Jared Huffman

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further witnesses, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7098) to expand the boundary of Saguaro National Park, to study additional land for future adjustments to the boundary of the park, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, before I reserve after those beautiful remarks, I include in the Record an email from the CBO. From: David Hughes Sent: Tuesday, December 1, 2020 2:51 PM To: Lim, Sarah Subject: Re: Suspension planning. Hi Sarah: Good to hear from you. On a preliminary basis: H.R. 970, Robert E. Lee Removal, Brown, D-MD; no direct spending or revenue effects. H.R. 5458, Rocky Mountain 1, Neguse, D-CO; no direct spending or revenue effects. H.R. 5459, Rocky Mountain 2, Neguse, D-CO; no direct spending or revenue effects. H.R. 7098, Saguaro Expansion, Grijalva, D-AZ; no direct spending or revenue effects. H.R. 7489, Long Bridge Act of 2020, Wittman, R-VA; no revenue effects. Enacting H.R. 7489 would result in an insignificant net decrease in direct spending over the 2021- 2030 period. Best, David Hughes, Analyst, Congressional Budget Office.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5459) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to correct a land ownership error within the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park, and for other purposes.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5458) to modify the boundary of the Rocky Mountain National Park, and for other purposes.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I request an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5458, the Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Modification Act, the first of two bills introduced by my Colorado colleague, Representative Joe Neguse. This bill would modify the boundary of Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park to include approximately 40 acres of non-Federal land that former U.S. astronaut Vance Brand hopes to donate to the park. This 40-acre tract will provide enhanced protections for the park's high-elevation ecosystems and would increase recreational access and connectivity by providing a natural buffer between private lands and three popular trails. Rocky Mountain National Park is home to many of our Nation's most treasured landscapes, and I commend Representative Neguse for his efforts to expand and enhance protections for this park. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Gary Phillips as he retires a distinguished tenure of public service as Mayor of the City of San Rafael. Mayor Phillips earned his undergraduate degree and Master of Business Administration from Humboldt State University. He applied his education throughout his professional career as a certified public accountant and business executive as well as an elected official. He and his wife Linda settled in San Rafael 48 years ago. They proceeded to raise a family and became committed to improving the quality of life for the residents of San Rafael. Mayor Phillips' first role as an elected official for the San Rafael community was as a member of the former Dixie School Board, where he served for eight years, including twice as president. He was elected to the City Council in 1994 and served three terms before retiring in 2007. In 2011, he decided to run for Mayor when Mayor Al Boro retired after nearly 20 years of service. As an elected official, Mayor Phillips drew upon his business acumen, standing up for small businesses, working to improve education, and responding to the changing needs of the community. Over the years, Mayor Phillips developed a deep record for going to bat for San Rafael residents, demonstrating steady leadership through trying times. This includes navigating financial challenges, homelessness and housing, securing funding to improve fire service, and the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. At every critical moment Mayor Phillips has worked to provide the people of San Rafael with the support and resources they need. He is also known at City Hall for his ability to form consensus and adhere to principles, and for his thoughtful, hands-on approach to leadership--invaluable qualities in a mayor. It has been my pleasure to work closely with Mayor Phillips' on a number of key issues, including homelessness, gun violence reform, discrimination, and securing funds to dredge the San Rafael Canal. I have also had the pleasure of working with him in his role as Chair of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) to find solutions for rail and multimodal transportation through the downtown. Mayor Gary Phillips has been an unwavering champion for his community across his nearly 30 years, and I am certain his public service is not complete. Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in honoring him for his many positive contributions to the residents of San Rafael and the entire North Bay Area and in wishing him well in his next endeavors.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Tom Untermann who passed away on October 27, 2020, at the age of 73 after a lifetime of exemplary public service to his community. Born in 1947 to Anne and Karl Untermann, Tom followed in his family's footsteps in developing deep roots in the community through the family business. His great uncle, Richard Lohrmann, emigrated from Germany in 1909 to San Rafael in pursuit of the American dream. Upon arrival, he purchased a small plot of land and opened a neighborhood nursery. In 1954, having inherited the family green thumb, Tom's father purchased the nursery. Today, West End Nursery celebrates 110 years as a valued business of San Rafael. In his youth, Tom excelled as an athlete both at San Rafael High School and the University of California, Davis, where he won two conference championships as a power forward for the basketball team. It was at UC Davis that Tom met his wife, Merrie, and the two returned to San Rafael to raise their sons, Chris and Kurt. Once back in San Rafael, Tom inherited West End Nursery from his father, becoming a third generation family owner. Working closely with his son Chris, Tom fostered a welcoming environment at the nursery, sharing his vast knowledge of plants with all customers, from experienced green thumbs to first time gardeners. Every December, with the support of Merrie and his daughter-in-law Barbara, Tom would construct a beautiful Christmas display within the nursery inviting community members to visit and marvel in the holiday spirit. Tom's positive impact on the community extended beyond the nursery. He spent many years coaching San Rafael High School athletics and played a lead role in the construction of the high school's new baseball field, investing many years and his personal funds into the project. In honor of his tireless dedication to community athletics, Tom was awarded a special recognition by the Marin Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame in 2007. Tom was a well-respected community leader who will be remembered for his generosity of spirit and enduring commitment to public service. He is survived by wife, Merrie; sons, Chris and Kurt; daughters-in-law, Barbara and Elizabeth; grandchildren, Walker, Wade, Waylen, Tanner, Hudson, and Emilia; and siblings, Richard, Dennis and Jeanne. Madam Speaker, while Tom Untermann will be greatly missed, his legacy will live on through the indelible positive impact he had on his many friends, family and the community at large. Please join me in extending our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today with great concern. Even on their way out the door, the Trump administration's ``favor factory'' at the Interior Department continues to try to deliver for well-connected interests. We have been conducting oversight over these efforts throughout this Congress, and I want to share with my colleagues just one of the documents we have been provided, which clearly outlines a political agenda overriding science, the law, and the public interest. I am hopeful that the courts and the incoming administration will be able to reinstate scientific integrity to the policymaking process. United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Sacramento, CA. Date: July 1, 2019 Memorandum for: ROC LTO Consultation, ARN# 151422-WCR2016-

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger) to speak on this bill. (Mr. RUPPERSBERGER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I request an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1069) to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to establish a constituent-driven program to provide a digital information platform capable of efficiently integrating coastal data with decision-support tools, training, and best practices and to support collection of priority coastal geospatial data to inform and improve local, State, regional, and Federal capacities to manage the coastal region, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Digital Coast Act, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, is an important piece of legislation, one which we passed here in the House as part of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act back in December of 2019. The importance of data in today's world can't be overstated, nor can the role of the climate crisis. NOAA's Digital Coast Partnership supports coastal managers with the data they need to confront today's challenges with intensifying storms, coastal flooding, sea level rise, and coastal economic development. Digital Coast is a web-based platform containing data, tools, and training resources to support our coastal managers. This includes economic data, satellite imagery, visualization tools, and predictive tools gathered from hundreds of sources across academia, non- governmental, Federal, State, Tribal, and county partners. The Digital Coast Partnership also provides coastal managers with collaborative events like conferences, workshops, and meetings where these managers can focus on important issues like coastal resilience, ocean planning, and habitat protection. This commonsense, good governance legislation would formally authorize a program that has been proven to work. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that the Digital Coast Partnership currently produces a 3:1 benefit-to-cost ratio, and they predict that this ratio will increase to over 5:1 by fiscal year 2028. Let's continue to support this amazing program and make the Digital Coast Act into public law. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 910) to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am a proud supporter of the Sea Grant College Program. In fact, I am the lead author of H.R. 2405 to reauthorize Sea Grant in the House. Today, I am proud of the bipartisanship this bill has garnered, and I am happy to stand in support of S. 910, the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act championed by the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Wicker. The Senate passed this bill by unanimous consent in September. The Senate overwhelmingly supports this bill on both sides of the aisle. The House passed my legislation as part of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act back in December 2019, again, a great piece of legislation that for some reason didn't include the Great Salt Lake, but we can keep working on that. My hope is that we, once again, vote in support of this legislation today. This is an exciting day, as we have never been this close to getting the Sea Grant College Program reauthorized. The Sea Grant College Program supports our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes through grants and contracts with 33 State-level programs. These programs support research, education, and advisory services that are crucial for our coastal communities. Sea Grant is incredibly efficient, too. For every Federal dollar appropriated, Sea Grant leverages nearly $3 from partnerships among State universities, State and local governments, and coastal communities and businesses. In 2017 alone, after being appropriated $63 million, it is estimated that Sea Grant Programs helped regenerate $579 million in economic impacts, created or supported 12,500 jobs, assisted 462 communities to improve their resilience, restored or protected over 700,000 acres of coastal ecosystems, worked with 1,300 industry and private sector, local, State, and regional partners and supported the education and training of over 1,800 undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to reauthorizing and updating the Sea Grant College Program, this bill also makes important updates to the program's Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, which fosters our next generation of ocean and coastal policy managers. The legislation also identifies Sea Grant spending priorities for the next 5 years, which include aquatic invasive species, oyster disease and restoration, harmful algal blooms, coastal resilience, sustainable aquaculture, and fishery research and extension. My colleague on the other side of the aisle will likely have one main complaint about Sea Grant, and that is the decades-old fellowship program. Somehow I think my colleague across the aisle may believe the fellowship is a handout to Democratic offices. The truth is that Sea Grant, which has been around since 1979, focuses on training the next generation of ocean scientists and policy makers, and fellows end up in the offices where they can best prepare for future careers in marine science and policy. Sea Grant fellows have gone on to prominent positions in both Democratic and Republican administrations. In fact, the Trump administration's former Chief of Staff at NOAA is a fellowship alumni. Further, this legislation will actually help level the playing field for Republican and Democratic offices vying for fellows by directing that NOAA ensure equitable distribution among political parties. I would hope that my colleagues on the Committee on Natural Resources would take a step back and listen to the many Republicans representing coastal areas who strongly support this legislation. I thank Senator Wicker and all the cosponsors of my bill in the House for their support and their work on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this program and vote in favor of the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I request an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6237) to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to clarify the requirement of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to reimburse the Indian Health Service for certain health care services, as amended.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I request an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.