Alan S. Lowenthal

Mr. Speaker, just over 30 years ago, I made the decision

to run for the Long Beach City Council because I felt that my councilmember really didn't listen to the constituents and to my neighbors and myself.

This journey of public service has taken me from the Long Beach City Hall to the California State Capitol and now to our Nation's Capitol for the last 10 years.

When I began this journey, I did so with a commitment to listen to my community and to use all of my abilities to help make my constituents' lives better.

Over the years, with the help of my family, my colleagues, especially with the help of my staff, and, yes, my constituents themselves, I hope and believe that I have met that commitment. For this help, I will always be grateful.

Their help has led me to be a champion for the environment, to promote conservation of our wildlife and natural spaces, to clean up our ports and maritime industry, to address the growing plastic pollution and climate crisis, and to promote clean energy.

For my constituents, I have remained a dedicated advocate for human rights, introducing the International Human Rights Defense Act, securing the release of numerous prisoners of conscience and also Americans who have been detained unjustly abroad, and serving as a critical voice for the Vietnamese and Cambodian communities across our Nation, all while working to hold corrupt and autocratic elites abroad accountable for their actions.

My constituents have demanded a better future, and in their name, I have championed a strong and sustainable freight infrastructure network with the National Multimodal Freight Network Improvement Act and key provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure act, all critical issues, as we have seen in the wake of the supply chain crisis.

As a Jewish Member of Congress, I was proud to be a leading voice on the passage of H. Res. 326, a reaffirmation of our commitment as a Nation to a two-state solution and peace in the Middle East.

Throughout this journey, my constituents have remained the stars which have guided me. I have been deeply touched by their support over so many years, just as I am deeply honored by the trust and faith they have placed in me time and time again to represent them.

But as I said while announcing my retirement a year ago, just as every journey has a beginning, so does it have an end, and it is now time to pass the baton.

During this journey, I have been blessed with having the pleasure of raising two fine sons, who have blessed me with four grandchildren, whom I adore. I now look forward to spending time with them and watching them grow and flourish into wonderful people like their parents.

It is also a chance for me and my wife, Debbie, who has been my rock and partner throughout this journey, to even more deeply enjoy our lives together.

However, as Robert Frost wrote, there are miles to go before I sleep.

I believe deeply in the innate goodness of our Nation and our people. I have seen us live up to that potential so many times and, in doing so, move our Nation and the world forward, but progress must be earned. It remains up to each of us to continue that struggle.

While I am stepping away from the front lines of that struggle, I will continue to be at your side, fighting for what is right, for what is just, and for what makes us better as both a people and a Nation.

It has been a distinct honor and a true privilege to serve the people of California's 47th District during my time in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7283) to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to make certain activities eligible for grants from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in

which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7283, the Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from Abandoned Mines Act, or the STREAM Act, introduced by our colleague, Representative Cartwright of Pennsylvania.

The STREAM Act makes a technical correction to existing Federal law so that States and Tribes can use a portion of the $11.3 billion that Congress has already appropriated for abandoned coal mine cleanup to restore streams that are polluted by acid mine drainage.

Acid mine drainage is heavily polluted water that flows out of abandoned coal mines into streams, making them toxic to all wildlife and often turning them a bright and unnatural orange.

Acid mine drainage renders streams biologically dead. They become unusable, undrinkable, unfishable, and unswimmable. It also severely limits a region's potential economic growth.

Thankfully, we know how to clean up this type of mining pollution, and we know that doing so will bring enormous benefits to impacted communities.

Investments made by existing Federal law for cleaning up abandoned coal mines are expected to create over 4,000 jobs a year over the next 15 years. That is 60,000 new, good-paying jobs in communities left behind by the coal industry.

Cleaning up acid mine drainage also restores natural areas and brings back wildlife. Under the existing Abandoned Mine Land Program run by the Department of the Interior, eligible States and Tribes can set aside 30 percent of their annual funding allocations to cover the long- term costs of operating acid mine drainage treatment facilities.

Unfortunately, newer Federal law passed in this Congress does not currently give States and Tribes the same authority for the $11.3 billion in supplemental funds.

The STREAM Act corrects this situation, giving States and Tribes the same flexibility to treat this devastating issue with legislation that has been passed in this Congress that they have had under the standard program for years.

I want to emphasize that this legislation does not--I repeat, does not--affect funding levels for any State. It simply changes the way that States may choose to use funds, depending on their individual needs when it comes to acid mine drainage.

The STREAM Act has strong bipartisan support. This legislation passed out of committee with strong bipartisan support and is endorsed by Governors, environmental groups, and the Interstate Mining Compact Commission.

I include in the Record some testimony in support of the STREAM Act from the Interstate Mining Compact Commission and letters of support from Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Trout Unlimited.

Office of the Governor,

Columbus, OH, April 25, 2022.

Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,

Chair, Natural Resources Committee,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Hon. Bruce Westerman,

Ranking Member, House Natural Resources Committee, House of

Representatives, Washington DC.

Dear Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Westerman: I am

writing to ask for your support of H.R. 7283, the

Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from

Abandoned Mines Act (STREAMS), and its companion bill, S.

3957. These bills clarify that states with acid mine drainage

(AMD) set-aside programs can deposit a portion of the

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Abandoned Mine

Land (AML) grant funds into AMD set-aside accounts. The

authority to do so will improve our nation's water quality.

Ohio has a rich history of mining that began more than 200

years ago when the state was still a territory. It is, in

part, thanks to Ohio's miners and coal resources that the

industrial revolution grew. During the 19th and 20th

Centuries, more than 3.6 billion tons of coal were extracted

from Ohio, and, while mining has been an integral part of

Ohio's past economic prosperity, the after-effects of coal

production still endure.

Although laws and regulations on proper mining practices

and reclamation exist today, that wasn't the case for the

first 100 years of coal mining. Prior to the enactment of our

nation's first mining laws in 1977, mines were often left

abandoned and unreclaimed as mining companies moved on to the

next site. Thousands of abandoned underground mines exist in

Ohio and pose significant geologic hazards, as the acids that

discharge from mined rock leech into our streams and other

waterways.

Thankfully, funding mechanisms have been put in place to

confront this challenge. The IIJA includes $11.3 billion in

new funding for AML reclamation. These funds will

significantly increase states' ability to address legacy

safety and environmental hazards of coal mining.

An important aspect of restoring abandoned mine lands is

remediating acid mine drainage (AMD), which is caused by

surface water flowing over or through mined rock, making the

water highly acidic. AMD is addressed by building water

treatment systems to neutralize acidic water and remove

dissolved metals that harm water quality in streams and

rivers.

However, addressing AMD is different than the safety

hazards caused by AML, because a safety hazard can be

effectively eliminated through a one-time construction

project, but AMD requires a treatment system to be operated,

maintained, and rehabilitated in perpetuity for it to remain

effective. Accordingly, each AMD treatment system that a

state builds represents a long-term liability that must be

funded.

Ohio currently operates and maintains 33 treatment systems

with plans to establish more, and unfortunately, the IIJA

does not provide the ability to set aside a portion of the

funds made available for ongoing AMD remediation. Without

this authority, it will be extremely difficult to responsibly

build the treatment systems necessary to make significant

improvements in water quality that has been harmed by

abandoned coal mines.

H.R. 7283 and S. 3957 would clarify that states with

approved AMD set-aside programs can deposit up to 30% of

annual IIJA grant funds into the AMD set-aside account. This

legislation is imperative to Ohio, along with 10 other states

in the Appalachian and the Midwest regions who are committed

to addressing the legacy safety and environmental hazards of

coal mining.

As the 2021 Chair of the Interstate Mining Compact

Commission and former co-chair of the Appalachian Regional

Commission, I can attest to the importance of this

legislation in addressing water quality issues resulting from

abandoned mines in Ohio. The legislation provides the

flexibility and long-term financial stability necessary to

plan, design, build, operate and maintain critical acid mine

drainage treatment systems.

Again, I ask for your support of this important

legislation. Thank you for your attention to this issue.

Very respectfully yours,

Mike DeWine,

Governor.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Cartwright, for introducing this important bipartisan legislation and working to build such an impressive coalition of support. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 7283, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests at this time. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5093) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer certain National Forest System land in the State of Washington to Skamania County, Washington, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5093, the Wind River Administrative Site Conveyance Act. This bill would authorize the U.S. Forest Service to convey a 23.4-acre portion of the Wind River Nursery to Skamania County, Washington.

Congress authorized a land exchange that included a large portion of the Wind River Nursery in 2001. The conveyance authorized by this legislation will complete the transfer and place the entire Wind River property under the stewardship of the county.

This legislation will allow the Skamania County Board of Commissioners to continue rehabilitation of the buildings and the grounds in the Wind River Historic District.

The bill also includes important and routine safeguards so the property will continue to be managed in a manner that ensures the preservation of its historic characteristics.

I thank the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler) for introducing this important legislation and championing this bill on behalf of her constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.