Liz Cheney

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, by direction of the House Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of S. 4684, the House version of which will be coming to the floor today to honor former Thermopolis, Wyoming, Postmaster Robert Brown. We will be renaming the U.S. Post Office located at 440 Arapahoe Street in Thermopolis as the Robert L. Brown Post Office. Bob Brown's career with the Postal Service spanned 44 years, including 18 years as the postmaster. Brown and his wife, Jerry, who was Senator Mike Enzi's first Sunday school teacher, are also the parents of Senator John Barrasso's wife, Bobbi. After graduating from Thermopolis High School, Brown was inducted into the Army in 1944 and served in both the European and Pacific theaters. In 1950, when he was in the National Guard, Brown deployed to Korea, where he was a member of the 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. Along with a unit citation, he received a combat infantry badge and the Purple Heart. After his service, Bob returned to Thermopolis and began working at the post office. Decades of service to his community, to his State, and to his country mean that it is absolutely fitting that the Thermopolis Post Office should bear Bob's name, and I am proud to sponsor this legislation.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, today the House will consider H.R. 6016, designating the United States Postal Service facility in Arizona as the Marc Lee Memorial Post Office Building. This is a fitting honor and tribute to Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Alan Lee for his heroic actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. On August 2, 2006, while on patrol in Ramadi, Marc Lee fearlessly exposed himself to direct enemy fire in order to protect the lives of his teammates. He gave his life for his brothers and for our freedom. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions that day. In the words of Jocko Willink, commander of Task Unit Bruiser, Marc's unit in Iraq, Marc was ``one of those rare men, those true heroes, the ones who rose above the rest of us to symbolize courage and faith and selflessness and love.'' As we honor Marc Lee today, let us all recommit ourselves to cherishing the freedom for which he died and to living lives worthy of the sacrifice of all our men and women who have given their lives for our liberty. God bless Marc and his family, and God bless the United States of America.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this NDAA conference report named after a true American patriot, our Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mac Thornberry, whom we will very much miss and who has dedicated his career to serving this Nation. Mr. Speaker, I also thank the chairman of our committee, Mr. Smith, for his work on this bipartisan product. Congress has no greater responsibility, Mr. Speaker, than providing for the defense of our Nation. At a time when the United States faces the most complex array of threats in our history, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that our servicemembers have the tools they need to deter and defeat our adversaries. The 2021 defense bill before us today makes critical progress towards modernizing our military, supporting our military families, protecting supply chains, and deterring Russia and China. At this crucial moment when we have troops deployed overseas, including those from Wyoming's 153rd, 187th, and 243rd Air National Guard units, it is imperative that they have the full support of the United States Congress behind them as they execute their missions. Failure to pass this act would force hundreds of thousands of our men and women in uniform and their families to endure cuts to their pay right before the holidays. Over 250,000 military families would lose their hazardous duty pay. Given the sacrifices they make for all of us, our troops should never have their livelihoods threatened by political battles in Washington, D.C. In addition to all that this NDAA does to support our troops, it also builds on the Trump administration's successful efforts to counter the Chinese Communist Party, including through provisions I authored that require publication of the names of Chinese Communist military companies operating in the United States. It also includes my bipartisan provision seeking to reduce DOD's dependence on China for critical rare earth minerals. States like Wyoming are blessed with these resources, and we must rebuild our Nation's capacity to mine and process rare earths here at home. This legislation funds the modernization of our nuclear triad and contains crucial provisions to strengthen our deterrence capability in the Indo-Pacific. American security requires that we maintain a military that is second to none, that we arm our troops with the world's best equipment, and that we provide for their families. Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line to defend our freedom. We owe them the tools to do their job. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this year's NDAA, and I urge all my colleagues to vote for it.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the International Association of Drilling Contractors on its 80th anniversary as a trade association. In 1940, the International Association of Drilling Contractors, commonly known as IADC, was formed to address the need for a collective voice advocating for the interests of the oil and natural gas contract drilling industry. Since then, IADC has been the world's leader in developing drilling safety protocol and standard operating procedures. Today, IADC continues to exemplify the ideal model of leadership and remains committed to teaching the core values of safety, environmental stewardship, and continuous improvement of technology to generation after generation of America's energy workforce. Over the years, IADC has maintained 1,000 plus members worldwide, seventeen regional chapters, seven student chapters, and has accredited the training of nearly 2 million persons employed in the oil and gas industry, many of which have been hardworking Wyomingites. With six member companies operating in-state, IADC plays a critical role in the exploration and production of Wyoming's vast natural gas and oil reserves. Madam Speaker, I would like to extend my gratitude to the International Association of Drilling Contractors for eighty years of unwavering competence, professionalism, and commitment in support of the transformational drilling industry that sustains the energy intensive demands of our modern society.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. H.R. 3349 would authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia, commemorating those who, as representatives of the Republic of Texas, served in Washington, D.C., as diplomats to the United States, and made possible the annexation of Texas as the 28th State. Texas legation sites in Paris and London have been recognized with historical markers for many years, but never here in Washington, D.C. The Texas diplomatic ministers who came to Washington worked out of the boarding houses in which they lived. Eight boarding houses have been identified with varying degrees of supporting evidence. This bill would allow the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to place memorial plaques in honor of these diplomats. Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4957 reauthorized three programs that are intended to prevent cases within our Indian communities of child abuse, neglect, family violence, and trauma, as well as providing treatment for victims of Indian child sexual abuse. The authorization for appropriations for these three programs expired in 1997. This bill also makes important underlying technical changes to the statute, requiring agency reports on grant awards. Madam Speaker, while the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act is one of the only federally dedicated child abuse prevention and victim treatment programs providing funding for Tribal governments, Congress has only appropriated approximately $5 million for this program. I am grateful to the sponsor for bringing our attention to this important issue as we all work together to end abuse, neglect, and violence across our States and on our reservations. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, S. 294 recognizes the important role that business incubators can play in generating economic growth and economic activity and supporting our Tribal businesses. I thank my colleague very much for bringing this legislation to the floor here in the House. As defined in this bill, Madam Speaker, a business incubator is an organization that provides physical workspace and facilities resources to startups and established businesses. As my colleague has pointed out, there are many challenges that are unique to our Tribal communities that this bill will help to focus on and help members of our Tribes overcome. By offering services that range from workplace enhancement, comprehensive skills training, and networking assistance, business incubators have been a reliable and consistent solution to many of the challenges startup businesses face around the country and to many of the challenges that continue to plague Indian Country. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 895. As my colleague from New Mexico described it, this bill would enable Tribal grant school employees to participate in the Federal Health Benefits Program. Under current law, the Bureau of Indian Education employees and tribally managed schools operating under a self-determination contract are already eligible for this benefit. It is time that we helped Tribal grant schoolteachers. This bill will not only provide parity for the benefits that employees receive at other schools serving Native children, but it will help keep essential moneys focused on education itself. I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, my colleague Congressman Dusty Johnson, for his thoughtful leadership on this issue. This stand-alone legislation will go a long way to help Tribal grant schools during the COVID-19 recovery period and beyond. I am disappointed, however, Mr. Speaker, that the Democrat majority has refused to act on S. 886, the Indian Water Rights Settlement Extension Act. S. 886 includes the text of this bill and would also help Tribes in one of the hardest hit COVID-19 regions of the country, the Navajo Nation, which has cited lack of water as a complication for fending off and defeating this deadly virus. S. 886 addresses this very issue by ensuring better access to water for the Tribe. Unfortunately, the majority has let this water settlement agreement for the Navajo collect dust. It has been 90 days since the Senate passed this bipartisan bill. Despite repeated requests for its consideration, the Democrats have taken no action to see this critical agreement enacted into law. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from Navajo President Nez asking Speaker Pelosi to schedule a vote on final passage on S. 886. The Navajo Nation, Window Rock, AZ, July 28, 2020. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Republican Leader, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: We respectfully request that you schedule a vote on final passage of S. 886, the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act (NUWRSA), before the House leaves for the August recess. As discussed and explained in our June 22, 2020 letter to the House, nearly 40 percent of the Navajo Nation lacks running water or adequate sanitation in their homes. To make matters worse, the Navajo Nation's COVID-19 infection rate on a per capita basis is one of the highest in the country and the Navajo Nation has more COVID-19 deaths than many states. The House has an opportunity to take immediate action to mitigate future COVID-19 outbreaks and address the drinking water crisis on the Navajo Reservation by passing S. 886. Although the Senate unanimously passed S. 886, the House of Representatives has so not acted on it, further delaying the relief that it will ultimately bring to the Navajo people. The Navajo Nation has over 300,000 enrolled members and is the largest Indian reservation spanning portions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The conditions on Navajo are dire and the pandemic only compounds our needs. With so few watering points across the Navajo Nation, families must travel hours to reach these points and must ration their water accordingly. Without access to clean drinking water, the Navajo Nation will continue to struggle, and its members will be more susceptible to deadly illnesses such as COVID-19. S. 886 would provide the means to begin to address these critical needs. Through NUWRSA, the Navajo Nation would receive approximately $220 million in federal and state funding for desperately needed drinking water infrastructure on the Reservation in exchange for the Nation waiving its water-related claims against the United States and State of Utah. In 2016, Congress first introduced the settlement legislation and on June 4, 2020, the Senate unanimously passed S. 886, demonstrating the broad bi-partisan support for the legislation. The Navajo Nation recognizes that there is more to be done for Indian Country and we stand ready to assist you on this work, but S. 886 is ready for final passage. The House's inaction on S. 886 or sending it back to the Senate for further consideration will only delay addressing the basic human needs of the Navajo people. Therefore, we respectfully request that you schedule a vote on final passage of S. 886 before the House recesses in August. Sincerely, Jonathan Nez, President. Myron Lizer, Vice President.

Ms. CHENEY. Again, Mr. Speaker, we support the passage of Congressman Johnson's bill, H.R. 895, and would also prefer to enact this provision into law along with measures that will help the Navajo Nation with their broader water shortages. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson).

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this is a very important bill. Unfortunately, the way that it is currently written raises some significant concerns. As the Representative of Tribal communities in Wyoming, I share very much the notion and the concept of helping to increase self- determination, but I believe that this bill, as it is currently written, unfortunately, leaves unresolved some major issues with respect to, in particular, Bureau of Reclamation water projects that could affect both Tribal as well as non-Tribal interests. In our Western States where water is a scarce and precious commodity, water management interests must be carefully balanced, and I am concerned that S. 209 does not strike that balance. Over the last several Congresses, House Republicans have offered solutions to the reclamation projects issues without the need for courts to step in to sort this out. Unfortunately, this effort was most recently defeated on a party-line vote with little discussion from the Democrat majority. Unfortunately, we still are, today, faced with a situation where we have got a worthy goal that this legislation is attempting to achieve, but it doesn't quite get there. Given these unresolved concerns, I must urge rejection of the measure as written and ask for a ``no'' vote. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3160, the Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act. This bill would place, as my colleague said, approximately 55 acres of land in Arizona into trust for the Gila River Indian Community. These lands and the former Blackwater Trading Post have a historic connection to the Tribe, as the trading post served many Tribal members since at least the 1930s. In 2010, the Tribe purchased the Blackwater Trading Post and surrounding lands after the former owners retired. Under the 2004 Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act, the Tribe cannot acquire off-reservation lands into trust absent an act of Congress. Therefore, we need to pass this legislation. Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3465 would authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal land to commemorate the sacrifices made by journalists for a free and independent press. This bill requires the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to follow the standard legal framework established by the Commemorative Works Act for the placement of commemorative works on Federal land in the District of Columbia. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 1,382 journalists have been killed since 1992 as a result of their work in combat or crossfire or while carrying out dangerous assignments. Hundreds more each year are attacked, imprisoned, and tortured. Threats and attacks against journalists are not new, but today journalists face an increasingly hostile environment. H.R. 3465 was introduced 1 year after the deadliest attack on journalists in modern United States history when five Capital Gazette employees were killed in their Annapolis, Maryland, newsroom on June 28, 2018. Madam Speaker, this memorial will stand as an important reminder of the First Amendment and the vital importance that a free and independent press plays in defending all of our rights. I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 832. As my colleague has described, the bill would nullify an 1865 supplement to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation. It was signed after the original 1855 treaty. This supplemental treaty further restricted the rights of Tribal members to the extent that, among other things, they could not leave the reservation without written permission from the Federal agency superintendent. According to the Tribe, this supplemental treaty was in response to non-Indian settler concerns with Tribal members using their usual and accustomed areas to hunt and fish. The State of Oregon has indicated it has no intention of enforcing this antiquated and discriminatory treaty, but it does remain on the books, Madam Speaker, and I support the Tribes' request to have it struck. Madam Speaker, I thank the sponsor of the House companion of this bill, Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Walden, for his efforts to see this offensive provision removed. Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 139, the Springfield Race Riot Study Act, which was sponsored by our colleague, Congressman Rodney Davis, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site of the Springfield race riots of 1908. As my colleague has just described, on the evening of August 14, 1908, racial tensions ignited in the Illinois capital of Springfield. The riot was incited by a White mob who wanted to lynch two Black inmates housed at the county jail. One had been charged with murdering a White man, the other with raping a White woman, an allegation that was later recanted. After the two inmates were spirited away for their safety, the mob destroyed Black neighborhoods and lynched two innocent Black men. Soon after this horrific weekend of violence and racial strife, a prominent group of social reformers came together in February 1909 and established the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Recently, archeologists uncovered the physical remains of five houses and their associated artifacts that burned in the 1908 riot. Last year, the National Park Service completed a reconnaissance survey of the site and concluded it was likely the site that would meet criteria for inclusion in the National Park System if fully analyzed through a congressionally authorized special resources study. In August, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt visited the site of the 1908 riot to declare it part of the recently established African American Civil Rights Network. One goal of this network is to ensure that we accurately tell the complete and often painful story of the struggle for civil rights in our country. I commend Representative Davis on his work to highlight this tragic event in our Nation's history. I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the significant and unparalleled sacrifices veterans have made for our country, my colleague Mr. Steube introduced H.R. 1702 to waive the application fee associated with special use permits for veterans' organizations and our Gold Star families at war memorials on Federal lands. Special use permits are required by the National Park Service for activities that provide a benefit to an individual group or organization and for activities that require the use of a designated park location for a specific purpose and length of time. When those who have served our Nation, Mr. Speaker, including Gold Star families, want to hold an event whose primary purpose is to commemorate or honor the service of veterans, they should not be subject to application fees. This bill removes a potential barrier and ensures our veterans are not discouraged from planning, hosting, or organizing events on our public lands. With this bill, Mr. Speaker, we show in one more way our respect for our Nation's veterans, and we support the special events that honor the men and women of our Armed Forces. I commend my colleague Congressman Steube for his work on behalf of our servicemen and -women. Mr. Speaker, this bill's sponsor, Congressman Steube, was unable to be here today to speak on his bill because of commitments in his district. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure and since I have no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 490 designates the mountain ridge where an Air Force B-47 strategic bomber crashed while on a training mission in Montana in 1962 as the ``B-47 Ridge.'' This bill is the Senate companion to H.R. 1267, which our Congressman Gianforte led here in the House. Nearly 60 years have passed since that U.S. Air Force B-47 bomber left Texas and crashed into Montana's Emigrant Peak just north of Yellowstone National Park in the Paradise Valley. Debris remains on the ridge where the plane crashed. S. 490 will rename the area the ``B-47 Ridge'' to honor the four-man crew who perished in the wreck. Those brave airmen who died that day on the southwestern slope of Emigrant Peak during a training mission were: Captain Bill Faulconer, Lieutenant Lloyd Sawyers, Lieutenant David Sutton, and Lieutenant Fred Hixenbaugh. This legislation will also allow for the placement of a memorial plaque which will be paid for by the crew's families and the local community. This is a good and important bill honoring the sacrifice of those airmen and I applaud Congressman Gianforte and the entire Montana delegation for their efforts to get this lasting tribute signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor this evening to manage the time that we have on the Republican side to celebrate and remember the life of our tremendous colleague, Mr. John Lewis. Mr. Speaker, I was very moved, having the opportunity to watch my colleagues on the other side of the aisle discuss and describe the impact that Congressman Lewis had on their lives, on all of our lives, and on this Chamber. I am struck by the fact that as we gather tonight in this Chamber, we rise not as representatives of two different political parties, but we rise as elected representatives of this great Nation, a Nation that is mourning the loss of a great American, and as honored colleagues of a man, John Lewis, who dedicated his life to service and to the fight for justice and freedom. John Lewis taught us: ``Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society. Why? Because human beings are the most dynamic link to the divine on this planet.'' John Lewis understood that one man or woman can make a difference-- indeed, that it is only the determined and principled action of committed men and women that brings change. He knew the blessings of this Nation, and he knew what it took to secure those blessings for all Americans. He knew that the fight was unfinished. Mr. Speaker, the day that I was sworn into this body for the first time, I was standing just outside these doors in the Speaker's lobby. I had just arrived with my dad, who joined me on the floor that day. By chance, as we were coming in, we met John Lewis standing in the lobby. The three of us had the chance before the ceremony to spend some time together. The two of them didn't agree on much, but they did agree on certain critical things. They agreed on the exceptional nature of this country, on the magnificence of this, the people's House, and on the incalculable blessings of freedom. I am blessed by the memory of that day, and I am blessed that at that moment when I was about to be sworn into this House, I was able to spend time with those two men. Writing of his experiences fighting for civil rights, John Lewis said this: ``Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.'' Great men and women like John Lewis in every generation have known this, that we all have an obligation to defend our freedom, to fight for it, to do our part to be worthy of the sacrifices of those who have gone before. One of the greatest gifts we can give to young people today is to teach them that lesson, to teach them our history, to convey to them the duty, the obligation, and the incredible blessing of being an American and of working to make sure that we pass this Nation to our children and our grandchildren more perfect than it is today. Our colleague, Congressman John Lewis, dedicated his life to that ideal. His memory will be a blessing and an example to us all, our colleagues, his colleagues, here in the House, to his family, to his constituents, and to his fellow Americans. God bless John Lewis, and God bless the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the House Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank in particular Ranking Member Thornberry and Chairman Smith for their work on this NDAA. I rise in strong support, Mr. Speaker, of this bipartisan William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act. A strong bipartisan act such as this one is more important today than perhaps ever before. As we are facing competition with our adversaries in emerging, contested domains, we have to develop cutting-edge capabilities in space, cyberspace, air, land, and sea, and we must do this at a time, Mr. Speaker, when a global pandemic continues to take lives and devastate economies around the world. This NDAA, Mr. Speaker, recognizes the role that America has played in ensuring peace, prosperity, and freedom around the world for 75 years. It recognizes that our forward deployed forces are fundamental to deterring aggression and forestalling conflict. It recognizes that retrenchment and withdrawal are destabilizing and aid America's adversaries. Through its provisions, Mr. Speaker, this NDAA underscores that America faces a fundamental choice: We either continue to lead, including through forward deployed forces in places like Germany, Eastern Europe, and South Korea, or we retreat, thus ensuring that the global rules of the road will be set not by us and other free nations, but by our adversaries, including China and Russia. This bill enhances cooperation with critical allies in the Indo- Pacific, authorizes funding to counter China, and fully funds the European Deterrence Initiative to enhance deterrence against Russia. It also fully funds nuclear modernization to ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear stockpile and the credibility of our nuclear deterrent. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues today to ensure that this legislation passes the floor in the same bipartisan fashion in which it passed committee, staying true to the spirit of the Member after which it is named.

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which threatens to undermine the credibility of our Nation's nuclear deterrent. Mr. Speaker, there is a consistency on the other side of the aisle which is very concerning. It finds a moral equivalence between the United States and our adversaries, also an affinity for treaties that bind only the United States and no one else. Mr. Speaker, if this amendment becomes law, the United States loses the ability to ensure that we can test, if necessary, to ensure that our deterrent is reliable and, therefore, credible. That prohibition emboldens our adversaries, and it undermines our allies' faith in the nuclear umbrella. We provide a nuclear umbrella. We provide security to allies so they do not have to develop their own nuclear weapons. So an amendment that ensures that the United States is no longer going to be able to guarantee a credible nuclear stockpile is going to make nuclear proliferation more likely, not less likely. Mr. Speaker, this is a dangerous amendment, an amendment which ties the hands of the United States, when we know that the Chinese are, in fact, undergoing a huge nuclear buildup and likely testing. And we know that the Russians are doing the same. Mr. Speaker, this is dangerous. There is absolutely no reason we need to do it. It contradicts a Clinton-era Presidential directive under which the NNSA must maintain readiness to resume underground nuclear testing, if necessary. This could be the case, for example, if our stockpile experiences a unique failure. Mr. Speaker, this is a mistaken amendment. It is a misguided amendment that finds moral equivalence between the United States and our adversaries and ties the hands of the United States. Mr. Speaker, imagine the message it sends when Members of this body stand up and actively urge that we tie the hands of the United States while we allow the Russians and the Chinese to move forward with their developments and with their testing. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this dangerous amendment.