Frank Lucas

Mr. LUCAS

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

Mr. LUCAS

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4824) to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to carry out terrestrial carbon sequestration research and development activities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4824, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4824, the Carbon Sequestration Collaboration Act. Mr. Speaker, this commonsense legislation increases the coordination among Federal research entities that are focused on the topic of carbon sequestration. Specifically, this bill improves the capacity to sequester carbon through land use activities by authorizing a coordinated research effort across the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Agriculture. To date, most Federal research has been focused on large-scale carbon sequestration in geologic formations. That entails finding a specific spot deep in the Earth to trap carbon generated by large sources, like multiple power plants that supply an entire region. This leaves a significant knowledge gap related to carbon storage potential at small-scale and everyday sites, like soils, rangelands, biochar, mine tailings, and forests. The USDA has already started to explore programs for farmers, ranchers, and landowners to generate carbon credits by adopting practices to reduce emissions or sequester carbon on their land. Yet, I will be the first to admit that USDA is by no means an expert on quantifying amounts of carbon sequestered or tracking how it behaves over time. Therefore, we need to ensure that we have scientific support to develop tools that are needed to quantify, track, and verify carbon sequestration changes over time, especially in the short term. By combining DOE expertise in fundamental research and carbon storage, DOI capacities in geologic mapping, and USDA knowledge in plant and crop interactions, we can rapidly develop the research to mature technologies and ensure scientific transparency. Mr. Speaker, I introduced a similar bill in the last Congress to address these activities. I am very pleased with my colleague from Indiana (Mr. Baird), who has worked so hard on championing this issue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird) to speak on his bill.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4824 is a practical bill that lets Federal agencies collaborate on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I would note that before my father's family lived in Oklahoma, we lived in Indiana. I would also note to my colleague on the other side of the aisle that before they lived in Indiana, they lived in Pennsylvania. Nonetheless, this is an important piece of legislation, and we need to pass this. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to adopt it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LUCAS

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4877) to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out a research, development, and demonstration program with respect to abandoned wells, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4877.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4877, the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act. This bill was introduced by two of my Science Committee colleagues, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Lee) and the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice). The bill directs the Department of Energy to support research, development, and demonstration activities that accelerate the remediation of abandoned or orphaned oil and gas wells across the country. Currently, there are an estimated 700,000 to maybe 3 million abandoned wells in the United States. These wells cost between $30,000 to potentially as much as $1 million per well to plug, meaning a remarkable amount of money will be needed just to cover past developments. Wells in remote locations, like Tribal land in Oklahoma, are more difficult and costly to locate and plug, thus increasing the likelihood they will remain unmitigated. Improving the technologies and methods associated with plugging and remediation processes for abandoned wells would lower the overall cost, improve efficiency, reduce the environmental harm, and potentially result in new and improved purposes. Mr. Speaker, that is why I support H.R. 4877. This bill will capitalize on the Department of Energy's existing research and infrastructure within the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to improve the processes and lower the costs associated with abandoned wells. The research, development, and demonstration activities conducted by DOE have the potential to validate innovative processes, such as the use of low-carbon cement for plugging or repurposing abandoned wells for geothermal power production and carbon capture utilization and storage. Additionally, this bill directs DOE to improve technology to pinpoint and map the location of abandoned wells. Before we can plug or repurpose a well, we need to know exactly where they are located. Efforts for States to plug abandoned wells are already underway and funded by Federal investment. This bill ensures that those efforts efficiently use taxpayer dollars and remain effective in the long term. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Lee and Representative Bice for leading this bill. I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we all share concern about the tens of thousands of known abandoned oil and gas wells across the country that have the potential to leak methane, pose health and safety risks, and pollute local ground water. This is a major step in addressing that. I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4877. I thank Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Bice for their effort, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LUCAS

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6093) to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6093, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6093, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023, simply known as the Weather Act Reauthorization Act. In 2017, I was proud to lead the first comprehensive weather authorization in 25 years that resulted in the original Weather Act being signed into law. The bill we are considering today, the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, builds on previous accomplishments and makes further advancements in weather forecasting and prediction of high- impact weather events. It will undoubtedly save the lives of citizens across our country. In the simplest of terms: the Weather Act Reauthorization Act gives Americans better forecasts. What that means and how it is accomplished through this bill is so much more than what meets the eye. This bill improves the hurricane forecast accuracy and the tornado warning lead time that started under the Weather Act through the continuation of successful research programs. It also supports cutting- edge forecasting by establishing new research and development programs related to the next generation of radar, atmospheric rivers, coastal flooding, storm surges, aviation weather, and more. The Weather Act Reauthorization Act increases NOAA's access to critical forecasting data by expanding its authority to contract with the private sector to acquire commercial weather data and codifying the Commercial Data Program to lead this work. Again, building on what we started in 2017, NOAA will have more flexibility to purchase high- quality data from trusted and verified industry partners instead of building out expensive observation systems and satellite networks. The Weather Act Reauthorization Act also ensures all this research and progress doesn't result in overly complex products the public can't understand. This bill strengthens the emergency preparedness of every community by improving the communication of weather and water events to the public. This ensures all Americans understand watches, warnings, emergency information, and exactly how to respond. This bill also provides farmers and ranchers with better tools and services for agriculture and water management, including improvements in subseasonal and seasonal research and forecasting. As perhaps the most weather-dependent sector in our country, the agriculture industry needs accurate forecasts for efficient crop planting and timely harvest cycles because at the end of the day, this is what feeds and clothes our country. Finally, the Weather Act Reauthorization Act authorizes the continuation of key public tools, including the National Integrated Drought Information System, the National Mesonet Program, and the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network. NOAA is, after all, a taxpayer-funded agency; therefore, it should continue to invest in tools that benefit the taxpayers. It is clear this bill is not a one-trick pony and will accomplish many things, so it should come as no surprise to hear the widespread support we have received. Mr. Speaker, 63 Republican and Democrat Members have cosponsored bills that appear in this package. It has letters of support from 50 stakeholders, representing groups as diverse as recreational fishers to two-way radio suppliers. It is a bipartisan bill with 29 cosponsors on both sides of the aisle. The Weather Act Reauthorization Act ensures NOAA is modern and reliable, which will secure the United States' global leadership in weather forecasting, modeling, and prediction. More importantly, the Weather Act Reauthorization Act ensures NOAA's services equip Americans with timely warnings and support, providing additional lifesaving resources to communities across the country. Mr. Speaker, I thank my partner in this effort, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, who has been essential in continuing the bipartisan successes of the Science Committee in this Congress. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice) to speak on the bill.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Mike Garcia) to speak on the bill.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird) to speak on the bill.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. McCormick) to speak on the bill.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean) to speak on the bill.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Feenstra) to speak on the bill.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte) to speak on the bill.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Again, I express my sincere thanks to Ranking Member Lofgren for her willingness to work together on this critical issue. I also thank the 29 bipartisan cosponsors, along with the 63 Members who contributed language found in this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.