Bill Sali

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman. I rise in support of H. Res. 923, recognizing the 150th anniversary of the great State of Minnesota. While I rise in support and recognition of this anniversary, I also rise to remind my colleagues that we must address rising fuel prices. Some have blamed rising fuel prices on those who own and manage big oil companies. In a recent study, however, Robert Shapiro, Undersecretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs under President Bill Clinton, found that the vast majority of oil and natural gas company shares are owned broadly by middle-income Americans through mutual funds, pension funds and individual retirement accounts, while a mere 1.5 percent of the shares of public oil companies are owned by company executives. That means that when Congress levies additional taxes on oil companies, the American public will pay for that tax in one of two ways; either through their pension or mutual funds, or by paying a higher price at the pump. Mr. Speaker, increasing taxes is not the answer to rising fuel prices.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. I thank the gentlewoman. I rise in support of H. Res. 1114, supporting the goals and ideals of the Arbor Day Foundation and National Arbor Day. I wholeheartedly support the planting as well as the management of healthy trees and forests. The Forest Service has estimated that a healthy and well managed forest could sequester much more of our national carbon emissions than our forests currently sequester, currently sequestering an estimated 10 percent of our national carbon emissions. I rise in support of this resolution. I also rise to urge my colleagues to address other issues facing our Nation, especially rising fuel prices. Increasing the supply of crude oil and ultimately its price is the single most effective thing Congress can do to lower gas prices. Today, 73 percent of every dollar we pay for gasoline is the price of producing crude oil. And yet, according to a study just released by the Bureau of Land Management, while onshore public lands in the United States are estimated to contain 31 billion barrels of oil and 231 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, some 60 percent of these lands are completely closed to leasing. Congress must act to lift the restrictions on America's energy rich public lands and increase exploration for and production of American crude oil and natural gas, and do so in an environmentally friendly manner.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to designate this Portland post office in the name of and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While I support this designation, I note with some disappointment that we are not also addressing rising fuel prices on this week's schedule. Dr. King spoke passionately about our Nation's moral obligation to make sure that the needs of the poor and the elderly are met. American senior citizens and low-income households have been disproportionately affected by higher energy costs. In 2006, before the skyrocketing and record-breaking fuel price increases we are seeing today, low-income households in America spent nearly 20 percent of their income on energy-related expenditures. This is a moral issue, an issue which, for many low-income families, senior citizens and hardworking families, affects their access to education, and even to their doctors. It's time for Congress to act on that moral obligation to take care of the poor and the elderly, and lift the restrictions on America's energy rich public lands to increase exploration for and production of American crude oil and natural gas, and do so in an environmentally friendly manner.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5477 designating this post office in the name of Chi Mui. While I rise in support of this resolution, I again rise to urge my colleagues to address rising fuel prices. Chi Mui's efforts to improve his community are akin to the efforts of America's charitable organizations that seek to meet the needs of Americans all across our lands. Today, as Americans across this country pay $3.98 per gallon at the pump, these prices hit nearly every facet of life, including those charities providing care for many Americans in need. One Tennessee paper reported today on the effects these prices are having on charities, and it says, ``Nonprofit agencies and charities that rely on voluntary drivers to help carry out their work say soaring gas prices are forcing volunteers to scale back or even stop driving. This means there are fewer people to drive cancer patients to treatment and fewer people to deliver food to the needy.'' Congress has a moral obligation to address rising fuel prices by immediately lifting the restrictions on America's energy-rich public lands to increase exploration for and production of American crude oil and natural gas and to do so in an environmentally friendly manner.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, ``if we open a quarrel between past and present,'' Winston Churchill reminded us, ``we shall find that we have lost the future.'' Mr. Speaker, I fear that Sir Winston's words are applicable to the House today. We are pondering questions about the imprudent decisions of our past, and not acting wisely in the present. And we are thus at risk of losing America's energy future. For the 15th day in a row, the average price for a gallon of gas set a new all-time high at $3.83 a gallon. Many of my constituents in Idaho, and many Americans will spend more than $50 every time they fill up at the gas station--in fact, for those who drive some of the most popular vehicles sold in the United States, filling their tank will cost more than $98. This should be no surprise. Today the United States imports a little less than 1/3 of our crude oil from OPEC nations and another roughly 1/ 3 from non-OPEC nations who gain the benefit of OPEC price increases from production restrictions and we produce a little more than 1/3 of from American sources. OPEC is essentially dictating the high prices we are paying at the pump. Yet American families are being faced not only with record high fuel prices but also rising food prices with each passing day. In only two years, the price of a gallon of milk has risen by nearly 70 cents. The price of bread, in the same period, is up more than 15 percent. And on it goes. When food staples and gas are both going up in price, the family is hit hard. In other words, it's not just family vacations that are being cancelled. These high prices also affect the ability of Idahoans to afford to get to work, drive their kids to the doctor and buy some of the simple necessities of life. The implications of rising fuel prices on education are also becoming apparent with media reports that some school districts are planning four-day school weeks in large part because of the rising cost of busing children to school. The costs of transporting school children will also affects field trips and other extra-curricular activities. Similarly, American senior citizens and low income households have been disproportionately affected by higher energy costs. In 2006, before the skyrocketing and record breaking fuel price increases we are seeing today, low-income households in America spent nearly 20 percent of their income on energy-related expenditures. This is a moral issue--an issue which for many low income families, senior citizens and hardworking families affects their access to education and even to their doctors, particularly in a rural state like Idaho. Congress is and has been in control of the solution. To lower the price at the pump and to break our addiction to foreign oil, we must increase production of American energy, while in the short term conserving and encouraging innovation to increase renewable energy. At her press briefing last Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) acknowledged one of the universal truths of supply and demand when she said ``certainly more supply lowers the price.'' I am relieved that the distinguished gentlewoman from California appreciates this elemental economic truth. In recognizing the truth that supply lowers the price, Democrats followed Speaker Pelosi, supporting a bill to halt shipments of crude oil from being put into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. They estimated that the resulting increases in supply of a mere 70,000 barrels per day would decrease prices by 5 cents a gallon at the pump. Although recognizing this truth, my Democrat colleagues continue to oppose the production of American crude oil. Today, 73 percent of every dollar we pay for gasoline at the pump is the price of producing crude oil. Increasing the supply of crude oil, and thereby reducing the price of crude oil, is the single most effective thing Congress can do to lower gas prices. And yet while my colleagues across the aisle understand that increasing supply is necessary, they consistently have opposed increasing the supply of American-made energy through increased production of American crude oil. I find this stunning in large part because our dependency on foreign oil is so unnecessary. As far back as 1980, the then-Democrat Congress--under then-President Jimmy Carter--set aside a specific parcel of land in Alaska for oil and gas development. In 1996 Congress voted to explore and produce crude oil from those lands, but president Clinton vetoed that bill. Since then, Congress has failed the American people in not pursuing the domestic exploration and production of oil. It's that simple. Congress has continued to erect huge roadblocks to exploration and development of oil on federal lands and has prohibited deep water exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources. If we are to remain prosperous, America needs energy--American energy from every source possible. This means that we must develop and produce oil and natural gas, but it also means we must be innovative-- innovative in conserving energy and innovative in producing alternative and renewable sources of energy. Electricity is just as vital as gas. It is estimated that our demand for electricity will increase by 25 percent over the next 20 years or so. For example, there is great potential for woody bio-mass as an alternative and renewable resource. This would allow us in Idaho to remove hazardous fuels from the forest and seek ways to use it to produce energy. In the Northwest, whenever we talk about renewable and clean energy, we cannot forget traditional hydropower, which provides 60 percent of all power supply to the Northwest. Hydropower is renewable and for America means no greenhouse gas emissions. Hydropower offsets more carbon emissions than all other renewable energy resources combined. It's a viable, clean and potent source of energy. Similarly, nuclear power will be essential for our future. It is safe and clean and affordable. There are 104 reactors in the U.S. at present, and licenses for 30 more nuclear power plants are being sought by a variety of companies and groups. Nuclear power is environmentally- friendly and cost-efficient for producers and consumers alike. In sum, we have substantial energy supplies available on the lands within our own nation. Tragically, due to the policy changes encouraged by the majority party, Americans across this country have only continued to see higher and higher gas prices. Congress must not, in some sad tribute to the cramped ideology of an extreme agenda, fail to allow the use of the resources we possess within our borders and within our technological and economic grasp. America needs a sound energy policy that develops domestic energy from every source available, including crude oil, natural gas, clean coal, hydropower, nuclear power and every alternative source of energy. To put it another way, we need all the energy we can get from all the sources we can afford to access. Period. Madam Speaker, let's not lose our future because we dawdle in the present. Let us summon the courage and fortitude to act, and act now. As Winston Churchill, a man greatly honored by our country would, I believe, agree, the American people, and the future they hope for, deserve no less.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, over 1,668,000 soldiers have been deployed in the service of our Nation in Afghanistan and Iraq since September 11. These veterans sacrificed every day for the well-being of our Nation. Whether they have seen active combat or not, all veterans share a common readiness to commit their all to the defense of the land they love. Their willingness to freely sacrifice their lives epitomizes what makes our country great. As a nation, we will always owe them a great debt. Several months ago I attended a funeral at Arlington Cemetery. That day a 19-year-old soldier from Pennsylvania was laid to rest. He was in a Bradley fighting vehicle in Iraq when an insurgent threw a grenade down the turret. It was reported that this soldier had time to get out of the vehicle before the grenade went off, and that is what he had been trained to do. Instead, he wrapped his body around the grenade as it went off, saving the lives of three other crew members. In the Book of John 15:13 Jesus taught, ``Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.'' The young man laid to rest at Arlington that day lived an example of the love of Christ. He and countless other who had lived stories of bravery and heroism deserve our highest honor and praise. But so do all of our veterans. That is why I was happy to recently see some developments back in my home State of Idaho that will greatly benefit the wounded warriors in my district. Through the hard work of many, including Karen White, the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho, recently launched a program known as Operation Education. The purpose of this program is to help veterans ``severely and permanently wounded'' as a result of their service to our Nation since September 11. Through the Operation Education Scholarship, the University of Idaho is able to offer financial support in areas from tuition and books to transportation and child care. They also offer internships and assist in job placement. Education is one of the greatest commodities we can offer our Nation's veterans. The skills they have learned in the Armed Forces inevitably benefit them as they go on to future learning and higher education. Operation Education and other programs like it offer veterans the opportunity to continue pursuing their dreams and benefiting themselves, their families, and our Nation. Not only is Operation Education open to disabled veterans, it is also available for the spouses of those veterans. Spouses of our soldiers are sometimes overlooked when we talk about the sacrifices that are made for our Nation. Those who stay at home while their spouses serve in faraway lands can sometimes do no more than pray and hope, trusting the fate of their loved ones to a higher power. I am familiar with the experience of a young couple split up less than five months after being married when this young man was called to go to Iraq to train canines for the next nine months. Not only is that young Marine separated from his brand new bride, he will miss the birth of their baby in six months. He and his wife moved just weeks before he was called to Iraq, and she is left at home in a new area faced with the prospect of delivering her first child on her own. Neither this proud soldier nor his brave wife are unique in their situation, and other young military families have faced more dire circumstances. However, their situation epitomizes the sacrifices that our military families make--both those who serve in uniform abroad and those who serve less visibly in the home. I honor those whose service in defending our Nation has required their lives. I have learned that it is the calling of some in our Nation's military to not come home. However, for those who do come home, the least we can do to show our respect for their service is to provide them with the opportunities they deserve. I commend the University of Idaho for making this program available, and I look forward to future developments that will bless the lives of our Nation's veterans.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the subject of the R&D tax credit which lapsed on December 31 of last year. One of this country's greatest strengths has been its ability to innovate, to create and develop new ideas. The lack of a competitive R&D tax credit here at home is driving American businesses to invest in R&D abroad. In the last 5 years alone, over 100 global companies have established R&D centers in India due to the long-term benefits provided by that government. With benefits such as a 15-year phased income tax holiday, deductions for in-house R&D equal to 1\1/2\ times the expenses incurred, coupled with accelerated tax deductions on prior period expenses, it is easy to see why companies are choosing to invest in India over the U.S., especially now that we have allowed our R&D tax credit to expire. The R&D tax credit should be renewed and made permanent as soon as possible, to create jobs in America and ensure we will always be on the cutting edge of innovation.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, on Question of Consideration on the Rule to provide for consideration of Conference Report on H.R. 2419--Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 (Flake Earmark Point of Order), I was at an award ceremony in which the United States Navy honored the Observation Squadron SIXTY-SEVEN (VO-67) with a Presidential Unit Citation. Mr. Kerry Bignall, a constituent of mine and member of the VO-67, was among the honorees at the event. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 328, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Personal Explanation

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, the 60th birthday of the State of Israel is a time of joyous celebration for all who honor hope, dignity and liberty. Since even before the First World War, Jewish people from all over the globe have traveled back to their historic homeland. The hope of a secure Jewish homeland was a dream worked for by so many for so long. From dispersion and oppression to bitter pogroms and on through the murderous horror of the Holocaust, the Jewish people have endured more than can be put into words. Still, through it all, they have persisted and persevered, maintaining their identity, traditions and faith. On that great day some 60 years ago, the State of Israel declared its independence. Only eleven minutes after Israel did so, President Harry Truman declared America's recognition of the new Jewish State. Since this time, all the leaders of the United States have expressed their support for the State of Israel, and the people of both countries have continually nurtured, promoted and developed their shared values and interests. President Bush recently made a public statement which summarizes my own views on Israel: ``The United States will never abandon its commitment to the security of Israel as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people.'' I am an uncompromising advocate for Israel's security and freedom. Anything which infringes upon the rights and welfare of the State of Israel is not in America's interests and must never be tolerated. I have served and will continue to serve proudly on the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus. I have co-sponsored legislation to protect this great nation through condemning ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on innocent Israel civilians, anti-Semitic rhetoric and the glorification of terrorism. Support for Israel must remain central to American foreign policy. This support is especially essential given the threats Israel continues to face. The brutal terrorist organization Hamas is an ongoing threat to Israel's well-being. Iran continues to shake its potential nuclear sword against Israel, and Al-Qaeda fights for a foothold in Pakistan in order to spread its viral cruelty all the way to Jerusalem. Syria proudly maintains its hostility to the Jewish State, seeming only to be waiting for an opportune moment to pounce. We must always help Israel keep a well-armed guard up. To do less would be to breach our national interest and our national honor. For 60 years, the Israelis have strained and endured in their desert home, overcoming in several major wars, endless attacks and terrorism. Amazingly, out of all of this turmoil, pain, and violence, a home has bloomed out of the Middle Eastern sands for these wonderful individuals who only seek a home for themselves and their families. Sixty years is an anniversary well worth celebrating. While the pain of the past cannot be eradicated, nor can the courage, fortitude and hope of a people who have endured and triumphed, again and again. May we all join in the prayer of the 122nd Psalm: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They that love thee shall prosper. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will say now, peace be within thee. For the sake of the House of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. I trust that all my colleagues will join me in saying ``amen'' to this prayer.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join with many of my colleagues in recognizing American Religious History Week, which began yesterday and goes through this Friday. I rise not as a sectarian Christian but as an elected Representative of a religiously diverse people. In my beautiful region of Idaho, there are persons of every faith and some who hold to no faith. Some attend very traditional, liturgical Christian churches and some attend services of Eastern faiths. Some are members of Latter-Day Saint congregations and others are Pentecostal Evangelicals. Idaho has a vibrant Jewish community--Idaho was the first state in the Nation to have a Jewish governor--and our state's Catholics were among millions of fellow worshippers who recently welcomed the Pope to our country. I could keep going, but you get the point: Like most congressional districts, every major religion and denomination is represented in Idaho's First. Their adherents are full citizens of our great Republic and persons I am honored to represent here in our Nation's capital. At the same time, it is indisputable that the Judeo-Christian moral tradition was fundamental to our Nation's founding. And this week, we in Congress are joining with Americans of every religious tradition in noting the importance of that tradition to the institutions we cherish and the way of life we enjoy. Our country's Founding Fathers were imbued from an early age with a profound sense of the Judeo-Christian worldview. In a recent interview, Dr. James Hutson, chief of the Library of Congress's manuscript division, said, ``Jefferson and others were tutored by ministers. They were an extremely biblically literate generation. This certainly shaped their view of Providence. The extent to which they believed in Providence would be unimaginable today. Adams and folks like that continually quoted [Jesus'] statement that a swallow cannot fall without God's knowledge. Washington talks about the invisible hand of Providence. Their biblical knowledge convinced these people that there was an invisible hand of God, and that there was a moral government of the universe.'' Dr. Hutson's view is supported by historians of all persuasions. But perhaps the best way to draw attention to our country's religious history is by using the words of the Founders themselves. Consider the words of John Witherspoon, president of what became Princeton University and a signer of the Declaration of Independence: ``It is in the man of piety and inward principle, that we may expect to find the uncorrupted patriot, the useful citizen, and the invincible soldier. God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.'' John Jay was a co-author of the Federalist Papers. He served as governor of New York and later was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He has also been called the ``American Wilberforce'' for his efforts to work with his British friend William Wilberforce to end the slave-trade. What is not often known is that this great statesman was the second president of the American Bible Society and argued throughout his life for the importance of biblical principles to the future of the United States. Jay had a strong grasp on God's guidance of the formation of our Nation. In 1809, he wrote to a friend, ``A proper history of the United States would have much to recommend it: in some respects it would be . . . unlike all others; it would develop the great plan of Providence.'' God's provision to America was clear to Jay's Federalist Papers' co- author John Adams, as well. He knew that it was found in more than our abundant natural resources, but also in the very conscience of the people. Adams put it this way: ``We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.'' In a statement made in 1778 to the Virginia General Assembly, James Madison, the future father of the Constitution and President, said, ``We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We've staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity . . . to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.'' George Washington echoed these same views in his Farewell Address to the Nation at the end of his presidency: ``Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens . . . Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.'' America's Judeo-Christian religious heritage is rich and profound. It has shaped our institutions and nurtured our national soul. It is also the fount of the religious freedom we cherish: Those of us who believe in the God of the Bible believe He gave men and women the freedom to serve Him or not to serve Him. If that's true, we should allow that same freedom to our fellow citizens. Our Declaration of Independence refers to ``Divine Providence,'' our ``Creator'' and ``the Supreme Judge of the World.'' Our Founders recognized their need to rely on, and submit to, His will in all things. May we, in our day and in this Chamber, continue to learn from their example.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-10, 2008. This week we take a moment to thank educators who are committed to enriching the lives of the children they teach. I want to thank the teachers in Idaho dedicated to paving the road for the next generation's success. Educators have a unique opportunity to play a vital role in the lives of Idaho students and provide a powerful role model through their patience, dedication and knowledge. Several teachers from my youth left a lasting impression that has shaped who I am today. I want to express my gratitude to those teachers who taught me life long lessons. I am in debt to them for their wisdom and vision. Benjamin Franklin once said, ``Genius without education is like silver in the mine.'' I'm confident in the ability of Idaho educators to cultivate the minds of our youth and inspire them to greatness. Idaho teachers face a unique challenge in that the Gem State includes 63 percent Federally administered land and this has left many of our counties and schools without an adequate tax base. In light of this, I will continue to dedicate my time in Congress to ensure Idaho's rural counties get a fair shake and the Federal Government meets its responsibilities to them fully. It is through the innovation and hard work of parents, teachers, local administrators and the community as a whole that the educational needs of all children will be served. I remain confidant that Idaho's students will reap all the benefits that our teachers have to offer.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an elite group of students from Cole Valley Christian School in Meridian, Idaho. Christopher Barker, Maxwell Greenlee, Timothy Segert, Adam Tucker and Phillip Grafft will represent Idaho in the 18th annual U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl competition in Washington, DC. The National Science Bowl is an academic challenge involving more than 12,000 high school students across the country. From January through March, regional elimination tournaments were held across the country and the group of four seniors and one junior from Cole Valley Christian prevailed. The 67 winning teams have won the opportunity to compete at the national finals in Washington, DC, May 1-6, 2008. The mission of the National Science Bowl is to encourage students to excel in science and math, and to pursue careers in those fields. I am proud to congratulate Christopher, Maxwell, Timothy, Adam and Phillip who represent the best of our next generation of scientists, engineers and educators. The competition is in a fast-paced question and answer format. The students prepared during their lunch break under the guidance of Coach Lola Lynch. Ms. Lynch is described by the students simply as ``awesome.'' I thank her for all the dedication, support, and encouragement she has lent to the students. Though Ms. Lynch is unable to attend the competition in DC, the students will be diligently coached by Tim Berggren. When asked if they will win, the students said they hope so. But even more, they hope to represent God and Idaho as best as possible. Christopher, Maxwell, Timothy, Adam, Phillip, Coach Lynch and Coach Berggren: I wish you the best of luck at the Science Bowl. Congratulations on your efforts thus far, you are fine representatives of Idaho.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize three admirable teens from Idaho. Danielle Manning, 15, of Meridian, and Taylor Leavitt, 14 of Melba were recently named the top two youth volunteers in Idaho for 2008 in the 13th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The Prudential awards are the country's largest program that recognizes the power of youth volunteerism. Additionally, Katie Williams of Eagle was named a finalist in the program. Danielle saw a need in her community to help teen mothers. She collected more than 700 packages of diapers and raised almost $1,300 to stock Marian Pritchett High School in Boise, a public school for teen mothers, with diapers. Taylor saw a need in his community too. The 8th grader worked on several volunteer projects such as rounding up Boy Scouts to mow the lawn, pick up garbage and clean out the garage of a grieving family. They also spent time with local senior citizens and helped folks moving into the community. Katie worked with a group of high school girls to collect more than $70,000, books and school uniforms for a school in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Katie will receive an engraved bronze medallion as a finalist. These three students deserve our appreciation and gratitude. They represent the greatness that our youth have to offer, demonstrating the power each one of us has to contribute to our communities and help our neighbors. And I note they did so without the aid or intervention of a government agency or federal program. Thank you Danielle, Taylor and Katie for your willingness to dedicate your time to worthy causes. Your work serves as an example for all of us.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, if you're afraid of the future, said Ronald Reagan, then get out of the way, stand aside; the people of this country are ready to move again. As with so many things, President Reagan was right. We cannot avoid real problems, gloss over pressing needs or, out of fear of something unforeseen, sit immobile until we are overtaken by inevitable results of our previous inaction. Americans are paying on average $3.62 a gallon, and by early summer, we're going to be at $4 a gallon. By the end of this year, it's projected oil will be at $180 per barrel, an approximate doubling in the space of 1 year. Why are we paying so much? Very fundamentally, it's a supply and demand issue. We need oil, but the supply is limited. This is frustrating in its own right, but it's truly maddening when you consider the supply of crude is not really limited and that we have additional resources available to us, but they have been locked up by Congress. The current majority claims they have the answers in a new clean energy agenda which purports to offer reduced reliance on foreign oil. But they seek to do it through increased alternative forms of energy, much of which is not even available today, instead of drilling for and pumping American crude. Before the vote was taken on the majority's latest energy bill on December 18, 2007, Speaker Pelosi said, You are present at a moment of change, of real change. Perhaps she was correct, only the change she envisions is radically different than what most Americans want. To lower the price at the pump and to break our addiction to foreign energy, we must increase production of American crude, not stifle it. Today, our country currently imports 61 percent of its crude oil and 15 percent of its natural gas. It's not only expensive but foolish for us to depend on such politically unstable regions like the Middle East for our energy. If this Congress were serious about reducing America's reliance on foreign oil, one would also think it would invest in new energy supplies that it can produce in the U.S., such as coal-to-liquids using clean coal technology; and it would engage in immediate development of domestic oil sources by obtaining oil from ANWR, drawing oil from our Outer Continental Shelf, our oil shale, and even oil sands. Additionally, we have large supplies of natural gas, and instead of using it for domestic purposes, we're selling about two-thirds of it abroad. Natural gas is a steal when compared to crude oil. According to one recent news story, natural gas prices are currently much lower than crude oil when the two are compared on a BTU equivalency basis. Currently, crude oil is nearly $120 a barrel compared to natural gas at about $11 per thousand cubic feet. Since natural gas is used at about one-sixth of the cost of crude oil, that's a bargain. We need to actively develop American natural gas resources, and we can because the supply is there. We need to lift the moratorium Congress has imposed on drilling our offshore natural gas reserves and tap into this incredible resource. These are supplies that we have right now on the lands of our own Nation. We don't have to go abroad and be held economic hostage to foreign oil cartels. Natural gas is one piece of the puzzle. But let's be candid. We still need oil, a lot of it. And as we increase oil supply, we must also increase refining capacity to process it, yet it has been three decades since we built a new oil refinery. Lack of refinery capacity is another reason why gas prices are so high. And we further tied our hands by shying away from clean, secure, safe nuclear energy. Since the 1970s, nuclear technology has been developed that will enable us to produce nuclear energy without the potential dangers of previous years. In his news conference yesterday, President Bush said, Many of the same people in Congress who complain about high energy costs support legislation that would make energy even more expensive for our consumers and small businesses. He went on to say, Congress is considering bills to raise taxes on domestic energy production, impose new and costly mandates on producers and demand dramatic emission cuts that would shut down coal plants and increase reliance on expensive natural gas. That would drive up prices even further. The cost of these actions would be passed on to consumers in the form of even higher prices at the pump and even bigger electric bills. Now, of course the President was referring to our friends on the other side of the aisle. And the fact that he's right does sadden me because this is not a partisan problem, it's an American problem that demands a true bipartisan solution. Yet, the Speaker's energy bill that came out at the end of last year will invest less than $300 million over 3 years in such clean energy sources as hydropower, marine and hydrokinetic energy, wind energy, solar, and clean coal technology. In contrast, consider the cost of what the Speaker chose to invest in through her energy bill. The bill contained $375 million for a Green Jobs program for 3 years; $600 million to assist developing countries with their renewable energy development, and additional funding, as needed, to assist India and China with the same. That's right, we are sending American tax dollars overseas to the two very countries we are competing with for energy supplies. Is that the kind of real change that Americans want? Tragically, with the policy changes wrest by this Congress, Americans across this country have only continued to see higher and higher gas prices as new record-high gas prices are reached almost daily. As President Reagan correctly reminded us, Americans are not afraid of the future, we welcome it. In facing the future, however, America needs sound energy policy that develops domestic energy sources from every source available, including crude oil, natural gas, clean coal, hydropower, and every alternative source of energy. To put it another way, we need all the energy we can get from all the sources we can possibly afford. We need a real energy policy, not a futuristic wish list. Madam Speaker, we're waiting. Please don't make us wait any longer. With that, I yield back.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2448.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. I would like to thank the good gentleman for yielding to share a few thoughts. Now that the April 15 deadline for filing tax returns has passed, I would actually like to ask everyone to consider a few things. In 1900 most Americans only had to work until January 22 to fully meet all of their tax obligations to the Federal, State, and local governments. At that time the percentage of a worker's income needed to pay their taxes was just 6 percent. Imagine how much easier life would be today if we were done working for the government by the end of January. And today, Tax Freedom Day, for most Americans doesn't come until tomorrow, April 23, as my good friend has pointed out. The deadline to fill out your tax forms, it comes and goes, and yet you're still working for the government, not for yourself, not for your business, not for your family. A third of your income goes to pay the taxes that you owe government. Government has demonstrated an insatiable appetite to grow. In fact, Federal spending has more than tripled since 1965. Almost every week in Congress, we are asked to vote to create new programs and expand existing ones. Unless there is some urgent need, and there usually isn't, I vote ``no.'' Americans just can't afford it anymore. Congress is not being careful enough with our hard-earned tax dollars. The majority recently passed a budget plan that would raise taxes by $683 billion in the next 5 years. That's the largest tax increase in American history. It requires higher taxes on married couples and small businesses. Their plan also includes no permanent fix for the alternative minimum tax that threatens unsuspecting middle income Americans to the tune of $70 billion in new taxes. And on the horizon are even more tax increases if Congress fails to act. Higher income tax rates and higher capital gains tax rates will hit virtually everyone. Higher dividend taxes will hit every investor. The death tax will be back, as will the marriage tax penalty. The tax credit for every child will be cut in half. I think Congress needs to recognize that Americans are taxed too much, and that is why I am a proud cosponsor of my friend Congressman Walberg's Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007, which would prevent this unprecedented tax increase. Congress must make a priority of finding ways to lower the tax burden on Americans instead of increasing it. If we don't, Tax Freedom Day will soon be delayed until May or June and we will reminisce about the ``good old days'' when our tax debts were paid in full by April. Well, let's hope and pray that that never happens. As a kind of a bookend here on your comments earlier about what's happening in your State, I want to let you know, Congressman Walberg, in the State of Idaho, we're actually going the other way. This year our legislature cut the tax on personal property for businesses. We had a tax that was imposed upon the personal property that businesses owned, and that's being phased out at least at the bottom, and there will be a floor so that if you have less than $100,000, I think was the number they settled on, worth of business property, you won't pay any property tax on that. It's not just for business, though. It's for individuals as well. And I will let you know that in Idaho we have been paying tax on the food that we buy, sales tax. This year the legislature passed a plan that would increase the deduction that's allowed against your State taxes. We call it the ``Grocery Tax Credit.'' It will increase that significantly and will reduce the taxes that people pay on food. This is an important concept because I have kind of a principle that I use as a test here, and it's this: If you had a dollar to put wherever you thought it would do the most good and you could pick your favorite government program or anywhere in the private sector, where do you think it would do the most good? What the legislature in the State of Idaho has said is we think it will do the most good if we leave it in the hands of individuals. It comports with the Founding Fathers, as you were referencing earlier. Unfortunately, I don't understand the thinking of your State legislature where they are going the other direction. And I guess this represents the battle that exists within this country today. Many people say we live in a divided country. And I think that's true. And it's divided, I think, into two main categories, the first one being those who believe in the vision of the Founding Fathers, that want a government that is there to serve the people, that we will have a government that allows people to have the freedom to determine what's going to happen in their own lives, allows them the freedom to use their personal property, the wealth that they create because of that personal property to do as they see fit. And that's opposed to the other vision, which is one that says government must do more for people. We hear that phrase on this floor regularly or some iteration of it: Government must do more. That's not what the Founding Fathers thought. This vision that government needs to do more, that somehow if the government takes control of a problem, that it will be solved. How many times have we looked at a program and said why won't this thing work? And the answer, I think, is because generally government doesn't work. That was the whole point that the Founding Fathers brought to light. And I think there are two places where we can see kind of the underlying principles that get at these two very different visions for our country. The Founding Fathers relied on that vision that was set out in the Declaration of Independence; that when they said these words, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'' and ``endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights'' and then later said ``Governments are instituted among men'' to protect those rights, that's one vision that says our rights come from God and it's government job to protect and respect those rights. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt was, I think, addressing a press club here in Washington, DC, he described it quite differently. He described government as a contract where the people give power to the government and then the government dispenses benefits to the people. We call those things entitlements today. The vision of the Founding Fathers didn't rest at all on entitlements. They rested on rights. That vision that wants to see bigger government, government's securing a solution for every problem--

Mr. SALI. Well, again, I thank the gentleman. It begins with your vision of the principles that underlie your vision for how you want government in this country to exist. If you have a vision that says the principles can change over time, essentially that the truth can be molded over time, that there is not absolute truth, then you don't have to have that vision of the Founding Fathers. Everything can change. Up can be down if you go far enough with that. The principles over time that change will lead you to a point where you can move from that vision of the Founding Fathers, where they said that freedom is the thing that matters the most, where liberty is the thing that matters the most. That those rights that are given by God, it is the obligation of government, and the reason that government exists is to protect those rights. If you can change those principles, you can end up with a government that will take care of you and do everything for you, and your rights don't matter at that point. It's not the government's job to protect your rights that are God-given, it's government's job to give you those rights. Again, we call those entitlements. At the end of the day, when I talk to people who live in my State, what they want is they want a future for their kids and their grand kids, where they will have freedom and security and prosperity. Freedom comes when you make fewer laws. Prosperity comes when you take less money out of my pocket and give it to government, when Tax Freedom Day comes earlier in the year. Security comes when we have things like a strong national defense, when we allow our government to do those things that are needed to protect the security of the people who live here, and of our country itself. When I talk to Idahoans, that is what they tell me that they want. That can't exist under a government where the people give power to the government, and the government distributes entitlements. Whoever became free living on entitlements? Whoever became prosperous living on entitlements? Who was ever secure living on entitlements that at any moment can be changed by the 535 Members that serve in Congress. With that, I would yield back to the gentleman.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dan Long of Boise, Idaho. Dan will be representing Idaho in the 2008 National Small Businessman of the Year competition. The Small Business person of the Year Award is given annually by the United States Small Business Administration, SBA. Any individual who owns and operates or who bears principal responsibility for operating a small business may be nominated. A winner from each State has been selected and they will gather in Washington, DC, this week for the announcement of National Small Business Person of the Year. This event coincides with National Small Business Week. Criteria for selecting the Small Business Persons of the Year include substantiated history as an established business, growth in the number of employees, increase in sales and response to adversity, among other factors. Dan is an ideal candidate to represent Idaho for this award. He started A-1 Plumbing Service, Inc., in 1984 with one truck and one employee, himself. Dan had a vision of adding one truck per year for the first 10 years and using them to deliver exceptional service, Dan's vision has become reality. A-1 Plumbing has grown from one truck and one employee to offices in Boise and Nampa, 25 trucks and 36 employees. In addition, the company has enjoyed a booming rate in sales and profits of 10 to 20 percent annually since its inception. Particularly impressive is the repeat customer percentage of 87 percent. I also commend Dan for his practice of donating a minimum of one percent of revenues to local charities. His actions are exemplary. He is much deserving of the title National Small Businessman of the Year. Thank you, Dan, for your quality work. It is my honor to recognize you today.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Michael T. Lilly of Boise, Idaho. Sergeant Lilly was killed on April 7, 2008 in Sadr City, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom when a rocket propelled grenade caused an explosion near Sergeant Lilly's position. While serving the United States, Sergeant Lilly distinguished himself amongst fellow soldiers as an enthusiastic, patriotic soldier, passionately dedicated to serving his country and defending freedom abroad. Sgt. Lilly embodied high caliber leadership in keeping with the highest traditions and customs of the United States Army, and his guidance will be sorely missed by all of those with whom he served. Sgt. Lilly was a graduate of Borah High School, a ``Borah Lion.'' At the memorial service held in his honor, one of the speakers, former Boise Airport police chief and Borah grad Mike Johnson said, ``Lilly had the heart of a Lion. Tonight, the Lion sleeps.'' There can be no finer tribute to this sterling young man. I extend to his wonderful family my most sincere condolences and express my heartfelt appreciation for the brave men and women like Sgt. Lilly who have borne the hardships of battle and perished in the line of fire.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable Idahoan and a place in my beautiful home State. Today, the House is voting on renaming the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area--right outside my hometown of Kuna, ID-- after a man named Morley Nelson. Morlan W. Nelson--everyone called him ``Morley''--was born in North Dakota. Morley was fascinated by raptors from a young age as he grew up on a ranch in his native State. He earned a degree in soil science, engineering and nuclear chemistry from North Dakota State in 1938 and went on to serve with great valor as a captain in the 10th Mountain Division during the Second World War, the same outfit where our esteemed former colleague Bob Dole served with such distinction. Morley won a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a Silver Star for his courage and indomitable spirit. Morley moved to Idaho after the War. In 1948, he made his home in Boise and began serving as the Columbia Basin's Snow Survey Supervisor and pursued his groundbreaking work with such raptors as the golden eagle. To give a fuller account of Morley's remarkable life, allow me to quote from a biography of Morley drafted for the Morley Nelson Elementary School in Boise: Morley continued his work with raptors and, after relocating to Idaho, became interested in the golden eagle. In 1958 he influenced the State Legislature to enact a law protecting raptors in Idaho. In the early 1960s Morley began working for Walt Disney Production's True Life Adventure Series training falcons, eagles, and hawks. He worked on numerous films with Walt Disney and Paramount Pictures as well as working with Marlin Perkins on the Wild Kingdom television series, and television programs for PBS and other networks. In the 1980s and 1990s Morley participated in many documentaries and videos featuring his birds. In the 1970s and 1980s Morley was instrumental in recognizing the importance of the Snake River Canyon as a haven for birds of prey and with the help of Governor Cecil Andrus, who was then Secretary of the Interior, and others, they establishing the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. He also influenced the establishment of the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise. Morley had a long and productive association with the Idaho Power Company and the Edison Electric Institute to help solve the electrocution of eagles problem. He designed nesting platforms that attach to large transmission lines which have helped to expand the nesting areas of Raptors. His power line corrections and nesting platform designs are now used worldwide. Idaho's rich natural heritage is exemplified by the raptors that make their homes in the Gem State. Thanks largely to Morley's efforts, ``Idaho hosts the densest population of nesting raptors in North America, and possibly on planet Earth,'' according to writer Lee Foster. Madam Speaker, on behalf of my great home State, let me say that we will remember this wonderful man, exemplary patriot and outstanding naturalist. I also commend and thank my friend and colleague, Mike Simpson, for introducing H.R. 3651, which renames the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area the ``Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.'' It's a fitting tribute to a great Idahoan and a great American.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my constituents, Brooke Garcia of Caldwell, ID. On Thursday night, April 10, Brooke displayed courage, bravery and maturity well beyond her young 17 years of age. While driving down Interstate 84 in Caldwell, Brooke witnessed a car accident. Her quick thinking led her to stop her car and run to the burning wreckage. Brooke then had to break the back window of the smoke-filled car and reach through the broken window to pull out a 3- year-old toddler from his seat. She said she didn't even think about not stopping. Police on the scene said if Brooke hadn't gotten to the child as quickly as she did, things would have turned out differently. She saved the toddler's life. I admire Brooke's composure after witnessing such a terrible accident. I am honored to recognize the heroic efforts of this young lady. I applaud and am grateful for her example to our fellow Idahoans and all Americans. Brooke's valiant action is yet another reminder of why I am proud to be an Idahoan and to represent the First Congressional District of the Gem State. Brooke attends Caldwell High School and is the daughter of Amy and Gerald Garcia. They are rightly proud of their wonderful daughter. I trust that all my colleagues will join me in recognizing Brooke for her actions and character. She represents the best of Idaho's next generation.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, as you sit down to beat the April 15 deadline for filing your tax returns, consider this: In 1913 the IRS tax form, that's singular, ``form,'' was 1 page, and the entire Tax Code was a mere 14 pages long. Today the Tax Code consists of an amazing 15,758 pages bound in 22 volumes. James Madison's words ring true when he said, ``It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.'' Today this Chamber is addressing a commonsense measure, one dedicated to James Madison's proposition that the laws governing us should be readily understood by average citizens. No one enjoys paying taxes, but at the very least the forms should be readable and understandable to the average American. Americans should be able to tell quickly and easily whether they're paying too much or too little in taxes. It should not take an attorney to figure it out. It is imperative that Americans know just what is being asked of them, and that is why plain language in tax forms and instructions is so important. The Plain Language in Government Communications Act will enhance citizen access to government information and services by promoting the use of plain language in government documents issued to the public. When the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives addressed this bill in January, I raised concerns that the bill only focused on documents relating to benefits or services. Since that time I have worked with Congressman Braley to find a way to expand the scope of this bill to include things like tax forms, instructions, surveys, and other similar documents. These changes appear in the text under consideration today, requiring that tax forms and instructions be made available in plain, straightforward language. During this time of year, we all recognize the importance of plain language as we tackle tax forms. It is my hope that this bill will become law, which will lessen the burden of government on taxpayers. I urge my colleagues to support this important and commonsense measure.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, continuing on with the remarks that were just made, many U.S. companies are making plans of where they will spend their research and development budgets for the next 3 to 5 years. Unfortunately, this Congress has made it increasingly difficult for these companies to invest those R&D dollars with the kind of careful planning their needs demand. High-tech companies are sending their R&D jobs abroad to countries that recognize that permanent R&D tax incentives induce businesses to locate research activities there. Canada provides a 20 percent flat credit for R&D. Ireland offers a 20 percent credit, as well as a full deduction, a low corporate tax rate, advanced infrastructure and a skilled, English-speaking workforce, all factors that appeal to many multi-national companies. Madam Speaker, these jobs sent overseas are permanently lost when a company starts a new R&D project. We must keep these jobs here. The R&D credit has already lapsed. The clock is ticking. Congress must extend the R&D tax credit today, and we must also foster R&D at home by making this important tax credit permanent.

Mr. SALI

Mr. SALI. Mr. Chairman, those recreating in Idaho, whether residents or tourists, will likely head to lands encompassed by this bill. More than 2 million acres in Idaho alone will be affected, which will in turn affect many of the uses enjoyed in Idaho, four wheelers and off- highway motorbikes, hunting, boating, and shooting. All of that today is at risk because of the legislation before us. But more than just recreation is threatened by the bill. Federally managed public lands, treasured by so many, are in jeopardy of being cut off except to those who have the health and the strength to hike or perhaps to mountain bike. My 84-year-old mother can only walk with a walker but still enjoys the outdoors. Mr. Chairman, look at that smile. I think everyone wishes that their mother could have that kind of enjoyment. With activities including off-highway vehicle use threatened under this bill, my mother and others like her will have no meaningful way to enjoy these lands. The same is true of people with disabilities. Today we are telling those individuals that these 2 million acres in Idaho and 26 million acres across the West will not be accessible to them and will only be available to a small segment of our society with very narrow uses. Public lands should be available for everyone, including the elderly and people with disabilities, not just a select few. We can and must do better.