Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4877) to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out a research, development, and demonstration program with respect to abandoned wells, and for other purposes, as amended.

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. 4877.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4877, the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act.

This bill was introduced by two of my Science Committee colleagues, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Lee) and the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).

The bill directs the Department of Energy to support research, development, and demonstration activities that accelerate the remediation of abandoned or orphaned oil and gas wells across the country.

Currently, there are an estimated 700,000 to maybe 3 million abandoned wells in the United States. These wells cost between $30,000 to potentially as much as $1 million per well to plug, meaning a remarkable amount of money will be needed just to cover past developments.

Wells in remote locations, like Tribal land in Oklahoma, are more difficult and costly to locate and plug, thus increasing the likelihood they will remain unmitigated.

Improving the technologies and methods associated with plugging and remediation processes for abandoned wells would lower the overall cost, improve efficiency, reduce the environmental harm, and potentially result in new and improved purposes.

Mr. Speaker, that is why I support H.R. 4877. This bill will capitalize on the Department of Energy's existing research and infrastructure within the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to improve the processes and lower the costs associated with abandoned wells.

The research, development, and demonstration activities conducted by DOE have the potential to validate innovative processes, such as the use of low-carbon cement for plugging or repurposing abandoned wells for geothermal power production and carbon capture utilization and storage.

Additionally, this bill directs DOE to improve technology to pinpoint and map the location of abandoned wells. Before we can plug or repurpose a well, we need to know exactly where they are located.

Efforts for States to plug abandoned wells are already underway and funded by Federal investment. This bill ensures that those efforts efficiently use taxpayer dollars and remain effective in the long term.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Lee and Representative Bice for leading this bill. I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).

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

Mr. Speaker, we all share concern about the tens of thousands of known abandoned oil and gas wells across the country that have the potential to leak methane, pose health and safety risks, and pollute local ground water. This is a major step in addressing that.

I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4877. I thank Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Bice for their effort, 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. 6093) to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data, 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 H.R. 6093, 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. 6093, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023, simply known as the Weather Act Reauthorization Act.

In 2017, I was proud to lead the first comprehensive weather authorization in 25 years that resulted in the original Weather Act being signed into law. The bill we are considering today, the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, builds on previous accomplishments and makes further advancements in weather forecasting and prediction of high- impact weather events. It will undoubtedly save the lives of citizens across our country.

In the simplest of terms: the Weather Act Reauthorization Act gives Americans better forecasts.

What that means and how it is accomplished through this bill is so much more than what meets the eye.

This bill improves the hurricane forecast accuracy and the tornado warning lead time that started under the Weather Act through the continuation of successful research programs. It also supports cutting- edge forecasting by establishing new research and development programs related to the next generation of radar, atmospheric rivers, coastal flooding, storm surges, aviation weather, and more.

The Weather Act Reauthorization Act increases NOAA's access to critical forecasting data by expanding its authority to contract with the private sector to acquire commercial weather data and codifying the Commercial Data Program to lead this work. Again, building on what we started in 2017, NOAA will have more flexibility to purchase high- quality data from trusted and verified industry partners instead of building out expensive observation systems and satellite networks.

The Weather Act Reauthorization Act also ensures all this research and progress doesn't result in overly complex products the public can't understand. This bill strengthens the emergency preparedness of every community by improving the communication of weather and water events to the public. This ensures all Americans understand watches, warnings, emergency information, and exactly how to respond.

This bill also provides farmers and ranchers with better tools and services for agriculture and water management, including improvements in subseasonal and seasonal research and forecasting. As perhaps the most weather-dependent sector in our country, the agriculture industry needs accurate forecasts for efficient crop planting and timely harvest cycles because at the end of the day, this is what feeds and clothes our country.

Finally, the Weather Act Reauthorization Act authorizes the continuation of key public tools, including the National Integrated Drought Information System, the National Mesonet Program, and the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network. NOAA is, after all, a taxpayer-funded agency; therefore, it should continue to invest in tools that benefit the taxpayers.

It is clear this bill is not a one-trick pony and will accomplish many things, so it should come as no surprise to hear the widespread support we have received. Mr. Speaker, 63 Republican and Democrat Members have cosponsored bills that appear in this package. It has letters of support from 50 stakeholders, representing groups as diverse as recreational fishers to two-way radio suppliers. It is a bipartisan bill with 29 cosponsors on both sides of the aisle.

The Weather Act Reauthorization Act ensures NOAA is modern and reliable, which will secure the United States' global leadership in weather forecasting, modeling, and prediction.

More importantly, the Weather Act Reauthorization Act ensures NOAA's services equip Americans with timely warnings and support, providing additional lifesaving resources to communities across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my partner in this effort, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, who has been essential in continuing the bipartisan successes of the Science Committee in this Congress.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice) to speak on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Mike Garcia) to speak on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird) to speak on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. McCormick) to speak on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean) to speak on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Feenstra) to speak on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte) to speak on the bill.

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

Again, I express my sincere thanks to Ranking Member Lofgren for her willingness to work together on this critical issue. I also thank the 29 bipartisan cosponsors, along with the 63 Members who contributed language found in this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

One of the most difficult decisions a worker will ever undertake is determining how to save for retirement. This requires an individual to forecast decades into the future, ensuring one has the ability to navigate through life, family, and economic events.

For many teachers and nonprofit employees, their retirement savings are through 403(b) plans. However, these public servants in 403(b) plans are unable to benefit from the same cost-effective investment products that are available in all other plans, including 401(k) plans, government 457(b) plans, and the Federal Thrift Savings Plan.

Since the creation of 403(b) retirement plans back in 1958, there have been many changes to how we save for retirement, both in the law and the overall economy.

This amendment will allow 403(b) plans the ability to invest in collective investment trusts, or CITs, and insurance company separate accounts.

CITs and insurance company separate accounts are both pooled investment vehicles sponsored and maintained by a bank or trust company, or an insurance company, respectively.

This measure originated in SECURE 2.0 last Congress, which passed the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously. The SECURE 2.0 Act that ultimately became law included the required changes to the tax code but did not include the necessary changes to securities law.

The data speaks for itself. During the past 10 years, 401(k) plan assets increased by 88 percent, government 457(b) plans increased by 82 percent, but total assets in 403(b) plans only increased by 46 percent.

We have for too long limited the investment options made available to public servants, and this bill will allow for much-needed consistency across retirement plans.

This measure received broad bipartisan support in the Financial Services Committee, and I thank Congressman Gottheimer of New Jersey and Congressman Foster of Illinois for joining me on this amendment.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).

Madam Chair, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I simply wish to say that I have the greatest respect for the ranking member of the Financial Services Committee, but I would note we simply disagree on this amendment.

I believe it is a very effective way to provide equity amongst the various retirement accounts, and it is important that teachers and public service people have the same opportunity to grow their savings so that they, too, can enjoy the best possible golden years.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the opportunity to speak this evening on my dear friend.

Chairwoman Johnson came to Congress in the regular election cycle of 1992, and I joined her 15 months later in a special election, so for 28.5 years we worked together, most of that on the Science Committee.

After I finished my time as chairman of the Ag Committee, I went over to be vice chairman of the Science Committee, and then ultimately ranking member for the 4 years that EBJ, as I lovingly called her, was the chairwoman of the committee.

Eddie Bernice Johnson was an exceptional human being. She was, yes, a good Liberal. Yes, she was a good steward of her constituents. Yes, she was a great member of the CBC. Yes, she was an outstanding legislator and a member of Presidential administrations. But the thing that I admired the most was the fact that she was willing to give anyone the benefit of the doubt.

It took me a little while to convince her of our commonality, our common spirit, and our common goals, but then she worked with me hand in glove. She treated me and my side of the Science Committee as decently as any chairperson could.

Was she goal-oriented? Absolutely. Was she a great human being? Without a doubt. However, the one thing that would stress, in my opinion, the key to the intensity of that personality, after she had gone to Indiana for her advanced training, wherein after she developed that skill set, she could have stayed anywhere in any part of the country that at that time would have treated her dramatically better.

In spite of that, she went home to make a difference, to make changes, to do and enable the next generation. That is so admirable, and, yes, EBJ, my dear, wherever you are, you are looking down on us, and we miss you.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McHenry for yielding time to me on this bill.

First, before I address the topic at hand, I would like to take a moment to note that I have served with Chairman McHenry for his tenure in the United States Congress.

I can proudly say this is a body that everyone comes in brand new and full of fire and vinegar, but it is a body where people develop into their skills, where their natural talents are honed and sharpened, and where many of our friends become great statesmen and stateswomen.

I note for just a moment that Chairman McHenry, when he joined this

body, represented that fire and vinegar, that intensity.

In his time here, he has developed into a statesman, a chairman of great regard, and someone who ultimately, when he leaves this body at the end of the session, will be missed.

My colleague, and I would like to think I can call you my friend, but most assuredly I note my respect for your legislative skills.

The bill before us is a bipartisan piece of legislation, as my colleagues have noted, to send a clear message: If China intends to engage in conflict against Taiwan, then China should be prepared to withstand the consequences.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the President is required to notify Congress if China poses an immediate threat to Taiwan's security.

If this notification is triggered, my bill states it is U.S. policy to exclude Chinese representatives from key international organizations: The G20, the Financial Stability Board, and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.

A threat to Taiwan is a threat to the international order. Now, let me repeat that one more time: A threat to Taiwan is a threat to the international order.

We should make it clear that if China acts to throw the world into instability, China will be excluded from international bodies that work to uphold that very stability.

I thank my colleague from Texas, Congressman Gonzalez, for working with me on this bill. I encourage my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 1734) to require coordinated National Institute of Standards and Technology science and research activities regarding illicit drugs containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other substances of concern, 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 to include extraneous material on H.R. 1734, 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. 1734, the TRANQ Research Act sponsored by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

This is an important bill that will help us combat the dangers of novel synthetic opioids. Unfortunately, there is no area of our country that hasn't been touched by the deadly fentanyl epidemic. Now these drugs are being mixed with animal tranquilizers to create deadly new combinations.

Drugs like tranq are presenting new challenges to law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and first responders. H.R. 1734 authorizes critical research and development to help us better understand, detect, and handle these drugs. With that knowledge, we can help to slow their spread and reduce lives lost to these deadly drugs.

This bill takes advantage of the tremendous expertise of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is already doing cutting- edge work on detecting and analyzing fentanyl. With the passage of the TRANQ Research Act, NIST will be able to apply their expertise to these dangerous new variants.

This bill authorizes NIST's work to quickly identify illicit drugs, analyze them, and establish best practices for first responders to handle these dangerous substances. By doing that, it provides critical protections for the police officers and EMTs that encounter these drugs, helping them to stay safe and protected as they do their work. It will also give us the knowledge we need to stop the spread of tranq and other novel synthetic opioids.

This bill has already passed the House with a unanimous bipartisan vote of 425-0. I would like to see that same level of backing today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) to speak on his bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I note that when this bill is signed by the President, it will be the first bill introduced by a freshman in the 118th Congress to become law. I congratulate the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) for this achievement. I think it is a reflection of just how important this topic is, and I am so glad our colleagues have all recognized the growing dangers of novel synthetic opioids and have given this bill such strong support.

Again, I thank Representative Collins and my colleagues for everything they have done to help support this. I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1713) to provide for Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture joint research and development activities, 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 H.R. 1713, 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. 1713, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act.

This bill allows the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture to work together to improve how we grow our food, fiber, and fuel in America.

As a farmer and rancher myself, I am proud to sponsor this bill, which will help us address cross-cutting research challenges that will advance crop science, maximize carbon storage, enhance precision agricultural technologies, and more.

DOE and USDA already have a successful track record of collaboration to mitigate invasive species, modernize the grid, address the energy- water nexus, develop biofuels, and improve agriculture operations.

DOE has some of the country's most advanced computing capacities as well as world-class research facilities and a depth of scientific expertise.

These resources can be used to support the work being done by America's farmers and ranchers, ultimately strengthening our agricultural production.

The bill before us today is smart, bipartisan legislation that codifies the partnership between DOE and USDA, ensuring they can continue to work together on these interdisciplinary challenges.

I thank my Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren for working with me on this legislation and helping to pass it through the Science Committee with unanimous support.

I appreciate her support of agriculture research, and I urge all of my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as we have heard, H.R. 1713, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act, is smart, bipartisan policy to make it easier to address the agriculture research challenges facing our Nation.

By passing this bill, we are supporting the science and technology that will enable easier production agriculture.

I thank Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren for her support of this critical issue. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2980) to provide for Department of Energy and National Science Foundation research and development coordination, 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 H.R. 2980, 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. 2980, the DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act. This bill supports the longstanding partnership between the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, allowing them to work on cutting-edge and research technology challenges.

DOE is our Nation's largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, while NSF is the backbone of the collaborative research environment between government and academia.

Together, they can tackle some of the Nation's toughest challenges in physics, quantum information sciences, artificial intelligence, and material science.

The bill enhances both DOE and NSF's capacities and leverages each other's investments in research and development, maximizing the impact of our taxpayer dollars.

There has never been a more important time for this kind of breakthrough research. The Chinese Communist Party has made no secret of their goal to surpass us as the world leader in science and technology.

They are attempting to outspend us, out-educate us, and outpace us in everything from quantum computing to advanced manufacturing.

They know that the Nation that leads the way in technological development sets the rules of the road and determines how that technology will be used.

We simply cannot afford to live in a world where China is technologically ahead of us. It is bad for our economy and dangerous for our national security.

We must ensure our investments in research and development go as far as possible. This bill helps us to do that.

By authorizing the collaboration between DOE and NSF, we are maximizing our return on investments and ensuring we can stay on the cutting edge of technological development.

I thank my colleagues, Representatives Stevens and Baird, for introducing this important legislation and shepherding it through the Science Committee where it passed unanimously.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I rise in support of H.R. 2980, the DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act.

This will accelerate U.S. competitiveness in emerging technology areas and key economic sectors while enabling taxpayer dollars to be used more efficiently, allowing more to be done with less.

I appreciate all the work done by my colleagues, Representatives Stevens and Baird, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2988) to provide for Department of Energy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration research and development coordination, and for other purposes, as amended.

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. 2988, 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. 2988, the DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act.

The Department of Energy and NASA have a long history of collaboration, which has enhanced our understanding of our universe and our ability to explore beyond our planet.

The Voyager spacecraft, which were launched more than 40 years ago and are now flying in interstellar space, continue to operate under DOE's propulsion systems.

The work DOE and NASA are doing on nuclear energy is critical to our ability to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon. That same technology can be used here on Earth, too, helping to improve this clean and reliable energy source.

The DOE-NASA partnership will also help us advance our high- performance computing systems, which help keep us at the forefront of research and development. This partnership will also help us with satellite development, space situational awareness, and even planetary defense from near-Earth objects.

In short, it allows two of our premier scientific agencies to better work by collaborating on some of our most challenging scientific issues.

I thank my colleague, Representative Williams, for introducing this legislation and Representative Sorensen for cosponsoring it.

This bipartisan bill earned unanimous support in the Science Committee, and I urge my colleagues to give it the same support on the floor today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Williams) to speak on his bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

H.R. 2988, the DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act, is smart legislation that will help us stay competitive in the race to return humans to the Moon and send them to Mars.

Without key collaborations like this, we would be unable to make critical strides in our energy production and propulsion technologies. I thank Representatives Williams and Sorensen for their leadership in moving this bill forward.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. I thank my fellow chairman and my fellow Member from the adjoining State of Arkansas for yielding time to me to speak on this important piece of legislation.

Oklahomans and those who call the West home are proud conservationists and great stewards of our land. Sustainable, healthy land is the lifeblood of our rural communities, and no one understands that better than the farmers, ranchers, and landowners themselves.

When we work with and not against producers, we have seen the impossible accomplished. For years, landowners have partnered with local and State government and industry to increase the production of energy and agricultural goods. They were able to do this all while improving soil health and wildlife habitats, creating an environment and an economy that is beneficial to both wildlife and the residents of rural America.

My father used to say there is a fine line between doing something for people and doing something to people. Let me be clear: Listing the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act is government doing something to people, not for them.

This listing creates unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on Oklahoma's agriculture and oil and gas industries and limits our ability as a country to provide for ourselves and the world. That is why I support this resolution before us today.

This resolution ensures that U.S. Fish and Wildlife regulations do not infringe on the property owners who live and work their land every day.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for putting together a solid bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration.

I am here to discuss how this legislation addresses FAA's research, development, and engineering activities that are within the jurisdiction of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Our role in the FAA reauthorization is to inform the process by crafting legislation that supports R&D to advance American aviation. Our goal with the bill was to support smart, strategic work to promote innovation and keep America the global leader in aviation. That leadership is critical to our national security and our international competitiveness.

For our economy to thrive, we need the ability to transport people and goods quickly, safely, and efficiently. Staying competitive means staying at the leading edge of aviation innovation.

With that in mind, last month, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee unanimously passed H.R. 3559, the FAA Research and Development Act of 2023. That bill, which has been incorporated into the legislation before us today, is the product of months of work within regular order.

We gathered extensive feedback and held a legislative hearing to give our members a chance to directly question stakeholders, industry, and FAA representatives on how best to support innovation and modernization in American aviation.

The result is comprehensive legislation that quite literally supports aviation from the ground up, from the durability of our runways to how we monitor traffic over oceans and remote areas. It accelerates the development of advanced materials for aerospace vehicle construction and supports research into how more accurately to predict the weather to reduce delays and increase safety.

Importantly, it ensures that safety continues to be the primary focus of FAA research and development by requiring a report on whether at least 70 percent of FAA R&D funds are going toward improved safety.

In short, we have put together a solid framework to support FAA's research work, one that is appropriately tailored to FAA's jurisdiction and strengths.

With this legislation, we are ensuring that America remains the global leader in aviation for years to come.

Mr. Chair, I thank Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren for working with me in good faith to develop the R&D portion of this legislation. I thank Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for incorporating our work into this package.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity from leadership to be able to spend a little time this evening on what I define as a very, very important subject.

Mr. Speaker, in the rancorous world we live in these days there is a tendency for people who observe the United States Congress from afar to think that we have become a shrill, loud, unfocused rabble of people. Perhaps we have lost our sense of humanity, and even worse.

Tonight, I would like to talk about an individual, a person, a set of circumstances that refute that falsehood and the popular perception.

What do I mean by that?

Mr. Speaker, not many months ago, we, on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, both Republicans and Democrats alike, majority and minority, received some--what can only be described as devastating news--that a member of our family--and when I say family, I mean, our congressional family, the people who serve in this building, and in these buildings, and serve in the personal offices, and serve in the committee offices, and serve in the leadership offices.

These are people who are the individuals that you have known for months, years, or maybe sometimes decades that you have jousted with on issues and that you have crossed-referenced notes and you have debated with for extended periods in the various roles. Those are the people I define as our congressional family, and they could be Democrats, they could be Republicans, they could be senior staff, senior Members, or the most junior of all.

That devastating news that I mentioned, and not all that many months ago, was that the deputy staff director for the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, the majority deputy staff director, Jennifer Wickre, had been diagnosed with cancer.

Now, that is always the most intimidating and shocking news that anyone could receive. Tonight I don't just want to talk about that--and we will because it is important to the struggles she is facing--but I want to talk about the person that this member of our congressional family has been and is. No matter what the struggles of the next few weeks or months turn out to be, she will always be a member of our family in our hearts and in our minds.

Jennifer Wickre--Jenn, as we call her--is originally from Medford, Oregon, a town in the southern part of the State. Her parents ran a local law practice. They are the kind of salt of the earth sort of people whom you would want to live next door to you, Mr. Speaker.

Jenn earned a bachelor's degree in government from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, and a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

In her tenure, she has served in a variety of roles. I think the role that I speak of this evening is her role in Congress. She started her career on Capitol Hill as a scheduler for Congressman Jerry Lewis in 2003.

Now, for those of us who remember that wonderful individual, Jerry Lewis was a senior member of Appropriations and would be chairman of the committee. Jerry served in numerous senior leaderships in positions within the Republican Conference. He was a great Member to work for and to learn from.

Jennifer worked as a scheduler. Mr. Speaker, as any of you who have any interaction with Members of Congress or their offices know, one of the most difficult staff positions is to be a scheduler because you have got to balance the Member's limited time with the needs of the spouse, with the needs of the district staff, with the needs of the office staff, the committee staff, and all the important constituents back home.

She performed well--as all of us who know her would have expected nothing less--and she became a senior legislative assistant.

Now, she worked off the Hill for a little while, but then she came back to the Hill to be the professional staffer on the Research and Technology Subcommittee in 2015. She worked there diligently for 7 years and became the staff director of the Research and Technology Subcommittee and ultimately a senior policy adviser to Chairman Lamar Smith.

After I had the opportunity, she became the deputy staff director for the overall group.

Jennifer's personality--Jenn, again, as we all call her--was the kind of person who no matter who you were, the most senior member of the committee, the most junior member of the committee, the most well- informed member of the staff, or the newest member, she treated everyone with the same kind of respect and decency and would take the time to reason through and discuss with people the merits of their logic and also sometimes the challenges that that presented. She was ever the diplomat--ever the diplomat.

Now this evening, I think we have a few of the folks whom she has touched in this Congress, and they would like to offer a thought or two. I will yield shortly to several of my colleagues.

Before I do that, let me, again, return to the point. We are a congressional family. Jenn is one of our own, and she faces challenges that hopefully none of us will ever face. She has done it with the most amazing grace, strength, and determination. She has decided her own course of action, and that is always to be respected.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), who has had many opportunities to work with our wonderful friend.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas for those very thoughtful and very wise words.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) who has had many opportunities over the years to work with our mutual dear friend.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for her very thoughtful and extremely accurate comments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey), who is another Member who has worked extensively with our dear friend.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is exactly right. Sometimes even in the institution and amongst the family, we forget how important the critical role that the staff plays is, their understanding of the issues, their vast experience and ability to focus. Jenn is one of those individuals, one of the catalysts, I will say, of the legislative process.

Mr. Speaker, I yield now to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) to discuss a fellow Oregonian.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Oregon for her comments.

Many people may notice that several of us are wearing an Oregon Ducks pin that has ``CANCER'' on it. It shows the Oregon Duck's foot smashing it. That is a symbol to us of Jenn's enthusiasm for Ducks football, but it also shows our common spirit about smashing cancer and how appropriate that the Science Committee worked so diligently in those areas.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), another senior member of the Science Committee with a long working relationship with Jenn.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his thoughts and observations.

We arrive at a moment in this Special Order when we begin to focus on a conclusion. You have heard this evening from Democrats and Republicans alike. You have heard from the most senior Members about the wonderful nature of our friend Jennifer Wickre. You can tell from those of us who have worked with her day to day, in many instances for years, some for decades, what a wonderful, productive, bright, articulate, and focused young woman she is. She has made the committee more productive. She has made the lives of her many friends richer.

I simply suggest this in my closing: We may not get to work together with Jenn again in the near future on the Science Committee, but I have confidence in her and her faith. I am confident that, somewhere down the road, we will work together with Jenn again in a wonderful place.

Mr. Speaker, God bless the congressional family, and in particular, God bless Jennifer Wickre, one of our very own.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 302) to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to provide financial assistance to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers pursuing certain courses of study relating to cybersecurity and energy infrastructure, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 302, the bill now under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 302, the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2023 led by Representative Ross and Representative Carey.

Cyberattacks from foreign adversaries on the U.S. energy sector present a major and constantly evolving threat to our national security, energy independence, and global competitiveness.

Multiple attacks over the past few years have shown us that whether it is our liquefied natural gas industry, our electric grid, or even our national laboratories, all critical U.S. energy assets can be attractive targets for adversarial cyber campaigns.

Troublingly, many of these cyberattacks are just preparations for future operations. As the FBI, CISA, and other security agencies have warned, the CCP is using smaller attacks now to provide inroads so they can inflict major damage to our energy infrastructure in the future.

The threats to our energy cybersecurity have only increased recently due to several factors such as the war in Ukraine, increased aggression from the CCP, and the development of new energy technologies and grid modernization practices.

To protect our energy sector, we need to take a whole-of-government approach, and the Department of Energy plays a central role in planning for and countering these attacks.

H.R. 302 is one way to support the DOE's energy cybersecurity mission. This is important, bipartisan legislation that will help address expanding vulnerabilities in our energy sector by strengthening the next generation of our energy cybersecurity workforce.

I thank my colleague, Representative Ross, for reintroducing this timely bill and Representative Carey for joining her as the Republican lead of this bipartisan effort.

On the Science Committee, energy cybersecurity initiatives have long been a bipartisan priority. H.R. 302 is just the beginning of our work on this issue in the 118th Congress.

I pledge to continue working with all Members to pass legislation that will keep the U.S. energy sector safe, reliable, and competitive for years to come.

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

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey).

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, there has never been a more critical issue than to ensure the cybersecurity of our Nation's energy sector. H.R. 302 will help develop the most important long-term weapon we have in our arsenal against cyberattacks: a highly skilled and informed American workforce.

It is bipartisan, forward-looking legislation, which is why it passed the House on suspension last year.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 290) to provide for transparent licensing of commercial remote sensing systems, 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. 290, 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. 290, the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act.

I introduced this bipartisan legislation last Congress and that measure passed the House by a voice vote. I reintroduced the same bill this year, along with my colleague, the ranking member, Ms. Lofgren. It updates the reporting requirements for NOAA's Office of Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs so that Congress can monitor how regulations are impacting the growth and improvement of the commercial remote sensing industry.

Remote sensing uses data collected from satellites to produce images of the Earth. It has become a critical resource for fields like agriculture, finance, trade, and energy.

For instance, imagery and data from commercial remote sensing allows us to improve crop production by helping farmers more efficiently apply water and fertilizer. It informs future commodity prices by actively monitoring weather and crop health.

Commercial remote sensing also improves our ability to prepare for and respond to natural disasters by informing flood plain mapping, tornado tracking, and drought monitoring, topics that are very important to my constituents in Oklahoma.

It can also be helpful in humanitarian relief efforts and monitoring treaty compliance, among other applications.

As you can see, commercial remote sensing provides us with critical information for many important applications. This technology is constantly evolving, and the industry is seeing tremendous growth.

To effectively support and manage remote sensing activities, it is critical that Congress receives timely and comprehensive reports so we can evaluate the state of the industry and how regulations are affecting this growth.

The Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 established a reporting requirement from the Department of Commerce on the status of commercial remote sensing licensing and regulation. This requirement expired in 2020.

H.R. 290 will reinstate that reporting requirement and keep Congress informed of agency actions, their impact on licensees, and the state of the commercial remote sensing industry. These reports to Congress will give us the information we need to ensure that the U.S. remains the global leader in this important field.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 290 is a no-nonsense, bipartisan bill that will help ensure that the U.S. remains the global leader in the commercial remote sensing industry.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lofgren for joining me in advancing this legislation.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have said previously, commercial remote sensing provides us with critical information related to a number of fields, like agriculture, finance, trade, energy, and more. This, in turn, allows us to be better stewards of our resources.

H.R. 290, the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act will help us ensure that Congress receives the updates necessary to monitor industrial regulations. By updating these reporting requirements, we can ensure that the U.S. remains the global leader in an important field.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank the ranking member for her help in this effort.

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