The chair will recognize members from a list submitted for murdering our debate warning our debate. Each member of the t is limiteo five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon. Thank you. It is exciting to hear the president makes Climate Change a focus of his inaugural address. Mr. Obamas worst term a lot of evidence of the peril to the planet. Recordbreaking heat waves, forest fires, disappearing polar ice in a court with the prediction of the climate scientists. The effects were happening faster and more severely than predicted. You do not have to believe the scientists while reasserting American Global energy leadership. Even balancing the budget will be easier with this initiative. Congress and the administration should begin conversation about a broadbased carbon tax. This would give the right signals on Energy Sources and use. It could raise money to reduce the deficit, restore our infrastructure, speed and finance conservation. There are a number of other commonsense steps that would make progress on Carbon Pollution and Energy Conservation goals more significant. The epa should stop dragging its feet permitting old coal plants to continue to spew forth toxic waste, harming the environment and the health of our citizens. It is past time the Clean Air Act reinforced. Make sure there are proper safeguards for the cracking technology. Make sure this reservoir of inexpensive gas does not undercut the addition of renewables to our Energy Portfolio. Solar, wind, geothermal. Dership on these technologies for a balanced Energy Portfolio and ultimately to reduce our carbon footprint. At each step, we should be looking to enhance Energy Conservation, because the cheapest kilowatt hour is one that you dont have to generate. We should have a 10year glide path in support of renewable energy. The Wind Energy Industry has already signaled its reaccept tift just giving it enough time to come to scale and then stand on its own. Its such a good idea we should do the same thing for the petroleum industry. After 100 years, the most profitable commodity on the planet is mature and will be able to survive and even thrive without additional tax incentives. Finally, and most important, we should have the federal government lead by example. The department of energys management of four Large Marketing Agency should be the Gold Standard for integrating renewables into the grid, upgrading transmission capacity and leading on conservation. The g. S. A. , with over 300 million square feet of federal office space, should demand that all our facilities, every one we at least buy or build, should be of the highest energy efficiency. The federal fleet should be on the cutting edge of fuel efficiency standards. And finally, the department of defense, the Largest Consumer of energy in the world, needs to redouble its efforts. The pentagon is already moving in the right direction, but its not just about saving money in the long term. Its providing Operational Flexibility and reducing velarde nurblet from inefficient and dangerous fossil fuels. Those fuel tanker trucks in afghanistan and iraq might as well have had great big bulls eyes on them for terrorists. The military knows this, and we should give maximum support even in a time of gradually reducing pentagon budgets. This will pay dividends for defense and to the Family Budget if the pentagon gets it right. Its clear that america is ready and equal to this challenge. The president has signaled his interests in leadership. The question is whether congress is equal to the challenge, ready with innovation, cooperation and leadership. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Poe, for five minutes. Mr. Poe mr. Speaker, in a remote region of algeria at an oil and gas facility in the dark of night before the sun rose, workers from all over the world were getting ready to sit down for breakfast when suddenly gun wielding islamic radicals stormed the facility. Some of the workers were killed. Some were able to escape. Some were taken hostage. One of the hostages killed in this attack was a member of my congressional district, victor lovelady. Victor was a native of southeast texas. He was originally from neederland, texas, a town of primarily hardworking bluecollared folks centered around the Energy Industry. Victor had recently moved, his home not far from where i live. He was 57 years of age. When he died he was on a contract assignment for e. N. G. Global, an Energy Company in algeria. According to his family, victor waited to take that contract until his children had finished school so he could attend their sporting events. This was not surprising for someone who is described as a dedicated family man and a fantastic coworker. Although it was hard to be so far away from his family, victor was excited to take the contract assignment so he could ensure a secure future for his family. Thats just the kind of father and husband he was. The deal for this contract was 28 days on, 28 days off. And he was just 10 days in with only 18 days left to go. He was scheduled to come home to texas the day after his daughters birthday. His life was stolen by those who seek to destroy americans. The radicals who inflict terror on all who believe in freedom. Victor is survived by a loving family, including his wife, maureen, daughter, erin, and her son, grant. Over the holidays, the closed lovelady family expressed concern for the safety of victor, but he reassured them saying, its safe, we have protection. Its hard for people to understand such unspeakable evil. I spoke with victors brother, mike, throughout the crisis and yesterday after we heard the terrible news. He said it best. I can associate with my brother getting in a car wreck or having cancer, but terrorism and neederland, texas, dont go together. He was described as a great family man and a fantastic coworker, a leader who mentored countless individuals during his tenure. He was also known for his spontaneous wit. Victor moved from neederland, texas, to move closer to work. Mr. Speaker, victor was killed not because of what he did. He was killed because of who he was. He was killed because he was an american. A radical islamic Al Qaeda Group by the name of the significant anytories in blood claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack. Those who seek to destroy us and kill indiscriminantly. They hate us for who we are and what we stand for. Diplomacy is not in their vocabulary. Two other americans were also killed in this attack. Their names were gordon rowan of sumpter, oregon, and fredrick of katy, texas. The algerian military retook the compound after three days. They found that 34 other hostages had been killed and dozens of terrorists. Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers and concerns are with the lovelady, rowan and gutacio families today. Secretary pennetta said that america must respond to these murders. That is correct. We should go after these killers who have malice and evil in their hearts that kill americans because they are americans. That would be justice. And justice is what we do in this country. And thats just the way it is. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Mcgovern, for five minutes. Mr. Mcgovern i ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Mcgovern mr. Speaker, three years have past since the Supreme Courts dreadful Citizens United decision, and we have seen the dramatic increase in the amount of corporate money flowing into our elections, drowning out the voices of ordinary american citizens eager to participate in the political process. Citizens united also epitomizes the socalled corporate Personhood Movement in which some now say the corporations are people. The fact is corporations are not people, and the constitution was never intended to give corporations the same rights as the American People. Corporations dont breathe. They dont have kids, and they dont die in wars. My constituents continue to express concern about the growing influence of corporations in our political discourse. Theyre also demanding action on Campaign Finance reform because they are repulsed by the large amount of money in our campaigns. And quite frankly, they want elected officials to spend more time on policy, deliberating and debating on issues and less time dialing for dollars. Unfortunately, the Republican Leadership in the house has failed to address these pressing issues during the past two years. They have been indifferent. We havent had the opportunity to vote on any legislation to curb the influence of unlimited and sometimes secret corporate money flowing into our elections. We havent even had the opportunity to address these issues in Committee Hearings or markups. Recently, i joined 18 of my colleagues on a letter to chairman goodlatte and Ranking Member conyers of the Judiciary Committee requesting a hearing to explore constitutional Amendment Proposals in response to Citizens United and related cases. I hoped that well have an opportunity to discuss these issues in the coming weeks and months. This is, after all, the peoples house. And this is the place where we ought to discuss the concerns of the people. Members of the Democratic Caucus have been working to reform our Campaign Finance system and restore the rights of the American People that were undermined by the Citizens United decision. We have sponsored and cosponsored legislation to address the growing influence of money in our democratic process. As a member of the task force on elections reform, im proud to join my colleagues in an effort to rein in corporate spending and address unregulated money flowing into our elections. Today im introducing two constitutional amendments. The peoples rights amendment would overturn Citizens United and put a stop to the growing trend of corporations claiming First Amendment rights. This amendment not only addresses corporate rights as they pertain to Campaign Finance but is broader in scope to clarify that corporations are not people with constitutional rights. Importantly, my amendment clearly protects the peoples rights of freedom of speech, freedom of press, free exercise of religion, Free Trade Agreement of association and all other such rights of the people. My Second Amendment advances the fundamental principle of political equality for all by empowering congress and the states the right to regulate political spending. It will allow congress to pass Campaign Finance reform legislation that will withstand constitutional challenges. Mr. Speaker, we need to empower people, not corporations or big money special interests. Our Current System has been corrupted. It undermines the rights of ordinary citizens. It undermines our democracy. Surely this is not the system our founders envisioned. The preamble to the constitution is we the people. Let us hope that this congress doesnt forget that. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting these important bills to reform our Campaign Finance laws and assure that corporate rights do not trumps peoples rights. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. Griffith, for five minutes. Mr. Griffith thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise and submit remarks in honor of Virginia State trooper, jay, a devoted public servant, who along with trooper battle, saved a family of three from a house fire in saltville, virginia. When i first learned lerned of the bravery, news reports failed to involve his involvement. On january 2, i spoke of this incident and only mentioned trooper battle. However, both men are deserving of our recognition. To recap in the early hours of friday, december 28, 2012, trooperer if lapd and battle were in search of a stolen car that had been involved in an earlier police chase. When they noticed off in the distance an orange shoe, they decided to investigate. When they reached the area in question, much to their surprise, troopers furland and battle saw a home engulfed in flames. They banged on the door, but when there was no answer, they made the selfless decision to enter the home and investigate. Their actions in the house awoke its three residents who had no idea that their home was burning down around them. Leading them to their ultimate escape from the Burning House and from the fire. Because of their bravery, the family was saved, and all are in good health. Their lives were saved and the lives of two of their pets were also saved. The heroic actions of troopers ferland and battle in surviss to the community are to be commended, and i am honored to be here today to pay tribute to them. Please join me in thanking trooper jay ferland and trooper philip battle for all they have done for the people of southwest virginia. The Virginia State police, as my experience has shown over the years, always respond in fine faction and rise to the occasion. Fashon and rise to the occasion. They are js two of the many Law Enforcement officers to note in the long and proud history of the Virginia State police. Mr. Speaker, i wish to commend the Virginia State police, troopsers ferland, trooper battle, and the good work and hero imlism of all the officers in the heroism of all the officers in the Virginia State police and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from puerto rico mr. Pierluisi for five minutes. Without objection. Mr. Pierluisi mr. Speaker, tomorrow i will reintroduce two bills. The first to extend the s. S. I. Program to puerto rico. The second to provide fair treatment to puerto rico on their tanf. S. S. I. Provides assistance to blind, disabled, and elderly individuals with low incomes. Song has chosen not to extend the program to puerto rico, which instead receives a limited amount. The average is a side payment to the residents of the state is 500 a month, while the average payment to residents of puerto rico is just 70. The tanf Program Provides payments to needy families with children, the territories are not eligible for certain tanf money. Moreover, federal law imposes a cap on the aggregate funding that a territory can receive on the safety net programs, including tanf. My legislation would eliminate this cap which has not been increased since 1996, and make the territories eligible for tanf grants they do not currently receive. Equality under tanf would mean at least 40 million in additional funding for puerto rico each year. Those who seek evidence of how puerto rico is harmed by its territory status need look no further than the treatment it receives under s. S. I. And tanf. I will fight to secure parity under these two programs, but as long as puerto rico remains a territory, it will be an uphill battle. Mr. Speaker, puerto rico recently held a referendum on its political status. Under the current status, the 3. 7 million american citizens living in puerto rico cannot vote for the leaders who make their National Laws and are treated unequally under those laws. As examples of s. S. I. And tanf will illustrate. The ballot had two questions. On the first question, voters were asked if they want puerto rico to remain a territory. Of 1. 8 million voters, 54 said they do not want the current status to continue. While 46 state they do. On the second question, voters were asked to express their preference among the alternatives to the current stay tufments of the 1. 4 Million People who chose an option, 61 voted for statehood. 33 for free association. And 5. 5 for independence. The 834,000 votes for statehood on the second question exceeded the 828,000 votes for the current status on the first question. For the First Time Ever more people in puerto rico want to be a state than to continue as a territory. True to form defenders of the status quo have tried to distort the results of this referendum, making claims that are intellectually dishonest and divorced from the facts. These critics ignore the results of the first question and argue because close to 500,000 people left the second question blank, statehood did not prevail in the referendum. Let me be clear so there is no confusion. A majority of voters in puerto rico soundless rejected the current status. Among the three alternatives, statehood won a decisive victory, and statehood obtained the greater number of votes than any other status option, including the current status. Mr. Speaker, at yesterdays inauguration president obama invoked the declaration of independence. We hold these truths to be selfevident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certainty unalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty, and