Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained at the White House for a bill signing with President Trump. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 121.

Madam Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 115.

Amendment No. 70 Offered by Mr. Neguse

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this very important package, S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act.

This bill is comprised of dozens of smaller bills, including two that I have had the opportunity to sponsor: the Emery County Public Land Management Act and the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act.

The Emery County bill has been a locally driven effort and will bring long-term certainty to the area through various designations and expanding Goblin Valley State Park for better management. It will also generate millions of dollars for Utah school kids through the School Trust Land Exchanges.

Also in this package, the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act will ensure access to critical water sources and continue to promote the recovery of four endangered species.

There are many, many who deserve praise for their years and decades of work on these bills. I would especially like to thank Republican leader Bishop, who has been invaluable in pushing these bills across the finish line and, on a personal note, has mentored me through very difficult public lands issues.

Especially today, I would like to give appreciation and recognition to Emery County commissioners, who had the ability to see into the future to understand how important this was for their county and to work through all the difficult issues.

Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle for their willingness to work with me, to see this through our eyes and to explain this through their eyes. I am grateful for the friendships and relationships that I have developed through this process.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing both of my bills headed to the President's desk with the passage of S. 47.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the Transparency in Student Lending Act.

College education can be a life-changing investment, but it can come at a tremendous cost. Right now, 44 million Americans collectively hold $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. The Federal Government lends 90 percent of these dollars. However, unlike other lenders, the Federal Government does not provide students with complete information about the total cost of their loan, leaving borrowers unaware of hidden costs and fees until they enter the repayment phase. I have introduced this bill to require complete information be provided to students before they take out a loan.

Mr. Speaker, I represent the youngest congressional district in the United States, and many of my constituents are struggling with student debt. With this legislation, we can help young people make fully informed financial decisions for their families and their futures.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Chabot. I rise in support of H.R. 246, the Stimulating Innovation through Procurement Act of 2019. I am pleased to lead as an original coauthor and thank Ms. Finkenauer for her collaboration and effort on this important legislation.

Much of the country's success can be attributed to pioneering individuals and small companies, folks wh have discovered a problem and developed an efficient, cost-effective solution. Innovation, research, and advancement in technology are our major drivers in today's postmodern world, and it is critical that we continue promoting the development of new and advanced technologies.

I am proud that in my home State of Utah we foster a thriving tech hub and innovation marketplace where the tech industry grew last year faster than any other State in the Nation. But there is still more work to be done in Utah and across the country.

This bill reinforces my commitment to small business success by stimulating technology innovation through the Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR program.

Through adding critical acquisition personnel into SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, this legislation will ensure these small businesses have a voice in the procurement process and can compete on a level playing field and have a chance at success. It adds zero cost to the taxpayer.

This bill is a commonsense, forward-leaning bill that protects Federal investment into innovation and technology research by small businesses and helps these innovators succeed.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and sacrifice of one of Utah's finest. Master Officer Joseph Shinners of the Provo Police Department was, tragically, killed on Saturday night in the line of duty.

At the time, he was responding to assist in the arrest of a dangerous fugitive with a history of violence towards citizens and police officers when he was struck by gunfire and died as a result of his injuries.

Joe leaves behind his loving wife, Kaylyn, and 1-year-old son, Logan.

Mr. Speaker, my heart aches every time an officer is killed in the line of duty, but this one is personal. When Joe made his decision to work for Provo PD, I was his mayor. In a very real way, I feel responsible for his training, his work at Provo City, and his safety. I am deeply saddened by this terrible news.

I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives, and I speak for the entire Provo community when I say that Joe is a true hero. He gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect us, and we owe him and his family our deepest gratitude.

The chief of the Provo Police Department, Richard Ferguson, described him as intelligent, honorable, hardworking, and one of his all-stars. Chief Ferguson described him as the officer you would like to show up at your door in your crucible moment.

He was born in Boston and graduated high school in Springfield. He grew up in a home that valued and respected public service, with his siblings serving as policemen and his father, a retired fire captain.

During his 3 years of service at the Provo Police Department, he worked mostly in Provo's thriving downtown and on the SWAT team. He also served on the bicycle patrol and as a field training officer.

Most importantly, he was a good man, husband, and father. One of his fellow officers remembered that there was a time that he arrested someone and gave them a hug just as he was arrested to offer them comfort. That was the type of cop he was.

My wife, Sue, and I offer our deepest sympathy to Provo PD, the family and friends of Joe, and hope that they know we will never forget their sacrifice--especially to Kaylyn and Logan.

Our brave policemen and -women face serious potential danger every time they say good-bye to their families and leave their homes to go on patrol, and they know that it is possibly the last time they see them and it could be their final good-bye.

I take this moment to express my sincere appreciation to all of our Nation's first responders and police officers, but today, especially, to those of Provo City. We love you, respect you, and thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life and service of Corporal David Hyrum Hiatt. David has lived in Provo, Utah for several years and has longstanding ties to the original pioneer settlers in Utah. He enlisted in June 1955 after graduating from Brigham Young University. He was assigned to Fort Ord in Monterey, California and was discharged on July 21, 1960. During his time

in the military, Fort Ord was used as a staging location for the Korean War and other military activities in Japan, and South Pacific locations.

David was an outstanding example to his family, community, and country. As we mourn the passing of David, we honor the sacrifice of all who have served, and those who continue to serve, in our Armed Forces. I am grateful for the many generations of men and women who have served our country and sacrificed more than we can imagine. We should all live our lives in a way that is worthy of their service.

May God bless the Hiatt Family and others who grieve, and may God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have closely followed the recent developments in the war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

This is one of the world's deadliest wars. Air strikes and other acts of war have killed tens of thousands of civilians. Yemen has become a wasteland, with widespread disease and famine. An estimated 85,000 children have been killed or died from malnutrition. The United Nation estimates that Yemen is now facing the specter of a famine threatening 14 million people: half of their population. Three-quarters of Yemen's population now requires urgent humanitarian assistance.

The time has come for us to reconsider our support for this disastrous war and to consider the moral imperatives that form the foundation of our values, as well as our strategic interests. In this instance, I believe both our moral values and strategic interest require that we reassess our involvement in this tragic human catastrophe. We must reject war and pursue peace.

The day I was sworn in as a Member of Congress, I joined the House in passing a resolution calling on all parties involved in the conflict to increase efforts to prevent civilian casualties and to increase humanitarian access. In addition, the resolution denounced the conduct of the war in Yemen that is, directly or indirectly, inconsistent with the laws of armed conflict, including the deliberate targeting of civilians

and the use of civilians as human shields.

It is my fear that our continued support of this war will only increase resentment of the United States and the region. It will diminish U.S. security and undermine America's moral authority and reputation as a champion of our foundational values such as human rights and civil liberties.

In addition to the horrendous humanitarian costs in Yemen itself, it makes the entire region less secure and makes humanitarian disasters in the wider region more likely. But more importantly, what is happening in Yemen is just simply wrong. It is out of harmony with America's values. Ironically, the very reason we want to support a strong ally in Saudi Arabia is to prevent this type of situation, not foster it.

These conditions provide a breeding ground for violent extremism and for terrorist groups to expand. Prolonging the war in Yemen only strengthens the Islamic state in Yemen and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. Additionally, the conflict undertaken by the Saudi-led coalition under the objective of ``eliminating Iranian influence'' has achieved just the opposite.

Iran has been able to use the conflict as an opportunity to establish a foothold across the Middle East. They send soldiers to prop up a dictator, Bashar al-Assad, in Syria. Additionally, Iran-supported Hezbollah is now the dominant political force in Lebanon, and able to threaten neighboring Israel, our closest ally in the region, with its growing missile and rocket arsenal. This threat to Israel is in addition to the ongoing barrage of missiles fired into Israel by Iran- supported Hamas in Gaza.

I welcomed Secretary of Defense Mattis' comments in October, when he said, ``It's time to stop this.'' He urged all parties to sit down and pursue peace. Secretary of Defense Mattis' comments were followed by Secretary of State Pompeo's statement in which he said, ``The time is now for the cessation of hostilities.''

I echo Secretary of Mattis' further comments when he said, ``We have got to move toward a peace effort here, and we can't say we are going to do it sometime in the future.'' We should support the U.N.-led efforts to bring peace to this devastated country and urge the Saudi- led coalition and Houthis to start peace negotiations immediately.

Ending our support for the Saudi-led coalition highlights the gross inhumanity of the war and that we do not support the way the conflict in Yemen is being conducted. It underlines our growing concerns about the behavior of Saudi Arabia as it affects larger American strategic interests in the region and our interest in preserving global humanitarian norms. Ending our support for the war will force the Saudi-led coalition to reconsider its policies and will signal our support for peace negotiations as, as called for by the administration.

American foreign policy requires a balance between our national security and moral values. In the case of the war in Yemen, these competing imperatives are not in conflict. Ending U.S. support for the war in Yemen supports both American strategic interests and humanitarian values.

Mr. Speaker, in Utah, wildfires are disastrous events that don't just cause property damage. They can substantially disrupt the lives of families and have, unfortunately, become far too common in the West.

Last month, Mayor Ellis of Elk Ridge reached out to me with a remarkable story from his community. In September, the Bald Mountain fire threatened Elk Ridge, nearly claiming countless homes. However, instead of burning into the sea, the fire suddenly halted, stayed behind the mountain, and spared the community.

Mayor Ellis told me that after this remarkable event, many locals began to refer to the peak as ``Miracle Mountain.'' He then asked if we could commemorate this event by naming the mountain, and I happily took up the task.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to sponsor legislation, the Miracle Mountain Designation Act, supported by the entire Utah House delegation and Governor Herbert to name this mountain ``Miracle Mountain.''

Mr. Speaker, I hope this bill, once passed, will memorialize an event of great significance in this community.

Mr. Speaker, as we recognize Veterans Day this week, I would like to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Major Brent Taylor.

Major Taylor and I had the great privilege of serving together as mayors of each of our hometowns in Utah.

Brent first enlisted after the terrorist attacks on September 11 and quickly became a major in the National Guard. He served in Afghanistan and twice in Iraq before returning to Afghanistan for what would become his fourth and final tour.

On November 3, Major Taylor was tragically killed in an insider attack by one of those he was trying to help.

As our communities, State, and Nation mourn this tragic loss, his dear wife, Jennie, reminded us why so many choose to serve this great country. In her words:

The price of freedom surely feels incredibly high to all

those of us who know and love our individual soldier. But the

value of freedom is immeasurable to all who know and love

America, and all that she represents.

Let us never forget those who have given their lives, their families, and their futures for our precious freedoms.

May God bless the Taylor family and others who grieve, and may God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as thousands of Utahans in my district are returning to their homes after being evacuated due to wildfires that came within blocks of their homes.

The Pole Creek fire and the Bald Mountain fire have engulfed over 100,000 acres of land and are still burning strong. It is a testament to our brave firefighters and our incredible

community of volunteers that not a single life has been lost and property has been protected.

Although this fire season has been one of the worst our State has ever seen, it has brought out the best in Utah. During the height of the Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires, the Red Cross was overwhelmed.

Now, Mr. Speaker, you might assume that that being overwhelmed came because of the 6,000 evacuees who needed a home. But, in reality, the Red Cross was overwhelmed because the list of people coming into the shelter offering homes was longer than the list of people needing homes. The Red Cross had to close shop.

As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I visited the Red Cross shelter and found a sign on the door that said, ``Please, no more donations.'' They had too many donations from Utahans.

This is not the first time the Red Cross has had to close shop early. The people of Utah go out of their way to help others. As usual, Utah stepped up in the face of tragedy, and I plan to work to prevent future catastrophic events like this.

Before I came to Congress, I was mayor for 8 years. I understand how overwhelming it can be to coordinate disaster response, recovery, and manage the daily operations of a community.

In my district, many small towns and cities are overcome with challenges as they work out confusing jurisdictional responsibilities of the State and Federal Government, on top of actively rebuilding and preparing for the aftermath of the wildfires.

To help in this effort, last week, I convened a group of mayors, county commissioners, State representatives, and emergency personnel so that local leaders could have direct access to the Federal Government, share resources, and prepare for what comes next. I stand committed to helping our communities obtain the resources they need to rebuild their homes, businesses, and prevent further damage.

We can all agree that managing our forest is critical. While we won't prevent every fire, we need forest management reforms to reduce the risk of fires. I have already started this discussion with my colleagues in Washington.

Last week, I spoke with the interim Chief of the Forest Service, and today I met with Secretary Perdue, who oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which includes the Forest Service. Both of these conversations focused on how to best manage our forests and prevent similar fires from happening in the future.

As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, I look forward to advancing policies that protect lives and protect property throughout Utah.

As we look ahead to preventing these catastrophic wildfires, let's not forget the value of our local officials and their roles in forest management decisions. They know better than anyone the challenges they face in their own backyards.

Should another fire strike, I am confident that Utahans will once again step up to the challenge and take care of our great State and the wonderful people in it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate our friend, Taiwan, as it commemorates the 107th anniversary of its National Day on October 10th.

The 23.5 million people on the island represent the only democracy in the Chinese speaking world. Taiwan has come to represent many of the same principles we hold dear. With its sixth successful direct presidential election in 2016, Taiwan continues to serve as a proud example of democratic success in the Asia-Pacific region.

Taiwan has been a reliable partner in East Asia. U.S. trade in goods with Taiwan reached $68 billion last year, making Taiwan the United States' 11th largest trading partner. More specifically, Taiwan is Utah's 6th largest trading partner and last year received $636 million in exports from Utah.

On Taiwan's National Day, we reaffirm the strength of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and the United States commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act. Many years ago, I lived in Taiwan where I was able to learn its customs, culture, history, and language. I developed a great personal appreciation for its people and their way of life. It is an honor and privilege to support our friend and partner, Taiwan, and highlight the bonds that connect us.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member for supporting the Small Business Access to Capital and Efficiency Act, or Small Business ACE Act. I am also grateful to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans) for joining as a cosponsor and for my colleagues on the Small Business Committee for advancing this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the Small Business ACE Act is critical to reducing burdensome red tape and regulations that fall so disproportionately on small business. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy across the country and certainly in my home State of Utah where they make up over 99 percent of all Utah businesses and contribute two- thirds of all job growth. Without a doubt, the strength of our economy depends on these small businesses.

Although the economy continues to improve, small businesses and entrepreneurs often face challenges accessing capital. To assist creditworthy innovators, the Small Business Administration offers numerous lending programs, including the 504 loan program. Without using a single taxpayer dollar, the program has helped many well-known businesses throughout the United States and Utah.

In the past 20 years, the 504 program has supported over 4,500 entrepreneurs and nearly 64,000 jobs in Utah alone. However, despite the program's positive status, Federal red tape and conflicting regulations have hampered its development, weighing it down with roadblocks and uncertainty. As a result, many small businesses still have difficulty accessing capital.

The Small Business ACE Act will help fix this by eliminating Federal regulations burdening the program and harmonizing conflicting real estate appraisal thresholds that have prevented eligible small businesses from accessing capital.

I am pleased that my bill has broad support from important stakeholders, like the National Association of Development Companies, Mountain West Small Business Finance, and Utah Certified Development Company, that know better than anyone just how essential the 504 small business lending program is and how critical it is that we improve it. By reducing burdens on small businesses, we help ensure not only their individual success, but the success for our Nation's economy.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to put forth this commonsense legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased the House is considering my bill today, H.R. 4824, the Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018.

I want to express my appreciation to Senator Orrin Hatch, who introduced the bill in the Senate, as well Chairman Rob Bishop for moving the bill through the Natural Resources Committee.

I would also like to thank various stakeholders that have taken part in the process creating this bill. Additionally, I would like to thank the 12 Members who joined me on this important bill as cosponsors, including my good friend from Montana (Mr. Gianforte).

The need to give greater access to high-speed broadband services for rural communities is broadly supported, evidenced by the diverse coalition of stakeholders supporting my commonsense legislation, including NTCA, WTA, the American Library Association, the Utah Education and Telehealth Network, the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, the Utah Rural Broadband Association, and the Navajo Nation, to name just a few.

The purpose of my bill is simple: We need to do a better job connecting our rural and remote communities with greater access to broadband and high-speed internet. I believe that increasing access to broadband services in rural areas, like many places in my home State of Utah, is an important first step to help bridge the digital divide and to provide an enhanced quality of life for these areas. This infrastructure is critical to ensure schools, hospitals, libraries, and small businesses have access to modern-day internet speeds. This legislation will provide economic development opportunities for small businesses and residents in our rural towns.

Currently, the permitting process for a broadband project across Federal lands can take many years, in some cases, as much as 8 or 9 years. In my view, this is completely unacceptable. My bill improves and speeds up the permitting process on Federal lands, while also safeguarding and enforcing current-day Federal environmental laws.

I have visited three different Native American Tribes since my election to Congress and have learned some of the unique problems facing these communities. I was proud to work with several Native American Tribes, including the Navajo Nation in my district, to ensure Tribal governments can utilize these new programs established within my bill.

I was touched by a letter of support I received this week from President Begaye, the president of the Navajo Nation. I have visited the Navajo Nation three times since coming to Congress, and I hope this bill passes so that, on my next visit, we can celebrate the passage of this bill together.

My bill is a big win for Americans living in rural communities, especially Utahns, and I encourage my House colleagues to join me in voting in support of H.R. 4824. I hope the Senate will also quickly take up this measure and send it to the President's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my friend and colleague, Mr. Yoho, on the floor today with others to speak in support of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 5576, the Cyber Deterrence and Response Act. I would also like to give a special thanks to Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their support of the bill and moving it through the committee process.

Mr. Speaker, more than 30 nations are currently developing offensive cyber attack capabilities. Earlier this year, the Director of National Intelligence testified before Congress that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea posed the greatest cyber threats to the United States. He continued and said work to use cyber operations to achieve strategic objectives will continue ``unless they face clear repercussions for their cyber operations.''

This bill puts in place those clear repercussions for nations that have and seek to continue to use cyber attacks against the U.S. Specifically, the legislation authorizes the President, acting through the Secretary of State, to designate, where appropriate, foreign persons or agencies as critical cyber threats.

The bill also authorizes both travel and financial sanctions of individuals and agencies designated as critical cyber threats, and the legislation requires Congress to be briefed periodically on state- sponsored cyber activities against the United States.

This bill will help us better protect America's critical infrastructure, national security, healthcare, energy, financial, transportation, and communication systems from hostile state-sponsored cyber attacks.

Additionally, the legislation is important to help us better protect American companies and manufacturers from hackers and cyber intruders.

And maybe most importantly, H.R. 5576 will provide more tools for the U.S. to deter state-sponsored efforts to attack our democratic institutions and electoral systems.

I urge my colleagues to support me in voting in support of the Cyber Deterrence and Response Act of 2018.