Donald Beyer

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor my constituent and Olympic champion, Noah Lyles. Born on July 18, 1997, and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Noah became the fastest man in the world at twenty-seven years old, completing the 100-meter race in 9.79 seconds at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where he brought home the gold medal. He is the first American to win the 100m gold medal since 2004, a remarkable accomplishment that united us as a Nation in pride. Noah also won a bronze medal in the 200-meter race, a reflection of his talent and determination on the world stage. Noah graduated from Alexandria City High School, where he is being honored by his alma mater and the Northern Virginia community, who are incredibly proud of his historic tourney at the Olympics this year. I am thrilled to celebrate his career as six-time world champion and Olympic achievements in his hometown and am hopeful his success will inspire the next generation of young athletes in Northern Virginia and around the country. On behalf of my constituents in Virginia's Eighth Congressional District, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Noah Lyles.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of efforts to rein in deepfakes. This country, and especially our children, are in the middle of a mental health crisis. In 2021, 22 percent of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide, including nearly one in three girls. It is reported that 10 percent of high school students actually attempted suicide, and these trends have been going in the wrong, tragic direction for years. Now deepfakes are exacerbating these problems. Revenge porn wasn't a thing when I was in high school, but now AI allows anyone to create a pornographic image with the click of a button. AI is also being used to improve our mental health response. Lifeline 988 volunteers are trained on artificial intelligence chatbots before interacting with individuals actually in crisis. As the co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and Suicide Prevention Task Force chair, I have long been engaged in efforts to improve resources like 988 and their ability to address the mental health crisis. I look forward to working with my colleagues to tackle the current youth mental health crisis. In different ways it touches every family.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to bring forward this amendment pausing wasteful, unnecessary expenditures on the development of the W87-1 warhead. We are spending billions, yes, billions with a b, on this modernization program, making this the most expensive program of its type. We have increased funding for this one weapon program for reasons that remain murky and unclear, even as the program remains plagued by planning and operational shortcomings. For those not familiar, this warhead modification program will require building additional nonnuclear and nuclear assemblies to replace the W78 warhead. In what might be a warning as to the wisdom of this program, it was restarted in FY 2019 following a 4\1/2\ year pause in its development. When the program was subjected to scrutiny, there were problems. In fact, both priority recommendations from the GAO, the Government Accountability Office, on this program remain open and unaddressed. In 2020, the GAO found that the NNSA does not require the program to follow best practices and they lack an integrated master schedule sufficient to manage the program. Mr. Chair, both failures remain true today. This integrated schedule is particularly important when we consider the challenge of building new facilities. The W87-1 is the first weapon since the end of the Cold War that requires new or remanufactured nuclear and nonnuclear components, so understanding what facilities can be built at what time should be the most basic of requirements. As it stands, the first production unit for this program is not anticipated until 2029 at the earliest. For those who truly want this program to finish on time, taking a pause and reassessing must be our first step; otherwise, we will continue to watch as the program experiences delays, bloat, and cost overruns. A pause in funding will allow us to be conscientious stewards of the taxpayers' money, to evaluate the program and ensure we aren't getting stuck in another sunk-cost fallacy. I understand the threats to our country. However unfortunate it may be, I know nuclear weapons are and will remain a reality of the world. I also know that we should be leaders for nonproliferation and for reducing the threat that nuclear weapons pose. That is why I, on behalf of Congressman John Garamendi, am proposing rational steps in our policy, which will demonstrate that we prioritize reason and judgment over hyperbole and haste. We must demonstrate leadership by showing that we have the wisdom to reassess and readjust when we go astray. A pause would provide time for us to evaluate our nuclear policies and how to best support nuclear nonproliferation worldwide. Mr. Chair, the bottom line is clear. To support our country's bottom line, we should support this amendment and pause funding on W87-1 so that we can conduct necessary and needed assessments before moving forward on this money pit of a weapon. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Mr. Garamendi, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Congressman Garamendi from California, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer a critical amendment pausing wasteful, unnecessary spending on the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility. I offer 12 different, brief reasons why I offer this amendment. The first is that it is unnecessary for deterrence. While we recognize the need to preserve a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent, the current modernization plans are not required to maintain a capable deterrent against a nuclear attack on the United States or its allies for the foreseeable future. The premise of modernizing the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility is to meet a requirement to produce 80 pits per year, a number not grounded in need. America already has more than 4,000 plutonium pits, and we lack scientific data to determine whether or when they need to be replaced without additional plutonium aging studies. The estimated cost of the Savannah River facility has skyrocketed from $3.6 billion to nearly $25 billion since the start of the project. It will likely continue to increase as the program is not scheduled to be completed until 2035, and according to an August GAO report, could be delayed even further until 2038. Continuing to fund this project without addressing its financial inefficiencies diverts crucial resources from other vital defense and domestic programs. The project faces numerous technical and operational challenges, which have resulted in delays and increased costs. A July 2024 GAO report found, yet again, that the National Nuclear Security Administration lacks a comprehensive schedule or cost estimate that meets GAO best practices and has not identified all the activities or milestones to achieve an 80-pit-per-year production capability, recommendations that have remained opened and unaddressed. Similar projects in the past faced similar issues, often resulting in cancellation after significant investments. Learning from these precedents, we should reconsider the current project's viability. The project's history of delays and technical issues suggests a pattern that is unlikely to be resolved without substantial additional costs and time. Robust oversight and accountability mechanisms are essential for managing such high-stakes projects. Unfortunately, this project has demonstrated a lack of effective oversight. The Under Secretary for Nuclear Security testified that Congress will not be able to meet the 80-pit production by 2030, highlighting the program's mismanagement. The construction and operation of the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility poses significant environmental and safety risks. These concerns necessitate a thorough reevaluation of the project's potential impact on the environment and public health. The project's strategic value should be critically assessed in the context of current and future defense needs. Given the evolving geopolitical landscape, alternative approaches to managing the plutonium stockpile may be more effective and less costly. There are more cost-effective and technologically feasible alternatives to address the Nation's plutonium processing needs. Investing in these alternatives could achieve the same strategic objectives without the extensive costs and risks associated with the Savannah River project. Halting this project could bolster U.S. leadership in nuclear nonproliferation efforts, demonstrating a commitment to reducing the global nuclear threat. It provides an opportunity to redirect efforts for its international cooperation and nonproliferation initiatives. A pause in funding allows for a reevaluation of the project's necessity and fiscal prudence, ensuring taxpayer money is spent responsibly. Avoiding a sunk-cost fallacy is essential. Continuing to pour money into a troubled project does not make strategic or economic sense. Ensuring national security does not necessitate continuing with flawed and costly projects. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, this amendment pauses nuclear projects to address cost overruns and mismanagement. If we want responsible development and smart spending, we must pause funding and reassess our approach. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Thomas Hager Blatnik on his 37 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives. For over 37 years, Tom worked right here in the U.S. Capitol. Shortly after graduating from Curry College, he started at the Capitol, working for the Doorkeeper of the House. Over the course of his career, he worked under five different Sergeants at Arms. He was a familiar face to many in the House galleries and check stands, where he greeted hundreds of thousands of visitors. He loved the jobs he held, and it showed. He considered it a genuine honor to work every day in an important place where policy decisions were made and debated and laws were being passed. He took special pride in working in the same place as his father, Congressman John A. Blatnik, who represented Minnesota's Eighth District for 28 years. Like his father, Tom enjoyed sharing information and giving tours of the Capitol, and he never missed a chance to give mementos of the Capitol Building to friends, family, and others he thought would enjoy a token of the place that was so special to him. Tom had great admiration and affection for colleagues he worked with in the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and for the Capitol Police. He valued and admired their dedication, hard work, and bravery and stayed in close touch with many of them after they retired or moved on. He genuinely and deeply cared for others. He had enormous empathy for those with disabilities and those for whom life presented special challenges because he was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. When Congress passed the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, it was deeply meaningful to him, and he considered it a privilege both to be in the front row seat of the House gallery for the debate and was honored to join legislators and other special guests at the White House for the signing of the act into law. I offer my hearty congratulations to Tom and thank him for nearly four decades of service to the U.S. House.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor John Agenor Cannady, Sr., who peacefully passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. John, age eighty- seven, leaves behind a legacy of love, wisdom, and service that is deeply cherished. John was a U.S. Airforce Technical Sergeant, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1954, serving with distinction in various locations worldwide, including Libya, Spain, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, and England. He also served at multiple locations within the United States, Nebraska, Indiana, Kansas, and North Carolina. John retired in 1977, at Pease AFB in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, after serving our country for 23 years. His very noble contributions earned him numerous Air Force Medals, symbolizing his unwavering dedication to his country. Following his military service, John worked in the Intelligence Community, for the U.S. Government, at Raytheon/E-Systems, as an Electronic Technician. There, he continued to serve our National Security community for more than 12 years, and eventually retired with a total of more than 35 years of dedicated service. John Agenor Cannady, Sr. was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Antionette Cannady. He leaves behind five children, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. His legacy lives on through his large and loving family who remember him as filled with profound knowledge, an enthusiastic advocate of education, a generous and wise man.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in firm opposition to this retrograde, revanchist amendment. Today is not the 1920s. It is not the 1950s. It is so disheartening to see a lost-cause amendment come before the House in the year 2024. Mr. Clyde has proposed today that we return a monument to treason to our national cemetery without any accompanying context or education. The monument in question is a basic ode to the Confederacy, to romanticize the lost cause. More troubling than that is that it also glorifies slavery. It is not an emblem of a reconciled people. An enslaved woman is depicted as a mammy. She is holding the infant child of a White officer, and an enslaved man is following his owner to war. It is very difficult to see how the humiliating portrayal of a slave woman and a slave man represents reconciliation. The Arlington National Cemetery, on Congress' orders, not President Biden's orders, removed this monument on December 22, 2023. This amendment is four, if not four score, years too late. The NDAA for 2021 required that Arlington National Cemetery remove the Confederate States of America monument. I think it is important to remember why we removed the memorial in the first place, because treason in defense of slavery is no virtue. This is a monument to a cause that killed hundreds of thousands of American servicemen in a doomed attempt to tear this country asunder to preserve the practice of keeping our fellow humans in bondage. The cause of the Confederacy is no more honorable today than when Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Let it lose today as it did then: With a whimper. The monument has been handled responsibly and respectfully according to the National Historic Preservation Act. This would also be a horrible waste of taxpayer money, and in no way does it support our national defense. It would only make the families and visitors to the Arlington National Cemetery, including our current servicemembers, rightfully uncomfortable or hurt by the association of the monument. This NDAA should be focused on supporting the servicemembers currently dedicating their lives to this country, not those who came closest to destroying it. I urge Members to vote ``no'' if they believe they represent the United States of America, not the Confederate States of America, and if they oppose glorifying slavery and treason.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, before I address this amendment, as a 46-year automobile dealer no longer involved in the family business but still close to my family, I would like to point out that one in six new vehicles sold in America last year was an electric vehicle. Every one we get is sold right away, and I don't see any of the manufacturers having much problem with that. There is a new statement out from the administration this morning that American consumers saved $1 billion in purchasing electric vehicles last year and are anticipated to save another $2 billion in maintenance costs and gasoline costs during the lifetime of the vehicle. We are moving in the right direction very swiftly, not as swiftly as we would like but still very swiftly. Mr. Chair, as co-chair of the Congressional Endangered Species Act Caucus, I rise today in opposition to amendment No. 23 of the National Defense Authorization Act offered by Mr. Biggs of Arizona. I am shocked that we are considering this unpopular amendment once again after it was brutally defeated on this House floor last year with bipartisan support. The widespread public support for the Endangered Species Act hasn't changed much in the last 11 months, but our current biodiversity crisis has surely worsened. The scientific community is screaming from the rooftops that we face a biodiversity crisis. We should be discussing how to better protect our Nation's wildlife, and it is deeply unsettling that some folks here are attacking one of the most popular and effective bills ever to pass the U.S. Congress. This is surely a partisan distraction from an Endangered Species Act that poses absolutely no threat to our national security. Look, the Department of Defense has not asked for this. They consider this a baseless attack on the Endangered Species Act. Once again, to quote my dear friend from Virginia, this is just another classic example of a solution in search of a problem, a problem which does not exist. The Department of Defense already has a strong natural resources program. It has an efficient collaboration with Fish and Wildlife Services that has actually led to the delisting of previously endangered species. In the midst of a biodiversity crisis, we need the ESA to remain strong. We need Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to continue to collaborate with each other to protect endangered wildlife. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to once more see clearly through this distraction and reject this unwanted, unnecessary amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman), one of the great champions of the environment who is not from Northern Virginia.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I seek to honor Lois Madolyn Cross Brooks, who was born on June 13, 1924, in Durham, North Carolina. At the age of one, her family relocated to Alexandria, Virginia. She attended Parker- Gray School in Alexandria, which in 1932 became the first high school for African Americans in Alexandria, who previously had to travel to Washington, D.C. if they wished to continue their education beyond 8th grade. Mrs. Brooks graduated from Parker-Gray School in 1942 along with 26 other students. She worked for the Federal government at the Marine Corps headquarters. She was one of nine children and has one child and two grandchildren. Mrs. Brooks still lives in Alexandria and stays active by reading, following politics, and interacting with young people. I wish her a joyous and healthy centennial birthday.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in firm opposition to H.R. 3935. I am deeply concerned about the provisions that would aggravate dangerous conditions at National Airport. Section 502 would add new flights at National, already dramatically over capacity. Last month, there was a near miss where two airplanes almost collided at DCA on the busiest runway in America. Today, over a fifth of all flights at DCA are delayed on average for over an hour. We have heard from Secretary Buttigieg, the FAA, and the Airport Authority. They have serious concerns about safety and increased delays if more flights are added. Importantly, the House has already spoken and rejected this. I am grateful for the leadership of Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen, but we should not accept a backroom deal between Senators to reflect special interests. The Senate refused to consider floor amendments that would have restored the House language because those who crafted this bill knew they would lose that vote. It is painful that this measure is still in the bill, despite widespread bipartisan opposition. I cannot support a bill that hurts my constituents, disrespects all the elected leaders from Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., and directly harms our airport and the passengers who use it.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to flag an issue on the Coast Guard reauthorization. One particular provision in the bill can negatively impact offshore wind. Installing monopiles for offshore wind requires a specialized fleet and planning. The U.S. fleet does not currently include certain offshore wind-specific vessels, which are the linchpins in construction. With the current bill language mandating exclusive use of domestic crews on a few foreign vessels, it could lead the few vessels that can install offshore wind to exit the U.S. market altogether. Right now, adding these crewing requirements for certain international vessels would freeze offshore wind construction. Offshore wind is essential to achieving our decarbonization goals, but it is a brand-new industry in the United States. It needs time to build a supply chain from the ground up. I have been proud of Dominion Energy's recent announcement that the first Jones Act-compliant vessel, Charybdis, is on track to be completed by late 2024. The offshore wind industry in America is investing in more than 40 American vessels, all of which will be required to have all-American crews, but until we have these vessels, we will be reliant on foreign vessels. The stipulations in this bill would impede the involvement of the current fleet necessary to kick-start these projects and give the U.S. any viable alternatives. The absence of these specialized vessels would mean that numerous American ships and mariners would lose employment opportunities, and there would be no offshore wind farms to build or maintain. We can address this and find a fix that avoids job losses for union workers or causes significant delays. While we all champion American jobs in offshore wind, it is important to recognize that this industry is still in its early stages domestically. Mr. Speaker, I urge you to address this issue moving forward as this legislation moves toward conference. It is imperative that we do not stumble as we embark on this promising new industry that holds the potential to enhance our energy security and create thousands of American jobs.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Kevin Lynch on his retirement from National Industries for the Blind (NIB) after serving in various positions within NIB for more than 30 years. For the last 15 years, Kevin has served as president of the organization. When you include his work for two of the nonprofit agencies within the NIB network prior to coming to NIB, his career within the program has spanned 40 years helping to create employment opportunities for people who are blind. I am fortunate to have the headquarters of NIB located in Alexandria, Virginia, within the Congressional District I represent. I have enjoyed opportunities to visit with Kevin and leaders of associated nonprofit agencies over the year. Through its network of associated nonprofit agencies, NIB is the largest employer of people who are blind in the country. NIB notes that they ``create opportunities for people who are blind to become wage earners and taxpayers, reducing their reliance on government support and increasing engagement with their communities.'' I sincerely appreciate these efforts and the critical work NIB does to empower the blind community in Northern Virginia and across the country. I would like to thank Kevin Lynch for his leadership at NIB and his long career in creating jobs for people who are blind. I wish him well in his retirement and honor his legacy over the last 40 years.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. John F. Sargent, Jr. for his dedicated service to the U.S. Congress and the American people with over three decades of federal service while working at the Department of Commerce and at the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Mr. Sargent recently retired from CRS as a specialist in science and technology policy. During his time at the agency, Mr. Sargent made invaluable contributions to Congress with his expertise to national security and economic competitiveness, defense research and development policy; and federal support for manufacturing in high-technology industries. Mr. Sargent was born in Newport News, VA and raised in Alexandria, VA where he attended Bishop Ireton High School captaining the football team his senior year and serving as the president of the Model United Nations club. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in systems engineering and earned a commission in the United States Army. Mr. Sargent served in the Army Reserve where he rose to the rank of Captain. Mr. Sargent begun his career in the private sector with a small publishing company that focused on government publications and then entered federal service at the Department of Commerce, serving as the first public affairs director of the Technology Administration. Mr. Sargent subsequently served as a senior policy advisor to the Under Secretary for Technology and the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy where he coauthored many influential reports on the role of technology in national competitiveness, the information technology workforce, and biotechnology, among other topics. Eventually, Mr. Sargent joined CRS and was instrumental in the Service's coverage of federal research and development programs and activities that contributed to national security and economic competitiveness. He led the agency's analysis of the implementation of the America COMPETES Act as well as its reauthorization. Mr. Sargent took over leadership of CRS' flagship federal research and development funding report and led its annual development for many years. He was recognized in Congress for his expertise on the operations and policies of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Science and Technology Council, and coverage of technology assessment and science and technology advice to Congress. Mr. Sargent served as a senior reviewer for CRS' written products and as a mentor to new analysts. Throughout his career at CRS, he embodied the agency's mission values of providing authoritative, objective, non-partisan, and timely service to Congress. On behalf of the American people, I thank Mr. Sargent for his decades of service to the country.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 764. Rather than celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act and the many species our Nation's most successful conservation legislation has saved, House Republicans have relentlessly targeted the ESA and the wildlife it has protected. As co-chair of the Endangered Species Act Caucus, I am deeply concerned about how House Republicans have proposed to weaken this popular bipartisan framework that preserves our Nation's rich biodiversity. Today's scheme, a bill comically and ironically named Trust the Science Act, ignores what scientists are actually recommending to preserve the iconic gray wolf species and allow them to reach adequate recovery. The protections of ESA have allowed gray wolf populations across the country to stabilize and regain strength, but if delisted nationally, gray wolves will once again be hunted and trapped to extinction. Some of the things that my friend across the aisle has mentioned, where they have been delisted in States, 90 percent of the wolves have been killed already. We have seen proof of this in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Trophy hunting of these beautiful wolves has recently been reintroduced in Wisconsin with States such as Michigan and Minnesota ready to follow suit. Just last week, The Washington Post reported that photos of muzzled, injured wolves have gone viral worldwide, inundating the Wisconsin game and fish department with complaints. If we actually wanted to trust the science, we would see the gray wolf has made progress in their recovery but also that wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains are being killed in dramatic numbers, even the celebrated Yellowstone National Park's gray wolves. Why? To protect livestock? Wolves kill 9 out of every 100,000 cows in America. Wolves overwhelmingly feed on deer and elk, not farm animals, and prefer habitats with high forest coverage. Dogs kill twice as many cattle as wolves and 13 times more sheep. In Colorado, where wolves were recently reintroduced, they have killed one cat so far. Yet, we don't say that all good dogs should go to the gravel pit when dogs kill twice as many cows as wolves. Premature listing not only hinders wolf research, but in this environment, it puts a nationwide target on gray wolf packs. I love my dog. I have seen the emotional complexity of canine consciousness, which they inherited from their ancestors. If you love your dog, thank a wolf. Wolf families are more like human families than almost any other species. They mate for the life of their partner. They keep their children in the pack until they are old enough to look for a mate. Please read Farley Mowat's ``Never Cry Wolf'' to see just how intelligent and charismatic these animals are. We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. Rather than weakening regulations that safeguard important carnivores that strengthen our ecosystems, we should be supporting all current scientific efforts by fully funding the agencies that carry out ESA extinction prevention work. I know appropriations deadlines are quickly approaching. If my colleagues don't like species being delisted, I have a letter they can join. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reflect on the success of the Endangered Species Act so far--a 99 percent success rate, one of the most effective pieces of legislation in our history--and why allocating adequate resources is essential to promoting species recovery and monitoring. Instead of mocking science, we should embrace it. Here is a scientific fact for the fearful among us: Not a single human being in the lower 48 States has been killed by a wolf in the last 100 years. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 746.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the good news for our allies in the Indo-Pacific and the Ukrainian people that the House is finally doing the right thing. Today, moral courage and sound strategic thinking finally defeat the partisan cynicism and political calculation of a small minority of this body who have held our national interests hostage. Some of my colleagues say America should reject our role as the world's dominant power and ignore our geopolitical foes as they move aggressively against our interests and menace our allies. They are wrong. While it is deeply unfortunate that it took this long for wiser voices to prevail, the House is stepping up today to proclaim American strength and send bold support to Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. The Ukrainian people did not choose this war. Ukraine was invaded by a bloodthirsty tyrant who has designs that go far beyond Ukraine. If allowed to expand unchecked, Russian and Chinese aggression will only make a deadly global confrontation more likely. This moment is long overdue, and we can only hope this delay will not result in lasting damage to Ukraine's war effort. It is my deepest hope that this victory in Congress will help make possible Ukraine's ultimate victory on the battlefield.

Mr. BEYER

Mr. BEYER. Madam Chair, I rise in firm opposition to H.R. 6276, the Utilizing Space Efficiently and Improving Technologies Act. Contrary to what the title would suggest, this bill is an irresponsible partisan effort that would seriously harm not only our Federal workforce located in the national capital region, but simply ignores the practical realities of Federal jobs. While I agree that we should always help our agencies run more efficiently and decrease spending where we can, this bill reveals ignorance of the current process the GSA undertakes when it comes to contracting, evaluations, and consolidations. Further, the bill exempts warehouses and laboratories from its space restrictions, but doesn't name secure classified information facilities, SCIFs, as an exempted category. I am concerned that this would cause negative implications for local facilities that have been designed specifically for use of SCIFs and for our national defense work broadly. Finally, this bill offers no consideration for workers with alternative work schedules, people who do field work, people who work nontraditional hours or days, or those who have telework arrangements. Don't get me wrong, many of our colleagues and I support the idea of our Federal agencies consolidating spaces to repurpose parts of their budgets. They have already done that with the Patent and Trademark Office in my district, or to decrease spending, but this bill actually does the opposite because by cutting short contracts we increase spending. GSA already assists agencies with consolidating unused spaces. If you take out the bill language that matches what GSA is already doing, it is easy to read this as just a partisan ploy to move agency headquarters out of the national capital region and attack Federal employees. There is no need to introduce a bill to mandate work that GSA already does and to threaten to remove agency workspaces because of arbitrary building occupancy rates. Madam Chair, I have invested in and managed real estate for many decades. This bill doesn't offer an appropriate metric to evaluate space usage, need, or work productivity. I didn't consider places in my car stores that are occupied by cars instead of people as wasted space. It is a matter of appropriateness. Any Member here who would allow their staff to work from home would be a hypocrite to oppose this bill. We need the best and brightest to want to work for the Federal Government, and we want to utilize telework and nontraditional hours or days where it is appropriate. After all, we want the most productive and effective Federal workforce. Applying 1950s mentalities of butts in seats 5 days a week doesn't reflect the actual work that most Americans do. What if they need to spend every day in a SCIF or at a site visit? For these reasons, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill offered by Representative Titus. Madam Chair, this amendment would ensure that all Federal employees, including those using alternative work schedules, are counted for utilization rates at Federal buildings. This amendment would significantly alleviate some concerns coming from workers who use alternative work schedules and whose access to reliable workspaces would be threatened by this bill. Madam Chair, I include in the Record the text of the amendment. Mr. Beyer moves to recommit the bill H.R. 6276 to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith, with the following amendment: Strike paragraph (7) of section 2(a) of the bill and insert the following: (7). Occupancy.-- (A) In general.--The term ``occupancy'' means the total number of employees covered under section 6101 of title 5, United States Code, that are provided a workspace in a public building or federally-leased space for purposes of carrying out in-person, official duties, as described under such section. (B) Exceptions.--An employee shall be considered to be covered under subparagraph (A) if such employee is a full- time employee for whom a Federal agency has established an alternative workweek schedule pursuant to-- (i) section 6122 of title 5, United States Code; or (ii) section 6127 of such title.

Mr. BEYER. Madam Chair, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit.