Ed Perlmutter

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Very first thing as you said that we did was an ethics reform to the rules. So we took a huge step the first day we were in this Congress. Tomorrow, we are going to add to that from a bill that came over from the Senate as to certain other parts of lobbying reform. So we are continuing to make strides so that this place is open and transparent and people really know that we're working for the betterment of the entire country, you know, not a select few, and that's really the change that's going on here. That's why people wanted to see a new direction in this Congress. They wanted to see a new direction in Iraq. They wanted to see a new direction in how we did business within this chamber, and they're getting those very things. I'm proud to be part of the impetus, the catalyst to make those kinds of changes, to make the big change when it comes to energy. We can't wait any longer to change the way we deal with energy in this country, whether it's because we're just continuing to put more and more exhaust into our climate or we want to wean ourselves from foreign oil or we want jobs. I mean as Mr. Braley was saying, we need turbines, we need solar panels. There's construction jobs by the thousands and thousands as we move to a new type of energy for this country, and we're making that change. This Democratic Congress is making the change that was so desired by the people of this country. They wanted a new direction, and that's what we're giving to them. And I do want to tell you that your great-grandfather was George Washington Braley. My grandfather was George Washington Bristow anyway, for just pure information.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. One of the things that I think is also important is we have taken steps to be fiscally responsible. We dealt with a budget early on in February. We are dealing with a budget right now. We are dealing with the supplemental emergency request. We are able, in those budgets, to put our fingerprints and our values, our budgets reflect our values, and one of the things, that we had a number of bills that came through here today, some things that are going to happen tomorrow, is back in February, we increased benefits to veterans like hasn't been done in the 77 years of the Veterans Administration, because we recognized the service and the sacrifice that these men and women made for our country. We have increased their benefits; instead of scrimping along and they get the last little bits, we are increasing those benefits. We are working on the military hospitals, the hospitals. We changed the fingerprint. That's a value that we hold. We added money for renewable energy research. That's another value that we hold. We are increasing money for children's health insurance, another value that we hold dear. We have done this within these budgets where Republicans in the prior Congress couldn't even pass a budget. We are showing the values of improving the lives of the people in the middle, not the wealthiest 1 percent, but the hard-working people in the middle and the veterans who so valiantly served our country over the many years. I am just proud to be part of a Congress, part of a class with all of you where we really are changing the direction of this Nation. This is a big ship that we are steering here. It doesn't change very easily, but in the last 3 or 4 months, we made some major changes.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. It's a long time, and it means that we've given young men and women to this fight in Iraq, we've given our treasure to Iraq, and we did it without the sacrifice that ordinarily comes when you fight a war and that is through taxes. So we ran this gigantic deficit. Now, the Republican Congress last year didn't even pass a budget, and this year the Congress sent a budget to the President that balances the budget within 5 years, as opposed to continuing to run deficit and deficit and grow the debt and grow the debt. We will balance this budget within 5 years. Quite a feat. There's some places where we've got to tighten the belt, but as you said, we rolled up our sleeve, made some tough decisions and took on a budget that was absolutely out of control under the prior Congress, and we're doing something to benefit the American public and not saddle them with debt.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. If I could jump in here, I mean what was happening under the prior Congress and under this President, President Bush, is a classic borrow and spend, borrow and spend. There was no limitation on what you would buy or what you'd spend, but you'd cut taxes and you'd prosecute a war that's cost us, by the end of 2008, $750 billion. The budget of Colorado is about $15 billion for a year. We'll have spent $750 billion in Iraq by the end of 2008. Right now we're at about $550 billion.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Thank you, Mr. Klein. Every other Saturday I have a ``government at the grocery.'' I visit different grocery stores throughout my district. This past week I was at a grocery store in Edgewater, Colorado, and the number one topic was the price of gas. Usually it has been Iraq, and we certainly are going to talk about Iraq tonight, but the number one conversation was about the price of gas. And people were saying, look, we understand that on a per-barrel basis, it's down, the cost is down, the price is down. Why is the cost at the pump up? And, you know, we have excuses. The excuses this time, Mr. Klein, have been, well, we just needed to clean the refineries. They clean the refineries right at the beginning of the summer travel season because by restricting the supply, you drive up the price, and we can't have that anymore. We can't have our people being gouged in this country by manipulation of the market in that fashion. What we are seeing is too few companies controlling too critical an item, a commodity, like gasoline, and that is what that price gouging bill was all about today. So I can assure you in Colorado, it is a major topic of conversation, and people want to see a change, and we are bringing that change to them by the bill we passed today and the direction we are taking this Congress. With that, Mr. Kline, I would like to turn it over to my friend from Vermont, who always has something to say on any topic, but particularly I know he has something to say today on this gasoline price gouging.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. If the gentleman would yield, I think we have to get back to basics here. We have to have a diversified energy portfolio. One of the things that you were talking about and Mr. Braley was talking about was renewable energy. The American people are way ahead of Congress, and it is our job to change the direction of the Federal Government on this subject because it is good for national security, and it is good for the climate, and it is good for jobs. Quite frankly, if we have a diversified portfolio where we have biofuels, and where we use solar and wind where appropriate, and have hybrid types of cars, we will not be so beholden to a particular company or companies in the gasoline business. Also we are going to stop funding both sides of the war on terror. We need to talk about the war in Iraq. We will be voting tomorrow on supplemental funding to the President that will keep him on a short leash through September to see exactly where we are going with this war. We have asked for a timeline. The President has rejected. He vetoed it. We have set benchmarks. He doesn't like those; but apparently, based on conversations we have seen in the paper, he may accept benchmarks. We need to see what is happening. We had a briefing today from General Pace and from Secretary Gates and Ambassador Negroponte. The best they could say about what was going on in Iraq, mixed results. With the surge in one part of Baghdad, there was some reduction in casualties in Baghdad, but an explosion of casualties in the suburbs. You push in one place, and it pops out another place. They call it the balloon effect or toothpaste effect, the squeeze effect. We have to make some changes here, and that is what this Congress is about. We will be keeping this President on a short leash. We will be imposing some benchmarks to see if there really is any progress in Iraq. I know we all want to see progress and stability, but that is not what we are seeing on the television or reading in the newspaper. And the American public knows that. They are not being fooled any longer. We are going to change the direction of this war. We cannot continue by paying this kind of money at the gas pump funding both sides of the war on terror. One of the things I am going to talk about tomorrow is the fact that by being in Iraq, we have stretched our military forces to the breaking point, both Active military and our National Guard. The National Guard, 88 percent of the equipment of the National Guard has been deployed to Iraq and hasn't come back. We are coming into a hurricane season. We have forest fires that are plaguing the West and Florida. Is our National Guard prepared to deal with that? Their mission, they have three missions. The first mission is homeland defense, protecting our country against attacks that might happen here, whether it is a 9/11 or some other type of attack. The second is civilian support, helping in the event of another Hurricane Katrina. The third is to be deployed overseas. Now, we know that our National Guard, I don't know if, in fact, in either of your States, but the Colorado Air National Guard is going to be deployed for the third time within the last 3 or 4 years to Iraq, which is stretching their ability to deal with things in Colorado or to assist other State National Guards in the event of a natural or man- made disaster. We as a Congress have an obligation to look after this country and not to continue to pursue things where we are refereeing a sectarian civil war. Things have to change. I heard our friends on the other side of the aisle in the hour that proceeded us saying we have an obligation to protect and defend the Constitution, and they are absolutely right. And we have an obligation to protect and defend this country. We cannot continue the way we are going in Iraq. So the President wants to stay in Iraq. He vetoed a timeline that establishes a thoughtful redeployment of our troops. But at this point we will let him have, I believe tomorrow's vote will allow him, mostly with Republican votes, to have funding through the end of September. At that point we will see where this surge is going, whether it is better than mixed results. If that is the best you can say about the surge, it is mixed results, that is not very good, and it is time for a change, and we intend to bring a change to this country. We all know that one of the issues in Iraq is oil. We can't forget about that. We need to decrease our dependence on foreign oil so that we don't have to be in a place like Iraq unless it is there for real humanitarian reasons and not there for oil or other purposes.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, President Bush says he supports our troops, but his actions last week refute those claims, and his actions speak louder than his words. Last Thursday, this House voted overwhelmingly, by 397-27, to support a defense authorization bill that gives our troops a much-deserved 3.5 percent raise, a lot less than the contractors from Halliburton are getting, contractors that the President has farmed out much of the war in Iraq to, but still a 3.5 percent raise. Incredibly, the President has threatened to veto the bill. Two of the reasons he gave for his opposition are the pay raise and benefits to survivors. By threatening to veto this bill, how exactly is our President supporting our troops? Well, he is not. Over the last 5 years, the President has asked much of our military. Extended deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan have strained our Active military and National Guard and their families. This Congress overwhelmingly said we should reward our troops. If the President really wants to support our troops, he will sign the bill.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and I thank my colleagues from Colorado, Mr. Salazar and Mr. Lamborn, for bringing this legislation to the floor. As we approach Memorial Day, let us remember those who have fallen fighting for our country. And this is one way to recognize our service men's and women's sacrifices, by establishing a new VA cemetery in El Paso County. Although I don't represent that area, it is south of where I live, this is an area of our State that needs a cemetery of this kind. Memorial Day is usually marked by parades, speeches, and the decoration of graves; but for the people of Southern Colorado, this means traveling up to Fort Logan which is in the Denver area. With the passage of this bill, the 150,000 veterans residing in Southern Colorado will have their own VA cemetery to honor and decorate. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word, and I yield to Mr. Frank from Massachusetts.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Reclaiming my time. Government-sponsored entity, government entity. In this instance, this is minute compared to the assets of this government-sponsored entity, and this is a classic tail wagging the dog. I would urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I would like to say something to the gentlelady from Illinois. The Affordable Housing Fund has specific and definite parameters as to how it is derived and how it is built. So I am not sure what she is saying is there is no certainty attached to it. And the other thing is this is a classic tail wagging the dog argument. My friends on the other side, here we have, as Mr. Bachus aptly pointed out, an entity. And it is a government entity, these GSEs with trillions of dollars of assets. And what we are talking about here is $500 million of affordable housing passing from one government entity to potentially another. It is less than one one-thousandth of the overall asset base of the particular GSEs, and less than 10 or 13 percent of the several billion dollars misstatement in accounting, which is what we are really trying to get to in this bill. These entities could not account for their funds properly. They need more oversight. And I find my friends on the other side disregarding the purpose of this bill, which is the oversight to rail against the affordable housing for people in low and very low income situations from profits that are generated by a government entity. They are saying that is wrong, that is socialism.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, the bottom line here and the reason that I believe my friend from Illinois' amendment is irrelevant and it isn't germane is we are dealing with a government- sponsored entity that deals with affordable housing, and the purpose here is to provide affordable housing from a piece of the profits of the GSE that we are regulating tonight and we are trying to deal with. Over 5 years, this goes to $3 billion, which is less than half of the misstatement in earnings from one year from one of the entities. This amendment needs to be defeated. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. I would like to yield to the chairman of the committee, Mr. Frank.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Center for Work Education and Employment on the 25th anniversary of its founding. This Denver-based Center has helped thousands of severely disadvantaged adults prepare for, maintain, and retain employment. For 25 years, the Center's volunteers and employees have provided a full-time job readiness program, evening computer classes, and preparation for General Education Development tests for residents of the Denver area living below the poverty line. For those who need more than job training, the Center for Work Education and Employment provides instruction in life skills, builds relationships with potential employers, and helps participants deal with personal issues and obstacles. Their continued 25-year commitment to the community is an inspiration. The Center helps thousands to turn their life around by breaking free of public assistance and becoming independent productive citizens. This work is vital to the Denver area and is a model for caring citizens giving back to their community. I applaud, and am grateful for, the work and dedication of the Center for Work Education and Employment on the 25th anniversary of their founding. They have enriched the Denver community and changed the lives of thousands and I look forward to another 25 years.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Today is National Teacher's Day, a day which is very important to me and my family. This year's theme for National Teacher's Day is ``Great Teachers Make Great Public Schools.'' And I know that's true. I had wonderful teachers in the Jefferson County public schools, and those teachers had a tremendous impact on my life. Our three daughters are products of Jefferson County public schools, and my sister is a public school teacher. Few other professionals touch as many people as teachers do. Teachers are our role models, our confidants, our taskmasters and our moral compass. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to invest in our schools, reduce class sizes and ensure that our teachers have the tools and resources they need to give our children the high quality education necessary to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, today Congress will send President Bush an emergency war supplemental that finally begins moving this war in a new direction. Four years ago today, the Bush administration sent out a message of ``Mission Accomplished'' in Iraq. But our mission was not accomplished. Instead, for 4 years, the President has stumbled, and past Republican Congresses refused to hold the administration accountable for its miscues and mistakes. Well, those days are over now. Our legislation brings real accountability to the war. It provides accountability to our soldiers who were sent into battle without proper equipment or a clear mission. It provides accountability to our veterans who are not getting the best medical care when they come home, and to our military that is stretched to the limits by the current Bush war policy. And it finally holds the Iraqi government accountable to meet the benchmarks the President has created. Madam Speaker, the American people want this war to move in a new direction. The President should sign the bill today.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, due to a family obligation I missed the last 4 votes on Friday, April 20, 2007. I would have voted as follows: Putnam Amendment--``No''; Price Amendment--``No''; Motion to Recommit--``Nay''; Final Passage of H.R. 1257, Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act--``Aye.''

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Thank you, Mr. Scott. To the members of the Virginia delegation, I am here with a heavy heart, as all of you are. This is the kind of tragedy whose ripples will affect the faculty, the staff, law enforcement, Blacksburg and the State of Virginia for a long time. Eight years ago tomorrow we had Columbine in my area. I live about 2 or 3 miles from Columbine. The emotions that I feel and the grief that I feel for you bring back a lot of memories. I wish I hadn't seen this play before; I wish I didn't know this script. But I can assure all of you, if you need anything, you have friends in Colorado. We have been through this before. It is a difficult time. There will be mourning; there will be finger pointing; there will be all sorts of things. And I would just say to all of you, we feel your pain. Your sons and daughters are our sons and daughters. We will be there, whatever you need. We have been through this. The disbelief and the despair that all of us feel today, we felt 8 years ago. If we can help in any way, you have friends in Colorado.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I certainly would, sir.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1401, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act. This bill finally addresses the security of our Nation's rail and mass transit industries, and it has been put together in a bipartisan fashion. The bill includes commonsense provisions that require transportation providers to conduct thorough risk assessment and threat mitigation plans. It also develops security training guidelines for front-line workers who are the eyes and ears on the ground. Finally, it gives over $1 billion in Federal grants for first responder training, for purchasing of emergency response equipment, interoperable communications systems and cargo and passenger screening equipment. These steps identify where we are vulnerable and give the right people the training and equipment to make us less so. I also commend the committee for adopting the two amendments I introduced. The first, which I introduced with the help of Congressman John Salazar from Colorado, adds Transportation Technology Center, Inc., in Colorado to the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium so that it can bring its expertise in providing additional security to rail and mass transit systems. As the Nation's premier rail training facility, this will give greater ability to respond to rail disasters. My other amendment is one that I worked on with my friend from California, and it clarifies Department of Homeland Security rules on what crimes constitute security risks for employees during a background check, and it provides a redress process for individuals who feel they were unfairly fired or terminated. Mr. Chairman, the security of America's railroad and public transit systems are too important to ignore any longer. This bipartisan, commonsense bill will drastically improve our security. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Yes, I concur with your description of my amendment. I thank you for the question. First, I would like to thank the committee and my friend from California, because we worked out language that would prevent preemption of Federal, State or local laws for security background checks. Furthermore, these requirements only apply to Department of Homeland Security guidelines. Private employers may conduct subsequent or alternative security background checks, looking for other crimes, based on their employment agreements or other applicable laws. However, if a person is adversely affected by that security check with regard to his or her employment, the employer may not use Homeland Security as the impetus for that adverse decision. This section addresses the concerns brought to our attention at a hearing on the impacts of background checks on the transportation workforce. Additionally, it provides a redress process modeled after the transportation worker identification card program that carefully balances the importance of background checks while protecting the Nation's critical infrastructure.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, over the last 3 months, this new Democratic House has paved the way for a new direction in America. During the first 100 hours, we passed legislation increasing the minimum wage, giving the Federal Government the ability to negotiate cheaper prescription drug prices, making college more affordable by cutting interest rates in half on student loans, and fully implementing the 9/ 11 Commission's recommendations. We have provided valuable oversight of the Bush administration's failings at both the Justice Department and at Walter Reed Hospital. Had we not conducted oversight hearings of the horrendous conditions at Walter Reed, several incompetent administration officials would still be on the job. Then, last week, we approved an emergency supplemental spending bill that provides critical funding for our soldiers and our veterans while holding the Iraqi Government accountable for taking control of Iraq. And this week, we will pass a budget which is balanced within the next 5 years. Mr. Speaker, the American people asked for a change and a new direction, and this Congress is delivering.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I do have a point that I want to make. The power of the Federal Government is awesome, and if anybody is on the receiving end of the power of the Federal Government, you have a tough hill to climb. So the reason the people expect their U.S. attorneys and their government to operate in truth and honesty and in justice is because that power is so great, and when it is abused, the trust of the people goes right out the door, and without the trust of the people, we don't have much of a government here. The people, in their unbelievable wisdom, maybe that is a little over the top, but the people in their wisdom chose to elect a Democratic Congress and a Democratic Senate because they know checks and balances can stop that kind of abuse. And we are seeing it now. It is a shame that we see that U.S. attorneys, who could have been fired for any reason except for reasons that might ultimately be unethical, were being let go and were being threatened. That is just wrong, because the administration wanted to see the power of the Federal Government come down on somebody they didn't like.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I think I was elected to bring change to this Nation, a new direction to the Nation and positive things to this Nation, whether it is energy independence or assist with a whole variety of things concerning change in the direction in Iraq. I did not come looking to go on a witch hunt and to continue to do that. The people obviously wanted checks and balances. They wanted oversight and accountability. Something like Walter Reed or something like we have just had with the Justice Department, those are things that just appeared now. These are not us going back and trying to dredge up old issues. These are things that have happened because of the neglect of the administration. These are things that appear, and we need to deal with them now. I think the question is judgment. Before there wasn't good judgment. There wasn't oversight. There wasn't accountability. There weren't checks and balances. The people expect this from its Congress and from its Senate with respect to the White House. Walter Reed is a shame. It is a shame. It is supposed to be one of our finest medical institutions anywhere in America or the world. It is there for our bravest men and women who have served us valiantly and have been harmed and hurt in a variety of ways, psychologically, physically, and we need to make sure that a place like Walter Reed really does provide the care and the service and the best quality of medical services that we can provide, and not what has occurred. The Congress today is something that gives Americans a chance for accountability, gives us a chance to deal with this administration on a straight-up basis, and the fact we are here, we are going to see improvements, just the fact that we are here, because it isn't just a rubber stamp anymore. There really is oversight.