Nick Rahall

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Natural Resources, pursuant to subsection (c)(2) of H. Res. 1493, which passed the House on July 1, 2010, I am submitting findings that identify changes in law that help achieve deficit reduction by reducing waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement and promoting reform of government programs. In this regard, the Committee on Natural Resources has reported, and the House has passed, H.R. 3534, the ``Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources Act of 2010.'' According to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation would reduce future deficits by $5.3 billion over the 2011-2015 period and $1.7 billion over the 2011-2020 period by reducing abuses which have occurred in the federal offshore oil and gas leasing program and by promoting greater efficiencies in those programs. Specifically, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act would make several significant changes to current law in order to create greater efficiencies, transparency, and accountability in the development of federal energy resources. In this regard, the bill would impose tough new ethics standards, including putting an end to the revolving door between government and the oil and gas industry. It would reform the Minerals Management Service by breaking it up and removing the conflict-of-interest between leasing, inspections, and revenue collection. And it would close royalty loopholes that allow companies to get away with shortchanging the American people, including provisions designed to do away with the ability for companies to pay zero royalties during times of high oil prices--consumers paying sky- high gas prices that fuel record profits should not face the indignity of receiving no royalty on the sale of the public's oil. The legislation would also provide for strong new safety standards for offshore drilling, including independent certifications of critical equipment, demonstrations of the ability to respond to future blowouts or major spills, increased inspections, stiffer penalties for safety violations, and an end to the practice of issuing environmental waivers for drilling plans. Enactment of this legislation would reduce the budget deficit and reform government programs while promoting the energy security of the United States.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, we have witnessed the personal courage and sacrifice made by so many West Virginians, who serve our great state and country proudly in our armed forces. But we must never forget those who lost their life on September 11, 2001--a most tragic day in our history. Today, it is appropriate that the formal federal recognition ceremony at the West Virginia National Guard for its Joint Interagency Training and Education Center coincides with the ninth anniversary of terrorist attacks on America. Those who delivered the blows hoped their cowardly actions would mark the beginning of our destruction. Instead, they reaffirmed our commitment to our founding values and inspired a renewed dedication to embrace once again that America's destiny is the world's destiny--to secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today will always be a solemn day for Dr. Kenneth and Sharon Ambrose who lost their son, Dr. Paul Ambrose. He was on board American Airlines Flight 77 that was hijacked by terrorists and flown into the Pentagon. His passion to improve health care and the well being of West Virginians through better nutrition and activity lives on through the Paul Wesley Ambrose Health Policy Program, a fellowship program at Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, and the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health being developed for Huntington with the Rahall Transportation Institute. PATH is a 26-mile walking and shared-road trail that encompasses nearly every part of the city. The Puritan preacher John Winthrop proclaimed as he and his followers sailed for America and freedom, ``The eyes of all people are upon us.'' Many have looked to us in awe, over the last nine years and through the nearly four centuries of our history--inspired by our nation rooted in liberty, and today we must re-dedicate ourselves to continue our mission to improve life and protect those freedoms we all hold dear.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I want to recognize Beckley Impact, a very special team of 16 and under softball players from my native town of Beckley, West Virginia. This talented group of young ladies recently won the WV United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Championship and recently returned from Florida having competed in the USSSA World Series. Now the 9th ranked team in the Nation, originally formed in 1999, the team ended its recent tournament with a 3-3 record and 24-8 overall record. While I applaud these players for their hard work, commitment and dedication to softball, I would also like to commend them for serving as a great inspiration to others both on and off of the field. Just recently, each of the team members dedicated herself to play in honor of the West Virginia coal miners who perished in the Upper Big Branch mining disaster in April. Most every family on this team had a relative, friend or neighbor who died in this tragedy. In what has become a tradition, and a very meaningful moment, immediately following each game, the team invites their opponents to join them in a group prayer on the field, whether they won or lost. It is my honor to salute this wonderful team, these giving individuals--Eryn Buchanon, Alexandria Garris, Alyssa Hunt, Kelci Jones, Alexa McCormack, MacKenzie Milam, Ashleigh Mills, Katie Muovich, Andrea Roles, Alissa Ward, Randi Wright, team manager Randy Hunt, and coaches Patti Ward and Willie Wright. Their effort is aided and strongly supported by an array of local businesses who serve as sponsors. We recognize their commitment and dedication to this worthwhile community activity for our youth. This partnership of coaches, team managers, small business, proud parents and players helps guide our youth to more productive adulthood and helps build citizens for our cities, towns, states and Nation who care and contribute of themselves in due turn. A valuable lesson for us all.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. As the gentleman from Louisiana knows from our debate and work in committee on this, this gentleman from West Virginia is not against lifting moratoria when it comes to the production of domestic energy resources. What I care about is safety; the safety of our most valuable resource, which is the worker him- or herself. That's what I care about, whether it's oil and gas or whether it's coal mining.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield to the chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, Mr. Miller of California.

Mr. RAHALL. I will yield to the gentleman from Louisiana whose amendment just passed that does lift the moratorium when it comes to the protection and safety of our workers. His amendment passed with votes from votes from your side of the aisle. Mr. Melancon cares about the fishermen, the jobs of everyone along his coast, and I yield to him at this point.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. I appreciate the gentleman from Louisiana's yielding, and I commend him for his commonsense amendment here. This, of course, would end the moratorium on drilling in the gulf on rigs that have met the safety requirements prescribed in two notices to lessees issued by the DOI as well as other safety standards described by enactment of this legislation. This legislation is about safety on these rigs, and we do put in some new language that does certify and verify that there is necessary safety in place. I urge support.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. RAHALL. Just to clarify for my colleague from Washington, my ranking member, if his concern was about the taxpayer ending up paying for something that BP should be liable for under the gentleman from Louisiana's amendment, we do have a catch-all provision in the legislation that applies to not only the entire legislation, but would apply to the gentleman from Louisiana's amendment as well that says none of the funds that are authorized or made available by this act may be used to carry out any activity or pay any cost for removal or damages for which a responsible party, BP, is liable under the OPA.

Mr. RAHALL. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. RAHALL. We are prepared to accept the gentleman from Delaware's amendment on this act and commend him for bringing it to us.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the amendment incorporates a number of constructive proposals from my colleagues which I believe significantly improve the CLEAR Act. Some of these proposals affect the provisions of the bill under our Natural Resources Committee's jurisdiction while others address the title of the bill that was added by Chairman Oberstar's T&I Committee. In addition to a number of technical changes, this amendment also contains language that will improve the management of the new training academy for oil and gas inspectors that has been established in this bill. It holds CEOs more accountable for the actions of their companies. It ensures that, even when you spill the public's oil, you still pay the royalties that are due to the American people, and it also leads to a more accurate collection of royalties for natural gas. This amendment also studies the issue of potentially requiring relief wells to be drilled at the same time as the primary well. These are noncontroversial, good government, and good policy provisions. I urge my colleagues to support them. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Chair, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), who has been so instrumental in this legislation as well on this issue.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd). (Mr. BOYD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Wisconsin, Ms. Gwen Moore, who has been very helpful to us in drafting this bill.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. RAHALL. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, it is my honor to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from California (Mrs. Capps), who has been so instrumental in development of this legislation and a valued member of our Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. RAHALL. May I have the time on all sides, please, Mr. Chairman, and who has the right to close.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland, a valued member of our Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Sarbanes.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, the Republicans are at it again-- apologizing for Big Oil against the interests of the American people. The fact of the matter is that House Republicans were for a conservation fee before they were against it, and now they're coming to the floor today and accusing the majority of all of these huge tax increases, but they are opposed to the CLEAR Act. House Republicans voted for a $9 conservation fee in energy legislation sponsored by the former Republican Congressman, now Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal. That vote was on June 29, 2006. I have it here: 192 Republicans voted ``yes'' for a $9 conservation fee, and 155 Democrats voted against it. What is the difference between then and now? I'll tell you the difference. The Democrats' fee is smaller and Big Oil is richer. That is the difference. The House has passed similar conservation fees with Republican support four different times since 2007, and I could list them. The fact of the matter is the conservation fee will have no impact on the prices at the pump. As we all know, the prices at the pump are determined by the world market. The $2 per barrel fee will be paid for by Big Oil, not by the American consumer. So I respond by saying the Republicans' raising this conservation fee as a tax increase is simply not true. The Republicans will also say that we are proposing $30 billion in mandatory spending that is unrelated to the oil spill. We just heard my dear friend and ranking member say that. Not true. There they go again--apologizing for Big Oil. The fact is that the Land and Water Conservation Fund was visualized by Dwight Eisenhower, proposed by John Kennedy, signed into law by Lyndon Johnson, and is financed by royalties from offshore oil and gas drilling. The dollars raised from depleting one of our natural resources goes toward protecting another. The LWCS is a decades-old promise to the American people that, if we allow energy companies to deplete public resources off our shores, we will require them to dedicate that back in order to help our people and to help our coastlines. That's what this bill is all about. I urge support.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I am very honored to yield 1 minute to the distinguished Speaker of the House, Speaker Pelosi.