Ben Luján

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I speak today in support of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, and I commend Congressman Lipinski for his work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, more and more Americans rely on the Internet every day. Businesses depend on it for commerce. Consumers depend on it to be able to engage in transactions to support small business all across this country. People network in hopes of finding a job or connecting with friends, exploring opportunities to find the financial means necessary to go to college. This means that every day more people rely on secure networks to keep their personal information safe to make sure that people aren't taking advantage of their privacy and exploiting them, exposing businesses to attacks, costing taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars, growing to millions and millions of dollars, with attacks every day. We know that this costs the Federal Government money, Mr. Speaker, as more and more countries are looking to engage and find vulnerabilities in these networks just to do harm, to cost the American taxpayers more and more money. We need to make sure that we are truly investing and providing educational opportunities to young people, bringing in those who have some skill sets to teach them how to defend our country and defend business from all these cyber attacks that are costing us millions and millions of dollars every day. Because of our increasing dependence on technology, we must teach these students these important skills. One provision of this legislation we are debating today will help train the force by establishing the Federal Cyber Scholarship for Service program. During committee markup, I successfully included an amendment to address any regional disparities that may exist to make sure that we are truly looking across the country, in small communities and rural America, to find these experts that can help us protect our country to make sure that small businesses aren't subject to those attacks. My district in New Mexico is home to 17 different tribes, Mr. Speaker. New Mexico has 22. We need to make sure as they are developing their infrastructure that we provide them the opportunity to make sure they have these skill sets as well. We need to make sure that we are helping keep a vulnerable population engaged, that we are looking to create educational opportunities. But more importantly, Mr. Speaker, that we are standing up to those nations, to those people around the world that continue to try to find ways to attack this Nation. They found a way through cybersecurity. They are finding ways to be able to cost commerce money, to prevent business from happening, to stifle small business from growing. We as a Congress need to make sure we stand with small businesses across the country and provide educational opportunities and work with them. I urge my colleagues to vote for this rule and urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, as we are talking about the importance of how we can achieve cost savings to taxpayers across the country, it is important that we understand the laws and the protections that are held to those individuals that are senior water rights users, which clearly is the reason why so many people could be impacted. And as litigation continues, the cost of litigation adds additional cost to the taxpayers of the country.

Mr. LUJAN. I appreciate the ranking member from the Natural Resources Committee yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, what we have here is clear language on the dockets of the State of New Mexico that has been expressed by many of the parties which encouraged them to go to litigation, that very much do hold--that senior water rights holders in the State of New Mexico, which these tribal communities are, do hold senior water rights.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3342, the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act. Before I begin, I would like to thank my colleagues on the Resource Committee: Chairman Rahall; Chairwoman Napolitano; my colleague from New Mexico, Mr. Heinrich; and Ranking Member Hastings. I also want to thank the Tesuque Acequia Association; David Ortiz and the Rio Pojoaque Acequia and Well Water Association; D.L. Sanders and the office of the New Mexico State Engineer; Santa Fe County, the city of Santa Fe; and the tribal leaders from Nambe, Pojoaque, Tesuque and San Ildefonso. Thank you for your hard work over the past decade to reach these settlements. The testimony of the settlement parties and tough negotiations and debate has made the consideration of these bills possible today. The parties to this settlement have worked for a very long time to come up with solutions that are equitable and fair to all water users in the Pojoaque Valley, including tribal and non-tribal residents alike. Our water resources are precious in New Mexico. Without a reliable water supply, we cannot improve human health, protect our cultures and traditions, or grow our economies. This settlement will protect water resources, advance the implementation of effective water management, and ensure future access to water resources for all residents encompassed by the settlement. That is what makes H.R. 3342, the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act of 2009, so important. I would like to submit for the Record letters I have received from the State of New Mexico, the County of Santa Fe, the Rio Pojoaque Acequia and Well Water Association, the Tesuque Acequia Association and others who have asked Congress to take a serious look at the importance of approving these settlements because this piece of legislation is so vital to the prolonged existence of culture and agriculture in my district. It has taken over 40 years, countless court proceedings, congressional hearings and mediations before this bill arrived at this point. The people of the Pojoaque Valley and surrounding communities have debated and negotiated this water settlement since the 1960s. Parties have informed me, Mr. Speaker, if legislative action does not move forward, the Federal Court is prepared to resume legal proceedings on the underlying Aamodt lawsuit. This litigation would have dire effects upon all non-water rights holders in the basin and incur tremendous court costs and legal fees on American taxpayers. The cost to the government of continued litigation would, and probably will, exceed the cost of the settlement itself. We heard today, Mr. Speaker, that we did hear from the Attorney General's office saying that they did prefer this course of action to litigation. Senators Bingaman and Udall of New Mexico introduced legislation in the 110th Congress to enshrine this settlement and conducted hearings before the House Resources Committee and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. In the 111th Congress, New Mexico's Senators and I reintroduced this bill with my colleague, Martin Heinrich from New Mexico, with improved revisions that took the considerations of the settlement parties into account; and in doing so, we improved the settlement. In September, additional hearings were held on this bill, and H.R. 3254 was supported at markup in the Natural Resources Committee by unanimous and bipartisan support. This settlement is about people and the quality of life in small rural communities. The future of this community depends on the availability and dependability of a water supply. This settlement ensures just that. Rather than continuing a course of costly litigation that could tear a community apart, I ask my colleagues to join me in voting to enact these settlements. Thank you again for the leadership to the members of the Subcommittee on Water and Power and the members of the Natural Resources Committee for their support. You know, Mr. Speaker, as we talk about water settlements going forward, I know that Democrats and Republicans from this side of the aisle and from the other side of the aisle, we all have the honor of representing constituencies that include Native Americans and tribal communities. In New Mexico there was a school project. They asked the kids to draw pictures where they get their water from. Most kids in school districts across New Mexico drew pictures of water faucets going into water bottles, things of that nature. There were children from Native American communities who drew pictures of their mother and fathers, brothers and sisters carrying water jugs to get water into their homes. They drew pictures of their fathers driving pickup trucks with large water containers like you would to provide water to animals out on the range. I hope we don't lose sight, Mr. Speaker, of the fact that water is a very precious resource and there are still many people across this great Nation of ours who don't have access to it. County of Santa Fe, State of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM, January 14, 2010. Re Support for Aamodt Litigation Settlement Legislation. Hon. Ben Ray Lujan, Andrew Jones, Legislative Director, Cannon House Office Bldg., House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Lujan: On behalf of Santa Fe County, I want to affirm the County's strong support for the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act (H.R. 3342). Santa Fe County expresses its great appreciation to you for your continued support of the settlement and urges your help in securing passage of this very important legislation. As I testified this past session before the House Subcommittee on Water and Power, the settlement will achieve a fair and equitable resolution of the difficult and entrenched water disputes that have plagued the Pojoaque Valley for so many years. Rather than defining winners and losers, the settlement protects existing uses and allows for future growth by careful management of available water resources. At the same time, it recognizes and safeguards time immemorial and senior use priorities of Pueblos and early Spanish acequias. The settlement also creates a reliable supply to more recent domestic and commercial uses, and is flexible enough to account for changing uses in the future. Without settlement, I am certain valley residents will be subjected to intractable and divisive litigation for many years, fostering regional conflict and leaving junior water users at great risk of curtailment. Also, as I have previously testified, I recognize that some of my non-Pueblo constituents continue to be dissatisfied with the settlement. Consequently, the County will be conducting a series of community outreach and settlement focus meetings in the coming months. We will do this even if the legislation is first enacted into law. The County has contracted with the adjudication ombudsman program at the University of New Mexico to facilitate the community outreach program. The purpose of the meetings will be to hear public concerns and to provide information about the settlement. Ultimately, the settlement must be accepted by the community to succeed. On behalf of Santa Fe County, I greatly appreciate your help with this matter. Sincerely, Harry B. Montoya, Santa Fe County Commissioner.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that I don't have the response that my ranking member colleague may be looking for. But his counsel may inform him as well as our counsel has informed us that some of that documentation is not public record at this time. With that, I tried to answer the question, but I apologize to the ranking member that we are not able to provide the answer that the ranking member may be looking for.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. I rise today in support of H.R. 3254, the Taos Pueblo Water Rights Settlement Act. Before I begin, I would like to thank Chairman Rahall and Chairwoman Napolitano for the stewardship of all three settlement bills we are considering on the House floor today, which are such an important part in meeting the water needs of the people in my district. Mr. Speaker, it's taken nearly three decades of work by so many New Mexicans for me to be able to stand here today and address this body about the critical issue of water management and water security in my State. I'd like to thank all the tribal leaders and community members who have repeatedly traveled from Taos to Washington, across New Mexico, to work on this legislation throughout the years. Generation after generation, Mr. Speaker, people have been coming together to try to find resolution to benefit the community, to save taxpayers money, to prevent costly litigation from moving forward through the Federal court system. As we consider these water settlements today, we should remember that behind this legislative language, the procedural necessities, and the committee reports, these bills are about the basic human need and water. These settlements are the fulfillment of a promise made by the United States. Let me repeat that, Mr. Speaker. These settlements are the fulfillment of a promise made by the United States to its people, tribal and nontribal alike, that their water needs would be met. The preservation of the ancient culture of the Taos Pueblo as well as the future of the modern Taos community depend upon the passage of this legislation. Let me give you a little history about this settlement and why it's so important to pass this legislation today. The legal proceedings that led to the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement, also known by my constituents as the Abeyta settlement, began in 1969 by the New Mexico State Engineer. The State Engineer's office in New Mexico is charged with the distribution and management of water resources in our State. The litigation continued until 1989, when the negotiations of the Abeyta settlement began. It has taken until today for these negotiations to reach a point where it could be possible to enact this settlement into law to resolve the water allocation between tribal and nontribal community members in the Taos area. This legislation will bring to a close decades of litigation and uncertainty with regard to water resources for the people of my district. The passage of this legislation will bring security to water users in Taos by making water available for future generations and ensure that this valuable resource is protected. H.R. 3254 quantifies and protects Taos Pueblo's water and provides further security for water users of the town of Taos and many other non-Indian water users, including existing individual domestic wells. They are all provided safeguards for their use of water under this agreement. The work that has been done between all the settlement parties and the Federal Government is truly a testament to the necessity of passing this legislation and the willingness of people to come together to protect the water resources that are so valuable to this community. Without this settlement, the future water availability for the people of Taos and Taos Pueblo will be uncertain and possibly disastrous. Mr. Speaker, as we come today and we hear some of the concerns about moving this legislation forward, the uncertainty that will exist with Federal litigation and the possible costs and problems that could be passed on to taxpayers is something that this litigation will not only add to, but that this settlement will help resolve. I certainly hope that my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, that Members of this Chamber truly see the importance of us working together and making sure that we support people coming together to prevent costly and expensive litigation from moving forward, to do what is right, especially when it comes to the basic necessity and the valuable resource of water. I urge you to support this bill, and I ask that we help protect the water resources of the people of the Third Congressional District.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to be present for rollcall votes Nos. 889, 890, and 891. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on all three votes.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, today I join my friends Martin Heinrich and Harry Teague to celebrate the life of Bruce King. For so long, Governor King has been a constant and warming presence in New Mexico, dedicating himself to our State and touching the lives of New Mexicans from border to border with his kind words, hardy laugh, and friendly drawl. It's tough to go far in New Mexico without talking to someone who has a story about Governor King, and I'm no different. When I turned 1 year of age, Governor King sent my parents a silver cup from himself and Mrs. King, from Alice, that still holds a prominent place in my mom and dad's house. It's a practice he followed to let people know he cared and that they were in his thoughts, even as he presided over a growing and emerging State. I'm sure that there are silver cups and similar stories across New Mexico, memories sitting on mantels, stories retold around family dinner tables. His thoughtfulness and down-home way of reaching out to people across our State made him a legend. Raised in the fields of New Mexico and instilled with a sense of value in public service, the worth of a hard day's work and a kindness toward all, Governor King went to work early in life for our country and State. He served in the Army in World War II, and when he came home, he settled his family in a beautiful place called Stanley, New Mexico. He was always a rancher, a genuine cowboy, and the values he learned on the ranch guided his service in our State. Governor King used to say that when cowboys came to the ranch to water their stock, his parents didn't ask if they were Democrats or Republicans. And he took that lesson to heart. While working across the aisle in his time as a county commissioner, State legislator, as speaker of the House and finally as our Governor, when he got a question about a tough piece of legislation or a tough issue, his approach to bipartisanship was often highlighted by his wit. ``Well, some of my friends are for it,'' and he'd continue to say, ``and some of my friends are against it, and I will support my friends.'' This steady and collaborative approach to governance led to many accomplishments that were only overshadowed by the strength of Governor King's character and the size of his heart. With the helpful guidance of his wife, Alice, he made the Children, Youth, and Families Department a new State agency to look out for New Mexico's children, and he made sure the students statewide had access to kindergarten, and their schools had steady funding, no matter if they lived in a growing city or in a quiet little farm. He valued the land, and he made sure it was protected through an environmental improvement agency. And his commonsense approach to finances led to the creation of the State's Rainy Day Fund and the Mineral Trust. Governor King's accomplishments were many, but his legacy will be shaped by his deep affection for our State and his ability to connect with New Mexicans. He remembered names and family members all over the State, whether you were a mom or a dad or a brother or a sister. When he walked into a general store, a local restaurant or a farmhouse, he made sure to extend his hand to everyone and ask them with a drawl, ``How are y'all doing?'' When they returned the question, he answered, ``Mighty fine, mighty fine'' before starting a conversation. Our State and our country are better for Governor King's service, and his words and deeds will long echo in our State. For generations, people will remember Governor King's legacy and benefit from his work, and I hope all New Mexicans will heed his most important lessons and take some time to talk to their neighbors and get to know them, help their communities, and give a little back to our State. If we do this, if we all work a little bit harder, with a little more compassion and a little more common sense, when someone asks you how you're doing, we might be able to look them in the eye and say, ``Mighty fine, mighty fine.'' We're going to miss you, Bruce.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, we just appreciate the time this evening to remind the American people what we can do, the jobs that can be created when we can come together and make investments in this great Nation of ours. Investing in energy and being smart about the way we do things, it's all part of the mix. It's just great to know that this Congress and this President are serious about getting something done to be able to put the American people first.

Mr. LUJAN. Thank you, Mr. Tonko. It's an honor to be here with you tonight. I just want to say thank you for making sure we got this hour moving, and especially to be here with such a distinguished Member as Mr. Inslee to talk about these important projects that are moving forward. If I could just pick up a little bit where Mr. Inslee left off there, when we talk about energy efficiency and the investments that are made in people's homes, let's walk through with everybody tuning in what that entails. So, at the most basic level, someone that owns a home or someone that has a place where they live, they walk down to the local hardware store, they purchase, whether it's caulking or some insulation that they can install on their own, maybe change out some light bulbs, some basic things that they can do on their own. So they go and they support the local store, make some investments there, help that local economy churn a little bit. They go back home, they make these installations, they're going to see that utility bill drop a little bit. Now with the investments that we've put forward in both the Recovery Act and what we hope to see with the energy bill that we passed out of this House and out of this Chamber and what the Senate is working on right now, we're expanding those opportunities. All across the country and going on right back at home, we've been part of going into people's homes where they've had some weatherization projects recently, where it's a little more complex, where they're working with local contractors; local contractors that are going to the community college or going back to some of those apprenticeship programs and learning some new skills so that way they can further their business, take advantage of some of the investments that we've put forward when they're installing now more insulation in the roof tops, those shinglings that Mr. Inslee was referring to that sheet metal workers are now putting in businesses and homes, maybe changing out that furnace if it's been there for 20 or 30 years, maybe it's even that water heater which has been there for 50 years, doing something with that second refrigerator that's maybe taking up a lot of energy. Now we're putting people to work. We're making investments in homes. We're adding value to the home, so now we're helping people in their communities, putting a little bit more money in their pockets. If we can do this in every home and people across the country are taking advantage of these programs and we're making these investments, how much less energy is needed? When we talk about that we go to rates, rates that they're going to see coming from utility companies as a whole. If we can prevent one more coal plant from being built or one more big facility from being built in an old conventional way and we're able to employ new technologies, so that way we're bringing in more job skills and more job creation, looking at the way we can take advantage of abundant resources we have here in the U.S., making sure we're building out transmission in a smart way, taking advantage of new materials, employing the scientists, the engineers, the researchers who are looking at these applied technologies, making sure that they're looking at modeling, employing and bringing in the expertise from our national laboratories into this now? We've got everyone from the person that's in the home that can pick up that hammer and could do a little bit of work themselves, to the contractor who can go into those homes and make sure that they're making those investments, the local hardware person making some investments, to physicists, engineers, researchers who are adding to this. Now, we don't see the possibility from a job creation perspective, and it's unfortunate that we still hear from some of those that are opposed to investing in America and in investing in energy, from creating these new jobs and making things happen, I don't know what more we need to do to convince them, because all across the country this is happening. That's why we need to continue making these strides forward and making these investments in America, because if we do things smarter and we do things better, we're going to get this economy turned around. And making sure that we're investing and taking advantage of a new way of investing in energy, investing in energy efficiency, investing in weatherization and investing in renewable generation, we can make all these wonderful things happen. And even going a step further to what Mr. Inslee was talking about with the bio-fuel tax credit extension, so we're being less dependent on foreign sources of fuel, foreign sources of oil, and we're able to build that right here in America. What a great idea. It's just an honor to be a part of that.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Tonko, we have an opportunity to work on these issues together, to move legislation and work with our colleagues to talk about what tomorrow will look like and not wait for a few years to come before we get a lot of this policy in place to create these jobs, to be smart about the way we do things, to invest in this technology and to really embrace this opportunity that we have now. As I travel around the district, I remind people how, not too long ago, we had $4.50 gasoline. If you were using diesel and you were out on the farm in some of the rural parts of the country, we had $5 diesel fuel, and how a lot of those people that were making the profits off of that, where this money was going overseas, they weren't really our friends. And they still aren't. We see where that money is going. We have an opportunity now to change that as a way that we look at energy in the country, in the United States of America, in this beautiful place that we call home. Now, as we talk about the tax incentives necessary for homeowners and businesses to be able to invest in their homes, I think Mr. Inslee is right on track there. As we talk about what we can do, in looking at being smarter about the way that we look at policy, adopting better ways of doing things, encouraging people to invest in their homes in a way that's going to save them money in the long run, that's going to add value to their home in the long run is brilliant, I hope that we have something like that in the new jobs bill. Now, Mr. Tonko, you were talking about how you were able to work with schools in your community, with Cornell, with leading institutions and universities, to work with the local public schools or with the dairies to create more efficiency so that way they could put more money back into their pockets, have a more competitive cost structure with their products as well. When we invest in our schools, we create living classrooms. We create classrooms where we are teaching our students these jobs skills of tomorrow by encouraging them to go learn a trade or go to college to become that electrical engineer, the mechanical engineer, to become the entrepreneur to start a business so that way they can go and make these investments in our community. What better way to get more young people encouraged and to really get that ingenuity moving, to get the creativity alive and well again in our country? This is the way to get it done. There is no reason that we can't be working more closely with our students, teaching them in the classroom, leaning on our universities, our national laboratories, to be able to partner up with our businesses and show them how to do things better, how to use less energy, how to take these products to market better and how to build them right here in the good old U.S. of A. We talked a little about vehicles. Now as we transition and we are investing in these technologies where we have hybrids and plug-ins, we need to look to see how we can do better here in this country as well. And that's something where I'm encouraged where a little more people are talking about how even natural gas can be used in our vehicles, which burns a lot less carbon, but is abundant in different parts of our country that can go into our vehicles. Now it's being smarter about the way we do things, and it's using technology a little differently; and it allows us to be able to not have to depend on foreign sources of oil while we're getting there. And those investments will be used in electric vehicles and hybrids and making sure we are making these technologies available to everyone. And it is just so exciting because as I go home and I talk to our national laboratories and I talk to businesses. I have seen an opportunity now where we can maybe build and retrofit a refinery back in New Mexico to have a biofuel refinery. These are exciting things that we can do to put people to work, to bring people back to work and to even show this technology off to the rest of the world. It's happening right here at home. And it's only going to continue, though, if we make these investments and we get more people on board and the people around us, people all across America realize that this is something that we can do. It's a job starter. It's a job creator. And it's really where we need to go as a country to get back in front of everything.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Tonko, well said. As we talk about what this has to offer the country, where we can go from here and how we can learn from some of the mistakes that were made in the past, you know, this notion of the over $4 a gallon gasoline and up to $4.50 and $5 that we saw recently, not too long ago--we saw what was happening and how we're creeping, yet the investments weren't made. Now, those that are critical of the President and of this Congress for making investments that are going to make a difference tomorrow so that we're solving these problems, we don't have the dependence on these foreign sources of oil; we're going to take the latest and greatest, the scientists, the smartest people, the individuals that are starting their own businesses, those contractors, the tradespeople, the builders, and bring everyone together to do it better, to do it smarter. I don't understand it, why there are still those that don't think these are good ideas. We talked a lot about the space program. Now let's put this into perspective. When we won the space race here in the United States and we developed the technologies that enabled us to win that space race, solar panels were part of that. And where are we now, Mr. Tonko? With the rest the world, falling behind when it comes to solar technology, to using it and integrating it into everyday use. Now this is a technology that we developed here that enabled us to win the space race and generate the power needed to keep the men that were in space safe and get them back home. We can use it to power our homes. We can use it to diversify the way that we generate power for the country. We can use it to create jobs. We can use it to develop more and more exciting, innovative ways of looking at the way we do things. And, as you so eloquently put it, talking about nanotechnology; building things smaller and smaller, where we have been able to do this with the way that we use computers now, where they use less energy; the phones that we use. All the technology that has come out of what we achieved with the space race, and how we in the country have fallen behind now--that's what we're talking about here. It's investing in America. It's staying ahead of the curve here. It's making sure that we provide the best education for our kids, that we're making this commitment in science and technology and engineering and math, and that we're keeping it here to build the things here, to build these components, to create these jobs back here at home. That's what we're talking about here. And I just hope that more and more of our colleagues, Democrats, Republicans, independents, that we can come together to make this investment in America, because we can't afford not to. We have always been leaders when it comes to innovation. Now let's take that leap, let's take that step, and let's make that commitment to invest in America, invest in ingenuity, create these jobs, and do things better and smarter for tomorrow.

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Tonko, I'm glad that you're reminding everyone watching today that these job losses and what's happening with the economy and the deficit, that this just didn't happen 3 weeks ago or 3 months ago or even 6 months ago. That this is something that was developing and building. We're going to hear those that say we can't invest in the country when it comes to clean energy, we can't do this, we can't do that. Well, I say to them: We can't afford not to. We're going to continue to hear how others want to scare the American people and don't want to see this President succeed or this Congress succeed in investing in America. We need to do things better here. And I know, Mr. Tonko, we're both new to Congress. But when it comes to putting the American people first and remembering why we came here and continuing to invest in this great Nation of ours to make it stronger and better and providing an environment where we can let people that want to start a business, start a business; where we invest in that science and that ingenuity and that creativity which allows them to do it, that's what we can do.

Mr. LUJAN. Well, it's great to be with you, Mr. Tonko. I'm not sure if there is anything to add after that. When you talk about the piece of legislation that you brought to the floor and we were able to get passed that would make new investments in wind energy, back home in a little community by the name of Tucumcari, New Mexico, we have the North American Wind Research and Training Center at Mesalands Community College where they're training young people how to maintain these wind turbines across New Mexico, across Texas, up to Colorado, and across the country. I will tell you, job creation, investments in new energy, investments in clean energy, they're all connected. That's one example of a piece of legislation that's allowing us to achieve this and make it happen. It's just great to be on the floor with you this evening, Mr. Tonko, as we're able to talk to the American people and those that want to see this happen, those that are hungry for this investment, those that are hungry to see their kids have these opportunities for years to come, that they want more generations behind them to have as well. I'll tell you, we're almost there, Mr. Tonko, and we're going to make this happen, and it's going to be the American people to help push us over the top.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. It has been almost 10 years since the Cerro Grande fire ripped through thousands of acres in my district in northern New Mexico with devastating effect for the wildlife, the environment and the people in its path. Drought conditions and high temperatures contributed to the size of this fire, while dry winds accelerated its path through Los Alamos. Each year, fires plague our communities. They hurt people. They devastate communities. They devastate families. But when we can come together and make sure that we are working to provide support for our local fire departments, for our first responders and for those that put their lives on the line every day, we are able to make a difference. These FIRE grants will provide volunteer and career fire departments across the country with vital funding to increase firefighting capabilities, better respond to medical emergencies, handle natural disasters and operate more effectively. Supporting local fire departments is more important now than ever before. Now that States are facing many budgetary shortfalls, it has become increasingly difficult for local governments to maintain the equipment and training necessary. Mr. Chairman, as we came down today, I was reminded of a chief in New Mexico who lost his life responding to a fire about a week after he had just gotten word that he had received a grant for the fire district to replace the truck that broke down in the midst of a range fire that he lost his life in. These grants make a difference in people's lives. To his wife, to his spouse, that fought so hard with us in New Mexico to get a fire fund in place to be able to help us out locally, I commend my colleagues here, the chairman, Mr. Pascrell for making this happen, and for believing in firefighters and for making sure that we in Congress are doing our part to get funding to them.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, as I came to the floor tonight I was reminded of a constituent, Aunt Adrian, who we lost to cancer this last year and who couldn't afford insurance, she spent her last few months worrying about bills, rather than getter better. This story didn't have to end this way. We reached this point today because people have had enough. People who have been ignored and shunned, because they are sick; People who have lost their homes and all they have because a health insurance company slammed a door on them and denied them coverage they thought they had. People who deserve to be treated fairly and with dignity. We are here today not to frighten and scare the American people with things that are untrue But to act, to make a difference, to have the courage and will to put the people first. And I now know that we do have the courage and the will to get this done, Aunt Adrian and the American people deserve no less.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague, Mr. Foster, for recognition and for his cooperation in working on this amendment. I also commend Chairman Thompson for bringing this important legislation to the floor. In universities, colleges, and educational institutions across the Nation, researchers and students are currently utilizing educational laboratories to expand the limits of our scientific knowledge and develop the skills needed to thrive in high-tech jobs of tomorrow. This is an important opportunity to make sure that we are preparing them for the jobs of the future. This commonsense amendment will allow this work to continue, while ensuring that academic laboratories are protected from the unique security threats that they may face. Through this amendment, the Department of Homeland Security will have the flexibility to recognize that these labs, which may contain a large variety of chemicals, rarely possess any specific chemical in the large quantities typical of industrial facilities. The Department will have the capability to assess and oversee specific security challenges these labs face from infiltration, tampering, theft or attack. This amendment is supported by the American Chemical Society, and I want to reiterate and emphasize it is also supported by the American Council of Education and institutions of learning across the country. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment, which will ensure that the Department of Homeland Security adequately protects our Nation's students, teachers, and research institutions.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, our constituents have asked us to put them first, not say no and support the status quo. I ask my colleagues from the other side, from both sides, to listen to them and help them. I have a constituent who has had health problems since she was 21, who has spent her life shackled by high co-pays, inaccessible insurance, and little care, and is asking us to help her. She has endured through two bankruptcies and many undertreated health problems that cause her pain every day. Another constituent is facing increases of 20 percent each year in premiums for her business. Each year, these insurance costs are skyrocketing, and neither she nor her employees can afford them. Throughout the country, the American people are asking us to help, but we keep hearing ``no''--``no'' to those with illnesses and ``no'' to those who struggle with the high cost of health care. Let us do what's right. Let's come together. Let's have the courage to say yes for the American people.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I have heard from constituents across my district who are suffering at the hands of health insurance companies. I have heard from doctors who do their best to treat those without insurance. I have heard from entrepreneurs who want to start their own businesses but fear that they won't be able to find coverage for their sick children because they have preexisting conditions. I have heard from women who can't replace their ill children's used catheters because they were denied by their insurance companies. I have heard from small business owners struggling to afford coverage that their employees depend on. They need us to act, they are asking us to act, they are demanding us to act, and that's why we must. We need to fix our broken health insurance system. We need a health insurance system that works for men, for women, for children, seniors and families, for everyone. We need action to combat rising health care costs to make health care more accessible and to offer real choice. We need a public option. We must demand a public option.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. I thank the gentleman from Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I speak today in support of H.R. 3585, in support of the rule in support of the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, a bill that I cosponsored and supported proudly during the committee process. And I commend Congresswoman Giffords for her work on this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I come from a State that has over 300 days of sunshine, a State that has abundant solar resources, a State that recognizes that we have to get out in front of this. But as we talk about the Southwest and where we have a lot of sunshine, we cannot lose sight that countries like Germany, that don't have the abundant solar resources that we do here in the United States, but especially in the Southwest, are still ahead of us. They're outproducing us, they're generating more power from the sun. We have to get out in front of this issue, Mr. Speaker. Solar energy production will support economic growth by creating jobs and opportunities for a clean energy workplace. You know, as we talk about this issue, we see and we remember that this technology, solar technology, was invented and developed right here in the United States, right here in America; yet we're falling further and further behind. We talk about the need for more jobs, for making sure that we're getting ahead of this important energy issue. There is no reason that solar energy can't be and should not be--and it must be--a big part of the solar mix of the energy mix that we have right here in the United States. When we talk about the investment in education, the emphasis with technology, engineering, mathematics, and science, making sure that we're building up that young group, those talented young people that will solve tomorrow's problems, investment in solar technology in developing a road map that will be essential in fully deploying and developing this technology is critically important. Our national laboratories at the forefront here are our colleges and universities. We have to invest in our engineers, our scientists, our researchers to provide this path forward. The solar technology road map lays out a clear path for identifying our country's solar technologies, development needs and staying on track to address its importance. It lets us get back in the front on this issue, Mr. Speaker. The Solar Technology Roadmap Act will provide resources to our academic institutions, our national laboratories for research and development, and a demonstration of advanced techniques and manufacturing a variety of solar energy products. Mr. Speaker, we can't wait any more. We all need to come together when we talk about the future of our energy needs in our country, solving our dependence on foreign sources of energy, getting back out in front of this very important issue. This piece of legislation will allow us to get there and allow us to pave the way and, once again, Mr. Speaker, allow America, allow the United States, allow our scientists our entrepreneurs, our business people to use their hands, use their minds, use their hearts and their souls to get back out in front of this issue. I urge my colleagues to vote for the rule and support this legislation that will set our country on a path to be a leader in solar energy.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to commend my colleague, Representative Paul Tonko, for his work on the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009, a bill that I proudly cosponsored and supported during the committee markup process. Much of our clean energy future depends on our ability to harness and use the renewable power of wind. New Mexico is well positioned to be a leader in renewable energy development, and wind and solar energy have the potential to power an entire country. New Mexico's wind energy resources are vast. And as home to Department of Energy national laboratories in New Mexico, with Sandia and Los Alamos, New Mexico is a hub of scientific discovery and innovative technology. We are also investing in clean energy job training and education programs. In my district, the North American Wind Research and Training Center at Mesalands Community College has established curriculum and provided job training opportunities to create a strong labor force to support a robust renewable energy economy. Still, we have a lot of work to do, and we must continue to invest in renewable energy research and development. Investment in science and technology will be the key to our clean energy future, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, we come here today and we continue to hear this important debate as it surrounds health care. Well, I hope that there is not any disagreement that the health care system we have today is broken. We continue to hear from our friends on the other side of the aisle that we need to contain costs, that we need to extend coverage, that we need to be looking after people. Well, we have a plan, Mr. Speaker. We have a plan on this side of the aisle with our Democrats that has come forward that will say to insurance companies, No more taking away health care from those that are sick--that can happen today. No more keeping insurance from those that are sick today because they have something called a preexisting condition. As I travel across the district, across the great State of New Mexico, and we get to hear from people, you look them in the eye and they tell you they're sick, they tell you that they can't afford their health coverage, they tell you that they lost their job. And where do they go today? What about their kids? Well, it is time that we look those people in the eye, those people that have entrusted us to do a good job on their behalf, and tell them that we're here to act for them, that we are going to fight for that public option, we are going to fight to give them choice. We are going to help keep those health care costs down. It is time to act now for the American people.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, at a time when families throughout my district and throughout our Nation are struggling with the rising costs of health care, a robust public option will expand choice and increase competition, driving down costs and making affordable health care a reality. We need a strong public option for the single mother in my district who changed jobs and lost her insurance, who deserves the chance to get the coverage she needs for herself and for her kids. We need health care reform for the self-employed businessperson who will finally have a chance to get affordable, comprehensive health care without worrying about constraints on his business. There should be no question that our current health care system is broken. We have an opportunity to work with one another to truly look after the American people and make a difference in their lives. We need a strong public option because our constituents, our constituents, deserve affordable, accessible health care. Mr. Speaker, we have come to work. We have come to look after the general welfare of the American people. Year after year we have had an opportunity, and we have squandered it, to be able to address the problems that are afflicting the American people, people struggling today. And we have an opportunity to either work to come up with some solutions or not present any ideas. Mr. Speaker, we have some great ideas here, and it is about time that we take some action.

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to be present for rollcall vote No. 607. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. LUJAN

Mr. LUJAN. I thank my friend as well. I will tell you and my colleagues here on the floor that, as I was sitting in the office, watching the discussion that was taking place, I felt compelled to come down because, in my office, we were looking at some of the letters that have been sent to my office. I'll tell you there is story after story, whether it's in writing or by e-mail or by phone or in person, as we talk to our friends in the district, of the concerns that we have of those who have insurance but who say when that bill comes in and when they see that denial on there, Well, I was paying into the system. I was working hard, I was paying my bills. I thought I had coverage. I went to go see the doctor because I was sick. Then they get the rejection letter and denial after denial. There is something that's not being talked a lot about today. Some of those who are opposed to health care reform, to the public option and to the legislation that we're working on aren't talking about some of the protections that are in this legislation, even to those who have coverage today. As we've been talking about this and as we've been advocating for a strong public option to give competition and to provide choice for our patients out there for those who are so in need of good care today, the other element of this is, if they like the coverage they have, they can keep it. One of the problems that exists therein, though, is how insurance companies are denying these claims one after another. This whole idea and this notion that government is going to get in the way of people being able to make decisions about their health care with their physicians couldn't be more wrong. The problem that exists today is that the bureaucrats who are in place today within some of the insurance companies and who review these claims one at a time are not your physicians. They get this submittal from a doctor, and they ask, Well, should we provide coverage or not? Then they reject that letter. You know, before I came to Congress, I was part of a commission that had the State superintendent of insurance under it. It was where the State regulatory reform took place. We had the responsibility of having to work with patients to look at some of those denials. I'll just share one little story with you. There was one young lady whom I ran into who asked, Ben, don't you do something with insurance? I explained to her, yes, I did. What was going on? Well, she and her husband were trying to have a baby, and they were not having much luck. They had a 1-year-old son, but they weren't having much luck. So she went to see the doctor, and the doctor diagnosed her, and said, Well, there may be something wrong here. Well, it turns out what they diagnosed her with was related to something that wasn't included in her coverage. They were trying to say, Well, we diagnosed you with this illness about 2 years ago, but now that they were trying to have a son, to grow their family and to live the American dream in their home that they had just purchased, the insurance company said, Well, we're not going to cover this. As a matter of fact, you have to go back and pay 2 years of bills that we've been treating you for. Well, the family was in dire need because, when they tried paying this bill, they were going to have to sell their home. They were going to be out on the street. There was no telling what was going to happen to them. Well, it turns out that the insurance company wrongfully denied this claim. Now, how many more millions of people are out there who have coverage today who are getting those claims denied? One of the strong elements of this piece of legislation is all of the consumer protections that are built in. It's important that we talk about those because, as we talk about building a strong public option and about providing protections, about extending coverage, and about lowering costs, it's important that those who have coverage today are going to get the protections they deserve. Those who are opposed to this legislation aren't talking about those protections. It's important that we continue to advocate for them because people across this United States and across my district, I'll tell you, want coverage and need coverage, and they're crying out every day. It's about time that we start listening to them. That's why I had to come down here to my colleagues, to my good friends who are all down here visiting with the American people about the importance of this legislation that we're working on as we advocate for lower costs, for squeezing what we can out of the system to make sure that we're looking after the general welfare of the American people and to make sure that we're providing the consumer protections that Americans deserve. So, with that, I yield back. It's an honor to be here with you, and we'll continue working day in and day out to make sure we're able to advocate for the well-being of the American people. Health care reform is what we need.