Denny Rehberg

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. I thank the gentleman from Utah for very concisely summarizing just exactly what this bill does. I rise in support of H.R. 4606, which I have introduced. This commonsense legislation would permit the necessary safety maintenance of a natural gas pipeline that was constructed in 1962. Ordinary maintenance of the pipeline, which is the sole source of natural gas for nearly 25,000 residents in the Flathead Valley of Montana, is being prevented by red tape. About 3\1/2\ miles of this 118-mile pipeline follow U.S. Highway 2 through the southwestern border of Glacier National Park. The National Park Service is allowed to issue an easement over lands in the park for specific purposes, including electric transmission lines and communications services. But the specific uses listed do not include natural gas lines; so under current law, they can't allow maintenance. The law also authorizes the Federal Government to issue rights-of-way for natural gas lines--just not in national parks. And so this tiny stretch of existing pipeline, which is so critical to so many Montanans, finds itself between a legal rock and a bureaucratic hard place. Allowing maintenance of the existing pipeline is too important for further delay. Not only is the pipeline nestled in and around Glacier National Park; but it is also near the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, which is designated as a wild and scenic river and the Great Bear Wilderness Area. An accident due to a lack of maintenance would be devastating to the local ecosystem. Moving the line outside the park would require further harm to the surrounding environment, and it makes sense for the pipeline to use the existing roadbed for Highway 2 in order to minimize the economic impact. My legislation simply solves this government-made problem by allowing the National Park Service to allow maintenance on the pipeline. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, today it is my distinct privilege to welcome a very special group of men and women to our Nation's capital. And while it is incumbent upon us to honor them, the truth is, they honor us with their presence here. On September 23, 2012, nearly 100 veterans of the Second World War will arrive in Washington, D.C. through the Honor Flight program. Since 2005, Honor Flight has worked to bring WWII veterans to visit their war memorial at the foot of the Washington Monument, and a few feet from the White House. In that first year, 137 veterans participated in the program. By last year, that total annual participation had swelled to 18,055. And while each of the veterans who has participated deserves our thanks and our honor, this particular group is special because it marks the second time this year that Honor Flight has brought out a group of veterans from Montana. You won't find a state that's more proud of our veterans than Montana. And we have a lot of them. In fact, you won't find many states that have more as a percentage of our population. On December 7, 1941 the United States was pulled into the war and Montanans answered the call to service. Within the first year, 40,000 men and women from the Treasure State enlisted. By the end of the war, 57,000 had served--nearly 10 percent of the state's entire population at the time, one of the highest rates in the country. They served in every branch and in every theater of the conflict. And too many of them never made it back to Montana, although I think that heaven must be a little something like a peaceful sunset over the Yellowstone River. But Montana's veterans didn't sacrifice in vain. They bled and died to defeat the greatest threat to freedom the world has ever seen. They fought across the bloody islands of the Pacific and in the frozen forests of Europe. They fought in the air, land and sea. Some even fought below the waves. And they won. Today, the men and women who fought and won that war are justifiably part of what is called the Greatest Generation. The sacrifices of men and women who arrive in Washington, D.C. are the reason for this honorable title. It is not something we gave to them, it's something they earned. As they visit this city and reflect on what it stands for as a beacon of freedom to the world, I think the rest of us should remember that the reason liberty still exists is because good men stood up to tyranny. They are the greatest of the Greatest Generation, and on behalf of all Montanans, I want to thank them. 57,000 Montanans served during World War II. Just under 100 are here this week. Please join me in welcoming and honoring: Lee Alderdice (Polson, MT); Milton Lyman Amsden (Broadus, MT); Harry A. Arvidson (Lincoln, MT); Peter N. ``Bert'' Bertram (Absarokee, MT); Leonard E. ``Len'' Bestrom (Laurel, MT); Warren Charles Bodecker (Plains, MT); Ralph Floyd Brewington (Broadview, MT); James C. ``Jim'' Brook (Lewistown, MT); William Boner ``Bill'' Brown (Billings, MT); Jackson Lamar ``Jack'' Burger (Lavina, MT); Filmore Burton Canon (Broadus, MT); John M. Clark (Butte, MT); Harold Lee ``Hal'' Conrad (Lewistown, MT); Hollis E. Coon (Butte, MT); Gool Counts (Livingston, MT); Carley Rhein Cromwell (Missoula, MT); Leo Eckhardt (Billings, MT); James E. ``Jim'' Elander (Missoula, MT); James ``Jim'' Ellison (Billings, MT); Charles T. ``Bosco'' Eskro (Billings, MT); Frank D. Evans (Billings, MT); Alvin Oscar Fisher (Billings, MT); Samuel W. Frank (Laurel, MT); Durl J. Gibbs (Buffalo, MT); Raymond P. ``Ray'' Gregori (Hungry Horse, MT); Robert Glover Hall (Potomac, MT); Charles E. ``Chuck'' Halstead (Columbus, MT); Thomas A. ``Tom'' Hanel (Billings, MT); Russell LeRoy Hartse (Missoula, MT); James ``Jim'' Hasterlik (Great Falls, MT); Milam V. Hearron (Billings, MT); McDonald Watkins ``Don'' Held (Billings, MT); Lewis Wiliam ``Louie'' Holzheimer (Great Falls, MT); Bernard E. ``Barney'' Ilertson (Corvallis, MT); Earl T. Jackson (Deer Lodge, MT); Elwin M. Johnson (Laurel, MT); George L. Kimmet (Billings, MT); Vincent Leo ``Vince'' Koefelda (Laurel, MT); Vernon Lee ``Vern'' Koelzer (Billings, MT); Frank J. Koncilya (Lewistown, MT); Andre Rioul ``Andy'' Kukay (Great Falls, MT); Willard E. ``Bud'' LaCounte (Billings, MT); Albert Raymond ``Al'' Lasater (Ryegate, MT); Harold J. Lasater (Forsyth, MT); Gorvan J. ``Duke'' LeDuc (Laurel, MT); Oscar Lawrence ``Lawrence'' Lee (Shepherd, MT); Norman D. Leonard (Billings, MT); Joseph Biggs ``Joe'' Litle (Bozeman, MT); Max E. Long (Laurel, MT); Robert W. Lubbers (Billings, MT); Leonard John ``Pat'' Mager (Harlowton, MT); James J. Marshall (Missoula, MT); William R. ``Bill'' Matthew (Anaconda, MT); Paul Messer (Billings, MT); Elizabeth Steele ``Betty'' Meyer (Paradise, MT); Geraldine E. ``Gerry'' Mihalic (Missoula, MT); Gerald Kenneth ``Jerry'' Nelson (Billings, MT); John H. ``O'bie'' O'Bannon (Stevensville, MT); Clarence Allan ``Ole'' Olson (Billings, MT); Eddie C. Olson (Vida, MT); Ray A. ``Ole'' Olson (Billings, MT); Thomas F. ``Pat'' Patterson (Stevensville, MT); Roy Louis ``Pete'' Peters (Roy, MT); John W. Porter (Deer Lodge, MT); Carl ``Corky'' Redding (Billings, MT); Michael Gene Rhodes (Billings, MT); Robert V. ``Bob'' Ryan (E. Helena, MT); Charles Franklin ``Frank'' Sandford (Missoula, MT); Dave Schledewitz (Townsend, MT); Laurence Norbert Shipp (Miles City, MT); William James ``Jim'' SiveIle (Poison, MT); Anthony William ``Bill'' Skorupa (Bridger, MT); Charles E. ``Chuck'' Smith (Billings, MT); Donald E. Smith (Melville, MT); Kenneth C. ``K.C.'' Smith (St. Regis, MT); Robert M. ``Bob'' Standefer (Billings, MT); John R. ``Jack'' Stevenson (Missoula, MT); Frank Phillip Thatcher (Billings, MT); Clifford V. ``Cliff'' Thomsen (Billings, MT); Robert E. ``Bob'' Torgrimson (Billings, MT); Ronald Wilmar ``Buck'' Torstenson (Kalispell, MT); James Arthur ``Jim'' Vick (Billings, MT); Albert ``Al'' Wade (Billings, MT); James Forest ``Jim'' Walker (Billings, MT); Bernard Edgar Wanderaas (Vida, MT); Joseph A. ``Joe'' Weber (Deer Lodge, MT); Allen L. ``Buster'' Whittington (Billings, MT); Bryce Wood Williams (Billings, MT); Andrew R. ``Pete'' Winter (Ronan, MT).

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the upcoming one- year anniversary of the Kids Just Want to Ride Act being signed into law. This bill, which I authored to end enforcement of an overreaching prohibition of lead in youth-sized ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles, was added to a larger piece of legislation that was signed into law on August 12, 2011. When Congress passed a law banning lead from children's toys, no one thought that those enforcing the law would expand the definition of ``toy'' to include youth-size ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles. But over the strong protests of riders and their advocates, Washington bureaucrats forced youth-sized ATVs and motorcycles to be pulled off showroom floors. All this did was force our kids to ride more dangerous adult-sized vehicles, putting them at extreme risk. This just didn't make sense. I authored the Kids Just Want to Ride Act so that this issue would be solved legislatively once and for all, but I didn't do it on my own. An amazing community of youth riders, their parents, and those who love youth racing and recreational activities backed me up with letters, phone calls, and visits to Washington, DC, to rally for the bill. I was honored to be included in the riding community and continue to be impressed by their love for sport and for their fellow riders. Mr. Speaker, I am again honored to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, and thank you for the opportunity to celebrate the amazing American riding community that rallied behind it.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Thank you, Mr. Issa, and I especially thank you, Dr. Paul. Tomorrow, the House of Representatives will uphold our constitutional duty and vote to pull back the secretive curtain of the Federal Reserve. The American people have a right to know. It's an important step in openness and government transparency that's long overdue. Just a few years ago, the Senate rejected an effort to add this strong audit language to the Dodd-Frank bill, but times are changing. As our economy struggles and job creation lags, it's more important than ever to look under the hood of the Federal Reserve. We need to find out exactly what they are doing and why. That way, we can determine if the Fed is actually hurting our economy and discouraging job growth. In a democracy, no government body should be allowed to hide behind a curtain of secrecy. That's why I stand strongly behind this legislation. Moment of Silence in Memory of Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Detective John M. Gibson

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Chair, we've got to do everything we can to stop New START in its tracks. President Obama, with the support of the Senate put the United States on a dangerous path of unilateral disarmament. New START forced the United States to reduce our nuclear arsenal, while actually allowing Russia to increase theirs. And for Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana--home of the 341st ICBM Missile Wing--this does more than threaten our national security. For the Great Falls community, it threatens the foundation of our community and economy. Last week, I heard from community leaders and activists in Great Falls. They made it clear that New START, and the deeper cuts it foreshadows, is a bad idea. Today, the House of Representatives has an opportunity to protect our nuclear deterrent and derail this harmful treaty. I urge ``yes'' vote.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Yesterday, President Obama promised to increase taxes on our small businesses. At a time when we need to support job creation, raising taxes is the last thing we need to be doing. It makes the problem worse. A couple of weeks ago, the Supreme Court confirmed that the President's health care law imposes the single largest permanent tax increase in history. Worse, nearly half of this regressive tax will hit the struggling middle class. Add more than 13,000 pages of new health care regulations, so far, and it's easy to see why President Obama's economy doesn't creates jobs. It's too busy creating government. We need a new direction, but at every step the Senate stands in the way. The solution? Repeal this harmful law so we can get to work putting America back to work.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 997, the East Bench Irrigation District Water Contract Extension. Water and energy are pretty important to Montana, and as you may know, I've spent a lot of time working with the House Water and Power Subcommittee over the years on these issues. This time, though, there's something a little different. There's just something cool about working on a bill that starts with ``S'' instead of ``H.R.''--I think I could get used to this! I'm sure it's not lost on you that this legislation is sponsored by Senator Jon Tester, the Junior Senator from Montana. We're both Montanans and while there are certainly things we disagree about-- President Obama's health reform and stimulus, protecting gun rights and government bailouts--even with all those differences, there are ways to find common ground. An example of common ground is this legislation. S. 997 is a good idea, and it's one I hope my colleagues will vote in favor of. The bill simply authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to extend a water contract between the United States and the East Bench Irrigation District in Beaverhead and Madison Counties in southwestern Montana. It has no impact on the federal budget. The Clark Canyon Dam and Reservoir--owned and operated by the Bureau of Recreation--supplies irrigation water for 28,000 acres within the East Bench Irrigation District. The operation is bound by a contract between the federal government and the District--a contract that expired on December 31, 2005. Since then, federal appropriations acts have extended the original contract for two year durations. S. 997 extends it again through the end of 2013. I realize this sort of congressional contract extension isn't common, but in cases where specific variables delay contract renewals, it's appropriate and necessary. In this case, the law requires Montana's 5th District Court to issue a decree before any new contract can be signed. That decree has been delayed, so S. 997 provides the regional farmers and ranchers with necessary water certainty until at least 2014. Hopefully, by then, all parties will be ready to agree to a new long- term contract. For dry land farmers and ranchers, water is our most precious resource. We have a lot of land--plenty of dirt between light bulbs-- and our productivity is only constrained by our access to water. In Montana where we rely on water for drinking, irrigation, and energy. It's vitally important we pass this bill to try to avoid needless disruptions in service. There is no conflict or objection to this ``housekeeping'' matter, and its importance to the many impacted farmers and ranchers cannot be over-emphasized. I have worked hard to extend the contract in the past and look forward to passing this critical legislation today. As I said, it's a good idea. I'm here to do what's best for Montana, and a good idea is a good idea regardless of who gets credit. That's why I'm up here today. This is a good bill, and I hope my colleagues will join me in voting in favor of its passage.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, today, it is my distinct privilege to welcome a very special group of men to our nation's Capital. And while it is incumbent upon us to honor them, the truth is, they honor us with their presence here. On June 15, 2012, nearly 100 veterans of the Second World War will arrive in Washington, D.C. through the Honor Flight program. Since 2005, Honor Flight has worked to bring WWII veterans to visit their war memorial at the foot of the Washington Monument, and a few feet from the White House. In that first year, 137 veterans participated in the program. By last year, that total annual participation has swelled to 18,055. And while each of the veterans who has participated deserves our thanks and our honor, this particular group is very special to me in particular because it marks the very first time Honor Flight has brought out a group of veterans from Montana. You won't find a state that's more proud of our veterans than Montana. And we have a lot of them. In fact, you won't find many states that have more as a percentage of our population. On December 7, 1941 the United States was pulled into the war and Montanans answered the call to service. Within the first year, 40,000 Men and women from the Treasure State enlisted. By the end of the war, 57,000 had served--nearly 10 percent of the state's entire population at the time, one of the highest rates in the country. They served in every branch and in every theater of the conflict. And too many of them never made it back to Montana, although I think that heaven must be a little something like a peaceful sunset over the Yellowstone River. But Montana's veterans didn't sacrifice in vain. They bled and died to defeat the greatest threat to freedom the world has ever seen. They fought across the bloody islands of the Pacific and in the frozen forests of Europe. They fought in the air, land and sea. Some even fought below the waves. And they won. Today, the men and women who fought and won that war are justifiably part of what is called The Greatest Generation. The sacrifices of men who arrive in Washington, D.C. are the reason for this honorable title. It is not something we gave to them, it's something they earned. As they visit this city and reflect on what it stands for as a beacon of freedom to the world, I think the rest of us should remember that the reason liberty still exists is because good men stood up to tyranny. They are the greatest of the Greatest Generation, and on behalf of all Montanans, I want to thank them. 57,000 Montanans served during World War II. Just under 100 are here this week. Please join me in welcoming and honoring: Herbert Alvin (Billings, MT); Roy Bloom (Kalispell, MT); William Boyer (Billings, MT); George Brown (Billings, MT); John Bullis (Hardin, MT); William Butler (Billings, MT); Marion Callen (Forsyth, MT); Galen Calvert (Missoula, MT); Murel Clancey (Ennis, MT); Frank Clark (Billings, MT); Paul Creek (Billings, MT); Donald Cullen (Helena, MT); Hubert Cummings (Billings, MT); Irvin Cuthbertson (Billings, MT); Ernest Devries (Joliet, MT); John Donovan (Billings, MT); Thomas Dragoo (Billings, MT); Duane Erickson (Glendive, MT); Allen Fox (Twin Bridges, MT); Arnold Funk (Helena, MT); John Gabelman (Butte, MT); William George (Missoula, MT); Cleburne Gilliland (Billings, MT); Harvey Glover (Billings, MT); Harold Godtland (Butte, MT); Robert Graham (Billings, MT); James Gunnels (Laurel, MT); Francis Gustafson (Billings, MT); Robert Haraden (Bozeman, MT); Delbert Hartford (Alder, MT); Donald Hecox (Bozeman, MT); Jack Henley (Hamilton, MT); Adam Herauf (Billings, MT); Victor Hergett (Laurel, MT); Thomas Hoffman (Billings, MT); Q.P. Hudson (Billings, MT); Frank Jasisko (Great Falls, MT); Herbert Kindsfater (Laurel, MT); Kenneth Kjelstrup (Kalispell, MT); Dale Lamphear (Laurel, MT); Ray Lau (Three Forks, MT); John Liggett (Roundup, MT); Chester Lindblom (Plentywood, MT); Albert Litle (Billings, MT); Herbert Livingston (Billings, MT); Louis Loushin (Butte, MT); Phillip Lyons (Butte, MT); Marvin Mackey (Libby, MT); Richard Marshall (Twin Bridges, MT); Arthur Merrick (Helena, MT); Marvin Metzler (Billings, MT); Jack Moriarty (Sheridan, WY); Roy Morrison (Billings, MT); Leo Mullen (Butte, MT); Kenneth Mumme (Sheridan, MT); John Murphy (Anaconda, MT); Donald Nafus (Billings, MT); Robert Noll (Missoula, MT); Vernon O'Leary (Helena, MT); Roland Olijnyk (Billings, MT); Paul Olsen (Billings, MT); Delphine Olson (Billings, MT); Albert Ottolino (Billings, MT); Harlon Owens (Billings, MT); Douglas Parrott (Roundup, MT); Robert Paye (Billings, MT); Russell Peery (Helena, MT); Walter Pfister (Roundup, MT); Drury Phebus (Baker, MT); James Phipps (Emigrant, MT); Walter Popp (Billings, MT); Jimmie Ramsey (Bozeman, MT); John Reamy (Billings, MT); Richard Redle (Columbus, MT); Francis Riebe (Polson, MT); Carl Rivera (Billings, MT); Robert Ruthford (Superior, MT); Gladys Sandborgh (Butte, MT); Ron Scharfe (Missoula, MT); Ferdinand Schell (Lewistown, MT); Paul Schuyler (Roberts, MT); Orval Scow (Helena, MT); Dennis Scranton (Miles City, MT); J. William Smith (Billings, MT); Wade Smith (Butte, MT); James Snider (Forsyth, MT); Otto Staack (Butte, MT); Norman Sulenes (Billings, MT); Harold Van Sickle (Billings, MT); William Van Wieren (Billings, MT); Joseph Wedlake (Butte, MT); Kenneth Williams (Laurel, MT); Paul Winhofer (Glendive, MT); David Wittman (Billings, MT); Margaret Woolston (Billings, MT).

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Chairman, you heard it here first. My urban colleague says the Federal Government wants to control your water on private property in rural areas like Montana. The life of a Montana farmer is hard, up before the sun rises, working all day just to make ends meet. Between the cycle of plowing, planting, and harvesting, there are tractors to fix, barns to repair, and products to bring to market. The last thing any Montana farmer needs is another Federal mandate to follow, more red tape to cut through, and more Federal paperwork to fill out. This country was founded by farmers. They understood from personal experience that farming is a full-time job and you can't do it right if you only do it part of the time. So the Framers of the Constitution set up a representative government that lets farmers elect men and women to fight on their behalf so they can go about their business. The House of Representatives was meant to be the closest to the people. It's not just our privilege to stand up for our Constitution; it's our constitutional duty. The Constitution delegates legislative power to the Congress, but lately, President Obama has, in too many cases, tried to circumvent the constitutional separation of powers. Congress managed to prevent the disastrous cap-and-trade energy tax from becoming law, so President Obama expanded the definition of a harmful pollutant in the Clean Air Act to include carbon dioxide, the stuff that we exhale. Congress blocked the massive legislation landgrabs like the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, so the Obama administration crafts secret plans to designate 13 million acres as national monuments using the Antiquities Act. The Antiquities Act, by the way, was passed to protect archaeological sites. And now the Obama administration is looking to expand its reach, over the objections of both the Congress and the Supreme Court, to control water, all water everywhere. You know, if there's one resource that's more important to dryland farmers than time, it's water. And in arid States like Montana, where we've got plenty of land, there's lots of dirt between light bulbs. The difference between feast and famine can be a little bit of water. And now some folks in the Federal Government want to get involved. It's been a long fight. Let me show you how we got there. Back in 2001 and 2003, the Supreme Court limited the authority of the Federal Government to regulate water. Unelected bureaucrats were trying to control water, all water, including melted snow, mud puddles and prairie potholes and irrigation ditches. But the Supreme Court said no. This makes sense. There is a role for the Federal Government. We want clean water and a safe environment. But living in Montana means you live off the land. It means you grew up learning how to take care of your environment. In fact, Montanans were some of the first conservationists. But the role of government is not unlimited. We don't need the Federal Government thinking for us, and we don't need the Federal Government to tell us how to take care of our irrigation ditches. The Clean Water Act gives the Federal Government authority to regulate navigable waters of the United States. President Obama and his allies in Congress are trying to eliminate the requirement that waterways be navigable. Simply eliminating that word gives the Federal Government nearly unlimited power. Fortunately, those legislative efforts have failed. So in December 2010, the Corps of Engineers crafted a plan to identify water subject to jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The goal is to significantly expand Federal jurisdiction over water. The Obama administration and his allies are trying to solve a problem that does not exist. Fortunately, the Constitution provides a check to the Obama administration's power grab. Montana farmers have a safety net--the House of Representatives. It's our job to fight this battle so that they don't have to. It's our job to act as a check and balance to over- reaching executive actions. That's what this language does. It simply prevents the President from carrying out his plans. It ensures that when a farmer wakes up before the sun rises, they don't have to worry about onerous Federal regulation. They can just go to work on their farm. That's what the Founding Fathers would have wanted, and that's why I hope you'll join me in opposing this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. REHBERG. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. REHBERG. I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis).

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Chairman, I have the honor to represent the city of Great Falls, home to Malmstrom Air Force Base and the 341st ICBM Missile Wing. The men and women stationed there are the best in the world. They understand the critical role they play in America's security. They also understand the vital role they have in the Great Falls community and the economy. Unfortunately, there are those that see their contributions as obsolete. They watched the Cold War end and failed to grasp that our unsurmountable nuclear deterrent is what is keeping the peace that we all cherish. President Obama promised deep and reckless cuts to our nuclear arsenal. It's been reported that the National Security Council has developed a plan to cut our nuclear force by up to 80 percent, slashing it to a level not seen since the early 1950s. To that end, the New START Treaty with Russia will go down as one of the worst, most one- sided deals in our country's history. If two countries sign a nuclear arms reduction treaty, shouldn't both sides have to reduce their nuclear arms to meet agreed-upon targets? That's not what happened. The Russians, it turns out, were already well under the quota for nuclear weapons established by the treaty. So the first thing they did was increase their nuclear warheads to above the treaty limit. You heard that right: Russia increased the number of warheads they had before reducing them. And as the United States unilaterally disarms, the primary mission at Malmstrom in Great Falls is at risk. The administration refuses to reveal its reduction plans, but one proposal that has surfaced is to simply eliminate an entire wing of the ICBM missiles like the ones in Great Falls. The President promises that won't happen, just like he promised New START was a good deal. And some of the same Senators who rubber-stamped the New START Treaty are buying into those empty promises again. They assure us that our nuclear triad is safe, and so is Malmstrom. I would think more skepticism is in order. Just a few weeks ago, President Obama was caught on an open mike promising the Russians that he would have more flexibility once he didn't need to worry about reelection. Given recent history and the New START Treaty, it's hard to imagine how much worse it could get, but I'm not willing to wait around and find out. This amendment is simple. It says that the United States shouldn't be unilaterally disarming itself. I hope my colleagues join me in passing this amendment which will help clean up the mess the President and the Senate got us into. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. As the sponsor of the Keystone pipeline language, I support H.R. 3630. And, no, it doesn't put a block of coal in the socks. It puts a barrel of oil in a pipeline. In fact, it puts 150,000 barrels of oil in the pipeline daily. The American people need jobs. They want Congress to work together to help the private sector create those jobs. Keystone XL is shovel-ready. It will create thousands of jobs. All we need is a Federal permit, something that has already taken 3 years. So why have the President and his allies in the Senate said no to these jobs? It's not for the cost; the project is privately funded to the tune of $7 billion. It's not to protect the environment; this pipeline will utilize the cleanest and safest new technology available, making it the safest pipeline in America. And it's not private property concerns because 97 percent of the landowners came to friendly settlements in earlier Keystone efforts. Frankly, there is no excuse. This is pure politics. With thousands of jobs hanging in the balance, it's time to put politics aside and do the right thing.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Speaker, there is no phrase that better embodies the fact that something here in Washington is broken than ``government shutdown.'' Yesterday we heard those words for the second time in a year, and that tells us the old ways of doing things simply don't work anymore. It's time for a new direction. Every month we're faced with new unemployment numbers, new market losses, and new deficit figures. We can never forget that behind those numbers are people. Unemployment isn't just a number; it's people who worry about how they will fill their gas tanks or put food on their table. Market losses aren't just lines on a graph; it's the retirement savings of seniors across the country who struggle to afford medicine they need. And deficit isn't just borrowed money; it's the future being stolen from our children and our grandchildren. As subcommittee chairman of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations, I support this continuing resolution. Not only does it prevent a government shutdown, it gives us time to finish working on the remaining appropriations bills in an open and transparent way. I look forward to my subcommittee introducing and debating their work. Let me tell you a little bit about it. As we've been crafting this bill, I've worked closely with you, Members of this body, and listened to folks from Montana and throughout the country. We want it to be a balanced plan that fundamentally improves how the government spends its money, the hardworking money of taxpayers. We want to make government more accountable and efficient, saving as much as possible on top of the savings from earlier this year. In addition to eliminating inefficient programs, we'll improve the remaining government by defunding enforcement of unnecessary and overreaching regulations. These regulations cost jobs and hamper economic recovery. By spending strategically, we can maintain critical funding for things like education and biomedical research. To be successful in tomorrow's economy, our children need to be prepared for the skilled jobs that are going unfilled today. We also need to invest in basic research so the U.S. can continue to be a leader in biomedical advancements. Our subcommittee wants to do that. Our legislation will keep the promise we made to rein in government spending and government growth. It's the next step, not the final one. We still have a long way to go, but by finding ways to do more with less, we are changing the direction in Washington. That's what the American people want, and I'm confident that by passing this continuing resolution it will give us the time to do it in the open and do it right. With that, I hope you'll vote for this continuing resolution.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, history records important events and the people involved, which, on a grand scale, are significant to us all. But history is also recorded at the local level, and to mark a historic occasion in sports for a team from the great state of Montana, I recognize the Billings BigSky Little League All-Stars who became the first team from Montana to earn the right to compete with the world's best in the Little League Baseball World Series. In the Northwest Regional Championship game, the Billings Big Sky All-Stars defeated Bend South Little League, from Bend, Oregon, 7-1. The victory gave Big Sky Little League the regional title and a place in the 16-team field of national and international Regional Champions competing for the 65th Little League World Series Title. Championships at any level are never given away, they are earned, and not just from one day of competition. Titles are won beginning with a love and respect for the game, a dedication to being the best you can be, and an appreciation for all those who help you reach for your goals. The Little League logo carriers the words, ``Character, Courage, Loyalty,'' helping to promote strong values in our youth and our communities. Congratulations to the players and coaches of the Billings Big Sky Little League All-Stars for coming together in championship form, and for upholding the Little League values in sportsmanship and excellence. Your family, friends, fans and fellow Montanans are proud of your accomplishment. Billings Big Sky Little League All-Stars: (number, name, positions) 33--Ben Askelson P/C, 45--Sean Jones P/3B, 13--Pearce Kurth P/1B, 22-- Brock MacDonald P/OF, 19--Patrick Zimmer P/SS, 2--Jet Campbell 2B, 1-- Connor Kieckbusch 2B/OF, 25--Ian Leatherberry IF/P, 24--Dawson Smith 1B/OF, 10--Andy Maehl OF/C, 27--Cole McKenzie OF/IF, 11--Gabe Sulser OF, Gene Carlson--Manager, Mark Kieckbusch--Assistant Coach, Tom Zimmer--Assistant Coach.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. First of all, Madam Chairman, thank you for the fine work on this piece of legislation, something that's truly overdue. Mr. Speaker, the difficulty we had was a number of years ago, a piece of legislation went through this Congress with all the right things attached. We wanted to address lead in children's toys. True to Washington, D.C., form, the bureaucrats carried it to the extent that no longer made any kind of a common sense. When it came to time for the regulations to be crafted, I started receiving phone calls from my motorized vehicle dealers around the State of Montana, those that sold youth motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATVs, and they were being told that they had to take those units out of their showroom, eat the inventory, and could no longer sell their parts for repairs. Why? Because there was lead in some of the repair parts or on the units themselves. Now, I don't know if there is anybody in America that allows their children to chew on battery cables and valve stems, but they were determined to be toys, and it doesn't make sense. I come from a ranching family, and on my place we allow our children the opportunity to be trained on the smaller units to herd our livestock for the specific purpose that we don't want them on the larger vehicles. Try as we might to get the administration to change their regulations, they were not willing to do that. Today we are dealing with H.R. 2715, and it addresses a very important issue, kids just want to ride. They want the opportunity to ride the motorized vehicles, whether it is a snowmobile, a 4-wheeler or an ATV, for the specific purpose not just of recreation, but in a work setting as well. Because we could not make this change, we had to do it legislatively. We were successful in putting on riders on the appropriations bill year after year that said no money could be spent on the enforcement of this particular piece of legislation and the rules and regulations that were crafted thereafter. We will no longer have to do that with the passage of this bill. So it's with a great deal of appreciation that I say to Mrs. Bono Mack, thank you for bringing this piece of legislation forward; for the minority, thank you for your kind support as well in helping to move this forward and ultimately we can make the right commonsense decision, and that is to remove this aspect of this onerous regulation so once again, a kid, children, can ride the right vehicles so they won't be on the larger 4-wheel units, the larger snowmobiles and the larger motorcycles.

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Chairman, this amendment directs $2.2 million of the Department of Energy's Fossil Energy Research Development budget to the Risk Based Data Management System. The Risk Based Data Management System is a State governmental agency- based information system initiative to help States collect and aggregate essential oil, gas, and environmental compliance information, local geology data, base of freshwater data, well construction specifics, area production historical data, and information provided by companies applying for permits. This type of information system has resulted in better environmental protection; public disclosure of all chemicals; easier, cheaper, and faster environmental compliance for industry-enhanced State environmental enforcement. That's why my amendment is broadly supported by State environmental agencies, State regulators, the energy industry, and many in the environmental community. Providing this funding will allow for enhanced environmental protection and enhanced oil and gas production. It improves public disclosure of chemicals by providing funding for data systems where operators can disclose chemicals used on all procedures in any State. The amendment also strengthens State environmental regulation of oil and gas by providing funding for reviews of State environmental programs, including initiatives like the highly successful STRONGER, which is an organization that has done comprehensive reviews of State oil and gas agencies' administrative and regulatory operations using a multi-stakeholder team of three regulators, three environmental NGOs, and three industry representatives. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. REHBERG

Mr. REHBERG. No, the issue was not as a result of the Clean Water Act being established to clean up the various rivers around the country. The issue had do with specifically the Potomac and the discharges that occurred within the Potomac. And those of us from the Western Caucus in 2001, which is when I first got to Congress, were trying to make the issue of the hypocrisy between the eastern constituency, the urban constituency of Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, trying to apply a different standard to Montana. So the issue was specific to the discharge in the Potomac, and it was specific to the Wilson Bridge and an endangered species, and the hypocrisy of two separate interpretations. The Supreme Court has made an interpretation that the agencies are going too far. We agree with it. The language in the bill agrees with it. This amendment is a bad amendment, and I hope you vote ``no.''

Mr. REHBERG. Yes. This was in the year 2000.

Mr. REHBERG. If the gentleman will allow me to reclaim the gentleman's time, no, no, this was----

Mr. REHBERG. No.