Paul Gosar

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record comments about the situation in Iran that I believe are relevant and should be widely shared. The comments, from former New York City Mayor and attorney to the U.S. President Rudy Giuliani, address peaceful regime change in Iran and the work of the Iranian Resistance. Giuliani delivered this speech at the International Gathering at Ashraf-3, Tirana, Albania, which is home to members of the Iranian opposition, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/MEK). More than 350 bipartisan dignitaries and parliamentarians from 47 countries attended the conference. I offer these comments for thoughtful discussion as follows: Giuliani: ``Thanks to you and particularly to the people who live here in Ashraf 3. You'll be the ones who lead your people to freedom and you'll be honored forever in Iranian history and in the history of those who love and are willing to die for freedom. God bless you. This organization has grown and grown and grown and I feel in this room today a kind of optimism that I don't remember feeling before when we were in Paris. I feel an optimism maybe because you've done a miracle here in Ashraf. If we were to build this in New York City, it would take 15 years and 14 corruption investigations. I was here a year and a half ago, this wasn't here. And of course, all of this is possible because of the leadership of Madame Maryam Rajavi, a truly exceptional leader. Just like her husband Massoud Rajavi, who began this movement in one very brave act. He refused to swear allegiance to the Supreme Leader Khomeini to his face. He said, ``No, I will not swear allegiance to you. I will not deliver my nation to a tyrant.'' I'm here to say three things. First, I accuse the Ayatollah and Rouhani and all of their sycophants and followers of mass murder, crimes against humanity. We should be embarrassed for our countries if they haven't stood up against this. There's no middle ground here. These people have killed at least 120,000 members and associates of this great organization. You see the book. You go through the sad, tragic, but heroic exhibit they have of the martyrs to freedom. Look at the photograph of the people in the infirmary being treated for illness, slaughtered just a few years ago. Killed 52 of them of the last 100 people who stayed at Ashraf, they tried to wipe them all out. In 1988, in two months they slaughtered 30,000 people. These are not numbers, these are human lives. So there are three things that we have to do. Number one, we have to get the governments of Europe to stand up, to wake up, to reclaim their dignity and their honor. These are the countries that gave us democracy. Greece, Rome, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Germany, all places in which freedom was born, democracy was born, democracy emerged. Democracy for my nation came out of Europe and the experience of Europe. So how can the leaders of those countries turn their back on mass murder? How can they do it and live with themselves? It's time to end that shameful disregard. There's no statute of limitations on murder. I prosecuted two Nazis 40 years after their horrible deeds. One killed 20,000 people, the other killed 12,000 people and we found them and it took years and we brought them to justice. The people who slaughtered 30,000 people in 1988 should be identified, they should be prosecuted, and they should either be imprisoned for life or executed. They're criminals. They're murderers. They're not leaders of countries. They are no better than the murderer in the street except they're worse because they're mass murderers. I am so proud of my government because we have stood up. We looked at that agreement that would make Iran a nuclear power and we said tear it up. We're not going to put nuclear weapons in the hands of a maniac. Well, I say to the leaders of Europe, you can be liberators too. You can go down in history as fighters for freedom. Isn't that better than just running a government and making money and giving blood money to Iran? How can you do commerce with them? We all know they're the largest sponsor of terrorism in the world. What does that mean? That means they fund and they supply murderers not only in their own country but all over the world. And when you give them money, when you relieve them of a debt, which my government did in the prior administration, and put over a billion dollars back in their hands, you are supporting murder. What do they use it for? Their people know, their people know that when they get money, when a French company or a German company does business with them, that money, that profit is going to be used to kill people in Syria or to kill people somewhere else or to send people to Albania to kill us or to send people to France like they did last year to kill Madame Rajavi and us. That's what they're funding, don't you realize it? That makes you complicit in murder. Number two, let's make it clear, there is an alternative to this horrible regime of terror. This isn't one of those situations in which we have the choice of deposing a horrible dictator and we don't know if a more horrible one will come along. Right? And when we saw that happen, we saw it happen in Egypt, in some ways we saw it happen in Libya. But here we don't have that problem. We've got the worst regime in the world by far, the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world. And then we have the National Council, the NCRI, led by the president-elect, Madame Rajavi. Coalition of resistance organizations respected throughout the world. There are representatives of most of the major countries in the world here. They've gotten to know her. They've gotten to respect her. In my country, she's thoroughly respected. We know there's a group of people who have been fighting for freedom all their lives, who have lost the closest people to them in the fight for freedom, who are dedicated to it. People here at Ashraf, let's make it clear. I spent a lot of time with them. These are people who are dedicated to freedom. And if you think that's a cult, then there's something wrong with you. There's something missing in your soul. But we know that there is a government in exile, it negotiates with the whole world, and it's written down plain as can be what it stands for. And it looks just like our Bill of Rights, just like the universal declarations of freedom and decency and human rights enshrined in the great documents of the world. Free elections within six months is the promise, and I believe it will be fulfilled. They're for gender equality. They're for human rights. They're for a system of law. They're for we don't imprison someone unless they have a fair trial. And because of their history, they oppose capital punishment, because there's been too much of it. And it isn't just capital punishment, it's murder in their country. This is a good organization. And it's an organization that is ready, willing and able not to take over Iran but to guide Iran to elections as quickly as possible and hopefully they will be part of the coalition governing Iran like they're part of the coalition that is trying to guide Iran to freedom. This is a group that we can support. It's a group that we should stop maligning and it's a group that should make us comfortable having regime change in the worst regime in the world. Here's what you can do. You can be a witness like in the Biblical sense of a witness. You know something that a lot of people don't know. You know really how bad it is in Iran. And you know about MEK. And you know about Madame Rajavi. And you know the truth, not the lies, ``the cult, they don't have support in Iran.'' Why has the Ayatollah been murdering them for 40 years if they don't have support in Iran? The Ayatollah, Rouhani, have said that this organization is the only one that's really a danger to them. You now have a responsibility because of your knowledge. Don't be euphemistic about it. Don't hide your eyes. You've got to get the leaders of your country to stand up so you can all be proud of your country and its heritage. I get attacked and my colleagues who will be here in a moment get attacked all the time in America. Why we're doing this? We're doing it really very simply because we love freedom and we can't turn our back on people who are being treated this way and we can't turn our back on a situation that could be catastrophic for them and catastrophic for the world. You know what I say to them? Keep doing it. Keep doing it. I wear it as a badge of honor. I support freedom, you support oppression. I support democracy, you support a dictatorship. I support decent people who share the values of decent governments, and you support mass murderers. Now who's right and who's wrong? But I know and I feel as I've told you, and I know why there's an optimism in this room. Because we're going to be in Tehran much sooner than all those cynics believe. You know why? [Because we are Hazer, Hazer, Hazer. (We're ready).''

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation to the White Tanks Rotary Club and the Youth4Troops organization, who are coming together to prepare and package goods to be shipped to our service members deployed overseas and for homeless veterans. This event brings together two groups dedicated to serving our military members and inspiring patriotism in fellow youth, and across generations by volunteering on behalf of service members and veterans everywhere. This event is intended as an expression of gratitude toward the many sacrifices that these military members make in defense of liberty in America and around the world. The White Tanks Rotary Club has made good on its mission to serve others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace. I commend the participants, the White Tanks Rotary Club and Youth4Troops, for coordinating and hosting this event

Mr. GOSAR

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

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Master Sergeant Doncarlos Pagan who served his country in the United States Army for 28 years. Master Sergeant Pagan's service in Afghanistan and his work for the State of Arizona and the United States Army exemplify his strong devotion to duty and country. While in Afghanistan, Master Sergeant Pagan's experience as a construction engineer enabled the 158th Infantry Battalion to plan, and build, construction projects that included bridges and roads that enabled villagers in Najil, Afghanistan to bypass destroyed roads. In addition, he developed an artillery battery munitions storage bunker for the Afghan Army and he helped train Afghan Combat Engineer Soldiers in Force Protection Operations. His expertise in construction and developing force protection efforts was recognized by the 82nd Airborne, All American 6, General Rodriguez and earned him a Combat Action Badge. At times coming under direct enemy fire, Master Sergeant Pagan held firm and completed the mission. Master Sergeant Pagan was also crucial in the development of planning for multiple construction projects valued at over $2.5 million to support multiple counties, government agencies and the State of Arizona. Madam Speaker, this is only a fraction of the numerous accomplishments that span the 28 years of Master Sergeant Pagan's service to our country. His leadership has left a profound legacy that will continue to positively impact the United States Army for years to come. His proudest accomplishment however is his wonderful family. He and his wife Shawna have 4 children and 8 beautiful grandchildren. I thank Master Sergeant Pagan for his service and leadership to our country. May his leadership continue to inspire generations of men and women who serve in the United States Army.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the disaster at our southern border and how it is affecting our children. This afternoon, I want to read a letter on the House floor from a young constituent of mine, Mitch, an 11-year-old from San Tan Valley, Arizona, and he had this to say: ``Dr. Gosar, we moved to San Tan Valley a couple of years ago from Flagstaff. I am 11 years old and, I want to let you know how illegal immigration is affecting me. ``My classes are overcrowded. The teachers have to spend more time on other children to make sure they are able to take the State-mandated tests. This is taking time away from my education. Yes, they need to be educated if they are here; however, why should I lose instructional time because of the laws?'' He goes on further to say: ``Do you know what is being done to help with smaller class sizes? Where are we with border control? ``My education is important to me. I want to be successful in life. The tensions are high at my school because of the illegal immigrants. This is how racism is perpetuated, not prevented. ``I will be going to a private charter this fall; however, I am still concerned because my future wife may not be so lucky to escape this problem. My friends are not all able to switch schools. ``This is not the way it should be. Please hear me. I hope that you can offer guidance. No one knows what the answer is.'' This is how it is affecting students, and I submit, it is a sad state of affairs in southern Arizona.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, we had the same discussion yesterday. Once again, these are offshore leases that are part of the American public's domain, not the State of South Carolina or California or Massachusetts or Florida. I understand that application. But, once again, we also have heard that we want to have responsible renewable energy, so we are actually predisposing no seismic aspect. Well, how do you actually look at moorings in regard to subsurface anchors if you didn't use seismic activity? That is contradicting all the way around the aspect here. Once again, this just shows that we want nothing of the sort: no seismic, no wind, no solar, no oil and gas. That is unbelievable. If this is the kind of attitude that we want going forward, those in Arizona and the Western States that have public lands ought to be getting a lot more say in those applications.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, yes, I am landlocked by California, but you know the old adage. I am waiting for oceanfront property in Arizona, as the song goes. Once again, let's take a look at this. When we start talking about offshore assets for the Outer Continental Shelf, there is less jurisdiction with regard to that versus what we do on-shore. If we are giving this type of leverage to States with offshore assets, we ought to be giving those States like Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana more jurisdictions because the law is better on their side than it is with those on offshore. Once again, I find it interesting that we have a dichotomy here. We are all for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, but we are unwilling to look at the resources it takes and where they are derived from to make sure that that is permanently, in perpetuity, funded. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. GOSAR. And when we start looking at it, maybe what we ought to do, if we are talking about oil spills, one of the worst ways to actually import oil is through boats. So maybe we ought to disallow ships, because a ship that has an accident is one oil spill away from anywhere. So this just begs my indifference in regards to what the heck we are trying to do here. It is looking at our assets. We have a due diligence to the American people to look at those assets for public assets.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, once again, I have been sitting on the floor. I sat in the House Committee on Natural Resources yesterday and heard this assault on oil and gas. So I want to remind everybody that the only mechanism to fund LWCF is actually these funds from the Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas. It is amazing. It is absolutely amazing that we have this rhetorical conversation on the House floor. So we are against adding any access to know what the resource actually is by seismic. We are responsible on behalf of these resources to the American public. Yes, the American public actually owns these jurisdictions. And what we are doing is we are leveraging as that opportunity to fund LWCF. Be careful, Will Robinson, what you are asking for. Those responsible applications, we heard it over and over from the gentleman from Louisiana. Once again, these are an asset of the American people, not South Carolina, not Florida, not California, not Massachusetts. So responsible applications here, we have got to be taking in good stewardship. So with that in mind, I caution everybody that LWCF is the only mechanism for funding. The only mechanism for funding is these Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leases. These are responsible aspects, and they actually know what the resources are. You are going to need seismic, if you are going to look at alternative energy aspects, particularly wind, in regards to permanent moorings. So from that standpoint, I just offer a cautionary plea. Be careful what you ask for. You may end up having no funding at all. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The Acting Chair. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, we don't need a moratorium off the coast of California. We actually need a resurgence in domestic energy development offshore. I heard from the gentleman that the last oil spill was in 1969. Let's see, it is 2019. Fifty years later, technology has been much different. While the local demand for oil in California has dropped over the last 40 years, foreign dependence has increased from 5 percent to 57 percent. In 2018, California imported 135 million barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia alone. According to the national offshore energy industry, leasing in the 240 million acres of currently off-limits areas would support an additional 165,000 jobs and inject $15 billion in annual contributions to the economy. There are already 23 active oil platforms in Federal waters adjacent to California. Once again, let me repeat, there are 23 active oil platforms in Federal waters adjacent to California. These platforms produced nearly 17,000 barrels of oil per day in 2016 and brought in $32.8 million in total royalties in fiscal year 2016. In a State that is importing 57.5 percent of its refined oil from foreign nations, it is imperative that we take the opportunity to utilize domestic energy supply. Once again, let's highlight that: 57.5 percent is from overseas, which is much dirtier than what we produce here. If we are concerned about climate change and emissions, we ought to be importing less and looking at what we actually do. Last but not least, I would like to remind everybody that we just had a conversation on the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is funded exclusively by Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas. Once again, the people who don't want this for their States, maybe they should turn down LWCF funding because it seems contradictory to the conversation. Once again, I remind my colleagues that Federal waters belong to the U.S. people, not the States of California, Florida, South Carolina, or Massachusetts. We have a due diligence to look at the management of those resources. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chair, 32 fires in 2015. The average over the last 10 years has been 15 to 20 fires. We ought to know better. In Arizona, I have had to witness the most catastrophic fires in Arizona history because of our mismanagement of forests: The Wallow fire, the largest fire in Arizona history; and then the Yarnell fire, where we lost 19 firefighters. It is incredible that what we are doing is we are trying to have jurisdiction over fires. There is a reason why we have had to subsidize that: because we have put the industry out of business by sue and settle. Folks, there is a cost to these fires, and you have to start looking at mitigation in that aspect. If you want climate change mitigation, the best thing you can do is have a dynamic forest that actually produces more oxygen than carbon. That means medium- and small-growth trees, not old-growth trees. A happy medium of all is a dynamic forest. So if you are preventing this--the gentleman from Arizona ought to know better. We are sitting on catastrophic results in Arizona. Let's not impugn the trees in Alaska.

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

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, the irony of this aspect, to explore something that is of the public nature of the people of the United States, the ironic aspect is unfathomable. To look at seismic, we don't even want to do seismic. We need seismic in regard to looking at moorings in regard to big wind. That is what we have seen over and over again, that this area wants to have big wind. The other part to this aspect is, how does that work when you have to have a Russian tanker moored outside of your bay, which is one of the most easily spilled aspects of oil that you have to have for heating oil and natural gas in regard to heating your energy platforms in the areas? That is just unfathomable to me. We do this better, and the technology is actually coming back around. As the Western Caucus chairman, we went down to Houston to actually see the technology that exists. It is profound, absolutely profound what is there. No one is asking to go past go, collect $200. What they want to do is follow the rightful process in that aspect. There is evidence like I cited in the Gulf States. Definitely when you look at Louisiana, it is a plethora. It is one of the most diverse aquatic ecosystems around. There is a way to have this and looking at it and benefit everybody. Once again, the dichotomy of trying to separate one aspect of holdings for the American people, and then apply it to out West, where there is even more defined aspects of jurisdiction, to land aspects of public lands and public minerals and gas leases, is just ironic. Mr. Chair, I remain in opposition.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chairwoman, specifically, the CPP aimed to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide, CO2 emissions, from new and existing power plants. These new regulations called for an unrealistic 32 percent nationwide cut in CO2 emissions by 2030 from 2005 levels. I have just got to tell you, we are wrapping up scientific evidence, and we are putting a moral cloud on it. That is exactly the definition of what Alinsky wanted us to start talking about and moving processes. These new mandates placed incredible burdens on States. They would have increased the electrical rates and endangered overall reliability of the grid. Due to this unprecedented overreach, Congress rejected these new regulations, using the Congressional Review Act. Specifically, the Senate voted on November 17, 2015, to reject these rules, and the House followed suit on December 1, 2015. Unfortunately, President Obama decided to veto both of these pieces of legislation and continue his war on coal. We shouldn't be picking winners and losers. Climate change has been going on for eons of time. That is why you can actually have a fossil coming from Green River, Wyoming, that is nowhere close to the ocean. I vote against this.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chairwoman, I rise today in support of this commonsense amendment that will protect American jobs and the economy but prohibit funds from being used for implementing the Obama administration's flawed social cost of carbon, or SCC, valuation. This job-killing and unlawful guidance sneakily attempts to pave the way for cap-and-trade-like mandates. Congress and the American people have repeatedly rejected cap-and-trade proposals. Knowing that he could not lawfully enact a carbon tax plan, President Obama attempted to circumvent Congress by playing loose and fast with the Clean Air Act to unilaterally implement this unlawful new requirement under the guise of guidance. The social cost of carbon is not based on science, and the models can be easily manipulated to arrive at whatever conclusion is desired. Once again, when we look at carbon, it is a nutrient for plants. To say otherwise is disrespectful. Once again, we play loose and fast with sound science. So, in regards to this, the House has decisively voted a dozen times to block or defund and oppose the social cost of carbon. I support the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chairman, this amendment attempts to change the requirements for oil and gas leases. I will say it's very entrepreneurial in its disguise. But I want to remind people in regard to how big this aspect is. This is a small, little area. To give you an example, ANWR is the size of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire combined. Energy developed with ANWR is just one-fifth the size of the Dulles Airport. Amazing. If you have ever been there, it is something to be seen. As the Congressional Western Caucus chairman, we actually took that liberty of going up there and being hosted by the gentleman from Alaska. What you are being told and what is being there in aspect isn't the same. So, Madam Chair, I actually join the gentleman from South Carolina and ask for a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota. Chronic wasting disease is 100 percent fatal. We have similar diseases like mad cow disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep. One of the things that we are very concerned with, as the gentlewoman alluded to, is that we have no testing available for hunter populations. Is it communicable to human beings and to other aspects of agriculture? Those are some of the things that we really need to address. As the gentlewoman said, we have now seen it in 25 States, so it is spreading. Once again, being 100 percent fatal, we have to address this because we have whole populations that are at stake. We can put our ingenuity to task here. We can solve this problem, but it is at the forefront. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana. As a veterinarian, as a physician, he understands the dire ramifications of this. I thank the gentlewoman for accepting this. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Abraham).

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, my amendment is straightforward. It would prevent any funds in this bill from being used to carry out the EPA disastrous 2009 Endangerment Finding. The EPA's Endangerment Finding has served as legal justification for the Federal Government to attack American energy under the guise of climate change since 2009. The Information Quality Act provides a framework for the oversight of the quality of information disseminated by the Federal Government. Unfortunately, bureaucrats in President Obama's EPA evaded the requirements set forth in the Information Quality Act by refusing to admit that the document was a highly influential scientific assessment. If climate change is as dire as some of my colleagues consistently argue, why then did President Obama's EPA go to such lengths to prevent their assessment from rigorous peer review? Interesting. In April of this year, President Trump's Office of Management and Budget released a memo to ``reinforce, clarify, and interpret agency responsibilities with regard to responsibilities under the Information Quality Act.'' In April, the Competitive Enterprise Institute petitioned the EPA to stop using the 2009 Endangerment Finding until it subjected itself to the high-level scientific peer review that is legally required under the Information Quality Act. CEI's petition to the EPA found numerous instances in which the EPA failed to meet the Agency's own peer review standards for the highly scientific assessments. Some of the failure of the EPA noted by CEI include failing ``to allow public, including scientific and professional societies, to nominate potential reviewers,'' allowing an EPA employee to conduct peer review, utilizing peer reviewers who were reviewing their own work, and reliance on the United Nations Climate Change Panel reports that do not meet Federal peer review standards. Completely obnoxious. Now, even the staunchest advocates for taking aggressive action on our climate should be able to agree that the process the EPA used to adopt the Endangerment Finding failed to meet the required peer review process. Fortunately, there is an alternative. Madam Chairwoman, I believe the best way to improve our environment and to ensure the economic prosperity of this country is to rely on sound science, not on the opinions of unelected bureaucrats at the EPA. If climate alarmists are so confident that the 2009 Endangerment Finding is sound science, then conduct proper peer review, following the guidelines of the Information Quality Act put forth by OMB, that will assure the outcome. Madam Chairwoman, this is not a partisan issue. No matter what side of the climate change debate you fall on, we can all agree that the EPA has evaded its responsibility to peer review and developing sound science when authoring its Endangerment Findings. The process was broken, and good process makes good policy, which makes good politics. This body should not fund the implementation of policies based on the 2009 Endangerment Finding. Madam Chair, I urge all Members on both sides of the aisle to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chairwoman, I have an amendment at the desk.