Transcripts For CSPAN Legislative Business 20141118

Eternity and one day the falling leaf will be ours. For here we have no lasting city but seek the one which is to come. The true measure of the present is lifes end. It excites or exaser baits in the moment, diminishes in eternity and conversely these things that seem minute in the presence, an act of kindness, a small smile, are the grains of sand that accumulate and into eternity that become a mountain or monument of grace. Help us, heavenly father, never to lose sight of lifes end, never to overlook those grains of sand but rather collect them for eternitys hour. Amen. The speaker pro tempore the chair has examined the journal of the last days proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1 the journal stands approved. The pledge of allegiance today will be led by the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker pro tempore the chair will now entertain up to neminute requests on each side of the aisle for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one inute. Thank you. On behalf of the entire kern county community, i want to commend Kevin Harvick of winning sunday at homestead. Exemplifying the determination, resilience and fortitude needed to excel, especially in a long and Competitive Racing season. These attributes that embody kevins success engrained in our community. Our families get up early, work hard and put in long hours to get the job done. Kevins racing is a reminder to the world that the bakersfield way drives champions. Your hometown is proud of your achievement, kevin, and for all the kids across kern county who watch races like myself at mesa moran and dreamed of becoming a nascar champion, they now have someone to implate. Mr. Mccarthy congratulations, again, to you, to dalenea and to your entire family and to your crew chief Rodney Childers and the entire 4 team for an incredible season and championship. Bad for you said, not an 08er. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlelady is recognized does the gentlelady rise . To address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Sanchez thank you, mr. Speaker. Its been more than 500 days since the Senate Overwhelmingly passed bipartisan, comprehensive Immigration Reform. But House Republicans have done nothing. They have refused to act. If the republicans are unwilling to use their power to act, then the president must act. In fact, recently 117 of my colleagues and i sent a letter to president obama urging him to act now. Since 1952, every single president , regardless of political party, has used their broad executive authority to shape our nations immigration policy. So the president s decision to use executive action is not unprecedented. Neither is it ideal, but unfortunately it is necessary. We can no longer stand by while we separate mothers from their children, throw young people out of this country. The only strategy that republicans in this house have had has been deport, deport, deport. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. For what purpose does the gentlelady from florida ms. Roslehtinen to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Roslehtinen thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my deepest condolences to the families of the four israelis, three whom are also american citizens, who were murdered by palestinian terrorists in jerusalem during morning prayers in a synagogue. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of israel who again have to endure another tragedy at the hands of palestinian terrorists. Its no coincidence that latest string of attack on innocent israelis comes after the Supreme Leader of iran urged palestinians to use violence against israel and called for israels destruction, as did the terrorist group hamas. This is another example of irans dangerous meddling in an effort to attack our u. S. Interests and israel and hamas continued incitement of violence and terror. There is now a clear link to terrorism in both the west bank and gaza and there can be no u. S. Taxpayer dollars going to support a unity government thats backed by hamas and the palestinian authority. Thank you, mr. Speaker, for the time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to support increased funding for medical research. Mr. Higgins funding to the National Institutes of health has been cut by 25 and americas health, position as a Global Leader and economy is paying a price. In 2013, n. I. H. Funded fewer Research Projects than the year before, fewer opportunities send a signal. Meanwhile, as america is falling behind, japan, germany, india are dramatically boosting edical research funding. Underinvestment in medical research is shortsighted. Every dollar of n. I. H. Funding generates 2. 21 in local economic activity. We should be investing in ways to alleviate the burden of chronic diseases such as alzheimers, which costs the nation 200 billion a year, and cancer which costs the nation another 216 billion. We cannot afford to wait. I encourage my colleagues to join congresswoman delauro and me to support h. R. 5580, the accelerating Biomedical Research act. The time to reverse these cuts is now. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise . Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, i rise today to acknowledge the efforts of the german american caucus and the great leadership of caucus cochairman, jim gerlach. Ive had the pleasure of knowing mr. Gerlach since before i was elected to congress and im honored to take his place as the next cochairman of the german caucus. The caucus has grown to nearly 100 members and help foster a great appreciation for the many ties and connections shared between our two countries. From meeting important business leaders, hosting Networking Events on the hill, the german american caucus has served as an important medium for the exchange of information. The commonwealth boasts one of the largest german populations in the country. Accordingly, i look forward to working with the ambassador and leaders of the German American Business Council as we moves towards the 114th congress. I promise to do my best to live up to the leadership thats been provided by my good friend, congressman jim gerlach, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania yields back. For what purpose does the gentlelady from illinois seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Kelly thank you, mr. Speaker. As we observe American Education week, id like to pay tribute to americas Public School teachers and administratorses for their leadership and service to our community. Teachers are proof that you can really change the world if you care enough. Thats why so many, even when faced with diminishing resources and budget cuts, worgd work tirelessly to ensure our students get the education they deserve. Our nation depends on our teachers and we must all do our part to support americas educators. Thats why i oppose sequestration cuts that threatens School Districts and teachers. Thats why i work to pass Bipartisan Legislation to provide food nutrition programs to schoolchildren during the summer months. Ive donated nearly 1,500 books to schools in my district and was proud to launch the robin reards program in my district, which is a literary program. This week i encourage you all to reach out and get to know your local schools. Offer to volunteer your time and energy to their effort, but most importantly, thank and educator. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from mississippi rise . Mr. Speaker, i rise to ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. From day one as a member of congress ive always known that our number one constitutional responsibility is to the common defense of this nation at home and abroad. We should make the Smart Financial investments in our men and women in uniform, their readiness, their training and their weapons as if our lives depend on it because their lives do. This weekend i gathered with some of the greatest defense minds in our nation to discuss the safety and security of our country at the annual Reagan Defense forum. Mr. Palazzo a common narrative from this forum was that the defense country kutz under sequestration are dangerous and defense cuts under sequestration are dangerous. Members of congress, even the president recognized the world is not becoming a safer place but much more dangerous. Ronald reagans policy of peace through strength worked and it worked well. The time has come to remove these cuts, restore our nations strength so we can live up to our constitutional responsibility. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask permission to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend those remarks. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Garcia mr. Speaker, we all agree that it is up to congress to overhaul the broken immigration system. However, despite all the talk and promises, there is one thing thats clear. This Republican Congress has done nothing to address Immigration Reform and has only been an obstacle to this process. Now is the time for the president to act. His legal standing is solid. It is time for us to act. Now is the time to do what is right, what is fair, what is just, not only for the immigrant community but for this great country. Thank you and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from michigan rise . I rise too to i rise today to revise and extend and to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today because this coming saturday, november 22, is designated as National Adoption day. Each year thousands of families navigate is complicated and expensive adoption process and welcome a muchwanted child into their families and into their lives. This saturday we will recognize, honor and say thank you to these families. We will also raise awareness of the over 100,000 children who are currently in the foster care system who have not found permanent homes or a permanent family to belong to. 32 of these children will wait over three years in foster care before being adopted. Globally estimates are there is 153 million orphans. Mr. Huizenga they have adopted 3,000 of these children in 2013 but thats just the start. It may feel and appear to be overwhelming, but we can make a difference one child at time. Im proud to report that adoption rates in west minnesota, my hometown area, are among the highest in the area, and since the beginning f 2014, just one west michigan Adoption Agency alone had 38 domestic infant adoptions, helped many others. We want to say thank you to them for their work. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to speak for one minute and to revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Tonko thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to draw attention to families across this country, going without our simply scraping by as we enter the Holiday Season. Food pantries like the Hunger Action network of new york state, do a great deal to care for our neighbors who are cold, hungry or homeless but they cannot do it alone. These organizations need washington to help and these people of these organizations care for need it even more. A unique american tradition is hoping those in need. One in 10 households lives below the poverty line in my district. These families live each day with struggles that are reflective across our great nation. These can be fixed by a congress that pursues policy that support a livable wage, support programs that help the less fortunate and support ducation and its my hope that this house will Work Together to make progress for all americans, especially those for this chamber seems to have forgot about. We should not wait for the next congress to take action. I can think of no better time than this Holiday Season to make progress on these critical issues. With that i thank you, mr. Speaker, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from alabama seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore weather, the gentleman is recognized for without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. I rise today to recognize mayor la von hicks. Sadly he passed away on september 14 after an extended illness. He devoted his life to serving his family, church and community. He was a dedicated member of Jackson Church of christ for more than 50 years, serving as an elder and attending several Mission Trips over the years he served two terms in the grove Hill Town Council before becoming mayor. He also served around 40 years as a volunteer fireman and was an active member of the lions club. He worked tirelessly for the betterment of the grove Hill Community and he enjoyed fishing, traveling and university of alabama football. Mr. Speaker, to mayor hicks wife helen and his children and grandchildren, we say thank you for sharing him with us. Mr. Byrne we will miss him greatly. I yield back the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yield back. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to urge my colleagues against the president s unilateral amnesty plan. Unlike the president s amnesty, i support an immigration system thats accountable to the American People and the democratic process. Like most americans, i believe immigrants who work hard, play by the rules and contribute to our communities are good for our country. Mr. Marchant immigration laws should be properly controlled and strictly enforced but under president obama, this is not the case. Just look at the numbers. In 2012 alone, 11. 7 million foreign nationals resided in the United States without authorization. Visa overstays are estimated to be up 57 of that unauthorized population. Unilateral amnesty ignores the will of the American People. It is unfair to legal imgrants and hurts u. S. Citizens who are seeking jobs. Put simply, those who follow the rules should be rewarded and lawbreakers should be punish the president s executive amnesty does the exact opposite. Thank you, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentlelady from texas seek recognition . Ms. Jackson lee i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Jackson lee i love living in cauntry, mr. Speaker, that is known around the world for its humanitarian generosity. In the state of texas, there are almost 1. 3 million undocumented individuals. They are undocumented but they are working, they are undocument bud they are paying taxes, they are undocument bud they love their children, many of them citizen children who every day go to school or work or college to try to make a difference. Mr. President , you do the right thing, and that is to use your executive power, vested in article 2 of the constitution, that allows you to give humanitarian rereleaf as indicated by the arizona decision in 2012. This is a time for courage, not politics. It is a time for truth, not misrepresentation. This is not amnesty. This is prioritization. This is saving money. This is keeping families together. This is allowing children to not come home to places where their parents have been thrown from their places of work and taken away from them. Im excited about the courage of this president. I look forward to america finally understanding the gifts that you are given. Let us not be a selfish nation, let us be a generous nation and let us help those who are in this country who are working every day, include manage of our soldiers. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The chair lays before the house a communication. The clerk the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, sir, pursuant to the permission granted in clause 2h of rule 2 of the rules of the u. S. House of representatives, the clerk received the following message from the secretary of the senate on november 18, 2014, at 9 45 a. M. , that the senate adopted a resolution relative to the death of howard o. Green jr. , former Senate Sergeant at arms of the United States senate. Senate resolution 579. With best wishes, i am, signed sincerely, karen l. Hawes. Karen l. Haas. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman rise . Mr. Burgess by direction of the committee on rules i call up resolution 756 and ask for its immediate considering. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the resolution. The clerk House Resolution 756, resolved that upon adoption of this resolution, it shall be in order to consider in the house the bill h. R. 1422, amend the Environmental Research, development and demonstration authorize act of 1978 to provide for Advisory Board member qualifications, Public Participation and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are twhavepled amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on science, space, and technology now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. The bill as amended shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill as amended are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill as amended and on any further amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one, one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on science, space, and technology, two, the further amendment printed in part a of the report on the committee on rules, accompanied this resolution, offered by representative stewart of utah or his designee, which shall be in order without intervention of any point of order, shall be considered as read, shall be separately debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. And three, one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Section 2. At any point after at any time after adoption of this resolution, the speaker may, pursuant to clause 2b of rule 18, declare the house resolved into the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for consideration of the bill h. R. 4012 to prohibit the Environmental Protection agency from proposing, finalizing or disseminating regulations or assessments based upon science that is not transparent or reproducible. The First Reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on science, space, and technology. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the fiveminute rule. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the fiveminute rule an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of rules Committee Print 11357. That amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. All points of order against that amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived. No amendment to that amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be in order except those printed in part b of the report of the committee on rules accompanying this resolution. Each such amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment and shall not be subject to demand for division of the question in the house or in the committee of the whole. All points of order against such amendments are waived. At the cop collusion of consideration of the bill for amendment, the Committee Hall rise and report the bill to the house with such amendments as may have been dofment any member may demand a separate vote in the house on any amendment adopteded to the bill or to the amendment made in substitute made in order as original text. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instruction. Section 3. At any time after adoption of this resolution, the speaker may, pursuant to clause 2b of rule 18, declare the house resolved into the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for consideration of the bill h. R. 4795 to promote new manufacturing in the United States by providing for Greater Transparency and timeliness in obtaining necessary permits and for other purposes. The First Reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on energy and commerce. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the fiveminute rule. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. No amendment to the ail bill shall be in order except those printed in part c of the report of the committee on rules accompanying this resolution. Each such amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the house or in the committee of the whole. All points of order against such amendments are waived. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment, the Committee Shall rise and report the bill to the house with such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Section 4. On any legislative day during the period from november 21, 2014, through november 28, 2014, a, the journal of the proceeds of the previous day shall be considered as approved and b, the chair may at any time declare the house adjourned to meet at a date and time within the limits of clause 4, section 5, article 1 of the constitution to be announced by the chair in declaring the adjournment. Section 5. The speaker may appoint members to perform the duties of the chair for the duration of the period addressed by section 4 of this resolution as though under clause 8a of rule 1. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for one hour. Mr. Burgess thank you, mr. Speaker. For the purposes of debate only, i yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Mcgovern, pending which, i yield myself such time as i may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purposes of debate only. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for such time as he may consume. Mr. Burgess i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Burgess House Resolution 756 provides for the consideration of three important pieces of legislation to create a more transparent and accountable Environmental Protection agency, one that works in an open manner for all of america. The rule provides for one hour of debate for each of the three bills contained within the rule. Further, amendments were made in order for each of the three bills for a total of five amendments from members of both parties. Mr. Speaker, the first bill contained in this rule, h. R. 1422, the e. P. A. Science Advisory Board reform act of 2013, brings greater accountability, greater oversight to the board of appointed advisors which the e. P. A. Uses to review the scientific basis for its official action. Created in the late 1970s, the science adviz Advisory Board was intended to be a check on the e. P. A. In order to ensure that the agencys math and the agencys statistics were all in order before it promulgated rules or regulations. In fact, the original authorization if for the board made clear that the science Advisory Board was to report both to the e. P. A. And to congress on its findings. However, over the course of the past several decades since its inception this escience Advisory Board has become little more than a rubber stamp for whatever the e. P. A. Administrator wishes to accomplish with the Board Members being hand picked by the administrator, likely being chosen primarily on the basis that they hold the same environmental world view as whoever the e. P. A. Happens to be at any given point in time. The bill before us would provide for a more balanced representation on the science Advisory Board, setting up parameters regarding whom the administrator can choose and ensuring that state and local governments have representation on the board and not simply relegated to environmental activists which unfortunately has been the case for some time now. Indeed, current regulations exclude Industry Experts from serving on the science Advisory Board but not officials from Environmental Advocacy groups. The new regulations are necessary tone sure against any appearance of impropriety on the board. Becomes even on more critical when one considers the new mexico routs regulations the Environmental Protection agency is currently contemplating, which could have significant impacts on the nations economy from proposed carbon regulations to ratcheting down ozone regulation thegs science Advisory Board has been tasked with reviewing the science to back up some of the most expensive rules in the Environmental Protection agencys history. It is critical that the American People have confidence in what their federal government is doing and coffedtchaveed is justified. I fear that absent any significant reform to the e. P. A. s process that is currently not the case. The second bill contained in this rule, h. R. 4012, the secret science reform act, is also intended to make the Environmental Protection agencys rule make manager transparent, a goal that at making more transparent a goal that at one time was shared by the president. The legislation states the Environmental Protection agency may take official action on an environmental regulation only if it has identified all scientific and Technical Information which upon which the agency has relied for that particular action. And further it must use only publicly available studies and can thus be independently Peer Reviewed this would bring the peamplets process in line e. P. A. s process in line with how many scientific journals operate when they publish Peer Reviewed studies. It will not interveer by any rules enacted by the e. P. A. To address concerns expressed during the Science Committees consideration of the bill, the legislation spells out that nothing in these requirements would jeopardize any privacy concerns with scientific studies. The c. D. C. Has successfully made its studies available without exposing any of its test subjects personal information, and the e. P. A. Should have no problem similarly complying with these requirements. Finally, h. R. 4795, the promoting new manufacturing act, the third bill included in the rule before us today, provides for Greater Transparency and would cut much of the red tape surrounding the permitting process for manufacturers attempting to comply with the clean air acts requirements. It would require the e. P. A. To publish guidance on how Companies May more efficiently obtain construction permits and navigate what is often a lengthy and arduous process. Mr. Speaker, americans are waking up to how much of the United States economy is subject to the e. P. A. And its regulations, from Carbon Dioxide to owe zone, and people ozone, and people are anxious how these new and in some cases unprecedented rules will affect consumers wall etc. It is reasonable and ex wallets. It is reasonable and expeditious that e. P. A. , upon which it is relying to craft its regulations, will be transparent and available to all and not just the select few whom the e. P. A. Deems worthy to see its work products. Even the congressional committees who are charged with legitimate oversight of the e. P. A. s actions have had difficulty in obtaining basic scene justifications for its actions over the last few years. The bill before us today will begin the process of making the e. P. A. Accountable to the very constituency the Agency Claims to be protecting, the American People. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote yes on the rule and yes on the underlying bills and i will reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas reserves. The gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Mcgovern thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank the gentleman from texas, mr. Burgess, for yielding me the qustomary 30 minutes, and i ask customary 30 minutes, and i ask unanimous consent that i revise and extend and i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for as much time as he wishes to consume. Mr. Mcgovern mr. Speaker, i thought one of the lessons of this last election was that the American People wanted washington to work, that they wanted us to work toward passing legislation, sensible legislation that could be passed in both chambers, go to the white house and be signed into law and we could move this country forward. Ut i guess i guess that lesson somehow escaped my american colleagues, because what were doing here today is another colossal waste of time. I rise in opposition to this rule and i rise in opposition to the underlying legislation. The points of the bills that were considering today seek to prevent the e. P. A. From protecting Public Health and environment. Its that simple. The white house has already issued three veto threats against these bills. The other body is not going to take these bills up, so here we are in this lameduck session with a lot of work we should be doing and instead were doing this. On december 11, this government will run out of money. Maybe we should be spending some time trying to avoid another Government Shutdown or do the appropriations process in a more thoughtful way. But instead my colleagues will wait until the last minute and will bring a bill to the floor that most members will not have time to read and that will be that. Maybe we should be talking about passing an increase of the minimum wage. Were reading story after story about how the how income inequality in this country is getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Maybe we need to make sure that work pays a livable wage in this country or maybe we can pass a pay equity bill so women can get paid for equal work. Were not doing any of that. That would certainly be signed by the white house. Or immigration bill. The United States Senate Passed in a bipartisan way a comprehensive immigration bill dealing with a very important problem in this country. It is supported by labor unions and it is supported by the u. S. Chamber of commerce. Again, a bipartisan vote in the United States senate. We doing that here today . No. We cant even bring that to the floor to have a debate because this leadership in this house runs such a closed process. We have wasted time in this chamber debating republican messaging bills to repeal the cari champion, undermine doddfrank repeal the Affordable Care act, undermine doddfrank and environmental regulations while failing to create jobs, boost the economy and help vulnerable americans rise out of poverty. You know, instead of kind of doing the peoples business, were back into republican messaging bills again. The three bills that were talking about here today, h. R. 4795, h. R. 4012 and h. R. 1422 will allow industry to have a greater influence over the policies developed at the e. P. A. , weaken our air quality and prevent the e. P. A. From using critical, high quality and peerreviewed data in their policy data. Why in the world would we want to do this . Well, because the republicans corporate constituency demand it. This may be a nice way to thank big republican donors for their support in the last election, but quite frankly its lousy policy. R. 4795, the cleverly named promoting new manufacturing act, does nothing to boost manufacturing, does nothing to help the permitting process or create jobs. It requires the e. P. A. To give regulations and guidance concurrently when issuing ambient air quality standards. If this requirement is not met, a new or expanding facility must only show it complies with the new insufficient standard. Not only will this legislation create several new avenues for litigation, but it will also weaken air quality protections and threaten Public Health. Why in the world would we even contemplate doing that . H. R. 4012, the secret science reform act, will prevent e. P. A. From using the best available scientific data, harm future research and delay implementation of Public Health protections. Far from protecting transparency and accountability, this bill will limit the body of highquality Scientific Research that can be used and undermine e. P. A. s ability to function. The e. P. A. Realized on peerreviewed Scientific Research that often contains information scientists are legally required to keep confidential, like an individuals health record. How is the e. P. A. Supposed to determine the effects of a pollutant on our health if they are not allowed to look at health data . Individual Health Records should be highly protected, and i would like to point out that the peerreviewed studies that form the basis of e. P. A. s actions are available are already available. The purpose of this bill is not to create transparency but to create bureaucracy, to make it impossible for the e. P. A. To develop policies to protect our health and our environment. There is no secret science, just science that my republican colleagues do not like. Im pleased to see that amendment to h. R. 4012, submitted by my friend, joe kennedy, was made in order. I strongly support this amendment which would allow the e. P. A. To continue to rely upon peerreviewed scientific data, even if that data is legally required to be kept private. The e. P. A. Must be allowed to continue to use this Critical Data in their policy development. Lastly, h. R. 1422, the e. P. A. Science Advisory Board reform act, will slow down the e. P. A. s ability to develop regulations and effectively force the e. P. A. To include individuals with financial conflicts on the science Advisory Board so long as the conflicts are disclosed. It isnt logical not to include a decisionmaking board if that individual would be financially affected by its decision. I should note that legislation limits the participation of academic scientists with relevant subject matter expertise for providing their advice to the e. P. A. Which will lead to panels with disproportionately high amounts of industry representation. This bill would allow the republicans corporate constituency, a direct route to disrupting the e. P. A. s ability to create regulations designed to protect our health. I would say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, i get it. You dont like science. You dont like science that interferes with some of the interests of your corporate clients, but we need to rely on science so we can protect the Public Health and we can protect our environment. Thats one of the main jobs that we are tasked with is to protect our constituencies. So why we would be trying to, you know, move us back in a direction that endangers Public Health is beyond me. Mr. Speaker, all today we are considering three bills to undermine Public Health, hurt the environment and tie up the e. P. A. In red tape. I would again say to my colleagues, were going to have this debate here today. These bills arent going anywhere. Were wasting time doing this today. Im just going to close with one other issue we should be talking about. You know, in july a majority of this house supported an amendment that i had offered saying that if in fact we had sustained combat operations in iraq that congress would vote to authorize or not such action. Well, clearly we have sustained combat operations going on in iraq. We are getting sucked deeper and deeper and deeper into war while this congress sits and twiddles its thumbs and does Everything Possible to avoid a debate on whether or not we should be involved in another war. You know what, there are thousands of americans that have been put in harms way and we are not living up to our constitutional responsibility. Surely, you know, we should be spending some time talking about that, whether or not the United States should get sucked into another war halfway around the world, a war that will cost american lives and it will continue to cost a great deal in terms of our national treasure. But instead of debating those that and other things that really matter to people, were doing another messaging bill. So i regret the fact that here we are in this these few days that we have left in this lameduck session doing this kind of stuff when we ought to be doing the peoples business. So mr. Speaker, please, i urge my colleagues, vote against this restrictive rule, vote against all the underlying legislation, and i plea to the republican leadership, lets bring something to the floor that will help the American People. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Burgess mr. Speaker, ill reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas reserves. The gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Mcgovern im delighted to yield three minutes to the gentlewoman from new york, the Ranking Member of the committee on rules, ms. Slaughter. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized for three minutes. Ms. Slaughter thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you, mr. Mcgovern. I appreciate your statement on this rule today. I honestly once again think we would almost expect that nothing good would happen here. And im rising with a very heavy heart today because nothing good is happening in my office as well today because today we are seeing the last rule worked on by my friend don simpson whos been with us for over 10 years here, works extraordinarily well in the rules committee, Outstanding Service and really an integral part that hes going to be playing over at the white house. It means a significant loss for us. Hes the special assistant to the president for legislative affairs. And while i really want to wish him well, to be perfectly honest with you, it is breaking my heart to see him go. Don is not only an expert on the rules, a computer genius, anything electrical that goes awry, don can fix it in a moment. But dons a caretaker. He not only takes great care about the rules and his work and everybody on the committee whom he really loved and enjoyed working with, he takes care of people individually and he has certainly done that for me. I had a pretty bad year this last year losing my husband. And don was always there. Electricity didnt work, something happened, don could fix that for me. So as i speak about my personal feelings overwhelmed with the wonderful opportunity for him as a young man to work in the white house of the United States government with the president. We are absolutely id like to go over his credentials here but im not going to do it. Im simply going to tell you that one of the best people that ever worked in the house of the United States representatives, and one of the finalist persons on the rules committee who understands not only rules but is a friend to every Single Person who works in this house and beyond, who could always be counted on as a friend, as someone with extraordinarily gifted intelligence as being able to work his way through the most ngerous knot, don is a man for all seasons. I wish him the very best of everything but say to you without a doubt, the loss for our side, for our office, for ur friends is profound. Nonetheless hes going to go. I want the white house to understand what a jewel theyre getting. Thank you very much, mr. Mcgovern, for yielding me the time. Thank you, don if your service and youll always have a place here in this house. Thank you very much. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. He gentleman the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from massachusetts reserves. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Burgess i would just like to join the gentlelady from new york in congratulating don sisson for his new position as White House Affairs and look forward to working with him and am somewhat comforted to know that there is an office of leg affairs at the white house and look forward to his occupying that position. I reserve the time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Mcgovern let me yield myself such time as i may consume to join with the Ranking Member in honoring don sisson. This will be his last day on the floor, i think his last day is this week. Hes been working for the rules committee for 10 years under both republicans and democrats. Hes a native of upstate new york and hes been around for historic debates in congress and has been an integral part of the rule committees staff for many, many years. As ms. Slaughter pointed out, hell be moving on to the white house and well miss him dearly. But i think its important for all of us to take a moment just to recognize that don kind of represents the best, i think, of the staff that work here. You know, hes up here for all the right reasons. He wants to make the world a better place. Hes shown this great ability to Work Across Party Lines and to build things and make things happen. And i know he will use those skills in his new position at the white house. But you know, rule committees, we meet an awful lot and were together an awful lot, so were all family. And so when somebody leaves, its painful because its like a Family Member moving on and going someplace else, and so were going to miss don but he wont be that far away, well work with him in a new capacity but i think on behalf of everybody on the committee, members and staff included, i think we all owe you a debt of gratitude and were grateful for your service. You have served this institution with great honor and dignity and we wish you all the best in your new job and so thank you very much for a job well done. And mr. Speaker, at this time i would like to i want to announce to my colleagues that im going to urge that we defeat the previous question and if we do, i will offer an amendment to the rule that would allow the house to consider the attire act to support textile research and innovation in the United States and continue to strength then made in America Movement as an as a conduit for bolstering our economy and creating american jobs. To discuss our proposal, i yield five minute toths gentleman from north carolina, mr. Price. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Price i thank my colleague for yielding and i rise in support of the attire act. Which we will offer as an amendment to the rule if the previous question is defeated. The most notable aspect of the majoritys socalled manufacturing bills before us is their lack of ambition and vision. Theyre simply messaging bills. So we have an alternative to put forward. A billion that already has broad support in this body. The bill would support textile research and innovation in the United States, strengthening the make it in America Movement as an instrument for creating american jobs, bolstering our economy and improving our international competitiveness. The attire act. Would establish a department of commerce Grant Program to fund textile research, supporting innovation in the u. S. Textile and fiber products industry. The bill is fully paid for. Although our nations Manufacturing Base has suffered major losses over the last 20 year the American Textile industry continues to employ over 500,000 workers across the country and contributes nearly 60 billion to our Gross Domestic Product annually. Even in the face of an economic downturn, the industry continues to thrive and adapt to the competitive global marketplace by remaining at the cutting edge of innovations in textile and fiber technologies. Despite all this, theres currently no dedicated source of federal funding for research into new textile technologies, applications and market opportunities. Mr. Speaker, some of our olleagues may need to be dispersed of the notion that the textile industry is old or inflexible or in decline. Thats an undeserved reputation. The fact is, our nations leading textile institutes and textile firm that was been quick to followup on Research Findings have made remarkable progress, particularly in the areas of nonwoven fabrics while developing Innovative Technologies in materials currently as varied a aerospace, biomedical and technology. The implications for advanced textile, notably for first responders, are especially promising. Im referring to major advances in heat resistant clothe, bacteria resistant microfibers resist. Fibers able to advances in processing hold the promise of reshoring manufacture of the textile jobs lost over the years to low wage countries. Research for textiles isnt a new idea. Between 2006 and 2010, the department of commerce provided ongoing support for textile research provide by tex sile center a Research Partnership of eight universities and tc squared, a leading consortium. Since 2010, they have not provided any comparable source of funding for advanced Technical Research largely because this body has not provided that funding. Industry stake holders as varied as high end athletic and outdoor apparel companies, aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors and advanced textile manufacturers all recognize the importance of federal support for advanced textile research. So instead of spending time on shortsighted legislation undermining the e. P. A. s ability to do its job, we should instead be focusing on forward thinking manufacturing and Economic Policy to improve our Nations International competitiveness. With our support, u. S. Manufacturers and workers will dominate the 21st Century Global economy as they did in the 20th century. If colleagues want to do something serious to help american manufacturers and workers, then we should support this bill. Its as simple as that. I urge defeat of the previous question. And i yield bethe balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from massachusetts reserves. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Burgess i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas reserves. The gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Mcgovern may i inquire the if the gentleman has any other speakers . Mr. Burgess i have no other speakers. Mr. Mcgovern we had one other speak whore is not here. Ill close. I urge my colleagues to vote against the previous question if the previous question is defeated, well make in order this afire act that mr. Price so carefully described to all of us here today and the attire act that mr. Price so carefully described to all of us here today and i ask unanimous consent that that be inserted into the record immediately before the vote on the previous question. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Mcgovern let me say it is frustrating to be back after the election and engage in the same old, same hold. Republican partisan messaging bills that are going nowhere, that just waste time. You know, we ought to do the peoples business. The next campaign ought not to start for a little while. The fact that were back here, not debating this conflict that is now going on in the middle east, the fact that we are not debating an immigration bill theark the fact that we are not debating a pay equity bill or minimum wage bill and were doing this is very discouraging. I would urbling my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to send a strong Statement Today and vote no on this rule and vote no on the previous question and i also urge if the rule passes, that we vote no on the underlying legislation. We have a lot of work to do. What were doing here today does not constitute that work. I regret it very much. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Burgess i yield myself the balance of our time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Burgess todays rule provides for consideration of three important bills to provide for open and transparent rule making at the Environmental Protection agency. I want to thank the authors for their thoughtful legislation, i want to urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying bills. For that reason, i yield back the balance of my time and move the question the previous question on the resolution. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields the gentleman yields back and moves the previous question. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair the ayes have it. Mr. Mcgovern i ask for the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. A sufficient number having risen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Members will record their votes by Electronic Device. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20, the chair will reduce to five minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote on the question of adoption of the resolution. This is a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 225, the nays are 190678 the previous question is ordered. The question is on adoption of the resolution. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the preponderance of the chair, the ayes have it. For what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts rise . Mr. Mcgovern on that, i ask for a recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore a recorded vote is requested. Those in support of the recorded vote will rise. A sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. This is a fiveminute vote. Members will record their votes by Electronic Device [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 227. The nays are 192. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. He house will come to order. The house will come to order. Please remove all conversations owl of the aisles, out of the well, please. He house will be in order. The house will be in or. The chair requests all conversations be removed from the aisles and from the back. Please, members either take your seats or take conversations off the floor. The house will come to order. Please, all conversations be removed from the floor. Please clear the aisles. The chair requests all conversations to be removed from the house chamber. He house will come to order. The house will come to order. Please remove conversations from the floor. Members clear the aisles. Members clear the back aisles. Please take conversations off the floor. The gentlelady from texas seek recognition . Ms. Jackson lee mr. Speaker, thank you very much. Detained on ably roll call vote number 521 and 522 with a meeting on constituency matters. If i had been present i would have voted no on roll call vote umber 521 and no on 522. Ask unanimous consent to have it placed in the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleladys statement will appear in the record. For what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . Thank you, mr. Speaker. Pursuant to House Resolution 756, i call up the bill h. R. 1422 to amend the Environmental Research development and Demonstration Authority act of 1979 to provide for scientific Advisory Board member qualifications, Public Participation, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration on the house floor. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the tight of the bill. The clerk Union Calendar number 119, h. R. 1422, a bill to amend the Environmental Research development and demonstration authorization act of 1978 to provide for scientific Advisory Board member qualifications, Public Participation, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 756, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on science, space, and technology printed in the bill is adopted and the bill as amended is considered as read. After one hour of debate on the bill as amended, it shall be in order to consider for first degree murder amendment printed in part a of house report 113626, if offered by the gentleman from utah, mr. Stewart, or his designee, which shall be considered as read, and shall be separately debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. The gentleman from arizona, mr. Swigert, and the gentleman from oregon, ms. Bonamici, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from arizona at this time mr. Swigert mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend and actual extraneous materials on the bill h. R. 1422. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. The gentleman will suspend. Please remove all conversations from the house floor. Remove all conversations from the aisles and back aisle. The gentleman will continue. Mr. Schweikert thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Swigert members of congress have been asking for great transparency from the e. P. A. s science Advisory Board for years. And the e. P. A. Science Advisory Board reform act we believe addresses those concerns. Mr. Schweikert currently the board is made of 52 members appointed by the administrator of the e. P. A. To serve threeyear templets the large majority of these members are affiliated with academic institutions while private industry and other interested parties are unrepresented. The only state governments represented are california and vermont, while log tribal governments and local government local tribal governments and local government have no representation on the board. H. R. 1422 at least 10 of the Board Members, at least 10 of the Board Members will be from states, local governments, or tribal entities. The bill reinforces peer review requirements and reduces conflicts of interest while providing opportunity for disinterested panelists to make their views known. The science advisory reform act promises fairness, transparency, and independent pence to ensure unbiased independence to ensure unbiased advise given to the e. P. A. I yield the remaining time to the gentleman from utah, mr. Stewart, and ask unanimous consent that mr. Stewart be permitted to control the time. The speaker pro tempore is there objection . Without objection, so ordered. The gentleman from utah is now recognized for the rest of the time. Stewart the gentleman reserves. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentlelady from oregon. Ms. Bonamici thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for as much time as she may consume. Ms. Bonamici thank you very much, mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to h. R. 1422, the e. P. A. Science Advisory Board reform act. Mr. Thank my colleagues mr. Smith and mr. Schweikert for improving the board. And i thank them for working with me on other legislation that passed the Science Committee in the house on a bipartisan basis. Its unfortunate that we could not be repeating that bipartisan collaboration today. My colleagues who support h. R. 1422 may describe this bill as an attempt to strengthen Public Participation in e. P. A. s scientific review process, improve the process for selecting expert advisors, expand transparency requirements and limit nonscientific policy advice within e. P. A. Science Advisory Board. And all of these are Good Government principles that i agree with. If this bill achieved those goals i would be here today supporting it. However, on close examination of its provisions, h. R. 1422 would not achieve these Good Government goals. Instead of improving the science Advisory Board structure or operation, the bill before us today will likely limit the quality of scientific advice the e. P. A. Receives and further delay e. P. A. s regulatory process. H. R. 1422 would make it easier for industry representatives to serve on the board even if they have a financial conflict of interest. Now, to be clear, and this is something with which i trust my republican colleagues would agree, i am not opposed to Industry Experts participating on science Advisory Boards or in the peer review process at the e. P. A. In fact, there is their insight into processes of industry can provide invaluable guidance to an advisory body. Congress should not be endorsing legislation that undermines longstanding ethics requirements and practices with the end result being an overrepresentation of industry scroices on e. P. A. Science Advisory Board, and thats likely to be the result of this bill today. At the same time, this bill eases the way for more industry members. The fact also makes it difficult if not impossible for the best and brightest from academia to serve because it would exclude from the board anyone who has participated in activities that were even indirectly reviewed by the e. P. A. This provision would gist dis qualify some of the most qualified scientists because academic researchers frequently need to compete for Research Funds from the federal government and that includes the e. P. A. It appears that h. R. 1422 would also significantly delay the work of the science Advisory Boards with new provision that is would require written responses to significant Public Comments following new Public Information gathering sessions. A requirement that is duplicative because the board immediatings are already opened to the public and have time setaside for Public Comment. These provisions are simply result in more work without more resources, and unlimited time to halt, derail, or slow e. P. A. Actions. Finally, this bill sets a quota for membership on the scientific Advisory Board from state, local, or tribal governments, which could very well mean that more qualified experts would not be able to serve. E. P. A. Science is tied to its mission, to protect Public Health and the environment through rational regulation. Scientific research, knowledge, and Technical Expertise are fundamental to e. P. A. s mission and inform its regulatory function. The need for that expertise is why congress create created advisory bodies such as the science Advisory Board in the first place, to provide independent advice on the science underpinning regulation which allows the e. P. A. Administrator to make sound regulatory decisions. Instead of undermining the Scientific Advisory e. P. A. Receives, we should give the agency the tools they need to strengthen and improve the regulatory process with sound science. In closing, i want to again thank my colleagues, mr. Stewart and mr. Schweikert for their efforts, this bill does not do what it needs to do. I want to quote from a letter i received from a coalition of organizations including physicians for social responsibility, clean water action, and more. The letter states the bill shifts the current presumption against including people with financial conflicts on fab fanls. Those provisions are inconsistent with the set of nearly universally accepted principles to eliminate financial conflict. I agree with this assessment at h. R. 1422 and urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this bill. With that, mr. Speaker, rib. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Stewart id like to thank the gentleman from arizona for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for as much time as he may consume. Mr. Stewart id like to thank the Ranking Member, my friend from oregon, as we disagree on this bill as will become evident through this debate today, but she has always been respectful and professional and i appreciate that. The issues we are debating today are important and the decisions well make today are significant. There is a process that is broken and its through this bill we cannot only improve that process but also restore trust between the American People and the federal government. If i could reemphasize what i just said, the process is broken. This is an opportunity for us to restore trust between the American People and the federal government that has fostered so much distrust of late. Established by congress in 1978, the e. P. A. s science Advisory Board, what we refer to as s. A. B. , is intended to provide meaningful, balanced, and independent reviews of the science conducted and used by the agency. Its members are selected by the e. P. A. Administrator and it plays an Important Role in review everything from the e. P. A. s resource fwouget reviewing chemical assessments this panel is indispensable in critically reviewing the underlying science of almost all major e. P. A. Regulatory activities. Thats a tall order in recent years, especially given that the agency has pursued an overreaching, economically threatening agenda, creating an environment where politics and policies have taken the wheel from unbiased science. This bill contains basic Good Government changes and draws upon noncontroversial provisions of the federal Advisory Committee handbook, the e. P. A. s own peerreviewed handbook, the national academy, and even recommendations if the Science Committee testimony and other outside groups. It has widespread support from groups such as the National Chamber of commerce, the National Association of manufacturers, the American Farm bureau, the american road and transportation builders association, the american chemistry council, the American Gas Association the Small Business and entrepreneurship council, Portland Cement association and american forestry and Paper Association and i could go on and on with a long list of councils and associations that support this legislation. It makes important clarifying changes to the scope of s. A. B. s purview and institutes commonsense reforms. And id like to emphasize this youll hear this again and again today. Commonsense reforms. To improve transparency. How can you argue against that . It specifically builds upon a bipartisan agreement made to the s. A. B. In the farm bill. H. R. 1422 would also facilitate meaningful Public Participation across all of the standing committees. Once again, let me emphasize that. It facilitates meaningful Public Participation. And lets be clear. The transparency and the Public Participation concerns addressed in this bill are not without merit. For example, in my own experience, during the hearing in the Science Committee last year, i was alarmed to hear from both s. A. B. Members and the chair of the e. P. A. s clean air Scientific Advisory committee and a state official testified that e. P. A. s Science Advisors virtually never respond to Public Comments. And in many case, they dont even read these Public Comments. Imagine the arrogance of a Government Committee that pretoneds seek Public Comment and promises to consider those comments, and then to learn that they dont even read them. Let alone consider what has been said. This bill would change that. This bill also provides clarity to the s. A. B. Member selection and disclosure process. Despite an existing requirement that these panels be, quote, fairly balanced in terms of point of view and represented, unquote, e. P. A. Has systematically excluded state, local and tribal entities. Private sector scientists from serving as advisors. For example, last year, e. P. A. Announced a new hydraulic fracturing research panel. Even though dozens of people with recent and direct experience with oil and gas technical developments were nominated, the e. P. A. Excluded nearly every one of them. From serving on the panel. There are also a number of other unsettling Agency Trends about how the e. P. A. Selects its supposedly independent advisors. For instance, according to the Congressional Research service, almost 60 of the members of e. P. A. s chartered s. A. B. And clean air Scientific Advisory committee have directly received grants from the agency and thats only since the year 2000. These advisors served as principal or coinvestigators for e. P. A. Grants totaling approximately 140 million. The e. P. A. Also frequently chooses panelists Whose Research is directly or indirectly under review. And finally, in addition, many of the s. A. B. Panelists have clearly taken sides or made public pronouncements on issues they are advising about. For example, roughly 40 of the Current Panel members reviewing the Science Behind an upcoming e. P. A. Ozone standard have already made statements that the regulations should be more stringent. The issues identified in this bill seem too many, too specific and diving into the weeds. But credible peer review is critical to everything the e. P. A. Does. We may not be able to control all of the e. P. A. s regulatory overreach, but guaranteing that there is an independent check whose sole focus is to provide unbiased, independent science is essential to the process. With that, mr. Speaker, i reserve my time. The speaker pro tempore the entlelady from oregon. Id like to ms. Bonamici id like to place into the record letters from concerned scientists and others and i would like to place into the record the administrations statement on the bill threatening to veto it it were to pass. I yield six minutes to the gentlelady from texas, the Ranking Member of the Science Committee, ms. Johnson the speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for six minutes. Ms. Johnson thank you, mr. Chairman. Let me thank the Ranking Member. I rise in strong opposition to h. R. 1422, the e. P. A. Science Advisory Board reformat. H. R. 1422 is a continuation of the majoritys antiscience agenda. It benefits no one but the industry and it harms Public Health. The bill before us today reforms e. P. A. s science Advisory Board not for the better, but for the worse. The supposed intent of h. R. 1422 is to improve and foster the process of selecting advisors to serve on the agencys Advisory Board. But in reality, h. R. 1422 will allow the board to be stacked with industry affiliated representatives while making it more difficult for the experts from academia to serve on the board. The role of the board is to provide independent scientific analysis and advice to the e. P. A. While reviewing the quality of scientific information used as a basis for regulation. My republican colleagues seem to have a fundamental distrust of scientists. From our nations universities before these researchers because these researchers, the ones with the most relevant expertise to e. P. A. s mission of protecting Public Health, are denied the opportunity to provide e. P. A. With advice under h. R. 1422. It is difficult to understand how anyone could object to the most expert academics in the country being called on to offer their expertise to e. P. A. Who would know better whether e. P. A. Had mischaracterized the science on an issue than the people who are leaders in their respective fields . The board is supposed to be composed of experts, including those who may have literally written the book on the matter. What is the alternative . Should we find people to serve who are less expert . Equally troubling, h. R. 1422 goes out of its way to guarantee that industry affiliated experts are the dominant voice on the board of experts. An expert with an Industry Association is far more likely to find that the science they re asked to review will have a Financial Impact on their employer. Academic scientists do not have such financial conflicts of interest with the board with the boards advice or e. P. A. s actions. To be clear, i am not arguing that industry should not have no representation on e. P. A. s science Advisory Board. Their insight is valuable. But i do not support stacking the board with industry representatives as would be the outcome if this deal passes. Another goal of h. R. 1422 is stated by our colleagues on the other side as stated by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle is to improve the science that goes to e. P. A. Regulations. H. R. 1422 falls short of that goal as well and instead weakens and delays the scientific review process, putting the health of every american at risk. As a former nurse, i cannot support legislation that endangers Public Health and i strongly urge my colleagues to oppose h. R. 1422 and mr. Chairman, i want to say that this bill came out of Committee Without a single democratic vote. Hank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Stewart i would like to respond briefly to the minority members, some of her comments regarding this bill. The bill very clearly does not allow for the s. A. B. To be stacked, to use her phrase, with Industry Experts. And i have the bill before us. Its only a couple of pages long. Its very simple. I would ask anyone to show me the language where it allows for the s. A. B. To be stacked with Industry Experts. All were asking is that there be some balance to those experts that are asked. And that there further be transparency and that we understand who is selected, why they were selected, and why others were excluded from this. Just like, by the way, were not asking that those scientist who was e. P. A. Funded backgrounds to be excluded. Were not saying that theyre conflicted to the point they couldnt participate. We recognize they have expertise that could help in this process. But we also have asking on the other hand that we recognize that there are Industry Experts, which are currently being excluded from this because of their background. Of the 51 members of the current s. A. B. , only three, only three have any industry expertise. And were losing valuable insight and valuable guidance because we dont include them in the process. With that, mr. Speaker, id like to yield three minutes again to the gentleman from texas, mr. Weber. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Weber i thank the gentleman. It seems like some of the themes were hearing from opponents of the bill are that the committee is going to be stacked with people from industry, from the states, its as if the people from industry cant be trusted, people from states cant be trusted. Then we hear the theme that there was not a single democratic vote, to get this bill out. It almost sounds like the Affordable Care act to me, where people recent revelations are, one of the opponents said americans were too stupid to understand so thats why the Affordable Care act had to be passed and it couldnt have transparency because it would never have passed congress. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in strong support of h. R. 1422, the science Advisory Board, called the s. A. B. , i guess wed say his is a sad s. A. B. Story, was established to review the decisions Science Behind e. P. A. s decisions and advise congress. Unfortunately the s. A. B. Is no longer functioning as desired without the impartiality and expertise needed to be effective arbiters of e. P. A. s use of science. Why no transparency, mr. Speaker . Thats what weve got to ask. The American Public deserves transparency. This is taxpayer dollars were talking about. The membership of the s. A. B. Has excluded individuals from the state agencies and private sector. Again i remind us that these are people who build communities and industries in neighborhoods, in cities, in towns and in states. Can you say 10th amendment . States have all the rights reserved. They are the Building Block communities. Citizens, industries, the Building Block of this country. This is a country that has a government, not a government that has a country. So as e. P. A. Continues its regulatory assault on americas economy, it is critically important that congress act to improve the quality of e. P. A. s use of science in its decisions. This bill, this legislation will do just that. It will improve the quality of s. A. B. s membership, it will increase Public Participation in its scientific review, it will allow for dissenting opinions among its members and limit the s. A. B. s activities to questions of science, not policy. I want to say thank you to congressman stewart and chairman smith for bringing this important legislation to the floor today. Its very important that we get on top of this, the American People deserve transparency, they deserve to see deserve a seat at the table and they deserve nothing less. Mr. Chairman, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas yields back. The gentleman from utah reserves. The gentleman from the gentlewoman from oregon. Ms. Bonamici before i yield to the gentleman from california, i want to respond that certainly we on this side of the aisle agree with the goal of transparency. However, transparency does not mean letting industry people with a financial interest serve by disclosing it. Thats not what transparency means, mr. Speaker. At this point, i would like to yield four minute foss the gentleman from california who is not only a physician but a great member of the Science Committee, mr. Bera. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Bera i thank the Ranking Member from texas for her leadership. I rise in