Blake Moore

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9716) to amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to provide baseline updates, and for other purposes.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record letters and statements of support from various organizations and individuals as part of H.R. 9716. These include the Economic Policy Innovation Center and National Taxpayers Union Foundation. Economic Policy Innovation Center, December 10, 2024. Hon. Jodey Arrington, Chairman, Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Brendan Boyle, Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Chairman Arrington and Ranking Member Boyle: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) serve Congress by providing non-partisan analysis. To accomplish this mission, it is essential that Congress and the public have faith in the methodology by which the CBO and the JCT produce their estimates and reports. An important way to improve trust in the Congressional scorekeepers is by increasing transparency through more frequent updates to the baseline and regular releases of economic data. H.R. 9716, the Increasing Baseline Updates Act, introduced by Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT-01) would improve the CBO's ability to access data from the Executive Branch. It would also ensure Congress has updated information to use when legislating. The bill requires the CBO to submit to Congress at least two updates to the budget and economic baseline each year. The bill further stipulates that the President must submit technical data necessary for the CBO's estimates to Congress ``on or before February 1 of each calendar year.'' The federal budget process must evolve to confront the serious fiscal challenges of today and tomorrow. The proposed bill ensures access to the accurate and timely information necessary for lawmakers to do their work for the American people. We at EPIC applaud your work in improving the federal budget process to enable Congress and the public to be better informed about the true impact of legislation under consideration. Sincerely, Paul Winfree, Ph.D, President and CEO.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. As we close this debate, even if it might have been a little more abrupt, it doesn't take away from the impact of something like this. That is what happens in this place when we can strike a balance and find an opportunity to recognize both the ranking member and the chairman of the Budget Committee. That is where a lot of this work on budget reform has been done. It has taken countless discussions and getting to the right spot, and that is the product that we have here today--sensible, reasonable reforms that are needed. We are going to get an opportunity to hear from CBO more frequently as we try to continue to navigate this incredibly difficult fiscal situation that we are in. We are in a tough spot. The Budget Committee held another hearing just this morning on this very subject. We have a responsibility to our constituents and our kids' generation to get our finances in check. This bill will help Congress get back to regular order and ensure we have updated information and the most relevant budget data and economic figures as we continue to craft policy. I once again thank the Committee for its unanimous support on this bill. In order to get to that unanimous support, Ranking Member Boyle has been a significant leader in doing that. I thank him and Mr. Suozzi for their efforts on this bill. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Utah for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 introduced by my colleague Representative Maloy from Utah. Around the country, and particularly in the West, thousands of historic hardrock mines lay abandoned, posing risks to public health and the environment. Many of these sites sit on the same public land on which we recreate and thoroughly enjoy. The leftover residues, chemicals, and harmful contaminants affect thousands of miles of streams and waterways, endangering wildlife and fish. Clearly, there is a problem to be solved here. Too often in this body of Congress, we create more problems than actual solutions. This bill is fundamentally different for the way that it tries to approach and address this issue that exists out in our communities. This bill will accelerate remediation work by allowing Good Samaritan organizations and State agencies to voluntarily take action and clean up abandoned mines to protect water quality. With the enactment of this bill, we will help ensure that these sites are restored and no longer pose risks to the public. A key word on that is ``voluntarily.'' If we get in the way of these Good Samaritan and State agencies to actually solve this issue, we will continue to have these problems going forward. In Utah, we know the importance of being good stewards of our resources, and this legislation is vital to passing on our land to future generations. I thank Congresswoman Maloy and her work on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in celebrating the time we got to spend with our colleague, Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers. I can sum this up in one thought, and this is what I will take. The best part of this place is we get to interact with some of our colleagues and learn from others. What I will take going forward was what she exemplified, and that was being a well-rounded person. When you talked to her, you could dive deep on all of the policy matters that go on in the Committee on Energy and Commerce. You could also dig in and learn about her experience leading the Republican Conference with her efforts on messaging. More importantly, what she always loved to talk about was being a mother to amazing children, some of which I have had a chance to meet and been inspired by, as well. She and her husband have lived and will continue to live a life of service. She is somebody who doesn't just talk about reading the Bible. She lives it. This is somebody who isn't narrowly focused on one aspect of life. She embraces a well-rounded way to live and touch as many people as possible, and that is what I will learn and continue to take from her example.

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. 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 the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, as we begin our brief Special Order tonight, just to kind of highlight some of the things going on, House Republicans are working very hard through the end of the 118th Congress to push several pieces of legislation that deliver results for Americans and reflect on our conservative agenda. This week, we are championing bills that support our small businesses and protect our schools from communist propaganda. Across the country, small businesses are struggling with burdensome red tape and Federal regulations. This week, House Republicans are bringing to the floor Congressman Finstad's Prove It Act, which will support our small businesses by enhancing the integrity and transparency of our regulatory processes, reduce red tape, and drive our economy forward. We have seen this over and over again. The American people decided in November that they wanted to push our economy toward the upward mobility that we need, and the key aspect of this is making sure that we have the proper regulatory reform in place. This is one excessively burdensome area remaining from the current administration, and we look forward to taking a bill like this and driving it to its fate and getting things accomplished in the coming months. We are also supporting Congresswoman Salazar's Crucial Communism Teaching Act to provide civic education curricula and educational materials for middle and high school students about the dangers of communism and totalitarianism. I am grateful for my colleagues for joining me this evening to discuss these important measures. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from Florida (Ms. Lee).

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), to share with us some of the key things we are trying to accomplish here in the waning days of the 118th Congress.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I will close as I reiterate, at the close of the 118th Congress--and what a historic Congress it has been-- we are trying to finish this out with doing some of the core things that are necessary. We are working hard on making sure our defense capabilities are intact. That will be something that we are highlighting for the next coming weeks, ensuring that we have proper funding opportunities ahead as those deadlines loom. This week, again, two very simple, pragmatic approaches--and these should be wildly bipartisan--to be able to create transparency into our regulatory process and make sure that we are teaching truth to our children of the history of what made our country so great and the enterprise that has been able to drive that upward mobility in our economy. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, it is great to be back in Washington, D.C., this week as the House Republicans set the stage for the 119th Congress with a unified front to tackle the most pressing issues that the American people face. Americans from coast to coast are grappling with the consequences of the Biden-Harris administration, including high energy costs, crippling inflation, rising crime, burdensome regulations, and government overreach in schools and other institutions. House Republicans are working together as a conference to craft legislation that tackles inflation, implements progrowth tax policies, cuts back on regulatory red tape, promotes family values, supports small businesses, secures our borders, and strengthens our position on the world stage. During this lameduck period, we are hard at work advancing other key important pieces of legislation, specific pieces. This week, we put on the floor Congresswoman Claudia Tenney's Stop Terror Financing and Tax Penalty Act, which protects American citizens who are wrongfully detained or held captive abroad from late penalties from the IRS and revokes the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that provide financial or material support to terrorist groups like Hamas. We have to listen to the American people when it comes to energy independence, a topic that we have spent the last 4 years trying to debate. I think the people have spoken, and House Republicans are listening. They are advocating for policies that cut red tape and unleash our Nation's energy potential. That is why we passed, earlier this week, Congressman Russ Fulcher's, who was just in the Chamber, Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act, the CLEAN Act, which requires the Interior Department to increase the frequency of geothermal lease sales from every 2 years to every year, hold a replacement sale if necessary, and create decision deadlines for geothermal drilling permit applications, therefore enhancing our geothermal energy output and domestic energy supply. If you say that you want clean energy, if you say that you want other alternatives but continue to withhold the permitting and hold hostage the permitting process, then you truly do not want to create a solution. We are done with this. Permitting reform is something that has to take place in our Nation. We have done a little bit of it in a bipartisan way, but if we can't look at something like this and say that this, to reduce the burden on permitting, is the most commonsense thing for geothermal potential, then nobody is being actually serious back here. Let's get these things done. I am grateful for my colleagues who are going to join us this evening to discuss this and many other measures that are pertinent to their districts. I am grateful for their commitment to delivering for the American people as we continue to look forward to next Congress. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from the Commonwealth of Virginia (Mr. Cline).

Mr. MOORE of Utah. 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 the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks. We appreciate his followthrough in highlighting this key, important legislation. There are, I think, 46 Americans who are wrongfully detained. They should not be going through these types of tax penalties. This is something that makes absolute sense. I appreciate my next colleague who will address the Chamber. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his remarks. I always appreciate his involvement. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) for our next address.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his remarks. Utah has potential for some disasters, but nothing like the devastation they have seen, and our heart goes out to them. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, as always, I appreciate the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa) and his thoughtful, but yet frustratingly common voice on energy policy. I thank my colleagues for being here tonight and taking the time to speak on some of these priorities the House Republicans are focused on as we look forward to the 119th Congress, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned earlier, House Republicans are pushing legislation to reform the United States tax code, to protect American hostages abroad, and support our domestic energy industry. Currently, there are approximately 46 Americans wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad, and our tax code does not provide any relief beyond 1 year for detainees. The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act works to support Americans by preventing the IRS from charging late fees and penalties to U.S. citizens wrongfully detained abroad. This bill also revokes the tax-exempt status of U.S. nonprofit organizations that provide financial or material support to terrorist groups like Hamas. This is the most commonsense legislation that we are going to see in the lameduck period, and I am hopeful to see this through the legislative process entirely as it passes the House. Americans should not be penalized for being held hostage by adversaries abroad, and this bill is a necessary step toward ensuring detainees and hostages are able to focus on safely returning home and reuniting with their families. This week, House Republicans successfully passed the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act to require the Department of the Interior to increase the frequency of geothermal leases, the lease sales, from every 2 years to every year. It also includes holding a replacement sale, if necessary, and creates decision deadlines for geothermal drilling permit applications. This bill emphasizes a robust energy policy that unleashes our Nation's energy potential, reduces reliance on foreign energy sources, and cuts back against onerous red tape that slows down energy production. House Republicans know that we have a lot of work to do, and we are committed to using our constituents' voices as our guide as we reverse the Biden-Harris administration's failed policies and protect American citizens, restore American energy independence, and lower energy costs for American workers and their families. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to honor the exceptional accomplishments of Mr. Peter Jenks, who has recently been selected for the Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee's Western Big Hat Award. This award--first given to Admiral Chester Nimitz--recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to their community. Anyone who knows Peter knows that there is no one more deserving of this award than he. I know Peter best for his dedicated service to my constituents in Northern Utah, but his influence extends far beyond this narrow snapshot of his career. Peter has served Utah's First Congressional District for three decades, working as district director for three consecutive Members of Congress. In this role, he has been critical to the success of this office and Congressional District, especially in serving the needs of our servicemen and women at Hill Air Force Base. Beyond work, Peter is consistently generous with his time. He is a current board member and former president of the Utah Defense Alliance where he leads efforts to engage state and local government and military and business leaders on defense and aerospace issues. He also serves Wolf Creek Foundation board, serving and supporting the families of deployed military members. Peter has twice served as Honorary Commander at Hill Air Force Base, first with the 388th Fighter Wing and later with the 419th Fighter Wing and is universally loved by all who have worked with him. Those lucky enough to know him know there is no more loyal a friend nor selfless a mentor than Peter Jenks. It is my honor to recognize Peter's accomplishment and service for Utah's First Congressional District and our Nation's service members. Utah and the United States are better because of his work and example. I thank Peter for his service and sacrifice throughout the years. He is a model of courage, selfless service, and altruism from whom we can all learn.

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, House Republicans are addressing the most important issues facing Americans across the country, and this week we will focus on crime. Over the past 3 years, violent crime has surged under the Biden- Harris administration. Its soft-on-crime policies coupled with bail reform, open borders, and the defund the police movement has put every American in danger and threatened our Nation's security. That is why House Republicans have brought to the floor the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, to fight back against Democrats' woke agenda and give our law enforcement the tools they need to defend public safety in our communities. Last week, House Republicans passed the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act to ensure that illegal immigrants convicted of sex offenses or other crimes involving stalking, child abuse, and neglect are inadmissible or deportable from the United States. This legislation now waits to be voted on on the Senate floor. Republicans are the party of law and order, and we will continue to fight for the safety of our Nation's communities. I am grateful to my colleagues for joining me this evening to talk about the importance of supporting our law enforcement and implementing robust crime policies. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy). Honoring Richard Telford

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for his comments on such a dedicated public servant. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James). Congratulating 2024 West Point Graduates

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his comments. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa) to address the House.

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for his comments. Madam Speaker, I will quickly reiterate that I appreciate my colleagues for not only tonight but the last several months in communicating some of the reality that we see on the ground. Policy matters. Policy leads directly to good or bad outcomes back home in our districts. We need to be recognizing what is going to create better outcomes and, if we have made mistakes, be willing to own it and move forward and find better ways to address the issues that our Nation faces. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding. I really appreciate this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I rise alongside a bipartisan group of colleagues to discuss our Nation's greatest threat: the unsustainable deficit and spiraling national debt. I thank my friend, Congressman Case, for hosting this Special Order this evening and for his continued leadership on the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum. Today, our gross national debt exceeds $35 trillion. Our budget deficit is expected to reach $1.9 trillion this year. Spending on interest payments just to service our debt will surpass what we spend on Medicare and national defense each, individually. This is the grave reality of our fiscal situation. As we all know, this is not an easy issue, and it is a problem created by both parties. Durable and lasting solutions will likewise require bipartisan partnership to address these difficult budgetary realities. I am grateful for groups like the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum, where Members who recognize the catastrophic threat posed by our fiscal state come together to elevate this issue and find commonsense solutions. As a father of four boys, this issue is deeply personal to me. I want my sons' generation to have the same chance at the American Dream that previous generations have had. Our national debt matters, and if we don't deal with it, our children and their children will bear the burden of higher inflation and interest costs, slower economic growth, and the national security risks associated with bloated Federal Government. Utah, my State, is a model for responsible budgeting with a balanced budget every year and a consistent rainy-day fund. This is why, during my first term in Congress, I established a Debt and Deficit Task Force back home in Utah, comprised of leaders from across the State to create a framework of solutions for how elected officials should address our Nation's debt crisis with Utah's fiscally responsible values. The four main pillars of our framework include growing the economy, saving and strengthening vital programs, focusing America's spending, and fixing Congress' budget process. I know that several of my colleagues involved in the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum have recognized many of the same structural issues and are working hard to change the tide here in Washington. As a member of the Budget Committee, I have been proud of the work we have done this Congress to raise the profile of our national debt and deficit crisis. Earlier this year, the committee passed my Fiscal State of the Nation Act, which would require the nonpartisan Comptroller General to provide an annual update on the Nation's finances to a joint meeting of Congress and help the Nation understand the scope of the problem. I applaud Chairman Jodey Arrington for leading the charge on a lot of important legislation and conversations that are making the dangers of our Federal debt crisis feel more real to the American people. The committee also advanced a very important and significant bipartisan Fiscal Commission Act, crucial legislation led by Congressman Huizenga from Michigan and Congressman Peters from California. The bill would establish a commission tasked with identifying policies to improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and attain a sustainable debt-to-GDP ratio over the longer term. The commission would operate in an open and transparent manner, and importantly, it provides for expedited consideration on the House and Senate floor. That is something we haven't always had in these similar types of approaches, that there would be expedited consideration to force a House and Senate floor vote. While establishing a fiscal commission is critical in the short term, I know many of my colleagues would agree that we need to reform our budget process to help make sustainable budgeting possible. To illustrate the scope of the budget process challenges, here are a few figures: Congress has not adopted a budget on time since 2003; Congress has not passed all appropriations on time since 1996; and the only time Congress has passed both the budget resolution and appropriations by the deadline was 1977. The Budget Committee is working hard on budget process reform, and I know members of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum have ideas to revamp the process, as well. A bipartisan bill I introduced with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to tackle this problem is the Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act, which would take the next step toward an effective and inclusive congressional budgeting process by including all spending and revenue in the budget process and requiring contributions from committees with direct spending or revenue jurisdiction. I emphasize ``all spending'' because, as I listed off things where we have fallen short over the last 50 years, it is not even highlighting the most important aspect: We don't vote on more than 75 percent of our budget. All 435 of us and 100 Senators are responsible in our Article I duty for our Federal budget, and we vote on approximately 23 percent of that. This Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act would force Congress to take into consideration the entirety of the budget, and it would give the committees the right responsibility. We would have to roll up our sleeves and actually have to deal with the entirety of the budget because the fact that we just vote on appropriations bills doesn't solve a single thing. Next year will be an important year as we deal with major fiscal cliffs. Beyond the annual appropriations process, we will have to deal with the reinstatement of the debt limit in addition to trillions of dollars of tax expirations that will affect every American family. Groups like the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum are incredibly valuable as we take on the challenges and opportunities ahead of us in 2025. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing this important work.

Mr. MOORE of Utah

Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, rest assured, House of Representatives, that the basketball trophy will be back in our Chamber for another year. Congratulations to the Members of Congress for defeating the Downtown Lobbyists two nights ago. We took it to them. The civil servants of our society took it to Downtown. A big congratulations to the Members of Congress for defeating them. This is an awesome event that we do. It supports Hoops for Youth, a big charity that goes to help youth sports, along with many of the other sporting activities that we do. Just to finish it off, I congratulate and particularly recognize our captain and this year's MVP, retiring Member Brad Wenstrup. Can we get a round of applause? You may hear rumors from Downtown that it required Enes Freedom, formerly Enes Kanter of the NBA, to help our team win, but that is unsubstantiated. We could have beaten them on our own.