Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, during National Police Week, I rise to recognize police officers in Montana who protect and serve our communities. They put their lives on the line to keep us safe.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer embodies this selfless service. A husband to Lindsey and a father to two young daughters, Trooper Palmer started with the patrol in 2012 and has received the patrol's highest honor, the Medal of Valor.

In March, Trooper Palmer located a suspicious vehicle near Missoula. As he sat in his cruiser, a callous coward approached Palmer and shot him repeatedly. Thankfully, Trooper Palmer regained consciousness and is recovering in the hospital.

As we mark National Police Week, let us remember all who died in the line of duty. Let us remember to pray every day for the men and women in blue, as well as their families. And let us say a special prayer for Trooper Palmer and his family.

Madam Speaker, with Mother's Day around the corner, I rise today to honor Betty Cooper of Browning for her advocacy for families and mental health services as well as for being named Montana's 2019 Mother of the Year by American Mothers.

Betty Cooper is the mother of five, a grandmother, and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe. She was born and raised in Browning. In 1963, Betty moved to the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and children. There, she became involved in substance abuse prevention and treatment in the Indian community. She helped establish the American Indian Family Healing Center in Oakland, CA, and served as director for a decade.

Returning home to Montana, she helped establish the Pikuni Family Healing Center in Starr School.

Betty was among over two dozen prominent Native American advocates featured in Surviving in Two Worlds: Contemporary Native American Voices, a book by Lois Crozier-Hogle and Darryl Babe Wilson.

Betty has served on the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council and has been an advocate for individuals with mental illness.

American Mothers, a non-profit organization founded in 1935, named Betty Montana's Mother of the Year for 2019. In her recent address at the group's annual meeting, Betty said, ``Love our children; look them in the eye; hug them close and tell them you love them. When a child knows they are loved, everything else falls in place. Each of our children is a gift to us from the Creator.''

Madam Speaker, truer words were never spoken.

Madam Speaker, for her dedication to family, advocacy for mental health services, and leadership in the Indian community, I recognize Betty Cooper for her spirit of Montana.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise mental health awareness during Mental Health Month.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 164,000 Montanans have a mental health condition. Unfortunately, mental healthcare is not available to many Montanans. In fact, over 50 percent of Montanans live in an area where there is a shortage of mental health professionals.

I recently brought together providers, leaders, and advocates in Montana to discuss how we can improve mental healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and suicide prevention. They told me about the challenges they face to provide care and of their promising progress. They told me about resources, like telemedicine, that could improve treatment and help fill coverage gaps.

Individuals impacted by mental illness can lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Access to treatment, though, is critical.

Let's work together in a bipartisan way to address mental healthcare. Our communities depend on it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bridget Mallo of Butte for inspiring a community to celebrate life with her courage in facing a chronic, progressive, and often fatal disease.

Bridget was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at six months old. She and her family have consulted doctors and been in and out of hospitals for 15 years. Despite the prognosis, Bridget never uses her illness as an excuse.

Now 15 years old, Bridget recently faced a decision no teenager should have to bear.

Doctors said that forgoing a lung transplant could leave Bridget with four to six weeks to live. Proceeding with further treatment, including an organ transplant, did not guarantee a successful outcome and meant greater hardships for her loved ones.

She chose to return home to Butte to spend her remaining time with family and friends. Two of her final wishes are particularly touching. She wants to ensure her mother is supported and does not face financial insecurity. She also asked the community of Butte to come together to celebrate life.

Bridget's courage rallied the community, as individuals and businesses responded with donations to support the family. Bridget has also brought awareness to the struggles families face when a loved one is diagnosed with the incurable disease.

In late April, residents of Butte celebrated life and Bridget. Bridget's loved ones, friends, classmates, and neighbors cheered her arrival. Amid much fanfare and a police escort, there were tears of sadness and tears of joy.

Bridget has helped demonstrate the power of community. Family, friends, and neighbors have come together to support and celebrate a remarkable young woman.

Bridget's community will long remember her big heart. Because of Bridget, they will also

remember that, despite the challenges one may face in life, there is reason to celebrate it.

Madam Speaker, for inspiring her community with her remarkable courage and love of life, I recognize Bridget Mallo for her spirit of Montana.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Chris McGuigan of Plains whose work with the Sanders County Fair and Rodeo has attracted the world's top professional competitors.

After years of volunteering at the fair, Chris began serving on the Sanders County Fair Board in 2001 and became its chairman a decade later. In 2017, Chris was appointed fair manager, a position from which he recently stepped down. Over the years, he estimates he has volunteered at least 1,000 hours to help make the fair and rodeo a success.

A retired Sanders County sheriff's deputy with 25 years of service, Chris helped lead many improvements to the fairgrounds, including upgrading the livestock facilities, improving the rodeo surface, constructing a 4-H horse arena and crow's nest, and making the arena ADA accessible.

The vision and accomplishments of the Sanders County Fair Board under Chris's leadership have brought the fair and rodeo wide acclaim for its excellence. In fact, the Women's Professional Rodeo Association seven times recognized the rodeo arena surface as having the best footing in the region.

``Hands down, the Sanders County Rodeo is one of the top-notch rodeos in Montana, and Chris has been the right-hand man there for years,'' said Lori Franzen, co-owner of Powder River Rodeo, which produces the rodeo in Plains as well as 90 professional rodeo events across the country. ``Last year in the bull riding event alone, 10 of the top 15 cowboys in the professional circuit were competing in Plains.''

Madam Speaker, for his more than two decades of service and outstanding dedication to improving the Sanders County Fair and Rodeo, I recognize Chris McGuigan for his spirit of Montana.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Justin Downs of Molt for rescuing a severely injured man amid harsh winter conditions.

A rancher from northwest of Billings, Justin is a volunteer firefighter with the Broadview Fire Department. On a day in early March with challenging winter weather, he was called upon to aid a man injured in a ranching accident. The man was immobile, and because of snow-drifted roads and fields, emergency vehicles were unable to reach him.

As he has done countless times before, Justin responded to the call. Using his farm tractor, he and a medic began crossing the fields of deep snow about two miles from where conditions had forced emergency vehicles to stop.

Upon arrival, the medic provided initial treatment for the man's injuries. Justin and the medic then loaded the man into the cab of Justin's tractor. Justin drove through the snow-covered fields to the rescue vehicles where he left the man with emergency personnel. He then crossed the fields again to get the medic, who had stayed behind because of limited space in the tractor's cab.

``I know people would help me out if I needed it. We just do what needs to be done when it needs to be done,'' Justin said.

Winters in Montana can be harsh and produce dangerous conditions, especially in rural areas where travel can be disrupted for days. It's encouraging to know neighbors stand ready to lend a hand in times of need.

Madam Speaker, for his selfless service to his community and for coming to the aid of an injured rancher without hesitation and amid hostile winter conditions, I recognize Justin Downs for his spirit of Montana.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable women's basketball team from the University of Montana Western in Dillon.

The Bulldogs recently captured the NAIA Division I national title to close out a stellar season. The team's convincing 75-59 victory over the nine-time national champion, Oklahoma City Stars, brought the national title to Dillon, Montana.

The school's first national title in women's basketball brought well- deserved recognition to senior Brianna King, a two-time All-American and NAIA National Player of the Year.

Ms. King, however, was not alone on the court. Fellow All-American Britt Cooper won the tournament's Hustle Award and Tori Anderson made All-Tournament First Team.

The Bulldogs' head coach, Lindsay Woolley, led the team to the national title and was named the 2019 NAIA Coach of the Year.

Congratulations to all the players and coaches. Your school and State are proud of you.

All Montana is Bulldog Nation.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time.

Madam Speaker, I hear from hardworking Montanans in my office and throughout the State that they are worried about the rising cost of healthcare. Rising premiums and increasing deductibles force Montana families to spend more and more on healthcare and less and less on clothes, books, and food for the table.

Since my first day in office, I have made lowering healthcare costs, promoting rural access to care, and protecting those with preexisting conditions my primary priorities.

Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act has been anything but affordable. In the first 3 years of ObamaCare, premiums in Montana rose by 66 percent, and they are still rising today. ObamaCare robbed consumers of choice and gave hardworking Montanans plans they can't afford.

As we work toward solutions that make healthcare more accessible and affordable, I will keep fighting to protect those with preexisting conditions. I cosponsored the Pre-Existing Conditions Protection Act that ensures patients with preexisting conditions have access to health insurance. I also voted to ensure those same protections. We need to ensure that those with preexisting conditions have coverage.

House Democrats have said they are for protecting those with preexisting conditions. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, it seems they are only interested in defending them if the solution includes preserving ObamaCare or pursuing a government-run, single-payer healthcare plan.

One of the earliest votes we took in this Congress was to lock in protections for Americans with preexisting conditions. It was a simple and straightforward measure that I enthusiastically voted for. It would protect Americans with preexisting conditions period--so simple and straightforward. We should revisit that approach.

Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, my friends across the aisle voted down that measure, because it appears the majority values trying to score political points more than providing certainty and peace of mind to Americans with preexisting conditions.

I hope they will come to the table in good faith and choose to work with us to find a bipartisan solution to bring down healthcare costs and protect people with preexisting conditions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Troy McGee of Helena for his four decades of public service in the Helena Police Department, including nearly 23 years as chief of police.

Growing up in the community he would serve, Troy graduated from Helena High School in 1971 and Carroll College in 1975.

Troy began his career with the Helena Police Department in 1975 and worked his way through the ranks. After nearly 20 years in the department, Troy was promoted to police chief in August 1996.

Throughout his career, Troy was dedicated to law enforcement safety and training in Montana. He has contributed his time, experience, and perspective to several organizations, including the Montana Attorney General's Law Enforcement Advisory Council, the Montana Peace Officers Standards and Training Council, and the Montana Law Enforcement Academy Advisory Board. He also has advocated for law enforcement with the Montana Chiefs of Police Association and the Montana Police Officers Protective Association.

As Helena's chief of police, Troy created stronger relationships between his department and the community. He also bolstered the city's relationship with other law enforcement agencies. His commitment to coordination and partnership led the city's police department to work with the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Department to form a joint SWAT team.

Troy has dedicated his life to the well-being of his community and law enforcement officers throughout our state. On behalf of the people of Montana, thank you for your service, Chief McGee.

Madam Speaker, for his decades of outstanding service and for his dedication to public safety, law enforcement, and his community, I recognize Troy McGee for his spirit of Montana.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to once again provide the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana with the overdue Federal recognition that they deserve.

The Little Shell Tribe began petitioning the Federal Government for recognition in the 1930s, over 80 years ago.

Last year, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act passed this Chamber unanimously. It was the first time that a bill providing Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe passed either the House or the Senate. Following the passage in the House, however, the uncontroversial bill hit a roadblock in the Senate.

Today, we again take up their worthy cause as we pass this bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop for their continued support.

This Congress should provide the Little Shell Tribe with the Federal recognition it deserves, particularly after its eight decades of dedicated efforts. Hopefully, my colleagues in the Senate will recognize the importance of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of Winnett ACES for leading efforts to encourage economic growth, revitalize their community, and protect its future.

Concerned about the decreasing population of rural America, Winnett ACES (Agricultural and Community Enhancement and Sustainability) formed in 2016 to strengthen its community so that future generations will live, work, and raise their families there.

The group's first program to take off was Winnett Beef in the School, which serves locally-raised beef to the local K-12 school system. Led by local producer Charlie Ahlgren, area ranchers made a three-year commitment to donate beef, about four cows per year, to the program. Other volunteers helped cut and deliver the fresh product. Within three months, the program had successfully launched, saving money for the schools to use on other education priorities.

Winnett ACES is also leading a revitalization project to build a community center. Land has been donated, and grant money awarded to design the center, which will accommodate 300 people.

Another project, known as grass banking, is underway after a feasibility study produced the program's guidelines. Local ranchers and landowners lease their lands for summer grazing in exchange for conservation work. Seven individuals will each graze 100 or more cattle when the program launches this spring.

These projects are a few of the inventive approaches Winnett ACES is taking to strengthen its community.

Madam Speaker, for their innovative efforts to bolster their community's future, I recognize the members of Winnett ACES for their spirit of Montana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a trailblazing Montanan as we celebrate Women's History Month.

A fearless, principled leader, Jeannette Rankin was a courageous pioneer. The daughter of a rancher and a teacher, she was born and raised in Montana. Growing up, she helped on her family's ranch and, in 1902, graduated from what is now the University of Montana.

As a staunch advocate for women's suffrage, she successfully led efforts to secure women the right to vote in Montana in 1914, 6 years before the 19th Amendment to our Constitution was ratified.

Four years before women could vote throughout our Nation, Montanans elected Jeannette Rankin to Congress. She was the first woman to serve in this body.

Dedicated to her guiding principles, Jeannette Rankin is foundational to Montana's and our country's history. It is my distinct honor to recognize her for her lasting contributions to our country during Women's History Month.

Madam Chair, we all agree that Americans should vote and participate in our Republic. We all agree that every American's vote deserves to be counted and protected. But the bill, the underlying bill we consider today, is riddled with problems.

My friends across the aisle call this bill the For the People Act, but it should really be called the ``Protect Professional Politicians Act.''

One of the most egregious parts of this bill is the creation of Federal funding for elections. Taxpayers will pay for politicians' campaigns whether they agree with them or not. Under this bill, if someone gives a politician $200, the Federal Government will send $1,200 of money to that politician.

Those mailers that fill your mailbox, well, under the ``Protect the Professional Politicians Act,'' you will pay for them.

Those attack ads that flood your TV, well, you will pay for them.

Those high-priced political consultants in Washington, D.C., well, you will pay for them, too.

Since when is it a good idea to have taxpayers' hard-earned money shoveled into a trough for a politician's campaign?

Montanans don't want that. At a recent townhall, 97 percent of Montanans told me they oppose taxpayer funding for political campaigns.

Imagine Republicans and Democrats working together on a bipartisan bill that addresses voting and election reforms. We could have done that. We did that with election security in the last Congress.

But that is not what happened with H.R. 1, the ``Protect Professional Politicians Act.'' Maybe that is one of the reasons why diverse groups like the

Montana Chamber of Commerce and the ACLU have opposed this bill.

I join those groups, and I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on H.R. 1, the Protect Professional Politicians Act.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dave Snuggs of Great Falls who founded and leads My Neighbor in Need, a nonprofit organization that helps provide resources to people in need.

With the help of computer programmer Tom Penwell, Dave created myneighborinneed.org, a platform for people to anonymously request help. The organization evaluates a request and lists it on their website where members of the community can volunteer to meet the need.

My Neighbor in Need relies on the generosity of neighbors to fulfill essential needs, including winter clothes, beds, furniture, car and home repairs, help with utility bills, and transit passes or bicycles for people to get to and from work. The organization, which celebrates its seventh anniversary on March 20, has helped fulfill nearly 13,000 individual requests for help.

My Neighbor in Need has grown from a one-man operation to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in Montana and nine cities in Wisconsin.

In 2013, Dave launched a similar concept to meet the needs of Montana students. My Student in Need now operates in over 160 schools throughout Montana and has helped fulfill over 2,800 requests from teachers on behalf of their students.

``I always have believed that people genuinely want to help their neighbors if they were made aware of their needs,'' Dave said. ``My Neighbor in Need and My Student in Need truly represent the good in the communities we serve.''

Madam Speaker, for his dedication to our communities and his innovative approach to helping those in need, I recognize Dave Snuggs for his spirit of Montana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 47, this lands package.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank both the chairman and the ranking member for their bipartisan work on this important bill.

Our public lands define our Montana way of life. Three principles guide my approach: conserve our public lands, increase public access, and trust our local communities.

These principles guided me to protect the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. I met with the residents and community leaders, and the consensus is clear: They don't want mining in Paradise Valley. That is why I introduced the legislation to permanently ban mining on 30,000 acres of public land just outside Yellowstone Park. That measure is included in this package today.

This package also permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Susan and I raised our kids hunting, fishing, and backpacking on our public lands in Montana, and I know how critical LWCF is to Montana.

Permanently protecting the gateway to Yellowstone and permanently reauthorizing LWCF will help preserve and expand public access to our public lands.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge passage of this bill. It is so important to Montana.