Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I didn't prepare a speech today. I brought the bill to the floor because I have great empathy for my colleague on the other side of the aisle who has the unenviable task of somehow trying to defend this 200-page bill, the polluters over people act. These 200 pages put polluters first at every turn.

Mr. Speaker, if you don't believe me, I encourage you to read the bill. Buried in this 200-page bill, on page 40, is a provision that gives the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the EPA the power to grant a waiver to any refinery in this country from the key requirements of bedrock environmental laws that have governed this space for the better part of the last 50 years, since the days of President Richard Nixon.

Look at subparagraph (c) that enables any party who acts under a waiver granted under this bill to violate any environmental law and have blanket immunity. The Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, NEPA, you name it, they will waive it. That is not a bill that puts people first. It is a bill that puts polluters first. It is why I am proud to vote ``no'' and why I encourage every Member of this distinguished body to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, my colleague from Pennsylvania, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues here in this Chamber, I am blessed to be a parent. My wife and I are proud parents of a 4-year-old daughter, and we are deeply invested in her education and ensuring that she has the ability to be able to live her dreams. Mr. Speaker, you can imagine my surprise and my disappointment when I learned that the Republicans, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, would be spending our time today on this bill, the politics over parents act.

It is a surprise because for so many years my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have bemoaned the role of the Federal Government in public education.

They have lectured us about local control time and time again, and yet here they stand with a bill to impose a variety of unfunded mandates on school districts across the country and eroding local control, as my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Landsman) articulated.

I am disappointed because these unfunded mandates are so disconnected from the real concerns and fears that parents in my district back home in Colorado are experiencing every day.

Just yesterday the Denver metro area in Colorado was frozen with fear at the news of another incident of gun violence in one of our schools. At East High School, two teachers were wounded, one of them critically. This came on the heels just 2 weeks ago of the tragic death of a 16- year-old student at East High School as a result of gun violence. Our prayers, our thoughts, and our hearts go out to him, his family, his friends, and all the students and the parents who have been impacted in just the last 14 days as yet another incident of gun violence tears our community apart.

That is what parents in Colorado are concerned about. They are concerned about their students--their children--coming home from school alive. They are concerned about the ability of children to be able to get a quality education and not go hungry, to not be poisoned by lead pipes in some of the dilapidated buildings in rural and urban communities across our country, and about the cost of childcare.

Mr. Speaker, that is what they are concerned about.

Mr. Speaker, that is what parents and families are concerned about back in Colorado.

So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule so that we can get on to the business of addressing those concerns I have articulated on behalf of parents and families across our great country.

Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House.

Madam Clerk, we have heard a lot today, yesterday, and the day before about the potential history that may be made in this Chamber. But it is worth repeating to the American people watching the history that has already been made by the elevation of the dedicated, talented, passionate, and committed public servant and leader from the State of New York, the first African American and the first person of color to lead any political party in the House of Representatives in the history of our country, and that is Hakeem Jeffries.

Madam Clerk, it is with great pride that I rise to nominate the gentleman from New York, the man who has been the lead vote-getter 10 times and counting to be the Speaker of the House.

Madam Clerk, the last several days have been difficult for the country and for the American people as they have watched what has unfolded in this Chamber and as they have seen the dysfunction laid bare on the other side of the aisle.

I suspect that some Americans watching will recall the dysfunction of years past. My colleague on the other side of the aisle talked about history, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and the like.

Madam Clerk, I would like to take you through a more recent history because I can tell my friends that as a Member-elect from the great State of Colorado, this is not their first rodeo as far as dysfunction is concerned.

Four years ago today, I was sworn in with my colleagues from the class of 2018 during what became the most difficult and the longest government shutdown in the history of our country.

Why?

Because of the dysfunction and the chaos on the other side of the aisle.

The country then did what it has so often done: it looked to House Democrats to govern and to lead, and under the leadership of one of the greatest Speakers in the history of the country, Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi, that is exactly what we did.

If we want to talk about history, then let's talk about recent history. Two years ago tomorrow I stood here with so many of my friends in this Chamber as our democracy was attacked as our colleagues on the other side of the aisle tried to overturn an election.

And the country, yet again, did what it has done before: it looked to House Democrats to lead and to govern. That is exactly what we did when we certified the election, and we safeguarded the transfer of power.

So here we find ourselves again in unprecedented times in the early days of the 118th Congress. The first time in over 100 years in which the House of Representatives is unable to organize because the House Republican Conference cannot select a Speaker.

It is a sad day for this institution, but the country will do what it has done before: It will look to House Democrats to govern and to lead, and under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries, that is exactly what we will do.

Now, we have heard from so many over the course of last 3 days about the wisdom, the leadership, and the talents of this extraordinary leader from Brooklyn. But let me say why I believe that he is the person for this moment.

Centuries ago, our Nation's second President, John Adams, laid bare his fear that Members of this body would gain influence by meanness, not greatness; by ignorance, not learning.

Hakeem Jeffries' leadership is rooted in greatness and not meanness. It is rooted in learning and not ignorance. His approach is rooted in common sense, and not the empty and jaded cynicism and noise that we see so often in our political sphere. He is a leader for our times, which is why I believe he is the leader for this time.

The bottom line, I say to my colleagues, is this: it is 6:30 p.m. here in Washington, D.C. The House of Representatives, this sacred institution, needs a leader. It needs a Speaker. It needs a leader who will inspire us, a leader who knows that our best days are yet ahead, and a leader committed to our communities, our Constitution, and our country.

I am here to say that leader is Hakeem Jeffries of the great State of New York.

Madam Clerk, it gives me great honor as the chairman of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee to nominate Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House.

Madam Speaker, today I wish to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend and former colleague, Marguerite Salazar. Marguerite passed away on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. She is survived by her husband, Arnold, her two children, Ursula and Max, and her grandchildren, Marcos, Alicia, and Jacquez. She was 69 years old.

Marguerite worked tirelessly throughout her life to increase access to high-quality health care for all Americans. She served as the CEO of Valley-Wide Health Systems for over twenty-five years. Her dedication to her work led to her appointment by President Barack Obama as Region VIII director of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, where she oversaw implementation of the Affordable Care Act in six states. She would then go on to serve as Colorado's State Insurance Commissioner, and later served as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. I cherish the time we spent working together.

As a passionate and tireless advocate for others, Marguerite contributed greatly to her community and to all those who had the honor of knowing her. She will be remembered as an incredible public servant, a loving mother, and a caring friend.

Coloradans across our state send our thoughts and prayers to the Salazar family and to all of Marguerite's loved ones. As we mourn her passing, we will be comforted by our memories and inspired by her legacy.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler for his leadership and for yielding the time. I also thank my good friend and colleague, Mr. Cicilline from Rhode Island, who chairs the Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee in the House. I have had the privilege of serving with him in the last couple of years, including as vice chair of his subcommittee, during the course of the bipartisan antitrust investigation that we undertook in the 117th Congress.

I am here today, Madam Speaker, to rise in support of my bill, the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act.

The current filing fee structure established in 2001 does not match ongoing merger activity by American businesses. That is why this bill is not a particularly complicated or complex bill. We know these mergers require thorough review by our antitrust enforcer agencies, because it has allowed larger businesses to avoid paying their fair share and hurting small, mid-sized, and medium-sized businesses.

This bipartisan legislation adjusts that antiquated merger filing fee structure and fixes the filing fees to the Consumer Price Index. The bill includes a number of other provisions that I know have been discussed at great length today.

Let me just say it is a commonsense policy that ensures Federal antitrust enforcers have the income to support, ultimately, this important work that they are doing.

But I have to say I have been a bit shocked by the tenor of the debate on the House floor today.

Just to reiterate something that I think the chairman articulated previously, this is a bipartisan bill. Every Senator voted for it. I imagine that the ranking member's objections come as some shock to Senator Cruz or Senator Lee or Senator Hawley. These are not Democratic Senators, they are Republican Senators, and they support this

bill. I am befuddled as to understanding why the ranking member doesn't.

In any event, it is a good bill, it merits the support of Members on both sides of the aisle, and I am hoping that the ranking member may see the light when the vote comes up.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk a big game about deficit reduction. They used the same parliamentary procedure, budget reconciliation, when they were in power and in control of this majority, and they blew a $2 trillion hole in the deficit.

House Democrats here today, putting people over politics, have put a bill on the floor that would reduce the deficit by billions of dollars. Apparently, that is not enough for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

This bill will lower costs. It will create better-paying jobs for the American people, and it will invest in climate action and the existential threat of our time facing my constituents in Colorado.

Since 1982, Colorado has experienced natural disaster after natural disaster that has cost our State over $55 billion, including the most destructive fire in the history of my State just this past December.

It is time for us to take this climate crisis seriously. That is exactly what this bill does, through investments in R&D, through investments in energy storage and battery technology, and so much more to enable our transition to a clean energy future.

I am proud to support this bill because I believe it delivers for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I certainly urge my colleagues to support it, as well.

Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 5118.

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

Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act. This legislation represents another major effort to act on climate by responding to record-setting wildfires and drought that are impacting communities across our country.

I represent Colorado's Second Congressional District, and it was barely over 6 months ago, in December, when the Marshall Fire burned through Boulder County and became the most destructive fire in Colorado history. The fire destroyed a 30-acre subdivision in a matter of hours; nearly 200 homes burned to the ground and caused over $1 billion in damages.

This comes on the heels of my district experiencing the first and second largest wildfires in the history of Colorado in Larimer and Grand Counties in 2020, and as parts of the western United States is currently experiencing their driest drought conditions in over 1,000 years.

Fires have become the primary occupation of so many of our offices. Countless constituents come to us, grieving the loss of their homes, but also seeking the resources that they deserve from the Federal Government. We have a duty to provide our constituents with the support that they need to rebuild and to recover.

The reality is that we are living with a new normal as climate change results in a hotter, drier, planet where historic drought and record- setting wildfires are not merely a possibility, but an inevitability. Wildfires no longer occur in a season, but throughout the entire year.

I am grateful to my colleagues, to Chairman Grijalva, Chairman Scott, Chairwoman Maloney, Chairwoman Johnson, Chairman DeFazio, Chairman Pallone, Chairman Nadler, Chairwoman Velazquez, Chairwoman Waters, Chairwoman Lofgren, and House leadership for helping bring this package to the floor. This is exactly the kind of response that our constituents desperately want to see from Congress.

H.R. 5118 provides a whole-of-government response to the droughts and the wildfires impacting American communities across the country, and it combines more than 50 standalone pieces of legislation originating from nine different House committees, including Republican and Democratic bills.

We began this important work last year, as my colleagues know, working with President Biden to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included historic investments to reduce wildfire risks, improve ecosystem resilience, and ensure reliable water supplies.

The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act builds on those investments. It provides an increased starting wage for our brave and courageous Federal wildland firefighters. It invests in water security and in drought resilience and advancing wildfire science.

As climate-change-induced drought means long-term reductions in rain, snow, and necessary water supplies, this legislation invests in drought-proof water projects like water recycling, modern desalination, advancing water data management and technology, protecting and restoring ecosystems.

The bill also advances projects to deliver reliable water across Indian Country, including by incorporating key provisions from my bill, the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act. And it provides significant resources to prevent key Colorado River reservoirs from declining to critically low water levels, protecting the supplies of a river that 40 million Americans, 40 million, rely on.

H.R. 5118 also includes several other important pieces of legislation introduced by many Members in the body today. Provisions from Tim's Act, named after a heroic smoke jumper, Tim Hart, who tragically lost his life fighting a wildfire in New Mexico, would increase pay and benefits for Federal wildland firefighters, and that provision is part of this bill.

Finally, the bill includes provisions that would provide flexibility in Federal FEMA cost shares to support our local communities and to protect watersheds impacted by wildfire.

Madam Chair, this bill is a good bill, and it meets the moment for the American West. And for that reason, I will encourage my colleagues today to support it. I look forward to hearing from many of my colleagues who will speak on the bill.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Let me just say this: The gentleman is entitled to his own opinion but not to his own facts, and I take great umbrage at his reference to the word ``disgrace.''

He knows and my colleagues know just as well as anyone in this Chamber that the pay increase that was authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law, which, by the way, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle voted against, all but 13 of them, that pay increase expires a year from now.

Every wildland firefighter in the United States will receive a pay diminution if this bill isn't passed, if we don't authorize the pay increases that are in this bill. It is a disgrace to suggest anything otherwise.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).

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

I would, again, simply say the irony is rich. My colleagues will vote against the authorization for more wildland firefighter pay, and then when we fight for the appropriation, they will vote against it, too. So, it is a bit difficult to hear them make those claims.

I also would say that the 10-year Forest Service management plan is something we support, I support. I am glad to hear my colleagues support it because they all voted against it.

Literally, a year ago, when we passed a bill in this Chamber to authorize the Forest Service to spend $20 million to invest in forest management in Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, where were they? They voted against it. Now, they claim to support it, yet they will vote against a bill that authorizes more projects along those same lines.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

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

I have just a few key points.

First, I understand why there is some confusion on the other side regarding the firefighter pay provision because, again, my colleagues voted against increasing firefighter pay a year ago when the bipartisan infrastructure bill was before this body, so I understand that they are prepared to vote against it again.

I would just simply say with respect to the provisions of this bill, and whether they are bipartisan, partisan or not, I suspect that Representative LaMalfa, whose H.R. 4505 is in this bill, would disagree. I suspect H.R. 5345, a bill introduced by Mr. Moore which is also in this bill, I think tends to refute that fact.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton).

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

Madam Chair, I say thank you to my Republican colleague and neighbor from Utah and that we are glad we can get his bill into this important bipartisan Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act package.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran).

Madam Chair, I have great respect for my colleague from Washington, and we have worked together closely in the past.

I would just say that we are considering a number of amendments today, including an amendment from the Republican leader, Mr. McCarthy, who spent a great deal of time on the floor just a few moments ago talking about his particular amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Stansbury).

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez).

Madam Chair, I would say first, we are glad that we got Mr. LaMalfa's H.R. 4505 into this bill, and I am looking forward to supporting it today. I have to, again, respond to this argument that has been made about the 10-year plan.

I would hope that my colleagues and I could agree to argue the merits of the bill based on the text of the bill. The bill makes clear that the activities that the Forest Service is mandated to implement include the Wildfire Crisis Landscape Investments plan titled: ``Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: Initial Landscape Investments to Protect Communities and Improve Resilience in American's Forests'' dated April 2002. What is that document? That is

the 10-year plan that the Forest Service authorized that we voted for back last November. So this codifies that and builds upon it by giving the Forest Service more resources to do even more landscape restoration and forest management across the country.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), who has become a real leader here in our caucus and in the Congress on forestry and forest management.

Madam Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Madam Chair, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader.

Madam Chair, might I inquire how much time is remaining for the respective sides.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Chair, I heard with great interest my colleague from California's remarks. I have to say I did take umbrage with his characterization of the bills within this omnibus package, as I think he put it, as ``political messaging bills.''

I don't think that Mr. LaMalfa, a Republican from California, would characterize his bill, the Tribal Biochar Promotion Act, as a political messaging bill. His bill is in this bill.

I don't think that Mr. Moore, a Republican of Utah, would characterize his bill, the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act, as a political messaging bill. His bill is in this bill.

I don't think that Ms. Lofgren would characterize her bill, the Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act, as a political messaging bill. That bill is before the House today.

That is probably the best place for me to begin to close.

We have heard a lot from the other side about various mischaracterization's of firefighter pay and wildland firefighter pay and what this bill does and does not do. For the benefit of every American watching, I would encourage you to read the bill.

This body approved a pay increase for wildland firefighters a year ago. All but 13 of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle voted against it. You can check the Record. That pay increase expires a year from now. This bill seeks to make that pay increase permanent.

One could only hope that my colleagues who have made much about appropriating language will join me. I look forward to asking the ranking member after this vote to join me on

the bill to appropriate the firefighter pay increase that this bill will authorize.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, how much time do I have remaining.

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

Madam Chair, I have great respect for the ranking member. We work together and have had rigorous and robust debates about forest management. We have partnered on some bills, and we have opposed each other's respective positions on others. But the signs that the other side have been using during this debate about firefighter pay and the like are simply not true.

I understand if my colleagues on the other side believe that the firefighter pay increase that is authorized by this bill and that makes the pay increases that were authorized last year permanent, I understand if they believe that it is too expensive. They are welcome to make that argument. I disagree.

But I hope that every Member of this Chamber can, again, adhere to substantive debate on the text of the bill that is before the House, and the text of this bill authorizes an increase for wildland firefighters who are bravely sacrificing so much for our country. It authorizes additional dollars for the Forest Service to do incredibly important forest management work to prevent the next fire in Colorado, in Utah, in New Mexico, and in Arizona. The bill authorizes significant investments to ensure that the drought we are experiencing at record levels in the West can be addressed.

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

Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, even though I am not necessarily opposed.

I would simply say, Madam Chair, in the spirit of bipartisanship--which I think has been reflective of so many of the bills that are included within this important and critical package that has been brought to the floor today--that I appreciate the arguments that were made with respect to this particular amendment. I imagine that Members are going to consider it thoughtfully and make a judgment that is in the best interests of their constituents and their respective States on this particular amendment.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I certainly appreciate the gentlewoman's support, her attention, and her description about the need for funding to help rural communities recover from natural disasters and emergencies. I certainly share the desire to ensure that rural communities have access to clean and reliable drinking water.

I am looking forward to the House considering Mr. McCarthy's amendment as well as the many Republican bills and bipartisan bills that are included within this Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1808.

As the Chair, my fellow Coloradan, knows, just last year, we mourned the loss of 10 individuals who were shot, murdered, at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, in my district. Last week, we honored the 10-year anniversary of the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shooting.

The people in our communities fear whether they are even safe to walk into their local grocery store and buy food for their families without the threat of gun violence.

Since the Federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004, the scourge of gun violence has only grown more pervasive across our country.

We have come together in the past to protect our communities. In 1994, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle

joined together to pass a similar piece of legislation to that that we are voting on today.

I humbly ask my colleagues that we do the same this evening. Let's pass this bill for our children and for safer communities.

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

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1254 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1254, which provides for consideration of H.R. 3771, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act, under a structured rule. It provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, making in order one amendment, and provides one motion to recommit.

The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, under a structured rule. The rule self-executes a manager's amendment from Chairman Grijalva, makes in order three amendments, provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources, and provides one motion to recommit.

The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 6929, the Susan Muffley Act, under a structured rule. The rule self-executes a manager's amendment from Chairman Neal, makes in order one amendment, provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means, and provides one motion to recommit.

Finally, the rule provides the majority leader or his designee the ability to en bloc requested roll call votes on suspension bills considered on July 26 through July 29. That authority lasts through July 29.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to have the opportunity to argue the rule today on three important bills. The first, as I mentioned, is H.R. 3771, which has been brought forward by our colleague from Washington (Ms. Jayapal). We are grateful to her for her leadership on this particular bill, the South Asian Heart Awareness and Research Act.

As you may know, Mr. Speaker, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. South Asian Americans are four times more likely to be at risk of developing heart disease than the general population. Congress must invest in strategies to reverse that deadly trend.

This legislation establishes a grant program to provide for community groups involved in South Asian heart health promotion. The bill also supports health research by authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct research related to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other heart-related diseases among various populations.

Again, I thank Representatives Jayapal and Wilson for not only raising awareness about the risk factors for heart disease but also ensuring that those living with heart disease receive the care, the treatment, and the support that they need.

The rule also provides for consideration of a second bill, H.R. 6929, the Susan Muffley Act of 2022, brought forward by our distinguished colleague from Michigan (Mr. Kildee). We are very grateful to Mr. Kildee for his leadership on this particular bill and the clarion call that he has offered year after year in fighting for relief for those in the manufacturing sector.

As the Speaker may know, the economic downturn that started in December 2007 significantly impacted the manufacturing sector throughout the United States, including Michigan. During this time, the auto industry underwent a major restructuring with the assistance of the Obama administration through the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry. General Motors and Chrysler required financial assistance from the Federal Government at that time.

The Delphi Corporation, which Mr. Kildee will explain in greater detail, formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, was a major supplier of auto parts and components in the industry. In 2005, Delphi declared bankruptcy due to a downturn in sales. During their reorganization, General Motors agreed to assist Delphi by assuming some of the company's pension liabilities.

General Motors backed out of that deal in July 2009, and the pension plans were terminated by the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a government corporation that insures the pension benefits of workers in the private sector.

The Federal Government cut retirement benefits by as much as 70 percent,

Mr. Speaker, for more than 20,000 salaried retirees.

The Susan Muffley Act, brought forward by Mr. Kildee, will right this wrong. The bill is named after Susan Muffley, whose husband was one of the 20,000 retirees who saw their benefits reduced when the plan was terminated. She joined the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association, and she became part of the core leadership of that group, which fought to restore their pension benefits.

Mr. Speaker, fundamentally, this is a pretty simple bill. If you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to retire with dignity in America.

These hardworking retirees have waited too long to receive the benefits that they earned, but thanks to Representatives Kildee and Turner, and with the support of this Chamber, they won't have to wait much longer.

The rule provides for consideration of one final bill, my bill, H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.

Catastrophic wildfires and drought, exacerbated by the climate crisis, are wreaking havoc on much of the Western United States and across many regions of our country, impacting millions of Americans, including in my State, the great State of Colorado.

This crisis is harming ecosystems, impacting water supplies and food production, and risking the well-being and the livelihood of countless families.

The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act represents a major step by House Democrats to address the dual crises of wildfire and drought plaguing communities across the country, communities like those in my district, Colorado's Second Congressional District.

The legislation makes specific strategic and targeted investments to protect communities from catastrophic wildfires, reduce risks of future fires, and help our firefighters currently fighting these flames. Similarly, the bill improves drought resiliency by investing in water projects with rapid timelines, modernizing data and technology, and providing near-term drought response.

The package builds on the investments that were made as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law that this Chamber passed last year and supports a whole-of-government commitment to addressing the climate threats that are already impacting millions of Americans.

This bill is a critically important bill, and if I might, I will offer one final story to explain why.

On December 30 of last year, the Marshall fire swept through the city of Louisville, the town of Superior, and unincorporated areas of Boulder County, all incredible communities that I have the privilege of representing here in the United States Congress. That fire destroyed and damaged more than 1,000 homes in a single night. It became the most destructive wildfire that our State has ever known.

Over the last several months, I have heard countless concerns from Coloradans across our great State, including in my district, about future wildfires, about our ability to recover, about our ability to build resiliency and tackle the drought that we are experiencing.

This bill meets those needs. It meets the needs of the American West, and that is why I am proud to support the bill and to present this evening on the rule for consideration of the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, before I yield to Mr. Kildee, let me just respond a bit to my distinguished colleague from the State of Texas to say, first, I know he made reference to priorities vis-a-vis the appropriations legislation.

I think that most Americans who are watching these proceedings tonight would agree that our work to help Americans stay healthy is an important priority, that our work to increase firefighter pay for those brave firefighters that are sacrificing so much to keep our communities safe, that that is an important priority; that righting a wrong that unjustly impacted tens of thousands of hardworking American families, workers in Michigan and Ohio, that that is an important priority.

I will say with respect to the wildfire bill and the gentleman's comments regarding forest management, I agree with regard to his praise for the Forest Service's 10-year national wildfire plan. That plan was funded through the bipartisan infrastructure bill which, unfortunately, so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle opposed.

But for House Democrats getting that bill done, the wildfire plan that my friend praises, would not have been enacted by the Forest Service. The good news, Mr. Speaker, is that my colleague has another opportunity to vote on a bill that would authorize additional projects that he and so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle apparently support.

That bill is the bill that we are debating this week. That bill is the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act because it includes an authorization for funding of additional projects so the Forest Service can continue doing the important work that it is doing in Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and across the Western United States.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

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

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

I will yield to my distinguished colleague from Colorado in just a moment, but before I do, I would be remiss if I didn't say that I heard the comment that my distinguished colleague from Texas made earlier with great interest regarding the supposed partisanship of the three bills that we are considering today under this rule.

I think it is important for both the Speaker and the American people, those who are watching, to perhaps clarify what it is precisely that we are debating this evening and what we will be debating this week.

Just as a reminder, again, a bill to help Americans stay healthy; a bill to right a wrong that was generated through the bankruptcy of General Motors that impacted hundreds of thousands of Americans, hardworking families in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and across our country; and addressing the scourge of wildfires across the United States, including by increasing the pay for our Federal wildland firefighters. That is what these three bills that we are going to be considering this week and that are part of this structured rule are all about.

I have to say to the gentleman from New York, whom I have great respect for, that I say thank you to him for supporting one of these bills, H.R. 6929, the bill brought forward by Mr. Kildee. I was a bit surprised when the gentleman from Texas said that these proposals were not bipartisan, when, in fact, H.R. 6929 is supported by many of my colleagues from the other side of the aisle and led by Mr. Turner of Ohio.

I was just as surprised when he described the bills in that fashion, since H.R. 3771 is also co-led by a Republican member, Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.

I was just as surprised when he characterized our wildfire bill in that fashion, given that Mr. LaMalfa and Mr. Moore have two bills included within that omnibus package.

These are bipartisan solutions in my view and in the view of many of my colleagues, and it is important that we proceed to debating them on the merits, which is precisely why I encourage my colleagues to vote for the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, today's rule is a testament to the hard work of so many of my colleagues and the House Democratic Caucus.

These underlying bills will make our communities more resilient. They count for the impacts of climate change, invest in our Nation's public health infrastructure, and fix a decades-old mistake by restoring terminated pensions for hardworking Americans across our country.

Contrary to what my Republican colleague would have you believe about these bills, two of these bills are bipartisan. They are co-led by Republican Members of the House.

The other bill incorporates multiple bills and legislative proposals that have been introduced by Republican Members of the House.

Mr. Speaker, Americans are worth investing in. Our families, our students, our firefighters, our manufacturers, our communities are worth investing in.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on this rule.

The text of the material previously referred to by Mr. Burgess is as follows:

Amendment to House Resolution 1254

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 6. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the

House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the

resolution (H. Res. 1255) expressing continued support for

all U.S. Border Patrol agents who carry out the important

mission of securing our borders. The resolution shall be

considered as read. The previous question shall be considered

as ordered on the resolution and preamble to adoption without

intervening motion or demand for division of the question

except one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by

the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on

Homeland Security. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to

the consideration of House Resolution 1255.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning in support of this amendment offered by myself and Chairman Grijalva.

The amendment would amend H.R. 7900 to add the text of two bills, H.R. 577, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, otherwise known as the CORE Act, and H.R. 1052, the Grand Canyon Protection Act.

Both of these bills have already passed the House multiple times with bipartisan support. In fact, each of the bills has passed this Chamber four times, including last year in the NDAA and the year before that.

They would protect public lands, natural resources, Tribal cultural sites, and help preserve our access to clean water, clean air, and a livable environment.

My bill, the CORE Act, in particular, would conserve over 400,000 acres of public lands and consists of four titles that Coloradans have been asking Congress to pass for literally over a decade.

One provision in particular that I would note is the Camp Hale and 10th Mountain Division legacy. This includes establishing the first- ever national historic landscape at Camp Hale in my district in Eagle County, Colorado, in honor of the storied legacy of the Army's 10th Mountain Division in Colorado and around the world.

The mountains of Colorado are where American soldiers received the training that allowed them to defeat the Germans in the northern Italian Alps and lead our Nation to victory during World War II.

Today, Camp Hale is home to a network of 34 backcountry huts connected by 350 miles of trails. Hut visitors share the special spirit of the 10th Mountain Division in their pursuit of excellence, self- reliance, and love of the outdoors.

We believe this national historic designation will certainly ensure that future generations can learn about the incredible contributions to our country by the patriots in the 10th Mountain Division.

We believe that this bill would do much to preserve our public lands in Colorado and beyond.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mr. Speaker, a couple quick points.

One, I certainly have a lot of respect for my colleague, and he and I work together on a number of different issues. I think we can have a debate about uranium mining. I would hope that he would rethink or reevaluate his comment regarding the dead of night because he knows, just as well as I do, that these amendments come as no surprise to anyone in this Chamber. They have passed repeatedly in the NDAA. They were debated and obviously considered as part of the Rules Committee--I serve on the Rules Committee--it is not our choice that this debate, in particular, is happening at 1:30 in the morning--certainly not mine. I would hope my distinguished colleague on the other side would reconsider that comment.

With respect to uranium mining, let me just simply say that I am glad to hear that my colleague believes that there should be no mining in the Grand Canyon. If that is the case, I would certainly encourage him to vote for this bill because it is precisely what Chairman Grijalva is attempting to do by virtue of proposing this bill.

As the ranking member of the full Natural Resources Committee knows, the withdrawal in this particular bill covers less than 1 percent of known U.S. uranium reserves. I certainly believe we can meet our uranium needs more cheaply and easily elsewhere in the United States without mining the Grand Canyon--it is obviously a national monument that we all treasure as Americans.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time the respective sides have remaining?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would just simply say this with respect to wildfires: My district has been the epicenter for wildfires in Colorado over the course of the last 3 years. Two of the largest wildfires in the history of Colorado happened in the Second Congressional District, and the most destructive fire in the history of our State happened just 6 months ago in my community.

I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues. I am the co-chair of the bipartisan Wildfire Caucus with Representative John Curtis out of Utah. We have worked closely together on this issue.

We passed a bipartisan infrastructure law out of this Chamber as well as the Senate, and the President signed it. It allocated literally billions of dollars to forest management, to doing that critical mitigation work, which is already happening in Colorado, in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, thanks to that bill. It is unfortunate that only 13 of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle chose to join us in that effort.

With respect to support for the underlying legislation, we can disagree about the contours of this particular bill. What we can't disagree about, in my view, are the facts: Gunnison County, Pitkin County, San Juan County, Ouray County, San Miguel County, Eagle County, the city of Aspen, the town of Avon, Basalt, Carbondale, Gunnison, Mountain Village, Ridgway, Telluride, Glenwood Springs--city after city, town after town, county after county, across the great State of Colorado, support the CORE Act, and it is because the vast majority of the people in my wonderful State support it, too.

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly why I ask my colleagues to support it tonight, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a proud Coloradan, a champion for equality and a beacon of hope in our community, Clela Rorex, who passed away on June 19, 2022.

Clela served her state honorably as the Clerk & Recorder for Boulder County from 1975 to 1977. Early in her tenure, in 1975, she became the first county clerk in the nation to issue a marriage license to a same- sex couple. And in so doing, she changed the lives of countless families across the country. Clela firmly believed in equality under the law, and was a proud champion for justice and inclusion, believing that every American's freedom to live without fear of discrimination must be protected.

Clela was truly a pillar in our community and a symbol of hope for families across our country. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all those who knew and loved her.

As we mourn her passing, we will remember her life and be inspired by her devotion to making this world a better place.

Madam Speaker, I rise today not to offer my words but the words of a brave Coloradan, Tom Mauser. Tom's son, Daniel, was murdered at Columbine High School 23 years ago in 1999. He was 15 years old, the same age as me.

Tom shared with me that in the weeks before his death, Daniel asked him, ``Dad, did you know there are loopholes in the Brady Bill?''

At 15 years old, Daniel was able to see the gaping holes in our Nation's gun laws. Tragically, so were the two 18-year-old killers, teenagers that, in Tom's words, ``saw loopholes big enough to drive a truck through.''

As Tom said to me today, what has Congress really done to protect our precious children from gun violence in those 23 years? Shamefully, nothing.

It is time for Congress to do its job. It is time to act and to demonstrate that you give a damn about our children. Tom is right. I beg my colleagues, support this commonsense bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3823) to amend title 11, United States Code, to modify the eligibility requirements for a debtor under chapter 13, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 3823.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Senator Durbin and Senator Grassley for their work on this bill. I also thank my colleague on the other side of the aisle, Representative Cline, for being the Republican lead on the bill.

The Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment and Technical Corrections Act shows that we can still come together in a bipartisan and bicameral way and make commonsense changes to the law that help small businesses on Main Street and everyday Americans.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Speaker, many sole proprietors and middle-class families who live in high cost-of-living areas were ineligible to receive chapter 13 bankruptcy protections because the debt limits were far too low. For families forced into bankruptcy who wanted to keep their homes, vehicles, or any essential property, and were willing to pay off their debts under court supervision, chapter 13 is their only lifeline. The alternative for these families can be devastating. Many have lost everything, including their homes.

The story is similar for small businesses. In 2019, the American Bankruptcy Institute's Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy found that the artificially low chapter 13 limits were driving people away from the relief that they needed, and they called on this Congress to act.

Sole proprietors who could otherwise save their businesses and protect their families have been forced to liquidate everything because they exceeded the debt limits of chapter 13.

The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019, the SBRA, as the Speaker pro tempore knows, created subchapter V in chapter 11 bankruptcy, a voluntary option for small businesses in need of expedited bankruptcy relief. But that low debt limit meant that many small businesses simply could not take advantage of the program.

The travesty of the pandemic really brought the need to increase these debt limits into stark relief. The CARES Act raised the debt limit threshold under the SBRA. That was done on a bipartisan basis by this House. It provided important protections to families and homeowners, but those provisions were temporary.

My office has been contacted by countless professionals from all over the bankruptcy community expressing the need for this legislation. The National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, an association of the bankruptcy judges of the United States, has said that the SBRA was one of the best modifications to the Bankruptcy Code in recent years. It assisted nearly 3,000 small businesses across the country that were in need of expedited relief through the pandemic. The Office of the United States Trustee Program also reported that more than half of these small business debtors received successful outcomes through a confirmed reorganization plan in 6 months or less.

Despite the success of this program, the debt limit increase under the SBRA expired earlier this year, just a few months ago, on March 27, 2022, which created an environment of uncertainty and unpredictability within the bankruptcy arena. Today's legislation retroactively restores that higher debt limit and extends it for another 2 years, allowing more businesses to take advantage of these protections under court supervision.

This bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and I certainly hope that we can get a similar level of bipartisan support here in the House. This bill will make a big difference by allowing families to keep their homes, vehicles, and livelihoods intact while they repay their debt.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I will simply close by first thanking the distinguished chairwoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), who is always so articulate and I am grateful for her leadership and kind remarks.

I also thank Mr. Cicilline, the chairman of the subcommittee of jurisdiction, whose leadership was pivotal; and as I mentioned before, my Senate partners and Representative Cline.

At the end of the day, I think we have a real opportunity today to honor American ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by providing our small businesses across the United States in Main Street after Main Street with the opportunity and the tools that they need to be able to survive.

Mr. Speaker, I think this bill is a small step in that direction. It is bipartisan. It passed the Senate unanimously, and I certainly hope that it will pass this Chamber unanimously as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Rule and my colleague's legislation, the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act.

As wildfires grow larger and last longer, federal firefighters answer the call of duty, leaving behind their lives and families for months at a time. Our firefighters are routinely exposed to occupational hazards ranging from carbon monoxide to cancer-causing chemicals released during fires.

I wholeheartedly support this legislation and efforts to establish a science-based list of diseases for which an automatic presumption of work-related illness would apply. This is a commonsense policy that ensures our firefighters get the care they deserve.

I am thankful that House Leadership brought this legislation to a vote ahead of this year's wildfire season. Our communities are depending on federal fire crews to keep us safe and reduce the threat of wildfire--federal firefighters should be able to rely on the federal government for livable wages and healthy work conditions in return.

That's why I introduced the Tim's Act, bipartisan legislation to overhaul federal firefighter pay, benefits and classification. I urge Congress to pass Tim's Act and recognize the needs of our brave wildland firefighters who risk their lives to keep our lands and our families safe.

I encourage a yes vote and thank my colleague, Rep. Carbajal, for bringing this legislation.