Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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

Madam Chair, I rise today in vehement opposition to the amendment proposed by Representative Jackson.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle like to thank the troops and talk about honoring their sacrifice, and that is all, frankly, empty words and broken promises if this amendment passes.

This amendment puts servicewomen and military families' lives at risk by denying the basic right to travel for healthcare that is no longer available where they are stationed.

Now that Iowa passed anti-abortion restrictions, 46 percent of servicewomen do not have access to abortion care. This would enact a dangerous healthcare travel ban.

Servicemembers signed up to put their lives on the line for our freedoms, our national values, and our constitutional rights. They did not sign up to put their lives on the line or their spouses' lives on the line because they cannot get access to basic care.

I was an officer in the Navy. What I learned was that good leaders protect their squadron. They don't abandon them in favor of their own politics or agenda.

How am I supposed to recommend to young girls in my district that they should attend a service academy like I did when we know this amendment would mean that they would be signing away their right to basic healthcare?

This amendment makes our servicewomen pawns in the majority's extreme agenda and is a steppingstone to larger bans, restrictions, and wholesale disregard for women's healthcare in America.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan), my good friend and a tireless champion for servicewomen.

Madam Chair, I thank Ms. Houlahan for her comments, and I strongly associate myself with the gentlewoman's remarks.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin), one of our strongest advocates for women's healthcare.

Madam Chair, I couldn't agree more with the gentlewoman, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Escobar), who is someone who not only fights for women in Congress but fights against her home State's draconian laws.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield the remaining time to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crow), who is my friend and a valued colleague and partner in this effort.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chair, I missed one vote on the House Floor today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 287.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Daniel Gill and congratulate him on his retirement after an incredible 53-year teaching career in the Montclair Public School District in New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District. Mr. Gill has taught and inspired three generations of Montclair students. His dedication to our town is a testament to the many ways our educators go above and beyond for our communities.

Mr. Gill was born and raised in New York City. After graduating from Iona College with a degree in psychology, Mr. Gill joined the VISTA program, where he counseled young people incarcerated at Rikers Island Prison. It was during this time that he began pursuing his master's degree from Columbia University in urban education and curriculum.

Mr. Gill began his career as a Social Studies teacher in Montclair in 1970 and from early on, his impact went well beyond the classroom. He was an instrumental leader in desegregating the Montclair School District. He helped develop the magnet school plan that became a national model. Montclair's strength is its diversity and Mr. Gill has always worked to support our schools in living up to their potential.

Mr. Gill brings history to life for his students and his ``No More Chairs'' lesson is just one notable example. As a child, Mr. Gill went to a birthday party with his friend Archie, who was told there was no seat for him and was turned away from the party because of the color of his skin. Mr. Gill shares this story each year and leaves an empty chair in his classroom to remind students that they all belong and have an important place in our community.

In addition to his work with Montclair Schools, Mr. Gill has counseled high school students from East Orange, Newark, and Irvington for the past 40 years to help them into college through Seton Hall University's Upward Bound Program.

Mr. Gill has been recognized for his work on numerous occasions, receiving the Robert Merrill Scholar Award from Cornell University, the Euphemia Lofton Haynes Award from the Montclair NAACP, and two Weston Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Beyond these awards, Mr. Gill's impact is clear from his students who continue to talk about the tremendous role he played in their lives and how he helped to foster their lifelong passion for learning. Parents and children alike bond over the impact Mr. Gill made in their lives.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Gill and his wife Michelle are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of six, who share his deep commitment to public service.

Mr. Gill is a beloved member of our community and he has inspired countless students with the lessons they learned in his classroom. Whether his students are transforming their

classroom into a museum, leading civics projects, or explaining to visitors to their classroom why the empty chair is there, Mr. Gill has always made learning engaging and current. Since the beginning of his career, Mr. Gill's passion for education, equality, and public service has shaped the Montclair Public Schools District. I am grateful for this opportunity to honor him today and wish him a very happy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize World NF Awareness Day. Each year, the Children's Tumor Foundation works to educate the public about this rare genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. One in every two thousand children are born with some type of NF and I am grateful for the opportunity to join in the critical effort to raise awareness of this disease.

NF is a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. The impacts of NF can lead to long term disabilities and other serious health complications, including blindness, deafness. disfigurement, chronic pain, and cancer. Public awareness is essential to promoting early diagnosis and treatment to mitigate further complications of NF.

NF affects each individual differently and listening directly to NF patients paints a fuller picture of the disease and the continued need for awareness. Mr. Alwyn Dias lives in New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District with his wife and two children and is a powerful advocate for NF awareness, research, and treatment. Mr. Dias was diagnosed with NF as a child after finding a marble sized tumor on his back. He shared the pain he felt growing up feeling that he needed to hide NF from his peers and the strength he found later in sharing his story. I am grateful for his vulnerability in discussing the impact NF can have on mental health and for his continued advocacy with the Children's Tumor Foundation.

The Children's Tumor Foundation does essential work to support those living with NF. Whether by funding world-class medical research, improving patient experiences in treatment, or offering support groups to patients and their families, the Children's Tumor Foundation provides an invaluable service to our community. They live up to their mission to drive research, expand knowledge, and advance care for the NF community, while working to one day find the cure.

I am grateful to join the Children's Tumor Foundation in recognizing World NF Awareness Day and to support their efforts to make NF visible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 125th anniversary of the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department.

The Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department is an integral part of New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District. The Department has provided outstanding emergency services, fire safety education, and prevention programs to Chatham Borough and its surrounding towns for the past 125 years.

When the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1898, it responded to emergencies with just 600 feet of hose, two hose carts, and a hand-drawn hook and ladder truck. In fact, the Department responded to 897 alarms in its first 50 years alone. And as the Department has grown and modernized throughout its extraordinary history, it is clear that the exceptional determination and bravery of the firefighters to protect the Chatham Borough community has always remained at the very core of the Department.

Beyond emergency response services, the Department has led community programs that bring our residents together each year. The annual Fishing Derby, Santa's visit on the Christmas Eve ``North Pole Express,'' and the Fourth of July Parade, are just a few examples of the many ways the Chatham Borough Fire Department has gone above and beyond to provide lifelong traditions and memories for our community.

Whether responding to major fires, car accidents, or by ensuring disaster preparedness, I am tremendously grateful for the deep tradition of public service that has driven this Department and its firefighters for over a century. I am proud to honor the Chatham Borough

Volunteer Fire Department and its members as their 125th anniversary approaches on May 7th.

Mr. Speaker, on March 22, 2023, I missed votes on the House Floor. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 144, To direct the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on implementation of the advanced capabilities pillar of the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, H.R. 1093, and YEA on Roll Call No. 145, to Amend the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 to require periodic reviews and updated reports relating to the Department of State's Taiwan Guidelines, H.R. 1159.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 90th anniversary of Morristown National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park Service.

Morristown National Historical Park is a treasured part of New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District and an important part of our nation's history. During the coldest winter of the Revolutionary War-- from 1779 to 1780--George Washington and the Continental Army camped in Morristown, New Jersey. Centrally located between New York City and Philadelphia, Morristown was a strategic location for the Continental Army.

Recognizing the important history of the park, the 65th Congress established Morristown National Historical Park. It was signed into law by President Herbert Hoover on his last day of office, March 2, 1933. As a member of the 118th Congress, I am grateful for the work of my predecessors in making Morristown National Historical Park the first national historical park in the United States, marking the start of a robust national historical park system that has educated and enriched the lives of generations of Americans in the years since.

Today, whether walking, biking or joining guided tours, visitors to the park can experience our nation's history firsthand. Visitors can see where the troops built cabins for their encampment at Jockey Hollow or tour the Ford Mansion that served as George Washington's headquarters. Over its long history, the Morristown Historical Park has preserved the history of the Revolutionary War while providing countless memories for its visitors from NJ-11 and around the world.

With the 250th Anniversary of our Nation right around the corner, I look forward to gathering with my family and my fellow Americans to mark this historic milestone at the crossroads of the American Revolution--Morristown National Historical Park.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the strength of the Ukrainian people after enduring 1 year of merciless attacks by Russian forces.

The following is from a record entry on Friday that marked the 1-year anniversary:

When Putin ordered his tanks and forces into regions like Mariupol and Kharkiv, he thought Ukraine would fall in a matter of days. Instead of an easy victory, Putin's war of aggression has been a dismal failure.

The people of Ukraine refused to be forced into an authoritarian state where any opposition is met with jail, torture, or murder. They are prepared to pay the ultimate price for their freedom.

NATO is now more unified than ever in providing military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to support Ukraine's right to sovereignty.

Since the invasion, the United States has provided unprecedented support and coordination, which has helped the Ukrainian military make exponential gains.

Picatinny Arsenal in my congressional district has been integral to Ukraine's military success. They have developed the primary cannon being used by the Ukrainian army and continue to be responsible for every piece of ammunition being sent by the United States to Ukraine. I remain committed to protecting the fundamental values of peace, prosperity, and stability across the globe and in Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the strength of the Ukrainian people after enduring one year of merciless attacks by Russian forces. February 24, 2023, marks one year since Vladimir Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people.

When Putin ordered his tanks and forces into regions like Mariupol and Kharkiv, he thought Ukraine would fall in a matter of days. Instead of an easy victory, Putin's war of aggression has been a dismal failure.

In the past year, l visited Ukraine right before the Russian invasion and again this past summer. There, l saw clear evidence of Putin's war crimes--atrocities against civilians and children, and attacks on the Ukrainian people's very existence as a nation. I walked around St. Andrew's Church in Bucha where 116 people were buried in a mass grave because the city morgue was completely occupied. But I also saw Ukrainians display remarkable resilience and bravery, even when Russian forces attacked basic services and critical civilian infrastructure.

The people of Ukraine refuse to be forced into an authoritarian state where any opposition is met with jail, torture, or murder. They are prepared to pay the ultimate price for their freedom. Ukrainian armed forces and leadership, like President Zelensky, defend their homeland with skill, determination, and bravery.

I have met with many NATO members over the past year and am proud to report that NATO is stronger than ever. We are more united than ever in providing military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to support Ukraine's right to sovereignty.

The United States and our Western allies understand that Putin's invasion of Ukraine is not just a Ukraine problem, it's a battle between democracy and authoritarianism worldwide. We are delivering a strong and unequivocal answer: we will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow, and forever.

Since the invasion, the United States has provided unprecedented support and coordination, which has helped the Ukrainian military make exponential gains. During my last trip, I told President Zelensky about his deep support from the Ukrainian-American community here in the United States. I have met with Parliamentarians from Ukraine throughout the war, twice in the past two months alone, as well as the Mayor of Kyiv, and it is always important to me to share the deep support they have from Americans from across the country.

Our area, which has one of the largest Ukrainian-American populations in the United States, has demonstrated remarkable generosity and determination to support the children, families, and servicemembers of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Cultural Center of NJ has shipped 18 containers to Ukraine with aid valued at over $4 million. Local families have opened their homes to Ukrainians seeking refuge from the conflict. Our local governments and law enforcement have sent supplies, including equipment like bullet-proof vests.

Picatinny Arsenal in my congressional district has been integral to Ukraine's military success. They have developed the primary cannon being used by the Ukrainian army, and continue to be responsible for every piece of ammunition being sent by the United States to Ukraine. We are so proud of their work and dedication.

The U.S. and our fellow democracies must continue to support Ukraine in 2023 to prevent a new era of authoritarianism. I remain committed to protecting the fundamental values of

peace, prosperity, and stability across the globe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1437, the ``Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation,'' or ``PRECIP Act.''

I am the proud author of the PRECIP Act, a bipartisan measure to address flooding--the most common and widely experienced natural hazard both in the nation and in my northern New Jersey district. My commitment to this bill is grounded in the painful experiences of my New Jersey constituents devastated by flooding who, sadly, know the life-and-death impact of lacking precise and accurate forecasts ahead of flooding caused by extreme rainfall. Flooding is pernicious throughout this country, not just in coastal areas, and for that reason, the practical tools enabled by this bill benefit all Americans, and the bill has enjoyed bipartisan support.

Flooding can occur from major multi-state events--like Tropical Storm Ida, which swept away a woman in Woodland Park in my district and took the lives of 27 New Jerseyans--or smaller localized rainfall that causes flash flooding, like five inches of sudden rainfall that swept through Parsippany, New Jersey, in just hours last October.

The PRECIP Act improves local forecasting of these events by requiring NOAA to update outdated rainfall data that has hampered the accuracy of forecasting. It also ensures this data is updated more frequently going forward, accounts for future impacts due to climate change, and requires development of best practices to estimate maximum precipitation amounts.

I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle of the Science Committee, Chairwoman Johnson, and Senators Booker and Wicker for their support of the PRECIP Act. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 558, the ``Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act,'' or ``FLOODS Act.''

I am the proud sponsor of H.R. 1438, the House companion to the ``FLOODS Act'' being considered today. In New Jersey, we are all too familiar with the devastation of flooding both from historic weather events like Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy, and most recently Tropical Storm Ida, as well as more localized high-intensity rainfall events that don't get headlines, like the five inches of sudden rainfall that caused flash flooding in Parsippany, New Jersey, last October. Protecting our communities from these events, both large and small, means giving our forecasters, local planners, and first responders up-to-date data on where to expect precipitation and flooding and in what amounts.

Sadly, my constituents know the life-and-death impact of not having precise and accurate information ahead of flooding. When we experienced horrendous flooding in the wake of Tropical Storm Ida, we tragically lost 27 lives across New Jersey. In Woodland Park in my district, a woman was swept away by the flooding--brave residents at the scene tried to rescue her, but the current was too strong and they themselves had to be rescued. In another part of my district, I heard from a mother who, along with her young children, had to be rescued from her home late at night during Ida after she had been told only hours earlier that the storm would pass well to the west of her home. Knowing the precise location of precipitation and likely flooding makes all the difference.

As Chairwoman of the Science Committee's Subcommittee on Environment, I have examined how to prevent flooding from occurring and how to be resilient to flooding that does occur. However, while mitigation and resiliency solutions such as nature-based infrastructure can help address these issues, they cannot fix the root issue of flood prevention without the data necessary to map and estimate the location and nature of the flooding threat. This bill provides vital data and tools to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and ultimately to local stakeholders.

The FLOODS Act establishes a National Integrated Flood Information System that improves the coordination and integration of flood research at NOAA, designates a service coordination hydrologist at each National Weather Service River Forecast Center, and leverages existing work across NOAA to improve timely decision making related to flooding events. Further, it improves observations and modeling for total water prediction--a crucial component to understanding mechanisms that cause flooding--through partnerships with other federal agencies and academia. This bill continues to develop the nations' STEM workforce by creating a fellowship for graduate students in hydrologic fields to work at federal agencies. Additionally. this bill takes steps to improve coordination and communication for hurricane forecasts, tornado warnings. and other extreme weather events.

But one of the most important things needed to improve resilience to flooding is accurate estimation of precipitation. This bill directs NOAA to update its precipitation frequency estimates, known as Atlas 14. Atlas 14 estimates are essential for protecting lives and taxpayer dollars, as they directly assist emergency planning. Atlas 14 estimates are often based on precipitation data records that are in many cases decades old. We worked closely with our colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee to reconcile the Atlas 14 language in this bill and another bill I led this Congress, H.R. 1437, the PRECIP Act. The importance of making updates to Atlas 14--and subsequently keeping those estimates up-to-date--has become more apparent. even since we first introduced this bill. We encourage NOAA to update the Atlas 14 estimates as frequently as practicable, more often than the 10-year minimum requirement in this bill. And as the impacts of climate change on extreme precipitation become impossible to ignore, we further encourage the agency to consider assumptions of non-stationarity when developing Atlas 14 estimates, in line with the language in my PRECIP Act as introduced.

It is important, now more than ever, to have authoritative data and a coordinated response to flooding events as the climate crisis worsens for New Jerseyans, and the entire nation. The measures in this legislation are essential to protect our homes and families from flooding risks. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill so we can send it to the President's desk.

Madam Speaker, during rollcall Vote Number 515 on Mr. Roy's motion to adjourn, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yea'' when I should have voted ``nay.''

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Beatty (Neguse)

Brooks (Fleischmann)

Doyle, Michael F. (Pallone)

Gibbs (Smucker)

Gohmert (Weber (TX))

Gonzales, Tony (Gimenez)

Gosar (Weber (TX))

Hayes (Neguse)

Herrera Beutler (Stewart)

Huffman (Levin (CA))

Jacobs (NY) (Sempolinski)

Johnson (LA) (Graves (LA))

Johnson (OH) (Fulcher)

Johnson (TX) (Pallone)

Kahele (Correa)

Kirkpatrick (Pallone)

Lawrence (Garcia (TX))

Lawson (FL) (Evans)

Long (Fleischmann)

Meeks (Meng)

Napolitano (Correa)

Nehls (Mace)

Newman (Correa)

Palazzo (Fleischmann)

Pascrell (Pallone)

Payne (Pallone)

Peltola (Correa)

Pressley (Neguse)

Ruppersberger (Sarbanes)

Simpson (Fulcher)

Sires (Pallone)

Swalwell (Correa)

Titus (Pallone)

Welch (Pallone)

Williams (GA) (McBath)

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michael A. Coppola, Jr. for his years of service to our Nation and to the North New Jersey community.

Mr. Coppola served in the Navy as a Water Tender Second Class. He fought in World War II from 1943 to 1946. Remarkably, he answered his country's call to duty a second time during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. During his years of honorable service, he was awarded with the American Theatre Medal, Victory Medal, European Theatre Medal, and the Sea Bee Insignia.

After his military service, he moved to Verona, New Jersey in 1954. He worked as a Power House Chief Engineer for Otis Elevator for 31 years then went to work for Westinghouse for 10 years in a similar role.

He was President of the Essex Chapter of the National Association of Power Engineers and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Cedar Grove. In addition, he was a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus and was a Cubmaster for Boy Scout Pack Five in Verona. For twenty years, he walked as the oldest marching veteran from World War II in Verona's Memorial Day Parade. Over these years, he became a beloved staple of the event.

Regrettably, Michael A. Coppola Jr. died on July 1st at the NJ Veterans Home in Paramus at the age of 97. I am proud to honor his long service in the Navy. He will be a missed fixture of our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Gerald Charles Gemian and wish him a very happy 100th birthday on August 25, 2022. Mr. Gemian is a veteran and a longtime resident of Montville, New Jersey.

I want to thank him for his service in the United States Army Signal Corps during the Second World War. Mr. Gemian served from 1942 to 1945 as an Army Staff Sergeant combat radio operator in the Central Pacific Theater. There, he supported assault groups during the Island Hopping Campaign, which was an integral part of the Allies' military strategy against Japan. This mission involved taking over an island and establishing a military base on it, which would in turn be used as a launching point for the assault and takeover of another island. As a radio operator, Mr. Gemian's job was crucial to the success of the Allied efforts in battle. His unit landed on shore and secured the island in order to set up a communications base. They used a grid system to determine locations for the artillery to bombard, and then radioed the coordinates over to the fleet and the field artillery. He and his unit remained in combat until the island was fully secured, and once one island was secured, they traveled to the next target. Mr. Gemian went from island to island in the Pacific until the end of the war.

Mr. Gemian fought in actions across the Pacific theater; including in the Kwajalein and Eniwetok campaigns in the Marshall Islands; in the Mariana Islands and Palau. His unit encountered difficult conditions during the campaigns. They were often short on supplies including water, food, and ammunition. The islands were hot and humid, with temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees. Mr. Gemian and his unit also had to worry about hidden snipers and booby traps that littered the islands. He survived numerous enemy attacks and battles and he was never wounded.

After serving in the military, Mr. Gemian became an engineer and moved to Montville in 1977. There, he became an active life-member of Montville VFW Memorial Post 5481.

Mr. Gemian was married to his wife, Elizabeth, for 74 years until she passed away in 2021. He has a son, 3 granddaughters, and 3 great- grandchildren.

Mr. Gemian is a true American hero, and we are indebted to him for his great service to our Nation. It was a pleasure to sit down with Mr. Gemian at Montville's Memorial Day Ceremony around the 75th anniversary of D-Day to talk about his experiences from World War II. I am proud to honor him today, and I hope he has a wonderful 100th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 3952, the NOAA Chief Scientist Act.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is the premier federal agency in oceanic and atmospheric research. From climate modeling to aquatic habitat preservation, NOAA conducts scientific research that improves the lives of all Americans, especially in my home state of New Jersey.

The agency's Chief Scientist performs an integral and extensive role in facilitating the coordination of research efforts across each of NOAA's six unique line offices and with other federal agencies. Previous Chief Scientists come from decorated and distinguished backgrounds, including scientists from preeminent roles in oceanography and atmospheric science. Dr. Sarah Kapnick, an executive with 18 years of experience at the intersection of climate science and economics, has been most recently named to this role.

The Chief Scientist also plays a critical role in ensuring that NOAA can accurately predict future weather events, an essential service to help Americans prepare for severe weather. In New Jersey, the forecast residents received in advance of Hurricane Ida did not adequately prepare them for the storm, which killed 25 people across the state and cost the United States $65 billion. As weather events become more frequent and severe due to climate change, accurate weather forecasting from the agency will save lives and money.

This bipartisan bill clarifies the role that the Chief Scientist has in advising NOAA on scientific technology policies and strategies. The Chief Scientist's role requires an established and experienced background in producing sound scientific work as well as respect from the scientific community to facilitate connections towards cutting edge research that does not merely reflect partisan interests. It is important that NOAA's Chief Scientist is insulated from political interference and maintain scientific integrity. That is why this bill requires the Chief Scientist to both adhere to, and uphold, scientific integrity policies.

This bill directs the NOAA Administrator to give due consideration to recommendations that are submitted by reputable and diverse scientific and academic organizations within the U.S. This includes scientific organizations such as the National Academies and NOAA's Science Advisory Board, which have extensive experience with scientists of this caliber. It also requires the Chief Scientist to be knowledgeable in the scientific disciplines associated with the work at NOAA--a reasonable requirement given the complexities of NOAA's work.

This bill further establishes an Office of the Chief Scientist, to be staffed by Federal employees of NOAA which will be detailed into the office on a rotating basis. Detailing employees from all line offices ensures that each will remain represented in overseeing the research at NOAA. The new role of Deputy Chief Scientist, designated by the NOAA Administrator, will further support the functions of the Chief Scientist, and will perform the role of Acting Chief Scientist in the event of a vacancy in the position. These steps will provide crucial support to the Chief Scientist to further the mission of NOAA.

Finally, this bill requires that the Chief Scientist produce a yearly, public report which describes the accomplishments and implementation of NOAA's scientific and technological strategies. This report will also detail any challenges faced by the agency and provide a transparent summary of all research funded by NOAA. This will include a breakdown of the percentage of research funded and carried out by the private sector, cooperative institutes, academia, nongovernmental organizations, and other institutions. This yearly report will further ensure that the research mission of NOAA is transparent and forward- thinking.

I want to thank my colleague from the Science Committee, Representative Feenstra of Iowa, for working with me to introduce this bill. This bill has also been endorsed by the American Meteorological Society and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Scientific research is at its best when it is approached collaboratively and includes a variety of perspectives and skillsets. This bill outlines the responsibilities and requirements for a NOAA Chief Scientist to ensure that a qualified individual can help the agency advance its cross-cutting mission of science and service. This will support NOAA's efforts to provide world-class research to serve communities through future research endeavors.