Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Chairman, this amendment does nothing to fix the unworkable reporting requirements in the underlying bill. This amendment would require an agency to report if a proposed rule duplicates or overlaps with an existing regulation. Executive Order 13563, issued by President Obama in 2011, already requires agencies to review rules for duplication and overlap. This amendment, itself, is duplicative and adds an unnecessary requirement without fixing the underlying problem. I oppose this amendment, along with the underlying bill, and urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of mine, Marine Private First Class Giles McCoy, and the rest of the USS Indianapolis crew who were on board before the ship was tragically sunk on July 30, 1945 just after midnight. Of the 1,196 members who were on board, 900 were able to make it into the water. The men floated in the water while at the mercy of the sharks lurking beneath them. The Captain of the ship was not alerted that there were enemies in the water due to the fact that his ship was carrying crucial parts for the atomic bomb. The crew was sure that they would be rescued after they did not show at their destination; however, due to the secrecy of the mission, the Navy did no such thing. Slowly, the men perished in the water due to lack of hydration and the merciless shark attacks that kept on coming. Out of the 900 men who made it into the water, only 317 made it out alive. They were accidently spotted by Lieutenant Gwinn while he was on patrol in an airplane. This event happened four days after the ship sunk. They were rescued after five. Tragically, the Navy court martialed Captain McVay for not taking precautions like zig zagging his ship to avoid enemy fire; however, he was not made aware of the possible enemies lurking nearby the vessel. Captain McVay was shamed publically for being responsible for the deaths of his crew. He was a recipient of so much hate mail that he tragically committed suicide in 1968. He was seventy years old. The surviving crew has publically said that they do not believe the Captain was at fault, and in 1999 a hearing was held with a survivor, in the Senate. One survivor, Cleatus Lebow, said at the hearing that Captain McVay was unjustly court martialed. His name was cleared with a Senate resolution in the year 2000. In 2001, the Secretary of the Navy ordered Captain McVay's record to be cleared. The brave crewmembers inspired many movies like Men of Courage that was released in 2016. I stand here today to honor my constituent who survived the sinking, Marine Private First Class Giles McCoy. I honor all of the crew that perished and those who survived.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Michael Brown, one of my constituents and a victim of gun violence at the hands of a trigger happy policeman. Michael Brown never received a moment of silence on this House floor.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1815 clarifies and updates several laws related to the management of Federal land in eastern Nevada. This bill is cosponsored by the entire Nevada delegation, and I recognize its passage is important to the people of eastern Nevada. I want to thank the majority and the sponsor for working with the Bureau of Land Management to address many of their concerns. Resolving those concerns and working with the BLM turn this bill into a proposal we can support. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. By expanding the boundaries of the Shiloh National Military Park in the State of Tennessee, H.R. 87 will assist the National Park Service in its efforts to preserve and interpret resources associated with the Civil War. The bill adjusts the boundary of the park to include several sites identified in the 2004 boundary expansion study conducted by the National Park Service. This bill also establishes the Parker's Crossroads Battlefield as an associated area of the National Park System, providing even broader opportunities to interpret the Civil War story. Associated sites, such as Parker's Crossroads Battlefield, continue to highlight the value of State and local partnerships in the preservation of our national heritage. By incorporating three additional sites related to the Siege of Corinth into the park and under the management of the National Park Service, this bill guarantees the lasting conservation of these places of knowledge and remembrance. The emphasis that we all need to place on preserving our country's history cannot be overstated, and the Civil War is a chapter in our national story that continues to shape the thoughts and actions of this country over 150 years after its conclusion. The struggles and personal conflicts that were faced by millions of soldiers and the impact on families throughout and after the war have provided us with many lessons--lessons that continue to remain relevant today. We can only ensure that we continue to learn from past struggles, triumphs, and mistakes if we make the effort to set aside special places for future generations. Parks, such as Shiloh National Military Park, offer countless opportunities for us to explore the rich history and lessons of the past. These opportunities are most effective when visitors to these sites can immerse themselves in the full setting of the area and gain a true understanding of the historical context, which is something that this expansion of the Shiloh National Military Park will achieve. I thank Representative Blackburn for her hard work and commitment to protecting the historical resources in her State, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The six Nevada tribes that are affected by this legislation want to expand their reservations for a variety of purposes, including for recreational use, residential construction, and energy and mineral development. H.R. 2733 will allow the tribes to pursue these goals. By passing this bill, they will be able to preserve their cultural heritage and traditions, expand housing for their members, and realize new economic development opportunities. The final legislation is the result of years of negotiations between the tribes, the Federal Government, the State of Nevada, and local stakeholders. I commend my colleague from Nevada (Mr. Amodei) for his work on behalf of the Nevada tribes and on this legislation. I urge its quick adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As introduced, H.R. 3070 would have had sweeping negative impacts. It would have redrawn the boundary of the exclusive economic zone in an area between Montauk Point, New York, and Block Island, Rhode Island, allowing for the State management of fishery resources that are currently managed by the Federal Government. It would have barred Connecticut fishermen from using the area at all, and it would have eliminated a key sanctuary for striped bass at the very time the species needs stronger conservation measures. Fortunately, the Natural Resources Committee was able to address those flaws at markup and is able to bring forward a bill today that does not have any unintended consequences. The current version of H.R. 3070 simply clarifies that the Secretary of Commerce has the authority to issue regulations that govern recreational fishing for striped bass in the Block Island Transit Zone. This area is currently closed to striped bass fishing, and I join the vast majority of recreational anglers in the region in urging fisheries' managers to keep it that way. That said, we do support the bill before us today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge the body to adopt H.R. 3070. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3826 clarifies the terms of a land exchange between the Forest Service and Mount Hood Meadows, a privately held ski resort. Last year, the Forest Service and Mount Hood Meadows engaged in mediation to resolve the issues that have held up the exchange. This bill is the result of that mediation, and its passage will ensure that, after 6 long years, the exchange will finally move forward. I want to thank the sponsors from Oregon, Representative Walden and Representative Blumenauer, for their hard work and commitment to resolving this issue. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the sponsor and my good friend, and commend him for bringing this legislation to the floor.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank Ranking Member Grijalva for bringing forward this legislation. I urge its quick adoption. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Chair, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) for yielding. I rise today in strong support of this amendment as offered by Mrs. Wagner. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's decision to locate their new western headquarters in north St. Louis was the right choice to support their vital national security mission, the best decision for the over 3,000 exceptional Federal employees who work there, and it will transform a great Federal failure into a transformational Federal success. The misguided and shortsighted attempt to withhold funding from this project not only is petty and parochial, it is completely irresponsible because delaying this project would put our national security at risk. NGA Director Robert Cardillo said it best in his message to his employees on April 1. Director Cardillo said: ``The future of our agency and our profession rests on our present talent and that of the next generations we can recruit onto our team. We face tough competition, and offering an environment that appeals to these future generations is critical to our success. Studies point to a desire by today's millennials to be in urban environments, and this trend is expected to continue.'' He went on to say: ``Our partnership with industry and academia will continue to grow and expand as we transform some of our work to a more open, connected and transparent environment. Our ability to engage with local universities and innovative, technology-based companies is enhanced by remaining in St. Louis city. I am confident that we will build a facility in St. Louis that will be a remarkable home for us to master our craft and engage with our partners in a flexible, technologically advanced environment that is enticing to current and future generations.'' I urge my colleagues to support the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable Servant of God and long-time inspiring leader in St. Louis, Missouri, Reverend Dr. Ronald L. Bobo, Sr. He is being honored for his thirty years of service to his congregation on June 12, 2016, at the 30th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration of West Side Missionary Baptist Church, ``One Unified Church in Two Locations''. He has set, and continues to set, a standard of excellence in spiritual leadership, social justice, and religious leadership that has been equaled by few other people. Rev. Bobo has provided for three decades, and continues to provide, exceptional outreach services, not only to his congregation and to the citizens of St. Louis, but also to people around the world. He serves with great distinction in many capacities including as Foreign Mission Secretary for the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri and as Executive Director/Founder of Sharing Hope International Ministries. Rev. Bobo's ministry is par excellence. God's Light continues to shine brightly on this St. Louisan who has emerged to become one of the most effective religious leaders in the nation. He has worked tirelessly to help the disadvantaged and disenfranchised as well as uplift and inspire the souls and hearts of people in twenty-nine countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, as well as both North and South America. Rev. Dr. Bobo, Sr. is a person of great integrity, a gentleman and a scholar, and a man with a warm smile and a caring heart whose highest mission is to help others. He is a minister extraordinaire, beloved husband, father, and dedicated public servant. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members of Congress to join me in honoring Reverend Dr. Ronald Bobo, Sr. on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at West Side Missionary Baptist Church for his 30th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration. I applaud this eloquent, compassionate, and dynamic Pastor for his role in being an agent for transformative change, and for his strong commitment to confront hopelessness, injustice, and inequality wherever he finds it to exist.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank the chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Mr. Chaffetz. Today I rise in support of the National Bison Legacy Act. This bill will adopt the North American bison as the national mammal of the United States. I also want to thank my colleague from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem) for her cosponsorship of this legislation. The bison are dear to me because they have a historical and spiritual link to the United States Colored Troops who were first organized in 1863 to 1866 as the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the four all-Black infantry regiments. Despite facing relentless racism and woefully inadequate military supplies, nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers because of their tireless marching and dogged trail skills, they had earned the name of the rugged and revered buffalo. By way of reference, my great-great- grandfather and his brother were members of the Buffalo Soldiers after coming out of slavery. The North American bison is a unifying symbol in the United States. Once numbering in the tens of millions, bison were nearly extinguished by the 1880s, with the travesty borne most by Native Americans whose fate was intertwined with the buffalo. In 1905, visionary ranchers, tribes, industrialists, sport hunters, and conservationists joined President Theodore Roosevelt in a monumental effort to reverse the American bison's demise. Now over 60 tribes are working to restore bison to over 1 million acres of Native American lands. Bison production on private ranches is in its strongest economic condition in more than a decade. The National Bison Legacy Act enjoys broad bipartisan support in both Chambers of Congress, as well as support from a coalition of over 60 organizations, including Native American tribes, ranchers, and government agencies. The list keeps growing. I look forward to working with all of you to make this bill become law and honor a great American icon, the bison. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time and ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) control the remainder of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable gentleman and long-time workers' rights icon in Washington, D.C., Mr. Robert ``Bob'' McGlotten, who departed this world on March 12th, 2016. He was a labor rights trailblazer, champion for positive social change, beloved husband, father, and dedicated public servant. He set a standard of excellence in labor reform, social justice, and national leadership that has been equaled by few other people. Bob was a trailblazer who made history and changed America for the better. He served the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) in many capacities including as its Legislative Director, the first African American to serve in that high position, where he championed the rights of millions of working men and women for nearly three decades. One of his key accomplishments was to increase union involvement in employment programs across the country. His career included his exceptional service as a board member for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation as well as his work as a special assistant to former Secretary of Labor Peter Brennan. Bob came from humble beginnings, but rose to become one of the nation's most powerful and effective union leaders. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with my father, former Congressman Bill Clay, as they worked tirelessly to promote and protect the rights of the American worker. I have known him since I was a child. A grand and gracious gentleman, he was a visionary. My Mom and Dad, and indeed our entire family, have wonderful memories of him. We always regarded him as a person of great integrity, a gentleman and a scholar, and a man who possessed both a warm smile and a caring heart. My thoughts and prayers are with Bob's family, associates, and colleagues at this painful hour. He is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Cheryl; his dear daughters Karen, Darlene and Roben; and his cherished sisters Patricia and Teresa Sparks; along with 10 grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends. I too have a heavy heart, as I reflect on our many years of enduring friendship. Bob was an incredible person who touched the hearts of people throughout the country that he served so ably and so well. May God bless him with perfect peace and eternal rest and may He bless all who mourn him with strength, faith, and renewed dedication to continue his good works. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members of Congress to join me in honoring the memory of Bob McGlotten for his legacy of honor and his strong commitment to confront injustice and inequality wherever he found it.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I, too, am pleased to join my colleagues--in particular, my friend from California (Mr. Issa)--in the consideration of H.R. 136. Camp Pendleton, located in southern California, is the West Coast's largest expeditionary training facility for the U.S. Marine Corps. In the over 230 years of Camp Pendleton's existence, hundreds of thousands of brave men and women have made great sacrifices there to protect our country. Many of these courageous marines and Navy corpsmen have posthumously received the Medal of Honor, our Nation's highest award for valor, in recognition of their extreme heroism and selflessness. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to commemorate the heroic actions members of our military take every day to defend our freedom. The Medal of Honor recipients who have passed through Camp Pendleton have earned our eternal gratitude. By naming this post office in their honor, we show them the respect they deserve. I urge passage of H.R. 136. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me first thank my colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell), as well as the majority party for working with us to get this bill to this forum and to get it ready for passage. I rise in strong support of the Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments. I have introduced this bill in each of the last four Congresses, and I am hopeful that this time the bill will make it to enactment. The Federal Advisory Committee Act is one of our core open government laws. FACA is intended to ensure that advisory committees provide objective advice and operate with transparency. Over time, however, agencies have implemented FACA inconsistently and judges have created loopholes in the law. This bill closes the loopholes that allow agencies to get around the Act. Currently, agencies can avoid FACA's requirements by conducting committee business through subcommittees. This bill makes it clear that FACA applies to subcommittees as well as to the parent committees. The bill also clarifies that a committee that is set up by a contractor is subject to FACA if it is formed under the direction of the President or an agency. Under FACA, agencies would be required to disclose how advisory members are chosen, whether they have financial conflicts of interest if they are appointed to provide their own expertise, and who they work for if they are representing a specific interest. This bill includes changes to lower the cost of implementation based on discussions with the Congressional Budget Office. Specifically, the bill would include a more streamlined definition of what would be considered a committee under the bill. This bill will make the government more accountable by shedding light on who is advising the government and on how one is advising the government. I thank my colleagues for their cooperation in this effort. This is a good government bill, and I urge its passage. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of S. 1596. Joseph Riley, a native of Grove City, Ohio, excelled in football at Grove City High School. Following his graduation in 2005, he went on to play football at Capital University. In 2012, as was mentioned, Joseph joined the Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Specialist Riley showed a special concern for the people of Afghanistan, believing that the fight was worthwhile in order to improve the lives of others. Specialist Riley's life was tragically cut short when a suicide bomber attacked his vehicle in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing him and seven others. Remembered by friends and colleagues as a superb paratrooper and the kind of friend everyone hopes for in their lives, Specialist Riley's honors, as mentioned, included the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Basic Parachutist Badge. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor the courage and selflessness exhibited by Specialist Joseph Riley and to memorialize the sacrifices he made for our country. I urge the passage of the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Megellas was born and raised in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army following his graduation from Ripon College in 1942. As was mentioned, serving as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II, then-1st Lieutenant Megellas courageously led his platoon in the Battle of the Bulge. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to commemorate the strong leadership Lieutenant Colonel James Megellas exhibited in his courageous defense of our country during World War II. I urge the passage of S. 1826. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, that was quite a description of Mr. Megellas at the young age of--about to be--99. He should be an inspiration to us all. I urge the passage of the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.