Rob Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Mr. Thompson introducing this bill, and introducing it with his remarks so far. This is an important one to me, too, which is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. I remember this gentleman, and I remember the events of his assassination. I think it had an impact on everybody. Medgar Evers was born in 1925 and served in the military during World War II in both Germany and France and then became one of those who fought to try and integrate a law school in the 1950s. He was assassinated, as Mr. Thompson said, in 1963, and I clearly remember watching that on the news at the time and being impacted by it. Mr. Soto probably wasn't even born then, but the rest of us still remember this event going on there. He tragically died within an hour after that shooting and is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The home was donated to Tougaloo University, and it is currently being operated as a museum with period pieces, as well as the memorabilia that talks about the legacy of this icon of the civil rights movement. I am happy that we are doing this particular bill, because these are the kinds of projects that should be national monuments. These are the historical sites that need to be in the National Park System so that people can go there, they can learn, and, more importantly, so they can remember. Because it is in forgetting in which we sin; in remembering is when we will never forget the legacy of Medgar Evers and what he sacrificed to move this country forward in some particular way. So I commend Representative Thompson for introducing this legislation. I am very proud of the way we are doing it. This is the proper way of creating a national monument: by legislative action and going through the legislative process, during the hearing, during the committee, bringing it to the floor, and then taking it over to the Senate. I expect this to be passed very quickly. I expect this to become a reality. And I expect this to be an illustration of how Congress should be creating national monuments going forward in the future. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I will not say the gentleman is just a child. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to speak to this particular piece of legislation. This bill will clarify that five recognized tribes in the State of Oregon may buy, sell, lease, or otherwise convey land that they own in fee without approval from the Federal Government. Some of the earliest laws passed by Congress after the ratification of the Constitution reserves to the United States the exclusive right to acquire Indian lands. These laws are commonly called the Trade and Intercourse Acts. The acts were meant to protect Indian tribes by preventing the loss of their lands, except by treaty. It does so by preventing the transfer, sale, lease, or other conveyance of land owned by an Indian tribe to third parties without Federal approval. This bill, S. 1285, would clarify that the five tribes named in this bill may do this job without Federal review or approval. The bill benefits other tribes in a similar fashion were also considered by the Natural Resources Committee and enacted into law during the 106th, 113th, and 114th Congresses as well. This particular bill, which passed by unanimous consent in December, truly shows that despite what some Members are quoted as saying in the press, the Natural Resources Committee is, in fact, still a productive committee after all. In fact, we have been the most active House committee next to the Rules Committee. We have already marked up 147 bills and reported out 114 of these bills. No other committee has reached the 100 mark. I guess that is a plus. If it is, then we did it. The House has passed 92 of these bills, and 23 have been signed into law. We hope to change that to 93 and 24 respectively. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1285) to allow the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, the Klamath Tribes, and the Burns Paiute Tribes to lease or transfer certain lands.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1417) to amend the National Law Enforcement Museum Act to allow the Museum to acquire, receive, possess, collect, ship, transport, import, and display firearms, and for other purposes.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the dean of Congress, if he has been able to catch his breath, having cut this as close as is possible.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to stand and support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to adopt it. The National Law Enforcement Museum will showcase the great work that is done by those who are in the law enforcement profession, but it is also going to have interactive exhibits designed to give visitors a firsthand experience of the life of law enforcement officers. It seems strange that we have to do this by actual legislation, but this is an amendment to the National Law Enforcement Museum Act that simply will allow the museum to acquire, ship, import, and display firearms. If we don't do this, obviously, that doesn't take place, which detracts from the entire experience of the museum in the first place. I commend Mr. Young for introducing this piece of legislation. It seems like it is strange that we have to go to these lengths to do something so logical, but it is the right thing to do, and I appreciate his efforts to do that. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is talking about 200 acres of public property that needs to be used by a national cemetery that was created back in 1948 as the final resting place of people who gave their last and gave their all for the defense of this country. It includes the final resting place of Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Charles Winthrop. A memorial to Korean war veterans is there. And 16 years ago, it was made part of the National Cemetery System. It is significant that we are doing this particular process right now. I think it is important that both the Bureau of Land Management and the Veterans Affairs Department are both in support of this transfer, because this illustrates not only the significance of this cemetery and what it allows people to do, to honor those who have given their all for this Nation, but it allows us to have the proper use of public lands. Here are now 200 acres of public land that is going to be used for a public purpose, and that is the reason you have public lands in the first place. If this 200 acres were simply to sit there with nothing to do, then there is no reason for anybody to own it in the first place. But having public lands now used for a public purpose that elevates, enlightens, and ennobles us is how you are supposed to be using public lands. So I am appreciative of Representative Noem for introducing this bill on several occasions. The last time it actually came to this floor, we voted on it. It was a tough vote; it was 407-0. I am grateful it finally has a Senate sponsor and the Senate has actually done something to send us this bill back so we can allow Representative Noem to do what she does best in pushing things forward for the State of South Dakota in a positive and selfless way, and I am looking forward to the vote on this one. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure. I have no other speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC, April 5, 2018. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning S. 35, the Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act. There are certain provisions in the legislation which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to name members of this committee to any conference committee which is named to consider such provisions. Please place this letter into the committee report on S. 35 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you. Sincerely, David P. Roe, M.D., Chairman.

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

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

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 35) to transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain Bureau of Land Management land from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for inclusion in the Black Hills National Cemetery, and for other purposes.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem), who is the House sponsor of this particular bill and who has done so much work on this. I allow her to introduce this piece of legislation that is so significant to her State.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the motion.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to be here to present this particular bill, or at least sum up on this, especially as our good friend Mr. Todd Ungerecht has done so much for this particular bill and it is going to be his last time on the floor with us. So I appreciate all of his help on this. He is returning back to his native State of Washington where he clearly realizes how important this bill is. Mr. Speaker, this bill has support via policy from Washington, total support for the bill from Idaho and Montana, as well as eight other Tribes that live in this area, as well as the National Association of Counties, the American Farm Bureau Federation, United Power Trades Organization, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, National Electrical Contractors Association, Public Power Council, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, and scores of other individuals. I include in the Record a complete list of organizations that support this bill as well as letters that support this legislation. Support for H.R. 3144 National Water Resources Association, National Associations of Counties, United Power Trades Organization, National Association of Wheat Growers, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Public Power Association, National Electrical Contractors Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association, Americans for Limited Government, Arizona Farm Bureau, Arizona Liberty, Arizona Pork Council, Asotin County Public Utility District, Association of Washington Business, Benton Public Utility District, Blachly- Lane Electric Co-op, Clatskanie People's Utility District. Clearwater Power, Concerned Citizens for America (Sedona), Cowlitz Public Utility District, Douglas County Public Utility District, Franklin Public Utility District, Grant County Public Utility District, Idaho Water Users Association, Inland Ports and Navigation Group, Kittitas County Public Utility District, Lewis County Public Utility District, Mason County Public Utility District, New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association, New Mexico Wool Growers Inc., Northern Lights, Northwest River Partners, Pend Oreille Public Utility District, Port Clarkston, Port of Morrow. Port of Pasco, Port of Whitman County, Public Power Council, Salmon River Electric CoOp, Stevens County Commissioners, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Tidewater Transportation & Terminals, Tri-City Development Council, United Electric, Wahkiakum County Public Utility District, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Public Utility Districts Association, Washington State Potato Commission, Yuvapai County Supervisor Thomas Thurman, Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, as one of the eight Tribes that endorse this bill said: The BiOp exceeds requirements established by the courts and by the ESA, and yet plaintiffs want more. The court should uphold the 2008 BiOp. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse), speaking on behalf of the eight Tribes that endorse this in his area.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, NOAA did a study which simply said that the hatchery production of salmon in this area more than offsets any loss that comes from the dams. So even though we have this issue of an endangered species trying to eat another endangered species, which one are we going to support. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn), who is a member of our committee who understands this particular issue.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, here is the bottom line for this particular piece of legislation: States agree to it. There are nine Tribes in this area. Eight of them totally support this particular bill. The Obama administration created a biological opinion which endorsed the ESA and was legal with the ESA. A judge decided to change all of that and ordered a spill with no apparent rationale to it. Mr. Speaker, there is no one over here who hates salmon. We are not trying to kill them all. Heaven knows, the only way I would like to kill salmon is if I am consuming them myself. However, in 2011, another spill took place on this particular river which had the process of actually killing this endangered species that was there. This judge's order, without any kind of rationale to it, could indeed be one of the situations that actually sterilizes this river and the species rather than protecting the river and the species. Let's allow river operators to operate the river. Let's allow scientists to conduct the science and let judges go back to granting divorces. Allowing a judge with no background in these issues to dictate river operations and subvert the science is totally irresponsible on our part. This is a piece of legislation that clearly is a win for the ratepayers to a tune of $40 million that they would have to do if this decision by the judge stands. It is also a win for taxpayers to the tune of about $16 million. It is a win for the fish by preventing a potentially deadly environmental decision that has no basis in actual science. And, once again, it was the last administration that created the pattern in which we are going. Let's go back to that and do it. Now, if another science or biological opinion needs to be done, let it happen, but don't allow the judge to change what the river operators are saying is the wisest policy until you do that. That is the basis of this particular bill. It helps the power. It helps the fish. It helps all of us. And let's face it, if you are not using that hydropower, you are going to have to pick up fossil fuel power to make up the difference--see which one actually is healthier for the environment. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for doing this, and I urge all in the House to support this legislation which is a bipartisan bill that has bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Shuster for agreeing to help expedite consideration of this bill today. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, April 12, 2018. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC Dear Mr. Chairman: I write regarding H.R. 3144, to provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes. The bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural Resources, with an additional referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I ask that you allow the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Natural Resources to memorialize our understanding. Thank you for your consideration of my request and for the extraordinary cooperation shown by you and your staff over matters of shared jurisdiction. I look forward to further opportunities to work with you this Congress. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington State (Ms. Herrera Beutler), who lives in this area and knows firsthand what is taking place there.