dingell: i thank my good friend from michigan. i yield now to my distinguished friend from michigan, mr. schauer. mr. schauer: it's an honor to be here during this hour to talk about a man who has shaped our nation's economy and manufacturing and it's an honor to follow congressman levin, the chairman of the ways and means committee who has been a fighter for jobs. ron -- i can best describe him in a couple of stories. and we are here to congratulate him on his retirement and his legacy with united auto workers. but with chairman dingell and a bipartisan delegation from the house of representatives visited the auto show, north american international auto show at the beginning of this year and met with the top leadership of ford, gm and chrysler. ron was right there. it was apparent as these companies have worked through a very challenging time, they had a true partnership, a true partnership in their workers. the best workers in the world and their leader was there as each of the management leaders of ford, g.m. and chrysler talke

dingell's questions and then we'll recess. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> mr. hayward, you had two choices. using single casing or tie back. the risks are substantial associated with single casing which is what bp chose. please answer yes or no. can you assure us that under oath that that was not a decision made to save time and money? >> i wasn't part of that decision making process. . i'm sorry? >> i was not part of that decision making process. so, i can't possibly know the basis on which that decision was taken. >> how much money was saved by using the single string casing? >> i believe the documents refer to a sum of, i think, i think, $7 to $10 million. they refer to the fact that the casing would as a screen. >> please submit that for the record. how much time was saved? >> i don't recall how much time was saved. there would have been some time saved. >> would you submit that for the record, please? you had the option of using a number of single edgers to keep the casing in center of the bore holy. haliburton recommended 21. you ultimately chose to use t

dingell: we have before us an opportunity. we can begin to solve a problem that's going to destroy our medical care system in this country. doctors are abandoning medicare patients because they can no longer afford to serve them. it's turning out we are now finding we are losing the capability of addressing one of the greatest health problems we've got, seeing to it that physicians do take care of our people and that they have the resources necessary to do it. this is a proposal which has to be adopted today. i commend the gentleman from texas who has urged the house to work together and i commend him for having had the courage to say so. but it is something we must do. we came close to having this issue solved with a permanent fix. the law of interest, compounded interest, tells us we have a big problem. the numbers in this have grown to $210 billion. they will grow more. it is time that the house resolve this is go que so we can assure that we take care of our people we deal with their health, we preserve medicare and we do

dingell: 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. mr. dingell: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the matter that i am about to address. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. dingell: mr. speaker, i rise with considerable sadness to announce the death of a good friend of most of us in this body. our formmr colleague and friend, congressman mark hesh of ann ashor, he was 82. he served in the house of representatives from 1965 to 1966. he was then elected to the u.s. house of representatives where he represented ann arbor through about 1976. in 1976, he made an unsuccessful bid to the united states senate losing to our friend and colleague, regal, in the general election. mr. hesh was a member of the united states army and maritime service. he was indeed proud of helping his const

dingell's questions and then we'll recess. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> mr. hayward, you had two choices. using single casing or tie back. the risks are substantial associated with single casing which is what bp chose. please answer yes or no. can you assure us that under oath that that was not a decision made to save time and money? >> i wasn't part of that decision making process. . i'm sorry? >> i was not part of that decision making process. so, i can't possibly know the basis on which that decision was taken. >> how much money was saved by using the single string casing? >> i believe the documents refer to a sum of, i think, i think, $7 to $10 million. they refer to the fact that the casing would as a screen. >> please submit that for the record. how much time was saved? >> i don't recall how much time was saved. there would have been some time saved. >> would you submit that for the record, please? you had the option of using a number of single edgers to keep the casing in center of the bore holy. haliburton recommended 21. you ultimately chose to use t

ed markey, joe barton, fred upton and john dingell, rick boucher played significant roles in developing the proposal. john barrowad a very important part of this legislation as well. and i commend all of them for working together with me in preparing for this legislation that we're presenting to our colleagues today. e staffs of both the majority and the minority had extensive discussions with interested stakeholders and agencies. we worked with many members to answer their questions, address their concerns and consider their constructive suggestions. it's been a cooperative process that has produced strong bipartisan legislation. in fact, the energy and commerce committee favorably reported the bill by a unanimous votof 47-0. today, our electric grid simply isn't adequately protected from a range of potential threats in an emergency situation where the grid faces an imminent threat. the federal energy regulatory commission currently lacks authority to require the necessary protective measures. there are also an ever growing number of security vulnerabilities. these are weaknesses in th

dingell earlier? that is correct? you are aware the seven scientists that worked on that report have now indicated a letter that it was modified after they either wrote it or refeud its content and that they do not -- let me quote -- those seven scientists have said "we believe the report or unmodified report does not justify the moritorium as written and the moritorium as changed or implemented will not contribute measureably to increased safety, will have immediate and long-term economic benefits, and they say changes made in the wording of the report are counterproductive to long-term safety. have you reviewed their letter of concern to the secretary of the interior? >> any of you? >> i have not. >> it says "we do not agree with the six-month blanket moritorium on deepwater drilling." it says "a blanket moritorium is not the answer. it will not measureably reduce risk. it will have a lasting impact on the nation's economy which may be greater than that of the oil spill." >> i've seen those recommendations. they see