Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Comer and Mrs. Maloney. This is a good bill.

I have been working on this program for, actually, 48 years. I was here when they stopped the post office, when we used to run it, and we caused this mess. You guys are cleaning it up. I want my colleagues to know this is the right way to go for the post office.

Now, you may wonder why I am so excited about this bill. Try living in Alaska when you don't have any roads. Try not having anything but the post office. Try to get your medicines and all the other things. The post office is the key to the communities in Alaska. This bill solves all the problems for the post office.

I am proud of the work you have done. I want to thank the staff who worked on this legislation. It was a hard issue because there are some people who say: Oh, let them go private. Don't worry about it.

You can't run something like this in the State of Alaska. Because of our distances and lack of transportation, the post office is the key to our economy in our great State. I want to thank both of you for the work you have done. God bless you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my friend and great Alaskan, Edward Rasmuson, a philanthropist and founder of The Rasmuson Foundation. Ed passed away on January 4, 2022, at the age of 81. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as those whose lives he impacted across his lifetime who are thinking of him now.

Ed Rasmuson was a man of many accomplishments. Everything Ed sought to accomplish in his lifetime he did. Throughout his life Ed gained much more than the monetary wealth from good business and financial investment; he sought to help others and influence our state. I'm proud to have worked with him closely over the years, but I am even prouder to have called him my friend.

The works of Ed and his family will continue through the foundation his family created, in efforts to help Alaskans reach their full potential. This philosophy and thought of living beyond oneself and giving without an expectation of anything in return sets the precedent for living a philanthropical lifestyle. I could not be more grateful for the giving heart of this man and his family towards the people of Alaska.

The Rasmuson Foundation provides funding towards combatting homelessness, improving health care, the arts, community development, ending domestic violence, preventing child abuse, and helping seniors. Although he may no longer be with us, his work and the work of the Rasmuson Foundation will continue to support and inspire future Alaskans for generations to come.

Ed dedicated his life to Alaska and the people who call the Last Frontier home. We honor his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family. Please join me in keeping the Rasmuson family in your prayers.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. It is badly needed.

First, I want to thank Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Ranking Member James Comer for their quick work. I have been trying for a long time to try to get this bill passed. I have asked everybody to put it in the CR and into the National Defense Authorization Act, but we didn't get it there. But the gentleman has brought it to the floor, so I thank both Representatives for doing that. Of course, I thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairwoman DeLauro, and Leader McCarthy.

This is badly needed, as was mentioned by the previous speakers. We are now 23 days away, and a tremendous amount of money is on the table.

It wasn't their fault. A lot of litigation was occurring so the money couldn't be spent. Consequently, if they don't spend it, they lose it, and they can't take care of the health problems caused by COVID. So this is a good piece of bipartisan legislation.

But we are not done because we do have to continue this as it goes to the Senate. I am urging my leaders to ask the Senate to really get this bill done. It is needed, it is right, and it is justified. Let's take care of those first Americans in this legislation because of COVID. It can be done.

Again, I thank both Members for the work they have done and the body of the House for voting ``yes'' on the legislation.

Madam Speaker, this is sort of a sweetheart time. I have the ranking member and I have the chairman, Chairman Grijalva, and of course, my chairman--thank you--supporting a bill, I think, that is long overdue.

I think some mentioned the fact that the demise of the buffalo was the demise of the American Indian, done deliberately. And now we are trying to restore it on Indian land. This is a bill that gives an opportunity for consumption of food that is good for the Tribe, but also economically.

The buffalo is a magnificent animal. We recognized it as a mission when we had the Buffalo nickel, and it is recognized in your State and my State. It is amazing that at one time--you may not realize it--we had tremendous herds of buffalo up there, but it wasn't man that diminished them, it was climate change that actually froze them out.

This is a bill that will give the opportunity to Tribes to reestablish the buffalo on Native lands, that history won't repeat itself, that no one will kill them like they did before, and will have a sustainable yield of a magnificent animal.

Madam Speaker, for those in this audience and this great Chamber who haven't eaten buffalo burgers, you better try it. It is one of the better meats. I am promoting this right now. I don't have a buffalo, but it is one of the better meats. It is good for the Nation. It is good for the Tribes. It is good for the buffalo. This bill is a good bill. It is a bill that should have been, frankly, passed a long time ago.

Madam Speaker, I believe what we are doing today is the right thing. I want us to recognize this act as an act that promoted my American Indian, Alaska Natives. We have three Tribes in Alaska that have buffalo already, and they are anxious for this bill to go forward.

If you haven't eaten buffalo jerky, try it. It is good, too.

Madam Speaker, I am suggesting respectfully that this is a good piece of legislation, bipartisan, working together for the first Americans, and I am proud to be the sponsor of it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and appreciate the work of the chairman and ranking member.

I rise in support of this legislation. It is not what I would have if I was chairman. It is not what Mr. DeFazio would have as chairman, but it is what we have got.

We need infrastructure in this country now. The last big infrastructure bill we passed, Jim Oberstar and myself, was $286 billion. We darn near did that unanimously. It was the biggest one.

But from that time on, we have not raised the money, nor have we put what I call the where-for-all in the hands to build roads and airports and all of the other things, all of the ports. Transportation is the economy of this great Nation, and we have fallen behind.

Even in those days when I was chairman, I said we needed a trillion dollars, and people laughed at me. But the fact of the matter is, we did need it. We need this bill to make sure that we have an economic base for the future generations of this great Nation.

Would I have done it this way? No. I would have said: ``Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Graves, members of the committee, let's write a bill together with the Senate.'' We don't have that chance. This is the last opportunity we have to make sure those potholes are filled, those airports are run right, the bridges are safe, and our economy can continue to grow. This is the only chance we have.

To my colleagues who are voting ``no,'' I say: Think about it. What is the other alternative? I don't tie it to the big bill, the $3 trillion whatever. I don't tie it to that. Some people do. This is a working piece of legislation that will build and put people to work. Not only will it put them to work, but it is something that provides the economic basis for this great Nation.

I suggest, respectfully, to my side of the aisle and to that side of the aisle, if we really want to make this Nation great again, then let's pass this legislation for the construction of the economy of this great Nation through transportation. I ask my colleagues to consider that.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Granger for yielding, and I thank Ms. DeLauro for the work you have done, but I cannot support this bill.

Before giving my short testimony, I would like to quickly congratulate Lydia Jacoby from Seward, Alaska, on winning an Olympic gold medal on the 100-meter swim. She is 17 years old. That is something to smile about.

I want to thank, very frankly, the majority side. Thank you for getting me elected every time, which you do. Because every time we have an appropriations process, you add a provision in there preventing access to building roads in the Tongass National Forest. As long as you keep doing that, I am going to get reelected, so I thank you for that.

In the over 60 years I have lived in Alaska, I have watched tens of thousands of jobs in the logging industry and support industries shrivel up and not be there anymore. These are working American jobs.

The economy in southeast Alaska is hurting, and it is not because of a poor timber market; it is because of, very frankly, radical environmentalism.

The timber industry supports great-paying, year-round jobs in southeast Alaska. Even though the environmentalists have already succeeded in locking up over 96 percent of the Tongass forest, eliminating most of these jobs, they are now after the remaining 4 percent of that land mass. Where this idea came from, other than extreme environmentalists, I don't know.

This is nothing less than economic terrorism, hurting a community in Alaska, which I represent. It is not just about timber.

Madam Speaker, it is about communications. I can't even build a road from one community to another community. No place else in America can that happen.

So I am asking you to continue what you are doing, which you are hurting my State, but you are getting me reelected, so thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would like to thank Chairman Grijalva and, of course, the ranking member, Mr. Westerman, for the support of scheduling this bill for final passage. I would also like to thank my good friend, Debbie Dingell, for her work. I have been sitting and listening to these bills, these are good bills. So, thank you, I appreciate it.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced this bill on the House side. I would like to thank Congressman Case and Congressman Kahele for their sponsorship and support.

As has been mentioned, S. 325 gives Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children 2 more years to complete their important work and report their findings to Congress.

The Commission is tasked with conducting a comprehensive study of Federal, State, local, and Tribal programs that serve Native children with the goal of developing a system that delivers wraparound service for Native youth.

The Commission was put in place, as I mentioned, in 2016, but was not able to have its first meeting until 2019. Further meetings were delayed by COVID, and as we know, things weren't really going according to scale.

But my good friend, Gloria O'Neill, serves as chairman of the Commission, and I am thankful for her leadership on this issue, and her commitment to ensuring the Commission has enough time to do its important work.

Without this extension, the Commission would be rushing to conclude their regional meetings in order to meet Congress' deadline.

When doing this work, it could have far-reaching effects on Native youth and Native communities. We need to ensure the Commission has enough time to do good work and consider the options.

Also, my colleagues have noticed recently, in a lot of publications, about some of my schools concerning Native students--Native youth, and especially in Canada. Will this Commission also look at that process and see what has happened in the past, and we can avoid what is going to occur in the future?

This is a needed Commission and a needed bill. I urge my colleagues to support S. 325.

Madam Speaker, I am deeply honored to express my gratitude to Major General Peter B. Andrysiak Jr. for his years of dedicated service to the United States of America, the Army, and the great state of Alaska.

As the Commanding General of United States Army Alaska (USARAK.) and Deputy Commanding General of the Alaskan Command, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, he is responsible for providing trained and ready forces to support worldwide unified land operations and operations in the United States Indo-Pacific Command Area of Operations and the Arctic Region and conduct military operations in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Additionally, General Andrysiak has become a leader for the U.S. Army in the Arctic. In 1935, Brigadier General Billy Mitchell stated, ``I believe that in the future, whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it is the most important strategic place in the world.'' In the over 85 years since that statement, we have seen military leaders who understood it and many who ignored it. General Andrysiak is clearly the former. His Arctic leadership was not only critical to reshaping the Army's vision of the Arctic but was also crucial in the development of the Army's Arctic Strategy and the modernization of the Army's operations in Arctic environments.

Since pinning on his Second Lieutenant bars following his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, General Andrysiak has exemplified what it means to be an American soldier. He is, however, more than the military tactical and operational expertise that he has demonstrated through his career. General Andrysiak has endeared himself to the soldiers and their families under his charge. For he has become a tireless advocate for their quality of life and wellbeing. From investments and improvements to facilities such as Child Development Centers, barracks, and gyms, to leadership engagement and mental health support, General Andrysiak understands that there is more to a soldier's readiness than squeezing a trigger and field maneuvers. There is mental, spiritual, physical, and family readiness that must be addressed as well.

On February 23, 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Army, General James McConville, announced that General Andrysiak will become the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe-Africa. While I am saddened to see him leave Alaska, I am proud that he will continue serving as a sentinel for our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise concerning the passing of my long- time friend and a great leader, Carlos Romero-Barcelo, former governor of Puerto Rico. Carlos passed away on May 2, 2021 at the age of 88. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as those whose lives he impacted during his tenure.

Carlos Romero-Barcelo was a timeless crusader for Puerto Rico. Throughout his life, he led the fight for equal recognition of Puerto Ricans, and I was especially proud to work with him while he served as the Resident Commissioner for the island in Congress.

Carlos lived a life of public service for Puerto Rico. He served as Mayor of San Juan and then as Governor before being elected to be Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico in 1992. He dedicated his life to achieve equal rights for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico. I was truly honored to know him and call him a friend.

I was proud to serve with him on the House Natural Resources Committee. There we worked together advocating for Puerto Rico, and I was proud to support his efforts to achieve equality for the U.S. Citizens of Puerto Rico. His tireless work deepened Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, and I was proud to stand by him as a leader of the island.

We honor his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family--his wife Kathleen, and his children Carlos, Andres, Juan Carlos, and Melinda-- and our friends, the people of Puerto Rico.

Madam Speaker, I rise concerning the passing of my long- time friend and a great leader, Carlos Romero-Barcelo, former governor of Puerto Rico. Carlos passed away on May 2, 2021 at the age of 88. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as those whose lives he impacted during his tenure.

Carlos Romero-Barcelo was a timeless crusader for Puerto Rico. Throughout his life, he led the fight for equal recognition of Puerto Ricans, and I was especially proud to work with him while he served as the Resident Commissioner for the island in Congress.

Carlos lived a life of public service for Puerto Rico. He served as Mayor of San Juan and then as Governor before being elected to be Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico in 1992. He dedicated his life to achieve equal rights for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico. I was truly honored to know him and call him a friend.

I was proud to serve with him on the House Natural Resources Committee. There we worked together advocating for Puerto Rico, and I was proud to support his efforts to achieve equality for the U.S. Citizens of Puerto Rico. His tireless work deepened Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, and I was proud to stand by him as a leader of the island.

We honor his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family--his wife Kathleen, and his children Carlos, Andres, Juan Carlos, and Melinda-- and our friends, the people of Puerto Rico.

Mr. Speaker, I just passed a legislative bill, so I am a little bit excited.

I wanted to especially thank Chairman DeFazio, Leader Hoyer, and Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Ranking Member Graves, Chairman Neal, Ranking Member Brady, and the Biden administration and all the staff for recognizing the necessity of this legislation.

I especially also would like to thank my Senate colleagues, Senators Murkowski, Sullivan, and Cantwell, who have been partners in this effort.

Finally, I would like to thank my chief of staff, Kevin Swanson, for his hard work on this legislation.

We lost billions of dollars last year because of COVID in the tourist industry, and this bill we just passed by this House unanimously will give us an opportunity to recover not the money, but the ability to serve the people of

America and the tourist industry in southeast Alaska and the rest of the State of Alaska.

I am quite excited about this piece of legislation, and I do thank the House and the people who did not object to this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank everyone for being part of an effort to solve a problem for a State.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this time today to warn my fellow lawmakers that the passage of any infrastructure legislation must hold contractors and project sponsors who receive federal dollars accountable for their performance or risk another round of failed government projects, financed or bailed out at taxpayers' expense.

Too often, ventures financed by the federal government have failed to be completed or simply never worked and, in the end, it's the taxpayers who are typically the big losers.

I will be working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure that language is included in any infrastructure legislation that ensures that previous projects utilizing major federal assistance, that have defaulted and gone bust, cannot be eligible to reapply and do the same thing again.

The now-famous Solyndra solar energy project--the first major alternative energy infrastructure project launched by the Obama Administration as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,-- cost taxpayers over $500 million, but the solar panel manufacturer went bankrupt within a few years leaving taxpayers on the hook for almost all of a $535 million loan guarantee.

Later in the Obama Administration, in what can only be described as Solyndra 2.0, the Department of Energy committed $737 million to the development of the Crescent Dunes solar energy project in Nevada, also in the form of loan guarantees. That project still doesn't produce electricity and taxpayers are out as much as $234 million of the outstanding DOE loan balance if not more. This is after the project received an additional $275 million in taxpayer money under Treasury's Section 1603 program in 2017.

Only in Washington, DC does this scenario make sense. It is crucial that any energy infrastructure projects funded going forward, especially now that Congress is considering a much broader definition of infrastructure, should build in the kind of oversight and accountability measures that will minimize the potential for more boondoggles.

If we fail to do this, taxpayers will once again be left holding the bag and we will have failed to do our duty in terms of overseeing the programs we support while protecting taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Mr. Lucas for his kind compliments. It is the best I have heard all day.

I thank Ms. Bonamici, the chair of this committee, for bringing this bill to the floor.

I am excited about it because the oceans and our waterways are important to our lives. More than anybody recognizes, water is the next big issue. Oceans do cover 76 percent of our globe. In doing so, if they get acidified, then we lose the oceans, not only what it provides to us, but livelihoods to many fishermen in my communities, which is very, very important.

I am, very frankly, very excited about this legislation. We have to do more than legislation, though, because the acidification of the ocean, what causes it, we have to address. Some say it is climate change. Let's do that. Let's look at why.

I have just been reading a very serious set of articles on e-fuels, which I was unaware were created by capturing CO2 and making it into another fuel which is cleaner, especially for maritime fleets. I am a mariner, and that would be very, very important because they are one of the more pollutant factors we have, yet they transport world goods. So we have to address that.

As we pass this legislation, let's really go forth and make sure not only NOAA has the authority, but make sure they do the job. That is oversight. That is your job, Madam Chairman. That is what we have to do to make sure it is done and address the problem.

You talk about your lobster. It is good, but not quite as good as our salmon, but it is okay. We have to work on that to make sure that we have a continued sustainable yield that we will be working with.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the compliment. I have been called a lot of things on this floor, including dean.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. I thank my friend, Representative Gallego, for introducing it.

This is a good bill. It improves a bill which I passed 30 years ago, and it is long overdue to make sure that it is running right.

As has been said, it establishes a new National Indian Resource Services Center, which was created over 30 years ago. We are reauthorizing these programs, making sure they work.

It is badly needed because of actions across the country with indigenous people. We hope the victims will have better service than they have in the past.

I congratulate the author of the legislation. I am a sponsor of the legislation also. This is a good bill, and I urge the passage of this bill.

All of my colleagues who understand, let's do the job we were told to do when we became trustees of the indigenous people of this great Nation of ours.

Again, I thank the chairman, the author of the legislation, and the ranking member for all the work they have done.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, chairman, and the sponsor for this legislation.

It is a strange thing. If you hang around here long enough, you keep seeing the other end of your tail. We introduced these bills, and there was never any intention to exclude these two Tribes, never.

When Mo Udall and I started the gaming law, everybody thought we were nuts. It has worked. But never were these two Tribes to be excluded. In fact, this legislation rectifies that problem.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to be a sponsor of the legislation, who worked with you to try to get this done. This will be justice served to all.