Sam Graves

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the Republican whip.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I rise as Congress considers the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 to highlight a concern with some language in the House Armed Services Committee Report accompanying H.R. 4350 that passed this chamber earlier this year, and which I voted to support. Included in the House bill's report is direction to the Secretary of Defense to study and issue a report on ``DoD Logistics and Potential Benefits of Carsharing'' for servicemembers. In carrying out the study, I believe the Department of Defense must objectively evaluate not only potential benefits, but also potential risks peer-to-peer car-sharing might pose to our servicemembers and families. For example, I am concerned about potential predatory lending practices to the extent that peer-to-peer car-sharing platforms encourage individual vehicle owners to go out and acquire vehicles for the sole purpose of renting a small ``fleet'' of vehicles on such platforms; the collection and remission of transactional sales and excise taxes on behalf of vehicle owners in states without laws expressly requiring the platform to do so, which could impact a servicemember's tax liability; and, cybersecurity for servicemembers or their families' personal and financial data. The bottom line is that I believe the Department of Defense, in carrying out the study described in the House Armed Services Committee Report accompanying H.R. 4350, must consider potential risks, in addition to the potential benefits, of peer-to-peer carsharing among our servicemembers.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Brodie Michael Foster. Brodie is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 376, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Brodie has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Brodie has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned 27 merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Brodie has completed Boy Scouts of America's National Youth Leadership Training. served in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, and has camped a total of 59 nights. Brodie has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Brodie checked Darns for Erosion Control at the City of Glenaire City Park which took 87.5 hours of service to complete. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Brodie Michael Foster for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Matthew Nicholas Sutherland. Matthew is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 376, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Matthew has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Matthew has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned 39 merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Matthew has earned his Bronze Palm and Gold Palm Awards, served in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, and has camped a total of 82 nights. Matthew has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Matthew created an exhibit for the Clay County Historical Museum which took 144 hours of service to complete. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Matthew Nicholas Sutherland for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I want to pay tribute to Jonathan R. ``Jon'' Pawlow, our longtime Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Senior Counsel. After 20 years of service on the Committee, Jon will be retiring at the end of this year. It's difficult to picture the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee without Jon here. In fact, it's difficult to imagine the water policy sphere throughout the entire Congress without Jon here. For 20 years, Jon has been an absolute go-to for all things Clean Water Act. He has been an immense resource for not just the Committee, but for the entire Congress. He has left his mark upon the work product created under a legion of full and subcommittee chairmen and ranking members. However, even prior to joining the Committee, Jon was accomplished. He graduated Rutgers University with both a bachelor's and master's degrees in water resources engineering and environmental science, and also holds a law degree from Georgetown University. He accumulated over 15 years of private law practice, gaining expertise in the environmental and intellectual property fields. After that, Jon served in the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency for nine years and then moved on to the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. These experiences allowed him to bring a host of policy and regulatory experience to the Committee. Jon has left his fingerprints on just about every piece of water legislation in the past two decades. He has also been a key participant in five Water Resources Development Acts, including the last four, where Congress got its act together and began passing bipartisan WRDAs consistently every two years. Finally, throughout his professional life, Jon has been a teacher and a mentor. At various times in his career, he has instructed at institutions such as the George Washington University Center for Career Education and the Old Dominion University College of Engineering and Technology. This has carried over to his time on the Hill. He has always made time for anyone he meets to walk through the ins-and-outs of water policy, from Full Committee Chairs, to leadership staff, to personal office legislative assistants. Jon is a dedicated professional and devoted staffer, and we will all greatly miss his knowledge, expertise, and guidance. I am personally grateful for his service to this Committee and to Congress. I thank him so much for dedicating his career to water policy and service to the American public. I hope he and Terry make the most of their well-deserved retirements. I thank him for all he has done.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of the retirement of Ken Klein, who has served as the Executive Vice President for the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) for the past two decades. During his time at OAAA, Ken has driven the billboard industry into a new era of public service. Ken spearheaded the OAAA's public-service partnerships with various agencies and nonprofits--including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)--to seek new ways to inform and protect Americans. The FBI partnership is an excellent example of how law enforcement, the private sector, and the public can collectively bring criminals to justice in today's digital age. As a result of Ken's efforts, the FBI has new tools to promote safety and rapidly share information in dangerous situations. The collaboration and the speed with which digital billboards can publicize crucial fugitive and crime-related information was key to the success of numerous investigative efforts in 2020. For example, outdoor advertising helped nab the ``Travelling Bandit''--a serial bank robber--in 2019 and raised awareness on a notorious drug cartel fugitive in 2020 after the individual was added to the FBI's ``Ten Most Wanted Fugitives'' list. All in all, the FBI credits the capture of 58 fugitives as a direct result of billboard publicity. Digital billboards have also proved to be a vital tool in disaster preparation and response. A case study posted on FEMA's website reports that, ``Digital technology enables quick delivery of emergency messages via high-tech billboards. Public-private partnerships harness these high-tech signs to inform the public about weather warnings, evacuation routes, and safety-related information.'' Advances in technology mean that the billboard industry can deliver information in ways unavailable a generation ago. The message on a digital billboard can be changed by computer in an instant: On August 1, 2007, the I-35W Bridge collapsed in Minneapolis. Within 15 minutes, emergency messages were displayed on digital billboards throughout the area. After Tropical Storm Fay in August of 2008, 37 different messages were displayed on more than 75 digital billboards in 11 counties in Florida. When Albuquerque experienced a natural gas emergency, the city quickly posted messages on digital billboards asking the public to lower thermostats and reduce hot water usage. Immediately after the massive Japanese earthquake in 2011, tsunami warnings appeared on digital billboards on the West Coast. Finally, Ken also led a partnership with the NCMEC. Because of his hard work, more than 500 AMBER Alerts have been displayed on digital billboards across the country. Law enforcement and NCMEC rely on these high-tech signs to help locate missing children and to apprehend child abductors. Please join me in extending congratulations to Ken, on the occasion of his retirement, for his successful leadership of OAAA's public- private partnerships, and his contributions to public safety.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1339, the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act. I want to thank the sponsors of this legislation for introducing this very important bill. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to form a working group with other Federal agencies to ensure that the advanced air mobility industry has the Federal backing it needs to commence operations and to succeed. I recently had the opportunity to fly a simulated advanced air mobility, or AAM, flight and was very impressed with the technology. In just a few short years, we may be seeing multiple companies carrying paying passengers in highly automated electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. These operations will connect cities, towns, and neighborhoods all across the country in a very safe, quiet, and environmentally friendly way. Madam Speaker, this is a good bill and keeps the momentum going for American leadership in the advanced air mobility industry. That is why I support H.R. 1339, and I urge a ``yes'' vote today. Madam Speaker, before I reserve, I also want to pay tribute to Holly Woodruff Lyons, our longtime Subcommittee on Aviation staff director. After nearly 20 years on the committee, Holly will be retiring at the end of this year. It is hard to imagine the committee without Holly. Each new Republican chairman or ranking member has received the same advice from their predecessor: whatever you do, make sure Holly stays. I am sorry to say that the streak has finally ended on my watch, but her legacy will cast a long shadow in these halls for years to come. Holly has helped shape every single piece of aviation legislation in the past two decades, and she is responsible for literally hundreds of provisions in law that have improved the lives of everyday Americans. Holly is a consummate professional and dedicated staffer, and we will sorely miss her counsel and very much miss her wisdom. I am personally grateful for her service to this committee, both as a pilot and a Member of Congress. I thank her so much for dedicating her career to aviation safety and her service to the American public. She will never be a stranger around here, and I hope she and Mark make the most of their well-earned retirements. I thank her for all she has done. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, in closing, this legislation takes an important step in preparing the Federal Government and our communities for the introduction of advanced air mobility vehicles. Madam Speaker, I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. H.R. 3193 is going to ensure that rural and economically distressed communities are equipped to use EDA grants to develop high-speed broadband access. I feel very strongly about this bill, and I urge support of this important legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be the sponsor of H.R. 3193, the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility Act, or E-BRIDGE, along with the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest). Unfortunately, too many of our communities, particularly in rural America, still lack broadband access. Broadband is critical to conducting business and attracting jobs for telehealth, education, and emergency preparedness and response efforts in this digital age. While Economic Development Administration, or EDA, grants may already be used to attract jobs in economically distressed areas, there are hurdles to using these grants for broadband projects, including difficult last-mile efforts that often delay rural broadband development. This bill removes those hurdles to help connect and revitalize our rural communities. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, reluctantly, I am going to support yet another short- term extension of the highway program. Unfortunately, this simply continues to put our State departments of transportation and transportation stakeholders in a very tough position, and they really deserve more than this. Let me be clear: The Speaker's partisan process is what has led us to this point, and this predicament highlights more than ever the need for us to be working across the aisle--and across the building, for that matter. Nearly a month ago, we were here in virtually the same position, having the same conversations about the need for a highway extension because the Speaker is holding the infrastructure bill hostage for her real priority. And we all know what that is. It is a massive, multitrillion-dollar tax-and-spend wish list. This should not be how it is, tying the hands of an entire Congress to pass a socialist agenda that folks in America just simply don't support. Infrastructure has never been this way. Bipartisanship has always been the formula for success on infrastructure, and that hasn't changed. It hasn't changed any at all. While this process may have started out as a bipartisan piece of legislation in the Senate, the Speaker made darn sure that as soon as the bill was sent across the Capitol, it immediately was tainted with her ultraliberal, partisan agenda. In my 20 years in Congress, I have supported all three highway bills that have been signed into law. All of them were bipartisan, all of them under Republican chairmen, all of them signed into law by both Democrat and Republican Presidents. House Republicans have stood ready and committed to participate in a truly bipartisan process that involves input from both the House and the Senate, not just one Chamber, and both parties. We were ready to come to the negotiation table. Earlier this year, House Republicans warned that a partisan path would put us in a position like this, and here we are. The chairman is absolutely right. Passing this extension is the right thing to do. The last thing we need, though, is a series of short-term extensions. A longer extension is a much-preferred path because it allows our States to plan with certainty. Multiple short-term extensions are extremely detrimental to the States. They are detrimental to the stakeholders and the jobs that support these critical projects and programs. Extensions mean leaving the States with uncertainty to fix, to maintain, to upgrade roads and bridges. And you can't plan multiyear infrastructure and highway projects with the guarantee of only a few weeks of funding at any one time. So it is time to get back to what works, and that is bipartisanship on both sides of this building. That is the key to success when it comes to infrastructure. I urge my colleagues to support this short-term extension and support our States' transportation programs. However, next time around, we really need to consider a longer term extension. It is what is best for the States. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Again, it is unfortunate that we are here today as Democrats continue negotiating their partisan reconciliation proposal while an infrastructure bill sits. It sits idly and serves nothing more than those partisan programs. This is nothing more than a Trojan horse, Madam Speaker, and it is being used for its popularity to get votes for the progressive wish list. I believe our State DOTs and our State transportation stakeholders, every one of them deserve better. I hardly think that this short-term extension gives certainty to those folks, and I recognize that what is even worse is the fact that there is no certainty whatsoever. Given that, reluctantly, I do urge support of this short-term extension with the expectation that a longer term extension will be needed the next time that we are here doing this once again. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close. Again, Mr. Speaker, this process has been horribly managed, and it is unfortunate that we didn't take this action before transportation programs were shut down and people were furloughed. Having said that, we need to provide this certainty for our State DOTs and for our transportation stakeholders. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I do urge support for this clean, short-term extension. It doesn't cost anything, and it is the right thing to do. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am planning to support this short-term extension of highway programs because it is a clean extension, and it is the right thing to do at this point. At midnight last night, funding for these programs expired because I suppose Speaker Pelosi and the majority thought this lapse and shutdown would be minimal. Maybe we should ask the thousands of workers who are now furloughed, our State departments of transportation, and other stakeholders whether they also would minimize the majority's inaction and the game playing that is taking place. Let me be clear: The Speaker's partisan process is what led us to this point, and this chaos highlights more than ever the need for us to be working across the aisle. Getting a bipartisan highway infrastructure bill done should be easiest thing that we do in Congress. Bipartisanship has always been the formula for success on infrastructure, and that hasn't changed. In my 20 years in Congress, I have supported all three highway bills that have been signed into law. All three of them were bipartisan. All three of them were under Republican chairmen. I stand ready to participate in a truly bipartisan process that involves input from both the House and the Senate, not just one Chamber. Republicans have put forward infrastructure principles in numerous pieces of infrastructure legislation. We were ready to come to the negotiating table, but we didn't get that opportunity. Republicans warned that a partisan path would put us in a position like this, and here we are. Nevertheless, we remain ready to come to the table and get back to the bipartisan tradition on infrastructure. Passing this extension is the right thing to do, but the last thing we need is a series of short- term extensions. These short-term extensions are extremely detrimental to the States, to the stakeholders, and to the jobs that support these critical projects and programs. Short-term extensions mean leaving States with uncertainty in their plans to fix, maintain, and upgrade roads and bridges. Mr. Speaker, you can't plan multiyear infrastructure and highway projects with the guarantee of only a few weeks of funding at a time. It is time to get back to what works. Bipartisanship on both sides of Capitol Hill is the key to success when it comes to infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this clean extension, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. This body could and should have worked together on bipartisan legislation to improve our roads and our bridges, wastewater infrastructure, and other vital infrastructure components. But instead, the majority preferred to put us through a very highly partisan messaging exercise. And for what? The majority leaders' grossly mismanaged process. I have no doubt that they thought that their ``my way or the highway'' approach reflected all their progressive priorities, and they were mighty proud of it. But it led to the House, both Republicans and Democrats, being completely sidelined in this process. And we knew that this was the most likely outcome. I want to highlight two key points. The first is that today's legislation is one of the largest infrastructure bills ever before the House, but because of the Speaker's mismanagement of this entire process, the House failed to be taken seriously and failed to have any input into this bill. The second point is that this bill is a Trojan horse for reconciliation. We all know that. Voting for this bill is a vote for Speaker Pelosi's $3.5 trillion spending spree, and there is no way to separate the two. Even the Speaker acknowledges this, and many others as well. Lost among all of these poor decisions is the absolute necessity to address America's real infrastructure needs. I firmly believe that the work we do on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is critical to the economy and to the lives of all Americans, and if the House process was bipartisan from the very start, this conversation would have been much different, but here we are. Instead of zeroing in on real infrastructure, the majority is talking about spending trillions and trillions of dollars on everything that they can think of, and I have to ask: When does it end? Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).