Markwayne Mullin

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Madam Chair, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), my chairman.

Mr. MULLIN. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. MULLIN. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).

Mr. MULLIN. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar), my colleague.

Mr. MULLIN. Madam Chair, this amendment would prohibit funds from enforcing the Obama administration's EPA methane rule. This rule is currently facing litigation and uncertainty, and Congress must act to block this job-killing regulation estimated to cost the U.S. economy $530 million annually. Methane emissions from oil and natural gas have significantly declined in recent decades without multiple, overlapping Federal regulations, and this is no exception. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, the House today will vote on an important piece of Federal legislation regarding self-driving vehicles that many on this body on both sides of the aisle have worked on. This legislation promises to make roads safer by reducing traffic- related fatalities and unlock new economic opportunities and jobs in the U.S. It is also vital in our efforts to promote innovation. Industry is driving the development of self-driving vehicles, but in certain situations, companies building and testing the car of the future may need some flexibility or certainty. With this legislation, I hope the research, development, and testing that is unleashed will stimulate additional knowledge and innovation for passenger motor safety. We, as the government, need to make sure that safety is first and foremost in our consideration. Passing this legislation will help get lifesaving technology to the public, perhaps preventing deaths in the not-so-near future. I strongly support this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. MULLIN

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, this is just a procedural motion to deny the important benefits of this legislation to the American workers, businesses, and our collective energy security. It fits a pattern of delay and obstruction that we simply cannot support. I urge my colleagues to oppose this motion to recommit and vote ``yes'' on final passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the motion.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment, which would clarify the intent of the legislation not to affect the application of any or other Federal laws that are applicable to the construction, operation, or maintenance of the project. Despite the talking points used by some of my friends, nothing in this bill would exempt a project from complying with applicable environmental laws or restrict the scope of environmental review. The gentleman from Texas' amendment makes this abundantly clear. H.R. 2883 would lead to a more objective and timely decision, create jobs, strengthen our Nation's energy security, and support affordable and reliable energy for all Americans. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, H.R. 2883 strikes a right balance for wise management of our multiuse public lands and natural resources. The amendment would upset this careful balance. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time for closing.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, H.R. 2883 was designated the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the lead agency of the permitting cross-border oil pipelines. FERC is an independent agency made up of a bipartisan commission that regulates interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas terminals, interstate natural gas pipelines, and cross-border natural gas facilities. FERC has a proven track record of working with a wide array of stakeholders on complex pipeline projects to balance the public interest. It is clearly the best suited agency for the job of permitting cross-border oil pipelines. As we learned from the Keystone XL experience during the Obama administration, the State Department lacks the ability to pull out politics from our Nation's infrastructure. There is nothing in this bill that would prevent the State Department from being consulted about an application, but FERC should take the lead on cross-border oil pipelines. H.R. 2883 would provide the permitting process with much-needed consistency and transparency. The gentleman's amendment would double down on the failures of the past and reinject bipartisan politics into the process. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, this bill has absolutely no effect on any environmental law. The bill expressly provides that approval of a project under this act does not affect the application of any other Federal laws that are applicable to the construction, operation, or maintenance of a project. The Congressional Research Service has reviewed the legislation and has confirmed that fact. My point is, other than the fact that they just want to oppose this because, maybe, people oppose fossil fuels as a whole, this makes sense. This is a bill that moves forward. As we stated earlier, it takes politics out of our permitting process. It brings structure and certainty to those that are providing our infrastructure needs. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green), my good friend.

Mr. MULLIN. Once again, I understand that there is opposition to the bill because of a fear. But the true fear is: Are we willing to hold up the infrastructure needs of this country for political gain? For the years that we had from the previous administration, that is exactly what happened. It was political. What we are trying to do when we take it out of the State Department's hands and put it with FERC is put it with a bipartisan oversight agency that takes an approach to looking at the infrastructure needs that this country has and saying: Is this in the country's best interest? They have been doing it, and they do it well. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record a letter from the International Union of Operating Engineers, a letter from Edison Electric Institute, a letter from the IOSA, and a letter from the Plains All American Pipeline all in support of this bill. International Union of Operating Engineers, Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, July 18, 2017. Hon. Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, Washington, DC. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi: The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) supports H.R. 2883, the Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, legislation that provides clear congressional authority to the process of evaluating transnational pipeline projects. Further, the IUOE endorses H.R. 2910, a bill Promoting Inter-Agency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act. We respectfully request that you support both of these pieces of legislation when they come to the floor of the House of Representatives this week. The International Union of Operating Engineers represents 400,000 working men and women in the United States and Canada, thousands of whom build and maintain the nation's energy infrastructure. We are one of four unions that are signatory to the National Pipeline Agreement. Operating Engineers perform millions of hours of work on pipeline projects around the United States every year; millions of additional hours were performed on pipeline work by IUOE members in Canada. North America's energy network is inextricably linked. Eliminating legal and regulatory uncertainty regarding the permitting of cross-border energy facilities will promote investment and job creation in North America, and that is why the IUOE supports H.R. 2883. Removing these regulatory barriers will ultimately increase the interconnection of the North American energy network and at the same time improve reliability, security, and affordability. Today, the process for permitting this energy infrastructure lives only through Executive Order. North America's energy future is simply too important to leave to the ambiguity and imprecision of administrative fiat. Granting clear legislative authority and delegating responsibility to an agency experienced with the National Environmental Policy Act and permitting processes, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), rather than the Department of State, will increase the competency and capacity of the review of cross-border energy projects. It is a clear improvement in the administration of major project permitting. Updating the American domestic permitting and regulatory framework for natural-gas pipelines is also essential. Several steps are necessary in this regard, and H.R. 2910 is one of them. Domestic energy production provides good-paying jobs for members of the IUOE and other construction craftworkers and continues to employ thousands of our members. Uncertainty and delay during environmental reviews, however, hinder the growth of jobs related to the nation's energy infrastructure. Congress should give FERC additional tools to keep federal agencies accountable and maximize coordination in the permitting process. H.R. 2910 requires reporting and transparency in the review of major projects. These requirements raise the bar for regulators and provides the public with a better understanding of the environmental impacts that are receiving particular rigor and examination--or perhaps needlessly delaying the overall project-review timeline. Democrats and Republicans supported similar reporting and transparency in the FAST Act. Enactment of H.R. 2910 is a necessary step to help place the booming energy sector on a sound footing for the future. The International Union of Operating Engineers supports both H.R. 2883 and H.R. 2910 and respectfully requests that you support the legislation this week when it comes before you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, James T. Callahan, General President.

Mr. MULLIN. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, as you have heard, two of my colleagues from Texas have just come out, obviously, in support of this bill. There is not a lot that Texas and Oklahoma agree on, especially this time of the year when we enter football season. Other than that, we agree that Oklahoma is better at football than Texas.

Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, we are here talking about how to take politics out of our infrastructure. As we just heard the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green), this is a bipartisan bill. We hear a lot of stuff about it damaging the environment; it doesn't. We are talking about crossing a border and taking a situation that was held up for 8 years with the Keystone pipeline and making sure it has the transparent and consistent approach on how we regulate these permits. The United States is a powerhouse around the world. We want to keep it that way. We want our country to compete freely in the global market and continue to positively benefit our economy. My bill, H.R. 2883, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, supports the construction of energy infrastructure across our North America borders. Simply put, this bill takes the politics out of energy infrastructure projects. The construction of these border-crossing facilities should be done effectively and efficiently without getting caught up in our Nation's politics. These facilities are used for importing and exporting oil, natural gas, and electricity that enhance the trade of our energy products that benefit our economy. This bipartisan piece of legislation allows a transparent and efficient process to be followed the same way every time and for every project. Most importantly, it provides regulatory certainty to those charged with carrying out these projects. I want to thank this House for allowing such bills to come forth and the opportunity to allow this bill to be heard. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.