Chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties. Each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and majority whip minority whip limited to five minutes but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon, mr. Lumenauer, for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, madam speaker. Today is rural toillet day. The concept make children giggle, some adults blush, and others want to change the subject. But the title is designed to address this serious subject directly. No one can afford to be squeamish, make jokes, or change the subject about the fundamental issue of adequate sanitation. Because 2. 5 billion people live without it. Causing about 700,000 premature deaths each year and its getting worse. We made some progress, but the number living without access has increased by 700 million people. There are now more people on earth with a cell phone than a toilet. The consequences of insufficient access to sanitation facilities and poor hygiene are severe. Countries where open defecation is more prevalent have the highest number of deaths of children under 5. High levels of under nutrition and poverty, and larger disparities between rich and poor. A story thats all too common in many countries found its way to the United States media recently, reporting on the horrific murder and rape of two young girls that could have been prevented in india if they didnt need to sneak out into the night to relieve themselves in an open field. Leaving them vulnerable to attack. A heartbreaking study linked to the root cause of indias malnutrition crisis is a lack of adequate sanitation. It found that many of the 162 million children under the age of 5 who were malnourished in india suffer less from a lack of food and more from poor sanitation. Those children who do survive are left with mental and physical burdens for their entire lives. The lack of adequate sanitation is a huge economic drain. The total Global Economic loss associated with inadequate water supply and sanitation is estimated to be over a quarter trillion dollars every year. This crisis that leaves women vulnerable, needlessly ends lives early, and undermines Economic Growth has solutions. Today at noon i will join my colleagues on the steps of the capitol and urge the house to pass h. R. 2901, the paul simon water for the world act before we adjourn for the year. This bill will strengthen and refine the implementation of the water for the poor act we passed earlier to ensure that wash programming helps leverage the impact of development assistance. But also ensures that our water, sanitation, and hygiene programs are targeted to help the worlds poorest. That they are more effective, with longterm, sustainable impacts. This Bipartisan Legislation with my friend ted poe has well over 100 cosponsors and is scheduled for a markup in the House Foreign Affairs committee tomorrow. This significant progress would not have been possible without the leadership of chairman royce and i thank him for it. Along with the many advocates who demonstrated why the United States must play a greater role to increase sustainable access to clean water and sanitation. If passed out of committee, which i certainly hope it will, i would urge the house leadership to bring this bill to the floor to a vote immediately when we come back in session in december. Thats because this cannot wait and its one of those rare bills we can all unite and support. Every day 14,000 children die needlessly because they lack access to clean Drinking Water and sanitation. Today, 152 million hours will be spent by girls and women to get water, often dirty water, for their families. Thats enough work hours to build 28 empire state buildings every day. By this time not spent working on income generating jobs, caring for family members, or securing an education. Ted poe, a republican, and i a democrat, who represents portlanda dont often agree on a lot. But we are an example how we can all come together because politics should stop at water. The speaker pro tempore the chair lays before the house the following enrolled bill. The clerk senate 2539, an act to amend the Public Health service act to reauthorize certain programs relating to traumatic brain injury and to trauma research. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Hompson, for five minutes. Mr. Thompson thank you, madam speaker. According to the Energy Administration information todays National Average price for retail gasoline is 2. 97. This is the lowest price since over a fouryear period beginning in october of 2010. Gasoline prices have decreased by roughly 21 in the last six months alone. One of the most prevalent factors in determining the price of gasoline at the pump is the interNational Average of the cost of a barrel of crude oil. Over the past week price of crude Oil Per Barrel has hovered between 77. 15 and 77. 85. These are the lowest per barrel prices since june of 2012, just over two years. In stark contrast to 145 per barrel in may of 2008. The Energy Information administration has projected the gasoline prices at the pump will continue to decline in december to somewhere around 2. 80, possibly even lower in 2015. Additionally u. S. Natural gas prices are roughly 4. 24 as production continues to flourish. This is all welcomed news for consumers, businesses, and the economy from more affordable transportation, to heating our homes, from the food we consume to American Manufacturing having lower costs. Therefore being more competitive globally. Lower energy costs are good for our economy overall. There are many factors as to why gasoline prices fluctuate. They include International Market trends and geopolitical events as well as weather and impacts upon Refining Capacity due to natural disasters. While a down economy has decreased annual command for gasoline as the Summer Travel season comes to an end, the price decreases for gasoline can largerly be attributed to an increase if domestic supply. At any other time in our history, given todays events, our gas prices would be pushing 4 a gallon. Especially with the ongoing recession, American Energy production has thankfully increased in recent years and gas prices have decreased. But while some in washington would like to credit the federal government with the increased supply, the truth is that the vast majority of this Domestic Production has occurred in spite of federal actions not because of them. The great majority of the production has occurred on private and stateowned lands and has been the result of technological enhancements that have made shale gas and oil reserves more attainable. Specifically, this increase in production stems from the combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Pennsylvania, for example, is currently third in state production of natural gas. The commonwealth has produced 3. 2 trillion cubic feet in 2013 alone. Increased production has bolstered Domestic Energy supplies and directly led to historically low Natural Gas Prices across the u. S. This comes on the heels of all time high prices in 2008 of about 12. Production in pennsylvania has provided royalty payments to landowners while contributing significant funds to counties. Mr. Speaker, madam speaker, private and stayed owned lands have changed the face of Energy Production and affordability in our country. The federal government would stand to gain by following suit. This would open up new areas of federal lands both on shore and off shore for production of our natural resources. These resources belong to the people. There is no reason the administration should continue to play games with energy security. Over the last four years the house has made a priority of moving legislation that would increase our domestic Energy Production and supply. Just this past september, house passed h. R. 2, which was a combination 13 Energy Related bills, among them is the keystone x. L. Pipeline. Increasing amount of permitted on shore and offshore lands for development along with streamlining cumbersome Energy Permitting regulations. The bill sets timelines for agencies permitting decisions and provide for more pipelines and liquefies natural gas exports. Many of these actions can be taken by the executive branch, but the administration has not acted. As we have witnessed in recent years through the development of private lands, increasing our Domestic Energy supplies and encouraging american production will have a positive impact on Energy Prices here at home. Increased domestic Energy Production of oil and natural gas has eased the financial pain at the pump. This is also welcome as temperatures drop and the home heating season has begun. The bottom line is the government can do much more to influence Energy Prices for american consumers. The time for the administration to act is long overdue. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Garamendi, for five minutes. I thank you, madam chair. I want today talk about an illness that affects every american family. Its an illness that is devastating. Its alzheimers. And related dimensiona. Its it dy men sha. Its the most expensive illness in America Today and will become even more expensive in the future. Today one out of 5 spent by medicare is spent treating alzheimers. Most expensive of all illnesses. As we look to the future, we are going to find that this disease, alzheimers, is going to grow to over 1. 5 trillion. Of cost by 2050. Partly due to the baby boomers and their growth in the demography of this nation. But also because of the extraordinary expense this illness brings to us. So this is the power curve that we are looking at. If youre concerned about the deficit, you need to be concerned about alzheimers. If youre concerned about the american family, you need to be concerned about alzheimers. Heres what we are looking at for what is the second biggest cost in the federal budget. Thats medicare and medicaid. Heres the growth that we are looking at over a period of the next 35 years. Om some 122 billion to over 880 billion. So as you look at the federal budget in the years ahead, if you look at medicare as you begin to think about the deficit that confronts this nation, this is where you need to look. Because this is where the big expenditure is going to be made. Its going to be in alzheimers and related illnesses to it. This is it. What can we do about this . Well, we could sit and fuss and fume. We could take care of our seniors. Or we can recognize the reality of what it means when we spend money. On research. When we spend money on getting ahead of the illnesses. These are the major illnesses that confront America Today. You can take a look here. Breast cancer, theres been a decrease in mortality. Prostate cancer, a decrease. Heart disease, 16 decrease. Stroke, a 23 . And of course hivaids, an extraordinary 42 decrease. In the deaths from these major illnesses. Oh, over here on the purple one, on the right, alzheimers. Decrease . No. Increase, 68 increase from 2000 to 2010. This is the reality of the most prevalent, most expensive, and the most devastating disease that confronts americans and really the rest of the world. What can we do about it . Well, take a look at this chart. Hmm. Alzheimers spending treatment versus research. Well, lets see. We are spending 150 billion on the treatment, this is medicare and medicaid, and research, oh, way down here. 566 million on research. So if you want to drive the deficit to even greater depths, treat but dont do research. However, if you want to solve this problem, we know how to do it. In fact, weve done it many, many times. If you take a look at cancer, were spending 5,418,000,000 on cancer research. Cancer deaths are down. H. I. V. , were spending 2,978,000,000 on hivaids. Hivaids deaths are down by 42 . Cardiovascular, 2 billion. Cardiovascular deaths, strokes and Heart Disease down. Alzheimers, 566 million. We know the answer. The question is whether were willing to put our money where we can solve the most devastating, the most prevalent and the most expensive of all illnesses. Change this little purple. Bring it back up, perhaps to 2 billion a year as which do with hivaids, cardiovascular and cancer. Spend the research money. Were close in many ways across this country with programs that are under way. Heres the specific ask that i make to this congress. Not 2 billion 200 million additional money in the appropriations that were doing today. 200 million. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Garamendi thank you for the time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Williams, for five minutes. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today to recognize the tremendous work of the center for brain health at the university of texas at dallas and its brain performance institute. Not only do their programs and research benefit the public, they have a team that specifically focuses on serving active duty Service Members, veterans, military, spouses and caregivers. More than 2 1 2 million men and women have admirably worn the uniform to provide tect americas freedom since 9 11. Sadly, nearly 20 of them come back from iraq and afghanistan with ptsd or major depression. More than 250,000 Service Members have sustained a traumatic brain injury in the last decade. This ring that i wear is a sobering reminder that 22 Service Members or veterans commit suicide each and every day. Something has to be done to help these heroes battle their inner enemies and thats where the Brain Health Team comes in. The Brain Health Team is dedicated to creating public and private partnerships to not only eliminate the stigma often associated with ptsd or t. B. I. , but to provide access to that treatment. This team is retraining brain to build their resilience, regeneration and reverse losses and mental capacity, giving these men and women to overcome pursue a healthy and happy future. The institute has provided scientifically proven programs to more than 500 warriors in seven states, including my home state of texas. The institutes service to our troops is outstanding. They are the perfect example of americas commitment to take care of our warriors and their families, and im proud to recognize their good works. In god we trust. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Vela, for five minutes. Mr. Speaker, i rise to bring attention to the massacre of 43 students in mexico. Edmond burke said all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. On september 26, students from a Teacher Training College participated in a protest. According to media reports, the students were arrested by Police Forces and handed over to a criminal gang. Their burned bodies have reportedly been found discarded in a river. As the Washington Post reported yesterday, the demand to find the students and punish those responsible for their disappearance has broadened into a more diverse fury about corrupt politicians and their Drug Trafficking cronies. Mexican prosecutors have formally charged the mayor, jose luis ibarka in the disappearance of the students. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. In the last several months, three constituent families of mine have been touched by murder in northern mexico. I again call on the United States state department to ensure that the Mexican Government thoroughly investigate these atrocities and that those responsible be brought to justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The crises of human smuggling, drug smuggling do not begin or end of the border. Resolving these matters requires that we address issues of Economic Development and Cartel Violence in mexico and that we address the demand for narcotics in the United States, along with eliminating the presence of cartels in an estimate had had 1,000 u. S. Cities. The leaders of the state department in washington, d. C. , need to understand na this is one of the most pressing Foreign Policy issues confronting our nation. Otherwise, evil will indeed triumph. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from florida, ms. Rost ross, for five minutes. Ms. Roslehtinen, for five minutes. Ms. Roslehtinen thank you, madam speaker. A strong israel means a strong United States, and a strong United States means a strong israel. And that is why i want to offer my condolences to the families of the israelis murdered by palestinian terrorists in jerusalem yesterday. The increase in these attacks is a grim reminder of the need for the United States now more than ever to stand side by side in support of israel and its right to defe