Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, a republic can survive only as long as all political sides abide by our elections, respect our institutions, and obey our Constitution.

The anonymous column by an official in the executive branch, who bragged of deliberately thwarting the will of the people as expressed through the Presidential election, expresses a sentiment that is absolutely toxic to our form of government.

He cites no constitutional breach to thwart the lawful decisions of a legitimately elected President but only his self-righteous disdain for the man and his policies.

Well, he doesn't get to make that decision. Nobody elected him. Congress, the courts, and the American people at the ballot box can check the President, but an unelected zealot within the government cannot.

What I find most alarming is the applause for this sentiment that we hear from the far left. We should recognize it for what it is: a direct attack on the most fundamental principle that holds us together as a free people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague Mr. Denham, to honor the service of Sheriff James Mele for his 30 years of outstanding leadership in Tuolumne County.

In 1988, he joined the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office as a Jail Deputy Recruit. In just two years he was promoted to Jail Sergeant and then upon graduation from POST Academy in 1990 to Deputy Sheriff. He was a member of the SWAT team and was promoted to Investigator where he was appointed to a drug task force called ACNET. After serving as an Investigator he was promoted to Sergeant. As a Sergeant he supervised in patrol and then as a Narcotics Sergeant in 2003, and Investigations Sergeant in 2005.

Elected Sheriff in 2006, Jim devotedly served the citizens of Tuolumne County for another 12 years. As Sheriff he founded: the Crisis Negotiation Team, the Public Information and Community Outreach team, and the Rural and Agricultural Crimes Unit. He reinvented the K9 program and initiated the Risk, Vulnerability, Assessment, Strategy for school violence. Jim fought for the Sheriff ``J.H'' Dambacher Detention Center scheduled to open in 2019.

Jim earned his BA in Criminal Justice Management at the Union Institute & University in 2000; his Executive Master of Leadership from the University of Southern California in 2014; and in 2017 graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Jim was awarded the California Association of Tactical Officers ``Darrell F. Gates Memorial Police Executive of the Year.'' As Sheriff, he served as a member of the California State Sheriffs Association, The California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System 911 Board, and the California Narcotics Officer Association.

Alongside his service to keeping his community safe, Jim has also led several laudable activities: as a Sonora High School football coach, a youth baseball and soccer coach, a Bishop in his Church, a High Councilman of Girls Camp Liahona, a member of the Civic Advisory Board at Adventist Health and Sonora Rotary, and a Scout Master In the Boy Scouts of America; bolstered by his experience of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, Sheriff James Mele has an incomparable record of protecting and serving his community. He has set an example of outstanding leadership for us all.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2630) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to La Paz County, Arizona, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2630, the La Paz County Land Conveyance Act, is authored by Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey 8,000 acres of Federal land to La Paz County, Arizona, at fair market value for the construction of a solar field.

La Paz County is among the few counties in the United States with nearly 95 percent of its land owned by the Federal, State, or Tribal governments. Because of the immense Federal footprint in the county, a land transfer is necessary so that it can secure enough space for this type of development. The county will not only pay for the land, but all the administrative costs of the transfer as well.

The county has already worked with the BLM to identify a site adjacent to preexisting and proposed electric, fiber optic, and natural gas transmission lines. A review of the proposed site by the BLM has not revealed any endangered species or historic resources in the area, and much of the proposed site already has a significant amount of surface disturbance.

La Paz County suffers high unemployment, and this land conveyance will not only provide additional energy to the growing southern California and Phoenix markets, but it will also bring good-paying jobs to many families in the county.

I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar), the author of this measure, the chairman of the Western Caucus of the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask all of the Members to consider what plight their districts would be in, their counties would be in if 95 percent of the land in that county was off the public tax rolls, with severe restrictions on its use. The effect is economically devastating.

This is a small step in the direction of giving La Paz County a little more control over its economic future. It is an excellent bill, and I urge its adoption.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1220) to establish the Adams Memorial Commission to carry out the provisions of Public Law 107-62, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, several of the central figures in the winning of American independence and the founding of our constitutional republic are given short shrift among the memorials in this capital city, and none among them is more deserving than John Adams.

By all accounts, he was the animating figure in pushing the Continental Congress to declare independence; he was indefatigable in the prosecution of the war, both from stations at home and from Europe; and is our first vice president under Washington; and as our second President, he established many of the traditions and policies that set our course.

Public Law 107-62 authorized the nonprofit Adams Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial to John Adams in the District of Columbia under the Commemorative Works Act and to collect private donations for that purpose. No Federal funds can be used for the memorial.

The foundation has developed initial design concept, it has conducted location reviews, and coordinated with Congress, the National Park Service, and other stakeholders, but it has not yet been able to select a site, design the memorial, receive the approvals, or raise sufficient funds for construction.

Under the Commemorative Works Act, the foundation's authority to erect a memorial expires in December of 2020.

H.R. 1220, by Congressman Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, would transfer that authority to the Adams Memorial Commission.

The commission would have all the powers and responsibilities of the foundation and would consist of 12 members. Its authority to erect a memorial will expire in 7 years, consistent was the CWA timeline.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I just want to compliment Congressman Lynch and thank him on behalf of the Nation for keeping this memorial alive and keeping its momentum going.

This is highly deserved, it is long overdue, and this measure takes us another step toward the recognition of one of America's greatest Founding Fathers.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3045) to amend the National Trails System Act to extend the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3045, which comes to us by Congressman Luke Messer of Indiana, would extend the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Its purpose is to preserve and interpret for future generations the Corps of Discovery's important preparations for its trailblazing journey into the Western United States.

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson charged Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean across the United States' newly purchased Louisiana Territory and with seeking out and identifying wildlife, vegetation, and native populations along the way.

The journey contributed greatly to the scientific knowledge and helped to foster profound political, social, economic, cultural, and environmental changes to the lands and the peoples of the North American continent.

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail was established in 1978 and spans 3,700 miles following the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition west of the Mississippi River from Wood River, Illinois, to Astoria, Oregon.

H.R. 3045 would extend the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail by 1,200 miles, with a new eastern boundary at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following the path of the Ohio River.

The Eastern Legacy Extension of the trail encompasses important history and key moments for the expedition.

In February of 2018, at the direction of Congress, the National Park Service completed a study on the proposed extension of this trail. The study found the route proposed for inclusion in H.R. 3045 to be nationally significant, suitable and feasible for inclusion in the existing Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

The Eastern Legacy Extension provided by this legislation recognizes the significance of the planning, preparation, and beginning preparations for the expedition, and will provide new opportunities for Americans to learn about the Corps of Discovery and the lands along the Ohio River where Lewis and Clark refined the techniques that prepared them for the hardships of the long trip west.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messer), the author of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was literally one of the seminal events that produced this great Nation, spanning from coast to coast, and the completion of this full trail is an important step in recognizing the heroism and the vision of those who came before us to build this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask for adoption of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5875) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, to provide parity for United States territories and the District of Columbia, to make technical corrections to such Acts and related laws, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5875, introduced by my colleague from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), addresses the existing disparity between the 50 States and the U.S. territories with regard to the formulas within the Pittman- Robertson and Dingell-Johnson conservation programs. While the territories are included in the statutory definition as States, they are not afforded an opportunity to receive an equal share of Pittman- Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funding.

The legislation provides the Secretary of the Interior with greater flexibility in apportioning conservation funds and requires parity between the States and the territories with respect to funding for basic hunter education programs.

Under current law, each State is guaranteed at least a 1 percent share of yearly Pittman-Robertson apportionment. However, the current statute caps Puerto Rico's share at one-fourth of 1 percent and the four other U.S. territory shares at just one-sixth of 1 percent. In other words, they pay the fees and the taxes, but they don't get equal access to the funds.

H.R. 5875 specifically removes the existing caps on funds for basic hunter education programs and would mandate that each territory and State receive not less than 1 percent in any given year. The bill also removes additional restrictions on apportionments for wildlife and sport fishing restoration projects.

The absence of caps will allow the Secretary of the Interior to exercise discretion in apportioning Pittman-Robertson and Dingell- Johnson funds to the five U.S. territories in proportion to their populations, as it is done currently for each of the 50 States.

The user-pays approach facilitated by Pittman-Robertson and Dingell- Johnson has consistently delivered significant benefits to hunters, recreational shooters, and all citizens through the delivery of on-the- ground wildlife and habitat conservation activities.

It is time we make the apportionment of these important funds fair to all 50 States and the territories. I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for bringing this bill to the House. This really is an injustice to think that the people of the territories pay the full amount of the fees and yet only get a fraction of the benefits that are afforded to the States that are paying the same fees. This corrects that injustice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the bill's adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5979) to establish the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in the State of Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5979, introduced by Representative Hal Rogers of Kentucky, establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System.

The Battle of Mill Springs was one of Kentucky's largest Civil War battles and played a crucial role in the Union's success by securing the Cumberland Gap and providing the gateway into Tennessee.

The Battle of Mill Springs bolstered the Union's morale, as it was the first major victory of the war following the disastrous defeat at First Manassas. Winning the battle enabled the Union to push all Confederate powers out of Kentucky and allowed them to advance into Confederate strongholds in Middle Tennessee.

Mill Springs Battlefield was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The boundary was expanded in 2008 and now encompasses over 1,500 acres. The nonprofit Mill Springs Battlefield Association currently owns 900 acres of battlefield land and operates a visitors center at the site.

H.R. 5979 establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument as a unit of the National Park System. The proposed monument would be approximately 1,500 acres, of which 900 will be donated to the Park Service.

I am grateful to Mr. Rogers for sponsoring this legislation. It is the right way to create a national monument. Monuments ought to be created through the open legislative process of Congress and not via executive fiat.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to yield such time as he may consume to gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the distinguished author of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, these historic sites provide a tangible link between our generation and those who came before us and allow us to draw inspiration from the deeds and sacrifices of those who built this country and secured freedom for all Americans. This is an important part of that story, and I would ask for adoption of the measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6077) recognizing the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the National Comedy Center in downtown Jamestown, New York, is a nonprofit institution that tells the story of comedy in America.

Opening next month, the center is a live performance space as well as an interactive museum. It is the first national scale, nonprofit, cultural institution with a visitor experience dedicated to comedy outside of the U.S. Senate.

The museum is acquiring the personal archives of prominent American comedians and will showcase more than 50 exhibits on the history of comedy from early vaudeville to today. In addition, the center operates the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, as Jamestown is the birthplace of Ms. Ball.

H.R. 6077 will officially designate the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, as the National Comedy Center. The center will not be a part of or affiliated with the National Park System. Just to be crystal clear, this designation will not require Federal funds to be expended for any purpose related to the center--no joke.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed), who is the author of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask for adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2850) to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to clarify the use of amounts in the WMAT Settlement Fund.

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

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

The Claims Resolution Act of 2010 included four Indian water rights settlements. Title III of the act resolved the White Mountain Apache Tribes' water-related claims against the United States, the State of Arizona, and a number of other State and non-Federal parties.

In consideration for the Tribe's waiving its water-related claims against the United States and other parties, the act authorized funding for the construction of the White Mountain Apache rural water system to bring safe and reliable drinking water to the Tribe and to its members. Specifically, the rural water system will consist of a dam and reservoir, a treatment plant, and 55 miles of pipeline to serve the community.

The act also established the creation of the White Mountain Apache Tribal settlement fund that can be used to cover any cost overruns for the system and water-related economic development projects. The rural water system will serve a number of water-related activities that fit squarely with the settlement fund's authorized purposes.

To ensure the completion of the Tribe's rural water system, S. 2850 makes a technical amendment to the Claims Resolution Act to clarify that the Tribe may utilize funding from the settlement fund for planning, design, and conduction activities related to construction of the rural water system.

The bill also clarifies the 99-year lease authority for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in New Mexico. The Indian Long-Term Leasing Act allows Indians to lease their lands subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior for public, religious, educational, recreational, residential, or business purposes of up to 25 years. Congress has amended the ILTLA more than 40 times to adjust the terms and conditions of Indian land leases, including the authorization of 99-year leases for lands held in trust for the Pueblo Santa Clara and the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo of New Mexico.

S. 2850 clarifies that this 99-year lease authority also extends to lands in restricted deed status. These are lands held by a Tribe or individual Indians subject to a limitation on alienation or taxation.

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

Mr. Speaker, as you have heard, this bill irons out a lot of problems with the settlement and clears the way for hopefully a very productive project.

Mr. Speaker, I urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5613) to designate the Quindaro Townsite in Kansas City, Kansas, as a National Historic Landmark, 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 materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Quindaro Townsite in Kansas City preserves an important piece of our past whose history should be known by all. The site preserves the ruins of a frontier town on the Missouri River, founded in 1857 as a free-state port of entry during the Kansas Territory's fight over the question of slavery. The town's diverse inhabitants were antislavery and included Americans of European and African American descent, as well as members of the Wyandot Tribe.

The Quindaro area was the location of an African American refugee settlement that began during the Civil War and grew into a prominent African American community. It was also the site of the Freedman's University and its successor institution, Western University, the first Black university in Kansas.

The Quindaro Townsite is on the National Register of Historic Places and, importantly, has been designated as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Quindaro's early residents assisted fugitive slaves escaping across the Missouri River to freedom.

Supporters of Quindaro have long sought elevated status and recognition for the site. H.R. 5613 designates Quindaro Townsite as a national commemorative site. This establishes the townsite as an affiliated area of the National Park System and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to offer technical assistance and support to Quindaro.

I want to compliment my colleague, Mr. Yoder, for bringing this matter to the attention of the Congress and for the work he has done to ensure that this site receives national recognition.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Yoder), the author of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her kind comments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes).

Mr. Speaker, I would again like to say what a great pleasure it has been for me to work with Ms. Bordallo and the members of the Natural Resources Committee. It truly does work in a bipartisan manner, most of the time. And it is no coincidence that, most of the time, it is productive work.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a hero of the Sierra and mourn his tragic loss.

Braden Varney, age 36, gave his life Saturday night fighting the Ferguson Fire, which continues to ravage the forests near Yosemite Valley and threaten the communities of Mariposa County.

A second-generation bulldozer operator with CAL FIRE, he was all alone that night, cutting firebreaks to stop this monster fire, when his dozer overturned in treacherous terrain. He was well-known to the people of Mariposa, being involved in many civic activities. Braden leaves behind a grieving widow, Jessica, and two small children, Malhea, age five, and Nolan, just 3 years old.

Our firefighters face mortal peril when they leave the safety and comfort of their homes and families to put themselves in harm's way. They literally place their lives between our communities and the fires that can consume them. They know the danger better than anyone. Yet, they do what they do anyway.

Mr. Speaker, to the Varney family, I can only express our profound respect, admiration, gratitude, and sympathy on behalf of all of those who Braden died to protect

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for bringing this amendment to the floor.

The gentlewoman from Minnesota misses an important fact, and that is that the current massive water diversions have done absolutely nothing to improve salmon populations.

By taking those diversions to 40 percent unimpaired flow to the ocean, in practical terms, this means that New Melones and Don Pedro reservoirs in my district will be drained to their dead-pool levels each fall.

It would destroy what's left of agriculture in California's Central Valley, destroy the tourism these reservoirs attract in my region, and create catastrophic water shortages in one of the most water-rich regions of the Nation.

We don't build these reservoirs to dump water into the ocean. We build them to store surplus water from wet years so that we have it in dry ones.

This is insanity. It is the result of years of greens-gone-wild radicalism in California. This amendment assures that the Federal Government will not participate in such nonsense.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4645) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of East Rosebud Creek in Carbon County, Montana, as components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, East Rosebud Creek is located in Carbon County, Montana, just north of Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in the Custer National Forest.

The bill before us designates a 13-mile segment of East Rosebud Creek, beginning at its source, the East Rosebud Lake, as a wild and scenic river. A second 7-mile segment from the outlet of East Rosebud Lake to the point where the waterway enters private property would be designated as a recreational river.

This legislation specifically applies only to the segments of the creek that lie within public lands. Important historical uses outside of the wild and scenic boundary are protected by this bill.

Finally, H.R. 4645 explicitly prevents the creation of a buffer zone to restrict land use outside of the designated area.

This legislation is the result of a compromise supported by a diverse coalition that includes local ranchers, sportsmen, conservationists, and business owners. Companion legislation has been introduced with the support of both Montana Senators.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to

the author of this measure, the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Gianforte).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1037) to authorize the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, each year 850,000 EMS providers answer more than 30 million calls to serve 22 million patients in need at a moment's notice and without reservation. For these heroes who serve on the front lines of medicine, sacrifice is a part of their calling. EMTs and paramedics have a rate of injury that is about three times the national average for all occupations, and some pay the ultimate price in the service of helping others.

The men and women of the emergency medical services profession face danger every day to save lives and help their neighbors in crisis. They respond to incidents ranging from a single person's medical emergency to natural and manmade disasters, including terrorist attacks. But while their first responder peers in law enforcement and firefighting have been honored with national memorials, EMS providers have not. H.R. 1037 aims to change that.

The National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation exists to honor, recognize, and remember the commitment, service, and sacrifice of our Nation's EMS heroes. H.R. 1037 would authorize this foundation to place a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia to commemorate the commitment and service represented by the EMS community. The foundation will be solely responsible for funding the project, and no Federal funds will be required.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for bringing this bill to us. I urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3777) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land containing the Nephi Work Center in Juab County, Utah, to Juab County, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3777, introduced by Congresswoman Mia Love, would authorize the transfer of approximately 2.6 acres of U.S. Forest Service land and improvements in the city of Nephi to Juab County, Utah. The bill would require the county to pay all conveyance costs, including the cost of environmental analysis and surveying.

This land has been designated by the U.S. Forest Service for administrative disposal since 2013. Under an agreement with the Forest Service, the county fire department houses its mitigation program on this site.

On August 15, 2017, the county requested the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer this property to the county, which intends to use the land to house its wildlands fire team and equipment, with plans to construct a new fire station on the property.

As fires continue to rage across the West, Congress should take every opportunity to give local communities the resources and support they need to combat these catastrophic events.

While this transfer represents just two ten-thousandths of 1 percent of the 1.5 million acres of Federal land in Juab County, the new fire station it will facilitate could mean the difference between suppression and conflagration when wildfire threatens Juab County.

The legislation would also improve fire response services to surrounding communities and the Federal lands, since Juab County plans to use this land to house its wildlands fire team equipment.

There is strong local support from the county and its elected officials for this conveyance. By ensuring that the surrounding communities and public lands have the emergency response resources they need to respond to catastrophic wildfire, H.R. 3777 furthers the important local-Federal partnership

that is critical to restoring the Federal Government as a good neighbor to the communities it impacts.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Utah (Mrs. Love).

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