Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to former California Transportation Committee Commissioner and my dear friend, Robert A. Wolf, who passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Bob served the people of California and Riverside County in many ways throughout his life and he will be deeply missed.

Bob was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before being raised in Riverside County. After graduating from Ramona High School, Bob went to the College of the Desert to earn his degree. Bob served as an Army combat medic during the Vietnam War. For his bravery and lifesaving actions he received 11 decorations, many for valor. After the war, Bob began his business career as a partner with his father-in-law Hans Kirschsieper at Germania Construction Corporation. Bob played an important role shaping Riverside County and specialized in job creating projects that resonated harmoniously with the communities in which they are situated. Bob's dedication to the redevelopment of March Air Force Base in Riverside, California led to a project that will have economic benefits long into the future.

Throughout his life, Bob made public service a priority and served on a host of local boards and commissions, including the Riverside County Flood Control Commission, the Moreno Valley Planning Commission, and the Riverside County Planning Commission. Bob was also appointed to a number of positions with the State of California, including Undersecretary, Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and to the California Transportation Commission. Always an advocate for solutions to our public policy challenges, Bob was an active member of organizations like the Valley Group and the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce. In recognition for Bob's many contributions to his community, he received a long list of honors and recognitions throughout his distinguished life.

Bob is survived by the love of his life Helga Kirschsieper Wolf, his children Shawna and Kevin; grandchildren Theodore, Parker, Brayden, Laynie, Alyssa, Kaitlyn and Lucas. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire Wolf family, his friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Although Bob may be gone, the many contributions he made in Riverside County will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Major Kyle Schull who will receive an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps after over eleven years of service. I had the distinct pleasure of hosting Major Schull in my office as a Defense Fellow in 2015. Major Schull's extensive military experience benefited the office tremendously and he offered a unique perspective, was always prepared, and took on any task with a smile.

Major Schull was born in 1984 and grew up with his three younger siblings, Katie, Kari and Collin, in the beautiful, albeit chilly, town of Watertown, South Dakota where his parents, Lee and Jan, still live today. In 2003, Major Schull graduated from Watertown High School.

Upon his graduation, Major Schull was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he earned a B.S. in Political Science. Upon his graduation from the Naval Academy, Kyle was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Following commissioning, Major Kyle Schull served at his first duty station, the Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Okinawa, Japan, from June 2008 through December 2010 as a Logistics Officer. He was then assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 6; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Future Operations Officer from January 2011 through April 2012. Major Schull was then promoted to Transportation Support Company Commander at Combat Logistics Battalion 6; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he remained from April 2012 through February 2014. He was then assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 2; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as the Assistant Regimental Operations Officer from March 2014 through August 2014. In 2014, Major Schull was selected for the Department of Defense Congressional Fellowship Program where he severed as my Defense Fellow in support of California's 42nd Congressional District from January to December of 2015. During his time as my Defense Fellow, he met his lovely future wife, Chelsea Schull. Following his fellowship, he was assigned to be the Staff Secretary and Legislative liaison to the Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Installations and Logistics from January 2016 to May of 2018. He served in an array of positions within Headquarters Marine Corps Installations and Logistics Command and currently serves as the 04xx Occ Field Sponsor and LPC-3 Section Head.

As a civilian, Major Schull enjoys traveling, helping others realize their love of traveling, and hopes to one day see the Pyramids. Kyle is also an entrepreneur at heart and will begin working for his family's company, Building Products, Inc. and Schull Construction Co., after separating from the Marine Corps. I have no doubt that he will succeed in this new phase of his life.

During his time in my office, Kyle focused his efforts on defense acquisition, defense appropriations, the intelligence community, veterans affairs, and many other policy areas. He was an invaluable resource to all my staff and I would also like to take this opportunity to thank his family for supporting him through the years; he truly is one impressive guy. On behalf of everyone in the office, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Major Schull for all his hard work, his dedicated service to our country and let him know that my office door is always open to him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to former California State Senator and Riverside County icon Robert B. Presley, who passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2018. Bob served the people of California and Riverside County in many ways throughout his life and he will be deeply missed.

Bob was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to Doyle and Ann Presley, on December 4, 1924. He joined the U.S. Army at the age of 18 and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in action while serving with the Fifth Army in Italy during World War II. After attending college at Riverside Community College and the University of California, Riverside, Bob joined the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, where he would have a 24-year career. Early in his career at the Sheriff's Department, Presley was known as Riverside County's top homicide investigator. In the second half of his career with the department, Bob served as Riverside County Undersheriff to long-time Sheriff Ben Clark.

Following his law enforcement career, Bob entered the world of politics and was elected to the State Senate in 1974, where he served as a Democrat representing both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties until 1994. Over the years, Bob worked on many different pieces of legislation and helped fund a number of important programs and projects as the Chairman of the California Senate Appropriations Committee. Bob was an especially impactful advocate for the environment, prison expansion and reform, and victims of domestic violence. Thanks to Bob's efforts, the state established the first shelters to protect battered women and children. After retiring from the

legislature, Bob was appointed to serve as Chair of the State Parole Board by Republican Governor Pete Wilson and, later, to serve as Secretary of Youth and Adult Corrections by Democratic Governor Gray Davis.

Senator Presley was predeceased by his first wife, Ahni Ratliff Presley. He is survived by his second wife, Susan Foreman Presley; his three adult children; Robert Presley, Jr., Donna Danielson, and Marilyn Raphael; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Presley family, his friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Although Bob may be gone, the many life-changing contributions he made in Riverside County will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2019 Defense Appropriations and Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations conference report.

First, I would like to take a minute to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen, who has led the effort to return the Appropriations Committee to regular order. He knows too well the crippling impacts of a CR on the Department of Defense, and today he delivers on a promise to ensure our men and women in uniform are provided funding on time.

Personally, I am grateful to the chairman for the many years of friendship. His steady leadership will be greatly missed.

I also want to commend Chairwoman Granger for her good work in getting this bill here today and, certainly, Pete Visclosky, the ranking member, for his work in getting this bill here today, and also Ranking Member Lowey, the full committee ranking member, for her great work.

We are all here today, together, in a rare moment of bipartisanship to fund our military and to fund Labor-Human Services, which hasn't been passed here for some time.

I served on the House Appropriations Committee for many years, and providing for our men and women in uniform is a privilege and one of the most important things that we do.

This conference report provides vital funding for the armed services, including a 2.6 percent pay raise. This bill is an investment in our future superiority on land, air, and sea.

I might point out that, yesterday, Secretary Mattis made comments at VMI that, when he took the helm of the Department, he asked for the strategy, and he was told there was none. Well, thankfully, under General Mattis' leadership, not only does the Department have a clear strategy, but the roadmap to achieve that strategy as well. It requires Congress to do our part, which we are going to do today.

We are in a unique time in history that depends on U.S. leadership throughout the world. A strong U.S. military with our allies creates stability.

Mr. Speaker, the security of our Nation and the peace of the world depend on a strong U.S. military, and I urge my colleagues to support the conference report.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Orville ``Dean'' McWhorter, who passed away in his home in Norco, California, on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Dean, a devoted family man, served his nation in the Vietnam War. He will be deeply missed.

Dean graduated from La Serna High School in Whittier, California, in 1969. Not long after graduating high school, Dean joined the Army and was a member of the 101st Airborne Division during the war in Vietnam. After he returned home from Vietnam, Dean began working as an electrical designer at Fluor Corporation and other engineering firms. After 37 years, Dean ultimately finished his career with MARMAC Engineering. After retiring at age 62, Dean and his wife Robin spent time looking for the perfect house and ultimately settled in Norco to be near his children and grandchildren, who meant the world to him.

Dean enjoyed the great outdoors, fishing, guns, hunting, horseback riding, ping-pong, playing pool and camping. He was a devoted Christian, a patriot, and a big sports enthusiast. He loved animals, music, classic cars and motorcycles, a good joke, a great meal, and holiday family get-togethers. Dean leaves behind his loving wife Robin; his daughters Jenny and Brandi; their husbands and children; Dean's oldest brother Lee; Lee's wife Janet; Lee's two daughters Leanne and Kristi; their spouses and children; and Dean's loving mother Delona Louise.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the McWhorter family, his friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know Dean. Although Dean may be gone, the many contributions he made to his country, community and family will have a lasting impact.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1 of rule XXII and by direction of the Committee on Appropriations, I have a motion at the desk.

Madam Speaker, this is a necessary step to continue to move the fiscal year 2019 appropriations process forward under regular order.

On July 19, the House passed H.R. 6147 by a vote of 217-199, which includes the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies and the Financial Services and General Government bills.

The Senate has now sent H.R. 6147 back to the House with the Agriculture

and Transportation bills added to the package. With the appointment of these conferees, the House and the Senate may begin to resolve differences, with the goal of passing H.R. 6147 before the end of the fiscal year.

As such, I strongly support this motion.

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

The previous question was ordered.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to the motion to instruct conferees. The House and Senate, both Democrats and Republicans, have been working together to complete work on as many appropriations bills as possible as quickly as possible. We face a looming deadline of September 30. We are making great progress.

The conferees recognize the importance of the four bills included in this conference package: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. These programs support economic growth, the preservation and promotion of our natural resources and agricultural products, and critical law enforcement functions.

As chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am determined to complete this legislation, a commitment I know my friends on the other side of the aisle and on the other side of the Capitol also share.

As we are doing with the two other conference committees, both of which I am serving on, we are negotiating in good faith and working to ensure that the agencies and departments under these bills are adequately funded.

The House and Senate are returning to regular order, and this is great news for the American people. We should let the process work as intended.

Given this, this motion to instruct is unnecessary. I am sure it is going to be one of the items we will be discussing over the next few days. We should not risk any delays to completing the final conference report for these four bills, particularly given the deadline and limited number of legislative days ahead.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this motion to instruct conferees, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Howard ``Reed'' Heritage, who passed away on Saturday, July 21, 2018.

Reed was born and raised in the town of Richwood, New Jersey. Reed was part of the first class at nearby Clearview High School and later graduated from Delaware Valley College. In the early part of the 1970s, Reed moved to California, where he would go to work on behalf of the California Farm Bureau. As an advocate for one of California's largest industries, Reed represented farmers and sought solutions to the many challenges that impacted their businesses.

When he was not working on behalf of California farmers, Reed loved to cheer on his favorite sports teams--including the San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Giants. Reed was also a big fan of the Olympic Games and traveled to watch the games in person in Athens, Beijing, Atlanta, Montreal, Los Angeles, and Sydney. Traveling to new cities throughout Europe and Asia was one of Reed's favorite past times.

I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to Reed's family and friends, who I know will deeply miss him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Geraldo ``Jerry'' Puga, who passed away in California on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Jerry was a small business owner in the City of Corona, an active member of our community, and he will be deeply missed.

As a young child, Jerry's family lived in Alberhill where his father worked in clay products manufacturing. The Pug as moved to Corona when Jerry was 10. When he was finished with school, he followed his father into clay manufacturing. Later, Jerry began his career in floor coverings at Larry Graebner's Furniture in Corona. In 1960, Jerry and his partner, the late Frank Addleman, opened the doors to Jerry & Frank's Carpets in Corona. For over 50 years, Jerry spent his professional life in the carpet/floor covering business.

While conducting business at a local bank, Jerry met Andrea Martinez, whom he married in 1970. They became business partners, with Andrea instituting home decorating. The business changed its name to Jerry Carpets & Interiors and opened in the Corona Mall. Jerry was an active member of the Corona Rotary and participated in numerous local charitable causes. After serving customers in six decades, Jerry retired in 2008. The Corona Chamber of Commerce honored Jerry in January 2018 with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to Andrea Puga, the entire Puga family, his friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know Jerry. Although Jerry may be gone, the many contributions he made to our community will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to William Richard Cramer, who passed away in California on Wednesday, June 20, 2018. Richard was an innovator in the feed and egg industries, and an active member of our community. He will be deeply missed.

Richard was born in Anaheim on July 25, 1931 to parents Olin and Ruth. He graduated from Anaheim Union High School in 1949 and received his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College in 1953. During college he served two years in the California Air National Guard and met Carole Furman, whom he married in 1952. They were married 45 years until Carole died in 1997. Richard married Mary Eisen and they have been together for 20 years. After graduating college, Richard joined the family egg production business. Over time this business grew to include Star Milling Co. in Perris, California, that was owned through a partnership between Richard and the Eisen family of Norco Ranch.

Richard was acknowledged as a leader in the animal feed and egg production industries and was awarded ``Farmer of the Year--Poultry'' by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 1959. There were many other agricultural and business enterprises that Richard had ownership in, including Goose Creek Golf Club in Jurupa Valley, Orchard Egg Farms in Anaheim and Manchester Feeds in Arizona. Richard also served as a Trustee of Claremont McKenna College from 1987 to 2006. He was a leader in many civic and community organizations, past and present, as Member of the Board of Governors of the Bowers Museum, a founding donor to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, and a 35-year member of the Lincoln Club of Orange County.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to my good friend Mary Cramer, the extended Cramer family, his friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know Richard. Although Richard may be gone, the many significant contributions he made to his family and our community will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6147, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Mr. Chair, this bill is consistent with years past that provided robust funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Therefore, this is an initiative I can support and we accept.

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

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, EPA was directed by the President to take a second look at the methane rule promulgated by the Obama administration. In conjunction with that review, EPA attempted to provide the regulating community with some certainty by postponing some implementation dates. However, the courts have blocked that from happening.

In light of these challenges, the time is ripe for a temporary pause on the enforcement of these requirements, so I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the fiscal year 2018 bill included $10 million for EPA to establish a grant program to provide funds to States and communities for lead reduction projects as authorized in the 2016 WIIN Act.

I might also point out that we now have a WIFIA program that is in the bill, which will allow for communities throughout the country to leverage up to $5 billion annually, and maybe more in the future, in their communities for such things as lead reduction within their towns and counties.

Mr. Chairman, therefore, this is an amendment we can accept, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I certainly support her amendment.

Under the previous administration, EPA proposed this stringent water regulation standard in Washington State without utilizing sound scientific data or evidence. In doing so, EPA created regulatory uncertainty and imposed unachievable permit levels on the State, which are costly and nearly impossible for industries to comply with.

I encourage the State, the Tribes, and the EPA to continue to work together to find agreeable standards that improve water quality and human health while, simultaneously, providing clarity to the impacted communities and industries. In the meantime, though, I certainly urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, as you know, the House has spoken on this. In last year's conference report, we directed Fish and Wildlife Service to make this species among its highest priorities for consultation and permit processing. Obviously, the agency has not moved fast enough, and they need to get hopping.

So I am sure this amendment will squeak by with all of our support. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I support this amendment. The root of the frustration with the Endangered Species Act is that species rarely get delisted, and people who are directly affected by a listing are condemned to a life of an additional Federal rule indefinitely.

Congress tried to prevent this by requiring the Fish and Wildlife Service to review the status of every listed species every 5 years and to down-list or delist species accordingly.

Today, the Service has a backlog of 892 species without a current 5- year review.

Without these 5-year reviews, species could be recovered and we wouldn't even know it. I find this simply unacceptable.

Unless the Service focuses its personnel on inherently Federal responsibilities under the ESA and non-Federal partners take the lead on actual recovery, we will never break the contentious and litigious cycle that we have now.

And, by the way, we have actually increased the ESA recovery budget in this bill for 5-year reviews. So let's get ESA working again.

Mr. Chair, I urge an ``aye'' vote on this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I am happy to rise in support of the gentleman's amendment. This is another example of EPA overreach. It is my hope that my colleagues from Virginia and Pennsylvania can continue to work with the administration to find common ground on approaches that will improve water quality in a more flexible manner. I certainly support this amendment and I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. Chairman, now you know how it feels about California water. I got the drift of this thing.

Mr. Chairman, I certainly appreciate the gentleman's interest on this issue and appreciate the variety of opinions about it. I thank the gentleman, as well as the gentlewoman from Minnesota, who is the subcommittee's ranking member, for her willingness to work with the committee. As we work together to try to move forward with this bill, I hope a compromise will be found.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the Dean of the House's amendment and his dedication to the sound management of natural resources on behalf of constituents in his State.

Obviously, mining, and certainly placer mining, is unique to Alaska. Alaska certainly has a unique history when it comes to mineral extraction, probably more than any other State in the Union. It is certainly a big part of Alaska's economy and the economy of the United States. It is a mutually beneficial enterprise.

This amendment is similar to the ones adopted by voice vote in FY17 and FY18, so I certainly urge my colleagues to adopt it by a voice vote yet again.

Mr. Chair, I support the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment.

In 2015, a Federal court ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the lesser prairie chicken from the list of threatened and endangered species. Environmental activists immediately petitioned the Agency to list the species again, and the Agency, having been stung by the court, concluded that the petition had merit.

Now the Agency is on the verge of listing the species yet again, and it will end up in court again, where it will be delisted again. Rinse and repeat.

Folks, how many times must we repeat this cycle before people start working together? How much money must be wasted fighting each other before we realize that our money is better spent actually helping the species?

This amendment calls a timeout on the madness, at least for one species. That is why I am urging an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

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

Mr. Chairman, our State Water Board is out of control. Our State Water Board is involved in a political operation to remove farming out of the State of California.

This amendment would attempt to put a stop to the reckless State plan and continue the current New Melones operations. This is something we need to act on and act on immediately. We are in crisis.

I am a strong advocate for Mr. Denham's position and, certainly, for his constituents, and I am glad to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment.

The National Academy of Sciences was established by Congress in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War to provide independent, objective advice to the Nation on matters related to science and technology.

The Academy, in 2016, released a comprehensive literature review on the science of genetically engineered crops, or GMOs as they are commonly referred to. The Academy found zero scientific evidence that GMOs are any more or any less safe for human consumption and the environment than organisms modified by more traditional genetic methods, like selective breeding.

This amendment blocks an outdated policy made during the last administration which pandered to extreme environmental groups by feeding into the unfounded fears of GMOs. This amendment is an opportunity to rise above fear-mongering and make sound policy based on science and rationality.

Mr. Chair, let's do the right thing and vote ``aye.''

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Mr. Chair, although the base bill already continues to support this program at the fiscal year 2018 level, I am happy to accept this amendment, as I have for the past 2 years.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise to approve the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I have no objection to the gentlewoman's amendment. It was accepted last year by voice vote, and I encourage adoption of the gentlewoman's amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman, and I must rise in reluctant opposition.

I wish I could have worked with the gentleman on this amendment, but this amendment reaches a little too far and is inconsistent even with the Trump administration's position.

This year the President requested $2 million for the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program which would provide financial assistance to low income, minority, and Tribal populations, which we deal with quite often.

This amendment would prohibit EPA's ability to issue grants altogether, which means all of the Office of Environmental Justice funds would be allocated to the payroll and personnel and could result in the hiring of more EPA staff, and I am sure that is not your intention. And so there would be

no savings according to the CBO. Zero. No savings at all in this amendment. I don't believe that is your intent.

Because the amendment would have unintended consequences, I must oppose the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment. Suing the government and settling has become a lucrative business that is supported by taxpayer dollars. The Endangered Species Act, for example, has become wrapped around the axle of the judicial system by excessive litigation.

We are essentially paying people to sue the Federal Government. This needs to stop.

Mr. Chairman, I urge an ``aye'' vote on the amendment.

Madam Chairman, it is my distinct honor to bring to the House floor the fiscal year 2019 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

Before I go into details about the bill, I would like to commend Chairman Frelinghuysen for his leadership and support throughout this process.

As reported by the Appropriations Committee, the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment bill is funded at $35.252 billion, which is equal to the FY18 enacted level. We have made sincere efforts to prioritize critical needs within our subcommittee allocation and in reviewing more than 5,200 individual requests.

In the interest of time, I won't outline all the problems or programs and activities funded in this bill. I would like to point out a few highlights.

The bill provides robust wildland fire funding totaling $3.9 billion. It fully funds the 10-year average for wildland fire suppression costs and provides an additional $500 million in suppression funds for the Forest Service. The committee has also provided a $30 million increase over fiscal year 2018 for hazardous fuel reduction.

The bill provides $500 million in fiscal year 2019 for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes, PILT program, which is a top priority for many Members on both sides of the aisle.

The bill also makes critical investments in Indian Country, a top priority of this committee. This legislation honors our commitment to Native Americans with a particular emphasis on Indian health, law enforcement, education, and water settlements.

The bill fully funds contract support costs and Tribal grant school support costs; provides funding to staff newly constructed health facilities; improves public safety; significantly increases economic development; invests an additional $16 million in fiscal year 2019 to address needs of schools throughout the BIE system; and invests an additional $82 million to correct funding disparities across the Indian Healthcare System.

Overall, funding to EPA has been reduced by $100 million from fiscal year 2018, with reductions aimed at research and regulatory programs. Members from the Midwest will be pleased to know that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is maintained at the fiscal year 2018 enacted level of $300 million.

The bill continues to invest in water infrastructure and cleaning up contaminated land. These programs help create jobs and spur economic development in communities all across the Nation. The bill provides funds to leverage over $10 billion worth of investment in water infrastructure through the funding in the WIFIA program and the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds.

The bill also provides $3.2 billion for the National Park Service. It maintains, and builds upon, critical investments made in the fiscal year 2018 enacted bill to address longstanding park operations and deferred maintenance needs.

We have also attempted to address a number of concerns within the Fish and Wildlife Service accounts. The bill restores popular grant programs through fiscal year 2018 enacted levels. It also restores funds to combat international wildlife trafficking; protects fish hatcheries from cuts and closures; and continues funding to fight invasive mussels and Asian carp; and reduces the backlog of species that are recovered but not yet de-listed. We have also increased funds for the Recovery Challenge program, which we started in 2018 to challenge non-Federal partners to a more active role in recovering endangered species.

The bill also provides $360 million for Land and Water Conservation programs with bipartisan support.

Lastly, this bill makes significant investments toward critical deferred maintenance, construction, and infrastructure needs within the Department of the Interior, Forest Service, Indian Health Service, Smithsonian, as well as critical air and water infrastructure programs within the EPA.

In closing, I would like to thank staff on both sides of the aisle who have worked long hours on this legislation. On the minority side, I would like to thank Rita Culp, Jocelyn Hunn, and Rebecca Taylor.

On the majority side, I would like to thank Darren Benjamin, Betsy Bina, Jackie Kilroy, Kristin Richmond, Mac Cloyes, and Dave LesStrang from the committee staff, as well as Ian Foley, Rebecca Keightley, Tricia Evans and Dave Kennett from my personal staff.

To say the least, this has been a team effort.

Lastly, I would like to thank my good friend and ranking member, Betty McCollum, for working with me to address a number of critical needs throughout the bill.

Madam Chair, while we may disagree on some issues, we are never disagreeable and we continue to work well together.

Madam Chair, it is a good bill. I urge its adoption.

Madam Chairwoman, at this time, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman. I want to thank my colleague from New Jersey for expressing support for the Superfund program.

The Superfund program continues to be a priority of this committee. In the fiscal year 2018 omnibus, we provided a $66 million increase to the program to accelerate cleanup of Superfund sites and respond to the release of hazardous materials.

I look forward to working together through the 2019 process to ensure that the Superfund program receives necessary funding to clean up and revitalize our Nation's toxic sites, like the American Cyanamid site, so that they are returned to productive use.

Madam Chair, I thank the chairman.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).

I thank Mr. Ruiz for raising this issue. I would like to offer and continue working with the gentleman and the Forest Service to amicably and productively resolve the situation.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment. I want to acknowledge, our members on both sides of the aisle support more land acquisition funding, not less. That said, both sides of the aisle also recognize the maintenance backlog of our national parks is unacceptable.

In this bill we tried to balance the bipartisan support for land acquisition with bipartisan support for maintaining and improving the conditions of facilities we already own.

The gentleman from Arizona thinks we should direct a bit more to the National Park Service maintenance, and there is no debate that those needs are there.

Madam Chair, I support the amendment.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Chair, I am happy to accept the gentleman's amendment and to work with the rest of my colleagues to address a need for funding to battle the spread the harmful invasive species. I support an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment.

The Delaware River Conservation Program leverages Federal funding by at least 2 to 1. That is exactly the kind of public-private partnership we should be fostering throughout the enterprise. That is why I support this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Chair, I support the amendment.

Madam Chair, I appreciate the Member's interest in the New England Scenic Trail and the National Park Service operations generally.

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

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Chair, as the gentleman knows, I am a strong supporter of the National Park Service and the Historic Preservation Fund. While I have some concerns about the offset at the Office of the Secretary, this is a bipartisan amendment I can accept, and I urge adoption of the amendment.

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

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Chair, to the gentlewoman, my colleague on the House Intelligence Committee, this is certainly an amendment I can accept. The gentlewoman and I have a history over the years of working together on this program, and I am happy to continue it.

Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Chair, I have no objections and urge adoption of the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment.

Madam Chair, the gentleman and I have a history over the years of working together to support HBCUs. I thank the gentleman for working with me on this issue and with the ranking member, and I urge the adoption of this amendment.

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

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the gentlewoman's amendment.

Madam Chair, I am happy to continue to work with the gentlewoman from Texas on this program and others, and I have no objection.

Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Chair, I am happy to support the gentlewoman from Michigan in her quest. The Great Lakes Science Center has bipartisan support for the role it plays in protecting the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes region.

Madam Chair, I support my colleague's amendment, urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Chair, I support this amendment. I will work with the gentleman to address this issue with the United States Geological Survey and learn more about where this mineral occurs.

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

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Chair, it is my understanding that the United States Geological Survey is in its early stages of discussing temporary spaces but that, eventually, the United States Geological Survey may have to develop a long-term solution for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

I encourage the Department of the Interior, the United States Geological Survey, and the National Park Service to work together to develop a plan for the future observatory because operating the HVO out of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was a cost-effective solution for many years.

Madam Chair, in the meantime, I certainly support my colleague's amendment. I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Madam Chair, we can accept the gentleman's amendment.

The committee takes invasive species threats seriously. We spent a lot of time on Asian carp in our committee in prevention efforts throughout the bill. It is a bipartisan effort. Everyone is very concerned about this. We are talking about a bounty program, possibly, to go after these things. Let's go do it.

I accept the gentleman's amendment, but I will be working with him and the rest of my colleagues to ensure that Asian carp and grass carp control and prevention efforts are effectively coordinated across the agencies within our jurisdiction.

Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman, and certainly we are prepared to accept the amendment.

I understand the gentleman's overall goals to continue funding for the AML pilot consistent with the fiscal year 2018 enacted bill that provided the funding for the six Appalachian States, and I know the economic devastation that has happened throughout that region.

This increase to the AML program by $30 million, so that Ohio, Alabama, and Virginia would receive $10 million each, equal to the fiscal 2010 enacted levels, could certainly help in those regions.

So we can accept this package of amendments at this time. I look forward to maintaining funding for the six States, with distribution similar to fiscal year 2018 and the final 2019 enacted bill. As such, I encourage my colleagues to adopt the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I am happy to accept the gentleman's amendment and work with him and the rest of my colleagues to address the public safety and justice construction needs in Indian Country.

The ranking member and I have worked very closely together in Indian Country to recognize the shortcomings throughout Indian Country in Indian education, Indian healthcare, and certainly within the Indian public safety and justice problems that we are having throughout the United States.

Mr. Chair, I certainly support an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in reluctant opposition to this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I was happy to support the gentleman and accept the prior amendment, but this just goes too far.

I couldn't agree with the gentleman more that the Federal obligations for construction in Indian Country far outweigh the amount of money we have in the budget. That is why the Bureau of Indian Affairs Construction account has been and will continue to be a nonpartisan priority for the subcommittee, and we are certainly proud of the progress we have made so far, but I cannot support an offset on an account that also serves Indian Country and other underserved populations.

In addition to cutting the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, this amendment is likely to cut the Office of Native American Relations, the Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization, the Office of Civil Rights, and the Office of Hearings and Appeals.

Again, while I agree with the increase, and I certainly don't disagree with the gentleman's intentions, I cannot in good conscience agree to this offset.

If we find money down the road in this process as the gentlewoman and I are going through the conference, this is something I would be very interested in looking at, but right now I must encourage a ``no'' vote.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Mr. Chair, in light of the catastrophic hurricane season last year and the fact that we are already in the midst of another hurricane season right now, I suspect there is additional relief needed for the territories in the weeks and months ahead. So with this reality upon us, I am happy to accept the amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.

Mr. Chair, while I certainly have some concerns about

the offset, I am able to support my recent classmate's and colleague's amendment. As the gentlewoman knows, this bill has a strong history of supporting underrepresented communities, including African American and Tribal communities.

This bill funded the construction of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and continues to strongly support the operations of this very popular museum.

This bill maintains a strong bipartisan support for Tribal health, Tribal education, Tribal law enforcement, and numerous other priorities critical to Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and this bill supports underrepresented communities throughout the Historic Preservation Fund grants under the National Park Service.

Though we may have to turn the lights off at the Department of the Interior if we keep going on--he is a Navy SEAL; he will get by--I certainly urge the adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in reluctant opposition to this amendment.

Mr. Chair, don't get me wrong. I am not opposed to what the EPA is doing at the border to improve water quality, but I think it is important to note that the bill already provides $10 million for the program, equal to the fiscal year 2018 level, and did not support the elimination of the program as proposed in the President's budget.

As the gentleman knows, we are level-funded in this year's appropriation bill, so I wasn't able to get additional funds for some of these programs that I like. Because a $5 million reduction could significantly impact the work of the Secretary of the Interior--we have been chewing away at that all night--the programs under this jurisdiction, and other important offices funded by the account, I can't support the amendment.

I will continue to work with the ranking member as we move this through this process because I know the important work we have done in California and along the entire border. It is a good program, and I certainly support it, but I can't support this amendment at this time.

Mr. Chair, I must oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for the time.

Mr. Chairman, I also rise in opposition to the amendment. As the gentleman mentioned, the bill already includes a $1.5 million increase for the Inspector General which is the amount that was requested. This transfer is not needed, and if enacted, it could affect the operations of the Department of the Interior.

For those reasons and others, I oppose this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the interest in our Nation's water infrastructure needs.

Although this amendment does not do what the gentleman intends it to do, I think it is always important for Congress to have a clear understanding of what improvements need to be made to meet the quality goals of the Clean Water Act.

Mr. Chairman, this is an amendment I can accept, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's desire to show additional support for a program important to her constituents. Unfortunately, the amendment does not do what she intends it to do; therefore, I must oppose the amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I certainly appreciate the gentleman's desire to show support for robust funding for the National Estuary Program. The FY19 bill provides $26.7 billion for the National Estuary Program, which is equal

to the FY18 enacted level. This is an amendment I can accept.

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

Mr. Chair, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chair, I am happy to work with the gentleman as we go through this process. If we can find some additional funds as we move to conference, I will be more than happy to revisit this issue with the gentleman.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I just want to note that this bill provides $10 million above the President's request for Superfund Enforcement and $12 million above the fiscal 2018 enacted level for the entire Superfund program. We attempted to find middle ground on enforcement while also prioritizing on-the-ground cleanup efforts that returns land to productive uses.

I certainly appreciate the gentlewoman's support for the interest in the Superfund program, and while the amendment does not do as she intends, this amendment is something we are unable to support at this time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman because this is somewhat personal to me. I appreciate the gentleman's interest in this illegal marijuana cultivation in our national forests.

One of the largest national forests in the State of California, Cleveland National Forest, is literally in my congressional district and right close to my house. We are always having problems with people setting up illegal grow operations in the Cleveland National Forest. So this increase to remediate these sites is needed.

I agree with the gentlewoman that these offsets are difficult, but I am pleased to offer my support for the gentleman's amendment. Hopefully, we can get rid of some of this illegal marijuana that is grown in these national forests.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for bringing this issue to our attention.

Invasive species, pests, and diseases have wreaked havoc across the Nation and continue to do so. I know that the emerald ash borer has been a tremendous pest throughout a good part of our country, certainly in State and private forests also.

We need to improve management in our forests, and we need those conditions to improve. So I am happy to accept the gentleman's amendment, and I hope we can reduce the emerald ash borer.

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

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I certainly support this amendment. Mr. Ruiz and I represent the same area. Volunteer firefighters are extremely important, especially in our rural areas, and this is something we all should support.

Mr. Chairman, I am happy to accept the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, certainly, I agree with the gentleman that hazardous fuel reduction is something that is extremely important. That is why we provide for a $30 million increase from last year's levels for hazardous fuel reduction in this bill.

Second, the national forests are overgrown and prone to severe and catastrophic fires, there is no doubt about

it. Colorado, for instance, has already experienced a number of these fires this year, and, certainly, our home State of California is no different. We have had a number of fires, and we have fires going on at this very moment.

The timber program, which removes trees from these overgrown stands, significantly reduces the threat of catastrophic fire. We went down a path in the early 1990s that many people in the mainstream environmental movement now realize is a mistake. We have now got out of that enterprise, and a lot of these forests, unfortunately, have overgrown and have bark beetle disease, so that now becomes hazardous fuel.

Unfortunately, it wasn't harvested in a responsible way earlier. Responsible harvesting of timber from the national forest is a necessary component of good forest and land management.

So taking money from that account is the offset that I can't support. But certainly, I do support hazardous fuel reduction, because, unfortunately, we have created a lot of it in our home State of California and throughout the West. So, unfortunately, I have to urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

I certainly agree with the gentleman that we have a budget problem. I served on the Budget Committee for a number of years and recognize the fact that we are spending too much money.

However, if we take a look at the entire budget picture, nondefense discretionary accounts represent 16 percent of total Federal outlays. And if you take a look at the nondefense discretionary accounts, over the last number of years, we are pretty flat. We are pretty flat spending right now. I mean, even with this increase, even with this increase.

However, this NEA-NEH program is something I can't support. While I understand, again, why the gentleman wants to save money, this amendment would have unintended consequence affecting the men and women who serve in the country in uniform, military veterans, their families, as well as Native Americans, Alaska natives.

We are putting a lot of this money in to help people get through their post-traumatic stress syndrome. This amendment would have devastating consequence on critical work for the National Endowment for the Arts at Walter Reed Medical Center, 11 other clinical sites across the country that are supporting therapy service.

We have reformed the National Endowment for the Humanities to make sure that we have low overhead, and that this money is getting out into the country. This money doesn't go to New York or L.A. This goes out to the rural areas around the country that don't have the benefit of large interest in arts.

So I certainly urge Members to support the innovative work the NEA and the NEH are providing our men and women in uniform, our veterans, and families.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).

Mr. Chair, can I inquire how much time I have left?

Mr. Chair, one thing I want to make a point of, and because obviously this deficit is a problem. Everybody recognizes that. Seventy percent of all our spending today is nondiscretionary spending, 70 percent.

When I came to Congress 26 years ago it was 30 percent. Today those numbers have totally flipped. Now it is 30 percent discretionary, 70 percent nondiscretionary.

Of the discretionary account, half of that goes to defense. The other half goes to nondefense discretionary. No way are we ever going to balance the budget on nondefense discretionary spending. At some point, we all need to come together, Republicans, Democrats, the President, and come to a budget agreement. It has been tried before and needs to be tried again. And the 70 percent of nondiscretionary spending has to be on the table and we have to bend those cost curves.

We are not going to--and I dispute the fact that we are at an all- time high on NEH and the National Endowment for the Arts. In past years, those numbers were quite higher.

Those numbers have been cut down over the years, and we are trying to do the best we can on these discretionary accounts; but being what it will, this is not, I think, a wise cut. Money is going to every congressional district in the United States.

Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. Chair, with the change of administrations, we were able to reduce the number of issues addressed in this bill, but some issues warrant continued congressional attention. WOTUS is one of them.

Deciding how water is used should be the responsibility of State and local officials who are familiar with the people and the local issues. Under the WOTUS rule, however, the reach of the Federal jurisdiction would be so broad that it would significantly restrict a landowner's ability to make decisions about their property and a local government's right to plan for its own development.

The language in the underlying bill simply repeals the misguided WOTUS rule and clarifies what rules will be in effect until a new rule is finalized, specifically, the same rules that were in effect immediately prior to the promulgation of the final WOTUS rule.

WOTUS is an issue that warrants continued congressional attention and the provision in the underlying bill is the appropriate action to take.

For these reasons, I must urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule to complete consideration of the FY 2019 Defense Appropriations bill.

I thank the Rules Committee and all the Members who submitted amendments to the Defense Appropriations bill. I commend the chairman, Chairman Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member Lowey, Subcommittee Chairwoman Granger, and Ranking Member Visclosky for their leadership on the FY 2019 Defense Appropriations bill. I would also like to thank our dedicated professional staff who have tirelessly worked on this bill.

I have served on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee for many years, and providing for our men and women in uniform is a privilege and an honor. This bill provides vital funding for our armed services, including a 2.6 percent pay raise. This bill is an investment in our future superiority on land, air, and at sea.

Earlier this year, Secretary Mattis released the National Defense Strategy. As we know, our Secretary of Defense is focused on readiness and lethality. This bill meets the demands of the Department to restore readiness levels, invest in lethality, buy the equipment that will maintain superiority, and provide for the health and welfare of our men and women in uniform.

We are at a unique time in history that demands U.S. leadership throughout the world. As we know too well, a power vacuum breeds instability and extremism. A strong U.S. military with our allies creates stability.

After too many years of a budget-driven strategy, this bill reflects the investment needed to maintain and secure U.S. interests around the world. The investment we make here today, about 16 percent of our entire Federal budget, has dividends down the road for many years. The security of our Nation, and the peace of the world, depends on a strong U.S. military.

The last time the House passed a stand-alone Defense Appropriations conference report that was signed into law before the end of the fiscal year was September 2009. Let's turn the page on CRs that cripple the Department and return to regular order.

I again thank my colleagues who crafted this bill, our military leadership, and the men and women of the United States military. I urge passage of the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which would add $1 billion in advanced procurement for two additional Virginia-class submarines in FY 2022/23.

The Navy has a substantial plan for submarines. It achieves the mission of a 355-ship Navy by 2050 and does it in a way that is fiscally responsible and provides for stability of the industrial base.

In a letter from the Secretary of the Navy to Chairman Frelinghuysen, the Secretary states: ``The FY 2019 President's budget provides sufficient funding to procure the ships included in the FY19-FY23 Future Years Defense Program.''

An advanced procurement amendment of $1 billion in FY19 and, by the way, an additional $6 billion tail, would take from much-needed programs that have already been considered by the committee. Additionally, it would jeopardize the future programs and assume risk in other areas.

Mr. Chair, I certainly urge a ``no'' vote on this, and I will remind my Members, as my friend from Indiana mentioned, we have a cliff coming in 2020. Making a commitment to spend an additional $7 billion, which we don't have, is not a good idea. We ought to be working on trying to resolve that cliff issue.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the FY2019 Defense Appropriations bill. I commend Chairman Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member Lowey, Subcommittee Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Visclosky for their leadership on this bill. I would also like to thank our dedicated professional staff who have tirelessly worked on this bill.

I have served on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee for many years and providing for our men and women in uniform is a privilege and an honor.

This bill provides vital funding for our Armed Services, including a 2.6 percent pay raise. This bill is an investment in our future superiority on land, air and at sea. Whether it is the procurement of next-gen platforms or systems, the recruitment and retention of our best and brightest, or investment in cutting-edge technology--this bill is a down payment on our future force.

Earlier this year, Secretary Mattis released the National Defense Strategy. As we all know, our Secretary of Defense is focused on readiness and lethality. This bill meets the demands of the Department to restore our readiness levels, invest in lethality, buy the equipment that will maintain our military superiority, and provide for the health and welfare of our men and women in uniform.

We are at a unique time in history that demands U.S. leadership throughout the world. As we know all too well, a power vacuum breeds instability and extremism.

A strong U.S. military, with our allies, creates stability. After too many years of a budget driven strategy, this bill reflects the investment needed to maintain and secure U.S. interests around the world. The investment we make here today--about 16 percent of our entire federal budget--has dividends down the road for many years.

The security of our nation, and the peace of the world, depends on a strong U.S. military.

The power of the purse lies with Congress and today I urge all Members to vote in support of the FY2019 Defense Appropriations bill. The Senate is doing their work and expects to mark up their defense bill in the full committee later this week.

The last time the House passed a stand-alone Defense Appropriations Conference Report that was signed into law before the end of the fiscal year was September 2009. Let's turn the page on CRs that cripple the Department and return to regular order.

Thank you again to my colleagues who crafted this bill, to our military leadership and to the men and women of the United States military. I urge passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Mylo ``Mike'' Johnsen, who passed away in California on Thursday, April 26, 2018. Mike, a devoted family man, served his nation in World War II, and volunteered with senior and youth organizations in his community. He will be deeply missed.

According to his family, Mike was the last known living soldier of his World War II Army Battalion. He spent four years in the Army and was part of the 535th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. The unit was based and trained at Camp Hahn, California, which is now the location of the Riverside National Cemetery. The 535th landed on the beach during the invasion at Normandy on D-Day, June 6,1944, fought throughout France and Belgium, including at the Battle of the Bulge and were eventually part of the Victory in Europe on May 8, 1945. We are forever indebted to Mike, who helped liberate Europe from tyranny.

Survived by his wife of 69 years, Mike cherished spending time with his family, which included five children, 12 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren. Mike worked 32 years for Rockwell/Boeing as a Quality Assurance Inspector and Engineer, contributing to many projects including Apollo Missions 3 through 17, B1 Bomber, MX missiles, three space shuttles and Navstar, the first satellite navigation system. Mike was a member of the Free Masons for over 50 years and an active adult leader with his children's various organizations, sports and activities. When Mike retired in Las Vegas, he taught western line-dancing at senior centers for 25 years and supported community events for children with intellectual disabilities at the Professional Bull Riders Finals until he was 91 years old.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Johnsen family, his friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know Mike. Although Mike may be gone, the many contributions he made to his country, community and family will have a lasting impact.