Jerry Weller

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, today Representative McDermott and I introduced a resolution to designate November as national homeless youth awareness month. Earlier this month the Ways and Means Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee on which I serve as Ranking Member held a hearing on ``disconnected youth.'' That's a group that includes young people who often drop out of school, don't work, and wind up on the streets. These young people may have family conflict issues, may experience abuse and neglect, or may be or have been in the past involved in the foster care system. Research completed by the University of Chicago suggests there were nearly 25,000 homeless youth in Illinois in 2004, including 6,353 in the northern Illinois region where the Congressional district I represent is located. Despite an infusion of millions of dollars in Federal assistance and the dedicated efforts of many interested adults, too many children are troubled, homeless, and disconnected from their families and others who would like to help. Federal initiatives such as the Runaway and Homeless Youth program, the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grants program, and the Chafee Foster Care Independence program have been directed at these problems in recent years. Yet better serving these children and preventing more youth from winding up on the streets will require better use and coordination of current program funds. We also need to recognize, as one witness at out recent hearing put it, that ``strengthening families is the best way to prevent the suffering and social disconnection among our young people.'' Even as we applaud those young people, including foster youth, who overcome tremendous challenges to succeed in school and beyond, it is hard to overstate the importance of strong families to the raising of young people who grow up to be productive adults. Last year in the Deficit Reduction Act we included specific funds to support private groups that work to strengthen families and promote healthy marriage, which is the foundation for raising healthy children. I am eager to see how those efforts pay off, including to reduce the turmoil in homes that results in too many children ending up on the streets. We also must acknowledge that kids are connected, and especially as they get older, through their schools. That really means through the circle of friends, teachers, coaches, and other mentors they rely on as they become more independent and develop the habits and skills needed for life on their own. Kids in foster care already have suffered the trauma of being removed from their own parents. In addition to being bounced from home to home, many foster children suffer the additional turmoil of being bounced from school to school. Studies show high school students who change schools even once are less than half as likely to graduate as those who don't change schools. So it is no wonder there is ``a 20 percentage point difference between the high school graduation rates of foster youth and their peers,'' according to the Kids Count organization. At this hearing, we heard from Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota. She and her husband have helped raise 23 foster children, and she discussed the importance of achieving stability in their lives, and especially stability in home and school. I have attached her testimony as further evidence of the importance of such stability, and the need for programs to promote it. In addressing the issue of youth homelessness, we should start by doing whatever we can to ensure that young people in the foster care system complete at least high school, vastly improving their chances of getting a decent job and supporting themselves. One way to do that would be to provide more foster youth especially the opportunity to stay better connected to their schools, including by remaining in a single school whenever possible. That might mean offering scholarships so those in private schools can stay there, or so those who might benefit from private school could do so. Or it could involve something as mundane as bus vouchers so kids can continue going to their current public or private school even if they are sent to live in a foster home across town. Such efforts will increase the chances foster youth graduate and can create the foundation for a productive and happy life that is the American dream. That will also mean far fewer wind up on the streets, as is the goal of the resolution introduced today. We should all support that. [Statement of the Honorable Michele Bachmann, a Representative in Congress from the State of Minnesota, June 19, 2007] Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the House Committee on Ways and Means Mr. Chairman, Congressman Weller, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to discuss the educational challenges faced by disconnected and disadvantaged youth, specifically foster children. I am Michele Bachmann, a first-term Member of Congress serving Minnesota's Sixth District. I have a special interest in the quality of education received by foster children because over the course of six years, my family cared for 23 high-need teenagers through the Lutheran Social Services' Treatment Foster Care program. I believe every child deserves the chance to gain a high- quality education. Growing up, I attended public schools where I was taught using a rigorous curriculum despite the fact that my community was not particularly affluent. While I was in school, my parents divorced and almost overnight my stable, middle-class family was changed forever. Although times were extremely tough, whenever my three brothers and I would become frustrated my mother would tell us to concentrate on our schoolwork, because no matter what happened, no one could ever take our educations away from us. She was right--I left my public high school with a quality education and went on to graduate from college, then law school, and finally to earn an L.L.M. in tax law. Years later, when my family began to take in foster children, I felt that although our circumstances were very different, I could identify with their pain and frustration. All of them had challenges considered serious enough that they were unable to be placed through the traditional county foster care systems, and our family's role was to provide them with a safe home and see them through to their high school graduations. We quickly learned that our foster children had very different needs than most children. Almost all of them had been given Individualized Education Plans--individual plans designed for students with special educational needs. Many of the kids had been under the care of counselors, many suffered from eating disorders, and others had difficult behavioral or learning issues. All of them had switched schools at least once, and as a result of their tumultuous home lives, none of them had very strong educational backgrounds. While through the years some of our foster children performed better in school than others, my husband and I noticed some common problems. Many times, we got the impression that the kids were seen by both their peers and their teachers as if they were only going to be there short term. Although their teachers were welcoming, little special attention was provided to ensure that they caught up to their classmates, and their other needs were often not considered because there were so many other students to attend to. They became small fish swimming in a very large pond. We also began to notice that not all of our foster children were presented with the quality of coursework we had thought they would receive. Many of them were placed in lower-level classes, as if they were not expected to succeed. One of the kids remarked to me once that she was in ``stupid people math.'' Another brought home an 11th grade math assignment that involved coloring a poster. Yet another told me she had spent an entire week of classes watching movies, and others were being selected for the ``School to Work'' program, in which high school students attended classes for half of the day and were then sent to work minimum-wage jobs at local businesses. Although it had been evident to us from the beginning that because of their backgrounds, our foster children were going to struggle in school, it was frustrating to see that rather than being given the leg up they needed, so many of them felt that they were being left behind. Unfortunately, national studies indicate that this is an extremely common experience for foster children. What made this experience so heartbreaking is we could clearly see that despite our wishes, our foster children did not get the same opportunities or attention that our biological children received in their school. Our biological children's classes were smaller and more rigorous, the teachers knew all of the students, the students knew each other, and parents were able to be much more involved in their children's educations--all goals which are not always attainable in a large school, but which could have done wonders for our foster children. As a result of these experiences, I believe it is imperative that Congress examine creating a federal school choice program for foster children, through which foster parents are given the option to place children in their care in either a public or private school long-term, depending on their specific needs. Such a plan would allow foster children requiring more individual attention to attend a school better equipped to help them. Just as important, for the first time in their lives, these children who have become so used to being uprooted would have the chance to be placed in an environment where they could have their special educational needs met and feel as if they belong, where they could remain enrolled even if their homes changed. Currently, the federal government operates a program for older foster children--the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program--which assists them in transitioning from foster care to life on their own. Among other things, the Chafee Program provides vouchers of up to $5,000 to foster children ages 16 through 18 for education and training. Congress should consider extending this voucher program to foster children of all ages, so foster parents are able to best meet the educational needs of the children in their care by either allowing them to choose a private school or providing them with the funds necessary to transport their children to their original school even if it is outside of their immediate area. Additionally, Congress should consider extending the extremely successful D.C. school choice program aimed at low- income students, which has drawn more than three times the number of applications as there are available spots. Creating a similar program to serve D.C. foster children as well as those who come from low-income families would be an important step in the direction of giving the option of school choice to all foster children. In closing, even if placed in the best families, foster children often face the possibility that they will have to change homes, and as a result they must find a safe place of their own where they can become accepted and gain a sense of stability. Although for many foster children school can be such a place, the cases of many others show that under the current system, this is not always possible. I hope my family's experiences highlight the special challenges facing foster children as well as the need for an examination of whether limiting their educational options is truly in their best interests. I thank the Subcommittee for holding this hearing, and I thank you, Mr. Chairman, Congressman Weller, and Subcommittee members for the opportunity to share our story today.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join in the strong bipartisan support for this legislation which is critical to our need to continue working to reduce poverty, to create jobs and to strengthen democracy. Today this House has an opportunity to continue moving forward by extending the Andean trade preferences for Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia. It's only a short-term extension, 8 months, but it moves forward. Just like the Caribbean Basin Initiative, these preferences create jobs, reduce poverty and also build capacity in nations that previously were left out. The Andean preferences offer many who have been previously left out of the opportunity to participate in free enterprise as well as the export marketplace. I think of examples of communities who benefit. I think of the Gatazo-Zambrano community in Chimborazo, Ecuador, 400 indigenous families now being lifted out of poverty because they are now exporting broccoli and produce to the U.S. export market. I think of the thousands of women engaged in flower production, as well as the processing of flowers in Colombia, involved in that industry, dependent on these preferences. And if they went out of business, China would take over the flower business. There's almost 2 million jobs dependent in the Andean region on these Andean preferences which we created to lift people out of poverty. If you care about democracy in Latin America, you should vote ``yes.'' If you want to increase and expand markets for U.S. products, you should also vote ``yes'' because we in the United States benefit from the Andean trade preferences. U.S. workers and businesses benefit, farmers; U.S. cotton exports to Peru and Colombia totaled $110 million in 2006, almost double that of 2001. U.S. yarn and fabric exports to Peru and Colombia more than doubled between 2002 and 2006. And I would note that when we import garments from the Andean region benefiting from the Andean trade preferences, the components are largely from inputs manufactured in the United States. The Andean trade preferences are win/win for both. It's important to remember they're temporary. We have good trade agreements with Peru and Colombia. We also need to move forward on them. And I urge a bipartisan bill today.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 449, 500 and 501, I was absent due to flight difficulties. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all three.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Madam Speaker, had I been present on the legislative day of June 18th for rollcall votes 499 through 501, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote 499, ``aye'' on rollcall vote 500, and ``aye'' on rollcall vote 501.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer congratulations to Mr. M. Blouke Carus of Peru, Illinois on the occasion of his 80th birthday. A captain of industry, publisher, inventor, veteran, engineer, educator, linquist, preservationist and community servant, Mr. Carus is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished persons I have the privilege of representing in the Congress of the United States. As Chairman of Carus Corporation, Mr. Carus oversees this privately held holding company which includes the Carus Chemical Company, the world leader in the fields of water treatment and air purification through the manufacturing and application of potassium permanganate and a variety of manganese compounds. Mr. Carus is also Vice-Chairman of Carus Publishing Company which includes Open Court General Books and 14 children's magazines including such well-known publications as Cricket, Ladybug and Spider. This high quality children's literature has educated and entertained young people for more than three decades. Mr. Carus has also demonstrated a lifelong interest in education. His educational achievements include the development of textbooks and teaching programs in the areas of reading, language arts and mathematics. By Presidential appointment, Mr. Carus has served as a member of the National Council on Education Research which established research policy for the United States Department of Education. He played an important role in establishing Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) by chairing the Citizens Committee which led the effort to create IVCC. Today, 40 years after its creation, IVCC enables thousands of students to obtain post-secondary educations in many fields while serving as a catalyst for economic development and greater employment throughout the Illinois Valley. Mr. Carus has long been a champion of both enhanced school to work educational programs as well as the need for strong systems of educational accountability. He has pursued these critically important goals as chairman of the Education Committee of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and as a member of the Illinois Governor's Task Force on School-to-Work Transition. It gives me special pleasure to note the leadership role of Mr. Carus in restoring and reopening the historic Hotel Kaskaskia in downtown LaSalle, Illinois. The accomplishment of this goal will not only save a structure deemed to have national historic significance but will also spark the economic revitalization of the downtown business area of the City of LaSalle. In closing, I urge my colleagues to seek out and highlight the contributions and achievements of the leading citizens of their own congressional districts across our Nation.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2366, the SBA Veterans' Programs Act of 2007. This legislation will assist our soldiers when then return home with opportunities and information about starting a small business. More than a million and a half (1,502,125) men and women have answered the call to serve their country since 2001. They interrupted their careers, put their families economic security at risk, and face big personal challenges upon returning home. I recently visited Iraq and Afghanistan. That trip gave me an even greater appreciation for the significant sacrifices our soldiers must make and must cope with for the rest of their lives. If our soldiers faced mortal danger every day abroad, let us help them have economic security when they return home. It isn't just the veteran who makes the sacrifice, their families do as well: their parents, their spouses, their children, girlfriends and boyfriends and siblings. They give up so much in defense of our country. It is our job, as Members of Congress, to make sure that our Nation lives up to its commitment to our veterans. It is a simple pact we have made with our troops--and one we are obligated to fulfill: after they have sacrificed to serve our country on the battlefield, we must do all we can to serve them here at home. The cost of any war must include caring for the warrior. This legislation helps our veterans get started with business opportunities in their communities. It does so by providing grants, information services, and personal assistance to help veterans evaluate business opportunities; increasing the number of veteran business outreach centers around the country, and encouraging further assistance to women veterans. Countless soldiers are returning from their tours of duty with new confidence and skills developed during their time in the military. This SBA program will help to ensure that those new abilities are put to good use when they return to civilian life. This bill is the right thing to do for those who have given so much and it will directly impact Vermont and every State around the country. 97 percent of all Vermont firms are small businesses. My office has been involved in helping the Vermont Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) run business readiness classes for veterans. The Vermont SBDC is the primary small business assistance resource sought out by small business clients, lenders, government agencies and other economic development partners. The Vermont SBDC is the keystone in a statewide business assistance infrastructure tying together all appropriate resources and serving as a ``one-stop'' gateway and clearing house to serve small businesses' needs. Drawing on collaborative relationships among service providers, Vermont SBDC leverages economic development resources of all kinds for advancement of small businesses, growing the local economy. Roughly 6 percent of deployed soldiers have small businesses depending on them. Veterans face a number of unique challenges, from increasing lengths and number of deployments overseas, to translating their military experience into business ventures. Yet, there is a lack of substantive programs to help these businesses survive through deployment, and to assist veterans returning home. This program is designed to meet current, real-time needs of people on active duty in business who now need to leave for protracted periods, or for those who have just come back and really ``need'' to do something new with their lives. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2366.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life of Lieutenant Colonel George Brown of Morris, Illinois, a true American patriot. Lieutenant Colonel Brown passed away at the age of 86 in his home on June 6, 2007, on the 63rd anniversary of D-Day. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1964, and was a World War II veteran who also served in Korea. During his service, he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. A leader in his community, Lieutenant Colonel Brown spent many years as a well-respected member of the Grundy County Board where he was known to give full dedication to his job and cared about conservation and preservation issues. Additionally, Lieutenant Colonel Brown educated children in our community about Native Americans by portraying Chief Shabbona, the leader of the Pottawatomie Indian tribe during the Black Hawk War, who is also buried in Morris, Illinois. He instructed these children that ``we are symbols of current and past history, and we represent father, grandfather, brother and the authority figure, and they expect us to do the right thing.'' Lieutenant Colonel Brown is remembered as a man of conviction and a pillar in our community, and I am proud to honor him today.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 474. As we approach Father's Day weekend, it is appropriate for us to recognize the importance of fathers in the lives of their children. Children who live with their fathers do better in school, are less likely to use drugs or engage in other criminal behavior, and are less likely to experience health, emotional, or behavioral problems. In so many ways, involved fathers provide needed support for their children and serve as role models as they develop. Unfortunately, too many children today do not live with or even frequently see their fathers. This has forced millions of young mothers across the Nation to single-handedly raise their children, struggling to provide them with the love and support needed to succeed in today's world. It is a sad reality that for millions of children, their mother has to play the role of both mom and dad, a task that is not only difficult for the mother but which despite her efforts far too often results in that child living in poverty, among other challenges. To help address this situation, the 1996 welfare reform law included promoting marriage and family formation and the maintenance of two- parent families as key purposes of welfare programs. Under the direction of the Ways and Means Committee on which I serve, legislation reauthorizing the 1996 welfare reform law in the last Congress included specific funding for healthy marriage and fatherhood grant programs to improve the well-being of children. These fatherhood grants were designed to promote responsible fatherhood by funding projects developed by public, private, and often faith-based groups to help fathers establish positive relationships with their children and the children's mothers, improve job skills, increase child support payments, and promote marriage among parents. Activities can include counseling, mentoring, providing information about the benefits of marriage and two-parent involvement for children and the prevention of domestic violence and child abuse, financial planning seminars, and education on good parenting practices. Last October, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $119 million in awards to 225 grantees for promotion of healthy marriages and responsible fatherhood. These grants are designed to make a difference in the lives of children, fathers, and families by supporting groups already at work trying to help men become better fathers. As we honor our own fathers this week, we should also thank those who are working every day to help more men become better fathers. The last Congress took concrete steps to support them. In the congressional district I represent, a recent fatherhood event took place that is described in the June 11 Catholic News Service article, provided below. As efforts such as this and those supported by the recent Federal grants take hold, we will be watching for evidence that more children are spending every day, and not just Father's Day, with an involved and supportive father. [From the Catholic News Service, June 11, 2007] Fathers' Involvement Key in Lives of Children, Says Catholic Charities Conference (By Paul Storer) Joliet, IL. (CNS).--A convicted drug dealer, 28-year-old Exulam Holman knows his actions have caused pain to those closest to him. The father of three young children, former gang member and ex-addict was released three months ago from prison. Today, he is desperately trying to put his life in order. Holman's painstaking quest to reclaim his life spurred him to take part in a fatherhood conference sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet. ``I want to make things right for my kids,'' he told the Catholic Explorer, Joliet diocesan newspaper, during the June 2 event. ``I've messed up,'' he said. ``But I've asked God to help me. I have to get myself right with God.'' About 100 people attended the third annual conference, aimed at getting fathers more involved in the lives of their children, said Ronald Roseboro, site supervisor of early childhood services for Catholic Charities and coordinator of the event. Fathers of children in the agency's early childhood programs were encouraged to attend the gathering, said Roseboro. Other fathers from Joliet and surrounding communities were also invited to attend. The presence of two nurturing parents minimizes the possibility their children will abuse drugs or alcohol, join gangs or involve themselves in other dangerous situations, said Roseboro. A father's leadership and guidance has a definite impact on his children's lives, he continued. ``It's like dropping a pebble into a pond and watching the ripples it makes.'' Guest speakers from diverse backgrounds led various workshops during the conference. A father of five, Rev. Eugene Fears, pastor of Joliet's Redeem Church of God in Christ, spoke of healthy relationships. The no-nonsense preacher relied on his own experiences to build a case for sound communication and devotion between spouses. ``A commitment pushes through adversity,'' he told conference participants. He urged the men to ``learn to make adjustments'' and to avoid ``self-centered'' attitudes. ``We need to learn to give of ourselves,'' Rev. Fears said. Fathers who leave and don't compensate their families are often called ``deadbeat dads,'' but the reality is they are often simply ``dead broke,'' Warren Cottrell, director of the Joliet branch of the Illinois Child Support Enforcement program, said in an interview with the Explorer. He was on hand to field questions from participants during the conference. Most fathers understand their responsibilities. They choose to turn their backs on their families, however, when they realize they cannot adequately provide for them. ``It's the male ego,'' said Cottrell. Applauding Catholic Charities for broaching the topic with the conference, the administrator noted that fathers must be encouraged to do the right thing. Cottrell said the welfare system in Illinois has many cracks. Jobless fathers are leaving their families so mothers can qualify for government aid. There are countless programs for single mothers in need of assistance. At the. same time, government programs need to be created to educate fathers and provide them with skills to remain with their families, he said. Darnell Terrell's children participate in the Catholic Charities Head Start program at St. John's Head Start Center in Joliet. The owner of a disc-jockey business and father of six praised the other men who attended the conference. ``It takes a real man to listen to others about fatherhood responsibilities.'' Kenneth White and Donald Waddell, human services consultants and family counselors, shared startling statistics compiled by the National Fatherhood Initiative during their workshop. The findings highlight the fact that the absence of fathers has a serious effect on families. More than 70 percent of teens who have committed homicide grew up without fathers. Approximately 60 percent of rapists were raised in fatherless homes. Three out of four teen suicides occur in single-parent families. And the list goes on and on, they said. Substance abuse fuels domestic problems that work to break families apart, according to the two experts in the field. Presenting a workshop on the effects of addiction on fatherhood, White and Waddell described the impact that narcotics and alcohol have on the family unit and discussed some proven methods for combating the problem. Addiction among parents needs to be addressed and curbed, Waddell told the Explorer, because children of parents who abuse drugs often become addicted themselves during adolescence and later in life. ``We want to break that cycle,'' he said. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 425, I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 263, as amended, recognizing National Foster Care Month. We're here today to discuss foster care, starting with recognizing the thousands of foster parents who step in to care for so many vulnerable young people across America. It is right to celebrate the efforts of foster parents who step in to keep children safe. In addition to these individuals, thousands of local organizations, with both public and private sector employees and volunteers, are also active in foster care. In the congressional district that I represent, one good example of a trusted foster care organization is Baby Fold, and Baby Fold is a multi-service family support agency that has served the Bloomington- Normal region in central Illinois for over a century. Today the Baby Fold specializes in residential, educational, therapeutic, adoption, foster care, pregnancy counseling and family support prevention services for children and their families. Many similar groups provide similar services in every congressional district in America. These organizations and dedicated individuals, supported by private donations and over $23 billion in taxpayer funds each year, help children and families lead safe and productive lives. Today we thank each of them and all of them for their efforts and dedication. Yet, despite such dedicated efforts, we also know a lot more work is needed to ensure that all children are adequately protected from abuse and neglect. I have a longstanding interest in training of child welfare workers. Today I am reintroducing legislation I have authored in prior Congresses designed to address a glaring flaw in current rules by ensuring all child care workers, whether they work for a public agency or a private agency, have access to the same training needed to protect children. Take Will County Catholic Charities, which helps protect over 300 children in foster care in the congressional district I represent. There's simply no reason why a caseworker with Will County Catholic Charities should have less access to training than an equally dedicated caseworker who happens to be a public employee. Yet, that is what current Federal rules promote, and we should fix this. We also need to do more to ensure that each and every child involved with the child welfare system is safe. Too often that is not the case. The Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, on which I serve as ranking member, held a hearing on these challenges earlier today. We focused on areas like Clark County, Nevada, which is home to Las Vegas. A series of child deaths in Clark County has proven the risks for children when foster care and child protection systems fail to protect them. As an August 5, 2006 article in the Las Vegas Review Journal put it, ``Since 2002, at least 79 children have died of abuse or neglect at the hands of their parents, foster parents or other caregivers while under the watch of the Clark County Department of Family Services.'' As troubling as that is, the response of local officials has only made matters worse. ``For years, the county child welfare system has continuously avoided scrutiny by hiding behind a veil of confidentiality meant to protect children and families, but which the county has used to shield itself from oversight and criticism.'' This sad trail of facts was supported by testimony we received today from Ed Cotton, who has broad experience in child welfare programs in my home State of Illinois, as well as New Jersey and Nevada. Most recently Mr. Cotton conducted a top-to-bottom review of Clark County, Nevada's child welfare program in the wake of tragedies there. And the evidence shows that Clark County is a case study of what happens when there's no oversight from those administering the program, and clearly is a national embarrassment and a disgrace because Federal funds were involved. As Mr. Cotton testified, in Clark County and too many other places, this system has a very long way to go to ensure that all children are adequately protected. Madam Speaker, in contrast with the Clark County tragedies, some areas have shown progress, but they're all too rare. Recent positive examples include my home State of Illinois. Starting under the leadership of former Governor Jim Edgar in the late 1990s, the entire child welfare system in Illinois has undergone remarkable changes, resulting in there being 16,272 children today in foster care, or in January of 2007 that number, down from 28,202 children in September of 2001. New York City, under the leadership of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, also made changes that were positive, dramatically reducing the number of children who need foster care. Many experts think we should build on this success and do better when it comes to targeting efforts to prevent abuse and neglect from occurring in the first place. That would result in fewer children needing foster care, tracking the Illinois and New York City experiences, and that would free more resources to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of those children who do not need to be placed in foster care. Both goals are critical, better prevention and better oversight. In 2006, Congress took some modest steps in the right direction by targeting more funds for child abuse prevention and holding States more accountable for results. So there is increasing recognition of the steps needed to turn this program around. In the meantime, we will certainly need the continuing involvement and support of tens of thousands of foster parents. We owe them, and especially the children they protect each and every day, our continued full support. I urge bipartisan support for this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of the bill under consideration.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of the bill under consideration.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of House Resolution 299. This resolution reflects bipartisan support for increasing public awareness of child abuse and neglect, which is a necessary first step to better protect children. Yesterday, the House passed a resolution honoring foster parents, who play a major role in ensuring hundreds of thousands of children are protected from abuse and neglect each year. Today's resolution before us highlights the too large number of children who are abused and neglected each year and the many negative consequences of that abuse for children, families, and our Nation. The numbers are bracing. Almost 900,000 children in the United States were victims of abuse and neglect in 2005, the most recent figures. Several government programs overseen by the subcommittee on which Chairman McDermott and I serve assist foster and adoptive families with children's needs or help reunify children with their own parents when that is safe and appropriate. But the very first step to ensure children are out of harm's way involves alert relatives, neighbors, friends, teachers, community organizations, and so many others in every neighborhood across this country. These are people who care, people who want to help, and people who take the time to step in to help make sure our children are safe and sound. Consider some of those working hard right now to help children in the congressional district I represent in Illinois. Earlier this year I sat down with my local community support agencies to listen to their successes and their many challenges in helping to prevent child abuse and neglect. These agencies offer a wide variety of services to families, from Head Start, food programs, and affordable housing to social services and foster care when needed to ensure children are safe. In the district I represent, Will County Catholic Charities protects over 300 children in foster care. The Guardian Angel Home and Groundwork in Joliet, Illinois, help abused women and children affected by domestic violence by providing services such as temporary housing, counseling, and legal assistance. Many others provide similar services in other parts of the district I represent, as well as in every congressional district in America. We should never take these people and their agencies that deliver such good services for granted. Just last week, Catholic Charities in Chicago announced they are shutting down their foster care program after 90 years of service. Their absence will leave a void others will have to fill to ensure that more than 900 Illinois children they now care for are protected from harm. This will be a major challenge. Catholic Charities and the Guardian Angel Home are just two of the many organizations across the Nation that help children and families lead safe and productive lives. Many caseworkers and others who serve families directly have committed their lives to this critical service. They deserve our continued support. Congress recently made improvements to key programs designed to protect children, including by providing additional resources for direct services and also caseworkers. Last year in the Child and Family Services Improvement Act, Congress increased accountability by requiring States to conduct more frequent caseworker visits to children in foster care. We also targeted over $145 million over the next 5 years for preventing and treating parental substance abuse, which is a key cause of child abuse and neglect. This legislation was fully paid for and was totally bipartisan. And for that I want to congratulate former Subcommittee Chairman Wally Herger of California, who worked with our current chairman, Jim McDermott of Washington State, to accomplish this goal. I expect to introduce legislation shortly that would provide caseworkers with more resources to better serve children. Currently, when private organizations provide training to their caseworkers, they are eligible for fewer Federal funds to support those costs than are paid for to support the training of government-employed caseworkers. Same training, same job, but different payments, simply because one worker is employed by a private agency and another by a government agency. That is arbitrary and unfair, and we should fix it. I hope the same spirit of bipartisanship evident here today and that which created our work last year will help us get this legislation passed this year, in 2007. There certainly is much more work to do. Many experts have long been concerned that current programs focus too many resources on helping families after children have been abused and neglected. That is simply too late, especially when the right resources might help prevent abuse or neglect from occurring. As this resolution expresses, Congress should continue to work with the States to reduce child abuse and neglect. Thoughtful efforts are under way in States like Florida and elsewhere to test ways to better prevent abuse and neglect from happening instead of addressing it after the fact. We are eager to see these results and stand ready to incorporate any positive measures in reforms yet to come. In the meantime, this resolution focuses public attention on child abuse and on the resources available today to prevent child abuse. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to work together in a bipartisan way with the Ways and Means Committee to develop further measures to protect children from abuse and neglect.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, Thank you for the opportunity to offer an introductory statement regarding legislation Congressman Becerra and I are introducing today making existing brownfields tax incentives permanent. As you may know, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Government Accountability Office estimate that there are more than 400,000 brownfield sites across the country. They exist in every state and in many of our districts, rural and urban. We have all seen them . . . they are abandoned gas stations and warehouses and manufacturing facilities that have been closed down. These sites once housed vibrant and productive businesses, but today are in desperate need of revitalization and redevelopment. Before they can be redeveloped, however, existing environmental contamination must be cleaned up. The cost of cleanup can be significant and, when this is the case, often stand in the way of re-development projects. In some cases, the clean up costs can exceed $1 million. The legislation we are introducing today helps make these clean ups more affordable by removing obstacles in the federal tax code that create obstacles to clean up. Specifically, this legislation does two things: Make the Internal Revenue Code Section 198 expensing provision permanent. This provision allows for the expensing of brownfield clean up costs. Currently, this provision expires at the end of 2007; Repeal the provision in the law that recaptures the expense deduction as taxable income when the property is sold. A recent survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors of 187 large and small cities found that if their existing brownfields were redeveloped, it could bring additional tax revenues to their cities of approximately $2 billion and create up to $500,000 jobs. The issue of brownfield cleanups has been important to me since I joined the Ways and Means Committee in 1996. This new legislation represents more than a decade of work on this issue. These final steps involve making the tax incentive permanent and repealing the recapture requirement. I look forward to working with Mr. Becerra to getting these final steps made into a permanent part of our tax code.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, this week the House is going to be taking up the budget and there is nothing more basic in the fundamental process of being a legislator than the budget. What is written in the budget says a lot. In fact, the budget is really a defining difference when you put forward your budget. The Democratic leadership is planning to bring their partisan Democratic budget to the floor. Again when you get down to basics, the differences are pretty clear because what is in the Democrat leadership's budget that they are bringing to the floor today is the biggest tax increase in the history of our Nation. Think about that. Can we really afford to tax the middle class more. In their first order of business in the 110th Congress, the Democrats made it easier to raise taxes. When Republicans were in the majority, we said you couldn't raise taxes unless you had a two-thirds vote. The Democrats eliminated that because they wanted to make it easier to raise taxes. They have eliminated that rule. They have shown their agenda before. Back when the Democrats were in the majority back when President Clinton called for a big tax increase, the Democrats followed and they rubber-stamped a tax increase at that time, which was the biggest tax increase in the history of our Nation, a $240 billion tax increase on the American people. Just this past week, the Democrats outdid themselves. In fact, they brought an even bigger tax increase to the floor that we are going to debate this week. It was $240 billion 13 years ago, today it is a $400 billion tax increase. They plan to raise the tax on every taxpayer; man, woman, child, married, if you die, you are going to pay more in taxes under the Democrat budget. In fact, if you are a typical couple in the district I represent making $60,000 a year, mom, dad and two kids, you will pay on average $2,000 more in higher taxes. That is a 60 percent increase in higher taxes called for in the Democrat budget. In 2001 and 2003, Republicans worked with the President. We worked to eliminate unfairness in the Tax Code. We worked to lower taxes for the middle class. We succeeded in 2001 and 2003 in reducing taxes for a typical American family. And again, for a family making about $60,000 a year, those tax cuts meant about $2,000 more in higher take-home pay. That is money they can spend on their own needs. In my home State of Illinois, 4.2 million taxpayers benefited from the creation of a new, lower tax bracket. We lowered taxes for everyone, but for lower income Americans, we created a 10 percent tax bracket. Today, 5 million Americans no longer pay Federal taxes because of that new tax bracket; and 1.4 million taxpayers benefited from our efforts to eliminate the marriage tax penalty. We increased the child tax credit benefiting 1.3 million Illinoisans. We also passed into law my legislation which eliminated the marriage tax penalty. I stood on this floor day after day after day and I asked a pretty fundamental question: Is it right, is it fair that our Tax Code punishes the most basic institution in our society, which is marriage. And in 2001 we passed the Marriage Tax Elimination Act. That was our third try. Twice we passed the Marriage Tax Elimination Act, eliminating the marriage tax penalty, a tax on marriage and President Clinton vetoed that twice. President Bush signed it into law. But today, millions of couples, in fact 24 million married working couples no longer pay the marriage tax penalty thanks to that legislation being signed into law. Unfortunately, the Democrats want to bring the marriage tax penalty back. In fact, you will hear some this week say ``they are probably rich'' because if they pay the marriage tax penalty, they must be rich. Well, under their legislation this week, 23 million typical married couples in America will see their taxes go up just from the marriage tax penalty alone of almost $500 more in higher taxes just because they are married. Is that right? Is that fair? We worked to benefit all taxpayers by lowering taxes in 2001 and 2003. Now the Democrats, they want to come back and they want to raise taxes on all taxpayers, including reinstating the marriage tax penalty.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record votes I would have cast had I been present on the legislative days of March 12th and March 13th for rollcall votes 136 through 141.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present on Monday and Tuesday of this week and missed the following votes: . Rollcall No. 136, Motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 85. Rollcall No. 137, Motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 136. Rollcall No. 138, Motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 89. Rollcall No. 139, Motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 64. Rollcall No. 140, Motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 228. Rollcall No. 141, Motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 222 Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of these motions.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this two-sentence non-binding resolution which demoralizes our troops in the field while providing aid to our enemy during a time of on-going conflict. These brave men and women deserve the full support of their government, not second-guessing from politicians in Washington, DC. Instead of discussions regarding appropriate funding levels to support our troops, the Democratic majority has chosen to rebuke the conduct of the war while it is still occurring. This is reckless and ill-advised. This resolution encourages our enemies to continue provoking our fighting men and women. America's enemies around the world are closely watching what we say and do today. By passing this non-binding resolution, Members of Congress are sending a vote of no confidence to our troops in the field and a message of surrender to our enemies. I strongly believe it is not the place of politicians in Washington to devise military tactics and strategy. Congress must not tie the hands of our military commanders in the field. You cannot fight a war by committee, thousands of miles away. The responsibility of conducting America's military strategy and the tactics of our armed forces should be left to our military commanders on the ground. The plan to increase the number of additional troops to the mission in Iraq should be given a chance to succeed. These 20,000 additional soldiers will assist the Iraqi government in its new, Iraqi-inspired security plan. As Prime Minister Maliki said, ``This is 100 percent an Iraqi plan under an Iraqi Command.'' The majority of U.S. forces will be deployed to Baghdad to assist in maintaining control of areas cleared of terrorists and insurgents. As our military commanders in the field have repeatedly told us, part of the problem in securing Baghdad comes from the fact that many of the insurgents lie in wait until American troops move to another area only to emerge and retake precious territory gained by hard battle. By having additional troops in the field, the Iraqis will have a better chance to capture all of the insurgents, including those who stay hidden, waiting to attack again. Our commanders on the ground have given this plan a green light, and I will defer to them to make military decisions. We should keep in mind our top commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, has warned against passing this very type of resolution. Our troops have said they want the chance to finish the mission that has been started. Our troops do not want Congress to conduct this war. As one soldier posted to a blog on February 5, 2007, ``Proposing to legislate the conduct of this long war looks worse than cut and run. It feels like the betrayal of the families who bear the burdens.'' Congress should not tell our soldiers how to conduct a war any more than Congress should tell a lawyer how to argue a case or a doctor how to perform a surgery. Congress's place is to support our troops by providing the funding they need to finish the mission that was started. If my colleagues are so strongly opposed to the mission in Iraq, they can vote to cut the funding of our soldiers in harm's way. We must recognize the War on Terror requires perseverance and patience. American patience, however, is not infinite. The lack of visible progress in Iraq is deeply troubling. The Iraqi conflict has a crucial role in the war against al Qaeda. American troops are stemming the tide of a worsening situation. Failure in Iraq is simply not an option. It is important we in Congress demonstrate quickly our ability to win in Iraq before the situation gets worse. This may well represent the Administration's last chance to demonstrate sustainable progress is securing the country. It is equally important; however, that Iraqis take ownership for their own country. Our troops, in whatever number, are not there permanently. The Iraqis must take an active role in shaping their country's future. Americans took control of America after the American Revolution; the Iraqis must do the same. The Iraqis must be made to recognize the need for Iraqis to control the future of their nation. Iraq's future should not be determined by Americans, only the Iraqis can and should do that. In closing, I believe in and support our American troops. They have made tremendous progress in Iraq and should be commended for the actions towards making Iraq a country for the Iraqis. Since the declaration of the Global War on Terror, our brave men and women have worked hard to stem the tide of a worsening situation. Because of them, elections have been held in both Afghanistan and Iraq; the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been killed, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured, tried and executed, and more than three-quarters of al Qaeda's known leaders and associates have been detained or killed. At the same time, Iraqis must assume responsibility for their country. Americans will not stay in Iraq forever; Iraqis must assume control of their country. We must recognize the War on Terror requires perseverance and patience. American patience, however, is not infinite. The Iraqi conflict has a crucial role in the war against al Qaeda and American troops are stemming the tide of a worsening situation. However, I believe the Iraqi people must take an active role in shaping their country's future. Iraq's future should not be determined by Americans, only the Iraqis can and should do that.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my good friends from Texas for this opportunity to speak during general debate. I rise in support of the basic bill that is before us, H.R. 547. I voted for it last year when it passed the House unanimously, like all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and of course I stand in support of this legislation today. However, I believe we do need to make some minor improvements to the bill. We have made a tremendous amount of progress. The energy bill of 2005 has caused hundreds of millions of dollars of new investment in biofuels production. In Illinois, in the State that I represent, we are anticipating up to 50 new ethanol and biodiesel plants, thanks to the energy bill. When I talk to the local farmers that I represent in Illinois, they are pretty happy with $4 prices of corn. When the energy bill was passed into law, the price of corn was about $1.65 a bushel. So we are seeing the fact that rural America and small-town America, and rural Illinois and small-town Illinois were clearly the biggest winners in the energy bill. But if you also care about energy independence, if you care about addressing the issue of climate change, we need to promote greater use of biofuels. The basic bill makes progress when it comes to infrastructure, but we need to do more. You know, E-85, 85 percent blend ethanol fuels, offer part of that solution. As I drive or travel throughout the district I represent or my constituents travel throughout the district, many of them are looking to purchase E-85. They bought a flexible fuel vehicle; they want to contribute to our commitment for energy independence, they want to see investment in America rather than sending money overseas, so they want to buy E-85. And they question, why is it not available? Why do I have a hard time finding E-85 pumps at the gas stations that serve my community? And that is because there is a bureaucratic logjam in the certification process for the pumps, the infrastructure that is used for the installation of E-85. I have an amendment which is germane to this bill that I am going to be offering. I believe it deserves bipartisanship support that I will be offering to this bill, this legislation to, of course, not only draw attention to this issue, but to help remove the logjam to the certification process. We talk to some of the big distributors, some of the big operators, fuel stations across America; it is because of this issue that they have delayed or stalled installation of E-85. If you truly want to encourage the use of biofuels, if you believe that E-85 is part of that solution, if you believe that we need more installation of more infrastructure to distribute E-85 in America, then I ask that you support the amendment that I will be offering as we move through the processes of the bill. Again, I support the basic bill. It is bipartisan legislation. I believe the amendment, which I worked on with the former Speaker of the House, Speaker Hastert, as well as a bipartisan group of Members, is a good amendment that deserves bipartisan support.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, let me begin my commending my friends, Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall, as well as my friend, Mr. Lampson, who is managing the bill this morning. My amendment is pretty basic in what we are trying to achieve. I want to note that the former Speaker of the House, who, as you know, is recovering from surgery and is not able to be with us, is one I have worked with on this amendment. But this is an amendment that deals with infrastructure, as noted by those that are arguing for this bill which we all support. Our focus is infrastructure and research, affecting infrastructure of biofuels. If we look back to when we passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 through Congress, we included a renewable fuel standard of 7.5 billion gallons by the year 2010. Due to passage of this increase, which essentially doubled the amount of biofuels established under the renewable fuel standard, we have seen a tremendous amount of growth in investment in the biofuels industry in Illinois, my home State, as well as across America. Currently, there are 110 ethanol plants in production, with 70 more under construction, producing today 5.2 billion gallons of ethanol as well as biodiesel. Our farmers are seeing $4 a bushel of corn, as well as $7 soybeans because of the increased demand for biofuels. The President, as well, in seeing the need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, announced in his State of the Union a call for a renewable and alternative fuel standard of 35 billion gallons by 2017, 10 years from now. In order for the biofuels industry to move forward and achieve these aggressive goals, we need to make sure that an infrastructure exists that can deliver fuel to the consumers. I am often asked by my constituents, why are there so few E-85 pumps as they travel. Unfortunately, issues have arisen with the E-85 certification by Underwriters Laboratories, which is an independent, not-for-profit, product safety certification organization that tests products and writes standards for safety. UL's worldwide family of companies and network for service providers include 66 laboratory testing and certification facilities serving customers in 104 countries. UL began work to develop standards for E-85 fuel dispensers in early 2006 at the request for certification for such a dispenser from its primary manufacturer. It was reported in August 2006 that the manufacturer was to get UL approval for their E-85 pump. UL has looked at the application for quite a long period of time. Signals were given that the approval was imminent to the point where the manufacturer issued a press release. Yet in October of 2006, UL has suspended existing authorization on components for E-85 pumps, which they had previously approved over the years, and began and are continuing a stakeholder process to develop new standards for all components in the finished pump. According to UL, there are no documented reports on any issues, field incidents, safety issues or documented reports related to E-85 components that have been authorized, or the pumps themselves. This process could take at least another year, possibly more, depending on numerous factors. UL will not give a timeline for completion of the standards. It is possible once these standards are published, manufacturers of E-85 pumps will have to retool their operations to comply. The impacts of certification issue are already being felt in my district as well as across this country. Even though UL is continuing to engage State and local governments and fire marshals with their findings, suspension of the installation of E-85 tanks has started to occur. While States like Michigan and Minnesota are allowing continued use with special monitoring, States like Ohio have already prohibited all dispensing of E-85 blended fuels pending UL approval or listing. Big retailers, names we recognize, like Wal-Mart and Valero, which previously had announced their intention to install E-85 pumps nationwide, have suspended the installation of any new pumps pending this certification. This represents thousands of fueling stations across the country. The bill before us requires the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy's research and development offices to carry out an R&D program of materials to be added to biofuels to make them more compatible with existing infrastructure. The amendment I have offered today will require EPA and DOE and recognize the impact to research and recognize the impacts any further additives they recommend through the research program may have on issues with respect to certification by UL for fuel dispensers like E- 85 and other biofuel blends like biodiesel. In the United States there are 110 ethanol plants in production with 70 more under construction producing approximately 5.2 billion gallons. There are over 1,123 E-85 fueling stations around the country today, including on Federal property. In my district alone, there are six ethanol and biodiesel plants, either announced or are moving forward or planned under construction, and 14 fueling stations offering E-85. Unfortunately, the process of bringing more has stalled. We in this Congress have made a bipartisan commitment to an energy policy which encourages the development and use of E-85 and other blended biofuels. Exporting America's domestic agricultural resources to achieve energy security, energy independence, providing jobs for America is of utmost importance. Mr. Chairman, I ask bipartisan support for this legislation. E-85 and other blended biofuels are a key part of our strategy. I look forward to working with my colleague in a bipartisan way. Again I ask for bipartisan support for this amendment.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to introduce the Marriage Tax Penalty Permanent Elimination Act of 2007. This important bill makes marriage tax relief permanent for the 48 million American married couples that benefit from the marriage tax relief enacted by Congress and signed into law in 2003. Madam Speaker, if we do not act, in 2010 48 million hardworking married couples will face an annual tax increase which averages $2,726. I am sure I speak for the married couples in my district and Illinois when I say that $2,726 each year is a lot of money. In fact, if a couple were to put this money away each year to pay for the costs of a child's college education, without even earning interest they would have nearly $50,000. My legislation will ensure that marriage tax relief becomes permanent and 48 million American couples are not subject to a $2,726 annual tax increase starting in 2010. I encourage my colleagues to join me in continuing the fight to guarantee that the values we hold most dear, marriage, family and hard work are treated fairly under our tax code.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a package of legislation that achieves a comprehensive approach to the future of renewable energy. As we move forward with national energy policy, I strongly believe we need to start taking steps in a direction that will provide consumers with other options other than just oil based fuels. With crude oil hovering around $60 a barrel and natural gas around $8.00 per btu, renewable energy like wind, solar, biomass, ethanol and biodiesel have started to become economically competitive sources of energy for our nation's consumers and businesses. By advancing the use and knowledge of renewable energy, we can lower demand for imported oil and lead our nation towards energy independence. One of the components I introduced today will push forward an aggressive schedule for renewable fuels by mandating the renewable content of gasoline to be 25 billion gallons by 2025. Under the energy bill, we are mandating that the renewable content of gasoline be at 4 billion gallons by 2006 which is 2% of total gasoline. Once implemented, the ``25 by 25'' initiative would raise that percentage up to 12.5%. For farmers, the 25 billion gallon requirement means better commodity prices for corn and soy and more importantly it means jobs. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, a new ethanol plant will: expand the economic base of the local economy by $110.2 million, generate an additional $19.6 million of household income, support the creation of as many as 694 permanent new jobs throughout the entire economy of the United States and generate at least $1.2 million in new tax revenue for the state and local governments. One problem we face in the advancement of renewable fuels is the sub par infrastructure we currently have in place. With ethanol and biodiesel plants mostly focused within the midwest and with only around 1,000 fuel stations that carry E-85 transportation fuels, it is essential that we provide tax incentives for the construction and development of ethanol and biodiesel plants. Another bill that I will be introducing, the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2007, builds upon the relationship between renewable fuels and industry that started in the last energy bill. The legislation achieves this by providing multiple tax incentives for the construction and development of an infrastructure that will be more able to expand past the Midwest. The legislation will provide an aggressive 7-year depreciation schedule for all ethanol and biodiesel refining equipment. Also included within this section is a provision that will expand and extend the installation of alternative fuel refueling property that we in Congress passed earlier this year. The provision will allow taxpayers to claim a more effective percentage tax credit for the cost of installing clean-fuel vehicle refueling property to be used in a trade or business of the taxpayer or installed at the principal residence of the taxpayer. This ramped up percentage schedule would help accelerate the construction of the E-85 infrastructure. Another piece of legislation I introduced today ensures that government agencies will expand their use of renewable fuels. Under this bill, departments and agencies will have to purchase ethanol and biodiesel where it is competitively priced to gasoline and diesel. In the mentality of ``practice what you preach'' it is time for our own Federal government to increase their use of ethanol and biodiesel where these fuels are reasonably available. In attempting to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, it should start right here in our Nation's capitol. I believe the most innovative legislation that I am introducing is a new tax credit that will provide for consumers who purchase a new concept vehicle which combines hybrid and flexible fuel technologies that will be available to consumers in the near future. It is this marriage of these technologies that will create a vehicle that will be better steward to our environment and will further reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil. In providing this tax credit, we promote a greater sense of innovation for the future of automobiles. In addition to renewable fuels, I believe we also need to make a serious investment in renewable sources of energy like wind, solar and biomass. It is for this reason I have introduced three different bills that will make current tax incentives permanent. The residential energy efficient tax credit, wind energy production tax credit and the renewable energy production tax credit all have been effective in promoting the investment and production of renewable energy. With energy sources like wind, solar and biomass, the up front costs for investment by producers and consumers are high. By giving individuals and businesses small incentives, like the $2,000 solar credit, we can make it easier for these technologies to be taken advantage of. In closing, Madam Speaker, I believe we need to take many different approaches in making America energy independent. With the Energy Policy Act of 2005, we took steps forward in reducing our dependence on foreign oil by creating policy that increased the use of renewable energy in tandem with increasing our domestic production of energy sources. Due to the energy bill, we have seen over $100 million invested in wind energy and four to five new ethanol and biodiesel plants in my district. In total, we saw investment in renewable energy double in the United States to $68 billion dollars. We need this investment in renewable energy to continue. These bills are good for farmers, the automobile industry, businesses, consumers, the environment and most importantly, the goal of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. I believe the legislation that I have introduced today, achieves the goals in renewable energy we need to achieve. I ask my colleagues to join me in moving forward with this innovative approach.