This week, the House passed H.R. 5819, a bill to improve the Small Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology Transfer program. These programs assist small businesses in obtaining federal research grant funding. The House also passed the Coast Guard Authorization and H.R. 5613, a bill which prevents certain administrative rule changes in Medicaid from going into effect. This bill blocks new rules that would have prevented schools from recovering administrative costs associated with providing Medicaid services to eligible students.

Wanted: Private Property Day

Earlier this week, the nation celebrated Earth Day, a day to celebrate “eco-activism.” Earth Day began on April 22, 1970, and has been celebrated each year after. That day is also celebrated in other circles as the birthday of Lenin. In fact, in 1955 Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev ordered April 22 to be the designated day to celebrate Communism. The parallels between the environmentalist movement and the Communist movement under Lenin can be easily identified. A first act of Lenin in 1917 was to outlaw the ownership of private property. Today, environmental groups use political pressure and litigation to destroy Americans’ private property rights. The Endangered Species Act is used to limit use on private property, and at a time of high energy prices, the government has continued to bow to environmental group pressure to tie up vast areas of oil and coal reserves. Additionally, legislation supported by environmentalists has been introduced which would further the federal government’s reach on private property by ruling that all waters of the United States – not just navigable waters as required by the Clean Water Act – fall under the jurisdiction of federal clean water regulations. This will place the federal government onto every creek, ditch, and stream running through private land. While it is important to respect and properly manage our natural resources, it should not come at the disregard of constitutionally protected private property rights. Instead of bowing to the pressures of environmental groups, the federal government should be focused on policy grown from sound science (not the commercial science of Al Gore) and upholding the Constitution.

Save the Delta Queen

Unless Congress acts this session, a chapter in our nation’s history will come to a close. The Delta Queen, a symbol of our nation’s past, is the last steam paddle wheeler to operate on our nation’s rivers. Constructed in 1926, this vessel is a symbol our nation’s origins and a testament to our progress. The Delta Queen is a registered national historic landmark and a member of the National Maritime Hall of Fame. She is part of the Greatest Generation, honorably serving our country in World War II, first as a navy barrack and later transporting servicemen to and from the navy ships docked in the San Francisco Bay harbor. The Delta Queen currently operates under a statutory exemption from certain safety standards in the Safety of Life at Seas international convention. Notwithstanding the Delta Queen’s exemption, the vessel has undertaken numerous safety measures, all of which are consistent with Coast Guard standards. However, the current exemption is set to expire in November, which means the Delta Queen will be put out of service unless Congress acts. On Thursday, during consideration of the Coast Guard Authorization Act, a motion was offered to allow the Delta Queen to operate for at least ten more years. Unfortunately, the motion was defeated on a largely partisan vote, as 198 Democrats voted against the Delta Queen. I have cosponsored H.R. 2830, which would provide the needed exemption for the vessel to continue to operate. Passage of that bill may be the Delta Queen’s last chance.

Quote of the Week

“The primary race is dragging on and on and on. But the Democrats are trying to put a good face on it, they're confident, they say now, absolutely they will have a nominee for president by McCain's second year in office.” – David Letterman on the Late Show, April 23, 2008.