Floor Statements

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

I rise in support of S. 50, legislation sponsored by Senator Rubio of Florida. This bill adds Pensacola and Perdido Bays in Florida as priority considerations for the Administrator of the EPA to designate as part of the National Estuary Program.

In the Pacific Northwest, we know that healthy estuaries like the Puget Sound support healthy fish, birds, and other wildlife, as well as important economic activities such as trade, fishing, tourism, and outdoor recreation.

That is why I worked over multiple Congresses to authorize the National Estuary Program and was pleased to see that the bipartisan infrastructure law not only authorize that program but provided $132 million in investments for improving habitat and restoring estuaries.

The legislation we consider today is the result of work of local organizations near these two critical Florida estuaries to add them to the National Estuary Program. It is further proof of the importance of this program. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, protecting healthy estuaries is good for the economic activities like outdoor recreation, as well as good for fish, birds, and other wildlife. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of this bill, which will improve security for Federal employees and the members of the public who visit Federal buildings. Federal facilities face a wide range of threats, including active shooters, cyberattacks, hostile surveillance, and explosive devices.

While the Federal Protective Service, or FPS, currently makes safety recommendations for Federal offices and buildings, the tenant agencies in those buildings often disregard FPS recommendations.

The Government Accountability Office of the GAO reported that between fiscal years 2017 and 2021, tenant agencies ignored about 57 percent of these recommendations. S. 3613 will ensure Federal agencies are following the most up-to-date security recommendations to protect these facilities and the people in them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this bill will ensure that Federal agencies are following the most up-to-date security recommendations to protect their facilities and people in them.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 310. This bill directs the Administrator of FEMA to convene an advisory group to improve debris removal contract processes and reduce costs.

When disasters strike, resulting rubble and debris leave affected communities with an expensive cleanup. FEMA assistance is an essential resource for helping communities recover, but the disaster contracting process can be inefficient and costly.

This bill brings stakeholders together to improve the disaster contracting process, maximizing the impact of Federal dollars and speeding disaster recovery.

Mr. Speaker, clearing debris after a disaster is one of the first steps to a successful recovery. This bill would direct the Administrator of FEMA to convene a stakeholder group to improve the agency's disaster contracting processes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2892. The bill directs the GAO, or Government Accountability Office, to study the efficacy of local weather alerting systems.

As the climate crisis worsens and extreme weather events strike our communities with increasing frequency and severity, frontline communities need time to prepare and react in the face of these dangers.

Every wasted second endangers lives. That is why local weather alerting systems are an indispensable tool. They give communities the time needed to take decisive and lifesaving action. Understanding how best to leverage, develop, and improve this important tool will help ensure community preparedness.

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

Mr. Speaker, local weather alerting systems must work properly to save lives. This bill would direct the Government Accountability Office to identify and document any improvements that need to be made to such systems.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2672, the legislation authored by Representatives Dunn and Soto from Florida. This bill clarifies that FEMA should reimburse local governments and electric co-ops for interest on disaster recovery loans.

In the aftermath of a disaster, local communities are the first to mobilize costly recovery efforts, which they often fund with substantial loans.

It is Congress' intent that FEMA's public assistance program eventually reimburses these loans. However, the process can be complex and time-consuming, and the reimbursement policy is often not applied to local governments and electric co-ops in the same way it is applied to States.

When communities are working to recover, the last thing that they need is more uncertainty and additional financial burdens. This legislation provides much-needed relief by directing FEMA to reimburse all qualifying interest expenses equally. By doing so, communities on the front lines of disaster recovery can focus on what truly matters, rebuilding and restoring lives and homes.

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

Mr. Speaker, local governments and electrical co-ops should not be penalized for taking out loans to jump- start disaster recovery for their communities. This bill will direct the administrator of FEMA to reimburse qualifying interest accrued on such loans.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

On June 10, 1999, a pipeline leak caused a massive explosion in my district in Bellingham, Washington. The rupture released more than a quarter million gallons of gasoline into Whatcom Creek. The gasoline ignited, sending a fireball racing down the creek that killed two 10- year-old boys and an 18-year-old young man. The two boys, Stephen Tsiorvas and Wade King, were playing in a creek near their homes on an idyllic summer day, and the young man, Liam Wood, had just graduated from high school and was fly-fishing for trout.

The American people, including my constituents in response to the tragic Bellingham incident, justifiably raised safety concerns that there was not enough federal oversight of pipelines and hazardous materials. In response, Congress created PHMSA within the Department of Transportation in 2004 to do just that, as part of the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act, which was signed into law on November 30, 2004.

Twenty years after the 2004 creation of this new modal administration specifically focused on pipeline and hazardous materials transportation safety, PHMSA continues its work. This includes overseeing $1 billion in pipeline safety grants as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law so communities can repair or replace aging, leak-prone natural gas pipeline infrastructure while creating jobs, reducing methane emissions and keeping communities safe.

Last December, the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee passed a bipartisan pipeline safety reauthorization bill to ensure PHMSA and state pipeline safety inspectors have the resources they need. This legislation increases transparency and accountability from pipeline operators and supports emerging technology in pipelines, including for carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

I am grateful for PHMSA's two decades of work and the agency's ongoing commitment to protecting people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to daily life.

In the 119th Congress, I look forward to a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the work of PHMSA's Office of Pipeline Safety, as we have for the past two decades. More work remains, including ensuring first responders have the training they need to address accidents and incidents where hazardous materials are released whether that is by pipeline, rail, or any other mode of transportation. Safety is a need in every community in every Congressional District and in my role in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will continue to work to reach common ground to enhance safety for all Americans. I thank PHMSA for its ongoing work to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and remember Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay Evans and Lieutenant Serena ``Dug'' Wileman, two naval aviators who died during a routine training flight near Mount Rainier on October 15.

Lieutenant Commander Evans and Lieutenant Wileman were exemplary leaders who deeply believed in their country, their mission, and their fellow naval aviators. Both natives of California, Lieutenant Commander Evans and Lieutenant Wileman proudly served their country with the Electronic Attack Squadron, or VAQ-130, also known as the Zappers, which is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in my district.

Both recently returned from a 9-month deployment at sea, distinguishing themselves in combat operations to defend U.S. and coalition forces and ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Middle East.

In a tribute to Lieutenant Commander Evans and Lieutenant Wileman, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island wrote that beyond their names and ranks, they were role models, trailblazers, and women who influenced and touched countless people on the flight deck and well beyond.

My sympathies are with the families of Lieutenant Commander Evans and Lieutenant Wileman. On behalf of my constituents, I thank them for their service and sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 468.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and celebrate Jason Sodano, who has been honored with the prestigious 2024 William M. Usdane Award that recognizes outstanding achievement and exceptional character by an employee with a disability.

SourceAmerica confers this award as part of its AbilityOne Program, which leverages federal procurement to create job opportunities for Americans with disabilities through the nonprofit organizations that employ them.

Jason overcame his developmental disability and earned both his high school diploma and an associate's degree in office technology.

His perseverance helped him land a job with New Leaf, a participating nonprofit in the AbilityOne Program that operates at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

For the past 13 years, Jason has worked on the naval base as a janitor.

Jason's supervisors, colleagues and family praise his commitment to excellence and his positive attitude that seems to brighten the workplace and inspire those around him.

Along the way, Jason has earned awards for perfect attendance and exceeding quality standards by ensuring cleanliness for up to 1,700 military personnel at NAS Whidbey Island.

Jason exemplifies the American spirit in overcoming adversity. His journey from struggling with standardized tests to becoming a valued employee at New Leaf is a testament to his resilience and determination.

He has shown that regardless of the challenges one faces, it is possible to achieve great success through hard work and a positive attitude.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in extending heartfelt congratulations to Jason Sodano for his well-deserved recognition with the 2024 William M. Usdane Award.

Jason's dedication and achievements are an inspiration to us all. May he continue to excel and make profound impacts in his workplace and beyond.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 3935, a bipartisan, bicameral effort, done in good faith, to create a safer, cleaner, greener, more innovative and accessible U.S. aviation system.

After reviewing more than a thousand stakeholder requests and Member priorities, holding six committee hearings, and engaging in months of negotiations with the Senate, we have finally reached a pivotal milestone for U.S. aviation, the final passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.

I am proud to support this 5-year reauthorization to ensure that American aviation continues to be a powerful economic engine that creates good-paying jobs and supports local communities across the country.

Before I get into the details, I will provide the FAA bill by the numbers: $4 billion, that is how much we boost the annual Airport Improvement Program funding to, an increase of $650 million a year, with at least $150 million in AIP discretionary funds for airport noise and environmental sustainability projects; $60 million, the new robust annual funding for workforce development grants to grow the next generation of aviation manufacturing workers, aviation maintenance technicians, and pilots, including a $12 million set aside annually for the new Willa Brown Aviation Education Program to support outreach and educational opportunities to underrepresented communities; $0, that is how much it will cost families now to sit with their young children on commercial aircraft; $200 million for new annual grants to increase airport runway safety and resiliency; $350 million to establish a groundbreaking reimbursement program for airports to replace harmful PFAS firefighting foam and equipment with safer alternatives; and finally, $20 million per year to launch a new pilot program to fund capital projects that improve airport accessibility, among other key reforms.

The U.S. aviation system is the safest in the world, but it has been tested in recent years. To rise to that challenge, this bill helps runway incursions by expanding ground surveillance and detection technology at major airports to better alert air traffic controllers and the pilots of potential danger.

Similarly, to combat fatigue and stress on the air traffic controller workforce caused by understaffing, this bill requires the FAA to hire the maximum number of controllers and to adopt the most appropriate controller staffing model to meet the aviation system's evolving needs.

At a time of unprecedented aerospace innovation, this final bill provides a clear and predictable framework for new airspace entrants to scale safely in our skies.

The bill requires the FAA to issue rulemakings for beyond visual line of sight, or BVLOS, drone operations, and to finalize the certification standards and operating rules for powered-lift advanced air mobility, or AAM, aircraft. It will also help State, local, and Tribal governments to use drones for infrastructure inspection and repair so maintenance and construction crews can work safely.

The 2024 FAA reauthorization builds the foundation for a cleaner and greener future for our aviation ecosystem, as well. The bill allows U.S. airports to use AIP funds for alternative fuel infrastructure, including for hydrogen and unleaded fuels, and works to mitigate the impacts of aviation noise on local communities like those near Paine Field and Bellingham International Airport in my own district.

The reauthorization bill is also a jobs bill. It will help to build the economy and diversify our aviation workforce, recognizing how critical this effort is

to U.S. leadership in the evolving global aviation sector.

In addition to the robust investment for workforce development grants, this bill directs the FAA and the Department of Defense to collaborate on improving the career transition between military and civil aviation and establishes a task force to oversee and advise on the FAA's efforts to support the mental health of the aviation workforce.

Furthermore, the bill fosters a safer workplace by establishing a Federal task force to help protect airline personnel from the troubling rise in assaults and initiating a ramp worker safety call to action to reduce the occurrence of tragic ingestion in blast zone accidents, among other key improvements.

Moreover, after many disruptive incidents for passengers in recent years, this reauthorization sets the passenger experience back on the right path, allowing for a safer, accessible, and more dignified travel experience.

This bill works to make passengers whole by codifying into U.S. law a requirement that airlines provide cash refunds to passengers and harmonizes with the recent DOT rule to allow for these refunds to be automatic. It also calls for airlines to create policies for reimbursing passengers for meals, lodging, and other costs if their flight is canceled or significantly delayed.

Furthermore, this reauthorization breaks down barriers for passengers with disabilities by improving training for airline personnel and contractors who assist these passengers with boarding or deplaning an aircraft and, importantly, for handling their mobility devices, and establishing a pilot program to allow passengers to seamlessly travel with approved service animals.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 cements a safer, cleaner, greener, more innovative, and accessible future for U.S. aviation.

I thank my colleagues, Chair Sam Graves, Subcommittee Chair Garret Graves, Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Cantwell, and Ranking Member Cruz for their collaboration.

I also thank the nearly 350 stakeholders representing unions, airlines, airports, manufacturers, disability rights organizations, healthcare groups, so many folks who have endorsed this legislation and have helped build support since we first passed this out of committee last July.

Madam Speaker, I stand here today to urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Carbajal).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Sykes).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Scholten).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers, and I am ready to close.

May I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

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

I close by saying that the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 would not have been possible without the staff here in the House of Representatives that have spent more than a year negotiating and drafting this legislation.

I thank some folks in closing, and I won't go through the titles-- they know who they are--but by name: Brian Bell, Adam Weiss, Alexandra Menardy, Elizabeth Forro, and Alex Schnelle, who are on the Aviation Subcommittee staff.

On the full committee: Kathy Dedrick, Helena Zyblikewycz, Stanton Johnson, Ryan Lehman, Peter True, Hale Diamond, Paul Samberg, Michael Hudspith, and Zane Tolchinsky.

I also recognize the Republican Aviation Subcommittee staff, without whom this obviously would not have been done. Both staffs took the direction from the chair and I that we were going to play Team House of Representatives when it came to negotiating the final bill and be bipartisan, as long as we could be bipartisan, through this entire process.

I recognize the Subcommittee on Aviation staff on the Republican side: Hunter Presti, Laney Copeland, Julie Devine, Andrew Giacini, Will Moore, Corey Sites, and Christopher Senn.

On the full committee: Jack Ruddy, Abby Camp Wenk, Meghan Holland, Corey Cooke, Leslie Parker, Justin Harclerode, and Kerry Goldberg.

From the Office of Legislative Counsel, who I never see these people, I never meet them, but they do a lot of work: Karen Anderson, Jordyn Coad, Robert Casturo, Emily Ordakowski, and Michelle Johnston.

I thank all those folks for their hard work to make this happen. Their efforts have allowed us to craft a bill that we can all be proud of.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 is a bipartisan, bicameral, good-faith effort that ensures leadership in U.S. aviation safety, sustainability, innovation, and job creation.

I strongly support the Senate amendment to H.R. 3935 and urge all of my colleagues to support it, as well. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of H.R. 7659, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024.

This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes funding for the U.S. Coast Guard for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 and updates Coast Guard programs and policies.

This bill is a result of bipartisan negotiations between Chair Graves, Chair Webster, myself, and Ranking Member Carbajal and includes numerous contributions from members on and off the committee.

This bill is the latest example of bipartisanship thriving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Coast Guard operational readiness is at risk due to years of underfunding. A lack of investment led to a $3 billion shoreside infrastructure backlog, a lack of ice-breaking capacity in the Arctic and Great Lakes, and reduced capacity across several essential missions such as marine safety and mariner credentialing.

This bill begins to address the shortfall by authorizing $14.78 billion for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2025 and $15.52 billion for fiscal year 2026.

These increases over current funding levels will give the Coast Guard the resources needed to execute its missions and ensure a basic standard of living for servicemembers.

In addition, this bill authorizes the Procurement, Construction, and Improvements account at $3.48 billion for fiscal year 2025 and $3.65 billion for fiscal year 2026--well above the President's budget request.

This level of funding should enable the Coast Guard to maintain its ongoing recapitalization programs, including the Polar Security Cutter and the Offshore Patrol Cutters.

Importantly, this bill also includes $180 million for waterfront improvements to Coast Guard Base Seattle which will ensure homeporting capacity for Polar Security Cutters.

Last Congress, we enacted substantial improvements to safety for mariners and passengers aboard vessels. This legislation builds upon that work by addressing additional safety risks on vessels and increasing the penalties for bad actors.

In 2022, the Aleutian Isle, a fishing vessel, began taking on water after running aground in Puget Sound off the coast of San Juan Island in my district. What should have been a salvaging-firefighting operation turned into an oil spill response operation.

The salvager listed on the vessel response plan did not have the capacity to adequately respond and that led to the vessel sinking and discharging oil.

This bill improves oil spill prevention by bolstering vessel response plans and ensuring timely, robust salvage firefighting responses when vessel incidents do occur.

This bill also includes vital provisions to begin addressing the mariner shortage.

The current mariner credentialing program, which the Coast Guard oversees, is outdated and relies on paper applications. Processing delays impact both existing and new mariners looking to enter the industry.

I appreciate Chair Graves working with me to include an authorization of $11 million for a new electronic credentialing system. This, coupled with other provisions, will begin to address the mariner shortage.

Finally, this bill includes the Coast Guard Protection and Accountability Act of 2024. This legislation was developed because the Coast Guard deliberately hid Operation Fouled Anchor and decades of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy.

The commandant is working hard to repair the lost confidence that resulted from Operation Fouled Anchor, and this legislation provides the tools to do so while increasing congressional oversight.

I thank Chair Graves, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chair Webster, and Ranking Member Carbajal for their cooperation in crafting this important legislation.

I look forward to our continued collaboration as the legislation moves forward. I urge all Members to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8289, which extends the authorization to FAA and its related authorities for 1 week to give the Senate the time it needs to wrap up its consideration of this bicameral and bipartisan comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill.

This legislation reflects an agreement between the House and Senate. It will protect the safety of the flying public and ensure the future of the U.S. aviation industry.

Think back to last July, Mr. Speaker, when the House passed its version of this bill 351-69, a strong bipartisan bill.

Since then, I am actually pleased with the progress that we have made and that we were able to come to an agreement with our Senate counterparts last Sunday. We have been in close contact with the Senate as they have continued to consider this legislation.

This is, and will be next week, a bipartisan, bicameral product, and Members should not be surprised about what is included in it.

Unfortunately, the Senate is still working through its process and may not be able to send us the bill before the current authorization expires on Friday.

Nonetheless, I want to assure Members that Chairman Graves and I have fought hard for House Member priorities. I am very pleased to report that the vast majority of those priorities remain intact in the final package. Members' voices were heard as we worked hard to address the longstanding issues in our aviation system.

The Senate just needs a little bit more time. I fully expect the Senate to complete consideration and send the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to the House well before May 17, the time at which this extension expires.

Mr. Speaker, I support the short-term extension, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, new and persistent challenges facing the U.S. aviation system have made clear the status quo is unsustainable. We have to avoid a lapse in authorities of FAA. This current extension does that for 1 week and gives the Senate the short time it needs to deliberate and vote on the final bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4389, the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act.

For more than two decades, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act has been an essential tool to protect migratory bird habitat in the Pacific Northwest and across the Western Hemisphere.

Since 2002, the NMBCA has awarded more than $89 million in grants to over 700 conservation projects in the U.S., Canada, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, protecting more than 5 million acres of bird habitat.

The law has also been a critical tool in the fight to reverse the downward global trend in bird population over the past 50 years, which can be attributed to challenges like pesticide use, deforestation, and the lack of adequate environmental protection abroad.

This bipartisan bill reauthorizes the only Federal grant initiative for migratory birds through fiscal year 2028.

It also gives smaller organizations greater access to grants by lowering the cost-sharing requirement for grant recipients from 3 to 1 to 2 to 1, meaning for every $2 organizations contribute, the Federal Government matches with $1. That is great news for the organizations in the North Puget Sound, where I am from, doing important work to protect bird habitat and Washington State's environment.

More than 350 migratory bird species rely on the Pacific Northwest as their flyway, including: the western tanager, the violet-green swallow, Swainson's thrush, rufous hummingbird, western sandpiper, and the osprey; All of which but one I have had an opportunity to take photos of.

These migratory birds pollinate plants, control pests, and add to the diversity of local ecosystems. They also attract millions of birders to places like Skagit Bay, Padilla Bay, Port Susan Bay, Spencer Island, Wiser Lake, Deception Pass, and the San Juan Islands, just to name a few places in my district.

I have had the opportunity to meet with birders and go birding with them, folks from the Audubon Societies of Washington, Pilchuck, Skagit, North Cascades, Whidbey, and San Juan Islands in my district. These dedicated birders provide a boost to local and regional economies. They are ambassadors to the great outdoors. They sponsor great events, like the Snow Goose and Birding Festival in February every year in Stanwood, Washington, where thousands of people come from all over the country to go birding.

Success has many parents. I thank Representative Maria Elvira Salazar for leading the charge to reintroduce this bill, as well as Representatives Mary Peltola and David Joyce for co-leading the bill.

I thank the many partner organizations that made this happen, like the National Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, and the aforementioned local organizations. I thank the taxpayers who are providing the critical funding needed to protect migratory birds.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to keep bipartisan momentum going to protect migratory birds.

Mr. Chair, our predecessors in Congress worked in a bipartisan manner to enact the Clean Water Act, one of the Nation's bedrock environmental laws. The legislation before us today was not developed in that same bipartisan manner, and it undermines the Clean Water Act. I oppose this bill.

The pro-clean water bipartisan consensus has held firm for decades, allowing communities to enjoy cleaner water and giving businesses the certainty they need to create jobs and spur economic growth.

Thanks to historic investments like the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, our economy is on the move. We have added nearly 15 million jobs since President Biden took office, and unemployment has been under 4 percent for the longest stretch in more than 50 years.

Wages are up; inflation is coming down; and we are growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up. That is the context in which our colleagues are proposing to shatter this bipartisan consensus around clean water since the passage of the Clean Water Act.

This bill will not improve Clean Water Act project permitting or create certainty. In fact, it does the opposite.

According to the Statement of Administration Policy, this bill will ``undermine ongoing, bipartisan efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure permitting processes.''

The SAP further confirms the bill will ``create uncertainty, confusion, and conflict in permitting processes.''

What will this bill achieve? It weakens clean water protections. It provides exemptions and legal shields for permit holders. It limits oversight for projects that demand higher scrutiny.

What does this bill do for communities? It closes the door for local communities seeking review of projects that are running through their neighborhoods and gives private developers the green light to ignore local perspectives on large-scale projects.

This legislation prioritizes the needs of polluters who want to fast- track questionable projects over the public's interest and concern.

What does this bill do for the permitting process? In some cases, it slows down the process. The bill adds bureaucratic steps to the process of establishing water quality standards that will slow the implementation of these standards while exposing them to increased litigation.

What does it do for clean water? Nothing good. The legislation eliminates EPA's oversight of ecologically devastating projects and makes it easier for industrial polluters to discharge potentially harmful or toxic chemicals into our rivers and streams with no accountability.

For example, my colleagues have criticized EPA's use of its Clean Water Act review or veto authority. Yet, the record shows EPA's use of this authority has been consistent with congressional intent. I see no reason for removing this authority.

Since enactment of the Clean Water Act in 1972, EPA has only exercised this authority 14 times--most recently in relation to large- scale mining proposals in Alaska and West Virginia. EPA's use of this authority has, in fact, been bipartisan. EPA used it 2 times during Democratic administrations and 12 times during Republican administrations.

Moving this legislation now is an assault on water quality. The adverse impacts of the provisions in this bill will be substantial on their own.

However, enacting rollbacks is an extreme choice in the wake of the 2023 Sackett ruling by the Supreme Court that restricted the waters subject to the Clean Water Act protections. It is estimated the Sackett ruling removed protection nationwide from at least 50 percent of wetlands and up to 70 percent of streams.

With a much smaller number of waters subject to the Clean Water Act, additional loopholes to the process like those proposed in the bill are the opposite of what Congress needs to do to protect our water resources.

Clean water is not an abstract concept. What is at stake in this legislation is whether people have reliable, drinkable, clean water with which to conduct business, recreate, carry out daily tasks, and sustain life.

During committee consideration of this bill, Democrats sought to lessen the negative impacts of this legislation and require the EPA to verify that the changes from this bill would not have negative impacts on water quality or availability. Unfortunately, those amendments were rejected on mostly a party-line vote.

Similarly, several Democrats offered amendments to the Rules Committee to ensure the bill did not harm local fisheries, rural and disadvantaged communities, multistate drinking water sources, or infants and children. Again, those amendments were blocked from consideration.

If thoughtful oversight of our Nation's waters and the permitting process that protects these waters is still a bipartisan goal, the House of Representatives can do far better than take up H.R. 7023.

Mr. Chair, I oppose H.R. 7023, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. Chair, I do think it is incumbent on me to characterize my position and recharacterize my friend's characterization of my position, which, as I recall, was to close buildings and kick out Federal employees.

That is not my position. In fact, in many ways, I share the goals of the chair of the subcommittee, that it is clear we have much more federally owned and leased space than is currently being used given the work schedules and changes that have taken place since COVID. It is necessary for us to look at how best to consolidate that space, to rightsize that space, given its usage.

The problem I have is the hammer approach that this particular bill takes by setting a hard and fast 60 percent rule rather than looking at the flexibility necessary when you are considering agency by agency, division by division within those agencies, and how that space can be used properly and most efficiently.

We have worked on a bipartisan basis on the committee on a wide range of policies, including rightsizing the Federal real estate footprint. Just yesterday, we passed, on suspension, the FASTA Reform Act, a bill that the chairman himself sponsored that will expedite the disposal of excess Federal property.

When we work together, we can make some really good progress on this and other issues, but today's bill does fall short by failing to take into account the complexity of the Federal leasing process and using an incomplete and flawed metric for measuring the occupancy rate of Federal buildings.

I do welcome the opportunity to work with any Member in good faith, and we have done that, again, on many issues in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. We all want to make genuine improvements on the Federal real estate program.

Mr. Chair, I do oppose this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the Statement of Administration Policy that the administration strongly opposes H.R. 6276; a letter dated March 12 from the AFL-CIO in opposition to H.R. 6276; a letter dated March 11 from the Federal Workers Alliance opposing H.R. 6276; and a letter dated March 8 from the American Federation of Government Employees opposing H.R. 6276.

Statement of Administration Policy

H.R. 6276--Utilizing Space Efficiently and Improving Technologies (USE

IT) Act of 2023--Rep. Perry, R-PA

The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 6276, the USE IT

Act, which would direct the Director of the Office of

Management Budget (OMB) and the Administrator of the General

Services Administration (GSA) to ensure that Federal

agencies' building utilization meets an arbitrary level of

not less than a 60 percent average each year and, if an

agency does not reach the target, GSA and OMB would have to

forcibly reduce the agency's space. While the Administration

believes that the Federal real estate portfolio needs to be

evaluated and optimized, the Administration believes that

agencies' unique missions require individualized approaches

to improving space utilization. H.R. 6276 does not consider

the varying mission and technical requirements of individual

agencies or the age and original design of affected

facilities when directing the OMB Director and GSA

Administrator to develop and implement a plan to consolidate

multiple agency headquarters functions into fewer buildings

within the National Capital Region. These buildings, many of

which are historic, would require major modernization and

reconfiguration, prior to supporting dramatically increased

occupancy levels. Instead, the Administration recommends

strengthening the

collection of utilization data by Federal agencies and

providing sufficient funding to GSA and affected agencies to

execute necessary consolidations. The Administration is

committed to working with agencies to improve their

utilization of Federal space and to identify opportunities to

reduce space.

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

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, this amendment requires GSA to include in its occupancy agreements with Federal tenants a requirement that tenant agencies submit a report on utilization and usage to GSA. It also requires the return of office space by the tenant to GSA if occupancy falls below 60 percent for 6 months within any 1-year period.

GSA previously allowed tenant agencies to return unneeded space back to GSA with 120-days' notice, but in May of 2023, GSA changed its policy and now all new occupancy agreements between GSA and Federal tenants must include a noncancellation clause to prevent agencies from returning space to GSA.

Requiring agencies to return space if occupancy falls below 60 percent for 6 months does not account for the fact that space costs incurred by the government still remain under the lease contract.

While I have concerns about the mechanics and the cost of an agency returning space to GSA with this amendment, I will not oppose this amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, again, I do not oppose the amendment on this side of the aisle, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Auchincloss).

Mr. Chair, my biggest concern with the underlying bill is that it defines occupancy as the total number of employees physically working from the offices at least 5 days a week. Many Federal employees do not actually sit at their desks at all because they are out in the field working.

As the bill is currently written, these employees--as well as Federal employees who have approved alternative work schedules--would not be included

in occupancy counts. This amendment makes a slight improvement to that definition, as was explained by the Representative from Massachusetts.

The effort to count occupants in buildings is worthwhile, but only if we ensure that all occupants, including those who have been sanctioned and approved with their alternative work schedules, are included.

This amendment will improve the bill, and I thank the Representative from Pennsylvania and the Representative from Massachusetts for their efforts.

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

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. Chair, section 4 of H.R. 6276 requires the heads of Federal agencies to submit to the Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration and Congress a report on the usage of real property.

The amendment that the Representative from Wyoming offers expands the reporting requirement by including the telework and remote work practices of the agency and the impact those policies have on utilization rates and buildings occupied by the respective agency.

It certainly would be helpful for Congress to have a clearer picture of these policies and practices across the government.

Mr. Chair, I support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. Chair, section 3 of H.R. 6276 requires the heads of Federal agencies to work with the Administrator of General Services to identify, deploy, and use sensors and other technologies to measure the occupancies of Federal buildings.

The amendment from the Representative from Wyoming will require that Personal Identity Verification badge swipe data should also be used but only capture the first credentialed use of the day for each cardholder.

Ensuring that each person is counted one time--not every time they may leave and return--would provide accurate representation of building utilization and meet the goals of Congress to better assess the use of Federal office space.

Mr. Chair, I support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. Chair, the amendment offered by the Representative from Georgia requires some significant reporting on occupancy, utilization rates, and costs by the heads of Federal agencies to the Office of Management and Budget, the General Services Administration, and Congress.

Information gathering and transparency is vital to efficient and effective governing, so I will not oppose the amendment.

I do want to point out, however, that agency heads are already required to report occupancy and utilization data, and that data can be found on GSA's annual performance overview reports on GSA's website that the public can access now.

Mr. Chair, I will not oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. Chair, section 4 of H.R. 6276 requires the heads of Federal agencies to submit to the Office of Management and Budget, the General Services Administration, and Congress a report on the usage of real property.

The amendment offered by the Representative from Georgia for the Representative from Florida requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the costs to Federal agencies associated with complying with section 4 of the underlying bill.

The GAO's report must include the cost of Federal agencies of surveying, monitoring, and deploying sensors and technologies to measure the occupancy and actual utilization rates of space in public buildings and space leased by the Federal Government.

Mr. Chair, I support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, we have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. Chair, the amendment offered by the Representative from Tennessee requires the heads of Federal agencies to

submit a report to the inspector general of each respective agency on buildings under the agency's jurisdiction that has capacity for 500 or more employees that has a 20 percent utilization rate or less.

Upon receipt of the report, the relevant inspector general is to investigate evidence of fraud, abuse, or mismanagement.

Now, I will say this, I don't know why this amendment is necessary. I understand the Federal real estate has been on the General Accounting Office's High-Risk list for years, but nowhere in GAO's reporting were there claims of fraud, abuse, or mismanagement. Even though this is only a reporting requirement, requiring the inspector general of every Federal agency to investigate could be a waste of time and resources.

This amendment seems to be a solution chasing a problem, but I will not oppose it.

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

Mr. Chair, I will close on this amendment by briefly speaking to the broader bill. The goal that we share in Congress is to ensure that Congress, the General Services Administration, the agencies all adjust to the post-COVID life that we have in Federal real estate, that we are rightsizing Federal real estate, and that we get rid of the office space we don't need and use the office space that we do need.

This amendment is an attempt to do that. I certainly will not oppose it, but I do ask folks to consider it.

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