Evan Jenkins

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. I thank the gentleman from Ohio. Our natural resources power this Nation and our economy. We have abundant, affordable resources that provide low-cost energy and give thousands of people good-paying jobs. In my district of southern West Virginia, coal is struggling because of this administration's anticoal regulations. The people who mine coal and the families who depend on coal's paychecks are suffering. We are at a critical point in the war on coal. I know times are tough. I see it every time I talk to a coal miner or their family. Our Nation is at a turning point. We will fight for coal each and every day. But the question is: Will we support jobs in domestic energy, or will we favor an environmental agenda at the expense of our economy and our communities? Coal must play a critical role in an all-of-the-above domestic energy strategy. We can use our resources to create jobs here at home, provide safe and affordable energy for businesses and families alike, and reduce our dependence on energy from unfriendly nations. Unfortunately, it appears that the EPA and the Office of Surface Mining are dead set on bankrupting coal. They have issued rule after rule that will decimate our industry--and the livelihoods of our coal miners. The proposed stream buffer zone rule will lead to the loss of tens of thousands of direct mining jobs and hundreds of thousands of jobs linked to mining. Likewise, the EPA's finalized regulations on coal- fired power plants will hurt our economy and drive up electricity rates for our families, seniors, and small businesses. It sets unachievable emissions limits for our coal-fired power plants and forces States to adopt different energy policies or else become subject to additional Federal regulations and a cap-and-trade program. Not only will the EPA's plan destroy jobs, but it will increase utility costs for consumers and lead to higher household electricity bills for all American families. Our seniors, the middle class, and Americans on fixed incomes should not have to bear the burden of increased costs. Our economy is still struggling to recover. People are struggling to survive. Each of us here tonight has led the fight against the EPA's overregulation and overreach. On the House Appropriations Committee, I helped to secure a provision in the Interior-EPA funding bill that would prohibit funding for the rulemaking on power plants to proceed. I was an early cosponsor of Chairman Whitfield's resolutions to block implementation of the EPA's coal-fired power plant rule. This week, we will join together with the House to send President Obama and the EPA a strong message: No more attacks on coal. No more attacks on domestic energy. No more attacks on the people who produce energy. We will take up resolutions to disapprove of the EPA's new regulations on new and existing coal-fired power plants. We will also vote on a broad energy bill that will update our policies to allow America to take advantage of all of our domestic energy while strengthening our energy security and independence. Congress is standing up to this administration's regulatory overreach. We must send a message to President Obama and his runaway EPA and end the war on coal. Again, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his leadership.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. You and I share the Ohio River. We both have actually been in the districts together. We both have seen on the faces of the people that we have the honor of representing the real impacts of this war on coal. I know each of us can come with a multitude of stories, but your remarks reminded me of attending one of these wonderful county fairs last summer. It was a year ago this summer, in Nicholas County, in my district. A middle school teacher came up to me and kind of put a face, again, on the war on coal, and said: ``I remember earlier this year in our public school in Nicholas County when the principal came on to the intercom and said, 'If there are any kids whose parent lost their job this morning in the announced coal layoffs, come on down to the office and sign up for the free lunch program.''' What a stunning indictment of Obama's war on coal, to think that we have principals in our public school systems come and ask kids to come down because those rules and regulations just put them into the free lunch program. It is a stunningly tragic example of the impacts of this war on coal. Again, thank you for your leadership and your fight on this.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1737, the Reforming CFPB Indirect Auto Financing Guidance Act. Businesses across West Virginia's Third District are already facing hardships from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rules. Those businesses that make, sell, finance, or service motor vehicles in my State are especially worried about the CFPB's 2013 rulemaking affecting their industry. The 2013 rule could raise credit costs and push consumers out of the marketplace entirely. It should be consumers, not government bureaucrats, deciding what works best for them. This bill would rescind that flawed rule and replace it with commonsense guidance for transactions related to indirect auto financing. The bill would give consumers, especially those with low and moderate incomes, a chance to receive the best financing options available for them to purchase a new auto vehicle. I fully support passage of this bill and hope we can continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to reform CFPB rulemaking.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, every day in hospitals across my district and the country, tragically, babies begin their lives suffering through drug withdrawal because they were exposed during pregnancy. Sadly, the rates of babies with NAS have skyrocketed. NAS is a nationwide crisis. The Protecting Our Infants Act addresses the many gaps in the care and treatment of NAS babies. How do I know there are gaps? Today, in a facility in my hometown that I helped start, Lily's Place is caring for 10--10--babies suffering the ravages of withdrawal. It took years of working through the regulatory burdens and certification limitations just to do what is right for our most innocent. The gaps in care are real and so are the obstacles treating NAS babies. This legislation will pave the way to consider new models of care, like Lily's Place, for our NAS babies. I commend my colleagues, Leader Mitch McConnell and Representatives Katherine Clark and Steve Stivers, for helping to give every child a chance at a healthy start in life.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Dr. Paul W. Whear on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Today in my hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, friends and family of Dr. Whear will gather at the Huntington Museum of Art to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of a distinguished American composer. Dr. Whear's works have been performed by many distinguished institutions around the globe, and he is known in my district for his time as composer emeritus at Marshall University and conductor emeritus of the Huntington Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Whear also served our nation during World War II as a naval officer, where he wrote several compositions for the U.S. Navy Band and Naval Academy Band, the West Point Academy Band, the U.S. Army Band and U.S. Marine band. Dr. Whear is one of the finest musical talents to come out of the great state of West Virginia, and I along with many others wish him a very happy birthday.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the efforts of those in my district who are promoting Project Blue November, which seeks to raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes is prevalent in millions of people of all ages in the United States, including approximately 200,000 people under the age of 20 that have been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It is because of children like seven-year-old Ainsley Jackson of Milton, West Virginia, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at an early age, that we must do all we can to combat this disease. Increasing awareness within our communities of the symptoms and risk factors related to diabetes improve the chances that those with the condition will get the care and attention they need before the severe complications of diabetes develop. That is why the actions of those promoting the goals of Project Blue November are critically important to spread throughout our communities in West Virginia and the United States. With the promotion efforts of those like the Milton City Council in my district, I am certain Project Blue November's goal of raising awareness of Type 1 Diabetes will be successful in having a positive impact on the lives of many families in West Virginia.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, President Obama is coming to West Virginia today to talk about our State's and Nation's drug crisis. What I hope he will also talk about on his visit to our capital city, Charleston, what I hope he will acknowledge, is our State's jobs crisis. West Virginia has lost good jobs: jobs in our coal mines, jobs in our schools and small businesses, jobs in our small towns and communities throughout southern West Virginia. Regulations from the President's own Environmental Protection Agency are forcing coal mines to close. Our coal miners are out of work. Our coal families are facing an uncertain future. We have lost an estimated 43 percent of our coal jobs in just the last 6 years under this administration's policies. Eighteen percent--18 percent--of unemployed people reported using illegal drugs. That is more than twice the number of people who used illegal drugs who were employed. The best antidrug policy is a good jobs policy. West Virginia has the highest overdose rate in the country. We also have the highest unemployment rate in the country. Nearly every family in this State has been touched by drug abuse and, tragically, far too many families. There are those who have suffered and actually buried a loved one due to the horrible disease of addiction. The President will announce several initiatives to help address the heroin and opioid crisis. He is going to talk about prescriber training. He is going to talk about access to naloxone, a powerful antidote to an overdose. He is going to talk about public education. He is going to talk about public education. These are all excellent steps. These are actually things we already are doing in West Virginia. We have taken great strides on many fronts, including these in West Virginia, to arrest this problem. These proposals, however, I am afraid, do not go far enough to really make a difference and treat those battling addiction. The President needs to propose a strong plan to get people real treatment to address their addictions and become healthy and productive members of society again. Many West Virginians who want treatment don't have anywhere to go. Those suffering from addiction are forced to leave West Virginia to find help, treatment, and their families are falling apart. To improve West Virginia, to give West Virginians hope for a better future, to give them an alternative to destructive lifestyles, we have to get people back to work. Mr. President, a good job solves a lot of problems. West Virginians are a proud people. We are not asking for a handout. We want to do a full day's work for a full day's pay. The administration is crushing West Virginia's coal miners, machinists, healthcare workers, truckers, small business owners, and Main Street. Mr. President, if you want to help win the war on drugs, stop your war on coal. What we need is the Federal Government to get out of the way of West Virginia, and let us get back to work.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 535, due to an in-district event announcing new funding for displaced coal miners and their families to pay for job retraining and educational opportunities, I was unable to cast my vote on this bill. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 534, due to an in-district event announcing new funding for displaced coal miners and their families to pay for job retraining and educational opportunities, I was unable to cast my vote on this bill. Had I been present, I would have voted yea.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 518, I was unable to vote due to a veterans event in the district with VA Secretary Robert McDonald. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, like the majority of the American people, I was disgusted and angered by the recent videos showing Planned Parenthood officials apparently willing to sell the tissues and organs of aborted babies. That is right; I said ``babies,'' not a glob of tissue as some would suggest. I have always been unapologetically pro-life, and the mere thought of such horrific actions is beyond words. That is why I come to the floor today to urge my colleagues to support the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, which will cut all Federal funding for Planned Parenthood until the House conducts a complete and full investigation into the organization's abortion practices. I am also pleased that this legislation will reallocate Federal funds currently being used to fund Planned Parenthood's abortion services to community health centers and other clinics that help provide preventative care to women without performing abortions. Women's health is extremely important, and it is my belief that the funding currently being used to fund Planned Parenthood's abortion agenda will be better used by helping our local clinics provide vital women's health services without promoting the malicious practice of abortion. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the majority of my constituents in the Third Congressional District of West Virginia want to see a culture of life promoted in Washington, not a culture of barbarity and lack of respect of life. My constituents deserve to know that their taxpayer dollars are going to organizations that represent their values and beliefs, not to organizations that are determined to push their own agenda that goes against the will of the American people. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 and to promote the sanctity of life and listen to the American people and my constituents when they say they have had enough of their hard-earned tax dollars being spent to promote Planned Parenthood's pro-abortion agenda.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John Watson, Jr., of Beckley, a Tuskegee Airman who served our country honorably during World War II. Mr. Watson passed away on August 31, and he will be buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Watson in May when he was formally recognized as a Tuskegee Airman. Mr. Watson joined the military during World War II and served as an aircraft crew chief. These men were integral to the success of the Tuskegee Airmen but were never given their due until recently. I was pleased and honored to help present Mr. Watson with his Tuskegee red jacket and his Congressional Gold Medal when he visited the Capitol just this past May as part of an Honor Flight that was organized by Always Free Honor Flight of West Virginia. One of his granddaughters, Daphne Watson, was able to join him for the presentation, and there was not a dry eye in the room as Mr. Watson received his long past due, much-deserved recognition. After serving in World War II, Mr. Watson continued his work as an employee of the VA Medical Center in Beckley, West Virginia. He truly believed in giving back to his Nation, and we are better off for his service to our country.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, every day in hospitals across the Third Congressional District of West Virginia and the country babies begin their lives going through drug withdrawal because they were exposed during pregnancy. As you have heard, it is the diagnosis known as neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS. No baby--no baby--deserves to start his or her life in withdrawal from heroin or other opioids. But, sadly, the rate of babies born with NAS, again, as you have heard, has skyrocketed nationally. Doctors, nurses, and caregivers are providing innovative care for newborns with NAS, but there are still gaps in research and our understanding of how best to care for our most vulnerable. The Protecting Our Infants Act makes significant strides in addressing this nationwide gap and developing these strategies, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. West Virginia has been at the forefront of this epidemic, with NAS rates much higher than the national average. Our nurses and doctors are tirelessly working to care for newborns with NAS, and having additional resources and research will only further their efforts in providing the best possible care. I have met with caregivers throughout my district to discuss their approaches to treating NAS, and I know this legislation will help in their efforts to treat these babies. While we must continue to guarantee that newborns receive the absolute best care, we must also address the issue of addiction in pregnant and postnatal women. This legislation will help identify and develop treatment methods for expectant mothers with opioid addictions, leading to healthier outcomes for mother and baby alike. NAS is a nationwide crisis, one that impacts urban, rural, and suburban areas. Nearly every district in America has been touched by heroin and opioid addiction. We must address the impact this addiction has on our most vulnerable in society, our newborn babies. I commend Congresswoman Clark for her efforts on this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Brigadier General David T. Buckalew of the West Virginia National Guard. General Buckalew has served in the West Virginia Air National Guard for more than 40 years, having enlisted in the Guard's 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, West Virginia in December 1971. After completing his education at West Virginia State University and the Academy of Military Science, General Buckalew returned to West Virginia in December 1983 to serve as a logistics plans officer for the 130th Airlift Wing. General Buckalew continued to serve honorably and was promoted regularly, advancing to the position of Director of Joint Staff in 2011. He has received numerous awards and decorations for his service to our country, including the distinguished Meritorious Service Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. I know the servicemen and women of the West Virginia Air National Guard have been inspired by General Buckalew's character and his commitment to service, and they will miss General Buckalew's presence and tremendous leadership. However, I am certain that the lessons and inspiration that he has bestowed on Guardsmen will continue to have a positive impact on their service to our nation and West Virginia. General Buckalew is one of West Virginia's finest Mountaineers, and I along with many others wish him well in his retirement. Godspeed, General.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Congressman McKinley, thank you for your leadership as chair of the Coal Caucus. It does great work. I am honored to be a part of it, and I am honored to work with you. Mr. Speaker, as you well know and as the people of America need to know, we are at a critical point in this war on coal, and it truly is a war on coal. Coal is vital to the people of West Virginia and to West Virginia's economy and to this country. Coal supports many crucial investments in southern West Virginia, in my congressional district. Its revenues help support tourism, roads, and infrastructure. It will make King Coal Highway a reality and make sure we do not have a bridge to nowhere, like we already have in southern West Virginia. Coal puts food on the table. Coal pays the bills. Coal supports families. Coal generates the revenue that provides for our roads, our schools, our police, and our fire departments. Coal keeps the lights on. But, sadly, this administration doesn't recognize the value of coal or of the people who work to mine it. They are proposing regulation after regulation to make it harder to mine coal, harder to burn coal, and harder to produce affordable energy from coal. We have lost an estimated 43 percent of our coal jobs in just the last 6 years. While that is a sobering number, it is more than a statistic. Each one of those employees has responsibilities. They have bills. They have families. They have rent or house payments. How will they provide for themselves and others without their coal jobs? We must stand up for West Virginia jobs, West Virginia energy, and West Virginia coal. That is exactly what I am doing in Congress as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. At one hearing, I did ask EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to come to West Virginia and listen to us. She declined. So I brought Logan County coal miners to Washington to testify before Congress. They shared how coal provides good paychecks to support their families and how they are worried overregulation will put them out of work. I am working in Congress to ensure our miners will be able to provide for their families and that our State still has access to affordable domestic energy. I will continue to fight each and every day. Thank you for your leadership.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I stand today in strong support of the REINS Act of 2015. The gentleman from Georgia said, in opposition to this bill just a few moments ago, that we should be opposed to it, because ``it would end rulemaking as we know it.'' What a great statement on why we should vote for the REINS Act because that is exactly what we are trying to do. We must end rulemaking as we know it. I am proud to cosponsor this bill because I know, firsthand, how this administration's overbearing regulatory policies have devastated my State, West Virginia; its businesses; its workers; its fundamental way of life. The people of West Virginia's Third District deserve better. All West Virginians deserve better. All Americans deserve better. The Economist recently estimated that Federal regulations cost our Nation more than $1.8 trillion per year. In West Virginia, for example, the EPA has implemented sweeping rules and regulations that have driven out thousands of good-paying jobs, reduced demand for West Virginia coal, and raised energy prices for all Americans. This administration is out of touch with our Nation's hard-working families. This bill, the REINS Act, will protect our communities, small businesses, and workers from the administration's crushing regulatory onslaught. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in support.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Shimkus and Congressman McKinley for all of their hard work on this very important issue. I rise to offer my strong support for this legislation. This bipartisan bill will provide certainty for more than 300,000 workers around our country, including thousands of coal miners in my State of West Virginia and southern West Virginia, in particular. The recycling of coal ash material helps keep America's energy costs low. It helps to produce construction supplies that industries across our Nation rely on, such as materials for concrete and roofing. The EPA's final rule did not address a number of issues, including State permitting requirements and oversight. This bill puts the States in charge. It gives our States the enforcement authority to implement standards for the safe disposal of coal ash. Our State and local officials know better than Washington bureaucrats how to address the regulatory requirements of the rule. I urge passage of this bill.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Wyoming County, West Virginia, chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions, also known as SADD. The Wyoming County chapter has been named the 2015 SADD National Chapter of the Year. Consisting of 300 members from six different schools, these Wyoming County students work hard to encourage young people to avoid underage drinking, drugs, and other destructive activities. Wyoming County and the surrounding area, like many parts of our State and country, are limited in the number of youth programs and social services leading to temptations for many teenagers. SADD helps fill the void and is a positive force in helping students make positive life choices and avoid destructive decisions. These students represent our State's values and demonstrate compassion, commitment, and courage through their work. I know they will take the skills they have learned in SADD and become the next generation of leaders in West Virginia. I congratulate these students and teachers and thank them for making Wyoming County a better place to live.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in clear opposition to this amendment. The language that was adopted in the full committee was carefully crafted. It simply allows a majority of nonattainment counties to achieve attainment status before the EPA moves the goalposts. In nonattainment areas, the EPA's proposed ozone standards would stifle economic growth and cost jobs and revenue. Just last week, the Supreme Court admonished the EPA for ignoring the costs of its regulations. The costs involved would be devastating to our economy. Even the EPA admitted it would cost $15 billion a year. Other studies have estimated that costs could be as high as $140 billion a year. In West Virginia, in my State, it would mean $2 billion in compliance costs, 10,000 lost jobs, and more fees for residents even to operate their vehicles. It would have significant impacts on agriculture, manufacturing, and the energy industry. Federal highway funds could be frozen and permits for infrastructure could be held up. I am hopeful that some of our colleagues across the aisle will recognize the impact this will have on each of our districts. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, once again, this is a sincere effort to try to set a benchmark and not have the EPA moving the goalposts that will have such economic devastation, billions of dollars in cost, and I encourage a ``no'' vote on this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my appreciation to your hard work and to the ranking member, to your staff, and all who have worked so hard on this legislation. This bill is notable for what it funds and what it doesn't fund. West Virginians, we love our clean water. We love clean air. We love our mountains and our forests and our rivers. What West Virginians do not love is this President's war on coal. This week, petitions from 26,000 West Virginians were delivered to my office asking the President to stop the war on coal. West Virginia's jobs and our citizens' livelihoods are on the line. The President has requested hundreds of millions of dollars to spend on new regulations, programs, and an army of lawyers to defend his illegal regulatory overreach. Our State has lost 7,000 coal jobs in just the last 3 years of this administration. Today, we say ``no'' to funding the war on coal, ``no'' to regulatory overreach. We do cut the EPA's budget by more than $1 billion from what was requested. We halt harmful, job-killing rules on new and existing coal-fired power plants. We say no to changing the definition of navigable waters and fill material, no to imposing ozone regulations that are simply unachievable, and no to imposing the stream buffer zone rule. The Administrator of the EPA even refused to come to West Virginia to talk to our communities and hard-working coal miners, but instead, when she refused, I brought coal miners to the Appropriations Committee to tell their story, and it was a powerful story. Today, I am here with 26,000 other voices to make sure they are heard here at the Capitol. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership. Thank you for the hard work. I would appreciate a ``yes'' vote on this important legislation

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate West Virginia Day, which will be celebrated on Saturday, June 20. On this special and historic day, West Virginians will join together to honor the 152nd anniversary of the founding of our great state and to recognize the history, culture, landmarks and most importantly, the people that make our state truly special. West Virginia's Third Congressional District, which I am proud to represent, has some of the most beautiful scenery and tourism attractions found in our state, including Chief Logan State Park, Beechfork Lake, Hatfield McCoy Trails, New River Gorge, and so many more. People from all over the world travel to West Virginia to experience and enjoy all our state has to offer. Our state has a rich culture, one that combines music, food, language and arts into a tradition that is unique to West Virginia. Glass blowing is a traditional art form that has thrived for more than a century in West Virginia and quilters make family heirlooms in the style made by their grandparents and great-grandparents, and musical instruments are passed down generation to generation. While we are rich in natural resources and traditions, our greatest resource has always been and will continue to be our people. The people of West Virginia stand for the values of friendship, hard work and charity to others. West Virginians have a true sense of family and never hesitate to help a friend--or a stranger--in need. West Virginia has the most hardworking and genuine people in the nation. I am proud to represent them in this House and look forward to working with them to make a better West Virginia for generations to come.