Paul Tonko

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Well, I agree. And thank you for leadership like that that you have provided, because it's that advocacy, that voice of can-do that will make the difference. I think of the opportunity that we have to make solar a legacy piece. Representative Giffords introduced her solar efficiency roadmap legislation, and allowing for us to look again at the efficiencies that we can drive into the solar discussion, the solar outcome, we should create a legacy piece of that. We need to look at thin film and R&D that can put us into a situation where we discover the materials that can shave the priciness of some of these renewable opportunities that then make them all the more competitive, make them all the more connected to consumer behavior out there. You know, if we can utilize the sun, and if we can utilize water, and if we can utilize the wind, and if we can utilize the soil to provide for our needs in a benign way, then what a tremendous legacy, what a tremendous bit of progress to leave that next generation as they will continue to grow upon our success stories. But what a tragedy if we're to look back and say that we thought status quo was fine, that 40 years ago we won a space race and we were content to sit still. Nothing could be more un-American than that thinking. So in this House, in this loftiness, we require lofty thinking, and that's what it's about. I'm so proud of this majority in that they do speak in lofty terms, Madam Speaker. I think this is the way we get things done, and I am just impressed with what I see here being brought forward not only in resolve for an energy problem or problems or with environmental concerns, but in job creation, where we're allowing as a down payment a half million jobs with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but then looking at the millions of jobs that come forward through a program like ACES, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, that allows us to, again, think outside that barrel and say, That's not good enough for us. Fossil-based fuels, you know, the dependency to send hundreds of billions of dollars to foreign economies where there are unfriendly governments that are utilizing those monies in their Treasury that are poured in from the American pockets and then fight us as terrorist regimes or what have you, we have got to step back and say, There is a better way. And there is a better way, and we're promoting it. We're advancing it here, and it's all in the name of job creation, job retention, which I believe is a benefit that is immeasurable in its kind. Madam Speaker, we thank you for the opportunity this evening to share sentiments on behalf of Democrats in the House who are advancing the notion of progressive energy policy, of resources that will enable us to think in new capacity as we speak to the energy needs of this Nation all while advancing the notion of jobs. We thank you for that opportunity. Representative Lujan, any closing comments?

Mr. TONKO. I think the point you make is a very important one. There are so many strategies that we can utilize, so many approaches to network with consumers out there, be they residential, business, commercial, industrial, we can reach them because there are ways with these quick payback periods that come with much of this retrofitting or with the energy or conservation measures that we can utilize the efficiency efforts. We can show people where they can recapture that money that was invested simply through savings in their energy bill. And I think what happens also is that as it catches on in a way that inspires one another, neighborhoods, communities and States start getting into programs, and it spreads; the good news spreads. We did, when I was at NYSERDA, a dairy program that invested in energy efficiency at dairy farms. Now they were not getting what they believed was a fair enough price, and I agree with them, for their product. We couldn't control that at a State level, but we could reduce their costs of production. And we did it by reducing, through energy efficiency, their energy bill. And they would take pumping and cooling processes at the farm, they would take all of the elements that needed to be put into the process, the business plan of that dairy farmer, and reduced, in a very clever way, by working with Cornell University, working with the local utility, working with NYSERDA, and working with the Farm Bureau, we came up with a program that really saved a lot of farms. Today that program is very popular in a couple of counties in the State of New York where the demonstration was begun. And it is something that could be stretched through time over a larger bit of geography for many farmers to utilize such a program. When Representative Inslee talked about the school system and saving the schools money so that they could then, with that fungible notion of that budget, transfer some of those savings over to investment in the classroom, that's great. But I also think we teach by example. Our students watch what we are doing. I spoke at a high school graduation this summer at North Colonie School System at Shaker High, about 500 or so graduates, and incorporated all of the talk about energy transitioning, innovation economy and the need to protect the environment and strengthen the environment. I have to tell you, throughout the course of the summer, so many students from that high school reached out to me. They would see me and in casual conversation they would support the statements that you offered, the ideas that you were sharing at their graduation. They are going to push us. They are going to push these generations that are today making decisions to move forward with a progressive plan, with an idea that really saves our Earth and allows this economy to jump-start. I think of that idealism, and I take myself back 40 years. what a great opportunity to shake the hands of the Apollo 11 team a couple months ago in July when everyone was in town celebrating the 40th anniversary of having won that space race. The U.S. landed a person on the Moon, and look at the technology improvements that came from that race. And we won it. We need that same passionate resolve to enter into this race. We don't have the luxury to say we won't enter this clean energy global race. We know there are other partners already out there. And in my heart, I totally believe that we can win this race. But we can't afford to sit by because China, India, Japan and Germany--Germany is investing in solar PV hot water systems where they are training a niche of plumbers to retrofit homes where they are using the sun to power the hot water needs that they need. It's available. All these opportunities are there. We simply need to move forward. Representative Inslee, you wanted to jump in.

Mr. TONKO. Thank you. It's also a way to clean the environment. You know, the ripple effects of this whole exercise are so great that they reach out over the spectrum of jobs in so many dimensions. There are the trades that Representative Inslee mentioned a while ago. There are those with a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree, a master's degree, a Ph.D., all are brought to the table because we need the strengths of every one of those sectors of the work force to respond to this energy innovation. And I saw from where I sat prior to my entry here in Congress, as President and CEO of NYSERDA, the New York State Energy, Research and Development Authority, where job creation was a big part of the outcome, whether we're retrofitting a factory to make it smarter. Many are suggesting, well, we can't compete in a global marketplace because the workforce is paid so little in some other communities, in some other global communities. That may be true. But what we also can do is work smarter, and the working smarter is where you embrace the intellectual capacity of this country and put it to work for our manufacturing sector, put it to work for the businesses across this country, where we can reduce that cost of energy, reduce the cost of their products and then make them more viable on the global scene, where we sharpen that competitive edge, don't dull it with the exorbitantly high cost of energy, and where innovation and intellect are not embraced in a way that can really make a difference. We see it all the time. Representative Inslee, I know you want to hop in here because you are that outspoken voice from the west coast, if we might add.

Mr. TONKO. You're absolutely right. And I'm very proud to serve on Science and Tech as a committee assignment in this House with Representative Ben Lujan. We see, firsthand by that committee assignment the innovation that is sparked, that the policy we're developing is investing in all of this intellect here in the States, in the United States where we can provide these opportunities; many are shelf-ready. We're not even utilizing those. So we need to advance those efforts. Science and Tech is a good way. The SEEC Coalition, the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, is a great opportunity on which all three of us serve. Representative Lujan, I know you have great thoughts about where we can go with energy policy. You're an outspoken voice, to your credit. It's great to have you here this evening.

Mr. TONKO. Thank you, Representative Inslee, and thank you not only for your dedication to the efforts of reforming energy policy, but your determination to keep fighting to that finish line. And it's that kind of advocacy that will get it done. We thank you for joining us this evening. Representative Lujan, we hear about the messaging that is so important about creating jobs. We have an environment out there that needs to be strengthened, cleaned and protected. We have energy crises of various types that need to be resolved. And all of this can respond to a job crisis in this Nation and in this world. There are hurting economies. There's a recession that went deeper and longer than many projected. There was a deficit inherited by this administration that was developed over the course of 8 years that really puts this economy into a hurting situation. And so now it's our task, the Obama administration's challenge, to take that deficit inherited that really destroyed an economy, and now we have the opportunity to rebuild that economy but, at the same time, to respond in a way to the dynamics out there of energy reform, of environment, of strengthening the environment response, and at the same time, developing jobs of all types, from the trades on over to the Ph.D.s. I know that you're in the middle of that battle. I know from your statements made in the Science and Technology Committee and from your statements made on the floor that no one can second guess where your heart is and where your thinking is on this issue.

Mr. TONKO. Absolutely. Thank you, Representative Inslee. You talk about energy efficiency. I think we need to regard energy efficiency as our fuel of choice. We should give it highest priority because, for too long, supply-side solutions were encouraged without any addressing of demand side. We have a gluttonous dependency on whatever fuel mix we have in this country. We have got to do it with more efficiency. And I think that the kilowatt hours saved represent those cheapest that we need address into the future. The plant you never have to build will be the outcome here that provides for the cheapest kilowatt addressed. We set a record, an historic record, with the $70 billion worth of investment in energy transformation, in renewables and energy efficiency and R&D through ARPA-E. All of this is a record proportion in this country's history. If it were a stand-alone bill outside of the Recovery Act, that would be the case. And so we can take great pride. There are people who are advancing this agenda because we know it is the right thing to do. And as you indicated, competing nations out there are already deeply invested into the race. We do not have the luxury to sit by idly and lull in some sort of sense of complacency and believe that we can escape this race. We need to be in it as we were in the Space Race in the sixties.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. I would like to take a moment to honor a very special 75th anniversary celebrated by two of my constituents, Morris and Gertrude Solomon. Morris and Gertrude were married in New York City on November 16, 1934. Two years later, in 1936, they moved to Albany, where they have resided ever since. Upon moving to Albany, Morris bought his own pharmacy, where he served mostly the children of immigrants, as Morris himself was an immigrant, and he earned the nickname Doc. His credit plan during World War II and difficult economic times was ``pay me when you can.'' Gert stayed home raising Harold and Barry. Afterwards, she went to work for the State of New York, retiring in 1976, the same year that Moe sold the drugstore and retired. They have five children and five great grandchildren. Madam Speaker, this year Gert and Moe both celebrated their 97th birthdays. May their 75th wedding anniversary be an occasion for all of us to reflect on their many extraordinary achievements, and an occasion to celebrate life, love, and a unique closeness between two incredibly strong and caring individuals. Their relationship with one another, their family, and their community is a model to emulate. Congratulations to this wonderful couple.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I am here to speak in support of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, one of the most important pieces of legislation this body has considered since the passage of Medicare in 1965 and Social Security in 1935. Mr. Speaker, every Member of this body has been listening to her or his constituents, and they are saying that they are ready for health insurance reform. They need health insurance reform. We listened when seniors said they wanted better care from their doctors, and the doughnut hole eliminated. This bill does that. We listened when young adults told us they were having trouble finding insurance and wanted to stay on their parents' insurance until age 27. This bill does that. We listened when the uninsured told us heartbreaking stories about going without needed health care and asked us to give them affordable, quality health care insurance. This bill does that. We listened when the insured told us they were paying too much for insurance and they needed more protections for their health insurance. This bill does that. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have not listened. They are offering a substitute bill that would not accomplish any of the things our constituents have asked for. Instead, they are offering a bill that does not end the discrimination based on preexisting conditions; does not reduce the number of uninsured Americans; does not offer assistance to those struggling to afford health insurance; does not repeal the antitrust exemption for health insurers; and does not stop price gouging by insurance companies. Our bill does all these things and more. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Health Care for America Act not only brings quality health care within reach of tens of millions of Americans, it enhances the care that those with insurance and Medicare already receive. This bill is as much about the insured as it is about the uninsured. It is a monumental bill. I urge defeat of the Republican substitute and, indeed, encourage passage of H.R. 3962.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of health insurance reform for many reasons but especially for how it helps the 50 million Americans living in rural areas. There are three main problems people in rural America face when it comes to the current health care system: lack of choice of affordable health insurance, lack of access to health care providers, and certainly a lack of access to quality health care and preventative care. Our health insurance reform bill, H.R. 3962, addresses all of these issues and more for rural Americans. Fifteen percent of people living in rural areas live in poverty, and one in five uninsured Americans lives in rural areas. This bill will extend coverage, and the public option will give choice to Americans living in rural areas. This bill will make coverage affordable. It will invest in our health care infrastructure by training thousands of new doctors, nurses, and other health care providers and will put them on the ground where they're needed, especially in our rural areas. Finally, this bill gives all Americans free access to preventative care and encourages and rewards high-quality care. It is what we need in rural America and across the country.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, in January, President Obama took office while facing the worst economic crisis in generations. Faced with that tremendous challenge, President Obama and the Democratic Congress responded with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, an aggressive plan to jump-start our economy and to create jobs. As we look back on the Recovery Act's first 8 months, its success in averting catastrophe is clear. We are not out of the woods yet, and much more work remains to create good jobs and to lower unemployment; but there are positive signs that the recession is over and that the economic policies pursued by the Democrats are starting to work. Just last week, the Obama administration made important announcements to invest $3.4 billion into the smart energy grid and into the first round of awards under the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, or the ARPA-E program. These announcements by the administration show that the Recovery Act is working, giving investors the confidence they need to leverage private funds to create new clean-energy jobs to put people back to work and to revolutionize the way we power our economy and drive American innovation.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, the American people elect us to serve as innovators and problem solvers. I am an engineer; I see a problem, and I come up with a solution. The Democratic Party is a party of solutions, especially when it comes to health insurance reform. So I ask you today, Mr. Speaker, where are the Republican solutions? One hundred and thirty-three days ago, my friends from the Republican side of the aisle said they were going to have a comprehensive plan. Where is that plan, and just what are those solutions? Democrats have already pledged to make the merged health reform bill public for 72 hours before it is considered on the floor. Will Republicans promise to do the same? Given the status quo of health insurance coverage in the United States, it appears as if Republicans want to continue to deny coverage for preexisting conditions, force families into bankruptcy because of health care costs, stifle the growth of business, and continue to play politics as usual by defending insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. Then they should also be happy to be labeled the party of ``no.''

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Thank you, Representative King. The opportunity to share some thoughts about Representative McHugh here this evening is something I relish. Our work partnership goes back several, several years, starting back in 1984 when Representative McHugh--then as State senator McHugh--was elected to serve for four terms. He obviously understands the needs of the North Country. He was returned to office several times over, not only in that role as State senator, but then to go on here to the House of Representatives and serve with distinction many terms over. The importance of interacting with people in a bipartisan fashion was something that was always easily done with John McHugh. He understood that we in government have the opportunity to empower our communities, various organizations, and individuals. Certainly, in his role in the North Country, he represented several higher ed institutions, like the SUNY center at Plattsburgh, the SUNY campus at Potsdam, St. Lawrence University, the Ag and Tech Campus in the North Country in Canton, and then the campus of Clarkson University, my alma mater. So we always had opportunities to work on great things for these campuses, and in particular, to focus on some of the science and tech activities over at Clarkson University. Here in the House, John McHugh had served for over 16 years as a Member of Congress representing that northern and central portion of what is deemed Upstate New York. During his service, he forged these very strong ties with Fort Drum, and it's there that I think he created this strong record of staunch advocacy on behalf of veterans and on behalf of soldiers and their families, working tirelessly to ensure that they had the necessary resources for proper facilities for training and for quality of life to carry on with their mission, and then to also make certain that he provided for those loved ones who remained at home. As a Member of this august body, John McHugh served as the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, which has been mentioned here this evening. I think it is there where he earned the opportunity to now be appointed as Secretary of the Army, by having worked with the Department of Defense and each of the Armed Forces. Certainly, his love for the North Country is very much defined by the work that he has done. In closing, I would like to just cite two of the accomplishments that I thought spoke near and dear to my heart because of my work on science and tech as a committee and my work as the former Energy Committee Chair in the New York State Assembly. And being over at NYSERDA, being president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, I was happy to include John McHugh as one of those eight from the minority ranks in this House who voted for H.R. 2454, the ACES Act, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. As we know, H.R. 2454 still looms out there as a measure to be completed by action that's required in the United States Senate, but there is no denying that if we can go forward with this legislation, it will help create millions of clean-energy jobs and save billions of dollars for consumers with utility bills that are ever on the rise. This new economy and the new jobs generated by H.R. 2454 can spark that innovation economy, which would be key and premiere to New York State's economy and this Nation's economy. I have to applaud Representative McHugh for his work in that regard. Secondly, as a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and after serving as Chair for some 6 years, I believe, of the Subcommittee on the Postal Service, John had done tremendous work on H.R. 22. I had the pleasure to help cast a vote in favor of the United States Postal Service Financial Relief Act of 2009. H.R. 22 will provide that sort of stability for our Postal Service system. And this House, with some 388 votes, voted in favor of the legislation that Representative McHugh had worked on so diligently. In final comment, I just want to wish Representative John McHugh-- former New York State Senator John McHugh--the very best as he assumes his new duties. I have no doubt that he will serve the President's administration with distinction, and that he will provide a great service in a new capacity to this great country and to the military. As we go forward, I know the partnerships with John McHugh will continue as we work in this House to make certain that those needs, those essentials are there as he continues in this new capacity. So John, we wish you well and Godspeed as you serve this Nation now in yet another capacity. I yield back to Representative King.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to tell you about a constituent of mine who is waiting on Congress to pass comprehensive health insurance reform. Karen Rozzell resides in Colonie, New York. She had to quit her job as a cashier because her diabetes got so bad she couldn't stand and she hasn't been able to find other work. When she left her job, she and her husband lost their insurance. They thought they could rely on COBRA, but it cost them too much and they were forced to let their insurance lapse. Her husband, a painter, doesn't have access to health insurance through his employment. As a diabetic, Karen should be seeing a doctor regularly, but she doesn't. A couple of years ago she was hospitalized for a staph infection; she was only able to stay in the hospital until the infection was cleared up. She signed herself out before her doctors wanted her to because she knew she couldn't afford the cost. It took her years to pay that bill. After living without insurance, her husband was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but the cost of his treatment and medication is out of reach for them. She told me she worries every time her husband sneezes. No one in this country deserves to live in fear like this. We need health care reform.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, residents of New York's Capital Region have been blessed to wake up each morning to the voice of longtime radio host Don Weeks. Since 1980, Don has hosted the WGY morning radio show, entertaining listeners with a mix of comedy and insightful interviews, all delivered with a friendly, neighborly charm. Throughout the years Don has always put the community first, lending his talent to local fund drives and other special events, from re- stocking food pantries to emceeing the annual Red Cross Hometown Heroes Awards breakfast. He has been honored with several New York State Broadcaster of the Year awards, and a Marconi Award from the National Association of Broadcasters. We'd like to congratulate Don on the recent announcement that he will be inducted into the New York State Broadcasting Hall of Fame. It is a fitting honor for a lifelong Capital Region resident who has dedicated his life to informing and entertaining others, and making our community a better place in which to live.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, this May at a meeting of the Middle Class Task Force, Vice President Biden asked White House staff to develop a proposal that would grow clean-job opportunities and boost energy savings by retrofitting homes for energy efficiency. In response, CEQ facilitated a broad interagency process to develop recommendations. I commend those recently released recommendations and the leadership of our White House on energy policy. Through the Recovery Act's unprecedented investments in energy efficiency, we are making it easier for American families to retrofit their homes, helping them save money. Existing techniques and technologies in energy-efficiency retrofitting can reduce energy use by up to 40 percent per home and lower total associated greenhouse gas emissions by up to 160 million metric tons annually. Retrofitting existing homes also has the potential to cut home energy bills by $21 billion annually. We must continue to drill and mine energy efficiency as our fuel of choice, like we drill for oil and mine for coal.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act of 2010. As a Representative and certainly as an engineer, I wholeheartedly embrace the soundness of planning. The road map here represents planning that provides for the most effective use of taxpayer and consumer dollars and also provides for the most commonsense approach to a situation that has really caused a great interest in America. The previous administration spent down a surplus while it could have been investing in a sound energy plan. We now have no choice but to enter this clean energy race, which is global in nature. America will fall into deeper deficit in tougher times if it does not participate in the innovation economy driven by energy and environment reform. This bill will unleash the potential of the American solar tech industry and boost our economy by creating jobs in this expanding new sector. It requires the Department of Energy to establish a solar road map committee to write and oversee a solar technology road map. The solar technology road map will lay out a detailed plan for solar tech research and development, help improve the performance and reliability of solar technology, and decrease the cost of solar for consumers and businesses. Research and development funding will not only stimulate our economy and be the wave of energy innovation for the future, but it is also through R&D that we will be able to solve environmental issues, ensure the next wave of energy innovations occur right here in America, and provide those all-important American jobs to grow our economy and assist and relieve our American working families. Solar has the potential to shave overall electricity prices for consumers as well as enhance capacity. This bill is crucial to catalyze both of these activities. In fact, this body previously passed a similar piece of legislation that I sponsored, H.R. 3165, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act. That bill looked at improving and making more efficient the materials used for construction of wind turbines. In my district alone, there are numerous businesses and academic institutions such as the College of Nanoscale and Science Engineering at the University of Albany, which I toured this just this week, where thin film improvements are greatly enhancing and improving the opportunity for market penetration of many nanoscale applications such as solar energy. We will advance with this legislation and grow jobs and grow our economy and not reject the innovation that was rejected in the previous administration. As the vice Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, or SEEK, which is newly formed this year, we recognize that H.R. 3585 is an important bill and is therefore a legislative priority. As such, I want to thank the gentlelady from Arizona for developing such a great bill, one that speaks volumes to bettering our Nation's economy, speaking to our energy policy and our environment. I encourage a strong vote in favor of its passage.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Thank you, Representative Boccieri, for bringing us together this evening. I can't agree more with you and the Representatives that have joined us here this evening, both Representatives Altmire and Murphy, who have indicated that there is an importance to looking at the big picture frame that should guide this debate and discussion. It is certainly about energy transformation. It's about energy security that's enhanced. It's about growing our energy independence. But it goes well beyond that. It is a factor; it is a huge argument that speaks favorably to our national security, to our economic security. I think when we look at that bigger framework, we're able to understand the ripple effect of benefits, of good, that comes from the negotiated efforts here in this House to produce a strong bill. For energy transformation, for climate change, for global warming to be addressed in positive, progressive terms. To have listened to some of the discussion and debate on this floor that denounces some of the studies that were authored out there, where the authors of those studies have suggested to us that you're overstating, exaggerating, if not outright denouncing studies that have been put together that speak favorably to these sorts of investments have not stopped people from using misinformation and growing the arguments out there that are unfounded, unfounded and unsubstantiated by evidence and by truth and by documentation that has been established. I think it's important for us to look at the facts. If we're willing to continue to invest hundreds of billions of dollars into foreign treasuries, to continue to rely in a gluttonous measure on fossil-based fuels for our energy agenda, shame on us as a nation. We have an opportunity here to go forward with a green energy economy that can create jobs of various disciplines, from Ph.D.s over to those with bachelor's degrees, over to those who have associate degrees and skill sets that have been developed with apprenticeship programs, with voc ed programs. Across the board, we have an opportunity to invest in all sorts of disciplines out there that strengthen our economy and strengthen our comeback for job creation and job retention in this nation. Just the other day we were talking to people in my district from the nanoscience arena. And in a generalization of that arena, what they see from start-up businesses is that we have about 20 percent of Ph.D.s and master's degree holders occupying jobs at those centers, at the various start-up businesses that are being established; we have perhaps 20 percent with bachelor's degrees; and then some 60 percent occupied jobs that are bringing to that table associate degrees and technical training. So I think it's very evident, very obvious, by these calculable sorts of outcomes that speak to what's happening in my district that we're growing jobs in every sphere, in every dimension, with all sorts of skill sets that are required. It is important for us to go forward with this green energy race. And we don't have a choice whether or not to enter in. We have a choice to be as prepared in that race as possible. I liken this to the space race of four decades ago, where this country vigorously pursued with a degree of passion, a high degree of passion, the efforts to land a person on the Moon. That was more than just a race to land a person on the Moon. It was a growth of technology in all sorts of areas in our life that define our quality of life: in communications, in health care, in all sorts of technical advancements in our society. And it allowed for us to think in bold and very noble terms about the importance of science and technology. Here today, many more nations are joining in a race, a global race, on green energy, clean energy. And we don't have the luxury to stand along the sidelines and watch other nations prosper and pass us by. That's what will happen if we don't go forward with a plan, an energy plan, that will calculate jobs, that will allow for us to invest and reach to our intellect in this nation. Our intellectual capacity is great. We can't just stop with the ideas. Many of those ideas are being commercialized and deployed into the manufacturing sector in other nations. They're using American patents, they're using American ingenuity, American ideas to make things happen in their nations. We need to invest vigorously in that sort of economy. We can do it by putting together a progressive policy like that of ACES that was voted upon in this House, where we put together the framework, the blueprint--the green print, perhaps--as to how we're going to pursue job creation and responsiveness to our energy needs and a responsible approach to the environmental stewardship that is assigned each and every one of us as American citizens to this globe.

Mr. TONKO. Thank you, Representative Boccieri. I have heard all of our colleagues talking about leadership, exercising leadership and putting a plan into action. I think what is most regrettable is that we are still having this debate as to whether or not to enter into a new energy economy, to address the climate change issues that are so much an imperative these days. All of this discussion is coming while other nations are now investing and investing heavily in their country's economy, driven by these new technologies, these emerging technologies, an innovation economy. So our pace here needs to be sped up. But it has also got to be preceded by a sound plan that is put together. So I would implore this House and the Senate to work in a bipartisan, bicameral way with the White House to make certain that that plan is in place in very short order. Let me just talk about some of the evidence that I have seen in my district, again with advanced battery manufacturing. I am looking at investments from GE that would allow us to address a number of dynamics that are speaking to the empowerment of the energy transformation where the battery is the linchpin. We are talking about development at GE that will allow for multiple purposes, for heavy vehicles for their fuel needs, for those heavy vehicles to be empowered by this alternative, but a new format of battery, advanced battery manufacturing. We are talking about creating a power supply with this sort of battery. We are also talking about their battery development, essential to the storage of intermittent renewables, supplies from the sun, from the wind, that may be intermittent in nature. The linchpin here is to develop the battery manufacturing that will transition us. All of this investment needs to be sped up. We also need to look at what we can do with efficiency within renewables. I have recently passed in this House a wind energy- efficiency bill that allows us to take a closer look at the manufacturing and the assemblage of those given sorts of power supply. Those renewables can be done in a more efficient way. Citing the materials that are used, we can reach to nanoscience to develop lighter materials or durable materials. How we assemble the gearbox assemblage is an important bit of R&D that needs to get done, how we develop through manufacturing a better tower system for our renewable supply from wind. All of this needs to be a huge American investment. Again, we have the energy intellect. We can emerge from this race as a winner, but the time is passing us by. And whichever nation emerges the winner in this race will be that go-to nation that will be the exporter of energy intellect, energy ideas, energy innovation for generations to come. So, we are going to fail the next generation of job holders, we are going to fail this Nation's economy, we are going to fail the environment agenda, we are going to fail the energy transitioning if we don't move forward intelligently, thoughtfully, progressively, in a way that allows us to capture the brain power of this country that has driven invention and innovation in so many measures, in so many dynamics. We have it within our grasp. We need to go from research that is done at our universities and the private sector and further deploy into the commercialization zone, into the manufacturing efforts, those ideas. We have failed after that research investment. We need to have that ``valley of death,'' as it is termed, where we don't get the seed money that is necessary for a lot of this innovative spark to take its presence in our American economy. We need that sort of commitment and we need that sort of policy development. We can do it. This House has offered a great bill. We challenge those in this process to work with us to have an outcome that has a bill on the President's desk that can sign us into a new era of energy policy.

Mr. TONKO. Representative Boccieri, I couldn't agree more. And we do embrace, we can embrace that challenge, the challenge that has been put forth by all of these individuals that you named here this evening and quoted. I heard you express the free market system and what it can do to enable us to have a better energy and environment outcome. I heard Representative Perriello talk about not accepting the status quo. I heard there, Representative, a kind of a pioneer spirit, a challenge to be those pioneers that we have been throughout our history. You know, gentlemen, I have the great fortune of representing the Erie Canal communities. Where that Hudson and Mohawk River meet gave birth to an industrial revolution. This whole channel of the waterway, which was seen as a folly approach, became the empowerment tool, not only in developing this Nation and prospering in the process, but changing the entire world in terms of their quality of life. For in that Erie Canal channel developed a number of mill towns, a necklace of mill towns, each mill town becoming that epicenter of invention and innovation, and they sparked their genius in a way that really transitioned not only America but the world. We are at that same juncture. We are now at that opportunity moment that can allow us to seize this moment and make a difference. There are those in our country who are those intellects that are proposing these wonderful product lines, these wonderful inventions, but they need to transition from that hybrid, that prototype, into the commercialization and manufacturing of that idea. And today, that new birth of an industrial revolution, a new economy, isn't about mass production, where they might have invented some wonderful object, produced a few numbers within their garage and then, as business grew, created a factory and mass produced. That is a different spot today for us. It's about precision. It's about the prototyping. It's about the testing, and it's about the evaluating. And that, my friends, is a very pricey situation. There are not a lot of the start-ups and emerging technologies that have available cash at hand, and there is a huge risk factor, and there are ways to reduce that risk or work through it to see if it is, in fact, going to endure the process. But there are also opportunities for the government to invest in high-risk, great opportunities, situations that can take us into new opportunities with battery manufacturing, with new product lines, emerging technologies, that will be shelf-ready for energy efficiency, alternative technologies for producing power supplies, American power needs that are addressed by the American workforce. Think of that as a great, novel idea, growing our economy. People have said time and time again, we hear it in our districts, Why are the jobs leaving this country? We have an opportunity to create jobs in this country that respond to our social and economic needs, that respond to our environmental curiosity and our environmental responsibility, but we need to seize the moment. We need to express, in very bold measure, that we care about the energy transformation, the innovation economy. Let's be those epicenters of invention and innovation as those mill towns I represent were in the heyday of the industrial revolution. It is within our grasp, it is within our intellect, and it needs to be within our political will. And being here this evening and expressing with you gentlemen where we can go and where we believe we are growing our way toward is an important statement to make here this evening, and it's a pleasure to have joined with you in this special hour.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, Speaker Pelosi announced an important new addition to the health insurance reform package. Young adults will be able to remain on their parents' health insurance plans until their 27th birthday. Young adults make up one-third of the entire uninsured population, numbering 13.7 million. Only 53 percent of young adults are even eligible for employer-based insurance, and 51 percent do not have health coverage through their jobs. Young adults have the highest rate of injury-related emergency department visits and 15 percent have a chronic health condition. Half are overweight or obese, 9 percent have been diagnosed with depression or a related condition, and the highest prevalence of human papilloma virus, which has been linked to cervical cancer, is among women age 20- 24. Young adults experience six preventable deaths each day due to lack of health insurance. This is clearly an age group that needs health insurance. But young adults are among those least likely to have access to coverage. Allowing them to remain as a dependent on their parents' health insurance plans will bring quality health insurance within reach for millions of young adults.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in wholehearted support of this resolution. I thank Representative Lipinski for his outstanding work that he has done to bring this resolution to the floor. In 1919, the United States established diplomatic relations with the newly formed Polish Republic. After 90 years of diplomatic relations, our relations have never been stronger. Over the last 90 years, the Polish people have overcome profound challenges, and Poland has emerged as a beacon for democracy and economic revitalization. In the 1980s, Polish workers rose against the Soviet elite, and despite significant oppression, forced democratic elections in 1989 and was a significant factor in the fall of the Iron Curtain. Despite the decades of Soviet control, over the last 20 years, the Polish economy has expanded dramatically and now is one of the economic engines of Europe. Over the years, Poland has cooperated closely with the United States on issues such as democratization, nuclear proliferation, human rights, regional cooperation in Eastern Europe, and reform of the United Nations. Today we can recognize these great contributions and reaffirm our commitment to our relationship with this great ally by voting in support of this resolution. I urge my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to vote in support of House Resolution 266.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday, America's Health Insurance Plans, the trade group representing the largest health insurance companies in this country, released a report. The insurance companies contend that health insurance reform will raise premiums on families by as much as $4,000 in the next 10 years. I am here to tell you this morning, Mr. Speaker, that this is simply not true. Just last week, the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group, released a report that said middle-class American families will see a savings of about $1,900 from the House's health reform bill. Insurance companies are worried that health insurance reform is going to cut into their profits. This report is a last-ditch effort to stop this Congress from providing real relief to the millions of Americans who already are struggling with the high cost of health insurance. Even the company hired to produce the report has issued a statement saying that they produced a skewed report that analyzes only part of the bill because that is what the insurance industry paid them to do. That company has since distanced itself from this report. This report completely ignores critical policies that hold down the cost of health insurance, such as the grandfather policy that allows you to keep the plan you have, affordability credits, and the health insurance exchange.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Absolutely, there is a confusion that exists out there, even with a lack of standardized forms, which is another tool that's used. So there is this confusion. There is this, I believe, deliberate attempt to make certain that there is a winner in this equation, and it certainly isn't the health care consumer. So many have been concerned about government standing between the patient and the doctor when, in fact, what we have today is the insurance company standing between patient and doctor, where they are limiting. That's why we're asking for reforms here which do not allow for cost caps on what insurance companies are required to cover. We don't want them to be stingy when it comes to providing the health care, especially in prevention and wellness modes, which are so very absolutely essential. There are out-of-pocket expenses. You talked, Representative Pingree, about the deductibles that this family in Maine had to absorb. We don't want that unlimited in nature. We want caps on what is required of our families out there--our working families across America--and we certainly want to make certain that the co-pays, especially in catastrophic situations, are capped for individuals and families. This is a great bit of service that we can provide. These whole trite sayings that we're bringing in a Halloween response and all of these individual statements that don't really get to the heart of the matter are disheartening. It's discouraging that there isn't that academic exchange here. Where is the counteroffer in this House? We have had plans out there for months. We've been talking about things, bringing them to hearing, having forums across the country. There is no alternative that's being offered. Maybe we heard things about status quo and leaving it as it is. Well, we even offer a capitalist model. We offer competition in an exchange that's developed in our bill to make certain that there is the hardiness of a robust, competitive model that is, I think, ``all American'' in its keeping.