. Chairman, the conference report includes compromise language that requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to consider exempting small banks, Farm Credit System institutions and credit unions from provisions requiring that all swaps be cleared. We understand that community banks, Farm Credit institutions and credit unions did not cause the financial crisis that precipitated this legislation. While the legislation places a special emphasis on institutions with less than $10 billion in assets, my reading of the language is that they should not in any way be viewed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a limit on the size of the institution that should be considered for an exemption. Mr. Chairman, would you concur with this assessment?

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Madam Speaker, I wish to honor Dr. Edna Victoria Baehre for service as College President for HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Dr. Baehre has been the longest serving President of HACC, having held the position for 13 years. Dr. Baehre is a 1971 graduate of Paedagogishce Hochschule in Heidelburg, Germany and holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her dedication to education has been displayed throughout her life, having held executive positions at community colleges in Illinois and New York before accepting the position of President of HACC in 1997. During her time at HACC, Dr. Baehre has led the institution through four successive strategic plans, and has laid the groundwork for a fifth. Her vision and leadership have aided the college in meeting the ever-changing and increasing demands for a trained and educated workforce within South-Central Pennsylvania. Dr. Baehre's contribution to the college is also displayed in the undergraduate student enrollment increase from 10,250 in 1997 to nearly 25,000 today. Additionally, 50,000 citizens are currently enrolled in non-credit programs, workforce training, and public safety training. I congratulate Dr. Baehre on her achievements as President of HACC and for her contribution in aiding the college to expand both in numbers and in status. Her dedication and leadership are to be admired and celebrated, and I wish her the best of luck as she takes her new post as President of Napa Valley Community College.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker, and urge the passage of the resolution.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. Con. Res. 62, congratulating the outstanding professional public servants, both past and present, of the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. I am proud to say that Members on both sides of the aisle support this resolution. I join Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, Ranking Member Frank Lucas, and many of my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee in cosponsoring the House version of this resolution, which recognizes an important Federal agency that has helped our farmers and ranchers practice smart conservation on private land since its inception in 1935. Established by Congress in response to the Dust Bowl disaster that devastated vast stretches of our land, the agency was originally known as the Soil Conservation Service. In 1994, the agency's name changed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service to more accurately reflect its role in protecting all natural resources, not only soil, but also air, water, plants, and animals. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to landowners at local levels, thus recognizing the diversity of the land in this country and the unique concerns in each region. In fact, you will find NRCS field offices in nearly every county in the Nation. NRCS helps local communities carry out thousands of conservation projects, which often translate into opportunities for job creation and increased investment in local communities. Mr. Speaker, the United States depends as much today on productive soils and an abundant, high-quality water supply as we did 75 years ago. In fact, given the agricultural and environmental challenges we face, these programs are more important than ever. With this resolution we salute the NRCS professionals, both past and present, who have worked alongside America's local farmers and ranchers for 75 years to help preserve our essential natural resources. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to join me in recognizing the great work of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S. Con. Res. 62.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 62) congratulating the outstanding professional public servants, both past and present, of the Natural Resources Conservation Service on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the inclusion of the Research & Development tax credit in H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The R&D tax credit is extremely important in providing funding to manufacturers and businesses for my district, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the entire country. The tax credit allows businesses, large and small, to develop new products and technology and in the process it creates millions of jobs. It has been renewed every year since its inception in 1986 and the current administration has proposed that the tax credit be made permanent. In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever for businesses to explore every avenue of tax savings, especially ones that reward innovativeness and creativity in our manufacturers. H.R. 4213 has already passed the House and the Senate. Before it is reconciled and enacted into law, I again offer my support for the inclusion of the R&D tax credit.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Silberline Manufacturing Company, Inc. of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania which will celebrate its 65th anniversary on May 1, 2010. Silberline manufactures and sells metallic and special effect pigments, which are used in paints, coatings, and plastics around the world. Many of the items used in everyday life get their sparkle from Silberline, as key markets for the products include automotive coatings, consumer electronics such as cell phones, plastics, and inks and industrial arts. Silberline has always been a family owned and operated business. When founded in 1945 by Mr. Ernest Scheller Sr., Silberline consisted of a single, small factory located in Stamford, Connecticut. Today, Silberline is a global business, headquartered in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania and includes four manufacturing facilities in the United States, as well as manufacturing in Europe and Asia. It has sales, technical support, and research and development in the United States and around the world. Silberline is known as a world leader in the industry, using science and technology to create, manufacture, and supply high quality pigments that have unique aesthetics, functionality, ease of use, and environmental friendliness. Lisa Jane Scheller, Silberline's current President and CEO, is the granddaughter of founder Ernest Scheller. Ms. Scheller grew up in Tamaqua and in 1987 she joined Silberline as Data Processing Manager. She has been leading the company since 1997. It is her vision to see Silberline continue to grow and thrive while remaining committed to its seven core values--commitments to safety, employees, customers, environment, community, and continual improvement, all while conducting business with integrity around the world. I congratulate Silberline on their 65 years of success and wish them the best of luck for the next 65.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Craig Morgan, a constituent from my district, who is retiring as District Manager of the Schuylkill Conservation District after twenty-five years of service. Craig has always had an interest in the outdoors. As a boy, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and helping on his grandfather's farm. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in environmental resource management from Penn State University in 1977, Craig began his career with the Schuylkill Conservation District. The Schuylkill Conservation District was formed in 1955 with an emphasis on soil conservation. Since becoming District Manager, Craig has expanded the conservation district's role to erosion and sediment control, watershed protection, environmental education, farmland preservation, and farm conservation planning. One of the Schuylkill Conservation District's accomplishments under Craig's leadership is the farmland preservation and erosion and sediment control efforts around the Little Swatara Creek, ultimately preserving the down-stream Sweet Arrow Lake. Acid mine drainage has traumatically impacted and sometimes destroyed the ecosystems of streams in part of my district. Under Craig's direction, the Schuylkill Conservation District has partnered with the Schuylkill Headwaters Association, and other watershed associations, to treat acid mine drainage and bring those streams back to life with plant life and fish. Craig is also proud of the Schuylkill Conservation District's efforts to educate local students on the environment and the importance of conservation. In 1979, Craig ran Schuylkill County's first environthon, which combines in-class curriculum and outdoor training, helping students to learn more about aquatic ecology, forestry, soil and land use, wildlife, and current issues facing the environment. Looking back on his twenty-five years as district director, Craig said, ``The job has been a challenge, but it's been a pleasure in doing good things and doing the right things. That's the reward. Seeing fish back in streams, seeing people at Sweet Arrow Lake. I am the type of person that wanted to do things right the first time so I didn't have to do them again.'' I would like to thank Craig Morgan for his twenty-five years of commitment to conserving and preserving Schuylkill County's waters, lands, and wildlife.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dave Holley, a constituent and friend, who, on April 2, 2010, officially retired as General Manager of the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority. Dave began his public career in 1973, working for the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority as the Assistant Manager. Two years later, he was promoted to General Manager and has served in that position for the past 33 years. Dave's dedication to bettering the communities of Schuylkill County led him to be active in state and national organizations. He served as Past President and Past Regional Director of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authority Association; Vice Chairman of the Water Utility Council of Pennsylvania; and Past Secretary and Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Section of the American Water Works Association. Socially, Dave is an active member of the community in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He is current President of the AAA Schuylkill County Motor Club, the Schuylkill County Motor Club Insurance Agency, and the Schuylkill/Pottsville Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. He was the former President of the Pottsville Rotary Club and Pottsville Rotary Little League. His work in the community and professionally has earned Dave the respect and recognition of his friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Numerous associations have honored Dave with awards for his dedicated service to municipal authorities in Pennsylvania and the water supply field. Athletic organizations have recognized him for his dedication to honoring scholar athletes and his citizenship. Dave was even inducted into the Pottsville Area School District's All Sports Hall of Fame. I would like to congratulate Dave Holley on his retirement after 33 years as General Manager of the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority and thank him for his outstanding citizenship in the community.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today we pay tribute to our departed friend and colleague, Jack Murtha. Over 17 years ago, I heard Jack say that his great-grandmother told him he was put on this Earth to make a difference--and boy did he make a difference. He loved his country and served it with distinction at many levels. He served in the United States Marine Corps stateside during the Korean War. When the Vietnam War broke out, he volunteered to go back and served in Vietnam and received two Purple Hearts. He was the first Vietnam veteran elected to the United States Congress. He was the longest-serving Member in the history of the Congress from Pennsylvania to serve in the House of Representatives, and as Mr. Young mentioned during his remarks, he never forgot the men and women in uniform and made sure that they had the tools to do the job that they do so well. And our returning veterans as well, he was always at the forefront of making sure they had the proper care and treatment and visited them so many times at our military hospitals. But he also cared so much about all of us. Everybody in this body has an example where Jack helped them. And he helped me so many times over the years, but there is just one that I want to share with everyone today. After the redistricting of 2000 and after the 2002 election, I found myself serving in a district that was 60 percent new to me, and I inherited one of the best medical facilities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania--and actually in the entire country--the Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Center. And after meeting with the leaders at the Penn State Milton facility and seeing the quality of care that they provide, he said, There's one thing that we're missing. We're missing a cancer research and treatment institute. People that we serve, when they are diagnosed, all too often have to go to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh or Baltimore for care. We need to have a facility for literally millions of central Pennsylvanians, and we, Penn State, are willing to put up more than our fair share or more than the majority of the cost, but we are about $35 million short of getting there. I went to see Jack. I brought him to Hershey. He looked around at the quality of care that was provided, made an agreement and said, it won't happen in 1 year or 2 years, but it will happen. We, the Federal Government, will be a partner and the people of central Pennsylvania no longer will have to travel to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh or Baltimore. I am proud to say today that as a result of Jack's efforts and his desire to help me, we have the best quality cancer care in central Pennsylvania. All of us could cite incidents like that where Jack cared about Members and did things to affect the quality of life for their constituents. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go to Joyce and Donna and Patrick and John and so many of Jack's former staffers and current staffers that are with us today. Jack, we miss you dearly.

Mr. HOLDEN

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

Mr. HOLDEN. Thank you. First of all, Mr. Chairman, I would like to congratulate and thank Chairman Gordon and the gentleman from Nebraska for their hard work on this important piece of legislation. It has been tremendously successful all across the country and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in my congressional district. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of my amendment is to allow river rescue associations to participate in the grant program under the Volunteer, Non-Fire Service EMS and Rescue Organizations section of the reauthorization. Mr. Chairman, this situation was brought to my attention by Mr. Steve Ketterer of the Harrisburg River Rescue Association, which is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the largest city in my congressional district. It sits on the Susquehanna River, and the Harrisburg River Rescue Association does a tremendous job all year long, not just in flooding situations, performing rescue operations on the Susquehanna River. They have applied repeatedly to this program for a grant and have been determined to be ineligible. My amendment simply would make river rescue associations eligible under the Volunteer, Non- Fire Service EMS and Rescue Organizations section of the bill. At the direction of the chairman and his staff, we have reached out and have had consultation with the International Association of Fire Fighters and the National Volunteer Fire Council. Both groups are satisfied with the amendment making river rescue eligible under the rescue organization section of the bill and felt it did not harm either the intention or the compromise of the bill. This would not take any funding from firefighters. This makes them eligible for funding under the EMS funding. So I would encourage adoption of the amendment and reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington for yielding me the time. I rise in strong support of House Resolution 754, Mr. Speaker, to honor and say ``thank you'' to the members of the Pennsylvania National Guard from the 56th Stryker Brigade on their return home from Iraq and ``a job well done.'' And I want to commend and thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and all the members of the Pennsylvania delegation for being cosponsors of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, during the deployment of the 56th Stryker Brigade, I had the opportunity to travel to Mississippi and Louisiana with Congressman Shuster, Congressman Gerlach and Congressman Dent, and then we had the opportunity, along with Congresswoman Dahlkemper, to travel over to Iraq to see our citizen-soldiers in action. And I can tell you that we, as members of the Pennsylvania delegation and the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are very proud of our citizen-soldiers' performance, as I believe the entire country is. They have returned home with the job well done. As a matter of fact, when we had the opportunity to be in Iraq and meet with General Odierno and General Jacoby and talk about the performance of General Wright's soldiers under the command of Colonel Ferraro, they expressed how proud they were as commanders in theater for the job that was well done. The Pennsylvania National Guard is the only National Guard who hosts a Stryker Brigade. And, Mr. Speaker, that did not happen by a lottery held at the Pentagon. It happened because of the strong professionalism, the training and the work that this brigade has done previously in their deployment. They are the second-most deployed National Guard unit of any in the country. And the reason is because of the job that they do when they are asked and they are called upon to serve our country and to serve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. During their deployment, they served with distinction. The awards that were granted to the 56th Stryker Brigade include four Bronze Star Medal for Valor, 10 Army Commendation Medal for Valor, 33 Purple Hearts, and unfortunately they had two tragic deaths during their deployment, Staff Sergeant Mark Baum and Specialist Chad Edmundson. And certainly our prayers and thoughts go out to the families of those two who made the supreme sacrifice during their deployment. Again, as a member of the Pennsylvania delegation speaking in concert with the other members of the delegation and on behalf of this entire body, I want to congratulate and commend the 56th Stryker Brigade on their performance.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 670, congratulating and saluting the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for celebrating its 75th anniversary, commending the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for its contributions to the preservation of wildlife and the native ecology of the Appalachian Mountains and eastern Pennsylvania, and commending the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for its dedication to educating the public and the international community about wildlife conservation. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a wild bird sanctuary near Kempton, Pennsylvania, in my district. Hawk Mountain is located along the Appalachian flyway, which is one of several very important flyways located in the U.S. It has been called the ``center of the universe'' for hawk watchers along the Appalachian flyway, bringing an average of 20,000 hawks, eagles, and falcons past the lookouts during late summer and fall every year. Visitors to the sanctuary, who number about 60,000 annually, learn about conservation of the raptor population. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the world's oldest wildlife sanctuary exclusively committed to the protection and observation of birds of prey. The sanctuary's annual count of hawks, eagles and falcons, which is the world's longest record of raptor populations, provides valuable information on changes in raptor numbers in northeastern North America. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary plays an important role in conserving birds of prey worldwide, providing leadership in raptor conservation science and education, and maintaining a model observation, research and education facility. Therefore, I am pleased to honor the 75th anniversary of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the legislation from North Carolina, Mr. Shuler.