Eleanor Norton

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1066, as amended.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1066, the Wildfire Recovery Act, a bill introduced by Mr. Neguse from Colorado. This legislation will remove some of the financial burdens communities face after suppressing a wildfire. Wildfires are causing an unprecedented amount of damage to the natural and built environment. This bill will require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover at least 75 percent of the costs to suppress wildfires that qualify for a Fire Management Assistance Grant. Local officials have said that this fix would allow them to speed up the recovery process and invest more money in mitigation efforts. Rural communities that typically receive this type of grant assistance will benefit most from this legislation. Providing more Federal assistance in the wake of the worst fires will assist stretched local budgets. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2293) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide certain employment rights to reservists of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.

Ms. NORTON. 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 S. 2293.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2293, the Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act of 2021, which extends Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protections to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's reservist workforce. Reservists assist disaster survivors and first responders on an on- call basis. They are prepared to deploy when disaster strikes and make up the majority of FEMA's workforce. While reservists are critical to Federal disaster response, these essential personnel are only paid by FEMA during deployments and have no protections that prevent them from losing their full-time jobs when called to a disaster. FEMA's workforce has been stretched to its limits by increasingly frequent and intense disasters, climate change, and the coronavirus pandemic. A larger reservist workforce is required to meet the current challenge, but FEMA has reported that it is difficult to retain reservists and recruit a diverse workforce without being able to offer them basic protections. FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell has stated that the ability to recruit and maintain a skilled reservist workforce is necessary if the agency is to fulfill its mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters. This bill will help FEMA continue to fulfill that mission and ensure that these brave women and men do not have to worry that they could lose their livelihoods when they are called by their country to serve. It is time we give reservists the respect they deserve and provide them protections. I would like to express my gratitude to reservists who have answered the call and to those who will do so in the future. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. 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 S. 4205.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4205, the Planning for Animal Wellness Act. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up the companion bill, H.R. 7789, introduced by Representative Titus earlier this summer. This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a working group of experts to review and, if necessary, update its guidance for addressing the needs of animals and pets before, during, and after disasters. Animals are among the most vulnerable when disaster strikes. Like people, they may be displaced or require evacuation and sheltering. However, disaster shelters are often unable or unwilling to accommodate animals. Pets are beloved members of the family, and owners should not have to choose between abandoning their animals and getting to safety. When individuals are forced to make this terrible decision, they often refuse to evacuate before a natural disaster. This bill will remove barriers to ensure animal welfare is properly considered in emergency planning so that all members of the family-- human and pet--are safe during disasters. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues as well to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. 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 S. 442.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 442, the BRIGHT Act. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up the companion bill, H.R. 7636, introduced by Representative Titus, earlier this summer. This legislation encourages the General Services Administration to use the most up-to-date and efficient lighting for all routine maintenance, alterations, and construction and gives GSA the flexibility to choose the most efficient option for each installation. Additionally, this bill asks that GSA provide guidance to Federal agencies and State, local, and Tribal entities on how cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting systems can help achieve broader efficiency goals. While the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 did include guidelines for energy-efficient light bulb utilization, GSA managers are not incentivized to choose the most energy and cost-efficient options in procurements. By directing GSA to acquire and use the most cost-and energy- efficient lighting systems practicable over the life cycles of the systems, this legislation aims to maximize resource conservation and use of taxpayer dollars in all GSA lighting procurements. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5952, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located in Vergas, Minnesota, as the ``Jon Glawe Post Office.'' Jon Glawe was born on January 9, 1949, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He grew up on a farm near Vergas and graduated from Perham High School in 1967. After graduating, he moved to California and went to Ventura Community College for 2 years, obtaining his associate's degree. In 1970, Mr. Glawe was drafted into the U.S. Army and was a sergeant in the 3rd Armored Division station in Frankfurt, Germany. After being honorably discharged in March of 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Darla Olson, in June of 1973. As a kid, during snowstorms, Mr. Glawe would ride along with his brothers and dad, who was the rural mail carrier in Vergas, to help shovel snow every time their vehicle stopped or became stuck along the mail route. He officially began his career with the U.S. Postal Service in Minneapolis in 1975. After the passing of his father, he added a second full-time job, taking over the rural mail route delivering mail for Vergas and the surrounding areas for 36 years, until his retirement in 2011. Mr. Glawe became well-known and revered by many on his route and served as a lifeline for many in the community. Through Minnesota's harshest winter storms, he was known to not only deliver mail, but would often bring medicine, food, and other goods to those in need. I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Jon Glawe by supporting H.R. 5952. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 5952, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman has no further speakers, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Florida has no further speakers, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5865.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5865 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive in Stafford, Texas, as the Leonard Scarcella Post Office Building. Mayor Leonard Scarcella was a lifelong resident of Stafford. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.B.A. in accounting in 1962. He then went on to attend the University of Houston Law School and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1967. From 1963 to 1969, Mayor Scarcella served in the Texas National Guard with Active Duty in the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of sergeant. He was first elected as mayor of the city of Stafford in 1969 and was the longest continuous-serving mayor in the United States. During his tenure as mayor, he fought for 6 years to create and implement the Stafford Municipal School District, the only breakaway school district in the Nation to gain the approval of the Federal courts and the only municipal school district within the State of Texas. In addition, Mayor Scarcella initiated the Stafford Municipal Educational Television Station to bring vital, current, and informative programming about the city to citizens and businesses via cable and internet video streaming. As well as serving as mayor, he held various positions, such as president of the board of directors of the Fort Bend County Industrial Development Corporation, chair of the Home Rule Charter Commission, and president of the Stafford Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the accomplishments of Mayor Scarcella by supporting H.R. 5865, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 5865, and I yield back the balance of my time.