Chellie Pingree

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I thank the ranking member for yielding his time. Mr. Chairman, the amendment I am sponsoring today sends a loud and clear message to the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. It sends a message that we recognize that the problem of sexual assault in the military is real and significant. It sends a message that the VA should live up to its promise and remove the barriers to benefits for victims. But, most importantly, it sends a message to the survivors. The men and women I have met with who volunteered to serve were dedicating their lives to military careers when they suddenly found out their worlds were crashing in on them when they became victims of sexual assault. It sends a message to them that we hear them, that we recognize the pain and the injustice they have suffered and that we will not stand for it. I met with Secretary Panetta recently, and I know he understands this problem and is committed to changing the culture, but we cannot call that good enough. We need to say, in no uncertain terms, that we will not allow the men and women who wear the uniform to become victims of sexual assault and that we will not forget those who waited too long for the benefits they deserve.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to recognize the hundreds of brave advocates who are visiting Capitol Hill from Maine and across the country to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease. They are here today to share their stories, to educate others about the challenges they face, and to make sure that we continue to invest in the critical research and data collection that is essential to finally making a breakthrough in the fight against ALS. Some are here to advocate on behalf of themselves, and some are here to represent their loved ones, friends, and neighbors--far too many of whom have already been lost to ALS. They are all here to give voice to the many thousands of Americans who suffer from this disease but can't be here in person to speak for themselves. Because of their efforts, no Member of Congress will be able to say they haven't been touched by this terrible disease. And because of their efforts, I truly believe that one day in the not so distant future we will finally have a cure. I also want to honor one special individual in particular who had planned to be here today, before he lost his battle with ALS on April 27, 2012 at just 34 years old. Joshua Kennedy led a life of exemplary service. He served his country bravely as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, including eighteen months in Iraq as a petroleum supply specialist. He served his family as a devoted husband to his wife Ernesta and a proud father to his sons Tyler, Charles, and Andrew. He served his community in Maine as a correctional officer at Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn. Then after his diagnosis in March 2010, he began to serve his country in a way he never imagined--as a passionate advocate for ALS awareness. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Josh in my Portland office not long after his diagnosis. I was struck by his compelling story, his warm smile, his love for his family, and his bravery in the face of unbeatable odds. He and Ernesta later traveled to Washington DC, where he brought his message to Congress and inspired action the same way he inspired the community who rallied around him and his family back home. Even as his voice eluded him and his body began to fail him, it was clear that his spirit remained strong. I had looked forward to seeing him again this year, and his presence is dearly missed today, as it will be for years to come. There are not enough words to appropriately honor his legacy or to comfort his family on their tremendous loss. But I know his advocacy was not in vain. It is because of people like Josh that we are making progress, bit by bit, and I look forward to the day when we can celebrate his memory with a cure for ALS.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Reclaiming my time, how much time do I have left?

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Mr. Grimm said that he represents an island. I live on an island. I live in the heart of the fisheries in the State of Maine, and I join my colleagues in Maine in supporting this. I'm sorry to see my good friend from Massachusetts is in opposition, but it shows that there are differences in the fisheries. I guarantee you that the fishermen in my State would say this is not to circumvent the law; this is a law that is now working in our State and highly successful. This amendment would block the use of catch shares from managing our Nation's fisheries by superseding the Regional Fishery Management Council process set up by Congress. I live in the heart of a district where people have lost a tremendous amount of fish and are looking for ways to make sure that they have a fisheries industry to pass along to their children and grandchildren. The sectors management system in Maine has done that; it has allowed innovative fishermen, like members of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, to manage their small business in a way that works best for them in their own way of managing it. By having an allocation and the flexibility to fish on their own schedule--which I can tell you is far safer and far more profitable-- fishermen can enter into contracts with processors and avoid the ``race to fish,'' improving their bottom line and their safety. And it's been proven over and over again. Some Maine fishermen have even developed community-supported fisheries co-ops, which bring local fish to the tables of local consumers, strengthening our communities while getting fishermen a better price for their catch. It is critical for coastal communities and working waterfronts that fishermen are allowed to utilize the best management tools for their particular fishery. Catch shares may not be the best option for every fishery, but that decision should be left to the industry, the management experts, and the scientists in their region where the fishery occurs. In order to help our fishermen, we should be focused on improving the stock assessments, implementing cooperative research programs, addressing monitoring challenges, and ensuring fair enforcement. This amendment would do none of these things. Instead, it would take a critical management tool out of the toolbox to keep our fishermen on the water. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting fishermen by keeping all options available for wise fisheries management by opposing this amendment and sticking with the fishermen in the State of Maine who have found this highly successful--far more safe for the industry and much more profitable for them. Any other argument is just plain wrong.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. So just to be clear, the Catch Shares Program, as you've heard over and over again, suits the fishermen of my district. It serves them well. It brings about a tremendous amount more safety. When they had allocations, they had to go out whenever the day was, whatever the weather was. With catch shares they can make that determination on their own. They can get a better price for their fish. If the Port Clyde fishermen were up this late, which I feel confident they're not, and they saw Congress debating the opportunity to take away this right that has been very successful for them, they would be shocked and angry and frustrated and down here tomorrow with their boats and their boots. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize an incredible community effort in Maine at the Coastal Kids Preschool in Damariscotta. The program at Coastal Kids began in 1995, and has since become a community staple, welcoming any child regardless of income or special needs. Their hard work and dedication to quality and equitable education has given them a place of honor within the community. Which is why when they had to expand in order to better meet the needs of the community, stakeholders from all over the mid-coast came together. On April 23, 2012, the Coastal Kids Preschool will formally unveil their new facility. With the help of many businesses and USDA Rural Development, an opportunity for a head start in life has been afforded to more children. I applaud this effort and wish the teachers, students, and parents all the best in their new home.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate those in my State being honored with Governor's Award for Volunteerism. The following Maine people and organizations have showed exemplary commitment to donating their time and energy to help others: Volunteer of the Year Julia Brown, Service-Learning Practitioner Donna Vigue, Outstanding National Service Volunteer Elisabeth Lohmueller, Youth Volunteer Julia Brown, Corporate Volunteerism honoree Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Outstanding School District Sanford, and Outstanding Nonprofit Volunteer Program Trekkers. In a cynical world that calls us to believe no one does something for nothing, these volunteers and thousands more like them continue to give us hope and belief in each other's goodness.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize an incredible effort in Maine, the Cross Walk Community Outreach Food Pantry in Naples. In a time of such need the Cross Walk Community Outreach Food Pantry has been tireless in its efforts to help its neighbors in Western Cumberland County. Twice a month they gather to help residents in the towns of Naples, Sebago, Casco, Bridgton and Harrison with free meals and food boxes. They do this not with a large budget, but with a very dedicated set of volunteers. Maine is a state that has struggled with food insecurity and the Cross Walk Community Outreach Food Pantry is making a small step in eradicating hunger in Maine. Neighborhood efforts like this demonstrate Maine's unbreakable community bond in our fight against hunger in Maine today.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, in the 2 years since its enactment, the Affordable Care Act has truly improved health care for families in Maine: It has given 190,000 seniors access to free preventative care and saved them over $5 million in prescription drug costs; it has allowed 7,000 young adults to stay on their parents' insurance; and, in Maine, it has helped 1,300 small businesses provide their employees with health coverage. More critical benefits are on the way, including banning insurance companies from charging women more simply because of their gender. Yet here we are again, debating how to undo these successes, debating how to block women's access to contraceptives, and, this week, considering proposals to dismantle Medicare and shift the cost back to seniors. This must stop. We can't afford to go back to the status quo--denying women equal access to care, or telling seniors they're on their own, or letting families go bankrupt just because someone got sick. We must let the Affordable Care Act stand so more Americans have the chance to reap the benefits of true health care reform.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize an incredible program in Maine, the ``Mothers and Others Against Hunger'' through the York County Shelter Programs. The York County Shelter Programs is a homeless services provider in Alfred, Maine, that has been in operation for more than thirty-one years and continues to be an essential part of York County--over the years caring for thousands of Mainers. Maine is a state that has struggled with food insecurity and ``Mothers and Others Against Hunger'' is making great strides in eradicating hunger in Maine. Projects like this demonstrate Maine's unbreakable community bond in our fight against hunger in Maine today.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Bishop, thank you for allowing me this time. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would prohibit any oil and gas drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf in the northeast, including my home State of Maine. An accident or a spill off our coast would be devastating to our working waterfronts. We don't have to look any further than the Deepwater Horizon disaster to see the damage an accident can do to a coastal economy. Not only that, but it would be decades before any oil that is discovered would ever make it to market, decades that should be spent researching and investing in new sources of clean energy and breaking our dependence on oil. The Republican proposals of this bill would not only carelessly expand the permitting for current gas and oil leases but also encourage expanded drilling. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense amendment and voting against this ill-conceived bill.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, last month I submitted comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about the rising problem of student loan debt. I've heard from many people in my State--students, former students, and parents--who are struggling to pay back student loans. We are asking our students to take on more debt than ever, and in this weak economy, it's hard to make the rising monthly payments. There has to be a better way. Private student loans are part of the problem. They are one of the riskiest ways to pay for college, often with uncapped variable interest rates that hit those who are least able to afford them the hardest. But the Federal student loan system also needs reform. Currently, borrowers are paying an interest rate of up to 8 percent, while homeowners refinancing their mortgages are often paying less than half of that. There is no reason that students and their parents should pay so much more for something that is as basic and essential as an education. Madam Speaker, an affordable education should be a right for every family in America.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, in my State of Maine, there are thousands of couples in loving, committed relationships. They share homes and they raise children together. They remain committed to each other through the ups and downs of life, but because they are same-sex couples, they are denied the right to honor their love and commitment to each other through marriage. This fall, Maine will have a chance to change that and to join a growing list of States around the country that are setting aside discrimination and granting all couples the same right to get married. We've made progress here in Congress on ending discriminatory practices like ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' but it will be up to us in Maine to bring marriage equality to our State. This is an issue of basic human rights and equal treatment under the law, and I am confident we'll do the right thing.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk for a minute about some exciting developments in clean energy in my State of Maine. Last week, Energy Secretary Chu released a report detailing the enormous potential for tidal energy off of U.S. coasts. There is enough there to meet up to one-third of our needs, and he singled out Maine, saying, ``These resources can create new industries and new jobs in America.'' He's right, and we're proving it. The Ocean Renewable Power Company of Portland is building a tidal power project in Maine that, if all goes as planned, will start producing clean, American-made electricity as early as this summer. Meanwhile, we're welcoming one of the biggest energy companies in the world to our State. Statoil from Norway is considering a pilot project of large-scale wind turbines that would produce clean electricity while floating out of view off our coast. Experts say up to 15,000 jobs can be created in my State by offshore wind, good-paying American jobs that will help us regain our energy independence. This is good news off our coast, Mr. Speaker, for Maine and our country.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, this week I voted against H.R. 3094, the so-called Workplace Democracy and Fairness Act, or, as it has become known, the Election Prevention Act. This bill's sole purpose is to delay and prevent workers from voting in workplace elections. It proposes a 35-day mandatory waiting period before a union election can be held. It encourages frivolous suits to be filed against union formation, and it allows companies to handpick union voters. In Maine we have a tradition of incredibly hardworking people who are essential to the health, education, and safety of our families. Collective bargaining has been at the heart of American labor since the rise of trade unions during the 19th century. Thanks to strong unions and thousands of workers, over the years we have enacted child labor laws, laws for maternity leave, and we don't have to fear unemployment if we get sick. I am proud to stand here today with organized labor and with the NLRB, which has served our workers so well.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, when I moved to Maine 40 years ago and started a little organic farm, growing and selling healthy food locally was out of the mainstream. It was something that the back-to- the-land crowd was into, but here in Washington the government was pushing farmers to, in the words of Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz, ``Get big or get out.'' It turns out that kind of thinking wasn't good for family farms, it wasn't good for rural communities, and it wasn't good for our Nation's health. That's why I've introduced a bill that is intended to make it easier for farmers to sell food locally and regionally, make it easier for schools to buy healthy local food and easier for us to rebuild the local and regional food systems. Over 100 organizations and 53 of my colleagues have endorsed the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act, a package of reforms to the farm bill that will help move our Nation's food policy in the right direction. Everywhere I go, people just want to know that the food they put on their table is healthy, fresh, and good for their family. This bill will help make that easier for American families.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, I would like to insert into the Record a letter from the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO in opposition to all three FTAs. Building and Construction Trades Department, Washington, DC, June 27, 2011. Dear House of Representatives: As President of the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, I strongly oppose the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Columbia, Panama, and South Korea, and I urge you to oppose each of these trade agreements because they represent an expansion of failed trade policies that will cause great harm to workers in the building and construction trades. In 1993, President Bill Clinton worked to pass the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that was negotiated by President George H.W. Bush. NAFTA has contributed to the erosion of America's industrial base and been a disaster for our members who build America's factories and retool and service them. Many of our unions represent manufacturing workers, as well as those in the construction trades, and our members have lost jobs as well as line workers in America's shuttered factories. The loss of manufacturing jobs also undermines our nation's ability to finance the public infrastructure (roads, bridges, schools) on which we all rely. When unfair trade policies destroy our manufacturing base and erode the tax base for infrastructure, our jobs in the building and construction trades disappear too. With that experience, I am very disappointed that Congress may soon consider the free trade agreements for Colombia, Panama and South Korea. These trade agreements, negotiated by President George W. Bush, replicate the failed trade policies of the past that have exploded our trade deficit, destroyed millions of jobs, driven down U.S. wages, undermined the Buy America policies that reinvested our taxes in our communities, and exposed our domestic laws to repeated attacks in foreign tribunals. From the extreme violence against labor leaders in Colombia to the tax havens in Panama and the failure to address currency manipulation in South Korea, these trade deals are a bad deal for U.S. workers. In addition, efforts to provide expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits are a recognition that jobs will be lost as a result of these trade agreements. The Building and Construction Trades Department supports a more equitable trade model. Our nation can and must do better to enact fair trade policies that expand economic opportunities for all Americans. With unacceptable unemployment levels and working families struggling to recover from the Great Recession, our members want Congress to pass real job-creation legislation, not more job-killing trade agreements. In the end, working families will remember who is working for them. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Mark H. Ayers, President.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, today I am thrilled to congratulate Martin's Point Health Care Medicare Advantage plans for receiving five-star quality ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Martin's Point Health Care is a not-for-profit health care organization that provides primary care services, health plans, and wellness services in Maine and other parts of northern New England. Under the direction of their president and chief executive officer, Dr. David Howes, Martin's Point has established a long tradition of providing high quality, efficient, and affordable care to thousands of veterans, seniors, and families in Maine. Today CMS announced that Martin's Point has received five-star ratings for both its Value and Prime Medicare Advantage plans--the highest possible rating granted by CMS. High quality care is not new to Martin's Point: for the last 3 years, Martin's Point has had the highest rated Medicare Advantage plan in Maine. But I am particularly proud to say that it is one of only nine Medicare Advantage organizations in the entire country to receive the CMS five-star designation for 2012. The five-star rating system helps Medicare beneficiaries compare available plans and make meaningful choices about which plans are right for them based on quality of care and customer service. As a five-star plan, Martin's Point will be able to assure potential patients that they offer the highest quality, patient-centered care. And thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, this five-star rating will make Martin's Point Health Care eligible for quality bonus payments from CMS to help bolster their good work and ensure that patients in Maine will continue to benefit from their services for years to come. I want to congratulate Dr. Howes and the entire team of health care providers and support staff at Martin's Point for this tremendous accomplishment. Their commitment to delivering quality health care and service excellence is second to none. As we continue to work to shift our health care system to one that better values quality outcomes and patient experience, Martin's Point will stand as a model for health care organizations across the country, and a real asset to the people of Maine.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I thank my colleague and friend from Ohio for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the proposed trade agreement. The Panama free trade agreement is structured exactly like NAFTA, a trade policy that resulted in the loss of millions of manufacturing jobs all over America. In Maine alone, we have lost 31,000 manufacturing jobs since NAFTA was ratified in 1994. In addition to manufacturing jobs, it has hurt our agricultural and fishing sectors, and has had a huge impact on the economy of our State. I have a perfect example. Steve White of Brewer, Maine, comes to mind. He worked in a factory for 22 years, making components that were used by GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Now those parts are being made in Mexico. Steve wrote this in the Bangor Daily News: ``We were given the opportunity, if we wished, to travel to Mexico and further train our replacements. My coworkers who went said that the conditions for the Mexican workers were very poor and far below the American standard. The pay rate was very low, and they would work long hours every day of the week.'' Here we are today, voting on three more trade agreements that could have the same devastating consequences for American jobs. Why would we do this at a time when we desperately need these jobs right here in the United States? This week, in addition to the three free trade agreements, we will also vote on the extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance, a program that was created for those adversely affected by trade agreements. For several years and for probably many more, we have and will spend millions of dollars retraining people who have been put out of work by misguided trade agreements. And for what? So that big companies can get a better deal on cheap labor and loose environmental standards in other countries? What our workers want today, what the people in my State, the State of Maine, want are jobs, not readjustment assistance, not retraining, not some idea of another job to come in the future. They want a job today. They don't want these trade agreements, and they don't want to lose any more jobs in our State. Mr. Speaker, America has a long history of supporting our hardworking families, but this policy does not invest in our workforce. It is not what is right for America's future, and I cannot support it.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, coastal communities across this Nation are in trouble. Economically important working waterfront jobs are disappearing. Businesses that require access to the water are closing their doors, fishing wharves are being turned into condos. And, the cultural identity of our waterfront communities is dissolving. I live in a community built around a working waterfront. My friends and neighbors on North Haven need access to the coastline to land their lobsters, store their bait, load and unload their lobster traps. They need a place to keep their skiffs and park their trucks. Elsewhere on the coast, working waterfronts are critical connections between the ocean and land for boat builders, marina operators, aquaculturists, seafood processors, charter boat captains and crew, recreational fishing businesses, and many others who require access to the water. These businesses need to be located on the water and require access to the water for their business models to work. Water dependent, coastal- related businesses are the cultural and economic heart of many of our coastal communities and working waterfronts are quickly disappearing under tremendous pressures from incompatible use and development trends. Of Maine's 3,300 miles of coastline, less than 20 miles support commercial fishing and other traditional marine-based activities. This small portion of the coastline contributes $800 million to Maine's economy and provides direct or indirect employment for about 30,000 people. As the coastline became more developed, traditional uses disappeared, giving way to condos, summer houses, and other non- compatible uses. These changes in how coastal communities use their land present one of the primary challenges facing Maine's working waterfronts. This problem is not unique to Maine, it occurs on all of our coasts and in the Great Lakes region. Across the country, working waterfront jobs are quickly disappearing under the tremendous pressure communities face from conversion to incompatible uses. Once these businesses close, once the waterfronts and waterways stop supporting water dependent businesses, the businesses do not come back. And, many states and local communities have recognized this dangerous trend and are taking action to preserve waterfront dependent businesses. In recognition of the national importance of working waterfronts, local community and state representatives have come together to form a national working waterfronts and waterways council that has helped put on symposiums that bring people to the table with the tools and knowledge needed to develop sustainable working waterfronts around the Nation. But, local communities and states need help at the federal level. It is time to help maintain working waterfronts through a federally authorized program that will serve to support, implement, and further develop working waterfront preservation efforts across the nation. That is why I am introducing legislation with Representatives Robert E. Andrews, Earl Blumenauer, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Lois Capps, Donna M. Christensen, Gerald E. Connolly, Sam Farr, Bob Filner, William R. Keating, Barbara Lee, Mike McIntyre, James P. Moran, Pedro R. Pierluisi, Michael Quigley, Louise M. Slaughter, Paul Tonko, and Lynn C. Woolsey that encourages states to seriously think about these areas and how to best protect them. While recognizing the common problem of disappearing waterfront access for businesses, this program will also provide the flexibility that different states and local governments need to address working waterfronts around the Nation. Our legislation amends the Coastal Zone Management Act to establish a Working Waterfronts program. This legislation embodies the spirit of the CZMA in that it allows each coastal state to determine what working waterfronts are important to the people of that state, which working waterfronts are most threatened, and who should be protecting them--the state, local or regional government, or a collaborative public-private partnership. The CZMA was developed as a tool to allow states the flexibility to manage their coasts in a manner that fits that particular coast. The CZMA recognizes separate needs of various coastal states and provides the flexibility to states to manage their coastal resources. The working waterfront program creates a grant program that states can apply for. In order for states to be eligible for a working waterfront grant, the state must have a working waterfront plan that requires a thoughtful, collaborative, public process to identify the value and importance of working waterfronts. This bill is not designed to require states to undergo a completely new or comprehensive planning process but rather to utilize existing information, planning, and programs at state and local levels to the greatest extent possible. Finally, the bill provides technical assistance to the states to develop these plans as well as other tools to protect working waterfronts. Maintaining working waterfronts preserves and creates coastal jobs, but also jobs beyond the water's edge. Waterfront and waterway businesses support entire economies that depend on the American tradition of marine-based trades. The Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act of 2011 will serve to maintain jobs in our communities and maintain the American tradition of coastal and waterways industry.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, of Maine's 3,300 miles of coastline, less than 20 miles support commercial fishing and other traditional marine activities. But this small portion of the coastline contributes $800 million to Maine's economy and provides jobs for over 30,000 people. As the coastline continues to give way to condos, hotels, and other non-compatible uses, these jobs are disappearing. This problem is not unique to Maine. It occurs on all our coasts and waterways around the country and throughout the Great Lakes region. Working waterfront jobs are disappearing as a result of tremendous pressures communities face from incompatible development. That's why today I'm introducing the Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act, along with my colleagues from around the country. With a grants program devoted to preserving working waterfronts across the Nation, States will be able to help preserve jobs and communities that depend on them.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. The TRAIN Act will delay those investments and delay those jobs in this country. The TRAIN Act is bad for business, it's bad for our health, and it's bad for the State of Maine. I urge a ``no'' vote on the TRAIN Act and a ``no'' vote on delaying Clean Air Act standards.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I thank my colleague from Florida for his eloquent words and for allowing me a moment to speak on the floor. Madam Speaker, the TRAIN Act will repeal two critical clean air standards: the proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and the final Cross-State Air Pollution Rule for power plants that burn coal and oil. I'm from the State of Maine, and Maine is the tailpipe of the Nation for most atmospheric pollution. Nearly 130,000 people in Maine have been diagnosed with asthma. Yesterday in my office, I met with a wonderful young man named Jake, one of 28,000 children in the State of Maine who suffer from asthma. I also met with his parents, small business owners who struggle to pay more than a thousand dollars a month in insurance and medication to keep Jake healthy. Since 1970, the Clean Air Act has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and decreased air pollution by 60 percent. Implementing Clean Air standards will mean fewer kids and parents will struggle with life-long costs of dirty air. Improved standards will also mean reducing the amount of mercury and toxins in the air and water. In 2000, the government determined that major coal-burning entities are the single largest source of manmade emissions of mercury in the United States. It's estimated that 6 percent of women in the U.S. of childbearing age have dangerous levels of mercury in their blood, and more than 410,000 children born each year in the United States are exposed to levels of mercury in the womb high enough to impair neurological development. Madam Speaker, improved Clean Air Act standards will dramatically reduce atmospheric pollution and decrease dangerous healthy effects of dirty air. The TRAIN Act would delay those standards. Companies are prepared to meet improved Clean Air Act standards by making further investments in technology that would create over a million jobs in the United States between 2011 and 2015. The TRAIN Act will delay those investments.