Ed Whitfield

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. We have this competing interest. We have this commercial interest, which we all admire and respect, and we think that they should be able to use this land for grazing. The leaseholders should be able to use it for grazing, for dude ranches, for recreation, for whatever they might want. But at the same time we have these wild mustangs that deserve some protection, particularly when the leaseholders are paying about 9 cents per acre per year to the Federal Government. So I would urge support of the Rahall legislation because it expands the grazing area; it's going to reduce the number of wild mustangs; and it's also going to reduce the number held in holding areas, which is the most expensive way to take care of these animals. I urge support of the Rahall legislation.

Mr. WHITFIELD. Obviously this is a very important issue. And I might say that opponents of this legislation--at least some of them--argue that under these difficult economic times, the Democrats are spending millions of dollars to protect wild horses. Now in my view, it is a much more complicated issue than that. This is a classic case of competing interests. On one side we have corporations, partnerships, individuals who have leased almost 250 million acres of land, owned by the taxpayers, from the Federal Government, and on the other side we have wild horses. Now there's been some question about whether or not these wild mustangs were native or not. I'm not an expert in that field, and I certainly respect the gentlelady from Wyoming on her comments. But it was e-mailed to me that Dr. Kay Kirkpatrick, who is one of the leaders and one of the respected experts in this field, has said that these wild horses were re-released native wildlife, that they were native. They were captured and then re-released. Now because these leaseholders do not want wild mustangs grazing on their land, they have been successful through lobbyists of changing Federal law to require that there only be so many wild mustangs for a certain area of land. And because of that, BLM flies helicopters around. They count the wild mustangs. If they exceed that number, they move them in these holding areas. It is without dispute that these holding areas are the most expensive way to deal with these animals. That's why millions of dollars are being spent right now. I think the reason that the Rahall legislation can help solve this problem is this: Number one, it reduces the number of horses in the holding areas. Number two, it expands the area for grazing; but most importantly, it directs BLM to use immunocontraception to reduce the size of the herds. Now I can tell you something--when I looked at the conference report on the Interior appropriations bill a couple of years ago, we found out that these leaseholders of these taxpayer lands were paying the Federal Government about 9 cents per acre per year. And I can tell you, the farmers of Kentucky and in the East cannot get access to land for 9 cents per acre per year. So we have this competing interest.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that a historic opportunity to unify the island Cyprus was missed on April 24, 2004 when 76 percent of Greek Cypriots in separate simultaneous referenda in both sides of the island rejected the U.N. comprehensive settlement plan, known as the Annan Plan. After the referenda, the Greek Cypriots became a full member of the European Union, while the social, economic and political isolation of the Turkish Cypriots still continues despite their affirmative vote in the referenda with a 65 percent majority. Until the recent change in leadership in South Cyprus in February 2008 the issue was at a virtual standstill; however, in September 2008, Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, launched full-fledged negotiations to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem. The negotiations which were revived thanks to the insistence of the Turkish Cypriot side have been welcomed by the international community, including the United States, the European Union and others. Hopes are high among the international community that a mutually acceptable settlement might be reached. In order to promote the spirit of goodwill generated during the recent meetings, I encourage this body to support the two Cypriot leaders as they work toward reunification. On July 20th the Turkish Cypriots commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Turkish peace operation which prevented an attempt by Greece to annex the island. Although peace prevails in Cyprus today, the social, economic and political development of the Turkish Cypriots have been restricted for more than four decades. Despite their continued commitment to achieving a just and lasting settlement that respects the political equality of the two peoples on the island, the Turkish Cypriot people are still waiting for the international community to honor the promises it made to them that their isolation would be lifted. Madam Speaker, if the process is to move forward toward a lasting settlement it is important that the United States Congress recognize the unwavering commitment of the Turkish Cypriot people to unify the island and encourage the lifting of the isolation.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: H.R. 3082, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2010 Account: Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ft. Campbell, KY Address of Requesting Entity: Fort Campbell, 39 Normandy Ave, Ft. Campbell, KY 42223 Description of Request: The money ($900,000) will be used to construct a standard design Medium Physical Fitness Complex. The Physical Fitness Facility is composed of multipurpose physical training and equipment center. Sustainable Design and Development (SDD) and Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct05) features will be provided. An upgrade to an existing transformer station is required. Measures in accordance with the Department of Defense (DoD) Minimum Antiterrorism for Buildings standards will be provided. Access for individuals with disabilities will be available. Comprehensive building and furnishings related interior design services are required. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: H.R. 3082, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2010 Account: Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ft. Campbell, KY Address of Requesting Entity: Fort Campbell, 39 Normandy Ave, Ft. Campbell, KY 42223 Description of Request: The money ($14,400,000) will be used to construct a 1,200-seat (32,900 SF) chapel/family life multi-purpose facility which includes a worship center, activity/fellowship center, chaplain family life and pastoral care center, resource center, multimedia center, multi-purpose education classrooms, kitchen, storage areas, restrooms, and circulation area.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in opposition to the bill. This legislation is not so much about stopping the import of foreign oil as it is designed to change the way we produce electricity in America. Today, 52 percent of all electricity produced is produced with coal, and this bill will require the use of permits to burn coal. In my State of Kentucky, the utilities believe--and they have looked at this closely--that in order to comply with this legislation, they will have to spend an additional $500 million. As we look around the country, we see that only about eight States will really benefit in the sense that their electricity rates will not go up. The problem with this is that as you increase the cost to produce electricity, that makes the United States less competitive in the global marketplace, because when companies decide where they're going to locate and build new plants, they look at cost of production, and one big cost is electricity. And so those of us who oppose it do so genuinely because we believe that at a time when we are in an economic recession, we should not be jeopardizing more jobs.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. I rise to support the en bloc amendments. All of us know all too well that many young men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered serious physical and emotional injuries, including post-traumatic stress syndrome. Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Walter Reed have rehabilitative programs that include the therapeutic use of animals to treat these wounded warriors, and preliminary results show that these programs are particularly effective. In the en bloc amendment I have an amendment that simply directs the Department of Defense, working with HHS and the Veterans' Administration, to conduct a study to determine whether the therapeutic use of animals to treat these wounded warriors should be expanded to other facilities and military installations around the country. I urge support of the en bloc amendment and this amendment.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act and the FY2010 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2010 Account: Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ft. Campbell, KY Address of Requesting Entity: Fort Campbell, 39 Normandy Ave, Ft. Campbell, KY 42223 Description of Request: The money ($900,000) will be used to construct a standard design Medium Physical Fitness Complex. The Physical Fitness Facility is composed of multipurpose physical training and equipment center. Additionally, the money will be used to construct a standard design lighted multipurpose athletics field. Sustainable Design and Development (SDD) and Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct05) features will be provided. Supporting facilities include site development, utilities and connections, lighting, paving, parking, walks, curbs and gutters, storm drainage, information systems, demolition, landscaping and signage. An upgrade to an existing transformer station is required. Measures in accordance with the Department of Defense (DoD) Minimum Antiterrorism for Buildings standards will be provided. Access for individuals with disabilities will be available. Comprehensive building and furnishings related interior design services are required. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2010 Account: Army Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ft. Campbell, KY Address of Requesting Entity: Fort Campbell, 39 Normandy Ave, Ft. Campbell, KY 42223 Description of Request: The money ($14,400.00) will be used to construct a 1,200-seat (32,900 SF) chapel/family life multi-purpose facility which includes a worship center, activity/fellowship center, chaplain family life and pastoral care center, resource center, multimedia center, multi-purpose education classrooms, kitchen, storage areas, restrooms, and circulation area. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act Account: STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Tompkinsville Address of Requesting Entity: 206 North Magnolia Street, Tompkinsville, KY 42167 Description of Request: The Project will install a backwash lagoon at the Tompkinsville Water Treatment Plant. The existing lagoons are undersized and do not provide enough detention time for the solids to settle out. These funds will help the citizens of Tompkinsville abide by the environmental requirements of the Kentucky Division of Water. The amount the City will be receiving is $189,000 and will serve over 2500 households in the town protecting citizens' health, the environment, and allowing for community growth.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science and Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bills. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: H.R. 2487 Account: OJP--Byrne Discretionary Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennyrile Narcotic Task Force Address of Requesting Entity: 511 South Main Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 Description of Request: The Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force (PNTF) covers a 20-county area. Based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, it is a law enforcement organization dedicated to fighting the spread of drugs and, in particular, methamphetamine production, trafficking, and abuse. According to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), Kentucky currently ranks sixth nationally in the number of law enforcement responses to meth-related incidents. These funds ($500,000) will allow the task force to purchase materials and pay for manpower to educate people in the school systems, health departments, law enforcement agencies, and civic organizations on the dangers of methamphetamine. These funds are vital to eliminating the threat of illegal drugs in Kentucky's First Congressional District. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: Predisaster Mitigation Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Russell County Fiscal Court Address of Requesting Entity: 410 Monument Square 110, Jamestown, KY 42629 Description of Request: The project will consist of installing outdoor warning sirens to warn the public in the event of a disaster, particularly in the case of a failure of Wolf Creek Dam, which is currently undergoing a major rehabilitation. This funding will help the rural communities be better prepared should a catastrophe happen.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Sovereignty and Children's Day, an event that is celebrated in the nation of Turkey every April 23rd. While this important holiday traces its origins all the way back to Turkey's capital, Ankara, in 1923, it has gradually taken on tremendous meaning and significance for children throughout the world. On April 23, 1920, during Turkey's War of Independence, a body of Turkish lawmakers known as the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara to lay the foundation for a government that was to be a modern, parliamentary democracy. They drew upon their already emerging status as a liberal and secular Republic to guide them in the creation of their vision. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and eventual first President of the Republic of Turkey, designated that day as National Sovereignty and Children's Day, in recognition of the important role that children would play in shaping the country's future. Ataturk was the first world leader to take so momentous a step in recognizing the contributions of children to their nation. In Turkey, National Sovereignty and Children's Day is an official public holiday marked by student celebrations that span the entire week of April 23rd. Children `govern' Turkey by sending their own `representatives' to replace state officials and high ranking bureaucrats in their offices. The President, Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and provincial governors all turn over their positions to children's representatives. The children assume some of the real responsibilities of legislators by signing executive orders relating to educational and environmental policies. Children also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a special session to discuss children's issues. These symbolic gestures demonstrate for children how they are the future leaders of Turkey, and remind current leaders that they are responsible for the well being of these children and the nation that they will inherit. On April 27, 1986, a tradition that began in Turkey was brought to the entire world when the UN General Assembly was opened to children for the first celebration of World Children's Day. Later that same year, the World Children's Day Foundation (WCDF) was established to oversee World Children's Day activities. The program's goals were to equip children to make a difference in their own lives and the future of their communities and nations; bring children of different nationalities, races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds together and to show them that, in spite of these factors, all people have much in common; and establish the fourth Sunday in April as the internationally celebrated World Children's Day to recognize the capability and potential of children everywhere to shape the future. Madam Speaker, our children are our most precious resource, and I believe we all should join together in commemorating this important date dedicated to them. We also should commend Turkey for leading the way in being the first government to set aside one day each year to honor its children some eighty-six years ago.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday was Earth Day, and people around this country and around the world celebrated this great planet that we live on, and all of us, whether we're Democrats, Republicans or Independents, are committed to protecting this climate for the well-being of future generations. I think most of us would also agree that one of the major issues facing the entire world today relates to the strength of the world's economy and the loss of jobs that is taking place around the world. We know that, right here in America, our unemployment rate is up to about 8.6 percent at this time. Last month, it was about 8.1 percent. In my home State of Kentucky, we have some counties with unemployment of about 15 percent; and I understand that in the State of Michigan, where we've had the automobile difficulties, the unemployment rate in that State is around 15 percent. So as we talk about strengthening the economy, the two most important policies relating to that are tax policy, number one, and energy policy, number two. It has already been pointed out today by many people that the U.S. Congress is in the process of considering a comprehensive energy bill that would bring about dramatic changes in the way America produces energy. Now, when we talk about energy, of course there are two aspects of it. Number one, we're talking about: How do we fuel our transportation needs? Everyone knows that we do import a lot of foreign oil, because we're consuming about 22 million barrels of oil a day, and we're not producing that much oil in America. Worldwide, we're consuming about 85 million barrels of oil a day. By the way, that's about what the total production of oil is worldwide, around 85 million barrels of oil a day. So that's one aspect of this energy issue. A second part of it is: How do you produce electricity? That's vitally important as we find ourselves in America competing with other countries around the world. In America, we happen to be very fortunate in that we have a 250-year supply of coal. It's our most abundant resource. By the way, not only is it our most abundant resource, but it is also the most economical way to produce electricity. In my home State of Kentucky, for example, 90 percent of all of the electricity produced in Kentucky is produced with coal, and that's why, in Kentucky, we have some of the lowest electrical rates in the world-- between 4 and 5 cents per kilowatt hour. In California, Massachusetts and in other States where they don't really favor the use of coal, they're paying in the neighborhood of 14 cents and 15 cents per kilowatt hour. Now, we recognize--and it goes without saying--that coal is a fuel that produces carbon dioxide and other emissions, and we know that climate change is one of the most important issues facing America today. One of the great things about our democracy is we can sit around, and we can have debates about the issues. I think it's important for the American people to hear those debates because, as we discuss the emissions of carbon dioxide, we oftentimes listen to the United Nations International Climate Change Panel. That is the scientific group that does the most studies and that does projections about global warming. They use complicated models to predict what the future will hold, and they do core drillings in the ice panels of the North and South Poles to determine how the weather has been in the last thousands of years. We know that there are patterns of heating and warming and heating and warming. One thing that I would like to point out this evening, because we've heard a lot about global warming--and we have had extensive hearings on energy and on global warming and on climate change. One thing that I would point out to you is that everyone says emphatically that the models cannot predict with any accuracy what the temperature is going to be anywhere in the world 100 years from now. Witnesses have also been very clear in their testimony that, when the United Nations International Climate Change Panel issues a press release from the review of their models that they're predicting on particular issues, they formally take the worst case scenario, and that is what's released to the international news media. So when we read stories in the international news media, there seems to be a tendency to scare people about what's going on with global warming. I think it's important that we recognize that. One of the leading environmentalists, who was called ``Mr. Green'' at one time in Europe, is a fellow named Bjorn Lomborg. He is a respected scientist, and he wrote a book called ``The Skeptical Environmentalist.'' In that book, he went into great detail about the flaws in the models that are being used to project future climate change. I point that out because I've heard many times that the scientific evidence is indisputable and that it cannot be contradicted. I would like the American people to know that I've sat in on many hearings on this issue, and I've heard scientists disagree on this issue, but the important thing is we need to debate it. The American people will finally make their decision about it. They make those decisions in elections, and they vote for whomever they want to vote, and they listen to the arguments, and they decide what they think is in their best interest. That's the way it should be, but I want to get back to coal for just a minute. In this energy bill that's being considered in the U.S. Congress today, one big part of that is called cap-and-trade, and it plays a prominent part also in President Obama's budget because, in his budget, he indicated that he anticipates revenue from cap-and-trade in the amount of about $657 billion over 10 years from selling permits to entities so that they can emit carbon dioxide. Now, I think it's also important to remember that when Peter Orszag, the chairman of the Office of Management and Budget in the Obama White House, testified before Congress, he said that that figure may very well be conservative, that it could be twice or maybe three times that amount. So it could be anywhere from $657 billion to $1.7 trillion in cost to implement cap-and-trade, and of course, cap-and-trade is designed to have people pay for emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Now, when people pay that much money to do it, every witness that I've heard--and everyone would almost agree--has said that electricity rates are going to go up, and maybe that's not all bad, because we know that if we're going to have a cleaner environment, we're going to have to pay more. Just on the cap-and-trade aspect of this which relates specifically to coal, I would like to remind everyone that the European Union initiated a cap-and-trade system 4 or 5 years ago. I may not be exactly right on that. Maybe it was 3 or 4 years ago or 4 or 5 years ago. Last year, they acknowledged that they had more carbon dioxide emissions than they'd had before they implemented cap-and-trade. Now, to be fair, they indicated also when they testified before the Congress that they think that they have fixed that problem and that they feel more confident as they move forward; but this cap-and-trade system is a prominent part in the Obama energy plan that is now before the United States Congress. There's another aspect of it that bothers me. If you'll recall, I talked about one of the major problems facing all of us today, which is the economy--trying to restore jobs, getting people back to work, getting those stock values back up in their pension plans and retirement plans. In order to do that, America has to be competitive with other countries. They have to be able to produce products at a competitive price that will sell all around the world. What's one of the biggest competitors of America today? To what country have we lost a lot of jobs over the last 3, 4, 5 years? That country is China. When we've met with the Chinese, they've pointed out, and they've been very proud of the fact that they are bringing on line a new coal-powered plant to produce electricity, a new one every 2 weeks. Now, it's hard to imagine that they would be building that many new coal-powered plants. By the way, most of them don't have scrubbers. They're not capturing the CO2 emissions because, like in America and like in Europe, the technology is not there. Now, there are plenty of pilot test projects around. There is one commercial application or two to capture carbon dioxide emissions--one in Canada and one in Norway--but the Chinese are making it very clear that they want to produce more electricity with coal because it is the most economical way to produce electricity; and, therefore, they can produce more products at less cost. I'll tell you something else they're doing, too. A lot of people in America may say we ought to do this, but they put a cap on the price of fuel that they pay for their transportation needs. Of course, as a result of putting that cap on the fuel, their government buyers, when they're out buying oil in the open market, buy the highest sulfur content oil available because it is the cheapest. What does that do? That pollutes even more. So as we debate this energy policy just on the cap-and-trade aspect of it, we've got to keep in mind: If we in America act unilaterally, are we going to place ourselves at a disadvantage? Is it going to be more difficult for us to build plants, to create jobs and to produce products that are competitive in the world marketplace? I would submit to you that the answer to that is, yes, it will place us at a disadvantage to do it unilaterally. So I think that's an important thing that we need to discuss as we move forward. Now, another matter that plays a prominent place in the energy plan being advocated by our respected friends on the other side of the aisle, by our Democrat friends--and I might say that many of the Democrats are very much concerned about it as well--relates to renewable mandates. In America today, 51 percent of our electricity is produced by coal. About 20 percent is produced by nuclear power, and less than 2 percent is produced by renewable. When I'm talking about renewable, there are all sorts of renewable--there's biomass, ethanol, all sorts of things--but I'm talking primarily here about wind power and solar because that plays a prominent role in the renewable mandate being proposed in the energy bill that's now before the Congress. The energy bill says that by the year 2025--it's either 2020 or 2025--they want 20 percent of all electricity to be produced by renewable energy. In fact, when President Obama was in Europe recently--he's such a great speaker and inspiring fellow--he got up, and he talked specifically about a number of countries. One of the countries he talked about was Spain. He said Spain has been so effective in increasing its production of electricity with renewables, with renewable energy. He said America should be looking to Spain and that we need to get out in front the way Spain has. Spain is no smarter than we are. They're just more bold. They're investing. They're requiring investment in nuclear energy. I mean, not in nuclear energy, but in production of electricity. And that's precisely what this energy bill is going to do. It's going to dictate 20 percent of the electricity be produced with renewables. And if it is not produced with renewables, then they are producing a 5-cent-per-kilowatt penalty. And I can tell you what. I think most people who are experts in energy will tell you it's virtually impossible to produce 20 percent of our electricity with renewables by the year 2020 or the year 2025 for a lot of different reasons. First of all, in States in the Southeast, we've seen repeatedly maps of the Southeast, not only the Southeast but Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Michigan. They do not have the wind power to produce this electricity. And we have a very antiquated grid system today. So you're going to have to dramatically increase the capacity of this grid system if you go to renewables to bring in renewables produced by other parts of the country into the Southeast, particularly. But one of the primary arguments that we hear from our respected friends on the other side of the aisle is that, look, let's not be concerned about this because as we move into green technology, we're going to create thousands of green jobs. And those jobs will be what will propel America into the future. And none of us in Congress would object to that. And we know that there will be some green jobs created. But, you know, we oftentimes do projections based on models, and models frequently are determined by what you put in, what information you put into those models. But when you use empirical data, hard-core facts of what has happened, you come up with some interesting conclusions. Now, I have talked about Spain, and there is a gentleman in Spain named Gabriel Alvarez. He's a Ph.D. and he's at the University of Juan Carlos in Spain. He did a research project, and it's about 45 pages. It's right here. And he particularly looked at this issue of creating new jobs with green technology. And he came up with a conclusion that he goes into great detail about that for every one job created by green technology, Spain lost 2.2 jobs in traditional industries. Now, is that the kind of tradeoff that America wants? Yeah. We would like to create green jobs, but we don't want to do it if we lose other jobs. And that is precisely what his study shows quite clearly. And he also goes into a great deal of detail in this study about the amount of money that would be invested in--that was invested in renewable energy in Spain. And that's precisely what they are trying to do in the energy bill: government money to subsidize renewable energies. And so I think that America, as we debate this energy bill, we need to move forward very carefully because we don't want to unilaterally place ourselves at a competitive disadvantage on the coal sector by using, by implementing a cap-and-trade system that's going to penalize only Americans and raise their electricity rates. And we also don't want to lose 2.2 jobs for every one job created with green technology if we had the same experience that they did in Spain--and there are reasons to believe that we will, according to this study. Now, yesterday, we had a hearing about this and we had the Secretary of Energy there and we had the administrator of the EPA there. And they are the ones that have the task of developing this energy policy for America. And when I asked them the question--because they and others had been talking about all of the new green jobs that had been created. When I had asked them if they had even seen this study, both of them said ``no.'' And so we asked them, well, we think we ought to look at this study because before America adopts an energy policy that will affect every man, woman and child in this country, every business in this country, every automobile driver in this country, what would the impact of it be? So we need detailed studies so that we get both sides of the issue, we said in these hearings. And to be truthful, we all wish that what is being said would be true, that yes, we can automatically go to green and forget coal and forget nuclear. But it is impossible to do. So instead of looking through rose-colored glasses, let's be realistic as we move forward so we can make and give the American people the opportunity for the best decision that can be made. Now, on this map right here, there are a lot of red dots. And these red dots represent a nuclear power plant that is currently operating in America. And there are about 109 of them scattered throughout our country. And as I mentioned earlier, about 20 percent of our electricity is produced by nuclear. But it's very sad that in this energy bill that I have been discussing--it's over 657 pages, by the way--it relates to everything. It relates to air conditioners in your car. It relates to appliances in your home. It relates to efficiencies in building products. It relates to cap-and-trade, a smart grid, technology, global warming, all of those things. But when you have something that's producing 20 percent of the electricity in America like nuclear, you would think there would be something in this energy bill about nuclear, particularly since we haven't had any nuclear power plants built in a long time because of the complex permitting process that makes it virtually impossible to build one. But there is not one item in this new energy bill about nuclear energy. And one thing I think is quite clear to the American people and should be clear to all of us, because we know that in the next--by the year 2035, the demand for electricity in America is going to increase by 35 percent and maybe more, and particularly, if we turn the economy around. So in order to meet that demand, we're going to have to have everything that we have access to. We're going to have to have coal-- and there were a lot of people that did not want to use coal and it's going to be impossible. We are going to have to use coal. And that's why developing this technology of carbon capture and sequestration is so vitally important. And I might say that there is a professor at MIT that is one of the few individuals who actually wrote his dissertation on carbon capture and sequestration. And he's working with a group in the Northeast that is planning to build a $5 billion carbon capture and sequestration facility to store carbon dioxide in the ocean floor. And it's that kind of innovative technology that we're going to have to have in order to meet our energy needs. But back to nuclear for just a moment. As you know, any time you produce nuclear energy, you have some spent fuel, and there are some real problems with spent fuel, so there has got to be a way to store it. And back in, I think it was 1982, the Congress passed a bill that imposed an excise fee on every producer of nuclear energy in America. And the purpose of that was to build a facility in Nevada called Yucca Mountain in which they would store this spent fuel. But the American taxpayer has already spent $9 billion on Yucca Mountain. And if it were allowed to be continued within the next 3 or 4 years, it would be licensed, and then 4 or 5, 10 years after that, they could start moving this spent fuel to Yucca Mountain. So where is this spent fuel right now? Well, the spent fuel right now is located at each one of these 109 sites in America. Where you have a nuclear power plant, you have spent fuel because there is no other place, there is no other place to put it. No other place to take it. Now, I think the American people would find it interesting--because I don't think most of them really know that a lot of these nuclear power plants, because they have contractual arrangements with the Federal Government, that they could store that spent fuel at Yucca Mountain. And by the way, President Obama did not put any money in his budget for Yucca Mountain. And so there were a lot of stories going around soon after the budget came out that Yucca Mountain had been put on hold; we didn't know if they were going to continue to build it or try to get the license for it so we can start storing this material or not. So I suppose it's going to be up to the appropriators in the Congress to decide if they are going to put any money into Yucca Mountain. But we spent that $9 billion, and because the government had contracts with these nuclear energy producers to take that spent fuel and was not able to fulfill its obligation, what do you think the nuclear energy plants did? They did what any of us would do. They filed a lawsuit because of a breach of that contract. And as a result of that contract, the U.S. Government right now has a liability to pay those nuclear power plants in the neighborhood of $7 billion. And that's only for a period of time. And after that, if there is not some mechanism in place to take care of this stored--this spent fuel, there are going to be other lawsuits and there is going to be more money that's going to have to be paid by the American taxpayer. Now, you know there are a lot of other countries that produce nuclear energy. In fact, in France, which is oftentimes viewed as the green country, most of their electricity is produced by nuclear energy. And France has it, Russia has it, Japan has it, Great Britain has it. A lot of countries have it. But in America, one of the techniques and one of the things that you can do to minimize the amount of the spent fuel is to reprocess it. And it is a technology that is fully developed and is being used today in France and Japan and other countries around the world. Now, the advantage of reprocessing is that you reduce even more the amount of waste that you have at the end. But in America, we don't reprocess. And why? Because when Jimmy Carter was President, he made a decision--and I am not criticizing his decision because I don't truthfully know all of the facts that went into his decision, and I am sure he had good reason for his decision-- but he signed an Executive order that prohibited reprocessing of spent fuel in America. But every other country in the world is doing it, with the exception of Canada, and that's because they use heavy water reactors in Canada and in America we use light water reactors. But the reason that I am disappointed in the energy bill--there is nothing about nuclear--is because this is an issue that the American people and the American Congress must revisit and, that is, reprocessing spent fuel because we can drastically reduce the amount of waste. We also need to expedite the permitting process so that we can produce more nuclear power plants, because it can be done safely, it can be done cleanly, and it is a strategy that we should pursue. Because, as I indicated earlier, we are most dependent upon coal, next nuclear, next we get down to renewables and ethanol and biomass, and all sorts of things. But I wanted to take this time this evening to just go over this whole process of the dilemma that we face in nuclear, the potential dilemma that we face if a cap-and-trade system is adopted, because it will make us less competitive with countries like China and India, who are building more and more coal power plants; the less competitive it will make us if we implement this renewable mandate that 20 percent of electricity has to be produced by renewables, when the experience in Spain has been for every job created in the renewable industry, green jobs, they lost 2.2 jobs. So as we move forward, we have many challenges facing our country, no greater challenge than in energy. And all of us respect the wisdom of the American people if they know the facts, and so I think it's our obligation, as Members of Congress and Members of the Senate and President Obama, to go out and talk about these issues, get the facts out there, and let the American people decide. And I think, once they know all these facts, they will recognize that we will have to continue using coal. We have a 250-year supply, our most abundant resource. We have the pilot projects already working that can help capture carbon dioxide and even use the captured carbon dioxide to put into oil wells to produce more oil. If we are going to be less dependent on foreign oil, we have to produce more oil in America. That gets me back to tax policy, because one of the difficult issues in President Obama's tax policy is that I understand he wants to do away with the oil depletion allowance. He wants to change some inventory rules. He wants to change some other tax breaks for small independent producers, which makes it more difficult to produce more oil in America. So those are issues facing us. And with that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments and contributions of Kentucky native Kenny Perry. Earlier this month, Mr. Perry gave a memorable performance at the 73rd Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Looking to become the oldest golfer to win a major championship at the age of 48 years and 8 months, Mr. Perry played superbly during the Masters Tournament and finished second in the tournament following two exciting playoff holes. Throughout the tournament, he exhibited the same grace and class he has always shown throughout his auspicious career. Mr. Perry grew up in Kentucky's First Congressional District, attending Franklin-Simpson High School and eventually graduating from Lone Oaks High School in Paducah. He played golf at both schools before attending Western Kentucky University where he continued to excel at the sport. In 1982, Mr. Perry turned professional and has spent the past 27 years building a solid reputation for himself both as a professional golfer and a community leader. He donates a percentage of his winnings to Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, to provide scholarships to students. Mr. Perry built Country Creek, a public course in his hometown of Franklin. In 1995, he bought 142 acres of land to design and build the only public course in the town. He designed it for mid-to-high handicappers and kept it affordable so that the game of golf could be accessible to all. Mr. Perry is a member of Western Kentucky University Hall of Fame and Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame. In 2002, he received the Charles Bartlett Award, given to a professional golfer for his unselfish contributions to the betterment of society by the Golf Writers Association of America. On the course, Mr. Perry currently ranks 3rd in All-Around Ranking on the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) tour. In 2008, when the Ryder Cup was held in Kentucky, Mr. Perry dedicated himself to qualifying for the event. His hard work paid off when he helped the United States retake the cup for the first time since 1999. Mr. Perry's contributions both on and off the golf course serve as a shining example of what professional athletes should be and I am pleased to have this opportunity to honor him.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the many volunteers who rose above and beyond the call of duty in helping their fellow Kentuckians following what many consider to be the worst natural disaster in the Commonwealth's history. In late January, severe ice storms left over 700,000 homes without power, countless businesses were crippled and communities across the state were left with miles of roads to clear and enormous amounts of debris to clean up. The First Congressional District bore the brunt of these devastating storms, with many in Western Kentucky being left without power for weeks while local officials and utility workers labored round the clock to restore electricity. While this was an extremely trying time for the First District, it also brought out the very best in many of our local leaders and ordinary citizens who volunteered their time to help their communities. State and local officials acted quickly to coordinate relief efforts with various community organizations and faith-based groups. Volunteers operated 192 shelters across the Commonwealth, providing shelter, food and water to nearly 8,000 Kentuckians. Individuals from 25 organizations in 15 states traveled to Kentucky to volunteer their time in support of relief efforts. While the magnitude of the ice storms made recovery efforts more difficult and slower in some areas than was hoped, so many people went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that Kentuckians were kept safe and that vital supplies were disbursed to those in need. I would like to commend all of the local and state officials, utility workers, volunteers, members of the Kentucky National Guard and all those who contributed to the recovery and relief efforts following the storm. During a difficult time that tried all of our spirits, these individuals rose to the occasion to aid their fellow Kentuckians and help the Commonwealth get back on its feet. While I applaud everyone who worked so hard to help the Commonwealth cope and recover, the ice storms highlighted the dire need to make federal disaster assistance more effective and efficient following an emergency or natural disaster. For this reason, I am a co-sponsor of legislation to extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Pilot Program. The Public Assistance Pilot Program will enable FEMA and local officials to cut through bureaucratic red tape and distribute critical funds immediately following a storm or natural disaster. In addition, while I am pleased that President Obama issued an emergency declaration for Kentucky so quickly following the storms, I continue to call on FEMA to pay 100 percent of the costs for repair and clean-up. Nearly 3 months after these storms hit the Commonwealth, debris removal and clean up efforts are still ongoing. With local governments in Kentucky already facing significant budget shortfalls this year, the additional financial burden imposed by the ice storms is simply too much for our counties and towns to bear. It is essential that FEMA step up to the plate and ensure that local officials have the funds and resources they need to clean up and rebuild. I'd like to thank Congressman Brett Guthrie for his leadership in bringing this Resolution to the floor today as well as all my fellow Members of the Kentucky Congressional Delegation. Too often leaders and hard working citizens of our local communities go without recognition for the good work they do. It is my privilege to be able to honor all those who volunteered their time, donated supplies, worked weekends and overtime hours in an effort to restore power and all those who assisted in the clean-up following the storms. On behalf of the people of Kentucky and all those impacted by the storms, I thank you.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the talented Murray State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble from Kentucky's First Congressional District. Tonight, the wind ensemble has been invited to perform at the world renowned John F. Kennedy Center. I have no doubt that these gifted students will represent western Kentucky well in our nation's Capital. Under the direction of Mr. Dennis L. Johnson, the Murray State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble has gained a reputation for excellence both here in the United States and abroad. This reputation has allowed them to perform in some of the most prestigious venues and events in the world. In 2000 and 2005, they were invited for special performances at Carnegie Hall. In 2001 they were the only ensemble from the United States selected to perform at the International Wind Band Conference in Manchester, England. This year they appeared in a special concert at the state Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference in Louisville. The ensemble has also been selected by competitive audition to perform at the prestigious College Band Director's National Association Conferences. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is one of the premiere performing organizations for the highly respected Murray State University Department of Music. Each year the wind ensemble presents a series of concerts featuring international performing artists-conductors and premieres compositions by composers from throughout the world. Madam Speaker, these students and musicians have shown an unwavering commitment to both their studies and their music. Their performance this evening at the Kennedy Center is a true testament to their dedication to training and practice. The achievements of Murray State University's Wind Ensemble are noteworthy, and I ask the entire United States Congress to join me in congratulating them for receiving the great honor of being asked to perform at the Kennedy Center. I would also like to commend Murray State University as a whole for their commitment to excellence over the past 87 years. The wind ensemble is a shining example of the many incredible programs the university offers.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Kentucky's most esteemed residents and community servants, Lulu Mae Turner Hoover. Born on January 28, 1938 in Wayne County, she was the third of 12 children born to Clyde and Wilmuth Penticuff Turner. She married Welby Hoover on April 8, 1956 and the couple had three children. Throughout her life Mae contributed greatly to not only her community, but the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky. She started the annual Food for the Needy Drive in Russell County which now feeds nearly 300 families every year at Christmas time. Together with her husband Welby, they started the Lakefest Celebration on the square in Jamestown which is held every 4th of July. From 1987 to 1988, she served as State Representative for Russell, Clinton, Wayne and Cumberland counties, a post also held by her husband and son. Mae was President of the Kentucky Federation of Republican Women; a member of the Board of Directors of the Russell County Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Cumberland Area Development District; a member of the Russell County Jaycee Hall of Fame and Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame; Russell County Business and Professional Women's Club ``Woman of the Year;'' received the Russell County Tourism Commission ``Distinguished Service Award;'' and served as a Delegate to the 1992 Republican National Convention in New Orleans. Mae passed away on June 6, 2008. For all her accomplishments, Mae treasured her family above all else. Her life serves as a shining example to us all of the importance of giving back to your community and living life to the fullest.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY 2009 Omnibus. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Section 205 Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nashville Army Corps of Engineers Address of Requesting Entity: Nashville, TN Description of Request: The funds will be used for engineering and design of a dry-dam on the South Fork of the Little Ricer, which would reduce 100 year flood levels in the City by 2.6-4.9 feet. This will protect the safety and security of the citizens in the vicinity of the flood zone. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Clinton County, KY Address of Requesting Entity: 100 South Cross Street, Albany, KY 42602 Description of Request: The funds ($142,500) will be used to establish a Clinton County Community Senior Wellness Center to serve the needs of the elderly community to further enhance the quality of life in the rural community at the Senior Center. The center will serve as a facility to enable seniors to receive health and educational services in the community. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to solemnly recognize the 17th anniversary of the massacre at Khojaly, and to honor the lives of those lost in this great tragedy. On February 26, 1992, the small town of Khojaly, Azerbaijan was violently shaken by invading Armenian troops during the Armenian- Azerbaijan war. Armenian forces surrounded the town and opened fire on the innocent inhabitants. During this bloody incursion, nearly 2,000 civilians--mostly women, children and the elderly--were brutally killed, wounded or taken hostage by the Armenian military forces as they seized the town. This resulted in the largest massacre of modern times in the Caucasus and Caspian Basin. According to Human Rights Watch and other international observers, the massacre was committed by the ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly with the help of the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment. This crime led to the death of 613 civilians; including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly men; 1275 persons were taken hostage, and the fate of more than 150 remains unknown. At the time, Newsweek Magazine reported, ``Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last week: a place of mourning refugees and dozens of mangled corpses dragged to a makeshift morgue behind the mosque. They were ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children of Khojaly, a small village in war-tom Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian forces on 25-26 February. Many were killed at close range while trying to flee; some had their faces mutilated, others were scalped.'' Tragically, during this war, Khojaly was simply the first example of this savage cruelty. In fact, the level of brutality and the unprecedented atrocities committed at Khojaly set a pattern of destruction and ethnic cleansing that Armenian troops would adhere to for the remainder of the war. On November 29, 1993, Newsweek quoted a senior U.S. Government official as saying, ``what we see now is a systematic destruction of every village in their (the Armenians) way. It's vandalism.'' Altogether, the occupied areas represent roughly 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan. And, altogether roughly one million Azerbaijanis were evicted from their homes over the course of the Armenian-Azerbaijan war. Armenia's then-defense minister Serge Sarkisian in an interview with British journalist Tomas de Waal openly admitted that ``before Khojaly the Azerbaijanis thought that . . . the Armenians were people who could not raise their hands against the civilian population. We were able to break that [stereotype].'' Madam Speaker, in recognition of this horrific day, an international humanitarian awareness campaign, ``Justice for Khojaly,'' was initiated by Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, and provides much needed information on the massacre through its website for interested parties. In the wake of the 17th anniversary of this massacre, I encourage all of us to familiarize ourselves with this dreadful past so it is not repeated in the future. I also stand with all Azerbaijani-Americans as they recognize and commemorate this solemn day.

Mr. WHITFIELD

Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY 2009 Omnibus. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: National Forest Service Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Land Between the Lake National Recreation Area Address of Requesting Entity: 100 Van Morgan Drive Golden Pond, KY 42211 Description of Request: The Land Between the Lake National Recreation Area is a premier tourist attraction in Kentucky which continues to thrive under Forest Service management. It has been managed in concert with the provisions of the original LBL Protection Act. This money ($8,200,000) will be used for much needed maintenance at the facility, especially debris cleanup after the recent ice storm through the Commonwealth. The Forest Service will be receiving this money to be used at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The total amount will be used for scheduled maintenance at the recreation area. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennyrile Narcotic Task Force Address of Requesting Entity: 511 South Main Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 Description of Request: The Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force (PNTF) covers a 20 county area. Based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, it is a law enforcement organization dedicated to fighting the spread of drugs and, in particular, methamphetamine production, trafficking, and abuse. According to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), Kentucky currently ranks sixth nationally in the number of law enforcement responses to meth-related incidents. These funds ($500,000) will allow the task force to purchase materials and pay for manpower to educate people in the school systems, health departments, law enforcement agencies, and civic organizations on the dangers of methamphetamine. These funds are vital to eliminating the threat of illegal drugs in Kentucky's First Congressional District. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Paducah Address of Requesting Entity: 300 South 5th Street, Paducah, KY Description of Request: This money ($143,000) will be used for rehabilitation of the current flood control system involving repair and replacement of pumping station equipment, corrugated pipes, concrete, and other appurtenant features. This is considered a levee safety issue in this City and is in dire need of repair. The entity receiving the money is the City of Paducah in Kentucky. The total amount will be used in FY 2009. The City has already committed $2 million to the project. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nashville Army Corps of Engineers Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 1070 Nashville, TN 37202-1070 Description of Request: The Kentucky Lock and Dam Addition project consists of constructing a completely new lock and dam structure and was authorized in the 1996 Water Resources Development Act. The amount appropriated ($22,300,000) will be specifically spent on the superstructure to facilitate traffic over the Tennessee River. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nashville Army Corps of Engineers Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 1070 Nashville, TN 37202-1070 Description of Request: The Wolf Creek Dam Rehabilitation project is to rehabilitate the Dam that is failing on the Cumberland River. This project was one of six dams across the nation that was identified by the Army Corps of Engineers that is in dire need of rehabilitation. The earmark ($54,554,000) will be used to further the rehabilitation. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Louisville Army Corps of Engineers Address of Requesting Entity: 600 Martin Luther King Place Louisville, Kentucky 40202 Description of Request: The project consists of twin 110 foot wide by 1200 foot long dock chambers, five tainter gates and boat operated wicket navigable pass that can be raised or lowered for navigation purposes. This project was authorized in the 1989 Water Resources Development Act and the funding in the bill was for FY 2009 is $109,194,000. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Department of Energy Address of Requesting Entity: Washington, D.C. Description of Request: The funds ($116,446,000) will be used to accelerate the removal of over 50 years of legacy waste and contamination stemming from the production of enriched uranium. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Other Defense Activities--Health, Safety, and Security Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Department of Energy Address of Requesting Entity: Former Worker Screening Programs in the Office of Health, Safety, and Security located in Washington, D.C. Description of Request: The Department of Energy will receive this money ($999,075) and it will be used to assess the health of former DOE workers in order to detect selected occupational illnesses at an early stage. The total amount of the money will be used by DOE to ensure the welfare of employees at the plant. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Higher Education (includes FIPSE) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC) Address of Requesting Entity: 715 North Drive in Hopkinsville, KY 42241 Description of Request: The entity receiving this money ($95,000) is Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC) located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The funds will be used to upgrade and expand research technology and allow for acquisition of equipment and supplies to facilitate teaching capacity at the BVC. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Museums & Library Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Livingston County Library Board Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 70, Smithland, KY 42081 Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($190,000) is the Livingston County Library Board. The funds will be used to purchase books, equipment, and update technology at a new library center. Funding to construct or purchase the facility will be provided by government at the local or state level. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: TCSP--Transportation & Community & System Preservation Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Address of Requesting Entity: 200 Metro Street in Frankfort, Kentucky 40622 Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($2,280,000) is the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in Frankfort, Kentucky, but the money will be used between Hopkinsville, Kentucky and the Interstate 24 connection near the Kentucky/Tennessee border. The Pennyrile Parkway Extension project will provide a critical missing link in the highway system of Western Kentucky. By connecting the Pennyrile Parkway, a National Highway System route, with Interstate 24 near Fort Campbell, both routine regional travel and special national defense deployment needs can be better accommodated. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Adair County, Kentucky Address of Requesting Entity: 424 Public Square in Columbia, Kentucky 42728 Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($166,250) is Adair County, Kentucky. The funds will be used to establish a City of Columbia/Adair County Community Senior Wellness Center to serve the needs of the elderly community to further enhance the quality of life in the rural community at the Senior Center. The center will serve as a facility to enable seniors to facilitate health and educational services in the community. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Metcalfe County, Kentucky Address of Requesting Entity: 100 East Stockton Street in Edmonton, Kentucky Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($95,000) is Metcalfe County. The funds will be used to expand the current facility to meet the increasing needs of the community by relocating to a larger building already owned by the County to accommodate the needs of a successful operation already in place. In preparing for those needs, the day care center applied for a license to operate as a medical model day care center facility and recently received that license. Currently, the day care center is only able to serve 6 to 7 clients per day, but direly needs to expand. These funds will allow that expansion for the community to serve medical, educational, and day care services needs. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Casey County, Kentucky Address of Requesting Entity: 768 South Wallace Wilkinson Blvd in Liberty, Kentucky Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($190,000) is Casey County, Kentucky. The funds will be used to finish the parking area and lighting at the Casey County Agriculture Exposition Center. These funds will complete the project that received funding in 2004. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Buses and Bus Facilities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Murray-Calloway Transit Authority Address of Requesting Entity: 607 Poplar Street Suite B in Murray, KY 42071 Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($1,496,250) is the Murray Calloway Transit Authority in Murray, Kentucky. The funds will be used to design a Route System Project to be a more convenient service for many transit-dependent riders, which will allow for more flexibility for transit services. This project has been nationally recognized. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus Account: Buses and Bus Facilities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Fulton County Transit Authority Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Eastwood Dr in Fulton, KY 42041 Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($237,500) is the Fulton County Transit Authority located in Fulton, Kentucky. The funds will be used for radios and Wheelchair Vans, Mini Vans, Sedans, and passenger vans, as well as GPS units for their vehicles. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, Chairman Oberstar has been a great leader in the transportation issues of our country, and certainly one of the leaders in rail transportation policy, but I would just like to say on this bill that one of the goals of the rail transportation policy of the United States is to ensure the development of a sound rail system to meet the needs of shippers and the consuming public. I am genuinely concerned that H.R. 6707 may actually have an adverse impact on our rail system, particularly as it relates to rural communities. In rural areas of our country, at one time we had strong railroad service which contributed a great deal to the economic development in rural America. I am very much concerned that this legislation, while it has every good intention of protecting local communities, will actually be a chill to continued rail service in a lot of small communities. The Rail Transportation Safety Board already is required to look, on rail mergers and acquisitions, to look at the public interest standard and must evaluate that. I am just concerned that this additional requirement will really be a chilling effect and will adversely impact rail service in rural America which will have an adverse impact on all of us, particularly at this time when energy prices, being as high as they are, we know that we can transport goods by rail cheaper which makes us more competitive in the global marketplace. For that reason, I would respectfully oppose this legislation.

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky. We certainly appreciate that clarification and look forward to the passage of this bill.

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky. Yes, sir.

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky. I thank the gentleman very much, and I just wanted to express once again, the pleasure of working with the chairman on this. We appreciate your great leadership. Once again, I want to thank the staffs on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky. Thank you very much, Chairman Rush. To be clear, it is also my understanding that, obviously, to protect consumers, a retailer could be enjoined by the FTC, or State authorities, and required to stop selling fraudulent cards, which they should be required to stop, whether or not they knew the cards were fraudulent. Such retailer would not, however, it's my understanding, and I think you pointed this out, they would not be subject to civil penalties or damages unless they knew the cards were unlawful; is that correct?

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky. I certainly want to thank Chairman Rush and the Democratic staff and the Republican staff for working so diligently to pass not only the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act, but also the Travel Promotion Act. I certainly want to congratulate Mr. Engel for bringing this matter before the House. It certainly is an important issue, and we are all delighted that this bill is moving forward. Madam Speaker, I simply wanted to have a colloquy, if I could, with Chairman Rush about a couple of issues relating to this bill, and simply wanted to confirm with Mr. Rush the intent of certain provisions as they relate to small retailers that are selling these prepaid calling cards. I guess my question, Chairman Rush, is that if a retailer sells a card but is unaware that the calling card does not make all of the disclosures required by the act, will the retail merchant be subject to monetary penalties under sections 4 or 5 of the bill?

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky

Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I submit the following: Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Training Devices, Nonsystem account under the Department of Defense. Funds in this earmark will be used to provide enhancements to allow ARNG units training at those sites to conduct realistic, effective training similar in quality to that found at the CTCs by integrating new soldier, vehicle, weapon simulation, and battlefield effects instrumentation developed specifically for the battalion-level XCTC initiative. When fielded, this system will enable company-sized units training at those installations to reduce the time required for post- mobilization training and thereby assist in meeting the DoD policy limiting unit mobilizations to a period of 1 year. The entity to receive funding for this project is Army National Guard, located at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, KY. The total cost is $800,000. Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Predisaster Mitigation account under the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Funds in this earmark will be used to establish emergency operations and allow for the county to better prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies. The Crittenden County Fiscal Court will be receiving the funding for this project, and the project will be located on Industrial Drive in Marion, KY. The total cost of the funds--$750,000--will be used to establish the facility, and the land has been donated. Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Procurement, Army account under the Department of Defense. Funds in this earmark will be used for a one-man portable expedient wall breaching kit capable of defeating 8" triple brick masonry or double reinforced concrete structural walls in Military Operations Urban Terrain (MOUT) missions. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company, located at P.O. Box 219, State Route 175, Graham, KY 42344, will be receiving these funds. The total cost is $3,200,000. Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Army Medical Technology account under the Department of Defense. Funds in this earmark will be used to evaluate improvements to indoor air quality (IAQ) obtained through the use of antifungal copper and copper alloys in military HVAC systems. IAQ is vital for the protection of United States Armed Forces, particularly those serving in enclosed weapons systems such as tanks and submarines, transport equipment, and buildings in both domestic and deployed locations. The entity to receive funding for this project is Luvata Franklin, located at 4720 Bowling Green Road, Franklin, KY 42134. The total cost is $2,000,000. Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Army account under Military Construction. Funds in this earmark will be used to construct a 200-capacity center for children ages 6-10 providing before and after school care during the duty day, summer, school-out days, and holidays. This facility supports readiness by reducing lost duty time due to conflict between parent responsibilities and unit mission requirements. The entity to receive funding for this project is Ft. Campbell, KY. The total cost is $10,000,000. Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Army account under Military Construction. Funds in this earmark will be used to construct a 1,200-seat chapel/family life center which includes a worship center, activity/fellowship center, chaplain family life and pastoral care center, resource center, multimedia center, religious education classrooms, kitchen, storage areas, restrooms, and circulation area. The entity to receive funding for this project is Ft. Campbell, KY. The total cost is $630,000.