I call this hearing of the subcommittee on fisheries, wildlife, fisheries, water and wildlife, to order. We are here today to discuss innovative financing and funding to address americas deficient Water Infrastructure. The purpose of this hearing is simple, today we will be discussing americas current approach towards Drinking Water and wastewater investment Wastewater Infrastructure investment. Many members of this committee including myself often reference the American Society of Civil Engineers, asce, infrastructure report card. Currently the asce grades americas Drinking Water infrastructure with a d. Wastewater has a slightly better grade, a d plus. That reminds some of our grades in school. Not you. Im glad you didnt look this way. This is not a rural problem or a big city problem, its not a republican or a democrat problem. This is a National Emergency and we need to find solutions before its too late. It is one thing to see these terrible grades on paper, but what does this act
This laws impact on managing our nations fisheries, its successes to date and possibly areas of improvement. The committee has already announced a field hearing in alaska later this month and i look forward to hearing from stakeholders at additional hearings throughout the country this fall. I would like to first welcome both of our witnesses, dr. John quinn, the chair of the Council Coordination committee, the ccc, and mr. Chris oliver, noaas assistant administrator for fisheries. The last reauthorization of msa was 11 years ago and it created the ccc. The ccc has the leadership of eight Regional Councils to discuss areas of common interest and im pleased to have dr. Quinn here today to discuss consensus views of the eight counsels on the msa reauthorization. Im also pleased to introduce chris oliver, firstever alaska on the hold the position of the assistant administrator for fisheries before becoming director, chris spent 27 years working at the North Pacific Fisheries Management co
Carmel Research Center as well. And the full 25 letters of report the Science Committee received for this legislation. I have no other requests for time but before i reserve, i want to thank the three original cosponsors we have on the floor tonight. And i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas reserves. This is a good bill that will improve services. The results of the changes contained in this legislation, it will be more timely and accurate forecasts that will protect lives and property. Ms. Bonamici researchers have found that annual variations can produce billions of dollars in reduced gross domestic products. With stakes that large we owe it to our nation. H. R. 1561 takes steps to support noaa and how we harness research. I want to thank the many leaders in the Research Community and the private weather sector who provided advice to the committee as we worked on this bill. I extend my appreciation to the under secretary for oceans and atmosphere for her cooper
The speaker pro tempore on this vote the chair on this vote, the yeas are 234, the nays are 18. The amendment is adopt the Unfinished Business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 8 printed in part a of house report 114120 by the gentleman from california, mr. Lowenthal, on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the noes prevailed by voice vote. The clerk will redesignate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 8 printed in house report report 114120, offered by mr. Lowenthal of california. The speaker pro tempore a recorded vote has been requested. Those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. A sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute 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 p
Left a wrong impression when i was talking with the secretary saying if you were given the same report that that probably would have solved everything. We still have big concerns about the five, and i didnt mention that when we were briefed in november of 2011 and january of 2012 that there was real concerns of members of congress that those five would be released. In fact, there was real opposition to it, and thats why were very concerned that we werent told if we reenter those negotiations, you would be told and then we werent, so those are things that we really need to have clarified and worked through. Mr. Thornberry. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, id like to begin with a brief additional observation on the notification issue. For the past several years, this committee has worked on a bipartisan basis to establish an oversight structure for cyberoperations, for terrorism operations and for sensitive military operations. And an oversight structure that allows the department