Todd Tiahrt

Mr. TIAHRT

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, how much time is left?

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. TIAHRT. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt).

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I believe strongly in a balanced energy policy. We need to invest in alternative energy sources and we need to tap the resources that we have in a responsible manner. The Department of the Interior is now completing a programmatic environmental impact study on the commercial leasing program that is authorized under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This study is focused on evaluating the potential impacts associated with the development of commercial leasing programs for oil shale and tar sand resources on public lands in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The scope of this environmental impact study will include an assessment for the positive and negative environmental, social and economic impacts of leasing oil shale and tar sand resources, both the positive and the negative impacts. I think that is important. This will also include a discussion of the relevant mitigation measures to address any potential impacts on the Bureau of Land Management's administered lands in Colorado, as well as in Utah and Wyoming. The Bureau of Land Management anticipates that the draft Oil Shale and Tar Sands Leasing Programmatic Environmental Impact Study will be issued just this summer. But this amendment would stop that from occurring. The draft environmental impact study will be followed by an extensive public comment period, and a second revised programmatic environmental impact study will be issued prior to the final record of decision. I believe we must pursue environmentally responsible means of developing domestic energy sources, and this amendment delays the responsible planning process already in place. The gentleman from Colorado said this is important to our energy policy, and I agree. He also said that this was important to our taxpayers. I also agree. But the leases that were expected to come in under the Energy Act of 2005 have been taken into consideration in the budget we already passed this year. By stopping this, you will stop the income from those leases in fiscal year 2008. So this will cause us to exceed the budget authority. I would suggest the gentleman from Colorado withdraw this amendment because it is subject to a point of order because your budget authority is going to be exceeded by this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I would yield to the gentleman from Colorado, but I would request that he withdraw this amendment.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr Chairman, reclaiming my time to explain the reason the revenue would be depleted, there was planned income from fiscal year 2008 from the leases on the oil shale. So I believe, in my estimation, I am waiting for confirmation from the Congressional Budget Office, that it will be out of order.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman. I would say it is important that we let this process continue, and therefore I think we should vote down the Udall amendment.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield, I thank the chairman for trying to continue to hold the ranking Member in accuracy, but I believe it applies to both Udall amendments.

Mr. TIAHRT. If the gentleman will continue to yield, I understand that I have missed my window of opportunity at this point in time to raise a point of order, but I will reserve that opportunity in the future, if such an opportunity will present itself.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. TIAHRT. For purposes of discussion, I would like to ask the gentleman from Utah if it is correct, and my understanding of what you're trying to do is offset what Mr. Udall is doing because he is stopping the permitting process not only in Colorado but also in Utah, your home State. Is it also true he would stop the permitting in Wyoming as well?

Mr. TIAHRT. So, Mr. Chairman, as I understand this, what the gentleman from Utah is doing is his very best to represent the interests of his State. And what the gentleman from Colorado is doing was try to represent the best interests of his State. So I think in fairness to the Members of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, it would be proper for us to adopt Mr. Cannon's amendment. That way it would satisfy Mr. Udall by restricting and limiting the permitting process in Colorado but allowing the gentleman from Utah to represent his district by letting the permitting process move forward. So I would encourage the Members of the House to support Mr. Udall via Mr. Cannon's amendment and vote to accept the Cannon amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word, and I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren).

Mr. TIAHRT. I yield to the chairman of the committee.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TIAHRT. First, I would like to thank the gentleman from Indiana for bringing up this important issue. There were problems that were occurring at the Smithsonian, and it was evident in the press and it was evident in the dialogue we had here on the Hill and in committee. I want to commend the chairman for his leadership in trying to focus our resources on the problem. When the studies are complete, I think we will all be satisfied that we can move forward. The Smithsonian is a great institution and it needs powerful leadership, and we need to have strong checks and balances in place. I believe those are being put in place. So thank you for bringing the issue to the floor of the House. And I thank the chairman for helping us get a strong institution in the Smithsonian that will last for years. Amendment Offered by Mr. Flake

Mr. TIAHRT. I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, is it possible for a gentleman who has an amendment before the Committee of the Whole under the current unanimous consent to reserve part of their time?

Mr. TIAHRT. The gentleman from Arizona wasn't aware of that. So for the purposes of debate, I will move to strike the last word.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. TIAHRT

Mr. TIAHRT. Madam Chairman, if the gentleman will yield, I want to thank the gentleman from Utah and also the gentleman from Washington, Mr. Dicks, the chairman of this subcommittee, for understanding the depth of this problem. We do need to put additional funds into PILT, because the Payment in Lieu of Taxes has created shortfalls for school systems, for local municipalities and for counties. I want to commend the gentleman from Utah for his effort. We have no objections to his amendment.

Mr. TIAHRT. Madam Chairman, if the gentleman will yield, I also want to congratulate the gentleman from Illinois for his persistence in pursuing environmental issues in the Illinois area as well as across the United States. It is very important that we have clean air and clean water for our children and grandchildren. The gentleman's leadership has been excellent. Also I want to acknowledge his special recognition of the Great Lakes and taking care of them. He has been worried about the fish life as well as the quality of the water. I congratulate the gentleman in these efforts there.