Rob Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Yes.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate those who have spoken on this particular piece of legislation. Mr. Graves, I didn't want to be too flippant, although I was, does raise a major point of concern that, on Federal lands and on Federal waters, how we deal with the resources that are there is significant, and they play a role in the entire Nation. But we also have to recognize the role that those States and territories play where we find those particular resources, whether it be offshore on Federal waters or onshore on Federal lands. For us to review that policy is a wise thing we should do. I also am appreciative of the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico for explaining the significance this has for all those areas that have not yet been considered as we deal with a new kind of alternative energy, in this case, wind power. That is significant, and it plays a significant role in the future development of those territories that are using and in which the energy and the cost of energy is more significant than you find on the mainland, and yet we need to find a way to build their economies by having an affordable and renewable and reliable energy source coming in the future. Because of that, I find this to be a significant piece of legislation. I urge adoption, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 792) urging the Secretary of the Interior to recognize the historical significance of Roberto Clemente's place of death near Pinones in Loiza, Puerto Rico, by adding it to the National Register of Historic Places, as amended.

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 yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this has been, for me, an exciting day, as we have talked about bills that provide for the history of this country and move it forward; as we talked about energy, which I find significant, especially for my State, which has so much Federal land and energy available to it; and now you are coming into one of the heroes of my childhood with Roberto Clemente. Mr. Clemente won 12 Gold Gloves; 4 National League batting titles; 12 All-Star Game selections; 2 World Series Championships--although the 1961 still pains me to no end, but he still had two championships--and reached the 3,000-hit milestone. He was the first player born in Latin America to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and was posthumously awarded both the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I still have his baseball cards, and I cherish them. He was a special person not necessarily on the field--he was unique and wonderful--but even off the field he was an even greater individual. His accomplishments off the field speak to the quality of man Roberto Clemente was. He spent his time in the off-season involved in charity work. He also spent his time in the off-season helping the game of baseball in his home in Puerto Rico. He made people's lives better. He ended his life, once again, trying to head a relief effort for Nicaragua. He gave his life in defense of other people. He is definitely someone who is worthy of being remembered in what he did on the ball field, which was spectacular, but what he did at home with real people, which was even better than what he did on the ball field. I am proud to be here and wish to add my support to this resolution to recognize a great, great American hero. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. I just wish that when the Dodgers left him vulnerable in 1966, the Cubbies had picked him up, instead of the Pirates. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 245) to amend the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self Determination Act of 2005, and for other purposes.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. 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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). Much of his bill is incorporated in this. He has been a long-time champion and supporter of this effort. (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I want to do two motions simultaneously here. I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers), and I ask unanimous consent that the remainder of the time be managed by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, section 202(b) of S. 245, the ``Tribal Biomass Demonstration Project Act,'' amends the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (TFPA) to include new authority that directs the Secretary (of Agriculture or the Interior) to enter into a minimum number of contracts or agreements with Indian tribes to enable the tribes to carry out various activities on Federal land. Unlike the current TFPA, which is discretionary, the Secretary must enter into agreements with tribes under this new authority. These activities will benefit the Indian tribes that enter into the agreements as well as the surrounding communities, and they will promote healthy forests to stem the plague of wildfires afflicting many Western communities, tribal and non-tribal alike. As an initial matter, Section 202(e) requires the Secretary to consult with tribes and tribal organizations in developing the eligibility criteria and to make the criteria public within 120 days of enactment. It is critical that the Secretary meet this deadline to ensure that tribes are able to submit applications for projects in the remainder of fiscal year 2019. As provided in the bill, in evaluating tribal projects, the Secretary is directed to weigh several factors. Given the severe impact of wildfires over the past decade, the importance of one of the factors, improving the forest health of Federal land, cannot be emphasized enough. For example, in August of 2015, two wildfires burned more than 255,000 acres of the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State. The fires burned nearly 20 percent of the reservation land base and more than 800 million board feet of timber, making it the most damaging fire event in history in terms of board feet of timber lost on any Indian reservation. As noted in a November 8, 2015, column in the Seattle Times by then-Colville Chairman Jim Boyd and the Gentlelady from Washington, the Honorable Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the damage to the Colville Reservation was amplified because major fire-suppression resources were tied up suppressing fires on undermanaged areas of nearby National Forest land, leaving the Colville Reservation with little protection. The Secretary should, accordingly, give strong weight to tribal proposals that will improve the forest health on Federal land and protect tribal lands. Finally, Section 202(b) requires the Secretary to incorporate, at a tribe's request and to the maximum extent practicable, the tribe's on- reservation management plans in the contracts or agreements under which the tribe will perform the activities on Federal land. The requirement that on-reservation management plans be incorporated into tribal activities on Federal land is an extension of what Congress has already required. For example, since its enactment in 1976, Section 202(b) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act has required the U.S. Forest Service to coordinate the lands use plans for National Forest System lands with tribal management practices. As highlighted over the years in numerous Committee on Natural Resources hearings, tribal land management practices are widely acknowledged as more flexible and as having forest health outcomes superior to those in effect on non-tribal Federal land. The Committee on Natural Resources examined this at an April 10, 2014, oversight hearing on tribal forest management. Compared to federal land managers, tribes find increased forest management efficiencies in the tiered environmental compliance afforded by tribal Integrated Resource Management Plans and the limitation on third party appeals in Bureau of Indian Affairs forestry regulations (which are incorporated into tribal forest management plans). These and other on-reservation management practices could and should be included in agreements under Section 202 at a tribes' request. On a final note, nothing in the TFPA or the amendments made to the TFPA under Sec. 202 of S. 245 provide, or imply a provision, for tribal management of non-tribal interests in Federal land (and non-tribal users of such land) beyond the specific forest management-related functions set forth in the Act.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, Major Brent Russell Taylor is one of six brothers to each wear the uniform of the United States Army. While training Afghan security forces in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Major Taylor was killed by an apparent insider attack on November 3 in Kabul province while in the final months of his deployment. He is survived by his wife, Jennie, and seven children: Megan, Lincoln, Alex, Jacob, Ellie, Jonathan, and Caroline. In Utah, we mourn with the family of Major Taylor and grieve his loss and honor his sacrifice. As Major Taylor and his brothers passed through Basic Combat Training, they learned the seven Army values in great detail. Those values are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage, and Major Brent Taylor lived these values. First, loyalty: Major Taylor swore to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and support and defend our Nation's guiding documents against all enemies. He demonstrated his loyalty to this oath time and time again. Duty: Major Taylor earned a Bronze Star for his outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Iraq. The Army says doing your duty means more than carrying out your assigned tasks. Major Taylor's military service record shows he employed this guidance to the fullest. So, too, does his life outside the military, because Major Taylor was not only Major Taylor, he was also Mayor Taylor. His community and neighbors so entrusted him to lead and provide that they elected him the mayor of North Ogden City in Utah. In that role, he did much more than carry out his assigned tasks. He worked to beautify and improve the city and to create a community that was welcoming to newcomers; and in the predawn morning of his last Christmas on Earth, Mayor Taylor ventured out into the cold to oversee the snowplows and salt trucks as they cleared the roads and made his city safe. Respect: Major Taylor not only enjoyed the respect of his family, community, and fellow servicemembers, but his praises came from across the globe. In a letter from Afghanistan to Mrs. Taylor following her husband's death, an Afghan aviator said: ``Your husband taught me to . . . treat my children as treasured gifts, to be a better father, to be a better husband, and to be a better man.'' A man does not receive that level of praise without first showing his own grand measure of respect. Selfless service: As a high school senior in Chandler, Arizona, Brent delivered the honor speech at graduation, and his instruction to the audience was: ``Go out. Be happy. Find peace and make a positive difference in the world.'' Major Taylor left his family and American soil on four deployments to serve and ``make a positive difference in the world.'' In that same honor speech, he gave the order to ``stick with it to the end.'' He, himself, did just that. Honor: Major Taylor honored his faith, his family, his community, and his country throughout his short life. Brent's social media postings are replete with photos of his children and family. They show images of love and service and patriotism, qualities of a man, a husband, and a father who honors his family and country. In his last Facebook post, Brent implored that we all remember: ``We have far more as Americans that unites us than divides us.'' And he ended the post with the words, ``God Bless America.'' Integrity: The Army says that integrity is a quality you develop by adhering to moral principles, and the more choices you make based on integrity, the more this highly prized value will affect your relationships with family and friends. The days since the sad passing of Major Taylor have been filled with an outpouring of love and grief expressed by those who knew Brent. His integrity left an impression, and his integrity affected his relationships. Finally, personal courage: In September of 2007, Major Taylor was commanding a convoy in Iraq when he was hit by an insurgent IED. His vehicle was struck by shrapnel, asphalt, and concrete debris. For the wounds received in action, Major Taylor was awarded the Purple Heart, and he would go on to deploy twice more. Brent Taylor stood as an example of personal courage. He lived the Army Values. In April of this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs opened a facility in North Ogden City. It is a place where veterans and their families can go to receive counseling and support. It is a place located in the heart of Brent Taylor's hometown. As a small gesture to his service and his sacrifice, I have introduced a bill to name that VA facility the ``Major Brent Taylor Vet Center Outstation.'' The naming of a building will never repay the debt our Nation owes Major Taylor or his family, but it can stand as a humble reminder of the citizen soldier who lost his life in the service of others.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, this week, my State lost a friend and a statesman. James V. Hansen, Utah's longest serving Member of this body, passed away on Wednesday. My condolences go out to his wife, Ann, as well as the rest of the Hansen family. During his 22 years of service in the House, Jim became the first Utahn in history to assume the responsibilities of a full committee chairman. In 1997, Jim was chosen to be chair of the infamous Ethics Committee, where former Leader Armey said: ``It is one of the most extraordinary trusts that a body could put in another person.'' In 2001, Jim was named chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. He was a trailblazer, not just for Utah, but for me. I followed him into the State legislature; as Speaker of the House in Utah; as a Member of this body; also as a chairman of the Western Caucus, which Jim founded; and, finally, as chairman of the Resources Committee. I will be forever grateful for the time he took to mentor me in each and every one of these roles. His impact on my life and many others cannot be overstated. As chairman of the Resources Committee, Jim prioritized wise use of public lands while developing sound energy policies and passing numerous conservation bills. As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, he defended Hill Air Force Base, as well as the importance of U.S. military needs. Jim accomplished much without ever succumbing to arrogance. He was a good man, a fine leader, and a cherished man. He will be missed.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day of Taiwan and its ongoing relationship with the United States. Relations between our two countries were cemented with the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) in 1979 and have flourished for nearly 30 years. Throughout the decades, Taiwan and the United States have continuously stood strong together against a number of challenges, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to one another's mutual security and prosperity. This commitment was first enshrined in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (TRA) and was supplemented by the Six Assurances by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. The TRA and the Six Assurances form the foundation of America's unshakable relationship with Taiwan and today, I would like to express my personal and continuing support for these pillars of our strategic partnership. Our ongoing commitment to cooperation also extends into the areas of trade and economics. In 2017, Taiwan was ranked as the 11th largest trading partner of the United States, the 11th largest U.S. export market and the 7th largest market for U.S. agricultural products. Taiwan has imported $3.57 billion of food and agricultural products from the U.S. representing more than 28 percent of total imports of those products. Taiwan also regularly sponsors trade missions to the United States in pursuit of agricultural products. Last year, these missions culminated in the signing of letters of intent to purchase approximately $2.8 billion in U.S.-produced grains between 2018 and 2019. Similar missions are organized by the U.S. Commercial Service to assist U.S. companies in identifying opportunities in Taiwan. One such mission was recently organized in conjunction with the World Trade Center of Utah and led by Governor Gary Herbert to assist Utah-based companies, and other Western states, to network in Taiwan. I will continue to seek avenues where we can work together to further promote not only Utah-Taiwan relations, but U.S.-Taiwan relations in general. I hope my colleagues will join me in promoting this cooperation wherever possible. Once again, I am proud to recognize Taiwan's National Day, and look forward to many years of friendly and prosperous relations between our two nations.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Chair, this bill is the result of more than 6 years of work with commercial and recreational fishing groups, the seafood industry, coastal communities, and both sides of the aisle. It is a bipartisan bill that codifies the Obama-era guidelines and provides flexibility for fishery managers. It is a good bill, but I do want to address some of the inconsistencies that have been circulated by Members or NGOs. At least let me hit some of the most gross inaccuracies. In dissenting views, it was written that: Don Young agreed to work with Democratic Members and the staff to develop a bipartisan bill. Unfortunately, Chairman Bishop pulled the plug on promising negotiations and rushed to markup with a half-baked mash-up of bad ideas. This bill was a year in negotiation. Our efforts of trying to put numerous provisions on the table and accepting additional Democratic provisions were simply labeled as nonstarters. Every time Mr. Young agreed to a change, another issue came up. It is a perfect example of Lucy pulling the ball out from under Charlie Brown. Mr. Young is Charlie Brown. Mr. Chair, I am appreciative, though, of certain off-committee Democrats who jumped at the opportunity to compromise. I especially want to thank Mr. Veasey and Mr. Green for their willingness to work across the aisle and assist with cosponsoring this particular bill. Opponents of this bill said there is no science; that it is being taken out of the management decisions. Science and data appear 34 times throughout the bill. Sections 207, 208, 301, 303, and 306, all require the Secretary to use science, which means, if Mr. Young were trying to remove science from his bill and the process, he really did a crappy job at it. This bill is also coming with the old canard that we are going to start overfishing. There is nothing in this bill that removes basic requirements that prevent overfishing, and it is consistent with guidelines for fishery management that were put forth in the Obama administration. Another dissenting point that was made says that this bill is nothing more than a partisan measure. It is a cute idea, but something that is simply not there. Letters from scientists, many of them--in fact, most of them--do not conduct the type of research that underpins fisheries management. All have said that all of these agencies, the ESA, NEPA, and the Antiquities Act, whatever, are going to be destroyed because of this bill. There was one specifically from the Seafood Harvesters of America that was brought to my attention because in that particular letter that was dated in June of this year, the group claimed that section 12 repealed sections of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. That is really cute because there is no section 12 in this act. Section 12 hasn't been a part of this bill since November of 2017. In the opposition letters to this particular bill, there have always been references to previous versions of the bill, or they failed to recognize significant changes that were added, compromises that were added by both Mr. Young and Mr. Graves in their manager's amendment. The kind of rhetoric that is opposed to this particular bill that we are seeing, in the past from NGOs, embodies what is wrong with Washington. I hope that everyone can see these kind of glaring inaccuracies I am proud to support this bill. This bill does provide science. This bill does go through the process. This bill does move us forward. This bill does help commercial fishing and recreational fishing and the communities that are involved there. It is a good step forward. It has been 6 years in the coming. It has been 1 year of heavy work right now. It needs to go forward. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity of speaking and supporting this bill.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Chair, I want to speak about the production of the Tomahawk cruise missile. The Tomahawk is a battle-tested weapon that has been used in combat over 2,300 times. Tomahawks were launched in 2016 and again in April of this year in response to the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons. The Tomahawk continues to be a credible, standoff weapon that provides lethal effects while keeping American fighting men and women in relative safety. The 2018 National Defense Strategy prioritizes action against near- peer nations with significant area-denial capabilities. The Tomahawk is the Nation's preferred weapon to carry out this difficult mission. Halting production and devastating the missile's industrial base is ill-advised as the threat of near-peer warfare increases.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the committee's support for the program and was encouraged to see additional funding for increased Tomahawk missile production in FY18. I would like to emphasize that this funding was provided at the Navy's request. However, I understand that the Navy recently informed the committee that they intend to utilize this for purchasing support equipment instead of missiles, as the committee intended.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Chair, I agree with the chairwoman that the Navy's disregard for congressional direction and intent is unacceptable. I appreciate her support for this important war-fighting capability. I look forward to resolving this issue in conference.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5751) to redesignate Golden Spike National Historic Site and to establish the Transcontinental Railroad Network, as amended.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. May 10, 1869, is one of the most significant dates that we have in American history because that is the date when a congressionally mandated provision to try to unite the two oceans on this continent Nation together actually came into being. The final spike that was put into this effort that was originated by Congress and, actually, oddly enough, Congress had to get them to stop going at different directions and come together at one point, took place in Promontory Summit in my State of Utah, in my district, about 30 miles from where I live. This is a prominent symbol of the most significant achievement we had in the 19th century. It is, for transportation, as significant as landing a man on the moon would be for the 20th century. Having the rail system go in there meant that some of my ancestors who had to walk every step across the plains, taking months to get to Utah, could now do it in 7 days on the new train that was going through there. This is one of those things that has the support of the National Park Service, which wants to make sure that some of the less visual parks are given the quality attention they deserve, to make them something that is important for the future history of this country. So it is not just going to be a park. This is going to be a historic park, and it is going to be part of a transcontinental railroad network that will take all sorts of other activities that deal with transportation within the area, allow them to make them more public, and allow people to spend several days visiting different areas. It is also important since, ironically, within a few miles of this location is also the site where most of the motors that were made for outer space travel were also built at the same time. This can also become a hub of truly educational value about transportation in both the 19th century as well as the 20th century. It can also be an opportunity to tell the story of the literally thousands of immigrants who helped build the system going both ways in both directions. And it establishes a process so that challenges that have been longstanding with neighboring landowners can be resolved in an easy and simple way not only now but also going into the future. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill which will make the Golden Spike a national historical park in time for the 150th birthday which will be May 10, 2019. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I invite all of you out next May 10 to a celebration at this site. It will be a party you will not forget. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues' adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.