Bill Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong), the vice chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I will close by starting with something that Mr. Carter from Georgia just reminded us all of: A Democratic-controlled Senate passed S.J. Res. 11--a Democratic-controlled Senate. Democrats in the Senate said that this rule is unnecessary and too onerous. They passed the CRA, and they have asked us to do the same. I heard several things today that I want to put an exclamation point on. I heard from my colleague and my friend, the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, that the EPA's job is to protect the air and water, the environment. I actually agree with that, but let's look at the environmental facts that surround this particular rule--a 98 percent reduction in NOX emissions since the late eighties and early nineties. Look at the cost that this is going to place on the American economy: $39 billion to $55 billion. Many trucking companies are not going to be able to comply with this, so they are not going to buy the new trucks. Instead, they are going to continue to use the old trucks. It is going to defeat the very purpose that this rule was set out to do in the first place. They are just going to keep driving those trucks until they drive the tires off of them. I heard one of my Democratic colleagues say earlier that if we overturn this rule by passing S.J. Res. 11, we are going to create an unlivable future for our children and our grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you what an unlivable future looks like in rural America, where inflation is already at a 40-plus-year high. Americans--parents and grandparents--are having to raise their own grandchildren because of things like the drug epidemic and having to work two jobs to make ends meet. They are having to choose between putting fuel in the car and buying groceries or paying the electric bill or having health insurance. That is an unlivable future. When we do something like this rule that continues to cause inflation to go up and up, it puts more strain on American families who are living paycheck to paycheck. I also heard the term ``environmental justice.'' What about environmental injustice? Mr. Speaker, come to Appalachia. Ride up and down the roads and see the farmhouses where people live paycheck to paycheck and where they struggle like I just described. The EPA puts forward rules that have no consideration for the economic impacts on the people whom it is going to hurt the worst. Those are the people who get up every day and put their work clothes on. Ninety-six percent of the trucking industry are small operators. Ninety-six percent are small fleet companies. They are the ones who are the least able to go out and buy this new technology, and they are the ones who are going to more quickly go under and go out of business because of this onerous rule. Mr. Speaker, this CRA is the right thing to do. Democrats in the Senate said so, and Republicans in the Senate said so. I urge today in the U.S. House that we also say so. Tell the EPA this is a bridge too far. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S.J. Res. 11. Let's overturn this rule. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding to me. Service is something that is in my blood, and I can tell you that, as I rise today in support of the men and women who wear the blue as we recognize National Police Week, I don't think we can say enough about their sacrifices. All across America, police officers have an increasingly difficult and thankless job today. They see, literally, the worst of humanity, day in and day out, putting their lives on the line while serving to protect all of us for very modest pay. They head toward the danger. They run into it rather than away from it. They are constantly put in unpredictable, chaotic, and threatening positions in order to keep our communities safe. Very few professions demand the willingness to sacrifice one's own life in order to protect the safety and security of others, but that is exactly what our men and women in blue willingly sign up to do. Just last year, 224 police officers were killed in the line of duty. Never, as I was growing up in this great country, did I think I would see a number like that. They have been shot, stabbed, and run over by the lawless. Their murders don't receive nearly the media coverage that they should. The whole Nation should be outraged by what we see. To the men and women who wear the blue, on behalf of those I represent, I thank them. I thank them for choosing to serve and to protect. Importantly, I thank their families who sacrifice so much and can never be sure if that pre-shift hug and kiss might very well be their last. God bless each and every man and woman in blue for what they do. I thank them so much on behalf of a grateful Nation.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Latta, for recognizing me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 1353, the ALERT Parity Act. This bipartisan legislation would require the Federal Communications Commission to issue rules within 18 months of enactment to establish an application process for any entities seeking to provide wireless emergency alerts for 911 services in unserved areas across America. It also requires the FCC to establish service rules whereby providers of emergency connectivity service may access spectrum held by a licensee, so long as it does not cause interference and they have express written consent from the licensee. Additionally, the bill requires the FCC to provide an annual report to Congress detailing instances where emergency connectivity service was provided by this process, and also each instance when an entity authorized to use spectrum declined to provide the consent needed by providers of emergency connectivity service to use their spectrum. This enables Congress to provide oversight of these services and ensure that this legislation is implemented as intended. First and foremost, enabling 911 calls and texts and emergency alerts in remote and unserved areas is not only common sense, it is a lifesaving measure. Every American deserves access to emergency assistance, regardless of where they live, period. This bill is very narrow in scope. The rules required by the bill would only enable emergency connectivity service providers to connect to individuals' phones where there is no cellular service, either due to an outage or because there is not a mobile carrier providing service in that area. To many of us, it is frustrating if we lose cell service temporarily. It is unfathomable for many to understand that in 2023 there remains remote areas in America that still lack reliable cellular service. Now that there is technology that will enable distressed Ohioans in rural Appalachia, and all such rural areas across the United States who lack mobile cell service to reach emergency assistance, I believe we have a responsibility to make it happen and to ensure American innovation can serve our communities that are otherwise left out. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Kim Schrier for co-leading this legislation and her work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I also urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1353 to ensure everyone has access to critical lifesaving emergency services regardless of where they live or travel. Mr. Speaker, I also thank Mr. Pallone, the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee for his support as well.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I proudly yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. With H.R. 1, we are working to lower energy costs for consumers across America by unleashing American energy and strengthening American supply chains. H.R. 1 addresses regulatory red tape and permitting barriers to the domestic development of energy without compromising environmental protections. The Lower Energy Costs Act also encourages domestic processing and refining of critical energy resources to ensure that components for all energy sources can be made right here in America. As chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials, I am proud that H.R. 1 includes seven bills that passed through our subcommittee and full committee through regular order. The bills encourage the domestic refining of critical energy resources, allow for flexible approaches to permitting, support national security, promote innovation that is currently stalled in EPA red tape, repealed two sections of the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, and protect American refining capacity from agency overreach. I thank Representatives Carter of Georgia, Joyce of Pennsylvania, Pence, Curtis, Pfluger, Palmer, and Crenshaw for their work on this important legislation. In addition, H.R. 1 includes my bill, the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Energy Potential Act, under section 10007. The section would amend the Natural Gas Act to repeal all restrictions on the import and export of natural gas. Removing such restrictions would help facilitate timely exports of LNG and help our allies. A stronger LNG export industry also means increased domestic production of natural gas and lower domestic prices. I have heard my Democratic colleagues across the aisle criticize H.R. 1 because they say it does nothing for clean energy. This could not be further from the truth. H.R. 1 includes several provisions that incorporate focused flexibilities into certain environmental statutes in order to create an improved regulatory landscape for refining and processing critical minerals. Mr. Chairman, what are the industries that need critical minerals the most? Those are the wind, solar, and battery technology industries--all clean energy technologies. We do almost no critical mineral refining and processing in the United States. That must change, or we risk becoming dangerously dependent on China for our energy and transportation systems. The International Energy Agency estimates that the demand for critical minerals will double by 2040. We want to meet that demand with American resources and reduce reliance on China. I will close by thanking Chair Rodgers for her leadership on the Lower Energy Costs Act. Energy security is national security, and through H.R. 1, we can unleash American energy dominance and lower energy costs for American families, thereby lowering inflation. Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support the Lower Energy Costs Act.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller), my friend and colleague.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration data, the average price for gasoline in 2022 was $1.80 per gallon more than when President Biden assumed office. H.R. 1 is not just about energy independence. That is the underlying foundation, but what it is really about is the quality of life for the American people here at home and the cost of energy that is feeding the skyrocketing inflation. The average price of gas in 2020 was $2.26 per gallon. The average price of gas in 2022 was $4.06 per gallon, reaching a peak of over $5 per gallon in June of 2022. According to the Department of Energy's Low-Income Energy Affordability Data, the LEAD Tool, low-income households spend 8.6 percent of their income on energy expenses. Depending on location and income, certain households spend as much as 30 percent of their income on energy expenses. The energy burden for low-income households is three times higher than non-low-income households. In rural parts of the country, like where I represent in Appalachia, you are very familiar with that area, it is a real problem when families have to choose between putting gas in their car or groceries on the table. It is a real challenge when they have to choose between paying their heating bill or buying clothes for their kids to go to school. This is what H.R. 1 begins to address for the American people. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Fry), my friend and colleague.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from South Carolina.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining on each side?

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mills).

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong).

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my friend and colleague.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Flood).

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, we have said it over and over and over again, and there is no denying it. Energy security is national security. That is what H.R. 1 is all about. Unleashing American energy, production, permitting, put American energy back into play to address the needs and concerns of the American people, to lower inflation, and to ensure America's national security on the international stage. That is what H.R. 1 is all about. I look forward to closing here in a few minutes with some striking comments about telling the truth. I heard the ranking member from our Energy and Commerce Committee a little bit ago say, tell the American people the truth, and I respect him greatly. I am going to tell the American people the truth in just a little bit. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Donalds).

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Throughout this debate, my Democratic colleagues have repeated misinformation and engaged in fearmongering as a tactic to convince American families to submit to their green agenda and just accept more expensive and less reliable energy as the new normal to undermine our economy, make the cost of living even higher, and, perhaps even more troubling, severely undermine our national security. Apparently, my Democratic colleagues are okay with making China great again at the expense of the American people and the rest of the world. I heard the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, my colleague--again, who I have great respect for--say a few minutes ago: Tell the American people the truth. Well, let's tell the American people some truth. According to a report by the LendingClub, at the end of 2022--that is 2 years into the Biden administration--9.3 million more United States consumers were living paycheck to paycheck compared to the prior year. Of that group, 75 percent identified inflation as a reason for their financial situation to be worsening. By the end of 2022, China's oil refining capacity exceeded the United States' oil refining capacity. According to the International Energy Agency's oil market report, U.S. refining capacity is at 17.6 million barrels per day. According to the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association, China's capacity is at 18.4 million barrels per day. We are far more dependent on China today for the very rare earth minerals and critical minerals that are needed to pursue the renewable green energy plan that the Democrats are trying to push. You can't get there in the timeframe that they are trying to get there, Mr. Chair, without becoming more dependent on China. There are those who say that Republicans are climate deniers. That is simply not true. We simply believe that Republicans have better ideas to unleash America's energy and to restore America's energy independence. At the same time that those are good energy policies, they are also good climate policies. Let me give you an example. Everybody says that the goal of addressing the climate problem is to reduce carbon emissions. Mr. Chair, if that is truly the goal, why do we not want to export more American natural gas around the world? According to the American Exploration and Production Council, if we would simply export four times the amount of natural gas that we are exporting today--which we could do easily because we have got a wealth of it--we could lower carbon emissions more than if we were to electrify every vehicle in America, put a solar panel and a battery backup on the home and the rooftop of every residential home in America, and build 57,000 industrial-strength windmills, all combined. American natural gas is the cleanest form of natural gas on the planet. Our friends and allies in Europe sure wish they had some of that today because they have become dependent on Vladimir Putin for their sources of energy. Look at the Germans, who decided to throttle their nuclear suite and become dependent on Russia for their energy. What did they end up doing? Forest clearing, burning wood to cook their food and heat their homes. We do not want to go the way of Europe. They have already tried all of this. I implore my Democratic colleagues: We are not arguing about the goal. We agree with cleaner forms of energy. What we are arguing about, it appears to me, is the timeframe in which to accomplish that and the amount of money and the change in the quality of life that it is going to require for the American people. I am sure many of you went to college and you studied the business triangle: time, cost, and quality. You can't affect one of those without affecting the other two. With this rush to green, if we want to do this so fast before renewable forms of energy are mature enough technologically to be able to provide the baseload energy for our grid, to put fuel in our automobiles, if we want to do it that fast, it is going to cost a hell of a lot of money, and it is going to change for the worse the quality of life for the American people. H.R. 1 is a commonsense energy package. If you lower energy costs, you are going to lower inflation. If you lower inflation, you are going to allow the American people to keep more of their hard-earned money. When American people keep their hard-earned money, they come up with good ideas, and our economy begins to thrive. Mr. Chair, H.R. 1 is not about politics. It is about the American people. They are sick and tired of people inside the beltway taking and taking and taking while they are always having to do the giving. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 1. It is the right thing to do for the American people. Let's unleash American energy. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.