Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2316) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to provide that interest on obligations held in the Federal aid to wildlife restoration fund shall become available for apportionment at the beginning of fiscal year 2033.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2316, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2316, the Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025.

This bill is sponsored by Representative Hurd of Colorado, and it would ensure that the interest from unallocated Pittman-Robertson funds continue to go to North America Wetlands Conservation Act, or NAWCA.

NAWCA is one of the most successful conservation programs administered by the Federal Government and has proven to be invaluable all over the country as well as in my home State of Arkansas.

Over 100,000 people visit Arkansas each year to hunt waterfowl in the pristine flyways of The Natural State. Across North America, NAWCA projects have conserved nearly 34 million acres of wetland habitat for migratory waterfowl.

Funds generated under Pittman-Robertson come from excise taxes on the sale of hunting equipment and firearms. Various State and wildlife agencies, as represented by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, are on record supporting this approach, further confirming its viability and effectiveness.

I commend my colleague from Colorado (Mr. Hurd) for being a champion for sportsmen and -women, and I thank him for his work on this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hurd), the lead sponsor on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, by passing this commonsense legislation, the House will ensure that we can continue conserving vital waterfowl habitats for years to come.

This is important for sportsmen and -women who depend on healthy wetland habitats for hunting, fishing, and other forms of wildlife- centered recreation. H.R. 2316 is a win for conservation and the sportsmen and -women communities alike. NAWCA has proven to be a very successful program.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1729) to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to allow for additional entities to be eligible to complete the maintenance work on Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness, Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 1729, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1729, the Bolts Ditch Act, sponsored by Representative Neguse.

This straightforward legislation allows additional entities to conduct routine maintenance activities on Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate in Colorado.

Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate are water facilities located near the town of Minturn, Colorado, that divert water into Bolts Lake. In 1980, Congress established the Holy Cross Wilderness in the White River and San Isabel National Forests but inadvertently failed to include Bolts Ditch among a list of existing water facilities excluded from the designation.

This has prevented the structure from being rebuilt or repaired for more than three decades. The inability to rehabilitate and rebuild the Bolts Ditch Headgate prevented new development in the area, which would have required the expansion of Bolts Lake to provide a water supply for surrounding homes.

Congress corrected this error in 2019 by allowing the town of Minturn to access Bolts Ditch for maintenance and repairs. H.R. 1729 builds on this legislation by allowing additional local entities, including the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority, to maintain this vital infrastructure near Bolts Lake.

This is commonsense legislation that will help local Coloradans and improve the operational efficiency of this important water infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, 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 reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, Mr. Neguse's bill is a straightforward bill that will improve the maintenance of Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate near Minturn, Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1729, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1044) to amend Public Law 99-338 with respect to Kaweah Project permits.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 1044, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Representative Valadao's bill, H.R. 1044.

This bill is a commonsense measure to ensure the continued operation of existing hydroelectric facilities, which have provided reliable and affordable power to Californians over a century.

The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue four 10- year renewals for a special use permit for the Kaweah Hydroelectric Project, thereby extending the project's life for up to 40 additional years.

These hydroelectric dams, located on the Kaweah and East Fork Kaweah Rivers, fall within the boundaries of Sequoia National Park, but they predate the park's expansion and have long been recognized by Congress as a valuable energy asset.

With the current statutory authorization for the permits set to expire in 2026, this bill provides much-needed certainty for the continued operation of a critical source of reliable energy. Without an extension, Southern California Edison will be forced to remove this infrastructure at enormous expense to their ratepayers.

I thank Representative Valadao for his leadership on this issue. By championing this bill, he is ensuring that more than 15 million people in California have access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao), the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this is a straightforward, commonsense bill. In the world we live in today, where we have more and more electrical energy demand, it makes no sense to be closing down any kind of electrical generation, especially one where the infrastructure is already built, working, and producing reliable and affordable baseload power.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1596) to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge located in the State of Texas as the ``Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material in the Record on S. 1596, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, Jocelyn Nungaray was a vibrant 12-year-old girl from Houston, Texas, whose life was tragically cut short on June 16, 2024, when she was murdered by two Venezuelan nationals who illegally entered the United States and are allegedly members of the Tren de Aragua gang. This senseless act has done irreparable damage to Jocelyn's family, friends, and community.

In May, Jocelyn's mother, Alexis, testified on this legislation, but more importantly, she highlighted Jocelyn's caring personality, deep love for animals, and passion for finding animals homes, sharing stories of Jocelyn's life, such as Jocelyn's efforts to nurse injured animals back to health. Alexis recounted one instance when Jocelyn brought a pigeon that had injured its legs into her home. Jocelyn, without hesitation, tried to nurse the pigeon back to health in her bedroom until it was well enough to be released back into the wild.

In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of the Interior to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge after Jocelyn Nungaray, permanently commemorating Jocelyn for her compassion for animals and people who care about nature.

To ensure the name change is permanent, Congressman Babin and Senator Cornyn introduced identical legislation that would codify the President's executive order.

The National Wildlife Refuge System plays an important role in coastal conservation, public recreation, and environmental education, all of which honor Jocelyn by allowing current and future generations of Americans to enjoy the natural landscape and animals that Jocelyn also enjoyed.

I, again, thank my colleague, Congressman Babin, for introducing the House companion of the legislation and for his commitment to honoring Jocelyn's memory.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), who is the lead sponsor of the House companion bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my friend who is the chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, for his unwavering work and dedication to bring this good piece of legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for speakers. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, refuges are places dedicated to conservation, public enjoyment, and environmental education.

Jocelyn was a kind, compassionate young girl who loved animals and cared deeply for the natural world. Renaming this refuge is a fitting honor to Jocelyn's life that ensures that her memory lives on.

Again, I thank Congressman Babin and the Texas delegation for their work on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 410) to extend the Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotment program, and for other purposes.

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 H.R. 410, the bill now under consideration.

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

I rise to support H.R. 410, the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025.

Sponsored by Representative Begich, this legislation would extend the Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotment program for an additional 5 years, to end on December 29, 2030.

Alaska Natives have long experienced land-related hardships. Recognizing this, Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971 to settle the aboriginal land claims of Alaska Natives.

Unfortunately, this congressional action coincided with the Vietnam war, meaning that many Alaska Natives who were serving overseas in the U.S. military at the time were unable to apply for a land allotment. Congress has attempted to fix this problem legislatively over the years, but many eligible Alaska Native veterans have yet to receive their allotment.

Accordingly, the Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotment program was established in the 116th Congress. Through this program, eligible Alaska Natives, or their heirs, can select an allotment of up to 160 acres of certain Federal land.

In January 2021, the Trump administration revoked 11 public land orders, which opened up 28 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land for allotment purposes. The next month, however, the newly elected Biden administration postponed that revocation, prompting a battle that waged throughout the rest of President Biden's term. During that time, Alaska Natives remained without their allotments.

Immediately upon his return to office this year, President Trump reinstated the revocation through an executive order titled ``Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential.''

While this executive order will help address Alaska Natives' allotment needs, the program is running out of time. Recent estimates show that over 2,000 eligible Alaska Native veterans had yet to receive their allotment, illustrating a clear need for an extension.

H.R. 410 would provide this relief by extending the Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotment program for an additional 5 years.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Begich for sponsoring this legislation, for his hard work on behalf of Alaska Native veterans, and for ensuring that we keep our promises to those who fought for this country.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation, again, would extend the Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land Allotment Program through the end of 2030.

I commend Mr. Begich for his leadership and for working on this important issue for his constituents in Alaska.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of H.R. 410, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 504) to amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to authorize the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area and to carry out activities to protect structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 504, the bill now under consideration.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 504, the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act sponsored by Representative Gimenez. This bill would amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act, or MRAA, to include the Osceola Camp Tribal village as part of the Miccosukee Reserved Area. It would also direct the Secretary of the Interior to consult with the Tribe to protect the village from flooding.

The Miccosukee Tribe has a long history in Florida. Oral history has the Tribe initiating in the northern portion of Florida, but they later settled in the Everglades following the Seminole wars.

Congress passed the MRAA in 1998, which gave the Tribe permanent residency in the Everglades. The MRAA also declared the Miccosukee Reserved Area as Indian Country, yet the Federal Government still held the right to engage in restoration and protection activities in the area.

The area known as the Osceola Camp was not included in the MRAA despite serving as a residential Tribal village with key historical and ancestral ties to the Tribe. The National Park Service is already working with the Tribe to protect this residential area from flooding.

Once the camp is incorporated into the Miccosukee Reserved Area, the Tribe will be able to work alongside the Department of the Interior to prevent flooding, preserve the village's infrastructure, and ensure that the village can be inhabited for years to come.

I thank Representative Gimenez for his work on this important bill. I support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure,

Washington, DC, June 27, 2025.

Hon. Bruce Westerman,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Westerman: I am writing to you concerning

H.R. 504, the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act. The

bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural

Resources, with additional referral to the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure. Specifically, there are

provisions of H.R. 504 that fall within the Rule X

jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure.

I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this

legislation before the House of Representatives in an

expeditious manner, and accordingly, agree the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure shall be discharged from

further consideration of the bill. However, this is

conditional on our mutual understanding that by foregoing

consideration of H.R. 504 at this time, we do not waive any

jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or

similar legislation that falls with the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure's Rule X jurisdiction, and

the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved on

this or similar legislation as it moves forward. Further,

this does not prejudice the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure with respect to the appointment of conferees

and should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would

appreciate your agreement to support my request to have the

Committee represented on the conference committee.

Finally, I would ask that a copy of this letter and your

response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the

bill be included in the Committee Report and Congressional

Record during consideration of H.R. 504 on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez), the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation would amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to include the Osceola Camp as part of the Miccosukee Reserved Area. This bill would also help with the important work to mitigate the impact of flooding on the structures in the area.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 504 and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1, which unleashes American energy and unlocks many of our abundant natural resources.

We are incentivizing domestic production in the Gulf of America and Alaska with at least 30 lease sales in the Gulf and 6 lease sales in the Cook Inlet. We are mandating lease sales every other year in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

Our mission to responsibly develop our resources doesn't end there. The bill also requires coal lease sales. It reduces royalty rates on oil, gas, and coal production, and it incentivizes production, thereby lowering energy costs and supplying our country with domestically dependable energy.

That is just the beginning. The bill also invests in crucial water resource infrastructure and helps implement President Trump's executive orders on forest management.

Republicans on the House Committee on Natural Resources are proud of this historic legislation that unlocks our domestic resources' potential and supports hardworking Americans and communities nationwide as we become energy-dominant again and mine, refine, and manufacture in America.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional young leader from my district, Jayden Coffey, a student at Cass Job Corps in Franklin County, Arkansas, and the latest recipient of the Westerman Award--a quarterly honor given to students who demonstrate outstanding character, leadership, and service.

Jayden is a shining example of what hard work, humility, and dedication to others can achieve. At Cass, she serves as the shop foreman in the paint trade department, where she leads by example and fosters excellence among her peers. Beyond her trade, Jayden is an active member of campus leadership. She serves as Secretary of the Student Government Association and as Vice President of her dormitory. roles in which she consistently promotes a culture of respect, accountability, and teamwork.

What truly sets Jayden apart is her servant leadership--an approach rooted in humility and a deep commitment to others. Her excellent people-skills and ability to inspire and motivate those around her make her a trusted leader among students and staff alike.

Jayden's commitment to her community is evident both on and off campus. She has volunteered her time at the local food pantry and played a key role in a student-led campaign to collect non-perishable items for blessing boxes in the community of Ozark, Arkansas, ensuring those in need have access to essential resources.

Jayden is also blazing trails in traditionally male-dominated fields. She is currently the only female member of the Fire Crew at Cass, where she recently passed the Pack Test and earned her Red Card for wildland firefighting. She participates in daily physical training to prepare for her upcoming Fire detail and is a dedicated member of the Camp Crew. Her passion for public service and emergency response will continue after graduation, as she plans to pursue advanced training in Fire and Rescue.

Jayden Coffey represents the very best of Arkansas' youth--resilient, service-driven, and ready to lead. It is my honor to recognize her today before this body and to commend her as a model citizen and recipient of the Westerman Award.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for yielding and for his leadership, patience, and unwavering dedication to putting this tax policy and budget reconciliation bill before us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the opportunity we have to not only provide historic tax relief for hardworking Americans but also to spur investments in our economy by developing the resources of our land.

This is our unique opportunity to do something truly worthy to be remembered in our day and in our generation. The Natural Resources Committee is proud to have played a key part in this legislation.

Our title far exceeds our $1 billion instruction. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it will generate over $20 billion in savings and new revenue for the Federal Government, primarily by direct royalty and lease fees from the sale of oil, gas, timber, and mined resources, while curbing wasteful spending.

CBO's direct revenue evaluation is only a paragraph in a much larger story.

Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to utilize billions of dollars of resources without massive investments in oil rigs, pipelines, LNG facilities, mines, refineries, sawmills, mobile equipment, machinery, workforce development, and the list goes on and on with the upstream and downstream economic benefits of resource development.

Our title reinstates onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales, holds annual geothermal lease sales, and ensures a fair process for critical mineral development nationwide.

We have also directed the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to utilize long-term timber sale contracts. We are putting our fiscal foot forward by using America's resources to generate wealth for America while restoring American energy dominance and giving Americans the opportunity to make products from America, in America, and for America and the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in kick-starting this new golden age of America by voting ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1682) to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for lifetime National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes for family members of members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving their country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1682, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Evans), the lead sponsor of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again thank Representatives Evans and Panetta for their efforts to introduce this meaningful legislation.

This bill would reduce the financial burden on our military families who want to visit our national parks and expand their access to the healing powers of outdoor recreation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1612) to designate the

Flatside-Bethune Wilderness in the Ouachita National Forest, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1612, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Hill's legislation, H.R. 1612, which would add four parcels totaling 2,215 acres of Ouachita National Forest lands to the Flatside Wilderness Area in his district.

The Ouachita National Forest is the oldest and largest national forest in the Southern United States, spanning nearly 1.8 million acres across Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, it is a true multiple-use forest, supporting timber harvesting, wildlife conservation, and a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities, such as hiking, hunting, camping, and fishing.

Arkansans take great pride in this forest, which draws more than 670,000 visitors each year. Currently, only 3.6 percent of the Ouachita National Forest, including the existing Flatside Wilderness Area, is designated as wilderness.

The Flatside Wilderness was expanded by 640 acres during the 115th Congress. The Forest Service also studied the potential designation of the parcels included in today's legislation.

This bill has strong local support and has been endorsed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders; the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism; and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Representative Hill for his efforts on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my colleague and the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I would like to, once again, thank my colleague from Arkansas, especially Representative Hill, for his tireless efforts on this piece of legislation and for the diligence in the process that he labored through to get to this point today. I appreciate him bringing forth this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 331) to amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 331, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 331, sponsored by Congressman Fulcher. In 2020, Congress passed the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act. The intent of that law was simple. It allowed existing irrigation canals to be used for conveying aquifer recharge water without requiring additional authorization from the Federal Government.

Unfortunately, the implementation of this law has been bogged down by bureaucratic red tape. Despite the plain wording of the law, the Bureau of Land Management has asserted that the law does not apply to third parties, only to the right-of-way holders of record.

As such, H.R. 331 amends the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to further clarify that an existing right-of-way, easement, permit, or other authorization can be used to recharge aquifers on behalf of State, Tribal, and local governments, without getting additional authorization or paying additional rents.

The aquifer recharge and storage are already complicated matters that depend on a variety of natural characteristics, including soil type and underlying geology, which influence water retention and the ability to recover stored water. There is no need for the Federal Government to add further complexity to this important work.

Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, out West, the development of an aquifer recharge program generally includes using existing irrigation canals and ditches to seep and percolate water into the aquifer. Much of this infrastructure crosses land owned by the Bureau of Land Management, requiring additional authorization for aquifer recharge activities, even when conducted on behalf of public entities. Cutting red tape for such activities is simply common sense.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 167) to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to authorize partnerships between States and nongovernmental entities for the purpose of reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining activities before August 3, 1977, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 167, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative LaHood's bill, H.R. 167, the Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025.

This bill would revise the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program by allowing third-party organizations to clean up coal mines that were abandoned before modern environmental regulations. These organizations would be granted protection from liability so they can assist in the cleanup of acid mine drainage without fear of frivolous lawsuits.

While Good Samaritan remediation laws have been successful in States like Pennsylvania, there is currently no similar Federal framework for third-party protections. As a result, would-be reclaimers are often deterred from cleanup projects due to fear of assuming liability for conditions caused by prior operations.

H.R. 167, however, would recognize nongovernmental organizations as community reclaimers, and States would assume responsibility for all community reclaimer cleanup projects, just as they currently do for approved AML contractors. This bill also establishes approved practices for these reclamation projects and a process for agreements between States and Federal agencies on mine drainage remediation.

Many third-party organizations support this legislation, as they need this liability protection in order to operate efficiently and effectively.

The Community Reclamation Partnerships Act passed the House in the 115th Congress and has moved through committee for the last three Congresses. It is time we passed this commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation that will help reclaim abandoned mine lands and clean up our local estuaries.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 167, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this bill will ease the process for reclaiming abandoned mine land

and improving environmental quality in communities across the country. This legislation will also allow reclamation organizations to clean up abandoned mine land without fear of becoming trapped in a litigation doom loop.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman LaHood for bringing H.R. 167 to the floor, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1001) to provide for a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts of a certain record of decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1001, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1001 sponsored by Congresswoman Hageman. This bill requires the Bureau of Reclamation and the Western Area Power Administration, or WAPA, to enter into a memorandum of understanding aimed at addressing the impacts that bypass flows at Glen Canyon Dam have had on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

These flows are an attempt to manage an invasive smallmouth bass population that imperils the federally listed humpback chub below the dam. While well-intentioned, this action comes at a steep cost.

In 2024, the bypass flows produced $20 million in lost hydropower generation, which instead had to be replaced with power purchased on the open market.

WAPA makes these purchases using the Basin Fund, which is funded by hydropower revenues, not appropriations. In other words, utility customers end up footing the very expensive bill to address the impacts of predatory smallmouth bass.

The loss in revenues not only means higher electricity prices but also negative impacts on the Colorado River system, as the Basin Fund is the primary source of funding for operations and maintenance of the system's critical infrastructure.

I want to be clear: H.R. 1001 does not prevent bypass flows. It does, however, require the agencies to fully cooperate to minimize the impacts of these flows on the grid and its customers. It also requires coordination with hydropower customers and other stakeholders, including the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group.

I support this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, again, H.R. 1001 would bring WAPA, the Bureau of Reclamation, and local stakeholders together to produce an action plan to address the effects of the bypass flows on the Basin Fund, as well as the impacts of diminished hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam on grid reliability.

The plan will also require the Federal agencies to identify the impacts of these actions on any species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

I again thank Representative Hageman for tackling these important issues.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 677) to establish a process to expedite the review of appeals of certain decisions by the Department of the Interior, 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 H.R. 677, as amended, the bill now under consideration.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 677, the Expedited Appeals Review Act, introduced by Representative Hageman. This bill addresses critical flaws currently plaguing the review process of the Interior Board of Land Appeals, or IBLA.

The IBLA functions as an appellate review body within the Department of the Interior. It is tasked with resolving the many disputes that arise in connection with the public lands and natural resources under the Department's jurisdiction.

With over 600 appeals pending before the IBLA, however, many cases go undecided and are simply left to expire. This effectively results in automatic denials even though no substantive decisions have been rendered.

Thankfully, H.R. 677 offers a needed off-ramp for appellants that the IBLA has left in limbo. Starting 1 year after filing the appeal, an appellant may submit a request that requires the IBLA to decide the case within 6 months.

If the IBLA fails to meet the new deadline, the case automatically becomes eligible for de novo judicial review outside of the Department. This solution will reduce the existing backlog while ensuring stakeholders receive their day in court.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 677, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman), the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will provide a more efficient and predictable form of recourse for those facing extended delays with their IBLA appeals.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman) for her work on this important subject. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 677, and I yield back the balance of my time.