Joe Manchin

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I would like permission to basically be able to complete my remarks.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, it is an honor to rise today to recognize the legacy of MG James A. Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard, a man whom I have worked with for decades and a man whom I am fortunate to call my friend. General Hoyer assumed the duties as The Adjutant General, West Virginia Joint Forces Headquarters-West Virginia in 2011, providing command guidance and vision to the West Virginia Army and Air National Guard of more than 6,500 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen. Upon obtaining his undergraduate degree from the University of Charleston, he was commissioned in 1983 through a joint Reserve Officer Training Corps program with West Virginia State University. General Hoyer's military career began in the West Virginia National Guard as a Cavalry Officer. He attended the Special Forces Officer Qualification course and spent more than 14 years with the 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group. General Hoyer led the development of the West Virginia National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the Joint Interagency Training and Education Center and its Center for National Response--a national level operational and training capability for critical infrastructure protection and consequence response. General Hoyer's most recent assignment was Director, Joint Staff, of the West Virginia Joint Force Headquarters. General Hoyer continued his education throughout his career, including West Virginia Graduate College in 1987, United States Army War College in 2004, and obtained his Federal/Department of Defense Identify Management Certificate from the Naval Post Graduate School in 2009. Among his many awards, decorations and achievements, General Hoyer has earned the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, West Virginia Commendation Medal, West Virginia Emergency Service Ribbon, West Virginia State Service Ribbon, West Virginia Service Ribbon, West Virginia Counterdrug Ribbon, West Virginia Distinguished Unit Award, Special Forces Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Thailand Parachute Badge. I have seen firsthand how the Guard protects the citizens of West Virginia when we are in our most desperate hour of need and how the Guard protects our country when called upon to serve at the command and control of the President of the United States. As Governor, my most honored title was that of Commander-in-Chief of the Guard. I worked closely with Jim Hoyer and the Guard and did everything I could to increase capabilities for personnel, equipment, and facilities. As U.S. Senator, I have the honor of serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee, as well as the Appropriations Committee, the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and as ranking member on the Senate Energy Committee. I continue to work hand-in-hand with Jim Hoyer to promote good policy for the Guard, the Department of Defense, and all of our Nation's heroes. Throughout my time as Governor and as Senator, I have relied on the National Guard not only to do their mission but to provide solid advice so that I could form the best policies. I have truly counted on Jim Hoyer's sound guidance and military expertise every step of the way. Whether it was forming the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, writing amendments on the Defense bill, preventing war in Syria, providing death gratuity benefits for families of the fallen during a government shutdown, or bringing more military assets like the C-130J to West Virginia, Jim Hoyer has been with me every step of the way. The West Virginia National Guard fulfills its mission of ``Delivering Freedom with Courage'' every single day. I am so very proud of the Guard for serving our State and our Nation so courageously in times of need, and I am grateful for their unwavering service and selfless efforts to protect our homeland. This success is due in large part to the Guard's outstanding leadership, and I am grateful to General Hoyer for serving as a part of this legacy of excellence. When visitors come to West Virginia, I jump at the chance to tell them we have fought in more wars, shed more blood, and lost more lives for the cause of freedom than most any State. We have always done the heavy lifting and never complained. We have mined the coal and forged the steel that built the guns, ships, and factories that have protected and continue to protect our country to this day. I am so deeply proud of what West Virginians have accomplished and what they will continue to accomplish to protect the freedoms we hold dear. While General Hoyer is retiring and everyone is sure to miss his strong leadership, his dedication and commitment to excellence will leave a lasting legacy with the countless lives he has touched. Again, I congratulate General Hoyer for his remarkable years of service and his outstanding dedication to protecting our great Nation. I am honored to wish good health and much happiness to him, his wife Amy, his sons Jacob and Drew, and his wonderful extended family in the days and years ahead.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I also rise to acknowledge my dear, dear friend Doug, but I do it in a different vein. So many good things have been said, and I think anyone who knows Doug or who has paid attention to what has been said today had found it has been very accurate as far as his having a commitment to the rule of law and his compassion for any person, especially for those who haven't had the same opportunities as all of us have had in life. That is what has moved us all. Yet I have gotten to see him in a different light. He and Louise invited me down. I got to campaign with them, and it was all about Alabama. I got to go down and spend a couple of days. That tells you of the true person. It not only tells you what he believes and what he feels for the people of his State and how he represents them, but it truly tells us what the people of his State think of him. I saw it firsthand. I saw it at a football game. Now, Nick Saban and I grew up together in a small, little coal mining community. I want you to know that Coach Saban and Terry, his wife, send their best. They want to thank you for your service. To see the fans gather around Doug and to see the happiness that he and Louise had when we were just out, going through the tailgates, was a wonderful, wonderful sight. That tells me everything about his purpose for being here. I hope those in Alabama know how truly fortunate they are to have this gentleman, who loves Alabama with every fiber and bone in his body. He has given them everything he has and has represented their State better than any State I have ever seen represented with the true passion that he has. I love you, buddy. Thank you

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of one of West Virginia's finest. Patrolwoman Cassie Johnson of the Charleston Police Department represented the very best of who we are as a statewide community. She was taken from us far too soon, on December 3, 2020, at the age of 28. Cassie was the daughter of an ironworker. She shared her mother's steely resolve and iron constitution. Being a police officer in the city she loved and grew up in was a dream come true for Cassie. She was sworn in by Mayor Amy Goodwin in January 2019 and had previously worked as a city humane officer. Cassie was born and raised in our State's capital. She could have gone anywhere, and she chose to stay and protect and serve the community that made her who she was. She was truly a beautiful person in every way. Growing up, Cassie was an athlete and particularly loved softball. She would one day find that the Little League field she played on as a child was on her beat. So she watched over it with great care so the current generation of children could play in safety. One of the first things she did when she was assigned to the field was to clean up the drug paraphernalia to make the field a safe place for kids. Because of her efforts, children and their families have been able to enjoy the field as a clean, safe, fun place to play. Cassie was an animal lover and dedicated her life to rescuing pets who had been cast aside, even taking an animal behavior class in Tennessee so she could better understand the language of dogs. Cassie's beloved dog Emma was a chocolate lab who passed away a few months ago. Cassie grieved deeply for Emma because she had a special connection with her. Years ago, when Cassie was in high school, Emma had nine chocolate lab pups in Cassie's bedroom. Her mom tells the story of taking the runt of the litter with her to pick up Cassie at school. When they got home, there were chocolate lab pups running everywhere. This was just one of the many adventures Cassie had with Emma. No doubt, they are reunited again. Cassie was a music lover, most likely because her mother sang her to sleep as a child. She was surrounded by instruments and music throughout her life. She loved to make the world beautiful, and that is also why she enjoyed decorating for the holidays. The weekend before she passed, she decorated her mother's house for Christmas, alongside her dear sister Chelsea. One of the last actions she took the day of her passing was to wipe the snow from those holiday decorations because she always looked out for her mother any way that she could. Most importantly, Cassie was a genuinely good person, and she lived her whole life with West Virginia values. She worked hard and bought her own home at the age of 25. She was beloved in the community and in her profession, as evidenced in the tremendous outpouring of grief. The support and fellowship that followed her tragic passing has been unbelievable. Her mother describes her as respectful and well-mannered throughout her whole life. Cassie will be deeply be missed, not only because of who she was but because we are all so keenly aware of and sorrowful for what might have been. No one can take away what Cassie represented to the Charleston community and the entire Mountain State. Every one of our female leaders in West Virginia is an epitome of strength and advancement in their fields and serve as inspiring role models for the next generation. That is due in great part to the women who broke ground in generations past. Because of their accomplishments, young women like Cassie have and will blaze their own trails and continue to make our State and entire Nation proud. I have such tremendous respect for our police officers and all of our first responders. Cassie's compassion, courage, and selflessness will live on through the memories of those who knew and loved her, as well as through the countless lives she touched and inspired every day. She leaves us having made a profound impact in the community that she loved, as well as in the lives of those around her. I had the tremendous and humbling honor of visiting with Cassie's family at her bedside in her final hours. It is clear to me that Cassie came from strong roots and that her life was filled with joy and love. She was a beloved daughter and sister and a loyal friend, who adored her three dogs and all animals. Cassie was an organ donor. Her final act of selflessness has given someone else a chance. The Charleston Police Department has retired Cassie's unit number, 146. I know I join the entire Mountain State in mourning our shared loss of this bright, generous, and vibrant spirit. Gayle and I extend our deepest condolences to Cassie's mother Sheryl, sister Chelsea, brother Terry, and all of her family and friends, her colleagues with the Charleston Police Department, as well as the city of Charleston, and will forever keep them in our prayers. May God watch over Cassie. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 718, submitted earlier today.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I would like to speak to the resolution. It is a shame that we have to come and reaffirm our commitment to our country, to our Constitution, and who we are as a people and how we became the greatest country on Earth and the freedoms we all take for granted many, many times. Sometimes we hear things that challenge that. We heard that yesterday, and we were very concerned about that. As of today, my friend and colleague from Indiana, Senator Braun, basically wanted to reaffirm our commitment to the Pledge of Allegiance, which is something we should do every day--our Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and to our great country. What we are doing with this resolution is basically saying that the bedrock of democracy is the orderly and peaceful transfer of power when a President transitions out. This should not be a question. There should not ever be one iota of interruption whatsoever at that peaceful demonstration. I remember 1960. At that time, it was the race between Senator John Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon. It was very, very close. Everyone was on pins and needles, but there was an orderly transfer. Richard Nixon conceded, and to take this out further, he did a peaceful and orderly transfer, and away he went. Then you had Al Gore--Senator Al Gore at that time, former Vice President Al Gore--and George W. Bush in 2000. We know how that turned out with the chads and all the hanging chads and the consternation of not knowing for so long. Then, basically, for the sake of our country, he did the right thing. Again, we expect that to be done. We are in the most difficult times right now, and for the President to even address the subject of maybe not knowing if he would accept or not is beyond all of our comprehension that could ever happen in America, that it could ever happen in the discourse and the will of the voters, the verification of the votes and being able to protect the ballot box. We have come too long in our country, and we continue to be challenged. I believe that to have the leader of the free world talk as if we are an autocracy--authoritarian versus a democracy--is something that alarmed me, along with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Even as quiet as some may be, I know they are alarmed with that. What we did is affirm who we are in the Senate and what we believe in. The resolution is very clear. All it says is that we affirm as the Senate our ``commitment to the orderly and peaceful transfer of power called for in the Constitution of the United States'' and intend that there should be no disruptions by the President or any person in power to overturn the will of the people of the United States. It is really who we are. Mr. President, it is what you defended, what you fought for, why you entered the service. I am so proud of all the people who have served. Thank you for your service, Mr. President. Thank you to all the people in West Virginia, the most patriotic people in the world. I have said this many times. I am so proud of my State. We have more veterans per capita than most any State; shed more blood, lost more lives for the cause of freedom than most any State. We never failed to answer the call. We have done the heavy lifting. Our people worked hard, including my grandfather and all my relatives. We mined the coal that made the steel that built the guns and ships and the factories and defended our country and our great Nation. We are very proud of all that. This is not who we are. This is not who we are, and we must speak loudly. This is not politics. This is not Republican or Democrat--make no mistake. This is basically saying that if you believe--for the sake of the Good Lord and all we believe in and our country, this is about maintaining this democracy. That is all this is about--maintaining. We will defend that. Today, we have just reaffirmed our commitment to the orderly transition of power by the President of the United States, whoever that should be, whenever that might happen; that they must have an orderly transfer that we all will defend and uphold. That is what we affirmed today. Thank you for giving me the opportunity, and I thank all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Thank you for standing true for who we are and what we believe in and what we have committed ourselves to I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, as the ranking member on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, I was especially pleased by President Trump's decision to withdraw the nomination of William Perry Pendley to lead the Bureau of Land Management, or the BLM, as we know it. I said, when the President nominated Mr. Pendley, that he is the wrong person in the wrong job in the wrong place and he should not continue to lead the Bureau. The job of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management is not just another Presidential appointment. It is a sacred public trust. The Director of the BLM is one of the principal stewards of our public lands, as we are hearing from our colleagues today. The Bureau of Land Management manages 245 million acres of public land, more land than any other Federal agency. The Bureau is required by law to manage the lands committed to its care not only for the benefit of our own generation but for many generations to come. It must carefully balance the use of the land for grazing, timber production, mineral development, recreation, fish and wildlife, and the protection of scenic, scientific, and historic values of the lands. In addition to the 245 million acres of surface land the Bureau manages, it also manages another 700 million acres of subsurface mineral rights. It manages over 63,000 oil and gas wells and over 300 coal leases, covering nearly half a million acres of coal lands, which together contribute about $4 billion a year to the Federal Treasury. It manages another 55 million acres of timberlands and 155 million acres of grazing lands. It issues permits for wind, solar, and geothermal energy development. In addition, more than 10 years ago, Congress designated about 36 million acres of the lands by the Bureau as National Conservation Lands because of their outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific value. National Conservation Lands include 28 national monuments covering nearly 8 million acres, over 260 wilderness areas covering nearly 10 million acres, nearly 3,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers, and nearly 6,000 miles of historic and scenic trails. Nearly 50 years ago, Congress declared that the public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management should be retained in Federal ownership and managed to preserve and to protect them without permanent impairment of the productivity of the land and the quality of the environment. That, in a nutshell, is the job of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management: to be a good and faithful steward of the people's lands so that we might pass them on to our children and our children's children in at least as good condition as we inherited them, if not better. Mr. Pendley is not the right person for this job. He spent most of his adult life arguing against the principles upon which our Federal land management policy is based. He has called for the sale of the public lands that the BLM is responsible for retaining and managing. He has called for the repeal of the Antiquities Act, upon which our national monuments were founded. He has denigrated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act--the bedrock of environmental laws that the Bureau must operate under. He cannot be a good steward of the public domain if he does not believe the public should have a domain and he rejects the laws designed to preserve and protect it. His extreme views and inflammatory rhetoric do not stop with the public lands. He has denied the existence of climate change, comparing it to a unicorn, and those who acknowledge it as ``kooks.'' He said that the Black Lives Matter movement is based on a lie. He has said that undocumented immigrants are ``like a cancer.'' Mr. Pendley was nominated for office once before. People might not realize that. President Reagan nominated him to be the Assistant Secretary for Energy and Minerals in 1983. While his nomination was pending, he was being investigated by the Department of the Interior's inspector general and the Department of Justice for possibly violating conflict of interest rules. The Senate returned his nomination to the President, and he was not confirmed. The General Accounting Office later found that the Interior Department sold the coal leases in the Powder River Basin at roughly $100 million less than their estimated fair market value. The below- market sales were made possible by a change in bidding procedures approved by Mr. Pendley on the same day that he had dinner with the coal industry lawyers. The inspector general referred the matter to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution. The Justice Department ultimately declined to prosecute Mr. Pendley, but he left the Department shortly afterward. For all of these reasons, I think Mr. Pendley is the wrong person to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Today, he is still there in the position and having the authority to run the BLM. He should not be there a minute longer. The President was right to withdraw his nomination. Now it would be right for the President to remove him from that position. Withdrawing his nomination doesn't solve the problem. We know that. It is outrageous that he continues to exercise the authority of the Director, despite having been nominated and withdrawn for cause. Although the legality of his role is a matter of opinion in the courts right now, Mr. Pendley is still, in effect, running the Bureau of Land Management and continuing to make decisions negatively impacting millions of acres of public lands of significant importance to millions of Americans, all without the proper vetting and approval of the Senate. That is simply wrong, and I believe on both sides of the aisle we know wrong when we see it. He should resign, Secretary Bernhardt should remove him, or the President should step in and remove him. Withdrawing his nomination was a step in the right direction, but for all the reasons I have outlined today, William Pendley is not qualified to be managing--to be managing--our Nation's treasured public lands in any capacity. So I would ask President Trump to kindly and respectfully step in and remove a person who does not justify the office that he is holding right now and the decisions he is making for all of us in our generation and in generations to come. I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Mark Menezes nomination to be Deputy Secretary of Energy. I agree wholeheartedly with our chairwoman for Energy and Natural Resources. We have a great working relationship, and we have a good friendship that means more than anything to me. But, basically, every now and then you get a person who comes before you that you know they are there for the good of the public. They are truly public servants, not for private service. So this person comes across with so much expertise. That is going to play an important role in our national defense and our energy and economic security and our science and research and even in fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and helping to rebuild our economy. The Deputy Secretary plays a central role in all of these efforts, and I believe that Mr. Menezes is up to the task. The Deputy Secretary is the second highest ranking officer in the Department of Energy and the Department's chief operating officer on top of that. He is responsible for managing the Department's wide- ranging mission and a budget of over $35 billion dollars--$35-billion- dollar budget. The DOE and its labs can also play a vital role in supporting the scientific research and development needed to rebuild our economy. In addition, the Department is responsible for maintaining the Nation's nuclear weapons stockpile, overseeing the four power marketing administrations, and ensuring our energy security and protecting the Nation's energy sector from cyber attacks, among other things. As the Department's second highest ranking officer and its chief operating office, the Deputy Secretary necessarily plays a critical role in all of these important functions. Mr. Menezes brings an impressive background to the job. Thirty years ago, he was counsel to our former colleague Senator John Breaux; 15 years ago, he was chief counsel to the House Energy and Commerce and played a major role in shaping the Energy Policy Act of 2005. He has held senior posts at the American Electric Power Company, the Hunton and Williams law firm, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Most importantly, though, for the past 3 years, he has served as the Under Secretary of Energy. As the Under Secretary of Energy, Mr. Menezes has shown he is up to the task and capable of handling the job of Deputy Secretary. I think that he truly, clearly, demonstrated his knowledge and his firm grasp of the wide range of important issues before the Department during the confirmation hearing, and I am happy to support his nomination in the most bipartisan way.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous to be able to complete my remarks.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Senator, I sure do agree with you wholeheartedly. It is something we worked on.

Mr. MANCHIN. That is exactly right, Madam Chairman. We have worked so hard on this. This is going through the process. We always talk about the process. Before it comes to the floor, every piece of legislation should go through the process. We have fifty bills that have gone through the process in our committee, and most of them are bipartisan. It doesn't get any better than that. We didn't have any disagreement at all, until we got another piece of legislation they were trying to throw in that we had no jurisdiction over. We would love to help them if we could, but they shouldn't hold up this bill here. Hopefully, they are working out their differences in the other committees. I am sure they are. I am committed to working with you, as we have been working in the past year or more, to get this completed once and for all. It is something I know that we, as a committee, every Member in this Senate-- 72 are cosponsors--but, truly, the entire country needs. They need to have dependable, reliable, and affordable energy. They need that to be pragmatic and realistic, working with all the energies we have but demanding, through innovation--not elimination but through innovation-- a much cleaner result and a better environment for all of us. That is what we do in this bill. We tackle every part of it. I am very pleased to be working with you. I am as committed as you are to get this done before we get out of here. Thank you.

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, the bill is the product of over a year of work and a robust process, both in the Energy Committee and also on the Senate floor, in early March, as you just said. And 39 of the 53 bills are bipartisan, which you don't hear very often, and 72 Senators have either sponsored or cosponsored language included in the package. That is 72 out of 100 of our Senators, Democrats and Republicans, who have participated in this energy policy. The American Energy Innovation Act would authorize just over $24 billion for technologies critical to an ``all of the above'' energy policy. I repeat: ``all of the above.'' We need everything that we have. That keeps our energy dependable, affordable, and reliable, while also reducing emissions. It truly takes a balanced and forward-leaning approach to updating our national energy policy for the first time in over 13 years. This bill is necessary to help us chart the way to a cleaner and more secure energy future. As you mentioned, our bill was unfortunately derailed, Chairman Murkowski, back in March, by an issue that is entirely outside-- entirely outside--of the Energy Committee's jurisdiction. We had no input in this whatsoever, but it stopped a piece of legislation that 72 Senators were involved in. Since then, the world has dramatically changed, and our hearts are heavy with the loss of over 128,000 Americans due to the virus. What our country has gone through over the last few months reinforces a need for a comprehensive energy bill, as we heard just 2 weeks ago from experts testifying before the Energy Committee. I am steadfast in my commitment to getting our American Energy Innovation Act done this year. I think it is needed more now than even 4 months ago, when you look at the shape that our country is in. It is a stimulus bill. It is basically an infrastructure bill, and it is a reliable energy portfolio that takes us well into the 21st century. Senator Murkowski.

Mr. MANCHIN. Senator Murkowski and I, working together, and our staffs working so diligently, have put together a truly bipartisan energy package, which is comprehensive, and our country needs every part of it to get enacted--every part of it. Our national energy policy hasn't been updated since 2007. I want you to think about 2007. That was the same year the iPhone was released. There have been 10 different iPhone models to keep up in a world that is constantly evolving since 2007, but we haven't been able to do the same for energy policies. So it is long overdue. Getting this update enacted is long overdue, as I said, and I hope that every one of my colleagues agrees and will come together to support passing this bill in its entirety--in its entirety--rather than moving it in pieces, and that is what we want to prevent from happening. Seventy-two of my fellow Senators have language in this bill that they have either sponsored or cosponsored. Let's move this bill as it is rather than piecemeal, or, even worse, having to start from scratch for next year, which will put us behind even further. Would you agree, Madam Chairwoman?

Mr. MANCHIN. We both agree, Senator Murkowski, that the Energy Innovation Act is going to absolutely help our economy recover. We will never have a recovery coming off a recession or a real shutdown the way we have just seen unless there is infrastructure, and this is, by far, the best. Between March and April, the energy industry lost 1.3 million jobs. That is a 13-percent drop that essentially wipes out all industry-wide job growth in the last 5 years. I repeat: For the last 5 years, it has been wiped out over 3 months. That is on top of the major shifts in the U.S. and global energy markets that preceded and intensified in the pandemic with a catastrophic hit to the economy, and, most importantly, to the workers. American workers need immediate relief, as well as longer term assistance, and they need jobs in the sectors of tomorrow's energy economy. This energy package puts billions of dollars into research, development, demonstration, and deployment of energy technologies that will create skilled and high-paying jobs while also establishing workforce grants to ensure unemployed or new workers have the skills and opportunities to get back to work as quickly as possible. On top of that, our bill would help develop technologies needed in four sectors of the U.S. economy--power generation, transportation, industry, and commercial and residential buildings--that contribute 90 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While we are expecting a 14-percent drop in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector in 2020--the largest drop ever-- because our economy was shut down, those emissions will bounce back as our country opens back up. Investing in technologies like carbon capture, energy storage, and energy efficiency are critical for rebuilding our economy, something that we desperately need right now while also reducing emissions. Senator Murkowski, our bill invests in technologies across the board and across fuel types. Do you agree that keeping this ``all of the above'' energy package together is, by far, the best path forward?

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. I have got David Brooks, who has been on the committee for 30 years. He probably knows more about this process. I know he is fretting over is every word right, is every comma in the right place, every dot in the right place, but we have confidence in David and Sam Fowler and Renae Black doing a great job with the committee on the ranking member's side. To every one of them who have worked so hard, thank you. God bless each and every one of them for a job well done, and it is something that we can all take pride in. Someone said: How was your work in the Capitol? I said: We had a great week. We had a great week, and today is going to be the culmination of that great week. So I want to thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me to make these comments. I want to make sure we enter into the Record all the people who deserve the credit. I want to thank my colleagues for being here also. I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, in a few minutes, we are going to be voting to pass the Great American Outdoors Act, and before this bill crosses the finish line, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect upon all the work that it took to get us here today. You see my colleagues around. This has truly been a labor of love from all of us who love the outdoors. If there is one thing we have found about the outdoors, it is no matter whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you love it. We all participate in it; we all enjoy it; and we want to pass it on to our children and grandchildren and next generations to come. I am proud to be joined by every Member of the Democratic caucus in supporting this legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and to put $9.5 billion toward maintenance backlogs on our treasured public lands, and I am very appreciative and very proud to be working with our Republican friends who are joining us to support the Great American Outdoors Act. It truly has been bipartisanship at its best, and it is something we need so much more of. Passing permanent LWCF authorization last year was an important step, but securing a permanent, dedicated funding source for the multiple conservation programs funded by the LWCF has been the ultimate goal of the Democratic leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee all the way back to Senator Jeff Bingaman. So it goes back quite a ways. Many other Senators, Democratic and Republican, Members of the House, both retired and here today, have been champions for the LWCF and helped to pave the way to where we are today. We are within striking distance of realizing the goal of permanent, mandatory funding, especially since we have only seen the full funding twice in 55 years. To have it now, where it is going to be permanent, and the $21 billion that went down the black hole, that will no longer happen. We will be able to make sure that the projects in all of our wonderful States--and I think almost every county in the country is going to benefit. It is on a personal basis. It truly is a long, hard-fought caucus achievement, and I am incredibly proud that as the current ranking member of the Senate Energy and National Resources Committee, as a sponsor of the LWCF Permanent Funding Act, and one of the lead Democrats on this bill to be part of getting this legislation done. I have my good friend Senator Heinrich of New Mexico, who has worked so hard. Then we have had Senator Cantwell. We have had Senator Ron Wyden and all who have been former chairs of the committees or ranking members. On the Republican side, all my colleagues there will be speaking on behalf of bringing so many people together. So its time has come. It is a testament to the importance of this historic conservation legislation that has brought so many of us together in support. Something this impactful doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and hard work. I would like to recognize the work of my colleagues and thank them again. We had a lot of votes. We have had a lot of votes that we have had to shepherd through and make sure that everybody understood how important, how historic, and the timing of something--to be able to say that you were in this body, you were able to vote and participate on a piece of legislation so our country, the United States of America, is going to be able to share with every inhabitant we have and all the visitors coming from around the world for years and years and generations to come, that is pretty historic. To have that happen, I think, is one of the most important things we have done in the conservation world in the last 50 years. So we are very proud of that. Sixty of my Senate colleagues have cosponsored the Great American Outdoors Act, and 20 more joined us last week, resulting in strong bipartisan votes to begin consideration of the historic bill. The beauty of our Nation's great outdoors truly brings them together. All of us have been able to speak and show you pictures of our wonderful, beautiful States. These are some beautiful pictures from my beautiful State of West Virginia. This is Cheat River Canyon here. Anybody who has ever rafted that or hiked it or been on top and looked down to the beautiful vista, this is just truly as rugged as it looks right here. It is something gorgeous when you pass through it on a raft. It is really unbelievable. I would invite everybody to come and visit. We are only a 5-hour drive from about half the population of the United States, right here in West Virginia. This other photo is of the Dolly Sods Wilderness, a beautiful place. This is what we call Bear Rocks. I have a little, little place right down in the Canaan Valley area here, and I intend to be there this weekend with my family. This is something we enjoy. This is an unbelievable vista here. Again, it is only 3 hours from Washington, DC, by driving So we invite you all to West Virginia. We would love everybody to come visit and enjoy what sometimes we take for granted. When you have these types of views, you can never take that for granted, what the Good Lord gave us all. Every one of our States has so much to offer. At the end of the day, this is an opportunity for us to pass down a legacy to our kids, our grandkids, and of course generations to come. I believe this will be the most impactful nationwide conservation legislation since the Land and Water Conservation Fund was first created over 50 years ago. From what we have seen from the votes over the last week and a half, I anticipate we will see again today. It is a shining example of Democrats and Republicans coming together to put politics aside to do what is best for conserving this great Nation's natural resources. So I would like to say thank you to all of them. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a list of all of my staff who have worked on this. I am sure my friends on the Republican side would do the same because there has been a lot of effort put forth. People have worked long nights and long weekends to make this happen

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, we have a series of votes today on the Great American Outdoors Act, including one to adopt the substitute amendment. There are 60 of my Senate colleagues who cosponsored this bill, and 20 more joined us last week, resulting in strong, bipartisan votes to begin consideration of the bill. These votes today will put us within 1 vote of passing this important bipartisan legislation. Over the last week, many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have taken to the floor to talk about how the Great American Outdoors Act will benefit the entire country, and they have shared examples of how their home States have been positively impacted already by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It is a testament to the importance of this historic conservation legislation that has brought so many of us together during such a toxic atmosphere. Yet that is the beauty of our Nation's great outdoors. It brings us all together--all walks and shapes and political preferences. It makes no difference. We all love the outdoors, and it is available for everyone to enjoy in any number of ways, whether that be through hunting, hiking, fishing, biking, or just simply by soaking in nature. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been responsible for helping to acquire many of our Nation's most iconic and scenic lands and to provide wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities, but it is important to remember that it is also used in many ways that provide an economic boost to our States and counties, whether that be through an LWCF grant that allows community spaces to be built, like the 47 community pools the LWCF supported across my beautiful State of West Virginia, or a baseball field in Colorado. It is also a job creator. A recent analysis from Boston University shows that, at the full funding of $900 million annually, the LWCF could support approximately 15,000 to 28,000 jobs at a time when our country needs them most. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a major contributor to the rapidly growing outdoor recreation economy. According to the most recent information provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. outdoor recreation economy accounts for 2.2 percent, or $427 billion, of our Nation's gross domestic product. Likewise, the Outdoor Industry Association has calculated that the outdoor recreation economy generates almost $890 million in annual consumer spending and supports over 7.6 million jobs. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been able to do wonderful things with the funds that have been appropriated to date even though those appropriations, in recent years, have averaged only about half of the authorized funding level. In previous years, they were even less than that. Just imagine what we can achieve for our country with the full LWCF funding of $900 million per year as the Great American Outdoors Act would provide. We need to secure this funding because, since the Land and Water Conservation Fund was established 55 years ago and despite the fact that every State, every territory, and almost every county in this country has benefited from the LWCF, it has only been fully funded twice. I say it has only been fully funded twice in 55 years. The passing of the permanent LWCF authorization last year was an important step, but securing a permanent, dedicated funding source for the multiple conservation programs funded by the LWCF is the ultimate goal. I would be remiss not to acknowledge the many Democratic Senators and Members of the House, both retired and here today, who have been champions for LWCF. They have helped to pave the way of where we are today--within striking distance of realizing the goal of permanent, mandatory funding. I am incredibly proud, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, as the sponsor of the LWCF Permanent Funding Act, and as the lead Democrat on this bill, to be in good company of 43 of my Democratic colleagues who have signed onto this legislation. As a member of the Committee on Appropriations as well, I have heard the concerns that this bill sidesteps the ability of the committee to oversee LWCF expenditures, so I want to take a moment to clarify that this isn't the case. The Great American Outdoors Act retains congressional oversight and involvement in determining how the mandatory funding is allocated. To quote from the bill: ``Appropriations Acts may provide for alternate allocation of amounts made available, including allocations by account, program, and project.'' There is similar language for deferred maintenance spending. The Great American Outdoors Act is necessary, however, to ensure that the full $900 million each year that is authorized for the Land and Water Conservation Fund is spent so that we don't end up with what has happened over the past 50 years, wherein over $21 billion has been deposited into the Land and Water Conservation Fund but has not been used for LWCF purposes. It never will be. We will never see that. It is in the Treasury. Similarly, the Great American Outdoors Act takes the necessary step of putting $9.5 billion toward deferred maintenance projects on Federal lands, with 70 percent of that amount dedicated for our national parks. This legislation will be the most significant reduction ever in eliminating a major portion of deferred maintenance backlog on our national parks and public lands. The impact of failing to fund maintenance for so long is clear to see for the hundreds of millions of visitors to our public lands each year. This includes the deterioration of historic buildings at Independence Hall; the failing water treatment facilities at Yosemite and the Grand Canyon; the public access roads at our national parks and our forests that are in disrepair; and outdated and unsafe employee housing. We need to do better in taking care of these very, very special places. The infrastructure projects that will be funded through this bill are critical to protecting many of our national treasures, and like the LWCF funding, it will provide a significant benefit to the outdoor recreation economy. The Great American Outdoors Act will help us to be good stewards of our public lands while, at the same time, it will create thousands of new jobs. It is a bipartisan win-win. At the end of the day, this is an opportunity for us to pass down a legacy to our kids, to our grandkids, and to generations to come. I believe this will be the most impactful nationwide conservation legislation since the Land and Water Conservation Fund was first created over 50 years ago, and 50 years from now, I know that this body will be remembered for getting this bill across the finish line. We have broad, bipartisan support with 60 Senators signing on, which is representative of how important these bills are to every State. We have support from the administration and unwavering support from over 900 conservation and sportsmen's groups throughout the Nation. I know that not all of my colleagues can support this bill and that others would have liked to have seen their priorities added. I also want to mention that I know it has been portrayed by some that we are doing one instead of the other. We are taking care of recreation and outdoors. There might be coastal deterioration, and we are very concerned about that. Yet I want you to know that, since there has been offshore drilling, a tremendous amount of those resources have gone to the four coastal States of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. Louisiana is the only State that has used all of its funds for coastal restoration, and I applaud it for that. I know how costly that has been and how costly it will be, and we will help in any way we possibly can. It is not an either-or. It is not that we are getting this and that they are being punished for something else. That is not the case whatsoever. We are finally getting the funds that were basically dedicated 55 years ago that never did go to the LWCF, the Land Water and Conservation Fund. We have over $9 billion in our park system that needs to be for repairs, and we are using these funds in the most prudently possible way we can. We would hope that everyone would look at it in the most positive way and pass something that we could all look back on and be very, very proud of. I know that my commitment, as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is to work with Senators on their priorities. It always has been, and it always will be no matter what one's party affiliation--Democrat or Republican. When you are in a position of being a ranking member or of being chairman of that committee, you work with all of the committee members, which helps to ensure the consideration of those committee bills on the Senate floor. What we saw last week and that I anticipate we will see again today is a shining example of Democrats and Republicans coming together to put politics aside to do what is best for conserving the natural resources of this great Nation. So I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting yes on each of the three votes tonight. They are all very, very important. They will get us closer to the final passage of the Great American Outdoors Act I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Thank you, Senator, and to all my colleagues, I want to thank you. I appreciate very much the job that has been done here. By working in a bipartisan spirit, every one of us benefits from this. This is a legacy piece of legislation that, hopefully, our children and generations to come will say that it was my grandfather, my father, my uncle, my aunt who was involved in giving me an opportunity to enjoy part of the America that maybe I may not have had. We have access to it. In West Virginia, when you get access to New River or the Gauley, it has been provided by LWCF money. The Park System that we have--and we have hundreds of thousands of visitors every year--is done because of the Restore Our Parks Act, and people are now able to come. Just about 4 or 5 months ago, I took my family, and we were in Hawaii. When Senators and Congress people go into Hawaii on a codel, we usually don't see what the visitors see down there. They don't take us to the visitors' center. This time I had gone as a normal visitor, and when I walked in, I was appalled at what I saw The maps were falling off the wall. The lights weren't working. It was atrocious. I had a meeting with the staff right there. I came back, and at that time, David Bernhardt, Rob Walls, and I started talking, and I said: Gentlemen, that is the birthplace, basically, defining who we are as a superpower and the hope of the world, and for our veterans to have to come and see that and say this is where it began, something had to be done. We started right then renovating and fixing it up, and I think we spent $10 million out of the contingency fund. So I know what it takes for Senator Alexander, who has led this fight, and Senator Warner and others as well on Restore Our Parks. Teddy Roosevelt would be proud of Senator Alexander leading this charge and all of us working together. Putting these two bills together was a master stroke, I believe, and how we could come together. It has brought us all together. There is not one person I believe--we have a few of our friends that have some challenges, and we are going to help them through as soon as we get this bill passed. But in West Virginia, this means the world for us. It has benefited our State since 1965, and 54 out of 55 counties have benefited by it. Now, I tell them that whatever you think we have been able to do and however happy you are with what has happened, we can do twice as much. We can do twice as much on a regular basis. I am proud to be a part of this. Senator Heinrich and I have worked tonight, and our staffs have worked closely, and Senator Daines and Gardner and everybody is working very close on this. It pulled us together, and I hope we can stay together and keep this spirit of bipartisanship in many pieces of legislation. So thank you. Thank you for letting me be involved, and thank you for what you have done.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I thank my colleague Senator Daines from Montana and all my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans. Everyone has been so excited about getting up and showing pictures of their beautiful State. All of us--it is the United States of America--every one of us has something to be proud of and show off, and the LWCF and restore our historic parks bills will protect each and every one of them. I have been in the Senate for almost 10 years. I have not seen any piece of legislation that has brought us together with more enthusiasm than this piece of legislation, the Great American Outdoors Act, because the entire Nation benefits from it. Whether it be in West Virginia, Colorado, or Montana, wherever it may be, our outdoor resources is something that all of my colleagues can enjoy because we all can visit and enjoy the great American outdoors, if you will. The strong support for the Great American Outdoors Act is a testament of the importance of this legislation and what it does. We have never had a financial recovery, an economic recovery without infrastructure investments in spending. We don't have a better piece of legislation that does this. It is a win-win all the way around. More than 150,000 jobs will be created by this bill. I think every county in America--I have 55 counties in West Virginia. Every county in West Virginia, basically, is receiving some sort of help from the LWCF. We have all been greatly impacted by this. Today, I want to talk about the impact that the Land and Water Conservation Fund has had on my home State of West Virginia. To date, 54 of the 55 counties have benefited, as I said, from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It is responsible for some of our most cherished outdoor spaces in West Virginia. In fact, since 1965, $243 million has been spent to enhance recreation and conservation in the Mountain State alone. The LWCF has supported projects at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Gauley River National Recreation Area, New River Gorge--and this is the New River Gorge. This is the New River. If you are in the eastern part of the United States and you haven't floated on the New River or the Gauley, you are missing a great opportunity. The scenery is unbelievable, and floating through the rapids is something special. To float through there is an experience. I welcome and recommend everyone to come visit at least once in your life the wild and wonderful West Virginia on the New River and the Gauley River. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has also helped towns like Marlinton, WV. Mayor Sam Felton was able to turn a vacant lot into the Discovery Junction, a multipurpose community gathering space, with the help of $86,000 from LWCF. The fund is also important for our hunting community. Hunting is a way of life. It is part of our culture. It is a tradition that we all cherish and value. The Great American Outdoors Act will increase access to all Federal lands for hunting and fishing all across the country. A lack of access to Federal inholdings is a problem, and I know this has frustrated sportsmen for years. As the Congressman from Montana has said, over 1.5 million acres is owned in his State by the Federal Government, but all of it doesn't have access. We are able to provide access now with the funding that it will take from this legislation. Another thing that is very important that has been mentioned, LWCF does not use one iota of taxpayer dollars. This is basically coming off of the royalties of our offshore oil and gas revenues. I want to mention also that we have some of our Senators whom we tried to accommodate in this piece of legislation. There are a few of the Senators whom I want to make a public commitment that I will work, as ranking member on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to do everything I can to make sure we understand the needs of the coastal States and the restoration and protection of our coastal States as it is impacted by the changing environment. My commitment to them is I will work diligently with my Southern States and also my Northern States for all of my coastal States. The Senator from Rhode Island has my commitment, and the Senator from Louisiana has my commitment. We will work to make sure they have the needed funds it takes to protect their coastline and all the work that they have done and all the assets that they have contributed to our great country and the value, as far as in their coastal States. We are going to make sure that during the committee I will do everything I can to make sure we have the proper hearings and proper attention for the changes that need to be made. We were unable to put that in this piece of legislation, but I am committed to help work through that, and I will do that. Because Federal lands are surrounded by private lands, they can be essentially inaccessible, and we have to make sure we have access. Hunting in West Virginia is a time-honored tradition. As I have said, I have been a hunter my entire life, and I look forward to opening day in hunting season each year for all different types of game. I also enjoy fishing immensely. I don't think I have a better day than when I am on the river or I am in the river walking the streams for the trout that we have plentiful amounts of. It is something I have handed down to my children, my son, and my grandson. They all enjoy it. With this bill, we are going to be able to pass on this legacy. When you think about spending time in the U.S. Senate, most of us have been in public life for some time in other aspects. I have been honored to serve in the State legislature as a member of the house and member of the State senate, and secretary of state and Governor of my great State, and now representing them in the U.S. Senate. You want to leave a legacy, so you keep thinking what can I do that will really make an impact on future generations. I can't think that there is anything we can do that is going to be more impactful than what we are doing today, working on this piece of legislation, the Great American Outdoors Act, to be able to enjoy the great national parks that we have throughout this country, to be able to take your family and have a family outing, and also the history that goes with it and who we are. If we don't know where we come from, you don't know where you are going, and the history we have in America is pretty special. Our national parks represent that. Also, to have the access to the beautiful outdoors and the wonderful nature that we have with the LWCF funding, the $900 million a year, that is a legacy I am proud of. I am proud that my children and my grandchildren and future generations would say that, hey, part of my family was involved in this. We worked this hard. We worked together--and to see Democrats and Republicans in the most troubling time our country has faced in many decades come together enthusiastically, being able to speak and enjoy being with each other and talking about how we can get more of our colleagues involved and having a vote that we had last night, a vote of 80 votes. I see the Senator from Tennessee who has worked so hard on our national parks and has one of the most beautiful national parks in his State that I am proud of. I just can't tell you how much I think this piece of legislation means to all of us--100 Senators--in this most challenging time that we have in our country right now. West Virginia has approximately $62 million in deferred maintenance just for our little national park areas alone. This includes crumbling roads, bridges, outdated wastewater plants, electrical systems, and deteriorating monuments, which I know we are going to be able to start repairing. On average, 1.6 million visitors enjoy our beautiful national parks in West Virginia every year. From New River Gorge National River to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, visitors to our national parks generate $73 million from the surrounding communities. This act, the Great American Outdoors Act, will ensure our national parks, forests, and other Federal lands are well taken care of and remain accessible for everyone to enjoy. West Virginians take great pride in our great outdoor playgrounds. We invite all of you--all of you--to come to wild and wonderful West Virginia and enjoy everything we have to offer. We thank you so much. I thank my staff and the staff of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of which I am the ranking member, for working tirelessly through the pandemic and through the virus to make sure we are able to have a piece of legislation that generations of Americans will be able to enjoy. I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.