There is no reason that we should be forced to choose among adequate environmental protection, energy security, and economic gain.

I think we can get this right.

I view this as a simple matter of citizens having a right to know about any risks in their community.

the people shall have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment.

I know is proposing legislation called the FRAC Act that would go beyond public disclosure of chemical additives and give the EPA direct regulatory authority over hydraulic fracturing for the first time in our Nation's history.

It is a directive, a constitutional directive.

In our State, we went through most of the 19th century and roughly about half of the 20th century not getting it right as it relates to the extraction of a natural resource, in this case coal, and balancing that with environmental…

We are trying to close the loophole that is in the law as it stands now.

Mr. Speaker, we have the opportunity today to send a message that this Congress is serious about cutting spending, creating jobs and keeping the government operating. We can and we must do all three. It is important to note, however, how…

Sure. Absolutely. I think that if my good friend would go ahead and put that other board that's up, because when you are talking about the fluid, there is a lot of discussion sometimes about hydrofracking fluid. And this is I think a great…

I think the gentleman is very accurate, and it's multiple, multiple piping with cement in between each one.

A lot of redundancy built into it because it's extremely important not to get that cross-contamination.

I think as we are talking, the environmental record is certainly an area of concern that folks have raised. As you have noted, or as my other colleague across the aisle from Pennsylvania noted, hydraulic fracturing was first used 60 years…

I have heard those same concerns. But when you look at the geology in where this drilling is done and you have the layers of Marcellus, and I think you only fracture maybe 18 inches, perhaps, from that horizontal pipeline, so you haven't…

Those fractures, folks will sometimes be scared by that. They envision these huge caverns that are opened up under the ground. And in fact, these fractures, or fissures I think they are best described, and you have probably seen them…

I want to thank my good friend from New York. It's an honor to be joined by Congressman Altmire from Pennsylvania as well. Because this Marcellus natural gas is certainly a game changer for Pennsylvania. I think it's a game changer for the…

I thank my friend and colleague from the great State of New York, where our congressional districts adjoin at that New York-Pennsylvania border. I am really proud to be with you on the floor today to talk about this game changer, as you…

Thank you. I thank my friend for yielding back. You had mentioned the history of drilling. I very proudly represent Titusville, Pennsylvania. It's where one of my district offices is. It's the Drake well. It was 151 years ago that Colonel…