Lamar Smith

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for the 31st year, the National Association of Town Watch is sponsoring an annual, nationwide crime, drug, and violence prevention program on October 7, 2014, entitled, ``National Night Out''. The City of Bulverde, which is located in the 21st Congressional District in Texas, will participate in this event for the ninth consecutive year. National Night Out provides a unique opportunity for Bulverde, Texas, to join forces with thousands of other communities across the country in promoting cooperative, police-community crime prevention efforts. Police-community partnerships, and neighborhood safety awareness and cooperation are important themes of National Night Out. Congratulations to the City of Bulverde for participating in this important event and for assisting the Bulverde Police Department by promoting joint crime, drug, and violence prevention efforts. These efforts keep our communities, and our citizens, more safe and secure. Credit goes to the citizens of Bulverde, Texas as they join the Bulverde Police Department and the National Association of Town Watch in supporting the 31st Annual National Night Out on October 7, 2014.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year the Job Corps program celebrates its 50th anniversary. It does much good by helping young people earn a high school diploma, develop a career, and obtain a good job. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the individuals at the Gary Job Corps Center in San Marcos, Texas. Gary Job Corps opened its doors in 1965 and has provided a wide range of career technical training opportunities to students in San Marcos ever since. Gary Job Corps has a long, distinguished history in our community that began in a deactivated air field. The former Gary Air Field was transformed from an air base to a career technical training facility. Barracks and buildings were converted to dormitories, classrooms, training shops, and offices. Today, Gary is the largest Job Corps Center in the United States with more than 1,600 students. Gary Job Corps has more than 20 career technical training opportunities that range from health occupations and business technology to computer related professions. Other opportunities include construction, manufacturing, human services, and correctional and security officer training. Additionally, Gary Job Corps offers the largest GED program in the state of Texas. Students can obtain their high school diploma via the Internet and acquire an accredited Texas high school diploma. There is overwhelming support for the Center among local civic and community groups. Teachers, mentors, friends and advisors selflessly invest themselves on a daily basis in the futures of Gary's students. But it is the students themselves who make the greatest investment and they are to be commended for their dedication to success. The tireless efforts of the bright, young men and women of Gary Job Corps have enabled them to enter a competitive marketplace equipped with the skills and education necessary to succeed; and succeed they do. The motto on the entrance to Gary Job Corps says, ``Not your last chance, your best chance.'' I commend Gary Job Corps for providing these students an opportunity to discover their learning potential and providing them with the ability to succeed. I also commend these students for recognizing that this ``best chance'' required hard work and dedication on their part, and for rising to meet this challenge. Congratulations to Gary Job Corps and the Job Corps Program on 50 years of ``best chances.'' May you continue to prepare America's young people with the skills needed to succeed in a career and in life.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is not too late to do the right thing, and that is hold the President responsible for his immigration policies. His ignoring immigration laws and weakening immigration laws through executive orders has caused the border crisis. It has encouraged tens of thousands of illegal immigrants to undertake a dangerous journey north. The burden rests on the President to enforce current immigration laws. Otherwise, he will continue to reap the whirlwind of displaced families and an unsecure border. To those who say, ``We have to do something,'' the answer is, ``Yes, tell the President to uphold the Constitution and faithfully execute the laws.'' The President doesn't need more power. He doesn't need more money. He just needs to keep his oath of office.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we honor America's oldest living female veteran, Ms. Lucy Coffey of San Antonio, TX. Ms. Coffey, who is 108 years old and lives in my Congressional district, is in Washington today and tomorrow to visit the WWII Memorial, the Women's Veterans Memorial and Arlington Cemetery. Ms. Coffey served honorably in the Women's Army Corps during WWII. Serving mainly in the Pacific theater, she was awarded two Bronze Stars for valor. After the war, she continued serving her country, working at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio for twenty years until retiring in the early seventies. The United States is stronger today because of the sacrifices all our veterans have made. And Ms. Coffey exemplifies what is best about our veterans and our great nation. It is with great appreciation and admiration that today we recognize and honor Ms. Lucy Coffey.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Border Security Caucus, composed of over 80 members and growing, met yesterday, and many of us have concerns about the administration's immigration proposals. We feel the President is trying to make Congress take ownership of the border crisis. We should reject that by pointing out that the President right now--today--could stop the illegal surge by enforcing current immigration laws. We should put the well-being of the children first and encourage them to stay in their home countries with their families. The President, allowing over 500,000 people illegally in the United States to stay indefinitely, has enticed tens of thousands more to undertake a dangerous journey to cross the southern border. The President's policies are deadly. The House should not send any immigration bill to the Senate, unless we know what is coming back. Otherwise, it is just a Trojan horse waiting to be used by those who favor amnesty.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, at this time, there are no other individuals on this side who wish to speak on this bill, so I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, before I yield back, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Texas, the ranking member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, for the comments that she just made. They are much appreciated. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, but I am prepared to yield back.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1022) to develop an energy critical elements program, to amend the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. 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. 1022, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1022, the Securing Energy Critical Elements and American Jobs Act of 2014, addresses the supply of energy critical elements in the United States. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell), the ranking member of the Energy Subcommittee, for his diligent work on this legislation. I also want to thank Mr. Hultgren, who introduced his own critical elements bill in the last Congress, for his initiative on this subject. Energy critical elements are important to energy-related technologies, communications technologies, and America's weapons systems. These technologies range from photovoltaic cells and fluorescent lighting to fiber optics, aircraft engines and turbines, computers, and electric vehicles. Energy critical elements encompass a broad set of the elements, including rare earth elements. Growth in demand for rare earths in a volatile market warrants particular attention and concern. China currently produces more than 90 percent of the global supply of rare earths. This is a result of a deliberate and decades-long strategy to develop its geologic reserves, undercut market prices, and drive out competition. Testimony before the Science, Space, and Technology Committee indicated that China has manipulated the market in recent years. It has reduced its export quotas and increased levies on rare earth oxides. This has caused wild price swings, market instability, and supply uncertainty. This behavior is a potential threat to the United States' ability to acquire many rare earths that both our energy sector and military rely upon. While a responsive market will continue to move towards solutions, there are reasonable and proper steps that the Federal Government can and should pursue in this area. These are reflected in this bipartisan bill. This bill establishes a program under the Department of Energy that supports activities to improve the methods of extraction, use, and recycling of energy critical elements. It improves the understanding of performance, processing, and adaptability in the engineering of these elements, and it identifies and tests alternative materials that could replace energy critical elements. However, the legislation stipulates that the program shall only focus on areas where the private sector is unlikely to undertake these activities because of technical or financial uncertainty. It also authorizes the Secretary of Energy to establish a Critical Materials Energy Innovation Hub that maintains a critical materials information center. This center collects, stores, and disseminates information on energy critical elements for scientists and researchers. In carrying out this program, the Secretary is directed to ensure that the activities are coordinated and do not duplicate other programs within the Federal Government. Finally, the legislation requires the President, through the National Science and Technology Council, to coordinate the actions of involved Federal agencies. The administration also will identify and monitor the supply of energy critical elements, encourage private sector development, and promote the recycling of these elements. This bill helps ensure that the United States remains globally and economically competitive and that our energy sector and military have the critical elements that they need. Once again, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren) for their efforts on this legislation. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, Chairman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, Larry Bucshon, in support of the reauthorization of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Measurement science conducted at NIST contributes to industrial competitiveness by supporting the technical infrastructure for advancements in nanotechnology, global positioning systems, materials sciences, cybersecurity, health information technology, and a variety of other fields. Research conducted at NIST laboratories has been lauded by independent review panels as being among the best in the world. NIST researchers have been awarded four Nobel prizes in Physics in the last 15 years. H.R. 5035 codifies education and outreach efforts at NIST and requires a comprehensive review of the NIST laboratory programs by the National Academy of Sciences. This bill authorizes just over $855 million dollars for NIST in Fiscal Year 2015, this funding level is consistent with the House passed Appropriations bill. NIST works alongside industry and is recognized as a provider of high-quality information utilized by the private sector. H.R. 5035 reauthorizes the work of this important agency at responsible funding levels. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5120, the Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2014, enables the Department of Energy (DOE) to more efficiently form partnerships with non-federal entities and transfer research to the private sector. I thank the gentleman from Illinois, Rep. Randy Hultgren, for his leadership on this issue. I also thank the Science Committee's Energy Subcommittee Chair, Cynthia Lummis, for her support for this bill. The DOE's national laboratory complex, often called ``the crown jewels'' of our federal research and development infrastructure, comprises 17 labs across the United States. These labs execute basic and applied research that keeps us on the cutting edge of global technological capabilities. This innovative early stage research is often not well understood by the private sector. Ideas and products created in the national labs are often slow to reach the market due to a communication gap between the labs and the private sector. Additionally, federal government red tape can discourage the private sector from utilizing these unique state-of-the- art facilities. This legislation modernizes the labs for today's market by granting operators increased flexibility. This bill: extends a pilot program to enable more flexible contract terms between lab operators and non-federal entities; grants lab directors signature authority for agreements with non- federal entities valued at less than $1 million; and enables labs to demonstrate research for private sector adoption. This legislation represents bipartisan, bicameral agreement to optimize the performance of the DOE national lab system. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the crisis at the border is a result of the President's allowing half a million illegal immigrants to stay in the country, and the national liberal media also are responsible for creating the crisis. The Media Research Center found that, from June 8 through July 1, 89 percent of news stories on ABC, NBC, and CBS failed to mention that President Obama's policies have encouraged the surge of illegal minors at the border. Accuracy in Media editor, Roger Aronoff, pointed out that another story ignored by the media are the hundreds of thousands of adult illegal immigrants who have crossed the border since April. He also said that the media push a pro-amnesty agenda and have dropped the term ``illegal'' from their vocabulary, but there is a huge difference between legal and illegal immigrants. The national media should give the American people all of the facts, not tell them what to think.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, a new Gallup poll has found that, by a 2 to 1 margin, Americans want to decrease immigration levels, not increase them. The recent survey shows that 41 percent of Americans support a decrease in immigration. Just 22 percent want it to go up. Only a minority, approximately one-quarter of Independents and Democrats expressed a desire to increase immigration, and a Rasmussen poll found that people earning under $30,000 support a reduction in immigration by a 3 to 1 margin. When is the President going to listen to the American people? They know that when a country has lost control of its borders, it has lost control of its future.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, chairman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, Larry Bucshon, in support of this legislation, which reduces the regulatory burden faced by researchers and research universities. In its recently released report, the Federal Demonstration Partnership found that researchers devote 42 percent of their time to administrative tasks. Answering Federal regulatory and reporting requirements takes away from time spent on the conduct of science. H.R. 5056 requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a working group under the National Science and Technology Council to review Federal regulations that affect research and research universities. The working group is tasked with making recommendations on how to harmonize, streamline, and eliminate duplicative Federal regulations and reporting requirements, and making recommendations on how to minimize the regulatory burden on research institutions. H.R. 5056 is an important step to ensure Federal research dollars are being spent on research and not on regulatory requirements. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5056) to improve the efficiency of Federal research and development, and for other purposes.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. 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. 5056, the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana, Dr. Bucshon, who is also the chairman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee of the Science Committee and the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer), who is a member of the Science Committee and also a sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. 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. 1786, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1786, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2014, introduced by my Texas colleague, Congressman Randy Neugebauer, reauthorizes the activities of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program through 2015. This important program supports Federal research and development efforts to help mitigate the loss of life and property due to wind- related hazards. Millions of Americans live in areas vulnerable to hurricanes, tornadoes, and other windstorms. According to the latest data in the National Science and Technology Council's biennial report to Congress, in 2011, windstorms in the U.S. caused an estimated $11 billion in total direct property losses, injured nearly 7,000 people, and took nearly 700 lives. In Texas, we are all too familiar with the harm that excessive wind can cause. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center, 179 tornadoes and 1,586 windstorms were reported in Texas in just the last 2 years. The effects of these disasters can be felt for years. Initially established in 2004, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program supports activities to improve our understanding of windstorms and their impacts and helps to develop and encourage the implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures. H.R. 1786 establishes the National Institute of Standards and Technology as the lead agency for the program, improves coordination and planning of agency activities in a fiscally responsible way, and improves transparency for how much money is being spent on windstorm research. I want to thank Representative Neugebauer for his continued efforts to support this program. He and Representative Frederica Wilson worked together to ensure that H.R. 1786 was reported out of the Science Committee with bipartisan support. I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, March 11, 2014. Hon. Lamar Smith, Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 1786, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of, 2013, as ordered reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on February 28, 2014. Thank you for working with us to incorporate mutually agreeable changes to provisions within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In order to expedite the House's consideration of H.R. 1786, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo further action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference committee named to consider such provisions. I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming this understanding, and would request that you insert our exchange of letters on this matter into the committee report on H.R. 1786 and the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. Sincerely, Bill Shuster, Chairman.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1786) to reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to again thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Esty) for her interest in this subject of STEM education and for her contributions to this bill as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Collins), who is a member of the Science Committee and also a cosponsor of this legislation.