Ed Perlmutter

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, how much time does each side have?

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I appreciate my friend from Texas yielding to me. If people knew what happened in this secret meeting, we might know today why oil is at $4.35 a gallon, why it has gone from under $30 a barrel to almost $150 a barrel. But the Vice President has refused to provide any information to the public or to the Congress about that meeting.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Good morning. My friends on the Republican side of the aisle are complaining about gas prices, but with two oil men in the White House, is it any wonder that the price per barrel has gone from $30 at the beginning of the Bush administration to $150 or thereabouts. The Republicans have taken the tack that we should drill, drill, drill. That's not the answer. We're not going to drill our way out of this problem. I would say it's the three P's: produce from the 68 million acres that we have under lease and are permitted today, punish the people who have been hoarding, gouging, and speculating in oil futures, and the third is promote efficiency and alternative forms of energy. We've learned this lesson too many times. We need to come up with a new way to power this nation. If we do these three P's, produce from what we've got, punish those people who are gouging us, and third, promote energy efficiency and alternative energy, we will change the direction of this nation. And we need to do it right now.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Good morning, Madam Speaker. And you know, I have been listening to the complaints by the Republicans about gas prices, but with two oil men in the White House, is it any wonder that oil per barrel has gone from $30 dollars to almost $150 driving gas prices through the roof? The question is, what are we going to do about it? And I would say it's the three E's. The first ``E'' is explore and extract from the 68 million acres that are under lease today in the United States. That's more oil than anything up in Alaska or in ANWR. So let's explore and extract. The second ``E'' is to eliminate the gouging and the speculating and the hoarding that's going on in the marketplace. And the third ``E,'' the most important ``E,'' is encourage alternatives and efficiency. We cannot be hooked to one commodity forever. We've learned our lesson. It's time to pursue alternatives. So this democratic Congress is doing just that, those three E's: exploring, eliminating, and encouraging alternatives.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, there have been a lot of complaints by the Republican side of the aisle as to the increase in gas prices, but I would have to say: Is it any wonder that gas prices have increased with two oil men in the White House? The question is what is being done. I would say it is the three E's. First, explore the 68 million acres that are under lease to the oil companies today. Let's extract the oil that we have under lease and not go explore ANWR or the Outer Continental Shelf. Two, eliminate the gouging and the hoarding and the speculating that is going on that is increasing the price of oil per barrel by $60 or $70 per barrel. The third E, encourage alternatives. We can no longer be hooked on just one commodity. We have to have other approaches and other ways to power this Nation or we will have to learn this lesson over and over and over again. That is what the Democratic Congress is doing-- exploring what we have, eliminating the gouging and encouraging alternatives.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank Mr. Filner for this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2818, the Veterans' Epilepsy Treatment Act, which establishes a national epilepsy network within the Veterans Affairs health care system. I introduced H.R. 2818 on June 21, 2007, and now, 1 year later, I'm pleased it was reported out of the VA Committee by a voice vote. The measure has the support and sponsorship of 135 Members of Congress. And I want to thank Chairman Filner, Subcommittee Chairman Michaud, Ranking Member Buyer, Mr. Miller from Florida, and their staff for the work they do on behalf of our Nation's veterans and for their work on H.R. 2818. I also want to thank Majority Leader Hoyer for the interest he has taken in this bill, and Rick Palacio from his office. H.R. 2818, the Veterans' Epilepsy Treatment Act, will establish five epilepsy treatment centers called Epilepsy Centers of Excellence which are going to be co-located at the VA polytrauma centers in Palo Alto, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Richmond and Tampa. These centers will care for veterans experiencing seizures, and especially those we predict will develop epilepsy as a result of suffering traumatic brain injury while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, we have a moral obligation to our service men and women who are defending our country overseas to help them when they return home. Our veterans health care system is the best in the world, and H.R. 2818 will make our system even stronger. Today estimates show some 89,000 veterans have epilepsy and 42 percent of that number is service connected. Epilepsy is often defined as two or more seizures, and during Vietnam, a number of men and women returned home with head wounds and head injuries. Of those who came home with these types of injuries, some 53 percent developed epilepsy within 15 years thereafter; 15 percent of those who developed epilepsy did so 5 years or more after their combat injuries. For these service-connected injuries, the relative risk for developing epilepsy is 25 times higher than in the population as a whole. These statistics indicate the number of veterans who will develop epilepsy due to the extended combat in Iraq and Afghanistan is only going to rise. And with the IED injuries that our men and women have suffered, we know that that's going to occur. That is why we need expert clinical and research staff to work together to diagnose, care for, and research the long-term effects of epilepsy. This bill takes those steps by creating a National Epilepsy Program through the establishment of five sophisticated centers for epilepsy care. In addition, each Veterans Integrated Service Network, or VISN, will have an epilepsy referral clinic and the VA's telehealth capacity will be expanded to track the neurological diagnostic tests of our rural veterans. These centers will develop and administer treatments and possibly cures for our veterans, allowing them to live their lives to the fullest. It establishes a National Coordinator For Epilepsy within the VA system, and it will provide educational materials throughout the country to assist people in dealing with epilepsy or those who may come into contact with people with epilepsy. Moreover, the body of knowledge developed through the research conducted by the VA will help our society as a whole. And I will admit to having a child with epilepsy, and, quite frankly, if, in fact, the research that's developed by the VA assists her, I will be very thankful for that on a personal basis. The bill authorizes expenditures of $5 million per year for the years 2009-2013. A small price to diagnose, treat, and research epilepsy for those who have served us so valiantly all around the globe. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2818, the Veterans Epilepsy Treatment Act. I want to thank the Epilepsy Foundation, the Brain Injury Association, the American Academy of Neurology, the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Blinded Veterans, and the Vietnam Vets of America for their support of this bill. Again, I want to thank the VA Committee for supporting this bill and voting it out by a voice vote.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, due to external circumstances, I was unable to promptly return to House Chambers and I missed the following vote on Thursday, June 19, 2008. I would have voted as follows: H.R. 2764, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, rollcall vote 431, Agreeing to Senate Amendment to House Amendment No.1: ``no.'' I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment which provides $165.4 billion in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan because this amendment contained no benchmarks or timelines for redeploying our troops out of Iraq responsibly, safe, and soon.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 431, I missed this vote. Had I been present, on this amendment I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for this opportunity to speak on an excellent bill, and I want to commend my friend from New York for bringing this bill to the House of Representatives and bringing it through our committee. So I rise today to express my strong support for the Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely Redress Act or the FAST Redress Act. At Denver International Airport, the Nation's fourth busiest airport, tens of thousands of passengers go through security each day. For most, the screening process is straightforward and is as efficient a policy as possible. But for some, like the John Thompsons of Colorado, flying is a painful and difficult experience, not because of the items they bring through security or the way they act, but simply because of their name. And they range from 8-year-olds to 80-year-olds. There are thousands of Americans whose names are similar to terrorists listed on the No Fly List. And when travelling, the airlines and TSA do not distinguish these law-abiding Americans from criminals on the list who happen to have the same name. As a result, these citizens may be forced to undergo extensive, time-consuming additional screening and questioning. This happens not just once but every single time the person travels. To avoid it happening on every occasion, they can go through the Department of Homeland Security Travel Redress Inquiry Program to get removed from the list, but that process is slow and ineffective. Furthermore, it doesn't currently address the concern that each airline uses the travel redress program differently. That is why I am a cosponsor of this important legislation. Our Nation's passengers affected by mistaken identity deserve an office within the Department of Homeland Security to help resolve these identity problems once and for all. Our Nation's passengers deserve a comprehensive cleared list to match the No Fly List which is provided to airport security and the airlines to be used in a uniform manner. Our Nation's passengers deserve a Federal plan to verify their identity and make sure they are safe to fly. This bill achieves these goals and makes our flying public safer while keeping commerce going. I want to thank Congresswoman Clarke and Committee Chairman Thompson, as well as Ranking Member Mr. Lungren and Chairwoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and the other members of the committee for their hard work on this important matter. I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I listen to my friends on the other side of the aisle and they ask, what's the Democrats' plan for energy? Well, with two oilmen in the White House, it's obvious what the Republicans' plan has been, and it has been a constant increase in the price of gas since the day George Bush and Dick Cheney took office. There are 68 million acres under lease for oil production not being used, being hoarded, being kept out of the market. It's a red herring to say we need to drill more. It's available. What we really need to do is get off the addiction to oil. We have learned this lesson before. We don't need to keep learning it. We need to have research and development in new ways to power this Nation. At the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado, with just tweaking the battery of a Prius, the lab reached 100 miles to the gallon. We can no longer be dependent on the Middle East for oil production. We have to change this Nation and its energy plans. To do so is good for national security, good for the climate and good for jobs. We have to change the direction of this Nation.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Not overseas, but they're here in America.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Good night.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Well, I'd like to go back to the gas prices. You know, I think that the gas prices show the lack of an energy plan by the prior Republican Congress, by this White House, except to the degree that it has caused an increase in oil prices. You know, we're in Iraq in a substantial way; and a lot of it, in my opinion, has to do with oil. Now, the average price per gallon of fuel paid by U.S. military units in Iraq is at least $3.23. The price per gallon of gasoline for Iraqi residents is $1.36. Why the difference there? Oil revenues for the Iraqi Government is expected to be $70 billion, which should be paid back to this country when we are running a deficit. We're spending $2.5 to $3 billion a week to be in Iraq. And that obviously has had an effect on our economy over the course of these 5 years that we've been in Iraq. We've got to change the direction of this Nation, Mr. Ellison. We're trying to do that every day. We need to change the direction when it comes to energy. We've got to change the direction when it comes to Iraq. We've been changing the direction when it comes to our veterans and living up to our contracts and responsibilities in terms of their benefits. We're making a difference. We have a long way to go to really change the direction of this Nation. This country is in need of big change in a lot of ways. And I'm glad that I've been elected to the Congress by the people of the suburbs of Denver to try and institute some of that change. And so with that, I would yield back to you, sir.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Well, we've taken steps to stem foreclosures by using the FHA guarantee as a way to slow things. And the way it works is that a bank that has a loan to somebody can write the loan down to whatever the market value is. Then the FHA will guarantee 90 percent of this lower amount for the borrower so long as the borrower can pay that 90 percent back. Now they have to go through a credit check, and they've got to be able to pay the lower amount. So the Federal Government is coming in to stop a foreclosure which, if it takes place, could result in a vacant home that then ends up decaying, and it starts the decay in a neighborhood. So it assists the neighborhood. It allows the bank to become liquid. And it gives the borrower a chance to make the payments at this lower amount. Now, if the borrower were to sell in, I believe, within 5 years, the Federal Government would receive a portion of anything above the written down purchase price. But the bottom line is, in a very prudent and fiscally responsible manner, FHA is being used to guarantee lower loans, reduced loans so that we can limit the numbers of foreclosures in our neighborhoods and maintain the strength of our neighborhoods.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. And I feel that we've made great strides in living up to our end of the bargain. Now, it has to have execution, but I know in Colorado, for instance, in terms of veterans' claims, there was this tremendous backlog. Because of what we did last year, we've added 65 people to the benefits section so that claims can be processed in a reasonable and timely fashion so that the benefits are received by our service men and women in a reasonable and timely fashion. So there has been actual progress on the ground.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Ellison, while we're on the subject of our service men and women, I think one of the things where there really was a change in the direction of this Nation in the past year was the fact that the Democratic House and the Democratic Senate, the Congress, sent to the President and he signed--and I want to applaud him for doing that--the greatest increase in veterans' benefits in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration. And again, when we send men and women into harm's way, when we ask them to protect us, serve us, we have a moral contract, a moral responsibility to provide them with as normal a life as possible and to provide the benefits that are promised when they go in.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I'm sorry to say that he's considering that, and what I find so hard to believe is that the best investment this country ever made was in the GI Bill after World War II. And now we have had our men and women in Afghanistan and in Iraq for more than 5 years, which is longer than we were in World War II, and to provide them with education and educational opportunities simply will be a fantastic investment for this country. The wealth that was created, the happiness that was created because people could live full lives and educated lives after World War II, those are the kinds of things that we want for America. And my Dad, when we're talking about this, and you can see him well up with pride about the GI Bill and how so many men came back from World War II and then were successful after seeing the horrors of war, but came back and were able to provide for their families in ways that nobody anticipated. He describes that as the greatest investment this country has ever made, and he kids around by then saying, ``And a distant second was the Louisiana Purchase.'' So this GI Bill that we're proposing now for the 21st century will be a fantastic investment for our men and women who have served us. I believe we owe them a responsibility to provide for education, and we just need to go forward with this. And the White House has objected to this. Senator McCain has objected to this, as I understand it. And it just doesn't make sense.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. If you would yield, I think one of the places where, again, going back to your education and a vision for this country that looks beyond just tomorrow but to next year and 10 years down is the GI Bill that we would like to see passed that the President has threatened to veto.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Your question answers itself. Of course not. When somebody comes in to change the windows in my house, they're doing it at my house in Golden, Colorado. These are good construction jobs. They're design jobs. There are some manufacturing jobs attached to it. The new direction for energy also is a place where there are thousands of jobs which will help us stem this unemployment, but for those people who can't find those jobs right now, we need to have a safety net for them.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Well, and in a broader context, I want to go back to our prior conversation on the green jobs, the green collar jobs. One of the things that we see in Colorado, and I think this can be nationwide, is that there are thousands and thousands and thousands upon thousands of jobs in the green industry, in the energy industry with renewables and with energy efficiency in housing. There are thousands of jobs, and they are jobs here in America.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. In Colorado, we've had kind of a slow economy for several years now. We've faced a lot of foreclosures in the Denver metro area and throughout the State. We keep feeling like we're going to come out of this slump and then kind of get bumped back in. I believe in Colorado we're going to come out of the slump before much of the Nation just because we went into it before much of the Nation. But even so, with the oil prices the way they are, with the way the economy has been managed by this administration, the people in Colorado need a safety net which is what unemployment insurance is. These are hardworking people who, for one reason or another, may have lost a job. They're looking for work. They want work. They want to get back in employment, and they need to do that. People in Colorado are workers. They like to be employed. They like to earn an income. They like to provide for themselves, and given the slow economy that we've had in Colorado, which I think and I hope is ready to turn, people do need that extra safety net.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. And I'm going to not add to that because that is a very good analogy.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. You have to diversify, yes.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I think it minimizes it. I think there are plenty of opportunities to drill. You know, having said we're going to change direction, we're not going to go cold turkey from oil and gas. It will play a role in our energy spectrum for a long time to come. But we certainly can reduce our demand. There are certainly places to drill now that aren't being drilled by the big oil companies, and there are other ways that we can wean ourselves from the dependence on foreign oil. We just have to do that. We can't ignore this any longer, and this particular White House and the Republican Congress before us would just want to drill and drill and stay hooked on one commodity. It is never smart in business to only have one supplier.