mr. blumenauer: mr. speaker, on that i respectfully request a recorded vote. the chair: pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from oregon will be postponed. the chair: it is now in order to consider amendment number 10 printed in house report 112-144. for what purpose does the gentleman from missouri seek recognition? >> to speak on amendment 10. the chair: does the gentleman wish tufere the amendment? >> i wish to offer amendment 10. the chair: the clerk will dez egg nate the amendment. the clerk: amendment 10, prinned in house report 112-134, offered by mr. carnahan of missouri. the chair: the gentleman from missouri, mr. carnahan, and a member opposed, each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from missouri. mr. carnahan: thank you, mr. speaker. 2011 is already the costliest year for natural disasters in history. over $250 billion in economic damages have been incurred around the world and the u.s. alone, storms, flooding, wild fires and earthquakes have done roughly $27 billi

mr. blumenauer for a recorded vote. the chair: pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the question of the gentleman from virginia will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman rise? mr. kucinich: i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: the clerk will report the amendment. the clerk: amendment offered by mr. kucinich of ohio. on page five, line six, after the dollar amount $decreased by $3 million. page one, line -- page 33, line six, after the dollar amount, insert raised -- increased by $3,600,000. mr. kucinich: this will bring the modest budget for the gulf car illness program in line with that of its peer programs to $10 million too many veterans of the first gulf war suffer from persistent symptoms such as chronic headache, widespread pain, cognitive difficulties, unexplained failure, gastro intestinal problems and other abnormalities not explained by traditional medical or psychiatric diagnoses. research shows as these brave soldiers age, they are at double the risk for a.l.s. or lou ge

mr. blumenauer of oregon. amendment number 10 by mr. carnahan of missouri. amendment number 1 by ms. jackson lee of texas. the chair will reduce to two minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote after the first vote in this series. the unfinished business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 2 printed in house report 112-144 by the gentlelady from texas, ms. jackson lee, on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the noes prevailed by voice vote. the clerk will redesignate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 2 printed in house report 112-144 offered by ms. jackson lee of texas. the chair: a recorded vote has been requested. those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and be counted. a sufficient number having arisen, a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a 15-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings fo

mr. blumenauer, for five minutes. mr. blumenauer: we begin another week in political wonderland. the dow falls 100 points at the opening bell. what is it that we should do? well, if we had the knowledge and problem solving skills of college sophomore economic students or women in a church study group, before the week is out we would establish some simple steps. first, we would understand that in a divided government with real economic challenges no one group is allowed especially those representing a minority of opinion to have their way entirely. we would begin by repealing the silly debt ceiling limitation. a law that was enacted in 1917 when the united states was about to embark upon a borrowing binge in world war i. it was used to look like we were more fiscally responsible and it is a charade we have done dozens of times since. the fact is these are debts we've already incurred and the united states will obligate them. what sort of charade are we going to go through until we finally own up? second, we would actually deal with the challenges of unsustainable spending and tax

mr. blumenauer: mr. chairman, i take modest exception to the comments of my good friend from the state of washington because having read wilderness warrior by teddy roosevelt there's no doubt that he's spinning in his grave and this interior appropriations bill represents an advocation of spobblingt on the part of the -- responsibility on the part of the federal government. not only does it cut money for clean air, clean water, it's polluted with anti-environmental riders. these riders have nothing to do with reducing the deficit and everything to do with undermining the role of the federal government in protecting our nation's environment and public health. this bill is a partisan attack on 40 years of progress to protect the health and environment. it puts polluters over the health of the american public, privatizing the benefits forcing the children and alederly bear increased costs. most all, this bill is a waste of time. in the midst of a looming debt crisis we're engaging in a rhetorical debate abo

mr. blumenauer, for five minutes. mr. blumenauer: thank you, mr. speaker. there is an err of unreality here on capitol hill. there is some people with no experience in government, little knowledge and less regard about the outcomes who are pontificating, lecturing, threatening. the disconnect between the rhetoric, the reality between governance and an ideological agenda is in large part why we are in the conundrum we are in today with the debt ceiling, something that has routinely been increased year after year for decades. it was on full display in the republican-controlled house yesterday as we debated the interior appropriation bill. now, remember last woke, republicans took to the floor with a so-called cut, cap and balance proposal, which is their answer going forward with the economy. it would require, impose an 18% limit on the amount of spending that the federal government could employ in any one year. now, remember that is not what we have done for years. ronald reagan never proposed a budget that was even 21% of gross domestic product, so it's a d

mr. blumenauer: mr. speaker, this proposal that is brought for us today can be characterized by three words. reckless, hypocritical and abusive. it's reckless because for the first time in history we're having people play an elaborate gamef fiscal checken -- chicken, threatening the full faith and credit of the united states for their own ideological agenda. 102 times we have increased the debt limit since 1917, seven mes for george bush, even though he was fighting unfunded wars and proposing massive tax cuts. pele are already paying the price right now as we're starting to see stock markets slide, premiums are increased for ensuring our debt and there's doubt about where we're going forward. it is hypocritical because the republicans have refused to actually back up some of the fanciful rhetoric in their cut, cap and balance amendment that would require massive cuts to budgets. earlier this week one of the friends from the republican study committee had the temerity to offer an amendment to the bill th

mr. blumenauer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon is recognized for two minutes. mr. blumenauer: i appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. well, we are approaching the real prospect of default for the first time in american history and we've wasted two days. while we've wasted two days the american public has lost over $400 billion of wealth as the stock market started to slide when speaker boehner walked away from negotiations with the president, while the republicans have been twisting arms to make a bill that could never pass the senate even more objectionable by chasing a few extreme members of their party instead of working with over 180 democrats on a balanced approach. i would suggest that people think of three words. first is recklessness. this is the first time in history that we've taken the debt ceiling discussion and held it hostage, 102 times we have increased it. this is an entirely manufactured crisis. second is abuse. this is an abuse of power to try and hold this debt ceiling discussion hostage, refusing to compromise, trying to avoid a balanced approach

mr. blumenauer: mr. speaker, this proposal that is brought for us today can be characterized by three words. reckless, hypocritical and abusive. it's reckless because for the first time in history we're having people play an elaborate game of fiscal checken -- chicken, threatening the full faith and credit of the united states for their own ideological agenda. 102 times we have increased the debt limit since 1917, seven times for george bush, even though he was fighting unfunded wars and proposing massive tax cuts. people are already paying the price right now as we're starting to see stock markets slide, premiums are increased for ensuring our debt and there's doubt about where we're going forward. it is hypocritical because the republicans have refused to actually back up some of the fanciful rhetoric in their cut, cap and balance amendment that would require massive cuts to budgets. earlier this week one of the friends from the republican study committee had the temerity to offer an amendment to the b

mr. blumenauer: mr. speaker, this proposal that is brought for us today can be characterized by three words. reckless, hypocritical and abusive. it's reckless because for the first time in history we're having people play an elaborate game of fiscal checken -- chicken, threatening the full faith and credit of the united states for their own ideological agenda. 102 times we have increased the debt limit since 1917, seven times for george bush, even though he was fighting unfunded wars and proposing massive tax cuts. people are already paying the price right now as we're starting to see stock markets slide, premiums are increased for ensuring our debt and there's doubt about where we're going forward. it is hypocritical because the republicans have refused to actually back up some of the fanciful rhetoric in their cut, cap and balance amendment that would require massive cuts to budgets. earlier this week one of the friends from the republican study committee had the temerity to offer an amendment to the b

mr. blumenauer: mr. speaker, this proposal that is brought for us today can be characterized by three words. reckless, hypocritical and abusive. it's reckless because for the first time in history we're having people play an elaborate game of fiscal checken -- chicken, threatening the full faith and credit of the united states for their own ideological agenda. 102 times we have increased the debt limit since 1917, seven times for george bush, even though he was fighting unfunded wars and proposing massive tax cuts. people are already paying the price right now as we're starting to see stock markets slide, premiums are increased for ensuring our debt and there's doubt about where we're going forward. it is hypocritical because the republicans have refused to actually back up some of the fanciful rhetoric in their cut, cap and balance amendment that would require massive cuts to budgets. earlier this week one of the friends from the republican study committee had the temerity to offer an amendment to the b

mr. blumenauer from oregon. he has a long history in this area and the national flood insurance act of 2004 bears his name. i appreciate his support. i yield three minutes. the chair: the gentleman from oregon is recognized for three minutes. mr. blumenauer: i appreciate the gentleman's courtesy as i appreciate her leadership and chair biggert for bringing this important legislation to the floor. it is true. i have been working in these areas for the last 10 years to make sure that the program is stable in the long term. encourage participation. and here we are raising rates where necessary to more accurately reflect flood risk. for too long homeowners in low-risk areas have been subsidizing those in high-risk areas all backed by the federal taxpayers. this bill will make the program closer to being actuarially sound. i appreciate the work done to deal with repepively flooded prors which comprise 2% of the properties insured in the program but responsible for 30% of the claims. we do people no favors by paying t

mr. blumenauer: amyths the spreading scandal of the murdoch news corporation, it's clear it wasn't as they first claim, just a rogue reporter or two. there's a pattern of abuse, some illegal that was widely practiced and known, perhaps encouraged, certainly tolerated. it is important for the f.b.i., the s.e.c., hopefully congress itself to investigate the news corp, fox, "wall street journal" and not just about the concerns of potential spying on 9/11 victims which would be reprehensible if true. but possible violations of the foreign corrupt practices act which makes it illegal for american citizens to bribe foreign officials. some claim we ought to go easy on the murdoch news corporation so we don't appear partisan, but just giving money to the republican party, hiring republican presidential candidates, slamming the news and commentary should not give them a pass for questionable, perhaps illegal, conduct. we must ensure that americans are not abused by the news corp management practices or employees. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? >> i ask

mr. blumenauer, for five minutes. mr. blumenauer: thank you, mr. speaker. the elaborate can bookie -- kabuki dance continues here on capitol hill surrounding the angst of increasing the debt ceiling. i think what we are seeing can be summarized in three words -- reckless, abuse and hypocrisy. first of all, it is reckless for my republican friends to hold the debt ceiling discussions hostage in an attempt to achieve other political goals. there have already been significant costs. the american currency has weakened. we watched a slide on the stock market since last friday when agreement blew up and speaker boehner walked away from his work with president obama. we've watched premiums being paid now to insure united states debt. people are making adjustments that are having consequences right now and eroding the confidence that we have had globally in the strength of american commitments to pay its debt. a confidence that has resulted in record low interest rates that have benefited everybody in the united states, and that is at risk. the irony is that there'

mr. blumenauer of oregon for today and for the balance of the week, ms. mccollum of minnesota for today, mr. ellison of minnesota for today, mr. wu of oregon for today, mrs. wilson of florida for tay, mr. bishop of new york for today. the speaker pro tempore: werks, the request ares -- the requests are -- without objection, the requests are granted. the chair will entertain one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentlelady from florida seek recognition? without objection. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the gentlelady from florida is recognized. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you, mr. speaker. and i rise tonight to mark the anniversary of the attack on the amia jewish community center in bune he is arizona, argentina, on july 18, 1994, the irana regime through the coordinated efforts of its embassy and extremist proxy, hezbollah, committed one of the deadliest attacks of anti-semitism in the western hemisphere by killing 85 men, women and children and injuring over

mr. blumenauer of oregon for today and for the balance of the week, ms. mccollum of minnesota for today, mr. ellison of minnesota for today, mr. wu of oregon for today, mrs. wilson of florida for today, mr. bishop of new york for today. the speaker pro tempore: werks, the request ares -- the requests are -- without objection, the requests are granted. the chair will entertain one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentlelady from florida seek recognition? without objection. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the gentlelady from florida is recognized. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you, mr. speaker. and i rise tonight to mark the anniversary of the attack on the amia jewish community center in bune he is arizona, argentina, on july 18, 1994, the irana regime through the coordinated efforts of its embassy and extremist proxy, hezbollah, committed one of the deadliest attacks of anti-semitism in the western hemisphere by killing 85 men, women and children and injuring ove

mr. blumenauer: thank you. as somebody who has spent many, many years working with people in my community and around the country on promotion of communities, i am frankly mystified to see included in this bill an end to the program that provides technical assistance and guidance to communities looking for ways to increase economic development, plan for economic growth and make their communities safer, healthier and more economically secure. it is mystifying. the e.p.a. office of sustainable communities was established to provide a resource for communities who need technical assistance to plan for economic growth, deal with development, account for a changing population and the demographics, to expand their economic development options and make communities more attract toiv business and local citizens. mr. chairman, there are hundreds of examples from across the country about the work that the office of sustainable communities has accomplished. some of the most important projects were situations where the office

mr. blumenauer: mr. speaker, last night we heard the speaker of the house, john boehner, talk about how he stuck his neck out and offered new revenues. well, if so, instead of chasing the most extreme few tea party members of his caucus to craft an even more unrealistic proposal, why doesn't he work with 193 democrats to lead congress to the balanced approach that americans want? new revenue would allow basic tax reforms, closing expensive, unjustified loopholes and make the tax code more fair and simple. we can then corporate on sensible reductions in long-term spending where there is already bipartisan agreement for agriculture reform, defense and health care. if john boehner is speaker of the house instead of speaker of the tea party we can start down this path of fiscal stability. answered this artificial crisis -- and end this artificial crisis. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from ohio rise? >> mr. speaker, request unan

mr. chairman, i offer an amendment tonight that will save both blood and an immense am of money. the amendment i'm introducing along with congressman blumenauer designates already authorized funds in the amount of $15 million to be used to insulate shelters at forward operating paces in afghanistan. properly insulating military shelters can significantly reduce energy consumption, which in turn can decrease the number of fuel convoys needed to support our troops. these fuel convoys cost us dearly. they're absolutely vital supply link to our troops in the field but they are exposed to constant and devastating attack. despite the pentagon spending $24 billion a year to protect fuel convoys in afghanistan, more than 3,000 troops and civilian contractors have been killed or wounded while riding in convoy. what's more, fully 2/3 of the fuel used in afghanistan goes to provide electricity for air-conditioning and heating in military installations. if we can reduce the energy required in these areas, we can reduce the danger. insulating structures will save lives from people who will not be on convoys to be attacked. it will also save money. properl