Greg Walden

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, consistent with the House Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, to the best of my knowledge the requests I have detailed below are (1) not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; and (2) not intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark. As required by earmark standards adopted by the House Republican Conference, I submit the following information on projects I requested and that were included in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 2997). Account: Agriculture Research Service--Salaries and expenses Project Name: Northwest Center for Small Fruits, Corvallis, OR Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research, 4845 B SW Dresden Ave., Corvallis, OR 97333 Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 2997 appropriates $254,000 for the Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research conducted by USDA's Agriculture Research Service (ARS). According to the requesting entity, the appropriated funds for this project will be used by ARS to fund cooperative research, extension, and education activities on peer- reviewed small fruits research project proposals that will enhance profitability and sustainability of the small fruits industry in the Pacific Northwest. Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture--SRG Project Name: Multi-commodity Research, OR Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 2997 appropriates $244,000 for the Multi-commodity Research, OR program to be conducted by Oregon State University. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to enhance competitiveness and expand the economic value-added component in Oregon agriculture products through research and outreach in food processing, product development, business strategy, marketing, and consumer testing. Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture--SRG Project Name: Potato Research, ID, OR, WA Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 2997 appropriates $1,037,000 for the Potato Research, ID, OR, WA program to be conducted in part by Oregon State University. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to develop and commercialize new potato varieties that will directly benefit all segments of the Northwest potato industry and indirectly benefit all U.S. potato producing regions. Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture--SRG Project Name: Regional Barley Gene Mapping Project, OR Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 2997 appropriates $471,000 for the Regional Barley Gene Mapping Project, OR program to be conducted by Oregon State University. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to stimulate economic activity in the agriculture sector and to improve human health and welfare by using the tools of genomics to develop improved barley varieties, which will be more tolerant of stresses caused by plant diseases, insects, and climate change. Furthermore, enhanced tolerance will lead to greater productivity with fewer chemicals and fertilizer inputs. The project will also help develop varieties that will provide needed crop diversity for eastern Oregon wheat farmers. Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture--SRG Project Name: Small Fruit Research, ID, OR, WA Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 2997 appropriates $307,000 for the Small Fruit Research, ID, OR, WA program to be conducted in part by Oregon State University. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to fund cooperative and competitive research grants, and education activities to enhance the profitability and sustainability of the small fruits industry in the Pacific Northwest. Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture--SRG Project Name: STEEP IV--Water Quality in Northwest Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 2997 appropriates $444,000 for the STEEP IV--Water Quality in Northwest program to be conducted in part by Oregon State University. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to establish a network of agriculture research sites from which to address long term agriculture, environmental, and agroecosystem problems. According to the requesting entity, to date, the STEEP research grant has provided funds to develop cropping techniques such as direct-seeding, residue management, weed control, and accompanying extension programs to facilitate the adoption of successful conservation farming for the Pacific Northwest.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw my colleagues' attention to the historic June 30, 2009, centennial of Oregon State University's Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, located in the corner of northeast Oregon near the mighty Columbia River. Few areas in the world can match the quantity or quality of crop production of the Columbia Basin region that straddles the Oregon- Washington border. This center has been in the middle of it all for 100 years, helping farmers, ranchers, and researchers find ways to better grow and steward crops ranging from dry land wheat to watermelons; from sugar beets to wine grapes; from beef cattle to dairy cows. Established in 1909, the ``Umatilla Experiment Farm'' initially served farmers trying to make a living on 20,000 acres of semi-arid northern Oregon desert as part of a federal government reclamation program. By the 1930s, farming expanded to well over 160,000 acres and the demand for the center's research reached levels far surpassing its initial 40 acres. The center moved and expanded to its current 300-acre location to better serve the region's agricultural communities. Today, the work done at this center serves well over 500,000 acres of irrigated and non-irrigated crop land. The West is dominated by nutrient-deprived, semi-desert soils. The Columbia Basin is no different. So at the beginning, the center set upon helping farmers and ranchers overcome the fundamental challenges posed by an annual rainfall rate of eight inches. Researchers determined which types of organic matter, when put into the soil, would produce the best crops. They worked with farmers, ranchers, and communities to identify more efficient water use, based on soil type, topography, and micro-climate. Madam Speaker, it is summertime, and if you enjoy a refreshing slice of watermelon this time of year, chances are you have the great work at this center to thank for it. The Columbia Basin is renowned for its delicious watermelons, and the center's researchers helped increase their production from 30-tons per acre under center-pivot irrigation to 70-tons per acre with drip irrigation and weed control. In the process, they made more efficient use of the water and decreased the amount of herbicide needed during production of the watermelon crop. The center's researchers are in the middle of the battle against crop disease. Tuber worm has emerged as a threat to root crops in recent years. Late blight, the same fungus that caused the great potato famine, has resurfaced. Researchers are on the cutting of edge of identifying new methods to fight diseases that cost producers thousands of dollars each year to control. And if all that work were not enough, researchers at the center are helping improve the quality of the country's food supply. This is one of the only centers of its kind in America with a molecular biologist working to increase the nutritional quality of our food. The center's research is so valuable to the region that the many producers who benefit from its research return their thanks generously, donating over $1 million to the center in the past two decades. Growers also funded the building of two large insect houses at $40,000 each that facilitate research on which pests carry crop damaging diseases. Today's challenges require innovative thinking and solutions. New crop varieties developed at the center help overcome the present challenges facing old crops. Many of the solutions that producers and individuals in the region see as major milestones are all in a day's work for the researchers of the center. As described by the station superintendent, Philip Hamm, ``Our staff are just doing their job, and looking for the next challenge.'' Madam Speaker, this center has played a vital role in helping farmers, ranchers and agricultural communities thrive on the sandy soils that have presented many challenges over the past 100 years. Today, the region served by the center is one of the most important agriculture production areas in the Northwest and produces some of the highest yielding, highest quality crops in the United States. I congratulate Oregon State University's Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center leadership, its board members, area farmers and ranchers, and the community on reaching this remarkable milestone. I am confident the center's next 100 years will be as successful as 1909-2009 has been.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. I want to talk about a couple of things here involving this bill: process, cost, and language. This is the 309 pages that were printed at 1:34 in the morning and submitted to the Rules Committee sometime around 2:49 this morning. Nobody--it's impossible--I can't imagine anybody's read this. I've just discovered they change the hydro language so that--it used to say before 1992 it counted, now they have gone back 4 years. Somewhere in the middle of the night we have added 4 years of hydro as renewable. It's page after page after page of technical changes that have major, major impact. There were nine committees this bill was referred to, and yet only one of them was allowed to have a markup on the bill, the Energy and Commerce Committee. The other eight waived. So a lot of this got put together in the dark of night, backroom deals, whatever you want to say, private conversations; but no committees held a hearing on this new bill, 309 pages, amending the 1,201 that are sitting there on the desk. Costs. Look at fuel costs: $811 more for Oregonians in 2012. If you're a PacifiCorp customer in Oregon, you can expect in 2012 to pay 17.7 percent higher electricity costs. They have run the numbers according to the bill. You want to talk about a massive new welfare program for energy? It's in here too. In fact, this energy tax refund, in effect, this proposed energy stamp bill, 16 times the current U.S. welfare program, the TANF program. Sixteen times. It's a whole new welfare program for energy. If energy costs aren't going up on the rest of us, why do they have to have this? Because it does drive up energy costs. That's going to hurt small businesspeople. It's going to hurt families. It's going to cost jobs. And we don't know for sure what else it does because I can't imagine anybody on this floor has read every word of this bill that was filed at 2:49 a.m. in the Rules Committee and been able to juxtapose what's here against the 1,201 pages. I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, consistent with the House Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, to the best of my knowledge the requests I have detailed below are (1) not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; and (2) not intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark. As required by earmark standards adopted by the House Republican Conference, I submit the following information on projects I requested and were included in H.R. 2647--The National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2010. Account: Navy; Research, Development, Test & Evaluation; Line 3, Defense Research Sciences; PE #0601153N Project Name: ONAMI Nanoelectronics, Nanometrology and Nanobiotechnology (N3I) Initiative Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Portland State University; Oregon State University; University of Oregon; Oregon Nanosciences and Microtechnologies Institute Portland State University Portland, OR 97207 Project Location: Portland, OR; Corvallis, OR; Eugene, OR; Corvallis, OR Description of Project: H.R. 2647 appropriates $2,000,000 for the ONAMI Nanoelectronics, Nanometrology and Nanobiotechnology (N3I) Initiative. According to the requesting entity, this project would support collaborative research to generate new applications such as nanoelectronic devices to address the end of Moore's Law scaling, advanced solar cells, nanoscale chemical imaging for catalysis improvements in areas such as bioremediation and ethanol production, nanoscale biosensors for point-of-care health management, and biological cell imaging and measurement capabilities. Account: Defense-wide (DOD); Research, Development, Test & Evaluation; Line 238, Industrial Preparedness; PE # 0708011 S Project Name: Northwest Manufacturing Initiative Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Manufacturing 21 Coalition 1100 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1425 Portland, OR 97204 Project Location: Portland, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 2647 appropriates $1,200,000 for the Northwest Manufacturing Initiative. According to the requesting entity, funds for this project would improve the performance of manufacturing companies and the products they create as part of the defense logistics pipeline.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, consistent with the House Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, to the best of my knowledge the request I have detailed below is (1) not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; and (2) not intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark. As required by earmark standards adopted by the House Republican Conference, I submit the following information on a project I requested and was included in H.R. 2996--the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Account: National Park Service--Construction Project Name: Crater Lake Visitor Education Center, Crater Lake National Park, Crater Lake, OR Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Crater Lake National Park Trust, PO Box 62, Crater Lake, OR 97604 Project Location: Crater Lake, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 2996 appropriates $350,000 for the Crater Lake Visitor Education Center project. According to the requesting entity, this funding will be used by Crater Lake National Park for construction and renovation of the Crater Lake Visitor Education Center. Crater Lake National Park was created by President Theodore Roosevelt and is the sixth oldest National Park in America. Furthermore, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in America and holds the purest water in the world. This is a beneficial use of taxpayer funding because the Crater Lake Visitor Center will provide valuable educational opportunities for over 2,000 grade school students and around 500,000 other visitors who visit Crater Lake from throughout the United States and the World each year.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, consistent with the House Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, to the best of my knowledge the requests I have detailed below are: (1) not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; and (2) not intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark. As required by earmark standards adopted by the House Republican Conference, I submit the following information on projects I requested and was included in H.R. 2847--the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010. Account: Department of Commerce, NOAA-ORF. Project Name: Disease Reduction in Klamath River Salmon. Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, 16 Memorial Union, Corvallis, OR 97331. Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon and in the Klamath River Basin. Description of Project: H.R. 2847 appropriates $600,000 for the Disease Reduction in Klamath River Salmon project. According to the requesting entity, this is a collaborative research plan involving Oregon State University, Humboldt State University, University of California--Davis, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Klamath River tribal agencies that will research management actions to reduce disease in natural juvenile salmon in the Klamath River of Oregon and California. Account: Department of Justice, COPS Tech. Project Name: Mobile Video Equipment. Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Umatilla County Sheriff, 4700 NW Pioneer Place, Pendleton, OR 97801. Project Location: Pendleton, Oregon and Umatilla County. Description of Project: H.R. 2847 appropriates $130,000 for the Umatilla County Sheriffs Office Mobile Video Equipment project. According to the requesting entity, this funding will be used to outfit up to 9 vehicles with video/audio recording systems; one archive server located in Pendleton, Oregon and a server at each satellite office in Hermiston and Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Account: Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs--Byrne. Project Name: Rx for Saving Oregon Teens. Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon Partnership, 6443 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy., Suite 200, Portland, OR 97221. Project Location: Portland, Oregon. Description of Project: H.R. 2847 appropriates $470,000 for the Rx for Saving Oregon Teens project. According to the requesting entity, this funding will be used to implement a statewide public education campaign addressing prescription drug abuse in Oregon.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, consistent with the House Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, to the best of my knowledge the requests I have detailed below (1) are not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; and (2) are not intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark. As required by earmark standards adopted by the House Republican Conference, I submit the following information on projects I requested and were included in H.R. 1105, The Omnibus Appropriations Act, FY 2009. Account: USDA--Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service Project Title: Grass Seed Cropping Systems for Sustainable Agriculture (OR, ID, WA) Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 138 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97731 Project Location: Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $313,000 for the Grass Seed Cropping Systems for Sustainable Agriculture project in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used cooperatively between research and extension faculty from the three states, scientists from the USDA's National Forage Seed Production Research Center, and USDA's Agriculture Research Service to maintain a sustainable grass seed cropping industry in the Pacific Northwest at a time when the grass seed industry faces some critical environmental and economic challenges including public pressure to phase out open-field burning. Account: USDA--Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service Project Title: Northwest Multi-commodity Marketing Special Research Grant Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 138 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97731 Project Location: Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $244,000 for a special research grant program that enhances competitiveness and expands the economic value-added component in Oregon agricultural products through research and outreach in food processing, product development, business strategy, marketing, and consumer testing. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to conduct research to support food processing and food product development, investigate consumer perceptions of product quality and value, and evaluate marketing and food industry strategies. Account: USDA--Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service Project Title: Organic Cropping Research for the Northwest Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 138 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97731 Project Location: Oregon and Washington Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $140,000 to Organic Cropping Research for the Northwest. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be help expand the research, education, and extension activities at Oregon State University with a primary focus on the development and implementation of sustainable organic farming systems for higher rainfall locations in the Cascadia bioregion in the states of Oregon and Washington. Oregon's organic agriculture industry will benefit from research directed at problems facing organic commodities and, ultimately, enhance competitiveness of Oregon's organic agriculture products. In Oregon, 357 certified organic farms generate more than $52.1 million in organic products from approximately 59,200 certified acres. Oregon's strong agricultural infrastructure and unique climate make Oregon's agriculture uniquely positioned to grow dramatically in its market share of organic dairy and meat, tree fruits, specialty seed, berry crops, and processed and fresh market vegetables. Account: USDA--Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service Project Title: Potato Research (OR, ID, WA, and other states) Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 138 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97731 Project Location: Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and other states Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $1,037,000 for a research program which is operated jointly by an entity known as Tri- State, which includes: USDA-ARS, Washington State University, Oregon State University, and the University of Idaho. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be split equally between the four Tri-State partners and used for research and development of new potato varieties. The Tri-State program is considered to be one of the most elite variety development programs in the world. Account: USDA--Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service Project Title: Regional Barley Genome Mapping (many states) Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 138 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97731 Project Location: Many states Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $471,000 to continue funding the United States Barley Genome Project (USBGP). Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to continue the project's long-term goal of enhancing the profitability and sustainability of U.S. agriculture by achieving a complete understanding of the gene networks that determine economically important traits in barley. The rationale behind understanding gene networks is that knowledge regarding the number, location, sequence, expression, regulation, and interaction of genes will allow plant breeders to more efficiently develop barley varieties. Account: USDA--Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service Project Title: Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 138 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97731 Project Location: Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $307,000 for the Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to fund extension, education, and cooperative research activities on peer reviewed small fruits research project proposals that will enhance profitability and sustainability of the small fruits industry in the Pacific Northwest. This funding supports critical aspects of the center not supported by USDAARS funds. Account: USDA--Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service Project Title: Solutions to Environmental and Economic Problems (STEEP) (OR, ID, WA) Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 138 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97731 Project Location: Oregon, Idaho, and Washington Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $444,000 for Solutions to Environmental and Economic Problems (STEEP). Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used for this program which provides a base for an agricultural research and extension education partnership to address production and environmental issues in cereal cropping systems throughout the Pacific Northwest. The partnership with producers, industry, USDA-ARS, NRCS, conservation districts, and university research and extension personnel enhances programs on: conservation of soil quality; evaluation of reduced pesticide use and other alternatives for crop protection; management options that substitute for residue requirements in farm plans; and on-farm testing. General program objectives are: determining impact of farming practices on soil, water, and air quality; improving profitability of conservation farming systems; facilitating production of biofuels, increasing carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gases; developing crop varieties better suited to planting in conservation farming systems; identifying alternative crops for conservation farming systems in the PNW; increasing the no-till acreage in the PNW; and accelerating adoption of profitable conservation farming systems. Account: Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Operations, Research and Facilities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, Attn: Larry Curtis, Associate Dean, 138 Strand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon Rep. Walden Statement for the Congressional Record H.R. 1105, April 2, 2009--Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $640,000 to research management actions to reduce disease (ceratomyxosis) in juvenile salmon in the Klamath River. Research will be conducted through controlled laboratory and field experiments. OSU has stated that all of the appropriated funds will go toward project coordination, laboratory and field studies, field assistance, and website development for information dissemination. Account: Department of Justice; COPS; Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Medford, Oregon Address of Requesting Entity: City of Medford, Attn: Bill Hoke, Dpty. City Manager 411 West 8th Street, Medford, Oregon Project Location: Medford, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $700,000 for the Jackson County, Oregon Consolidated 911 Dispatch Center. The project will consolidated Jackson County, Oregon's two existing 911/emergency dispatch centers into one facility which will improve coordination and interoperability among emergency response agencies, improve call processing times and decrease response times. The City of Medford has stated that the appropriated funds will go toward the purchase of dispatch consoles, computer equipment and software, costs associated with connectivity of current communications tower and new facility. Account: Department of Justice; Office of Justice Programs; Byrne Discretionary Grants. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oregon Health and Science University Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239 Project Location: Portland, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $200,000 to the Multidisciplinary Institute for Neuropsychiatric Diagnosis to develop evidence-based medical diagnosis and treatment for psychiatric disorders that may be triggered by use of methamphetamine. OHSU has stated that all of the appropriated funds will go toward salary for MD and PhD scientists, research equipment and the salary for a clinical coordinator. Account: Department of Justice; OJP; Byrne Discretionary Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oregon Health and Sciences University Address of Requesting Entity: Wasco County, Oregon, Attn: Steve Conover, Wasco Co Sheriffs Dpt. 511 Washington, Ste 102, The Dalles, Oregon Project Location: Portland, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $300,000 for the Wasco County, Oregon Interoperability 911 Center. The project will relocate the County's Emergency Operations Center and equip it with hardware that will provide additional data capacity and communications equipment that meets interoperability requirements of local, state and federal agencies. Wasco County, Oregon has stated that the appropriated funds will go toward relocation costs and the purchase of emergency communications equipment. Account: EPA--STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project Project Name: Milton-Freewater Stormwater Treatment Plant Construction Project Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Umatilla County, Oregon Attn: Hulette M. Johnson, 216 SE 4th Street, Pendleton, OR 97801 Project Location: The City of Milton-Freewater, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $300,000 for the Milton-Freewater for Stormwater Treatment Plant Construction Project to be located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Umatilla County has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used by the City of Milton-Freewater to assist in development of storm water treatment system which will result in increased clean drinking water for the local community. Funds provided will enable the community to construct a holding pond to catch silt-laden storm and winter water run off which currently clogs the drainage system and deposits silt into drinking water wells. Account: US Forest Service--Land Acquisition Project Name: Columbia River Gorge Land Acquisition Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Columbia River Gorge Commission, Attn: Jill Arens, Executive Director, 1 Town & Country Square, 57 NE Wauna Avenue, White Salmon, WA 98672 Project Location: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $2 million for Columbia River Gorge Land Acquisitions in Oregon and Washington. The Columbia River Gorge Commission has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to purchase those remaining parcels of land with signed options that were offered by landowners by March of 2004 under Section 8(o) of the National Scenic Area Act but never acquired by the USFS. The purchase of these remaining properties would finally fulfill the federal government's commitment to these individuals. Account: Corps of Engineers Construction Project Name: Columbia River Channel Improvements, OR and WA Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Columbia River Channel Coalition, Attn: Dave Hunt, Executive Director, PO Box 903, Clackamas, OR 97015 Project Location: Columbia River in Oregon and Washington Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $34.451 million for the Columbia River Channel Improvements, OR and WA. The Columbia River Channel Coalition has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project, which were also included in the President's FY 2009 budget, will be used by the Corps to complete all of the dredging and environmental features of the Columbia River deep- draft navigation channel to a new depth of 43-feet. The channel deepening is economically vital to the Nation and to the Pacific Northwest because each year, $16 billion in exports and imports are transported via the Columbia River. Account: Corps of Engineers--Construction Project Name: Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Sites, OR and WA Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, PO Box 638, Pendleton, OR 97801 Project Location: Celilo Village in Oregon and other sites along the Columbia River, OR and WA Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $5.125 million for the Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Sites, OR and WA. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to complete the Celilo Village Redevelopment Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Site construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The President's FY 2009 budget also included funds to complete this project. This site is likely the single most prominent Native American site along the Lewis and Clark Trail, and the present day Village denotes an important and significant way-point for Lewis and Clark among the large Native American fishing and trading community at Celilo on the banks of the Columbia River. Account: Department of Energy--EERE Project Name: Columbia Gorge Community College Wind Energy Workforce Training Nacelle Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Columbia Gorge Community College Attn: Dan Spatz, Chief of Institutional Advancement, 400 East Scenic Drive, The Dalles, OR 97058 Project Location: The City of The Dalles, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $237,875 for the Columbia Gorge Community College Wind Energy Workforce Training Nacelle. Columbia Gorge Community College has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to acquire and place a wind turbine nacelle on its campus to provide hands-on, real-world training to complement the classroom and shop training currently offered by the community college. In 2007, Columbia Gorge Community College established the first program of its kind on the West Coast for wind turbine technician training. Account: Department of Energy--EERE Project Name: Geothermal Power Generation Plant (OR) Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon Institute of Technology, Attn: John Lund, Director of the Geo-Heat Center 3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 Project Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $1,522,400 for the Geothermal Power Generation Plant at Oregon Institute of Technology. Oregon Institute of Technology has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to help construct a high-temperature geothermal power plant on the Oregon Institute of Technology campus. The plant would provide 100% of the electricity demand on campus and would be the first geothermal power plant in Oregon. Account: Department of Energy--EERE Project Name: Wave Energy Research and Demonstration Center (OR) Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon State University, Attn: Annette von Jouanne, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 3027 Kelley Engineering Center, Corvallis, OR 97331 Project Location: Corvallis, Oregon and near the City of Newport, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $2,331,180 for the Wave Energy Research and Demonstration Center to be co-located in Corvallis, Oregon at Oregon State University and near the City of Newport, Oregon. Oregon State University has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to establish the National Wave Energy Center, which will provide an in- water infrastructure of up to five test berths approximately two miles offshore that will be available to industry and public entities to test wave energy generation devices. Research will emphasize developing high quality wave energy generation systems that are efficient, durable in hazardous ocean conditions, reliable and easily maintained. Account: Corps of Engineers--Investigations Project Name: Walla Walla River Watershed OR and WA Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Attn: Rick George, Manager, PO Box 638, Pendleton, OR 97801 Project Location: Walla Walla River Watershed located in Oregon and Washington Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $295,000 for the Walla Walla River Watershed Investigations in Oregon and Washington. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to initiate the Preconstruction Engineering and Design phase of the Walla Walla River Basin project based on the findings and recommendations of a Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement. Account: Bureau of Reclamation--Water and Related Resources Project Name: Burnt, Malheur, Owyhee, and Powder River Basin Water Opt. Feas. Study Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Powder Basin Water and Stream Health Committee, Attn: Peggy S. Browne--Coordinator, 1995 3rd Street, Baker City, OR 97814 Project Location: Baker and Union Counties, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $145,000 for the Burnt, Malheur, Owyhee, and Powder River Basin Water Optimization and Feasibility Study. Powder Basin Water and Stream Health Committee has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be spent on a feasibility study for the project to address the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental criteria of specific water storage sites in the Powder Basin. Funding authorization for this project ``appropriated such sums as are necessary'' in the Burnt, Malheur, Owyhee, and Powder River Basin Water Optimization Feasibility Study Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-237). The project will ultimately benefit fish and aquatic ecosystems, wildlife and terrestrial ecosystems, agriculture, energy and municipalities in the Powder River Basin. Account: Bureau of Reclamation--Water and Related Resources Project Name: Deschutes Project (Water conservation) Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Deschutes Basin Board of Control, Attn: Steve Johnson, Chairman, 1055 SW Lake Court, Redmond, OR 97756 Project Location: Deschutes Basin, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $350,000 for Water Conservation in the Deschutes Project. Deschutes Basin Board of Control has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used by the Deschutes Basin Board of Control, which consists of the seven primary irrigation districts in Central Oregon, to pursue water conservation, piping, lining and efficiency projects that will improve irrigation efficiencies, and result in increased in-stream flows benefiting federally listed steelhead and bull trout in the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers and their tributaries. Account: Bureau of Reclamation--Water and Related Resources Project Name: Savage Rapids Dam Removal Legal Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Grants Pass Irrigation District, Attn: Dan Shepard, Manager, 200 Fruitdale Drive, Grants Pass, OR 97527 Project Location: Savage Rapids Dam on the Rogue River in Oregon. Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $3 million to the Bureau of Reclamation for the Savage Rapids Dam Removal project. Grants Pass Irrigation District has confirmed in their justification that the appropriated funds for this project will be used to finalize construction of the Savage Rapids Pumping Plant located in the Rogue River Basin in Oregon, authorized by P.L. 108-137. Account: Small Business Administration Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Oregon Address of Requesting Entity: University of Oregon, 203 Johnson Hall, Eugene, OR 97403 Description of Project: The University of Oregon confirms that this funding will be used for the University of Oregon Integrative Science Complex Phase II. This funding will be used for systems (e.g. oversize freight elevator, crane system, and/or connections to adjacent buildings) to ensure delivery of major scientific equipment to all levels of the building. In order to carry out the previously stated objectives, the University of Oregon has provided the following budget and funding breakdown for the $100,000 provided for the project in H.R. 1105: to build a permanent crane system to move high tech instrumentation between laboratories (budget is based on a crane system serving five levels)--$45,000 for a crane and hoist, $40,000 for gates/ landings on 4 levels, and $15,000 for design, permits, etc. Account: Interstate Maintenance Discretionary Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oregon Department of Transportation Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon Department of Transportation, 355 Capitol Street NE, Room 135, Salem, OR 97301 Description of Project: The Oregon Department of Transportation confirms that it will use this funding to provide a separate lane for trucks to climb the Three Mile Hill section of I-84 near the City of Ontario in Malheur County, Oregon. In order to carry out the previously stated objective, the Oregon Department of Transportation has provided the following budget and funding breakdown for the $475,000 provided for the project in H.R. 1105: the $475,000 will supplement the funding currently dedicated to the project and complete the funding necessary to build the truck lane. Account: Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Deschutes County, Oregon Address of Requesting Entity: Deschutes County, Oregon, 61150 SE 27th Street, Bend, Oregon 97702 Description of Project: Deschutes County, Oregon confirms that it will use this funding for the 19th Street Extension from Redmond to Deschutes Junction. This funding will be used to construct six miles of new road to provide improved access to the Redmond Airport, Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center, and the rapidly growing southeast side of Redmond. In order to carry out the previously stated objectives, Deschutes County has provided the following budget and funding breakdown for the $570,000 provided for the project in H.R. 1105: $570,000 for preliminary engineering and possibly right of way acquisition. Account: Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oregon Department of Transportation Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon Department of Transportation, 355 Capitol Street NE, Room 135, Salem, OR 97301 Description of Project: The Oregon Department of Transportation confirms that it will use this funding for Highway 140 Freight Improvements. This will realign the intersection of Kirtland and Blackwell roads in Jackson County, Oregon so through traffic does not have to stop. In order to carry out the previously stated objectives, the Oregon Department of Transportation has provided the following budget and funding breakdown for the $95,000 provided for the project in H.R. 1105: $95,000 to complete the funding necessary to build the realignment. Account: Economic Development Initiatives Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Hermiston, Oregon Address of Requesting Entity: Attn: Mayor Robert E. Severson, City of Hermiston 180 NE 2nd Street, Hermiston, Oregon 97838 Description of Project: The City of Hermiston confirms that it will use this funding for the Northeastern Oregon Business and Economic Growth Project's Eastern Oregon Regional University Center in Hermiston, Oregon, to construct a learning center to accommodate 500 students and provide them courses in business, technology, science, nursing, and other allied health professions, education, and the liberal arts taught by faculty from Eastern Oregon University and Blue Mountain Community College. In order to carry out the previously stated objectives, the City of Hermiston has provided the following budget and funding breakdown for the $142,500 provided for the project in H.R. 1105: $142,500 will go towards construction of the learning center. Account: Department of Education; Higher Education Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oregon Institute of Technology Address of Requesting Entity: Oregon Institute of Technology, Attn: Michael Kirshner, Center for Health Professions, 3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 Project Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $285,000 for the OIT Center for Health Professions Health Informatics Simulation Lab to purchase software and equipment to administer real-life training for clinical information management, electronic medical records storage/ maintenance/use, picture archiving communication systems and laboratory information systems. Students will receive hands-on experience with sophisticated technology for careers in health professions. OIT has stated that all of the appropriated funds will go toward equipment purchase. Account: Department of Education; Higher Education Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Portland State University Address of Requesting Entity: Portland State University, Attn: Dr. Lindsay Desrochers, VP of Finance and Administration, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97201 Project Location: Portland, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $333,000 for the establishment of the PSU Science Research and Teaching Center that will focus on ways to improve science education at the university and K-12 level and will be a site for continuing education programs for K-12 science teachers. PSU has stated that all of the appropriated funds will go toward lab and research equipment purchase. Account: Department of Health and Human Services; Administration on Children and Families; Social Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Deschutes County, Oregon Address of Requesting Entity: Deschutes County, Oregon, Attn: Hilary Saraceno, Director, Commission on Children and Families 1300 NW Wall St, Suite, 200, Bend, OR 97701 Project Location: Bend, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $238,000 to expand the reach of the Family Access Network to connect 4,250 additional children and their family members with support services including counseling, clothing and food assistance, medication, after-school programs and shelter. Deschutes County, Oregon has stated that the appropriated funds will go toward program administration and service coordinator salaries. Account: Department of Health and Human Services; Health Resources and Services Administration; Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Hood River County, Oregon Address of Requesting Entity: Hood River County, Oregon, Attn: David Meriwether, County Administrator, 601 State Street Hood River, OR 97031 Project Location: Cascade Locks, Oregon Description of Project: H.R. 1105 appropriates $143,000 for development of an integrated health care facility to provide basic medical, public health, mental health, dental and pharmaceutical services to the community of Cascade Locks, Oregon and adjacent community of Stevenson, Washington which currently have no such services. Health care services will be delivered through collaboration between Hood River County, Oregon and three non-profit health care providers. Hood River County, Oregon has stated that all of the appropriated funds will go towards making site improvements and utility upgrades to the property where the facility will be built.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw my colleagues' attention to a remarkable and historic athletic feat achieved by the Burns High School Hilanders wrestling teams of Harney County, Oregon. On February 28, the Hilanders captured their eighth consecutive 3A state wrestling championship. The streak is unprecedented in the state and mark the first time in any sport, at any level, such an accomplishment has been achieved. These eight teams, their coaches, and their families are testament to the commitment to hard work that is pervasive throughout eastern Oregon. The streak began way back in 2002. Since then, the Hilanders have captured 22 individual state titles, and some have won multiple championships, including Talon Hofman (2001 to 2004), Ben Cate (2003 to 2005), Abe Jacobs (2003 and 2004), and Joe Drinkwater (2008 and 2009). In 2007, the Hilanders set a new team scoring record for all classifications when they scored 269.5 points at the state championship. All athletic programs that enjoy longevity of success do so only with the guidance of good leaders. Bill Winn, Mark Hofman, Jeff Kloetzer, and Ray Cate have been tremendous coaches throughout the eight-year run. Green Bay Packers coaching legend Vince Lombardi once said, ``Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.'' No doubt, the young men of the Hilanders wrestling program sacrificed more than others in exchange for their committed pursuit of such lofty goals. These wrestlers have spent untold hours running laps around the gymnasium, doing ``up-downs'' until they thought their lungs couldn't take anymore, challenging each other in thousands of take-down drills, and critiquing each other's ``first move off the bottom.'' They spent thousands of miles sitting on busses headed for the next contest. They watched their weight but made sure they were physically strong when the time came. They practiced, and practiced, and practiced again until the moves became automatic. Their many titles are proof of their devotion and sacrifice. But titles aside, the lessons they learned about what it takes to be the very best are the keepsakes that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. The hardware they've earned for their success is, as they say, the icing on the cake. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Hilanders wrestling program and the Harney County community for their remarkable achievement. Their unprecedented streak is a reminder to us all of the value of dedication, perseverance, and good old fashioned hard work.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. A simple change in the law to allow budget authority of $250 million to NTIA would allow them to flow these coupons out. The stimulus bill spends $600 million more on the coupon conversion program, and yet that money isn't going to be out the door until April at the soonest. So I am trying to figure out how if you move this to the middle of June, and you don't get the money out the door until April or May. I am not sure you have solved the coupon problem. In closing, the Fraternal Order of Police, who represent a couple hundred thousand law enforcement officers, are opposed to moving this date. And so am I, Mr. Chairman. I think it's unnecessary and it's expensive. [From Communications Daily, Feb. 2, 2009] House To Vote on DTV Delay Bill, but Opposition Remains (By Anne Veigle and Howard Buskirk) The House is set to vote on a revised DTV transition delay bill this week, following unanimous Senate passage Thursday night. The bill would set a new analog cutoff date of June 12 instead of Feb. 17. The House is expected to take the bill up under different rules than last week, when an earlier version failed to secure a two-thirds majority needed to suspend the normal rules. Opposition remains among Republican leaders, who could still try to block the bill, but Democrats believe they have enough votes for passage. ``I am hopeful they will pass this bill so we can send it to President Obama,'' said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., in a statement after the Senate passed an amended version (S-352) of its previous bill (S-328). ``I have no doubt this is going to go through,'' Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said on C- SPAN's The Communicators, which airs Saturday on C-SPAN and Monday on C-SPAN 2. Klobuchar, who co-sponsored the Rockefeller bill, said the converter box coupon program's ballooning wait list ignited political momentum to delay the transition. ``We thought let's give this new administration some time to fix the problems'' with the coupons, she said. The technical changes in S-352 clarify that households can get replacement coupons for those that expired without being redeemed once budget authority approval of new money for the converter box program is granted. House and Senate economic stimulus bills each propose $650 million for the converter box program, and there has been no challenge to that proposal so far. Until the money is appropriated, the converter box program will continue to grapple with a backlog of coupon requests. S-328 would have allowed emergency funds to kick in immediately. S-352 also makes clear that broadcasters wishing to shut down analog operations before June 12 can do so, and in cases where stations have made the switch, public safety can begin using the vacated spectrum. Public Safety Concerns The provisions in the new bill that purport to provide a safety valve for public safety agencies that want to make use of the 700 MHz spectrum before the revised deadline are worse than provisions that raised public safety objections, industry officials said Friday. Public safety officials declined comment. ``The bill is totally of no value to public safety,'' said an industry official: ``Some of these things could be fixed, but they would just require the House to vote again and the Senate to vote again.'' Public safety concerns have figured prominently in Hill debate. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in particular had said he couldn't support the legislation unless sponsors addressed public safety concerns. Public safety officials had objected to a requirement in the original version of the bill which passed the Senate which required them to file an application to make use of the 700 MHz spectrum they'll get anyway after the transition. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., proposed an alternative that doesn't require public safety agencies to file an application. But it does require agencies to work within a relatively arcane and little utilized section of the FCC's rules--section 90.545--before they can use the airwaves. Under the bill, a public safety agency can go on the air if a TV station vacates its channel in compliance with both a Dec. 31, 2007, FCC order and section 90.545 of the FCC's rules. But the TV station must air notices for at least 30 days prior to its shut down. Over the past week, numerous TV stations have filed requests to shut down by airing notices for fewer than 30 days. Under the legislation, the FCC would have no discretion to grant the requests. In addition, under section 90.545 a public safety agency could go on the air only if its transmitters are sufficiently far away from those TV stations still on the adjacent channels--public safety agencies can't use the spectrum just because one station shuts down. But the separation requirement would be difficult to meet. As an alternative, the public safety agencies could negotiate agreements with TV stations, but they would have to submit the applications for FCC approval. A prior version of the legislation required the FCC to rule within 14 days. The Senate-passed version has no such requirement, and there's no requirement in the FCC rule. In addition, public safety agencies can submit engineering studies, but again, the FCC would have to approve the studies, and there's no timetable for a FCC ruling. ``They tried to fix something, but the fix actually made it worse,'' an industry official said. Meanwhile, House Republicans continue to oppose the delay. ``Moving back the date would put a financial burden on industry that will be hard for it to swallow in this difficult economic climate,'' Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., ranking member of the House Telecom Subcommittee, wrote in a Friday Washington Times Op-Ed. Stearns has co-sponsored a bill with Commerce ranking member Joe Barton, R-Texas, that would keep the February cutoff date while providing $250 million for the converter box coupon program. But Democratic leadership hasn't responded to Barton's plan, believing it can pass the extension bill despite Republicans' surprise blockage last week (CD Jan 29 p1). Thirteen Democrats voted with Republicans in Wednesday's 258- 168 vote. Bypassing the rules requires a super-majority vote. But 22 Republicans joined with Democrats in favor of moving the DTV delay bill. Republicans may try to kill the bill by making a ``motion to recommit,'' which, if approved, would send the bill back to committee. But a straight majority vote is required to do that, and most observers believe Democrats have a sufficient margin to defeat that procedure. The bill will go before the Rules Committee Tuesday to determine time limits and rules for amending the bill on the floor, Hill and industry officials said.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, let's get this down. On November 6, NTIA notified us that they may have a problem with money. At the end of December, they said they have got to start a waiting list. And today is February 4. So you had December, January, and now February, 3 months to work this out, and there was a simple accounting fix that could have been done early on that would have solved this problem. So at a minimum we could have addressed this earlier had the majority wanted to. Right now, our biggest concern, frankly, should be with law enforcement and our emergency services. Five years to the day before America was attacked on September 11, 2001, the law enforcement community said: We need you to free up this spectrum, make this transition, and get it done; because if we have an attack or a problem in this country, we don't have the interoperable capability to communicate. And, unfortunately, we will learn the sad, tragic, and deadly reality of that failure to communicate as rescue workers tried to do their jobs in New York City. So all this motion to commit says is that let's have the FCC make sure that we are not going to further hamper our emergency services personnel and their ability to have interoperable communications, so that fire and police can talk to each other when there is an emergency. That is all this says: FCC, make sure this gets done right; and, if there is a problem, move these stations so that we put the safety of our firefighters, the safety of our police first and the safety of our communities. Because, Lord knows, we may be the subject of another attack. We all hope that does not occur. But if it does, there will be another commission that says: How come you guys waited? Why didn't you do what we told you to do when we had the last commission, the 9/11 Commission? Why didn't you listen to the public service folks 5 years before the attack on 9/11? Why didn't you step up and do your job? There is a simple accounting fix that initially there was reportedly even bipartisan for, until the transition team said, oh, no, let's just move the date. Then everything crumbled, and that is where we are today. Last night my wife and I were watching TV, and here comes the ad on Comcast that says that: Congress has passed a law that says February 17, 2009, the analogue signal goes away, and you just subscribe to us or you do this converter box. We are still having these folks advertise as of last night what the law is today. People, are confused. You think confusion? They are still being told, here is what you are supposed to do. And this is why people don't trust the government, because you get everybody marching, doing what they are supposed to do, the broadcasters, the industries that supply the boxes, everything else, and then we move the goalposts. And I don't think that makes sense. In this case, it doesn't have to happen. We can work through this process. You could make a simple accounting change; you would be $250 million just authorized and you get the coupons out the door.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, would the gentleman yield?

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

Mr. WALDEN. I thank the gentleman from Texas. I want to talk to this measure. I think part of the frustration those of us on the Republican side of the aisle feel is this: We are being asked to truncate the time to debate this bill, which was already limited to no amendments under a closed rule, a bill that has never had a hearing in this House or before the Energy and Commerce Committee or the subcommittee. The Republicans were completely denied the opportunity to offer any amendment at any time. Now I am trying to figure out how that's democracy in action and how that is change for a better day. And now we are being asked to basically cut it quick, be quiet, go back to our offices so they can go to the White House for a media show. Let me talk to this bill. Delaying the DTV date from February 17 to June puts it right in the middle of hurricane season, tornado season, and all that. It doesn't open up the spectrum any sooner for law enforcement to deal with the issues that the public safety community identified 5 years to the day of 9/11. Five years before, they said, You have got to give us some more spectrum so we can have interoperability. That is back in 2001. We are that to here. Now we are going to delay it some more. For broadcasters in my State of Oregon, they are going to get to pay $500,000 to $1 million more in energy costs to run two transmitters, when they should only, and had counted on, only running one. So to keep their analog--most likely, a tube-driven transmitter fired up--that will add 4 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere at a time when I thought the majority and others in this Congress wanted to do something about carbon emissions. So, it will cost $1 million, it will cost jobs. You will burn more energy. They will have to have engineers keep old transmitters hobbled together. We had a transmitter across the river in Washington State, an analog transmitter, burn up 2 weeks ago. Their analog transmitter. It's off the air. They switched. And they haven't had any real pushback from the community. ``The provisions in this new bill, according to Communications Daily,'' that purport to provide a safety valve for public safety agencies that want to make use of the 700 megahertz spectrum before the revised deadline are worse than provisions that raised public safety objections,'' industry officials said Friday. ``This bill is totally of no value to public safety,'' said an industry official. Mr. Speaker, I would like to put this report from Communications Daily into the Record so that Americans and our colleagues can see this. Under the bill, a public safety agency can go on the air if a TV station vacates its channel in compliance with the various rules. And yet, it's so complicated in here, that isn't going to happen. We had Members say, Gee, we have got to do something to help public safety. This just delays that. So you're going to burn more power, you're going to cost jobs. Then, most Americans, 93, 94, probably pushing up higher than that, have already made the conversion, that we know of. A million people have come off the waiting list for the coupons in the last 4 weeks.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. I rise in opposition to this rule. I'm trying to figure out what it is the majority fears about open debate, either in committee or on the floor. I would be happy to yield to the gentleman from Colorado, who's managing the rule, if you would like to tell me why no amendments were allowed.

Mr. WALDEN. Reclaiming my time; we are only talking maybe 5 minutes on an amendment. This bill has had no hearings in any committee in the House, correct?

Mr. WALDEN. Reclaiming my time; but you're not the substantive committee. Energy and Commerce is the substantive committee. Our committee was not allowed to have a hearing on this issue, including the ramifications of it, on this bill. We had no opportunity to offer an amendment. You heard our ranking member, Mr. Barton, suggest there are alternatives that wouldn't cost the taxpayers enormous amounts of money.

Mr. WALDEN. Reclaiming my time; not on this bill. There was no hearing on this bill. We've had hearings along the way about this issue, but not on this bill before us today--at least no markup on this bill. So our only alternative to help the taxpayers prevent--who's going to loan us this money, by the way? $650 million more we're going to ask to borrow to pay for converter boxes. And yet, only half the money has been spent. There's an affordable, efficient alternative we could have at least allowed the Members here to vote on that said, Change the accounting a bit, allow them to go ahead and move forward and issue the coupons as those expired, that aren't used, because not every coupon is being used. There's only a 52.5 redemption rate. Then that money will flow back in at the end. Putting money in the stimulus means it's not available until April or May. Now you have got a June deadline. So even that money is not going to flow out there. I urge defeat of the rule. We can legislate in a much better way than this.

Mr. WALDEN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WALDEN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WALDEN. I don't believe the gentleman was a Member of the Congress when most of those hearings were held. So you wouldn't have had benefit of those hearings. But my question is: If they did all those hearings, why didn't they have a markup to fix it then, if this was such a problem? Was there a single markup on this bill in a substantive committee?

Mr. WALDEN. But the question here is, was there a single hearing or markup on this bill?

Mr. WALDEN. I thank my colleague from North Carolina. To just set the record straight, to my colleague who just spoke, there was no hearing on this bill in committee. There was no markup on this bill in committee. There has never been an opportunity to amend this bill on this floor or in committee. I serve on the committee, I serve on the subcommittee. Further, if she's concerned about interoperability, then you free up the spectrum. Delay of transition to DTV means the analog transmitters here and the digital transmitters here--and they are both going. Until the analog is gone, the spectrum is not freed up for that interoperability she pleads for. Maybe if there was a hearing, she would better understand the bill.

Mr. WALDEN

Mr. WALDEN. I thank the gentleman. Wendell Wyatt guided bills through Congress that left lasting imprints all over our great State of Oregon, including bills that established the Tualatin Reclamation Project in Washington County, the Columbia River 40-foot shipping channel, Lincoln City's Cascade Head Scenic Area, and a bill authorizing the purchase of ranch lands along the Snake River for public recreation. He will be missed; he will never be forgotten.

Mr. WALDEN. Would the gentleman yield?