frelinghuysen: mr. chairman, i share -- the chair: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. frelinghuysen: i share the gentleman's support for smart investments in our nation's water infrastructure and the good work of the army corps of engineers. we well understand on the committee the economic benefits of spending money on these needs. at the same time, we cannot ignore the importance of addressing our nation's deficit problem. and other priorities in the bill, namely national defense and scientific innovation. the underlying bill balances these important goals in part by reducing the construction account from the fiscal year 2011 enacted level, but not by nearly as much as that account was reduced in the president's own fiscal year 2012 budget request. with this level of funding, we are working to reduce the deficit, funding our national defense needs, supporting scientific innovation, and at the same time allowing the corps to continue progress on the most critical water resources investmen

frelinghuysen: reluctant opposition. first of all, i commend the gentleman for his add vow cast si for coastal restoration and carrying the ball for coastal ress tore station and his remarkable props. we know what a high priority it is for his district and his state and may i thank him for coming to the floor earlier to make a case for controlling spending, but also doing some things that are very important to his constituents and others affected by the devastating floods. i want to commend him for his strong add vow cast si. the bill includes more than 15% of the entire investigations account to continue work on coastal restoration through studies, engineering and design on various components of the program. the committee had to make some tough choices in the bill, though. and although the corps of engineers' construction account is increased $86 million above the president's request, let me say above the president's request, it is still a reduction from fiscal year 2011. the corps had numerous projects under constructi

frelinghuysen: mr. chairman, i move to strike the last word. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. frelinghuysen: mr. chairman, i rise in opposition to the gentleman from utah's amendment but i salute his advocacy and passion for his purpose for being here this evening. this amendment seeks to funnel off defense funding that is needed for the modernization of our nuclear infrastructure. with nearly $500 million -- with a nearly $500 million reduction to the request for weapon activities this bill already takes opportunities to find savings with the account. right now this bill provides for our defense requirements and is well balanced. further reductions would unacceptably impact the ability to meet the goals of modernization and to support the nuclear security strategy set forth in the 2010 nuclear posture review. this bill takes a consistent approach to funding for environmental cleanup, providing a slightly lower but sustainable and stable funding stream to continue work at all

frelinghuysen: i would be pleased to yield. mr. scalise: thank you, mr. chairman. section 501-a provides for the corps of engineers more than $1 billion in emergency supplemental funding for disaster relief. the section makes those funds available, quote, for emergency expenses for repair of damages caused by the storm and flood events of 2011. am i correct in my understanding that included in the damages to be addressed by section 501-a is the loss of navigational channel dimensions caused by or exacerbated by this year's floods? mr. frelinghuysen: if the gentleman would yield. the gentleman from louisiana is correct. the intent of section 501-a is to fund the repair of damages to levees and navigation channels caused by the floods of 2011. the committee has provided more than $1 billion in title 5 of

frelinghuysen: mr. chairman, i move to strike the last word and rise in opposition to the amendment. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. frelinghuysen: in order to increase funding for this energy efficiency and renewable account , the gentleman's amendment again suggests we decrease funding for weapons activities. as i said earlier, the modernization of the nuclear complex is critical, a critical national security priority and must be funded. reductions of this magnitude would be unacceptable and impact our ability and our nuclear security strategy. these are reductions in the nuclear account would be to increase for energy inefficiency and renewable accounts, primarily in the area of weatherization in the state energy program. for your information, these two programs have $3.4 billion in unspent funds from the 2009 stimulus and a full $2.7 billion is expected to be available for use in fiscal year 2012. they don't need anymore money. the department of energy needs to get the m

frelinghuysen: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on h.r. 2354. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. . pursuant to house resolution 337 and rule 18, the chair declares the house in the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for the further consideration of h.r. 2354. would the gentleman from texas, mr. poe, kindly resume the chair. the chair: the house is in the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for further consideration of h.r. 2354 which the clerk will report by title. the clerk: a bill making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2012, and for other purposes. the chair: when the committee of the whole rose on thursday, july 14, 2011, the bill had been read through page 62, line 2. for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? mr. sherman: i have an

frelinghuysen: if dr. broun is insistent and i want to thank him for his amendment and i'm willing to accept it. i yield back. the chair: the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from georgia. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. the amendment is agreed to. the chair: the gentleman from nebraska, for what reason do you rise? mr. fortenberry: i have an amendment at the desk. the clerk: amendment offered by mr. fortenberry of nebraska, page 32, line 4, after the dollar amount, reduce by $35 million. after the dollar amount, insert increase by $35 million. mr. fortenberry: this amendment would reduce the department of energy administration account by $35 million and increase the global threat reduction initiative by $35 million. as co-founder as the caucus together with my colleague, mr. schiff, i'm concerned about the potential nuclear security threat and vulnerabilities and would like to secure fissile materials and prevent nuclear materi

frelinghuysen: mr. chairman, i hove the committee do now rise. -- i move the committee do now rise. the chair: the question is on the motion to rise. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it, the motion is adopted. accordingly the committee rises. the speaker pro tempore: mr. chairman. the chair: mr. speaker, the committee of the whole house on the state of the union, having had under consideration h.r. 2354, direct mess to report that it has come to no resolution thereon. the speaker pro tempore: the chairman of the committee of the whole on the state of the union reports that the committee has -- the chair lays before the house a communication. the clerk: the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, sir, i write to inform you that i have notified chairman bonner and ranking member sanchez of my resignation from the ethics committee of the house of representatives. it is because of my high regard for the ethics committee and its vital nonpartisan role in enforcing the standar

frelinghuysen: mr. chairman, i rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment and move to strike the last word. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. frelinghuysen: his amendment would increase funding for the energy efficiency and renewable energy accounts and reduce funding for fossil energy research and nuclear energy research. this would increase money for a program that already receives sufficient funds and hamper further efforts to further technologies that produce most of our electricity. mr. chairman, the gentleman has asserted that fossil and nuclear energy are yesterday's sources of energy and that we're shortchanging tomorrow's energy sources. well, in fact, nuclear energy produces 0% of our nation's electricity, and on even the state of massachusetts depends on nuclear energy for about 10% of its energy. fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas generate 70% of our nation's electricity and we'll use these valuable energy sources for many generations. in fact, the comm

frelinghuysen and mr. vis cossly for understanding this very important need that money and construction accounts and -- vis cosscally for understanding this very important need that money and construction amounts will go to repair and rebuild flood protections so the victims of historic flooding all up and down the mississippi river and the missouri river can recover from the terrible losses they've suffered. it's not just the people in the southern missouri district i represent who need help. it's also people in louisiana and iowa and north dakota and kentucky and mississippi, illinois and a host of other states. throughout the country people who rely on flood protection to shelter their homes, their schools, their churches and their workplaces have seen their lives and their livelihoods totally disrupted. in one missouri county alone the economic losses from flooding are estimated at over $300 million. in the entire area the total exceeds $4 billion. without the certainty of future repair for the levee s

frelinghuysen: strike the last word. mr. chairman, the gentlewoman's amendment would cap funding at $200 million and reverse the decision of the body earlier this evening. the band's main mission is music. band members train for security and given the shortage of guards, security -- the members go to war. every soldier is taught their basic combat skills. the department of defense strongly believes that military bands are vital to recruiting, and they provide patriotic inspirational music to instill in soldiers, sailors and airmen and insteel in them the will to fight and win in support of our citizens and promote -- mr. chairman, i oppose the bill and urge others to do it and yield back. the chair: the gentleman yields back. the question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from minnesota. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. ms. mccollum: i ask for a recorded vote. the chair: pursuant to clause 6, rule 18, further proceedings offered by the women from the the gentlewoman from minnesota will be postponed. th

frelinghuysen: i move to strike the last word. i rise to oppose the the gentleman from arizona's amendment that would cut $3.6 billion. the committee believes that the america fiscal year 2012 operation and maintenance request for overseas contingency operation may be overstated due to unrealistic planning assumption. however, due to the great deal of uncertainty of the justification for the army's o and m budget's request, the committee added an appropriations account. and shifted $5 billion of funding from the army into this account. this account gives the secretary of defense flexibility to reprogram these funds for unforeseen requirments that emerged during 2012. if redeployment from afghanistan were to be accelerated and some would suggest it should be, there would be a significant increase in personnel and equipment transportation costs in fiscal year 2012. examples of requirements which emerged during the year of budget execution in prior years include funding for the mine resistant ambush protective vehicles, additional bo

frelinghuysen: i reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's amendment. the chair: the point of order is reserved. without objection, the reading is suspended. the gentlewoman from california is recognized for five minutes. ms. lee: thank you. madam chair, i join my esteemed colleague, mrs. january schakowsky from illinois, -- mrs. jan schakowsky from illinois. this amendment would freeze the department of defense's programs at the fiscal year 2011 levels unless the financial statements of the department of defense for f.y. 2011 are ready to be audited in six months from the date of enabilityment. however, this amendment would exempt -- enactment. however, this amendment would exempt military personnel and national guard, these personnel accounts would be actually exempt. also the defense health program account from this potential funding freeze. it also contains a waiver for any potential harm to national security or combat forces. in these financial times, they're very difficult financial times, we all know. more and more people are learning the importa

frelinghuysen, and the gentleman from indiana, mr. each control 30 minutes. the chair recognizes -- will each control 30 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from new jersey. mr. frelinghuysen: thank you, mr. chairman. i'm glad to bring the bill before the house this afternoon. before i begin my remarks, let me thank the full chairman, mr. rogers, as well as the ranking member, mr. dicks, for their support of a very open process and their support of me as well as the ranking member. i particularly like to thank my ranking member, congressman pete visclosky, for his dedication to our joint mission and our close working relationship. the bill is stronger for his input and knowledge. i'd also like to thank the committee staff, rob blair, the clerk, joe levin, lorraine heckenberg, angie geocarlo, i'll i'd also like to thank my personal staff, nancey fox and kath lynn and certainly recognize joe devo. mr. chairman, the energy and water development appropriations bill supports programs critical to our nation's security, safety and economic competitiveness. m

frelinghuysen: yes. mr. dicks: we accept the amendment too. mr. frelinghuysen: yield back. the chair: any other member wishing to speak on the amendment? if not, the amendment offered by the gentleman from texas. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. the ayes have and the amendment is agreed to. the clerk will read. the clerk: page 31, line 19. operational tests and evaluation defense, $191,292,000. to remain available until september 30, 2013. title 5, revolving and management funds, defense working capital funds, $1,575,010,000. national defense sealess fund $1,100,519,000. title 6, our department of defense programs, defense health program, $32,317,459,000. of which $16,920,000,000 be available for contracts under the tricare program. $632,518,000 to remain available until september 30, 2014 for procurement. $1,187,206,000 available until september 30,2013 for research. chemical agents, ammunitions destruction defense, $1,554,422,000. of which $401,768,000 shall be only for the assembled chemical weapons alternatives pr

frelinghuysen: i do not. the chair: no further speakers, the question is on the amendment offered by the gentlelady from california. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. the amendment is agreed to. for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey rise? >> mr. chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment offered by mr. runnion of new jersey. at the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the following section, none of the funds in this act may be used to procure transportation for a member of the armed forces who is traveling under ordered to -- orders to deploy to or return from an overseas under terms that allow the carrier to charge fees for checked baggage other than bags weighing more than 80 pounds or bags in excess of four per individual. the chair: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized on his amendment for five mins. mr. runyan: thank you, mr. chairman. i thank my

during the full committee markup of the 2012 energy and water appropriations bill chairman frelinghuysen offered an amendment providing $1.028 billion in emergency funding to the army corps of engineers to repair damage caused by recent storms and floods and to prepare for future disaster events. mr. nadler: it makes sense to spend money on that. we've always given money for emergencies. but the funding is offset in the chairman's amendment by a rescission of all the remaining unobligated high speed rail funding that was originally opposed to just $1.028 billion to be spent for the emergency. this provision jeopardizes several important projects that are already under way, already in the planning stages and support good jobs and that will make long overdue improvements to our rail system. in may, last may the department of transportation awarded some of these high speed rail funds for major improvements on the northeast corridor such as $449 million for improvements which would allow trains to reach 160 -mile-per-hour in certain area, certain segments, and $294 million for the queens whi

frelinghuysen: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on h.r. 2354. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the house will be in order. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to house res. arelusion 340 and rule 18 -- house resolution 340 and rule 18, the chair declares the house in the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for further consideration of h.r. 1309. will the gentleman from louisiana, mr. landry, kindly take the chair? the chair: the committee will be in order. when the committee rose earlier today all time for general debate had expired. the chair: the house is in the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for further consideration of h.r. 1309 which the clerk will report by title. the clerk: a bill to extend the authorization of the national flood insurance program, to achieve reforms to improve the financial integrity and stability of t