Diana DeGette

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, let me just clear up a few of the pieces of misinformation that have come out about this bill tonight. The first one is that the HAT, the high-altitude training I talked about which is used by the military, is not supported by pilots. Actually, the Colorado National Guard has issued a statement of support of this legislation because we do protect those training areas, and it is very important--it has been important ever since Afghanistan--to do that. The second thing I want to talk about is that all of the economic studies have shown that more wilderness actually creates more jobs. So for people who are in rural communities in remote areas, when there is wilderness around them, the growing and new economy in the West is for more jobs in recreation and other industries. Last but not least, the portion of this bill that is in my State of Colorado, the Colorado Wilderness Act, which is my bill, is about 660,000 acres. Those acres are almost all currently wilderness study areas. All the wilderness study areas are currently managed by the BLM as if they are wilderness. These claims that are being made that there are going to be new fires, that there are going to be new problems, that is simply not true. We are taking something that has been a reality in those areas for 40 years and simply making it permanent so that our children and our grandchildren can enjoy those wonderful areas, so that we can stimulate the recreation economy, and so that we can protect those lands for preservation and for helping to address the climate issue. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my amendment to add the first six titles of the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act and, also, Congresswoman Leger Fernandez's bill to protect the Cerro de la Olla in her State to this year's NDAA bill. Taken together, this amendment will preserve more than 1.6 million acres of public land across Colorado, California, Washington, and New Mexico and will add more than 1,000 miles of river to the national wild and scenic rivers system. Preserving these pristine, untouched wilderness lands is about more than just protecting our environment. It is about protecting our economy, our way of life, and ensuring our Nation's top military pilots have the space they need to train. Among the areas that would be protected under this measure are some of our Nation's most important military training grounds, including the high altitude aviation training sites in Colorado where some of our Nation's most elite helicopter pilots train to take on some of the harshest environments anywhere on this planet. The areas to be protected under this amendment also play a key role in combating the climate crisis which the Pentagon itself has deemed a preeminent threat to our national security. The designations in this bill were not drawn from a hat. They are the product of decades of work, and that is why this amendment has widespread support from every single area where that is included in this bill. That is why this Chamber has taken steps to pass it not once, not twice, but four times now in just the past 2 years alone including as a part of last the 2 years' NDAA bills. Taking on the fight against the climate crisis and ensuring our Nation's military pilots have the space they need to train for some of the world's most difficult environments is something all of us should be behind. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues: Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Ken Buck, Congressman Joe Neguse, Congressman Jason Crow, and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, to recognize the best team in U.S. hockey, the Colorado Avalanche. We make this tribute after the Avalanche clinched the 2022 Stanley Cup with their Game 6 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, June 26, 2022. For fans of the Colorado Avalanche, who have patiently waited for more than 20 years to see our favorite team triumphantly raise the Stanley Cup again, the journey to Sunday night's victory has been long but worth the wait. We have watched this team battle through setbacks and injuries with admirable grit and determination, culminating this year in a 16-4 post-season record and a well-deserved trophy. To secure their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Avalanche overcame formidable teams, including their Western Conference challengers the Edmonton Oilers, who they swept in four games to advance to the Finals. There, they defeated the two-time defending champions, the Lightning, in an exciting six-game series. The Avalanche took an early 2-0 lead in the series after notching wins in Games 1 and 2. Then, after suffering a loss in Game 3, a nail-biting overtime win in Game 4, and another loss in Game 5, the Avalanche emerged as victors in a well-played and hard-fought Game 6. Truly, the credit for this team's incredible victory goes to the combined talent, drive, and sacrifice made by each player and member of the coaching staff and management. The immense skill and leadership demonstrated by this special group of players and coaches, both on and off the ice, is extraordinary. On behalf of Avalanche fans everywhere, especially those in our home state of Colorado, we are incredibly proud to celebrate this team's tremendous victory; to have the Stanley Cup back in Colorado--exactly where it belongs; and to cheer on the nation's best hockey team to even more victories in the future: Go Avs Go.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to stand here today in support of this legislation, which will revolutionize how our Nation researches and develops new cures and treatments for some of the world's most difficult diseases. There is not a person in this room or in this Capitol who hasn't been impacted in some way by a devastating disease--cancer, Alzheimer's, or something else. These diseases don't care if you are a Democrat or a Republican. They affect all of us. It needs to be our collective mission to cure all of them immediately. The ripple effect that they have on our communities is immeasurable. The pain and suffering that they cause, not just to those who become ill but to their families, friends, and loved ones, is irreparable. They place significant strain on our public health systems and significant strain on our economy. For years, scientists and researchers, both here in the U.S. and around the world, have been searching for ways to prevent and treat these devastating illnesses. I see my friend and colleague Fred Upton here on the floor with us today. Fred and I worked on the 21st Century Cures bill in 2016 which has revolutionized the way we do a lot of this discovery and development. But what we need more of now is an all-hands-on-deck approach to end these illnesses, and that is exactly why this legislation was developed. As Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Pallone, and others said, it will create a new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, ARPA-H, which will bring together some of the world's greatest minds and give them access to the Federal Government's seemingly unlimited resources to make the impossible possible. Mr. Speaker, modeled after the DARPA program, as you heard, the new agency will be lean and it will be mean. It will be targeted at specifically researching and finding cures for some of the most intractable diseases that we have. It is going to be run by a small number of program managers, and it will be able to take on the high-risk, high-reward projects that others simply cannot. It will not substitute for the basic research at the NIH or the research at our great universities or in private business. It will supplement it by targeting these tough issues, and it will reshape the future of biomedical research in this country for many, many years to come. As I said, this legislation is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to put our country on track to ending cancer as we know it. It is an opportunity to save millions of lives. If we cure cancer, and if we save lives and improve the health and well-being of our constituents, isn't that what we came here for? Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to vote ``yes.''

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Denver's most dedicated public servants, Norman ``Norm'' Early, who passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at the age of 76. Norm was born and grew up, right here, in our nation's capital. As a high school track star attending Calvin Coolidge Senior High in Washington, D.C., he was recruited to run track at American University. In addition to attending classes and running track as a member of the university's track and field team, Norm also worked as a member of the school's grounds crew to help pay his way through college. If all that wasn't enough, Norm decided to run for--and ultimately became--American University's first Black student body president in 1966. And, after graduating from American University in 1967, Norm went on to earn his law degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. It was then, as a newly minted lawyer, that Norm decided to move to Denver where he immediately got to work helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Norm's passion for helping others knew no bounds. He served 10 years as Chief Deputy District Attorney in Denver, before becoming Denver's first Black District Attorney in 1983 following his appointment by then-Governor Dick Lamm. Norm would serve in this post several years after winning successive elections in 1984, 1988, and 1992. Throughout his career, Norm used his positions to make Denver a better place to live and work. During his 10-year tenure as Denver's District Attorney, Norm earned numerous awards for his outstanding efforts to help victims of crime and the work he did to help survivors of sexual abuse. And even as he served our community, Norm also worked to found the Sam Cary Bar Association and the National Black Prosecutors Association where he would go on to serve as its first president, a position he would, again, use to promote justice and fairness throughout the country. There are endless stories from those who knew Norm best about the work he did to make Denver a more just place--and the barriers he broke along the way. Even so, for those of us who considered him a friend, it's Norm's charm and wit that we will miss the most. He always had a kind smile to give and was always the first to offer a good laugh. Truly, I am grateful for the time I had to work with Norm and see firsthand his passion for public service and tireless compassion for survivors. As our community gathers to remember Norm's life, I offer my heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends, and former colleagues. I hope they find comfort in knowing the lasting legacy Norm leaves behind. The work he did to break barriers and pave the way for a new generation of leaders has had a real impact on our city--and it will never be forgotten.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Jason Crow, and Congressman Joe Neguse, to recognize one of Denver's most beloved public servants, Dennis Gallagher, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 82. Dennis's lifelong passion for wanting to change people's lives for the better can be traced to his earliest days. Born in north Denver in 1939, just as the Great Depression was ending, to first generation Irish American parents, Dennis saw firsthand the hard struggles many families faced merely trying to survive. And those early experiences shaped him. He felt called to a life of constant learning, teaching, and advocating on behalf of others. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Regis University in 1961, Dennis set out to Washington, D.C., where he earned his master's degree from Catholic University in 1967. Afterwards, when he returned home to Denver, Dennis began working as a professor at his alma mater Regis University, where he would spend more than 40 years teaching and mentoring students in speech, classical languages, persuasion, and media. Early in his career as an educator, Dennis also discovered he could positively affect people's lives through politics, so he ran for office and won. First elected to Colorado's state House of Representatives in 1970, Dennis spent two terms representing his community in the state House before moving to the state Senate where he would serve the people of his district for the next 20 years. As a senator, Dennis notably worked to pass the ``Gallagher Amendment'' to the state's constitution, a policy that set limits on property taxes for homeowners and renters. Dennis eventually went on to serve his community as a member of the Denver City Council beginning in 1995, and then as the city's auditor starting in 2003, a position he held for more than a decade until his retirement in 2015. Everyone who knew Dennis, including each of us, could describe him in at least two ways. First, Dennis was a larger-than-life figure who never hesitated to speak his mind or make friends with someone new. It cannot be overstated that Dennis was extremely well known, not just in Denver but across our state as well. In fact, the power of Dennis's outgoing personality was key to his success in public service. At every level of government that he served, Dennis earned the respect and support of both his colleagues and his constituents. Second, anyone who knew Dennis could tell you he was deeply proud of his Irish heritage. He was famous for hosting St. Patrick's Day celebrations, complete with musicians and step dancers. And though he maintained close ties with Colorado's Irish community, Dennis always made room to learn more about people from different backgrounds with diverse perspectives. Truly, there will never be another Dennis Gallagher. Those of us who knew him well are grateful for the time we got to spend with him, and we will be forever thankful for his service to our community. He was a legendary leader, teacher, and friend to all of us, including me and my family. As our community mourns the loss of a true giant, we offer our heartfelt condolences to Dennis's family and friends, especially to his son Daniel Gallagher and his brother Tim Gallagher. Dennis Gallagher will be sorely missed, but it's quite clear that his legacy will endure for many years to come.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Denver's Men's Hockey team on winning the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship. It's the ninth time that the University of Denver Pioneers have won the Frozen Four Championship. After a tremendous 2021-2022 season where the team recorded 31 wins, 9 losses and 1 tie, the University of Denver Pioneers are now tied for the most all-time NCAA National Hockey Championships, and only the second team in NCAA history that has won the championship nine times. On Saturday, April 9, 2022, the DU men's ice hockey team defeated the Minnesota State University Mavericks 5-1 to win this year's championship. Pioneers goaltender Magnus Chrona was widely credited for making 27 saves in the championship game, holding the Mavericks to just one score and giving his team a chance to take the lead in the third period. It was then that Senior Ryan Barrow, Brett Stapley and Cameron Wright, along with Sophomore Mike Benning and Freshman Massimo Rizzo each scored for the Pioneers to seal the 5-1 victory and the school's first championship since 2017. For his remarkable play throughout the series, Denver's Mike Benning was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. He, along with Denver's Goalie Magnus Chrona and Forwards Carter Savoie and Ryan Barrow, were also named as members of this year's all-tournament team. Winning doesn't come easy. And for many of the players on this year's championship team, Saturday's victory was the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and dedication to their sport. It's also a testament, not only to the talent and skill of every player on this year's championship team, but to the University of Denver itself--and the incredible culture they have created there. What made this year's team so special was that every single player gave everything they had to help their team win. That collective spirit is a credit to Pioneers' Head Coach David Carle and his entire staff, who deserve a tremendous amount of credit for what this team has accomplished. At age 32, Head Coach David Carle is now the fourth youngest head coach ever to win an NCAA Division I Men's Hockey championship--and our entire community cannot wait to see what he and the entire program accomplish next. I know all my colleagues in the House and Senate join me in congratulating the University of Denver Men's Hockey team for a remarkable season and an incredible ninth national championship victory this past weekend.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Joe Neguse, and Congressman Jason Crow, to recognize the life and achievements of former Colorado State Senator Gloria Tanner, who passed away on Monday, April 4, 2022, at the age of 86. Gloria was a courageous leader who dedicated her life to improving the lives of other Coloradans. She was also a friend and mentor to so many in the Denver community, including all of us.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, on Roll Call No. 286, on Agreeing to the Amendment offered by Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island No. 42, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA. On Roll Call No. 289, on Agreeing to the Amendment offered by Mr. Smith of Washington En Bloc No. 3, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley), an original cosponsor of this legislation.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, what we are seeing in Texas, Mississippi, and elsewhere is an unprecedented attack on Americans' right to abortion care. It is a systemic effort by politicians who want to roll back the clock on women's healthcare freedom in this country. To those who continue to rehash the same outdated arguments that would put their own personal beliefs on millions of women, and they say it is somehow good for America, I say, save your breath. It is not. And for these overheated claims that are being made today on this floor and the rhetoric, I say that is simply not the case. Madam Speaker, let me suggest a different paradigm that protects the full range of women's healthcare freedom in this country. I will decide what happens to my body, and you decide what happens to yours. I will decide what is best for my health and my life, and you decide what is best for yours. What is at stake in this fight is not some frivolous benefit. It is the fundamental right of women across the country to decide. Vote ``yes'' on this important bill.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining on both sides.

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crist).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Washington State (Ms. Jayapal).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jones).