ms. jackson lee: for a number o ms. jackson lee: for a number of years i practiced energy law in the state of texas. i have worked with advocacy groups crying out for an energy policy in this nation, one that would respect the assets we have been blessed with in this country. texas has been blessed with a number of assets, including wind and solar, fossil fuel and shale. opportunities to ensure that america remains independent in the quest for energy independence. my amendment recognizes the holistic approach to energy, recognizing the various resources that our state has and many other states, it is a very, very small contribution but important contribution for energy efficiency and renewable energy program. whenever you speak to the nult nationals, i -- multinationals, i will assure you all of them have within their companies an emphasis or section on energy efficiency and renewable energy. this is an essential office that invests in clean energies technologies created to strengthen our economy and our environment. it

ms. jackson lee. the chair: the gentlelady from texas is recognized for two minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the ranking member and the chairman of the full committee of the subcommittee an both chair and ranking member. i, too, want to thank a moment to thank the -- to take a moment to rank the ranking member for -- to thank the ranking member for his service to this nation. we can count his work inside this house, but i think the american people must owe you a moment of fwrat feud for the work and commitment you have shown in making sure that those who need help can get hope and i want to pay tribute to you this evening. i also want to indicate that we understand that we are living in difficult times. i raise concerns about funding, living in the fourth largest city in the nation, where we see enormous congestion and the importance of transit dollars, $900 million, fortunately, came to houston after a long, long wait to build a light rail system. those dollars need to continue. housing plays a very important role. in the city of galveston, for example, they have been th

ms. jackson lee for a response. . ms. jackson lee: i thank the chairman for his comments and i don't want to give a whole historical perspective but i've certainly been on the homeland security authorizing committee since 9/11. i'm quite familiar with the technologies and various changes in aviation travel in particular. and we've made great strides. we have certainly made great strides. but here's my point that i think is crucial. how long are we going to continue to count on heroic, if you will, passengers and continue to cite them as great heroes until the day of some tragic and horrific incident? we thank the american traveling public for what it has done to thwart a number of incidences. some of which obviously are not terrorist directed but they do impact on the traveling public's security while air born. air marshals are frontline support and defense in a vessel, if you will, in an aircraft that if tampered with airborne can be a catastrophe of enormous proportions. air marshals are in essence a crucial part of the

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: fourth amendment offered by ms. jackson lee of texas. the chair: a recorded vote has been requested. those in support of the request for 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 will be a two-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 for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.] the chair: on this vote the yeas are 150. the nays are 260. the amendment is not adopted. for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition? mr. frelinghuysen: madam chair, i move that the committee do now rise. the chair: the question is on the motion that the committee rise. all those in favor say

ms. jackson lee. ms. jackson lee: i thank -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for -- how much time, sir? mr. walz: two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the speaker and i thank the manager and my friends on the other side of the aisle. this is an important, crucial motion to instruct, crucial is the word. and i thank the gentleman for recognizing that while we are here, others are languishing, bridges are languishing, highways, ports. and even our mass transit concerns are languishing, because we have not moved forward. one, two, three, four, five, i think we are up to five extensions the last five to seven years. if my counting is correct. but most importantly, let me congratulate members from both sides of the aisle that have come forward to support the gentleman's motion to instruct, which evidences how crucial this motion is and how we need to move beyond the many, many conference calls that i know those confere

ms. jackson lee. >> thank the chairman and the ranking member, administrative leonhart, thank you for your appearance here today. having been in phoenix a couple of weeks ago, let me express my appreciation for the service of the drug enforcement agency officers, their professionalism, and as well the work that is done in houston, texas, where we are the center point, if you will, for a number of issues dealing with gun trafficking and as well the confluence, if you will, of money, drugs, and guns. and so we're well aware of the importance of collaboration. i'm going to ask a series of quick questions, and appreciate helping me get as much on the record as i possibly can. what is the importance of collaboration between the major federal law enforcement, i use as an example fbi, dea, atf, and be others along with those that i represent on homeland security? what's the importance of that? >> well, ma'am, let me start by saying that state and local participation has been dea's bread and butter for the 39 years we've been an agency, and you combine that partnership with the partnerships that w

ms. jackson lee for her opening statement. >> mr. chairman, thank you very much. and to the members who are present and to the ranking member, and the full committee chairperson of the full committee. mr. pistol, good morning. i thank the chairman for this opportunity, and i welcome administrator pistol and acknowledge that this month marks your two-year anniversary at tsa. might i also congratulate you on a great event you recently had with your family and wish them well. i thank you for your leadership, and i look forward to continuing to work with you. and i also, mr. chairman, would like to thank you for holding what i hope will be an informative hearing. let me acknowledge, as we all do in this business, that i have before the judiciary committee the attorney general. and so i will be looking to be in this hearing for as long as i can, and if mr. pistol would accept the fact that i may be not in two places at once, but have to be in two places for the responsibilities that i have. but it is important for us to recognize the leadership of mr. pistol and identi

ms. jackson lee: let me thank the chairperson again. my good friend from georgia knows we have had opportunities to work together on a lot of different issues. it seem as if he is raising an issue that would have sense of agreement but i have to reluctantly but vigorously oppose the gentleman's amendment. the office of civil rights in the department of transportation losing the amount of money he has suggested will deprive that office of viable and important staff and resources for compliance. frankly this agency governs huge amounts, billions of dollars of federal dollars. in addition, it governs actions that deal with accommodations, the utilization of dollars for small and minority and disadvantaged businesses. the civil rights section has been a section that has assured -- ensured that federal dollars in transportation are used in a way that are not discriminatory. i don't believe we need to be in 2012, rising to eliminate opportunity. we need to expand opportunity. the civil rights section of the department of transportation has al

ms. jackson lee: mr. speaker, i now rise to a question of the privileges of the house and offer the resolution previously noticed. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the resolution. the clerk: whereas the chair of the committee on oversight and government reform has interfered with the work of an independent agency and pressured an administrative law judge of the national labor relations board by compelling the production of documents related to an ongoing case, something independent experts said could seriously undermine the authority of those charged with enforcing the nation's labor laws and which the house ethics manual discourages by noting it that federal courts have nullified administrative decisions on grounds of due process and fairness towards all of the purposes when congressional interference with ongoing administrative proceedings may have been duly -- unduly influenced the outcome. whereas the chair of the committee on oversight and government reform has politicized investigation

ms. jackson lee: i thank the speaker and i ask to address the house for one minute, unanimous consent. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlelady from texas is recognized for one minute. ms. jackson lee: madam speaker, the constitution is an enormously important document. the oversight of congress is an enormously important responsibility. lives lost in the course of various activities of our law enforcement are issues that we take with great concern. as a member of the judiciary committee, it has been my responsibility over the years from impeachments to waco to issues beyond to look deep into the facts and i respect that. i'm appalled, however, when the chief law enforcement officer of the united states is called a liar. and i stand on this floor to reject any thought that a u.s. -- a united states attorney that takes an oath of office would lie. we can find a resolution to the facts of fast and furious that have been reinvestigated and reinvestigated, started under the bush administration. but we do not have to malign general holder for doing his job. and i would ask

ms. jackson lee of texas regarding funding levels for corps of engineers construction. an amendment by ms. jackson lee of texas limiting funds for department of energy, energy programs, science. an amendment by mr. jordan limiting funds for title 17 loan guarantees. an amendment by mr. king of iowa regarding subchapter 4 of chapter 31 of title 40, united states code. an amendment by mr. kucinich regarding section 1703 of the energy policy act of 2005. an amendment by mr. landry limiting funds relating to litigation methodology known as the modified charleston method. an amendment by mr. landry in section 801 of the energy independence and security act of 2007. an amendment by mr. luetkemeyer limiting funds for the study of conducted pursuant to section 5018-a-1 of the water resources development act of 2007. an amendment by mr. luetkemeyer regarding funds for the study authorized in section 108 of the energy and water development and related energies appropriations act, 2009. an amendment by mr. lujan regarding funding levels for defense environmental cleanup. an amendme

ms. jackson lee. mr. king is recognize. >> thank you, attorney general for being here to testify. i'm just picking up on the chairman's remarks. i point out that i had a series of questions that asked december 8 your, and although we haven't press release late for those response, i haven't seen it. so i will be submitting a new request from december 8, and an additional here for this today, i believe it but i think first of all there's one piece left on the fast and furious. i would just ask you that, can you tell me when you first started to doubt that the original letter was in nitrd? can you tell me what piece of information caused you to do that? >> i think my first doubts happened just before, or just about the same time that asked the inspector general to conduct a report. as i listened to media reports and things i was getting from senator grassley, that's what i think my doubts first began about the accuracy of the report. >> was a piece of information though in particular in those media reports that cause you to doubt, or just the information itself? >> i'm not sure i can

ms. jackson lee. . . ms. jackson lee: i serve on the committee, a well-trained professional team is what we have been working toward and what we are achieving. i ask my colleagues to remember america pre-9/11. without a professional work force. and i'd also like to say that in spite of the citations of inappropriate behavior, which none of us condone, there are thousands upon thousands of untold stories of t.s.a. officers doing their job, providing the safety line for the safety of this nation and providing assistance to the traveling public. how do i know? because i make it a habit of visiting airports and seeing our t.s.a. officers work and interacting with them and asking them how long they have served. many of them came in at 9/11 because they could not sit idly by while the nation had an attacked. many of them are former law enforcement officers, former military personnel, who believe they are serving their nation. what is a badge? it is a dignity that is allowed to those who are on the frontlines of the

ms. jackson lee. >> thank you, mr. attorney general for testifying today. i'm just picking up on the chairman's remarks. at a series of questions that i asked december 18 at another we had a press will mostly for those responses, i haven't seen them so i will be submitting a new request for december 8 i believe. there's one piece left and i just ask you, when you first started to doubt the original letter was accurate, what piece of information caused you to do that? >> my first doubt have been just about the same time i asked for the inspector general to conduct a report. as i listen to media reports and things as getting from senator grassley, i had them down with it first began about the accuracy. >> was there a piece of information in particular in most media reports that cost you to doubt come are just the information itself? >> i'm not sure i can remember anything specific, but the reports were inconsistent with what i heard from people in the department and also for senator grassley was telling me he sent october the ninth. >> yeah, i have a factory

ms. jackson lee, for five minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the speaker. mr. speaker, this is a solemn place. and a solemn moment when members come to express their views. the previous speaker drew us to heroes, and we thank those who have served us in the united states military. this morning i draw towards constitutional and congressional responsibility. it is all intertwined in the honor we have in serving in this institution, this august institution entrusted to us by the american public, our individual constituents. i first suggest that earlier this week the supreme court established the superiority of the united states government in immigration reform. and all of the points that were brought by the state of arizona, 2/3 were rejected under the understanding and the law that the united states government is in charge of immigration enforcement, immigration benefits, and that we should do our job. for the one provision that remains standing and as the ranking member formerly of the immigration subcommittee and homeland security, i see this every day having j

ms. jackson lee, for five minutes. ms. jackson lee: mr. chairman, i had the pleasure of chairing the congressional children's caucus for a number of years, founding it almost a decade ago. delighted to have as part of our agenda a number of issues dealing with mentoring, nutrition, obesity, issues dealing with now phenomenon that is raging across our nation, bullying, and introduce legislation just six months and now revised legislation that deals with renewing the juvenile accountability block grant and as well providing for intervention on these issues. i'm looking forward to bipartisan support because as we've seen statistics across america, children as young as pre-k and kindergarten can now interpret actions as bullying. we need to give help and relief to school districts and parents and families and now a public statement that that action is inpistol herbal, and -- intolerable and we want them to go places that will find comfort and enjoyment as a child. that brings me also to my commitment to science, technology, engineering and mat

ms. jackson lee. ms. jackson lee: i thank the ranking member and the ranking member of the full committee, ranking member of the subcommittee and full committee for their courtesies and i think clearly over this process that we have had, an opportunity as authorizers to work with our friends on the appropriations committee. and i wanted to have the opportunity to share what i think is important information, an amendment that i believe and hope that the policy aspect of these amendments that we can work together in conference to assure that we have come to the right meeting of the minds. i look forward to working with the conferees and working with the senate to make some corrections. last evening, my amendments to help to restore the mission of f.a.m., was in essence an amendment that needs to be clarified. and i again rise with the policy amendment that would help f.a.m., the federal air marshals which i think i could poll any american and ask them the question as to whether or not federal air marshals ar

ms. jackson lee: mr. speaker, pursuant to clause 2-a-1 of rule 9, i rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the house, the form of the resolution is as follows. >> mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. i ask members on the minority side to take their conversations off the floor. the gentlelady from texas is recognized. ms. jackson lee: raising a question of the privileges of the house. whereas the chair of the committee on oversight and government reform has interfered with the work of an independent agency, pressured an administrative law judge by compelling the production of documents related to an ongoing case, something that independent experts said could seriously undermine the authorities those charged with enforcing the nation's labor laws the. and which the house ethics manual discourages by noting that federal courts have nullified administrative decisions on grounds of due process and fairness to all of the

ms. jackson lee. >> thank the chairman and the ranking member.administrator leonhart, thank you for your parents are today. having been in phoenix a couple ago, let me express my appreciation for the service of the drug enforcement agency officers, their professionalism, and as well the work that is done in houston, texas, where we are at the center point, if you will, for a number of issues dealing with gun trafficking, and as well the confluence, if you will, money, drugs and guns. so we are well aware of the importance of collaboration. i'm going to ask a series of quick questions, and appreciate helping me get as much in the record as i possibly can. what is the importance of collaboration between the major federal law enforcement? i'll use as an example, fbi, atf, and others, along with those that a rep sent on homeland security, what's the importance of that? >> well, let me start by saying that state and local participation has been dea's bread and butter for 39 years we've been an agency. and you combine that partnership with partnerships

ms. jackson lee: mr. speaker, the crisis in syria is getting worse and worse and worse.n with the united nations, but i ask that the arab league and nato raise their voices to remove women and children and elderly and the disabled and the sick from this onslaught of violence. i ask the head of russia, mr. putin, does he have a heart? is he going to continue on the basis of ego and collaboration determine that he allows the violence against the syrian people to continue? i ask my christian friends in syria as well to join with the world of humanity to stop the violence against women and children. it is time now. mr. speaker, i change to another topic very quickly and say that one vote, one person. the voter i.d. law doesn't allow that and the massive infusion of dollars coming from places no one knows, no one has the account for, let us have the constitution stand again, let america have a 2012 election without the infusion of unnamed dollars, now $100 million may be coming into this election from one person, mr. speaker the constitution deserve respect, one vote, one per

ms. jackson lee to be an estimate thank the chairman and ranking member. thank you for your appearance and having been in phoenix a couple weeks ago let me express my appreciation for the service for the drug enforcement agency officers and their professionalism and as well the work is done in houston texas where we are the center point if you will for a number of issues dealing with gun trafficking, and as well the confluence of you will of money, drugs and guns, and so we are well aware of the importance of collaboration. embrey to ask a series of questions and appreciate helping me get as much on the record as it possibly can. what is the importance of collaboration between the major federal law enforcement? are used the example fbi atf and others along with those that i represent on the homeland security what is the importance of that? >> let me start by saying that state and local participation has been the dea bread and butter for the 39 years we've been an agency. you combine that partnership with the partnerships that we have developed with other f

ms. jackson lee is recognized. >> i recognized. >> i think the chairman. i thank the ricky number, and i certainly thank the attorney general or his service. -itis want to add what i don't think very quickly was in the introduction of the original fmi series of question, mr. attorney general with the industry will be bullet like, not torture but questioning soy cases of of questions in. i did note that you are a depu attorney general under the bush administration. you continue to serve i think through the time that you were appointed under president obama, is that correct? did you remain during the time? >> a little known fact that i was george bush's first attorney general. >> i think i should be made clear for the record. because you've had a continuous public service commitment picture in the private sector for a moment, but between judgeship and the superior court, that i understand you were appointed by president ronald reagan at that time, is that correct, mr. attorney general? >> that's correct. >> let me thank you again for your service and ask a s

ms. jackson lee: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i rise today because this is a great country. in fact, i would call it the greatest country in the world. and throughout my life's history, although we have traveled mountains and low valleys, i have been equal and unequal in this nation, but yet today i feel as tall as the pine trees because our supreme court shed itself of die verse -- diverse a sometimes divisive biggering and upheld the constitution of the united states and granted to the american people affordable health care. it granted to the sickest of the sick the opportunity to be covered by insurance. it granted to seniors who fall into doughnut holes and have to choose prescription drugs over food a relief line. it granted to hospitals who take in indigent patients who may otherwise die on sidewalks in america an opportunity to take care of those patients. it gave children with pre-existing disease an opportunity to live fully in this country. and so now the affordable care act is the law of the land. we have been vindicated. every single, single vote, those who have

ms. jackson-lee. i remember you back from i municipal court days. i liked you better when you ran your court better than a legislator, but that's another conversation for another time. >> guest: that's okay, i've got fans on both sides. [laughter] >> caller: well, i'm p in the other room watching this, you ladies raise your hand if you know anybody who's had a water heater blow out in the middle of the night. the first thing you do is shut off the water. the next thing you do is mop up the mess while you're waiting for the plumber. that is not the time that you start thinking about put anything one of those kohler12-head showers. that's what comprehensive bills are, is talking about changing all these aspects. you need to fix the problem first. now, i don't have a problem with immigrants coming in since i'm from houston. i'm used to this. i've never had a problem with visas getting handed out and work permits, but they pay guest worker dues like a cab driver has to pay a lease on his cab in order to earn some money. well, if their kids are getting e

ms. jackson lee: speaker, we can do better.we work to ensure the tranquility of this great land and the opportunity for those who desire and deserve jobs i frankly think it is likewise a devastating disaster a crisis, that the world has not risen to stop the bloodshed in syria. i realize that we are not ready to engage in war and i say that we do not have to. syrian americans are just pleading for the world to intervene, for dr. assad to step downfish for the cease fire to take place and for the killing of women and children to stop. i join with the administration to ask for dr. assad to be removed and i ask the arab league, i ask the surrounding neighbors, to stand up against this increasing violence. to the syrian americans i have stood with in houston, i stand with you until dr. assad is removed and the violence is stopped. the united nations moved toward a resolution of peace and russia and china must stop standing in the way and watching bloodshed pour. children are dying. dr. assad in syria must leave and peace must come.

ms. jackson lee of texas for today. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the requests are granted. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from ohio seek recognition? mr. kucinich: i ask unanimous consent to claim the time of the -- yes. the speaker pro tempore: under the speaker's announced policy of january 5, 2011, the gentleman from ohio, mr. kucinich, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee for the minority leader. mr. kucinich: i thank the gentleman. i spoke here a minute ago on the floor of the house concerning my deep and abiding concern about a nuclear power plant in the state of ohio called the davis-bessy nuclear power plant. now, this power plant, when it was first licensed, has -- from the time it was first licensed has experienced a series of shutdowns. so much so that it -- there was a period where the company that originally owned it, the companies that originally owned it, it massive losses -- had massive losses because the plant was not up and running. now, they have so

ms. bass: i do rise as the designee for the gentlelady from texas. representative sheila jackson lee. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 27 printed in house report number 112-540, offered by ms. bass of california. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 691, the gentlewoman from california, ms. bass, and a member opposed will each control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlelady from california. ms. bass: thank you. mr. speaker, i rise today as the designee to present representative sheila jackson lee's amendment number 27 to h.r. 4480, which would establish an office of energy employment and training as well as an office of minority and women inclusion that would be responsible for all matters relating to diversity in management, employment, and business activity. this amendment simply recognizes the importance of developing a diverse and highly skilled technical work force within the department of interior. the department of interior reviews permits, examines lease sales, and ensures that each application meets the highest safety