mr. blumenauer. do believe we can accomplish our goal if we limit our questions but i would like to recognize at this time the gentleman from kentucky. >> thank you mr. chairman. before i answer the question i would like to yield briefly to my colleague from new york. >> for the purposes of setting the record straight i think it is important, regardless of the position of our friends on the panel, just to make the record straight for observation purposes. the last time this congress took action on a gas tax was in 2007. by colleagues on the other side would have raised the gas tax by $800 million. the house ledership is not for most movement on a gas tax. i just want to make that observation clear, that not a singleemocrat supported that motion to recommit. my colleagues on the other side propose that back in 2007 for the purposes of clearing the record on that. thank you. >> i think there has been a lot of discussion abt infrastructure as a job creator and economic stimulus and so forth and whether

mr. blumenauer: i appreciate the clarification. and mr. chairman, i yield back. the chair: the gentleman from california continues to reserve. gentleman reserves. the gentleman from missouri. mr. skelton: i yield one minute to my colleague, yasmjea, mr. connelly. mr. connolly: thank you, and i thank mr. skelton to approve federal internshiprograms. and federal government faces a challenge of recruiting and retaining the work force of the future. we have a record in terms of student internship programs and their retenship rate when compared to the private sector. this will set some standards that all federal agencies have to meet and the reporting requirement that will give congress the information to move forward. i urge my colleagues to support this amendment. and i yield back to the distinguished chairman. the chair: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from california. mr. skelton: i yield two minutes. the chair: i yield two minutes. mr. skelton: i yield two minutes to mr. lungren for purposes of engaging in a colloquy. the chair: the gentleman is recogniz

mr. blumenauer. i do believe we can accomplish our goal if we limit our questions but i would like to recognize at this time the gentleman from kentucky. >> thank you mr. chairman. before i answer the question i would like to yield briefly to my colleague from new york. >> for the purposes of setting the record straight i think it is important, regardless of the position of our friends on the panel, just to make the record straight for observation purposes. the last time this congress took action on a gas tax was in 2007. by colleagues on the other side would have raised the gas tax by $800 million. the house leadership is not for most movement on a gas tax. i just want to make that observation clear, that not a single democrat supported that motion to recommit. my colleagues on the other side propose that back in 2007 for the purposes of clearing the record on that. thank you. >> i think there has been a lot of discussion about infrastructure as a job creator and economic stimulus and so forth and wh

mr. blumenauer. i do believe we can accomplish our goal if we limit our questions but i would like to recognize at this time the gentleman from kentucky. >> thank your. chairman. before i answer the question i would like to yield briefly to my colleague from new york. >> for the purposes of setting the record straight i think it is important, regardless of the position our friends on the panel, just to make the record straight for observation purposes th last time this congress took action on a gas tax was in 2007. by colleagues on the other side would have raised the gas tax by $800 million. the house leadership is not for most movement on a gas tax. i just want to make that observation clear, that not a single democrat supported that motion to recommit. my colleagues on the other side propose that back in 2007 for the purposes of clearing the record on that. thank you. >> i think there has been a lot of discussion about infrastructu as a job creator and economic stimulus and so forth and whether or

mr. blumenauer. he chair believes we can accomplish our goal here if we limit our questions but i like to recognize at this time the gentleman from kentucky, mr. yarmouth. >> thank you, mr. chairman. before i ask a question i would like to briefly yield to my friend from new york. mr. crowley. >> thank you. for setting record straight, regardless of the position of our friends on the panel, just to make the record straight and for observation purposes, the last time this congress took action on a gas tax was in 2007, august 4th to be precise. motion to recommit by my colleagues on other side that would have raised the gas tax by $800 million. presently before us the house leadership has not proposed the movement on a gas tax. just want to make that observation clear, that not a single democrat supported that motion to recommit. my colleagues on the other side proposed that back in 2007, just for purposes of clearing the record on that, thank you. >> i think, there's been a lot of discussion about the

mr. blumenauer hour -- blalm hour -- blalm you are a. mr. blumenauer: ank you, mr. speaker. i rise in support of the rule. i am pleased that we are going to be allowed to debate the wisdom of havingwo jet engines for the joint strike fighter. i strongly hope the amendment that i have co-sponsored, along with mr. larson, is in fact approved, adding $485 billion of -- million to reduce the deficit. it is an issue that i feel deserves debate and think people looking at it on the merits will understand that we don't have -- need a second engine, that we can agree with the secretary of defense and administration and indeed the previous administtion. i am a little frustrated that we continue to shortchange our efforts to deal with the toxic legacy of unexploded ordinance from military operations in the united states on our soil for the last 200 years. i had attempted to have a minor amendment to at least have the department of defense tell people in the community what the risks are from these toxic chemicals, from fuels, from unexploded -- explode -- unexploded ordinance. people w

mr. blumenauer of oregon. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. blumenauer: thank you. i appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. we are watching the harsh reality of governing without any meaningful republican participation. it would have been an opportunity as we were moving forward if we were actually legislating and people were part of the party to be able to have zeroed in some of these things. i personally am absolutely committed to deal with the s.g.r. problem. this is a step forward to dealing with it. it's not as good as what we passed earlier in the house, but it's interesting our friends just took a hike, decided to be negative. one of the best examples is their hypocrisy or willful ignorance as it comes to the stimulus. i talked to hundreds of people who were here in town and i'm sure some of them made it to republican offices in the construction industry who were thankful for the investment of the economic recovery package that kept people working in construction. not just the thanks from teachers, firefighters, energy industry benefited f

mr. blumenauer, for five minutes. mr. blumenauer: thank you, madam speaker.just returned from a two-day livability tour thanks to the courtcy of my colleague, congresswoman allyson schwartz, a champion of sustainability. i visited perfect district in pennsylvania representing parts of philadelphia where we saw rural small township, suburban communities, dense urban areas, open space, and abandoned industrial land and aging but vital transit system, they illustrated all the challenges that we face in our efforts to rebuild and renew america. i have a special interest in their initiative for a trail network where their vision and hard work was rewarded by millions of dollars from the obama administration in economic recovery act to help fill in gaps of an exciting trail expansion over the two-state area, including new jersey. amidst an impressive progress on mayor michael nutter's vision to make philadelphia the greenest city in america with innovative water projects, with creative private sector efforts in green development, township progress on revitalization

mr. blumenauer. the chair: the gentleman from oregon is recognized for one minute. mr. mum naur: i appreciate the gentleman's courtesy and his leadership this bill is perfectly timed to help american families increase efficiency in their home and key ate jobs for those in the construction industry which has beenest terribly -- especially hard hit by the reseg. i'm pleased that the bill includes incentives for states to include programs where utilities make loans to consumers to make upgrades and repay the costs on their utility bill. this is an important tool. it's especially important in the pacific northwest which has pledged to meet 85% of our future energy demand with energy efficiency. the northwest has recognized not only that energy efficient is carbon-free but it costs less than half as much as new power plants. this bill will provide our region with the tools we need to meet our ambitious targets for a low-carbon, energy-efficient future to revite liz the economy and protect the planet. i look forward to supporting this in action. the chair: the gentleman's tim

mr. blumenauer, who has been thv strong proponent ofrong prpon infrastructure over the yearsase thisr is a timely hitting and ii appreciate the opportunity to testify about my proposal. it's a proposal along with representatives keith ellison,ma steve israel and elanthony wieny and yes, it is about to create a national infrastructure bank, and i will also say i am honorem to be on this panel with peopleh who are such strong proponents of smart infrastructure investment with peter defazio and daniel lipinski, the mayor n rendell and we share the podium and a stage oftentimes and the mayor villaraigosa. he the science of the infrastructure crisis are allaru around. in 2003 the northeast a major and id widespread black out. we will never forge t the broken levees after hurricane katrina were the major i35 bridgehe m ollapse of minneapolis.in just this month, boston inm toward a catastrophic pipe break the shot off the water for 2 million people. fr with the human costs they arecoh heavy economic costs. lost opp ortunities for jobr creation and economic growth we need to remain competitive i

mr. blumenauer: thank you, mr. speaker. this week from employee owned s. corporations from around america will be on capitol hill giving a chance for members and staff to hear directly from these employee owners. how their investment and hard work facilitated by this unique ownership helps creates jobs and helps their employee owners prepare for retirement. how they expanded jobs here in america even in this difficult environment. in 2008, for instance, aesop increased employment by 2% while our economy shed almost 3% of the jobs. employee owned business wages increased at twice the national average. each company is a unique american success story. that's why i hope you will join me in co-sponsoring h.r. 3586, the promotion and expansion act to protect and enhance employee-owned corporations. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. johnson: today, i'd like to congratulate

mr. blumenauer: thank you, mr. speaker. i'm proud of portland, oregon, my hometown, leadership as mesh's sustainability capital. and thanks to the po, rt of portland, we acquired another symbol of that sustainability. the port of portland is one of five major consolidated port authorities in the united states and one of the greatest economic engines of our region. it operates in international -- an international airport, a major sea port, general aviation ports and several thousand acres of industrial profit. and for the first time, its entire administrative work force will be housed in one location, a beautiful new structure that's not only iconic but is also cost effective, environmentally friendly and expecting to be certified lead gold. virtually every employee has access to natural light, sits in open visible cube kls including the executive director and is surrounded by the kind of sustainable development features that oregon is known for. all of the building's wastewater is treated using a living machine, a sort of i