Sam Graves

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 189.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, by ensuring that the SEC continues to use GSA for its space needs, H.R. 189 is going to help reduce costs and protect taxpayers against wasteful spending. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for her work on this bill. The legislation was agreed to in the House last Congress under suspension of the rules, so I look forward to seeing that happen again. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 189) to amend title 40, United States Code, to eliminate the leasing authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, in closing, this legislation is going to provide a whole lot of needed clarity to ensure that electric utilities are not penalized for acting quickly to restore power to those impacted by natural disasters. This legislation passed the Chamber under suspension of the rules by voice vote last December, and I look forward to the House approving it again. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I want to publicly thank Representative Hoyle for her work on the bill. It is a great bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell).

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, following a natural disaster, electric utilities work tirelessly to restore power to their customers. However, because of FEMA's problematic interpretation of section 403 of the Stafford Act, once power is restored, even with temporary measures, electric utilities are deemed ineligible for reimbursement for permanent work and mitigation efforts. As a result, electric utilities are treated differently from all other critical infrastructure, even though building mitigation into our power systems reduces the costs of future disasters. H.R. 164 is going to address this by clarifying that electric utilities may build in mitigation measures that provide essential assistance and that it does not disqualify electric utilities from permanent work eligibility later in the disaster recovery process. Mr. Speaker, I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 164.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 164) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize Federal agencies to provide certain essential assistance for hazard mitigation for electric utilities, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. GRAVES

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

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I hope we can continue to show support for this commonsense accountability measure. It is going to help improve transparency for Federal disaster spending. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell), who is the sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 153, the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act, will increase transparency for post-disaster Federal assistance. H.R. 153 will do this by requiring agencies that provide Federal disaster assistance to update a central website quarterly with information on their disaster assistance programs. That way, the American taxpayer can see exactly where their hard-earned dollars are going. H.R. 153 passed the House in the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses, and I urge continued support for this commonsense legislation. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) for his leadership on this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 153.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 153) to provide for an online repository for certain reporting requirements for recipients of Federal disaster assistance, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 152) to amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to develop a study regarding streamlining and consolidating information collection and preliminary damage assessments, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell), the bill's sponsor.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 152.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 152, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act, is a commonsense bill that is going to streamline and consolidate the collection of information following a disaster. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the lead Federal agency on disasters, there are often many Federal agencies involved in disaster response and recovery. I have experienced firsthand just how frustrating it can be when these Federal agencies fail to work together following a natural disaster. That is why I am proud to support H.R. 152, which would address this concern by amending the FEMA-led working group created in the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018. Specifically, the working group is going to develop a plan to make the collection of information from disaster survivors less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming. This working group is also going to coordinate with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to identify ways to reduce duplication and streamline the Federal damage assessment process. I thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) for his leadership on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, in closing, H.R. 152 is a good government bill that will help improve disaster recovery efforts. It has previously passed the House in the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Mark R. Baker, who is retiring after more than a decade of distinguished service as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Mark's leadership in support of the general aviation community has been invaluable to hundreds of thousands of pilots and aircraft owners and the endeavors they support through flight. His unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the freedom to fly--a freedom truly unique to the United States--has helped facilitate the wide range of general aviation flight missions, including business, disaster relief, philanthropy, and personal transportation. Mark has been the most impactful leader in AOPA's 85-year history, serving as a tireless and effective advocate for general aviation. He has consistently provided legislators and regulators with valuable insights on important issues such as medical certification reform, strengthening our national network of airports, aviation and education career opportunities for youth, advancing flight deck technology, ensuring fair and transparent pricing for pilots, and improving aviation safety. Among the important legislation he has helped shape is the very first general aviation title in an FAA reauthorization bill, setting an important precedent for the future. Mark's passion for aviation began as a child growing up in Minnesota, when he and his younger brothers, Scott and Jim, rode their bicycles to the local airport to watch airplanes and take penny-a-pound airplane rides. He took a ground school class in high school and earned his private pilot certificate soon after. Flight instructor Waldo Anderson, who is now 90 years old and still flying, mentored and inspired Mark as he worked to earn additional pilot certificates and ratings. As a teenager just starting college, Mark found additional mentors in his employers, Knox Lumber founders Don DeCoster, Larry Platt, and Mel Maurer. The World War II veterans quickly recognized Mark's strong work ethic, which he learned from parents Ralph and Bev. Taking him under their wing, the trio soon taught Mark the ins and outs of retail lumber, laying the groundwork for his future business success in the home improvement industry. After leaving Knox, Mark held leadership roles with Payless Cashways, Scotty's, and Home Base before joining Home Depot in that company's formative years. While at Home Depot, Mark held numerous executive positions, including Chief Operating Officer, and continued to build deep and lasting relationships throughout the home improvement vendor and real estate communities, helping to drive large-scale growth for his company and the industry. He even used his flying skills, and both personal and business aircraft, to help identify locations for hundreds of new stores nationwide. Mark has held numerous other influential positions, including Chief Operating Officer at Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, President and Chief Executive Officer at outdoor outfitter Gander Mountain, and Chief Executive Officer at Orchard Supply Hardware. Recognizing the important role of mentors in his own life, Mark has generously mentored hundreds of pilots, providing access to aircraft, instructors, and opportunities to fly, as well as sharing the wisdom he has gained in more than 10,000 hours at the controls. In that same spirit, he launched the You Can Fly program at AOPA, which has so far provided free aviation STEM curriculum to more than 100,000 high school students nationwide. Mark's commitment to creating opportunities for young people is matched only by his commitment to his family, including his wife JoAnn; his four children, Lindsay, Kristine, Shannon, and Andrew; his sons-in- law Pete and Alex; and his eight grandchildren. As Mark prepares to retire from AOPA, I wish him well in all his endeavors and thank him for his service to the aviation community and the Nation. I am confident he will continue to mentor the next generation of aviators as a passionate and influential advocate for GA.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize and commend Mr. Leroy Sommer, the Airport Manager of College Park Airport in College Park, Maryland, on his retirement after a decade of exemplary service to the aviation community. For the past ten years, Mr. Sommer has led one of our Nation's most historic airports with remarkable dedication and skill. College Park Airport, known as the world's oldest continuously operating airport, is a cornerstone of aviation history and a symbol of the ingenuity and perseverance of the early pioneers of flight. Under Mr. Sommer's capable leadership, the airport has continued to thrive, serving as both a vital resource for general aviation and a living monument to our Nation's rich aviation heritage. Mr. Sommer's unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and community engagement has been instrumental in the airport's success. His tireless efforts have ensured that College Park Airport remains a beacon for aviation enthusiasts and a trusted partner to the local community. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Sommer has built strong relationships with residents, businesses, government agencies, and the aviation industry. These partnerships reflect his exceptional leadership and his dedication to fostering collaboration and trust--qualities that are vital to maintaining the strength and vitality of our Nation's aviation infrastructure. As Mr. Sommer transitions into this well-deserved next chapter, we honor his significant contributions to aviation and to College Park Airport's enduring legacy. His stewardship of this historic landmark has preserved its place in history while ensuring its relevance for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mr. Leroy Sommer for his service and in wishing him all the best in his retirement. His legacy will be felt for years to come, and he will always have a place among the great stewards of aviation history.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1478) to designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'', and for other purposes.

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1478.