Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendments en bloc.

Following recent meetings with veterans in Lewis County, I am deeply concerned about a number of issues impacting constituent veterans who receive care through the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System.

First and foremost, veterans in Lewis County have seen their access to care reduced dramatically in recent years.

The 2021 closure of the Chehalis Community Based Outpatient Clinic cut many veterans off from nearby care. Travel times went from about 1 hour to more than 2 hours to get to a VA Puget Sound facility. Not just that, but the wait times are horrific. I am hearing from veterans that they are waiting at times over 6 hours on the phone for it to be answered.

In rural communities with sparse specialty and mental health care options to begin with, the closure of a full CBOC has put lifesaving care out of reach of our veterans.

I offered two amendments that are included in the amendments en bloc that will hold the VA accountable for protecting access to care for veterans in rural areas like mine in east Lewis County.

Amendment No. 15 would require the VA to submit a report to Congress on their efforts to ensure access to healthcare for veterans residing in geographic proximity to a Department of Veteran Affairs community- based outpatient clinic subject to closure.

Amendment No. 23 will require the VA to update Patient Experience Compare Data published on their public website to break down data by county. This would give our body and Americans valuable insight about how the patient experience with a medical center may differ based on location within the center's jurisdiction, not just the jurisdiction broadly. We can compare whether it is a rural issue or an issue with the center itself.

In return for their service to our country, we have made a promise to our veterans that we must uphold. It is our responsibility to ensure they have the access to healthcare necessary to lead a full and healthy life after their time in the armed services has ended.

Mr. Chair, I ask for support for these two amendments that will help increase transparency and hold the VA accountable for access to care for my constituents and other vets in rural areas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Tru Most, a freshman at Mark Morris High School, who recently placed first in the YETI Junior World Finals of Barrel Racing in Las Vegas.

Competing against 164 other teams, Tru and her horse, Rockette, dominated the field with a run of 14.722 seconds. Her success is the result of years of hard work. She started racing when she was just 8 years old.

I am so proud of her success and for making a name for southwest Washington, and I am so excited to see what is in store for her. Her talent and her work ethic make our community proud.

Tunnel 5 Fire

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the pressing issue that has ravaged my district in southwest Washington, the Tunnel 5 wildfire.

We have all become sickeningly familiar with the feeling of your heart stopping when you get the call that there is another wildfire in your community.

Over the Independence Day weekend, I and so many others in my community got that call. To my neighbors who lost their homes, my heart breaks for you.

My team and I stand ready to help you in any way that we can, whether you need to get another passport issued or you need advice navigating FEMA. If you are trying to get your military records reissued, we stand by to help you.

I thank the firefighters who chose to spend their summers felling trees, digging lines, and sleeping in tents in sweltering heat.

When I visited that fire line, I saw firsthand there is a lot of gray hair out there. Thank you to the folks who choose to spend their retirement not in Cabo but fighting wildfires in places like Skamania County. Your experience is invaluable and your self-sacrifice an example to us all.

Finally, I thank the volunteer firefighters, first responders, and linemen from our PUDs. We are all so proud of them.

I hope they are all able to take some time off, go to a swimming hole, and relax with their families. The path to rebuilding is long, but folks like them are the reason that our community is worth the fight.

Steigerwald Restoration

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Steigerwald Restoration Project in my district. In 1960, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a levee along the Columbia River to protect communities from flooding.

In doing so, they cut off Steigerwald Lake and created flooding from Gibbons Creek and destroyed a wetland. This wound up decimating the ecosystem and introducing new floods.

In 2013, the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership began the Steigerwald Restoration Project. This project took 10 years. It was a massive undertaking. The team removed miles of the existing levee and built two new setbacks to protect the community from floods.

Thanks to their painstaking effort, port and city infrastructure, State Route 14, and nearby private residences are no longer at risk of flooding, and the natural habitat has been restored.

A few weeks ago, I was able to visit and see how the area was transformed. It is now being used as a recreational space.

I appreciate any chance to get my boots a little muddy and plant a couple of trees. Investments in our ecosystems are investments in our future.

Recognizing Small Community Banks

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize small community banks. Small community banks often serve as lifelines for local businesses and individuals.

Banks like Raymond Federal and Security State Bank have a finger on the pulse of their community and are often able to lend to members in the community when the big guys can't see the value these guys provide.

These small community banks are also able to respond quicker to local events, like a strike at a local lumber mill, by offering automatic loan modification to striking workers.

Small banks are facing a number of pressures like high interest rates and capital consolidations that benefit the big players in the financial world such as big banks, insurance companies, and companies like Apple and Amazon entering the banking space.

That is why I believe when we talk about supporting rural areas, we need to add regional community banking to the list of critical services to protect.

Recognizing NASCAR Driver Eric Johnson, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eric Johnson, Jr., a 20-year-old race car driver from Woodland, Washington, who made his NASCAR debut in early June.

Eric placed 10th at the Portland NASCAR Xfinity Series. He competed in a field of 24 racers, most of whom were older and had years of experience on him.

Inspired by his father who was a former NASCAR driver, Eric began exploring his passion for racing and cars.

Eric actually started driving race cars before he started driving on normal residential streets, going 100 miles per hour on the racetrack before going 20 miles an hour in a neighborhood. Eric began building cars when he was just 15, before he got his driver's license.

As an auto repair and machine shop owner myself, I know this meticulous, hands-on work requires a lot of attention to detail and creativity.

I congratulate Eric on his impressive debut at such a young age. I look forward to seeing where his career takes him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my distinguished predecessor, a true statesman, and above all, a dear friend, Don Bonker.

I had the honor of knowing Don personally and can attest to his generosity. When he heard that I was shopping for a suit for my husband at Goodwill, he mailed out one of his old suits for us to borrow. His generosity really knew no bounds.

He was a real source of guidance during those early days. He was always able to take my calls and answer my questions. I will forever cherish our memories and our conversations together.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in keeping Don's beloved wife, Carolyn, and his children, Dawn and Jonathan, in our thoughts and prayers.

May they find solace in knowing Don's legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those who had the honor of knowing him.

Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on a huge threat facing salmon and other fish in Washington State.

Salmon are not just a fish for us. They are a cultural touchstone, an economic bedrock, and also a huge part of meeting our Tribal obligations.

In Washington State, we have a long series of dams along the Columbia River and others, and that slows the speed of salmon as they travel up to spawn.

Sea lions have figured this out. There is an all-you-can-eat buffet waiting for them at the dams, and they are exploiting that. These are not cute, Disney-level sea lions. These are about the weight of a Volkswagen Bug, about the size of a bear. These are serious creatures, and they are not just a small predation risk.

Almost one out of two fish at Merwin Dam on the Lewis River is returning with sea lion bites out of it. Sea lions come up the river, chunk up on the salmon, and then go back out to the ocean to breed. Other sea lions see this, these glossy guys, and they say, ``Hey, where did you get that?'' and they follow them back up.

There is a massive amount of recruitment. There was actually a really interesting natural experiment on the Willamette River, where there was a smaller number of sea lions. They were able to effectively remove all of them at once and end this cycle of recruitment.

Right now, our Federal policies don't allow the effective removal of these sea lions, so the recruitment continues.

As a result of the actions at Willamette, fewer sea lions died, and more fish were saved. We have to act faster, in a more rational way, to end this cycle of recruitment.

Celebrating Tenino's 150th Jubilee

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 150th Jubilee of Tenino, Washington.

Jubilee is not the kind of word you are going to hear a lot if you visit Tenino, Washington. It is one of those words my grandpa would say costs a quarter when a nickel will do.

Folks in Tenino are really proud of our working-class heritage. It is originally a town based on logging and quarrying, and it is actually where my great-grandparents are buried. It was built on the determination of people who believe in hard work.

They are creative thinkers. When the traditional currency collapsed during

the Great Depression, they invented their own wooden currency. It worked because this is a community where people trust each other, where they believe in each other. That kind of independent thinking is exactly what has brought the town resiliency today.

I am so excited to honor the legacy and future of this great city. I sincerely thank all the folks who put their shoulder behind the wheel of making it a great town.

Honoring the Service of Chris Rust

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank retiring Superintendent Chris Rust for his 8 years of service to the Toledo School District.

During his tenure as superintendent, Chris demonstrated a passionate commitment to his students, staff, parents, and the community of Toledo. Throughout his career, Chris always sought to learn and improve, and he approached each new challenge with creativity and humility.

The construction of the Toledo High School is a testament to this. Under his direction, the school came in $2 million under budget, and as a result, people in the town had lower taxes for 4 years.

Rust's dedication to our community is further demonstrated by his use of pandemic funding to bolster the district's mental health staff, proactively addressing this growing crisis and ensuring access in schools to a safe and supportive environment.

Leaders like Chris do not come around very often, but we are lucky to have them when they do.

I thank Chris. I wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Thanking Rural Firefighters

Madam Speaker, I rise to tell you about rural firefighters.

Rural fire districts are 100 percent volunteer staffed and can have annual budgets under $100,000. That has to pay for medical supplies, fuel, vehicle maintenance, training, insurance, and administrative costs.

Because of these financial limitations, rural departments can offer training but not permanent paid positions. The result is effectively a farm system for more urban districts. Rural departments expend resources to train the firefighters who end up leaving for bigger towns, causing perpetual staffing shortages.

One emergency manager was telling me about their son, who started out his firefighting career in one of these rural districts. He was scheduled for a one-off, one-on for 6 days, but because of staffing shortages, he was on for 6 days nonstop, responding to life-critical emergencies while barely able to keep his eyes open, all without getting paid.

This type of schedule is not sustainable for any job, much less a volunteer gig, let alone one with the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of a firefighter.

I stand with my community in thanking our rural firefighters for their efforts and service. I will always be an advocate for programs that support rural firefighters.

Paying Tribute to Don Bonker

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my distinguished predecessor, Don Bonker, a dear friend. I had the honor of knowing Don personally before he passed. His loss will be felt deeply by all of our community members.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders was injured in a car accident while driving his patrol car. Since the accident, I have been in touch with Sheriff Sanders. He has incredible strength and resilience. Amazingly, just 2 weeks after being airlifted to Harborview Medical Center for his injuries he has been cleared to return to work.

Mr. Speaker, as I stand here in Washington, I will continue to send my thoughts and prayers to him and his family back home. I hope he has a speedy recovery. I am so grateful to Sheriff Sanders and officers like him who accept the risks of their job to keep our public safe.

Veteran Wait Times

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the long wait time veterans endure when trying to get through to the VA.

As the granddaughter of a veteran, I have deep respect for the sacrifice that comes from serving our Nation in uniform. We make a sacred promise to veterans: If they step up to serve, the Nation will be there for them when they take off the uniform.

Yet, the wait times for primary care appointments at the Vancouver VA hospital in my district are 3 weeks; physical therapy, 4 weeks; and mental health, 8 weeks.

To make matters worse, those times are absolutely an underestimate. The Veterans Health Administration reports average wait times on its website using the time at which an appointment is scheduled by staff rather than when the appointment is requested. This does not take into account the time veterans are forced to wait on hold just to get an appointment.

Last April, the Office of the Inspector General called this out in its report, but it still has not been remedied.

A lot of time is spent in this Chamber talking about our national debt, and rightly so, but we already have a kind of debt that we are failing to serve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in keeping our end of the bargain and making healthcare more accessible for our veterans.

Postal Service Delays

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the unacceptable state of the Postal Service in my community and across rural America. Those of you who live in urban communities might have experienced the mail just comes on time. I have constituents whose bills are delivered weeks or days after they are due, making it impossible to pay them on time and ruining their credit.

This summer, a mail carrier in my community got sick and there was no one to deliver the mail for months. In another instance, a postal master key was lost in Clark County, which has led to incredible, rampant mail theft in the area. In all of these cases the Postal Service seems unwilling or unable to fulfill their mandated duties.

Mr. Speaker, this isn't just about southwest Washington, it is all across rural America. This state of affairs is unacceptable. The United States Postal Service is a lifeline to our communities and a critical piece of infrastructure for connecting our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up and find a bipartisan solution with me to fix these issues, reform the Postal Service, and improve service for Washingtonians.

Consolidation

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out of deep concern for growing consolidation of agricultural farms throughout the food supply chain.

These mergers put small farmers, small businesses, and workers at a

huge disadvantage. There are fewer options for processing plants, cold storage, distribution, and retail.

I have heard concerns about consolidation at farm bill listening sessions I have hosted in Centralia and Battle Ground. We are seeing consolidation everywhere, including meat processing plants, fruit processors, and beverages distributors.

In my community, Corwin, a local beverage distributor was just bought out by a huge conglomerate, and now their beer and wine division is closed. The potential merger between Kroger and Albertsons would only add to this pressure. It is hurting our small producers.

The cost to transport and distribute goods is no longer sustainable and is forcing small businesses to close. This drives up the cost at the checkout stand, and it makes it more challenging to rely on American-grown goods. This is a national security threat.

Mr. Speaker, I am here to serve the people of southwest Washington, not big businesses. Every merger that cuts costs and skirts accountability is a blow to working people; to farmers, to processing plants, grocery cashiers, and families at the checkout stand.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with me to find a solution to these critical issues.

Celebrate Loggers

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate generations of loggers in Washington State, including my grandfather, Dale Gilmore. If you visit my office in Longworth, you will see a chainsaw that is almost 9 feet long. It is a McCulloch Model 99. It is the same model of chainsaw that my grandpa ran in the woods up and down the peninsula.

It was shipped here in a crate built by the Stevenson High School shop class under the leadership of Scott Midland. I brought it here to remind this Washington, D.C., what real work looks like.

The lifespan of men who ran these chainsaws could be pretty short, but they chose to sacrifice to provide for their families. The power that comes from mastering a skill should invoke humility and respect for all of the people who choose to work with their hands in the woods.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Chair, I rise to offer an amendment requiring permitting agencies to determine their technology needs and report them to Congress.

Like many of my colleagues across the aisle, I support permitting reforms. We can agree that existing permitting programs are onerous, saddling Americans with rules and regulations that are challenging at best to navigate.

Unfortunately, both parties share some of the blame for creating this mess. It is Congress that has spent decades under-resourcing permitting agencies, a big cause of the backlog we are seeing today.

Congress' infrastructure investments of the last few years are critical for my district and the entire country. Simply funding projects is not enough, though. That is not the goal of recent legislation. Getting projects built is the goal.

Whether it is bridges, broadband, ports, or power lines, making sure that permits are being issued in a consistent and timely manner is key to any project's success.

I want to make clear that ensuring predictability is an important piece of the permitting puzzle, one often left out of the discussion. When someone is applying for permits, potential approval or disapproval shouldn't be at the whims of whoever is reviewing their application. Using new technology to improve consistency can help provide the certainty that businesses crave to pursue critical projects in the first place.

These reforms can't continue to help big businesses beat out our small businesses. The endless red tape involved in getting permits is a major burden for small businesses.

In sector after sector of our economy, market consolidation is squeezing America's small businesses and harming consumers. A business of five employees should be on a level playing field with a business of 5,000 employees when it comes to navigating the permitting system. Ensuring that predictability is one way permitting programs can work better for small businesses.

Right now we don't even know what resources permitting agencies need, and that is why the provision in H.R. 1 that agencies assess their staffing needs and report them to Congress is so important. My amendment simply extends that requirement to cover technology, as well.

Technology, we all know, is changing so fast right now, and giving permitting agencies better tools can help on so many fronts. New software, including programs using machine learning, can better coordinate simultaneous application reviews by agencies, it can improve agencies' communication with applicants so they can know where their permits are in the process and any additional material that may be needed for certification.

New technology can improve predictability and timely review. This is a straightforward measure that would help make the government work the way it ought to.

Congress needs to make sure that permitting agencies have the staff, technology, and resources to issue permits and expand permitting capacity.

I am proud to offer this amendment to ensure agencies' technology needs are met, and I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

In closing, Madam Chair, this reporting requirement is important for making sure permitting agencies work right. Making sure agencies have the technology they need will improve processes, reduce compliance costs, and speed up permitting.

The whole amendment is just 10 pages. It is a straightforward, good- government provision.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the line workers in my district. They are literally keeping the lights on.

When ice storms hit, when the winds are hitting 60-miles-an-hour in my district, when we are warm in bed, the folks who work on the power lines are getting in their trucks and they are working in these conditions to keep and get the lights on.

Power transmission is not sexy. It does not get the status and the attention that a Tesla does or that many of our electrification projects do. But transmission is critical for grid resiliency and clean energy. We have got to focus our efforts on increasing transmission capacity.

I take this opportunity to specifically thank the linemen in my county, Skamania County. A few weeks ago, we had a huge winter storm. I woke up to 20 inches. A lot of people like me get our water from a well, so when the power is out, we don't have water.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of those line folks who are keeping the power on, getting up in the middle of the night, and taking care of our power supply.

Funding for Water Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about water infrastructure in my community.

A few weeks ago, I was reviewing congressional funding requests, and one pervasive theme that came up over and over was municipal water infrastructure problems in the district. This issue touches every county in my district and every home, from Underwood to Long Beach to Washougal.

Over and over, we see infrastructure that is past its recommended life span, undersized, or on the brink of collapse, frankly. In order to resolve this, communities are forced to either slap a Band-Aid on it or take out massive loans. Some wastewater systems are also beginning to fail, and they have been releasing sewage into the environment, which places a lot of people at risk.

Local governments alone can't address this issue. In the past, the government has mandated state-of-the-art equipment, essentially requiring that these folks put a Lamborghini sewer system in when what they really need is a Toyota Corolla. This makes it incredibly expensive and difficult to keep up with maintenance in a small community.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass Federal legislation that will ensure all Americans have access to clean energy.

Prescription Drug Shortages

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the drug shortages happening across the country.

Like most Americans, I live on a budget. My monthly prescription just went from $16 a month to $250 a month, and we are seeing this across the board. We are seeing shortages in Infants' Tylenol and in cough syrup. We have shortages of vital drugs. It is becoming incredibly difficult for everyday people to keep up with the cost of these necessary medications.

No surprise, Big Pharma can find the capacity to manufacture the expensive on-brand drugs, and they are actively stonewalling efforts to produce the generic drugs that working families can actually afford.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address this critical issue and ensure folks across the Nation can access their medications.

In Support of Law Enforcement

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of law enforcement officers in my district and across the Nation.

The national starting wage for police officers is $67,000 annually. That is not very much, folks. These are careers that we are asking people to step into the line of fire for us, and these wages do not reflect the risks of the job.

As a result, no surprise, recruitment and retention of good officers is the top issue facing law enforcement agencies across the country. But our Federal priorities don't reflect this necessity. We are continually funding capital projects and not operating expenses. So while the cost of living is going up and up and up, we are funding, I kid you not, body cameras for dogs.

In my district, one of my local sheriff's offices received Federal funding

for dog body cameras at a time when their deputy wages are struggling to keep up with the cost of living. We have got to make sure Federal resources are being spent wisely, not on, literally, pet projects.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in working to realign our Federal spending to reflect the real issues facing law enforcement.

Celebrating the Life of Larry Cassidy

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Larry Cassidy.

When I first met Larry, I remember how amazed I was by his constant positivity. Larry was born in Portland but moved to Vancouver, the good side of the river, his home since 1966. He was a husband, father, and grandfather. He was passionate about salmon and steelhead in the Northwest and was a community activist and conservationist before receiving a Governor-appointed position on the Washington Game Commission.

Sadly, Larry passed away in January of this year after battling prostate cancer for 25 years.

I thank Larry for being a friend and a mentor. I stand with my community in being grateful to Larry for all he did in Washington's Third Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Napavine High School football team for a fabulous season. They have brought home yet another State championship in football.

The Tigers put up an impressive 41 points in one game. The defense stood tall, paving the way to secure the title.

Victories like these really highlight the importance of team sports and competition. These experiences bring communities together and teach students the value of teamwork and hard work.

Congratulations, Napavine Tigers. You have made your community and me very proud for an amazing season.

Recognizing Sandra Bedrosian Sermone

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Sandra Bedrosian Sermone, a resident of my district, for her work on ADNP syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder.

In 2016, Sandra founded the ADNP Kids Research Foundation after her son was diagnosed with this disorder. Additionally, Sandra helped discover a

new biomarker for the ADNP gene, helping her spearhead efforts to diagnose and cure ADNP.

Through her efforts, the ADNP Kids Research Foundation has donated over $2 million to studying ADNP syndrome, making it the world's largest contributor to ADNP research.

The foundation is based out of Brush Prairie, Washington, in my district, and I want to take this opportunity to thank Sandra and her entire team for their trailblazing work. I wish them the very best as they endeavor to find a cure for ADNP syndrome.

Celebrating Longview's Centennial

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Longview, Washington.

Longview was created north of the Columbia River and west of the Cowlitz River in 1923 by the Long-Bell Lumber Company. It was, at the time, the first city of its size created entirely by private funds.

Previously, the Long-Bell Lumber Company was located in Missouri, and I think they judiciously relocated to the Northwest, where timber grows on trees.

Longview was dedicated in 1923 and then incorporated as a municipal government in February 1924. Today, Longview is a thriving community of over 37,000 people. It is a major port hub and continues to be a powerhouse in timber, cardboard, and paper industries.

As part of its celebrations, Longview celebrated a Centennial Kickoff Celebration on January 20. I look forward to celebrating with them throughout the year, particularly during this summer's annual cardboard boat regatta.

Celebrating the Mecha Mules Robotics Team

Madam Speaker, I rise today to give a huge shout-out to the Wahkiakum High School Mecha Mules robotics team. Somebody needs to make a movie about these guys. They are phenomenal.

Wahkiakum High School actually did not have hot running water in many of their bathrooms. It is a rural and, in many ways, a very underresourced school.

These kids, ranging in age from eighth grade all the way to seniors, placed second at the International SeaPerch underwater robotics competition. They are doing phenomenal work. They placed 17th out of over a hundred competitors in Washington State's competition.

I was so honored to visit with them last month. These kids really know their stuff. I am behind them 100 percent, so much so that I actually offered or agreed to jump in a pool if they are successful in their next competition. Hopefully, we will have more on that.

Again, congratulations. We are all so proud of you. You have made your community very proud, and I am very excited to see what you all continue to do.

Thanking U.S. Coast Guard and Columbia River Bar Pilots for Their

Service

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank the U.S. Coast Guard and Columbia River Bar pilots in southwest Washington for their dedicated service every day on the Columbia River Bar.

This is one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the world. It is where the mighty Columbia meets the Pacific Ocean. In winter, waves reach over 30 feet to 40 feet in height.

Every day, these folks risk their lives to save lives and livelihoods and ensure that the Columbia River can be a connecting route for Washington State and the entire world for trade. I am so grateful for the work they do guiding cargo ships and providing aid to stranded vessels.

Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 128.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to be a voice for my rural community and celebrate the passage of the Wind River Administrative Site Conveyance Act.

Before being sworn into Congress, I acted with my predecessor, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Senator Cantwell, and members of the Skamania County Commission to pass the Wind River Administrative Site Conveyance Act in the fiscal year 2023 spending bill.

As a Skamania County resident, I know that only 1.8 percent of our land is fully taxable for generating necessary revenue for community services. The Wind River Administrative Site Conveyance Act transfers 24 acres back into the county land base and increases opportunity for small businesses in our community.

I thank my predecessor, Jaime Herrera Beutler, and Senator Cantwell for leading this effort. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass similarly important legislation.

Recognizing Repair Clark County

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to be a voice for my community and share with you the importance of Repair Clark County.

Repair Clark County is a nonprofit organization that rejects the premise that when things break, we just throw them out, that we are helpless consumers reliant on an endless cycle of cheap goods.

I was lucky to attend one of their events on January 21, and I saw a little girl light up when her favorite night-light was fixed instead of being thrown away. What an amazing gift to teach this child that we can have a relationship of stewardship with our belongings, not just consumerism.

These volunteers uphold our values of stewardship and self- sufficiency because, in America, DIY is in our DNA.

I thank Terra Heilman, the head of Repair Clark County, for spearheading this effort.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work on Federal legislation that ensures all consumers have the right and the ability to maintain and fix their own stuff.

Recognizing iUrban Teen

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the iUrban Teen organization for creating an incredibly diverse talent pipeline in my district.

IUrban Teen provides skills training for teens and young adults and gives them access to career pathways and alternatives that they need to be successful and have more opportunities.

For example, the Future Teachers Pathway program brings together Vancouver Public Schools, Washington State University Vancouver, and Clark College to mentor students and give them the training they need to succeed in their chosen career paths.

This is so critical for young people who face challenges and gives them the support they deserve in their efforts to become critical members of our community.

For the past 13 years, iUrban Teen has hosted a breakfast on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I was honored to attend their event.

I thank the iUrban Teen team for bridging the gap for students and inspiring all of us to keep working for change.

Honoring Mikhail Pavenko

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mikhail Pavenko, a resident of Vancouver, Washington.

In 1996, Mikhail emigrated from Ukraine to Vancouver, and he has proudly worked as a lineman for the Clark County Public Utilities since 2014, literally keeping the lights on in my district.

Mr. Pavenko has recently taken on a new role. Since the conflict between Ukraine and Russia began, he has returned to Ukraine more than a dozen times to serve as a volunteer military chaplain.

Mikhail is and continues to be a beacon of light for many during times of untold suffering. He inspires Ukrainians on the front line to keep the faith and keep up the fight, and he simultaneously reminds all of us that democracy is worth fighting for.

I cannot thank Mr. Pavenko enough for his service to the people of Ukraine as they stand together against authoritarianism.

Congratulating the Columbia River Rapids Girls Volleyball Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give a big shout-out to the Columbia River Rapids girls volleyball team. They are doing an incredible job. I am so excited to share this on the House floor.

The Rapids girls volleyball team won the 2A State title in three sets, finishing an amazing season for the volleyball team. The entire tournament, they only lost one set. What makes this even more notable is they were a No. 6 seed, and they defeated three higher seeds to attain this title.

These incredible young women played an impressive season and have made me and our whole community very proud.

Congratulations to the Columbia River Rapids girls volleyball team on their amazing accomplishments. I am so excited to see what they will do next season.

Mr. Chair, I thank Representative DelBene for the opportunity to speak on this amendment.

The health of my district's economy depends on a clean Pacific Coast and ocean ecosystem.

My district is actually home to one of the most fishing-dependent communities in the entire country--Pacific County.

Preventing offshore drilling not only protects the environment, it also protects the economies of the communities where people work for a living.

We cannot bankrupt our long-term environmental quality for a one-off oil jackpot.

That is why I support this amendment that prevents offshore drilling.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Representatives Kilmer and DelBene for their work on this critical issue, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 79.

Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment prohibiting oil and gas leasing on any tract of the Washington-Oregon Planning Area, where leasing would negatively impact coastal fisheries.

The health of our economies depends on a clean Pacific. Washington generates over $8.5 billion of revenue in fisheries and seafood processing a year. My district is home to one of the most fishing- dependent communities in the entire U.S.

Pacific County is home to the largest shellfish-producing community on the entire West Coast. Pacific County produces almost 50 million pounds of shellfish a year. That is 600 jobs and over $10 million of value.

The towns of Ilwaco and Chinook support over 200 fishing vessels. That is 1,300 jobs, generating 21 million pounds of fish and shellfish and $25 million of personal income. To be clear, this is critical to the economies of our coastal communities.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve will continue to be a critical part of our national security infrastructure, and oil and gas will continue to be part of our energy economy for a long time, but we can't sacrifice our rural economies for a one-off jackpot in oil.

I am proud to offer this amendment to protect coastal fisheries and the communities they support, and I am glad to stand up for people who work for a living. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Ms. Perez

Amendment No. 79: Page 3, line 9, strike the closing

quotation mark and the final period.

Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:

``(4) Coastal fisheries exclusion.--The plan required by

paragraph (1) shall not provide for oil and gas leasing in

any tract in the Washington/Oregon Planning Area if such oil

and gas leasing would adversely impact coastal fisheries.''.