Candice Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, first I would like to associate myself with the remarks of my colleague from Michigan (Mr. Levin) and Macomb County. We share a county together. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of this rule and in very, very strong support of the underlying legislation. Today this House is beginning to take action to provide our domestic auto industry with a bridge loan to help them through these very difficult times. Some of my colleagues engaged in this debate have described this as a bridge loan to nowhere. Well, it is my opinion that those Members have a very bad map, a very, very bad map. In fact, these are bridge loans to better times, to a stronger auto industry that will build the high- tech vehicles of the future and will protect millions of good jobs in America. What Members should know is that the road of inaction is a road to economic abyss; the road to the loss of as many as 3 million jobs; the road to the destruction of the domestic manufacturing base which has formed the arsenal of democracy; a road to a deeper and more protracted recession that will negatively impact every community across this Nation. As was said, this is not just a Detroit problem, a Michigan problem; this is an American problem. And a detour from the bridge loan of assistance to the domestic auto industry to the road of inaction, that is a dead end. I will choose the bridge to more jobs, the bridge to advanced technology, the bridge to a vital industry base and to a brighter future, and I urge my colleagues to join me on that trip. I urge them to support this rule, to support the underlying bill, and to demonstrate that this Congress does care about Main Street, not just Wall Street.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in very strong support of this rule, because we do need to act to support our domestic auto industry, and failure to act by Congress on bridge loans to our domestic auto industry will have catastrophic effects on our workers, on our economy, as well as our national security. Inaction is simply not an option. In recent years, the domestic auto industry has been undergoing significant restructuring in an effort to become more competitive with foreign automakers. More needs to be done certainly, but to suggest that nothing has been done is inaccurate and does not recognize the significant sacrifices made by workers and the tough decisions made by the Big Three. They are also changing their product mix to better reflect the current marketplace demand for more fuel efficient vehicles. It is not Toyota that offers the most models that get over 30 miles per gallon. It is General Motors. It is not Honda that makes the highest mileage SUV in the world. It is Ford with the Ford Escape. We cannot forget the domestic auto industry and what they have meant to America. In fact, during World War II, southeast Michigan was known as the ``arsenal of democracy'' because we literally had the manufacturing capability that led the world to peace by building those armaments, and we expanded freedom across the globe. Then on September 11, 2001, that horrific day when the terrorists murdered nearly 3,000 of our fellow Americans, they had an additional goal, and that was to destroy our economy. At that time, while the Federal Government was properly providing bailout support to the devastated airlines, it was the domestic auto industry, led by General Motors and their Keep America Rolling Program, which kept customers in the showrooms, workers on the factory floors, and did indeed keep America rolling. The cost to our economy of failure of one or more of these companies will be stark. Experts have indicated that this would cause a cascade of bankruptcies across the economy and lead to the loss of as many as 3 million jobs. The cost of this calamity to the taxpayers would be multiple times greater than the cost of these bridge loans. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to look beyond the super-heated rhetoric here and support me in joining this rule and this vital industry.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this legislation to provide some additional help to workers across this Nation who have been hard hit by our difficult economy. Just today it was announced that our national unemployment rate is 6.1 percent, terrible rate that unfortunately we would be ecstatic within my district. People are hurting and they need help. This bill will provide an additional 7 weeks of unemployment benefits for workers across the Nation and an additional 13 weeks for high unemployment states like my home State of Michigan. Earlier today we passed a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street companies whose bad business decisions have wreaked havoc on our economy. If we can hand over $700 billion to Wall Street we can certainly provide this minimum level of support to the workers who are among the victims of the bad actors on Wall Street. Let us all join together and pass this legislation that will provide real support for those who need it most, hard working people having a terribly difficult time finding work in our struggling economy.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, consistent with House Republican Earmark Standards, I am submitting the following earmark disclosure and certification information for two individual project authorization requests that I made and which were included within the text of H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 Bill Number H.R. 2638. 1. Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice Miller. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Project Amount: $1.6 Million. Account: Operations and Maintenance, Army PE# 423012. Receiving Entity: Army Manufacturing Technical Assistance Production Program (MTAPP). Address: US Army TACOM, Industrial Base Office, AMSTA-LC-IO, 6501 E Eleven Mile Rd, Warren, MI 48397. Description of Request: MTAPP focuses on solving supply chain problems that impact the Army and Department of Defense. MTAPP solves the above-mentioned problems using small manufacturing businesses. The problems that are solved by MTAPP lead to improvement in mission capability and availability rates of Army/DoD combat and tactical vehicles. In addition, the small manufacturing businesses provide a sustainable industrial base of suppliers to support the maintenance of weapons platforms. The small businesses also provide the Defense commercial sector with a viable pool of small businesses to meet the Federal Government mandated socio-economic goals. Matching Funds: Not applicable (Federal entity). 2. Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice Miller. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Project Amount: $2.4 Million. Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Army. Receiving Entity: Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages Case Resolution Program. Address: U.S. Army TARDEC Assoc. Director for Engineering 6501 East 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48397. Description of Request: The program is expected to significantly reduce the Tank-Automotive and Armaments Life Cycle Management Command's (TACOM LCMC) total ownership costs for weapons systems sustainment by using a center for directing the researching of Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) cases affecting TACOM LCMC designing engineering solutions for cases, and testing alternatives for obsolete pars and higher-level assemblies. Matching Funds: Not applicable. (Federal entity).

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6849 and on behalf of Michigan's farmers and agricultural community. When thinking of Michigan, most people automatically think of the automobile industry. However, many people don't realize that agriculture is the second largest industry in the state and in many ways defines us, our culture and our values. Michigan's agriculture industry is made up of small and medium sized farms. However, the family farmer is alive and well in my district. And that is why this bill is so critical to Michigan producers and the rest of the country. This legislation waives the 10 acre provision for farm program eligibility for the 2008 and 2009 crop years. This provision, which was included in the Farm Bill, prevents farmers with less than 10 base acres from receiving a program crop payment such as Direct, Counter- Cyclical, or ACRE payments. There are many producers which are prohibited from receiving the benefits of the Farm Bill because of this provision. It is my sincere belief that farmers that work multiple plots of less than 10 acres were never intended to be denied access to this program. This legislation today will force the USDA to recognize that fact. I am proud to stand in support of this bill and urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this measure.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1287--Commending the Honor Flight Network. The Honor Flight's mission is to provide an all expenses paid trip for WWII veterans to Washington, DC, to visit the memorial that has been dedicated to honor their service and their sacrifices for our country. Unfortunately, we are losing ``The Greatest Generation'' with every passing day, and many are not able to have the opportunity to visit the World War II monument, which memorializes the sacrifice made by so many. Thankfully, Honor Flight organizations from all over the Nation have taken it upon themselves to make sure WWII veterans who otherwise would be unable to make the trip to D.C., have an opportunity to do so. This amazing group, made up entirely of unpaid volunteers, raises money and donates time to ensure these veterans of World War II see not only the WWII monument, but also the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery--all at no cost to the veteran. These honor flights take veterans to Washington from April through November each year, and provide flights, deluxe tour bus service, t- shirts, scooters, wheelchairs, oxygen and meals--at a cost of $20,000 per flight. Many people say they are grateful for the sacrifices of our Nation's veterans, but this group puts it that idea into action. In my home state of Michigan, over 414 veterans were flown to Washington, DC by Honor Flight of Michigan last year, and so far this year 346 veterans have been afforded the opportunity to see Washington, DC. I can think of no group more worthy of recognition than the Honor Flight Network. These fine Americans do great work, and I personally want to thank them for honoring our Nation's veterans--they have fought, bled, and sacrificed on our behalf and we owe them a debt that can never be repaid. However, I'm grateful to see Americans working together in partnership with business and the donations of hard working men and women can be applied to honoring the ``Greatest Generation'' of Americans.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, the Great Lakes are one of the great treasures of the world and are fully 20 percent of the world's freshwater supply. They are unique in our Nation and unique on this planet. But the Great Lakes are especially near and dear to those of us in Michigan, the Great Lakes State. The Great Lakes are part of our identity as 4 of the 5 Lakes touch Michigan's shore. The Lakes are important to our State for commerce, for recreation, for drinking water, and for tourism. They are an invaluable part of the environment. The Great Lakes deserve every protection to ensure that they remain a healthy ecosystem for future generations. One of the primary reasons I ran for Congress was to preserve and protect the Great Lakes. I have been proud to work with my colleagues on issues like invasive species, the Great Lakes Legacy Act, and the Water Resources Development Act. Today, the House will take a historic step towards protecting this treasure by ratifying the Great Lakes Compact. The compact is a binding agreement among the Great Lakes States to implement a conservation standard for regulating water withdrawals from the Great Lakes Basin. This document will essentially ban new and increased diversions of water outside the Great Lakes Basin with only limited, highly regulated exceptions. It also establishes a framework for each State to enact laws protecting the basin. There is no doubt that water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource, both around the world and here in the United States. Droughts in the Southeast and the West have demonstrated quite clearly that we cannot simply take abundant freshwater for granted. In fact, a recent issue of BusinessWeek screamed the headline: ``There Will Be Water: Why T. Boone Pickens Thinks It's the New Oil.'' Water shortages will undoubtedly lead to jurisdictional fights over access. The Great Lakes Region has taken it upon themselves to work through these issues before areas outside the basin attempt to access water from the Great Lakes. I am proud of our region for coming together to decide the future of the Great Lakes before others have the opportunity to do that for us. This measure will ensure the continued protection of the Great Lakes for generations to come, and I urge my colleagues to support the adoption of the Great Lakes Compact.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, as we all know, the Great Lakes have suffered as a result of years of industrial pollution that entered their waters. Through the Clean Water Act and other important measures we have begun the work necessary to reverse that trend. However, much work needs to be done. The 2007 State of the Great Lakes report recorded the status of the Great Lakes ecosystem as mixed. In other words, the ecosystem displays both good and degraded features. Stopping pollution from entering the water is one thing. Beginning the efforts to restore the ecosystem from the damage it incurred is another. Undoing that damage will require an extensive amount of work. One of the best tools in our arsenal to achieve that goal is the Great Lakes Legacy Act. This act, which authorizes funds to clean up contaminated sediment sites in U.S. Areas of Concern (AOCs), was spearheaded by my Great Lakes State colleague, Mr. Ehlers. The projects that are funded under this act are devoted to prevention and remediation of contaminated sediment. As a result of projects done under this act, nearly 800,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments have been removed from AOCs. It is clear that this program has been successful and that is why it has been endorsed by numerous Great Lakes groups. This program has been very good for the Great Lakes and we need to build on those successes to meet the challenges. While some great work has been done so far, we have only seen one spot de-listed as an Area of Concern; 31 Areas of Concern remain in the U.S. alone and 5 more are split between the U.S. and Canada. For these areas to be dealt with, it will take an incredible investment at the Federal level. This legislation increases the authorization for this program up to $150 million annually. While I support that, I think we must also do our due diligence on the appropriations side of the ledger. Over the past few years, we seem to have settled at around the $30-35 million level, even though we are currently authorized at $50 million per year. We also need to make sure that there is sufficient participation at the State and local level to complement Federal efforts. With the economy in Michigan being what it is, State and local governments are barely able in many cases to perform their basic functions, let alone take on ambitious restoration projects. This bill makes some improvements which will help in meeting the non-Federal requirements. In closing, Madam Speaker, this has been a very successful program. I am glad to see that we are reauthorizing it at a higher level. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Silver Alert Act. As a society we are judged by how we care for our most vulnerable in our community--our young children and our senior citizens. This legislation, the National Silver Alert Act, is replicating an issue we have had remarkable success with--the Amber Alert for missing children. The Amber Alert for missing children has allowed 420 children to return safely to their homes. It is time we replicate this success for our seniors. Sixty percent of people with Alzheimer's or dementia will wander away at some point, and half of those who aren't found in the first 24 hours will be injured or die. This statistic is all too real for those across the Nation who have experienced the fear of losing a loved one first hand. I know full well about this--last year an elderly man near Green Bay, Wisconsin, got in his car for what was supposed to be a short trip to the convenience store. Nearly 8 hours and 490 miles later, he stopped at a local grocery store in my district, disoriented, and confused. Luckily a Macomb county sheriff located this man's son in Wisconsin and the man returned home safely. However, for a few frantic hours, his family in Wisconsin had no idea if he was lost, in an accident, or worse. Just imagine if this system was in place last year. Maybe a motorist or a police officer would have seen this man's car driving along the expressway and got him assistance before he made it all the way to Michigan. Situations like these happen across America--and it is important that we fund programs like the National Silver Alert act to properly locate our seniors who have gone missing. By creating a national communications network to assist in efforts to locate missing senior citizens, we are improving the likelihood that they remain free of harm. As a cosponsor of the National Silver Alert Act, I ask my colleagues to join me in protecting our senior citizens and implementing this very important program.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, it is difficult to believe that it has been 7 years since that horrific day of September 11, 2001. It is important that today every American take time to pause and reflect upon those who we lost on that day and those whose heroism and bravery vividly showed the indomitable American spirit. For the last 7 years our Nation has been at war against an enemy that hides in the shadows and preys upon the innocent. An enemy that does not value life or freedom. But that enemy has found that the will of the American people is impossible to defeat. That the vigilance and dedication of those in law enforcement who protect our communities is unending. That the bravery and commitment to the cause of freedom of the American Armed Forces is unmatched in the world. So on this solemn day it is appropriate to mourn those who were lost. To say a prayer for their memory and for their families. And to give thanks to those who so bravely continue to protect our freedom. May God continue to bless this great Nation.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, which will put a definite end to this Mexican truck pilot program. Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, this program never should have begun in the first place. Before coming to Congress, I served for 8 years as the Michigan Secretary of State, with a principal responsibility as the chief motor vehicle administrator, and I was also the Chairman of the Traffic Safety Commission. I was responsible for all the licensing in the State, including of commercial drivers and hazardous material endorsements. Given my background I had immediate concerns about how the Department of Transportation's pilot program might compromise the safety of our roads. In Mexico, licensing requirements are very poor and fraud in their system runs rampant. In fact, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard in testimony from the Department of Transportation's Inspector General that 1 in 5 Mexican driving records contained an error of some kind. If we had a 20 percent error rate in the United States, we would consider it a crisis. There are also concerns, about the insurance provisions of this program. American trucks must carry expensive insurance policies in the event they are in an accident. What happens if a Mexican truck has an accident somewhere in the U.S.? Good luck to the victims of that accident who will try to collect on damages from a company down in Mexico. Mexican drivers are allowed to work far longer hours than American workers, resulting in widespread drug use in the profession. Presently, there is no system under which secure testing could take place so to ensure that the drivers coming into our country are drug free. In response to these concerns, the Congress passed language in the Iraq War supplemental requiring the Department of Transportation to only conduct a pilot program under certain conditions. Subsequently, the House, by a vote of 411-3, the Safe American Roads Act, which placed additional restrictions on these Mexican trucks coming into the country. Unfortunately, the Department of Transportation has not taken the hint and continues to promote this program without addressing the public's safety concerns about this program. Hopefully, this legislation will make it clear that Congress does not want this program to continue and that it should be terminated.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, the campaign of Barack Obama cannot refute Governor Sarah Palin's record of change and reform as Governor of Alaska. She took on the ``Old Boy Network'' in Alaska and she won. She took on corruption throughout State government and rooted it out. She took on Big Oil and made it serve the interests of her State. She is a true agent of change. So now the Obama campaign has decided that the way to get at Sarah Palin is through personal attacks and sexist insults. Yesterday, the Associated Press quoted the following: `` `You can put lipstick on a pig,' Obama said to an outbreak of laughter, shouts and raucous applause from his audience, clearly drawing a connection to Palin's joke. `It's still a pig.' '' Well, Mr. Speaker, Senator Obama might find such jokes funny, but women will only find them insulting. American women also understand that if this is the kind of change that Senator Obama is offering to America, it is really no change at all. Senator Obama owes Governor Palin and the women of America an apology.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 weeks, we have seen both parties' commitment to change on full display. Barack Obama had the opportunity to make an historic choice and choose Hillary Clinton to join his ticket. But, oh, no. The ``Old Boy Network'' won out and Senator Obama went back on his commitment to change and reform by choosing a Senator who has been in Washington for over three decades. Women understand this because we have seen it before. Sometimes no matter how hard you fight or how much support you have, someone will always stand in your way, regardless of paying lip service. Contrast that with the choice made by Senator John McCain. He chose a strong woman to join with him to bring real change to Washington. From the PTA to the city council to the mayor of Wassilla to the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin has broken down the Old Boy Network, rooted out corruption, cut taxes, reduced spending, and brought real change to government. And now we see Senator Obama and his Democratic allies trying to tear her down and destroy another strong woman. But the women of America will not be fooled and they will not be held back any longer. John McCain and Sarah Palin will bring change and reform to Washington and will finally shatter that seemingly unbreakable glass ceiling.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in very strong support of this legislation which will ensure that the Federal Government is simply able to meet the commitments that we have already made to both the States and the American people. Specifically, this bill will simply return the $8 billion to the highway trust fund that was taken from it several years ago. And with rising construction costs and fuel receipts due to Americans driving less, the trust fund is projected to be unable to meet the funding that has been guaranteed to the Departments of Transportation all across our country. These agencies draw up their plans years in advance, and failure by the Federal Government to provide that funding at the very last minute I think is simply irresponsible. As important as it is to point out why we should pass this legislation, I think we must also be very cognizant of the consequences for failing to act. In my State of Michigan alone, failure to shore up the trust fund will mean a 34 percent cut in funding, money that the State of Michigan is already counting on. Michigan's Federal highway dollars will be cut actually by $245 million, and would result in a loss of 8,500 jobs, and that is in a State that has the highest unemployment in the Nation already at 8.5 percent. The impact of this nationally would rival, I think, the impact of the economic downturn that we are already experiencing. Failure to pass this bill would effectively negate any positive impact that came out of the economic stimulus package that this Congress has already passed. This vote, as well, Madam Speaker, comes at a unique time in history when you have other nations like China and India who understand how important it is for them to invest in their infrastructure. We in the United States cannot afford to be economically disadvantaged as well. So we have a choice before us. We can vote ``yes'' and make sure that we simply try to keep pace; or we can vote ``no'' and put people out of work, stop construction projects all across the country and put America at a further disadvantage in the global economy. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation and vote ``yes.''

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Chairman, I certainly appreciate the chairman's words. And in Michigan we like to think we are on the leading edge of all kinds of technology. And carbon fiber is one thing, but as the chairman knows, we also have the first mile of concrete ever laid in the United States, in the city limits of Detroit, about Six Mile Road. So we like to think of ourselves as ahead of the curve. But I will close by saying that I certainly enjoy serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. And one of the principal reasons I enjoy the work so much is because of the leadership and the vision of our chairman. He is certainly internationally recognized as a leader on transportation and infrastructure issues, as well as our ranking member. And so I appreciate that.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Chairman, my amendment is very simple, very straightforward. I will just take a few minutes to explain it. But it deals with the issue of how, as our Nation undertakes critical bridge reconstruction, that we make sure to use the very newest and the best technology available in our construction methods. Specifically, I am talking about carbon fiber, which is a very, very lightweight material. It is sturdier. It is less susceptible to corrosion, and it actually is more durable than steel. Right now we use steel rerods in bridge construction, and regular steel rerods can take up to 60,000 pounds per square inch. But carbon fiber rods, like this one that I hold in my hand, can actually take up to 240,000 pounds per square inch. That makes it actually four to five times stronger than steel. As well, it is 8 times lighter than steel, making it very much, much easier to transport and install as well. Also, steel fatigues from the pressure of repetitive use, and carbon fiber does not. By using carbon fiber, in addition to some of the new strength concretes that are out there, I think we could conceivably build a 100-year sustainable structure. In my home State of Michigan, we have already built one bridge using carbon fiber technology, and we are planning on building and reconstruction of three more bridges during the next 2 years. Madam Chairman, my amendment directs the Secretary of Transportation to study the cost benefits of using carbon fiber composite materials and that technology. And then it would require the findings of the study to be returned to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee within 180 days of the bill that we are discussing tonight, within 180 days of the enactment of this bill. This would give Congress adequate time to review those findings and to determine if it would be appropriate to incorporate any action related to the findings into next year's highway reauthorization bill. So I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I appreciate the gentleman yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, as was mentioned, actually for 8 years I had the distinct honor and privilege really to serve as Michigan's Secretary of State. And in that role, a principal responsibility of mine was to serve as the State's chief elections officer. And I was blessed with an absolutely outstanding professional staff that helped to ensure that not only were our elections open, free and fair, but also that everyone in Michigan who was eligible and properly registered to vote had an opportunity to vote and that every one of those votes was counted. After the 2000 election, naturally, the Ford-Carter Commission on National Election Reform cited Michigan's Qualified Voter File, a file that we built in Michigan, as a national model, a attribute to Michigan's well-run elections. That report also cited the need for each State to establish a uniform voting system, a process that we had already been studying in Michigan. We were prepared with a uniform voting plan as soon as this Congress passed the HAVA Act, the Help America Vote Act. And as a result, today Michigan has an optical scan uniform voting system, and we have experienced little or no problems with that system. And this was due to careful, long-term planning and professional work by our State elections bureau working in partnership with local election clerks. And, Mr. Speaker, the bill that we are considering today will provide Federal grants for States to do contingency planning for this year's election. Well, here is our Michigan contingency plan, a plan that I believe is also in place right now by the huge overwhelming majority of the States in our Nation. We require that optical scan ballots be printed for 100 percent of all registered voters. If an optical scan precinct tabulator malfunctions on Election Day, the clerks allow voters to continue, and then they have voters deposit their ballots in the auxiliary bin of the ballot box which they can count later. Plan complete, at no cost to the Federal taxpayers. And as I understand it, this bill actually has a cost associated with it of I believe $75 million. The proponents of this bill note that they have had some support of the National Council of State Legislatures as well as the National Association of County Officials. And they cite that as good reasons to support this legislation. Well, I would respectfully point out that these officials have no responsibility in the actual administering of elections. And I would note that the National Association of Secretaries of State, of which I was proud to be a member, and now I'm an honorary member, and also the NASS-ED, which is the association of State elections directors, neither of those two national election associations are up here on Capitol Hill advocating for this legislation. And these are the two groups, as I say, which are totally made up of those who are responsible for the administration of elections in our Nation, and those who also do the contingency planning. If those responsible, Mr. Speaker, for planning and administering elections are not asking for this bill, I would ask why is it being offered? I would urge my colleagues to defeat this needless bill and allow our elections officials across our Nation to continue their diligent work in preparing for this fall's election.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, in spite of the fact that the American people have been begging, literally begging this Congress to act on the energy crisis, all we've heard from the majority are excuses for why we cannot access our own domestic supplies of energy. They say that we cannot drill in the ANWR because it will adversely affect the caribou. This despite the fact that the caribou have literally flourished along the north slope of Alaska since the introduction of the pipeline. They say we cannot drill offshore because of environmental threats. This despite the fact that offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have survived both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with very limited or no environmental damage. The majority continues to offer excuse after excuse but offers nothing to the American consumers who want some relief at the pump. With gas prices crashing through $4 per gallon now and rising at an alarming rate, the time for excuses is over. It is time for action. Many of us saw this coming and have tried to expand supply here at home. It is time for the majority to recognize this fact and show more concern for the American consumers than for the caribou.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, as we approach the Fourth of July holiday, many Americans who would use this long weekend to vacation or to perhaps spend time with their family will have to weigh their options as they struggle with gas prices that have risen to over $4 a gallon. As the worldwide demand for oil has contributed to the rise in prices that affects families all across America, we have actually restricted our supply here at home. America, unfortunately, has become more dependent than ever on more expensive foreign sources of energy, and not taking advantage of our own energy sources is economic suicide. That is why I am cosponsoring the No More Excuses Energy Act. It would lift the moratorium on exploring for oil on the Outer Continental Shelf, open up the ANWR in Alaska for natural gas exploration and oil exploration, and it would also provide incentives to build more refineries right here at home. This legislation would provide incentives and tax credits to assist in researching and in using alternative forms of energy like wind power and nuclear energies. This commonsense approach to energy can help our Nation meet the challenges that we face in the future and can hold down the costs to consumers. It is time to get to work.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. This is a so-called Michigan Family Alert, and, of course, it's saying that they are opposed to these casinos, and, if you're a family values person, you had better to be opposed too. And yet from Business Week what they have said is: ``As it turns out, Gambling Watch is a tiny operation financed by MGM Mirage, one of the world's largest gaming companies, locked in a bitter dispute with two Native American Indian tribes that hope to open casinos in Michigan. The Las Vegas company inaugurated a new $800 million casino in downtown Detroit in October and is not in the mood for any competition.'' And I close on that note.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentleman, my distinguished colleague from Alaska, for yielding and for his complimentary remarks. Mr. Speaker, this issue has been waiting for a congressional vote for many, many years but not for as long as our Nation's history of sometimes mistreating Native Americans. This case settles a land claim from over 100 years ago, at a time when our country treated Native Americans terribly and at a time when the State of Michigan, as has been said, literally stole this land from the Indians. Throughout the decades that followed, Native Americans sought justice. Finally, former Michigan Governor John Engler negotiated a settlement that was agreed to by everyone involved. Let me just read briefly a section from his letter. ``As Governor of Michigan, it was my duty to negotiate the land settlement agreements between the State of Michigan and Bay Mills and the Sault Tribe in 2002 . . . I am proud that every concerned party involved in this settlement supports this agreement. This is a true example of a State and the tribes promoting cooperation rather than conflict.'' This land claim settlement is unique to Michigan, and it does not impact any other congressional district other than the three congressional districts of the people who are supporting it here who have spoken today, as have been mentioned. That is myself, Mr. Stupak, and Mr. Dingell. I would point out that, in a time of hyper partisanship, this is a wonderful example, I believe, of bipartisanship. I would note that much of the opposition to this bill comes from Members of Congress who already have gaming in their districts, districts like Las Vegas or like the city of Detroit, and that their opposition is not based on ideology but on, rather, their not wanting any honest competition. I reject this on its face because I believe in the free market, and I believe in free market principles. Some have said that this is stuffing a tribal land claim down the throat of a community that doesn't welcome it. Actually, the opposite is true. This legislation is supported by every elected official who represents the city of Port Huron in any capacity and at any level of government. As has been mentioned, there is the former Governor, John Engler; the current Governor, Jennifer Granholm; both United States Senators; myself, as a Member in the U.S. House here; the State senator; the State representatives; the county commissioners, and the entire city council. Additionally, it has the support of civic groups, of business groups like the Chamber of Commerce, of educational leaders, and of labor unions like the UAW. For those who might be concerned about what law enforcement thinks, we have letters here of support from the county sheriff, from the county prosecutor and from all of the police chiefs. Most importantly, it has the support of the citizens of the city, as evidenced by a citywide referendum vote in support. The opponents of this legislation have said, first of all, that they don't want any competition. Therefore, they hope this bill will die. They have said, even though their communities and their districts have economic development, they need to protect that and that the citizens-- the good Americans of a community like mine--cannot have fairness or economic opportunity. Mr. Speaker, this is un-American, and I would hope that my fair- minded colleagues would reject that out of hand. The opponents of this have also stated several outright untruths about this bill. They say that this bill will set a precedent, and that is false. In fact, in section 3(b) of this bill, it states the following: ``The provisions contained in the Settlement of Land Claim are unique and shall not be considered precedent for any future agreement between any tribe and State.'' The opponents also say that this bill will allow for off-reservation gaming. This is also false. In fact, section 2(a)(2) of the bill states the following: ``The alternative lands shall become part of the community's reservation immediately upon attaining trust status.'' In fact, this site was not reservation shopping, as Mr. Stupak has pointed out. It was specifically chosen because it is the only community with an international border crossing where there is already casino gaming on one side and not on the U.S. side. They have also said that this legislation violates the process under the National Environmental Policy Act, also known as NEPA. Yet the legislation makes it very, very clear that the land cannot be taken into trust until it is determined that the land complies with NEPA. They also say that this bill would violate the will of the people of Michigan because of a referendum that was passed in 2004, which required statewide voter approval for any expansion of gaming. This is completely false. As a former Secretary of State, I know a little bit about ballot language, and this is what the ballot language actually says: ``Specify that voter approval requirement does not apply to Indian tribal gaming,'' which is exactly what this bill does. I would offer as proof of this that, since the referendum passed in Michigan, several tribal casinos that are operated by some of the richest tribal opponents of this bill have actually opened facilities. Now, apparently, they didn't violate the will of the voters as long as they could make money. Yet they want to stop our communities, again, from fair competition. I would say please spare me the righteous indignation. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that my beautiful State of Michigan, that our beautiful State of Michigan, is suffering terrible, terrible economic challenges. We have the highest unemployment in the Nation. We have the lowest personal income growth in the Nation. We have the highest foreclosure rate in the Nation. We have the largest exodus of our young people. Our population is moving to other States to seek economic opportunity. The city of Port Huron, that I represent, actually has one of the highest unemployment rates, not only in the State but in the entire Nation. By the best estimates right now, it's anywhere from 14 to 16 percent. Some have said it could be even higher. And yet we try to pay our taxes. We educate our children. We always legitimately think of ourselves as patriotic Americans. We are proud, and we have never asked for a handout, and today we are only asking for Congress to ratify the compacts of our Governors so that we can help ourselves. For those who think that a vote today against this bill will stop gaming in this community, let me just point out this photo here behind me, which is of a Canadian casino, which is about 282 yards away. Now, a good golfer, not me, but a good golfer could hit this Canadian casino. It's right across the St. Clair River, a short trip over the Blue Water Bridge, and about 80 percent of all of their revenues comes from American citizens. Mr. Speaker, I would say that those dollars should be spent in an American facility to help Americans get jobs. This bill is all about fairness and opportunity, and I would urge my colleagues to vote ``yes''; ``yes'' for private property rights, ``yes'' for the rights of States to negotiate in good faith and for the good of their State, and ``yes'' for Americans to have fairness and opportunity to compete with our wonderful Canadian neighbors for jobs in a community where the jobs are desperately needed. And I would just close on a note: I have heard that there is a number of family values-type groups who are opposed to this. Let me just show you an example of a recent mailing ostensibly from a group called Michigan Family Alert.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I certainly appreciate the gentleman yielding time to me. This rule allows us to proceed, and I wish to speak in strong support of the underlying bill, and I rise in very strong support of H.R. 2176, which is sponsored by Mr. Bart Stupak of Michigan and cosponsored by myself and also the companion bill, H.R. 4115, sponsored by Mr. Dingell, because these bills impact only three congressional districts in this House, only three, period. And those districts are Mr. Stupak's and my district and Mr. Dingell's. These bills are offered in the spirit of bipartisanship, and they are offered to settle a land claim that has existed in our State of Michigan, actually, for well over 100 years, about 150 years, when the State literally stole land from the Indians. And after the Indians spent decades seeking justice, the land claim settlement was negotiated by former Governor John Engler, and here is what he had to say about it, Mr. Speaker. He said: ``As Governor of Michigan, it was my duty to negotiate the land settlement agreements between the State of Michigan and Bay Mills and the Sault Tribe in 2002 . . . In December of 2002, I signed the agreement with the Sault Tribe. I am proud that every concerned party involved in this settlement supports this agreement. This is a true example of a State and the Tribes promoting cooperation rather than conflict.'' I think it is important to note that these bills are supported by every elected official who represents the City of Port Huron, including the current Governor, Jennifer Granholm, both United States Senators, myself, the State senator there, the State representatives, all of the county commissioners, the entire city council, and most importantly, the citizens themselves who voted ``yes'' on a city-wide referendum. It is supported by civic groups. It is supported by educational leaders, by labor leaders like the UAW, by every law enforcement officer in the county, including the county sheriff, the county prosecutor, and the police chiefs. It is about fairness and opportunity for one of the most economically distressed areas in the Nation, where the current unemployment rate, by best estimates, is somewhere between 14 to 16 percent. And it has been very unfortunate, in my opinion, that the opponents have been so untruthful about their opposition to these bills. For instance, they say that it is precedent setting, and yet the truth is in this bill. In section 3(b), the bill states the following: ``The provisions contained in the Settlement of Land Claim are unique and shall not be considered precedent for any future agreement between any tribe and State.'' The opponents also say that it allows for off-reservation gaming. Yet the truth is in section 2(a)(2) of the bill. It states: ``The alternative lands shall become part of the Community's reservation immediately upon attaining trust status.'' And they also say it violates a 2004 Michigan referendum.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The truth is that it actually, the referendum--and as a former Secretary of State, I understand what ballot language actually says--it says, ``Specify that voter approval requirement does not apply to Indian Tribal gaming.'' So clearly, most of the opposition, Mr. Speaker, to these bills comes from those who already have theirs, and they don't want anybody else to have it. They don't want competition. And I think that is un-American. This bill is about fairness and opportunity for an area that desperately needs it. It is about justice. The city of Port Huron is home to the Blue Water Bridge, which is the second busiest commercial artery on the Northern Tier. It is the only international crossing where there is a gaming facility on the Canadian side and there is not one on the U.S. side. And if you were a very good golfer--maybe not me, but a good golfer--you could hit a golf ball and hit that Canadian casino facility right now where 80 percent of the revenues comes from America. Those are U.S. dollars and U.S. jobs that are being sent right across the river. I urge my colleagues to be fair.