Fowler and Boskoff Peaks Designation Act

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully include in the Record my intended votes for November 28 through December 1, 2017. I was feeling under the weather, and at the advice of my doctor I was told to rest and avoid air travel for the duration of the week.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

H.R. 2768--Fowler and Boskoff Peaks Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Scott Tipton/Natural Resources Committee)--This legislation would designate two mountain peaks in the Uncompahgre National Forest in Colorado as ``Fowler Peak'' and ``Boskoff Peak'' in honor of two philanthropists--Charlie Fowler and Christine Boskoff--whom supported athletic schools, women's education, global literacy, and gender equality. They passed away when an avalanche struck while they were attempting to climb Genyen Peak in Tibet in November 2006. Roll no. 638--Yes

H.R. 3115--Superior National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Rick Nolan/Natural Resources Committee). This legislation would facilitate a land exchange between the United States Forest Service (USFS) and a private entity--6,650 acres of federal land in the Superior National Forest would be exchanged for 6,690 acres of private land in the same forest. The proposal has been under strict review by the National Environmental Policy Act for seven years, and requires permitting through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Minnesota after the bill's enactment. Roll no. 639--Yes

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 631--Procedural vote on the combined rule providing for consideration of the bill, H.R. 3017-- Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017, and of the bill, H.R. 3905--Minnesota's Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act. Roll no. 640--Yes

Adoption of H. Res. 631--Procedural vote on the combined rule providing for consideration of the bill, H.R. 3017--Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017, and of the bill, H.R. 3905--Minnesota's Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act. Roll no. 641--Yes

Thursday, November 30, 2017

H.Amdt. 487 to H.R. 3905, Minnesota's Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act, Grijalva (D-AZ) Amendment--Increases the royalty rate by 16.66 percent for mineral leases in the Superior National Forest. Roll no. 642--No

Passage of H.R. 3905--Minnesota's Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act (Sponsored by Rep. Tom Emmer/Natural Resources Committee)--This bill restores mineral rights in Minnesota, and opens the permitting process for mining in the state. Roll no. 643--Yes

Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 635--Procedural vote on the combined rule providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 4182-- Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 and of the bill H.R. 1699--Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2017. Roll no. 644--Yes

Adoption of H. Res. 635--Procedural vote on the combined rule providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 4182--Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 and of the bill H.R. 1699--Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2017. Roll no. 645--Yes

H.Amdt. 489 to H.R. 4182, Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017, Hastings (D-FL) Amendment--Exempts alumni of the PeaceCorps, AmeriCorps, and other national service programs under the Corporation for National and Community Service from the two-year probationary period. Roll no. 646--No

H.Amdt. 491 to H.R. 4182, Connolly (D-VA) Substitute Amendment-- Strikes the provisions of the bill and replaces it with a study and report by the Comptroller General of the United States. The study and report will be on those agencies that have lengthened the employee probationary period from 1 to 2 years, and any impact of an existing two-year probationary period at the agency. Roll no. 647--No

Passage of H.R. 4182--Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017--This legislation would extend the probationary period for new federal employees (civil service) from one year to two years. The bill addresses the findings from a 2015 GAO report which found that supervisors often do not utilize the probationary period for its intended purpose, and need more time to complete a full assessment of work performance. Roll no. 648--Yes

Passage of H.R. 3017--Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. David McKinley/Energy and Commerce Committee)--This bill reauthorizes the Brownfields Program to provide grants and technical assistance to communities, states, and tribes to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. There are more than 450,000 brownfields in the United States, and each of these sites has the potential to encourage economic development with federal assistance. Roll no. 649--Yes

Friday, December 1, 2017

Democrat Motion to Recommit on H.R. 1699--Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Andy Barr/Financial Services Committee)--Roll no. 650--No

Passage of H.R. 1699--Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Andy Barr/Financial Services Committee)-- This bill would help low-income families gain access to banks loans to purchase mobile homes. Roll no. 651--Yes

Approval of the Journal Roll no. 652--Yes

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2768) to designate certain mountain peaks in the State of Colorado as ``Fowler Peak'' and ``Boskoff Peak''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, my bill, the Fowler and Boskoff Peaks Designation Act, would designate two unnamed peaks in the Uncompahgre National Forest in Colorado as Fowler Peak and Boskoff Peak.

Charlie Fowler and his partner, Christine ``Chris'' Boskoff, were longtime residents of San Miguel County, Colorado, and were avid alpinists.

Charlie Fowler was one of North America's most experienced mountain climbers. He was also an author, a guide, a filmmaker, a photographer, and an advocate for the outdoors. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Charlie worked full time as a mountain guide, leading mountaineering expeditions in the United States and abroad.

His photographs and articles were published in a variety of books and magazines, and he was the author of multiple mountaineering guidebooks. In 2004, Charlie was awarded the Robert and Miriam Underhill Award by the American Alpine Society, an honor given annually to an individual who has demonstrated the highest level of skill in the mountaineering arts and who, through the application of this skill, courage, and perseverance, has achieved outstanding success in the various fields of mountaineering endeavor.

Christine Boskoff began her climbing career in 1993 and quickly rose to become a leader in the sport of mountaineering. Christine summited Mount Everest and five of the globe's more than 26,000-foot mountains. One of the world's leading female alpinists, a professional mountaineering guide and an adventure entrepreneur, Christine participated in numerous expeditions in the United States and on five continents.

Charlie and Christine were also known for their philanthropic work. Charlie worked to promote his sport by installing climbing walls in schools across southwest Colorado. Christine was active in nonprofit organizations that supported the rights of porters and Sherpas, women's education, global literacy, and gender equality.

Sadly, Charlie and Christine were killed in an avalanche in 2006 while exploring a series of unclimbed summits in China's Sichuan province.

The naming of these peaks is a fitting tribute to Charlie and Christine,

who were outstanding mountaineers and advocates for our Nation's treasured open spaces.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 2768 names two peaks in the Uncompahgre National Forest in Colorado after Charlie Fowler and Christine Boskoff.

Fowler and Boskoff were world-class rock climbers whose accomplishments left enduring legacies on the sport. Sadly, in 2016, the two set out to climb a mountain in a remote part of China near the Tibetan border and never returned.

This bill and the renaming of the peaks is a fitting tribute and I support its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call votes held on November 28, 2017, I was inescapably detained handling important matters related to my District and the State of Alabama. Had I been present, I would have voted YES on H.R. 2768, and NO on H.R. 3115