Mark Udall

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. I thank the gentleman for his generous offer. I rise in support of the amendment. I'd like to thank Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Walsh and the Appropriations Committee for their leadership on this vital legislation that will help to provide quality healthcare, enhance education opportunities, and increase worker safety. This is a good bill, but I think this amendment would make it better. The amendment will increase the funding for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by $500,000, and is offset by a decrease to the Department of Labor Departmental Management Salaries and expenses. As we all know the NLRB plays a vital role in labor-management relations. It hears appeals of unfair labor practices and resolves questions about the composition of bargaining units. We need to maintain its ability to do its job. But without the additional funding this amendment will provide, there is a danger that they will have to lay off some of their staff in order to pay for their required overhead, including salaries. The amendment would prevent that, and would also enable the NLRB's staff to handle cases efficiently and effectively, without sacrificing quality. Funding is not the only problem that faces the National Labor Relations Board but congress should make it easier not harder for the National Labor Relations Board to administer decisions. I urge the House to adopt the Shays-Udall amendment.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Colorado Forest Management Improvement Act of 2007, legislation intended to facilitate a coordinated response to beetle infestation in Colorado's forest lands. In shaping it, we have also attempted to develop a model that could be useful as a response to similar problems in other States. This bill is cosponsored all my Colorado colleagues here in the House, and Senator Salazar is introducing an identical bill that is cosponsored by Senator Allard. So this is legislation supported by our entire delegation in Congress. As we are daily reminded, in Colorado and other Rocky Mountain States the risk of severe wildfires is very real. Partly, this is because of drought. But there are other contributing factors. One is that for many years, the Federal Government's policy emphasized fire suppression, even though fire is an inescapable part of the ecology of western forests like those in Colorado. Today, in many parts of the forests there is an accumulation of underbrush and thick stand of small diameter trees that is greater than would be the case if there had been more, smaller fires over the years. They provide the extra fuel that can turn a small fire into an intense inferno. The problem has been made worse by our growing population and increasing development in the places where communities meet the forests--the so- called ``wildland-urban interface.'' And when you add the effects of widespread infestations of insects, you have a recipe for even worse to come. I have put a priority on reducing the wildfire risks to our communities since I was elected to Congress. In 2000, with our then colleague, Representative Hefley, I introduced legislation to facilitate reducing the buildup of fuel in the parts of Colorado that the Forest Service, working with State and local partners, identified at greatest risk of fire--the so-called ``red zones.'' Concepts from that legislation were included in the National Fire Plan developed by the Clinton administration and were also incorporated into the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003. As a member of the Resources Committee, I had worked to develop the version of that legislation that the committee approved in 2002, and while I could not support the different version initially passed by the House in 2003, I voted for the revised version developed in conference with the Senate later that year--the version that President Bush signed into law. Since then, in Colorado there has been very welcome progress in developing community wildfire protection plans and focusing fuel- reduction projects in the priority ``red zone'' areas, two important aspects of the new law. But at the same time nature has continued to add to the build up of fuel in the form of both new growth and dead and dying mature trees. And now there is an additional factor--increasingly widespread infestations of bark beetles. Many species of bark beetles, such as the mountain pine beetle, are native to our forests. They place stress on trees by burrowing through the bark. If a tree is healthy, it can defend itself by producing sap to repel and expel the invaders. But if the defense fails, the insects lay their eggs in the woody material below the bark. Once the eggs hatch, they feed on the tree's fiber and disrupt the flow of water and nutrients from the tree's roots to its needles and branches. In addition, the invading insects bring in fungi and other invaders that further damage the tree. If enough insects are able to penetrate the tree and lay eggs, the tree dies. The offspring then mature and fly to another tree and the cycle begins anew. These insects are a natural component of forest ecosystems. They help to balance tree densities and set the stage for fires and thereby the generation of new tree growth. And when forests are healthy and there are adequate supplies of water, the insects' effects are relatively low-scale and isolated. But under the right conditions--such as during drought conditions or when there are dense stands of even aged trees-- the insects can cause large-scale tree mortality, turning whole mountainsides and valleys rust red. That is what has been happening in many mountainous areas in Colorado. And more and more our mountain communities find themselves in uncomfortable proximity to acres of dead trees, turned rust red by the insects and adding to their concerns about the danger of catastrophic wildfires. Last year, I worked to develop a response, starting with a meeting in Winter Park that was attended by local elected officials, homeowners, timber industry representatives, Forest Service officials, ski area employees, and other Coloradans. They offered observations on the extent of this problem and proffered suggestions on ways to better respond to it. Based on information gathered at that meeting, consultations with experts, and other conversations, draft legislation was developed that Representative Salazar and I circulated widely so we could obtain further comments and suggestions. And in March 2006, we introduced the Rocky Mountain Forest Insects Response Enhancement and Support Act, also called the Rocky Mountain FIRES Act. After that, other Members of Colorado's delegation in Congress, in both chambers, also proposed legislation. Senator Salazar introduced a measure similar to the Rocky Mountain FIRES Act, and other legislation was proposed by other delegation members. Then, recognizing that this is an issue affecting the entire State and best addressed by a unified approach, we all agreed to work together to attempt to develop a single bill that all of us could support. After very lengthy discussions, that consensus has now been achieved and the result is the bill being introduced today. Its goal is not to eradicate insects in our forests--nor should it be, because insects are a natural part of forest ecosystems. Instead, it is intended, first, to facilitate more rapid responses to the insect epidemic where that is needed to reduce the wildfire threats to our communities; and second, to promote research on ways to improve the health of our forest lands. The bill includes a variety of provisions intended to further facilitate both the development and implementation of community wildfire protection plans and to enable the Forest Service and Interior Department, in cooperation with State and local authorities and other partners, to do more to reduce the threat of very severe wildfires. It also includes provisions to support research aimed at improving the long-term health of our forests as well as provisions to make it easier for Coloradans--including both small businesses and individual property owners--to assist the Federal, State, and local agencies in working toward the reduction of fire risks and improvement of forest health. Madam Speaker, I want to express my personal appreciation for the cooperative and collaborative approach of my Colorado colleagues--in the Senate as well as here in the House of Representatives--as we have worked together to develop this legislation. The result is not perfect. Not every provision is equally desirable to each of us, and the bill does not include all that it might if anyone of us had been the sole author. For example, I strongly supported requiring that in Colorado the federal agencies must continue to give at least the same priority to funding fuel-reduction projects in the wildland-urban interface as they are doing now. However, that was not acceptable to all, so I reluctantly agreed to its omission in order to reach a delegation consensus. But this is a good, strong bill that I think deserves enactment, and I will do all I can to achieve that result. Madam Speaker, for the information of our colleagues, here is a more detailed description of the bill: Detailed Description title i--amendments to the healthy forests restoration act The Healthy Forests Restoration Act, enacted in 2003, includes provisions to expedite fuel-reduction--that is, removal of vegetation (including trees) that provide fuel for severe wildfires--from Federal lands, Title I of the new Colorado bill includes these changes to that law: Sec 101. Community Wildfire Protection Plan Assistance-- This section, based on a provision of the Udall-Salazar ``Rocky Mountain FIRES'' bill of 2006, would authorize grants to at-risk communities in Colorado for preparing, revising, or implementing community wildfire protection plans. Grant funding is provided through part of the Federal share of the receipts from leases of federal minerals. Funding under this section is set at $5,000,000 per year for fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2012. Section 102. Central Collection Points--This section, based on a provision of the Udall-Salazar Rocky Mountain FIRES bill of 2006, would amend the establishment of collection points for vegetative material from hazardous fuels treatment projects. Material placed at one of these points can be sold, donated, or otherwise made available to anyone who will remove it. If any of the material is sold, the money will go to help pay for thinning work to reduce fire risks. Section 103. Biomass Commercial Utilization Grant Program-- This section, based on a provision of the Udall-Salazar Rocky Mountain FIRES bill of 2006, would reauthorize and broaden a program of grants for owners and operators of facilities that use biomass for energy production, or other commercial purposes. The authorization level is $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. Section 104. Healthy Forest Partnerships--This section is based on a recent Administration legislative proposal. It would authorize the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior to designate Healthy Partnership Zones in Colorado at the request of the State or local governments. These zones would include both Federal land and adjacent non-federal land at risk of uncharacteristically severe damage from wildfire or an outbreak of insects or diseases that requires multiple activities to reduce the threat. Designation of a partnership would be done with public participation and would last for no more than 5 years. Within Partnership Zones the relevant Federal agency could partner with the State, a local government, or an Indian Tribe to prepare and implement eligible projects. Projects covered include hazardous fuel reduction projects; treatment of insect-infested trees; and the restoration of forest lands, rangelands, or watersheds. Contracts under this section could be implemented under streamlined procedures. Priority would be given to projects that have been developed with collaborative community input and that are consistent with community wildfire protection plan. A Federal agency could not act on private land without the owner's consent. title ii--colorado forest health measures Section 201. Research and other Activities--This section is based on provisions of Senator Allard's and Rep. Musgrave's ``Headwaters Protection and Restoration Act'' of 2006. It provides for grants to support research regarding--(1) marketing of forest products; (2) treatments for high elevation forests, and (3) steps to increase utilization of science and consideration of community needs in development of treatment strategies. The section also provides incentives for building infrastructure capacity such as; length of stewardship contracts, identifying markets for non- traditional forest products, grants and low-cost loans for small business that utilize wood from forests in Colorado. Directs the Secretary to examine the possible utilization of biomass as a renewable fuel source and how this could affect the Clean Air Act. Section 202. Colorado Forest Health Fund--This section is also based on the Allard-Musgrave 2006 ``Headwaters Protection and Restoration Act.'' It would establish a Colorado Forest Health Fund to which would be credited part of federal receipts from federal timber sales in Colorado--$2 million or half of all such receipts, whichever is greater-- as well as any funds specifically appropriated for the fund. The funds would be deposited in an interest bearing account and up to $2 million per year would be available to pay for measures to improve forest health and to reduce hazardous fuels in Colorado. The section authorizes appropriation of up to $2,000,000 per year. Section 203. Grants for Colorado Fuels for Schools Program--This is also based on the Allard-Musgrave bill. It would authorize grants to the State of Colorado for feasibility studies regarding the use of biomass boilers to heat schools and other public buildings in Colorado and to assist with the installation and operation of these boilers. This section authorizes appropriations of up to $5 million per year for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. Section 204. Stewardship Contracts in Colorado--This is a new section. It would authorize longer-term Stewardship Contracts--up to 20 years in duration--for fuel-reduction projects in Colorado. It also includes technical provisions requested by the Forest Service regarding the implementation of requirements related to potential cancellation liability. Section 205. Good Neighbor Agreements in Colorado--This is also based on the Allard-Musgrave bill. It would make permanent existing authority for ``good neighbor'' agreements between Federal agencies and private land owners in Colorado and Utah. Section 206. Preparation of Fire-Danger Maps--This is a new section. It would direct the Forest Service to work with the State Forest Service to map fire threatened areas in Colorado using geospatial technologies. Section 207. Truck Weights--This is a new section. It would allow the State of Colorado to permit vehicles with a gross weight in excess of 80,000 pounds (but not more than the state's overall maximum gross weight limit) to haul dead or diseased timber and other forest materials removed from Colorado forests in order to reduce fire hazards. Title III--Tax Provisions Section 301. Extension of Tax Credit for Electricity Produced From Biomass--This section is based on legislation introduced by Rep. Beauprez and is also similar but not identical to a provision of the 2006 Udall-Salazar ``Rocky Mountain FIRES Act.'' It would extend an existing biomass electricity production tax credit (now scheduled to expire on January 1, 2009) until January 1, 2030. Section 302. Partial Exclusion from Gross Income Payments Received for Certain Hazardous Fuel Reduction Projects--This section is similar to a provision of the 2006 Udall-Salazar ``Rocky Mountain FIRES Act.'' It would allow a taxpayer to exclude from taxable income money received from the Federal Government as compensation for hazardous fuel reduction work. The exclusion would be for up to $10,000 for a single return, $20,000 for a joint return. Section 303. Deduction of Certain Expenditures in Connection with Implementation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans--This is a new section. It would allow individuals to deduct funds they expend for hazardous fuel reductions that are done as part of a wildfire protection plan from their income taxes. It allows for the exclusion of up to $10,000 for a single return or $20,000 for a joint return.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and commemorate the 100th anniversary of the YMCA of the Rockies Association. The YMCA of the Rockies, a nonprofit organization, began in Colorado in 1907. It was organized as a national training center for the Young Men's Christian Association. Since its foundation, the YMCA of the Rockies has grown into the largest two YMCA conference and family centers in the world--at the Estes Park Center adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park, and at Snow Mountain Ranch between Winter Park and Granby, Colorado. It also runs a traditional summer residential youth camp at Camp Chief Ouray, located at Snow Mountain Ranch. YMCA of the Rockies serves conferences, family reunions, retreats, recreational and educational groups, families, individuals, and youth by providing lodging, meeting space, dining, programming and recreation. Estes Park Center has 860 acres and can accommodate 3,500 people in its 7 lodges and 206 family cabins. Snow Mountain Ranch has over 5,000 acres with a Nordic Center and can accommodate 2,500 people in its 4 lodges and 60 family cabins. Over 900 full-time and seasonal staff members work each year at both centers. They include senior retirees, college students and international students participating in a hospitalities services certification program. As noted on their website, the Mission of the YMCA of the Rockies, ``[P]uts Christian Principles into Practice through programs, staff and facilities in an environment that builds healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We will accomplish this by serving conferences of a religious, educational, or recreational nature; providing unifying experiences for families; offering traditional summer camping experiences for boys and girls; and serving our staff with leadership opportunities and productive work experiences. Our core values are: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Faith.'' As a result of putting the values expressed in this mission statement into practice, the YMCA of the Rockies annually brings more than 250,000 visitors to its two centers, serves more than 800 family reunions, educates more than 19,000 students in outdoor education programs, and continues to be major employer in Grand and Larimer counties of Colorado. The YMCA of the Rockies hires seasonal staff from more than 20 countries to help expose their guests to many cultures, has a membership base of 3,500, raises more than $350,000 in annual campaigns, and have over 100 staff members who donate money to the YMCA Staff For Kids program. The YMCA of the Rockies does an outstanding job of exposing kids and adults to the splendor of nature and the values that come from collective outdoor experiences. But it is not just about learning and growing both intellectually and spiritually. It is also about fun. The YMCA of the Rockies' camps provide nearly every outdoor recreational opportunity that Colorado has to offer from skiing, camping, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, swimming, rock climbing, rafting, canoeing, archery, golf, ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, and arts and crafts. It's an opportunity for kids, families and adults to experience these activities in a safe and nurturing environment. In addition, the YMCA of the Rockies has been an important facility for the surrounding communities and others who share their Mission. Officials at the YMCA of the Rockies have opened up their facilities for use by other organizations such as Rocky Mountain National Park, the Colorado Mountain Club, the National Wildlife Association and the Sierra Club. At Snow Mountain Ranch, officials are pursuing the protection of many acres through conservation easements, ensuring that the outdoor splendor can be enjoyed by future generations. They have also worked to reduce the threat of wildfire and bark beetles by thinning dense stands of trees on their property, thus providing an example to their neighbors on creating defensible space and helping to reduce fire risks to surrounding communities and properties. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter declared July 19, 2007 as the official recognition of the YMCA of the Rockies Centennial. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this centennial and all of the great things that the YMCA of the Rockies does to enhance the quality of life for all Americans and visitors from throughout the world.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill because I strongly support a responsible redeployment of our troops from Iraq. It should not have been necessary for us to consider this bill today. Back in March, I voted for, and Congress passed, legislation that would have begun a draw-down of combat troops in favor of a disengagement strategy in Iraq. Regrettably, however, the president vetoed that legislation and then moved in exactly the opposite direction by escalating the number of troops committed to Iraq. So, while a war can't be effectively led by committee, by failing to exercise responsible leadership, the president continues to make it necessary for Congress to assert itself. And thus the House is acting again today--and whatever the outcome, we will act again and again until we find the necessary support to change course in Iraq. The war in Iraq has cost this Nation the blood of its soldiers, the treasure of its citizens, and the good will of our allies around the world. The average number of attacks, Iraqi civilian deaths, and coalition deaths are all at their highest levels since the invasion. Over 3,600 American soldiers have died in Iraq, and we are spending over $10 billion every month to continue this failed policy. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I must point out that the time is rapidly approaching when we will not be able to sustain the numbers of troops now deployed in Iraq without calling back our National Guard and Reserve for second or third tours or extending the tours of current active duty troops beyond the already extended 15 months. And our increasing military and financial commitment to Iraq limits our options for addressing other critical national security concerns even as a new intelligence report indicates that al Qaeda is operationally stronger than a year ago. The most disturbing news is that al Qaeda has regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001. Proponents of the President's escalation--the so-called ``surge''-- say we haven't given it a chance to succeed. But it has been under way since January, with the Iraqi government fully aware of the steps toward reconciliation it needs to take to enable U.S. forces to stay-- and still, those steps aren't being taken. Today's interim report from the Pentagon tries to make a bad situation look better, listing ``satisfactory'' progress on a number of benchmarks required by the Congress several months ago. But in reality, as the report states, ``the security situation in Iraq remains complex and extremely challenging,'' the ``economic picture is uneven'' and political reconciliation is lagging. I had hoped that by holding the president and the Iraqi government accountable for achieving these benchmarks, we would gain the leverage necessary to pressure the Iraqi government to forge the political solution we all know is required. But it appears that the Iraqi government is either unable or unwilling to bring its feuding factions together to achieve these goals. The Pentagon's report blames those of us pushing for redeployment for the lack of progress toward political reconciliation, saying it has been hampered by ``increasing concern among Iraqi political leaders that the United States may not have a long term-commitment to Iraq.'' But if the Iraqis won't make progress when we're there--and then threaten that they can't make progress if we leave--under what conditions will we see progress? The president has asked Congress to wait to act for the next progress report due in September. But what are we waiting for? He has dressed up his new approaches in many different ways since this war started over four years ago, and yet little has changed. What we need--and what many Democrats and Republicans alike are calling for--is a responsible redeployment from Iraq. That is what the bipartisan Iraq Study Group ultimately called for, and that is the main reason I introduced legislation to implement its recommendations. I continue to hold out hope that we can forge a bipartisan consensus in favor of adopting the ISG as a foundation for a phased withdrawal strategy. I believe in this approach because responsible redeployment would allow Iraqis to take control of their own security by reducing U.S. combat forces while limiting the U.S. military to missions such as counter-terrorism, protecting U.S. Embassy personnel, and training Iraqi security forces. This bill will also allow necessary flexibility for our military forces to continue strikes against al Qaeda in Iraq. This legislation calls for the beginning of redeployment and a troop draw-down within the next four months. It takes a different approach from H.R. 2237, the bill introduced by Representative Jim McGovern (D- MA) that I opposed two months ago, in that it would not prohibit funding for our troops already in Iraq, and it requires the president to submit a comprehensive strategy providing specific plans for diplomatic initiatives and justifying the number of U.S. troops who would remain and explaining their missions. I do question whether we can extricate all combat troops by April 2008, as it calls for--it could take as long as six months to move over one hundred thousand soldiers and their gear and to do this safely. This is one military exercise that we have to take seriously and spend time and resources to plan--because it could mean life or death for our men and women in uniform. But I believe we should set a target date now and begin this planning. This bill would force a change in strategy and mandate the start of a phased withdrawal and redeployment, and that is why I will vote for it.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, while I am pleased that the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill contains funding for many programs important to Colorado, I am concerned, about the provision in the bill to create a Commission of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. As has been stated by Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon and Ranking Member Ralph Hall during the floor debate, this commission replicates a bill that I introduced with my colleague, Mr. Inglis, earlier this year--H.R. 906, the Global Change Research and Data Management Act of 2007. The bill updates and reorients the current U.S. Global Change Research Program, USGCRP, which coordinates all Federal climate change research and was established by law in 1990. My bill would strengthen and streamline Federal global change research and make it more user-friendly for State and local governments, planners and researchers. My bill affirms the need for the continued strong Federal support for global change research, and it does map out a new emphasis on production of information needed to inform these important policy debates. Members of the Science and Technology Committee have been working on improving this legislation since I introduced it earlier this year. The committee received comments from experts on climate change research throughout the country and held a hearing on this issue on May 3, 2007. The bill was marked up in the Energy and Environment Subcommittee on June 6. It is scheduled to be marked up before the full Science and Technology Committee tomorrow. We all agree that a interagency climate change working group is needed and that the current U.S. Global Change Research Program needs to be updated. My bill, H.R. 906, is the best way to address this issue. I was pleased to hear assurances from Interior and the Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Dicks to Chairman Gordon that we will address this issue in conference and that the final appropriations bill language will reflect both current law and H.R. 906. I look forward to working with Chairmen Obey, Dicks and Gordon on the final legislation.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman would yield further, and I thank you again for yielding, I am very certain that that is not the case, and I would just again remind all of my colleagues that the intent here is to do this right. Not to stop this from happening, but to do it right, given our history of oil shale development or the lack thereof in western Colorado.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, with all due respect to my great friend from the Midwest, I will not withdraw the amendment. I would make a point there, I don't believe a point of order is in order, because there is no revenue anticipated from the leases that are anticipated.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would bar the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management from issuing any final regulations for commercial-scale leasing of oil shale and from offering any commercial oil shale leases during fiscal year 2008. Current law requires BLM to issue those regulations, and to move to a full-scale commercial leasing program, on a crash basis and under a tight deadline. I think that is a mistake, so I want to make it clear I support Chairman Rahall's bill, H.R. 2337, that would change that and other parts of the 2005 Energy Act. The Natural Resources Committee has favorably reported the chairman's bill and it is headed toward this very floor. The purpose of this amendment is to slow the administration down in the meantime, in order to give Congress time to complete action on that legislation. Mr. Chairman, oil shale has great potential as an energy source, and therefore it is an important part of our energy policy. But it is also important to American taxpayers, because they own most of it. But it is particularly important for Colorado. Our State has some of the most large-scale deposits of oil shale, and Coloradans, particularly those on our Western Slope, will be directly affected by its development. Back in 2005, the RAND Corporation reported that the potential benefits of developing oil shale were significant. But they also made it clear that development will affect not only our land but our air and the quality and quantity of our very limited supplies of water. It was noted that large oil shale development will bring significant population growth and is likely to put stress on the ability of local communities to provide the needed services. In short, the report reminded us how much Colorado and our neighbors had at stake when Congress debated the oil shale provisions of the 2005 Energy Policy Act. As I said, that law now calls for a crash program. I have been concerned, as many people have in Colorado, that that would bring a rush to commercial development before the Interior Department knows enough to do it right and before Colorado's communities have had a chance to prepare for what it will bring. My concerns grew this year, when a witness from RAND told our committee that the economic, technical and environmental feasibility of oil shale development is not adequate to support the formulation of a commercial leasing program on the time scale mandated and the fundamental approach the Department of the Interior is currently taking may be counterproductive if the goal is to keep open the option for a sustainable domestic oil shale industry. Chairman Rahall's bill would correct some of those problems. I want to be clear, I strongly support oil shale provisions, because I think they will help assure that any commercial development is done in an orderly way that takes full advantage of the important research and development work underway. The bill would also relax the unrealistic deadline for the BLM to finish the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement now underway, and then the bill would allow a year, not just 6 months more, for the BLM to prepare a draft, not a final, but a draft commercial leasing regulation, after which the people in Colorado and elsewhere would have 180 days to comment. I also support the bill and its mandate for developing a strategy for sustainable and publicly acceptable large-scale development of oil shale in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, and its continued requirement that we consult with the governors of those States. Mr. Chairman, I am glad that the Natural Resources Committee on a bipartisan basis adopted my amendment to set aside part of the money that the Federal Government will get from oil shale leases to help affected counties pay for construction, operation and maintenance of public facilities and for the provision of public services. This addition reflects my concern about what large-scale oil shale development can mean for Colorado's Western Slope. Mr. Chairman, I hope that the full House will follow our committee's lead and approve these changes in the current law. I certainly will do all I can to help Chairman Rahall be successful in this effort. But there is a risk that these efforts could be frustrated unless Congress first acts to relieve the pressure current law puts on the BLM to move ahead on a crash basis. Mr. Chairman, that is the purpose of the amendment, and I urge the adoption of the amendment.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, the question here is not whether to develop oil shale, but how and when. The amendment would not stop it in its tracks, as my good friend from Colorado suggests, but it would direct those tracks on to a gentler and a more sustainable route. We have always heard, Mr. Chairman, about oil shale being the fuel of the future. But as the Rand Report mentioned, I remind us, so are the potential problems. My amendment says, as we work to realize this promise, we are not closing our eyes to the problems in front of us. I urge adoption of this amendment. It is a smart amendment. It is a wise amendment. It keeps faith with the people of western Colorado.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, in a moment I am going to ask to withdraw the amendment, but I want to engage Chairman Dicks in a brief colloquy. But first let me provide a little bit of background here. Mr. Chairman, as you know, the amendment deals with claims under an 1866 law known as R.S. 2477 that granted rights-of-way to build highways over Federal lands. This act was repealed in 1976, but because Congress did not set a deadline for people claiming these rights-of-way to come forward, we still do not know what valid rights-of-way may exist. There are pending claims that affect military lands and lands once owned by the Federal Government that are now private property. Other claims involve national parks, national forests and other conservation areas. When the Clinton administration tried to resolve this problem administratively, Congress blocked that by passing a law barring issuance of final regulations on this subject until Congress authorized them. That law is still on the books. The Bush administration has not asked Congress to change the law. Instead, they want to do an end run around Congress and to deal with these claims through an administrative process. My amendment would have blocked them from doing that because I think we should deal with that problem through new legislation. Toward that end, I have worked for a number of years with counties in my State and introduced a bill based on the results of that work. My goal has been and still remains to establish a fair and neutral process that will result in setting a time certain for claims to be brought forward so valid claims can be recognized and any invalid ones will be resolved and so to bring an end to litigation and controversy. I do plan to continue to work on that approach in this Congress. If I might, at this time, I would turn to the chairman and ask him, does the chairman agree with me that it would be better for the administration to work with Congress to resolve this issue, rather than trying to follow a course that will lead straight to more litigation?

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr Chairman, reclaiming my time, I want to thank Chairman Dicks for his thoughts. Mr. Chairman, I am not going to impose on the time of the House by calling for a vote on the amendment today, although the problem has not gone away and it will not go away unless Congress acts. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be withdrawn.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. I thank the chairman for his support. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Tamra Tiong, a distinguished teacher who was voted the 2007 New Mexico Teacher of the Year, an honor bestowed by the Council of Chief State School Officers. She was also one of the four finalists chosen to receive the National Teacher of the Year award, presented at the White House. Tamra is the special education teacher for kindergarten through second grade at Dulce Elementary School on the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in northwest New Mexico. She received her nomination and award for her outstanding teaching strategies, her contribution to professional development, and her community involvement.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the success of NASA's latest mission to the International Space Station. I also wish to celebrate the safe return of the STS-117 Atlantis crew and honor the accomplishments of the astronauts, including Colorado's very own Steven Swanson. From a distinguished member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society to a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Mission Specialist Swanson's path to space is paved with miles of achievements. Long before he took in the majestic sights of our galaxy, a young Swanson was in search of new heights of adventure amidst our Rocky Mountains. After whetting his appetite for sky-high ventures in Steamboat Springs, Mr. Swanson went on to graduate from the University of Colorado with a bachelor's degree in engineering physics. A year after he received a master of applied science in computer systems from Florida Atlantic University, Steve Swanson joined NASA. As a systems engineer in the Aircraft Operations Division of Johnson Space Center, JSC, Swanson worked on the Shuttle Training Aircraft, eventually earning both the JSC Certificate of Accommodation and the Flight Simulation Engineering Award. After earning a doctorate in computer science from Texas A&M University in 1998, Swanson was selected as an Astronaut Candidate and successfully completed intensive training to eventually become a member of the crew on STS-117. Building on the lessons and mission objectives of the two previous NASA shuttle missions, STS-115 and STS-116, the STS-117 mission focused on further construction of the International Space Station. The seven- astronaut crew, under the command of Marine Colonel Rick Sturckow and the piloting of Air Force Colonel Lee Archambault, successfully installed a large truss needed to expand the orbiting space research facility and added third pair of solar wings to power the station. The STS-117 mission represented the 28th flight of the space shuttle Atlantis and NASA's 118th shuttle mission. As the 18th graduate of the University of Colorado to fly in space for NASA, Steve Swanson's safe return not only reaps great pride for his family and friends but the entire state of Colorado as well. Colorado has a rich history of accomplished space pioneers as the state has the second highest private aerospace employment concentration in the country. Swanson serves as a great embodiment of the determination and fearless pursuit of adventure found so deeply ingrained in the American West. In fact, the entire Atlantis crew embodies the very best of the American ingenuity and limitless capacity for human achievement that make this country great. I join my fellow Members of Congress in celebrating and honoring the fine astronauts of STS-117 and the accomplishments of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I think it is appropriate for the House to approve this bill in the form that it comes before us today. As I said at the time, I do not think additional federal legislation dealing with firearms can prevent tragedies such as the killings at Virginia Tech. However, the changes this bill would make would improve the current federal law and are worth making. The bill will create incentives for states to submit to the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) legal records about individuals who are ineligible to obtain firearms. This closes a loophole in the current background check system. In addition, and importantly, it will require states and federal agencies to allow individuals to appeal their status if they are currently considered ineligible to acquire firearms. And it will bar agencies from sharing mental health records that are irrelevant to the background check system. The bill has been significantly revised since its introduction. As it comes before the House, it would prevent use of federal ``adjudications'' based on medical diagnoses without a finding of dangerousness or mental incapacity. To understand what this means, consider the fact that the NICS currently accepts Veterans' Administration decisions that a veteran or other patient is an ``adjudicated mentally defective'' where there was no ``adjudication'' at all--only a medical diagnosis agreed to as a condition of receiving disability benefits. Veterans have a financial incentive to agree to this determination, and may have done so without expecting to lose their legal rights to acquire firearms. The bill as revised would eliminate purely medical records from NICS and allow a person to be prohibited on medical grounds from acquiring a firearm only as a result of a specific finding that he or she is a danger to himself or herself or to other people, or lacks the capacity to manage his or her own affairs. In addition, the revised bill would require all federal agencies that impose mental health adjudications or commitments (such as the VA) to provide a process for ``relief from disabilities.'' That would be a de novo judicial review when an agency denies relief--that is, the court would look at the application on its merits, rather than deferring to the agency's earlier decision. Also, under the revised bill a person who is inappropriately committed or declared incompetent by a federal agency would have an opportunity to correct the error--either through the agency, or in court. And the bill would prevent reporting of mental adjudications or commitments by federal agencies when those adjudications or commitments have been removed. The substitute would also make clear that if a federal adjudication or commitment has expired or been removed, it would no longer bar a person from possessing or receiving firearms under the Gun Control Act. This actually restores the person's rights, as well as deleting the record from NICS. And States that receive federal funding would also be required to have a program to provide similar relief from erroneous mental adjudications and commitments. And the relief granted by such a state program would remove the federal prohibition on the person possessing or receiving a firearm under the Gun Control Act. I think these changes are appropriate and an improvement over current law.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment. Passage of this amendment will not stop the proposed expansion of the Army's Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado, but it will delay consideration of the Army's plans until two very important questions can be answered: (1) What are the Army's real training needs, and (2) will the Army assure Coloradans that it will not resort to condemnation to acquire land? Before giving the Army money to take the first steps toward expanding these training grounds, we should be convinced that there is a real military need for the Army to acquire an additional 418,000 acres. I have kept an open mind on this question and that that is why, along with the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, I have asked the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on whether this expansion is the right way to meet the Army's training requirements and what other alternatives the Army should consider. More important, it is abundantly clear to me that there is no support--even among proponents of an expansion--for the Army's use of eminent domain to acquire any land. But so far, the Army has been reluctant to give the State of Colorado and the landowners in the area a commitment that it will not resort to condemnation. For me, that commitment is essential, and unless and until the Army makes clear it will not use condemnation, I believe Congress should not allow the expansion process to go forward.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the retirement of Chief of Police Dan Montgomery, of Westminster, Colorado. Chief Montgomery's retirement was news in my district, and I believe it is fitting to honor his public service in the Denver metropolitan area for nearly four decades. Chief Montgomery has served as the Chief of Police in Westminster for more than 24 years. Such a life-long commitment to public safety is deserving of special recognition. Dan Montgomery is passionate about protecting the public and realized early in his life that his calling was to serve in the police force. From his first job as a campus police officer, to his leadership as a police chief for one of Colorado's fastest growing suburban communities, Chief Montgomery has demonstrated a strong commitment to upholding law and order in our society. As a field officer, he will be remembered for his work on the Leeora Rose Looney case in Lakewood, Colorado, in 1971. Chief Montgomery leaves a professional legacy as a law enforcement official who always ``supported his troops.'' Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in expressing our gratitude to Police Chief Montgomery, and others in the law enforcement community just like him, for their steadfast commitment to justice and public safety. We also recognize Chief Dan Montgomery's leadership and fortitude. I am also proud to acknowledge Police Chief Montgomery's accomplishments as noted in the following article published by the Westminster Window on May 24, 2007. Police Chief Set To Cap Career (By Rachel Ceccarelli) Westminster Police Chief Dan Montgomery says he is ready to finish his 45-year career in law enforcement. Montgomery will retire as Chief of Police on June 1, and Deputy Chief Lee Birk will take the lead. ``It just dawned on me one day that I have been married to my wife Bonnie for 46 years and been a police officer for 45,'' Montgomery said. ``It was just time.'' Montgomery says he decided it was time to retire and devote more time to his wife, grown children and granddaughter. Nonetheless, he plans to continue doing some part-time police consulting. Montgomery has been the Westminster Police Chief for more than 24 years. His career began in the 1960s as a police officer in Los Gatos, California. After years of working in California, he moved to Colorado to work with the Lakewood Police Department. It was at this job that Montgomery encountered what he considers his most memorable and difficult case. ``I haven't forgotten about Leeora Rose after all these years,'' Montgomery said. Leeora Rose was a 20-year-old waitress at a Lakewood doughnut shop who disappeared on Aug. 20, 1971. Police found her raped and killed three days after her disappearance. Montgomery said after months of investigations, a single fingerprint on a coffee cup left behind by a suspect solved the case. The fingerprint matched that of a man named Carl Taylor. After his arrest, he and his partner in crime, Sherman McCray, admitted to 15 homicides across the United States. They were sentenced to life in prison. Montgomery said as far as he knows, Taylor is still in prison, and McCray committed suicide in 1988. ``I didn't like the carnage left behind by criminals, so I decided to do something about it,'' said Montgomery on why he chose a career in law enforcement. ``That was my calling.'' Montgomery said as he continued his police work in Westminster, he knew that he wanted to be a chief that supported officers. ``My motto is support me and I'll support you,'' said Montgomery, adding that he doesn't mean blindly agreeing with everything his officers do but supporting them when it's needed. Birk said Montgomery was an excellent chief to work with at the department. ``Dan has been a great role model and mentor,'' said Birk, adding that Montgomery's leadership has set him in the right direction to take over as police chief. Public support for police officers is one thing Montgomery said was his career highlight along with the passage of the public safety tax in 2003. Montgomery said the fact that City Council and residents voted to pass the ballot issue was integral to the operation of the police department. ``It's my crowning moment of glory,'' Montgomery said. ``It really was a team effort, and I don't know where we would be if it hadn't passed.'' Montgomery said he knows the police department will be left in good hands with Birk replacing him and the public safety tax in place. In his spare time, Montgomery plans to golf and spend time with his family. What Montgomery said he would miss the most is the relationships he has created with city staff and members of the police department. He will also miss fighting crime. ``I'm going to miss putting punks, perverts and predators in jail,'' Montgomery said.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce the Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2007. I am joined by Bart Gordon, Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, as an original cosponsor of the Act. This legislation is focused on ensuring the FAA will have the tools that it will need to keep the Nation's air transportation system safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly. To that end, the act reauthorizes a range of important R&D activities at the FAA, starts up new initiatives in some key areas, and contains provisions aimed at strengthening the interagency Joint Planning and Development Office, JPDO, which has the responsibility of planning and developing the Next Generation Air Transportation System, NextGen. With respect to the JPDO, the act responds to the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office, GAO, as well as other expert witnesses that the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee heard from at our recent hearings by including provisions aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the JPDO. These include such things as: (1) strengthening the authority of the JPDO Director; (2) requiring each participating agency or department to identify a senior official to be in charge of its activities in support of the NextGen initiative; (3) requiring an integrated plan with date-specific timetables for implementation of NextGen capabilities; (4) requiring the JPDO' s Senior Policy Committee to meet at least four times per year; (5) having OMB coordinate each agency or department's budget in support of the NextGen initiative; (6) directing JPDO to develop contingency plans for dealing with degradation of the NextGen system due to a natural disaster, major equipment failure, or act of terrorism; (7) requiring the JPDO to establish noise, emissions, and energy consumption requirements for the NextGen system; (8) directing JPDO to develop an R&D roadmap for the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace system; (9) having GAO carry out annual reviews of JPDO's effectiveness. As important as the JPDO and the NextGen initiative are, the act recognizes that the FAA, in coordination with other agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, has a critical role to play in supporting other important aviation R&D activities, a number of which have been underfunded in recent years according to' the testimony of the GAO and FAA's own R&E advisory committee. To that end, the act augments the President's funding requests for human factors research, weather research, unmanned aircraft systems research, and energy- and environment-related research. In addition, recent announcements from Europe regarding the potential imposition of emissions penalties on aircraft operations in the next decade have made it clear that the United States needs to better understand the impact of aviation on the climate as well as what might be done to mitigate that impact. This legislation takes the first step in that direction by directing the FAA, in coordination with NASA and the U.S. Climate Change Science Program to develop a plan for such research and then having the National Research Council carry out an independent assessment of that research plan. The Nation's colleges and universities have an important role to play in carrying out research in support of the Nation's future air transportation system. At the same time, that research is a critical means of helping to train the next generation of scientists, engineers, and aviation specialists that we will need over the coming decades. Thus, this act establishes a research grants program involving undergraduate students. It also contains provisions aimed at strengthening FAA's Centers of Excellence program. The act also contains R&D provisions to continue engine research, in coordination with NASA, that has the goal of enabling existing general aviation aircraft to operate with unleaded aviation fuel. In addition, the legislation continues the Airport Cooperative Research Program and also establishes a runway research program that should benefit both general aviation and commercial air carrier airports. Finally, in view of the increased importance of space weather to aviation, especially with the increased incidence of flight operations over the polar regions, the act establishes a multi-agency research program to conduct research on the impacts of space weather on aviation and air passengers. Madam Speaker, air transportation is central to the Nation's economic well-being, our international competitiveness, and our quality of life. FAA's R&D programs play an important role in ensuring the continued safety and efficiency of America's air transportation system, and I believe that the Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2007 will keep FAA's R&D enterprise healthy and productive.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Marie Steward, a recent recipient of the Adams County Democratic Party's 2007 Life-Time Achievement Award. I am pleased to recognize her service and the many contributions she has made to her community. Although her work in the Democratic Party has been a major part of her civic involvement, it is not her partisan work that I want to acknowledge so much as it is her long involvement in the civic life of Adams County. In fact, if there could be a ``Mrs. Adams County,'' it is Marie Steward. She is well known in Adams County through her involvement with her family, her neighborhood, organized labor and community activities. Marie was born the youngest of eleven children in Minor, Kansas to John and Lena O'Brien. Her family lost their farm during the Great Depression and moved to live with her Uncle Benjamin. Marie graduated from Brewster High School, and has fond memories from this time of taking the train to Denver and stopping at the historic Oxford Hotel. She later moved to Sand Point, Idaho after marrying Mike Steward, a young man serving in the Navy. When Mike was discharged from service in World War II, he worked as a machinist for Ringsby Trucking, a company that owned the basketball team that later became the Denver Nuggets-- and a team my father, Mo, used to play for. Mike and Marie were regular attendees at the games, and Marie was a key member of the Prospectors, a booster club for the team. She also volunteered at St. Vincent's Home for Orphans, where, thanks to Marie, no child ever went without a gift at Christmas. Marie became politically active in northern Denver when she volunteered with her colleagues, Eileen Ray and Dolores Dickman. In 1954, the Stewards bought one of the first brick houses in Thornton, a new development project that was targeted for returning World War II soldiers and their families. Marie used skills learned in Denver politics and became a precinct committee person with her neighbor and long-time activist, Ed Lappart. For many years, Marie `ran' the Adams County Democratic Party Headquarters. She produced candidate literature and published the county newsletter, the GADFLY. Rumor has it that many Republicans would often drop by for a visit to see what Marie was serving volunteers for lunch. Marie made headquarters a fun place, and with her experience as a leader in the International Machinists Auxiliary, Marie served many meals and taught the basics of political participation. She was elected as a delegate to county, congressional, and state committees, assemblies and conventions. At a mini-convention in Kansas City, Marie once met and dined with a young man named Warren Beatty. He told people later that he liked to ``pal around'' with Marie because she treated him like she treated everyone--for Marie every person is a celebrity. Today, Marie's family includes her son Jim, who is retired from IBM/ Lexmark and shares Marie's Thornton home; her daughter Anita; her husband Gary McCulloch and their four daughters and grandchildren. Not to be forgotten is ``Cookie'' the family rat terrier, who Marie walks several times during the day. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging Marie Steward for her involvement in public life and for her bipartisan interest in treating people well. She is an example of the heroic generation and an advocate of those values, like hard work and compassion for others, that represent the very best in politics--values that both Republicans and Democrats can celebrate together.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, on Monday I took part in a meeting in Denver at which the Advisory Board on Radiation and Health considered questions related to a petition to include people who worked at the Rocky Flats site as part of the ``special exposure cohort'' under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). As a result, I was not able to be present for three votes in the House. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 448--H.R. 2356, to amend title 4, United States Code, to encourage the display of the flag of the United States on Father's Day--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 449--S. 676, to provide that the Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank or the Alternate Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank may serve on the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 450--H. Res. 418, Recognizing and welcoming the delegation of Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers from the Caribbean to Washington, DC, and commending the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for holding the Conference on the Caribbean--I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Army Air Corps' legendary Tuskegee Airmen. On March 29, 2007, in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, the surviving Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the most prestigious recognition that Federal lawmakers can bestow. Tuskegee Airmen, from Colorado, that received the Congressional Gold Medal include: James E. Harrison, James H. Harvey III, Samuel C. Hunter Jr., Franklin J. Macon, John W. Mosley, Fitzroy ``Buck'' Newsum, Marion R. Rodgers, David A. Smith and William A. Walters. The first African-American airmen unit in the U.S. military trained in Tuskegee, Alabama. A total of 450 Tuskegee Airmen served overseas on various missions. During WWII, the Airmen flew missions over North Africa, Italy and Sicily. Collectively, they flew more than 15,000 combat sorties, shot down 111 German planes, and disabled 150 German planes on the ground. Thirty-three Airmen were shot down and held as POWs, and 66 of the Airmen were killed. The Tuskegee Airmen got their start in 1941 after the NAACP filed a lawsuit. President Franklin Roosevelt started the Army Air Corps training program as the first African-American training program. The Airmen were segregated from other units and endured blatant racism and discrimination while helping win World War II and change our Nation for the better. Their achievements helped contribute to the eventual integration of African-Americans into the military and also helped lead the way for further desegregation throughout the Nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating James E. Harrison, James H. Harvey III, Samuel C. Hunter Jr., Franklin J. Macon, John W. Mosley, Fitzroy ``Buck'' Newsum, Marion R. Rodgers, David A. Smith and William A. Walters for their patriotism and service to the United States of America. Their triumph over racism and discrimination, along with their outstanding service, is inspirational, and they are a source of pride for America and for all of Colorado. I wish them continued health and happiness.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, an eighth grader at Peak to Peak Charter School in Superior, Colorado. She recently made the semifinals at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. She has been to several spelling bees and 2 years ago, finished at an impressive 37th place. At this year's National Spelling Bee, Ms. Gopalakrishnan beat out opponents by spelling the word salinelle, a mud volcano erupting saline mud-- solidifying her chance to win the contest. The winner of the National Spelling Bee receives $35,000, a $5,000 scholarship, a savings bond of $2,500 and a set of reference works. Two hundred and eighty-six extraordinary students from across the Nation train vigorously in preparation for this annual event held at the Grand Hyatt Washington hotel. Students are expected to be able to spell words such as prioplasmosis and my personal favorite, bewusstseinslage, which means a state of consciousness--something my critics occasionally accuse me of losing. The skills and values that Ms. Gopalakrishnan already displays will help her with many challenges that she may face in the future. Furthermore, her commitment to learning and competitive drive makes her a strong student who is sure to excel in her academic career. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan in all of her accomplishments and wish her success as she continues on her quest for knowledge.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group (ISG)--also known as the ``Baker Hamilton Commission''--as a bipartisan foundation for long overdue strategic change in our policy in Iraq. I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues Representatives Frank Wolf, Michael McCaul, and Daniel Lipinski--and 41 other Members--in introducing this bill, and I am grateful for all their help in building support for this legislation. Representative Wolf deserves special recognition for the role he played in spearheading the creation of the Iraq Study Group and in pushing forward its recommendations. The ISG was created in March 2006 at the request of a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, led by Representative Wolf, and was co- chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Lee Hamilton. In December 2006, the ISG released its recommendations and outlined a bipartisan approach to bringing a responsible conclusion to the Iraq war. What this legislation does is to take these recommendations and establish them as official United States policy. Among the recommendations outlined in the bill are a new diplomatic offensive in the region that includes the creation of the Iraq International Support Group; giving the highest priority to training, equipping and advising the Iraqi military and security forces; assessing the full budgetary and personnel impact of the war in Iraq on the U.S. military; accelerating and increasing oil production and accountability including equitable distribution of oil revenues in Iraq; implementing and oversight of economic reconstruction programs in Iraq with the creation of a new Senior Advisor for Economic Reconstruction; ensuring that the President includes the cost of the war in his annual budget request; and setting conditions that can lead to redeployment of U.S. combat forces as early as the first quarter of 2008, including necessary diplomatic, infrastructure and security benchmarks. It is clear to me that a Democratic majority in Congress cannot unilaterally legislate an end to this war and expect its architect and champion--President Bush--to sign on the dotted line. In my view, the only way to end this war--and to end it in a way that minimizes the likelihood of greater regional bloodshed--is to broaden the tent of opposition, and engage concerned Republicans in pressuring the Bush Administration to change course. That is why I worked last year with Representative Joe Schwarz on a resolution insisting on benchmarks for Iraqi political stability and a process to hold the Bush Administration accountable. That is why I am introducing this bill today. Democrats and Republicans must work together to change the course in Iraq, and implementing the major policy recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group is an overdue step in this direction. As an early and consistent opponent of this war I do not believe that embracing these recommendations is the only action we in Congress must take, but it is important as a foundation. I, for one, will also continue to push for a strategy of military disengagement in Iraq and phased redeployment of our forces, because I do not believe we should ask our soldiers to referee a civil war. Ending American military participation in this war and managing the consequences of the Bush Administration's failures will not be easy and it will not come overnight, but it will come--and the ISG recommendations offer a means of moving toward these goals. Many of us embraced the ISG's recommendations when the report was first released last year, and many of us believe that the report still provides a comprehensive blueprint for a way forward in Iraq and the Middle East, from both the military and the diplomatic perspective. I do not believe the ISG recommendations or my bill will offer a complete solution, but they will offer a start. We went into war as a badly divided country; I hope we can end it differently and that is my motivation in offering this bill today.