Adam Putnam

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I certainly tip my hat to the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Rules. The gentleman has served on that committee for 26 years, and I certainly wish him and his family all the best. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to bring the debate on this rule over this critically important continuation of the Federal Government to a close. I want to thank our great Floridan, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), for what he and his staff, his great committee, have done in meeting the needs and prioritizing the needs of this Nation. As a Nation and as a State, we are indebted to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) for the leadership and service he has provided. As a Congress, we are indebted to him for the patience and honor and dignity and demeanor that he has brought to these ever-so-difficult times. No one can understand the burdens that are placed on the chairman, and he has always handled them so well. As we debate the issues contained within this omnibus and what it means for this Nation going into the Thanksgiving week, it is important that we keep in mind as we celebrate that uniquely American holiday that the safety and comfort that is provided for us by the men and women who are funded by this bill and the infrastructure that takes us to be with family and friends is provided by investments made in this bill. And as we give thanks to the Almighty for our family and our friends and for the blessings, it is important to take the opportunity to give thanks for the blessings of just being an American and the liberty and freedom that that means and the people who provide it for us who are in uniform, who are in law enforcement and who benefit greatly by the priorities in this bill. Amendment Offered by Mr. Putnam

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my grave concern about the proposed new taxes on cigar manufacturers included in the FSC/ETI conference report. This new tax, which was not included in either the House or Senate version of the FSC/ETI legislation, amounts to $282 million. Companies in the State of Florida will pay more than 75 percent of this tax increase. I do not know how this new tax provision appeared in the conference report, but it is bad policy. This is supposed to be a jobs bill for all Americans, but I am afraid that this new tax will cost jobs in my state. For the historic Florida cigar industry, this provision is nothing more than a tax increase and job killer. Since cigar manufacturers generally do not use the types of tobacco being ``bought out,'' it is improper to impose a new tax on them under this bill. We should not increase taxes on industries unless the new tax has something to do with the purpose of the new program. The cigar industry should not subsidize the cigarette and smokeless tobacco industry. I hope that this issue will be revisited in the near future and a correction can be made to reverse this ill-conceived tax increase.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, for the past two years I have been privileged to serve as Chairman of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census. Upon my appointment to the House Rules Committee, I was required to relinquish my chairmanship, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Full Committee Chairman Tom Davis and the staff for their tremendous efforts. In the 108th Congress, the Subcommittee held 39 hearings--substantive hearings--on issues ranging from the threats of cyber terrorism, to the President's Management Agenda, to Geospatial issues and to planning for the 2010 Census. During this time, I believe that we have put America on alert--in government, the private sector and home computer use--to the threats posed by cyber criminals and how best to protect our resources. Much of the success that we enjoyed on the subcommittee is due to the hard work and expertise of the staff, which took a citrus farmer from Central Florida and brought him up to speed on the intricacies of new technologies and their importance to all Americans. My able Staff Director, Bob Dix, led a truly outstanding team of individuals who worked tirelessly to conduct thorough oversight of the areas of jurisdiction of my subcommittee. They deserve much of the credit for the positive impact that we have made. Lastly, I would like to thank Chairman Tom Davis for the trust he placed in me. As my predecessor on the Technology Subcommittee, he left great shoes to fill. I appreciate his guidance and friendship, and I pledge to continue working on these issues of importance in the years to come.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. I want to just rise and join any colleagues from Florida and the rest of the Congress in expressing my profound appreciation for the assistance that is on its way to a number of States but particularly Florida. Words are inadequate to describe the deep sense of loss that people have at looking at the devastation when they have a foot of sand in their home or an entire roof missing. But words are also inadequate to describe the profound sense of relief that comes when FEMA and State and local officials are there in a proactive way to provide tarps, to provide water, to provide batteries, to provide hot food; and it is a community effort. But at the end of the day that community effort is made possible to a great degree in terms of resources by this Federal Government. So the bipartisan effort on the part of dozens and dozens of Members to help those drought-stricken in the Midwest and far West and those Floridians and Alabamans and Georgians and Carolinians who will pass on for generations the stories about Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne, our heart goes out to them, and we just express that deep sense of appreciation to the hardworking men and women of the government who have been there making that relief happen and the appreciation to our fellow man, to our neighbors, to the American spirit that made the water and ice lines possible, that brought in truckloads of relief from churches and faith groups from all over the country to help their fellow man whom they had never met before. And it is just part of that great community spirit and that sense of what is the strength of America, Mr. Speaker. But at the end of the day, working out the details is always difficult in a government this large, and we want to certainly tip our hat to the efforts that the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) has put into this. It is a debt of gratitude that we owe that we can never repay and all Floridians and all Americans are certainly grateful for the service he has performed for this Nation.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman will have the opportunity to vote for $600 million in agricultural assistance, and the gentleman will have an opportunity to vote for drought relief. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), a tireless advocate for disaster relief and for drought relief.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have enjoyed certainly a very close working relationship with both of these gentlemen from Florida as we have tried to do everything we can to bring in the appropriate amount of relief for a State that is hurting. There have been heroic efforts in the State of Florida bringing the I-10 bridge back on line in a matter of days and bringing, internally, administrative relief to agriculture and those issues affected early on. I would just say, Mr. Speaker, that it is important that we keep in mind that this is a process. As we reach the end of this congressional session, there has been a rush to pull together the adequate, the accurate and adequate damage numbers, and that is difficult to do. It is difficult to pull together the data on transportation needs. It is particularly difficult to pull together the data on agricultural needs when they are still mounting. I would say that, 6 months from now, we will still be dealing with damages that are presenting themselves that came about as a result of the hurricanes. So for the other side to say that they would reject all of the relief for lack of marginally additional relief seems a little bit foolhardy, adding to the fact that we are to be accused of ignoring the Midwestern States when we have a proposal to do just that, to expand the relief beyond those hurricane stricken States and take care of those who have been dealing with drought. I think we are delivering, in a number of ways, and frankly, from all of our working relationships with the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, there is a high level of confidence that those issues will be taken care of in conference and through his additional legislation that he is filing. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am disappointed that the gentleman will be voting against the rule. I know his passion for America's farmers, and I know that farmers all across this land have been affected. Perhaps it is the Floridian in me, but I would argue that this rule goes a long way towards those affected by some very substantial and unforeseen events, and the improvements that have been made would go a long way towards extending that beyond those areas affected by hurricanes. After neglecting those areas who have been dealing with a drought now for years, I know that the reservoirs are going dry. I know that people are frustrated and they are concerned about what their livelihood will hold because of this drought issue, and frankly, that is why I think these improvements were put in there. I think it is a fiscally responsible approach to helping as many of America's farmers who have been stricken by these disasters as possible, and certainly, the dairy industry is one that has been impacted. It has been impacted in Florida when the power was lost for days at a time, and of course, America's modern agricultural system, if we cannot get power to these milking parlors, the cows go dry. That is a legitimate problem, and we worked on a bipartisan basis as a delegation and, frankly, as a group of people who are concerned about the future of American agriculture to find ways to solve this disaster assistance problem. Just as, 18 months ago, we were able to reach down into section 32 funds, which are traditionally designated for fruit and vegetables and marketing and nutrition programs, in providing drought assistance to the Midwest, we are similarly using an account to reach down into and provide assistance for farmers from Florida and Georgia and the Carolinas who are desperately in need. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the distinguished Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, my former chairman and someone who is passionate about all of America's farmers and ranchers.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate the work the gentleman has done in agriculture, and I appreciate the gentleman's record in matters affecting the budget, which is why I draw to his attention the fact that we have improved upon this rule and will be providing for additional assistance beyond the Southeast, beyond the Carolinas, beyond Florida, to assist those affected farmers and ranchers and fully offset it, which is an important piece of fiscal responsibility. What is so sacred, what is so sacrosanct about a farm bill that my colleague would hold it up so high that he would not use it to help farmers? Farmers in Florida, farmers in Georgia, farmers in the Carolinas, perhaps farmers who do not have access to the billions of dollars that are allocated in the farm bill on an annual basis; but farmers who have suffered from four separate hurricanes, many farmers who had the eye of three storms come over their field, pass over their ranch, we would say to them, we do not want to open the farm bill to help you because that is for other farmers? The farm bill, as it is today, has a reserve because it has worked. I was on the committee. I voted for it. I supported it. It is a good package, but why would we let that package stand in the way of assistance to farmers? Is that not what the farm bill is for? Is that not why we put all the effort and time and labor into it, to help people in need, to help farmers who are suffering? Ranchers who have had their fences devastated, their barns blown to the ground? Row crop farmers who have seen all of their plastic torn up? Citrus growers who have seen a sea of brown from Charley and yellow from Frances and green from Jeanne, where Mother Nature has color-coded the devastation that is their crop, that is on the ground rotting? We would say to them, we will not open it up? Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I certainly understand the passion of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), and I will remind him that in addition to the $11 billion that is in this package, the President delivered $500 million in assistance to citrus, nursery, and fruit vegetable growers just 2 weeks ago in the aftermath of the first two storms. And as we gather data from these storms and whatever else the Atlantic sea may have in store for us, there will be additional assistance forthcoming. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 819 is a modified, closed rule that provides for consideration of H.R. 5212, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, for additional disaster assistance relating to storm damage and for other purposes. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill and provides for 1 hour of debate in the House, equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule provides for consideration of the Hensarling amendment which shall be separately debatable for 20 minutes, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, this is my inaugural rule, and I want to begin by thanking the Speaker for the honor of serving on this distinguished committee, and what an important rule to begin with, as it impacts the Sunshine State that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and I are so honored to represent. Mr. Speaker, on four occasions in a span of 6 weeks, portions of my home State of Florida have been designated disaster areas. Additionally, areas in nine other States have been declared disaster areas due to hurricane-related damage. Between August 13 and September 26, five hurricanes wreaked havoc upon the eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States. For the first time since 1886, a single State has been hit by four hurricanes in one season. The widespread devastation caused by these natural disasters is breathtaking. Damage was sustained along the entire eastern seaboard from ravaging winds in the Florida Keys and the Florida panhandle to tornadoes and mudslides in the Carolinas and severe flooding up the east coast. The emergency supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 5212, provides substantial resources for recovery. This rule brings to the Floor legislation to help families and farmers and businesses rebuild in the aftermath of nature's destruction. The long-range economic effects of these storms will be severe. All facets of the economy were affected due to power outages, crop losses, and wind and water damage. It is difficult to comprehend the impact of these successive storms on Florida's economy. Florida's largest economic engine is tourism. The land of pristine beaches and world- class attractions has seen significant hardship for the tourism industry, while entire communities along the panhandle have been washed away. Businesses, large and small, are suffering from the aftermath of these storms. Many remained closed for weeks at a time while they went without utilities, losing important revenue. Mom-and-pop shops have fewer beach-goers to serve. Families and businesses now face multiple insurance deductibles following the damage of multiple storms that hit the same areas. Florida's agriculture industry sustained the loss of up to 40 percent or more of its citrus crop for this season, along with the loss of trees that provide future harvests. In addition to citrus, the vegetable, sugar, cattle, timber, dairy, nursery, and other industries suffered severe losses. Our infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, was utterly destroyed in some areas. Bridges, interstate bridges were washed away, cutting off evacuation routes and isolating communities. Hospitals were forced to close due to damage. Schools were shut down to serve as shelters. In my county alone, 13 days of school have been missed. The school year has essentially begun anew on four separate occasions. Military bases have been closed following extensive damage to hangars, equipment and training areas. Traffic lights lay in the middle of intersections. Daily life came to consist of searching for ice and batteries and helping neighbors wield a chain saw to remove a tree on top of your home, business or vehicle. President Bush has recommended a total of $11 billion in assistance to the States that have been affected by these storms. The bill provides for $6.5 billion for disaster recovery efforts for FEMA, which is in addition to the $2 billion that was appropriated for FEMA earlier this month. FEMA uses these resources for a variety of disaster relief activities, including direct assistance to impacted individuals and families, debris removal, utility and infrastructure repairs, emergency food and shelter, and mitigation. Mr. Speaker $1.1 billion for the Department of Defense; $929 million for disaster relief activities of the Small Business Administration; $800 million for the Federal Highway Administration's emergency relief program for repairs to roads and highways; $600 million in agricultural assistance to provide needed help to producers suffering crop loss from these hurricanes; $245 million for the Army Corps of Engineers; $150 million for community development grants; $50 million for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to help provide nutritional, medical and social services to affected elderly individuals; $126 million for NASA; $121 million to repair damage to VA facilities that support our ever-so-important servicemen and women and the veterans; $70 million to support the American Red Cross in their mission to shelter, feed and otherwise support the victims of these storms. In addition to this enacted and requested emergency funding, Federal agencies will continue to use existing resources and programs for response and recovery efforts from all recent hurricanes and storms. I am proud that our President has followed through with an assistance package that amounts to more than $12.2 billion in restoration efforts for damages occurring as a result of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, storms that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and I have come to know by their first name in an all-too-intimate way. I am deeply grateful to our governor Jeb Bush for his tireless efforts throughout this period, and I want to applaud the extraordinary efforts of our chairman, a fellow Floridian of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Largo (Mr. Young), and all of his team. Their hard work guarantees that Floridians can recover from the devastation left by these storms. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I just want to take a moment to praise the combined efforts of FEMA, local first responders, local cities and counties, recovery operations, managers, utility companies, the men and women and everyday heroes who climb to the top of telephone poles to restore power while the wind is still out there and the water is still coming in; people from around the country who rush in with mobile semis that can feed 10,000 people at a time, giving hope to an entire community. Storms like this tend to bring out the best in people, Mr. Speaker, and it is an impressive thing to see the American spirit alive and well. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. PUTNAM asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 819 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, as one can tell, I drew a hot one from my inaugural first rule. But I cannot think of a better group of colleagues to work on this with than the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings); the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd); and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), certainly our senior delegation member. This Emergency Supplemental Appropriation is so vitally important to rebuilding the infrastructure, the economies, and the communities of the hurricane-damaged areas throughout the Southeast, and now, with the amendment, those communities of the Midwest and far West who have suffered so greatly under the drought. I urge my colleagues to support this rule. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Florida is as follows: Previous Question for H. Res. 819--Rule on H.R. 5212 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act for FY05 Strike all after the resolved clause and insert: Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 5212) making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, for additional disaster assistance relating to storm damage, and for other purposes. The bill shall be considered as read for amendment. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate on the bill equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations; (2) the amendment printed in Section 2 of the resolution, if offered by Representative Stenholm of Texas or his designee, which shall be in order without intervention of any point of order or demand for division of the question, shall be considered as read, and shall be separately debatable for 30 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent; and (3) one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Sec. 2.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Brooksville, Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the amendment in the nature of a substitute and on the resolution.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, it must be an election year, because the fear mongering is in full swing. President George W. Bush has repeatedly said he doesn't intend to revive the draft, because he believes that the military is more effective and less expensive as an all-volunteer force than it would be under a draft. Yet that hasn't stopped his critics, who are waging a behind-the-scenes campaign to frighten the American people. The truth is this: President Bush has no ``secret plan'' to reinstitute the draft, and the only measure that would do so is the one we are considering today--offered by members of Senator Kerry's party and cosponsored solely by the minority party. I concur with the Pentagon's assessment that the all-volunteer force has provided a military ``that is experienced, smart, disciplined and representative of America.'' Volunteer soldiers are more family- oriented, career-oriented and stay longer. Lastly, there is no need for a draft at this time. Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to this bill, and its overwhelming rejection today by the Members of the House will put to rest the spin that is being offered by those merely interested in frightening voters during an election year. I urge my colleagues to join me in denouncing these tactics and voting against this bill.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3478) to amend title 44, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of operations by the National Archives and Records Administration, as amended.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate the support of the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and the hard work that the ranking member of this subcommittee, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), has put into this legislation; and I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.