Joe Cunningham

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my straightforward, commonsense amendment to the Interior-Environment appropriations bill that would prevent BOEM from issuing permits for seismic exploration in the Atlantic Ocean. South Carolinians have made it explicitly clear where we stand on this issue. Far too much is at stake in our State. South Carolina's tourism economy is worth $22.6 billion a year, and two-thirds of that comes from the coast. While folks may disagree about the amount of oil deposits that exist in the Atlantic Ocean, most would agree that the amount of oil off the coast of South Carolina is minimal and far less than the amount of revenue that the State brings in from tourism, recreation, and commercial fishing. Put simply, the people of the Lowcountry understand that the risk isn't worth the reward. Or, as may grandmother said: ``The juice ain't worth the squeeze.'' Our beaches, our economy are not for sale. And it is not just South Carolina that feels this way. It is Florida. It is Virginia. It is New Hampshire. It is North Carolina. It is Pennsylvania. It is New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. From coast to coast, communities have made it clear that they do not want to put the marine ecosystems and their coastal livelihoods at risk, which is why so many of my colleagues from all over the country have joined me in sponsoring this amendment. Seismic exploration is incredibly dangerous in its own right. Seismic air guns create an underwater blast louder than all but military-grade explosives. Companies fire air guns as often as every 10 seconds for days, weeks, to months on end. This can have impacts across the entire ecosystem, from marine mammals to fish to plankton. But beyond that, seismic exploration is a major step towards this administration's ultimate goal of seeing drilling rigs up and down the Atlantic coast. High-ranking officials have said it clear as day: The only reason they are working so hard on these seismic permits is so they can open up the Atlantic to drilling by the highest bidder. Drilling in the Atlantic would put the health of our ocean and our coastal economy at risk, and it is a massive investment in a future of dirty and dangerous offshore drilling that an overwhelming majority of people from both parties all along the Atlantic Coast oppose. I stand with them in opposition to both seismic testing and oil drilling. Far too much is at stake. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, respectfully, I would disagree with Mr. Gosar. South Carolinians have the opportunity to say what goes on off of South Carolina's coast. Voters have made it very clear on this issue. This is not Democrat or a Republican issue. This is an issue that has been supported by Republican Governor McMaster, who has made it clear that he opposes offshore drilling. I would ask that my conservative Members of this body, that that conservative idealogy also translates to conserving our natural resources, and for that idea of federalism to extend to offshore drilling so that States have a say. And States have spoken in South Carolina, and other States as well. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleagues, again, especially my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, the Republicans, who have supported this amendment and who have supported H.R. 1941, as well. I thank my colleagues, my conservatives, who support conservation. Mr. Chair, I would urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this bipartisan commonsense amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I want to recognize the great work of Chairwoman McCollum in finding ways to increase funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The chairwoman and members of the committee have shown a strong commitment to this important program, and I applaud their efforts. One of the first things that Congress did was pass into law the bipartisan lands package, which permanently authorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This demonstrated what we can achieve when we work together on behalf of our constituents. LWCF not only promotes access to our public lands, but helps ensure all Americans can utilize these publicly owned resources. It is important that we build off that bipartisan work by making sure that this important program receives the funding it deserves in our final spending bill. LWCF provides hundreds of millions of dollars to States that are challenged with coastal erosion, loss of open space, and trying to balance a need to protect species habitat with urban growth demands. It also supports our States and communities by funding stateside programs that promote recreation, responsible community development, and provide opportunities to get Americans outdoors. When LWCF was created, it was agreed that funding from oil and gas development would be used to achieve conservation objectives across the country. This program balances resource development with conservation and opens access to our public lands for hunters, anglers, and back country users. I strongly support LWCF, and I appreciate the efforts my colleagues have made to secure the future of this program. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in support of my amendment, as well as the underlying bill. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlemen from Colorado (Mr. Neguse), my esteemed colleague.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleagues for their commitment to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and for joining me in offering this commonsense amendment. Mr. Chair, I would urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, today I rise in support of my straightforward, commonsense amendment, which will increase funding for veterans treatment court programs and help ensure that veterans have access to the resources they deserve to successfully reintegrate into their communities. As a Nation, we have a responsibility to ensure that the brave men and women who are wounded, either physically or psychologically, in service to our Nation receive the care that they deserve. Veterans treatment courts do just that by assisting veterans involved in the criminal justice system who are experiencing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, sexual trauma, mental health symptoms, or substance abuse as a result of their military service. Studies show that these programs work. Through a coordinated system of treatment, community support, and peer-to-peer mentorship, they are able to reduce recidivism and increase participating veterans' overall quality of life. Through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the DOJ provides local court systems with the financial and technical assistance they need to develop and implement their own treatment courts. My amendment would increase funding for this program by $2 million so that Federal assistance is available to more courts like those in Beaufort or the recently established program in Charleston. This is particularly important to the Lowcountry, because my district has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country. As their representative in Congress, I have made it my mission to ensure that they have the support that they have earned. Mr. Chair, I want to ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting my amendment as well as the underlying legislation. Mr. Chair, in closing, I would like to thank Chairman Serrano and the members of the subcommittee for their work in constructing this important legislation which will allow us to make strides towards addressing gun violence, supporting law enforcement, and investing in important scientific research. I also want to thank Chairman McGovern and my colleagues on the Rules Committee for allowing this important amendment to come to the floor. Mr. Chair, to ensure that veteran treatment courts in the Lowcountry and across the country can continue to provide this essential service to our Nation's veterans, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my straightforward, commonsense amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill that blocks all fiscal year 2020 funding for NOAA to approve seismic air gun blasting in the Atlantic. These approvals are called Incidental Harassment Authorizations, or IHAs. In order for companies to receive permits for seismic exploration from BOEM, they must first have authorization through NOAA to conduct activities that harm or disturb marine mammals, such as whales. NOAA issued five IHAs in November of last year, which are currently being challenged in court in South Carolina by 10 States, 16 towns, and various conservation and business groups. If the judge finds these IHAs unlawful, my amendment would prevent NOAA from reauthorizing these approvals for seismic air gun blasting in the Atlantic. Additionally, my amendment would prevent NOAA from approving new applications for seismic surveys that would expose marine mammals to one of the loudest man-made noises in the oceans today. Seismic air guns create an underwater blast louder than all but military-grade explosives. Companies fire air guns as often as every 10 seconds for days, weeks, sometimes even months on end. This can have impacts across the entire ecosystem, from marine mammals, to fish, to plankton. In addition to being harmful in its own right, seismic blasting is a key step towards this administration's ultimate goal: bringing drilling rigs to the South Carolina coast and elsewhere up and down the Atlantic seaboard. Offshore drilling activities anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean are a threat to hardworking Americans, coastal economies, and abundant marine life. And communities up and down the coast have made it very clear where they stand on this issue. They don't want drilling off their coasts and they don't want seismic exploration for oil and gas resources. My amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill can help protect the Atlantic Coast from a future of expanded offshore drilling and unnecessary, unwanted seismic testing. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Mr. Moulton, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I rise again because there is no time to waste when it comes to protecting the North Atlantic right whale, a species whose calving and migratory grounds are right off the coast of my district. By even the most generous estimates, there are fewer than 420 right whales left in the ocean. Without immediate Federal action, the right whale could become extinct in the next two decades. Humans have killed nearly every right whale in existence through our direct and indirect actions over the past two centuries. Today we are at a crossroads. We have a choice. We can be the generation that saves the right whale or the generation that allows their extinction. We can act right now by adopting this amendment. It will provide targeted investments so we can better understand how both right whales and East Coast economies can thrive. This is a unique opportunity. Few people in the history of the Earth have had the ability to help a species survive. In fact, the opposite is true. From the passenger pigeon to the western black rhinoceros, humans have driven the extinction of iconic species through centuries of choices. It is a choice to hunt the right whale to near extinction. It is a choice to jeopardize the right whale by drilling off our coast or harmful seismic air gun blasting. And tonight it is a choice to protect the right whale and the hundreds of thousands of jobs up and down the East Coast that rely on the healthy ecosystem that the right whale creates. Let's be the generation of leaders that chooses to bring the right whale back from the brink. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleagues for their support on this issue. I want to single out my friend from across the aisle Mr. Rutherford, as well as Mr. Huffman and Mr. Grijalva for their leadership on this issue at the Natural Resources Committee. I also want to thank Mr. Moulton for the opportunity to offer this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to wish my friend, Richard G. Bristol, a happy 89th birthday. I hope Richard is enjoying his special day at his new home in Vero Beach, Florida with a properly chilled Sam Adams. Lots of love and warmest wishes from everyone in the Cunningham clan.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Chair, I want to begin by thanking the committee for its work on the annual defense spending bill and for the opportunity to speak on issues that are critically important to my constituents in the Lowcountry. In 2017, Congress mandated that the military service branches consolidate their medical activities under the Defense Health Agency. These reforms were intended to eliminate redundancy and reduce costs while improving access to care. Unfortunately, the manner in which the Department is implementing these reforms all but guarantees this will not be the case. In my district in South Carolina, we are, unfortunately, already feeling the effects. Naval Hospital Beaufort provides quality care to an estimated 35,000 servicemembers, retirees, and military families in South Carolina. Just last month, the Department eliminated the naval hospital's urgent care services. Given the administration's plan to eliminate another 18,000 medical billets nationwide, I am deeply concerned about the effects that further cuts may have on our military and their families. I am further troubled by the Department's lack of transparency into how they are making decisions with regard to the closure of medical services. In addition, the Department has yet to complete a detailed analysis of how cuts in medical services may impact surrounding communities, especially in rural areas where alternative treatment options may be limited. As a result, military families in underserved communities face an uncertain future. In Beaufort County, my constituents already face unreasonable wait times to see their doctors. Given the high concentration of veterans in my district, any reduction in services on Naval Hospital Beaufort is certain to further reduce access to care and degrade unit readiness in the Lowcountry. I thank the committee for its attention to this issue, and I ask that it continues to work with me to ensure servicemembers, retirees, and their families can continue to have access to the care that they need and deserve.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman very much for acknowledging this problem. Going forward, I will continue to work with the Defense Subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee, as well as the Department, to make sure that military families in the Lowcountry are not left behind as a result of these reforms.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my bipartisan amendment, which would commit additional resources towards USAID's efforts to combat illegal, underreported, and unregulated fishing internationally. This is particularly important to the Lowcountry, which has a vibrant fishing industry that goes out of its way to safeguard our marine resources. I want to make sure that they can compete in a fair market, and that their work for the environment is not undermined by bad actors. American fisheries are some of the best managed in the world. But our fishermen who work hard and play by the rules are constantly undercut by low-cost imports caught by unscrupulous means. In fact, by some estimates, commercial fishermen in the United States could see up to a 20 percent raise were it not for illegally-caught, imported fish. This is not only due to the volume of illegal imports, it is also because these illegal products come to market without meeting the safety, labor, and environmental standards that American fishermen abide by. It goes without saying that allowing this practice to continue unchecked will have a disastrous effect on marine ecosystems and encourage further crimes on the high seas. As a Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I am committed to protecting both the environment and our fishermen. My amendment would contribute to efforts to tackle this problem before it reaches our shores. By helping partner nations build the capacity to police their own waters, we will stop illegal fishing at its source. My amendment supports an American foreign policy that is both good for the environment and good for our fishermen. I urge all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to vote to support the environment and the American fishing industry.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 2326, the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act. First, I thank my colleagues, Congressmen Levin and Bilirakis, for all their hard work on this bipartisan bill and for their leadership on the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. I am honored to have helped introduce this important legislation, which will improve the military's Transition Assistance Program and help to ensure that our men and women in uniform can successfully transition to life in the civilian world at the end of their service. H.R. 2326 will streamline the transition process and allow the VA to partner with third-party organizations that teach veterans critical job-seeking skills. By creating a pilot program for transition training off-base, this bill will also make that stressful transition process more convenient and accessible for servicemembers and their families. Finally, this legislation will allow policymakers to more effectively adjust the program to the needs of our veterans by directing an independent assessment of its effectiveness and by expanding the VA's access to Federal employment data. The bottom line is, we have a responsibility to our servicemembers to make sure that they are equipped with the tools to succeed both on the battlefield and when they return. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this legislation and ensuring every veteran has access to the support that they have earned.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my straightforward, commonsense amendment which will ensure that our Nation's veterans have access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage. While people often think that everyone who has served in the military immediately has access to VA healthcare, this is not the case. In fact, only three out of five veterans under the age of 65 are eligible for healthcare through the VA, and only a quarter of those who are eligible for VA healthcare rely on the VA as their sole source of insurance. Younger veterans who served for 24 consecutive months are eligible for VA coverage for 5 years after their discharge, and veterans over the age of 65 qualify for Medicare. This leaves a potential gap in coverage for many veterans who have recently served after their 5-year period and before they become eligible for Medicare. That is why it is imperative that the healthcare exchange outreach and educational strategies be designed in a way to reach our Nation's veterans. As a Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am committed to ensuring every veteran has access to high-quality healthcare regardless of where they receive that care. Studies show that when Americans are informed about the correct time to sign up for healthcare, and the options to make that coverage affordable, they choose to get insured. My amendment is simply asking that we make our Nation's veterans aware of the healthcare options available to them. This is particularly important to the Lowcountry, because my district has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the entire country. It has the highest concentrations in the entire State of South Carolina, and I want to make sure that each of them are aware of their coverage options so that they can make the best choice for themselves and for their families. Mr. Chair, I want to ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting my amendment as well as the underlying legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, in closing, I would like to thank Chairman Pallone and Chairman Scott for their work in constructing this important legislation which will lower drug prices, stabilize the insurance market, and decrease premiums for hardworking families across this country. I also want to thank Chairman McGovern and my colleagues on the Rules Committee for allowing my amendment to come to the floor. I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this commonsense amendment as well as the underlying legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.