Joe Wilson

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I wish to recognize the South Carolina Junior Chamber of Commerce and, specifically, the Lake Murray Junior Chamber for their leadership and service in our community during this year's Junior Chamber Mission Week. In 1929, the United States Junior Chamber established Junior Chamber Mission Week, or ``Jaycee Week'', to celebrate its founding with seven days of public relations opportunities for its member chapters. Each day of the week, they highlight a different basic tenet that the chamber has adopted. These tenets are as follows: a faith in God, the purpose of brotherhood, free enterprise, government laws, human personality, and service to humanity. For over 70 years, the South Carolina Junior Chamber has been actively involved in our community by devoting time to developing future community leaders. Over those seven decades, it has contributed to humanitarian projects such as Jaycee Camp Hope, Family Talk and JAYS. As a former member of the Jaycee-West Columbia Jaycees for over 20 years and as former state legal counsel of the South Carolina Jaycees, I know firsthand of the positive impact of South Carolina Jaycees. I wish to thank Lake Murray Chapter President Angie Wedekind, South Carolina State President Scott Bryant, the National Junior Chamber President Chris Oldham, and the Junior Chamber International President Scott Greenlee. Their leadership is helping to shape today's young people into successful leaders of tomorrow.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jo Ann Davis--a friend and colleague who served the people of Virginia for 7 years in the House of Representatives. As the first female Republican elected to the House from Virginia, Jo Ann was dedicated to representing her constituents with a genuine leadership and passion for public service. She was committed to fighting government waste and strengthening our national defense and remained devoted to her duty despite her illness. As fellow members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, I am grateful to have known and worked with Jo Ann. I am especially grateful for the 3 years we sat together on Thursdays at the Congressional Prayer Breakfast which she ultimately so devotedly chaired. During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Jo Ann's husband, Chuck, their two sons, her granddaughter, and the entire Davis family. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, September marked the 49th consecutive month of job growth in the United States with the creation of 110,000 new jobs. Revised reports show an increase, not a decline, in jobs for August, which makes 8.4 million new jobs created since August 2003. This sets the record for the longest period of uninterrupted job growth in our history. This achievement comes as the stock market has hit a record high and the unemployment rate remains low at 4.7 percent. The success of our economy is a product of pro-growth policies inspired by the Home Builders Association that respect the needs of American businesses and taxpayers. However, the most important contributor to these positive trends is the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans who are investing in our economy, building successful companies, and trading on the global market. We should support these efforts by keeping taxes low and enforcing fiscal responsibility here in Congress. In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September the 11th. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and staff of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis of Virginia.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve better from their government when it comes to the way it spends their hard-earned taxpayer dollars. As Jerry Bellune of the Lexington County Chronicle would say, ``It's the people's money, not the government's money given to the people.'' It seems that this Democrat majority which rode to power on a wave of promises about open and transparent Congress has decided these principles do not apply when it comes to all earmarks. So I ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, if identifying who is sponsoring an earmark is okay on spending bills, why is it not okay on all legislation? The American people deserve more transparency from their government, not multi-million dollar spending packages slipped silently into legislation under a bureaucratic cover. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th. Thank goodness for Rush Limbaugh, who supports our troops.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this Democrat-led Congress has yet to send one spending bill to the President. In particular, they have failed to pass funding for our veterans, and because of their inaction, our veterans are being shortchanged and denied needed resources and benefits. Despite widespread support for the Veterans' Affairs spending bill, the majority is refusing to take final action. This delay is jeopardizing our ability to get the necessary funding and resources to those who need it most. The bill includes $4.1 billion for VA hospitals and clinics, $600 million for posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury care, $2.9 billion for mental health and substance abuse treatment for veterans, and $480 million for research into prosthetics for wounded warriors and amputees. We can all agree that our veterans deserve our utmost support, and as a grateful 30-year member of the American Legion, it is time for Democrats to work with Republicans for our veterans. In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, October 1st was a special day for the Wilson family with the birth of Emily Ruth Wilson at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. She is the first daughter of Add and Lauren Wilson. Add is a Navy doctor assigned to the Navy SEALs on the East Coast. She weighs 7 pounds 6 ounces and is 20\1/4\ inches in length. Emily Ruth has two older brothers, Addison, III, age 4 and Houston, age 2. Emily Ruth is a particularly noteworthy addition to our family. She is the first female Wilson born into the family since 1919. As happy paternal grandparents, I and my wife, Roxanne are delighted to welcome her as she joins our two grandsons, four sons, and two brothers. We are grateful to share this moment with the maternal grandparents Craig and Julie Houston of West Columbia, South Carolina, her paternal great grandmother Martha Dusenbury of Florence, South Carolina and the maternal great grandparents Ray and Ruth Hoover of West Columbia and Chester and Thelma Houston of Blakely, Georgia.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Harry Shuler Dent passed away Friday. The Charleston Post and Courier recognized him as the father of the present-day South Carolina Republican Party and White House southern strategist. Lee Bandy of Columbia's The State outlined Harry Dent's successful career as a journalist, chief of staff for Senator Strom Thurmond, State Republican Chairman, White House Deputy Counsel, and founder of a multinational lay ministry. I was grateful to see firsthand Harry's achievements. Under his leadership, the South Carolina Republican Party grew in the 1960s from no officeholders to having majorities in the State legislature, congressional delegation and Statewide offices. In Romania I watched his ministry take action and provide medical equipment to a local hospital. His greatest achievement was to marry his high school sweetheart, Betty Francis Dent. In their 56 years of marriage, they produced four outstanding children, Harry, Jr., Jack, Dolly and Ginny, along with nine grandchildren. As a political adviser, mission director and dedicated family man, Harry Dent has made an extraordinary difference to the people of South Carolina. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Brain Injury Alliance of South Carolina and to thank them for their service in raising public awareness of brain injuries. Leaders of this cause have been my longtime friends Lyman and JoAnne Whitehead of Irmo. An estimated 1.4 million Americans sustain a brain injury yearly. In particular, many of our brave men and women serving in the central front of Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced some form of traumatic brain injury. It is vital that we do all that we can to address our veterans just as we address the needs of civilians living with this condition. The Brain Injury Alliance is helping to lead the way in informing the public of the dangers of this complex injury and what can be done to help individuals rehabilitate. Their public awareness campaign uses different forms of media and community outreach to ensure that citizens are well educated on this issue. Thousands of individuals and their families will surely benefit from this thoughtful assistance. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), my next-door neighbor of historic Savannah.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, when I looked at the issue of diacetyl in manufacturing during the debate in committee, the answer seemed very clear to me at the time: proper ventilation. Even though it is unclear what is affecting manufacturing workers, all the experts agree that engineering controls, such as ventilation, reduce worker exposure. I take very seriously lung illness. For nearly 10 years, I served on the State board of the South Carolina Lung Association. In the South Carolina State Senate, I introduced innovative legislation promoting clean air. Fundamentally, the science does not exist to state a link between diacetyl and impaired lung function. Indeed, last year, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, noted, ``At this time, insufficient data exists on which to base workplace exposure standards or recommended exposure limits for butter flavorings.'' Unfortunately, this bill goes beyond the issue of what is known. The underlying bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, to set a standard based on documents that OSHA informs us cannot guide rulemaking. These documents provide guidelines of how to solve the problem at issue but are not the foundation for a rule. More research is currently under way to determine a connection between diacetyl and this respiratory condition. I fully support that research moving forward. In fact, the underlying measure contains an amendment I offered during the committee consideration of the bill to require NIOSH to study similar flavorings to determine possible exposure hazards with flavorings similar to diacetyl. Until there is conclusive evidence, it remains to be seen if diacetyl alone is to blame or whether the chemical, in combination with the other flavorings, places workers at risk. On June 18, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Edwin Foulke, a distinguished attorney from Greenville, South Carolina, of the highest integrity, reiterated this in a letter to Congress, in which he stated, ``Focusing on diacetyl ignores the possibility that other flavoring components, many of which are irritants and airway-reactive substances, are playing a role in the development of disease. Given the wide variety of ways and forms in which diacetyl and other flavoring components are used in the food manufacturing industry, a narrow focus on diacetyl would likely result in the selection of risk-management strategies that may not adequately protect employees.'' This is a critical point. Until we know the true cause of this lung impairment, I do not see how we can effectively legislate on it. Further, major manufacturers, using this flavoring have already announced they will no longer be using diacetyl. The lack of scientific foundation is, unfortunately, not the only problem with the bill before us. There are numerous flaws outlined by the OSHA administrator's letter. Further, the President has announced strong opposition to the bill, largely because it is flawed. Undermining the rulemaking process, as this bill does, would almost certainly exclude input from key stakeholders that often proves imperative for a balanced rulemaking process. Because this bill fails to allow time for appropriate scientific research and because it undermines the proven regulatory framework, I fear it will not do enough to protect workers. Mr. Chairman, my amendment that was made in order would resolve much of this problem. Department of Labor, Washington, DC, June 19, 2007. Hon. George Miller, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Miller: I am writing to express my strong concerns with legislation (H.R. 2693) that would require the promulgation of an interim final standard (IFR) regulating employee exposure to diacetyl in the popcorn and flavor manufacturing industries and mandate that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issue a final rule covering all workplaces that use diacetyl. I share your goal of protecting workers from the risk of obstructive lung disease. As outlined below OSHA is in the process of taking important steps to strengthen worker protections in this area. However, after careful review of this legislation, we have concluded that the regulatory approach mandated by H.R. 2693 will not afford the best level of protection for workers. Equally important, the process the bill would require may result in missed opportunities to provide needed worker safety. Instead, I urge you to allow OSHA to thoroughly evaluate all available science concerning the effects of exposures to food flavorings, feasible abatements and related issues. Several considerations lead us to the conclusion that the approach mandated by H.R. 2693 would not best protect workers: 1. The expanded scope of the final rule and the lack of knowledge about the industries that use diacetyl will lead to superficial analysis that may fail to provide needed worker protection. H.R. 2693 would require OSHA to expand the scope of the final rule to include all establishments where there is potential for exposure to diacetyl. Unfortunately, little is known about industries--other than the microwave popcorn manufacturing and food flavoring manufacturing industries-- that use diacetyl and diacetyl-containing flavorings. OSHA would need to identify those companies that use diacetyl then conduct site visits to gather needed data to (1) identify processes where exposures occur, (2) develop control strategies for each process, and (3) identify employers who have implemented control strategies to determine if those control strategies are effective. Although OSHA has been obtaining this information for microwave popcorn and food flavoring manufacturing establishments, to date little information is available on the many other industry sectors that would potentially be covered by the final role required by the bill. OSHA believes that two years is too short a period of time to develop the information base and analysis necessary to adequately support the proposed and final role, and to afford the public adequate time to comment on OSHA's proposal. The Agency believes that robust public input is essential to achieving a final rule that provides protection for employees while addressing potential impacts on all affected industries. 2. Focusing solely on a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for diacetyl may ignore other components that are playing an important role in the development of disease. H.R 2693 requires OSHA to develop a PEL for diacetyl that would apply to all facilities where diacetyl is processed or used. Research is ongoing by groups such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National Jewish Medical Center, the National Institute for Environmental Health Studies and California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal OSHA) to better determine the role that exposures to diacetyl and other chemicals may play in the development of bronchiolitis obliterans. By focusing solely on diacetyl, H.R 2693 raises two major concerns: a. Focusing on diacetyl ignores the possibility that other flavoring components--many of which are irritants and airway- reactive substances--are playing a role in the development of disease. Given the wide variety of ways and forms (e.g., liquids or powders) in which diacetyl and other flavoring components are used in the food manufacturing industry, a narrow focus on diacetyl would likely result in the selection of risk management strategies that may not adequately protect employees. These might include substitution of diacetyl with other chemicals that may be as dangerous under similar circumstances as diacetyl. b. NIOSH has stated that ``at this time, insufficent data exist on which to base workplace exposure standards or recommended exposure limits for butter flavorings.'' Given the state of the data currently available, OSHA would only be able to develop an imprecise PEL for diacetyl which would have a considerable amount of uncertainty associated with respect to the degree of protection afforded. 3. As drafted the bill would require the interim final rule to impose engineering requirements based on NIOSH recommendations that lack the clarity and specificity necessary to form the basis of a new health standard. H.R. 2693 would direct OSHA to issue an interim rule at least as stringent as the 2004 NIOSH Hazard Alert. The NIOSH recommendations serve as good general recommendations, but do not provide specific performance criteria that would be necessary to develop an unambiguous and enforceable interim rule. The NIOSH Alert refers to the 2001 ACGIH Ventilation Manual, which provides some general objective design criteria, but mixing and blending processes in flavoring establishments vary greatly. For example, they can range from a 10-gallon batch operation up to several hundred pounds of batch mixing. Each of these operations may use similar control strategies but would require different engineering design parameters to achieve the same level of effectiveness. Therefore, the NIOSH Hazard Alert is not helpful to specify required minimum operating parameters for engineering controls because these minimum parameters will not provide equal protection to all employees in affected establishments. Furthermore, there is simply not enough information available at this point on flavoring processes and current exposure control practices to develop a specification-oriented standard. OSHA traditionally has used PELs instead of specification- oriented standards to protect workers in this type of situation, because a PEL will set a precise, measurable standard to protect workers. However, as previously mentioned, currently available data do not support setting a PEL for diacetyl. Thus, OSHA would be forced by H.R. 2693 to issue a PEL based on imprecise information and an IFR based on a NIOSH Hazard Alert that does not provide specific performance criteria. Additionally, the Department of Labor is very concerned that the IFR that is mandated by this legislation will not be open for comment by stakeholders, or reviewed in accordance with the requirements of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), the Administrative Procedures Act, and the rulemaking requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act These statutes ensure thorough consideration and transparency in rulemaking. We do not believe these regulatory requirements should be waived except in the most exceptional situations. Thorough vetting is particularly critical when the medical and scientific studies do not provide unequivocal conclusions. The Department of Labor is committed to protecting employees from obstructive lung diseases. The Department recently announced that OSHA win focus on health hazards of microwave popcorn butter flavorings containing diacetyl through a new National Emphasis Program (NEP). The NEP will direct inspections to the facilities where workers may be at the greatest risk of exposure to this hazard. Implementation of this NEP would allow OSHA to inspect every such facility under Federal jurisdiction by the end of this year. This will be followed by a second NEP that focuses on establishments manufacturing food flavorings containing diacetyl. In addition to the NEP, OSHA is also preparing a Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) to better inform and instruct employers on how to protect employees from obstructive lung disease caused or exacerbated by food flavorings used in the microwave popcorn manufacturing industry. The SHIB will provide guidance to alert employers and workers to the potential hazards associated with butter flavorings containing diacetyl and will provide recommendations on how to control these hazards. OSHA is also developing a hazard communication guidance document to ensure that material safety data sheets and labels properly convey hazard information on diacetyl and diacetyl-containing food flavorings. Given that NIOSH has stated that insufficient data exist on which to base workplace exposure standards or recommended exposure limits for butter flavorings the approach we are taking is the quickest and most effective means of providing protection to workers in the popcorn and flavor manufacturing industries. Because of the concerns I have outlined, the Department of Labor is opposed to H.R 2693. We have concluded that the approach proposed by H.R. 2693 will not afford the best level of protection for workers. By not providing sufficient time to do a proper rulemakin OSHA may unintentionally overlook opportunities to provide needed worker safety and, at the same timel require expensive process isolation, and ventilation and other control strategies that may be ineffective. Instead, I urge you to allow OSHA to thoroughly evaluate all available science concerning the effects of exposures to food flavorings, feasibie abatements, and related issues. Sincerely, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I include for the Record letters in opposition from the American Bakers Association, dated September 25, 2007; the OSHA Fairness Coalition, September 25, 2007; and the Office of Management and Budget, dated September 25, 2007. American Bakers Association, Washington, DC, September 25, 2007. Hon. Howard McKeon, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. McKeon: On behalf of the American Bakers Association (ABA), I am writing to express our opposition to H.R. 2693, ``the Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act,'' which the House of Representatives is expected to consider this week. Passage of H.R. 2693 would significantly short circuit the appropriate regulatory process by mandating that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) implement a regulation, including a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), applicable to all sectors of the food industry, and based on limited scientific data. For over 100 years, the ABA has represented the interests of the wholesale baking industry and its suppliers--companies that work together to provide over 80 percent of the wholesome and nutritious bakery products purchased by American consumers. The American Bakers Association prides itself on our long history of assisting baking companies to stay ahead of the curve on safety and health in the workplace. Our Safety Committee provides tremendous leadership on safety and health policy issues. We are committed to keeping our workers safe and support science-based standards and regulations. The ABA is aware of recent data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) regarding the use of diacetyl in popcorn manufacturing and the flavor manufacturing industry. We also understand the severity of the health effects that have been demonstrated in a limited number of cases. However, we strongly believe that the recent NIOSH data does not accurately reflect the use of diacetyl in other sectors of the food industry, such as baking. Differences exist in the food processing industry, the concentrations of diacetyl used, and the existing controls in place. Mandating specific requirements that OSHA must include in a diacetyl standard sets a precedent that should be avoided. Congress's role as set forth in the OSH Act of 1970 is to ``assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.'' However, it is the role of the Department of Labor to use its expertise for implementing regulations. For Congress to specify the applicable requirements of a ``final standard'' would bypass inappropriately the mechanisms and tests established under the OSH Act. Expedited regulation, even if directed by Congress, would rest on very limited scientific evidence and would represent rushed and inappropriate legislative and Agency action. Further H.R. 2693 does not address the carefully developed procedures for rulemaking that Congress and the courts have put in place under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), including provisions designed to protect small businesses. Finally, on September 24, 2007 OSHA announced its intent to move forward with a rulemaking on diacetyl. This rulemaking process should be allowed to move forward as it includes the appropriate procedural safeguards. ABA respectfully urges you to oppose this legislation and allow the regulatory procedures designed to protect the interests of small businesses to guide OSHA in developing a standard. Sincerely, Robb MacKie, President and CEO.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, again, I urge adoption of the amendment. I want to commend my colleagues again for their good intentions. I would like to restate that as a former member of the State board of the American Lung Association for a number of years, I've had a long- time concern about lung illnesses. I sincerely believe that the amendment that I have, which provides that action would be taken upon scientific evidence, is in the interest of the manufacturing workers in the United States. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), the distinguished ranking committee member.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to the time remaining?

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is very straightforward. This would ensure that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, sets a permissible exposure limit as directed by the underlying bill, which can be relied in science. I offered this amendment in the Education and Labor Committee, and we agreed to work together to see if we could reach an agreement. Between committee action and today, we were unable to reach an agreement on the timeframe addressed by my amendment. So I'm offering it for floor consideration. I understand my colleagues' goal is to set a standard for a substance that appears to be harming manufacturing workers in and around microwave popcorn manufacturing facilities. I know the well-meaning intention of their efforts. Unfortunately, I do not share their belief that this legislation will accomplish that goal. First, there is widespread concern that while diacetyl is unquestionably a marker, it is not the sole cause of lung impairment in these workers. In addition to this, however, this bill would regulate diacetyl and require a standard to be set based on little or no available science. In other words, if a food manufacturing facility substitutes diacetyl with another flavoring chemical, there is no guarantee that that chemical is not the one making manufacturing workers sick. Technically, the bill before us requires OSHA to set an interim final rule for diacetyl manufacturers and microwave popcorn plants to implement engineering controls for diacetyl exposure. It then directs OSHA to set a standard that will apply to all food manufacturing facilities. The expansion of coverage from the interim rule to the final rule and the time frame of 2 years in which OSHA is given to set the standard will impact OSHA's ability to follow the appropriate legal guidelines that would apply to a normal rulemaking. All my amendment does is ensure that OSHA promulgates a regulation with appropriate stakeholder input and the science to establish a technically feasible permissible exposure limit. Also, I would note that OSHA announced Monday that it would undertake a rulemaking on this substance. I should note that there is a great deal of ongoing research and data gathering concerning the health effects of diacetyl. For example, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is working to improve measuring diacetyl, while the National Jewish Medical Center is working to gather data from workers about lung function. California OSHA also is working with the industry to gather the much-needed information to set a standard. Without any conclusive evidence, which has yet to be generated by any source at this point in time, we are putting the cart before the horse, and because of this, I respectfully urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, we are considering this bill under unfortunate circumstances. A number of workers have become ill, and it is not entirely clear why. We suspect this particular food flavoring diacetyl may be involved, so we all support a thorough investigation into this substance and how exposure to it may impact workers. Like my friends on the other side of the aisle, I wish there was an easy answer. If only we knew what had made these workers ill, we could immediately eliminate the risks. If only we knew for sure that diacetyl and manufacturing alone caused lung obstruction, then Federal agencies could go through the appropriate regulatory process to establish exposure limitations and take the necessary steps to protect workers. Unfortunately, we do not have enough information at this point in time to take such action. Research is underway, and it is my hope that the research continues quickly so we can get to the bottom of these questions about how diacetyl impacts manufacturing workers. Until that research is available and until we have a scientific basis for regulation, in my mind we simply cannot move forward. There is a very real danger that by acting too quickly, we could inadvertently push manufacturers to begin using substitute flavorings. There is a possibility that these substitute flavorings could also put workers at risk; thus, a hurried regulation may provide a false sense of security while manufacturing workers remain vulnerable. Again, I understand the frustration about a lack of clarity on the administration's intent in this area. Until the recent announcement by the Department of Labor that it intends to undertake a rulemaking process for this flavoring, we had not received any clear indication from the administration that it intended to take action. As such, I believe some on the other side the aisle believed they had no choice but to act themselves. Mr. Chairman, I recognize the difficulty we face. We have workers who have fallen ill and we do not know why. We have questions about a flavoring that workers are exposed to during manufacturing, but we do not know whether it is the sole cause of their ailments. We have a Federal regulatory agency that is responsible for ensuring workplace safety, but until this week we did not know whether the agency would act. Republicans proposed a sensible alternative when this bill was considered in the committee, and we plan to do the same today. We want to balance our pressing desire to act quickly to protect workers with our equally important need to adhere to sound science. Because I believe it undermines the basic regulatory framework and neglects the necessary scientific foundation, I regret I cannot support the bill in its current form. I hope my alternative will be adopted so that we can quickly increase evidence to guide the final rules to provide the strongest protections possible. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to promote the congressional duty to be good stewards of the American taxpayers' money. The American people deserve government that is transparent and open when spending money. Republicans enjoyed a tremendous victory for American families earlier this year when we passed a smart earmark reform policy for spending bills. But we need to ensure that earmarks put in all legislation receive the same amount of scrutiny. That is why I call on Members of this Chamber to join over 160 of our colleagues in signing a discharge petition to force a vote on a resolution that will enforce an open and honest earmark policy on all legislation that comes before this body. I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join us in standing up for the American taxpayer. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this last weekend I was grateful to visit our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I saw firsthand the growing success in Baghdad during a visit with Major General Joseph Fil, commander of forces in Baghdad, to a neighborhood joint security site. We saw shops open, normal traffic, and civilians unafraid. This evidence of success was repeated in a visit to Ramadi, where enthusiastic American and Iraqi troops have deposed the al Qaeda terrorists. In Kabul, I was briefed on training of Afghan police by the 218th Brigade of the South Carolina Army National Guard led by General Bob Livingston. As a 28-year veteran of the 218th, I know the competence and resolve of our troops. Additionally, in Jalalabad, American and Afghani provincial reconstruction teams are promoting security, governance, and economic development. With eight visits to Iraq and four to Afghanistan, I am more convinced than ever that to protect the American families we must stop the terrorists overseas. Our dedicated troops deserve our support of this vital mission. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recent trip by Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev to India to highlight the growing relationship between these two democracies. As cochair of both the Bulgaria Caucus and the Caucus on India and Indian Americans, I am encouraged by this good news. This visit marks a continuation of the economic relationship both nations have fostered by expanding their trade and investment opportunities. America will be a key ally of Bulgaria and India in providing growth for their partnership. As a member of NATO and the European Union, Bulgaria is a friend of the United States. We are in a unique position to strengthen their relationship with our allies throughout the world. Additionally, India remains one of our strategic partners in Asia under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. I am pleased that the United States and India are finalizing the civilian nuclear agreement that will expand the use of a clean energy source for India and fulfill our nonproliferation efforts. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.