Doris Matsui

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to make a few comments before I yield to the next speaker. I'd like to say that the President's budget would have cut education programs, health care programs, energy assistance for seniors, avian flu by some $7.6 billion below last year after adjusted for inflation. This bill rejects most of those arbitrary cuts. As a result, some Members have criticized it. But the bill only increases these funds by a modest 3 percent after adjusting for inflation and population growth. This increase puts the bill a full $2.9 billion below its funding level in 2005. It is interesting logic that when you're spending less than you did 2 years ago, it's out-of-control spending. The subcommittee's ranking member testified to the Rules Committee last night that he would have written a very similar bill as Mr. Obey did had he been in the chairman's seat. And most of the amendments offered in committee were by the minority seeking to increase various funding levels in the bill. This bill funds our Nation's health care, education and worker protection programs in a responsible, sustainable manner. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me time and for her leadership on the Rules Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying bill. Today presents us with another opportunity to change direction in Iraq, a change that is desperately needed. I have opposed this war from the beginning. I have long supported ways to bring this war to a responsible close. I urge my colleagues to seize this opportunity now before we do further disservice to the brave men and women in Iraq. The last time I rose in opposition to Iraq policy, I talked about George and Dee Heath from my hometown of Sacramento. All three of their sons served in Iraq. Recently, I learned that one of their sons, David, was hit in an RPG attack on his convoy. Thank goodness he was not wounded gravely, and he will be coming home to recover. Mr. Speaker, today's vote is about our responsibility to the Heath sons and to the more than 150,000 other men and women in harm's way. They are doing what is being asked of them heroically and patriotically. It fills me with sorrow that more than 3,600 soldiers have paid the ultimate price for their heroism, including 385 from my home State of California. Our responsibility to them as their elected leaders should be, it must be, to ensure that their mission is clear and achievable. Today, we have the opportunity to fulfill our responsibility as the President has not. Sadly, the President's disastrous leadership is ignoring his duty to the troops. We cannot sit idly by. The Iraqi Government is not meeting any of its political, economic, or military benchmarks. The President's surge policy has had disastrous results. In fact, 600 troops have been killed and more than 3,000 have been wounded since he announced this policy. Our troops are stranded on the front lines without clear guidance and without a clear mission. In light of such inept leadership by the President, the American people have lost their patience. Most Americans support removing troops by April. They want us to refocus on terrorism. Yet, still the President refuses to reconsider. It is clear from the President's blind stubbornness that Congress must show the President the way. Our troops are at the breaking point. We are refereeing a civil war. The solution is a political one, not a military one. But in this late and crucial hour, you have to do more than talk about change. You have to vote for it. You have to fight for it. Chairman Skelton's bill keeps the safety of our troops and our Nation's security at the forefront by changing course in Iraq. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I want to make a comment on the Members' COLA once again, that the Members' COLA was calculated by a predetermined automatic formula. This legislation does not address Members' COLA. Changes to Members' COLA formula should be addressed in authorizing legislation from the Committee on House Administration. Mr. Speaker, the American people expect and deserve the best services their government can offer and their tax dollars pay for. This $21.4 billion bipartisan bill provides significant support to our small businesses, helps guarantee our citizens' right to vote, and works to close the tax gap. It is a good bill. I believe through simple measures such as these, we can restore our citizens' faith that the government can, and is, working for them again. Amendment Offered by Ms. Matsui

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, this is necessary because of a technical provision in section 309 of the Congressional Budget Act that prevents the House from considering any adjournment resolution for a period longer than 3 days unless all of the annual appropriations bills have been passed by the House.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I want to make a brief comment regarding the Members' COLA which, as Members know, is provided for not in this bill but directly through the Treasury Department based on a predetermined formula. When we had a debate last year, Members on our side of the aisle objected to the rule on the grounds that Members should not receive a cost of living increase until average Americans did through an increase in the minimum wage. I am happy to report that the Democrats kept their promise. No COLA was permitted in the long-term funding that Democrats passed earlier this year to resolve last year's appropriations gridlock. As a result of the new majority's leadership, we passed the first increase in the minimum wage in almost 10 years. It goes into effect on July 24, just less than a month from now. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. I have no further speakers. Do you have additional speakers?

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I will be offering an amendment that adds a new section to the rule that allows the House to consider a current resolution providing for the adjournment of the House and Senate during the month of July. I wanted to apprise the gentleman from California regarding that. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 517 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 517 provides for consideration of H.R. 2829, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for 2008 under an open rule. Under this rule, all Members of the House are afforded the opportunity to offer any amendment that is germane and otherwise complies with House rules. In fact, I want to point out to Members that this is the sixth appropriations bill this year to be considered under an open rule. In November, the American people demanded a change in direction in Washington and a change in priorities. The past 6 months have been an important down payment on our commitment to change. This new Congress must continue to restore our focus on a domestic agenda that helps all Americans. To that end, today the House takes up the seventh of its annual Appropriation bills where we will continue this progress in taking America in a new direction. I applaud Chairman Serrano, Ranking Member Regula, and the committee for developing a bill that reflects this needed change in priorities and for doing so through a strong, bipartisan process. This bill aims to spur job creation and make the economy work for everyone by restoring cuts to small business loans, strengthening consumer protections and rejecting a proposal to reduce capital and financial services to underserved communities through CDFI. In addition, the funding in the underlying bill will help our citizens to vote through upgrades to voting machines and voter registration databases. It ensures a fair tax system by enforcing the Tax Code for everyone, not just those who play by the rules. By focusing on basic priorities like these, we can help restore the American people's faith in our government again. The programs funded by this bill demonstrate our commitment to serving all Americans, regardless of economic or social background. The $21.4 billion bill includes: $66.8 million for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect the public from injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products; $247.7 million for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate sub- prime lending, ID theft, and other deceptive practices; $908 million for the Securities and Exchange Commission to enhance securities law enforcement; $313 million for the Federal Communications Commissions to oversee the changing telecom environment, ensure the continued livelihood of Universal Service Fund and prepare for the transition to digital television; $139.8 million to combat terrorist financing; $5.9 billion for the Federal Courts, including $830.5 million for defender services, because every American should have access to quality legal representation. The bill also includes $582 million for the Small Business Administration to help small businesses prosper. Of this, $100 million is for Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, which is the highest ever funding level for this program. These centers provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. In addition, they support existing businesses and assist start-ups with high-quality, no-cost counseling and affordable training programs. This support for our small businesses helps invigorate local economies by helping the very small businesses that are firmly rooted in our communities both succeed and grow. There are now 63 main SBDCs, at least one in every State, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with a network of more than 1,100 service locations. In closing, Mr. Speaker, the underlying bill made in order under this open rule is a well-crafted piece of legislation. I appreciate that the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee worked together to produce such a product. The bill ensures taxpayer fairness, protects the right to vote, and funds programs critical to supporting our Nation's small businesses. I urge all Members to support this rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. General Leave

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the amendment and on the resolution.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the rule at the desk.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, this amendment adds a new section to the rule that allows the House to consider concurrent resolutions providing for the adjournment of the House and Senate during the month of July. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008. This bill is the first step on the long road back to re-investing in our environment after years of neglect. It is a much-needed turnabout from the practice of treating the natural world merely as a source of material, rather than as the human race's one and only home. It is a necessary reversal of past policies which disregarded the value of clean water, clean air, and our public lands. It represents the commitment of the new Democratic majority to strengthening the long-term viability of our environment. At the same time, it protects public health and demonstrates how important it is for us to act as stewards for our communities. Treating our wastewater before it is discharged into our oceans and rivers is a crucial part of this process. However, the equipment and infrastructure that we use to clean our wastewater is rapidly aging. It no longer has the capacity to treat the amount of waste produced by our growing population. My constituents in Sacramento have battled this problem for years. When heavy rains come, the specter of sewers overflowing into our streets can become a harsh reality. That is why I am so pleased that the Appropriations Committee has used this legislation to renew our commitment to clean water infrastructure. H.R. 2643 increases water-related research, restores funding for clean water grants to States, and directs greater resources to cleaning up contaminated groundwater sites. In doing so, this bill recognizes that investing in clean water protects our drinking supply, restores our rivers and lakes, and strengthens public health. Mr. Chairman, Americans across the country--and in particular the people I represent from Sacramento--will benefit from this legislation's clean water provisions. No longer will we have to worry about untreated wastewater stagnating in our streets and polluting our rivers. No more will raw sewage seep into basements, public parks, and other areas where young children play. When we pass this bill, the water our constituents drink will be cleaner. The rivers they swim in will house fewer bacteria. The sewers they rely on to transport wastewater will stop overflowing. Every Member of Congress has an interest in solving the problems of overwhelmed wastewater infrastructure, and H.R. 2643 begins to do so. While this bill is but a beginning, Mr. Chairman, I am confident that the Democratic Congress will use it as a building block to continue restoring past cuts to clean water programs. The tangible benefits of this bill's clean water funding levels are considerable, but they are still just the first step in renewing our country's commitment to that basic building block of life that sustains us all. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2643.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I have no additional speakers.

Ms. MATSUI. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington. I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill that puts our energy policy on line with the people's priorities by investing. It also raises our investment in our water infrastructure. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont, a member of the Rules Committee, Mr. Welch.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, this rule permits the House to consider the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2008. The bill today is being considered under an open rule. The issues of energy and water are always important, but this year these issues are the very center of our national dialogue. I applaud Chairman Visclosky and Ranking Member Hobson for their continued commitment to provide the resources for our water infrastructure. This investment protects communities and saves lives. I feel I could speak directly to this because in my home, Sacramento, this bill is arguably more important to the everyday life and safety of our population than nearly any bill this Congress will pass. Sacramento is the most at-risk river city for catastrophic flooding in this country. My district serves as the seat of government for California, the sixth largest economy in the world, as well as the hub of a six-county regional economy that provides 800,000 jobs for 1.5 million people. A major flood along the American and Sacramento rivers would have catastrophic ripple effects regionally and nationally, cause upwards of $35 billion in direct property damage, and likely result in significant loss of life to our families, our friends, and neighbors. Sacramento needs this bill, but so do countless other communities across the Nation. I remember all too well on New Year's Eve of 2005 when the headline in our local paper said: ``North State braces as rains' onslaught arrives.'' My district and I sat on the edge of our seats and held our breath to see how the storm would unfold. Flooding did occur, and for those that endured it, it was tragic. But the majority of Sacramento was spared. Our flood system performed as it should, but it was definitely put to the test. Bolstering our system, working through this bill, and with the Army Corps of Engineers made our survival during that storm possible. Locally, on a daily basis, we are working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the State of California and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, our local partner, to achieve greater flood protection. We have achieved impressive results by integrating an approach that combines flood protection and dam safety with partners that can share resources. But what makes an approach like this possible are strong partnerships between the Federal Government, the States, and local entities. I am pleased that this bill strengthens and supports this and other similar partnerships. Another key component of this bill is funding for the Army Corps of Engineers operation and maintenance funding account. This important increase will begin to address billions of dollars in Army Corps maintenance backlogs. This bill takes on the responsibility of not only building but also maintaining our infrastructure and makes an investment in securing our communities, property and, most important, lives. As our country witnessed in the devastation in New Orleans, maintaining our infrastructure is an important function of the Corps that we cannot afford to overlook. It is vital that the Federal Government continue to be a strong partner for these ongoing water infrastructure and flood protection investments. This will allow at-risk communities across the country to strengthen their vulnerable points. It will protect jobs and it will protect lives. There are few investments as worthwhile as this. Just as we must invest in our country's water infrastructure, we must also implement a clean energy economy. This starts with weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels. Mr. Speaker, the rising price of gas is well documented. In many communities gas prices are monitored more closely than the stock prices. Mr. Speaker, I stood here 1 year ago to manage the rule for last year's Energy and Water appropriations bill. During last year's debate I noted that the average cost of a gallon of gasoline was $2.93. Last year, there appeared to be no end in sight to rising prices. Unfortunately, we have not seen much improvement at the pump. In fact what has changed has done so for the worst. According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of gas today is $3.06. In my hometown of Sacramento, it's $3.19. Many of us are probably asking, has energy policy improved? To begin with, Chairman Visclosky has recentered our priorities with this appropriations bill. We are now investing in renewable energy research. We are finally reducing our dependence on foreign oil and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. We are finally protecting our national energy security. Chairman Visclosky and Chairman Obey should be commended for these improvements. These investments are long overdue, Mr. Speaker. They support our States and cities. For example, in my home State of California, we have plans to create a 20 percent renewable portfolio standard within the next decade. These increased investments in energy programs contrast greatly with the President's priorities. Incredibly, the President's total request for renewable energy and energy efficiency is the same as it was in 2001. During this President's entire administration, his goals and priorities have not changed. This is in spite of the everyday reminders of rising gas prices and the constant stream of evidence that our world is warming. I applaud Chairman Visclosky and Ranking Member Hobson for their leadership in this area. They have set a responsible and innovative course with these priorities. Finally, as I mentioned at the outset of this debate, this bill is being made in order under an open rule, which is our tradition. I hope that all Members will give that tradition the respect it deserves. The American people want action on energy policy, climate change, flood protection and a number of issues that this bill funds. Let's let the process work, and let's support this responsible bill. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this rule and final passage of the underlying Energy and Water appropriations bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the Record.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, for purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for purpose of debate only. General Leave