Chuck Fleischmann

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding. On this issue I agree with Ranking Member Kaptur. While I recognize the current administration has gone too far in pursuing its climate goals, I believe there are aspects of this program we can all support. In particular, the SuperTruck program awardees represent the largest producers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the United States. The potential research and development of benefits are still worthy of pursuit. For these reasons, I oppose the gentlewoman's amendment.

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

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding. While I can completely understand the frustrations many of my colleagues may experience in some of their dealings with some of the aspects and personnel in the executive branch, respectfully, I think reducing the salaries to a dollar is not likely to solve the problem. In fact, it may create even more problems in a challenging environment. So with all due respect to my colleague from Florida, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Chair, I thank my ranking member for yielding to me, and I did hear both of my colleagues. Respectfully, I disagree with this amendment. I do not think that attempting to reduce salaries to a dollar is likely to address this problem, and it may very well create more problems than it attempts to solve. Madam Chair, I respectfully oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to oppose the same.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I hold my dear colleague and friend from Texas in the highest esteem. I think he is one of our brightest and best Members, and he has served so well on the Energy and Commerce Committee. It is a pleasure and privilege to serve with him. I play baseball with him, and candidly, he is a much better baseball player than I am. I trust his judgment, but respectfully, on this issue, I want to be consistent. I have opposed reducing salaries to $1 in the previous amendments. He articulated his issues very well, but I do think this causes a dangerous, difficult precedent. In that regard, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. Mr. Chair, as with the previous amendment, I fully understand and appreciate my distinguished colleague's frustrations. However, I respectfully disagree that reducing the salary to a dollar is the way to address that. Mr. Chair, I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote on that, and I thank my esteemed colleague for his amendment.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, in regard to the energy and water bill that is before the House today, I respectfully rise in opposition to the amendment. We discussed earlier today in some very strong and positive debates about the role of the NNSA and the strong nuclear arsenal aspect of the Department of Energy, which is so critically important, and I debated against my Democratic colleagues in that regard. That is all part of this great energy and water bill. It is a wonderful robust bill, not only for the Department of Energy, but also for the water side of the bill. The reduction proposed in this amendment would negatively impact national security and critical infrastructure programs in the bill. As I alluded to, this bill has both defense and nondefense spending in it. The amendment makes no distinction of where the reductions would come from, instead allowing the Biden administration to administer the reductions as they see fit. I would not trust the administration to do that. I think Congress needs to do that. That would likely affect the NNSA, as I have alluded to, and I cannot respectfully support any amendment that would jeopardize the balance of this bill, therefore, I oppose the gentleman's amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I wish to thank my friend, the distinguished gentleman from Montana, for offering this amendment. I know many of us have frustrations with some of the Army Corps' projects. However, this reduction by $620 million I must oppose for several reasons. The reduction proposed in this amendment would, in my view, jeopardize critical ongoing Corps of Engineers projects across this great country, including in my district, the great Chickamauga Lock Project in the Third District of Tennessee. All too often the Corps of Engineers fails to finish what it starts. This bill provides funding to complete a number of significant projects. A cut of this magnitude would, in my view, undermine public safety and America's economic competitiveness. It is in that regard that I respectfully urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 4394, to include corrections in spelling, punctuation, section numbering cross-referencing, and the insertion of appropriate headings.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, it is my distinct honor to bring the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water bill before you today. Before I go into the details, I recognize the hard work of Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro on this bill and the entire appropriations process. I also specifically thank my ranking member, Ms. Kaptur, for being a tremendous partner throughout this year's process. At a total of $56.958 billion, the Energy and Water bill advances our national security, our energy security, and our economic competitiveness in a fiscally responsible manner. The bill includes $24 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration. Within that, the bill fully funds all major weapons programs and infrastructure modernization activities, including the W93 warhead, the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile, the B83-1 sustainment efforts, and the restart of plutonium pit production capability. NNSA funding also supports naval reactors and defense nuclear nonproliferation. Remaining a leader in nuclear energy 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: $2.4 billion to develop a domestic capability for producing low- enriched uranium, including high-assay low-enriched uranium that will be necessary for upcoming advanced reactors; and $1.2 billion to support the ongoing advanced small modular reactor demonstration project. To reduce our reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals, the bill provides more than $200 million for the full spectrum of production technologies. The Army Corps of Engineers is funded at $9.57 billion, including full funding of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund activities and ongoing Inland Waterways Trust Fund construction projects. These investments will help ensure goods can be moved safely to and from global markets. Funding for the Bureau of Reclamation totals $1.8 billion and prioritizes projects that increase water supply and support drought resiliency. The bill continues strong funding for the Department of Energy Office of Science, including fusion energy science, to enhance America's role as the global leader of scientific discovery and to lay the foundation for future scientific breakthroughs. In closing, I thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work throughout this process. On the majority staff, Angie, Perry, Nora, Richie, Scott, and Janet. In my personal office, Ian and Daniel. On the minority staff, Scott, Jocelyn, and Adam. This is a strong bill, and I urge Members to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4394, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), my friend.

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

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the chair of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy), my friend and also my colleague on the congressional baseball team.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), my very good friend and fellow member of the Italian caucus.

Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Chair, this bipartisan en bloc amendment was developed in coordination with the minority. It contains noncontroversial amendments addressing important issues at the agency's funded in this bill that have been agreed to by both sides. I support its adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.