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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. CALVERT. I do this extremely reluctantly because I am very supportive of the DERA program, but I can't support the offset.
The DERA program, as the gentlelady is aware, was not in the administration's mark, and in this underlying bill, we provide for $10 million for the DERA program. As she well knows, throughout the country this is a way to remove old diesel engines that pollute, and this is something that actually works.
It's not a program; it's not a study; it's not some academic exercise. It's actually something that cleans up the air, so it's something I am very much supportive of. But right now EPA's Buildings and Facilities accounts are cut by nearly one-third. We have cut back these accounts substantially, and so we just can't support the offset in the bill.
Ms. RICHARDSON. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. CALVERT. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
Ms. RICHARDSON. I thank the gentleman from California, which we both serve, and it's my understanding that the account that the funds we're requesting that it would be taken from do, with what we're taking, still meet its outlay that's required, so I don't believe that this would be a hurt to that account.
Mr. CALVERT. Reclaiming my time, the program has already taken a substantial hit, a $20 million hit, as a matter of fact. Almost every other program in our bill has taken substantial hits.
We're serious about reducing spending. If we had the additional money, I'm sure the chairman would have added more money in the DERA account in the first place if we had the extra money to do so, because it's an extremely successful program, something that I certainly support. I understand the gentlelady's conviction, but we just don't have the money to take care of this offset, so we have to oppose the amendment.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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