| 106th CONGRESS
The official record shows that Terry sponsored and passed one bill:
H.R.4615 - To redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3030 Meredith Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska, as the "Reverend J.C. Wade Post Office".
It became Public Law No: 106-340.
Terry also introduced and passed 4 Amendments.
Under H.R.2670 (Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other purposes), he sponsored and passed the following amendment:
H.AMDT.402 - An amendment to increase funding by $2 million for repair of Merchant Marine Academy buildings.
But while he passed that amendment, the final bill was vetoed successfully by President Clinton. Therefore, that amendment didn't get signed into law.
Under H.R.1993 (To reauthorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency, and for other purposes), Terry introduced and passed 3 Amendments. However, 2 of them had the language amended by another members language. So while Terry still had his name on them, they were not his original work:
H.AMDT.517 - Amendment no. 9 printed in the Congressional Record to specify that OPIC address concerns that it does not promptly dispose of legitimate claims regarding projects that it insures or guarantees and recognize that private parties face financial obligations that cannot be deferred indefinitely.
H.AMDT.523 - Amendment originally sought to require OPIC to settle claims within 90 days, allow a 60 day extension for receipt of supplemental information, and pay interest at the prime rate for each day after the specified time limit.As amended by the Menendez amendment, the above was replaced with language that requires GAO to submit to Congress a report which reviews the claims activities of OPIC.
H.AMDT.525 - Amendment requires that OPIC publish and report to Congress any intervention by other departments or agencies of the U.S. government regarding the timing or settlement of any claim arising as a result of insurance, reinsurance, or guaranty operations. As amended by the Menendez amendment, language was added that clarifies that the interventions requiring public disclosure are those that intend to impede or delay.
The bill itself, however, was sent to the Senate and never received any further action in that chamber. Therefore it died, and was never passed into law, along with the amendments by Terry. So, in the 106th Congress, Terry passed ONE BILL into law. That's it.
107th CONGRESS
Terry did not pass any bills during this Congress. He passed only one Resolution:
H.RES.298 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Veterans Day should continue to be observed on November 11 and separate from any other Federal holiday or day for Federal elections or national observances.
108th CONGRESS
During this Congress, Terry did not pass any bills.
Terry passed 1 Resolution:
H.RES.284 - Designating majority membership on certain standing committees of the House.
Terry introduced this to nominate Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) to the Committees on Agriculture, Committee on Resources, and Committee on Science. He also nominated Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Michigan) to the Committee on Small Business.
Terry also introduced and passed one Amendment to H.R.2555 (Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill):
H.AMDT.179 - Amendment increases funding for first responders by $20 million with $10 million for grants to State and local law enforcement for terrorism prevention activities and $10 million for firefighter assistance grants with offsets of $20 million from the Transportation Security Administration.
This was in 2003, just after the Iraq war started, and when it had become clear on 9/11 that the TSA needed much more funding and coverage to protect the airports and airplanes. This took away money from the TSA.
But let's look closer at that amendment, what his amendment did to move the money around, and what the final bill actually contained.
First, his amendment reduced the Aviation Security budget by $20 Million, dropping it to $3,659,200,000. However, the final amount approved was $3,732,700,000.
Next, it increased the Domestic Preparedness budget by $10 Million to $3,513,000,000. However, the final amount approved was $3,287,000,000.
Next, the amendment, under the Domestic Preparedness budget, designated that additional $10 Million to state and local, for a total of $510,000,000. However, the final amount was the original $500,000,000, and a provision was added that states could only request funds after submitting an updated state plan.
Finally, his amendment increased firefighter assistance grants by $10 Million to $760,000,000. However the final bill reduced it back to $750 Million.
So, in short, none of what Terry got passed in the House survived to the final bill. It was clear that in the final version, the majority must have felt that reducing funds to the TSA may not be a good idea.
109th CONGRESS
Terry did not pass any Bills or Resolutions during this Congress. He passed 1 Amendment, however.
Under H.R.5522 (Appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs), Terry passed the following amendment:
H.AMDT.994 - To limit funds in the bill for use in contravention of laws regarding importation of counterfeit goods and services.
However, the bill was sent to the Senate and never went any further. Therefore, that amendment was never in the final bill or signed into law.
110th CONGRESS
In the 110th Congress so far, Terry has not passed any bills into law. He has had 3 Resolutions passed:
H.RES.541 - Recognizing the Marines of Company M (or "Mike Company") of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division on the occasion of their 25th Annual Reunion.
H.RES.856 - Expresses heartfelt sympathy for the victims and families of the shootings in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, December 5, 2007.
H.RES.1283 - Expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims and their families following the tornado that hit Little Sioux, Iowa, on June 11, 2008.
Terry had 3 Amendments so far.
Under H.R.1684 - (Department of Homeland Security Appropriations), Terry introduced the following amendment:
H.AMDT.155 - To require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to consult with states prior to sharing information on forthcoming grant awards, including when sharing information with the U.S. Congress.
However, H.R.1684 was the not the Department of Homeland Security appropations bills that went through all the way. Instead, it was H.R.2638, which later was merged with the Omnibus (Consolidated) Appropriations Bill, H.R.2764. The amendment language or intent was not in the final version signed into law.
Under H.R.2446 - (To reauthorize the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002), Terry passed the following amendment:
H.AMDT.247 - Amendment provides that the U.S. Agency for International Development should give priority in awarding grants to non-governmental organizations to aid in the revitalization of Afghanistan to organizations based in the United States that have an established and cost-effective record of developing and administering such programs within Afghanistan.
However, the bill itself went to the Senate and has never gone any further. Therefore, the amendment has not become law.
Under H.R.3221 (housing reform), Terry introduced the following Amendment:
H.AMDT.747 - To add a section to accelerate the adoption of geothermal heat pumps by the Federal government.
As a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, this was one of the issues that was put forth. The language was greatly reduced as this bill was merged into H.R.6, but the spirit remained. It became Public Law No: 110-140.
FINAL SUMMARY
So, from the time Terry took office in January 1999, to the present date, he passed:
- 1 Bill, renaming a post office.
- 5 Resolutions, on continuing to observe Veteran's Day on November 11th, naming 2 fellow Republicans to committees, recognizing the Marines of Company M for their 25th Annual Reunion, expressing sympathy to the Omaha mall shooting victims, and expressing sympathy to the Little Sioux tornado victims.
- 1 Amendment, accelerating adoption of geothermal heat pumps.
The ONE Bill and the ONE Amendment are all that have become actual laws.
Now, I know those Terry supporters are wanting to claim some things for Terry. Okay. Then lets see that list. Lets see the bill numbers so we can do our research and make sure that they are telling the truth. After all, if they are telling the truth, why would they have a problem with that request? Here's their chance to show pride in their guy.
But according to the official record, Terry has been the SPONSOR (aka Author) of things that have had no tangible benefit to the people of his district.
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UPDATED 7/2/2008 - FUEL CELL CLAIM
research and development for fuel cells. This is under the Advanced Power system Technology Incentives Program. The funding and program requirements were Terry's idea; he conceptualized it, he offered the proposal in committee and it was adopted. The full bill then went on to pass--with this Terry law as part of it (Public Law 109-58, Title VII).
Now for the full story.
H.R.6 was the Bill that was made into the final law. However, H.R.1640, which was a product of the Energy and Commerce Committee (which Terry is on), was folded into the final bill.
Prior to that, however, a hearing on energy policy was held on February 9 2005, Terry is listed as present, but he doesn't ask one single question about fuel cells. He doesn't even submit a pre-written statement. However, Doyle of Pennsylvania does both, and focuses heavily on fuel cells.
The Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on their version of the bill on April 13, 2005. During that hearing, Terry introduced two amendments, but only one survived.
The Amendment Terry offered (with Doyle of Pennsylvania) was simple, and reflected only change in fund amounts for the entire program:
In section 809, amend paragraphs (1) through (5)
to read as follows:
(1) $546,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(3) $850,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(4) $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(5) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
That's it. They took already proposed funding and increased it. Matter of fact, a report that mentioned Terry and this issue at the time stated:
"An amendment offered by Reps. Lee Terry (R-NE) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) doubles the funding called for in Title XIII of the House energy bill from $2.148 billion to $4.46 billion, starting in fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2010." - EnergyWashington Week, April 27, 2005
So these increases were included in the bill that was introduced in the House.
Now, our Terry lurker said Terry "conceptualized" the "funding and program requirements" of the "Advanced Power System Technology Incentives Program". But that is not the name of an active program.
This name came from a bill Terry and Doyle introduced:
H.R.423 - To authorize the Secretary of Energy to establish an Advanced Power System Technology Incentives Program to fund the development and deployment of new advanced technologies such as advanced fuel cells, turbines, or hybrid power systems or power storage systems to generate or store electric energy, and for other purposes.
It went no where and it is not considered to be related to any bills, let alone H.R.6 or H.R.1640, plus it wasn't focus on fuel cell research (which was considered one of several - "such as"). And what was being suggested is not new. Matter of fact, there were already research and development programs on the book.
The Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Act was passed in 1990, and has been amended and updated ever since. Matter of fact, in the final version of H.R.6, they call the Hydrogen section the "Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Act of 2005".
Where did the final wording the H.R.6 (Title VII) come from? Well...it came from S.10, which had been introduced by Sen. Pete Domenici on behalf of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Some of the wording in H.R.1640 was merged in, but the spirit and focus of the final version was primarily from the Senate version. And when it came to the funding, the specified splits were exactly the same as the Senate version:
(h) Hydrogen Supply- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out projects and activities relating to hydrogen production, storage, distribution and dispensing, transport, education and coordination, and technology transfer under this section--
(1) $160,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(3) $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(4) $230,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(6) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2020.
(i) Fuel Cell Technologies- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out projects and activities relating to fuel cell technologies under this section--
(1) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $160,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(3) $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(4) $180,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(5) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(6) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2020.
DEMONSTRATIONS
(d) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
(1) $185,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(3) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(4) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(5) $375,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(6) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2020.
CODES AND STANDARDS
(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
(1) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(3) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(4) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(5) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(6) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2020.
The total the Senate had proposed in their version was $778 Million less than what Terry and Doyle proposed, and more specified.
When you even examine the "Program" section of the final bill and compare it even to Terry's (H.R.423), there is nothing that could even be considered a relationship between the two.
Finally, when the final bill was passed, there was no mention of Terry's having any involvement. Matter of fact, this is what was reported:
"Nebraska's three House members on Thursday hailed passage of comprehensive energy legislation that includes provisions to spur ethanol development......
Rep. Lee Terry said he expects to see more ethanol plants developed in Nebraska as a result of the bill.
Senate enactment is expected today.
Terry, who has worked on energy legislation for five years as a member of the House Energy Committee, said adoption of comprehensive energy legislation is critical in terms of lessening U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
Included in the plan is development of hydrogen fuel cell technology that Terry said would make hydrogen-powered cars available by 2015." - (Energy bill's ethanol boost pleases Nebraska delegation, Lincoln Journal Star, July 29, 2005).
SUMMARY:
Terry introduced a bill with Rep. Doyle, proposing an "Advanced Power System Technology Incentives Program". The bill went no where and involved various types of energy technology. It did not focus primarily on fuel cells.
When a hearing was held to formulate an energy policy, Terry was in attendance, but never talked or asked any questions about fuel cells. Rep. Doyle, however, asked extensive questions, and made many comments on fuel cells, including submitting a statement for the record on the issue.
When the House Energy and Commerce Bill was marked up prior to introduction, Terry and Doyle made only one change, and that was to the funding amount. (Which, if you wanted to try and claim full "authorship" of the entire section, why would you have to make changes to your own section?). It was not related to Terry's bill he introduced previously.
The committee bill (which Terry was a co-sponsor on as a member of the committee) was eventually folded into H.R.6, which Terry was NOT listed as a co-sponsor on. The Senate, in their work, submitted their own version of that section into the bill instead, which was making amendments to the already existing Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Act.
When the bill went to conference, some elements of the House bill were kept, but the primary framework was the Senate version. More specifically, Terry's dollar amounts were not adopted. The Senate appropriations were what were adopted.
In short, as my husband said it when I was explaining all this, Terry tried to submit the page numbers onto a major novel, but the editor got ahold of it, provided different page numbers, and added all the chapters.
In other words.....Terry was on the committee and voted.
That is a far cry from "authoring" any "funding and program requirements".
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UPDATED II
This is what Terry's release states at the bottom:
It shows how misleading he is. Also, when you look at the list you see he is claiming involvement in only 2 Public Laws: 110-140, and 109-58.
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