Randy Kuhl

Mr. KUHL of New York

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KUHL of New York

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 1011) requesting the return of official papers on H.R. 503, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. KUHL of New York

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2048.

Mr. KUHL of New York

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5013) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit the confiscation of firearms during certain national emergencies, as amended.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 5013, as amended.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, State and local enforcement and public safety service organizations were overwhelmed, and many citizens felt threatened. Many of these citizens lawfully kept firearms for the safety of themselves, their loved ones, their businesses, and their property as guaranteed to them by the second amendment, and used their firearms for protection against crime. Following the hurricane, certain agencies confiscated the firearms of these law-abiding citizens, rendering them helpless against criminal activity. H.R. 5013, the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006, was introduced by Representative Jindal on March 28, 2006. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill which amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms by an individual operating under the color of Federal law while acting in support of a major disaster or emergency declaration, unless the confiscation is otherwise permitted by law. This bill ensures that law-abiding citizens can continue to protect themselves, their loved ones, their businesses, and their property as guaranteed by the second amendment during disasters when law enforcement is most likely to be overwhelmed and unable to fulfill the safety needs of the citizens they serve. It prevents agencies from arbitrarily depriving law-abiding citizens of their private property and means of protecting themselves during a disaster. Additionally, this bill clarifies that an individual may require the temporary surrender of firearms as a condition for entry into any mode of transportation used for rescue or evacuation during a disaster or emergency. For example, rescuers such as the Coast Guard can require the surrender of guns before an individual enters their vessel. In short, this bill provides some commonsense limitation on the wholesale confiscation of guns during disasters without limiting the enforcement of local, state, or Federal laws. Madam Speaker, I support this measure and urge my colleagues to do the same. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Thank you for yielding the time, but I would yield to the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Jindal from Jefferson Parish. He can tell you exactly what the bill deals with and the detail. I am simply the manager.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, the chairman of the Emergency Management Subcommittee, Mr. Shuster.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schwarz).

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, let me simply thank the subcommittee chairman of Emergency Management, Mr. Shuster, for bringing this bill through the subcommittee, and certainly Chairman Young for moving the bill through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and most importantly, I think we owe a great deal of thanks to Mr. Jindal for recognizing a situation which was very, very, I am sure, difficult for some of the residents of his district and the people of New Orleans to face. It is one thing to face a tragedy, but then also to be thrown into a situation where, in fact, you are not only stripped of your guns, your means of protection, but you are stripped of your constitutional rights. And that was what was done to the people of New Orleans whose guns and protection for their family was actually occurring in front of their very eyes. So, you know, this body is all about adopting laws that are meant to face situations that we haven't faced before, and certainly Katrina was one of those instances we did not face before, a storm of this magnitude. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I think it is a terrific bill to insure the second amendments rights to the people of not only New Orleans and future disasters, but certainly the people of this country. And I would urge all my colleagues to support it.

Mr. KUHL of New York. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. KUHL of New York

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Chairman, I want to compliment my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) on his efforts on this particular important matter. And while he addresses the issues dealing particularly with his district in Pennsylvania, which I think is laudable, we should know that actually diesel engines play a very important role in our Nation's economy. They are, however, responsible for a substantial portion of particulate matter emissions and there are 11 million vehicles that need to be retrofitted, nearly 500,000 of which are school buses, which my colleague has addressed. So I compliment again my colleague, Mr. Sherwood, for approaching this problem, and certainly I compliment the chairman for what he has been able to do. Hopefully, he will be able to supplement what has been appropriated in this bill by substantial increases in the appropriation.

Mr. KUHL of New York

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res 751) recognizing the cultural and educational contributions of American Ballet Theatre throughout its 65 years of service as ``America's National Ballet Company''.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous information on H. Res. 751.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise in support of House Resolution 751, recognizing the cultural and educational contributions of American Ballet Theatre throughout its 65 years of service as ``America's National Ballet Company.'' When the American Ballet Theatre began, it inspired to develop a repertoire of the best ballets from the past, and to encourage the creation of new works by gifted young choreographers, whenever they might be found. Since then it has continued to be dedicated to bringing dance to America and American dance to the world. I would say it has succeeded. Today the American Ballet Theatre is recognized as one of the great dance companies of the world, and throughout its 65-year history, the American Ballet Theatre has appeared in 50 U.S. States, in a total of 126 cities around the world, and has performed for more than 600,000 people annually. America's National Ballet Company has also made 15 international tours to 42 countries, and has been sponsored by the U.S. Department of State on many of these engagements. It was also the first American company to dance in the Soviet Union. Additionally the theatre has commissioned works by all of the great choreographic geniuses of the 20th century and many of the world's most accomplished dancers, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, have called the American Ballet Theatre home. Lastly, Madam Speaker, I would like to emphasize the many enrichment programs the American Ballet Theatre offers for families, for training young and future dancers, and for the public and private schools. I would specifically like to point out the work that the American Ballet Theatre has done to expose more than 20,000 underprivileged families and children in the fine art of dance, as well as introducing such children to career opportunities in the arts, both on stage and back stage, while also helping students develop valuable life skills. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague and fellow New Yorker, Mrs. Maloney, for introducing this resolution. I am happy to join my colleagues in recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of America's National Ballet Company, the American Ballet Theatre, and ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KUHL of New York

Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4217.

Mr. KUHL of New York

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 359.

Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 359) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.