John S. Duarte

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the commonsense bipartisan Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2024. I thank Chairman Comer and Ranking Member Raskin for including provisions from legislation I introduced, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Reauthorization Act, in this package to help combat the fentanyl and drug epidemic in California's central valley and across the United States.

The Federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, or the HIDTA Program, allows Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials to share intelligence and pool resources to help get these dangerous drugs off of our streets and out of our schools. They do this through 33 individual HIDTAs that have been designated around the country, including throughout my district.

In 2022, the Central Valley California HIDTA seized over 1.4 million dosages of fentanyl, 3,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, 355 kilograms of cocaine, and 101 kilograms of heroin. These seizures of illegal drugs are exponentially higher for the United States. However, the HIDTA Program expired in 2023.

The version of my HIDTA bill included in this larger package would authorize $298.5 million in funding for the HIDTA Program, a $18.5 million increase; renew this program through fiscal year 2031; and make $5 million available to individual HIDTAs across the country to further enhance their fentanyl seizure and interdiction activities.

In addition, I commend the local prosecutors and district attorneys in my community who work hard every day to put drug traffickers behind bars, but resources can be limited, and California's soft-on-crime and lenient bail policies don't help. These partnerships between Federal and local prosecutors are critical to putting these high-volume drug traffickers in prison for decades, not months. That is what Federal prosecution can do.

Included in this package are additional provisions for my bill that would empower the U.S. Attorney General to assign Federal prosecutors, known as assistant U.S. attorneys, to individual HIDTAs to investigate and prosecute organizations and individuals who are trafficking in fentanyl in the United States to the fullest extent of Federal law-- decades, not months.

I am proud to have worked with local sheriffs and DAs in the valley to develop my HIDTA bill, and I appreciate their support for this important legislation that will help our communities become safer.

I again thank Chairman Comer and Ranking Member Raskin for working with me on my HIDTA bill and including provisions on this program in the ONDCP package we are considering now. It is critical to ensure that law enforcement has the necessary tools and resources to continue to fight against fentanyl and the drug crisis across the United States. Protecting our communities and families is not a partisan issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9598.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 7409, the HEATS Act.

This bill will assist working families, small businesses, and the geothermal energy producers streamline the permitting process for one of the cheapest and cleanest energy sources. We are talking about steam coming out of the ground and creating electricity. That is what we are talking about today.

Geothermal is a big word. Let's not miss that. This is simply turning steam out of the ground into electricity.

One of the cheapest and cleanest energy sources in the United States is prioritized and supported by the Federal Government. During a Natural Resources hearing earlier this year, I asked Federal regulators what we, the people, gain by requiring a Federal permitting process on geothermal energy, one of the cleanest, cheapest energy sources in the world.

There was no coherent answer. Instead of restricting geothermal energy, we should be supporting and encouraging advancements in this field. Currently, the Bureau of Land Management is practicing regulation by imagination, with no real instances of negatives of geothermal energy production.

I am proud to work with Representative Kim to take the necessary steps to make it easier to produce clean, affordable geothermal energy in California.

California produces more geothermal energy than any other State, but the Bureau of Land Management is preventing California from growing our clean energy to our fullest potential. This bill ensures that geothermal energy producers do not need to obtain a Federal permit if they are drilling on land that is not owned by the Federal Government.

With this commonsense change, we can grow our geothermal energy production. This would provide cheaper energy to working families, create good-paying jobs in California, and cement California and the United States as a global clean energy leader.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7409. It is a commonsense bill that will lower energy costs for working families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Madera County Historical Museum's 50th Anniversary on September 28, 2024.

The Madera County Museum was opened to the public on September 28, 1974. For fifty years, the Madera County Historical Society, volunteers, and local organizations have made the Madera County Museum a historic and informative destination in the Valley. I want to also recognize the efforts of the community for their donations and efforts to provide exciting events and learning experiences showcasing Madera County's rich history.

Through the efforts of the community, the Madera County Museum provides Madera County with educational school tours, holiday events, and weekly educational public visitation options. Madera County Museum gives back to the community by hosting mock trial and 4-H educational opportunities for students, holiday events to bring the community together, and supporting local law enforcement.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the Madera County Museum's role in preserving the rich history of Madera County. I would also like to encourage every Valley family to visit the Madera County Museum and learn about our Valley's rich history.