Paul Gosar

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 131, the bill under consideration.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 131, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, sponsored by Representative Boebert of Colorado. The Arkansas Valley Conduit, or AVC is a 130-mile pipeline that serves 39 communities and 50,000 people east of Pueblo, Colorado. Once completed, it will deliver water to an area of the State that faces severe water quality issues. The AVC was authorized by Congress as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project in 1962. Over 60 years later, construction on this project has barely started, largely due to cost increases that have outpaced the community's ability to pay. In 2009, Congress amended the original legislation to help address the project's increasing price tag. Unfortunately, rising construction costs over the past few years have continued to delay this critical water project. The legislation before us today would further modify the repayment contract to ensure that these communities have reliable access to domestic water supplies. These communities have been waiting for over six decades for a reliable water source. H.R. 131 will ensure this project can finally be completed. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, this bill provides increased financial flexibility for the construction of the long-overdue water infrastructure improvements in rural Colorado. I thank Ms. Boebert for her diligent work and attention to these issues. Arizona is no second citizen to this. We want to see this happen and help everybody. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1043) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land in Arizona to La Paz County, Arizona, and for other purposes.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1043, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 1043, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act. My bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to convey 3,400 acres of BLM land to La Paz County, Arizona, for rural economic and solar development. If you have ever visited southwest Arizona, Mr. Speaker, you will know it is pretty darn sunny. Conveying the land to the county for solar maximizes the potential for renewable energy generation and unlocks employment opportunities for county residents. It is simple: energy and jobs. This conveyance is vital to the financial future of La Paz County. Only established in 1983, La Paz is home to nearly 17,000 residents with a median household income of $49,000 per year. It is primarily a farming economy, with nearly 78 percent of cash receipts derived from the sale of crops, like sugarcane and alfalfa hay. As Arizona expands its technology and semiconductor industries, it is critical to meet the needs of our electric grid, and I believe we must take an all-of-the-above energy approach to ensure the grid's reliability. In fact, on July 9, Arizona's largest utility providers, APS and SRP, reported a State record of energy demand as we were hit by a heat wave. Luckily, Arizona did not have a blackout, but we must meet the growing needs for electricity. Mr. Speaker, this has been a legacy priority of mine since 2015. In 2019, the House passed the first allotment of this land for the county, and now my bill conveys the remaining acres to provide the maximum benefit of renewable energy production and a vibrant local economy. Importantly, this bill respects the land's cultural and Tribal significance. It requires consultation with the Colorado River Indian Tribes if any Tribal artifacts are uncovered during the conveyance process. However, it also enhances the partnership between the county and the Tribes for years to come. At a time when Congress is exploring all opportunities for cost savings, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act is a win- win. The county receives opportunities for jobs and economic development, and the Federal Government receives a fiscal benefit for otherwise undeveloped lands. My neighbors in La Paz County need a hand up, and I hope that I can count on my colleagues to lend a helping hand. Mr. Speaker, I once again ask my friends to support this legislation, H.R. 1043, and our Nation's domestic energy dominance, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, American energy is America First. My bill means more American jobs, more American energy, and more American prosperity. On January 20, 2025, his very first day in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency to expedite permitting and emergency regulations to unlock domestic energy production. Now it is time for Congress to do its part. This modest land conveyance will empower the people to meet the national demand for energy generation with countless jobs and the capacity to power thousands of American homes. I thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. Westerman, committee staff, and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for helping me bring this legislation to the floor today. A special thank you to my Arizona delegation cosponsors, my good friends, Representatives Biggs and Schweikert. Mr. Speaker, I once again ask all my colleagues to support my legislation, H.R. 1043, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR

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

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, my amendment No. 106 prohibits funds for the DOD's bioindustrial manufacturing and design ecosystem, or BioMADE, that funds lab-grown meat and protein products for the military from feeding our men and women. How disgusting does that sound? With a national debt of over $37 trillion, we can't afford to litter sensible appropriation bills with wasteful spending. An October 20 press release revealed BioMADE received $87 million in Federal dollars under the Biden-Harris administration to produce lab- grown meat to reduce carbon emissions on military bases. In March 2023, BioMADE received an additional $450 million for the ManTech program. Let me name a few of these projects that taxpayer dollars benefited. One is called the ``Potential Benefit of Superbrewed Food's Sustainable Postbiotic Protein on Warfighter Health.'' That one produces lab-grown protein to shorten recovery time and improve the concentration of servicemembers. Another is the ``Development of a Sustainable, Low-Cost, Oil Process for Heart-Healthy DOD Rations,'' or producing oil from microalgae for servicemembers. The ``Alternative Protein Bars,'' is a lab-grown protein derived from a microbiological agent similar to fungus. Yummy. This is the food that built America? I think not. Why do marines, sailors, guardsmen, and coasties need lab-grown meat when the U.S. is full of delicious beef? In fiscal year 2022 alone, the DOD awarded more than $369 million in U.S. contracts for beef, $2.3 million of which was supplied by Phoenix, Arizona. Serving lab-grown meat over domestic beef or poultry rewards the government-funded bioindustry and punishes the American cattle ranchers who have a far smaller so-called carbon footprint than these big corporations. In 2024, Florida and Alabama banned lab-grown meat to protect farmers and the cattle industry. This year, Mississippi, Montana, and Indiana all followed suit. Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to end this experiment on our Armed Forces and support my amendment No. 106.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I am a little bit confused here, so I want to ask the question: If we do good faith advertising to the American people, because that is what our job is, tell me why we would actually say the ``Potential Benefit of Superbrewed Food's Sustainable Postbiotic Protein on Warfighter Health.'' That is obviously not what the gentleman is talking about. Then, we are talking about the ``Sustainable, Low-Cost, Oil Process for Heart-Healthy DOD Rations.'' The other side's mantra is to do low carbon, getting rid of cows, but now they wonder why the cattle industry has problems understanding why they are doing this. I accept what the gentleman said in regard to what BioMADE is, but their truth in advertising fails. It fails dismally for the American public because that is what it says here.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I would love to see our money go to that aspect, but not to the substitutes for meat.

Mr. GOSAR. I am interested in the substitutes because I don't think our warfighters should have to have that, and I would like people to make that distinction, even if it costs the amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, it is no mystery that Raul and I never saw eye to eye on pretty much anything, but it actually benefits this whole group because it is about the debate. We can come with our ideas to the floor and we can debate each other, and that is the way it should be. If you had your idea yourself, Raul would make it so it was important to you to fight for it. He always was very principled. His humor was unwitting. He laughed and I chuckled when he laughed. He emulated all of us and what we can do in this body. There are good ideas, there are bad ideas, and that is why we have to have this debate. God bless Raul and his family. Remember him in your hearts and say a prayer.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Green for yielding. Mr. Speaker, my great State of Arizona is home to over 450,000 veterans, and nearly 30 percent of those veterans live with a disability. My legislation, H.R. 7365, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening, or VETS, Safe Travel Act, will provide optimized security screenings to veterans with catastrophic, service-connected disabilities free of charge, connect veterans to the VA for expanded access to the benefits they deserve, and restore veterans' dignity and independence while traveling. Traveling through standard airport checkpoints with severe injuries can present significant challenges for disabled veterans. They often must wait in long, winding lines, remove their shoes, and maintain balance to stand in a security scanner. For many disabled veterans, these can be difficult tasks and can present a fall hazard or require special assistance. By providing TSA PreCheck free of charge, my legislation will create a more honorable travel experience for veterans with prosthetics, vision impairment, paralysis, or relying on wheelchairs or other mobility aids. The VETS Safe Travel Act will also help create an improved airport experience for everyone by decreasing congestion at the standard security checkpoints. To obtain the benefit, the VA will certify that a veteran has a service-connected disability and is therefore eligible to apply for the program at no cost. TSA is also required to partner with veteran service organizations to make veterans aware of this benefit. TSA must also submit a report to Congress about the program to ensure it is working efficiently. Importantly, my bill specifically prohibits any budget gimmick used to offset costs by increasing the fees for other TSA PreCheck enrollees. This year, the Honor Flight Network welcomed 302 veterans from my home State of Arizona alone to our Nation's Capital. These veterans deserve the star treatment from departure to arrival and back. H.R. 7365 will ease the burden of any air travel on disabled veterans, their families, and caregivers and pave the way for additional disability reforms in veteran air travel. I thank the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security as well as the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for prioritizing the quality of life for our disabled veterans. I ask my colleagues to pass this bipartisan legislation that helps disabled veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, the gentlewoman from Arizona, Debbie Lesko, Representative Debbie Lesko. Representative Lesko has served Arizona's Eighth Congressional District with distinction and honor. She has fought for Arizonans and all Americans and has been a champion for the people she represents. It has been my honor serving with Representative Lesko in the Arizona delegation. As a colleague, we frequently collaborated as advocates on behalf of communities in Arizona. It is an honor to stand here tonight before you and tell my friend Debbie Lesko how much she means to me and how much I am going to miss her in these hallowed Halls of the House of Representatives. However, I am heartened. I know she won't be too far away, and you can bet I am going to continue to phone her whenever I need her advice or just to talk. More importantly, I am confident her character, demeanor, and principles will continue to serve her well in Maricopa County, where she has been recently elected to the Board of Supervisors. However, I am worried about it. In Congress, Debbie represented 800,000 people with full-time staff, but now she will represent over a million people with just one full-time employee. DOGE should learn something from you. Congress' loss is Maricopa's gain. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve with her. I applaud her for her service and wish her all the best. Arizona is a better place because of Debbie Lesko. May God bless her and her husband, Joe.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, on November 14, 2024, I missed vote No. 462, on passage of the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 462.

Mr. GOSAR

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

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

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

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, once again, I ask everybody to vote for this amendment because it is hypocrisy at its finest. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of my amendment No. 13 to the fiscal year 2025 State-Foreign Operations bill. This amendment prohibits funds for the TechCamp public diplomacy program within the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. If you believe its website, the TechCamp ``creates connections, sparks innovation, and empowers civil society to solve the world's most pressing challenges through technology.'' In reality, the actual purpose of the TechCamp program is to spread progressive ideology around the world. What is even more shocking is that the TechCamp is linked to Anatoly Bondarenko, and he is a trainer for the taxpayer-funded program. Bondarenko is a founder of the Texty.org.UA, which placed me and 116 Representatives on a hit list for not supporting Ukraine. Americans should not have to fund efforts to propagandize foreign countries with progressive ideology. Neither should they have to fund programs that have taxpayer-funded organizations that create hit lists that potentially threaten the security of American leaders. Let's defund the wasteful TechCamp program. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I find this priceless, that it is hindering violent extremism. I just indicated that over 100 of my colleagues were listed on a hit list. Talk about extremism. That is the key component of this. If everybody has to suffer, I don't think that we will have any problems when we hang these people out to dry that have actually abused this program, and maybe we will have some more civil society in that regard. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.