Cresent Hardy

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 2733, the Nevada Native Nations Land Act. I commend my colleague from Nevada (Mr. Amodei), the sponsor of this bill, for his tireless work on this important piece of legislation. Because he will speak further on the details that affect his district, I will provide a brief summary of the bill. H.R. 2733, as amended, would require the Secretary of the Interior to place, approximately, 71,000 acres of Federal land into trust for six tribes in the State of Nevada. Gaming would be prohibited on these lands. Located in my district, the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe would have, approximately, 31,000 acres of land placed into trust by the Secretary of the Interior. The tribe intends to utilize these lands for economic development and community growth. Specifically, the additional lands will allow the tribe to expand agricultural operations, additional housing and facilities development, and to protect cultural sites and wildlife. Over 85 percent of the land that is located in Nevada is federally controlled, and tribes continue to have a small land base. This bill is an important step in promoting economic activity that will generate jobs in the tribal communities, benefitting both reservation economies. I thank Mr. Amodei for his efforts in getting this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2733) to require the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for certain Indian tribes, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HARDY

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

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 87, introduced by Representative Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, expands the boundaries of the Shiloh National Military Park and designates the Parker's Crossroads Battlefield as an affiliated area of the National Park System. Located in Corinth, Mississippi, the Battle of Shiloh was a flash point in the Western theater during the Civil War. This bill would preserve three critical battlefields, covering approximately 2,126 acres, associated with the Siege of Corinth, including the Fallen Timbers, Russell House, and Davis Bridge Battlefields. The National Park Service determined that each of these sites provides extensive opportunities for visitor use and interpretation or the potential for archeological research. This bill passed out of committee by unanimous consent. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARDY. 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. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 87) to modify the boundary of the Shiloh National Military Park located in Tennessee and Mississippi, to establish Parker's Crossroads Battlefield as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation also. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1815, the Eastern Nevada Land Implementation Improvement Act, which I introduced last year, makes several changes to the existing Federal land laws. The bill authorizes hazardous fuels reduction projects and wildfire planning for rangeland and woodland restoration projects in Lincoln County, Nevada. These projects will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and improve and protect habitat for the greater sage-grouse. The bill also authorizes the implementation of a conservation plan in Nevada's Virgin River region. In 2002, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service required the city of Mesquite to create a conservation plan to protect several species in the Lower Virgin River Basin before moving ahead with two land acquisitions. The city planned to use these funds from the Mesquite Lands Act, a law passed by Congress in 1986 that allowed the city to acquire and develop lands from the Federal Government, to complete the plan. FWS signed a memorandum of agreement with the city of Mesquite to carry out the law. This agreement expired in 2014. The Fish and Wildlife Service refused to sign a new memorandum of agreement or to allow the city to access the necessary funding because it didn't feel that the current legislation enabled them to implement the conservation plan. As a result, all efforts to advance the conservation plan and expand the city are at a standstill. This bill remedies the problem by making a technical correction to the Mesquite Lands Act of 1988 that will provide the necessary authority to the Fish and Wildlife Service to implement the conservation plan, after signing the new agreement with the city of Mesquite. Lastly, the bill makes several boundary adjustments that collectively reduce three wilderness areas to improve public access to the Big Canyon Trailhead, provide land to the existing Girl Scouts camp, and release a small dam owned and operated by the Yamba Tribe. It is important to know that all of the money that would be spent to execute these programs in this bill would come from special accounts that already exist. Not a single taxpayer dollar would go to pay for this bill. These special accounts are funded by the proceeds of the Federal land sales in Nevada and, in total, have a balance of $270 million in unobligated funds. The $2 million predicted to be used for the purposes in H.R. 1815--protecting communities from catastrophic wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels and implementing a habitat conservation plan--would come directly from those accounts at no cost to the taxpayer. This is a well-balanced, bipartisan piece of legislation that will reduce wildland fire threat and greatly benefit local communities, wildlife and its habitat, and the future management of public lands in Nevada. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1815. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARDY. 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. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1815) to facilitate certain pinyon-juniper related projects in Lincoln County, Nevada, to modify the boundaries of certain wilderness areas in the State of Nevada, and to provide for the implementation of a conservation plan for the Virgin River, Nevada, as amended.

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

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2009) to provide for the conveyance of certain land inholdings owned by the United States to the Tucson Unified School District and to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, as amended.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in America, and prescription painkillers account for 40 percent of those 47,000 deaths. No one debates that these powerful medications can serve an important role in pain management, but we cannot ignore the ability to entrap innocent and unintended victims. That is why we are taking steps to protect those endangered by this epidemic. With bills passed this week, we are improving training and providing resources for medical providers and pharmacists, making sure that Federal agencies work better together, and reducing excess amounts of unused meds in the homes of patients with short-term needs so that excess medicine can be available for those still in need instead of falling into the hands of children and family members. There is always more we can do and will do in the future, but today is the day that America has started on the road to recovery.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, last fall a hospital in my State closed its doors after years of being the only hospital within a 100-mile radius. Unlike in more populated communities, when a rural hospital closes, residents can be left with the frightening reality that emergency medical care and medical care services may be too far away. Sadly, this is not the only isolated incident. More than 30 percent of America's rural hospitals are vulnerable to the conditions that may have caused the closure of 71 facilities in the last 6 years. The numbers increase each year, and we have to act now to prevent more families from losing their lifelines in times of emergency. That is why I am introducing the bipartisan Rural Health Act of 2016. It will support existing rural hospitals by strengthening resources for State Offices of Rural Health and incentivize construction of new facilities for those communities in need. Our rural communities need our attention. We cannot let them down.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Arkansas for coming and hosting this serious discussion on the serious issues in this country. According to the Census Bureau, 15 percent of the population is living below the poverty level. For States that were hit hardest in the 2008 economic downturn, like Nevada, the recession is not just a memory for too many, it is still a reality. At the lowest point, Nevada's unemployment rate was an astronomical 13.7 percent, and the poverty rate was at 16.2 percent. The only thing that is more stark than that number is the fact that, despite the improvement of the national unemployment rate, the national poverty rate has not budged in the last 4 years. But there is a silver lining here, and it is in the Silver State. Unlike national figures on poverty, Nevada has seen poverty rates drop as the unemployment rate has dropped also. One of the most effective ways that my State has been able to improve the lives of the most impoverished is through smart community involvement on the local level. Unlike so many Federal approaches that operate on a one-size-fits-all solution, local, community-based solutions are tailored and are specific to community and, in many cases, conditions of each individual's needs. These approaches work best because they are closest to the situation and usually have the best understanding of the factors on the ground. The impoverished aren't always just a statistic to their community. They are neighbors; they are friends; they are loved ones. In my community, there is an organization that not only has ideas, but it is actually acting on them and putting them to work in the community to improve the situation. The Hope for Prisoners program, whose mission is to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society and find gainful employment, is a model for success. Jon Ponder, the Hope for Prisoner leader, brings together families, religious leaders, business leaders, and law enforcement to break this vicious cycle that plagues many communities and ours, also. The various community members act in a selfless service, often using their own time and their own money to make a difference. That is something that we need to get back in this country is that selfless service. And remember: Who is your neighbor? Folks, where I grew up, everybody was your neighbor, even if you had never met them. We have a responsibility to reach out and give of ourselves. These are things that Jon Ponder has done. Various community members like Jon Ponder have graduated individuals out of this program. One of those graduates has started a successful small business, Love's Barbershop. Not only is Love's owner a contributing member of the community, Love's Barbershop lifts the entire community by creating jobs for other Nevada families. In the case of Hope for Prisoners, the participants join the program on a voluntary basis. If an individual is not ready and willing to break the cycle of incarceration and poverty, no solution will find success. Investment does not end with those going through the program, however. The success of local, community-based solutions has shown everyone involved to be fully invested. The local businesses employing the participants have bought in completely to working with the program and are willing to give ex-offenders a shot, a shot at working hard, earning a wage, and contributing to society. Local law enforcement have also been invested. Rather than simply policing the streets as crime stoppers, they are active partners in the community. They work in tandem with the entire community. The idea of mentoring individuals is such a powerful tool that we all have, and it is available to us. Are you using that tool that is available to you? Remember: Who is your neighbor? We can make a difference. Jon and Hope for Prisoners have taken this idea of mentoring and turned it into a job creator and, more importantly, a lifesaver. While Hope has been operating for only 5 years, they have been able to help more than 1,000 people in southern Nevada, with only a 6 percent re- incarceration rate. Too often, individuals released from incarceration face the uncertainty of a future plagued by limited employment opportunities available to them. Without employment, these individuals become at risk for re-incarceration or poverty and homelessness. Programs like Hope for Prisoners work. The numbers and the survivors speak for themselves. While there is still much to do to address poverty in our country, we should all be looking to our States for examples. States are not only the national laboratories of industry, they can also be the laboratories for hope.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, we hear about fraud, waste, and abuse as it pertains to the Federal Government spending too much in this country. Last year, the Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations within the Small Business Committee held a joint hearing with the Veterans' Affairs Committee to investigate the reports of fraud and manipulation at the VA when it comes to reporting small business goals. What we heard was shocking. The VA unlawfully spent millions of dollars on medicine, medical care, and prosthetic contracts. And even more troubling, these contracts, if administered lawfully and transparently, would have allowed veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses the opportunity to compete. That is why I stand in support of my colleague's bill, H.R. 4326, the Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act of 2016. It contains language to equip small businesses with the tools to root out deception and fraud. By having access to data in their toolbox, the small business offices would have not only reduced fraud activities, but it could also have potentially saved money by allowing competition in the process. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense language to help reduce fraud, waste, and abuse.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in advance of tax day to address the U.S. Tax Code and its impact on our economy. There is no escaping the fact that our Tax Code is written in a manner that is burdensome to individuals. It is complex and unruly. However, I want to speak briefly about the dire effects that it has on small businesses. Over 28 million small businesses in this country are the true economic drivers. As the tax changes continue to plague small businesses, we have a major problem. Instead of concentrating on servicing their customers, growing their company, or creating jobs, they are overwhelmed with tax provision changes. This is a never-ending story. When that small business in Nevada diverts efforts and resources to deal with tax compliance issues, they are not focusing on why they are in business. They need a Tax Code that is simpler, fairer, and flatter. As the debate surrounding tax reform continues, let's make sure that our Tax Code doesn't impact job creation.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of five of the most outstanding leaders in the United States Air Force. These five men--Major General Jay Silveria, Brigadier General Christopher Short, Colonel Richard Boutwell, Colonel Thomas Dempsey, and Colonel Aaron Steffens--have all served with honor and distinction at the Nellis Air Force Base back in my district in southern Nevada. As a freshmen Member of Congress, I couldn't have asked for a better cadre of officers to lead the many young servicemembers who call my district home. It has been a privilege to develop strong working relationships with each of these commanders and to seek their informed counsel on some of the most pressing issues affecting the readiness and the capabilities of our Air Force, as well as our national security priorities. While I am sad to see them go, I know that they will bring the same integrity and leadership to their new commands. To Tonto, Junior, Chase, Vader, and Fangs, the Nation is grateful for your service, and I wish you the best. Aim high.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of five of the most outstanding leaders in our United States Air Force. These five men, Major General Jay Silveria, Brigadier General Christopher Short, Colonel Richard Boutwell, Colonel Thomas Dempsey, and Colonel Aaron Steffens, have all served with honor and distinction at Nellis Air Force Base back in my district in southern Nevada. For those who do not know, Nellis Air Force Base is the most important asset in our Air Force. So important, in fact, that there is the oft repeated slogan that, ``As goes Nellis, so goes the United States Air Force.'' And this isn't just some clever saying. Nellis is home to the Air Force's most advanced and realistic schools and training exercises. It is truly the epicenter of the three T's: testing, tactics, and training. With the vast array of resources and missions carried out at the base, our Airmen are able to take the fight to our enemies with the full force and power of the world's greatest Air Force. As a freshman Member of Congress, I could not have asked for a better cadre of officers to lead the many young servicemembers who call my district home. Their principled leadership and dogged determination to achieve excellence in every facet of their mission is truly an inspiration to everyone in our community. It has been a privilege to develop strong working relationships with each of these commanders, and to seek their informed counsel on some of the most pressing issues affecting the readiness and capabilities of our Air Force as well as our national security priorities. While I am sad to see them go, I know that they will bring the same integrity and leadership to their new commands. To Tonto, Junior, Chase, Vader, and Fangs, the nation is grateful for your service, and I wish you all the best. Aim High.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, every day is a good day to honor the achievements of strong women in our lives, but March is a special time of year to highlight the stories of trailblazing women who serve as leaders in our communities and around the Nation. This Women's History Month, I would like to recognize Colonel and soon-to-be Brigadier General Jeannie Leavitt, a woman who knows a thing or two about breaking through glass ceilings. In fact, as the Air Force's first female fighter pilot, the sky has always been her limit. Colonel Leavitt will soon take command of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base back in my district, becoming the first woman to ever do so. This will make her the highest ranking female officer ever at Nellis and will place her in charge of our military's most important air combat testing and training assets. While Colonel Leavitt's distinguished career in the United States Air Force has been filled with many firsts for women, it is important to remember that her achievements are a result of her being the best officer and commander for the job, man or woman.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Chairman, I urge support of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of a critically important amendment being offered by my friend and colleague from Nevada, Congressman Joe Heck. This amendment would ensure the inclusion of the text of H.R. 373, the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act of 2015, in the underlying bill. The Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act, of which I was an original cosponsor, is a commonsense, bipartisan solution to tearing down the bureaucratic roadblocks that are preventing grieving families from achieving closure when their loved ones go missing on Federal lands. This issue was first brought to light by the separate, but tragically similar, cases in Las Vegas of the taxi driver Keith Goldberg and Air Force Staff Sergeant Antonio Tucker. Mr. Goldberg and Staff Sergeant Tucker were missing and presumed dead, with their remains believed to have been missing somewhere within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. In both cases, the local, experienced search and recovery groups volunteered their time and resources to help locate the remains of the missing individuals. Unfortunately, due to the unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles from the Federal Government, the group volunteering to help locate and recover Mr. Goldberg's remains was denied access to the Park Service land to conduct its search for 15 months and the group volunteering to help locate the remains of Staff Sergeant Tucker were denied access for 10 months, needlessly delaying the closure their families sought. This is absolutely unacceptable, and it must change. This amendment will do that. Once these bureaucratic hurdles were finally cleared and the Good Samaritan search and recovery groups were allowed access to the park, Mr. Goldberg's remains were recovered in less than 2 hours and the remains of Staff Sergeant Tucker were recovered in less than 2 days. Dr. Heck, a former member of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's search and rescue team, originally introduced this legislation because he could no longer stomach the cases where unnecessary red tape continued to get in the way of providing closure for families faced with tragically similar circumstances. During the 113th Congress, a similar bill passed the House with a unanimous vote of 394-0, further proving its bipartisan support. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to take action on the measure. Last April the House again passed this important legislation 413-0. Mr. Chairman, those are two votes on this Good Samaritan bill totaling 807 in favor and none opposed. Given our current political climate, it just doesn't get more bipartisan than that. We cannot afford to let the Senate's inaction get in the way of achieving this critical fix that will provide closure for so many Americans. We must pass this amendment so that future families won't have to suffer the mental anguish and heartache that the families of Keith Goldberg and Antonio Tucker did. In closing, I again thank my colleague from Nevada for offering the amendment that will truly help the people we serve. I also thank the chairman and ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee for all their diligent work in the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heck), I offer amendment No. 13.

Mr. HARDY

Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor Lori Henricksen, an instructor at the Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy, for her dedication and tremendous contributions toward educating Nevada's students about career opportunities in emergency telecommunications. As a former 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Dispatcher and Law Enforcement and Fire Dispatcher, Lori understands what it takes to help individuals in times of crisis and how to succeed in this field. I am grateful to have educators like Lori who can bring a wealth of knowledge and real world experience to teach our students. Lori is truly making a positive impact in our students by encouraging tomorrow's future leaders to take on these lifesaving roles for the betterment of our communities. I join all Nevadans in saying thank you for your mentorship to our students and for your passion for building up the next generation of emergency dispatchers, our behind-the-scenes heroes. Mr. Speaker, I commend Lori on her outstanding service to educating Nevada's students and for the years she has devoted to responding to the emergencies of our families. I am confident that Lori's hard work will continue to benefit our communities for many years to come.