Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1466), to authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a regional program to assess, monitor, and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1466, introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley and led in the House by my colleague, Representative Blake Moore. This bill will direct the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a program to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lakes and associated ecosystems in the Great Basin States in the West. Saline lakes in the Western United States are shrinking and becoming saltier due to prolonged drought and other effects of climate change. These shrinking lakes are exposing harmful dust that threatens the public health of neighboring communities while harming local economies and eliminating essential migratory bird habitat. This program will help inform and support coordinated management and conservation actions to benefit saline lakes. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleague in urging support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5715) to reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam 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 the measure under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 5715, which will authorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund. Congress established the Udall Foundation in 1992 as an independent executive branch agency to honor Morris K. Udall's lasting impact on the Nation's environment, public lands, natural resources, and his support for the rights and self-governance of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. In 2009, Congress enacted legislation to honor Stewart L. Udall and add his name to the name of the foundation. The agency is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, and maintains an additional office in Washington, D.C. The Udall Foundation accomplishes its mission through five major programs. The important one is the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution, which provides impartial collaboration, consensus building, and conflict resolution services on a wide range of environmental, natural, and cultural resources, Tribal and public lands issues involving the Federal Government. In addition, the foundation runs numerous graduate, intern, and focus programs for Native American and Alaska Natives throughout the country, of which many here in Congress have benefited from those internships and fellowships within committees and in individual offices. I thank the 13 members of the board of directors of the Udall Foundation for their support, the Council on Environmental Quality for their support, and urge consideration and support for the legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Education and Labor, Washington, DC, December 2, 2022. Hon. Raul Grijalva, Chair, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chair Grijalva: I write concerning H.R. 5715, a bill to reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund, and for other purposes. There are certain provisions in the legislation that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor. In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill, the Committee on Education and Labor does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to name members of the Education and Labor Committee to any conference committee which is named to consider such provisions. Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 5715 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, Chairman.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez), the chair of the subcommittee.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I, as well, would like to thank my colleagues across the aisle for their thoughtful and important suggestions to the legislation. I am happy to incorporate them. Their suggestions make the program healthier and stronger, and I appreciate that. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 6427, the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act will amend the Red River National Wildlife Refuge acquisition boundary, which is the area from which more land can be added to the refuge. This amendment will allow for 3,300 acres of land to be conveyed to the refuge system. The Red River National Wildlife Refuge runs through parts of the Red River Valley in northwestern Louisiana. Each year, approximately 80,000 waterfowl visit the 50,000-acre refuge for feeding and resting. Over 200 species of neotropical migratory songbirds also stop at the refuge. The expansion will support migratory birds throughout their annual life cycle of breeding, wintering, and migrating. It will also provide additional economic benefits to the region through partnerships with local farmers and increased public access for outdoor recreationists. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work on this important legislation. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I have no requests for time. We are prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I join with my colleague in urging adoption of this good legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 the measure under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7496, introduced by my colleague, Representative Stacey Plaskett. This bill will direct the Secretary of the Interior to install a plaque at the peak of Ram Head in the Virgin Islands National Park to commemorate the slave rebellion that began in St. John in 1733. The slave insurrection on St. John is the first time in which enslaved people successfully took control of a colony, and it served as a spark to later slave revolts that would take place. After half a year of fighting, opposition troops defeated the uprising in St. John. As a last cry for freedom, the last remaining slave rebels died by suicide by drowning themselves at Ram Head in a collective act of defiance. Installing a commemorative plaque in the Virgin Islands National Park will honor the sacrifices of the rebels and ensure that visitors who hike to the top of Ram Head learn and reflect on this powerful history. I thank my colleague, Representative Plaskett, for introducing this legislation, championing this bill on behalf of her constituents. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7952) ``to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a natural gas distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National Historical Park, and for other purposes'', as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam 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 the measure under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7952, introduced by my colleague Representative Madeleine Dean. As part of a broader effort to develop and enhance the area around Valley Forge National Historical Park, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is working to realign and repave a road that runs through the park's entrance. This bill will allow the movement of a natural gas pipeline segment from its current position at the entrance of the park to a new roadbed being constructed east of the current road. If the pipeline is not permitted to move, the project could be further delayed costing time and resources. Moving the pipeline will also allow for the creation of a new trail connection, which will better allow people to reach and enjoy Valley Forge. I thank my colleague Representative Dean for introducing this legislation on behalf of her constituents. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation. And as Representative Dean said, I thank the sponsors of the legislation. One small thing that only Congress can do in this particular instance affects not only the utilization of this park but makes the situation safer for everyone involved and less expensive, and I thank her for her foresight. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in shock and feeling an immense loss for the Member that will not be with us, Donald McEachin, the gentleman from Virginia, a dear friend. The members of the Committee on Natural Resources extend to his family, his wife Colette, his children and his grandchildren, his loved ones, and his loyal and capable staff, our condolences, our sympathies, and our comfort. This imposing man, Donald McEachin, was more than that. His strength came from his heart, his faith, his empathy, and his compassion for other people. On this journey, I have had the privilege and pleasure to work with him for over 3 years to develop legislation that would assure every American had clean air, clean water, and a clean environment. That piece of legislation is historic, and it is the creation of great work on the part of Donald McEachin. It is his legacy that I hope we address, but it is also his character and his strength, as he guided me and other Members through a process that is sometimes difficult, sometimes contentious, but a process that at the end of the day has produced something that will be part of the legacy of a man that served his community, served his country, served his family, and gave honor to all of us. This is a deep loss, an immense loss, and one that I share with everyone.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4009) to authorize the Georgetown African American Historic Landmark Project and Tour to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 the measure under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6353) to authorize the National Service Animals Monument Corporation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4358) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Little Manatee River as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, as amended.