Zach Wamp

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. I thank the distinguished ranking member and chairman of the subcommittee and the ranking member and chairman of the full committee, and especially Ms. Berkeley for her initiative on this important resolution. One of the greatest privileges of my service here over the last 15 years is representing Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which played a critical role in the defense of our country, from the Manhattan Project forward. As we know, since 1942, almost three-quarters of a million people have worked in this industry, the nuclear industry. Some of our citizens in this country have been called during war to serve in the uniform of our country. Some volunteered, some mandatorily; many were in tanks, in airports, ships, submarines. Many were in our plants and our facilities doing the same kind of work in a different venue, just as patriotic, just as sacrificial, and they haven't received, at different times, the due that they deserve. But the day after tomorrow, October 30, 2009, all across the country in different places, people will come together for this important commemoration, a day of recognition and remembrance, remembering those that have gone on. As the chairman said, many have died from the very illnesses that they got from their service and their sacrifice. Their families suffered a lot with them because they became ill doing this work in very difficult and unhealthy environments. Years ago here, in the Congress, about 10 years ago, I was one of the original authors of the legislation to compensate those people that became ill, commonly known as the Sick Worker Legislation, the acronym is EEOICPA, the hardest one to memorize. With a Democratic administration--the Clinton administration--and a Republican Congress, we hammered out and forged a benefit program for these sick workers. I want to thank on the floor of the House today Senator Fred Thompson, who stood up as a Republican with me at the time and others in a bipartisan way to provide this benefit to these families. Many of these families received $150,000 for the direct illnesses that they received from their extraordinary sacrifice. As we remember those that have died, we need to thank as a Nation all of those who became ill because of their exposure to these very chemicals and these toxicities that have been talked about on the floor today, but also recognize those that are still out there that are working that have survived. Maybe they've retired. It's so very important that we do this, because these are patriots who helped us win the Cold War and helped us create the deterrent that has kept the world safer. This nuclear industry is important. These facilities are important. The Department of Energy has played an important role, we knew it as the Atomic Energy Commission at that time, which evolved into the Department of Energy. It's a labor of love to work in a bipartisan way, in the Congress, to have this official day of recognition and remembrance for all of these workers, past and present and future, frankly, because we are still cleaning up the legacy of this Cold War investment. That's an important investment as well for our country to make. It's an honor and a privilege to coauthor this resolution with Congresswoman Berkley. Again, I want to close by thanking her for taking this initiative, because it is an important step. While many of us, because the House will be in session on Friday, October 30, will not physically be there at these remembrances, we are there with you 100 percent in a bipartisan way as the Congress of the United States comes together. The Senate passed their resolution on May 20 for this official day of recognition and remembrance for all of these nuclear workers through the years and into the future. The United States of America and the Congress of the United States thanks you and recognizes you and remembers those who have given so much in defense of our liberties.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, I rise today to oppose the inclusion of hate crimes legislation within the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2647). Throughout my 15 years in Congress, I have always been a passionate supporter of our military and their families. I stand on my strong record of support for our brave service men and women. Regrettably, however I cannot, in good conscience, vote for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Using the broad admiration for our military, the majority has hijacked this Defense Authorization bill to pass a hate crimes provision that could not pass on its own merits. Every jurisdiction in the United States prohibits battery and murder. If we prioritize crimes based on the victim's status, we threaten the very notion of equal protection under the law that is the foundation of our legal system. Instead, all violations of the law should be dealt with in a manner that delivers justice on behalf of victims and their families. As a society, we must do what we can to prevent all crimes. The use of violence against any innocent person is wrong, regardless of that individual's race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation. Crimes of violence should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. With two wars waging overseas, now is not the time to be playing politics with the lives of our brave service men and women. They deserve a clean defense bill, but today's vote sends the wrong message to all those who stand in defense of our Nation.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 707, which seeks to designate the week of September 13, 2009, as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week and to raise the awareness of adult literacy programs. I am also a cosponsor of this resolution. Education spans from conception to the grave. Earning a high-school diploma makes people better qualified for the work force, for raising a family, and for improving their standard of living. For those who were unable to complete their education in their youth, adult education programs can provide a second chance. Unfortunately, according to a 2005 study by the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 45 percent of all adults function below the high school reading level. For these adults, it is much harder to get a good job that can sustain them or their family. Sadly, when faced with this reality, some adults turn to crime. The more than 1 million incarcerated adults in the Nation had lower average literacy scores than adults in households on nearly every comparable scale--age, gender, and ethnicity. The inability to read not only affects individuals' lives but also the lives of their family. Children of parents who are unemployed and have not completed high school are five times more likely to drop out than children of employed parents. In turn, parents who can read are more likely to be employed full time and receive a higher income. When parents can read, especially the mother, they will be more involved in their children's lives. They will read to their children and discuss school topics. The importance of education and the ability to read doesn't end with the family. Its benefit also helps improve the community and even saves us all money in the long run. Putting that 2005 study into real terms, 93 million adults can't read or follow medical instructions. Individuals with limited literacy skills are more likely to have chronic conditions and are less able to manage them effectively or be aware of preventive care. These individuals will make greater use of emergency room and hospital services and less use of services designed to prevent health complications. Greater use of the emergency room raises health care costs for all of us. In addition, American businesses lose more than $60 billion in productivity each year due to employees' basic skill deficiencies. For our country to remain competitive in the global market place, more and more jobs will require advanced skills, and public schools produce only 2 percent of the workforce annually. Without adult education programs, important jobs could go unfilled holding back development or, worse yet, the jobs will go abroad to other nations. Madam Speaker, literacy and education benefit so many aspects of our lives. I encourage my colleagues in the House to support this resolution and to raise the awareness of adult and family education programs.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform, I am committed to protecting taxpayers' money and providing greater transparency and a fully accountable process. The Conference Report on H.R. 3183, The Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act contains the following funding: Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: U.S. Corp of Engineers--Construction Legal Name Requesting Entity: U.S. Corp of Engineers--Nashville District Address: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District at 110 9th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee Description of Request: The Chickamauga Lock is a major economic engine in the Tennessee Valley region. Commodities passing through the lock have origins and destinations in 17 states in the South, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, traveling an average 1,400 miles. Over the last several years, 2.5 million tons passed through the lock annually, and the forecasted traffic demand is expected to grow considerably. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicates that replacement of the existing lock is far more economical than continuing costly maintenance and repair. Funding in the amount of $1 million is included for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to replace the Chickamauga Lock. Distribution of funding: Construction 100% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: U.S. Corp of Engineers--Operations and Maintenance Legal Name Requesting Entity: U.S. Corp of Engineers--Nashville District Address: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District at 110 9th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee Description of Request: The current Chickamauga Lock has been in operation on the Tennessee River since 1940 and is a major economic engine in the Tennessee Valley region. As use of the lock is increasing, the infrastructure is severely aging, jeopardizing its ability to support additional traffic loads. An extensive maintenance program, well beyond what is normally conducted, is underway to extend the life of the current lock until the replacement lock can be built. Funding in the amount of $3.775 million is required for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fix and replace gates, pumps, piping and tension connections to the guide wall. Distribution of funding: Maintenance 100%

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. I thank the chairman, and I thank the ranking member and the Speaker. It's my 15th year here. I have been on this committee for 13 years, and I inherited a district that is really heavy in this bill, and I know that. I represent Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The committee has been incredibly good through the years to recognize the needed investments in science, energy research, national security and environmental management, and yet again this conference report recognizes those critical priorities on behalf of our country, and I'm grateful for that. But much like Paul Revere, I have come to the committee, the subcommittee, and the House again today to say we have a huge problem at the Chickamauga Lock on the Tennessee River. We began construction of the replacement lock a few years ago. The cofferdam is complete. Inside this cofferdam, we will dry out the Tennessee River in the next few months to test that the cofferdam works. The cofferdam is about the size of this entire building, the Capitol Building, in the middle of the Tennessee River. We are ready now to begin pouring the foundations in the middle of the river to replace the lock. The current lock will close. I just had the briefing today from the Corps. Yesterday at the conference committee closing this out, and I signed the conference report, I offered an amendment to put language and up to $14 million in the bill to make sure we can move the project forward. It failed on a 10-8 vote. I appreciate Lincoln Davis, the only member of the majority for voting ``yes.'' Everyone in the minority voted ``yes.'' This is a critical problem. I say to the administration, you only made a $1 million funding request. It's not sufficient to move it along. The current lock will close. The Corps just briefed us again today. They cannot keep it open. It will be the largest inland waterway system in the history of our country to close. The current lock was set to close at 2014. We are not building the lock yet. The cofferdam is complete. The Kentucky lock only got $1 million, but their stimulus money allows them to start construction. We could not. I made this case at the subcommittee, at the full committee, and on the House floor Mr. Pastor helped us. We put $14 million in, and just like happens in this place, somehow by the time we got to the conference meeting, it was taken back out. We tried to restore it yesterday, change of support, went down virtually party lines. I'm telling you, we got a problem. We need help. And it's not me. It's the entire eastern system. It's the largest inland waterway system in the country. It is going to close. We've got to do something. Please, to the committee, to the Senate, to the House, both parties, administration, when there is an emergency supplemental, let's get together ahead of time and fix the Inland Waterway Trust Fund problem. This is a crisis for all the inland waterway system, and the first big failure will be Chick Lock unless we exert the leadership that we are elected to do. It's a can that has been kicked down the road too long. I plead with you on behalf of the constituents, not just in my district, not just in my State, but in the entire eastern part of our country. From Peoria to south Georgia, you will have truckloads of cargo and goods, 150,000 18-wheelers a year added to carry the cargo that currently goes through this lock, and it is about to close because we're not doing our job. That's the truth. And I hate it. And I have done my best, but I am only one. I need help. Our people need help. Our country needs help. We need leadership. Let's keep the Chickamauga Lock open. If there's an emergency supplemental that moves, we need to step up and fix this problem before the 2011 cycle. I'm going to do everything I can. I've been here long enough to know how to cooperate, how to get it done and sometimes how to keep the trains from going any further until the right things are done. That's not a warning. I need your help. That's a plea.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. I want to welcome this morning to the House of Representatives my pastor, Dr. Adam Dooley, who hails from Berea, Kentucky, graduated from Clear Creek Bible College, and went on to receive his Doctor of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was the senior pastor at the Red House Baptist Church in Kentucky before he came to my home church of Red Bank Baptist in Red Bank, Tennessee. Dr. Dooley, his wife, Heather, and their son, Carson, bless our large congregation there in Chattanooga, and today we welcome him to the House of Representatives as the guest chaplain and thank him for that extraordinary opening prayer this morning. Welcome, Dr. Dooley.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 685, the United States Civil Rights Trail Act. I joined with my colleague, Mr. Clay, to introduce this legislation. From 1954 through 1968, many significant events of the Civil Rights Movement took place in the United States. On February 1, 1960, in Greensboro, North Carolina, four courageous African-American students from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College took their seats at the lunch counter of the F. W. Woolworth Company, but the store refused to serve them at the counter. One of the students stated that, ``We believe, since we buy books and papers in other parts of the store, we should get served in this part.'' Over the next several days, they sat peacefully at the lunch counter in quiet protest, and close to a hundred others joined them. Soon, thousands across the South joined the students' protest and conducted lunch counter sit-ins of their own. While many may only think of events that occurred in southern and eastern States, there were important events in other parts of the country where individuals overcame injustice. In Washington, D.C., in 1961, 13 individuals of different races, known as the Freedom Riders, boarded a bus bound for New Orleans, Louisiana, in an attempt to desegregate places of public accommodations. Their courage and sacrifice led to the desegregation of all public places under Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. To learn more about other events, the Civil Rights Trail System Act would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of establishing a national trail system to mark locations in the United States (including its territories) of historically significant events related to the struggle for racial equality. With this study and the help of an advisory committee of experts in historic preservation and African-American history, the Secretary of the Interior would provide information about the many people and places that played such an important role in the Civil Rights Movement for all Americans, and everyone would have the opportunity to stand and breathe the air where history was made. The Secretary would first establish at least six national trails in States where significant civil rights events occurred, with other trails sure to follow as documentation is available. This legislation provides the U.S. Congress an opportunity to honor those who were a part of a movement that ensured that everyone was created equal and that everyone had the freedom to achieve the American dream. The trail system would serve as a marker for how far our country has come and would remain for future generations so that our history is accurate and instructive on all that is necessary for justice and equality to reign down on our land. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Chairman, I just would like to add that we want to thank Dan Tate, Sr. with the PGA. We want to thank the First Tee program, which is much more than golf, ladies and gentlemen. It is a leadership, development and training program for young people. They now have First Tee facilities compliments of, frankly, the Congress at military bases all across the country and in 19 foreign countries. The only highlight of this year's loss was that our three freshmen, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Rooney of Florida and Mr. Hunter of California, performed admirably. So there is hope for next year and for the future. With that, congratulations to the Democrats. It is now 4-4. We look forward to raising money for First Tee in the future. From this year and in previous years, this event in 7 years has raised well over $1 million for the First Tee program, and for that, we should all be grateful. I yield back to the gentleman from California.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Lawrence A. Hahn of Oak Ridge, Tenn., as he retires as the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge. For more than 55 years, Lawrence has dedicated himself to the youth of Oak Ridge and surrounding areas as Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club. He has worked considerably more than ``40 hours-a- week'' and has contributed from his own finances to create a better quality of life for countless young people. He has helped change lives by providing a safe environment and great role-models that have helped many become caring, responsible and productive citizens. He has served hundreds of thousands of youth with his service on the Tennessee Area Council as its Executive Secretary in addition to his service to the National Boys and Girls Clubs. The local Boys and Girls Club Alumni Chapter that Lawrence established has been recognized as one of the largest and most effective in the nation. He continues to lead this group, which includes past Club members now working as professionals across the region and around the nation. He has been an inspiration to hundreds of volunteers who have served on the Club's Board of Directors as educational tutors and athletic coaches--giving them the same desire that he has to carry on the unwavering compassion and commitment to the mission of the Club. The national headquarters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America has given Lawrence their highest professional award and he continues to be honored at national forums. Lawrence is without a doubt one of the most respected, honored and legendary citizens of Oak Ridge. His 55 years as the Boys and Girls Club Executive Director far exceeds the years of service than that of any other person in the history of the National Boys and Girls Clubs movement. It is with great pleasure that I honor my friend, Lawrence Hahn, for his commitment to the youth of Oak Ridge and East Tennessee.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, the Volunteer State continues to produce the best of the best in our military! Today, I am privileged to rise and honor Master Sgt. Lorene Kitzmiller of the Tennessee Air National Guard who was selected as the 2009 First Sergeant of the Year for the Air National Guard. She was also recognized as an Outstanding Airman of the Year along with five other Airmen nationwide. Master Sgt. Kitzmiller is serving with the 118th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in Nashville. Each year, the States and territories select and submit top performers from the Air Guard's 88 flying units and 579 mission support units to compete for this prestigious award. Out of more than 93,000 enlisted Airmen in the Air National Guard, only six are selected for the final competition. Kitzmiller has participated in multiple overseas deployments including Operation Northern Watch (Macedonia), Operation Southern Watch (Saudi Arabia), Operation Iraqi Freedom (Kuwait, Baghdad, and twice in Balad), and Operation Enduring Freedom. She also is very active improving her local community and volunteers with the Tennessee Drug Task Force Team and YMCA, serving as a drill instructor during summer camps for troubled youth. She has spent countless hours volunteering with Military Kids Support Programs and Homeless Veterans Associations helping veterans find shelter and employment. Master Sgt. Kitzmiller hails from Springfield, Tenn., and is currently studying at Austin Peay State University working toward her bachelor's degree. She attended Dickson County High School and left for Navy basic training 10 days after graduation. Upon discharge 4 years later, she joined the Army Reserve, served in several units before transferring to the Tennessee Army National Guard, and then finally to the State's Air National Guard. In December 2005, she was selected as a First Sergeant, fulfilling a dream to follow in her father's footsteps. Tennessee is very proud of the accomplishments and service of Master Sgt. Lorene Kitzmiller and I proudly recognize her today in the U.S. House of Representatives. Individuals like Kitzmiller continue to give the United States military a reputation of excellence and commitment to their State and their Nation while at home or deployed around the world. On behalf of the great State of Tennessee, I honor Master Sgt. Lorene Kitzmiller for her accomplishments and dedication to Tennessee and the United States of America.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I have said it many times on this floor: Neither party has an exclusive on integrity or ideas. And these challenges are not Republican challenges or Democratic challenges; they are, in fact, American challenges. But I have to tell you a few years ago, a Republican President with a Republican Congress, he proposed sweeping changes to immigration policy, but those changes kind of flew in the face of the rule of law, they threatened our sovereignty, and Republicans said ``no.'' Here we are today. All of us want our President to be successful. But the Democratic Party needs to look at the President and say, This is not what we need to protect our health care system. We need to change it. We need to reform it. We need to improve it. But we don't need government control of health care. It's too important. Eighty-five percent of the people in this country today are satisfied with their health care, and they are afraid that this new proposal will put that in jeopardy. This is a matter of life or death. People are not waiting in line to leave this country for health care; it's the other way around.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform, I am committed to protecting taxpayers' money and providing greater transparency and a fully accountable process. H.R. 3326, Department of Defense and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 contains the following funding that I requested: Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Army--Medical Technology Legal Name Requesting Entity: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga Address: 975 East Third Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403 Description of Request: The University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga requested funding for its work with artificial bone implants and grafts for American soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines who have lost limbs in combat. This research will greatly enhance the lives of injured service members giving them more independence and allow them to live more productive and fulfilling lives. Distribution of funding: Yearly Staffing, 37%; Consultative Services, 9%; Scientific Material, 54%. Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Other Procurement, Army--Training Devices, Nonsystem Legal Name Requesting Entity: Tennessee Army National Guard Address: Houston Barracks 3041 Sidco Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 Description of Request: The Tennessee National Guard requested funding to purchase and maintain Combined Arms Virtual Trainers to better prepare service members for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. This equipment replicates virtual battlefields and allows Army National Guard soldiers to train as they will fight. Allowing Combined Arms Training within a virtual environment will save lives on the real battlefield Distribution of funding: Equipment, Software, & Maintenance, 100%.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, I rise today a proud Tennessean with the distinct privilege of honoring Third Congressional District resident Stefanie Wittler who has been crowned Miss Tennessee. This is a prestigious award that requires great responsibility and Ms. Wittler is a young lady who is truly up to the task. Over the next year, this 22-year-old Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., resident will serve as an ambassador and public relations representative for the Miss America Organization. While maintaining the hectic schedule required to meet the responsibilities of the title she now holds, Stefanie will be preparing for the 2010 Miss America Pageant to be held in January in Las Vegas. Ms. Wittler is a very determined young lady who fought hard for this award in the face of adversity and defeat. She participated in the Miss Tennessee pageant on two previous occasions but remained determined to reach her goal of being crowned Miss Tennessee. Humility is too often mistaken for weakness. Stefanie is a perfect example that, in reality, humility is one of the strongest character traits we can possess. For that reason, Madam Speaker, I stand here today to honor Ms. Stefanie Wittler, the 2009 Miss Tennessee.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform, I am committed to protecting taxpayers' money and providing greater transparency and a fully accountable process. H.R. 3293, The Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act contains the following funding that I requested: Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Department of Education--Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Legal Name Requesting Entity: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Address: 615 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37403 Description of Request: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga requested funding to create a Center for Leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. Federal funding is needed to help establish the Center and assist in teacher recruitment, training and support. As the competition for technical innovations increases, improved education in these fields is critical to maintaining economic competitiveness in the region. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga received $770,000 to establish its STEM Center. Distribution of funding: Center Implementation & Capacity Building-- 25%; Teacher Recruitment and Preparation--25%; Educator STEM Training & Support--25%; STEM Career Training for Adult Learners--25%.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform, I am committed to protecting taxpayers' money and providing greater transparency and a fully accountable process. H.R. 3288, The Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act contains the following funding that I requested: Requesting Member: Representative Zach Wamp Account: Surface Transportation Priorities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chattanooga's Enterprise Center Address: 1250 Market Street, Suite 3020, Chattanooga, TN 37402 Description of Request: The City of Chattanooga's Enterprise Center requested funding to complete a feasibility study approved by Congress for a high speed maglev train between Atlanta, Chattanooga and Nashville. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the nation's busiest airport. A maglev train will relieve tremendous congestion in the Atlanta metro area and serve as part of a long needed ``intermodal mass transit system'' for the United States. Federal funding is needed for additional engineering work and development of a detailed financial plan, to include the number of riders and expected profits. The corridor is recommended by the State of Georgia's Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding. The City of Chattanooga's Enterprise Center received $750,000 to complete this study. Distribution of funding: Salaries, wages, benefits and taxes, 23.85%; Professional Fee/Contractors, 56%; Office Supplies and maintenance, 4.65%; Travel/Conferences and Meetings, 9.07%; Indirect Costs, 6.43% Requesting Member: Representative Zach Wamp Account: Interstate Maintenance Discretionary Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Cleveland Address: 190 Church Street NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 Description of Request: The Cleveland Mayor and City Council requested funding to redesign and construct Exit 20 on Interstate 75 to eliminate a dangerous bottleneck of traffic and widen a narrow bridge. This exit is the gateway to the Tri-State Exhibition Center, the Ocoee Recreation Region and the Cherokee National Forest, and is often excessively congested and unsafe for vehicles. A new exit and widened bridge will improve safety for travelers, truck drivers and community residents. The redesign will also facilitate new industrial and commercial growth in the area. The Mayor and City of Cleveland received $1.05 million for this project. Distribution of funding: Right of way and utilities, 100% Requesting Member: Representative Zach Wamp Account: Transportation Planning, Research and Development Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oak Ridge National Laboratory Address: 2360 Cherahala Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37932 Description of Request: The National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory requested funding to examine how cutting edge technologies can be used to define real world driving conditions for advanced power train systems research. Building on past investments by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee, this study will support existing research to increase automobile efficiency and safety and introduce new capabilities for advanced transportation for universities, the government and industry. Using these cutting edge technologies to test various combinations of engine components before building a prototype vehicle will save time and money in developing our nation's next generation of trucks, buses, military vehicles and passenger cars. Oak Ridge National Laboratory's National Transportation Research Center received $250,000 for this research. Distribution of funding: Data Analysis, 50%; Model Development and Use, 40%; Program Management & Reporting, 10% Requesting Member: Representative Zach Wamp Account: Economic Development Initiative Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Claiborne County Industrial Development Board Address: 1732 Main Street, Suite 1, Tazewell, TN 37879 Description of Request: The Claiborne County Center for Higher Education provides educational growth opportunities not available in Claiborne, Hancock, Grainger, and Union counties. Rural counties need access to advanced education. Career skills are necessary for the jobs of the future. The Claiborne County Industrial Development Board purchased an unused facility to provide job training for residents in this underserved area. The Claiborne County Industrial Development Board received $189,000 for renovations to the building. Distribution of funding: Fire Alarm, 30.2%; ADA Compliance, 31.8%; Window Replacement, 33.8%; Architectural Design, 4.2%

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. I thank the gentleman. As I close out our hour tonight, I want to say when the question is asked, where are the jobs, if all of the applications pending right now before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for nuclear plants were approved, that would be 17,500 permanent jobs and 62,000 construction jobs. Nuclear is maybe the single largest step towards stimulus, economic opportunity and global warming progress, all of those things that we need. We can reprocess and recycle the spent fuel. This administration doesn't want to bury it in Yucca Mountain. They won the election. That's their prerogative. Let's move as France has, and Japan and other countries, towards taking the spent fuel and turning it back into energy. We can deal with this. We built 100 reactors in less than 20 years, and now we know so much more about it, if we said we were going to build another 100 reactors in the next 20 years, we would have a robust U.S. economy with new electricity capacity. And when we bring on new capacity, we will lower the cost instead of increasing the cost. This regulatory cap-and-trade scheme increases the cost, reduces the supply, by definition, because we're going to need new electricity and energy capacity. So tonight we just close, Mr. Speaker, by saying that American innovation and entrepreneurship, free enterprise, can help solve these problems without the government burden.

Mr. WAMP. I just want to point out that I believe there are shared goals in the House, but there clearly is some great difference in the approaches again to these goals. And the problem with these two big issues that are pending before the American people is that they involve energy and health care. And energy is the one big issue that can bring us to our knees economically. We've seen that because of the price of oil, the availability of electricity can paralyze our economy, and frankly, the cost of this move is heavy, the price is high. And that's why it is so important--really, the big issues in the world today clearly are water--it's a big issue around the world. It's going to be scarce, harder to come by, can create conflict. Energy is going to be scarce, hard to come by. We are all interested in air quality--and the environment is important--but there has to be a balance of regulation. And then this issue of health. The American people do not want the government to get between their health care provider and themselves, particularly between the doctor-patient relationship. And I have to tell you this leap does that. And you don't see people leaving here to go to Canada and Great Britain now for their health care. It's the other way around because they've already gone on these systems that are being proposed here. I want to come back before the bottom of the hour and talk about nuclear. But I want to yield to a member of the Commerce Committee, the gentleman from Louisiana who's brought great expertise to the Congress, is an energy production expert because of the State that he comes from, and knows that we have to increase the energy capacity in order to maintain our competitiveness globally today in a global economy. We can't restrict our sources of energy and stay competitive. Mr. Scalise from Louisiana is recognized for such time as he may consume.

Mr. WAMP. I thank the gentleman from Michigan. Before I yield time to the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Speaker, can you tell me how much time we have remaining?

Mr. WAMP. The gentleman's comments are spot-on. We're grateful he came and participated and for his really brilliant leadership here in the House. Another one of our smarter Members from the Republican side is the gentleman from Michigan. There are other Members coming to the floor, so I am going to withhold my comments. I yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan.

Mr. WAMP. Thank you, Dr. Broun. And before I yield to the gentleman from Virginia, I just want to follow up to say, in my 15 years here, I have tried to temper my partisanship. And this is not, to me, about Republicans and Democrats. It truly is about all Americans and how serious these choices that we're making are for everyone. I don't think either party has an exclusive on integrity or ideas. The truth is, in 2009 neither party has a whole lot to brag about because, as Dr. Broun said, the previous administration--and I think President Bush restored honor and integrity to the White House at the time it needed it. He and Laura Bush are two of the finest people in history. But we lost our party's identification over these last several years by spending too much, making mistakes, and not being consistent. But that doesn't mean that what's happening today is either okay or better. As a matter of fact, it's like the mistakes we made on steroids. The budgets proposed by this President so far exceed all of the deficit spending that President Bush had over his 8 years. It's remarkable. It's actually breathtaking that we would be doing this. The whole question of ``Where are the jobs?'' this week came up over the stimulus. Nearly $800 billion of one-time spending. No way any analyst would say more than 15 percent of that spending would even create a single job. 85 percent of it was, frankly, pent-up welfare and social spending, their priorities that they thought hadn't been funded adequately over the last 8 years. They threw all that money at new government programs and more government spending. That's why the unemployment rate in Washington, D.C., is the lowest in the country today, because Washington jobs are growing, but jobs in the hinterland are shrinking. Now, economies rise and fall. They're cyclical by definition. But the government can either make it worse or make it better by their policies. Unfortunately, these policies are actually making it worse. That's why the question comes after the stimulus and the bailouts and the borrowing and the spending, ``Where are the jobs?'' because we're going the other way the more you do that. It didn't work in Japan. They called it ``the lost decade'' because they tried to borrow their way into success and a good economy. It doesn't work. You can't borrow your way out of debt. You can't spend your way to prosperity. Other countries have tried it, and it failed. And here we are making this big mistake. It's not a Republican/Democrat thing. It's whoever is doing it needs to stop for the good of the American people. I yield to the very well-schooled ranking member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Energy and former lead Republican on the Agriculture Committee, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) for as much time as he needs.

Mr. WAMP. I thank the gentlelady for her intellect and her insight and dogged determination on behalf of the people of North Carolina. She raised two issues I want to address before yielding to the gentleman from Georgia. One, she said that sometimes Republicans are called the Party of No. I would say to the gentlelady, if that means saying ``no'' to tax increases and large rate increases in your electricity bills at a time of economic duress by the people we represent, then, yes, we would be the Party of No. And she said something about bad legislation was stopped. I remind people that the immigration reform proposals were made by a Republican President, and they were wrong. And Republicans in the Congress stopped the President from going forward. One question I would ask today is: At what point are the Democrats in the majority here going to stop the Democrat President from a wrong- headed proposal when the American people are clearly against it? Yet, this is where you have to stand up and say, This is not only bad for America, Mr. President; it's bad for our party. And we said that and immigration reform did not go forward under Bush, because it was wrong-headed. The American people weren't for it. And here, today, we would ask: Are you just going to follow the President of the United States and his Chief of Staff down this very liberal road? And for how long? And for the 52 so-called Blue Dogs, it's going to be a real test. What are you for? More for the liberal leadership of your party or the values that you say that you represent? So I'd like to yield to the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Broun, who's been a really dynamic Member of Congress in his relatively short tenure, but he worked a long time and worked really hard to get here and he brings a depth of experience. I yield to Dr. Broun of Georgia for as much time as he may consume.

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, what we will see over the next 60 minutes is a conversation here on the floor of the United States House of Representatives about our economy, this issue of energy, and innovation; frankly, our free enterprise system in the future, the role of the government, and I think the problems with excessive spending. But I want to open by talking a little bit about how I have vested my time and energies as a Member of the House over these last 15 years-- because it's a privilege to serve my last term here in the House as I am a candidate for governor of the State of Tennessee now--but I will tell you, I am one on the Republican side that has been extraordinarily active on alternative energy. For 8 years, I chaired the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus here in the House with Congressman--now Senator--Mark Udall of Colorado. We built a caucus of over half the House, almost evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, and advocated while Republicans were in the majority for unprecedented investments in renewable energy technologies. None of us got as far as we would like to have gotten, but we need to be realistic about how far we have gotten and what the capacity is for renewable sources today. But in 2005, we wrote the Energy Policy Act. Some people didn't like it, others did, but without question it had more investments in the renewable and energy efficiency sectors than any bill that had ever been signed into law before, and I was proud to help write that very language in that bill. So I've got a long history on alternative energy and moving towards new sources. But I voted against the recent cap-and-trade legislation because the differences today are not differences in goals or motives, because I think all Members of the House want the United States to move away, as much as possible, from fossil fuels or dirtier ways to create energy for our country's competitiveness. But the fact is, we have not developed these alternative sources yet to move as rapidly away as the leadership of the Congress now proposes if we're going to remain competitive. Their approach is much more a regulatory approach, and our approach is much more an innovation and technology approach. A year and a half ago, I was in China, in Shanghai, where you couldn't see from one side of the Bund, the river, to the other. Extraordinarily bad pollution. So we broached the subject with the Chinese: Where are you on the environment? Basically, the answer you get from the Chinese is, you are entitled to your industrial revolution; we're entitled to ours. Well, there's a big difference between when the United States had their industrial revolution and China having theirs now if there's no environmental regulation, because they're literally one-fifth of the world's population and climbing, and they are far and away the biggest polluters in the world. And if you think they're doing a cap-and-trade scheme to regulate their pollution or their air quality or their carbon emissions, you're kidding yourself. They're exactly the opposite. And here we are seriously considering a scheme that will dramatically regulate our productivity and our competitiveness, raise the cost of energy, frankly raise taxes to pay for it and, at the worst time since the Great Depression, strangle our ability actually to pull out of this economic downturn. And that is the beauty of American innovation. Not long ago, I was personally speaking with the prime minister of Australia, and he was telling me that he had great hope for the future because the U.S. had such innovation that we would lead the world out of this economic malaise. But I've got to tell you, we are now moving more towards big government regulation and the lack of innovation than at any time in modern history, instead of moving towards it. Now, I think this is a challenge that we share in the House, but we have got to get back to a reasonable middle ground because American innovation is the only way to turn this economy around. Our entrepreneurship is the beautiful, what I call the goose, that lays the golden egg, the engine that creates the revenues to get back to a balanced budget. That's how the budget got balanced in the 1990s. We did slow the growth of spending below inflation and that was laudable, but it was new revenues in the information sector. People like Bill Gates. We actually led the world for so long on the information revolution that revenues surpassed expenses, and we balanced the budget. We could do that again with energy. I call it the En-Tech agenda, where we would have a robust, U.S.-led manufacturing explosion in new energy solutions instead of this regulatory scheme that says we're going to actually limit the amount of energy that can be produced by certain sources and mandate a certain amount by other sources. And the harsh reality is those sources are not available, and the irony of ironies on the floor of this House is that the very people who are opposed to coal and clean coal and new investments on how to better use fossil resources are the same people, many of them, like the gentleman from Massachusetts and the gentleman from California whose very names this legislation is under, Waxman and Markey, that are anti-nuclear. The one single technology in the United States that can rapidly move us away from fossil electricity production, they're against it, too. So if you're against nuclear and you're against coal, what you end up being for is a lack of electricity and a lack of energy and a lack of competitiveness and a lack of innovation and a lack of manufacturing. And the question was asked on the floor earlier this week, where are the jobs? I hate to admit this, but a lot of those jobs are in China and India, and they are going other places. That's where those jobs are, because our manufacturing sector is leaving because we're not unleashing the innovation and the entrepreneurship and the incentives for people to take risk and invest; just the opposite. And back-to-back behind this cap-and-trade scheme, which is a big regulatory and tax burden on the American people and small business, then you talk about this health care scheme; this is a one-two punch that lands America flat on its back. And I've got to tell you, the American people are turning against it, and that's why the majority party can't pass the bills even through the committees. They have punted for the week, even though they are in a big hurry, because they want to do it before their approval rating falls too low, and they don't have the political capital to do it. And why would you rush the largest transformation in modern American society, this health care scheme, through before your political clout evaporates? That is really an un-American approach. Now, we've got some people on the floor tonight that want to speak. Dr. Virginia Foxx, an outstanding Member from North Carolina, comes, and I yield to her.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, the world is looking to us for innovation. That's the goose that lays the golden egg in our country--our free enterprise system, entrepreneurship. They are looking and are saying, American innovation can pull this economy back in a good direction, not regulation. Other governments are moving away from regulation and high taxation. We're moving towards it. It's innovation, not regulation. Look at the new cap-and-trade legislation for energy and the environment. It's a regulatory scheme. It's a taxation scheme, not an innovation scheme. Where is nuclear power? Where are the new energy technologies that can lead to a robust, manufacturing-driven, job- creating U.S. economy? Look at the new health care scheme. It's a regulatory scheme, a taxation scheme and, frankly, a litigation scheme. It's protecting the status quo in litigation. The greatest medical centers in America are saying this government insurance scheme is the wrong approach. We need less litigation. We need to unleash the entrepreneurship and the innovation of the United States again so that we can lead. Where are the jobs? They're in innovation and in entrepreneurship. They're in our free enterprise system. The government chokes it with regulation, taxation and litigation.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform, I am committed to protecting taxpayers' money and providing greater transparency and a fully accountable process. H.R. 3170, The Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act contains the following funding that I requested: Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Small Business Administration--Salaries and Expenses Legal Name Requesting Entity: University of Memphis Address: 303 FedEx Institute, Memphis, Tennessee 38152 Description of Request: The University of Memphis requested funding for an entrepreneurial training program to promote new business growth targeting science and technology-based and minority-owned businesses. Federal funding is needed for University of Memphis experts and students to develop business plans, evaluate new technologies and provide legal expertise to small businesses and entrepreneurs. The program will have a significant impact on the economy and encourage investment and jobs in the Memphis metropolitan area and the mid-south region. The University of Memphis received $685,000 for the entrepreneurial training program. Distribution of funding: Salaries and Center Administration 20% Equipment 13% Business and Legal Services and Training 47% Education and Conferences 20%

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform, I am committed to protecting taxpayers' money and providing greater transparency and a fully accountable process. H.R. 3183, The Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act contains the following funding: Requesting Member: Representative Zach Wamp Account: U.S. Corp of Engineers--Construction Legal Name Requesting Entity: U.S. Corp of Engineers--Nashville District Address: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District at 110 9th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee Description of Request: The Chickamauga Lock is a major economic engine in the Tennessee Valley region. Commodities passing through the lock have origins and destinations in 17 states in the South, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, traveling an average 1,400 miles. Over the last several years, 2.5 million tons passed through the lock annually, and the forecasted traffic demand is expected to grow considerably. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicates that replacement of the existing lock is far more economical than continuing costly maintenance and repair. Funding in the amount of $1 million is included for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to replace the Chickamauga Lock. Distribution of funding: Construction 100% Requesting Member: Representative Zach Wamp Account: U.S. Corp of Engineers--Operations and Maintenance Legal Name Requesting Entity: U.S. Corp of Engineers--Nashville District Address: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District at 110 9th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee Description of Request: The current Chickamauga Lock has been in operation on the Tennessee River since 1940 and is a major economic engine in the Tennessee Valley region. As use of the lock is increasing, the infrastructure is severely aging, jeopardizing its ability to support additional traffic loads. An extensive maintenance program, well beyond what is normally conducted, is underway to extend the life of the current lock until the replacement lock can be built. Funding in the amount of $3.775 million is required for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fix and replace gates, pumps, piping and tension connections to the guide wall. Distribution of funding: Maintenance 100%