Betsy Markey

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. I want to thank my colleague from California who has unique experience with the industry and in this field for your perspective on this. My colleague from New York has talked about competition. And it has been competition that has made this country great. I want to expand on that a little bit as well to talk about innovation. We have always been a country of entrepreneurs and innovators, and when you have an industry, an entire industry that can set prices, can collude with their partners, you have no innovation in the industry. Some of our Republican colleagues were talking just a short while ago, and one of them was talking about health savings accounts. I am a supporter of health savings accounts as well. My sister and her husband wanted to get a health savings account with catastrophic health care, but because of their age and because of where they live, they could not find an insurance company that would offer that type of product for them, which would help them to save money and to really bring transparency to the system to know what they were spending their health care dollars on; and many people want that option. They weren't able to get it because it was not available in their part of the country. Why? Because there is no need to. There is absolutely no incentive for our insurance industry to innovate, to change the system, to offer new products, to compete on prices. This is what the heart of this bill gets to. It gets to competition and innovation in the system, which again is going to lower prices and, as we have all noted, doesn't cost the government a dime. We should be able to get bipartisan support on this legislation tomorrow.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. We, as Members of Congress, we come here to look at all sides of an issue. That is our responsibility, to look at the pros and cons of legislation. Most of the issues that we deal with are very, very complex. Oftentimes, we are voting on a bill. We may like some parts of the bill, we may not like other parts of the bill, but you can't say, I will vote ``yea,'' but let's change this. You have to vote ``yes'' or ``no.'' And I have looked--I think we all have--on all sides of this piece. We have talked to people in the industry. This seems pretty straightforward to me. The only argument that I have heard against this antitrust exemption is from the insurance industry themselves, who have said, well, the States can do it. The States have been doing it for 60 years. That is sufficient. Let the States do it. But yet the States are saying we can't do this. This is unfair to put this burden on us, as the State attorney generals have noted. And this is a Federal issue. And why, why have we singled out just one industry in all of the United States except for Major League Baseball, which pays a luxury tax, some of the more successful teams, to keep some of the smaller teams going when they are not having a good season? I get that. I cannot understand why for 60 years we have singled out one industry in the United States for this exemption from antitrust laws. It is wrong. It is simple to fix, and we are going to do that tomorrow when we pass this legislation. This is not a Democratic bill or a Republican bill. This is for the American consumer.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. And I would like to thank my colleague from California for sharing those personal stories of people that you know who are unable to switch jobs because they will not be able to get health insurance, people who can't afford health insurance or get health insurance because of a preexisting condition. We have all heard the stories about the auto industry--the most important part of making a car is the health insurance for the workers who put that vehicle together, that the most important line item expense for companies like Starbucks is not coffee, but it is health insurance. I saw that in my own business as well. My husband and I, every year it was double-digit increases. And every year we, as small business owners, had to cut back on how much we could afford to pay. We started out paying 80 percent of our employees' health insurance. We went down to 70 percent. Now it is 60-40, because we just cannot afford to keep up. We cannot be competitive, particularly in a global economy where you are doing business overseas, your partners overseas don't have that enormous cost of health care that they are paying for their employees. It's a real business decision to decide, Well, gee, can I afford to hire somebody new? Can it maybe be a contractor, and I won't be paying health insurance for him because I can't afford that extra, you know, $16,000-$17,000? So it is a difficult issue for everyone, and the competition is not there. As I mentioned, when you've got employees in one or more States, it is virtually impossible to find more than one company. That's all we could find--one company across the United States which would offer insurance to people in several different States. That is just wrong. We have all talked a little bit about the State attorneys general, and I want to read to you a quote from one of those attorneys general at their meeting when they all voted unanimously, really, for a repeal of this antitrust exemption. One of the assistant attorneys general noted: ``The most egregiously anticompetitive claims, such as naked agreements, fixing prices or reducing coverage, are virtually always found immune from prosecution under the law. They are always found immune.'' We have a very simple choice tomorrow: Do we stand for the insurance industry or do we stand for the American consumer? It is not an issue of what is good for one industry. It is what is good for competition and innovation. What they have is wrong and unfair, and we have a chance to undo that tomorrow.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Longmont, Colorado based Intrado on the occasion of the celebration of their 30-year anniversary. Founded by two Boulder County Sheriffs, George Heinrichs and Stephen Meer, Intrado has played a key role in helping to define, build and maintain the country's complex emergency communications system. Today Intrado provides the core of the Nation's 9-1-1 infrastructure, supporting over 200 million calls to 9-1-1 each year. Intrado is responsible for the ultimate delivery of over 90% of all 9-1-1 calls in the country. Intrado's history of emergency communications excellence is based on a strong foundation. Their extensive involvement in all aspects of the current 9-1-1 network has given them a unique perspective on how the system must evolve to support new technology, new system requirements and citizens' growing expectations. 9-1-1 is fundamental to telecommunications service. To meet this market requirement, Intrado helps telecommunications service providers ensure their subscribers' 9-1-1 calls are delivered to the correct public safety answering point (PSAP) over the dedicated 9-1-1 network along with the caller's accurate location information and call back number. As communications networks converge and 9-1-1 callers become more mobile, Intrado has a proven track record of both anticipating and pioneering the solutions needed to keep pace with subscribers' demands for ubiquitous access to 9-1-1. Intrado's success has come in large part due to its leadership, dedication and perseverance in helping the public safety community. I want to thank them for all they have done to contribute to Colorado's economy and to the advancement of 9-1-1 communications around the country. Once again, congratulations on the anniversary of 30 years providing service to our community.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4238, a bill to designate a facility in Greeley as the W.D. Farr Post Office Building. During his lifetime, W.D. Farr was a pioneer rancher, water expert, and banker who made immense contributions to Greeley, helping make the city what it is today. William Davin Farr was a third-generation Coloradan, born in Greeley in 1910. Farr came from an established farming family. He grew up working with sheep and cattle on the family farm. In 1931, Farr and his father bought 125 cattle and built a feed lot in Greeley, Farr Feeders. By the late 1960s, the Farr feed yard had grown to about 25,000 head of cattle. While working on the farm and at the feed lot, he became involved with several irrigation ditch companies. Through his work in irrigation, he came to understand the importance of water to the continued growth of the Greeley community. Farr then became active with the Colorado Big Thompson Water Project, which brings water from the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains to help irrigate approximately 693,000 acres of northeastern Colorado farmland. Farr later came to serve on the board of directors of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Greeley Water Board for over 40 years. In addition to his many achievements in agriculture and water, Farr was also active in government, both local and national. He served as an adviser to the U.S. Department of Agriculture under three U.S. Presidents: Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. He served on a number of national boards and committees, including the Department of the Interior Water Pollution Control Advisory Board and the Agricultural Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The land on which this post office was built was owned by another Greeley agricultural pioneer, C.O. Plumb. Upon his death, Plumb donated his home and land just south of the W.D. Farr Post Office to the Greeley Museums for use as an agricultural learning center. Both men made significant contributions to the agricultural and social vitality of Weld County. In 2007, W.D. Farr passed away at his home in Greeley at the age of 97. Farr and his family have made innumerable contributions to the Greeley community as well as to Colorado and to the United States. I am proud to stand in support of this bill that would name one of the post offices in Greeley after this pillar of the community.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote for House Resolution 1020, to honor the 95th anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson signing the Rocky Mountain National Park Act. And I thank my colleague for his offer of slides. I represent this beautiful district, and I also welcome anyone to come and visit Colorado and see for yourself this crown jewel of the West. This legislation set aside roughly 360 square miles of the southern Rockies to establish Rocky Mountain National Park. When the National Park Service was established the following year in 1916, the park was one of the original 12 parks transferred to the agency's control. Today the Rocky Mountain National Park remains one of Colorado's most treasured destinations, and is consistently one of the top 10 visited national parks in the United States. Rocky Mountain National Park truly embodies the spirit of the conservation and preservation movement at the turn of the century. The park's ecosystems range from the montane low lands to the alpine tundra and includes a diverse range of flora and fauna. Rocky Mountain National Park also remains one of the largest examples of the alpine tundra ecosystem in the national park system in the lower 48 States and offers invaluable opportunities for visitors to learn and enjoy the great outdoors. On March 30, 2009, 405 square miles of the park were designated as a wilderness area, thereby conferring the highest level of conservation protection for Federal lands. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, ``Of all the questions which can come before this Nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.'' This week we celebrate the foresight of so many Coloradans to conserve this majestic landscape for the present and future generations to come. I urge all Members to support this resolution.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, obtaining and maintaining credit is a serious issue facing most small businesses in this country. The lack of credit has caused a cash-flow crunch on many businesses, impacting their ability to grow, purchase new equipment or hire a worker. Approximately $2.5 billion in commercial loans will come due in the next year, and many banks will not be willing or able to renew them. On May 20, 2009, I introduced the Small Business AID Act, H.R. 2527. The Small Business AID Act will allow small businesses to utilize the SBA's 504 loan program to refinance existing debt. Low interest rates in conjunction with this bill allow small businesses to reduce their debt while raising their cash flow. This bill is temporary in nature, limiting debt restructuring for 2 years. The bill is also deficit- neutral. Over 94 percent of my colleagues have certified development companies in their districts which provide loans to small businesses. These loans amount to an average of $1.6 million investment in small businesses in each of our districts, and the average number of loans per year per district is three. That means almost $5 million invested in businesses, purchases, employees. Senator Landrieu introduced S. 2869 on December 10th, which includes provisions which are similar to The Small Business AID Act. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship conducted hearings and has reported the bill favorably. Our economy needs a shot in the arm. The Small Business AID Act is a simple cost-free fix to infuse more cash into our economy. I urge all members to support H.R. 2527.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor from H.R. 874.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, and women across the country. Every person in this Chamber can name someone they know who has had breast cancer. I am honored to support the resolution by my good friend and colleague, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. Debbie's own courage and tenacity serve as an inspiration for all of us. Recently released guidelines regarding breast cancer screening for women between the ages 40 and 49 have caused confusion and concern. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has an important role in researching health care policies that will lower costs and improve results across the country. However, when early diagnosis and treatment has been proven to greatly reduce the risk of cancer, it's important that these decisions be made by women and their doctors, not a government task force. An early diagnosis of breast cancer can save a woman's life, and it's important that women can afford these screenings. For that reason, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Longmont, Colorado, based Intrado on the occasion of the celebration of their 30-year anniversary. Founded by two Boulder County sheriffs, George Heinrichs and Stephen Meer, Intrado has played a key role in helping to define, build, and maintain the country's complex emergency communications system. Today Intrado provides the core of the Nation's 9-1-1 infrastructure, supporting over 200 million calls to 9-1-1 each year. Intrado's history of emergency communications excellence is based on a strong foundation consisting of unmatched knowledge of emergency communications and public safety operations; proven experience in the design, deployment and operations of highly accurate, high-volume communication systems; solid reputation as a trusted and neutral custodian of sensitive data and; passion for saving lives. Their extensive involvement in all aspects of the current 9-1-1 network has given them a unique perspective on how the system must evolve to support new technology, new system requirements and citizens' growing expectations. Intrado's customers include public safety agencies and the majority of the fixed wireline carriers, wireless carriers and VoIP service providers in the United States. Additionally, the nation's 6,000+ public safety answering points, PSAPs, rely on Intrado services for efficient 9-1-1 voice and data delivery. With the largest dedicated 9-1-1 call delivery network in the nation, Intrado can provide a broad range of customized and scaleable solutions. 9-1-1 is fundamental to telecommunications service. To meet this market requirement, Intrado helps telecommunications service providers ensure their subscribers' 9-1-1 calls are delivered to the correct public safety answering point (PSAP) over the dedicated 9-1-1 network along with the caller's accurate location information and call back number. As communications networks converge and 9-1-1 callers become more mobile Intrado has a proven track record of both anticipating and pioneering the solutions needed to keep pace with subscribers' demands for ubiquitous access to 9-1-1. Intrado's contributions to the evolution of the 9-1-1 infrastructure include numerous technological and operational improvements as well as being responsible for more 9-1-1 technology ``firsts'' than any other commercial entity in the country. Operates the largest dedicated 9-1-1 delivery network, with the highest data integrity level in the country; Responsible for the ultimate delivery of over 90 percent of all 9-1-1 calls in the country; Connected directly or indirectly to more than 6,000 public safety answering points in the country; Supports over 200 million calls to 9-1-1 annually; Maintains over 350 million records under management; average of three records per U.S household; Over 240 million wireline telephone records; Over 120 million wireless records; Over 1 million VoIP subscriber records; Provides 9-1-1 services to more than 28 million members of the deaf community; Processed an estimated 3 billion 9-1-1 calls to date; Processed more satellite calls to 9-1-1 than any other service provider; Processes an average of 500,000 updates to the 9-1-1 system daily; Employees have more than 1,200 years of combined experience in public safety and telecommunications; Holds licenses for over 45 U.S. and foreign patents, with over 100 pending. Intrado's success has come in large part to its leadership, dedication and perseverance helping the public safety community. I want to thank them for all they have done to contribute to Colorado's economy and to the advancement of 9-1-1 and congratulations on this momentous occasion.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. From cities on Colorado's front range to small towns on the eastern plains, firefighters and other emergency personnel are the first to respond to everything from traffic accidents to wildfires. These brave men and women dedicate their lives to helping people and protecting their communities. More than three-quarters of the fire departments in Colorado's Fourth District are mostly or entirely volunteer run. In addition to full-time jobs and families, these men and women devote their time and energy to help the small rural communities in which they live, often at great risk to themselves. In my district, last year, three brave volunteers lost their lives in the line of duty. Captain Shane Stewart, Fire Chief Terry DeVore and Firefighter John Schwartz, Jr., lost their lives while fighting to keep their rural communities safe. Mr. Chairman, it is with the memory of these men who gave everything to defend their neighbors and communities that I am proud to stand here today as a cosponsor of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important reauthorization, because these grant programs help support the operations of all fire departments, urban and rural, career and volunteer, and protect the lives of the men and women who selflessly serve to protect their communities.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. I thank Congresswoman McCarthy for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the McCarthy-Markey amendment to H.R. 3639. I have received an alarming number of complaints from my constituents regarding unreasonable credit card rate increases prior to the enactment of the Credit CARD Act reforms. Two of my constituents from Walsh, Colorado, Fred and Kay Lynn Hefley, recently received a notice from Citibank that their interest rate is jumping to 29.99 percent. The Hefleys have had this credit card since 1971 and have been responsible customers. Sadly, they are not alone. Taylor Grant from Fort Collins is a small business owner. He has been a responsible Citibank cardholder since 2001 and is now facing similar interest rate increases. Penalizing customers for maintaining responsible credit practices is unconscionable. This uncertainty in the credit market makes it especially difficult for families who are facing tough economic times at the start of the holiday season. Our amendment offers credit card companies a choice: obey the spirit of the law and freeze increases to interest rates, fees on any existing or future balances, or changes to account terms to the detriment of a customer. In return, credit card issuers will be given until February 22 to comply with the provision of the Credit CARD Act that requires creditors to apply excess payments to the credit card balance with the highest interest rate. The effective date of the original Credit CARD Act legislation was set for February of 2010 to give credit card companies enough time to comply with these new regulations--not additional time to violate the spirit of the law by hiking interest rates on consumers. While I am disappointed that credit card companies have continued to raise interest rates in advance of the effective date of the Credit CARD Act, I believe this amendment provides an opportunity and an incentive for issuers to demonstrate some goodwill towards American consumers. I urge my colleagues to support the McCarthy/Markey amendment, because it gives credit card issuers the chance to do the right thing, while still providing a benefit to consumers. I would like to thank Congresswoman McCarthy, Chairman Frank and the Financial Services Committee staff for their collaborative efforts on this amendment.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of one very hungry caterpillar and the thousands of children eager to hear his story. This Thursday, October 8, marks Read for the Record Day, a day in which we're striving to break the world record for the largest shared reading day ever. On Thursday, adults and children all around the world will gather to read Eric Carle's classic book, ``The Very Hungry Caterpillar,'' in celebration of reading and service to preschool children. In my own house, it was ``The Polar Express'' that captivated my children's imaginations and hearts at an early age. We would all snuggle up on the couch and enter the world of ringing bells, late- night train rides and the North Pole. Though the days when my three children could fit on my lap have long since passed, the tradition of reading continues. When a child is exposed to books at an early age, it can instill a love of reading and helps to build the foundation for success at school. Jumpstart is a nonprofit dedicated to such success through early childhood education. College students and community volunteers tutor and mentor preschool children, empowering them with the tools necessary to be successful when they reach kindergarten. Since its inception, Jumpstart has worked with over 70,000 preschoolers. Now in its fourth year, Jumpstart's Read for the Record Day highlights the importance of early involvement of adults in the lives of at-risk preschoolers. Most children in low-income communities have few, if any, age-appropriate books in their homes. Without the necessary tools and instructions, one in three schoolchildren arrives at the first day of school unprepared to learn, primarily due to economic instability. Jumpstart's Read for the Record campaign raises awareness about the importance of early literacy by encouraging adults to serve and read with young children. Through the campaign, thousands of books are distributed to young children in low-income communities, and Jumpstart's year-round program is supported. My resolution, House Resolution 741, designates October 8, 2009, as Read for the Record Day and encourages people of all ages to join us in reading for this record this Thursday. I urge support of this resolution.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the critical actions taken by this Congress to create jobs, to cut taxes, and to invest in America's long-term economic growth by passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With the goal of creating and saving jobs, rushing relief to America's businesses and families and pulling our country back from the brink of catastrophe, the Recovery Act was signed into law by President Obama in my home State of Colorado. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I was especially pleased to see that the Colorado Department of Transportation was prepared with shovel-ready projects that would have an immediate and positive impact on the lives of Colorado's businesses and families. Since the passage of the Recovery Act, 576 jobs have been created or sustained through transportation projects alone in Colorado. These jobs have created a payroll of over $700,000. Not only have these projects helped reduce unemployment, but they're improving the safety and efficiency of Colorado's highways. With interchange improvements and with the addition of shoulder and bike lanes, the Recovery Act is making Colorado a more multimodal and sustainable place to live.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 1858 and for private property rights. Imagine for a moment that the Federal Government sent you a notification that you need to repurchase land that you have owned for over 30 years. This is exactly what happened to landowners in the Crystal Lakes subdivision on the border of the Roosevelt National Forest. When the Crystal Lakes subdivision was developed in 1975, an inaccurate land survey resulted in a 7-acre overlap with the U.S. Forest Service land. In 2006, the Crystal Lakes landowners were notified that parts of their property were on Federal land, and they would be required to purchase this land at current market price from the Forest Service. It is simply unacceptable in these tough economic times to penalize the Crystal Lakes landowners for a mistake made through no fault of their own and a mistake the Federal Government has waited for over 30 years to rectify. The current property value is, without question, higher than it was at the time of the sale in the 1970s and 1980s. If forced to repurchase their land, some landowners may be in danger of foreclosure. These property owners have bought their land in good faith and have been paying taxes on that land. While I support the national forest system and the need to preserve land in the West for future generations, for the Federal Government to ask these landowners to repurchase land they have owned for decades stands against reason. Therefore, I urge all my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1858 today to adjust the boundaries of the Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado. With your vote, we can ensure the landowners in Crystal Lakes will be able to remain on their land.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues to continue the dialogue on the American Clean Energy and Security Act over the August recess. I supported this legislation because I believe western states like Colorado stand to gain much from this energy bill. Renewable energy companies like Abound Solar and Vestas Wind Systems are already creating jobs and driving economic development in northern and eastern Colorado. I believe the House-passed bill will help farmers and ranchers reap great benefits in America's renewable energy economy. I worked hard with my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee to ensure the concerns of America's farmers and ranchers were addressed. By developing cleaner energy here at home and using the vast domestic resources we currently have, we can work towards a less volatile energy market that will benefit us all. I encourage all my colleagues in the House and the Senate to continue this important work.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to introduce, on behalf of myself and my colleague Adrian Smith of Nebraska, the House companion bill to S. 639--bill to help farmers and ranchers transport their commodities more easily. Being a member of both the Agriculture and the Transportation Committees, I understand how critical it is that both sectors be able to work together to facilitate the movement of commodities. Representing a largely agricultural district, I know the struggles farmers go through to transport their crops, especially in this time of ever fluctuating gas prices. We need to be doing what we can to relieve farmers of unnecessary transportation rules and regulations when they follow safe and responsible procedures. When a farmer drives goods of over 10,001 pounds across state lines, they becomes subject to the rules and regulations of commercial motor vehicles. Within their own State, the farmer is not violating any laws; however, once they become an ``interstate carrier'' the farmer is then responsible for all of the requirements of an operator of a commercial motor vehicle. These requirements include having a commercial driver's license, Department of Transportation certification on the vehicle, being subject to drug and alcohol testing in addition to having a medical examination certificate, and recording hours of service. For those farmers who are occasionally transporting their goods across state lines and are not driving trucks for a living, these requirements are an unnecessary burden. These costly regulations are taking an unfair toll on farmers and this legislation will correct that. This legislation would exempt farmers from the 10,001 pound definition of a Commercial Motor Vehicle when traveling between States and will reduce undue burdens on farmers.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Congressman Boren's amendment for natural gas vehicle research. Natural gas has an important role to play in United States energy policy because it is more domestically abundant and cleaner-burning than traditional transportation fuel. We cannot afford to continue sending billions of dollars overseas while neglecting the vast energy resources right here in America. It is critical to our long-term economic prosperity that we invest in our own domestic sources of energy. By increasing research and development funding for natural gas vehicles we can ensure American innovation moves us toward greater energy security while decreasing our carbon emissions. I urge all my colleagues to support Congressman Boren's amendment to increase funding for the DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies program for natural gas vehicle research.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today I introduced The Small Business Growth Act along with Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer, Alan Grayson, Ron Paul, Ginny Brown-Waite, Vern Buchanan, Bobby Bright, and Ann Kirkpatrick. I thank them for their support. As we all know small business is the economic backbone of America; small businesses provide nearly 70 million workers employment and 80 percent of all new jobs in America. Small businesses are struggling in these tough economic times. We must do more to help small business which will turn our economy around. Under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code small business can expense machinery, equipment and furniture but not ``real property''-- new structures (buildings), renovations and structural components; this legislation corrects this matter. The Small Business Growth Act is targeted to small businesses which have gross receipts of less than $5 million for the past three years. The legislation makes permanent a tax deduction for capital improvements that small businesses make to their facilities allowing them to take up to $125,000. An immediate tax deduction, rather than depreciation, will help small businesses to put money towards expanding their facility, purchasing a new piece of equipment, or hiring another worker--all of which creates jobs and stimulates our economy. I urge all members to support The Small Business Growth Act.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 510 on the Agriculture appropriations bill, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the transmission siting section of the manager's amendment to the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Yesterday, Congressman Inslee and I offered this amendment to strengthen siting authority within the Western Interconnection, which extends from Colorado to the west coast. My home state of Colorado has enormous renewable energy potential, but our outdated transmission infrastructure is inadequate to bring these resources to where they are needed. According to the Renewable Resource Generation Development Areas Task Force, Colorado has eight potential high concentration wind development areas and two potential high concentration solar development areas capable of generating more than 96 GW and 26 GW of energy, respectively. These estimates show that Colorado is more than able to generate excess renewable electricity for export to other states, and does not take into account smaller scale projects or distributed generation. For western states like Colorado, the renewable energy potential is there, but the areas with the best wind and solar resources are often in remote areas that lack adequate transmission lines to transport the energy to where it is needed. As I travel to the Eastern Plains of Colorado, the landowners often tell me they are more than willing for wind and solar developers to install wind turbines and solar panels on their property, because for them it is an economic development tool. Ranchers can receive compensation by putting wind turbines on their land and their cattle can still graze under the towers. Our current transmission system has evolved from local demands without an integrated national plan. Implementation of interstate transmission lines requires coordinating the regulatory permitting processes in each of the individual states and localities that the line will traverse. Our amendment builds upon the existing regional planning section of the American Clean Energy and Security Act and adds a siting plan for the Western Interconnection. This siting plan gives the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission backstop siting authority to ensure the construction of high-priority interstate transmission lines. Self identified regional planning entities will build a national transmission plan from the bottom up and with higher priority given to meet the demand of deploying renewable electricity generation projects. Our amendment will give ample deference to states and will encourage state and local participation throughout the planning and siting process. In addition to the Inslee/Markey transmission siting amendment, I would like to express my strong support of Chairman Peterson's agriculture amendment. My district in eastern Colorado contains some of the best agricultural land in Colorado. Weld County, in the 4th CD, is the number one ranking county in the state for agricultural products sold and eighth in the nation. I worked hard with my colleagues on the Agriculture committee to ensure that Colorado's farmers and ranchers will be able to benefit from the programs in this legislation. I support authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the agriculture and forestry related offsets programs in Title V of the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The United States Department of Agriculture conservation programs and the Department's extensive knowledge of optimizing agricultural practices leave them well poised to establish measurable and reliable offsets. Furthermore, the multitude of USDA offices near likely offset projects leave the Department in a better position to provide regulatory and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers. Finally, I would like to express my support of amending the definition of renewable biomass in the renewable electricity standard and the renewable fuels standard of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to include infested trees removed from public lands. The Forest Service expects this bark beetle outbreak will kill most of the mature lodgepole pines covering 2.2 million acres in Colorado and southern Wyoming within the next 5 years. Some estimates indicate almost 2 million acres the have already been decimated. While it is not our intention to incentivize unnecessary cutting in our public lands, work is already being done in our public lands to remove trees killed by bark beetles to reduce the threat of wildfires and preserve forest health. We should utilize this available waste. We have an opportunity to be smarter about the way we create and use energy. By utilizing the great renewable electricity potential in the west, we can invest in our future and put Americans back to work.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel once said, ``I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.'' I rise today to do my part to prevent that silence. I rise today to condemn the horrific attack on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and to extend my deepest thanks and sympathy to the family of Officer Stephen Johns and to all those at the Holocaust Museum. These men and women spend their days educating visitors from across the world about the tragic events of the Holocaust. The museum and its staff keep alive the memories of those lost and act as a reminder to our society's conscience of the devastating acts that humans are capable of. The events that occurred at the museum yesterday should only strengthen our resolve to combat anti-Semitism and the prejudices that still pervade our society. We must carry the memory of both the Holocaust and yesterday's events with us as we seek to form a more tolerant world. It is only in creating positive from the abhorrent that we can properly honor the lives of those who were lost.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the vote on S. 454, I would have voted in favor of the bill. As my daughter and son are graduating from college and high school respectively, I am unable to be present for the vote.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my colleagues' amendment. I thank Representative Shuler, Representative Velazquez, and members of the Small Business Committee and their staff for bringing forward this legislation that will promote entrepreneurship at a time when our Nation needs it most. As a former small business owner, I know that starting a new business is an exciting experience. I know also that with the steep learning curve involved in managing and building a business, all too important details are left unattended. It is these details, however, that can determine whether a business will succeed or fail. The educational and networking programs established by this bill will help small business owners attend to these details with the assistance of dedicated professionals. Each community and each business presents a unique set of challenges and rewards. By creating specialized Small Business Development Centers, the modest funds we allocate in this bill will yield strong results through targeted counseling and training. This amendment simply adds training on reducing operating expenses through energy savings to the existing list of educational programs under this bill. Entrepreneurs will greatly benefit from targeted training on energy use, a detail that represents 19 percent of the cost of running a small business. This high recurring cost can be inconsistent, unpredictable, and fluctuate seasonally. High energy costs in periods of reduced revenue can be a frustrating challenge for a small business--but it's also avoidable. Many communities and utilities offer programs to help businesses reduce energy consumption and many also offer tax breaks and incentives to reduce energy use. Some of the incentive programs available include assistance in acquiring efficient office hardware and installing renewable energy projects, but they can also help business owners with simple solutions, such as installing fluorescent light bulbs, turning off unused equipment, and closing doors and windows. However, as common sense as it may seem to turn off a light when not in use, during the intense activity of starting a new business, ordering inventory, and hiring new employees, the lack of attention paid to an open window can quickly morph from a harmless oversight to an expensive habit. Mr. Chairman, I want to remind my colleagues that 19 percent paid for energy is 19 percent that is not being reinvested in the business. That is 19 percent less cushion a business owner has in the event of an economic downturn. Nineteen percent may seem small, but it could be smaller. Energy, of course, is a necessary expense. Compared to good employees and quality projects, however, this expenditure yields marginal returns. There is a reason that our utility companies call us valued customers and don't call us wise investors. Imagine if that 19 percent could be 9 percent. To put it a better way, what if we could offer entrepreneurs an additional 10 percent capital? That 10 percent of additional resources can be invested in aspects of the operation that generate revenue. The accumulated cost savings from moving the thermostat just a few degrees and reinvesting those funds into the business over time can be the difference between new supplies, expanding, or hiring a new employee. This amendment strengthens our investment in small businesses by helping them with low-cost ways to improve their operations and increase their profits. The most exciting aspect of small business is the spirit of entrepreneurship, but finding creative solutions to reduce costs and save energy are possible only when business owners are made aware of the opportunities available to them. This amendment, by simply creating awareness of energy-saving techniques and programs, will help small businesses thrive. Reducing energy consumption is not only smart environmental policy, it is sound economic policy. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment and this important bill. I once again thank Representative Shuler, Chairwoman Velazquez, and members of the Small Business Committee I reserve the balance of my time.