Chuck Fleischmann

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the State of Washington (Mr. Newhouse), who is a member of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Nora Khalil, who is retiring from government service, having served our country in both the public and private sectors for more than 30 years. Nora's departure from the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee is a bittersweet one. Although I have only had the privilege to work with Nora for a little over a year, I can confidently say we would not have been as successful, particularly on civil nuclear and the nuclear weapons program, without the expertise and determination Nora brought to the team every day. Nora's extensive career started in the House where she worked her way up to serve as Legislative Director to former Chairman Ron Packard of the Energy and Water Subcommittee as well as the Chairwoman Emeritus Kay Granger. After nearly a decade in the House, Nora transitioned to the private sector before working on the Executive Branch side. Over the course of a decade, Nora worked on nearly every nuclear-related function in government, including Naval Reactors, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, and the National Nuclear Security Administration. In 2020, Nora returned to Congress, this time serving on Senate Energy and Water Appropriations, where she rose to become its clerk. Then last year, Nora brought her deep expertise and experience to my subcommittee. She was an incredible asset to the team and an essential contributor to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that was passed just a couple of months ago. I feel very lucky to have been able to work with Nora and I am proud of what we accomplished together. I am happy Nora will be rewarded with some much-deserved free time with her family. I know I am speaking for myself, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and the entire nuclear enterprise when I express my utmost appreciation for Nora's dedicated service to the American people.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Caryville Cares Playground project in Caryville, TN, and recognize the community that has supported it. In Campbell County, TN, roughly one in five people under the age of 65 years old have a disability according to the US Census, nearly double the national average, yet no playground in the community was considered inclusive for those with different needs and abilities. The Caryville Cares Playground is an inclusive playground, where children of all different ability levels would have the opportunity to play together. Inclusive playgrounds like this are the start of healthy friendships that can last a lifetime and are places where children of all levels of ability are able to experience the joy of outdoor play. The playground was designed with seven main principles in mind to be fair; be free; be included; be smart; be independent; be safe; be active; and be comfortable. The seven principles guided every step of the planning, construction, and implementation for this project. The groups that initiated this project spearheaded fundraising, applied for grants, and solicited donations and support from the Caryville community. Their efforts included dinners, auctions, roadblocks, and even a local ``Dancing with the Stars''-styled event. They successfully raised more than a half million dollars in both cash and in-kind donations. After two years of hard work by the team, the playground was fully funded. On April 26, 2024, the gates to the Caryville Cares Playground opened for the first time. Every child in the community will finally have a place to play, thanks to the dedication of the Caryville Cares organizing committee and the incredible generosity of the local community. It is my pleasure to recognize the community team that took on this important and worthwhile undertaking. The group includes Mr. Brandon Johnson, who served as its president, along with fellow members Mrs. Cheyenne Allen, Mrs. Tayler Franke, Mr. Landyn Ford, Mr. Joe Goins, Mr. Blake Gray, Mrs. Tara Lee Gillespie, Mrs. Kristin Long, Mr. Joshua McDowell, Mrs. Autumn Longmire, Mrs. Ali Dower Miracle, Mrs. Ashley Whited, Mrs. Brandy Nelson, Mr. Micah Nelson, Mrs. Sara Padgett, Mr. Patrick Pebley, Mrs. Kaylee Queener, Mrs. Raewyn Snodderly, Mrs. Elizabeth Tamer, Mrs. Emily Tamer, Mrs. Katy Winter Vincent, Mrs. Ally Winter, Mr. Kevin Winter, and Mrs. Saarah Young.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Angie Giancarlo, who is retiring from government service, having served our country for 25 years. When Angie told me about her retirement, I told her I would support her, especially if she chose to reconsider. Alas, she is retiring, so I would like to take this opportunity to honor her 13 years spent on the House Appropriations Committee. It is hard to put our appreciation into words, but as appropriators, we are at our best when we express it in numbers. As professional staff and clerk, Angie helped usher 12 energy and water bills through successful passage of the House and 14 bills through final enactment. Conservatively, that means she also had to directly consider over 600 amendments to get there. I will spare everyone an accounting on all the talking points that it entails but rest assured Angie had correct comma placement in every single one of them. The countless hours Angie dedicated to the Committee made this place a better place, and we greatly appreciate it. I feel very lucky that we have been able to work on this bill with Angie as clerk, and I am proud of her accomplishments. Mr. Speaker, I speak for myself, the Committee, and the United States Congress when I express my utmost appreciation for her dedicated service over the years.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank our wonderful chair for yielding the time to me, and I really appreciate her kind words. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2024, particularly the Energy-Water Development appropriations bill. As chairman of that subcommittee, I worked hard to ensure the bill includes many House Republican priorities. At a total of $58.2 billion, the bill advances our national security, energy security, and economic competitiveness in a fiscally responsible manner. To support our nuclear deterrent, the bill funds the National Nuclear Security Administration at $24.1 billion, an increase of almost $2 billion above fiscal year 2023. Specifically, the bill fully funds all major weapons and infrastructure modernization activities, including the W93 warhead, the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile, which is a variant of the B61 gravity bomb, and the restart of plutonium pit production capability. On the nondefense side of the bill, I was very pleased to be able to secure increases for the funding of the Department of Energy Office of Science, including fusion energy science. This funding will enhance America's role as the global leader of scientific discovery and lay the foundation for future scientific breakthroughs. The programs funded in the Energy-Water Development bill also help improve our Nation's energy security. To reduce our reliance on foreign sources of critical materials, the bill provides strong support for the full spectrum of production technologies. Remaining a leader in nuclear technologies will ensure reliable energy here at home and will help allies across the globe. The bill sustains the Department of Energy's nuclear energy base program and also redirects previously appropriated funds to higher priorities, specifically: $2.8 billion to develop domestic capability for producing low-enriched uranium, including high-assay low-enriched uranium that will be necessary for upcoming advanced reactors, and $910 million to support advanced modular reactor design and deployment activities. There are many other important provisions in this Energy-Water Development bill, but before my time is up, I congratulate Chairwoman Granger on bringing together this appropriations package. I also acknowledge the efforts of our colleagues across the aisle, especially my ranking member, Ms. Kaptur, and our colleagues across the Capitol. Finally, I thank the staff for all of their hard work throughout this past year: our majority staff, Angie, Perry, Nora, Richie, Scott, Angelina, and Janet; in my personal office, Daniel and Ian; and on the minority side, Scott, Jocelyn, and Adam. Mr. Speaker, this is a strong bill for America with many House Republicans' priorities, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Granger and her outstanding staff and, really, all the staff on the majority and minority sides and in both Houses. Mr. Speaker, our Founding Fathers gave us a great constitutional Republic. In that regard, each and every one of the Members of this Chamber stands for reelection every 2 years. I represent the people of the great State of Tennessee, east Tennessee--wonderful people, God-fearing people. They love this country, our history, and they are just so proud of what we are doing as a nation. I realize that other people in other parts of our country have a different ethos, have different priorities, but we are where we are. The American people gave us a very slim majority in the House. In the Senate, the other party has a slim majority, and the White House is controlled by the other party. I want the American people to know, Mr. Speaker, that this negotiation has been difficult, but to close the government down at a time like this would hurt people who should not be hurt. Let me give one example. I chair, as our distinguished chair has said, the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations. It funds our great national labs, our Office of Science, and so many other great things. However, as a part of that, through the NNSA, the National Nuclear Security Administration, it funds our Nation's nuclear arsenal. We are in a very dangerous world right now. Our adversaries are ramping up. I wish we were not on the precipice of another arms race, but I am afraid we are. We can't close that down. We can't shut that down. So that I can be abundantly clear, government shutdowns--and I have lived through three--never work. They cause more harm than they do good. They cost more money. They cost the American taxpayer more money because when they revamp and start up again, basically, we lose all those person-hours, and it just causes havoc. This continuing resolution, to be clear, is a process continuing resolution. It is just to get these six bills to next week when we will actually pass a fiscal budget, which I think is the obligation of the House, the Senate, and the White House to do. We will do that. We will do that with the other bills. I do respect my friends, who are very passionate today in opposing this, but the reality is the American people want us to do our work. To do our work well, we have to keep the government open.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Chattanooga native and our Nation's most recent Medal of Honor recipient, Captain Larry Taylor. Captain Taylor passed away earlier this year on January 28. I have had many honors and privileges as the Representative for Tennessee's Third Congressional District. One of the highest honors of my career was getting to know Captain Taylor and his family while working with them and east Tennessee's steadfast and determined veterans to have the Medal of Honor awarded to Larry Taylor for his heroic, valiant, and selfless service during the Vietnam war. Captain Taylor's heroic actions on June 18, 1968, near the village of Ap Go Cong not only saved the lives of his fellow brothers in arms but also revolutionized the way our military evacuates troops under fire. Larry Taylor truly embodied the Tennessee volunteer spirit and the best of America and what our military stands for. We thank God for Captain Larry Taylor's life and service to America and the cause of freedom. Our Nation honors and remembers this great man, Tennessean, and patriot.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 977.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations Act. I applaud Speaker Johnson for his leadership in avoiding a harmful government shutdown, especially near the holidays. I also thank Chairwoman Granger for her work in putting together this clean continuing resolution. No one dislikes CRs more than the Appropriations Committee. As chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, I know the importance of enacting full-year bills to address issues like the nuclear weapons modernization programs at the Department of Energy and the navigation, flood and storm-damage reduction projects of the Army Corps of Engineers. House Republicans all agree we need to get the Federal Government on a more fiscally responsible path, but lengthy government shutdowns don't save money. They actually cost more money. The CR will give us time to reach an agreement on a top-line spending level and to negotiate final bills with the United States Senate. The two-step deadlines will also prevent a massive omnibus right before the holidays. A vote in favor of this continuing resolution is the only fiscally responsible vote. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger). Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), my ranking member.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, once again, I respectfully and vehemently disagree with my friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi). I represent the great people of the city of Oak Ridge in Tennessee, the birthplace of the Manhattan Project. The NNSA has a facility there. It is called the Y-12 facility. We are building the uranium processing facility. That became very apparent to me when I was a college freshman correctly arguing against a nuclear freeze, against a room full of liberal, radical, leftist students. I knew I was right then because I knew Ronald Reagan was right. What I didn't know then was that nuclear weapons deteriorate. I thought if you had a nuclear weapon, you could put it on a shelf, and if you needed it, you could go get it. The reality is that nuclear weapons, by their nature, deteriorate and have to be updated. Now, through three administrations--the Obama administration, the Trump administration, and now the Biden administration--I have worked hand in hand with the NNSA, the National Nuclear Security Administration. To do what? To make sure that our current nuclear arsenal, our nuclear deterrent, is strong. Where I disagree respectfully and most vehemently with my colleague from California is that our resolve is to tell the world today, whether it is in Moscow, Beijing, or any of the other countries that have a nuclear capability--and sadly, to my colleague, there are at least 10 countries now that have the ability to produce and deliver a nuclear weapon. That is scary. The resolve of the people of the United States must be to have a strong nuclear deterrent today and in the future. That is why we have to have this program. That is why we have to keep our Nation's nuclear arsenal strong and vibrant now and in the future. Specifically, Mr. Chairman, the W87-1 Modification Program will replace the W78 warhead and support fielding the Air Force Sentinel missile system. Mr. Chair, we have our nuclear triad--land based; sea, with our great United States Navy; and Air Force. It is a triad, and it is a strong triad. This is the message to the world, that we can never have a nuclear weapon used and deployed. Listen to Mr. Putin. He is threatening it. That is outrageous. We can never have that type of rhetoric in the world. We have to stand against that. The strongest way to do that is a nuclear deterrent and a commitment, not only to our friends in Savannah River, not only to our friends in Oak Ridge, but all over the United States. We have strong weapons labs that are doing a great job. The men and women of the NNSA are our great patriots. They are within the Department of Energy. The customer is the Department of Defense, but we are doing a tremendous job. I wish the world were a benign place. I wish it were a world without nuclear weapons, but they are existent. They are there. We are the leader in protecting the free world. We have to protect the people of the United States. We have to send a message. Mr. Chair, I, therefore, strongly and vehemently oppose the gentleman's amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose the amendment.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, as we have been debating the amendments to this energy and water bill, for some of the amendments I have risen in strong support and strong opposition. With all due respect to the gentleman from California, I rise in the staunchest opposition to his amendment. Mr. Chairman, our Nation's nuclear deterrent--and for the people at home watching--is done through the NNSA. The NNSA is the National Nuclear Security Administration. It is part of the Department of Energy. As part of that key mission and as part of this great bill, we are fully funding and need to continue to fully fund the updates to our weapons programs to keep our nuclear deterrent strong. Currently, the plutonium pits are being done and made at Los Alamos. They do an outstanding job. We are so fortunate that our great friends at the Savannah River reservation--and I have been there, and I have been in this facility that is being built--will work to create new plutonium pits. The world is a dangerous place. Vladimir Putin, with his outrageous, wrong invasion of Ukraine must be stopped. This man has basically threatened to use nuclear weapons. That is intolerable rhetoric. That is intolerable conduct. The strongest way to oppose that is to have a robust nuclear deterrent. Our bill does that. Los Alamos does that. The NNSA does that. Thank goodness our friends at the great Savannah River reservation have done that for years and will continue to help our Nation's nuclear arsenal with this facility to produce plutonium pits. The Chinese are growing their nuclear arsenal. The world is moving in the wrong direction. My hero, Ronald Reagan, in 1980 said, grow our nuclear deterrent, and he did that. I can remember standing in a college class with 200 students. I was the only person to stand up to fight the nuclear freeze. Ronald Reagan was right. We defeated the evil empire, the Soviet Union, because we did not do a freeze. We stood up and built up our nuclear deterrent. We have to do that now. Our partners at Savannah River are there. They are ready. This facility will supplement that. With all due respect to the gentleman from California, he is wrong on this. America needs its nuclear deterrent. The NNSA needs to be kept strong, and this plutonium pit production for Savannah River needs to go forward. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield to Ms. Kaptur, my ranking member.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan). I would explain to the Chairman that this fine gentleman is my counterpart on the authorization side on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He has been a strong leader in nuclear and has been my partner. I am the appropriator, and he is the authorizer.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger). Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.