John Shimkus

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the many accomplishments of Penny Cate as she retires on December 16th. An honors graduate of the University of Maryland and Georgetown University, Penny began her career in public service with the United States Department of Agriculture in 1974. In 1979, she started working as a policy analyst in the Congressional Research Service's (CRS) Food and Agriculture Section. When Penny left CRS in 1987, she had risen to the Head of the Food and Agriculture Section. Following her service in the federal government, Penny joined The Quaker Oats Company where she moved up from Manager of Government Affairs to Vice President of Public Affairs over her twelve and a half year career. After Quaker, Penny worked as Vice President of Public Affairs at Sears Roebuck and Co. from 2000 to 2002. In 2003, Penny utilized her extensive experience in state and federal government affairs, community relations and communications to open her own firm, Penny Cate & Associates, LLC and has served as Principal of the Illinois Government Affairs Group. During my time in the House of Representatives, it has been my pleasure to call Penny a friend. After decades of government service and work in government affairs, I wish her all the best in her retirement.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, $17 trillion is our national debt. $800 billion is how much we spend more than we take in. We pay $280 billion a year just on interest payments on the money that we borrow. Those are the real numbers, and that is why House Republicans have spent much of these past 2 weeks talking about debt, deficits, and Federal spending. House Republicans know what is driving America's debt. It is our reckless spending by legislators here in Washington. The American people know this, too. A recent Bloomberg poll found that 61 percent of Americans think it is right to include spending cuts with a debt limit increase. This is not just a Republican problem. Vice President Joe Biden, while serving in the Senate, protested against adding to America's debt without ``taking positive steps to slow its growth.'' Mr. Speaker, that is what this debate has been about, and we will continue to work hard to make that happen.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, a recent letter I received: I am writing this letter in regards to the new ``affordable'' healthcare. My husband and I are small business owners with two other employees. We purchase our insurance as individual insurance, and we received a letter this past week that our rates are changing. We currently have a $5,000 deductible with a monthly premium of $415, and on the new plan, if we stay with the current company, it is going to be $4,000 with a monthly premium of $1,093.78. I have tried to access the www.healthcare.gov Web site, and have been able to register an account but have not been able to get any type of pricing. I have contacted both of my Illinois Senators and my House Representative and have been told that they are not in favor of a government shutdown, but I am here to say if a shutdown is what it takes to get people to listen, then shut down. The reason I am contacting you is because my Congressmen are not willing to stand up to the President, and I just want to say good job for standing your ground.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to read a text I got from a friend and colleague from my State of Illinois: John, I have firsthand experience that the premium for an individual health policy is almost double the price now on the exchanges in Illinois. This person works for a health broker and her premium is going from $600 to $1,100 per month with Blue Cross. This is not good. I pray that you all band together, John, and stay the course, please. She is not the only one, John. All my clients' new premiums are going higher, as well. If they want it at the same price, they have to pick a much larger deductible. The President is not telling the truth. I am praying for you, John, to hold the line.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, October 10th will mark the 102nd Anniversary of the Wuchang uprising, which led to the establishment of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on January 1, 1912. The people of Taiwan pay tribute to this anniversary, known as the National Day of the Republic of China, through celebrations, parades, and fireworks, befitting its importance as a national holiday. Due to our cooperative and warm relationship over these many decades, it is also a special occasion worthy of tribute by this Congress as well. This important anniversary also provides an opportunity for Congress to contemplate the current state of our bilateral relationship with Taiwan and to take proactive steps to enhance it. In this rapidly evolving global economy, and with Taiwan's economic importance only growing, I believe now is the time for our two nations to further enhance economic and trade relations, such as the US considering a Bilateral Investment Agreement with Taiwan. Taiwan is already the 10th largest trading partner with the US and I urge the Administration to conclude this bilateral agreement as soon as possible. Concurrently, the US Trade Representative recently wrapped up the 19th round of negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I believe it's vitally important that this Agreement between the United States and Asian Pacific nations include Taiwan. My hope is for Taiwan to join the agreement expeditiously. Finally, I look forward to continue to work toward a deepened relationship with Taiwan to achieve greater prosperity for both nations, and hope that such work can be undertaken through official diplomatic visits to the U.S. from Taiwan officials without obstruction.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague and friend for the recognition and for the opportunity to recognize Captain Howard V. Lee from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Captain Lee was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy in Vietnam. When Lee realized that the unit had suffered numerous casualties, depriving it of effective leadership, and being fully aware that the platoon was even then under more heavy attack by the enemy, Major Lee took seven men and proceeded by helicopter to reinforce the beleaguered platoon. Major Lee disembarked from the helicopter with two of his men, and braving withering enemy fire, led them into the perimeter, where he fearlessly moved from position to position, directing and encouraging the overtaxed troops. Although painfully wounded by fragments from an enemy grenade in several areas of his body, including his eye, Major Lee continued undauntedly throughout the night to direct the valiant defense, coordinate supporting fire and apprising higher headquarters of the plight of the platoon. The next morning, he collapsed from his wounds and was forced to relinquish command. It is for his courage and unwavering devotion to duty that I am proud to honor and remember the actions of Captain Howard V. Lee. Semper Fi.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember and recall the life of Carla Anderson. Carla passed away on July 23 after a month-long fight against an infection. She was 52, a loving mother, devoted wife, and the successful deputy executive director of the Next Generation 9-1-1 Institute. It was in this capacity that I had the real privilege to work with her. The 9-1-1 Institute became the Next Generation 9-1-1 Institute as technology continued to move forward. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and I worked closely with the institute in our position as cochairs of the congressional E911 Caucus. Carla's hard work played a vital role in the passage and enactment of significant legislation passed by Congress to advance 911 services. In so doing, many lives have been saved, as first responders throughout the country cannot only receive calls, but identify the location of the call. In the first responder community, time saves lives; and as technology improved, Carla ensured that the legislation and education of Members improved with it. Carla was laid to rest in her beloved North Dakota. She will be missed by us and the first responder community throughout this country.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor with a letter from a constituent, a businessman, and I will just read parts of it: I did not need to read about the ObamaCare health insurance tax increase that will be passed on to small businesses. It has already happened to my small firm. Last week I was advised by my insurance agent that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is increasing my rates by more than 38 percent. I want to relay to you that due to a decrease in business, likely caused by uncertainty of our future, I have had to release one employee and have advised all remaining employees that the increase of health insurance premiums will be passed on to them. I was proudly able to pay 100 percent of employees' health care coverage, but after two consecutive 20 percent increases in the last two years, and the latest 40 percent increase, simple business logic requires that I pass on this increase or simply go out of business. My employees will have less take-home pay under ObamaCare. Does anyone in Congress realize that under this still uncertain program, it is more logical for me to shut down my business and take the subsidies on one of the exchanges than to remain open?

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, the basic premise of this bill is that the Federal Government can set safety standards and the States can enforce it, so reject the motion to instruct. I am going to turn my comments to people who live in the coal areas of our country. Coal is just not a commodity product, it is, really, a way of lifestyle if you live in coal country. I am a fourth-generation Lithuanian immigration family. My great- grandfather went directly into the coalfields. My grandfather went into the coal mines at age 10. He performed the job of a trapper. In my hometown of Collinsville, Illinois, we have Miner's Theater; in a community up north, we have Miner's Park; and in Gillespie, Illinois, we have Black Diamond Days. Coal is a culture. Coal is who we are. That is why I really appreciate my colleagues from West Virginia, David McKinley and Shelley Moore Capito. There are some States in this Union that coal is their only job, and that's why they fight and they stand up for coal. I remember being with the late Senator Byrd in a rally on The Mall to save coal jobs. He held up his hands and he said, ``There's coal in these veins.'' This was Senator Byrd--``There's coal in these veins.'' My colleagues and my friends, that's how we feel in coal-producing States in this country. It is part of who we are. It is our culture. Now, don't think this is a passe debate. There's a young Iraqi vet named Jimmy Rose. You may have seen him. He's 32 years old. He's also a coal miner. He's competing on ``America's Got Talent.'' Do you know what his song is? His song is ``Coal Keeps the Lights On.'' He talks about feeding his family. He talks about putting coal in the family household. He talks about that's their livelihood, that's their culture. It's an impassioned ballad for areas of our country that feel under attack, left behind, attacked by this administration. Mayor Dietz from McLeansboro, Illinois, is happy when new coal is opening up. Coal is keeping the lights on in the small communities and the shops and stores for a community that's kind of been left behind for 40 years. He's excited about the jobs and the tax base that's coming because of coal. I'm asking you, my colleagues, to stand up for coal, because coal keeps the lights on. I request that you reject this amendment and support the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my point of order, and I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order against the motion to recommit.

Mr. SHIMKUS. I claim the time in opposition, but I don't oppose the amendment.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my colleague for working with us and making some changes that we thought were appropriate. We agree with my colleague from Virginia that States should identify what their emergency response procedures are in the certification process, and so we are prepared to accept the amendment. He's made it a better bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. It's been a great debate. It's been a great process. I'll just summarize some of the issues. Yes, the issue is about beneficial reuse, like this shingle here; but it's also about the storage. We were very close to passing this legislation the last Congress, as the ranking member knows. This bill is better, as my colleague from Texas says. There are 12 additional changes made in this bill versus last year's bill that addresses many of the concerns that the minority asked and also concerns by the Environmental Protection Agency. We worked very closely with them. That is why--and I'll say it again--the administration has not issued a veto threat on this bill. That's a signal that they may have issues, but there's not an outright veto threat on this bill. That's a signal that we've worked with them to address some of the major concerns. Again, I want to highlight some of the special interest groups that are forcing this legislation, like the United Mine Workers, the building and construction trades, the transportation workers. Those who are historically considered in the minority's coalition are now moving to the pro-job coalition of this bill and hopefully other bills in the future. I want to reemphasize that the EPA in 1993 and 2000 stated that coal ash does not have the characteristics of hazardous waste, including toxicity, and should not be regulated under subtitle C. That's not us. That's the EPA, and that's the EPA making that ruling twice. We believe that the Federal Government can set standards. We believe that the Federal Government can enforce that the State do certification, and we trust the States to be able to monitor and meet the standards. That's why I listed in support the Environmental Council of the States and Indiana's Department of Environmental Management, because what they want to do is get a handle on this. And let's not confuse the issue. If the EPA is able to label fly ash as toxic, it does depress the beneficial use. So the cheap concrete that's mixed with fly ash will not be put in. The road mitigation issues which we've done will not be put in. My colleague, Marsha Blackburn, did a great job talking about how we use today coal ash and fly ash. So I want to thank my colleague, Mr. McKinley, for moving this bill and my colleagues on the subcommittee, who have made the changes and moved it forward. We look forward to the debates on the amendment, and we look forward to passing the bill and sending it to the other Chamber and eventually a signature by the President of the United States. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management wrote a letter in support of this bill and its safety and protection. Now I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to a member who has been very helpful on this legislation, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

Mr. SHIMKUS. I want to thank my colleague from Texas, who has helped us move the bill forward. I would remind my colleagues that the President has not issued a veto signal on this piece of legislation. Mr. Chairman, I now yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, we have spent much time talking about the need for Congress to consider jobs legislation. This is a piece of pro-jobs legislation. This bill is unique because it is also a pro-states' rights legislation and pro-environment legislation. But focusing on jobs for a minute, let me explain why a ``no'' vote is anti-jobs, placing anywhere from 39,000 to 316,000 jobs at risk at a time when we can least afford it. We are here because over 3 years ago the EPA put out three proposals on coal ash, including regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste. This caused massive uncertainty in the marketplace and created an unnecessary stigma on legitimate recycling of this product, and I have a piece of shingle that's made and produced by coal ash. And the States agree. As highlighted in a letter from the State of Michigan in support of H.R. 2218: Enactment would end the regulatory uncertainty that has hindered our efforts to promote the beneficial use of coal combustion residuals. EPA announced in litigation proceedings recently that it will not have a final coal ash rule before 2014. The fact that EPA continues to leave a ``hazardous waste'' designation on the table even though three decades of science and fact point the other way, that coal ash is not hazardous, it directly is contributing to the loss of current and future recycling. Coal ash is not an abstract substance. It is used in important infrastructure in this country. The American Coal Ash Association informed us that uncertainty in the marketplace caused by EPA's proposal to regulate coal ash as hazardous waste is diminishing their economic prospects down to just 40 percent of eligible coal wastes--and they support this bill. This bill establishes a solid framework for regulation of coal combustion residuals in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment, or the State environmental regulators--including the Environmental Council of States, ECOS, and the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management officials--would not be endorsing this bill. Coal ash makes concrete stronger, more durable, and cheaper. A ``no'' vote against this bill means that you support less durable, more expensive highways, schools, and green buildings. Don't take my word for it. The American Road and Transportation Builders Association and many other road and bridge builders, and also the Building and Construction Trades Union, want this bill because they want high- quality construction material for buildings, roads, and bridges. For Members concerned about wall board from China, coal ash is a stable, domestic source for wall board and will control costs. Don't take my word for it. The American Forest and Paper Association supports this bill. Mine workers across this country need a stable way of having America's energy future secured. This bill accomplishes that. Don't take my word for it. Ask the United Mine Workers, who supports this bill. Coal ash is recycled and used as a raw material in making cement. Voting ``no'' means you choose to put coal ash in landfills rather than putting it back into roads and building projects. Don't take my word for it. Organizations like Portland Cement Association, the Phoenix Cement Company, the Wisconsin Ready Mix Concrete Association, and the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association all support this bill. A vote against this bill is a vote for prolonged regulatory uncertainty. A vote against this bill is a vote to increase costs on the Federal, State, and local governments and infrastructures. A vote against this bill is a vote to increase costs on all Americans and to dare unemployment to go even higher. A vote against this bill is a direct message to career State employees in States across this country that you do not trust them to do the right thing regarding regulation of coal ash. This bill is a pro-jobs, pro-environment, anti-bureaucracy bill. If you want progress instead of process, protection instead of politics, and jobs instead of continued uncertainty, vote for this bill. We find ourselves in this morass of regulatory uncertainty because of the existing approach to environmental regulation. This bill presents a new approach that will reduce the inefficiencies of the Federal rulemaking process by setting a national standard in the statute and charging the States with implementation. If you support protecting jobs and preserving states' rights, and if you trust your State environmental regulators to protect your communities, you need to support this bill and vote ``yes'' on final passage. With this, Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, let me remind my colleagues of some of the special interests: United Mine Workers of America, Building and Construction Trades, and the Transportation Workers of America. I yield 2 minutes to the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I would ask my colleague to look at the 11 additional changes that have been made in this bill versus the last bill and realize how much we have moved in the direction that he speaks of. I now yield 7 minutes to the author of the legislation from West Virginia (Mr. McKinley).

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I remind my colleagues that the administration has not issued a veto threat on this bill. I now yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

Mr. SHIMKUS. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2218.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that H.R. 2315, Preserving Access to Orphan Drugs Act of 2013, be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and, in addition, to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.