Jared Huffman

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I strongly oppose this resolution. The three Congressional Review Act resolutions that we have been considering here today are going to strip local land managers of the ability to respond to future challenges, changes, and needs in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the NPR-A, and the Powder River Basin. If these reckless resolutions pass, these places will be locked into outdated plans that fail to account for changes in community needs, industry needs, and, yes, climate-driven impacts. These CRA resolutions are completely unnecessary because the Trump administration has already acted on their own to replace these plans. Even oil and gas industry experts across the political spectrum agree that the use of the CRA on land use plans creates regulatory and legal ambiguity. In fact, Kathleen Sgamma, as I just told you, President Trump's former nominee to lead the BLM, recently said--and it is a quote worth repeating--``There could be some legal risks introduced and some bad legal precedent'' when using CRAs in this manner. Yet, apparently, my friends across the aisle are just going to do it anyway. Sgamma led the Western Energy Alliance, an oil and gas industry trade association. She has testified for the House Committee on Natural Resources majority many times. This misuse of the CRA will create regulatory chaos for everyone, including the industry, so I ask my colleagues across the aisle: Why pursue it? House Republicans are continuing to lock the American people into higher energy costs by pushing their fossil fuel playbook and sabotaging clean, renewable energy. Our constituents deserve better. They deserve a future with clean and affordable energy, where utility bills aren't skyrocketing and where we know our lands and waters won't suffer as a result. That is why I oppose this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting ``no.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lee Gary ``Tot'' Booker, who passed away peacefully on September 10, 2025, at the age of 85. Mr. Booker was a trailblazing firefighter, a dedicated public servant, and a beloved member of the Marin County community. Born on July 9, 1940, in Bryant, Mississippi, Gary overcame a childhood marked by serious illness through the care of his grandparents, who raised him as their own. He excelled in both academics and athletics, showing early signs of the determination and perseverance that would define his life. He left Mississippi after high school and moved to Marin City, California, where he joined his mother and stepfather and immediately began working at Marin General Hospital. In 1961, Gary was drafted by the state of Mississippi but chose instead to enlist in the United States Navy in San Rafael, California. He served nearly six years, including aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga during the Vietnam War, where he worked on crash, firefighting, and rescue teams. His service shaped his lifelong calling to protect others. Upon completing his military service, Gary joined the Marin County Fire Department in 1966. Over the course of three decades, he broke barriers and blazed trails of firsts. In 1970, he became the first African American Fire Captain in Marin County, leading the Marin City Station and establishing its first community relations program. His leadership, professionalism, and courage earned him successive promotions to Assistant Fire Chief in 1981, Battalion Chief in 1984, and County Safety Officer later in his distinguished career. Through his many years of service, Mr. Booker received numerous awards and honors for his dedication to the safety and well-being of Marin County residents. In 1970, Gary married Judith Ann Du Pont. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who cherished time with his family and found joy in the outdoors. An avid hunter and fisherman, Gary's annual trips to Colorado and Montana were a source of great happiness. His warmth, humor, and storytelling made him a pillar in his community and a mentor to countless colleagues and friends. Mr. Booker is survived by his daughter, Lomia and her husband Allen, stepdaughter Donnailla, and his grandchildren Nicole, Alayah, and Jordan. He is also survived by his brothers Ralph and Drew, sisters Trellis and Norma, and his uncle Tobe, as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Judith, daughter Garrian ``Beetle,'' and several siblings. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that Lee Gary ``Tot'' Booker was a man of courage and vision whose trailblazing service helped shape the Marin County Fire Department and inspired generations of firefighters who followed. I respectfully ask that you join me in honoring his extraordinary life and extending condolences to his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Anthony ``Tony'' Anello, who passed away at the age of 77 on September 28, 2025. Tony was a beloved and celebrated member of Bodega Bay, a renowned fisherman, and a pillar of this coastal community. Born in San Francisco, California in 1948, Tony was raised in Guerneville, California. Tony was a rodeo calf roper when he married Carol Zucca, his wife of 58 years. To support their growing family, Tony began an excavation business, while earning additional income as a fisherman and selling produce. In 1968, Tony joined the Guerneville Fire Department as a volunteer, launching his steadfast career as a firefighter and EMT. He served the Sonoma County fire departments for decades and rose through the ranks of captain, training officer, and battalion chief during his tenure. Tony's excellence and commitment as a training officer is credited for shaping generations of paramedics and firefighters in Sonoma County. Most notably, Tony had a deep-rooted love for fishing. The grandson of a Sicilian fisherman, Tony purchased his first of many commercial fishing boats in 1969. On his days off from the fire department, Tony would go commercial salmon and crab fishing. In 2004, Tony and Carol founded Spud Point Crab Co. in Bodega Bay, a small harbor stand that grew to become an iconic, homestyle restaurant for both tourists and locals. Tony and his son, Mark, provided seasonal crab and wild king salmon fresh from the dock of the marina across from the restaurant. The waterfront stand, inspired by Old Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, still attracts lines of customers seeking Carol's prize-winning clam chowder and Tony's Dungeness crab. A beacon of the community, Spud Point Co. is a critical hub for the town and a charitable supporter of many local organizations. Along with his well-respected work ethic, Tony was well known for his larger-than-life character, humor, and generous spirit. Tony was a stalwart advocate for the local fishing community and hosted many vital community gatherings to preserve the future of the fishing industry at Bodega Bay. While he will be greatly missed, Tony's legacy will live on through the innumerable positive impacts he has had on his community. Tony is survived by his wife and their four children, Lori, Gina, Lisa, and Mark, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom have carried on his passion for fishing and firefighting. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in extending condolences to Tony's family and many friends and in expressing deep appreciation for his decades of service to his community.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to make the following vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 236.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to make the following vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 224.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose all three of these Congressional Review Act resolutions on the floor because the reality is that these would overhaul years of public input. They would silence Tribal voices and erase science-based planning, all so that this administration can hand millions of acres of our public lands over to the fossil fuel industry for extraction. Public lands should be our country's proudest legacy. They are our natural heritage, a national treasure, and the agencies responsible for stewarding them, like the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service, diligently manage these resources for the future through the careful development of these resource management plans and forest plans. The BLM plans, or the RMPs, are carefully crafted to establish safeguards for wildlife, recreation areas, and watersheds, and to identify suitable areas for energy development, as well. That also includes grazing, logging, and other commercial activities. They have to balance all of it in these RMPs. It is also based on robust input from communities, stakeholders, the public, and government-to-government consultation with the impacted Tribes, as well. The Republican majority has proven time and again that they don't want any of that public process. They simply want to hand things over to Big Oil and Big Coal, and this week, they are right back at it. The majority is making us vote on legislation that would turn the management of public lands upside down, throwing it into chaos, all just to score that quick win for their fossil fuel buddies because the existing plans don't give away the store the way they would like to. It doesn't matter that this might upend the system that grants land ownership to Alaska Native veterans of the Vietnam war, which is what one of these RMPs does, or that the Tribal governments have spent years working in good faith with the Federal Government to develop land management plans that both allow for energy development and protect subsistence hunting and fishing resources. That is what they are blowing up with these CRAs, not to mention that if these CRAs are signed into law, the validity of every single permit, lease, and Federal approval that has been issued based on these RMPs would suddenly be called into question and subject to litigation. I remind my colleagues once again that they don't have to go down this road. The gentleman from Colorado mentioned that the CRA has never been used to overturn a resource management plan. There are perfectly valid ways of achieving the same goals in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. It is what the Biden administration did to update these plans, and it is what the Trump administration has already announced it intends to do. I certainly expect to disagree with the outcomes and the objectives of the Trump administration's efforts to amend these RMPs. If they followed the formal process at least, though, we would have a chance to make our case in that process, and it wouldn't imperil existing permits and leases. Most importantly, it would require community input and Tribal consultation. I strongly urge my colleagues not to continue this race to the bottom. Republicans have already thrown so many norms out the window. Republicans have already disregarded Democrats in all of their legislation and have started this radical appropriations process, where it is party line, Republican only. So many norms are being trashed, and now, for the first time, they are going to do this using the CRA on resource management plans. Stop the race to the bottom. Vote against this CRA resolution package.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to make the following votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 191; YEA on Roll Call No. 192; and YEA on Roll Call No. 193.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William (Bill) T. Baglietto who passed away on June 9, 2025, at the age of 96, after a remarkable life of public service, legal distinction, and civic leadership. Born in San Francisco in 1928, Bill's early years were shaped by hardship. After his family faced bankruptcy during the Great Depression, they relocated to a cabin in Woodacre, California. From these humble beginnings, Bill's extraordinary work ethic and intellect carried him far. He worked his way through high school, college, and law school as a member of the Marin County Fire Department, ultimately graduating as valedictorian from the University of California, Berkeley in 1949. He earned his J.D. from Berkeley Law in 1952, where he served on the California Law Review--a foundation for what would become a distinguished legal career. Bill practiced law for 63 years, including 35 years as a partner at Nossaman LLP. He became one of California's leading experts in business, water, transportation, and public policy law. Among his many legal contributions, he successfully defended First Amendment rights before the United States Supreme Court. His commitment to justice, transparency, and public accountability informed both his legal practice and his public service. From 1960 to 1974, Bill represented Marin and Sonoma Counties in the California State Assembly. A moderate Republican and tireless advocate for civil rights, he received an outstanding voter rating from the NAACP throughout his legislative career. Notably, he authored landmark legislation on transparency including the California Public Records Act and the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act--cornerstones of open government in California. Following his time in the Assembly, Bill was appointed by President Gerald Ford as the first chair of the newly created Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Under his leadership, the CFTC helped modernize and globalize the futures market. He traveled to Europe and Tokyo advocating for fair, well-regulated markets, and served on the Futures Industry Association Board of Directors. His public service extended to the California Transportation Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the University of California Board of Regents--each role reflecting his lifelong commitment to the public good. Bill received numerous accolades throughout his life, including the UC Berkeley Alumnus of the Year award in 2002. But to those who knew him well, he will be remembered for his character: principled, pragmatic, and endlessly generous with his time and wisdom. Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Diane; their children Lynn, Bill, Jr., Walter, Shana, and Tracy, and his grandchildren Nicholas, Julian, Nathaniel, Grant, and Layli. Mr. Speaker, Bill Bagley embodied a rare blend of intellect, humility, and commitment to public service. He believed government could work to improve quality of life for everyone--and he worked tirelessly to prove it. I respectfully ask that you join me in honoring his enduring legacy and extending our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege to know him.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to make the following votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 157; NAY on Roll Call No. 158; and YEA on Roll Call No. 159.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to make the following vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 153.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to make the following votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 132, and YEA on Roll Call No. 133.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, when I call this a deeply unserious bill, I think I am probably being charitable. It is unserious, and it comes from a Republican majority that is either unable or unwilling to do the real work of Congress. In the first disastrous 100 days of President Trump's second term in office, we have seen him sow chaos and distraction in every direction. This deeply corrupt and unhinged leader has put his biggest campaign donor and the wealthiest man in the world in charge of slashing programs that millions of Americans depend on, from food assistance to nuclear safety to disaster response, all in the name of ``efficiency.'' They have indiscriminately fired thousands of Federal workers, like this is some dystopian reboot of ``The Apprentice,'' except in this episode, they are filling the government with unqualified sycophants, who are running around firing meteorologists, health experts, and emergency responders, people who keep our government running. Today, in the face of all of that, all of this chaos that our Republican colleagues don't want to talk about, at least we are hearing them engage in some debate over this unserious bill about renaming the Gulf of Mexico, which I suppose is an improvement because for the past couple of weeks in the markup hearings on their disastrous budget reconciliation bill, they have been unwilling to debate at all. It has just been silence from Republicans as they move through one of the most reckless bills in American history, the same silence as they duck their constituents by canceling townhalls and avoiding media inquiries. Instead of debating that very important and destructive legislation, they are speaking up today about this deeply unserious bill to rename a body of water. We wish that our Republican colleagues would join us in asking the question that is on more and more Americans' minds: What the heck is going on? This administration is not draining the swamp. They are torching the country. The global economy is in chaos. We are teetering on the brink of recession. Administration officials are telling us we should perhaps prepare to ration dolls and toys this Christmas. Yet, they want to debate renaming the Gulf of Mexico. Congress, which more and more appears to just be a joke, is now advancing a bill that literally started off as a joke. That is right. The first person to publicly suggest the name change was not Donald Trump or the author of this bill. It was comedian Stephen Colbert on ``Comedy Central.'' It was a joke back when the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was happening. Eleven people died in that disaster. Entire ecosystems collapsed. The Louisiana coast was wrecked, along with industries and livelihoods that depend on that Gulf Coast ecosystem. It was all devastated, and Colbert used the fake name ``Gulf of America'' to satirize the absurdity of oil-soaked nationalism. Now, here we are, 15 years later, in a Congress that apparently thinks they have no real work to do, turning a late-night punch line into the legislative business of the United States House. I would love to say this is just a one-off, but it fits a disturbing trend. Again and again, this majority keeps replacing science with slogans, governance with grievance, and policymaking with cheap performance art. The truth is, this bill won't fix a single problem. It does absolutely nothing to help the Gulf Coast. It won't create a single job. It is not going to fix our climate crisis. It is just dumb. The only thing this bill will do is waste time and taxpayer dollars to stroke the ego of a guy who Sharpied a hurricane map on live TV. In committee, I offered an amendment that would actually advance the value of efficiency because if this is all about stroking the ego of one man, if it is all about cultish sycophancy, why do it in a piecemeal way with all these individual bills to put his face on Mount Rushmore and the $100 bill? We actually have legislation from folks across the aisle to do all these things: to rename Dulles Airport, to do national holidays. Why not go all the way? We know that is where this is all heading anyway since everything is in service of one man's fragile ego. Why not rename the entire planet ``planet Trump''? At least that would be efficient. We would hurry up and get to the inevitable outcome of where this Republican Congress is taking us. If you like this unserious bill, there is another deal for you because Eric and Don Jr. are selling Gulf of America hats on their website for 50 bucks a pop. One hat even says: ``Gulf of America, Yet Another Trump Development.'' The sales pitch for one includes ``as seen on President Donald J. Trump,'' and get your meme coin while you are at it. Remember, all of these grifts are for a limited time. They won't last much longer. The American people deserve much better. A recent FOX News poll--yes, FOX--showed that a big majority opposes the name change for the Gulf of Mexico: 67 percent. Americans know a joke when they see one, even if this Republican Congress doesn't. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman is right about one thing: Democrats are outraged because as this President is crashing the global economy, careening us into recession, destroying retirement plans and 401(k)'s, driving up costs for American families on everything from cars to eggs to now us being told we may have to ration toys and dolls this Christmas, as all of that is happening, he is using Congress' Article I trade and commerce authority to do it. What do you hear from Republicans across the aisle about this thing that is wrecking the lives of so many American families? Nothing. Worse than nothing, they have tied their own hands with a gimmicky bill that they passed to create a false legislative day that never ends so that they can't even invoke Congress' Article I trade authority and put some sensible sideboards on this trade and tariff policy. It is madness, and the gentlewoman is right. We are outraged. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) to talk about it.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor), who represents the Gulf and may have some wisdom to share with us about this subject.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Rivas).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cisneros).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the most encouraging thing so far in the debate on this bill is that the only speaker that the Republicans have offered in support of it is the gentlewoman from Georgia. That is it. I think that is hopeful. It suggests that maybe there is still a little bit of dignity somewhere in the Republican Conference. I guess we will see in a few minutes when we start voting on this bill that is an insult to any serious Member of Congress. It is certainly an insult to the American people and a giant middle finger to the rest of the world. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), our fantastic Democratic leader, his magic minute.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Dexter).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I think it says a lot that as we have wasted the last hour of Congress' time on a deeply unserious bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico, and while Republicans have offered just one speaker in support of this preposterous piece of legislation--this monumental disaster, this insult to the American people, and this giant middle finger to the rest of the world--the only speaker to speak in support of this was the gentlewoman from Georgia. I think that just tells us an awful lot today. The American people think that Congress should do real work, and there is plenty of real work to be done. Americans are watching their 401(k)'s in free fall from this President's reckless tariff games, tariff chaos that is happening by using Congress' Article I trade and commerce authority. What is this Congress doing about it? They are doing worse than nothing. They have tied their own hands because, in their government funding bill, they have created the gimmick of a never-ending legislative day to prevent them from using their emergency authorities to put some sensible sideboards on Donald Trump's tariff madness. In the district right next to mine in Napa County, the Trump administration abruptly canceled a $50 million wildfire prevention grant just 4 months after one of the deadliest wildfires in California history. That has been the story throughout the West. Critical funding for a critical need for firefighters and for projects that make us safer from wildfire is in total chaos or canceled because of this madness with Elon Musk, DOGE, and an unhinged President. What do we hear from our colleagues across the aisle? Nothing. We get bills like this to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Tribal communities are being hammered around the country. Food insecurity programs are being defunded. Education programs are being frozen. Healthcare resources are being slashed. All the while, the administration continues to fire essential agency scientists and public servants en masse as this Republican Congress shrugs. The majority is wasting time on an ego-driven rebrand, a performative stunt rooted in President Trump's imperial edict absurdly titled: ``Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.'' Mr. Speaker, this is so obviously what authoritarians through history have done. They do things like call for parades on their own birthday, or rename things, or do other stunts to distract the American people from the way they are lining their own pockets and taking away fundamental rights. This Republican Congress appears to be perfectly fine with that. A new CNN national poll shows that the majority of Americans believe Congress is not doing enough to check this President's actions. Nearly one-half say that the current administration is weakening our democracy, our economy, and our global standing. This bill really is Exhibit A. We are not just renaming a gulf. We are drowning public trust in what this institution is supposed to do: serve the people, solve problems, and defend democracy. Yes, this bill has been called a joke more than once. In committee, I even offered an amendment to rename the entire planet ``Trump'' just to underscore the absurdity of their sycophantic bootlicking. Now, after seeing this bill advance not only through committee but all the way through to the House floor for a final vote, it is getting a little bit harder to laugh. That is because it is not a joke anymore. It is a case study in misplaced priorities. Mr. Speaker, when you start erasing or changing phrases like ``climate change,'' ``equity,'' or ``disadvantaged communities'' from government websites, when you ban them from scientific reports, then you are not just playing word games. You are dismantling our capacity to even name the problems we face, let alone fix them, but we are renaming bodies of water. Mr. Speaker, we are about to open the roll, and as we watch the red and green light up on the big board, I think it is going to be a pretty good proxy for which Members of Congress still think that we should be doing serious work, that we should be reclaiming our Article I responsibilities under the Constitution, that we should have a little bit of dignity in the face of a deeply unserious bill that has wasted our time, and to see which Members of Congress are simply bending the knee to Donald Trump and stroking one man's ego in everything they do. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

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