Derek Kilmer

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I am proud to offer this amendment to make two key improvements to title VI of this bill, which designates 19 Wild and Scenic Rivers on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. First, this amendment will further protect the interests of Washington State's Department of Natural Resources to manage State- owned lands adjacent to new Wild and Scenic River designations. Building on the savings clause already included in the base text, which explicitly protects DNR's management authority, this amendment would further require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with DNR to manage the four new Wild and Scenic Rivers that abut DNR lands. This important change will ensure that DNR not only retains the authority to manage State-owned lands, but also has a clear voice in how the Forest Service manages their surrounding Federal lands that fall within the adjacent Wild and Scenic River corridor. This small but important change has led our State Commissioner of Public Lands, Hilary Franz, to give her strong support to this bill. Second, this amendment directs the Secretary of Agriculture to complete the 19 comprehensive river management plans through the long- overdue process of updating the forest management plan for the Olympic National Forest, sets a maximum 5-year timeline for updating the forest plan, and allows the Secretary to request additional funds to complete the forest plan update if needed. This provision will ensure that this critical forest plan update, which was last revised nearly three decades ago, does not take a backseat to the development of these comprehensive river management plans. It also ensures that the Secretary will have sufficient resources to complete the update in a timely manner. This amendment was developed through direct consultation with local stakeholders and will ultimately strengthen title VI of this bill. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, first of all, I thank the gentleman for his support for this amendment. Again, it makes two changes that I think strengthen the legislation: to ensure that there is not an impact on State DNR harvest; and, hopefully, to see the Forest Service move forward with an update to the forest management plan, which is a long time coming, a long-overdue process to move forward. That is why we are putting forward this amendment; it is why it strengthens the legislation. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of adopting my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise today in support of the PUGET SOS Act, and I want to thank my good friend and colleague from the State of Washington, Representative Heck, for his tireless leadership on this important legislation, and his partnership in working to recover this iconic body of water. Those of us who are lucky enough to call Washington State home know that the Puget Sound is a truly special body of water. Generations of our friends and neighbors have built their lives and made livelihoods on Puget Sound. Tribes, since time immemorial, have called the Sound their home. We know that Puget Sound is critical to the environment and to our economic future in our region as well. Our economy is stronger because of the Sound. Our maritime industry is stronger, our fisheries, tourism because--listen--people want to come there. They want to boat or kayak on it. They want to go fishing or crabbing on it. They want to dig for clams and hike along the Sound's beaches. In fact, those experiences are vital to people from near and far, including my own family. It is one of our natural treasures. Some of our region's most culturally important species, including salmon and orca and Dungeness crab, rely on a healthy Sound. And despite years and years of effort to protect and restore Puget Sound, we still have a lot of work to do to address the significant challenges, including stormwater runoff and habitat loss and harmful algal blooms that continue to threaten the crown jewel of our region's identity and economy. That is why I am proud to see the House advance this critical bill, which will bring to bear the coordinated Federal resources necessary to save Puget Sound. If we are going to recover our salmon and orca populations, if we are going to ensure future generations can dig for clams, if we are going to respect and uphold Tribal treaty rights, we need the Federal Government to step up and support the work already being done by the State and Tribes and local communities and businesses that all depend on a healthy Sound. We need all oars in the water rowing in the same direction. I am proud that, by passing this bill, we will make meaningful progress toward those goals. Mr. Speaker, I am not just here speaking on this bill as a Representative, I am here today as a dad. If future generations, including my two little girls, are going to have the opportunities to enjoy these treasures and to build their livelihoods in our region, we have got to act now and protect and restore the Sound. So, again, I thank my colleague and friend, Denny Heck, for his leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Angela Salo for her unparalleled commitment to her fifth-grade students at DeLong Elementary School in Tacoma, Washington. In October, Angie's work for our community was recognized nationally, when she received the National Science Foundation's Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This award recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Angie's passion for science is reflected in the unique opportunities afforded to her students, including Skype calls with Brazilian fifth-graders to discuss climate change and coding lessons featuring LEGO robotics. For Angie, the award is just the latest in an impressive 22-year career that has seen her make an enduring impact on countless young students in the Tacoma Public Schools system. Indeed, there is no greater testament to Angie's dedication to teaching than her students. Each day, they arrive smiling and curious, ready to take in the knowledge that will soon allow them to help solve the problems of today and tomorrow. Madam Speaker, we are extraordinarily lucky to have Angie in our district. Her devotion in the classroom is a service not only to her students, but to us all. I am honored to stand before Congress today and recognize her important work.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Chair, I thank my friend from Hawaii for yielding time. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 729, the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act, a package of 10 bipartisan bills that will make significant strides to address the critical challenges our coastal communities face as a direct result of climate change and sea level rise. Madam Chair, this is Taholah, the lower village of the Quinault Indian Nation. This photo doesn't show someone canoeing on a river or on a lake. It shows someone canoeing through the streets of their village after seawater flooded the area during a storm. Far too often and far too many times, we have seen more severe storms and rising sea levels threaten communities like this. In my region, we have seen it in La Push, where the Quileute Tribal School is in the crosshairs of a rising ocean. We have seen coastal challenges threaten public safety, public access, and cultural landmarks for these Tribes and others, including the Hoh and Makah Tribes. These communities are seeing the impact of climate change right now. Breached seawalls, persistent flooding, mold damage, tsunami threats, and coastal erosion put homes at risk. They put schools serving Tribal youth at risk and community centers serving elders at risk, not to mention important cultural sites that date back generations. Unfortunately, these threats from changing landscapes and weather events can't be adequately addressed by Tribal governments alone because they don't have the resources. While the Federal Government has resources to help coastal communities, there is no ability under current law to make direct applications for this funding. Madam Chair, I grew up on the Olympic Peninsula. I have seen, firsthand, challenges faced by coastal communities; and, today, in the face of these threats, with this bill, we say that we are not going to tell these communities that they are on their own, because today's proposal includes my bill, the Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act, which aims to uphold Tribal sovereignty by modernizing NOAA's Coastal Zone Management grant program to allow Tribal governments to directly compete for these grants instead of requiring them to petition States to prioritize these projects.

Mr. KILMER. This is about helping communities that face more severe storms and increased flooding in my region and around the country. This is about the Federal Government upholding its trust responsibility. This is about making a difference for coastal communities. Madam Chair, let's pass this bill and help our communities.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Haaland, not just for giving me some time to speak, but for being such a terrific leader and being such an important voice, both for her district, and for people all over this country. She, along with Sharice Davids, are two superstars of the freshman class who have been just terrific in adding their voices to this body. I also want to recognize Gwen Moore who has just been a tremendous champion on behalf of Native Americans and has been a real leader on issues like the Violence Against Women Act and has made a tremendous amount of progress for Native Americans throughout this country. As was mentioned, November marks Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the first Americans. I am proud to represent 11 Tribes that have called my region home since time immemorial. Each of these sovereign nations has their own unique culture and tradition and stories that add important threads to the fabric of our Nation. I think about some of the most extraordinary moments that I have had as a Representative: Visiting with the Quinault Indian Nation along with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and having conversations about some of the civil rights challenges, not just facing the Quinault Nation, but Native peoples throughout this country. Visiting the Makah Tribe during Makah Days, and going on a hike with the then-chairman of the Tribe, going out to the northwestern tip of the continental United States. My daughter was with us and she asked the Tribal chair: ``Is this the end of the world?'' And he said, ``We consider it the beginning of the world.'' Visiting the Quileute Tribe and participating in their festival out in La Push, which is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Visiting with the Hoh Tribe and celebrating a water project that that Tribe had led the way on and touring with their Tribe and seeing some amazing assets and also seeing some of the real challenges that they have. Just recently visiting the Chehalis Tribe, seeing some of their enterprises and seeing the value of the work that they do, how much it contributes to the local economy there, and how much it means to their ability to provide services to their Tribal members. Visiting the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and visiting their ancestral lands and seeing the dam removal project that occurred there that is giving new birth to the environment there in that region. Visiting with multiple generations of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, visiting their leaders and hearing about the important role that fishing and shellfish growing has meant for their Tribe for generations and generations. Visiting the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe just this past year and hearing about some extraordinarily innovative work that they are doing to try to reduce recidivism in our criminal justice system and give people a second chance. Sitting down just this past year for lunch with the leaders of the Skokomish Tribe in a beautiful Tribal center and hearing about some of the challenges that their Tribe faces and some of the opportunities that they have. Visiting with the Squaxin Island Tribe, visiting their child development center and seeing the investments that they are making in kids and in future generations. Developing a friendship with the Suquamish Tribe with their chairman, Leonard Forsman, who has come into this Chamber for the State of the Union, who has beaten me in basketball, and hearing him speak passionately about treaty obligations. I could talk about others, the Tulalip Tribe that recently hosted an important conversation about protecting Puget Sound and honoring Billy Frank Jr. Madam Speaker, the Snoqualmie Tribe, from your district, visited with me just today. That is a Tribe that is very important in our region, and in their ancestral homelands is where I almost proposed to my wife before I chickened out. These communities have shown us the importance of caring for iconic natural resources like salmon and shellfish that are found throughout the Pacific Northwest and have fought to protect our land and waters, not just for themselves, but for future generations. They have shown all of us the importance of honoring and respecting the role of our elders, and never forgetting the time-honored traditions that are passed down. They have defended our freedom by putting on the uniform of the United States military. They play a key role in driving our local economies. This month, Native American Heritage Month, reminds us that we have an opportunity to build a foundation of cooperation as partners to secure a brighter future for Tribes, not just in the Pacific Northwest, but all around this country. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has failed to uphold the promises made to these communities far too often. So, today, as we mark Native American Heritage Month, I want to affirm my commitment, and I think all of my colleagues want to affirm their commitments, to ensuring that the Federal Government honors its treaty and trust obligations. I am grateful that earlier today the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing on the recent U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report called: ``Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans.'' A couple of years back I called on the Commission on Civil Rights to produce this report, to give Congress a roadmap for how to meet its treaty and trust obligations for Indian Country. I am proud to see Congress taking concrete steps to address the recommendations outlined in this report. The decisions we make today should be with an eye toward how they will affect our children seven generations into the future. So I want to invite those at home and my colleagues to join us in celebrating the history and culture of our Tribes and all Tribes around this country. Let's recommit to working with our Tribal partners to make a brighter future for all.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, more than seven years ago, Austin Tice, an American journalist and Marine Corps veteran, disappeared in Syria. Since the day he vanished, his parents, family, friends, and supporters, have worked tirelessly to ensure that no stone is left unturned and no avenue ignored to see Austin return home safely. In the seventh year of Austin's captivity, l ask that whomever holds Austin release him immediately so that he can return to his loved ones. I also ask the assistance of the Government of Syria do whatever it can to help facilitate Austin's release. There are things that transcend politics and diplomacy, bridge cultural divides, and need no translation across different languages. Those are things like love and hope--represented by a mother and father who wake up each day with deep love and concern for their son and the belief that today could be the day when they get the chance to hug him again. I ask for the help of whomever holds Austin and can assist with his release--without the assignment of blame or malice to anyone--so that this year is the last that Austin remains so far from home and his family.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, on November 11, 2019, our nation will observe Veterans Day, a federally recognized holiday wherein we honor our military veterans and all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Today, I rise to honor Paul Stanley Webster, who served with distinction as a Machinist's Mate Second Class in the United States Navy. Paul Webster was born on February 13, 1925 in Port Angeles, Washington. He became an enlisted servicemember of the United States Navy and entered into active service on August 16, 1943. According to service records, Paul was a member of the United States Naval Construction Battalions, otherwise known as the ``Seabees". This group of naval personnel was a revered battalion of construction tradesmen that were capable of any type of construction, anywhere needed, under any conditions or circumstances presented. Paul served with the Ninth Naval Construction Battalion and would go on to earn the Asiatic Pacific Arena Campaign Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. His tours of duty included Iceland, Pearl Harbor, Tinian, and Okinawa. During his service, Paul was involved in a number of vitally important naval construction projects, including the development of bomber airstrips, fuel and salvage depots, highways, and aircraft repair shops. Madam Speaker, I am so proud to honor and share Paul Stanley Webster's legacy of service to our great nation. As Congress spends time observing Veterans Day this year, let us remember the many sacrifices that so many servicemembers have made to preserve our values and freedoms. We cannot take them for granted and we must fight vigilantly to protect them.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, I thank Congresswoman Lofgren for yielding and for her leadership on this critical election security package. Mr. Chairman, foreign interests shouldn't be able to influence American elections, period. That is not a Democratic notion. It is not a Republican notion. That is an American notion. We know that there is an election just a year away, and we know that just this week one of the world's most prominent social media companies acknowledged that Russia, Iran, China, and other adversaries are actively working to interfere in our next elections. This is a no-brainer. It is time to take real action to fix loopholes and protect our elections from foreign interference. That is why the SHIELD Act is so important. There is a ton in this bill, and I am proud that many of the components of the SHIELD Act are based on bills the New Democratic Coalition endorsed, among them the Honest Ads Act. Right now if a candidate or a group runs political ads on television that is publicly available information. The public and the press are able to access that information on who is buying the ad, how much they are paying. Same thing on radio. But that is not true on social media. If an entity buys ads on social media, there are no disclosure requirements under the law, even though we know foreign adversaries are seeking to buy online ads. The Honest Ads Act would change that, and that is why it is a bipartisan bill; 18 Democratic sponsors, 18 Republican sponsors, the chair of Senate Judiciary, the vice chair of the Intelligence Committee.

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, they see this as a way to strengthen our democracy and our national security. To enable law enforcement and the press and others to better detect and investigate foreign involvement in our elections. The House has a choice to make, a choice to keep loopholes open and continue to see threats against our democracy or a choice to take action and pass the SHIELD Act. I am proud to be a sponsor of this bill. I thank Chair Lofgren and her team for their hard work on this, and I am confident the House will make the right choice and pass this bill.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, almost 7 years ago, Austin Tice, an American journalist, disappeared in Syria. Since the day he vanished, his parents, family, friends, and supporters have tirelessly worked to ensure that no stone is left unturned and no avenue ignored in a global campaign to see Austin returned home safely. As we approach the end of the seventh year of Austin's captivity, we request that whomever continues to hold Austin release him immediately so that he can return to his family and his friends. We also ask for the assistance of the Government of Syria. I ask that they do whatever they can to help facilitate Austin's release. There are things that transcend politics and diplomacy, bridge cultural divides, and need no translation across different languages. Those are things like love and hope, represented by a mother and a father who wake up each day with the unshakable faith in their son and the belief that today could be the day when they get the chance to hug him again. We ask for your help, without the assignment of blame or malice to anyone, so that this year is the last that Austin remains so far from home and from family. Restore Our Parks

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Restore Our Parks Act, and I thank Mr. Bishop for his leadership and partnership on this bill. I was lucky enough to grow up near one of the crown jewels of our national park system, the Olympic National Park, right in my backyard in the Pacific Northwest. I have seen firsthand how our public lands have captivated both visitors and residents alike and served as key economic drivers for our local communities. I think there is little doubt that our national parks are some of America's greatest natural and cultural treasures. I am proud that my home State boasts not only Olympic National Park, but also Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park, true gems of the national park system. Unfortunately, these crown jewels are getting a bit rusty, and they require our attention to return them to glory. If you have visited one of our parks lately, you will no doubt have noticed that they are facing a good problem. In 2017, Washington State had a record 8.45 million park visitors, including families, campers, and adventurers, who came to explore our iconic landscapes. While they were there, these visitors spent more than $500 million, supported more than 6,600 jobs, and created nearly $700 million in economic impact. While this is undeniably great news for Washington's growing outdoor economy, the rise in visitation has also strained our park resources, like roads, interpretive centers, campsites, and trails, that visitors rely on to access and truly experience our parks. If we as a country don't start investing in our parks, I believe we risk loving them to death. The National Park Service manages more than 400 sites across the country and is facing a nearly $12 billion backlog in necessary repairs. In Washington State alone, our national parks suffer from nearly $400 million in deferred repairs needed to restore historical structures, fix eroding trails, fix roads, and update unsafe electrical and drinking water systems. This significant maintenance backlog threatens the health, accessibility, and safety of our parks, their visitors, and the communities that depend on them. That is why we need to take this opportunity to build on recent successes of investing in our public lands and turn our attention to passing the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act. Passing this legislation sponsored by my good friend from Utah (Mr. Bishop) will establish a long-term investment in our parks that will create jobs and boost economies throughout Washington State and across this country. An analysis commissioned by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that investing in the maintenance of our national parks could create or support more than 3,800 new jobs in Washington State alone and 100,000 jobs across the country. Now, these days, Congress can hardly agree on what day it is or what color the sky is; but, with 300 Members of the House of Representatives cosponsoring this bill and 40 Members of the Senate, it is crystal clear that this is an area that we might actually see some progress. My hope is that we can get folks behind this and get this done.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the life of Dr. Eloise Whittlesey Kailin--a champion of public health, good governance, and environmental issues who recently passed away on June 1, 2019 at the age of 100. Dr. Kailin was born in New London, Connecticut, but moved frequently during her father's career in the U.S. Coast Guard. From the age of eleven, she expressed her desire to become a physician, and that dream was realized when she became one of the few women accepted into the George Washington University Medical School class of 1943. She married Harvey Kailin, Sr. in 1942, the year before her graduation, and began her distinguished medical career in Washington, D.C. She became board certified in allergy and immunology, served for over thirty years as a writer and editor of medical abstracts for the Journal of Allergy, and testified on Capitol Hill for the Clean Air Act. After the family moved to Maryland, Dr. Kailin developed a friendship with Rachel Carson, author of the seminal 1962 work about the impact of pesticides on the food chain, Silent Spring. This friendship likely strengthened Dr. Kailin's commitment to addressing environmental issues both for the health of her patients and for people throughout our country. Dr. Kailin and her husband retired to Sequim in 1971 based on her recollection of ``Sunny Sequim'' from high school years in Seattle in the 1930s. Living on the North Olympic Peninsula, she saw the critical need to protect its pristine beauty and spent nearly fifty years in service to that cause. Shortly after their arrival in Sequim, the Kailins became involved in the fight against a proposed nuclear power plant on the Miller Peninsula east of Sequim, which led to the founding of Protect the Peninsula's Future (PPF)--a nonprofit dedicated to the protection of the North Olympic Peninsula. The opposition prevailed, and the site once considered for that power plant is now a part of Miller Peninsula State Park. Dr. Kailin remained a board member of the organization she helped found until her passing. Through PPF, Dr. Kailin was instrumental in addressing countless environmental concerns. Many believe one of their most significant achievements was the fifteen-year court battle with the city of Sequim over sewage treatment. In 1998, that fight resulted in the construction of a state-of-the-art water reclamation facility which was expanded in 2010, nearly doubling its capacity. This centenarian was the recipient of many awards including the Clallam County Community Service Award, People for Puget Sound's Warren Magnuson Puget Marine Protection Award, Washington Environmental Council's Environmental Heroes Award, and the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award. Before her passing, she was also recognized by the City of Sequim. I am humbled to speak in recognition of Dr. Eloise Kailin--who is often referred to as the ``matriarch of environmental activism'' on the North Olympic Peninsula. I join her children, Harvey, David, and Janet, and the citizens of our region's beautiful peninsula in mourning her passing, but also in recognizing that her good work will contribute to the health and well-being of the citizens in this gem of the Northwest for generations to come.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Carbajal, my good friend, for his leadership on this amendment. I am proud to cosponsor this amendment which would prohibit future oil and gas sales off the West Coast, including my beautiful home State of Washington. The fact is the people of Washington State don't support drilling off our coast. Our commercial and recreational fishermen who generate billions in economic impact for our State don't want to see our fisheries compromised by another disaster like the 1988 spill which released more than 230,000 gallons of oil and affected over 110 miles of our coastline. The 17 Native American Tribes who have fished throughout the Puget Sound watershed since time immemorial don't want to see our coastline exposed to these harmful and polluting activities. Our shellfish growers, who support roughly 3,200 jobs in our State, don't want to see their jobs threatened. They saw how the Deepwater Horizon spill devastated Louisiana's coastal economy. Coastal towns including Ocean Shores, Westport, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Montesano, Long Beach, and Ilwaco have passed resolutions saying they don't want it. Even former Department of the Interior Secretary Zinke in his testimony before the Appropriations Committee last year admitted that the oil and gas industry doesn't want to drill off the coast of Washington because there aren't the resources or infrastructure to do it. He also said, ``I think I'm going to mark down Washington as opposed to drilling.'' Mr. Chair, I believe this body ought to mark Washington State down as off-limits to drilling, and this amendment does that. This matters to our economy. It matters to our region's identity. The survival of the last 76 southern resident orca left in the world depends on keeping the Puget Sound protected from the harmful impacts of oil and gas development. There is a lot at stake here. That is why I urge my colleagues to support the will of the residents of the State of Washington and pass this amendment.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for yielding, and I thank her for her leadership on these issues and so many others in her committee's domain. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1921, the bipartisan Ocean Acidification Innovation Act. Ocean acidification is a rising threat to coastal communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and threatens entire livelihoods and industries in my home State of Washington. There are generation of folks along the sound and in our coastal communities who have worked in fishing and in shellfish growing, but that is endangered if we don't maintain a healthy Pacific Ocean. Growing evidence suggests that acidic ocean conditions harm the ability of many marine organisms to generate shells. These marine organisms, which include oysters, mussels, and pteropods are a key part of the food chain for salmon, herring, and other fish. Scientists back home at the University of Washington recently discovered that ocean acidification also threatens the more than $220 million Dungeness crab fishery, raising serious concerns about future implications for species and ecosystems in the region. In Washington State alone, the commercial fishing and seafood processing industry, which includes shellfish aquaculture, contribute nearly 16,000 jobs and $9.4 billion in revenue to our economy. According to a report by Washington Sea Grant, Washington State is the Nation's leading producer of farmed clams, oysters, and mussels, and not only are these products delicious, they support jobs. So really, the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act is really about jobs. This bill would allow Federal agencies to use existing funds to conduct prize competitions to increase the ability to research, monitor, and manage ocean acidification and its impacts. I agree with the chair that this can't and shouldn't replace direct investment in research. But this bill creates a strong incentive for experts to focus on developing innovative solutions to this serious challenge. This legislation was created in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the XPRIZE Foundation, an innovative nonprofit organization that creates competitions designed to encourage increased investment in solutions to major societal problems. So, for example, the Ansari XPRIZE awarded for personal spaceflight technology helped launch a brand-new $2 billion private space industry. Research also suggests that prize competitions often increase exponentially the amount of research focused on solving a problem. For example, the Ansari XPRIZE yielded over $100 million in private research as 26 teams competed for a $10 million prize. So Federal agencies have increasingly viewed these prize competitions as a means of maximizing the return on taxpayer dollars, leveraging prizes to attract more resources to tackle different scientific challenges. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Ocean Acidification and Innovation Act will encourage collaboration and spur innovative strategies to mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification. It will help communities, environments, and industries that rely on healthy oceans and are facing the hard realities of increasing ocean acidification. I want to thank my colleague from the Pacific Northwest, Representative Jamie Herrera Beutler, as well as Suzanne Bonamici and Don Young for cosponsoring this important legislation. I also want to thank the chair and the ranking member for their continued leadership and their support of this. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of Joel Jean Courreges, Sr., a decorated veteran and Kitsap County community member, who passed away on May 10, 2019. Joel was born in France on March 15, 1950. He attended Roosevelt High School in Seattle and immediately enlisted in the Marines after graduation. Through his decorated career of military service, Joel attained the rank of Sergeant and served two tours as a mortarman in Phu Bai and Danang, where he was wounded. Returning home from Vietnam, he married Kandace K. Hove and had two children, Joel Jr. and Danielle. In 1973, he met his current wife, Carol, and they were married, expanding his family to include Deanna and Tami. After his time in the military, Joel continued to seek ways to serve his community and contribute to its growth and vitality. He spent thirty-six years as a truck operator before retiring in 2006. Not long after his retirement, Joel became a service officer for the Bremerton chapter of Disabled American Veterans, eventually taking on the role of Commander. Through his work with Disabled American Veterans, Joel served his community diligently by outreaching, connecting, and supporting veterans across Kitsap County. His work earned praise and numerous accolades during his tenure, including a Golden Tennis Shoe award from Senator Patty Murray. In addition to his work with Disabled American Veterans, Joel also served on the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board, helping shape the County's efforts in supporting its many veterans who call our region home. Madam Speaker, Joel set an example for all of us who strive to serve and better our communities. Even in the face of increasing health hardship, Joel maintained a steadfast commitment to working on behalf of veterans and we are better off because of his great work. I am honored to recognize Joel Jean Courreges, Sr.'s great life and legacy of service and send my very best to his family, friends, and the staff of the Bremerton chapter of Disabled American Veterans.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to celebrate the career of my constituent, Mr. Lawrence Greaves. Following nearly two decades of service as a Silverdale Port Commissioner, Mr. Greaves recently retired from the commission, leaving behind an impactful legacy in our region and in his hometown of Silverdale, Washington. Mr. Greaves' family roots were first planted in Silverdale when his great-grandfather, Charles Greaves, purchased land in what is recognized today as downtown Silverdale. Mr. Greaves was born and raised in Silverdale, where his parents, Lawrence and Ellen Greaves, owned a farm and local business. After graduating from Central Kitsap High School, he attended the University of Washington where he earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Mr. Greaves then began working for the Shell Oil Company, which moved his career to Anacortes, Washington, and then to Wood River and Chicago, Illinois. Eventually, Mr. Greaves found his way back to Silverdale, where he tested torpedoes at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Keyport. Following his retirement, Mr. Greaves began his service as a Commissioner at the Port of Silverdale, where he spent the next 20 years overseeing port facilities, as well as making marked improvements upon the expansion, improvement, and programming of the Port of Silverdale. His dedication to the community and to the Port of Silverdale will long be recognized, and I am especially grateful for his continued service to our region. Congratulations, Mr. Greaves.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for organizing today's Special Order to celebrate the life of Ellen Tauscher. I didn't serve with Ellen. I had the opportunity to meet her and enjoyed that, and I now have the distinct honor of serving in a role that she held, not just previously but exceptionally, as chair of the New Democrat Coalition. As my friend from Wisconsin said, the New Dems is made up of forward- thinking, pro-growth, pro-innovative, and fiscally responsible Democrats. This Congress, we have 101 members, making us now the largest ideological caucus in the House. It is the largest the coalition has ever been. It is safe to say, and it is certainly not hyperbole to say, that this coalition would not be what it is if it wasn't for Ellen Tauscher. The coalition came into existence with the election of Ellen Tauscher and several other current and former colleagues back in 1996. Shortly after she took office, Peter Beinart wrote a profile piece about Ellen and the New Democrats in Time magazine. In it, Beinart describes the early days of a growing New Democrat Coalition that represented predominantly suburban districts across the country. He declared the Democratic center was moving toward what he called Tauscherism, a phrase that stuck around to describe the socially progressive, fiscally moderate, pro-business focus that were many of the policies New Democrats advocated not just then but now as well. Ellen quickly gained respect, both in the coalition and within the broader Caucus. She was elected to the serve as the New Dem chair in 2005 and served in that position until 2009 when she left Congress to serve as Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs at the State Department. As chair, Ellen made a consequential impact on the direction of the New Democrat Coalition. Under her chairwomanship, the coalition fought for a forward-looking innovation agenda, strong national defense, and more effective government. Ellen also rose in leadership positions on the Armed Services Committee, chairing the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. She worked closely with our leadership when Democrats took the majority in 2007, to help shepherd landmark legislation through the Congress. Those who knew her well, and you have heard from many of them tonight, remember her tenacity, her creativity, and her patriotism. Since her passing, we have heard from former colleagues and friends about the extraordinary impact that Ellen made on their lives and on them. They say the measure of a person's life is the impact they have on others. From this measurement alone, it is very clear that Ellen lived a life of purpose. We are so thankful for the time that she spent here, for the time she spent blazing a trail for the New Democrat Coalition. We are absolutely keeping Ellen's daughter, Katherine, and the entire Tauscher family in our thoughts and prayers this month as we celebrate her extraordinary life and her extraordinary legacy. Again, I thank our colleague from California for organizing this Special Order in honor of Ellen's life.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, there is no denying it, climate change is real, and Congress has a moral obligation to act. The communities that I represent in Washington State are already experiencing the impacts. Coastal Tribes are in the process of trying to move to higher ground. Changing ocean chemistry is impacting our marine life and the industries that depend on it. The Department of Defense has called it a threat multiplier that makes our world less safe. And, today, Congress will take an important, tangible step toward addressing climate change by passing the Climate Action Now Act, a bill that reaffirms America's commitment to the Paris climate agreement and directs the administration to develop a comprehensive plan to meet the significant emission reductions that we as a Nation, and nearly every Nation in the world, committed to back in 2015. We know that making progress is not only about protecting our environment, but also about protecting our economic interests and our national security. The American people are not just demanding action, but leadership, to counter the impacts of climate change. This legislation is an important first step toward meeting our long- term carbon emission goals, and I am proud to cosponsor it and vote in favor of it.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 30th anniversary of Safe Streets. Since its founding in 1989, Safe Streets has made a lasting and transformative impact across the many diverse neighborhoods and communities throughout Tacoma and Pierce County. Operating as a community-led grassroots effort, Safe Streets has thrived through a dedication to building a broad coalition of friends and neighbors that seek to create vibrant and flourishing neighborhoods across Pierce County. They are made up of interfaith leaders, business owners, school teachers, law enforcement, and devoted volunteers from the community. Safe Streets has organized and trained a network of 125 Neighborhood Groups in neighborhoods, involving over 13,500 community leaders and 190,000 residents who work daily to ensure that their neighborhoods and schools are safe. Safe Streets' Community Mobilizers help these Neighborhood Groups define and address their own needs by utilizing organized block watches, youth leadership teams, graffiti removal teams, safe routes to school, and widespread substance abuse and violence prevention education initiatives. Safe Streets is doing significant work in adapting and evolving as an organization to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of its communities. Through the development of their Non-English Speaking (NES) program, Safe Streets now provides services to residents who have limited or no English-speaking experience. As a result, Safe Streets has been able to regularly connect and meet with community members from the Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Chinese, Philippine, and Cambodian communities, among others, of Pierce County. Safe Streets is also revered for their work in engaging, mobilizing, and mentoring young people across Pierce County. Many high schools in our communities have established Youth Leading Change (YLC) clubs that are made up of core students, guided by a teacher and coach, and supported by Safe Streets staff. Participants in YLC learn leadership skills and present on prevention issues to their fellow students throughout the year. Alumni of this program have won numerous awards on the state and local level, including a trip to Washington, DC in 2014 and multiple City of Destiny Awards for Youth Leadership in the City of Tacoma. Madam Speaker, I can say with certainty that our neighborhoods and communities across Tacoma and Pierce County are safer because of the work of Safe Streets. It speaks to their tenacity that even after 30 amazing years, the many volunteers and staff that make up this organization are committed to evolving and growing to ensure that every neighborhood in Pierce County is a thriving and safe place for all its residents. I wish them the best in this effort and pledge my commitment to supporting them however I can.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of a member of my district staff, Kate Irwin, who passed away this morning following a long and courageous battle with cancer. While she was taken far too soon, I feel so lucky that she was part of my team and part of our lives. Kate was the ultimate public servant. If she was meeting with the Navy about issues of national security, she had a smile on her face. If she was serving food to folks who were down on their luck at the Salvation Army, she had a smile on her face. If she was visiting a local high school and getting to try out a flight simulator, Kate had a really big smile on her face. She looked at every day that she got to serve the people of Washington's Sixth Congressional District as a blessing because she knew that every day on this Earth was one as well. When I interviewed Kate for a job on my team, she memorably said: ``I will work harder and will care more than anyone you'll ever meet.'' And every day that she came into work, every time she staffed an event, every time she followed up with a constituent in need, she showed that extraordinary commitment, even in the face of impossible circumstances. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my condolences to Kate's amazing family, and I want to thank them for sharing such an extraordinary young woman with us. You are in our prayers.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions and Making Healthcare More Affordable Act. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, which is more important than ever following the administration's court filing last week that pushes for the complete and total repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Now, I wasn't in Congress when that law was passed. I don't think it is a perfect law, but there are components of it that are undeniably positive: It is a good thing that people with preexisting conditions can't be discriminated against by insurance companies; It is a good thing that young people can stay on their parents' insurance until their 26th birthday; It is a good thing that preventive care, like mammograms and cancer screenings, and even annual physicals, can be covered without copay; It is a good thing that millions of people in our country that now have insurance for the first time are able to get the care they need. Now, unfortunately, all of those positive steps are put in jeopardy as a consequence of the administration's court filing. Now, rather than unwinding the progress that has been made, we are proposing to build on the success of the existing law. For example, we propose an expansion of the tax credits available under the law, reducing cost for low-income families and enabling more middle-class families to be eligible for assistance to make healthcare affordable. This is the beginning of the effort on healthcare, not the end. Folks in D.C. shouldn't be sabotaging the American healthcare system; they should be making it work for the people of America.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, I want to start by saying thank you to Congressman Sarbanes for his important work on leading this legislation. I am proud that we are bringing forward H.R. 1 to restore faith in the legislative branch, because right now Congress is less popular than head lice and colonoscopies. That is because every time my constituents see a bill that is written behind closed doors, or see a government shutdown, or see floor debate that looks like the Jerry Springer Show, they need to see a restoration of faith in government. This bill will protect voting rights, strengthen ethics rules, and reduce the role of big money politics. It will refresh our democracy; and that is why the new Democrat coalition has endorsed this bill. Listen, we don't talk enough about it. This bill includes bipartisan provisions in support of good government. It includes a bipartisan bill that I am leading, the Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act, which would reform the Federal Election Commission, and enable it to weed out campaign finance abuse, and hold those who skirt the rules accountable. It includes the Honest Ads Act, my bipartisan bill.

Mr. KILMER. It includes the Honest Ads Act, my bipartisan bill that would shine a light on the murky world of online political advertising by requiring digital ads to meet the same disclosure requirements as print or broadcast ads. Americans deserve to know who is paying for political ads that they see online. They deserve to know that the Nation's election watchdog is back on the beat. They deserve to have their voices heard in Congress again. That is why this bill is important. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this bill.