House of Representatives
Page H5535 · Official textThe House met at noon and was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Obernolte).
Monday, September 14, 2026
Vol. 172, No. 144 · 119th Congress, 2nd session
Designation of Speaker Pro Tempore
Page H5535 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker:
Text printed in the Record (164 characters)
September 14, 2026.
I hereby appoint the Honorable Jay Obernolte to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Morning-Hour Debate
Page H5535 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the order of the House of January 6, 2026, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning-hour debate.
The Chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties and each Member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m.
Future of American Education
Pages H5535–H5536 · Official text(Ms. Bonamici of Oregon was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the future of American education.
For decades, public schools have been asked to do more with less. Add to that, the fact that we have seen many new and complicated challenges over the past 10 years.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted learning and placed enormous strain on students, educators, and families. Importantly and alarmingly, screen time, cell phones, devices, and social media changed the way young people interact with each other and the world around them. Generative AI is transforming how students learn and how educators teach with serious consequences like cognitive shrinking and, as we have seen in international scores recently, decline at least partly attributed to digital distractions.
Now, the Trump administration is trying to dismantle the Department of Education and slash the Federal support that closes opportunity gaps for millions of students in schools. At the same time, too many students are struggling. Students from low-income families, students of color, students with disabilities, and students in different parts of the country from urban to rural continue to experience significant gaps in achievement.
We must change course. We need to move forward with a vision of public education that recognizes the challenges of today, a vision based on research and best practices. We need a vision that recognizes that today's children are tomorrow's leaders and are worthy of policies that create a better future.
That is why I am introducing the Transforming Education for the Future Act. This legislation recognizes that a good education is about more than a test score. Every student deserves a well-rounded education that prepares them to be creative, critical thinkers who will be successful regardless of their background or the path they take in life.
That means more hands-on, project-based learning. It means access to the arts, career and technical education, and civics education. It means career counseling to help students see a path to their future. It means instilling a love of learning, reading, and studying, not cutting the humanities.
Students deserve a fair measure of how they are doing, but standardized test scores alone do not define a child's potential. This bill would encourage the use of multiple, high-quality measures to give families and educators a more complete picture of student learning.
We also need to invest in the people who make learning possible. Teachers and school staff are the foundation of our public schools, yet educators continue to face low pay, difficult working conditions, and a shortage of resources. We must strengthen the educator pipeline, improve compensation and working conditions, and give educators the resources they need to succeed.
We need to invest in what works. My bill would strengthen education research and promote evidence-based practices that improve student success and well-being. We must also address the barriers that make learning harder.
Kids can't focus in school when they are hungry or if they are homeless. Lack of affordable, high-quality childcare is creating gaps at an early age. The Transforming Education for the Future Act would triple funding for title I to better serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the schools that educate them.
It would establish free universal preschool for 3-and 4-year-olds through a Federal-State partnership. It would make school breakfast and lunch free and provide summer meals. These are not extras. They are investments that determine whether a child can learn, whether a teacher can teach, and whether a community can thrive.
We need to keep the Federal Government focused on its responsibility, not to set curriculum, but to support the civil rights of students. The Federal Government has an important role to play in giving every child access to high-quality education regardless of their ZIP Code, income, or ability.
That means protecting the Department of Education so it can carry out the responsibilities given to it by Congress. It means fully funding IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, so we finally fulfill the promise Congress made to students with disabilities and their families nearly 50 years ago.
It means strengthening civil rights protections and addressing segregation in schools. It means investing in public schools, not diverting Federal dollars into voucher programs that funnel money to private schools, including religious schools.
Circumstances have changed, but the American system of public education has not yet adapted. We need a public education system that meets the moment for today's students and tomorrow's. We need an education system that prepares students not to pass a test but to think critically and build a future. We need to support educators who make that possible, and we need to remove those barriers that stand between children and opportunity.
The Transforming Education for the Future Act is a blueprint for doing just that. It strengthens public education, and it reclaims the promise that every child in America deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed.
Mr. Speaker, that is the future our students deserve. That is the future we should build together.
Recognizing Donna Mills
Page H5536 · Official text(Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Donna Mills of Hesston on her election as the national president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
A life member of the Standing Stone VFW Post 1754 in Huntingdon, Donna has served the VFW Auxiliary in numerous roles, including auxiliary, district, and department president.
Donna joined the organization at the age of 16 on the eligibility of her grandfather, who had served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Her commitment to the VFW Auxiliary is exemplary.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of constituents throughout Huntingdon County and the entire 13th Congressional District, I congratulate Donna on her election to this impactful leadership position.
Mr. Speaker, it is with sorrow that I rise to honor the life and public service of Pat Jones, who recently passed away at his farm in Logan Township.
Pat served as a magisterial district judge for 39 years in Blair County. Most recently, he was elected to his first term as the Logan Township supervisor in 2019.
A United States Marine Corps veteran, Pat has been described as a proud public servant who worked hard to ensure that the justice system continued meeting aspirational goals.
Mr. Speaker, as we pause to remember Pat's legacy of leadership and service, we also remember his family and keep them in our prayers. Join me in honoring the memory of Judge Pat Jones.
Mr. Speaker, with appreciation I rise to recognize Newry Lutheran Church of Blair County on the 225th anniversary of its founding.
This milestone commemorates more than two centuries of faithful worship, Christian service, and ministry within the Newry community and beyond.
Founded in 1801, Newry Lutheran Church has served generations of individuals and families through worship, education, outreach, and compassionate care.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of everyone in the 13th Congressional District, I congratulate Reverend Marty Jo Irvin-Stellabotte and the entire Newry Lutheran congregation on their 225th anniversary milestone and express my gratitude for the many ways that the church serves the community.
Mr. Speaker, with respect and admiration, I rise to recognize Elizabeth Schlusser of Newville for her induction into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame.
Induction into the Hall of Fame acknowledges and honors individuals who have voted in at least 50 consecutive November elections. The Voter Hall of Fame was established in 1986 and includes more than 25,000 voters statewide who were inducted over the last four decades.
As America continues to celebrate our semiquincentennial of our founding as a free and independent Republic, we take collective pride in our Nation's role as a global defender of democratic ideals, including the rights of citizens to vote in free and fair elections.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents throughout the 13th Congressional District, I congratulate Elizabeth on this remarkable patriotic distinction and thank her for a level of civic engagement that is a true inspiration to all Pennsylvanians.
Future of Qatari Air Force One Plane
Pages H5536–H5537 · Official text(Mr. Courtney of Connecticut was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, on September 4, President Trump was asked about the future of the Qatari Air Force One plane, which, after a messy rollout in July, he flew on to Ireland this past weekend and said: "I haven't made a decision, but it will probably go to the museum. It is scheduled to go to the museum."
Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Air Force executive airlift programs, I will remind the House that this aircraft is not the property of any one person, including the President of the United States. That plane is the property of the U.S. Government and U.S. taxpayers, and it is under the control of the U.S. Air Force.
It is a plane the U.S. taxpayers spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the last years to retrofit prior to its maiden flight to Turkiye for the NATO Summit.
After it was discovered by the Secret Service that the plane had serious vulnerabilities and the President flew home on one of the older Air Force Ones, the Qatari plane went into another overhaul and received maxed out upgrades, as the President said, which cost even more taxpayer funds. Just a few days ago, it was announced that the Air Force had contracted a new pilot simulator training program for the Qatari plane to the tune of $45.3 million.
Clearly, Mr. Speaker, the U.S. taxpayer has huge skin in the game regarding the future of this plane. It is also clear that this plane has ample long-term service life left in it. At the time it was gifted to the Air Force, it had only 800 hours of flight time, which is a fraction of the normal full-service life of a comparable Boeing 747 jet. Given its low mileage and all the expenditure of government money and training, the notion that this plane should be mothballed in a couple years and donated to a Trump museum is an insult to the intelligence of the American people.
Mr. Speaker, some may point to the example of the Air Force One plane at the Reagan Library as justification for President Trump's claim that he has the right to abscond with this plane after he leaves office.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Reagan Library plane was in Air Force service for 13 years after he left office in 1988 and served President George Herbert Walker Bush, President Clinton, and President George W. Bush until it was decommissioned in 2001.
The plane then went through a well-established legal process for transfer of excess Federal property that President Reagan had no control over, which is designed to protect the interests of the taxpayer.
Mr. Speaker, everything about this Qatari gifted plane has been problematic: the unanswered questions of a foreign emolument, the lack of transparency on the cost of the initial retrofit, the rocky maiden voyage to Turkiye, and the President's repeated claims of ownership and control of the plane, which by law he does not have. It is clear Congress needs to intervene to prohibit any unlawful attempt to send it "to the museum."
Today, Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith and I will be introducing the Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act, which will very simply prohibit the transfer of the Qatari Air Force One, known as VC-25B bridge aircraft, from the possession of the U.S. Air Force.
As I have made clear today, after all the money and work invested in the retrofit of this practically brand-new Boeing 747, as well as the new $45 million pilot training contract that the Air Force just announced, the country and the American taxpayer deserve to get its money's worth from this plane. At a time when so many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, that is not too much to ask.
Its service life will last for years. Just as the Air Force One plane that flew for over a decade after Ronald Reagan left office, this Air Force One should be used to benefit the Nation and not be used as a vanity project.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is about exercising congressional stewardship of property that belongs to the U.S. taxpayer, and it should be easy for every Member of this Chamber to support. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, it asserts what is both legally the right thing to do, but also morally the right thing to do.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and Ranking Member Smith to cosponsor this commonsense measure.
Recognizing the Sudanese-American Iowa National Soccer Team Club
Page H5537 · Official text(Mrs. Miller-Meeks of Iowa was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sudanese-American Iowa National Soccer Team Club for its outstanding performance at the Sudanese American Soccer Federation's 25th Anniversary Tournament.
Competing at the national level for the third time, the Iowa team earned three awards that reflect the talent, character, and dedication of its players. The club received the Fair Play Award for its sportsmanship, discipline, teamwork, and respect throughout the tournament.
Olamilekan Ojo, known as Messi, was recognized with the Five-Star Outstanding Player Award for his exceptional performance, and the club also received a Tournament Participation Award. These accomplishments are a testament to the team's hard work and its commitment to representing Iowa with pride.
Beyond competition, the club uses soccer to develop young athletes, build leadership skills and character, promote healthy lifestyles, and strengthen community connections.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the coaches and all the young athletes on the Iowa National Soccer Team Club, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in the future.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and recognize the hardworking men and women who keep Iowa and our Nation moving.
Iowa is home to 37,530 truck drivers, many of whom spend long hours on the road delivering the food, fuel, supplies, and products our families, farms, and businesses rely on every day.
From the truck stops along Interstate 80 to the world's largest truck stop, the Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott, trucking is a vital part of Iowa's economy and way of life. These drivers help keep our grocery store shelves stocked, support Iowa's farmers and manufacturers, and ensure goods can reach communities across our State and country. They even deliver lifesaving medical supplies and organs.
In fact, more than 60 percent of the communities in Iowa depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods. The trucking industry also provides good-paying jobs for Iowans and supports thousands of locally owned businesses.
I am grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of Iowa's truck drivers and the vital role they play in supporting our families, strengthening our local businesses, and ensuring communities across Iowa have the goods and resources they need.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a story about an unpayable debt, a promise kept across generations, and the true meaning of the American Dream.
Mr. Speaker, 75 years ago, a young refugee named Myung-Hee Seol, having survived a brutal foreign occupation and the shadow of communism, fought for his life in the Korean war. On a frozen, desolate hill, an American marine pulled him from the brink of death--igniting a spark of gratitude that would shape a family's destiny forever.
Decades later, his son, the international artist Kacey Seol, poured his heart into honoring that nameless marine. He created Alliance 70, a breathtaking 10-foot canvas composed of 300,000 microscopic historic images of both nations harmonizing into one powerful unit that now hangs permanently inside the Pentagon. It is a stunning, living monument to the alliance that bought his family's freedom.
Today, that sacred promise is fulfilled at Rock Island Arsenal in my district. The refugee's grandson, Dr. Jason Seol--serving dually as an U.S. Army Reserve officer and an Army civilian at First Army Headquarters--is living the American Dream his grandfather could only imagine. He also pioneered their innovative Holistic Health and Fitness, H2F, martial arts program, training our Nation's soldiers in physical and mental readiness.
As we continue celebrating 250 years of our Nation, the Seol family reminds us freedom is not free. You earn it daily by what you do for your family, your community, and your country. Their 75-year journey is the ultimate testament that American freedom is a priceless gift that is meant to be paid forward and preserved.
Mr. Speaker, I wish a very happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Susan. Happy birthday, Susan.
Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy birthday to my husband, Curt Meeks. Happy birthday to my husband, and I hope he has many more birthdays to come.
Commemorating the 63rd Anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
Pages H5537–H5538 · Official textCOMMEMORATING THE 63RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH BOMBING (Ms. Sewell of Alabama was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and to honor the lives of four little girls whose lives were taken in one of the darkest chapters of our Nation's history.
On the morning of September 15, 1963, four young girls--Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Morris Wesley--were in the basement of the 16th Street Baptist Church preparing for Sunday school.
They were daughters. They were sisters. They were classmates and friends. They had their whole lives ahead of them.
Just before 11 o'clock that morning, 19 sticks of dynamite planted underneath the church by members of the Ku Klux Klan exploded. The blast tore through the church, and beneath the rubble were the bodies of four innocent little girls.
Sarah Collins Rudolph, Addie Mae Collins' sister, was also in the basement that morning. She survived the bomb but suffered severe injuries, including the loss of her right eye.
The tragedy did not end with the bomb exploding. As Black Alabamians took to the streets to demand justice, they were met with violence and brutality, resulting in the loss of two more children: 16-year-old Johnny Robertson and 13-year-old Virgil Ware.
For too long, their families were denied the justice that they deserved. It took more than three decades before the perpetrators of this heinous attack were finally brought to justice.
Six decades later, we must remember that these were not simply events in a history book. These were children whose lives were stolen because of the color of their skin.
While we can never undo the pain of that day, we can ensure that these precious lives are never ever forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, in 2013, I was honored to have my very first bill passed by Congress. That legislation awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the four little girls. I will never forget standing in the Oval Office as President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on the 50th anniversary of the bombing.
It was a very personal moment for me because I know that those four little girls did not get the opportunity to grow up and pursue their dreams. And yet, 63 years later, I had the extraordinary privilege of walking these Halls as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman. I never forgot that I am here because they are not.
Their sacrifice helped galvanize a movement that changed the course of our Nation. Their memory strengthens the resolve of the foot soldiers who march for justice. It helped inspire the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Their legacy brought America closer to living up to its promise of equality and justice for all.
But, Mr. Speaker, remembering those four little girls cannot simply be about looking backward. It must also be about what we do today because the freedoms that they died for are not guaranteed. Every generation has a responsibility to protect them and to advance it.
That is why we must teach our children the truth about our history. It is why we must never forget what happened on that day and that we must protect the sacred right to vote. It is why we must continue the fight for the equal justice and equal opportunity of every American. It is why, on this anniversary, we must recommit ourselves to the unfinished work of the civil rights movement.
Today, I ask my colleagues to pause and remember four precious children: Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Morris Wesley.
May we honor their memory not only with our words but with our actions, and may we forever remember that the freedoms we enjoy today come at a tremendous cost--costs that are borne by Americans. We must uphold their legacy, extend their legacy, and we must never ever forget.
Remembering Father Vincent Robert Capodanno
Page H5538 · Official text(Ms. Malliotakis of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell a story of one of Staten Island's most extraordinary sons, Father Vincent Robert Capodanno, who 59 years ago last week gave his life in Vietnam while serving as Navy chaplain.
His Medal of Honor citation tells us what he did in a moment of unimaginable danger. But to understand Father Capodanno, we must ask a deeper question: What kind of life prepares a man to walk willingly onto a battlefield under relentless fire unarmed because wounded men are coming for him?
The answer began long before Vietnam. His first mission took him to Taiwan, where he served the Hakka people. He learned their language so he could know them, understand them, and better serve them. He administered the sacraments, distributed food and medicine, and cared for their spiritual and emotional needs. He worked with the youth, encouraging them throughout their scholastic challenges and achievements, some battling depression.
Service was not something he summoned in one heroic moment, but it was a pattern in his entire life. He carried that same conviction to Vietnam where he carried a cross, not a gun.
Father Capodanno refused to minister from a distance. He lived as the marines lived. He shared their brutal conditions because he believed he could not truly serve them without understanding their experience. He earned their trust and made their burdens his own. He prayed for them, and he comforted them.
On September 4, 1967, during Operation Swift, he crossed a battlefield under relentless fire to reach wounded marines. Wounded by a mortar blast, he refused treatment, directed the corpsmen to care for the other wounded, and continued his ministry. He was killed just inches from a wounded fellow American he was trying to save.
President Nixon posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor in 1969, our Nation's highest military honor. Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago, in 2006, the Catholic Church gave him the title Servant of God, opening his path for sainthood.
Father Capodanno was a priest whose faith and dedication to others led him to make the ultimate sacrifice. His last act did not create the man we honor. It revealed him.
May his story inspire people from across our Nation and around the world.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant Michael Sulsona--a decorated United States marine, gifted playwright, and beloved advocate for his fellow Staten Island veterans--who passed away sadly last week.
Some people serve their country for a chapter of their lives. Mike Sulsona served his country for an entire life.
Mike joined the Marines as a teenager and served as a rifleman in Vietnam. On January 15, 1971, while walking point during an enemy ambush, he stepped on a land mine and lost both of his legs above the knee.
He returned home with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star to a country that did not always give Vietnam veterans the respect they had earned. Yet, Mike refused to let his injuries define his future.
He earned a master of fine arts in writing and became an accomplished playwright and screenwriter, receiving four national awards, including The Kennedy Center Award for playwrighting. He also appeared in the Academy Award-winning film "Born on the Fourth of July."
But his greatest legacy was helping others.
For more than four decades, Mike devoted himself to veterans suffering from Agent Orange exposure and post-traumatic stress, as well as homeless veterans, amputees, and burn victims. He helped them with their paperwork. He made phone calls on their behalf. He answered their call whenever they needed him, day or night.
Mike also fought tirelessly to have fellow Marine Sergeant Angel Mendez' Navy Cross upgraded to the Medal of Honor, an effort we were proud to work alongside him on and will continue on his behalf.
Mike once said: I put my name on the dotted line to be my brother's keeper.
That is exactly how he lived. He turned pain into purpose and a lifetime of service.
My prayers are with his sons, Vincent and Philip; his grandchildren, Lucas and Madison; and all who loved him. I also remember his wife, Frieda, his partner in life and service, who passed away just months before him.
Mr. Speaker, our community and country will never forget him. Semper Fidelis.
Honoring Michael Figures
Pages H5538–H5539 · Official text(Mr. Figures of Alabama was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the anniversary of the most defining day of my life to date, September 13, 1996, a fall afternoon.
My mother walked into a waiting room at the University of South Alabama's medical center and announced to a collection of friends, family, and colleagues that my father, Michael Figures, had died. He had suffered a brain aneurysm at the house at the dinner table a couple of nights before and ultimately passed away.
Mr. Speaker, my father was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was a State senator. He was a civil rights advocate. He was a lawyer and a community leader. To me, he was just Daddy.
By any assessment, he exceeded expectations of a Black kid born in 1947 in Mobile, Alabama, in a neighborhood called The Bottle.
He went on to excel academically, went to Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, and was one of a handful of students who were selected to integrate the University of Alabama Law School, and he did that.
Mr. Speaker, 3 years later, he walked out as the first African American to graduate from the University of Alabama Law School.
He didn't stop there. He got elected to the State senate. Because of the Voting Rights Act, he was one of the first three African Americans to walk into that chamber since Reconstruction.
He used that position, as well as being a lawyer, to continue to advocate for rights and to continue to advocate for equality and fairness in communities. You can imagine that Alabama, at that time, had not experienced them.
He didn't stop there. In 1981, the Ku Klux Klan lynched a young man in Mobile, Alabama, named Michael Donald. My father ultimately brought the lawsuit that resulted in the bankruptcy of the Ku Klux Klan.
I remember that when my father passed away, the condolences started pouring in. President Clinton called the house, and then-Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman called the house, and then Jesse Jackson.
Then, there was one who surprised me: George Wallace--that George Wallace, who, just a few years before my father had integrated University of Alabama Law School, had stood in the schoolhouse doors, famously, to block enrollment of African Americans coming into the school. Later on, their lives would cross paths. As Governor Wallace was winding down his terms as Governor, my father was in the State senate.
As a kid, though I did not fully comprehend or understand the magnitude of my father's impact or who he was or what he was and what he meant to so many people, I knew one thing: that the respect that I saw shown to him as a kid, whether it was at a park ballfield, in the aisles at Home Depot, or at a gas station, I knew I wanted to be like that when I grew up.
This is in an era where Gatorade commercials were plastered around at the time telling kids that "I want to be like Mike," but the Mike I wanted to be like was not a basketball player. He wore a suit to work, and he was my father.
Those footsteps that he left, I would later walk in them. I followed those same footsteps to the University of Alabama, where I got my law degree. I followed those same footsteps to the career that I had at the Department of Justice in seeking to make government work for everybody. I followed those footsteps here to Congress because my father, though he never served in Congress, was a State senator. He was the first Black president of the Alabama State Senate.
He was the named plaintiff, believe it or not, in the Voting Rights Act case that created the first opportunity district for an African American to represent Alabama since Reconstruction, a seat that is now occupied by Congresswoman Terri Sewell. He literally paved the pathway for me to be here some 30 years after his death.
Mr. Speaker, I can stand here today with just a simple message to my father, and that is: I am here because of him. That 10-year-old boy, or barely 11-year-old boy back in September of 1996, became a man, and not just any man. He became a Congressman who can stand on this floor in this House and deliver this speech because of what he and because of what my mother did for me.
As I sit here today, it is only my dream and my hope that one day, my children, the children who I have of my own--I have four now of my own just like my father--that one day they can also look to me with the same admiration, with the same twinkle in their eyes that I did with my father and say, "I want to be like my daddy," and that based on the work that we have done in our lives, that that pathway is made easier and possible for them.
Recognizing Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints
Page H5539 · Official textRECOGNIZING SALT LAKE TEMPLE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (Mr. Kennedy of Utah was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a landmark moment in the history of my home State of Utah as we open the doors next April through October for the public open house of the renovated Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For generations, this iconic structure has stood as a beacon over Salt Lake City and a symbol of faith recognized around the globe. To stand here today and witness its restoration is to stand at the intersection of our rich history, modern ingenuity, and enduring spiritual devotion.
We cannot fully appreciate what we see today without looking back to where it began. In 1853, Brigham Young stood on that very ground, struck his cane into the earth, and declared that this would be the spot where they would build a temple.
What followed was 40 years of staggering sacrifice. Early pioneers quarried massive granite blocks from Little Cottonwood Canyon and hauled those multi-ton stones 4 days across rough terrain by ox team. When times were lean and hardship was near constant, those faithful men and women gave their labor, their meager savings, and their very lives to complete that house of the Lord.
They did not build for comfort or temporary convenience. They built for eternity.
Today, Mr. Speaker, we pay tribute to a new generation of pioneers: the incredible work crews, engineers, artisans, and tradespeople who have labored on this project over these past several years. Restoring a historic granite structure while seismically retrofitting it with state-of-the-art base isolators deep beneath the earth is an absolute engineering marvel. It required thousands of skilled hands--masons, carpenters, electricians, steelworkers, and historic preservationists--working with absolute dedication.
Every man and woman who wore a hardhat on that site worked not just with extraordinary skill but with deep reverence. They have ensured that this foundation will stand firm for generations to come.
Over the coming months, the temple will be open so that millions of people from every State in our Union and every corner of the world may pass through these open doors. They will come from all walks of life, representing diverse faiths, cultures, and backgrounds.
I advise every visitor wanting to take these free tours to go online and order tickets right away. For those who will be coming, we welcome them with open arms.
This open house is more than an architectural showcase. It is an invitation to peace. It offers our neighbors and friends a rare opportunity to experience the beauty, order, and serenity that reside inside those walls.
For faithful members of the church, a temple is not merely a place of Sunday worship, nor is it a simple monument. It is literally the house of the Lord, the most sacred place on Earth. Only the home can compare in sacredness. Inside those holy rooms, individuals step away from the noise and anxiety of the world to make sacred promises with God. It is where families are connected in this life and beyond and where people find godly solace and guidance.
As this temple reopens its doors, it stands renewed, strengthened against the elements, and preserved for the future. It serves as a testament to what can be accomplished when faith, hard work, and community come together. May this holy house continue to be a light unto the nations, a blessing to the State of Utah, and a sanctuary of peace for all who enter.
Pending Retirement
Pages H5539–H5540 · Official text(Mr. Subramanyam of Virginia was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I have heard from many of my constituents whose Federal retirement benefits are still delayed. They have been waiting months for retirement applications that are stuck in limbo at Federal agencies.
Career civil servants who spent decades serving this country are waiting to receive the benefits that they have paid into all of these years. The delayed timeline not only impacts their financial security, but it also breaks the promise we made to civil servants.
This is another symptom of the impacts of DOGE on the Federal Government, including cuts to the H.R. departments that help process retirements. Our constituents deserve better after dedicating their careers to service.
Mr. Speaker, I call on this administration to honor the commitment we made to civil servants and process these retirements expeditiously.
Mr. Speaker, imagine if someone followed you around everywhere you went with a notepad logging every single one of your moves, everywhere you went, and everything you did, and then reported that to a private company that sells that data to law enforcement or to the highest bidder.
That is basically what Flock cameras are. They aren't traffic cameras. They use AI to log everywhere you go, everything you do, and everywhere you visit; and they build a pattern of life on everyday, law-abiding citizens, without a warrant and without consent.
They are getting installed all over Virginia and all over the country. Even my neighborhood, Brambleton, is looking into installing them. That means hundreds of thousands of warrantless searches across our region without any guardrails.
It is no surprise that they can and have been abused. More than 50 law enforcement officers have been accused or charged with misusing this technology, and we cannot continue to let this stand. We must put safeguards in place now, and we must protect the privacy and civil liberties of every single American and prevent unauthorized surveillance.
We need action now.
Mr. Speaker, I sat down with some of the leaders in the AI industry. They told me that there were going to be dire consequences if we didn't put AI safeguards in place and that there would be massive implications for our country and for the world if we didn't act.
That meeting was 10 years ago. I was in the White House as a technology policy adviser, and the AI leaders were saying then that we needed to act now.
Here we are today. We have AI frontier models with the capability to wreak havoc. We are getting to a place where AI can self-improve and duplicate itself. The stuff that was theoretical 10 years ago is now happening. We have swarms of AI chatbots working together in a Machiavellian way to hack and undermine systems. We must act now.
There are commonsense ways that security researchers, industry experts, and even Members of Congress here agree can make this safer, like auditing, information reporting, transparency, building safety throughout the AI development process, and real containment strategies, so that AI models don't escape their sandbox during development. This is common sense, and we need to act now.
My colleagues and I have already put forward bipartisan legislation, like the FRONTIER Act, led by Representatives Obernolte and Trahan, and other bills. It is because voluntary standards are not a true safeguard, and sitting on the sidelines is not a safeguard. Even President Trump, despite what he just said online, is not a safeguard for the rapid development of AI and what it can cause.
We need action now. We need to put legislation on the floor this week. We cannot wait until the next Congress.
Honoring Chris Fisher
Page H5540 · Official text(Mr. Jack of Georgia was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sergeant Chris Fisher, a loving husband to his wife, Carly, and a devoted father to two young children.
On September 2, Sergeant Fisher, a sworn officer of the Warm Springs Police Department, was ambushed and killed in the line of duty.
The son of a policeman, Sergeant Fisher devoted his life to protecting our communities, bravely serving with the sheriff's offices of Fayette, Heard, and Meriwether Counties before joining the Warm Springs Police Department. Sergeant Fisher also honorably served our country in the United States Army.
Above the many titles and uniforms he earned, Sergeant Fisher was a husband, a father, a son, and a man deeply loved by his family.
May God bless Carly Fisher, the children, the Fisher family, and our law enforcement community, who are all mourning this painful loss.
Honoring Tunnel to Towers 2026 William "Billy" Kelly Memorial Golf Classic
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the fifth annual Tunnel to Towers William "Billy" Kelly Memorial Golf Classic held this morning in Peachtree City, Georgia, in remembrance of the Americans who lost their lives from the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Two years ago, I was honored to attend this charity tournament alongside my dear friend, Nancy Holland, a beloved leader in our community.
Nancy introduced me to Robyn Walensky, a former news reporter and survivor of September 11, who founded this tournament with her husband, Greg, in memory of retired NYPD Officer William "Billy" Kelly.
Officer Kelly deployed to Ground Zero and was assigned to the forensics unit responsible for sifting through debris from the World Trade Center to help bring closure to families who lost loved ones. As a result of his tireless service with the NYPD, Officer Kelly was sadly diagnosed with, and passed away from, a September 11-related cancer.
This morning, the tournament named for Officer Kelly honored the memory and family of fallen Carrollton Police Officer Dustin Krish, whose watch ended on June 9, 2026.
May the memories of heroes like Officer Kelly and Officer Krish inspire generations of Americans to come.
Celebrating Birthday of Harvey Wortham, Coweta County's Oldest Veteran
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the upcoming 98th birthday of Coweta County's oldest veteran, Harvey Wortham.
Mr. Wortham was born on October 7, 1928, and is a lifelong resident of Coweta County.
In 1954, Mr. Wortham enlisted in the United States Army and completed basic training in South Carolina before receiving advanced instruction in track mechanics at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He was then deployed to Coleman Barracks in Mannheim, Germany, after which he was honorably discharged as a specialist third class.
After completing his service, Specialist Wortham returned home, resumed his work at the cotton mill, and cared for his beloved grandmother. He and his wife of 63 years, Betty, who is smiling from above, built a joyful life with 3 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and now 10 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to thank Specialist Wortham for his service to our country, and I am delighted to wish him a wonderful 98th birthday from the floor of the United States House of Representatives.
Honoring LaGrange College Panthers on Their Victory in the Clash of Highway 29
Brian Jack (R-GA)12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the LaGrange College Panthers for their second consecutive victory in the Clash of Highway 29.
Last year, I stood on the House floor to recognize the inaugural Clash of Highway 29, which features two colleges separated by less than 20 miles in Georgia's Third Congressional District.
This year, the LaGrange College Panthers, led by Coach Wes Dodson, again defeated the Point University Skyhawks 31-7. LaGrange set the pace early, as quarterback Henry Brodnax, an alumnus of Trinity Christian School in Sharpsburg, threw two first-quarter touchdown passes.
On defense, the Panthers' junior defensive back, Messiah Scandrett, earned USA South Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for an outstanding performance, including a key fumble recovery and an interception returned for a touchdown.
Congratulations to the LaGrange College Panthers for winning the second installation of Georgia's newest college football rivalry, the Clash of Highway 29.
Recess
Page H5540 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess until 2 p.m. today.
Accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 46 minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess.
After Recess
Page H5540 · Official textThe recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker at 2 p.m.
Prayer
Pages H5540–H5541 · Official textMajor General Trent C. Davis, Chief of Chaplains, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., offered the following prayer: Almighty God, the heavens declare Your glory, and the skies proclaim the work of Your hands. You have called the Members of this great House to service in this consequential hour. You have protected our beloved Nation through every passing storm, and You have granted Your divine wisdom to this august assembly to guide our sacred Union. Pour out Your blessing now upon these House Members. Bless them with hearts knit together in harmony and counsel to govern wisely. Give them conviction to seek justice, integrity to govern selflessly, and a shepherd's heart to faithfully protect and care for our American people. Lord, You who walk upon the wings of the wind, we lift up to You now our valiant wingmen and warriors who faithfully defend our cherished freedoms. As we celebrate this week 79 storied years of our United States Air Force, empower today's courageous airmen to mount up with wings as eagles, to run and not grow weary, and to walk and not faint. Shield them under the shadow of Your protective wings and uphold their devoted families with Your everlasting arms. Now, to You, who are able to keep us from falling, be all honor, power, and glory, both now and forevermore. Amen.
The Journal
Page H5541 · Official textThe SPEAKER
The Chair has examined the Journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the House the approval thereof.
Pursuant to clause 1 of rule I, the Journal stands approved.
Pledge of Allegiance
Page H5541 · Official textThe SPEAKER
Will the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green) come forward and lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. GREEN of Texas led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows:
Text printed in the Record (174 characters)
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Republican Promises Kept
Page H5541 · Official text(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Republicans, the 119th Congress has been the most successful, aggressive, and productive for the House since 1949, with nearly 900 measures having passed.
Republicans are keeping money in the pockets of American families, while demanding accountability from the government, eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, and creating jobs.
The Working Families Tax Cuts Act has cut over $1 trillion in wasteful spending, in addition to:
Delivering a deduction for seniors on Social Security.
Creating Trump tax accounts to help children begin saving.
Lowering tax rates for millions of American families.
Eliminating tax on tips and overtime.
Increasing the child tax credit to $2,200.
Promises made; promises kept.
In conclusion, God bless our troops. Trump is reinstituting peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin lies, insulting Trump and mocking Trump, firing at Ukrainian civilian service stations with Putin increasing diesel prices worldwide, as Putin also attacks children's hospitals to intimidate the civilians of Ukraine.
President Trump's Impeachable Offenses
Page H5541 · Official text(Mr. GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, at the conclusion of my 1-minute remarks, I ask to receive the attention of the Speaker to pose a clause 2(a)(1), rule IX resolution, a privileged resolution.
I will bring this resolution because there is a President who is committing impeachable offenses, and this is the solution for this President.
Mr. Speaker, I await recognition for my resolution.
Notice of Intention to Offer Resolution Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House
Pages H5541–H5544 · Official textNOTICE OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intention to raise a question of the privileges of the House.
The form of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1486. Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolved, that Donald John Trump, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, as he has violated article II, section 1, clause 8 of the United States Constitution by failing to uphold his constitutionally mandated solemn Presidential oath of office to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States," thereby demonstrating that he is a great threat to democracy and the Constitution for current high crimes and misdemeanors not cited in H. Res. 24, under which he was impeached on January 13, 2021, and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the Senate:
Articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States of America in the name of itself and of the people of the United States of America, against Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, in maintenance and support of its impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Our country and the lives of people within it are at risk as President Donald John Trump is a great threat to the United States democratic republic, its Constitution, and democracy, violating article II, section 1, clause 8 of the United States Constitution and its mandate to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, as he is abusing the powers of the Presidency by operating United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as his vicious, quota-driven, unaccountable paramilitary police forces, transgressing with anonymity and secrecy, assaulting people, committing and covering up unjustified killings of civilians (including Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero) with impunity (acting as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner), terrorizing communities, and brazenly and wantonly devolving the United States democratic republic into an authoritarian regime, where unjustified killings and coverups by ICE and CBP are normalized.
The case for President Donald John Trump's impeachment is as follows:
"Shall any man be above justice?" These immortal words of Constitutional Convention delegate George Mason became the impetus for adding high crimes and misdemeanors to the Constitution as grounds for the impeachment of a President who commits injustices harmful to the republic (society) or who, if left in office, would be a threat to the republic.
Ahead of the 2024 election, former Vice President Dick Cheney declared, "In our nation's 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.".
The President is reducing American democracy to an authoritarian regime. An authoritarian regime is a system of government that has no established mechanism for the transfer of executive power and limits citizens' civil liberties or political rights, often characterized by a leader with near absolute power, a powerful secret police force, low political trust, and little tolerance of dissent.
The President is overseeing and defending unjustified killings. An unjustified killing is a death caused by someone--often a law enforcement officer or other authorized actor--when there was no lawful reason, immediate threat, or legal justification for using deadly force, making the act unlawful under criminal or human rights standards.
The President is covering up unjustified killings. A coverup is a usually concerted effort to keep an illegal or unethical act or situation from being made public.
The United States Constitution accords the United States House of Representatives the power to impeach a President for high crimes and misdemeanors committed in violation of the President's mandated oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the United States Constitution, codified in article II, section 1, clause 8 of the United States Constitution.
High crimes and misdemeanors need not be criminal or statutory, and are therefore not constrained by Federal criminal or civil statutes. Impeachment is a political question, as the offenses "relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself," as determined by a majority vote of the United States House of Representatives.
High crimes and misdemeanors committed by the President of the United States and not addressed by this body (the United States House of Representatives) through its sovereign impeachment power, unconstrained by the ostensible will of the United States Senate, threaten the very fabric and survival of the United States Constitution and our democratic republic.
After having been impeached by the United States House of Representatives on January 13, 2021, under articles of impeachment in H. Res. 24, stating that Donald John Trump, ". . . has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law." Dangerously, President Trump continues to be a threat to the United States, democracy, the Constitution, and the United States democratic republic if allowed to remain in office, as he has replaced those he incited to assault the Capitol with ICE and CBP.
On the first day of his second four-year term as President of the United States, he made it perspicuously clear to ICE and CBP officers that he would pardon them for breaches of Federal law by pardoning more than 1,000 persons convicted of Federal crimes associated with the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. He now continues to act in a manner "grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law" by condoning Federal investigators withholding evidence from local investigators and engaging in coverups, thereby protecting the offending officers instead of the American people.
President Trump, using the powers of his high office, individually and in coordination with officers in his administration, has transformed ICE and CBP into dangerous, unaccountable paramilitary police forces that operate without oversight and pose a direct threat to the constitutional order of the United States and the people of the United States. By such abuses of power, President Trump is brazenly and wantonly devolving the United States democratic republic into an authoritarian regime.
Under President Trump, ICE and CBP operate with impunity while armed with military-grade weapons and control vast resources provided by taxpayers to fund President Trump's anti-democracy agenda.
President Trump has used ICE and CBP to suppress the First Amendment rights to free speech and a free press; violate the Fourth Amendment right to privacy and protections against unlawful searches and excessive force; and defy the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment guarantees of due process and equal protection by allowing and encouraging racially targeted arrests, unjustified detentions, and unjustified killings. These unjustified killings include those of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero.
President Trump, by his conduct, continues to demonstrate that he is a great threat to democracy, the United States Constitution, and the democratic republic, by dangerously flouting constitutional rights, including:
(1) enabling ICE and CBP to act as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner by assaulting and committing unjustified killings of people with impunity, in violation of the Fifth Amendment right to due process;
(2) enabling ICE and CBP to operate with anonymity and in secrecy to terrorize communities, in violation of the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and the Fifth Amendment right to due process;
(3) enabling ICE and CBP to undermine civil liberties and basic freedom of speech, in violation of the First Amendment right to free speech; and
(4) undermining judicial oversight.
As a result, ICE and CBP, under President Trump's authority, have been converted into his militarized secret police forces (often acting as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner) that violate and debase, instead of uphold, the rule of law by abusing and harming those they should protect, as explicated below for each of the above topics.
Text printed in the Record (200 characters)
(1) enabling ice and cbp to act as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner when assaulting and committing unjustified killings with
impunity, in violation of the fifth amendment right to due process
Under President Trump's control and with the support and backing of senior officials in his administration, Federal immigration officers have conducted unjustified killings of civilians with impunity, including Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero. The Trump administration has encouraged, condoned, and covered up these unjustified killings by protecting the shooters and spreading dangerous misinformation about the shootings and the victims while obstructing State and local investigations. Preventing local investigations, congressional oversight, and judicial accountability has enabled ICE and CBP officers to act with impunity as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner.
On January 7, 2026, an ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, an unarmed civilian, U.S. citizen, Minneapolis resident, wife, mother of young children, and poet. Video evidence demonstrates and witnesses confirm that she posed no threat to ICE officers when an ICE officer opened fire, shooting her three times, striking her in the head, and killing her. ICE officers failed to render any aid to Ms. Good, in violation of DHS policies, and blocked and then delayed emergency medical personnel from reaching her. This is an unjustified killing.
President Trump, directly and through senior officials in his administration, including then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, immediately began to cover up the crime and protect ICE officers from being held responsible for Ms. Good's killing. They repeatedly lied about Ms. Good, the ICE officers' actions, and the events surrounding the shooting, all of which are refuted by witnesses and video evidence of the event. The Trump administration, by and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), blocked Minnesota law enforcement from gaining access to materials and evidence related to the shooting, and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) refused to investigate the killing. Instead, the FBI and DOJ tried to force employees to investigate Ms. Good's widow, which prompted a wave of resignations. On January 7, 2026, President Trump issued the following statement on Truth Social:
"I have just viewed the clip of the event which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a horrible thing to watch. The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self-defense. Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive but is now recovering in the hospital. The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis. They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE. We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.".
The above statement is proof of President Trump's enabling of a coverup and condoning of an unjustified killing. Without a trial, a Federal immigration officer acted as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner.
On January 24, 2026, Federal immigration officers killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, when he was part of a small group of approximately fifteen peaceful protesters. Video and witness accounts demonstrate that immediately before the shooting, a Federal officer shoved a female observer standing next to Mr. Pretti. When Mr. Pretti moved between the officer and the woman he had assaulted, the officer sprayed Mr. Pretti with a chemical agent and pulled him to his knees. At least six other officers then surrounded Mr. Pretti, pushed him to the ground, and took possession of Mr. Pretti's gun. Officers then shot Mr. Pretti at least nine times, killing him. As with the unjustified killing of Ms. Good, the Federal officers did not provide medical aid. Although Mr. Pretti was armed--with a gun he was legally licensed to carry--he never brandished it at any point during the encounter, despite being assaulted physically, including with chemical agents, and a Federal officer had control of Mr. Pretti's weapon when he was killed.
President Trump, once again, directly and through senior officials in his administration, including then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, attempted to cover up the crime, protect the ICE officers who killed Mr. Pretti, and spread dangerous and demonstrably false disinformation about Mr. Pretti, the protest, and his unjustified killing. On January 30, 2026, President Trump issued the following statement on Truth Social:
"Agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist, Alex Pretti's stock has gone way down with the just released video of him screaming and spitting in the face of a very calm and under control ICE Officer, and then crazily kicking in a new and very expensive government vehicle, so hard and violent, in fact, that the taillight broke off in pieces. It was quite a display of abuse and anger, for all to see, crazed and out of control. The ICE Officer was calm and cool, not an easy thing to be under those circumstances! Make America Great Again.".
The above statement is further proof of President Trump's enabling of a coverup and condoning of an unjustified killing. Without a trial, a Federal immigration officer acted as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner.
On July 7, 2026, an ICE officer shot and killed 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, an undocumented immigrant who had lived and worked in the United States for nearly 35 years and was the father of three U.S. citizens, as he drove his construction crew to a Houston job site. Federal officers in two unmarked SUVs drove erratically to follow Mr. Araujo, including by driving on the wrong side of the street toward Mr. Araujo's vehicle. After blocking Mr. Araujo's vehicle, Federal officers--none of whom were wearing body cameras--committed the unjustified killing of Mr. Araujo, who was unarmed and not a target of an investigation, and arrested the surviving passengers. Three witnesses have stated that the ICE officials shot at Mr. Araujo soon after they exited their vehicle and that Mr. Araujo never drove the vehicle toward the unmarked SUVs or the ICE officers. A spokesperson for DHS, echoing false claims it has made repeatedly, including to justify the killing of Ms. Good, claimed that they shot Mr. Araujo because he rammed an ICE vehicle, a claim not supported by video evidence and contradicted by witnesses. Federal officials took Mr. Araujo's belongings and sent him to the hospital as a John Doe. His sons had to learn about his death by seeing video footage of their father dying in the street where he was shot.
DOJ and DHS, acting under the authority and control of President Trump, have refused to cooperate with local investigations, refused to disclose the names of the perpetrators, claimed the officers involved acted in self-defense, and are painting Mr. Araujo as an aggressor before any investigation has been completed. These self-defense claims are not supported by available video evidence and are contradicted by witnesses. Federal officials also publicly insinuated that Mr. Araujo was involved in narcotics activity by highlighting the discovery of a "crystal-like substance" in his vehicle. Subsequent laboratory testing confirmed that the substance was not an illicit drug, disproving those suggestions.
This too is an unjustified killing. Without a trial, a Federal immigration officer acted as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner.
On July 13, 2026, ICE officers killed Mr. Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, an unarmed man, in Biddeford, Maine, during yet another purported traffic stop in which the victim posed no threat to the ICE officers who gunned him down. DHS claims that it was surveilling the last-known address of someone with a final order of removal, followed someone who left that residence, and then, when that person drove away in the vehicle, the officer, "fearing for public safety," shot and killed Mr. Guerrero, while his wife watched from their apartment building window. In fact, ICE officers were looking for someone else; Mr. Guerrero had work authorization, was a husband, and was the father of a three-year-old daughter who had to see her father lying dead in the street after being gunned down by ICE officers.
This too is an unjustified killing. Without a trial, a Federal immigration officer acted as judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner.
Though DHS briefly ceased non-urgent traffic stops after its officers unjustifiably killed two people within a single week, President Trump swiftly announced his support for DHS policies that have resulted in the brutal killing of civilians, via a social media post: "The men and women of ICE are doing a GREAT job, one that has to be done. We CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.'s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!" President Trump continued to condone unjustified killings by ICE and CBP officials.
(2) enabling ice and cbp to operate with anonymity and secrecy to terrorize communities, in violation of the fourth amendment protection
against unreasonable searches and seizures and the fifth amendment right to due process
Under President Trump's control, ICE and CBP officers hide their identities by wearing masks and other face coverings, failing to wear identifying uniforms, refusing to provide their names and badge numbers, and entering homes without warrants. Through government-sanctioned anonymity, officers evade accountability to the public, elected officials, and the courts. Under President Trump's direction, his administration has actively refused to cooperate with and has intentionally hampered State investigations into abuses by Federal officers, withholding important evidence to shield officers from scrutiny for unjustified killings in Minnesota, Texas, and Maine. The masks worn by officers also inspire fear and instill terror in their victims and the communities in which the officers operate. As Judge William G. Young of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts explained: "ICE goes masked for a single reason--to terrorize Americans into quiescence. . . . [M]asks are associated with cowardly desperados and the despised Ku Klux Klan. In all our history, we have never tolerated an armed, masked secret police.". (3) enabling ice and cbp to undermine civil liberties and basic freedom
of speech, in violation of the first amendment right to free speech
With President Trump's express support and encouragement, ICE and CBP have targeted and unconstitutionally arrested pro-Palestinian students and academics without an adequate legal basis in violation of their First Amendment right to free speech, including Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Badar Khan Suri, among others.
Under President Trump's command, ICE and CBP are operating with impunity to carry out mass, unlawful arrests; illegally imprison people; illegally remove them from the country; and commit violent crimes against people in an effort to terrorize and silence the American people. In addition to conducting the unjustified killings of civilians, including Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, ICE and CBP, as part of their normal course of activity, have violently assaulted individuals, used unnecessary force, smashed car windows, and abducted and disappeared individuals. (4) undermining judicial oversight by flouting the separation of powers
President Trump, directly and through officials within his administration, has abused his power by shielding ICE and CBP officers from judicial oversight.
These agencies have detained and removed individuals despite court orders blocking their removal from the country. Specifically, though not exhaustively, ICE deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador against a court order due to an administrative error, and then President Trump and his administration refused to facilitate his return for several months in defiance of a U.S. Supreme Court order. ICE also deported about 250 Venezuelan men to El Salvador without due process, directly disobeying an emergency order from a Federal judge. In a conversation with El Salvador's president, President Trump suggested detaining and sending U.S. citizens to foreign prisons: "The homegrowns are next, the homegrowns.".
With the support and backing of President Trump and senior officials in his administration, officers and other agency employees have refused to cooperate with and have actively undermined State and local investigations into misconduct by ICE officers. Federal officials have undertaken baseless public investigations into the victims and the victims' families; they have made official (but false) assurances that ICE officers are immune from prosecution; and pursuant to President Trump's authority, both the FBI and the DOJ have not prosecuted crimes committed by ICE and CBP officers. Furthermore, ICE has blatantly disregarded court orders to release or refrain from moving detainees, again with President Trump's knowledge and pursuant to his orders and authority.
The Trump administration acknowledged violating New Jersey Federal judges' orders more than 50 times over the course of 10 weeks in deportation-related cases. Minnesota's chief Federal judge, Patrick J. Schiltz, detailed in a ruling that ICE violated nearly 100 court orders and had disobeyed more judicial directives in January 2026 alone than "some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence." A Reuters review of court records found that hundreds of judges have ruled that the Trump administration has unlawfully detained immigrants more than 4,400 times since October 2025, and Politico compiled a database of at least 15,000 rulings against the administration since July 2025; yet, the administration continues to jail people indefinitely.
In all of this, President Donald John Trump has violated the article II, section 1, clause 8-mandated Presidential oath of office to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States; has abused the powers of the Presidency by committing high crimes and misdemeanors, in a manner contrary to his trust as President; has detrimentally flouted the United States Constitution by operating vicious, quota-driven, unaccountable paramilitary forces killing people (including Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero); and is now even closer to brazenly and wantonly devolving the United States democratic republic into an authoritarian regime, where, if left in office, unjustified killings of people and coverups by ICE and CBP are normalized to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kennedy of Utah)2:50 p.m.
Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed.
Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentleman from Texas will appear in the Record at this point.
The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at a time designated for consideration of the resolution.
Al Green (D-TX)2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, point of order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore2:50 p.m.
The gentleman will state his point of order.
Al Green (D-TX)2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that any notice be given to my chief of staff, and I ask that I be allowed at least 30 minutes to return to the floor because there are other duties that I have on the campus.
The SPEAKER pro tempore2:50 p.m.
The notice will appear in the Record. The gentleman will be advised of the time.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
Page H5544 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which a recorded vote or the yeas and nays are ordered, or votes objected to under clause 6 of rule XX.
The House will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time.
Land Conveyance, Fort Bragg, Harnett County, North Carolina
Pages H5544–H5545 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 10159) to authorize the Secretary of the Army to convey to the State of North Carolina a certain parcel of real property located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on which the State shall construct a veterans' State home, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,605 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, FORT BRAGG, HARNETT COUNTY, NORTH
CAROLINA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Army (in this section referred to as the "Secretary") may convey, without consideration, to the State of North Carolina all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcel of real property described in subsection (b), including any improvements thereon, for the purpose of constructing a State home under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
(b) Property Described.--
(1) In general.--The property to be conveyed under this section consists of approximately 20 acres of land situated on Fort Bragg Training Area in Harnett County, North Carolina (commonly referred to as Parcel 3B).
(2) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the parcel described in paragraph (1) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
(c) Payment of Costs of Conveyance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the State of North Carolina to cover all costs to be incurred by the Secretary, or to reimburse the Secretary for costs incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the conveyance under subsection (a), including costs for environmental and real estate due diligence and any other administrative costs related to the conveyance.
(2) Refund of excess amounts.--If amounts are collected from the State under paragraph (1) in advance of the Secretary incurring the actual costs, and the amount collected exceeds the costs actually incurred by the Secretary to carry out the conveyance under subsection (a), the Secretary shall refund the excess amount to the State.
(d) Reversionary Interest.--If the Secretary determines at any time that the property conveyed under subsection (a) is not being used for activities related to a State home, all right, title, and interest in and to the property, including any improvements thereto, may, at the option of the Secretary, revert to and become the property of the United States, and the United States may have the right of immediate entry onto such property.
(e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(f) State Home Defined.--In this section, the term "State home" has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harrigan) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Bell) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, what does it say about our priorities if North Carolina has the land to train our soldiers for war but not the space to care for them when they grow old? That is the problem H.R. 10159 helps solve, and it is why I am proud to cosponsor this bill.
North Carolina is home to more than 600,000 veterans, but today the 150-bed Fayetteville State Veterans Home is closed after serious structural problems forced every resident out. The building has closed. The need that it served has not changed.
Just a few miles away at Fort Bragg, there are approximately 20 acres that can give that new home a place to be built.
I know Fort Bragg well. I trained there as a Green Beret and deployed from there to Afghanistan. The men I served alongside are veterans now. So am I. The 20-year-old soldier eventually becomes the 70-year-old veteran. The country that needed him at 20 still has a responsibility to him at 70.
Fort Bragg has spent generations preparing Americans for service. Now, we have an opportunity to use a small part of it to care for them after that service is over.
Give North Carolina the land. Let us build the home, and let us take care of the people who spent their lives taking care of our country.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 10159, a bipartisan bill to transfer land from Fort Bragg to the State of North Carolina so that a new State veterans home can be built. I urge the House to pass this bill.
As Fort Bragg's Congressman, there is no issue more important to me than taking care of our Active-Duty servicemembers, their families, and our veterans.
North Carolina is home to many important military installations, including what we like to call the center of the universe at Fort Bragg.
North Carolina is also home to the fastest growing veteran population in the Nation. Sadly, our State experiences a gap in veteran services that we must address.
In 2024, the State veterans home in Fayetteville abruptly closed leading to the displacement of 85 veterans, including many with dementia and other disabilities. These heroes have since been dispersed across the State, far from their families, and in some cases without access to proper medical care. H.R. 10159 is the first step in the construction of a new veterans home just outside the gates of Fort Bragg.
This transfer of only 20 acres to the State of North Carolina will allow the State to begin permitting the construction process for this new home in a timely manner. Our veterans cannot and they should not wait any longer.
I am touched by the level of bipartisan support we have for the construction of this VA home both down in the State as well as here in Washington. I thank my fellow members of the North Carolina delegation, both Democrats and Republicans who have all cosponsored this legislation. I thank Mr. Bell for his support today. I also thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their support. I thank our Governor, and I thank our partners in the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, led by our great Secretary Jocelyn Mallette, for their efforts. I thank them for working with us on this vital legislation.
As Fort Bragg's Congressman, I am proud to lead this legislation, and I ask my colleagues to support its passage.
While we are here, I urge our colleagues on the other side of the Capitol, in the Senate, to please take up this vital legislation as soon as possible.
Again, our veterans have been waiting a long time. This is the first step to end that wait. I thank my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, for working together to make this happen.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, one of the benefits of sitting on the House Committee on Armed Services is that we have a lengthy legislative streak of enacting the National Defense Authorization Act. It is a bill that sets the policies for the national security of our Nation.
I will provide some assurance to the sponsoring Member that I will work diligently to have this provision incorporated into the conference discussions of the National Defense Authorization Act that I hope will be finalized this Congress.
In summary, this is a strong bipartisan bill that is worthy of being enacted. The Army supports this bill, and it is the minimum support that we can provide to support the veterans who have labored so hard for our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harrigan) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 10159.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act
Pages H5545–H5546 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9360) to sunset the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,006 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act".
SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF THE RECORDS OF
CONGRESS.
(a) Sunset of Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress.--Effective on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking chapter 27; and
(2) in the table of chapters, by striking the item relating to chapter 27.
(b) Report.--Not later than February 1 of the year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit a report on the management and preservation of the records of Congress during the previous year to--
(1) the Archivist;
(2) the Secretary;
(3) the Clerk;
(4) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; and
(5) the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives.
(c) Review.--The Archivist, the Secretary, and the Clerk shall meet to review the management and preservation of the records of Congress--
(1) not later than 60 days after the date on which the Director submits a report under subsection (b); and
(2) not later than 180 days after the date on which an individual begins to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Archivist, Secretary, or Clerk.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Archivist.--The term "Archivist" means the Archivist of the United States, or any successor thereto.
(2) Clerk.--The term "Clerk" means the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
(3) Director.--The term "Director" means the Director of the Center for Legislative Archives of the National Archives, or any successor thereto.
(4) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Senate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Morelle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
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 this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 9360, the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act, led by Representative Mary Miller of Illinois, is an important measure that will modernize how Congress manages its records.
H.R. 9360 sunsets the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress, an outdated committee, and replaces it with a more efficient process for reviewing congressional records.
The bill instructs the Director of the Center for Legislative Archives of the National Archives to submit an annual report to the Archivist of the United States, the Clerk of the House, the Secretary of the Senate, and requisite congressional committees on the management and preservation of the records of Congress.
By eliminating this obsolete committee, H.R. 9360 provides a more efficient process for the management and preservation of congressional records through annual reports and cuts burdensome administrative hurdles.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress was created in 1990 to review and advise Congress and the National Archives on the management and preservation of congressional records.
The House Clerk, who is one of the leaders of the advisory committee, approached us with this proposal because the committee accomplished its key goals and is no longer useful in addressing current challenges.
This makes sense because the ways we manage and preserve records have changed significantly over the last three-and-a-half decades. Sunsetting this committee will save taxpayer dollars and allow those resources to be used to improve contemporary archiving practices.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 9360, which will sunset the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress.
This committee was created in 1990 to advise Congress and the National Archives on the management and retention of congressional records.
My bill, however, would eliminate this outdated committee. Due to advancements in technology over the last several decades and changes in the way Congress operates, sunsetting this committee is necessary and will streamline the archival process.
This bill will also maintain oversight of the Center for Legislative Archives by requiring the center to publish an annual report on the management and preservation of records. Sunsetting this advisory committee will furthermore save taxpayers approximately $38,000 annually in operating costs without sacrificing the transparency of congressional records.
As this advisory committee hits its 36th year, we can agree that the committee has accomplished its original goals and has met its intended purpose, thereby outliving its usefulness.
Mr. Speaker, as we continue to improve the efficiency of our government, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to have the bill before the House, and I urge all my colleagues to vote in support of it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9360, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 9360, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Gpo Modernization Act of 2026
Pages H5546–H5551 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9342) to revise certain authorities of the Government Publishing Office, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,634 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the "GPO Modernization Act of 2026".
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 101. Sale of Government documents.
Sec. 201. Purpose and establishment. Sec. 202. Definitions. Sec. 203. Availability of Government publications. Sec. 204. Selections available to depository libraries. Sec. 205. Distribution to depositories. Sec. 206. Conforming amendment related to libraries of executive departments. Sec. 207. Requirements for depository libraries. Sec. 208. Free use of Government public information in depositories. Sec. 209. Regional depositories. Sec. 210. Cataloging and access. Sec. 211. National Collection of United States Public Information. Sec. 212. Printing or publication of Congressional Directory.
Sec. 301. Updating Oversight by the Joint Committee. Sec. 302. Modernizing authorities of the Government Publishing Office. Sec. 303. Updating and Modernizing Congressional Publishing. Sec. 304. GPO and the Federal Register. Sec. 305. Acceptance of gifts. Sec. 306. Simplified acquisitions. Sec. 307. Supplies or services. Sec. 308. Detail of employees. Sec. 309. Equalizing GPO Compensation with Other Legislative Branch Agencies. Sec. 310. Leave carryover for certain Government Publishing Office positions.
Sec. 401. Repeal requirement for Congressional Research Service to prepare Annotated Constitution and supplements in hardbound version.
SEC. 101. SALE OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.
(a) Authority of Superintendent of Documents.--Section 1702 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the first undesignated paragraph, by striking "The Director" and inserting "(a) Appointment.--The Director";
(2) in the second undesignated paragraph--
(A) by striking "When an officer" and inserting "(b) Receipt and Sale.--When an officer"; and
(B) by striking "who shall receive and sell" and inserting "who may receive and sell"; and
(3) in the third undesignated paragraph, by striking "The Superintendent of Documents" and inserting "(c) Reports and Distribution.--The Superintendent of Documents".
(b) Remove Requirement for Approval From Department in Which Document Originated.--Section 1707 of such title is amended by striking ", subject to the approval of the Secretary or head of the department in which the public document originated".
(c) Prices; Resale Authority.--Section 1708 of such title is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 1708. Prices for sales copies of publications;
crediting of receipts; resale by dealers; sales agents
"(a) Prices.--The price at which additional copies of Government publications are offered for sale to the public by the Superintendent of Documents shall be based on the cost as determined by the Director of the Government Publishing Office plus a premium to cover the costs of sale and delivery. A discount may be allowed as determined by the Superintendent of Documents.
"(b) Resale Authority.--The Superintendent of Documents may prescribe terms and conditions under which the Superintendent authorizes the resale of Government publications by book dealers, and the Superintendent may designate any Government officer as the Superintendent's agent for the sale of Government publications under regulations agreed upon by the Superintendent of Documents and the head of the respective department or establishment of the Government.".
(d) Authority of Superintendent of Documents To Establish Requirements for Distribution, Sale, and Disposal of Unneeded Documents.--Section 1720 of such title is amended by striking "distribution or sale" and inserting "distribution, sale, or disposal in accordance with requirements established by the Superintendent of Documents".
SEC. 201. PURPOSE AND ESTABLISHMENT.
Chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by inserting before section 1901 the following new section (and by conforming the table of sections of such chapter accordingly):
"Sec. 1900. Purpose and establishment of the public
information programs of the Superintendent of Documents
"(a) The purposes of this chapter are the following:
"(1) To ensure the public's right to free, equitable, and convenient access to Government public information.
"(2) To establish the Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents in the Government Publishing Office, that together, function to identify, acquire, catalog, preserve, authenticate, disseminate, reformat, and provide no-fee permanent public access to the corpus of Government public information for future generations, including the following programs and activities:
"(A) The Federal Depository Library Program.
"(B) The Cataloging and Access Services Program.
"(C) Online System of Access.
"(D) The National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information.
"(E) Preservation Program.
"(F) Sales to the Public.
"(b) The Superintendent of Documents shall engage in activities that enhance awareness and access to Government public information or provide services that support libraries in their efforts to serve their communities.".
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1901 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 19 accordingly):
"Sec. 1901. Definitions
"In this chapter--
"(1) the term `access services' means those functions or services which enable or enhance discovery, awareness, and use of Government public information in the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information, and Federal documents collections held by Federal depository libraries;
"(2) the term `Government public information' means Federal Government publications or information resources, regardless of physical form or medium, compiled by Government employees, or at Government expense, or as required by law, and disseminated to the public by an agency or a contractor thereof or of educational value, including such publications or information resources which have been declassified;
"(3) the term `Government publication' means informational matter which is published as an individual document at Government expense, or as required by law;
"(4) the term `information' means any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data, or opinions in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, electronic, or audiovisual forms;
"(5) the term `information lifecycle management' means the process of planning, budgeting, administering, processing, and controlling information, whether in the form of a tangible or digital information asset, throughout the stages of the asset, including the asset's--
"(A) creation, identification, and acquisition;
"(B) organization, bibliographic control, and metadata;
"(C) preservation, digitization, and reformatting;
"(D) authentication, access, and dissemination;
"(E) promotion;
"(F) storage; and
"(G) management through a trusted digital repository;
"(6) the term `permanent public access' means making Government public information resources discoverable and available to, and accessible by, the public on an indefinite, continuing basis, without charge;
"(7) the term `preservation' means strategic initiatives, programs, and processes designed to maintain useful access to information assets, serving the information needs of both present and future generations; and
"(8) the term `unreported public information' means Government public information which is not cataloged or otherwise identifiable or retrievable by an end user of the catalog described in section 1917.".
SEC. 203. AVAILABILITY OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS.
Section 1902 of such title is amended to read as follows (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 19 accordingly):
"Sec. 1902. Availability of Government publications through
Superintendent of Documents; notification of publications
not ordered from Government Publishing Office
"(a) Availability.--The Superintendent of Documents shall make Government public information available to depository libraries through the Superintendent of Documents Public Information Programs.
"(b) Requirements.--Each component of the Government shall--
"(1) notify the Superintendent of Documents of tangible Government public information content it has issued that is not also available digitally;
"(2) notify the Superintendent of Documents of digital Government public information content it has issued;
"(3) collaborate with the Superintendent of Documents to ensure any such digital Government public information remains permanently accessible; and
"(4) furnish to the Superintendent of Documents any tangible Government public information it has issued that was obtained from sources other than the Government Publishing Office, unless other arrangements have been made with the Superintendent of Documents to ensure the information is accessible to depository libraries.
"(c) Exceptions.--The requirements of subsection (b) do not apply to Government public information that is confidential in character or classified for reasons of national security.".
SEC. 204. SELECTIONS AVAILABLE TO DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES.
Section 1904 of such title is amended to read as follows (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 19 accordingly):
"Sec. 1904. Selections available to depository libraries
"The Superintendent of Documents shall notify depository libraries of those Government public information products, regardless of format, that are available for selection for inclusion in their depository collections.".
SEC. 205. DISTRIBUTION TO DEPOSITORIES.
Section 1905 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 1905. Distribution to depositories; designation of
additional libraries; justification; authorization for
certain designations
"(a) Government public information available from the Superintendent of Documents under this chapter shall be distributed or made accessible to depository libraries specifically designated by law and to libraries designated pursuant to this section.
"(b) Libraries within areas served by Members of the House, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be designated by them to receive Government public information to the extent that the total number of libraries designated by them does not exceed two within each area.
"(c) Not more than two additional libraries within a State may be designated by each Senator from the State.
"(d) The Mayor of the District of Columbia may designate two depository libraries in the District of Columbia.
"(e) The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Governor of Guam, the Governor of American Samoa, and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may each designate one depository library in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively. The Governor of the United States Virgin Islands may designate one depository library on the island of Saint Thomas and one on the island of Saint Croix.
"(f) The Superintendent of Documents may designate libraries to be digital-only depository libraries for Government public information if they are located in an area with no vacancy under subsection (b), (c), (d), or (e) and they are not eligible to be designated under existing by-law library provisions of this section.
Text printed in the Record (11,010 characters)
Digital-only depository libraries must be freely accessible to and provide services for the public and otherwise meet the requirements of this title.
"(g) Before a library is designated as a depository for Government public information, the Superintendent of Documents shall assess the potential depository library to determine its sustainability for housing a depository collection and for providing access services, including providing access to digital content. The head of that library shall furnish justification of the necessity for the additional designation to the library's Senator, Member of the House, Delegate, Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia or Governor, as the case may be. The justification shall also include the assessment of the Superintendent of Documents. The justification for depository library designations shall be transmitted to the Superintendent of Documents by the Senator, Member of the House, Delegate, the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia or Governor, as the case may be.".
SEC. 206. CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATED TO LIBRARIES OF
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
Section 1907 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the first sentence, by striking "Government publications" and inserting "Government public information"; and
(2) in the last sentence, by striking "Library of Congress and the Archivist of the United States" and inserting "Superintendent of Documents".
SEC. 207. REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES.
Section 1909 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 19 accordingly):
"Sec. 1909. Requirements of depository libraries; reports on
conditions; consultations and training; termination;
replacement
"(a) Only a library able to provide access to, custody of, and services for deposited materials or access to and services for online digital content and located in an area where it can best serve the public need may be designated as a depository library. The designated depository libraries shall report to the Superintendent of Documents at least every two years concerning their condition.
"(b) The Superintendent of Documents shall regularly assess conditions in depository libraries. The Superintendent of Documents shall provide needed training and support by making visits to depository libraries or by other means and include the results of consultations in the Superintendent of Documents' annual report. When the Superintendent of Documents ascertains that the designated depository has ceased to be maintained so as to be accessible to the public, or that the Government publications
which have been furnished the library have not been properly maintained, the Superintendent of Documents shall remove the library from the directory of depository libraries if the library fails to correct the unsatisfactory conditions within an agreed upon time frame. A library may be designated, pursuant to section 1905 of this chapter, to replace a library deleted by the Superintendent of Documents, provided that the designation may not be in excess of the number of depository libraries authorized by law.".
SEC. 208. FREE USE OF GOVERNMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
DEPOSITORIES.
Section 1911 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 19 accordingly):
"Sec. 1911. Free use of Government public information in
depositories; disposal of unwanted Government public
information
"(a) Free Use by the Public.--Depository libraries shall, pursuant to standards established by the Superintendent of Documents, make Government public information accessible for free use by the public.
"(b) Digital Information Substitutes.--Depository libraries may substitute digital information for tangible publications in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy and guidance.
"(c) Disposal.--A depository library not served by a regional depository library, or that is a regional depository library, may dispose of unwanted Government public information in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy and guidance. Depository libraries may dispose of tangible publications which are Government property after retention for five years under section 1912 of this title, if the depository library is served by a regional depository library.".
SEC. 209. REGIONAL DEPOSITORIES.
Section 1912 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 19 accordingly):
"Sec. 1912. Regional depositories; designation; functions;
shared responsibilities, disposal of publications
"(a) Not more than two depository libraries in each State and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be designated as regional depositories and shall receive from the Superintendent of Documents copies of or access to all new and revised Government publications authorized for dissemination to depository libraries. Designation of regional depository libraries may be made by a Senator or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico within the areas served by them. Prior to the designation the Superintendent of Documents shall consult with the head of the potential regional depository library and ascertain that the library will fulfill the requirements for depository libraries. The agreement to function as a regional depository library shall be transmitted to the Superintendent of Documents by the Senator or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico when the designation is made.
"(b) Regional depository libraries shall retain at least one copy of all Government publications received, except those authorized to be discarded by the Superintendent of Documents policy and guidance or covered by collaborative agreements approved by the Superintendent of Documents, or make accessible digital versions (in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy) and, within the area served, will provide leadership and coordination for the provision of program-related activities for depository libraries.
"(c) Regional depository libraries from different States may share responsibilities by entering into agreements in accordance with Superintendent of Documents guidance and upon approval of a Senator from each of the States.
"(d) The Superintendent of Documents shall establish not fewer than four multistate collection service areas to support collaborative collection and service coordination among depository libraries within such area.
"(e) Publications distributed by the Superintendent of Documents to depository libraries are holdings of the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information and remain the property of the United States Government. Libraries designated as regional depositories will coordinate with the Superintendent of Documents on the disposition of Government Publications from depository libraries, within the areas served by them, which the depository library has retained for five years or when the depository library is relinquishing its depository designation. The Superintendent of Documents shall manage the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information to maximize the access to, use of, and preservation of Government public information in the depository library program.".
SEC. 210. CATALOGING AND ACCESS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and by conforming the table of sections of such chapter accordingly):
"Sec. 1917. Cataloging and access services
"(a) Cataloging Described.--The Superintendent of Documents shall provide descriptive cataloging records for the corpus of Government public information. The cataloging records shall be created using library or information industry standards and best practices and shall include metadata elements in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy.
"(b) Access and Awareness Services.--The Superintendent of Documents shall engage in activities that enhance access to and awareness of Government public information or provide services that support libraries or organizations that support libraries in their efforts to serve their communities' Government information needs.
"(c) Specific Access Services.--
"(1) The Superintendent of Documents shall maintain an online comprehensive catalog of historical and current, tangible and digital Government public information cataloged under subsection (a), and such catalog shall show where the Government public information may be obtained or accessed. The catalog shall be machine- or device-independent and available for free use by the public.
"(2) The Superintendent of Documents shall carry out a program to bring unreported Government public information under bibliographic control and to make records associated with such information available through the catalog established by this section and such other methods as may be appropriate.
"(3) The Superintendent of Documents may make the records of such catalog available to Federal depository libraries, bibliographic utilities that support widely available record sharing, or other entities that make available Government public information.
"(4) The Superintendent of Documents may accept records for inclusion in such catalog from libraries and agencies of the Federal Government, Federal depository libraries, bibliographic utilities that support widely available record sharing, or other entities that make available Government public information.
"(5) The Superintendent of Documents may acquire digital Government public information for inclusion in the Cataloging and Access Services Program, Federal Depository Library Program, and GPO's System of Online Access through automated and manual harvesting of public websites. Such content will be cataloged, made accessible through the catalog established under this subsection, and preserved.".
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 17 of such title is amended by repealing sections 1710 and 1711 (and by conforming the table of sections of such chapter accordingly).
SEC. 211. NATIONAL COLLECTION OF UNITED STATES PUBLIC
INFORMATION.
(a) In General.--Chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and by conforming the table of sections of such chapter accordingly):
"Sec. 1918. National Collection of United States Public
Information
"(a) Establishment and Purpose.--
"(1) Establishment.--There is hereby established a National Collection of United States Government Public Information (referred to in this chapter as the `National Collection').
"(2) Purpose.--The Federal Government's publications and information are national assets and resources. Their availability and accessibility ensures an informed citizenry and an improved quality of life for them while spurring innovation.
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The National Collection is established to ensure the public's right to free, equitable, and convenient access to Government public information.
"(b) Scope of the National Collection.--The content included in the National Collection is the corpus of Government public information.
"(c) Responsibilities of the Superintendent of Documents.--The Superintendent of Documents shall administer the National Collection and shall--
"(1) guarantee free permanent public access to the geographically distributed National Collection;
"(2) apply information lifecycle management best practices to the National Collection;
"(3) acquire and bring under bibliographic control public Government information products, regardless of format, in scope of the National Collection;
"(4) ensure a minimum of four tangible copies of distributed publications exist in the depository library program distributed geographically in four National Collection service areas; and
"(5) collaborate with stakeholders, including the Library of Congress, libraries of the United States, Federal agencies, Congress, the Judiciary, and Federal Depository Library Program member libraries in as much as is practicable, to ensure preservation, comprehensiveness, and accessibility of the National Collection.
"(d) Responsibilities of the Director of the Government Publishing Office.--The Director of the Government Publishing Office, acting through the Superintendent of Documents, shall--
"(1) operate a digital repository system that functions as the Government Publishing Office's online system of access through which members of the public may obtain, at no charge, information that is included in the National Collection;
"(2) develop and enhance such system as needed;
"(3) digitize, authenticate, manage, preserve, and provide a permanent means of accessing information;
"(4) provide access to information in an open format to the extent practicable;
"(5) provide funding for system development, operational support, and infrastructure; and
"(6) have the ability to provide services to Federal agencies for the purpose of carrying out this title.
"(e) Protecting User Privacy.--The Director of the Government Publishing Office, acting through the Superintendent of Documents, shall implement measures to protect the privacy of individuals using the digital repository described in subsection (d), and shall ensure that such measures provide users with at least the same level of privacy as provided under section 552a of title 5 (commonly known as the Privacy Act of 1974) and section 208 of the E-Government Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-347).
"(f) Removal of Public Government Information From National Collection.--The Superintendent of Documents shall publicly disclose online, not less than annually, a list of
any public Government information removed from public access in the National Collection or the digital repository described in subsection (d), and the reasons for such removals.".
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Chapter 41 of title 44, United States Code, and the item relating to such chapter in the table of chapters at the beginning, are hereby repealed.
SEC. 212. PRINTING OR PUBLICATION OF CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY.
Section 721 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 721. Congressional Directory
"There shall be prepared under the direction of the Director of the Government Publishing Office (1) a Congressional Directory, which shall be prepared in a digital format available at a public website of the Government Publishing Office as early as practicable during the first session of each Congress and (2) a supplement to each Congressional Directory, which shall be prepared in a digital format available at a public website of the Government Publishing Office as early as practicable during the second regular session of each Congress.".
SEC. 301. UPDATING OVERSIGHT BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE.
(a) Redesignation of Joint Committee on Printing to Joint Committee on Publishing.--
(1) The Joint Committee on Printing is hereby redesignated the Joint Committee on Publishing.
(2) Any reference to the Joint Committee on Printing in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruction, or any other official paper in force on the date of enactment of this Act shall be considered to refer and apply to the Joint Committee on Publishing.
(b) Modernizing Joint Committee Structure.--Chapter 1 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. "101. Joint Committee on Publishing: membership. "102. Joint Committee on Publishing: purpose and authority. "103. Joint Committee on Publishing: succession; powers during recess. "104. Joint Committee on Publishing: remedial powers.
"Sec. 101. Joint Committee on Publishing: membership
"The Joint Committee on Publishing shall consist of the chair and four members of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the chair and four members of the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.
"Sec. 102. Joint Committee on Publishing: purpose and
authority
"The Joint Committee on Publishing shall oversee the Government Publishing Office and supervise the Director of the Government Publishing Office.
"Sec. 103. Joint Committee on Publishing: succession; powers
during recess
"The members of the Joint Committee on Publishing who are reelected to the succeeding Congress shall continue as members of the committee until their successors are chosen. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, on the last day of a Congress, appoint members of their respective Houses who have been elected to the succeeding Congress to fill vacancies which may then be about to occur on the Committee, and the appointees and members of the Committee who have been reelected shall continue until their successors are chosen. When Congress is not in session, the Joint Committee may exercise all its powers and duties as when Congress is in session.
"Sec. 104. Joint Committee on Publishing: remedial powers
"The Joint Committee on Publishing may use any measures it considers necessary to remedy neglect, delay, duplication, or waste in the public printing and binding and the distribution of Congressional publications in any form.".
(c) Removing Extraneous References to the Joint Committee on Printing.--
(1) Section 1108 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking ", subject to regulation by the Joint Committee on Printing,".
(2) Section 1301 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking "in accordance with directions of the Joint Committee on Printing,".
(3) Section 1320A of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking "and with the approval of the Joint Committee on Printing,".
(4) Section 312 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 825k) is amended by striking "All printing for the Federal Power Commission" and all that follows through "providing for interdepartmental work.".
(5) Section 5(c) of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 954(c)) is amended by striking "In the case of publications under paragraph (10) of this subsection such publications may be supported without regard for the provisions of section 501 of title 44, United States Code, only if the Chairperson consults with the Joint Committee on Printing of the Congress and the Chairperson submits to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report justifying any exemption from such section 501.".
(6) Section 7(c) of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 956) is amended by striking "In the case of publications under clause (8) of this subsection such publications may be supported without regard for the provisions of section 501 of title 44, United States Code, only if the Chairperson consults with the Joint Committee on Printing of the Congress and the Chairperson submits to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report justifying any exemption from such section 501.".
(7) Section 411(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the last sentence.
(d) Services for the National Capital Region.--Section 1121 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 11 accordingly):
"Sec. 1121. Paper and envelopes for Government agencies in
the National Capital region
"The Director of the Government Publishing Office may procure, as provided by sections 509-516 of this title, and furnish on requisition, paper and envelopes (not including envelopes printed in the course of manufacture) in common use by two or more departments, establishments, or services of the Government in the National Capital region, within the meaning of section 8702 of title 40, United States Code, and reimbursement shall be made to the Director of the Government Publishing Office from appropriations or funds available for the purpose. Paper and envelopes so furnished by the Director of the Government Publishing Office may not be procured in any other manner.".
SEC. 302. MODERNIZING AUTHORITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT
PUBLISHING OFFICE.
(a) Print and Publishing Procurement Services.--Section 502 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ", publishing" after "binding";
(2) in the text, by inserting ", publishing" after "binding"; and
(3) by striking "Joint Committee on Printing" and inserting "Joint Committee on Publishing".
(b) Repeal of Certain Provisions.--Sections 503, 504, 1104, 1105, and 1112 of title 44, United States Code, are repealed (and by conforming the table of sections for the applicable chapters accordingly).
(c) Conforming Amendments.--Sections 505, 508 through 515, 517, 702, 703, 707, 709, 714, 717, 718, 722 through 724, 728, 738, and 901 through 905 of title 44, United States Code, are amended by striking "Joint Committee on Printing" in each place it appears and inserting "Joint Committee on Publishing".
SEC. 303. UPDATING AND MODERNIZING CONGRESSIONAL PUBLISHING.
(a) House and Senate Documents and Reports.--Section 701 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 701. `Usual number' of documents and reports;
distribution of House and Senate documents and reports;
binding; reports on private bills; number of copies
printed; distribution
"(a) The order by either House of Congress to print a document or report shall signify the `usual number' of copies for binding and distribution among those entitled to receive them. A greater number may not be printed unless ordered by either House, or as provided by this section. When a special number of a document or report is ordered printed, the usual number shall also be printed, unless already ordered.
"(b) The `usual number' of documents and reports shall be established by the Joint Committee on Publishing, and shall be printed at one time and distributed according to instruction of the Joint Committee Publishing.".
(b) Bills and Resolutions.--Section 706 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 706. Bills and resolutions: number and distribution
"(a) Public bills, resolutions, and private bills shall be printed in bill form, and, unless specially ordered by either House, shall be printed only when referred to a committee, when favorably reported back, and after their passage by either House.
Text printed in the Record (11,617 characters)
Concurrent and simple resolutions shall be printed in bill form when reported and after their passage by either House, except by special order.
"(b) The Director of the Government Publishing Office shall ensure the distribution of such printed copies to the Senate document room, the Secretary of the Senate, the House document room, and the Superintendent of Documents and other entities at the direction of the Joint Committee on Publishing.".
(c) Congressional Record.--Section 906 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 906. Congressional Record: gratuitous copies; delivery
"The Director of the Government Publishing Office shall furnish copies of the daily and permanent forms of the Congressional Record, including such copies as may be required for distribution to depository libraries, under the direction of the Joint Committee on Publishing.".
SEC. 304. GPO AND THE FEDERAL REGISTER.
Title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 1502, by striking ", together with the Director of the Government Publishing Office,";
(2) in section 1503, by striking "to the Government Publishing Office" and insert "for publication";
(3) by amending section 1504 to read as follows:
"Sec. 1504. `Federal Register'; publishing; contents;
distribution; price; physical copies
"Documents required or authorized to be published by section 1505 shall be published immediately in a serial publication designated the `Federal Register'. The Director of the Government Publishing Office may make available the facilities of the Government Publishing Office for the prompt publication of the Federal Register in the manner and at the times required by
this chapter and the regulations prescribed under it under an agreement with the Archivist of the United States. The contents of the daily issues shall constitute all documents, required or authorized to be published, filed with the Office of the Federal Register up to the time of the day immediately preceding the day of publication fixed by regulations under this chapter. There shall be published with each document a copy of the notation, required to be made by section 1503, of the day and hour when, upon filing with the Office, the document was made available for public inspection. Distribution shall be made at a time in the morning of the day of distribution fixed by regulations prescribed under this chapter. The prices to be charged for the Federal Register may be fixed by the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register established by section 1506 without reference to the restrictions placed upon and fixed for the sale of Government publications by sections 1705 and 1708. The Director of the Office of the Federal Register shall arrange for the printing of at least two physical copies of each published Federal Register issue. Of those, not less than two copies shall be stored, each in a separate facility, to ensure the preservation of the Federal Register for the purposes of continuity of government.";
(4) by amending section 1505(c) to read as follows:
"(c) Alternative Publication.--In a continuity of operations event that limits the fulfillment of the publication requirements of this chapter, the Office of the Federal Register may establish an alternative method to publish the Federal Register until such time that the regular publication may resume.";
(5) in section 1506(a), by striking "an officer of the Department of Justice designated by the Attorney General, and the Director of the Government Publishing Office or Acting Director of the Government Publishing Office" and inserting "and an officer of the Department of Justice designated by the Attorney General"; and
(6) by amending section 1509 to read as follows:
"Sec. 1509. Costs of publication, etc.
"(a) If the Government Publishing Office publishes the Federal Register or Code of Federal Regulations, the cost of such publishing, and, except as provided in subsection (b), other expenses incurred by the Government Publishing Office in carrying out the duties under this chapter shall be charged to the revolving fund provided in section 309. Reimbursements for such costs and expenses shall be made by the Federal agencies and credited, together with all receipts, as provided in section 309(b).
"(b) If the Government Publishing Office publishes any other publications of the Federal Register program, the costs of such publications and other expenses incurred by the Government Publishing Office in connection with such publications, shall be borne by the appropriations to the Government Publishing Office and the appropriations are made available, and are authorized to be increased by additional sums necessary for the purposes, the increases to be based upon estimates submitted by the Director of the Government Publishing Office.".
SEC. 305. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.
(a) Authorizing Acceptance of Gifts.--Section 318(a) of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking "and" at the end of paragraph (1);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting "; and"; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
"(3) in accordance with subsection (c), accept, hold, administer, and utilize gifts and bequests of property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Government Publishing Office.".
(b) Authority Described.--Section 318 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
"(c)(1) Gifts and bequests of money and the proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts or bequests shall be deposited in the Revolving Fund established under section 309 of this title and shall be used solely for governmental purposes.
"(2) Property accepted pursuant to this provision, and the proceeds thereof, shall be used as nearly as possible in accordance with the terms of the gift or bequest.
"(3) For purposes of Federal income, estate, or gift taxes, property accepted under this section shall be considered as a gift, devise, or bequest to the United States.".
(c) Technical Amendment.--The heading of section 318 of such title is amended by adding "; gift acceptance" at the end (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 3 accordingly).
SEC. 306. SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS.
Section 311 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking "small purchase" and inserting "simplified acquisition" (and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 3 accordingly);
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) In addition to the authority to negotiate otherwise provided by law, the Director of the Government Publishing Office may negotiate purchases and contracts for supplies or services for which the Director of the Government Publishing Office determines that it is impracticable to secure competition by advertising. The Director of the Government Publishing Office may designate one or more employees of the Government Publishing Office to carry out this subsection."; and
(3) in subsection (c), by striking "$100,000" and inserting "$350,000".
SEC. 307. SUPPLIES OR SERVICES.
Section 314 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking "Inks, glues, and other supplies" and inserting "Supplies or services"(and by conforming the table of sections of chapter 3 accordingly);
(2) by striking "Inks, glues, and other supplies manufactured" and inserting "Supplies manufactured or services performed"; and
(3) by inserting "publishing" after "in connection with its".
SEC. 308. DETAIL OF EMPLOYEES.
Section 316 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking "and binding" and inserting ", binding, and publishing".
SEC. 309. EQUALIZING GPO COMPENSATION WITH OTHER LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH AGENCIES.
Section 303 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking the second sentence.
SEC. 310. LEAVE CARRYOVER FOR CERTAIN GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING
OFFICE POSITIONS.
Section 6304(f)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (G), by striking "or";
(2) in the first subparagraph (H), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon;
(3) in the second subparagraph (H)--
(A) by redesignating such subparagraph as subparagraph (I); and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting "; or"; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
"(J) a position in the Government Publishing Office senior level service.".
SECTION 401. REPEAL REQUIREMENT FOR CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH
SERVICE TO PREPARE ANNOTATED CONSTITUTION AND
SUPPLEMENTS IN HARDBOUND VERSION.
(a) Repeal.--The first section of Public Law 91-589 (2 U.S.C. 168) is amended--
(1) by striking "the Librarian of Congress" and inserting "(a) subject to subsection (b), the Librarian of Congress"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
"(b)(1) Upon the completion of the October 2031 term of the Supreme Court and upon the completion of each tenth October term of the Supreme Court thereafter, the Librarian of Congress shall have prepared a digital decennial revised edition of the Constitution Annotated, which shall contain annotations of all decisions theretofore rendered by the Supreme Court construing provisions of the Constitution, in place of the hardbound decennial revised edition of the Constitution Annotated described in subsection (a)(3).
"(2) Upon the completion of the October 2026 term of the Supreme Court and upon the completion of each subsequent October term of the Supreme Court beginning in an odd-numbered year (the final digit of which is not a 1), the Librarian shall have prepared a digital cumulative pocket-part supplement to the most recent decennial revised edition of the Constitution Annotated, which shall contain cumulative annotations of all such decisions rendered by the Supreme Court which were not included in the most recent revised edition of the Constitution Annotated, in place of the hardbound editions of the cumulative pocket-part supplement described in subsection (a)(4).".
(b) Ensuring Availability of Digital Versions.--Section 2 of Public Law 91-589 (2 U.S.C. 168a) is amended--
(1) by striking "All hardbound" and inserting "(a) All hardbound"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
"(b)(1) The digital decennial revised editions of the Constitution Annotated prepared under subsection (b)(1) of the first section of this Joint Resolution and the digital cumulative pocket-part supplements prepared under subsection (b)(2) of the first section of this Joint Resolution shall be available at a public website of the Library of Congress.
"(2) The Librarian of Congress shall ensure the continuing availability of the documents referred to in paragraph (1) to Congress and the public.".
(c) Repeal of Additional Printing Requirements.--
(1) Mandatory printing of additional copies.--Section 3 of Public Law 91-589 (2 U.S.C. 168b) is amended--
(A) by striking "There shall be printed" and inserting "(a) There shall be printed"; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
"(b) Subsection (a) does not apply after completion of the October 2026 term of the Supreme Court, and the Librarian of Congress shall provide the decennial revised editions of the Constitution Annotated and the cumulative pocket part supplements prepared under this Joint Resolution exclusively in a digital format available at a public website of the Library of Congress.".
(2) Printing of additional copies pursuant to concurrent resolution.--Section 4 of Public Law 91-589 (2 U.S.C. 168c) is repealed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Morelle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
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 this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 9342, the GPO Modernization Act of 2026, led by Representative Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, provides several much-needed reforms for the Government Publishing Office.
Founded in 1861, the Government Publishing Office has long functioned as an important resource not only for Congress but for the Federal Government as a whole by printing, preserving, and distributing official government documents.
Despite the important nature of its work, many of the operations of the GPO are still mired in slow and expensive physical printing processes.
This bipartisan legislation transports the GPO into the modern era by digitizing important government documents through programs like the National Collection of U.S. Public Information.
This serves as a centralized digital library that will greatly expand access for Americans to easily view government resources and stay informed with current events.
H.R. 9342 will also increase fiscal responsibility and efficiency within the GPO by transferring costly, time-consuming print products, such as the Congressional Directory, into a digital format.
Additionally, H.R. 9342 cuts bureaucratic red tape by simplifying the acquisition process for key operational equipment and updates GPO employee salaries to ensure that they are on par with other legislative branch agencies.
Taken together, the GPO Modernization Act will help ensure that the Government Publishing Office will have the tools and staff it needs to successfully transfer its inventory and operations to a digital-first format and continue to support the Federal Government for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9342, the GPO Modernization Act of 2026. I thank my good friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice) for introducing it.
The Government Publishing Office is a critical part of the legislative branch. Without it, Congress simply could not legislate, issue reports, or adequately conduct many of its constitutional responsibilities. It provides the public with one of the essentials of democracy: access to authoritative, accurate information.
The statutes governing the government printing office, or GPO, have seen modest updates over the years, including the name change from the government printing office, which I probably said in mistake, to the Government Publishing Office, but much of the law still predates the digital era.
This bill further modernizes those statutes, streamlines GPO's operations, and improves public access to government information. I support these efforts which will help strengthen the GPO's capacity and, in turn, Congress' capacity to do its work.
Among other things, the bill updates the Federal Depository Library Program, or FDLP, to more effectively provide free, equitable, and convenient public access to government information. For example, it will allow depository libraries to substitute digital copies of government documents for hard copies. Doing so will free up much-needed physical space in libraries and let libraries without room on their shelves take part in the program and continue to serve the public.
This bill also includes several improvements to GPO operations, including its procurement authorities and certain personnel policies. Together with the other legislation we are considering today to reform how the GPO Director is appointed, these changes will strengthen the agency and its ability to serve Congress and the public.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Bice for her leadership. I support the legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).
Stephanie I. Bice (R-OK)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank my colleague, Mr. Morelle, for his support of this very important piece of legislation.
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 9342, the GPO Modernization Act of 2026. As the chair of the Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation, I am pleased to have introduced this legislation to both modernize and encourage innovation at the Government Publishing Office by helping bring them into the 21st century.
The GPO first opened its doors in 1861 and served as the printing office for Congress, Federal agencies, and the judiciary. Later, its mission expanded to include management of the Federal Depository Library Program and the GovInfo website, which serve as public repositories for government information.
Through roundtable conversations with institutional staff and leaders, we learned that this 19th century institution operates under 20th century rules in the 21st century.
Earlier this year, GPO Director Halpern testified before the Committee on House Administration and said the agency operates in the liminal spaces of its statute to meet the needs of Congress and Federal agencies.
This bipartisan legislation hopes to address this need and seeks to change the outdated statutes, helping GPO meet its needs and helping us better serve the American people.
The bill gives GPO greater flexibility to continue its business operations, which already funds 90 percent of its operations. It allows the Superintendent of Documents to meet customer demand by setting competitive and realistic prices for the sale of documents. It also allows the agencies to strategically dispose of excess publications for which there is little public interest.
Specifically, this legislation will repeal antiquated printing provisions and require future editions of the annotated Constitution, or CONAN, to be published online. Producing CONAN is costly, costing taxpayers roughly $1 million a year.
Furthermore, the bill will also require future editions of the Congressional Directory to be published online, saving additional taxpayer dollars.
It will expand the digital presence of the Federal Depository Library Program and ensure government public information remains accessible for free use by the American public, mimicking a finding by the GPO's task force on a digital Federal Depository Library Program.
This bill is simple. It brings GPO up to par with other legislative branch agencies, giving them the desperate statutory updates the Office has continually asked Congress for.
Mr. Speaker, I thank GPO Director Halpern and the CHA staff for their work on this, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan commonsense legislation.
Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was on the bubble, but that brilliant oration by Mrs. Bice has persuaded me to continue to support the bill. I thank her for her good work, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9342, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:10 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 9342, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act
Pages H5551–H5557 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 10204) to modify the appointment and removal process for certain legislative branch officers, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,231 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act".
SEC. 2. LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--The Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-86; 129 Stat. 675), is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 3 as section 5;
(2) by redesignating section 2 as section 3;
(3) by inserting after section 1 the following:
"SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
"In this Act:
"(1) Commission.--The term `commission' means a congressional commission consisting of the oversight committee leadership and the House and Senate leadership.
"(2) Deputy librarian.--The term `Deputy Librarian' means the Deputy Librarian of Congress.
"(3) House and senate leadership.--The term `House and Senate leadership' means the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader of the Senate.
"(4) Librarian.--The term `Librarian' means the Librarian of Congress.
"(5) Oversight committee leadership.--The term `oversight committee leadership' means the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate."; and
(4) in section 3, as so redesignated--
(A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
"(a) Appointment.--
"(1) Commission.--The Librarian shall be appointed by the commission in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (2), without regard to political affiliation, and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the office.
"(2) Appointment procedures.--
"(A) Recommendation of 3 individuals.--If there is a vacancy in the position of Librarian, the oversight committee leadership shall jointly recommend 3 individuals for appointment to the vacant office.
"(B) Selection by leaders.--The Librarian shall be appointed from among the 3 individuals recommended under subparagraph (A) upon a majority vote of the House and Senate leadership.";
(B) in subsection (b), by striking "of Congress";
(C) in subsection (c), by striking "of Congress, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,"; and
(D) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
"(d) Removal.--The Librarian may be removed from office at any time upon a majority vote of the House and Senate leadership.".
(b) Pay.--Section 904 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1983 (2 U.S.C. 136a-2) is amended--
(1) by inserting "(a)" before "Notwithstanding"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(b) The Librarian of Congress shall not be considered to serve under a political appointment for purposes of section 747 of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2024 (division B of Public Law 118-47; 138 Stat. 585), or any other subsequently enacted similar provision of law.".
SEC. 3. DEPUTY LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.
The Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-86; 129 Stat. 675), is amended by inserting after section 3, as so redesignated, the following:
"SEC. 4. DEPUTY LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.
"(a) Establishment of Deputy Librarian.--
"(1) In general.--The Librarian shall appoint a suitable individual to be the Deputy Librarian of Congress.
"(2) Duties.--The Librarian may delegate to the Deputy Librarian such duties as the Librarian determines are necessary or appropriate.
"(b) Deadline.--The Librarian shall appoint a Deputy Librarian under subsection (a)(1) not later than 120 days after--
"(1) the date on which the Librarian is appointed under section 3, if there is no Deputy Librarian on the date of the appointment; or
"(2) the date on which a vacancy arises in the office of the Deputy Librarian.
"(c) Failure to Appoint.--If the Librarian does not appoint a Deputy Librarian on or before the applicable date specified in subsection (b)--
"(1) the oversight committee leadership shall jointly recommend an individual for appointment to the vacant office; and
"(2) upon a majority vote of the House and Senate leadership, the individual recommended under paragraph (1) shall be appointed as the Deputy Librarian.
"(d) Notification.--If the position of Deputy Librarian becomes vacant, the Librarian shall immediately notify the members of the commission.
"(e) Service as Acting Librarian.--
"(1) In general.--The Deputy Librarian shall act as Librarian if the Librarian is absent or disabled or there is no Librarian.
"(2) Absence, disability, or vacancy in office of deputy librarian.--
"(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), if the Deputy Librarian is also absent or disabled or there is no Deputy Librarian--
"(i) the oversight committee leadership shall jointly recommend an individual to be designated to serve as acting Librarian; and
"(ii) upon a majority vote of the members of the House and Senate leadership, the individual recommended under clause (i) shall be designated to serve as acting Librarian.
"(B) Period of appointment.--An individual designated as acting Librarian under subparagraph (A) may serve until--
"(i) the end of the absence or disability of the Librarian or the Deputy Librarian; or
"(ii) in the case of vacancies in both positions, a Librarian has been appointed under section 3.
"(3) Authority.--An officer serving as acting Librarian under paragraph (1) or (2) shall perform all the duties and exercise all the authorities of the Librarian, including the authority to delegate the duties and authorities of the Librarian.".
SEC. 4. DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE.
(a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting before section 301 the following:
"Sec. 300. Definitions
"In this chapter--
"(1) the term `commission' means a congressional commission consisting of the oversight committee leadership and the House and Senate leadership;
"(2) the term `House and Senate leadership' means the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader of the Senate; and
"(3) the term `oversight committee leadership' means the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate."; and
(2) in section 301--
(A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
"(a)(1) The Government Publishing Office shall be headed by a Director.
"(2)(A) The Director shall be appointed by the commission in accordance with the procedures specified in subparagraph (B), without regard to political affiliation, and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the office.
"(B)(i) If there is a vacancy in the position of Director, the oversight committee leadership shall jointly recommend 3 individuals for appointment to the vacant office.
"(ii) The Director shall be appointed from among the 3 individuals recommended under clause (i), upon a majority vote of the House and Senate leadership.";
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ", by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,"; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
"(d) The Director may be removed from office at any time upon a majority vote of the members of the House and Senate leadership.".
(b) Pay.--Section 303 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting "(a)" before "The annual rate of pay for the Director of the Government Publishing Office"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(b) The Director of the Government Publishing Office shall not be considered to serve under a political appointment for purposes of section 747 of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2024 (division B of Public Law 118-47; 138 Stat. 585), or any other subsequently enacted similar provision of law.".
(c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 3 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the item relating to section 301 the following:
"300. Definitions.".
SEC. 5. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE.
(a) In General.--Section 302 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 302. Deputy Director of the Government Publishing
Office: appointment; duties
"(a) In this section--
"(1) the term `Deputy Director' means the Deputy Director of the Government Publishing Office; and
"(2) the term `Director' means the Director of the Government Publishing Office.
"(b)(1) The Director shall appoint a suitable person to be the Deputy Director.
"(2) The Deputy Director shall supervise the buildings occupied by the Government Publishing Office and perform any other duties required by the Director.
"(c) The Director shall appoint a Deputy Director under subsection (b)(1) not later than 120 days after--
"(1) the date on which the Director is appointed under section 301, if there is no Deputy Director on the date of the appointment; or
"(2) the date on which a vacancy arises in the office of the Deputy Director.
"(d) If the Director does not appoint a Deputy Director on or before the applicable date specified in subsection (c)--
"(1) the oversight committee leadership shall jointly recommend an individual for appointment to the vacant office; and
"(2) upon a majority vote of the House and Senate leadership, the individual recommended under paragraph (1) shall be appointed as the Deputy Director.
"(e) If the position of Deputy Director becomes vacant, the Director shall immediately notify the members of the commission.".
(b) Service as Acting Director.--Section 304 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 304. Director of the Government Publishing Office:
vacancy in office
"(a) In this section, the terms `Deputy Director' and `Director' have the meanings given such terms in section 302(a).
"(b) The Deputy Director shall act as Director if the Director is absent or disabled or there is no Director.
"(c)(1) For purposes of subsection (b), if the Deputy Director is also absent or disabled or there is no Deputy Director--
"(A) the oversight committee leadership shall jointly recommend an individual to be designated to serve as acting Director; and
"(B) upon a majority vote of the House and Senate leadership, the individual recommended under subparagraph (A) shall be designated as the acting Director.
"(2) An individual designated as acting Director under paragraph (1) may serve until--
"(A) the end of the absence or disability of the Director or the Deputy Director; or
"(B) in the case of vacancies in both positions, a Director has been appointed under section 301.
"(d) An officer serving as acting Director under subsection (b) or (c) shall perform all the duties and exercise all the authorities of the Director, including the authority to delegate the duties and authorities of the Director.".
SEC. 6.
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COPYRIGHT OFFICE.
(a) Removing Supervisory Authority of Library of Congress Over Copyright Office.--
(1) In general.--Title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in chapter 1--
(i) in section 111(d)--
(I) in paragraph (2), in the second sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(II) in paragraph (4)--
(aa) in subparagraph (B), in the second sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(bb) in subparagraph (C), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(ii) in section 112(e)(5), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(iii) in section 114(f)(2), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(iv) in section 115(d)--
(I) in paragraph (3)(A)(iv), by striking ", with the approval of the Librarian of Congress pursuant to section 702,"; and
(II) in paragraph (5)(A)(iv), by striking ", with the approval of the Librarian of Congress pursuant to section 702,";
(v) in section 118(b)(2), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(vi) in section 119(b)--
(I) in paragraph (3), in the second sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(II) in paragraph (5)--
(aa) in subparagraph (B), in the second sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(bb) in subparagraph (C), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(B) in chapter 7--
(i) in section 701--
(I) in subsection (a)--
(aa) in the first sentence, by striking "of the Library of Congress"; and
(bb) by striking the second sentence and inserting the following: "The Register of Copyrights shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, but before the President makes such an appointment, the chair and ranking minority member of each of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate shall jointly recommend 3 individuals whom the President may consider in making the appointment. The subordinate officers and employees of the Copyright Office shall be appointed by the Register of Copyrights.";
(II) in subsection (d)--
(aa) in the first sentence, by striking "the Librarian of"; and
(bb) by striking the second sentence; and
(III) in subsection (f), by striking the second and third sentences and inserting the following: "The Register of Copyrights shall establish not more than 4 positions for Associate Registers of Copyrights and shall make appointments to those positions.";
(ii) in section 702, by striking the second sentence and inserting "The Register shall consult with the Librarian of Congress prior to establishing regulations that affect deposits made under sections 407 and 704 of this title. The Register shall consult with the Librarian of Congress before establishing any regulation under this title that affects the authority, rights, or access of the Library of Congress under this title with respect to any material deposited in the Copyright Office."; and
(iii) in section 704(d), by striking "joint discretion of the Register and the Librarian" and inserting "discretion of the Register, in consultation with the Librarian,";
(C) in chapter 8--
(i) in section 801--
(I) in subsection (a)--
(aa) in the first sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(bb) by striking the second sentence;
(II) in subsection (d), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(III) in subsection (e)--
(aa) in the heading, by striking "Library of Congress" and inserting "Copyright Office"; and
(bb) by striking "Library of Congress" and inserting "Copyright Office";
(ii) in section 802--
(I) in subsection (d)--
(aa) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(bb) in paragraph (2), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(II) in subsection (f)(2)--
(aa) in subparagraph (A), by striking "Library of Congress" and inserting "Copyright Office"; and
(bb) in subparagraph (B), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(III) in subsection (h), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(IV) in subsection (i)--
(aa) by striking "Librarian of Congress" each place that term appears and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(bb) in the third sentence, by striking "Librarian" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(iii) in section 803--
(I) in subsection (a)(1), in the second sentence--
(aa) by striking "the Librarian of Congress" and inserting "the Register of Copyrights"; and
(bb) by striking "of the Librarian of Congress or" and inserting "of";
(II) in subsection (b)(6)(A), in the second sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(III) in subsection (c)(6)--
(aa) by striking "Librarian of Congress" each place that term appears and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(bb) in the second sentence, by striking "Librarian" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(IV) in subsection (e)(1)--
(aa) in the paragraph heading, by striking "library of congress and"; and
(bb) in subparagraph (A)--
(AA) by striking "The Librarian of Congress" and inserting "The Register of Copyrights"; and
(BB) by striking "the Librarian of Congress, the Copyright Office, and" and inserting "the Copyright Office and";
(D) in section 1007--
(i) in subsection (b), in the third sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(ii) in subsection (c), in the third sentence, by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(E) in section 1201(a)(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i)--
(aa) in the first sentence, by striking "the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and comment on his or her views in making such recommendation" and inserting "the Register of Copyrights, after consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information"; and
(bb) in the second sentence, by striking "the Librarian" and inserting "the Register of Copyrights"; and
(II) in clause (v), by striking "Librarian" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking "Librarian" each place that term appears and inserting "Register of Copyrights";
(F) in section 1331, by striking "of the Library of Congress"; and
(G) in chapter 15--
(i) in section 1502(b)--
(I) in paragraph (1)--
(aa) in the first sentence, by striking "recommend" and inserting "appoint"; and
(bb) by striking the second sentence;
(II) in paragraph (6)--
(aa) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking "the Librarian of Congress shall, upon the recommendation of, and in consultation with, the Register of Copyrights," and inserting "the Register of Copyrights shall"; and
(bb) in subparagraph (B), by striking "the Librarian of Congress shall, upon recommendation of, and in consultation with, the Register of Copyrights," and inserting "the Register of Copyrights shall"; and
(III) in paragraph (7), by striking "Librarian of Congress" and inserting "Register of Copyrights"; and
(ii) in section 1503(b)(3), by striking "Library of Congress or".
(2) Amendments to other laws.--
(A) Computer software rental amendments act of 1990.--Section 805(d) of the Computer Software Rental Amendments Act of 1990 (17 U.S.C. 205 note; Public Law 101-650) is amended by striking the second sentence.
(B) Unlocking consumer choice and wireless competition act.--Section 2 of the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act (17 U.S.C. 1201 note; Public Law 113-144) is amended--
(i) in the heading, by striking "by librarian of congress";
(ii) in subsection (a), by inserting after "United States Code," the following: "(as in effect before the date of enactment of the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act)";
(iii) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
"(2) as authorized by an exemption adopted by--
"(A) the Librarian of Congress pursuant to a determination made on or after the date of enactment of this Act and before the date of enactment of the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code; or
"(B) the Register of Copyrights pursuant to a determination made on or after the date of enactment of the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code,"; and
(iv) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
"(2) Librarian of congress; register of copyrights.--Nothing in this Act alters, or shall be construed to alter, the authority of--
"(A) the Librarian of Congress under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, as in effect before the date of enactment of the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act; or
"(B) the Register of Copyrights under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, as in effect on or after the date of enactment of the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act.".
(C) Act of june 13, 1957.--The first section of the Act entitled "An Act to fix the responsibilities of certifying officers and disbursing officer of the Library of Congress", approved June 13, 1957 (2 U.S.C. 142b), is amended by striking ", including the Copyright Office,".
(b) Register of Copyrights Qualifications; Term of Office.--Section 701(a) of title 17, United States Code, as amended by this section, is amended--
(1) by inserting before "shall be appointed by the President" the following: "shall be a citizen of the United States with a background and experience in copyright law, and"; and
(2) by inserting before "The subordinate officers" the following: "The Register of Copyrights shall be appointed for a term of 10 years, but if the Register is appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the most immediate predecessor was appointed, the Register shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. The Register may be reappointed for 1 or more additional terms of 5 years each.".
(c) Establishment of Inspector General of the Copyright Office.--Section 1307 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 (2 U.S.C.
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185), is amended by adding at the end the following:
"(i) Establishment of Inspector General of the Copyright Office as a Separate Office.--
"(1) Office of inspector general.--There is an Office of Inspector General within the Copyright Office which is an independent objective office to--
"(A) conduct and supervise audits and investigations (excluding incidents involving violence and personal property) relating to the Copyright Office, except that nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to authorize the Inspector General to audit or investigate any operations or activities of the United States Capitol Police;
"(B) provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness; and
"(C) provide a means of keeping the Register of Copyrights and the Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration and operations of the Copyright Office.
"(2) Appointment of inspector general; supervision; removal; pay; limits on bonuses; counsel.--
"(A) Appointment and supervision.--
"(i) In general.--There shall be at the head of the Office of Inspector General, an Inspector General who shall be appointed by the Register of Copyrights without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. The Inspector General shall report to, and be under the general supervision of, the Register of Copyrights.
"(ii) Audits, investigations, and reports.--The Register of Copyrights shall have no authority to prevent or prohibit the Inspector General from--
"(I) initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation;
"(II) issuing any subpoena during the course of any audit or investigation; or
"(III) issuing any report.
"(B) Removal or transfer.--
"(i) In general.--The Inspector General may be removed from office, or transferred to another position within, or another location of, the Copyright Office, by the Register of Copyrights.
"(ii) Notice.--Not later than 30 days before the Register of Copyrights removes or transfers the Inspector General under clause (i), the Register of Copyrights shall communicate in writing the reason for the removal or transfer to--
"(I) the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
"(II) the Committee on Rules and Administration and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
"(iii) Applicability.--Nothing in this subparagraph shall prohibit a personnel action (except for removal or transfer) that is otherwise authorized by law.
"(C) Pay.--
"(i) In general.--The position of Inspector General shall--
"(I) be classified as a position above GS-15 in accordance with section 5108 of title 5, United States Code; and
"(II) have a rate of basic pay that is not less than the average rate of basic pay of all other employees in positions classified as above GS-15 of the Copyright Office calculated on an annual basis.
"(ii) Adjustments.--The Register of Copyrights shall establish the amount of the annual adjustment in the rate of basic pay for the Inspector General in an amount equal to the average of the annual adjustments in the rate of basic pay provided to all other employees in positions classified as above GS-15 of the Copyright Office, in a manner consistent with section 5376 of title 5, United States Code.
"(D) No bonuses.--The Inspector General may not receive any cash award or cash bonus, including a cash award under chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code.
"(E) Counsel.--The Inspector General shall, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing selections, appointments, and employment at the Copyright Office, obtain legal advice from a counsel reporting directly to the Inspector General or another Inspector General.
"(3) Duties, responsibilities, authority, and reports.--
"(A) In general.--Sections 404, 405 (other than subsection (b)(13)), 406(a) (other than paragraphs (7) and (8) thereof), and 407 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to the Inspector General of the Copyright Office and the Office of such Inspector General and such sections shall be applied to the Copyright Office and the Register of Copyrights by substituting--
"(i) `Copyright Office' for `establishment'; and
"(ii) `Register of Copyrights' for `head of the establishment'.
"(B) Employees.--
"(i) In general.--The Inspector General, in carrying out the provisions of this subsection, is authorized, without the supervision or approval of any other employee, office, or other entity within the Copyright Office, to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees (including consultants) as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General subject to the provisions of law governing selections, appointments, and employment in the Copyright Office.
"(ii) Security and suitability.--Appointments under the authority under clause (i) shall be made consistent with personnel security and suitability requirements.
"(iii) Consultants.--Any appointment of a consultant under the authority under clause (i) shall be made consistent with section 406(a)(9) of title 5, United States Code.
"(C) Law enforcement authority.--
"(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), any supervisory special agent under the Inspector General and any special agent supervised by such a supervisory special agent is authorized to--
"(I) make an arrest without a warrant while engaged in official duties as authorized under this section or any other statute for any offense against the United States committed in the presence of such supervisory special agent or special agent, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if such supervisory special agent or special agent has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony;
"(II) seek and execute warrants for arrest, search of a premises, or seizure of evidence issued under the authority of the United States upon probable cause to believe that a violation has been committed; and
"(III) carry a firearm while engaged in official duties as authorized under this section or any other statute.
"(ii) Requirements to exercise authority.--
"(I) Required certification.--
"(aa) In general.--In order to exercise the authority under clause (i), a supervisory special agent or a special agent supervised by such a supervisory special agent shall certify that he or she--
"(AA) is a citizen of the United States;
"(BB) has successfully completed a basic law enforcement training program or military or other equivalent; and
"(CC) is not prohibited from receiving a firearm under Federal law, including under section 922(g)(9) of title 18, United States Code, because of a conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
"(bb) Additional requirements.--After providing notice to the appropriate committees of Congress, the Inspector General may add requirements to the certification required under item (aa), as determined appropriate by the Inspector General.
"(II) Maintenance of requirements.--The Inspector General shall maintain firearms-
related requirements (including quarterly firearms qualifications) and use of force training requirements that, except to the extent the Inspector General determines necessary to effectively carry out the duties of the Office of the Inspector General, are in accordance with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency use of force policies, which incorporate Department of Justice guidelines.
"(III) Eligibility determination.--
"(aa) In general.--The Inspector General shall--
"(AA) determine whether an individual meets the requirements under this subparagraph; and
"(BB) revoke any authority granted to an individual under clause (i) if the individual is not in compliance with the requirements of this subparagraph.
"(bb) Reauthorization.--The Inspector General may reauthorize an individual to exercise the authority granted under clause (i) if the Inspector General determines the individual has achieved compliance with the requirements under this subparagraph.
"(cc) Limitation on appeal.--A revocation of the authority granted under clause (i) shall not be subject to administrative, judicial, or other review, unless the revocation results in an adverse action. Such an adverse action may, at the election of the applicable individual, be reviewed in accordance with the otherwise applicable procedures.
"(iii) Semiannual certification of program.--
"(I) In general.--Before the first grant of authority under clause (i), and semiannually thereafter as part of the report under section 405 of title 5, United States Code, the Inspector General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a written certification that adequate internal safeguards and management procedures exist that, except to the extent the Inspector General determines necessary to effectively carry out the duties of the Office of the Inspector General, are in compliance with standards established by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, which incorporate Department of Justice guidelines, to ensure proper exercise of the powers authorized under this subparagraph.
"(II) Suspension of authority.--The authority granted under this subparagraph (including any grant of authority to an individual under clause (i), without regard to whether the individual is in compliance with clause (ii)) may be suspended by the Inspector General if the Office of Inspector General fails to comply with the reporting and review requirements under subclause (I) of this clause or clause (iv). Any suspension of authority under this subclause shall be reported to the appropriate committees of Congress.
"(iv) Peer review.--To ensure the proper exercise of the law enforcement powers authorized under this subparagraph, the Office of Inspector General shall submit to and participate in the external review process established by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency for ensuring that adequate internal safeguards and management procedures continue to exist. Under the review process, the exercise of the law enforcement powers by the Office of Inspector General shall be reviewed periodically by another Office of Inspector General or by a committee of Inspectors General.
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The results of each review shall be communicated in writing to the Inspector General, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and the appropriate committees of Congress.
"(v) Alleged misconduct.--Any allegation of misconduct by an individual granted authority under clause (i) may be reviewed by the Integrity Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.
"(vi) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this paragraph, the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
"(I) the Committee on Rules and Administration and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
"(II) the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
"(D) Budget independence.--The Register of Copyrights shall include the annual budget request of the Inspector General in the budget of the Copyright Office without change.".
(d) Appointment of Acting Officers by Acting Register.--Section 701(a) of title 17, United States Code, as amended by this section, is amended by adding at the end the following: "Any officer appointed by an acting Register of Copyrights, including a Copyright Royalty Judge, shall be an acting officer, and may be removed from office at any time by an individual serving in the office of Register of Copyrights pursuant to an appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.".
(e) Ratification of Actions Taken by Copyright Entities Prior to Enactment.--Each action taken under title 17, United States Code, by the Copyright Office, the Register of Copyrights, the Copyright Royalty Judges, or the Copyright Claims Board during the period beginning on May 8, 2025, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act is ratified and shall be given full force and effect.
(f) Support Agreements; Reimbursement.--Section 701 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
"(g) Support Agreements; Reimbursement.--The Library of Congress and any other agency or office in the legislative branch of the Federal Government may provide administrative, facilities, financial management, information technology, legal, security, and other appropriate support to the Copyright Office as provided under an agreement for services entered into by the applicable agency or office and the Copyright Office.".
(g) Transition Provisions.--During the period specified in paragraph (1):
(1) Period.--The period specified in this paragraph is the period that begins on the date of the enactment of this Act and ends on September 30, 2029.
(2) Transfers of appropriations.--The Register of Copyrights and the Librarian of Congress may enter into such agreements as necessary to transfer appropriated amounts from one to the other if such amounts are necessary to carry out this Act and effectuate the separation of the Copyright Office and the Library of Congress.
(3) Personnel.--The laws with respect to the personnel of the Federal Government shall apply to the personnel of the Copyright Office to the same extent as such laws apply to the Library of Congress. Each officer or employee of the Copyright Office shall be appointed solely with reference to the fitness of the officer or employee to carry out the particular duties of the officer or employee.
SEC. 7. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE PERSONNEL REFORMS.
(a) Application of the Congressional Accountability Act to the Government Publishing Office.--Section 101(a) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (J), by striking "or";
(B) in subparagraph (K), by striking the period at the end and inserting "; or"; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
"(L) the Government Publishing Office.";
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking "through (K)" and inserting "through (L)";
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking "through (K)" and inserting "through (L)"; and
(4) in paragraph (9)(D)--
(A) by striking "and the John" and inserting "the John"; and
(B) by inserting ", and the Government Publishing Office" before "; or".
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 2301(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"(a) This section shall apply to an Executive agency.".
(2) Section 2302(a)(2)(C) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking "and the Government Publishing Office".
(3) Section 4301(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking "(1) `agency' means--" and all that follows through "but does not include--" and inserting the following:
"(1) `agency' means an Executive agency, but does not include--"; and
(B) by redesignating clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
(4) Section 4701(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking "and the Government Publishing Office".
(5) Section 5102(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking subparagraph (D); and
(B) redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively.
SEC. 8. HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE GOVERNMENT
PUBLISHING OFFICE.
(a) In General.--Section 305(a) of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the first sentence--
(A) by striking "other persons" and inserting "other people"; and
(B) by striking "the persons employed" and inserting "those employed";
(2) in the second sentence, by striking "persons" and inserting "people";
(3) by striking the third sentence; and
(4) by striking "oftener than once a year." and inserting "more often than once a year.".
(b) Human Capital Management System.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 3 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 306 the following:
"Sec. 306A. Director of the Government Publishing Office;
human capital management system
"(a) The Director of the Government Publishing Office shall establish and maintain a human capital management system (in this section referred to as the `system').
"(b) The system shall--
"(1) include the merit system principles set forth under section 2301(b) of title 5;
"(2) prohibit any personnel practice prohibited under section 2302(b) of title 5;
"(3) prohibit any political activity prohibited under subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 5;
"(4) ensure that officers and employees of the Government Publishing Office are appointed, promoted, and assigned only on the basis of merit and fitness;
"(5) be established without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments and other personnel actions in the competitive service; and
"(6) give a preference to an individual eligible for a hiring preference in the executive branch of the United States Government in a way and to an extent consistent with the preference given the individual for a position in the executive branch.
"(c)(1) The Director may prescribe regulations about the system only--
"(A) after notice and opportunity for public comment; and
"(B) with the approval of the Joint Committee on Printing.
"(2) An officer or employee of the Government Publishing Office may not make a reprisal or threat of reprisal against another officer or employee of the Government Publishing Office because of comments on a proposed regulation about the system.".
(2) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 3 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 306 the following:
"306A. Director of the Government Publishing Office; human capital management system.". (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed to affect any proceeding or payment of an award or settlement relating to a claim which is pending on the effective date of this section under--(1) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000e et seq.); (2) chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code (relating to Federal service labor-management relations); (3) an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board; or (4) subchapter II, chapter 12, of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 9. UPDATE TO PRINT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 501 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 501. Government printing, binding, blank-book work,
and publishing services by the Government Publishing Office
"The Government Publishing Office may perform printing, binding, blank-book work, and publishing services for Congress, the Executive Office of the President, the Judiciary, and every executive department, independent office, and establishment of the Government.".
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 207(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1993 (44 U.S.C. 501 note) is repealed.
(2) The table of sections for chapter 5 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 501 and inserting the following:
"501. Government printing, binding, blank-book work, and publishing services by the Government Publishing Office.".
SEC. 10. APPLICABILITY.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall apply on and after the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Exceptions.--
(1) Librarian.--
(A) Appointment.--Subsection (a) of section 3 of the Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015, as redesignated and amended by this Act, shall apply to any appointment to the position of Librarian of Congress made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(B) Removal.--Subsection (d) of section 3 of the Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015, as redesignated and amended by this Act, shall apply with respect to an individual appointed to the position of Librarian of Congress before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(C) Pay.--Subsection (b) of section 904 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1983 (2 U.S.C.
Text printed in the Record (3,277 characters)
136a-2), as added by this Act, shall apply on and after the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Deputy librarian appointment.--Subsections (a)(1), (b), and (c) of section 4 of the Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015, as added by this Act, shall apply to any appointment to the position of Deputy Librarian of Congress made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) Director of gpo.--
(A) Appointment.--Subsection (a)(2) of section 301 of title 44, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall apply to any appointment to the position of Director of the Government Publishing Office made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(B) Removal.--Subsection (d) of section 301 of title 44, United States Code, as added by this Act, shall apply with respect to an individual appointed to the position of Director of the Government Publishing Office before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(C) Pay.--Subsection (b) of section 303 of title 44, United States Code, as added by this Act, shall apply on and after the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(4) Deputy director of gpo appointment.--Subsections (b)(1), (c), and (d) of section 302 of title 44, United States Code, as added by this Act, shall apply to any appointment to the position of Deputy Director of the Government Publishing Office made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(5) Register of copyrights; subordinate officers and employees generally.--Section 701(a) of title 17, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall apply to any appointment to the position of Register of Copyrights or to the position of a subordinate officer or employee of the Copyright Office made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(6) Associate registers of copyrights.--Section 701(f) of title 17, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall apply to any appointment to the position of Associate Register of Copyrights made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(7) Copyright royalty judges.--Sections 801(a) and 802(d)(1) of title 17, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall apply to any appointment to the position of Copyright Royalty Judge (including the Chief Copyright Royalty Judge or an interim Copyright Royalty Judge) made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(8) Copyright claims officers.--Section 1502(b)(1) of title 17, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall apply to any appointment to the position of Copyright Claims Officer made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(9) Human capital management system for the government publishing office.--Section 8 and the amendments made by section 8 shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 11. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of any such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, and the application of such provision or amendment to any other person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Morelle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
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 this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 10204, the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act, makes important reforms for several vital institutions that serve Congress and the American people, including the Library of Congress, the Government Publishing Office, and the United States Copyright Office.
The bill is not to be confused with H.R. 6028, although they are substantially similar, which passed the House by a voice vote in June with widespread bipartisan support and contains the same provisions as H.R. 10204.
The underlying text contains two small technical corrections that committee staff and I added to ensure the smooth implementation of the legislation's key provisions, and I think we have agreement on that.
At its core, the bill is about ensuring that agencies of the legislative branch are governed in a manner consistent with our constitutional system, improving continuity in leadership, and strengthening congressional oversight.
Though the Librarian of Congress and Director of the Government Publishing Office belong to the legislative branch, their leadership is currently appointed by the President. This legislation removes structural inconsistencies by establishing a congressional appointment framework for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office.
Under the bill, bipartisan recommendations will be provided by the leadership of the House Administration Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with final selections made by congressional leadership.
These changes are not unprecedented, and they closely mirror the bipartisan appointment process Congress adopted for the Architect of the Capitol, which granted congressional control over a key legislative branch institution.
Additionally, because of the executive nature of the U.S. Copyright Office, this bill provides that the Register of Copyrights will be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, while keeping a close relationship between the Register of Copyrights and the Librarian of Congress.
The Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act modernizes leadership structure and clarifies lines of authority so that we can strengthen the institutions that support Congress and ensure they are positioned to serve this body effectively for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is very much like 6028. As I said, there are two minor technical changes in there. We wouldn't have gotten the base done without bipartisan support. I thank Mr. Morelle for his hard work on helping us improve this bill through the process. We have actually worked on this for well over a year now, trying to get it correct.
In all fairness, Mr. Speaker, to satisfy some of our friends on the other side of the building, we made two little technical changes that I think will make them happy. We were already happy.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 10204, the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act. Apart from a few technical corrections, as my friend has described, this bill is identical to H.R. 6028, which passed the House in June.
It updates the appointment process for the heads of two legislative branch agencies: the Library of Congress and the Government Publishing Office. It also creates a new Presidential appointment, subject to Senate confirmation, for the Register of Copyrights, and makes clear that the United States Copyright Office, which is currently part of the Library of Congress, will remain in the legislative branch.
I thank the bill's author, Representative Griffith, as well as Chairman Steil, and their staff for working with us to improve prior versions of this legislation. It did, indeed, take many months, but I appreciated the openness and willingness of the majority to entertain some of the suggestions we made, which I do think make the bill stronger.
In addition to ensuring the Copyright Office remains a legislative branch entity, the bill protects the Copyright Office's workforce, who will enjoy the same rights, privileges, and protections they hold today as Library employees. I do think that is very important. I have long said the Library of Congress should be appointed by Congress, and this bill achieves that important goal.
Still, we must make this change thoughtfully and be mindful of the consequences, particularly for the Copyright Office. Copyright authorities are enshrined in Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Constitution, and the Copyright Office has resided in the legislative branch for well over a century. It should remain there, and that is the intent of this bill.
The copyright economy, I might add, contributes more than $2 trillion annually to our economy and supports more than 11 million American jobs--but only with a stable, reliable, and apolitical copyright system. This bill helps to preserve it at a critical moment for copyright stakeholders and millions of Library users.
The Library and Copyright Office have operated in partnership for more than 150 years, and the Copyright Office depends on the Library's infrastructure. The Library builds its collections through the copyright deposits, so severing that relationship would harm both institutions.
The bill recognizes this: It establishes a significant transition period. It allows the Copyright Office to continue Library support services. It requires the Register to consult with the Librarian before taking any action affecting the Library's access to copyright deposits. It safeguards the rights of Copyright Office employees.
For too long, Congress has allowed its own authority and capacity to atrophy. The Library, Copyright Office, Government Publishing Office, and other support agencies we rely on are funded from a legislative branch budget that amounts to roughly four-tenths of 1 percent of all Federal discretionary spending. If we are serious about legislating on questions as complex as AI and copyright, we must be serious about sustaining the institutions that make that work possible.
Mr. Speaker, the bill is not perfect. I don't know of a bill that has passed this House that has ever been deemed perfect, but it does ensure that the Librarian of Congress can be hired and fired only by Congress and does so while preserving both the Library and Copyright Office as the preeminent institutions in their fields.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend, Mr. Griffith, for his hard work and that of the staff and Chairman Steil.
For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote "yes," and I reserve the balance of my time.
H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)3:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY)3:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate all the hard work that went into this. I think we are in a much better place.
I am pleased to think that if this legislation is successful, the Library of Congress will continue to be the Library of Congress and have its leadership appointed by this body in consultation with our, as Mr. Griffith describes it, friends on the other side of the building. Hopefully, they will see the wisdom in doing this.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)3:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 10204. This is an important bill. It probably won't get headlines or be the lead story on CNN or FOX tonight. But making sure, as the gentleman from New York said, that we have the Librarian of Congress actually answering to Congress, I think that is important.
I think this is a good housekeeping bill in many ways. It does some reform, but it also lets us move forward into the future.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the great work, as I said before, that Mr. Morelle and his team did on getting this bill into a good position. It was a thoughtful exchange. We were just trying to get the bill as good as we could.
I would also be remiss if I didn't recognize my constituent, former Congressman Bob Goodlatte, for his work on trying to make sure that we got the communication lines between the Register of Copyrights and the Librarian of Congress in a good position, as well. As Mr. Morelle pointed out to the body, Mr. Speaker, it is important that both of these institutions remain preeminent in their fields and that they work together, hand in glove, even though one is legislative and one is executive.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:20 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 10204.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Message from the President
Page H5557 · Official textA message in writing from the President of the United States was communicated to the House by Mr. Matthew Hanley, one of his secretaries.
Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act
Pages H5557–H5559 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 283) to require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,350 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act".
SEC. 2. METHODOLOGY FOR IDENTIFYING COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF
SEAFOOD.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term "appropriate committees of Congress" means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
(3) Illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing; iuu fishing.--The terms "illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing" and "IUU fishing" mean "illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing" as such term is defined for purposes of section 609(e) of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826j(e)).
(4) Key agency leadership.--The term "key agency leadership" means the Administrator and the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(5) Red snapper.--The term "red snapper" means the species Lutjanus campechanus.
(6) Tuna.--The term "tuna" means the following species of tuna:
(A) Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus).
(B) Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares).
(C) Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).
(7) Under secretary.--The term "Under Secretary" means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.
(b) Standard Methodology for Identification.--
(1) In general.--Key agency leadership shall jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against IUU fishing and seafood fraud.
(2) Requirements.--Key agency leadership shall ensure that the methodology developed under this subsection--
(A) is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating IUU fishing and seafood fraud;
(B) minimizes processing time;
(C) involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual; and
(D) to the extent practicable, can be used to test prepared food, including raw preparations of seafood, such as ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and poke.
(3) Initial species for identification.--In developing the methodology under this subsection, key agency leadership shall conduct pilot studies on red snapper, as an example of a stationary stock, and tuna, as an example of a highly migratory stock.
(c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following:
(1) A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b).
(2) A plan for operationalizing such methodology.
(3) If the Under Secretary determines any aspect of such methodology is impractical, an explanation relating thereto, whether additional research would make developing such a methodology practicable, and whether a different approach other than chemical analysis might be practicable.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 283, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 283, the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz from Texas.
This legislation would direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the NOAA Administrator to jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood products to support enforcement against illegal, unregulated, or unreported fishing, otherwise known as IUU fishing.
IUU fishing undermines the sustainability of the seafood supply chain and the United States' leadership as a gold standard for fisheries management. This bill will promote innovation to help keep IUU products out of American markets.
I thank Representative Brian Babin from Texas, a sponsor of companion legislation, for his leadership on this issue in the House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 283, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, or IUU fishing, threatens domestic fisheries and ecosystems around the world.
In the United States, up to 32 percent of seafood imports are derived from IUU fishing. These illegal practices harm our economy, disadvantage fishermen, and threaten the long-term health of our oceans and fish stocks.
Mr. Speaker, S. 283 would address one part of that challenge by investing in science to improve the detection of illegally sourced seafood. This bill would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and NOAA to develop a chemical analysis to identify the origin of seafood. If successful, this could assist law enforcement in identifying products from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
This legislation specifically focuses on red snapper and several species of tuna, offering an opportunity to determine whether the chemical analysis research would apply to reef fish and migratory species. This is a practical, bipartisan piece of legislation that would strengthen our ability to identify seafood linked to IUU fishing and improve enforcement efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 283, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), the lead sponsor of the House companion to this bill and chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 283, the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, as amended.
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology using chemical analysis to identify the country of origin of seafood.
Both commercial and recreational fishing contribute significantly to the Texas economy. Red snapper, in particular, is highly sought after by the recreational fishing sector. This effort is especially important in the Gulf of America, where red snapper is a valuable resource for American fishermen and coastal communities.
Illegally harvested seafood can make its way into U.S. markets, undercutting the fishermen and seafood producers who play by the rules.
NIST scientists have developed chemical methods to identify the geographic origin of foods like beef, honey, fruits, and rice. This bill would build on that expertise to give law enforcement another tool to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and seafood fraud.
Today's bill also incorporates edits made by the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee during our bipartisan markup earlier this year as part of H.R. 3706, the Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification Act, also known as the SUSHI Act, which I sponsored.
I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
Val T. Hoyle (D-OR)3:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)3:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, again, S. 283 supports the development of new technology that can help identify and cut off IUU fish products entering our markets.
I greatly appreciate Senator Cruz and Representative Babin for their leadership on this legislation. I urge the passage of S. 283 and yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:30 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 283, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
Pages H5559–H5560 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 759) to provide for the standardization, publication, and accessibility of data relating to public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (8,688 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act".
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Exclusive economic zone.--The term "exclusive economic zone" has the meaning given that term in section 107 of title 46, United States Code.
(2) Fishing restriction.--The term "fishing restriction" means a restriction on fishing in a federally managed fishery established under section 303(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1853(b)(2)), including--
(A) a full or partial fishing closure, in terms of both area and duration, or a seasonal closure;
(B) a no-catch zone in the fishery;
(C) a restriction on the method of catch for the fishery; and
(D) another restriction on fishing, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms "Indian Tribe" and "Tribal organization" have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(4) Native hawaiian organization.--The term "Native Hawaiian organization" has the meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517), except that the term includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs of the State of Hawaii.
(5) Nonprofit organization.--The term "nonprofit organization" means an organization that is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
(6) Recreational vessel.--The term "recreational vessel" has the meaning given that term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code.
(7) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce.
SEC. 3. DATA STANDARDIZATION.
Not later than 31 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations, shall develop and adopt standards with respect to the coordination and dissemination of geospatial data relating to fishing restrictions, use of the exclusive economic zone by recreational vessels, and access to Federal waters by such vessels, including such data made available under section 4.
SEC. 4. DATA PUBLICATION AND ACCESSIBILITY.
(a) Data on Fishing and Recreational Vessels in Exclusive Economic Zone.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Science and Technology of the National Marine Fisheries Service, and to the maximum extent practicable, shall make available on a publicly accessible website geographic information system data that--
(1) includes, with respect to the exclusive economic zone--
(A) information with respect to the conditions under which fishing restrictions are imposed and the areas within the exclusive economic zone that are open or closed to recreational boating, diving, and related recreational activities (as determined by the Secretary), including for safety reasons such as because of the presence of harmful algal blooms;
(B) the areas of the exclusive economic zone with restrictions on the use of motorized propulsion, horsepower, or fuel by or of recreational vessels; and
(C) the types of recreational vessels that are restricted on each area of the exclusive economic zone;
(2) describes the geographic boundaries of areas where fishing restrictions occur; and
(3)(A) identifies Federal marine protected areas, including National Marine Sanctuaries, national marine monuments, and other federally protected waters; and
(B) includes information on what fishing, recreational boating, and other related recreational activities are authorized in each such area.
(b) Data on Navigation Within Exclusive Economic Zone.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall continue to make available digitized geographic information system data that includes, with respect to access to the exclusive economic zone--
(A) navigation information;
(B) bathymetric information;
(C) depth charts; and
(D) other information, consistent with law and policy.
(2) Website.--The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, make the data described in paragraph (1) available on the website on which the Secretary makes the data described in subsection (a) available.
(c) Data Accessibility.--The Secretary shall ensure that the website on which the Secretary makes the data described in subsections (a) and (b) available--
(1) organizes that data so that the data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable; and
(2) includes a mechanism by which users can be easily updated when new data becomes available.
(d) Public Comment.--The Secretary shall develop--
(1) a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data described in subsections (a) and (b) and the accessibility of that data under subsection (c); and
(2) methods to improve the accessibility of data.
(e) Updates.--The Secretary shall update--
(1) the data described in subsections (a)(1) and (b) not less frequently than 2 times each year; and
(2) the data described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) in real time.
(f) Nondisclosure of Certain Information.--The Secretary may not, consistent with applicable law and policy, disclose, in any geographic information system data made publicly available under this section--
(1) information regarding the nature, location, character, or ownership of historic, paleontological, cultural, or archaeological resources; or
(2) commercial fishing information, including proprietary information.
(g) Treatment of Tribal Waters and Fishing Areas.--The authorities granted by this section shall not apply with respect to any usual or accustomed fishing areas or Tribal waters.
SEC. 5. COOPERATION AND COORDINATION.
(a) Community Partners and Third-party Providers.--For purposes of carrying out this Act, the Secretary may--
(1) coordinate and partner with non-Federal entities, including--
(A) States;
(B) Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Tribal organizations;
(C) interstate commissions (as defined in section 303 of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 4102));
(D) Regional Ocean Partnerships (as defined in section 10202 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (16 U.S.C. 1468));
(E) experts in data science, analytics, and operations research;
(F) the private sector, including technology or geospatial data industries;
(G) nonprofit organizations; and
(H) institutions of higher education (as defined in section 201 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)); and
(2) enter into agreements with experts within entities described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (H) of paragraph (1) to carry out any of the provisions of this Act.
(b) Interagency Coordination.--The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, work with the relevant offices of the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping codified by section 12203 of the Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 3502), to ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable Federal databases with respect to the collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational use of the exclusive economic zone.
(c) Applicability of Federal, State, and Tribal Law and Regulations.--The Secretary, in developing and distributing geospatial data under this Act, shall make clear that the data are subject to applicable laws and regulations of the Federal Government, States, and Indian Tribes.
SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed--
(1) to modify or alter the definition of the term "navigable waters" under any provision of Federal law;
(2) to affect the jurisdiction or authority of Federal or State agencies to regulate navigable waters;
(3) to increase or diminish the responsibility or authority of Federal or State agencies or Indian Tribes to manage fisheries under existing law;
(4) to satisfy any requirement for government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations; or
(5) to affect or modify any treaty or other right of any Indian Tribe.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 759, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 759, the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, sponsored by Senator Cruz from Texas.
This legislation would require NOAA to make certain data easily accessible to the multiple users of our ocean resources. Recreational and commercial industries operating on America's waterways need large amounts of data, including waterway closures, speed limits, and fishing restrictions.
Senator Cruz' legislation directs NOAA to work with stakeholders and the public to determine what data to include, then publish it online in a user-friendly format.
I thank Representative Fry of South Carolina, the sponsor of companion legislation in the House of Representatives, for his leadership on this initiative that will enhance safety and improve the recreational experience for ocean users. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 759 would improve access to critical information for ocean users, including recreational boaters and fishers. This bill would direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish standards for NOAA for mapping recreational use of our oceans. This information would include fishing restrictions, vessel access, and navigation information. Area restrictions, such as within the national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments, would be clearly marked on these maps.
The United States' exclusive economic zone covers about 3.4 million square nautical miles and supports 4.5 million recreational fishing vessels. About 11 million registered boats contribute roughly $170 billion annually to the economy.
Currently, access to geospatial data for recreational use is across multiple databases. This lack of centralized data can make it difficult for millions of recreational boaters to understand the latest regulations and puts both boaters and coastal environments at risk.
S. 759 would improve access, transparency, and usability of critical information. By making regulations easier to understand and follow, this bill will help create safer, more enjoyable experiences on the water. This will strengthen coastal economies and improve environmental protection efforts.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is a commonsense step that improves public safety and access to our oceans. I thank Senator Cruz and Representative Fry for their diligent work and attention on this issue.
I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Patronis)
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 759.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025
Pages H5560–H5562 · Official textNATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM INVASIVE SPECIES STRIKE TEAM ACT OF 2025
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4219) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (7,159 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025".
SEC. 2. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM INVASIVE SPECIES
STRIKE TEAM PROGRAM.
(a) National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to identify and respond to priority invasive species threats within or adjacent to National Wildlife Refuge System lands and waters in coordination with partners, to be known as the "National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program".
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall--
(A) establish at least 1 invasive species strike team within each region of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service trained in early detection and rapid response for multiple invasive species taxa to--
(i) conserve, manage, and, where appropriate, restore, habitat conditions that help native biological communities flourish within or adjacent to National Wildlife Refuge System lands and waters;
(ii) conduct appropriate prevention, early detection, rapid response, and management of invasive species;
(iii) use integrated pest management techniques and tools;
(iv) conduct inreach and outreach, including trainings and table-top exercises, including on the use of the Incident Command System, as part of their planning and operations; and
(v) use risk assessments, research, innovations, management outcomes, monitoring, and evaluation to improve the effectiveness of detection and response activities;
(B) engage in partnerships and collaborations with--
(i) Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments;
(ii) nongovernmental institutions;
(iii) nonprofit organizations; and
(iv) private individuals and entities to advance mutual priorities and promote efficiency and cost-savings;
(C) collaborate in the development of a set of consistent taxonomy standards and work with others to implement such standards among each database of the Department of the Interior;
(D) utilize national and regional standardized reporting platforms, such as--
(i) the National Agricultural Pest Information System;
(ii) the National Data Repository of the National Plant Diagnostic Network;
(iii) the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System;
(iv) the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database of the United States Geological Survey;
(v) iMapInvasives; and
(vi) State databases; and
(E) ensure that both identification of and response to priority invasive species threats on lands and waters adjacent to the National Wildlife Refuge System are carried out only at the request of the owner of such lands or waters.
(3) Provision of assistance.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may--
(A) conduct outreach as appropriate to Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments and institutions, as well as private individuals and organizations, to address the management of invasive species within or adjacent to National Wildlife Refuge System lands and waters, including providing or entering into, upon request--
(i) financial assistance, including direct expenditures;
(ii) technical assistance;
(iii) contracts; or
(iv) grants or cooperative agreements; and
(B) upon the request of an entity described in subparagraph (A) and as appropriate, enter into an agreement to provide the expertise and use of an Invasive Species Strike Team established under paragraph (2) to respond to existing or newly detected invasive species.
(4) Coordination of management actions.--The Secretary shall encourage the National Wildlife Refuge System to coordinate the invasive species management actions of each Invasive Species Strike Team with adjacent landowners and the State or Tribal agencies within the State or Tribal lands on which Invasive Species Strike Team activities may occur.
(5) Report.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and make available to the public on the website of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, a report regarding the Program 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section and 5 years after the date of the enactment of this section.
(B) Contents of report.--Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include--
(i) a summary of the work of each Invasive Species Strike Team to address priority invasive species within the National Wildlife Refuge System; and
(ii) progress made by the Program toward the prevention, detection, control, or eradication of each priority invasive species.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Early detection.--The term "early detection" means a process of surveying for, reporting, and verifying the presence of an invasive species before the founding population of such invasive species becomes established or spreads so widely that eradication is no longer feasible.
(2) Eradication.--The term "eradication" means the removal or destruction of an entire population of specific invasive species, or removal of a group of invasive species at a pre-defined geographic scale, confirmed through species-specific post-treatment monitoring with no or little chance of reinvasion.
(3) Invasive species.--The term "invasive species" means, with respect to a given ecosystem, a non-native organism the introduction of which causes or is likely to cause--
(A) economic or environmental harm; or
(B) harm to human, animal, or plant health.
(4) Prevention.--The term "prevention" means actions, such as outreach, education, or inspection stations, associated with stopping invasive species from being introduced or spreading into a new location or ecosystem through various pathways.
(5) Priority invasive species.--The term "priority invasive species" means an invasive species that is a major concern and necessary to map, monitor, and manage based on the following factors:
(A) Potential impact on other native species.
(B) Ability to alter habitats.
(C) Ability to harm human health.
(D) Severity of economic impact.
(6) Program.--The term "Program" means the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program authorized under subsection (a)(1).
(7) Rapid response.--The term "rapid response" means a process that is employed to eradicate or contain the founding or incipient population of an invasive species from a specific location.
(8) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(9) State.--The term "State" means--
(A) each of the several States;
(B) the District of Columbia; and
(C) each territory and possession of the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4219, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 4219, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025.
Invasive species pose a serious threat to our Nation's wildlife and natural resources. They can damage habitat, harm native species, and create significant economic and environmental costs. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a crown jewel of American wildlife conservation, and invasive populations in refuges jeopardize the system's conservation value. We must ensure the Fish and Wildlife Service has the tools it needs to respond quickly to those threats.
The Fish and Wildlife Service currently uses invasive species strike teams to identify and respond to invasive species threats through prevention, early detection, and rapid response. H.R. 4219 strengthens this effort by establishing at least one strike team in each Fish and Wildlife Service region and encouraging coordination with Federal, State, Tribal, local, and private partners.
I support this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4219, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act would codify and build an innovative program within the National Wildlife Refuge System to target and eradicate invasive species.
The National Wildlife Refuge System is the largest network of land and waters in the world dedicated to the conservation of wildlife, but many of these refuges face funding and staffing shortages that make it difficult to keep up with invasive species.
The sooner an invasive species is identified and removed, the more successful and affordable that effort is likely to be. That is where the strike team model comes in. Instead of spreading limited resources thin, strike teams allow the Fish and Wildlife Service to bring large teams into an area and quickly target an invasive species before it can reproduce and spread.
The Fish and Wildlife Service has already demonstrated that this approach works. At the Johnston Atoll, yellow crazy ants had been swarming seabirds and their nests for more than a decade. These ants release a poisonous chemical that can injure birds and cause serious infections.
The Fish and Wildlife Service brought in strike teams to find and eliminate the ants' nests. After several months of intensive works, the yellow crazy ant was completely eradicated. That success has led the Service to use the strike team model in other regions against other invasive species.
We have also heard from stakeholders that these efforts are sometimes limited by what happens just beyond the refuge boundary. Invasive species do not stop at a property line.
That is why this bill allows the Service, on a voluntary basis, to work with willing neighboring landowners to address invasive species on adjacent lands. This will allow the Service to take a more coordinated approach and make better use of limited resources.
H.R. 4219 will help protect wildlife habitat, support the recovery of endangered species, and preserve opportunities for hunting, fishing, and recreation on our national wildlife refuges.
I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) for his work on this important program, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close and reserve the balance of my time.
Val T. Hoyle (D-OR)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), who is the sponsor of the bill.
Ed Case (D-HI)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise today in support of the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, a bipartisan measure which I am proud to have introduced with my colleague from Guam (Mr. Moylan).
A special thanks to the House Natural Resources Committee, on which I was privileged to serve for 6 years, and the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee and full committee, for working with us to develop a mutually acceptable measure and for bringing it to the floor.
As already mentioned, invasive species jeopardize and too often destroy the delicate balance of our ecosystems, as they can outcompete, prey on, or introduce diseases to our native fauna and flora. The consequences of these disruptions are severe, leading to not only extinction of whole species but to declines in biodiversity, diminishment of the resilience of our ecosystems in the face of environmental change, and broader ripple effects economically, socially, and otherwise.
We in Hawaii understand, perhaps better than anyone, just how crucial it is that we remain vigilant in our response to these invasive species. Hawaii's isolation has led to the evolution of many endemic species that are found nowhere else on Earth.
Unfortunately, these native species often lack the defenses to compete or resist the pressures of the some 5,000 introduced invasive plants and animals, which can rapidly alter ecosystems and displace local species. Invasive species have caused significant ecological damage, threatening the survival of native birds and plants. Protecting Hawaii's unique biodiversity, through invaluable national wildlife refuges and otherwise, is not just an environmental necessity. It is also a cultural imperative that reflects the identity and heritage of the Native Hawaiian people.
However, invasive species are not just a localized problem. They pose a significant threat to the integrity of our natural world. Addressing this crisis requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach, focusing first on prevention; second on early detection, which is key; and third on effective and coordinated management strategies to safeguard our vulnerable ecosystems.
Our bill, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, will do just that, codifying the existing program currently operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These specialized teams play an essential role in managing emerging invasive species, employing strategies tailored to local conditions across the National Wildlife Refuge System. With 21 teams strategically positioned in various Fish and Wildlife Service regions, they are on the front lines, addressing the unique challenges posed by invasive species.
As another example, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee has been a part of a strike team for over a decade, working with the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge on the eastern slopes of Mauna Kea to manage little fire ant threats and remove fountain grass and holly plants, which can choke out our native plants. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee is just one of the many great examples of this effective program and reminds us of its crucial and effective work.
This bill also mandates enhanced coordination and reporting through integrated systems and standardized procedures, ensuring transparency and enabling us to track progress with annual reports to Congress and the public. Furthermore, it authorizes $15 million annually through fiscal year 2029 to support ongoing initiatives.
This legislation is a crucial step forward in protecting our natural resources and enhancing our capacity to respond swiftly to the threats posed by invasive species. I humbly request my colleagues to lend their support to this bill and ensure the preservation of our ecosystems and promote a resilient future for our environment.
Mr. Speaker, "thank you so very much." "Mahalo nui loa."
Val T. Hoyle (D-OR)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4219, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:40 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4219, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:40 p.m.
In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:40 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act
Pages H5562–H5563 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4931) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain leases within units of the National Park System without opening the lease to bidding, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,721 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act".
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND CERTAIN LEASES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (in this section referred to as the "Director"), may extend a lease entered into under part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 3, 2025), without issuing a request for bids or a request for proposals, if the Director makes a written determination that--
(1) the lessee entered into the lease not less than 5 years before the date on which the extension takes effect;
(2) the lessee is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the lease; and
(3) an extension of the lease is consistent with the purposes of the applicable unit of the National Park System.
(b) Limitation on Extension.--
(1) In general.--The Director may not grant more than one extension under this section without issuing a request for bids or a request for proposals under part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 3, 2025).
(2) Extension length.--The Director shall ensure that, for any lease extended under this section, the cumulative length of such lease complies with part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 3, 2025).
(c) Revision of Regulation.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall revise part 18 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, to reflect the authority granted under subsection (a).
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4931, the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4931, the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act, introduced by Representative Murphy of North Carolina.
Across the National Park System, private businesses and organizations lease buildings and other historic facilities, investing in these properties while providing important services to park visitors. These public-private partnerships can help put underutilized properties to productive use while supporting the long-term stewardship of park assets.
My hometown of Hot Springs National Park is a model for how these public-private partnerships can transform local economies, create jobs, improve access, and enhance the visitor experience. Through historic leasing on Bathhouse Row, once dilapidated bathhouses have been transformed into a brewery, a modern spa and bathhouse facility, and a hotel. Ongoing renovations financed under the Great American Outdoors Act will open up even more opportunities to lease historic bathhouses to more small businesses in this community.
Unfortunately, even when these partnerships work well, existing law can limit the National Park Service's flexibility to extend a successful lease without starting a new competitive process.
H.R. 4931 provides a targeted solution. To qualify for an extension, the original lease must be at least 5 years, the lessee must be in good standing, and the extension must be in the National Park Service's best interests. If those requirements are met, the bill allows a lease to be extended once for up to 10 years without issuing a new request for bids or proposals.
Providing this flexibility will give successful lessees greater certainty to continue investing in park facilities while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens on the National Park Service. Just as importantly, it creates important safeguards by limiting the authority to lessees who have already demonstrated a successful track record.
While this is a good bill, there is more that can be done to ensure the National Park Service fully leverages potential private-sector partners. The Senate version of this legislation includes a commonsense provision allowing leases to extend up to 99 years, which will attract greater investment and create greater economic opportunity nationwide. Although we were unable to reach an agreement in committee with our minority to include a similar provision in the House bill, I look forward to working with my bipartisan and bicameral colleagues on this concept as the bill continues through the legislative process.
I thank Representative Murphy for his leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4931, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4931 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend certain leases within the National Park System unit without opening those leases to another public bidding process.
Under the bill, the lease could be extended without rebidding if the lease has been in place for at least 5 years, the tenant is complying with the terms of the existing lease, and the National Park Service determines that the extension is consistent with the purposes of the park unit.
The National Park Service manages approximately 160 leases covering more than 340 structures. This leasing authority has helped the service put underutilized historic properties to use through public-private partnerships while directing lease revenues toward historic preservation, infrastructure, and maintenance.
As introduced, this legislation raised serious concerns. Current law requires a public competitive bidding process and fair market value, helping ensure that taxpayers receive a fair return on public assets and that businesses have a fair opportunity to compete.
It also contains no limits on the length of an extension or the number of times the lease could be renewed, creating the risk of a continuous cycle of extensions that effectively locks out the competition.
Those concerns were addressed during the Natural Resources Committee markup, with technical assistance from the National Park Service. The amended bill limits the authority to a single extension and makes it clear the total term of the lease cannot exceed the existing 60-year regulatory limit. That includes the extension.
These guardrails are important. We should make sure the Park Service has the flexibility it needs to manage these properties well, while also protecting competition, transparency, and the interests of the American taxpayer.
As we have learned from the President's use of no-bid contracts for the Reflecting Pool and the suspension of leases for Federal golf courses in D.C., we need to ensure robust statutory guardrails.
The national park leasing authority is a successful program, but it cannot be a back door that leads to the privatization of our national parks.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of the bill for working in a bipartisan way to address the concerns that many of us had, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Gregory F. Murphy (R-NC)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 4931, the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act.
As was noted previously, there is a Senate companion with slight differences that hopefully can be worked out.
My bill would give the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service, the authority to extend the lease if the lease has been entered into less than 5 years before the date of extension is to take effect.
The Director of the National Park Service would determine if extending the lease is in the best interests of the applicable unit of the National Park Service.
Within my district in Dare County, we have a lot of national parks, and we work very well with them. We have a model of an excellent public-private partnership at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, where the National Park Service works with a local vendor to provide necessary marine services.
My bill is simple and straightforward. It gives the National Park Service the authority to give an extension of a lease, if the National Park Service thinks it is in the best interests of the National Park Service, for a total duration up to 60 years.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my Democratic colleagues and appreciate the opportunity to attend to any concerns that they have.
By granting this authority to the National Park Service, it would encourage other private investors to invest wisely in the hope of being considered for this opportunity to make a win-win with a public-private partnership. Current law does not allow this to happen.
Mr. Speaker, I ask your consideration of this bill, and I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 4931.
Val T. Hoyle (D-OR)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I once again commend Representative Murphy for his leadership on this legislation, and I look forward to working with the Senate and in a bipartisan manner. As this moves forward, I urge my colleagues to support the bill today, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:50 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4931, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act
Pages H5563–H5564 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5063) to ensure continuity of staffing at Federal beaches, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,102 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act".
SEC. 2. ADEQUATE LIFEGUARD STAFFING AT FEDERAL SWIMMING AREAS
AND BEACHES.
(a) In General.--If the Secretary determines there is a staffing shortage with respect to a designated swim location, the Secretary may seek to enter into an agreement with one or more local government agencies to enable lifeguards employed by those local government agencies to--
(1) adequately staff such designated swim location during normal seasonal operating hours; and
(2) ensure visitor safety and provide rescue and first aid services at the designated swim location as necessary.
(b) Reimbursement.--In entering into an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the local government agency providing the lifeguard services is reimbursed for all reasonable costs incurred by the local government agency in carrying out the agreement.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Designated swim location.--The term "designated swim location" means a swimming area or swimming beach--
(A) on lands and waters managed by the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Bureau of Reclamation; and
(B) that is typically monitored by federally employed lifeguards during normal seasonal operating hours.
(2) Staffing shortage.--
(A) In general.--The term "staffing shortage" means a level of staffing that negatively impacts the ability to adequately staff a designated swim location with federally employed lifeguards and will likely result or has resulted in a designated swim location being left unmonitored by federally employed lifeguards during normal seasonal operating hours.
(B) Exclusion.--The term "staffing shortage" does not refer to short-term staffing shortages caused by temporary absences, such as an employee taking annual or sick leave.
(3) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on H.R. 5063, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5063, the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act, which is championed by Representative Jen Kiggans of Virginia.
Each year, millions of Americans visit our Federal lands to spend time outdoors with their families. Whether they are hiking a trail, camping, fishing, or spending a day at the beach, visitors should be able to safely enjoy the incredible recreation opportunities our public lands provide.
At federally managed beaches and swimming areas, lifeguards play an important role in keeping visitors safe, but when Federal agencies experience lifeguard staffing shortages, they do not always have the flexibility to quickly fill those gaps, even when trained local lifeguards may be available to help.
Representative Kiggans' bill provides a commonsense solution. Her legislation allows the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation to partner with local government agencies to provide lifeguard services when Federal lifeguards are in short supply at designated swimming areas.
Under these agreements, local lifeguards can provide services visitors depend on, including water rescue and first aid, during the peak summer season.
Representative Kiggans' legislation recognizes that the Federal Government cannot always solve staffing challenges quickly. When qualified local partners are willing and able to help keep visitors safe, Federal land managers should have the flexibility to work with them.
These partnerships can help maintain lifeguard coverage, support continued public access, and make sure families can enjoy some of our country's most popular outdoor recreational activities.
Mr. Speaker, I again thank Representative Kiggans for her leadership on this legislation introduced after her constituents highlighted lifeguard shortages that limited access and impacted safety at Assateague Island National Seashore. She worked diligently with her local community and National Park Service leadership to find a solution that will not only help keep her constituents and visitors safe but also ensure millions of visitors can continue to enjoy Virginia's pristine and world-class beaches.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5063, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5063 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to address lifeguard staffing shortages at Federal beaches by entering into agreements with local governments to ensure continuity of staff and proper lifeguard coverage.
This measure would apply to beaches managed by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Under these agreements, State and local governments are authorized to hire lifeguards to cover shifts at Federal beaches.
Lifeguards perform vital public safety services. While this bill provides a mechanism to prevent empty chairs, relying on local municipalities should not become a permanent Band-Aid for understaffed Federal agencies. We can't lose sight of why, one of the key reasons why, we lack enough lifeguards in the first place: the DOGE effort dedicated to firing park workers, implementing hiring freezes, and gutting our Federal agencies.
Last summer, fewer than half of the 7,700 seasonal National Park Service positions, including lifeguards, were filled. These cuts forced Federal managers to scramble, leaving communities to step in and fund these critical positions--also putting lives in danger.
As a reminder, the National Park Service has lost nearly 25 percent of its permanent workforce since the beginning of 2025 due to this administration's firing of park staff and slashing agency budgets.
While local agreements offer emergency relief--and I am very much in support of this bill--a real priority should be rebuilding a fully funded, fully staffed Federal workforce that is focused on efficiency and getting the job done while we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5063, the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act.
I have the privilege of representing a district that lives on the beach and the bay. For families across coastal Virginia and the millions of Americans who visit our Federal beaches every year, water safety is incredibly important.
Last year, we saw firsthand what can happen when the Federal Government fails to adequately staff these Federal beaches.
Following a Federal hiring freeze, Assateague Island National Seashore was unable to provide its normal lifeguard coverage at the Federal beach in Chincoteague, Virginia. Families continued visiting and swimming, but the lifeguards they had come to rely on were not there.
Our local leaders stepped up. The town of Chincoteague and Accomack County took on unforeseen costs to make sure lifeguards returned to the beach and families could safely enjoy the water.
Our local governments should never be left scrambling to solve a Federal staffing problem on their own. That is why I introduced the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act.
My bill provides a commonsense solution. When the Department of the Interior determines that a Federal swimming area is facing a lifeguard staffing shortage, it can partner with local governments to provide the necessary coverage. Importantly, when a local government steps up to provide those lifeguards, the Federal Government will reimburse it for the reasonable costs it incurs.
This applies to designated swimming areas managed by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation that are normally monitored by Federal lifeguards.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is about public safety, accountability, and giving our communities a solution when Washington falls short.
I am grateful to the local leaders on the Eastern Shore who worked with us after seeing this problem firsthand. I am proud that we have an opportunity to make sure communities across the country have another tool to keep their beaches safe.
No family visiting a Federal beach should have to wonder whether a lifeguard will be there if and when an emergency happens.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act.
Val T. Hoyle (D-OR)4:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)4:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative Kiggans for her leadership on this issue and for her valuable service as a vital member of the House Committee on Natural Resources. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5063, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:00 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5063, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act
Pages H5564–H5566 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6021) to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to clarify the treatment of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft containing nonedible migratory bird parts, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,199 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act".
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to clarify the treatment of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft offered for sale under the Convention between the United States and Japan for
the Protection of Migratory Birds and Birds in Danger of Extinction and Their Environment, signed at Tokyo March 4, 1974 (TIAS 7990).
SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION FOR AUTHENTIC ALASKA NATIVE ARTICLES OF
HANDICRAFT CONTAINING MIGRATORY BIRD PARTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act--
(1) the Secretary of State shall work with the Secretary of the Interior to enter into appropriate bilateral procedures, as necessary, with the foreign country that is party to the treaty described in section 2 to clarify the treatment of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft to be offered for sale containing nonedible migratory bird parts from the species of migratory birds listed in the treaty; and
(2) the Secretary of the Interior may modify any regulations implementing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), as appropriate, consistent with the treaty described in section 2, in consultation with the foreign country that is party to the treaty, the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council, and the Pacific Flyway Council, and in coordination with the Law Enforcement Office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to implement any necessary clarifications resulting from the procedures described in paragraph (1), including conditions for consignment and re-sale, certification of authenticity, and provisions pertaining to species of conservation concern.
(b) Modification of Regulations.--If the Secretary of the Interior determines that any of the species used under this section show significant population declines or is determined to be a Bird of Conservation Concern pursuant to section 13 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2912), the Secretary may modify regulations to remove the species from application under this section.
(c) Outreach.--The Secretary of the Interior shall work in collaboration with the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council and other appropriate stakeholders to develop outreach and communication resources and means to communicate rules pertaining to the sale of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft including parts of migratory birds.
(d) Technical Amendment.--Section 2(a) of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703) is amended by inserting a comma after "March 4, 1972".
(e) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Alaska native.--The term "Alaska Native" means a member of any Indian Tribe that is based in the State of Alaska, as verified through issuance of--
(A) a Tribal enrollment card;
(B) a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (commonly known as a "CDIB") by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; or
(C) a permit under the Silver Hand program of the Alaska State Council on the Arts.
(2) Authentic alaska native article of handicraft.--The term "authentic Alaska Native article of handicraft"--
(A) means any item that is--
(i) composed, wholly or in a significant respect, of natural materials that were found, foraged, or gifted; and
(ii) produced, decorated, or fashioned in significant part--
(I) by an Alaska Native;
(II) in the exercise of traditional Alaska Native handicrafts; and
(III) without the use of any mass copying device;
(B) includes--
(i) any weaving, carving, stitching, sewing, lacing, beading, drawing, or painting that meets the criteria described in clause (i); and
(ii) any item, including clothing, described in subclause (I) that combines the techniques described in that subclause; and
(C) does not include any item that contains a part of a migratory bird that was taken in a wasteful or illegal manner.
(3) Indian tribe.--The term "Indian Tribe" has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6021, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6021, the Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act, sponsored by Representative Begich of Alaska.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects more than 900 species of migratory birds and plays an important role in conserving these species. However, the law also created challenges for Alaska Native communities whose longstanding cultural traditions include using migratory bird feathers and other nonedible bird parts in traditional handicrafts and artwork.
In 2012, Alaska Native artist Archie Cavanaugh faced Federal charges after attempting to sell traditional artwork containing flicker and raven feathers. He faced up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, but a settlement was reached in which he agreed to pay a $2,000 fine.
H.R. 6021 addresses this unfairness by directing appropriate updates to the Migratory Bird Treaty with Japan and any subsequent revisions to domestic regulations that may be necessary to clarify that authentic Alaska Native handicrafts containing nonedible bird parts may be sold and shipped, provided those parts were not taken in a wasteful or illegal manner.
I commend Representative Begich for his work with the Alaska Native communities to preserve their cultural traditions while maintaining important protections for birds.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6021, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6021, the Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act.
For over a century, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 has played an important role in protecting migratory birds across North America, but due to the rigid way the law is interpreted, a few Alaska Native artisans who use bird parts in their traditional arts and regalia have been criminalized for their craft. This legislation addresses the conflict.
H.R. 6021 would direct the Department of the Interior and the State Department to work with Japan to clarify their Migratory Bird Treaty with the United States. It would make clear that authentic Alaska Native handicrafts made or sold with nonedible migratory bird parts are exempt from Federal law.
This language ensures that while we will continue to have strong protections against wasteful harvesting and illegal poaching of birds, we are not doing so at the expense of Alaska Native traditions.
This bill respects Tribal sovereignty, protects traditional knowledge, and maintains conservation integrity.
I thank Representative Begich and Chair Westerman for working constructively across the aisle to come to an agreement we can all support.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a "yes" vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6021, the Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act, addresses a narrow but consequential gap in Federal law that has criminalized longstanding Alaska Native artistic and cultural traditions for more than a century.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act implements four separate international agreements with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia. These treaties, however, do not always line up with each other.
The treaties with Japan and Russia recognize the subsistence needs of indigenous peoples. The earlier treaties with Canada and Mexico did not provide the same protections. These gaps have had real consequences for Alaska Natives.
Because the courts have required the Fish and Wildlife Service to apply the most restrictive of the four treaties across the board--in this case, our treaty with Japan--an Alaska Native artist who sells a traditional handicraft containing a raven feather or woodpecker feather can face up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
That is not conservation. That is not what these treaties were meant to do. It is not something the Alaska Native community should have to live with.
Archie Cavanaugh was a Tlingit artist from Juneau. In 2012, he was prosecuted under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for selling a headdress and a hat containing feathers consistent with cultural practices going back generations. His case became a symbol of how badly the current framework fits Alaska.
This bill clarifies that the sale and shipment of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts containing nonedible migratory bird parts is not a Federal crime, provided the parts were not taken in a wasteful or illegal manner. It contains species protection safeguards. It respects the existing co-management structure within the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council.
The bill directs the Department of State and the Department of the Interior to work with our treaty partner to update the international framework so that Federal regulation and treaty text finally line up.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative Begich for his hard work in representing his constituents and advancing this important legislation, like he has done on so many pieces of legislation this Congress.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6021, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goldman of Texas)
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6021, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The title of the bill was amended so as to read: "A bill to clarify the treatment of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft containing nonedible migratory bird parts under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and for other purposes.". A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand
Pages H5566–H5567 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8121) to designate the Christiansted Bandstand at the Christiansted National Historic Site, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as the "Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand", as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (583 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The bandstand commonly referred to as the "Christiansted Bandstand", located at the Christiansted National Historic Site, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, is designated as the "Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand".
SEC. 2. LEGAL REFERENCES.
Any reference in any law, regulation, document, record, map, or other paper of the United States to the bandstand referred to in section 2 is deemed to be a reference to the "Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8121, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8121, which would officially name a historic bandstand located within the Christiansted National Historic Site on the Island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands as the Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand.
For generations, the Christiansted bandstand has served as a gathering place for music and community in the heart of St. Croix. H.R. 8121 honors a man whose life and legacy are closely tied to that history.
Peter Gregory Thurland, Sr., was born in Christiansted in 1892. While serving in the United States Navy, Mr. Thurland helped design and construct the Christiansted Bandstand and performed there as a member of the Christiansted Naval Band until his honorable discharge in 1921.
His service to his community did not end there. Mr. Thurland founded the St. Croix Community Band and spent decades training generations of young musicians and bringing music to the community through free monthly concerts.
A master craftsman, talented musician, and dedicated mentor, Mr. Thurland made a lasting contribution to the cultural and civic life of St. Croix. It is particularly fitting that the bandstand he helped build, which became a center of community life in St. Croix, bears his name.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 8121, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8121, introduced by my colleague Delegate Plaskett, will honor the legacy of Peter G. Thurland by naming Christiansted Bandstand after him.
This bandstand is a historic landmark at the Christiansted National Historic Site in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. It symbolizes the rich, cultural heritage of St. Croix and has served as a community gathering place since its construction.
Peter G. Thurland was a central figure in the St. Croix community. Mr. Thurland was known as a master craftsman, musician, and proud veteran who served in the Navy Band. Not only did he perform there during his military service until his honorable discharge but he personally helped design and construct the bandstand.
He continued to advocate for the arts and founded the St. Croix Community Band where he personally trained generations of young musicians. Efforts to recognize Mr. Thurland go back to the 103rd Congress with the legislation first introduced by Delegate Ron de Lugo.
It is time to honor Mr. Thurland's legacy and ensure that his impact on the cultural and civic life of St. Croix is remembered.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 8121, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), the sponsor of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8121, legislation I introduced to designate the Christiansted Bandstand in Christiansted, St. Croix, in the Virgin Islands of the United States as the Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman, Ranking Member Huffman, along with the members and staff of the House Committee on Natural Resources, for their consideration of this bill and for advancing it to the floor. I appreciate their thoughtful attention to a matter that means a great deal to the people of St. Croix, and I look forward to working with Members on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation to the President's desk.
The Christiansted Bandstand is one of the most significant cultural landmarks in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Located in the heart of Christiansted, it has served for over a century as a gathering place for residents and visitors and as the center of St. Croix's musical and civic life.
H.R. 8121 would designate that landmark in honor of the man most responsible for its character and continuity, Peter G. Thurland, Sr.
Mr. Thurland was born on February 19, 1892, in Christiansted, St. Croix, then the Danish West Indies. On March 31, 1917, he performed with the Christiansted Industrial Brass Band at the formal transfer ceremony on the Christiansted Wharf, present at the very moment the Virgin Islands became part of the United States.
Following the transfer of the Danish West Indies to the United States, he enlisted in the United States Navy on June 12 of that same year and served as a member of the Navy Band.
During his service, he was instrumental in the physical construction and design of the Christiansted Bandstand. He performed there with the Christiansted Navy Band until his honorable discharge in September 1921.
In 1938, Mr. Thurland founded the St. Croix Community Band, which performed free monthly concerts for three consecutive decades. He trained generations of young musicians and led the band until 1968. He was also a master craftsman and cabinetmaker. His work can still be seen throughout our island.
Mr. Speaker, my own parents talked about the many activities the bandstand represented for children growing up in the town in the 1930s and 40s. One of our most iconic period painters, Leo Carty, used the bandstand in some of his most memorable paintings. My own children have played around the bandstand without a marker to explain who built the gathering spot. A naming with a marker sharing the creator and the history of the bandstand can only bring our island closer together.
This legislation was first introduced, as you have heard, from Congressman Ron de Lugo in the 103rd Congress. I am proud to bring it again in the 119th Congress. The Thurland family has long advocated for this recognition, and their persistence reflects the esteem in which their grandfather, their patriarch, is held across St. Croix.
Peter G. Thurland, Sr., helped construct the Christiansted Bandstand, served his country with distinction, and dedicated decades to the cultural life of St. Croix. His name belongs on that landmark.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8121.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 8121, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8121, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction Over Certain Federal Land in the State of California
Pages H5567–H5568 · Official textTRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8454) to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,547 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER
CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
(a) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.--
(1) National forest system land.--Administrative jurisdiction over the approximately 160 acres of National Forest System land more particularly described as T.1 S., R.19 E., sec. 24, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/ 4\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Mount Diablo Meridian, Tuolumne County, California, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange" and dated February 24, 2022, is transferred to the Secretary of the Interior to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park, in accordance with laws applicable to the National Park System.
(2) National park system land.--Administrative jurisdiction over the approximately 170 acres of National Park System land more particularly described as the SE\1/4\ of sec. 23 and the land to the north and west of Road 1S25 within the NW\1/ 4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\ of sec. 24, T.1 S., R. 19 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, Tuolumne County, California, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange" and dated February 24, 2022, is transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture to be managed as part of Stanislaus National Forest in accordance with laws applicable to the National Forest System.
(b) Corrections.--
(1) Minor adjustments.--The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior may, by mutual agreement, make minor corrections and adjustments to the Federal land transferred under subsection (a) to facilitate land management, including making a correction or adjustment to any applicable survey.
(2) Publications.--Any correction or adjustment made under paragraph (1) shall be effective on the date of publication of a notice of the correction or adjustment in the Federal Register.
(c) Effect on Existing Rights and Authorizations.--Nothing in this section affects--
(1) any valid existing rights; or
(2) the validity or terms and conditions of any existing withdrawal, right-of-way, easement, lease, license, or permit on the land to which administrative jurisdiction is transferred under this section, except that beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the head of the agency to which administrative jurisdiction over the land is transferred shall be responsible for administering the interests or authorizations in accordance with applicable law.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8454, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8454, introduced by Representative McClintock, which executes a commonsense boundary adjustment between Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest in California.
Ackerson Meadow supports important wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and livestock grazing by the Erickson family, whose ranching history in the area dates to the late 1800s.
A portion of Ackerson Meadow was officially donated and added to Yosemite National Park in 2016, but this inadvertently created a boundary that left parcels within the meadow under the administrative jurisdiction of two different Federal agencies.
As a result, the National Park Service and Forest Service manage adjoining parcels within the same meadow, complicating restoration work, grazing operations, and recreational management.
H.R. 8454 provides a straightforward solution. The bill transfers administrative jurisdiction over approximately 160 acres of land currently managed by the Forest Service to the National Park Service to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park.
In return, the Forest Service will assume jurisdiction over 170 acres of land currently managed by the National Park Service.
This is not a Federal land acquisition, and it does not increase the size of the Federal estate. Instead, this bipartisan and bicameral legislation adjusts which Federal agency manages each parcel so map lines don't interfere with important restoration work on the ground.
By placing these lands under the agency best suited to manage them, this legislation will improve coordination, support ongoing restoration work, and enhance the efficiency of grazing operations, while simplifying the management of recreation opportunities within Ackerson Meadow.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McClintock for his leadership on the legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8454, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Val T. Hoyle (D-OR)4:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8454 would authorize a land exchange between Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest in California.
This is a straightforward exchange that will transfer 160 acres of National Forest System land to the National Park Service, and approximately 170 acres of National Park System land that will be transferred to the Forest Service.
The purpose of this legislation is simply to make Federal land management more efficient. This is needed because the Service recently added a parcel known as the Ackerson Meadow to Yosemite National Park.
Ackerson Meadow has significant scenic value and provides key habitats for endangered species, such as the great grey owl and the little willow flycatcher.
Adding this land to Yosemite was a win-win. However, while much of the Ackerson Meadow meets the criteria for inclusion in the National Park, it is largely surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest, and there is a conflict with existing uses. This includes one of the longest continuously running cattle drives in California, which is inconsistent with Park Service laws and regulations.
H.R. 8454 is the result of negotiation and compromise, and I thank the bill's sponsor and Chair Westerman for that work. It will result in more efficient land management and noteworthy expansion of Yosemite National Park.
This is exactly the kind of work that Congress is expected to do. It stands in clear contrast to the recent proposal to sell off a piece of Yosemite to a private developer. We should be working together to increase conservation and improve the management of our public lands, not trying to cut deals and exclusive access for millionaires.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8454, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)4:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), the lead sponsor of the bill.
Tom McClintock (R-CA)4:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas and the gentlewoman from Oregon for their bipartisan support of this measure, and I want to assure the gentlewoman from Oregon that the land exchange that she had suggested in Yosemite will not happen.
The Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange Act is a simple proposal to transfer administrative jurisdiction over approximately 160 acres of national forestland to Yosemite National Park, and then it would transfer approximately 170 acres of National Park System land to be a part of the Stanislaus National Forest.
Senator Padilla is carrying identical legislation in the Senate. We don't agree on much, but we certainly agree on this.
This legislation addresses a familiar problem in Federal land management in the Sierra Nevada, the checkerboard boundary lines that make land management disjointed and inefficient. This bill simply consolidates land jurisdictions between the National Park System and the National Forest System, without increasing the Federal footprint.
At issue is Ackerson Meadow. This meadow supports livestock grazing operations that have been part of the history and economy of this region for generations. These operations are essential for brush control and fire suppression, maintaining meadow conditions, and sustaining the rural economy that depends on the productive use of these lands.
Federal agencies, conservation organizations, and local ranchers have all worked together to improve the meadow while maintaining grazing opportunities.
Restoration projects have improved wetland conditions, enhanced water storage, improved habitat, and supported continued public uses, including grazing.
The proposed land exchange would make that cooperative approach easier by eliminating the confusion caused by split jurisdiction. Ranchers need to know where their permits apply, where infrastructure can be maintained, and who is responsible for decisions affecting their operations.
The bill also protects existing rights and authorizations. It specifically provides that valid existing rights, including rights-of-way, easements, leases, licenses, and permits remain protected after the transfer. This ensures that current users, including grazing permit holders, are not unfairly disrupted by a change in administrative jurisdiction.
It also appropriately maintains Federal responsibilities for hazardous substance cleanup and other obligations.
This bill reflects a principle that should guide Federal land policy. Management decisions should be based on the realities of the landscape and not simply of the boundaries drawn on a map decades ago.
Our national forests and parks serve many purposes. They preserve wildlife habitat, protect watersheds, provide recreation, and support rural economies. A balanced approach recognizes all of these values.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 8454.
Val T. Hoyle (D-OR)4:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this good legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)4:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative McClintock for his leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on H.R. 8454, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:20 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8454, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025
Pages H5568–H5570 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 741) to elevate the position of Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,171 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025".
SEC. 2. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INDIAN HEALTH.
(a) Establishment.--Section 601(a) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking "tribes" and inserting "Tribes";
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking "a Director" and inserting "an Assistant Secretary for Indian Health (in this section referred to as the `Assistant Secretary')";
(B) by striking "The Director shall report" and inserting "The Assistant Secretary shall report directly";
(C) by striking "the Director" and inserting "the Assistant Secretary"; and
(D) by striking "A Director" and inserting "An Assistant Secretary";
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking "date of enactment of the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009 shall serve as Director" and inserting "date of enactment of the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025 shall serve as Assistant Secretary";
(4) in paragraph (4), in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking "Director" and inserting "Assistant Secretary"; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
"(5) Deputy assistant secretary.--The Assistant Secretary may--
"(A) with the approval of the Secretary, appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary; and
"(B) consistent with applicable law, utilize officers and employees of the Department as necessary to administer the activities of the Service.".
(b) Duties.--Section 601(c) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661(c)) is amended--
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking "Director" and inserting "Assistant Secretary"; and
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking "date of enactment of the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009" and inserting "date of enactment of the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025".
(c) Authority.--Section 601(d)(1) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661(d)(1)) is amended in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking "Director" and inserting "Assistant Secretary".
(d) References.--Section 601 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
"(e) References.--Any reference to the Director of the Indian Health Service in any Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of authority, or in any document of or relating to the Director of the Indian Health Service, shall be deemed to refer to the Assistant Secretary.".
(e) Rate of Basic Pay.--
(1) Positions at level iv.--Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking "Assistant Secretaries of Health and Human Services (6)" and inserting "Assistant Secretaries of Health and Human Services (7)".
(2) Positions at level v.--Section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking "Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 741, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 741 is a straightforward bill to strengthen Indian health leadership within the Department of Health and Human Services.
The bill redesignates the Director of the Indian Health Service as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within HHS.
The Federal Government has longstanding responsibilities for Indian healthcare rooted in the Federal trust responsibility. The Indian Health Service is the principal Federal entity responsible for providing health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Indian health issues do not begin and end at IHS. Many of these issues require coordination across HHS, including healthcare access, workforce recruitment and retention, behavioral health, public health, and health infrastructure.
H.R. 741 will help that coordination by elevating IHS' senior within the Department.
This bill is narrowly tailored. The IHS director is already appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, so H.R. 741 does not create a new Senate-confirmed appointment. It does not create a new program or change how IHS delivers healthcare.
Instead, this bill makes a senior-level structural change to better coordinate health issues across the Department. This is a practical and reasonable step. When Indian health issues cut across IHS, the senior official responsible for Indian health should be positioned to work across HHS.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 741, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Text printed in the Record (2,387 characters)
Washington, DC, August 24, 2026. Hon. Brett Guthrie, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Guthrie: I write regarding H.R. 741, the "Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025," which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on May 14, 2026.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Energy and Commerce will not formally consider H.R. 741 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 741. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
____
Washington, DC, August 24, 2026. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Westerman: I write regarding H.R. 741, the "Stronger Engagement for Indiana Health Needs Act of 2025." While there are provisions of the legislation that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, I wanted to notify you that the Committee will forgo action on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
This is done with the understanding that the Committee's jurisdictional interests over this and similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 741 and requests your support when such a request is made.
I would appreciate your response confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 741 and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the committee report on the bill or in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor.
Thank you again for your assistance on this matter.
Sincerely,
Brett Guthrie,
Chairman.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)4:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 741, the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act, introduced by my friend and colleague from Arizona (Mr. Stanton).
The Indian Health Service, or IHS, is the primary Federal agency responsible for providing healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Yet, for decades, the agency has fallen short of meeting our trust and treaty obligations as we have left IHS underfunded and underprioritized.
Tribal leaders have long called for greater Federal attention to Indian health in IHS. H.R. 741 responds to their advocacy by elevating the Director of IHS to an Assistant Secretary within the Department of Health and Human Services.
This simple but meaningful change would give IHS a stronger voice within the Department, ensure the healthcare needs of Tribal patients are properly represented, and elevate health disparities, including inadequate infrastructure, limited services, and staffing shortages, facing Tribal communities.
It is the Federal Government's responsibility to ensure that Indian Country has the culturally competent, robust, and accessible healthcare they deserve, and H.R. 741 will help us uphold this premise.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge support for the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)4:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton) and the ranking member for working with us on this legislation.
I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)4:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton), the sponsor of the bill.
Greg Stanton (D-AZ)4:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bipartisan bill, H.R. 741, the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Joyce) for co-leading on this important effort.
The Federal Government has a sacred trust obligation to provide healthcare to our Native communities. For far too long, we have fallen short of that obligation.
Deep disparities exist between the health of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities and the broader American population. American Indians and Alaska Natives have lower life expectancies and some of the highest rates of poor health across racial groups. Access and quality of care are impacted by high vacancies at Indian Health Service facilities. When it comes to equality in healthcare, our Nation has a long way to go.
Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago, the late Senator John McCain first tried to pass a similar measure to raise the Director of the IHS to an Assistant Secretary role within the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator McCain, who advanced this measure through the Senate time and time again, never saw it pass the House and signed into law. Today, this bill honors his legacy.
This is a commonsense, bipartisan policy, and Congress should have gotten it done many years ago.
H.R. 741 would finally get this across the finish line. It creates the position of Assistant Secretary for Indian Health at HHS, giving Native communities a voice at the highest levels of Department leadership.
This matters. As an Assistant Secretary, the head of IHS would finally have the pay and hiring authorities needed to tackle chronic workforce shortages and disparities in access to care. It means faster hiring, better retention, and a direct line to the Secretary on every matter affecting Indian health.
Congress must ensure our health systems better honor our trust obligations to Native communities. This is a meaningful step forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)4:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)4:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 741, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:30 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 741, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The title of the bill was amended so as to read: "A bill to redesignate the position of Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services as Assistant Secretary for Indian Health, and for other purposes.". A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
Pages H5570–H5571 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 240) to amend the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to make improvements to that Act, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (5,377 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025".
SEC. 2. CROW TRIBE WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT.
(a) Definitions.--Section 403 of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291; 124 Stat. 3097) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following:
"(11) MR&I project.--The term `MR&I Project' means an activity described in clauses (i) through (iii) of section 411(e)(3)(F)."; and
(2) in paragraph (12)--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking "System" and inserting "Projects"; and
(B) in subparagraphs (A) through (C), by striking "System" each place it appears and inserting "Projects".
(b) Repeal of MR&I System.--
(1) In general.--Section 406 of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291; 124 Stat. 3102) is repealed.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291; 124 Stat. 3064) is amended by striking the item relating to section 406.
(c) Crow Settlement Fund.--Section 411 of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291; 124 Stat. 3113) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking "to be administered by the Secretary" and inserting "to be managed, invested, and distributed by the Secretary and to remain available until expended, withdrawn, or reverted to the general fund of the Treasury, consisting of amounts deposited in the Fund under subsection (b), together with any investment earnings, including interest, earned on those amounts,";
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking "System" and inserting "Projects"; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
"(5)(A) The MR&I Projects Account, to be established as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, consisting of--
"(i) amounts made available pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 414(b) that are appropriated after the date of enactment of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025; and
"(ii) amounts to be deposited pursuant to section 414(h)(2).
"(B) Amounts deposited into the MR&I Projects Account shall be further deposited into the special joint signature account named `MR&I Account' established pursuant to the agreement with the Tribe dated September 13, 2012, prior to any investment earnings accruing or becoming available." ";
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
"(C) the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.)."; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking "through (E)" and inserting "through (F)";
(ii) in subparagraph (E)--
(I) in the subparagraph heading, by striking "System" and inserting "Projects"; and
(II) by striking "System" each place it appears and inserting "Projects"; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
"(F) MR&I projects account.--Funds from the MR&I Projects Account shall be used for expenditures by the Tribe in accordance with the following:
"(i) Priority use of funds.--The Tribe shall use funds from the MR&I Projects Account--
"(I) to plan, permit, design, engineer, construct, reconstruct, replace, rehabilitate, operate, or repair water production, treatment, or delivery infrastructure, including for domestic and municipal use or wastewater infrastructure; and
"(II) to comply with applicable environmental laws for the activities described in subclause (I).
"(ii) Other use of funds.--After providing written notice to the Secretary that on-Reservation MR&I projects described in clause (i) are complete, the Tribe may use funds remaining in the MR&I Projects Account to purchase on-Reservation land with water rights."; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
"(i) Title to Infrastructure.--Title to, control over, and operation of any project constructed using funds from the MR&I Projects Account shall remain in the Tribe.
"(j) Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement.--The Federal Government shall have no obligation to pay for the operation, maintenance, or replacement of any MR&I Project.".
(d) Yellowtail Dam, Montana.--Subsection (b)(1) of section 412 of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291; 124 Stat. 3116) is amended by striking "15 years" and inserting "20 years".
(e) Funding.--Section 414 of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291; 124 Stat. 3120) is amended in subsection (e)--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking "System" and inserting "Projects"; and
(2) by striking "System" and inserting "Projects".
(f) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 403(9) of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291; 124 Stat. 3098) is amended by striking "(25 U.S.C. 450b)" and inserting "(25 U.S.C. 5304)".
(2) Section 410(e)(1) of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291; 124 Stat. 3112) is amended in subparagraph (C), by striking "agreements with the Tribe required by sections 405(a) and 406(a)" and inserting "agreement with the Tribe required by section 405(a)".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on S. 240, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 240, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, sponsored by Senator Daines from Montana and championed in the House by Representative Downing of Montana.
This bill ensures the Crow Tribe has the tools and flexibility it needs to implement its longstanding water rights settlement. The underlying 2010 settlement ratified the water rights compact between the Crow Tribe and the State of Montana and authorized major investments in water infrastructure on the Crow Reservation.
This legislation does not change funding levels or the existing water rights settlement. Instead, it updates the settlement to better reflect the Tribe's needs today.
The original settlement required the Bureau of Reclamation to build a Federal water project to serve the Crow Reservation. This bill converts this project-based settlement to a fund-based settlement, authorizing the Crow Tribe to manage project construction within existing Federal funding levels.
The bill ensures there is no ongoing Federal operation and maintenance requirement upon completion. The bill also extends the Tribe's exclusive right to develop hydropower at the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam through 2030.
Taken together, these provisions give the Crow Tribe greater flexibility to invest in water infrastructure, improve irrigation, and pursue economic development opportunities, while maintaining the commitments made in the original settlement.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 240, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025.
S. 240 would amend the Crow Tribe's existing settlement to support successful settlement implementation and extend the Tribe's authority to market hydropower to the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam in Montana.
The Tribe has devoted significant time and effort to achieving and implementing this settlement, and I thank the sponsor of the bill for dedicating that time, as well. This legislation would provide additional support to ensure it is successfully carried out.
This body has a responsibility to uphold our Federal trust and treaty obligations to Tribal nations, and that responsibility is especially critical when it comes to access to clean and reliable water.
Every person deserves access to safe water. Yet, Tribal nations, which often hold some of the most senior water rights, have far too often been unable to access or develop their own water resources due to Federal actions and policies, leaving those water rights largely underdeveloped and unprotected.
Tribal leaders have spent decades working to resolve these issues and negotiate settlements to ensure their communities have cleaner, reliable water. Negotiated settlements provide certainty for Tribes, States, the Federal Government, and other water users. They provide Tribal nations with the resources needed to deliver clean water to their communities while reducing legal, financial, and water supply uncertainty to all parties to a settlement.
Mr. Speaker, while I am grateful to see this bill move forward today, I urge our Republican leadership to take action on the numerous other pending Indian water rights settlement bills, many of which have already passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
Failing to advance settlement delays Tribal communities' access to clean water, prolongs uncertainty for all water users, and increases settlement costs over time.
Mr. Speaker, this is not a partisan issue. We have many Republican colleagues who want to get these bills across the finish line with us. We stand ready to work with the Republican leadership to resolve any procedural concerns.
I hope that S. 240 is just the beginning and that we will see more Indian water rights settlement bills before us on the floor soon, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Downing), the lead sponsor of the House companion to this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act, as this legislation will make crucial adjustments to the Crow Tribe of Montana's water settlement, ensuring the Tribe can provide clean drinking water for its members for generations to come.
In Montana, water rights and infrastructure are the lifeblood of our Tribal communities. Indian water rights settlements protect those rights by codifying them in Federal law and providing resources to promote water infrastructure development.
For the Crow Tribe in my home district, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 was a significant milestone. It settled the Tribe's water rights and authorized $460 million to design and construct a centralized municipal, rural, and industrial, or MR&I, water system for its reservation.
However, due to the project's complexity, rising costs, and extended estimated construction timelines, the initial MR&I pipeline system authorized by the settlement has proven unfeasible.
Without the ability to use settlement funds for water infrastructure, the Crow Reservation continues to face a clean water crisis. According to one BIA-funded water study, over 50 percent of Crow Reservation households have contaminated water. That is 50 percent. Moreover, multiple further studies have linked the Tribe's higher cancer rates with this lack of clean water access.
Senator Daines and I introduced the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act to directly address these challenges. The bill expands the scope of authorized water projects under the Crow Tribe's water settlement beyond the initial single mandated pipeline project to include a flexible array of smaller-scale regional water projects. In doing so, this legislation will dramatically reduce the timeline for delivering clean water to the reservation's communities.
S. 240 is a straightforward solution that does not alter any existing water rights and appropriates no new Federal spending. It simply provides necessary flexibility for the Tribe to meet the needs of its citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Senator Daines for leading this effort with me. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important legislation for the Crow Tribe.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)4:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)4:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Senator Daines and Representative Downing for their leadership on this important issue, and I thank the minority for working with us on it. I urge the passage of S. 240, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:40 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 240, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025
Pages H5571–H5574 · Official textNATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT PREVENTION IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2025
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2406) to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to address sexual harassment and sexual assault involving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,569 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025".
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a provision of subtitle C of title XXXV of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (33 U.S.C. 894 et seq.).
SEC. 3. POLICY ON PREVENTION OF AND RESPONSE TO SEXUAL
HARASSMENT INVOLVING NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL.
Section 3541(f) (33 U.S.C. 894(f)) is amended--
(1) by inserting "and equal employment" after "sexual harassment" in each place it appears; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
"(C) Relevant data, including--
"(i) a synopsis of each case and the disciplinary action taken, if any, with respect to each such case; and
"(ii) data collected pursuant to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (5 U.S.C. 2301 note).".
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL ASSAULT,
AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT.
Section 3548 (33 U.S.C. 894e) is amended--
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting the "annual report on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal employment in national oceanic and atmospheric administration".
(2) in subsection (a), by striking "the sexual assaults involving" and inserting "sexual harassment and sexual assault cases involving, and the equal employment of,";
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking "assaults" and inserting "harassment and sexual assault cases";
(B) in paragraph (4), by inserting ", including a synopsis of each sexual harassment and equal employment case and the disciplinary action taken, if any, with respect to each such case" before the period at the end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
"(5) A summary of the number of change of station, unit transfer, and change of work location requests submitted to the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, under subsection (a) of section 3544, including the number of such requests the Secretary denied under that subsection.
"(6) A summary of the number of cases reported to the Commandant of the Coast Guard under section 3550.
"(7) The number of alleged sexual harassment and sexual assault cases involving fisheries observers, protected species observers, and endangered species observers, including--
"(A) a synopsis of each case and the status of each such case;
"(B) the disposition of any investigation; and
"(C) a description of the fishery management region and fishery or the geographic region and type of permitted operation in which the incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault is alleged to have occurred, as appropriate."; and
(4) in subsection (c), by striking "assault" and inserting "harassment or sexual assault case".
SEC. 5. INVESTIGATION AND CRIMINAL REFERRAL REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Technical Amendment.--Sections 3548 and 3549 (33 U.S.C. 894e and 894f) are redesignated as sections 3551 and 3552, respectively.
(b) Criminal Referral.--Section 3547 (33 U.S.C. 894d-2) is amended--
(1) by striking "pursuant to" and inserting "at the onset or during the course of"; and
(2) by inserting "and, with respect to a licensed mariner, the Commandant of the Coast Guard" after "United States Attorney".
(c) In General.--Subtitle C of title XXXV (33 U.S.C. 894 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 3547 (33 U.S.C. 894d-2) the following:
"SEC. 3548. EXCEPTIONS REGARDING ANONYMITY OF VICTIMS IN
CERTAIN CASES.
"(a) In General.--In any case in which an employee of the Administration, member of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, or covered personnel elects restricted or unrestricted reporting under section 3541(b)(3)(B) or 3542(b)(5)(B), disclosure to the following persons or organizations of the personally identifying information of such individual is authorized for the following reasons:
"(1) To Administration staff or law enforcement personnel, if authorized by the victim in writing.
"(2) To Administration staff or law enforcement personnel to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to the health or safety of the victim or another person.
"(3) To a victim advocate or healthcare provider, if required for the provision of victim services.
"(4) To a State or Federal court, if pursuant to a court order or if disclosure is required by Federal or State statute.
"(b) Notice of Disclosure; Privacy Protection.--If information described in subsection (a) is disclosed under that subsection, the Secretary shall--
"(1) make reasonable attempts to provide notice to the individual the information of whom is so disclosed; and
"(2) take such action as is necessary to protect the privacy and safety of the individual.
"SEC. 3549. RESTRICTED REPORTING UPDATE.
"Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall update the policies developed under sections 3541 and 3542 with respect to the mechanism established under subsections (b)(3)(B) and (b)(5)(B) of those sections, respectively, such that each such mechanism provides for a restricted reporting system that allows an employee of the Administration, member of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, or covered personnel who alleges to have been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted to confidentially disclose the details of such sexual harassment or sexual assault to specified individuals and receive the services outlined in this subtitle--
"(1) without the dissemination of the personally identifying information of such individual, except as necessary for the provision of such services and as provided by section 3548(a); and
"(2) without automatically triggering an investigative process.
"SEC. 3550. MARINER REPORTING.
"(a) Mandatory Reporting by Responsible Entity of a Vessel.--
"(1) Unrestricted reports.--The responsible entity of a vessel shall report to the Commandant of the Coast Guard any incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault in violation of employer policy or law, of which the responsible entity of a vessel is made aware, involving--
"(A) an employee or contractor of the Administration who is required to hold a valid merchant mariner credential as a condition of employment; or
"(B) a crewmember of a vessel that, at the time of such incident, was operating under a contract with the Administration.
"(2) Restricted reports.--Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to an incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault reported on a restricted basis pursuant to the mechanisms established for such reporting under sections 3541(b)(3)(B) and 3542(b)(5)(B), respectively.
"(b) Reporting Procedures.--
"(1) In general.--
"(A) Timing of reporting.--The responsible entity of a vessel shall make a report required under subsection (a)(1) as soon as the responsible entity of a vessel is made aware of the incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault that is the subject of the report.
"(B) Mode of reporting.--The responsible entity of a vessel shall make a report required under subsection (a)(1) to a single entity in the Coast Guard designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to receive such reports by the fastest telecommunication channel available to the responsible entity of a vessel.
"(2) Contents of report.--Each report made under this section shall include, to the best of the knowledge of the responsible entity of a vessel--
"(A) the name, Coast Guard merchant mariner credential reference number, if applicable, official position or role in relation to the vessel, and contact information of each individual involved in the incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault that is the subject of the report;
"(B) the name and official number of the vessel;
"(C) the time and date of the incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault;
"(D) the geographic position or location of the vessel when the incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault occurred; and
"(E) a brief description of the incident of alleged sexual harassment or sexual assault being reported.
"(c) Notification by Secretary.--
"(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall notify the Director of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations of each report of an incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault received by the Secretary.
"(2) Notification contents.--Each notification under paragraph (1) shall include, to the best of the knowledge of the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere--
"(A) with respect to an unrestricted report submitted pursuant to section 3541(b)(3)(B) or 3542(b)(5)(B), the information required under subsection (b)(2) of this section; and
"(B) with respect to a restricted report submitted pursuant to section 3541(b)(3)(B) or 3542(b)(5)(B), the information required under subsection (b)(2) of this section that does not include the personally identifying information of the individual that submitted the restricted report.".
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
Section 3552, as redesignated by section 5(a) of this Act, is amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 3552. DEFINITIONS.
"In this subtitle:
"(1) Administration.--The term `Administration' means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"(2) Covered personnel.--
"(A) In general.--The term `covered personnel' means an individual who works with or conducts business on behalf of the Administration.
"(B) Inclusion.--The term `covered personnel' includes--
"(i) observers, at-sea monitors, and catch monitors required by the National Marine Fisheries Service to operate on or in commercial fishing vessels, other privately owned vessels, barges, or platforms, and shoreside processing facilities for--
"(I) commercial fisheries observation required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (13 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.);
"(II) protected species or endangered species observation required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) or the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1351 et seq.); or
"(III) platform removal observation; and
"(ii) voting members and executive and administrative staff of each Regional Fishery Management Council established by section 302 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852).
"(3) Responsible entity of a vessel.--The term `responsible entity of a vessel' means the Director of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, with respect to each vessel owned or operated by the Administration.
"(4) Sexual assault.--The term `sexual assault' has the meaning given the term in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925 (a)).".
SEC. 7. CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) Conforming Amendments.--Subtitle C of title XXXV (33 U.S.C.
Text printed in the Record (2,070 characters)
894 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by striking "individuals who work with or conduct business on behalf of the Administration" each place it appears and inserting "covered personnel"; and
(2) by striking "National Oceanic and Atmospheric" each place it appears.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--
(1) Global table of contents.--The table of contents in section 2(b) is amended by striking the items relating to sections 3548 and 3549 and inserting the following:
"Sec. 3548. Exceptions regarding anonymity of victims in certain cases. "Sec. 3549. Restricted reporting update. "Sec. 3550. Mariner referral. "Sec. 3551. Annual report on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal employment in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Sec. 3552. Definitions.". (2) Title xxxv table of contents.--The table of contents at the beginning of title XXXV is amended by striking the items relating to sections 3546 and 3547 and inserting the following:
"Sec. 3546. Investigation requirement. "Sec. 3547. Criminal referral. "Sec. 3548. Exceptions regarding anonymity of victims in certain cases. "Sec. 3549. Restricted reporting update. "Sec. 3550. Mariner referral. "Sec. 3551. Annual report on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal employment in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Sec. 3552. Definitions.".
SEC. 8. PROHIBITED ACTS.
Section 307(1)(L) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857(1)(L)) is amended--
(1) by striking "forcibly"; and
(2) by striking "on a vessel".
SEC. 9. PROHIBITION ON SERVICE IN COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS
OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION BY INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF
CERTAIN SEXUAL OFFENSES.
Section 261(a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3071(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (26) as paragraph (27); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (25) the following:
"(26) Section 657, relating to prohibition on service by individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses.".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2406, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2406, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025.
The Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act required NOAA to develop a policy to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment within its workforce. In 2021, the Government Accountability Office found that while NOAA has made progress, more work remains.
H.R. 2406 expands coverage of NOAA's sexual harassment prevention and response policy to include observers and the voting members and staff of the regional fishery management councils. It also expands existing reporting requirements and requires additional transparency in cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment.
This legislation will advance the protection of NOAA's workforce. I appreciate the minority working with us on this, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2406, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025.
This bill would strengthen NOAA's efforts to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual assault by expanding protections, improving reporting systems, and increasing critical accountability. This legislation would help create a safer and more productive workforce for the dedicated public servants who serve the American people through their work at NOAA.
Building upon existing efforts to combat sexual harassment by expanding and strengthening key safeguards, this bill would extend policy protections to personnel who work for NOAA but are not directly employed by the agency--critically, these are contractors and fishery observers--ensuring that all members of the NOAA workforce are covered by this policy.
The legislation would also improve reporting options for victims and broaden NOAA's enforcement authority, ensuring the agency has comprehensive jurisdiction to investigate and address sexual harassment and assault.
Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of representing over 45,000 Federal employees, many of whom work for NOAA. I commend the sponsor of this bill for her leadership in helping to close loopholes and tackling this issue to protect Federal employees and Federal contractors, who often serve in some of the Nation's most remote environments, including on fishing vessels and scientific research cruises.
Enacting H.R. 2406 would help foster a safer, more equitable workplace that promotes accountability and ensures every individual has the opportunity to thrive. In doing so, we would strengthen NOAA and reinforce our commitment to the Federal workforce that upholds the highest standards of professionalism and excellence while serving the American people.
I thank the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) for her leadership on this critical issue. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2406, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici), the sponsor of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Elfreth for yielding. I rise today in strong support of my bipartisan bill, H.R. 2406, the NOAA Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act.
No matter the job or the position, everyone deserves to work in a safe and welcoming workplace. Many employees at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, work in remote locations, aboard research and survey vessels, to conduct cutting-edge scientific research and to support U.S. fisheries.
This bill has some history. Several years ago, a fisheries biologist came to me with a serious issue. She had experienced sexual harassment while conducting research on a ship owned by NOAA, and she wasn't the only one. After reporting the harassment, she was effectively grounded, and so were the others who spoke up. Her research was derailed, and she was advised against going to sea for her own safety.
Her colleagues and harasser knew she had reported her experience, and there seemed to be little investigation into her case and the others. After hearing her story, I started to work with NOAA to find a resolution.
After several months, I met and worked directly with then-NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, who truly took this issue seriously. With Dr. Sullivan's leadership, NOAA implemented new training requirements, made it easier to report sexual harassment, and changed NOAA's investigation protocol. NOAA then completed its investigations into the cases that were brought to my attention, and the employees were able to return to sea and resume their important research.
I will note that every acting or confirmed NOAA Administrator since then, including Dr. Neil Jacobs when he was Acting Administrator and now again in his position as Administrator, have all expressed a commitment to the policies that keep their employees safe and free from abuse and harassment.
Although NOAA has taken steps to update their policies, threats to researchers are still alarmingly persistent. Last year, a multiyear study of harassment in the North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program, the largest fisheries monitoring program in the U.S., found that nearly one-third of the 400 North Pacific observers experienced harassment or assault annually. Of these, only 45 percent of the observers who experienced that harm disclosed it. Female observers were at least twice as likely to become targets as men.
As a member of both the Science Committee and the Education Committee, for years I have heard consistent support for getting more women into scientific careers. That is important, but it is also important to keep them safe while they are at work.
We must do more to prevent harassment and assault, help survivors seek justice, and hold harassers accountable for their actions. This bipartisan bill builds on NOAA's progress by expanding the agency's sexual harassment prevention and response policy to include employees of contractors, who were originally not covered.
My bill also directs NOAA to provide a clear, secure structure to anonymously report sexual harassment or assault. This would allow survivors to more easily identify safe reporting services without triggering an investigative process, if that is what the survivor prefers.
This bill would also add provisions so new covered employees and change of station or work location requests are included in the report to Congress. Importantly, this bill empowers NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement to enforce prohibitions on assault, intimidation, and interference with fisheries observers by removing restrictive stipulations that the acts be forcible in nature and occur on a vessel for NOAA to investigate.
NOAA has taken meaningful steps to protect its researchers, contractors, and ocean-dependent communities. That work should be recognized. This bill, as the chairman recognized, will strengthen those efforts and make needed improvements to prevent harassment, modernize reporting, and hold harassers accountable to bring justice to survivors.
We must do everything we can to create a work environment where scientists can achieve the next breakthrough discoveries, and everyone can feel safe at sea without fear of harassment, assault, or retaliation.
I am very grateful to Representatives Salazar and Fitzpatrick for cosponsoring this important legislation. I thank Chair Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman for advancing it through the Natural Resources Committee to the floor.
I urge all of my colleagues to support the NOAA Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)4:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)4:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2406, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:50 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2406, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Providing for the Equitable Settlement of Certain Indian Land Disputes Regarding Land in Illinois, and for Other Purposes
Pages H5574–H5575 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 550) to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,336 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS.
(a) Jurisdiction Conferred on the United States Court of Federal Claims.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States Court of Federal Claims shall have jurisdiction to hear, determine, and render judgment on a land claim of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma under its Treaty with the United States of America signed at Grouseland August 21, 1805 (7 Stat. 91) (commonly known as the "Treaty of Grouseland"), without regard to the statute of limitations, including section 2501 of title 28, United States Code, and any delay-based defense, no matter how characterized.
(2) Jurisdiction expiration.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the jurisdiction conferred to the United States Court of Federal Claims under paragraph (1) shall expire unless the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma files a land claim under that paragraph.
(b) Extinguishment of Title and Claims.--Except for a claim filed under subsection (a)(1), all other claims, including any and all future claims, of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, or any member, descendant, or predecessor in interest to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, to land in the State of Illinois are extinguished.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 550, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
S. 550, introduced by then-Senator Mullin and championed by Chairman Cole in this Chamber provides a narrow pathway for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to bring its treaty-based land claim related to certain lands in Illinois before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Now located in Oklahoma, the Tribe was originally based in the Great Lakes and Midwest region. The 1805 Treaty of Grouseland recognized the Miami Tribe's title to lands in the Wabash River watershed and ensured that the U.S. would not purchase portions of that territory without Tribal consent.
In the decades that followed, additional treaties and Federal policies led to the large-scale cessions of the Tribe's land, including their historic homelands in Illinois. These lands are central to this legislation, as they were later patented to non-Native settlers without properly extinguishing Tribal title. This forms the basis of the Tribe's treaty-based claim.
Congress enacted the Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946, which established the Indian Claims Commission, or ICC, to provide a forum for Tribes seeking monetary compensation for claims against the U.S. that predated August 13, 1946.
The ICC did not restore land. Rather, it awarded monetary damages based on the land's value at the time of the taking. At the time of the ICC, the Miami Tribe preferred the return of the land in Illinois over cash awards. The Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946 required all claims to be filed within 5 years of enactment and barred late claims from being filed. The ICC ceased operations in 1978, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims assumed all remaining matters.
This legislation provides a narrow jurisdictional pathway for the Miami Tribe to bring its treaty-based land claim before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims within 1 year of the enactment of this legislation.
This legislation only authorizes monetary relief against the U.S. and precludes any equitable relief or recovery against private landowners. Finally, this legislation extinguishes the Tribe's remaining land and title claims to the specified Illinois lands.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole for being a long-time champion of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 550 would provide the U.S. Court of Federal Claims with jurisdiction over the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's land claim in east central Illinois.
Prior to being forcibly removed from their homeland, the Miami Tribe resided in the Great Lakes region.
In 1805, the Miami Tribe, the Eel River Band, and the Wea signed the Treaty of Grouseland with the United States. The 1805 treaty provided that land south of the Great Lakes in the Wabash River watershed were not ceded and the United States would not purchase lands without the consent of the signatories.
However, the United States later violated this treaty when lands were placed into the public domain and parcels were transferred to settlers without extinguishing the Tribe's title to the land. This has resulted in difficulties and confusion with the current landowners as the Miami Tribe maintains a claim to the title.
S. 550 would allow the Tribe 1 year to bring their claim before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and would extinguish any other of the Tribe's claims to the land.
The bill provides the Tribe with a path forward to get their day in court but does not dictate an ultimate outcome.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), who is the lead sponsor of the House companion to this bill and who is the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend, Chairman Westerman, for yielding me the time and for bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor. I also thank Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota for her collaboration, and Secretary Markwayne Mullin for his work on this legislation during his time in the Senate.
I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of S. 550, the companion legislation to my bill, H.R. 2827. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma have been waiting more than 10 years for this legislation to pass, and today is finally that day.
Mr. Speaker, that would not be possible without Chairman Westerman's help and support, and I am very appreciative.
Resolving this land claim will remedy a mistake made by the Federal Government roughly two centuries ago. In 1805, the Miami Tribe, Eel River Band, and Wea, signed the Treaty of Grouseland, which, under Article IV, reserved all lands within the Wabash River watershed and land located west of the Wabash River, which is in present-day Illinois. From 1805 to 1840, the United States transferred 2.6 million acres of this land to non-Native settlers without having acquired title from the Tribes. As a result, title to that land is still held by the Miami Tribe's superior claim to title, and the Tribe never consented to that land being purchased.
S. 550 will allow the Miami Tribe to have their rightful day in court and extinguish all claims to this land in Illinois. This straightforward, bipartisan piece of legislation will not only provide finality for the Miami Tribe, but also certainty to the landowners and farmers in Illinois who have been living on this land for generations.
As a Tribal member myself, it is an honor to help a fellow Tribal nation and be a voice here in Washington. Today is a testament of Congress upholding its trust and treaty responsibility, and I would like to thank Chairman Westerman again for his support. Chairman Hurd, Ranking Member Huffman, and Ranking Member Leger Fernandez were also instrumental, and I appreciate the efforts of their staff and their support and efforts on this important piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of S. 550.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole for his remarks, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to thank Chairman Cole for his dedication to this bill and seeing it through.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 550, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 550.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025
Pages H5575–H5576 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7889) to amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to reauthorize the water resources research and technology institutes program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,542 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025" or the "AWRC Act of 2025".
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF PURPOSE.
Section 103(4) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10302(4)) is amended by inserting ", including the growing artificial intelligence industry," after "private industry".
SEC. 3. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTES.
Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303) is amended--
(1) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking "subsection 104(g) of this Act" and inserting "subsection (g)"; and
(B) by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through "Any sums" in paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
"(f) General Authorization of Appropriations.--
"(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
"(2) Failure to obligate.--Any amounts"; and
(2) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking "(2) Research funds" and inserting the following:
"(4) Competitive grants.--Research funds";
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the third sentence, by striking "Funds made" and inserting the following:
"(3) Availability of funds.--Funds made"; and
(ii) by striking "by institutes which focuses" in the first sentence and all that follows through "Such funds when appropriated" in the second sentence and inserting the following: "by institutes with respect to any of the following:
"(A) Research that focuses on water problems and issues of a regional or interstate nature beyond those of concern only to a single State.
"(B) Research that relates to specific program priorities identified jointly by the Secretary and the institutes.
"(C) Research that relates to water problems identified by Congress as being of an interstate nature.
"(2) Federal cost-share.--Funds made available under this subsection"; and
(C) by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through "only" in the first sentence of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
"(g) Additional Funds for Research Focused on Water Problems of Interstate Nature.--
"(1) In general.--Of the amounts authorized under subsection (f)(1) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029, not more than 20 percent is authorized to be used".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7889, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7889, the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Wittman from Virginia.
Water is one of our Nation's most important resources, and the challenges facing our water systems are becoming more complex. This legislation takes a practical approach to strengthening the science and partnerships we need to manage those challenges.
The bill reauthorizes the Water Resources Research Act Program, which supports water research and education through a network of university-based institutions. It extends the program through fiscal year 2029 and increases funding from $15 million to $16 million annually, consistent with currently enacted levels.
By investing in research at the universities across the country and encouraging collaboration on State and regional water issues, the bill helps ensure that policymakers, communities, and water managers have the science and tools needed to find solutions before water challenges become crises.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7889, the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act, which would reauthorize the Water Resources Research Act and continue support for national water research institutes.
Across the country, our water supplies are facing growing challenges, from increased demand and pollution to drought and other natural disasters. As these pressures strain our water resources, we need to make sustained investments in research, conservation, education, and new technologies to overcome these challenges and strengthen our long-term water security.
Water research institutes play a critical role in developing and advancing solutions to our Nation's water challenges by supporting water research and education while also building the workforce needed to address pressing challenges.
This work grows in importance as drought, wildfire, and other natural disasters become all the more frequent, straining water resources for communities across the Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, as we consider water in our country, I want to point out a couple of trips that I have made recently. One was to the little town of Beaver, Utah, where they had a 100,000-acre forest fire, and a few weeks later, they had an inch to an inch and a half of rain, which normally would be very welcome there, but because this forest fire basically clear-cut this whole canyon that provides the water for the town of Beaver.
Instead of replenishing their water supply, what it did was wash vast amounts of soil and debris into the watershed. It took out three hydropower plants. It washed mud and debris across bridges and took them out. It also washed all this debris into the town and had their water system offline for an extended period of time.
We often don't associate forest health and water as much as we should. This is a crisis that is facing us across the country. That is why it is important to have legislation like Representative Wittman has proposed here.
I was in southwest Colorado at the end of last week, and we flew over another 100,000-acre fire. We saw, again, how when the land is denuded, to use a word from Teddy Roosevelt, and soil is no longer held in place and we get rain, it causes catastrophes.
It doesn't have to be this way. We can have safe, healthy drinking water all across this country. Actually, about two-thirds of our water comes from forested landscapes.
We have seen how important this is, even in places like New York City, where they have a tremendous water system that people, putting a lot of forethought into this many, many decades ago, protected the watershed and protected the water going into New York.
We see it in Boston. We typically think of these forest issues out West, but the Quabbin Reservoir in Boston is another forested area that is protected and managed strictly for water.
It is because of research and efforts that have happened for many years that give us the science to understand how to manage the landscape to produce the water that we all need. When we talk about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure, we know that managing our forests gives us that ounce of prevention.
It saves a lot of money in the long run and saves a lot of headaches and hard work to restore these systems in the long run, and it is important that we continue to do the research and fund these programs so that we can provide safe, clean water to all Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I concur with everything the chairman just said, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Robert J. Wittman (R-VA)5:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support today of H.R. 7889, the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act.
This legislation would reauthorize the Water Resources Research Act, better known as the WRRA, and it will strengthen Federal investment in the water research that our communities depend upon. It supports a nationwide network of research institutes that address State and regional water challenges.
This is locally driven, nationally significant research. It helps safeguard drinking water supplies, reduces nutrient pollution, and addresses emerging contaminants that we may find in critical water resources.
With growing water demands from advanced manufacturing, data centers, and artificial intelligence infrastructure, the need for sound water science has never been greater.
In Virginia, the WRRA supports research that helps to address water challenges that matter most to our communities, including efforts to improve the health and resilience of our great natural resource, the Chesapeake Bay.
Reauthorizing this program will help ensure that every State has the science-backed information it needs to address its own unique water challenges. By investing in scientific research today, we help ensure future generations have access to safe, reliable water resources.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort, and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 7889, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fong)5:00 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7889, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act
Pages H5576–H5578 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8658) to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to modify the notification requirement for emergency contract health services for certain beneficiaries, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (920 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act".
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACT HEALTH SERVICES.
Section 406 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1646) is amended--
(1) by striking "With respect to" and inserting the following:
"(b) Elderly or Disabled Indians.--With respect to"; and
(2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so designated) the following:
"(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), with respect to an Indian receiving emergency medical care or services from a non-Service provider or in a non-Service facility under the authority of this Act, the time limitation (as a condition of payment) for notifying the Service of such treatment or admission shall not be less than 15 days.".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8658, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8658, introduced by Congressman Mike Kennedy from Utah, would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to require that non-elderly and nondisabled Indian patients have at least 15 days to notify the Indian Health Service when they receive emergency treatment or are admitted to a healthcare facility through the purchased/referred care program.
The IHS uses the purchased/referred care program, or PRC, to pay outside providers when needed services are unavailable at an IHS or Tribal health facility. IHS approves a PRC payment if a patient meets specific requirements, including timely notification of IHS. The law currently provides elderly or disabled Indians a 30-day emergency notice window, while the rule for all other patients is 72 hours.
During an emergency, 72 hours is a very short window. While extensions can be granted, the 72-hour window remains the standard. This timeframe is unrealistic for a patient dealing with a health crisis who may be transferred between facilities, recovering from surgery, or relying on assistance from someone unfamiliar with PRC notice rules.
When the 72-hour deadline is missed, a claim that would otherwise be approved may be denied, and the patient is at risk of being billed or sent to collections for emergency care.
This legislation would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to provide at least 15 days to notify IHS of emergency treatment or admission for PRC purposes, while preserving the existing 30-day notification window for elderly or disabled Indians.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Kennedy of Utah for championing this important legislation for Indian Country. I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives,
Text printed in the Record (2,381 characters)
Washington, DC, August 24, 2026. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Westerman: I write regarding H.R. 8658, the "Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act." While there are provisions of the legislation that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, I wanted to notify you that the Committee will forgo action on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
This is done with the understanding that the Committee's jurisdictional interests over this and similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 8658 and requests your support when such a request is made.
I would appreciate your response confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 8658 and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the committee report on the bill or in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor.
Thank you again for your assistance on this matter.
Sincerely,
Brett Guthrie, Chairman.
____
Washington, DC, August 24, 2026. Hon. Brett Guthrie, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Guthrie: I write regarding H.R. 8658, the "Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act," which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on July 15, 2026.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Energy and Commerce will not formally consider H.R. 8658 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 8658. 1 appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Indian Health Service, or IHS, is the primary agency responsible for providing healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives. However, the agency is chronically underfunded and understaffed, resulting in limited care at IHS and Tribal facilities. When these facilities cannot offer care, Tribal patients may receive services from outside providers under the Purchased and Referred Care, or PRC, program.
As the chairman pointed out, in an emergency, most Tribal patients only have 3 days, or 72 hours, to notify the agency that they received care under the PRC program. This is, as the chairman said, completely unrealistic for too many Americans. It places an unfair burden on patients and their families to navigate paperwork and deadlines during medical emergencies, when they should be focused on receiving care.
H.R. 8658 would extend the notification period from 3 days to 15 days. This simple extension would gave patients and their families the time to complete the necessary requirements and allow them to focus on their recovery in the event of an emergency.
This small change is a meaningful step in supporting healthcare for Indian country because Tribal patients should not have to worry about balancing paperwork and going into medical debt while recovering and receiving the care they are entitled to.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Kennedy), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mike Kennedy (R-UT)5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Westerman for the time to speak.
Our constituents know there is too often a gap between the rules Washington writes and the realities Americans face. Nowhere is that gap more apparent than in our healthcare system.
I know that reality well. I have been a doctor for 25 years and continue to see patients. I sit with families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and I see firsthand how frustrating paperwork and red tape can be when what matters most is getting someone the care that they need.
That experience is why I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 8658, the Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act.
This bill is simple: Put patients before paperwork. Today, when an American Indian or Alaska Native patient receives emergency care outside the Indian Health Service, the IHS must be notified within 72 hours. When missed, a family can be left with the bill for care that should have been covered.
Mr. Speaker, that rule was written from behind a desk, not beside a hospital bed. Anyone who has worked in healthcare knows that 72 hours can pass in what feels like an instant. Families should be focused on their loved one's recovery, not on whether they met a Federal notification deadline.
H.R. 8658 extends that window to 15 days so families can take care of their loved ones first and the paperwork second.
This is what good government should look like. When a rule does not reflect the reality people face, we should fix it. When government bureaucracy gets in the way of common sense, we should cut through it. My congressional colleagues and I understand that. We need a government that is smarter, quicker, and more responsive to the people it serves. We need a government that is streamlined and close to home, not bloated and distant.
This is one practical, commonsense fix, and there are many more like it across our government and throughout our healthcare system.
I thank Chairman Westerman, my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee, our outstanding staff on the Committee as well as my staff, and my bipartisan colleagues for their work on this fix and their commitment to making government work for the people.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8658.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Dr. Kennedy of Utah for his work. I urge the passage of H.R. 8658, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore5:10 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8658.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
Page H5578 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 790) to redesignate the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the "Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center."
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,027 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF BARBARA L. CUBIN NATIONAL HISTORIC
TRAILS INTERPRETIVE CENTER.
(a) In General.--The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center established under section 2(a) of Public Law 105-290 (112 Stat. 2783) in Casper, Wyoming, shall be known and designated as the "Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center".
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the "Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center".
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2(a) of Public Law 105-290 (112 Stat. 2783) is amended, in the second sentence, by striking "the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center" and inserting "the `Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center' ".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 790, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of S. 790, a bill to redesignate the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the "Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center," sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis in the Senate and led by Representative Harriet Hageman in the House.
This bill honors former Representative Barbara Cubin, Wyoming's first woman elected to Federal office. During her 14 years in Congress, Representative Cubin strongly advocated for Wyoming and the West. As a founding member of the Congressional Western Caucus and chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, she worked to advance responsible development of America's natural resources and improve the management of our Federal lands.
Representative Cubin also played an important role in shaping and telling the history of the American West. In 1998, her legislation authorizing the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper was signed into law.
The center is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, in partnership with local and private organizations, and offers free interactive exhibits and educational programming about America's westward expansion.
Unfortunately, last year, Representative Cubin publicly announced she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. We continue to hold her, her family, and all who know and love her in our prayers.
It is a fitting tribute to her legacy that the center Representative Cubin helped establish will now bear her name. S. 790 recognizes her years of service to Wyoming and ensures that her contributions to the history and heritage of the American West are remembered for generations to come.
I thank Representative Hageman and the entire Wyoming delegation for their leadership on this legislation and their commitment to honor Representative Cubin's life and legacy.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 790, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, S. 790 would redesignate the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the "Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center."
Former Representative Barbara Cubin was the first woman to represent Wyoming in Congress. Mr. Speaker, I am going to deviate from my notes here to remind all the folks watching at home that there have been less than 400 women ever elected to the Congress of the United States. It is a privilege to stand here and defend this bill.
She was a founding member of the Congressional Western Caucus and the original sponsor of the legislation establishing the center. Renaming the center will honor her hard work and lasting legacy in Wyoming and the West.
Casper, Wyoming, is known as the city of the crossroads of history because it is the only geographic location in the western United States where four congressionally recognized historic trails converge.
The historic trails that pass through the Casper area are a distinctive part of our national character, holding important historical and cultural values that reflect the migration, settlement, transportation, and commerce that all shaped the West.
The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, owned and operated by the Bureau of Land Management, helps keep the story and impact of the trails alive today.
Honoring the legacy and impact of Representative Cubin is a fitting tribute to a woman who fought for these trails as a trailblazer in her own right.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of S. 790, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Representative Hageman and Senators Lummis and Barrasso for their leadership on S. 790, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 790.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026
Pages H5578–H5580 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3276) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Urban Bird Treaty Program, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,380 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026".
SEC. 2. URBAN BIRD TREATY PROGRAM.
(a) Urban Bird Treaty Program.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall establish a program for the voluntary conservation of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas, to be known as the "Urban Bird Treaty Program".
(2) Program duties.--In carrying out the Program, the Director shall--
(A) work with and support covered entities to--
(i) protect, restore, or enhance urban habitats for birds, including through the control of invasive species and restoration of native plant species;
(ii) reduce urban hazards to birds;
(iii) engage communities in scientific activities involving the monitoring of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas; and
(iv) educate and engage communities in caring about and conserving birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas;
(B) provide technical and financial assistance through partnerships with covered entities to build capacity for, plan, and carry out projects related to activities described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) facilitate collaboration and information sharing among covered entities and the public with respect to best management practices for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of urban bird habitats.
(3) Grant program.--
(A) In general.--The Director shall establish a competitive grant program to award amounts to eligible entities for the purposes of conducting research, planning, assessments, management, building capacity, monitoring, collaboration and information sharing, workforce training, and accomplishing related activities as described in paragraph (2) with respect to the conservation, restoration, enhancement or management of urban birds and the habitats of urban birds.
(B) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under this paragraph, an eligible entity shall submit to the Director an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Director determines appropriate.
(C) Administration.--
(i) Agreement.--The Director may enter into an agreement with the Foundation for the Foundation to administer the grant program established under subparagraph (A) pursuant to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
(ii) Application of national fish and wildlife foundation establishment act.--Section 10(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)) shall not apply with respect to--
(I) an agreement entered into under clause (i); or (II) amounts made available to carry out this section.
(iii) Geographic distribution.--The Director shall ensure, to the extent practicable, equitable distribution of awards among and between small, midsize, and large cities, as described in the document titled "Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates Program (EDGE): Locale Boundaries Technical Documentation" published by the National Center for Education Statistics of the Department of Education.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered entity.--The term "covered entity" means--
(A) a Federal, Tribal, State, or municipal agency;
(B) a nongovernmental organization;
(C) a community group; and
(D) an academic institution.
(2) Director.--The term "Director" means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term "eligible entity" means--
(A) a Tribal, State, or municipal agency;
(B) a nongovernmental organization;
(C) a community group; and
(D) an academic institution.
(4) Foundation.--The term "Foundation" means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation established by section 2(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701(a)).
(5) Program.--The term "Program" means the Urban Bird Treaty Program established under subsection (a)(1).
(6) Urban.--The term "urban" has the meaning given the term "urban area" in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3276, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025.
Birds are an important part of our Nation's natural heritage and play an important role in healthy and resilient ecosystems. Millions of Americans also enjoy bird-watching each year, supporting local economies and businesses across the country. Unfortunately, birds face several challenges in urban areas, including habitat loss and hazards such as building collisions and light pollution. H.R. 3276 addresses these challenges by codifying the Urban Bird Treaty Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently provides grants and technical assistance to communities and other eligible partners to conserve, restore, and enhance urban bird habitat, reduce hazards to birds, and engage the public in monitoring and conservation efforts.
This legislation will enable this important work to continue with greater congressional oversight and accountability.
Mr. Speaker, I just recently had the opportunity to visit Audubon, Arkansas, and see the great work that they are doing with bird habitat and also to discuss again how healthy forests not only provide us with clean air and clean water, but they also provide excellent bird habitat. It is another reason the Senate should pass the Fix Our Forests Act.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act, would codify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program and authorize annual funding through fiscal year 2033 to support local community investments in bird habitats across the country.
Over the last 50 years, North America has lost nearly 3 billion breeding birds, a staggering 30 percent decline. While conservation is often seen as something that happens far out in the deep wilderness, nearly half of all migratory stopover hot spots in the U.S. fall within metropolitan areas, making urban and suburban areas essential to bird conservation.
Our built environments and backyards are essential mid-journey sanctuaries for migratory birds, providing critical resting, feeding, and nesting grounds for migrating land birds.
Since 1999, the Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program has supported voluntary, locally driven partnerships among municipal governments, tribes, nonprofits, and schools. These modest investments deliver outsized returns: restoring urban wetlands, controlling invasive species, reducing hazards to birds like building glass and light pollution, and expanding access to nature in underserved communities.
Despite its overwhelming success, demand for these grants far exceeds current capacity. Without formal statutory authority, the program relies on discretionary year-to-year funding, and as a result, the Fish and Wildlife Service has been able to fulfill only about 10 percent of the high-quality project applications it receives every year.
H.R. 3276 would codify this program and authorize a competitive grant program administered in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. By passing this bill today, we are empowering local communities to lead on conservation, protect migratory birds, reduce hazards to birds, and connect families to the outdoors.
I applaud my colleague from Michigan, Representative Dingell, for her leadership on this commonsense, locally-driven, bipartisan measure that protects biodiversity, strengthens local partnerships, and enriches our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of her bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), the sponsor of the bill.
Debbie Dingell (D-MI)5:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act. I am very proud to lead this important effort for bird conservation with my colleague Congressman Cline. I thank him for his leadership on this effort. I also thank the chair and the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee for making this happen.
We have a responsibility to make sure that our communities are safe for birds and people to live together. Birds play critical roles in our ecosystem and in our day-to-day lives.
Since 1970, bird populations in North America have declined by a third and are continuing to decline at an accelerating rate. Almost 3 billion birds have disappeared. They are gone. Habitat loss is the biggest driver of this decline, and this bill works to protect, restore, and enhance urban and rural habitats for birds.
Supporting parks and greenways and reducing urban hazards can make a real difference for migrating and nesting birds and protect bird populations for generations to come.
Both the sportsmen and conservation communities have recognized that birds need our help, and that it is up to us to take serious action to address this crisis.
I might add that it is very timely for this consideration, as bird migration is underway. During migration, birds can become disoriented, making awareness and simple protections especially important.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the broad, bipartisan coalition that has fought for this legislation so far, including the National Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation, the Garden Club of America, and the American Bird Conservancy.
H.R. 3276 is a real step forward for conservation, and I strongly support its passage.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of the bill for her passion and dedication to this issue. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3276, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore5:20 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3276, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore5:20 p.m.
In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore5:20 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act
Pages H5580–H5581 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3925) to provide for a land exchange in San Bernardino County, California, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (5,737 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act".
SEC. 2. EXCHANGE OF LAND.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Federal land.--The term "Federal Land" means the approximately 1,475 acres of National Forest System land (including any and all privileges, easements, subsurface rights, hereditaments, improvements and appurtenances thereon and thereto) depicted as F-1 and F-2 on the Federal Land Maps.
(2) Federal land maps.--The term "Federal Land Maps" means the maps entitled--
(A) "San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange, San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 1 of 2)", created July 8, 2022, revised January 10, 2023; and
(B) "San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange, San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 2 of 2)", created July 8, 2022, revised January 10, 2023.
(3) Nation.--The term "Nation" means the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, a federally recognized tribe, also recognized as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
(4) Non-federal land.--The term "Non-Federal Land" means the approximately 1,460 acres of land (including any and all privileges, easements, subsurface rights, hereditaments, improvements and appurtenances thereon and thereto) owned by the Nation and depicted on the Non-Federal Land Maps as NF-1, NF-2, NF-3, NF-4a, and NF-5.
(5) Non-federal land maps.--The term "Non-Federal Land Maps" means the maps entitled--
(A) "San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Non-Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 1 of 4)", created March 8, 2022, revised January 9, 2023;
(B) "San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Non-Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 2 of 4)", created March 8, 2022, revised January 9, 2023;
(C) "San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Non-Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 3 of 4)", created March 8, 2022, revised January 9, 2023; and
(D) "San Manuel Ancestral Land Exchange San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, Non-Federal Lands Proposed for Exchange (map 4 of 4)", created July 8, 2022, revised January 9, 2023.
(6) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(b) Land Exchange.--Subject to the provisions of this section, if the Nation offers to convey to the United States all right, title, and interest of the Nation in and to the Non-Federal Land, the Secretary shall, as soon as practicable within the 1-year period beginning on the date on which the Secretary receives such offer--
(1) accept the offer; and
(2) convey to the Nation all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal Land, excepting and reserving an easement for access and use by the Forest Service any portion of Forest Service roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25 located on the Federal Land.
(c) Survey.--
(1) Federal land.--The exact acreage and legal description of the Federal Land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey approved by the Secretary and the Nation.
(2) Non-federal land.--
(A) In general.--The exact acreage and legal description of the Non-Federal Land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey approved by the Secretary and the Nation.
(B) Cost.--The cost of the survey in subparagraph (A) shall be borne by the Nation.
(d) Maps, Estimates, and Descriptions.--
(1) Minor error.--The Secretary and the Nation may, by mutual agreement--
(A) make minor boundary adjustments to the lands to be exchanged under subsection (b); and
(B) correct any minor errors in any map, acreage estimate, or description of the land to be exchanged under subsection (b).
(2) Conflict.--If there is a conflict between a map, acreage estimate, or description of any land to be exchanged under subsection (b), the map shall control unless the Secretary and the Nation mutually agree otherwise.
(3) Availability of maps.--The Federal Land Map and the Non-Federal Land Map shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region, United States Forest Service, or any other appropriate office of the Forest Service, as determined by the Secretary.
(e) Arrowhead Landmark Preservation.--
(1) Agreement.--As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (b), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Nation shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary under which the Nation agrees to preserve, to an extent mutually agreed upon, the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site denoted on the Federal Land Maps as "Arrowhead Landmark GA".
(2) Records.--The agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall be recorded in the official records of the County of San Bernardino, California, and an in an appropriate records system of the Forest Service, as determined by the Secretary.
(f) Management of Land.--Land acquired by the Secretary under this section shall become part of the San Bernardino National Forest and be managed in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to such National Forest.
(g) Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976.--The land exchange under subsection (b) is not subject to section 206 of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716).
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3925, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3925, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act.
For nearly a decade, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation has worked with the U.S. Forest Service to complete a land exchange in San Bernardino County.
The San Manuel Reservation is surrounded by Federal lands and the communities of San Bernardino and Highland, leaving the Nation with limited space to meet its housing, infrastructure, and cultural needs.
H.R. 3925 would complete an exchange of approximately 1,500 acres of Forest Service land for an equivalent amount already owned by the Nation. Much of the land being provided by the Nation was acquired specifically to facilitate this exchange at the request of the Forest Service.
Completing this exchange will create a more contiguous land base, reduce checkerboard ownership, and improve land management for both the Nation and the Forest Service.
This legislation also protects the historic Arrowhead landmark, a site of significant cultural importance to the Yuhaaviatam people and a well-known symbol throughout the San Bernardino Valley.
This exchange will also support better wildfire preparation and land management in an area that faces significant wildfire risk. The Nation has already made substantial investments in fire protection and emergency response at the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest.
Mr. Speaker, after years of work and unfortunate delay, congressional action is needed to finally complete this process. This is a straightforward measure that respects Tribal sovereignty, protects important cultural resources, and improves land management in my district.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3925.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3925 would authorize a land exchange between the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation and the U.S. Forest Service.
This exchange would convey approximately 1,475 acres of Federal land within the San Bernardino National Forest for approximately 1,460 acres of Tribal land. The Nation began working with the Forest Service on this exchange in 2017. The lands the Nation is seeking to acquire are adjacent to the reservation and include an arrowhead-shaped rock formation at the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains.
The Arrowhead landmark site and the lands toward which it points are sacred to the Nation and are intertwined with their creator and sacred stories.
The land holds significant cultural and spiritual importance, and the Nation has dedicated significant time and resources towards completing this land transfer. However, administrative hurdles have delayed such an exchange.
This bill would complete the exchange, consolidating parcels of the checkerboard of Tribal and Forest Service lands, while providing the Nation with culturally significant lands.
The exchange would also support the preservation and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site and enhance stewardship of the San Bernardino National Forest.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3925, introduced by Congressman Obernolte, as has been said, authorizes a land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and the Yuhaaviatam Tribe of San Manuel Nation. Again, this land exchange would create a more contiguous land base for the Yuhaaviatam, and it would reduce checkerboard land holdings in the region. Under the exchange, the Yuhaaviatam would receive approximately 1,475 acres of Forest Service land, and the Tribe would transfer 1,460 acres to the Forest Service.
These conveyances would not only improve land management for both the Federal Government and the Tribe but would also reduce the overall size of the Federal estate.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte) for working with the Yuhaaviatam to develop H.R. 3925. I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close. I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also urge passage of H.R. 3925, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore5:30 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3925, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Establishment of the General George C. Marshall House as an Affiliated Area
Pages H5581–H5582 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 603) to designate the General George C. Marshall House, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (2,074 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL
HOUSE AS AN AFFILIATED AREA.
(a) In General.--The General George C. Marshall House in the Commonwealth of Virginia is established as an affiliated area of the National Park System (referred to in this section as the "affiliated area") to promote public appreciation of the significant historic contributions made by United States military leader and statesman George Catlett Marshall, Jr.
(b) Description of Affiliated Area.--The affiliated area shall consist of the area generally depicted as the "General George C. Marshall House Property, Leesburg, Virginia" on the map entitled "General George C. Marshall House, Proposed Affiliated Area", numbered 999/189,974, and dated September 2023.
(c) Administration.--The affiliated area shall be managed in a manner consistent with--
(1) this section; and
(2) any law generally applicable to units of the National Park System.
(d) Management Entity.--The George C. Marshall International Center shall be the management entity for the affiliated area.
(e) Agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the "Secretary")--
(1) may provide technical assistance and enter into cooperative agreements with the management entity designated by subsection (d) for the purpose of providing financial assistance for the marketing, marking, interpretation, and preservation of the affiliated area; and
(2) shall enter into an agreement with the management entity designated by subsection (d) that describes the roles and responsibilities for the management of the affiliated area consistent with the policies and standards that apply to units of the National Park System.
(f) Limited Role of the Secretary.--Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary--
(1) to acquire property at the affiliated area; or
(2) to assume overall financial responsibility for the operation, maintenance, or management of the affiliated area.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on S. 603, the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 603, which would designate the George C. Marshall House in Virginia as an affiliated area of the National Park System.
General George C. Marshall was a war hero, statesman, master strategist, and one of the most important figures in modern American history. From his distinguished service in both World Wars to his prominent role in shaping the postwar peace, he was the rare American whose service touched every dimension of national strength.
This bill recognizes George Marshall's legacy and ensures that Americans can continue to draw inspiration from his story by designating his historic home and estate as an affiliated area of the National Park System. This designation conveys honor and recognition while keeping the estate's management and fiscal responsibilities within the George C. Marshall International Center. This bill does not put property under Federal management or add to the Federal estate.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 603 would establish the General George C. Marshall House, the home of one of America's most influential historical figures, as an affiliated area of the National Park System.
This would provide a deserved national recognition and allow the George Marshall House to receive technical assistance and limited financial aid from the National Park Service.
General Marshall lived at the residence in Leesburg, Virginia, between 1941 and 1959, critical years during his career.
He held an impressive resume, serving as Chief of Staff of the Army, special envoy to China, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and president of the American Red Cross.
He was renowned for organizing the Allied victory in World War II and for his dedication to rebuilding European economies and democracies through the Marshall Plan, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.
His home was designated a historical landmark in 1996 for the National Park Service, and then, after a 10-year, $7 million restoration, it became a public museum on Veterans Day in 2005.
The home meets all requirements for designation as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and the designation authorized by S. 603 will ensure that the contributions and values of George Marshall are recognized and commemorated by all Americans. I cannot wait to visit.
Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not mention that this is the second time that the House has passed this bill. Back in May of this year, we sent the Senate H.R. 1352, the House companion introduced by Representative Subramanyam. Instead of passing our bill and sending it to the President for his signature, the Senate passed its own version after a disconnect among Republican leadership. But we should not let this infighting get in the way of a good thing.
Again, I thank Representative Subramanyam and all members of the George C. Marshall International Center for their dedication to preserving the history and legacy of General Marshall.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 603, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I join my colleague in her frustration with the Senate. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues, despite the bureaucracy, to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 603, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yakym)
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 603.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act
Pages H5582–H5584 · Official textNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS REMEMBRANCE, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACT
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 309) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide funding for the National Law Enforcement Museum, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (6,496 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act".
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Fund.--The term "Fund" means the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
(2) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for such purpose, beginning on the first fiscal year the begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, and for each of the following 6 fiscal years, the Secretary shall award a grant in the amount specified in subsection (c) to the Fund to be used solely for the purposes described in subsection (b), if upon review of the application submitted pursuant to subsection (d), the Secretary makes a determination to award such grant pursuant to subsection (e).
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the grants authorized under subsection (a) shall be for the expenses associated with operating and enhancing the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum, including programs to--
(1) memorialize law enforcement heroes who die in the line of duty and compile statistics on law enforcement fatalities and injuries;
(2) honor and commemorate the extraordinary service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers;
(3) develop and make available accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to promote the understanding of law enforcement history and officer safety and wellness training, which include digital resources and other types of resources, such as print resources and traveling exhibitions;
(4) increase technical resources to better engage the public in person and via online platforms to educate and inform the public about community policing and officer safety and wellness;
(5) create, expand, and disseminate scholarly work through research, curricula, in-house and traveling exhibitions, publications, and other outreach initiatives;
(6) expand the collection acquisition and collection processes, including staffing, conservation, processing, and digitization;
(7) augment law enforcement history and officer safety and wellness education activities, including the development, dissemination, and implementation of principles of sound pedagogy for teaching about law enforcement history and officer safety and wellness;
(8) promote professional development, including local, regional, and national workshops, teacher trainings, and partnerships, with appropriate entities to better educate and inform the public about law enforcement history and officer safety and wellness education;
(9) engage with local and independent educational agencies and expand teacher engagement to cultivate and support the development of leaders in the teaching of law enforcement history and officer safety and wellness education;
(10) engage with State and local education leaders to encourage the adoption of resources supported under this Act into curricula across diverse disciplines;
(11) create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations for museum and officer safety and wellness improvement, and rigorously evaluate such innovations;
(12) provide for the free admission to National Law Enforcement Museum for active and retired law enforcement officers and family members of fallen officers, and dedicated free admission hours for the general public at least once a week; and
(13) develop online Law Enforcement History and Officer Safety and Wellness Education Resources for the general public and scholarly research.
(c) Grant Amount.--Each grant authorized under subsection (a) shall be for $6,000,000.
(d) Application.--To be considered for an award of a grant under this section, the Fund shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(e) Review; Deadline for Award.--If the Secretary, after review of the application from the Fund, determines that the Fund satisfies any requirements established by the Secretary under subsection (d), the Secretary shall award the grant to the Fund, not later than 90 days after the date of receipt by the Secretary of the completed application submitted by the Fund.
(f) Condition on Receipt of Grant.--As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section, the Fund shall--
(1) provide for--
(A) free admission to National Law Enforcement Museum for active and retired law enforcement officers and family members of fallen officers; and
(B) dedicated free admission hours for the general public at least once a week; and
(2) allow for annual Federal audits of the financial statements of the Fund, including revenues associated with ticket sales, charitable donations, grants, and all expenditures on salaries and operations, which shall be subject to review by the Secretary and made available to the public.
(g) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year for which the Fund obligates or expends funds made available to the Fund pursuant to this section, the Fund shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that includes, for the fiscal year covered by the report, each of the following:
(1) Information relating to the amount of grant funds obligated or expended for the preceding fiscal year.
(2) Information relating to any purposes for which such funds were obligated or expended.
(3) Information relating to the progress in delivering public education, community outreach, and officer safety and wellness programming using funds provided under this section.
(3) Any other information the Secretary may require to effectively administer the program under this section, as determined by the Secretary, if not later than the last day of the fiscal year the Secretary notified the Fund of such requested information.
(h) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this section, and the activities authorized by this section are subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for such purposes.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 309, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 309, the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act, which provides temporary grants from the Department of the Interior to enhance the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum here in Washington, D.C.
Supporting our brave men and women in law enforcement should not be a partisan issue, and the overwhelming support behind this bill is a true testament to that scenario.
This bill is led by Representative Nehls of Texas. The bill has 124 bipartisan cosponsors. This legislation has also been endorsed by numerous law enforcement organizations across the Nation, including the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the National Sheriffs' Association.
In my home State of Arkansas, this legislation also enjoys support from the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police; the city of Sheridan, Arkansas, Police Department; and the Arkansas Game Warden Association.
In fact, Chief Gary Sipes, the executive director of the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, said: A sustained national effort to restore confidence and understanding in law enforcement is urgently needed, now more than ever. That is precisely what this bill would do. I could not agree more.
Every day, law enforcement officers across the country put themselves in harm's way to protect their fellow Americans. They make tremendous sacrifices to keep our communities safe, uphold the rule of law, and answer the call when their neighbors need them most. They deserve our respect, our gratitude, and our support.
Here in the heart of our Nation's Capital, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial honors Federal, Tribal, State, and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Nearby, the National Law Enforcement Museum helps share the history of American law enforcement through exhibits, educational programming, historical collections, and outreach.
H.R. 309 builds on that mission by authorizing the Department of the Interior to provide grants to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to expand its education and community outreach initiatives. These grants will support free museum access for officers, expansion of digitized collections, and broader distribution of officer safety and wellness resources to law enforcement agencies across the country.
I am proud to support this legislation, stand with our police officers across the country, and honor the service and sacrifices of America's law enforcement officers.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Nehls for his leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 309, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 309, the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act, was introduced by my colleagues, Representative Nehls and Representative Panetta, so this is a bipartisan effort.
This bill takes an important step toward establishing a program at the Department of the Interior and supports community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs at the National Law Enforcement Museum.
In 1984, Congress passed a joint resolution to authorize the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to establish the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial fund built and continues to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the Nation's monument dedicated to officers killed in the line of duty. The fund also maintains the largest, most comprehensive database of line-of-duty officer deaths, conducts research into officer fatality trends and issues, and serves as an information clearinghouse.
In 2000, President Clinton signed the National Law Enforcement Museum Act, which authorized the fund to build and operate the National Law Enforcement Museum. Opened in 2018, the museum tells the story of American law enforcement through exhibits, collections, research, and education.
H.R. 309 would take additional steps toward authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to establish and award a grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for 7 fiscal years to take that work outside of the museum. Such grants would have an annual $6 million limit during that period. As a condition of receiving the grant funding, the fund would be required to submit annual reports to the Secretary, documenting and accounting progress and expenditures.
This funding would allow the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and their museum to continue supporting officers and educating the public on the important work our law enforcement officers do every day to keep our communities safe.
This bill is an important step forward in continuing Congress' longstanding support of this important memorial and museum and the men and women who keep our communities safe.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 309, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls), the lead sponsor of this bill and someone who personally knows about law enforcement, having served as a sheriff.
Troy E. Nehls (R-TX)5:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 309, the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act. I thank Chairman Westerman for his support and his work on this.
Congressman Panetta and more than 120 Members--120 of us--all came together in this bipartisan effort to support our law enforcement officers. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 309.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Nehls for his leadership on this bipartisan legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on H.R. 309, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore5:40 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 309, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (Waters) Act
Pages H5584–H5586 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6893) to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,792 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act".
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION CHESAPEAKE BAY OFFICE.
Section 307 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 1511d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking "(in this section" and all that follows and inserting a period;
(B) in paragraph (2), to read as follows:
"(2) The Office shall be headed by a Director, who--
"(A) shall have knowledge and experience in research or resource management efforts in the Chesapeake Bay; and
"(B) shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the Office and the implementation of this section."; and
(C) by striking paragraph (3);
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking "Secretary of Commerce" and inserting "Administrator";
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by inserting "with and represent" after "coordinate";
(ii) by striking ", the Chesapeake Bay Regional Sea Grant Programs, and the Chesapeake Bay units of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System," and inserting "for the Chesapeake Bay Program and that relate to the Chesapeake Bay watershed in furtherance of such Administration's coastal resource stewardship mission,";
(iii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in clauses (vi) and (vii), by striking "and" at the end; and
(II) by adding at the end the following:
"(viii) coastal hazards; and "(ix) education; and"; and (iv) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (iii), by striking "and" at the end;
(II) in clause (iv), by inserting "and" after the semicolon; and
(III) by adding at the end the following:
"(v) integrated ecosystem assessments;";
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking "Environmental Protection Agency" and inserting "Chesapeake Executive Council"; and
(ii) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: "as appropriate to further the purposes of this section";
(D) by striking paragraphs (5) and (7);
(E) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5); and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
"(6) perform any functions necessary to support the programs referred to in paragraph (3).";
(3) by striking subsections (c), (d), and (e); and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
"(c) Program Activities.--
"(1) In general.--The Administrator, acting through the Director, shall implement the program activities authorized by this section to support the activity of the Chesapeake Executive Council and to further the purposes of this section.
"(2) Ensuring scientific and technical merit.--The Director shall--
"(A) establish and use an effective and transparent mechanism to ensure that projects funded under this section have undergone appropriate peer review; and
"(B) provide other appropriate means to determine that such projects have acceptable scientific and technical merit for the purpose of achieving maximum use of available funds and resources to benefit the Chesapeake Bay area.
"(3) Consultation with chesapeake executive council.--The Director shall, in the implementation of the program activities authorized under this section, consult with the Chesapeake Executive Council, to ensure that the activities of the Office are consistent with the purposes and priorities of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement and plans developed pursuant to the such agreement.
"(4) Integrated coastal observations.--
"(A) In general.--The Administrator, acting through the Director, may collaborate with scientific and academic institutions, State and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other constituents in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to support an integrated observations system for the Chesapeake Bay consistent with the purposes of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.).
"(B) Specific requirements.--To support the system referred to in subparagraph (A) and provide a complete set of environmental information for the Chesapeake Bay, the Director shall--
"(i) coordinate monitoring with Federal and State agencies in the tidal portions of the Chesapeake Bay to understand impacts of water quality on living marine resources;
"(ii) identify new data collection needs and deploy new technologies, as appropriate;
"(iii) collect and analyze the scientific information necessary for the management of living marine resources and the marine habitat associated with such resources; and
"(iv) organize the information described in clause (iii) into products that are useful to policy makers, resource managers, scientists, and the public.
"(C) Chesapeake bay interpretive buoy system.--To further the development and implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System and associated monitoring assets to improve weather and ecological forecasts, monitor habitat conditions for living marine resources, the Director may--
"(i) support the establishment and implementation of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail;
"(ii) delineate key waypoints along the trail and provide appropriate real-time data and information for trail users;
"(iii) interpret data and information for use by educators and students to inspire stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay; and
"(iv) incorporate the observational data from the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System into the Integrated Ocean Observing System regional observing system network.
"(5) Chesapeake bay watershed education and training program.--
"(A) In general.--The Administrator, acting through the Director, may establish a Chesapeake Bay watershed education and training program. The program shall--
"(i) continue and expand the Chesapeake Bay watershed education programs offered by the Office immediately before the enactment of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act;
"(ii) improve the understanding of elementary and secondary school students and teachers of the living resources of the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay;
"(iii) provide education and career pathway internships; and
"(iv) meet the educational goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
"(B) Grant program.--The Director may award grants for the purposes of this paragraph. Grants awarded under this subparagraph may be used to support education and training projects that enhance understanding and assessment of a specific environmental problem in the Chesapeake Bay watershed or a goal of the Chesapeake Bay Program, or protect or restore living resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including projects that--
"(i) provide classroom education, including the development and use of distance learning and other innovative technologies, related to the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
"(ii) provide meaningful watershed educational experiences in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
"(iii) provide professional development for teachers related to the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the dissemination of pertinent education materials oriented to varying grade levels;
"(iv) demonstrate or disseminate environmental educational tools and materials related to the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
"(v) demonstrate field methods, practices, and techniques including assessment of environmental and ecological conditions and analysis of environmental problems; and
"(vi) build the capacity of school districts and their partners to deliver high quality environmental education programs.
"(C) Coordination.--The Director shall implement the education and training program in coordination with the heads of other Federal agencies, as the Director determines appropriate.
"(6) Coastal and living resources management and habitat program.--
"(A) In general.--The Administrator, acting through the Director, may establish a Chesapeake Bay Coastal Living Resources Management and Habitat Program to support coordinated management, protection, characterization, and restoration of priority Chesapeake Bay habitats and living resources, including oysters, blue crabs, salt marshes, submerged aquatic vegetation, and economically and ecologically important fish species such as striped bass and menhaden.
"(B) Activities.--Under the Chesapeake Bay Coastal Living Resources Management and Habitat Program, the Director may
carry out or enter into grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements and provide technical assistance to support--
"(i) native oyster research and restoration;
"(ii) fish and shellfish aquaculture that is carried out in accordance with a valid Federal or State permit;
"(iii) establishment of submerged aquatic vegetation restoration programs;
"(iv) the development of programs that restore, protect, and build the resilience of critical coastal habitats and communities;
"(v) habitat mapping, characterization, and assessment techniques necessary to identify, assess, and monitor Chesapeake Bay conditions and restoration actions;
"(vi) application and transfer of applied scientific research and ecosystem management tools to fisheries and habitat managers;
"(vii) collection, synthesis, and sharing of information to inform and influence coastal and living resource management issues;
"(viii) ecologically and economically important fish and shellfish research; and
"(ix) other activities that the director determines are appropriate to carry out the purposes of such program.
"(d) Delegation.--
"(1) Authority.--The Administrator shall delegate to the Director such authority as may be necessary to carry out this section.
"(2) Staff.--The Administrator shall assign to the Director appropriate staff representing expertise that covers the breadth of the duties of the Office.
"(e) Reports.--
"(1) In general.--The Administrator, acting through the Director, shall submit a biennial report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Secretary of Commerce on the activities of the Office and on progress made in protecting and restoring the living resources and habitat of the Chesapeake Bay.
"(2) Action plan.--Each such report shall include an action plan for the 2-year period following submission of the report, consisting of--
"(A) a list of recommended research, monitoring, and data collection activities necessary to continue implementation of the strategy under subsection (b)(2); and
"(B) recommendations to integrate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities with the activities of the partners in the Chesapeake Bay Program to meet the commitments of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement and subsequent agreements.
"(f) Agreements.--The Administrator, acting through the Director, may enter into and perform such contracts, leases, grants, or cooperative agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
"(g) Definitions.--In this section:
"(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"(2) Chesapeake bay agreement; chesapeake bay ecosystem; chesapeake bay program; chesapeake executive council.--The terms `Chesapeake Bay Agreement', `Chesapeake Bay ecosystem', `Chesapeake Bay Program', and `Chesapeake Executive Council' have the meanings given those terms in section 117(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1267(a)).
"(3) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of the Office.
"(4) Office.--The term `Office' means the Chesapeake Bay Office established under this section.".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6893, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6893, the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act.
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the most important resources in the mid-Atlantic region, including for the commercial seafood sector and the recreational boating and fishing community. I know that my colleague from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) feels even more so about that statement.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Chesapeake Bay Office is an important partner for the Chesapeake Bay region by contributing scientific research, protecting habitat, and advancing oyster restoration.
H.R. 6893 reauthorizes this office and several of its training and workforce programs. It also requires the office to submit a report to the Secretary of Commerce and Congress on its progress in conserving the Chesapeake Bay and the ways NOAA can work with other Chesapeake Bay Program partners.
Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6893 is, in fact, near and dear to my heart and to my district. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is one of our Nation's most priceless natural resources.
Mr. Speaker, 18 million people live in the watershed, which is shared by six States and the District of Columbia. The Chesapeake Bay supports, as was said, fishing, tourism, real estate, and countless industries, generating billions of dollars in economic activity each year. It is, frankly, essential to the culture of those six States and the District.
The bay is also a critical habitat for many keystone species. Its oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, and marshes protect nearby communities from coastal hazards and provide critical nurseries for fish and wildlife. You will even spot a few dolphins hanging out there.
As a co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Task Force, I was proud to co-lead H.R. 6893 to reauthorize key, science-backed programs at NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office, which is headquartered near my office in Annapolis, Maryland. This bill would better position the office to collaborate with universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholders in carrying out science, monitoring, and observation activities.
The bill also strengthens collaboration by supporting the coordinated management and conservation of Chesapeake Bay habitats, fish, and wildlife, ensuring that limited Federal resources are used as effectively as possible.
Finally, the bill would, for the first time, authorize the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training program, otherwise known affectionately as B-WET, which provides grants for environmental education and watershed restoration experiences for local school kids.
Reauthorizing this office in the Chesapeake Bay will help maintain a steady Federal presence within the region's collaborative scientific infrastructure, benefiting the six States and the District of Columbia.
We must ensure that the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed remain abundant, healthy resources for generations to come.
If you talk to folks back in my district, they will say that the bay transcends politics, and it is almost like a religion. I could not agree more.
I applaud Representative Scott and the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay delegation not just for their dedication to this bill but for their dedication throughout every President and tumultuous politics to remain steady and steadfast in our support of this program.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6893, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), someone who is also passionate about the Chesapeake Bay, fisheries, and clean water.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6893, the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act, and I am very proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill with Representative Kiggans.
The Chesapeake Bay is one of our Nation's most important natural resources, and this bill will ensure the bay remains healthy for generations to come.
H.R. 6893 reauthorizes the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Program office, which has been a leading partner in bay restoration efforts. Working alongside universities, State and local governments, and other stakeholders, this office supports the science and coordination necessary to understand the health of the bay and make informed decisions about the future.
Importantly, this bill supports the observation, monitoring, collection, and analysis of marine resource data, an area I was committed to for over 27 years with the Commonwealth of Virginia. That information is used by policymakers, resource managers, and the public to better understand and protect the bay and its living resources.
The bill also supports training and education programs, and strengthens coordinated efforts to manage, protect, and restore bay habitats and living resources.
For communities across Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay is far more than a natural resource. It is part of our way of life. It supports our watermen, farmers, small businesses, and families throughout the Commonwealth.
The bay is a major economic driver, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic activity. Protecting the bay means protecting those jobs, strengthening our local economies, and preserving the natural resources that our communities depend upon.
By continuing to invest in sound science, monitoring, education, and coordinated restoration efforts, we can ensure the Chesapeake Bay remains healthy for generations to come.
This is truly a Federal role because this truly is what interstate commerce is all about. The bay is that economic engine that involves all of the States in the bay watershed. It is our responsibility as a group of States to make sure we continue to improve the water quality there and, in turn, the economic resources that come to us from the bay.
The bay is an incredible economic driver for the seafood and tourism economies. All of those things are key. The Chesapeake Bay Program Office allows us to coordinate and make sure that all of us in the bay watershed are doing our part to make sure the bay continues to get cleaner and cleaner.
I am very proud to support this bipartisan effort to protect one of our Nation's most vital resources, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 6893.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we brought out half the Bay Caucus for this effort, and I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the sponsor of the bill.
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA)5:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 6893, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science, the WATERS Act.
The Chesapeake Bay is a natural treasure and a critical resource for the millions of Americans who live within its watershed, including my constituents in Hampton Roads. The Chesapeake Bay's fisheries sustain the region's centuries-old fisheries and seafood industry, which generates about $8 billion in economic activity every year. The bay's unparalleled recreational opportunities not only support tens of thousands of jobs and generate more than $14 billion annually, but are also critical to the well-being and happiness of all that live throughout the watershed.
The Federal Government has helped our efforts to restore and protect the bay by devoting the resources and staff of multiple departments and agencies, including NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office. This office provides scientific and technical support to government, industry, and nonprofits with the goal of advancing strategies that improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. This is an effort that has been going on for decades. We are making slow but steady progress.
Among its many responsibilities, NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office manages the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System that provides researchers and watermen with near real-time data on weather and water quality conditions. The Chesapeake Bay Office also oversees the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training, or B-WET, program. This competitive grant program supports environmental education opportunities throughout the watershed that not only teach students about the bay but also connect them to it through experiential programming.
The Chesapeake Bay Waters Act reauthorizes NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office. This ensures the agency can continue supporting the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and restoring the Chesapeake Bay. My bill also authorizes the Chesapeake B-WET program for the first time in its history, ensuring that future generations can continue to engage with the Chesapeake Bay.
I thank my fellow co-leads, Virginia Representatives Wittman and Kiggans and Maryland Representative Elfreth, for their support of this legislation. I thank Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman for their leadership in getting this bill to the House floor.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on the bill.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)5:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
I could go on and on, but I know we have one last bill. Representative Scott got it right: It has been slow and steady progress since 1983, before I was even born, to make sure that we not just protect and preserve for future generations, but take strides to be a model as we have been in the Chesapeake Bay region for other watersheds, not just in the United States but across the world.
Mr. Speaker, there is so much more work to do. This bill reauthorizes that work. Again, I thank my bipartisan colleagues for prioritizing not just this bill but this program within the budget itself. I yield back the balance of my time.
Bruce Westerman (R-AR)5:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank everybody for their bipartisan support on H.R. 6893. I support its passage and yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore5:50 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6893, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2026
Pages H5586–H5598 · Official textNORTHERN NEVADA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION ACT OF 2026
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2317) to provide for transfer of ownership of certain Federal lands in northern Nevada, to authorize the disposal of certain Federal lands in northern Nevada for economic development, to promote conservation in northern Nevada, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the "Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2026".
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 101. Purpose. Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 111. Conveyance to State of Nevada. Sec. 112. Conveyance to Douglas County, Nevada. Sec. 113. Sale of certain Federal land. Sec. 114. Open Space Recreation Area.
Sec. 121. Transfer of land to be held in trust for Tribe.
Subtitle C--Resolution of Burbank Canyons Wilderness Study Area
Sec. 131. Addition to National Wilderness Preservation System. Sec. 132. Administration. Sec. 133. Fish and wildlife management. Sec. 134. Release of wilderness study area. Sec. 135. Native American cultural and religious uses.
Subtitle D--Convey Forest Service Land for Public Purposes
Sec. 141. Authority of Forest Service to convey to State or county for public purposes. Sec. 142. Special use authorizations for recreation and other purposes.
Sec. 201. Purpose. Sec. 202. Definitions. Sec. 203. Land conveyances for public purposes.
TITLE III--NORTHERN NEVADA FLOOD PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
Sec. 301. Purpose. Sec. 302. Definitions. Sec. 303. Land conveyances for flood protection.
Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Land conveyances. Sec. 403. Carson City street connector conveyance. Sec. 404. Amendment to reversionary interests. Sec. 405. Disposal of Federal land. Sec. 406. Transfer of land to the United States. Sec. 407. Disposition of proceeds. Sec. 408. Postponement; exclusion from sale.
TITLE V--PERSHING COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION
Sec. 501. Short title. Sec. 502. Definitions. Sec. 503. Findings.
Sec. 511. Sale or exchange of eligible land. Sec. 512. Sale of encumbered land. Sec. 513. Disposition of proceeds.
Sec. 521. Additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Sec. 522. Administration. Sec. 523. Wildlife management. Sec. 524. Release of wilderness study areas. Sec. 525. Native American cultural and religious uses.
Sec. 601. Federal complex.
Sec. 701. Short title. Sec. 702. Definitions. Sec. 703. Land conveyances to the City of Elko. Sec. 704. Land conveyances to Elko County.
Sec. 801. Short title. Sec. 802. Land conveyances.
Sec. 901. Definitions. Sec. 902. Conveyance of land for use as a public cemetery. Sec. 903. Conveyance of land for use as regional public parks.
Sec. 1001. Administration of State water rights. Sec. 1002. Amendment to conveyance of Federal land in Storey County, Nevada. Sec. 1003. Maps and legal descriptions. Sec. 1004. Minor errors.
Sec. 1101. Greenlink West Project.
Sec. 1201. Release of Federal reversionary land interests.
SEC. 101. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this title is to promote conservation, improve public land, and provide for sensible development in Douglas County, Nevada, and for other purposes.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) County.--The term "County" means Douglas County, Nevada.
(2) Map.--The term "Map" means the map entitled "Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act" and dated July 10, 2026.
(3) Public land.--The term "public land" has the meaning given the term "public lands" in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
(4) Secretary concerned.--The term "Secretary concerned" means--
(A) with respect to National Forest System land, the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service); and
(B) with respect to land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, including land held in trust for the benefit of the Tribe, the Secretary of the Interior.
(5) State.--The term "State" means the State of Nevada.
(6) Tribe.--The term "Tribe" means the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.
(7) Wilderness.--The term "Wilderness" means the Burbank Canyons Wilderness designated by section 131(a).
SEC. 111. CONVEYANCE TO STATE OF NEVADA.
(a) Conveyance.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary concerned shall convey to the State, without consideration and by quitclaim deed, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the land described in subsection (b).
(b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 67 acres of Forest Service land generally depicted as "Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park" on the Map.
(c) Costs.--As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (a), the State shall pay all costs associated with the conveyance, including costs of surveys, appraisals, environmental response and restoration, and administrative costs (including closing fees).
(d) Use of Land.--
(1) In general.--The land conveyed to the State under subsection (a) shall be used only for--
(A) the conservation of wildlife or natural resources;
(B) a public park; or
(C) both.
(2) Facilities.--Any facility on the land conveyed under subsection (a) shall be constructed and managed in a manner consistent with the uses described in paragraph (1).
(e) Easements.--As a condition of conveyance of the land under subsection (a), access easements for roads and trails shall be reserved in the applicable deed at the discretion of the Secretary concerned.
(f) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the land to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary concerned.
(g) Minor Errors.--The Secretary concerned, in consultation with the State, may--
(1) make minor boundary adjustments to the land to be conveyed under subsection (a); and
(2) correct any minor errors in the map, acreage estimate, or legal description of the land to be conveyed under that subsection.
(h) Reversion.--If any portion of the land conveyed under subsection (a) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the uses described in subsection (d), the land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary concerned, revert to the United States.
(i) Additional Terms and Conditions.--With respect to the conveyance of land under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may require such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
SEC. 112. CONVEYANCE TO DOUGLAS COUNTY, NEVADA.
(a) Definition of Federal Land.--In this section, the term "Federal land" means the approximately 7,777 acres of Federal land in the County that is identified as "Douglas County Land Conveyances" on the Map.
(b) Authorization of Conveyance.--Subject to valid existing rights and notwithstanding the land use planning requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), on receipt of a request from the County for the conveyance of the Federal land, the Secretary concerned shall convey to the County, without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land.
(c) Costs.--The County shall pay any costs relating to the conveyance authorized under subsection (b), including costs of surveys, appraisals, environmental response and restoration, and administrative costs (including closing fees).
(d) Use of Federal Land.--
(1) In general.--The Federal land conveyed under subsection (b)--
(A) shall not be used by the County for purposes other than flood control, recreation, or any other public purpose consistent with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the "Recreation and Public Purposes Act") (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.); and
(B) shall not be disposed of by the County.
(2) Reversion.--If the Federal land conveyed under subsection (b) is used in a manner inconsistent with paragraph (1), the Federal land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary concerned, revert to the United States.
(e) Easements.--As a condition of conveyance of the Federal land under subsection (b), access easements for roads and trails shall be reserved in the applicable deed at the discretion of the Secretary concerned.
(f) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary concerned.
(g) Minor Errors.--The Secretary concerned, in consultation with the County, may--
(1) make minor boundary adjustments to the Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (b); and
(2) correct any minor errors in the map, acreage estimate, or legal description of the Federal land to be conveyed under that subsection.
(h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--With respect to the conveyance under subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture may require such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(i) Acquisition of Federal Reversionary Interest.--
(1) Request.--The County may submit to the Secretary concerned a request to acquire the Federal reversionary interest in all or any portion of the Federal land conveyed under subsection (b), subject to the condition that the uses of that land are consistent with subsection (d)(1).
(2) Appraisal.--
(A) In general.--On receipt of a request under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall complete an appraisal of the Federal reversionary interest in the Federal land requested by the County.
(B) Requirement.--The appraisal under subparagraph (A) shall be completed in accordance with--
(i) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.);
(ii) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and
(iii) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(3) Conveyance required.--
(A) In general.--If, by the date that is 1 year after the date of completion of the appraisal under paragraph (2), the County submits to the Secretary concerned an offer to acquire the Federal reversionary interest requested under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned, shall convey to the County the reversionary interest in the Federal land requested with consideration.
(B) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance of the Federal reversionary interest conveyed under subparagraph (A), the County shall pay to the Secretary concerned an amount equal to the appraised value of the Federal reversionary interest, as determined under paragraph (2).
(C) Costs of conveyance.--The County shall pay any costs relating to the conveyance of the Federal reversionary interest under subparagraph (A), including any costs for surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs.
(4) Disposition of proceeds.--Any amounts collected under this subsection shall be disposed of in accordance with section 113(n).
(j) Revocation of Orders.--Any public land order that withdraws any parcel of the Federal
land from appropriation or disposal under a public land law shall be revoked to the extent necessary to permit disposal of the parcel of Federal land.
SEC. 113. SALE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, and notwithstanding sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
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1712, 1713), the Secretary concerned shall, in accordance with the other provisions of that Act and any other applicable law, and subject to valid existing rights, conduct 1 or more sales of the parcels of Federal land described in subsection (b) to qualified bidders.
(b) Description of Land.--The parcels of Federal land referred to in subsection (a) are--
(1) the approximately 31.5 acres of public land generally depicted as "Lands for Disposal" on the Map; and
(2) certain Federal land selected in accordance with subsection (c) for potential disposal by the Secretary concerned through--
(A) the Carson City Field Office Consolidated Resource Management Plan (including any subsequent amendments to that plan); or
(B) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq).
(c) Joint Selection Required.--The Secretary concerned and the County shall jointly select which parcels of Federal land to offer for potential disposal under subsection (b)(2).
(d) Compliance With Local Planning and Zoning Laws.--Before carrying out a sale of Federal land under subsection (a), the County shall submit to the Secretary concerned a certification that qualified bidders have agreed to comply with--
(1) County zoning ordinances; and
(2) any master plan for the area approved by the County.
(e) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of a parcel of Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary concerned.
(f) Minor Errors.--The Secretary concerned, in consultation with the County, may--
(1) make minor boundary adjustments to the parcels of Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a); and
(2) correct any minor errors in the map, acreage estimate, or legal description of the parcels of Federal land to be conveyed under that subsection.
(g) Easements.--As a condition of the conveyance of a parcel of Federal land under subsection (a), access easements for roads and trails shall be reserved in the applicable deed at the discretion of the Secretary concerned.
(h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--With respect to a conveyance of a parcel of Federal land under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may require such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(i) Method of Sale.--A sale of a parcel of Federal land under subsection (a) shall be--
(1) through a competitive bidding process, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary concerned; and
(2) for not less than fair market value.
(j) Recreation and Public Purposes Act Conveyances.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days before any parcel of Federal land that is identified for disposal by the Carson City Field Office Consolidated Resource Management Plan (or any amendment to that plan) is offered for sale under subsection (a), the State or County may elect to obtain the applicable parcel of Federal land for public purposes in accordance with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the "Recreation and Public Purposes Act") (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).
(2) Retention.--Pursuant to an election made under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall retain the parcel of Federal land subject to the election for conveyance to the State or County in accordance with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the "Recreation and Public Purposes Act") (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).
(3) Reversion.--If any parcel of Federal land conveyed to the State or County under paragraph (1) is used in a manner inconsistent with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the "Recreation and Public Purposes Act") (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), the Federal land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary concerned, revert to the United States.
(k) Withdrawal.--
(1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights and except as provided in paragraph (3), the Federal land described in subsection (b) is withdrawn from--
(A) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(C) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
(2) Termination.--The withdrawal under paragraph (1) shall terminate--
(A) on the date of sale or conveyance of title to the parcel of Federal land (including mineral rights) described in subsection (b) pursuant to this section; or
(B) with respect to any parcel of Federal land described in subsection (b) that is not sold or exchanged, not later than 2 years after the date on which the parcel of Federal land was offered for sale under this section.
(3) Exception.--Paragraph (1)(A) shall not apply to--
(A) a sale of a parcel of Federal land conducted in accordance with this section; or
(B) an election by the County or the State to obtain a parcel of Federal land for public purposes under subsection (j)(1).
(l) Deadline for Sale.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, if there are 1 or more qualified bidders for the land described in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary concerned shall offer the land for sale to the highest qualified bidder.
(2) Postponement; exclusion from sale.--At the request of the County, the Secretary concerned may temporarily postpone or exclude from sale under paragraph (1) all or a portion of the land described in subsection (b).
(m) Disposition of Proceeds.--Of the proceeds of a sale of a parcel of Federal land under this section--
(1) 5 percent shall be disbursed to the State for use by the State for general education programs of the State;
(2) 10 percent shall be disbursed to the County for use by the County for general budgeting purposes; and
(3) 85 percent shall be deposited in a special account in the Treasury of the United States, to be known as the "Douglas County Special Account", which shall be available to the Secretary concerned without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation--
(A) to reimburse costs incurred by the Secretary concerned in preparing for the sale of the land described in subsection (b), including costs of surveys, appraisals, environmental response and restoration, and administrative costs (including closing fees);
(B) to reimburse costs incurred by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in preparing for, and carrying out, the transfers of land to be held in trust by the United States under section 121; and
(C) to acquire environmentally sensitive land or an interest in environmentally sensitive land in the County--
(i) pursuant to the Douglas County Open Space and Agricultural Lands Preservation Implementation Plan, or any subsequent amendment to the plan that is undertaken with full public involvement; and
(ii) for flood control purposes.
(n) Revocation of Orders.--Any public land order that withdraws any parcel of Federal land described in subsection (b) from appropriation or disposal under a public land law shall be revoked to the extent necessary to permit disposal of that parcel of Federal land under this section.
SEC. 114. OPEN SPACE RECREATION AREA.
(a) Authorization of Conveyance.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, and on the request of the County submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture shall convey to the County, without consideration and by quitclaim deed, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land described in subsection (b) to be used for recreation purposes.
(b) Description of Land.--The Federal land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 1,084 acres of land generally depicted as "Open Space Recreation Area" on the Map.
(c) Costs.--The County shall pay any costs relating to the conveyance authorized under subsection (a), including costs of surveys, appraisals, environmental response and restoration, and administrative costs (including closing fees).
(d) No Disposal.--A parcel of Federal land conveyed under subsection (a) shall not be disposed of by the County.
(e) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of a parcel of Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary of Agriculture.
(f) Minor Errors.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the County, may--
(1) make minor boundary adjustments to a parcel of Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a); and
(2) correct any minor errors in the map, acreage estimate, or legal description of a parcel of Federal land to be conveyed under that subsection.
(g) Easements.--As a condition of the conveyance of a parcel of Federal land under subsection (a), access easements for roads and trails shall be reserved in the applicable deed at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture.
(h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--With respect to the conveyance of a parcel of Federal land under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture may require such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(i) Reversion.--If any parcel of Federal land conveyed under subsection (a) is used in a manner inconsistent with this section, the parcel of Federal land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, revert to the United States.
SEC. 121. TRANSFER OF LAND TO BE HELD IN TRUST FOR TRIBE.
(a) Definition of Trust Land.--In this section, the term "trust land" means--
(1) the land taken into trust under subsection (b); and
(2) any land taken into trust under subsection (c).
(b) Federal Land.--
(1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the land described in paragraph (2)--
(A) is transferred to the Secretary of the Interior;
(B) shall be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe; and
(C) shall be part of the reservation of the Tribe.
(2) Description of federal land.--The land referred to in paragraph (1) is the approximately
2,423 acres of Federal land depicted as "BLM Land Held in Trust-Washoe Tribe" and "USFS Land Held in Trust-Washoe Tribe" on the Map.
(3) Authority to transfer forest service land.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall have the authority to administratively transfer Forest Service land described in paragraph (2) to the Secretary of the Interior, to be held in trust for the benefit of the Tribe.
(c) Non-federal Land.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall accept any conveyance of the 199 acres of non-Federal land depicted as "Fee Lands Held in Trust-Washoe Tribe" on the Map.
(2) Treatment.--On acceptance of a conveyance under paragraph (1), the land conveyed to the Secretary of the Interior under that paragraph--
(A) shall be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe; and
(B) shall be part of the reservation of the Tribe.
(3) Requirement.--A conveyance under paragraph (1) shall be without consideration.
(d) Survey.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall complete a cadastral survey and accompanying legal description to establish the boundaries of the trust land.
(2) Federal register publication.--On the completion of the survey under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior shall publish in the Federal Register a legal description of the trust land.
(e) Use of Trust Land.--
(1) Gaming.--The trust land shall not be eligible, or considered to have been taken into trust, for class II gaming or class III gaming (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C.
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2703)).
(2) Thinning; landscape restoration.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation and coordination with the Tribe, may carry out on the trust land any fuel reduction and other landscape restoration activities that are beneficial to the Tribe and the Bureau of Land Management, including the restoration of threatened or endangered species habitat.
(B) Conservation benefits.--Activities carried out under subparagraph (A) include activities that provide conservation benefits to a species that--
(i) is not listed as endangered or threatened under section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)); but
(ii) is--
(I) listed by a State as a threatened or endangered species;
(II) a species of concern or special status species; or
(III) a candidate for a listing as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
(f) Water Rights.--Nothing in this section affects the allocation, ownership, interest, or control, as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, of any water, water right, or any other valid existing right held by the United States, an Indian Tribe, a State, or a person.
(g) Rule of Construction.--Except as explicitly provided, nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict Tribal use of lands identified in this section.
Subtitle C--Resolution of Burbank Canyons Wilderness Study Area
SEC. 131. ADDITION TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION
SYSTEM.
(a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the approximately 12,392 acres of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, as generally depicted on the Map as "Burbank Canyons Wilderness" is designated as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to be known as the "Burbank Canyons Wilderness".
(b) Boundary.--The boundary of any portion of the Wilderness that is bordered by a road shall be not less than 100 feet from the centerline of the road to allow public access.
(c) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall prepare a map and legal description of the Wilderness.
(2) Effect.--The map and legal description prepared under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this title, except that the Secretary concerned may correct any minor error in the map or legal description.
(3) Availability.--A copy of the map and legal description prepared under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
(d) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Wilderness is withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
SEC. 132. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Wilderness shall be administered by the Secretary concerned in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that--
(1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Livestock.--The grazing of livestock in the Wilderness, if established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be allowed to continue, subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary concerned considers to be necessary in accordance with--
(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and
(2) the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101-405).
(c) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land or interest in land within the boundaries of the Wilderness that is acquired by the United States after the date of enactment of this Act shall be added to, and administered as part of, the Wilderness.
(d) Adjacent Management.--
(1) In general.--Congress does not intend for the designation of the Wilderness to create a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Wilderness.
(2) Nonwilderness activities.--The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within the Wilderness shall not preclude the conduct of the activities or uses outside the boundary of the Wilderness.
(e) Military Overflights.--Nothing in this title restricts or precludes--
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the Wilderness, including military overflights that can be seen or heard within the wilderness area;
(2) flight testing and evaluation; or
(3) the designation or creation of new units of special use airspace, or the establishment of military flight training routes, over the Wilderness.
(f) Existing Airstrips.--Nothing in this title restricts or precludes low-level overflights by aircraft utilizing airstrips in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that are located within 5 miles of the proposed boundary of the Wilderness.
(g) Wildfire, Insect, and Disease Management.--In accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), the Secretary concerned may take any measures in the Wilderness that the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary for the control of fire, insects, and diseases, including, as the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate, the coordination of the activities with the State or a local agency.
(h) Data Collection.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary concerned may prescribe, the Secretary concerned may authorize the installation and maintenance of hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological collection devices in the Wilderness if the Secretary concerned determines that the facilities, and access to the facilities, are essential to flood warning, flood control, or water reservoir operation activities.
(i) Water Rights.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(A) the Wilderness is located--
(i) in the semiarid region of the Great Basin; and
(ii) at the headwaters of the streams and rivers on land with respect to which there are few, if any--
(I) actual or proposed water resource facilities located upstream; and
(II) opportunities for diversion, storage, or other uses of water occurring outside the land that would adversely affect the wilderness values of the land;
(B) the Wilderness is generally not suitable for use or development of new water resource facilities; and
(C) because of the unique nature of the Wilderness, it is possible to provide for proper management and protection of the wilderness and other values of land by means different from the means used in other laws.
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to protect the wilderness values of the Wilderness by means other than a federally reserved water right.
(3) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this title--
(A) constitutes an express or implied reservation by the United States of any water or water rights with respect to the Wilderness;
(B) affects any water rights in the State (including any water rights held by the United States) in existence on the date of enactment of this Act;
(C) establishes a precedent with regard to any future wilderness designations;
(D) affects the interpretation of, or any designation made under, any other Act; or
(E) limits, alters, modifies, or amends any interstate compact or equitable apportionment decree that apportions water among and between the State and other States.
(4) Nevada water law.--The Secretary concerned shall follow the procedural and substantive requirements of State law in order to obtain and hold any water rights not in existence on the date of enactment of this Act with respect to the Wilderness.
(5) New projects.--
(A) Definition of water resource facility.--
(i) In general.--In this paragraph, the term "water resource facility" means irrigation and pumping facilities, reservoirs, water conservation works, aqueducts, canals, ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects, transmission and other ancillary facilities, and other water diversion, storage, and carriage structures.
(ii) Exclusion.--In this paragraph, the term "water resource facility" does not include a wildlife guzzler.
(B) Restriction on new water resource facilities.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, on or after the date of enactment of this Act, neither the President nor any other officer, employee, or agent of the United States shall
fund, assist, authorize, or issue a license or permit for the development of any new water resource facility within any wilderness area, including a portion of a wilderness area, that is located in the County.
SEC. 133. FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.
(a) In General.--In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title affects or diminishes the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping, in the Wilderness.
(b) Management Activities.--In furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary concerned may conduct any management activities in the Wilderness that are necessary to maintain or restore any fish or wildlife population, or the habitats to support such a population, if the activities are carried out--
(1) in a manner that is consistent with relevant wilderness management plans; and
(2) in accordance with--
(A) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
(B) appropriate policies, such as those set forth in Appendix B of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101-405), including the occasional and temporary use of motorized vehicles and aircraft if the use, as determined by the Secretary concerned, would promote healthy, viable, and more naturally distributed wildlife populations that would enhance wilderness values with the minimal impact necessary to reasonably accomplish those tasks.
(c) Existing Activities.--Consistent with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and in accordance with appropriate policies such as those set forth in Appendix B of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101-405), the State may continue to use aircraft, including helicopters, to survey, capture, transplant, monitor, and provide water for wildlife populations in the Wilderness.
(d) Cooperative Agreement.--
(1) In general.--The State (including a designee of the State) may conduct wildlife management activities in the Wilderness--
(A) in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the cooperative agreement between the Secretary of the Interior and the State entitled "Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife Supplement No. 9" and signed November and December 2003, including any amendments to the cooperative agreement agreed to by the Secretary of the Interior and the State; and
(B) subject to all applicable laws (including regulations).
(2) References.--For the purposes of this subsection, any reference to "Douglas County" in the cooperative agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be considered to be a reference to the Wilderness.
SEC. 134.
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RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that, for purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the approximately 1,065 acres of public land in the Burbank Canyons Wilderness study area not designated as wilderness by this title has been adequately studied for wilderness designation.
(b) Release.--Any public land described in subsection (a) that is not designated as wilderness by this title--
(1) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and
(2) shall be managed in accordance with any applicable--
(A) land management plans adopted under section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712); and
(B) cooperative conservation agreements in existence on the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 135. NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS USES.
Nothing in this title alters or diminishes the treaty rights of any Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
Subtitle D--Convey Forest Service Land for Public Purposes
SEC. 141. AUTHORITY OF FOREST SERVICE TO CONVEY TO STATE OR
COUNTY FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES.
(a) In General.--Consistent with section 3(b) of Public Law 96-586 (commonly known as the "Santini-Burton Act"; 94 Stat. 3381), and subject to valid existing rights, on receipt of a request by the State or County and subject to such terms and conditions as are satisfactory to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary shall convey the Forest Service land or interests in Forest Service land described in subsection (b) to the State or County, without consideration, to protect the environmental quality and public recreational use of the conveyed Forest Service land and manage consistent with Public Law 96-586 (commonly known as the "Santini-Burton Act" 94 Stat. 3381).
(b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in subsection (a) is any Forest Service land that is located within the boundaries of the area acquired under Public Law 96-586 (commonly known as the "Santini-Burton Act"; 94 Stat. 3381) that is--
(1) unsuitable for Forest Service administration; and
(2) necessary for a public purpose.
(c) Use of Land.--A parcel of land conveyed pursuant to subsection (a) shall--
(1) be managed by the State or County, as applicable--
(A) to maintain undeveloped open space and to preserve the natural characteristics of the transferred land in perpetuity; and
(B) to protect and enhance water quality, stream environment zones, and important wildlife habitat; and
(2) be used by the State or County, as applicable, for recreation or other public purposes including trails, trailheads, fuel reduction, flood control, and other infrastructure consistent with Public Law 96-586 (commonly known as the "Santini-Burton Act"; 94 Stat. 3381).
(d) Reversion.--If a parcel of land transferred under subsection (a) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with subsection (c) or Public Law 96-586, the parcel of land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, revert to the United States.
(e) Costs.--Any costs associated with the conveyance under subsection (a), including, but not limited to, costs of surveys, appraisal, environmental response and restoration, and administrative costs including closing fees, shall be paid by the State or county.
(f) Easements.--As a condition of conveyance of the land conveyed under subsection (a), access easements for roads and trails shall be reserved in the deed at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture.
(g) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the land to be conveyed shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary of Agriculture.
(h) Minor Errors.--The Secretary and the State or county may, by mutual agreement, make minor boundary adjustments to the parcels of Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a) and correct any minor errors in the map, acreage estimate, or legal description.
(i) Additional Terms and Conditions.--With respect to the conveyance under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture may require such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
SEC. 142. SPECIAL USE AUTHORIZATIONS FOR RECREATION AND OTHER
PURPOSES.
(a) Issuance of Special Use Authorizations.--To the extent practicable, not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture receives a proposal and an application from the County or a unit of local government in the County for the use of the Federal land described in subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with applicable law, shall--
(1) process the proposal and application of the County or unit of local government for a special use permit for recreation or other purposes; and
(2) if the proposal is accepted and the application is granted, authorize a permit consistent with applicable law for the use of the Federal land.
(b) Description of Land.--The Federal land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 188 acres of Federal land in the County generally depicted as "Directed Special Use Permit" on the Map.
(c) Terms and Conditions.--With respect to any special use permit issued under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture may require such terms and conditions as the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be appropriate--
(1) to protect the interests of the United States; and
(2) to ensure compliance with applicable laws (including regulations) and agency directives.
SEC. 201. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this title is to improve hazardous fuels management and enhance public recreation through the conveyance of Federal land to Incline Village General Improvement District in Nevada for public purposes.
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(2) District.--The term "District" means the Incline Village General Improvement District in the State of Nevada.
SEC. 203. LAND CONVEYANCES FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES.
(a) Authorization of Conveyance.--In consideration of the District assuming from the United States all liability for administration, care and maintenance, within 365 days after the effective date of this title, the Secretary shall convey to the District all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcels of Federal land described in subsection (b) for public uses including fire risk reduction activities, public recreation, and any other public purpose consistent with Public Law 96-586 (commonly known as the "Santini-Burton Act"; 94 Stat. 3381).
(b) Description of Federal Land.--The Federal land referred to in subsection (a) is depicted on the map entitled "Incline Village Fire Protection Act Map" and dated November 12, 2024.
(c) Costs.--Any costs relating to the conveyance authorized under subsection (c), including, but not limited to costs of surveys, appraisal, environmental response and restoration, and administrative costs including closing fees, shall be paid by the District.
(d) Payment of Fair Market Value.--As consideration for the conveyance of the Federal land described in subsection (b), the District shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the covered land, as determined--
(1) in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
(2) based on an appraisal that is conducted in accordance with--
(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(e) Easements.--As a condition of conveyance of the land conveyed under subsection (a), access easements for roads and trails shall be reserved in the deed at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture.
(f) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the land to be conveyed shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary of Agriculture.
(g) Minor Errors.--The Secretary in consultation with the City of Reno may, make minor boundary adjustments to the parcels of Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a) and correct any minor errors in the map, acreage estimate, or legal description.
(h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--With respect to the conveyance under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture may require such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
TITLE III--NORTHERN NEVADA FLOOD PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
SEC. 301. PURPOSE.
This purpose of this title is to convey certain Federal land along the Truckee River in Nevada to the Truckee River Flood Management Authority for the purpose of environmental restoration and flood control management.
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior, including the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation.
(2) TRFMA.--The term "TRFMA" means the Truckee River Flood Management Authority in the State of Nevada.
SEC. 303. LAND CONVEYANCES FOR FLOOD PROTECTION.
(a) Authorization of Conveyance.--At the request of the TRFMA, the Secretary shall convey to the TRFMA without consideration all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcels of Federal land described in subsection (b) for the purposes of flood attenuation, riparian restoration, and protection along the Truckee River in Nevada. Upon conveyance, TRFMA shall coordinate with the Bureau of Reclamation and with Storey County, as needed, in order to provide easements at no cost for access and use to necessary infrastructure located immediately south of the Truckee River and Interstate 80.
(b) Description of Federal Land.--The Federal land referred to in subsection (a) is depicted as "flood control conveyances" on the map entitled "Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act - Conveyance to the Truckee River Flood Management Authority" and dated September 20, 2024.
(c) Costs.--Any costs relating to the conveyance authorized under subsection (c), including any costs for surveys and other administrative costs, shall be paid by the TRFMA.
(d) Reversion.--If the land conveyed under subsection (a) is used in a manner inconsistent with subsection (a), the Federal land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, revert to the United States.
SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means--
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to land in the National Forest System; and
(2) the Secretary of the Interior with respect to other Federal land.
(b) City.--The term "City" means Carson City, Nevada.
(c) Carson City Federal Land Collaboration Committee.--The term "Carson City Federal Land Collaboration Committee" means a committee comprised of--
(1) the City Manager;
(2) a designee of the City Manager; and
(3) not more than 3 members appointed by the Carson City Board of Supervisors to represent areas of Carson City's government, including the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Department, the Community Development Department, Property Management.
SEC. 402. LAND CONVEYANCES.
(a) Conveyance.--Subject to valid existing rights and notwithstanding the land use planning requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
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1712), the Secretary shall convey to the City all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the land described in subsection (b).
(b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 258 acres depicted as "Lands to Acquire" on the map entitled "Carson City OPLMA Lands" and September 20, 2024.
(c) Costs.--Any costs relating to the conveyance under subsection (a), including costs of surveys and administrative costs, shall be paid by the City.
(d) Payment of Fair Market Value.--As consideration for the conveyance of the covered land under subsection (a), Carson City shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the covered land, as determined--
(1) in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
(2) based on an appraisal that is conducted in accordance with--
(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(e) Sale or Lease of Land to Third Parties.--The City may enter into an agreement to sell, lease, or otherwise convey all or part of the land described in subsection (b).
(f) Conditions.--The City shall sell the land at fair market value, and proceeds will be deposited in the account as described in section 407 of this title.
SEC. 403. CARSON CITY STREET CONNECTOR CONVEYANCE.
(a) Authorization of Conveyance.--The Secretary concerned shall convey to Carson City all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcels of Federal land managed by the Forest Service described in subsection (c) for expansion of roadway.
(b) Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The conveyance of the covered land under this section shall be subject to valid existing rights.
(2) Payment of fair market value.--As consideration for the conveyance of the covered land under this section, Carson City shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the covered land, as determined--
(A) in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
(B) based on an appraisal that is conducted in accordance with--
(i) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and
(ii) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(c) Description of Federal Land.--The Federal land referred to in subsection (a) is depicted as "Proposed Land Transfer" on the map entitled "Carson City OPLMA Lands" and dated February 28, 2019.
(d) Costs.--Any costs relating to the conveyance authorized under subsection (a), including, but not limited to costs of surveys, appraisal, environmental response and restoration, and administrative costs including closing fees, shall be paid by the City.
(e) Public Safety Condition.--Within 90 days of the conveyance authorized under subsection (a), Carson City, in consultation with the Secretary, shall construct a crosswalk across South Curry Street to allow for continued access to the United States Forest Service Carson Ranger District Office.
(f) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the land to be conveyed shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary of Agriculture.
(g) Minor Errors.--The Secretary and in consultation with Carson City may, make minor boundary adjustments to the parcels of Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a) and correct any minor errors in the map, acreage estimate, or legal description.
(h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--With respect to the conveyance under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture may require such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
SEC. 404. AMENDMENT TO REVERSIONARY INTERESTS.
(a) Sale or Lease of Land to Third Parties.--Section 2601(b)(4) of Public Law 111-11 (123 Stat. 1111) is amended by inserting after subparagraph (D), the following:
"(E) Sale or lease of land to third parties.--The City may enter into an agreement to sell, lease, or otherwise convey all or part of the land described in subparagraph (D) to third parties for economic development, recreation or other public purposes consistent with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the `Recreation and Public Purposes Act') (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).".
(b) Conditions.--The sale of any land under subsection (a) shall be for not less than fair market value, and proceeds will be deposited in the account as described in section 407 of this title.
SEC. 405. DISPOSAL OF FEDERAL LAND.
(a) Disposal.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, subject to valid existing rights and notwithstanding sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), the Secretary shall offer the land described in subsection (b) for sale in accordance with this section.
(b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 28 acres depicted as "Lands for BLM Disposal" on the map entitled "Carson City OPLMA Lands" and dated September 20, 2024.
(c) Method of Sale.--The sale of Federal land under subsection (a) shall be--
(1) through a competitive bidding process, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary; and
(2) for not less than fair market value.
(d) Costs.--Any costs relating to the disposal under subsection (a), including costs of surveys and administrative costs, shall be paid by the party seeking to purchase such land.
(e) Conditions.--Upon disposal, the City shall retain--
(1) a public utility easement concurrent with Koontz Lane and Conti Drive, which provides waterlines and access to the water tank immediately east of the subject parcels; and
(2) an existing drainage easement for a future detention basin located on APN 010-152-06 depicted as "Lands for BLM Disposal" on the map entitled "Carson City OPLMA Lands" and dated September 20, 2024.
SEC. 406. TRANSFER OF LAND TO THE UNITED STATES.
(a) Conveyance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the City shall convey all right and title of the land described in subsection (b) to the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 17 acres
depicted as "Carson City Lands for Disposal" on the map entitled "Carson City OPLMA Lands" and dated September 20, 2024.
(c) Disposal.--Subject to valid existing rights and notwithstanding sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), the Secretary shall conduct one or more sales of the land described in subsection (b) to qualified bidders.
(d) Method of Sale.--The sale of Federal land under subsection (c) shall be--
(1) through a competitive bidding process, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary; and
(2) for not less than fair market value.
(e) Costs.--
(1) Costs related to disposal.--Any costs relating to the disposal under subsection (c), including costs of surveys and administrative costs, shall be paid by the party entering into the disposal agreement with the Bureau of Land Management for the land described in subsection (b).
(2) Costs related to conveyance.--Any costs relating to the conveyance under subsection (a), including costs of surveys and administrative costs, shall be paid by the City.
(f) Conditions.--Upon disposal, the City shall retain--
(1) access and a public utility easement on APN 010-252-02 for operation and maintenance of a municipal well; and
(2) a public right-of-way for Bennet Avenue.
(g) Hazardous Substances.--The costs of remedial actions relating to hazardous substances on land acquired by the United States under this section shall be paid by those entities responsible for the costs under applicable law.
SEC. 407. DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.
(a) Disposition of Proceeds.--The proceeds from the sale of land in accordance with this title, and section 2601(e)(1)(B) of Public Law 111-11 (123 Stat. 1111(e)(1)(B)) shall be deposited in a special account in the Treasury of the United States, to be known as the "Carson City Special Account", which shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation, for--
(1) the reimbursement of costs incurred by the Secretary in preparing for the sale of the land described in sections 402, 404, and 405 of this title, and section 2601(d) of Public Law 111-11 (123 Stat. 1111(e)(1)(B)), including--
(A) the costs of surveys and appraisals; and
(B) the costs of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713);
(2) the conduct of wildlife habitat conservation and restoration projects, including projects that benefit the greater sage-grouse in the City;
(3) the development and implementation of comprehensive, cost-effective, multijurisdictional hazardous fuels reduction and wildfire prevention and restoration projects in the City;
(4) the acquisition of environmentally sensitive land or interest in environmentally sensitive land in Carson City, Nevada;
(5) capital improvements administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the City; and
(6) educational activities in the City.
(b) Investment of Special Account.--Amounts deposited into the Carson City Special Account--
(1) shall earn interest in an amount determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, based on the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturities; and
(2) may be expended by the Secretary in accordance with this section.
(c) Management of Special Account.--The management and procedures of the Carson City Special Account shall be determined by an intergovernmental agreement between the City and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management.
SEC. 408. POSTPONEMENT; EXCLUSION FROM SALE.
Section 2601(d)(6) of Public Law 111-11 (123 Stat. 1113) is amended to read as follows:
"(6) Deadline for sale.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2026, if there is a qualified bidder(s) for the land described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2), the Secretary of the Interior shall offer the land for sale to the highest qualified bidder.".
TITLE V--PERSHING COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the "Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act".
SEC. 502.
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DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term "appropriate congressional committees" means--
(A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(2) County.--The term "County" means Pershing County, Nevada.
(3) Eligible land.--The term "eligible land" means any land (including both the surface and mineral estate) administered by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management--
(A) that is within the area identified on the Map as "Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area" that is designated for disposal by the Secretary through--
(i) the Winnemucca Consolidated Resource Management Plan; or
(ii) any subsequent amendment or revision to the management plan that is undertaken with full public involvement;
(B) as land identified on the Map as "Additional Lands Eligible for Disposal"; and
(C) that is not encumbered land.
(4) Encumbered land.--The term "encumbered land" means any land administered by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management within the area identified on the Map as "Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area" that is encumbered by mining claims, millsites, or tunnel sites.
(5) Map.--The term "Map" means the map titled "Pershing County Checkerboard Lands Resolution" and dated July 8, 2024.
(6) Qualified entity.--The term "qualified entity" means, with respect to a portion of encumbered land--
(A) the owner of a mining claim, millsite, or tunnel site located on a portion of the encumbered land on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(B) a successor in interest of an owner described in subparagraph (A).
(7) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
(8) State.--The term "State" means the State of Nevada.
(9) Wilderness area.--The term "Wilderness Area" means a wilderness area designated by section 521(a).
SEC. 503. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) since the passage of the Act of July 1, 1862 (12 Stat. 489, chapter 120; commonly known as the "Pacific Railway Act of 1862"), under which railroad land grants along the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way created a checkerboard land pattern of alternating public land and privately owned land, management of the land in the checkerboard area has been a constant source of frustration for the County government, private landholders in the County, and the Federal Government;
(2) management of Federal land in the checkerboard area has been costly and difficult for the Federal land management agencies, creating a disincentive to manage the land effectively;
(3) parcels of land within the checkerboard area in the County will not vary significantly in appraised value by acre due to the similarity of highest and best use in the County; and
(4) consolidation of appropriate land within the checkerboard area through sales and exchanges for development and Federal management will--
(A) help improve the tax base of the County; and
(B) simplify management for the Federal Government.
SEC. 511. SALE OR EXCHANGE OF ELIGIBLE LAND.
(a) Authorization of Conveyance.--Notwithstanding sections 202, 203, 206, and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713, 1716, 1719), as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in accordance with this subtitle and any other applicable law and subject to valid existing rights, shall conduct sales or exchanges of the eligible land.
(b) Joint Selection Required.--After providing public notice, before mass appraisal and environmental analysis, the Secretary and the County shall jointly select parcels of eligible land to be offered for sale or exchange under subsection (a).
(c) Method of Sale.--A sale of eligible land under subsection (a) shall be--
(1) consistent with subsections (d) and (f) of section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1713);
(2) conducted through a competitive bidding process, under which adjoining landowners are offered the first option, unless the Secretary determines there are suitable and qualified buyers that are not adjoining landowners; and
(3) for not less than fair market value, based on an appraisal in accordance with subsection (f).
(d) Land Exchanges.--
(1) In general.--An exchange of eligible land under subsection (a) shall be consistent with subsection 206(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716).
(2) Equal value exchange.--
(A) In general.--The value of the eligible land and private land to be exchanged under subsection (a)--
(i) shall be equal; or
(ii) shall be made equal in accordance with subparagraph (B).
(B) Equalization.--
(i) Surplus of eligible land.--With respect to the eligible land and private land to be exchanged under subsection (a), if the value of the eligible land exceeds the value of the private land, the value of the eligible land and the private land shall be equalized by--
(I) by the owner of the private land making a cash equalization payment to the Secretary;
(II) adding private land to the exchange; or
(III) removing eligible land from the exchange.
(ii) Surplus of private land.--With respect to the eligible land and private land to be exchanged under subsection (a), if the value of the private land exceeds the value of the eligible land, the value of the private land and the eligible land shall be equalized by--
(I) by the Secretary making a cash equalization payment to the owner of the private land, in accordance with section 206(b) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(b));
(II) adding eligible land to the exchange; or
(III) removing private land from the exchange.
(3) Adjacent land.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall seek to enter into agreements with one or more owners of private land adjacent to the eligible land for the exchange of the private land for the eligible land, if the Secretary determines that the exchange would consolidate Federal land ownership and facilitate improved Federal land management.
(4) Priority land exchanges.--In acquiring private land under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to the acquisition of
private land in higher value natural resource areas in the County.
(e) Mass Appraisals.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall--
(A) conduct a mass appraisal of eligible land to be sold or exchanged under this section;
(B) prepare a valuation analysis for each land transaction under this section; and
(C) make available to the public the results of the mass appraisals conducted under subparagraph (A).
(2) Public inspection and notice.--
(A) Public inspection.--Not later than 30 days before the date of any sale or exchange of Federal land and non-Federal land under this act, all final appraisals and appraisal reviews for the land to be sold or exchanged shall be available for public review at the office of the State Director of the Bureau of Land Management in the Nevada State Office.
(B) Notice.--The Secretary shall make available on the public website of the Secretary and shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in Nevada, a notice that the appraisals conducted under this act are available for public inspection.
(3) Use.--The Secretary may use mass appraisals and evaluation analyses conducted under paragraph (1) to facilitate exchanges of eligible land for private land.
(4) Applicable law.--The appraisals under paragraph (1) shall be conducted in accordance with nationally recognized appraisal standards, including, as appropriate--
(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(5) Duration.--An appraisal conducted under paragraph (1) shall remain valid for 5 years after the date on which the appraisal is approved by the Secretary.
(f) Deadline for Sale or Exchange; Exclusions.--
(1) Deadline.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which the eligible land is jointly selected under subsection (b), the Secretary shall offer for sale or exchange the parcels of eligible land jointly selected under that subsection.
(2) Postponement or exclusion.--The Secretary or the County may postpone, or exclude from, a sale or exchange of all or a portion of the eligible land jointly selected under subsection (b) for emergency ecological or safety reasons.
(g) Withdrawal.--
(1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights and mining claims, millsites, and tunnel sites, effective on the date on which a parcel of eligible land is jointly selected under subsection (b) for sale or exchange, that parcel is withdrawn from--
(A) all forms of entry and appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining laws;
(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(C) operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws.
(2) Termination.--The withdrawal of a parcel of eligible land under paragraph (1) shall terminate--
(A) on the date of sale or, in the case of exchange, the conveyance of title of the parcel of eligible land under this section; or
(B) with respect to any parcel of eligible land selected for sale or exchange under subsection (c) that is not sold or exchanged, not later than 2 years after the date on which the parcel was offered for sale or exchange under this section.
(h) Maps and Legal Descriptions.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize maps and legal descriptions of the parcels of eligible land to be sold or exchanged under this section.
(2) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the eligible land to be sold or exchanged under this act shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary and the County.
(3) Availability.--The maps and legal descriptions finalized under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
(4) Corrections.--The Secretary and the County may, by mutual agreement--
(A) make minor boundary adjustments to the eligible land to be sold or exchanged under this section; and
(B) correct any minor errors, including clerical and typographical errors, on the Map or any maps, acreage estimates, or legal descriptions finalized under this subsection.
SEC. 512. SALE OF ENCUMBERED LAND.
(a) Authorization of Conveyance.--Notwithstanding sections 202, 203, 206, and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
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1712, 1713, 1716, 1719), not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and subject to valid existing rights held by third parties, the Secretary shall offer to convey to qualified entities, for fair market value, the remaining right, title, and interest of the United States, in and to the encumbered land.
(b) Costs of Sales to Qualified Entities.--As a condition of each conveyance of encumbered land under this section, the qualified entity shall pay all costs related to the conveyance of the encumbered land, including the costs of surveys and other administrative costs associated with the conveyance.
(c) Offer To Convey.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary receives a fair market offer from a qualified entity for the conveyance of encumbered land, the Secretary shall accept the fair market value offer.
(2) Appraisal.--Fair market value of the interest of the United States in and to encumbered land shall be determined by an appraisal conducted in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(d) Conveyance.--Not later than 2 years after the date of acceptance by the Secretary of an offer from a qualified entity under subsection (c)(1) and completion of a sale for all or part of the applicable portion of encumbered land to the highest qualified entity, the Secretary, by delivery of an appropriate deed, patent, or other valid instrument of conveyance, shall convey to the qualified entity all remaining right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the applicable portion of the encumbered land.
(e) Merger.--Subject to valid existing rights held by third parties, on delivery of the instrument of conveyance to the qualified entity under subsection (d), the prior interests in the locatable minerals and the right to use the surface for mineral purposes held by the qualified entity under a mining claim, millsite, tunnel site, or any other Federal land use authorization applicable to the encumbered land included in the instrument of conveyance, shall merge with all right, title, and interest conveyed to the qualified entity by the United States under this section to ensure that the qualified entity receives fee simple title to the purchased encumbered land.
SEC. 513. DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.
(a) Disposition of Proceeds.--Of the proceeds from the sale of land under this subtitle--
(1) 5 percent shall be disbursed to the State for use in the general education program of the State;
(2) 10 percent shall be disbursed to the County for use as determined through normal County budgeting procedures; and
(3) the remainder shall be deposited in a special account in the Treasury of the United States, to be known as the "Pershing County Special Account", which shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitations for--
(A) the acquisition of land from willing sellers (including interests in land) in the County--
(i) within a wilderness area;
(ii) that protects other environmentally significant land;
(iii) that secures public access to Federal land for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes; or
(iv) that improves management of Federal land within the area identified on the Map as "Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area"; and
(B) the reimbursement of costs incurred by the Secretary in preparing for the sale or exchange of land under this subtitle.
(b) Investment of Special Account.--Any amounts deposited in the special account established under subsection (a)(3)--
(1) shall earn interest in an amount determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, based on the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturities; and
(2) may be expended by the Secretary in accordance with this section.
(c) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than September 30 of the fifth fiscal year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 fiscal years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the State, the County, and the appropriate congressional committees a report on the operation of the special account established under subsection (a)(3) for the preceding 5 fiscal years.
(2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include, for the fiscal year covered by the report--
(A) a statement of the amounts deposited into the special account;
(B) a description of the expenditures made from the special account for the fiscal year, including the purpose of the expenditures;
(C) recommendations for additional authorities to fulfill the purpose of the special account; and
(D) a statement of the balance remaining in the special account at the end of the fiscal year.
SEC. 521. ADDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION
SYSTEM.
(a) Additions.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following parcels of Federal land in the State are designated as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Cain mountain wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 12,339 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Proposed Cain Mountain Wilderness" and dated February 9, 2017, which, together with the Federal land designated as wilderness by sections 2905(b)(1)(C) and 2932(a)(1) of Public Law 117-263, shall be known as the "Cain Mountain Wilderness".
(2) Bluewing wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 24,900 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Proposed Bluewing Wilderness" and dated February 9, 2017, which shall be known as the "Bluewing Wilderness".
(3) Selenite peak wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 22,822 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Proposed Selenite Peak Wilderness" and dated February 9, 2017, which shall be known as the "Selenite Peak Wilderness".
(4) Mount limbo wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 11,855 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Proposed Mt. Limbo Wilderness" and dated February 9, 2017, which shall be known as the "Mount Limbo Wilderness".
(5) North sahwave wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 13,875 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Proposed North Sahwave Wilderness" and dated February 9, 2017, which shall be known as the "North Sahwave Wilderness".
(6) Grandfathers wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 35,339 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Proposed Grandfathers Wilderness" and dated February 9, 2017, which shall be known as the "Grandfathers Wilderness".
(7) Fencemaker wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 14,942 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Proposed Fencemaker Wilderness" and dated February 9, 2017, which shall be known as the "Fencemaker Wilderness".
(b) Boundary.--The boundary of any portion of a Wilderness Area that is bordered by a road shall be 100 feet from the centerline of the road.
(c) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and legal description of each Wilderness Area.
(2) Effect.--Each map and legal description prepared under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subtitle, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in the map or legal description.
(3) Availability.--Each map and legal description prepared under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
(4) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Wilderness Areas are withdrawn from--
(A) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;
(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(C) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
SEC. 522. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Wilderness Areas shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that with respect to the Wilderness Areas--
(1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall be considered to be a reference to the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Livestock.--The grazing of livestock in the Wilderness Areas, if established before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be allowed to continue, subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary considers to be necessary in accordance with--
(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and
(2) the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101-405).
(c) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land or interest in land within the boundary of a Wilderness Area that is acquired by the United States after the date of the enactment of this Act shall be added to and administered as part of the Wilderness Area.
(d) Adjacent Management.--
(1) In general.--Congress does not intend for the designation of the Wilderness Areas to create protective perimeters or buffer zones around the wilderness areas.
(2) Nonwilderness activities.--The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within a Wilderness Area shall not preclude the conduct of those activities or uses outside the boundary of the Wilderness Area.
(e) Military Overflights.--Nothing in this subtitle restricts or precludes--
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the Wilderness Areas, including military overflights that can be seen or heard within the Wilderness Areas;
(2) flight testing and evaluation; or
(3) the designation or creation of new units of special use airspace, or the establishment of military flight training routes, over the Wilderness Areas.
(f) Wildfire, Insect, and Disease Management.--In accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), the Secretary may take such measures in the Wilderness Areas as are necessary for the control of fire, insects, and diseases (including, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, the coordination of the activities with a State or local agency).
(g) Climatological Data Collection.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
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1131 et seq.) and subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may authorize the installation and maintenance of hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological data collection devices in the Wilderness Areas if the Secretary determines that the facilities and access to the facilities are essential to flood warning, flood control, or water reservoir operation activities.
(h) Water Rights.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(A) the Wilderness Areas are located--
(i) in the semiarid region of the Great Basin; and
(ii) at the headwaters of the streams and rivers on land with respect to which there are few, if any--
(I) actual or proposed water resource facilities located upstream; and
(II) opportunities for diversion, storage, or other uses of water occurring outside the land that would adversely affect the wilderness values of the land;
(B) the Wilderness Areas are generally not suitable for use or development of new water resource facilities; and
(C) because of the unique nature of the Wilderness Areas, it is possible to provide for proper management and protection of the wilderness and other values of land in ways different from those used in other laws.
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to protect the wilderness values of the Wilderness Areas by means other than a federally reserved water right.
(3) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this subtitle--
(A) constitutes an express or implied reservation by the United States of any water or water rights with respect to the Wilderness Areas;
(B) affects any water rights in the State (including any water rights held by the United States) in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act;
(C) establishes a precedent with regard to any future wilderness designations;
(D) affects the interpretation of, or any designation made under, any other Act; or
(E) limits, alters, modifies, or amends any interstate compact or equitable apportionment decree that apportions water among and between the State and other States.
(4) Nevada water law.--The Secretary shall follow the procedural and substantive requirements of State law in order to obtain and hold any water rights not in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to the Wilderness Areas.
(5) New projects.--
(A) Definition of water resource facility.--
(i) In general.--In this paragraph, the term "water resource facility" means irrigation and pumping facilities, reservoirs, water conservation works, aqueducts, canals, ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects, transmission and other ancillary facilities, and other water diversion, storage, and carriage structures.
(ii) Exclusion.--In this paragraph, the term "water resource facility" does not include wildlife guzzlers.
(B) Restriction on new water resource facilities.--Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, neither the President nor any other officer, employee, or agent of the United States shall fund, assist, authorize, or issue a license or permit for the development of any new water resource facility within the Wilderness Areas.
(i) Temporary Telecommunications Device.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this subtitle prevents the placement of a temporary telecommunications device for law enforcement or agency administrative purposes in the Selenite Peak Wilderness in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Additional requirements.--Any temporary telecommunications device authorized by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) be carried out in accordance with--
(i) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
(ii) all other applicable laws (including regulations);
(B) to the maximum practicable, be located in such a manner as to minimize impacts on the recreational and other wilderness values of the area; and
(C) be for a period of not longer than 7 years.
SEC. 523. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.
(a) In General.--In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this subtitle affects or diminishes the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping, in the Wilderness Areas.
(b) Management Activities.--In furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary may conduct any management activities in the Wilderness Areas that are necessary to maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations and the habitats to support the populations, if the activities are carried out--
(1) consistent with relevant wilderness management plans; and
(2) in accordance with--
(A) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
(B) appropriate policies, such as those set forth in Appendix B of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101-405), including noxious weed treatment and the occasional and temporary use of motorized vehicles if the use, as determined by the Secretary, would promote healthy, viable, and more naturally distributed wildlife populations that would enhance wilderness values with the minimal impact necessary to reasonably accomplish those tasks.
(c) Existing Activities.--In accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and in accordance with appropriate policies such as those set forth in Appendix B of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101-405), the State may continue to use aircraft, including helicopters, to survey, capture, transplant, monitor, and provide water for wildlife populations.
(d) Wildlife Water Development Projects.--Subject to subsection (e), the Secretary shall authorize structures and facilities,
including existing structures and facilities, for wildlife water development projects, including guzzlers, in the Wilderness Areas if--
(1) the structures and facilities will, as determined by the Secretary, enhance wilderness values by promoting healthy, viable and more naturally distributed wildlife populations; and
(2) the visual impacts of the structures and facilities on the Wilderness Areas can reasonably be minimized.
(e) Cooperative Agreement.--
(1) In general.--The State, including a designee of the State, may conduct wildlife management activities in the Wilderness Areas--
(A) in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the cooperative agreement between the Secretary and the State entitled "Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife Supplement No. 9" and signed November and December 2003, including any amendments to the cooperative agreement agreed to by the Secretary and the State; and
(B) subject to all applicable laws (including regulations).
(2) References.--For the purposes of this subsection, any references to Pershing County in the cooperative agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be considered to be a reference to the Wilderness Areas.
SEC. 524. RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the approximately 48,600 acres of public land in the portions of the China Mountain, Mt. Limbo, Selenite Mountains, and Tobin Range wilderness study areas that have not been designated as wilderness by section 521(a) of this subtitle and the portion of the Augusta Mountains wilderness study area within the County that has not been designated as wilderness by section 521(a) of this subtitle have been adequately studied for wilderness designation.
(b) Release.--The public land described in subsection (a)--
(1) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and
(2) shall be managed in accordance with the applicable land use plans adopted under section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712).
SEC. 525. NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS USES.
(a) In General.--Nothing in this subtitle alters or diminishes the treaty rights of any Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
(b) Cultural Uses.--Nothing in this subtitle precludes the traditional collection of culturally significant and medicinal plants in a Wilderness Area for personal, noncommercial use consistent with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
SEC. 601. FEDERAL COMPLEX.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture shall have the authority to establish on Federal lands identified as "Federal Complex" on the map titled "Proposed Federal Complex", and dated January 27, 2020, a Federal complex for--
(1) department agencies and operations for the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service;
(2) the Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office;
(3) the Forest Service Humboldt-Toiyabe Headquarters;
(4) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Reno Fish and Wildlife Office;
(5) the option for the Bureau of Reclamation to house the Lower Colorado Region Office, Boulder Canyon Operations and the Lahontan Basin Area Office;
(6) the Bureau of Indian Affairs Western Nevada Agency Office;
(7) the option for the Forest Service, the Carson Ranger District Office; and
(8) the option for the Bureau of Land Management, the Carson City District Office.
(b) Funding Sources.--
(1) Special accounts.--Ten percent of the total amount deposited in the Federal special accounts established under titles I, IV, and V of this Act shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture for construction of the Federal complex.
(2) Secondary sources.--If the amount made available by paragraph (1) is insufficient to complete construction of the Federal complex, the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture may use other accounts available for the operation of the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Forest Service in Nevada to provide such additional amounts as may be necessary to complete construction of the Federal complex.
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the "Elko Economic Development Act".
SEC. 702. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) City.--The term "City" means the City of Elko, Nevada.
(2) County.--The term "County" means Elko County, Nevada.
(3) Federal land identified for the city of elko.--The term "Federal land identified for the City of Elko" means the approximately 644 acres of federally owned land generally depicted on the map and indicating conveyance to the City of Elko.
(4) Federal land identified for elko county.--The term "Federal land identified for Elko County" means the approximately 3,475 acres of federally owned land generally depicted on the map and indicating conveyance to Elko County.
(5) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 703. LAND CONVEYANCES TO THE CITY OF ELKO.
(a) Conveyance.--Subject to valid existing rights and at the request of the City, the Secretary shall convey to the City, for fair market value, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land identified for conveyance to the City of Elko on the map entitled "Proposed Conveyance to the City of Elko, Nevada" and dated November 7, 2024.
(b) Appraisal.--The Secretary shall determine fair market value of the Federal land identified for the City of Elko in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
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1701) and based on an appraisal conducted in accordance with--
(1) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition; and
(2) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(c) Costs.--As a condition of the conveyance of the Federal land identified for the City of Elko under subsection (a), the City shall pay--
(1) an amount equal to the appraised value determined in accordance with subsection (b); and
(2) all costs related to the conveyance, including all surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs associated with the conveyance of the Federal land to the City.
(d) Disposition of Proceeds.--Any gross proceeds from the sale, lease, or conveyance of Federal land identified for the City of Elko under this section shall be deposited into the special account created by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-263).
SEC. 704. LAND CONVEYANCES TO ELKO COUNTY.
(a) Conveyance.--Subject to valid existing rights and at the request of the County, the Secretary shall convey to the County, for fair market value, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land identified for Elko County on the map entitled "Conveyance to Elko County, Nevada" and dated October 30, 2024.
(b) Appraisal.--The Secretary shall determine fair market value of the Federal land identified for Elko County in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701) and based on an appraisal conducted in accordance with--
(1) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition; and
(2) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(c) Costs.--As a condition of the conveyance of the Federal land identified for Elko County under subsection (a), the City shall pay--
(1) an amount equal to the appraised value determined in accordance with subsection (b); and
(2) all costs related to the conveyance, including all surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs associated with the conveyance of the Federal land to the City.
(d) Disposition of Proceeds.--Any gross proceeds from the sale, lease, or conveyance of Federal land under this section shall be deposited into the special account created by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-263).
SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the "Fernley Economic Development Act".
SEC. 802. LAND CONVEYANCES.
(a) Conveyance.--Subject to valid existing rights and at the request of the City, the Secretary shall convey to the City, for fair market value, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land.
(b) Appraisal.--The Secretary shall determine fair market value of the Federal land in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701) and based on an appraisal conducted in accordance with--
(1) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition; and
(2) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(c) Costs.--As a condition of the conveyance of the Federal land under subsection (a), the City shall pay--
(1) an amount equal to the appraised value determined in accordance with subsection (b); and
(2) all costs related to the conveyance, including all surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs associated with the conveyance of the Federal land to the City.
(d) Disposition of Proceeds.--Any gross proceeds from the sale, lease, or conveyance of Federal land under this section shall be deposited into the special account created by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-263).
(e) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) City.--The term "City" means the City of Fernley, Nevada.
(2) Map.--The term "map" means the map entitled "Fernley Economic Development Map" and dated October 6, 2020.
(3) Federal land.--The term "Federal land" means the approximately 12,085 acres of federally owned land generally depicted within "Fernley Land Conveyance Boundary" on the map.
(4) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 901. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) City.--The term "City" means the City of Sparks, Nevada.
(2) Map.--The term "Map" means the map entitled "Sparks Public Purpose Conveyances" and dated April 15, 2020.
(3) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 902. CONVEYANCE OF LAND FOR USE AS A PUBLIC CEMETERY.
(a) Conveyance.--Subject to valid and existing rights and notwithstanding the land use planning requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), at the request of the City, the Secretary shall convey to the City without consideration all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the land described in subsection (b).
(b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 40 acres of land depicted as "Cemetery Conveyance" on the Map.
(c) Costs.--Any costs relating to the conveyance under subsection (a), including the costs of surveys and administrative costs, shall be paid by the City.
(d) Use of Land.--The land conveyed under subsection (a) shall be used only for a cemetery.
SEC. 903. CONVEYANCE OF LAND FOR USE AS REGIONAL PUBLIC
PARKS.
(a) Conveyance.--Subject to valid and existing rights and notwithstanding the land use planning requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), at the request of the City, the Secretary shall convey to the City without consideration all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the land described in subsection (b).
(b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 448.16 acres depicted as "Golden Eagle Regional Park" and 266.04 acres depicted as "Wedekind Regional Park" on the Map.
(c) Costs.--Any costs relating to the conveyance under subsection (a), including the costs of surveys and administrative costs, shall be paid by the City.
(d) Use of Land.--
(1) In general.--The land conveyed under subsection (a) shall be used only for public parks or other public purposes consistent with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the "Recreation and Public Purposes Act") (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).
(2) Reversion.--If any portion of the land conveyed under subsection (a) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the use described in paragraph (1), the land shall revert, at the discretion of the Secretary, to the United States.
SEC. 1001. ADMINISTRATION OF STATE WATER RIGHTS.
Nothing in this Act affects the allocation, ownership, interest, or control, as in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act, of any water, water right, or any other valid existing right held by the United States, an Indian Tribe, a State, or a person.
SEC. 1002. AMENDMENT TO CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LAND IN STOREY
COUNTY, NEVADA.
Section 3009(d)(1)(B) of division B of the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (128 Stat. 3751) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: "; and the land generally depicted as `BLM Owned County Request Transfer' on the map entitled `Restoring Storey County', dated October 22, 2020.".
SEC. 1003. MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall finalize maps and legal descriptions of all land to be conveyed under this Act. The maps and legal descriptions shall be on file and available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service, as applicable.
(b) Corrections.--The Secretary concerned and the recipients of the Federal land to be conveyed under this Act may, by mutual agreement--
(1) make minor boundary adjustments to the Federal land to be conveyed; and
(2) correct any minor errors, including clerical and typographical errors, on the maps, the acreage estimate, or the legal descriptions.
SEC. 1004. MINOR ERRORS.
The Secretary in consultation with the State of Nevada may make minor boundary adjustments to the parcels of Federal land to be conveyed under all titles of this Act and correct any minor errors in the map, acreage estimate, or legal description.
SEC. 1101. GREENLINK WEST PROJECT.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Project.--The term "Project" means the Greenlink West Project described in--
(A) the notice of intent of the Bureau of Land Management entitled "Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Potential Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Greenlink West Project in Clark, Nye, Esmeralda, Mineral, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe Counties in Nevada" (87 Fed. Reg. 25658 (May 2, 2022)); and
(B) the associated administrative record for the Greenlink West Project numbered DOI-BLM-NV-0000-2022-0004-EIS.
(2) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
(3) Tribe.--The term "Tribe" means the Walker River Paiute Tribe.
(4) Walker lake parcel.--The term "Walker Lake Parcel" means the following land in Mineral County, Nevada:
(A) All land held by the Bureau of Land Management in T. 11 N., R. 29 E., secs. 35 and 36, Mount Diablo Meridian.
(B) All land held by the Bureau of Reclamation in T. 10 N., R. 30 E., secs. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 16, 17, 20, 21, 28, 29, 32, and 33, Mount Diablo Meridian.
(C) All land held by the Bureau of Land Management in T. 10.5 N., R. 30 E., secs. 31 and 32, Mount Diablo Meridian.
(b) Project Authorization; Right-of-Way.--If the Walker Lake Parcel is taken into trust for the benefit of the Tribe on, before, or after the date of enactment of this Act, the consent of the Tribe for the use for the Project of the portion of the Walker Lake Parcel taken into trust shall be deemed to have been obtained by the Secretary subject to the following:
(1) The use of the Walker Lake Parcel land for the Project shall be subject to review under the pending proceeding under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), which shall be modified--
(A) to reflect the trust title of the Walker Lake Parcel; and
(B) to address any other laws applicable to rights-of-way on Tribal land, including any environmental, wildlife, conservation, historic preservation, and natural resources laws.
(2) As soon as practicable after the date on which the Walker Lake Parcel is taken into trust for the benefit of the Tribe, the Secretary shall approve a right-of-way agreement between the Tribe and the Project applicant before the commencement of construction and installation of the Project to address applicable provisions under part 169 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), including, with respect to compensation paid to the Tribe, term, amendment, renewal, assignment, access rights, operation and maintenance, and an annual premium usage fee consistent with prevailing rates or standards to be paid directly to the Tribe, subject to the requirement that the Secretary and the Tribe shall exercise all authority under applicable law (including regulations) with respect to the use of, and compliance with, the right-of-way.
SEC. 1201.
Text printed in the Record (1,863 characters)
RELEASE OF FEDERAL REVERSIONARY LAND INTERESTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Patent.--The term "Patent" means the serial patent numbered 27-80-0056, dated December 13, 1979, recorded in Clark County, Nevada, records in book 1178, instrument 1137147 (BLM Serial Number NVN 011732).
(2) State.--The term "State" means the State of Nevada.
(3) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Release.--Subject to valid and existing rights, the Secretary shall release, convey, or otherwise quitclaim to the State, in a form recordable in local county records, and subject to the approval of the State, after consultation, all right, title, and remaining interest of the United States in and to the land that was conveyed to the State pursuant to the Patent or any other law authorizing conveyance subject to restrictions or reversionary interests retained by the United States, on request by the State.
(c) Terms and Conditions.--A conveyance authorized by subsection (b) shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(1) The State shall cover, or reimburse the Secretary for, the costs incurred by the Secretary to make the conveyance, including title searches, surveys, deed preparation, attorneys' fees, and similar expenses.
(2) By accepting the conveyances, the State agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States with regard to any boundary dispute relating to any parcel conveyed under this section.
(3) The State of Nevada, or its successors in interest, shall--
(A) manage such lands in accordance with section 47504 of title 49, United States Code (relating to airport and regulations promulgated pursuant to that section); and
(B) section 744 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-63) as applicable to the development of the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2317, as amended, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Nevada?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I guess in continuing on the slow-but-steady progress on the theme for today, northern Nevada counties are overwhelmingly owned by the Federal Government, restricting local planners and zoners from being able to adequately serve and plan for their communities' needs.
In Pershing County, the Federal Government owns 73.3 percent of the total landmass in the county. The amount of Federal land in Pershing remains virtually unchanged because this bill has a one-to-one consolidation of checkerboard land that was done during the 1800s for railroad construction. It is literally a consolidation of the checkerboard into two pieces, one private and one public.
In Douglas County, the Federal Government owns 51.9 percent of the total landmass in the county. This bill conveys 7,777 acres to the county for flood management purposes and allows for the disposal of no more than 10,000 acres in the county. This would dispose of only 4.1 percent of Federal land in Douglas County, most of which is for public purposes.
In Lyon County, the Federal Government owns 64.8 percent of the total landmass in the county. The bill allows for the disposal of 12,085 acres of Federal land in Lyon County, decreasing the Federal estate in that particular county by 1.4 percent.
All of the parcels for conveyance, disposal, and wilderness were identified and requested by local planning and zoning authorities. That is, in all three cases, the county commissions.
The bill has been wrongly conflated to the lands provisions originally in last year's reconciliation package. To be clear, this is not what was considered during the reconciliation. The bill before you is a holistic package that balances conservation and economic development priorities for northern Nevada communities and enjoys bipartisan support in Nevada.
The bill is nearly identical to what was favorably marked up and reported out of the House Natural Resources Committee in November last year.
The largest piece of this bill, Pershing County, passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee way back in the 115th Congress, so it has been in the mix, if you will, for more than a little while.
Groups in support is a list of groups that you don't always hear talked about in support of the same thing. All counties, cities, and Tribes included in the bill not only support it, but the bill consists of requests from those entities to have these lands put into local control.
The supporting groups include: Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Coalition for Nevada's Wildlife, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Great Basin Wildlife Conservancy, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, Nevada Sporting Dog Alliance, Northern Nevada Safari Club International, Sierra Front Muley Fanatic Foundation, Southern Coalition for Nevada's Wildlife, Truckee River Flyfishers, National Mining Association, and the Nevada Farm Bureau.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Text printed in the Record (2,199 characters)
Washington, DC, September 8, 2026. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 2317, the "Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2025." Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our jurisdiction.
The Committee on Agriculture will forgo any further consideration of this bill. However, by forgoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees, should it become necessary, and ask that you support such a request.
We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 2317 and request a copy of our letters on this matter be published in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration.
Sincerely,
Glenn "GT" Thompson, Chairman.
____
Washington, DC, September 8, 2026. Hon. Glenn Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: I write regarding H.R. 2317, "Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2026," which was ordered and reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on July 15, 2026.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture will not formally consider H.R. 2317 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 2317. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)6:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2317 is a comprehensive package of conveyances, conservation designations, and land use authorizations designed to address a series of public land management issues throughout northern Nevada.
Representative Amodei has worked for many years on the bill, and his dedication has earned widespread support throughout the State, including from Tribes, counties, and local environmental organizations.
By including nearly 150,000 acres of wilderness designation, this bill genuinely attempts to strike a balance between conservation and development.
Wilderness designation is reserved for the most remote and undeveloped areas we have left in this country, and the designations included in the bill represent the newest Federal land conservation considered by the House this Congress.
While it is encouraging that we are considering legislation that includes new conservation designations, this body also has a responsibility to hold the Trump administration accountable as they try to sell off our public lands.
Our Nation's natural treasures and public lands are what make our country great, and the American people do not want to see our great outdoors sold off or stripped for parts. That is why 12 Democrats voted against H.R. 2317 in the Natural Resources Committee markup.
As we saw earlier this year from the reconciliation amendment our committee considered at midnight, the idea of public land sales, especially at the scale envisioned in this bill, is deeply unpopular and can lead to destruction of our natural environment for a quick buck.
In its current form, the bill even includes provisions green-lighting the sale of public land directly to mining companies. This has facilitated a broad expansion of mining activity without any Federal review or guarantee of a fair return for the American taxpayer.
We had worked to resolve those issues before House Republicans brought the bill to the floor for a vote, but they were not, which means there is more work to do before this bill can be signed into law.
I understand that this bill is critical for northern Nevada, but we must get the details right. Public lands belong to all Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mark E. Amodei (R-NV)6:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)6:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei), who is the sponsor of H.R. 2317.
Mark E. Amodei (R-NV)6:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have no objection to engaging in a colloquy.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)6:00 p.m.
As the House considers H.R. 2317, the Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, under suspension of the rules, several Members on our side of the aisle still have outstanding concerns regarding certain provisions in the legislation. While we appreciate the strong in-State support for the bill, there are continuing concerns about the scale of the Federal land conveyances. Specifically, Members want assurances that there is a fair balance and the conveyances do not tip the scales in favor of extraction and excessive public land transfer.
Can the gentleman from Nevada commit to continuing to work in good faith with us, and with our colleagues in the Senate, to address these concerns and support necessary amendments to the bill as it moves through the legislative process?
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei).
Mark E. Amodei (R-NV)6:00 p.m.
The gentlewoman has, for purposes of the record, my commitment to do exactly that.
Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)6:00 p.m.
I appreciate that. I think that is exactly what the American people expect of us.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's clear commitment to addressing these issues and refining the bill in the Senate. With that understanding, I thank him for his leadership and collaboration, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mark E. Amodei (R-NV)6:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Williams of Texas)6:00 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2317, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism--Message from the President of the United States (H. Doc. No. 119-195)
Page H5598 · Official textCONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS WHO COMMIT, THREATEN TO COMMIT, OR SUPPORT TERRORISM--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 119-195) The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message from the President of the United States; which was read and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed: To the Congress of the United States: Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism declared in Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, as amended, is to continue in effect beyond September 23, 2026. The crisis constituted by the grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York and Pennsylvania and against the Pentagon, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on United States nationals or the United States that led to the declaration of a national emergency on September 23, 2001, has not been resolved. This crisis continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13224, as amended, with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism. Donald J. Trump. The White House, September 11, 2026.
Recess
Page H5598 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess until approximately 6:30 p.m. today.
Accordingly (at 6 o'clock and 7 minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess.
After Recess
Page H5598 · Official textThe recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Newhouse) at 6 o'clock and 30 minutes p.m.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
Page H5598 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Proceedings will resume on motions to suspend the rules previously postponed. Votes will be taken in the following order:
H.R. 4219; and
H.R. 3276.
The first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, the remaining electronic vote will be conducted as a 5-minute vote.
National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025
Pages H5598–H5599 · Official textNATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM INVASIVE SPECIES STRIKE TEAM ACT OF 2025
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4219) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 371, nays 33, not voting 28, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,733 characters)
Adams Aderholt Aguilar Alford Allen Amo Amodei (NV) Ansari Auchincloss Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Balint Barr Barragan Barrett Beatty Begich Bell Bentz Bera Bergman Beyer Bice Bilirakis Bishop Blair Bonamici Bost Boyle (PA) Bresnahan Brown Brownley Budzinski Bynum Calvert Cammack Carbajal Carey Carson Carter (LA) Carter (TX) Case Casten Castor (FL) Castro (TX) Chu Ciscomani Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Cleaver Cline Clyburn Cohen Cole Comer Conaway Correa Costa Courtney Craig Crank Crawford Crockett Crow Cuellar Davids (KS) Davis (IL) Davis (NC) De La Cruz Dean (PA) DeGette DeLauro Deluzio DeSaulnier DesJarlais Dexter Diaz-Balart Dingell Doggett Downing Edwards Elfreth Ellzey Emmer Escobar Espaillat Evans (CO) Ezell Fallon Fedorchak Feenstra Fields Figures Finstad Fischbach Fitzgerald Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Fletcher Flood Fong Foster Foushee Frankel, Lois Franklin, Scott Friedman Frost Fry Fulcher Fuller Gallagher Garbarino Garcia (CA) Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Gillen Gimenez Golden (ME) Goldman (TX) Gomez Gonzalez, V. Gooden Goodlander Gosar Gottheimer Graves Gray Green, Al (TX) Griffith Grijalva Grothman Guest Guthrie Hageman Harder (CA) Haridopolos Hayes Hern (OK) Hill (AR) Himes Hinson Horsford Houchin Houlahan Hoyer Hoyle (OR) Hudson Huffman Huizenga Hunt Hurd (CO) Issa Ivey Jackson (IL) Jackson (TX) Jacobs Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (SD) Johnson (TX) Joyce (OH) Kamlager-Dove Kaptur Kean Keating Kelly (IL) Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) Kennedy (NY) Khanna Kiggans (VA) Kiley (CA) Kim Knott Krishnamoorthi Kustoff LaHood LaLota Landsman Langworthy Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Latimer Latta Lawler Lee (FL) Lee (NV) Lee (PA) Leger Fernandez Letlow Levin Liccardo Lieu Lofgren Lucas Luttrell Lynch Mace Mackenzie Magaziner Malliotakis Maloy Mannion Mast Matsui McBath McBride McCaul McClain McClain Delaney McClellan McClintock McCollum McDonald Rivet McDowell McGarvey McGovern McGuire McIver Meeks Mejia Menefee Menendez Meng Messmer Meuser Mfume Miller (OH) Miller (WV) Miller-Meeks Min Moolenaar Moore (AL) Moore (NC) Moore (UT) Moore (WV) Moran Morelle Morrison Moskowitz Moulton Mrvan Mullin Murphy Nadler Neal Neguse Nehls Newhouse Norcross Nunn (IA) Obernolte Ocasio-Cortez Ogles Olszewski Omar Pallone Palmer Panetta Pappas Patronis Pelosi Perez Peters Pettersen Pfluger Pingree Pocan Pou Pressley Quigley Ramirez Randall Raskin Reschenthaler Riley (NY) Rivas Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rose Ross Rouzer Ruiz Rulli Rutherford Ryan Salazar Salinas Sanchez Scalise Scanlon Schneider Scholten Schrier Schweikert Scott (VA) Scott, Austin Sessions Sewell Sherman Shreve Simon Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smucker Sorensen Soto Spartz Stansbury Stanton Stauber Steil Steube Stevens Strickland Strong Stutzman Subramanyam Suozzi Sykes Takano Taylor Tenney Thanedar Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Thompson (PA)
Timmons Titus Tlaib Tokuda Tonko Torres (CA) Torres (NY) Trahan Tran Turner (OH) Underwood Valadao Van Duyne Van Epps Van Orden Vargas Vasquez Veasey Velazquez Vindman Wahab Walberg Walkinshaw Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Westerman Whitesides Wied Williams (GA) Williams (TX) Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Yakym Zinke
Arrington Bean (FL) Biggs (AZ) Biggs (SC) Boebert Brecheen Burchett Burlison Cloud Clyde Crane Davidson Fine Foxx Hamadeh (AZ) Harrigan Harris (NC) Harshbarger Higgins (LA) Jack Jordan Joyce (PA) Kennedy (UT) Luna Massie McCormick Miller (IL) Norman Onder Perry Roy Schmidt Self
Baumgartner Buchanan Carter (GA) Casar Collins Crenshaw DelBene Donalds Dunn (FL) Estes Evans (PA) Garamendi Gill (TX) Goldman (NY) Harris (MD) James Loudermilk Mann Mills Moore (WI) Owens Schakowsky Smith (WA) Stefanik Tiffany Van Drew Wagner Wilson (FL)
Mmes. MILLER of Illinois, LUNA, Messrs. HARRIS of North Carolina, and McCORMICK changed their vote from "yea" to "nay." Messrs. GARCIA of Illinois and McCLINTOCK changed their vote from "nay" to "yea." So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026
Page H5599 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3276) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Urban Bird Treaty Program, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 345, nays 60, not voting 27, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,732 characters)
Adams Aderholt Aguilar Alford Allen Amo Amodei (NV) Ansari Auchincloss Bacon Baird Balderson Balint Barr Barragan Beatty Bell Bentz Bera Bergman Beyer Bilirakis Bishop Blair Bonamici Bost Boyle (PA) Bresnahan Brown Brownley Budzinski Bynum Calvert Cammack Carbajal Carey Carson Carter (LA) Carter (TX) Casar Case Casten Castor (FL) Castro (TX) Chu Ciscomani Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Cleaver Clyburn Cohen Cole Conaway Correa Costa Courtney Craig Crawford Crockett Crow Cuellar Davids (KS) Davis (IL) Davis (NC) De La Cruz Dean (PA) DeGette DeLauro Deluzio DeSaulnier Dexter Diaz-Balart Dingell Doggett Downing Elfreth Ellzey Emmer Escobar Espaillat Evans (CO) Ezell Fedorchak Feenstra Fields Figures Fischbach Fitzgerald Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Fletcher Flood Fong Foster Foushee Frankel, Lois Franklin, Scott Friedman Frost Fulcher Gallagher Garbarino Garcia (CA) Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Gillen Gimenez Golden (ME) Goldman (TX) Gomez Gonzalez, V. Gooden Goodlander Gosar Gottheimer Graves Green, Al (TX) Griffith Grijalva Guest Guthrie Hageman Harder (CA) Haridopolos Hayes Hern (OK) Hill (AR) Himes Hinson Horsford Houchin Houlahan Hoyer Hoyle (OR) Hudson Huffman Huizenga Hunt Hurd (CO) Issa Ivey Jackson (IL) Jacobs Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (SD) Johnson (TX) Joyce (OH) Kamlager-Dove Kaptur Kean Keating Kelly (IL) Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) Kennedy (NY) Khanna Kiggans (VA) Kiley (CA) Kim Knott Krishnamoorthi Kustoff LaHood LaLota Landsman Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Latimer Latta Lawler Lee (FL) Lee (NV) Lee (PA) Leger Fernandez Letlow Levin Liccardo Lieu Lofgren Lucas Lynch Mace Mackenzie Magaziner Malliotakis Maloy Mannion Mast Matsui McBath McBride McCaul McClain McClain Delaney McClellan McCollum McDonald Rivet McDowell McGarvey McGovern McGuire McIver Meeks Mejia Menefee Menendez Meng Messmer Meuser Mfume Miller (WV) Miller-Meeks Min Moolenaar Moore (NC) Moore (UT) Moran Morelle Morrison Moskowitz Moulton Mrvan Mullin Murphy Nadler Neal Neguse Nehls Newhouse Norcross Nunn (IA) Obernolte Ocasio-Cortez Olszewski Omar Pallone Palmer Panetta Pappas Patronis Pelosi Perez Peters Pettersen Pfluger Pingree Pocan Pou Pressley Quigley Ramirez Randall Raskin Reschenthaler Riley (NY) Rivas Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Ross Rouzer Ruiz Rulli Rutherford Ryan Salazar Salinas Sanchez Scalise Scanlon Schneider Scholten Schrier Schweikert Scott (VA) Scott, Austin Sessions Sewell Sherman Shreve Simon Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smucker Sorensen Soto Spartz Stansbury Stanton Stauber Steil Steube Stevens Strickland Stutzman Subramanyam Suozzi Sykes Takano Tenney Thanedar Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Thompson (PA) Timmons Titus Tlaib Tokuda Tonko Torres (CA) Torres (NY) Trahan Tran Turner (OH) Underwood Valadao Van Duyne Van Epps Van Orden Vargas Vasquez Veasey Velazquez Vindman Wahab Walberg Walkinshaw Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Westerman Whitesides Wied Williams (GA) Williams (TX) Wilson (FL) Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Yakym Zinke
Arrington Babin Barrett Bean (FL) Begich Biggs (AZ) Biggs (SC) Boebert Brecheen Burchett Burlison Cline Cloud Clyde Comer Crane Crank Davidson DesJarlais Edwards Fallon Fine Finstad Foxx Fry Fuller Gill (TX) Grothman Hamadeh (AZ) Harrigan Harris (MD) Harris (NC) Harshbarger Higgins (LA) Jack Jackson (TX) Jordan Joyce (PA) Kennedy (UT) Luna Luttrell Massie McClintock McCormick Miller (IL) Miller (OH) Moore (AL) Moore (WV) Norman Ogles Onder Perry Rose Roy Schmidt Self Strong Taylor Weber (TX) Webster (FL)
Baumgartner Bice Buchanan Carter (GA) Collins Crenshaw DelBene Donalds Dunn (FL) Estes Evans (PA) Garamendi Goldman (NY) Gray James Langworthy Loudermilk Mann Mills Moore (WI) Owens Schakowsky Smith (WA) Stefanik Tiffany Van Drew Wagner
Messrs. CLINE and JOYCE of Pennsylvania changed their vote from "yea" to "nay." So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Common Cents Act
Pages H5599–H5602 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 10167) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,491 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Common Cents Act".
SEC. 2. SPECIFICATIONS OF 5-CENT COINS AND CEASING PRODUCTION
OF ONE-CENT COINS.
Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking "weighs 5 grams." and inserting the following: "weighs--
"(A) 5 grams, with respect to such coin that is an alloy of copper and nickel; or
"(B) between 4 and 6 grams, with respect to such coin as described in subsection (c)."; and
(B) in paragraph (6)--
(i) by striking "except as provided under subsection (c) of this section,"; and
(ii) by striking "and weighs 3.11 grams";
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the sixth sentence--
(i) by inserting "either" before "an alloy"; and
(ii) by inserting "or a composition described in subsection (c)" before the period;
(B) by inserting "with respect to such coins that are an alloy of copper and nickel" after "nickel required"; and
(C) by striking "Except" through "zinc" and inserting "The one-cent coin is composed of copper and zinc";
(3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c) 5-Cent Coin.--
"(1) In general.--The 5-cent coin may be a coin with an inner layer of zinc and an outer layer of nickel.
"(2) Composition.--The Secretary may prescribe the composition of zinc and nickel in the 5-cent coin, subject to testing and evaluation that such composition--
"(A) reduces the cost incurred to produce such coin; and
"(B) to the greatest extent practicable, has a minimal adverse impact on machines designed to accept coins."; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
"(bb) Ceasing Production of One-Cent Coin.--
"(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall cease production of one-cent coins for general circulation, but may continue to produce and issue one-cent coins for sale as numismatic items.
"(2) No effect on legal tender.--Any one-cent coin that is minted and issued on any date before the date of the enactment of this subsection shall remain legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues.".
SEC. 3. CASH TRANSACTION ROUNDING.
(a) In General.--Any person, including a financial institution, selling goods or services in a cash transaction or entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction may, if exact change cannot be provided at that time of such transaction, round the covered amount in the following manner:
(1) Rounding down.--Except as provided in paragraph (2)(B), in any case in which the covered amount ends with 1 cent, 2 cents, 6 cents, or 7 cents as the final digit, the amount of cents in the sum may be rounded down to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(2) Rounding up.--
(A) In general.--In any case in which the covered amount ends with 3 cents, 4 cents, 8 cents, or 9 cents as the final digit, the amount of cents in the sum may be rounded up to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(B) Small transactions.--In any case in which the covered amount totals $0.01 or $0.02, such amount may be rounded up to $.05 for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(b) Additional Authority To Round.--With respect to a person, including a financial institution, conducting a cash transaction with a customer of the person, the amount of cents in the sum of the transaction may be rounded, if such rounding is in favor of the customer, as follows:
(1) Up to the nearest amount divisible by 5, if the person is paying the customer in cash.
(2) Down to the nearest amount divisible by 5, if the customer is paying the person in cash.
(c) Employer Payments to Employees.--
(1) In general.--With respect to an employer providing a cash payment to an employee in an amount that is not divisible by 5 cents, if the employer chooses to round the amount of cents in such payment, the employer shall round the amount of cents in such payment up to the nearest amount divisible by 5 cents.
(2) No rounding requirement.--Nothing in this subsection may be construed to require rounding by an employer described in paragraph (1) who provides a cash payment to an employee in an exact amount.
(d) Application.--Subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall not apply to any transaction for which payment is made by any demand or negotiable instrument, electronic fund transfer, check, gift card, money order, credit card, or other like instrument or method.
(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed to require any person to round a payment as described in subsections (a) or (b).
(f) Covered Amount Defined.--In this section, the term "covered amount" means--
(1) the total transaction amount, including taxes; or
(2) in the case of a person selling goods or services in a cash transaction or entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction, the amount of change due to the customer if the customer provides a cash payment that exceeds the total transaction amount, including taxes.
SEC. 4. TREATMENT OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL LAW WITH
RESPECT TO CASH TRANSACTION ROUNDING.
(a) Federal Law.--Any person selling goods or services in a cash transaction, including a financial institution, entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction shall not be in violation of any Federal requirement, law, regulation, or standard based on the adherence to the cash rounding provisions described in section 3.
(b) State and Tribal Law.--Any person selling goods or services in a cash transaction, including a financial institution, entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction shall not be in violation of any requirement, law, regulation, or standard of a State, Tribe, or a political subdivision of a State based on the adherence to the cash rounding provisions described in section 3.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act or of any order thereunder shall excuse noncompliance with any Federal, State, Tribal, or local law, regulation, ordinance, or requirement establishing a minimum wage, providing for overtime pay requirements, or providing for paid leave.
SEC. 5. STRATEGIC PLAN AND REPORT ON COIN TERMINAL OPERATIONS
AND COIN DISTRIBUTION STABILITY.
(a) Strategic Plan and Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available a report that outlines a strategic plan for the acceptance of penny orders and deposits at commercial coin terminals providing services under agreements with the Federal reserve banks nationwide, including--
(1) a description of the Board's approach to limiting disruptions in penny supply and maintaining the stability of and efficiency of the coin distribution system, to the greatest extent practicable;
(2) an evaluation of such coin terminals where the Federal reserve banks no longer accept penny deposits or penny orders;
(3) an assessment of whether processing penny deposits or penny orders at such coin terminals could mitigate any challenges related to ceasing the production of the penny, including challenges related to the implementation of rounding practices;
(4) an assessment by the Secretary of the Treasury, which the Secretary shall conduct and deliver to the Board not less than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act--
(A) on the impact of penny supply and demand disruptions, and rounding practices for check cashing, on low-income communities, older consumers, debanked, unbanked, and underbanked individuals, including feedback from State or local entities; and
(B) that includes recommendations to the Congress to address any adverse impacts identified under subparagraph (A); and
(5) any additional considerations the Board determines relevant to maintaining penny distribution stability.
(b) Evaluation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after submission of the report required under subsection (a), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available a report that evaluates the progress of implementing the strategic plan described in subsection (a), including--
(A) any material changes to the plan; and
(B) any identified or emerging stress in the penny distribution system.
(2) Successive reports.--The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available 2 additional reports that evaluate the progress described in paragraph (1) on dates that are not later than--
(A) 18 months after the submission of the report required under subsection (a); and
(B) 30 months after the submission of the report required under subsection (a).
SEC. 6. DISCONTINUATION OF CIRCULATION OF COINS.
Section 5111 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking "and" at the end;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting "; and"; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
"(5) may discontinue the minting for circulation of any coin that is described in paragraph (1) (and that is minted for circulation, as of the date of enactment of this paragraph) only in accordance with the procedures described in subsection (e)."; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(e) Discontinuation.--
"(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `covered committees' means--
"(A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
"(B) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.
"(2) Requirements.--The Secretary of the Treasury may not discontinue the minting for circulation of a coin described in subsection (a)(5) unless the Secretary--
"(A) not later than 60 days before that discontinuation, and in coordination with the Director of the United States Mint, submits to the covered committees notice regarding that discontinuation, which shall include--
"(i) a description of the reasoning for that discontinuation, including fiscal and operational considerations; and
"(ii) a comprehensive plan for phasing out the circulating coin, taking into consideration--
"(I) the potential impacts of that discontinuation on consumers and businesses; and
"(II) the potential economic impacts of that discontinuation; and
"(B) not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the notice required under subparagraph (A), provides a briefing to the covered committees regarding the plan for implementing that discontinuation.".
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Covered committees.--The term "covered committees" means--
(A) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
(2) Financial institution.--The term "financial institution" means any person, other than an individual, the business of which is engaging in financial activities in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(k)).
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hurd of Colorado)
Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the CBO estimate for this bill.
EFFECTS ON DIRECT SPENDING AND REVENUES OF LEGISLATION CONSIDERED UNDER SUSPENSION OF THE RULES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Suspension Bill Bill Number Title Effect on Direct Effect on Revenues Text at Spending docs.house.gov ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------H.R. 10167...................... Common Cents Act.. Increase by Less None.............. https://
Than $500K. docs.house.gov/ billsthisweek/ 20260914/BILLS-119hr10167ih.pdf ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Republican Conference Chairwoman McClain's Common Cents Act. Rather than spending more money producing a coin than the coin itself is worth, this straightforward, commonsense bill ensures that Congress is a good steward of taxpayers' dollars by providing long-term fiscally responsible solutions.
Mr. Speaker, let's look at the numbers. According to an audit of the United States Mint, it costs $3.69 to make a 1-cent penny. In fact, for 19 consecutive years, the U.S. Government has spent more than one penny to make one penny. In 2024 alone, taxpayers lost more than $85 million producing pennies.
Chairwoman McClain's bill eliminates that wasteful spending by codifying President Trump's directive to the Mint to stop producing new pennies for circulation. However, we also need to make sure we are not solving one problem by creating another.
If we stop making pennies, then Americans are likely to use more nickels, and at nearly 14 cents to produce nickels, they aren't exactly a bargain either. That is why this bill gives the Treasury Secretary the flexibility to move a lower-cost composite for the nickel, again, saving taxpayers money.
The bill also provides a clear uniform standard for rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel when exact change isn't available, ensuring our small businesses have the certainty they need.
Importantly, the bill keeps Congress informed by requiring Treasury to notify the House and Senate and explain their reasoning before discontinuing any additional circulating coins.
This is very simple. The Federal Government should not spend more money to make something than it is worth itself. We should look for savings where we can, modernize outdated practices, and ensure businesses and consumers have certainty at the register.
Mr. Speaker, this is what responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars looks like.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Chairwoman McClain's bipartisan Common Cents Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 10167, the Common Cents Act, sponsored by Representative McClain.
Last year, the President announced on Truth Social--not the best way to make a government announcement--that Treasury would stop minting pennies. Frankly, I disagree with almost everything the President does, but this one makes sense. I have been advocating for the abolition of the penny for over 20 years in our committee, and it is time that we move forward on this.
Following this announcement, the Treasury moved forward, and the Mint has stopped producing pennies. Unfortunately, the decision to stop minting pennies ignored the authority of Congress in regulating currency and overseeing a major transition away from producing pennies. We saw that this abrupt decision resulted in major consequences across the country that led to penny shortages for banks, retailers, and consumers and created confusion in the economy.
It is not enough to stop minting pennies. We need a bill that tells retailers and customers how much they are supposed to pay in nickels, dimes, and dollars. However, as written, this legislation addresses many of these issues and establishes much-needed standards and guidelines going forward.
Since we marked up the Common Cents Act in our committee, this bill has continued to be meaningfully improved, thanks to the work of our ranking member, Maxine Waters, and other Financial Services Committee Democrats, including Representative Garcia.
The Common Cents Act formally directs the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting pennies. It also allows the Mint to test a lower-cost composition for the nickel, which chiefly would be zinc, and to make use of the zinc that is now going into pennies. Moreover, by using zinc for the nickel, not only will we save money, but it will be lighter, and that will be important for the cost of those who are transporting large quantities of coins, and it will be a little lighter in your pocket. This bill not only deals with the penny, but it also improves the nickel.
The bill provides clarity on rounding cash transactions. When I proposed in committee 20 years ago, and I proposed it at townhalls, people were concerned that somehow this would lead to higher prices and that somehow retailers would benefit.
The fact is, it is the consumer, not the retailer, who determines whether you buy two nail files at the same time and that happens to round down, and then buy another two nail files at the same time, and that transaction is rounded down. I can't imagine anybody doing that to save a nickel, but it is the consumer, not the retailer, that decides what goes into the basket. I can't imagine anybody looking at this. If somebody does care, it is the retailer in control.
We have formal rules here on rounding down when it is 2 cents or 1 cent. That is important for commerce to go forward.
Under this bill, the Federal Reserve would be required to issue a strategic plan for managing and limiting disruptions in the penny supply.
Recently, in August, the Senate added a new section that requires the Treasury to submit notification to the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee regarding potential plans to discontinue any coin, among other requirements. This is important because Congress plays a key role in these processes. There has been some disruption, and we need to be in a position to manage it.
My focus on the fact that we didn't need pennies arises from the fact that I used to head the second largest sales tax agency. What consumers may not know is that every time you do a transaction--last year, last decade, 20 years ago--the amount you pay the retailer is subject to rounding. There is a tax of 5 percent or 8 percent, and the amount you actually owe is $1.125, which is rounded down.
We have been rounding transactions for a long time in this country. Now, we will be rounding to the nearest nickel instead of rounding to the nearest penny.
Further, by eliminating the penny, we create extra room in the cash register where the penny used to go. That room could be used for a dollar coin. We all know that it costs more than a dollar to print a dollar and that a paper dollar wears out.
I look forward to popularizing the dollar coin. This will be a boon to our transit agencies, vending machines, and others when people use a dollar coin. Growing up, we had a dollar coin. We just called it a quarter. We had a quarter. We used it. It was worth about what a dollar is worth today.
Mr. Speaker, while I am not a big fan of the inflation that has taken place in my lifetime, I do think it is time to popularize the dollar coin. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)7:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain), the House Republican Conference chairwoman and sponsor of this bill.
Lisa C. McClain (R-MI)7:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 10167, the Common Cents Act.
This is a straightforward bill that does one commonsense thing: It stops the Federal Government from losing money on a coin that almost no one uses.
Every penny we mint costs taxpayers nearly 4 cents to make and distribute--4 cents to make just one penny. In this single year, that absurd math cost the taxpayers more than $85 million.
As a businesswoman, I can tell you no businessowner in my district would spend $4 to make $1, but that is exactly how Washington has run with the penny. It doesn't make sense.
President Trump saw the waste, and then he acted. Last November, the Mint struck the final penny. This bill writes that decision into law so no future administration can turn the presses back on.
The Mint projects $56 million in savings in just 1 year. Let me be clear: Nobody is taking away pennies you already have. The penny in your pocket, the coin sitting in your jar on the counter, that all stays as legal tender.
I introduced this bill with Congressman Robert Garcia. It is not radical. It is bipartisan. It is common sense.
Republicans and Democrats don't often agree on much in this town, but I do think we agree on this: We shouldn't be wasting $85 million a year by keeping to mint pennies.
Mr. Speaker, it is time to modernize our currency, cut the waste, and bring a little common sense back to Washington. I urge my colleagues to vote "yes."
Brad Sherman (D-CA)7:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster), the State that is the Land of Lincoln.
Bill Foster (D-IL)7:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I agree it makes perfect economic sense to retire the denomination of the penny and, in fact, reemploy the dollar coin in ordinary commerce.
As a Representative of Illinois, I cannot but mention the fact that the loss of the image of Abraham Lincoln on coins we often use is a tragedy that we can and should avert. The way to do that is to simply place the image of Abraham Lincoln on the newly minted dollar coin, a win-win every way you look at it.
Lisa C. McClain (R-MI)7:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, for the reasons I explained earlier, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Brad Sherman (D-CA)7:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore7:20 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 10167.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act of 2026
Pages H5602–H5605 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2978) to permit State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies that receive eligible Federal grant funds to use such funds for investigating elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and general financial fraud, and to clarify that Federal law enforcement agencies may assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies in the use of tracing tools for blockchain and related technology, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (8,592 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act of 2026" or the "GUARD Act of 2026".
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Elder financial fraud.--The term "elder financial fraud" means the illegal or improper use of the money, property, or other resources of an elderly individual or adult with a disability for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain.
(2) Eligible federal grant funds.--The term "eligible Federal grant funds" means funds received under any of the following:
(A) Title IV of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 30103 et seq.) (commonly known as the "Economic, High-Technology, White Collar, and Internet Crime Prevention National Training and Technical Assistance Program"), including relating to the use of technology to solve crimes and to facilitate prosecutions (commonly known as the "Internet of Things (IoT) National Training and Technical Assistance Program").
(B) Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, part 23 (commonly known as "Justice Information Sharing Training and Technical Assistance Program").
(C) Section 1401 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (34 U.S.C. 30107) to a local law enforcement agency for enforcement of cybercrimes against individuals.
(D) Section 1701 title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381), relating to developing and acquiring effective equipment, technologies, and interoperable communications that assist in responding to and preventing crime (commonly known as the "COPS Technology and Equipment Program").
(3) General financial fraud.--The term "general financial fraud" means, in order to obtain money or other things of value--
(A) intentional misrepresentation of information or identity to deceive an individual;
(B) unlawful use of a credit card, debit card, or automated teller machine; or
(C) use of electronic means to transmit deceptive information.
(4) Pig butchering.--The term "pig butchering" means a confidence and investment fraud in which the victim is gradually lured into making increasing monetary contributions, generally in the form of cryptocurrency, to a seemingly sound investment before the scammer disappears with the contributed monies.
(5) Scam.--The term "scam" means a financial crime undertaken through the use of social engineering that uses deceptive inducement to acquire--
(A) authorized access to funds; or
(B) personal or sensitive information that can facilitate the theft of financial assets.
(6) State.--The term "State" means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United States.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL GRANTS USED FOR INVESTIGATING ELDER FINANCIAL
FRAUD, PIG BUTCHERING, AND GENERAL FINANCIAL
FRAUD.
(a) In General.--State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies and grantees that receive eligible Federal grant funds may use such funds for investigating elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and general financial fraud, including by--
(1) hiring and retaining analysts, agents, experts, and other personnel;
(2) providing training specific to complex financial investigations, including training on--
(A) coordination and collaboration between State, local, Tribal, and Federal law enforcement agencies;
(B) assisting victims of financial fraud and exploitation;
(C) the use of blockchain intelligence tools and related capabilities relating to emerging technologies identified in the February 2024 "Critical and Emerging Technology List Update" of the Fast Track Action Subcommittee on Critical and Emerging Technologies of the National Science and Technology Council (the "Critical and Emerging Technology List"); and
(D) unique aspects of fraud investigations, including transnational financial investigations and emerging technologies identified in the Critical and Emerging Technology List;
(3) obtaining software and technical tools to conduct financial fraud and exploitation investigations;
(4) encouraging improved data collection and reporting;
(5) supporting training and tabletop exercises to enhance coordination and communication between financial institutions and State, local, Tribal, and Federal law enforcement agencies for the purpose of stopping fraud and scams; and
(6) designating a financial sector liaison to serve as a point of contact for financial institutions to share and exchange with State, local, Tribal, and Federal law enforcement agencies information relevant to the investigation of fraud and scams.
(b) Report to Grant Provider.--Each law enforcement agency and grantee that makes use of eligible Federal grant funds for a purpose specified under subsection (a) shall, not later than 1 year after making such use of the funds, submit to the Federal agency that provided the eligible Federal grant funds, a report containing--
(1) an explanation of the amount of funds so used, and the specific purpose for which the funds were used;
(2) statistics with respect to elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and general financial fraud in the jurisdiction of the law enforcement agency, along with an analysis of how the use of the funds for a purpose specified under subsection (a) affected such statistics; and
(3) an assessment of the ability of the law enforcement agency to deter elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and general financial fraud.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON GENERAL FINANCIAL FRAUD, PIG BUTCHERING,
AND ELDER FINANCIAL FRAUD.
No later than a year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the appropriate Federal banking agencies and Federal functional regulators, shall submit to Congress a report on efforts to combat general financial fraud, pig butchering, elder financial fraud, and scams, including an evaluation of, and any legislative recommendations to improve, the efficacy of the efforts.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON THE STATE OF SCAMS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and two years thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, shall submit a report to Congress on the state of financial fraud, pig butchering, elder financial fraud, and scams, based on information available to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, that--
(1) relies on information reported to or otherwise available to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network;
(2) analyzes trends in suspected financial fraud, pig butchering, elder financial fraud, and scams, as reflected in reports filed under subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the "Bank Secrecy Act"), including--
(A) the volume of relevant reports;
(B) the aggregate dollar amount associated with the reports;
(C) typologies and methods identified through the reports; and
(D) the role of digital assets in the reports; and
(3) summarizes activities conducted in cooperation with law enforcement, including the Rapid Response Program, during the period covered by the report, including--
(A) the number of referrals received from law enforcement;
(B) the aggregate dollar amount of funds for which interdiction was sought;
(C) the aggregate dollar amount of funds successfully interdicted or recovered; and
(D) any limitations affecting the activities, including limitations arising from reliance on law enforcement referrals.
SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Each Federal agency that provides eligible Federal grant funds that are used for a purpose specified under section 3(a) shall issue an annual report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives containing the information received from law enforcement agencies under section 3(b).
SEC. 7. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ASSISTING STATE,
LOCAL, AND TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FUSION
CENTERS.
Federal law enforcement agencies may assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies and fusion centers in the use of tracing tools for blockchain and related technology tools.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I note that although H.R. 2978 has not been reported out of Judiciary Committee, which also received a referral for the bill, the Judiciary Committee supports H.R. 2978 being considered today under suspension of the rules. I thank Chairman Jordan for his committee's support.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2978, the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act, or GUARD Act.
Financial fraud is one of the fastest-growing threats facing hardworking Americans, particularly seniors and retirees who have spent decades saving for the future. Today, sophisticated scammers are using technology to target vulnerable Americans through increasingly complex schemes.
The GUARD Act helps address this challenge by allowing State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to use existing Federal grant funding to investigate financial fraud.
This bill also gives law enforcement greater access to modern investigative tools by allowing Federal agencies to assist State and local authorities with blockchain tracing and related technologies. These tools can help law enforcement follow the money, identify bad actors, and recover funds that have been stolen from victims.
As scammers continue to develop new ways to exploit Americans, our law enforcement agencies must have the tools and information necessary to keep pace.
This bipartisan bill takes a commonsense approach by strengthening coordination between Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement, while providing the resources needed to investigate and disrupt financial fraud.
More importantly, the GUARD Act will help protect seniors and retirees who have worked hard their entire lives and deserve to be protected from predatory actors.
I thank Representatives Nunn, Fitzgerald, and Gottheimer for their leadership on this important bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2978, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Brad Sherman (D-CA)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2978, the GUARD Act, sponsored by Representatives Nunn and Gottheimer. The GUARD Act would allow State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to tap into certain Federal grant programs to support investigations into senior fraud, romance scams, and general financial fraud.
The bill would also permit Federal law enforcement to assist State and local law enforcement with tracing tools for blockchain technology. This bill is particularly important because blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, is so often used in scams, and it is the Federal Government that has the best chance--and it is only a chance--of using technology to defeat the scams and to hold those responsible accountable.
Certainly, now that we are faced with crypto scams, we need to react, and this bill is part of that reaction. This is a sensible bill that will help Americans who are losing literally billions of dollars to fraudsters and scammers.
I support this bill, but I must express a significant concern of the Democratic Caucus that should be addressed. That is the potential misinterpretation or misuse of this bill to allow agencies to siphon funds from defined grant programs for unrelated purposes.
One of the grant programs, for example, is found in the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA, which allows grants to nonprofits and local governments to provide support for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
I believe that all Members and organizations supporting this bill have no intent to deny grants or reduce grants to address domestic violence and sexual assault. This bill is not meant to be a way for the President to raid those funds.
Rather, the bill intends to augment the funds and to cover areas where GUARD Act activities overlap with the existing grant programs, such as where the victim of domestic violence is also the target of a romance scam.
I stress again that when the bill says "eligible Federal grant funds," no Member voting on this bill intends to ignore or change the purpose of existing Federal grant programs from which the GUARD Act draws.
Thus, going forward, this bill or our statutes must add clarifying language that makes it clear that VAWA and this bill's other programs are intended to combat financial fraud and abuse within the bounds of the grant programs that are listed.
Mr. Speaker, with these concerns about our intent to fix the text of the bill noted, I urge colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn), the sponsor of this bill.
Zachary Nunn (R-IA)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, every family is now impacted by this. Every American knows someone who has come into contact with an AI fraud, a pig butchering scheme, a romance theft.
Right now, criminals on the other side of the world are stealing the life savings of people in our own communities, and the local officers who answer those calls oftentimes can't even do anything about it. The money moves through digital currencies, including crypto, faster than anyone can even trace it. By the time a deputy who answers the call files a report, the life savings of that family, individual, or loved one is gone.
I will share a story of what happened in my district in rural Iowa, of all places. A farmer in Wapello County was targeted through social media by an account posing as a Russian model. Over months, this Russian woman began to earn his trust and then took him for $1 million, including farm equipment that he had to mortgage.
Over months, the people behind it further earned his trust. When they realized that he had money on his farm, in cash, they hired mercenaries on U.S. soil to drive from New York to a rural farmhouse in Iowa, where, when he refused to give up his cash, they opened fire on him. Due to this smart-thinking farmer locking himself in his barn and calling local law enforcement, his life was spared. His monetary loss was immeasurable.
Sheriff Don Phillips of Wapello and his deputies worked with Federal agents. They arrested the men who showed up that day. Out of the three, they were able to keep one. The other two ended up getting away. The people who ran the schemes, the real perpetrators of this, were far overseas. They still haven't answered for a single dollar of the more than $1 million that this farmer lost.
This is no longer a rare story. In Iowa alone last year, families lost $96 million to these types of frauds, and Americans lost as much as $200 billion. To put that in another context, the entire budget for the U.S. Army is gone in 1 year, mainly to foreign actors committing fraud on U.S. citizens. Those citizens are retirees, farmers, and families.
This is now the number one financial crime impacting families. That is why, 2 years ago, I brought together Iowa sheriffs, investigators, and local detectives and asked them what they needed to combat this rising number of scams and fraudsters targeting our communities. I am proud to say that their best ideas are now in the process of potentially becoming law with this bill, the GUARD Act.
Together, we are fighting for 21st century solutions to address criminals who are using cutting-edge technology, but we are still dealing with it built from a different era. The moment that their money crosses a State line or an ocean, they hit a wall that only the Federal Government can help them climb.
This bill aims to fix that. That is why our bipartisan bill, the GUARD Act, brings together real solutions and puts legislation in place for real-time tracing tools, including blockchain tracking, as well as Federal backup when these things happen, so that we can combat it on the front line before it becomes a national catastrophe.
It helps not only my State and local law enforcement. It helps the deputy who is just trying to help a community member follow up, identify the money, and stop it before it leaves the district or the country. Most importantly, it goes after the people running these scams.
I am grateful to AARP, financial lenders across the country, law enforcement, veterans groups, and other advocates who brought these ideas forward. This is exactly what Congress should be doing: taking and hearing concerns from our local communities and distilling them into a law that can actually help save money, save lives, and, most importantly, help people right here in our own country.
Mr. Speaker, I thank colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of the GUARD Act.
Brad Sherman (D-CA)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close if the gentlewoman from Texas also has no further speakers.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).
Daniel Meuser (R-PA)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge and thank the leadership of Congresswoman De La Cruz for seeing this bill through and my colleague, Congressman Nunn, because, as he stated, the level of importance of this is vast.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 2978, the GUARD Act. For well over a year, the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, which I chair, has led in-depth investigations into the growing prevalence of fraud and scams.
As part of our work, we conducted many hearings, roundtables, meetings with private industry, law enforcement, and regulators to investigate the problem and find solutions.
In July, we released a comprehensive staff report detailing the growth of financial fraud and scams in the U.S. Shockingly, or not so shockingly, we found that Americans lost well over $16 billion which was reported in these schemes in 2025 alone, and truly the toll was closer to well over $200 billion, as has been mentioned.
Financial fraud picks no favorites. Scams affect everyone from veterans and small businesses to seniors to young people. Everybody is vulnerable.
This report, however, included several recommendations to better address financial fraud and scams, including the passage of this bill, the GUARD Act. The important legislation addresses many of the issues we identified in equipping law enforcement with the tools necessary to combat sophisticated criminals. They are sophisticated.
It also allows law enforcement to use innovative tools to trace and recover stolen funds and improves Federal reporting on fraud trends.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Nunn for his hard work to stop fraud and scams, and I thank Chairman Hill of the Financial Services Committee for his strong leadership as well.
Mr. Speaker, I urge and thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their support.
Brad Sherman (D-CA)7:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the GUARD Act allows State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to use certain Federal grant programs to investigate senior financial fraud, romance schemes, and general financial fraud.
There are two points that I made in my earlier statement that I will reiterate. The first is that crypto has facilitated frauds and scams, and it is necessary that we give law enforcement the tools to react to that. The second is that while this is a very worthwhile bill, we do need to clarify that the GUARD Act overlaps and augments, doesn't steal from, the funds mentioned in the bill. It can help victims and survivors of domestic violence, among others, as they are targeted by fraudsters and scammers.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)7:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, for the reasons I explained earlier, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore7:40 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2978, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore7:40 p.m.
In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)7:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore7:40 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in Supervision Act
Pages H5605–H5608 · Official textFOSTERING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO UPHOLD REGULATORY EFFECTIVENESS IN SUPERVISION ACT
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8278) to require certain supervisory agencies to assess their technological capabilities, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (7,799 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in Supervision Act".
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Banking regulators continue to examine and monitor depository institutions without sufficient access to real-time information.
(2) Risk surrounding technology procurement may present challenges for updating supervisory technology.
(3) To ensure that prudential supervision is effective and sustainable in the digital age, agencies must leverage new technologies to allow for the financial monitoring necessary to preserve a safe and sound banking system.
(4) New technological tools are also necessary in order for agencies to effectively fulfill mandates other than prudential supervision, including their mandates to assure consumer protection and monitor Bank Secrecy Act compliance.
(5) Agencies' reliance on outdated technology can create vulnerabilities for the financial system, through--
(A) difficulties in collecting, compiling, and analyzing relevant information about risks and noncompliance at supervised firms;
(B) reliance on information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or not timely;
(C) reliance on limited and outdated tools for data analysis;
(D) difficulties in using data to identify risk trends;
(E) difficulties in producing accurate and timely reports;
(F) inadequacy of cybersecurity safeguards; and
(G) failure to detect illegal activities.
(6) The rapid expansion of financial firms' use of artificial intelligence may generate opportunities to improve the financial system while also introducing a range of risks, making it essential that agencies be equipped with the technology, expertise, and skills needed to analyze these opportunities and potential risks.
(7) While agencies assess their supervisory capabilities on an ongoing basis, it is imperative that there be a unified goal of enhancing supervisory technologies that ensure effective and sustainable oversight.
SEC. 3. TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES AND PROCUREMENT PRACTICES
ASSESSMENT.
(a) In General.--
(1) Technological capabilities assessment.--Each covered agency shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, assess how existing technologies used by the covered agency pose challenges to the covered agency in conducting adequate, real-time supervisory assessments of entities over which the covered agency has supervisory authority. Such technologies include, as applicable--
(A) core information technology infrastructure;
(B) technologies used to supervise entities;
(C) technologies for monitoring general market risks using reported data and external data; and
(D) technologies for data collection, storage, processing, and security.
(2) Procurement practices assessment.--Each covered agency shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section--
(A) assess the procurement rules and protocols adhered to by such covered agency when such covered agency acquires or develops new technological systems; and
(B) identify any opportunities to further streamline procurement rules and protocols, including an assessment of the impact such rules or protocols have on the ability of the covered agency to test new technological systems, that are within the covered agency's authority to streamline.
(b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the completion of the assessments required under subsection (a), and for every 5 years thereafter, the covered agencies shall coordinate and jointly submit to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, in a manner that does not pose a risk to the integrity or security of any technologies, systems, or capabilities of covered agencies, regulated entities, or market participants, a report that includes, as applicable, the following with respect to each covered agency:
(1) A general overview of hardware and software used for information gathering and advanced analytics during supervision activities, including categories of technology purchased from vendors and developed by the covered agency or contractors of the covered agency.
(2) A description of the procurement practices and protocols of the covered agency, including a description of--
(A) whether such processes are voluntarily adhered to or mandated; and
(B) any opportunities to further streamline procurement rules and protocols, including an assessment of the impact such rules or protocols have on the ability of the covered agency to test new technological systems.
(3) A general overview of the portion of the workforce of the covered agency that is engaged materially in technology development within the covered agency, including--
(A) an overview of the ability of the covered agency to recruit and retain appropriate technology experts; and
(B) a description of the degree to which the covered agency relies on contractors to design, develop, or deploy technology and perform technology-related tasks, and a description of related risk management practices for contractors and third-party technologies.
(4) A general description of the processes used by the covered agency to obtain information from entities supervised by the covered agency and any impediments thereto, including regulatory obstacles.
(5) General information about market and technology trends and risks in the underlying regulated markets including, specific to the covered agency's jurisdiction--
(A) market developments influenced by the adoption of new technologies;
(B) the use of new technologies by supervised entities for compliance and risk management purposes;
(C) the impact of new technologies on the collection and analysis of data submitted to the covered agencies by supervised entities as required by regulation, including on data quality, interoperability, and standardization; and
(D) potential risks, including risks of illicit activity, related to new technologies.
(6) A general description of the ways in which the covered agency shares information or system access with other covered agencies and any impediments thereto, including regulatory obstacles.
(7) An estimate of the costs for supervised entities to modify systems to share data with covered agencies, as appropriate.
(8) A general description of any plans of the covered agency to implement future upgrades to the technology it uses to supervise entities, including--
(A) the anticipated timeline for any planned upgrades;
(B) the costs of any planned upgrades;
(C) any impediments to procuring relevant technologies;
(D) plans for hiring and training individuals in connection with technological upgrades;
(E) any aspects of any planned upgrades that should be addressed on an interagency basis;
(F) any anticipated challenges and opportunities associated with entities supervised by the covered agency adapting to the covered agency's reporting process, including--
(i) estimates of transition costs; and
(ii) estimates of any potential cost reductions; and
(G) as applicable, the covered agency's relationships with other covered agencies in their capacity as delegated examiners.
(c) Covered Agency Defined.--In this section, the term "covered agency" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Department of the Treasury, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the National Credit Union Administration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
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 this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the CBO estimate for this bill.
Text printed in the Record (10,373 characters)
H.R. 8278, FOSTERING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO UPHOLD REGULATORY
EFFECTIVENESS IN SUPERVISION ACT, AS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
FINANCIAL SERVICES ON JUNE 24, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, millions of
dollars--
-----------------------------------
2026 2026-2031 2026-2036 ------------------------------------------------------------------------Direct Spending (Outlays)........... 0 1 1 Revenues............................ 0 * -1 Increase or Decrease (-) in the 0 1 2
Deficit............................ Spending Subject to Appropriation 0 1 **
(Outlays).......................... ------------------------------------------------------------------------* = between -$500,000 and zero. ** = not estimated.
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037? < $2.5 billion.
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037? < $5 billion.
Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply? Yes.
Mandate Effects:
Contains intergovernmental mandate? No.
Contains private-sector mandate? Yes, under threshold.
The bill would:
Require federal financial regulators to assess how their technological systems inhibit real-time supervision of regulated entities and how their procurement rules limit the testing of new technologies.
Increase the cost of an existing private-sector mandate if regulators increase annual fees to offset the cost of implementing the bill.
Estimated budgetary effects would mainly stem from:
Increases in administrative costs for federal agencies to complete assessments and reports.
H.R. 8278 would require the federal financial regulators to assess how their technological systems inhibit real-time supervision of regulated entities and how their procurement rules limit the testing of new technologies. The federal financial regulators under the bill consist of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). In addition, the bill would require those agencies to jointly report to the Congress 18 months after completing the assessments and then every five years on various issues, including their use of hardware and software, procurement practices, and information technology workforce.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 8278 would increase direct spending by $1 million, decrease revenues by $1 million, and increase the deficit by $2 million over the 2026-2036 period. In addition, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would increase spending subject to appropriation by $1 million over the 2026-2031 period.
CBO assumes that H.R. 8278 will be enacted at the beginning of fiscal year 2027. Using information about the cost of similar provisions, CBO estimates that each agency would need about two employees in 2027 and every subsequent five years, at an average annual cost of $280,000 per employee in 2027, to complete the assessments and reports.
Expenditures for the FDIC, FHFA, NCUA, and OCC are classified in the budget as direct spending. The FHFA, NCUA, and OCC collect fees from regulated entities to offset their operating costs. Those fees are recorded in the budget as offsetting receipts, that is, as reductions in direct spending. Accounting for those fees, CBO estimates that, on net, enacting H.R. 8278 would increase direct spending by $1 million over the 2026-2036 period.
The CFPB is permanently authorized to spend amounts transferred from the combined earnings of the Federal Reserve to carry out its responsibilities, subject to a statutory cap that was most recently lowered by the 2025 reconciliation act (P.L. 119-21). CBO expects that the CFPB will spend all the transferred funds up to its cap in each year over the 2026-2036 period for its current activities, so CBO does not attribute any increase in direct spending for the CFPB to legislation that increases its responsibilities.
The Federal Reserve transfers to the Treasury the income it earns in excess of its expenses; those payments, known as remittances, are recorded in the budget as revenues. Costs incurred by the Federal Reserve therefore reduce revenues. CBO estimates that H.R. 8278 would decrease revenues by $1 million over the 2026-2036 period.
Changes in costs for the Federal Reserve banks have historically resulted in changes to remittances during the same year. However, since fiscal year 2023, most Federal Reserve banks have recorded deferred assets to account for accrued net losses from expenses in excess of income. As a result, remittances have been largely suspended. In CBO's projections, those deferred assets persist for several years. CBO anticipates that most Federal Reserve banks will resume remittances by 2030 or 2031 and thus most of the effects of changes in costs before that time are reflected in the budget as changes in revenues only after that time.
CBO estimates that it would cost FinCEN $l million over the 2026-2031 period to implement the bill's requirements; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. CBO estimates that enacting the bill would increase direct spending by $1 million and decrease revenues by $1 million over the 2026-2036 period.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 8278 would not increase net direct spending by more than $2.5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 8278 would not increase on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037.
If federal financial regulators increase annual fees to
offset the costs of implementing provisions of H.R. 8278, it
would increase the costs of an existing private-sector
mandate on entities required to pay those fees. CBO estimates
that the incremental cost of the mandate would be small and
would fall well below the annual threshold established in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) for private-sector
mandates ($214 million in 2026, adjusted annually for
inflation).
The bill contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined
in UMRA.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: David Hughes (for the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network); Julia Aman (for the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration,
and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency), Zunara
Naeem (for the Federal Housing Finance Agency).
Revenues: Nate Frentz (for the Federal Reserve).
Mandates: Rachel Austin.
Estimate reviewed by: Justin Humphrey, Chief, Finance,
Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit; Kathleen
FitzGerald, Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit; H.
Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Estimate approved by: Phillip L. Swagel, Director,
Congressional Budget Office.
Ms. DE LA CRUZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 8278, the Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in Supervision Act, or the FUTURES Act.
This bipartisan, commonsense measure addresses a real challenge. As technology evolves at unprecedented speed and banks and financial firms adopt new tools, do our financial regulators have the technology and expertise they need to keep pace?
I am proud to support the FUTURES Act, led by Representatives Marlin Stutzman and Bill Foster, which takes important steps toward modernizing our Federal financial regulatory agencies.
The FUTURES Act provides Congress with a comprehensive view of the roadblocks hindering our supervisors' ability to effectively regulate and supervise their financial institutions. It does so by providing Congress with a clear picture of the technology regulators currently use, where critical gaps exist, and what barriers stand in the way of closing those gaps.
If our regulators and supervisors cannot keep pace with a constantly evolving market, there is a legitimate risk to both financial market stability and the broader economy. We must equip agencies with the tools they need to effectively oversee the ever-changing landscape of global finance. A crucial first step in doing so is to remove roadblocks, outdated agency practices, procurement barriers, and needless bureaucracy that slows the adoption of cutting-edge supervisory technology.
The FUTURES Act would identify and address these roadblocks and help enable more effective, realtime oversight of markets and institutions. This is a critical step to create a more transparent and efficient supervisory environment for financial institutions and market participants of all sizes.
The bill also takes a look at whether agencies can recruit, train, and retain the technical experts needed to meet their missions. Just as we hold our financial institutions to rigorous standards on cybersecurity and vendor oversight, we should equip our regulators to meet the same high bars.
I look forward to the insights this bill will generate and how they will guide future engagement to improve supervision across the Federal financial system.
I supported this bipartisan, commonsense bill last Congress and during our committee markup in May, and I am pleased to do so today.
All of my colleagues at the Financial Services Committee supported this bill, and I urge the rest of my colleagues in the House to join us in passing this important bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Stutzman and Mr. Foster for their leadership, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).
Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Stutzman for his partnership on this legislation and my colleagues on the House Financial Services Committee for their unanimous
support of the bipartisan FUTURES Act.
The FUTURES Act takes important first steps to modernize the financial regulatory regime and ensures that regulators have appropriate tools for the 21st century.
It requires Federal banking regulators and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to regularly review their technological systems and procurement practices to ensure that they are well-equipped to address emerging threats.
Agencies will examine whether they have access to the right information when they need it and whether they have systems in place to identify rapidly emerging risk.
The bill then asks regulators to develop a plan to address any technology gaps that they identify, requiring additional reviews every 5 years.
As we saw with the bank failures in 2023, 24-hour banking tools and social media-fueled panic can intensify bank runs and increase the risk of contagion.
Silicon Valley Bank's depositors attempted to withdraw $42 billion from the bank in 24 hours, with more than $100 billion in additional withdrawals requested before it was shut down and put into receivership by the FDIC.
This bill comes at a time when financial institutions and regulators are responding to new opportunities and challenges stemming from emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence and agentic commerce have great potential benefits for consumers and businesses, but they also have the potential to supercharge cybersecurity risk, contagion, and fraud, and can destabilize our financial system far more quickly than in years past.
At the same time, these technologies provide tools that regulators and financial institutions can use to improve and simplify bank supervision, to identify suspicious activity, and to improve the quality of customer service.
Maintenance of a well-regulated financial system requires continual investment in new tools, a workforce with the necessary technical skills, and streamlined procurement rules that allow regulators to keep up with rapid developments in the private sector.
I support this forward-looking and bipartisan bill, and I encourage my colleagues to vote "yes."
Brad Sherman (D-CA)7:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)7:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman), the sponsor of this bill.
Marlin A. Stutzman (R-IN)7:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of my bill, H.R. 8278.
Across the country, banks and credit unions are using innovative technology to deliver better products and services for their customers.
For example, banks in Northeast Indiana are using tools like artificial intelligence and real-time data analytics to spot fraud faster, better manage risk, and enhance the banking experience for Hoosiers. But too often, the regulators charged with overseeing and supervising these institutions still rely on outdated IT infrastructure from a predigital era.
This gap poses significant risks not just for our financial markets but for the entire economy.
As our banks and credit unions continue to innovate at a record pace, our regulators must have the tools to keep up.
That is where the FUTURES Act comes in.
My bill requires Federal bank and credit union regulators to assess the technology systems they use for supervision, evaluate their procurement practices, and report to Congress on where they are struggling and how they can improve.
Put simply, we can't help our regulators modernize their technology for the digital age if we don't know the challenges that they face. Whether it is talent gaps, procurement barriers, or technological blind spots, Congress needs to understand the red tape that is keeping government in the past while the financial system races into the future.
In fact, we already require this kind of information from the institutions our regulators supervise. Banks and credit unions must undergo quarterly technology reviews, internal testing, and rigorous due diligence on every vendor that they use. It is only fair that we hold their regulators to the same standard.
The FUTURES Act is a straightforward, commonsense, and bipartisan step to address the critical technology challenges facing our regulators.
This legislation was advanced unanimously by the House Committee on Financial Services, sending a clear message that both Republicans and Democrats recognize that supervision must keep pace with innovation.
I am grateful to my colleague across the aisle, Bill Foster, for co-leading this legislation with me. I also thank Chairman Hill and Chairman Steil for their continued support of this measure, as well as thanking the full committee.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)7:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Brad Sherman (D-CA)7:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 8278, the Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in Supervision Act, as amended, authored by Representative Stutzman.
I particularly note that this bill starts with the word "fostering," and so it is appropriate that it is co-led by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster). Who else could do a better job of fostering than Mr. Foster?
This bill represents an important step in allowing Congress to better understand the technological vulnerabilities our banking regulators face. They come in at least two categories. One is to understand how banks are using AI and to make sure that banks are complying with all of our consumer protection and prudential standards. The second is to make sure that our regulators are in a position to make sure the banks are able to prevent themselves from being hit by malicious actors who could imperil consumers or, even more, the prudential solvency of the bank. It is better for Congress to understand the technological vulnerabilities that bankers face.
This bill requires the Federal banking agencies to assess and to report to Congress on gaps and vulnerabilities in their supervisory tools and their procurement processes.
As AI tools continue to be deployed by financial institutions, we have to be able to make sure that our regulators understand what the banks are doing. While malicious actors are beginning to use AI, it is important for our regulators to know the threats that that could pose to our banking system.
Concerns have increased about the speed and scale of AI threats to the financial system and, as Mr. Foster pointed out, the particular threat of accelerating the speed of a run on a particular bank.
Requiring regulators to meet emerging risks by utilizing their own technology to support their supervisory rulemaking and enforcement activities is an important step. This is known as supervisory technology and can include both AI, as well as cloud-based services and other technologies. Supervisory technology is used by agencies with the goal of improving their supervision process, while ensuring firms comply with regulatory requirements.
Importantly, this bill requires Federal banking agencies to assess the procurement process rules for new technology they may need to acquire.
Now, under the Trump administration, AI has been politicized, which has created challenges for consistent procurement practices. For example, on July 23, 2025, an executive order directed agencies not to procure AI models that contain AI outputs driven by ideologies like diversity, equality, and inclusion.
This is a dangerous approach which ignores the well-documented harms from algorithmic bias in housing and financial services, the workforce, and criminal justice. It also appears to contradict our existing laws.
When the government agencies do their enforcement, they need to enforce all of our laws. When they use AI, they need to enforce all of the laws that apply to banking institutions. That includes the laws that prohibit discrimination, and those are just as important as any of the other laws that our bank supervisors might be called upon to enforce. The AI technology that they acquire should be applicable to enforcing those laws as well as the others.
Since this bill was proposed last Congress, many of the challenges we are facing with AI are now much more apparent. It seems as though every day the news and warnings about AI becomes more dire.
This bill will help Congress to better ensure that our Federal banking agencies are able to keep up with the challenges they face. But let us remember, this bill is based on last decade's big issue--how AI could be used by human beings in a way that is harmful and how AI could be used by human beings in a way that promotes the enforcement of our law, but in any case, how AI is a tool in the hands of humans beings.
Now, what has exploded into our consciousness is a second issue this bill doesn't and wasn't intended to deal with, and that should not be ignored by Congress. That is what happens if AI isn't being used by human beings to achieve a human purpose but instead develops its own self-awareness, its own goals?
It pains me that this Congress is leaving town at the end of this week, leaving town on Thursday, when we should be spending at least the next 2 weeks focused on what our national response is to being told that AI may not just be a tool in the hands of good and bad people, used well and perhaps not so well, but maybe something we haven't confronted before; and that is, in effect, a new and powerful self-directed intelligence.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working on those issues. For now, we ought to pass this bill. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)7:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Brad Sherman (D-CA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8278 is an important step to allowing Congress to better understand the technological vulnerabilities of our banking system and what is faced by our bank regulators. Requiring Federal banking agencies to assess and report to Congress on gaps and vulnerabilities in their supervisory tools and their procurement process would further efforts by our regulators to meet emerging risks.
Additionally, this bill will allow Federal banking regulators to evaluate and report on the impact of the Trump administration's executive orders, which, unfortunately, ignore well-documented harms from algorithmic bias in housing and financial services.
Ultimately, Congress would use the reporting from this bill to ensure that our banking agencies are able to keep up with the challenges that they face, including rapidly developing AI capacities and the need to make sure that our bank regulators are appropriately using AI to enforce all of our banking laws, including those that prevent discrimination.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, for the reasons I explained earlier, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson)8:00 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8278, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore8:00 p.m.
In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore8:00 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025
Pages H5608–H5609 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4646) to clarify that whistleblower protections described in section 4712 of title 41, United States Code, apply to any contract funded from amounts appropriated to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (642 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025".
SEC. 2. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS.
Section 4712 of title 41, United States Code, shall apply with respect to any contract, subcontract, grant, subgrant, or personal services contract funded using amounts appropriated to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, regardless of when the contract, subcontract, grant, subgrant, or personal services contract was executed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
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 this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 4646, the Whistleblower Protection Act, which passed with bipartisan support out of the Financial Services Committee.
Texas families are stretching every dollar right now while scammers are cashing in on taxpayer-funded programs. While Texas families play by the rules, scammers and corrupt leaders shouldn't get rewarded.
That is why I am working to stop the abuse and bring accountability back to Washington, and this bill brings us closer to that goal by strengthening whistleblower protections for those wanting to rightfully blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse in our government.
Whistleblower protections are one of the most effective tools that we have to combat waste, fraud, and abuse throughout our government. This bipartisan legislation is simple. It clarifies that whistleblower protections apply to every HUD contractor, a vital step that is necessary due to the bureaucratic implementation of congressionally enacted enhanced whistleblower protections originally passed in 2013.
When Congress initially passed these enhanced whistleblower protections in 2013, known as section 4712, it intended them to apply to both contracts awarded before these protections became law and to contracts that predated section 4712 becoming law but have since been modified.
Unfortunately, many HUD programs have contracts that are often decades long, meaning that there are still active HUD contracts that predate 2013 and do not include key protections from section 4712, leaving thousands of HUD contractors with uncertainty.
This legislation fixes that by providing much-needed clarity to HUD and ensuring that whistleblower protections apply to every HUD contractor, regardless of when a contract was signed. This is something HUD has even asked for, most recently in their fiscal year 2027 budget request to Congress.
We must never allow retaliation against people who are simply trying to act in the taxpayers' best interests, and I will never stop rooting out corruption and cutting government waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting my bill, the bipartisan Whistleblower Protection Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, preventing waste, fraud, and abuse is one thing we agree on. We have to do everything possible to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in government.
The two best tools for dealing with waste, fraud, and abuse are inspectors general, full-time independent investigators there to stop waste, fraud, and abuse, and whistleblowers, ordinary government workers who come forward to tell us what is going on.
This bill strengthens the whistleblower part of that equation, but we have to reflect on the fact that this President has gutted the first part, the inspectors general.
The whistleblower part of oversight only works when people can speak up without fear of retaliation, and that is why whistleblower protections are so important.
At HUD, the administration rolled back fair housing enforcement, stonewalled Congress from receiving critical information, and gutted tenant protections.
Whistleblowers are now the last line of defense against these harmful decisions made behind closed doors, and Congress needs to send a clear message: If you expose wrongdoing, you will be protected. You will not be punished.
Whistleblowers are how we catch waste, fraud, and abuse before they spiral. They are how we make sure that Federal housing programs actually do what Congress intended.
For that reason, I support H.R. 4646. It strengthens whistleblower protections and makes them consistent across HUD contractors without gaps and without guesswork.
Mr. Speaker, we perhaps need this bill more than ever because Republicans in the White House have fired inspectors general across Federal agencies, especially at HUD.
Mr. Trump has fired the HUD inspector general and the FHFA inspector general, including right after they said that they planned to investigate how Trump's administration was engaging in lawlessness. That is not oversight. That is obstruction of justice.
You cannot claim to protect the effort to deal with waste, fraud, and abuse if you support gutting and firing inspectors general. Of course, when you fire inspectors general and either don't have them or install people carefully selected to turn a blind eye, you increase the likelihood of waste, fraud, and abuse.
This bill, at least, deals with that second part of the effort. We need inspectors general. We also need whistleblower protection. This bill will provide additional protection for whistleblowers.
This bill is an important step, perhaps made more necessary by the President's outrageous firing of inspectors general. For that reason, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4646.
Protecting whistleblowers is not a partisan issue. Doing all we can to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse is not a partisan issue. When employees can safely report waste, fraud, and abuse, government programs work better for everyone. H.R. 4646 strengthens those protections consistently across HUD and its contractors, and it deserves our support.
We also need to turn our attention to the need for truly independent inspectors general. HUD may not have confirmed leadership in place, but that progress means little while this administration continues to sideline accountability elsewhere, leaving key agencies understaffed and underresourced.
Let us pass this bill today, and let us then focus our efforts on the need for truly independent inspectors general, particularly at HUD and FHFA. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)8:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing.
Mr. Speaker, for the reasons I explained earlier, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore8:10 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4646, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore8:10 p.m.
In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)8:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore8:10 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
Removal of Name of Member as Cosponsor of H.r. 10076
Page H5609 · Official textMr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Goodlander) as a cosponsor of H.R. 10076.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
MAKING IN ORDER AT ANY TIME CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES 93, DIRECTING THE PRESIDENT, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c) OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION, TO REMOVE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES...
Page H5609 · Official textTHE PRESIDENT, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c) OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION, TO REMOVE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES WITH IRAN
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider H. Con. Res. 93 in the House if called up by the chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or his designee, that the concurrent resolution be considered as read, and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution to adoption without intervening motion except for 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by Representative Mast of Florida and Representative Moulton of Massachusetts or their respective designees.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
DIRECTING THE PRESIDENT, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c) OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION, TO REMOVE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES WITH IRAN
Pages H5609–H5615 · Official textDIRECTING THE PRESIDENT, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c) OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION, TO REMOVE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES WITH IRAN
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of September 14, 2026, I call up the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 93), directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the concurrent resolution is considered read.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (741 characters)
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack provided that the President complies fully with the requirements of section 5(b) the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)) with respect to any such use of the Armed Forces, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The concurrent resolution shall be debatable for 1 hour, equally divided and controlled by Representative Mast of Florida and Representative Moulton of Massachusetts or their respective designees.
The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we are here today to discuss the resolution again asking for the President to "remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally."
I have spoken at length on this floor about Iranian threats, what they have been doing to the United States of America for the last 50 years or the last 50 months, the people that they have killed, the attacks that they have levied against us.
Mr. Speaker, I would love to hear from my colleagues, the authors, and the cosponsors of this legislation what do they think that we are defending the United States of America from? Again, I have spoken at length about it.
I would love to know, do they see a threat? Do they see no threat?
More specifically, about the letter of this law, the letter of this bill, what is it that the sponsors want removed? That is what it says: "Remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally."
What is it that you want removed? Do you want us to remove refueling aircraft so they cannot support Israel or Saudi Arabia?
Do you want us to remove our amphibious ready groups?
Shall we remove our MV-22 Ospreys, our Chinooks, our heavy-lift helicopters, our attack helicopters or our utility helicopters?
What about our Air Force and our naval aviation? What would you like removed there?
We have veterans from the Marine Corps, Army brothers, Army Rangers, others over here that I am guessing are here to speak about what they want removed from this space.
Do you want F-15s removed, F-15 Eagles? Do you want F-16 Falcons removed? Do you want F-35A or B removed or do you want them to remain? How about F-18 Super Hornets?
What is it that you want out of there? That is what you are asking for: "Remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally."
What about our KC-135 Stratotankers or our Pegasus? What about our command presence? What is it that you want removed?
This is your resolution.
Do you want signals intelligence, electronic warfare, jamming maritime surveillance, ground surveillance removed? What is it that you want removed?
What about in terms of long-range precision strike capabilities? Would you like our carrier-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles removed from the space?
Do you want our air-launched precision weapons, our ground-launched precision fires, our ship-launched precision systems removed? What is it that you want removed? Do you want JDAMs removed?
What about in terms of drones? What is it that you want to remain or want removed? How about one-way attack drones, small commercial-style UAVs, larger reconnaissance-strike UAVs?
What personnel do you want removed? Because that is what this is calling for, removing all U.S. Forces.
Do you want logistics personnel removed? Intelligence? Maintenance? Medical? Communications? Headquarters command and control personnel? What do you want removed?
Do you want marines at our embassies removed?
Do you want pararescue jumpers removed?
Do you want us to remove some or all of our Patriot missile batteries from the area?
Can we destroy a missile but not destroy a launcher?
What is it that you want to take place?
Is all of this just because you do not want a naval blockade around Iran? Or is that not it?
I would ask that you be clear because I would love to hear from you exactly what forces you are demanding be removed.
To the sponsor of our bill, I would quote Representative Moulton: "We have to acknowledge that Iran is a threat to American interests."
To continue that quote--in fact, a brother in arms, and other brothers in arms over there, to continue that quote: "I fought Iranians on the ground in Iraq in 2004. It was bloody. We won. And if necessary, I will fight Iran again."
Iran was attacking us then, as you spoke about, and Iran has been attacking us at all points between that moment and now. I have spoken about it at length on this floor. I have submitted for the Record the ships they have attacked and the servicemembers that they killed long before Epic Fury.
They are continuously fighting us. They are a continuous, ongoing threat to the United States and a continuous threat to our allies. That had not stopped until a memorandum of understanding, and then they decided to resume attacks again.
So my question is, again, to the letter of this resolution: What is it that you want removed as you wrote this bill demanding?
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Seth Moulton (D-MA)8:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to briefly respond to the remarks from my colleague from Florida.
The gentleman from Florida has asked two basic questions. The first is: Is Iran a threat?
The second is: What troops or materiel should be removed?
There is actually a very simple answer. He answered the first one himself by quoting me when I have in the past many times said that Iran is a serious threat.
The second question: What should be removed? Also has a very simple answer. We should remove the troops and materiel that are going towards a war that has not only failed but backfired. These are troops and materiel that are depleting resources needed elsewhere in the globe. That is a very simple answer to the gentleman's question, which I will be happy to detail later.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks).
Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)8:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Representative Moulton's Iran War Powers Resolution.
We are 7 months into a war of choice that President Trump said would only last 4 to 6 weeks. American families have paid over $100 billion more for gasoline and diesel, roughly $800 more per household, while gas averages more than $4 a gallon and diesel is near $6.
This resolution closely follows my resolution, H. Con. Res. 86, which passed both the House and the Senate. That resolution made clear what the Constitution makes clear: Congress, not the President, has the power to decide when the United States goes to war.
This Congress has not authorized a war with Iran, and yet this administration has kept our troops in harm's way, without a declaration of war, without an authorization from Congress, and without any plan for how to win or end the war.
Congress has already acted. H. Con. Res. 86 passed both Chambers, directing the President to remove U.S. Forces from hostilities with Iran, and in July, the House again passed H. Con. Res. 89 with the same message, a simple message: End this war.
It is important that we do so again.
I have also introduced a binding resolution demanding Speaker Johnson take legal action to defend congressional authority. When Congress' constitutional authority is challenged, this institution has an obligation to defend its own prerogatives.
The administration hasn't just continued to wage this illegal war in direct violation of the Constitution, it has done so while Americans bear the costs: 19 fallen servicemembers and more than 750 servicemembers wounded, extended troop deployments, and billions of dollars in additional spending.
The President's mismanagement of this war has hurt America's ability to prepare for future threats.
I ask this body a simple question: Are Americans better off now than before this war started?
Are we safer? Are we more secure?
Has this war produced any of the results the administration promised the American people?
The administration has yet to demonstrate that 7 months of war have produced a lasting strategic resolution to the threats posed by Iran. The Strait of Hormuz remains a source of enormous risk to global energy markets, and Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, despite what the administration claims, clearly remain.
One only needs to ask our Gulf partners who continue to bear the brunt of Iran's missile and drone attacks.
This war has been a strategic failure. What is left are depleted weapons stockpiles and a tab of more than $100 billion that taxpayers will have to cover, while families continue to pay more for gas, groceries, and electricity.
Let me be clear: This should not be a partisan question. It is a constitutional one. It is a vote about whether Congress still believes that the power to decide when this Nation goes to war belongs to the Congress, as the Constitution provides.
Our servicemembers deserve clear objectives. Their families deserve accountability, and the American people deserve a Congress willing to exercise its constitutional authority.
Let me remind this body that the House Foreign Affairs Committee has still not held a single public hearing with an administration official on this war, the committee charged with matters of war and peace, zero hearings. Our constituents did not send us here to be a rubber stamp for any administration.
We cannot bomb our way out of this war. We need dialogue and diplomacy with our allies and adversaries alike. We need real diplomats at the table, not real estate developers who are in over their heads.
We, this body, need to hold this administration accountable.
I ask my colleagues to uphold the oath that we all took. Join us and make clear, once again, that this President cannot wage war without our consent.
The American people have made it abundantly clear they do not want and they do not support this war. We should stand with them and not Donald Trump.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)8:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would first respond to my colleague, the ranking member, about hearings that we have had. He has heard me say this before. He lived it. We had Secretary Rubio not too long ago. The ranking member left halfway through the hearing never to return. He didn't want to hear from Secretary Rubio. Some of his members took their time to talk about Secretary Rubio's shoes. That was their opportunity to hear from the administration at the highest levels, to talk a little bit about the threat of Iran.
I could use any window of time. I could identify hundreds of attacks in just the 30 months before Epic Fury, or I could identify hundreds more in the last 30 years.
I am going to use the window of time to identify a few, since my colleague, the marine, Representative Moulton, made the comments that I quoted earlier.
In January 2020, 109 U.S. troops suffered attack and injuries after an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. That was just one attack that took place in that ongoing window of time.
In March of '23, an Iranian drone attack killed an American contractor and wounded five U.S. servicemembers and another contractor in a strike on a coalition base in Syria.
In October of '23, Iran-backed terrorists, of course, as everybody is well aware, killed 46 Americans and kidnapped at least 12 Americans in the October 7 genocidal massacre.
In January of '24, Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists killed 3 U.S. servicemembers and wounded more than 40 other servicemembers in a drone attack at Tower 22: Sergeant Rivers, Sergeant Sanders, and Sergeant Moffett.
In November of '24, an Iranian national and IRGC asset was charged with plotting to assassinate President Trump.
I have more. The list goes on and on. These are just some of the many attacks that I could list since Representative Moulton made the quote that I spoke about, where he is talking about his service and before Epic Fury began.
This is the continual threat, the imminent threat that Iran is and has been. They attack the United States of America every single chance they get. They attack in the Strait of Hormuz--not just the United States of America but any country going through there--every chance they get. This is just the first time that the United States of America has said enough is enough, that we will not tolerate this any longer.
That same entity that has been attacking us endlessly for all of these years will not be an entity that is allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Why? Because, at best, they now have the capability to hold the entire Gulf hostage because they have a nuclear weapon, and, at worst, they are an entity that does what they have been doing: utilize every asset at their disposal to attack the United States of America and our allies.
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken for a few minutes, and Ranking Member Meeks spoke for a few minutes. I don't know if we have come to that time where my colleague on the other side is happy to detail the pieces of equipment that he wants removed from the battle space, as he mentioned. As is the letter of this resolution, he wants to remove these U.S. forces from hostilities. I am hoping that now is that later time that the Representative will detail what he wants removed.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Seth Moulton (D-MA)8:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Florida delivered a comprehensive list of many of the threats that Iran has presented to us in the past. I have not heard any Democrat, myself or otherwise, debate those threats.
The question is: Is Iran a threat today? I think my colleague would agree that they are.
The second question is: Is Iran more of a threat today than they were before this war began? I think anyone with common sense would agree that they are.
Never before has Iran controlled the world economy, brought the world economy to its heels, by closing the Strait of Hormuz as a result of this war not only failing but backfiring.
If we are serious about the threat, then we ought to have a serious strategy to address it. We ought to have a strategy that actually works, whereas this strategy has failed.
I stand here today with my colleagues to do what Congress failed to do for us and our brothers- and sisters-in-arms in Iraq two decades ago: to actually ask tough questions as the Constitution directs us to do--rather than be subservient to another war-mongering administration--and then have the courage to vote to end a war that should never have begun.
I joined over 100,000 other young Americans 23 years ago in invading Iraq in the spring, and we came home to a victory parade in the fall, a victory parade not long after President Bush landed on an aircraft carrier and declared: Mission Accomplished.
We all know it wasn't a victory in 2003, far from it. We were still fighting that Middle Eastern war 20 years later. Mr. Speaker, 4,492 U.S. servicemembers were killed in Iraq, and 32,292 were wounded. Iraq civilian casualties stretched into the hundreds of thousands.
Congress failed to ask the most basic question it owed those families: Was this worth it? It is the same question we are failing to ask today, Mr. Speaker.
That is the price of a war that Congress refused to stop. It is a price that Republicans in Congress are choosing right now to let another generation start paying.
Our President declares victory a couple of times a week--well over 30 times so far--and doesn't dare to try to land a plane on an aircraft carrier to do so. Our carriers can't even land themselves in ports for resupply because our allied ports are now in too much danger of an Iranian attack. We have made our allied ports less safe in the very Gulf where we are fighting this war.
What a remarkably dumb war--dumb. Dumb, you say? Well, let's discuss for a minute what this war has achieved--not using independent metrics, not Democratic metrics, but the very metrics the President has used since day one.
We will start with oil. Well, oil prices are up. We are all paying more at the pump and more in the stores for goods shipped with oil. Good for Iran. Bad for us.
Iran's nuclear program is still intact. In fact, it is more than intact since the President just started talking about yet more strikes against a nuclear program that he and Secretary Hegseth said was obliterated. They were lying, or Iran is rebuilding. Either way: Good for Iran. Bad for us.
Of course, we don't know as much detail on their nuclear program as we once did when we had weapons inspectors and 24/7 electronic monitoring in Iran under President Obama. Trump got rid of those safeguards. Good for Iran. Bad for us.
What about projecting power? We hear a lot about Iran projecting power and what a problem this is in the Middle East and even right here at home, where, as my colleague mentioned, Iran is trying to assassinate officials--officials that the President removed protection from as if to encourage Iran. This measure is truly remarkable because Iran is projecting more power than Iran has ever projected in the history of the world. Never before has the Islamic republic singlehandedly leveraged the entire world economy. Another thing good for Iran; bad for us.
What about ballistic missiles? We were told their ballistic missiles were eliminated. It only took about $30 billion of our American taxpayer dollars to supposedly do so. Then we learned a matter of weeks later that they still have a lot of missiles and are recovering more. We haven't even begun to talk about the drones that have inflicted more damage than their missiles.
Here is the real kicker. While we were bombing their missiles with only moderate effectiveness, President Trump actually lifted the sanctions on Iran--lifted the sanctions on our adversary that they have admitted is a serious threat to the United States in the middle of a war. They kill a bunch of Americans, and we lift the sanctions? That is quite a strategy.
That alone gave Iran a gift of about $10 billion. Well, you know what? You can buy a lot of ballistic missiles for $10 billion. You don't even need to worry about your industrial base. In fact, you can buy Russian or Chinese ballistic missiles that are more sophisticated than what Iran already has. Yet again: Good for Iran. Bad for us.
Of course, the Strait of Hormuz is still closed. A reminder: The strait was open, and has been open in the entire history of the Islamic Republic, before Trump declared victory. It is truly remarkable. Good for Iran; bad for us.
What about their navy? We supposedly obliterated that, too. Yet, we can't open the strait. Any allied tankers require heavy naval escorts, and no art of the deal has gotten Iran to budge.
Any military planner, had the administration asked a single one of them, would have told you Iran could close the strait. It is still effectively closed. Good for Iran; bad for us.
How about their air defenses? We obliterated those, too, shortly before Iran shot down one of our Apache helicopters. Over two decades in Afghanistan, a war my colleague knows well and for which he has seriously sacrificed, and not a single Apache was shot down. Yet, after we supposedly obliterated their air defenses, we lose one to Iran. Good for Iran; bad for us.
What about regime change? That was the stated objective of the President from day one. Now, I want to be a fair arbiter, as we all should in Congress. So on this one count I will give the administration credit. They did achieve regime change. They took out an 86-year-old religious zealot in failing health, who had a fatwa against producing nuclear weapons, and replaced him with someone in his fifties, who is apparently even more committed to their nuclear program, alongside a military government that so far seems more effective than the religious government it replaced. So Trump got regime change. It has just been good for Iran; bad for us.
All of this translates to one sad, embarrassing but unavoidable conclusion: Iran is winning, and America is losing. We didn't get rid of the threat. We empowered it. If that is not dumb, Mr. Speaker, I don't know what is.
Remember when Donald Trump said this war would last just a few weeks? Well, it has been over 6 months and counting.
In April, Pete Hegseth stood at a podium and proudly declared a capital V military victory. He said the United States had achieved every single objective. He said that America's objectives were unchanged, on target, and on plan. Yet, as I have just detailed, it seems like we have achieved Iran's objectives quite effectively for them.
Those were Hegseth's terms. He declared victory on them. Really? Well, here's a question for Secretary Hegseth and for every Republican who has taken his word for it since: If we already won, then why is Iran still in control of the Strait of Hormuz? If we already won, why are gas prices still climbing? Why are diesel prices at historic highs, the highest ever? What an achievement.
If we already won, why are our troops still getting hurt 6 months after Hegseth stood up before the American people and declared this victory was won?
If we already won, why does Iran's nuclear program still exist? Compare the state of Iran's nuclear program today to what President Obama achieved with the Iran nuclear deal. Ninety-eight percent of Iran's uranium stockpile was gone. Enrichment was capped at a level so low that it could not be weaponized. The Strait of Hormuz was open, and zero American troops were killed and zero were wounded. All that, and no war was required.
All of this losing that Trump and Hegseth have been doing comes at a tremendous cost: 18 U.S. servicemembers killed.
At $100 billion and counting, that translates to an additional $602 for every American taxpayer on average. How many Americans, how many constituents of mine or the Congressman from Florida, want to be paying $602 in taxpayer money to lose a war in Iran?
Now, I am saying all this standing here in Congress. Mr. Speaker, how about we stand up for our troops and our citizens for a change rather than perpetuating a war that, by all these measures, on the administration's own terms, is good for Iran and bad for us?
I think it is time to get some common sense, stop taking Trump and Hegseth at their word, find the courage to follow the Constitution and act as our own branch of government, end this war before it gets worse, and stop doing more for Iran than we are doing for us.
Our job is to help America, Mr. Speaker, not help Iran.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)8:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
My colleague said: Good for Iran; bad for the U.S. Good for Iran; bad for the U.S. He went back and forth. The best thing for Iran are Representatives that are going to deny that Iran was killing Americans.
To quote my colleague, literally just now, after I just identified to him Sergeant Rivers, Sergeant Sanders, Sergeant Moffett killed at Tower 22 by the hand of Iran, he literally just told us: zero Americans killed. Somebody that is treating our servicemembers, their sacrifice like that, that is the best thing for Iran.
The best thing for Iran are those that have this idea that: Well, you know what? Iran has been attacking us for all these years, but if we bring that to an end, they might fight back. People that are scared of Iran fighting back when we stopped them, that is the best thing for Iran.
My colleague opened up by saying: Nobody on this floor is denying that Iran has been a threat. You don't have to look any further than immediately to your left. In one of the previous debates my colleague was discussing, he has seen no imminent threat from Iran. Ranking Member Meeks argued on this floor literally numerous times: no imminent threat from Iran.
Even though all of these Members, both Republican and Democrat, came to the floor of the House and literally took a vote to say--Representative Moulton did not vote in favor of this, but many did--use any and all means necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Why? Why would that be a vote that overwhelmingly the floor of the House would vote in favor of? It is because of the extreme, imminent threat that Iran proved themselves to be each and every day.
The dozens of times a month that Iran attacks the United States of America, month in, month out, regardless of the year, that is why everybody overwhelmingly took a vote to say: Use any and all means to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The best thing for Iran are Representatives that are going to come to this floor, forget that they took a vote to prevent Iran by any means from obtaining a nuclear weapon, because it is politically convenient for them to do so.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Seth Moulton (D-MA)8:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I will respond briefly to my colleague from Florida. My colleague has made a very convincing case, Mr. Speaker, for why we ought to have a strategy or use means necessary to actually defeat the threat from Iran, not a strategy that has backfired and empowered them.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crow).
Jason Crow (D-CO)8:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Moulton for his leadership on this.
I want to highlight a different component to this. There is a debate around imminent threat. Very clearly, in my opinion and in the opinion of most folks, there is no imminent threat. In fact, the administration itself has stopped even trying to show that, which I think is a clear illustration that there never was one and there isn't one.
Beyond the debate on this floor, one of the things that gets lost, and the important thing that gets lost, is the people who actually get to make this decision are the American people. The genius of our system is that it is Americans who get to decide matters of war and peace, through the Representatives in this body.
For 25 years now, America has been in endless conflict. There have been threats that have come and threats that have gone. The answer can't be that whenever there is a threat, instantly it means we have to go to war. That is the logic on the other side: threat equals war. If a threat pops up, you go to war.
That can't possibly be the logic. If that is the case, then we will be at war forever. We will spend another $3 trillion in addition to the $3 trillion we have already spent. Regardless of the nature of the threat posed, the answer always will be to send our military. Americans know that is not tenable, in fact.
What is the accountability mechanism? The accountability mechanism is that Americans are in the driver seat because Americans are the ones that have to do the fighting, do the dying, and pay for this. It is not the elites and the pedigreed folks in this administration that are fighting and dying. They are banging the war drums and sending working-class kids like us to go do it.
Why are the Republicans so desperate to avoid even voting on this? Why have they literally canceled votes this year to avoid voting on this? Because they know that Americans don't want it. Republicans and Democrats alike don't want it.
President Trump himself used to know that. I don't know what happened, but he campaigned on this. He went around the country and said, let's stop the endless wars. Let's pull out. Let's focus back home. He was right about that. Then he became President and turned his back on the American people and on the very promise he made.
Let's have these votes. Let's let people know where we stand, then go home, stand in front of our constituents, and answer the tough questions. Why send your taxpayer money? Why send your sons and daughters to go do it?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Knott)8:50 p.m.
The time of the gentleman has expired.
Jason Crow (D-CO)8:50 p.m.
That is why we are here.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)8:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as I pointed out to the author of the bill that he need only look to his left to see somebody who totally disagreed. There are people that are down here denying that there is any threat posed by Iran. There is not agreement. It is something that, again, the floor of the House voted and said, use any and all means necessary to prevent them from having a nuclear weapon. You have people who can't even acknowledge that they are a threat.
It was said that we can't just go out there and wage war every time a threat just pops up. Iran is not a threat that just popped up. Iran is not some poorly funded militia. It is a country of 92 million people that has been putting every bit of spare currency into creating terrorist groups, funding military, developing nuclear weapons, and continually working to control and threaten the Strait of Hormuz. That is not a new thing.
Let's bring something new into this conversation. You take a company like Lloyds of London or some other big insurance company. They, literally, are out there writing policies for years, not just since Epic Fury, but for years, for every ship going in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, on their way in and on their way out.
Why are they writing these catastrophic risk insurance policies for every ship going in and every ship going out? They do so because of the threat that Iran has been demonstrating day in and day out, week in and week out, month in and month out, every single year.
There is a forever war. President Trump is absolutely against forever wars. That is what he is ending. Iran has been waging war forever against the United States of America. The forever of this regime, they have been waging war against the United States of America. It comes to an end in only one way: us bringing it to an end. That is what the United States of America is working to do.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Seth Moulton (D-MA)8:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I detailed how on so many counts--oil, nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and regime change that we are worse off today than we were when this war started, but I thank my colleague from Florida for bringing up another one, which is insurance rates.
I ask my colleague: Are insurance rates higher or lower to go through the Strait of Hormuz today than they were 5, 10, or 50 years ago? Everyone knows, Mr. Speaker, it is worse.
Then my colleague said, well, that is why we need to end this forever war. How is that going? What are we up to, 40 times that President Trump has said the war is ending. I would like to see the day.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).
Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL)8:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, as we have this debate and talk about the lack of strategy of this administration, I am reminded of Sun Tzu in the book, "The Art of War" where he wrote: The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side. He continued, more than 2,000 years ago, saying: The one with many strategic factors in his favor is the one who wins.
We all agree that Iran, the regime in Iran, is an intolerable threat to the United States, our Gulf allies, Israel, Europe, and much of the rest of the world. We agree that Iran must never ever have a nuclear weapon.
Before President Trump launched the current war with Iran, we had four goals: eliminate Iran's nuclear program; thwart Iran's missiles, rockets, and drone capabilities; dismantle Iran's terror support network; and address the regime's human rights abuses.
Two hundred days later, having lost 19 servicemembers with more than 800 wounded and dangerously depleting our weapons stockpiles, Iran is still pursuing its nuclear program. It still has missiles, rockets, and drones. It is still threatening the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf States, and Israel. It is still supporting its terrorist proxies, oppressing its citizens, and violently suppressing dissent.
After 200 days of war, none of the four original goals are realized, and we have added a fifth: reopening the Strait of Hormuz to public shipping. After 200 days, we have had no hearings in this body and no substantive debate.
Our Constitution is clear: Our Framers gave only Congress the power to declare war and commit our troops to extended conflict. The President is, indeed, the Commander in Chief, but that authority does not create or erase the role and responsibility of our legislative branch.
Before we ask more American servicemembers to risk their lives and the American people to take on more sacrifice, Congress and the American people deserve to know the administration's military objectives and how we intend to achieve them.
That is why this War Powers Resolution exists. President Trump has a responsibility to come before Congress, and Congress, this Congress, has a responsibility to hold open hearings, public debate, and a vote.
Mr. Speaker, if we allow any President, Republican or Democrat, to take our Nation into an open-ended war without congressional authorization or a basic explanation to the American people, we establish a dangerous precedent that will outlast this conflict and this administration.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)8:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague said at the end of his comments that he would like to see the day that this war comes to an end. I don't think my colleague wants to see that day because, again, my colleague brought forward a resolution today saying remove any of these forces that are engaged with Iran from the area. Those are not the exact words, but that is basically what it says.
I have yet to see the identification of which forces my colleague wants out of there. It was promised. I haven't heard it, but I don't think that they want to see that day.
The strategy, one of many that is taking place, as you probably heard Secretary Rubio state: They fire at one of our ships, we destroy one of theirs. That is a change from what has taken place. They attack the United States of America or our interests or our allies, we respond.
That is the change. Not everybody has the stomach to respond to threats. That is just the world we live in. Few are capable, and few are willing.
This administration has the stones to say that Iran has been attacking us endlessly, this comes to an end. They attack us. We destroy them. They attack us. We destroy them. My colleague would capture that as good for Iran, but the truth is it is anything but good for Iran.
What took place against Iran? Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo destroyed. There were 13,000 targets struck, 2,000 command-and-control targets defeated, 1,450 defense- and industrial-based targets destroyed, 1,500 air defense targets destroyed, 700 mine systems destroyed, 800 attack drones destroyed, 600 naval targets destroyed, 450 ballistic missile targets destroyed, 1,000 incoming attack drones intercepted, 700 ballistic missile threats intercepted. The list goes on and on. None of that is good for Iran.
Every single one of those that Iran has done, whether since Epic Fury or before, was intended to indiscriminately kill any civilian that they can, not just military targets but anybody that they can hit. Just like October 7 was to indiscriminately kill anybody that they can, not just military targets but anybody, civilian or otherwise.
That is what Iran's aim has been dozens of times a month, and that is what the United States of America is bringing to an end, whether by their willingness to leave their ways or when they are no longer capable to do so. That is the way that this ends for Iran.
It does take a strong stomach to do that. It does take individuals that are willing to acknowledge there were U.S. servicemembers that were killed before Epic Fury. If you are not recognizing that very serious and simple fact, then you are not understanding the threat of Iran and have no business dealing with it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Seth Moulton (D-MA)9:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, before my colleague launched into a Westmoreland-like list of targets, which has nothing to do with whether or not we are actually winning this war, he talked about the President having the stomach to go to war, maybe the stomach to end it.
I would ask my colleague, who is the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, when we are going to find the stomach in Congress to just hold a hearing on this war? That shouldn't be a very high bar. Yet, the chairman hasn't reached it.
Why is it that the Republicans in Congress will literally cancel votes before they have a vote on the most important responsibility that we have?
If the end is truly in sight for this war, then why, as I have detailed on every single measure, is it getting worse and the threat is increasing?
Yes, Iran has been a threat for a really long time, and that is why we should have a strategy that ends the threat, not further empowers Iran.
Yes, Americans have been killed in the past by Iran. The question is will more Americans be killed in the future? I think we all know, sadly, what that answer is today.
Mr. Speaker, the Constitution delegates to Congress no more important responsibility than deciding when to send the best of America, our young Americans, to war--decisions that make our families more or less safe here at home.
The unmistakable conclusion of this debate is that Iran is sadly better off today, more empowered today than they were before this began, this unconstitutional, illegal, dumb war that has truly not just failed but backfired. Doubling down with wars escalating follows the precedent set by other forever wars in the Middle East.
We haven't even talked about the greatest threat in the world today, which is not Iran, but Xi Jinping in China. As we take more and more assets away from deterring China, away from deterring Russia, which is inching closer and closer to starting a war with NATO in Europe, it is a gift to Putin and Xi Jinping, a gift.
This war has been a tactical failure and a strategic disaster. We are not better off than we were before, and that is why we need to bring it to an end.
But, most fundamentally, we ought to have the courage or, as my colleague says, the stomach to debate it, to talk about it, to not continually try to put off these votes, but to have the courage to vote on these resolutions for the American people, the constituents that we represent, and then go home and ask them--constituents in Florida, constituents in Massachusetts, and military families all across the world--whether this is worth it, whether a war that we are losing is worth their sacrifice, worth their taxpayer dollars.
Let's have the courage to take that vote and then answer to our constituents, because our troops, our families, and the American citizens deserve nothing less.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)9:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore9:00 p.m.
The gentleman from Florida has 11\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)9:00 p.m.
I don't think I am going to need 11\1/2\ minutes, but I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to begin by answering some of my colleague's questions. When will we find the stomach in Congress to hold hearings on this war? I mentioned it already. The Committee on Foreign Affairs not too long ago held a hearing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ranking member, as I pointed out, was walking out of the room, not wanting to stay and respond. He left midway through the hearing and didn't even want to stay to hear Secretary of State Rubio.
We have held hearings. Democrats, unfortunately, wasted a lot of their time trying to make quips about Secretary Rubio's shoes and other silly things really unbefitting members of that committee.
This resolution, in my opinion, is designed for two things. I don't believe it to be serious. I have seen the same language numerous times now. It is designed for political points. This is a resolution stating remove all of these forces from hostilities. I gave you a comprehensive list of forces, but you can't tell me one that you want removed. That is just political theater.
You are just saying you want something done, and either you haven't thought through what you actually want done or there is really nothing you want done. You just want to pretend and say it. That is political.
I think the second point of this resolution is to destroy our ability to pressure the Iranian regime by removing any offensive capabilities that we have in the region. I don't think they want an ability for us to go out there and say: We are going to hold this blockade over Iran because Iran has been attacking our ships, not just in the year 2026, but in the years 2025, 2024, and 2023, and well beyond. I have given the list on this floor numerous times of hundreds of attacks just in the 30 months before Epic Fury even took place.
Sometimes the only choice you have is you are going to hit back.
There have been a lot of questions asked on this floor. What I would like to know is: When are my Democrat colleagues going to have the stomach to hit back against an enemy that has been hitting us? Because, apparently, you don't have it.
You are unwilling to do so, and you are willing to come to the floor of the House and say things so untruthful, such as that there weren't any Americans killed prior to Epic Fury, to quote my colleague on the other side of the aisle, when just before that, I identified to my colleague three U.S. servicemembers who were killed, Sergeant Rivers, Sergeant Sanders, and Sergeant Moffett, and a list of hundreds who were injured by Iranian attacks.
All of those things were ignored so that they could say that there was nobody killed. Why ignore those things? Why ignore something so serious as servicemembers, our brothers and sisters, our brothers-and sisters-in-arms, being killed? Why ignore that? It is because it doesn't fit the political narrative. That is a sad thing.
I have the stomach to hit back our enemies. Some of my colleagues don't. That is the question on the floor here: Do you have the stomach to hit back our enemies, or are you going to throw up the flag of surrender and say: Remove these forces.
We don't know what they are. We don't know what they are doing. We don't know the capabilities that they bring. We don't know the increased danger that it puts other forces in to remove them. We don't know anything about it, but remove them because it is politically expeditious, instead of having the stomach to go out there and seek and destroy the enemies of the United States of America, as we trained to do.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore9:10 p.m.
All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the previous question is ordered on the concurrent resolution.
The question is on adoption of the concurrent resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the noes appeared to have it.
Seth Moulton (D-MA)9:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore9:10 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.
Recognizing Ricky Parks
Page H5615 · Official text(Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, Ricky Parks of Rocky Mount is a true servant whose life has been defined by duty, courage, and selfless service.
Ricky was honored with a special quilt, "A Thin Blue Line," from the Tar River Peacemakers Quilting Guild, honoring his service to the community, eastern North Carolina, and our State.
He was also instrumental in helping to start the Ride of Honor in Nash County, which honors our veterans.
For more than 37 years, Ricky has served in law enforcement, mostly on patrol. His commitment to public service continued when he was appointed marshal of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Through every chapter of his life, Ricky has answered the call to serve.
I thank Ricky and his wife, Rebecca, for a lifetime of service, and I congratulate them on being great Americans.
Recognizing Trucker Appreciation Week
Pages H5615–H5618 · Official text(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Ms. Hageman of Wyoming was recognized until 10 p.m. as the designee of the majority leader.)
Mr. Speaker, I am here and we have gathered this evening to talk about Trucker Appreciation Week.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the unsung heroes who spend their days hauling the American Dream across our Nation's highways.
America's truckers are the men and women who keep America moving. They drive for hours on end to make sure that our shelves are stocked. They rush in to deliver lifesaving supplies when disaster strikes. They keep our industries running by delivering the raw materials needed to build our country. Simply put, truckers are the reason Americans have and continue to live in an era of unprecedented prosperity.
Unfortunately, our truckers face challenges from the lingering consequences of years of open borders and political leaders who flooded the Nation's highways with unqualified, foreign drivers who undercut our homegrown American labor. These new foreign drivers not only undermine wages and opportunities for American truckers but exacerbate the shortage of infrastructure to keep our goods moving.
Worst of all, however, are the deadly crashes caused by these unqualified drivers who have been killing Americans, all of which have been made possible by the intentional decision of some to disregard commonsense Federal safety standards.
The highway tragedies that have become so ubiquitous in the last couple of years have shone a spotlight on those collisions that could have been prevented but for the decisions by States like California, New York, and Illinois to unleash tens of thousands of unqualified drivers on our American freeways.
These high-speed, 80,000-pound guided missiles have been barreling down our highways at 80 miles an hour, leaving way too many victims in their wake, and these illegally licensed drivers who have killed our fellow American residents simply have no business being on our roads.
My home State of Wyoming, home to snow-covered and windswept highways built at elevations higher than the Sierra Nevada, suffers the highest rate of fatal truck crashes of any State. Threats to drivers anywhere are threats to families everywhere.
The status quo is unacceptable, and it is time to prioritize our hardworking American truckers while keeping every motorist safe.
I have introduced a series of bills to clean up our roads and crack down on bad actors who are exploiting loopholes in the system. I introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act to require that all testing for commercial driver's licenses be administered in English.
I also introduced Connor's Law with Representative Dave Taylor to codify the Trump administration's reinstatement of longstanding English proficiency requirements for anyone getting behind the wheel of a big rig. Understanding our national language to read our signs, adhere to warnings about hazardous conditions, and communicate with law enforcement should be the bare minimum to operate a commercial vehicle.
I introduced the SAFE Act, included in this year's surface transportation reauthorization package, to enhance the ability of Federal regulators to effectively detect and crack down on chameleon carriers.
Chameleon carriers are those that rack up safety violations yet continue to operate by adopting new identities to drive under the radar.
The SAFE Act has been endorsed by nearly a dozen major industry advocates, including the American Trucking Association, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Teamsters, Truckload Carriers Association, Truck Safety Coalition, American Truckers United, National Tank Truck Carriers, Transportation Intermediaries Association, and American Bus Association.
I also introduced the ROUTE Act to expand opportunities for young CDL holders to operate across State lines.
Right now, an 18-year-old licensed to carry a load and travel 450 miles from Cheyenne to Jackson, Wyoming, is prohibited from making the same trip just 45 miles to Fort Collins, Colorado, because the latter journey crosses State lines.
Easing nonsensical regulatory barriers will help bring more young people into a promising profession without the burden of a costly college degree.
I most recently introduced the STOP Improper Licensing Act, requiring continued oversight of States issuing non-domiciled CDLs to drivers, ensuring that standards are properly adhered to. This bill withholds funds for any States refusing to comply with commonsense Federal safety standards.
America's truckers make our modern life possible, and they have improved our standard of living. They deserve leadership and support to make their profession safe and profitable.
By working together and passing this series of pieces of legislation, the Wild West of trucking undermining American truckers and threatening our families will finally be over.
I thank my colleagues for participating in this evening's Special Order, and I thank the Congressional Trucking Caucus and the group's chairman, Congressman Dave Taylor of Ohio, for collaborating on these issues.
I also thank the industry groups which have supported our efforts to get critical legislation past the finish line to lift the men and women who keep America moving.
I thank every truck driver in this great country. We appreciate them and what they do for us.
I now yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) to address the body.
David J. Taylor (R-OH)9:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. It was established in 1988 by the American Trucking Association. This week gives communities across the United States a chance to honor the dedication truck drivers bring to their careers and the impact they have on our communities.
Truck drivers are critical to the United States' supply chain, often being the last mode of transportation delivering food to grocery stores, medical supplies to hospitals, and other vital goods to our constituents which they rely on every day. Virtually every time you purchase something, you can thank a truck driver for making it possible.
Annually, truck drivers haul more than 11 billion tons of goods and navigate over 330 billion miles across the United States, rain or shine, day and night, to ensure communities have access to the items we need.
Along with some of my colleagues, I am proud to have founded the first Congressional Trucking Caucus to provide a forum for lawmakers in Congress to suggest ideas and policies to support truck drivers across the United States. Earlier this year, the caucus introduced a resolution highlighting the administration's "Our Roads, Our Safety" campaign to promote safety tips on our Nation's roadways to keep all drivers safe.
I thank Congresswoman Hageman for hosting this Special Order hour and members of the Congressional Trucking Caucus who came today to highlight truck drivers.
Lastly, I thank our American truck drivers for their hard work and dedication and recognize the role they play in our great Nation.
Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY)9:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) to address the body.
Ralph Norman (R-SC)9:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Hageman for leading this charge.
As a proud member of the Congressional Trucking Caucus and as a Member who has had my CDL for 35 years or more, I rise today in recognition of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and the hardworking men and women who keep America moving.
We talk a lot in this Chamber about what makes our economy work. Well, the answer is pretty simple. It takes people who are willing to work. American truck drivers do exactly that.
Nearly 3.6 million professional truck drivers are on our roads today, delivering the food on our tables, the medicine in our pharmacies, the materials on our construction sites, and the products that keep American businesses running.
In South Carolina, we know just how important these men and women are. Nearly 80 percent of South Carolina communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods. Trucks transport nearly 94 percent of our State's manufacturing tonnage, roughly 149,000 tons every single day.
There are more than 21,000 trucking companies located in South Carolina. The vast majority of them are small, locally owned businesses.
Those numbers tell the story. If the trucks stop moving, South Carolina stops moving. Behind every one of those trucks is a driver. These are men and women who wake up early, work long hours, spend time away from their families, and take on tremendous responsibility every time they get behind the wheel.
They do it because there is a job to be done. A lot of times bureaucrats don't understand that, and government should remember that.
Truckers already pay licensing fees and taxes while using our roads and bridges that are necessary to do their jobs. We should be making it easier for these hardworking Americans to earn a living, not piling on unnecessary costs and burdens on top.
While we stand up for our truck drivers, we also have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the profession. That is why I am proud to cosponsor the SAFE Driving Laws Act. This bill says States should not be handing out driver's licenses or commercial driver's licenses to those who cannot prove that they are a U.S. citizen or have a permanent residency, while at the same time refusing to cooperate with Federal immigration enforcement.
States that refuse to follow these basic standards could lose 50 percent of certain Federal highway funding. This is about accountability. A CDL is not just another piece of paper. When someone gets behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound truck, Americans have every right to expect that the driver was properly vetted, properly licensed, and qualified to be on the road. That principle goes far beyond any one bill.
More than 72 percent of our Nation's freight tonnage is moved by trucks, and more than 80 percent of American communities rely exclusively on trucks for their freight needs.
I thank the truckers in this country from the bottom of my heart. I thank them for the miles they drive. I thank them for the time they spend away from their home. I thank them for everything they do.
Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY)9:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) to address the body.
Mike Bost (R-IL)9:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Truck Drivers Appreciation Week.
This week means some very special things to me. I know this business firsthand. I was born and raised in the trucking business. My grandfather started a trucking business in 1933. My dad and my uncle moved and grew that business, and I spent my life growing up in that business.
I drove my first tractor-trailer across a lot when I was 9 years old. Now, I also first drove my first end-loader through the side of a new garage at about 6, but that is another story.
I spent my whole life around the trucking industry. I went off to the Marine Corps, but I came back home and ran the business for 10 years. My brother and my cousin now run it still. It started out as W.J. Bost & Sons, and it is now Bost Trucking.
I grew up in it, from washing trucks to I have never had a car license. When I was 16 years old, I got my license as a tractor-trailer license because it was before CDLs. Therefore, I started delivering goods and running and working in the business.
I know the business well. It is not an easy job. It is early mornings. It is late nights. It is long stretches far from home and a whole lot of responsibility. That is another reason why we need to make sure that the people who are doing it are well trained, are people who understand our language, who understand what it is to speak that language, and understand, when you are rolling down the road, how to be safe with 80,000 pounds-plus of vehicle.
During this National Truck Drivers Appreciation Week, I say a special thank you to the hardworking men and women behind the wheel, but I also want to say a special thank you to their families. Remember, those men and women behind the wheel, they miss a whole lot of baseball games, football games, basketball games, school plays, and Christmas concerts in grade school. They miss those things because they are making sure that those goods and services that we need every day are there when we walk into the grocery store or the auto parts store. Oh, when we go shopping for cars, those cars that are sitting there, and every other good that is in every business that we go into has been on somebody's truck, moving from point A to point B.
They are sacrificing their time. Yes, they get paid, but some of those things they give up can't be gotten back, like time with their families.
We do want to say thank you to them for every mile they drive. Thank you for supplying all of these store shelves and growing our economy, and thank you for keeping America moving every single day.
Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY)9:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller) to address the body.
Mary E. Miller (R-IL)9:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from Wyoming, Representative Hageman, for hosting this important Special Order.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today representing central Illinois, a region that sits at the crossroads of our Nation's transportation network.
Illinois is one of our Nation's most important hubs for interstate commerce, driven in large part by a thriving trucking industry. Trucking supports nearly 340,000 jobs in my home State. Ninety-five percent of Illinois' manufactured goods are transported by trucks. Seventy percent of the State's towns and communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their products.
Looking at the combined total of all commercial shipments, Illinois is the third busiest freight State and fourth by tonnage. With that type of volume comes an enormous responsibility to keep our roads and transported goods safe.
I believe this is a matter of national security. Every American deserves to travel our roads without the threat of an illegal alien behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle who cannot understand road signs. Congress has a duty and an obligation to ensure our laws establish strong standards for commercial drivers and give law enforcement the tools necessary to keep unqualified drivers off our roads.
Multiple sanctuary States, including my home State of Illinois, are issuing driver's licenses and CDLs to illegals. This creates an extreme level of risk for all those on the road. The consequences can be deadly.
Last year, an Illinois-based company, JKC Trucking, sounded the alarm about the rampant abuse of our licensing system and the growing threat of illegal truckers on American roads. The company showed this issue not only leads to decreased safety, but also leads to the closure of many honest, professional American trucking businesses because they are unable to compete against illegal companies and illegal drivers.
Those are the men and women I want to recognize today, the professional truck drivers who don't cut corners, who work long hours to make sure our communities have what they need. The food on grocery store shelves, medicine and prescription drugs in our pharmacies, the materials used to build our homes all depend on a reliable trucking industry.
America moves forward because of our truckers. America survives its harshest winters and hottest summers because of our truckers. These men and women are often away from their families for days or weeks at a time, all so communities like mine are well stocked and ready for the day ahead. They deserve a Congress that respects their work and stands up for an industry that is essential to our economy and our way of life.
I want to pay a special thanks to Representatives Taylor, Hageman, Harrigan, and Figures for joining me in launching the bipartisan Congressional Trucking Caucus. For the first time in U.S. history, we have a caucus focused directly on addressing the issues related to America's trucking industry and on policies that promote integrity, safety, and growth in industry.
I look forward to working with my colleagues on the caucus to defend our hardworking American truckers and to keep our roads safe.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Hageman for her continued friendship and leadership on this issue.
Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY)9:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Miller for her remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann) to address the body.
Tracey Mann (R-KS)9:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming, my friend, for hosting this well-deserved recognition for a group of fantastic people.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and the hardworking men and women who keep Kansas and our great country moving.
Across America, 3.6 million professional truck drivers spend their days on the road delivering the food, fuel, equipment, and countless goods that families and businesses rely on every day.
In Kansas, the trucking industry supports roughly 84,000 jobs, one out of every 14 jobs in our State. Trucks move 63 percent of Kansas freight by tonnage, including more than $21 billion worth of beef and poultry.
For an agriculture State like Kansas, this is especially vital. Our farmers and ranchers raise the best wheat, corn, sorghum, cattle, and other commodities in the world, but we still need dependable truck drivers and reliable roads to get those products to markets across the country and around the globe.
Nearly one-half of Kansas communities rely exclusively on trucks to move their goods. In rural communities throughout the Big First District, truck drivers are a critical link connecting farms, ranches, small businesses, manufacturers, and families with the rest of America.
Their work often means long hours, early mornings, late nights, and days spent away from their families, yet they continue showing up and delivering for the rest of us.
During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, I say thank you to the professional drivers in Kansas and across the country who keep our supply chains moving, our rural communities connected, and our economy running.
We appreciate all that they do.
Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY)9:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Mann for his comments.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Shreve) to address the body this evening.
Jefferson Shreve (R-IN)9:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, Indiana is the Crossroads of America. This National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, and I thank the professional drivers who deliver what our farms grow, our factories make, and our families need.
They work long hours, they miss time with their families, and they take seriously the responsibility that comes with driving a big rig.
Last month, I hosted our Nation's top trucking safety official in Indiana to hear directly from our Hoosier drivers and trucking businesses.
Truckers who follow the rules of the road shouldn't have to compete with operators who cut corners, and the families traveling beside them deserve to know that every commercial driver is properly trained, licensed, and qualified.
Whether someone is behind the wheel of a semi or riding in the family car, they deserve to get home safely. To the drivers who make that their business every day, I thank you.
Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY)9:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Shreve for his words.
In summary, I think that the message to be taken away this evening, Mr. Speaker, is that we all have an enormous amount of respect for our trucking companies and our truck drivers who make this country run.
I have just a few anecdotes about Wyoming. We are the least populated State in the Nation. We became a State in 1890.
I have had the opportunity to meet with several family-owned businesses in Wyoming, family-owned trucking companies. One of them was one of the very first trucking companies that was ever formed in the State in the late 1800s. They used horses and wagons to haul goods from the oil fields to their destination. This is a family-owned business for over 130 years.
Another interesting tidbit about Wyoming is that we can have terribly treacherous roads. I-80 crosses Wyoming. It is one of the longest continental highways in the United States. It goes from the East Coast to the West Coast. In Wyoming the very highest point is between Cheyenne and Laramie, and it is over 8,000 feet.
There are many occasions when highway I-80 is closed because of the snow and the wind, and it is non-traversable. We have truck drivers who are some of the first ones on any scene of an accident, and they are the ones who continue to move the goods across this country.
That is also one of the reasons why it is imperative, as so many have spoken about this evening, that we have people who are well-trained, that understand our English language, that can read our variable speed and variable signs as they drive down the highway in Wyoming and other States.
Again, that is why I so appreciate our trucking companies and our truckers for the work that they do. Oftentimes, they take their own lives in their hands when they are crossing Wyoming to deliver goods from the East Coast to the West Coast, and they provide a valuable service.
Mr. Speaker, in this Trucker Appreciation Week, one more time, I thank the men and women who have made this profession their own for the work that they do.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Adjournment
Page H5618 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and 40 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.
Executive Communications, Etc.
Pages H5618–H5619 · Official textUnder clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,985 characters)
EC-4671. A letter from the Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final rule --Walnuts Grown in California; Changes to Administrative Requirements [Doc. No.: AMS-SC-24-0076] received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Agriculture.
EC-4672. A letter from the Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final rule --Honey Packers and Importers; Increased Assessment Rate [Doc. No.: AMS-SC-25-0122] received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Agriculture.
EC-4673. A letter from the Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting the Department's final rule -- DoD Assistance to Non-Government, Entertainment-Oriented Media Productions [Docket ID: DoD-2024-OS-0006] (RIN: 0790-AL71) received August 7, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Armed Services.
EC-4674. A letter from the General Counsel, National Credit Union Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Limits on Loans to Other Credit Unions (RIN: 3133-AF72) received August 25, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services.
EC-4675. A letter from the General Counsel, National Credit Union Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Credit Union Service Contracts (RIN: 3133-AF83) received August 25, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services.
EC-4676. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Sandusky Bay, Sandusky, OH [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0872] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4677. A letter from the Acting Branch Chief, Regulatory Management Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; New York; Interstate Transport Requirements for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS [EPA-R02-OAR-2025-1047; FRL-13227-02-R2] received September 9, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
EC-4678. A letter from the Acting Branch Chief, Regulatory Management Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approvals; Indiana; Prong 4 (Visibility) for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard [EPA-R05-OAR-2018-0788; FRL-13249-02-R5] received September 9, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
EC-4679. A letter from the Acting Branch Chief, Regulatory Management Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: Extension of 2025 Compliance Reporting Deadline [EPA-HQ-OAR-2026-7195; FRL-11947.1-01-OAR] (RIN: 2060-AX06) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
EC-4680. A letter from the Congressional and Public Affairs Specialist, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Removal From the Entity List [Docket No.: 260818-0012] (RIN: 0694-AK52) September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
EC-4681. A letter from the Congressional and Public Affairs Specialist, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, transmitting the Department's final rule --Revisions to the Entity List [Docket No.: 260818-0014] (RIN: 0694-AK49) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
EC-4682. A letter from the Wildlife Biologist, Migratory Bird Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule --Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting [Docket No.: FWS-HQ-MB-2024-0206; FF09M32000-267-FXMB1231099BPP0] (RIN: 1018-BI04) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-4683. A letter from the Chief, Branch of Domestic Listing, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Office's final rule -- Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous U.S. Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx [Docket No.: FWS-R6-ES-2024-0142; FXES1111090FEDR-267-FF09E21000] (RIN: 1018-BH59) received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-4684. A letter from the Branch Chief, Branch of Domestic Listing, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule --Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rayed Bean, Sheepnose, Snuffbox, and Spectaclecase Mussels [Docket No.: FWS-R3-ES-2024-0144; FXES1111090FEDR-267-FF09E21000] (RIN: 1018-BH73) received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-4685. A letter from the Chief, Branch of Domestic Listing, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule --Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee [Docket No.: FWS-R3-ES-2024-0132; FXES1111090FEDR-267-FF09E21000] (RIN: 1018-BH72) received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-4686. A letter from the Manager, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule --Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of the Hawaiian Stilt (Kukuluae'o or Ae'o) From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule [Docket No.: FWS-R1-ES-2020-0079; FXES1113090FEDR-267-FF09E22000] (RIN: 1018-BE02) received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-4687. A letter from the Manager, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule --Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of the Razorback Sucker From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule [Docket No.: FWS-R6-ES-2020-0057;
FXES1111090FEDR-245-FF09E21000] (RIN: 1018-BE07) received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-4688. A letter from the Biologist, Office of Protected Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, transmitting the Administration's interim final rule --Pribilof Islands Administration; Dogs Prohibited [Docket No.: 260630-0155] (RIN: 0648-BN39) August 7, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources.
EC-4689. A letter from the Alternate OSW Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of War, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Defense-Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Amendment [Docket ID: DOD-2026-OS-0595] (RIN: 0790-AM02) received August 7, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-4690. A letter from the Supervisory Attorney Advisor, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice, transmitting the Department's interim final rule --Adjudication of Civil Penalties Against International Marriage Brokers [Docket No.: EOIR-26-AA45; Dir. Order No.: 08-2026] (RIN: 1125-AA45) received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-4691. A letter from the Agency Representative, Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce, transmitting the Department's final rule -- International Trademark Classification Changes [Docket No.: PTO-T-2026-0463] (RIN: 0651-AD96) received September 1, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-4692. A letter from the Chief Regulatory Officer, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's interim final rule -- Registration of Lawful Permanent Residence for Children Born to Foreign Government Employees in the United States [CIS No.: 2882-26; DHS Docket No.: USCIS-2026-0496] (RIN: 1615-AD24) received September 9, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-4693. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone: Piers Park, Boston Inner Harbor, East Boston MA [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0024] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4694. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Fox River, Green Bay, WI [Docket Number: USCG-2026-1058] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4695. A letter from the Administration Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City, MI [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0832] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4696. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Michigan City, IN [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0553] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4697. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Kanawha River, Charleston, WV [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0433] (RIN: 1625-AA00) September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4698.
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A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Security Zone; Port of Corpus Christi Inner Harbor, Corpus Christi, TX [Docket Number USCG-2026-0463] (RIN: 1625-AA87) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4699. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Bayfront Park 4th of July Fireworks Display, Intercoastal Waterway, Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL [Docket Number USCG-2026-0610] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4700. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Hawks Channel, Marathon, FL [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0698] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4701. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United State Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Monongahela River MM 122-122.5, Rivesville, WV [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0680] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4702. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Special Local Regulation; Ohio River Mile Marker 90-91, Wheeling, WV [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0629] (RIN: 1625-AA08) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4703. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule --Security Zone; Philippine Sea, Pacific Ocean, Apra Harbor, Guam [Docket Number: USCG-2026-1070] (RIN: 1625-AA87) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4704. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Western Lake Erie, Kelleys Island, OH [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0864] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4705. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Sandusky Bay, Lakeside, OH [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0882] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4706. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Western Lake Erie, Huron, OH [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0875] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4707. A letter from the Administrative Assistant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Lake Erie, Lakeside, OH [Docket Number: USCG-2026-0794] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 3, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
EC-4708. A letter from the Federal Register Liaison, Internal Revenue Service, transmitting the Service's notice of proposed rulemaking -- Section 898(c) Transition Rule for Allocating Foreign Taxes and Section 960(d)(4) Foreign Tax Credit Disallowance [REG-115145-25] (RIN: 1545-BR76) received August 7, 2026, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Reports of Committees on Public Bills and Resolutions
Pages H5619–H5620 · Official textUnder clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,596 characters)
Mr. GARBARINO: Committee on Homeland Security. H.R. 7436. A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to implement a standardized training program for employees of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 119-815). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 1266. A bill to prohibit certain uses of xylazine, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 119-816, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2004. A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose, and for
other purposes (Rept. 119-817). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 9615. A bill to support the recycling and recovery of lithium-ion batteries; with an amendment (Rept. 119-818). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2140. A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize the diesel emissions reduction program (Rept. 119-819). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 9617. A bill to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate a National Critical Mineral Recovery Strategy, and for other purposes (Rept. 119-820). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 9616. A bill to establish a program for the recovery of critical materials from contaminated sites, and for other purposes (Rept. 119-821). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 9339. A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to conduct an assessment on the use of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing technologies to enhance the bulk-power system, and for other purposes (Rept. 119-822). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 9332. A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish regional joint boards to study electric load forecasting, and for other purposes (Rept. 119-823). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. GUTHRIE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 6633. A bill to establish a best-available transmission conductor standard for certain transmission projects under the Federal Power Act and to provide for presumptions regarding cost recovery for such conductors; with an amendment (Rept. 119-824). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mrs. FISCHBACH: Committee on Rules. H. Res. 1530. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 9576) to establish the National Fraud Enforcement Division of the Department of Justice; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 10326) to enhance information-sharing capabilities between Federal law enforcement and State agencies to detect, investigate, and prosecute fraud in certain Federal programs, and to protect individual privacy; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 210) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 213) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision"; and providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 5334) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood educators to take the educator expense deduction, and for other purposes (Rept. 119-825). Referred to the House Calendar.
Pursuant to clause 2 of rule XIII, the Committee on the Judiciary discharged from further consideration. H.R. 1266. Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Public Bills and Resolutions
Pages H5620–H5621 · Official textUnder clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions of the following titles were introduced and severally referred, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,978 characters)
By Mr. WALBERG (for himself, Mr. Harris of Maryland,
and Mr. Fine):
H.R. 10351. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education, as a condition of participating in programs under title IV of such Act, to ensure that no more than 20 percent of the student athletes on a varsity sports team of the institution are international students, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Ms. SIMON (for herself and Mr. Alford):
H.R. 10352. A bill to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to allow the Administrator of the Small Business Administration the authority to increase amount of commitments to qualified State or local development companies, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business.
By Mr. FINSTAD (for himself and Ms. Morrison):
H.R. 10353. A bill to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to require a quarterly report on small business investment companies, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business.
By Mr. WILSON of South Carolina:
H.R. 10354. A bill to impose targeted sanctions on the Houthi terrorists and their supporters, and to support the internationally recognized Government of Yemen in their fight against Houthi terrorists; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Ms. MEJIA (for herself and Ms. King-Hinds):
H.R. 10355. A bill to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish procedures for consistency of certain disaster loan outreach materials, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business.
By Mrs. FISCHBACH (for herself, Mr. Weber of Texas,
Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Feenstra, Ms. Tenney, Mr. McGuire,
Mrs. Cammack, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Harris
of Maryland, and Mr. Finstad):
H.R. 10356. A bill to amend section 511 of the Social Security Act to provide a resource directory and more opportunities for mothers to succeed; to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. SMITH of Missouri (for himself, Mr. Arrington,
Mr. Bean of Florida, Mr. Carey, Mr. Horsford, Mr.
Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Kustoff, Mr. Miller of
Ohio, and Mr. Yakym):
H.R. 10357. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the tax treatment of digital assets, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Mrs. BEATTY (for herself and Mr. Cohen):
H.R. 10358. A bill to assist survivors of stroke and other debilitating health occurrences in returning to work; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Ms. Barragan, Mrs.
Cammack, Mr. Auchincloss, Mr. Kean, and Mr. Mullin):
H.R. 10359. A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permanently extend the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award priority review vouchers for rare pediatric disease products; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mr. COURTNEY (for himself, Mr. Smith of Washington,
Ms. Norton, Mr. Bell, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr.
Khanna, Ms. Houlahan, Ms. Goodlander, Mr. Crow, Mr.
Carbajal, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Carson, Ms. Lois Frankel
of Florida, Mr. Garcia of California, Ms. Titus, and
Mr. Whitesides):
H.R. 10360. A bill to prohibit the transfer of any VC-25B Bridge Aircraft outside of the Department of the Air Force; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. GARBARINO (for himself, Mr. Goldman of New York,
Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Meng, Mr.
LaLota, Mr. Meeks, and Ms. Clarke of New York):
H.R. 10361. A bill to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse public employee retirement systems for accidental disability retirements and accidental deaths resulting from the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
By Mr. GOTTHEIMER (for himself and Mr. Lawler):
H.R. 10362. A bill to provide for certain artificial intelligence agent discovery and security standards, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. GOTTHEIMER (for himself and Mr. Moskowitz):
H.R. 10363. A bill to prohibit discrimination in coffee shops, cafes, tea houses, or other informal dining establishments on the ground of religion, race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. ISSA:
H.R. 10364. A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to establish procedures for blocking access to foreign online locations engaged in copyright piracy, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Ms. JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms.
Norton, and Ms. Velazquez):
H.R. 10365. A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to ensure DACA recipients are eligible for educational awards; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI (for himself and Mr. Cloud):
H.R. 10366. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to withhold apportioned surface transportation funding from a State if such State fails to enact certain prohibitions relating to the use of automated license plate
readers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
By Mr. LANDSMAN:
H.R. 10367. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a monthly credit to working Americans, to eliminate tax loopholes applicable to billionaires, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Ms. LEE of Nevada (for herself and Mr. Amodei of
Nevada):
H.R. 10368. A bill to assist trafficking survivors who lack government issued identification in accessing air travel, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security.
By Mr. MACKENZIE (for himself, Mr. Auchincloss, Mr.
Allen, Mrs. McBath, and Mrs. Miller of West
Virginia):
H.R. 10369. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, to create certain requirements with respect to pharmacy benefit managers; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. McCAUL (for himself, Mr. Bera, and Mr. Kelly of
Pennsylvania):
H.R. 10370. A bill to better coordinate Federal efforts to utilize advance technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to improve diagnoses, treatments, cures, and prevention strategies for pediatric cancer, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mrs. MCIVER (for herself and Ms. Velazquez):
H.R. 10371. A bill to direct the Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development of the Small Business Administration to ensure compliance with certain reporting requirements, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business.
By Mr. NADLER (for himself, Ms. Ross, Mr. Beyer, Mr.
Frost, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Goldman of New
York, Ms. Norton, Mr. Lynch, and Ms. Tlaib):
H.R. 10372. A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit employers from paying employees in the garment industry by piece rate, to require manufacturers and contractors in the garment industry to register with the Department of Labor, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Mr. SCOTT of Virginia (for himself, Ms. Omar, and
Mr. Casar):
H.R. 10373. A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the garnishment of wages in relation to medical debt, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Ms. SEWELL (for herself, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Suozzi,
Mr. Panetta, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Carter of
Louisiana, Mr. Veasey, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Norton, Ms.
Williams of Georgia, Mr. Torres of New York, Mr.
Costa, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Castro of
Texas, and Mr. Riley of New York):
H.R. 10374. A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to continue the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration under the Medicare program; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Ms. VELAZQUEZ (for herself and Mr. Williams of
Texas):
H.R. 10375. A bill to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to improve the loan guaranty program, enhance the ability of small manufacturers to access affordable capital, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business.
By Mr. WALKINSHAW (for himself and Mr. Carter of
Georgia):
H.R. 10376. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish reporting and transparency requirements for data related to telehealth services under the Medicare program; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Ms. JAYAPAL (for herself, Mr. Raskin, Mrs. Fletcher,
Mr. Liccardo, Mr. Foster, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Bonamici,
Ms. Chu, Mr. Correa, Ms. Crockett, Ms. DelBene, Mr.
Doggett, Mr. Frost, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Hoyle of
Oregon, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr.
Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Mannion, Mrs. McClain
Delaney, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Neguse, Ms.
Norton, Mr. Pallone, Ms. Pettersen, Ms. Pingree, Ms.
Pressley, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Ross, Ms. Salinas, Ms.
Scanlon, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Simon, Ms. Stansbury,
Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Velazquez,
Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms.
Williams of Georgia, Ms. Escobar, Ms. McBride, Ms.
Dexter, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Pocan, Mrs.
Trahan, Mr. Amo, Mrs. McBath, Ms. Omar, Mrs.
Grijalva, and Mr. Carson):
H.J. Res. 215. A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media"; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Ms. BARRAGAN (for herself, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Norton,
and Mr. Davis of North Carolina):
H. Res. 1531. A resolution supporting the recognition of September 14 through 20, 2026, as "Interscholastic Athletic Administrators' Week"; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Ms. CHU (for herself, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Pingree, Ms.
Norton, and Ms. Tokuda):
H. Res. 1532. A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 13 through September 19, 2026, as "Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week"; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Mr. CORREA (for himself, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Chu, Mr.
Huffman, Mr. Levin, Ms. Lofgren, Mr.
Text printed in the Record (1,840 characters)
Min, and Mr.
Vargas):
H. Res. 1533. A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California; to the Committee on House Administration.
By Mr. EVANS of Colorado:
H. Res. 1534. A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 13 to 19, 2026, as "National Co-Responder and Crisis Clinician Week"; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
By Ms. HAGEMAN (for herself, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Figures,
and Ms. Gillen):
H. Res. 1535. A resolution supporting the designation of the week of September 13 through September 19, 2026, as "National Truck Driver Appreciation Week"; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
By Mrs. LUNA:
H. Res. 1536. A resolution recommending that the House of Representatives find Neville Singham in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; to the Committee on Rules.
By Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS (for herself, Mr. Kean, Mr.
Garbarino, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Carson, Mr.
Tonko, Mr. Costa, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Lawler, Ms.
DelBene, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Kiggans of
Virginia, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Latta, Mr.
Sorensen, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Mr. Johnson of
Georgia, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Fleischmann, Ms.
Crockett, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Westerman, Mr.
Obernolte, and Mr. Wittman):
H. Res. 1537. A resolution supporting the designation of the week of September 14 through September 18, 2026, as "National Clean Energy Week"; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Memorials
Page H5621 · Official textUnder clause 3 of rule XII,
Text printed in the Record (328 characters)
ML-135. The SPEAKER presented a memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, relative to Senate Joint Resolution No. 21--requesting the Congress of the United States call a convention of the states to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Page H5621 · Official textPursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted regarding the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the accompanying bill or joint resolution.
Additional Sponsors
Pages H5622–H5623 · Official textUnder clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (9,330 characters)
H.R. 7: Mr. Williams of Texas, Mr. Moore of West Virginia, and Mr. Self.
H.R. 20: Mr. Blair.
H.R. 40: Mr. Blair.
H.R. 45: Mr. Murphy, Mr. Van Epps, Mr. Zinke, and Mr. Haridopolos.
H.R. 349: Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. Doggett, and Mr. Panetta.
H.R. 404: Mr. Hill of Arkansas, Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Haridopolos, and Mr. Davidson.
H.R. 551: Mr. Shreve.
H.R. 589: Mr. Moore of West Virginia.
H.R. 610: Mr. Carter of Louisiana.
H.R. 632: Mr. Moore of West Virginia.
H.R. 637: Ms. Simon.
H.R. 642: Mr. Haridopolos.
H.R. 897: Ms. McBride.
H.R. 911: Mr. Wilson of South Carolina.
H.R. 930: Ms. McBride, Mr. Torres of New York, and Mr. Carter of Louisiana.
H.R. 987: Mr. Murphy, Mr. Rulli, Mr. Zinke, Ms. Fedorchak, Mr. Moore of North Carolina, and Mr. Davidson.
H.R. 1065: Ms. Lee of Florida.
H.R. 1189: Mr. Palmer and Mr. Riley of New York.
H.R. 1232: Mr. Wittman and Mr. Van Epps.
H.R. 1266: Mr. Horsford.
H.R. 1300: Ms. Sewell.
H.R. 1340: Ms. Boebert.
H.R. 1399: Mr. Estes.
H.R. 1502: Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Fry, Mr. Crawford, and Mr. Rutherford.
H.R. 1521: Mrs. Dingell.
H.R. 1616: Ms. Stansbury.
H.R. 1661: Ms. Rivas and Ms. Pressley.
H.R. 1700: Mr. Mannion.
H.R. 1773: Mr. Hunt, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Rulli, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Van Epps, Mr. Carey, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Fedorchak, Mr. Haridopolos, and Ms. Maloy.
H.R. 1845: Mr. Larsen of Washington.
H.R. 1924: Mr. Comer.
H.R. 2002: Ms. McBride.
H.R. 2033: Mr. Foster.
H.R. 2055: Mr. Carter of Louisiana.
H.R. 2089: Mr. Cuellar.
H.R. 2199: Mr. Flood and Ms. Houlahan.
H.R. 2220: Mr. Mannion.
H.R. 2231: Mr. Soto, Mr. McGuire, and Mr. Shreve.
H.R. 2253: Ms. Rivas, Mr. Meuser, and Ms. Pressley.
H.R. 2257: Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Neal, Ms. Garcia of Texas, and Mr. Conaway.
H.R. 2442: Mrs. Luna, Mr. Feenstra, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Haridopolos, Ms. Maloy, Mr. Reschenthaler, and Mr. Jack.
H.R. 2477: Mr. Carter of Georgia.
H.R. 2743: Mr. Blair.
H.R. 2767: Mr. Pocan.
H.R. 2909: Mr. Soto.
H.R. 2911: Mr. Schneider.
H.R. 2936: Mr. Bentz.
H.R. 2978: Ms. Goodlander.
H.R. 3069: Mr. Blair.
H.R. 3112: Ms. Rivas and Ms. Pressley.
H.R. 3139: Mr. Sorensen.
H.R. 3151: Mr. Fine.
H.R. 3184: Ms. Pou.
H.R. 3195: Mr. Patronis.
H.R. 3199: Mr. Garbarino.
H.R. 3243: Ms. Friedman, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Sorensen, Ms. Mejia, and Ms. Pou.
H.R. 3277: Mr. Kennedy of New York, Ms. Van Duyne, and Mr. Moolenaar.
H.R. 3447: Mr. Ryan.
H.R. 3514: Mr. Patronis.
H.R. 3573: Ms. Chu, Mr. Himes, Mrs. Grijalva, and Ms. Pressley.
H.R. 3604: Mr. Neguse.
H.R. 3757: Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Smith of Washington, and Mr. Larsen of Washington.
H.R. 3954: Mr. Thanedar.
H.R. 4046: Ms. Davids of Kansas.
H.R. 4104: Mr. Bell.
H.R. 4120: Mr. Tonko.
H.R. 4122: Mr. Knott.
H.R. 4145: Ms. McClellan and Mr. Lynch.
H.R. 4153: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H.R. 4299: Ms. Davids of Kansas.
H.R. 4318: Mr. Davis of North Carolina and Mr. Huizenga.
H.R. 4382: Ms. Bynum, Mr. Crane, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Gosar.
H.R. 4398: Mr. Jackson of Texas, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Amo, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Schneider, and Mrs. Beatty.
H.R. 4418: Mrs. Hayes.
H.R. 4611: Mr. Conaway, Mr. Blair, and Ms. Kaptur.
H.R. 4615: Ms. Scholten.
H.R. 4863: Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Amodei of Nevada, Mr. Williams of Texas, Mr. Begich, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. McGuire, and Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina.
H.R. 4872: Ms. Pingree.
H.R. 4876: Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Pressley, and Mr. Deluzio.
H.R. 4936: Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 5144: Mr. McGuire.
H.R. 5168: Ms. McClellan, Mrs. Radewagen, and Ms. Wasserman Schultz.
H.R. 5178: Mr. Carter of Louisiana.
H.R. 5199: Ms. Bynum.
H.R. 5223: Mr. Thompson of Mississippi and Mr. Veasey.
H.R. 5333: Ms. Pressley.
H.R. 5337: Mr. Wied.
H.R. 5361: Mr. Blair.
H.R. 5509: Ms. McClellan, Ms. Morrison, Mr. Soto, and Mrs. Miller of West Virginia.
H.R. 5536: Mr. Raskin.
H.R. 5658: Mrs. Hayes and Mr. Blair.
H.R. 5874: Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Moore of North Carolina, Mr. Haridopolos, Mr. Davidson, and Mr. Clyde.
H.R. 6014: Ms. McClellan.
H.R. 6130: Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Moylan, and Mr. Meuser.
H.R. 6137: Mr. Carter of Louisiana.
H.R. 6152: Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, and Mr. Gottheimer.
H.R. 6160: Ms. Adams.
H.R. 6181: Mr. Riley of New York and Mrs. Torres of California.
H.R. 6214: Mr. Flood.
H.R. 6255: Mr. Cohen and Mr. Carter of Louisiana.
H.R. 6280: Ms. Bynum and Mr. Dunn of Florida.
H.R. 6312: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 6397: Mr. Blair.
H.R. 6423: Ms. Garcia of Texas.
H.R. 6459: Mr. Kennedy of Utah.
H.R. 6466: Mr. Flood.
H.R. 6683: Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Valadao.
H.R. 6751: Mr. Blair.
H.R. 6780: Ms. Lofgren.
H.R. 6799: Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Mullin, and Mr. Hurd of Colorado.
H.R. 6806: Mr. DeSaulnier and Ms. Pingree.
H.R. 6840: Ms. Chu.
H.R. 7100: Ms. Salinas and Mrs. Dingell.
H.R. 7145: Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 7152: Ms. Castor of Florida.
H.R. 7168: Ms. Malliotakis.
H.R. 7188: Mr. Foster.
H.R. 7540: Mr. Fuller.
H.R. 7601: Ms. Chu.
H.R. 7620: Ms. Pettersen.
H.R. 7645: Mr. DeSaulnier.
H.R. 7732: Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Huizenga, and Mr. Moore of West Virginia.
H.R. 7779: Mr. LaHood and Mr. Casten.
H.R. 7853: Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Sorensen, Mrs. McBath, Ms. DeGette, Ms. Bynum, and Mr. Min.
H.R. 7858: Ms. Wasserman Schultz.
H.R. 7917: Mr. Vasquez.
H.R. 7945: Mr. McCormick.
H.R. 7960: Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 8003: Mr. Magaziner.
H.R. 8163: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 8487: Ms. Dexter.
H.R. 8497: Ms. Budzinski.
H.R. 8528: Mr. Davis of North Carolina.
H.R. 8540: Ms. Balint.
H.R. 8552: Mr. Pfluger.
H.R. 8571: Mr. Kennedy of New York.
H.R. 8582: Ms. Stevens, Mr. Sorensen, Ms. Goodlander, Mr. Norcross, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Sherman, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Morrison, Ms. Underwood, and Mr. Larson of Connecticut.
H.R. 8592: Ms. Pingree.
H.R. 8682: Mr. Kennedy of Utah.
H.R. 8707: Mr. Riley of New York.
H.R. 8718: Mr. Turner of Ohio.
H.R. 8730: Mr. Foster, Mr. Amodei of Nevada, Mr. Torres of New York, Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida, and Mr. Yakym.
H.R. 8750: Mr. Finstad.
H.R. 8867: Mr. Baird.
H.R. 8868: Mr. Blair.
H.R. 8921: Mr. Harris of North Carolina.
H.R. 8967: Ms. Dexter.
H.R. 9008: Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, and Ms. Norton.
H.R. 9012: Mr. Thanedar.
H.R. 9025: Mr. Flood.
H.R. 9043: Mr. Hunt, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Ms. Pou, and Mr. Davidson.
H.R. 9106: Mr. Baird.
H.R. 9131: Mr. Cloud.
H.R. 9132: Mr. Cloud.
H.R. 9214: Mr. Patronis.
H.R. 9293: Mr. Pfluger.
H.R. 9298: Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Feenstra, Mr. Timmons, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Fedorchak, Mr. Haridopolos, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. McGuire, and Mr. Davidson.
H.R. 9442: Ms. Pingree.
H.R. 9505: Mr. Carter of Texas.
H.R. 9509: Mr. Lawler and Mr. Pocan.
H.R. 9576: Mrs. Fischbach.
H.R. 9583: Ms. Tenney.
H.R. 9640: Mrs. Bice and Mr. Fleischmann.
H.R. 9641: Mr. Womack.
H.R. 9642: Mr. Sorensen.
H.R. 9693: Mr. Bishop, Mr. Morelle, and Mrs. Dingell.
H.R. 9701: Mr. Kustoff.
H.R. 9718: Mr. Olszewski.
H.R. 9719: Mr. Hunt, Mr. Harris of Maryland, and Mr. Smith of Nebraska.
H.R. 9760: Mr. Lawler.
H.R. 9809: Mr. Correa.
H.R. 9827: Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, and Mr. Babin.
H.R. 9914: Mr. Moulton, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Foster, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Weber of Texas, and Ms. Houlahan.
H.R. 9985: Ms. Escobar.
H.R. 9988: Mrs. Dingell.
H.R. 10005: Mr. Vindman.
H.R. 10006: Mr. Bergman.
H.R. 10052: Mr. Reschenthaler and Ms. Lee of Florida.
H.R. 10075: Mr. Lawler.
H.R. 10092: Mr. Gosar and Mr. Flood.
H.R. 10099: Mr. McDowell.
H.R. 10111: Mr. Moulton.
H.R. 10114: Ms. Sanchez and Mr. Tran.
H.R. 10135: Mr. Finstad.
H.R. 10139: Mr. Vindman.
H.R. 10151: Mr. Vindman.
H.R. 10155: Mr. Nunn of Iowa.
H.R. 10158: Mr. Gottheimer.
H.R. 10164: Mr. Vindman and Mr. Gottheimer.
H.R. 10183: Mr. Fitzpatrick and Ms. Titus.
H.R. 10195: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H.R. 10216: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H.R. 10221: Mr. Harrigan.
H.R. 10222: Mr. Onder and Mr. Steube.
H.R. 10227: Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Riley of New York, and Ms. Davids of Kansas.
H.R. 10238: Mr. Latimer.
H.R. 10249: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H.R. 10280: Mr. Case, Ms. Pou, Ms. Norton, and Ms. Bynum.
H.R. 10297: Ms. Norton, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Ivey, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, and Mr. Correa.
H.R. 10299: Mr. Fleischmann.
H.R. 10303: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H.R. 10309: Mr. Gosar.
H.R. 10328: Mr. Finstad, Mr. Ellzey, and Mr. Wied.
H.R. 10345: Ms. Clarke of New York.
H.J. Res. 122: Mr. Torres of New York and Ms. Strickland.
H. Con. Res. 93: Mr. Quigley.
H. Con. Res. 106: Mr. Jackson of Illinois and Mrs. Ramirez.
H. Res. 1187: Ms. Norton and Ms. Barragan.
H. Res. 1188: Mr. Buchanan.
H. Res. 1286: Ms. Jayapal.
H. Res. 1350: Mr. Moulton and Mr. Fleischmann.
H. Res. 1471: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H. Res. 1511: Mr. Soto.
H. Res. 1512: Mr. LaLota.
H. Res. 1514: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H. Res. 1526: Mr. Meuser and Mr. Aderholt.
H. Res. 1528: Mr. Mackenzie.
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, or Limited Tariff Benefits
Page H5623 · Official textUnder clause 9 of rule XXI, lists or statements on congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits were submitted as follows:
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The provisions that warranted a referral to the Committee on the Judiciary in H.R. 9576, The National Fraud Enforcement Division Act of 2026, do not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI.
The provisions that warranted a referral to the Committee on the Judiciary in H.R. 10326, the PROOF Act, do not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI.
The provisions that warranted a referral to the Committee on Rules in H.J. Res. 210, "Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision", do not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI.
The provisions that warranted a referral to the Committee on Rules in H.J. Res. 213, "Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision", do not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI.
Deletions of Sponsors from Public Bills and Resolutions
Page H5623 · Official textUnder clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were deleted from public bills and resolutions, as follows:
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H.R. 10076: Ms. Goodlander.