ms. pingree. mr. speaker, i represent the last 70 miles of eastern long island where the primary industries are travel and tourism, everything to do with the second home market, agriculture and the fishing industry. thus, in my district, the environment is the economy in many respects. it can ill afford a disaster like gulf coast states endured during the deepwater horizon spill in 2010. oil-soaked beaches would devastate long island's economy, let alone the environment, and there is no reasonable person who can disagree with me on this point. the republican drilling proposals to offset the highway bill would raise less than $4.3 billion over 10 years, according to c.b.o. or less than .1 of the revenue actually needed. combine this with the other funding mechanisms for the highway bill and republicans are paying for their reckless legislation on the backs of middle-class families. for example, the republicans' spending package would require federal employees to increase their pension contributions whi

ms. pingree: address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. pingree: thank you. thank you, madam speaker. madam speaker, last month i submitted comments to the consumer product finance protection bureau about the rising problem of student loan debt. i've heard from many people in my state, students, former students, parents, who are struggling to pay back student loans. we're asking our students to take on more debt than ever. and in this weak economy, it's hard for many to make monthly rising payments. there has to be a better way. private student loans are part of the problem. they are one of the riskiest ways to pay for college, often with uncapped variable interest rates that hit those who are least able to afford them the hardest. but the federal student loan system also needs reform. currently borrowers are paying an interest rate of up to 8% while homeowners refinancing their mortgages are often paying less than half of that. there is no reason that students and their parents should pay so much for more something that is as basic and ess

ms. pingree: there are many couples in my home state, they remain committed to each other through the ups and downs of life. but they are denied the -- but because they are same-sec couples they are denied the right to honor their love through marriage. maine will change that, granting all couples the same right to get married. we have made progress on ending discriminatory practices here in congress, like ending don't ask, don't tell, but it is up to us in maine to allow same-sex marriage. i am confident we will do the right thing. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from delaware seek recognition? mr. carney: to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. carney: i rise today to talk about the scription drug shortage crisis we have today in america. our across the country, patients are being forced to go out the critical medication they need to battle diseases and stay healthy this crisis is hitting cancer patients especially hard. with serious shortages of chemotherapy drugs. that's why this week, i introduced