Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize and commend Mr. Leroy Sommer, the Airport Manager of College Park Airport in College Park, Maryland, on his retirement after a decade of exemplary service to the aviation community.

For the past ten years, Mr. Sommer has led one of our Nation's most historic airports with

remarkable dedication and skill. College Park Airport, known as the world's oldest continuously operating airport, is a cornerstone of aviation history and a symbol of the ingenuity and perseverance of the early pioneers of flight. Under Mr. Sommer's capable leadership, the airport has continued to thrive, serving as both a vital resource for general aviation and a living monument to our Nation's rich aviation heritage.

Mr. Sommer's unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and community engagement has been instrumental in the airport's success. His tireless efforts have ensured that College Park Airport remains a beacon for aviation enthusiasts and a trusted partner to the local community.

Throughout his tenure, Mr. Sommer has built strong relationships with residents, businesses, government agencies, and the aviation industry. These partnerships reflect his exceptional leadership and his dedication to fostering collaboration and trust--qualities that are vital to maintaining the strength and vitality of our Nation's aviation infrastructure.

As Mr. Sommer transitions into this well-deserved next chapter, we honor his significant contributions to aviation and to College Park Airport's enduring legacy. His stewardship of this historic landmark has preserved its place in history while ensuring its relevance for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mr. Leroy Sommer for his service and in wishing him all the best in his retirement. His legacy will be felt for years to come, and he will always have a place among the great stewards of aviation history.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1478) to designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'', and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1478.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1478, a bill which designates U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway.''

I also thank my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) for sponsoring the House companion bill which is H.R. 3149.

The Medal of Honor is an award presented to servicemembers who go above and beyond the call of duty and risk their own lives to protect the United States.

Formally designating U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'' honors all 3,519 recipients of the Medal of Honor and all future recipients.

U.S. Route 20 is the longest continuous highway in our Nation, spanning 3,365 miles across 12 States. As people travel along U.S. Route 20, through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, they will be reminded of the recipients and their exemplary service to the United States.

This bill is supported by The American Legion, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Legion of Valor, Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, Military Officers Association of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), who sponsored the House companion bill.

Mr. Speaker, this bill honors the brave men and women who go above and beyond to protect the United States. I commend Representative Mike Kelly for leading the House effort to honor our servicemembers. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee favorably reported the House companion legislation for this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill so we can send it to the President's desk and get it signed into law.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3475) to amend title 49, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Transportation to designate an authorized operator of the commercial driver's license information system, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 3475.

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 3475, the Strengthening the Commercial Driver's License Information System Act, is important legislation and ensures that States are able to continue to share commercial motor vehicle operator's driving records.

The Commercial Driver's License Information System, or the CDLIS, has long been maintained and operated by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, AAMVA on behalf of the States.

The system allows States to share information with one another, preventing commercial motor vehicle operators from holding multiple commercial driver's licenses, or CDLs, in different States.

CDLIS is used to maintain the principle of one commercial motor vehicle

license per every one commercial motor vehicle driver. Traditionally, States paid user fees directly to AAMVA, and the fees were used to maintain and update CDLIS.

In 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration interpreted the existing statute and ruled that fees could no longer be paid by the States directly to AAMVA and, instead, must go to the Federal Government, leaving CDLIS with no real funding mechanism.

There have been additional concerns raised that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would need to directly operate and request new funding for a system that was previously self-sufficient.

This bill allows the Secretary of Transportation to designate an authorized operator of the Commercial Driver's License Information System, which would allow States to again pay fees directly to AAMVA and continue operating under the status quo.

The bill is supported by AAMVA and the American Trucking Associations.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Strengthening the Commercial Driver's License Information System Act ensures that States can continue to rely on the Commercial Driver's License Information System. This system is crucial to maintaining the principle of one commercial motor vehicle driver to one commercial motor vehicle license.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4367) to provide for improvements to the rivers and harbors of the United States, to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, and for other purposes, 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 S. 4367, as amended, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 4367, as amended, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which is a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation that is going to help address infrastructure needs across the country.

Earlier this year, the House advanced H.R. 8812, the House-developed WRDA bill, with a strong bipartisan vote of 359-13.

I thank Ranking Member Rick Larsen; Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair David Rouzer; Ranking Member Grace Napolitano; and our Senate colleagues, Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, for all of their hard work in developing and negotiating this final product.

It is important to note that, with WRDA 2024, we are continuing the bipartisan, bicameral tradition of passing a WRDA bill every 2 years, something that we have done since 2014.

The bipartisan legislation provides necessary authority and direction to the corps to carry out its mission to maintain and improve our water resource infrastructure, from ports to levees to navigation channels. It also makes policy and programmatic reforms to streamline processes, reduce cumbersome red tape, and get water resource projects done faster.

The bill is a big win, in particular, for levee districts across the country. Encroachments that don't impact the structural integrity of the levee can now be grandfathered in for both Federal and non-Federal levee districts.

It also rejects the corps' latest P.L. 84-99 rule, preventing them from kicking levee districts out for failing to complete irrelevant disaster preparedness exercises. These exercises encompass everything you can think of except for operations and maintenance, which is what levee districts should be focused on.

The legislation also reauthorizes and modernizes the Economic Development Administration, or the EDA, including removing hurdles to broadband, manufacturing, and workforce development, and ensuring that the EDA works better for small, rural communities.

It builds in strong oversight and transparency of Federal economic development programs to ensure that these programs are more accountable to the American taxpayer.

The legislation also includes critical reforms to how we manage Federal real estate, with the potential to save taxpayers billions of dollars by setting benchmarks for space utilization, directing the sale and consolidation of unused space, and strengthening congressional oversight of Federal building projects.

This bill also includes provisions to address concerns raised over the past several years by State departments of transportation surrounding a process known as August redistribution by redistributing unobligated balances under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, commonly called TIFIA, which provides for much-needed relief and flexibility to our State DOTs.

Finally, I include in the Record a statement of extended views of the chairman and ranking member, which provide additional direction and clarity to the corps about how we intend for this legislation to be implemented.

explanatory statement to accompany division a of the house amendment to s. 4367, the thomas r. carper water resources development act of 2024,

division a, the water resources development act of 2024

S. 4367, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development

Act of 2024 as passed by the Senate and amended by the House

of Representatives is the legislative vehicle for the Water

Resources Development Act of 2024. This explanatory

statement, submitted on behalf of Chairman Sam Graves and

Ranking Member Rick Larsen of the House Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure, reflects the view of the

Chairman and Ranking Member responsible for managing

negotiations to develop a final version of WRDA 2024,

hereafter in this statement referred to as ``the managers.''

This statement of the managers describes the intent of the

final legislation.

Background:

WRDA 2024 primarily addresses the Civil Works program of

the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The bill

supports the Nation's global economic competitiveness and

environmental resilience by authorizing the Corps to

undertake projects, programs, and initiatives in their Civil

Works program relating to navigation, ecosystem restoration,

flood and coastal storm risk management, hydropower,

recreation, emergency management, and water supply.

A water resources development act (WRDA) is the authorizing

legislation for the programs and projects of the Corps' Civil

Works program. Ideally enacted every two years, such an act

is the main vehicle for authorizing water resources

development projects to be studied, planned, and developed by

the Corps. WRDAs typically authorize new water resources

development

projects pursuant to completed feasibility study reports from

the Chief of Engineers, modifications to existing projects

pursuant to reports from the Director of Civil Works, other

modifications to existing projects, study authorizations for

new projects, the authorization of miscellaneous projects

consistent with the Corps' programs that also demonstrate a

Federal interest, and other programmatic changes to the

Corps' authorities. Projects and programs contained in WRDAs

fall within one or more of the Corps' Civil Works' missions

and authorities, which include navigation, ecosystem

restoration, flood and coastal storm risk management,

hydropower, recreation, regulatory, emergency management, and

water supply.

General Overview of WRDA 2024:

WRDA 2024 builds on a long-standing commitment to address

the Nation's water resources challenges, primarily through

the efforts of the Corps. WRDA 2024 aims to enhance the

Corps' ability to deliver critical water infrastructure

projects efficiently, meeting the diverse needs of river and

coastal navigation, flood and hurricane storm damage

reduction, shoreline protection, water supply, ecosystem

restoration, recreation, hydropower, and disaster response

and recovery.

WRDA 2024 authorizes for construction 22 projects and

project modifications based on reports submitted to Congress

by the Secretary or the Chief of Engineers. These projects

address various mission areas of the Corps, including

ecosystem restoration, flood and coastal storm risk

management, navigation, and water storage for water supply.

Discussion on Specific WRDA 2024 Provisions:

WRDA 2024 increases the per-project and programmatic

authorization limits for continuing authorities programs

(CAPs) for small projects that require no additional

Congressional authorization. Congress recognizes the

importance of CAPs, while acknowledging the impact of

inflation on infrastructure projects. These changes ensure

that critical projects receive adequate funding from the

start, reducing the need for piecemeal approaches and

enabling more robust, long-term solutions.

Section 1108 creates a new CAP for stormwater management

projects, emphasizing the growing demand for addressing

stormwater issues in communities, and highlighting

opportunities for integration of water resources management

through reclamation, recycling, and reuse of flood water and

stormwater associated with projects. This inclusion

recognizes the increasing challenges posed by larger and

stronger storms, which cause severe flooding and associated

damage in urban and rural areas alike. WRDA 2024 authorizes

the Corps to be more flexible and responsive to stormwater

management, while also making it easier for communities to

qualify for and receive Federal assistance. This change

highlights the program's adaptability to local needs and its

commitment to proactive flood risk management, which is

crucial for protecting lives, property, and the environment

in the face of changing climate patterns and urban

development pressures.

WRDA 2024 augments the Corps' authority to address

infrastructure resilience to increasing frequency and

intensity of extreme weather events, such as increased

precipitation and droughts. As noted earlier, WRDA 2024

creates opportunities, where appropriate, to reclaim, treat,

and reuse flood and stormwater associated with projects to

further enhance the resiliency of communities. Similarly,

this legislation amends the authority for Project

Modifications for Improvement of the Environment (33 U.S.C.

2309a) to authorize the Secretary to modify existing Corps'

projects to enhance drought resiliency. Under this modified

authority, the Secretary would be authorized to carry out

modifications to existing water resources development

projects, such as enhanced water conservation measures,

removal of excess sediment, the planting of native

vegetation, and other actions to increase drought resilience,

water conservation, and water availability.

The Community Revitalization Program (enacted as Section

165(a) of WRDA 2020) has been made permanent, ensuring long-

term support for community-led efforts to revitalize and

enhance local infrastructure. This stability provides support

for projects that address critical needs, promote sustainable

development, and improve overall community well-being.

Increasing the number of projects that can be carried out

through this program provides all communities across the

Nation with greater access to Corps expertise in addressing

local water resources challenges, enabling communities of all

economic means to undertake vital projects that might

otherwise be unaffordable. Such investments lead to improved

local economies, enhanced quality of life, and greater

resilience to future challenges,

Section 1107(a) creates a new pilot program for alternative

delivery for CAP projects. This new CAP delivery process

focuses on accelerating the delivery of projects through the

use of methods such as progressive design-build and

construction manager at risk approaches to project delivery,

with a goal of enhancing project efficiency and

effectiveness.

Similarly, Section 1105 of WRDA 2024 introduces reforms to

enhance consistency and efficiency within the Corps to modify

existing water resources development projects under Section

408. These policy modifications will provide non-Federal

entities with clear, consistent, and timely recommendations,

ensuring uniformity across Corps Districts. Non-Federal

entities may request pre-application meetings to clarify

technical requirements, determine optimal design package

submissions, and address potential concerns or conflicts with

proposed actions.

In addition to establishing the new alternative delivery

CAP, Sections 1109 and 1110 of WRDA 2024 amend Sections 203

and 204 of WRDA 1986, respectively, to clarify and enhance

the responsibilities of non-Federal interests in conducting

studies and construction activities for authorized projects.

These amendments provide clear guidelines and expectations,

ensuring efficient processes and effective project oversight.

WRDA 2024 marks a pivotal advancement in infrastructure

development policy, introducing strategic reforms aimed at

enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in project delivery

across the Nation. Through targeted policy changes, this

legislation empowers the Corps to better manage processes,

optimize resource allocation, and foster greater

collaboration with non-Federal entities. These not only

prioritize timely project completion but also ensure that

taxpayer dollars are invested judiciously, supporting

sustainable infrastructure solutions that meet the evolving

needs of communities nationwide.

In response to concerns received by the Committee regarding

the appropriate use of real estate interests by the Corps for

project purposes, Section 1104 of WRDA 2024 modifies the

requirements for minimum real estate interests. The Committee

recognizes that in some instances, the Corps has utilized

higher levels of real estate instruments than necessary for

project objectives, thereby increasing project costs and

administrative burdens. WRDA 2024 mandates a recalibration of

minimum real estate interests, ensuring that the Corps

utilizes instruments that are more proportionate to project

needs, rather than defaulting to fee simple ownership. This

adjustment aims to optimize project efficiency and cost-

effectiveness by requiring the use of lesser interests when

feasible and appropriate. The intent behind this change is to

align the Corps real estate practices more closely with

project requirements, promoting the use of alternatives that

provide sufficient control and access while minimizing

unnecessary acquisition costs and administrative

complexities.

Section 1146 of WRDA 2024 establishes a Systemwide

Improvement Plan to assist non-Federal entities in achieving

compliance with the P.L. 84-99 program by requiring that the

Corps work with non-Federal interests to develop

comprehensive compliance plans.

The Committee recognizes the critical importance of water

supply and water resiliency efforts to the nation's health,

economy, and security. Accordingly, Section 1161 of WRDA 2024

instructs the Corps to prioritize and maximize water supply,

water conservation, and drought resiliency efforts that are

in alignment with the authorized purposes of water resources

development projects, including study and construction

efforts, as well as efforts to modernize project operations,

consistent with authorized project purposes, in response to

local water resources needs and challenges. This section

underscores the necessity of prioritizing and funding water

supply projects and initiatives and ensuring that the Corps

is empowered and directed to address the Nation's water

resource needs. Similarly, Section 1164 authorizes the

Secretary to maximize water supply efforts as the primary

project purpose of certain water resources development

projects during a drought emergency in the project area

The Committee also recognizes the commitment to public

service and the development of the Nation's water resources

by the Ranking Member of the Water Resources and Environment

Subcommittee, Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano, and

designates Subtitle B of this Act, which contains several

policy provisions championed by Congresswoman Napolitano,

collectively as the Grace F. Napolitano Priority for Water

Supply, Water Conservation, and Drought Resiliency Act of

2024.

Section 1140 of WRDA 2024 expands the types of projects

available to Tribes under the Tribal Partnership Program,

recognizing the unique needs and priorities of Tribal

communities. The Committee recognizes that Indian Tribes in

certain states, including the State of Washington, often

benefit from projects that are constructed off tribal lands

and includes a pilot program that allows the Tribal

Partnership Program to be utilized for projects constructed

in proximity to a river system or other aquatic habitat

within the State of Washington with respect to which an

Indian Tribe, an inter-tribal consortium, or a Tribal

organization has Tribal treaty rights.

Section 1303 of WRDA 2024, as amended, extends the

authorization for the pilot program established under Section

118 of WRDA 2020 for additional years, allowing additional

communities access to the benefits provided by this program.

Section 1206 includes an annual reporting requirement on

the operations and maintenance costs and needs at harbors and

inland harbors, the distribution of funds from the Harbor

Maintenance Trust Fund, and a list of unmet needs at harbors.

This requirement will provide the Committee with a continuous

baseline and understanding of the infrastructure needs at

our Nation's harbors, as well as the Corps' implementation

of Harbor

Maintenance Trust Fund allocations directed by Section 102

of WRDA 2020.

WRDA 2024 also amends Sections 101(a) and (b) of WRDA 1986

to increase the depth at which Federal ports and harbors

projects can receive Federal support for construction and

operation and maintenance. This will help ports and harbors

modernize and stay competitive on the global stage, allowing

more goods and services to be delivered into our country and

exported around the world. Additionally, this legislation

expands existing programs at the Corps that support emerging

harbors (Section 1129), remote and subsistence harbors

(Section 1147), and underserved community harbors (Section

1356), which are often critical to the economic well-being of

local communities.

Section 1126 of WRDA 2024 also updates the percentages of

funding for inland waterways navigation projects cost-shared

from direct appropriations and the Inland Waterways Trust

Fund (IWTF). This change will help the industries and

services that rely on a robust inland waterways network to

remain at the forefront of national and international trade.

Section 1130 of WRDA 2024 encourages additional beneficial

reuse of dredged materials by making the program permanent,

increasing the use of regional sediment management plans, and

codifying the Corps' goal of beneficially using 70 percent of

dredged material. The Committee notes that ecosystem

restoration efforts in McKay Bay, Florida could be advanced

through greater beneficial use of sediment, as directed by

this section.

Section 1133 of WRDA 2024 amends Section 214 of WRDA 2000

to include Indian Tribes. The Committee is aware that the

Corps has not yet implemented changes to the Section 214

program as amended by WRDA 2022. Section 8135 of WRDA 2022

expanded the Section 214 process to allow the funds to be

utilized towards the review of proposed mitigation bank sites

and mitigation banking instruments, under which the Corps

evaluates a proposed mitigation bank against certain

requirements and determines potential creditable value. The

Corps interpretation of the statute is that they only have

the ability to utilize Section 214 funds towards processing

construction permits for mitigation banks, not the approval

of the site as a mitigation bank or the mitigation banking

instrument. The Committee finds this contrary to the plain

language of the WRDA 2022 language and hopes correcting this

interpretation can be addressed administratively and aligned

with Congressional intent.

Section 1351 of WRDA 2024 provides for an updated cost

share for an ongoing feasibility study for water supply,

Washington, District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

Given the importance of a secondary water source for the

Nation's capital and its national security implications, the

Committee directs the Corps to implement Section 1351 without

delaying the ongoing feasibility study.

As noted earlier, WRDA 2024 authorizes for construction 22

projects and project modifications based on reports submitted

to Congress by the Secretary or the Chief of Engineers,

including the navigation project for Oakland Harbor,

California. The Committee notes that the Chief's Report for

the harbor improvement project at the Port of Oakland does

not include the request of the non-Federal interest to cost

share the use of electric dredges. The Committee notes that

the Corps approved the cost-shared use of electric dredges

when constructing the deepening project at the Port in 1999.

The use of electric dredges is a unique opportunity to use a

commercially viable alternative to achieve additional air

quality improvement that will benefit the local population

and is strongly supported by the non-Federal interest for the

project. The Committee urges the Corps of Engineers to more

diligently advocate for and include provisions in Chief's

Reports requested by the non-federal interests.

Other Policy Matters:

The House committee report on H.R. 8812, its WRDA 2024

bill, includes direction on implementation of previously

enacted authorities. To the extent consistent with the Act

and this statement, the Committee intends for the Secretary

to follow the direction on previously enacted authorities

provided in that report. This includes but is not limited to

the items listed hereafter:

After Action Reviews.--The Committee recognizes that the

Corps performs after action reviews following completion of

each project; however, it understands that the results from

those reviews are not shared amongst the Corps' various

Districts and Divisions. The Committee encourages the Corps

to develop a database for sharing lessons learned internally

from after action reviews in a format that is helpful to

other Corps project teams, such as being searchable by

project feature.

Allegheny River, Pennsylvania.--The Committee recognizes

the importance of the Allegheny River to the inland waterways

network and to the movement of freight. In carrying out the

study pursuant to Section 1201(a)(134), the Secretary is

encouraged to coordinate with relevant Federal agencies and a

broad array of stakeholders to consider opportunities for

waterway freight diversification, multi-modal facility

development, and other economic development opportunities for

the continued viability of the Allegheny River Corridor,

Pennsylvania.

Cleveland Harbor, Ohio, Dredge Material Management Plan.--

Ensuring adequate dredged material placement capacity for

ports along Lake Erie is essential to adhere to the State of

Ohio's law prohibiting the open lake placement of dredged

material. The Committee continues to encourage the Corps to

maximize the beneficial use of dredged material and plan for

the long-term management of dredged material in Lake Erie,

particularly in Cleveland Harbor, which is expected to reach

its current dredged material capacity by 2029. The Committee

notes that the interim Dredged Material Management Plan

(DMMP) for Cleveland Harbor, Ohio, has been under development

since 2017 and that the development of the full 20-year DMMP

has been delayed. The Committee encourages the Corps to

expeditiously complete a DMMP, no later than 2025, for

Cleveland Harbor and evaluate the Cleveland Harbor Eastern

Embayment Resilience Strategy project as a locally led, long-

term dredged material placement site.

Coastal Mapping Program.--The Committee underscores that

Section 8110 of WRDA 2022 authorized the Corps to carry out a

national coastal mapping study and receive funding through

the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-42). In

addition, the Committee notes that flood risk in coastal

floodplains can be equally affected by impacts from tidally-

influenced waterways as well as by non-tidal riverine and

precipitation influences. Accordingly, the Committee

encourages the Corps to examine potential coastal impacts

from both tidal and non-tidal waterbodies (including

wetlands, streams, and rivers) in conducing comprehensive

watershed assessments.

Coordination with the 3D Hydrography Program.--The 3D

Hydrography Program (3DHP), led by the United States

Geological Survey, utilizes cutting-edge mapping and

geographic information system technologies to provide

comprehensive data on our Nation. The Committee encourages

the Corps to continue coordination with this program and

utilize 3DHP data, as appropriate, in the development and

evaluation of water resource projects.

Corps-Operated Dams for Hydropower.--The Committee is aware

that Power Marketing Agencies often utilize Corps-operated

dams for the production of hydropower. The Committee

continues to maintain that no action by the Secretary in

carrying out the Corps of Engineers' primary mission areas

preempts the Administrator of a Power Marketing Agency from

setting rates for the sale of electric power and energy

pursuant to Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944,

except in the circumstance Congress has specified that monies

appropriated to the Corps of Engineers must be repaid by

hydropower customers within a prescribed time period.

Deauthorizations.--Section 1301 of the bill establishes a

process for the deauthorization of certain water resources

development projects not yet initiated or appropriated. The

Committee notes that the following projects continue to have

support from the associated non-Federal interest and should

not be included in any list to deauthorize water resources

projects pursuant to this section:

(1) The project for environmental restoration, Matilija

Dam, Ventura County, California, authorized by section

1001(10) of WRDA 2007 (121 Stat. 1051).

(2) The project for flood damage reduction, Santa Barbara

streams, Lower Mission Creek, California, authorized by

section 101(b) of WRDA 2000 (114 Stat. 2577).

(3) San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement:

Project to modify the project for navigation, San Francisco

Bay to Stockton, California, authorized by the Rivers and

Harbors Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 109 1).

(4) Suisun Bay Channel (Slough), California: Project for

navigation, Suisun Bay Channel (Slough), California. The

Corps already abandoned its previous disposition study in

2021.

(5) Middle Creek, Lake County, California: Project for

flood damage reduction and environmental restoration, Middle

Creek, Lake County, California, authorized by section

1001(11) of the WRDA 2007 (121 Stat. 1051).

Definition of Including.--The Committee notes that a

fundamental canon of statutory construction is that the term

``include'' should be interpreted with a presumption of non-

exclusiveness--meaning that the word ``including,'' when used

by itself, means that the list is merely exemplary and not

exhaustive. The Committee is concerned that the Corps has

taken a narrower approach to the use of the term

``including'' in WRDA interpretation, and reminds the Corps

of the plain meaning of this term when used in statutory

construction.

Dredged Material Placement for Ohio Harbors.--The Committee

is aware of the ongoing issues with securing sufficient

dredged material placement sites for Federal harbors in the

State of Ohio. The Committee encourages the Corps to consider

the beneficial use facilities being designed by the Ohio

Department of Natural Resources and non-Federal interests as

viable sites for the Corps ongoing dredging operations.

Further, the Committee directs the Corps to expedite

completion of written agreements for the implementation of

any such sites that provide for the beneficial use of dredged

material for Ohio harbors.

Flood Control Projects Impacting Military Installations.--

The Committee encourages the Corps to expedite reviews

pursuant to Section 14 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C.

408) for proposed actions that may provide a military

installation with increased protection.

Jones Levee Flood Control Project, Washington.--The

Committee instructs the Corps

to expedite completion of the study for the Jones Levee Flood

Control, Pierce County, Washington project carried out under

Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948 (33 U.S.C.

701s). The Committee is aware of the project history,

including the termination of a General Investigations study

in 2018, and encourages the Corps to identify a viable way to

move the project forward. The Committee believes several of

the policies within Section 1107 of WRDA 2024, as amended,

provide assistance for completing this project and directs

the Corps to use the provided authorities to implement a

locally supported, economically justified project.

Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.--The Committee is

aware the Corps is providing technical assistance to the

United States Air Force to address subsurface releases from

Kirtland Air Force Base into neighboring areas. The Committee

directs the Corps to prioritize and expedite their work with

the Air Force to identity, prevent, and remediate any such

leaks using its existing statutory authorities.

Lake Aquilla, Texas.--The Committee encourages the Corps to

expeditiously review current conditions and forecasted

regional water supply needs as part of a water reallocation

study and provide updated costs and needs at Lake Aquilla as

part of the Middle Brazos System, Texas.

Materials.--The Committee encourages the Corps to maintain

a flexible and adaptive approach in selecting construction

materials. This entails prioritizing the most suitable

materials for each specific application and may include in

its analysis factors such as performance, impact, cost-

effectiveness, and availability. The Corps should also remain

informed about advancements in material science and the

development of new materials to ensure that they are

utilizing the most current and innovative options available.

Missouri River Ice Jams.--In addition to ice jam language

in WRDA 2024, Section 1150 of WRDA 2016, as amended, provides

the Corps with authority for preventing and mitigating flood

damage and ensuring water supply associated with ice jams in

the Upper Missouri River Basin and the Northeast. The

Committee encourages the Corps to utilize this authority,

specifically addressing the dangerous levels of ice jam

impacts on the Missouri River reach (20 miles) of Omaha,

Nebraska, as evidenced by the 2021, 2022, and 2023 ice jams.

Norfolk Harbor and Channels, Virginia.--The Committee

reminds the Corps that Section 1403 of WRDA 2018 authorized

further improvements for Norfolk Harbor and Channels,

Virginia, and took no deauthorization action. The Committee

further instructs the Corps that absent any specific

deauthorization, the elements of Norfolk Harbor and Channels,

Virginia, including a depth of 55 feet for Anchorage F,

authorized by Section 201 of WRDA 1986 remain fully

authorized.

Noyes Levee, Minnesota.--The Committee encourages the Corps

to work with the State of Minnesota and other non-Federal

partners to address the maintenance needs of the Noyes Levee.

Oyster Gardens.--The Committee recognizes the role oysters

can play in improving water quality and encourages the Corps

to explore opportunities to work with states, localities, and

other non-Federal partners to support the development of

oyster gardens and other oyster restoration activities.

Red River Basin Chloride Control Area VIII, Texas.--The

Committee recognizes the importance of the Red River Basin

Chloride Control Area VIII Project, which improves water

quality and provides other important water resource benefits

to the region. The Committee encourages the Corps to continue

this project.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technology Development.--The

Committee recognizes the Corps' work through the Engineer

Research and Development Center on unmanned aircraft systems

(UAS) and encourages the continued use of these technologies,

including to support levee safety evaluations.

Zebra and Quagga Mussels in the Great Lakes.--Zebra and

Quagga mussels were first identified in the Great Lakes in

the late 1980s. The Committee notes the impact these

freshwater, non-native species have on water resources

infrastructure, often leading to increased maintenance costs,

and the hazard they pose to human health and the Great Lakes

ecosystem. The Committee encourages the Corps to address and

mitigate these nuisance species in the Great Lakes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support WRDA 2024 and its objectives of improving America's infrastructure, reforming project processes, and ensuring that we are better stewards of the taxpayers' money.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), an individual we worked very closely with on this bill, the chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), the chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation.

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I emphasize again the importance of the legislation that we are considering today, which will have a positive impact on communities across the country.

This WRDA bill delivers improvements to flood control infrastructure, ports and harbors, and inland waterways across the country. Many of the policy reforms that I have secured in the WRDA bill for my constituents help ensure that the corps is focused on what matters: protecting people's lives and livelihoods from devastating floods.

For example, the bill prohibits the corps from using eminent domain to seize land for fish and wildlife purposes along the Missouri River. It also includes important provisions to reauthorize the EDA, make us better stewards of federally owned spaces, and repurpose unobligated TIFIA balances.

WRDA 2024 is the result of more than a year of work by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and was developed based on input from nearly 350 Members of this body on projects, programs, and policies that are important to their constituents.

The bill also includes projects and policy reforms that will make the corps work better for our communities by empowering non-Federal project sponsors, including transparency of the corps, and streamlining processes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of S. 4367, as amended. I, too, thank the teams, Kathy on the minority side and Jack Ruddy, the staff director on our side, and the two Ryans, again, for all the work that they did, and their teams. When we do stuff like this, there are a lot of late nights, a lot of weekends, a lot of holidays, and it is simply taking time away from the family. The staff that got us here today deserve the credit and the thanks.

I want to finish by saying the queen of water, what a great job she did. It has been awesome to be able to work with her and Ranking Member Larsen on this bill. I do want to say, too, Representative Rouzer, who is the subcommittee chair over this, would have been here. He has obligations in the steering committee which prevented him from being able to come down, but he put a lot of effort, a lot of work, a lot of time into this bill. I wish he could have been here, but he just simply could not make it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support a great WRDA bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I missed a series of votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 492.

Mr. Speaker, I missed a series of votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 484, YEA on Roll Call No. 485, YEA on Roll Call No. 486, NAY on Roll Call No. 487, NAY on Roll Call No. 488, YEA on Roll Call No. 489, YEA on Roll Call No. 490, and AYE on Roll Call No. 491.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, today I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 436, YEA on Roll Call No. 437, YEA on Roll Call No. 438, and YEA on Roll Call No. 439.

personal explanation

Mr Speaker, I would like to include in the Record the following Resolution in honor of Mr. Ralph Waldo Anderson.

Whereas, Ralph Waldo Anderson was born in Greenbush, Minnesota, on September 23, 1934. Known to all simply as ``Waldo,'' from hardworking roots on the farm he has prospered to a full and active life.

Whereas, Waldo had his first airplane ride from a nearby farm field in 1946.

Whereas, Waldo enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1957. He trained as a mechanic and was assigned to Smoky Hill AFB in Salina, Kansas. There, he took flying lessons with the local military flying club, where he earned his Private and Commercial Pilot certificates.

Whereas, in 1959, Waldo was hired by the University of Minnesota as an instructor for the university flight facility at Anoka County Airport.

Whereas, by 1967, Waldo became the Chief Pilot for the University of Minnesota.

Whereas, Waldo transported university officials, including presidents and coaches, and made more than 1,000 organ transplant flights and medical assistance flights with hospital medics.

Whereas, in September 1972, Waldo rescued a student pilot after distress calls could not be heard by local air traffic control. Anderson was commended by the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists for his ``calm, cool reassurances'' that brought the plane back to a safe landing.

Whereas, Waldo retired from the University of Minnesota in 1996 but never from flying.

Whereas, Waldo has been an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner since 1967 and has flown more than 33,000 hours in more than 50 different aircraft.

Whereas, Waldo has been an instructor with the American Bonanza Society for more than 26 years.

Whereas, Waldo has provided flight instruction to countless pilots, including a NASA astronaut and more than 40 pilots now flying for commercial airlines, including two nephews who are captains with Delta Airlines.

Whereas, Waldo's vast network and experience also includes brushes with Hollywood. He has trained many celebrities, including Harrison Ford, and flew a 1929 Sikorsky S-38 in the movie ``The Aviator'' with Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett.

Whereas, Waldo is an accomplished airplane appraiser, providing reliable appraisals to satisfied customers across the country. Among the more interesting planes that he tracked down was one of the original Bellanca's that made up the fleet for Hawaiian Airlines at its founding. The plane was restored and featured in the airline's 80th anniversary celebration and he was invited to visit the restored plane in Honolulu.

Whereas, for all these accomplishments and more, Ralph Waldo Anderson was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008.

Whereas, Waldo has been married to Ruth Anderson for over 59 years, raising five children together, and spends time in Minnesota and Arizona, with visits to every airport in between.

Whereas, Waldo celebrates his 90th birthday on September 23, 2024, and continues to fly, instruct, appraise, and enjoy planes, with no signs of stopping. Now, therefore, be it recognized,

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise to recognize St. Matthew's Evangelical Church in Riverside, Missouri, which is celebrating its 180th anniversary on September 29th of this year.

St. Matthew's was established in 1844 by a group of mostly German immigrants living in the surrounding countryside. Like so many immigrants that had left their home countries for Northwest Missouri, they chose to build a community based on faith in a small log church.

The original church was replaced in 1877 by a timber-frame, simple Gothic structure which has become known to many as ``the little white church on the hill,'' which still proudly stands to this day. To honor the original church structure, a beautiful stained and painted glass window marks the location of the double doors the church founders walked through to come together and proclaim their devotion to Christ.

St. Matthew's has grown along with Platte County, continuously welcoming more worshippers as the years have gone on. It has continued the tradition of engaging with the Riverside community and fulfilling its founding ideals through its practice of faith and fellowship.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me and the people of the Sixth Congressional District in congratulating St. Matthew's Evangelical Church on its 180 years of worship. I am proud to represent this congregation in the United States House of Representatives, and wish them many more years of worship.

Mr. Speaker, I missed one Roll Call vote today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 400.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8812) to provide for improvements to the rivers and harbors of the United States, to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, and for other purposes, 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 in the Record on H.R. 8812.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8812, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, WRDA 2024, a bill that delivers critical water resource infrastructure improvements for communities all over America.

Last month, we advanced WRDA 2024 out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 61 yeas to 2 nays.

I thank Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair David Rouzer and Ranking Member Grace Napolitano for all their hard work in developing this legislation and shepherding it through the committee and now across the line here on the floor.

I offer special thanks to Ranking Member Grace Napolitano for her work on the WRDA bill and the many contributions she has made to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee over the many years that she has served.

I am proud that with WRDA 2024, we are continuing the bipartisan tradition of passing a WRDA bill every 2 years, something we began back in 2014.

WRDA 2024 has been developed through many months of work and significant participation from Members in this Chamber to address the water resource needs in communities all across the Nation.

This bipartisan legislation provides necessary authority and direction to the Corps to carry out its mission to maintain and improve our water resource infrastructure from ports to levees to navigation channels.

I am particularly proud that this bill charts a new path forward for systemic flood control on the upper Mississippi. It has been more than three decades since the great flood of 1993, and there has been very little progress in improving flood control along this stretch of the Mississippi. I believe this bill will finally change that.

That is why, in addition to authorizing new projects and studies, WRDA 2024 makes policy and programmatic reforms to streamline processes, reduce cumbersome red tape, and get projects done much faster.

Particularly important to my constituents are the steps this bill takes toward ensuring flood control and navigation are the top priorities on the Missouri River, along with the efforts to shore up the PL 84-99 program and long overdue reforms to move rural projects forward.

I could go on and on about the good things in this bill, but I would run out of time if I tried to list all the wins that this bill delivers, big and small, all over America.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support WRDA 2024, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), who is the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, for purposes of a colloquy on H.R. 8812, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate very much the gentleman from Oklahoma and his willingness to work with me on that.

As he pointed out, we will have ample opportunity in conference to work these issues out.

I give the gentleman from Oklahoma my word that we will do just that.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman the Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. Speaker, I missed two Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 336 and YEA on Roll Call No. 337.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3935) to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize and improve the Federal Aviation Administration and other civil aviation programs, and for other purposes.

Madam 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 the Senate amendment to H.R. 3935.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of passing and concurring in the Senate amendment to H.R. 3935, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.

This bill is a bipartisan, bicameral, and comprehensive agreement to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration and our Nation's aviation safety and infrastructure programs through fiscal year 2028.

I thank Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell and Ranking Member Ted Cruz for their partnership in crafting a strong final agreement.

I also thank House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves and Ranking Member Steve Cohen and Senate Aviation Subcommittee Chair Tammy Duckworth and Ranking Member Jerry Moran for their support in getting this bill across the finish line.

For over a century, the United States has led the world in aviation safety and innovation. Unfortunately, our gold standard status is being threatened by increased global competition, rapid developments in technology, a shortage of aviation professionals, and influences at the FAA due to process failures and inadequate practices.

H.R. 3935 is critical to ensuring America remains the global leader in aviation, and it is vital to our economy, to millions of American jobs, and to the millions of passengers who depend on our National Airspace System every single day.

H.R. 3935 also provides the long-term certainty necessary to ensure the safety and prosperity of the American aviation industry for decades to come.

This bill makes reasonable organizational reforms at the agency. It provides much-needed agility while simultaneously providing safety each step of the way.

The FAA is simply too slow in everything it does, from rulemakings to aircraft registrations and from certifications to just simple paperwork.

This bill ensures robust investments in infrastructure for airports of all sizes, with special emphasis placed on the thousands of smaller and general aviation airports that make up the bulk of our Nation's airport system.

Further, it is a personal point of pride for me that this bill includes the first-ever general aviation title in the FAA reauthorization bill. I have been saying this for years, but GA is the foundation of our aviation, our civil aviation system, and it is where many of our pilots, mechanics, and other hardworking aviation professionals began their careers. It is also responsible for helping meet the critical community needs in thousands of cities and towns all across America. This bill recognizes the importance of GA and protects the freedom to fly for every American.

As previously mentioned, the shortages across the aerospace workforce are a growing risk to the future of American aviation, and H.R. 3935 addresses workforce challenges head-on by removing barriers for individuals and veterans interested in pursuing careers in aviation, such as through improving aviation workforce development programs.

The bottom line is our bill encourages the growth of our aviation workforce through targeted and meaningful reforms. What is more, H.R. 3935 maintains American leadership when it comes to the development and integration of new and emerging technologies into the airspace, such as drones and advanced air mobility, or AAM. Specifically, this bill requires the FAA to move beyond endless testing and pilot programs that go nowhere and to move toward integrating innovations, such as drones and AAM, into the National Airspace System.

As air travel recovers from the COVID pandemic, renewed growth in air travel has come with some difficulties for the traveling public, and our bipartisan bill includes an entire title dedicated to improving issues each of our offices hears about from constituents almost daily: the flying experience for the traveling public, including individuals with disabilities.

Finally, and most importantly, this bill recognizes that while our aviation system is safe, we have to continue raising the bar for safety. The bill is centered around a strong aviation and safety title and makes many important reforms that address the close calls and near misses that have unnerved many of us over the past several years.

Madam Speaker, I have every confidence that the provisions we enact here today will make aviation safer, thus ensuring that America continues to be the world's gold standard in aviation safety.

One of the most important safety features of this bill is the title for a 5-year reauthorization of the National Transportation Safety Board, or the NTSB. It is the independent Federal agency that investigates all civil aviation and other transportation accidents.

I believe the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 is one of the farthest reaching, most consequential pieces of legislation that the House will consider in the 118th Congress.

Madam Speaker, I will take a moment to point out a couple of additional provisions in the bill that I think warrant bringing up.

The first is the provision that is going to help protect general aviation airports from closure. Airports are a valuable community resource, and our vast national aviation airports are part of what has brought about American leadership in aviation.

Many of these airports are also grant obligated, meaning they have made assurances to the Federal Government that they will operate and develop the airport to its fullest potential.

In too many places, local neglect or hostility threatens the viability of many of these small airports and the community's commitment to these obligations.

Aeronautical development at airports is vital to our national interests, so our bill includes provisions that will prohibit the Federal Aviation Administration from waiving grant obligations if the FAA finds the waiver would impair the aeronautical purpose of an airport or result in its closure.

Although this bill contains a legislative waiver of grant operations for Banning Airport in California, this should not be viewed as anything other than a very unique exception to the hard-and-fast rule that Congress is enforcing in this bill. Moving forward, it will take legislative action to pursue closing an airport and getting a waiver on those grant assurances.

One other provision I will point out is airline refunds. I remain concerned that the new Department of Transportation rule is going to result in significant unintended consequences for passengers, including increased prices for the processing of unintentional refunds when all the passenger wants is just simply to be rebooked on the next flight home.

However, now that the Senate has amended the refund provision to more closely align with the DOT rule, it is important the DOT adheres to its published 6-month implementation period for the rule. DOT should not view this legislation as short-circuiting the implementation period, which is necessary for airlines and ticket agents to adopt new systems to ensure regulatory compliance.

I look forward to working with both DOT and the FAA as they work to implement these provisions and the many other important sections in this bill.

Madam Speaker, in closing, this bill has the support of more than a thousand aviation organizations and companies and comprehensively addresses thousands of Member and stakeholder issues and requests that we received.

Simply put, this bill is vital to America's airport infrastructure, to our economy, and to the future of American leadership in aviation.

It is an honor to stand here and urge all of the Members in the House to support this transformational bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), who is also the chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining on both sides.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), the chairman of the full Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann).

Mr. Speaker, may I ask for the time remaining on both sides again.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that both sides get an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

In closing, this bill before us is a strong bipartisan and forward- looking piece of legislation that will undoubtedly advance American aviation, innovation, and safety.

I am not going to go into the many great things that are in this bill, but I have served in this House for more than 23 years, and I have been looking forward to passing an FAA bill as

chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for a long time.

This is the kind of bill that a chairman only gets to do once in their career, and I could not be more proud of the final product that we put together.

I thank my partner, Ranking Member Larsen. I am grateful for that partnership that he and his team have shown throughout this entire process, throughout this Congress, and everything that the committee does.

No piece of legislation, especially not one as comprehensive as this bill, is complete without a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work.

I thank the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff on both sides, led by staff directors: Jack Ruddy and Kathy Dedrick and the Aviation Subcommittee staff directors Hunter Presti and Brian Bell.

I thank Abby Wenk, Corey Cooke, Meghan Holland, Leslie Parker, Chris Devine, Tyler Micheletti, Rachel Sakrisson, Justin Harclerode, Kerry Goldberg, Jake Murphy, Brianna Garcia, Wills MacKay, and Payton Palazzolo and the Republican Aviation Subcommittee folks: Laney Copeland, Andrew Giacini, Julie Devine, Will Moore, Corey Sites, Chris Senn, and Maggie Ayrea.

The last thing I will say is I want to recognize my general counsel, Corey Cooke. This has less to do with the FAA and more to do with the fact that after 5\1/2\ years of serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, she is departing for the Senate.

After watching and waiting on the Senate to finish the FAA bill, I can't say that her decision to leave the House is necessarily guided in the right direction, and I can't say I fully endorse it.

Nonetheless, Corey has been a critical part of everything we have done in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee during my time, both as chairman and ranking member.

She worked for me on my previous committee chairmanship on small business, and she is tenacious, hardworking, and a very loyal staffer who will always be considered a part of Team Graves.

Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member of the House to support final passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, 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. 7659) to authorize and amend authorities, programs, and statutes administered by the Coast Guard, 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 insert extraneous material on H.R. 7659.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7659, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024. This bipartisan measure authorizes funding for the Coast Guard, one of six armed services, for the next 2 fiscal years.

The men and women of the Coast Guard deserve the support of this Congress in their efforts to meet the challenges of their ever-growing mission. Those missions are wide-ranging and include ensuring the safety of maritime trade, including our vital supply chain; enforcing United States laws at sea; protecting our Nation's borders; helping counter undue Chinese influence in the Pacific; helping to develop the United States' redefined role in the rapidly changing Arctic; and countering human trafficking and the influx of illicit drugs into this country.

This bill provides the Coast Guard with the authorities and resources it needs to carry out its mission.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Ranking Member Larsen and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chair Webster and Ranking Member Carbajal for working to reach a bipartisan agreement on this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hunt).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Webster), who is also the chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.

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

As Ranking Member Larsen knows well, this important piece of bipartisan legislation would not be possible without the hard work of our staff. I want to thank the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation team led by

Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7659, the

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024. In Puerto Rico, we are the proud home to Sector San Juan and Air Station Borinquen. We know firsthand the important role our men and women in the Coast Guard play each day to save lives, protect our maritime borders, and facilitate commerce. That is why I was proud to cosponsor this important piece of legislation, which will provide needed authorities and resources to support our Coasties and strengthen the Service's critical missions.

I am especially pleased the bill includes two provisions I authored-- Sections 205 and 206--to help improve the Coast Guard's drug and migrant interdiction activities. Section 205 would direct the Coast Guard to submit a report to Congress providing an overview of the maritime domain awareness in Sector San Juan, which is responsible for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and oversees an area of responsibility spanning 1.3 million square nautical miles in the Eastern Caribbean.

Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in smuggling events in the region. In Fiscal Year 2021, the Coast Guard interdicted 758 migrants in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico. These numbers increased substantially in Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023, when the Coast Guard interdicted 2,395 and 2,228 migrants, respectively, in the Sector San Juan area of responsibility. Through April 30, 2024, the Coast Guard had already interdicted 1,199 migrants in waters near Puerto Rico, with five months still remaining to conclude Fiscal Year 2024.

Similarly, according to data shared by the Coast Guard with my office, from Fiscal Years 2019 to 2022, the known maritime cocaine flow to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands--either coming directly from South America or via the Dominican Republic--increased by over 115 percent, from 51 metric tons to 110 metric tons. During the past five years, Coast Guard narcotics seizures in the Sector San Juan area of responsibility increased by over 74 percent, from 6.6 metric tons in Fiscal Year 2019 to 11.5 metric tons in Fiscal Year 2023.

There has also been a rise in violence associated with these events. In November 2022, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection marine interdiction agent was shot and killed, and his two partners gravely injured, when drug smugglers opened fire during an interdiction off the coast of Cabo Rojo, in southwestern Puerto Rico. Two months later, another gunfight during a vessel interdiction off the coast of Fajardo in northeastern Puerto Rico resulted in the death of two drug smugglers.

The Coast Guard plays a leading role combatting these and other threats we face from transnational criminal organizations and smugglers operating in the Caribbean. It is therefore essential we ensure they have the necessary resources to effectively tackle the rise in illicit maritime activity around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Section 205 would help achieve this by directing the Coast Guard to report on maritime domain awareness gaps in the region and identify technologies, assets, and capabilities that would help address such gaps.

The second provision I authored, Section 206, seeks to improve transparency by requiring the Coast Guard to publish on its website the number of drug and migrant interdictions carried out by the Service each month. In the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, Congress included a provision requiring the publication of monthly migrant interdiction statistics. Section 206 would build on this and expand the requirement to also include data on drug seizures. It would also require additional information such as the number of migrants interdicted, the amount and type of drugs that are seized, and the geographic location of such interdictions.

I want to conclude by thanking and commending House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen, as well as Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster and Ranking Member Salud Carbajal, for their leadership on H.R. 7659. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill and ensure we provide the men and women of the Coast Guard the support they deserve. subcommittee staff director John Rayfield. I also thank Reed Linsk, Cameron Humphrey, Nicole Bredariol, Ian Orr and all of the Transportation and Infrastructure full committee staff who have worked on getting us here today, including staff director Jack Ruddy. I also want to thank the Transportation and Infrastructure minority full committee staff led by Kathy Dedrick and subcommittee staff led by Matt Dwyer.

This legislation provides the support that the men and women of the United States Coast Guard need to do their jobs.

It improves maritime safety, will help our Nation confront drug and human traffickers off our coast, and counter undue Chinese influence in the Pacific.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, 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. 8289) to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, 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 in the Record on H.R. 8289.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8289 extends the statutory authorities of the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, through May 17, 2024. While this extension provides for key extensions of FAA authorities, such as the continued collection of aviation excise taxes that the safe operation of the national airspace is very dependent on, it is largely needed to accommodate the Senate's inability to successfully pass the conferenced FAA bill in time for the House to take a final vote before Friday.

The House did its part to provide for a long-term reauthorization of the FAA on time and well ahead of schedule when we passed H.R. 3935 last summer in an overwhelming bipartisan fashion with more than 350 votes. It is unfortunate that the Senate's process for considering its FAA bill continues to be plagued by delays necessitating this extension.

I know my colleagues in the House are ready to send the compromise bill to the President once and for all. The good news is that we are so close to doing that.

Setting aside the Senate's ability to act in a timely manner, the stark reality is that the FAA is set to expire on May 10, and we must act to pass another extension to maintain safety in the National Airspace System.

The Senate and House have worked tirelessly since the Senate Commerce Committee marked up its FAA bill in February. We have worked tirelessly to reconcile differences and produce a comprehensive FAA bill that provides certainty to the agency and the entire aviation community for the next 5 years.

The negotiated bill provides the long-term certainty to ensure the safety and prosperity of the American aviation industry for decades to come. Extensions don't provide any certainty, nor do they provide for the robust investments airports across the country need to ensure the continued transportation of goods and services to our communities.

For those reasons, both Chambers remain committed to passing a long- term bill.

In the meantime, this extension buys the Senate a little bit more time to do their job while keeping the national airspace safe and ensuring that airlines don't get a $50 million-a-day tax break.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this extension so that we can consider the conferenced bill next week.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge all Members to support this must-pass bill so we can keep our aviation system operating safely and focus on passing a long-term FAA bill next week.

H.R. 8289 provides for a clean extension of FAA authorities. It does not include policy riders.

Failure to extend FAA's authorities will cost the Federal Government more than $50 million a day in lost revenues. Enacting a long-term comprehensive FAA bill is the goal of both the House and Senate, and I look forward to presenting that critical piece of legislation to you next week.

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