Sarah Elfreth

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. I appreciate that. I think that is exactly what the American people expect of us. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's clear commitment to addressing these issues and refining the bill in the Senate. With that understanding, I thank him for his leadership and collaboration, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. As the House considers H.R. 2317, the Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, under suspension of the rules, several Members on our side of the aisle still have outstanding concerns regarding certain provisions in the legislation. While we appreciate the strong in-State support for the bill, there are continuing concerns about the scale of the Federal land conveyances. Specifically, Members want assurances that there is a fair balance and the conveyances do not tip the scales in favor of extraction and excessive public land transfer. Can the gentleman from Nevada commit to continuing to work in good faith with us, and with our colleagues in the Senate, to address these concerns and support necessary amendments to the bill as it moves through the legislative process? Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei).

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I wish to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei), who is the sponsor of H.R. 2317.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2317 is a comprehensive package of conveyances, conservation designations, and land use authorizations designed to address a series of public land management issues throughout northern Nevada. Representative Amodei has worked for many years on the bill, and his dedication has earned widespread support throughout the State, including from Tribes, counties, and local environmental organizations. By including nearly 150,000 acres of wilderness designation, this bill genuinely attempts to strike a balance between conservation and development. Wilderness designation is reserved for the most remote and undeveloped areas we have left in this country, and the designations included in the bill represent the newest Federal land conservation considered by the House this Congress. While it is encouraging that we are considering legislation that includes new conservation designations, this body also has a responsibility to hold the Trump administration accountable as they try to sell off our public lands. Our Nation's natural treasures and public lands are what make our country great, and the American people do not want to see our great outdoors sold off or stripped for parts. That is why 12 Democrats voted against H.R. 2317 in the Natural Resources Committee markup. As we saw earlier this year from the reconciliation amendment our committee considered at midnight, the idea of public land sales, especially at the scale envisioned in this bill, is deeply unpopular and can lead to destruction of our natural environment for a quick buck. In its current form, the bill even includes provisions green-lighting the sale of public land directly to mining companies. This has facilitated a broad expansion of mining activity without any Federal review or guarantee of a fair return for the American taxpayer. We had worked to resolve those issues before House Republicans brought the bill to the floor for a vote, but they were not, which means there is more work to do before this bill can be signed into law. I understand that this bill is critical for northern Nevada, but we must get the details right. Public lands belong to all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I could go on and on, but I know we have one last bill. Representative Scott got it right: It has been slow and steady progress since 1983, before I was even born, to make sure that we not just protect and preserve for future generations, but take strides to be a model as we have been in the Chesapeake Bay region for other watersheds, not just in the United States but across the world. Mr. Speaker, there is so much more work to do. This bill reauthorizes that work. Again, I thank my bipartisan colleagues for prioritizing not just this bill but this program within the budget itself. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, we brought out half the Bay Caucus for this effort, and I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the sponsor of the bill.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6893 is, in fact, near and dear to my heart and to my district. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is one of our Nation's most priceless natural resources. Mr. Speaker, 18 million people live in the watershed, which is shared by six States and the District of Columbia. The Chesapeake Bay supports, as was said, fishing, tourism, real estate, and countless industries, generating billions of dollars in economic activity each year. It is, frankly, essential to the culture of those six States and the District. The bay is also a critical habitat for many keystone species. Its oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, and marshes protect nearby communities from coastal hazards and provide critical nurseries for fish and wildlife. You will even spot a few dolphins hanging out there. As a co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Task Force, I was proud to co- lead H.R. 6893 to reauthorize key, science-backed programs at NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office, which is headquartered near my office in Annapolis, Maryland. This bill would better position the office to collaborate with universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholders in carrying out science, monitoring, and observation activities. The bill also strengthens collaboration by supporting the coordinated management and conservation of Chesapeake Bay habitats, fish, and wildlife, ensuring that limited Federal resources are used as effectively as possible. Finally, the bill would, for the first time, authorize the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training program, otherwise known affectionately as B-WET, which provides grants for environmental education and watershed restoration experiences for local school kids. Reauthorizing this office in the Chesapeake Bay will help maintain a steady Federal presence within the region's collaborative scientific infrastructure, benefiting the six States and the District of Columbia. We must ensure that the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed remain abundant, healthy resources for generations to come. If you talk to folks back in my district, they will say that the bay transcends politics, and it is almost like a religion. I could not agree more. I applaud Representative Scott and the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay delegation not just for their dedication to this bill but for their dedication throughout every President and tumultuous politics to remain steady and steadfast in our support of this program. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6893, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 309, the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act, was introduced by my colleagues, Representative Nehls and Representative Panetta, so this is a bipartisan effort. This bill takes an important step toward establishing a program at the Department of the Interior and supports community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs at the National Law Enforcement Museum. In 1984, Congress passed a joint resolution to authorize the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to establish the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial fund built and continues to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the Nation's monument dedicated to officers killed in the line of duty. The fund also maintains the largest, most comprehensive database of line-of-duty officer deaths, conducts research into officer fatality trends and issues, and serves as an information clearinghouse. In 2000, President Clinton signed the National Law Enforcement Museum Act, which authorized the fund to build and operate the National Law Enforcement Museum. Opened in 2018, the museum tells the story of American law enforcement through exhibits, collections, research, and education. H.R. 309 would take additional steps toward authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to establish and award a grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for 7 fiscal years to take that work outside of the museum. Such grants would have an annual $6 million limit during that period. As a condition of receiving the grant funding, the fund would be required to submit annual reports to the Secretary, documenting and accounting progress and expenditures. This funding would allow the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and their museum to continue supporting officers and educating the public on the important work our law enforcement officers do every day to keep our communities safe. This bill is an important step forward in continuing Congress' longstanding support of this important memorial and museum and the men and women who keep our communities safe. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 309, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues, despite the bureaucracy, to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 603 would establish the General George C. Marshall House, the home of one of America's most influential historical figures, as an affiliated area of the National Park System. This would provide a deserved national recognition and allow the George Marshall House to receive technical assistance and limited financial aid from the National Park Service. General Marshall lived at the residence in Leesburg, Virginia, between 1941 and 1959, critical years during his career. He held an impressive resume, serving as Chief of Staff of the Army, special envoy to China, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and president of the American Red Cross. He was renowned for organizing the Allied victory in World War II and for his dedication to rebuilding European economies and democracies through the Marshall Plan, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. His home was designated a historical landmark in 1996 for the National Park Service, and then, after a 10-year, $7 million restoration, it became a public museum on Veterans Day in 2005. The home meets all requirements for designation as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and the designation authorized by S. 603 will ensure that the contributions and values of George Marshall are recognized and commemorated by all Americans. I cannot wait to visit. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not mention that this is the second time that the House has passed this bill. Back in May of this year, we sent the Senate H.R. 1352, the House companion introduced by Representative Subramanyam. Instead of passing our bill and sending it to the President for his signature, the Senate passed its own version after a disconnect among Republican leadership. But we should not let this infighting get in the way of a good thing. Again, I thank Representative Subramanyam and all members of the George C. Marshall International Center for their dedication to preserving the history and legacy of General Marshall. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 603, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3925 would authorize a land exchange between the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation and the U.S. Forest Service. This exchange would convey approximately 1,475 acres of Federal land within the San Bernardino National Forest for approximately 1,460 acres of Tribal land. The Nation began working with the Forest Service on this exchange in 2017. The lands the Nation is seeking to acquire are adjacent to the reservation and include an arrowhead-shaped rock formation at the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Arrowhead landmark site and the lands toward which it points are sacred to the Nation and are intertwined with their creator and sacred stories. The land holds significant cultural and spiritual importance, and the Nation has dedicated significant time and resources towards completing this land transfer. However, administrative hurdles have delayed such an exchange. This bill would complete the exchange, consolidating parcels of the checkerboard of Tribal and Forest Service lands, while providing the Nation with culturally significant lands. The exchange would also support the preservation and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site and enhance stewardship of the San Bernardino National Forest. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

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

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, S. 790 would redesignate the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the ``Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.'' Former Representative Barbara Cubin was the first woman to represent Wyoming in Congress. Mr. Speaker, I am going to deviate from my notes here to remind all the folks watching at home that there have been less than 400 women ever elected to the Congress of the United States. It is a privilege to stand here and defend this bill. She was a founding member of the Congressional Western Caucus and the original sponsor of the legislation establishing the center. Renaming the center will honor her hard work and lasting legacy in Wyoming and the West. Casper, Wyoming, is known as the city of the crossroads of history because it is the only geographic location in the western United States where four congressionally recognized historic trails converge. The historic trails that pass through the Casper area are a distinctive part of our national character, holding important historical and cultural values that reflect the migration, settlement, transportation, and commerce that all shaped the West. The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, owned and operated by the Bureau of Land Management, helps keep the story and impact of the trails alive today. Honoring the legacy and impact of Representative Cubin is a fitting tribute to a woman who fought for these trails as a trailblazer in her own right. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of S. 790, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of the bill for her passion and dedication to this issue. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), the sponsor of the bill.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act, would codify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program and authorize annual funding through fiscal year 2033 to support local community investments in bird habitats across the country. Over the last 50 years, North America has lost nearly 3 billion breeding birds, a staggering 30 percent decline. While conservation is often seen as something that happens far out in the deep wilderness, nearly half of all migratory stopover hot spots in the U.S. fall within metropolitan areas, making urban and suburban areas essential to bird conservation. Our built environments and backyards are essential mid-journey sanctuaries for migratory birds, providing critical resting, feeding, and nesting grounds for migrating land birds. Since 1999, the Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program has supported voluntary, locally driven partnerships among municipal governments, tribes, nonprofits, and schools. These modest investments deliver outsized returns: restoring urban wetlands, controlling invasive species, reducing hazards to birds like building glass and light pollution, and expanding access to nature in underserved communities. Despite its overwhelming success, demand for these grants far exceeds current capacity. Without formal statutory authority, the program relies on discretionary year-to-year funding, and as a result, the Fish and Wildlife Service has been able to fulfill only about 10 percent of the high-quality project applications it receives every year. H.R. 3276 would codify this program and authorize a competitive grant program administered in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. By passing this bill today, we are empowering local communities to lead on conservation, protect migratory birds, reduce hazards to birds, and connect families to the outdoors. I applaud my colleague from Michigan, Representative Dingell, for her leadership on this commonsense, locally-driven, bipartisan measure that protects biodiversity, strengthens local partnerships, and enriches our communities. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of her bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, the Indian Health Service, or IHS, is the primary agency responsible for providing healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives. However, the agency is chronically underfunded and understaffed, resulting in limited care at IHS and Tribal facilities. When these facilities cannot offer care, Tribal patients may receive services from outside providers under the Purchased and Referred Care, or PRC, program. As the chairman pointed out, in an emergency, most Tribal patients only have 3 days, or 72 hours, to notify the agency that they received care under the PRC program. This is, as the chairman said, completely unrealistic for too many Americans. It places an unfair burden on patients and their families to navigate paperwork and deadlines during medical emergencies, when they should be focused on receiving care. H.R. 8658 would extend the notification period from 3 days to 15 days. This simple extension would gave patients and their families the time to complete the necessary requirements and allow them to focus on their recovery in the event of an emergency. This small change is a meaningful step in supporting healthcare for Indian country because Tribal patients should not have to worry about balancing paperwork and going into medical debt while recovering and receiving the care they are entitled to. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I concur with everything the chairman just said, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7889, the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act, which would reauthorize the Water Resources Research Act and continue support for national water research institutes. Across the country, our water supplies are facing growing challenges, from increased demand and pollution to drought and other natural disasters. As these pressures strain our water resources, we need to make sustained investments in research, conservation, education, and new technologies to overcome these challenges and strengthen our long- term water security. Water research institutes play a critical role in developing and advancing solutions to our Nation's water challenges by supporting water research and education while also building the workforce needed to address pressing challenges. This work grows in importance as drought, wildfire, and other natural disasters become all the more frequent, straining water resources for communities across the Nation. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to thank Chairman Cole for his dedication to this bill and seeing it through. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 550 would provide the U.S. Court of Federal Claims with jurisdiction over the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's land claim in east central Illinois. Prior to being forcibly removed from their homeland, the Miami Tribe resided in the Great Lakes region. In 1805, the Miami Tribe, the Eel River Band, and the Wea signed the Treaty of Grouseland with the United States. The 1805 treaty provided that land south of the Great Lakes in the Wabash River watershed were not ceded and the United States would not purchase lands without the consent of the signatories. However, the United States later violated this treaty when lands were placed into the public domain and parcels were transferred to settlers without extinguishing the Tribe's title to the land. This has resulted in difficulties and confusion with the current landowners as the Miami Tribe maintains a claim to the title. S. 550 would allow the Tribe 1 year to bring their claim before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and would extinguish any other of the Tribe's claims to the land. The bill provides the Tribe with a path forward to get their day in court but does not dictate an ultimate outcome. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.