Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. Can you imagine a 30-year-old oil and gas production rule and not being able to update it? This amendment allows a 30-year-old rule to comply with today's technology to make sure that we are doing what is best practices in the industry and we can work with the industry to do proper oversight. As was pointed out, if this provision stays in place, States, tribes, and Federal taxpayers would lose royalty revenues. We should be doing everything we can with our public lands to make sure the taxpayer receives full value whenever there is a lease. I support this amendment, and I urge for its adoption. Just once again, imagine not being able to update 30-year-old rules and not being able to update current royalty rates. We need to do better by the American taxpayer; we need to strike this provision; we need to do the updates; we need to update 30-year-old regulations; and we need to make sure that the American taxpayer gets a fair return on its royalties.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, maybe the gentleman is aware, or maybe perhaps you are not aware, that there is an existing prohibition on lobbying that applies to all Federal employees that has been in place since 1919. I can cite it for you. So, in my opinion, this is unnecessary and redundant. I would also remind my colleagues that Federal employees are not prohibited from providing information to Congress on legislation, policies, or programs. But there must be an open dialogue between legislative and executive branches to ensure laws are being implemented appropriately and that programs achieve their intended goals. We cannot, or we should not, operate in an information vacuum. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, the fuel standards for the trailers that they are studying were jointly proposed by the EPA and the Department of Transportation. Does the gentleman have a rider in anything from the Department of Transportation to prohibit their funding?

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Kilmer), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Ms. Castor's amendment. This amendment seeks additional funding for the refuge law enforcement, which we saw here the national wildlife refuge highlight the need for adequate law enforcement to protect our national wildlife refuge. This amendment will also ensure that refuge law enforcement, along with others in the Interior bill who provide law enforcement, will make sure that our visitors and our public employees and our natural resources all remain safe, and especially that these men and women can come home to their loved ones at the end of their shift. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I look forward to working with the gentleman and with Chairman Calvert on this issue.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, if I could ask Chairman Bishop to a question, I just want to be clear. Is the chairman planning on moving the Carcieri language that has been in his committee for quite a while?

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to demand action to prevent gun violence. Nearly every year 30,000 Americans die from gun violence. The American Medical Association has defined the situation as a public health crisis. There are two immediate commonsense solutions: preventing known suspects who are terrorists from buying guns and strengthening our background system to keep guns away from criminals. Everywhere I went in Minnesota last week, I heard from families who strongly support these commonsense ideas. An overwhelming majority of Americans support the ideas as well. The American people deserve to know where their Representative stands, yet Republicans refuse to allow a vote on these solutions. Republican leadership instead is shamefully peddling a gun lobby- endorsed bill that even Republicans back home say doesn't do enough to prevent terrorists from having guns. Our families cannot afford for us to wait any longer. We need to take action. The House must act to prevent gun violence and keep our families and communities safe.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the news from St. Paul, Minnesota, my hometown. Garrison Keillor, one of our great storytellers in Minnesota and the nation, will be hosting ``A Prairie Home Companion'' for the final time this Saturday. As one of the most iconic shows on public radio, ``Prairie Home'' was created by Mr. Keillor more than 40 years ago. Its characters and tales sprung from his imagination, and from his wry observation of the comedies and tragedies of everyday life in the Midwest. This will be his last official appearance on stage hosting musical guests, sharing the stories of Guy Noir and the Lives of the Cowboys, and bringing us ``the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average''. Mr. Keillor created a space where families could gather around and ``hear that old piano from down the Avenue'', not to mention some of America's most talented folk and gospel musicians. His serial skits are as much beloved for their witty wordplay as the campy characters. The gentle satire in his weekly monologues allowed us to laugh at ourselves and see America's flaws and wisdom echoed back to us in the stories of that small town on the edge of the prairie. To many in St. Paul, however, Mr. Keillor isn't just the soothing voice that poured out from our radios every Saturday night. He's a treasured member of our community and my neighbor.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th anniversary of General Mills, a company that helped build the state of Minnesota and feed our nation. With humble roots beginning in 1866 on the banks of the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, General Mills has grown into one of the largest food companies in the world, employing thousands of Minnesotans, and other workers throughout the world. The General Mills story goes hand-in-hand with our state history and the growth of our nation. After serving as a general in President Lincoln's Army, Cadwallader Washburn moved to Minnesota where he saw the potential of the largest waterfall on the Mississippi River to power a major flour mill. It was here that the company now known internationally as General Mills was born when Washburn built the ``B Mill''--the largest mill west of Buffalo, New York, towering 6 stories above the frontier and bountiful wheat fields. Tragedy rocked the city when an explosion destroyed Washburn's ``A Mill'', killing the entire 14 man night crew. During the rebuilding process, Washburn pioneered new safety measures that he shared with competitors, so that they may avoid such a tragedy themselves. On the opposite side of the river, and using the last of his money that remained from a previous failed business venture, Charles Pillsbury established his own mill. Pillsbury and General Mills would become strong competitors, that years later merged into a single great company. During the depths of the Great Depression, another visionary leader at General Mills ushered in a new era of prosperity for the company. Under the leadership of James Ford Bell, General Mills created blockbuster products like Cheerios, Kix cereal, and Bisquick, which achieved his goal of delivering innovations that were embraced by American consumers. It was also during this time that Americans met a remarkable woman and began sending thousands of letters seeking her advice on wholesome cooking. Because of her meteoric rise and enduring popularity, it's still a surprise to many she isn't a real person, but another invention from the creative minds at General Mills: Betty Crocker. WWII brought a new era to General Mills and focused the pioneering spirit of the company toward the cause of freedom. Engineers who once worked on packaging and manufacturing were now producing the most cutting edge war time technologies, including the ``jitterbug'' torpedo. This sophisticated advance in naval warfare contributed greatly to the Allied victory at sea. These innovations also had the unintended effect of creating a cottage-industry of well-respected Minnesota precision engineering and technology firms. Today, General Mills continues to make major contributions to the greater good. Through the General Mills Foundation, important work on sustainability, food security, and protecting our natural resources is demonstrating the best of corporate leadership and responsibility to the communities it serves. In 2014 alone, all charitable giving from General Mills totaled $150 million; nearly $30 million in grants came directly from the General Mills Foundation. From its modest beginnings to its global reach today, General Mills has shaped the way that Americans and people the world over interact with food. These innovations have become some of the most iconic brands in the world. From innovating new products, to developing wartime technologies, and the historic merger with Pillsbury, General Mills has always been a source of pride for the State of Minnesota and the nation. Here is to another groundbreaking 150 years.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 4425 and honor the late Senator Eugene McCarthy, from Minnesota. H.R. 4425 will rename the postal facility located at 110 East Powerhouse Road in Collegeville, Minnesota, as the ``Eugene J. McCarthy Post Office.'' Before becoming a two-term Senator for the great state of Minnesota, Senator McCarthy was one of my predecessors, representing the people of the 4th District of Minnesota. In both the House and the Senate, Senator McCarthy took pride in representing Minnesota and was widely recognized for his collegiality and passion for good governance. Perhaps President Lyndon B. Johnson said it best when he referred to Senator McCarthy as ``one of those uncommon men who puts his courage in the service of his country, and whose eloquence and energy are at the side of what is right and good.'' As a graduate of both Saint John's Preparatory School and Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, I am sure Senator McCarthy would be happy to know that the Collegeville Post Office will now forever bear his name.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (H.R. 4909) Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act provides a framework for our armed forces in the fiscal year ahead. Crafting and considering this legislation is a serious matter, one that has earned strong bipartisan support in the past. This year, House Republicans have instead decided to intentionally violate last year's Bipartisan Budget Act and abdicate this Congress' solemn responsibility to sufficiently fund our troops. H.R. 4909 takes $18 billion from Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), the account that pays for our country's fight against ISIS and other important military efforts, in order to fund base budget items that the President and the Department of Defense have not requested. This funding shift breaks the spirit of the Bipartisan Budget Act reached last October and degrades our military's readiness. Furthermore, H.R. 4909 stops authorization for OCO funding next April, long before the fiscal year ends, and places our servicemen and -women squarely in the middle of a partisan budget fight just months into the next president's term. This is reckless and irresponsible, and Congress owes it to our troops to authorize a full year of funding. H.R. 4909 also includes several disturbing Republican ideological stances that I find highly objectionable. This legislation fails to uphold President Obama's protections for LGBT Americans who work for federal contractors and grantees and allows for discrimination against them. This outrageous partisan rider has absolutely no place in a bill that authorizes the funds necessary for our servicemen and -women to do the jobs they have bravely volunteered to do. Additionally, H.R. 4909 once again includes provisions that prevent President Obama from responsibly closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, ensuring that the detention center will remain an extremist propaganda tool and a threat to our national security. Now that President Obama has put forward a plan to close the detention center responsibly, Congress should move immediately to enact it. The closure of this facility is long overdue. House Republicans owe it to our servicemen and -women to put forward legislation free from partisan ideological riders and adequately funds them for a full fiscal year. Unfortunately, H.R. 4909 falls far short of this. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (H.R. 4909).

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I look forward to working with the gentleman. I am sure we can come up with an accomodation that will make everyone satisfied.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. McCOLLUM. Reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chair, there is some disagreement as to how this language should be structured. I don't think we should be pushing through something that the Navajo Nation now finds controversial but that wasn't controversial when working with the Department of Defense and making sure that they had the right-of-way and access to the land. It is a sovereign nation. There are only 10 minutes of debate. There seems to be a little bit of uncertainty as to where the Navajo Nation is coming down on the particular language that the gentleman has. I do not fault the gentleman for bringing the language forward, as Chairman Bishop has changed from what the original conversation had been between the sovereign nation and the Department of Defense by putting the perpetuity in it. I believe we should respect the right of sovereignty of the tribe, and I believe at this time we should defeat the amendment. I would like to work with the gentleman to come up with language that is acceptable both for the Department of Defense and the two tribal nations. They were so very close. I would like to make that happen.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment in its current form and at this particular time. This amendment, as it has been pointed out, directly impacts two federally recognized tribal nations: the Navajo Nation and the Zuni Pueblo Nation in New Mexico. They have been working with the Department of Defense to resolve the disposition of this excess Federal land. The Navajo is one of the tribes that would receive the land in transfer, and it is opposed to some of the language that is still occurring in this amendment. The Pearce amendment, unfortunately, claims a provision that would require a right-of-way in perpetuity to the Navajo, and the Navajo agrees, it is my understanding, to work toward some of the land transfer. I ask the gentleman: Are they aware that the Navajo doesn't agree in having this land transfer go in perpetuity and that it would like to work something else out? I yield to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the men and women who support and defend our communities by putting their lives on the line each and every day. Police Week is a time set aside to honor not only our fallen heroes, but all men and women in law enforcement work tirelessly to protect our neighborhoods. While it is often in emergencies that we remark at their courage and perseverance, we know that they remain vigilant every day. I send my deepest condolences to the friends and family members of these brave women and men who so proudly wore the police uniform. One hundred twenty-eight officers lost their life last year, including one from Minnesota. Investigator Steven Martin Sandberg was shot and killed on Sunday, October 18, 2015. His selfless dedication to protect and serve the community of Aitkin County will be forever remembered. This week, we honor Officer Steven Sandberg and the other law enforcement officers who lost their lives last year. With profound gratitude we thank them for all they do to keep our cities safe. Congress must continue to ensure that our law enforcement professionals have the resources they need to protect our communities.