Statements For the Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 37 – legislation introduced by the House Majority that would bar the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from enforcing the new rules on Net Neutrality that protect consumer freedom on the Internet.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H.R. 910, the so-called Energy Tax Prevention Act. H.R. 910 would permanently ban the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from protecting human health and the environment by enforcing the Clean Air Act and confronting the threat of climate change.

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Mr. Chair, my amendment will ensure that the Food and Drug Administration is adequately funded to protect our nation's food supply, prevent food-borne illnesses from happening, and properly investigate outbreaks when they do occur.

My home state of Minnesota has been impacted by 2 food recalls in the past few weeks, including tainted e. coli hazelnuts and salmonella-infected meat.

The number one focus for Congress must be to get Americans back to work and keep our economy moving forward. Reducing federal deficits is a necessary step to restore America's economic strength. The fastest way to shrink deficits is to grow the economy and get Americans back to work.

Mr. Speaker, reauthorization and reform of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is long overdue, and critical to our nation's future. Between 2007 and 2010, the Democratic House Majority repeatedly passed FAA reauthorization legislation – with my strong support – to modernize America's outdated air traffic control system, improve airline safety for the traveling public, and create jobs by improving our nation's infrastructure. After years of negotiation, the Senate passed a bipartisan reauthorization bill in February 2011 that meets these criteria.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act.

Today, Congress could have had a legitimate and necessary debate about the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Does FIFRA do an adequate job of regulating pesticides or should the Clean Water Act supplement these efforts to address water quality issues? But that is not the debate we are having today

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 471, the private school voucher program for the District of Columbia.

This bill would revive the ineffective and inefficient D.C. voucher program. The bill authorizes $100 million over the next five years for only 1.3 percent of students to receive vouchers in D.C. – with no offset for the funding.

The legislation on the floor today, a bill to defund National Pubic Radio, is another example of a Republican-Tea Party agenda which kills jobs and imposes an extremist right-wing ideological agenda on the American people. This bill and debate is about titillating right wing passions and silencing public broadcasting – nothing more. It is time for listeners of public radio, viewers of public television, and all citizens who value non-commercial broadcasting to make their voices heard or some valuable radio stations and important programming will disappear.