Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 1074 which honors the 60th anniversary of the commencement of the carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I was proud to introduce this resolution that recognizes 60 years of work on the Crazy Horse Memorial, which, when completed, will be the largest carving in the world. In 1939, upon witnessing the carving of Mt. Rushmore, Dakota Chief Henry Standing Bear contacted sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Chief Standing Bear encouraged Ziolkowski to create a mountain memorial, writing ``My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.'' On June 3, 1948, the mountain was dedicated and carving began. Though Mr. Ziolkowski passed away in 1982, his wife, Ruth, and their family continue to make progress on carving the mountain. To this end, they have established the Crazy Horse Foundation which is dedicated to honoring the culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American Indians and the spirit of Crazy Horse. There is no projected completion date for the Crazy Horse Memorial due to the availability of funding and to natural challenges, such as weather and the structure of the mountain. On June 3rd, 2008, the Crazy Horse Memorial will commemorate the 60th anniversary since Chief Standing Bear's dedication of the mountain. I thank my colleagues in joining me in celebrating the accomplishments of the Ziolkowski family, recognizing the legacy of Crazy Horse, and honoring the contributions and sacrifices of the Lakota nation and all Native Americans.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Obey for his hard work in putting together this emergency supplemental and overcoming a number of challenges in readying the amendments the House is considering today. As chairwoman of the Economic Opportunities Subcommittee of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee with jurisdiction over veterans' education benefits, I am proud to support today's efforts to modernize the Montgomery GI Bill. Members of the subcommittee have worked diligently throughout the 110th Congress to understand how best to enhance education benefits and make them easier to access for our Nation's veterans in the 21st century. My stepbrother, a 3rd Class Petty Officer in the United States Navy, next week deploys to the Persian Gulf on the USS Ronald Reagan. He, like so many thousands of brave and dedicated service men and women, stands to benefit from our important vote today, a vote to invest more wisely in these men and women who make the commitment to serve our country and keep us safe, a vote that reflects our priorities as a Nation to recognize their honored service. I urge my colleagues to support this much-needed improvement in veterans education benefits.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. I want to congratulate the chairman and the ranking member of the full committee for this conference report. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the important reforms and preserving the safety net and the commodity title as well as important increases in the nutrition and conservation titles, I worked with the chairman of the full committee during the House version of the markup to place an emphasis on beginning farmers and ranchers. This conference report includes a number of important provisions, including reauthorizing tax- exempt bonds to provide low-interest loans to beginning farmers and ranchers, increasing the loan limit for them from $250,000 to $450,000 and indexing that limit amount for inflation. There are also important provisions in the credit and research titles of this conference report for beginning farmers and ranchers. The energy title is another area that as Mr. Holden, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research, pointed out, the loan guarantees for advance biofuel production plants, reauthorizing the Rural Energy for America Program which provides the loans, loan guarantees and grants for producers to purchase and install on-the-farm renewable energy systems, establishing a forest bioenergy program; and, of course, championed by the chairman of the full committee, the biomass crop assistance program. I encourage all of my colleagues for these reasons, as pointed out by many other colleagues, to support the conference report.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I affirm today my support for H. Res. 1021, supporting the goals, ideals, and history of National Women's History Month. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution demonstrating the commitment of the House of Representatives to promoting National Women's History Month, which this year celebrates female artists and their contribution of originality, beauty, and imagination to the world of art. I am proud that my home state of South Dakota has a strong tradition of women in the arts and I would like to thank South Dakotans for the Arts for its work promoting the arts and supporting women artists in my home state. I'd like to describe for my colleagues some of the talented and remarkable women artists and authors that have found inspiration in hills and prairies of South Dakota. Women in South Dakota have done the work of art throughout our history, beginning with our First Peoples and continuing today. Native American women practice traditional art forms passed from generation to generation, adapting changes in materials and technique to add beauty and new texture to the traditional art. Their work includes the quillwork and quilts of Alice New Holy Blue Legs and Nellie Star Boy Menard, as well as the contemporary silver of Linda Szabo and paintings of Joanne Bird. Some of South Dakota's pioneer women artists arrived in the Dakota Territory after studying at major schools of art in New York, Boston, Chicago, and Paris. They helped to bring the artistic disciplines of the East and Europe to the Northern Plains. As new colleges and universities were opened in what is present-day South Dakota, women helped to found departments of art and joined the teaching faculty. In South Dakota, these pioneer artists and teachers included two very influential women who contributed both through their own artwork and through their dedication to their students. Grace French, born in 1858, arrived in Rapid City, Dakota Territory in 1885. She painted the remarkably beautiful landscapes of the area with color and subtlety, adding poetry and beauty to the popular imagination of the Plains and the West. Ada Bertha Caldwell was born in 1869 and graduated from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. She accepted a position at Springfield College at Yankton, South Dakota. In 1900, she founded the Department of Art at what is now South Dakota State University, and was a teacher and major influence for Harvey Dunn, a noted illustrator and painter of pioneer life on the South Dakota prairie. South Dakotans also celebrate the many talented women in literature that have enriched our lives and deepened our understanding of a sense of place and history with their stories. American favorites from South Dakota include Laura Ingalls Wilder, Linda Hasselstrom, Kathleen Norris and Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. For these few examples and numerous others, I am pleased to join with my colleagues today to honor these women artists and authors. May their contributions continue to provide joy, education, and inspiration to future generations on the Northern Plains and throughout our Nation.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. I thank the gentleman. And I thank Chairman Spratt and Mr. Boyd for their leadership on the Budget Committee in fashioning a budget resolution for fiscal year 2009 that is putting our fiscal condition on a course toward far better health than we've seen in the first 6 years of the Bush administration and the continued proposals that we've seen from the administration in the substantial cuts, but also the imbalance that we've been experiencing and adding to the national debt. I am proud, as a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, to support this resolution because of so many of the core principles of our organization and fiscal responsibility that Mr. Boyd and Mr. Cooper and others have identified here in our endorsement, our strong and enthusiastic endorsement of this budget resolution that will bring us to balance by 2012, that will include in reconciliation instructions in light of what happened to us last year, the full offsets to pay for alternative minimum tax relief for middle-class families across the country, and that also maintains the principle of PAYGO, but also recognizes the importance of a strong national defense in accepting the President's number, as well as increasing the amount of money we are spending on veterans health care, because ongoing costs of national security include taking care of our Nation's fighting men and women. I applaud Chairman Spratt for his great work and encourage my colleagues to support this important budget resolution.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, on February 15, 2008, the Madison High School girls gymnastics team from my State of South Dakota won its 14th consecutive state championship. This accomplishment sets a national record for consecutive gymnastics State titles. The Bulldogs' streak began in 1995 with a narrow victory over Stanley County High School and has continued through this season's dominant victory over runner-up Britton-Hecla High School. Madison's list of accomplishments goes deeper than just a national record. The Bulldogs' victory streak is the longest in South Dakota history--for any sport--and the team holds the State record for highest team score in their class. In addition, Madison gymnasts have won 47 individual State titles during the streak, setting State class records for the balance beam, floor exercise and vault. In addition, Madison's Kristen Osterberg set a record with 14 career State titles from 1996 to 2001. Led by former coach Linda Collignon and current coach Maridee Dossett, Madison has set a standard by which teams from all across the country can be judged. With a focus on team success first, the Madison gymnastics program doesn't just produce champions, it also creates individuals better prepared to take on all the challenges life can present. Madam Speaker, it is with enduring pride and respect that I rise today in recognition of the Madison gymnastics team on the occasion of their record-breaking achievement. Their achievement is not only measured in the dominating statistics of their string of victories over fourteen years, but also in how they work together as a team in their commitment to excellence. The Madison gymnastics team has proven itself worthy to be counted among the most dominant high school athletic dynasties in the Nation.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I plan to vote in favor of this resolution--first and foremost--because of the essential importance of maintaining the constitutional role of the Congress as a coequal branch of government with the executive. However, the partisan division over this resolution is highly regrettable and serves to obscure the vital principles at stake. As my colleagues are well aware, the House Judiciary Committee has initiated an inquiry into the unusual firing of several U.S. Attorneys. The impartial administration of federal law around the nation depends upon the integrity of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorneys. The decisions of the department and the officials who implement its vast legal authority should be free of even the appearance of impropriety, and free of politics. This is true under any administration, regardless of party. The importance of the committee's inquiry into this matter is clear. In order to secure the facts necessary to make an informed judgment regarding the propriety of those firings, the committee first sought the voluntary cooperation of the administration in producing all of the information the committee needed to form a fair assessment. When that cooperation was not forthcoming, subpoenas were duly issued to Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers. On the basis of an assertion of executive privilege, neither complied with the subpoenas. In the face of the White House's inflexibility and refusal to cooperate, the committee ultimately voted to approve a contempt citation and bring the matter before the House. I still believe that focusing on civil proceedings as a way to resolve the dispute could have garnered bipartisan support, and thereby avoided much of the partisan division we have witnessed regarding this resolution. However, that is not the choice before the House today. We must choose between recognizing and supporting the constitutional role of Congress, or allowing the administration to direct officials and former officials to ignore an important inquiry under way in the House. At this crucial moment in our nation's history, it's more important than ever to maintain the balance of powers between the federal government's executive and legislative branches. That balance was carefully designed by the Founders, and we have consistently seen through the years the wisdom of that arrangement. Over the last several years, we witnessed first-hand the unfortunate and regrettable consequences when that balance was disturbed, and Congress failed to carry out its oversight responsibilities. The American people deserve better. Thus, I cast my vote today not only to support the centuries-old role of the House under the Constitution, but for greater transparency, greater accountability, and to ensure the fair administration of federal law. Once the facts are known, the House can make an informed judgment about what course of action is best. Until we learn what the administration knows, but isn't willing to share with the Congress, we cannot form a final judgment in this matter.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, today I would like to offer a special remembrance for a unique individual, Vi Stoia. Viorel G. ``Vi'' Stoia was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1924. He lived there all of his life, save for when he attended the University of Minnesota earning his degree in business administration, and when he served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946 as a Chief Petty Officer. Vi married Donna Marie Maurseth in 1949 and they made their home in Aberdeen, raising their five children--Marsha, Nancy, Greg, James and Thomas. Vi served on countless boards, was a member of numerous civic associations, and was Aberdeen's resident historian, well-known and well-liked throughout the community. He learned everything he could about area projects and economic development issues, and maintained both a mental and physical archive of the town's history. If you had a question about something in Aberdeen's history, not only would Vi know the answer, he would most likely be able to produce a newspaper article about it. His clippings archives went back at least 60 years, if not more. As a constant supporter of the Aberdeen community, Vi was involved in almost every opportunity for economic growth or quality-of-life improvement. He advocated for public projects as diverse as the Northeast Regional Health and Fitness Center, the Highway 12 Expressway and Moccasin Creek revitalization. When incentives for business recruitment and expansion were being sought, Vi was there to lead the charge. Though he was a very successful businessman, as senior financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Life, and held many leadership positions within the insurance industry, it was his public service and influence within the community that will be remembered most. I join the Aberdeen community, Vi's family, and friends, not in mourning his passing, but in celebrating his life and the innumerable contributions he made to the community of which he was so proud.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to thank Chairman George Miller and his colleagues on the House Education & Labor Committee for their work on H.R. 2768: Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007 or S-MINER. The efforts of the Committee further address the dangers associated with mining, particularly the threats to coal miners we have seen all too frequently, most recently with the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster in 2007. While I supported the MINER Act in 2006 and believe that Congress has a responsibility to continue to strengthen mine health and safety regulations, I am not able to support H.R. 2768 because of the unintended consequences it may have on mining operations outside of the coal industry. While I acknowledge the Education and Labor Committee's efforts to engage industry in this debate, I feel the concerns of the surface mining industry are not adequately addressed in this legislation. As such, S-MINER may unnecessarily harm many small mining operations with new burdensome compliance requirements. In South Dakota, aggregate mining operations create good paying jobs and provide products essential to the construction industry. They are an important part of numerous local economies in the state. Therefore, I cannot discount the concerns of aggregate mining operations over the process by which ``permissible exposure limits'' (PELs) will be adopted under S-MINER. With the cost of road construction and maintenance skyrocketing, South Dakota and other states are often forced to make tough decisions. If aggregate miners are required to adopt additional regulations under S-MINER, we may see the cost of this construction component rise even higher. I believe it is imperative that we continue to closely monitor the progress of MINER implementation, and I will continue to look for ways to support regulation reform that protect the health and safety of mine workers.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. I thank the gentleman, the distinguished chairman, for yielding. Madam Speaker, throughout the year the House has made great strides and has made tough choices, beginning the difficult work of getting the Nation's fiscal house in order. The Blue Dog Coalition has worked closely with our colleagues to draft fiscally responsible legislation that complied with PAYGO rules that the new majority put in place at the beginning of this Congress, rules the minority rejected for the past 6 years. I commend the Speaker and the majority leader for their firm commitment to fiscal discipline. Under their leadership and that of the Ways and Means Committee, this House voted twice to provide AMT relief for 23 million families without burdening future generations with more debt. Madam Speaker, there can be no mistake as to why the House is faced today with effectively waiving PAYGO for AMT relief: the bad habits of my colleagues in the minority who would continue to use borrowed money to provide the relief, thereby raising taxes in the form of interest payments, and the obstructionism and the lack of fiscal responsibility of the minority in the U.S. Senate. They would prefer to protect those who evade taxes even when the cost of that protection is to further mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren. For these reasons and others, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Senate amendment on behalf of the children in our lives and the children in our districts.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to honor the life of CPL Tanner O'Leary, who died December 9, 2007, while serving his country in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Tanner, who was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, N.C., graduated from Timber Lake High School in 2003. He joined the Army in 2005. He graduated from infantry training in May 2005 and airborne school in June 2005. The lives of countless people were enormously enhanced by Tanner's compassion and service. He represented the best of the United States, South Dakota, and the Army. His life continues to inspire all those who knew him and many who did not. Our Nation and the State of South Dakota are far better places because of his service. Today, we remember and honor Tanner's noble service to the United States and the ultimate sacrifice he has paid with his life to defend our freedoms and foster liberty for others. I would like to express my condolences to the family and friends of CPL Tanner O'Leary. His commitment to and sacrifice for our country will not be forgotten.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and this historic bill's commitment to clean, renewable energy and its positive impact on strengthening our national security and our economic prosperity. One of the most important aspects of this bill is the appropriately aggressive renewable fuels standard it contains, which builds upon the first renewable fuel standard passed in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which I supported. And it recognizes the contributions that rural America is ready, willing and able to make toward meeting our Nation's energy needs. Like many of my fellow South Dakotans, like so many Americans, I strongly support expanding our commitment to the production and use of renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. This legislation will mandate that we produce at least 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels in this country by the year 2022, and 1 billion gallons of biodiesel by 2012. For the past 2\1/2\ years we have seen how the first renewable fuel standard, an initial step forward reforming our Nation's approach to energy production, has resulted in tremendous technological change and tremendous opportunities. The new RFS will continue to drive the development of new and efficient processes to turn rural America's natural abundance into energy. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and this bill, in large measure because of this renewable fuel standard which reflects a compromise with the Senate that improves the structure of the standard, while retaining the overall volume and schedule of the Senate bill. The RFS contained in the provisions we consider now include a 9 billion gallon requirement of conventional biofuels in 2008 to address the serious circumstances faced by the industry today. It accelerates to 2009 and 2010 the start dates for advanced and cellulosic biofuels and their significant greenhouse gas reductions. It increases the total overall mandates in the intervening years, through 2016; and, importantly, it includes specific targets for biodiesel. Again, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and to support this historic legislation.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2265. I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar, the ranking member and committee staff for moving this resolution quickly to the floor, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello) for his leadership and for yielding me time. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill introduced by my friend and colleague, the junior Senator from South Dakota, which extends funding for many critical programs administered under the Federal Aviation Authority, including the Essential Air Service and the Airport Improvement Program. First, S. 2265, extends Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, which allows State Governors to ascertain and certify the ``most commonly used route'' from an EAS airport to a major airport hub for the purpose of determining EAS eligibility. The Essential Air Service program is important for many small rural airports throughout the country. It helps smaller communities to connect with larger cities and their airports and facilitates economic development. Additionally, S. 2265 extends several of the FAA's major programs, including the Airport Improvement Program, and provides appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration Operations, Facilities and Equipment, and Research and Development programs through December 31, 2007. These programs were approved in the House in September of this year with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007. In closing, transportation infrastructure is a critically important priority, particularly in rural America. I urge my colleagues to support S. 2265 as it provides a necessary short-term extension of several key Federal Aviation Administration programs, while we continue to work toward a long-term resolution through the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, due to airline delays, on November 5, 2007, I missed the vote on rollcall No. 1034 (the Motion to Close Portions of the Conference--H.R. 3222); rollcall No. 1035 (H.R. 513, to enhance the protection of credit ratings of active duty military personnel); and rollcall No. 1036 (H.R. 744, recognizing the contributions of Native American veterans). Had I been present and voting, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 744, which recognizes the contributions of Native American veterans and calls upon the president to issue a day in honor of their service. As an original cosponsor of H.R. 744, I would like to thank Representative Wilson for introducing this important resolution to honor the service of our nation's Native American Veterans. I also would like to recognize Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner and Ranking Member Steve Buyer for their strong leadership and unwavering dedication to Native American veterans and for working to quickly move this resolution to the House floor. For more than 200 years Native Americans have served in the military--at a higher rate than any other ethnic group. Now, in Iraq and Afghanistan, a new generation of Native Americans serve their country. These young men and women, such as Private First Class Sheldon Hawk Eagle, from Eagle Butte, South Dakota and Corporal Brett Lundstrom from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, who were both killed while serving in Iraq, join a long line of Native Americans that have answered the call to duty on behalf of their country. Their service to our nation must never be forgotten. To honor the sacrifice of countless Native American veterans, like Private First Class Hawk Eagle and Corporal Lundstrom, I encourage my colleagues to support final passage of this resolution.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about energy, about where this Nation's energy should come from, and what form it should take. In my view, the answer is clear. Our energy should come from America, produced in America, by Americans, with the profits staying here at home. It should be clean, sustainable and renewable. These should be the overriding considerations for the energy policy that we are seeking to implement in this Congress. If we accept these criteria, and I think the American people already have, then an important part of the solution becomes clear. We must greatly increase our capacity to produce, distribute and utilize biofuels. Just yesterday, the price of a barrel of oil hit yet another all-time high, more than $88 per barrel. A few years ago, this development would have been shocking. Yet no one was surprised by the news. We have become accustomed to oil prices shattering records every few weeks, and $100 oil seems to be a virtual certainty in the near future. Even without all the other problems, geopolitical, environmental, supply, that flow from our addiction to oil, its price volatility alone dictates that we must move in a bold new direction. Yet since peaking at $3.20 a gallon in late May, gas prices at the pump have declined to an average of about $2.76 a gallon nationwide for regular unleaded. What accounts for this? A significant factor in bringing retail gas prices down for American families is ethanol. According to an article earlier this week in CNN.com, ``Gasoline prices have been held down in part by rising supplies of ethanol, which has been coming down in price in recent weeks. Ethanol production jumped 34 percent to 13.1 million barrels a month in July, the latest month for which data is available, from July 2006.'' Even the Wall Street Journal, whose editorial board arguably has been biased against and relentless in its disparagement of ethanol, stated in a September 21 article that despite recent record-high petroleum prices, there is ``another reason for steady gasoline prices: the use of ethanol as an additive to gasoline is on the rise. While crude prices have soared, ethanol prices have dropped as much as 30 percent in recent months. Ethanol costs more than 60 cents a gallon less than gasoline, and gasoline suppliers can offset some of the rise in crude- oil prices by blending their gasoline with small amounts of the cheaper fuel.'' The facts are clear: Ethanol is cleaner and less polluting than gasoline. It is grown right here at home with the benefits flowing to rural communities rather than foreign governments who may or may not be friendly. It is renewable and it is sustainable. Finally, it is cheaper than gasoline and helping to keep costs down at the pump for American consumers. Yet, despite its obvious benefits, since corn farmers started producing this product 30 years ago, opponents of the industry, primarily Big Oil and its mouthpieces, have never stopped trying to undermine it. For many years, ``energy balance'' was the opponents' rallying cry. They claimed that ethanol took more units of energy to make than it yielded when it was burned. If that was ever true, it hasn't been the case in at least the last decade, and countless reputable studies have confirmed that fact. With remarkable increases in corn yields and ethanol efficiency in recent years, there is no question that there is a tremendous net energy gain in the production of corn-based ethanol. Yet even the most biased naysayer can no longer make that argument with a straight face, and that red herring seems finally to be dead. Industry opponents now have a new angle of attack, and we are again being told that the sky is about to fall. The new argument? Americans will go hungry because demand for corn is rising. While we are using more corn for energy than we ever have before and demand for that product has risen, we have seen only modest increases in food prices, and those are attributable to many factors. Just yesterday, Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Connor indicated he expects food prices to increase next year at a moderate rate, in line with where they have been in recent years. Because increases in food costs in the country have been well below the rate of inflation for many years, this bodes well for consumers. He also explained that there were many significant factors affecting the cost of food today, including disappointing wheat yields around the world and high energy costs. Finally, as the farmers in my State have repeatedly told me, there is one truism about American agriculture: The cure for high prices is high prices. In other words, when the value of a certain commodity goes up, farmers will rush to produce more of it. And this year has been as clear a demonstration of that as we have ever had in agriculture. Futures prices for corn were high this spring, and farmers took that into consideration when making their planting decisions. According to just-released USDA estimates, corn production for this year is forecast at 13.3 billion bushels, 26 percent above 2006. When it's in the bin, the 2007 corn crop would be the largest on record, with more acres harvested than any year since 1933. These facts clearly indicate that American farmers have the ability to produce enough corn to meet the needs of U.S. consumers, for both food and energy. This is a winning formula for consumers, for agriculture and the environment and will propel us toward our ultimate goal: Producing clean, sustainable, renewable fuel in America, by Americans, with the profits staying here at home.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 133, a bipartisan resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Long- Term Care Awareness Week during the week of November 4 through 10, 2007. I would like to thank Chairman Dingell and committee staff for moving this resolution to the floor, and the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) for yielding to me once again. I would like to urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan resolution which I introduced with the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany), along with the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Ferguson). I am proud that this resolution has earned the support of AARP, Families USA, the Alzheimer's Association, the National Council on Aging, the American Council of Life Insurers, the Association of Health Insurance Advisors, and America's Health Insurance Plans. They have come together in recognizing the immediacy of the need to raise awareness about planning for long-term care needs. This resolution is part of my commitment to addressing the many challenges associated with long-term care. Designating a week to focus on long-term care is one meaningful step we can take. Our Nation needs to address these issues sooner rather than later so that Americans are anticipating and fully prepared to meet their long- term care needs. Studies show that many Americans don't have a clear perception of what long-term care costs and to what extent long-term care is covered by public programs. Experts have projected strong growth and demand for long-term care services as the baby-boom generation grows older and have emphasized the related challenge of paying for long-term care services. The Department of Health and Human Services has reported that approximately 60 percent of people over the age of 65 will need some kind of long-term care services. The Government Accountability Office has reported projections of significant growth in spending on long-term care services for seniors such that spending could approach $379 billion by 2050. Our Nation's long-term care challenges will have a particularly significant impact on women, who make up more than 58 percent of Americans over the age of 65 and greater than two-thirds of people 85 years of age or older. Yet when it come to preparing to meet these costs, many Americans are not adequately prepared. For instance, a 2006 AARP survey on the cost of long-term care found that 60 percent of people age 45 and older said they believe Medicare will pay for extended nursing home stay, which it does not. And more than 50 percent of people age 45 or older said they believe Medicare covers assisted living, which it does not. And private-pay costs for this kind of care continue to go up. In South Dakota, the average cost of a year in a private room in a nursing home is $53,000, and a double-occupancy room averages well over $47,000. According to one recent national survey, a year in a private room in a nursing home averages more than $74,000, and a double- occupancy room averages nearly $66,000 a year. An essential step in meeting the challenges posed by long-term care needs and costs is raising awareness about planning for long-term care. Education will help people understand the likelihood of needing long- term care, the types and costs of available services, and the options to help plan and pay for those services. The more people know, the greater opportunity people have to plan for their future and the more likely they are to receive the services they need in the setting of their choice. That's the motivation for this Long-Term Care Awareness Week resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution. By passing it today, supporting the goals and ideals of Long-Term Care Awareness Week during the week of November 4 through 10, we can take another step forward to prepare our constituents and the Nation to meet the already high cost of long-term care and the growing challenges ahead.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2295, the ALS Registry Act, introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel). I would like to thank my friend and colleague from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) for yielding me time. No one who knows or has met someone diagnosed with ALS can fail to be moved by the courage, not only of those experiencing the symptoms of this disease, but of their family, who help them cope with it every day. During the National ALS Awareness Month in May, I met with one such remarkable family. Daryl and Marlene Thorson of Brandon, South Dakota, and their granddaughter, Elizabeth Steel, took the time to visit with me. They discussed the importance of this legislation to create a National ALS Registry, and they talked about living with ALS. Daryl has been diagnosed with ALS, and his wife is a pillar of strength as they go through this together. Their love was clear, as was their determination. I was struck by their 12-year-old granddaughter, Elizabeth, who sees how the disease has affected her grandfather and sees her grandmother caring for him. Elizabeth wrote an essay for school entitled, ``If I Had a Million Dollars, What Would I Buy?'' And Elizabeth dedicated her entire essay to buying supplies for her grandfather, funding research, and advocating to Members of Congress. Madam Speaker, by establishing a National ALS Registry and providing the requisite funding, we can help facilitate the efforts of so many across the country, like Elizabeth, like the scientists searching for a cure, who are working to conquer ALS and bring comfort to those afflicted with it. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for yielding. I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 25, commonly referred to by my constituents, and it sounds like the constituents of many others, as 25x'25. I'm an original cosponsor of this resolution, and I commend Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Goodlatte for their superb leadership on advancing this important resolution, on the overall issue of advancing renewable energy in American agriculture, and for their efforts in bringing this legislation to the floor today. This resolution is as bold as it is straightforward. It simply states the United States expects our Nation's agricultural, forestry and working land to provide from renewable resources and sustainable resources not less than 25 percent of total U.S. energy consumption by 2025, while continuing to produce the world's safest, most abundant, most affordable food and feed. This goal is both exciting and achievable, and rural America stands ready to assume the challenge. Today's resolution compels us as a Nation to consider, to devise, and to implement a strategy for realizing this critical goal. In recent years, we've taken important incremental steps in support of renewable energy. The most significant and positive example of this commitment was the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which contained the first-ever renewable fuel standard, long advocated by Chairman Peterson and many others in this Chamber and in the Senate, a national mandate for the usage of renewable energy; and it has been a resounding success. In 2004, we produced less than 3.5 billion gallons of ethanol in the United States. By the end of this calendar year, we'll have the capacity to produce more than 7 billion gallons of clean, renewable, domestically grown ethanol in this country. This forward-looking and innovative policy has enabled the U.S. ethanol industry to more than double its production capacity in only 3 years; and the benefits to the economy, to consumers and to the environment have been tremendous; and as the ranking member noted, with the advancements in cellulosic ethanol, every region of the country will soon benefit as so many States have already done. According to a recent study by LECG, a global expert services firm, the combination of spending for annual operations, ethanol transportation and capital spending for new plants under construction added $41.9 billion of gross output to the American economy in 2006 alone, over $1 billion of that in my home State of South Dakota. Even more important, much of this economic benefit has been realized by small communities in rural areas that have faced considerable economic challenges in recent decades. Moreover, oil imports are the single largest component of our Nation's expanding trade deficit. The production of nearly 5 billion gallons of ethanol in 2006 means that last year the U.S. imported 206 million fewer barrels of oil, valued at more than $11 billion, than would have been the case without ethanol. Finally, the environmental benefits of using renewable fuels abound. The use of 10 percent ethanol blends reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 12 to 19 percent compared with conventional gasoline. Ethanol reduces tailpipe carbon monoxide emissions by as much as 30 percent, and tailpipe fine particulate matter emissions by as much as 50 percent. In 2004 alone, ethanol use in the U.S. reduced CO2- equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7 million tons, equal to removing the annual emissions of more than 1 million cars from the road. That's why this resolution and this entire debate are so important. Congress is currently considering new energy policy legislation, providing us an opportunity to build on the policies of 2 years ago. In the coming weeks, I'm hopeful that we'll finalize this energy bill and send it to the President, but we must take this opportunity to be bold. The final bill should certainly contain initiatives to promote energy conservation, but it must also require that we increase our domestic production of renewable energy, both in the electricity sector and in the transportation sector. The success of our initial renewable energy mandate indicates the wisdom of that policy and demonstrates the need to be even bolder, even more forward looking and even more committed to achieving energy independence in this country. This resolution today clearly outlines an appropriately aggressive goal for our country over the next 18 years and recognizes the role of American agriculture, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to making the aspirations a reality.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, on September 18, USDA Issued a final rule that will permit the importation of live Canadian cattle into the U.S. provided they are born after a date determined by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to be the date of effective enforcement of a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in Canada. Expanding imports of Canadian livestock and beef is likely to have serious repercussions for the American cattle industry and I, along with my colleague Dennis Rehberg, are introducing this resolution to disapprove that rule. Over the past several years, Canada has discovered no fewer than 11 cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE, including many that have occurred in cattle born after that country was purported to have implemented a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban. Given this fact, it is clear that Canada has not taken the necessary steps to protect its herd from the spread of BSE and that a feed-ban date should not be the trigger for allowing Canadian beef into the U.S. Increasing U.S. imports of Canadian cattle and beef at this critical time would have significant negative impact on the economic well-being of American cattle producers, and could seriously disrupt our efforts to expand U.S. beef exports overseas. Expanding Canadian cattle imports increases the possibility that a future case of BSE in a Canadian animal may be found in the United States. Five of Canada's BSE cases occurred in cattle born after March 1, 1999, the date that appeared in the proposed rule as an appropriate age trigger for importation eligibility. There is a very real possibility that USDA's proposal would lead to the importation of additional BSE-infected animals from Canada, which would destroy years of hard work by the American cattle industry, the administration, and Congress to restore the confidence of our trading partners in the safety of American beef. Given the uncertainty still surrounding the health of the Canadian cattle herd and the drastic negative repercussions that could befall U.S. cattle producers if this increased trade fosters an occurrence of increased BSE outbreaks in this country, I introduce this resolution today and urge my colleagues to support its prompt passage.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to honor the life of Staff Sgt. Zachary Tomczak, who died September 25, 2007, in Iraq from wounds suffered when his unit came under small arms fire. Zachary, who served in the Army's 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, NC, graduated from Huron High School in 2002 and joined the Army soon after graduation. He was serving on his fourth tour of duty when he was wounded. He is described as a phenomenal person who stood as an example for all American citizens. His high school principal said, ``Zac was someone who demanded very little of us and gave an awful lot. He was a wonderful, wonderful young man.'' The lives of countless people were enormously enhanced by Zachary's compassion and service. He represented the best of the United States, South Dakota, and the Army. His life continues to inspire all those who knew him and many who did not. Our Nation and the State of South Dakota are far better places because of his service, and the best way to honor him is to emulate his devotion to our country. Today, we remember and honor Zachary's noble service to the United States and the ultimate sacrifice he has paid with his life to defend our freedoms and foster liberty for others. I join with all South Dakotans in expressing my sympathies to the family and friends of Staff Sgt. Tomczak. His commitment to and sacrifice for our Nation will never be forgotten.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today in support of H.R. 2654, legislation honoring the life and legacy of Eleanor McGovern, by officially designating the post office in her hometown of Woonsocket, South Dakota, as the ``Eleanor McGovern Post Office Building.'' In making this essential recognition, I would also like to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts, Congressman Jim McGovern, and the gentlelady from California, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, for their support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, Eleanor Stegeberg was born 1921 and raised on a farm near Woonsocket, South Dakota, during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. As with many families of that era, times were tough; but Eleanor cherished her upbringing in the small prairie town of Woonsocket, which is known for a sweet melon crop in the summer and ample pheasant hunting in the fall, as well as scenic Lake Prior, which gave the community its nickname, ``the town with the beautiful lake.'' Eleanor and her twin sister, Ila, were varsity debaters at Woonsocket High School. Eleanor no doubt caught the eye of her future husband George McGovern, a student at a nearby high school, by besting him in a regional debate tournament. In fact, Senator McGovern always acknowledges as much. Eleanor graduated as salutatorian and next enrolled at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, where she and George were fellow students and where they fell in love. The couple married on October 31, 1943, when, like so many of that generation, George was preparing to ship out for service as a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II. Eleanor gave birth to their first of five children while George was overseas. George McGovern would go on to serve the State of South Dakota and the country in many roles: Senator, ambassador, airman, statesman, and the 1972 Democratic nominee for President. All the while, Eleanor was his strong and equal partner. During that Presidential campaign, Eleanor blazed a trail and made headlines of her own while campaigning solo across the country for George. Like none before her, she engaged crowds on the campaign trail with her eloquence and intelligence and was a fierce and effective advocate on a range of policy issues. Eleanor's high profile helped transform and heighten public perception of the role and value of women in politics. Aside from politics, Eleanor worked as a tireless advocate for children and families throughout her life. She served on the boards of directors for Dakota Wesleyan University, the Psychiatric Institute Foundation, the Child Study Association, the Erickson Institute of Chicago, and Odyssey House of New York. She founded the Martha Movement and was a development officer for the Child Development Associates Consortium. Following the tragic death of the McGoverns' daughter, Terry, in 1994, Eleanor was a passionate speaker on alcoholism, and with her family, established the McGovern Family Foundation in Washington D.C. to raise funds for alcoholism research. Eleanor and George also led a worldwide effort to combat hunger, working towards a goal of eradicating hunger by 2030. In 2006, Dakota Wesleyan University, Eleanor and George's alma mater, launched the George and Eleanor McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service, which offers a range of public service and leadership- centered programs for students, faculty, staff, and the national and global community. Through this program and its annual McGovern Center Conference, the issues that George and Eleanor McGovern have championed continue to receive the attention and focus they deserve. Eleanor McGovern passed away on January 25, 2007, at the McGoverns' home in Mitchell, South Dakota. She was 85. Throughout her life, Eleanor and George formed a true partnership of shared trust and responsibilities. George commonly refers to Eleanor as his most helpful critic and most trusted adviser. Eleanor herself wrote in her 1973 memoir, titled ``Uphill: A Personal Story'' ``I was determined to help with George's career, not only by taking responsibility for the family, but by contributing ideas. In fact, I never considered it `George's' career, it was ours.'' I urge all Members to support the passage of this legislation that honors the life, works and service of an extraordinary woman and an extraordinary American, Eleanor McGovern.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, Chairman Frank, for his leadership in advancing the reauthorization of this important act, and the distinguished gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Kildee, for introducing the legislation to do so. Like many Members of this body, I have the honor of representing a significant Native American population in my district. In fact, South Dakota is home to nine Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Sioux tribes, each of them adding an immeasurable contribution to our State's rich and varied cultural landscape. Tragically, however, many reservation communities in South Dakota and across the country suffer from extreme poverty. This poverty manifests itself in many challenges, including access to adequate health care, education, and, as we are discussing today, housing. Indeed, tribal leaders and tribal housing officials from across the State of South Dakota report a consistent and urgent message: there is a desperate need for more and better housing in Indian Country, and we owe it to the elders, children and their families to help do more to fulfill this most basic of needs. Historically, there has been inadequate funding provided for housing programs and unnecessary obstacles to growth. This has led to situations, such as on the Pine Ridge Reservation, home to the Oglala Sioux tribe in southwest South Dakota, where it is not uncommon to have 25 individuals or more living in one housing unit. It is worth noting that in my State and many Northern Plains States, temperatures can reach negative 25 degrees Fahrenheit or colder in the winter. Yet there remain barriers to accessing Native American Housing Grant funds which, if removed, would help families in Indian Country to improve their living situations. So I urge strong support of H.R. 2786, which would reauthorize, clarify and improve the Native American Housing Assistance Self- Determination Act, and help ensure that all Americans, including the first Americans, have fair and equal access to adequate housing, a basic necessity of life. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Westmoreland

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate In three votes on the floor of the House of Representatives on the afternoon of September 5, 2007. I was absent in order to be present for the return to the United States Senate of my friend and colleague from South Dakota, Senator Tim Johnson, who has been recovering from an incapacitating brain injury. As noted, I was not present for three votes: The first vote was H. Res. 629, extending the condolences and sympathy of the House of Representatives to the Government and the people of Greece for the grave loss of life and vast destruction caused by the devastating fires raging through Greece since June 2007. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question. The second vote was H. Res. 508, recognizing the strong security alliance between the Government of Japan and the United States and expressing appreciation to Japan for its role in enhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific region and its efforts in the global war against terrorism. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question. The third vote was H. Res. 544, expressing the sympathy and pledging the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of the devastating thunderstorms that caused severe flooding in 20 counties in eastern Kansas beginning on June 26, 2007. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on that question.