Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this week started off very difficult with losing Representative LaMalfa. I had the privilege of serving with him for 7 years on the Natural Resources Committee. He also chaired the Western Caucus this past year. He did a wonderful job.

He was that gentle giant, Mr. Speaker, that you could always count on. He was a person of reason, but as you got to know Doug, Mr. Speaker, he was an even better person. He was a humble, Christian, faithful person.

Mr. Speaker, we need more of that in this body, especially now.

We know that Doug is with his Savior. We know that his Savior chose this time earlier this week, but Doug is resting in eternity with Almighty God, his Savior, Jesus Christ.

To his wife, Jill, I thank her for allowing him to serve not only in the California Legislature but here in this body. I thank her for allowing him to travel, as Mr. Garamendi just said, all that way to and from the great State of California. After those long trips, he would come in, and you knew on Monday or Tuesday nights, the start of the session, when he would come in here wearing some tattered clothes. He was a little bit disheveled, but he had had a long day.

He was here for the people of his district, and he left a legacy that we all should cherish, honor, and remember.

That is why we are here today, Mr. Speaker. We are honoring Doug. He always had a nickname for every one of us.

Doug, I know you are resting in peace for eternity, but I thank you for serving this great Nation. I thank you for serving the great State of California in the way you did. You left a legacy. You helped all of us become better Representatives.

To Jill, our thoughts and prayers are with her and her four children. God bless you and take care of your family.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4776, which I am proud to cosponsor.

I want to begin by commending two of my good friends, Republican Chairman Bruce Westerman of the Committee on Natural Resources and Democratic Representative Jared Golden, for their work in developing a sensible, bipartisan, and balanced permitting reform package that will allow us to build all kinds of important projects around this great country.

Our permitting system is broken and has been broken for a long while. It is almost as if our current permitting system is designed to block projects rather than build them. This is something that all of us on both sides of the aisle should be able to agree on.

The bill before us today is not designed to cut corners or weaken our permitting system. It doesn't weaken environmental standards like the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, or Endangered Species Act, which are the bases of our environmental protection here in the United States. This legislation is simply meant to address NEPA, which I would like to remind my colleagues is a process statute.

NEPA has been weaponized for over half a century, virtually from day one. In fact, the first lawsuit utilized to block a project under NEPA was filed mere weeks after the statute was signed into law. Since then, NEPA has created a cottage industry for attorneys who have made a living suing to block good projects.

The bill before us today is meant to streamline the NEPA process and close the loopholes that are constantly used to block good projects-- projects that we need to modernize our infrastructure, ensure we have clean water, generate the energy that drives our economy, access critical minerals we need to compete on the world stage, and so much more.

Thanks to NEPA and our broken permitting system, it takes 29 years, on average, to permit and build a new mine in the United States. That is not okay.

I don't think a day goes by that I don't hear from a constituent about their permitting woes, and I figure that is probably the case for most of my colleagues in this Chamber on both sides of the aisle.

In northern Minnesota, the issue of permitting is particularly acute. Not only is our broken permitting system used to block important critical mining projects like Twin Metals, NewRange, and Talon, but it is also used to block simple core infrastructure projects that we can all agree on, like water infrastructure or roads and bridges.

In northern Minnesota, our cold winters lead us to having a short construction window, much shorter than the rest of the country. When a water infrastructure project or a road or bridge project gets delayed, and they miss that construction window, it delays the project months and adds hundreds of thousands of dollars to the project.

Mr. Chair, do you know who pays those costs? The local taxpayer, not those who are weaponizing loopholes in our permitting system to block necessary projects.

Our constituents have had to deal with the shortfalls of our broken permitting system for far too long, and it is about time we address it.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to address this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1366, the bipartisan, bicameral Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei), my good friend.

The bill before us is simple. It restores longstanding interpretation of agency regulations governing hardrock mining policy on Federal lands that were upended by the courts in May of 2022 in what is known as the Rosemont decision.

At the time, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision that upended decades of settled law when it affirmed a lower court decision revoking an approved mine plan for the Rosemont Copper mining project. The decision limited the ability of the Forest Service to approve necessary mining support facilities and activity, known as ancillary uses, which are necessary to conduct mining operations. This decision from the Ninth Circuit puts virtually every new domestic mining project on Federal lands in jeopardy.

This decision from the Ninth Circuit puts us at odds with what we need to succeed in a 21st century economy.

Based on anticipated increases in demand for metals and minerals for everything from energy and infrastructure to manufacturing and national security needs, we require new domestic mining operations to provide essential mineral supply chains.

During the previous administration, the Department of the Interior issued an opinion that provided a temporary fix known as the Rosemont fix. This provides a path forward for mining projects, but it can be reversed with the stroke of a pen.

Domestic mining projects are multidecade investments. Mining companies that invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a project require regulatory certainty and clarity.

Mr. Speaker, considering this, why would a mining company invest here in the United States without this certainty that they will actually be able to develop a project? That is why the bicameral, bipartisan Mining Regulatory Clarity Act is necessary. The only way to fix the 2022 court decision is to codify the fix in law.

This legislation, contrary to what some of my colleagues will argue, doesn't create new domestic mining policy. It simply builds regulatory certainty and reinstates the longstanding interpretation of the mining law and the agency regulations that were law of the land before being misinterpreted by the courts.

Mr. Speaker, if we can't mine these minerals domestically thanks in part to the Rosemont decision blocking new domestic mines, where do the opponents of this bipartisan bill expect needed minerals to come from? The only answer I can think of is from China.

Continued lack of clarity resulting from the court's decision is not a benefit to the American people, but a benefit to the Chinese Communist Party. The answer is clear: You can either support domestic mining with the strictest environmental and labor standards here in the United States of America or you can continue to export your environmental guilt and support importing minerals from countries that have zero environmental standards and utilize child and forced slave labor to mine these minerals.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill. When we talk about domestic mining, we are richly blessed. The good Lord has blessed this country with the natural resources that we need for our everyday lives. I want American industry, American workers, and American communities to be able to mine these minerals that we are richly blessed with.

I do not want another Biden administration supporting memorandums of understanding with Third World countries to get these minerals and then import them to the United States so we can put them in our technology, our vehicles, our phones, our cell phones, our computers, our medical instruments that we manufacture.

I would much rather mine these critical minerals here under our environmental and our labor standards. We can lead the world. By the way, Mr. Speaker, we also need to process these here in the United States. That is why our permitting reform is so important. This could be a win-win.

As long as we don't mine here, as long as we put up every single roadblock, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are happy. They will sit in this House of Representatives and say, ``We support mining'' so long as it never happens, so long as the bureaucratic nightmare, the ``blue tape'' continues where we can't mine here.

Enough is enough. The American people have seen enough, and we are going to mine not only in Minnesota, but we are going to mine in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, California, Arizona, and Washington. We are going to mine in Pennsylvania. We are going to mine in Texas. We have to do it.

Mr. Speaker, I support this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the newly formed follow the science caucus, I rise today in strong support of a bill I am proud to cosponsor, H.R. 845, the Pets and Livestock Protection Act.

It has been proven time and time again that the gray wolf is not endangered and, in fact, has fully recovered.

When the gray wolf was listed as threatened in Minnesota under the Endangered Species Act in 1978, a recovery goal of 1,250 to 1,400 wolves was set.

Today, according to data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we have over 2,700 wolves in Minnesota. However, as my constituents will tell you, Mr. Speaker, that is a severe undercount. It is more like 5,000 to 7,000 in Minnesota.

Over one-half of the gray wolves across the lower 48 are in Minnesota, and most of them can be found in my district.

The gray wolf might be one of the greatest success stories of the ESA, and it is one that should be celebrated. Now that the species has recovered, it is time to delist. That is not just my opinion. It is a bipartisan view that has been held by several Presidential administrations on both sides of the aisle.

In 2009, the Bush administration delisted the gray wolves. Activist groups sued to relist.

In 2013, the Obama administration delisted the gray wolves. Activist groups sued to delist.

In 2020, the Trump administration delisted gray wolves. Activist groups sued to relist.

Just last year, the Biden administration even agreed, when they chose to defend the Trump administration's 2020 delisting rule.

Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and even Biden, trusted the science and sought to do the right thing. It is activist groups, with the help of activist judges, who continue to choose to disregard the science and fight to keep these unnecessary protections in place.

As a result, my constituents have to face growing wolf populations in their backyards each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, look at this photo right here to my right. Just last month in Ely, Minnesota, a wolf was seen in the school parking lot in the middle of the day. It was just feet from the schoolhouse door. Mr. Speaker, because of the gray wolf's listing status, nothing could be done to protect the lives of the students there. The broken ESA is putting my constituents' lives at risk.

Simply said, it is beyond time that the gray wolf is delisted under the ESA. Unfortunately, as long as activists are willing to abuse our Federal Court system to weaponize the ESA, I am afraid an administrative delisting will never be possible. There is only one alternative, Mr. Speaker. Congress needs to act and finally vote in legislation to delist the gray wolves.

As a hunter in northern Minnesota, last year I held several townhalls on the gray wolf and the concerns of the delisting. Hunters for Hunters, Hunter Nation, and other pro-hunting groups supported this endeavor.

Mr. Speaker, if you look at trail cams, for example, you will see a nice, beautiful, in this case, 8-point buck. Ten minutes later, on the same trail, same trail cam, comes the wolf.

Who knows what happened to that big, beautiful buck.

The fact of the matter is that we should celebrate the ESA's accomplishment. The gray wolf has recovered. Let the States manage it. They can be more nimble than the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2876) to confirm the use of certain non-Federal land in Salt Lake City, Utah, for public purposes, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2876, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2876, the University of Utah Research Park Act, led by Representative Blake Moore of Utah.

H.R. 2876 resolves legal uncertainty surrounding the University of Utah's ownership of 593 acres of land in the heart of Salt Lake City. This uncertainty comprises the university's flagship research park, a key educational and economic development center.

Since its conveyance under the Research and Public Purposes Act in 1968, this parcel has grown into a nationally recognized hub for innovation, home to 81 university departments and more than 50 pharmaceutical, medical research, and biotechnology companies. Today, Research Park employs over 14,000 Utahns and provides invaluable educational opportunities for students preparing to lead in the fields of science and medicine.

Despite this long record of success, a recent BLM review raised questions about whether the park's use of the land aligns with the terms of the original patent.

H.R. 2876 clears up this ambiguity by affirming the park's current use is valid and consistent with the public purpose envisioned at the time of the conveyance.

This is a simple, bipartisan bill that cuts red tape and ensures the University of Utah can continue building on nearly six decades of scientific discovery, economic growth, and global impact. I commend Representative Moore for leading this effort in the House and the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Lee, for championing this bill in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2876, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore), who is the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2876 resolves an unnecessary cloud over this property by confirming the valid use of the University of Utah's prized Research Park, which has served the public for decades.

This commonsense bill will allow the park to keep driving innovation, supporting thousands of good jobs, and giving students hands-on opportunities to learn and grow.

I thank once again Representative Moore, Senator Lee, and the entire Utah congressional delegation for their work on this important effort. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 972) to amend the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area Act to adjust the boundary of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 972, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 972, the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act, introduced by Representative Titus.

Southern Nevada is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and with growth comes increased demand for critical resources like drinking water.

Right now, nearly 40 percent of the Las Vegas Valley's water is carried through a single pipeline that was built in the 1990s. That is a huge vulnerability. If that line goes down, whether for repairs or due to an outage, the entire region could face a water supply crisis.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has done its homework. After years of study and work with local stakeholders, it has proposed the Horizon Lateral pipeline to ensure a resilient and reliable water supply for families and businesses across the Las Vegas Valley. The preferred southern route of this pipeline passes under the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. Compared to other alternatives, this alignment minimizes impacts on neighborhoods and is estimated to save taxpayers nearly $200 million.

H.R. 972 authorizes the preferred route for this pipeline through the national conservation area. This bill also expands the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area by more than 9,000 acres. The Bureau of Land Management already manages these lands, so the expansion would not add to the Federal estate.

The bill also allows materials excavated from the tunneling to be reused for infrastructure and public improvements.

This legislation is about balance. It provides the infrastructure southern Nevada needs to keep pace with growth and ensure reliable water deliveries without compromising conservation. That is the kind of practical, forward-looking management we need more of.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 972, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I am prepared to close. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 972 will ensure that the people of southern Nevada have a more reliable water supply with fewer risks of disruption. This legislation shows we can meet the needs of growing communities while being good stewards of America's public lands.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1045) to amend the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 to require the establishment of an additional Institute under that Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1045, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1045, the Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025, offered by Representative Kennedy of Utah.

Across the West, and particularly in Utah, wildfire risk is increasing. In 2024, more than 90,000 acres burned in the State. Along the Wasatch Front, the number of fire weather days has grown by 15 since 1973, meaning fires now have a longer window to ignite and spread. This is exacerbated by the accumulation of hazardous fuels, caused by a century of fire suppression and a lack of active management.

In 2004, Congress created the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes, or SWERI, in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico to advance wildfire research and promote science-based forest management. These institutes have been invaluable partners to Federal and State land managers, producing peer-reviewed research, improving forest health, and helping reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires across the West.

Despite facing the same wildfire threats as its Four Corners neighbors, Utah is the only State in the region without a SWERI center. Representative Kennedy's legislation corrects this oversight by authorizing an additional institute in Utah, allowing the State to expand research, strengthen watershed restoration, and develop innovative fuel-reduction strategies.

We know that forest management is the single most crucial factor in determining wildfire severity. This bill builds on a proven model and will bolster Utah's ability to confront wildfire risks head-on.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Kennedy and the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Lee, for their leadership on this issue. Their legislation has broad support in the State of Utah, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it today.

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

House of Representatives,

Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC, September 3, 2025.

Hon. Glenn Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Thompson: I write regarding H.R. 1045, the

``Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025,'' which was

ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on

July 23, 2025.

I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall

within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and

appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of

the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture

will not formally consider H.R. 1045 and agree that the

inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not

waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained

therein.

I am pleased to support your request to name members of the

Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to

consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of

letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor

consideration of the bill and will include such letters in

the committee report on H.R. 1045. I appreciate your

cooperation regarding this legislation.

Sincerely,

Bruce Westerman,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Kennedy), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is straightforward. It builds on the proven success of the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico by finally extending this important program to Utah.

Establishing a SWERI in Utah will expand wildlife research, strengthen collaboration with land managers, and provide new tools to improve forest health and reduce catastrophic wildfires. I urge my colleagues to support Representative Kennedy's bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2878) to reauthorize funding to monitor, assess, and research the Great Lakes Basin, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2878, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2878, the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act.

The Great Lakes Fishery Research Program is administered by the U.S. Geological Survey, which works in concert with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to conduct research and collect data to support the binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin.

This bill would continue the many tools that help manage and protect these fisheries, which are integral to the region's economic and ecological health. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this bill supports effective fishery management, which starts with accurate data. I thank Representatives Quigley and Huizenga for their work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2815) to provide equitable treatment for the people of the Village Corporation established for the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2815, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2815, the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Begich of Alaska, would finalize the Cape Fox Corporation's remaining Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, or ANCSA, land entitlement. In addition, this legislation will resolve land management issues tied to the Mahoney Lake power project.

ANCSA was enacted by Congress to settle the aboriginal land claims of Alaska Natives. Under ANCSA, Alaska Native Corporations were established to receive land under the settlement and disburse money to Alaska Natives. The Cape Fox Corporation, or CFC, has yet to receive their full conveyance, with 180 acres remaining.

The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for conveying the remaining acres to CFC and has proposed specific acreage to complete the entitlement. However, CFC has rejected the BLM's proposal, as the proposed lands were outside of their core township, noncontiguous with their existing land holdings, and of limited economic value.

CFC has identified 180 acres of land between their existing parcels, which would connect the land and complete the settlement. The acres in this legislation would also enable the development of Mahoney Lake power projects. CFC holds a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license and an easement for a power line and road corridor nearby. They also own the land adjacent to the substation.

Power demand for the area exceeds available supply. In fact, in 2024, all available power was online, and it still was not enough. This legislation takes steps to increase the availability of affordable power for the area.

This legislation would not only finalize CFC's remaining ANCSA land conveyance, but it also resolves land management issues related to the power project.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Begich for his work on behalf of his constituency. I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2815 finalizes CFC's outstanding ANCSA land conveyance while working to alleviate future land concerns with the Mahoney Lake power project. This legislation has the support of various Alaska organizations, government representatives, and impacted groups.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Begich for his hard work on this bill. I urge passage of H.R. 2815, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3620) to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southcentral Foundation located in Anchorage, Alaska, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3620, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3620, the Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025, sponsored by my colleague, Representative Begich of Alaska. This would transfer approximately 3.4 acres of Federal land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation.

Southcentral Foundation is a tribally-operated health organization serving Alaska Native people under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. This parcel, currently owned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has housed Southcentral Foundation's behavioral health programs since 1994, for over 30 years.

However, the foundation does not currently hold title to the property. As a result, it cannot secure financing to improve or replace the aging facility, meaning that it cannot take full advantage of opportunities to expand mental health services for the Alaska Native population that it serves.

H.R. 3620 corrects this by conveying the land to Southcentral Foundation so it may move forward with plans to construct a modern behavioral health facility. The foundation has already coordinated with the municipality of Anchorage to rezone the land in anticipation of this project. Once the bill is signed into law, construction can and will begin immediately.

This is a commonsense measure that supports Tribal self- determination. It empowers a proven provider to serve its community with up-to-date infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Begich for introducing this bill and for his hard work and leadership on Alaska Native health issues. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3620, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, December 8, 2025.

Hon. Bruce Westerman,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Westerman: I write regarding H.R. 3620, the

``Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025.'' While

there are provisions of the legislation that fall within the

Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce,

I wanted to notify you that the Committee will forgo action

on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House

floor for consideration.

This is done with the understanding that the Committee's

jurisdictional interests over this and similar legislation

are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the

Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 3620

and requests your support when such a request is made.

I would appreciate your response confirming this

understanding with respect to H.R. 3620 and ask that a copy

of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the

committee report on the bill or in the Congressional Record

during consideration of the bill on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Brett Guthrie,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3620 is a simple fix that will have a meaningful impact. By granting Southcentral Foundation title to the land it has used for decades, we are removing bureaucratic barriers and enabling the construction of a modern behavioral health facility.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3620 and help us take a small but significant step forward in improving behavioral health outcomes for our Tribal communities.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3176) to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3176, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3176, which will amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, NVEWS.

First, I thank my colleague from Alaska, Representative Begich, for his efforts on this bill.

With over 130 volcanoes and volcanic fields, Alaska has more volcanoes than any other State, and more than 50 of those have been active in the last 300 years.

Volcanic hazards are difficult to estimate on a year-to-year basis, but when they occur, the results can be catastrophic. For example, the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 caused more than $1 billion in damage. Adjusting for inflation, that figure would now exceed $4 billion.

Damage estimates for volcanic eruptions can swing wildly, depending on many factors, but are almost always severe, underscoring the need for early warning and monitoring.

Obviously, protecting human life is our paramount concern in monitoring volcanic activity, but it is not just people on the ground who are at risk. Aircraft that are flying within 1,000 miles of a volcanic eruption can experience damage if they are not made aware of the smoke. Volcanic eruptions can be detrimental, and even fatal, to passengers and crew.

The lives of families near erupting volcanoes are priceless, far surpassing the value of any damaged infrastructure. To protect those lives, we must be able to monitor volcanic activity effectively and broadcast early warnings of eruptions.

This is why Congress should reauthorize this critical program so that communities near volcanoes are provided ample time to react to an eruption and so that air traffic is warned of potential dangers.

The NVEWS Advisory Committee is integral to this program. It provides the Secretary of the Interior with information on current program activities and relevant research that may improve the program going forward.

The committee cannot meet while the program is unauthorized, however, so reauthorization is essential to get the committee working again.

While we cannot stop volcanic eruptions, we can take prudent steps to minimize damage and loss of life. That is precisely what this program is intended to do.

I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would again commend my colleague from Alaska (Mr. Begich) for working to pass meaningful legislation that can save lives.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3176, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3187) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and for other purposes, as amended.

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. 3187, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3187, led by my friend and colleague from Arkansas, Representative Hill.

This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a vacant Forest Service building and less than 1 acre of surrounding land in Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County.

This property has sat vacant for years, and the Forest Service has no plans for its use. In the meantime, the building has been damaged by weather and continues to decline structurally. Every year, it stays vacant, resulting in higher repair costs and increased liability for the Federal Government and taxpayers. Instead of watching this asset deteriorate, we have the chance to put it to productive use for the local community.

For more than a decade, Perry County sought to acquire this site to meet pressing needs in education, conservation, and youth development. The county intends to renovate and repurpose the building to provide a permanent home for the University of Arkansas Extension Program, the Perry County Conservation District, and 4-H youth programs. Having a dedicated facility will allow these organizations to expand their services and better support the people of Perry County.

This bill is also fiscally responsible. It will eliminate the Federal cost of maintaining an idle, deteriorating building. By transferring the site, we stop wasting resources and empower local leaders to transform a declining Federal property into a hub for education, conservation, and youth programs.

H.R. 3187 is a commonsense solution. It cuts costs, eliminates waste, and supports youth engagement in conservation. I commend Representative Hill for his championing this thoughtful legislation which will support community development in a rural county with limited resources.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3187, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, H.R. 3187 is about turning a Federal liability into a community asset. Right now, taxpayers are stuck with the cost of a vacant building that continues to deteriorate. With this bill, we can remove that burden, transfer the property to Perry County, Arkansas, and allow local leaders to put it to work serving their community.

This legislation will provide a permanent home for programs that strengthen conservation, support farmers and landowners, and create new opportunities for young people through 4-H extension services.

It is a practical, cost-effective solution that delivers real value. I, once again, thank Representative Hill for his hard work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3872) to amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3872, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3872, which would amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands, clarifying that all lands acquired by the Federal Government are eligible to be considered for hardrock mineral leasing.

I thank my colleague Representative Fallon for his work on the bipartisan piece of legislation.

Acquired lands comprise 10 percent of the Nation's Federal lands, or 64 million acres. The Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands governs mineral leasing for a wide range of resources on these lands. However, the existing statute leaves out hardrock minerals. As a result, acquired Federal lands holding key critical minerals have effectively been locked up. This includes vast deposits in the Smackover Formation, which spans across the southeastern United States and hosts some of America's best lithium reserves.

Specifically, in northeast Texas, the Bureau of Land Management is currently unable to even consider hardrock mineral leasing for a lithium-rich portion of the Smackover Formation because it is located on land acquired by the Federal Government more than 80 years ago under a statute that does not explicitly allow hardrock mineral leasing.

H.R. 3872 would address this issue by providing a much-needed technical fix to the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands, giving the Secretary of the Interior the authority to tap into our vast mineral wealth across all types of acquired lands.

As we seek to reshore our mineral supply chains, we must ensure that no stone gets left unturned. By allowing greater access to tens of millions of acres of acquired lands, this legislation would help to break our reliance on adversarial nations like China.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Fallon, for his work on this commonsense bill. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon), who is the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this is a great bill that would provide a much-needed technical fix to the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands. I again thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon) for his work on this bipartisan piece of legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1098) to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1098, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1098 to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994, sponsored by Representative Scholten from Michigan.

Participants in the Junior Duck Stamp program take part in a waterfowl-themed art competition, and the winning artwork is transformed into collectible stamps. The proceeds from these stamps support efforts to connect the next generation of Americans to the outdoors.

The legislation before us would reauthorize the program through fiscal year 2031. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, this bill reauthorizes an important program that invests in the next generation and encourages them to continue our country's great outdoor and sporting legacy. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2400) to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2400, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2400, the Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025, introduced by Representative LaMalfa, would place approximately 584 acres of U.S. Forest Service land, commonly known as the Four Corners, into trust for the Pit River Tribe.

After decades of conflict and loss, the Pit River Tribe was federally recognized in 1976. The Pit River Tribe consists of 11 different California Tribal bands and resides on a 100-square-mile reservation. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Tribe aimed to regain control of the Four Corners property near Burney, California.

Over the years, the Tribe repeatedly tried to regain the Four Corners land from Federal ownership but has been unsuccessful. Although the land is now owned by the U.S. Forest Service, it is ancestral to the Pit River Tribe.

The Tribe wishes to reacquire its ancestral lands and eventually build an interpretive center there. Gaming on these lands, pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, would be prohibited.

I applaud Mr. LaMalfa for working hard with the Tribe to develop H.R. 2400.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2400 would place approximately 584 acres of U.S. Forest Service land, referred to as the Four Corners, into trust for the Pit River Tribe. The Tribe has attempted to pursue this ask through administrative process, but it is time for Congress to assist legislatively.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act.

Our permitting system is a great burden to our Nation. Permitting delays infrastructure projects indefinitely and stops us from bringing critical energy sources online. It also deters investment in our communities. Make no mistake: Permitting is holding back America.

Mr. Chair, H.R. 3898, the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act, also known as the PERMIT Act, aims to unleash the American economy. It is a package of commonsense reforms that will reduce regulatory burdens, establish certainty, and increase transparency in our permitting system.

This bill will, in turn, create opportunities for homebuilders, our farmers, loggers, and our small business owners. It will entice them to invest in projects that help our local communities grow.

Mr. Chair, I will highlight section 12 of H.R. 3898. Section 12 is the language of my bill, the Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act.

Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act allows the EPA to veto a dredge-and-fill permit. However, under Biden, the EPA took it upon itself to proactively reject permits and retroactively take away permits.

In a country of due process, it is absurd that a government can dictate whether a project is good or bad even before an application is filed. The fact that the government can waltz in and shut down years of hard work is staggering.

This section of H.R. 3898 is not a dramatic departure from the status quo. It clarifies timelines and brings certainty. When an application is pending, the EPA can determine whether or not to veto. It is simple.

It does not alter the process, nor does it deprive the EPA of its right to veto. It returns our process to one based on science and facts rather than politics.

Mr. Chair, I thank Congressman Collins for his efforts on this package of reforms, and I look forward to supporting it.