Greg Gianforte

Mr. GIANFORTE

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

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 4824, introduced by John Curtis of Utah, is the Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018. The bill, which I have cosponsored, provides much-needed efficiency to the broadband permitting process on Federal lands to ensure underserved communities receive this vital utility. Approximately 40 percent of rural Americans do not have access to broadband internet. Without adequate and consistent internet access, people are unable to effectively communicate, gain access to vital information services, and increasingly participate in the American workforce. Currently, providers who wish to install broadband infrastructure in existing utility and road rights-of-way on Federal land are frequently required to obtain approval from multiple Federal and State agencies. If the infrastructure crosses Indian Country, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is involved. This cumbersome process also includes extensive environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. H.R. 4824 streamlines broadband permitting in existing rights-of-way, saving time and money in broadband deployment. Specifically, this bill authorizes a program to enhance the permitting process for broadband internet projects in each of the Bureau of Land Management's State offices. H.R. 4824 also authorizes the Bureau and the U.S. Forest Service to enter into agreements with States and Tribes to allow those entities to carry out environmental reviews for broadband projects within existing rights-of-way on Federal land. This coordinated approach should help alleviate unnecessary delays in permit processing and encourage providers and States to pursue broadband deployment projects, particularly in rural areas. Congressman Curtis should be commended for his work on this bill and his efforts to have it considered by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, August 1, 2018. Hon. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I write regarding H.R. 4824, the Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018, which was primarily referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and additionally referred to your committee. The Natural Resources Committee ordered the bill favorably reported by voice vote on June 6, 2018, and my staff has shared with your staff a draft bill report, a copy of the bill as ordered reported and the cost estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget Office. I ask that you allow your committee to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may be quickly scheduled by the Majority Leader. I agree that this discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have your committee be represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and your response in the report for the bill and in the Congressional Record during debate on the bill to document our agreement. Thank you very much for your consideration of my request, and I look forward to bringing H.R. 4824 to the Floor soon. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis).

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GIANFORTE

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2591) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to modernize the funding of wildlife conservation, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2591, introduced by Representative Austin Scott of Georgia, is a bipartisan bill which I cosponsored that amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to modernize the funding for wildlife conservation. The Pittman-Robertson fund, which relies on excise tax fees paid by hunters and recreational shooters, has been a driving force for wildlife habitat preservation in the United States for nearly 80 years, contributing over $10 billion in that time. The fund is also responsible for important hunter education programs, as well as the construction and maintenance of public shooting ranges. The long-term viability of the Pittman-Robertson fund is at risk, however, because of the diminishing number of hunters and recreational shooters nationwide. Recent surveys have shown a decline of over 2 million hunters since 2011. This has largely been caused by growing urbanization and suburbanization, which has made it more difficult for Americans to participate in these activities. This legislation will give States additional flexibility to use their Pittman-Robertson dollars to fund programs to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters and target shooters. Empowering the States with this added flexibility will help promote safe and responsible hunting and shooting, while also ensuring this American system of wildlife conservation funding remains strong into the future. Congressman Scott should be commended for his work on this bipartisan measure. I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott).

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

Mr. GIANFORTE

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2606) to amend the Act of August 4, 1947 (commonly known as the Stigler Act), with respect to restrictions applicable to Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2606, the Stigler Act Amendments of 2018. The bill would amend the 1947 Stigler Act to remove the Indian blood quantum requirement for certain land to be maintained in restricted fee status for any member of the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, and the Seminole Nation, which are collectively known as the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma. Under current law, when a person of less than one-half degree Indian blood from one of the Five Tribes inherits an interest of an allotment of land, the land can be taxed and be conveyed without approval of the Secretary of the Interior. Under H.R. 2606, restricted fee land currently owned by members of the Five Tribes would remain in restricted status regardless of the blood quantum of the owners. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for his tireless work on issues impacting Indian Country, including this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

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

Mr. GIANFORTE

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6287) to provide competitive grants for the operation, security, and maintenance of certain memorials to victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as amended.

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

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6287, offered by Congressman Tom MacArthur of New Jersey, honors and memorializes the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001. The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants through a competitive process to nonprofit organizations for the operation and maintenance of memorials to commemorate the events and honor the victims of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. It has been 17 years since that dark day in American history. The National September 11th Memorial in New York City, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial just across the Potomac River in Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, stand as solemn tributes and remembrances to the thousands of victims of those attacks. H.R. 6287 authorizes a competitive grant program for operation, security, and maintenance of these memorials. Throughout our Nation's history, Congress has stepped forward to authorize operating funds in public-private partnership with nongovernmental organizations for memorials and museums of national significance. Like congressional authorizations of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Kennedy Center, a Federal authorization for grants in support of 9/11 memorials at the sites of the attacks will help to operate and maintain these sites of national remembrance and reflection. We should always remember and forever honor those who lost their lives on that fateful day. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Representative MacArthur for his work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. MacArthur).

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GIANFORTE

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3186) to establish an Every Kid Outdoors program, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Every Kid in a Park program launched in 2015 as part of the National Park Service's centennial anniversary to encourage the next generation of park visitors. The program offers fourth graders and their families free entrance to our national parks. To date, Every Kid in a Park has enabled more than 350,000 fourth graders to use our national parks and public lands as outdoor classrooms. I have personally seen the positive impacts visiting national parks, historic sites, and recreation areas can have on young people in my home State of Montana. Special places like Glacier National Park, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, and the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument will be more accessible to fourth graders from all over the country with the passage of this bill. H.R. 3186 codifies this program by directing seven agencies to jointly establish the Every Kid Outdoors program to provide any fourth grader in the U.S. with a pass to gain free access to Federal lands and waters. This includes the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, June 14, 2018. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Bishop: Thank you for the opportunity to review the relevant provisions of the text of H.R. 3186, the Every Kid Outdoors Act, which was favorably reported out of your Committee on May 16, 2018. As you are aware, the bill was primarily referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, while the Agriculture Committee received an additional referral. I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner. Accordingly, I agree to discharge H.R. 3186 from further consideration by the Committee on Agriculture. I do so with the understanding that by discharging the bill, the Committee on Agriculture does not waive any future jurisdictional claim on this or similar matters. Further, the Committee on Agriculture reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees, if it should become necessary. I ask that you insert a copy of our exchange of letters into the Congressional Record during consideration of this measure on the House floor. Thank you for your courtesy in this matter and I look forward to continued cooperation between our respective committees. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman.

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