Transcripts For CSPAN House Session 20150109

You call us today to grow in the knowledge of that love and invite us to receive your blessings. Accept the prayers we offer for our beloved nation, protect it and keep it ever in your sight. Fill this house of representatives with your holy wisdom and may that wisdom lead to right action. Strengthen these representatives and their staffs as they labor for the common good and for what is just in your eyes. May true harmony, lasting freedom and justice be secured for all so that there may be lasting peace. We ask this in your most holy name, amen. The speaker 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 thjonastdsppve the pledge of allegiance today will be led by the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Marino. Mr. Marino please join me in the pledge. 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 the chair will entertain up to five requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentleman from South Carolina rise . Mr. Wilson mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker without objection. Mr. Wilson mr. Speaker, im grateful to express my appreciation for major veronica cultritter. Shes been on loan from the United States marine corps for the past year serving as a military fellow. The major enlisted in the United States marine corps in 1997 and received training the following year at the marine corps recruit depot at paris island, South Carolina. As the former representative of this base, i know firsthand of the proficiency that veronica has because of her training by the highest marine corps standards. Veronicas ability to connect with veterans has been a tremendous asset to our office. Beginning this month, veronica will serve as the manpower and Personnel Office of the Marine Corps Office of legislative affairs. I wish her and her husband, eric, a military Police Officer in the marine corps, all the best in the future. God speed. In conclusion, god bless our troops and the president by his actions must never forget september 11 and the global war on terrorism. Our sympathy for the citizens of france fighting terrorism. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Mst pelosi thank you, into ms. Pelosi thank you mr. Speaker. I call upon the expertise and ability, a person of deep dedication to our country to ending poverty, fighting disease and advancing democracy, someone ive had the privilege to have on my staff for the past 15 years the new assistant administrator for asia at usaid jonathan stivers. Over the years, john worked closely with usaid and congressional committees to promote our National Interests, fight poverty and disease around the world and address ongoing challenges and Global Development across asia. He played a central role in advancing Foreign Policy priorities of our country, especially in the fields of human rights appropriations, hivaids, International Trade and in countries across the asia pacific region. Many of our republican colleagues know that john works very much across the aisle on all of these issues. Johns jonathans professionalism and attention to detail were unparalleled and i can say with confidence on the most challenging and Critical Issues of our day, john stivers consistently exhibits the leadership needed to improve the global community. Though we will miss his expertise and his experience, im proud that hes serving these Critical Issues in his new position, and i wish him, his wife, ramsey whos here with us, his daughters his baby daughters joe is he a phone and parker, all josephine and parker, all the best in their new adventures. Thank you, jonathan stivers, and good luck. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. For what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman from virginia is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, i want to extend my support and gratitude to the Law Enforcement officers across the country who serve our communities and the American People daily. Mr. Goodlatte our nation was founded on the rule of law and every day Law Enforcement officers carry out this legacy. They protect our neighborhoods from criminals fight crime ensure justice and keep the peace. Sadly, many Law Enforcement officers have died in the line of duty. Last year 118 Law Enforcement officers died, including three from the commonwealth of virginia. Last years murder of two nypd officers is a sober reminder that our nations Law Enforcement officers face danger every day as they carry out their duty to protect the American People. In the gospel of john, we are told that there is no greater love than to lay down ones life for ones friends. And this is true of our nations Law Enforcement officers. Every day they risk their lives so that you and i may be safe from harm. These brave men and women are heroes and deserve to be recognized and honored for their service to our country. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from oregon seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman from oregon is recognized for one minute. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. While i did not support the development of tar sands and environmentally destructive and carbon intensive process, we should not continue a loophole that lets Oil Companies off the hook for covering destruction from these bills. In 1990 we authorized the Oil Spill Liability trust fund for the immediate cost of cleaning up oil spills and its funded by an excise tax on crude oil and petroleum products, but the oil derived from tar sands that would be transported through the Keystone Pipeline is not subject to this tax. Since that oil is a thick, sticky form of crude, more difficult and costly to clean up than other types of oil, the exemption makes no sense. Especially if it is as safe as some allege. Thats why yesterday i reintroduced the tar sands tax loophole elimination act which makes sure that oil payed into the that travels through this pipeline, if its ever constructed. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina seek recognition . Ms. Foxx i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. In just a few minutes, my colleagues and i will be following a tradition that we began when republicans regained the majority in 2011 of reading the constitution during the first week that we are back into session. I think this is a very important tradition that we have established here in the house of representatives and our speaker reminded us the other day that this is the first time in the history of the country that this has been done. This is our Third Congress in a row to do this. All of us or almost all of us carry a pocket version of the constitution with us to remind us why we are here and what undergirds everything we do in this house and in this congress. And in the front of the copy i have it says the declaration of independence was the promise, the constitution was the fulfillment, and theres a quote were Alexander Hamilton. The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musky records. Theyre written with the sun beam in the whole volume of human nature by the hand of divinity itself and can never be erased through mortal power. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from washington seek recognition . Without objection the gentleman from washington is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to call on this body to take up legislation to repeal the lastminute changes to Campaign Finance law that were tacked into a 1,600page bill. Mr. Kilmer the wealthiest owners can now each contribute more than 750,000 per year to a political party. More than seven times the previous cap. Worst of all, these changes were buried in the bill with no hearing and no public debate. In fact, mr. Speaker, this body never even got a chance to vote on this provision since the bill was not considered under an open amendment process. In all the conversations that ive had with residents throughout Washington State, i can tell you i have never heard anyone, democrat or republican, argue that wealthy cant spend enough on politics. Or that those with the deepest pockets dont have enough influence in our nations capital. Thats why ive introduced the close the floodgates act, to protect the interest of we the people and make sure the wealthiest owners dont get a chance to flood our politics. Lets take up this legislation strip out those loopholes and restore the faith and trust of american voters. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman from texas is recognized for one minute. Mr. Sessions mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize a remarkable individual from dallas, texas to recognize him for his introduction into the National Football federations Leadership Hall of fame. Last night, january 8 2015, and id like to thank chairman archie manning, Football Player troy aikman, mayor tom and laura leopard and Football Player Roger Staubach for recognizing dr. Kenneth cooper for his dedication to health and fitness and his continuing leadership to health care for all. Throughout dr. Coopers career in the United States air force and in the medical career in dallas texas, hes continued to Revitalize Health care and fitness. Hes also the father of preventative medicine and known as the father of aerobics. Trying to make sure that American People and the world understand how important fitness is to our life and our health. I want to express my hardy congratulations to dr. Cooper on receiving this Outstanding Award on behalf of the National Football league and i hope the American People and today the United States congress. I yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition . Mr. Cohen to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman from tennessee is is recognized for e nu. Mr. Cohen thank you, mr. Speaker. Today the president will be speaking in knoxville, tennessee, on extending College Education to americans. I share with the president the goal of giving more americans the opportunity to go to college, but i would submit to him he should not be holding up the tennessee promise plan in tennessee as an example but he should be holding up the Tennessee Hope Scholarship Program which i worked 20 years to achieve in tennessee and has provided over 3 billion to education, 215 million a year. Scholarship programs, such as the president is talking about, should have standards for students at high schools to achieve to get a scholarship. They should have strong standards in college to maintain them. They should be in addition to pell grants and in addition to other scholarships to pay for books and tuition. The promise plan takes from middleclass and lowerincome students and gives to higherincome students, doesnt have standards in high school to get the scholarship and doesnt have high standards to keep it. Its the last dollar scholarship. The president s plan should be more like the tennessee hope lottery scholarship, ensure that students in high school have an incentive to get it and keep it and should not go forprofit schools because thats an invitation for abuse. I thank the president for his commitment. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from alabamse regnio without objection, the gentlewoman from alabama is recognized for one minute. Mrs. Roby thank you, mr. Speaker. President obamas attempt to bypass congress and grant amnesty to millions of americans is wrong and dangerous. It undermines the rule of law and threatens american jobs. Thats why right now several of my colleagues and i, including fellow appropriators, are putting the finishing touches on a plan that will wield the power of the purse to block executive amnesty. I believe we have a solid strategy. We wanted to put forward the simplest, most straight faord bill language that could defund the president S Immigration actions. Thankfully my own alabama senator jeff sessions, had already had great model language so we crafted that into the house bill. Were still working on that but im confident that strong defund language will be presented to the house for inclusion in the homeland appropriations title. I believe the will of Congress Must be to Fund Homeland Security and its important functions but to specifically block implementation of president obamas unconstitutional immigration orders. Thank you mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. Pursuant to section 5 of House Resolution 5, the chair now recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. Goodlatte, for the reading of the constitution. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, this morning for the third time in the history of the house of representatives, we will read allowed on the floor of the house the full text of the United States constitution. It is our hope that this reading will help demonstrate to the American People that the house of representatives is dedicated to the constitution and the system it establishes for limited government and protection of individual liberty. We also hope that it will inspire many more americans to read the constitution themselves. The text we read today reflects the changes made to the document. Those portions precede bide amendment will not be reid. To assure fairness to all those interested in participating, we have asked members to line up to be recognized on a first come, first served basis. I will recognize members based on this guidance. Each member will approach the podium and read the passage laid out for him or her. In order to ensure relative parity and fairness, i may recognize members out of order in order to ensure bearp bipartisanship and balance. Because of his longterm leadership on civil rights issues, i will recognize representative john lewis to read the 13th amendment. I want to thank the members of both parties for their participation in this historic event, and i will begin by recognizing Speaker Boehner to read the preamble of the constitution. The speaker i thank my colleague for yielding. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of america. Mr. Goodlatte article i section 1 all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a congress of the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives. I now yield to the majority leader, the gentleman from california, mr. Mccarthy. Mr. Mccarthy i thank the gentleman for yielding. Section 2 the house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most Numerous Branch of the state legislature. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from maryland, the minority whip, mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer no person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the congress of the United States. And within every subsequent term of 10 years in such manners as they shall by law direct. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from louisiana, the majority whip, mr. Scalise. Mr. Scalise i thank the gentleman from virginia. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every 30,000, but each state shall have at least one representative, and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three massachusetts eight, rhodeisland and providence plantations one, connecticut five newyork six, new jersey four, pennsylvania eight delaware one, maryland six, virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and georgia three. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from tennessee, mr. Cohen. Mr. Cohen when vacancies happen in the representation from any state the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. The house of representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from South Carolina, mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson thank you w and l graduate chairman goodlatte. Section 3 the senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof for they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from california, mr. Garamendi. Mr. Garamendi the seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one third may be chosen every second year. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, ms. Foxx. Ms. Foxx no person shall be a senator who shall not have attained the age of 30 years and nine years a citizen of the United States and who shall not when elected be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from florida, mr. Deutch. Mr. Deutch the Vice President of the United States shall be president of the senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. The senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President or when he shall exercise the office of president of the United States. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from tennessee. The senate shall have the soul power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the president of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall preside, and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from michigan mrs. Dingell. Mrs. Dingell judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and bedisqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States, but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial judgment, and punishment, according to law. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from pennsylvania mr. Marino. Mr. Marino thank you, chairman. Section 4 the times, places, and manner of Holding Elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof, but the congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations except as to the places of choosing senators. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from ohio, ms. Joyce beatty. Mrs. Beatty each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each house may provide. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from pennsylvania mr. Costello. Mr. Costello thank you, mr. Speaker. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer. Mr. Blumenauer each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy, and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from ohio, mr. Wenstrup. Mr. Wenstrup neither house, during the session of congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from virginia, mr. Scott. Mr. Scott section 6 the senators and representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same, and for any speech or debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any other place. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from ohio mr. Latta. Mr. Latta no senator or representative shall, during the time for which he was elected be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time, and no Person Holding any office under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in office. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from oregon, ms. Bonamici. Ms. Bonamici section 7 all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of representatives, but the senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Guthrie. Mr. Guthrie every bill which shall have passed the house of representatives and the senate, shall, before it become a law be presented to the president of the United States. If he approve he shall sign it but if not he shall return it with his objections to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Walz. Mr. Walz if after such reconsideration two thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that house, it shall become a law. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from arkansas mr. Hill. Mr. Hill but in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Pascrell. Mr. Pascrell if any bill shall not be returned by the president within ten days sundays excepted after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from michigan mr. Benishek. Mr. Benishek every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the senate and house of representatives may be necessary, except on a question of adjournment, shall be presented to the president of the United States, and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the senate and house of representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from ohio, ms. Kaptur. Ms. Kaptur section 8, the Congress Shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States, but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. Hensarling. Mr. Hensarling to borrow money on the credit of the United States, to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the indian tribes, to establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from virginia mr. Connolly. Mr. Connolly to coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures, to provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States to establish post offices and post roads. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from hawaii, ms. Gabbard. Ms. Gabbard to constitute try bunials inferior to the court, to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court, to define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations, god goode i now yield to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Lance. Mr. Lance mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Lance. Mr. Lance to promote the science and useful arts, to limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their writings and discoveries. Goode mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Allen. Mr. Allen to declare a war, grant letters and laws concerning land and water, support armies but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from florida, ms. Graham. Ms. Graham to provide and maintain a navy to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces, to provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from washington, mr. Newhouse. Mr. Newhouse to provide for organizing arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the stat respectively, the appointment of officers and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by congress mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from new york, mr. Serrano. Mr. Serrano to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such district not exceeding 10 miles square as may be by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards and other needful buildings, mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Smith. Mr. Smith and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof. Section 9, the migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress Prior to the year 1808 but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding 10 for each person. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. Green. Mr. Green the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the Public Safety may require it. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. Nor cap take or other direct no capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from new mexico, mr. Pearce. Mr. Pearce i thank the gentleman. No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one state over those of another nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one state, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law, and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from michigan, mrs. Lawrence. Mrs. Lawrence no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States and no Person Holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the congress, accept of any present, emolument office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king prince, or foreign state. Section 10, no state shall enter into any treaty, alliance or confederation, grant letters of marque and reprisal, coin money, emit bills of credit make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts, pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from alabama mr. Byrne. Mr. Byrne no state shall, without the consent of the congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United States and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the congress. No state shall, without the consent of congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from illinois, ms. Kelly. Ms. Kelly thank you. Article 2, section 1, the executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of america. He shall hold his office during the term of four years and together with the Vice President , chosen for the same term, be elected, as follows each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature Thereof May direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the state may be entitled in the congress, but no senator or representative, or Person Holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from virginia, mr. Forbes. Mr. Forbes the congress may determine the time of choosing the electors and the day they should give their vote, which day shall be the same throughout the United States. No person except a natural born citizen or citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of the constitution shall be eligible to the office of president. Neither person shall not have attain to the age of 35 years and have been 14 years a resident within the United States. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from california mr. Takano. Mr. Takano the President Shall at stated times receive for his services a compensation which shall neither be increased or nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected and he shall not receive within that period any other emoulment of the United States or any of them. Before he enter on the execution of his office he shall take the following orte or affirmation. I do solemnly swear or affirm that i will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States and will, to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Paulson. Mr. Paulson section 2, the President Shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States and of the militia of the several states, when called into the Actual Service of the United States, he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from california, mrs. Capps. Mrs. Capps he shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to make treaties, provided 2 3 of the senators present concur, and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for and which shall be established by law. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Rothfus. Mr. Rothfus but the congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the president alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. The President Shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from new mexico ms. Lujan grisham. Ms. Lujan grisham he shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient, he may, on extraordinary occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from tennessee, mr. Roe. Mr. Roe shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers, he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall cmin all the officersf e it ss. Section 4 the president , Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribe or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from new york, mr. Nadler. Mr. Nadler article iii section 1 the judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from michigan, mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop the judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this constitution, the laws of the United States and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from arizona, mrs. Kirkpatrick. Mrs. Kirkpatrick to controversies to which the United States shall be a party, to controversies between two or more states, between a state and citizens of another state between citizens of different states, between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Perry. Mr. Perry in all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress Shall make. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from i now yield to the gentleman from new york, mr. Tonko. Mr. Tonko the trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury, and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed, but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the congress may by law have directed. Section 3 mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from tennessee mrs. Black. Mrs. Black treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from california, mr. Costa. Mr. Costa the Congress Shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from virginia, mr. Hurt. Mr. Hurt article iv section 1 full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from florida, ms. Castor. Ms. Castor the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states. A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another state, shall on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from michigan mr. Walberg. Mr. Walberg new states may be admitted by the congress into this union. But no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states or parts of states without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned, as well as of the congress. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from illinois, mr. Lipinski mr. Lipinski mr. The Congress Shall have power to lipinski dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States and nothing in this constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular state. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from new york mr. Zeldin. Mr. Zeldin the United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and on application of the legislature, or of the executive, when the legislature cannot be convened, against domestic violence. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Scott. Mr. Scat forbes force mr. Scott mr. Scott the congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Hice. Mr. Hice or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the congress, provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year 1808 shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article, and that no state without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the senate. Mr. Goodlatte im now pleased to yield to the gentleman from california. Article vi all debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this constitution, as under the confederation. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from louisiana, mr. Abraham. Mr. Abraham this constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. Castro. Mr. Castro the senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this constitution, but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from california mr. Lowenthal. Mr. Lowenthal article vii the ratification of the conventions of nine states, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this constitution between the states so ratifying the same. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from michigan. Gone in convention of the United States, presented in one,000 seven00 andate the 12th and witness whereof we have here unto subscribed our names. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from connecticut, ms. Esty. Ms. Esty george washington, president and deputy from virginia, delaware george read, gunning bedford jr. John dickinson, richard bassett, jacob broom maryland james mchenry, daniel of st. Thomas jenifer, Daniel Carroll virginia john blair, James Madison jr. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from oregon, mr. Walden. Mr. Walden North Carolina william blount, Richard Dobbs spaight, Hugh Williamson South Carolina john rutledge, Charles Cotesworth pinckney, charles pinckney, Pierce Butler georgia william few, Abraham Baldwin mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from california, mr. Mcnerney. Mr. Mcnerney New Hampshire john langdon, Nicholas Gilman massachusetts nathaniel gorham, rufus king connecticut William Samuel johnson, Roger Sherman new york Alexander Hamilton mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from alabama, mrs. Roby. Mrs. Roby new jersey will livingston, david brearley, william paterson, Jonathan Dayton pennsylvania benjamin franklin, thomas mifflin, robert morris, george clymer, thomas fitzsimons, jared ingersoll, james wilson Gouverneur Morris mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from california ms. Hahn. Ms. Hahn k4r0 amendment 1, Congress Shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peacefully to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from west virginia, mr. Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins amendment ii a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from texas, ms. Jackson lee. Ms. Jackson lee read from the third amendment of the bill of rights of the United States constitution. No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Rouzer. Mr. Rouzer amendment iv the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from delaware, mr. Carney. Mr. Carney amendment 5 no person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces or in the militia when in Actual Service in time of war or public danger. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from arizona, mr. Franks. Mr. Franks nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be put twice in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. Nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. Mr. Goodlatte the gentleman from minnesota mr. Emmer. Mr. Emmer amendment 6, in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have previously been ascertained by law. Mr. Goodlatte the gentlewoman from california, ms. Chu. Ms. Chu and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from indiana mrs. Walorski. Mrs. Walorski amendment 7, in suits at common law where the value in controversy shall exceed 20, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from washington, the republican conference chair, mrs. Mcmorris rodgers. Mrs. Mcmorris rodgers amendment 8, excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from colorado, mr. Perlmutter. Mr. Perlmutter the ninth amendment to the constitution, the enumeration in the constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Pitts. Mr. Pitts amendment 10, the powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from florida, ms. Frankel. Ms. Frankel the judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from texas mr. Flores. Mr. Flores amendment 12, the elect tores shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for president and Vice President , one of whom at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. They shall name in their ballots the person voted for as president and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice President. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Ellison. Mr. Ellison and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as president and of all persons voted for as Vice President and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States districted to the president of the senate. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from utah, mr. Stewart. Mr. Stewart the president of the senate shall, in the presence of the senate and the house of representatives, open all of the certificates and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for President Shall be the president , if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as president. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from california, mrs. Davis. Mrs. Davis the house of representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the president. But in choosing the president , the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote. A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from 2 3 of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from texas, ms. Granger. Ms. Granger the person having the greatest number of votes as Vice President shall be the Vice President. If such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the senate shall choose the Vice President. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from massachusetts, ms. Tsongas. Ms. Tsongas a quorum for the purpose shall consist of 2 3 of the whole number of senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President Shall be eligible to that of Vice President of the United States. God goode i now yield to the gentleman from mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis thank you, mr. Chairman. The 13th amendment, section 1, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime wrf the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2, Congress Shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from utah, ms. Love. Mrs. Love. Mrs. Love amendment 14, section 1, all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any state deprive any person of life liberty or property without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from rhode island, mr. Cicilline. Mr. Cicilline amendment 14, section 2 representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding indians not taxed. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from michigan, mr. Huizenga. Mr. Huizenga but when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for president and Vice President of the United States, representatives in congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state being 21 years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other crime and the basis of representation thrin shall be reduced in the number of proportioned in which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens 21 years of age in such state. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from illinois, ms. Schakowsky. Ms. Schakowsky section 3, no person shall be a senator or representative in congress or elector of president and Vice President or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who having previously taken an oath as a member of congress or or as an officer of the United States. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Barr. Mr. Barr or as a member of any state legislature or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But congress may by a vote of 2 3 of each house, remove such disability. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from california, mr. Valadao. Mr. Valadao section 4, the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion shall not be questioned. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Fattah. Mr. Fattah thank you. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave, but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from california the minority leader, ms. Pelosi. Ms. Pelosi thank you, mr. Chairman. Section 5 the Congress Shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Amendment 15, section 1, the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race color or previous condition of servitude. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from kansas, mr. Yoder. Mr. Yoder thank you, mr. Chairman. Section 2 the Congress Shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Amendment 16, the Congress Shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived without apportionment among the several states and without regard to any census or enumeration. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from maryland, ms. Edwards. Ms. Edwards thank you, mr. Chairman. Amendment 17, the senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, elected by the people thereof for six years. And each senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most Numerous Branch of the state legislatures. When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the senate the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from indiana, mrs. Brooks. Mrs. Brooks provided that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the Legislature May direct. This amendment shall not ble so construed as to affect the election or term of any senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the constitution. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from california mrs. Walters. Mrs. Walters amendment xviii the right of the citizens shall vote shall not on account of sex, Congress Shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from alabama, miss sewell. Ms. Suewell shall end at noon on the 20th day of january and the terms of senator and representatives at noon on the third day of january. Of the year in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified and the terms of their successors shall then begin. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from pennsylvania mr. Fitzpatrick. Section 2 the Congress Shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of january, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from new york, ms. Clark. Ms. Clarke thank you, mr. Chairman. Section 3 if at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the president , the president elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become president. If a President Shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the president elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as president until a President Shall have qualified, mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from virginia, mr. Griffith. Mr. Griffith and the congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a president elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as president , or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a president or Vice President shall have qualified. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from vermont mr. Welch. Mr. Welch section 4 the congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the house of representatives may choose a president whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclintock. Mr. Mcclintock section 5 sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of october following the ratification of this article. Section 6 this article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the constitution by the legislatures of threefourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from new york, mr. Maloney. Mr. Maloney amendment xxi section 1 the eighteenth article of amendment to the constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. Section 2 the transportation or importation into any state territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof is hereby prohibited. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Pittenger. Mr. Section 3 pittenger this article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the constitution by conventions in the several states, as provided in the constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the congress. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentlewoman from texas, ms. Johnson. Ms. Johnson amendment xxii section 1 no person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice, and no person who has held the office of president , or acted as president , for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President Shall be elected to the office of president more than once. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from alabama, mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmer but this article shall not apply to any Person Holding the office of president when this article was proposed by congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of president , or acting as president , during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of president or acting as president during the remainder of such term. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the the gentlelady from Virgin Islands ms. Plaskett. Ms. Plaskett this article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the constitution by the legislatures of threefourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission to the states by the congress. Mr. Goodlatte yield to the gentleman from colorado, mr. Tipton. Mr. Tipton amendment xxiii section 1 the district constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as congress may direct a number of electors of president and Vice President equal to the whole number of senators and representatives in congress to which the district would be entitled if it were a state, but in no event more than the least populous state. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from colorado, mr. Buck. Mr. Buck they shall be in addition to those appointed by the states, but they shall be considered for the purposes of the election of president and Vice President to be electors appointed by a state, and they shall meet in the district and perform such duties as provided by the 12th article of amendment. Section 2 the Congress Shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from ohio. Amendment xxiv section 1 the right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for president or Vice President , for electors for president or Vice President , or for senator or representative in congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax. Section 2 the Congress Shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Lobiondo. Mr. Lobiondo amendment xxv section 1 in case of the removal of the president from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become president. Section 2 whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President , the President Shall nominate a Vice President who who shall take the oath upon confirmation by a majority vote of both house of congress. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. Green. Mr. Green thank you. Section 3 whenever the president transmits to the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as acting president. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. Farenthold. Mr. Farenthold section 4 whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as congress may by law provide transmit to the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives their written declaration that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as acting president. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from florida mr. Bilirakis. Mr. Bilirakis thereafter, when the president transmits to the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives their written declaration that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. Hurd. Mr. Hurd thereupon Congress Shall decide the issue, assembling within 48 hours for that purpose if not in session. If the congress, within 21 days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if congress is not in session within twentyone days after congress is required to assemble, determines by twothirds vote of both houses that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as acting president , otherwise, the President Shall resume the powers and duties of his office. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from ohio, mr. Chabot. Mr. Chabot amendment xxvi section 1 the right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of age. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from arkansas, mr. Westerman. Mr. Westerman k4r0section 2 the Congress Shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. Veasey. Mr. Veasey amendment xxvii no law, varying the compensation for the services of the senators and representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened. Mr. Goodlatte the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Mr. Goodlatte i ask unanimous consent that i be allowed to revise and extend remarks and insert omitted material in the record during the reading of the constitution. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The chair will receive a message. The messenger mr. Speaker, a message from the senate. The secretary mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore madam secretary. The secretary i have been directed by the senate to inform the house that the senate has passed without amendment h. R. 26, cited as the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program reauthorization act of 2015. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess subject to the call of the chair. Pipeline. More live house coverage when they return, which should be shortly here on cspan. In the meantime, part of this mornings washington journal. Host congressman tom cole is our guest of the house comes in this morning and 00 a. M. Eastern. Congressman cole we are hearing about a mating midmorning from the republican conference, to talk about how to move forward about these any of the Homeland Security department. What is the situation of that spending measure, and can you clue us in on possible proposals . Guest i can tell you a little bit. The only part of the spending budget that has not been approved through september 30 of this year is the department of Homeland Security section, and that runs through the end of february and must call the continuing resolution, basically status quo funding. I think what will happen is we will present a bill again to extend the funding through september 30th, and there will probably be an amendment made in order or place inside the bill. I think there is still a procedural discussion about what is best. And that amendment, which i suspect will be by representative mulvaney from South Carolina will a sickly say that no money in this bill could be expended to execute the president s executive order that was issued in november of last year stop that will sort of set up a showdown. It will set up both ace sending showdown i think there is no question we have the votes to get that to the senate, so that may actually become the main theater of battle, if you will because democrats will have the ability to control the filibuster in the senate, so they may block it, they may not. If it gets to the president s death, we will see what it does. Host you are a member of the Budget Committee this on the president for the immigration order if that is going to pass muster, any finally slice this and say we cannot use this money for implementing . Guest it is going to be more difficult than people might think. What actually funds the part of the immigration system that the president is dealing with is largely run by fees, so it is not money that we normally appropriate. The Appropriations Committee does not have jurisdiction over all government spending. It has about 1 3. They come right in and continue to operate. A second thing that i think people forget about that is tricky is denying people for inaction. The president telling people do not enforce this part of the law does not cost a lot of money. We will have to wait and see. Other ideas have been put on the table, and i think this is to acquaint the broader conference about what those might be, so there is still a chance that this could changed a little bit. What i am telling you is what i think will happen, but there will be other things as well. Host you anticipate some action on this next week. Guest . I do. We said we would act when there was a good republican majority in the senate, and we basically teed it up to work as it is, so i think it is important for us to keep the commitment that we make and move ahead. Host lets go earlier to the week in the setup of leadership in the house, particularly the speaker election, the watchers of the house have not seen in a while, the number of votes, 25 or so votes against a speaker from republicans. How did all of this develop . Guest i think largely because the people who was it to oppose the speaker did not do it at the appropriate time or the appropriate way. We hold conferences to discuss to decide who our nominees for speaker will be. The speaker ought to be ceremonial. The three people who opposed him decided literally in the last 72 hours or so to do it, so they never really had a chance to succeed. They would have done much better probably both in terms of votes and in terms of the appreciation of their colleagues had they simply operated by normal procedures. There is nothing wrong for opposing the speaker for election. We have very robust leadership elections, but there is a time and place to do it. You do not do it on opening day come and you do not do it by running against the person the republican conference has already nominated. That is like tackling your own order back in the first play of the new game. Host you are quoted along the election of saying if you go against your own colleagues bio posing the speaker on the floor, you will embarrass hausa publicans and disrupt our team. It would be unforgivable political behavior. Guest absolutely, and i stand by that. People know how this works without they had every opportunity to run. I encourage people to run. There is nothing wrong with that. But doing it this way on this day i think is symbolic, it puts your own colleagues in a difficult spot, and you are not really attacking the speaker you are attacking the decision of the republican conference. You are attacking the colleagues, not the person they selected. Again, i think it is not the way to operate. Host some of the obvious casualties were congressman webster of florida and rich nugent and webster of the rules committee assignment. What is the latest on that . Guest the speaker has not made a final decision on that. He said he would withhold action and talk to the members in question. Again, you have a very sophisticated viewing on it, but just to make a point this is the speakers committee. Other committees are normally chosen by the conference. This is specifically the speakers committee. And it is used to advance the republican agenda in the house. By the way, it is used that way by democrats as well as when they are in the majority. It is just the way the admin thing works. By not informing you are going to do it or to vote against him, that is, again, not done. Host the speaker has said several times to reporters we are going to have a family conversation. [laughter] what to does that mean . Guest john boehner is a much more tolerant person. Lookm, he and i have disagreed on multiple occasions, and in his leadership at one point we had serious disagreements, but there is a way to handle that. There is nothing wrong with people having different points of views, but you if you are on a rules committee, for instance , you always vote for the republican rule. Just like democrats always vote for the democrat rule. Certainly in a majority you can dissent and disagree but certainly when it comes to a vote you advance the legislation to the floor. You not to vote against the rule but on the issue, uboat however you want to vote. To surrender control of the role in the legislature is to surrender control of the floor and it is just not done. Host we saw the speaker yesterday in his briefing with reporters about how he felt, members who opposed him. [video clip] during my years, i had the most conservative voting record in the congress commented as pain me to be described as spineless or a squish. [laughter] i tell you what pains me to moses when they describe me as the established missiles up iming most antiestablishment speaker we have ever had. I tell you what pains me the most is when they describe me as the establishment. I am the most antiestablishment figure we have had. I am pretty comfortable in my own skin, and i will do my best to show all of our members democrats and republicans in those members who voted against me, that i am up to the job that i was given. Host what did you think when you heard the speakers comments . That is the john boehner that i kno guest . I first met guest that is the john boehner that i know. My job is to help elect these guys. Most people will not notice but he is also the guy who as a freshman, there was a notorious group of antiestablishment rebels called the gang of seven that resulted in shutting down the bank and the post office and so he i supposed he looked at some of these people who are difficult for him and say you know, i was probably different for my own leadership, but he played within the rules and he got real things done. Again, as he pointed out he has the eighth most conservative voting record in congress over a 20 year career, so the idea that he is not conservative enough most of these debates are over tactics, not over differences of issues. And they are debates over calculations. John boehner is smart enough to know that shutting down the government is not a smart way to do business because it does not work it is not achieve its objectives. We still have a divided government. We have a democratic president through january 2017. We have the senate now, but it is not like the democratic ordeal is powerless full it has got control of the filibuster progress. And democrats can still sustain a veto. This is a game where to use a football or down from oklahoma you always do that, you have to think about in terms of first downs. You move the ball in increments. You do not throw into the end zone every play. We have a lot of people who want to go for bust every time, and it wont work. At the end of the day, we have a responsibility for the American People. They did not send you a p or to make things worse for them, and when you do things like shutting down the government, do not pay federal workers who are performing important services, make it hard to get a visa or passport to travel, those types of things, then you are making life more difficult for the average american. We should be here trying to make them freer, more secure, and there lies a little bit better when and where we can. Host congressman tom cole our guest until about 8 20 eastern this morning on washington journal. 2027488001, and for independents 2027488002. Lets go to pat. Thanks for waiting. Caller good morning, and he went for taking my call. Representative cole, i would like to see what people we elect to start using common sense in washington. I understand that you are on the Budget Committee. Every department of our federal government needs to be committing a budget, and when you all look at it, the first thing you should do is they should cement you a line item budget, so we stopped paying for rattlesnakes is worlds come in all of his other barbers. Our money, the money that you and i are paying every day, is being wasted, and the Oversight Committee is like opening the barn door and letting the horse out. Your committee should be the one holding these departments, the money. The other thing i would like to discuss with you is our money that we are sending overseas to build schools, help roads, and all of this stuff, these people do not even like us, and do not tell me it is 1 of gdp. I do not care if it is not but . 50 its been in america. Thank you. Guest thank you very much for the call. First of all, i agree with you and how you want to operate and be tough on spending. You would be surprised when republicans took over the house, the deficit every year was 1. 4 trillion. This year it will be under 500 billion, probably under 4 billion next year probably under 400 billion next year. It is the most rapid decline of a deficit. It is still too high, but it has moved down dramatically. You would probably be surprised to know that the discretionary budget about 1 3 of all spending, what people think of the government, the military the National Institute of health those rings. We are spending less then george bush was president. Less. What drives spending now is mostly things people like like Social Security, medicare, medicaid, those types of things. You put them together, that is almost 70 of the total federal budget these days. The spending reductions have indeed occurred, and honestly will probably continue to occur so this is one where i think we have not done a very good job of patting ourselves on the back. All of the groups getting less money are aware that they are getting less money. None of the people concerned about spending are aware of how much we have cut it and will continue to do so. On the second part of foreign aid, i will not tell you that foreign aid is 1 of the ddp because it is not of the gdp because it is not. It is probably. 1 of the gdp. I used to sit on the foreign operations subcommittee, and that spending has been reduced but i will also tell you it is pretty important for the United States be engaged in some of these things. You can deal with ebola in africa or you can deal with it in the United States, and these are tools that help us to build relationships with us. We do not give money just to people who dont like us. We mostly give money to people who do like us. Most of the people i know think israel is a pretty good friends to the United States of america. The longest single recipient of american aid is israel. It is for security purposes. Again, a lot of the stuff, what is called for in a i do not think taking a small measure and using a strategically in our own interest is a bad ankles of egypt is another historically large recipients, and that has kept peace in the middle east and 1970. That helps keep Energy Prices down. It gives us preferred access to the suez injection education intelligence is cooperative with us and foiling attack. They allow us to fly thousands of fights over there air space to support american troops when they were in iraq and afghanistan, so there is a sense that we just willynilly give money away around the world. That is simply not the case. Host next up is in missouri, kimberly is on, make sure you mute your television. Caller my television is muted. Mr. Cole, i do not understand yall are holding up the Defense Department, but yet you say the borders are not secure. Tell me why you are holding it up. Guest we are not holding it up. Congress passed both the defense authorization, that is the plan by which has been in november and past the normal budget as well as part of the overall spending omnibus bill. We have never stopped funding the military. Neither party has done that. Again, i am not sure exactly where you are getting your information, but the Defense Department is indeed operating. Host she may have mentioned homeless security guest Homeland Security is a different thing. The Defense Department is a larger part of the budget. It is funded through the end of february. We will have a discussion obviously about whether or not the president was the executive order, which we think is beyond the scope we think this is beyond normal executive discretion. He is literally taking whole sections of the law and saying that simply is not going to fly anymore. I am going to refuse to enforce the law. That is our disagreement. We may end up in court over this longerterm because this may be another one where president overreach, for instance, and socalled recess appointments. He says he can appoint even when the senate is not in recess, made those arguments, made those appointments, the senate took into Supreme Court and he lost 90. It is not as if this is an it does not have a history of overreach and it is not as if hes not been pulled back on occasion. Host given the big omnibus in december and delayed funding of Homeland Security or the suspended funding, whatever you want to collect, how likely is it you think that in 2016, for fiscal year 2016 budget for the next upcoming budget, the house at least will be able to pass its appropriation bill on time, and the senate as well . Guest i think there is a much better chance than there has been. Last year, the house was passing an appropriation bill. It actually past seven of them there are 12 normally. It could have cap to doing that, but the senate did not pass a single bill, so at some point your leadership says, why should we keep passing bills . We are wasting time, the senate is not going to pick up any appropriations bill. If you have a Republican Senate and a Mitch Mcconnell person committed to regular order, a member of the Appropriations Committee in the senate, a believer in moving these bills i think we have a much better chance of doing that. I hope we do. Congress has not done normal the house since 2006. And it was under republican control, i will point out. The democrats have never moved 12 appropriations bill across the floor when they were in control. Host chris, good morning come in michigan on the independent line. Caller good morning. Thank you for taking my call. Congressman cole, i have a couple different comments. One, i respectfully disagree you make the analogy of a football game. I do not believe it is a football game. Congressman are represented to office, and i believe you have to look at what is in the best interest of our country. Regarding the immigration bill the comment was made well, we have got to win, we do not want to lose. No, it is not a football game. You have to take a negotiates, send it back to committee, negotiate with the democrats republicans, independents, come out of Committee Vote on it, and send it back to our president. What is good for our country . That is what we need to have. Again, this is not a football game. Guest i appreciate that, and forgive me for my regional labs and using the analogy, but i agree with the basic point that you are making frankly and i have tried to always do that in my time in congress will stop i do not believe in shutdowns. I do believe in compromises. If you look at my record or talk to my colleagues, you will see that i try to do exactly the kind of things you suggest. Even when there are disagreements up to her, i do not doubt anybody cares within the commerce of the United States, they care about the country. I do not have any doubts. I know these men and women, and even some that i disagree with very strongly are patriots. They want what is best for america. They disagree about what that is. We are a Pretty Amazing country 315 million pretty independent folks spread across a vast continent living in different circumstances. I am not surprised we have disagreements, but a lot of these discussions and disagreements are exactly what the founders intended. There would be debate discussion that we would have disagreement, that mostly it would be difficult to get things done in government. Madison actually thought that would be the best defense of freedom, competing interests checking one another and allowing individuals to go about their business. I think sometimes if he could come by today and watch this, he was a boy this is working exactly the way i planned it because they are not getting much done and the American People are going about their business and running the country pretty well. But i take your point well, and if i inadvertently sounded like i trivialize what i do, i did not mean to do that. I was just using an analogy that to me is pretty tricia pretty traditional. Host you mentioned the house today reading the constitution. Will you be part of that . Guest if my schedule permits, i will. This will be the third time in the history of the United States of the constitution is readily house of representatives. Well assume that everybody has read it, and i am sure that everybody who is serving have, but it is something that the republicans started, and i hope democrats when a takeover well that we reflect on what unites us. We do not taken oath to the country, we take an oath to defend the constitution. This is a really remarkable place. It is founded on ideas and values, and that is what our constitution and our declaration of independence both represent. I think it is the appropriate thing to do, and im proud that we are doing it, and i hope that our democratic friends do it, and maybe in the Republican Senate they will start thinking about doing it that over there. Host lets go to to have on our democrats line, allen, hello. Tampa, florida, good morning. Caller good morning. Mr. Cole, you seem to me to be a pretty reasonable guy from what i have seen on tv when i have seen you interviewed on these various stations. That said, what are your plans for fixing this looney tunes tax system we have, specifically the income tax. Guest i do not sit on the committee that deals with the tax system. The ways and full stop i will certainly give you my thoughts and where i think that committee is going to go. You are 100 right that you imply that our tax system is complex, irrational, and extraordinarily difficult for the average american to understand. Generally speaking, i would like to eliminated auctions and lower rates, make it flatter and fairer and let investment flow where it is most productive in terms of producing growth and jobs as opposed to tax havens that simply protect wealth but dont necessarily put it to work. I know that is what paul ryan wants to do. It is pretty hard to do. Anytime you touch the tax code, there are winners and losers. Some will pay more, others will say thank goodness they got rid of that, so there is a lot of governing going on, but i think a flatter, fairer system, and one that contribute to Economic Growth and set of hinders it is where we want to go. We actually outlined a pretty good start with that with dave camp who was the chairman of ways and means last year. He put out an entire plan for study can look it up. That will probably be the base bill where paul ryan starts. He will change it in some ways. It will obviously have to go through the senate, and when it does, it will require a president ial senate should president ial signature, so there will be ground for disagreement. Host will changing the taxes and be high on the priority list . Guest without a doubt. A better tax system usually means faster Economic Growth. Faster Economic Growth generates more tax revenue even though individuals are paying less for the government. That lets you do things like six the rose do infrastructure, so i think you may see this as a way of dealing with bigger problems and again there is nothing like we saw this in the 1990s. The differences between the parties got a lot less when the economy was growing faster and there was enough Government Income to both lower the deficit and do a lot of important things for the country. Host you mentioned the roads. A lot of people talking about the drop in the gas price, the added gas tax for infrastructure. Would you support it . Guest most of my constituents would say do not take away the benefit of lower prices. I do think you will have to find a way to get more revenue into the transportation system. I think a gas tax is probably not the way to go, but what is happening right now people just on their own experience, that tax is not changed in 20 years but automobiles and transportation has changed dramatically, so your car is more efficient. Still the same amount of tonnage over the roads, so to speak, but you are probably getting double the gas mileage you were getting 20 years ago. Plus we have a whole new fleet of vehicles coming on, electric cars, compress natural gas, that do not pay gas tax at all, but they are so using the road. We may have to do something you could maybe eliminate the gas tax, which now only covers part of the vehicles and a shrink a number, and go to a more baseline tax. My colleague from oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin has done some interesting work on this, lets just go back to a very low energy tax that covers all energy and dedicated to the Transportation Fund eliminating some of these things that no longer make a lot of sense because again, we are devising new ways to drive cars, and we are making the vehicle itself ever more efficient. Host here is stanley, new york and linda on our republican line. Caller good morning, mr. Cole. Guest good morning. Caller i am just wondering about some of this republican obama care stuff. What are americans going to do when they cannot get a job or they lose a job because of this illegal immigration . These people were told they will not be covered under obamacare so our Companies Going to be hiring them so they do not have huge fines . Guest a couple of things first of all, in terms of obamacare, you saw congress trying to restore the 40our standard of the normal workweek, so the workers who are parttime workers are not covered by obamacare, which has a 30hour standard. What we have seen as a lot of companies have lowered the numbers of hours those people work into the 20s so they do not have to pick up the extra expense. The house passed that, i think the senate may well pass it. The president has threatened to veto it. In all of the discussion over obamacare and the multiple votes we have had, people forget eight things have actually come law that have lower the overall cost of the system by over 60 billion, so businesses were going to have to file to 1099s on essentially every transaction. We looked at that and got rid of it. There was an extended living clause that was not appropriately funded. We moved legislation to get rid of it went secretary sebelius was secretary of health and human services. We urged the president to sign it, and he did. You will continue to see us work in this area, but people who are opposed to it and i him certainly one of them who voted against the appeal, but the president of the United States is still the president of the United States. You will probably not get a full repeal of obamacare when a guy named obama is still president of the United States. In terms of illegal workers, look, the law in terms of if you are not here in this country legally, these laws are still in effect. If employers are knowingly hiring people here illegally they are subject and should be subject to prosecution. A lot of people look the other way. That is one of the things we are concerned about what the president s executive action. What he did basically was legalized people that are here before, that have been here illegally. He can only do that if he can do it all and we do not think he can through the end of his presidency. Wayne is a larger immigration system and i think you will see other areas of immigration law. We will have before the president is out a very long enforcement. Will he will probably get a lot of things he likes hightech the says for very skilled workers coming in. Probably seasonal labor. We have some cases where farmers end up leaving up to 40 of their crops in the field because they do not have the labor to get them picked. Again, i think there is an appropriate balance, and if we moved piece by these, we can find consensus on the issue between republicans and democrats and obviously the things the president would become verbal signing. Host headline in the new jersey starledger says premiums in new jersey spike after the passage of obamacare. What is the terms of access in oklahoma since obamacare . Guest the same in terms of the spiking of cost. When you are bringing a huge portion of the violation into the Health Care System that was Getting Health Care but not getting full Insurance Coverage and the people who are in it that are paying usually ends up paying more. It is a transference. Chuck schumer made this point indirectly recently at that 80 or 85 of the American People were actually satisfied with their health care, and maybe we walked down the wrong road. We should have been focused on jobs, the economy, and growth and we could have dealt with this a little bit easier. I think that is a fairly astute critique from a person who voted for obama care. So i think you are going to see the inevitable results of this will be higher rates for people that pay it and for businesses that have been traditionally entering their population anyway, they will end up paying more. Host newark, new jersey is next, james on the independent line. Caller how are you doing, cspan . Guest hi, good to hear you. Caller i am an independent. Paul ryan has a working with taxes since 2011. I proposed a 100 tax instead of a 17 he ran with 20 tax. What happened was that wall street paid if everyone paid a 20 tax, we can make this country run. If not, it is just a game. Guest philosophically, we are probably close together. I would prefer a lower number. An equal tax across the board. You are correct when you say that we provide different tax rates for different things. Income is income. If it is being used for personal use. In the past, we have encouraged investment lower tax when you get a start, or salary, for instance. The idea of trying to equalize the tax system and lowering it is a very important one. I would be willing to see what mr. Ryan actually proposes. He is a good friend of mine. I think highly of him. I suspect that when you have the tax proposal to dell, i will be enthusiastic about it. Host kansas city is next. Guest my question is this present obama is giving away all these freebies. John kennedy said still ask what your country can give you, basque what you can give your country. My question is, why are we not looking older people as resources for this country . We tend to look at the young people, the middle aged people. We never look at people in the 60s or 50s. I was wondering, why do we not look to them as resources. Guest i think youre right. Since i am in my 60s, i obviously agree with you. I think the work life has been expanding. We worry about the work week. The reality is people live longer, and people want to work for a variety of reasons. Many people have to work for writing reasons. We have a variety of programs to retrain people. There are Senior Executive cores, where people can make tthemselves available. As someone who has a 30 year old son, that generation is contributing more to older people than any previous generation. The Social Security is higher, their medicare is higher. Statistically, the most wealthy people in america are over 60 years old. They will say, i worked over a lifetime, that is true. Although, younger people are paying more today. People are living a lot longer. There is a generational imbalance in wealth. Poverty is lower among people 65 and over. This discussion of how we distribute resources is one that will stay with us. Host congressman tom cole beginning his second term on capitol hill. Thank you for being with us. How should be gambling back in shortly to begin debate. They are days to revise and extend their materials on hrment r. 3. On h. R. 3. The speaker pro tempore without objection. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Shuster mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 19 i call up the bill h. R. 3, to approve the keystone x. L. Pipeline. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 3. A bill to improve the keystone x. L. Pipeline approve the keystone x. L. Pipeline. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 19 the bill is considered read, the bill shall be debatable for one hour, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on transportation and infrastructure. And the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on energy and commerce. The gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Shuster, the gentleman from oregon, mr. Defazio, the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Wit field and the gentleman from new jersey whitfield, and the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Pallone, each control 15 minutes. Mr. Shuster thank you mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. Mr. Shuster i rise today to support h. R. 3, the keystone x. L. Pipeline act, and for those who have not heard, according to the administration, the final hurdle has been removed. And that is that the nebraska Supreme Court this morning has approved the pathway to for the pipeline, the routing of the pipeline, the keystone x. L. Pipeline. Again, the administration has said that was the major hurdle. It has fallen. So i hope the president is not going to establish another hurtle, that being himself hurdle that being himself. America is undergoing an Energy Renaissance and the prospect of securing north American Energy independence is in sight. However, to achieve our goal of Energy Security we need to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to keep pace with the changing energy landscape. Keystone will be a critical addition to the nations pipeline network, increasing our supply of oil and helping to reduce its cost. The state department completed its environmental nail sis a year ago. However, theres still analysis a year ago. However, theres still been no action on the pipeline. Theres no reason to delay this project. And as i mentioned, as the president s main arguments in the premature veto threat is that the bill would authorize the pipeline despite uncertainty due to ongoing litigation in nebraska. That uncertainty has ended this morning and the Supreme Court of nebraskas allowed the planned route to go forward in nebraska. Again, there is simply no reason to delay. In fact, the southern leg of the pipeline has already been built. In march, 2012, in oklahoma the president expressed his support for expediting construction for the southern leg of the keystone x. L. Pipeline. I agree with the president when he stated at that ceremony that he was directing his administration to cut through red tape, breakthrough bureaucracy hurdles and make this bureaucratic hurdles and make this a priority to get done. It was the right thing to do then, its the right thing to do now and its exactly what this bill does. We should move forward because this pipeline will be a tremendous boone to the economy , economic development, and one that doesnt require a single federal dollar. The very nature of Infrastructure Improvement creates jobs and keystone is no exception. I know my colleagues have made the argument that its only temporary. But every infrastructure job is a temporary job. When a roads completed when a bridge is completed, when a pipeline is completed. Those construction workers move on to hopefully other construction jobs. And indeed five unions representing over three million workers, i repeat that to my democratic colleagues five unions representing three million hardworking americans, support this project. And id like to submit their letter in the record for support of this project. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Shuster i want to name them off. Its the teamsters, International Brotherhood of electric workers, Labor International union of america, the operating engineers, its the pipe fitters of the United States and canada, all supporting this project. Again they see it as positive economic impact. And again when these jobs are completed, theyll move on to other hopefully construction jobs. But whats left behind will have a positive impact to our economy, to job creation, for a generation. Our Energy Renaissance is helping make north america more secure and Energy Independence and Energy Independent and i want to quote the president. In this time of significant Political Uncertainty in key Oil Producing countries and regions and in the context of a difficult economic situation,opec Canada Crude Oil supplies advance the situation nonopec Canada Crude Oil supplies advance the energy of the United States. He said this in 2009. About the end bridge pipeline which started transferring oil sands from canada to the gulf coast last month. The president five years ago supported this type of thing. He should support it now. So other than politics, i dont understand why he hasnt approved this project as he did with end bridge. Its time to build. Ladies and gentlemen, i especially look to my democratic colleagues. Lets put down our gloves, lets do something positive for america, for those three Million Union jobs that workers that will be rewarded. Lets do whats good for the environment. Lets do whats good for Energy Independence and lets be fair to our greatest friends in the world our canadian neighbors. They allowed us to build a pipeline across their land. We should allow them to do the same in ours. Theyre our best allies, our greatest friends, a great neighbor. Lets us today pass this bill let us today pass this bill and build the keystone x. L. Pipeline with that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pipeline. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the nc ofis te. The lanroos regned. Mr. Defazio i yield myself such time as i may conme the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Defazio well, its ground hog day come early to the grundhog day come early to the groundhog day come early to the floor of the house. Its cold enough, i guess. This will be the 10th time in the last four years that the house of representatives has moved this bill with the assertion that somehow it leads us to Energy Independence, Energy Security lower prices at the pump. Well, the reality is, a Canadian Corporation is going to build a pipeline from canada to texas. They are going to be exempt from paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund unlike most other projects in this country, because of a stupid ruling by the i. R. S. But thats nothing new. Regarding tar sands. So theyll be exempt from paying into that. So if this thing bursts, theres an accident, the taxpayers of the United States get the bill. Not the taxpayers of canada. They dont get the bill. Taxpayers of the United States get the bill. Now, thats one of a number of problems regarding this project. Its somewhat unprecedented, i believe this may have happened at some other time in american history, but i do find it particularly ironic today, when we had the reading of the constitution, that the effect of passing this bill, if it were to become law and the president has already said hell veto it, but if this were to become law would be to give a Foreign Corporation the right to take private property from american citizens. Im not aware of any other time in the history of the union where we have given a Foreign Corporation the right to take americans private property. Yeah, some people were happy to sell the rights. But many others werent. Including some in nebraska and some in texas. Its been quite contentious among land owners who are just having this corporation come. I would like to put in the record a letter from transcanada. We have blacked out the name of the recipient of the letter. But it is a true copy of a letter to a person who will have their private property taken by Eminent Domain by a Foreign Corporation. And the Foreign Corporation informs them that they will begin this month, i guess, because of the anticipated public inaction, to take their private property away. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Defazio thank you. Now, thats a bit ironic, again on the day we read the constitution, and also of the party of individual rights for property owners. So that is also of concern. Yes, there will be construction jobs. And im the first to admit we need more jobs in america. In fact, i voted against the president s socalled stimulus bill because it didnt invest enough in building frturethisoury insteadt d a wleunch of stupid tax cuts because of lay summers, you know, a highly acclaimed hack economist. And we didnt put a lot of people back to work. 7 went to infrastructure. That created jobs. 42 went to tax cuts. Didnt create jobs. But thats another agenda the republicans are pursuing, is tax cuts to create jobs. But we wont get into that here today. So yes, that will happen. But there are a lot of other investments we should, could make that will create significant construction and infrastructure jobs. Now, were this just in isolation and it didnt involve the total construction of the forests of canada, if i were a canadian id be pretty upset about that, and perhaps the dirtiest, most environmentally problematic way of extracting fossil fuels from the ground to get these oil sands, the construction jobs might have, you know, might carry the day. But sometimes you have to draw a line. And in this case, you know we also hear its going to lead somehow to Energy Security. Thats interesting because the crude is going to come down without paying any crude, tar stand oil or whatever you want to call it, its going to come down to texas without paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust Fund Creating a potential problem for the future taxpayers of the United States. Go to a refinery in an export zone in texas and it will be refined and then it will be exported. Were exporting millions of gallons of fuel every day. So to somehow say this is going to lead to lower prices at the pump in america maybe its lower prices at the pump in china or japan or someplace but it isnt going to be here. Because the product is ultimately going to be exported. So its not also not going to do anything for our Energy Security. And at the moment we have fracking and other things, fuels and prices are down considerably. So, you know, those are just a few of the problems. And we are by passing this bill, the house of representatives, will attempt to preempt the executive authority of the president in this matter because this pipeline crosses an international border, the president has authority and the state department halls been considering it department has been considering it. And even with the Supreme Court of nebraska refusing to make a judgment, they did not hold the law of the nebraska legislature, in fact, four out of seven judges, normally majority in most places, said it was unconstitutional. But nebraska has it where if the other three judges take a walk, which they did even though a majority found it unconstitutional, its not found unconstitutional and thats the end of the proceeding. They need a little work on their constitution, i think. It hasnt received a stamp of approval there. There are still aggrieved landowners in nebraska who object to the route and who are going to have their private property taken by a Foreign Corporations. Other than that its a great idea w that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster thank youers thank you, mr. Speaker. Before i yield to the gentleman from new york. First of all, im from pennsylvania, palkstauny is several miles several out of my district. Im somewhat knowledgeable on groundhog day and i want to point out in the movie groundhog day bill murray learned of his mistakes the day before and improved his situation each day. Hopefully today your references to your learning from yesterday and how we can move forward, i think the nebraska situation improves the whole situation for all of us, and i certainly dont question the wisdom of the Supreme Court of the nebraska Supreme Court, with that i yield to mr. Hanna. Mr. Hanna mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of this bill. Pipelines as vice chair of the pipeline subcommittee, pipelines are the safest sing wail to transport liquids, safer than rail, safer than trucks. The state Department Says keystone would have a minimal impact on the environment. President obama and his administration have confirmed that keystone will create thousands of construction jobs. These are men and womens livelihoods respectfully id remind the administration, but by their nature all construction jobs are temporary. And it is insulting to marginalize the value of these jobs or the people who hope might hold them. Keystone is supported by many unions, including mine, 545, the operating engineers, where i have been for almost 35 years. Prime minister Steven Harper of canada and i agree, said that the keystone is in both our nations interests, and that quote, the logic here is overwhelming. Keystone will help stop sending billions and billions of dollars overseas to our enemies many of whom went harmless. Mr. Speaker, its time to Start Building this Keystone Pipeline. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio id reserve for the moment. Im straightening out could you tell me how much time remains of the 15 i had . The speaker pro tempore each side has nine minutes remaining. Mr. Defazio with that i yield four minutes to the gentleman from arizona, mr. Grijalva, the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Grijalva thank you mr. Defazio. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in opposition to what can only be described as an earmark for a Canadian Corporation. It speaks volumes about the republican agenda as this new congress convenes that the first order of business in the house and senate is to rubber stamp the keystone x. L. Pipeline. We have not dealt with Unemployment Benefits that the American People need thats lapsed for more than a year. Millions of americans are suffering from a low minimum wage and income disparate, but we are not helping them. Disparity, but we are not helping them. Women in this country earn seven cents to every dollar for their male counterparts. We are not dealing with that. Trying to end that disparity. Instead, they are forcing keystone through without the proper approval process. Building a pipeline clear across the United States so that transcanada can sell its dirty Tar Sands Oil to the highest bidder, namely china, is not in the American Peoples best interests. We take risk to our lands, the American People face threats to their health, and transcanada gets to reap the rewards. Thats not a winning formula for our country or the economy. In fact, its a sham. Yet the keystone x. L. Pipeline continues to be sold to the American People. On blatantly false pretenses. We are told by proponents this is a panacea for job creation. Yet not a single independent analysis supports these claims. The burden of proof is on the g. O. P. They pull fantastic claims out of thin air and yet refuse to back them up. Instead we are told to take those assertions at face value. Heres what we actually know. These are the facts that actually can be substaniated. The state Department Found in a Supplemental Environmental Impact study of Keystone Pipeline it will generate less than 2,000 jobs a year for two years. And only during the period of construction. Once the pipeline is built, these jobs will have disappeared leaving a mere 35 permanent jobs that will result from this project. 35. To put that in context under president obama 353,000 jobs were generated in november, and a total of 2. 9 million in 2014. Theres also the claim please, gas prices have been dropping for more than 100 Straight Days and are at the lowest level in more than 5 1 2 years. They wont go any lower by allowing oil to be piped across our country just to be sold abroad. In contrast to these Fantasy Impact on gas prices, the potential impacts on our environment are very real. Not only will burning these tar sads add to Global Climate change, but a failure or explosion will have disastrous impacts on our environment. Thats because tar sands importers are exempt from paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund. American taxpayers will have to bear the cost of any cleanup of any spills. The public needs to know these facts and that is why allowing one hour and not a single solitary amendment today robs the American People of a full debate and discussion. On top of all that, this bill is being pushed through despite the fact that it violates not one but two treaties for the American Indian nations. What does it say about the respect for the rule of law . If republicans truly want to generate jobs for the American People, they should fully fund the Highway Trust Fund and support the grow america act to invest in the crumbling infrastructure all across this country. Not helping canadians build a superhighway for their dirty Tar Sands Oil. We should be supporting 2,000 jobs per year for two years but millions of jobs for American Families across every Congressional District. My colleagues, we have a chance to take an important stand today in this congress on behalf of taxpayers, the environment, native american communities, and the rule of law. By supporting president obamas veto and rejecting this toxic give away to a corporate Foreign Corporate Oil interest. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster thank you, mr. Speaker. Before i yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from minnesota, i just want to say there have been 15 hearings on the Keystone Pipeline. This is the 10th time we have debated it on the floor. This quite possibly could be the most debated piece of legislation in the history of congress. I dont know that for sure but i do know its been out there for 2,303 days and 60 of the American People support it, while 20 dont. I think the American People are fully aware whats going on here. They understand it and they do support it. With that i yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from minnesota. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from minnesota is recognized for 30 second. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of the Keystone Pipeline which will safely move 300 Million Barrels annually, strengthen our economy, continue to decrease our dependence on middle east oil, and support thousands of jobs. This body has shown tremendous leadership on this issue and last year passed Bipartisan Legislation to approve keystone for the ninth time. Mr. Emmer today with strong support from unions businesses, and the American People we must pass it again. Im grateful for representative cramer, chairman shuthser, chairman upton, and leadership for their work on this vital legislation. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman virginia tech. Mr. Defazio the gentleman just referenced safely transport. Of course thats a hypothetical. Let me give a real example. In 2010 a Canadian Company, embridge, had a pipeline burst in marshal michigan. One million gallons of Tar Sands Oil. Heres the thing. Think about Tar Sands Oil, it doesnt flow. It goes right to the bottom. They are still dredging canadian Tar Sands Oil out of the bottom of the kalamazoo river four years later. So far claims of 53 million have been made which will have to be paid by american taxpayers against the Oil Spill Liability trust fund and not by embridge, the Canadian Corporation, which is what we are setting up here. An even greater transshment by a Foreign Corporation exempt from paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund, creating even bigger potential for spills with this oil which has unique characteristics which are much more difficult to clean up if it comes in contact with water. God forbid get into the aquifer in one of the states being transsecond sected. The chairman dnch reference the 14 lets say 14 hearings, he three were in the rules committee. Those werent hearings. Thats sort of a little star chamber where you take things before you bring them to the floor of the house. You dont discuss substance there. One was in the senate. And that would leave there were 10 in the house but not a tsengle one of those hearings was in the Principal Committee of jurisdiction, which would be the Transportation Committee. And of course the bill that was marked up by the Transportation Committee in the first session of the last congress has was very different than the bill that is being advocated for today, which has not been marked up. We heard a lot about regular order, read the bill and all that stuff. Its fine sew say we voted on this a lot of times before. 61 new members of the house. Gas prices are down by almost 50 . A lot of things have changed. I would even wonder about the viability of this project. I did just recently learn the Koch Brothers have a significant investment in tar sands in canada. But that probably has nothing to do with an attempt to expedite this project. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster before i yield a minute to the gentleman from north dakota i would just like to remind the distinguished Ranking Member on the transportation and arguably the most knowledgeable man in congress when it comes to transportation issues, many years of service plus an intellect thats very sharp, i would never presume to tell him i want to remind him the safest way to move product, move oil is by pipeline. With that i yield one minute to mr. Cramer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Cramer thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for yielding. I just heard a word that is almost hard to believe. We have been accused of expediting this process. Ladies and gentlemen this is day 2,303 of this process. It is time now. Its time because its good for jobs creation. Its time because its good for the environment. It is the safest, not just the safest way, but most environmentally sound way to move oil sands in the pipeline. It is good for National Security. It is good for economic security. It is good because 62. 8 Labor Force Participation is the lowest since 1978. It dreats jobs. And it creates jobs. For these reasons not only does the majority of the United States house and majority of the United States Senate Support it, its for these reasons that the vast majority of the people of the people of United States support it including the people of nebraska. For those reasons i urge a yes vote on h. R. 3. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio at this moment i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster i recognize the gentleman from texas for 45 seconds. Mr. Poe. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for 45 seconds. Mr. Poe i thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, the permitting for the Keystone Pipeline has taken longer than it took for the United States to win world war ii. Isnt that lovely. The pipeline will bring oil to my home state of texas. And pipelines are the safest way to transport oil. The keystone will deliver as much oil as we get from saudi arabia. The United States should work more with our neighbors our normal neighbors canada and mexico, to develop our Natural Resources and compete with opec. This is a National Security and Energy Security issue. We can make the middle east, its politics and its oil, and its turmoil irrelevant. Its time to pick a horse and ride it. And thats just the way it is. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio can i inquire again as to the time remaining on both sides . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has 2 1 2 minutes remaining. Mr. Defazio i yield myself 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Defazio respond to the transport, yes, pipelines are generally safer. But the consequences look at the case in michigan. When a pipeline goes are generally much greater, much greater volumes. Even in the horrific train accidents we have had, the volumes were relatively small that were spilled, even though the consequences, particularly in the one in canada, were very very damaging. Minimally added to the bill, requiring them to pay into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund, that would make this slightly less objectionable. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster i recognize i yield to the gentleman from california for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized for one minute. Thank you mr. Chairman. I rise in support of h. R. 3 the keystone x. L. Pipeline. This bill is based on the cassidy keystone bill which passed the house last congress on a bipartisan vote of 252 to 161. Mr. Denham as chairman shuster noted, this pipeline will create jobs enhance our Energy Independence and strengthen our National Security. This is a bill that makes numerous project benefits a reality. According to the department of energy, the pipeline will transport over 00,000 barrel per day of oil 800,000 Barrels Per Day of oil from canada to the gulf coast which will help reduce reliance on hostile nations. Some have argued that the oil will just be exported. But the administrations own environmental analysis denies that that will ever occur. It will also create good paying jobs, now, while promoting the growth of our Energy Economy for the future future. This is the most studied pipeline in our history, in the history of our nation. Week of never studied a pipeline like weve never studied a pipeline like. This this project will be safe like this. This project will be safe. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for another 15 seconds. Mr. Denham america currently has 2. 6 million miles of pipeline, providing an extremely safe way to transport energy products. The Keystone Pipeline will be the safest ever built with 95 special mitigation measures, including nearly 60 recommended by the department of transportation. Its time to approve this project. We cant afford any more delays. The American Public deserves these jobs and we deserve to be Energy Independent. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio i would yield the gentleman from new jersey a minute and a half. Mr. Pascrell. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Pascrell thank you, Ranking Member, thank you mr. Speaker. We know that building the Keystone Pipeline will create some jobs, we can even help lower consumers prices. But many of these jobs are temporary. Which is true of most cases anyway. The price of oil has already fallen below 50 a barrel for the First Time Since 2009. What we really we really got some good news about jobs today again. We added 252,000 jobs, the Unemployment Rate is the lowest since 2008, i think may or june of that month, of that year. While were going in the right direction, we need some serious creation of jobs and at least the handout to the administration, not a handout, but a reachout to the administration that, hey, youre doing a pretty good job on this, on oil prices on gasoline prices. Just a little bit of encouragement. We are all on the same ship, come on. You boost our Energy Security and having consumers money at the pump, but the debate over keystone has become a symbolic issue. Come on. Lets admit it. It is clear that this fight is vastly greater than the economic, environmental or energy impact, its the end of the world if you listen to the extremes of both sides. I could support the construction of this pipeline but do not believe congress should circumvent the administrative view. Mr. Speaker, let me just recommend something perhaps through you to the chair. That i believe that the reason why we have this problem is the federal Energy Regulatory commission has nothing to say about oil lines. They doen gas lines but not oil lines they do on gas lines but not oil lines. I think we would save time if we used the same situation. Im going to vote no on this but i believe there are good things that need to be done and can be worked out. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster its now my privilege to yield to a nebraskan, to the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Smith, one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Smith i thank the chairman and thank you for the time. As you always know, a major portion of the keystone x. L. Pipeline will run through nebraskas third district. Nebraskans overwhelmingly support this project, to improve access to north American Energy and decrease the strain on our overwhelmed infrastructure system. And as we all know now the nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the process as established by the elected nebraska officials. I urge my colleagues to support approval of this project and i urge the president to sign off on the pipeline as a needed step to encourage private investment in infrastructure. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from oregon. That is correct. 30 seconds. Mr. Defazio ok. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. Mr. Shuster may i inquire how much time i have . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania has four minutes remaining. Mr. Shuster its now my privilege to yield to the gentlelady from virginia, mrs. Comstock. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Mrs. Comstock thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of h. R. 3 the keystone x. L. Pipeline. This bill is about good paying jobs and Energy Security. Republicans and Many Democrats agree on this, as well as the unique coalition of unions like the teamsters, tea party as well as the chamber of commerce. Listen to what the president of the union said, quote, to the tens of thousands of men and women in the construction industry, this isnt just a pipeline, its their mortgages, college tuitions, car payments and food on the table. And for our country, this isnt just a pipeline, its a life line to families security, Energy Security and National Security. Mr. Speaker, i encourage my colleagues to vote for the passage of this critical bipartisan bill. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from oregon reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster i now yield one minute to the gentleman from new york mr. Reid. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. Mr. Reed thank you mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise in strong support of this legislation, to authorize the building of the keystone x. L. Pipeline. Its time. Enough is enough. We agree, thousands of jobs will be created by this pipeline. This will improve consumer prices. This will bring stability to oil markets around the world. This will contribute to protecting us here on american soil rather than relying on Energy Sources from hostile nations of the world. It doesnt cure all the problems, but its a step in the right direction. Our constituents sent us here, mr. Speaker, to solve problems. This is part of the solution. I rise in support of the Keystone Pipelined an pipeline and ask all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reaffirm the bipartisan message of the last congress and approve this legislation today and with that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from oregon reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster i now yield one minute to the gentleman from indiana, mr. Bucshon. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from indiana is recognized for one minute. Mr. Bucshon mr. Speaker, i rise today in strong support of the keystone x. L. Pipeline, the most studied pipeline in american history. After six years and 22,000 pages of review, the president s own state Department Tells us that construction of this pipeline will support over 42,000 jobs and do nothing to harm the environment. And pipelines have been shown to be the safest way to transport oil. Keystone is bipartisan widespread support, democrats, republicans, Industry Leaders and labor. Unfortunately the president issued a veto threat, putting the wishes of environmental activists ahead of creating jobs for the American People. Mr. Speake lsay yes to muchneeded jobs and approve the Keystone Pipeline without any further delays. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Mr. Shuster may i inquire as to how much time i have left. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania has 1 1 4 minutes. The gentleman from oregon has 30 seconds. Mr. Shuster im ready to close if the gentleman will close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from oregon is recognized. Mr. Defazio were exporting more than 60 of the oil that we produce every day, either as refined or even as crude product. In this case, canadian oil exempt from attacks, will flow through the United States to a refinery, will be processed and exported overseas. Somehow thats going to lower prices further at the pump, somehow thats going to lead to American Energy security. Those arguments you have to blow the dust off those. Theyre a little dated. Weve raised a number of concerns here today. Minimally, minimally the republicans should require this Canadian Corporation to pay the same tax that most u. S. Corporations pay when they transport products through pipelines and not put american taxpayers at risk. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster thank you, mr. Speaker. The final hurdle has been removed. Nebraskas Supreme Court has said that the keystone x. L. Pipeline can move forward. That should be enough for my democratic colleagues. But theres more. Its safe, its the safest way to transport this oil, this natural resource. Its studied, the most studied pipeline. Its going to be safe, environmentally sound. It will protect the environment. It creates jobs. And dont listen to me, listen to the five unions that represent three million workers. Three Million Union workers say the Keystone Pipeline should be built. It provides Energy Security for us, its good for our economy, it helps our allies, it strengthens our you a lies and it weakens our enemies our allies and it weakens our enemies. Its its fair to our best friends in the world, the canadians, who allowed us to build a pipeline from alaska to the lower 48. We have to return the favor to our best friend, our best ally, and say yes, you can build a safe pipeline, you can build a pipeline that will help all of north america, that will help all of our allies around the world, and weaken our enemies. With that i urge a yes vote on h. R. 3 and with that i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. Mr. Whitfield mr. Speaker, the energy and Commerce Committee has shared jurisdiction over this issue with t. N. I. And we have a number of members that would like to speak on the issue as well. And at this time i would like to recognize for two minutes the chairman of the energy and Commerce Committee, the gentleman from michigan, mr. Upton. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Upton thank you mr. Speaker. If you like cheap oil most americans would say yes. And a number of us have strongly pursued a north American Energy independent plan for years. And our friend canada is a big part of that. In august of 2009 president obama signed off on a new pipeline called the alberta clipper. Guess what . It brings 400,000 barrels of oil a day from western canada to the United States. We have been waiting for the approval of the keystone x. L. Pipeline for years, over six in fact. I remember well when president obama promised to do whatever it takes to create american jobs. That was followed by a socalled year of action, yet here we are six years later, nothings happened. By the administrations own estimates, tens of thousands of jobs will be supported by this landmark project. Bringing oil from canada to the u. S. Displaces imports from venezuela and the middle east. Isnt that a good thing . I also note that former secretary of state Hillary Clinton signaled that she was inclined to support the project. And that was way back in 2010. In fact, in the summer of 2011 the white house issued its first veto threat against congressional action on the keystone x. L. , claiming that legislation was unnecessary because their process was working. And a decision would be reached by the end of that year. Since then weve upgraded new oil and gas pipeline standards and keystone will exceed those. As it should. We used to be a nation of big ideas and big dreams. We imagined building the hoover dam and the golden state bridge and accomplished both in far less time than it has taken the president to muster the courage to simply say yes or no. We can do better. The election, mr. President is over. Theres been broad bipartisan support for this project from the very first day. The president has been hiding behind the Nebraska Court case to block the critical jobs project called keystone x. L. , and with that road block cleared, the white house is now out of excuses. Vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone thank you, mr. Speaker. Id like to yield to mr. Green for unanimous consent request. Mr. Green mr. Speaker i ask unanimous consent to place the statement in the record in support of h. R. 3. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone thank you mr. Speaker. I yield myself five minutes at this time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Pallone today mr. Speaker, were voting once again to grant special treatment, and i stress special treatment, to transcanadas keystone x. L. Tar stands tar sands pipeline. Its the 10th time since republicans took control of the house. American families face many pressing problems and they want to us use this new congress to Work Together to solve them. Unfortunately well begin this new year with a bill crafted solely to help the canadian tar sands industry. The administration issued a statement in opposition to this legislation and indicated that the president will veto the bill. I heard my republican colleagues talk about the action or inaction, whatever it was, by the nebraska Supreme Court today. But i was stress that the i would stress that the White House Press office still says in a statement that regardless of the nebraska ruling today the house bill still conflicts with long standing executive Branch Procedures regarding the authority of the president and prevents the thorough consideration of complex issues that could bear on u. S. National interests and if presented to the president , he will veto the bill. So the bill will still be vetoed by the president , which is another indication why were wasting our time today. Mr. Speaker, oil prices are at their lowest level in five years. Gas prices are now below 2 a gallon. Necessaryic Oil Production is skyrocketing domestic Oil Production is skyrocketing. Tar sands is the most carbon intensive of all fossil fuels. It will create a dependence on crude, reducing the carbon reductions we have been working hard to accomplish. According to some experts, building the keystone x. L. Pipeline will triple production of the tar sands. Thats totally inconsistent with any future scenario for avoiding catastrophic Climate Change. We dont need this oil, mr. Speaker. Approving and constructing this pipeline wont lower gas prices for americans. In some areas it may even raise prices. This pipeline is a terrible deal. For the United States. We get all the risk while the Oil Companies will reap all the rewards. I was at the rules committee the other night and all i kept hearing was how wonderful canada is. How we have to help canadian companies. This is all about canada. Frankly, dont know why we are so worried about a Canadian Corporation. It wasnt even clear during the rules committee based on the conversations and debate we had with the republican side, that this pipeline will ever be built. Here we are rushing, rushing to basically say to the president , we dont care what you or the state department or the department of interior say about whats in the National Interest. We are going to go ahead and do this because of some canadian interest. Mr. Speaker, this is a new year and a new congress. We have new members who will vote on this bill without the benefit of any hearings or markups or floor amendments without the benefit of lenching how our changing Energy Picture alters the need for this pipeline and without considering whether our time might be better spent on efforts to promote other cleaner Energy Sources. We need sound Energy Policy in these challenging times. As the Ranking Member of the committee on energy and commerce, im anxious to begin working with all of my colleagues on pragmatic Energy Policy. But we need a balanced Energy Policy, one that takes into account current circumstances. One that takes into account our need to combat Climate Change. And one that works with the president rather than against the president to actually deliver legislation that the president can sign rather than veto. This legislation doesnt meet any of these criteria, so i urge my colleagues to vote no on this bill. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield at this time, i would like to yield two minutes to the distinguished gentleman from texas, mr. Olson, a member of the energy and Commerce Committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Olson i thank my chairman and friend. Madam speaker mr. Speaker, i speak today as a former naval aviator. Who flew alongside Canadian Armed forces as we won the cold war. We have no greater ally than our neighbor to the north, canada. We were attacked on september 11 and went to war in afghanistan. They went with us. The to date nearly 200 of the precious sons have come home in coffins. That is a true ally. Katrina new orleans, in august of 2005, within three days our neighbor to the north authorized three military vessels, coast guard vessel, numerous planes, 25 military divers, and tons of tents, blankets, beds, water medical supplies. That is a true ally. Yet this Strong Alliance is being weakened dramatically as president obama has chosen to listen to a small group of wealthy radicals who want no drop of oil coming from our neighbor to the north, canada. In november i met with officials from canada, officials from all over, from nova scioscia scotia. They were dismayed because we are telling them we dont want your oil. Dont help us. Send that to china. Mr. Whitfield yield 30 more seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for 30 second. Mr. Olson thank you. Its a bad world, mr. President. Terrorists in paris isis, terrorists here in our country from north korea. We need strong allies. Pick up two things mr. President. Today the phone, dial mr. Harper and say im going to approve this pipeline. Pass it in the senate. Pick up that pen, sign this bill into law. Lets have a Strong Alliance with canada forever. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair would like to remind all members to direct their comments to the chair. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, i yield now three minutes to the Ranking Member of the energy and power subcommittee, mr. Rush. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Rush i want to thank the rsm. Mr. Speaker, i strongly oppose this bill and i strongly disagree with this abhorrent process that the majority side has undertaken in order to hastily bring h. R. 3 to the floor after only one hour of debate and denying the minority the ability to offer that one single solitary amendment. Truth be told, mr. Speaker it is unclear how this legislation will actually be a benefit to the American People. A 2014 report by the state department concluded that the Keystone Pipeline will create 35 permanent fulltime domestic jobs. Which is roughly the same amount of jobs that would be created by opening a new corner fast food burger joint, although with more risk to the american environment. And furthermore, mr. Speaker this bill is unnecessary because there is already an independent process that is taking place at this very moment. And h. R. 3 short circuits this process. And furthermore mr. Speaker, let it be fully understood by all members of this house the president has indicated that he would veto this bill. This bill is dead on arrival if it ever reaches the president s desk. The state department has already released its final Supplemental Environmental Impact statement, and has been under review to determine whether the pipeline is of National Interest. Mr. Speaker, more than 2. 5 million americans have contributed comments on how this foolhardy project will impact the National Interest and their voices the voices of 2. 5 million americans, deserve to be heard. I said it before, mr. Speaker, and i say it again. This bill is about seizing power away from the American People. Can i have 30 seconds . Mr. Pallone yield at that time another 30 seconds. Mr. Rush by seizing power away from its duly elected president. It will prevent the thorough formal consideration of complex issues that will have serious security, safety, environmental, and other ramifications. Mr. Speaker, i urge the members of this body to vote no. Mr. Speaker the Keystone Pipeline is a republican pipe dream. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield mr. Speaker, at this time i yield two minutes to the distinguished majority leader, the gentleman from california, mr. Mccarthy. One minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Mccarthy i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker as we stand on the floor debating a bill to approve the Keystone Pipeline, we all need to admit, we shouldnt be doing this. We should not have to be here today. 2,303 days after the application for keystone first submitted to the state department. We shouldnt be debating it. We should be building it. For years, approval has been stuck in the senate. Well, now the senate is open. The senate has changed. Its moved through committee. Mr. Speaker, for the longest time the president hid behind the lengthy and delayed review process saying he wanted to wait to make a decision. He said he was waiting because an environmental and legal consideration. But keystone wont harm the environment. It will help protect it. The people know that. Mr. Speaker the president knows that. Mr. Speaker, the president before we even started the debate today has submitted a threat of a veto. I take these serious, says the majority leader, so i wanted to read it. Mr. Speaker, it says one of the rationales why the president wants to veto is because this bill also authorizes the project despite uncertainty due to ongoing litigation in nebraska. Well hallelujah. We got good news for the president , mr. Speaker. The nebraska Supreme Court solved that problem for him today. So we should move forward just as we have done before in a bipartisan basis. Why . Because 42,000 jobs, those are american jobs. Created here. An economy continuing to move forward. And rest assured, the oil in canada will be produced. The question before us today will that oil move down through america refined in america refineries built by american women and men, or will it go to a whole other continent . We take up many issues here on this floor. But we have to look to the future. And we have to build for a future and a strong future. I want north america to be Energy Independent. We all know the strength of that. I want an environmentally sound way to do it. Today does it. I listened to the president s concerns, mr. Speaker, we have had 2,303 days. We have studied it mr. Speaker. Our department vs. Studied. They came back and said environmentally we are safe. There was a legal concern. The Supreme Court dealt with that. Today we can join together just as we have done before in a bipartisan manner pass this bill, a new change in the senate with an open process, pass it there. And go to the desk and be signed so 42,000 americans can get back to work. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield now to the gentleman from vermont, mr. Welch, a member of the energy and Commerce Committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from vermont is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Welch thank you. Mr. Speaker, at the heart of this issue are two questions. First is Climate Change real . Is it a threat to our economy, to jobs, to our environment, and to our security . Speaking for vermont, Climate Change is real. In the past five years, vermont had 10 federal disaster declarations from severe whether, including Tropical Storm irene that did nearly 1 billion worth of damage. Our farmers, and maple Sugar Producers are all trying to contend with the changing climate. Also we know that not oil is the same. This is not sweet texas crude. Tar sands produce about 20 to 40 more Carbon Emissions than that texas oil. And extracting it is going to produce about 27 Million Metric Tons of Carbon Emissions. In the second question is this should congress now or should congress ever pass a major piece of legislation without any committee hearings, particularly when that legislation is only about oil going through our country not to our country . And this legislation includes a special provision that exempts a Foreign Corporation from contributing to environmental cleanup pfund while our Domestic Corporations are required to pay into. These are grood jobs about. 2,000 jobs. But if this congress would do its job, we would pass the surface transportation bill that would create 200,000 jobs and put those three million men and women in our labor unions to work on good things that are going to rebuild this country. Mr. Speaker, this is the wrong bill its passed in the wrong way, and at exactly the wrong time. I urge a no vote and yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield at this time id like to yield two minutes to the vice chairman of the energy and Commerce Committee the gentlelady from tennessee, mrs. Blackburn. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from tennessee is recognized for two minutes. Mrs. Blackburn thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to thank the chairman from kentucky for his tenacious work on this issue. This is the 10th time this has come to the floor and hes been diligent and has continued to push it and we thank him for those efforts. I have to tell you listening to this debate, it just goes to show you why the American People are so tired of what they consider to be the political games that are played here in washington. They said they wanted us to come and get some things done. This is getting some things done. And its appropriate that we take up this bill today. And here is why. Do you realize 8 of all 88 of all americans support Energy Independence . 88 . 65 of all americans think that building the Keystone Pipeline is what this country should do. Now, i have to tell you, i listened to the president and to the excuses that come out of the administration and i think with the Supreme Court decision in nebraska today the president is out of excuses. Hes out of excuses. Hes run the gamut on it. No more excuses. It is time that we pass it, the senate pass it and that this legislation go to the president s desk. One of my colleagues said that being here on the floor today is a waste of time. I really disagree with that, mr. Chairman. The president vetoing this legislation is a waste not only of the American Peoples time but of the resources and the taxpayer money that come into the coffers for this government to function. Create 20,000 new jobs, increase our energy supply, move us to Energy Independence, pass the bill. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, can i inquire how much time is available on both sides. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey has six minutes. The gentleman from kentucky has 7 1 2 minutes. Mr. Pallone i yield now two minutes to the gentleman from georgia. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized for two minutes. Thank you very much, mr. Speaker. This bill is a jobs bill. The American People need jobs. The labor unions who founded and built the middle class of this nation need jobs. But ladies and gentlemen, nobody needs jobs like young black men. I see this as an opportunity here today. The highest Unemployment Rate is with black young men. Black young men people the between the ages of 19 and 35. The Unemployment Rate is 38 . 38 . Mr. Scott and in some communities its 50 . Thats why i come before you today, i support the bill, but i want you all to help me support an amendment, you all know the amendment process is going on over in the sat andveinheene nar mcconnsa hs open to amendments. Heres the amendment. The amendment would just put language in this bill that would put the apprenticeship programs, what they affectionately call earn as you learn, on the job training, no federal money, and target those and guide and direct and encourage in this language that our labor Union Partners bring in these young africanamerican men to learn these trade building skills. Each of the labor unions are are are ready, they have the apprenticeship programs. They have them there. We need this desperately, ladies and gentlemen. Do you know that sitting in the prisons right now are one million black men. Every week thousands of our black men are going into prison. The number one reason, they dont have jobs. This is a jobs bill. Yeah, its got maybe some people say 4,000, some people say 2,000. But there will be other jobs that they can learn these skills from when we rebuild our infrastructure. You all have seen the sign. Black lives matter. But black lives with jobs. Help me get this amendment in on the senate side and lets pass this bill. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the chair lays before the house an enrolled bill. The clerk h. R. 26, an act to extend the termination date of the terrorism insurance Risk Insurance program established under the terrorism Risk Insurance act of 2002, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield at this time id like to yield one minute to the gentleman from illinois for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized for one minute. Mr. Bost i thank the gentleman for yielding and mr. Speaker, i rise in strong support of House Resolution 26 and the construction of keystone x. L. Pipeline. Part of the existing Pipeline System actually supplies the wood river refinery in the 12th Congressional District in illinois. In anticipation of the construction of this pipeline, the owners have spent 4 billion upgrading the facility and created about 2,400 jobs over a fouryear period. Construction of the keystone x. L. X. L. And extension would deliver similar benefits to other regions of the country. Creating over 4,2,000 jobs. In construction 4,2,000 jobs, in construction 4200 jobs in construction industries. It is for this reason that a Diverse Coalition of businesses and labor unions in the construction and Building Trades industries have come out in support of House Resolution 26. And i encourage all of my colleagues to do the same. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone i yield one minute to the gentlewoman from california, ms. Davis. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Mrs. Davis thank you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how does this one project, the keystone x. L. Pipeline, get so much attention . We currently have a sprawling 185,000mile network of Oil Pipelines in the United States and a regulatory process to ensure that they are operating safely. So why are we spending so much time trying to exempt a Canadian Company from the environmental reviews that every other company in america has to abide by . And the big question, mr. Speaker who will pay for any future oil spills . Not keystone. This bill exempts keystone from contributing the same eight cents per barrel that every other oil company is required to pay into the oil spill trust fund. Tell me mr. Speaker why is this . If the authors are so certain that this pipeline does not carry any environmental risk wont they allow the review process to run its course . I stand with my colleagues, i want those jobs, i want them around the country. We can do this. We can do better. I urge a no vote on this dangerous precedent mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield at this time id like to recognize the distinguished gentleman from illinois a member of the energy and Commerce Committee, mr. Shimkus, for 1 1 2 minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized for 1 1 2 minutes. Mr. Shimkus i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Shimkus thank you mr. Speaker. Also i want to say congratulations again to my friend, congressman pallone, for assuming the ranking position. We look forward to working with you. Today is a great day. This pipeline should have been approved six years ago. Like so many other transnational pipelines in our history. A pipeline is the safest way to move bulk liquid product than any other means. It will be from an ally, a trusted ally. More crude oil on the world market lowers prices for everybody. Its more money in the individual citizens pockets, its a very great day. Lets just debunk this myth, this oil is going to go to refineries in my district, mike bosts district, ohio indiana, and in the gulf coast. So were going to get the double effort because were going to be able to refine this put it on u. S. Market, lower Energy Prices for all our citizens. Its a great day. Thank you, chairman for bringing it to the floor. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker i want to make sure we still have three minutes on our side. The speaker pro tempore that is correct. Mr. Pallone i yield two minutes then to the gentlewoman from new york mrs. Maloney. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is recognized for two minutes. Mrs. Maloney i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise in opposition. Weve been promised thousands of jobs. But the u. S. State department estimates that this will create only 35 permanent jobs. Yes, there will be construction jobs, but theyre not permanent. Theyre for a year. Maybe two years. But lets be clear about what we are getting with keystone. A dirty and dangerous pipeline, running through the heart of our country, which will help canadian, canadian Oil Companies export, export their oil to the and it happens to be the filthiest possible energy form. I would like to say that if we put the same time and energy into a transportation bill as we have to this canadian pet project, we could upgrade our crumbling roads and bridges, expand our Mass Transit System provide a huge boost to the American Economy and create jobs in almost every single Congressional District in this country. Thousands and thousands of permanent jobs in our good country. We dont need another pipeline dividing our country, polluting our water pushing us closer and closer to the climate tipping point. A transportation overawl will actually create jobs that americans can live off of. Keystone will not. Unless what theyre considering with these jobs are just the 35 permanent jobs, and maybe theyre considering that there will be jobs to create the leaks and the pollution and treat the pollution associated and illnesses that may be associated with the pollution. So i urge a no vote. We should invest in american companies. We should invest in american pipelines. We should invest in american jobs that are here in america for americans and are permanent. Again, the state department estimates that there will be only 35 permanent jobs. So what are we getting . No jobs and pollution from the dirtiest oil source and Energy Source that is on the earth at this point. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield mr. Speaker would you explain again the amount of time on each side. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky has 5 1 2 minutes. And the gentleman from new jersey has one minute. Mr. Whitfield at this time id like to recognize the gentleman from mississippi for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from mississippi is recognized for one minute. Mr. Harper thank you mr. Chairman. Here we are again. Working to pass a bill to approve the construction of the northern port of the keystone x. L. Pipeline. Again, with the facts on our side. Again with bipartisan support in both houses of corn. And again under threat of a veto. But with the new republican majority in the senate, the president just might get to make good on his veto threat this time. We should force him to make that decision. I urge my colleagues to support this jobcreating, north American Energyproducing, bipartisan labor union and chamber of commercesupported shovelready project. The American People ask for h. R. 3, we waited long enough. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker i would reserve until my colleague from kentuckys ready to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield at this time id like to recognize the gentleman from North Carolina mr. Rouzer for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Rouse rouse mr. Speaker ive heard mr. Rouzer mr. Speaker ive heard one more than one person say common sense isnt common sense anymore. Isnt that right. Today we have a unique opportunity to pass commonsense legislation that will help the American People and strengthen america. Im proud to cosponsor h. R. 3 the keystone x. L. Pipeline act. Its projected that this pipeline will create more than 40,000 good paying jobs and it will create far more jobs indirectly by increasing our energy supply. At a time when our families are struggling to make ends meet, its irresponsible for the president to walk away from doing whats right for america. This is an opportunity to strengthen our position in the world, eliminate a key Revenue Source for our enemies and strengthen our economy by lowering fuel prices even more. I urge my colleagues in both chambers and the president to support the Keystone Pipeline act. This is an opportunity to show the American People that theres still a glimmer of hope for good old common sense. Mr. Speaker, i yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield at this time i yield to the distinguished gentleman from oklahoma, mr. Russell, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from oklahoma is recognized for one minute. Mr. Russell thank you mr. Speaker and mr. Chairman. As a combat veteran, we should never have to fight for something that we can so readily produce here. Why should we put competitors in leverage over our economy and give them dollars to use against us . We hear a lot of talk from progressives on the environment, mr. Speaker. Imagine a Life Without Petroleum no cell phones no asphalt for roads, no synthetic clothing, no plastics. On what the progressives suppose we run our magnificent nation and lifestyle . Perhaps their answer is rainbow stew. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yield its back. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield i think we have the right to close if the gentleman from new jersey would like to proceed. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone i yield myself the time reserves, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, the keystone x. L. Pipeline moves us in exactly the wrong direction, enabling the production of the dirtiest crude oil on the planet and increasing our Carbon Pollution for decades to come. And we need to avoid catastrophic Climate Change. The concentration of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere just hit 400 parts per million for the first time in human history. Although this administration is making great progress, were far from achieving our pollution reduction goals and the need to act is more urgent than ever. I would urge my colleagues to vote no. The president is going to veto this legislation. Its just a political exercise at this point, and, again, it bothers me that i hear so much from the other side about trying to help this Canadian Company. We should be concerned about the United States, and we should be concerned about the world and the environment that results from Climate Change and the continued production of greenhouse gases. My concern and the concern of the president is that this is simply not legislation that has been proven to be so far in the National Interest. And the president is just asking for more time to make that determination. Vote no. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfie d how much time is remaining . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky has 2 1 2 minutes remaining. Mr. Whitfield 2 1 2 minutes. Well, i do want to recognize mr. Cramer of north dakota for 30 seconds and then would that be is that ok . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for 30 seconds. Cramecrame thank you mr. Speaker, and i mr. Cramer thank you mr. Speaker. First, id like to place in the record, if possible a letter i received from caterpillar. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Cramer i want to address the Climate Change issue because i think its an important issue to a lot of people. The argument the other side makes is based on the false idea that oil sands wont be developed without the United States. It is. Moving anything by rail is 1. 9 times more the emissions for co2 than moving it by pipeline. Moving it by truck creates 2. 8 times the co2 emissions as moving it by pipeline. Moving it by barge to china is priceless. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield i yield myself as much time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Whitfield in conclusion, id like to point out a couple of things. First of all, this was a significant issue in the last election. Just a couple months ago. This is a piece of legislation about the American People and not a canadian oil company. 72 of the American People in polls say they support this legislation. This is about jobs for people in america who need jobs. This is about increasing the Energy Infrastructure of our country. This also is a project that would not include one dime from the federal government. Its going to be a cost of approximately 7 billion of private funds that will create a lot of jobs, make us less dependent on foreign oil. The application for Keystone Pipeline was filed in september of 2008. There are 2. 6 million miles of pipelines in america, most of those pipelines do not have to be approved by the president of the United States. But in this particular pipeline, since it crosses into the country of canada from canada to the u. S. , the president must approve it. And he has said that one reason hes not going to approve it is because of litigation in nebraska, which ended today in favor of the governor of nebraska who supports this pipeline. The second reason for the president to oppose it is co2 emissions. And yet the secretary of state office under Hillary Clinton and mr. Kerry in their final Supplemental Environmental Impact statement, has said on three occasions it will have minimum impact on the environment. So today we want to pass this legislation once again, for the American People. The u. S. Senate said they will pass it and we would ask the president to join us and sign this legislation, and i would urge the passage of h. R. 3. The speaker pro tempore all time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 19, the previous question is ordered on the bill. The question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. Those in favor please signify by saying aye. Those opposed, no thopse. The ayes have it. The clerk a bill to approve the keystone x. L. Pipeline. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Garamendi i have a motion to recommit at the desk. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman opposed to the bill . Mr. Garamendi i am. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman qualifies. The clerk will report the motion. The clerk mr. Garamendi of california moves to recommit the bill h. R. 3 to the committee on transportation and trass with instructs to report the same back to the house forthwith with the following amendment. At the end of the bill add the following section 3, requirement that transcanada, keystone p. L. , l. P. , pay for any cleanup of spilled oil on american soil. Transcanada Keystone Pipeline l. P. , shall certify to the president that diluted bitumine and other materials derived from tar sands or oil sands that are transported through the keystone x. L. Pipeline will be treated as crude oil for the purposes of determining contributions that fund the Oil Spill Liability trust fund. I reserve a point of order. The speaker pro tempore point of order is reserved. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california is recognized for five minutes in support of his motion. Mr. Garamendi mr. Speaker, i rise today to offer an amendment to this bill. Passage of this amendment will not will not prevent the passage of the underlying bill. If it is adopted, my amendment will simply be incorporated in the bill and the bill will immediately be voted upon. Mr. Speaker, i dont know if the question is appropriate but is this february 2 . Is this groundhog day . Im curious. This is the 10th time this bill has been before the house, and those who are in support would argue enough is enough lets pass it and get on with it. Those of us in opposition would say, well, why havent you written a bill that is sufficient to the problems raised by the pipeline . Specifically for 10 times on this floor and even additional times in committee the issue of the Oil Spill Liability trust fund has been raised. We have raised that issue 10 times. Its been debated here on the floor. I heard five, six people speak to that issue. The chairman of the committee are well aware that this bill has a huge loophole in it allowing one company that owns the pipeline to avoid paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund. Why in the world would we move a bill that allows this Company Unique among all others, to not participate in a very, very important part of the protection of communities and the environment . The kalamazoo issue has been raised here, the spill. Over 60 million having been spent of which paid for by the Oil Spill Liability fund and then reimbursed by the Pipeline Company. Lets do something right. I mean, this is great fun, back and forth, back and forth we kick this thing around. We may get some political points on one side or the other but why in the world why dont dont we write a decent piece of legislation . Why dont we do it right . Why would we exempt one company among all of the others of hundreds of Pipeline Companies and allow this one Canadian Company and i love canada. My soninlaws a canadian. This is about doing whats right. This amendment would simply include this company being required to participate in the Oil Spill Liability trust fund. Its a lot of dollars. Its about 24 million a year. Thats a pretty good tax break. Who among us would not like to have that tax break . I dont see any well, i guess were all going to stand up because we want to have it. The rest of the story is this. We have spent an enormous amount of time on this issue when in fact, as has been said here many times by proponents and opponents, we ought to get on to real infrastructure. Consider the time intent on this issue when you consider the time that has been spent on transportation bills on this floor. Consider the time that we must spend figuring out how to pay for repairing our bridges building our highways our ports, our airports. Consider that time, 10 times this bill has been here. 10 times this house has ignored a tax break that is not warranted, has allowed to move forward to the senate, a bill that in its very subis he assistance provides an unwanted, unnecessary and grossly unequal tax break to one company among all the other pipeline. This amendment simply comes to the point of making sure that this Pipeline Company like every other petroleum Pipeline Company in america, pays its fair share of the Oil Spill Liability trust fund, which is essential. And i see some of my friends from michigan here. You know how important this is. The kalamazoo river a big deal. 60 million thus far and more to come. The Oil Spill Liability fund was there to provide the early money for the cleanup. Its important folks. My colleagues, this is important. Lets do it right. This is our 10th time. Lets do it right. Adopt this amendment. We clear up one problem in the bill. We remove one point of opposition, and we do whats right. I ask for your aye vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . Mr. Upton i would ask for the five minutes in opposition to the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman withdraw his reservation . Mr. Upton i withdraw my point of order. The speaker pro tempore the point of order is withdrawn. The gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Upton thank you, mr. Speaker. I appreciate the motion to recommit and i would just say that to all my colleagues, we certainly view this as a procedural issue, not as a real amendment. I would say that in the markup that we had on this bill in earlier years, i pledged to work with mrs. Capps on our committee to find a solution that would be fair to the bill. I support the concept of what the gentleman is doing, but in fact and in fact i sent a letter in 2012 to thenchairman of the ways and Means Committee, dave camp, asking for help on this and we were hoping that we would see tax reform, comprehensive tax reform and this would have been included as part of that. But that did not happen. We didnt get tax reform. So when this this bill comes forward, a review does have to be made in terms of how to treat crude oil derived from oil sands for the purposes of the Oil Spill Liability trust fund. But i have to say that really is a ways and means issue, not an transportation issue not an energy and commerce issue. I know this issue is going to be raised in the senate with an amendment probably in the next week. I would just say to the gentleman and those that support this idea, i look forward to working with our senate colleagues, republicans and democrats as well as republicans and democrats in this body to in fact address this situation that does need to happen. But as a motion to recommit, we shouldnt do it now. So let my Democrat Friends vote yes. I would urge my republicans on this side to vote no. I just want to give them the assurance that in fact as this bill moves into the conference as what i expect to happen, that i certainly intend to see mr. Garamendi if the gentleman will yield . Mr. Upton not at this point. Id yield to my colleague, the chairman of the Transportation Committee. This is again something to be dealt with, a tax bill. Two things, though, good have happened today. One, the nebraska Supreme Court has removed the final hurdle to move this bill forward. And number two, my good friend from california and i agree today. On something. This thing should be dealt with. But thls not the place or the time to deal with it. Mr. Shuster moving forward, we want to make sure that this is dealt with in a proper way and i believe that the ways and Means Committee will do that. Ill yield. Mr. Garamendi thank you so very much. I have enormous respect for the two of you. And this issue has been before us many, many times. If we wait for a comprehensive tax reform, the tar sands may be totally eliminated and used up. We have an opportunity shuste reclaiming my time. Mr. Garamendi thank you for yielding. Mr. Shuster reclaiming my time. We understand that this will not be part of a comprehensive tax reform bill. We need to act earlier than that. With the senate now passing the bill in all likelihood next week. Mr. Upton likely with an amendment addressing this situation we can deal with it as part of that conference report and i look forward to supporting that and the inclusion of such in the final package and i would again urge my colleagues to vote no on the procedural motion to recommit so that we can get to final passe yldacth balaofti. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemayids back the balancof his time. Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. The question is on the motion. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. The motion is not agreed to. Mr. Garamendi mr. Speaker, i request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen 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 passage of the bill. This is a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States repstis. Any use of thosti covera of the house procees for political or commal purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker on this vote the yeas are 180. The nays are 237. The motion is not adopted. And the house will be in order. The house will be in order. The chair would ask all members present to rise for a moment of silence. The chair asks that the house now observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks in france. Without objection, fiveminute voting will continue. The question is on passage of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair the ayes have it. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, on that i demand the yeas and nays. The speaker the yeas and nays are requested. Those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the united stat hf repntiv. Any usofhelodcaiod coverage of the house procngs for political or coeral purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 266. The nays are 153, with one voting present. The bill is passed. Without objection the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland new york seek recognition . Mr. Crowley i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Crowley mr. Mr. Speaker, the house is not in order. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Crowley mr. Speaker myself and a number of members of the new york delegation were not able to be here on swearingin day and because we were attending the funeral of former governor mario cuomo in new york. We also were not here to cast a vote for speaker of the house. Had i been present during that vote, i would have cast my ballot for the right honorable nancy pelosi of california. I would like the record to reflect my vote for miss pa lowsy. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlemans statement will appear in the report. The gentleman from new york. I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute the speaker pro tempore without objection. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Meeks i was with mr. Crowley attending the funeral on monday of former governor mario cuomo and therefore i was not able to be here. Had i been here, i would have cast my vote for speaker for the honorable nancy pelosi for speaker, from california. I want that record to reflect the same. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlemans statement will appear in the record. Mr. Meeks thank you. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maryland seeking recognition . Mr. Hoyer mr. Speaker, mr. Speaker i ask unanimous consent to speak out of order for one minute for the purpose of inquiring of the majority leader the schedule for the week to come. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Hoyer thank you, mr. Speaker. At this point im pleased to yield to my friend, mr. Mccarthy, majority leader from california. Mr. Mccarthy. Mr. Mccarthy i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on monday, the house will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 00 p. M. For legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6 30 p. M. On tuesday, the house will meet at 10 00 a. M. For morning hour and noon for legislative business. On wednesday, the house will meet at 9 00 a. M. For legislative business. Last votes of the week are expected around noon. On thursday and friday, no votes are expected. Mr. Speaker, the house will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business today. In addition the house will consider h. R. 186, the regulatory accountability act authored by chairman goodlatte. This bipartisan bill will modernize the regulatory process, ensure transparency and reduce overly burdensome costs that are hurting job creators across the country. The house will also consider h. R. 37 mr. Hoyer mr. Speaker. The house is not in order. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is correct. The house will be in order. The gentleman from california. Mr. Hoyer i yield to my friend from california. Mr. Mccarthy the house will consider h. R. 37, reducing burdensome act, which includes bipartisan reforms to reduce red tape and ensure that Small Businesses have access to the capital they need to grow. Finally the house will respond to the president s unconstitutional executive action. I thank the gentleman. I yield back to you. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman for the information hes given us. First, mr. Speaker, i want to congratulate the majority leader for bringing to the floor in a timely fashion the terrorism Risk Insurance act, which we passed overwhelmingly in a bipartisan fashion. And i think that was very, very important that we get that through the house early, as the majority leader knows, the senate has already passed that bill and is on its way to the president. That obviously will raise the confidence level of those who are going to create jobs and enter into construction projects. Very important for our economy and for our communities. So i thank the majority leader for his quick action and leadership on that issue. Mr. Majority leader, mr. Speaker, im hopeful the majority leader can inform us of what form the department of Homeland Security appropriation bill will come to the floor and what i mean by in what form, the Committee Bill obviously, is i think, supported i dont think, im positive will be supported almost unanimously on both sides certainly on this side of the aisle unanimously if in fact it is the funding levels that resulted from the agreement between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party and passed overwhelmingly, known as the ryanmurray budget numbers. The committee marked up its bill, reported it out, was included in the omnibus, but it was included, as the gentleman knows, only until february 27. Can the gentleman tell me whether that will come to the floor as reported out of committee . And when i say the committee, the house Appropriations Committee. When reported out will it be considered under a rule, and if considered under a rule will that rule be subject and allow amendments, and i yield to my friend . Mr. Mccarthy well, i thank my friend for yielding. The base bill will reflect the appropriations bipartisan, bicameral negotiations on funding for the department of Homeland Security. The text of which will be available later today to answer the question, yes the funding level will be at that. We also will consider a series of amendments, which respond to the president s executive action, and i expect the text of those will be available a little later today. I yield back. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman. So to im pretty sure i understand exactly what the gentleman said. Therefore, those amendments will be offered on the floor and will not be incorporated in the bill in the base bill . Mr. Mccarthy that is correct. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman. Will other amendments when will the hearing on the rule be held so that our members can know that if they have amendments they would like to offer that they can appear at the rules committee . And i yield to my friend. Mr. Mccarthy i thank the gentleman for yielding. I anticipate rules Committee Meeting on monday. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman for that. Ill make sure that our members know that. Mr. Speaker, i know the leader speaker has held a moment of silence. I will be saying something in a few minutes on the tragic events that have happened in france. The loss of life, not only of all loss of life in the initial incident, in the hostage taking, and the Law Enforcement officer. Clearly this was in france, but we all know that we are all vulnerable in all the free world and i would urge the majority leader to ensure that the Homeland Security bill passes this house in a bipartisan fashion. What i mean by that is, i know there are going to be amendments offered. I know his side of the aisle is very concerned and believes and hes asserted that the actions taken by the president were unconstitutional. We do not share that view, as the gentleman knows, that they were unconstitutional. We believe they were the executive order was within his authority and prosecutorial discretion on the executive side of the government. But we also know that that issue is going to be an issue of substantial debate, discussion and im sure other legislative actions. And mr. Speaker, i would urge the majority leader to i think it is in the best interest of making sure that Homeland Security bill is passed so there is no doubt as to the resources that Homeland Security department will have to protect all americans, to protect our homeland and to coordinate extensively. Secretary johnson has made statements this week that the failure to have full funding for the department of Homeland Security has already impeded his ability and the departments ability to act fully on behalf of the security of this country. So mr. Majority leader i would urge that to be i know all of us, all 435 of us are committed to making sure that we do everything we can to keep our homeland safe and our people safe. I would hope that we would have nothing included in the bill which would be very controversial, reflecting our differences, when the underlying bill, i think, is not controversial when the underlying bill is something we can almost unanimously agree is something that ought to be passed and ought to be signed by the president and ought to give the department of Homeland Security the full resources it needs to keep america safe. And id be glad to yield to my friend, the majority leader. Mr. Mccarthy well, i thank the gentleman for yielding. As the gentleman knows, the current homeland is funded up until february 27. As noted next week is the second week back in and were taking this in the second week because i believe on both sides of the aisle we care about homeland, we care about our security and this is something that has been worked together. Inside this body, we have a constitutional responsibility to deal with those items that are germane and we will deal with all of the items that are germane and i yield back. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman and i look forwarded to working with him next week that on a bill that is put together as quickly as possible. I appreciate him bringing it to the floor and appreciate the fact that amendments will be considered separately and i hope that we could join together in opposing amendments which will undermine the bipartisanship of the legislation. Can the gentleman we have threeday weeks coming up now. Well have a couple short weeks when the republicans go to retreat, to their issues conference, and when democrats go to their issues conference. I can ask you if you can give me a sense of the legislation that will be on for the remainder of the month. I yield to the gentleman. Mr. Mccarthy i thank the gentleman for yielding. The gentleman is correct, we have throwday weeks for retreats on both sides of the aisle. This year the republicans will be retreating with the republicans in the senate as well leaving next wednesday. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The house will be very active throughout january, focusing on Bipartisan Solutions that have been needlessly stuck in the senate. As the gentleman knows, 382 bills did pass this house but got stuck in the senate. More than half of those passed by voice vote, for the last four years. This will include a bill to expeediate the federal review process for natural gas pipeline permit applications and a bill to cut through red tape and ensure exports of liquefied natural gas to our allies. As we get closer to consideration for each week, i assure the gentleman that the full list of bills coming before the house will be available for the members. I yield back. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman. And lastly, mr. Leader if i could ask you about the Border Security bill. Its my understanding that the border bill could be coming to the floor this month. And i know that chairman mccaul has said Republican Leaders are getting close and im quoting, to have a separate border policy bill ready to go. I know they, referring to the Republican Leadership want homeland appropriations on the floor next week, as weve already discussed. So whats going to be tied to that is unclear at this point, but were working on a border bill right now. Now as you know, mr. Leader, the border bill, the mccaul bill passed out either on voice vote or unanimously with both parties agreeing and in fact the democrats in the last congress in the comprehensive immigration bill that we introduced, included dropped the senate Border Security bill and put in the mccaul bill, as the gentleman undoubtedly knows because we believe that was the better approach. Can the gentleman tell me how will the mccaul bill, as passed in the last congress, be the border bill that will be reported or does the majority leader know that at this point in time . Mr. Mccarthy well, i thank the gentleman for yielding. In speaking to chairman mccaul, he does want to move a bill maybe towards later this month. I know he has a trip to the border with a number of members. I know hed like to move the bill after that trip. I anticipate a bill shortly and as soon as we have date ill let the gentleman know. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman. And i hope we can, as we did in the first iteti othe mccaul bill, have a unanimous bipartisan agreement because we want to make sure that border is, in fact, secure, again, as we want to see that Homeland Security department has its full complement of resources to protect the American People. And if the majority leader wants additional time ill yield. If not ill yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Mccarthy mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that when the house adjourns today it adjourn to meet on monday, january 12, 2015, when it shall convene at noon for morning hour debate and 2 00 p. M. For legislative business. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The chair lays before the house the following personal requests. The clerk leave the be a requested for ms. Moore of wisconsin for today. The speaker pro tempore without objection the request is granted. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, 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 discuss the president s executive orders on immigration set to take effect in mid 2015. The constitution article 1, section 8, expressly grants the legislature the Sole Authority to establish rules for naturalization. Yet, on november 20, 2014, the president announced new policies that will enable a substantial portion with the unlawfully present alien population to obtain relief for removal and work authorization. In addition to the substancive constitutional separation of power concerns, the action raises National Security implications and a range of other potentially harmful consequences. For this reason the house passed h. R. 33, which imposes a february 27 funding sunset for the agencies responsible for carrying out the president s orders. While this limitation creates an opportunity for the new majority in congress to take action against the president s unilateral actions, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle should want to protect the rule of law. Our constitution separation of powers and the best interests of hardworking americans. The American People deserve as much. Mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition . Mr. Hoyer mr. Speaker 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 minute. Mr. Hoyer mr. Speaker, i rise as i know all americans would rise if they were here to express our solidarity with, our sympathy to and our convictions for Strong Alliance with the people of france. The despicable and tragic murder in paris on tuesday of journalists and those who protected them ought to be a reminder that we cannot and must not take for granted the freedoms we enjoy living in a democracy. The men and women who were targeted in paris on wednesday were cartoonists whose job was to use humor to make people question their leaders and their most cherished principles. Freedom of speech protected in the First Amendment to the constitution of the United States of america, which was read today on this floor Means Nothing if that speech can be intimidated shuttered by violence. Intimidated and shuttered by violence. The principles that we speak of were part of a long tradition in france and in this country of bringing the loftiest of people and ideas down to earth for the power of satire. Freedom of the press and Free Expression of ideas are a necessary check against tyranny and oppression. There are as much they are as much a part of democracy as the right to vote and due process in court. In attacking these journalists the terrorists made their target clear and that is freedom itself. Freedom in america, freedom in france, freedom throughout the world. Freedom of conscience freedom of speech, freedom of dissent. And the taking of innocent hostages at a kosher market today further demonstrated the terrorist utter disregard for the liberty equality, and brotherhood that are the foundation of the french democracy and the american democracy. The democratic nations of the world must continue to stand up to those who wish to stifle the basic freedoms that all people deserve. I know that all 435 members of this congress are united in that conviction. I join with all of my colleagues in offering my condolences to the families of the victims and to the french people n that regard i articulate what has just been demonstrated by all by standing in silence. Just as president kennedy declared ike ben ine berliner, and newspapers around the world after 9 11 read we are all americans. Today all freedom loving people around the world join together in solidarity to say [speaking in a foreign language] i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. What purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, 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. Poe mr. Speaker, the red rider b. B. Gun is a ghost of christmas past because this year santa gave drones. Here a drone, there a drone, everywhere a drone. Just more eyes in the sky and these eyes can be anywhere and on any person. How comforting is that . It is estimated by 2030 30,000 drones will be over the skies of america. People are rightfully concerned that these identifies in eyes in the sky could be a threat to our constitutional right to privacy. We are entering a world of unchartered drone technology. Thats why im reintroducing the preserving american privacy act. This bill seeks to ensure the privacy of americans. It establishes specific guidelines for about when and what purpose that Law Enforcement and private entities can use drones. Technology may change, but the constitution does not the christmas spy machine that have useful purposes also need constitutional rules to prevent unlawful surveillance by Law Enforcement or private organizations. Thats just the way it is. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from nebraska seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week the members of the 114th United States Congress Took their oaths of office, family and friends from around the country came to participate in that Great American tradition of Representative Democracy and support their loved ones i was pleased my own wife and five daughters were here with me as well. The start of a new congress is always an exciting time to renew our government and the promise of america. Partisan gridlock made smart and effective government gridlock here. Our economic recovery has dimmed the financial prospects of too many Small Businesses and their families. In our time of social fracture more and more people are feeling directionless. And alone. Mr. Speaker, as i often like to say there is nothing wrong in america that cant be fixed by whats right in america. But this will require bold resolve innovative public polcy, and a return to our highest ideals. We must restore our economic vibrancy, through responsible government, and building a culture of life that respects of dignity and rights of all persons. Mr. For then berry lets repurpose washington. Lets turn or country around. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Roslehtinen thank you, mr. Speaker. The administrations concessions to the tyrannical cuban regime have only strengthened the iron grip of the dig tatorship and by president obama attempting to normalize relations with the island, we are only putting more money into the covers coffers of these thugs to continue their repressive waste. The white house and state department will once again were once again fooled by a tyrant and that has grave consequences for our credibility around the world. Mr. Speaker, this is a bad deal. It is a bad deal for the people of cuba. A bad deal for america. And bad deal for freedomloving people everywhere. Today i was joined by other members of congress in sending a letter to secretary kerry urging the administration to stop its concessions, abandon the talks scheduled with cuba later this month, and get serious about bringing true reforms to cuba first before even contemplating a change in our relations. If they wont listen, it is up to us and congress to defend freedom for cuba and, indeed, around the world. Thank you, mr. Speaker, for the time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Request to address the house for one minute, revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Fitzpatrick thank you, mr. Speaker. Last fall after 34 years of distinguished Public Service Pennsylvania State representative paul climber from upper bucks county announced his retirement. Throughout his rear representative climber has been a strong advocate on many issues ranging from education to economic development. As a historian, paul chaired the committee responsible for the renovation of the state capital building. He took a personal interest in this project, working diligently to ensure the completed renovation would live up to president Theodore Roosevelts declaration in 1906 when he called it the handsomest building he ever saw. More than a century later, the building still strikes visitors with awe. Although he has many accomplishments to his name, it has been representative climbers gentlemanly demeanor for which hes best known. Paul was known in government as a man of conviction who would stand up for his principles, yet also able to listen to those who passionately opposed him. Hes been a model Public Servant and mentor to many, including to me. And i want to say welldone paul, in your retirement. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Ms. Jackson lee unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Jackson lee thank you mr. Speaker. This morning we started by reading the constitution and i did not want to leave this week without reminding us of amendment one of the bill of rights that Congress Shall make no law respecting or establishing a religion or prohibiting of the free exercise thereof or bridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. Today we stand with the people of france who in the early years of our beginnings certainly gave to america many of the democratic principles by way of their own values. Today we acknowledge that violence would not undermine Democratic Values around the nation or around the world. We mourn those who have lost their lives and we want to stop the terrorist violence, but what we most want to do is to be able to acknowledge the individual dignity of all people and that we will not stigmatize religions or ethnicities or race in this country, but we will recognize that we are great because we are able to welcome all from all places and to be able to accept their human dignity. We have a constitution and a bill of rights and im grateful for the greatness of this nation, but i stand with the people of france and mourn their loss this week. The speaker pro tempore the chair will recognize members for special order of speeches without prejudice to the possibility of resumption of legislative business. Under the speakers announced policy of january 6, 2015, the gentleman from florida, mr. Jolly is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. Mr. Jolly thank you, mr. Speaker. I appreciate the time. I would like to claim this time to spend a few moments on the floor of this house to express the appreciation of myself and my colleagues to those who serve every day in our Law Enforcement community. Theres no better way to kick off this time than to recognize a colleague of mine from the state of washington, a former sheriff of 30 years in Law Enforcement and a former sheriff of the year from king county, my colleague from washington, mr. Reichert. Mr. Reichert i thank the gentleman for yielding and his kind introduction. Today, mr. Speaker, is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. And i hope this becomes a yearly thing. Its sponsored today by the National Sheriffs association the International Association of Police Chiefs and sheriffs, the f. O. P. , and other Law Enforcement organizations, both national and state organizations and local organizations. Now, as mr. Jolly said, i served 33 years in the Sheriffs Office in seattle. Starting in a patrol car. Eventually ending my career as the sheriff. I know from my own personal experience in serving in those years that a cops mission is to protect their community. I know from working with Law Enforcement not only in the Sheriffs Office in seattle but with the Seattle Police department, all the Police Departments and sheriff offices in the state of washington, and even across this country, i have had the opportunity to work with a number of Law Enforcement organizations local, state, and federal. Mr. Speaker, they come each day with the heart of a servant. They come to each day knowing that when they put on that badge and that uniform that they may not go home. They know that. But they do it anyway. And why do they do that . Why do they why did i take that risk for 33 years . Let me tell you, mr. Speaker, i did come close several times in my career to losing my life. To protect the community i serve. Let me also say that i lost some dear friends over those 33 years. One, my best friend, sam hicks. Who was shot and killed in 1982 of june. Another good friend in 1984 stabbed to death t its a dangerous job but its a job they choose to do because they choose to serve the community, they choose to put their life on the line to protect and serve all of us, protect our families our children, our businesses, our property, each and every day t but no one is perfect, we know day. But no one is perfect, we know that. There are good Police Officers and bad Police Officers. There are good mechanics, bad mechanics, good lawyers, bad lawyers. We all come from the human race there are good and bad, and there is good and bad in all of us. It they are required to make life in a moments notice you can have a gun pointed at you, make the decision, do i shoot or not do i talk that person out of the gun . Ive been in that position too, and fortunately i was able to talk that person out of his gun and took him to jail. But sometimes things go wrong. And what it does, police rightly so, must be under the microscope. There must be public scrutiny. Cops know that. Police chiefs know that. This was know it. And we accept that too. But when things go wrong and we watch these incidents and these events unfold over the media, let us all remember that Police Officers have Constitutional Rights too. They are allowed due process too. They are american citizens too. They have Constitutional Rights and protections also. The constitution, as was mentioned earlier was read today, reminding us that we all have those Constitutional Rights. Youre innocent until proven guilty. So when something wrong happens that we think is wrong, lets Pay Attention to the facts. Lets let the process go forward and then based on the facts based on the facts lets work with the community, with the Police Department, with the mayor the city council and change the policy, change the procedures and make sure it doesnt happen again. But today let us also remember the service of the men and women, the brave and dedicated men and women who put that uniform on every day. Im going to name a few Police Officers who from Washington State five years ago and this is the fiveyear anniversary of the death of these Police Officers gunned down, four of them gunned down while sitting in a coffee shop in lakewood, washington. They paid that ultimate sacrifice that we often hear talked of. Sergeant mark, officer ronald, officer tina grizwald, officer Greg Richards as well as seattle Police Officer timothy brenton, Pierce County sheriffs deputy kent mondel, all from Washington State. All not with us today, all of their families missing them. During these difficult times, mr. Speaker we need to come together as a community, as a country as a nation and recognize the service of these Police Officers across the country and i guess ill end with this and the simple act that we it comes so easily, i think, for us that people that serve in the military, just a simple thank you. If you see a Police Officer today, as you go about your duties, your days duties, please walk up and say thank you. Please tell them you appreciate their service. That means the world to them. I yield back. I thank my colleague from the state of washington and today on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day i would like to recognize a champion supporter of Law Enforcement, my colleague, mr. Byrne from alabama. Mr. Byrne i thank the gentleman from florida both for giving me some time but most importantly for scheduling this special order so that we can honor men and women who put their lives on the line every day, as we just heard from our colleague from washington. Last year in the United States of america, 119 Law Enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty. 119 lives. Snuffed out. Not because they did anything wrong but they were there performing their duty to protect you and me so that every night when we go to sleep we put our heads on our pillows and sleep soundly. And we take it for granted. We think theyre always going to be there, that theres something about that that we think is just natural. Theres nothing natural about someone who goes out every day and consciously gives of themselves and puts their lives on the line for somebody else. Jesus said theres no greater love than this than someone who would lay down his life for his brother, and Law Enforcement officers do that every day. And yet sometimes when we get these incidents in america, we somehow forget that. We forget who they are. We forget that they have husbands and wives and children and parents and sisters and brothers and friends that theyre people too. Theyre citizens in our Community Just like we are. And they go out every day to protect you and me and give us the quality of life that, as i say, we take for granted. So its altogether fitting that we would take today and recognize them, salute them honor them, thank them for what they do for all of us. And i hope that we wont just do it today. I hope we will do it 365 days out of the year because theyre there for us 365 days a year. So on behalf of my constituents in the first Congressional District of alabama say to the Law Enforcement officials in my district and throughout america, we salute you we thank you, god bless you and i yield back. I thank my colleague from alabama. Mr. Speaker, i rise today as well to say thank you to Law Enforcement officers throughout pinellis county, florida, and throughout the nation, thank you for your service and thank you for your sacrifice and thank you for that of your families. Mr. Jolly each day in the community that i have the opportunity to represent as well as across the country, thousands of Law Enforcement officers serve and protect us. Often a great sacrifice to their families and at risk to their very own lives. This was the case on this past december 20 when officer robert kondick of the Police Department in Pinellas County responded simply to a noise complaint. It would be the officers end of watch. As he tragically lost his life at the hands of a gunman a gunman whose actions represent the type of inhumanity that we entrust our Law Enforcement officers each day to protect us from. The officer was only 45 years old and he is survived by and his memory lives on through his wife and his six children. But sadly, mr. Speaker, this story repeats itself throughout communities across the country. The nation witnessed on december 23 in new york two Law Enforcement officers who were assassinated by an individual with one intention to take the lives, specifically, of Law Enforcement officers. Mr. Speaker, in my home town of Pinellas County, the brotherhood of Law Enforcement officers, the sisterhood of Law Enforcement officers understand each day just like Law Enforcement officers across the country, the very safety to their safety and their lives and the risk and the heartbreak of their families and their children, that that risk is very real. In our county weve lost a total of 24 officers, including in recent years st. Petersburg officers david crawford, jeffrey yaslowitz, each representing a loss of life while serving and protecting us and we find ourselves today listening to some a minority in our society who wish to give voice to those who undermine the very honor of Law Enforcement officers, who undermine the very sacrifice of our Law Enforcement officers and who undermine the very danger that these Law Enforcement officers face each day. Instead we should be rising to say thank you to the men and women of Law Enforcement, thank you to the men and women in our communities who protect and defend us. And so mr. Speaker, i rise today to do just that, to say thank you. Thank you to officer kondick of tashin springs for his service, and thank you to his family for sharing him with a community that will forever remember his ultimate sacrifice. Thank you to the families of all fallen Law Enforcement officers. And thank you to those who serve every day. I want to thank our local Law Enforcement leadership in my hometown of Pinellas County. The Clearwater Police chief, st. Petersburg police chief anthony holloway. The police chief in indian shores, belair police chief Gulfport Police chief largo police chief jeffrey undersad Pinellas Park police chief thomas, Schools Police chief rick stelgis, tarpin police chief Treasure Island police chief tim casey. And chief david hendry of the university of south floridast. Petersburg. And i especially want to thank all members of Law Enforcement in my hometown, those throughout Pinellas County who get in their cars each day, walk the streets, respond to crimes, investigate crimes, respond to disturbances and ultimately protect us. I want to thank those that i am privileged within the Law Enforcement community to call friends. Officers from the Clearwater Police force. My dear friend, detective walser, detective christopher precious, Sergeant John brown, officer bill renfroe, lieutenant juan torres and lieutenant richard harris. And from the Pinellas County sheriffs department, my friend, Sergeant Steve wagner. Thank you to each of you. And i want to thank the capitol Police Officers that protect each of us here as members of congress and the thousands of capitol visitors each year that are protected from threats that at times can be tragically real. Thank you to all who serve. From Pinellas County, throughout the state of florida and communities across the country and right here in this very chamber, thank you for protecting us. Thank you for serving. Thank you to every Law Enforcement officer for your commitment to duty, your service to your community and your service to your fellow man. As my colleague, bradley byrne, said blessed are those that would lay down their life for their brethren. That is the oath to risk their life to protect ortse, that our Law Enforcement officers renew each day. Indeed, may our loving god richly bless each one of you who put on the uniform of Law Enforcement and may god richly bless as well your families, and may gods loving hands protect and defend each of you every day of your service just as you protect and defend each one of us. Please know that this member of congress and millions of people across the country, including those in Pinellas County and floridas 13th district, including those throughout communities around our nation are forever grateful for the service of Law Enforcement officers. Your service to your fellow man. So today on behalf of millions of americans i simply say to each of you serving as Law Enforcement officers, thank you. And with that i would like to recognize new colleague of mine from texas. Thank you mr. Speaker. Id thank the gentleman from florida for yielding his time. This week i was honored and grateful to be able to vote for and help pass several bills that will improve the lives of so many hardworking americans. Mr. Ratcliff earlier today i was proud to be an original cosponsor of h. R. 3, the keystone x. L. Pipeline. Im grateful to be pushing this bill across the finish line because the keystone runs through the fourth Congressional District that im privileged to represent. Its a long overdue commonsense piece of legislation which will create goodpaying jobs, will grow our economy and will support more manufacturing and trade in this country. During its construction, its estimated that 42,000 jobs will be created by the keystone and it will put more than 2 billion in the pockets of american workers. To put this impact in perspective, those 42,000 jobs are 12,000 more than the entire Unemployed Population in the fourth Congressional District of texas. Unfortunately, president obama has indicated that hell veto the keystone if it passes both houses. I hope that this is just an idle political threat because if its not, then the president s intentionally harming the middleclass americans that this great job creation bill is going to help. I hope and pray our president wont play politics that will create opportunities for tens of thousands of americans to support their families. This week i was also proud to be able to support h. R. 30, which changes the definition of a fulltime employee from 40 30 hours a week to 40 hours a week under the perversely named Affordable Care act. Obamacares 30hour rule places an impossible burden on individuals and Small Businesses in my district and across this country, and im glad to be able to help pass a bill which repeals a terrible provision from a terrible law. But i say we havent gone far enough. I know the people that i represent in north texas wont be satisfied until we repeal every provision of the Affordable Care act. I want sent here to washington to deliver results for the hardworking people of north and east texas. And these bills show that im doing that and its what i intend to keep doing. Because while these are great bills, and im proud we passed them this week, its just a start. We need more good bills to combat the president s executive overreach to restore fiscal sanity, to secure our borders, to repeal all of obamacare, and most importantly to defend our great constitution. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the members are reminded to direct their remarks to the chair. The gentleman from florida. Mr. Jolly thank you, mr. Speaker. I have no further speaksers at this time. With that i yield back and i move the house do now adjourn. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The question on the motion to adjourn. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The motion is adopted. Accordingly, the house stands adjourned until noon on monday next for morning hour debate. Materials on hrment r. 3. On h. R. 3. The speaker pro tempore without objection. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Shuster mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 19 i call up the bill h. R. 3, to approve the keystone x. L. Pipeline. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 3. A bill to improve the keystone x. L. Pipeline approve the keystone x. L. Pipeline. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 19 the bill is considered read, the bill shall be debatable for one hour, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on transportation and infrastructure. And the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on energy and commerce. The gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Shuster, the gentleman from oregon, mr. Defazio, the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Wit field and the gentleman from new jersey whitfield, and the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Pallone, each control 15 minutes. Mr. Shuster thank you mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. Mr. Shuster i rise today to support h. R. 3, the keystone x. L. Pipeline act, and for those who have not heard, according to the administration, the final hurdle has been removed. And that is that the nebraska Supreme Court this morning has approved the pathway to for the pipeline, the routing of the pipeline, the keystone x. L. Pipeline. Again, the administration has said that was the major hurdle. It has fallen. So i hope the president is not going to establish another hurtle, that being himself hurdle that being himself. America is undergoing an Energy Renaissance and the prospect of securing north American Energy independence is in sight. However, to achieve our goal of Energy Security we need to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to keep pace with the changing energy landscape. Keystone will be a critical addition to the nations pipeline network, increasing our supply of oil and helping to reduce its cost. The state department completed its environmental nail sis a year ago. However, theres still analysis a year ago. However, theres still been no action on the pipeline. Theres no reason to delay this project. And as i mentioned, as the president s main arguments in the premature veto threat is that the bill would authorize the pipeline despite uncertainty due to ongoing litigation in nebraska. That uncertainty has ended this morning and the Supreme Court of nebraskas allowed the planned route to go forward in nebraska. Again, there is simply no reason to delay. In fact, the southern leg of the pipeline has already been built. In march, 2012, in oklahoma the president expressed his support for expediting construction for the southern leg of the keystone x. L. Pipeline. I agree with the president when he stated at that ceremony that he was directing his administration to cut through red tape, breakthrough bureaucracy hurdles and make this bureaucratic hurdles and make this a priority to get done. It was the right thing to do then, its the right thing to do now and its exactly what this bill does. We should move forward because this pipeline will be a tremendous boone to the economy , economic development, and one that doesnt require a single federal dollar. The very nature of Infrastructure Improvement creates jobs and keystone is no exception. I know my colleagues have made the argument that its only temporary. But every infrastructure job is a temporary job. When a roads completed when a bridge is completed, when a pipeline is completed. Those construction workers move on to hopefully other construction jobs. And indeed five unions representing over three million workers, i repeat that to my democratic colleagues five unions representing three million hardworking americans, support this project. And id like to submit their letter in the record for support of this project. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Shuster i want to name them off. Its the teamsters, International Brotherhood of electric workers, Labor International union of america, the operating engineers, its the pipe fitters of the United States and canada, all supporting this project. Again they see it as positive economic impact. And again when these jobs are completed, theyll move on to other hopefully construction jobs. But whats left behind will have a positive impact to our economy, to job creation, for a generation. Our Energy Renaissance is helping make north america more secure and Energy Independence and Energy Independent and i want to quote the president. In this time of significant Political Uncertainty in key Oil Producing countries and regions and in the context of a difficult economic situation,opec Canada Crude Oil supplies advance the situation nonopec Canada Crude Oil supplies advance the energy of the United States. He said this in 2009. About the end bridge pipeline which started transferring oil sands from canada to the gulf coast last month. The president five years ago supported this type of thing. He should support it now. So other than politics, i dont understand why he hasnt approved this project as he did with end bridge. Its time to build. Ladies and gentlemen, i especially look to my democratic colleagues. Lets put down our gloves, lets do something positive for america, for those three Million Union jobs that workers that will be rewarded. Lets do whats good for the environment. Lets do whats good for Energy Independence and lets be fair to our greatest friends in the world our canadian neighbors. They allowed us to build a pipeline across their land. We should allow them to do the same in ours. Theyre our best allies, our greatest friends, a great neighbor. Lets us today pass this bill let us today pass this bill and build the keystone x. L. Pipeline with that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pipeline. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the nc ofis te. The lanroos regned. Mr. Defazio i yield myself such time as i may conme the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Defazio well, its ground hog day come early to the grundhog day come early to the groundhog day come early to the floor of the house. Its cold enough, i guess. This will be the 10th time in the last four years that the house of representatives has moved this bill with the assertion that somehow it leads us to Energy Independence, Energy Security lower prices at the pump. Well, the reality is, a Canadian Corporation is going to build a pipeline from canada to texas. They are going to be exempt from paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund unlike most other projects in this country, because of a stupid ruling by the i. R. S. But thats nothing new. Regarding tar sands. So theyll be exempt from paying into that. So if this thing bursts, theres an accident, the taxpayers of the United States get the bill. Not the taxpayers of canada. They dont get the bill. Taxpayers of the United States get the bill. Now, thats one of a number of problems regarding this project. Its somewhat unprecedented, i believe this may have happened at some other time in american history, but i do find it particularly ironic today, when we had the reading of the constitution, that the effect of passing this bill, if it were to become law and the president has already said hell veto it, but if this were to become law would be to give a Foreign Corporation the right to take private property from american citizens. Im not aware of any other time in the history of the union where we have given a Foreign Corporation the right to take americans private property. Yeah, some people were happy to sell the rights. But many others werent. Including some in nebraska and some in texas. Its been quite contentious among land owners who are just having this corporation come. I would like to put in the record a letter from transcanada. We have blacked out the name of the recipient of the letter. But it is a true copy of a letter to a person who will have their private property taken by Eminent Domain by a Foreign Corporation. And the Foreign Corporation informs them that they will begin this month, i guess, because of the anticipated public inaction, to take their private property away. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Defazio thank you. Now, thats a bit ironic, again on the day we read the constitution, and also of the party of individual rights for property owners. So that is also of concern. Yes, there will be construction jobs. And im the first to admit we need more jobs in america. In fact, i voted against the president s socalled stimulus bill because it didnt invest enough in building frturethisoury insteadt d a wleunch of stupid tax cuts because of lay summers, you know, a highly acclaimed hack economist. And we didnt put a lot of people back to work. 7 went to infrastructure. That created jobs. 42 went to tax cuts. Didnt create jobs. But thats another agenda the republicans are pursuing, is tax cuts to create jobs. But we wont get into that here today. So yes, that will happen. But there are a lot of other investments we should, could make that will create significant construction and infrastructure jobs. Now, were this just in isolation and it didnt involve the total construction of the forests of canada, if i were a canadian id be pretty upset about that, and perhaps the dirtiest, most environmentally problematic way of extracting fossil fuels from the ground to get these oil sands, the construction jobs might have, you know, might carry the day. But sometimes you have to draw a line. And in this case, you know we also hear its going to lead somehow to Energy Security. Thats interesting because the crude is going to come down without paying any crude, tar stand oil or whatever you want to call it, its going to come down to texas without paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust Fund Creating a potential problem for the future taxpayers of the United States. Go to a refinery in an export zone in texas and it will be refined and then it will be exported. Were exporting millions of gallons of fuel every day. So to somehow say this is going to lead to lower prices at the pump in america maybe its lower prices at the pump in china or japan or someplace but it isnt going to be here. Because the product is ultimately going to be exported. So its not also not going to do anything for our Energy Security. And at the moment we have fracking and other things, fuels and prices are down considerably. So, you know, those are just a few of the problems. And we are by passing this bill, the house of representatives, will attempt to preempt the executive authority of the president in this matter because this pipeline crosses an international border, the president has authority and the state department halls been considering it department has been considering it. And even with the Supreme Court of nebraska refusing to make a judgment, they did not hold the law of the nebraska legislature, in fact, four out of seven judges, normally majority in most places, said it was unconstitutional. But nebraska has it where if the other three judges take a walk, which they did even though a majority found it unconstitutional, its not found unconstitutional and thats the end of the proceeding. They need a little work on their constitution, i think. It hasnt received a stamp of approval there. There are still aggrieved landowners in nebraska who object to the route and who are going to have their private property taken by a Foreign Corporations. Other than that its a great idea w that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster thank youers thank you, mr. Speaker. Before i yield to the gentleman from new york. First of all, im from pennsylvania, palkstauny is several miles several out of my district. Im somewhat knowledgeable on groundhog day and i want to point out in the movie groundhog day bill murray learned of his mistakes the day before and improved his situation each day. Hopefully today your references to your learning from yesterday and how we can move forward, i think the nebraska situation improves the whole situation for all of us, and i certainly dont question the wisdom of the Supreme Court of the nebraska Supreme Court, with that i yield to mr. Hanna. Mr. Hanna mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of this bill. Pipelines as vice chair of the pipeline subcommittee, pipelines are the safest sing wail to transport liquids, safer than rail, safer than trucks. The state Department Says keystone would have a minimal impact on the environment. President obama and his administration have confirmed that keystone will create thousands of construction jobs. These are men and womens livelihoods respectfully id remind the administration, but by their nature all construction jobs are temporary. And it is insulting to marginalize the value of these jobs or the people who hope might hold them. Keystone is supported by many unions, including mine, 545, the operating engineers, where i have been for almost 35 years. Prime minister Steven Harper of canada and i agree, said that the keystone is in both our nations interests, and that quote, the logic here is overwhelming. Keystone will help stop sending billions and billions of dollars overseas to our enemies many of whom went harmless. Mr. Speaker, its time to Start Building this Keystone Pipeline. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio id reserve for the moment. Im straightening out could you tell me how much time remains of the 15 i had . The speaker pro tempore each side has nine minutes remaining. Mr. Defazio with that i yield four minutes to the gentleman from arizona, mr. Grijalva, the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Grijalva thank you mr. Defazio. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in opposition to what can only be described as an earmark for a Canadian Corporation. It speaks volumes about the republican agenda as this new congress convenes that the first order of business in the house and senate is to rubber stamp the keystone x. L. Pipeline. We have not dealt with Unemployment Benefits that the American People need thats lapsed for more than a year. Millions of americans are suffering from a low minimum wage and income disparate, but we are not helping them. Disparity, but we are not helping them. Women in this country earn seven cents to every dollar for their male counterparts. We are not dealing with that. Trying to end that disparity. Instead, they are forcing keystone through without the proper approval process. Building a pipeline clear across the United States so that transcanada can sell its dirty Tar Sands Oil to the highest bidder, namely china, is not in the American Peoples best interests. We take risk to our lands, the American People face threats to their health, and transcanada gets to reap the rewards. Thats not a winning formula for our country or the economy. In fact, its a sham. Yet the keystone x. L. Pipeline continues to be sold to the American People. On blatantly false pretenses. We are told by proponents this is a panacea for job creation. Yet not a single independent analysis supports these claims. The burden of proof is on the g. O. P. They pull fantastic claims out of thin air and yet refuse to back them up. Instead we are told to take those assertions at face value. Heres what we actually know. These are the facts that actually can be substaniated. The state Department Found in a Supplemental Environmental Impact study of Keystone Pipeline it will generate less than 2,000 jobs a year for two years. And only during the period of construction. Once the pipeline is built, these jobs will have disappeared leaving a mere 35 permanent jobs that will result from this project. 35. To put that in context under president obama 353,000 jobs were generated in november, and a total of 2. 9 million in 2014. Theres also the claim please, gas prices have been dropping for more than 100 Straight Days and are at the lowest level in more than 5 1 2 years. They wont go any lower by allowing oil to be piped across our country just to be sold abroad. In contrast to these Fantasy Impact on gas prices, the potential impacts on our environment are very real. Not only will burning these tar sads add to Global Climate change, but a failure or explosion will have disastrous impacts on our environment. Thats because tar sands importers are exempt from paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund. American taxpayers will have to bear the cost of any cleanup of any spills. The public needs to know these facts and that is why allowing one hour and not a single solitary amendment today robs the American People of a full debate and discussion. On top of all that, this bill is being pushed through despite the fact that it violates not one but two treaties for the American Indian nations. What does it say about the respect for the rule of law . If republicans truly want to generate jobs for the American People, they should fully fund the Highway Trust Fund and support the grow america act to invest in the crumbling infrastructure all across this country. Not helping canadians build a superhighway for their dirty Tar Sands Oil. We should be supporting 2,000 jobs per year for two years but millions of jobs for American Families across every Congressional District. My colleagues, we have a chance to take an important stand today in this congress on behalf of taxpayers, the environment, native american communities, and the rule of law. By supporting president obamas veto and rejecting this toxic give away to a corporate Foreign Corporate Oil interest. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster thank you, mr. Speaker. Before i yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from minnesota, i just want to say there have been 15 hearings on the Keystone Pipeline. This is the 10th time we have debated it on the floor. This quite possibly could be the most debated piece of legislation in the history of congress. I dont know that for sure but i do know its been out there for 2,303 days and 60 of the American People support it, while 20 dont. I think the American People are fully aware whats going on here. They understand it and they do support it. With that i yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from minnesota. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from minnesota is recognized for 30 second. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of the Keystone Pipeline which will safely move 300 Million Barrels annually, strengthen our economy, continue to decrease our dependence on middle east oil, and support thousands of jobs. This body has shown tremendous leadership on this issue and last year passed Bipartisan Legislation to approve keystone for the ninth time. Mr. Emmer today with strong support from unions businesses, and the American People we must pass it again. Im grateful for representative cramer, chairman shuthser, chairman upton, and leadership for their work on this vital legislation. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman virginia tech. Mr. Defazio the gentleman just referenced safely transport. Of course thats a hypothetical. Let me give a real example. In 2010 a Canadian Company, embridge, had a pipeline burst in marshal michigan. One million gallons of Tar Sands Oil. Heres the thing. Think about Tar Sands Oil, it doesnt flow. It goes right to the bottom. They are still dredging canadian Tar Sands Oil out of the bottom of the kalamazoo river four years later. So far claims of 53 million have been made which will have to be paid by american taxpayers against the Oil Spill Liability trust fund and not by embridge, the Canadian Corporation, which is what we are setting up here. An even greater transshment by a Foreign Corporation exempt from paying into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund, creating even bigger potential for spills with this oil which has unique characteristics which are much more difficult to clean up if it comes in contact with water. God forbid get into the aquifer in one of the states being transsecond sected. The chairman dnch reference the 14 lets say 14 hearings, he three were in the rules committee. Those werent hearings. Thats sort of a little star chamber where you take things before you bring them to the floor of the house. You dont discuss substance there. One was in the senate. And that would leave there were 10 in the house but not a tsengle one of those hearings was in the Principal Committee of jurisdiction, which would be the Transportation Committee. And of course the bill that was marked up by the Transportation Committee in the first session of the last congress has was very different than the bill that is being advocated for today, which has not been marked up. We heard a lot about regular order, read the bill and all that stuff. Its fine sew say we voted on this a lot of times before. 61 new members of the house. Gas prices are down by almost 50 . A lot of things have changed. I would even wonder about the viability of this project. I did just recently learn the Koch Brothers have a significant investment in tar sands in canada. But that probably has nothing to do with an attempt to expedite this project. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster before i yield a minute to the gentleman from north dakota i would just like to remind the distinguished Ranking Member on the transportation and arguably the most knowledgeable man in congress when it comes to transportation issues, many years of service plus an intellect thats very sharp, i would never presume to tell him i want to remind him the safest way to move product, move oil is by pipeline. With that i yield one minute to mr. Cramer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Cramer thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for yielding. I just heard a word that is almost hard to believe. We have been accused of expediting this process. Ladies and gentlemen this is day 2,303 of this process. It is time now. Its time because its good for jobs creation. Its time because its good for the environment. It is the safest, not just the safest way, but most environmentally sound way to move oil sands in the pipeline. It is good for National Security. It is good for economic security. It is good because 62. 8 Labor Force Participation is the lowest since 1978. It dreats jobs. And it creates jobs. For these reasons not only does the majority of the United States house and majority of the United States Senate Support it, its for these reasons that the vast majority of the people of the people of United States support it including the people of nebraska. For those reasons i urge a yes vote on h. R. 3. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio at this moment i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster i recognize the gentleman from texas for 45 seconds. Mr. Poe. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for 45 seconds. Mr. Poe i thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, the permitting for the Keystone Pipeline has taken longer than it took for the United States to win world war ii. Isnt that lovely. The pipeline will bring oil to my home state of texas. And pipelines are the safest way to transport oil. The keystone will deliver as much oil as we get from saudi arabia. The United States should work more with our neighbors our normal neighbors canada and mexico, to develop our Natural Resources and compete with opec. This is a National Security and Energy Security issue. We can make the middle east, its politics and its oil, and its turmoil irrelevant. Its time to pick a horse and ride it. And thats just the way it is. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio can i inquire again as to the time remaining on both sides . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has 2 1 2 minutes remaining. Mr. Defazio i yield myself 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Defazio respond to the transport, yes, pipelines are generally safer. But the consequences look at the case in michigan. When a pipeline goes are generally much greater, much greater volumes. Even in the horrific train accidents we have had, the volumes were relatively small that were spilled, even though the consequences, particularly in the one in canada, were very very damaging. Minimally added to the bill, requiring them to pay into the Oil Spill Liability trust fund, that would make this slightly less objectionable. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster i recognize i yield to the gentleman from california for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized for one minute. Thank you mr. Chairman. I rise in support of h. R. 3 the keystone x. L. Pipeline. This bill is based on the cassidy keystone bill which passed the house last congress on a bipartisan vote of 252 to 161. Mr. Denham as chairman shuster noted, this pipeline will create jobs enhance our Energy Independence and strengthen our National Security. This is a bill that makes numerous project benefits a reality. According to the department of energy, the pipeline will transport over 00,000 barrel per day of oil 800,000 Barrels Per Day of oil from canada to the gulf coast which will help reduce reliance on hostile nations. Some have argued that the oil will just be exported. But the administrations own environmental analysis denies that that will ever occur. It will also create good paying jobs, now, while promoting the growth of our Energy Economy for the future future. This is the most studied pipeline in our history, in the history of our nation. Week of never studied a pipeline like weve never studied a pipeline like. This this project will be safe like this. This project will be safe. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for another 15 seconds. Mr. Denham america currently has 2. 6 million miles of pipeline, providing an extremely safe way to transport energy products. The Keystone Pipeline will be the safest ever built with 95 special mitigation measures, including nearly 60 recommended by the department of transportation. Its time to approve this project. We cant afford any more delays. The American Public deserves these jobs and we deserve to be Energy Independent. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Defazio i would yield the gentleman from new jersey a minute and a half. Mr. Pascrell. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Pascrell thank you, Ranking Member, thank you mr. Speaker. We know that building the Keystone Pipeline will create some jobs, we can even help lower consumers prices. But many of these jobs are temporary. Which is true of most cases anyway. The price of oil has already fallen below 50 a barrel for the First Time Since 2009. What we really we really got some good news about jobs today again. We added 252,000 jobs, the Unemployment Rate is the lowest since 2008, i think may or june of that month, of that year. While were going in the right direction, we need some serious creation of jobs and at least the handout to the administration, not a handout, but a reachout to the administration that, hey, youre doing a pretty good job on this, on oil prices on gasoline prices. Just a little bit of encouragement. We are all on the same ship, come on. You boost our Energy Security and having consumers money at the pump, but the debate over keystone has become a symbolic issue. Come on. Lets admit it. It is clear that this fight is vastly greater than the economic, environmental or energy impact, its the end of the world if you listen to the extremes of both sides. I could support the construction of this pipeline but do not believe congress should circumvent the administrative view. Mr. Speaker, let me just recommend something perhaps through you to the chair. That i believe that the reason why we have this problem is the federal Energy Regulatory commission has nothing to say about oil lines. They doen gas lines but not oil lines they do on gas lines but not oil lines. I think we would save time if we used the same situation. Im going to vote no on this but i believe there are good things that need to be done and can be worked out. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster its now my privilege to yield to a nebraskan, to the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Smith, one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Smith i thank the chairman and thank you for the time. As you always know, a major portion of the keystone x. L. Pipeline will run through nebraskas third district. Nebraskans overwhelmingly support this project, to improve access to north American Energy and decrease the strain on our overwhelmed infrastructure system. And as we all know now the nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the process as established by the elected nebraska officials. I urge my colleagues to support approval of this project and i urge the president to sign off on the pipeline as a needed step to encourage private investment in infrastructure. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from oregon. That is correct. 30 seconds. Mr. Defazio ok. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. Mr. Shuster may i inquire how much time i have . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania has four minutes remaining. Mr. Shuster its now my privilege to yield to the gentlelady from virginia, mrs. Comstock. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Mrs. Comstock thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of h. R. 3 the keystone x. L. Pipeline. This bill is about good paying jobs and Energy Security. Republicans and Many Democrats agree on this, as well as the unique coalition of unions like the teamsters, tea party as well as the chamber of commerce. Listen to what the president of the union said, quote, to the tens of thousands of men and women in the construction industry, this isnt just a pipeline, its their mortgages, college tuitions, car payments and food on the table. And for our country, this isnt just a pipeline, its a life line to families security, Energy Security and National Security. Mr. Speaker, i encourage my colleagues to vote for the passage of this critical bipartisan bill. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from oregon reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster i now yield one minute to the gentleman from new york mr. Reid. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. Mr. Reed thank you mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise in strong support of this legislation, to authorize the building of the keystone x. L. Pipeline. Its time. Enough is enough. We agree, thousands of jobs will be created by this pipeline. This will improve consumer prices. This will bring stability to oil markets around the world. This will contribute to protecting us here on american soil rather than relying on Energy Sources from hostile nations of the world. It doesnt cure all the problems, but its a step in the right direction. Our constituents sent us here, mr. Speaker, to solve problems. This is part of the solution. I rise in support of the Keystone Pipelined an pipeline and ask all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reaffirm the bipartisan message of the last congress and approve this legislation today and with that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from oregon reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster i now yield one minute to the gentleman from indiana, mr. Bucshon. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from indiana is recognized for one minute. Mr. Bucshon mr. Speaker, i rise today in strong support of the keystone x. L. Pipeline, the most studied pipeline in american history. After six years and 22,000 pages of review, the president s own state Department Tells us that construction of this pipeline will support over 42,000 jobs and do nothing to harm the environment. And pipelines have been shown to be the safest way to transport oil. Keystone is bipartisan widespread support, democrats, republicans, Industry Leaders and labor. Unfortunately the president issued a veto threat, putting the wishes of environmental activists ahead of creating jobs for the American People. Mr. Speake lsay yes to muchneeded jobs and approve the Keystone Pipeline without any further delays. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Mr. Shuster may i inquire as to how much time i have left. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania has 1 1 4 minutes. The gentleman from oregon has 30 seconds. Mr. Shuster im ready to close if the gentleman will close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from oregon is recognized. Mr. Defazio were exporting more than 60 of the oil that we produce every day, either as refined or even as crude product. In this case, canadian oil exempt from attacks, will flow through the United States to a refinery, will be processed and exported overseas. Somehow thats going to lower prices further at the pump, somehow thats going to lead to American Energy security. Those arguments you have to blow the dust off those. Theyre a little dated. Weve raised a number of concerns here today. Minimally, minimally the republicans should require this Canadian Corporation to pay the same tax that most u. S. Corporations pay when they transport products through pipelines and not put american taxpayers at risk. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster thank you, mr. Speaker. The final hurdle has been removed. Nebraskas Supreme Court has said that the keystone x. L. Pipeline can move forward. That should be enough for my democratic colleagues. But theres more. Its safe, its the safest way to transport this oil, this natural resource. Its studied, the most studied pipeline. Its going to be safe, environmentally sound. It will protect the environment. It creates jobs. And dont listen to me, listen to the five unions that represent three million workers. Three Million Union workers say the Keystone Pipeline should be built. It provides Energy Security for us, its good for our economy, it helps our allies, it strengthens our you a lies and it weakens our enemies our allies and it weakens our enemies. Its its fair to our best friends in the world, the canadians, who allowed us to build a pipeline from alaska to the lower 48. We have to return the favor to our best friend, our best ally, and say yes, you can build a safe pipeline, you can build a pipeline that will help all of north america, that will help all of our allies around the world, and weaken our enemies. With that i urge a yes vote on h. R. 3 and with that i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. Mr. Whitfield mr. Speaker, the energy and Commerce Committee has shared jurisdiction over this issue with t. N. I. And we have a number of members that would like to speak on the issue as well. And at this time i would like to recognize for two minutes the chairman of the energy and Commerce Committee, the gentleman from michigan, mr. Upton. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Upton thank you mr. Speaker. If you like cheap oil most americans would say yes. And a number of us have strongly pursued a north American Energy independent plan for years. And our friend canada is a big part of that. In august of 2009 president obama signed off on a new pipeline called the alberta clipper. Guess what . It brings 400,000 barrels of oil a day from western canada to the United States. We have been waiting for the approval of the keystone x. L. Pipeline for years, over six in fact. I remember well when president obama promised to do whatever it takes to create american jobs. That was followed by a socalled year of action, yet here we are six years later, nothings happened. By the administrations own estimates, tens of thousands of jobs will be supported by this landmark project. Bringing oil from canada to the u. S. Displaces imports from venezuela and the middle east. Isnt that a good thing . I also note that former secretary of state Hillary Clinton signaled that she was inclined to support the project. And that was way back in 2010. In fact, in the summer of 2011 the white house issued its first veto threat against congressional action on the keystone x. L. , claiming that legislation was unnecessary because their process was working. And a decision would be reached by the end of that year. Since then weve upgraded new oil and gas pipeline standards and keystone will exceed those. As it should. We used to be a nation of big ideas and big dreams. We imagined building the hoover dam and the golden state bridge and accomplished both in far less time than it has taken the president to muster the courage to simply say yes or no. We can do better. The election, mr. President is over. Theres been broad bipartisan support for this project from the very first day. The president has been hiding behind the Nebraska Court case to block the critical jobs project called keystone x. L. , and with that road block cleared, the white house is now out of excuses. Vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone thank you, mr. Speaker. Id like to yield to mr. Green for unanimous consent request. Mr. Green mr. Speaker i ask unanimous consent to place the statement in the record in support of h. R. 3. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone thank you mr. Speaker. I yield myself five minutes at this time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Pallone today mr. Speaker, were voting once again to grant special treatment, and i stress special treatment, to transcanadas keystone x. L. Tar stands tar sands pipeline. Its the 10th time since republicans took control of the house. American families face many pressing problems and they want to us use this new congress to Work Together to solve them. Unfortunately well begin this new year with a bill crafted solely to help the canadian tar sands industry. The administration issued a statement in opposition to this legislation and indicated that the president will veto the bill. I heard my republican colleagues talk about the action or inaction, whatever it was, by the nebraska Supreme Court today. But i was stress that the i would stress that the White House Press office still says in a statement that regardless of the nebraska ruling today the house bill still conflicts with long standing executive Branch Procedures regarding the authority of the president and prevents the thorough consideration of complex issues that could bear on u. S. National interests and if presented to the president , he will veto the bill. So the bill will still be vetoed by the president , which is another indication why were wasting our time today. Mr. Speaker, oil prices are at their lowest level in five years. Gas prices are now below 2 a gallon. Necessaryic Oil Production is skyrocketing domestic Oil Production is skyrocketing. Tar sands is the most carbon intensive of all fossil fuels. It will create a dependence on crude, reducing the carbon reductions we have been working hard to accomplish. According to some experts, building the keystone x. L. Pipeline will triple production of the tar sands. Thats totally inconsistent with any future scenario for avoiding catastrophic Climate Change. We dont need this oil, mr. Speaker. Approving and constructing this pipeline wont lower gas prices for americans. In some areas it may even raise prices. This pipeline is a terrible deal. For the United States. We get all the risk while the Oil Companies will reap all the rewards. I was at the rules committee the other night and all i kept hearing was how wonderful canada is. How we have to help canadian companies. This is all about canada. Frankly, dont know why we are so worried about a Canadian Corporation. It wasnt even clear during the rules committee based on the conversations and debate we had with the republican side, that this pipeline will ever be built. Here we are rushing, rushing to basically say to the president , we dont care what you or the state department or the department of interior say about whats in the National Interest. We are going to go ahead and do this because of some canadian interest. Mr. Speaker, this is a new year and a new congress. We have new members who will vote on this bill without the benefit of any hearings or markups or floor amendments without the benefit of lenching how our changing Energy Picture alters the need for this pipeline and without considering whether our time might be better spent on efforts to promote other cleaner Energy Sources. We need sound Energy Policy in these challenging times. As the Ranking Member of the committee on energy and commerce, im anxious to begin working with all of my colleagues on pragmatic Energy Policy. But we need a balanced Energy Policy, one that takes into account current circumstances. One that takes into account our need to combat Climate Change. And one that works with the president rather than against the president to actually deliver legislation that the president can sign rather than veto. This legislation doesnt meet any of these criteria, so i urge my colleagues to vote no on this bill. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield at this time, i would like to yield two minutes to the distinguished gentleman from texas, mr. Olson, a member of the energy and Commerce Committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Olson i thank my chairman and friend. Madam speaker mr. Speaker, i speak today as a former naval aviator. Who flew alongside Canadian Armed forces as we won the cold war. We have no greater ally than our neighbor to the north, canada. We were attacked on september 11 and went to war in afghanistan. They went with us. The to date nearly 200 of the precious sons have come home in coffins. That is a true ally. Katrina new orleans, in august of 2005, within three days our neighbor to the north authorized three military vessels, coast guard vessel, numerous planes, 25 military divers, and tons of tents, blankets, beds, water medical supplies. That is a true ally. Yet this Strong Alliance is being weakened dramatically as president obama has chosen to listen to a small group of wealthy radicals who want no drop of oil coming from our neighbor to the north, canada. In november i met with officials from canada, officials from all over, from nova scioscia scotia. They were dismayed because we are telling them we dont want your oil. Dont help us. Send that to china. Mr. Whitfield yield 30 more seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for 30 second. Mr. Olson thank you. Its a bad world, mr. President. Terrorists in paris isis, terrorists here in our country from north korea. We need strong allies. Pick up two things mr. President. Today the phone, dial mr. Harper and say im going to approve this pipeline. Pass it in the senate. Pick up that pen, sign this bill into law. Lets have a Strong Alliance with canada forever. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair would like to remind all members to direct their comments to the chair. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, i yield now three minutes to the Ranking Member of the energy and power subcommittee, mr. Rush. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Rush i want to thank the rsm. Mr. Speaker, i strongly oppose this bill and i strongly disagree with this abhorrent process that the majority side has undertaken in order to hastily bring h. R. 3 to the floor after only one hour of debate and denying the minority the ability to offer that one single solitary amendment. Truth be told, mr. Speaker it is unclear how this legislation will actually be a benefit to the American People. A 2014 report by the state department concluded that the Keystone Pipeline will create 35 permanent fulltime domestic jobs. Which is roughly the same amount of jobs that would be created by opening a new corner fast food burger joint, although with more risk to the american environment. And furthermore, mr. Speaker this bill is unnecessary because there is already an independent process that is taking place at this very moment. And h. R. 3 short circuits this process. And furthermore mr. Speaker, let it be fully understood by all members of this house the president has indicated that he would veto this bill. This bill is dead on arrival if it ever reaches the president s desk. The state department has already released its final Supplemental Environmental Impact statement, and has been under review to determine whether the pipeline is of National Interest. Mr. Speaker, more than 2. 5 million americans have contributed comments on how this foolhardy project will impact the National Interest and their voices the voices of 2. 5 million americans, deserve to be heard. I said it before, mr. Speaker, and i say it again. This bill is about seizing power away from the American People. Can i have 30 seconds . Mr. Pallone yield at that time another 30 seconds. Mr. Rush by seizing power away from its duly elected president. It will prevent the thorough formal consideration of complex issues that will have serious security, safety, environmental, and other ramifications. Mr. Speaker, i urge the members of this body to vote no. Mr. Speaker the Keystone Pipeline is a republican pipe dream. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield mr. Speaker, at this time i yield two minutes to the distinguished majority leader, the gentleman from california, mr. Mccarthy. One minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Mccarthy i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker as we stand on the floor debating a bill to approve the Keystone Pipeline, we all need to admit, we shouldnt be doing this. We should not have to be here today. 2,303 days after the application for keystone first submitted to the state department. We shouldnt be debating it. We should be building it. For years, approval has been stuck in the senate. Well, now the senate is open. The senate has changed. Its moved through committee. Mr. Speaker, for the longest time the president hid behind the lengthy and delayed review process saying he wanted to wait to make a decision. He said he was waiting because an environmental and legal consideration. But keystone wont harm the environment. It will help protect it. The people know that. Mr. Speaker the president knows that. Mr. Speaker, the president before we even started the debate today has submitted a threat of a veto. I take these serious, says the majority leader, so i wanted to read it. Mr. Speaker, it says one of the rationales why the president wants to veto is because this bill also authorizes the project despite uncertainty due to ongoing litigation in nebraska. Well hallelujah. We got good news for the president , mr. Speaker. The nebraska Supreme Court solved that problem for him today. So we should move forward just as we have done before in a bipartisan basis. Why . Because 42,000 jobs, those are american jobs. Created here. An economy continuing to move forward. And rest assured, the oil in canada will be produced. The question before us today will that oil move down through america refined in america refineries built by american women and men, or will it go to a whole other continent . We take up many issues here on this floor. But we have to look to the future. And we have to build for a future and a strong future. I want north america to be Energy Independent. We all know the strength of that. I want an environmentally sound way to do it. Today does it. I listened to the president s concerns, mr. Speaker, we have had 2,303 days. We have studied it mr. Speaker. Our department vs. Studied. They came back and said environmentally we are safe. There was a legal concern. The Supreme Court dealt with that. Today we can join together just as we have done before in a bipartisan manner pass this bill, a new change in the senate with an open process, pass it there. And go to the desk and be signed so 42,000 americans can get back to work. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield now to the gentleman from vermont, mr. Welch, a member of the energy and Commerce Committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from vermont is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Welch thank you. Mr. Speaker, at the heart of this issue are two questions. First is Climate Change real . Is it a threat to our economy, to jobs, to our environment, and to our security . Speaking for vermont, Climate Change is real. In the past five years, vermont had 10 federal disaster declarations from severe whether, including Tropical Storm irene that did nearly 1 billion worth of damage. Our farmers, and maple Sugar Producers are all trying to contend with the changing climate. Also we know that not oil is the same. This is not sweet texas crude. Tar sands produce about 20 to 40 more Carbon Emissions than that texas oil. And extracting it is going to produce about 27 Million Metric Tons of Carbon Emissions. In the second question is this should congress now or should congress ever pass a major piece of legislation without any committee hearings, particularly when that legislation is only about oil going through our country not to our country . And this legislation includes a special provision that exempts a Foreign Corporation from contributing to environmental cleanup pfund while our Domestic Corporations are required to pay into. These are grood jobs about. 2,000 jobs. But if this congress would do its job, we would pass the surface transportation bill that would create 200,000 jobs and put those three million men and women in our labor unions to work on good things that are going to rebuild this country. Mr. Speaker, this is the wrong bill its passed in the wrong way, and at exactly the wrong time. I urge a no vote and yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Whitfield at this time id like to yield two minutes to the vice chairman of the energy and Commerce Committee the gentlelady from tennessee, mrs. Blackburn. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from tennessee is recognized for two minutes. Mrs. Blackburn thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to thank the chairman from kentucky for his tenacious work on this issue. This is the 10th time this has come to the floor and hes been diligent and has continued to push it and we thank him for those efforts. I have to tell you listening to this debate, it just goes to show you why the American People are so tired of what they consider to be the political games that are played here in washington. They said they wanted us to