Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and congratulate Mr. Jonathan H. Gardner on the occasion of his retirement from his position as Director of the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System (SAVAHCS). Mr. Gardner has dedicated over 36 years of serving our nation's heroes with distinction. Mr. Gardner's career with the Department of Veterans Affairs began as a Without Compensation (WOC) position, followed by progressive leadership assignments within the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) (i.e., VA Central Office (VACO), Network and facility). Mr. Gardner has a record of sustained extraordinary accomplishment that is recognized throughout DVA and acknowledged on a national level. As Director of SAVAHCS, his duties include the overall organization/operation of a highly affiliated, 283-bed, complexity level 1a, teaching medical facility with a budget of $460 million and 2,600 employees. The SAVAHCS includes seven Community Clinics and a $4.9 million research budget. SAVAHCS hosts various regional centers of excellence including: Southwest Blind Rehabilitation Center; Network 18 Polytrauma Network Site; Rehabilitation and Transitional Care Center; and a Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center. SAVAHCS is also the principle teaching affiliate with the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy, and 36 other institutions of higher learning. During his tenure, Mr. Gardner created an atmosphere of continuous improvement to ensure quality of care for Veteran patients. In recognition, the SAVAHCS received the 2012 Arizona Quality Alliance Pioneer Award for Quality, the 2012 Robert W. Carey Performance Excellence Trophy Award and the 2011 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert W. Carey Award for Performance Excellence in Healthcare Services, all based on the Malcolm Baldrige Award criteria. SAVAHCS was also awarded 2016 U.S. News and World Report listing of Best Hospitals for Achievement of the American Heart Association ``Get with the Guidelines Gold Resuscitation Award,'' the 2015 U.S. News and World Report listing of Best Hospitals for Achievement of the American Heart Association ``Get with the Guidelines Silver Resuscitation Award,'' and the 2015/2014 Silver Foundation Award Excellence in Quality and Performance Award from the Office of Disability and Medical Assessment. His ORYX score from The Joint Commission was #1 in the VA nation-wide. Mr. Gardner's final day was on January 4, 2016. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and honor to recognize the commitment and dedication to our Veterans and the Southern Arizona community that Mr. Gardner has demonstrated for well over 36 years.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and congratulate Mr. Pat CoreIla on the occasion of his retirement from his post as Deputy Director of the Pima County Library. Mr. Corella has dedicated over fifty years to serving his community with distinction. Born from humble beginnings, Mr. CoreIla has become a symbol of hard work, perseverance, and selflessness. A Tucson native, Mr. CoreIla is one of six siblings with strong family ties. Since a young age, Mr. CoreIla has borne much responsibility whether helping his family harvest crops in California during the summers to becoming an independent young man. He graduated from Pueblo High School in 1965 and soon began his involvement with the Pima County Public Library system. As a library page, he assisted in shelving, book circulation, operating equipment and researching. In 1970 after marrying and beginning a family, he enrolled in the University of Arizona as a full-time student. In less than four years, Mr. CoreIla earned his bachelor's degree in Government and Public Administration. During that time, it was his job to drive the ``bookmobile'' to areas in Tucson and Pima County where he provided imperative library services to low-income and underrepresented communities. Mr. Corella was instrumental in the opening of library branches in Tucson's barrios and surrounding rural communities. Due in part to his leadership, nineteen library branches were opened and sixteen others were either expanded or remodeled. Mr. Corella has always understood that libraries were educational institutions full of opportunity for underserved communities. He helped transition these library branches to modern technology and expanded the role of providing more services and resources beyond books. Today, Pima County branch libraries provide literacy programs for adults and children, after-school tutoring and access to computers and community services. Mr. Corella's final day was November 26, 2015, exactly fifty years to the day he began as a library page. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and honor to recognize the commitment and dedication to our Southern Arizona community and the library system that Mr. Corella has demonstrated for well over fifty years.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2288 removes the use restriction on a 1-acre parcel of Federal land provided to Rockingham County, Virginia. As was stated, in 1989, Congress authorized Rockingham County to use a 3-acre parcel of Federal land for the purpose of establishing a child care center under the condition that the land continues to be used for this purpose. If the county no longer needs the land for a child care center, the land reverts back to ownership by the United States or the county has the option to purchase it at fair market value. The Federal Government has a long tradition of providing public land to State, county, and local governments. The fair use of Federal land and a fair return to the American taxpayer has to be at the forefront of these transactions. Removing public-purpose requirements and use restrictions should only be done when it is deemed appropriate and necessary. In this particular case, the sponsor of this legislation has worked with the National Park Service to develop legislation that is both fair and transparent. The land provided to Rockingham County includes a garage that was previously used by the National Park Service that the county has determined could benefit the Plains Area Daycare Center. The Park Service no longer needs the garage, and removing the use restriction on 1 of the 3 acres will allow this child care provider to access financial assistance in order to upgrade and rehabilitate the garage so it is suitable for its needs. This is a worthy goal. We support the adoption of H.R. 2288 and congratulate the sponsor of the legislation for it. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, before I yield back the balance of my time, let me thank the chair of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands, Mr. McClintock, and Ranking Member Tsongas for their work and the staff's work on this. Again, to Mr. Heck and the delegation from Washington, this is a great piece of legislation. I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2270 designates the national wildlife refuge on the Nisqually River Delta as the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Renaming this refuge will honor Billy Frank Jr.'s legacy on the river where he spent his life. Billy Frank Jr., who passed away last year, has been recognized for his work defending treaty rights, tribal sovereignty, and salmon recovery efforts in his home State of Washington. Aside from the awards that were noted by my colleague that he has received, on November 24, President Obama presented his family with the Medal of Freedom honor that he so justly deserved. The bill also creates a national memorial to commemorate the signing of the Medicine Creek Treaty in 1854. I want to congratulate and thank my colleague from Washington, Representative Heck, for his tireless work and advocacy on behalf of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Heck), the sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In March of this year, I introduced this legislation, the Preservation Research at Institutions Serving Minorities, the PRISM Act, to ensure that over 400 Hispanic-serving institutions have access to a competitive grant program for historic preservation education and for training programs. HSIs are colleges and universities where at least 25 percent of the student enrollment is comprised of Hispanic students. Current law provides, as was stated by the gentleman, preservation education and training grants for HBCUs, tribal and Hawaiian Native education institutions. My legislation would add HSIs to the list. HSIs represent about 12 percent of all higher education institutions in the U.S. They educate over 3 million Hispanic students that are enrolled in those universities and colleges. At the markup, the committee adopted an amendment offered by my good friend, Congresswoman Bordallo of Guam. Ms. Bordallo's amendment adds universities and colleges that are designated as Asian American, Native American Pacific Islanders-serving institutions to the list of institutions eligible for historic preservation education and training programs. I commend the gentlewoman from Guam for bringing this issue up. Her amendment makes the bill more inclusive and better. I urge my colleagues to support its adoption. The bill is designed to enhance the educational experience of students at HSIs and contribute to the preservation of Hispanic history, as it is being preserved for all Americans under this program. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. H.R. 2212, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), our colleague, is indeed a good piece of legislation. Three hundred acres of BLM land in the Hidden Valley area of Lassen County, California, will be put into trust for the benefit of the Susanville Indian Rancheria. The land in question is not only adjacent to Susanville's current trust land, it is also part of their aboriginal territories. There are numerous cultural and archeological sites on the land that the Susanville members seek to protect, including the remains of a historic Native American village. In addition, the area is an important traditional hunting ground and is utilized for traditional ceremonies. The land has been identified by BLM as excess inventory and a cost burden to the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a win-win for all parties involved. The Susanville Rancheria members will finally have a portion of its historic land returned, and the Federal Government will save money on administrative costs on land that it does not want. I want to congratulate the sponsor of the legislation. I urge its swift passage. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, as all of us extend our condolences of support to the people of France, to the loss of life, to the friends and loved ones and families of those murdered by terrorism, we ask Congress that the administration have the resolve to defeat and deal with the horror that this terrorism has created not only in France, but in other parts of the world, and our condolences and prayers in support of the victims. Today is also a day on which we are debating a profit-driven monopoly-seeking piece of legislation under suspension, H.R. 308, that seeks to make null and void established law, 18 court and administrative decisions, and in a very real way expose the American taxpayers to at least $1 billion in liability. That CBO score has been again validated and affirmed in the same analysis that was done for S. 152, the companion legislation in the Senate. This liability is for an economic taking of the Tohono O'odham Nation. Why is this special interest earmark that we are talking about today for established human interest in the East Valley of Maricopa County in Arizona with us today on suspension? Because it is simply a piece of legislation to eliminate competition, to control the gaming market in the metro Phoenix area. The adages about let the market decide and let the consumers have choice does not apply to this piece of legislation. Again, why is H.R. 308 under suspension when very dangerous precedence can be set by H.R. 308 if it were to become law? It eliminates existing law that was passed in 1986. It overturns 18 judicial State and Federal Court decisions and administrative decisions. It opens up a $1 billion taxpayer liability and creates a new category of selective sovereignty in terms of land taken into trust as a result of 1986 legislation. It nullifies the tribe's ability to yield the highest economic development from it. It is essentially creating a Federal law that established a no- competition zone in that part of Maricopa County in the Phoenix metro area. So why not regular order, where amendments can be discussed and we can have a full debate? Today, Monday, under suspension leads one to the belief that there is a deadline involved here, that Congress must pass H.R. 308, and the President must sign H.R. 308 by December 20, when the Tohono O'odham Casino in the West Valley is scheduled to open. Hypothetically, it passes the House. Then it quickly passes the Senate. Then it goes to the President, is vetoed, as has been indicated by the administration. It comes back. The House overrides that veto, and the casino can't open. This scenario places H.R. 308 in national significance, above things like security and terrorism, tax extenders that need to come before this Congress, transportation--do we extend for additional time until the conference can come up with one package?--general government funding and appropriations, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the TPP, the trade agreement. If H.R. 308 is of this vital national importance that it overrides other issues, why suspension and why not have a real debate on the issue? In terms of Indian Country priorities, where is the legislation of the Carcieri fix? Where is the legislation and funding appropriate for the Indian Health Service? Where are the tribal recognition reforms, as recommended by the administration? Where is the funding for BIA schools? Where is legislation to protect sacred sites? Where is government-to-government codification for consultation? Why not deal with these issues? Perhaps the lobbying influence and resources are not present to move these items so quickly to suspension. But H.R. 308, a special interest piece of legislation to protect game and market share in Maricopa County, Arizona, has this Congress' total attention. It makes one wonder why, but I think we really know why. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. There have already been 18 court and Federal agency rulings favoring Tohono O'odham Nation on this issue, and we can dismiss those court decisions by Federal judges--the Ninth Circuit--State judges, administrative hearings with the Interior. We can dismiss them as not meaning anything. Obviously, the state of the law that was passed in 1986 means nothing. Obviously, these court cases and judicial decisions mean nothing because this legislation, H.R. 308, seeks to usurp the law in 1986 and to overrule judicial decisions that have been made. We keep hearing about the fact that there is no standing in those decisions. The latest was a unanimous decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that confirmed, once again, the legality of the tribe's West Valley project. We keep hearing the same myths about what the numerous legal outcomes actually mean for the nation. For instance, we heard just now that the nation won nothing on the merits and that all of the cases had merely been dismissed on the draconian doctrine of sovereign immunity. It doesn't take a law degree to realize that, while the court dismissed some claims for this reason, the courts have, in fact, ruled on the merits of several of the claims in favor of the nation. For example, Judge David Campbell, a George W. Bush appointee, ruled: ``The parties did not reach such an agreement, and the nation's construction of a casino on the Glendale area land will not violate the compact.'' He ruled: ``No reasonable reading of the compact could lead a person to conclude that it has prohibited new casinos in the Phoenix area.'' He ruled: ``The Glendale area land acquired by the nation qualifies for gaming under the Indian Game and Regulatory Act.'' Judge Campbell also ruled: ``No other agreements or promises are valid or binding.'' The latest unanimous ruling from the Ninth Circuit found that Arizona State law, designed to block the Federal Government from taking land it purchased into trust on behalf of the nation, was unconstitutional and would frustrate the purpose of the law Congress passed to secure replacement lands for the nation. The rulings further confirmed that, if H.R. 308 is enacted--the land that is now in trust--the nation's contractual and statutory right to sue to use its land would be violated, and the U.S. taxpayer would be on the hook to pay the nation up to $1 billion in compensation. We can't dismiss those decisions because it serves the narrative of those who want to keep a ``no competition'' zone in the Phoenix area. With regard to the West Valley--and I represent a part of that area up in Maricopa--it is in deep need of stimulus and economic development. This would be a huge shot in the arm as evidenced by the support of the mayors and city councils of Peoria, Tolleson, and Glendale, which is where the casino would be located, representing 670,000 people in that West Valley area. So I would say that there is support in the area, and one cannot merely dismiss it as if there is not any. I want to address the claim of reservation shopping head-on. The proponents of this bill love to throw around the term ``reservation shopping.'' They like to suggest the bad images associated with it. They invoke the ``boogeyman of tribal megacasinos'' outside of major cities, but that cannot be further from the truth for the Tohono O'odham Nation. This has nothing to do with reservation shopping, and the term is offensive at best. The Tohono O'odham Nation didn't ask for their land to be flooded and their economic resources to be destroyed. They didn't ask for their agricultural way of life to be taken away. They aren't looking to expand their land base. They are simply trying to replace the land that was destroyed by the Federal Government. The Gila Bend Act, which authorized the land, is specific only to the Tohono O'odham Nation. The replacement land can only be purchased in one of three counties. In fact, the land in question is in the exact same county, Maricopa, where the flooded land was located, and the replacement land was to be specifically used--and I am quoting from the original Gila Bend Act here of which Senator McCain was a cosponsor-- ``. . . for sustained economic use which is not principally farming and do not require Federal outlays for construction, and promote the economic self-sufficiency or the self-sufficiency of the O'odham Indian people.'' Nothing in this situation is off-reservation. This tribe simply has reservation lands in two places, thanks to being flooded by a Federal project. So let's please stop talking about ``reservation shopping'' and ``Las Vegas-style casinos'' when the casinos in these valleys are not Las Vegas-style casinos but something less than--maybe Reno-style casinos, maybe Atlantic City-style casinos. The fact remains that this act and the land that we are talking about--for the O'odham and the Gila Bend Act--was a replacement to their losing 10,000 acres due to the Painted Hills Dam that was constructed by the Federal Government. All of the rights have been affirmed by the courts, and the right for use has been affirmed by the court. We can't dismiss those judicial decisions as merely inconveniences to some. They are legal decisions; they are binding; the land is in trust. For all intents and purposes, the reservation land and the complication of passing this bill and the complication of future liability for the Federal Government is very much part of the decision that is being made today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gallego).

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am not going to get into the points that were made about extortion and immorality. What is going on here is that this piece of legislation, H.R. 308, seeks to target just one tribe, the Tohono O'odham Nation, in order to retroactively prohibit a specific casino which is on their reservation land and which is almost completely constructed and will soon be operational. Other wealthy special interests don't want the competition. It is as simple as that. We have talked about the court cases, the agency's ruling, and the land's being taken into trust. The tribe is right in that their West Valley casino is well within the conditions of the Arizona Gaming Compact, and it has been upheld by the courts; but that hasn't stopped the special interests and the wealthy lobbyists from pushing this reckless bill year after year. By supporting H.R. 308, I think the Members are setting a dangerous precedent. You are saying that no matter what the obligations are to our Native Nations by a previous Congress, no matter what was promised to them and agreed in law, no matter what was decided and ruled upon by a court, no matter the process undertaken by the administration--you are opening up a very, very dangerous area--that you can unilaterally undo, by the request of outside interests for one tribe, their ability to take full advantage of the law that was passed in 1986 and to make them whole again economically. You are opening up an era of selective sovereignty where Congress can dictate the terms for how and when a tribe can assert its own self- determination and self-governance. That is akin to Congress being the sole determiner of recognizing who is a Native tribe and who isn't. I believe that this bill, H.R. 308, is going to have serious ramifications for this Congress if it is passed and ever were to become law. The precedent set here is a dangerous precedent that extends beyond the one tribe that is being targeted now. It's the O'odham Nation being targeted now. What would prevent this same kind of situation in a different light, under different circumstances on a different issue from another tribe being targeted and limited as to the use of their land and under law? Mr. Speaker, let me close by saying that this controversial and potentially costly legislation really has no place on the suspension calendar. At the very least, Members deserve the opportunity to fully debate H.R. 308 and to offer amendments to address the serious concerns raised by the legislation. For example, the bill should be amended to guarantee that any Federal liability resulting from litigation sparked by H.R. 308--liability that the CBO estimates could be as high as $1 billion--shall not result in a reduction in funding for any Bureau of Indian Affairs programs. We should not punish the rest of Indian country for the greed of a few. Second, the legislation should be amended to clarify that this prohibition on gaming should not apply to land specifically authorized by Congress as compensation for trust lands destroyed by the Federal agency action. If the bill is designed to stop so-called off- reservation gaming and reservation shopping, it should clearly exempt reservation lands provided to a tribe to replace land that the Federal Government destroyed. If the aim of H.R. 308 is to enforce Arizona's tribal-State gaming compact, this legislation should be amended to be clear that gaming can take place as long as it is conducted pursuant to the compact. Bringing H.R. 308 to the floor under suspension is unfair, and it only serves the interests of those who would rather not discuss the issues highlighted by these and other amendments. Finally, let me reiterate that regardless of how you voted the last time around, this is a completely different situation. As of July 2014, the land is now in trust. It is now part of the Tohono O'odham Reservation. This casino is set to open for business next month. If this legislation was unfair before, it is now just shameful. Mr. Speaker, there was only one promise that was made that needs to be kept; the solemn promise this government made to the Tohono O'odham Nation with the passage of the Gila Bend Act in 1986. H.R. 308 will break that promise. It will set a dangerous precedent for settled land claims and will forever be a black mark on the dealings with Indian nations. I urge Members to oppose H.R. 308. I remind my colleagues that this piece of legislation, while tempered and promoted for interests, carries with it extensive liability, dangerous precedents, and deserves a full, regular order debate, which we are not going to have today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, in commemoration of this year's Veterans Day, I want to take this opportunity to highlight the progress we have made in the past year protecting service-members, veterans and their families from harmful financial products and practices. Earlier this year, the Department of Defense finalized new rules to protect service-members and their families from triple-digit interest rate payday and car title loans that threatened their security clearance and careers. Unfortunately these protections are only available to active duty members, leaving our nation's veterans susceptible to predatory financial practices. Let us honor our veterans by declaring them off-limits to predatory lending and protecting them from the worst abuses in the payday lending industry. To protect veterans, their families, and all consumers, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) must adopt the strongest possible rule to rein in the worst abuses in the payday loan market. Specifically, I ask that the CFPB meaningfully reform the marketplace by implementing rules governing both storefront and online payday lending that would require the lender to determine the borrower's ability to repay the loan, including consideration of both income and expenses. CFPB should not sanction any series of repeat loans or provide any safe harbor, and recognize that borrowers need small dollar loans with good terms, not short-term loans that are difficult for them to repay. These short-term loans are renewed a multitude of times and trap the average borrower in debt for more than half the year at rates that average 391 percent. The CFPB should establish an outer limit on length of indebtedness that is at least as short as the FDIC's 2005 guidelines--90 days in a twelve-month period, and lastly prohibit lenders from using post-dated checks of electronic access to a borrower's checking account as evidence of ability to repay the loan. Too many veterans are living in poverty and desperation--some are even driven to homelessness--due to these consumer protection loopholes that predatory lenders take advantage of, and we must do better. One homeless veteran is too many. This Veterans Day, let's end this predatory lending epidemic.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. This initiative has focused on improving and expanding the educational outcomes of Latino students throughout our country. Across our country approximately one in four students in our public schools is Latino. Ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed is our moral obligation and imperative to the success of our country. I commend the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and all the outstanding organizations selected as Bright Spots for their unwavering commitment to the academic success Latino children throughout our country. I wish to especially congratulate Yuma Union High School District's Ready Now Yuma initiative in my congressional district for being selected as a Bright Spot. Ready Now Yuma's commitment to our youth is imperative in ensuring that every child is prepared for success.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Albert M. Elias, who sadly passed away on October 16, for over 60 years of service to organized labor and to the progressive political community in Tucson and Pima County as a member of the International Typographical Union/Communications Workers of America Local 7026. Albert M. Elias represented the highest ideals of the labor movement. While others talk about the need for a strong labor movement to protect and enhance the lives of working people, Albert, for more than 60 years, worked to advance these goals. While others have talked about how Pima County and southern Arizona need progressive political success to empower the ordinary and disadvantaged among us, Albert worked long hours helping politicians and movements advocate on behalf of these people. Using the printing skills he honed for most of his life, the knowledge he gained over more than six decades of how the printed word can help realize worthy goals, and the personal contacts his honesty, integrity and goodwill forged, Albert achieved much and has helped others achieve even more in advancing political movements, and the labor movement in particular. Albert, a fourth-generation Tucson native, joined the International Typographical Union of his maternal grandfather Francisco S. Moreno in January 1954 and committed himself to a career in the printing trade. Albert believed that union membership would improve the professional quality of his work as a printer, and enable him to develop meaningful, long-term relationships in his community that would benefit himself and his family, as well as his union brothers and sisters. Union membership, he believed, also would provide him with better income and with vacations and holidays off to spend quality time with his family. It was Albert's goal to provide his children with the wherewithal to excel in education through high school and go on to college if they desired. Time proved Albert to be correct. All three of the children of he and his wife, Viola Baine, are college graduates who are serving others in pursuit of their careers. Albert and his sister Aida Elias, the children of Alberto Spring Elias and Ermelinda Moreno Elias, always lived their lives as Christians and were dedicated to their religious faith. Albert maintained an active lifetime role in his Roman Catholic parish, based at St. Augustine's Cathedral in downtown Tucson. He served for many years as a member of its Parish Council. Albert's interest in the printing trade went back to his childhood in the 1930s. His grandfather Moreno had begun publishing the Spanish language El Tucsonense weekly newspaper as a member of the Typographical Union in 1915, but he died an early death in 1929. El Tucsonense continued publication under ownership of his wife, Rosa E. Moreno, and with the help of her five children--Ermelinda, Gilberto, Federico, Arturo and Elias. Before Albert's 10th birthday he was delivering El Tucsonense by bicycle to the Latino barrios that dominated much of downtown Tucson. He worked his way into the print shop during his years at Tucson High School to be a ``printer's devil,'' sweeping the floors, cleaning presses, and remelting the lead used to make ingots for the shop's linotype machines. After graduating from Tucson High School in January 1946, Albert went to the Frank Wiggins Trade School in Los Angeles to learn more about printing. After completing those studies in 1948, Albert went to work in the print shop that published El Tucsonense, now being run by his uncle Arturo Moreno. That ended in late 1951 when Albert was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in the infantry for two years before being honorably discharged. After his discharge, Albert returned to Tucson. But instead of rejoining El Tucsonense, Albert sought membership in the Typographical Union as a journeyman, skipping apprenticeship because of his experience. His skills earned him a position as a linotype operator in early 1954 with the Tucson daily newspapers, The Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen. A bitter and ultimately unsuccessful Typographical Union strike at the Star-Citizen in 1966, over job-depleting automation and the companies' rejection of the union's demand for a pension plan, ended Albert's 12-year stint with the daily newspapers. Fortuitously for Albert, El Tucsonense was in the process of folding and he and a partner, Oscar Araiza, bought his uncle's printing shop. Araiza retired in 1991 and Albert ran Old Pueblo Printers alone thereafter. Upon taking control of the business in 1966, Albert and his partner began doing printing work for Tucson-area labor union locals and Democratic Party candidates for political office. One of the first campaigns for which Albert's shop printed the political literature was one of the late U.S. Representative Morris K. Udall's bids for office. Udall continued to use his services after that, as did Robert Kennedy for his assassination-truncated 1968 presidential campaign. Albert printed campaign materials for Raul Castro, who was elected as the first Latino governor of Arizona; for Ed Pastor, who was elected as the first Latino Congressman from Arizona; and for longtime Pima County Supervisors Sam Lena and Dan Eckstrom. I, too, came to Albert for my printing needs when I first launched what became a 12-year stint on the Tucson Unified School District Board. I continued to use Albert's services through 13 years on the Pima County Board of Supervisors and, finally, on my 2002 bid for Congress. During his career, Albert supported labor leader Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers, he supported the efforts of local Latino activists to get their fair share of federal funds to improve the homes and neighborhoods of their people, and he supported a landmark lawsuit forcing Tucson Unified School District to desegregate its schools. Albert was always fighting battles against those who seek to use their financial influence to their own advantage--and at the expense of ordinary working people. Albert M. Elias deserves special recognition, honor and respect for his six decades of union membership--and for his meritorious achievements during that time on behalf of working people and the less fortunate of Pima County and Southern Arizona. We will miss him dearly.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Southern Arizona's annual Heroes Day celebration, an occasion where we pause to reflect on the brave law enforcement and first responders who serve our state and put their lives at risk every day. For the seventh year, we recognize Southern Arizona's heroes for their extraordinary responses to traumatic crises. Today, in the United States, more than 900,000 law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of others. They serve with valor and distinction--and with great success. Every day, countless lives are saved and touched by first responder units. As a native of Tucson, Arizona, I am privileged to know personally these incredibly courageous and compassionate men and women. I have learned that being a first responder is not about what you do, it's who you are. From Firefighter Adam Kroger, who worked with bystanders to lift the driver of a semi-tractor trailer with lacerations and a compounded fracture out of his vehicle to safety, to Deputies Adrian Gallo and Joe Serrano, who risked their own safety to save a woman with life-threatening injuries after a head-on collision, today's honorees are joined by an innate sense of service and duty. I wish to congratulate Heroes Day Winners Firefighter Adam Kroger from the Golder Ranch Fire District, Deputy Adrian Gallo and Deputy Joe Serrano from the Pima County Sheriff's Department, Officer Robert ``Bobby'' Kelly and Stephanie Kelly, RN, from the Tucson Police Department, and Aaron Romero, Alexander Stewart, and Andrew Miles on this prestigious honor. I also congratulate Honorable Mentions Jose Madrigal from CBP Tucson Sector Border Patrol, Deputy Don Molchan from the Pima County Sheriff's Department, and Firefighter Ryan Szach from the Golder Ranch Fire District. And finally, thank you to the local businesses and people of Arizona who take their time and energy to make this special day of recognition possible. The commemoration ceremony on October 15, 2015 will be a day in which we acknowledge the history, achievements, contributions that first responders have made for Southern Arizona, and we are eternally grateful for their service to our community.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I just want to note that the Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee filed several amendments to this bill. We felt our Members were squarely within the House rules. Sadly, the majority on Rules failed to make any of their amendments in order. One of these rejected amendments would have fixed the terrible mess created by the decision in Carcieri. If you want to help tribes in a legitimate, coequal way control their own lands and move closer and closer to self-determination, you have to address this problem. It is telling that my friends on the other side have refused to even address the bill or to have a legitimate hearing on the bill. Let me just in closing address the Statement of Administrative Policy. While the administration supports the need to facilitate energy development in Indian Country, it does not support H.R. 538, the Native American Energy Act. This bill would undermine public participation and transparency of review of projects on Indian lands under the National Environmental Policy Act, set unrealistic deadlines, and remove oversight for appraisals of Indian lands or trust assets, and prohibit awards under the Equal Access to Justice Act or payment of fees or expenses to a plaintiff from the judgment fund in an energy-related action. By foreclosing the judgment fund, this provision would negatively impact the Indian Affairs budget that is intended to serve all tribes. In addition, this bill's changes to mineral leasing loss applicable to Navajo Nations land may adversely affect energy development on these lands. The bill also stipulates that Indian lands are exempt from the Department of the Interior's hydraulic fracking rule. That rule already contains the provision allowing for variances from the rules requirements when tribal laws meet or exceed the rule standards. The rule approach both protects environmental and trust resources while also protecting decisionmaking of the tribes. Overall, H.R. 538 would not ensure diligent development of resources on Indian land. The administration appreciates the committee's efforts to address energy needs in Indian Country. Income from energy development is one of the largest sources of revenue generated from trust lands, and delays in development translate to delays in profits to Indian mineral rights owners. The administration has been taking meaningful action to update the leasing process for lands held in trust for Indian tribes and is actively working to expedite appraisals, leasing, and permitting on Indian lands, and to provide resources to ensure safe and responsible development. The administration looks forward to working with Congress to develop the reforms necessary to support this development. The point is that this legislation is a rush to judgment. It is a gift, in a sense, when you exempt from the judicial review and from NEPA the exploration and production of energy on Indian land. As coequals, these environmental protections and public processes are intended for all. So rather than be patronizing, as coequals and within our trust responsibility, this bill should be rejected. We should work on comprehensive energy opportunity legislation that truly recognizes self-determination for all members of tribes, provided the environmental, public health, and judicial processes would guarantee them that they would be treated equal under the law. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Chair, I rise to claim time in opposition to the manager's amendment, although I am not in opposition.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, instead of using energy development on Indian land as an excuse to weaken NEPA and judicial review, we should be concentrating our efforts on real reform that would achieve tribal self-determination and energy development. We should be dealing with the disparities in the Tax Code that stymie investments in Indian Country and create an unfair playing field. Tax credits and incentives for energy development that cities and communities have long used to their benefit, these need to be available to tribes as well. We should be encouraging investment in the future of renewable energy on tribal lands. According to the Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy, Indian land contains an estimated 5 percent of all renewable energy resources, and the total energy potential from these resources is almost 14 percent of the total U.S. potential. In my home State of Arizona, there is a great potential for solar, wind, and geothermal energy on Indian land. We just need to fix the real issues that prohibit the investment in these projects. But this bill doesn't do that. Instead, the majority is here today to once again attack NEPA and judicial review, this time attempting to use this as a wedge issue, attempting to drive a wedge between people that care about tribal self-determination as well as environmental stewardship. Picking between tribal sovereignty and responsible energy development is a false choice. We can have both. We can have successful energy development in Indian Country while retaining the environmental protections that will ensure future generations of Native Americans that they, too, can enjoy the benefits of that economic development. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to abandon this irresponsible proposal in favor of a real tribal energy bill. In the meantime, I would plead with my colleagues to bring legislation to the floor addressing Indian health care, Indian education programs, a codified process for tribal consultation with Federal agencies that respects sovereignty and upholds the trust responsibility that we have to Indian Country, and a fix--finally, a fix--for the current cloud hanging over the status of so many trust lands. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The GAO report has mentioned many times about the rationale behind and the catalyst behind this particular legislation; yet, the conclusion, which I agree with, is that we are not living up to our responsibilities as it applies to energy development on Indian land. But reading the recommendations, nowhere does it say that the solution to the problem is to gut NEPA or to stifle judicial recourse. Instead, the recommendations talk about resources that are needed by Indian Country to successfully fulfill their obligations and responsibilities to their members. It talks about staffing shortages, outdated mapping systems, and the need to ensure that the BIA can provide support to the tribes on energy programs. These are things the BIA has asked for in their budget and that the President's budget sent over has requested time and time again. Funding these requests go unheeded by this majority. So it is disingenuous, as the majority does time and time again, to starve an agency or a program of needed funding and then to complain that that agency program is ineffective. It is also disingenuous to say that the responsibility to work with and honor our trust responsibility to Indian Country is down to the choice in this legislation whether you vote ``yes'' or ``no.'' As I stated in my opening statement, there is a litany of pressing issues that face Indian Country and Native Americans in our Nation, a litany of benign neglect for many, many years, of which all bear responsibility. But with that responsibility comes also the opportunity to act. The fix is necessary so that fact is quelled on a bad Supreme Court decision. We need the adequate funding so that the trust responsibility that we inherit as Members of Congress is upheld. We need programs of infrastructure in Indian Country. We need many, many issues to address not only the human need, but the economic needs of Indian Country. To say that this bill is the watershed moment that is going to turn all that benign neglect and irresponsibility backwards is disingenuous at best. I would suggest let's talk about a real comprehensive approach to the issue of Indian Country and the support this Congress needs to give to our trust responsibility. If we do that, I am sure all of us collectively can come to the same conclusion, that we need to do something and that there is before us legislation from both sides of the aisle that begin to address it. This legislation is not it. It is not a panacea. And to pit the trust responsibility this Congress has and to question whether sovereignty is supported or not by Members that oppose this is not fair. The fairness in this would have been an energy bill that is comprehensive. The fairness would have been not to gut NEPA, judicial review, and present a bill that is clean and upholds bedrock environmental laws and--and it is not complicated--uphold the trust responsibility that we have when we swear an oath of office to serve in this Congress. I reserve the balance of my time.